At least one embodiment of this disclosure includes a method of inferring attribute labels for a user in a social networking system based on the user's social connections and user-specified attribute labels in the social networking system. The method can include: establishing variational equations based on attribute labels of nodes in an ego network in a social graph of a social networking system; determining likelihood scores for at least a portion of the attribute labels of neighboring nodes from a focal user node in the ego network based on user-specified attribute labels from the social networking system; and calculating probability distributions of possible attribute labels for the focal user node of the ego network based on the variational equations and the likelihood scores.

A social networking system provides online services that enable account holders to interact with each other, e.g., by sharing information, comments, photos, videos, etc. A social networking system account holder ("user") may be an individual or any other entity, e.g., a business or other non-person entity. Various relationships can be tracked within a social networking system, including connections amongst social network nodes (e.g., users, content postings, locations, group pages, event pages, comments page, etc.), including between users, between a user and a social networking object, and between a social networking object and another social networking object. A social networking object may be a user, a nonperson entity, a content item, a group, a social networking system page, a location, an application, a subject, a concept or other representations in the social networking system, e.g., a movie, a band, or a book.
Social networking system information (e.g., user profiles, social networking object profiles, and any interactions amongst users and social networking objects) that is tracked and maintained by a social networking system may be stored as a social graph, which includes multiple nodes that are interconnected by multiple edges. A social graph node may represent a social networking system object that can act on and/or be acted upon by another node, including the act of making an intentional "social connection." Amongst user nodes, this is commonly referred to as a user "friending" another user (e.g., adding the other user as a "friend." Each of these interactions can be stored as an edge of the social graph. The social graph can thus be stored as a database of edges and nodes, including profile data and metadata about these edges and nodes.
Services provided by the social networking system may sometimes depend on the profile data about these edges and nodes. For example, a friend recommendation to a user may require information about existing edges connected to the user and/or the user's location. However, information regarding the nodes is at times incomplete. As a result, services provided by social networking systems may be limited by the social networking systems' inability to accurately infer from existing data of the social graph additional attribute labels for the nodes and the edges.
The figures depict various embodiments of this disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.


A robot arm is configured to insert and remove an object from a conditioned environment using a carrier connected to the robot arm. The robot arm is positioned in a conditionable vessel, a wall of which vessel may deform when the interior is conditioned. Since the trajectory of the robot arm needs to be accurate, the robot arm is flexibly coupled to the vessel wall such that an orientation of the robot arm is independent from an orientation of the vessel wall. Further, a docking system is disclosed for use in a device including a robot arm having a carrier connected thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insertion device, a lithographic apparatus and a device manufacturing method. In particular, the present invention relates to an insertion device configured to insert an object into a conditioned environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In such a case, a patterning device may be used to generate a desired circuit pattern corresponding to an individual layer of the IC, and this pattern can be imaged onto a target portion (e.g. comprising one or more dies) on a substrate (silicon wafer) that has been coated with a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist).
In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively exposed. Known lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion in one go, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through the projection beam in a given direction (the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction.
In a prior art lithographic apparatus, the imaging of the circuit pattern onto the target portion is performed within a conditioned environment, such as, for example, within a chamber with reduced pressure (e.g., vacuum). To project an image onto the substrate, the substrate needs to be positioned within the conditioned environment. Inserting the substrate into the conditioned environment is performed by using a conditionable vessel which contains a conditionable interior. That is, the vessel interior may be configured with the capability of adjusting the pressure inside the vessel and/or controlling the number of particles present inside the vessel. The conditionable vessel may be part of an insertion device. Note that such an insertion device, as well as the conditionable vessel, may not only be employed inserting the substrate into the conditioned environment, but may also be employed for removing the substrate from the conditioned environment. Also, the conditionable vessel or the insertion device may be employed for other objects than a substrate such as a patterning device, for example.
A conditionable vessel is typically positioned between the conditioned environment and the outside (e.g. atmospheric environment) and functions as an intermediate chamber. The conditions inside the intermediate chamber (i.e. within the interior of the vessel), may vary. When an object is to be loaded into the conditioned environment of the lithographic apparatus, the object is first loaded into the intermediate chamber through a first gate in the vessel, whereby the intermediate chamber is subjected to atmospheric conditions and/or dust particles. After closure of the first gate, the interior of the vessel is conditioned such that the conditions are substantially equal to the conditions in the conditioned environment of the lithographic apparatus. Then, a second gate in the vessel connecting the interior of the vessel with the conditioned environment of the lithographic apparatus may be opened and the object may be transferred from the vessel to the lithographic apparatus.
To transfer the object from the atmospheric environment to the conditioned environment, a robot arm may be positioned in the atmospheric environment to transfer the substrate from the atmospheric environment through the first gate into the vessel. Inside the vessel, the object is positioned on a pad or the like. Then, after closing the first gate of the vessel, the environmental conditions inside the vessel may be changed such that they correspond to the environmental conditions of the conditioned environment.
A robot arm inside the conditionable vessel then transfers the object from said pad or the like into the conditioned environment through the second gate. To the robot arm, there is connected an object support pad for carrying the object. A robot arm trajectory is therefore to be set to transfer the object support pad and the object thereon through the second gate. Moving the object support pad through the first or the second gate requires a highly accurate movement along said robot arm trajectory. Therefore, it is required to minimize any disturbance of the trajectory of the robot arm and object support pad to ensure a transfer through the gate and an accurate positioning of the object.
The first gate and the second gate may be the same gate. However, to transfer the object from a first environment to a second environment, the environment outside the conditionable vessel needs to be changed from the first to the second environment while the object is inside the conditionable vessel. For example, the gate of the conditionable vessel may be repositioned with respect to the first and second environment, while the interior of the vessel having the object therein is being conditioned.
Generally, a robot controlling the robot arm is attached to the outside of the vessel and position the robot arm and the object support pad inside the vessel through an opening in the vessel wall. During production of the vessel, the robot is mounted on the vessel wall and the robot arm trajectory is set with respect to the vessel, in particular with respect to the gate through which the robot arm is going to transfer the object, as mentioned above.
After production of the insertion device comprising the conditionable vessel and robot, it is no longer possible to adjust the trajectory of the robot arm and object support pad without opening the vessel. However, if the trajectory gets disturbed, the vessel needs to be opened to reset the trajectory. Opening the vessel may be difficult due to a complex construction, which has been designed to create the conditioned interior, such as, for example, the creation of a gas-tight vessel construction. After adjustment, the interior may need to be reconditioned, rendering the adjustment procedure not only difficult, but also time-consuming and expensive.
Since the vessel wall may undergo a deformation, such as when the pressure inside the vessel is reduced, because the robot is attached to the outside of the vessel, the orientation and position of the robot, as well as the robot arm and its trajectory, may be disturbed due to the vessel wall deformation. Generally, to minimize the disturbance of the robot arm trajectory, the robot is positioned in the center of the vessel wall. Due to the reduced pressure inside the vessel, the vessel wall becomes concave. In the center, the vessel wall keeps its orientation, and thus the orientation of the robot arm will not be changed when the vessel wall deforms due to the reduced pressure inside the vessel.
Positioning the robot in the center of a vessel wall, however, limits the design of the vessel. To reduce the size of the vessel, thereby requiring less space, it has been found that it is advantageous to position the robot asymmetrically, i.e. not in the center, with respect to the vessel wall.

Insertion device, lithographic apparatus with said insertion device and device manufacturing method


An optical apparatus comprises a planar optical waveguide having at least two sets of diffractive elements. The planar optical waveguide substantially confines in at least one transverse spatial dimension optical signals propagating therein. The two diffractive element sets define an optical resonator that supports at least one resonant optical cavity mode. An optical signal in one of the resonant optical cavity modes is successively incident on the diffractive elements of each of the diffractive element sets.

The field of the present invention relates to optical resonators. In particular, optical resonators formed in planar optical waveguides with distributed optical structures (e.g., diffractive element sets) are disclosed herein.
One or more distributed optical structures (i.e., sets of diffractive elements) in a channel waveguide, an optical fiber, a slab waveguide, or another guided-wave optical structure may be used in a variety of devices for spectral filtering, laser frequency control, spectral multiplexing, optical sensing, or other functions. Two or more such diffractive element sets formed in a planar waveguide may define an optical resonator cavity, and optical resonators thus formed are disclosed herein.
Various embodiments, implementations, and adaptations of planar optical waveguides with diffractive element sets are disclosed in:                application Ser. No. 11/210,439 filed Aug. 23, 2005 in the names of Dmitri lazikov, Christoph M. Greiner, and Thomas W. Mossberg;        application Ser. No. 11/155,327 filed Jun. 16, 2005 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri lazikov;        application Ser. No. 11/076,251 filed Mar. 8, 2005 in the name of Thomas W. Mossberg;        application Ser. No. 11/062,109 filed Feb. 17, 2005 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri lazikov;        application Ser. No. 11/055,559 filed Feb. 9, 2005 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri lazikov;        application Ser. No. 11/021,549 filed Dec. 23, 2004 in the names of Dmitri lazikov, Christoph M. Greiner, and Thomas W. Mossberg;        application Ser. No. 10/998,185 filed Nov. 26, 2004 in the names of Dmitri lazikov, Christoph M. Greiner, and Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,223 issued Jan. 31, 2006);        application Ser. No. 10/989,244 filed Nov. 15, 2004 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri lazikov (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,961,491 issued Nov. 1, 2005);        application Ser. No. 10/989,236 filed Nov. 15, 2004 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Dmitri lazikov, and Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,716 issued Nov. 15, 2005);        application Ser. No. 10/923,455 filed Aug. 21, 2004 in the names of Thomas W. Mossberg, Dmitri lazikov, and Christoph M. Greiner (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,054,517 issued May 30, 2006);        application Ser. No. 10/898,527 filed Jul. 22, 2004 in the named of Dmitri lazikov, Christoph M. Greiner, and Thomas W. Mossberg;        application Ser. No. 10/857,987 filed May 29, 2004 in the names of Lawrence D. Brice, Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri lazikov (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,276 issued Jan. 24, 2006);        application Ser. No. 10/842,790 filed May 11, 2004 in the names of Thomas W. Mossberg, Christoph M. Greiner, and Dmitri lazikov (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,987,911 issued Jan. 17, 2006);        application Ser. No. 10/798,089 filed Mar. 10, 2004 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Dmitri lazikov (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,115 issued Nov. 23, 2004);        application Ser. No. 10/794,634 filed Mar. 5, 2004 in the names of Dmitri lazikov, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Christoph M. Greiner (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,656 issued Jan. 10, 2006);        application Ser. No. 10/740,194 filed Dec. 17, 2003 in the names of Dmitri lazikov, Thomas W. Mossberg, and Christoph M. Greiner;        application Ser. No. 10/653,876 filed Sep. 2, 2003 in the names of Christoph M. Greiner, Dmitri lazikov, and Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,417 issued Dec. 7, 2004);        application Ser. No. 10/602,327 filed Jun. 23, 2003 in the name of Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,318 issued Feb. 22, 2005);        application Ser. No. 10/229,444 filed Aug. 27, 2002 in the names of Thomas W. Mossberg and Christoph M. Greiner (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,678,429 issued Jan. 13, 2004);        application Ser. No. 09/843,597 filed Apr. 26, 2001 in the name of Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,965,464 issued Nov. 15, 2005);        application Ser. No. 09/811,081 filed Mar. 16, 2001 in the name of Thomas W. Mossberg (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,879,441 issued Apr. 12, 2005).
Each of said applications and patents is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. For one or more of the references incorporated hereinabove, it may be the case that the devices, structures, embodiments, implementations, adaptations, procedures, or techniques disclosed therein may be employed, within the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims, for implementing an optical resonator in a planar waveguide.

Optical resonator formed in a planar optical waveguide with distributed optical structures


A one or two sided or headed ratcheting driving wrench. Each side or head has a rotatable tool carrier constrained to rotate in only one direction by interengaging teeth formed in the tool carrier and in its housing. Both sets of teeth may be pointed or rounded. In one direction, torque locks the tool carrier to the housing, and thus drives a tool such as a screw driver blade or a socket. In the other direction, torque causes the tool carrier to disengage from the housing. Thus, intermittent one way rotation is assured. The chamber is slightly elongated, having two rows of teeth, each row separated from the other by stretches of chamber wall lacking teeth. Should the tool carrier back out of contact with one row of teeth, it will shortly engage the second row of teeth, thereby maintaining driven relationship with the working head. The wrench has a bent lever or handle to allow for working in tight quarters. The tool carrier has a square hole formed therein, for receiving a driven tool. The driven tool comprises a square block cooperating with the square hole of the tool carrier, and has two oppositely oriented blades, sockets, or other tool elements. Optionally, the square block is separate from the driven tool, and is employed with a secondary tool. Also optionally, a fastener is formed integrally with the tool carrier. The wrench preferably has provision for limiting torque acting on the driven member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ratcheting mechanism for enabling rotation of sockets, screw driver blades, and other objects. The wrench comprises a handle giving the user leverage, and a working head which is either directly usable with square or otherwise configured drives, screw driving blades, and the like, or which may have a receptacle for interchangeably accepting various tool driving shafts.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Reversible ratcheting tools have long been desired by service and assembly mechanics and technicians for installing and removing threaded fasteners. For the convenience of the technician, it is important that a tool be quickly converted to include any desired driver, blade, socket, and so forth, since efficiency of assembly and disassembly is usually directly linked to the technician's compensation. For this reason, reversible wrenches have become quite popular.
A second desirable aspect is that a single driving tool accept interchangeable drivers, blades, sockets, fasteners, and like accessories cooperating with the driver. These drivers, blades, sockets, and like accessories will be referred to hereinafter as tools. Interchangeability enables a single wrench to perform many tasks. The wrench can gain added capabilities as additional tools are made available. This arrangement has favorable economic repercussions, since each additional size or configuration requires a working element or tool of limited complexity and cost.
An additional desirable aspect is that the wrench have as few separate parts as possible. In traditional reversible ratcheting wrench driving tools, separate internal and external parts are required to adjust the direction of operation. However, it is possible to design the wrench so as to eliminate such intermediate components. An example is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 161,022, issued to George W. Freeman on Mar. 23, 1875. The Freeman wrench has a rotatable inner member occupying a generally round cavity formed in the head thereof. The inner member has external teeth which engage a single internal tooth formed in the cavity of the head of the wrench. Both internal and external teeth have one side oriented at a severe angle to a line tangential with the respective rounded shape of the inner member or of the round cavity of the head of the wrench, the other side oriented at a slight angle to the tangential line. This arrangement is typical of pawl and ratchet devices.
However, the internal geometry and structure of this wrench differ from those of the present invention, and the differences, although some aspects being so slight as not to be readily discernible upon casual inspection, lead to significantly different performance characteristics.
Careful examination of the Freeman wrench will reveal that the internal rotatable member is not surroundably constrained in the manner of the present invention. It is possible that the rotatable member in Freeman's device will rotate out of an engaged position with respect to the fixed encircling member of the tool after only a very limited degree of rotation in response to resistance to torque applied to the wrench. In the present invention, the encircling member is dimensioned and configured to avoid this occurrence.
A number of other prior art wrenches providing reversibility and plural driving features will be reviewed. A wrench having a removable socket is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,791, issued to John W. Thompson on Jul. 7, 1981. The wrench includes the usual bipositionable pawl, and has a lever and linkage for adjusting the driving direction. The present invention is unencumbered by such a pawl and linkage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,500, issued to Harvey M. Main, on Feb. 28, 1989, illustrates a ratcheting tool wherein a circular internal member has teeth disposed along only a portion of its circumference. In the present invention, it is the surrounding member that has teeth disposed on the generally circular surface of the cavity formed therein, these teeth being arranged in two diametrically opposed groups. Also, the complex, multi-part construction of the internal member of Main is replaced by a single part corresponding member in the present invention. Configuration of the cavity of the present invention is carefully varied from circular to achieve new results not seen in Main.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,359,325, issued to William A. Butler on Nov. 16, 1920, describes a ratchet wrench having a driven member disposed in an elongated slot, the driven member being able to move in the slot. Butler lacks cavity geometry and an arrangement of driving teeth disposed in two diametrically opposed groups on the internal surface of the cavity, both of these features being found in the present invention.
Italian Patent No. 603807, issued to Orlando Contini on Apr. 13, 1960, shows a ratcheting tool having tooth contact occurring along a limited length of the circumference of the circular driven member. However, the subject tool is not surrounded and constrained in the manner of the present invention.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

Ratchet mechanism which resists spontaneous disengagement for use in wrenches and other tools


Estimating wear on bottom hole assembly (BHA) components utilizes a rock hardness index using analysis of drill cutting. Estimating the amount of wear on borehole assembly components comprises measuring the rock properties in drilled cuttings from a borehole. A hardness value is assigned to each mineral present in the drilled cuttings. A hardness index is calculated for a drilled borehole interval. A wear resistance factor is assigned to each BHA component of the BHA. The wear resistance factor depends on the wear resistance of each BHA component. A wear value for each BHA component is calculated based on the hardness index for the drilled borehole interval, the wear resistance of the BHA component, and drilling parameters.

The disclosure generally relates to the field of data processing, and more particularly to error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery.
A bottom hole assembly (BHA) is the lower portion of a drill string which operates at the bottom of a wellbore to drill through a rock formation. BHAs consist of various components such as a bit surface, bit gauge protection, stabilizers, reamers, and other downhole components. The BHA provides a force for the bit to break the rock which corresponds to the rate of penetration of the bit. The force provided by the BHA and forces from contact with the borehole walls during drilling activity cause abrasive wear to the BHA components. The BHA is pulled out of the borehole when the bit is sufficiently worn, and a new bit is required, or if any other component of the BHA is defective or fails. Drilling time is affected by the rate of penetration and the number of times the BHA is retrieved from the wellbore.

Estimating wear for BHA components using borehole hardness


A hydraulically damping elastomer bearing has at least one housing (1, 2), a connection element (3), an elastomer body (4), which couples the housing (1, 2) and the connection element (3) with one another in a vibration-damping manner. Two chambers (5, 6) filled with a fluid are provided as well as at least one flow channel (8), which connects the chambers (5, 6) to one another. A recess (9) in the housing (1, 2) is associated with the flow channel (8). A valve (10) is present in the recess (9) for opening and closing the flow channel (8). An actuator (11) is provided for actuating the valve (10) on the outside of the housing (1, 2). The valve (10) includes an elastic diaphragm (12), in which an insert (13) is embedded.

The significance of the damping of vibrations generated in a motor vehicle and of external vibrations that are transmitted, for example, from the pavement to the vehicle, increases with increasing demands on comfort. This is of significance especially because of the necessary reduction of the noise level in the interior space and the reduction of vibrations that are perceived as being unpleasant.
Elastomer bearings are increasingly used, for example, to mount the drive assembly or movable components in the motor vehicle because of the favorable springing and damping properties of elastomer materials. The quality and the damping properties are substantially affected by the specific composition of the elastomer. The hardness and the elasticity of the bearings can be decisively affected by changing the material composition of the elastomer. However, a limit is set to this variability where great vibration amplitudes must be damped. These are generated, for example, when the drive assembly is idle or when motions act on the chassis periodically and in a shock-like manner on an uneven pavement. These so-called resonant vibrations can only be damped with conventional elastomer bearings or rubber bearings to a limited extent. However, since precisely resonant vibrations are felt to be very disturbing and very unpleasant in the vehicle, and moreover, these vibrations may bring about damage to expensive components, hydraulically damping elastomer bearings are increasingly used in modern motor vehicles.
These have at least two chambers, which are separated from one another, and in which a damping fluid is contained. The chambers are connected to one another via a flow channel and are deformed in case of an external force acting on the elastomer bearing, so that damping fluid can pass over from one chamber into the other. The chamber walls offer a resistance to the change in shape, which leads to a change in the pressure in the chambers. An indicator of this change in pressure due to the change in volume thus generated is called the "buckling spring rate." To compensate the pressure difference between the chambers, the chambers are connected to one another via the flow channel already mentioned. Pressure equalization takes place between the chambers exclusively via this flow channel in case of spring compression with low frequencies. It follows from this that the elastomer bearing in this case makes a decisive contribution to the springing and damping of the elastomer bearing.
However, a damped system, which is capable of vibrating, and which comprises the elastic chambers walls and the mass of the damping fluid contained in the flow channel, is of increasing significance as the frequency increases.
If an elastomer bearing with hydraulic damping is excited in the range of a resonant frequency, the damping changes and the elastic properties of the elastomer bearing as a whole will change as well. Finally, the inertia of the amount of fluid present in the flow channel and the friction prevent a further pressure equalization between the chambers above the resonant frequency. As a result, the rigidity of the chamber walls supports the rigidity of the carrier and brings about an increase in the overall rigidity compared to the low-frequency type of load.
A hydraulically damping elastomer bearing, which is designed as an aggregate bearing for mounting the drive assembly of a motor vehicle according to the disclosure content of the document, is known from DE 101 04 458 A1. This has a housing as well as a connection element. The housing and the connection element are coupled with one another via an elastomer bearing in a vibration-damping manner. The housing and the connection element can thus be fastened at different components of the motor vehicle and consequently moved relative to one another. Furthermore, the hydraulically damping elastomer bearing known from DE 101 04 458 A1 has two chambers, which are filled with a fluid and which are connected to one another by a flow channel. This connection is designed as an open damping channel and makes possible the amortization of vibrations of the vehicle acting on the elastomer bearing, which amortization was already mentioned in the introduction. Furthermore, the prior-art elastomer bearing with hydraulic damping has an additional flow channel. This flow channel is designed as a bypass channel to the damping channel and is closed during the normal operation of the elastomer bearing. The bypass channel is opened only when needed, so that additional frequency ranges can hereby be damped, which would otherwise be passed on directly into the passenger compartment or to the motor vehicle. A valve, which acts on the bypass channel from the outside through a recess present in the housing and thus opens and closes same, is used to close the bypass channel. An actuator, which is in turn used to actuate the valve, is likewise located on the outside of the housing.
Also known are solutions in which the actuator is arranged directly within the elastomer bearing. JP 2002061702 A or JP 01135939 A are mentioned here as examples only. However, this is disadvantageous for several reasons. Thus, the properties of the damping fluid can be affected by the actuator, which is designed as an electromagnet in the prior-art solutions. In addition, such an elastomer bearing can be manufactured in a comparatively complicated manner, and the control lines for the actuator must be led off to the outside, which entails considerable sealing problems.
Compared to the embodiments with an actuator accommodated in the damping fluid, a hydraulically damping elastomer bearing, as is known from DE 101 04 458 A1, has the decisive advantage that neither the damping fluid within the bearing nor the actuator arranged therein is subject to mutual wear. The actuator arranged outside the elastomer bearing can be easily replaced when needed. No supply lines need to be led out of the elastomer bearing, and the elastomer bearing can be mounted in a simple manner. The actuator is an electromagnet, whose armature is formed by the valve. The valve itself reaches directly into the flow channel of the elastomer bearing via a piston made of an elastomer plastic. Thus, problems arise concerning the compliance with necessary tolerances during the manufacture of such an elastomer bearing, which makes mounting, on the whole, complicated and leads to an increase in the cost of the elastomer bearing in question. Another problem can be seen in the fact that the elastomer plug used in the prior-art solution is inserted into the flow channel designed as a bypass channel on the front side of the valve at right angles to the direction of flow and is thus exposed to high pressures at the vibration frequencies acting on the elastomer bearing. Consequently, this elastomer plug must have high stability, because its elasticity could lead to an impairment of the hydraulic bearing effect in case of a closed flow channel. Moreover, the sealing of the recess in the housing to avoid the escape of damping fluid from the elastomer bearing is relatively complicated.
Furthermore, a valve in the form of a diaphragm, which consists, on the whole, of an elastomer material, is known from JP 60-220239 A. Based on frequent switching operations during the opening and closing of the flow channel, this diaphragm is subject to extreme wear, so that the service life of an elastomer bearing of such a design is limited. Moreover, the closing force, which is necessary for closing the existing bypass channel, and which must be generated by the valve, is considerable, because the valve must be moved against the direction of flow of the fluid passing through the bypass channel in order to make it possible to close the bypass channel.


A light apparatus includes one or more light pipes and/or diffusers to transfer and/or diffuse light from a few point light sources to a broader area and to other points. A hollow light pipe includes a light transmissive sidewall that encompasses an interior space, which receives and hides control circuitry for the light sources therein. A bottom end surface of the hollow light pipe is disposed adjacent to one or more light sources and transmits the light therefrom over a relatively large, uniform area. A solid core light pipe has a light receiving end and a light dispersion end having a reflective facet therein. The reflective facet includes a depression forming a reflective surface angularly displaced from a longitudinal axis of the solid core light pipe. A light diffuser surrounding a point source of light is adapted to cause the point source to look like a flame. A light apparatus including the hollow light pipe and the solid core light pipe and/or the light diffuser is adapted to provide a plurality of different light effects, including a multi-color light show through the hollow light pipe and a flame flicker effect through the solid core light pipe.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus for producing one or more visually discernable lighting effects and light control devices that may be used with the lighting apparatus.
2. Background of the Invention
Lighting devices that use light control devices, such as for example light pipes, light diffusers, and/or lenses, for transferring and manipulating light from one point light source to another location are known. In one example, a point light source, such as an incandescent light bulb, is disposed inside an opaque housing. Long, thin strands of hollow fiber optic tubing have one end located near the light bulb and an opposite end disposed in or through the housing. Light from the light bulb is transferred through the fiber optic tubing to the opposite end to provide a plurality of points of light around the exterior of the housing.
Another light apparatus has an LED disposed in an end cavity of a bullet-shaped light pipe, which is in turn disposed inside an end cavity of an outer diffuser shaped to resemble a flame. The outer surface of the bullet-shaped light pipe abuts against an inner surface of the outer diffuser, and power circuitry for the LED is carried below the outer diffuser and inner light pipe by a base.
Yet another luminary device has a base, which carries a light bulb and attendant power and control circuitry therefor. A solid light pipe having a decorative shape, such as a flower or a bottle, is disposed on top of the base above the light bulb. Light from the light bulb enters a base portion of the light pipe and is transferred therethrough to illuminate the entire light pipe.


A method for manufacturing magnet armatures which are used mainly in brake-pressure modulators of electronically controlled brake systems and which are provided on their entire surface with a plastic coating, for reasons of dimensional stability and sliding properties. Magnet armatures of this type are constructed as cylindrical members and are usually provided in the region of one of the two end faces with an elastomeric sealing element, which according to the prior art is bonded to the magnet armature by vulcanization, an adhesive elastomer-to-metal bond being formed between the magnet armature and the elastomeric sealing element during vulcanization. Since bonds of this type are not possible for a completely coated magnet armature, the elastomer for the elastomeric sealing element is, according to the invention, vulcanized onto the armature without using an adhesion promoter. The resulting absence of nonpositive bonding between the elastomeric sealing element and the magnet armature is replaced by the structural feature of an interlocking relationship between the magnet armature and the elastomer. The interlocking relationship is achieved by an undercut in the magnet armature.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing magnet armatures.
German Patent Application DE 19730276 A1 [hereinafter referred to as E1] teaches that it is advantageous to provide the magnet armature of a solenoid valve with a plastic coating, for reasons of dimensional stability and sliding properties thereof. FIG. 2 therein describes a 3/2-way valve, in other words a valve with two valve seats, representing the maximum possible number of valve seats in the embodiment with only one magnet armature.
On the valve closure face [(3) therein] of the armature [(1) therein] there is provided a coating which prevents damage to the face when this strikes the valve seat [(4) therein] upon actuation of the magnet.
When the magnet actuation is turned off, the second closure face [(19) therein] is caused by the action of the restoring spring to strike the second valve seat [(20) therein], whereby it is further advantageous to provide a coating on the second valve closure face as well for protection against damage. Furthermore, the faces [(6) therein] of the armature in contact with the guide device [(5) therein] are provided with a coating to increase sliding capability.
Finally, it is proposed that the entire armature be provided with a coating in one working cycle, for example by immersion. This very cost-effective total coating of the magnet armature is possible for the valve types presented therein, but all valve seats shown therein are designed as metal-to-metal sealing seats, which do not have a hermetic seal.
In the case of application in pilot units for brake-pressure modulators of electronically controlled brake systems in vehicles, there are usually provided in each channel at least three pilot valves ["air admission", "venting", redundant pressure function], which are designed as solenoid valves but which must have a hermetically sealing valve seat in their closed position, to ensure that the pressure in the control chamber of the downstream relay valve is maintained when the pilot valves are not actuated. The function and principle of action of such pilot solenoid valves is described in German Patent Application 10009117.2, which does not represent a prior disclosure, and which is referred to hereinafter as E2.
FIG. 4 of E2 illustrates the valve types with which such pilot units can be constructed: They comprise a 2/2-way valve which is closed when the energizing current is off [(43) and (44) in FIG. 4 therein], a 2/2-way valve which is open when the energizing current is off [(45) and (46) in FIG. 4 therein] and a 3/2-way valve [(47) and (48) in FIG. 4 therein].
For each of the cited valve types there is shown in FIG. 4 therein the magnet armature [(39) therein], which is provided at one end with a molding [(42) therein] for formation of a metal-to-metal sealing seat that is not hermetically sealing, and at the other end with an elastomeric insert [(41) therein] for formation of the hermetically sealing valve seat.
The magnet armatures according to FIG. 4 of E2 cannot, however, be equipped with a total coating such as proposed in E1.
The reason for this is that the elastomeric inserts according to FIG. 4 of E2 are vulcanization-bonded into corresponding cavities of the magnet armatures, and so an adhesive elastomer-to-metal bond exists between the ferromagnetic base material of the magnet armature and the elastomeric insert.
This metal-to-elastomer bond is produced with the help of an adhesion promoter which acts between the base metal and the elastomer in the manner explained hereinafter. Because the adhesion promoter has extremely sensitive functional ability, however, it is effective only if a well prepared metal surface is present, as explained hereinafter; the use of such a thin plastic coating between the base metal and the elastomeric insert rules out any secure adhesion of this insert. For this reason a plastic coating of the cavity for the elastomeric insert is not possible, whereby total coating of the magnet armature for such pilot solenoid valves is ruled out.
The foregoing explanations about FIG. 4 of E2 are familiar as such to those skilled in the art; E2, which is not a prior disclosure, is mentioned here merely because FIG. 4 therein illustrates the common types of pilot valves all together.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide a method for manufacturing magnet armatures, while overcoming the disadvantages associated with prior art methods and magnetic armatures.

Method for manufacturing a magnet armature


An exemplary method includes a remote control device management system pairing a remote control device with a first media content processing device; detecting, after the pairing of the remote control device with the first media content processing device, that a second media content processing device receives an infrared (“IR”) signal transmitted from the remote control device together with a non-infra-red (“non-IR”) based wireless communication signal; determining that the remote control device is not paired with the second media content processing device by determining that the IR signal received by the second media content processing device includes an IR token that identifies the remote control device as being paired with the first media content processing device; and re-pairing, in response to the determination, the remote control device with the second media content processing device in place of the first media content processing device. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Subscription television service users often have multiple set-top box devices located throughout their homes. For example, a user may have a different set-top box device for each television located within the user's home. In this manner, the user may access media programs or otherwise interact with the subscription television service regardless of which television he or she is viewing.
Each set-top box device included in a plurality of set-top box devices located in a user's home may be paired with a different remote control device. Through a remote control device, a user is able to control a set-top box device that is paired with the remote control device, but is not able to control other set-top box devices located in the home of the user.
However, the user may desire or need to use a remote control device to control a set-top box device other than the set-top box device that is currently paired with the remote control device. For example, a remote control device may be paired with a first set-top box device located in a first room at a user's house. In some cases, the user may want to carry the remote control device from the first room to a second room in order to use the remote control device to control a second set-top box device located in the second room (e.g., if the remote control device currently paired with the second set-top box device is lost). Unfortunately, the user will not be able to control the second set-top box device because the remote control device is currently paired with the first set-top box device, not the second set-top box device. This undesirably results in the second set-top box device not recognizing a command that is sent from the remote control device and that is intended to control the second set-top box device. In addition, if the remote control device uses BLUETOOTH or other non-infrared based wireless signals, this may result in the command intended to control the second set-top box device undesirably being executed by the first set-top box device.

Systems and methods for managing pairing of remote control devices with a plurality of media content processing devices


Described are apparatus and methods for processing semiconductor wafers so that a film can be deposited on the wafer and the film can be UV treated without the need to move the wafer to a separate location for treatment. The apparatus and methods include a window which is isolated from the reactive gases by a flow of an inert gas.

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to apparatus and methods for depositing a film on a substrate surface and treating the film with UV radiation. In particular, embodiments of the invention are directed to apparatus and methods incorporating a window through which UV radiation can be directed toward the substrate surface while minimizing deposition on the window.
Metal films (e.g., ruthenium) can be deposited by cyclical deposition processes. For example, a substrate can be exposed to a ruthenium organometallic precursor which adsorbs to the surface of the substrate. The organometallic bonds can be broken to drive off the organic portion, leaving a metal film on the substrate surface. The organometallic complex can be decomposed or reduced to the bare metal by, for example, exposure to ultraviolet light. However, the films generally have a significant amount of organic contaminants, resulting in a poor quality metal film.
Additionally, apparatus for this process use a window to separate the reaction space of the processing chamber from the light source. This window can be coated with contaminants, reducing the transparency of the window and decreasing the efficiency of the process. The window may need to be frequently cleaned or replaced, resulting in significant downtime and expose.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for methods and apparatus capable of depositing good quality metal films using light exposure while minimizing downtime associated with cleaning and/or replacement of the window which isolates the light source from the reaction space.

Deposition chambers with UV treatment and methods of use


In an ANS used for a television conference between calling and destined conference room terminals accommodated in an ATM network, an address of each conference room terminal is stored in an address database as address resolution data which have no hierarchical structure and which therefore uniquely define each conference room terminal. A priority level of each conference room terminal is also stored in the address database and is referenced on occurrence of congestion so as to determine whether or not a connection is released during a conference. Reservation data may be stored in the ANS together with topology data and connection data.

This invention relates to an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) name system which is for use in a television conference system which carries out a conference between a plurality of conference room terminals through an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network. Herein, it is to be noted that each of the conference room terminals is placed in a meeting or conference room and has a function of carrying out a conference by the use of a television set with other conference room terminal or terminals through an ATM network.
Herein, an ATM name system (will be often abbreviated to ANS hereinafter) has been defined in the ATM Name System Specification Version 1.0 (af-saa-0069.000), published by the ATM Forum Technical Committee (November, 1996). The specification has been prescribed on the basis of the DNS (Domain Name Server) determined by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) on the requests for comments (RFC) 1034 and 1035.
This shows that the ATM name system (ANS) is similar to the DNS and, therefore, a host name should include a domain name of a hierarchical structure. The ANS finally resolves an ATM end system address (AESA) by executing retrieval by the host name. More specifically, the exemplification has been made as the host name "salmon.data.example.com" in the above-mentioned specification (af-saa-0069.000). In this event, the host name "salmon.data.example.com" is used as a key on retrieval and such retrieval finally resolves or gives an AESA, such as 39.246f.000e7c9c031200010001.000012345678.00.
However, consideration is not made at all in the above-mentioned ANS about application to a television conference that is executed or held by using the ANS. In this connection, the above-mentioned ANS is not suitable for the television conference and has various defects and disadvantages that will be enumerated below.
For example, the ANS in question can not directly resolve an AESA on the basis of a destination conference room terminal because the host name of the hiearchical structure should be used as a key on resolving an AESA. More specifically, resolving an AESA in relation to the above-mentioned host name of ".data.example.com" is carried out by an ANS placed in ".data.example.com" domain.
However, it should be considered that a host name in a domain of ".example.com" without ".data" is resolved in such an ATM network system. In this case, any query should be issued once to an ANS placed the domain of ".example.com" on an upper layer, so as to be informed of an additional ANS placed on a layer equivalent to the layer of ".data". Thus, the host name is resolved into an AESA by the additional ANS.
Likewise, when a host name ".com" without ".example" is given, a query is issued to an ANS placed on an upper layer of ".com" to have the upper layer ANS introduce an additional ANS placed on a layer equivalent to the layer of ".example". Finally, the host name is resolved in such an additional ANS. Furthermore, if a host name without ".com" is given, a query is issued to an ANS placed on an uppermost layer to get an ANS on the uppermost layer. As a result, resolution is made by the ANS on the uppermost layer.
From this fact, it is readily understood that the domains should have a hiearchical structure and ANS should be distributed and arranged on the respective layers. In this event, if host names, such as "conference room 1. head office" and "conference room 2. branch A" are given, which should be represented by host names of hiearchical structures. This shows that ANSs are necessary for both the head office and the branch and hardware becomes large in size with the above structure.
Moreover, the ATM Name System Specification Version 1.0 (af-saa-0069.000) never points out problems that might occur in a multipoint conference. In this connection, no consideration is made at all in the specification about an ANS used in the multipoint conference and about using a multipoint conference unit (MCU).

ANS designed for a conference between conference room terminals and network system including the ANS


An irrigation controller has run-times that are modified as a function of a calculated volumetric irrigation amount and a preferred irrigation amount. The preferred irrigation amount is at least partly based on an evapotranspiration (ETo) value and the area of the irrigated site. The calculated volumetric irrigation amount is based on flow meter data and inputted irrigation run-times. Preferably the flow meter is a water meter that measures water distributed to the irrigation system and to other water using devices at the irrigated site, and the flow data is based on signature data. In addition to flow data, water pressure may be measured that corresponds with the flow data. It is anticipated that the function will involve the dividing of the preferred irrigation amount by the calculated volumetric irrigation amount to arrive at a modifying factor.

Water is becoming one of the most precious natural resources in arid areas of the world. Meeting future water needs in these arid areas may require aggressive conservation measures. This in turn requires irrigation systems that apply water to the landscape based on the water requirements of plants in that particular landscape.
Many automatic irrigation controllers are known. They range from simple devices that control watering times based upon fixed schedules, to sophisticated devices that vary the watering schedules according to local geography and climatic conditions.
With respect to the simpler types of irrigation controllers, a homeowner typically sets a watering schedule that involves specific run times and specific days for each watering station. With these simple types of controller systems, the controller executes the same schedule regardless of change of seasons or weather conditions. Typically, the homeowner would manually adjust the watering schedule, but only a few times during the year. The adjustments are generally based on the homeowner's perceptions rather than the actual watering needs of the landscape. One manual adjustment is typically made in late Spring, when a portion of the yard becomes brown due to a lack of water. Another manual adjustment is typically made in late Fall, when the homeowner assumes that vegetation does not require as much watering. These manual adjustments to the watering schedule are typically insufficient to achieve efficient watering. Further, such controllers do not provide feedbacks to homeowners with respect to the efficiency of their watering practices.
More sophisticated irrigation controllers use evapotranspiration rates to determine the amount of water needed for a landscape. Evapotranspiration (ETo) is the process whereby water is discharged into the atmosphere by direct evaporation from the soil and the plant, and by transpiration from the plant's surface. Irrigation controllers that derive all or part of the irrigation schedule from ETo data (ET irrigation controllers) are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,339, issued December 1995, to Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,861, issued March 1992 to Hopkins, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,787, issued June 1991, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,937, issued July 1993, both to Evelyn-Veere, U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,855, issued May 1993, to Marian, U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,671, issued December 1997, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,302, issued February 1999, both to Oliver, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,061, issued August, 2000, U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,220, issued May, 2001, U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,285, issued October, 2001, U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,113, issued May, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,114, issued May, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 6,944,523, issued September, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,811, issued September, 2005 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,950,728, issued September, 2005, all to Addink, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Even with these ET irrigation controllers, the consumer will generally modify the irrigation schedule such that it's different from scheduled amounts that were based on ETo. For example, a consumer typically makes adjustment to increase irrigation amount when he sees a dry spot on the landscape, and forgets to change the controller setting back to the original setting when such increase is no longer needed. A modification of the irrigation system to improve distribution uniformity might have corrected the dry spot problem without requiring the consumer to change the controller setting. Also, ET controllers do not provide feedbacks to homeowners with respect to the efficiency of their watering practices.
What is required is a method whereby the irrigation controller automatically modify future run-times to consistently irrigate the landscape based on the amount of water that should be applied to the landscape, based on ETo information.
All referenced patents, applications and literatures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Furthermore, where a definition or use of a term in a reference, which is incorporated by reference herein is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.


The electric brake motor unit has: a motor; a connector having a connector terminal; a first section extending in a first direction and having a first contact portion electrically connected to the connector terminal; a second section extending in the first direction and having a second contact portion electrically connected to a motor terminal; and an intermediate section extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction between the first section and the second section. The electric brake motor unit is provided with: a bus bar in which the first section, the intermediate section, and the second section are connected in a crank shape; and a motor bracket mounted on the motor and having two positioning portions that are mutually separately positioned with a space through which the intermediate section passes and are used for positioning the intermediate section in the first direction.

Conventionally, an electric brake motor unit is known which decelerates the rotation of a motor serving a power source and converts it into a linear motion of a linear moving member, and presses a brake pad against a disk or a drum by the linear moving member (e.g., Patent Literature 1).


A device for controlling current to a solid state lighting load includes a capacitor (241, 341) and a current source (245, 345). The capacitor is connected in a parallel arrangement with the solid state lighting load (260, 360). The current source is connected in series with the parallel arrangement of the capacitor and the solid state lighting load. The current source is configured to modulate dynamically an amplitude of an input current provided to the parallel arrangement of the capacitor and the solid state lighting load based on an input voltage.

Digital lighting technologies, i.e. illumination based on semiconductor light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), offer a viable alternative to traditional fluorescent, HID, and incandescent lamps. Functional advantages and benefits of LEDs include high energy conversion and optical efficiency, durability, lower operating costs, and many others. Recent advances in LED technology have provided efficient and robust full-spectrum lighting sources that enable a variety of lighting effects in many applications. Some of the fixtures embodying these sources feature a lighting module, including one or more LEDs capable of producing different colors, e.g., red, green and blue, as well as a processor for independently controlling the output of the LEDs in order to generate a variety of colors and color-changing lighting effects, for example, as discussed in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,016,038 and 6,211,626.
Typically, an LED-based lighting unit or LED load that includes multiple LED-based light sources, such as a string of LEDs connected in series, is driven by a power converter, which receives voltage and current from mains power supply. To reduce driver cost, the LED load may be driven directly from the mains power supply, as an alternative, including AC and DC operation. However, there are drawbacks related to AC driving directly from the mains power supply. For example, the current waveform provided to the LED load has a high peak value compared to the average value. Therefore, the LED load is driven with a reduced efficiency due to droop, as well as a low power factor. Also, current flow is only possible when the instantaneous mains voltage is higher than the forward voltage of the LED load. Therefore, there may be relatively long periods during which no current flows to the LED string and no light is produced, causing flicker.
To partially address these issues, a rectifier circuit may be connected between the mains power supply and the lighting unit, and a capacitor may be connected in parallel with the LED load within the lighting unit. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a circuit diagram of a conventional LED-based lighting unit 100, which includes bridge rectifier circuit 110, LED load 160 and capacitor 141, which acts as a power factor control (PFC) and smoothing circuit 140. The capacitor 141 is connected in parallel with the LED load 160, which includes resistor 163 connected in series with a string of one or more LED light sources, indicated by LEDs 161 and 162. The bridge rectifier circuit 110 is connected to mains power source 101 via resistor 105, and includes diodes 111 to 114. The bridge rectifier circuit 110 thus outputs a rectified mains voltage or input voltage Urect to the circuit 140.
However, due to the charging and discharging waveform of capacitor current IC input to the capacitor 141 and the shape of the mains voltage waveform, the LED-based lighting unit 100 typically consumes current, e.g., to recharge the capacitor 141, within a relatively short time period, resulting in high current peaks and a low power factor. In addition, predominantly the resistor 105 connected to the mains power source 101 limits both the repetitive and the initial charging of the capacitor 141. Therefore, when the LED load 160 is initially turned on, there may be an excessive in-rush current. For example, if the LED load 160 is turned on during a mains voltage peak of the mains power source 101, the capacitor current IC of the capacitor 141 may be relatively large, as compared to nominal operation. As a result, unless LED load 160 includes several light sources connected to one circuit in series, resulting in a relatively low value of the nominal LED operation current, due to the further components in the LED-based lighting unit 100, already a relatively small number of light sources will be enough to trigger a magnetic release of the circuit breaker. Therefore, the number of LED-based lighting units 100 connectable to one circuit may be dramatically lower (e.g. only 1/10 or even 1/50) than one may expect according to the nominal current.
From efficiency point of view, and when looking at an individual LED-based light source, the waveform of the current does not present a problem. However, when locking at a large number of LED-based light sources, high currents during a short time interval create distortion on the mains grid and may trigger a circuit breaker (e.g., trigger a fast acting magnetic release of a circuit breaker). Due to the mains distortion, use of LED loads with very low power factors is prohibited by regulation. For example, in Europe, the required power factor may be as low as 0.5, which is attainable using the rectifier and capacitor solution, described above. However, other regions require relatively high power factors, such as 0.7 or higher, e.g. 0.9.
Thus, there is a need in the art to AC drive LED-based lighting units directly from the mains power supply, while maintaining relatively high power factors. In addition, there is a need in the art for preventing excessive in-rush currents when initially turning on LED-based lighting units driven directly from the mains power supply.

Device and method for controlling current to solid state lighting circuit


An external bushing for the outlet end of a nozzle spout having a generally tubular body defining an inner cavity which includes a first section and a concentric second section. There is a first open end at the first section and a second open end at the second section. The second section has an end wall which slightly reduces the diameter of the second open end. The outside diameter of the first section is greater than the outside diameter of the second section. The inner diameter of the tubular body is generally constant from the first open end to the second open end and is approximately the same as the outside diameter of a dispensing nozzle spout. However there is groove formed in the inner surface of the tubular body at the approximate juncture of the first and second sections. The bushing is applied over the discharge end of a nozzle spout and attached by an internal swage operation which presses some spout material into the internal groove.

This invention is related generally to fuel dispensing systems and, more particularly, to a spout bushing for the discharge end of a fuel dispensing nozzle. Fuel dispensing systems are well known to the art and are intended for the controlled and measured dispensing of fuels, such as gasoline or diesel fuel, from a storage vessel into an vehicle fuel tank or other container such as a gas can or similar containers. The fuel dispensing system generally comprises a pump and a dispensing nozzle. The nozzle generally includes a handle, a spout having an external spout spring around it, and internal valves, including poppet valves operatively connected to a venturi for automatically shutting off the nozzle when the fuel level in the container being filled reaches a certain level.
The spout generally is a hollow tube device having a curvilinear configuration for introduction into the container, for example, into the filler neck of the fuel tank or into a gas can. Due to the repeated use of the nozzle and multiple introductions of the spout into various containers and fuel tanks, and so forth, the tip of the spout can become damaged or bent. Such wear or damage on the tip of the spout can affect fuel flow characteristics. For example, the damaged spout can cause unwanted fuel spray. Further, the damaged spout tip can interfere with normal operation of the venturi resulting in a fuel dispensing nozzle that fails to shut-off properly. Further, it is not uncommon for the external spout spring on the fuel dispensing nozzle to slip or migrate down over the tip of the spout. If the spring moves toward the end of the spout it can interfere with the tip end or the venturi shut-off port causing the nozzle to shut of continuously.
It would be advantageous, therefore, to have an external spout bushing that can be fitted over the outlet end of the nozzle spout to retain the external spout spring in place and to prevent damage to the end of the spout.

Spout bushing for fuel dispensing nozzle


A method and apparatus for capturing future instances of a song or a television show or the like. Responsive to a user activating a trigger, typically during the middle of the song or show, the system stores a clip and thereafter begins to monitor one or more channels or stations, attempting to locate that clip, such as by using DSP techniques. Upon finding the clip, the beginning and ending points of the song or show are identified, and the song or show is saved. Hunting may continue, to find a best available version of the song or show, such as one having the best noise characteristics.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to recording of media content.
2. Background Art
Presently, if a user wishes to record a media content item in its entirety but the user did not begin recording at or before the start of the media content item, the user will need to take many steps at a future time to record it. The user will first need to ascertain an identification of the media content item, then identify a future time at which the media content item will be rebroadcast, then begin recording prior to the rebroadcast. In many instances, some or all of those steps can be difficult. Examples of media content items may include a song the user is hearing on a radio broadcast or a television program the user is watching on a television broadcast, or the like.


A pin anchoring structure for button switches has a wiring space in an insulation seat to hold a first pin and a second pin that are separated. Through a pressing action, the first pin and the second pin form an electric connection via a conductive connection member. The second pin has a pressed coupling section which is formed in a bulged curve. The seat has a bottom which also is formed in another bulged curve corresponding to the pressed coupling section. Thereby the second pin can be anchored securely on the bottom of the seat.

Multi-instruction switches are widely used in various types of information appliance (IA) products such as mobile phones, PDAs, computer keyboards and the like. The multi-instruction switch can provide multiple stages connection and generate multiple sets of circuit signals. Hence one switch can execute multiple actions to reduce the size of IA products. It is more convenient in use.
R.O.C. patent No. M248006 entitled "Thin switch" includes a seat which has a hollow housing compartment with an opening directing upwards. The housing compartment has an electrode portion and an elastic element located above the electrode portion. The elastic element includes a trigger assembly which contains an upper button and a lower button. A cap is provided and mounted onto the seat to seal housing compartment. The cap has an opening to allow the upper button to extend outside. Its main features include: the upper button has a bracing portion confined in the housing compartment and a coupling trough. The lower button has a pressure receiving portion anchored in the coupling trough without extending outside an anchor area of the coupling trough and a depressing portion located between the pressure receiving portion and an elastic element. Signals are generated by pressing the depressing portion on the elastic element. The elastic element is deformed to contact the electrode portion to form an electric connection.
The present circuit layout in the switch mostly adopts an injection process to embed pins in a switch body. Due to the function of the IA products grows constantly, a single switch has to generate signals of multiple functions. For instance, the multi-directional trigger switch disclosed in R.O.C. patent No. 570281 generates and outputs a plurality of different signals from one switch body. The circuit layout to embed multiple pins via the injection process at the same time is difficult. R.O.C. patent No. 570279 discloses a rotary switch which adopts a design to separately connect the second pin that is most difficult to be included in the circuit layout. But the second pin has to be bent to form a pressed coupling section located in the switch body and a pin section located outside the switch body. As the total size of the switch is small, and the pins are even smaller, anchoring the second pin is difficult during fabrication. An incidental impact to the second pin could occur during fabrication and cause excessive bending of the second pin. As a result, the pressed coupling section could be warped and a mistaken signal could be generated from the second pin.

Pin anchoring structure for button switches


A cationic Group 3 or Lanthanide metal complex for coordination polymerization of olefins is disclosed. The precursor metal complex is stabilized by an anionic multidentate ancillary ligand and two monoanionic ligands. The ancillary ligand and the transition metal form a metallocycle having at least five primary atoms, counting any π-bound cyclopentadienyl group in the metallocycle as two primary atoms. Olefin polymerization is exemplified.

Neutral scandium compounds having two univalent ligands or a bidentate, divalent ligand are known from Shapiro et al., Organometallics, vol. 9, pp. 867-869 (1990); Piers et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 112, pp. 9406-9407 (1990); Shapiro et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 116, pp. 4623-4640 (1994); Hajela et al., Organometallics, vol. 13, pp. 1147-1154 (1994); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,219 to Yasuda et al. Similar yttrium, lanthanum and cerium complexes are disclosed in Booij et al., Journal of Organometallic Chemistry, vol. 364, pp. 79-86 (1989) and Coughlin et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 114, pp. 7606-7607 (1992). Polymerization with a metal scandium complex having a bidentate, divalent ligand using a non-ionizing cocatalyst is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,906 to Patton et al.
Group-3-10 metallocyclic catalyst complexes are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,312,881 and 5,455,317, both to Marks et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,802 to Stevens et al.; and EP 0 765 888 A2. U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,556 to Shaffer et al. describes Group-3 olefin polymerization catalysts.
Polymerization of olefins with cationic Group-4 metal complexes is illustrated in WO 96/13529 and WO 97/42228. Boratabenzene complexes of Group-3-5 metals are disclosed in WO 97/23493.
Amidinato complexes of Group-3-6 metals are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,913 to Schlund et al. Group 4 bisamido catalysts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,935 to Canich, et al., and related multidentate bisarylamido catalysts are disclosed by D. H. McConville, et al, Macromolecules 1996 29, 5241-5243.
S. Hajela, W. P. Schaefer, J. E. Bercaw, J. Organomet. Chem. vol. 532, pp. 45-53 (1997) describes the synthesis of Group-3 metal complexes (Me3-TACN)M(CH3)3 (M=Sc, Y) and reactions of the Sc species with activators ([PhNMe2H][B(C6F5)4] and B(C6F5)3) and subsequent polymerization of ethylene and oligomerization of 1-pentene (with unspecified catalyst activities).
L. W. M. Lee, W. E. Piers, M. R. Elsegood, W. Clegg, M. Parvez, Organometallics vol. 18, pp. 2947-2949 (1999) describes the synthesis of a scandium dibenzyl complex with a β-diketiminato ancillary ligand, and the generation, by reaction with the Lewis acid B(C6F5)3, of an ionic derivative with a contact ion-pair structure (unreactive towards alkenes).
M. A. H. Male. M. E. G. Skinner, P. J. Wilson, P. Mountford, M. Schröder, New J. Chem. vol. 24, pp. 575-577 (2000) reports the synthesis of a substituted 1,4,7-triazacyclononane ligand, iPr2-TACN-(CH3)3NH2 and a corresponding titanium TACN-imido complex [iPr2-TACN-(CH3)3N]TiCl2 (in which the ligand is dianionic).
Monoanionic substituted TACN ligands (with pendant phenolate or alcoholate functions) can be found e.g. in C. Flassbeck, K. Wieghardt, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. vol. 608, pp. 60-68 (1992), and in D. A. Robson, L. H. Lees, P. Mountford, M. Schröder, Chem. Commun. pp. 1269-1270 (2000).
The synthesis and structure of a lithium salt of a substituted TACN ligand with a pendant cyclopentadienyl anion is reported in B. Quian, L. M. Henling, J. C. Peters, Organometallics vol. 19, pp. 2805-2807.


A semiconductor apparatus according to the present invention includes a circuit including a predetermined function, a clock generating circuit that generates a clock signal supplied to the circuit, a clock control circuit that controls the clock generating circuit, and a notification signal generating circuit that generates a notification signal for notifying a timing for the clock control circuit to control the clock generating circuit. A voltage supplied to the semiconductor apparatus is adjusted according to the notification signal.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor apparatus and a system including the semiconductor apparatus.
In recent years, SoC (System-on-a-chip) technology that integrates a circuit capable of providing a plurality of functions into one semiconductor chip has been developed. In the semiconductor apparatus using this SoC technology, the size of the semiconductor apparatus and the operating frequency of the semiconductor apparatus tend to increase.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2000-023355 and 2009-106097 disclose the technique concerning a power supply apparatus that can control the output voltage to be stable. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-220148 discloses a technique concerning the microprocessor capable of reducing the power consumption and increasing the speed.

Clock control and power management for semiconductor apparatus and system


A supercharging system includes: a first supercharger including a first compressor for compressing air to be supplied to an engine and a motor for driving the first compressor; a leakage current measuring part for measuring a leakage current of the motor; and a first controller for controlling the first supercharger. The first controller includes a motor control part configured to, when a measurement result by the leakage current measuring part is not less than a first threshold, set an upper limit value of an output command value for the motor to be lower than when the measurement result is less than the first threshold, and to control an output of the motor within a range which does not exceed the upper limit value.

It is known that occurrence of insulation degradation of winding, which is a typical example of malfunction of a motor, causes an increase in a leakage electric current with development of the insulation degradation.
To detect such a leakage current, Patent Document 1 discloses an electric leakage detection system for detecting a presence or absence of electric leakage when an inverter motor is supplied with voltage, provided for a motor compressor system for air conditioning. In this electric leakage detection system, electric leakage is detected by an electric leakage detection sensor. If electric leakage is detected, power supply to the inverter motor is immediately stopped to stop operation of the inverter motor.

Supercharging system, control device for supercharging system, and method for operating supercharging system


A mirror bracket supports a mirror. A mirror bracket includes a base and an attachment member for attaching the base to a vehicle. A member moves relative to the base. The member is movable in a rotational or linear direction. The member is urged opposite to the rotational or linear direction. The member includes a mirror receiver where the mirror is coupled to the member.

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the driver side of a motor vehicle. As shown, the motor vehicle includes driver door 910. A mirror assembly 920 is attached to door 910. In FIG. 10, the figure shows a vehicle from a position slightly forward of the driver and on the driver side of the vehicle. Thus, a mirror (not shown) sits inside mirror assembly 920 and is visible to the driver of the vehicle. A driver sitting in the driver seat of the vehicle is able to look into the mirror. By looking into the mirror, the driver is able to see behind the driver and along the driver side of the vehicle.
On the other side of the vehicle (the side of the vehicle closest to where a passenger, sitting next to where the driver is located), another mirror assembly may be located. Inclusion of a mirror assembly on the passenger side of the vehicle may be optional. The mirror assembly on the passenger side of the vehicle is a mirror image of the mirror assembly on the driver side of the vehicle. The mirror assembly on the passenger side of the vehicle also is visible to the driver of the vehicle. By looking into the mirror, the driver is able to see along the passenger side of the vehicle.
As shown in FIG. 10, mirror assembly 920 may be rigidly attached to door 910. Thus, mirror assembly 920 moves with door 910. As door 910 is opened and closed, door 910 will swivel relative to the vehicle. As door 910 swivels, mirror 920 moves with door 910.


An air bag module includes an inflatable cushion, an inner plate receivable within the cushion and a cover adapted to contain the cushion prior to inflation thereof. The inner plate and cushion are receivable within the cover. The base plate attaches to the inner plate. A portion of the cushion and a portion of the cover abut one another and are sandwiched directly between the base plate and the inner plate. The sandwiched portion of the cover is retained between the inner plate and the base plate (and preferably cupped by the base plate). The cushion, cover and attached inner plate and base plate remain retained to one another when the cushion is inflated. A method of assembling the air bag module is also provided.

Passenger vehicles are typically fitted with driver-side air bags. Such air bags are usually contained in an air bag module which is attached to the vehicle's steering wheel. The module typically contains an inflator and a cover enclosing the air bag. The cover is formed with weakened areas which the inflating air bag ruptures to enable the air bag to deploy into an interior space of the vehicle. The cover must be secured to the inflator sufficiently to prevent the cover from separating from the air bag module during inflation. The air bag module typically contains numerous components which are attached and connected by a variety of fasteners, rivets or other attachment means. Accordingly, the air bag module's structure is usually complex. The air bag module is typically assembled as a module prior to connection to the steering wheel assembly.

Driver air bag module and method of assembly


There is provided a method of transmitting and receiving broadcasting information by utilizing a cell broadcasting service (CBS) in a mobile telecommunication system. To transmit the broadcasting information, the broadcasting information is converted to a predetermined message code to the type and contents of the broadcasting information. A message having a header indicating the type of the broadcasting information and the converted message code is generated in a format predetermined depending on the type of the broadcasting information, and transmitted by utilization of the CBS.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a short message service (SMS) in a mobile telecommunication system, and in particular, to a cell broadcasting service (CBS), which utilizes a short message service.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile telecommunication service providers provide an SMS to subscribers for transmission of short messages. A CBS as well as a point-to-point text service, that is, a bidirectional text service for exchanging short messages between terminals, can be provided by the SMS. CBS provides information related to daily life to terminals, in predetermined areas or in predetermined groups, such daily life information includes discounts for consumer products, stock quotes, weather, sports, currency rates and traffic status.
However, since a CBS message transmits a limited amount of broadcasting information, it is relatively impossible to provide a large amount of information or diverse pieces of information to mobile subscribers.

Method of transmitting and receiving broadcasting information by utilizing a cell broadcasting service in a mobile telecommunication system


The disclosed embodiment provides a beverage container holder for a vehicle that utilizes a bin-like member having a floor and generally vertical walls defining a compartment with an opening at its top. A partition member extends across the opening of the bin-like member to divide the compartment into two parts, wherein the partition member is manually adjustable to a plurality of locations within the bin-like member to provide for the retention of beverage containers of various sizes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of beverage container holders for vehicles, and in particular to beverage container holders which are manually adjustable to hold beverage containers of different sizes.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that beverage containers such as cans, bottles, foam cups and juice boxes come in various sizes, and that they may vary substantially in diameter and area. Therefore, it is desirable that beverage container holders for vehicles have means to make them easily adjustable so as to suitably receive and support such beverage containers of various sizes.
In this technology field, there have been several variations in adjustable beverage container holders, popularly known as "cup holders". Many involve a slidable or ratcheting device that is spring loaded to be moved to various positions within the bin. In other configurations, spring loaded arms are used to grip the container and accommodate various sizes. However, there is a need for simpler and lower cost devices that can accomplish the traditional purpose of adjusting a beverage container size to accommodate a wide range of container sizes.


In accordance with certain embodiments, semiconductor dies are at least partially coated with a conductive adhesive prior to singulation and subsequently bonded to a substrate having electrical traces thereon.

A wide range of electronics packaging technologies have been developed for semiconductor devices to meet the varied needs of different applications. Over time semiconductor dimensions have decreased and pin counts have increased. Additionally, there is a growing need to support a wider range of operating currents at both high and low current levels. Packaging technology has had difficulty meeting these needs.
The package has a large impact on performance, size, price and reliability of the product. The flip-chip technique has been developed in response to a range of these needs. In the flip chip approach, the chips are fabricated with contacts on the top surface and then flipped over for attachment of those contacts to conductive traces on a substrate (e.g., a circuit board) or in a package. This approach has the advantage of eliminating wire bonding, but has a number of challenges in terms of process complexity and cost because it requires a complicated solder-based connection process, including solder bump formation, chip to board alignment, reflow, flux removal, underfill, and cure processes. Moreover, flip-chip processes are generally performed on individual singulated devices, and thus uniformity and repeatability are often problematic.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a more uniform and less complex flip-chip-based packaging process for electronic devices batch processed on semiconductor substrates.

Wafer-level flip chip device packages and related methods


There is disclosed a solid particulate deodorizing additive composition for a water-absorbent animal litter comprising sodium bicarbonate (SBC) or potassium bicarbonate (KBC), the particles of which are substantially coated with a mineral oil, mixed with a powdered siliceous material, e.g., expanded perlite, having a bulk density significantly lower than the density of SBC or KBC, the coated particles of SBC or KBC being stably adhered to and agglomerated with the particles of the siliceous material.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to novel deodorizing additives for animal litters and the litter compositions containing such additives.
2. Information Disclosure Statement including Description of Related Art
The following information is disclosed in accordance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.56, 1.97 and 1.98.
As is well-known, many species of animals and birds are raised and/or kept by people for various purposes, e.g., as pets; for the production of valuable products such as food or furs; or for experimental purposes. A major problem connected with the raising and/or keeping of animals is the disposition of their waste excretions, mainly urine and feces. Whether the animal or bird is caged, in which case its waste is deposited on the floor of the cage, or allowed to roam free but is trained to deposit its waste in a particular receptacle, a "litter" material is generally employed which is capable of absorbing the liquid portion of waste excretions, primarily urine and the excess liquid of fecal matter. However, while the water absorption properties of most litters make them effective in reducing the mess of animal waste excretions they do little to prevent the foul odor emitted by the waste.
Various deodorizing agents have been recommended for use in animal litters, including sodium bicarbonate (SBC). However, when SBC is utilized in the form of an unmodified powder as a deodorizing agent in animal litter, it tends to "wick" and dissolve in the aqueous phase of any animal waste products present, in which dissolved state it does not exert any deodorizing effect. Furthermore, due to its relatively high density, it tends to sink to the bottom of any litter composition present in the cage or litter box. To overcome these disadvantages, it has been proposed that the SBC be utilized in the animal litter in encapsulated form. However, the preparation of encapsulated SBC is an expensive procedure which renders the employment of SBC in this form impractical for many applications.
The following prior art references illustrate aspects of the technology of animal litter preparation.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,371 issued Oct. 16, 1973 to Fisher discloses a foamed plastic for absorbing and/or adsorbing animal waste products.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,275,684 issued Jun. 30, 1981 and 4,395,357 issued Jul. 26, 1983 to Kramer et al., disclose calcium silicate as an animal litter box absorbent material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,761 issued Feb. 16, 1982 to Larrson et al., teaches the use of aerated or foamed concrete to absorb animal waste products and facilitate the removal of excrement from a litter box.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,481 issued Jan. 22, 1985 to Rodriguez et al., discloses the addition of a soluble salt of a transition metal from Group Ib or IIb of the Periodic Table added to a conventional litter composition to prevent the development of urine odors.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,573 issued Feb. 18, 1986 to Lohman, discloses an animal litter composition containing 60-94 wt. % of paper, 1-35 wt. % of gypsum, and 3-12% of water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,763 issued Jan. 27, 1987 to Greenberg, teaches the addition of sodium sulfate to a litter box absorbent material to facilitate removal of solid absorbent material from the litter box.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,420 issued Aug. 11, 1987 to Stuart, discloses an animal litter composition comprising a water-absorbing polymer such as a polyacryate combined with a porous inert solid substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,115 issued Mar. 19, 1991 to Hughes, discloses the use of a water swellable bentonite clay as an absorbent litter material. The clay absorbs the liquids in animal waste which on contacting the clay agglomerates it into a stable mass easily separated from the unwetted and unsoiled portion of the composition.
Application Ser. No. 08/056,629, filed May 3, 1993, discloses and claims litter compositions containing the deodorizing additive of this invention.

Deodorizing additives for animal litters


Structured language data as a processing target is acquired via a first communication path or a second communication path. A rule corresponding to a communication path used for the acquisition is selected from a first rule and a second rule which respectively correspond the first communication path and the second communication path and define processing methods for the structured language data. The acquired structured language data as the processing target is processed in accordance with a processing method defined in a selected rule. Processing is executed based on the selected rule in either case that the first rule or the second rule is selected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing technique of processing structured language data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a printing apparatus includes various types of communication I/Fs, and allows various types of host devices to directly print. These communication I/Fs include a USB I/F, Network I/F, infrared I/F, and Bluetooth® I/F. In addition, host devices include a cellular phone, digital camera, and digital TV.
A Network I/F and a Bluetooth I/F are available as communication I/Fs (standardized) which can transmit, receive, and print XHTML-Print data. There are standards called UPnP and BPP (Basic Printing Profile) for the respective I/Fs. These standards are defined to perform communication in accordance with their respective defined schemes and print by rendering XHTML-Print data in accordance with defined schemes. Each standard also defines the specification of adopted XHTML-Print and the specifications of a style sheet and default style sheet to be used.
The following processing schemes are available as methods of selectively using different style sheets when displaying or printing structured languages such as XHTML-Print.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-209639 discloses an arrangement configured to decide and display a processing method for each style sheet based on user's selection when combining a style sheet and an associated structured language document and displaying the result.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-31983 discloses an arrangement configured to provide a web page which can be easily recognized by various users, by changing the display form of a web page by generating and applying a style sheet to which proper change information is applied.
A printing apparatus including a Network I/F or Bluetooth I/F capable of transmitting, receiving, and printing XHTML-Print data prints in accordance with the scheme defined in the UPnP or BPP standard. In order to perform printing complying with each standard, it is necessary to generate print data by a processing method defined in each standard.
The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent
Laid-Open No. 2001-209639, however, needs to decide a processing method for a style sheet in accordance with user's selection. For this reason, the user must perform a selecting operation. In some case, the user may not select any style sheet complying with the standard of an I/F.
The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-31983 is a technique of changing a display form by applying a style sheet to which change information is applied. However, a style sheet accompanying data is overwritten or changed without any consideration to an I/F when the data is received. In some case, therefore, it is not possible to apply a style sheet complying with the standard of the I/F.

Information processing apparatus, method of controlling information processing apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium


Provided are a method of algorithmic analog-to-digital conversion and an algorithmic Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC). The algorithmic ADC includes a Multiplying Digital-to-Analog Converter (MDAC). The MDAC includes a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) for converting a first digital signal into an analog signal, a subtractor for calculating a difference between the signal output from the DAC and an analog signal input from a first Sample and Hold Amplifier (SHA), an amplifier for amplifying the difference, a first capacitor unit connected with an output end of the first SHA and an input end of the amplifier through a first switching unit, a second capacitor unit connected with the input end and an output end of the amplifier through a second switching unit, and a third capacitor unit connected with the input end and the output end of the amplifier through a third switching unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of algorithmic analog-to-digital conversion and an algorithmic Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for efficiently performing analog-to-digital conversion using separate capacitors in an algorithmic ADC.
This work was supported by the IT R&D program of MIC/IITA. [2006-S-006-02. Components/Module technology for Ubiquitous Terminals].
2. Discussion of Related Art
To process an image signal in an image system, a precise analog signal must be converted into a digital signal insensitive to noise. This is performed by an ADC.
Image data output from a sensor is very precise and thus requires a high-resolution ADC capable of recognizing a minute signal. Besides image systems, communication and image processing application systems, such as mobile communications, Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Loops (ADSL), International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000), digital camcorders and High-Definition Televisions (HDTVs), require a high-performance ADC having a high resolution of 12 bits to 14 bits and a high sampling speed of several tens of MHz.
Among various conventional ADCs, an algorithmic ADC is widely used to optimize a chip size and power consumption.
However, the conventional algorithmic ADC has a problem in the operating speed of a Sample and Hold Amplifier (SHA) due to capacitor-sharing between the SHA and a Multiplying Digital-to-Analog Converter (MDAC).

Method of algorithmic analog-to-digital conversion and algorithmic analog-to-digital converter

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute