A play-out apparatus and method for switching a channel in a digital multimedia broadcasting receiver are provided which can decrease a delay occurring in a channel switching time. A demultiplexer demultiplexes a signal received from a transmitter and outputs video data. A time stamp adapter changes a time stamp for indicating a play-out time of the video data such that the video data can be immediately output from a playback buffer without a Coder-Decoder (CODEC) delay, and outputs the video data including the changed time stamp. The playback buffer buffers and outputs the video data output from the time stamp adapter according to the changed time stamp. A video decoder decodes and outputs the video data output from the playback buffer according to the changed time stamp. A display unit plays the decoded video data out.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a broadcasting system, and in particular, to a play-out apparatus and method for switching a channel in a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, digital broadcasting is a system for providing users with high-quality images, Compact Disk (CD)-quality sounds, and high-level services that can replace the conventional analog broadcasting system. The digital broadcasting system provides broadcast traffic compressed at a high compression rate according to Moving Picture Experts Group-2 (MPEG-2) and MPEG-4 standards and so on. The digital broadcasting system employs the high compression rate because of the large amount of data/information to be transmitted from the digital broadcasting system. A typical example of a digital broadcasting service is a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) service.
The DMB service can provide various multimedia signals such as audio, video, etc. For example, as a concept of wireless broadcasting in which a broadcast can be only listened to is extended to a new concept of wireless broadcasting in which a broadcast can be listened to and viewed, various multimedia information such as traffic and news information as well as a music broadcast can be provided in the form of text, graphic, video, and so on. In case of video broadcasting, a system interworks with an existing digital broadcasting network for terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, cable television (TV), etc., to provide various multimedia services, and interworks with a Intelligent Transport System (ITS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and so on to provide a telematics service.
Specifically, the DMB service provides high-quality sound and video broadcasts in CD and Digital Video Disc (DVD) levels to mobile terminals such as a mobile phone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and in-vehicle terminal on the move as well as fixed terminals. Thus, it is predicted that there will be a significant increase use of the DMB service. The DMB service can be divided into a terrestrial DMB service and a satellite DMB service. Herein, the terrestrial DMB service can provide a broadcasting service using a terrestrial relay, and the satellite DMB service can provide a broadcasting service using a terrestrial or satellite relay.
Next, a DMB system for providing the DMB service will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of a conventional DMB receiver.
Referring to FIG. 1, a receiver 100 receives a signal from a gap filler corresponding to a DMB satellite or terrestrial relay. The receiver 100 frequency-converts a DMB channel signal and then outputs the frequency-converted signal to a Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) demodulator 110. The CDM demodulator 110 spreads and demodulates a received broadcast channel signal using a Walsh code of an associated received channel. Transmitted packets output from the CDM demodulator 110 correspond to a Transport Stream (TS) of a selected channel. The TS is input to a Forward Error Correction (FEC) unit 120. At this time, the output of the CDM demodulator 110 is input to the FEC unit 120 on the basis of each Walsh code of the received channel. The FEC unit 120 corrects error due to noise or interference during transmission. The FEC unit 120 is provided with a bit deinterleaver 121, a convolutional code decoder 122, a byte deinterleaver 123, and a Reed-Solomon (RS) decoder 124. The bit deinterleaver 121 deinterleaves broadcast signals received from the CDM demodulator 110 in a bit unit in order to change burst error into distributed error. The deinterleaved satellite broadcast signals are input to the convolutional code decoder 122. Because the output signals of the bit deinterleaver 121 are convolutionally coded signals, the convolutional code decoder 122 inputs the signals to the byte deinterleaver 123 after error correction. The byte deinterleaver 123 deinterleaves the broadcast signals output from the convolutional code decoder 122 in a byte unit. The byte deinterleaver 123 changes burst error into distributed error in the byte unit. When the convolutional code decoder 122 does not suitably correct the error, the byte deinterleaver 123 corrects a burst error if one has occurred.
The broadcast signals output from the byte deinterleaver 123 are input to the Reed-Solomon decoder 124. The Reed-Solomon decoder 124 recovers the deinterleaved signals from error using parity data and then outputs the recovered signals to a demultiplexer (DEMUX) 130. The demultiplexer 130 separates a decoded TS into voice, video, and text data packets. The voice, video, and text data packets output from the demultiplexer 130 are input to an audio decoder 160, a video decoder 150, and a text decoder 140, respectively. The text decoder 140 decodes the compressed text data packet, such that a display unit 170 displays text data. The video decoder 150 converts a compressed video data packet into a format suitable for the display unit 170 through a video processor (not illustrated), such that the display unit 170 displays video data. The audio decoder 160 decodes a compressed voice data packet, and converts the decoded voice data packet into an analog signal through a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) (not illustrated), such that a speaker 180 outputs voice data. A controller 190 controls the components of the DMB receiver such that a DMB service can be received. A memory 191 stores a control program for performing various control functions and data necessary for control. A key input unit 192 allows a user to change or select a service by manipulating a key for a service change request.
FIG. 2 illustrates a process for buffering video data output from a demultiplexer in a playback buffer to switch a channel in the conventional DMB receiver. An operation for switching a channel in the DMB receiver in case of the conventional satellite DMB will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the demultiplexer 210 receives a TS, separates the TS into video and audio data, and outputs the video and audio data to the playback buffer 220. In the present invention, the audio data is not considered under assumption that only the video data is output to the playback buffer 220.
The video data is sequentially accumulated and then is output after a predetermined time. Herein, a time stamp of the video data transmitted from a broadcasting station indicates the predetermined time. That is, when the video data is transmitted from the broadcasting station, the time stamp is included and transmitted in the video data.
The video decoder 230 decodes the video data and then outputs the decoded video data to the display unit 270, such that the display unit 270 can play the decoded video data.
In case of the conventional satellite DMB, a delay for new information acquisition occurs when a broadcasting service or channel is switched in the DMB receiver. This delay occurs for two reasons.
First, if CDM is applied to the satellite DMB receiver, a delay occurs in a process for emptying an interleave buffer and filling a deinterleave buffer when a channel is switched. That is, the delay occurs in a network used to change a CDM channel signal currently being received into a baseband signal. The network delay is defined as the delay between the receiver 100 and the demultiplexer 130 in FIG. 1.
Second, a Coder-Decoder (CODEC) delay occurs when an actual decoding task is started in a multimedia CODEC for a stable play-out process after a buffering operation of the playback buffer during a period of about 2 sec. The CODEC delay is defined as the delay until a play-out operation is performed in the video decoder 150 after the demultiplexer 130 in FIG. 1. According to the actual testing, a delay time is about 5˜6 sec when a channel is switched in the satellite DMB receiver. In this case, a network delay time is about 3˜4 sec and a CODEC delay time is about 2 sec. Thus, the delay should decrease such that the user can smoothly receive a broadcasting service without being inconvenienced when a channel is switched.

Play-out apparatus and method for switching a channel in a digital multimedia broadcasting receiver


A method of managing processor caches. The method includes invalidating a cache line from a first instruction cache level and in response to invalidating the cache line from the first cache level, fetching data associated with the invalidated cache line from a third cache level or memory and writing the fetched data to a second cache level. The third cache level is larger or differently associative than the second cache level and the second cache level is larger or differently associative than the first cache level.

A computing system typically includes a central processing unit (CPU) (also referred to as a processor) and supporting hardware necessary to store, retrieve, and transfer information, such as communications buses and memory. The computing system may also include hardware for external communications, such as input/output controllers or storage controllers, and devices attached thereto such as keyboards, monitors, tape drives, disk drives, communication lines coupled to a network, etc. The CPU may execute instructions of a computer program to direct operation of other system components.
Computing systems typically include storage devices in communication with the processor for storing data. Storage devices used for storing mass data generally have relatively long latency time to access data stored thereon. If a processor were to access data directly from such a mass storage device every time it performed an operation, it would spend nearly all of its time waiting for the storage device to return the data, and its throughput would be very low. As a result, computer systems typically store data in a hierarchy of memory or storage devices, each succeeding level having faster access, but storing less data. At the highest level is the mass storage unit or units, which store all the data on relatively slow devices. Moving down the hierarchy is a main memory, which is generally semiconductor memory. Main memory has a much smaller data capacity than the storage units, but a much faster access. Lower still are caches, which may be at a single level, or multiple levels (level 1 being the lowest), of the hierarchy. Caches are typically also semiconductor memory, but are faster than main memory, and again have a smaller data capacity.
Due to the fixed size of a cache, it generally must remove or evict data to make room for newly received data. Often, the data selected for removal will be referenced again soon afterwards. In particular, where the cache is designed using associativity sets, another cache line in the same associativity set must be selected for removal. If a particular associativity set contains frequently referenced cache lines (referred to as a "hot" associativity set), it is likely that the evicted cache line will be needed again soon.
Some multi-level caches use a "victim cache," which is typically an intermediate cache level that receives all evicted cache lines from a cache level immediately above it in the cache hierarchy. The victim cache may buffer evicted cache lines from a cache level before final eviction to memory. The victim cache may hold the buffered cache lines for a certain amount of time, allowing the cache system to bring the evicted cache lines back in before their final eviction.

Emulating eviction data paths for invalidated instruction cache


An analog processing block is arranged to receive an input signal through an AC coupling circuit. A digitally programmable voltage reference (DPVR) circuit is arranged to provide selection of a voltage reference that is DC coupled through a high impedance circuit to the AC coupling circuit. The input to the analog processing block includes the AC coupled input signal and the DC level from the selected voltage reference such that the DC level is effectively shifted for the analog processing block. The analog processing block may include any number of analog functions including: buffering, level shifting, scaling, integrating, and analog-to-digital conversion for digital signal processing, to name a few. A digital control logic circuit and a trim map can be arranged to control adjustments to the DPVR such that the effects of any non-ideal conditions on the analog processing block are minimized. The trim map may include non-volatile memory devices.

Analog signal processing circuits are often desired in electronic systems where transmission and reception of signals can have very specific system requirements. Often times, signals are encoded, encrypted, modulated, phase-shaped, or otherwise manipulated for transmission in the system. The various signal manipulations can be performed to improve signal reception as well as to prevent unauthorized reception. The resulting signal may be transmitted to a receiving circuit, where the receiving circuit must understand how to extract the signal from the transmission.
The various described signal manipulations in the electronic system can be performed by analog function blocks or digital function blocks. Example analog function blocks include buffers, amplifiers, filters, level shifters, demodulators and integrators, to name a few. Example digital signal processing blocks include such functions as: decrypting, decoding, demodulating, filtering, scaling, to name a few. Depending on the desired signal processing functions, the selected analog function blocks can vary significantly such that custom-built circuits are necessary. In contrast, digital signal processing functions can be provided by a general-purpose processor, such as a CPU or a DSP core, where the processor is arranged to provide the various signal processing functions using algorithmic processing that can be changed with software. It is often preferable to translate the analog signals into the digital domain such that digital signal processing can be utilized.
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is a circuit that performs the translation between analog and digital signals. An example of a conventional ADC circuit (900) is illustrated in FIG. 9. ADC circuit 900 includes a resistor reference ladder and a comparator array. The resistor reference ladder is arranged to divide an analog reference voltage (VREF) into a number of different reference voltages (VREF1–VREFN). Each of the comparators (CP1–CPN) in the comparator array is arranged to compare the analog input signal (VIN) to a respective one of the reference voltages (VREF1–VREFN). Each of the comparators (CP1–CPN) has a respective output (OUT1–OUTN) which indicates whether or not the analog input signal (VIN) is greater than its respective reference voltage. The various comparator outputs (OUT1–OUTN) provide a thermometer decode that indicates a value associated with the magnitude of the analog input signal (VIN).
Another example of a conventional ADC circuit (1000) is illustrated in FIG. 10. ADC circuit 1000 includes a level shifting resistor ladder, a comparator array, a buffer, and a current source. The buffer is arranged to provide a buffered version of the analog input signal (VIN) as signal VIN1. The current source is arranged to provide a current (ILS) coupled to the output of the buffer through the level shifting resistor ladder such that tap points in the level shifting resistor ladder each correspond to a DC level shifted version of the buffered input signal (VIN1). In other words, VIN2=VIN1+LS1, VIN3=VIN2+LS2, and VINN=VIN(N−1)+LSN−1. Each of the comparators (CP1–CPN) is arranged to compare a respective one of the analog input signals (VIN1–VINN) to the reference voltage (VREF) to provide a respective one of the outputs (OUT1–OUTN). The various comparator outputs (OUT1–OUTN) again provide a thermometer decode that indicates a value associated with the magnitude of the analog input signal (VIN).
Yet another example of a conventional ADC circuit (1100) is illustrated in FIG. 11. ADC circuit 1100 includes a resistor reference ladder, an array of sampling capacitors (CS1–CSN), a first array of switches (S11–SN1), a second array of switches (S12–SN2), an array of a comparator array (CP1–CPN), and an array of inverting amplifiers (I1–IN). The resistor reference ladder is substantially identical to that described previously with respect to FIG. 9. The switches and capacitors are arranged to sample the difference between a respective one of the reference voltages (VREF1 through VREFN) and the analog input signal (VIN), while the inverting amplifier circuit is arranged to amplify the difference for input to a respective one of the comparators (CP1–CPN). For example, capacitor CS1 is arranged to sample the difference between VIN and VREF1, while capacitor CS2 is arranged to sample the difference between VIN and VREF2, etc. Each of the comparators is arranged to compare the sampled difference voltage to a signal ground to provide a respective output (OUT1–OUTN). The various comparator outputs (OUT1–OUTN) again provide a thermometer decode that indicates a value associated with the magnitude of the analog input signal (VIN).

Capacitive level shifting for analog signal processing


A Stirling engine-equipped cogeneration system is capable of utilizing thermal energy, without waste, and of offering high thermal usage efficiency at every stage of the thermal energy utilization process. The system includes a combustion chamber (11), a burner unit (5) installed to the combustion chamber, the burner unit driving combustion to generates exhaust gas within the combustion chamber, a liquid media jacket (21) that envelopes the combustion chamber, a liquid media flowing within the liquid media jacket and absorbing thermal energy from the burner-generated exhaust gas, a Stirling engine (4) operating from a sealed operating fluid heated by the heater (3) which is located within the combustion chamber facing the burner and subjected to the flow of exhaust gas generated within the combustion chamber, an exhaust gas flow channel (20) through which flows burner-generated exhaust gas after having flowed through and heating the heater, and an exhaust gas passage (22) having an entrance connected to the exhaust gas flow channel as means of allowing the exhaust gas to heat the liquid medium in the liquid media jacket. The exhaust gas generated from the burner-driven combustion flows into the heater to transfer thermal energy thereto, then flows into the exhaust gas passage, through the exhaust gas flow channel to transfer the thermal energy to the liquid medium, thereby heating the liquid medium and heater simultaneously.

The invention relates to Stirling engine-equipped cogeneration system of the type, for example, disclosed in Related Art References (Tokkyo bunken) 1 and 2.
Related Art Reference 1 discloses a cogeneration system assembled from a hydrogen storing heat pump and a Stirling engine equipped with an electrical generator wherein the heater part of the Stirling engine includes a heat-generating fuel-combusting burner located at the center of the upper surface of the combustion case, and further includes combustion air passages being located at the upper wall of the combustion case and leading from an external region to the flame orifice of the burner. In this cogeneration system, the thermal energy lost from the burner is 15% of the total (100%) input thermal energy.
Related Art Reference 2 describes a cogeneration system using a composite Stirling and Rankine cycle and driving a compressor that heats low-temperature steam and an electrical generator by the operation of Stirling engine. The heater of the Stirling engine is heated by air fed in from an air inlet port and heated by the combustion operation of the heat-generating burner, said heated air then being applied to a heat exchanging operation with air fed in from the air inlet port.
[Related Art Reference (Tokkyo bunken) 1]: Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) Publication No. H7-279758 [pages 3-5, FIG. 1 and FIGS. 6-8]
[Related Art Reference (Tokkyo bunken) 2]: Japanese Patent Laid-open (Kokai) Publication No. 2000-213418 [pages 3-5, FIG. 1 and FIG. 5]
Both of the above-noted conventional cogeneration systems employ a dedicated heating device to supply thermal energy to the Stirling engine heater, use the output of the Stirling engine to generate electricity from an electrical generator, and also use the obtained thermal energy to drive a hydrogen storing heat pump and compressor through a driving structure, thus they employ a mechanical structure to derive power from thermal energy. This structure wastes a large amount of the thermal energy generated by the thermal source, and therefore these cogeneration systems cannot be said to use thermal energy efficiently.


The memory polynomial based digital predistorter utilizes a cluster-based particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique and has an embedded model-size estimator. The PSO technique and model-size estimator efficiently find the dimensions and accurately estimate the coefficients of the memory polynomial based digital predistorter for improved linearity of a power amplifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to telecommunication systems, and particularly to a memory polynomial (MP) based digital predistorter having PSO-based parameter extraction and model size estimation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Power amplifiers are widely used in RF broadcasting applications. However, they tend to exhibit nonlinear behavior which distorts the input signals both in the time and frequency domains, consequently motivating the development of techniques, such as digital predistortion, which can counteract this behavior. Among the challenges facing the identification of an amplifier's digital predistorter and behavioral model is finding the correct model dimensions; as this requires a priori knowledge of multiple parameters.
Thus, a memory polynomial based digital predistorter solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

Memory polynomial based digital predistorter

KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS


Methods and systems are provided for cruise control velocity tracking. In one example, the method or system may generate a torque command output via a velocity controller that allows for an error within bounds to reduce a fuel consumption amount, the torque command output selected from outcomes of a leader and follower game.

Standard cruise controllers attempt to maintain a speed of a vehicle at a set-point speed. Typically, cruise controllers use current speed tracking error based on the set-point speed and a current vehicle speed to determine a required wheel torque. However, maintaining the speed of the vehicle at the set-point speed may lead to an increased amount of fuel consumption due to substantial variation in torque demands to maintain the speed of the vehicle at the set-point speed.
Other attempts to address issues related to excessive fuel consumption when in a cruise control mode include adapting multiple vehicle models to nonlinear model predictive control routines. One such example approach is shown by D'Amato et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 9,849,880. Therein, a vehicle dynamics model and a vehicle fuel consumption model are adapted to provide a nonlinear model predictive control routine including a model predictive cruise control approach.
However, the inventors herein have recognized potential issues with such approaches. As one example, due to technical difficulty, weights in such previous models for cruise control may not be tuned. Such failure to the tune the weights of these models may lead to inefficiencies with regards to reducing fuel consumption while maintaining a velocity of the vehicle within a threshold velocity of a set-point velocity. Or, in cases where the weights are tuned, such weight tuning may be performed in a manner which results in substantial computing load on a controller of the vehicle.
Thus, to at least partially address the above issues, the inventors have developed an approach to dynamically and adaptively tune weights on different terms of a cost function for a cruise control model. In at least one example, the approach for dynamically and adaptively tuning the weights ensures that the filtered value of the vehicle velocity is restricted to be within a predetermined band. In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by a method for generating a torque command output via a velocity controller that allows for an error within bounds to reduce a fuel consumption amount, the torque command output selected from outcomes of a leader and follower game (a similar problem can be posed in a hierarchical structure). The error may be a velocity tracking error within bounds, for example.
As one example, the leader and follower game may include a leader agent which outputs cost weights to a follower agent, where the follower agent uses the cost weights to solve an optimization problem. The outcomes from the leader agent and the follower agent in the leader and follower game are then analyzed to select and generate a torque command output. In at least one example, the torque command output is selected based on the outcome with a least amount of fuel consumption while still maintaining a velocity of the vehicle within a predetermined interval about a set-point velocity.
In this way, solving for the torque command may be carried out in a strategic manner which results in improved efficiency compared to previous approaches. Specifically, by utilizing the leader and follower game approach disclosed herein, the technical result of tuning cruise control weights and generating a torque command output may be achieved, resulting in improved overall vehicle efficiency during cruise control. Such improved overall vehicle efficiency during cruise control includes improved efficiency for both fuel consumption and maintaining the vehicle velocity within a predetermined velocity bounds.
Moreover, the leader and follower game approach may enable improved computing efficiency to perform weight tuning and generate a torque command in cruise control compared to previous approaches that may perform cruise control weight tuning. For example, the leader and follower game approach may enable improved computing efficiency for cruise control weight tuning and generating a torque command compared to approaches which simultaneously perform weight tuning and torque command generation. The leader and follower game approach may further enable improved computing efficiency over approaches which attempt to minimize a cost function subject to several constraints without utilizing leader and follower decision making.
Furthermore, the above approach may advantageously result in reduced fuel consumption due to improved accuracy from the weight tuning in generating a torque command that maintains the vehicle velocity within the predetermined interval about the set-point velocity while reducing an amount of fuel consumption. It is noted that such reduced fuel consumption may correspond to improved fuel economy, where fuel economy is defined as a ratio of the amount of fuel consumed to a distance the vehicle has traveled. The amount of fuel consumed may be by mass or by volume, for example.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Methods and systems for cruise control velocity tracking


An approach is provided for delivering advertising data. An advertising platform separates advertising data into a heavy component and a light component. The heavy component and the light component are delivered to a user equipment independently of each other by pre-loading and/or downloading the content. A trigger then causes the user equipment to compile the advertising data into an advertisement.

Wireless (e.g., cellular) service providers and device manufacturers are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling network services, applications, and content. One area of development is the delivery of mobile advertising, particularly in light of the increasing availability of mobile devices with greater processing capability, enhanced graphics, and increased memory. These mobile devices offer the possibility of providing mobile advertisements with rich content to attract consumers. However, limited resources (e.g., bandwidth) within the wireless environment pose significant challenges to delivering mobile advertisements containing rich content.

Method and apparatus for delivering advertising data


An integrated circuit (IC) includes a CMOS device formed above a semiconductor substrate having ions therein that are implanted in the semiconductor substrate by an ion recoil procedure. The IC preferably, but not necessarily, incorporates sub-0.1 micron technology in the CMOS device. The implanted ions may preferably be germanium ions. A strained-silicon layer is preferably, but not necessarily, formed above the ion-implanted layer of the semiconductor substrate. The strained-silicon layer may be formed by a silicon epitaxial growth on the ion-implanted layer or by causing the ions to recoil into the semiconductor substrate with such energy that a region of the semiconductor substrate in the vicinity of the surface thereof is left substantially free of the ions, thereby forming a strained-silicon layer in the substantially ion-free region.

A significant trend throughout IC development has been to reduce the size of the components of the IC's. As the size is reduced, the performance requirements of the materials of the components become more stringent. For CMOS devices (e.g. CMOS transistors) in particular, increased performance requirements have generally been met by aggressively scaling the thickness and/or dielectrical properties of the gate dielectric and the length of the channel of the transistors. As attempts have been made to scale down CMOS technology into the sub-0.1 micron dimensions, however, the performance requirements for the CMOS devices have proven so stringent that the technique of scaling either the gate dielectric or the channel length or both has been a very difficult and/or impractical solution for meeting the high performance requirements.
To meet the increased performance requirements of the smaller CMOS devices, it has been suggested to alter characteristics other than the gate dielectric and/or channel length of the devices. One such characteristic for which improvements have been suggested is the mobility of the carriers in the channel region. For example, strained silicon (SSI) may be incorporated into the channel region, since strained silicon is known to have greater carrier mobility characteristics than do the materials that have been more commonly used in the channel region of CMOS devices. (K. Rim, S. Koester, M. Hargrove, J. Chu, P. M. Mooney, J. Ott, T. Kanarsky, P. Ronsheim, M. leong, A. Grill, and H.-S. P. Wong, "Strained Si NMOSFETs for High Performance CMOS Technology," 2001 Symposium on VLSI Technology Digest of Technical Papers, 2001, p. 59.)
Formation of a strained silicon layer on a semiconductor wafer may be done in a variety of ways. One technique involves complex fabrication processes, which includes epitaxial growth steps, such as epitaxial growth of a relatively thick silicon-germanium (SiGe) film 100 onto a silicon substrate 102 and epitaxial growth of a strained silicon layer 104 onto the SiGe film 100, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The strain in the silicon is induced by the underlying SiGe film. The SiGe film 100 is typically formed with a graded concentration of Ge in the Si, wherein the concentration of the Ge is slowly increased as the SiGe film 100 is grown on the substrate 102. In order to produce high quality strained silicon it is essential to carefully control the stoichiometry of the layer during the growth process. Thus, the introduction of the gases into the epitaxial growth chamber (not shown) must be carefully varied during fabrication of the SiGe film 100. In this manner, the spacing between the Si atoms in the crystalline structure of the SiGe film 100 is slowly increased from the beginning 106 to the surface 108 of the SiGe film 100. When the strained Si layer 104 is epitaxially grown on top of the SiGe film 100 (FIG. 2), the strain is effectively maintained between the Si atoms. A conventional CMOS transistor 110 (FIG. 3), having a conventional source, drain, gate and gate oxide region 112, 114, 116 and 118, is then fabricated on top of the strained Si layer 104. The increased spacing between the Si atoms in the strained Si layer 104 enhances the mobility of the carriers in the channel region, which is formed in the strained silicon layer 104 under the gate oxide 118 and between the source and drain 112 and 114.
The epitaxial growth steps increase the time and cost of fabrication required to form the IC. Thus, there is a tradeoff between the performance characteristics and the cost of the resulting IC. Additionally, the presence of the strained Si layer 104 sets limitations on the temperatures at which any subsequent processing steps may be performed, thereby limiting the flexibility with which the subsequent processing steps may be performed. Furthermore, the relatively thick SiGe film 100 acts as a thermal insulation layer, so the CMOS transistors formed thereon are susceptible to self-heating during operation of the IC, thereby degrading the performance capability of the IC. Also, isolation of the CMOS transistor 110, typically with shallow trench isolation, must be defined in both the strained Si layer 104 and the SiGe film 100 as well as in the silicon substrate 102, which adds to the complexity of the overall IC fabrication. Furthermore, this technique is prone to defects, which may occur in the SiGe film 100 and, thus, propagate into the strained Si layer 104 and higher layers of materials. Such defects may involve threaded dislocations in the crystalline structure of the various layers that negatively impact carrier mobility, gate oxide quality and overall device performance.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has evolved.

Ion recoil implantation and enhanced carrier mobility in CMOS device


The present invention discloses small-size battery protection packages and provides a process of fabricating small-size battery protection packages. A battery protection package includes a first common-drain metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), a second common-drain MOSFET, a power control integrated circuit (IC), a plurality of solder balls, a plurality of conductive bumps, and a packaging layer. The power control IC is vertically stacked on top of the first and second common-drain MOSFETs. At least a majority portion of the power control IC and at least majority portions of the plurality of solder balls are embedded into the packaging layer. The process of fabricating battery protection packages includes steps of fabricating power control ICs; fabricating common-drain MOSFET wafer; integrating the power control ICs with the common-drain MOSFET wafer and connecting pinouts; forming a packaging layer; applying grinding processes; forming a metal layer; and singulating battery protection packages.

A battery pack of a mobile electronic device may include a battery protection circuit module (PCM), cells, and a terminal line. The battery protection circuit module of a battery protection package controls the charge and discharge of the cells. The battery protection package offers over-voltage and over-current protection. Conventional technologies to further reduce the size of battery protection integrated circuit (IC) are challenged by several technical difficulties and limitations. Conventional battery protection IC typically includes a power control IC and interconnected dual common-drain metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), which are co-packed in a lead frame package with a small foot print of a size as small as 2 mm×4 mm. Furthermore, wire bonding is conventionally used for the interconnection in a semiconductor device package. However, such interconnection mode results in a high loop of the bonding wire of the clip. Thus, the requirements of obtaining a thinner device cannot be met. In one example, the size of a conventional battery protection package is 2 mm×4 mm×0.65 mm.

Battery protection package and process of making the same

ALPHA AND OMEGA SEMICONDUCTOR INCORPORATED


A method and apparatus for reacting a hydrocarbon containing feed stream by steam methane reforming reactions to form a synthesis gas. The hydrocarbon containing feed is reacted within a reactor having stages in which the final stage from which a synthesis gas is discharged incorporates expensive high temperature materials such as oxide dispersed strengthened metals while upstream stages operate at a lower temperature allowing the use of more conventional high temperature alloys. Each of the reactor stages incorporate reactor elements having one or more separation zones to separate oxygen from an oxygen containing feed to support combustion of a fuel within adjacent combustion zones, thereby to generate heat to support the endothermic steam methane reforming reactions.

Synthesis gases containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be purified to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide products. Additionally, synthesis gas can also be reacted to provide useful chemical composition such as methanol and as a feed to Fischer-Tropsch processes for the production of liquid fuels.
Typically, synthesis gas is produced by steam methane reforming reactions that are conducted by reacting steam and a hydrocarbon containing fuel in the presence of a catalyst to promote the reforming reaction. Since the reaction is endothermic, heat is supplied to sustain the reaction. Steam methane reformers are large complex devices in which a fuel is combusted in the presence of air in order to supply the endothermic heating requirements.
The use of oxygen transport membranes to supply oxygen within reforming reactions has also been proposed in the prior art. The advantage of such a reformer is that the oxy-fuel combustion can be conducted more compactly than air fired combustion and the oxygen is not generated in a separate plant such as one that employs cryogenic rectification. Moreover, the combustion products are principally carbon dioxide and water. The carbon dioxide can be sequestered for its collection or further use as a value-added product.
Oxygen transport membranes employ airtight-ceramic materials, typically perovskites, that exhibit oxygen ion conductivity at an elevated temperature and upon a driving force of an oxygen partial pressure differential on opposite sides of the membrane. In such a device, an oxygen containing feed, for instance air, is contacted on one side of the membrane often referred to as the cathode side. The oxygen ionizes by gaining electrons. The electrons are transported through the membrane material for such purposes. The oxygen ions are transported through the membrane material in a direction opposite to the electrons and emerge at the opposite side of the membrane that is conventionally referred to as the anode side. At the anode side, the oxygen recombines to produce the electrons that are to be transported through the membrane.
An example of the use of an oxygen transport membrane for the production of synthesis gas can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,323 in which an oxygen transport membrane is employed to separate oxygen from the air to produce oxygen within a reactant section. The permeated oxygen reacts with hydrocarbons within a natural gas and steam containing feed to supply heat to support the steam methane reforming reactions. Such a reactor is consequently known as an autothermal reformer.
The use of oxygen transport membranes within high temperature environments is problematical because the membrane tends to degrade over time and fail. In order to achieve sufficient oxygen flux, the oxygen transport membrane employs a thin dense layer that is supported on one or more porous layers. All layers are typically formed of ceramic materials. One problem that has been found to effect longevity is the fact that over time, the ceramic support will fail by the known action of creep.
Both U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,938,822 and 6,200,541 disclose the use of a metal support layer. The use of a metal support layer is particularly advantageous in that it helps solve yet another problem involving mounting the ion transport element while sealing the element to its mounting, for instance, a tubesheet of a reactor. Metals while not being brittle are also subject to creep at high temperatures. Additionally, in the pure oxygen and highly oxidative environment in which oxygen ion transport elements operate, metals also suffer failure due to oxidation.
In order to overcome durability limitations with respect to oxygen transport materials, it has been proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,983 to use the oxygen transport membrane at a lower temperature and as an initial stage of the generation of synthesis gas. Thereafter, in a conventional fired reformer located downstream of the oxygen transport membrane reactor, the remainder of the hydrocarbons are reacted with steam to produce the synthesis gas product.
In another attempt to make more durable oxygen transport membrane elements for use in reactors, high temperature alloys have been proposed such as oxide dispersed strengthened metals. As disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2005/0061633, a composite oxygen ion transport element is disclosed that has a dense layer applied to a support layer having pores of cylindrical configuration. Additionally, a porous layer can be interposed between the dense layer and the support layer to distribute oxygen permeating through the dense layer to the pores of the support layer. The support layer is formed of the oxide dispersed strengthened metal. The problem with the use of such materials within reactors is that they are very expensive.
As will be discussed, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing synthesis gas in a reactor that allows the use of expensive high temperature alloys such as oxide dispersed strengthened metal to be utilized in a cost effective manner and that employs robust planar elements that have a wide applicability to any type of device utilizing an oxygen transport membrane.

Method and apparatus for producing synthesis gas


A piping assembly has spacers which are positioned on a pipe and spaced apart one from another along a length of the pipe. Each of the spacers extends from a perimeter of the pipe to a spacer perimeter surface which is interrupted by at least one gap defined by two spacer edges which extend towards the pipe perimeter from the spacer perimeter surface in a direction transverse to the spacer perimeter surface. A sleeve having apertures therethrough which form a mesh is positioned on and circumscribes the perimeter surfaces of at least two spacers and has edge portions bent at positions to extend to the spacer edges so that the sleeve is held in position on the spacers.

The present invention relates to a pipe protection assembly or hot pipes such as steam pipes.
In order to prevent factory personnel from accidentally touching steam pipes on the premises, the pipes are usually insulated with glass wool. Cleaning of the pipes is carried out by means of water under high pressure, but the water penetrates and destroys the glass wool which not only causes an unpleasant smell but it is also unhygienic.


The operation range of a phase detector provided with a flip-flop is improved, and the jitter tolerance of a receiving circuit is enhanced. The phase detector includes a holding unit and a detection unit. In the phase detector, the holding unit holds an input signal in synchronization with a predetermined periodic signal. The detection unit detects a phase difference between a designated edge and the predetermined periodic signal on the basis of a signal held in the holding unit. The designated edge is designated by a control signal that designates one of a rising edge and a falling edge of the input signal as the designated edge.

Conventionally, a phase detector is used in a phase synchronization circuit or the like to detect a phase difference between two signals. A Hogge phase detector or the like is used in an analog phase synchronization circuit for synchronizing a data signal and a clock signal (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). The Hogge phase detector is provided with a flip-flop and an exclusive OR (XOR) gate. The flip-flop holds a data signal in synchronization with a clock signal, and the XOR gate outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the phase difference between the clock and data.

Phase detector, phase synchronization circuit, and method of controlling phase synchronization circuit

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


In a developer carrying member used in a developing apparatus by means of which an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image bearing member is developed with a developer to render it visible, the developer carrying member has at least a substrate and a resin coat layer formed on the substrate surface, and the resin coat layer contains at least a binder resin and graphitized particles. The surface of the resin coat layer has an average value A and a standard deviation σ of 100≦A≦800 (N/mm2) and σ<30 (N/mm2), respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a developer carrying member used in a developing apparatus by means of which an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image bearing member such as an electrophotographic photosensitive member or an electrostatic recoding dielectric is developed with a developer to form a toner image in electrophotography, and also relates to a developing apparatus making use of the developer carrying member. This invention still also relates to a developer carrying member whose resin coat layer provided on a substrate of the developer carrying member has been improved, and further relates to a developing apparatus making use of such a developer carrying member.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, in electrophotography, copies or prints are obtained by forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image bearing member (photosensitive drum) by utilizing a photoconductive material and by various means, subsequently developing the electrostatic latent image by the use of a developer having a toner, to form a toner image, transferring the toner image to a transfer medium such as paper as occasion calls, and then fixing the toner image to the transfer medium by the action of heat, pressure or heat-and-pressure. Developing systems in electrophotography are grouped into a one-component developing system, which requires no carrier, and a two-component developing system, which makes use of a carrier.
The one-component developing system includes a powder cloud method, in which the toner is used in an atomized state; a contact developing method, in which a toner held on a developer carrying member having a flexibility or elasticity is directly brought into contact with the surface of an electrostatic latent image bearing member to perform development; and a jumping developing method, in which the toner is not brought into direct contact but the toner is caused to fly toward the surface of an electrostatic latent image bearing member by the action of an electric field formed between the electrostatic latent image bearing member and the developer carrying member. A contact one-component developing method or a one-component jumping developing method is commonly used.
Developing apparatus employing the one-component developing system have advantages that they require no carrier and require no mechanism for controlling the concentration of toners and carriers and hence the developing assemblies themselves can be made compact and light-weight.
As toners used in such a developing system, toners with small particle diameter are recently used so that electrophotographic apparatus can be made digital and can be made much higher in image quality. For example, in order to improve resolution and character sharpness to reproduce electrostatic latent images faithfully, toners having a weight-average particle diameter of about 4 to 10 μm are used. It is demanded, for the purpose of more reducing power consumption of apparatus from the viewpoint of ecology, to lower fixing temperature of toners in order to improve fixing performance of the toners, or, for the purpose of making electrophotographic apparatus more compact and light-weight, to improve transfer efficiency of toners in order to reduce waste toner. In order to improve fixing performance of toners, glass transition temperature (Tg) of binder resins used in the toners are made lower, or low-molecular weight components are made larger in proportion in molecular weight distribution of binder resins. Also, in order to improve anti-offset properties of toners, a method is known in which a wax capable of improving plasticity of binder resins is added to toner particles. Still also, in order to improve transfer efficiency of toners, a method is known in which a transfer efficiency improver having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 3 μm and a hydrophobic silica fine powder having a BET specific surface area of 50 to 300 m2/g are added to toner particles, or in which toner particles are spherical-treated by mechanical impact force.
As a first method for controlling charge quantity of toners, it is prevalent to add a charge control agent to toner particles. However, dyes or pigments used as charge control agents have a tendency of adhering to various members when added to toner particles in a large quantity.
As a second method for controlling charge quantity of toners, a method is proposed in which a suitable material is used in triboelectric charge-providing members so as to make toners have proper charge quantity.
In the developing apparatus employing the one-component developing system, the toner comes into contact with a developer carrying member and a developer layer thickness control member when it is passed through the part between the developer carrying member and the developer layer thickness control member so as to be made into a thin layer, and hence these members have a great influence on making the toner have proper charge quantity. In particular, in the case of a developing apparatus employing a magnetic one-component developing system, which makes use of a magnetic toner, the magnetic toner moves on the developer carrying member by the action of a magnetic force of a magnet built in the developer carrying member, and hence the magnetic toner is frequently rubbed against the developer carrying member. Accordingly, the selection of materials for the developer carrying member has a great influence on the charging performance of the magnetic toner.
As developer carrying members used in the one-component developing system, commonly used are, in the contact developing method, one in which an elastic member of urethane rubber, EPDM rubber, silicone rubber or the like is molded on a shaft made of a metal such as stainless steel, and one in which a layer of an elastomer is formed on the surface of a cylindrical member of aluminum or stainless steel. In this case, the elastic member is incorporated therein with components such as a plasticizer, a vulcanizing agent, a release agent and a low-molecular weight component. It is proposed to provide a barrier layer or a protective layer on the layer surface of the elastic member so that these components can be prevented from bleeding out of the elastic member to affect members adversely. It is further proposed to form at the outermost surface a surface layer using a resin using a material having good release properties or using a resin having good charge-providing properties to toners.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open No. H02-105181 and No. H03-036570, proposed is, as a developer carrying member (developing sleeve) used in a non-contact one-component developing method, a developing sleeve comprising a developing-sleeve substrate on the surface of which a resin coat layer is formed in which a conductive material such as carbon black or graphite and a solid lubricant stand dispersed in a binder resin having good charge-providing properties. However, the surface profile of the developing sleeve has a great influence. Hence, if the surface profile of the developing sleeve has changed as a result of repeated use, the coat level of the toner can not easily be made stable, and the developing performance tends to become unstable. A sufficient performance may be achievable in low-volume process cartridges, which are not required to have durability (running performance) so much. However, in the case of high-volume process cartridges, which are required to have a high durability, the surface profile of the developing sleeve may greatly change because of scrape of the resin coat layer to tend to result in a great change in toner's coat level as well. Such a change in coat level of the toner has an influence also on the chargeability of the toner because the frequency of rubbing between the toner and the developing sleeve changes.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H03-200986, a developing sleeve is proposed to the surface of which spherical fine particles have been added to form unevenness on the developing-sleeve surface. Such a method in which spherical particles are added is a good means in order to form a surface profile with uniform unevenness and make stable the coat level of the toner. However, when the developing sleeve is repeatedly used over a long period of time, or in a developing method in which a strong stress is applied to the surface of the developing sleeve, the use of spherical resin particles as the spherical fine particles may cause scrape during repeated use over a long period of time to make the resin coat layer of the developing sleeve have a low surface roughness, so that the coat level of the toner may decrease and also the melt adhesion of toner tends to occur.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H08-240981, a developing sleeve is proposed in which conductive spherical particles having a true density of 3 g/cm3 or less have been added to a resin layer of the developing sleeve to form unevenness on the surface of the developing sleeve. Such a developing sleeve makes stable the coat level of the toner and also the conductive spherical particles themselves haves a good wear resistance. Hence, the stress applied to the toner between the developing sleeve and the developer layer thickness control member is relaxed to bring an improvement in durability of the resin coat layer itself. However, at resin portions present between conductive spherical particles, the scrape may selectively progress because of the repeated use over a long period of time and the rubbing with the toner, so that the resin coat layer may change in surface roughness to therefore tend to cause a change in coat level of the toner.
In the developing apparatus employing the one-component developing system, it is long awaited to provide a developing sleeve whose resin coat layer which forms the surface layer of the developing sleeve has been more improved.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Developer carrying member and developing apparatus


A stylus input device, a stylus input device with display, and a method for entering input into a computer system are provided. The stylus is preferably used as a pointer that points to a particular region on an electronic display, and one or more buttons on the stylus can be used to scroll, modify or select that region. The buttons can be programmed in various ways to perform different functions, or one button can be programmed to perform a sequence of functions. The tip of the stylus need not contact the display surface to either render the stylus position or to select the region of the display shown by the stylus cursor. The input device and system thereby operates in a contactless and wireless environment to leave the display area unencumbered to viewers of the display screen, and to allow more than one stylus to concurrently operate upon the display. The tip of the stylus can also be configured to scan an image of optically contrasting information, such as a barcode, in a contactless and wireless environment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of electronic input devices and, more particularly, to a stylus that operates as a pointer to interact with information presented on an electronic display, and/or to read an image, absent contact with the display or label and having one or more buttons that can be programmed to perform differing input functions.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following descriptions and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion within this section.
Personal computers utilize various mechanisms in which to input information. For example, most personal computers have a port onto which a mouse can be connected. A typical mouse has one or more buttons and a scroll wheel. By moving the mouse, a cursor can be moved across an electronic display using various graphics driver software. Once the cursor is placed at the appropriate position, a button can be clicked to select a portion of the displayed subject matter, such as hypertext or an icon. Typical mice have wires that run from a mouse to port on the personal computer, and such mice are generally referred to as tethered input devices.
With the increased market for portable computers, most tethered input devices have been displaced by a joystick built into the keyboard. The joystick can be arranged somewhere upon, for example, a keyboard of the computer, or personal digital assistant (PDA), henceforth generically referred to as portable devices. Such portable devices, however, still require a keyboard and a physical (i.e., wired) connection between the input device and the portable device's input port. An even more portable device absent a keyboard, or the constraints of a mechanically connected joystick, is a tablet portable device.
Tablet devices, or tablet PCs, generally do not use a QWERTY-type keyboard. Instead, a tablet PC utilizes a stylus electronic input device. The stylus communicates with a digitizing surface (i.e., the surface of the tablet electronic display). Since most conventional styluses are shaped like a pen, the typical application is to enter handwritten material into memory of the tablet. For example, an operator will grasp the stylus housing similar to the manner in which a writing instrument is grasped, and the operator will activate a pressure sensitive tip of the stylus by forcing the tip against the digitizer tablet surface. By moving the stylus similar to the way in which a person might sign his or her name on a sheet of paper, the signature would appear on the tablet and be stored in memory.
Although pen-type styluses can be un-tethered, or wireless, most typical styluses require contact with the writing surface. The purpose of contacting the writing surface is two-fold. First, the surface of the tablet might be pressure sensitive such that when the tip contacts the surface, the position of the pen can be ascertained relative to the X and Y coordinates of the tablet. Second, even if the surface is not pressure sensitive, many conventional surfaces utilize radio frequency (RF) waves that are transmitted in close proximity to the tablet upper surface. The surface waves are detected by an antenna or coil placed in the pen. Before the coil is activated to resonate with the imparted RF wave, contact with the tip upon the surface is necessary to detect a pen-down position, in readiness for the handwriting operation. Examples of pen-type styluses used as a writing instrument requiring contact or contact-activation against a tablet surface are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,577,299; 5,565,632; 5,004,871; 4,814,552; and 4,786,765 herein incorporated by reference.
While pen-type styluses represent one type of application for a tablet portable device, another equally viable application is not for the purpose of storing handwritten information but as a pointer. Instead of contacting the surface of a tablet PC to discern the pen position or to activate the pen, it would be desirable to introduce a completely contactless and wireless pointer-type stylus. The desired stylus need not be limited to the entry of handwritten information, but could operate as a remote pointer to select a portion of graphical information displayed on the tablet without physically contacting the tip of the stylus upon the tablet surface. This would allow a user to possibly stand apart and away from the table PC when giving, for example, a demonstration to an audience viewing the screen without blocking or disrupting their angle of sight. Therefore, the desired application is that of a pointer and not necessarily a pen. By implementing improved detection technology, the desired, contactless pointer-type stylus can be operated with other pointers concurrently and, desirably, to implement other contactless technology such as image scanning and so forth.

Wireless and contactless electronic input stylus having at least one button with optical scan and programmable pointer functionality


In a frame (8) holding a sensor board (7) with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements (6k) arranged and mounted and an imaging element (5) for focusing light reflected from an original onto the sensor board (7), the imaging element (5) includes a plurality of rod lens arrays (5) each having at least one cut end in a lengthwise direction, and cut portions of the rod lens arrays (5) are connected to each other to be tailored to a predetermined reading width, the frame (8) includes a holding section (13) for holding the rod lens arrays (5), and the holding section (13) includes a bottom surface (13B) widened at a part where a cut portion and/or a connection portion of the rod lens arrays (5) is located.

Image sensor units have been used as image reading apparatuses for use in, e.g., a facsimile, a copying machine, and a scanner. Among the image sensor units, a contact image sensor unit (CIS: Contact Image Sensor) is known as an image sensor unit using a rod lens array. The contact image sensor unit structurally requires a rod lens array of a length equal to the reading width of the contact image sensor. In the design of a long (or short), image sensor, use of a rod lens array of a length tailored to the reading width of the image sensor is necessary. This leads to the need for preparation of a specialized part and increased cost.
For example, Patent Document 1 proposes an image sensor unit which realizes formation of a long rod lens array 30 using general-purpose rod lens arrays by connecting (joining) rod lens arrays 30A and 30B of a fixed length to each other, in the design of a long image sensor as illustrated in FIG. 12.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-217630

Image sensor unit and image reading apparatus using the same


A male/female connection system is disclosed. The system is specifically designed as a novel way of attaching straps to cameras. The device includes a male attachment anchor with an overmolded loop, as well as a female housing inclusive of a spring to lock the male and the female together. The anchor connects to a camera at the neck strap loops using a cow hitch knot. The anchor connects to the housing by entering an open end, and being pulled through to an end where it is strapped. A strap connects to the housing by way of a loop being sewn around it.

Camera straps are commonly attached to cameras using a system where webbing is doubled back on itself and run through a friction mechanism. This system is cumbersome and makes it difficult to attach or remove straps from cameras. Some types of photography are best done with a strap. Other types of photography are better accomplished without a strap. One method of providing a removable strap is to attach a short section of webbing using the friction mechanism, and then use a standard side release buckle. With this method, the main strap can be removed, and two sections of short webbing with a male buckle are left on the camera. The problem is that these short sections and male buckle are relatively bulky compared to the camera, cannot be removed easily, and the side release buckle can be accidentally released with too much tension. For these and other reasons, improvements are desirable.

Camera strap attachment mechanism and methods of use


An image forming apparatus has a plurality of paper feed units setting index sheets. A storage section stores size information and index number information indicating the number of index sheets per set of paper sheet set in each paper feed unit, and a control section automatically changes the paper feed unit to be used from a first paper feed unit to a second paper feed unit and does not automatically change the paper feed unit to a third paper feed unit when the index sheets in the first paper feed unit are exhausted, the size information and the index number information of the first paper feed unit coinciding with those of the second paper feed unit and at least one of the size information and the index number information of the first paper feed unit not coinciding with those of the third paper feed unit.

Widely spread image forming apparatuses such as a copying apparatus, printer, and facsimile apparatus have a paper storage portion (paper feed stage or paper feed portion) such as a cassette or tray which stores print sheets. Such image forming apparatus forms an image on a paper sheet supplied from the paper storage portion, and discharges the paper sheet outside the image forming apparatus. In order to form images on various paper sheets, some image forming apparatuses have a plurality of paper storage portions and can store paper sheets of various sizes and various types in the respective paper storage portions. At present, image forming apparatuses which store many paper sheets of a specific size by storing paper sheets of the same size in a plurality of paper feed stages, and form many images by one paper replenishment have become popular.
An image forming apparatus which stores paper sheets of the same size in a plurality of paper feed stages has an auto cassette change (hereinafter referred to as ACC) function of, when all paper sheets in a paper storage portion are consumed but paper sheets of the same paper size are stored in another paper storage portion, keeping feeding paper sheets from the substitute paper storage portion without stopping paper feed operation. Even if paper sheets in a given cassette run out, paper sheets in another cassette can be successively used. This shortens the operation stop time due to the absence of paper sheets, and increases the availability and productivity of the image forming apparatus (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-40881).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-40881 also discloses an image forming apparatus which considers the paper type in addition to the paper size. The image forming apparatus determines whether a paper storage portion storing paper sheets of the same size and same paper type as paper sheets which run out is available and, when no such paper storage portion, the auto cassette change for paper sheets which run out is not performed.
There is also proposed an image forming apparatus which stores paper sheets called index sheets (tabbed sheets) in the paper storage portion of the image forming apparatus, which may form images (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-73110). As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-73110, an index sheet (tabbed sheet) has an index (tab) added to a normal rectangular paper sheet. In general, index positions sequentially shift, the sheets overlap each other, and a plurality of index sheets form one set. The number of index sheets which form one set will be called a division number in this specification. Some image forming apparatuses which feed and deliver index sheets have a function of automatically discharging excessive index sheets out of a bundle of index sheets of one set from the paper storage portion outside the apparatus (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-3063).
A printed index sheet is set on a post-processing device called an inserter or collator in a copying apparatus or printer. The index sheet is inserted at a designated position of a printed or copied document, or manually inserted into a document. While a document is printed or copied on normal paper sheets, an index sheet may be conveyed to a designated insertion position from a paper storage portion which supports the index sheet, subjected to printing, and then merged into the printed or copied document.
When a paper storage portion whose paper size and paper type coincide with those of a paper storage portion which runs out of paper sheets is designated as the change destination of the ACC function, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-40881, an image forming apparatus which feeds index sheets, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-3063, performs auto cassette change even with a different index number (division number) of index sheets. Particularly, an index sheet is larger in width by the index than a normal paper sheet. Index sheets may not be stored in a normal paper feed stage, and can only be stored in a limited paper feed stage.
For example, in an image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2, cassettes 311 and 312 are paper feed stages which can store many paper sheets but cannot store index sheets. Cassettes 313 and 314 are paper feed stages which can store a smaller number of paper sheets, compared to the cassette 311, but can store even index sheets. In this case, a user who uses many index sheets can store index sheets in both the cassettes 313 and 314, perform auto cassette change between index sheets, and use the index sheets. When, for example, the cassette 313 stores index sheets with an index number (division number) of 4 and the cassette 314 stores index sheets with an index number (division number) of 5, these index sheets are of originally different paper types, and auto cassette change between these cassettes is not intended by the user. In this case, it is preferable not to perform auto cassette change.
When index sheets with an index number of 4 are stored in both the cassettes 313 and 314, auto cassette change is preferably performed because of the same index number.

Image forming apparatus and control method therefor


A buckle lock includes a casing, a lever on the casing and including two front bottom legs and a rear button, a tumbler wheel assembly including a spring biased shaft having a rear slope, a sliding block in the chamber and having a transverse passage, a key turning assembly including an inward protrusion and a key shaft, a sliding member on the key shaft and including a wedge, an opposite projecting bar, and a top mark aligned with the window when the key turning assembly is operable, and a tongue. Turning the dials to a correct combination and pressing the button will enable a manipulation of the wedge for sliding the sliding member toward the sliding block until the sliding block is blocked by the engaged projecting bar and the mark is misaligned with the window, thereby visually informing a person that the key turning assembly is disabled.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to buckles and more particularly to a buckle including a tumbler wheel assembly such that the buckle can be open or closed by operating as a combination lock, a key turning assembly such that the buckle can also be open or closed by operating as a padlock, and means for locking and unlocking the key turning assembly and visually informing a person to stop inserting a key into the key turning assembly for opening if the key turning assembly has been locked.
2. Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,912,879 B1 describes a locking apparatus combined with a fastener for controlling locking/unlocking thereof. The locking apparatus is shaped as a buckle and comprises a numeral wheel locking unit (i.e., served as a typical combination lock), a controlling unit (i.e., served as a typical padlock), and male and female fasteners (i.e., served as a typical seat belt buckle). Owner of the locking apparatus may open or close it by operating as a combination lock or padlock. This patent may facilitate a customs officer to open a luggage locked by the locking apparatus by inserting a standard key into a keyhole of the controlling unit. However, its operation is still not convenient and its construction is somewhat complex. Moreover, another person is not aware whether the lock can be opened by a key by simply visually observing the lock. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.


A first communication channel is established between a user device and a server using a cellular network. The user device receives a timeout interval for the first communication channel. The user device transmits a packet to maintain the first communication channel when the user device detects that other data is being transmitted using a second communication channel during the timeout interval.

A large and growing population of users enjoys entertainment through the consumption of media items, including electronic media, such as electronic books (also referred to herein as ebooks), electronic newspapers, electronic magazines, and other electronic reading material. Users employ various electronic devices to consume such publications. Among these electronic devices are electronic book readers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones, portable media players, tablet computers, electronic pads, netbooks, desktop computers, notebook computers, and the like.
These electronic devices often use wireless communication systems (e.g., WiFi communication systems such as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11c, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac etc.) or cellular communication systems (e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+), code division multiple access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) etc.) to download or upload digital media items. An electronic device may maintain a communication channel with a digital content providing system (e.g., one or more server computers which provide digital content to the electronic devices). The digital content providing system may provide digital media items (such as electronic books, digital music, digital videos, news feeds, etc.), software (such as software applications (apps), software updates, etc.), or instructions (e.g., instructions for the electronic device to update a configuration parameter (such as screen brightness, power settings, network settings, etc.) of the electronic device, instructions for the electronic device to notify the user with a message, instructions for the electronic device to perform a particular action, etc.) to the electronic device via the communication channel. The digital content providing system may also use other communication channels or protocols to inform (e.g., notify) an electronic device that digital media items are available for download or that the electronic device should perform one or more actions. For example, the digital content providing system may transmit a short messaging service (SMS) message or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message to the electronic device.

Maintaining communication channel for device notifications


A flat panel x-ray imager exhibiting reduced ghosting effects and overvoltage protection by appropriate leakage current characteristics of the thin-film transistor array. A top electrode of a suitable material is directly on and in physical and electrical contact with an amorphous selenium-based charge generator layer, thereby reducing ghosting. The thin-film transistors have leakage current that rises relatively slowly with voltage across the transistor within a range that matches exposure through an object being imaged but rises at a sufficiently higher rate within a higher range to provide protection even when a corresponding region of the charge generator layer receives greater amounts of x-rays.

Flat panel x-ray imaging devices that use charge generator materials such as doped amorphous selenium charge generator layers and directly convert x-rays to electrical charges and thus generate electrical signal related to local x-ray exposure, have been developed in recent years. See, for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,206, and Yorker J., Jeromin L., Lee D., Palecki E., Golden K., and Jing Z., "Charactrerization of a full field mammography detector based on direct x-ray conversion in selenium," Proc. SPIE 4682, 21–29 (2002). Commercial versions for general radiography and for mammography have been available for more than a year in this country from Hologic, Inc. of Bedford, Mass. ("Hologic") and Direct Radiography Corporation of Newark, Del. ("DRC"). The DRC imager is used in mammography systems that have been available for more than a year in this country from Lorad Corporation of Danbury, Conn. ("Lorad"). In such direct conversion panels, the charge generator material directly converts x-ray photons into electron-hole pairs and, under an applied electrical field, the holes and electrons barrier to respective electrodes with very little lateral loss to neighboring pixels. Direct conversion is believed to offer better spatial resolution and other advantages over indirect conversion panels, in which x-ray photons cause scintillation in a material such as cesium iodide and the resulting light energy in detected.
The structure of a direct conversion flat panel imager of the type referred to above is illustrated in principle but not to scale in FIG. 5. It comprises a top electrode 500, a charge barrier layer 502 (typically made of Parylene) separating the top electrode from an amorphous selenium-based charge generator layer 504, an electron blocking layer 506 patterned into a two-dimensional pixel array, a charge collection electrode 508 that also is patterned into a pixel array, a TFT array comprising respective transistors 510 coupled to the charge collection electrode and to respective signal storage capacitors 512, a substrate 514 typically made of glass, a gate pulse line 516 that enables (turns ON) the transistors to deliver to charge amplifiers 518 the charges collected at the respective storage capacitors, an a programmable high voltage power supply 520. The illustrated equivalent capacitor circuit for a pixel comprises a capacitor 522 representing capacitance across the charge barrier layer, a capacitor 524 representing capacitance across the charge generator layer, and a capacitor 526 representing capacitance of the charge storage capacitor for the pixel. One of the functions of the charge barrier layer is protection of the thin-film transistors, which can suffer breakdown damage if the charge stored in the charge storage capacitors becomes too high, e.g. when a capacitor stores charges generated at a region of the charge generating layer that receives x-rays that have not been attenuated by the object being imaged. For example, in mammography the corners of the flat panel imager typically are outside the breast outline and receive much more radiation than the part of the imager under the breast. The charge barrier layer protects such transistors by collecting charges that gradually reduce the electrical field in the appropriate portions of the charge generator layer, and thus reduce the amount of charge that would otherwise collect at the pertinent charge collection capacitors.
The charge barrier layer thus contributes to meeting one of the challenges in flat panel detectors, namely, breakdown protection of the thin-film transistors. Another challenge is ghosting (remnants of one or more previous images) due to the time it takes to dissipate charges collected in the imager from previous x-ray exposures. Various techniques have been developed and used commercially to remove or at least reduce ghosting to an acceptable level. They include charge erasing by exposure to visible light between x-ray exposures and various ways to manipulate the bias potential of electrodes between x-ray exposures. The time needed to attend to ghosting makes it difficult to take images in rapid succession, such as for fluoroscopy or tomosynthesis
It has been reported that it would be impractical to use a direct conversion panel without a charge barrier layer. Thus, a 1998 paper by well-known researchers in direct conversion panels states that direct metallization of a selenium based detector in theory would allow for rapid imaging but concluding based on experimental data that this gives non-reproducible and unstable results. Polischuk B, Shukri Z., Legros A. and Rougheout H., "Selenium direct converter structure for static and dynamic x-ray detection in medical imaging applications," SPIE Conference on Physics of Medical Imaging, San Diego, Calif., February 1998, SPIE Vol. 3336, pp. 494–504, states that "In order to develop a selenium based x-ray detector which could operate in real time, i.e. 30 frames per second, a direct metallized selenium structure would be required. It is well established in solid-state theory that metallic electrodes deposited directly onto the free surface of semiconductor layers can behave as Schottky contacts." The paper states then states that "most metals with lower work functions [than selenium] should have built-in potential barriers which could minimize the injection of excess charge from the metal electrode," but reports that tests showed that "sample-to-sample variability and contact instability were common observations on these samples," and that: "It was therefore concluded that any x-ray detector which relied only on the Schottky contact to limit dark currents would provide non-reproducible and unstable results." The paper proposes the solution of including a blocking layer between the top electrode and the selenium, and states that "The role of the top blocking layer is to limit the injection of positive charge from the metallic electrode, but allow any x-ray-generated electron to move unimpeded from the selenium layer to the metallic contact." The authors of the article are from Noranda Advanced Materials of Quebec, Canada, an entity that is believed to have been a major developer at the time of flat panel selenium-based x-ray imagers, in addition to DRC.
A number of earlier proposals have dealt with the issue of high voltage protection in flat panel detectors. U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,229, granted to the three authors of the 1998 paper and two other inventors, refers to several such proposals. One is cited at column 1, lines 24–39 and is reported to involve a special dual-gate TFT (thin-film transistor) structure that forms a back channel in the TFT structure if the pixel voltage exceeds a certain potential. See, Zhao W., Law J., Waechner D., Huang Z., and Rowlands J., "Digital radiology using active matrix readout of amorphous selenium detectors with high voltage protection," 1998 Med Phys 25 (4), pp. 539–549. Another is discussed at column 1, lines 46–57 U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,673) and is said to involve the use of a second two-terminal protection device resident at each pixel location. The patent also refers, in the section entitled "Description of Prior Art," to a number of other items of prior art: (1) PCT International Application WO 96/22616 published Jul. 25, 1996; (2) Lee D., Cheung L. K., and Jeromin L., "A new digital detector for projection radiography," 1995, SPIE Vol. 2432, pp. 237–249; (3) U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,598,004 and 5,396,072 (stating that "no mention is made [in those patents] of the high voltage protection of the TFT array"); (4) U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,043 (stating that the patent "does not mention whether high voltage protection of the circuit from the selenium bias is achieved"); (5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,101 (stating that "there is no mention of any high voltage protection of any element on the substrate"); and (6) Canadian patent application 2,184,667 published Mar. 4, 1998 and corresponding EP 0 826 983 published the same day (stating that "no indication of how this structure could be used for high voltage protection is given").
U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,229 proposes to achieve high voltage protection "by setting the high voltage biasing electrode to a negative potential and the TFT "off" gate voltage to a predetermined negative value such that the TFT is essentially non-conductive." The patent recognizes that "there will always be some TFT leakage" but states that "the negative "off" voltage may be adjusted so as to minimize the same and render the TFT essentially non-conductive." See column 2, lines 49–61.
Earlier papers and patents are believed to be consistent with the patents and papers cited above. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,132,541, 5,184,018, 5,396,072, and 5,942,756, and Zhao W. and Rowlands J. A., "A large area solid-state detector for radiology using amorphous selenium," SPIE Medical Imaging, Vol. 1. 1651, pp. 134–143, 1992.
Each of the patents and papers cited above is hereby incorporated by reference in this patent specification as though fully set forth herein.

Amorphous selenium flat panel x-ray imager for tomosynthesis and static imaging


A surveillance camera assembly has an apparatus (9-15) for providing a rotatable field of view in a plane with a tilted mirror (15) rotatable about an axis normal to the plane, and a window (5) subtending at least a 90.degree. field of view and as much as a substantially continuous 360.degree. field of view in the plane. The window has a plurality of flat, parallel-surfaced panes (6) forming a polygon in the plane, each of the panes (6) having the same trapezoidal shape.

It is known to make clear and colored lens covers for warning lights in the form of cylinders, hemispheres and cones. In these contexts the precise behavior of an optical ray passing through the window is seldom significant, slight distortions are easily tolerated and indeed, some diffusion may be required or deliberately introduced.
For a device such as a long range camera, however, curvature in the window introduces progressively varying refractional effects across the field of view. This impairs the geometry of the incident beam at the camera by disturbing the notional parallelism and distribution of the incoming beam, and the resulting degradation of the image can become intolerable.


A control circuit that drives an electronic actuator. The control circuit includes a direct voltage source, a chopper circuit arranged between the source and an electric actuator, and an electronic control circuit designed to apply to the chopper circuit a command signal of the PWM type, with a predefined ON/OFF switching period and a predetermined duty cycle, for a predefined activation time, to produce a flow, within the electric actuator, of a correspondingly switched current having a nominal duration corresponding to the activation time. The control circuit detects the last whole or complete switching period included within the activation time, splits, in accordance with a predefined duty cycle, the final interval including the last complete switching period and any subsequent fraction of a switching period included within the activation time, and drives the chopper circuit in this final interval.

The present invention relates to a circuit for driving an electric actuator, in particular an electric fuel injector for an internal-combustion engine.
Such a control circuit is schematically shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
In this figure, 1 denotes a direct voltage source, for example a battery in a motor vehicle. In the embodiment shown the voltage source 1 has its negative pole connected to earth GND and its positive pole connected to a chopper circuit denoted overall by 2. An electric actuator 3, such as an electric fuel injector of an internal-combustion engine, is connected to the chopper circuit 2.
4 denotes an electronic control unit designed to apply to the chopper circuit 2, for an activation time ti which is in each case predetermined and included between an initial instant ts and a final instant te, a command signal CS essentially of the PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation) type, with a predefined ON/OFF switching period p and a variable duty cycle. Correspondingly, the chopper circuit 2 causes the flow, within the electric actuator 3, of a correspondingly switched current I having a nominal duration corresponding to the abovementioned activation time ti.
In control circuits for driving electric injectors, the current switching frequency is not particularly high so that the current has a ripple of notable amplitude.
If the duration of each fuel injection operation is controlled in an open loop, the time required for the injector to close completely depends on the instantaneous value reached by the current at the end of the electric injector activation time. In FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, the upper graph shows the qualitative progression of the current I in an electric injector driven with a circuit according to the prior art and the lower graph shows the progression of the command signal CS correspondingly applied to the chopper circuit associated with the electric injector. As can be seen, in the example of progression illustrated the current I has a rise phase of duration tr followed by a first switching phase of the peak value, of duration tp, in turn followed by a subsequent switching phase in the region of a maintenance value, of duration th. The signal CS is high (ON) during the phase tr and then has a progression of the ON/OFF type during the phases tp and th, with a constant switching period p and with a high duty cycle during the phase tp and low duty cycle during the phase th.
The command signal CS, started at the initial instant ts, terminates at the final instant te. At the instant te in general the intensity of the current I may be between a minimum value IHMIN and a maximum value IHMAX. Correspondingly, complete closing again of the electric injector occurs at a instant variable within a time interval E which represents the error in determination of the actual injection time.

Control circuit for driving an electric actuator, in particular an electric fuel injector for an internal-combustion engine


A building management system includes building equipment configured to operate in accordance with an input to alter a variable state or condition of a building, a feedback controller configured to generate the input as a function of a measured state of the building equipment, and an analytics circuit. The analytics circuit is configured to obtain and store a dataset comprising the measured state and the input for a plurality of time steps, determine, based on at least a portion of the dataset, a self-optimizing control function that defines a self-optimizing control variable as a function of the measured state, calculate a value of the self-optimizing control variable using the self-optimizing control function and the measured state, monitor the value of the self-optimizing control variable over time, and generate an indication of performance of the building equipment relative to optimal performance based on the value of the self-optimizing control variable.

Systems in buildings are primarily controlled to maintain comfort conditions for occupants. The complexity and redundancy present in most building systems make it possible to satisfy comfort conditions in a myriad of different ways. One example of this is when cold air is circulated through a room to meet a temperature setpoint. In this case, the setpoint could be maintained through different combinations of supply air temperature and volume, e.g., room temperatures could be lowered by either increasing air flow or reducing the temperature of the supply air. The cost of air flow is governed by the fan and the cost of lowering the air temperature is dominated in most cooling applications by compressor energy. A trade-off therefore exists that can be exploited in order to minimize total costs whilst still satisfying comfort.
The trade-offs inherent in building systems can be managed by applying optimization methods that make adjustments to system operation. For the air flow example, the temperature of the air delivered to the room is usually controlled to a fixed setpoint. Conventional feedback control structures are usually designed for regulation to constant setpoints, which satisfies control objectives but leads to optimization cost function measures varying with system operating points and disturbances. An optimization method could be used to adjust this setpoint to minimize the total cost of the fans and chiller plant. This situation is common in complex systems where a network of controllers operate to maintain setpoints and an optimization method is used to adjust the setpoints based on a desired cost function. Standard terminology for the optimization functionality is "real-time optimization layer" (RTO layer). An RTO layer may increase the computational requirements of building systems and increase system complexity.
An alternative approach known as self-optimizing control (SOC) was developed by recognizing that the RTO layer is only needed because the control layer that includes the feedback controllers essentially controls the wrong variables from a holistic control and optimization perspective. The purpose of SOC is to design the control structure so that regulation at constant setpoints maintains not only control objectives but also optimization targets.

Building management system with self-optimizing control, performance monitoring, and fault detection


A microelectronic device contains a high voltage component having a high voltage node and a low voltage node. The high voltage node is isolated from the low voltage node by a main dielectric between the high voltage node and low voltage elements at a surface of the substrate of the microelectronic device. A lower-bandgap dielectric layer is disposed between the high voltage node and the main dielectric. The lower-bandgap dielectric layer contains at least one sub-layer with a bandgap energy less than a bandgap energy of the main dielectric. The lower-bandgap dielectric layer extends beyond the high voltage node continuously around the high voltage node. The lower-bandgap dielectric layer has an isolation break surrounding the high voltage node at a distance of at least twice the thickness of the lower-bandgap dielectric layer from the high voltage node.

A microelectronic device with a high voltage component having a high voltage node, operable at a potential greater than 100 volts, may have a thin lower-bandgap dielectric layer between the high voltage node and a main dielectric which is several microns thick separating the high voltage node from low voltage components. The lower-bandgap dielectric layer, with a thickness commonly less than 10 percent of the thickness of the main dielectric, has a bandgap energy less than the main dielectric, and provides reliability for the main dielectric by reducing peak electric fields at corners of the high voltage node. However, the lower-bandgap dielectric layer supports other reliability degradation mechanisms which undesirably limit overall reliability of the microelectronic device.

High breakdown voltage microelectronic device isolation structure with improved reliability


Disclosed herein are systems and methods that recognize and recapture potentially unused processing time in typical page program and block erase operations in non-volatile memory (NVM) devices. In one embodiment, a characterization module within a controller executes a characterization procedure by performing page program and block erase operations on one or more NVM devices in an array and storing execution time data of the operations in a calibration table. The procedure may be executed at start-up and/or periodically so that the time values are reflective of the actual physical condition of the individual NVM devices. A task manager uses the stored time values to estimate the time needed for completing certain memory operations in its task table. Based on the estimated time for completion, the task manager assigns tasks to be executed during page program and/or block erase cycles, so that otherwise unused processing time can be utilized.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to non-volatile memory, and more specifically, to systems and methods for improving the performance of non-volatile memory operations performed in a storage subsystem.
2. Description of the Related Art
Non-volatile memory (NVM) manufacturers typically build in timing cycles to accommodate the time that is needed to complete page program and block erase operations. For flash memory, a typical page program cycle may last about 200-250 μs, with a maximum of 500-750 μs, and a typical block erase cycle may last about 1.5 ms, with a maximum of 2 ms. However, timing is not uniform across the physical NVM devices and the actual time it takes to complete a page program or block erase operation can vary. Therefore, in many systems, a controller that executes such an operation is required to constantly poll the status register in a programming loop until the operation is completed. The time spent in this waiting state is often wasted and system performance suffers as a result.

Systems and methods for improving the performance of non-volatile memory operations