In an information processing apparatus for displaying models representing shapes to assist design of a device, device identifying data, function identifying data, and core part identifying data are extracted for each function of the device to be designed from configuration information indicating a configuration of functions of the device to be designed, area data corresponding to the extracted device identifying data and the extracted function identifying data is extracted from parts information representing information on parts of another device, part shape data representing a three-dimensional shape of a core part identified by the extracted core part identifying data is extracted from a set of part shape data representing three-dimensional shapes of parts, mounting surface shape data representing a shape of a surface on which the parts of the function of the device are mounted is generated on a basis of the extracted area data, and display of a model representing the three-dimensional shape of the core part and a model representing the shape of the surface on which the parts are mounted is controlled on a basis of the part shape data and the mounting surface shape data.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for information processing, and a program, and particularly to an apparatus and a method for information processing, and a program that assist design of a device.
A so-called CAD (Computer-Aided Design) system that displays a model representing a shape to assist design is used in designing various objects.
A three-dimensional CAD system, in particular, that displays a model representing a three-dimensional shape to assist design is widely used in designing machines.
In a field of circuit design of electronic devices, a CAD system that displays a two-dimensional model to assist circuit design is used, and a three-dimensional CAD system has started to come into use in a part of the field.
Conventionally, a three-dimensional model preparing device in a system provided with a three-dimensional parts information retaining part for storing information of three-dimensional size of parts to be mounted on a board and preparing a three-dimensional model of the board mounted with the parts on the basis of two-dimensional electric system design information of parts and wirings mounted on the board designed by a computer is proposed (see for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11-353341, hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1). In this three-dimensional model preparing device, the electric system design information is input, the three-dimensional parts information retaining part is searched on the basis of the electric system design information to extract parts having three-dimensional size, the extracted parts are arranged on the board, and a three-dimensional model of the board mounted with the parts is prepared.

Information processing apparatus and method, and program


A storage drive including first, second, third, fourth and fifth modules. The first module is configured to control transfer of blocks of data between a host device and the storage drive. The second module is configured to transfer the blocks of data to and from a non-volatile semiconductor memory in the storage drive. The third module is configured to generate a first descriptor, which describes a transfer of blocks of data between the second module and the non-volatile semiconductor memory. The fourth module is configured to, according to the first descriptor, generate second descriptors. Each of the second descriptors corresponds to a respective one of the blocks of data. The fifth module is configured to generate instruction signals based on the second descriptors. The second module is configured to, based on the instruction signals, transfer the blocks of data between the first module and the non-volatile semiconductor memory.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
A non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM) drive (e.g., a flash drive) includes NVSM and operates based on a size of a page of data. For example, data transferred to and from the NVSM is grouped into data sets. Each of the data sets has a length equal to the length of one or more pages of data. A page of data may have a length of, for example, 8 kilobytes (KB).
A NVSM drive may include, for example, an NVSM interface, a buffer managing module, an error correction code (ECC) module, an interface management module and a NVSM control module. The NVSM interface may communicate with a host. Data is transferred between the NVSM interface and the host. The buffer managing module receives data from the host prior to being stored in the NVSM and receives data from the NVSM prior to being transferred to the host. The ECC module encodes data provided to the NVSM and decodes data received from the NVSM. The interface management module controls data transfers between the ECC module and the NVSM.
The NVSM control module generates descriptors in response to access request signals received from the host. The descriptors may indicate, for example, whether a read operation or a program (i.e. write) operation is to be performed, the amount of data to be transferred, and the addresses to access in the NVSM. The ECC module and the interface management module are operated based on the descriptors.
The interface control module communicates with the NVSM via multiple channels (e.g., 8 channels per NVSM chip) and includes a first-in-first-out (FIFO) register for each of the channels. The FIFO registers are accessed sequentially during read and program operations. The size of each of the FIFO registers is equal to the size of one or more pages of data.
During a program operation, the ECC module transfers data in a page-based format to the interface control module prior to being stored in the NVSM. The ECC module may transfer one or more pages (M pages) of data to each of the FIFO registers, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The number of pages the ECC module transfers to each of the FIFO registers is dependent on the page format of that NVSM drive. For each set of M pages transferred a single descriptor is generated.
For example, if the ECC module is operating in an NVSM drive with a single page format, 1 page of data is transferred to each of the FIFO registers. In this example, the size of each of the FIFO registers is equal to the size of 1 page of data. If the ECC module is operating in an NVSM drive with a dual page format, then 2 pages of data are transferred to each of the FIFO registers and the size of each of the FIFO registers is equal to the size of 2 pages of data. The M pages of data are transferred to a current FIFO register prior to transferring data to a next (or subsequent) FIFO register. The above-described data transfers are performed in reverse for a read operation.
Because data is not transferred to a next FIFO register until a current FIFO register receives the M pages of data, data transfer delays can result. These delays may be experienced at one or more of the FIFO registers and can increase with higher order page formats. The order of a page format refers to the number of pages transferred during a single data transfer event. A data transfer event refers to transferring data to or from one of the channels of the NVSM. For example, in a NVSM drive with a 2-page format, if a "bottleneck" arises at a first FIFO register due to speed differences between the ECC module and a first channel, delays can arise at the first FIFO register and at all subsequent FIFO registers. Since two pages of data are transferred to a single FIFO register, a second page of data can be delayed when a first page of data is delayed. Also, delays in transferring the second page of data to the first FIFO register delays transfers of data to FIFO registers subsequent to the first FIFO register.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for generating descriptors to transfer data to and from non-volatile semiconductor memory of a storage drive


A telephone handset support device includes a resting base having a receiver setting recess and a receiver engaging projection formed on an inner side surface of the receiver setting recess. When a receiver is set in the recess, the projection engages with an engagement recess formed in the receiver. The handset resting base is provided with a spring which applies an urging force in the direction of releasing the engagement between the engagement recess of the handset and the receiver engaging projection and which also functions as charging terminals. The spring functions, when the support device is used for a desk-top type telephone, to release the engagement between the engagement recess and the receiver engaging projection and, when the support device is used for a wall-hang type telephone, to enable engagement between the engagement recess and the receiver engaging projection due to the weight of the handset itself against the urging force.

This invention relates to a telephone handset supporting device telephones used both for desk-top type and wall-hang type telephones.
In general, in case a handset supporting device of a telephone is to be used both for desk-top type and wall-hang type telephones, a projection piece 18 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) for engagement with a receiver is detachably attached to an inner side surface of a receiver setting recess 17 formed in a handset resting base 16 so that the projection piece 18 can be used selectively for, desk-top type and wall-hang type telephones by being attached selectively in reversed orientations. More specifically, when the telephone is to be used as a desk-top type telephone, the projection piece 18 is attached with its attaching direction being fixed so as to be prevented from being projected beyond the inner side surface of the recess 17 as shown in FIG. 9 so that, even when the handset 19 is set in the recess 17, the projection piece 18 can be prevented from being engaged with an engagement recess 20 of the handset 19. On the other hand, when the telephone is to be used as a wall-hang type telephone, the projection piece 18 is attached with its attaching direction being reversed so as to be projected beyond the inner side surface of the recess 17 as shown in FIG. 8, and therefore, in case of setting the handset 19 in the recess 17, the projection piece 18 is made to be engaged with the engagement recess 20 of the handset 19 so as to prevent the handset 19 from falling off.
However, in this kind of device, since the receiver engaging projection piece 18 formed separately is detachably attached, in case of changing over from the desk-top type to the wall-hang type, and vice versa, it is necessary each time to attach the projection piece 18 after turning the telephone upside down. This changeover operation is very troublesome and sometimes causes loss of the projection piece 18.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A membrane comprising two or more macromolecules that interact via multiple reversible physical interaction points (MRIPM). The membrane further comprises a chemical species A, which interacts selectively or nonselectively with the MRIPM; and a chemical species B, which interacts selectively with the MRIPM whereby the passage of species A across the MRIPM is moderated by species B.

The present invention relates to the field of membrane transport, particularly to the control over membrane transport of one species by another, and, more particularly, to the control of transport through a membrane covering a sensing element.
Transduction of a physical stimulus into a current or a voltage that may be read by standard electronic circuits is an essential component of measurement science. A device that responds in a quantitative fashion to the presence of a particular chemical species, or a class of chemical species, is known as a sensor. Sensors respond to chemical species dispersed throughout liquid, in particular aqueous, or gaseous media. The preferred requirements for sensors are several: they respond rapidly, and with high sensitivity and selectivity. Sensors are also preferably stable, yield reproducible, reversible response, are relatively easy to calibrate, and are compact.
Since most species to be measured by sensors are mixed with many other species, there is a need for sensors to be selective. Selectivity is an enhanced response for one particular species, or class of species, in the presence of others. Sensors often comprise a measuring element, such as an electrode, covered with a material designed to impart selective transport of a chemical species to be detected. For example, yttrium-doped zirconia, an oxide ion conducting material (see Schwank and DiBattista, Materials Research Society Bulletin, 24, 44 (1999)), is widely used in the automotive industry to sense oxygen concentration in engines.
Sensors in contact with gases or liquids, water in particular, frequently rely on a polymeric membrane coating for providing selectivity. The membrane may be designed to allow selective passage of a species across the membrane to a responsive element behind the membrane. For example, Prohaska et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,638) disclose a miniaturized sensor comprising a polymer ionomer coating an electrode for detecting species in the gas or vapor phase. The Clark oxygen electrode (see Sawyer et al. Electrochemistry for Chemists, 2nd ed, Wiley, New York, 1995) comprises a semipermeable fluoropolymer membrane across which oxygen, dissolved in solution, can diffuse and initiate an electrochemical reaction at a platinum electrode. Electrodes selective for ions may be constructed by immobilizing an ion exchanger within a polymer membrane, or a thin film liquid sandwiched between two polymeric membranes. A comprehensive list of such electrodes described up to 1990 can be found in Umezawa, Handbook of Ion-Selective Electrodes: Selectivity Coefficients; CRC Press: Boca Raton, Ann Arbor, Boston, 1990. The membranes are typically based on a polymer such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a polyurethane and usually also contain a water immiscible organic liquid which has plasticizer properties.
Alternatively, the surface of the membrane is modified to permit selective interaction with a chemical species, or a class of chemical species.
Membranes formed by casting, dip coating, spraying or other means mainly rely on nonspecific interactions, such as van der Waals, crystal packing interactions, and insolubility in water. For example, a membrane of PVC may be formed over an electrode by casting or dip coating. PVC, being insoluble in water, remains intact in contact with aqueous solutions. Membranes made from materials that tend to be less mechanically stable in contact with their sensing media are often stabilized by the introduction of chemical crosslinking. These crosslinks are introduced, during the deposition, or post-deposition, by irreversible chemical reactions.
Recently, membranes comprising two or more component polymeric materials (including biomacromolecules) that are held together by interactions of a more determinate nature have been described. These membranes are prepared using at least two component polymeric materials which are alternately deposited on a substrate or substratum. Each deposition deposits a layer of material, and the membrane is thus often termed a "multilayer." See Decher and Schlenoff, Eds., Multilayer Thin Films—Sequential Assembly of Nanocomposite Materials, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim (2003); Decher, Science, 277, 1232 (1997). The component polymeric materials interact at specific points along the polymeric molecules. These interactions are reversible, and the membranes, or thin films that are made are therefore termed Multiple Reversible Interaction Point Membranes, MRIPMs. Reversible interaction types employed for MRIPMs include electrostatic or ion pairing interactions, hydrogen bonding, base pairing in nucleic acids, polar acid-base interactions, charge transfer interactions and hydrophobic interactions. Combinations of these interactions have also been employed for making MRIPMs. Interactions between interaction points on component polymeric materials effectively form a plurality of physical crosslink points, which act cooperatively to hold the membrane together.
Preferred interactions are electrostatic, or ion pairing, interactions between polyelectrolytes. Polyelectrolytes are macromolecules comprising a plurality of charged repeat units. Amorphous complexes may be formed by contacting solutions of polyelectrolytes bearing opposite charges (see Dautzenberg et al. Polyelectrolytes. Formation, Characterization and Application, Hanser, Munich, 1994). The driving force for association, or complexation, of polyelectrolytes is multiple ion pairing between oppositely charged repeat units on different molecules. These same driving forces are employed for preparing membranes, or thin films, of polyelectrolyte complex. Decher and Hong (U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,111) disclose a method for a buildup of multilayers by alternating dipping, i.e., cycling a substrate between two reservoirs containing aqueous solutions of polyelectrolytes of opposite charge, with an optional rinse step in polymer-free solution following each immersion. Each cycle adds a layer of polymer via ion pairing forces to the oppositely-charged surface and reverses the surface charge thereby priming the film for the addition of the next layer. Films prepared in this manner tend to be uniform, follow the contours and irregularities of the substrate, and are typically between about 10 nm and about 10,000 nm thick. The thickness of a film depends on many factors, including the number of layers deposited, the ionic strength of the solutions, the types of polymers, the deposition time, the solution pH, the temperature, and the solvent used. Although studies have shown that substantial interpenetration of the individual polymer layers results in little composition variation over the thickness of a film, such polymer thin films are, nevertheless, referred to as polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMUs). PEMUs are a subset of MRIPMs.
Though recently developed, PEMUs are being used in a wide variety of fields including light emitting devices, nonlinear optics, sensors, enzyme active thin films, electrochromics, conductive coatings, patterning, anticorrosion coatings, antistatic coatings, lubricating films, biocompatibilization, dialysis, and as selective membranes for the separation of gaseous and dissolved ionic species. See Fou et al., J. Appl. Phys., 79, 7501 (1996); Decher et al., J. Biosens. Bioelect. 9, 677 (1994); Sun et al., Macromol. Chem. Phys. 197, 147 (1996); Onda et al., Biotech Bioeng. 51, 163 (1996); Lvov et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120, 40733 (1998); Laurent et al., Langmuir 13, 1552 (1997); Stepp et al., J. Electrochem. Soc. 144, L155 (1997); Cheung et al., Thin Solid Films 244, 985 (1994); Hammond et al., Macromolecules 28, 7569 (1995); Huck et al., Langmuir 15, 6862 (1999); Stroeve et al., Thin Solid Films 284, 708 (1996); Levasalmi et al., Macromolecules 30, 1752 (1997); Harris et al., Langmuir 16, 2006 (2000); Krasemann et al., Langmuir 16, 287 (2000); Harris et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121, 1978 (1999); Harris et al., Chem. Mater. 12, 1941 (2000).
Polyelectrolyte complexes are known to moderate interactions with biological systems, usually with the purpose of rendering an article or object inert to biological activity. That is, a coating of polyelectrolyte complex does not elicit undesirable inflammation or immune responses. Fine tuning of protein adsorption at the solid/liquid interface is critical in certain areas of materials science and biomedical engineering. Systems for delivery or biosensors, for example, bear modified surfaces designed to enhance or minimize protein adsorption. The latter goal is generally desirable for blood-contacting devices, chromatographic supports, contact lenses, and immunoassays, to name a few. Due to their ease of use and water compatibility, PEMUs have been investigated as surface-modifying agents for protein interactions (see Ladam, G.; Gergely, C.; Senger, B.; Decher, G.; Voegel, J. C.; Schaaf, P.; Cuisinier, F. J. G. Biomacromolecules 1, 674 (2000)). For example, polyelectrolyte complexes have been coated on Islets of Langerhans, an insulin-producing biological apparatus, to make them more acceptable when implanted in vivo (see O'Shea and Sun, Diabetes 35, 953 (1986) and Goosen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,566 (1987)). In another example, an ocular contact lens treated with a polyelectrolyte complex improves the properties of the lens (see Ellis and Salamone, U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,112 (1979)). Winterton et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,871 (2002)) disclose a method of making polyelectrolyte complexes on the surface of a contact lens by the multilayering method.
The rate of transport of species across MRIPMs, when they are used as sensors, and for other applications, is determined by a variety of factors. For PEMUs, one of these factors is whether there are sites available within the membrane to accommodate a particular species that is traversing the membrane. Creation of sites for transport within PEMUs has been termed "doping" and has been accomplished by the addition of salt (NaCl). See Farhat and Schlenoff, Langmuir, 17, 1184 (2001).
Coordinated experimental and theoretical studies have been carried out to ascertain how ion transport though polyelectrolyte complex is reversibly regulated by solution ionic strength (see Farhat and Schlenoff, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 125, 4627 (2003)). In the presence of external salt species (such as NaCl), ions are forced into the soft material, which becomes an ion exchanger/transporter. For n Pol+Pol− polyelectrolyte ion pairs, this reversible process is represented by:nPol+Pol−+nyNa++nyCl−→(1−y)nPol+Pol−+nyPol+Cl−+nyPol−Na+  Eq. 1where y is the doping level, or the fraction of Pol+Pol− pairs converted to Pol+Cl− and Pol−Na+ transporting sites. The driving force for doping is reversible chemical potential, controlled directly by concentration. The doping reaction summarized by this equation creates randomly distributed clusters of sites—"defects" among which ions may hop. Transport is favored for ions of lower charge and the diffusion rate is a strong nonlinear function of doping level—both Monte Carlo and continuum probability theoretical approaches predict this trend.
Electrogenerated chemiluminescence, ECL, also known as electroluminescence, is a technique whereby a species is oxidized or reduced at an electrode to yield a product that is in an excited, or high-energy state. During relaxation of this excited state, light is generated, which may be detected by a light sensitive instrument, such as a photomultiplier, photodiode, photodiode array, or charged coupled device. Often, additional reagents are required to promote more efficient emission of light. Several reviews on the topic are available (see Faulkner and Bard, Electroanalytical Chemistry 10, 1, 1977). See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,068,088, 5,093,268, 5,061,445, 5,238,808, 5,147,806, 5,247,243, 5,296,191, 5,310,687, 5,221,605.
Many ECL systems comprise modified electrodes. For example, Dixon et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,172) disclose an electroluminescent layer comprising a charged fluorinated polymer coating an electrode, which traps an electroluminescent species. Zhang and Bard (U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,457) disclose an electrode coated with a nonpolymeric layer of electroluminescent material. The use of ECL in assays is reviewed in detail by, for example, Knight et al., Analyst, 119, 879 (1994).

Controlled transport through multiple reversible interaction point membranes

Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.


A multilayer ceramic electronic component is provided in which wet spreading of a metal bump material can be suppressed and a position of the metal bump can be controlled with high accuracy. The multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic body having first and second main surfaces and first to fourth lateral surfaces between the main surfaces. Moreover, first and second opposing internal electrodes are provided inside the ceramic body and led out to one or more of the second lateral surfaces. A first electrode is provided on the first main surface and contains a ceramic material and a first external electrode that is connected to the first internal electrode, extends on the first electrode. In addition, a second external electrode is connected to the second internal electrode and extends onto the first main surface.

Multilayer ceramic electronic components are widely used in mobile telephones and the like.
Patent Literature 1 (identified below) discloses an example of a multilayer ceramic electronic component. The multilayer ceramic electronic component has an external electrode provided on a lateral surface of a ceramic body. On the external electrode, a solder bump is provided.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-66560.
Typically, in conventional multilayer ceramic electronic components, when a solder bump is provided on an external electrode, solder is sometimes scattered. Electrodes connected to different potentials are sometimes short-circuited by the scattered solder.
In Patent Literature 1, a resist is provided on a lateral side of a portion where the solder bump is provided, so that scattering of the solder is suppressed. However, the method disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is still insufficient.

Multilayer ceramic electronic component and method for manufacturing same


A heuristic method of reducing energy consumption in a system having a plurality of subsystems is disclosed which includes identifying one or more approximation parameters in each of a plurality of subsystems, for an application that is run on the system with a predefined quality minimum approximating performance of each of the plurality of subsystems, determining energy savings for the system based on the approximation, sorting the plurality of subsystems based on system-level energy savings, classifying each of the plurality of subsystems into coarse and fine subsystems based on energy savings, and optimizing approximation of the one or more subsystems by i) approximating the coarse subsystems, and ii) approximating the fine subsystems.

This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a better understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, these statements are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is or is not prior art.
Energy usage particularly for battery operated devices is a major concern. Many subsystems in mobile devices operate at their highest capabilities resulting in the best output these subsystems can generate regardless of the application-level needs. For example, a camera taking a photo in a mobile phone may be configured to always take photos at its highest pixel resolution, translating to a certain energy consumption.
Many algorithms and subsystems in such mobile devices are known to allow approximations. For example, a mobile device may be configured to take a photograph using the onboard camera at a fraction of the highest resolution. Such an approximation will result in a reduction of energy usage. Alternatively, a mobile device may be configured receive a photograph taken at the highest resolution however process it at a smaller resolution. Such processing would be considered an approximation for the processor and would result in a smaller energy cost. Another example is a memory subsystem. Typically, a memory subsystem includes volatile memory (e.g., Random Access Memory RAM)) that will result in loss of data when power is removed. In such subsystems, the volatile memory is typically refreshed periodically to eliminate or at least minimize data corruption. However, some application-level algorithms may be able to tolerate some data corruption. As a result, reducing refresh rate in a memory may result in acceptable application-level quality. Such reduction of refresh rate is considered an approximation. Thus, certain subsystems in a large system may offer quality dials, thus allowing changing their respective outputs from a maximum capability to a lower capability. Changing such capabilities are henceforth referred to as approximation.
However, in a system comprising multiple subsystems, approximation of one subsystem may have significant impact on another subsystem. While others in the prior art may have attempted to provide approximation of one or more subsystems, such approximations were without concern for how each subsystem approximation affects other subsystems and furthermore in the context of the overall system.
Therefore, there is an unmet need for a novel approach to provide subsystem approximation while considering impact on other subsystems, the overall system, and application-level quality.

System architecture and method of processing data therein


A post-operative compression bra (1) having an opening located between two portions, a front right portion (2) and a front left portion (3) that are secured together using strap clips (9) that allow pressure being exerted by the bra on a patient to be adjusted. Rounded notches (19) are located on an upper edge (17) of a right side portion (12) and a left side portion (13) to prevent the side portions from coming into contact with a patient's lymph nodes. The side portions and a rear portion (20) may also be partially constructed out of a mesh material to allow for air flow to the skin. A drain apron (30) provides storage for drain bulbs (32).

Compression bras are used for patients who have undergone breast augmentation or reduction, reconstructive surgery, mastectomies and so forth. Compression bras apply compression on the surface of the patient's skin to reduce the physical volume of the breasts and surrounding areas, thereby reducing the effects of swelling and bruising commonly experienced after surgery. Conventional compression bras typically fasten in the front using a hook and loop fastener that can scratch the skin and fail to provide an easy means for adjusting the amount of pressure exerted on a patient by the bra. An additional problem with the design of conventional compression bras is that a seam is located down the middle of each cup that rubs against the nipple and causes irritation to the patient. An even further problem with conventional bras is the side straps that wrap around the torso press against patients' lymph nodes located under the armpits, an area where incisions are commonly made during breast surgery, thereby causing further discomfort to the patient.
Therefore, a need exists for an ergonomic post-operative compression bra that reduces the effects of swelling and bruising commonly experienced after breast surgery while not causing any discomfort normally experienced with conventional post-operative compression bras.

Post-operative compression bra and drain apron


Liquid crystal compositions are disclosed which satisfy various characteristics required of liquid crystal compositions used for TN-LCD or STN-LCD display mode, have a low viscosity to cope with the response at a high speed, have a high clearing point to cope with the change in environmental temperature, and have a small dependency of the pitch length on temperature. The liquid crystal compositions comprise, as a first component, at least one liquid crystalline 4-substituted-benzonitrile having a positive dielectric anisotropy, as a second component, at least one liquid crystalline compound having a small positive or negative dielectric anisotropy, and as chiral component A, at least one optically active compound expressed by general formula (X-a) or (X-b) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.0 represents an alkyl group or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, X represents a halogen atom or CN, and Y represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or hydrogen atom.

As the display mode of liquid crystal display devices (LCD), twist nematic (TN) mode, super twist nematic (STN) mode, and active matrix (AM-LCD) mode have been proposed and used one after another in practice. Among these, the super twisted nematic (STN) mode which was proposed by T. J. Scheffer et al. (Appl. Phy. Lett., 45 (10), 1021 (1984)) and in which the orientation of liquid crystal molecules arranged between an upper and a lower substrates is twisted by 180.degree. to 270.degree. was adopted as LCD of personal computers and word processors, and the improvement in various characteristics of liquid crystal compositions have come to be required.
Following characteristics are required of liquid crystal compositions used for liquid crystal display devices of STN mode:
(1) Liquid crystal compositions exhibit a nematic liquid crystal phase at a wide temperature range including room temperature. Especially, liquid crystal compositions have a high nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature (clearing point).
(2) Threshold voltage of liquid crystal compositions is low to reduce the consumption of electric power.
(3) Viscosity (.eta.) of liquid crystal compositions is low to shorten response time (.tau.) as much as possible.
(4) Liquid crystal compositions have an appropriate optical anisotropy (.DELTA.n) depending on liquid crystal display devices
(5) Liquid crystal compositions are chemically stable.
Demand particularly for LCD which is characterized by having a small-size and light weight, and being portable (for example, notebook type personal computers) has recently increased. In order to meet with the increased demand, it is necessary to further expand the temperature range at which liquid crystal compositions exhibit a nematic liquid crystal phase, particularly to raise clearing point, to cope with the change in outside environmental temperature.
Further, it has strongly been required to cope with a display of dynamic pictures by means of LCD. In order to cope with the display of dynamic pictures, the response time of liquid crystal compositions at the time when liquid crystal devices are driven must be short. Since response time is proportional to the viscosity of liquid crystal compositions, the development of liquid crystal compositions having a low viscosity have been pursued.
It is an already well known means to repress the reverse twist of liquid crystal molecules and impart a constant helical structure of a righthanded rotation or lefthanded rotation to the molecules by adding a minor amount of an optically active substance to liquid crystal compositions thereby to maintain the quality of display. However, when the ability of the optically active substance added as chiral component in twisting the orientation of liquid crystal molecules is low, it is evident that a necessity of adding the chiral component in a comparatively high concentration arises to obtain a required helical pitch length, and other parameters of liquid crystal compositions are adversely affected. Further, generally known optically active substances are not preferable since the pitch length tend to become larger as temperature raises.
For instance, in a SBE (super-twisted birefringence) mode, the length of the pitch (P) of the orientation of liquid crystal molecules is varied with the change in temperature, and thus, the value of the ratio (P/d) of the pitch length (P) to the cell thickness (d) of a display device is varied. Whereas the P/d is usually adjusted to lower than 2, when the ratio becomes 2 or more with the change in temperature, the twist of 270.degree. of the orientation of liquid crystal molecules is changed to 90.degree..
Further, from the viewpoint of an improvement for increasing display capacity, a steepness is necessary in the change in transmittance of light when a voltage was increasingly applied to display devices. While G. Baur and W. Fehrenbach have reported at the 15th conference on liquid crystals held at Freiburg in 1985 the result of calculation that the steepness is considerably improved when the twist: was made to 270.degree., it is considered to be necessary even in the report to lower the dependency of the pitch length on temperature.
In Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 63-22893, optically active compounds having a negative temperature dependence with their pitch length, that is, the substances pitch length of which decrease as temperature raises are disclosed, and a method for obtaining liquid crystal compositions pitch length of which is not varied with the change in temperature by mixing an appropriate amount of the optically active compound with conventional optically active compounds having a positive temperature dependence is proposed as a means to solve the problems mentioned above. Further, in Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication Nos. Hei 1-96155 and Hei 2-48555, optically active compounds having a negative or an extremely small positive temperature dependency of the pitch length and having a high twisting ability are disclosed, and a general formula by which those optically active compounds are expressed include the chiral component A used in the present invention.
However, the optically active compounds disclosed in Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 63-22893 are low in their twisting ability and thus, they must be added in a high concentration to obtain a required pitch length. In Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication Nos. Hei 1-96155 and Hei 2-48555, the clearing point and viscosity of Liquid crystal compositions are not described at all, but only examples of mixtures with cyano type liquid crystalline compounds and temperature characteristics of the pitch length are described.
As discussed above, whereas diligent studies are being carried out on liquid crystal compositions for various purposes, it is a current state that new improvements are required all the time.

Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device


A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a first nitride semiconductor layer provided over the substrate and having a nitride-polar surface; a gate electrode provided over the first nitride semiconductor layer; and a semiconductor layer provided on the first nitride semiconductor layer and only under the gate electrode, and exhibiting a polarization.

Nitride semiconductor devices are characteristic in terms of their higher saturation electron velocities and wider band gaps. Efforts for developing devices with higher withstanding voltages and higher outputs by exploiting such characteristics have been made actively.
Particularly, one type of nitride semiconductor devices used for such devices with higher withstanding voltages and higher outputs is a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT).
For example, an AlGaN/GaN-HEMT has been developed, which has a HEMT structure wherein GaN is employed as an electron transit layer, AlGaN is employed as an electron supply layer, and an AlGaN layer is staked on a GaN layer. In an AlGaN/GaN-HEMT, strain is generated in AlGaN due to the difference in the lattice constants of AlGaN and GaN, which induces piezo polarization. High density two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) is generated by the piezo polarization and the spontaneous polarization of AlGaN. In this manner, an AlGaN/GaN-HEMT can provide a device with a higher withstanding voltage and a higher output.
Such an AlGaN/GaN-HEMT, however, exhibits higher contact resistances of a source electrode and a drain electrode, due to the HEMT structure stacking an AlGaN layer on a GaN layer.
Against such a background, an AlGaN/GaN-HEMT with reduced contact resistances has been proposed, which has an inverted HEMT structure having a nitride-polar surface and a GaN layer stacked on an AlGaN layer.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same, and power supply apparatus


A codebook, comprising a number of groups of symbols in a predetermined pattern printed on a card or the like is issued to a user. The user is attributed or selects an extraction pattern representing an order of progression through the symbols in each group of symbols. When the user wishes to make an authentication action an authentication party challenges the user to submit the symbols found at selected positions in the extraction pattern. The user applies the extraction pattern to the codebook and retrieves the symbols found at the selected positions, and submits these to the authenticating party. The authenticating party applies the same extraction pattern to the same codebook, and determines whether the results match those submitted by the user, and in a case where the two sets of symbols match, authenticates the user.

The present invention relates to an authentication method and system, and more particularly to a two factor authentication system based on the generation of a low cost code book. The number of interactions that an individual may carry out via an electronic interface is continually increasing. Automatic Teller Machines are now ubiquitous, and with the spread of the Internet, services such as online commerce, Internet banking, credit card and other bill payments, personalized websites including webmail sites, and even tax declaration are increasingly common. In virtually all cases it is necessary for a user to identify himself to the system at some stage, and furthermore to authenticate this identity. The usual means for carrying out this authentication is by submitting a PIN code, password or other piece of secret data, which is known by the service and the user alone. With the multiplication of such services, an individual is required to maintain and remember an increasingly large number of such pieces of secret information. Furthermore, as a general rule it is desirable that each such piece of information should be unique to the service in question, and that it should be as large and random as possible, to minimize the risk of the discovery of one secret prejudicing the security of multiple systems, and the probability of a third-party guessing the secret. Ideally each piece of secret information should be replaced frequently to maintain high security standards. It is also highly undesirable that a user should write down or otherwise record such secrets in an unprotected manner. A tension thus arises between the need for a user to remember a large number of large pieces of random data, and the propensity of most individuals to choose the simplest option, such as choosing a well known and easy to remember set of passwords and using them in a cyclic way for all their services. This behaviour enormously reduces the security of protected resources.

International Business Machines Corporation


A cutting tool that maintains a compact-sized main body without affecting the usability as well as the dust collecting operation is provided. In a dust cover mounted on a blade case, a dust collection route divided from a saw blade is formed, and an outlet is provided at the rear side of the blade case in the cutting direction. Moreover, the blade case includes a peripheral surface in which an inlet and an auxiliary inlet are provided for guiding air generated by the rotation of the saw blade into the dust collection route from the front side in the cutting direction. Further, a guiding route where a part of cooling air for the motor is introduced into the dust collection route by means of a duct is provided, whereby the cooling air as well as air guided from the inlet is introduced into the dust collection route.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application Number 2004-277886 filed on Sep. 24, 2004, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a cutting tool, such as a cutter which cuts a workpiece with a circular cutting blade or a circular saw.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional circular saw has a base which is rectangular in a plain view and a main body provided on the base and having a circular saw blade (cutting blade) driven to rotate by a motor. With a condition that the saw blade protrudes below the base, the base is slid on the workpiece, whereby the workpiece is cut by the saw blade. In this circular saw the front end of a blade case covering the upper part of the saw blade is rotatably mounted to the base. On the other hand, the rear end of the blade case can be fixed at an arbitrary position along an arcuate depth guide standing on the base. In this configuration, an amount of protrusion of the saw blade (cutting depth) from the base can be adjusted by changing the engaged position with respect to the depth guide.
In this kind of circular saw, during cutting operation chips generated from the workpiece flow out to cause a problem of recognizing a black cut line, which deteriorates the working environment. In order to solve the above problem, as described in the Japanese laid-open utility model publication No. 5-5332 and the Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 11-58305, technology is applied in which a blade case covering the upper part of a saw blade is provided with the main body. For details, the blade case is provided with a dust collection route which guides chips backward along the circumference of the saw blade and discharges the chips from the exhaust port provided at the rear side of the blade case, thereby preventing the chips from being dispersed.
In such a dust collection route, since chips are easily clogged in the dust collection route, the route has to be wide in order to prevent the clogging. Because of this, a large blade case is required, which obstructs downsizing of the main body and deteriorates usability. In addition, in a circular saw having a depth guide for adjusting the cutting depth, the depth guide is generally housed in the blade case to prevent the deterioration of the appearance. That is, when the depth guide is provided at the outside of the blade case, increased convex or concave parts might be observed. Since the depth guide is housed in the blade case, the airflow generated by rotation of the saw blade could be disturbed by the depth guide, which lowers the dust collecting operation. Further, another problem occurs, that is, chips might be scattered during cutting depth adjustment as they are adhered to the depth guide.
In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a cutting tool maintaining a compact-sized main body while ensuring excellent usability and dust collecting operation.


A system for producing an optical gain, the system including a host having a light conducting path doped with thulium, holmium, and at least one rare earth selected from the group consisting of europium and terbium in respective amounts sufficient to produce an optical gain by energizing the thulium to a .sup.3 H.sub.4 state to produce an optical gain by a .sup.3 H.sub.4 -.sup.3 F.sub.4 transition, producing a 1.47 .mu.m wavelength output. There is subsequent energy transfer from the .sup.3 F.sub.4 state of the thulium to a .sup.5 I.sub.7 state of the holmium, and energy transfer from the .sup.5 I.sub.7 state to the rare earth selected from the group consisting of europium and terbium. The system can include oscillator, amplifier, and superluminescence source configurations. A method for making and a method for using the system are included.

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to coherent light generators, and more particularly to plural active media or active media having plural dopants. The invention includes an optical fiber doped with thulium and holmium and europium, terbium, or a mixture thereof. The optical fiber is used in a four-level laser system having an optical gain about a wavelength of 1.47 .mu.m. A method for making and a method for using this optical fiber are also provided.
B. Description of the Related Art
A method of lasing involves exciting an active medium or optical fiber core by light energy. The light energy is produced by a source known as a "pump," which is typically coupled to the optical fiber to pump energy to ions in the core. In some situations, the pump energy may be absorbed by non-lasing energy levels. However, upon receipt of the energy some ions have electrons which are boosted to higher energy levels or "states." But an electron can only stay at higher energy levels for a limited amount of time before giving up its extra energy and falling to lower energy levels in what is termed a "transition." Also, a fluorescent (i.e., lasing) transition may be reabsorbed, resulting in "excited state absorption." Otherwise, however, this energy given up produces light at certain wavelengths--the laser light emitted by lasers.
Optical amplifiers, optical oscillators, superluminescence sources, medical lasers, and particularly optical communications systems have been designed to operate within certain wavelength ranges (i.e., "windows"), and one such window includes the 1.5 .mu.m wavelength for telecommunications applications. Erbium-based laser systems previously have been used to amplify such signals in telecommunications applications, but these have been operated as three-level laser systems. A three-level laser system has a transition that terminates in the ground state.
Three-level systems have several significant limitations, however. In a three-level system, the energy levels that fluoresce overlap those that absorb. Thus, a powerful light must be used to excite enough ions to operate the laser.
Four-level systems involve laser transitions which do not terminate in the ground state. Instead, the transitions terminate in a state that is initially unpopulated by electrons.
A four-level laser system has been made using fluoride glass doped with thulium to operate in a spectral region about 1.47 .mu.m. Fluorescence from such a system has a broad energy band extending from 1.40 .mu.m to 1.53 .mu.m and providing a widely tunable light source. This is useful for a broad band light amplifier, particularly for wavelength division multiplexed systems. Also, the 1.47 .mu.m wavelength produced by such a laser system is within another commonly used telecommunications window.
However, this approach has suffered from a problem: The electrons energized to a .sup.3 H.sub.4 energy leveling thulium have a longer lifetime then those occupying a .sup.3 F.sub.4 lower energy level. As a result, the electrons in the upper energy level descend to the lower level more quickly than the lower level is emptied. This problem is known as "terminal state bottlenecking" and results in self-terminating behavior of the laser light emission.
G. Rosenblatt, R. Ginther, R. Stoneman and L. Esterowitz, "Laser Emission at 1.47 .mu.m from Fluorozirconate Glass Doped with Tm.sup.3+ and Tb.sup.3+," a paper presented at the Tunable Solid State Laser Conference, Cape Cod, Mass. (1989) (ROSENBLATT) suggested using terbium to eliminate this terminal state bottleneck. However, the suggested use of terbium not only resulted in a reduction of the terminal state population but also resulted in a reduction of the population of the upper laser level as well. Because laser light output is related to the ion population energized to the upper laser level, the operating efficiency of the ROSENBLATT laser was significantly diminished. Thus, this approach was not successful in producing an efficient, continuous-wave laser with the desired wavelength output.
Therefore, an efficient four-level laser system operable at the 1.47 .mu.m region has eluded those skilled in the art despite their concerted efforts, and solving the terminal state bottlenecking problem without significantly decreasing laser efficiency has posed a significant barrier in the development of such a four-level laser.

Four-level multiply doped rare earth laser system


A cylindrical semiconductor capacitor is provided which starts by taking an oxide layer which is formed over a semiconductor substrate and simultaneously removing a cylindrical volume and a toroidal volume around the cylindrical volume. The removed cylindrical and toroidal volumes are filled with a copper/tantalum nitride conductor to form a metal cylinder and ring. An oxide ring between the conductive cylinder and ring is removed. A high dielectric constant material is formed to replace the oxide ring between the metal cylinder and ring to form a cylindrical capacitor. Additional oxide material is deposited, patterned, and filled with copper/tantalum nitride conductor a to make a first connection to the metal ring, and a further dielectric is deposited, patterned, and filled with additional copper/tantalum nitride conductor to form a second connection to the metal cylinder.

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuit devices and manufacturing, and more particularly to cylindrical semiconductor capacitors and manufacturing.
Capacitors are used in a number of different applications in integrated circuit devices. One application is as decoupling capacitors, which are used with large scale integrated circuits having a high number of driver circuits. Another application is as memory capacitors, which are used in integrated circuit memory cells having a high integration density and which use a combination of the transistor and the memory capacitor in a memory cell.
Capacitors are used in decoupling applications because the driver circuit power connections in integrated circuits are particularly sensitive to noise created by the effective inductance inherent in simultaneous switching activity as occurs with parallel processing. Further, the trend towards higher speed and lower power consumption of semiconductor devices, such as microcomputers and digital signal processors, has caused greater problems with electromagnetic interference or electromagnetic noise. The most effective measure against noise has been to use a decoupling capacitor so that the switching noise will not be coupled to a signal line through a common main power source circuit. Such a decoupling capacitor serves as a power source that can be easily utilized for switching the semiconductor element, such as a transistor. The decoupling capacitor is charged by an external power source and is rapidly discharged to give a switching current which minimizes electromagnetic noise. At the same time, the switching speed of the logic circuit is related to the inductance of the current path between the semiconductor element and the capacitor. In order to minimize the inductance and inductive noise, the semiconductor element and the capacitor must be arranged very close to each other, and a number of short current paths must be provided between the semiconductor element and the capacitor.
Semiconductor devices have been developed with decoupling capacitors disposed neighboring each of the semiconductor elements on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate as one attempt to solve the problems associated with these decoupling capacitors but these arrangements continue to encounter problems as sizes shrink.
In the memory capacitor application, recent large capacity DRAMs (Dynamic Random Access Memories) have to have stacked capacitor structures in which information-storing capacitors are arranged above memory-cell-selecting transistors. These stacked capacitor structures compensate for the decrease of accumulated charges because the memory cells are micro-miniaturized. Even with this reduction in the size of the memory cell, it is necessary to maintain the capacitance to insure stable operation, and as sizes shrink, the problems continue to return.
Numerous cylindrical capacitors have been developed for use in integrated circuits, but they are primarily based on modifications of the polysilicon structure and/or require a large number of steps in their manufacture. A high capacitance, easily manufactured capacitor for semiconductor devices and these applications have long been sought but has eluded those skilled in the art.
The present invention provides a cylindrical semiconductor capacitor made up of a central metal cylinder surrounded by a dielectric ring which in turn is surrounded by a further toroidal metal ring. The metal cylinder and ring form the anode and cathode of the capacitor, and the capacitance can be controlled by the dimensions of the capacitor and the dielectric constant of the high dielectric constant material.
The above and additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Inc.


The invention discloses various embodiments of electrolytes for use in lithium-ion batteries, the electrolytes having improved safety and the ability to operate with high capacity anodes and high voltage cathodes. In one embodiment there is provided an electrolyte for use in a lithium-ion battery comprising an anode and a high voltage cathode. The electrolyte has a mixture of a cyclic carbonate of ethylene carbonate (EC) or mono-fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) co-solvent, ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), a flame retardant additive, a lithium salt, and an electrolyte additive that improves compatibility and performance of the lithium-ion battery with a high voltage cathode. The lithium-ion battery is charged to a voltage in a range of from about 2.0 V (Volts) to about 5.0 V (Volts).

a. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to electrolytes for batteries. In particular, the invention relates to lithium-ion electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries.
b. Background Art
Lithium-ion ("Li-ion") cells typically include a carbon (e.g., coke or graphite) anode intercalated with lithium ions to form LixC; an electrolyte consisting of a lithium salt dissolved in one or more organic solvents; and a cathode made of an electrochemically active material, typically an insertion compound, such as LiCoO2. During cell discharge, lithium ions pass from the carbon anode, through the electrolyte to the cathode, where the ions are taken up with the simultaneous release of electrical energy. During cell recharge, lithium ions are transferred back to the anode, where they reintercalate into the carbon matrix.
Future NASA missions aimed at exploring Mars, the Moon, and the outer planets require rechargeable batteries that can operate effectively over a wide temperature range (−60° C. (Celsius) to +60° C. (Celsius)) to satisfy the requirements of various applications, including: Landers (lander spacecraft), Rovers (surface rover spacecraft), and Penetraters (surface penetrator spacecraft). Some future applications typically will require high specific energy batteries that can operate at very low temperatures, while still providing adequate performance and stability at higher temperatures. In addition, many of these applications envisioned by the ESRT (Exploration Systems Research and Technology) program will require improved safety, due to their use by humans. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries have the demonstrated characteristics of high energy density, high voltage, and excellent cycle life. Currently, the state-of-the-art lithium-ion system has been demonstrated to operate over a wide range of temperatures (−40° C. to +40° C.), however, abuse conditions such as being exposed to high temperature, overcharge, and external shorting, can often lead to cell rupture and fire. The nature of the electrolyte can greatly affect the propensity of the cell/battery to catch fire, given the flammability of the organic solvents used within. Therefore, extensive effort has been devoted recently to developing non-flammable electrolytes to reduce the flammability of the cell/battery.
Desired properties for Li-ion electrolytes can include high conductivity over a wide temperature range (e.g., 1 mS (milli-Siemens) cm−1 from −60° C. to +60° C.); good electrochemical stability over a wide voltage range (e.g., 0 to 4.5V (volts)) with minimal oxidative degradation of solvents/salts; good chemical stability; good compatibility with a chosen electrode couple, including good SEI (solid electrolyte interface) characteristics on the electrode and facile lithium intercalation/de-intercalation kinetics; good thermal stability; good low temperature performance throughout the life of the cell, including good resilience to high temperature exposure and minimal impedance build-up with cycling and/or storage; and low toxicity. Since the flammability of the electrolyte solution in Li-ion batteries is a major concern, significant research has been devoted to developing electrolyte formulations with increased safety. Known electrolytes used in state-of-the-art Li-ion cells have typically comprised binary mixtures of organic solvents, for example, high proportions of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate or dimethyl carbonate, within which is dispersed a lithium salt, such as lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6). Examples may include 1.0 M (molar) LiPF6 in a 50:50 mixture of ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate, or ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate. More recently, electrolytes have also been developed which combine more than two solvents and/or have incorporated the use of electrolyte additives to address specific performance goals.
Fluorinated esters have been incorporated into multi-component electrolyte formulations and their performance was demonstrated over a wide temperature range (−60° C. to +60° C.) (see U.S. application Ser. No. 12/419,473 filed Apr. 7, 2009, for "Lithium Ion Electrolytes and Lithium Ion Cells with Good Low Temperature Performance", Smart et al.). The fluorinated ester co-solvents were employed due to their favorable properties and improved safety characteristics, mainly associated with their low flammability associated with their halogenated nature. Since the flammability of the electrolyte solution in Li-ion batteries is a major concern, significant research has been devoted to developing electrolyte formulations with increased safety. To achieve this, a number of approaches have been adopted, including the use of low-flammability solvents and the use of electrolyte additives. Regarding the first approach, the use of halogenated solvents (Smart, et al., "Improved Performance of Lithium-Ion Cells with the use of Fluorinated Carbonate-Based Electrolytes", Journal of Power Sources, 119-121, 359-367 (2003)) and ionic liquids (Xu, Kang, "Nonaqueous Liquid Electrolytes for Lithium-Based Rechargeable Batteries", Chemical Reviews, 104, 4303-4417 (2004)) have been pursued. With respect to the use of electrolyte additives, the main focus has been upon the use of phosphorus containing additives, including trimethyl phosphate (Wang, et al., "Nonflammable Trimethyl Phosphate Solvent-Containing Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries, I. Fundamental Properties", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 148(10), A1058-A1065 (2001); Wang, et al., "Nonflammable Trimethyl Phosphate Solvent-Containing Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries, II. The Use of An Amorphous Carbon Anode", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 148(10), A1066-A1071 (2001)), triethyl phosphate (Xu, et al., "An Attempt to Formulate Nonflammable Lithium Ion Electrolytes with Alkyl Phosphates and Phosphazenes", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 149(5), A622-A626 (2002)), triphenyl phosphate (Doughty, et al., "Effects of Additives on Thermal Stability of Li ion Cells", Journal of Power Sources, 146(1-2), 116-120 (2005)), tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphate (Xu, et al., "Nonflammable Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries Based on a Fluorinated Phosphate", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 149(8), A1079-A1082 (2002); Xu, et al., "Evaluation of Fluorinated Alkyl Phosphates as Flame Retardants in Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries, I. Physical and Electrochemical Properties", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 150(2), A161-A169 (2003)), and bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)methyl phosphonate (TFMPo) (Xu, et al., "Nonflammable Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries Based on a Fluorinated Phosphate", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 149(8), A1079-A1082 (2002); Xu, et al., "Evaluation of Fluorinated Alkyl Phosphates as Flame Retardants in Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries, I. Physical and Electrochemical Properties", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 150(2), A161-A169 (2003)).
In addition, known improvements have been made to the safety characteristics of Li-ion electrolytes by the addition of flame retardant additives, such as triphenyl phosphate (referred to as TPhPh or TPP or TPPa), tributyl phosphate (referred to as TBP or TBuPh), triethyl phosphate (referred to as TEP or TEtPh), and bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)methyl phosphonate (referred to as BTFEMP or TFMPo) (see NPO-46262, May 8, 2008). A number of electrolytes based upon these approaches have delivered good performance over a wide temperature range, good cycle life characteristics, and improved safety characteristics, namely reduced flammability. Since the flammability of the electrolyte solution in Li-ion batteries is a major concern, significant research has been devoted to developing electrolyte formulations with increased safety. To achieve this, a number of approaches have been adopted, including the use of low-flammability solvents and the use of electrolyte additives. As discussed above, regarding the first approach, the use of halogenated solvents (Smart, et al., "Improved Performance and Safety of Lithium Ion Cells with the Use of Fluorinated Carbonate-Based Electrolytes", Journal of Power Sources, 119-12, 359-367 (2003)) and ionic liquids (Xu, Kang, "Nonaqueous Liquid Electrolytes for Lithium-Based Rechargeable Batteries", Chemical Review, 104(10), 4303-4417 (2004)) have been pursued. With respect to the use of electrolyte additives, the main focus has been upon the use of phosphorus containing additives, including trimethyl phosphate, triethyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphate, and bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)methyl phosphonate (TFMPo) (see all above). In addition, known phosphorus based flame retardant additives have been investigated. Some of these electrolyte additives have been demonstrated to perform well in multi-component Li-ion battery electrolytes. For example, tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphate (see FIG. 5e) has been used in electrolyte solutions consisting of 1.0M LiPF6 in EC+EMC (1:1 wt %) in varying concentrations (Xu, et al., "Nonflammable Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries Based on a Fluorinated Phosphate", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 149(8), A1079-A1082 (2002); Xu, et al., "Evaluation of Fluorinated Alkyl Phosphates as Flame Retardants in Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 150(2), A161-A169 (2003)). Tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphite (see FIG. 5f) has been used in concentrations of up to 15% in solutions of 1.0M LiPF6 PC+EC+EMC (3:3:4 wt %) (Zhang, et al., "Tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)Phosphite as a Co-Solvent for Nonflammable Electrolytes in Li-Ion Batteries", Journal of Power Sources, 113 (1), 166-172 (2003)), while others have investigated diphenyloctyl phosphate and tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphate in 1.15M LiPF6 in EC+EMC (3:7 vol %) (Nam, et al., "Diphenyloctyl Phosphate and tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)Phosphite as Flame-Retardant Additives for Li-ion Cell Electrolytes at Elevated Temperature", Journal of Power Sources, 180 (1), 561-567 (2008)). Triphenylphosphite (see FIG. 5g) has been investigated in solutions consisting of 1.0M LiPF6 in EC+DEC+DMC (1:1:1 wt %) using concentrations of 10 wt % FRA (Ma, et al., "A Phosphorous Additive for Lithium-Ion Batteries", Electrochemical and Solid State Letters, 11(8), A129-A131 (2008)).
A number of future NASA missions involving the exploration of the Moon and Mars will be "human-rated" and, thus, require high specific energy rechargeable batteries that possess enhanced safety characteristics for such "human-rated" applications. Given that Li-ion technology is the most viable rechargeable energy storage device for near term applications, effort has been devoted to improving the safety characteristics of this system. Li-ion technology has been identified as being the most promising energy storage device for near term applications, and extensive effort has been devoted to developing advanced anode and cathode materials to improve the energy density. With these new electrode chemistries, there is strong desire to develop Li-ion batteries with improved safety characteristics for both aerospace and terrestrial applications, including for automotive applications such as for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
The current state of art lithium ion battery electrolytes consists of mixtures of organic carbonates with a lithium ion conducting electrolyte salt, such as lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6). The baseline electrolyte that was employed in the work disclosed herein is a formulation that was originally developed for use in the Mars Surveyor Project 2001 Lander, and consists of 1.0M LiPF6 in EC+DEC+DMC (1:1:1 volume %) (Smart, et al., "Electrolytes for Low-Temperature Lithium Batteries Based on Ternary Mixtures of Aliphatic Carbonates", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 146(2), 486-492 (1999); Smart, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,064, issued Dec. 10, 2002, entitled "Organic Solvents, Electrolytes, and Lithium Ion Cells with Good Low Temperature Performance").
This electrolyte, in conjunction with MCMB anodes and LiNiCoO2 cathodes, has been demonstrated to provide good cycle life characteristics and a wide operating temperature range (i.e., −30° to +40° C.) in large capacity cells manufactured by Yardney Technical Products, and has been used for a number of NASA past and upcoming missions, including 2003 MER Rovers, Phoenix Lander, Grail, June and the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover (Smart, et al., "Life Verification of Large Capacity Yardney Li-ion Cells and Batteries in Support of NASA Missions", International Journal of Energy Research, 34, 116-132 (2010)). Although this electrolyte provides good performance characteristics, there is a desire to improve the safety of the system, due to the fact that abuse conditions can often lead to cell rupture and fire. It is well known that the nature of the electrolyte can greatly affect the propensity of the cell/battery to catch fire, given the flammability of the organic solvents used within. Thus, developing advanced electrolytes to reduce the flammability of cells/batteries has been studied.
To improve the safety characteristics by reducing the flammability of the electrolytes, a number of approaches have been adopted, including the use of low flammability solvents and the use of electrolyte additives. With respect to the use of electrolyte additives, the main focus has been upon the use of phosphorus containing additives, including trimethyl phosphate and triethyl phosphate, as discussed above, as well as tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphate (Xu, et al., "Nonflammable Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries Based on a Fluorinated Phosphate", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 149(8), A1079-A1082 (2002); Xu, et al., "Evaluation of Fluorinated Alkyl Phosphates as Flame Retardants in Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries, I. Physical and Electrochemical Properties", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 150(2), A161-A169 (2003)), bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)methyl phosphonate (TFMPo) (Xu, et al., "Nonflammable Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries Based on a Fluorinated Phosphate", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 149(8), A1079-A1082 (2002); Xu, et al., "Evaluation of Fluorinated Alkyl Phosphates as Flame Retardants in Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries, I. Physical and Electrochemical Properties", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 150(2), A161-A169 (2003)), tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphite (Zhang, et al., "Tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)Phosphite as a Co-Solvent for Nonflammable Electrolytes in Li-Ion Batteries", Journal of Power Sources, 113, 166-172 (2003); Nam, et al., "Diphenyloctyl Phosphate and tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)Phosphite as Flame-Retardant Additives for Li-ion Cell Electrolytes at Elevated Temperature", Journal of Power Sources, 180, 561-567 (2008)), triphenylphosphite (Ma, et al., "A Phosphorous Additive for Lithium-Ion Batteries", Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters, 11(8), A129-A131 (2008)), diethyl ethyl-phosphonate, and diethyl phenylphosphonate. Some of these electrolyte additives have been demonstrated to perform well in multi-component Li-ion battery electrolytes. For example, tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphate has been used in electrolyte solutions consisting of 1.0M LiPF6 in EC+EMC (1:1 wt %) in varying concentrations (Xu, et al., "Nonflammable Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries Based on a Fluorinated Phosphate", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 149(8), A1079-A1082 (2002); Xu, et al., "Evaluation of Fluorinated Alkyl Phosphates as Flame Retardants in Electrolytes for Li-Ion Batteries, I. Physical and Electrochemical Properties", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 150(2), A161-A169 (2003)).
Therefore, extensive effort has been devoted recently to developing non-flammable electrolytes to reduce the flammability of the cells/battery. A number of electrolytes with reduced flammability have been developed and demonstrated to be compatible with carbon based anodes and a range of cathode materials, including LiNiCoO2, LiNiCoAlO2, and LiMnNiCoO2. For example, promising electrolytes have been developed incorporating flame retardant additives and have been displayed to have good performance in a number of systems, including cells with (1) MCMB anodes and LiNiCoO2 cathodes, (2) MPG-111 graphite anodes and LiNiCoAlO2 cathode electrodes, and (3) lithium metal anodes and (Li0.17Ni0.25Mn0.58)O2 cathodes. However, these electrolyte formulations did not perform well when utilizing carbonaceous anodes with the high voltage materials, including (Li0.17Ni0.25Mn0.58)O2 and Li1.2Mn0.53Ni0.18Co0.1O2 cathodes. Thus, further development was required to improve the compatibility. In addition, although some of the electrolytes identified and previously described perform well when coupled with silicon-based anode materials, there is a desire to obtain further improved electrolytes that result in long life, while still providing enhanced safety.
In support of a NASA funded project, advanced electrolytes that have improved safety characteristics for advanced lithium-ion chemistries for "human-rated" applications were developed. In addition to resulting in improved safety, the electrolytes should provide: (i) good cycle life characteristics, (ii) good rate capability down to 0° C., and (iii) tolerance to high voltages (i.e., up to 5.0V). Although the current state of art lithium ion battery electrolytes perform well with traditional carbon anodes and low voltage cathodes, such as the baseline electrolyte discussed above in paragraph [0010] adopted for the SPS program (namely 1.0M LiPF6 in EC+DEC+DMC (1:1:1 volume %) (Smart, et al., "Electrolytes for Low-Temperature Lithium Batteries Based on Ternary Mixtures of Aliphatic Carbonates", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 146(2), 486-492 (1999); Smart et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,064, issued Dec. 10, 2002, entitled "Organic Solvents, Electrolytes, and Lithium Ion Cells with Good Low Temperature Performance"), there is a desire to improve upon this performance with silicon anodes and high voltage cathodes. Moreover, there is a desire to reduce the flammability of this mixture, since abuse conditions may lead to cell rupture and fire. It is well accepted that the electrolyte type can greatly affect the propensity of the cell/battery to catch fire, given the flammability of the organic solvents used within.
Silicon-based alloy anode materials are especially attractive alternatives to the traditionally used carbon-based anodes, offering nearly three times more specific capacity. However, due to dramatic volume changes during cycling which results in mechanical disintegration, the materials are generally observed to have rapid capacity fading. Some groups have attempted to modify the electrolyte solution used in these systems with the intent of stabilizing the electrode-electrolyte interface, with the prospect of enhanced life. An ionic electrolyte is known that consists of 1.0M lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide/1-methyl-1-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoro-methylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI/MPP-TFSI) which was observed to provide improved cycle life of Si—Cu film electrodes compared to cells with 1.0M LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate (EC)+diethyl carbonate (DEC), being attributed to desirable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation (Nguyen, et al., "Characterization of SEI Layer Formed on High Performance Si—Cu Anode in Ionic Liquid Battery Electrolyte", Electrochemistry Communications, 12(11), 1593-1595 (November 2010)).
Researchers have reported that the use of fluoroethylene carbonate results in improved cycle life of Si electrodes, due to the formation of a stable SEI consisting of lithium fluoride and a polyene-compound (Nakai, et al., "Investigation of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase Formed by Fluoroethylene Carbonate on Si Electrodes", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 158(7), A798-A810 (2011)). Specifically, the researchers described an electrolyte consisting of 1.0M LiPF6 in FEC+DEC (1:1 v/v) delivered improved cycle life performance in Li/Si cells compared to 1.0M LiPF6 in EC+DEC (1:1 v/v). A known system consisting of 0.5M LiBOB+0.38M LiPF6 in EC+DMC+EMC (1:1:1 v/v %)+2% VC reported improved cycling life with Si thin-film electrodes when testing with a lithium counter electrode (Li, et al., "Electrochemical Performance of Si/Graphite/Carbon Composite Electrode in Mixed Electrolytes Containing LiBOB and LiPF6", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 156(4), A294-A298 (2009)). Other approaches involving the use of electrolyte additives include: (a) the use of tris(pentafluorphenyl)borane (2-5 wt %) in LiClO4 in EC+DEC (1:1 v/v) electrolytes (Han, et al., "Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane as an Electrolyte Additive for High Performance Silicon Thin Film Electrodes in Lithium Ion Batteries", Electrochimica Acta, 56(24), 8997-9003 (2011)), (b) the use of succinic anhydride (3 wt %) in LiPF6 in EC+DEC (1:1 v/v) electrolytes (Han, et al., "Effect of succinic anhydride as an electrolyte additive on electrochemical characteristics of silicon thin-film electrode", Journal of Power Sources, 195(11), 3709-3714 (2010)), (c) the use of vinylene carbonate (1 wt %) in LiPF6 in EC+DMC (1:1 v/v) electrolytes (Chen, et al., "Enhancing electrochemical performance of silicon film anode by vinylene carbonate electrolyte additive", Electrochemical and Solid State Letters, 9(11), A512-A515 (2006)). It should be noted that none of these electrolytes were designed to possess low flammability or improved safety. In addition, all of these studies were performed with lithium metal counter electrodes and the performance with high voltage cathodes was not addressed.
Accordingly, there is a need for lithium-ion electrolytes with improved safety tolerance to high voltage systems and a need for lithium-ion electrolytes with the ability to operate with high capacity silicon-based anodes and high voltage cathodes.

Lithium-ion electrolytes with improved safety tolerance to high voltage systems


A multi-branch OFDM receiver combines diversity signals received over different receiver branches using interference rejection combining. The receiver generates first channel estimates associated with a serving base station, second channel estimates associated with at least one non-serving base station, and a time offset between the serving base station and non-serving base station. The receiver computes a noise covariance matrix based on the second channel estimates and the time offset, and then combines the diversity signals received over different branches using the first channel estimates and the noise covariance matrix.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has a project called Long Term Evolution (LTE) to improve the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) standard, which among other things improves data services over wireless communication networks. The LTE standard includes a number of features to provide higher data rates, increased system capacity, and improved spectral efficiency. These features include the use of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) scheme in the downlink. In order to maintain backward compatibility with existing spectrum allocations for, e. g., GSM and WCDMA, the LTE systems will be able to operate on bandwidths ranging from 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz. Like WCDMA systems, the same frequencies will be used in adjacent cells. Therefore, it is important that the mobile terminals be capable of suppressing inter-cell interference.
In the case of a mobile terminal with two receive antennas, diversity-combining can be employed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and reduce interference. Various techniques for diversity-combining are known, including equal gain combining (EGC), maximum ratio combining (MRC), and interference rejection combining (IRC). EGC is a simple combining scheme that does not require a noise estimate. MRC requires an estimate of the channel power and noise power for each antenna, while IRC requires an estimate of the noise color. Assuming that good channel estimates and noise estimates can be obtained, IRC is usually better than MRC and EGC.
The channel estimates and noise estimates are usually obtained from pilot symbols. In general, increasing the number of pilot symbols transmitted improves channel and noise estimation at the expense of greater signaling overhead. Decreasing the number of pilot symbols transmitted can negatively impact the quality of the channel and noise estimates. When there are an insufficient number of pilot symbols to generate accurate channel and noise estimates, IRC may not provide any improvement over MRC, and may even be worse.
Accordingly, there is a need for new methods for generating accurate channel and noise estimates for interference cancellation and suppression.

Method and apparatus for interference rejection combining and detection


A spring type one-way clutch includes an outer ring rotatable about a rotary shaft and having an inner tubular portion, and a clutch spring mounted in the outer ring. The clutch spring includes a large-diameter coil spring portion, a transition portion connected to the winding end of the large-diameter coil spring portion, and a small-diameter coil spring portion connected to the radially inner end of the transition portion and wound in the opposite direction from the large-diameter coil spring portion. When the outer ring is rotated in the direction opposite the winding direction of the large-diameter coil spring portion, the large- and small-diameter coil spring portions are radially compressed and pressed against the inner tubular portion and the rotary shaft, allowing the rotary shaft to rotate together with the outer ring. The transition portion spirals radially inwardly in the winding direction of the large-diameter coil spring portion.

One-way clutches used e.g. in paper feeders of printers, copiers, facsimile machines, etc. include spring type clutches, which include a clutch spring adapted to be selectively pressed against and released from a driving or driven member, thereby selectively transmitting torque.
Spring type one-way clutches include those having a clutch spring in the form of a single-layered spring, as disclosed in "Machine element utilization manual-Spring", edited by Nippatsu-NHK Spring Co., Ltd, published Feb. 15, 1995, page 136, and JP Patent Publication 63-6229A, and those having a double-layered clutch spring, as disclosed in JP Patent Publication 2008-101740A.
A single-layered spring type one-way clutch includes a driving shaft (driving arbor), a driven shaft (driven arbor) coaxial with the driving shaft, and a spring fitted over the end portions of both shafts such that when the driving shaft is rotated in one direction, the spring is radially compressed and pressed against both shafts, thereby transmitting the rotation of the driving shaft in the one direction to the driven shaft. One drawback of this type of clutches is their small torque transmission capacity. If it is desired to transmit larger torque, it is necessary to use a clutch spring with a large number of turns, which increases the size of the one-way clutch.
A double-layered spring type one-way clutch includes a double-layered clutch spring including a large-diameter coil spring portion kept in elastic contact with a clutch surface formed on the inner periphery of the driving ring, and a small-diameter coil spring portion kept in elastic contact with a clutch surface formed on the outer periphery of the driven ring such that when the driving ring is rotated in one direction, the large-diameter coil spring portion is radially expanded while the small-diameter coil spring portion is radially compressed, whereby the large-diameter coil spring portion and the small-diameter coil spring portion are pressed against the respective clutch surfaces of the driving ring and the driven ring. The driving ring is thus coupled to the driven ring and the torque of the driving ring in the above-mentioned one direction is transmitted to the driven ring. This one-way clutch is thus large in torque transmission capacity while its axial length is small.
While the double-layered spring type one-way clutch disclosed in JP Patent Publication 2008-101740A is short in axial length, since the large-diameter coil spring portion and the small-diameter coil spring portion are connected together through a U-shaped transition portion, i.e. a portion bent by 180°, a relatively large stress tends to be repeatedly applied to the small bent portion of the transition portion which is bent with a small radius of curvature every time rotation is transmitted from the driving ring to the driven ring. Stress thus tends to accumulate in the transition portion, increasing the possibility of damage to the transition portion due to fatigue. The durability of such a clutch spring is therefore not sufficient.


A method is provided for processing a packet (300) at an egress end user node (110). The method includes a decoding step and a concurrent writing step. The concurrent writing step is performed subsequent to the decoding step. The decoding step involves decoding a packet having a plurality of headers (306-314). The concurrent writing step involves concurrently writing each of the headers (306-314) to a packet buffer memory (122) and a respective protocol stack layer memory (126-134). More specifically, a MAC layer protocol header (306) is concurrently written to the packet buffer memory and a MAC layer memory (126). An LLC layer protocol header (308) is concurrently written the packet buffer memory and an LLC layer memory (128). A network layer protocol header (310) is concurrently written to the packet buffer memory and a network layer memory (130), and so on.

1. Statement of the Technical Field
The inventive arrangements relate to wireless networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for high speed protocol header processing at an intermediate and/or destination node of a packet-based communications network.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been a growing demand for improved communication applications provided by packet-based communications networks. The phrase "packet-based communications network" as used herein refers to an internet protocol (IP) based communications network and a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) based communications network. As a result the growing demand, a header processing approach has been employed to improve the abilities of the packet-based communications networks. The header processing approach includes the transmission of packets including signaling protocol data and/or application data between nodes of the packet-based communications networks. The application data can include voice data, video data, or the like. The nodes can be selected as a computer system, a routing device, a sensor, a battery powered wireless communications device, or any other device having a TCP/IP based packet interface.
To enable the transmission of packets between a set of nodes, the application data is encapsulated between one or more protocol stack layer headers and a frame check sequence (FCS). The phrase "frame check sequence" as used herein refers to extra checksum characters added to a packet or a frame in a communication protocol for error detection and correction. In this regard, it should be understood that a checksum is a form of a redundancy check. A checksum protects the integrity of data by detecting errors in the data that are sent through space or time.
For example, the application data is encapsulated between an application layer header (or protocol header) and the frame check sequence (FCS). The application layer header is encapsulated between a transport layer protocol header and the application data. The transport layer protocol header is encapsulated between a network layer protocol header and the application layer header. The network layer protocol header is encapsulated between a logic link control (LLC) layer protocol header and the transport layer protocol header. The logic link control (LLC) layer protocol header is encapsulated between a media access control (MAC) layer protocol header and the network layer protocol header. The media access control (MAC) layer protocol header is encapsulated between a physical layer protocol header and the logic link control (LLC) protocol header. The physical layer protocol header is encapsulated between a preamble and the media access control (MAC) layer protocol header. As should be understood, the encapsulation framework depends on the network's protocol model, such as an open system interconnection model or a Department of Defense protocol model. The protocol headers are comprised of fields to be processed at intermediate and/or destination nodes. Some protocol headers have long fields that require a comparison among several values. As such, a packet transmission often experiences relatively long delays due to protocol header processing at intermediate and/or destination nodes.
Many solutions have been proposed for decreasing the protocol header processing time at intermediate and/or destination nodes of a packet-based communications networks. One such solution employs a sequential processing approach. The sequential processing approach involves receiving an encoded packet at a node, decoding the received encoded packet, and processing protocol headers of the decoded packet in a sequential manner. In this regard, it should be noted that the sequential processing approach is dependent on methods to advance the protocol header processing from one protocol header to a next protocol header. This solution is based on either specialized processors configured for processing a particular protocol header and/or a general purpose central processing unit (CPU).
More specifically, the sequential processing approach includes the following steps: (1) receive a packet at an intermediate and/or a destination node; (2) decode the received packet at a physical layer processor; (3) process a preamble and a physical layer protocol header of the decoded packet at the physical layer processor; (4) sequentially write a media access control (MAC) layer protocol header, a logic link control (LLC) layer protocol header, a network layer protocol header, a transport layer protocol header, an application layer header, and an application data to a packet buffer memory for storage; (5) access the packet buffer memory and retrieve the media access control (MAC) layer protocol header therefrom; (6) process the media access control (MAC) layer protocol header at a media access control (MAC) layer processor; (7) access the packet buffer memory and retrieve the logic link control (LLC) layer protocol header therefrom; (8) process the logic link control (LLC) layer protocol header at a logic link control (LLC) layer processor; (9) access the packet buffer memory and retrieve the network layer protocol header therefrom; (10) process the network layer protocol header at a network layer processor; (11) access the packet buffer memory and retrieve the transport layer protocol header therefrom; (12) process the transport layer protocol header at a transport layer processor; (13) access the packet buffer memory and retrieve the application layer header therefrom; and (14) process the application layer header at an application layer processor. Despite the advantages of the sequential processing approach, it suffers from certain drawbacks. For example, the majority of protocol header processing tasks are implemented in software as generic packet processing methods.
Another such solution employs fixed function applications specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Despite the advantages of such fixed function devices, they suffer from certain drawbacks. For example, the fixed function devices cannot handle updating processing header fields. Further, the fixed function devices always defer protocol header processing to a general purpose processor. The general purpose processor cannot operate at a desired speed for a battery powered wireless communications device. The general purpose processor also cannot accommodate changes in timing needs due to high speed, very high bandwidth data traffic.
In view of the forgoing, there is a need for a solution to reduce protocol header processing time in a packet-based communications networks. This solution also needs to be configured to update header fields. The solution further needs to be configured to process protocol headers at a desired speed for a battery powered wireless communications device. In this regard, it should be understood that a battery powered wireless communications device can be a node in a high speed wireless communications system. As such, the battery powered wireless communications device can concurrently act as an intermediate node and a destination node. As such, the roles of the battery powered wireless communications device can alternate and vary based on time or traffic conditions.

High speed packet processing in a wireless network