A wild frequency avionic refrigeration system and a controller therefore are provided. One embodiment of the refrigeration system includes: a refrigeration LRU including a vapor cycle system with a brushless DC compressor motor, a brushless DC condenser motor, a brushless DC evaporator motor and a plurality of sensors configured to output operating parameter data relative to the vapor cycle system; a power module configured to convert a wild frequency AC input voltage to at least one DC output voltage; a motor control module in communication with the brushless DC compressor, condenser and evaporator motors; and a processing module in communication with the plurality of sensors and the motor control module, wherein the processing module, according to the operating parameter data, outputs control signals to the motor control module for independently driving the brushless DC compressor, condenser and evaporator motors.

Conventional avionic refrigeration systems typically include a refrigeration line replaceable unit (LRU), for example, a chiller that is configured to keep items such as food and beverages cold. Such conventional avionic refrigeration systems have a number of drawbacks, largely stemming from the construction of the refrigeration LRU. As is known, conventional refrigeration LRUs include AC induction motors for operating the compressor, condenser and evaporator units. While AC induction motors are used for many applications due to their low cost and ruggedness, AC induction motors are not well suited to avionic applications due to their large size, weight and difficulty to accurately and variably control.
For example, feedback control of AC induction motors is typically accomplished using electromechanical position sensors such as Hall Effect sensors that are disposed in the motor housing. A number of wires extend from the sensor and motor housing to provide signals to a motor controller or the like. Disadvantageously, in an avionic environment, sensor wiring may be aggregated with other power, control and communication wiring in a wiring harness causing position sensor data that is communicated by the wires to be corrupted due to harness crosstalk, electromagnetic interference (EMI) or the like. Furthermore, electromechanical position sensors such as Hall Effect sensors are prone to malfunction or failure over time due to wear and tear. When such a sensor malfunctions or fails, the motor cannot be controlled and must be replaced or repaired. Moreover, in the context of a refrigeration unit, it is difficult to reliably employ a Hall Effect sensor in a compressor due to the compressor being sealed and containing refrigerant and oil. In view of the foregoing, a refrigeration system that included a refrigeration LRU which did not employ AC induction motors and which could be more accurately and variably controlled would be an important improvement in the art.

Wild frequency avionic refrigeration system and controller therefor


Methods and systems for accelerating data communication by reducing network latency particularly by data compression in which requested data is recursively compressed by an encoder and sent to the requester in codes which may or may not be understood by the requester. The requester can subsequently request data corresponding to unknown codes. The request-reply sequence is also recursive and continues until the requested data is present at the requester. To further accelerate communication, a persistently connected network is employed, together with a new socket layer capable of combining multiple messages from different machines, threads, and/or processes into single TCP/IP packets to be relayed along message hubs in the persistent network. These features are introduced singly and combined to create a new caching network. A new content distribution network can take advantage of these data communication improvements since requested content can be distributed in caches in a caching network.

Much of the Internet is dedicated to the World Wide Web, a system of data communication featuring visual pages of information, known as Web pages, displayed on computers pursuant to a request from a user. Web pages are created in hypertext markup language, more frequently known by the acronym "HTML," as well as related high level page description languages. These languages use ordinary text to describe Web pages, with the text being transmitted from a server over the Internet to programs running on users' computers known as "browsers" that interpret the HTML code and create corresponding Web pages for viewing. The downloading of Web pages by users, also called clients, from servers takes considerable time at low bandwidths, common to most homes, and takes noticeable amounts of time at bandwidths used by many businesses. This delay is due to a combination of factors: slow servers, modem and network latency, and the bandwidth of the communication pipe. There is considerable ongoing effort to expand Internet bandwidth so that Web pages and associated files can be transmitted more rapidly.
Part of the reason for network bottlenecks is due to Web pages containing dynamic content, content that is created "on the fly." While dynamic content (for example, stock quotes or breaking news stories) on pages may represent only a small proportion of the page's content, the entire page must be transmitted every time a user requests the page. If a user requests a page repeatedly over a short period of time, for instance if the user is tracking a certain stock's activity and requests a page with the stock quote five times in an hour, this page must be assembled and transmitted to the user for each request. This burdens both the server, which has to create the page, and the network which transmits the information from the user to the server.
The idea of expanding Internet bandwidth by data compression is known. Programs, such as GZIP, ZIP and LZP, exist for file compression. Picture and video file compression exist under standards such as MPEG and JPEG.
LZW is another file compression scheme. A file is compressed using a table-based lookup algorithm. LZW is suitable for text compression as well as image compression, which can produce GIF and TIFF image formats. A sample LZW compression algorithm works as follows. An input sequence of bits of a given length as well as a shorter code associated with that sequence is entered into a table. If, as more input is read, a particular sequence is repeated, the shorter code is substituted, thereby achieving compression of the file. The look-up table is included with the compressed file for decoding purposes. The transmission of the look-up table with the compressed file is inefficient since it requires the use of bandwidth in excess of what would be required to transmit the file alone.
Recently, computer scientists have realized that there could be compression of Internet data by observing sequences of data bits and assigning unique labels to these sequences. Peribit Networks, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., recently introduced a commercial product which is reported to use pattern-recognition algorithms that were used at Stanford University by Dr. Amit Singh to capture recurring sequences of base pairs in DNA for subsequent analysis. Applying the algorithm to data traffic, Peribit's software spots repetitive patterns in data packets and assigns labels to those patterns. The benefit is that by substituting the labels for repeating data packets, overall Internet traffic loads are claimed to be reduced by as much as 70%, perhaps more. The new compression scheme resembles other data-compression schemes, such as those used to create ZIP and LZP files where a token is inserted wherever there are repetitive strings of data. When decompressed, the tokens are expanded back into the original strings.
Most file compression schemes work within a defined range of a certain number of bytes of information. In contrast, Peribit's algorithms scour streaming WAN packet streams over time without such a restriction. The Peribit software eliminates the file packing and unpacking associated with traditional compression. While the effort by Peribit is commendable, it is computationally expensive and requires purchase of computer hardware for both the server and client. Peribit is a point-to-point solution that is not suitable for applications such as web serving where there are millions of clients, none of which have the Peribit hardware. In addition, like LZW compression, Peribit transmits the token table with the compressed file and therefore has the same inefficiency as LZW compression.
Mun Choon Chan and Thomas Y. C. Woo's paper "Cache-based Compaction: A New Technique for Optimizing Web Transfer" proposes a new technique to reducing Web latency over a slow link. Chan and Woo argue that Web page service latency can be reduced when similar objects (e.g., Web pages having the same or similar URLs) that have been requested and transmitted to the requester are used as references. If a requesting client has an older version of the requested page in its cache, only the changes, or deltas, in the current page need to be sent to the client. Although this paper discusses general approaches to the concept of cache-based compaction, no specific implementations were discussed.
Fourelle Systems, Inc. markets a bandwidth optimization product called Venturi. Venturi uses a collection of standard and proprietary algorithms to compress HTTP, HTML, POP3, SMTP, FTP and NNTP data. Fourelle's product determines the type of data being transmitted and applies the most appropriate compression methods at the application layer. U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,385, assigned to Fourelle, provides a gateway architecture which converts the native protocols of the client application and the server to a bandwidth-efficient protocol. The compression that can be achieved using this approach is limited to the type of algorithm called for each type of data. In other words, maximum compression may not be achieved for certain data types.
Vigos AG uses a combination of hardware and software for their Vigos Website Accelerator. The Accelerator sits at the Web server and runs as a reverse proxy. It uses standardized compression algorithms to reduce data volume by about 10 percent.
Cennoid Technologies offers FxP Compression. This compression approach, based in part on U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,355, "Method and Apparatus for Adaptive Data Compression," chooses a compression scheme based on the type of data to be compressed. Repeated blocks of characters are encoded while other characters are eliminated. The compression data engine also remembers identical packets of data which have already been compressed.
wwWhoosh Inc. uses proprietary players, incorporated into a user's browser, and servers to accelerate delivery of Web content. The player acts as an Internet proxy and accelerates browser performance. The player also determines whether a requested URL is "wwWhoosh-enabled," i.e., whether the proprietary server has repackaged the content associated with the URL so that it is more efficiently delivered. This approach achieves a compression rate of about 15% per requested page.
Netscaler offers a hardware solution to latency reduction. Cache redirectors are deployed at either the edge of the network or at a content server. The cache redirector sets up persistent connections between content and cache servers and filters out non-cacheable requests (i.e., requests for dynamic content) which cannot be answered by a cache server), which are sent to the content server. Other requests are fulfilled by the cache server.
FineGround Networks has also released products for achieving content acceleration. FineGround's approach is to transmit only the changes to a Web page that have occurred between successive requests from a particular user for the same Web page. FineGround's software is installed at the content provider between the content server and the Internet. This software must keep track of pages in the user's cache by cookie, i.e., if the user has the "base" page to which modifications are made by the material sent by FineGround. The Web page is assembled by Javascript contained in the page sent out by FineGround. FineGround's solution to content acceleration only comes into play when the user requests a page he or she has visited before. This approach requires sending the entire base page if a user does not already have it. It also requires manual tuning to inform the software which pages are similar on the server. Cookies must be enabled on the user's browser and the browser must also support DHTML. The page name must also remain the same on subsequent loads because the delta differencing is based on the page name.
Fireclick, Inc. uses differential caching and predictive caching to reduce Web page service latency. Differential caching breaks each page down into dynamic and static portions. The static portions are templates, and are usually stored in a user's browser (although they are transmitted the first time a user accesses a page) and the dynamic portions only are transmitted each time a user requests a different page. The user receives the dynamic content, a pointer to the cached template in the browser's cache, and instructions for assembling the page. Javascript in the browser interprets the instructions and assembles the page. Latency is further reduced by predictive caching, in which a user's browsing patterns are analyzed and the templates for pages the user is likely to request are "predownloaded" (i.e., sent to the user's browser's cache before the user actually requests the page) to the user's browser. As with FineGround, this approach requires "knowing" what is in the user's cache and requires that a page name must remain the same on subsequent loads since this is the mechanism used to determine which template to select.
Another approach for reducing Web page service latency is hierarchical caching. Information can be cached at several points in the network. Requests are routed to certain caches; as a rule, the request first checks a local cache, then a more distant, larger cache is checked, etc. Routing of requests is normally independent of the item sought—the same caches are checked each time regardless of what is sought. Drawbacks to this approach include difficulties configuring neighbor caches as well as potential problems with network congestion as more and more caches are consulted which may increase any latency associated with using the hierarchical cache approach.
Bang Networks has developed a service to serve real-time information over the Internet without having to refresh Web pages. Bang Networks uses a network of proprietary routers which maintain persistent connections to browsers. The routers store information about user sessions and information flows and use that stored information to route data. Bang customers, or content providers, feed real-time information to the proprietary network and the information is routed through the network to the customers' Web pages. In order to use the service, content providers must modify HTML tags in their documents. As this network "scales" to reach more users, this solution becomes extremely expensive and, as noted above, requires content providers to modify their content.
Another approach to reducing Web page service latency and network burden is Edge Side Includes (ESI), developed by Akamai Technologies, Inc. and Oracle Corporation. ESI is a markup language that describes cacheable and non-cacheable components of Web pages. By using this approach, only non-cacheable components of a Web page need be fetched from the Web site; the cacheable components may be stored at the edge of the network. In order to use this approach, a content provider must rewrite its content to be compatible with ESI and send static data to the service provider.
Most information is transmitted over the Internet in TCP/IP packets. This can be inefficient since numerous round trips are required to open and close each TCP connection. Although HTTP 1.1 now allows for persistent connections, persistent connections are not available to all servers. Additionally, HTTP persistent connections do not support simultaneous requests of inlined objects, which is part of most Web pages. The objects are typically requested one at a time by the browser.
A multiplexing protocol, SMUX Protocol Specification, WD-mux-19980710, has been proposed by W3C which allows multiple objects to be fetched from a Web server approximately simultaneously over a single TCP connection. A TCP connection is multiplexed underneath HTTP. This approach allows sockets to be multiplexed on one socket. However, each individual message is often packaged in its own TCP/IP packet, so small packets may still be transmitted.
The transmission of short TCP/IP packets also creates service latency. Each message or file that is transmitted over a TCP/IP connection is contained in a TCP/IP packet with a 40 byte header. If each message, no matter how short, is sent in a TCP/IP packet, this wastes bandwidth as well as the time to send each TCP/IP packet. For instance, if a 1 byte message is sent via a TCP/IP packet, 41 bytes of data are transmitted for every 1 byte of useful data. If the network is heavily loaded, the congestion resulting from transmission of these small packets can result in lost datagrams, which requires the packet to be retransmitted. In addition, the network is slowed by this congestion and connections may be aborted.
One potential solution to this problem, proposed in IETF RFC 896 by Nagle et al., is to delay sending new TCP segments when new data arrives from a user if any previously transmitted data on the connection remains unacknowledged. Basically, the packet is held to accumulate data. When the acknowledgment for previously transmitted data arrives, or if a packet is filled, the packet is transmitted. However, many short packets may still be transmitted using this algorithm.
An object of this invention is to improve the speed of data communication in a network by minimizing the bandwidth needed and reducing communication latency. Unlike any of the inventions of the prior art, the current invention can achieve compression factors of 50 times or more on real-world dynamically generated web pages and achieves minimum latency with minimum overall system loading by utilizing various technologies such as caching relay hubs, persistent connections between all computers, asynchronous protocols, and re-packaging small TCP requests into a single packet.

Method and system for reducing network latency in data communication


An identification band having a pocket portion and a strap portion extending from the pocket portion. The pocket portion encloses identification information pertaining to the wearer. The periphery of the pocket portion is configured to convey a creative artistic impression, that is, a configuration resembling at least a portion of any one of a living being (alive now or in the past), cartoon character, a man-made functional article (such a transportation vehicle and a building), a natural object (such as a cloud or star) and a decoration (such as holiday decorations and artwork). The pocket portion may be relatively planar or be formed so that the artistic impression is three-dimensional.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an identification band, suitable for use in hospitals and other medical facilities for identifying personal and/or medical information about the wearer.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Identification bands are well known as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,246, whose contents are incorporated herein by reference.
Such prior art identification bands typically have an identification pocket portion, which encloses identification information about the wearer of a personal and/or medical nature. The band also has a strap portion which extends from one side of the pocket portion and may be secured at its free end to the opposite side of the pocket portion. The pocket portion is made from multiple plies with one of the face plies being transparent to allow viewing of the enclosed identification information. The periphery of the pocket portion is rectangular with rounded corners.
The wearer of the band may be a child, who must cope with the sterile, unfamiliar environment of the hospital or other medical facility. Often, all the child's personal and wearable belongings are taken away for the duration of the stay. The child wears hospital attire, including the identification band. Needless to say, the child may well feel uncomfortable, if not abandoned, while away from loved ones and familiar surroundings.
The prior art identification band, for which the pocket portion has a generally rectangular shape, is of limited appeal to the child, infant or adult because of its simple geometric shape. It would therefore be desirable to provide an identification band which was more appealing to children, infants and/or adults (e.g., the parents).
In addition, the identification band is often retained by parents of the child or infant as a keepsake. For instance, the band may take on a special significance to the parent if the stay was for child birth.
After the child is discharged, the parents may show off the identification band to family and friends or view it again when reviewing keepsakes of the child. If the identification band conveys the impression of a sterile, cold environment, it will be of little value in promoting the services of the hospital or medical facility in the future should the child again need medical treatment. On the other hand, an identification band which conveys the feeling of a warm, caring place may be of great service as promotion for return visits to the same facility.


Dynamically filtering and classifying messages, as good messages, bulk periodicals, or spam. A regular expression recognizer, and pre-trained neural networks. The neural networks distinguish “likely good” from “likely spam,” and also operate at a more discriminating level to distinguish among the three categories above. A dynamic whitelist and blacklist; sending addresses are collected when the number of their messages indicates the sender is good or a spammer. A dynamically selected set of regular expressions input to the neural networks.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to dynamic message filtering, such as for example filtering incoming messages in response to their content; in one embodiment, messages can be delivered, or other action taken, in response to a result of dynamic filtering.
2. Related Art
In computer communication networks, it is common to send and receive messages among users, such as for the purpose of correspondence, distributing information, and responding to requests. One method for doing so is electronic mail, also known as email. One problem that has arisen in the art is that some messages are unwanted. Moreover, it has become common for advertisers and other message senders to collect relatively large numbers of email addresses, and to send unsolicited advertising in bulk to recipients at those email addresses. When the number of such unsolicited bulk email messages is relatively large, it can take substantial time and effort for recipients to delete them. There is also the possibility that the recipient will miss a relatively important message due to the relatively large number of unimportant messages accumulated in their email inbox. Such unsolicited bulk email messages are often known by the colloquial term "spam," and senders of such messages are often known as "spammers."
A first known method for detecting spam includes so-called "whitelists" and "blacklists," in which the sender of each message is identified by the filter as known to be "good" (a sender who is not a spammer), or "bad" (a sender who is known to be a spammer). While these methods generally achieve the goal of filtering messages, they are subject to the drawback that the user is involved in managing the whitelist or blacklist, and the further drawback that spammers often choose new, unique, sending addresses from which to send new spam.
A second known method for detecting spam includes attempting to evaluate from the content of the message whether it is spam or not. Known evaluation techniques include (a) searching the message for known keywords that are typically indicative of spam, such as words identifying known products popularly promoted by spammers, and (b) evaluating the message by comparing the number of such "bad" keywords with probable "good" keywords, such as words relatively unlikely to be used in a spam message. One example of the latter method is the Bayesian filter proposed by Paul Graham, "A Plan for Spam," and performed by some implementations of the "Mozilla" email client. While these methods generally achieve the goal of filtering messages, they are subject to the drawback that the user must train the implementation to recognize the "bad" keywords and "good" keywords particular to the type of message that user typically receives, and the further drawback that spammers often choose, new, unique, products to promote or words (often misspellings) with which to identify them.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an improved technique for dynamic message filtering.


An MRI apparatus includes imaging control circuitry that performs shimming imaging for collecting a first MR signal, and multi-slice imaging for collecting a second MR signal along with radiation of a non-region-selective prepulse, and processing circuitry that generates static magnetic field distributions of the slices, determines a first center frequency of an RF pulse corresponding to each slice and a second center frequency of the prepulse based on the static magnetic field distribution, and determines an order of slices for collecting the second MR signal in accordance with the first and/or second center frequencies, wherein the imaging control circuitry performs the multi-slice imaging in accordance with the order and the first and second center frequencies.

A technique relating to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus that performs shimming on a static magnetic field based on a static magnetic field distribution (hereinafter referred to as "static magnetic field shimming"), is already known. For example, an MRI apparatus optimizes a center frequency of a prepulse, and a center frequency of a radio frequency (RF) pulse for each slice, by performing static magnetic field shimming during multi-slice imaging that involves radiation of prepulses for fat-suppression. In the multi-slice imaging, however, a prepulse radiated during the collection of MR signals at one stage may affect MR signals collected at a future stage, depending on the collection order of slices in which the MR signals are collected. Such an influence of prepulse may degrade image quality.

Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and multi-slice imaging method


A green-sensitized black-and-white silver halide negative working photographic material comprising a support having thereon at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing tabular silver halide grains, further comprising in said emulsion layer or in a layer adjacent thereto, a heteroatomic sulfinic acid compound, a disulfide compound or a combination thereof, wherein each of said compounds has a solubilizing group having a pKa-value of 10 or less.

Since the early eighties practical use of light-sensitive tabular silver halide grains or crystals has become common knowledge for anyone skilled in the art of photography. From Eastman Kodak's basic patents relied thereupon those related with the preparation of {111} tabular silver halide grains, sensitivity increase by spectral and chemical sensitization, and coating in a light-sensitive silver halide photographic material, more particularly in a forehardened duplitized radiographic material showing improved covering power for tabular grains having a thickness of less than 0.20 μm as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,304 and in the patents corresponding therewith in Japan and in the European countries, it becomes clear that problems encountered by making use of such grains are related with image tone and developability as has also been set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,864.
In radiographic applications the film materials are coated with relatively high amounts of silver, in order to provide a suitable sensitometry even if a low radiation dose is applied to the patient as is always desirable. Although the use of {111} tabular silver halide grains permits coating of lower amounts of silver, if compared e.g. with grains having a more globular shape as applied before practical application of said tabular grains, there remains the need to provide an acceptable image tone after development of materials having light-sensitive silver halide layers containing said tabular grains. Reduction of thickness of the {111} tabular grains coated in a radiographic film material hitherto, although providing a higher covering power, remains unambiguously related indeed with the occurrence, after processing of such materials, of diagnostic images having an unacceptable reddish-brown image tone for radiologists as image tone and image quality are closely related with each other in the specific context of examination of diagnostic images. Measures taken in order to get a shift in image tone from reddish-brown to the desired bluish-black color of the developed silver, well-known from the state-of-the-art are hitherto unsatisfactory. Coating light-sensitive emulsion layers on a blue base as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,976 makes increase minimum density, a phenomenon which is interpreted by the radiologist as an undesired increase of "fog density". Incorporation in the other layers of the film material of such dyes or dye precursors providing blue color directly or indirectly (by processing and oxidative coupling reactions) are e.g. known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,716,769 and 5,811,229 and EP-A 0 844 520, and JP-A 10-274 824 respectively and causes the same problems as set forth hereinbefore, moreover showing, in the worst cases, staining of the screens with blue dyes diffusing from the material onto the screen, with residual color of dyes due to uncomplete removal of said dyes in, nowadays desired, rapid processing steps and problems related with criticality of generation of imagewise developed blue colored silver and preservation characteristics of the material.
Radiographic elements exhibiting increased covering power and colder image tones have been published in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,795,795; 5,800,976 and 5,955,249.
More recently very effective measures in order to improve image tone have been described in EP-A's 1 103 847, 1 103 848, 1 103 849 and 1 103 850.
The stringent demand thus remains to get a desired blue-black image tone of a diagnostic image without disturbing residual color obtained after processing of the radiographic light-sensitive silver halide film material, wherein the said material has suitable preservation characteristics before use. Besides attempts in order to optimize the relationship between image tone, covering power and improved preservation characterics made in EP-A's 1 262 824 and 1 262 825 and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,348,293; 6,346,360 and 6,342,338; U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,454 is referred to as relating to a silver halide photographic material having improved sharpness over a wide range from the high frequency area to the low frequency area.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Radiographic silver halide photographic material having a good developing speed, an excellent image tone and low residual color after processing


This invention discloses a novel cationic photoinitiator and a preparation method and use thereof. The cationic photoinitiator has a structure as represented by general formula (I) below. It can match a longer absorption wavelength in the process of application and has an outstanding photosensitive property, and has characteristics of no proneness to migration and good yellowing resistance.

A photoinitiator is a key component of a photocurable product and has a dominating effect on the cure rate of the photocurable product. According to different mechanisms of initiation, photoinitiators may be divided into cationic photoinitiators and radical photoinitiators. Compared to radical polymerization, a cationic photocuring system has the advantages of small polymerization inhibition by oxygen, small volume shrinkage upon curing, and wide selection of types of resins. In China, researches and developments of cationic photocuring systems fall behind, and there are few companies capable of performing industrial production.
Triarylsulfonium salts are a type of cationic photoinitiators, which are the most widely used at present and have good properties. They are superior to diaryliodonium salts in terms of absorption wavelength, thermal stability, initiation activity, and the like. However, the maximal absorption wavelength of this type of photoinitiators is still less than 300 nm, so that long-wavelength light sources cannot be effectively utilized and there are problems with solubility and mobility, which limit the use to some extent. Improvements in their structures have been tried, such as introduction of long-chain alkyl groups to improve their solubilities, introduction of multifunctional groups to improve their initiation efficiency and thermal stability, and the like. However, in practical use, there are deficiencies such as generation of micromolecular compounds due to low migration resistance, low yellowing resistance, and the like with respect to these improved structures, and initiation efficiency is still desired to be further improved. To this end, the title photoinitiator is developed.

Cationic photoinitiator and preparation method and use thereof

Changzhou Tronly New Electronic Materials Co., Ltd.

Changzhou Tronly Advanced Electronic Materials Co., Ltd.


A method is provided for embodying a plane reference defined by a specific equation within a rough surface of a frame of a structure being assembled. The equation characterizing the reference surface is stored in a memory. With the aid of an optical sighting mechanism, spatial data is obtained which makes it possible to calculate an equation characterizing the rough surface. The data relating to the equations of the reference surface and the rough surface are compared in an information processing unit. A mobile machining device is positioned close to the rough surface. The machining device is controlled by specific orders generated by the comparison of the equations for the reference and rough surfaces respectively. The machining device gradually rectifies the rough surface to make it progressively coincide with that of the spatial equation of the reference surface.

Although not exclusively, the present invention more particularly concerns aeronautical construction applications and also the construction of helicopters.
The production of helicopters is a complex operation implementing elaborated techniques and is subject to extremely strict production norms. These norms are imposed by two essential requirements:
the safety of the product in use, PA1 the guarantee of an equal production quality throughout the lifetime of the product so as to ensure: PA1 the data relating to the equation of said reference surface is stored in memory means; PA1 with the aid of optical sighting means, data are determined making it possible to calculate the equation characterizing said rough surface; PA1 the data relating to the equations of said reference surface and said rough surface are compared in an information processing unit; PA1 a mobile machining device is positioned close to said rough surface, and PA1 with the aid of said machining device controlled by specific orders according to said comparison and provided by said information processing unit, said rough surface is corrected so as to make the plane of the latter progressively coincide with that of said reference surface. PA1 memory means to store the data relating to the spatial equation characterizing said reference surface; PA1 optical sighting means to determine data making it possible to calculate the spatial equation characteristic of said rough surface; PA1 a mobile machining device able to be mounted and move on a girder of the frame close to said rough surface, and PA1 an information processing unit able to compare the data relating to firstly the equation of said reference surface, and secondly to the equation of said rough surface, and, on the basis of this comparison, to provide orders to said machining device controlled in such a way as to make the plane of said rough surface coincide with the plane of said reference surface.
firstly, the assembling during production without any finishing operation of the various elements constituting the product, PA2 and secondly after production, providing customers with standard spare parts.
Thus, the assembling of the elements constituting the structure of a helicopter, for example, needs to satisfy interchangeability requirements. So as to ensure this interchangeability, the elements to be assembled are kept in place on frames with the aid of braces secured to areas, that is, steel parallelepipedic plates sealed to the frame.
Generally speaking, the assembling frames are embodied from relatively light tubes having a square section, but with a large amount of inertia. They may be assembled by arc welding followed by stress-free annealing. Thus, frames are obtained having considerable rigidity on bending and torsion, but which are inexpensive and simple to produce. Once the frame has been produced, it is brought to its implantation site and finally cemented to the ground. The need to provide the areas for bracing the helicopter elements being assembled which were mentioned earlier is explained by the fact that the rough welded faces of the frame are not sufficiently precise to use as a base for fixing to the various braces. The areas are sealed to the frame girders by gluing them with resin or a similar substance, which allows a backlash of the gaps between the areas to be permitted by the resin thickness allowable for glueing. In fact, up until now, the adjustment of the frames has been accomplished by placing templates and standards on said frames. These areas are sealed and the braces used to support the elements to be assembled are secured to the areas of the frames.
These templates and standards are required for the production of new frames and the periodic checking of operational frames.
This involves producing a large number of templates and standards taking up a large amount of space and requires a costly complicated management of these tools for the periodic control of frames.
Thus, it would be desirable to avoid having to use these templates and standards. However, this brings up a new problem to the extent that the bracing areas would thus no longer be kept in place by rigid templates, thus rendering totally ineffective the method used up until now, that is of glueing the areas to the girders of the frame.

Method and system for embodying a plane reference surface defined by a specific equation on an assembling frame of a structure from a rough surface

Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle


The invention provides an isolated or purified peptide that binds at least one plasma protein. In one embodiment, the isolated or purified peptide binds to fibrinogen, comprises no more than 10 amino acids, and comprises an amino acid sequence Xaa1-Xaa2-Xaa3-Xaa4-Xaa5, an amino acid sequence Gly-Xaa6-Arg-Xaa7, or an amino acid sequence selected from specific amino acid sequences provided herein. Alternatively, the isolated or purified protein binds to αl proteinase inhibitor and/or a protein complex comprising Apo-A1 lipoprotein and paraoxonase. The peptide comprises no more than 10 amino acids and comprises an amino acid sequence Xaa8-Xaa8-Xaa1-His-Xaa1-Xaa3, and amino acid sequence His-Xaa8-Xaa9-Xaa1-Xaa10-Xaa2, or an amino acid sequence selected from specific amino acid sequences provided herein. In addition, the invention provides isolated or purified peptide that binds to von Willebrand Factor. The peptide comprises an amino acid sequence Xaa4-Xaa5-Xaa5, an amino acid sequence Tyr-Leu-Xaa11-Xaa4-Xaa12-Thr, or an amino acid sequence selected from specific amino acid sequences provided herein.

Currently available processes for the commercial production of many proteins are complex, require numerous purification steps, and lack efficiency. Large scale purification of, for example, plasma-derived proteins is commonly performed by alcohol fractionation based on the methods of Cohn established over 50 years ago (Cohn et. al., J. Am. Chem. Soc, 68, 459 (1946)). Production yields for such proteins are low while manufacturing costs are high. However, affinity chromatography has been proven as an effective and efficient alternative for purifying a protein from a complex (heterogeneous) protein mixture. Affinity chromatography using peptide ligands has advantages over immunoaffinity chromatography which employs antibodies (Baumbach & Hammond, BioPharm, 5, 24–35 (1992)). Peptide ligands consist of only a few amino acids, which, unlike large murine antibodies, are not likely to cause an immune response if contamination of the purification product occurs. Peptide ligands also are more stable compared to antibodies, and can be manufactured aseptically in large quantities under Good Manufacturing Practice conditions. The interactions between peptide ligands and target proteins can be easily modified to allow mild elution conditions for separation and to provide greater control of interactions by the practitioner.
Due to the lack of existing ligands for purification of some proteins, affinity chromatography has yet to be applied for commercial scale purification of many plasma-derived proteins. Despite advances in other protein purification techniques, many current separation methods are inefficient in avoiding contamination with undesired proteins. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for alternative materials for the efficient separation of plasma proteins from complex mixtures. The invention provides such materials and methods of use. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.


Described are biorenewable, non-VOC solvents and methods of using the same in cleaning applications.

Cleaning compositions must be effective at cleaning, i.e., removing oily or waxy soils. At the same time, there is a balance to be struck between effectiveness in removing soils, inertness to the underlying substrate to be cleaned, and convenience and safety of the user. More recently, there has been a considerable interest in developing environmentally friendly cleaning formulations as well.
While no single definition of "environmentally friendly" exists, it is generally accepted that materials derived from biorenewable resources are sustainable for the environment. Moreover, in some countries, percent by weight volatile organic content (VOC) limits are being regulated. For example, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has proposed further reductions to VOCs in general purpose cleaners from 4 percent by weight to 0.5 percent by weight by Dec. 31, 2012. For purposes of the application, VOCs are those carbon compounds with a vapor pressure greater than 0.1 mm Hg at 20° C.
Accordingly, a need exists for safe, effective, non-damaging, environmentally friendly cleaning compositions.

Cleaning composition comprising a biorenewable solvent comprising a fatty acid ethyl ester and cleaning methods


A cavitation device is used to heat and facilitation the separation of mixtures and emulsions of oil and water. Waste heat from the power source for the cavitation device may be utilized to elevate the temperature of incoming mixtures or emulsions. The heated mixture of emulsion is sent to a separation vessel where vapor may be removed and/or recovered, and where oil is removed as it separates into an identifiable layer. The separation vessel may be a flash tank.

Emulsions and other mixtures of oil and water are not conducive to conventional distillation as a way of breaking the emulsion or separating one of the components from the other Conventional distillation methods of concentrating such compositions too often result in scaling and other difficulties which ultimately frustrate the economics of distillation and/or recovering or recycling the components of the mixture; frequently also, the composition of the oil is altered by the time-temperature regime in the distillation process A more economical and practical method is needed for separating the components of oil and water mixtures and emulsions.


A power distribution system includes powerways and power outlets for positioning in a plurality of furniture units. The powerways may include a plurality of power blocks each having at least three hermaphrodite ports. The power blocks of each powerway are interconnected by flexible conductors. Outlet blocks for the system include a flexible conductor and a connector for connection to the port. The hermaphrodite ports are for connection with other power blocks, outlet blocks, and a power tap-in.

The present invention relates to electrification of office furniture and the like, and in particular to a modular power distribution unit therefor.
Open offices are well known and generally comprise large open floor spaces that are divided into individual offices or workstations. Several different furniture arrangements are presently available to divide such open office spaces and include partition panels, system furniture and modular furniture. These office arrangements are widely utilized as they are relatively easy to install, convenient to rearrange after installation, attractive in appearance and allow a large number of offices or workstations to be installed within an open floor space.
It is desirable that office furniture unit include an electrical wiring system of some type. Such wiring systems preferably provide electrical power to various workstations for typewriters, computers, dictating equipment, lights, clocks and other electrical appliances. The wiring system should not detrimentally effect the ease of installation, the convenience of rearranging the furniture after installation, or the attractive appearance of the furniture. Thus, to facilitate electrification, many furniture units include a utility raceway associated therewith in which the wiring system is housed.
A wide variety of wiring systems for such office furniture units are currently available. These wiring systems employ different techniques and arrangements to conduct electrical power through the office furniture unit and interconnect the powerways associated with adjacent furniture units. Versatility, durability, electrical integrity, convenience of installation and rearrangement of furnished units, and overall safety are all important design considerations for such wiring systems.
Known wiring systems include respective powerways associated with each furniture unit. Electrical connector are provided at the ends of each powerway. The connectors of adjacent powerways are interconnected to form a wiring system for a furniture system. However, these wiring arrangements require that a powerway be matched to the length of the furniture unit such that the end connectors are positioned at the ends of the furniture.
To permit branching, known powerways have a multiple port connector on one end and a single connector on the other end. The multiple port connectors permit two single connectors associated with two powerways to connect to the multiple port connector of another powerway A number of powerways are thus connected where adjacent panel units converge. However, it can be difficult for an installer to connect the powerways and furniture units in the limited space available where adjacent furniture units abut.
An additional difficulty of known electrical systems is that they are constructed to position outlets at certain predetermined locations. Furniture has access openings at those specific locations serviced by the powerway. However, since these locations are fixed, an installer may not be able to optimally position power outlets for a particular workstation. Accordingly, users may be required to use extension cords to reach the power outlets. These cords can present certain safety concerns, and are unsightly in formal office settings.


Methods, devices and systems are described for digitally creating new scents or digitally dispensing gas, vapor, or liquid substances. A device includes a container or replaceable cartridge including one or more chambers containing one or more scented substances; a housing structured to include a compartment to hold the cartridge, an opening to allow the one or more scented or unscented substances to dispense to an outer environment from the device, and one or more transporting channels formed between the compartment and the opening, in which each of the one or more transporting channels is configured to deliver a scented substance from the corresponding chamber to the opening for delivering a scent from the one or more scented substances; and an actuator switch arranged in a corresponding transporting channel and rapidly operable to move between an open position and closed position based on an applied signal to selectively allow passage of the scented or unscented substance from the corresponding transporting path.

Various technologies have been developed for controlled release of gases, vapors, mists, and liquids with applications for entertainment, education, engineering, advertising, medical treatment and therapy, military, and other purposes. For example, technologies that can provide sensory input to the user or observer such as scent, wind, or mist have been introduced into virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications to provide a more immersive, sensory or realistic experience. Design of scent delivery devices that allow reliable, rapid switching of mixed or unmixed scented gas flux in a repeatable manner by synchronizable, remote actuation could have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the virtual, holographic, mixed reality or augmented reality and live experiences, as well as providing additional benefits for medicinal drug delivery in vaporized, nebulized, atomized, liquid, powder or other form. Rapidly switchable, compact blendable fluid control offers the promise for on-demand synthesis of up to thousands of basic ingredients according to prescribed formulae and has application in a broad array of fields as a research and education tool, a manufacturing or processing method, and commercial as well as consumer products and applications. Furthermore, such devices should offer practical, economic, compact, mechanically and electrically reliable, and efficient on-demand control, and precision-timed gas, vapor, mist, liquid, powders or other substance delivery for effective use by individual users or groups.

Switchable digital scent generation and release, and vapor and liquid delivery methods and systems

The Regents of the University of California


The technology relates to a method for creating a payment data structure called a payment container. The technology also relates to the use of such a payment container by means of a processing server. The method for creating is implemented by a communications terminal, and comprises: selection, by a user and via a man-machine interface, of at least one attribute of said container, comprising the selection of at least one attribute value for at least one of the following parameters: (a) category of beneficiary of the payment container and (b) beneficiary of the payment container. The method also comprises obtaining, by the communications terminal, of at least one piece of data representing a user's bank card; validation, by the user, of the creation of the payment container; and transmission, by said communications terminal, of said payment container to a payment container processing server.

A bank card is used to make purchases by two different types of methods: "card present" type purchases are made when the user physically presents his bank card to a merchant who has a physical payment terminal. In this configuration, depending on the country, the prevailing legislation and the payment terminals available, the user (the purchaser) can use either a smartcard or a magnetic stripe card (this is the case for example in the United States), or again he can use a contactless card. There are also multimode cards which use the three technologies mentioned above. "Card not present" (CNP) type purchases can also be made using a bank card. These are mainly online purchases and also purchases by telephone made by using a computer, a tablet, a smartphone or a telephone. To make this type of purchase, the user makes an entry or orally communicates visual data on his card: card number, date of validity, bearer's name, visual cryptogram (or security code). These pieces of data are transmitted by means of a communications network to one or more servers so that payment can be made.
The difference between these two types of payment is a major one. Easy as it may be to use a bank card in "card present" mode, it is also tedious to have to enter one's bank card data in the forms used in web pages. Thus, many individuals store their credit card data in a file in order to make payment operations simpler. There are solutions used to manage this data in a centralised way (for example by DashLane™). These software solutions, installed on the communications device (his computer or tablet) enable the automatic entry, in the fields provided for this purpose, of the data which has been previously entered into the software program. However, on the one hand this approach makes it necessary to enter this data in a third-party software program which has to be installed beforehand in the user's communications device. On the other hand, this solution requires trust in the editor of this software program for the preservation of this data. Online solutions also exist: they make it possible not to have to install software programs on the user's communications device but they nevertheless require trust in an editor (for example Google™) for the preservation of this data. Now, this trust has greatly deteriorated in recent years. Besides, this solution of preserving bank card data in a communications device raises problems in case of theft or loss of the communications device.
Another solution called a "card on file" approach is used to store bank card data directly with the merchant. The merchant keeps the bank card data within his software infrastructure. This simplifies the payment process since, once the user is identified, all that is needed for the payment to be effective is acceptance of the payment. This solution however is not advantageous because it requires trust in all the online merchants likely to have the user's bank card data at their disposal (as it happens, it is necessary above all to have trust in the infrastructures of these merchants, and to have trust in the fact that they are protected against theft or identify theft). This solution is moreover not a definitive one because when the card comes to an end (for example when it reaches its expiry date), it becomes necessary to update all the bank data on the websites of organisations with which a "card on file" approach has been implemented (for example credit organisations, insurance organisations, etc.). Finally, the main problem related to the "card on file" technique is that one gives one's bank card data without any assurance as to its final destination or its final use.
In general, bank card fraud is mainly carried out on online payments. However, the loss or theft of a bank card is an event that can have major repercussions for the individuals involved: these repercussions include cash withdrawals (especially if the theft of the card is accompanied by theft of the confidential code of this card), online payments.

Payment container, method for creating, method for processing, corresponding devices and programs


The present invention relates to a dripless chimney cap which prevents condensates from dripping down the outside of a chimney. The dripless chimney cap includes a cone-shaped top cap at the top of the chimney cap for stopping liquids and objects from falling into the chimney. A condensation drip pan in the shape of an inverted cone is positioned below the top cap and functions to catch and collect condensates, directing them toward the inside of the chimney flue. A mounting flange attaches to the chimney and secures the condensation drip pan and top cap to the chimney. A screen mesh located between the condensation drip pan and the mounting flange is designed to allow cross air flow.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dripless chimney cap employed with or without a stainless steel chimney liner and top plate, in the protection of a chimney from the natural elements of the outside environment and naturally occurring condensation.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A chimney has an opening running its length for conveying exhaust gases from a fireplace, furnace or boiler acting as a heating source. Combustion products in the form of hot exhaust gases rise up the chimney to the outside. They are typically vertical to ensure that the hot gases flow smoothly upward.
The most common fuel sources for modern heating sources include natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, fuel oil, coal and wood.
All of the above stated combustible sources when burned produce gases and other byproducts such as residue which flow upward within the chimney.
A chimney cap is typically located at the uppermost portion of a chimney to protect the chimney from the external natural elements such as precipitation. It also prevents animals and objects from getting into the chimney. They also act as a spark arrestor.
When the heat, gases and other byproducts flow upward within the chimney, the hot gases cool and create byproducts and residue on the underside of the chimney cap. These condensates drip down onto the top of the chimney and can cause staining, discolorization and corrosion of various materials. These condensates tend to drip out of the chimney cap and onto the outside of the chimney and the roof and walls of the house to which it is attached.
To make this a larger problem, dyes are added to heating oils during their production to differentiate them from diesel oil. These dyes condense out of the exhaust gases. Therefore the condensates can cause considerable staining, discolorization and corrosion.
Some prior art chimney caps are designed to have an open screen section to allow greater exhaust flow. Some of these are designed to allow the condensate to drip into the chimney opening in the absence of cross wind. However, with the pitch of the outer edge of the chimney cap sloping downward, outside the diameter of the chimney opening, the condensate continues to fall on the outside of the chimney opening, with or without a cross wind, causing staining, corrosion and discoloration.
Currently there is a need for a chimney cap system which prevents condensate dripping on the outside of the chimney and the house to which it is attached, so as to prevent staining, discolorization and corrosion of the chimney, even in windy conditions.


In one embodiment, an interferometer system comprises an unequal path interferometer assemble comprising; a first reference flat having a first length L1 in a first dimension, a second reference flat having a second length L2 in the first dimension, a cavity D1 defined by a distance between the first reference flat and the second reference flat, and a receptacle to receive an object in the cavity such that an optical path remains open between the first reference flat and the second reference flat, and a radiation targeting assembly to direct a collimated radiation beam to the interferometer assembly, a radiation collecting assembly to collect radiation received from the interferometer assembly, and a controller comprising logic to; vary a wavelength of the collimated radiation beam, record interferograms formed by a plurality of surfaces, extract phases of each of the interferograms for each of the plurality of surfaces to produce multiple phase maps, and determine each phase map from its corresponding interferogram, using a weighted least-square algorithm.

This invention relates to radiation-based inspection techniques, and more particularly to interferometric profilometry systems and methods which may be used to measure the shape, thickness, and material inhomogeneity of a wafer.
Phase shifting interferometry (PSI) is a highly accurate and efficient phase measuring method applied to a variety of applications including optical testing, surface profilometry, surface roughness estimation, and surface displacement measurement. The fundamental concept of PSI is that the phase of an interferogram can be extracted accurately by acquiring a set of phase-shifted interferograms. The phase shifts between interferograms are produced by changing the optical path difference (OPD) between the measurement surface and a reference surface. The phase shifts also can be achieved by changing the wavelength of the radiation used, if the OPD between the measurement surface and the reference surface is not zero.

Measuring the shape, thickness variation, and material inhomogeneity of a wafer


A device for processing a signal of pressure measurement of an internal combustion engine combustion chamber. The device obtains, by a low-pass filter of the pressure measuring signal, a filtered signal, subtracts the filtered signal from the pressure measuring signal to obtain a difference signal, compares the difference signal to a predetermined threshold value, and determines a combustion starting time as a time at which the difference signal reaches the predetermined threshold value.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for processing a pressure-measurement signal of a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine with a view to determining an instant of start of combustion. It also relates to a method employed by this device.
II. Description of Related Art
Such a device is the object of the American patent application published under the number U.S. 2003/0145829. In that document, the pressure-measurement signal is processed by means of a wavelet transformation. An analysis of the coefficients of the wavelet transformation of the pressure-measurement signal makes it possible to detect an instant of start of combustion. More precisely, a sudden increase of the absolute values of these coefficients constitutes an indicator of the instant of start of combustion.
Such processing of the pressure-measurement signal, which consumes considerable computing time, is costly and is difficult to install in a traditional engine control computer.

Device and method for processing a signal of pressure measurement of an internal combustion engine combustion chamber


A PDP display apparatus driving method for performing multi-level gradation display by constituting one frame of a plurality of subfields assigned different weights, wherein in a subfield in which a relative luminance ratio corresponds to a lowest weight, display is performed according to discharges in two periods only, the periods being an initialization period and a write period.

A plasma display panel (PDP) display device includes a PDP unit being composed of a thin front glass panel and a thin back glass panel arranged facing each other via a plurality of barrier ribs, having fluorescent layers of each of the colors red (R), green (G), and blue (B) applied between the barrier ribs, and discharge gas enclosed in a discharge space which is a gap between the two glass panels. A plurality of pairs of display electrodes, each pair consisting of a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, are formed on the front glass panel. Also, a plurality of address electrodes are aligned on the back glass panel, so as to be perpendicular to the display electrodes, the discharge space being between the address electrodes and display electrodes. In a subfield (which is described later), each of the electrodes is applied with pulses such as initialization pulses, scan pulses, write pulses, sustain pulses, and erase pulses, based on, for example, the drive waveform process shown in FIG. 15, so that fluorescent light is emitted according to the electric discharge generated in the discharge gas. A PDP display device having this kind of construction is superior to a conventional CRT display in that it does not involve problems including limitations in viewing angles and increased depth and weight when a large screen PDP is produced, as a large screen conventional display CRT does.
There is much demand for this kind of large screen, high definition PDP display device, and at present PDP display devices of 50 inches or more in size are being commercially produced.
Note that when a television video is shown on a display using an analog color television video signal system, one second of an image is constructed from 60 frames (or fields). In a basic PDP display device, because image display is basically possible only by illumination and extinction, a method for displaying halftones is used in which the illumination time corresponding to each of the colors red (R), green (G) and blue (B) is time-shared, as shown in the frame structure diagram FIG. 16. For example a plurality of level gradation display times are in accordance with a combination of eight subfields which constitute 1 (TV) frame. The relative luminance ratios of each of the eight subfields are assigned, in ascending order, binary weights such as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, and display, for example, a total of 256 gradations (level 0 gradation to level 255 gradation) according to a combination of the different weights of the 8 bit relative luminance ratio. Further, in order to maintain a sufficient brightness during actual operation, a number of sustain pulses to be applied during the discharge sustain period of each subfield is substantially set in proportion with the assigned weight. It is supposed that the number of pulses, in the described relative luminance ratio order is 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, 127, 255, 511 (wherein "level 0 gradation", "level 1 gradation", "level 2 gradation" to "level 8 gradation" and so on, which are described later, show specific level gradations included in 256 total gradations).
A PDP display device having the above characteristics incurs the following problems during low-level gradation display.
Namely, in display it is generally desirable that the relative luminance ratio decreases as the gradation level of the display becomes lower, as this allows dark gradation display to be expressed smoothly. When using a CRT to display, of the total 256 gradations, level 0 gradation, and level 1 gradation which has a relative luminance ratio corresponding to the smallest weight, the luminance ratio showing the difference in gradation level is close to 0 cd/m2, and a smooth gradation display time is possible. However in a PDP display device, the luminance ratio of level 0 gradation and level 1 gradation is no less than 2 cd/m2, therefore it is difficult to display such a change in luminance as smoothly as in a CRT device.
In response to this problem, if the sustain pulse rate is set at a very low gradation setting, light emission gained by sustain pulses during the level 1 gradation display time can be restricted, however because light emission is left over from the initialization pulse, write pulse, and erase pulse, luminance cannot be substantially lowered. Further, even if gradation display time is falsely attempted using error diffusion processing (dither method), error diffusion noise is noticeable on the screen because the gradation level is low, and rather than an effective error diffusion result being gained, a new problem of deterioration in picture quality arises.

Plasma display panel display device and driving method therefor


A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a mold for forming a storage electrode, forming sacrificial spacers at side walls of openings in the mold, forming a conductive film for a storage electrode along the inside of the openings, removing the mold by a wet etching process, removing the sacrificial spacers by a dry etching process, and sequentially forming a dielectric film and an upper electrode on the storage electrode.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a method of fabricating a cylinder-type capacitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, as semiconductor devices have become more highly integrated, design rules for fabricating the semiconductor devices have decreased. As a result, the regions available for forming capacitors are also being decreased. Generally, the capacitance of a capacitor is proportional to the dielectric constant of the dielectric film and the surface area of the electrodes. It is desirable to fabricate a capacitor with high capacitance in order to provide reliable data storage between refresh cycles in the semiconductor device. Thus, in order to form a capacitor having high capacitance in a narrow area, the dielectric film should be formed of a material having high dielectric constant (i.e. a high-k material), or the surface area of the electrodes should be increased. However, introducing high-K materials into existing manufacturing processes presents problems like requiring new manufacturing equipment, presenting reliability concerns of the dielectric films, and the feasibility of mass-production. Therefore, in order to ensure adequate capacitance required for highly integrated semiconductor devices with conventional dielectric films, it is necessary to increase the surface area of the electrodes.
Therefore, recently, the demand for capacitors having a cylinder-type storage electrode which has increased height and small intervals between nodes, that is, a cylinder-type storage electrode with a large aspect ratio, is increasing.
A method of forming a conventional cylinder-type capacitor is described below.
The method comprises forming an etch stop film on an interlayer insulating film including contact plugs and then forming an insulating film for a mold with a height in accordance with the desired height of the storage electrode for the cylinder-type capacitor. Next, the insulating film and the etch stop film are sequentially etched to complete a mold defining an opening which exposes the contact plugs. Finally, conductive polysilicon is deposited in the opening, the electrodes are separated by cells to form the cylinder-type storage electrode, and then the mold is removed by a wet etching process.
In the meantime, water may remain between the storage electrodes when the mold is removed by wet etching. Since water has high surface tension, leaning may occur between storage electrodes, forming a bridge therebetween during the subsequent wet and dry etching processes. Due to this leaning phenomenon, which causes the storage electrodes to be bridged, the characteristics of semiconductor devices are often deteriorated. As the aspect ratio increases, the leaning occurs more frequently.
In addition, during the wet etching process for removing the mold, etchant may permeate into the interface between the storage electrode and the etch stop film. Thus, defects may occur in a lower membrane under the etch stop film.
Therefore, the demand for cylinder-type capacitors having a large aspect ratio, low occurrence of bridging between the electrodes, and low membrane defects, is increasing.
The invention addresses these and other disadvantages of the conventional art.

Method of fabricating a semiconductor device


An autofocusing controlling apparatus for a camera is disclosed. The controlling apparatus is provided with a beam breakage judging means for judging whether or not there is a breakage in each of the multiple beams received. The beam which has no or the least breakage is selected and autofocusing control is executed on the basis of the information on the subject distance measured by the selected beam, thereby preventing an error in the measurement of the subject distance due to a shift of the center of gravity of a beam in the direction of the base length. A light emitting portion includes not only a light emitting device for projecting a light beam onto the object of photography in the panoramic photographing region but also a light emitting device for projecting a light beam onto the object outside the panoramic photographing region so as to measure the distance of the object outside the panoramic photographing region. When the object in the panoramic photography region is judged to extend beyond the panoramic photography region, the user is warned it or the panoramic photography mode is automatically switched over to the ordinary photography mode. If the no-signal state in which there is no information supplied from the object when the subject distance is measured during panoramic photography, the photographing lens is automatically set at the position at which the photographing lens is situated in the distant photography mode, thereby improving the resolution of a panoramic photograph.

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application Nos. 3-284217 filed on Oct. 4, 1991 and 3-296270 and 3-296271 filed on Oct. 15, 1991, which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an active autofocusing apparatus for measuring a subject distance in a camera by using a plurality of beams or one beam.
2. Description of the Related Art
In cameras, autofocusing control is executed by, for example, projecting multiple beams from a light emitting portion onto the object of photography and receiving the light reflected from the object by a light receiving portion. As shown in FIG. 16, a finder 2 and a lens barrel 4 holding a lens 3 are disposed on the front surface of a camera body 1, and an active light emitting portion (infrared light emitting diode) 5 for emitting infrared light and a light receiving portion 6 are disposed in a horizontal line. The light emitting portion 5 and the light receiving portion 6 measure the subject distance and outputs the autofocusing (AF) step number, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B.
In FIG. 17A, when beams are projected from the light emitting portion 5 onto the objects at different distances P.sub.1, P.sub.2, the beams reflected from the objects are received by a light receiving device 6B through a light receiving lens 6A. At this time, the light receiving device 6B receives the beam reflected from the object which is at a distance of P.sub.1 at a position p.sub.1, and the beam reflected from the object which is at a distance of P.sub.2 at a position p.sub.2, as shown in FIG. 17B. It is therefore possible to measure the subject distance from the position at which the beam is received by the light receiving device 6B. The AF step number which corresponds to the subject distance is allotted to the light receiving device 6B for the purpose of autofocusing control. The center 200 of gravity of the received beam (indicated by the broken line) 100 is first detected, and when the detected value is output from the light receiving device 6B as information on the measured subject distance, the AF step number is determined on the basis of the information. In this case, the light emitting portion 5 subsequently outputs three beams onto different positions of an object 7, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, in order to accurately measure the subject distance. The AF step number is determined on the basis of these three beams, and the lens 3 is driven in accordance with the information on the AF step number, thereby focusing the lens 3 on the object 7.
In conventional autofocusing control by using multiple beams, however, when a projected beam is not completely impinged on the object 7 but is broken in the direction of the base length, as shown in FIG. 18A, the center of gravity of the beam changes, which causes an error in the measurement of the subject distance. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 17B, while the center of gravity of the beam 100 having a round section (indicated by the broken line) is situated at the position 200, the center of gravity of a beam 101 having a semicircular section (indicated by the solid line) deviates to the position 201. Therefore, although "n" should be output as the AF step number, "n-1" is actually output, so that autofocusing control becomes inaccurate.
FIG. 19 shows the AF step numbers output when one beam is projected and the camera body is swivelled by a predetermined angle. FIG. 20 shows the AF step numbers output when three beams are projected and the camera body is swivelled by a predetermined angle. In FIGS. 19 and 20, the portions A show the AF step numbers produced when there is no breakage of beam, and the portion B in which the AF step numbers are smaller (the subject distance is shorter) corresponds to the beam 101 in FIG. 17B, namely, the case in which the left side (the projected circle of the beam is reversed side to side by the projection lens) of the beam 101 is broken. The portion C in which the AF step number is larger (the subject distance is longer) is the case in which the right side of the beam is broken. In other words, the portions B and C in which the beam is broken are NG regions in which the lens 3 is out of focus. This is no problem when the object is in such a long distance that only one beam is projected onto the object 7, as shown in FIG. 18B, but becomes a problem when the object 7 is at such a short distance that at least two beams are impinged on the object 7, as shown in FIG. 18A. When there are at least two beam outputs, the smallest AF step number output is selected in a conventional autofocusing controlling apparatus. Especially, when the left side of a beam is broken, focus control is executed in the NG region shown by the portions B in FIG. 20.
Panoramic cameras for taking a photograph in a wide photographing range are conventionally known. There are panoramic cameras exclusively for panoramic photography and cameras which selectively enables both ordinary photography and panoramic photography. In a camera which enables both ordinary photography and panoramic photography by switching the photographing modes, a mask is set at the upper and lower portions of the exposing portion so as to cover the upper and lower portions of the film and an indicating frame which indicates the panoramic photography region is displayed in the finder in the panoramic photography mode.
In such a panoramic camera, autofocusing control is executed under an active system or the like using infrared light, ultrasonic waves, or the like. In the case of using infrared light, for example, infrared beams 110 (e.g., three beams) are projected onto the object 7 from the light emitting device, as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, so as to measure the subject distance, and the lens 3 is focused on the object 7 on the basis of the information on the measured subject distance.
In a conventional panoramic camera, however, the upper and lower portions of the photographed image of the object are sometimes missing. As shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, an indicating frame 9 for indicating the panoramic photography region is displayed in a finder 8 in the panoramic photography mode but, sometimes, the indicating frame 9 is not utilized effectively. For example, although the indicating frame 9 is comparatively paid attention to immediately after the mode is changed over to the panoramic photography mode, while pictures are taken in the panoramic photography mode in combination with ordinary photography, the user may sometimes forget that the photographing mode is now the panoramic photography mode and take pictures without special attention to the indicating frame 9. In addition, the user may sometimes disregard the indicating frame 9 depending upon the photographing state although he is aware of the panoramic photography mode. If a picture is taken in the state shown in FIG. 21B in the panoramic photography mode for thee reasons, the head and the chin of the object are missing in the photographed image.
Furthermore, the indicating frame 9 displayed in the finder 8 may not be completely coincident with the actual panoramic photography region.
FIG. 22 shows an example of an autofocusing control circuit. In FIG. 22, a CPU (central processing unit) is 38 is connected to a subject distance measuring portion 37 which is composed of a light emitting device and a light receiving device, and a lens driving portion 39 is connected to the CPU 38. The CPU 38 executes the control of the camera as a whole and autofocusing control. The CPU 38 is provided therein, for example, with an AF step number setting portion 38A, a no-signal state detecting portion 38B and a lens movement control portion 38C. The camera is also provided with a panoramic photography button (not shown) for selecting the panoramic photography mode and a distant photography button (not shown) for selecting the distant photography mode.
According to this structure, when the panoramic photography mode is selected by pressing the panoramic photography button, for example, and a photography button is then pressed, autofocusing control is initiated. In the autofocusing control, the subject distance is measured on the basis of the state of the beam received by the light receiving device immediately after the control of the light emission from the light emitting device by the CPU 38, and when the information on the measured subject distance is output to the AF step number setting portion 38A, the AF step number for adjusting the focal length to the subject distance is output to the lens movement control portion 38C. When the lens driving portion 39 is driven by the lens movement control portion 38C, the photographing lens 3 is moved to a predetermined position, and the lens 3 is thereby automatically focused on the object 7.
In this circuit, the no-signal state detecting portion 38B detects that the beam reflected from the object 7 cannot be received by the light receiving device. When the no-signal state is detected, the lens 3 is so controlled as to be moved by a predetermined amount. In this type of camera, when the object 7 is situated at such a long distance as not less than several 10 m, the movement of the photographing lens 3 is generally controlled by a predetermined AF step number without receiving any reflected beam. In the above-described camera, the distant photography button is provided, and when the object 7 at a distance of not less than 100 m is photographed, the photographing lens 3 is so controlled as to focus on the distant object 7 not under autofocusing control but by pressing the distant photography button.
In a conventional camera which enables panoramic photography, however, the amount of lens movement (AF step number) set when the no-signal state is detected by the no-signal detecting portion 38B is appropriate in the ordinary photography mode but it is not always appropriate in the panoramic photography mode, which lead to a problem in the resolution of a picture. To state this more concretely, in panoramic photography for photographing a wide picture, the lens 3 is often focused on the object 7 at a comparatively long distance. In addition, in a panoramic camera, since a mask is generally disposed on the upper and lower portions of an ordinary film so as to take a picture while narrowing the vertical exposing range in the film, the enlargement ratio of the picture at the time of printing is larger than a picture taken in the ordinary photography mode. Therefore, if the amount of lens movement in the no-signal state in the panoramic photography mode is so set that the focal length is longer than that in the ordinary photography mode, it is possible to obtain a panoramic picture which is in focus.

Autofocusing controlling apparatus for camera


Various examples are provided for dynamically updating or adapting predictive modeling for prediction of outcomes of interest for operating systems and processes. Embodiments of the disclosure may provide systems, apparatus, processes, and methods for generating and deploying dynamically updated predictive models. In some embodiments, the predictive model may be deployed for the purpose of predicting operational outcomes of interests in operating systems, hardware devices, machines and/or processes associated therewith prior to the operational outcomes of interest occurring. The predictions can, for example, provide sufficient time for maintenance or repairs to be scheduled and carried out to avoid the predicted operational outcome. Autonomous evaluation of features allows the predictive models to be dynamically updated in response to changes in the environment or monitored data.

With the computerized automation of many operating systems involving the operation of machines or hardware-enabled devices, a wide range of monitoring can be carried out for the operational control of the respective systems. In many cases, the monitored information extracted from the systems during operation thereof (e.g., raw data collected through sensors distributed about the operating system) is sent to a controller, user device or other processing device, which can then adjust or otherwise modify the operation of the system or a portion of the system in response to the monitored conditions. These controllers (or other devices) can utilize the monitored data in real time to control operation of individual pieces of equipment (e.g., through a local controller) and/or the operation of the overall system or process in real time or substantially in real time. For instance, vehicles such as trains, planes and automobiles can include localized controllers that monitor operational data to control individual components of the vehicle (e.g., the transmission) while a master controller can also monitor overall operation of integrated systems including the component (e.g., the drive train including the engine) or the vehicle itself. In industrial settings, combinations of localized and/or master controllers (or other devices) can interact with each other and/or equipment on the plant floor to control the automated process in real time or substantially in real time.
The monitored information can also be analyzed to evaluate the real time or substantially real time conditions of the operating system and to predict the likelihood of whether future operational conditions that may be of interest, such as, for example, faults or failures of the process, device or individual equipment/hardware might occur. Notably, the large amounts of data available from the various machines or other hardware devices (e.g., components) that comprise many operating systems that can be utilized to undertake predictive analysis presents increased problems in actually conducting the analysis. Given the vast amount of information that is available today, and that will increasingly be available in the future, the full operational aspects of an operating system, hardware device, or machine cannot be analyzed fully today, even with use of the most sophisticated data analysis systems and highly trained data scientists. In short, the vast amount of data available in today's complex systems has quickly become too large for existing systems and personnel to assess. This means that only subsets of available information can adequately be analyzed today, and such subsets are necessarily the result of subjective selection techniques. The subjectivity involved in the analysis of large datasets today means that much of the operational data relevant to prediction of operational events in operating systems, hardware devices and machines may not be incorporated to generate predictive models. In short, existing predictive models do not currently exist that exhibit the accuracy needed to provide allow suitable foresight into potential operational outcomes that can affect the operation of an operating system, hardware device, or machine.
Such proactive monitoring, evaluation and, potential modification of operating systems, hardware devices or machines is further complicated using prior art methodologies by the sparsity of some of the monitored data that is generally made available for use thereof, especially in view of the limits of data analysis today. While a master controller (or on-site server) can receive some of the monitored data from the localized controllers or other devices (such as sensors associated with the machine or hardware device) on a regular (or scheduled) basis, large portions of the monitored data may be non-uniformly sampled. In some cases, a defined set of monitored data may only be received when a trigger event occurs, where such a "trigger event" may only randomly occur. As these events may occur only sporadically during operation of the system and only a limited amount of data is retained, the resulting monitored data can be sparse. Accordingly, data collected in relation to a "trigger event" can have limited utility in providing forward looking—that is, predictive—information because it is, by its very nature, backward looking—that is, reactive.
There remains a need for improved systems and methods for data collection, selection, analysis and prediction so that operational conditions affecting the operation of operating systems, hardware devices, or machines can be better predicted to, therefore, allow modification of the operation thereof so as to avoid the occurrence of an event or to enable improvements in the overall operational conditions. It would further be desirable to allow large amounts of data generated from complex machinery to be analyzed sufficiently to enable improved predictive models pertinent to the ongoing operation of the operating systems, hardware devices, or machines. The present invention provides these and other benefits.

Dynamically updated predictive modeling to predict operational outcomes of interest


A stacked die package system including forming a bottom package including a bottom substrate and a bottom die mounted and electrically connected under the bottom substrate and forming a top package including a top substrate and a top die mounted and electrically connected over the top substrate. Mounting the top package by the top substrate over the bottom substrate and electrically connecting the bottom and top substrates. Mounting system electrical connectors under the bottom substrate adjacent the bottom die.

In the electronics industry, as products such as cell phones and camcorders become smaller and smaller, increased miniaturization of integrated circuit (IC) packages has become more and more critical. At the same time, higher performance and lower cost have become essential for new products.
Multiple die module designs have responded to the need for increasing the number of electronic devices, such as integrated circuits or memory dies, within smaller areas. Initially, dies or dies were connected in an unpackaged, bare form in a horizontal plane. More recently, the industry has begun implementing integration by stacking dies. Three-dimensional packaging of this type offers higher die density and less required interconnect density than two-dimensional multiple die substrates. Furthermore, stacking provides a dense die structure having the footprint of a one-die package, and obtaining thicknesses that have been continuously decreasing.
The primary practical limitation to the number of dies that can be stacked in a stacked die package system is the low final test yield of the stacked-die package. It is inevitable that some of the die in the package will be defective to some extent, and therefore the final package test yield will be the product of the individual die test yields, each of which is always less than 100%. This can be particularly a problem even if only two die are stacked in a package but one of them has low yield because of design complexity or technology.
As integrated circuit packages become smaller, it is also increasingly difficult to test each die separately, due to handling difficulties since the individual die are stacked with adhesive or spacer and in between on a substrate. Further, because the quality of the die cannot be determined, defects in the module can be found only after the module has been assembled.
As a result, the yield of the semiconductor module is lowered while its cost increases. For this reason, a need still therefore exists for a system allowing separate testing of each die package in an efficient manner while providing an efficient use of the limited amount of space. In view of the ever-increasing need to save costs and improve efficiencies, it is more and more critical that answers be found to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.


A beverage forming method and system in which a carafe with an associated magnetic element is positionable at a carafe receiving area. One of a protrusion and a first recess is associated with the carafe and the other of the protrusion and the first recess is associated with a housing. The housing includes a detector arranged to detect the presence of the magnetic element when the protrusion is inserted into the first recess. Beverage formation of an amount greater than a threshold volume is enabled when the detector detects the magnetic element.

Beverage forming systems that use a liquid, such as water, to form a beverage are well known. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011/0185907 discloses a coffee machine and receptacle that can be docked at a filling position on the machine to receive coffee made by the machine. The machine can detect the presence of the receptacle at the filling position, and starts an operating mode to produce coffee when the receptacle is at the filling position.

Method and apparatus for beverage carafe detection


A pre-ECD surface treatment. After forming the barrier material (110) and seed layer (112), the surface of the seed layer (112) is treated with an H2 plasma to remove surface contamination (122), reduce any CuOx (123), and improve wettability. The ECD copper film (124) is then formed over the seed layer (112).

As the density of semiconductor devices increases, the demands on interconnect layers for connecting the semiconductor devices to each other also increases. Therefore, there is a desire to switch from the traditional aluminum metal interconnects to copper interconnects. Unfortunately, suitable copper etches for a semiconductor fabrication environment are not readily available. To overcome the copper etch problem, damascene processes have been developed.
In a conventional interconnect process, the aluminum (and any barrier metals) are deposited, patterned, and etched to form the interconnect lines. Then, an interlevel dielectric (ILD) is deposited and planarized. In a damascene process, the ILD is formed first. The ILD is then patterned and etched. The barrier material is then deposited over the structure with the copper being formed over the barrier material. Then, the copper and barrier material are chemically-mechanically polished to remove the conducting material from over the ILD, leaving metal interconnect lines. A metal etch is thereby avoided.
The most practical technique for forming copper interconnects is electrochemical deposition (ECD). In this process, after the barrier material is deposited, a seed layer of copper is deposited. Then, ECD is used to deposit copper over the seed layer. ECD is a process used to produce a solid phase product (such as a thin film) by electrochemical reaction. Cu ECD is a process used to make Cu thin films through the electrochemical reduction of Cu ions, represented by the following chemical equation:Cu+++2e−→Cuwhere e− represents electron.In order for the ECD process to proceed, a seed layer is required to pass current and to serve as a nucleation layer. The wettability of the seed surface is very critical for the success of the ECD process. If the plating solution cannot wet the seed surface, no Cu can by deposited on that area of the surface, forming a void.
One of the problems with ECD copper films is that the films frequently show unacceptably high defect levels. The defect concentration is very sensitive to the surface condition. For example, examining wafers prior to ECD by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can increase the ECD defect concentration due to surface contamination. The surface effect can be traced to wettability of the seed surface with the bath solution. A method for improving the wettability of the seed surface is therefore desired.

Process for defect reduction in electrochemical plating