A broadband horn-like, linearly polarized antenna element is driven from a microstrip line and a balun. The horn is skeletonized, and has no sides, and consequently operates in TEM mode for broad frequency bandwidth. In another embodiment, two or more baluns feed the horn-like antenna element, thereby allowing a plurality of amplifiers or other sources to be combined at the antenna, for power summation or for multiplexing. An array of such elements, arranged for both vertical and horizontal polarization, makes a structure which presents mostly metallic surfaces, and is therefore rugged, and overpressure resistant.

Antenna arrays are widely used for communication and sensing in a variety of environments. Some of the environments, such as military shipboard use, are extremely harsh, in that the antenna arrays are subject to mechanical stress attributable to wind and high waves, and the corrosion attendant on a salt-water environment. Additionally, some antenna arrays may be expected to continue operation notwithstanding blast and radiation effects stemming from common or nuclear explosions.
Moreover, with communications and sensing becoming increasingly important, vehicles and communication sites carry many antennas, for covering various bands of frequencies, and for generating various different beam patterns. The proliferation of different antennas at a single site or installation tends to degrade the environment for the other antennas, making it more difficult to achieve the desired performance. For this reason, "broadband" antennas, which can cover broad bands of frequencies, are desired. However, it is difficult to achieve broad bandwidth from an antenna element, and especially so in the context of an antenna array.
Vivaldi and tapered notch antennas have been shown to have a bandwidth approaching 5:1 in an array context. However, these antennas are difficult to harden against the elements and blast overpressure.
Improved broadband, hardened antenna elements, suitable for use in a hardened antenna array, are desired.

Broadband antenna element, and array using such elements


A sandboxed application issues a request to enable content protection for audio and video content. The request is sent via an application programming interface to an unsandboxed application. The request is received from the unsandboxed application by an output device. After receiving the request, content protection is enabled and the output device employs a certificate to create a signed message indicating the content protection is enabled. The sandboxed application verifies the request has been fulfilled based on the signed message, and provides protected audio and video content.

Digital rights management (DRM) schemes attempt to prevent any use of digital content that is not desired or intended by the content provider. For example, High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is meant to stop HDCP-encrypted content from being played on devices that do not support HDCP, or on devices that have been modified to copy HDCP content. Before sending data, a transmitting device checks that the receiver is authorized to receive it. If so, the transmitter encrypts the data to prevent eavesdropping as it flows to the receiver.
DRM schemes may, however, be intrusive and touch many parts of a system. For example, many DRM schemes run with full (e.g., admin and root) access to a user's system, which can result in reduced security and privacy.
With "sandboxed" applications such as web browsers, a limited (i.e., sandboxed) "DRM" code may want to use content protection such as HDCP or a secure media path, for example to prevent copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across connections. Sandboxes, however, generally do not provide access to HDCP or secure media paths, and even if they did, the sandboxed "DRM" code would not be able to tell whether the other side of the sandbox is doing what is requested. Nor would it be able to determine if the environment outside the sandbox is trusted. Thus, an attacker could easily drop such requests, lie about the state, or intercept calls or data.
Accordingly, there exists a need for systems and methods to address the shortfalls of present technology and to provide other new and innovative features.

Securely enabling content protection across a sandboxed application boundary


A method and apparatus for retraining skew compensation in an interface is presented. In one embodiment, a retraining interval is determined, and counters in the transmitting agent and receiving agent count up until the retraining interval is reached. A tracking unit used to select one of several interpolated clocks may then be powered up, and a special retraining phit may be sent across the interface. During the retraining process, the transfer of flits into and out of the flow-control mechanism may be inhibited. When the retraining process is finished, the tracking unit may be powered down.

Microprocessor systems have until recently been interconnected via multi-drop data buses. The processors, memory controllers, input-output controllers (which may generally be termed "agents") would be able to exchange data over a common data bus structure. However, as data transmission rates become higher, limitations in the multi-drop data buses are becoming a problem. The electrical loadings and reflections in a multi-drop data bus system may limit the data transmission speed. In order to address these and other issues, newer systems are examining individual, dedicated point-to-point data interfaces between the agents of a system.
There will still exist variances among agents attempting to exchange data via the point-to-point interfaces. Source impedances, path impedances, and termination impedances may all vary due to process variations and other influences. Data skew among the various parallel data lines, and between the clock and data lines, may become more of a problem at higher data rates. For this reason, during an initialization process the two agents at the opposite ends of the point-to-point interface may exchange special data messages to support the initialization process. After the initialization process, it may still be possible for there to be changes in the data skew, requiring periodic retraining of the skew compensation circuits. Such retraining may interfere with the flow-control mechanism, which in one embodiment may include a link-layer protocol, which ensures error-free data transmission.

Method and apparatus for periodically retraining a serial links interface


A combination toaster oven and toaster appliance for cooking and heating foodstuff including a housing defining a food cavity therein and a heating element mounted in the housing for heating the food cavity. The housing includes a top wall and a front wall. A slot is located in the top wall and a door is movably mounted to the front wall. A toaster oven opening is located in the front wall and provides access to the food cavity. The door is movable between a closed position wherein the door covers the toaster oven opening and an open position wherein the door exposes the toaster oven opening and food cavity. A slot cover is movable between an extended position covering the slot and a retracted position exposing the slot.

Conventional household toasters and toaster ovens are common in the kitchen appliance art for toasting a foodstuff such as a slice of bread or a bagel and/or baking or heating a foodstuff such as a personal pizza or baked potato. The toaster and toaster oven are typically two separate units that each take up counter space in a kitchen. A combination toaster oven and toaster appliance has been developed which combines the toaster oven with the toaster in a single appliance. The combination toaster oven and toaster includes the pivotable front door of a conventional toaster oven and the toasting carriage and slot of a conventional toaster.
A prior art combination toaster oven and toaster appliance included a toaster slot at its top that was constantly open such that heat was able to flow out of the open, exposed toaster slot, severely compromising the efficiency of the toaster oven. In addition, any object that was dropped onto the top of the combination toaster oven and toaster appliance or into the slot during use of the toaster oven may be exposed to the high temperatures of the toaster oven and could potentially catch fire. If an item were to catch on fire in the prior art combination toaster oven and toaster appliance or the foodstuff being toasted in the toaster oven were to catch fire, the flames were able to leap out of the toaster slot and cause a burning hazard to a user or a general fire hazard to anything in close proximity to the exposed slot. Further, the user could set the toaster oven for baking at a predetermined baking temperature for an indeterminate or infinite amount of time and leave the combination toaster oven and toaster appliance unsupervised during the cooking cycle. Accordingly, the indefinitely timed or infinite cooking cycle was able to proceed at a high temperature without user supervision. This is undesirable in that a user may forget that the appliance is operating and electricity may be wasted or a fire may commence. Specifically, the prior art combination toaster oven and toaster appliance is typically a counter top appliance that may be positioned under kitchen cabinets during use, causing a fire hazard if flames extend out of an open toaster slot.
It would be advantageous to develop an appliance with the advantages of the prior art combination toaster oven and toaster appliance that prevented use of the toaster oven with an exposed slot. In addition, it would be desirable to design a combination toaster oven and toaster appliance that prevented an indefinite cooking cycle unless the toast slot was covered. In addition, it would be desirable for this appliance to include a toasting slot such that the appliance may be used as a toaster oven and a toaster such that kitchen countertop space is preserved.

Combination toaster oven and toaster appliance


A linear guiding unit comprises a guide housing (10). Inside the guide housing (10) there are provided linear ball bearings by which a carriage (40) is guided. Moreover, a pneumatic drive (56) is accommodated within the guide housing (10). The pneumatic drive comprises a cylinder cavity (58) inside the guide housing (10). The cylinder cavity (58) accommodates a piston (60). The piston (60) is movable along the cylinder cavity (58). The piston (60) is connected with the carriage (40) by a flexible rope (74). This flexible rope is sealingly passed through cover walls (66) of the cylinder cavity (58). The rope is deviated outside the cylinder cavity (58) and is fixed to the carriage (40). A cover belt (90) different from the rope covers a longitudinal opening (31) of the guide housing (10) through which the carriage can be connected with an object for common axial movement.

This invention concerns a linear guiding unit comprising an elongate guide housing having a longitudinal axis and wall means confining a guiding cavity, said wall means confining at least one longitudinal opening of said guiding cavity. The linear guiding unit further comprises at least one carriage guided within said guiding cavity by sliding or/and rolling means, said carriage being connectable through said longitudinal opening with an object to be guided along said longitudinal axis.
Linear guiding units of this type are used e.g. in machine tool assemblies for guiding a machine tool element or an object to be shaped by such a machine tool element. Frequently, it is necessary to provide driving means for moving said carriage along said longitudinal axis in accordance with a predetermined program of movement. Various types of driving means may be used. It is possible e.g. to use a cylinder piston device as driving means. If using such a cylinder piston device the cylinder component of the cylinder piston device may be integrated into the guide housing.


Alkoxysilane-terminated polymers prepared by reacting an isocyanatoalkoxysilane, preferably an isocyanatodialkyalkoxysilane, with an isocyanate-reactive prepolymer, can provide chain extension even when a monoalkoxy-functional silane, while retaining suitable reactivity profiles. The products are useful in sealants, caulks, coatings, and moldings.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to one-component blends comprising alkoxysilane-terminated polymers which cure at room temperature under the action of atmospheric moisture to form low-modulus compositions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Polymer systems which possess reactive alkoxysilyl groups have been known for a long time. In the presence of atmospheric moisture these alkoxysilane-terminated polymers are capable even at room temperature of undergoing condensation with one another, with the elimination of the alkoxy groups. Depending on the amount and structure of the alkoxysilane groups, the condensation products are principally long-chain polymers (thermoplastics), relatively wide-meshed three-dimensional networks (elastomers) or else highly crosslinked systems (thermosets).
The polymers concerned may be either alkoxysilane-terminated polymers with an organic backbone, such as polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, etc. described inter alia in EP-A-269 819, EP-A-931 800, WO 00/37533, U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,751 and DE-A-198 49 817, or polymers whose backbone is composed wholly or at least partly of organosiloxanes, described inter alia in WO 96/34030 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,657.
In accordance with the countless possibilities for designing such silane-terminated polymer systems, the properties of the uncrosslinked polymers or of the polymer-containing mixtures and also the properties of the crosslinked compositions (hardness, elasticity, etc.) can be adjusted. Correspondingly diverse, therefore, are the possible uses of such silane-terminated polymer systems. For example, they may be used for preparing elastomers, sealants, adhesives, elastic adhesion systems, rigid or flexible foams, and a very wide variety of coating systems, and in the medical sphere, for example for impression compounds in the dental sector. These products can be applied in any form, such as by brushing, spraying, pouring, pressing, trowelling, etc.
In many systems a substantial disadvantage lies in the contradictory effect of chain length or molecular weight of the polymer used and the processing properties in terms of the viscosity. High molecular weights are not only of interest owing to the higher mechanical strength associated with them but are also an important prerequisite for the preparation of low-modulus elastomers, as are required in particular in sealants. Where polymers of lower viscosity can be used in such compositions, the adjustment of the processing properties becomes much simpler and more flexible.
For example, a silicone polymer must be used with a viscosity which is as high as possible in order for the cured product to achieve the right properties in terms of ultimate tensile strength and elasticity for use in construction sealants. State of the art here is a polymer having a viscosity of at least 80 Pas. Such a polymer, however, gives rise to adverse properties in the paste, such as stringing, poor smoothability, and high plasticizer content. For setting these properties the ideal would be a polymer having a viscosity of not more than 20 Pas.
This tendency is even more pronounced in the context of the use of silane-terminated polyurethanes. Here, it is well-nigh impossible to prepare low-modulus compositions without significantly impairing the mechanical properties, generally as a result of additions of plasticizer.
A great advantage, therefore, would be alkoxysilane-terminated polymer systems which on curing bring about not only crosslinking but also a chain extension of the polymers. In order to reduce the crosslinking densities it is common to incorporate difunctional silanes into the polymers. Since the reactivity of such compositions is generally much lower, it is necessary to raise the amount of catalysts (usually containing tin) sharply. In this context it would be particularly advantageous to be able to use not only difunctional silanes but also monofunctional silanes, which are able to bring about chain extension exclusively. The known monofunctional silane end groups, based on silanes having trimethylene spacers between the organic functional unit and the silicon atom, however, are so slow to react that they generally function as "dead" chain ends.
DE-A 2543966 and DE-A 2445220 describe the use of polymers containing monofunctional alkoxysilane endgroups for preparing one- and two-component polysiloxane-polyurethane copolymers. Here, isocyanate-terminated polyurethanes are reacted with aminomethylmonoalkoxysilanes (especially cyclohexylaminomethyldimethylethoxysilane) and the polymers obtained are crosslinked with crosslinker units and OH-terminated polysiloxanes to form elastomers.
One of the disadvantages of this system is the fact that the reaction is tied to the use of isocyanate-terminated prepolymers. Polymers of this kind are normally prepared by reacting excess diisocyanates with polyols. As a result of the incorporation of the urethane groups, but in particular as a result of the large number of side reactions occurring when an excess of isocyanate is used (biuret formation, formation of urea bonds through hydrolysis of the NCO groups and condensation with further NCO groups, etc.), this generally leads to very viscous polymers. The incorporation of the aminosilanes to form urea groups reinforces this negative effect. To compensate for it these polymers must usually be synthesized with relatively low molecular weights. That, however, adversely affects the elastic behavior of the cured products. In the case of silanes with a functionality of two or three, only very brittle compositions of high modulus are generally obtained. The incorporation of monoalkoxy endgroups is certainly advantageous here. However, the modulus of these compositions is always very high and so presents problems for applications in the construction sealant sector.
As depicted in EP-A-931800, the incorporation of isocyanatosilanes results in a marked improvement in the properties of the sealants as compared with corresponding polymers prepared by way of aminosilanes. However, it has not proven possible to date to use monofunctional silanes here, since the silanes customary at present, with trimethylene spacers, as already mentioned above, have a reactivity which is much too low.

Cross-linkable polymer blends containing alkoxysilane-terminated polymers

Consortium fuer Elektrochemische Industrie GmbH


The present invention discloses a method and system for providing custom vehicular monitoring gauges for individuals. The custom vehicular monitoring gauges include a display face having an upper show surface and a lower surface. A sensor scale and a display area are located on the upper show surface of the display face. A predetermined graphic design is located on the display area. The predetermined graphic design comprises a plurality of gems set in a predefined pattern to form the predetermined graphic design. The sensor scale may also comprise a plurality of gems set in a predefined pattern to form the sensor scale.

1. Technical Field
The present invention related generally to vehicular monitoring systems, and more particularly, to a custom vehicular monitoring system for individuals desiring custom vehicular gauges.
2. Related Art
Over the past several years, there has been a dramatic resurgence in custom automobile and motorcycle design as well as custom accessories for automobiles and motorcycles in particular. Several recently introduced television shows that run on various networks are exclusively dedicated to the custom design of automobiles and motorcycles. Many enthusiasts spend thousands of dollars customizing their automobile or motorcycle and take great pride in the fact that their vehicle has been customized. In fact, some enthusiasts prefer every component of their automobile or motorcycle to be customized in some way or another to distinguish their vehicle from those owned by others.
Conventional vehicle gauges or monitoring devices include a display face that is surrounded by a casing. The display face may be manufactured from metal or plastic and is typically painted one face color, such as white or black. The gauges also include a sensor scale that is either painted on the display or stuck on the display face in the form of stickers. A needle-like indicator sticking through an aperture in the display face is typically used to indicate the level or status of something being monitored by the gauge. The indicator may be manufactured from plastic or metal and may take various shapes. Other than possibly making the casing out of chrome or having some other type of highly polished finish, the look and feel of vehicular monitoring gauges has somewhat remained constant for decades. Typically, a consumer may only choose from one or two types of gauges for any given vehicle, which leaves few options available for customization.
As such, a need exists for a customized vehicular monitoring device that gives custom vehicle enthusiasts the ability to custom design a vehicular monitoring device for their specific vehicle.


There is provided a communication device capable of transmitting a transfer rate request signal while reducing it and reducing the interference and power consumption when the transfer rate request signal is transmitted substantially without lowering the transmission efficiency in the MIMO communication method. In this device, a modulation encoding unit (125) encodes and modulates transmission data transmitted to a communication partner of the MIMO communication method and the transfer rate request signal in the plurality of transmission antennas. A transmission unit (132) and a transmission antenna (134) transmit a signal from the modulation encoding unit (125). A transmission control unit (120) controls transmission of a signal transmitted from the transmission antenna (134) and transmits a transfer rate request signal of one transmission antenna via the transmission antenna (134) according to a comparison result between a difference of the transfer rate request signal in the respective transmission antenna of the communication partner and a predetermined value.

In recent years, MIMO (Multi-Input/Multi-Output) communication attracts attention as a technique that enables communication of large amount of data such as image. In MIMO communication, different transmission data (substreams) is respectively transmitted from a plurality of antennas of a transmitting side, and, on the receiving side, a plurality of transmission data mixed together on a channel is demultiplexed to the original transmission data using a channel estimation value.
In actuality, in MIMO communication, signals transmitted from a transmitting apparatus are received at the number of antennas larger than or equal to the number of transmitting apparatuses, and the channel characteristics between the antennas are estimated based on pilot signals inserted in the signals received at the antennas.
The estimated channel characteristics H is expressed by the matrix 2×2 when there are two transmitting antennas and two receiving antennas, for example. In MIMO communication, based on the inverse matrix of the obtained channel characteristics H and the received signals obtained at receiving antennas, the transmission signals (substream) transmitted from transmitting antennas are obtained.
The principle of MIMO communication, when the number of antennas of transmitter 10 and receiver 20 is two, respectively, will be described using FIG. 1A. Here, the signals transmitted from antennas 11 and 12 of transmitter 10 are TX1 and TX2, respectively, and the signals received by antennas 21 and 22 of receiver 20 are RX1 and RX2, respectively. At this time, the received signals (RX1 and RX2) can be expressed by equation 1 shown in FIG. 1B.
Here, in equation 1, A indicates the channel characteristics between transmitting antenna 11 and receiving antenna 21, B indicates the channel characteristics between transmitting antenna 12 and receiving antenna 21, C indicates the channel characteristics between transmitting antenna 11 and receiving antenna 22 and D indicates the channel characteristics between transmitting antenna 12 and receiving antenna 22.
At this time, when only signal TX1 is transmitted to receiver 20, for example, TX2 becomes an interference signal for receiver 20, and the signal received by antenna 21 includes both the desired signal component and interference signal component. The same holds true for antenna 22.
In order to remove (compensate) the above interference signal component from the received signals and obtain the transmission signals (TX1 and TX2), it is necessary to obtain the inverse matrix of the matrix formed with four channel characteristics A, B, C and D, as shown in equation 2. Therefore, transmitter 10 transmits a signal where a known signal (for example, a pilot signal) for channel estimation is inserted in the transmission signal, and receiver 20 performs channel estimation based on this known signal, obtains channel characteristics A, B, C and D, and obtains the above inverse matrix.
In actuality, the steps for obtaining the transmission signals (TX1 and TX2) from the received signals (RX1 and RX2) include operations such as a ZF (Zero-Forcing) operation that demultiplexes substreams (each data) only through the inverse matrix operation expressed by equation 2 or an MMSE (Minimum Mean Square Error) operation that performs demultiplexing so as to minimize an error.
Thus, in MIMO communication, theoretically, a plurality of signals transmitted at the same frequency and at the same time can be respectively demultiplexed at the receiver, thereby enabling high-speed and high-capacity communication.
By the way, in a MIMO communication scheme, a plurality of transmission systems that use radio sections provided with power amplifiers having large power consumption are required on the transmitting side. It is well known that, when a MIMO communication scheme is applied to uplink, the power consumption of receiver 20 will become extremely large. Further, downlink is considered important with respect to the throughput of a MIMO communication scheme. For these reasons, a MIMO communication scheme is generally used only in downlink.
In such a MIMO communication scheme, as disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, to further improve the throughput, a method is studied of independently setting a transmission rate per antenna and transmitting a CQI (Channel Quality Indicator), which is a transmission rate setting signal of each antenna.
A CQI is a signal that indicates the modulation scheme and coding rate of packet data that can be demodulated in receiver 20. Transmitter 10, such as a base station, for example, has the CQI transmitted from receiver 20 at a period set by an upper apparatus such as an RNC (Radio Network Controller). Transmitter 10 receiving the CQI performs scheduling using the CQI transmitted from receiver 20 and independently selects per antenna the optimum modulation scheme and coding rate. Then, transmitter 10 modulates and encodes the transmission data using the selected modulation scheme and coding rate, and transmits the data to receiver 20 based on the scheduling result. By this means, by adaptively changing the transmission rate according to the radio wave propagation environment, it is possible to transmit large amount of data from transmitter 10 to receiver 20.
Non-Patent Document 1: 3GPP TR25.876

Communication device and communication method


The oil-free screw compressor includes: a screw rotor including a screw and a shaft; a bearing; a first shaft seal device disposed between the screw and the bearing, the first shaft seal device including: a first seal and a first communication section; a second shaft seal device disposed between the first shaft seal device and the bearing, the second shaft seal device including: a second seal and a second communication section; and a first seal member including a seal between the first communication section and the second communication section. The casing includes an atmosphere communication section configured to communicate the first communication section and the second communication section with an atmosphere. A sectional area in the first communication section is larger than a sectional area between the seal of the first seal member and the shaft.

Conventionally, an oil-free screw compressor in which lubricating oil is not supplied to between a screw of a male screw rotor and a screw of a female screw rotor, which engage with each other, has been used. In such an oil-free screw compressor, lubricating oil that has been supplied to a bearing supporting a shaft of the screw rotor is prevented from intruding into a rotor chamber accommodating the screw of the screw rotor. In particular, when a negative pressure is generated in the rotor chamber during an unload operation being an operation in a state where suction into the screw compressor is limited, the lubricating oil in the bearing is prevented from intruding into the rotor chamber.
For instance, an oil-free screw compressor described in JP S61-144289 U has tubular-shaped first and second shaft seal devices that are fitted on a shaft of a screw rotor and are disposed between a screw of the screw rotor and a bearing. The first shaft seal device is disposed on the screw side of the screw rotor, and has a seal provided on the inner peripheral face of the first shaft seal device, and a communication section provided on the bearing side with respect to the seal and communicating between the inner peripheral face side and the outer peripheral face side of the first shaft seal device. On the other hand, the second shaft seal device is disposed on the bearing side of the first shaft seal device, and has a seal provided on the inner peripheral face of the second shaft seal device, and a communication section provided on the screw side of the screw rotor with respect to the seal and communicating between the inner peripheral face side and the outer peripheral face side of the second shaft seal device. The communication section of the first shaft seal device communicates with the atmosphere outside of a casing for accommodating the screw rotor via a first atmosphere communication section formed in the casing. On the other hand, the communication section of the second shaft seal device communicates with the atmosphere outside of the casing via a second atmosphere communication section formed in the casing.
By a negative pressure generated in the rotor chamber during the unload operation, the atmosphere outside of the casing flows in from the communication section of the first shaft seal device. However, only with the communication section of the first shaft seal device, a negative pressure may be generated in the seal on the inner peripheral face of the second shaft seal device, and a small amount of lubricating oil may intrude into the rotor chamber. To eliminate the negative pressure generated in the seal for preventing intrusion of the lubricating oil, the atmosphere outside of the casing also flows in from the communication section of the second shaft seal device.


Methods, systems, and circuits for training a neural network include applying noise to a set of training data across wordlines using a respective noise switch on each wordline. A neural network is trained using the noise-applied training data to generate a classifier that is robust against adversarial training.

The present invention generally relates to machine learning systems and, more particularly, to generating noise for use in resisting adversarial training attacks in a manner that is integrated with an in-memory computing architecture.
Adversarial training is a technique for attacking systems that employ machine learning. By providing malicious inputs to the machine learning system, adversarial training causes the learned model to adapt to input that is not representative of the expected input. Adversarial training can thereby trick a machine learning system into accepting or rejecting inputs that its designers did not intend.

Integrated noise generation for adversarial training

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Method and apparatus for effecting mode switching from a transmission mode to a command mode of an intelligent modem operatively coupled to a digital data device and a telephone line is disclosed. A termination of the modem's transmission mode is effected after a predetermined silent time interval in which no data is received from the device and prior to the transmission of additional data on the line. Operation of the modem switches to a buffer mode in which data sent from the device is temporarily stored instead of being transmitted on the telephone line. If the stored data is a proper escape sequence, operation of the modem switches to the command mode. If a proper escape sequence is not received, operation of the modem switches to a purge mode in which the stored data is transmitted on the telephone line. The apparatus comprises a data interface, a novel modem controller and a modem engine. The modem controller includes the data buffer for storing the data received from the digital data device when operating in the buffer mode.

A digital modulator-demodulator or "modem" is a data communications device which allows communication between digital computers or other digital data devices over voice-grade telephone lines. The modem converts digital data signals from the computer or device into a form of analog signal, discrete in time value, that is suitable for transmission over analog voice band circuits, and vice versa for incoming data signals.
Intelligent modems are available which perform functions in addition to the modulation and demodulation of data. For example, intelligent modems will accept coded signals from the user to control certain aspects of the modem's transmission or reception parameters. These coded signals comprise a standard command set such as that known as the "AT" command set, for example. An exemplary AT command is given by the instruction characters "ATSO=4" which is used to enable the automatic answer feature of the modem and select the number (in this instance four) of rings to be counted before the modem answers the telephone line. In conventional intelligent modems the coded signals are provided to the modem in what is referred to as a "command mode." When the modem is operating in the command mode, the coded signals are not transmitted over the telephone line, but are implemented internally by the modem. The command mode is distinguished from a "transmission mode" during which data transmission occurs over the telephone line. The transmission mode is also sometimes referred to as the "on-line" mode or the "transparent" mode. When the modem is operating in the transmission mode a mechanism is provided for switching the operation of the modem to the command mode for implementing command instructions, it being understood that such occurs without loss of the communications link over the telephone line. A known mode switching mechanism is to issue a predetermined sequence of escape commands referred to as an "escape sequence" during the transmission mode. In order to avoid an unintended transition into the command mode, the escape sequence is typically preceded or bounded by a silent interval of a predetermined time duration in which no data is being transmitted on the line.
The foregoing conventional mode switching mechanism has certain disadvantages. Because the escape sequence is entered during the transmission mode, the escape sequence data is unnecessarily transmitted on the telephone line to the receiving device. This results in the receipt of spurious information by the receiving device and may also initiate potentially damaging commands in the receiving device. Further, at least two separate instructions are required in order to effect a transition from the transmission mode to the command mode and execute a command.


A molding apparatus and method of use thereof. The molding apparatus has a stationary mold base, and at least one moveable mold core rotatable into and out of a facing relationship with the stationary mold base. When the moveable mold core is in its closed position, it cooperates with the stationary mold base to define a mold cavity. The mold base may be shaped so as to aid in forming a part, or to hold a sheet of material onto which molding material is to be deposited so as to encapsulate the part on one or more edges or surface regions. Structure may also be encapsulated onto the surface of the material during the molding operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for molding. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for encapsulating all, or a portion, of a sheet of material and/or encapsulating structure on the surface thereof. Most particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for encapsulating all or part of a glass sheet for use as an automotive glazing. The scope of the present invention will be understood to cover the products made by the disclosed method and apparatus, as well as the particular mold structure described herein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the molding method and apparatus disclosed relate generally to glass sheets which are commonly employed as glazing closures in present day vehicles such as automobiles and the like. In addition to such glass sheets being bent to precisely defined curvatures dictated by the configuration and size of openings in the vehicle body, in order to meet strict quality standards of manufacturers, it is necessary to apply to the sheets of material items such as a gasket around a predetermined portion of the sheet of material, mounting brackets or studs at the location of the gasket, or at other positions on the surface of the sheet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,625 discloses a mold structure for forming a polymeric gasket around a predetermined portion of a sheet of transparent material such as glass. The mold structure includes two cooperating mold sections for defining a chamber for receiving the transparent sheet. A seal is positioned about the periphery of the chamber and is utilized to resiliently support the sheet within the chamber. Also the seal cooperates with a predetermined portion of the transparent sheet for defining a gasket cavity having a configuration corresponding to the gasket to be formed on the sheet of transparent material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,481 discloses a mold for forming a window assembly which includes a transparent glass sheet and gaskets formed by curing a polymeric gasket material in situ on the glass sheet to encapsulate a marginal peripheral edge portion thereof. A glass sheet to be utilized in a vehicle has a front edge, rear edge, and a lower edge to each of which is adhered such a gasket. In addition, a bracket means for attachment to a scissor linkage for raising and lowering the window can be secured to the lower edge of the window.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,155 discloses a method for molding surface structure onto the surface of a glass sheet.
While the above-mentioned patents show the forming of a gasket or encapsulation of the peripheral edge of a sheet of material, and the attachment of a bracket on the peripheral edge of a sheet of material, as well as molding onto the surface of the glass material of mold material, they do not show the attaching of a bracket onto the surface of the glass nor do they show a satisfactory apparatus for so doing. Thus, those skilled in the art continued to search for a solution of how to satisfactorily encapsulate a sheet of material while also encapsulating studs, brackets, and the like.
The aforementioned problems are addressed in accordance with the present invention by the utilization of a unique mold structure not heretofore found in the prior art, together with a novel method of using said mold structure. In its broadest form, the method and apparatus of the present invention may be used to mold almost any part which is currently injection molded. A portion of a mold cavity may be provided in a mold base, with at least one portion of a mold cavity being provided in at least one moveable mold core.
In one embodiment of the invention, the molding apparatus of the present invention is used to encapsulate a sheet of material, and includes a stationery mold base having a facing surface, a shaped surface, and slanted glass contacting surface, a shoulder portion, and a recess portion. Cooperating with the mold base is at least one movable mold core. Stop means and vacuum heads are provided in the stationary base to hold a sheet of material in proper relationship thereto such that all or a portion of the sheet of material will be encapsulated, with or without attachments, when one or more movable cores are positioned in a mating or facing relationship with said mold base.
In another embodiment of the invention, a moveable side core and a moveable top core, each having a portion of a mold cavity formed therein, will rotate into an opposed mating or facing relationship with a stationary mold base. The sheet of glass to be encapsulated will be interposed between the mold base and the cores, and may define and/or become part of the mold cavity. The portions of the glass surface and periphery on which a molding material will be deposited will be further defined by seal means. Provisions may be made in one or more of the cores to hold brackets, hinges or the like to be encapsulated either on the periphery, or the surface, of the sheet of material.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, a glass sheet having had a ceramic enamel band previously applied thereto is placed into a stationary mold base and held in place by retractable stops and vacuum heads. A moveable side core and a moveable top core, and associated seals, are rotated into position so that the facing surfaces of the mold will be adjacent and define a mold cavity. Polymeric or other molding material is introduced into the mold cavity defined thereby to encapsulate the top and side edges of the sheet of glass, as well as to apply and encapsulate a hinge onto the surface of the glass, if desired.
In a still further embodiment of the invention, a sheet of glass will be encapsulated on one surface only. A stationary mold base will have at least one slidable portion. A sheet of glass will be placed in position in the mold base, with the top and side cores open. The slidable portion of the mold base is closed. A seal in the slidable portion of the mold base will seal against a desired edge region of the glass sheet to prevent elastomeric material from molding on to, or encapsulating the edge region, the top and side cores will rotate to their closed position, and elastomeric material will be introduced into a mold cavity formed by the glass sheet and the top and side cores. After the molding process, the glass sheet will be removed, and will have encapsulation on one side or surface only.
Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a unique molding method and apparatus for injection molding a part.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for encapsulating a sheet of material on one surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for encapsulating a sheet of material on two surfaces.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an unique mold structure to provide for the encapsulation of a sheet of glass and accessories.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a part manufactured according to the foregoing method and apparatus which has one or more edges thereof encapsulated, and has a mounting bracket or hinge encapsulated proximate a surface thereof.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims, reference made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.


An image processing system has an input portion to which pixel data is input. A convolution processing portion processes each set of pixels in a predetermined convolution area and outputs a processed data by every predetermined convolution area. A computational portion calculates a parameter necessary for a image processing according to the processed data from the convolution processing portion. A converting portion comprises a selector receiving the output of the computational portion, a high speed memory receiving the output of the selector and a light computational portion for performing a light computation to which the output of the high speed memory is input and the output of which is input to one input of the selector.

The term "image processing" has a wide meaning in the art. Image processing includes clarifying an inputted picture, recognizing a picture by abstracting characteristics thereof, and computer graphics technology for example. Image processing also includes special effects technologies such as chroma-keying, which is an image processing method to compose two or more images according to a color in the image. For example, an announcer may stand in front of a blue screen in a studio and a view of the outdoors is composed with the image of the studio, within the blue background. This will make it look as though the announcer were standing outdoors. Special effects technologies also include frame composition, frame division and other special effects used in broadcasting systems. Image processing systems include digital types, analog types, and composite types, which are a composite of the analog and digital types. The digital type image processing system is regarded as the most important because of its high quality of processed data, reappearance, stability in information and the variety of different kinds of processing which can be performed. However, the digital type image processing system processes an image as an aggregate of a number of pixels. This typically requires an immense number of calculation steps and therefore a long time in order to process a sufficient number of pixels with sufficient graduation, and relationship therebetween, for practical use such as for design use, broadcasting use, etc.
For instance, measurement of a particle-size distribution in a typical picture of 512.times.512 pixels with a graduation of 8 bits for each of the primary colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B), has typically required about 20 minutes calculation time for one frame, using a general purpose personal computer with a calculation processor. Even when using a super-computer of 20 MIPs, this calculation still takes several seconds of processing period. This has prevented the prior art image processor from being used in real-time.
In order to solve this problem of a long calculation period, special-purpose integrated circuits (ICs) have been proposed. For instance, a cathode ray tube controller (CRTC) has been proposed for affine transformation or displaying of a picture, and a specialized integrated circuit for image analyzing of a predetermined number of pixels have been proposed. Unfortunately, these special purpose ICs are only applicable to narrow and specialized types of image processing. A system including such special purpose ICs therefore has a low cost-performance because of its narrowly restricted application. Since such ICs are designed without considering the cooperation with other ICs, particularly ICs made by other companies, it is substantially impossible to construct a multi-purpose image processing system by using a plurality of such ICs.
Some special-purpose hardware systems have been designed for special manufacturing lines. Such a system is, however, usually useful for only one purpose and is restricted in its operating conditions. When the particular condition is not that which was intended, a frequent measurement error may occur or measurement may become impossible. Newly improved image processing algorithms can not be introduced into such systems due to their lack of flexibility.


A liquid processing apparatus includes containers 26, 27, 26a, 26b surrounding processing chambers 51, 52 for accommodating a plurality of wafers W and nozzles 54, 56 for supplying a processing liquid to the substrates W in order to perform a liquid process. The nozzles 54, 56 are respectively equipped with a plurality of ejecting orifices 53, 55 capable of ejecting the processing liquid in a plane manner, allowing the substrates W to be processed uniformly and effectively.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid processing apparatus for applying a designated liquid treatment on various substrates, for example, semiconductor wafers, LCD glass substrates, etc. and also relates to a liquid processing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in the manufacturing process of semiconductor devices, there is used a liquid processing apparatus for removing contaminations (e.g. particles, organic contaminations, metallic impurities, etc.), organic matter, oxide films from semiconductor wafers (which will be called "wafers etc." hereinafter) as the substrates.
For example, as a sort of "wafer" liquid processing apparatuses, there is known a liquid processing apparatus that includes a processing chamber liquid for accommodating a plurality of wafers and also processing the so-accommodated wafers in a batch. The known liquid processing apparatus is equipped with nozzles each having an ejecting orifice to eject a treatment liquid in substantially conical shape. While using the so-constructed nozzles, the liquid treatment is carried out by ejecting the treatment liquid against the wafers rotating in the in-plane directions, from their lateral upside of the wafers.
In the above-mentioned processing method, however, the treatment liquid does not come into effective contact with the surfaces of the wafers since a lot of liquid upon contact with the side faces of the wafers spatters on the inner wall of the processing chamber and the so-spattered liquid is drained along the inner wall subsequently. In other words, the above-mentioned processing apparatus and method have a problem of great consumption of the treatment liquid in order to remove the contaminations on the wafers, being accompanied with an extend time for processing the wafers furthermore. Additionally, in spite of great consumption of the treatment liquid, there still remains a possibility of insufficient removal of contaminations, easily causing the occurrence of unevenness in the liquid treatment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An agent assisting system for providing assistance to agents of contact center during calls is provided. The agent assisting system includes a monitoring module configured to monitor parameters of a call coming to the contact center. The agent assisting system further includes a sentiment detector module configured to detect sentiments of a user during the call. The agent assisting system further includes a pattern matching module configured to determine a script for an agent handling the call, based on the parameters of the call and the sentiments of the user during the call, wherein the script providing instructions to the agent to improve handling of the call. The agent assisting system further includes a script publishing module configured to publish the script to the agent handling the call.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system and method for managing service levels of a contact center and particularly to a system and method for assisting agents of the contact center during calls.
2. Description of Related Art
Contact centers are employed by many enterprises to service inbound and outbound contacts from customers. A typical contact center includes a switch and/or server to receive and route incoming packet-switched and/or circuit-switched contacts and one or more resources, such as human agents and automated resources (e.g., Interactive Voice Response (IVR) units), to service the incoming contacts. Contact centers distribute contacts, whether inbound or outbound, for servicing to any suitable resource according to predefined criteria. In many existing systems, the criteria for servicing the contact from the moment that the contact center becomes aware of the contact until the contact is connected to an agent are client or operator-specifiable (i.e., programmable by the operator of the contact center), via a capability called vectoring. Normally, in present-day ACDs when the ACD system's agent assisting system detects an agent has become available to handle a contact, the agent assisting system identifies all predefined contact-handling queues for the agent (usually in some order of priority) and delivers to the agent the highest-priority, oldest contact that matches the agent's highest-priority queue. Generally, the only condition that results in a contact not being delivered to an available agent is where there are no contacts waiting to be handled.
The primary objective of contact center management is to ultimately maximize contact center performance and profitability. An ongoing challenge in contact center administration is monitoring and optimizing contact center efficiency. Contact center efficiency is generally measured in two ways.
Service level is one measurement of contact center efficiency. Service level is typically determined by dividing the number of contacts accepted within the specified period by the number accepted plus the number not accepted, but completed in some other way (e.g., abandoned, given busy, canceled, flowed out). Of course, service level definitions may vary from one enterprise to another.
Match rate is another indicator used in measuring contact center efficiency. Match rate is usually determined by dividing the number of contacts accepted by a primary skill level agent within a period of time by the number of contacts accepted by any agent for a queue over the same period. An agent with a primary skill level is one that typically can handle contacts of a certain nature most effectively and/or efficiently. There are other contact center agents that may not be as proficient as the primary skill level agent, and those agents are identified either as secondary skill level agents or backup skill level agents. As can be appreciated, contacts received by a primary skill level agent are typically handled more quickly and accurately or effectively (e.g., higher revenue attained) than a contact received by a secondary or even backup skill level agent. Thus, it is an objective of most contact centers to optimize match rate along with service level.
In addition to service level and match rate performance measures, contact centers use other Key Performance Indicators ("KPIs"), such as revenue, estimated, actual, or predicted wait time, average speed of answer, throughput, agent utilization, agent performance, agent responsiveness and the like, to calculate performance relative to their Service Level Agreements ("SLAs"). Operational efficiency is achieved when KPIs are managed near, but not above, SLA levels.
Throughput is a measure of the number of calls/contact requests or work requests that can be processed in a given amount of time. Agent utilization is a measure of how efficiently agents' time is being used. Customer service level is a measure of the time customers spend waiting for their work to be handled. Company contact center customers wish to provide service to as many requests as possible in a given amount of time, using the least number of agents to do so, and minimizing the wait time for their customers.
Typically, when a new work request arrives into a contact center, a most suitable agent to work on it is selected by the contact center to handle the work request. However, all agents are not at same level in the contact center. Some of the agents are very skilled (also called as gold rated agents), but some of the agents are not very skilled, but having some minimum skills (also called silver rated agents). Hence, it is possible all gold rated agents are busy at some time. The contact center may forward calls at those times to silver rated agents. However, as discussed above, silver rated agents have only basic skill level, and there is no guarantee those calls will be handled at the same quality provided by gold rated agents. Hence, customers at those calls will remain unsatisfied by the handling of their calls, and this may affect business of contact center.
Further, contact centers keep hiring new agents depending upon the contact centers' requirement. Training of new agents is typically done at back-end, without exposing them to real time environment, as there are chances of mishandling of calls. After some initial training, new agents require exposure of real time training for improving their skills level. However, the contact centers do not want to lose business because of it. Hence, in a conventional contact center, coaching of the agents is done with assistance of a supervisor, who generally sits alongside an agent, and provides prompts and assistance on an ongoing basis during a training shift in real time environment. The supervisor may also sit elsewhere like his/her desk and use features such as observe/whisper to listen in to ongoing calls and provide necessary help to the agents through telephone calls, emails, or over an intranet. However, these traditional processes are manual, stress full and time consuming for a supervisor. Further, there also chances of mishandling of calls, as the supervisor can't help all agents in his/her team at same time.
There is thus a need for a contact center that can assist agents during calls and provide necessary training to the agents to handle calls in a real time environment.

System and method for assisting agents of a contact center


A radiation dosimeter system and method for estimating a deposited radiation dose to an object involves locating at least one radiation dosimeter at the object. The radiation dosimeter includes a radiation sensitive medium having an optical property that changes due to the deposited radiation dose. An optical interrogation signal is provided to the radiation dosimeter via an enclosed optical path for interacting with the radiation sensitive medium. During irradiation, the optical interrogation signal is transformed into an optical information signal that encodes an ionizing radiation induced change in the optical property of the radiation sensitive medium. The radiation dosimeter system then processes the optical information signal for estimating the deposited radiation dose.

Approximately 50% of cancer patients receive radiation therapy for treatment of their disease. A majority of the treatments are divided into fractions, in which radiation doses are delivered daily over several weeks. Treating patients with an ionizing radiation dose that is within 5% of the prescribed dose is vital to their recovery, elimination of cancerous growth and is also required by the International Commission of Radiation Units and Measurements [ICRU Report 24, 1976]. Accordingly, performing quality assurance on the delivered treatment is important for exposing any inconsistencies in treatment delivery so that the prescribed dose for the fraction of delivered radiation in the next treatment can be altered to increase the efficacy of the treatment. Furthermore, ionizing radiation is employed in diagnostic tests and in interventional imaging procedures. The measurement of applied dose is of great value in these contexts.
Currently, there are a few techniques used to estimate the actual amount of radiation that is given to a patient. However, many of these techniques are not used during each treatment session, do not provide a real time estimate of the delivered radiation dose, or cannot be used in situ (i.e. placed within the tissue of the patient).
One way to estimate the dose to be delivered to a patient is to rely on a dose measured with an accepted dosimeter (MOSFET or ion chamber) within a phantom. A phantom is an inanimate representation of the patient for purposes of dosimetry. However, this technique does not provide the actual applied dose, and a conversion from dose in phantom to dose in patient would still have to be performed. It can give a general estimate of dose delivered to the volume treated and provide a rough shape of dose distribution. However, the best estimate of dose is always one that is measured during the actual treatment, as there are many differences between a phantom and an actual patient (i.e. properties of tissue vary within a patient and between patients, breathing motion, internal organ motion between treatments, etc).
One technique for measuring dose to the patient in current, limited use is to rely on thermal luminescence dosimeters (TLD), which are often used in the personal monitors that are worn by workers in environments in which radiation is used to determine the radiation exposure of the workers. The personal monitors contain radiation sensitive material that may be analyzed to determine radiation dose. Current accepted processing methods typically require post-exposure, high-temperature curing followed by rigorous processing steps, and therefore cannot provide a radiation dose measurement right away. The TLD material may be placed on the patient during radiation therapy and used to do initial measurements at the beginning of a patient's treatment program. However, because of the rigorous processing procedure required, at best, the dose is read out the same day as the treatment is delivered and not immediately after or during the treatment.
Another radiation dosimeter that is currently in limited use is MOSFET-based. The MOSFET-based radiation dosimeter includes metallic components and the signal is transmitted via metallic conductive wires. While it is possible to use metallic components in the dosimeter, the metallic components and wires interact with the ionizing radiation which may prevent accurate measurements from being made.
Another type of dosimeter is an ionization micro-chamber dosimeter that relies on electronics-based measurements, and has inner metallic components. The inside of the ionization micro-chamber, which can be as small as 2.0 mm3, is filled with air. The interaction of a volume of air with ionizing radiation is quite different than that of the same volume of water. Hence the air also contributes to the alteration of prescribed dose in the vicinity of the detector. Aside from these issues, ionization micro-chamber dosimeters are also quite expensive (i.e. approximately $5,000 CDN). At this price, it would be extremely difficult to implement such a dosimeter for daily patient dosimetry, unless each dosimeter was sterilized and reused (but this can also be costly). The ionization micro-chamber dosimeters are also complicated to use, and are generally operated by physicists.
Metallic wires may still be used in a dosimeter. However, it is beneficial to use another material that won't affect radiation delivery or radiation measurement, is cost-effective, and is safe and robust for use with patients. Further, there is a need for radiation dosimeters that can determine the amount of radiation that is delivered to the surface as well as the sub-surface of the patient during treatment. It is also desirable to have a radiation dosimeter that enables estimation of the delivered radiation dose quickly (in real-time), so that the medical practitioner can stop treatment and adjust the prescribed radiation dose during current treatment session if necessary.

Apparatus and method for determining radiation dose


A pole layer incorporates a track width defining portion and a wide portion. The track width defining portion has an end face that is located in the medium facing surface and that defines the track width. The maximum width of the wide portion is greater than the track width and equal to or greater than the length of the wide portion taken in the direction orthogonal to the medium facing surface. When the coil is generating no magnetic field, in the end face of the track width defining portion, there exist first and second regions in which the directions of components of magnetization orthogonal to the medium facing surface are opposite.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording used for recording data on a recording medium by means of a perpendicular magnetic recording system, and to a head gimbal assembly, a head arm assembly, and a magnetic disk drive each of which incorporates the magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording.
2. Description of the Related Art
The recording systems of magnetic read/write devices include a longitudinal magnetic recording system wherein signals are magnetized in the direction along the surface of the recording medium (the longitudinal direction) and a perpendicular magnetic recording system wherein signals are magnetized in the direction orthogonal to the surface of the recording medium. It is known that the perpendicular magnetic recording system is harder to be affected by thermal fluctuation of the recording medium and capable of implementing higher linear recording density, compared with the longitudinal magnetic recording system.
It is known that there are types of magnetic heads for perpendicular magnetic recording one of which is a single-pole head and another one of which is a shield-type head. The single-pole head comprises: a medium facing surface that faces toward a recording medium; a coil for generating a magnetic field corresponding to data to be written on the recording medium; a pole layer (main pole) having an end face located in the medium facing surface, allowing a magnetic flux corresponding to the field generated by the coil to pass therethrough, and generating a write magnetic field for writing the data on the recording medium by means of the perpendicular magnetic recording system; an auxiliary pole having an end face located in the medium facing surface and having a portion that is located away from the medium facing surface and coupled to the pole layer; and a gap layer made of a nonmagnetic material and provided between the pole layer and the auxiliary pole. In the medium facing surface the end face of the auxiliary pole is located backward or forward of the end face of the pole layer along the direction of travel of the recording medium. The auxiliary pole has a function of returning a magnetic flux that has been generated from the end face of the pole layer and has magnetized the recording medium.
The shield-type head comprises: a medium facing surface that faces toward a recording medium; a coil for generating a magnetic field corresponding to data to be written on the recording medium; a pole layer having an end face located in the medium facing surface, allowing a magnetic flux corresponding to the field generated by the coil to pass therethrough, and generating a write magnetic field for writing the data on the recording medium by means of the perpendicular magnetic recording system; a write shield layer having an end face located in the medium facing surface and having a portion that is located away from the medium facing surface and coupled to the pole layer; and a gap layer made of a nonmagnetic material and provided between the pole layer and the write shield layer. In the medium facing surface the end face of the write shield layer is located forward of the end face of the pole layer along the direction of travel of the recording medium with a specific small space created by the thickness of the gap layer. The end face of the write shield layer has a width greater than that of the end face of the pole layer. The end face of the write shield layer has an area greater than that of the end face of the pole layer. In the shield-type head the write shield layer is capable of making the magnetic field gradient abrupt by taking in the magnetic flux generated from the pole layer. As a result, the shield-type head is capable of further improving the linear recording density. The magnetic field gradient means an amount of change of components orthogonal to the surface of the recording medium among components of the magnetic field generated from the pole layer, the amount of change being taken per unit length along the direction of travel of the recording medium. The write shield layer also has a function of returning a magnetic flux that has been generated from the end face of the pole layer and has magnetized the recording medium.
In each of the single-pole head and the shield-type head, the pole layer incorporates a track width defining portion and a wide portion, for example. The track width defining portion has an end located in the medium facing surface, and defines the track width. The wide portion is coupled to the other end of the track width defining portion and has a width greater than the width of the track width defining portion. The width of the track width defining portion is nearly uniform. For example, the wide portion is equal in width to the track width defining portion at the interface with the track width defining portion, and gradually increases in width as the distance from the medium facing surface increases and then maintains a specific width to the end of the wide portion.
For the magnetic head to achieve higher recording density, particularly required are a reduction in track width, that is, a reduction in width of the end face of the pole layer located in the medium facing surface, and an improvement in write characteristics. However, if the track width is reduced, write characteristics such as an overwrite property that is a parameter indicating an overwriting capability are degraded. Therefore, it is required to achieve better write characteristics as the track width is reduced.
In a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording, it is known that there sometimes occurs a phenomenon in which data stored on a recording medium is erased by a magnetic field produced by the pole layer due to remanent magnetization of the pole layer when writing is not performed. The phenomenon will be hereinafter called pole erase.
Techniques for suppressing an occurrence of pole erase are known, such as those disclosed in Japanese Published Patent Application (hereinafter referred to as 'JP-A') 2005-38535, JP-A 2005-174449, and JP-A 2004-281023.
Each of JP-A 2005-38535 and JP-A 2005-174449 discloses a technique in which a write pole film (a pole layer) includes a soft magnetic film and a magnetic bias film, and an occurrence of pole erase is suppressed by directing the magnetization of the soft magnetic film to the direction of track width by means of the magnetic bias film.
JP-A 2004-281023 discloses a technique in which a main pole (a pole layer) incorporates a multilayer magnetic film made up of high saturation flux density layers and low saturation flux density layers, and an occurrence of pole erase is suppressed by making the direction of magnetization of a pair of high saturation flux density layers antiparallel, the high saturation flux density layers being opposed to each other with one of the low saturation flux density layers disposed in between.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,628,478 B2 discloses a technique in which, in a magnetic head for a longitudinal magnetic recording system, each of first and second pole layers opposed to each other with a gap layer disposed in between is formed of a mutilayer film made up of ferromagnetic films and nonmagnetic metal films, and a pair of ferromagnetic films adjacent to each other with one of the nonmagnetic metal films disposed in between are antiferromagnetically coupled to each other. This technique reduces the number of magnetic domain walls in each of the pole layers, and improves the high frequency response of the magnetic head.
A fact that a great remanent magnetic field is created in a portion of a pole layer is disclosed in Y Zhou et al., 'POLE-TIP SIZE EFFECT ON PERPENDICULAR RECORDING HEAD REMANENCE', Digests of Intermag 2005, DB04, 2005.
A problem that the structure of the pole layer is complicated is found in each of the techniques disclosed in JP-A 2005-38535, JP-A 2005-174449, JP-A 2004-281023, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,628,478 B2.
According to the techniques disclosed in JP-A 2005-38535 and JP-A 2005-174449, since the pole layer includes the soft magnetic film and the magnetic bias film, the number of steps required for manufacturing the magnetic head is increased, and a variety of materials are required for the magnetic head. As a result, these techniques have problems of an increase in costs for manufacturing the magnetic head and a reduction in throughput.
According to the techniques disclosed in JP-A 2004-281023 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,628,478 B2, currently-available methods of forming the pole layer are limited to physical vapor deposition such as sputtering. Consequently, these techniques have problems that the manufacturing process of the magnetic head is complicated and that the yield of the magnetic head is thereby reduced.
The inventors of the present patent application have found that the state of magnetization in the end face of the pole layer when writing is not performed relates to pole erase. The paper of Zhou et al. mentioned above does not address the relationship between the state of magnetization in the end face of the pole layer when writing is not performed and pole erase.

Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording with controlled state of magnetization of the end face of the pole layer


A method and a ceramic made therefrom by: providing a composition of a compound having the formula below and a metallic component, and pyrolyzing the composition. R is an organic group. The value n is a positive integer. Q is an acetylenic repeat unit having an acetylene group, crosslinked acetylene group, (MLx)y-acetylene complex, and/or crosslinked (MLx)y-acetylene complex. M is a metal. L is a ligand. The values x and y are positive integers. The metallic component is the (MLx)y-acetylene complex in the compound or a metallic compound capable of reacting with the acetylenic repeat unit to form the (MLx)y-acetylene complex. The ceramic comprises metallic nanoparticles.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to ceramic materials.
2. Description of Related Art
The synthesis of materials with nanoscale dimensions is one of the most sought after technologies today, as particle size reduction has been postulated to lead to dramatic changes in physical properties. For example, typical ferromagnetic materials exhibit superparamagnetic behavior at particle sizes of 10-15 nm (Cao et al., "Controlling the particle size of amorphous iron nanoparticles," J. Mater. Res., 10, 2952 (1995). One of the most pressing technology needs today is to find more efficient ways to store and process digital information. One of the possibilities to squeeze more data onto storage devices is by making the currently used magnetic nanoparticles even smaller. Similarly, nanosized superconductors could be used as an active component of novel nanocomposites with advanced useful properties and as principal building blocks of nanoelectronics as well as elements of solid-state quantum bits (qubits) (Schmidt, The Physics of Superconductors [Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1997]). There are currently very few processes available, which can reliably produce nanomagnetic, semiconducting, or superconducting materials of desired sizes under mild conditions.
Most transition metal-based polymers reported to date do not contain units for conversion to a thermoset and thus afford low char yields at elevated temperatures. Carboranylenesiloxanes are highly sought after high temperature, thermally and thermo-oxidatively stable polymers (Dvornic et al., High temperature Siloxane Elastomers; Huthig & Wepf: Heidelberg, Germany (1990)). These materials are desirable, especially when it comes to their thermo-oxidative stabilities at very high temperatures. The introduction of unsaturated cross-linkable units such as a diacetylene unit in such materials resulted in the production of extended polymer networks of carboranylenesiloxanes (Henderson et al., "Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(carborane-siloxane-acetylene)," Macromolecules, 27(6), 1660 (1994)).
Spintronics: Spintronics (spin transport electronics or spin-based electronics) is a conceptual technology wherein the spin of an electron rather than its charge carries information ((a) Datta et al., Appl. Phys Lett., 56, 665-667 (1990); (b) Wolf et al., Science, 294, 1488-1495 (2001); (c) von Molnar et al., Proceedings of the IEEE, 91, 715-726 (2003)). This offers opportunities for a new generation of devices that combine standard microelectronics with spin-dependent effects that arise from the interaction between the spin of the carrier (electron) and the magnetic properties of a material. If the spin degree of freedom is used alone or is added to conventional semiconductor charge-based electronics, it will substantially increase the capability and performance of electronic products. The advantages of such products would be nonvolatility, increased data processing speed, decreased electric power consumption, and increased integration densities compared with conventional semiconductor devices.
Recently in the area of spin-polarized electronic transport, the giant magnetoresistance effect (GMR) has rapidly transitioned from discovery to commercialization for applications in magnetic information storage (Prinz, Science, 282, 1660-1663 (1998)). GMR is a quantum mechanical effect observed in layered magnetic thin-film structures that are composed of alternating layers of ferromagnetic and nonmagnetic layers (Baibich et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 61, 2472-2475 (1988)). When the magnetic moments of the ferromagnetic layers are parallel, the spin-dependent scattering of the carriers is minimized, and the material has its lowest resistance. When the ferromagnetic layers are anti aligned, the spin-dependent scattering of the carriers is maximized, and the material has its highest resistance. The directions of the magnetic moments are manipulated by external magnetic fields that are applied to the materials. These materials can now be fabricated to produce significant changes in resistance in response to relatively small magnetic fields and to operate at room temperature.
Magnetic semiconductors: Magnetic semiconductors are materials in which components exhibiting both ferromagnetism (or a similar response) and useful semiconductor properties are present in a single material (FIG. 8). If implemented in devices, these materials could provide a new type of control of conduction. Whereas traditional electronics are based on control of charge carriers (n- or p-type), practical magnetic semiconductors would also allow control of quantum spin state (up or down). This would theoretically provide near-total spin polarization (as opposed to iron and other metals, which provide only ˜50% polarization), which is an important property for spintronics applications, e.g. spin transistors.
In normal, nonmagnetic conductors, electronic energy does not depend on the spin direction. It is not possible to distinguish between spin-up and spin-down electrons. In magnetic semiconductors, the d electrons of the magnetic ions influence the s and p electrons, and the conduction and valence band are split depending on the spin direction (Zeeman splitting) (adapted from Ando, Science, 312, 1883-1885 (2006)).
The search for materials containing ferromagnetic and semiconducting properties has been a long-standing and challenging one because of the need to balance the differences in crystal structure and chemical bonding in such materials ((a) Tanaka, J. Crystal Growth, 201/202, 660-669 (1999); (b) Prinz et al., Phys. Today, 48, 24 (1995)). A recent surge in a worldwide effort to create all electronic semiconducting spintronic devices occurred pursuant to the seminal discoveries of Ohno ((a) Ohno et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., 69, 363-365 (1996); (b) Ohno, Science, 281, 951-956 (1998)) and Awschalom (Kikkawa et al., Science, 277, 1284-1287 (1997)) and coworkers which demonstrated ferromagnetic Curie temperatures (Tc) in excess of 100K in (Ga, Mn)As, a diluted magnetic semiconductor, and spin coherence times greater than nanoseconds in a variety of technologically important semiconductors. Bulk metallic magnets derived from doping of the narrow-gap insulator FeSi with Co have exhibited GMR and high anomalous Hall conductance similar to that of (Ga,Mn)As (Manyala et al., Nature Materials, 3, 255-262 (2004)). The Fe0.9Co0.1Si was found to be nine times more resistive than Fe0.1Mn0.9Si and nearly 20 times more resistive than MnSi. Thus, various silicides such as Fe0.9Co0.1Si and Fe0.1Mn0.9Si, etc. promise to be exciting materials with magnetic and semiconducting properties.
Most of these silicides have been made by doping of known semiconductors (Manyala et al., Nature Materials, 3, 255-262 (2004)), by heavy ion irradiation of layered materials (Srivastava et al., J. Phys. D. Appl. Phys., 39, 1465-1471 (2006)) or by high pressure synthetic methods ((a) Kimura et al., Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 646, N5.38.1-N5.38.6 (2001); (b) Ono, Photon Factory Activity Report, #23 Part B, 188 (2006)).

Pyrolytic formation of metallic nanoparticles

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


A clock signal switching device includes: a plurality of signal synchronization generation means for generating mask signals and synchronized switching signals; a plurality of clock signal mask means for generating masked clock signals; a synchronized switching signal selection means for selecting one from among the synchronized switching signals; and a masked clock signal selection means for selecting one from among the masked clock signals.

The present invention relates to clock signal switching devices, clock signal switching methods, data bus switching devices, and data bus switching methods. The present invention more particularly relates to clock signal switching devices and clock signal switching methods for selecting one from among a plurality of clock signals in data receiving devices, and also relates to data bus switching devices and data bus switching methods for selecting, in data receiving devices, one from among data signals inputted via a plurality of data buses.
In recent years, receiving devices which receive data sets from a plurality of transmission paths and output one of the received data sets have been widely used in systems for transmitting video signals, audio signals, and other signals. Those receiving devices need a transmission path switcher for selecting a transmission path.
For example, some analog TV monitors can receive data sets outputted from a plurality of transmitting devices such as a video player and a DVD player, and also perform switching among those received data sets to display a selected data.
Hereinafter, a description of three exemplary prior-art receiving devices will be made, which can perform switching among data sets received via a plurality of transmission paths and output the selected data.
FIG. 46A illustrates an example of a first prior art device capable of outputting any one of a plurality of inputted analog signals in its original analog signal form. FIG. 46B illustrates an example of a second prior art device capable of converting a plurality of inputted digital signals into analog signals and then outputting any one of the analog signals.
As shown in FIG. 46A, the first prior art device 1 includes an analog signal switcher 2, which can select any one of a plurality of inputted analog signals (two kinds of analog signals in FIG. 46) and output the selected analog signal in its original analog signal form.
Also, as shown in FIG. 46B, along with recent increased usage of digital signals, the second prior art device 3, which can convert a plurality of inputted digital signals into analog signals and output any one of the converted analog signals, has also been commonly used. The second conventional device 3 is furnished with a plurality of DACs (digital to analog converters) 4 that convert the plurality of inputted digital signals into the respective analog signals, and an analog signal switcher 5 that outputs any one of the analog signals converted by the DACs 4.
However, the first conventional device 1 shown in FIG. 46A, which switches the multiple analog signal inputs, is adversely affected by noise that is peculiar to analog signals. Also, in the second prior art device 3 shown in FIG. 46B, in which digital signals have to be converted into analog signals, accurate reproduction of the inputted data as it is might become difficult depending on the accuracy of the conversion into the analog signals performed by the DACs 4.
In view of these problems, a third prior art device, which is capable of outputting an inputted digital signal in its original digital signal form, has been proposed as a result of recent advancement of digital technology. FIG. 46C illustrates such a third prior art device.
FIG. 46C illustrates an example of the third prior art device that can output any one of a plurality of inputted digital signals in its original digital signal form.
As shown in FIG. 46C, the third prior art device 6 is provided with a digital signal switcher 7, which selects any one of a plurality of inputted digital signals and outputs the selected digital signal in its original digital signal form. Therefore, for example, when the third conventional device 6 is installed in a television monitor such as a digital flat panel, the television monitor becomes able to display received digital signals without converting those digital signals into analog signals. Since such conversion to analog signals is not necessary, the received original digital images and other data can be reproduced highly accurately. Furthermore, unlike the second prior art device 3, the third prior art device 6 does not need to include DACs 4 that convert digital signals into analog signals. This results in a reduction in the size of the receiving device itself.
Nevertheless, if the third prior art device 6 shown in FIG. 46C employs a system such as DVI (digital visual interface) or HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) for transmitting video signals and audio signals, a clock signal for adjusting the timing of transmitting/receiving of the data signals such as the video and audio signals has to be transmitted separately from those data signals. In that case, a receiving device such as the third prior art device 6, e.g., operates based on the timing of such an inputted clock signal. Thus, if the clock signal is disturbed, the data signals might not be processed properly. In addition, transmission systems such as DVI and HDMI have specifications by which clock signals with different phases or different periods can be transmitted/received. Just switching over from one inputted clock signal to another in the receiving device may therefore lead to occurrence of a short-width abnormal pulse (a hazard), duty ratio breakdown, or other disturbance in the clock signal. Such a disturbance in the clock signal becomes a critical problem particularly in specifications such as DVI or HDMI by which clock signals can be switched. Therefore, digital transmission systems that transmit data signals and clock signals separately require a system that prevents clock signal disturbance when clock signals are switched.
As a means for solving the above problem, the Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 9-98161, for example, discloses a synchronous clock signal switching circuit. More specifically, the synchronous clock signal switching circuit disclosed in the publication is designed in the following manners to prevent occurrence of a hazard or duty ratio breakdown in a newly selected clock signal.
First, as a means for preventing occurrence of a hazard (or a glitch) in a clock signal, a clock signal selection signal (a switching signal), which is inputted when an inputted first clock signal and an inputted second clock signal are both at a high level, is synchronized with a falling edge of the logical product of the first and second clock signals. In this case, either the first or second clock signal is selected and outputted based on the clock signal selection signal that is synchronized with the falling edge of the logical product of the first and second clock signals.
Also, in order to avoid duty ratio breakdown (a pulse jump) in the clock signal, when switchover from the inputted first clock signal to the inputted second clock signal is performed, a phase difference between the first and second clock signals is detected. If the detected phase difference is greater than ±90°, switchover to the inverted second clock signal is performed. On the other hand, if the detected phase difference is smaller than ±90°, switchover to the inputted second clock signal in its original state is performed.

Clock signal switching device, clock signal switching method, data bus switching device, and data bus switching method


An apparatus for an air bag safety restraint system comprising a deployment door (70), a chute (30) adapted to fit within an opening (24) within a component (20) of a vehicle and receive a deployment door (70). The chute (30) includes a first side (32a) and second side (32d). The second side (32d) includes a wall portion (34d) a snap-fit mechanism (125). The deployment door (70) including a substrate (70) including a cover member (74), a hinge member (78) formed along one side of the cover member (74), a flange (124) extending from the cover member (74) from a second side thereof and a tear seam (122) between the second side and the flange. The tear seam (122) being stressed and broken upon inflation of the air bag (69) permitting the cover member (74) to rotate about the hinge member permitting the air bag (69) to deploy, the flange (124) including receptacles 134a-c for engaging the snap-fit mechanism (125).

The present invention relates to inflatable safety restraint systems for vehicles and more specifically to an air bag deployment door.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,833 illustrates a deployment door for an air bag safety restraint system comprising a hinge located on one side of the deployment door and a tear seam located on the other. This door can be secured in opening of an instrument panel by bolting the hinge side and tear seam side to cooperating portions of the instrument panel. Alternatively, the door can be bolted to a reaction can member which is often part of an air bag safety restraint system.
Rivet attachment in the prior art results in an increased stress load distribution in the hinge section. The indicated design is difficult to manufacture and to install because of the fragile nature of the tear seam design.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a deployment door that is easily attached to a instrument panel or other similar structure within the passenger compartment of a vehicle.
Accordingly, the invention comprises an apparatus for an air bag safety restraint system comprising a deployment door, a chute adapted to fit within an opening within a component of a vehicle and receive a deployment door, the chute, includes a first side and a second side. The second side includes a wall portion and first means defining a snap-fit mechanism. The deployment door comprises a substrate including a cover member, a hinge member formed along one side of the cover member, a bracket member extending away from the hinge member and is adapted to be mounted to the first side of the chute. A flange extends from the cover member from a second side thereof and includes a tear seam between the second side and the flange. The tear seam being stressed and broken upon inflation of the air bag, permitting the cover member to rotate about the hinge member, permitting the air bag to deploy. The flange includes second means for engaging the snap-fit mechanism.
Many other objects and purposes of the invention will be clear from the following detailed description of the drawings.


Novel metal porphyrin compositions useful as organic phosphors are provided. The novel compositions are prepared from commercially available porphyrin-containing starting materials. In one instance a novel palladium-containing porphyrin composition having a number average molecular weight of greater than 12,000 grams per mole was prepared from 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3′,5′-di(hydroxy)phenyl)-21H-23H-porphyrin by reaction first with palladium(II) acetylacetonate, followed by reaction with 2-bromo-2-methylpropionyl bromide, and subsequent group transfer reaction of the alpha-bromo ester groups with 9,9-dioctyl-2-vinylfluorene in the presence of CuBr as a radical initiator. The product polymer exhibited a number average molecular weight of 12,884 grams per mole, a weight average molecular weight of 14,338 grams per mole, and a robust red phosphorescent emission. Porphyrin containing copoylmers comprising structural units derived from 9,9-dioctyl-2-vinylfluorene and 9-anthracenylmethyl methacrylate were prepared in a similar fashion.

The invention relates to novel, metal-containing porphyrin heterocycles and methods for their preparation.
Metal-containing porphyrin heterocycles represent an important and useful class of organic compounds. Metal porphyrins are widely distributed in nature and play, in certain instances, important roles in various biological processes, such as photosynthesis. Synthetic metal-containing porphyrins are well known and have been used in inter alia studies of enzymatic catalysis and as useful catalysts in their own right.
Certain metal-containing porphyrin heterocycles have been shown to be useful as phosphorescent dopants in organic light-emitting devices. (See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.6,303,238).
Although much has been learned in earlier work, there is nonetheless a need for new metal-containing porphyrin heterocycles which exhibit new or improved properties relative to known materials.


An image reader including a conveyor, a first detector, a plurality of second detectors, a reading unit, and a controller configured to perform a control process that includes determining whether second detection information output from the second detectors satisfies a predetermined state, executing a first sequence when determining that the second detection information satisfies the predetermined state, the first sequence including determining whether a conveyed object is in a multi-feed condition based on first detection information output from the first detector, and halting at least one of a conveying operation by the conveyor and a reading operation by the reading unit when determining that the conveyed object is in the multi-feed condition, executing a second sequence when determining that the second detection information does not satisfy the predetermined state, the second sequence including continuing the conveying operation and the reading operation regardless of the first detection information.

Technical Field
The following description relates to one or more aspects of an image reading apparatus and a computer-readable medium therefor.
Related Art
An image reader has been known that is provided with a separation conveyance operational mode and a non-separation conveyance operational mode. In the separation conveyance operational mode, when the image reader determines that multi-feed occurs, based on detection information output from a multi-feed detector, the image reader halts conveyance of sheets or continuously conveys the sheets to a sheet discharge unit. Meanwhile, in the non-separation conveyance operational mode, when the multi-feed detector detects a half-folded document sheet, the image reader reads the detected half-folded document sheet. The operational mode is switched between the separation conveyance operational mode and the non-separation conveyance operational mode, through an operation of a changeover switch or an operation of a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a "PC" in an abbreviation form).

Image reader and computer-readable medium for the same