A telecommunication system providing extended open service access to multiple heterogeneous networks has one unique common framework for the networks and a common service capability feature (SCF) for the networks to provide a common network interface.

In order to promote the development of third party applications the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project), which is the stand-ardisation body for third generation mobile system (UMTS), introduced the Open Service Access (OSA) for third generation Mobile System (UMTS). OSA standards are defined in 3GPP, Virtual Home Environment; Open Service Architecture (Release 4). Valbonne, 2001. (3GPP TS 23.127, V4.1.0, 2001-04).
The OSA allows the applications to access the network service capabilities such as Call Control (CC), User Status (US), Messaging (M), Location Information (LI), etc. through open interfaces. Such architecture will certainly play a key role in the realisation of one or more "killer" applications, which is necessary for the success of UMTS. It is worth to stress that nobody knows yet what is going to be such a "killer" application. Indeed, for GSM nobody could predict that SMS (Short Message Service) has become the "killer" application.
OSA is only intended for mobile networks. However, with convergence between telecom and computing, between fixed and mobile, it is crucial that an application is able to operate properly independently of the underlying network. Consequently, it is necessary to extend the coverage of OSA to comprise also other networks than mobile ones such as PSTN/ISDN and also IP-based networks. It is worth noting that IP-based networks may be both wireline and wireless such as for example Wireless LAN (802.11). HiperLAN, or Bluetooth. The situation is depicted in.
Unfortunately, OSA was only intended for mobile networks and it is not specified how to implement OSA for heterogeneous networks. Furthermore, OSA, as specified by the 3GPP, is not sufficient to be applied to heterogeneous networks. The present invention proposes different embodiments to implement OSA on the top of several different networks. Also, additional functionality to OSA is required and proposed by this invention.
According to the knowledge of the inventors, no solution to the problem de-scri-bed above is known at present time. Even for the Parlay Architecture, which OSA is based on, there is no activity of implement-ing Parlay on heterogeneous networks. Although in some overview of the Parlay architecture it is shown a Parlay API covering Mobile networks, ISDN and IP-based network, there is no specification for the implementation.

Telecommunication system architecture for extended open service access to multiple heterogeneous networks


Performing color management of color image data using a device transform by generating an identifier key based on contents of a color measurement profile for a color device, the color measurement profile containing measurement data corresponding to the color device, determining if a device transform corresponding to the identifier key is present in a device transform cache disposed in a persistent memory, loading, in the case that it is determined that a device transform corresponding to the identifier key is present in the device transform cache, the device transform into a program-accessible transient memory, generating, in the case that it is determined that a device transform corresponding to the identifier key is not present in the device transform cache, a device transform based on the measurement data in the color measurement profile, and storing the generated device transform in the device transform cache in correspondence with the identifier key, and transforming the color image data based on the device transform loaded in the program-accessible transient memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to color management of color image data using measurement data of color devices, and using a tiered caching system to reduce redundant calculations of device transform steps and gamut mapping steps. The present invention stores device transforms and entire transformation sequences in a cache after they are first calculated based on measurement data in their corresponding color management profiles. Each stored device transform and transformation sequence is indexed by a unique hash code which can then be used to retrieve the device transform or transformation sequence, as the case may be, during a subsequent color management process, thereby saving unnecessary computations to re-generate the needed device transform or transformation sequence.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known color management systems typically rely on the use of device profiles which describe the color characteristics of a source device which generated color image data, and of a destination device to which the color image data will be sent for reproduction. Color management systems use the device profiles to transform the color image data from the source device color space into the destination device color space, and to map the colors of the color image data from the gamut of the source device into the gamut of the destination device.
Device profiles are usually defined by a common standard, such as the ICC device profile format. The ICC, has generally standardized upon a profile that contains data that has been processed into an optimized format. The optimization process involves an appearance modeling step, a gamut mapping step, and a second appearance modeling step. The results of all those steps are then processed back into data structures such as matrices and multi-dimensional lookup tables which are placed into the device profile. These data structures were designed in the past so that they could be efficiently processed on computer hardware in existence at that time.
Unfortunately, the appearance modeling process described above to generate the data structures in the device profile result in predetermined matrices and/or look-up tables which combine color space transform steps (device modeling) and gamut mapping together, and which often do not provide a current depiction of the devices color characteristics. In this regard, one possible solution is for device profiles to contain color measurement data corresponding to the color device, so that a color device manufacturer, color management developer, or user could easily read, verify, and even modify the color measurement data to reflect the current device color characteristics or to reflect a unique approach to color management.
The ICC profile format currently supports a tag containing measurement data. However the tag is optional, not mandatory, and so the measurement tag data cannot be depended upon to be available for color management. In addition, changes to the measurement tag data have no effect on the other predetermined tags in the profile, such as the aforementioned matrices and/or look-up tables, and therefore the changes have no effect during color management of color image data when using the profile.
Even if the measurement data were present at the time of performing color management, the measured data would have to be processed to produce the data structures, such as matrices and lookup tables, that the system needs for mapping between device coordinate space and a color appearance space. Then the processed device models would be used to create a data structure, such as a gamut boundary descriptor, that describes the boundaries of the device's gamut. The gamut boundary descriptors, in turn, would be used with a gamut mapping algorithm to create a precise gamut mapping from the source device's gamut into the destination device's gamut. The complete transform from input device space, through a gamut mapping operation and into the destination device's space would therefore be created at runtime of the color management process. Such an approach would provide flexibility, because the transformation sequence would be based on the device measurement data and on user-specified gamut mapping algorithms, instead of stale, predetermined data structures. However, the foregoing process would require significant computing resources and time whenever color image data is rendered.
The ICC format also supports a special device link profile that appears to represent a predetermined transformation sequence. The device link profile represents the results that would be obtained by processing data through an arbitrarily long predetermined sequence of device modeling and gamut mapping steps. Users of such a device link profile have no real visibility of what the steps are, and have no ability to modify, or add to, the sequence of steps. Furthermore, the users must be able to recognize a particular predetermined sequence of transform steps and identify whether a specific device link profile is available that implements the sequence.
As stated above, the ICC profile scheme is not very flexible, and requires that the device profile be rebuilt whenever a user updates the measurements for a device. Even if the user only wants the gamut mapping algorithms supplied by a single profiling tool, this is not very convenient. But if the user wants other gamut mapping algorithms, the user will have to build more profiles using different tools. In addition, all of the predetermined device link profiles derived from the changed device profile will need to be recreated as well. The above problems result in significant additional work on the part of the user of the device profiles, such as a color profile or color management developer.
Accordingly, it is desirable to find one or more solutions to the foregoing problems. Among other solutions, it is desirable to invent a color management scheme which uses current measurement data of the involved color devices, and which can reduce the significant computational overhead associated with creating device transform (modeling) and gamut mapping steps from measurement data every time color image data is rendered by the color management scheme.

Color management with tiered caching scheme


A method of detecting hazardous materials in containers utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. The presence of precursors (e.g., H202) and/or nitrogen in the liquid in the container is determined by placing the container in a static magnetic field, exciting the container with electromagnetic pulses having a frequency corresponding to proton NMR and 14N NMR, and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals through a probe. The excitation pulses are configured to enable detection of the presence of precursors and nitrogen in the container, and may comprise a sequence of short RF pulses. The presence of nitrogen and/or explosive precursors is determined by detecting and evaluating NMR measurement signal amplitudes and relaxation times from the received RF signals. An apparatus comprising a magnet that generates a magnetic field and a probe that generates RF pulses and receives NMR measurement signals from the sampled container in accordance with the aforementioned method.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related generally to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology, and more particularly, to methods utilizing NMR to non-invasively inspect unopened containers to screen for liquid explosives and explosive precursors.
2. Related Art
During the past decades, there has been an increased threat of terrorist attacks involving explosives, including Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Because of this increased threat, security concerns are now greater and extend to airports, seaports, rail stations, prisons, embassies, and many other secured and unsecured facilities.
One of the oldest known explosives is gunpowder, a solid explosive made up of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur. However, liquid explosives can also be manufactured from common chemicals that may be used for legitimate purposes and thus are legally obtainable and readily available. Improvised explosives can be mixtures of an oxidizer, which supplies oxygen to a chemical reaction, and a fuel, which supplies the element that reacts explosively with the oxygen.
Even though explosives in liquid form are highly sensitive to shocks, they may be transported in sealed containers by preparing solutions that keep the compound more stable or by transporting the components needed to form an explosive in separate containers. In general, liquid explosives are chemically easier to combine and simpler to ignite than solid explosives.
Several nitrogen-containing and peroxide-based compounds are used to create homemade explosives, and generally, liquid explosives can be classified as containing either peroxide compounds or the element nitrogen. Hydrogen peroxide is of particular interest for security checkpoints as it may be used as an explosive precursor. Contact between hydrogen peroxide and combustible materials such as wood, paper, or oil, causes spontaneous ignition or combustion. When mixed with materials such as sugars, alcohols, or acetone, the result is a powerful explosive. Hydrogen peroxide chemically resembles water, so it is a good candidate for a smuggled explosive precursor.
Vapor and trace detectors may be used to screen containers for explosives, but these require direct contact with the compounds inside the containers. In addition, emulsion and slurry-based compounds such as ammonium nitrate have low vapor pressure, making them more difficult to detect with vapor and trace detectors. Optical detection technologies such as Raman and infrared spectroscopy have been demonstrated to be effective for detecting some hazardous liquids, but require illumination of the sample and thus are limited by the opacity of the container's walls.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been demonstrated to be an effective method of discriminating between the expected parameters of a known liquid and an altered liquid in an unopened container, that is, ensuring that the liquid specified on the bottle label matches the bottle content. This method, however, is based on content verification, which requires an extensive knowledge base of the NMR responses for all compounds of interest. Hence, the implementation of such a method is not practical as the knowledge database is extremely extensive and constantly changing.
Accordingly, a need exists for a method of detecting those elements always found in liquid explosives quickly, efficiently, and inexpensively, with a high degree of accuracy and a low incidence of false alarms.

Detecting hazardous materials in containers utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance based measurements


A method and apparatus for analyzing a telecommunications network and isolating failures within the network first analyzes the network to identify all non-terminating paths between two digital cross-connect (DXC) nodes and terminating paths that extend from one DXC node but terminate before reaching another DXC node. All non-terminating paths are assigned "failure spans" or maximum spans that can be restored with a single restoration route. All terminating paths that correspond to end nodes of the non-terminating path are selected, where each terminating path has a path identifier preferably indicating the inter-node connections of the path. The path identifier is compared to each failure span to create a table of correlations. A similar process is performed for all terminating paths that do not correspond to non-terminating paths in the network. When a failure occurs, all paths are identified for each corresponding alarm and compared to the previously constructed table. A failure span is identified as including a failure if one or more paths are on the failure span and are in alarm, and all paths which are off the failure span are not in alarm. Furthermore, the ports on each path in alarm can be collected to determine whether the network suffers from a full or a partial outage.

In the telecommunications field, particularly in long distance networks, long distance network providers continually strive to increase the traffic carrying capability of their transmission medium. For example, since fiber optic cables have increased bandwidth over known twisted pair or copper wire cables, fiber optic cables are used increasingly for connecting network stations and other network elements. As a result, a greater number of stations or network elements can be connected over a fewer number of fiber optic cables, as opposed to prior cables. In other words, each fiber optic cable can handle numerous trunks, as opposed to prior cables.
Unfortunately, if one or more of the fiber optic cables fail, massive disruption of services to a large number of network customers and users can result. Network service providers or telecommunications carriers therefore strive to quickly and economically restore traffic affected by these disruptions or "outages." Restoring network outages generally requires four steps: (1) detecting the network failure, (2) isolating the location of the failure in the network, (3) determining a traffic restoral route, and (4) implementing the restoral route. Network restoration must be executed quickly to ensure minimal interruption of network traffic. Therefore, nearly all telecommunications carriers wish to restore traffic within a few seconds or less. The telecommunications carriers typically restore the highest priority network elements first, and as many of such elements as possible within a short period of time.
Currently, telecommunications carriers simulate possible failures and determine restoral routes to develop a "pre-plan" by collecting large amounts of data reflecting the logical topology of the network. The collected data is often retrieved from network engineering databases which reflect the logical construction of the network, such as indicating the connections and paths of all network traffic trunks. An engineer or network analyst analyses the collected data, compares the collected data to the geographic or physical layout location of the network, and then generates the pre-plans therefrom. Since the pre-plans are developed prior to any failure in the network, when a failure does occur, a plan already exists for restoring traffic affected by the failure. In general, a pre-plan corresponds to a segment of the network that can incur a failure. If that segment fails, then the corresponding pre-plan is retrieved, and its restoral route implemented.
To determine where in the network a failure has occurred, a central location often receives various alarms from the network, which are generated in response to the failure. Numerous algorithms are implemented by a central computer to apply or correlate the various alarms to each corresponding trunk in the trunk topology. The computer or analyst must then match the alarms to a physical network topology to isolate the location of the failure within the network, typically within a segment of a trunk between two nodes. In sum, existing methods of isolating a network failure include the steps of: (1) receiving numerous alarms from nodes throughout the network; (2) collecting logical topology data for each trunk generating each alarm; (3) applying each received alarm to the logical topology data for each trunk; (4) determining a failed span for each failed trunk, where the failed span can be larger or smaller than the actual physical span of the trunk, depending on the nodes on which the trunk is patched or routed; and (5) combining all determined failed spans and correlating the spans to determine a physical location or span of the failures.
Each node traversed by a failed trunk produces an alarm. Often, multiple trunks fail as a given optic cable fails. Since each trunk in the network typically traverses multiple nodes, the network typically produces numerous alarms from multiple nodes as a result of a failure. Each alarm must be correlated with the logical trunk topology to isolate the failure of a given trunk to a segment between two of the multiple nodes that issued alarms. This is the maximum granularity with which the failure can be isolated. Extensive processing, and thus time, is required to isolate a failure in the network because of the numerous alarms, trunks and nodes in a network. The processing and time also increase as the size of telecommunications networks increases. As noted above, telecommunications carriers wish to restore traffic within a few seconds or less, and thus such delays required to isolate a failure are undesirable. Additionally, if only a few trunks fail, the network may provide an insufficient number of alarms from which to isolate the actual physical span in which the failure occurs.
After isolating the failure, the analyst can then identify the appropriate pre-plan. For example, by isolating the failure on a physical map of the network, the analyst can then identify an alternate route that restores all failed traffic, without sacrificing other traffic or creating new outages. Isolating a failure within the network requires extensive processing, particularly with large networks. Again, such extensive processing necessarily requires processing time, and therefore increases the delay in restoring the network following the failure.

Method and apparatus for isolating network failures by correlating paths issuing alarms with failure spans


A computer peripheral device including a USB plug connector in which a reinforced connecting ring is mounted over the front flange of a one-piece or two-part housing, and includes an opening through which the USB plug connector protrudes. The connecting ring includes a collar that is sized to mount over the front flange using an interference fit, or a snap-coupled arrangement is used. The connecting ring also includes a front plate that protects a front of the housing from damage during use. An optional rear connecting ring is used to further secure a key ring and/or light-pipe device onto the housing.

In the field of computers and computer peripheral devices, there is an ongoing trend towards miniaturization for convenience and portability. In certain cases, devices have been reduced to "pocket size", meaning that they can literally be carried in a user's pocket in the same manner as a wallet or set of keys.
One example of particular interest, in which context the present invention will be described herein, is a "flash disk", or "USB flash drive". For example, one product includes a pen-type flash device having a USB connector plug that can be connected to a USB port of a standard computer. The USB plug connector is protected by a removable cover when not in use.
FIGS. 12 and 13 are exploded perspective and perspective views, respectively, showing a conventional pen-type USB flash drive device 50 provided with a key-chain holder 60. Device 50 includes a housing 51 that encloses a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) 70 including a printed circuit board (PCB) 73, one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices 74 mounted on PCB 73, and a plug connector 75 mounted on a front end of PCB 73. Housing 51 includes an upper cover 51-A and lower cover 51-B that are assembled using conventional methods such as ultrasonic joining and snap-together. The joining process typically occurs at specific locations along the edges of the covers, and thus the joining is not continuous along the interface. A seam 54 is formed between upper cover 51-A and lower cover 51-B, and becomes the weakest point in the USB flash memory device due to mechanical movement at plug connector 75 during repeated inserting to and removing from an USB socket.
A problem with conventional pen-type peripheral devices that have a two-piece housing is that the two-piece housing can become separated, thereby exposing the PCB and associated electronic devices to damage or contamination. For example, seam 54 (FIG. 13) is prone to break at the joining locations due to repeated insertion of pen-type USB flash drive device 50 into and removal from a USB socket of a host system, thus separating the covers and resulting in failure. Another problem is that the front end of the plastic housing can become damaged by repeated impact with the socket during the insertion process.
What is needed is a pen-type portable computer peripheral device that overcomes the problems associated with conventional structures.

Portable computer peripheral apparatus with reinforced connecting ring


An information processing system which determines an allowable temperature of intake air to an information processing apparatus based on information of a temperature of intake air to the information processing apparatus, information of a temperature of exhaust air of the information processing apparatus, information of a power consumption of the information processing apparatus, and information of an allowable temperature of exhaust air of the information processing apparatus to thereby save power of the information processing system.

Air cooling is mainly used for cooling an information processing apparatus of an information processing system. Generally, an information processing apparatus is cooled with cold air supplied by an air-conditioner that is taken into the information processing apparatus mounted on a rack.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-7423 discloses a technology of controlling supply air volume of an air-conditioner such that a temperature of air blown out from the air-conditioner and a temperature of intake air to a rack are the same temperature.

Information processing system, operation management method of information processing system, and data center


A method of forming a photomask comprises providing a predetermined fin array having a plurality of fin patterns to a computer readable medium in a computer system. First of all, a plurality of width markers is defined by using the computer system, with each of the width marker parallel to each other and comprising two fin patterns, wherein each of the width markers is spaced from each other by a space. Then, a number of the width markers is checked to be an even. Following this, a plurality of pre-mandrel patterns is defined corresponding to odd numbered ones of the spaces. Then, a plurality of mandrel patterns is defined by sizing up the pre-mandrel patterns. Finally, the mandrel patterns are outputted to form a photomask.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming a photomask, and more particularly to a method of forming a photomask based on a decomposition algorithm of a fin array.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With increasing miniaturization of semiconductor devices, it is crucial to maintain the efficiency of miniaturized semiconductor devices in the industry. However, as the size of the field effect transistors (FETs) is continuously shrunk, the development of the planar FETs faces more limitations in the fabricating process thereof. On the other hand, non-planar FETs, such as the fin field effect transistor (FinFET) have three-dimensional structure, not only capable of increasing the contact to the gate but also improving the controlling of the channel region, such that the non-planar FETs have replaced the planar FETs and become the mainstream of the development.
In current techniques, in order to meet the sub-lithographic requirements, a regular photolithography and an etching process are provided to form fin structures in the FinFET. Additionally, the fabrication of semiconductor device also utilizes a pattern transfer technique, such as the sidewall image transfer (SIT) process, to form required fin structures. However, although being beneficial to fabricate the fin structures in finer critical dimension (CD), the pattern transfer technique also complicates the fabrication process of FinFET. Furthermore, the current fabrication process also faces more limitations, such as fin collapse and malposition issues, so that the current fabrication process still not fully meet the demand of the product, and requires further improvement.


A hydrodynamic tape guide includes a thin metal foil attached to a substrate by a pin inserted into a groove in the substrate. The groove is of a geometry including a first region of a relatively small width and at a relatively shallow depth and a second region of a relatively large width deeper into the substrate. The pin is of a thickness greater than the first width, but less than the second width.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a flexible web guide. More particularly, the invention is a hydrodynamic tape guide including a thin metal foil attached to a substrate by a pin inserted into a groove in the substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Web and tape guiding apparatus are well known. A common use of such an apparatus is for guiding data tapes in magnetic or optical data tape drives over a read and/or write head. Guiding of the tape over the head is critical to the writing of data to and the reading of data from the tape. A typical magnetic tape drive includes several elements in the tape path to ensure proper alignment and operation of the tape and head. For example, the tape paths of the IBM 3480/3490 Magnetic Tape Subsystems include a supply reel inside a tape cartridge, a vibration decoupler, a cleaner blade, an arcuate supply side air bearing device, a magnetic read/write head, an arcuate storage side air bearing device, a tension transducer, a storage reel, and tape edge guides along the sides of the bearing surfaces. The tape edge guides are located along the arcuate bearing surfaces because the tape in such proximity can support a larger guiding force without collapsing than can freely suspended tape. The tape edge guides physically align the lateral position (i.e. in the direction of the tape width) of the tape relative to the read/write head. Lateral positioning maintains proper alignment between the read/write elements of the head and the data tracks on the magnetic tape. The tape guides also support and guide the tape in its easy direction of bending (i.e. in the direction of tape travel).
Guides for easy direction tape guiding may be pneumatic or hydrodynamic. A pneumatic tape guide includes an externally pressurized air bearing, as in the IBM 3480/3490 Magnetic Tape Subsystems. Although an air bearing can dramatically reduce tape friction and stiction, it is expensive to implement. An air bearing is expensive because it requires the space and parts for air to be provided under controlled pressure. A very expensive and acoustically noisy air pump must be provided to supply the necessary air flow and regulate air pressure to the air bearing. In the IBM 3480/3490 Magnetic Tape Subsystem, the air bearing surface is created by drilling large, solid metal bearings. Another known air bearing has attempted to reduce manufacturing costs by attaching a metal foil to a bearing block. Bareman et al, Air Bearing, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 12, May, 1982, pp. 6603-6604. Unfortunately, the foil is attached to the block with screws which could tear, stretch, or otherwise damage the foil. Another air bearing includes a perforated metal foil adhesively attached to a substrate, as disclosed in commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/902.243, filed Jun. 22, 1992. Modern magnetic tape subsystems are growing increasingly smaller and, unfortunately, reducing the space available therein for an air pump.
Hydrodynamic, or non-pneumatic, tape guides do not include supplied air. Instead, these tape guides operate on the theory that a film of air forms between a tape and the tape guide when the tape is in motion, thereby reducing friction and wear. Two basic types of hydrodynamic tape guides are known. The first such guide is a fixed post. A fixed post is simple to implement, but suffers from stiction between the tape and the post when the tape is at rest and high impact friction during start/stop of tape motion. A second hydrodynamic tape guide is a roller. Compared to a fixed post, a roller reduces friction when the tape is in motion and reduces stiction when the tape is at rest. However, a roller introduces a source of vibration into the tape path which may disrupt the head-tape interface. A roller stores energy that must be positively controlled to maintain adequate closed loop tape tension, and steers tape differently than does a fixed post, often requiring grooves or other geometries to prevent the tape from flying too far away therefrom.
A hydrodynamic hybrid of a fixed post and roller is disclosed in commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/714,965, filed Jun. 13, 1991. Such application discloses a constrained pivot compound radius guide post mounted on an axle which allows it to pivot when the tape changes direction, thereby reducing startup stiction. Above a certain rotation angle the post is prevented from further rotation. The compound radius longitudinal contour reduces friction by maximizing the thickness of the air film between the tape and the post.
Hydrodynamic tape guides require a smooth and continuous tape bearing surface. In addition, the tape bearing surface must be electrically conductive to minimize static charge. Such bearing surfaces are known to be manufactured by machining, grinding, and/or lapping a block or cylinder of metal. Though less complex than air bearings, such manufacturing is still relatively expensive, particularly in modern low cost tape drives. Cast metal bearing surfaces are inexpensive, but are not sufficiently smooth for high speed tape drives. Molded plastic bearing surfaces are smoother, but not as smooth as lapped metal surfaces, and dimensional tolerances are not easily controlled particularly to generate a compound radius contour, if desired. Metal plated plastic bearing surfaces still further improve the smoothness, but increase the complexity and cost of manufacture.
A hydrodynamic tape guide employing a metal foil to reduce cost is disclosed in European Patent Application 0217157. Unfortunately, the techniques for attaching such metal foil to a substrate are inadequate. Adhesives are difficult to work with, and may fail during use. Simple resilient wrapping of the foil about the substrate is still more likely to fail during use. In addition, the foil is attached to the substrate with the ends overlapped, which can result in surface disruptions which interfere with tape travel, or which concentrate stress and result in failure of the metal foil. Other techniques for attaching a thin sleeve to a contoured substrate are known, but suffer from similar problems.

International Business Machines Corporation


An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an electrostatic latent image carrying body, an electric charger for uniformly electrifying the carrying body, an optical exposure unit to form an electrostatic latent image on the carrying body, a developer for developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the carrying body, a transfer unit for transferring the toner image from the carrying body onto a printing sheet, a fixing unit for fixing the toner image to the printing sheet, a cleaner for cleaning to remove residual toner from the carrying body and a toner returning mechanism for returning the residual toner removed by the cleaner to the developer. The developer includes a housing in which a toner chamber is defined, a developing roller rotatably mounted in the housing, an agitator rotatably mounted in the housing so as to be positioned in the toner chamber, a partitioning member provided in the housing for defining a carrier chamber adjacent to the developing roller. The toner returning mechanism includes a toner recirculator for recirculating the residual toner removed from the carrying body to the toner chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrophotographic image-forming apparatuses such as laser beam printers or LED printers.
Due to recent developments in office automation, electrophotographic image-forming apparatuses, such as laser beam printers, have been widely used in computer output terminals, copying machines, facsimile machines and others.
In such image-forming apparatuses, a hard copy is obtained by the steps of charging a photosensitive drum to a predetermined potential by a charger, forming an electro-static latent image corresponding to an image information on the photosensitive drum by irradiating a light beam thereon, developing the latent image with a toner, transferring the developed image to a recording medium, and fixing the same.
After the transfer step, the photosensitive drum is discharged by a discharger, and the residual toner is scraped off from the surface of the photosensitive drum by a cleaner, thus one cycle of the printing operation is completed on the photosensitive drum.
2. Related Art
A so-called "one component and a half" development has been known for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, wherein a magnetic carrier is stored in a carrier chamber or a development chamber which is then replenished with a toner.
This method provides a development device simple in structure because no control is necessary for a toner density. However, to maintain a favorable image quality, means is necessary for maintaining the toner density at a constant value.
Also a structure has been known for recycling the residual toner scraped off from the photosensitive drum by the cleaner and returning the same to a toner box through a toner recycling mechanism for the purpose of reuse. A development device with such a recycling mechanism is advantageous because the residual toner is not discharged as waste whereby the efficiency for reusing the toner is improved.
According to the conventional toner recycling mechanism, however, since the residual toner must be returned to the toner box mounted above the development device, it is necessary to convey the residual toner obliquely upward. Thereby, there is a problem in that the residual toner is liable to dwell on the bottom of the cleaner housing, resulting in the lowering of the toner reuse efficiency.
In addition, if foreign matter such as paper chips or dust are mixed in the residual toner, they may be conveyed to a developer roller and nipped between a doctor blade and the developer roller. As a result, there is a problem in that the conveyance of the developing agent is impeded at a location where the foreign matters are nipped, whereby an incomplete printing may occur at a portion corresponding to this location.
In a device for carrying out the "one component and a half" development, a carrier chamber for storing a toner is defined between a developer roller and a partitioning member. When the developer roller rotates, the toner is supplied from a toner chamber to the carrier chamber in which the toner is mixed with the carrier and charged at a predetermined potential level.
However, in the conventional carrier chamber, since a distance between the partitioning member and the developer roller becomes gradually smaller near the ends thereof, there is a tendency that the developing agent moves from the end zones to the central zone whereby the amount of carrier is reduced in the end zones.
In such a case, the toner density becomes higher in the end zones because the toner supply from the toner chamber is uniform along the axis of the developer roller, resulting in the unevenness in the toner density. The unevenness in the toner density causes the deterioration of qualities of the printed image, such as shade irregularity or fog.


A heat sink retention module for an electronic device includes a base comprising mounting lugs configured to be mounted to a circuit board, and frame elements extending between the mounting lugs to define at least one keep out area interior to the frame elements and at least one keep out area exterior to the frame elements. The frame elements include at least one frame element extending at an oblique angle to another of the frame elements, and heat sink retention posts extend vertically upward from the frame elements.

This invention relates generally to heat sinks for electronic devices, and more specifically, to mounting and retention systems for heat sinks.
The use of heat sinks on electronic components is well known. Typically, a heat sink is arranged in close contact with a heat generating electronic component, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU). As the power density of such components increases, heat transfer from the heat generating component to the surrounding environment becomes more and more critical to the proper operation of the component. Heat generated by the component is transferred to the heat sink and then dissipated from the heat sink to the surrounding air. One type of heat sink includes a metallic core in the form of a base plate. Heat dissipating fins extend from the base plate to increase the surface area of the heat sink. Heat transferred from the component to the base plate is spread throughout the base plate and to the fins fixed to the base plate. To further facilitate the dissipation of heat from the electronic component, a fan can be used to circulate air about outer surfaces of the fins and the base of the heat sink.
In the case of a CPU, known circuit board designs typically provide for the heat sink to be mounted directly on top of the CPU in a retention module that is in turn mounted on the circuit board. The heat sink is nested within the retention module, and a spring clip or other fastening mechanism and hardware is used to retain the heat sink to the retention module and apply a normal force to the heat sink to maintain physical contact between the heat sink and the CPU to ensure thermal flow of heat from the CPU to the heat sink.
In the past, certain processors have been specified for use with a particular retention module, and the retention module was commonly provided with the circuit boards for easy mounting of CPU's and heat sink assemblies. Consequently, heat sink assemblies and mounting hardware was designed for use with the retention modules. One example of such a retention module pertains to the widely used Intel Pentium 4 processors.
Next generation processors, such as the Intel Prescott T processor, requires a different layout in the circuit board than the Pentium 4 processors, thereby rendering known retention modules and heat sink assemblies incompatible with the new processors. Developing new heat sinks and hardware assemblies for mounting of the heat sinks on the new processors and circuit board layouts is a difficult and expensive proposition. Additionally, meeting the increased heat transfer needs of more powerful processors adds to the challenge of cooling new processor technology.

Processor heat sink retention module and assembly


The serpentine, turbulence inducing path lengths from the inlets to the outlets of the flow regulating passage of a continuous emitter drip irrigation hose are arranged in back to back fashion relative to the outlets in the sense that the chevrons angle away from each of outlets, so there is parallel turbulent flow from two inlets to each outlet. This doubles the flow rate from each outlet without changing the dimensions of the flow regulating passage.

Drip irrigation hose can be classified as having either discrete emitters or continuous integral emitters. An example of discrete emitters is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,531. An example of continuous integral emitters is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,051.
A design objective of drip irrigation hose is uniformity of the drip rate from each emitter. Since the water pressure in a drip irrigation system varies as a function of elevation of the field, it is customary to incorporate a pressure regulating mechanism into the emitters. Turbulent flow is less sensitive to pressure variation than laminar flow. Accordingly, it has become common practice for drip irrigation hose to employ a serpentine flow regulating passage as continuous integral emitters to promote turbulent flow. An example of such drip irrigation hose is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,739, where a series of staggered, upstream angled chevrons or weirs form the serpentine passage.
In a typical drip irrigation hose with continuous integral turbulent flow emitters, the emitters comprise a flow regulating passage formed by ribs that also seal the overlapping margins of an elongated bent sheet of plastic film. The passage is divided by cross ribs to form flow regulating segments. The bent film forms an elongated water supply passage having a large diameter. An inlet is formed from the water supply passage to one end of each segment of the flow regulating passage. An outlet is formed from the other end of each segment of the flow regulating passage to the exterior of the hose. Between the inlet and outlet, each segment has staggered, upstream angled chevrons.
Complications can occur when the dimensions of this type of drip irrigation hose are changed to increase the flow rate. Generally, the flow rate can be increased by decreasing the length of the segments, increasing the height of the ribs, or increasing the separation between the ribs of the flow regulating passage. However, these measures tend to decrease the reliability and uniformity of the product and to cause the water to squirt out of the outlets because the line pressure is not fully dissipated by the flow regulating passage.

Drip irrigation hose and method of its manufacture


An acoustic microelectronic device includes a support, a set of at least one membrane suspended on a face of the support above a cavity by an anchoring zone, and at least one acoustic insulation trench arranged adjacent to the membrane. The device includes at least one bridge connecting the portions of two opposite edges of the trench and located overhanging at least one zone of the trench so as to form, in the zone of the trench, an acoustic insulation box below the bridge.

Using microelectronic devices is amplified and diversified. Such devices are thus encountered in sectors as varied as medical devices and sensors. In particular, the development of MEMS has generalised opportunities for microelectronics and makes it possible to produce membrane devices of which acoustic transducers, capable of functioning over all acoustic frequencies (ultrasound, audible).
Ultrasound transducers can be used for the following applications: ultrasound probes, contactless interfaces, sonar, medical treatment such as destruction of diseased cells or localised dispensing of medication, fingerprint sensor, communication.
In the audible field, micro speakers can be produced.
Transducers can use various techniques for activating the membrane or for measuring activity of the membrane. One of them uses piezoelectricity. Such a transducer, known under the name, "Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer" or under the acronym, "PMUT", generates and/or detects an ultrasound wave by means of a membrane moved by a piezoelectric actuator deposited in a thin layer on the latter to generate the wave and by generating electrical charges in the piezoelectric layer during the detection.
Other transducers obey a capacitive control. Such a transducer, known under the name, "Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer", or under its acronym "CMUT", itself generates and/or detects an ultrasound wave by means of a membrane moved by capacitive effect between the membrane and the bottom of the cavity of the CMUT. Other transducers apply other techniques, such as "thin film bulk acoustic resonator" or "FBAR".
In any case, one or a plurality of membranes is used to form the vibratory mechanical portion. It is suspended above a cavity and connected to the substrate by anchors. It thus produces a mainly bending deformable structure, like a layer. Of course, producing these membranes is, in itself, a technical difficulty regarding the scale of dimension in question, with it being reminded that the thickness of the membrane is often clearly less than 100 microns (10−6 m) and generally less than 10 microns. A difficulty is to preserve the mechanical reliability of the suspension of the membrane during the production steps. Another aspect is the acoustic conduction quality of which the homogeneity of the structure-borne transmission of the waves in the membrane and the acoustic insulation of it. Electrical portions must also be constructed (such as electrodes, re-connection elements, inserted insulating layers) and some of these portions engage closely with the membrane (for example, electrodes and the piezoelectric layer of a PMUT transducer).
The membranes must also be as acoustically insulated as possible to avoid the acoustic coupling thereof or damaging vibrations. Regarding this, document US 2004/0190377 A1 describes a method for insulating elements of a sensor network. This publication propose the formation of trenches spacing groups of sensors and forming an acoustic barrier between these groups of sensors. However, a problem thus occurs regarding the electrical connection of sensors, as the trenches are obstacles for the passage of waves, as they are for producing re-connections or other electrical addressing member for sensors.
It is an aim of the invention to overcome at least partially the disadvantages of the current techniques.

COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES


A conjugated diene series rubber composition comprises 100 parts by weight of a diene series rubber containing at least 30 parts by weight of a particular modified styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber, and 30-80 parts by weight of a specified carbon black, and is excellent in strength at breakage, abrasion resistance and low fuel consumption after vulcanization.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a conjugated diene series rubber composition having improved strength at breakage, abrasion resistance and low heat build-up after vulcanization.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lately, the demand on safeness and low fuel consumption of automobiles becomes more severer and hence the rubber material for automobile tire is strongly demanded to have an abrasion resistance in addition to the safeness and low fuel consumption. Heretofore, the rubber composition containing styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber obtained by emulsion polymerization process (E-SBR) has widely been used as a tread for the tire owing to the excellent abrasion resistance. However, the rubber composition containing E-SBR is large in the energy loss and is apt to generate heat, so that it is unsuitable for treads directing to the low fuel consumption.
In order to solve this problem, there are used rubber compositions containing styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber obtained by solution polymerization process (S-SBR). S-SBR is obtained by copolymerizing butadiene with styrene in a hydrocarbon solvent in the presence of an organolithium initiator and has a narrow molecular weight distribution. That is, S-SBR does not contain low molecular weight component as compared with E-SBR and is small in the hystresis loss, so that it is suitable for the tread directing to the low fuel consumption.
Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 44-4996, Japanese Patent laid open No. 57-205414 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,232, terminal-modified S-SBR can be obtained by utilizing an activity of terminal group in S-SBR after the polymerization and reacting it with a halogenated tin compound or an alkenyl tin compound. When such a terminal-modified S-SBR is compounded with carbon black and the like, the resulting rubber composition provides considerably low heat build-up or low fuel consumption.
However, such S-SBRs are low in the heat build-up or fuel consumption but are poor in the strength and abrasion resistance as compared with E-SBR as a rubber composition, so that it is difficult to synthesize S-SBR simultaneously satisfying low fuel consumption and excellent abrasion resistance.

Conjugated diene series rubber compositions


A head alignment system for a person having reduced musculature or loss of muscle control of their neck and shoulders, whereby the device maintains the head of the person in a generally upright position. The device comprises at least one pulley attached to a support, a headband having two ends, and a cord having two ends, each of the ends of the cord being adjustably attached to a corresponding one of the ends of the headband. The cord being received by the pulley and the headband and the cord forming an adjustable loop. The loop being adapted for placement about the head of the person, whereby the cord is adjusted so that the head of the person is held generally upright. The cord, by moving about the pulley, permits the headband to move with the head of the person as the person rotates their head about an axis extending from their neck through the top of their head.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to support systems for the physically disadvantaged. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for persons with reduced musculature or muscle control of their neck and shoulders causing their head to droop. The device maintains their head in an upright position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many physically challenged individuals have lost muscle tone in the shoulder and neck area or have lost nerve control of the muscles in the shoulder and neck area such that the person's head droops to the front or side. This positioning of the head creates discomfort, restricting their breathing, their ability to talk and communicate with others, and their ability to observe their surroundings. This inability to control the movement of their head can increase the emotional impact of their disability.
A patent issued to Suzanne P. Mars, U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,968, discloses one means for providing head support to such persons. The patent discloses a complex system utilizing a helmet, a collar, chin support straps and elastic tethers. Rotational movement of the head is gained by rotating against an elastic tether.
Head straps and other braces have been used to maintain a patient's head in an upright position; however, the braces are usually very restrictive, permitting little movement. Additionally, support systems that hold the chin in an upward position prevent or restrict the person from eating or speaking.
Notwithstanding the existence of such prior art, it remains clear that there is a need for a head alignment system that has few restrictions and allows some voluntary movement.


A system and method are provided for peer-to-peer distributed file storage in a network of connected clients. The method transmits data file peer-storage information from a first peer node to a network-connected backup manager. The backup manager creates a mapping plan, for mapping data file segments to a peer group, which typically includes a plurality of network-connected peer nodes. The backup manager transmits the mapping plan to the first peer node. The first peer node distributes the data file segments to the peer group in accordance with the mapping plan, for storage in tangible memory media. Typically, the first peer node accepts a data file and encrypts the data file. In one aspect, the backup manager creates a mapping plan for distributing (n+x) erasure-coded segments. After receipt of the mapping plan, the first peer node creates the (n+x) erasure coded file segments in preparation for distribution.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to information storage and, more particularly, to a system and method for peer-to-peer distributed information storage.
2. Description of the Related Art
A peer-to-peer (P2P) computer network uses the diverse connectivity and cumulative bandwidth of network participants, rather than the centralized resources of a relatively low number of servers. Sharing files containing audio, video, data or anything in digital format is very common, and realtime data, such as telephony traffic, is also passed using P2P technology.
A pure P2P network does not have the notion of clients or servers, but only equal peer nodes that simultaneously function as both "clients" and "servers" to the other nodes on the network. This model of network arrangement differs from the client-server model where communication is usually to and from a central server. A typical example of a file transfer that is not P2P, is an FTP server where the client and server programs are quite distinct. The clients initiate the download/uploads, and the servers react to and satisfy these requests.
In "pure" P2P networks the peers act as equals, merging the roles of clients and server. There is no central server managing the network or central router. A hybrid P2P system may have a central server that keeps information on peers and responds to requests for that information. The peers are responsible for hosting available resources (as the central server does not have them), for letting the central server know what resources they want to share, and for making its shareable resources available to peers that request it. Route terminals can be used as addresses, which are referenced by a set of indices to obtain an absolute address. Napster was an example of a centralized P2P network, while KaZaA was more decentralized.
The advantage of a P2P networks is that all clients provide resources, including bandwidth, storage space, and computing power. Thus, as nodes arrive and demand on the system increases, the total capacity of the system also increases. This is not true of a client-server architecture with a fixed set of servers, in which adding more clients could mean slower data transfer for all users. The distributed nature of P2P networks also increases robustness in case of failures by replicating data over multiple peers, and in pure P2P systems, by enabling peers to find the data without relying on a centralized index server. In the latter case, there is no single point of failure in the system.
The P2P overlay network consists of all the participating peers as network nodes. There are links between any two nodes that know each other: i.e. if a participating peer knows the location of another peer in the P2P network, then there is a directed edge from the former node to the latter in the overlay network. Based on how the nodes in the overlay network are linked to each other, P2P networks may be classified as unstructured or structured.
An unstructured P2P network is formed when the overlay links are established arbitrarily. Such networks can be easily constructed as a new peer that wants to join the network can copy existing links of another node and then form its own links over time. Structured P2P network employ a globally consistent protocol to ensure that any node can efficiently route a search to some peer that has the desired file. Such a guarantee necessitates a more structured pattern of overlay links. By far the most common type of structured P2P network is the distributed hash table (DHT), in which a variant of consistent hashing is used to assign ownership of each file to a particular peer, in a way analogous to a traditional hash table's assignment of each key to a particular array slot. Some well known DHTs are Chord, Pastry, Tapestry, CAN, and Tulip.
Using the Chord lookup protocol, node keys are arranged in a circle. The circle cannot have more than 2m nodes. The ring can have ids/keys ranging from 0 to 2m−1. IDs and keys are assigned an m-bit identifier using what is known as consistent hashing. The SHA-1 algorithm is the base hashing function for consistent hashing. The consistent bashing is integral to the probability of the robustness and performance because both keys and IDs (IP addresses) are uniformly distributed and in the same identifier space. Consistent hashing is also necessary to let nodes join and leave the network without disrupting the network.
Each node has a successor and a predecessor. The successor to a node or key is the next clockwise node in the identifier circle. The predecessor of a node or key is the next counter-clockwise node in the id circle. If there is a node for each possible ID, the successor of node 2 is node 3, and the predecessor of node 1 is node 0. However, normally there are holes in the sequence, so, for example, the successor of node 153 may be node 167 (and nodes from 154 to 166 will not exist). In this case, the predecessor of node 167 will be node 153. Since the successor (or predecessor) node may disappear from the network (because of failure or departure), each node records a whole segment of the circle adjacent to it, i.e. the K nodes preceding it and the K nodes following it. One successor and predecessor are kept in a list to maintain a high probability that the successor and predecessor pointers actually point to the correct nodes after possible failure or departure of the initial successor or predecessor.
BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing protocol used to distribute large amounts of data. The initial distributor of the complete file or collection acts as the first seed. Each peer who downloads the data also upload's them to other peers. Relative to standard Internet hosting, this method provides a significant reduction in the original distributor's hardware and bandwidth resource costs. It also provides redundancy against system problems and reduces dependence on the original distributor.
To share a file or group of files, a peer first creates a small file called a "torrent" (e.g. MyFile.torrent). This file contains metadata about the files to be shared and about the tracker, the computer that coordinates the file distribution. Peers that want to download the file first obtain a torrent file for it, and connect to the specified tracker, which tells them from which other peers to download the pieces of the file. Though both ultimately transfer files over a network, a BitTorrent download differs from a classic full-file HTTP request in several fundamental ways.
The peer distributing a data file treats the file as a number of identically-sized pieces, typically between 64 kB and 4 MB each. The peer creates a checksum for each piece, using the SHA1 hashing algorithm, and records it in the torrent file. Pieces with sizes greater than 512 kB will reduce the size of a torrent file for a very large payload, but is claimed to reduce the efficiency of the protocol. When another peer later receives a particular piece, the checksum of the piece is compared to the recorded checksum to test that the piece is error-free. Peers that provide a complete file are called seeders, and the peer providing the initial copy is called the initial seeder.
Users browse the web to find a torrent of interest, download it, and open it with a BitTorrent client. The client connects to the tracker(s) specified in the torrent file, from which it receives a list of peers currently transferring pieces of the file(s) specified in the torrent. The client connects to those peers to obtain the various pieces. Such a group of peers connected to each other to share a torrent is called a swarm. If the swarm contains only the initial seeder, the client connects directly to it and begins to request pieces. As peers enter the swarm, they begin to trade pieces with one another, instead of downloading directly from the seeder. BitTorrent does not offer its users anonymity. It is possible to obtain the IP addresses of all current, and possibly previous, participants in a swarm from the tracker. This may expose users with insecure systems to attacks.
All of the above-mentioned systems are generally concerned with the retrieval and sharing of complete files, rather than the distribution of segments from a single file across many peers. Conventional information storage backup systems, such as Network Attached Storage (NAS) use a software client (e.g., a PC) that moves information to a RAID-based network storage system. The backup storage location is a large data center which contains enough storage to store information for all the connected users. The data center may be connected via the Internet, for example.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams depicting a RAID 5 system (prior art). RAID 5 and RAID 6 are well known as systems for the redundant array of independent disks. RAID systems are an example of what is referred to herein as an erasure code. Instead of distributing data "vertically" (from lowest sector to highest) on single disks, RAID 5 distributes data in two dimensions. First, "horizontally" in a row across n number of disks, then "vertically" as rows are repeated. A row consists of equal "chunks" of data on each disk and is referred to as a "stripe". Each chunk of data, or each disk's portion of the stripe, is referred to as a stripelet.
For RAID 5, one of the stripelets is designated as a parity stripelet. This stripelet consists of the XOR of all the other stripelets in the stripe. The operation for XOR'ing the data for a parity stripelet is referred to as P-calculation. The purpose of the parity is to provide for a level of redundancy. Since the RAID is now depicting a virtual disk consisting of multiple physical disks, there is a higher probability of one the individual physical disks failing. If one of the stripelets cannot be read due to an individual disk error or failure, the data for that stripelet can be reassembled by XOR'ing all the other stripelets in the stripe.
It would be advantageous if a P2P system existed that permitted a user to distribute information among a group of peers in a manner that ensured the confidentiality of the information and protected against peer failures.


Semiconductor devices and methods for forming a semiconductor device are presented. The method includes providing a substrate having a device component with a contact region. A contact dielectric layer is formed on the substrate, covering the substrate and device component. The contact dielectric layer includes a lower contact dielectric layer, an intermediate contact dielectric etch stop layer formed on the lower contact dielectric layer, and an upper contact dielectric layer formed on the intermediate contact dielectric etch stop layer. A contact opening is formed through the contact dielectric layer. The contact opening has an upper contact sidewall profile in the upper contact dielectric layer and a lower tapered contact sidewall profile in the lower contact dielectric layer. The tapered sidewall profile prevents shorting with the device component.

The fabrication of integrated circuits (ICs) involves the formation of features on a substrate that make up circuit components, such as transistors, resistors and capacitors. The devices are interconnected, enabling the IC to perform the desired functions. Interconnections are formed by forming contacts and conductive lines in a dielectric layer using, for example, damascene techniques. A damascene structure, for example, includes a via or contact hole in a lower portion and a trench in an upper portion. The via serves as a contact to a device while the trench contains the conductive line for connecting the device to, for example, other devices.
It is important for contacts to be coupled properly with the contact regions, such as gate and source/drain (S/D) contact regions, of the transistors. However, processing errors may cause expanded contact profiles. As a result, the separation distance between the S/D contacts and the gate is reduced. This may lead to electrical shorts between the S/D contacts and the gate. Furthermore, processing errors may also form expanded conductive lines which may undesirably lead to electrical shorts between the conductive lines above and the gate below. In cases where there are more than one type of devices formed on the same substrate, contact profile uniformity is also difficult to control due to the different heights of these different devices. These phenomena adversely render the IC malfunction.
From the foregoing discussion, it is desirable to provide a device which is devoid of the above-mentioned problem, thus increasing the reliability of the IC. It is also desirable to provide a simplified process for forming a device with increased reliability.


A method for extracting proteins from heterogeneous fluids by precipitation using microfluidics. The method uses an automated protocol for precipitation of proteins onto surfaces, rinsing the precipitates to remove impurities, and resolubilization in buffer for further analysis. The method is compatible with proteins representing a range of different physicochemical properties, as well as with complex mixtures such as fetal bovine serum and cell lysate. In all cases, the quantitative performance (measured using a fluorescent assay for % recovery) was comparable to that of conventional techniques, which are manual and require more time.

In the post-genome era, proteomics has emerged as the next great scientific challenge. While methodologies vary widely, a near-universal first step for proteomic analyses of physiological samples (e.g., blood, serum, tissue extract, etc.) is removal of the non-relevant solution constituents (e.g., nucleic acids, lipids, etc.).1-4 A common method used to accomplish this task is protein precipitation. In this technique, one or more precipitants (organic solvents, salts, or pH modulators) is mixed with the protein-containing sample, which causes proteins to precipitate and settle to the bottom of the reaction vessel.1-3,5-8 After centrifuging, removal of supernatant, and washing in appropriate rinse solvents, the precipitate can be re-dissolved, and the now-purified solution can be used for subsequent processing and analysis.
The present invention discloses the development of an automated, microfluidic method for extracting proteins from heterogeneous fluids by precipitation. Although there have been myriad applications of microfluidic technologies to proteomics,9 to the inventor's knowledge, there have been no disclosures describing protein extraction by precipitation in microchannels. It is noted that precipitation has been used in channels to remove proteins for analysis of other analytes,10 but not as a technique to extract and collect proteins for further analysis. The inventors speculate that this deficit is a function of complexity and heterogeneity since in protein extraction by precipitation, liquids (samples, rinse solutions, etc.), solids (precipitates), and vapor phases (air for drying precipitates) all play a prominent roles and must be precisely controlled. These requirements seem like a poor match for the conventional format for microfluidics, enclosed microchannels. Thus, in the current work, we chose to use the alternative format of digital microfluidics (DMF).
In DMF, discrete droplets of sample and reagents are controlled (i.e., moved, merged, mixed, and dispensed from reservoirs) by applying a series of electrical potentials to an array of electrodes.11,12 Because of its reconfigurability and scalability, DMF has recently become popular for a wide range biochemical applications including cell-based assays,13 enzyme assays,14-16 protein profiling,17-19 and the polymerase chain reaction.20 More importantly, the DMF format seems well suited for complex procedures such as protein extraction by precipitation, as DMF can be used to precisely control liquid-, solid-, and gas-phase reagents in heterogeneous systems.21-24
It would therefore be very advantageous to provide an automated method for extracting and purifying proteins from heterogeneous mixtures using digital microfluidics as this would facilitate high throughput extraction and screening of proteins.

Digital microfluidic method for protein extraction by precipitation from heterogeneous mixtures

The Governing Council of the University of Toronto


Provided in the present disclosure are an uplink control information transmission method and device. The method includes determining that a first transmission resource corresponding to uplink data to be transmitted and a second transmission resource corresponding to uplink control information to be transmitted overlap in a time domain. The method also includes transmitting the uplink control information on the second transmission resource and terminating transmission of the uplink data on the first transmission resource.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to communication technologies, and more particularly, to a method and device for transmitting uplink control information.
In Ultra Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC) wireless communication systems such as 5G application scenarios, in order to meet service requirements, a resource configuration of a Scheduling Request (SR) for short-period uplink data is introduced, so that SR can be reported quickly.
In actual applications, a situation where a transmission resource for transmitting SR and a transmission resource for transmitting uplink data overlap in the time domain may occur at a terminal. Therefore, it is urgent to provide an SR transmission method to realize real-time transmission or instant transmission of the SR, when the situation where the transmission resource for transmitting the SR and the transmission resource for transmitting the uplink data conflict in the time domain occurs at the terminal, especially when the transmission resource for transmitting the uplink data is relatively long in the time domain. Similarly, feedback information with low latency requirements and other Uplink Control Information (UCI) also have the same problem. For example, feedback information of downlink data (that is, ACK information when downlink data is correctly received or NACK information when downlink data is not correctly received) and Channel Status Information (CSI).

Uplink control information transmission method and device

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


Highly sensitive assays for pathogen detection, identification and/or analysis including, but not limited to, sensing of metabolite patterns associated with high-risk drug resistance phenotypes.

There is a clinical need for rapid diagnostics of infectious disease. The threat is particularly stark in neutropenic patients, who frequently present with systemic infections wherein every hour of delay in treatment is associated with an 18% increase in mortality (2-4). Additionally, implanted medical devices, such as central venous catheters (CVC), are now a staple of modern medicine. Five million CVCs are installed in the US annually with a high rate of dangerous device-associated infection in critically ill patients (5-8).
Candida albicans is the major human systemic fungal pathogen and, at the same time, a very common human commensal. It is the fourth most common cause of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections in the United States (1). An estimated 46,000 healthcare-associated Candida infections occur among hospitalized patients in the United States each year (2). The widespread use of antifungal drugs, such as fluconazole, has led to the development of drug resistance, which has severely hindered antifungal therapies and prompted the CDC to designate fluconazole resistant Candida as a "serious"-level drug-resistance threat (2). Bacteria and fungi readily form biofilms, which are associated with resistance to antimicrobial drugs (3-5). Biofilms are surface-associated communities of microorganisms enclosed in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. The process of Candida biofilm growth and dispersal, leading to dissemination of the infection from infected medical device surfaces, is regulated by microbial soluble small molecule QSMs, which are typically small organic alcohols (e.g., farnesol, tyrosol) (6, 7).
Enterobacteriaceae, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, are among most commonly isolated pathogens in nosocomial infections (8-10). Their ability to form thick biofilms is an important virulence trait that permits them to infect surfaces of catheters and other implanted medical devices (11). These pathogens utilize gram-negative bacterial type I QSMs (acyl homoserine lactones) and type II QSMs (furanosyl borate diesters) to regulate population dynamics and biofilm production (12, 13). Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a significant and growing infectious threat in the health care setting. Some CRE pathogens are resistant to virtually all known antibiotics, and they are associated with 50% attributable mortality in cases of CRE bloodstream infection (12, 13). Therefore, the CDC has labeled CRE infection as an "urgent"-level drug resistance threat (2).
Currently, microbiological culture delays clinical diagnostic results for at least 48 hours, with additional delay for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Therefore, empiric therapies such as broad-spectrum antibiotics are typically applied immediately until a specific pathogen is identified. These powerful drugs are lifesaving, but their use exposes patients to elevated risk of serious infectious sequelae (9, 10) and raises antimicrobial stewardship concerns due to the need to prolong the clinically useful lifetime of these drugs.
Empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic therapies decimate the patient's healthy microbiome and leave them susceptible to overgrowth by pathogens such as Candida albicans and Clostridium difficile that are normally kept in check by a healthy microbiome (14-18). Accordingly, there is a need for better-targeted therapies to be applied to patients at an earlier time such as a rapid, point of care diagnostic. Such rapid point of care diagnostics could spare patients exposure to these powerful drugs and preserve their normal microfloral populations, which are increasingly understood to be not just passive bystanders but intimately connected with health and disease on many fronts (19-24).

Rapid, culture free detection of drug resistance characteristics by raman and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic methods


The dual-modulus prescaler circuit (1) is devised to operate at a very high frequency. This circuit includes an assembly formed of two dynamic D-type flip flops (12, 13), and two NAND logic gates (15, 16) arranged in negative feedback between the two flip flops. The two flip flops are clocked by an input clock signal (CK) to supply a divided output signal (OUT) whose frequency matches the input clock frequency divided by 2 or by 3 as a function of a division mode selection signal (divb) applied to the input of the first NAND logic gate (15). One non-inverted output of the second flip flop is connected to one input of the first flip flop (12). The first dynamic flip flop includes three active branches and supplies a single inverted output signal. A third flip flop (14) with three active branches receives an inverted mode selection signal (div) at input in order to supply the mode selection signal to the inverted output thereof, clocked by the non-inverted output signal of the second flip flop.

A frequency synthesiser conventionally includes a phase lock loop, in which a dual-modulus prescaler circuit divides the synthesiser output signal frequency by a first factor or a second factor as a function of a selected division mode. Mode selection is performed, for example, by a modulator, such as a sigma delta modulator such that the synthesiser output generates signals at the desired frequency within a determined frequency band.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional dual-modulus prescaler circuit 1. This circuit is capable of dividing the frequency of an input signal CK by a first factor equal to 2 or by a second factor equal to 3 in accordance with the selected mode div.
In order to do this, the prescaler or counter-divider circuit may include two or three standard D-type flip flops 2, 3, 4 and two NOR logic gates 5, 6 in negative feedback arranged between a first flip flop 2 and a second flip flop 3. Each of these flip flops is capable of providing a non-inverted output signal Q and an inverted output signal Qb in accordance with an input signal D. The first and second flip flops 2 and 3 are clocked by the input clock signal CK. A third flip flop 4 clocked by an output signal OUT from second flip flop 3, may also be provided. This third flip flop 4 is only used to ensure proper resynchronisation during a mode change div. The frequency of this output signal OUT of prescaler circuit 1 matches the frequency of input signal CK divided by the first division factor or the second division factor in accordance with the selected mode div.
The first NOR logic gate 5 receives at input the non-inverted output signal Q from the first flip flop 2, and the non-inverted output signal Q from the third flip flop 4 representing the selection of division mode div. The output of this first logic gate 5 is connected to one input of the second NOR logic gate 6, the input of which also receives the non-inverted output signal Q from second flip flop 3. The output of this second logic gate 6 is connected to input D of the second flip flop 3. The output signal OUT from prescaler circuit 1 is supplied to the inverted output Qb of second flip flop 3. This output signal OUT is also the input signal D of first flip flop 2.
If the selected mode div is in state 1, i.e. a high voltage state, prescaler circuit 1 divides the frequency of input signal CK by a first factor equal to 2. Conversely, if the selected mode div is in state 0, i.e. a low voltage state, prescaler circuit 1 divides the frequency of input signal CK by a second factor equal to 3.
Each NOR logic gate 5, 6 is made with two PMOS transistors in series, which are connected in series with two parallel NMOS transistors between a positive supply terminal and a negative supply terminal of a voltage source. One gate of the first PMOS transistor is connected to one gate of the first NMOS transistor to form a first gate input. One gate of the second PMOS transistor is connected to one gate of the second NMOS transistor to form a second gate input. The connection node between the PMOS transistors and NMOS transistors forms the logic gate output.
Due to the use of NOR logic gates with two PMOS transistors in series that are slow, this type of prescaler circuit is not provided to operate normally at a very high frequency, which constitutes a drawback. Moreover, since three standard D-type flip flops are used, this prescaler circuit consumes a significant amount of electrical power.

Dual-modulus prescaler circuit operating at a very high frequency

The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.


Method and system for displaying latency, useful in broker-dealer computer systems engaged generally in automated processing of orders for securities including sending to markets messages comprising orders and cancellations and receiving from markets responses to orders and cancellations, including recording for messages sent to markets the time when each message is sent and the identity of the market to which each message is sent, including recording for responses received from markets the time when each response is received, wherein each response corresponds to a particular message. Embodiments include calculating latencies for markets dependent upon recorded time when a message is sent to the market and a recorded time when a corresponding response is received from the market. Latencies are embodied alternatively as instant values or various kinds of averages. Embodiments includes latencies for communications ports as well as for markets. Embodiments include counting messages and responses for markets and for ports, and displaying the counts. Embodiments include displaying the identity of the markets and the latencies for the markets.

Broker-dealers increasingly make available to their customers on-line submission, cancellation, and tracking of the status of orders for securities. Securities trading customers include day traders, institutions, and active private investors. Such customers make many quick decisions regarding when and from whom to order securities. Customers are increasingly demanding regarding quality and speed of execution. Customers require a high quality of information to support their decision-making. Customers are often presented with quotes identifying markets from which particular securities can be bought or sold at particular prices. In such quotes there are often several markets quoting securities at the current inside price. Markets quoting the same price, however, are not the same in terms of quality of execution. Especially regarding speed, all markets are different. It would be useful, therefore, if customers had a display of information helpful in identifying which markets are likely to execute orders more quickly than others.
Modern broker-dealers often subscribe to one or more exchanges or ECNs ("markets") capable of executing orders for securities by matching orders with orders of opposite side. Orders, cancellations, and responses are communicated to and from markets by use of data communications ports. Many broker-dealers handle volumes of orders so large as to require more than one port per market. Ports often are not equal in their ability to communicate with a particular market. Sometimes ports fail, partially or completely. It would be useful to have a display of information, for diagnostic purposes within the broker-dealer organizations, to help identify problems with particular ports, to help keep the overall flow of data communications functioning efficiently.


A thermostatic expansion valve is provided comprising an inlet, an outlet, first and second flow paths through the valve, a first valve element in the first flow path between the inlet and outlet, and a movable diaphragm having a first side acted on by a first fluid pressure and a second side acted on by at least a second fluid pressure. The diaphragm is movable to permit increased flow through the first flow path when the force against the first side is greater than that against the second side, and is movable to restrict flow through the first flow path when the force against the first side is less than that against the second side. The diaphragm moves in an upward direction to cause the first valve element to close the first flow path, and may continue to move in the upward direction to cause a second flow path to open.

Thermostatic expansion valves are used to control or meter the flow of refrigerant to an evaporator in an air conditioning system, to provide a refrigerant flow rate into the evaporator that approximately matches the refrigerant flow rate exiting the evaporator. The refrigerant flowing through the thermostatic expansion valve experiences an expansion and a drop in pressure, which results in a refrigerant vapor being supplied to the evaporator. The vapor is then superheated in the evaporator before it enters the suction inlet to the compressor of the air conditioning system.
The typical thermostatic expansion valve operates via a working fluid having a "charge" pressure that changes in response to sensing the temperature of the refrigerant suction line to the compressor. The working fluid pressure acts against a diaphragm in the thermostatic expansion valve to effect opening and closing of a valve. By controlling the refrigerant flow to the evaporator, the thermostatic expansion valve maintains a predetermined amount of superheat in the evaporator to ensure that only vapor is leaving the evaporator. If there is insufficient refrigerant or superheat in the evaporator, un-evaporated liquid refrigerant leaving the evaporator could enter the suction inlet to the compressor. Liquid refrigerant entering the suction inlet to the compressor could cause overheating or damage to the compressor.

Thermostatic expansion valve with bypass passage


This invention discloses a vehicle electrical system voltage regulator with improved electrical protection and warning means that discerns and responds to regulator, generator, or vehicle electrical system operation and malfunctions. The regulator includes monitoring, control, and protection circuits with a phase signal monitor, a field switching circuit that operates the field coil in response to electrical power demands, and a field enable switch in series with the field regulating switch. The phase monitor and protection circuit ascertains and transmits generator rotational motion for use by the monitoring and control circuit in discerning the various operating conditions. The monitoring and control circuit operates on the field switching circuit to meet the electrical power demands and provide multi level fault protection to include field switching circuit reconfiguration to continue operating under various fault conditions. A warning and diagnostic system incorporating visual indicators and communication lines provide descriptive system information for use by the vehicle's operator and computer network, respectively.

The present invention relates to vehicle electrical systems which comprise a generator including a voltage regulator and electrical components. Such electrical components include, but are not limited to, one or more stored energy sources, electrical loads such as instrumentation, electronic vehicle control systems, heating elements, lights, stereo systems, wiring system, and/or any other electrical device which may either supply or consume electrical energy to or from said vehicle electrical system. More specifically, the present invention focuses on a voltage regulator, including a system and method, which may be utilized in a vehicle electrical system to provide improved electrical protection, continued regulated operation, and warning to the vehicle electrical system even in the event of various electrical failures. The voltage regulator is configured to monitor, control, and protect said electrical components, generator, and its own system and operation, by including a monitor/control/protection (MCP) circuit and a field switching (FS) circuit. Of particular utility, said MCP and FS circuits are configured to discern and respond to various failure modes of the vehicle electrical system. The voltage regulator is further capable of reconfiguring its components to allow it to continue normal operation even when certain components fail to function properly. More specifically, the MCP circuit is capable of reconfiguring a protective component of the FS circuit to function as an operative component when the operative component of the FS circuit fails to function properly.
Vehicle electrical systems are normally comprised of electrical components, such as the above mentioned devices, and a generator including a voltage regulator. The generator supplies electrical power to the vehicle electrical system when the vehicle's engine is operating. The voltage regulator's primary function is to regulate the generator's output power at a specific reference voltage. Modern voltage regulators also function to monitor and control the generator's performance to protect the vehicle electrical system, see for example Becker et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,661, and Jabaji, U.S. Pat. No. 5,907,233. It is desirable, however, to monitor and control not only the generator's performance, but also that of the voltage regulator and the rest of the vehicle electrical system, and further to be able to discern, respond, and communicate the failure modes of these components to the vehicle's computer network and/or the vehicle's operator. It is also desirable to be able to reconfigure the voltage regulator's components so that it may continue normal operation without the use of additional redundant components.
The generator converts an engine's mechanical power into electrical power. The engine's mechanical power, in the form of a torque at a rotational speed, is exerted on the generator via a coupling mechanism, such as a drive belt. When the generator's field coil conducts electric current while the rotor is turning, the stators experience changing magnetic flux that induces alternating electric current which is converted to direct current by rectifiers. The voltage regulator is designed to regulate the output power of said generator by switching on/off the generator's field coil. Specifically, the regulator seeks to maintain the generator output power at a specific operating voltage, for example 28 Volts. A vehicle electrical system is designed to operate within a designated range of this operating voltage, for instance ±0.5 Volts. Voltage variations beyond this envelope, signified as over voltage and under voltage conditions, may cause damage to the vehicle electrical system. Over voltage may burn electrical components, while under voltage may deplete the batteries to the point of disabling the vehicle.
Over voltage and under voltage conditions may occur as a result of a malfunctioning generator, voltage regulator, and/or faulty vehicle electrical components. Generator failure may occur as a result of a faulty field coil, stator winding, or diode trio, to name a few examples. Voltage regulator failure may occur as a result of a faulty switching transistor. A vehicle electrical circuit component, such as the cable connecting the generator to the battery, may result in an open battery circuit if it breaks or becomes unfastened due to excessive vibrations.
A common design of generators is such that the field coil is connected to the vehicle battery at one end, and grounded at the other end via a switching transistor included in the voltage regulator. The voltage regulator senses the generator output voltage and controls the field coil current to maintain a constant voltage according to the regulator's internal voltage reference as external electrical loads within the limits of the generator output power capacity are added and removed. This is generally achieved by making current flow through the field winding whenever output voltage drops below the reference voltage, and stopping the flow of current through the field winding whenever the output voltage rises above the reference voltage. The voltage regulator switches on/off the field coil by turning on/off its field switching transistor.
It is possible for the generator to cause an over voltage or an under voltage condition, irrespective of the voltage regulator's operating states. For instance, a generator whose field coil has made contact with the generator's frame may conduct field current to cause an over voltage condition even though the voltage regulator has turned off its field switching transistor. Alternatively, an under voltage condition may occur if the generator's stator windings or output connector develop a fault that reduces the generator output, even though the voltage regulator is performing properly.
It is similarly possible that the voltage regulator may cause an over voltage or an under voltage condition, irrespective of the generator's operating states. If a voltage regulator's field switching transistor fails in a short circuit mode it causes an over voltage condition. If a voltage regulator's field switching transistor fails in an open circuit mode it causes an under voltage condition. Such over voltage and under voltage conditions may occur even though the generator is properly performing its operation.
Although various systems have been proposed which touch upon some aspects of the above problems, they do not provide solutions to the existing limitations in monitoring, controlling, and protecting the vehicle electrical system. For example, the Renehan patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,792 discloses electrical circuitry, apparatus, and methods of operation of said structures for regulating electrical power output by a generator via sensing current flow through the field coil of said generator, but does not provide the protection and warning capabilities of the present invention. The Karlich patent, AU 597900, discloses a voltage regulator circuit which includes an over voltage protection circuitry due to faulty wire connections, but does not discern and/or respond to other modes of failures. In Schramm et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,720, the means for recognition of faults and protection includes an additional voltage regulator device, which is independent of the voltage regulator and operates in place of the voltage regulator when there is a defective connection in the voltage regulator, while in the present invention there is no need for an additional voltage regulator. Therefore, there is a need for a voltage regulator that can discern and protect against the vehicle electrical system failures. There is also a need for a voltage regulator that can reconfigure certain internal components in order to continue normal operation without implementing additional redundant systems. It is also highly desirable to have a warning and diagnostic system, incorporating visual indicators and communication lines, to provide descriptive system information for use by the vehicle's operator and computer network, respectively.
Modern vehicles rely heavily on their on-board electrical power generating device. A generator including a voltage regulator is such device. The voltage regulator functions to control and manage the electrical power generated by the generator. Vehicle electrical components may be damaged if either the generator or voltage regulator malfunctions. A voltage regulator that can properly protect against these malfunctions, irrespective of which device is the cause of the malfunction, and is able to reconfigure its components in order to maintain system operation under a variety of faults is desired. Furthermore, a voltage regulator that is capable of discerning and communicating vehicle electrical system failures to either the vehicle operator or computer network is needed.

Voltage regulator with improved protection and warning system


A handle covering device for inhibiting microbial transfer according to various aspects of the present technology may comprise an elongated body having a center body section and two opposing ends. The elongated body includes an interior receiving section configured to fit around and temporarily attach to a handle of a shopping cart. The interior receiving section may include one or more surface elements configured to increase a gripping force between the handle covering device and the shopping cart handle. The center body section and the opposing ends may be configured to flexibly adjust and conform to the shopping cart handle during use.

The University of Arizona's Environmental Research Lab found that grocery carts exhibit high numbers of HPC bacteria and coliform bacteria, indicating unsanitary conditions of the carts compared with other public places and surfaces. The research indicated that total bacterial levels are higher on shopping carts than public restrooms and other commonly touched things in these environments (airports, bus stations, public bathroom, shopping malls, etc.). Coliform bacteria and E. coli detected on the carts may have come from contact with raw foods, birds (while the carts were in the parking lot between use), other sources of animal feces, and contact with fecally contaminated hands or other body parts, such as from diaper aged infants.

Methods and apparatus for a covering device to inhibit microbial transfer