A method for video sharing, which realizes video sharing between an originating UE and a terminating UE when the terminating UE is not IMS core network registered. The method includes the following steps: an originating UE sends a video sharing request containing a URI of callee to an application server; the application server determines that the terminating UE of the callee is not IMS core network registered and notifies the terminating UE to register; the terminating UE activates a GPRS connection and registers with the IMS core network; the originating UE and the registered terminating UE set up a sharing session via the application server; the originating UE and the terminating UE share video information. A system and apparatus for practicing this method is also disclosed.

With the development of mobile communication technologies, people are no longer satisfied with a communication mode of only voice communication. They require a brand-new multimedia communication. The multimedia communication is more than simple audio and video communication, but incorporates instant messaging, collaborative work, and streaming media, especially the convergence of new communication with traditional voice communication. According to the trend of Internet and telecom network convergence, standardization organizations have proposed the concept of next generation networks. The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) introduces an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) core network with all Internet Protocol (IP) service network architecture on the basis of a packet bearer network. The purpose of the IMS is to control the openness of service capabilities regardless of user access modes and to provide multimedia communication experience according to personalized user data. Video sharing means one user equipment (UE) shares local video information with other one or more UE. The video information for sharing includes video clips taken by a camera, local video files, images, music clips and flashes.
The signaling control of video sharing is based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). Before an originating user equipment (UE) can share video information with a terminating UE, the originating UE and the terminating UE must register with the IMS core network. Video sharing may be between a broadband mobile network and a non-broadband mobile network, or between two non-broadband mobile networks. Broadband mobile networks include networks compliant with 3GPP R5 or later 3GPP releases, in which the calls are carried over IP. Non-broadband mobile networks include networks compliant with the 2.5 Generation (2.5G), 3GPP R99, and 3GPP R4, in which basic calls are carried over the circuit switched (CS) domain and data services are carried over the general packet radio service (GPRS) system.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional method for video sharing where the originating UE is a UE in a broadband mobile network and the terminating UE is a UE in a non-broadband mobile network. The originating UE communicates with a originating application server (AS) via an originating IMS core network. The originating AS communicates with a terminating AS via the originating IMS core network and a terminating IMS core network. The terminating AS communicates with the terminating UE via the terminating IMS core network. For the purpose of description, the method below only deal with the originating UE, the originating AS, the terminating AS and the terminating UE.
As shown in FIG. 1, the method for video sharing includes the following steps:
Steps 101-106: The originating UE and the terminating UE perform media negotiation on the basis of SIP.
Specifically, the originating UE sends a video sharing invitation to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS; the terminating UE sends the media negotiation result to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS.
Steps 107-130: The originating UE and the terminating UE establish provisional communication.
Specifically, the process includes: the originating UE sends a Provisional Response Acknowledgement (PRACK) to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS; the terminating UE sends an acknowledgement to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the originating UE sends an UPDATE to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS; the terminating UE sends an ALERT to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the originating UE sends a PRACK to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS; the terminating UE sends an acknowledgement to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the terminating UE sends a video sharing acknowledgement to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the originating UE sends a response acknowledgement to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS.
Steps 131-134: The originating UE and terminating UE establish a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) link and share video information.
Specifically, the process includes: the originating UE establishes an RTP link with the terminating UE; the terminating UE sends a receiver report to the originating UE; the originating UE sends a sender report to the terminating UE; the originating UE shares video information with the terminating UE over the RTP link.
Steps 135-141: The terminating UE terminates the video sharing, the originating UE and terminating UE release the communication link, and the video sharing ends.
Specifically, the terminating UE sends an RTP LINK RELEASE message to the originating UE; the terminating UE sends a RELEASE message to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the originating UE sends a RELEASE ACK to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS.
In the prior art shown in FIG. 1, the UE in a non-broadband mobile network needs to activate a GPRS connection after power-on and register with the IMS core network, and the UE in a broadband mobile network registers with the IMS core network automatically after power-on. Before a UE in any network registers with the IMS core network, the UE is unable to share video information with UEs in other networks. After successful registration, the UEs establish a connection and perform media negotiation over SIP and transfer the shared media according to the negotiation result.
If the terminating UE is in a non-broadband mobile network, its GPRS connection is normally inactive and the control signaling of the originating UE in a broadband mobile network cannot be routed correctly to the terminating UE. To ensure correct routing of control signaling, the UE in the non-broadband mobile network must be always GPRS activated and IMS core network registered. This will consume a large quantity of resources in the PS domain. Besides, to keep the GPRS connection active increases the energy consumption of the UE and shortens its standby time.
FIG. 2 illustrates a method in the prior art for implementing video sharing between two UEs in a non-broadband network. The originating UE communicates with the originating AS via the originating IMS core network. The originating AS communicates with the terminating AS via the originating IMS core network and the terminating IMS core network. The terminating AS communicates with the terminating UE via the terminating IMS core network. For the purpose of description, the method below only deals with the originating UE, the originating AS, the terminating AS and the terminating UE. According to FIG. 2, the method includes the following steps:
Step 201: The originating UE and the terminating UE establish a voice connection.
Steps 202-213: The originating UE and the terminating UE query whether the other party is capable of video sharing.
Specifically, the process includes: the originating UE sends a QUERY message to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS; the terminating UE sends a QUERY ACK to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the terminating UE sends a QUERY message to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the originating UE sends a QUERY ACK_200 to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS.
Steps 214-219: The originating UE and the terminating UE perform media negotiation on the basis of SIP.
Specifically, the process includes: the originating UE sends a video sharing request to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS; the terminating UE sends the media negotiation result to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS.
Steps 220-246: The originating UE and the terminating UE establish provisional communication.
Specifically, the process includes: the originating UE sends a PRACK to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS; the terminating UE sends an acknowledgement to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the originating UE sends an UPDATE to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS; the terminating UE sends an ALERT to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the originating UE sends a PRACK to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS; the terminating UE sends an acknowledgement to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the terminating UE sends a video sharing request acknowledgement to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the originating UE sends a response acknowledgement to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS.
Steps 247-250: The originating UE and the terminating UE establish an RTP link and share video information over the link.
Specifically, the process includes: the originating UE establishes an RTP link with the terminating UE; the terminating UE sends a receiver report to the originating UE; the originating UE sends a sender report to the terminating UE; the originating UE shares video information with the terminating UE via the RTP link.
Steps 251-257: The terminating UE terminates the video sharing, the originating and terminating UEs release the communication link, and the video sharing ends.
Specifically, the process includes: the terminating UE sends an RTP LINK RELEASE message to the originating UE; the terminating UE sends a RELEASE message to the originating UE via the terminating AS and the originating AS; the originating UE sends a RELEASE ACK to the terminating UE via the originating AS and the terminating AS.
Step 258: The originating UE and the terminating UE restore the voice connection in the CS domain.
In the prior art shown in FIG. 2, the originating UE and the terminating UE first establish a voice connection in the CS domain. Both the originating UE and the terminating UE automatically activate the GPRS connection and register with the IMS core network so that video information can be shared between them.
Because the terminating UE does not need to be always GPRS activated and IMS core network registered, the terminating UE achieves lower energy consumption and uses fewer PS domain resources. Nevertheless, the method is subject to certain deficiencies. First, a voice connection must be established in the CS domain before video sharing. This causes certain restrictions to video sharing. Users may give up sharing due to the cost of the voice call. Second, most users establish voice connections for calls, and not for video sharing. When a GPRS connection is activated and registration is performed in the IMS core network for each voice call, there will be a waste of GPRS resources. Third, no matter whether the originating UE and terminating UE are IMS core network registered, video sharing is impossible without an established voice connection.

Method, system and apparatus for video sharing


A semiconductor device includes a first chip pad, a power semiconductor chip arranged on the first chip pad and including at least a first and a second power electrode, and a clip connected to the first power electrode. In this case, an integral part of the clip forms a shunt resistor and a first contact finger of the shunt resistor is embodied integrally with the clip.

Semiconductor devices can contain power semiconductor chips configured to switch high currents. For numerous applications it may be necessary to determine the intensity of a current flowing through such a power semiconductor chip. Such a determination of the current flow can usually take place externally; by way of example, the semiconductor device can be fitted on a circuit board and be electrically connected to the latter and a measuring device for measuring the current through the power semiconductor chip may be present on the circuit board. For the purpose of an optimized integration density of the semiconductor device, however, it may be advantageous to determine the current internally, i.e. within the semiconductor device itself, e.g. by means of an integrated shunt resistor.
An object of the invention can therefore be considered that of providing a semiconductor device with an improved integrated shunt resistor. Furthermore, the invention aims to specify a method for producing a semiconductor device with an improved integrated shunt resistor.
This object is achieved by means of the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims present advantageous configurations of the disclosure.

Semiconductor device with integrated shunt resistor


Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method of managing the distribution of images in a distributed cloud network by a network management system, including: receiving, by the network management system, a request for an image for a network node; identifying, by the network management system, an image from a plurality of images compatible with the network node; and initiating, by the network management system, installation of the image on the network node.

Deploying cloud infrastructure and software may include many customization factors that cloud customers must accommodate when on-boarding software onto the cloud. Specifically, each cloud node may be managed via specific providers, for example, CloudStack, OpenStack, etc. Further, the cloud node may use a specific hypervisor to manage the node, for example, KVM, XEN, VMWare, etc. For each combination of these properties a different software image may be required. Further, a different setup process may be required to install the image depending upon the various factors.
In the current state-of-the art, a customer that wants to deploy a given image at several cloud nodes must manage each independently. This requires manually accessing each cloud node and targeting the specific needs of each system. As a result, large applications installed on a distributed cloud may be very difficult and cumbersome to manage. Additionally, in a distributed cloud there may be considerable challenges in image distribution that arise from security limitations that may block access between certain cloud nodes and image servers.
Additional issues exist. For example, there are differences between the image registration parameters between the different providers, for example, CloudStack requires a network location identifier such an URL indicating where the image is stored while OpenStack requires an input stream. In another example, the cloud nodes might not be in the same DMZ (demilitarized zone or secure network segment) as the image server, which means that the cloud nodes might not be able to use the image URL to retrieve the image directly from the image server. Also, each cloud node might be in a different DMZ, so two cloud nodes might not have access to each other and so cannot pass the image URL from one cloud node to another.

Method or image management in distributed cloud


A vehicle has a display interface and at least one processor that prompts a user via the display interface to construct a rule specifying circumstances in which the vehicle is to be operated in electric mode using a set of operating/environmental parameters such that the rule includes user specified logic. In response to and while sensed operating/environmental parameters satisfy the rule, the vehicle is operated in electric mode.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) continuously discharge the traction battery during operation and are not recharged during operation. This continuous discharge of the traction battery in a BEV is commonly referred to as charge-depleting mode. BEVs are normally connected to an external electric power source to recharge the traction battery after depletion. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are capable of operating in at least two modes; an all-electric mode (charge-depleting mode) and hybrid-vehicle mode (charge sustaining mode). As HEVs are operated in charge-depleting mode, the traction battery is continuously discharged until the traction battery reaches a state of charge in which the vehicle is transitioned to charge sustaining mode. In charge sustaining mode, the vehicle's internal combustion engine and regenerative braking are available to recharge the traction battery or maintain a minimum state of charge. Upon reaching a sufficient state of charge, the HEV may transition back to charge-depleting mode. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have the capability to operate in at least two modes as an HEV, but also have the ability to recharge the traction battery via an external power source. PHEVs use as much pre-saved battery energy as possible until the next battery charge event. After the battery state of charge decreases to a predefined level, the PHEV resumes operation as an HEV in charge sustaining mode.


A trusted device having virtualized registers provides an extensible amount of storage for hash values and other information stored within a trusted device. The trusted device includes a buffer to which registers are virtualized to and from external storage, by encrypting the register values using a private device key. The registers may be platform control registers (PCRs) or other storage of the trusted device, which may be a trusted platform module (TPM). The registers are accessed in accordance with a register number. When the externally stored values are retrieved, they are decrypted and placed in the buffer. The buffer may implement a cache mechanism, such as a most recently used algorithm, so that encryption/decryption and fetch overhead is reduced. A register shadowing technique may be employed at boot time, to ensure that the trusted device is not compromised by tampering with the externally stored virtualized registers.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to security in processing systems, and more particularly, to a methodology and apparatus for virtualizing storage in a trusted device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data and code protection in present day secure computing systems increasingly calls for the integration of trusted computing mechanisms. In particular, in large-scale server systems, data accessible from a platform may include actual storage or pathways to storage that could compromise a very extensive and valuable information. Therefore, the server systems must be secured, so that not only are they protected for external attack via external networks, but the identity of each computing components is ideally assured prior to permitting the components access to the data and prior to execution of any code that requires a trusted platform.
The typical mechanism for implementing a trusted platform is to incorporate trusted devices, referred to as trusted platform modules (TPMs) in standards promulgated by the Trusted Computing Group (TCG), in each removable sub-system. The TPMs are used to verify that the subsystems' identity matches a particular trusted identity, and can also be used to verify that the TPM is installed in the correct subsystem. The uniqueness of a trusted device is assured by a device key that is unique to the particular device. The key is hardwired or installed during manufacture of the device and cannot be read from the device by any interface.
The TPM device key is used to perform various security checks using the trusted device. The trusted device includes processing elements and registers, as well as optional dedicated encryption circuits, so that verification, encryption and decryption performed with the device key are "sealed" to the device. A set of registers in the TPM known as platform control registers (PCRs) store information such as hash values representing software modules executing in the system, additional cryptographic keys and other information that must be securely maintained so that a query of the TPM can be trusted to accurately represent the state of the trusted platform.
However, since the storage in the TPM is sealed, storage space is necessarily limited, since the registers that represent the platform state are contained within the TPM. As applications of TPMs increase to include storage devices and other applications where a large number of registers are needed to describe the secured elements present in the platform, the cost of the TPM increases.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a trusted device having extensible registers and a method for securing the register extension, so that storage limitations within the trusted device can be overcome.

Trusted device having virtualized registers

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A display sign apparatus includes a sign panel having opposed surfaces, each of the surfaces providing a locale for displaying a selected message to viewers. The panel preferably is in the form of a first and second panel section that are connected together such as adhered with an adhesive such as glue. Each of the first and second panel sections provides grooves that are receptive of rods. A support structure enables the panel to be supported in an upright position. The support structure can include as an example a horizontal member and a vertical member. The support structure can for example be an inverted L shaped post having a vertical section that is embedded in the earth and a horizontal section that extends laterally and generally horizontally from the vertical section. One or more rods extends through grooves of the panels to support the sign panel in an upright, vertical position. At least one of the rods extends vertically through the panel section that provides horizontal grooves. At least one of the rods extends vertically through the panel section that provides vertical grooves. These rods are then attached to the support structure for supporting and rigidifying the sign with respect to the support structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to outdoor display signs of the type that are easily movable and that can be used to display a different item for sale or other information that changes from time to time. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved display sign apparatus that employs a display panel having first and second pluralities of grooves, slots, or passageways that extend in opposing directions (e.g. perpendicular to each other) and wherein in a second embodiment, multiple sections of a sign apparatus are stackable, one upon the other.
2. General Background of the Invention
Real estate companies and candidates for election to public office are examples of a user of outdoor display signs. Real estate agents must place their display signs in different locations and at different times, such as before and after a home has sold. Additionally, display signs must often carry a display panel that provides varying information such as for example the name of a real estate agent that is selling a particular piece of property, or a telephone number such as office and/or mobile telephone number. Other information must be displayed that can vary with time or from one location to another.


The present disclosure discloses a pixel compensation circuit, a driving method, an electroluminescent display panel and a display device. Due to the interaction of a data writing circuit, a voltage input circuit, a discharge control circuit, a storage circuit, a conduction control circuit and a driving circuit, the compensation for a threshold voltage of the driving circuit and IR Drop of a first power signal may be realized by a simple structure and a simple time sequence.

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display has the advantages such as low energy consumption, low production cost, self-illumination, wide viewing angle and high response speed and is one of hot spots in the field of current flat-panel display research, wherein the core technical content of the OLED display is to design a pixel circuit for controlling the light emission of an OLED. The OLED is driven by a current, and the light emission of the OLED is required to be controlled by a stable current to ensure the display uniformity of a display panel.

Pixel compensation circuit, driving method, electroluminescent display panel and display device

Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


An incubator with a first air heater and a first fan is improved in terms of constant air temperature and air humidity in the interior space even after a brief opening of a flap. A second air heater and an associated second fan are additionally provided, whose operation is controlled via a measuring and control unit either as a function of a drop in the air temperature in the interior space of the incubator, which is measured by means of a temperature sensor or as a function of the open status of the flap (as sensed by a switch). An air humidifier module with heater, which is alternatively or additionally integrated in the arrangement, is optionally provided.

An incubator of this type is described in DE 36 07 575 A1, whose design facilitates the special air guidance to maintain a stable incubator air temperature even with the hood partially opened in the form of a stable warm air curtain. During operation, the air of the interior space is fed to a fan and from there via an air heater.
An air humidifier of a modular design, which is able to release air drawn in from the environment by means of a fan in the conditioned state into the care area of newborn infants is disclosed in the patent specification DE 196 21 541 C1.
Incubators for the clinical practice have hitherto been designed mainly with the aim of ensuring the most uniform temperature possible in the closed state and to keep immature and sick premature and newborn infants sufficiently warm. It has recently been found that the patients have become increasingly premature and smaller and therapy with good chances of survival with adequate quality of life is possible by the use of corresponding medical engineering means. However, the intensive care medicine necessary for this has also led to the manipulation on the patient becoming increasingly intensive, with correspondingly frequent opening of the access openings provided at the incubator, especially in the form of flaps. Even though the incubators are designed to air condition the air of the interior space, both the temperature and the humidity decrease more or less intensely when passage openings or front flaps are opened. This abrupt decrease cannot be compensated rapidly enough with the prior-art incubators simply by control engineering measures, such as a corresponding heating and humidification, so that the patient does, in fact, suffer an increased loss of heat and his body temperature will correspondingly drop.


The invention is a shipping container for high watt-hour lithium-ion batteries, the container comprising an interior metal container and an exterior container within which the interior metal container is disposed, the interior metal container containing a free flowing expanded glass granulate having fire extinguishing properties, the interior metal container including a vent member for releasing gas from the interior container in a controlled manner, the vent having a cooperating heat shield in contact therewith to prevent ignition of gas exiting the vent and also suppress the heat associated with the exiting gas.

Lithium electronic batteries are found in a wide variety of consumer goods, such as cellphones, laptops, power tools and electric vehicles. Depending upon the device's power consumption, a higher watt-hour battery may be preferred. Watt-hours represent the capacity of a given battery. A so-called high watt-hour battery is useful because it provides a longer run time and generates more work than a comparably sized lower watt-hour battery. A lithium battery having a longer run time between recharging, which a high-watt hour battery provides, is desirable for obvious reasons.
When improperly handled, manufactured, or otherwise damaged, lithium-ion batteries are subject to thermal runaway i.e. the battery spontaneously increases in temperature and begins venting hot and toxic pressurized gases. This in turn causes the lithium-ion fluid within the battery to ignite, reaching temperatures in excess of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. A high watt-hour battery under thermal runaway is especially dangerous due to its extreme volatility and the large quantity of energy and gas that is released.
The inherent danger of high watt-hour lithium batteries has an enormous impact on the shipping requirements for such batteries. If high watt-hour batteries are a core component of a company's business model, the company will retain the sole responsibility for disposal or recycle of the batteries including retrieving defective batteries from consumers. Currently, packaging for shipping high watt-hour batteries must be DOT compliant and shipping personnel require specialized training. In addition to DOT requirements, commercial parcel carriers require separate safety measures for the packaging before it is accepted for shipment.
Prior art containers for shipping damaged, defective, or recalled high watt-hour lithium batteries comprise expensive cases manufactured from aluminum or steel. The cases are UN certified and shipped in accordance with current DOT requirements including the necessary personnel training, associated paperwork, and carrier approval. The total costs associated with the prior art shipping methods are prohibitive. Further, the prior art shipping containers are subject to failure notwithstanding the construction materials. In particular, if the package is reinforced to contain the fire and high heat generated by thermal runaway, failure will result from over-pressurization of the container. This is primarily due to a failure to adequately relieve pressure from inside the package during a thermal runaway event. The hydrogen and ether generated during the event exits the package in an uncontrolled manner and ignites once it comes into contact with ambient oxygen. Conversely, if the container is adapted to release and mitigate pressure during a thermal runaway event, failure will nevertheless occur because the container structure cannot withstand the extreme heat and fire inside or the hot and flammable gases that are released ignite outside of the container.
A need has therefore existed in the art for a high watt-hour lithium battery shipping container that will vent gases generated during a battery fire in a controlled manner yet contain the fire within the packaging, is economical to manufacture, obviates the need for specialized training of the shipper and special permitting typically associated with prior art lithium battery shipment containers.


An exemplary method includes a graphics export module 1) generating, based on design data representative of a graphics design, computing code configured to be processed by a target computing device to render graphics within a graphical user interface in accordance with the graphics design, 2) inserting a production tracing tag in the computing code, the production tracing tag configured to be used to access production data associated with production of the computing code, and 3) exporting the computing code including the production tracing tag for access by at least one graphics production subsystem. In certain examples, the method may further include graphics export module generating the production data associated with the production of the computing code and exporting the production data for storage in a data storage repository communicatively coupled to the graphics export module. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Advances in computing technologies have led to a proliferation of computing devices in modern society. Myriad computing devices having various shapes, sizes, and capabilities have been made available to consumers. For example, consumers may choose from computing devices such as mobile phones, smart phones, tablet computers, e-reader devices, personal computers, media players, gaming devices, set-top-box ("STB") devices, digital video recorder ("DVR") devices, Global Positioning System ("GPS") devices, and other types of computing devices.
The proliferation of computing devices has challenged designers, developers, and testers of graphical user interfaces for the computing devices. For example, the competitive landscapes between manufacturers of computing devices, between providers of applications that run on computing devices, and between providers of services accessed through the computing devices have pushed designers, developers, and testers of graphical user interfaces to design, develop, and test graphical user interfaces as efficiently as possible without sacrificing quality.
Traditional processes for design, development, and testing of graphical user interfaces have not kept pace with the demands placed on the designers, developers, and testers of the graphical user interfaces. To illustrate, in a traditional design, development, and testing process, a designer utilizes a graphical user interface design tool to design graphics (e.g., a screen layout of graphical elements) to be included in a graphical user interface. Once the graphics design is complete, the designer provides information about the graphics design to a developer who is responsible for producing computing code configured to be executed by a computing device to render a graphical user interface that includes the graphics designed by the designer. The developer provides the computing code to a tester who is responsible for testing the computing code. This process is typically compartmentalized, with the designer, developer, and tester working in separate environments and without effective tools for efficiently collaborating and/or sharing resources across the separate environments. The production of graphical user interfaces is often slowed and/or otherwise adversely affected by the lack of such tools, especially when large production teams are involved in the production of graphical user interfaces.
As an example, a tester may identify a "bug" in graphical user interface computing code. In a conventional computing code design, development, and testing process, significant time may be wasted by the tester to determine which of the various personnel who have worked on the production of the computing code is responsible for the bug and/or for fixing the bug. During the course of designing, developing, and testing the computing code, various designers, developers, and/or testers may have worked on the code, making the task of identifying the responsible personnel difficult. Moreover, due to the passage of time, designers, developers, and/or testers who worked on the computing code may not remember the exact work that they performed on the computing code and may be unsure about and/or reluctant to accept responsibility for the bug and/or for fixing the bug, or may disagree over who introduced the bug into the computing code.

Tag-based graphical user interface production systems and methods


A machine, such as a heat pump, and having an all liquid heat exchange fl, operates over a more nearly ideal thermodynamic cycle by adjustment of the proportionality of the volumetric capacities of a compressor and an expander to approximate the proportionality of the densities of the liquid heat exchange fluid at the chosen working pressures. Preferred forms of a unit including both the compressor and the expander on a common shaft employs difference in axial lengths of rotary pumps of the gear or vane type to achieve the adjustment of volumetric capacity. Adjustment of the heat pump system for differing heat sink conditions preferably employs variable compression ratio pumps.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to prime movers or heat pumps which operate over a closed thermodynamic cycle and, more particularly, to prime movers or heat pumps having a heat exchange fluid which is consistently in a liquid phase at all times during the thermodynamic cycle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many different machines which involve compression and expansion of a fluid (e.g. liquid or gas or a mixture of these phases) are known and used to change energy from one form to another to perform desired functions. Internal combustion engines and air-conditioning systems are particularly well-known and familiar examples of such machines. (As used hereinafter, the term "machine" will be used to refer generically to a device operating as either a heat pump or a prime mover. Theoretically, any thermodynamic system can potentially be operated as either a prime mover or a heat pump depending on whether heat is added to or rejected by the system.) Many of these types of devices, such as air conditioning systems, operate in a closed cycle in which the fluid is recirculated.
Many different thermodynamic mechanisms which can be employed in such machines are well-known and may be exploited with greater or lesser efficiency, depending on the design of the machine. Certain theoretical thermodynamic cycles having distinct properties are known by the names of their principal investigators such as the Stirling cycle which is characterized (for a heat pump) by constant volume heat rejection and constant temperature compression and expansion. As another example, the Brayton cycle (again for a heat pump) is characterized by constant pressure heat rejection and constant entropy expansion and compression. In both of these cycles and other known theoretical cycles, certain parameters are kept substantially constant during certain portions of the cycle and energy is often constrained to be ideally removed from or added to the system by variation of a single other parameter. Also, for a prime mover rather than a heat pump, in any theoretical ideal thermodynamic cycle, heat would be input rather than rejected.
Vapor compression machines operating in a closed cycle, such as most air-conditioners and refrigerators, operate by condensation and evaporation of a fluid since the change between phases is accompanied by a very large change of energy and volume of the material. The temperatures at which such condensation and evaporation can be carried out, however, is largely dependent on the properties of the fluid and the conditions under which it is contained. For this reason, so-called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have become popular for use in air-conditioning and other heat pump applications (e.g. where mechanical energy is used to effect heat exchange) because of the temperatures at which heat exchange must take place. However, in recent years, extremely serious environmental damage has been attributed to release of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere from such heat exchange systems (and other sources) and alternatives yielding similar efficiencies and convenience with environmentally neutral materials are being actively sought. Water remains one of the major materials of choice for prime movers (e.g. where energy is applied to the system as heat and removed as mechanical energy, as in a steam engine or turbine) but efficiency remains a serious concern for closed systems where the water must be condensed and recirculated.
While no viable alternatives have existed, it should be noted that the high compressibility of gaseous phase materials have required compressors and expanders of substantial volume in systems exploiting phase change of the heat exchange fluid. Therefore, in large-scale air-conditioning installations, for example, substantial space must be dedicated to the compressors. Heat exchangers also occupy substantial space because of the amount of heat which must be absorbed or rejected during evaporation and condensation. Since this space has an economic value, it must be considered as a cost of operating such systems. Reduction in the size of heat exchangers must often be accompanied by the capacity for increasing the differential of temperatures at which heat exchange takes place; increasing the capacity of compressors and the pressures at which they operate and thus the amount of energy input thereto with consequent decrease of system efficiency. This trade-off between energy input requirements and system size has made highly efficient heat pump installations very difficult and expensive when all economic costs are considered, especially for shipboard applications.
While ideal liquids have been traditionally regarded as incompressible and thermodynamically inert, about seventy years ago, it was noted by John Malone that some liquids may be compressed and expanded with substantial efficiency of conversion of heat to mechanical energy under conditions of temperature and pressure near the critical point of the liquid. For this reason, any ideal regenerative thermodynamic system employing all-liquid (e.g. consistently liquid during all portions of a thermodynamic cycle) heat exchange fluid is commonly referred to by the name "Malone" as a prefix to the name by which the ideal system is known. Several engines employing all liquid phase heat exchange fluid are reported to have been built by Malone and tested, following a Stirling cycle implemented with reciprocating pistons. While fairly high efficiencies relative to prime movers of that period were reported, the engine was not sufficiently advantageous to support commercialization at that time. Malone-type systems continue to be a subject of sporadic investigation but no way to exploit a Malone-type cycle with a sufficient degree of the efficiency theoretically available therefrom has heretofore been found to make a practical implementation of such a cycle in a machine competitive with other commercially available machines for performing desired functions. A summary of the state of the art in Malone-type cycles and an overview of the theoretical operation thereof for refrigeration is given in "Malone Refrigeration" by Greg W. Swift published in ASHRAE Journal, November, 1990, pp. 28-34. This article discusses a test heat pump constructed by the author and operating on a Stirling cycle using propylene but indicates that the design was principally concerned with versatility for quantitative characterizations of loss mechanisms and without concern for efficiency, size, cost or reliability. The article also suggests that pressurized carbon dioxide may be a suitable working fluid and that a Malone-Brayton cycle heat pump could be used for refrigeration.
The use of an expander mechanism is well-known in prime movers, such as jet engines, to provide an expander mechanism to extract mechanical power from the system, usually for driving the compressor and other ancillary equipment, such as generators. It is also known in some all gas phase Brayton cycle heat pump applications to provide an expander mechanism to extract mechanical power and reduce the amount of mechanical input power required. As with jet engines, it is common, for mechanical simplicity, to operate the expander and compressor on the same shaft. Since the functions of the expander and compressor are generally considered to be complementary functions and, as indicated above, liquids have classically been considered to be of substantially constant density for purposes of thermodynamic analysis (e.g. ideal liquids being regarded as incompressible), it has been the common practice to arrange for the fluid handling capacities (e.g. displacement, volume per revolution, etc.) of the expander and compressor to be the same, including previous demonstrations of Malone-type cycle machines.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


The present disclosure includes structures and methods of forming structures for restricting out-of-plane travel. One example of forming such structures includes providing a first wafer 100, 220 comprising a bond layer of a particular thickness 101, 221 on a surface of a substrate material 105, 225, removing the bond layer 101, 221 in a first area 103-1, 103-2, 223 to expose the surface of the substrate material 105, 225, applying a mask to at least a portion of a remaining bond layer 109-1, 109-4, 229-1, 229-3 and a portion of the exposed surface of the substrate material in the first area 109-2, 109-3, 229-2 to form a second area exposed on the surface of the substrate material 105, 225, etching the second area to form a cavity 110, 230 in the substrate material 105, 225 and the bond layer 101, 221, and forming by the etching, in the cavity 110, 230, a structure 113-1, 113-2, 233 for restricting out-of-plane travel, where the structure 113-1, 113-2, 233 has a particular height from a bottom of the cavity 115, 235 determined by the particular thickness of the bond layer 101, 221.

Microelectromechanical structures (MEMS) include sensors and actuators that can be fabricated using semiconductor processing techniques. Various MEMS devices (e.g., sensors and actuators) include electrostatic, magnetic, and/or other elements (e.g., electrodes) used to effect and/or detect changes in position or separation between surfaces. MEMS sensors and actuators can be formed, for instance, by bonding wafers together. Characteristics of the sensors and actuators, such as sensitivity, reliability, and/or durability, can depend on maintaining a distance between adjacent surfaces, for instance.

Out-of plane travel restriction structures

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Shallow regions are formed in a semiconductor body by irradiating the surface region with a pulsed laser beam in an atmosphere including the dopant. The pulsed laser beam has sufficient intensity to drive in dopant atoms from the atmosphere but insufficient intensity to melt the semiconductor material. A silicide layer can be placed over the surface of the semiconductor material prior to irradiation with the dopant being driven from the atmosphere through the silicide into the surface region of the semiconductor body. Alternatively, the silicide layer can include dopant atoms prior to irradiating the surface region.

This invention relates generally to semiconductor device fabrication, and more particularly the invention relates to the formation of shallow junctions in a semiconductor device through the selective introduction of dopants.
Semiconductor devices and integrated circuits are fabricated through the selective introduction of dopant atoms into a semiconductor substrate. Conventionally, photoresist masking and chemical etching techniques are utilized to define diffusion windows for the dopant atom diffusion or ion implantation into the wafer.
With the reduction of dimensions of semiconductor devices and increased density of integrated circuits, shallower junctions are needed in the device structures. One method of obtaining shallow junctions is to outdiffuse dopants from a doped silicide layer into the underlying substrate using rapid thermal lamp annealing. The use of silicides minimizes contact and series resistances and prevents damage to the underlying silicon. Shorting problems which are encountered in the silicidation of preformed shallow junctions are prevented since the dopant profile in the silicon substrate follows the contour of the silicide/silicon interface.
Rapid thermal lamp annealing typically has a relatively long heat cycle (e.g., seconds) which limits the amount of dopant in shallow junction devices. Further, the entire wafer is heated, which can lead to warpage. Pulsed laser techniques have been introduced to overcome these limitations. In gas immersion laser doping (GILD) a suitably masked wafer of a semiconductor such as silicon is placed in a gas cell and immersed in a desired dopant gas such as BF.sub.3, ASF.sub.5, and PF.sub.5 / A pulsed, high-intensity laser is then used to heat the masked wafer with dopant atoms being driven into a shallow silicon surface region during a melt/regrowth of the exposed silicon surface.
The present invention modifies the gas immersion laser doping process to provide shallower junctions and better process control and less dopant per pulse along with less disruption of existing doped regions.

Method of shallow junction formation in semiconductor devices using gas immersion laser doping

Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


In order to easily understand the relationship between communication signals of a plurality of channels, a signal analyzer provides a display showing a stacked bar graph 100 that stacks powers of the plurality of channels in every time slot with the horizontal axis representing time. A marker 110 is displayed on the graph 100 and parameter information in the time slot corresponding to the display position of the marker 110 is also displayed in a table 112. If the display position of the marker 110 may change and the parameter information for the time slot is not displayed in the table 112, the display range of the parameters in the table 112 is changed in synchronism with the displayed marker position. Additionally, power related information of each channel in the time slot corresponding to the display position of the marker 110 may also be displayed in a display column 118.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a display for measuring communication signal conditions and a signal analyzer, more specifically to a display for enabling one to easily measure power changes in time between a plurality of channels of multiplexed communication signals and a signal analyzer having such display.
Communication signals to be used in the W-CDMA type cellular phone system, or the like, are transmitted and received by multiplexing signals of a plurality of channels by a single carrier. A known signal analyzer for observing and measuring conditions of such communication signals is, for example, a wireless communication analyzer model WCA 200A commercially available from Tektronix, Inc. in the United States of America. This wireless communication analyzer comprises a spectrum analyzer based hardware in combination with a general purpose basic software operating system (OS) developed for personal computers and a plurality of application software that operate simultaneously in a plurality of windows. The installed application software allows the user to realize various functions that are suited for signal analysis of communication signals. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplified graph that is available from a conventional signal analyzer using such application software. The upper half in FIG. 1 is a code domain power display, while the lower half is a codegram display.
A code domain display is disclosed in, for example, the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,340. Each bar in a code domain display represents an active channel and its width changes in response to the code layer on which the channel is located. For example, if the channel is on the code layer 2, eight (8) code channels are used. On the other hand, if the channel is on the code layer 3, sixteen (16) code channels are used. Accordingly, any channel on the code layer 3 is displayed with a double width of the channel on the code layer 2. The height of each bar represents power in dB.
A codegram display is disclosed in the specification of US patent publication no. 2004/0032897. The codegram display is considered to include all information of the code domain power display in addition to time changing information. The horizontal axis represents time. Similar to the code domain power display, each bar represents a channel and its width varies in response to the code layer on which the channel is located. Power is displayed in different colors.
Markers 6 and 8 are used respectively in the code domain power display and the codegram display for numerically displaying the corresponding channel name and power. Additionally, time information is also displayed in the codegram display. Such displays provide various information such as, for example, channels that are active, the code layer that an active channel is on, whether the channel is active, and the power level of the channel.
As apparent from the foregoing descriptions, the code domain power display and the codegram display are able to provide power level condition for each of a plurality of channels and how they change in time. Unfortunately, however, it was hard to understand the relationship between communication signals of a plurality of channels. Specifically, it was hard to recognize how each channel uses power with respect to the total power of the communication signal and how they change in time among a plurality of channels.

Power display for communication signal and signal analyzer


A centrifuge for separating solids from a liquid including a centrifuge rotor with a rotor shaft, partially formed as a hollow shaft, and a centrifuging drum, being rotatable with the rotor shaft, wherein the liquid to be separated can be supplied via the cavity of the hollow shaft. To ease emptying of the drum, the centrifuging drum includes a drum lower part and a drum upper part, which bears loosely against the drum lower part. The upper part is guided in an axially movable manner on the shaft and is movable by means of a disengagement mechanism parallel to the rotor axis into an open position in which, for self-emptying of the interior space, the drum parts are spaced apart from one another while they still rotate with the rotor shaft.

In the prior art, it is known to arrange centrifuges, usually in the form of free-jet centrifuges, in the lubricating oil circuit of an internal combustion engine in order that solid matter which may be contained in the lubricating oil, and which may adversely affect the lubricating oil properties of the lubricating oil, is not only filtered out by means of suitable filters but rather is also separated by means of centrifuging and acceleration of a centrifuging drum of the centrifuge. In centrifuges, in continuous operation, the interior space of a centrifuging drum gradually becomes clogged by the separated solid matter, which forms dry caked solid matter which increases the total weight of the centrifuging drum and thus exerts greater loadings on the bearing for mounting the centrifuge rotor in the centrifuge housing. With progressive operating duration, the entire interior space of the centrifuging drum is filled and the separation capability decreases. To re-establish full operating capacity, it has already been proposed to design the centrifuge rotor or the centrifuging drum as an exchangeable part. In GB 2,160,796 A, for example, the centrifuging drum is arranged on the rotor shaft of the centrifuge rotor in a detachable fashion and, as a result of the dismountable design of the centrifuge housing, the centrifuging drum can be exchanged and replaced with a new centrifuging drum after certain operating intervals.
In addition to free-jet centrifuges, centrifuges such as for example laboratory centrifuges are also known in which the centrifuge rotor is driven by means of a separate drive in order to be able to use the centrifuge independently of the pressure of the liquid to be separated by utilizing the centrifugal acceleration and the differences in density between firstly the solid matter particles and secondly the liquid, and to be able to separate solid matter particles out of the liquid. In centrifuges which are driven by external motors, it is possible to attain rotational speeds of the centrifuging drum of greater than 5000 rpm.

Centrifuge for separating solid matter from a liquid and centrifuge rotor for the same


A method and apparatus for restraining pipe against internal forces at a pipe or fitting connection and to join and seal at least two pipes to form a pipeline is shown featuring an improved self restrained pressure gasket. The pressure gasket has a rigid ring formed as an integral part of the gasket thus making the gasket easy to install. The rigid ring which forms the restraining mechanism has rows of teeth of varying lengths that, when assembled, engage at various points around the circumference of a mating pipe. The teeth adjust to the tolerances allowed in pipe manufacturing without losing gripping capacity.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the field of pipe connections, and in particular, to a dual function, self restrained pressure gasket that is usable in a pipe connection.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pipes are commonly used for the conveyance of fluids under pressure, as in city water lines. They may also be used as free-flowing conduits running partly full, as in drains and sewers. Pipes for conveying water in appreciable quantities have been made of steel, cast iron, concrete, vitrified clay, and most recently, plastic including the various polyolefins and PVC.
It is well known in the art to extrude plastic pipes in an elongated cylindrical configuration of a desired diameter and to then cut the extruded product into individual lengths of convenient size suitable for handling, shipping and installing. Each length of pipe is enlarged or xe2x80x9cbelledxe2x80x9d at one end sufficiently to join the next adjacent pipe section by receiving in the belled end the unenlarged or xe2x80x9cspigotxe2x80x9d end of the adjacent length of pipe. The inside diameter of the bell is formed sufficiently large to receive the spigot end of the next section of pipe with sufficient clearance to allow the application of packing, caulking, elastomeric gaskets or other sealing devices designed to prevent leakage at pipe joints when a plurality of pipe lengths are joined to form a pipeline.
During a standard installation of a pipeline, in, for example, municipal installations, the joints between the pipe and the fitting must be restrained to accommodate varying pressures. There are various types of fitting connections which are commercially available and which are used in the waterworks industry. In one type of connection the current restraint mechanism is an external clamping device which is totally separated from the sealing function. Thus, a separate mechanism must perform the sealing function. In the other type of fitting connection, a gasket performs the sealing function. However, it is necessary that an external means must compress the gasket by mechanical action such as T-bolts. Each of these traditional restraining mechanisms adds considerable cost to the pipe installation as well as adding the possibility of human error depending on the specific conditions and applications.
Most current restraining systems offered in the industry require a substantial amount of labor to install. Under most installation conditions, the restraining systems are cumbersome to install and represent a substantial additional effort for the contractor. Also, current products typically require expensive and time-consuming corrosion protection efforts including special coatings, poly-wrapping, special wax tape or adding zinc anode nuts.
Accordingly, there is a need for a cost-effective, easy to manufacture and use mechanism for restraining pipe against internal forces at a pipe or fitting connection and join and seal at least two pipes to form a pipeline. The mechanism must be simple in design, economical to manufacture and dependable in operation.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved self restrained pressure gasket which does not require assembly in the field and which thus simplifies installation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved self restrained pressure gasket that is not subject to external corrosion.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved self restrained pressure gasket which is simple in design and dependable in operation.
In the method and apparatus of the invention, an improved self restrained pressure gasket is shown for restraining pipe against internal forces at a pipe or fitting connection and for joining and sealing at least two pipes to form a pipeline. The improved self restrained pressure gasket has the restraining mechanism as an integral part of the gasket thus simplifying field assembly. The preferred restraining mechanism is a stainless steel ring molded or incorporated into the gasket and inserted into a mating groove provided in a belled end opening of the mating female pipe section. The restraining mechanism has rows of teeth of varying length. When a pipe joint is assembled, the teeth engage at various points around the circumference of a mating male section of pipe. The various lengths of teeth adjust to the tolerances allowed in pipe manufacturing without losing gripping capacity. The gasket uses torsion to restrain the pipe and not set screws or wedges. By using torsion to restrain the pipe, point loading and pipe distortion or damage is reduced. Also, since the restraining mechanism is an integral or internal part of the gasket and manufactured of a corrosive resistant material, it is not subject to external corrosion.
The above as well as additional objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.


A process for coating printed circuit boards with a coating composition that is crosslinkable by electromagnetic radiation, especially UV radiation, using the roll coating process, is distinguished by the following process steps:. a photopolymerisable, meltable, low-molecular-weight coating composition that is highly viscous to solid at room temperature and has an average molecular weight of preferably from 500 to 1500 is melted and fed to the applicator roll of a roll coating apparatus; PA1 the coating composition is coated at a temperature of approximately from 60.degree. to 110.degree. C. and a viscosity of approximately from 1000 to 20000 mPas on to the surface(s) of a printed circuit board in a thickness of approximately from 10 to 200 .mu.m, PA1 the surface of the printed circuit board to be coated being pre-heated, prior to coating, to a temperature that is approximately from 10.degree. to 50.degree. C. higher than the application temperature of the coating composition.. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the process outlined above is also described.

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for coating printed circuit boards with a coating that is crosslinkable by electromagnetic radiation, especially UV radiation
The function of the printed circuit board is to provide the conductive connection to the components. As miniaturisation progresses, the number of connections is becoming ever greater, with the result not only that printed circuit board technology has produced multilevel circuitry, but also that conductive tracks are becoming ever narrower, drill hole diameters are becoming ever smaller and the number of conductive tracks between two holes is becoming ever greater.
With the development of surface-mounted devices it has been possible to achieve a further reduction in the surface area required. This has led to conductor widths of less than 100 .mu.m, to drill hole diameters of from 0.3 to 0.2 mm and to solder point diameters of only up to 0.4 mm with up to seven conductive tracks between a drill hole grid of 2.54 mm. At the same time, more and more connections must be made per integrated circuit, which results in connection pad grids of from 0.3 to 0.4 mm. The problems resulting from the increasingly high integration density are very complex and require a comprehensive solution. They begin first with the production of the conductive pattern.
For the production of a conductive pattern, the drilled copper-clad base material is coated with a positive or negative resist. While such resists were in the past screen-printable etching or electro resists, nowadays photoresists are predominantly used, which are solid or liquid resists. They are either laminated on to the surface (solid resists) or applied by means of a pouring machine or using rolls (liquid resists). After the application of a mask, the conductive pattern is fixed, for example, by exposure to UV light, with polymerisation of the resist, and exposed by development. This leads to the so-called pattern plating process. In pattern plating, first of all a mask is applied and only the conductor-free areas are exposed and developed. The conductive tracks are then built up by electroplating and the drilled contact holes are clad with copper. After the conductors have been deposited by electroplating, they are, for example, provided with a tin coating, the electro resist is removed and the conductive pattern is etched. Since the etching speed is the same in all directions, the undercutting corresponds approximately to the thickness of the copper film used. The undercutting that occurs in the etching stage of the pattern plating process represents the limit for large-scale application of that process. Moreover, the production of conductors of equal height is frequently not possible as a result of the geometry of the bath or of the printed circuit board.
Accordingly, for microconductor technology, the so-called panel plating process was developed. In that process, starting with the drilled copper-clad base material, first of all the surface of the printed circuit board and the drilled holes are clad with copper by electroplating in order to achieve a uniform thickness of the copper layer. A dry film resist is then laminated on, exposure is effected using a mask, and development is carried out.
In the case of microconductors, however, constrictions frequently occur because the line pressure of the laminating roller is unable to compensate for uneven areas of the base material, so that the dry film resist does not adhere to the same extent in all places. It is especially important that the already copper-clad drill holes should also be protected from the effects of the etching. That is achieved by covering the holes with resist, so-called "tenting".
Further miniaturisation and the technology of surface-mounted components has led to so-called "rest-ring"-free through-holes. Dry film lamination technology cannot be used in this case, because without the so-called rest-rings the resist film cannot be attached to the surface of the printed circuit board. However, in order to be able to cover also rest-ring-free holes with resist and thus protect them from the effects of the etching, so-called electro-immersion coating was found, which deposits a resist film from 5 to 15 .mu.m thick from a coating bath in the hole and on the surface of the printed circuit board. However, that process is very cost-intensive and, because of the thinness of the coating, can be used only together with the panel plating process.
WO 93/14444 proposes a hot coating process which is based on the use of a meltable photoresist that is highly viscous at room temperature, which photoresist, after liquefaction, is coated on to cooled printed circuit boards using the curtain pouring process. As the photomelt resist comes into contact with the cooled printed circuit boards, it is cooled at the walls of the drill holes, so that it is unable to run into the drill holes and forms over the hole a covering supported at the wall of the hole. Although cooling the printed circuit boards produces good results with printed circuit boards that are still unstructured, the technique cannot be used for cooled printed circuit boards. In that case, the conductive tracks act as cooling fins. The photomelt resist cools suddenly as it comes into contact with the conductive surface, as a result of which air can become trapped between the conductive tracks.
There are also known processes in which a coating composition is coated on to printed circuit boards by means of steel rolls. The simultaneous coating of both sides of the printed circuit boards in a roll coating apparatus having two heated applicator rolls is especially economical. For that purpose it is customary to use surface-coating systems that contain a high proportion of solvent and have a low viscosity. The surface tension must be low so that the coating is able to spread easily without forming streaks. This two-sided coating process requires the surfaces of the printed circuit boards to be as even as possible. In the coating of printed circuit boards that are already provided with conductive tracks, constrictions may occur over the conductors, so that reliable covering is not guaranteed. In addition, the hollow spaces that are present as a result of undercutting beneath the edges of the conductors are frequently not filled with coating, which leads to defective areas after soldering and allows moisture to penetrate.
Accordingly, the problem underlying the present invention is to provide a coating process that permits the production of coatings that are free of air bubbles. In particular, the process is to permit the simultaneous coating of both sides of printed circuit boards. It is also to be possible to coat printed circuit boards having relatively high conductive tracks and at the same time reliably to cover any through-plating holes that are present. Undercuts at the edges of the conductors are to be filled completely with coating. After drying, the surface of the coating is to be substantially non-tacky and permit exposure using the contact-exposure process. There is also to be provided an apparatus that allows the process according to the invention to be carried out.

Process and apparatus for coating printed circuit boards


A method and a device for eliminating or minimizing the sensitivity changes in a microphone due to temperature changes. The temperature-induced changes in the sensitivity can be caused by the changes in the sound-to-electrical signal transducer, in the microphone membrane, in the ASIC or other reasons. One or more temperature dependent components in the microphone or in a microphone module are used to offset the temperature-induced changes in the sensitivity. Sensitivity of a microphone is defined as the output voltage for a specific acoustic stimulus and load condition.

It is known that sensitivity of a microphone may change with variation of the ambient temperature. In a multi-microphone system that uses more than one microphone for stereo operation, or to support the noise canceling algorithm, for example, different sensitivity changes from one microphone to another caused by temperature variation may affect the performance of the microphone system. As a result, the quality of uplink (from microphone to amplifier) may be adversely affected. Thus, a method for compensating the sensitivity change caused by the temperature difference is needed.


A method and system for automatically implementing vehicular implemented projection improvement process is provided. The method includes directing flying vehicles to a location comprising a projection apparatus. The vehicles are directed such that each vehicle is periodically positioned within a perimeter surrounding the location with respect to multiple lines of sight of the projection device. The location is monitored and obstructions and associated positions with respect to each line of sight are determined. Resulting parameters associated with the projection device, weather conditions, projection content, and the obstructions and associated positions are determined and a virtual visibility fence associated with an area for viewing the projection content on the projection device is generated. Specified projection content for projecting on a specified portion of the projection device is determined and projected.

Determining typical object presentation options may include an inaccurate process with little flexibility. Controlling and directing various movable objects for presenting specialized content may include a complicated process that may be time consuming and require a large amount of resources. Additionally, directing movable objects to specified locations for detecting presentation obstacle may require technically advanced systems for enabling detection functionality.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of providing a silicon film having a roughened outer surface atop a semiconductor wafer comprises: a) placing a semiconductor wafer into a plasma enhanced RF powered chemical vapor deposition reactor; and b) plasma enhanced chemical vapor depositing a layer of silicon over the wafer surface by providing quantities of a silicon source gas, a carrier gas, and TiCl.sub.4 to the reactor, the atomic ratio of the quantities of silicon source gas and TiCl.sub.4 being greater than or equal to 4 at the wafer surface; and by maintaining the reactor at a selected RF power, pressure and temperature; the RF power being supplied at a frequency of at least 5 MHz and preferably at least 10 MHz, the quantities of silicon source gas, RF power, temperature and pressure being effective to produce a predominately silicon film having an outer surface, the quantity of TiCl.sub.4 being effective to induce roughness into the outer silicon surface as compared to an outer silicon surface prepared under identical conditions but for introduction of TiCl.sub.4 but ineffective to produce a predominately titanium silicide film.

The reduction in memory cell sizes required for high density dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) results in a corresponding decrease in the area available for the storage node of the memory cell capacitor. Yet, design and operational parameters determine the minimum charge required for reliable operation of the memory cell despite decreasing cell area. Several techniques have been developed to increase the total charge capacity of the cell capacitor without significantly affecting the cell area. These include new structures utilizing trench and stacked capacitors, as well as the utilization of new capacitor dielectric materials having higher dielectric constants.
One common material utilized for the capacitor plates is conductively doped polysilicon. Such material is so utilized because of its compatibility with subsequent high temperature processing, good thermal expansion properties with SiO.sub.2, and its ability to be conformally deposited over widely varying typography.
As background, silicon occurs in crystalline and amorphous forms. Further, there are two basic types of crystalline silicon known as monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon. Polycrystalline silicon, or polysilicon for short, is typically in situ or subsequently conductively doped to render the material conductive. Monocrystalline silicon is typically epitaxially grown from a silicon substrate, whereas deposited silicon films result in either an amorphous or polycrystalline phase. Specifically, it is generally known within the prior art that silicon deposited at wafer temperatures of less than approximately 580.degree. C. will result in an amorphous silicon layer, whereas silicon deposited at temperatures higher than about 580.degree. C. will result in a polycrystalline layer.
The prior art has recognized that the capacitance of a polysilicon layer for use in forming capacitors can be increased merely by increasing the surface roughness of the polysilicon film that is used as a storage node. Such roughness is typically transferred to the cell dielectric and overlying polysilicon layer interfaces, resulting in a larger surface area for the same planar area which is available for the capacitor.
One procedure utilized to achieve surface roughening involves deposition under conditions which are intended to inherently induce a rough or rugged upper polysilicon surface. Such include specifically attempted low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) techniques. Yet, such techniques are inherently unpredictable or inconsistent in the production of a rugged polysilicon film.
This invention is directed to improved techniques for providing a silicon film having a roughened surface, and particularly to formation of roughened outer surface polysilicon films.

Method of providing a silicon film having a roughened outer surface


A resource management method (300) and a corresponding system are proposed. In the solution of the invention, an authority publishes (324) multiple rules, each one defining a desired target configuration for a category of subjects (without any information about their dependencies). Each subject retrieves (320–322, 326) the rules corresponding to its category in a random order. The rules are then applied (427–439) on the subject according to a trial-and-fail approach. Particularly, the application of any failed rule is continually repeated (427–448), until all the rules are successfully applied (463) or a deadlock condition is detected (451). In this way, any dependency is automatically resolved on the subject at run time. Moreover, as soon as all the rules have been successfully applied the compliance of the subject to the rules is verified (455–457) again; should the subject be not compliant to one or more rules any longer, an infinite loop condition is detected (466).

Management of different types of resources (such as software components, applications or devices) is a critical issue in a data processing system with a distributed architecture. This problem is particular acute when the system includes a high number of logic and/or physic entities (referred to as subjects), each one directly controlling one or more resources; the problem is further exacerbated if the subjects have a high level of complexity or are dispersed across a large number of installations.
The management environments known in that art are based on an enforcement model (also known as manager/workers model). In this model, the process is entirely controlled by an authority residing at a central site of the system. The authority defines a desired configuration of every subject. For this purpose, the authority accesses a central repository storing the (alleged) current configuration of each subject, and determines the management actions required to bring the subject to the desired configuration starting from the current configuration. The management actions are then enforced remotely by the authority on the subject (which is totally passive).
A drawback of the management environments known in the art is the lack of any kind of cooperation between the authority and the subjects. This lack of cooperation may bring about inconsistencies when the subjects are upgraded out of the control of the authority. Moreover, in the solutions currently employed the management of subjects that are temporarily unavailable or off-line is quit difficult to implement. The known management environments require the authority to maintain information about the location of all the subjects; at the same time, the authority must handle the communication with every subject directly.
An additional problem arises when a specific state of one or more resources is a pre-requisite to the execution of some management actions. A typical example is that of a patch for a software product; in this case, the installation of the patch requires that the software product be already available on the subject. More complex dependencies are experienced in large systems with several correlated tiers.
As a consequence, the authority must explicitly define a workflow that drives the enforcement of the management actions on each subject in the correct sequence.
The authority must also handle any conditioning among the management actions directly. In any case, some conflicts cannot be identified a priori. Conversely, those conflicts arise if particular (and often unforeseeable) conditions occur; therefore, they can be detected only at run time when the management actions are enforced (assuming that the subjects report the result of the enforcement to the authority).
This problem is particular acute in high dynamic environments, wherein complex dependencies are defined among the different resources.
Moreover, the above-mentioned drawbacks strongly increase the difficulty of correctly defining any solution to be deployed in the system.

Adaptive management method and system with automatic dependency resolution


A method, multi-computer media and apparatus that uses an economics model to manage the demand and the resource satisfying that demand for multi-computer memory. The present invention quantifies demand as a function of space, and computer resource as a function of time, so that a computational system can meet an application demand.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to quantifying the multi-computer memory demand of a physical mathematics model, and more specifically to the multi-computer data processing of this model. More particularly present invention refers to managing the demand for computer memory caused by the formulation of large-scale scientific and engineering problems that are solved on multi-computers.
2. Description of the Related Art
A supply schedule shows the amount of a commodity that a producer is willing and able to supply over a period of time at various prices. A graph of the supply schedule is called the supply curve. The supply curve usually slopes upward from left to right because a higher price must be paid to a producer to induce the production of a commodity due to overhead costs. So the price of a commodity is directly proportional to its supply, and is called the law of supply.
A demand schedule shows the amount of a commodity that a consumer is willing and able to demand over a period of time at various prices. A graph of the demand schedule is called the demand curve. The demand curve usually slopes downward from left to right because a lower price induces the consumer to purchase more of a commodity. This is to say that the price of a commodity is inversely proportional to its demand, and is called the law of demand. The equilibrium price and equilibrium quantity of a commodity are determined by its supply and demand. An equilibrium schedule shows the intersection of the supply curve and the demand curve. A graph of the equilibrium schedule is called the equilibrium curve and is called the law of equilibrium.
Multi-computer processing, hereafter called multi-processing, involves the use of multiple computers to process a single computational program that could be numerical, alphabetical, or both. Multi-processing is distinguished from uni-processing where a single computer is used to process an application program, and refers to the use of a parallel or a distributed computer. The programming of multi-computer is referred to as parallel programming.
One method of multi-processing is by the use of the Message Passing Interface (MPI), which is a communication library for multi-computer communication. The defining feature of the message passing model is that the transfer of data from the memory of one or more computers to the local memory of another one or more computers requires operations to be performed by all of the computers involved. Two versions of MPI software for UNIX-like operating systems are: the IBM Parallel Operating Environment, or POE, which is a licensed IBM product, and Argonne National Laboratory's implementation of MPI, or MPICH, which is publicly available.
The advantages and motivations for using multi-computing are, at least, three fold. First, the potentially enormous demand for computer resources made by a computational task is divided among multiple computers; second, the time required to complete a variety of applications is scaled-down by the number of processors used, and third, the reliability of completing such applications is increased because of the shorter processing time. The first of these reasons is the most important, since without sufficient resources, no time-scaling is possible.

Method and apparatus to manage multi-computer demand


The present invention provides a metal bonded abrasive tool wherein the tool has improved life and mechanical properties. The invention further includes the bond composition which allows for improved life and mechanical properties, particularly in diamond blade dressing tools.

The invention relates to metal bonded abrasive tools, in particular, diamond dressing tools used to recondition abrasive wheels, and to a novel bond composition which allows for improved mechanical strength and improved abrasive grain retention in the abrasive tools.
To meet the demands of industrial manufacturers, continuous improvements in abrasive retention, bond durability and tool life are a necessity for metal bonded superabrasive tools. Along with the quality of the abrasive grinding tool, the quality of the dressing tool used to recondition the abrasive grinding tool is critical to achieving the desired grinding operation efficiencies and tolerances.
Diamond blade dressers or rotary dressing wheels are used for reconditioning the surfaces of, or generating a profile in grinding wheels. A rotary dresser is used primarily to generate or maintain the shape of abrasive tools having a profiled grinding face. The metal bond composition used in the dressing tool has an enormous impact on dressing tool quality. Metal bonded dressing tools known in the art generally comprise diamond abrasive grain bonded by zinc containing alloys, copper-silver alloys, cobalt alloys, copper, or copper alloys.
Although zinc containing alloys are known for superior bond qualities in metal bonded diamond dressers, they also are known to present disadvantages in manufacturing operations. Zinc is excessively volatile at temperatures used during manufacture of the bonded abrasive tools, resulting in loss of zinc from the bond. This raises the liquidus temperature of the metal bond resulting in the need for a higher manufacturing temperature. The higher temperature further leads to premature furnace lining failure, higher energy costs and potential environmental liabilities.
A near-eutectic copper phosphorus composition described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,750 is used in a metal bond for dressing tools. The bond also comprises hard phase particles, such as tungsten, tungsten carbide, cobalt, steel, sol gel alpha-alumina abrasive grain and stellite.
The rotary dressers described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,649 are made with a metal powder bond composition comprising tungsten carbide coated diamond grits bonded within in a cobalt matrix. It is theorized that the observed improvements in this tool are due to the relative ease with which the materials adjacent to the diamond grit abrade during use to expose fresh diamond facets for dressing. The previously known 50/50 mixtures of tungsten carbide/cobalt are characterized as yielding a tough matrix immediately adjacent the diamond, resulting in less efficient cutting action.
Abrasive grinding tools described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,591 are made with a metal bond comprising a filler with a specified hardness value. The filler consists of certain grades of steel or ceramic. The filler is sintered into the bond, together with the abrasive grain and copper, titanium, silver or tungsten carbide. Preferred bond compositions contain silver, copper and titanium, with the titanium being used to form copper-titanium phases in the sintered bond.
A metal braze composition for a monolayer abrasive tool is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,771 as comprising an alloy or mixture of silver, copper and indium with titanium or other active metal to wet the abrasive grain.
A metal bond for either a monolayer abrasive tool or a metal matrix bond abrasive tool is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,511 as comprising copper silver titanium alloys, or copper titanium alloys, or copper zirconium alloys, copper titanium eutectics and copper zirconium eutectics. During bonding the abrasive grain and the bond components react to form carbides or nitrides.
A nickel alloy bond for rotary dressers formed by an electrolytic plating process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,440.
Despite the development of these metal bond systems for abrasive tools, there remains a demand for better bonds characterized by a longer tool life, better resistance to abrasion and better abrasive grain bonding.


A method of vehicle monitoring includes monitoring one or more vehicle safety systems while a vehicle is in operation to detect an unsafe condition. The method also includes sending an alert to a handheld device if an unsafe condition is detected.

Cellular phone and PDA displays are growing increasingly capable of displaying an ever more complex variety of information. Color, touch-sensitive displays can present a user with graphic interfaces, detailed figures, and a variety of other interactive information.
Additionally, there is an increasing need in society to have information access on-demand. In a world of GOOGLE, YAHOO! and WIKIPEDIA, users are growing used to having any and all desired information at their fingertips.
This information, while useful in many areas, is also often static information. That is, it is fixed, factual information. Integration, however, of dynamic "facts" has slowly begun.
Also, it is now possible to have updates, such as an update indicating when a bill is due, sent to a cellular phone as, for example, a text message.

Vehicle system passive notification using remote device


A method for a process in a first code environment to control an object in a second code environment. A first code environment application communicates an object control command to a first environment library. The first code environment library communicates the object control command over a communications link to a second code environment process. The second code environment process communicates the object control command to a second code environment object controller.

As conventional computers contain increasingly larger amounts of memory, operating systems have evolved to utilize such larger amounts of memory more efficiently. As operating systems evolve and offer additional services and features, application software is being rewritten to utilize the new features offered by operating systems. While it would be preferable to implement a new operating system and new application software on a computer simultaneously, this rarely occurs. It is more common to implement a new operating system on a computer and gradually, over time, implement new application software which more fully utilizes the new operating system. To allow this gradual migration of old software to new software, an operating system must be able to support the previously existing application software as well as the new application software.
One example of an operating system which has the ability to execute older conventional application software as well as the new generation of application software is the Windows.RTM. 95 operating system, marketed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., U.S.A. Windows.RTM. 95 supports both older, conventional 16-bit software and newer 32-bit software. The ability to support two code environments, a 16-bit code environment and a 32-bit code environment is necessary to allow the large number of existing 16-bit application programs to continue to execute on the new Windows operating system.
Typically, a software company will continue to sell and support its conventional software, such as 16-bit software, while adding program enhancements to newer versions of its software, such as 32-bit software, which can take advantage of new features offered by a new operating system.
Application programs can be written to communicate with other application programs. The ability to communicate between application programs allows one application program to utilize features offered by another application program. Since additional enhancements and modifications to application programs are generally introduced into newer application programs rather than older, existing programs, it is very beneficial for older, conventional application programs to be able to communicate with newer application programs, which generally offer the newest features.
Currently in the software field, older conventional 16-bit software is being migrated to newer generation 32-bit software. In the future, 32-bit software will be considered conventional, and there will be a migration to newer 64-bit software. It would advantageous for older conventional software to be able to communicate with newer generation software in order to access features only offered by the newer generation software.
A "thunk" is one method used to communicate between older conventional software such as a 16-bit application and newer generation software such as a 32-bit application. A thunk is essentially a segment of code which interfaces between a 16-bit code application and a 32-bit code application. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,487,158 and 5,490,256 disclose a compiler which automatically generates thunk code which achieves a transfer of control between a 16-bit application and a 32-bit application. The thunk code includes a thunk prolong element or routine and a thunk epilog element or routine. One disadvantage of thunking between 16-bit code and 32-bit code is the complexity and corresponding significant amount of effort required to generate the thunk code.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,848 discloses a method and apparatus for sharing the code of a DOS application between multiple virtual machines.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,756 discloses a method for manipulating iconic representations of applications by automatically controlling a communications link between icons and an associated source application. In one embodiment disclosed in the '756 patent, the communications link used is Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE).
Thus, it is apparent that there is a need for a method and system which allows a conventional application in a first code environment to communicate with and access the increased functionality and enhancements of a newer generation application in a second code environment without having to develop complicated thunk code.

Method and system for interenvironment object control