A method for integrating three bipolar transistors into a semiconductor body, multilayer component, and semiconductor arrangement is provided. A tendency toward thyristor-like behavior of the multilayer semiconductor arrangements with the three bipolar transistors is suppressed with the aid of a heterojunction. The high frequency characteristics and the blocking capability of the circuit of the three bipolar transistors is made more flexible, while the capability of an input signal to control an output signal is maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for integrating three bipolar transistors into a semiconductor body, a multilayer component, and a semiconductor arrangement.
2. Description of the Background Art
From the document EP 0 493 854, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,821, and which is hereinafter referred to as D1, are known vertical integrated cascode structures having only two transistors for high voltage applications. In this arrangement, a transistor that has a high blocking capability and is geometrically on the bottom is vertically integrated with a transistor that is geometrically on top. Such arrangements are preferably used in the voltage range above 100 V. The emitter region of the transistor that is geometrically on the bottom has a significantly higher dopant concentration, with the same conductivity type, than an adjacent collector drift zone of the transistor that is geometrically on top. In this way, the emitter efficiency of the transistor that is geometrically on the bottom, in particular, is increased. The vertical integration of two npn transistors, for example, results in a parasitic pnp transistor, so that the arrangement from D1 tends toward thyristor-like behavior and the collector current only remains controllable within limits.
In the document EP 605920, hereinafter referred to as D2, the tendency of the arrangement toward thyristor-like behavior is reduced by increasing the Gummel number GB of the parasitic transistor. To this end, the emitter region of the bottom transistor is implemented as a highly doped layer that thoroughly isolates the base of the bottom transistor from the collector drift zone of the top transistor by creating a mesa structure. In D2, only two transistors can be integrated in the mesa structure. In another embodiment in D2, p-doped SiGe is used as an etch stop for producing the mesa structure in the base of the bottom transistor.

Method for integration of three bipolar transistors in a semiconductor body, multilayer component, and semiconductor arrangement


A dressing board for sharpening and/or shaping blades for manufacture of semiconductor devices can include a working surface configured to sharpen and/or shape a cutting surface of a dicing or edging blade for manufacture of a semiconductor device. The working surface can be configured to contact the cutting surface of the blade when sharpening or shaping the cutting surface. The dressing board can include a support substrate configured to support the working surface with respect to a floor of an enclosure in which the dressing board is positioned. In some embodiments, the working surface includes a first portion that is not parallel to the floor.

Microelectronic devices, such as memory devices, microprocessors, and light emitting diodes, typically include one or more semiconductor die mounted to a substrate (e.g., a wafer, silicon wafer, or other substrate). Semiconductor die can include functional features, such as memory cells, processor circuits, and interconnecting circuitry. Semiconductor die also typically include bond pads and pillar structures electrically coupled to the functional features. The bond pads can be electrically coupled to pins or other types of terminals for connecting the semiconductor die to busses, circuits, or other assemblies.
One step in the process of manufacturing certain microelectronic devices is the dicing or singulation stage. In this step, a substrate having more than one device mounted thereon is cut or otherwise partitioned to separate the devices from each other. The cutting may be performed by a blade, saw, laser, chemical(s), and/or other means of segregating the substrate into multiple pieces. In some applications, trimming or shaping of the substrate or other portion of the microelectronic devices may be desirable. For example, chamfered or radiused edges may be desired.

Systems and methods for forming semiconductor cutting/trimming blades


A radially anisotropic magnet is prepared by furnishing a cylindrical magnet-compacting mold comprising a die, a core, and top and bottom punches, packing a magnet powder in the mold cavity, applying a magnetic field across the magnet powder, and forcing the top and bottom punches to compress the magnet powder for compacting the magnet powder by a horizontal magnetic field vertical compacting process. The top punch is divided into segments so that the magnet powder may be partially compressed; in the step of compacting the magnet powder packed in the mold cavity by a horizontal magnetic field vertical compacting process, the magnet powder is partially compressed by the segments of the top punch cooperating with the bottom punch for thereby consolidating the partially compressed zones of magnet powder to a density from 1.1 times the packing density to less than the compact ultimate density; and thereafter, the entire magnet powder in the cavity is compressed under a pressure equal to or greater than that of partial compression by the entire top and bottom punches for finally compacting the magnet powder.

Anisotropic magnets produced by milling crystalline magnetic anisotropy materials such as ferrites or rare-earth alloys and pressing the milled material in a specific magnetic field are widely used in speakers, motors, measuring instruments and other electrical devices. Of these, in particular, magnets with anisotropy in a radial direction are endowed with excellent magnetic properties, are freely magnetizable and require no reinforcement to fix the magnet in place as in the case of segment magnets, finding use in AC servomotors, DC brushless motors and other related applications. The trend in recent years toward higher motor performance has brought with it a demand for elongated radially anisotropic magnets. Magnets having a radial orientation are manufactured by vertical compacting in a vertical magnetic field or by backward extrusion. The vertical magnetic field, vertical compacting process is characterized by applying opposing magnetic fields through the core of a mold in the pressing direction so as to provide a radial orientation.
FIG. 1 illustrates a vertical magnetic field vertical compacting system for producing a radially anisotropic magnet. Illustrated in FIG. 1 are a compactor housing 1, coils 2 for generating orienting magnetic fields, a die 3, a top core 4, a bottom core 5, a top punch 6, a bottom punch 7, and a packed magnet powder 8. In this vertical magnetic field vertical compacting system (compactor), the magnetic fields generated by the coils create magnetic paths extending from the cores, through the die and the compactor housing and back to the cores. To reduce magnetic field leakage loss, a ferromagnet, typically a ferrous metal is used as the material making up the portions of the compactor that form the magnetic paths. However, the strength of the magnet powder-orienting magnetic field is determined as follows. Assume that B is a core diameter (magnet powder packed cavity inside diameter), A is a die diameter (magnet powder packed cavity outside diameter), and L is a magnet powder packed cavity height. Magnetic fluxes which have passed through the top and bottom cores meet from opposite directions at the core center, run against each other and divert into the die. The quantity of magnetic flux that passes through the core is determined by the saturation magnetic flux density of the core while an iron core has a magnetic flux density of about 20 kG. Therefore, the orienting magnetic fields at inside and outside diameters of a magnet powder packed cavity are obtained by dividing the quantity of magnetic flux which has passed through the top and bottom cores by the inside surface area and outside surface area of the magnet powder packed cavity, respectively. They are expressed by the following equations.2·π·(B/2)2·20/(π·B·L)=10·B/L (inner periphery)2·π·(B/2)2·20/(π·A·L)=10·B2/(A·L) (outer periphery)Because the magnetic field is smaller at the outer periphery than at the inner periphery, a magnetic field of at least 10 kOe is required at the outer periphery in order to obtain good orientation in all areas of the magnet powder packed cavity. As a result, 10·B2/(A·L)=10, and so L=B2/A. Given that the height of the powder compact is about one-half the height of the packed powder and is further reduced to about 80% during sintering, the magnet ultimately obtained has a very small height. Because the height of the magnet that can be oriented is dependent on the core shape, it is difficult to produce lengthy magnets by the method of producing a radial magnet in opposed magnetic fields using the vertical magnetic field vertical compacting system.
The backward extrusion process is not conducive to the production of low-cost magnets because of a large scale of equipment and low yields.
Thus, regardless of which process is used, radially anisotropic magnets are difficult to manufacture. The inability to achieve the low-cost, large-volume production of such magnets has in turn made motors that use radially anisotropic magnets very expensive to manufacture.
In order to manufacture a large number of elongated annular radial magnets in a multiple-cavity molding manner, the applicant proposed in JP-A 2004-111944 a method of manufacturing such radial magnets, without using a prior art vertical magnetic field vertical press, by applying a magnetic field in a horizontal magnetic field vertical press with a ferromagnetic core set in place, rotating the magnet powder relative to the magnetic field direction, applying a magnetic field again, and compacting, that is,
"a method of manufacturing radially anisotropic ring magnets in which a magnet powder packed into a cavity in a cylindrical magnet-forming mold having a core composed at least in part of a ferromagnetic material with a saturation magnetic flux density of at least 5 kG is pressed under the application of an orienting magnetic field by a horizontal magnetic field vertical compacting process; the method being characterized by carrying out at least one of the following operations (i) to (v):
(i) rotate the magnet powder a given angle in the circumferential direction of the mold during application of the magnetic field,
(ii) rotate the magnet powder a given angle in the circumferential direction of the mold following application of the magnetic field, then again apply a magnetic field,
(iii) rotate a magnetic field-generating coil a given angle in the circumferential direction of the mold with respect to the magnet powder during application of the magnetic field,
(iv) rotate a magnetic field-generating coil a given angle in the circumferential direction of the mold with respect to the magnet powder following application of the magnetic field, then again apply a magnetic field,
(v) use a plurality of coil pairs to first apply a magnetic field with one coil pair, then apply a magnetic field with the other coil pair
so as to apply to the magnet powder a magnetic field from a plurality of directions rather than one direction and pressure compaction, for thereby manufacturing a radially anisotropic ring magnet having throughout the magnet an angle of 80° to 100° between a center axis thereof and a radial anisotropy imparting direction."
In this method, the magnetic field applied by placing a ferromagnetic core in a horizontal magnetic field press takes a radial orientation near a magnetic field applying direction as shown in FIG. 3b. At this point, it does not take a radial orientation in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field applying direction. Then the packed magnet powder and the magnetic field applying direction are rotated relatively, after which a weaker magnetic field is applied to impart a radial orientation to those sites which have not taken radial orientation during the previous magnetic field application. Use of such a weaker magnetic field causes no disorders to the orientation in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field applying direction. In this way, radial orientation is imparted throughout the circumferential direction. However, if the strength of the magnetic field applied immediately before compaction is too high, the radial orientation which has been established thus far is disordered in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field. Also, if the strength is too low, the disordered orientation which has been induced during the latest application of a magnetic field in the magnetic field applying direction cannot be corrected into radial orientation. Therefore, whether or not uniform radial orientation is achieved largely depends on the strength of a magnetic field applied immediately before compaction. There thus exists a desire to have a more consistent production method.
Patent Reference 1: JP-A 2004-111944

Method for preparing radially anisotropic magnet


An internal combustion engine having a carburetor including a float bowl that is internally vented through a venting path that extends from the carburetor bore to the headspace above the fuel in the bowl. An external bowl vent passageway extends through the carburetor body to permit air communication between the atmosphere external of the carburetor and the headspace. A thermally actuated valve is secured to a sheet metal cowling on the engine. A flexible tube is secured from the external vent passageway to the valve. While the engine is cold, the valve is open to permit the float bowl to be externally vented to the atmosphere, thereby providing a relatively rich fuel mixture which aids in starting the engine. Upon sustained engine operation and the attainment of a predetermined temperature, the valve closes the external vent passageway, thereby causing the float bowl to be internally vented only, thereby leaning out the fuel/air mixture to a desired emissions level during engine operation.

The present invention relates generally to carburetors for internal combustion engines, and more specifically to internally vented float bowl carburetors.
In a typical float bowl type carburetor, fuel flows from the reservoir in the float bowl through a fuel metering orifice into a fuel well from which the fuel is drawn up and mixed with air due to the pressure differential caused by the venturi region in the carburetor bore or throat. Since a continuous flow of fuel from the float bowl to the venturi must be provided in order to assure smooth engine operation, it is necessary to maintain a consistent fuel level in the float bowl. In order to maintain a consistent fuel level, a float control valve arrangement is provided such that as the fuel level in the float bowl is depleted through normal operation, the float control valve opens a conduit connected to a larger fuel storage tank. As fuel is replaced in the float bowl, an excess pressure is created above the fuel level. A proper fuel flow rate is facilitated by venting the excess pressure from the top of the float bowl to a constant pressure region. This venting may be to the atmosphere external of the carburetor (external venting) or to a region of relatively constant pressure within the carburetor bore (internal venting). Both types of venting arrangements are well known in the art.
Internally vented float bowl arrangements are advantageous to externally vented bowls in that air that is supplied to the vent has already passed through the carburetor air filter so that the likelihood of introducing additional contaminants into the carburetor is greatly reduced. In addition, in internally vented arrangements, as the air cleaner element becomes clogged and the pressure within the carburetor throat decreases, the pressure in the fuel bowl also decreases due to the passageway connecting the carburetor throat and the bowl, thereby leaning out the fuel-air mixture to a level proportional to the level that existed when the air cleaner element was unobstructed.
As government regulations require small internal combustion engines to limit exhaust gas emissions to a prescribed level, engines will be required to operate on a leaner fuel/air mixture than previously. Such leaner calibration requirements create difficulties in starting the engine. In engines operating on such leaner fuel/air mixtures, it may be necessary to prime and restart the engine several times before the engine temperature increases to the point where fuel is vaporized at a sufficient rate to permit sustained engine operation.
It is desired to provide an engine which operates on a leaner fuel/air mixture yet which can be started without excessive priming and/or startup attempts.

Internally vented float bowl carburetor having a cold start vent conduit


A scanner includes a lower unit and an upper unit. The lower unit includes a first document table on which a first document is to be placed. The upper unit includes a second document table on which a second document is to be loaded and a document feed path through which the second document is to be picked up from the second document table fed, the upper unit being coupled to the lower unit to pivot between a closed position in which the first document table is covered and an open position in which the first document table is exposed. The upper unit further includes a reading unit to read an image from the first document and the second document by performing flatbed scanning on the first document and document feed scanning on the second document.

A scanner is a device which irradiates light to a document, receives reflected light, and reads an image recorded on the document. A scanner may be used alone, or may be used in combination with a printer to print an image on a print medium.
Examples of a scanner include a flatbed scanner in which a document is located at a fixed position and a reading member moves in a sub-scanning direction to read an image, a document feed scanner in which an image is read from a document fed in a sub-scanning direction by using a reading member located at a fixed position, and a combination scanner.
In flatbed scanning of a combination scanner, a document is placed on a platen glass and a reading member located under the platen glass reads an image from the document while moving in a sub-scanning direction. In document feed scanning of the combination scanner, a document is placed on a document table located over the platen glass and a document feeder picks up the document one by one from the document table and feeds the document along a document feed path. The reading member located under the platen glass reads an image from the document fed along the document feed path at a fixed position.
Document feed scanning is used to quickly scan many documents. Flatbed scanning may be selected when a state of a document to be scanned is not suitable for document feed scanning. Flatbed scanning may be applied to, for example, a document having a size or a thickness not guaranteed by a document feed structure, a document having an image (e.g., an image drawn by pencil) that may be easily erased by friction, a document (e.g., a high-gloss document) that has little friction or is easily scratched, a photo document, a crumpled document, or a document fixed with a clip or a stapler.

Scanner capable of flatbed type scanning with image reading unit disposed in upper unit

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The invention relates to a roller bearing for linear movements, said roller bearing comprising a guiding carriage which is essentially C-shaped in the cross-section thereof, is displaceably guided on a guiding rail in the longitudinal direction thereof, and comprises two lateral limbs. The carrier body of the roller bearing is supported in the region of each lateral limb in such a way that it can be displaced on the guiding rail by means of at least one series of rolling bodies. The series of rolling bodies respectively comprises a load-transmitting row of rolling bodies, which engages with a load-carrying running path of the carrier body and a load-carrying running path of the guiding rail, in addition to an inverted row of rolling bodies and two defecting rows of rolling bodies. In order to form the load-carrying running path of the carrier body, a running path element is provided parallel to the longitudinal direction of the guiding rail. According to the invention, the running path element is embodied as a hardened sheet metal element which is arranged and fixed in a receiving region on the respective lateral limbs of the carrier body.

In order to manufacture a roller bearing for linear movements it is necessary to construct the raceways of this bearing with a sufficient hardness so as to achieve an appropriate service life. As a rule, this is done by heat treatment, for example by carburizing, induction hardening or else through hardening. However, this procedure has the disadvantage that an additional separate working step is necessary between the soft processing and the hard processing and only materials which can be hardened can be used. Furthermore, a hardening offset can occur which influences in particular the position of the return bores of the guiding carriage.
Document DE 93 13 728 U1 discloses a linear roller bearing arrangement with integrated raceway elements of the type mentioned at the beginning. However, said document has the disadvantage that the raceway elements of the guiding carriage cannot be manufactured from sheet metal—as is apparent from the cross-sectional illustration—and that the receptacle area of the supporting body is also constructed in a disadvantageous way insofar as it forms, in cross section, an outwardly directed prism, which very greatly weakens the supporting body in terms of its rigidity.


An objective of the present invention is to provide a cerebral vasospasm inhibitor which is effective on cerebral vasospasm occurring after subarachnoid hemorrhage and has few side-effects. The cerebral vasospasm inhibitor of the invention is characterized in containing an anti-HMGB1 monoclonal antibody as an active ingredient.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs generally in fourty- to sixtysomething virile aged persons, and refers to the condition that there is hemorrhage in the space between the brain-circumscribing arachnoid and the brain mainly as a result of aneurysm rupture. The intracranial pressure is instantaneously elevated by such a hemorrhage, to give damage to the brain. About 10% of the patients suffering from a subarachnoid hemorrhage will die immediately after the onset and about 25% will become serious, according to the statistics. Even if a patient suffering from a subarachnoid hemorrhage for the first time stays alive, re-hemorrhage is said to occur within 2 weeks in about 25% of the patient. The treatments of the subarachnoid hemorrhage include removal of hematoma and prevention of re-rupture of the ruptured aneurysm.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage itself is thus a very dreadful disease. Further, even after the treatment for subarachnoid hemorrhage, more than half of the patients may suffer from a peculiar pathological state, which is called cerebral vasospasm. Cerebral vasospasm is a reversible constriction of the cerebral main artery, which occurs in 3 to 14 days after subarachnoid hemorrhage and persists for 1 to 2 weeks. Cerebral ischemia as a result of the condition causes death in about 40% of the patients and serious sequelae in about 30%, and only about 30% can return to normal life. Accordingly, cerebral vasospasm is causing a serious problem.
In such a circumstance, however, researches concerning cerebral vasospasm have not been sufficiently promoted and neither prevention nor treatment of the disease has been established. For example, the mechanism of the development of subarachnoid hemorrhage to cerebral vasospasm remains unknown, though multiple factors including free radicals, lipid peroxidation, an arachidonate cascade, damages in the perivascular nerve, damages in endothelium-dependent relaxation, and structural change of the vascular wall have been suggested to be involved in a complicated manner. Therefore, prevention or treatment of cerebral vasospasm would be difficult if only one of these factors could be inhibited.
Fasudil hydrochloride or sodium ozagrel is currently administered as the systemic chemotherapy for cerebral vasospasm. The cisternal administration of a tissue plasminogen activator during operation for subarachnoid hemorrhage is also employed. The effect of these therapies, however, has been insufficient.
HMGB1 is a protein present in rodents to human beings, and 95% or more of the amino acid sequence thereof is common. HMGB1 exists in normal cells, and the blood level is increased by stimulation with an LPS: lipopolysaccharide which is a bacterial endotoxin released in sepsis: systemic inflammatory response syndrome, to produce tissue damage eventually. Accordingly, the method described in JP 2003-520763 T employs administration of an HMGB1 antagonist for the treatment of the symptoms by an activated inflammatory cytokine cascade. However, there is neither description nor suggestion concerning cerebral vasospasm in JP 2003-520763 T, although there is a description of many diseases and symptoms mediated by the inflammatory cytokine cascade as examples of the target diseases to be treated.
In addition, JP 2005-537253 T discloses a composition containing an HMGB1 antibody or the like for the treatment of side-effects induced by a necrotic tissue. The side effects are exemplified only by activation of viable cells in the vicinity, mobilization and activation of myelocytes, loss of barrier function of the endothelium, and edema; and there is no description or suggestion concerning cerebral vasospasm.

Method of preventing cerebral vasospasm with anti-HMGB1 antibody

National University Corporation Okayama University


The present invention relates to a method for demultiplexing MAC service data units encapsulated into MAC protocol data units, said MAC service data units comprising IP protocol data unit wherein said method comprises the following steps:                receiving MAC protocol data units,        demultiplexing the received MAC service data units by:                    detecting the beginning of a MAC service data unit by detecting a MAC layer service primitive,            recursively demultiplexing said at least one IP protocol data unit contained in said MAC service data unit,            detecting the end of said MAC service data unit by detecting MAC layer service primitives.

The present invention relates to the field of variable size packet demultiplexing and more specifically of concatenated and encapsulated packet demultiplexing.
To achieve reliable data transmission in communication networks, data needs to be encapsulated in data packets. FIG. 1 represents these encapsulations at the different OSI layers (link/MAC) and physical layers (PHY). The data payload represented by the IP protocol data unit (IP-PDU) 1 comprises data coming from the IP layer. Said data is first encapsulated at the MAC layer by adding a MAC header 3 and a MAC trailer 5. Then, the MAC protocol data unit (MAC-PDU) 2, comprising parts 1, 3 and 5, is encapsulated at the physical layer with a physical header 7 and a physical trailer 9. This organization in different sections allows to perform transmission and efficient decapsulation and demultiplexing at destination. FIG. 2 represents the organization of this encapsulation at the MAC layer according to the IEEE 802.3 standard.Three main parts can be defined
a front part called MAC header 3 comprising destination section 11 and source section 13 addresses as well as information section 15 concerning the data carried in the MAC service data unit (MAC-SDU) 1 such as the type of data and the size of the MAC-SDU 1,
the MAC service data unit (MAC-SDU) 1 corresponding to the IP-PDU and therefore to the data to be transmitted,
a MAC trailer 5 indicating the end of the MAC-SDU 1.
In order to improve the efficiency of communication networks, protocol data unit concatenation methods have been developed. These techniques consist in gathering several PDU sections having a common destination in one service data unit. Thus, the required number of headers and trailers is reduced and the performance of the network is optimized. FIG. 3 shows such concatenation of the IP-PDUs 17. The different IP-PDUs are put together in a MAC-SDU 1, encapsulated in a MAC-PDU 2 and sent as a common data unit to their destination. In such cases, demultiplexing of the concatenated IP-PDUs require to determine the beginning and the end of the MAC-SDU 1 comprising said IP-PDUs 17. In the state of the art, this determination is achieved by decoding in the MAC header information concerning the length of the MAC-SDU 1. Such decoding increases the demultiplexing processing load and may therefore reduce the overall throughput of the data transmission.

Method and equipment for demultiplexing variable size protocol data units


A holding device for a filter element is disclosed. More particularly, the holding device includes a body having upper and lower surfaces. The lower surface is sized and shaped so as to engage an end of an associated filter element. The holding device also includes a compressible member, which is positioned on the upper surface of the body, and a connecting mechanism for directly and movably connecting the body to a body of at least one other identical holding device.

Various filter units have been developed in the past for filtering fluid passing therethrough. One such type of filter unit includes cylindrical filter cartridges which are mounted longitudinally within a filter unit's housing, for instance, in a circular array. Because the filter cartridges are typically open-ended, it is necessary to seal the open ends of each filter cartridge such that fluid flows through an associated filter medium positioned intermediate the ends of the filter cartridge, thereby achieving proper filtering operation. For proper sealing of the filter cartridges, it is desirable to orient them in proper alignment relative to each other and relative to the housing of the filter unit. For various reasons (e.g., manufacturing imprecision), the filter cartridges have slightly different lengths, and, as a result, it has been difficult to properly and positively align and thereby seal the filter cartridges in a quick and efficient manner.
A number of devices have been proposed for aligning and/or sealing filter cartridges mounted within a housing of a filter unit (see, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,904,184, 3,319,793, 4,052,317, 4,248,714, 4,428,838, 4,442,004, Re. 31,966, 4,731,184, 4,946,588 and 5,399,264). It is, however, believed that none of the devices disclosed in the foregoing patents is adapted to properly and positively hold, seal and/or align associated filter cartridges in a quick and efficient manner. As a result, there is a need for a filter cartridge holding device adapted for performing these functions in a quick and efficient manner.

Filter cartridge holder and filter assembly equipped with same


A suspension control system includes a suspension device (2) that connects a sprung member (5) and an unsprung member (6) of a vehicle, an actuator (3) operable to adjust frictional force along a stroke direction of the suspension device (2), and a control device (4) configured to control the actuator (3), based on a velocity direction of the sprung member (5) parallel to the stroke direction of the suspension device (2), and a stroke velocity direction of the suspension device (2), so as to adjust suspension frictional force as the frictional force along the stroke direction of the suspension device (2). The control device (4) is configured to adjust a magnitude of the suspension frictional force, so that it becomes substantially equal to a required frictional force determined based on a value obtained by exponentiating the velocity of the sprung member (5), and a value obtained by exponentiating the stroke velocity of the suspension device (2).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a suspension control system, and a method of controlling a suspension device.
2. Description of Related Art
As a known suspension control system installed on a vehicle, a hydraulic damper is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-141415 (JP 10-141415 A). In the hydraulic damper, a piston that is in sliding contact with an inner circumferential surface of a cylinder is mounted on one end of a piston rod, and the other end of the piston rod is guided to extend to the outside, via a rod guide and an oil seal provided on the cylinder side. Also, in the hydraulic damper, a bushing is provided in a space between the rod guide and the oil seal, such that a certain friction arises between the bushing and the piston rod when the piston velocity is a very low velocity.
The hydraulic damper of the vehicle as described in JP 10-141415 A is constructed as described above in order to suppress minute vibration that occurs after large vibration occurs during running of the vehicle on a bad road; nonetheless, there is still room for further improvement in terms of suppression of vibration, for example.

Suspension control system and method of controlling suspension device


Computer comparison of one or more dictionary entries with a sound record of a human utterance to determine whether and where each dictionary entry is contained within the sound record. The record is segmented, and for each vocalized segment a spectrogram is obtained, and for other segments symbolic and numeric data are obtained. The spectrogram of a vocalized segment is then processed using a method selected from a group consisting of a triple time transform, a triple frequency transform, a linear-piecewise-linear transform, and combinations thereof, to decrease noise and to eliminate variations in pronunciation. Each entry in the dictionary is then compared with every sequence of segments of substantially the same length in the sound record. The comparison takes into account the formant profiles within each vocalized segment and symbolic and numeric data for other segments are obtained in the record and in the dictionary entries.

All computer speech processing systems have to establish a match between the sound of an utterance (or a portion thereof) and an entry in the system's dictionary. A dictionary entry may be a sound or a phoneme (e.g., "v"), a syllable (e.g., "-ver-"), a word (e.g., "version"), or a phrase ("create a version").
Computer speech processing systems generally fall into two categories: dictation systems and command systems. Dictation systems (e.g., IBM ViaVoice and Dragon Systems Naturally Speaking) usually work in conjunction with a word processing program to allow a user to dictate text into an electronic document. Command systems (e.g., Apple Speech Recognition under MacOS) map speech to computer commands.
Computer dictation systems are designed to break an utterance into a sequence of entries in a dictionary. Such systems identify known phrases and words in the speech and try to handle the unfamiliar words by guessing their spelling or asking the user for additional input. If a pronounced word is not in the dictionary, there is no guarantee that the dictation system will spell it correctly (unless the user spells it explicitly, thus largely defeating the purpose of using the dictation system). For this reason, the dictation systems benefit from and are optimized for very large dictionaries.
Computer command systems are designed to recognize phrases representing the commands the computer can perform. A computer command system would match the sound of user saying "Save as Vitaliy's application in directory Fain documents" with the word processor "Save As" command which requires certain parameters, then do its best spelling with "Vitaliy's application," and finally match the sound of "Fain documents" with a name in a list of directories available to the system.
Current computer speech processing systems with large active dictionaries are not designed or optimized for the task of efficiently determining whether and where a human voice utterance contains a given word or phrase. Even when they can perform this task, they perform it inefficiently. This task, however, is important in a variety of contexts, for example, in an efficient implementation of a natural language understanding system as described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/043,998 titled "Method and Apparatus Providing Computer Understanding and Instructions from Natural Language" filed on Jan. 11, 2002, the entire teaching of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Speech recognition system using normalized voiced segment spectrogram analysis


A filler to be dispersed, as an inorganic material, in a thermosetting resin to produce an electronic component sealing agent, is composed of crystalline silicon dioxide particles. Not less than 70 wt-% of the crystalline silicon dioxide particles have the major-to-minor-axis ratio in the range of 1.20-1.40 and the circularity in the range of 0.75-0.90.

The present invention relates to a filler that is composed of silicon dioxide particles and constitutes a sealing agent to be used for sealing an electronic component such as a semiconductor device.
Conventional electronic component sealing fillers of the above kind are composed of crystalline silicon dioxide particles having a broken surface (i.e., a surface having acute-angled protrusions). When an electronic component sealing agent is produced by dispersing the conventional filler as an inorganic material in a thermosetting resin (e.g., epoxy resin), if the mixing proportion of the silicon dioxide particles is increased to reduce the stress that will be occur at the time of sealing an electronic component (e.g., semiconductor device), following problems will arise originating from the broken surface nature of the silicon dioxide particles: 1) increase of the melting viscosity of the electronic component sealing agent, which leads to 2) marked wear of molds, which then results in 3) a reduced efficiency of an electronic component sealing operation.
In order to reduce the melting viscosity of the electronic component sealing agent, it has conventionally been proposed to heat-melt the surface of the silicon dioxide particles for the electronic component sealing filler, for instance, by a plasma flame, to provide silicon dioxide particles having a surface that is curved relatively smoothly (i.e., a surface having obtuse-angled bulges). However, this technique is associated with the following problems: 4) the surface layer of the silicon dioxide particles becomes amorphous; and therefore 5) the heat conductivity becomes lower than the case of the crystalline silicon dioxide particles.


A waveform equalization apparatus includes an A/D converter, a waveform equalizer, a training sequence generator, a clock recovery circuit, multiple matched filters, and a clock optimization logic. The A/D converter oversamples a reception signal in synchronization with a base clock signal and generates an A/D converted data sequence. The waveform equalizer performs an arithmetic operation to equalize a waveform. The training sequence generator generates a data sequence for training. The data sequence for training is used instead of an output data of the detector so as to converge a coefficient used in the arithmetic operation in advance. The clock recovery circuit supplies the base clock signal without executing a clock recovery operation during a training period, and executes the clock recovery operation according to the output data of the detector. The matched filters receive the A/D converted data sequence, and execute a filter arithmetic operation.

Non-patent literature 1: "A 12.5 Gb/s SerDes in 65 nm CMOS Using a Baud-Rate ADC with Digital Receiver Equalization and Clock Recovery", ISSCC Dig. Tech. Papers, pp. 436-591, FIG. 24.1.1, 2007.
Non-patent literature 1 discloses an example of a configuration in which an A/D converter performs an A/D conversion to a reception signal, and a waveform equalizer having a feed-forward equalizer (hereinafter, referred to as FFE) and a decision feedback equalizer (hereinafter, referred to as DFE) compensates an attenuation due to an inter symbol interference (hereinafter, referred to as ISI) in a transmission line.
When the waveform equalizer processes a reception data, the waveform equalizer operates so that tap coefficients of the FFE and the DFE are converged to an optimum value removing the ISI (also referred to as an adaptive equalization). However, when the waveform equalizer is used in a transmission line in which a reception signal is largely distorted due to the ISI, an influence of reflection, or the like, the tap coefficient may not be converged to the optimum value. This case may happen since an initial value of a tap coefficient is greatly different from an ideal value to which the tap coefficient should finally be converged and many errors may occur in a determination result of a detector (a slicer) disposed to an output stage.


A friction brake assembly has a plurality of first plates having external teeth engaged in spline teeth formed in a housing, second plates having internal teeth engaged in spline teeth on a transmission component, and a backing plate disposed in an annular groove in the first housing. The backing plate has a toothed outer periphery which is alignable with the spline teeth of the housing. The teeth on the backing plate and the housing spline teeth have alignable apertures or bores formed therein and adapted to receive at least one pin member which restrains relative rotation between the housing and the backing plate. The pin has a finger portion which engages in a second aperture in the housing to inhibit unintentional removal of the pin.

Transmission ratio brake assemblies include a plurality of friction discs in a brake pack. The discs are alternately splined at the outside diameter and inside diameter, respectively. Generally, the outside diameter spline discs are in toothed engagement with a spline formed in a transmission housing while the inside diameters spline discs are in toothed engagement with a rotatable transmission component, such as a hub or a gear.
A fluid operated piston, slidably disposed in the housing is pressurized to frictionally engage the discs. A backing plate is also splined with the housing and restrained in one axial direction by a retaining ring.
The backing plate and retaining ring provide reaction members to limit axial movement in one direction of the brake back during brake engagement. The reaction force imposed on the backing plate and retaining ring is transmitted to the housing through a groove wall in which the ring is disposed.
In most transmissions, at least one brake assembly is located at one end of the housing, such that visual inspection of the retaining ring placement is difficult. If the ring is not properly seated, it will generally disengage in the groove leaving the brake inoperable at final test on the assembly line. This gives rise to time consuming repair since the transmission must be disassembled, repaired and reassembled.


An image forming apparatus includes units for electrostatically charging a surface of an image carrier, exposing the surface according to image data to write a latent image, supplying a toner to the latent image to form a visible image, and transferring the visible image from the surface to another surface. A rotatable brush roller and a cleaning blade in contact with the surface removes remaining toner. Another brush roller rotates and scrapes lubricant to apply the lubricant to the surface. The image forming apparatus has a lubricant consumption of 0.1 gram to 1.2 grams per 1,500 meters of a traveling distance of the image carrier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus or a process cartridge including a unit that applies a lubricant to the surface of an image carrier, and a toner used in the image forming apparatus or the process cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process has a photoconductor as an image carrier, and the surface of the photoconductor is electrostatically charged by discharge and the charged surface of the photoconductor is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image, and a toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image to make the image visible, and the visible image formed on the surface of the photoconductor is transferred to the surface of transfer paper and then fixed and discharged. Some of the toner remains on the surface of the photoconductor after the visible image is transferred, and therefore, for preventing the remaining toner from adversely affecting the next image formation, the surface of the photoconductor is cleaned by a cleaning unit and then subjected to the subsequent image forming process. A generally known cleaning unit having a cleaning blade includes an elastomer, such as a rubber, which is abutted against the surface of the photoconductor to remove deposits including the remaining toner.
There are increasing demands for high-quality images, and particularly, for achieving the formation of high definition color images, a toner having a smaller particle diameter or a spherical shape has been developed. The toner having a smaller particle diameter can improve dot reproductivity, and the toner having a spherical shape can improve the development property and the transfer property. The toner having a smaller particle diameter or a spherical shape is very difficult to produce by a conventional grinding method, and hence a polymerized toner produced by a suspension polymerization method, an emulsion polymerization method, or a dispersion polymerization method is employed.
However, the use of the toner having a spherical shape or a smaller particle diameter causes some problems in cleaning of the photoconductor after the image is formed. One problem is that the toner having a spherical shape or a smaller particle diameter is difficult to remove by a blade cleaning method generally employed. A cleaning blade, which is rubbed against the surface of the photoconductor to remove the toner from the photoconductor, is deformed at its edge by the frictional resistance of the photoconductor, causing a very small gap between the photoconductor and the cleaning blade; The smaller the particle diameter of the toner, the more likely the toner is brought into the gap. When the toner brought into the gap is spherical or substantially spherical, the frictional force by rolling is smaller and causes the toner to roll through the gap between the photoconductor and the cleaning blade, so that the toner passes under the cleaning blade. When a large amount of the toner passes under the cleaning blade, the cleaning for the photoconductor becomes unsatisfactory, leading to a defective image suffering from, for example, background fogging.
Another problem is that a lubricating agent or a superplasticizer contained in the toner, which passes under the cleaning blade and then remains on the surface of the photoconductor, forms a film material sticking to the surface of the photoconductor, i.e., so-called filming occurs. The occurrence of filming causes a defective image with, for example, unprinted points in the solid area of image.
For improving the cleaning property for the surface of the photoconductor when using the toner having a spherical shape or a smaller particle diameter, a method has been proposed in which a lubricant includes, for example, a metal salt of a fatty acid is applied to the surface of the photoconductor to form a thin film, lowering the friction coefficient of the surface of the photoconductor, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-287567. It has already been found that, when the friction coefficient of the surface of the photoconductor is low, the adhesive force between the photoconductor and the toner is small and hence cleaning by the blade becomes effective, thus preventing the occurrence of filming.
When the friction coefficient of the photoconductor is not satisfactorily lowered, the toner is likely to pass through the cleaning unit to cause a cleaning failure or filming is likely to occur on the surface of the photoconductor. When filming by the lubricating agent or superplasticizer contained in the toner occurs, the resultant film material is difficult to remove by the cleaning blade.
Especially, the developer in the developing unit includes large amounts of a lubricating agent, a superplasticizer, and the like derived from the toner, and hence filming is likely to occur immediately on the photoconductor coated with the lubricant only with a small coating amount. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly apply the lubricant to the photoconductor in an appropriate coating weight during the life of the photosensitive unit.
On the other hand, when the friction coefficient of the surface of the photoconductor is too small, other problems arise. One of the problems is such that the adhesive force between the photoconductor and the toner is lowered and therefore a satisfactory amount of the toner is not transferred from a development roller to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor in the development step, thus causing unprinted portions in the image or a low-density image, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Nos. 2002-287567 and 2002-207397.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-75752 includes a description that a shape factor SF1 is 100 to 150, a cleaning unit has an elastic blade abutted at a linear pressure of 55 g/cm to 105 g/cm, and a lubricant application mechanism applies at least 0.4 gram or more of a lubricant until a rotation distance of an image carrier to be coated becomes 525 meters. When the linear pressure of the cleaning blade is high, the blade disadvantageously scrapes the lubricant from the image carrier to lower the application efficiency, so that the photoconductor CTL layer is considerably quick to wear. By surely applying a lubricant in an appropriate coating weight constantly during the life of the photosensitive unit, excellent images can be provided stably.

Image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and toner


A real-time sharing method, apparatus and system, which relate to the online application field to solve the problem that a user cannot actively send a request to another terminal by using a terminal according to a personal requirement to implement real-time sharing of resources of an online application of another terminal. The real-time sharing method for sharing of an online application includes: receiving a browsing request message sent by a first terminal, where the browsing request message carries an identifier of a second terminal; acquiring, according to the identifier of the second terminal, virtual machine information of a virtual machine that provides an online application service for the second terminal; and sending, to the first terminal, resource information sent to the second terminal by the virtual machine corresponding to the virtual machine information.

Currently, in an online application field of a network, a server may deploy various applications developed by third parties, and a terminal may remotely connect to an online application platform of the server to experience the applications. A general interaction process between the terminal and the server is that the terminal submits a message about an operation on an application to the server, and the server performs computation and processing, and returns a data running process and result response message, so that the terminal locally outputs the received data. In this scenario, the running and processing of the application are both performed on the server, and the terminal is only responsible for uploading an operation of a user to the server, receiving data sent by the server, decoding the data, and outputting the decoded data; therefore, the user may browse, by using the terminal (such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, and a palmtop computer), audio/video resources provided by the server.
During implementation of the foregoing technical solution, the inventor finds that a virtual machine can provide a service only for a terminal using an application on the virtual machine. This also causes imperfectness of an online application function, and impairs the quality of user experience.

Real-time sharing method, apparatus and system


Disclosed is an intraluminal ultrasound imaging system, including a processor circuit in communication with an intraluminal ultrasound imaging catheter, wherein the processor circuit is configured to receive a plurality of intraluminal ultrasound images obtained by the intraluminal ultrasound imaging catheter during movement of the intraluminal ultrasound imaging catheter within a body lumen of a patient. The processor circuit is further configured to select an image from among the plurality of intraluminal ultrasound images, generate at least two border contours associated with the lumen within the selected image, display the border contours associated with the lumen, each overlaid on a separate instance of the selected image, receive a user input selecting one of the border contours; and display the selected image overlaid with the selected border contour.

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is used in both coronary vascular procedures and peripheral vascular procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting, IVC-filter retrieval, EVAR and FEVAR (and similar on the abdominal trait) atherectomy and thrombectomy. Different diseases or medical procedures produce physical features with different size, structure, density, water content, and accessibility for imaging sensors. For example, a deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) produces a clot of blood cells, whereas post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) produces webbing (synechiae) or other residual structural effects in a vessel that have scar-tissue-like composition or similar composition to the vessel wall itself, and may thus be difficult to distinguish from the vessel wall. A stent is a dense (e.g., metallic) object that may be placed in a vessel or lumen to hold the vessel or lumen open to a particular diameter. A compression occurs when anatomical structures outside the vessel or lumen impinge on the vessel or lumen, constricting it.
In some cases, intraluminal medical imaging is carried out with an IVUS device including one or more ultrasound transducers. The IVUS device may be passed into the vessel and guided to the area to be imaged. The transducers emit ultrasonic energy and receive ultrasound echoes reflected from the vessel. The ultrasound echoes are processed to create an image or plurality of images of the vessel of interest. The image of the vessel of interest may include one or more lesions or blockages in the vessel. A stent may be placed within the vessel to treat these blockages and intraluminal imaging may be carried out to view the placement of the stent within the vessel. Other types of treatment include thrombectomy, ablation, angioplasty, pharmaceuticals, etc.
Automated algorithms can provide users of intravascular imaging systems with real-time measurements (e.g., diameter or cross-sectional area of a vessel wall or vessel lumen) that are relevant for clinical image interpretation. While the goal of such algorithms is to be as accurate as possible with the automated measurements, these algorithms do not always identify the same boundaries or measurements that a human would, particularly around ambiguous areas such as vessel side branches. As a result, alteration of an identified border or measurement is often necessary. In those cases where the algorithm results might need to be adjusted, or when a user wants to alter or edit the results, the typical means to do that is via some form of manual editing, which can be difficult or time-consuming and may also be subject to error. Hence, there is a need for improved systems and methods that permit streamlined correction of an identified border, and any calculations derived therefrom.
The information included in this Background section of the specification, including any references cited herein and any description or discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes only and is not to be regarded as subject matter by which the scope of the disclosure is to be bound.

Intraluminal ultrasound vessel border selection and associated devices, systems, and methods

PHILIPS IMAGE GUIDED THERAPY CORPORATION


A tank washer comprising a housing which supports reciprocating spray nozzles for spaying the walls of a tank which is to be cleaned with a cleaning liquid. The reciprocation of the spray nozzles is controlled by a piston that reciprocates in the housing under the force of the cleaning liquid. A piston assembly for use in a tank washer comprising a piston head and a connecting rod having one end connected to said piston head. The piston is mounted in a piston chamber for reciprocation.

The washer which is described in this patent application cleans the interior of a tank by spraying continuous streams of a cleaning liquid, usually water, at high pressure against the interior sidewalls of the tank.
This is accomplished by a washer which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which can operate for very long periods without requiring maintenance.


In the method for sharing encrypted data region among two or more processes on a tamper resistant processor, one process creates the encrypted data region to be shared according to the common key generated as a result of the safe key exchange, and the other process maps that region to its own address space or process space. The address information of the shared encrypted data region and the common key of each process are set in relation in the encrypted attribute register inside the tamper resistant processor, so that it is possible to share the encrypted data region safely.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microprocessor having a function for assisting a multi-task program execution environment, and more particularly, to a micro-processor having a function for encrypting/decrypting programs and data which is capable of sharing hidden programs or hidden data among a plurality of processes safely.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the performance of a microprocessor has improved considerably such that the microprocessor is capable of realizing reproduction and editing of video images and audio sounds, in addition to the conventional functions such as computations and graphics. By implementing such a microprocessor in a system designed for end-user (which will be referred to as PC hereafter), the users can enjoy various video images and audio sounds on monitors. Also, by combing the function for reproducing video images and audio sounds with the computational power of the PC, the applicability to games or the like can be improved. Such a microprocessor is not designed for any specific hardware and can be implemented in a variety of hardwares so that there is an advantage that the users who already possess PCs can enjoy reproduction and editing of video images and audio sounds inexpensively.
In the case of handling video images and audio sounds on PCs, there arises a problem of a protection of the copyright of original images or music. In particular, in order to prevent alteration or illegal copying of a software for handling image data or music data on the PC, a technique called tamper resistant software technique has been used (see David Aucsmith et al., "Tamper Resistant Software: An Implementation", Proceedings of the 1996 Intel Software Developer's Conference). The tamper resistant software technique is a technique for protecting know-how or the like contained in the software from analysis and preventing analysis and alternation of the software by encrypting the software.
However, the tamper resistant software technique is basically a technique which makes analysis using tools such as de-assembler or debugger difficult by encrypting a portion of the program that requires protection before the execution of the program starts, decrypting that portion immediately before executing that portion and encrypting that portion again immediately after the execution of that portion is completed. Consequently, as along as the program is executable by a processor, it is always possible to analyze the program by carrying out the analysis step by step starting from the start of the program. This fact has been an obstacle for providing copyright protected contents or sophisticated information services through the PC or applying programs containing know-how of an enterprise or individual to the PC.
In addition, as a problem on the hardware side, the PC is an open platform so that there is also a possibility of an attack by altering the operating system (OS) which is intended to be a basis of the system's software configuration. Namely, a skilled and malicious user can alter the OS of his own PC to carry out operations to invalidate or analyze the copyright protection mechanisms incorporated in application programs by utilizing privileges given to the OS, instead of carrying out the normal operations of the OS.
The current OS realizes the multi-task environment for seemingly processing a plurality of tasks in parallel by utilizing a privileged operation function with respect to a memory and an execution control function provided in CPU. Namely, the OS carries out an allocation of resources necessary for the execution of a program, i.e., an allocation of a CPU time to the execution of the program and an allocation of a memory space necessary for the execution of the program, and controls accesses to devices, network and application QoS that are under the control of the computer. For this purpose, the OS has the following two privileges.
The first privilege is that the OS can interrupt or restart an application program at arbitrary timing in order to carry out the CPU time allocation.
The second privilege is that the OS can move a content of a memory space allocated to an application program to a memory of a different hierarchical level at arbitrary timing, such that the OS can provide a flat memory space to the application by concealing normally hierarchical memory systems with different access speeds and capacities from the application.
Using these two privileges, the OS can interrupt an execution state of the application and take a snap shot of it at arbitrary timing, and restart it after making a copy of it or rewriting it. This function can also be used as a tool for analyzing secrets hidden in the application.
In order to prevent an analysis of the application on a computer, there are several known techniques for encrypting programs or data (Hampson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,902; Hartman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,166; Davis, U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,706; Takahashi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,878; Buer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,117; Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 11-282667 (1999), for example). The encrypted execution codes can be decrypted only by the microprocessor which knows the secret key. The decrypted state is allowed to exist only inside the microprocessor and no process or OS other than the executed process is allowed to carry out the decryption.
However, these known techniques do not account for the protection of the program operation and the data secrecy from the above described privileged operations of the OS. Consequently, the system employing the conventional encryption technique has a drawback in that the analysis of the program becomes possible by utilizing a privilege of the OS called a context switching, without decrypting the encrypted execution codes.
The context switching is carried out to switch some processes by the OS when the execution of the program is stopped by the interruption or when the program voluntarily calls up a software interruption command due to the system call up. Namely, for the purpose of the execution of the other program, the OS stores an execution state (which will be referred to as a context information hereafter) of the program indicating a set of register values at that point into a memory, and restores the context information of another program stored in the memory in advance into the registers. The context switching is an indispensable function in order to operate a plurality of programs in parallel. The OS can read the register values at a time of the context switching, so that it is possible to guess most of the operations made by the programs, according to how the execution state of that program has changed.
Apart from the interruption of the execution and the analysis of the program, the OS can also arbitrarily rewrite the register information that has been moved to the memory. The OS can store arbitrary state of the application so that it is possible to analyze the operation of the program by rewriting the register values and operating the program repeatedly.
In view of these problems, the present inventors have proposed a technique for automatically encrypting a part or whole of the context information in the registers within the microprocessor and saving it to a memory external of the processor at a time of the context switching, as disclosed in the commonly assigned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/781,284. Using this technique, the attacks by the OS at a time of the context switching can be prevented.
On the other hand, there is also a proposition of a technique in which each one of a plurality of applications and program providers maintains secrets independently from the OS. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,045, Ostrovsky et al. disclose a system that presupposes the use of sub-processors having a unique secret key for each application, in which the operation of the program cannot be guessed from the access pattern by which these sub-processors are accessing programs placed on a main memory. This system is based on a mechanism for carrying out random memory accesses by converting the instruction system for carrying out operations with respect to the memory into another instruction system different from that.
However, this technique requires different sub-processors for different applications so that it requires a high cost, and the implementation and fast realization of the compiler and processor hardware for processing such instruction system are quite different from those of the currently used processors, so that the realization of this system is expected to be very difficult at present. Also, in this type of processor, it becomes difficult to comprehend correspondences among the data contents and the operations even when the data and the operations of the actually operated codes are observed and traced so that the debugging of the program becomes very difficult, and therefore this technique has many practical problems, compared with the other conventional techniques described above in which the program codes and the data are simply encrypted, such as those of U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,166 and Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 11-282667.
The development of techniques for protecting encrypted programs and their processing target data is still in progress currently, but the current development is basically focused on the prevention of eavesdropping of programs and data from the other process by invalidating the analysis and tracing of the executed process.
On the other hand, there are demands for mutually sharing programs and data even in the encrypted state among properly permitted processes (programs). Namely, there are demands for sharing the encrypted programs and hidden data among processes in a similar manner as using an existing non-encrypted library or an inter-process shared memory provided by the OS. In order to share the encrypted programs or data among different processes, how to share the key information safely among proper processes can be a problem.
In the processor in which the decrypted state of the encrypted program or data is allowed only within the processor, when it is desired to share the encrypted memory region created by some process with the other process, the meaningful data sharing cannot be realized by simply utilizing the memory sharing mechanism provided by the OS, because the other process that requests the sharing of the encrypted memory region does not know the key necessary for this region.
The read/write of the encrypted memory region is carried out by using the key corresponding to this memory region. The key is maintained secretly within the processor. For this reason, if the same key can be shared within the processor by the other process as well, the meaningful read/write becomes possible. Here, however, it is necessary to carry out this key sharing safely between two processes.
The safe key sharing between processes which know the key in advance can be realized by embedding the key in the encrypted state within the program. However, if the key cannot be embedded in advance or if the key is to be shared between processes (programs) to which the key should not be notified in advance, there is a need to establish a safe key exchange sequence between processes.
Up to now, there are many techniques aimed at establishing a safe key exchange sequence via a network in conjunction with the development of the public key cryptosystem. The key information to be exchanged on the network itself can be eavesdropped, but the attacks are difficult unless the secret key maintained within each computer is known. In the case of the key exchange via a network, the temporary data to be used for the key exchange or key calculation within the computer are handled in the plaintext form under the presumption that the temporary data cannot be leaked to the network or cannot be eavesdropped from the network.
However, the present invention is directed to the case where there is a need to carry out the key exchange between processes within the computer, separately from the key exchange sequence via a network, and it is presupposed that the temporary data to be used for the key exchange or key calculation are also to be placed within the computer.

Method for sharing encrypted data region among processes in tamper resistant processor


An uninterruptible power supply and method for controlling same are disclosed. The controlling method includes the steps of bypassing the first AC power to the output terminal via the bypass loop and the switch and converting a second AC power having a voltage, phase and frequency substantially equal to that of the first AC power by an inverter when the first AC power is normal; and switching the second AC power to the output terminal via the switch when the phase or frequency of the first AC power is changed so as to generate a difference value between the first AC power and the second AC power and the difference value is larger than a predetermined difference value.

With the rapid progress of information technology and the rapid development of the high-tech industry, most of the sophisticated electronic instruments and equipment rely on high-quality power supply to maintain a normal operation. Among a variety of power-supplying solutions, uninterruptible power supply can ensure a nonstop and a high-quality power supply. Therefore, uninterruptible power supply has become the best solution for providing a high-quality power supply. Because different uninterruptible power supplies have different power conversion efficiency, the use of uninterruptible power supply will pose a 10%-30% surcharge on the utilities every year.
Referring to FIG. 1, the circuitry of a conventional uninterruptible power supply is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the uninterruptible power supply 1 includes an AC/DC converter 11, a charger circuit 12, a battery module 13, a DC/DC converter 14, an inverter 15, a controller 16, a static transfer switch 17 and a bypass route 18. The function and the association of each circuit elements of the uninterruptible power supply 1 are described as follows.
When the input power source Vin is supplying power normally, the controller 15 will manipulate the AC/DC converter 11 to convert the input AC voltage Vin into a DC voltage having a predetermined voltage level and provide this DC voltage for the charger circuit 12 and the inverter 15. In the meantime, the controller 16 will manipulate the inverter 15 to convert this DC voltage into a standard and reliable AC voltage. The output AC voltage V1 of the inverter 15 is provided for the load 19 through the static transfer switch 17 (where the load voltage Vout is the output AC voltage V1 of the inverter 15). In the meantime, the charger circuit 12 will convert the DC voltage outputted from the AC/DC converter 11 into a DC voltage tailored to charge the battery module 13.
When the input power source Vin is unavailable for supplying power due to blackout or brownout and thereby causing the degradation of power, the controller 16 will manipulate the DC/DC converter 14 to convert the DC voltage outputted from the battery module 13 into a DC voltage required by the inverter 15. Next, the inverter 15 will convert the DC voltage outputted from the DC/DC converter 14 into an AC voltage, which is provided for the load 19 through the static transfer switch 17. In this case, the power used by the load 19 is supplied by the battery module 13 that is formed by a plurality of batteries. More specifically, the duration of the battery module 13 for sustaining supplying power is dependent on the number of batteries of the battery module 13.
When the input power source Vin is supplying power normally, the AC/DC converter 11 of the uninterruptible power supply 1 will convert the input AC voltage Vin into a DC power, and then the inverter 15 will convert the DC power into a standard and reliable AC power. The output AC power V1 of the inverter 15 is provided for the load 15 through the static transfer switch 17. Because the AC/DC converter 11 and the inverter 15 will output energy when the input power source Vin in supplying power normally, the power conversion efficiency of the AC/DC converter 11 and the inverter 15 will lower the power utilization.
In order to improve the power utilization, another operating method for the uninterruptible power supply is proposed. This operating method is carried out in a manner that when the input power source Vin is supplying power normally, the controller 16 will manipulate the static transfer switch 17 to provide the input AC power Vin for the load 19. That is, when the whole system is normal, the input AC power Vin is provided for the load 19 through the bypass route 18. In the meantime, the inverter 15 will perform power conversion process to output AC power through the static transfer switch 17, and the peak voltage of the output voltage V1 of the inverter 15 is a predetermined rated peak voltage Vp1. In the meantime, the charger circuit 12 will convert the DC voltage outputted from the AC/DC converter 11 into a DC voltage tailored to charge the battery module 13.
When the peak voltage or the frequency of the input voltage Vin is abnormal, for example, when the peak voltage is increased or decreased by 10% of the rated peak voltage or when the frequency is increased or decreased by 5% of the rated frequency, the controller 16 will manipulate the static transfer switch 17 to provide the output voltage V1 of the inverter 15 for the load 19 through the static transfer switch 17 (where the load voltage Vout is the output AC voltage V1 of the inverter 15), thereby enhancing power utilization. The uninterruptible power supply employing such control method is called economic-mode uninterruptible power supply, or ECO-mode uninterruptible power supply. Nevertheless, such control method and control configuration is applicable to non-inductive load and non-motorized load. In the case of inductive load and motorized load, when the peak voltage or frequency of the input voltage Vin is abnormal and the static transfer switch 17 switches the power delivery route to provide the output voltage V1 of the inverter 15 for the load 19, the phase difference between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage V1 of the inverter 15 would be large. When the phase difference between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage V1 of the inverter 15 is sufficiently large, for example, above 20 degrees, the uninterruptible power supply would perform asynchronous power conversion and cause inrush current. This would even burn down the uninterruptible power supply and inhibit the uninterruptible power supply from supplying power to the load 19.
Referring to FIG. 2, the waveform diagram showing the voltage waveforms and current waveforms associated with the uninterruptible power supply. As indicated in FIG. 2, the peak voltage, frequency or phase of the input voltage Vin is abnormal at time t1. In the meantime, the controller 16 will manipulate the static transfer switch 17 to switch the power delivery route to provide the output voltage V1 of the inverter 15 for the load 19. However, the phase difference between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage V1 of the inverter 15 is quite large, for example, above 20 degrees, so that a large voltage difference is generated between the load voltage Vout and the output voltage V1 of the inverter 15. Under this condition, the static transfer switch will switch the power delivery route so as to cause a large inrush current on the load current lout. This would even burn down the uninterruptible power supply and inhibit the uninterruptible power supply from supplying power to the load 19.
Hence, it is urgent for those skilled in the art to develop a control method for use by an uninterruptible power supply to remove the above-mentioned drawbacks encountered by the prior art.

Uninterruptible power supply and method for controlling same


An in-situ monitoring tool is provided that is compromised of a non-reactive medium, a reactive medium, or a combination thereof, contained in a water-permeable mesh. The tool is placed in an aquifer for a predetermined amount of time to allow the medium(s) to act as a substrate that collects minerals from the aquifer for analysis.

The standard approach to characterizing minerals at a field site being remediated involves soil sampling at depth via drilling, which can be costly and technical challenging. For a site underlain by competent or fractured rock, these challenges are more significant. While confirmatory subsurface soil/rock sampling is a component of many remediation programs, extensive or repeated drilling events are often prohibitively expensive. Furthermore, data collected by these methods can be difficult to interpret due to the inherent variability and heterogeneity of geologic formations.
In addition, degradation of chlorinated methanes, ethanes, and ethenes via the reducing power stored in reactive minerals (e.g. iron sulfides, sorbed Fe′, green rust, etc.) is a subject of active research and cost-effective tools in support of field applications are needed. It has been documented that abiotic mechanisms, including the presence of reactive minerals, contribute to the overall treatment capacity within anaerobic biological treatment zones. This fraction of reactive minerals needed to substantially impact the overall degradation of chlorinated solvents is quite low—less than 0.5%. These biological and abiotic processes work synergistically, resulting in increasing in-situ degradation of chlorinated compounds. However, methods available to collect solid samples to characterize and quantify abiotic processes related to reactive minerals are limited, and all other evidence of these processes are indirect and usually comprised of water data or modeling.
In addition to the formation of reactive minerals for treatment of Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds (CVOCs), in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO), and in-situ chemical reduction (ISCR) are common methods to remove trace metals from groundwater via oxidation or reduction and subsequent precipitation of the target contaminant (e.g., highly mobile arsenite to less mobile arsenate), and/or through oxidation and precipitation of iron which can remove trace metals through sorption and/or co-precipitation. Thus, there is a need for a monitoring device that can be installed in monitoring wells before or during treatment to demonstrate that treatments are working as designed. This includes virtually all situations where precipitation of a mineral is intended, such as arsenic removal via the precipitation of iron-arsenic compounds or uranium removal from groundwater using phosphate, a process which is currently being applied at commercial and federal sites across the United States.
Many in-situ groundwater treatment technologies used to address chlorinated solvents, as well as many other contaminants, rely upon the formation, dissolution, and/or transformation of target solid-phase minerals either to sequester or degrade groundwater contaminants. However, evaluation of these solid phase minerals and/or processes is often inferred from aqueous phase conditions, such as groundwater sampling because of the significant challenges and costs associated with solid phase sample collection. Traditionally, solid-phase samples include the use of high-cost drilling/coring techniques and sub-sampling of discrete zones within the core material for analysis. Again, these methods are costly and pose health and safety risks. Further, these methods obtain data from discrete points/depths within the subsurface, often requiring a relatively large sample number of wells to adequately characterize a subsurface area of interest as most possess high heterogeneity across very small areas.


A method and an apparatus for converting a frame phase of a signal having a frame structure specified in the CCITT recommendations which contains N (N: an integer 2 or above) pieces of frames applied with time-division/multiplex, in which the N pieces of frames are given to N pieces of memories, respectively, a write address is given independently to each memory so that the N pieces of frames are written in the respective memories in a same phase as the phase in the signal, a read address is given independently to each memory so that the N pieces of frames are read out of the respective memories in a same phase as the write phase, a difference between a write address and a read address in each memory is set identical under an initial state, and justification is executed for a frame which is read out of the memory in accordance with a difference between existing write address and read address in each memory, whereby to perform frame phase conversion while maintaining relative phase among respective frames.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for frame phase conversion which makes it possible, in an apparatus which transmits with time-division/multiplex one set of signals constituted by a plurality of signals each having a frame structure, to transmit the one set of signals after matching frame phases between an above-mentioned one set of plurality of signals each having a frame structure.
As an example of above-mentioned apparatus, a conventional apparatus in which a frame aligner described in NTT Research and Development Report Vo. 28, No. 7, 1987, pp. 210-214 is provided in each of above-mentioned one set of plurality of signals each having a frame structure so as to arrange phases among above-mentioned one set of plurality of signals each having a frame structure has been proposed.
In CCITT (The International Telegraph & Telephone Consultative) recommendations G. 707, G. 708 and G. 709, such a method that respective sets of a plurality of signals each having a frame structure are transmitted after time-division/multiplex in units of byte is adopted. This frame includes a designator called a pointer, which indicates a position in one frame of information contained in a signal having a frame structure. Further, the signal having a frame structure is provided a function justification. With this function, it is possible to absorb wander produced by temperature change in a transmission line when a frame is transmitted by means of a justification byte. When a frame in accordance with above-mentioned CCITT recommendations is applied with transmit processing in a transmission equipment, the wander is absorbed by using justification.
In this case, in order to match frame phases among one set of plurality of signals each having a frame structure and to guarantee time slot sequence integrity (hereinafter referred to as TSSI. TSSI is an abbreviation of Time Slot Sequence Integrity.), justification has to be executed simultaneously on one set of plurality of signals each having a frame structure.

Method and apparatus for frame phase conversion of signal having frame structure


The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic system. The ultrasound diagnostic system includes a plurality of connectors. Each of the connectors has a signal transmitter to transmit an identification signal uniquely identifying the respective connector. The ultrasound diagnostic system further includes a plurality of probes. Each of the probes has a signal detector and an indicator assembly. In response to a connection of each of the probes to one of the connectors, the signal detector of the respective probe is configured to detect the identification signal identifying said one of the connectors and the indicator assembly of the respective probe is configured to provide an identification of said one of the connectors based on the identification signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to ultrasound diagnostic systems, and more particularly to an ultrasound diagnostic system capable of identifying a connection status of a probe.
2. Background Art
An ultrasound diagnostic system has become an important and popular diagnostic tool due to its non-invasive and non-destructive nature. Modern high-performance ultrasound imaging diagnostic systems and techniques are commonly used to produce two- or three-dimensional images of internal features of patients.
An ultrasound diagnostic system generally adopts a probe containing an array of piezoelectric elements to transmit and receive ultrasound signals. The ultrasound diagnostic system forms an image of human internal tissues by electrically exciting transducer elements to generate ultrasound signals that travel into the body. Echoes reflected from tissues and organs return to the transducer element and are converted into electrical signals, which are amplified and processed to produce ultrasound data. The ultrasound diagnostic system may adopt various types of probes according to diagnosis purposes.
Since multiple probes are used in the ultrasound diagnostic system, it may be confusing to identify whether or not a desirable probe is appropriately connected. Particularly, since the ultrasound diagnostic system is used in a dark environment, it is difficult to identify which probe is connected.


A method of and a system for determining a maximum brake pipe service reduction in the brake system of a train having a pneumatic brake on each car connected to a brake pipe which is controlled by a brake pipe controller. The method includes determining the status of the brake system throughout the train and determining a maximum brake pipe reduction for the brake pipe controller, using the status of the brake system, above which further reduction will not result in further brake application in the train. The determined maximum brake pipe reduction is displayed by itself or in combination with the brake pipe reduction produced by the brake pipe controller and/or used for automatic control.

The present invention relates generally to locomotive display and more specifically to a method of determining maximum service brake reduction and its use with, for example, a Locomotive Engineers Assist Display and Event Recorder (LEADER) system.
The LEADER System, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,144,901, is a real-time, enhanced version of the Train Dynamics Analyzer (TDA), a long standing Locomotive Engineer training tool offered by the Train Dynamics Services Group of New York Air Brake. The LEADER system has the ability to display a real-time or xe2x80x9clivexe2x80x9d representation of a train on the current track, the trackage ahead, the dynamic interaction of the cars and locomotives (both head end and remote), and the current state of the pneumatic brake system. As a tool for the Locomotive Engineer, the LEADER system will allow insight into the effect of throttle changes and brake applications throughout the train providing feedback and information to the Locomotive Engineer not currently available. The information the LEADER system offers provides an opportunity for both safer and more efficient train handling leading to enormous potential economic benefits.
The LEADER System has all the necessary information to predict the future state of the train given a range of future command changes (what if scenarios). With this ability, LEADER can assist the railroads in identifying and implementing a desired operating goal; minimize time to destination, maximize fuel efficiency, minimize in train forces, (etc.) or a weighted combination thereof. LEADER will perform calculations based on the operational goal and the current state of the train to make recommendations to the Locomotive Crew on what operating changes will best achieve these goals.
The TDA functionality was enhanced to assist in training Locomotive Engineer how to better handle their trains. Designs of, simulators with math models are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,041,283; 4,827,438 and 4,853,883. Further capability was added to investigate accidents by playing the event recorder data through the TDA, monitoring critical physical parameters. Through the years data was collected from instrumented trains and laboratory experiments, allowing the models used by the TDA to be refined. On board data collection for off-loading is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,561,057 and 4,794,548.
As more Locomotive Engineers became familiar with the TDA display through training sessions, it became apparent that a real time version of the TDA in the cab of a locomotive would offer substantial benefits in improved train handling. Improved train handling would in turn foster safety and economic benefits. Technological limitations prevented the realization of LEADER for a number of years, but modern levels of computer processing power, decreased size of electronics, increase communication capability and increase size and readability of flat panel color displays has made the LEADER system a reality. Earlier designs for on board computer controllers is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,810 with a description of math models. The LEADER system provides safe and effective control of a train through display or control of the dynamically changing parameters.
The conventional air brakes and air brake systems in conventional freight trains, pneumatic storage reservoir on each freight car, called an auxiliary reservoir is charged by the brake pipe extending throughout the train. The compressor on the locomotive charges the brake pipe through a pressure regulating system. A brake application is achieved, following the charging action, by reducing the pressure in the brake pipe below the level of charge. When the brake pipe pressure is sufficiently reduced, the control valve on each car supplies air from the auxiliary reservoir to the car""s brake cylinder. The amount of air supplied is a function of the brake pipe reduction. During an application, if the reduced pressure in the reservoir becomes equal to the increased pressure in the brake cylinder, no further air flow will occur. The pressure is thus equalized and is referred to as equalization pressure. If brake pipe pressure is reduced below the equalization pressure for that individual car, no further brake cylinder pressure is achieved. Brake pipe pressure reduction below the equalization pressure are known as an xe2x80x9cover-reduction.xe2x80x9d This has the effect of wasting compressed air in the brake pipe increasing the time required to recharge the train brake system and release the brakes by the recharging. In actual freight operations, the brake pipe pressure that exists at each car may vary significantly with time and car location. It may take a very few minutes to charge the first car in a train to regulation level. It may take up to an hour or longer to charge the last car.
It is impossible for a locomotive engineer to calculate and keep track of the maximum reduction that can be made during brake applications. Thus the engineer can easily produce an over reduction wasting compressed air and increased time required to release and recharge the train brake system. This can result in a dangerous situation as often times a quick release and then recovery of the brake application is required to properly control the train. Thus there is a need for a system to inform the engineer when all cars have come to their equalization pressure and will achieve no additional braking for a further reduction of the brake pipe.
The present invention provides a method of determining the maximum brake pipe reduction including the steps of determining the status of the brake system throughout the train. The next step is determining, using the status of the brake system, maximum brake pipe reduction above which further reduction will not result in further brake application in the train. The determined maximum brake pipe reduction may be displayed or used to control the brake pipe. The status of the brake system throughout the train is determined by determining equalization pressure of the brake system in each car. This may be by a mathematical models or actual measurements. The equalization pressures are a function of pressures and volumes of the reservoir and brake cylinder of the individual cars.
The process can also include determining the minimum determined car equalization pressure throughout the train and determining the maximum brake reduction using the minimum determined car equalization pressure. If the minimum car equalization pressure for the train is greater than a first pressure value, the minimum equalization pressure is used to determine the maximum brake pipe reduction. If the minimum car equalization pressure is less than the first pressure value, the first pressure value is used in determining the maximum brake pipe reduction. The first pressure value is generally set to a minimum pressure required for an emergency operation of the brake system. Preferably the method is repeated after each brake pipe pressure increase. Recalculation is necessary because it changes the original dynamics and calculation of equalization pressure for each car.

Method of determining maximum service brake reduction