A polymeric controlled delivery system is provided for use in treating periodontal disease. The delivery system in a variety of forms is placed directly in the infected gingival tissue where the chemotherapeutic agent is slowly released into the tissue and into the infected periodontal pocket by means of the gingival crevicular fluid originating in the gingival tissue.

Periodontal disease or gum disease as it is often called can be defined as an infection and inflammation of the gingiva or gums and loss of underlying alveolar bone support. There are varying levels of severity of the disease. The mildest cases are clinically termed gingivitis (inflamed and bleeding gums). More severe cases are clinically known as periodontitis and can involve loss of bone support. Gingivitis is reversible and can often be eliminated with a thorough dental prophylaxis followed by improved personal oral hygiene procedures. If gingivitis is not controlled, the disease often progresses into periodontitis.
Periodontitis is not only characterized by bacterial infection and inflammation, it is also accompanied by the formation of periodontal pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) and bone deterioration which can lead to tooth loss. Periodontitis is recurring, progressive, and episodic. There is no cure at this time. Effective treatment is to apply professional intervention to halt disease progression.
Professional intervention may involve surgical or nonsurgical procedures. Nonsurgical treatment consists of periodic professional scaling, root planing, and soft tissue curettage, in combination with conscientious home care by brushing and flossing on the part of the patient. Surgical treatment involves gingivectomy and flap surgery to recontour the soft and hard tissue around the diseased areas.
In recent years, it has become increasingly recognized that control of periodontitis may be possible with the use of antimicrobial agents delivered to the infected site. Systemic antibiotics taken orally or intramuscularly have been successfully used, but due to the concern about allergic responses, the development of resistance, and the treatment of the whole person rather than the specific infection site, their use is recommended only in the severest of periodontal cases.
Treatment by mouth rinse and other topically applied oral medicinal agents does not allow the antibacterial agents to penetrate into the periodontal pocket where they are needed. Irrigation of the pockets with these agents has shown some effects on gingivitis, but the short time of exposure with irrigation solutions and the rapid removal of any therapeutic agent by the outward flow of the crevicular fluid make this type of treatment ineffective with severe cases of periodontitis.
The most recent proposed methods of treating periodontitis with the local delivery of chemotherapeutic agents have involved the placement of these agents directly into the periodontal pocket. These include the cellulose hollow fibers loaded with tetracycline described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,326 to Goodson, the ethylcellulose films loaded with metronidazole described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,535 to Loesche, the absorbable putty-like material described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,536 to Kronenthal, the ethylene vinyl acetate fibers loaded with tetracycline described in the European patent application No. 84401985.1 to Goodson, and the biodegradable microspheres and matrix described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,883 to Jernberg. All of these delivery systems involve placing the product directly into the periodontal pocket.
Although the space between the gingival tissue and the tooth in periodontal disease is called a pocket, it is really only a potential space in which bacteria can grow. The insertion of a delivery system within this potential space is more difficult than the simple placement of a material within a well-defined pocket. Moreover, the shape of the pocket or potential space is not regular, but often contoured based upon the shape of the tooth and the extent of the disease. Thus, placement of a film or fiber within the pocket requires careful fitting to fill the pocket but not extend beyond the gingival margin. Any material extending outside the pocket will be removed by normal oral hygiene procedures unless the material is either adhered to the tissue or tooth or covered by a periodontal dressing.
In addition to the retention problems associated with normal dental care, the outward flow of crevicular fluid and the mechanical action of the teeth and the gums during eating cause most materials placed within the periodontal pocket to be expelled in a relatively short time. It is well known that carbon particles placed within a periodontal pocket are all displaced within a few hours. Because of these retention problems, most periodontal delivery systems for chemotherapeutic agents are either adhesively bound to the tooth or the tissue within the pocket. However, adhesion to a wet surface such as that within the pocket is extremely difficult and normally the adhesion deteriorates rapidly. Thus, retention within the pocket is short-lived.
The other solution to retention of a delivery system within the pocket is to use a periodontal dressing to cover the pocket. Periodontal dressings are also adhesives and their adhesion to wet surfaces such as a tooth or gum tissue is difficult; and most periodontal dressings do not adhere long within the mouth. In addition, they are uncomfortable to the wearer and they tend to collect food particles and bacteria.
Because of these problems with proper placement of a local delivery system within the periodontal pocket and the retention of the system for sufficient time to kill all of the periodontal pathogens, there is a need for a better delivery system to deliver chemotherapeutic agents to the site of infection. Moreover, recent research indicates that the bacteria often responsible for periodontal disease exist not only in the periodontal pocket but also within the gingival tissue. This is especially true for localized juvenile periodontitis. The only way to treat this form of periodontal disease has been to administer systemic antibiotics which can attack the bacterial infection within the gingival tissue itself. Several researchers have recently shown that the bacteria responsible for periodontal disease have also been found in the tissue of patients with normal adult periodontitis.
Thus, delivery systems containing chemotherapeutic agents when placed within the periodontal pocket will kill the bacteria there, but these agents will not penetrate the gingival tissue to destroy the bacteria located intragingivally. These bacteria subsequently repopulate the periodontal pocket after the chemotherapeutic agent has been totally released or exhausted. There is therefore a need for a local delivery system that will destroy not only the periodontal pathogens within the periodontal pocket but also within the gingival tissues.

Intragingival delivery systems for treatment of periodontal disease


A method and system for controlling a vehicle suspension system switchable between two modes of operation, including a first mode for when the vehicle is experiencing an on-road driving condition and a second mode for when the vehicle is experiencing an off-road driving condition, includes a vehicle speed sensor for sensing a speed of the vehicle and generating a vehicle speed signal, which may be an inherent part of the vehicle required for other vehicle functions, such as ABS, speed, or other control. The system also includes a controller for detecting an off-road driving condition and comparing the vehicle speed signal to a predetermined speed threshold. The controller then controls the suspension system to switch to the second mode of operation upon detecting the off-road driving condition and the vehicle speed signal being less than the predetermined speed threshold.

Conventional front suspension systems, such as found in light and medium duty pickup trucks, are typically comprised of steel coil springs, shock absorbers, steel roll stabilizer bar, and a 5-bar linkage, or similar arrangement. The rear suspension is typically comprised of steel multi-leaf springs and shock absorbers, or similar arrangement.
While such suspension configurations have very acceptable on-road performance for conventional light and medium pickup trucks, their off-road mobility is hampered by the relative lack of axle roll or tramp articulation when traversing uneven terrain. The front stabilizer bar stiffness and the rear leaf spring stiffness prevent the axles from achieving full tramp movement from the jounce travel limit to the rebound travel limit alternatively side to side, resulting in loss of ground contact when one wheel is traversing a large obstacle, such as a rock or boulder.
For maximum mobility and control over sand, snow, low friction surfaces, and rugged off-road terrain, it is desirable to maintain ground contact with all four tires at all times. Increasing the front and rear axle tramp compliance increases the ability of the tires to maintain ground contact under off-road conditions. However, increasing axle compliance by reducing the axle tramp stiffness to achieve more favorable off-road axle articulation and mobility is limited by deteriorated ride and handling characteristics when the vehicle is driven at higher speeds on normal road surfaces. Off-road mobility is further inhibited by the reduction in ground clearance which occurs when the vehicle is loaded.
Thus, a dual mode suspension system that provides the ability to alter suspension characteristics to optimize off-road mobility while maintaining the desired suspension characteristics for on-road driving conditions is advantageous. A dual mode suspension system consists of two operating modes, in the present embodiment, an on-road driving mode and an off-road driving mode. The on-road driving mode is configured to provide the desired roll stiffness, ride stiffness, and front to rear roll couple distribution for on-road driving. For the off-road driving mode, the system is reconfigured to provide the desired lower front and rear roll (or tramp) stiffness and increased tramp compliance, resulting in greater axle articulation for off-road driving. A dual mode suspension may also be utilized for other vehicle applications where two different suspension characteristics are desired, such as one mode for normal driving with ride quality optimized, and the other mode for more responsive handling, with firmer suspension settings.
However, there is a need for a mechanism for switching to the appropriate suspension mode in a dual mode suspension system. One possibility is to provide a manually activated switch accessible by a driver of the vehicle. However, this mechanism requires action and knowledge by the driver as to which mode to engage and when to do so, which could result in inappropriate vehicle ride and handling characteristics.
Another method for switching to the off-road driving mode may involve automatically doing so when the vehicle is placed into a four-wheel drive mode. However, this method requires the driver to affirmatively shift into four-wheel drive mode when driving off-road to activate the off-road driving mode and the off-road driving mode would never be activated when driving in an off-road condition while in two-wheel drive.
Thus, there exists a need for automatically shifting between an on-road driving mode and an off-road driving mode under appropriate circumstances without any undesirable consequences.

Method and system for controlling a dual mode vehicle suspension system


An apparatus for providing obstacle information in an autonomous mobile vehicle and a method thereof, in which a target object is determined to be what obstacle by combining pieces of information received from a laser distance sensor and radars, thereby enabling the autonomous driving of a vehicle. The apparatus and method for providing obstacle information in an autonomous mobile vehicle, which is capable of providing robust obstacle information not only in environments normal times, but also dust environments by combining a laser distance sensor and radars. A problem that an obstacle through which a mobile unit can pass, such as dust, is mistaken for an obstacle through which the mobile unit cannot pass can be solved.

In order for an autonomous mobile vehicle to smoothly drive, clear obstacle information in various operating environments must be provided.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram showing an environment in which dust is generated when an autonomous mobile vehicle is operated. In case of most of conventional intelligent mobile units, researches have been carried out on a method of detecting obstacles using only a laser distance sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. The method of detecting obstacles using only the laser distance sensor has excellent performance in the accuracy of an angle and distance, but is problematic in that it mistakes an obstacle such as dust 120, such as that shown in FIG. 1, through which a mobile unit can pass for an obstacle through which the autonomous mobile vehicle 110 cannot pass.

Apparatus and method for providing obstacle information in autonomous mobile vehicle


The present invention provides a planting box device composed of at least a modular frame, which further comprises a frame set, a connecting rod group, wherein the frame set includes a first frame and a second frame; the first frame has a bearing plate, four corners of which are positioned by first openings and first posts and which also forms a plurality of positioning openings; the second frame having a sink forms second openings and second posts on its four corners, wherein the second posts are accommodated with the first openings in size and the sink has an inlet and an outlet; the connecting rod group comprises a plurality of connecting rods, each of which has rod openings and rod posts, so that the composition of the planting box device described above has function of structural expansion in horizontal and vertical direction and thus provides convenience in assembly and disassembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a planting box device, and more particularly to a multi-functional modular planting box device providing convenience in assembly and disassembly, and having function of drainage, ventilation and insect resistance.
2. The Related Art
With advances in science and technology, the felling of a large number of trees causes the thermal effect that makes the climate warming faster and thus worsens the living environment on the earth. If the ecological environmental protection idea fails to be fulfilled in human life, the ecological environment catastrophe would be inevitable; on the other hand, modern people with environmental awareness who may hope to plant trees, flowers or health vegetables & fruit in their leisure time in the hectic life, as a result, do not only strengthen the ecological system and green the environment, but also keep away from pesticide pollution to enjoy the self-sufficient life. There are many horticultural plant equipments on the market, such as cultivating slot, flower bed, shed frame, etc., however, there are still many problems that make them hard to meet the needs of the public. The reasons are as follows.
First, most of the cultivating slot, flower bed, shed frame, etc on the market are in direct contact with the ground thus for ants easy to climb from the ground and damage the cultivating plants; furthermore, it is inconvenient for users to squat down when planting because of the relatively low altitude of these equipments; second, the commonly used function of the cultivating slot, flower bed, shed frame, etc on the market are so monotonous that they can only be used for flower or vegetable planting, however, if a user changes mind to grow vines, it would be needed to purchase another dedicated shed frames, instead of directly changing the modeling by using a well-designed modular ventilative planting box; third, most of the cultivating slot, flower bed, shed frame, etc on the market have such a complex structure that both the assembly and disassembly usually takes a lot of time, and there is also a problem especially for users who are not able to assemble by themselves. Moreover, because of non-modular structure, those devices can not adjust their heights flexibly and expand their sizes to meet with the needs of users or the field size, and in result, they cause a lot of inconvenience to users. In addition, most of them are individual, hard to be used in large plant workshop, green wall/roof or agricultural planting/cultivating, so additional purchase is always needed.


An improved craft stand for securing craft frames and craft materials thereto comprising a base and having an upright telescoping standard secured thereto. The telescoping standard including a lower hollow member and an upper telescoping member. The standard further includes a tensioning assembly for securing the upper telescoping member in a desired extended position with respect to the lower hollow member. A universal joint assembly is mounted on an upper end of the standard. A cross arm is connected at its middle to the universal joint assembly and includes opposite ends. A pair of clamp assemblies are attached to the cross arm at its opposite ends. The clamp assemblies are adapted for securing a craft type frame or other items to be worked on by a craft practitioner. Adapter blocks are provided which are securable to the clamp assemblies such that a portion of the adapter block extends above the clamp assemblies. An inner surface of an inner hoop of a hoop type craft frame is securable to the adapter blocks such that an outer hoop is freely and removably securable to the inner hoop without having to release the inner hoop from the clamp assemblies.

The present invention generally relates to improvements to a craft stand.
A variety of stands have previously been developed for supporting workpieces or craft frames such as stretcher frames, embroidery hoops and the like in predetermined positions. These stands generally allow a user to support the workpiece or craft frame on the stand so that the user has both hands available to perform the desired craft. When working on various workpieces, it is helpful to be able to position the workpiece in a wide range of orientations. Many previous stands were limited in the ability to position the workpiece in a wide range of orientations. The ability to support a wide range of workpieces and craft frames on the craft stand also affords practical advantages, however many previous stands were limited in the types of workpieces that could be used with the stand.
The means used for supporting various workpieces and craft frames on the craft stand needs to be versatile enough to support, hold or secure various types of workpieces and frames. The means for supporting these workpieces and frames should also allow the workpiece or frame to be supported in a wide range of orientations. Also the means for supporting the workpieces and frames must function to securely hold the workpiece or frame without damaging the materials of the workpiece and of the craft.


An apparatus and method thereof detect a location of a pickup in an optical disc. A pickup reads and writes a signal from or to the optical disc. A spindle motor rotates the optical disc. A controller measures a rotational speed of the spindle motor to detect a current location of the pickup in the optical disc, wherein the pickup is determined to be located in an area of more than 90 minutes of the optical disc based on ATIP information recorded on the optical disc.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reproducing an optical recording medium, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for detecting a position of a pickup using information regarding a rotational speed of a disc at a wobble speed factor, which is a different type of recording speed factor when recording a signal on the disc that can store up to 90 minutes of data and holds repeating location information.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, as shown in FIG. 1, a 90-minute optical disc includes three signal areas: a lead-in area, a program area, and a lead-out area. The lead-in area includes information recorded on the optical disc, such as information regarding a position, a type, and reproduction time thereof. The lead-in area is called a table of contents (TOC) area, and a TOC signal is repeatedly recorded in the lead-in area. A reproduction signal is recorded in the program area, and the lead-out area is a signal area that indicates a termination of a program. Referring to FIG. 1, except for a 99-minute disc, a 90–99 minute area is present only in the lead-in area. Thus, when a pickup is to be positioned in an area of 95 or more minutes, the area is regarded as being the lead-in area and access to the lead-in area begins.
However, in the case of an up-to-90 minute optical disc, the 90–99 minute area is present in both the lead-in area and the program area, as shown in FIG. 2. That is, in the optical disc having capacity of 90 minutes or more, location information, which is recorded in an absolute time-code in pre-groove (ATIP), is repeatedly recorded in the lead-in area and the program area. Therefore, there can be a case where a current location of the pickup cannot be precisely detected using only the location information decoded in the ATIP. When a signal is recorded on the optical disc, it is possible to easily reproduce the signal based on the location information recorded in a Sub-Q code. However, in the case of a recording device, the location information recorded in the ATIP is used to record the signal on the optical disc on which data or the signal is not recorded. Therefore, if the location information is read from outermost and innermost sections where the ATIP location information is repeatedly recorded, the same values are obtained, thereby making it difficult to detect a precise location of the pickup without additional information.

Apparatus and method for detecting a position of a pickup


An aspect of the present invention is an MRAM device. The MRAM device includes a plurality of magnetic memory elements, a sense line coupled to the plurality of magnetic memory elements for sensing a magnetic orientation of each of the plurality of magnetic memory elements wherein the sense line includes a first via and a second via and wherein the sense line is utilized to thermally assist in switching a magnetic orientation of at least one of the plurality of magnetic memory elements.

Consider the example of an MRAM device including a resistive cross point array of spin dependent tunneling (SDT) junctions, word lines extending along rows of the SDT junctions, and bit lines extending along columns of the SDT junctions. Each SDT junction is located at a cross point of a word line and a bit line. The magnetization of each SDT junction assumes one of two stable orientations at any given time. These two stable orientations, parallel and anti-parallel, represent logic values of '0' and '1'. The magnetization orientation, in turn, affects the resistance of the SDT junction. Resistance of the SDT junction is a first value (R) if the magnetization orientation is parallel and a second value (R+ΔR) if the magnetization orientation is anti-parallel.
The magnetization orientation of the SDT junction and, therefore, its logic value may be read by sensing its resistance state. This is conventionally accomplished by sensing the resistance of the bit through the word and bit lines, which, in a resistive cross point array, act as write conductors during write operations, and sense lines during read operations. An alternate configuration utilizes a dedicated sense line in addition to the word and bit lines. FIG. 1 shows an MRAM structure 100 in conjunction with the alternate configuration. The configuration 100 includes write conductors 110, SDT junctions 120, a sense line 130 with a single sense via 140 and a voltage source 150.
A write operation on a selected SDT junction is performed by supplying write currents to the word and bit lines crossing the selected SDT junction. The currents create two external magnetic fields that, when combined, switch the magnetization orientation of the selected SDT junction from parallel to anti-parallel or vice versa. However, too small a write current might not cause the selected SDT junction to change its magnetization orientation thereby resulting in the occurrence of half-select errors.
Conventional MRAM designs sometimes need two current driven magnetic fields to effectively switch the magnetization orientation and avoid half-select errors. However, the magnitude of the current(s) needed to switch the magnetization orientation of the SDT junction during a write operation should be as small as possible in order maintain the cost advantage of the implementation of the MRAM device.
Accordingly, what is needed is an MRAM device and a method of switching a magnetic orientation of memory elements therein that reduces the current required to switch the magnetic orientation of the magnetic tunnel junction. The device and method should be simple, inexpensive and capable of being easily adapted to existing technology. The present invention addresses this need.

Using sense lines to thermally control the state of an MRAM


An etching method is provided. The etching method is performed on a substrate having a first film to a third film. The third film is provided on an underlying region, the second film is provided on the third film, the first film is provided on the second film. The second film contains silicon and nitrogen. The first film to the third film are etched in sequence. Plasma of a processing gas containing fluorine and hydrogen is used in the etching of the first film to the third film. A temperature of the substrate is set to be equal to or less than 20° C. at least in the etching of the second film.

In the manufacture of an electronic device, plasma etching is performed to form an opening in a film of a substrate. In the plasma etching, as a pattern of a mask is transferred to the film, the opening is formed in the film. For example, the film as an etching target is an insulating film, and a conductor for a contact is filled in the opening formed in the film. This plasma etching is described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.
In the plasma etching disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a deposit is formed on a surface of the film to narrow a width of the opening formed in the film. To be specific, a processing gas such as C4F8 including a molecule having many carbon atoms is used, and the film is etched while a deposit containing carbon is formed on the film and the mask. By etching the film while forming the deposit on the film and the mask, the width of the opening formed in the film is narrowed with a rise of a distance from a top surface of the film, that is, the opening formed in the film has a taper shape.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H08-199377    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2010-245454
As stated above, in the plasma etching in which the film is etched while the deposit containing the carbon is formed, the opening of the mask and/or the opening formed in the film may be clogged with the deposit, so that the etching may not proceed. In view of this, in the formation of the opening having the taper shape at least partially, it is required not to hamper the progress of the etching.


A split floating gate EEPROM memory cell formed in a P-type silicon substrate includes source and drain buried n+ diffusion regions formed in the silicon substrate to define a substrate channel region therebetween. A layer of floating gate oxide about 400.ANG. thick is formed over the source and drain regions and over the channel region. The floating gate oxide includes a region of thin tunnel oxide about 80-100.ANG. thick formed therein over the drain region. A floating gate is formed on the floating gate oxide to extend over the channel region and includes a portion that extends over the tunnel oxide. The floating gate comprises a first layer of polysilicon about 300-600.ANG. thick, a silicon dioxide layer about 20-50.ANG. thick formed on the first layer of polysilicon, and a second layer of polysilicon about 2000.ANG. thick formed on the silicon dioxide layer. A layer of ONO is formed on the floating gate and a polysilicon control gate is formed on the layer of ONO.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuit memory devices and, in particular, to an electrically-erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) storage cell that utilizes a split floating gate to provide a linear relationship between the number of read pulses applied to the floating gate and the cell's threshold voltage V.sub.T shift.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The fundamental challenge in creating an EEPROM cell is to use a controllable and reproducible electrical effect which has enough nonlinearity so that the cell can be written or erased at one voltage in less than 1 ms and can be read at another voltage, without any change in the programmed data for more than 10 years. Fowler-Nordheim tunneling, which was first described by Fowler and Nordheim in 1928, exhibits the required nonlinearity and has been widely used in EEPROM memories.
In silicon, the energy difference between the conduction band and the valence band is 1.1 eV. In silicon dioxide, the energy difference between these bands is about 8.1 eV, with the conduction band in silicon dioxide 3.2 eV above that in silicon. Since electron energy is about 0.025 eV at thermal room temperature, the probability that an electron in silicon can gain enough thermal energy to surmount the Si-to-SiO.sub.2 barrier and enter the conduction band in silicon dioxide is very small. If electrons are placed on a polysilicon floating gate surrounded by silicon dioxide, then this band diagram will by itself insure the retention of data.
Fowler-Nordheim emission, which was observed early in this century for the case of electron emission from metals into vacuums, was also observed by Lenzliger and Snow in 1969 for electron emission from silicon to silicon dioxide. In the presence of a high electric field at the Si--SiO.sub.2 interface, the energy bands will be distorted and there is a small probability that an electron in the conduction band of the silicon will quantum mechanically tunnel through the energy barrier and emerge in the conduction band of the silicon dioxide.
The tunneling current increases exponentially with the applied field in accordance with the following general current density expression: EQU J=(AE2) exp (-B/E)
where
A and B are constants, and PA0 E is the field at the Si--SiO.sub.2 interface
This current is observable at a current density of 10E-6 A/cm2 when the field at the Si--SiO.sub.2 interface is about 10 MV/cm. Local fields of this magnitude, at voltages that are practical for use in microelectronics, can be obtained by applying a voltage across either a thin (about 100.ANG.) oxide grown on bulk silicon or across thicker (about 500.ANG.) oxide grown on polysilicon.
The theoretically ideal EEPROM memory cell comprises a single transistor addressable by applying electrical signals to a specified row and a specified column of the memory array matrix. For example, to write a logic "1" or a logic "0" into this "ideal" cell, a voltage is applied to the control gate corresponding to the row (word line) of the selected cell while a voltage corresponding to either a "1" or a "0" is applied to the source or drain corresponding to the column (bit line) of the selected cell.
The basic concept of the well-known FLOTOX EEPROM memory cell is shown in FIG. 1. In the FLOTOX cell, the tunnel oxide, which typically is less than 100.ANG. thick, is grown over an area defined photolithographically in the drain region (or an extension of the drain region, called buried n+). Charging of the floating gate to program the cell is achieved by grounding the source and the drain and applying a high voltage to the control gate.
The FLOTOX cell is designed such that a large fraction of the applied voltage is coupled across the tunnel oxide resulting in the transport of electrons from the drain to floating gate. Discharge of the floating gate to erase the cell is achieved by grounding the control gate, floating the source and applying a high voltage to the drain. In this case, most of the applied voltage is coupled across the tunnel oxide, but the field is reversed, resulting in tunneling of electrons from the floating gate to the drain. The source is floated so that there is no continuous current path, an important factor when an internal charge pump is used to generate the high voltage from a .ltoreq.5V supply.
If a single transistor memory cell is placed in a typical array with drains connected to metal columns and gates connected to common polysilicon word lines, the erasing of the cell, with the word line grounded, will mean that high voltage is applied to all drains in a common column. Erasing can be inhibited in non-selected cells by taking unselected word lines to a high voltage. However, this means that unselected cells along the same word line may be programmed. To avoid such disturb conditions, as shown in FIG. 1, the FLOTOX cell utilizes a distinct access transistor to isolate the drain from the column bit line. The access transistor is off for rows that are not selected.
FIG. 2 provides a layout of the FIG. 1 FLOTOX cell, with the FIG. 1 cross-section being taken perpendicular to the word line (control gate) and through the tunnel oxide window.
In the conventional FLOTOX EEPROM cell, the buildup of floating gate potential due to electrons arriving from the conduction band of the tunnel oxide affects Fowler-Nordheim tunneling. This relationship is not linear. Therefore, it is difficult to use the standard FLOTOX EEPROM cell in applications that require linearity, such as for example, as an analog weight in a neural network device.
As is well-known, and as shown in FIG. 3, each of the information processing nodes of a neural network has n simultaneous inputs X.sub.i =1, 2, . . . , n, and a threshold quantity .theta..sub.j, which are combined according to Eq (1) to produce single quantity r.sub.j ; ##EQU1##
This is followed by a nonlinear transformation, Eq. (2), which produces the output y.sub.j ; EQU Y.sub.j =.phi.(r.sub.j) (2)
The weighted output of one node can then become one of the inputs to a different node. Thus, the connection of external inputs and nodes by means of information weight parameters W.sub.ij forms a neural network. A connection between node i and node j is a distinct machine component which constrains information flow via the connecting weighting parameter W.sub.ij, as shown in FIG. 4, the numerical value of which is problem-dependent.
The values of the weighting factors W.sub.ij are, thus, the memory of the neural network and must "learn" according to an algorithm specified for establishing the weighting factor. That is, the weight factors must be "trainable".
In utilizing a conventional FLOTOX EEPROM cell for storing the weighting factor, adjustment of the weighting factor involves reading the cell and then adjusting its programming voltage Vpp in response to the associated weighting algorithm. Therefore, the array architecture must provide for a variation in the programming voltage Vpp. However, if the programming voltage Vpp becomes to high, then cell breakdown becomes a problem.
It would, therefore, be desirable to have available an EEPROM cell that relies on a fixed programming voltage Vpp but that can accommodate variations in floating gate voltage V.sub.FG.

Method of making a split floating gate EEPROM cell


There is provided a system in which when a gate having a reflection level of a threshold or higher and having been recognized as a control target by last time is not recognized as the control target this time, the gate is assumed to be actually detected, and extrapolation device extrapolates the gate (see ◯) up to a predetermined number of times (five times), wherein when the gate is a stationary object, and a reflection level of the gate at the next detection (Time 6) predicted from a reflection level at the previous detection (Time 4) and a reflection level at the current detection (Time 5) is lower than a detection threshold (see □), the limit of the number of extrapolations by the extrapolation device is reduced from five to two. Thus, the number of extrapolations is reduced of the gate whose reflection level is suddenly reduced as a subject vehicle approaches and that is estimated not to be a control target, and unnecessary vehicle control for the gate can be prevented to eliminate discomfort of a driver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control target recognition system that detects an object on the basis of a reflected wave having a reflection level of a detection threshold or higher among reflected waves transmitted by a transmitter and received by a receiver, and recognizes a control target of a subject vehicle on the basis of a detection result of the object.
The present invention also relates to a vehicle object detection system that detects objects on the basis of a reflected wave having a reflection level of a detection threshold or higher among reflected waves transmitted by a transmitter and received by a receiver, and further detects an object to be a control target of a subject vehicle among the objects.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such art is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 6-174847 that when an obstacle detected by a radar device is temporarily out of detection, information on the obstacle is estimated for a predetermined time thereafter on the basis of information on the obstacle that has been stored in a storage device theretofore, and a possibility that a subject vehicle may come into contact with the obstacle is determined on the basis of the estimated information.
Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-40646 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-211839: filed on Aug. 3, 2006) by the same inventor proposes, in a second embodiment, a system for performing automatic deceleration or warning for avoiding a collision with a stopping object located forward of the subject vehicle such as a low gate through which a subject vehicle can pass or a preceding vehicle, in which when the stopping object is not detected as a target, an extrapolation processing (predicting a future position or the like of the undetected target, and handling the target as if it has been detected) is performed five times thereafter, thereby allowing automatic deceleration or warning for avoiding a collision to be carried out without any trouble even when the target is temporarily undetectable.
Next, with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7J, problems of the system proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-40646 will be described. In FIGS. 7A to 7J, ● denotes actual data and ◯ denotes extrapolated data.
FIG. 7A shows a state of Time 1 where a low gate as a stopping object through which a subject vehicle can pass is located forward of the subject vehicle, and a stopping vehicle as a stopping object is located forward of the gate. In this case, the subject vehicle is unlikely to collide with the gate through which the subject vehicle can pass, and thus collision avoiding control only for the stopping vehicle is desirably performed.
Electromagnetic waves are transmitted forward from a radar device mounted in the subject vehicle, reflection levels of reflected waves from the gate and the stopping vehicle are compared with a detection threshold, and a stopping object having a reflection level of a reflected wave of the detection threshold or higher is a target of the collision avoiding control such as automatic braking or warning. In FIG. 7A, a reflection level of the gate closer to the subject vehicle is the detection threshold or higher, but the distance of the gate is beyond an activation area of the collision avoiding control, and thus the collision avoiding control such as automatic braking or warning is not performed. Also, the stopping vehicle is distant and thus the reflection level of the reflected wave is lower than the detection threshold, and collision avoiding control for the stopping vehicle is naturally not performed.
At Time 4 in FIG. 7B, besides the reflection level of the reflected wave of the gate, the reflection level of the reflected wave of the stopping vehicle becomes the detection threshold or higher, but the distances of the gate and the stopping vehicle are beyond the activation area of the collision avoiding control, and thus the collision avoiding control such as automatic braking or warning for the gate and the stopping vehicle is not performed.
At Time 5 in FIG. 7C, the subject vehicle further approaches the gate, and most of the electromagnetic waves from the radar device pass through the inside of the gate to reduce the reflection level of the reflected wave of the gate, but the reflection level is still the detection threshold or higher, and the state at Time 4 in FIG. 7B is continued.
At Time 6 in FIG. 7D, the subject vehicle further approaches the gate, the reflection level of the reflected wave becomes lower than the detection threshold and the gate is lost sight of (undetectable), and thus a first extrapolation processing for predicting a position of the gate is performed. Also at this time, the distances of the extrapolated gate and the stopping vehicle are beyond the activation area of the collision avoiding control, and thus the collision avoiding control such as automatic braking or warning for the gate and the stopping vehicle is not performed.
At Time 7 in FIG. 7E, the gate is still lost sight of, and thus a second extrapolation processing for predicting the position of the gate is performed. Also at this time, the distances of the extrapolated gate and the stopping vehicle are beyond the activation area of the collision avoiding control, and thus the collision avoiding control such as automatic braking or warning for the gate and the stopping vehicle is not performed.
At Time 8 in FIG. 7F, the gate is still lost sight of, and thus a third extrapolation processing for predicting the position of the gate is performed. In this case, the distance of the extrapolated gate is within the activation area of the collision avoiding control, and thus the collision avoiding control such as automatic braking or warning is performed for avoiding a collision with the gate. However, the gate is the stopping object through which the subject vehicle can pass and does not require the collision avoiding control, and thus unnecessary collision avoiding control is performed.
At this time, the collision avoiding control is not automatic braking but warning, and if a driver ignores the warning and advances the subject vehicle, at Time 11 in FIG. 7G, the stopping vehicle enters the activation area of the collision avoiding control, and thus collision avoiding control such as automatic braking or warning for the stopping vehicle is performed.
At Time 12 in FIG. 7H, the stopping vehicle is still detected within the activation area of the collision avoiding control, and thus the collision avoiding control is continued as it is.
At Time 13 in FIG. 7I, the subject vehicle further approaches the stopping vehicle, and thus the stopping vehicle is laterally beyond a detection area of the radar device and the reflection level becomes lower than the detection threshold, and a first extrapolation processing is performed. Then, the collision avoiding control is continued as it is on the basis of first extrapolated data.
At Time 14 in FIG. 7J, a second extrapolation processing is performed, and the collision avoiding control is continued as it is on the basis of second extrapolated data.
Thus, in the conventional system, the extrapolation processing is uniformly successively performed up to five times while the obstacle is lost sight of. Thus, if the extrapolation processing is successively performed up to five times for the stopping object such as the low gate through which the subject vehicle can pass, excessive collision avoiding control may be performed at Time 8 in FIG. 7F, which may provide discomfort to the driver.
Next, with reference to FIGS. 10A to 20B, problems that may occur when the conventional extrapolation processing is performed will be described. In FIGS. 10A to 20B, "A" shows a conventional example, and "B" shows an embodiment.
In a supposed situation, a subject vehicle runs following a preceding vehicle in a tunnel in which illumination lamps as stopping objects are provided on a ceiling at regular intervals, and when the subject vehicle approaches the preceding vehicle and a relative distance therebetween detected by a radar device provided in the subject vehicle becomes lower than a predetermined value, automatic braking of the subject vehicle or warning to the driver is performed to avoid contact therebetween. The radar device has a detection area (hatched area) with a wider lateral width on a more forward side, and in the detection area, a system activation area R2 for stopping objects of actual data and extrapolated data is set in a section closest to the subject vehicle, and a system activation area R1 for a stopping object of the actual data is set forward of the system activation area R2.
The actual data is data actually detected by the radar device, and the extrapolated data is data of a virtual object inserted by a prediction from past actual data so as to prevent an interruption of system activation when the radar device temporarily loses sight of an object. In the conventional example, the extrapolated data is inserted up to five times, and if the extrapolated data is not transferred to the actual data after five extrapolations, the extrapolated data disappears at the time. Thus, with the extrapolated data, vehicle control such as automatic braking or warning is performed on the basis of the extrapolated data as well as the actual data.
In the example in FIGS. 10A to 20B, if an illumination lamp is located within the hatched detection area of the radar device, the illumination lamp is actual data (see the black hexagon), and if the illumination lamp is beyond and backward of the detection area as the subject vehicle runs, the illumination lamp is extrapolated data (see the white hexagon). If five extrapolations are performed by last time, extrapolation is not performed this time, and data (see the hexagon shown by the broken line) disappears.
The radar device also detects the preceding vehicle, and vehicle control such as automatic braking or warning for the preceding vehicle as a moving object is of course performed. The vehicle control for the moving object is not directly related to the present invention directed to a stopping object, and thus details thereof will be omitted.
FIGS. 10A to 19A correspond to Times 1 to 10 with the lapse of time, and serial numbers 1 to 10 are assigned to the illumination lamps from a side of the subject vehicle to a forward side.
At Time 1 in FIG. 10A, the fourth illumination lamp and thereafter are located within the detection area of the radar device and are actual data (black hexagons), and the second and third illumination lamps are extrapolated data (white hexagons). As is apparent from FIGS. 10A and 20A together, actual data does not exist in the system activation area R1 for the stopping object of the actual data, but the extrapolated data of the third illumination lamp exists in the system activation area R2 for the stopping objects of the actual data and the extrapolated data, and thus unnecessary vehicle control such as automatic braking or warning is performed for the third illumination lamp as a control target.
At Time 2 in FIG. 11A and Time 3 in FIG. 12A, the fourth illumination lamp exists in the system activation area R1 for the stopping object of the actual data, and thus unnecessary vehicle control such as automatic braking or warning is performed for the fourth illumination lamp as a control target.
At Time 4 in FIG. 13A and Time 5 in FIG. 14A, actual data of the fourth illumination lamp exists in the system activation area R1 for the stopping object of the actual data, and the extrapolated data of the third illumination lamp exists in the system activation area R2 for the stopping objects of the actual data and the extrapolated data, and thus unnecessary vehicle control such as automatic braking or warning is performed for the third and fourth illumination lamps as control targets.
At Time 6 in FIG. 15A, the actual data of the fourth illumination lamp exists in the system activation area R1 for the stopping object of the actual data, and thus unnecessary vehicle control such as automatic braking or warning is performed for the fourth illumination lamp as a control target.
At Time 7 in FIG. 16A and Time 8 in FIG. 17A, actual data does not exist in the system activation area R1 for the stopping object of the actual data, and neither actual data nor extrapolated data exists in the system activation area R2 for the stopping objects of the actual data and the extrapolated data, and thus vehicle control is not performed.
At Time 9 in FIG. 18A and Time 10 in FIG. 19A, actual data of the fifth illumination lamp exists in the system activation area R1 for the stopping object of the actual data, and thus unnecessary vehicle control such as automatic braking or warning is performed for the fifth illumination lamp as a control target.
As described above, in the conventional example in which the number of extrapolations is set to five, unnecessary vehicle control is intermittently performed for an illumination lamp with which the subject vehicle is unlikely to come into contact as a control target, which provides discomfort to the driver.
To solve this problem, the number of extrapolations can be reduced from five to, for example, two. However, if the number of extrapolations is reduced for all the control targets, a new problem may occur that necessary vehicle control is not performed when a control target is temporarily lost sight of.

Control target recognition system and vehicle object detection system


This seal (6) running between gaps (6) between two stator sectors of a gas urbine engine is made up of several thin flexible slabs, capable of sliding one over the other, which gives a better seal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a seal, the essential element of which consists of a stack of thin slabs that slide within reception slots.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is designed to span the gaps between pairs of stator sectors of a gas turbine engine: these components being subjected to a high degree of heating during operation, which produces expansions that are sufficiently great that one cannot construct a stator with contiguous sectors. Nevertheless the seal must be restored between the sectors of the stator, which define volumes subjected to different pressures, and notably the flow stream of the gases of the gas turbine engine.
The usual solution consists of hollowing out slots in the sectors separated by the gap and which form a continuation of one another and of inserting a slab of material in the slots and across the gap to span the latter. It is illustrated in many previous documents from which French Patents Nos. 2 452 590 and 2 597 921 will be mentioned in order to quote only designs from the assignee. Such seals allow gas leaks along the gaps to be reduced but even so progress is desirable in order to increase the efficiency of gas turbine engines.

Seal of stacked thin slabs that slide within reception slots

Societe Nationale Detude et de Construction de Mothers d'aviation "Snecma"


Embodiments of this application provide a communication method and a communications apparatus. The method includes: generating a log record, where the log record is recorded by performing MDT log measurement when a terminal is in an inactive state; and when the terminal is in a connected state, sending the generated log record to a network device.

A mobile network operator needs to assess quality of a mobile network within a coverage area of a base station. The assessment includes identifying coverage quality and a coverage hole, and the like. In the early stage, a manual drive test was performed for assessment. The drive test mainly includes the following. First, a test area is determined, and then a test route is designed. Then, a vehicle is manually driven according to the test route, to collect measurement data. The measurement data may include, for example, location information, physical layer information, media access control layer information, signaling information, and system information. Finally, the collected measurement data is processed. The processing process may include, for example, data analysis, and problem identification and analysis. The data analysis is mainly performed to analyze a call drop rate, a call completion rate, traffic, and the like, based on the collected data. The problem identification and analysis is mainly performed to analyze whether a fault occurs on a terminal or a network based on the collected data.
In the foregoing manual drive test, a test person needs to drive a vehicle in person. This is time-consuming and labor-consuming. Therefore, minimization of drive tests (MDT) is currently proposed to resolve the foregoing problem. The MDT means the following. Some specific terminals perform MDT log measurement, and then report log records to a network device, where reported content includes: data related to a radio access network (RAN) and data related to quality of service (QoS); and then, the network device performs mobile network quality assessment based on the log records reported by the terminals. A log record reported by a terminal may be obtained by the terminal in the following two cases. In one case, when the terminal is in an idle state, the terminal performs MDT log measurement based on a measurement configuration received from the network device, to obtain the reported log record. In the other case, when the terminal is in a connected state, if a radio link failure (RLF) occurs, the MDT log measurement is performed to obtain the reported log record. However, due to evolution of mobile communications systems, existing log record reporting cannot meet a network requirement.

Communication method and communications apparatus


A network device determines the traffic specification values based on the session values that represent the application parameters of an application, which is provided differentiated service levels. A user of the network device may provide and/or choose the session values. The network device may generate one or more streams corresponding to a plurality of the applications. Each stream may comprise one or more traffic instances. The network device may assign a priority value to each stream and instance identifier to each traffic instances within the stream to manage the transfer of data units.

A computer network generally refers to a group of interconnected network devices that may exchange data and/or share the resources. An example of a network device may be a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a hand held device, a mobile phone, a server, a fax machine, a printer, a router, and/or a switch. The network devices may support collaboration applications, which enable users to share information by supporting audio, video, scheduling, calendaring, integrated messaging, whiteboard conferencing, document editing, and such other applications.


A tool-holding arm includes a plurality of links and a tool coupling that removably secures a tool to the tool-holding arm. A first fluid spring provides a gravity-counteracting force to the tool-holding arm. A locking mechanism selectively locks the first fluid spring. An adjustment mechanism selectively adjusts an amount of the gravity-counteracting force provided by the first fluid spring.

Wearable exoskeletons have been designed for medical, commercial and military applications. Medical exoskeletons are designed to help restore a user's mobility. Commercial and military exoskeletons help prevent injury and augment the user's strength. Commercial and military exoskeletons are used to alleviate loads supported by workers or soldiers during strenuous activities, thereby preventing injuries and increasing their stamina and strength.
Exoskeletons designed for use by able-bodied wearers often act to improve the wearer's stamina by transferring the weight of a tool or load through the exoskeleton structure and into the ground, decreasing the weight borne by the wearer. In some cases, tool-holding exoskeletons are outfitted with a non-anthropomorphic tool-holding arm that supports the weight of the tool, reducing user fatigue by providing tool-holding assistance. The tool-holding arm transfers the vertical force required to hold the tool through the exoskeleton-supported tool-holding arm rather than through the user's arms and body. In other cases, the exoskeleton structure is generally anthropomorphic and acts in tandem with the user's body to support some or all of the tool weight by supporting the positioning of the wearer's arms and then transferring that tool weight around the body of the wearer and into the ground. Weight-bearing exoskeletons transfer the weight of the exoskeleton load through the legs of the exoskeleton rather than through the user's legs. In some cases, weight-bearing exoskeletons are designed to carry a specific load, such as a heavy backpack. In other cases, military weight-bearing exoskeletons support the weight of armor. Commercial and military exoskeletons can have actuated joints that augment the strength of the exoskeleton user, with these actuated joints being controlled by the exoskeleton control system, and with the exoskeleton user using any of a plurality of possible input means to command the exoskeleton control system.
In powered exoskeletons, exoskeleton control systems prescribe and control trajectories in the joints of an exoskeleton, resulting in the movement of the structure of the exoskeleton and, in some cases, the positioning of a tool supported by the exoskeleton. These control trajectories can be prescribed as position-based, force-based or a combination of both methodologies, such as those seen in impedance controllers. Position-based control systems can be modified directly through modification of the prescribed positions. Force-based control systems can also be modified directly through modification of the prescribed force profiles. As exoskeleton users and exoskeleton tools vary in proportion, variously adjusted or customized powered exoskeletons will fit each user somewhat differently. The exoskeleton control system can take these differences in exoskeleton user proportion, exoskeleton configuration/customization, exoskeleton user fit and tool support into account to make changes to prescribed exoskeleton trajectories. The exoskeleton user can control changes in exoskeleton trajectories through communication with the exoskeleton control system using any of a variety of means, including but not limited to body pressure sensors, joysticks, touchpads, gestural sensors, voice sensors and sensors that directly detect nervous system activity.
In unpowered tool-holding exoskeletons, the exoskeleton wearer provides the force to move the exoskeleton structure and any affixed tools, with the exoskeleton aiding the wearer by supporting the weight of tools in certain positions, aiding in certain tool or exoskeleton movements and transferring the weight of tools around the body of the wearer, through the leg structures of the exoskeleton and into the support surface.
In both powered and unpowered tool-holding exoskeletons, the design of the exoskeleton structure, and in particular the structure of the tool-holding arm and tool-holding arm attachment point or the structure of the anthropomorphic arm that aids in tool support, plays a significant role in the usefulness of the exoskeleton to the wearer in tool use applications. The specific structure of the exoskeleton arm or tool support structure is variably suitable to specific tools and specific motions that the wearer may engage in. Examples of non-anthropomorphic tool-holding arms known in the art include the zeroG® and Steadicam® arms. These unpowered arms have a mechanism that includes one or more spring members that act to compensate for the weight of the tool or camera attached to the end of the arm, supporting the weight of the attached device while allowing the person guiding the arm to easily reposition the arm and attached device as needed.
FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a support apparatus of the prior art which was originally devised to obtain stabilized motion picture film and video images and which was offered for sale under the trademark Steadicam®. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,208,028 and 7,618,016. As illustrated, the support arm for the apparatus includes a pair of parallel upper arms links 102, 104, which are pivotally coupled at one end to a connector hinge bracket 106. The other ends of upper arm links 102, 104 are pivotally coupled to an upper arm medial hinge bracket 108. A second pair of parallel forearm links 110, 112 is pivotally coupled between a forearm medial bracket 114 and a camera support bracket 116. A camera mounting pin 117 is provided in the camera support bracket 116. Upper arm medial hinge bracket 108 and forearm medial bracket 114 are rotatably coupled together along one side by a hinge 118. Connector hinge bracket 106 is rotatably coupled at its center to one end of a lower support hinge plate 120. The other end of lower support hinge plate 120 is rotatably coupled to a fixed support block 122 by a pin 123. A spring 121, through which pin 123 extends, biases lower support hinge plate 120 in a clockwise direction. One end of a tension spring 124 is coupled to the end of upper arm link 102, which is pivotally coupled to upper arm medial hinge bracket 108. The other end of tension spring 124 is coupled to one end of a tension spring 126 by a section of cable 128 which rides on and around a pulley 130 which is rotatably coupled to upper arm link 102. The other end of tension spring 126 is coupled to one end of a tension spring 132 by a section of cable 134 which rides on and around a pulley 136 which is rotatably coupled to upper arm link 104. The other end of tension spring 132 is coupled to the end of upper arm link 104 adjacent to connector hinge bracket 106. Similarly, one end of a tension spring 138 is coupled to the end of forearm link 110 adjacent to camera mounting bracket 116. The other end of tension spring 138 is coupled to a tension spring 140 by a cable 142 which rides on and around a pulley 144 which is rotatably coupled to forearm link 110. The other end of tension spring 140 is coupled to one end of a tension spring 146 by a cable 148 which rides on and around a pulley 150 which is rotatably coupled to forearm link 112. The other end of tension spring 146 is coupled to the end of forearm link 112 adjacent to forearm medial hinge bracket 114.
A weight, such as a camera, which is supported at support bracket 116 behaves as an object in free space beyond gravity since the upward forces that tension springs 124, 126, 132, 138, 140 and 146 exert, in effect, counteract gravity. The weight tends to travel in a straight line until influenced otherwise and tends to retain the same angle until influenced otherwise. As a result, upper arm links 102, 104 roughly correspond to the upper arm of the user and forearm links 110, 112 roughly correspond to the user's forearm in terms of their three-dimensional geometry as the support arm is used either high, low or to either side. The user can adjust the position of the support arm by exerting force against the tool with the user's arms, which will move the support arm relative to his or her body. Due to the gravity-counteracting action of the support arm, the user does not bear the weight of a stationary camera/tool or support arm but rather only exerts force when changing the position of the support arm relative to the user's body. Similar support arms are known in the art and are seen in objects such as lamps or the support arms for medical x-ray devices. In some embodiments, the springs are replaced by gas springs or other similar devices, which serve the same role of applying a gravity-counteracting force to the weight-supporting arm.
Since the upward forces which support arm tension springs 124, 126, 132, 138, 140 and 146 exert support the weight supported at support bracket 116, the forces of the tension springs should be matched to the weight of the object supported at support bracket 116. This requires changes to the spring force if a different object is attached that has a different weight in order to match upwards and downwards forces and result in a "weightless" object attached to the gravity-compensating arm. Thus, changing the camera or tool attached to the end of the support arm results in a change of the arm-supported weight and requires an alteration in the forces exerted by the tension springs. FIG. 2A diagrammatically shows two positions of the lifting triangle ABC incorporated within a parallelogram support linkage (with the previously shown tool support arm having two such parallelogram support linkages). A resilient member 203 forms a side of the force-exerting triangle, which is here shown as lifting triangle ABC. Resilient member 203 is here shown, therefore, as a tension spring. In this illustration, a side 201 is in both positions contiguous with a fixed side 205, and a spring attachment point 219 is located on the line between point A and a pivot 226. In order to exactly counter a weight throughout the potential excursion of parallelogram 202, 204, 205, 206 as shown, the tensioning assembly would require the spring rate specified by the formula K=P/Dy, where K is the spring rate, P is the load and Dy is the height of side 201. The tension spring would only fit within the available diagonal distance BC as shown if an impractically high spring rate and an impractically low value for side 201 were employed (e.g., if P were 40 lbs, a spring rate of 160 lbs/inch would exactly counter P if the length of side 201 was 0.25 inches). If the length of side 201 were increased, the weight of P would necessarily increase proportionately to remain in equilibrium with the lifting force of triangle ABC.
The prior art also includes a method and device to change the lifting power of the force-exerting triangle, in which the termination point is adjusted to change the length of the third side of the force-exerting triangle. See U.S. Pat. No. 7,618,016. The termination point is further adjusted in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first adjustment direction so, as the load arm pivots about the load pivot, the termination point location can cross a substantially plumb line passing through the load pivot to alter the equipoising contour over at least part of the pivotal excursion of the load arm. FIG. 2B diagrammatically illustrates an exemplary mechanism to adjust spring termination height and offset from a side 225 and further diagrams a novel way to equipoise load P using a tensioning assembly of a rate that is inappropriate according to the above formula K=P/Dy but is useful for other reasons. The tensioning assembly can, for example, be specified to fit within the diagonal space of a parallelogram without the high spring rate and low aspect ratio that would otherwise be called for. If a termination point 239 of a spring 223 is displaced outside of adjacent side 225 of the parallelogram formed by sides 222, 224, 225 and 226, the lifting force becomes generally less efficient as the parallelogram is moved both upward and downward from the level attitude shown, which is known in the art to provide an approximation of equipoise. Embodiments of the present invention introduce a mechanism to adjustably vary this offset in a manner that remains proportional to the changing height of the lifting triangle. A path 238 of potential spring termination points is angularly displaced from a line 241, an extension of side 225, by means of a Dx lead screw 234 which is adjusted by a knob 236 to arcuately pivot a side 221 (path 238) at a pivot point A and thus offset spring termination point 239 with respect to side 225, which is here shown to be vertical. In addition, a Dy adjusting knob 235 turns a lead screw 233 to raise and lower spring termination point 239 along spring termination path 238 in order to increase or decrease the lifting force of the triangle ABC.
FIG. 2C is a side view of the complete two-segment gravity-compensating support arm of the prior art. Support body mounting hardware 298 is pivotally attached to an upper arm segment 290, which is pivotally attached via a hinge 292 to a forearm segment 294, which is adapted for connection to the payload (such as a camera) using a post 296. Note that if the arm were inverted, post 296 and body mounting hardware 298 could simply be interchanged and the arm would lift appropriately.
In both powered and unpowered tool-holding exoskeletons, the design of the exoskeleton structure, and in particular the structure of the lower portion of the exoskeleton, plays an important role in transferring the weight of the exoskeleton load, including both the tool weight and the tool-supporting arm weight, around the body of the wearer and into the support surface. In addition to simply supporting this weight, the design of the lower structure of an exoskeleton determines how well this weight can be balanced—with the balance affecting the usefulness of the exoskeleton and/or tool to the user. For example, consider an exoskeleton with a hip-mounted tool-holding arm. As the tool and tool-holding arm are extended further from the body of the exoskeleton wearer, the tool-holding arm will act as a lever, and the weight of the tool will result in an increasing torque being exerted on the exoskeleton hip. To counteract this hip torque, the exoskeleton (and/or the wearer) must expend energy, and as the weight of the tool is extended away from the exoskeleton this results in a less-balanced exoskeleton that is more likely to fall over. Issues of balance and undesired joint torque can be addressed by making exoskeleton frames and joints heavier and more rigid or by adding weighted counterbalance arms that extend behind the exoskeleton (opposite the tool-holding arm they balance). However, these solutions come at the cost of making exoskeletons increasingly less mobile and/or less agile, and mobility and flexibility are key functions of tool-holding exoskeletons (relative to, for example, bench/floor mounted tools or tracked vehicles). Thus, the design of exoskeleton support structures, and in particular the lower structures including hip, leg, ankle and foot structures, as well as the interconnecting joints, should take into account the tradeoff between load support/balance and exoskeleton mobility/maneuverability. Depending on the application of the tool-holding exoskeleton, the relative importance of different exoskeleton characteristics can vary.
Tool-holding exoskeletons with powered joints are capable of assisting a wearer in a number of ways. For example, a powered tool arm can assist the worker in lifting a tool, powered legs can assist the wearer in walking with the weight of a tool or load and a powered hip can assist in exoskeleton balance by counteracting the torque exerted by the weight of a tool mounted on an extended tool-holding arm. However, tool-holding exoskeletons with unpowered joints have some substantial advantages over exoskeletons with powered joints, including, but not limited to, reduced exoskeleton cost, simplified maintenance requirements and, importantly, lack of dependence on a power source or supply for exoskeleton operation. Well-designed tool-holding exoskeletons with unpowered joints still provide tool support through gravity compensation using devices such as zeroG® arms and assist in exoskeleton balance through mechanisms that counteract or transfer hip torque resulting from tool arm weight, largely removing the need for powered joints in such tool-holding exoskeletons. Still, there are uses for power in tool-holding exoskeletons other than actuating exoskeleton joints. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,618,016 as referenced above, describes a gravity-compensating tool-holding arm, with the spring force in the spring members in the tool arm being adjustable such that the arm can support tools or cameras with differing weights. While the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,618,016 is configured to be adjusted manually by the user, who can change the angle and length of each spring member depending upon the weight supported by the tool arm, these adjustments can alternatively be performed by one or more computer-controlled motors.
There exists an unmet need in the art to provide a range of devices and methods that allow the use of powered devices on human exoskeletons for functions other than exoskeleton joint actuation, with these devices improving the utility of the tool-holding exoskeleton to the wearer. There exists an unmet need to provide a device and method that allows for the automatic and rapid adjustment of a gravity-compensating tool-holding arm in response to the changing of a supported tool or tool weight. There exists a further unmet need to provide a device and method that allows for a tool-holding arm to be locked into a fixed position, allowing the wearer to lean into the tool and apply greater force into the tool. There exists a further unmet need to provide a device and method that allows for the changing of the position of an exoskeleton counterbalance/outrigger, improving the balance of the exoskeleton. There exists a further unmet need to provide a device and method that allows for improved walking mobility in exoskeletons equipped with hip torque-counteracting devices. There exists a further unmet need to provide a device and method that allows for an exoskeleton to supply power directly to supported tools. There exists a further unmet need to provide a device and method that allows an exoskeleton to supply consumables, such as fasteners, directly to tools. There exists a further unmet need to provide a device and method that allows for an exoskeleton to regulate the temperature of the exoskeleton wearer.
Disclosed herein are devices that improve human exoskeleton balance, maneuverability and tool use support capacity for both powered and unpowered exoskeletons. These enhancements to exoskeleton balance, maneuverability and tool use allow wearers of human exoskeletons to more effectively work with tools and move the exoskeleton and tool in complex environments.

Control mechanisms and methods of tool-holding arm for exoskeletons


The image forming apparatus has a photosensitive drum, a charging device for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum, an exposing head for exposing the charged surface to an exposure light in order to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image by causing toner adhere to the electrostatic latent image. The developing device includes a developing roller for carrying toner to be supplied to the photosensitive drum, a toner supplying roller for supplying toner to the developing roller, and a blade for shaping toner on the developing roller into a thin toner layer. The developing roller, the toner supplying roller, and the blade are applied with voltages VD, VS, and VB respectively, the voltages VD, VS, and VB being determined depending on surrounding temperature and humidity, and satisfying the relationship of |VB−VD|<|VS−VD|.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer and a copier.
2. Description of Related Art
An image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic printer and a copier forms an image on a recording medium by performing an image forming cycle including a charging process in which a photosensitive drum is imparted with electric charge, an exposing process in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on surface of the photosensitive drum in accordance with image data, a developing process in which the electrostatic latent image is visualized by transferring toner from a developing roller on which a thin toner layer is formed to the electrostatic latent image, a transferring process in which the visualized image (toner image) is transferred to the recording medium such as paper, and a fixation process in which the toner image transferred to the recording medium is fixed by applying heat and pressure to the toner image.
The amount of toner on the developing roller is environment-dependent, that is, it varies with surrounding temperature and humidity. The variation of the amount of toner on the developing roller causes variation of density of the toner image formed on the recording medium. Generally, the amount of toner on the developing roller of the image forming apparatus when operating under low temperature and low humidity, for example under temperature of 10 degrees C. and humidity of 20%, is greater than that when operating under normal temperature and normal temperature. If the amount of toner on the developing roller becomes too great, density non-uniformity or fogging occurs and image quality is degraded.
Accordingly, as disclosed, for example in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-7198, it is known to control the voltage to be applied to a toner supply roller for supplying toner to the developing roller in order that the amount of toner on the developing roller is kept unchanged despite temperature change or humidity change. In this case, by stabilizing the amount of electric charge of toner to be supplied to the photosensitive drum, fogging and density non-uniformity can be even further reduced.
However, experience shows that density unevenness or thin spots may occur in a printed image even if the voltage applied to the toner supplying roller is controlled depending on the surrounding temperature and humidity after such an image forming apparatus executes considerable number of image forming cycles on a continuous basis.


An integrated circuit having a transmit chain configured to provide direct FM modulation of a voltage controlled oscillator of a frequency synthesizer by a composite signal that includes audio and video components, and a receive chain configured to provide a television compatible modulated signal having audio and video information. The receive chain can display locally transmitted signals.

Low cost, high volume wireless communication solutions are needed to provide wireless connectivity in a variety of applications. For example, short-range wireless communications make use of Bluetooth communication components. Although such components were originally developed as multiple integrated circuit "chip sets", several "single chip" Bluetooth solutions have been introduced to the market by various vendors. For longer-range wireless communications, chip sets implementing the so-called Wi-Fi or IEEE 802.11b communication protocol are available. Newer IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g solutions have also recently come to market. Most, if not all, of these integrated circuits (ICs) make use of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) materials and fabrication technology in order to keep the cost of the ICs to a minimum,
Although there has been much growth in the wireless communication market in recent years, to date no single IC has been made available that combines facilities for video, audio and data transmissions over the unlicensed radio spectrum bands allowed by regulatory authorities. Nevertheless, such ICs are needed for allowing manufacturers of audio/video equipment and the like to further reduce the costs associated with wireless communication to/from such devices. Accordingly, there exists a need for such an IC, which need is addressed by the present invention.

Integrated wireless multimedia integrated circuit


An apparatus includes a bottom panel with a transparent region and ceramic sidewalls affixed to the bottom panel to form a container. Electrodes are disposed on the outer surface of the sidewalls at positions selected so that when a sample is positioned in the container, applying a voltage between the electrodes induces an electric field through the sample. Electrical conductors provide contact with the electrodes. All the components are sized and shaped to facilitate positioning of the container on the stage of an inverted microscope so that when the sample is positioned in the container, light emanating from a light source is free to travel along an optical path that passes through the sample, through the transparent region, and into the objective of the inverted microscope. The electrodes and conductors are positioned with respect to the transparent region so as not to interfere with the optical path.

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are low intensity electric fields in the intermediate frequency range that target solid tumors by disrupting mitosis. When treating patients, TTFields are delivered via transducer arrays made from a plurality of ceramic disks with a high dielectric constant (as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,715,203, which is incorporated herein by reference). The transducer arrays capacitively couple the electric field into the patient's body.
The Inovitro™ system supplied by Novocure is an existing system for studying TTFields in vitro. The Inovitro™ system includes ceramic culture dishes constructed to capacitively couple electric field into the cell culture while the cell cultures are maintained at a controlled temperature. This is used to simulate the capacitive coupling of the electric fields into a patient's body.

System for viewing cell cultures under a microscope whilst applying TTFields


Provided are techniques for copying data. A volume container copyset that includes volume containers is received. A volume container copyset that includes volume containers is received. Each of the volume containers is associated with a copyset role, and each of the volume containers includes zero or more volumes, wherein each of the volumes in a volume container has the copyset role of that volume container. Sets of volumes are associated with a replication session, wherein each of the sets of volumes has one volume from each of the volume containers. Each of the sets of volumes has volumes associated with a copyset role that is associated with the volume containers with which each volume is associated. In response to determining that one of membership of one of the volume containers and a size of a volume in one of the volume containers has been modified, one or more corresponding volume containers in the volume container copyset are automatically modified.

1. Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to using volume containers in replication and provisioning management.
2. Description of the Related Art
Disaster recovery systems address two types of failures, a sudden catastrophic failure at a single point in time or data loss over a period of time. In the second type of gradual disaster, updates to volumes on data storage may be lost. Such data loss over a period of time is the common form of a site disaster because power does not degrade all at once, but, rather, may take several seconds to degrade across a computer system. While for a human this may appear instantaneous, for the computer system, the degradation of power may span several transactions, thus causing data corruption at a secondary site if care is not taken to keep the data consistent. To assist in recovery of data updates, a copy of data may be provided at a remote location. Such redundant ("dual" or "shadow") copies are typically made as the application system is writing new data to a primary control unit having storage made of primary volumes at a primary site. International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), the assignee of the subject patent application, provides several remote mirroring systems, including disaster recovery solutions, such as metro mirror (i.e., synchronous mirroring) and global mirror (i.e., asynchronous mirroring).
Merely for ease of illustration, the terms primary and secondary are used to refer to sites, control units or storage. Any site, control unit or storage (e.g., volume or cache) may be either a source or a target for purposes of data transfer or remote mirroring.
Remote mirroring systems are able to recover data updates that occur between a last, safe backup and a system failure. Such remote mirroring systems may also provide an additional remote copy for non-recovery purposes, such as local access at a remote site.
As an example, with a remote mirroring system, a primary control unit maintains a copy of data on a secondary control unit having storage made of secondary volumes. Changes to data at the primary control unit are copied to the secondary control unit as an application updates the data at the primary control unit. The changes may be made synchronously or asynchronously, depending on the type of remote mirroring system that is used.
Volumes in the primary and secondary control unit are consistent when all writes have been transferred in their logical order, i.e., all dependent writes transferred first before the writes dependent thereon. In a banking example, this may mean that a deposit is written to the secondary volume before a withdrawal. A consistency group may be described as a collection of related volumes that are kept in a consistent state. A consistency transaction set may be described as a collection of updates to the primary volumes such that dependent writes are secured in a consistent manner. Consistency groups maintain data consistency across volumes. For instance, if a failure occurs, the deposit will be written to the secondary volume before the withdrawal. Thus, when data is recovered from the secondary volumes, the recovered data will be consistent with the data at the primary control unit.
A point in time copy operation involves physically copying all the data from primary volumes to secondary volumes so that the secondary volume has a copy of the data as of a point in time. A point in time copy may also be made by logically making a copy of the data and then only copying data over when necessary, in effect deferring the physical copying. This logical copy operation is performed to minimize the time during which the secondary and primary volumes are inaccessible.
"Instant virtual copy" operations, also referred to as "fast replicate functions." work by modifying metadata, such as relationship tables or pointers, to treat a primary data object as both the original and copy. In response to a host's (i.e., a server computer's) copy request, the control unit immediately reports creation of the copy without having made any physical copy of the data. Only a "virtual" copy has been created, and the absence of an additional physical copy is completely unknown to the host.
Later, when the storage system receives updates to the original or copy, the updates are stored separately and cross-referenced to the updated data object only. At this point, the original and copy data objects begin to diverge. The initial benefit is that the instant virtual copy occurs almost instantaneously, completing much faster than a normal physical copy operation. This frees the host and control unit to perform other tasks. The host or control unit may even proceed to create an actual, physical copy of the original data object during background processing, or at another time.
One such instant virtual copy operation is known as a FlashCopy® operation. A FlashCopy® operation involves establishing a logical point in time relationship between primary and secondary volumes on the same or different devices. The FlashCopy® operation guarantees that until a track in a FlashCopy® relationship has been hardened to its location on the secondary disk, the track resides on the primary disk. A relationship table is used to maintain information on all existing FlashCopy® relationships in the control unit. During the establish phase of a FlashCopy® relationship, one entry is recorded in the primary and secondary relationship tables for the primary and secondary that participate in the FlashCopy® being established. Each added entry maintains all the required information concerning the FlashCopy® relationship. Both entries for the relationship are removed from the relationship tables when all FlashCopy® tracks from the primary extent have been physically copied to the secondary extents or when a withdraw command is received. In certain cases, even though all tracks have been copied from the primary extent to the secondary extent, the relationship persists.
Control of replication sessions, especially if one for disaster recovery is involved, is error prone and time consuming because the environment is not stable. A replication session may be described as a session type and a group of copysets. A session type defines the type of replication to be performed across the copysets, for instance to perform a FlashCopy® operation or a synchronous remote copy. A copyset is a set of volumes that hold one logical copy of the data. There is one volume per copyset role, where the copyset roles are defined by the session type. For example, in a FlashCopy® session type, the copyset roles are source and target). Session types other than a FlashCopy® session type may require more complex copysets and use different roles. For example, for a disaster recovery session type, talking about a source and target volume is problematic. If it is said that site1 is the current production site with site2 being the current backup site, the copyset includes source volumes on site1 and target volumes on site2. However, if site1 fails and recovery uses site2, then the production is run on site2. Once site1 recovers, replication is run in the opposite direction (from site2 to site1), so then the replication session runs from target to source. So for disaster recovery type sessions, instead of source and target roles, roles such as hostsite1 and hostsite2 are used to designate the volumes that a host on site 1 or a host at site 2 would mount, respectively.
The lack of stability of the environment is due, for example, to capacity being added for applications. As capacity is added for the applications, additional capacity needs to be added for the redundant copies at the secondary control unit, and this additional capacity needs to be configured into the replication session so that primary data is mirrored at the secondary data. If the additional capacity is not added and configured, then, in the event of a site disaster, not all data may have been copied to the secondary control unit.
In conventional systems it is difficult to replicate the data in the same consistency group and avoid this problem. In particular, in some conventional systems, when a user adds storage at the primary control unit, the user has to determine how much storage is to be added at the secondary control unit and where the storage may be obtained. The user also has to associate the newly added storage at the primary and secondary control units with a replication session. Such manual processing is error prone and inefficient.
Thus, there is a need in the art for improved replication management.

Use of volume containers in replication and provisioning management


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises the following steps: a step of depositing a silicon oxide film on the top surface of an epitaxial layer of the region where a high withstand voltage MOS transistor is formed; a step of subsequently depositing a silicon oxide film on the top surface of the epitaxial layer according to the thickness of a gate oxide film of a low withstand voltage MOS transistor; and a step of subsequently adjusting the thickness of the silicon oxide film on the top surface of the high withstand voltage MOS transistor by etching and forming a P-type diffusion layer by ion-implantation method. This method can manufacture elements having gate oxide films different in thickness at low cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology of forming high and low withstand voltage semiconductor devices by adjusting thickness of a gate oxide film.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, an element isolating insulator film is formed on the surface of a silicon substrate. A gate oxide film 100 nm thick is formed within an element formation region surrounded with the element isolating insulator film. A polycrystalline silicon layer is then formed selectively on the top surface of a gate oxide film as a gate electrode. Subsequently, impurities are ion-implanted from the top surface of the gate oxide film using the gate electrode as a mask. A diffusion layer is then formed as a drain region and a source region. This technology is described for instance in FIGS. 2-3 pp. 4-5 in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-39681.
In an alternative conventional method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the technology taking the following steps is known. When forming high and low withstand voltage circuits on one substrate, a sacrificial oxide film about 100 nm thick is first formed on the top surface of the substrate. In a region where the high withstand voltage circuit is to be formed, impurities are ion-implanted at an acceleration voltage of about 150 keV from the top surface of the sacrificial oxide film. A well region is then formed in a region where a PMOS transistor of the high withstand voltage circuit, or the like is to be formed. Subsequently, the sacrificial oxide film is removed, and a first gate oxide film about 13 nm thick is formed on the top surface of the substrate of the region where both the circuits are formed. A well region is then formed in a region where a PMOS transistor of the low withstand voltage circuit, or the like is formed. Furthermore, a second gate oxide film about 8 nm thick is formed on the top surface of the substrate of the region where both the circuits are formed so as to form the PMOS transistors of both the circuits or the like. This technology is described for instance in FIGS. 1, 6-11, pp. 6-9 in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-104141.
As described above, in the conventional methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a gate oxide film 100 nm thick is deposited on a region which is surrounded by an element isolating insulator film formed on surface of the silicon substrate. At the same time, the gate oxide film is also deposited in the above thickness on the top surface of the region where a drain region and a source region to be formed. In a self-alignment manner with respect to a gate electrode formed on the top surface of the gate oxide film, a diffusion layer is formed as the drain and source regions. This manufacturing method determines the thickness of the oxide film on the top surface of the drain and source regions depending on the thickness of the gate oxide film. Accordingly, depending on the thickness, an acceleration voltage is determined for when ion-implanting impurities. As a result, if an acceleration voltage increases at ion-implantation, impurities go through the gate electrode, thereby preventing the separate formation of the drain and source regions. At the same time, in order to prevent impurities from going through the gate electrode, the acceleration voltage has to be equal to or lower than a certain value. In this case, however, there is an upper limit to the thickness of the gate oxide film, with the result that a high withstand voltage MOS transistor requiring a desired withstand voltage characteristic sometimes cannot be formed.
Also in the conventional methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a sacrificial oxide film is deposited on the top surface of the substrate of the region where the high withstand voltage circuit and the low withstand voltage circuit are formed. The sacrificial oxide film is used as an oxide film at a time when forming the well region in the region where the high withstand voltage circuit is formed. Then after forming the element isolating insulator film in the high and low withstand voltage circuits, the sacrificial oxide film is removed. Subsequently, a gate oxide film of desired thickness is deposited on each of the regions where the high and low withstand voltage circuits are formed. This manufacturing method requires the sacrificial oxide film to be formed by the time the element isolating insulator film is formed. As a result, its cost becomes higher and manufacturing steps become complicated.

Manufacturing method of semiconductor device