An apparatus simultaneously flicker filters and vertically contracts a plurality of original lines to form compensated lines. The device uses a coefficient calculator and a line processor, both controlled by a controller. The coefficient calculator provides compensation coefficients to the line processor. The line processor forms weighted sums of the original lines, with the weightings determined by the compensation coefficients. The compensation coefficients are chosen to simultaneously implement flicker filtering and vertical contraction. Thus, the weighted sums are the compensated lines.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to processing of computer graphics for display on a television, and more particularly, to the simultaneous flicker filtering and vertical contraction of computer graphics.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the result of the continuous development of new technologies, the distinction between computers, in particular computer monitors, and televisions is becoming increasingly blurred. In other words, the computer and television industries are converging. For example, computer networks such as the Internet and the World Wide Web used to be almost exclusively a computer phenomena. Now, however, televisions may also be used to access these networks. As another example, broadcast entertainment used to belong squarely in the television domain. Now, however, many service providers are offering entertainment to computer users through computer networks. As a result of this convergence, there is a need to display computer graphics intended for computers on televisions.
Televisions and computers, however, generally use incompatible graphics formats. For example, a non-interlaced 640 .times.480 data format is common among computer monitors and LED displays, especially desktop and laptop versions. In this format, each frame of computer graphics is represented as 480 horizontal lines consisting of 640 pixels each, and the entire frame is updated at once. In contrast, consider the NTSC format, a common television format. This format consists of 484 active horizontal lines, only approximately 420 of which are displayed, the actual number displayed varying from one television set to another. In addition, the NTSC format is interlaced, meaning that the frame is divided into odd and even fields and only one field or half the frame is updated at a time.
As a result, in order to display computer graphics on a television, the computer graphics often improve image quality by flicker filtering. Flicker filtering reduces visual effects that arise as a result of the conversion from a non-interlaced to an interlaced format. Vertical contraction squeezes the larger computer format into a smaller television format. Using the two example formats described above, the 480 lines of computer graphics would be vertically contracted to fit into the 420 lines of television display.
The prior art has attempted to accomplish flicker filtering using a variety of techniques known in the art, such as using low pass filters. However, one problem with existing techniques is that they require several line buffers which in turn increases the complexity and cost of converting computer graphics to a useful television format.
Thus, there is a need to simultaneously perform flicker filtering and vertical contraction. In addition, there is a need to perform these operations while minimizing hardware requirements.

System and method for simultaneous flicker filtering and overscan compensation


To reduce the number of bits required for LRU control when the number of target entries is large, and achieve complete LRU control. Each time an entry is used, an ID of the used entry is stored to configure LRU information so that storage data 0 stored in the leftmost position indicates an ID of an entry with the oldest last use time (that is, LRU entry), for example as shown in FIG. 1(1). An LRU control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention refers to the LRU information, and selects an entry corresponding to the storage data 0 (for example, entry 1) from the LRU information as a candidate for the LRU control, based on the storage data 0 as the ID of the entry with the oldest last use time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an LRU control apparatus, an LRU control method, and a computer-readable recording medium for selecting an entry to be subjected to LRU control from a plurality of entries included in a storage device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, an LRU (Least Recently Used) control method, which is one of replacement algorithms, is applied to a storage device (such as a main memory and a cache) of an apparatus that performs arithmetic operations according to predetermined programs (such as a general-purpose computer, a supercomputer, and a server) (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H09-288617). More specifically, the LRU control method is characterized in that histories of how each data is referred in a main memory are retained, and that data that is most unlikely to be referred to hereafter by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) is paged out from the main memory based on the histories. This method intends to avoid a decrease in a processing efficiency caused by an increase in an input/output frequency when data paged out from the main memory is referred to again by the CPU.
For example, conventional LRU control performed when the number of target entries (ways) is four is briefly explained with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 depicts what are represented by six bits required for the LRU control over four entries (the entries are denoted as Entries 0, 1, 2, and 3, and A>B represents that A was more recently used). FIG. 16 depicts logic of the LRU control (P_ represents positive, M_ represents negative, "˜" represents NOT, "&" represents AND, and "|" represents OR, and for example a signal of an LRU bit "0" is expressed as P_LRU[0], and a signal of an Entry 0 that cannot be used or selected is expressed as P_DELETE_ENTRY[0]). When a signal of information composed of six bits as shown in FIG. 15 is received and then the signal is applied to the logic as shown in FIG. 16, an entry that was least recently used can be determined.
For example, as shown in FIG. 17(b), Quasi-LRU control that is multi-staged LRU control can reduce the number of bits required when the number of entries is 16, as compared to the LRU control.
In the conventional technique, however, practical control is difficult to perform when the number of entries that are subjected to the LRU control is large, as will be described below. In the quasi-LRU control as the multi-staged LRU control, results of the LRU control may be biased.
That is, it is practical that the conventional LRU control is performed for about four target entries. If the number of target entries is set at 16, the number of required bits becomes 120. Thus, circuit implementation becomes complicated, so that practical control becomes difficult to perform.
Further, in the quasi-LRU control as the multi-staged LRU control, when control is performed with an external entry-unusable/unselectable signal as shown in FIG. 12, there is a concern that results of the LRU control may be biased toward certain entries (or group of lower entries) in some ways of designating unusable or unselectable entries.

Method for updating information used for selecting candidate in LRU control


The video signal processing apparatus of the invention includes a representative component extractor which receives a video signal including a signal representing representative components and a signal representing non-representative components, thereby extracting the signal representing the representative components from the video signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video signal processing apparatus for performing display, recording, transmission or editing when a video signal is supplied thereto.
2. Description of the Related Art
For efficiently recording or transmitting a video signal, technologies for encoding a video signal with high efficiency have conventionally played an important role. On the other hand, a method in which a video signal is decoded to be displayed is generally employed for recognizing the contents of the high-efficiency encoded video signal.
It has recently been required more and more to recognize the contents of the encoded video signal (a video signal recorded on a magnetic tape, in particular) at a higher speed.
High-speed reproduction is utilized as an exemplary method for recognizing the contents of an encoded video signal which has been recorded on a magnetic tape. High-speed reproduction is a method In which a tape transport speed is set to be faster and video data covering a plurality of frames is decoded while regarding the video data as one frame. This method is described in a document such as Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-86183.
Another exemplary method for recognizing the contents of a recorded video signal more easily and at a higher speed is a method in which only representative video signals are extracted to be displayed. For example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-123355, a method, in which not only data for a normal reproducing operation are recorded but also DC components obtained by subjecting respective blocks to a discrete cosine transform (DCT) are separately recorded as data for a high-speed reproducing operation, expanded, filtered and then displayed, is disclosed.
However, in accordance with the contents disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-86183, it is true that the recorded contents can be recognized at a higher speed, but the data for high-speed reproducing operation are required to be decoded. In addition, since a video signal obtained by performing the high-speed reproducing operation covers a plurality of frames, such a video signal cannot be edited on a frame basis.
On the other hand, in accordance with the contents disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-123355, not only data for normal reproducing operation are saved but also the DC components of respective blocks are separately saved as data for high-speed (plain) reproducing operation, so that data having the same contents are recorded twice and an extra recording region is required for saving the DC components.
Next, in the case of transmitting a video signal, if an image included in an arbitrary frame in a moving picture is transmitted as single image data, then it is not always necessary to transmit all the data in real time, so that such image date can be sufficiently transmitted even by the use of a transmission line, of which the transmission capacity is not so large (e.g., a telephone line). However, in the case of transmitting a moving picture, even if the moving picture is subjected to high-efficiency encoding, the types of usable transmission lines are considerably limited and high-speed lines used for a satellite communication or the like is required to be used.
Furthermore, as a method for editing a video signal, a tape-to-tape editing operation using a video tape recorder (VTR) has conventionally been very popular. Moreover, for improving the applicability of an expensive VTR for broadcasting use, an off-line editing method, in which materials are once dubbed onto a cheap tape to produce a working tape; an editing rehearsal is performed on the working tape; and then a decisive editing operation is performed using a finally determined decision list, has been used frequently. In the tape-to-tape editing (linear editing) operation, it takes an enormous amount of time to access to desired cuts or modify the edited contents. However, thanks to recent remarkable development in computer technologies and magnetic disk technologies, various editing apparatuses, in which the materials recorded on a tape are once stored onto a hard disk and an editing (nonlinear editing) operation is performed on the hard disk having excellent accessibility, have been proposed and some of them have already been put into practical use. Nevertheless, the recording capacity of a hard disk is generally far smaller than that of a tape shaped medium and the unit cost of such a medium is high. Thus, a hybrid editing apparatus using a tape system advantageous in the recording capacity and the cost of the medium and a disk system having excellent accessibility in combination has been proposed.
For example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-101609, technologies for complementarily compensating for poor accessibility of a tape system and a small recording capacity of a disk system by unitary management, in which the addresses of video signals on a tape and the addresses of video signals on a disk are associated with each other by recording on the disk a part of respective scenes recorded on the tape (in general, video signals corresponding to several minutes at the beginning and at the end of each scene), are disclosed. Moreover, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-101609, an editing method, in which known video compression technologies are utilized for recording a video signal onto a disk, an editing decision list is produced by performing a nonlinear off-line editing operation and then a, tape-to-tape decisive editing operation is performed, is disclosed.
However, a conventional hybrid editing apparatus is assumed to use an analog recording type VTR or a non-compression type digital VTR as the VTR thereof in principle. In recent years, remarkable development in the video compression technologies has realized a VTR which can provide a video of permissible quality for broadcasting. In addition, a compression type digital VTR incorporating such video compression technologies therein has also been proposed.
Since a conventional hybrid editing apparatus requires two video compressor/expanders, that is to say, a video compressor/expander used for recording a video signal onto a disk and a video compressor/expander of a compression type digital VTR, the cost of such an apparatus becomes adversely high and the size of the hardware thereof is disadvantageously increased. For example, it is not impossible to use a video compressor/expander in common for fulfilling the two requirements. However, though the video compression technologies have been developed, a data rate of at least several tens of Mbps is generally required for providing a video of permissible quality for broadcasting. Therefore, except for the method in which a part of the materials are stored into a disk, it has been difficult to realize a commonly usable video compressor/expander in view of the recording capacity of a disk.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Thermoplastic blends of a polyamide having low amine end-group concentration and a polymer containing ester or carbonate linkages. The blends are useful in providing molded parts having improved properties such as improved impact strength.

Thermoplastic blends of polyamide with polymers containing ester or carbonate linkages are well known. Particularly, polycarbonates have been blended with polyamides to produce blends having various modified properties. Japanese Kokai No. 116541/50 discloses blends of 5-20% by weight nylon 12 and 80-90% by weight polycarbonate for use in electric insulators. Japanese Pat. Kokai No. 85420/56 discloses polyamide fibers containing 0.5%-10% by weight polycarbonate. Japanese Pat. Publn. No. 26936/76 discloses adhesive compositions containing 5-40% by weight of polycarbonate resin and 95-60% by weight polyamide resin. Japanese Pat. Kokai No. 61050/55 discloses molding compositions containing 100 weight parts poly(ester-carbonate) and 1-150 weight parts polyamide. U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,891, Sakano, et al., discloses thermoplastic blends containing polycarbonate, polyamide, and conjugated diene rubber copolymer.
Polyamide blends with polyester are also known. Japanese Pat. Kokai No. 54657/51 discloses blends of poly(ethylene-terephthalate) with polyamide. Japanese Pat. Kokai No. 113049/59 discloses blends of a polyarylate, polycarbonate, and polyamide. Japanese Pat. Kokai No. 50,061/55 discloses blends of poly(ester-carbonate) and polyamide. U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,655 discloses blends of polyester and polyamide.
The above disclosed blends are useful for their intended purpose. However, it is well known that such blends by no means live up to expectations in either the combination of physical properties present or the level of physical properties attained. Impact strength is poor. The viscosity and molecular weight of the blends is at less than expected levels. It is theorized that these blends lack the degree of chemical compatibility necessary for each resin to contribute the excellent physical properties that it may possess to the blend as a whole.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to produce blends of polyamide with a polymer containing ester or carbonate linkages having improved impact strength, viscosity retention and molecular weight retention. It is another object of the present invention to produce blends of polyamide with a polymer containing ester or carbonate linkages having improved chemical compatibility.

Thermoplastic blends of a polyamide having low amine end-group concentration and a polymer containing carbonate linkages


A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for providing end-of-life indicators for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. User input is received regarding designated conditions for activating the end-of-life indicator. The UPS system monitors itself to determine whether monitored conditions correspond to the designating conditions. Upon the monitored conditions corresponding to the designating conditions, an audible or visible end-of-life indicator is activated. For critical systems, a user may specify conservative settings for the designated conditions. For other systems, a user may provide a designated condition (i.e., user input) that results in maximizing service life for the UPS system or associated batteries and reducing costs of ownership and operation.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure generally relates to monitoring and warning systems and in particular to end-of-life indicators for batteries.
2. Description of the Related Art
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems may be used to back up critical systems in the event of power outages. UPS systems often rely on batteries that have a limited life. Systems for monitoring and alarming when a battery has reached its end-of-life often come from the battery manufacturer or the UPS system manufacturer in a fixed or pre-programmed configuration.

Configurable battery end-of-life indicator


A tail light assembly for a motor vehicle, including a rear light, a brake light, and a turn signal light, wherein at least one of the rear light, the brake light, and the turn signal light is comprised of LEDs, has a control device for operating the LEDs at a constant current for a given voltage range.

The present invention relates to a tail light assembly for motor vehicles having a brake light, a turn signal light, and a rear light.
LED lights have only been used for brake lights in motor vehicles in the area of the rear window. The adaptation of the LEDs to the vehicle voltage is realized with resistors. In certain operating conditions this can lead to over voltage and temperature overload of the LEDs. The result of such overload can be a decrease in light output luminosity or even complete failure or a change in the color being emitted.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to embody the inventive tail light assembly such that under any operating condition of the motor vehicle the tail light assembly operates reliably.


The present disclosure is directed to a protection system for a vehicle cab. The protection system includes a first structure and a second structure. The first structure is disposed between a floor of the vehicle cab and a vehicle tire. The second structure of the protection system is disposed between the first structure and the cab floor. Further, the second structure includes a non-metallic laminate and an air gap disposed between the first structure and the second structure.

Machines such as, for example, mine trucks, sometimes experience tire blowouts. During a blowout, a significant pressure wave is created. This pressure wave may be capable of causing damage to the machine, and may also turn tire fragments, stones, pebbles, and other metallic objects into high speed projectiles, which can damage the floor of the cab. Heavy steel plates have been used in the past to protect the floor of the cab from flying debris. However, these plates significantly increase overall vehicle weight, reduce maximum payload, and reduce machine stability.
One method of providing undercarriage protection to a cab is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,889 (the '889 patent) issued to Miguel on Sep. 20, 1983. The '889 patent describes a composite armor for vehicles, which attenuates blast loading from a land mine better than a single large steel plate. The composite armor comprises layers of high density steel honeycomb, balsa wood, and ballistic-resistant nylon sandwiched between outer layers of steel armor plate and located in the hull belly or in the walls of the vehicle.
Although the composite armor of the '889 patent may be capable of protecting a vehicle cab from high pressure explosions underneath the vehicle cab, its use in other applications may be limited. That is, because the composite armor is contained within two steel armor plates, it may still contribute significant weight to the machine, decreasing the efficiency, stability, and payload capacity of the machine. Further, the armor disclosed in the '889 patent, while strong enough to withstand blast loading, may not have geometry necessary to dissipate the loading before the shock thereof is transmitted to the cab.
The disclosed vehicle cab floor protection system is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.


The solution controls electric operational power to be fed to an amplifier. The control can be carried out, for instance, in accordance with a predetermined signal. The operational power is fed to the amplifier with a voltage source unit and a current source unit, and the operational voltage that the voltage source unit feeds to the amplifier is controlled. The current source unit feeds at least some of the operational electric current of the amplifier.

Large variations in signal amplitude make it difficult to design an amplifier that operates with good efficiency. In conventional amplifiers the efficiency reduces as the signal level reduces, which is due to increasing voltage losses in the active part of the amplifier. Telecommunications systems, such as WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) radio systems, require power amplifiers operating with good efficiency to amplify transmitted radio-frequency signals.
Good efficiency is a worthwhile object, because poor efficiency means high power consumption and results in warming up of the amplifier, which in turn makes the amplifier less reliable. In addition, in order to prevent the amplifier from warming up a cooling fan may be needed, which further increases the energy consumption, may cause undesirable noise and makes the mechanical structure more complicated. High energy consumption, in turn, incurs economic costs.
It is known to improve the efficiency of an amplifier by using an electric power source whose operational voltage generated for the amplifier can be controlled in accordance with the strength of the signal to be amplified. In that case the power source is generally a chopper power source.
It is also known to improve the efficiency of an amplifier by using two separate operational voltage sources. In that case, when the strength of the signal to be amplified remains under a predetermined value, the operational voltage of the amplifier is obtained from the first operational voltage source, but when the value of the signal strength exceeds a predetermined value, the operational voltage source of the amplifier is exchanged for a second voltage source, by means of which the amplifier is better able to amplify a strong signal part. As the strength of the signal to be amplified gets back below a predetermined value, the first voltage source is switched back to the amplifier.
These solutions involve several problems, however. It is difficult to implement good efficiency in a power source whose operational voltage generated for the amplifier is controlled at high modulation rate, i.e. at high change rate of the operational voltage. If the power source is not capable of following the modulation with a sufficient accuracy, distortion and interference are caused to the signal or signals, which poses a problem in the amplifiers of WCDMA or UMTS radio systems in particular.
Switching between a plurality of operational voltage sources involves slowness, which makes efficiency poorer and distorts signals to be amplified.

Power source and method for controlling operational power


There is provided a magnetic memory device and a method of forming the same. The magnetic memory device includes an invariable pinning pattern and a variable pinning pattern on a substrate. A tunnel barrier pattern is interposed between the invariable pinning pattern and the variable pinning pattern, and the pinned pattern is interposed between the invariable pinning pattern and the tunnel barrier pattern. A storage free pattern is interposed between the tunnel barrier pattern and the variable pinning pattern, and a guide free pattern is interposed between the storage free pattern and the variable pinning pattern. A free reversing pattern is interposed between the storage and guide free patterns. The free reversing pattern reverses a magnetization direction of the storage free pattern and a magnetization direction of the guide free pattern in the opposite directions.

This is a non-provisional application which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 2005-74937, filed on Aug. 16, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same, and particularly, to a magnetic memory device and a method fabricating the same.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Generally, a magnetic memory device includes two magnetic substances and a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) pattern including an insulating layer interposed between the two magnetic substances. The magnetic tunnel junction pattern has electric resistance varying according to magnetization directions of the two magnetic substances. The resistance in the case where the magnetization directions of the two magnetic substances are equal to each other is greater than the resistance in the case where the magnetization directions of the two magnetic substances are opposite to each other. Thus, it can be determined whether information stored in the magnetic memory device is logic "1" or logic "0" by using a voltage drop and/or a change in current amount due to such variations in resistance. The magnetic memory device is widely used because of its high speed operation, almost infinite rewritability, and non-volatility.
In general, a well-known magnetic memory cell may be programmed by magnetic fields generated from a bit line and a digit line that intersect each other. Such a magnetic memory device will now be described with reference to accompanying drawing.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional magnetic memory device.
Referring to FIG. 1, a lower interlayer oxide layer 2 is disposed on a semiconductor substrate 1, and a digit line 3 is disposed on the lower interlayer oxide layer 2. Although not shown, a MOS transistor is disposed between the lower interlayer oxide layer 2 and the semiconductor substrate 1.
An intermediate interlayer oxide layer 4 covering the digit line 3 and the lower interlayer oxide layer 2 is disposed on the semiconductor substrate 1. A lower contact plug 5 is disposed adjacent to one side of the digit line 3 to pass through the intermediate and lower interlayer oxide layers 4 and 2 and contact with the semiconductor substrate 1. The lower contact plug 5 is laterally spaced apart from the digit line 3. The lower contact plug 5 is electrically connected to source/drain regions of the MOS transistor (not shown).
A lower electrode 6 is disposed on the intermediate interlayer oxide layer 4. The lower electrode 6 is electrically connected to the lower contact plug 5, and extends laterally over the digit line 3. The digit line 3 and the lower electrode 6 are insulated from each other by the intermediate interlayer oxide layer 4.
A magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11 is disposed on the lower electrode 6. The magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11 includes a pinning layer 7, a pinned layer 8, an insulating layer 9, and a free layer 10, which are sequentially stacked. A magnetization direction of the pinned layer 8 is pinned in one direction by the pinning layer 7, and the magnetization direction of the free layer 10 may be varied. The magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11 is aligned to overlie the digit line 3.
An upper interlayer oxide layer 12 covers the lower electrode 6 and the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11. A bit line 14 is disposed on the upper interlayer oxide layer 12 to intersect the digit line 3. The bit line 14 is electrically connected to the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11 via an upper contact plug 13 passing through the upper interlayer oxide layer 12. The bit line 14 is aligned to overlap the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11. That is, the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11 is disposed at a spot where the digit line 3 and the bit line 14 intersect, and is interposed between the digit line 3 and the bit line 14.
To program data in the conventional magnetic memory device, a program voltage is applied to the bit line 14 and the digit line 3. Accordingly, a first magnetic field is generated around the digit line 3, and a second magnetic field is generated around the bit line 14. A magnetic field produced by vector production of the first and second magnetic fields is selectively applied to the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11. Accordingly, the magnetization direction of the free layer 10 included in the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11 is changed. Here, the magnetization direction of the pinned layer 8 is pinned by the pinning layer 7. As a result, the free layer 10 and the pinned layer 8 may have the same magnetization direction or the opposite magnetization directions. In this manner, the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11 may store data of logic "1" or logic "0".
The alignment between the bit line 4, the digit line 3, and the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11 is crucial to selectively applying a constant magnetic field to the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11 of the conventional magnetic memory device. For this reason, the alignment between the digit line 3 and the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11, and the alignment between the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11 and the bit line 14 are very carefully performed. As a result, a process of fabricating the magnetic memory device may become very difficult and complicated. Also, the high integration of the magnetic memory device cannot be easily achieved because sufficient alignment margins should be secured due to the several alignment operations.
Also, peripheral circuits are needed to drive the digit line 3, thereby making it more difficult to fabricate a highly integrated magnetic memory device. Also, because a program voltage through the digit line 3 is required during a program operation, the magnetic memory device increases power consumption.
In addition, the digit line 3 should be disposed under the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11. Thus, the lower contact plug 5 laterally spaced apart from the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11 is needed to secure a path of a current flowing through the magnetic tunnel junction pattern 11. As a result, a planar area of a magnetic memory cell may be extended.
Further, if the planar area of the free layer 10 is reduced to effect high integration of a semiconductor device, data stored in layer 10 may be lost due to a super-paramagnetic limit. For this reason, it may not be easy to reduce the planar area of the free layer 10, which consequently makes it more difficult to achieve dense integration of the magnetic memory device.
Accordingly, a need remains for a magnetic memory device and a method of fabricating the same capable of solving the aforementioned problems and other problems.

Magnetic memory device and method of fabricating the same


To make it possible to transmit many messages without seriously affecting video information which essentially has to be transmitted, messages are registered in a DMT, and indexes to the messages are registered in an rDMT. The rDMT is transmitted by every transponder, while the DMT is transmitted by a single predetermined transponder.

The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus and method, an information receiving apparatus and method, an information providing system, and a transmission medium and more particularly to an information providing apparatus and method, an information receiving apparatus and method, an information providing system, and a transmission medium enabled to transmit more messages without affecting video information, which essentially is to be transmitted by synthesizing EPG information from first information and second information.
Recently, digital television broadcasting was started in Japan, too, and programs have come to be offered to the audience on 100 or more channels. Such an increase in the number of programs complicates the operation to select a desired program out of them. Also, as the number of channels increases, on top of an increase in the quantity of the information involved, a program schedule for not only one day but also for a week or so ahead becomes required by the audience for watching programs in a planned manner. For this reason, the data quantity of the program schedule becomes tremendously large, and it becomes difficult for paper media, mainly newspapers, to provide program schedules as before. Moreover, in case there is a change in the broadcast schedule of any program, it is difficult to change the program schedule on a paper medium.
In this connection, it is proposed that an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) to support program selection should be transmitted from the program provider's side to the audience. As international standard on this EPG, the format of DVD_SI (Digital Video Broadcast Service Information) is prescribed.
If a program schedule is turned into data as EPG and offered to the audience, extraction of EPG data received by a receiving apparatus will enable the titles of programs, a program schedule, channel logos and the like to be indicated on the display, and the desired program to be quickly and correctly selected. Furthermore, any alteration in the broadcast time of a program can be easily coped with, and the viewer can correctly reserve the video recording of or watch the desired program.
FIG. 16 shows an example of a variety of tables constituting an EPG according to the prior art. An NIT (Network_Information_Table) states the overall configuration of the network and information necessary for reception, and one NIT exists for each network. In this NIT is stated an SDT (Service_Description_Table).
An SDT exists for each stream. For instance, if this EPG is to be transmitted via a satellite, an SDT is defined for each carrier wave (each transponder). In an SDT, information on the channel for transmission on the carrier wave is stated in pfEIT, gEIT and dEIT. In the pfEIT (present_following_Event_Information_Table) are stated the program currently broadcast on that channel and the next program. In the dEIT (detail-Event_Information_Table) is stated a document concerning an outline of the event (program), and in the gEIT (general-Event_Information_Table) is stated information other than the outline document concerning the program.
On the other hand, where NVOD (near video on demand) service is operated, a dummy channel (d-ch) is provided besides the channel on which program information is delivered (ch). In the dEIT and the gEIT of the dummy channel, the outline document and other information on the program broadcast by NVOD are respectively stated. On the other hand, in the dEIT and the gEIT of the channel on which the video information of NVOD is actually broadcast, the dEIT or the gEIT of the dummy channel is respectively stated and referred to.
Further, when transmitting messages from the originating side to the receiving side, the messages were inserted into the NIT.
However, transmission of messages by NIT involved the problem that the number of messages that could be transmitted was small because an NIT basically has no structure allowing the carriage of many data.
As a result, it was almost only the network manager who could transmit message; for instance, when a program provider having a channel is to transmit an announcement of a special program, a notice of a campaign, a guide on how to watch or listen to a program, or the like to the audience, it was transmitted as detailed information on a program.
However, if messages are transmitted in this way as detailed information on a program, the contents of the same messages are transmitted as EPG information on all the programs, and this is not only wasteful, but also the transmission capacity for essential program information is that much reduced. Accordingly there was the problem that, when a viewer wanted to know essential EPG information (such as the content of a program), unnecessary information was displayed against his or her wish, resulting in inconvenience of handling.
Moreover there was the problem that if, for instance, it became necessary to replace the operating software for the receiving apparatus by downloading, its notice, and the content and method of the change could not be transmitted to the audience as message.
Furthermore, there was the problem that, if messages were to be transmitted by NIT, the need to transmit an NIT increased that much, and the probability of the occurrence of a situation in which no NIT could be received would correspondingly increase. Since an NIT basically carries information which the viewer needs when selecting a channel, should no NIT become impossible to be received, he or she would become unable to choose none of the programs on any channel.

Information providing apparatus and method, information receiving apparatus and method, information providing system, and transmission medium


A substrate processing system and substrate transferring method is capable of improving substrate-transferring efficiency by transferring a substrate bi-directionally through a substrate transferring device between two rows of processing chambers, and transferring the substrate to a precise position by rotating the substrate transferring device. The processing system includes a transfer chamber, a bi-directional substrate transferring device; and processing chambers which apply a semiconductor-manufacturing process to the substrate. The processing chambers are linearly arranged along two confronting rows, and the transfer chamber is between the two rows of processing chambers. The substrate transferring device includes a moving unit inside the transfer chamber; a bi-directional substrate transferring unit in the moving unit, that transfers the substrate to the processing chamber through a bi-directional sliding movement; and a rotating unit between the moving unit and the bi-directional substrate transferring unit, that rotates the bi-directional substrate transferring unit at a predetermined angle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate processing system, and more particularly, a substrate processing system and a substrate transferring method, which is capable of improving substrate-transferring efficiency by transferring a substrate bi-directionally through the use of substrate transferring device provided between two rows of processing chambers arranged linearly, and transferring the substrate to a precise position by rotating the substrate transferring device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, a flat display device and a semiconductor device such as a solar cell can be manufactured by selectively and repetitively applying a plurality of semiconductor-manufacturing processes on a substrate, for example, a deposition process, a photo process, an etching process, a diffusion process, and an ion-implantation process. For smoothly performing the respective semiconductor-manufacturing processes, there is a requirement for a substrate processing system with a multi-chamber structure.
The substrate processing system with the multi-chamber structure is formed in a cluster type including a plurality of processing chambers and a transfer chamber, wherein the plurality of processing chambers carry out at least one process, and the transfer chamber connects the plurality of processing chambers in common.
The transfer chamber is provided with a substrate transferring device to transfer the externally-provided substrate.
The substrate transferring device loads the substrate to each of the processing chambers, or unloads the substrate from each of the processing chambers by lift and rotation movements of a transferring robot.
However, the related art substrate processing system has the following disadvantages.
First, the substrate is transferred to each of the processing chambers arranged in the cluster type by the rotation of the transferring robot, whereby the yield is lowered due to the increased load of the transferring robot.
Also, because a space for the rotation of the transferring robot has to be ensured, the transfer chamber is increased in size, whereby it causes the increase of maintenance time for the transfer chamber.

Substrate processing system and substrate transferring method


An interface control for use in a field device management system coupled to a set of smart field devices automatically performs functions related to communication between a device, a database and a user of the management system and functions related to interfacing with a user in a manner which is transparent to the software application running on the management system. The control monitors a device, or a block or a parameter of a device, displays information pertaining to the device, block or parameter to a user, receives information pertaining to such device, block, or parameter from a user and the device, automatically updates the displayed information, and implements changes to the device block or parameter specified by the user. A timeline control specifies a time at which past, present or future configurations of devices, blocks, parameters, or other data associated with one or more devices is to be displayed.

Typically, process plants (such as chemical refinery plants and drug manufacturing plants, for example) include many field devices which control and measure parameters within the process. Each field device may be a control device (such as a flow valve controller), a measurement device (such as a temperature gauge, pressure gauge, flow meter, etc.) and/or any other device that affects or determines a value associated with a process. Until the past decade or so, field devices have typically been rather simple devices which were controlled either manually or electronically and which produce output readings either electronically or on a gauge connected to the device. However, these devices typically only provide limited information to a controller such as analog signals pertaining to the readings or measurements made by these devices.
More recently, so called "smart" field devices have been developed. Smart field devices are capable of communicating with a process controller and/or a management system associated with the device. Typical smart field devices are capable of transmitting an analog signal indicative of the value associated with the device, for example, a measurement value, and of storing and also digitally transmitting detailed device--specific information, including calibration, configuration, diagnostic, maintenance and/or process information. Some smart devices may, for example, store and transmit the units in which the device is measuring, the maximum ranges of the device, whether the device is operating correctly, troubleshooting information about the device, how and when to calibrate the device, etc. Furthermore, a smart field device may be able to perform operations on itself, such as self-tests and self-calibration routines. Exemplary smart devices include devices which follow the HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) protocol (HART devices), the Fieldbus protocol (Fieldbus devices), the Modbus protocol, and the DE protocol. However, other smart device protocols may exist or be developed in the future to support different types of smart devices.
Currently, every conventional and smart device is capable of performing one or more specific input and/or output functions with respect to a process. An input function is any function which measures or reads a value associated with a process, such as the function performed by a temperature or pressure measurement device. An output function is any function that changes something within a process, such as the functions performed by a valve or flow controller. Furthermore, some smart devices, such as Fieldbus devices, can perform control functions which are functions associated with the control of a process. Each input, output and control sub-function performed by a device is referred to as a "block." By definition, therefore, each device includes at least one and maybe more blocks. Fieldbus devices usually include multiple blocks (e.g., one or more input, output, and control blocks), and, while HART devices do not include blocks per se, the contents of a HART device may be conceptualized as constituting one and only one block.
Each block and, therefore, each device includes one or more "parameters." A parameter is an attribute of a block which characterizes, affects or is somehow otherwise related to the block. Parameters may include, for example, the type of the block, the maximum operating or measurement range of a block, the mode of a block, the value of a block measurement, etc.
Likewise, each parameter has one or more properties associated therewith, and each of those properties defines or describes the information within the parameter. For example, the temperature parameter of a temperature measuring device has a label property which stores the name of the parameter (e.g., "temperature"), a value property which stores the value of the parameter (e.g., the actual measured temperature), and a units property which stores the units in which the temperature PATENT 06005/33102 value is expressed (e.g., degrees centigrade or degrees fahrenheit). A device or a block configuration comprises a set of values for each of the properties of each of the parameters associated with a device or a block.
As noted above, smart field devices are developed so that communication therewith must be performed in one of several available protocols (the HART and Fieldbus protocols, for example). These protocols allow device manufacturers to provide device-specific types of information for a device and, of course, the particular types of information are different for each type of smart field device. Consequently, these protocols are complex and difficult to use in device programming. More particularly, some of these protocols do not provide a completely consistent method for communicating with every smart device conforming thereto. Instead, these protocols, such as the HART protocol, merely provide a way for device manufactures to specify what information is available from each smart field device and how to retrieve that information.
Communication with smart devices has been simplified to some extent with the advent of device description languages (DDL) and device descriptions which are provided by the manufacturers of smart field devices. A DDL is a human-readable language that provides a protocol for describing the data available from a smart device, the meaning of the data associated with the smart device and retrieved therefrom, the methods available for implementation of the smart device, the format for communicating with the smart device to obtain data, user interface information about the device such as edit displays and menus, and information for handling or interpreting other information pertaining to a smart device.
DDL source files comprise human-readable text written by device developers. These files specify all the information available about a device between the device arid a bus or a host to which the device is connected. Basically, in developing a DDL source file for a device, a developer uses the DDL language to describe core or essential parameter characteristics of the device as well as to provide group-specific, and vendor-specific definitions relating to each block, parameter, and special feature of a smart device.
A DDL source file is compiled into a binary format to produce a machine-readable file known as a device description (DD) which can be provided to a user by the device manufacturer or a third-party developer to be stored in a host system, such as a management system. In some cases, for example in Fieldbus devices, DDL source files may be stored in a smart device and transferred from the smart device to a host system. When the host system receives a DD object file for a smart device, it can decode and interpret the DD to derive a complete description of the interface with the device.
DDS is a general software system developed and provided by Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. and/or Rosemount, Inc. for automatically decoding and interpreting the DD's of smart devices. More particularly, DDS is a library of routines which, when called by a host, interprets the DD of a smart device to provide the host with information pertaining to the smart device, including information pertaining to: (1) the setup and configuration of the smart device; (2) communication with the smart device; (3) user interfaces; and (4) methods available for use in conjunction with the smart device. One extremely useful application of DDS is in providing a consistent interface between a host system and one or more smart devices having associated DDL source files (and corresponding DD object files).
Although DDS, DDL and DD's are generally known in the art, more information pertaining to the specific function and format of DDL's, and of Fieldbus DDL in particular, can be found in the InterOperable Systems Project Foundation's manual entitled "InterOperable Systems Project Fieldbus Specification Device Description Language" (1993). A similar document pertaining to the HART DDL is provided by the HART foundation.
A management system is a system which interacts with one or more smart field devices to read any of the device, block, parameter, variable, or configuration information associated with those devices. Typically, a management system comprises a personal computer having appropriate communication ports which allow it to interconnect to, communicate with, and reconfigure a smart device. Management systems may be on-line, that is, have a hard-wired or other permanent connection with a smart device, or may be portable and capable of being periodically connected to a smart device to reconfigure that smart device.
Management systems typically perform a wide variety of functions with respect to smart devices within a system. For example, management systems may be used to provide users with information (e.g., values of variables or parameters) pertaining to the state of a process and to each of the smart field devices associated with or connected to the process. Management systems may also be used to enable a user to monitor a process and control the process by reconfiguring smart devices within the process as necessary.
The software routines which are used to perform functions within a management system using features provided by the system are typically referred to as applications. Typically, management systems implement applications provided by individual smart device manufacturers to implement changes on, and read data from, a particular smart device. As a result, various applications within a management system often do not share a common or consistent interface, and the transition from one application to another is therefore cumbersome and time-consuming. Further, smart device configuration data, configuration logs, and smart device diagnostic data created and stored by different applications are decentralized and cannot be cross-referenced because this data may be stored in diverse formats, in different databases and, in some cases, in proprietary formats. Consequently, tasks that could be common to each device within a system must be duplicated in separate applications.
A management system which implements such separately developed applications typically has no way to view information pertaining to all the smart devices in a plant or a process simultaneously because the applications for each device must be run separately. Furthermore, it is difficult for users to write applications that provide a comprehensive view of data pertaining to multiple, different devices in a process because users typically do not have a great familiarity with DDS or with the DDL and DD's associated with each of the devices within a process. Even if a user does have such familiarity, such applications are time-consuming and expensive to develop and must be updated each time a new smart device is added to the system.
Another cumbersome aspect of developing applications for management systems is programming the application to perform the numerous tasks relating to and necessary for communication between a user and each smart device within a system. A developer not only must be attentive to details involving how to communicate with each separate device, but that developer must also pay particular attention to how information is presented to a user via, for example, a display. This task is made more difficult because typical applications do not use consistent user interface protocols. Instead each of the interface functions requires much programming time and effort, which must be repeated each time a new smart device is added to the system.
Still further, applications typically allow a user to view a current configuration of a device, block, or parameter within a process, but those applications do not allow the user to view past configurations or to display multiple configurations simultaneously to compare such configurations.

Interface controls for use in a field device management system


A method of forming a stacked capacitor structure in a semiconductor device, having metal electrode plates. After depositing the bottom electrode layer (26) and the dielectric layer (28) of the capacitor, a rough patterning step is carried out to roughly pattern or shape the bottom electrode layer and the dielectric layer, and to expose the underlying interlayer dielectric (18). A top electrode layer (32) is then blanket deposited, and another, more precise etching step is carried out to form the final shape of the capacitor element, while leaving behind a portion of the top electrode layer on the interlayer dielectric, which forms a metal interconnect (36). In one embodiment, the electrode layers are comprised of materials having a conductivity greater than doped silicon (either poly or monocrystalline), such as a metal.

As is known in the art, radio frequency (RF) and analog circuits are integrated with high-speed and high-performance digital circuits in CMOS mixed-signal applications. In this regard, conversion from analog to digital is generally done at lower base band frequencies, such as those on the order of approximately 1 MHz and lower. However, it is sought to execute the conversion from analog-to-digital at higher frequencies, such as RF to improve performance and simplify circuit design. Conversion at high frequencies requires capacitor elements that have a high quality factor (Q) and which exhibit linearity over the applied voltage ranges and over temperature ranges in which the circuit will be disposed.
Capacitors utilized in current CMOS technology do not adequately meet the needs for conversion at high frequencies. For example, typically electrodes of such capacitors are made from the bulk, monocrystaline silicon of the substrate, or polysilicon. The capacitance of such structures is dependent on two components, the insulator capacitance and the bias-dependent silicon surface depletion capacitance. As a result of the depletion capacitance associated with silicon-based electrodes, the capacitors display poor linearity.
To solve the problem of lack of linearity associated with silicon-based electrodes, electrodes may be made of a material containing metal (e.g., Ti, W), thereby limiting surface depletion capacitance. While capacitors having metal electrodes are generally known in the art, a capacitor that can be formed using current process flows has not been developed. Metal-electrode capacitors that may be fabricated with high precision, having a high "Q" are available, but require specialized process flows that are not cost effective.

Method for forming a semiconductor device having a capacitor structure


In some implementations, a mobile device can display map user interface that includes a language control that a user can select to switch between a default language and a local language. Map information presented on the map user interface can be initially displayed in the default language. The user can select or manipulate the language control to cause the map information to be presented on the local language. The local language can be determined based on the current location of the mobile device. The language control can be displayed when it has been determined that the local language is not the default language. In some implementations, when a map search has been performed using the default language, the search can be automatically performed again in the local language in response to the user switching the map information displayed on the map user interface to the local language.

Modern mobile devices often include a map application or function. A user can invoke the map application, specify a location and the map application will display a map of the area surrounding the specified location on a user interface of the mobile device. Generally, the map information displayed on the user interface will present information in a default language that the user understands. However, sometimes the map application will be used in a location (e.g., country) where the language used by people at the location is different than that of the user. If the user needs to share the map information (e.g., an address, location name, etc.) with a person who speaks and reads a different language than the user (e.g., a taxi driver in a foreign country), then the user may be required to navigate through various system settings to change the language presented on the map. Often the steps needed to change the language presented on the map can be confusing and time consuming.


A locking roller assembly includes a housing adapted for mounting to an article of furniture. A wheel is rotatably mounted to the housing via a mounting arrangement that accommodates relative vertical movement between the wheel and the housing. The wheel is mounted to an axle, which in turn is secured to an axle carrier. A biasing member, such as a spring, is engaged between the housing and the axle carrier to bias the housing toward a raised position. When a load is applied to the article of furniture, the spring is compressed so as to allow the housing to move vertically downward toward the wheel. The housing includes an engagement surface that engages the wheel when the load is applied and the housing is moved downwardly, to prevent rotation of the wheel and to thereby prevent movement of the article of furniture.

This invention relates to a caster or roller for mounting to an article of furniture to provide movement of the article of furniture on a support surface such as a floor, and more particularly to a caster or roller assembly having a locking feature for selectively preventing movement of the article of furniture on the support surface.
A caster or roller is commonly mounted to an article of furniture to enable the article of furniture to be moved on a support surface such as a floor. Typically, the caster or roller includes a wheel or roller member, which engages the support surface and rotates so as to enable movement of the article of furniture on the support surface.
Certain types of casters or rollers include a locking feature for selectively preventing rotation of the wheel or roller member, to selectively prevent movement of the article of furniture on the support surface. Some locking rollers have a lever that is movable between a locking position and a release position. The lever selectively actuates and releases a locking mechanism that is configured to prevent rotation of the wheel or roller member when actuated. Other types of locking mechanisms have a self-locking feature, which prevents rotation of the wheel or roller member when a load is placed on the article of furniture. Self-locking rollers of this type are used when it is desired to automatically prevent movement of the article of furniture at certain times, such as to maintain a chair in position when an occupant is in the seat of the chair, and to allow ease of movement of the article of furniture at all other times, e.g. when the chair is unoccupied.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-locking roller assembly for use with an article of furniture such as a chair. Another object of the invention is to provide such a self-locking roller assembly which is well suited for use with an article of furniture having a base that includes a laterally extending base member to which the roller assembly is mounted. Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a self-locking roller assembly which includes a uniquely configured housing having an engagement surface for selectively preventing rotation of the wheel or roller member of the roller assembly. A still further object of the invention is to provide such a self-locking roller assembly which is relatively simple in its components and construction, so as to provide ease of assembly and manufacture, yet which is configured to effectively prevent rotation of the wheel or roller member when a load is placed on the article of furniture.
In accordance with the present invention, a locking roller assembly for use with an article of furniture includes a housing defining an interior within which a wheel or roller member is located. The housing includes an opening through which a lower portion of the wheel extends, for engagement with a support surface such as a floor. The wheel or roller member is mounted to an axle. A movable mounting arrangement is interposed between the housing and the axle, for providing movement of the housing relative to the axle between a raised position and a lowered position. A biasing arrangement is interposed between the housing and the axle, for biasing the housing toward the raised position. The housing includes an engagement surface in vertical alignment with the wheel. When the article of furniture is not loaded, the biasing arrangement maintains housing in the raised position in which the engagement surface is positioned out of engagement with the wheel, so that the wheel is freely rotatable to provide movement of the article of furniture on the support surface. When a load or other downward force is applied to the article of furniture, the housing is moved downwardly relative to the wheel toward the lowered position, against the force of the biasing arrangement. Such downward movement of the housing causes the engagement surface to move into contact with the wheel, to prevent rotation of the wheel and to thereby prevent movement of the article of furniture when the article of furniture is loaded. When the load on the article of furniture is removed, the biasing force of the biasing arrangement functions to move the housing toward the raised position, which moves the engagement surface out of engagement with the wheel. In this manner, the article of furniture can then be freely moved on the support surface as long as the load on the article of furniture is relieved.
The axle is engaged with the housing via a guide arrangement that guides vertical movement of the axle as the housing is moved between the lowered position and the raised position. The axle guide arrangement is preferably in the form of a pair of slots formed in spaced apart walls that at least in part define the housing interior, and which are configured to receive end portions of the axle. The slots are vertically oriented, so that the slots guide vertical movement of the axle as the housing is moved between the lowered and raised positions.
The housing includes a laterally extending passage, which is configured to receive a component of the article of furniture for use in mounting the roller assembly to the article of furniture. The housing includes an end wall that is in line with the laterally extending passage, and which is configured to at least in part define the interior of the housing. The engagement surface is defined by an inner surface of the end wall.
Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

Locking roller for an article of furniture


In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a data-access history for a time period, the data-access history comprising a plurality of data-access instances. The method further includes initially associating each data-access instance with a time-based data-access cluster of a plurality of time-based data-access clusters based, at least in part, on a time of the data-access instance. In addition, the method includes iteratively refining a time distribution of the plurality of data-access instances across the plurality of time-based data-access clusters. Further, the method includes facilitating a time-density analysis of the plurality of data-access instances using the iteratively refined plurality of time-based data-access clusters.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to activity monitoring and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to activity clustering systems and methods.
History of Related Art
Many mechanisms exist for tracking and keeping records of user activity on file systems, but such mechanisms typically generate a massive amount of data that provides very little value on its own. In general, the scope of the data is too vast to glean any useful information without further processing.
Moreover, as the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.

System and method for time-based clustering of data-access instances


A system for providing utilities and support infrastructure on a continuous basis from the surface to the cutting face of an underground operation. A flexible belt structure system incorporates water supply and discharge lines, power and communication cables, hydraulic supply and return lines, bulk lubrication delivery systems, and belt support structure for underground coal haulage. The system consists of modular components that are added at the surface and connected underground to form a continuous support structure to the working area, such that the infrastructure necessary for the mining operation is expanded or reduced to keep up with the position of the mining face without interruption of operation. The belt structure is mounted on a stationary rail fixed to the roof of the mine and is rolled forward or backwards in the belt entry as the mine advances or retreats, as applicable.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains in general to the field of underground mining and, in particular, to a novel adaptation of continuous-miner development and retreat mining techniques for shortwall and longwall to recover underground reserves under shallow cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
Continuous underground mining is used to extract fossil fuels and other valuable minerals found in strata-bound deposits. Historically, underground mining is carried out by gaining access to the ore through entries developed from an exposed seam. This development is generally done from the point of interest at the surface, such as at an outcrop or from an exposed highwall resulting from surface mining. All mining utilities, ventilation, transportation of personnel, and removal of the mined material are carried in and out by utilizing such entries within the mineral seam. As a result, it has been conventional practice not to exploit with underground methods deposits having shallow cover with no highwalls or outcrop, or ones with reclaimed highwalls having spoils placed against them, or with highwalls or an outcrop left unsuitable for entry because of previous mining. It has been found that gaining underground entry to the seam through such unfavorable conditions would render the practice uneconomical under most circumstances. On the other hand, gaining entry to the seam through a vertical or inclined shaft results in significant cost increases that often also render the operation uneconomical. The expense of lowering belt and structure components, as well as electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic system parts, through the shaft and assembling them underground would be prohibitive. Therefore, there is a need for an efficient, economic and safe method of recovery of underground coal reserves under such conditions.
This invention is directed at providing an affordable approach to the exploitation of such shallow reserves by combining efficient seam-mining practices, such as the use of continuous miners, shortwall and longwall, with access to the reserve by means of a vertical shaft equipped with a novel continuous system for feeding infrastructure to the mining face. Thus, the invention materially enhances the feasibility of mining shallow reserves with no direct access to the seam.
The invention is described in the context of coal mining, but its principles are equivalently applicable to any material suitable for extraction with continuous mining equipment, such as lignite, oil shale, limestone, anthracite, trona, potash, halite, bauxite, gypsum, and other sedimentary rocks that host oxide, sulfide or carbonaceous gold ores and/or other poly-metallic minerals. Similarly, the invention is described in terms of a mine developed through a shaft, but it is equivalently applicable to mines where access to the reserves is obtained through entries within the ore seam.

Surface-assisted continuous underground mine conveyor


A method for accurately assembling and positioning a modular tooling structure for manipulating a workpiece includes receiving, at one or more computers, three-dimensional model information describing the workpiece; generating, at the one or more computers, three dimensional design information representing a configuration for the modular tooling structure, wherein the three dimensional design information includes position data describing a position for at least one engaging member of the modular tooling structure with respect to the workpiece; positioning a multi-dimensional gauge with respect to a base structure based on the position data; and assembling the modular tooling structure using the design information such that a first end of the modular tooling structure is connected to the base structure and the at least one engagement member is positioned at a second end of the modular tooling structure and is in engagement with the multi-dimensional gauge.

It is well-known in the manufacturing industry to use automated modular tooling to engage and move various workpieces to predetermined locations for performing various machining on and/or assembling of the workpieces. Such automated modular tooling may comprise adjustable arms, boom rods, and/or various clamps and elbows which are ultimately connected to various workpiece-engaging devices, such as vacuum cups, grippers, clamps, etc. The automated modular tooling may also be connected to larger boom rods or bars that are in turn connected to robotic arms, manipulators, or other machinery, such as stamping presses. Thus, the workpiece-engaging devices engage the workpiece at one end of the automated modular tooling, while the other end of the automated modular tooling is connected to a robotic arm or manipulator for moving the workpiece to a desired location.
When assembling the automated modular tooling, the assembler must determine where the workpiece-engaging device, such as the vacuum cups, grippers, and/or clamps, are to be located relative to the workpiece. To accomplish this task, the assembler must determine the length, spacing, and angular orientation in which the individual pieces of the automated modular tooling should be assembled in order for the vacuum cups, grippers, and/or clamps to be properly positioned in a predetermined geometric orientation. This is typically accomplished by utilizing a sample workpiece as a gauge so that the assembler can determine the proper position of the automated modular tooling. This is a costly and timely process, as the assembler must obtain a sample workpiece from the end user, and the assembler must either use the actual workpiece as a gauge, or the assembler must create a model of the sample workpiece if the end user cannot provide the assembler with a sample workpiece. Either way, the assembler must use an actual workpiece or model of the workpiece in order to assemble the automated modular tooling. Coordinating, receiving, handling, preparing, and storing the workpiece and/or the model of the workpiece adds time and cost to the process of assembling the automated modular tooling.
The size and weight of such workpieces can also create problems for the assembler. For instance, in the automotive industry, such workpieces may comprise large sheet metal panels such as fenders, doors, and hoods of automobiles. Handling such large workpiece samples or models can be rather difficult, especially if the workpiece or model is large in size and/or heavy in weight. When the workpiece or model is large and/or heavy, such workpieces or models typically require two or more assemblers in which to manipulate the workpiece or model into its proper position for assembling the automated modular tooling. By requiring two or more assemblers to handle such workpieces or models, the cost and time of assembling the automated modular tooling is increased.
The disadvantages in using a sample workpiece or model in assembling and positioning automated modular tooling, as noted above, leads to inefficiencies in the assembling and positioning of the automated modular tooling that are undesirable in an industrial environment. It would be desirable to create a method and apparatus for accurately assembling and positioning automated modular tooling without the use or need of a sample workpiece or model of the workpiece.

Method and apparatus for accurately positioning automated modular tooling


In order to provide a liquid crystal display device which can detect a defective indication due to short circuit which occurs between a common electrode and a counter electrode by a conductive impurity enters into a liquid crystal display panel, and an analysis device including the same, a blood glucose meter includes a display section and a microcomputer. For performing an inspection for a defective indication on a liquid crystal display panel of the display section, the microcomputer uses ports as input/output ports for a defective indication inspection. The microcomputer detects whether an inspection signal sent from the port can be received at the other port or not to perform the inspection for a defective indication.

Recently, liquid crystal display devices are incorporated into a variety of electronic equipment, such as clocks, calculators, analysis devices, home electric appliances and the like as display sections.
For example, one type of a liquid crystal display device which displays simple indication such as numerals and texts is a liquid crystal display device of a segment method. The liquid crystal display device of the segment method includes a common electrode which is formed on one of two substrates, a plurality of segmented electrodes which are patterned into the shape of numerals on the other substrate, and a liquid crystal enclosed between the two substrates. A voltage is applied between the common electrode and the segmented electrodes, and an orientation of the liquid crystal enclosed therebetween is changed to control transmission of light. In this way, texts and numerals can be displayed.

Liquid crystal display device and analysis device including the same


A clamping device for clamping a flat material test sample while a material test is carried out is provided. The clamping device includes a substantially cylindrical clamping part, from the free end of which there extends a receiving slot for receiving the material test sample, a pressure ring surrounding the clamping part in the region of the receiving slot, and a pressure sleeve provided between the clamping part and the pressure ring, the pressure sleeve is formed and actuable such that, under radial expansion, it connects the clamping part and the pressure ring together and clamps the material test sample held in the receiving slot.

In order to determine material characteristics which represent the behavior of materials under the influence of external forces, it is well known to subject material test samples prepared from the corresponding material to standardized material tests. One example of such a material test is what is known as the tensile test, by way of which the tensile strength and further material characteristics of a material can be determined. In such material tests, a flat material test sample comprising a rectangular test cutting and a flat sample head is clamped on both sides into a material testing machine using a clamping device, whereupon a load is exerted on the material test sample via the clamping devices. Currently known clamping devices normally operate on the pincer principle, in which the end of the material test sample is gripped or clamped in a pincer-like manner by the clamping device. Such clamping devices have proven successful in particular in the modeling of unidirectional tensile deformations, as occur in particular during the tensile test. However, they reach physical limits when symmetrical alternating tensile and compressive loading is intended to take place, i.e. R=−1, in which case:R=Fmin/Fmax=σmin/σmax
where Fmin is the compressive force with a negative sign and Fmax is the tensile force with a positive sign. In such alternating tensile and compressive loading, a jump function frequently occurs at the transition from the tensile loading to the compressive loading, because the material test sample begins to slip since the clamping action of the clamping devices that operate according to the pincer principle is insufficient.
Currently, this problem is solved in that symmetrical loading is dispensed with. The material test is thus run in what is known as the range of pulsating tensile stresses where R=0. This means that the tensile force fluctuates, with the minimum stress being 0. Accordingly, the material test sample is not exposed to any compressive force, and so slipping of the material test sample is prevented.


A method of treating an on-press developable lithographic printing plate with an aqueous treating solution after imagewise exposure and before on-press development is described. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer developable with ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a radiation. The plate is imagewise exposed with a radiation, overall treated with a treating solution to cause at least one chemical or physical change in the photosensitive layer or on the substrate surface, and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. Such a treatment allows improvement on the performance of the imagewise exposed plate by, for example, improving the white light stability, forming visible imaging, increasing the hydrophilicity of the substrate, or increasing the developability of the photosensitive layer.

Lithographic printing plates (after process) generally consist of ink-receptive areas (image areas) and ink-repelling areas (non-image areas). During printing operation, an ink is preferentially received in the image areas, not in the non-image areas, and then transferred to the surface of a material upon which the image is to be produced. Commonly the ink is transferred to an intermediate material called printing blanket, which in turn transfers the ink to the surface of the material upon which the image is to be produced.
At the present time, lithographic printing plates (processed) are generally prepared from lithographic printing plate precursors (also commonly called lithographic printing plates) comprising a substrate and a photosensitive coating deposited on the substrate, the substrate and the photosensitive coating having opposite surface properties. The photosensitive coating is usually a photosensitive material, which solubilizes or hardens upon exposure to an actinic radiation, optionally with further post-exposure overall treatment. In positive-working systems, the exposed areas become more soluble and can be developed to reveal the underneath substrate. In negative-working systems, the exposed areas become hardened and the non-exposed areas can be developed to reveal the underneath substrate.
Traditionally, the plate is exposed with an ultraviolet light from a lamp through a separate photomask film having predetermined imaging pattern that is placed between the light source and the plate. Laser sources have been increasingly used to imagewise expose a printing plate that is sensitized to a corresponding laser wavelength, allowing the elimination of the photomask film. Suitable lasers include, for example, infrared lasers (such as laser diode of about 830 nm and NdYAG laser of about 1064 nm), visible lasers (such as frequency-doubled NdYAG laser of about 532 nm and violet laser diode of about 405 nm), and ultraviolet laser (such as ultraviolet laser diode of about 370 nm). Laser sensitive plates generally have higher sensitivity (than conventional plates) because of the limited power of current laser imagers.
Conventionally, the exposed plate is developed with a liquid developer to bare the substrate in the non-hardened or solubilized areas. On-press developable lithographic printing plates have been disclosed in recent years. Such plates can be directly mounted on press after imagewise exposure to develop with ink and/or fountain solution during the initial prints and then to print out regular printed sheets. No separate development process before mounting on press is needed, allowing the reduction of labor and the elimination of hazardous waste. Among the patents describing on-press developable lithographic printing plates are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,258,263, 5,516,620, 5,561,029, 5,616,449, 5,677,110, 5,811,220, 6,014,929, 6,071,675, and 6,482,571.
While on-press developable plates have the advantage of not requiring a separate wet development process, such plates often have the drawbacks of limited room light stability and weaker visible images. Also, it is hard to design a plate with combined good on-press developability, clean background and good resolution, because, for example, the factors which favor on-press developability or clean background often offset the small dots resolution. It would be desirable if the above drawbacks or problems could be eliminated.
The inventor has found that a simple treatment method can be used for the exposed plate to cause certain chemical or physical change to the plate without developing the plate, so as to eliminate the above drawbacks or enhance the performance of the plate, still without requiring a tedious separate development process.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Aqueous treatment of on-press developable lithographic printing plate


The present invention relates to systems and methods for facilitating the interaction with data using interactive data structures. The method of the present invention comprises generating one or more objects associated with one or more items of content. The one or more objects are combined to form an interactive data structure. The content associated with the one or more objects and the interactive data structure are delivered to a client device. One or more modifications may be made to the one or more objects comprising the interactive data structure. The one or more modifications made to the one or more objects comprising the interactive data structure may be propagated to the content associated with the one or more objects.

The present invention generally provides methods and systems that facilitate the conversion of content into one or more data structures to allow for greater user interaction with a plurality of data items. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and systems that facilitate the interaction with one or more data items comprising one or more data types using data structures associated with an original content source.
The Internet contains a vast amount of data that may be requested by users of client devices and displayed on a client device in a web page through the use of a browser. The data associated with a given web page is often comprised of audio, video, images, text, advertisements, links, banners, etc. The one or more items of data delivered in response to a request are often located in various positions of a given web page, displayed with various colors, fonts, etc. However, the position, format, location, etc., of content delivered with a web page may be unappealing to a given user. A user may desire to change the appearance of a given web page, such as by changing the fonts used, the location of one or more items or whether a given item in the web page is displayed.
Additionally, a web page delivered in response to a request or accessed by a given user may be difficult to navigate. For example, items of content responsive to a user search request are often delivered in a ranked list. While there may be hundreds or thousands of items that are relevant to a given search request, often only a limited number of items may be displayed in a given web page. A user may thus be required to traverse the plurality of web pages that are delivered in response to a search request to locate a desired item. Traversing web pages comprised of hundreds or thousands of results can prove to be time consuming and inefficient. Current methods for displaying a plurality of items on a given web page require users to select links, redirecting a user to a subsequent page of a given result of a search request. Such methods allow a user to see only a few items of content and further require a user to wait as a subsequent page loads in a user's browser.
Similarly, applications are available for users to maintain records of various items of data. Applications such as email applications may be used to deliver such data. However, delivering information to an individual, a destination, etc., often requires a user to expend a significant amount of time locating a phone number, email address, facsimile number, etc., as well as gathering all the data to deliver. For example, current methods for emailing one or more files requires a user of a client device to execute an email application, locate an email address, attach the one or more files to an email, etc. Moreover, users may be unable to use current methods for delivering particular types of content. For example, a user may want to deliver an advertisement, image, etc., in a given web page to another user. Current methods may require a user to either email the URL corresponding to the web page or "copy and paste" an image, advertisement, etc., from a given page into an application capable of receiving the type of data selected. Such methods make the individual selection and delivery of data inefficient and complicated.
Furthermore, data representing physical objects such as individuals, facsimile machines, cellular phones, addresses, etc., are often stored on a client device. A user of a client device may desire to contact an individual, arrange a meeting between two individuals, deliver content to a facsimile machine, send a given item of a webpage to a particular person, etc. Current methods for interacting with data representing real world objects requires users to locate information corresponding to the real world object, gather the data associated with the object, and use an appropriate application for delivering data, arranging a meeting, etc. Such methods fail to provide efficient use of the data representing real world objects.
In order to overcome shortcomings associated with existing systems and techniques, the present invention provides methods and systems for the creation of one or more data structures corresponding to one or more items of content, thereby facilitating the use of data representing real world objects, as well as allowing a user of a client device to customize the display of content and interaction therewith.

System and method for interacting with data using visual surrogates


A portable, rotary vane vacuum pump with a rotor eccentrically mounted within the bore of a housing to substantially abut the bore at a side location. The abutting, side location is between the inlet and outlet passages of the bore in the direction of rotor rotation. A pocket is then created just above the contact area between the rotor and bore which collects and maintains a pool of lubricating oil. The pool enhances the seal at the contact area below it enabling the pump to draw a deep vacuum with just a single stage. The portable pump also includes a removable, oil reservoir cartridge mounted to the main body of the pump. Other features include a visual indicator in the cartridge to monitor the condition of the circulating oil, a step up gearing arrangement for the cooling fan, and a step down gearing arrangement for the vane pump.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of portable, rotary vane vacuum pumps and more particularly to the field of such pumps for use in servicing air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
2. Discussion of the Background
Portable, rotary vane vacuum pumps are widely used in the servicing of air conditioning and refrigerant systems to draw down a relatively deep vacuum before the system is recharged. In a typical servicing procedure, the refrigerant of the system is first recovered and the unit opened to atmosphere for repairs. Thereafter and prior to recharging it, the air and any residual moisture much be pulled out of the system otherwise its performance will be adversely affected. More specifically, any air and moisture left in the system will interfere with the refrigerant's thermal cycle causing erratic and inefficient performance. Additionally, any residual air and moisture can cause undesirable chemical reactions within the system components and form ice crystals within the system contributing to accelerated component failures.
The optimum operation of the vacuum pump used in such servicing is very important in order to draw as deep a vacuum as possible. Chief among the factors affecting its efficiency is the condition of the lubricating and sealing oil. Good service practices and most vacuum pump manuals call for the vacuum pump oil to be changed with every use. This frequent changing of the oil is recommended as it will quickly becomes laden with residual contaminants from the system and atmospheric moisture. These in turn lead to the inability of the vacuum pump to achieve a proper depth of vacuum to adequately pull air and moisture out of the system prior to recharging it.
In the field, the vacuum pump oil is rarely changed in the prescribed intervals or even when desirable because of the task's inherent mess and inconvenience. In most designs, the pump is submerged or at least partly submerged in an oil bath or sump for lubrication, sealing, and heat dissipation purposes. To change the oil, the sump must then be gravity drained or flushed and fresh oil poured into it. This can be a very time consuming and labor intensive procedure.
As an alternative to changing the oil for each use or at timed intervals, many pumps are commonly provided with a sight glass to allow the operator to view the level of the oil in the sump and monitor its condition. However, the sight glass in most cases becomes fouled and darken over time by a film of used oil making the viewing through it very difficult if not impossible. Consequently, the operator is really not able to truly monitor the level of the oil in the sump or its condition to decide if any servicing is needed.
With this and other problems in mind, the present invention was developed. In it, a rotary vane pump is disclosed that can draw a deep vacuum even with a single stage. Additionally, the pump is provided with a removable oil reservoir cartridge wherein the oil for the pump can be easily and quickly changed by simply removing and replacing the cartridge.

Portable, rotary vane vacuum pump with removable oil reservoir cartridge