AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) ST (signalling tone) is detected by a tone detector in which samples of a demodulated signal are amplitude limited to remove click energy, and the limited signal is bandpass filtered, using a notch filter and summer, to limit it to the range of possible ST frequency. Power of the bandpass filtered signal is detected, and compared with detected power of a version of the bandpass filtered signal from which any sinusoidal signal has been eliminated, independent of frequency, to provide for ST detection. A function [x(k)+x(k-2)]x(k-2)-[x(k-1)+x(k-3)]x(k-3) for successive samples x(k) of the bandpass filtered signal is used for the sinusoidal signal elimination. The invention can also be used to detect other tones.

In an AMPS communications system FM (frequency modulation) is used for communicating voice signals with a frequency in the range from 300 to 3400 Hz, a supervisory audio tone (SAT) with a nominal frequency selected from three possible nominal frequencies of 5970, 6000, and 6030 Hz, and a signalling tone (ST) with a nominal frequency of 10 kHz. The ST, which has a nominal FM peak deviation (range of frequency change) of 8 kHz, is used by mobile (or fixed) terminals to communicate with base stations in accordance with an AMPS protocol that assigns different burst durations of the ST to different events. For example, ST burst durations of 50 ms, 400 ms, and 1800 ms correspond respectively to a hand-off acknowledgement, a request to send dialled digits, and a release. In order to detect such bursts, the ST detector must have an attack time (time from the start of a burst to report the presence of ST) of 30 ms or less and a release time (time from the end of a burst to report the loss of ST) of 300 ms or less. These requirements must be met whether or not the SAT is present at any of its frequencies.
Different terminals may produce the ST with considerable variations, from their nominal values, of ST frequency and peak deviation. More specifically, different terminals may produce the ST with a frequency anywhere in a range of 9.5 to 10.5 kHz, and with a peak deviation anywhere in a range of 6 to 10 kHz. An ST detector in a base station is required to detect the ST regardless of these variations.
Furthermore, the communications channel is subject to co-channel interference (CCI), and both the CCI and desired signals are subject to fading. The output of the demodulator of the base station, to which the ST detector is responsive, consequently has highly variable signal and noise (including interference) powers, and can contain high-amplitude clicks. Reliable detection of the ST is still required in these circumstances.
It is known to use a PLL (phase-locked loop) for detecting a tone of known frequency, but this is not generally satisfactory for AMPS ST detection because the input additive noise is not white Gaussian, the ST can be considerably offset from its nominal frequency, and a short attack time is required of the ST detector in order to detect relatively short ST bursts.
Miller-Thomson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,490 issued Oct. 8, 1995 entitled "Single Frequency Detection Circuit" describes a detector for detecting, in the presence of voice signals at a lower level by at least 10 dB, the SF (single frequency) 2600 Hz in-band signalling tone in telephone equipment. That detector rectifies and filters the incoming signal to produce a signal without the fundamental component of any SF tone which may be present, low pass filters the signal and determines a magnitude of any SF tone from the resulting d.c. component, and also high pass filters the signal and further rectifies and filters the result to determine a magnitude of the voice signal, comparing the magnitudes to determine the presence or absence of the SF tone. Such a detector can take advantage of the 10 dB or more difference between levels of any SF tone and voice signals, and is not required to accommodate the fading and CCI to which AMPS signals are subject. In addition, the design of the filters in such a detector can rely on the relatively small (.+-.38 Hz, or less than 1.5%) possible variation in the frequency of the SF tone, in comparison to the relatively wider (.+-.0.5 kHz, or 5%) possible variation in the frequency of the AMPS ST.
An object of this invention is to provide an improved tone detector and method of tone detection, which can facilitate ST detection in an AMPS communications system.


Compositions are provided that possess levels of phytic acid and optionally a hydroxy acid and/or azelaic acid that act synergistically with the phytic acid to reduce melanin levels in skin. Improved reduction in melanin levels and hyperpigmentation are achieved at low levels of azelaic acid and phytic acid such that greater comfort and reduced irritation are observed at an administration site. Processes of reducing melanin levels or treating hyperpigmentation are provided by topically administering compositions of the invention.

Melanins serve as the primary skin coloration pigments. In human skin, two primary melanin types are present. The black/brown melanin, eumelanin, provides primary skin coloration with eumelanin more prevalent in humans with dark skin color. Eumelanin is derived from hydroxy-substituted aromatic amino acids such as L-tyrosine and L-DOPA. Eumelanin is believed to include 5,6-dihydroxyindole and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid polymers. The yellow to red pheomelanins are found in humans of both dark and light skin coloration with the greatest quantities found in red hair. Pheomelanins are formed from sulfur-containing molecules and differ from eumelanin in the presence of benzothiazine and benzothiazole units in the oligomers when the amino acid L-cysteine is present.
Melanin is produced in melanocytes found at the dermis-epidermis junction. The melanin is transferred from the melanocytes to keratinocytes that form at this junction and then migrate to the outer epidermal layer transporting the melanin to the skin surface. The resulting coloration of the skin is dependent on the rate of transfer of melanin to keratinocytes, as well as the number, size, and melanin content of the keratinocytes in particular regions of the skin.
Irregular skin pigmentation occurs from the uneven distribution of melanocytes. Hyperpigmentation, or the presence of focused or unfocused skin pigmentation of darker appearance than the surrounding tissue is common. Hyperpigmentation may be the result of pregnancy where women experience a darkening of some regions of the skin often referred to as melasma or the mask of pregnancy. Melasma may also be linked to the use of hormone based birth control or hormone replacement therapy. Many people develop dark spots with age due to sun exposure known as solar lentigenes or liver spots. Other forms of hyperpigmentation may occur as a result of persistent acne, bums, bites or other skin injuries.
It is commonly desirable to reduce or remove these and other types of skin pigmentations. People that present with excessive or unwanted age spots or freckles may wish to have these areas less pronounced relative to surrounding skin tissue. Several compositions have been developed to target such areas. It is all too common, however, for these compositions to either fail to provide the desired effects, or to produce unwanted irritation of the skin that can actually stimulate melanocyte activity paradoxically darkening the skin. Thus, there remains a need for improved compositions and methods for altering skin pigmentation.

Methods and compositions for alteration of skin pigmentation


A computer system with a number of subsystems or modules on separate circuit boards employs electronic keying to ensure proper configuration of these boards. A power key arrangement associated with a plug-in connector enables a separate power supply for each set of boards. A power supply turn-on signal is routed through a uniquely-configured connector path for each board, so the power supply turn-on is inhibited for improper configurations. The uniquely-configured connector path may use either a series or a parallel implementation. The series implementation employs a set of diodes connected for conduction in either of two directions, with the mating connector having its conductor paths connected to match the diode configuration; in this manner, the power supply enable signal can only flow through the series path if the proper board is plugged into a properly-coded slot, in which case the power supply to activate this board is activated through the series path including the diodes. The parallel implementation employs a given number of connector pins to establish the coding for each board, and each pin is either open-circuited or connected to ground; if this coding of the subsystem board is not the same as that of the slot into which it is plugged then the power supply activation signal will be shorted to ground by one or the other of the coded pins.

This invention relates to connection arrangements for electrical or electronic assemblies, and more particularly to a method for ensuring proper configuration of computer system having multiple boards.
Computers are usually constructed using a number of printed circuit boards or the like. While in some cases a system may have a number of universal type of slots (generic slots) where a variety of different circuit boards having different construction and function may be plugged into these slots, there are in most systems specific slots that can only accommodate unique circuit boards (modules or sub-systems) constructed for these specific slots, i.e., the boards are not interchangeable. Traditionally, a way of making sure the right circuit board is plugged into the right slot is by use of mechanical keying such as plugged pins, asymmetrical guide pins, etc. Such types of keying dedicates board slots to specialized functions, rendering them useless for any alternate functions. Another approach to multi-board systems is to use generic slots without mechanical keying, but this approach restricts the use of I/O pins by forcing dedication of function, or is vulnerable to damaging the circuitry on a board if improperly configured. That is, if a board is inserted into the wrong slot its circuitry may be damaged by application of voltages to the wrong conductors.
In a fault-tolerant computer system of the type set forth in copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 282,469, 282,538, 282,540, 282,629, 283,139 and 283,141, filed Dec. 9, 1988, all of which are now abandoned, assigned to Tandem Computers Incorporated, each module of the system (such as a CPU, a memory module, or an I/O processor) has its own separately-controllable independent power supply. In this type of system, proper configuration of multi-board subsystems can be guaranteed by employing an electronic keying arrangement instead of a mechanical key; here the power supply to a subsystem on a board is keyed electronically to prevent power from being applied unless the configuration is correct.

Module for insertion into a multi-module system having electronic keying for preventing power to improperly connected modules with improperly configured diode connections


The polyethylene naphthalate fiber for industrial material having a low fatigue in a composite is a polyethylene naphthalate fiber for industrial material containing an ethylene-2,6-naphthalate unit in 80% or more, characterize by having a strength of 6 cN/dtex or more and a secondary yield point elongation degree of 8% or less. The production method thereof is a method for producing a fiber in which a fiber having been obtained by melt-spinning a polyethylene naphthalate is subjected to stretching, characterized in that prestretch satisfying such conditions as the fiber temperature of from 80° C. to 120° C. and from 0.05 to 0.3 N/dtex is performed, a first stretch satisfying such conditions as the fiber temperature of from 130° C. to 180° C. and stretch tensile force of not more than the prestretch tensile force is performed, the total stretch magnification including subsequent stretches is set to 5 or more, and finally heat-treatment under tension with a stretch ratio of from 0 to 2% is performed.

A polyethylene naphthalate fiber including an ethylene-2,6-naphthalate unit as the main constituent shows a high strength, high elastic modulus and excellent thermal dimensional stability, and is a highly useful fiber as an industrial material. Particularly, in a field of composites that are reinforced by a polyethylene naphthalate fiber, in particular rubber reinforcing materials and the like including a tire cord, it is expected as a material that exhibits performance exceeding a polyethylene telephthalate fiber that is generally used currently.
However, the molecule of a polyethylene naphthalate fiber is stiff and tends to be oriented in a fiber axis direction. Therefore, it has such drawback that, in the case where only high magnification stretch and heat treatment are performed, fatigue properties for repeating stress is lower as compared with other general-purpose synthetic fibers and mechanical properties under real use conditions is lowered.
In order to solve such problems, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a polyethylene naphthalate fiber having a large Silk factor, which is obtained as (strength)×(square root of elongation degree), and a method for producing the same by defining stretch conditions of a first stage and a second stage. Patent Document 2 discloses a method for producing polyethylene naphthalate with an excellent toughness by defining conditions of a spinning cylinder just after spinning to delayed-cool the discharged yarn. However, there is a limitation on increasing the toughness of raw yarns, and it is important to improve fatigue properties of fibers in order to enhance the mechanical performance in a composite at real use.
For fatigue resistant properties, Patent Documents 3 and disclose polyethylene naphthalate fiber formed by copolymerizing a cyclic acetal or a bis-(trimellitimide) compound. However, although fatigue properties are improved by copolymerizing such a bulky third component, there is such a drawback that the strength thereof lowers because fiber structure is disturbed. Therefore the fiber could not be substantially applied to a fiber for rubber reinforcement such as tire cords.    Patent Document 1: JP-A-4-194021    Patent Document 2: JP-A-6-128810    Patent Document 3: JP-A-2003-193330    Patent Document 4: JP-A-11-228695

Polyethylene naphthalate fiber and method for producing the same


An adjustable projector stand is provided for supporting a video or still image projector. The projector stand is adjustable in pitch and tilt for positioning and leveling images projected on a screen in a manner that compensates for uneven support structures, such as tilted tables and poorly placed screens. The device may be powered manually by the user or by battery through the use of a motor. The projector stand generally consists of a platform with two legs, each of which is formed by two pivotally joined rods. Each leg is in direct rotational communication with a threaded rod disposed within the platform. Each rod is in turn coupled to a means for rotation, which may consist of a manually rotated knob or a battery powered motor. The raising and lowering of one leg may be performed independent of the other in order to allow the projector stand to be leveled on an uneven surface.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a projector support, and more particularly, to an adjustable video and, or still image projector stand that is adjustable in pitch and tilt for positioning and leveling images projected on a screen in a manner that compensates for uneven support structures, such as tilted tables and poorly placed screens.
2. Description of the Background Art
Still photograph and video projectors that project images on a remote screen are commonly used for doing presentations in classrooms, in meetings, at conferences and the like. A projector must typically be elevated to ensure the images are projected fully on the screen. Currently, people use books and other items to prop up the projector to the right height and angle so the images appear properly on the screen. Oftentimes it is difficult and tedious to find the right height and angle and requires numerous adjustments of the projector and support structure, such as a table. Needless to say, this is highly rudimentary and inconvenient. If there existed a single device that could conveniently and easily adjust the height and angle of a projector in a matter of seconds it would fully resolve these issues and be well received.
Unfortunately, there are no known devices that adequately and effectively adjust the height and angle of conventional projectors. The stands known consist of projector and computer stands that are complicated in structure and impractical or do not provide for vertical and horizontal adjustment, as contemplated by the instant invention. For instance, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0034125, filed by Lo, discloses a hidden electric power elevating stand having crossing braking rods, a transversal rod and bearings. The Lo design is overly complex and comprises too many moving parts. U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0289715, filed by Tsuboi, discloses a projector stand having swivel-like base that regulates inclinations along a horizontal plane and a direction perpendicular to the projective direction within a prescribed angular range. The Tsuboi projector stand is limited in the amount of adjustments that can be made, changes the angle of projection which can affect the quality of the projection and can be unstable. U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,350, issued to McKsymick, discloses a portable compact computer and projector stand consisting of a table with telescopic legs. This design is bulky, complex and not conveniently portable. As the background devices fail to adequately and effectively address the aforementioned issues, there exists a need for an adjustable projector perch as contemplated by the instant invention disclosed herein.

Adjustable video and still image projector stand


A method for intraoral scanning, including introducing an intraoral scanner (IOS) head into an oral cavity, acquiring an image of a field of view (FOV), processing the acquired FOV image and adjusting at least one image acquisition parameter based on said processing, and an intraoral scanner (IOS) including an IOS head including at least one imager imaging a field of view (FOV), at least on light emitter that illuminates said FOV and circuitry that controls said imager and/or said light emitter.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to intraoral scanning systems and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to an intraoral scanner for acquiring a 3D image of a tooth.
The use of intraoral scanners (IOS) to size and acquire a 3D image of a tooth or teeth requiring restoration (e.g., for prostheses or model preparation) has become prevalent in dentist practices. However, commonly used IOSs combine the use of image sensors, light emitters, several lenses, mirrors, reflectors, beam splitters and other components the size and quantity of which contribute to a relatively large form factor and bulkiness of the IOS.


The present invention provides a photographing synchronization method for performing a synchronous photographing operation on a plurality of cameras using any one of cameras in a multi-camera system. The method comprises: obtaining all cameras in a current synchronous network by means of network broadcast; obtaining signal transmission delays between the cameras; generating a synchronous photographing instruction of each camera according to the signal transmission delays between the cameras; and sending the synchronous photographing instructions to particular cameras over a wireless network.

With the development of science and technology, the use of computer vision is much more common. In order to achieve better computer vision effect, when collecting images, multiple cameras are usually used to synchronously capture images. For example, currently popular cameras with multiple camera system, such as panorama cameras, VR cameras and light-field cameras, are involved in multiple camera cooperation. For example, three-dimensional modeling of an object using multi-camera shooting, sports and motion analysis using multi-angle shooting or vision quality detection system.
At present, the common synchronization photographing operation of multi-camera usually includes triggering image acquisition of digital signals from dedicated I/O ports on the cameras. When using the above-mentioned setting, each camera must use additional cables equipped with appropriate plugs and is connected to the cables through the plugs, which makes installation more complex and is inconvenient to use. Moreover, the multiple camera system usually have a higher production cost, meanwhile, high quality cables are employed by complete the synchronous operation of the multi-camera.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a photographing synchronization method and a photographing synchronization device, so as to solve existing problems in the existing technology.

Photographing synchronization method and apparatus


A first navigation unit of an apparatus in one example comprises a hybrid global positioning system (GPS)/inertial navigation system (INS) component. The hybrid GPS/INS component provides first GPS information and first INS information for the first navigation unit. The first navigation unit is configured to receive second GPS information and second INS information from a second navigation unit. The second navigation unit comprises a GPS component configured to determine a double-differenced GPS carrier phase measurement through employment of the first GPS information and the second GPS information. The first navigation unit comprises a relative Kalman filter configured to update an INS error estimate for an estimate of a relative position between the first and second navigation units based on the double-differenced GPS carrier phase measurement and the first and second INS information.

Precision relative navigation is known to be a key enabling capability for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and automatic landing applications, for example, the Autonomous Aerial Refueling (AAR) system and Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS). The important problem to be solved is automatic, reliable, accurate relative positioning of two moving vehicles.

Estimate of relative position between navigation units

Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Company, Inc.


A ballast system for toy submarines comprises a plumbing device, a flexible bag, a piece of wire and a rod. The ballast system draws water in and forces water out by decompressing and compressing the flexible bag.

Ballast systems which enable boats to dive and surface have been employed in real submarines, industrial submersibles and radio controlled submarines for professional modelers. In many of these cases, structural integrity at high pressure and precise volume control of the ballast tank are often required to operate the ballast system properly in hostile environment such as a deep sea. Therefore, they often require complicated and expensive structures. High pressure air or sometimes chemicals are used in these systems to pump water out of ballast tanks. When such systems are being used in toy submarines, they are not safe for children.
The present invention is intended for toy submarines which are to be operated in the bath tub, swimming pool, or other shallow water. Accordingly, several objects of my invention are to provide an easily manufacturable device which performs diving and surfacing maneuvers and is safe for children.


A translucent reflective hand gun front sight includes a rectangular top portion of acrylic, polycarbonate or other suitable plastic having a vertical rear wall, a vertical front wall, a reflective horizontal top wall, a top front wall radiused transition portion forming an internal rectangular solid sight bead to be placed on the target when viewed through the vertical rear wall. The rectangular portion also includes a vertical reflective right side wall and a vertical reflective left side wall. Below the side walls are reflective right and left side shoulders extending outwardly and downwardly from the side walls transitioning into reflective lower vertical side portions extending vertically and downward from the shoulders. A lower most mounting base to affix the front sight to the gun is also provided.

It is well known that iron sights are used on firearms to assist the operator in aligning the firearm with the intended target. Typically this includes the alignment of the rear sight with the front sight and then the intended target.
Prior art FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate iron sights 2 on the top of the slide of a semiautomatic handgun which also may be mounted on the frame and barrel of a hand gun revolver. The iron sights 2 generally comprise a front blade 4 and a rear sight 6. Rear sight 6 includes a top notch 8 wherein the front blade 4 is squarely aligned with the desired target 10 directly aligned in the background. The perfect alignment of the rear sight 6, the front sight 4 and the target 10 is often difficult to achieve for a novice. Poor lighting conditions also affect the operator in proper alignment.
As shown in FIG. 3, Fiber optic sights 12 have been invented to further assist the operator in perfect alignment of the gun sight 12. Typically fiber optic sights 12 include a front translucent, fluorescent or Tritium cylinder blade 14 which allows the operator to place the front sight 14 onto the target. Rear sight 16 also has a notch for placement of the front sight 14 squarely within the notch while aligned on the target. Rear sight 16 may also include fiber optics in the form of translucent, fluorescent or Tritium cylinders for alignment with the front sight 14.
There is a need for a simple translucent reflective hand gun front sight that quickly assists the operator in proper alignment of the gun sights onto the target which includes some reflectivity, translucency and absorbs light and glows in low light conditions to further assist the operator.

Translucent reflective hand gun front sight


Provided is a method for controlling an anti-yaw damper, including: obtaining lateral acceleration signals of a frame and performing a first preprocessing on the lateral acceleration signals; obtaining a pressure difference between two chambers of an anti-yaw damper piston and performing a second preprocessing of the pressure difference; obtaining an MPPT algorithm objective function value at the current moment and an MPPT algorithm objective function value at the previous moment according to first preprocessing results and second preprocessing results, and comparing the MPPT algorithm objective function value at the current moment with the MPPT algorithm objective function value at the previous moment; and controlling the adjustment direction of an electromagnetic proportional valve of the anti-yaw damper according to the comparison result. According to the method, the damping force of the anti-yaw damper can be adjusted in real time, therefore the adaptability of the damper in different wheel wear conditions and the kinetic stability of a motor train unit are improved. Also provided is an apparatus for controlling an anti-yaw damper.

With the social progresses and economic development, transportation industry has profoundly impacted the life of ordinary people. Railway transportation is a main force of the transportation in China. As one of the traction powers of railway transportation, electric locomotive is developing rapidly.
One of the key factors to ensure the safe operation of locomotives is the bogie, which plays a very important role in the safety, comfort, operational reliability of the locomotives, as well as reducing the dynamic force on the tracks and reducing the environmental pollution. An anti-yaw damper is one of the important components to maintain the stability of the bogie, and its parameter matching is also one of the key factors of train operation safety.
With the increase in vehicle-miles of travel, the equivalent conicity of a wheel tread is increasing, which leads to the continual increase of yaw frequency of train, and the required secondary rotation resistance moment is also increasing. It is very difficult for traditional anti-yaw dampers with nonadjustable damping to adapt to the different wear states of wheels. In order to improve the adaptability of wheels to different wear degrees and increase the stability of train operation, it is very necessary to develop a control method for anti-yaw damper with an active control.
The MPPT algorithm first appeared in the photovoltaic field, where MPPT means "maximum power point tracking". The core principle of the algorithm is: the maximum power point can be effectively tracked under rapidly changing conditions, so that the controlled objects can operate at the maximum power point as much as possible. MPPT algorithm has been widely used since its inception, but to date, no application of the MPPT algorithm in the control of anti-yaw damper has been found.

Method and apparatus for controlling anti-yaw damper


A device for maintaining the clearance between the head of a film exposing CRT and a plate supported film that includes a plate that supports the film to be exposed is movably mounted in front of the head for maintaining the desired clearance at a constant distance so that the film can be exposed to the light rays emitted by the CRT, and a driving device for positioning the device for maintaining the desired clearance between the head of the CRT and the plate supported film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color video printer, and more particularly to a device for maintaining the clearance between a Cycolor film of the U.S. MEAD IMAGING CO. and the head of a film exposing CRT constant in a color video printer during transfer the Cycolor film.
2. Background Art
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional color video printer using the Cycolor film comprises a film roll 3 carrying a film 3', a feeding roll 2 for feeding the film, a film exposing CRT 1 for exposing to light the film 3' fed by the feeding roll 2, the feeding roll 2 being mounted in one side of the film exposing CRT 1, first and second idler rolls 4a and 4b for guiding the film 3', a capstan roll 10 and pressure rolls 6 provided between the first and second idler rolls 4a and 4b for driving the film, and first and second guides 8 and 9 for cooperating with the first and second idler rolls 4a and 4b to guide the film.
A plurality of guide holes are provided in the edges of the film 3' receiving a plurality of projections 2a formed on the periphery of the feeding roll 2, so that when the feeding roll 2 is rotated clockwise, the film 3' moves in the direction of the arrow indicated in phantom line in FIG. 1 wound around a winding roll 5. The feeding roll 2 and winding roll 5 are driven by different motors.
Thus being loaded, the film 3' is exposed to light according to the signals generated by the head 1a of the film exposing CRT 1, and then the exposed film is impressed onto a printing paper 7 by means of the pressure roll 6 transferring the image thereof to the paper. Finally the paper containing the image is discharged.
In this case, when the film 3' is exposed to the light rays emitted by the head 1a of the film exposing CRT 1, the toner laid on the film 3' is hardened in conformity with the intensity and wavelength of the light rays. Hence, the light rays emitted from the head 1a towards the film 3' should be made not so as to diffuse by maintaining the clearance between the head 1a and film 3' constant.
However, since the conventional color video printer has no such means for maintaining the clearance between the head 1a and film 3' constant, the film 3' is not properly exposed so as to result in an unclear printed image.

Device for maintaining the clearance between a cycolor film and the head of film exposing CRT


A portable aesthetic component comparison system is provided with a support base, a work surface, a post, and a plurality of carriers. The work surface is provided on the support base. The post is supported by the support base centrally of the work surface. The plurality of carriers are each configured to support at least one aesthetic component, each carrier having an aperture configured to be received over the post for pivotal positioning of one aesthetic component relative to another aesthetic component atop the work surface. A method is also provided.

Aesthetic design of textile and printed goods encompasses interior decorating and fashion design. In many cases, experts are engaged by customers to render design and decorating services. This often involves reviewing and comparing many material samples in order to decide on a combination of materials that presents an aesthetically pleasing design for a customer. For example, an interior decorator may be tasked with creating a rug that matches a particular fabric design on an existing couch or draperies. In order to do this, the interior decorator can be faced with a daunting task, as thread is typically stored on a large bobbin and a decorator may need to collect many bobbins in order to compare color and texture for each thread with a fabric swatch. This problem is further compounded when the decorator has to travel to a customer location in order to perform such a comparison. Furthermore, the task of visualizing threads, yarns, and textile fabrics to determine complementary elements and how they blend together can be difficult.
Attempts have been made to lay out and compare material samples, such as thread and fabric, when performing decorating and design services. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,495,054 to Cooper, entitled "Means for Use in the Designing of Woven Fabrics", and issued Jan. 17, 1950, provides several groups of colored (or thread and fabric covered) blocks that are manipulated into design configurations in order to visualize how the different colors blend together in a proposed design. However, these blocks prove bulky, and the total number of samples capable of being used in a compact and portable system is severely limited.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,407 to Williams, entitled "Color Reference System for Decorators", and issued. Apr. 28, 1998, provides a color reference system for correlating colors to decorating parameters for an area. Color reference cards are used to store color samples. An associated identifier is used to correlate the color sample to the identifier. Decorating parameters are provided on area reference cards for different rooms and locations, such as primary, accent, and accessory color identifiers. For the case where a color sample corresponds to a decorating parameter for a location, the identifier is recorded in association with the decorating parameter. The entire system is portable, and a user can find a color sample for comparison purposes without carrying color palettes with color samples that don't correspond to colors in an area to be decorated by looking at a decorating parameter for an area and using the color identifier to find the color sample on the color reference card. However, a user is not armed with a broad range of color samples. Secondly, the system does not provide a convenient display area for comparing color samples, while retaining the color samples within a defined work area.
Attempts have been made to consolidate material samples, such as thread and fabric, when performing decorating and design services. For example, published U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0045150 A1 to Mosley, entitled "Method for Organizing Threads", and published on Apr. 18, 2002, is directed to a method for organizing threads. I-shaped elements are loaded with thread samples, each with a unique color. The elements can be loaded into a storage unit for later use. A color comparison chart is used to compare various colors of threads between compatible color code schemes. However, the storage unit has multiple levels, and is not very compact and portable. Secondly, there is little aid provided when it comes time to visually compare colors of thread, as a comparison chart is used instead of presenting a visual display for performing a comparison.

Portable aesthetic component comparison system, decorator design tool, retaining stud, and method


At a first time, an authorized directive is received by the utility provider to perform an operative action for shedding load of a power system by a minimum system load value on or before a second time. The utility provider may operate the SCADA/DCS system to assist in selecting a set of circuits wherein the total circuit load value of the selection is greater than or equal to the minimum system load value. In response to circuit selection, the SCADA/DCS system selects the corresponding set of circuit breakers and consults the circuit-subscriber notification database to select a set of subscribers corresponding to the selected set of circuits. A system, product, and/or device adapted for communicating data in response to circuit selection may then be accessed by the SCADA/DCS system to communicate to the selected set of subscribers an intention of performing the operative action on or before the second time. The utility provider may then program and/or operate the SCADA/DCS system to perform the operative action upon the selected set of circuit breakers on or before said second time.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to notification systems, and more specifically relates to a method, product, and apparatus for notifying subscribers of alerts, warnings, and emergencies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Commercial electrical power available today is becoming unreliable due to the growing number of electrical loads placed on the electrical power grid. Electric power supply has not kept pace with demand. Electric generation facility construction is heavily regulated and new sources of electric power have not been built to meet current demands. Many existing electric generation facilities are producing electricity below their maximum capacity because they are old, hence require more maintenance downtime than newer facilities. With the decrease in electrical generation and without a corresponding decrease in electrical demand, the Western U.S., especially California, is experiencing electrical supply shortages.
The California Independent System Operator (ISO) is charged with managing the flow of electricity along the long-distance, high-voltage power lines that make up the bulk of California's transmission system. The not-for-profit public-benefit corporation assumed the responsibility in March, 1998, when California opened its energy markets to competition and the state's investor-owned utilities turned their private transmission power lines over to the California ISO to manage. The mission of the California ISO is to safeguard the reliable delivery of electricity, facilitate markets and ensure equal access to a 12,500 circuit mile "electron highway."
Operating a power grid, one of the most complex and dynamic technological systems requires extraordinary amounts of data and the ability to respond to rapidly changing circumstances. Supply and demand conditions will at times require grid operators to interrupt services to customers in order to maintain the integrity of the power system. Failure to balance the amount of power generated and the amount consumed creates system instability that could culminate in the collapse of the electric power system in the entire western United States. Grid operators anticipate conditions, such as insufficient operating reserves, that could lead to a collapse of the grid and avert them by implementing contingencies, such as load shedding and controlled outages known as rotating outages or rolling blackouts. Operating Reserve is the margin of generating resource above that is required to meet consumer demand. This margin is necessary to maintain reliability and as protection against the sudden loss of a generation resource. An Operating Reserve deficiency is oftentimes foreseeable in the day-ahead or hour-ahead markets and, if not corrected, may require intervention in the real-time operation.
Emergency Notices specifically relating to deficiencies in Regulation or Operating Reserve are issued by the ISO based on the level of severity:
Stage 1: Actual or anticipated Operating Reserves are less than Minimum Operating Reserve Criteria;
Stage 2: Actual or anticipated Operating Reserves are less than or equal to five percent (5%);
Stage 3: Actual or anticipated Operating Reserves are less than or equal to one and one half percent (1.5%).
Immediately after the ISO declares an emergency, an extensive network of communications is activated. The ISO initiates and pursues communications with state and federal agencies, market participants, the media, and industry organizations charged with western-wide reliability monitoring. These communications are accomplished by a wide variety of means: e-mail, telephone, radio, pagers, and web postings. Once the Shift manager of ISO real-time grid operations declares an Electrical Emergency (Emergency Stage One, Two or Three), the Shift Manager notifies the Executive In Charge (EIC). The EIC notifies the Public Information Coordinator (PIC) and the Emergency Response Coordinator (ERC). This activates the ISO Emergency Response Team. The Shift Manager, the EIC, the PIC, and the ERC then must engage other channels.
With the ISO Emergency Response Team activated, the Shift Manager directs the Grid Resource Coordinator to post the Emergency Notice on the System Status page of the California ISO Website. This automatically triggers an email to be sent to Market Participants and key ISO personnel, and also triggers the posting of an ISO Emergency Notice on the Emergency Digital Information System (EDIS) Website that is hosted by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Subscribers can receive email, pages, faxes and/or pocket radio communications that indicate when new notices have been posted. In addition, other web sites such as "www.incident.com", "www.outofpower.com", and "www.infotility.com" also provide notification services by forwarding ISO updates to their subscribers.
When a Stage 2 Emergency Notice is declared, interruptible service is made available to the ISO by the Utility Distribution Companies (UDCs). This Interruptible Service program was developed through arrangements with subscribing end-use customers to shed load under special UDC tariffs within the jurisdiction of California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Under a Stage 2 Emergency, direct notification is limited to interruptible customers who are directed via remote terminal units (RTUs) or phone to curtail their interruptible loads. These programs provide incentives for summer on-peak capacity [kW] savings in addition to the incentive for energy [kWh] savings. Program participants are required to curtail electric consumption during peak times, and thereby conserving energy resources. It is imperative that program participants curtail their share of electricity immediately upon a Stage 2 Emergency declaration. Failure to promptly curtail their share of the electric load results in stiff penalties and risks placing the entire power grid in a Stage 3 Emergency.
Upon notification of a Stage 3 Emergency by the ISO, having determined the aggregate amount of load that must be curtailed in the control area as a whole, the Shift Manager on duty orders the participating utilities (e.g., Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric, etc.) to reduce load in their service territories. Once the ISO orders a specified amount of load shedding from a utility's service territory, the utility determines which geographical regions or blocks will be interrupted. The utilities may delegate a percentage of that load reduction amount to municipalities (e.g., Vernon, Pasadena, etc.) within their service territory with whom they had pre-existing contracts with for sharing in load reductions.
Utility companies then notify customers by sending e-mail non-residential customers (interruptible customers and those who request updates of system conditions), making manual or automated telephone calls to residential customers on life support (critical care) and customers with demands greater than 300 kW, posting location of interruptions on website (affected blocks), providing press releases and live interviews notifying customers of emergency and identifying location of interruptions, and establishing pre-recorded messages for customers calling the customer's service centers.
When an ISO directs a load shed, utilities have to respond quickly to identify blocks of commercial and residential customers whose consumption matches the target power figure and switch off their power. PG&E's more than 13 million electricity customers have been divided into 15 blocks, based on the load of each circuit. Each block, accounting for about 500 megawatts of usage, covers about 200,000 customers in neighborhoods scattered throughout PG&E's Northern and Central California service area. Each PG&E customer is assigned to one of 2,900 circuits. Approximately 1,000 circuits contain essential customers and are exempt from rotating outages. Under the CPUC's rules, only those circuits that serve specifically designated classes of customers who provide essential public health, safety, and security services (such as large hospitals and fire and police stations) are exempted from these outages. The remaining 1,900 circuits are divided across the 14 blocks. Customers are being notified to review their PG&E bill on a regular basis to determine which outage block they have been assigned.
SCE has identified the circuits available for use in rotating outages according to CPUC rules. A circuit is an overhead or underground electrical line that supplies power to a combination of residential and/or commercial customers. These circuits have been arranged into groups. Each group includes a number of circuits that comprise approximately 100 megawatts of electricity usage per group, with each circuit generally serving between 800 and 2,000 customers. The amount of power ISO designates for curtailment will determine the number of groups that are interrupted at any one time (e.g., if ISO calls for 500 megawatts, SCE would interrupt service to about five groups). The groups will be interrupted, as operating conditions permit, and each outage is expected to last about one hour. At the end of the hour, service will be restored to the affected groups and the next groups on the list will be interrupted to maintain the amount of load requested by the ISO. Once a group has been used in a rotating outage, it is moved to the bottom of the list.
The active notification of end-use customers of Stage 2 and 3 Emergencies is critical to protecting their health and safety. Sudden loss of electrical power has dramatic consequences that compromise public safety, property damage, loss production, and economic losses. Immediate notification of an impending change event or condition is instrumental in reducing loss of life, reducing personal injury, or reducing economic losses. Certain utility customers need advanced notification in order to respond to the imminent power outage where they would light generators and switch to generator power, halt vital manufacturing processes, properly shut down equipment via standard operating procedures, escort customers or employees away from hazardous areas, or cordon secure areas.
Advanced notice of an impending power outage has many advantages. Law enforcement personnel can be dispatched to intersections to aid in directing traffic, or increase patrols where regular security measures are compromised by the power outage. Electric transportation systems can curb service before an imminent power outage to prevent passengers from being stranded above ground, or in a tunnel. High-rise office buildings, retailers, and residential buildings can halt elevator service to prevent passengers from becoming stranded. Electric utility customers who have standby generators are afford the opportunity to light off auxiliary generators, run them until they reach proper operating parameters, and then shift the load from utility power to auxiliary power.
Manufacturers, petroleum refineries, chemical companies, or pharmaceutical companies can halt their vital processes ahead of the scheduled power outage. Building maintenance personnel are able to properly de-energize ventilation systems, or shift to auxiliary lighting and ensure that other sensitive equipment is powered-down to prevent surge damage. This will prevent surge damage to expensive equipment or prevent product damage. Office personnel are afforded adequate time to back-up their data or complete critical actions or reschedule critical events. Web and application servers shift responsibilities to non-affected servers so that affected servers may be safely shut down.
General California electrical emergency warnings are broadcast via television, radio, Web sites, or Email. To receive an electrical emergency notice broadcast requires that a receiver be turned on, and at least one person's attention focused on the receiver. Most TV and radio receivers do not have Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS), which render them inoperable during power failure, and therefore would not provide critical communications. Further, electrical emergency warnings broadcast in this manner are general in nature and typically provide unnecessarily widespread geographic area warnings. The warnings communicate the system status of the power grid, general location of predicted rotating outages, and not the specific circuits that will be affected by the load shed. In addition, sources of notification such as the CAISO System Status Web site may be vulnerable to excessive Internet traffic, server downtime, denial of service attacks, and the like.
Further disadvantages of current notification schemes may include the delay or notification failure attributable to dialing, pager, FAX and cellular telephone numbers, even if automated, to offline Internet or cellular systems, to Internet or cellular system traffic, to non-automated notification processes, to gaps within business notification systems such as one key recipient attempts to notify an entire business, and notification failure due to Internet packet loss.
In order to circumvent many of the existing problems and provide California power customers with adequate advanced notification, Governor Gray Davis issued an Executive Order on Thursday, May 24, 2001 requiring ISO to provide sixty minutes advanced notice (instead of thirty minutes) of a load shedding event. The Executive Order provides non-affected customers with ample time to curtail non-essential equipment in order to avert a load shedding, and provide affected utility customers with more time to shut-down equipment before electric curtailment. Consequently, the electric load over the entire grid is reduced and a directed load shedding may be averted because of the additional time of advanced notice.
As of May 24, 2001 ISO communicated 62 thirty minute load-shed notices since the beginning of the year, 38 instances of which electric curtailment did not occur. Since load shedding was not experienced 61% of the time after a load shed communication, utility customers may take future load shed communications less seriously, and subsequently delay or refrain from taking action since shutting down a business unnecessarily affects their bottom line. Also during 2001, advanced customer warning was provided once. In short, electric loads are dynamic, and load-shed directives may be delayed, cancelled, accelerated, or a load shedding may occur with little or no advanced warning.
There is no known single system for providing circuit specific rotating outage notification to utility customer critical personnel or providing such circuit specific notification in combination with existing Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, notice updates, or notice cancellations of electric emergencies provided by a combination of many vendors and/or many systems.
Power company alerts, warnings, and emergencies are instituted to benefit utility customers and the public, but current communications do not provide optimal benefits because timely information is not communicated to key personnel efficiently. Accordingly, in light of the above, there is a strong need in the art for a system and method of more reliably, effectively, and accurately delivering load shed notification services to customers and subscribers.

Load shed notification method, product, and apparatus


Blocked silyl isocyanates contain a methylene group between the blocked isocyanate group and silicon. The blocked isocyanates are easily prepared in high yield and purity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to organosilicon compounds having an isocyanate group which is masked by a blocking agent, to processes for preparing them, to processes for eliminating the blocking agents, and to the use of the organosilicon compounds.
2. Background Art
Organofunctional silanes, i.e., compounds which contain an organic functional group as well as a silyl group, have acquired industrial significance in a wide variety of applications, for example as adhesion promoters, as crosslinkers, and for modifying surfaces. Of particular importance in this context is the isocyanate functionality, which on account of its high reactivity toward protic compounds such as alcohols, amines, oximes and the like, is able to react in diverse ways.
Frequently, however, when isocyanates are used in an aqueous environment or in isocyanate-crosslinking one-component paint systems, a masked form of an isocyanate is required in order to prevent unwanted premature reaction of the isocyanate. For this purpose use is frequently made industrially of isocyanates whose isocyanate group has been blocked with a moiety which is thermally facile (D. A. Wicks, Z. W. Wicks, PROG. ORG. COAT. 1999, 36, 148-172). These blocked isocyanates masked by a blocking agent are frequently easy to prepare and, furthermore, exhibit a markedly reduced toxicity in comparison to that of the corresponding free organic isocyanate.
Some organosilicon compounds containing masked isocyanate groups are known, for example from DE 34 24 534 A1, EP 0 212 058 B1, JP 08 291186 and JP 10 067787. Common to all of these compounds, however, is the fact that between the masked isocyanate group and the silyl group there is a propylene group, as a result of which the reactivities with respect to hydrolysis and condensation are comparatively low. As a consequence, relatively high temperatures are frequently necessary for the reaction of these compounds, which leads in turn to the blocking agent being eliminated at an unwanted point in time. As a result, these compounds are totally unsuitable for many applications, or at least have great disadvantages.

Organosilicon compounds with a masked isocyanate group


A method for copying data from a source logical device to a destination logical device. In response to a copy command from a requesting host application identifying the source and destination logical devices, an environment is established. Thereafter a calling system receives an immediate response that the copy operation is complete even though no data has been copied. Application programs may access storage locations in either the source or the destination logical device during the copy phase. A copy program transfers the date on a track-by-track basis to the destination logical device. Procedures assure that any data access to a particular track in either the source or destination logical device by any application prior to the transfer of that track is accommodated to maintain data integrity.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to data storage in data processing systems and more particularly to a method for copying data from one storage device to another storage device in an open system.
2. Description of Related Art
Copying data from one location, commonly a "source location" to a second or "destination location" is well known in the art. In some situations copying provides data redundancy. In other situations providing two or more copies enables a like number of independent applications or procedures to process the copied data independently.
In one conventional approach, as particularly well known in the use of personal computers, copying is performed on a file-by-file basis between different logical volumes or between different directories on the same logical volume. The conventional device utilizes a "copy" command that specifies a path to a source and file to be copied and a path to a destination location. The processor then copies the data from the source to the destination location. During the copy process no application can access the data at either the source location or the destination location.
In other systems involving larger and more sophisticated data storage facilities, applications may operate on multiple host processors. Such facilities often have the capability of performing copying independently of other host applications. That is, while data is being copied from a source to a destination, other programs or processes can operate on data in locations other than the source or destination file locations. However, in these systems any access to the source file or the destination file is precluded until such time the copy has been completed.
Data processing systems have evolved into two arbitrary classes, namely: "mainframe systems" and "open systems". Generally speaking "mainframe systems" refer to larger IBM and IBM-like data processing systems with a powerful set of internal input-output commands that use CKD (Count-Key-Data) data formatting. "Open systems" refer to other data processing systems that operate with different internal input-output commands and different internal protocols and an FBA (Fixed Block Architecture).
Initially large capacity data storage devices were configured for operation with mainframe systems because at the time they were the only systems that had the power and storage capacity to handle large data sets. These systems also provided a track level of control. These systems have several ways to copy data from one location to another. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,497 discloses a process for obtaining a single copy of data by logical volume essentially independently of normal processing. However, this process requires a specially configured logical storage device called a BCV device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,385 (2002) to Kedem et al. discloses a method and apparatus for making independent data copies in a mainframe data processing system. Specifically, this patent discloses a method for copying a data file from a source device to a destination device in response to a copy command that can identify noncontiguous blocks of contiguous tracks. An extents track is formed to establish an environment to which the data will be copied. A calling system receives an immediate response that the copy operation is complete even though no data has been copied. Application programs may access the file in either the source or destination. The copy program transfers the file on a track-by-track basis to the destination locations in accordance with the information in the extents track. Procedures to assure that any data access to a particular track in either the source or destination by any application prior to the transfer of that track are accommodated to maintain data integrity.
More recently, however, open systems have become popular particularly with advances in networking and hardware capabilities. Open systems generally make copies on a file-by-file basis where one logical volume is involved. However, they do not have commands with the capability of handling data on a track-by-track basis. In recent times, the need for making single or multiple copies essentially independently of normal processing has become more desirable even in open systems. Moreover, it has become desirable to transfer entire logical volumes, and even to copy a subset, because in open systems logical volume transfers can actually occur more quickly. This feature exists because it is not necessary to incur the overhead of finding data blocks associated with a single file which can be at any arbitrary position in a logical volume.
It was found that the overhead involved with the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,385 introduced unacceptable delays in the process. Moreover data in an open system logical volume is at any arbitrary location within a system. Thus is there no way to identify the extent of the data to be copied other than at a logical volume level. What is therefore needed is a method adapted for both mainframe systems and open systems for copying data from a source to a destination independently essentially of any processor operation with a minimal delay between the processing of a copy command initiating a copy process and the availability of both the source and destination locations for processing by different applications.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for making independent data copies in a data processing system


Methods and apparatus relate to treatment of fluids to remove mercury contaminants in the fluid. Contact of the fluid with active outer surfaces of particles magnetically separable from the fluid loads the particles with the mercury contaminants. Magnetic separation then removes from the fluid the particles loaded with the mercury contaminants such that a treated product remains.

Presence of mercury in hydrocarbon streams can cause problems with upstream and downstream processing units as well as health and environmental issues. Removal of the mercury to achieve acceptable levels presents problems with prior techniques. Fixed bed sorbent applications for crude oil and heavy hydrocarbons tend to foul and become plugged. Prior sorbent particles utilized in fluidized bed applications still require separation of the particles from treated fluids. Such separation procedures rely on filtration that results in similar clogging issues as encountered with the fixed bed sorbent applications.
Therefore, a need exists for improved methods and systems for removing mercury from fluids.

Mercury removal with sorbents magnetically separable from treated fluids


An electronic device is provided, which includes a touch sensor configured to sense a touch input to a screen, a storage configured to store different firmware corresponding to a plurality of input modes supported by the touch sensor, and a controller configured to sense the touch input according to a selected input mode among the plurality of input modes, through execution of one of the different firmware corresponding to the selected input mode.

1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to an electronic device and a touch sensing method thereof, and more particularly to an electronic device and a touch sensing method thereof, which can sense a touch that is input to a screen in an infrared sensor method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, with the development of electronic technology, various electronic devices that can provide various functions through touch operations have been developed. Such electronic devices sense user's touch operations using various methods, such as a resistive method, a capacitive method, and an infrared method.
With regard to electronic devices adopting an infrared method in the related art, user's intended uses for these devices are not considered. That is, constant functions are supported regardless of what reason users use the electronic devices for, and this causes a loss in efficient and effective use of the electronic devices.
Accordingly, there is a need for schemes for touch sensing that factor in a user's intended use, in the infrared method.

Electronic device and touch sensing method thereof


A system and a method which include one or more processors, a memory coupled to at least one of the processors, a communication link coupled to the memory, and a power management unit. The power management unit may be configured to detect an inactive state of at least one of the processors. The power management unit may be configured to disable the communication link at a time after the processor enters the inactive state, and disable the memory at another time after the processor enters the inactive state.

Technical Field
This invention is related to the field of integrated circuit implementation, and more particularly to the implementation of power management circuits.
Description of the Related Art
Computing systems may include one or more systems on a chip (SoC), which may integrate a number of different functions, such as, graphics processing, onto a single integrated circuit. With numerous functions included in a single integrated circuit, chip count may be kept low in mobile computing systems, such as tablets, for example, which may result in reduced assembly costs, and a smaller form factor for such mobile computing systems.
Each functional block included within an SoC may be designed in accordance to one of various design flows. The logical operation of some functional blocks may be described in a high-level computer language such as, e.g., Very-high-speed integrated circuit hardware description language (VHDL). Logic gate implementations of blocks described in such a fashion may be generated using logic synthesis and place-and-route design techniques. Other functional blocks, such as memories, phase-locked loops (PLLs), analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), may be designed in a full-custom fashion.
In some SoC designs, processors included in the SoC may enter an inactive state upon completing certain computing tasks to reduce power consumption or to reduce the emission of electromagnetic interference (EMI). Peripheral circuitry may similarly enter idle states to further conserve system power consumption or reduce EMI. In some designs, clock gating and power gating may be used to place functional blocks, such as e.g., processors, into inactive states. Clock gating entails disabling a clock from a functional logic block in order to reduce the amount of logic being clocked, thereby reducing switching power and reducing the amount of EMI being radiated. In a similar fashion, power gating involves a power source being disconnected from the functional block. Power gating may result in reduced switching power and leakage power. Clock gating may not reduce leakage power, but may reduce switching power of logic circuits within the SoC as well as the clock distribution network and may allow the logical state of the block to be maintained while the block is not being used.


The telecommunication network is composed to a greater degree of ATM exchanges (ATM) and to a lesser degree of STM exchanges (STM). Information coming from an STM exchange (for example, STM1) ad to be switched to a further STM exchange (for example, STMy) via an ATM exchange (for example, ATM1) are packeted in short cells for through-connection through the ATM exchange (ATM1) in order to reduce the packeting time. These short cells have a shorter length when compared to the standardized message cells used for information transmission between ATM exchanges.

The present invention is directed to a telecommunication network having switching centers that to a greater degree operate on the basis of asynchronous through-connection of message packets in message cells of a fixed length via virtual connections (ATM exchanges) and to a lesser degree operate on the basis of synchronous circuit-switched through-connection (STM exchanges), comprising interfaces allocated to the ATM exchanges that serve the purpose of connecting transmission lines that are connected to STM exchanges and carrying circuit-switched messages.
Such a telecommunication network is to be understood as a transitional stage to future telecommunication networks wherein the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) is employed throughout. By contrast to currently installed telecommunication networks, which operate in the synchronous transfer mode (STM), telecommunication networks operating in the ATM mode have a significant advantage. The available transmission capacity of a transmission channel can be flexibly utilized for a multitude of services such as voice, data, image transmission and can thereby be allocated to a single service or to a plurality of services dependent on time and need.
The introduction of a universal telecommunication network on an ATM basis can only be successful when the possibility of cooperation is economically possible of previously existing telecommunication networks operating on an STM basis and executing 64 Kb/s voice services with new switching centers operating on an ATM basis.
A hybrid solution for a telecommunication network has been proposed in this context which provides three functionally separate system components at the exchanges. First is what is referred to as a cross connector for the connection of transmission lines via which information is transmitted at higher bit rates, for example 2 Mb/s, in STM mode, this essentially assuming the function of an electronic main distributor. Second is a narrowband exchange that corresponds in practice to current narrowband exchanges for the connection of central office lines and transmission lines for information transmitted on an STM basis with a bit rate of 64 Kb/s. Finally, third is a broadband exchange that operates on an ATM basis, i.e. as a packet exchange having message cells of fixed length and for setting virtual connections. Each of the three system components of the exchanges of such a hybrid network have separate line units and a separate switching network. Of course, such a solution is extremely cost and maintenance intensive.
By contrast, in the initially described telecommunication network, universal network nodes operating on an ATM basis are provided. With on-going network expansion, the number of these should dominate more and more over network nodes operating on an STM basis and should ultimately be present as the only type of network node. These universal network nodes have only a single ATM switching network for all three types of connection or, respectively, employment of the hybrid telecommunication system.
In order to be able to process information that is incoming on an STM basis, these must be packeted in ATM message cells in interface units and must be in turn depacketed after passing through the switching network and be superimposed into addressed time slots, to which end the appertaining interfaces have packeting/depacketing means.
Since such a universal network node is provided with a uniform switching network, uniform interfaces and a central controller and also operates with uniform pathfinding and uniform maintenance functions, lower capital costs and lower outlay for maintenance result as compared to the aforementioned hybrid solution. Moreover, expandability is established without particular outlay in the basic equipment.
As presented, the STM messages must be packeted in ATM message cells in order to also be able to process STM messages in such a universal ATM network node.
The format of such ATM message cells is already largely defined, whereby a useful information field that covers 48 time slices covering 8 bits each, what are referred to as octets, is provided per message cell in addition to a message header. At least one of these can be utilized for further particulars about, for example, the nature of the message cell.
For packeting the samples of a time channel respectively coded with 8 bits for transmission of 64 Kb/s voice information, the chronological duration of 47 sampling pulse frames is required in this case, so that a packeting time of 48.times.125 .mu.s=6 ms is required together with the one octet. With jitter compensation, the depacketing requires approximately 0.25 ms, so that a time delay of 6.25 ms arises overall in the transmission in one direction.
In current digital telephone networks, approximately 1.5 ms are allowed for local exchanges as transit times within the exchanges that mainly arise due to the analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion. Approximately 1.0 ms per transmission direction are allowed for tandem switching centers, so that an allowable overall transit time of at most 15 ms per transmission direction results for a network in which a connection runs by a maximum of 3 local exchanges and a maximum of 6 tandem switching centers given a maximum distance of approximately 1000 km.
The maximum delay time allowed in Great Britain is only 12.5 ms, whereas in the U.S., it is 17.5 ms per transmission direction. The demands made with respect to adhering to transit time limits serves the purpose of assuring the voice quality, since longer transit times lead to noticeable echo effects because of the reflections of the voice signals at the hybrid circuits in the subscriber terminal equipment of the listening subscriber.
The aforementioned delays of 6.25 ms arising in conjunction with the packeting/depacketing procedure are thus approximately 5 ms greater than the required transit time limit for exchanges.
In order to assure the required voice quality under these conditions, separate echo compensators must be utilized per transmission direction. However, over and above this, care would also have to be exercised to ensure that a plurality of network transitions whereat the aforementioned delay due to packeting/depacketing procedures respectively arises, are avoided in voice connections since a compensation of transit time on the order of the required magnitude for a plurality of network transitions can no longer be governed with echo compensators. This, however, would require an involved intermeshing between the STM exchanges of the STM network that still exists and the ATM exchanges that are intended to be the basis for the future universal network.
For the purpose of reducing the delay times in the packeting of STM voice information that is transmitted with a transmission rate of 64 Kb/s, it has therefore been proposed in conjunction with a telecommunication network of the type initially described to only partially occupy the message cells of fixed length in the ATM system with STM messages (European Patent Application 88 11 57 25.9). Such a procedure, of course, means a poor exploitation of the transmission capacity. In order to provide a certain amount of compensation, it has also been proposed in the patent application to respectively define the degree of occupation of the message cells during call set up in call-associated fashion in accord with the call set up information co-transmitted during the call set up and to keep this low for long-distance connections that proceed via a plurality of exchanges but to allow a higher degree of filling for connections in the local area.
It is precisely in long-distance connections, however, that a high bit rate is particularly desirable for economical reasons, since the proportion of the costs for the transmission technology outweighs those for the exchanges. Apart therefrom, of course, the measures for improving the exploitation of the transmission capacity also require a considerable outlay in terms of control.

Telecommunication network having ATM switching centers and STM switching centers


After forming source/drain trenches within a top semiconductor layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, portions of the trenches adjacent channel regions of a semiconductor structure are covered either by sacrificial spacers formed on sidewalls of the trenches or by photoresist layer portions. The sacrificial spacers or photoresist layer portions shield portions of the top semiconductor layer underneath the trenches from subsequent ion implantation for forming junction butting. The ion implantation regions thus are confined only in un-shielded, sublayered portions of the top semiconductor layer that are away from the channel regions of the semiconductor structure. The width of the ion implantation regions are controlled such that the implanted dopants do not diffuse into the channel regions during subsequent thermal cycles so as to suppress the short channel effects.

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor device fabrication. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods of forming well-controlled junction butting in semiconductor-on-insulator field effect transistors with an embedded source and an embedded drain.
Embedded source/drain techniques have been widely used to improve charge carrier mobility as channel lengths of semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) field effect transistors (FETs) are scaled down to the sub-50-nm range. Embedded source/drain techniques typically include removing the source region and the drain region that are present in a semiconductor substrate to form trenches followed by epitaxially growing a semiconductor material in the trenches.
SOI FETs with an embedded source region and an embedded drain region (collectively referred to herein after as "embedded source/drain regions") require junction butting to ensure low junction capacitance and to avoid cross-talk between adjacent FETs. To provide adequate junction butting, ion implantation of appropriate dopants through the bottom of the trenches is typically performed. However, the trenches do not provide any control over the lateral placement and spread of implanted dopants. Subsequent thermal cycles diffuse the implanted dopants to the channel regions of SOI FETs, creating undesired effects, such as short channel effects and low backside threshold voltage, which in turn result in backside conduction. As such, there remains a need to develop methods that can provide better control over the junction butting in SOI FETs with embedded source/drain regions.

Junction butting in SOI transistor with embedded source/drain


An apparatus for transferring semiconductor devices in a semiconductor device handler is provided which simplifies set up procedures when a species of device to be tested, and the associated change kit, is changed. A reference picker and three variable pickers are positioned within the framing structure of the handler, with the motion of the third variable picker synchronized relative to the motion of the first and second variable pickers. A plurality of sensors determine an initial position of the variable pickers, and then motion of the variable pickers is monitored by respective scanning heads and linear scales until a new setup position which corresponds to the new device species is attained. In this manner, the procedure and structure for varying position and pitch of the various pickers can be simplified, thus reducing processing time and cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for picking up to transfer semiconductor devices in a handler for testing the semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to an apparatus for transferring semiconductor devices in a semiconductor device test handler enabling to facilitate to vary pitches of pickers for picking up the semiconductor devices to correspond to a tray and change kits according to species and sizes of the semiconductor devices to be tested.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, semiconductor devices produced in a production line undergo tests for checking whether to be good or fail before shipment.
A handler is a device for testing such semiconductor devices. The handler uses a semiconductor device transferring apparatus to transfer semiconductor devices received on a tray to another site in the course of a process automatically, loads the semiconductor devices on a test socket of a test site to carry out a demanded test thereon, and classifies the tested semiconductor devices into various grades to unload them on the tray. The handler carries out such steps repeatedly to perform the tests.
FIG. 1 illustrates a layout of a general handler for semiconductor device test.
Referring to FIG. 1, in a front part of a handler body 1, formed are a loading unit 2 on which trays receiving test-expecting semiconductor devices thereon are loaded and an unloading unit 3 having a plurality of trays receiving test-completed semiconductor devices classified into good products and re-examining products in accordance with test results. And, a soaking plate 7 is installed in rear of the loading unit 2. The soaking plate 7 includes a heating means (not shown in the drawings) and a cooling means(not shown in the drawings) inside to heat or cool the test-expecting semiconductor devices to a predetermined temperature for temperature test.
And, a reject multi-stacker 5, on which a plurality of trays are loaded to receive the semiconductor devices classified by grade into the failed products according to the test results, is installed in rear of the unloading unit 3.
In a test site 10 located at the foremost rear part of the handler body 1, a test socket 11 connected electrically to an external testing device is installed to test a performance of each of the semiconductor devices. Over the test sockets 11, formed are first and second index heads 12a and 12b installed to move horizontally to pick up to load the semiconductor devices; which are transferred to standby positions at both sides of the test sockets 11, on the test sockets 11 as well as to pick up to retransfer the tested semiconductor devices on the test sockets 11 to the standby positions at both sides.
In the very front of the test site 10, first and second loading shuttles 8a and 8b are installed to move back and forth. The first and second loading shuttles 8a and 8b receive to transfer the semiconductor devices from the loading unit 2 or the soaking plate 7 to the standby positions at both sides of the test sockets 11 of the test site 10. At one sides of the first and second loading shuttles 8a and 8b, first and second unloading shuttles 9a and 9b are installed to move back and forth, respectively. The fist and second unloading shuttles 9a and 9b receive to transfer the test-completed semiconductor devices from the test site 10 to an outside of the test site 10.
Fixing frames 13 are installed at the front end of the handler body 1 and over the very front side of the test site 10 across the handler body 1, respectively. A pair of movable frames 14a and 14b are installed at the fixing frames 13 to move right and left along the fixing frames 13. And, loading and unloading pickup device 15 and 16 are installed at the movable frames 14a and 14b to move back and forth along the movable frames 14a and 14b to pick up semiconductor devices, respectively. Each of the loading and unloading pickup devices 15 and 16 includes a plurality of pickers (not shown in the drawings) to transport a plurality of the semiconductor devices simultaneously.
Meanwhile, a handler is constituted to carry out a test on such semiconductor devices as QFP, BGA, SOP, and the like. After one species of the semiconductor devices have been tested, another species of the semiconductor devices are tested. In such a case, a change kit including the tray, soaking plate 7, loading shuttles 8a and 8b, unloading shuttles 9aand 9b, test socket 11, and the like is replaced by another change kit fitting to the semiconductor device species to carry out the test.
In this case, since the change kits replaced according to the species of the test-expecting semiconductor devices differ from each other in pitches and sizes of landing units where the semiconductor devices land, pitches of the pickers of the loading and unloading pickup devices 15 and 16 should be varied to fit those of the landing units.
However, the loading and unloading pickup devices 15 and 16 according to the related art use driving means including mechanical links, belts, ball screws, and servomotors, and the like to vary their pickers, respectively. Hence, the driving means are too complicated to change a rotary motion into a straight motion to increase their overall volumes, whereby power consumption increases.
Moreover, when the belts and pulleys are used, tensions of the belts should be adjusted periodically. Besides, the operating belts and pulleys raise dust to have bad influence on the semiconductor devices.

Apparatus for transferring semiconductor device in handler


A new handle for shopping bags for supporting and retaining shopping bag handles, particularly those found on plastic bags. The inventive device includes an elongate, oval shaped member having a pair of opposite ends, a pair of opposite side edges, and a flexible central portion. A cut-out is formed adjacent each end so as to form a handle portion located at each end. The elongate member is bent about the flexible central portion into a U-shape, and the bag handles are disposed a within the interior of the U-shaped member and supported upon the central portion. The handle portions are then secured together by a snap mechanism so as to form a single carrying handle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bag supporting devices and more particularly pertains to a new handle for shopping bags for supporting and retaining shopping bag handles, particularly those found on plastic bags.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of bag supporting devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, bag supporting devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art bag supporting devices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,596; U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,640; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 337,053; U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,542; U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,757; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,926.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new handle for shopping bags. The inventive device includes an elongate, oval shaped member having a pair of opposite ends, a pair of opposite side edges, and a flexible central portion. A cut-out is formed adjacent each end so as to form a handle portion located at each end. The elongate member is bent about the flexible central portion into a U-shape, and the bag handles are disposed within the interior of the U-shaped member and supported upon the central portion. The handle portions are then secured together by a snap mechanism so as to form a single carrying handle.
In these respects, the handle for shopping bags according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of supporting and retaining shopping bag handles, particularly those found on plastic bags.


Digital images are captured on a digital camera, automatically formatted, and uploaded to a server for review and collaborative modifications. An on-line web gallery is automatically generated by the server whereby low resolution versions of the images are transferred to the server and appear in the gallery within seconds from capturing the images. Among other things, a viewer located remotely from a photographer can observe new images in the gallery in real time as they are captured, place a request for post-production modifications to selected images and download a high resolution version of selected images.

In some contexts, time is of the essence for photographers, especially professional photographers engaged in photo shoots involving sporting events, unfolding important news stories, fashion shows, and celebrity events. Customers or employers of photographers who provide photos or images of this subject matter can be very demanding. They often operate in a commercially competitive environment where the first to provide such images to the general public can often achieve significant financial benefits.
However there can be significant delays in providing professional images so that they can be made available to the general public. Many photographers use digital cameras to capture images at a photo shoot. At a later point in time, these images usually must be transferred from the camera to a computer located at a studio where the images can be formatted in order to modify their color, size, resolution, etc. and to add metadata. Then the photographers or their studios frequently must transfer these modified images to their customers or employers, etc. via email or other means so that they can make a selection of one or more desired images for use or purchase, and can collaborate with the photographer regarding further modifications to be made to the images (i.e., post production work). To request or discuss additional image modifications, phone calls, additional emails, etc. frequently were required.
Accordingly, there is a need to improve and facilitate the distribution and management of digital images so that high quality images can be made available to the end user more efficiently and in less time.

Method for digital photo management and distribution


A communication system including Satellite Communication apparatus providing communication services to at least a first set of communicants, the first set of communicants including a first plurality of communicants, wherein the communication services are provided to each of the communicants in accordance with a spectrum allocation corresponding thereto, thereby to define a first plurality of spectrum allocations apportioning a first predefined spectrum portion among the first set of communicants; and Dynamic Spectrum Allocations apparatus operative to dynamically modify at least one spectrum allocation corresponding to at least one of the first plurality of communicants without exceeding the spectrum portion.

According to Wikipedia, SATCOM (Satellite Communications) is a generic term for a technology which affords mobile telephony via satellite [e.g., aircraft and watercraft]. A communications satellite (sometimes abbreviated to COMSAT) is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications. For fixed (point-to-point) services, communications satellites provide a microwave radio relay technology complementary to that of submarine communication cables. They are also used for mobile applications such as communications to ships, vehicles, planes and hand-held terminals, and for TV and radio broadcasting applications, for which other technologies, such as cable, are impractical or impossible.
Full-mesh satellite communications at Ka-band is known, in which a full-duplex mesh connection streams high-definition video simultaneously in both directions between remote sites.
Dynamic Spectrum Allocation In Cellular Communications Systems is known. Conventional Satellite Communications systems allocate their spectrums statically to their users.
The disclosures of publications and patent documents, if any, mentioned in the specification, and of the publications and patent documents cited therein directly or indirectly, are hereby incorporated by reference.

Apparatus and methods for dynamic spectrum allocation in satellite communications


Device for the separation of blood with a cannula with the aid of separation in a centrifuge with a blood pump in an inlet line and a collection storage bag, which can be emptied with the aid of a pressure device into a return line. The flow resistance R.sub.o of the return line is designed so that it has preferably about half of the flow resistance of the remainder of the return system. In a return/recirculation phase, the blood pump is operated at a predetermined recirculation flow rate F.sub.R, whereby a predetermined cannula infusion flow rate F.sub.N is established as a function thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is concerned with a device for the separation of blood and, more specifically the invention is concerned with a device for the separation of blood with a cannula using a single needle, with recirculation.
2. Description of Related Technology
A blood separation device of the type mentioned above is known, for example, from DE-OS 39 31 471 (published Apr. 11, 1991) or the Journal of Clinical Apheresis, Volume 6, pages 24-27 (1991), the respective disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
In comparison to the continuous two-needle method, the single-needle method provides the advantage that the donor has to be punctured with a cannula only once. This is especially advantageous when the puncturing conditions are poor.
On the other hand, in the single-needle method, two cycles must be performed. In a collection cycle, blood is drawn from a vein and introduced into a centrifuge for separation, where the blood fractions to be collected and recycled are separated. In a return cycle, the fractions to be returned to the donor are transported back, for example, with the aid of a second pump, as described in the DE-OS 39 31 471 or with the aid of a device that exerts pressure on a storage bag.
Two problems arise in the single-needle method, namely intolerance to the anticoagulant added to the blood, which depends on the patient, and the partially limited effectiveness of the separation.
Firstly, blood donors exhibit different tolerance to anticoagulant, which is mostly added in the form of ACD-A, upon return to the vein of the arm. At high blood return flow rates, large amounts of anticoagulant are returned to the donor. On the other hand, at low return rates, the time required for return is lengthened correspondingly. Therefore, it is desirable to have the possibility of adjusting the return flow rate.
As mentioned in DE-OS 39 31 471, the partially limited effectiveness of the separation can be improved by recirculation of the return blood. However, DE-OS 39 31 471 does not disclose what control means are used in the case of the blood pump used therein being used as a return pump and in the case of the second pump that is included in the return circuit thereof.


A data processing system includes processing units for processing data, at least one memory for storing data from the processing units, an interconnect for connecting the processing units and the memory. The processing units request write access to the memory via the interconnect to write data into the memory. At least one arbiter performs interconnect arbitration for the access to the memory from the processing units, wherein interconnect arbitration is performed based on the minimum logic level changes of the interconnect as introduced by the write accesses of the processing units to the memory. If more than one write request is available from different processing units the interconnect arbitration (interconnect access), is granted to that processing unit, whose data to be sent to the memory via the interconnect results in minimum logic level changes to the interconnect. Power dissipation due to switching of logic levels is reduced.

The present invention relates to a data processing system and a method of interconnect arbitration.
With the increasing availability and success of portable devices like PDA, notebooks, mobile phones, portable MP3-player etc. the power consumption of these devices has become more and more important within modem integrated circuits and the design thereof and a considerable amount of investigation and design efforts have been conducted to reduce the power consumption. As the VLSI design of ICs used in such devices is shifting into the nanometer domain, the energy which is dissipated by the interconnect in a system-on-chip becomes a significant part of the overall system power consumption. Furthermore, a limiting factor for reducing the weight and size of portable devices correlate to the amount of batteries which are required to provide the power dissipated by the electronic circuits within the portable devices.
The power consumption of the interconnect, i.e. the bus or the network, is not only based on the physical properties of the interconnect, like the voltage swing, the wire delay, the topography of the interconnect or the like, but also on the data flow in the system-on-chip, i.e. the processor-processor communication and the processor-memory communication. This communication can be of the following origins: cache and memory transactions (data fetch from shared memory), cache coherence operations (updated data in a shared memory must be updated in all cache copies resulting in synchronization traffic), packet segmentation overheads (segmenting dataflow into packets will introduce an additional data overhead) or contentions between packets (re-routing packets in case of a contention).

Data processing system and method for interconnect arbitration