A rubber-reinforced vinyl resin which is obtained by polymerizing a vinyl monomer in the presence of a rubber-like copolymer comprising at least two members selected from (I) an ethylene-α-olefin based rubber having a Mooney viscosity of 15 or higher, (II) an ethylene-octene based rubber having a Mooney viscosity less than 15, and (III) an ethylene-octene based rubber having a Mooney viscosity of 15 or higher; a process for producing the resin; and a composition containing the rubber-reinforced vinyl resin. They are excellent in moldability and gives a molded articles which are excellent in appearance in terms of gloss, flow marks, weld appearance, color unevenness at welded portions, colorability and the like, and excellent in impact resistance, for example, impact resistance at low temperatures as well as in weatherability.

It has been known that graft copolymers (AES resins) obtained by employing, as a base rubber component, EPM or EPDM that contains substantially no unsaturated bonds in the main chain thereof and by copolymerizing styrene, acrylonitrile or the like with the rubber component, are larger in resistance against ultraviolet light, oxygen and ozone, and markedly higher in weatherability than ABS resins that contain conjugated diene rubbers as the base rubber component. However, molded products conventionally obtained from AES resins are poor in appearance, and are sometimes unsatisfactory in physical properties at low temperatures. Accordingly, various improvements have been made; however, it has been difficult to improve molded products in appearance and low temperature properties better than the conventional levels since propylene is used as α-olefin in the rubber component.
Concurrently, there has been demanded an AES resin which is better in impact resistance than conventional AES resins. For the purpose of increasing the impact resistance, a method is conceivable in which content of the base rubber component in the products is increased, or a method in which molecular weight of rigid resin components (matrix components) is increased. However, the increase of the content of the base rubber component in the products is not preferable, because rigidity of the products is lowered, or appearance of the molded products is deteriorated. Additionally, with the method in which the molecular weight of rigid resin components is increased, fluidity is lowered, or appearance of the molded products is deteriorated. Thus, it has hitherto been difficult to improve the balance between the impact resistance and the other physical properties of products.
Although a method for improving molded products in appearance has been proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open (Kokai) No. H11-302339, further improvements are demanded in appearance at welded portions and such defects as flow marks and color unevenness at welded portions.

Rubber-reinforced vinyl resin, process for producing rubber-reinforced vinyl resin, and rubber-reinforced vinyl resin composition


Exemplary embodiments include methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing issue notification and resolution activities. A method includes receiving a request for access to a network service from an end user client system associated with an account. Upon determining an issue is associated with the account, the method includes flagging a user profile for the account to reflect the issue. Flagging accounts includes assigning a unique flag for each type of issue for determining a location for routing the request associated with flagged user profiles. The method also includes redirecting the request for access to a web server of the service provider network. Upon successful resolution of the issue, the method includes providing access to the network service for the end user client system.

The present invention generally relates to customer service processes, and more particularly, to methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing issue notification and resolution activities.
Online service providers offer a variety of services to their customers including an opportunity to purchase or upgrade to new products and services, technical assistance in using or repairing these products and services, and account and billing assistance, to name a few. Most providers offer their customers the convenience of paying for their service online through the service providers' websites. When a customer is delinquent in paying for this service, however, the typical response of the service provider is to terminate the service until the customer pays the past due account. The next time the customer attempts to access the online service, the customer receives an error message such as "web page not available—try again later" or some similar type of message. The customer may or may not be aware of the billing delinquency, particularly if the error is on the service provider's side, and will need to contact the service provider by means other than the service that was terminated in order to rectify the issue and reinstate the service. This can be time-consuming, costly, and inconvenient to both the customer and the service provider, both of whom have an interest in keeping the service active. The same disadvantages may apply for online computer system customers who encounter technical problems such as a network virus that prevents access to a desired target website or causes the system to fail in accessing all of the service features provided by the service provider.
What is needed, therefore, is a way to notify the customer of an issue and provide an opportunity to resolve the issue without fully terminating access to the service.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing issue notification and resolution activities


The invention provides for a roofing membrane tensioner 10 having a base 102 with a hook 36 for catching the edge 22 of an underlying surface 20, a membrane connector 108, and a means for moving the membrane connector towards the edge by applying force inwardly 24 from the edge. The means for moving the membrane connector towards the edge can be a lever 104 operated substantially in the same plane as the underlying surface. The force can be applied at least 50 cm from the edge. The base can have a flat side and a hook side. The base can also have a mount 110 for connecting the lever. The mount can be the fulcrum 110 for the lever.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a device, method, and system for pulling roofing membranes taut. More particularly, the present invention relates to a roofing membrane tensioner, method, and system.
Related Art
Roof construction can make use of membrane or sheet materials, such as scrim-reinforced membranes. Proper installment of these materials can include the tensioning of the material over the underlying roof surface to eliminate wrinkles or looseness. Installment can be made by laying the material over the roof, securing the material to the roof surface, and tensioning the material across the roof progressively in successive stages. When near the edge of the roof, this act of tensioning can involve stretching the material towards the edge. Stretching the material towards the edge can be problematic. Working near the edge of a roof can be a safety hazard. The use of tools that involve a worker applying force towards the edge and in a standing position to stretch the material can lead to a possible dangerous situation if the something goes wrong. If something breaks, tears, or slips, the applied force could send a worker over the edge of the roof. Additionally, it can be difficult to find a suitable location to set the tool when there is insufficient roof surface between the fabric and the edge of the roof. Tools can be used improperly or in awkward positions, which can decrease usability, effectiveness, and safety.

Roofing membrane tensioner, method and system

Abstract: The invention also provides for a method for tensioning a roof membrane 40 towards an edge 22 of a roof surface 20 by securing a preceding tab 41 of the roof membrane to the roof surface, hooking a slidable base 102 having a fulcrum 110 for an attached lever 104 to the edge, connecting a membrane connector 108 between a subsequent tab of the roof membrane and the lever on one side of the fulcrum, and tensioning the roof membrane by applying inwardly 24 directed effort to the lever on the other side of the fulcrum.

Abstract: The invention also provides for a roof membrane tensioning system 10 having a mounting means for positioning and adjusting a base 102 on a roof 20, a membrane connector 108, and a membrane tensioning mechanism for tightening the membrane towards an edge of a roof by applying force inwardly 24 from the edge 22.


Spirocyclic cyclohexane compounds useful in pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment of substance dependency.

Opiate dependency is a major medical and social problem, which requires intensive medical care. A standard treatment is opiate substitution by a specially suitable μ-opioid. Clinically established substances for the substitution therapy of opiate dependency are:                methadone (racemate, in rare cases levomethadone)        LAAM (α-acetylmethadol)        buprenorphineAll three substances are used to achieve the same objectives:        satisfaction of the opiate craving but without any "kick" and with a significantly reduced euphoria        avoidance of bodily withdrawal symptoms        re-socialisation of the patient (controlled rehabilitation, ability to work, withdrawal from the drug-related environment)        long-term reduction in the opiate dosage until complete abstinence is achieved.In order that these effects can be achieved, the substitution therapeutic agents must have the following properties:        oral (possibly also cutaneous) effect availability        long effective duration (1-3 days, possibly even longer)        high potency        low euphorisation        low "kick"        low withdrawal symptoms        good long-term compatibility (only slight constipation, good cardiovascular compatibility)The standard therapeutic agents used up to now exhibit only some of these properties, with the result that their therapeutic use is to some extent unsatisfactory. The basic problems with the current standard therapeutic agents are the following: methadone has a high potential for misuse. On account of the only moderate action duration a daily administration is necessary. In addition constipation is a side effect. LAAM has the disadvantage of a high cardiotoxicity and can trigger Torsade de Pointes arrhythmia. Buprenorphine has a high toxicity when combined with benzodiazepines.
US 2006/004034 A1 (=WO 04/43967) and US 2005/192333 A1 (=WO 2005/066183) describe compounds that are particularly suitable for the treatment of pain, but also inter alia for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms as well as for reducing the potential for opioid addiction. It has now been found that that selected compounds from these patent applications are particularly suitable for use as substitution therapeutic agents in treatment of substance dependence.

Spirocyclic cyclohexane compounds useful to treat substance dependency


An insecticide spray apparatus (5) for spraying insecticide in confined areas. The insecticide spray apparatus (5) has a spray gun (10) and a compressor assembly (14) for providing compressed air through a flow line (12) to the spray gun (10). A nozzle (36) atomizes the insecticide for fogging operations and a trigger (34) on the spray gun (10) provides on and off control of the spray action. The compressor assembly (14) has a base (22) with a handle (28) such that the compressor assembly (14) can be carried in one hand by the user. A plurality of bottle holders (24) are provided on the base (22) for carrying spare pesticide containers (30).

In the extermination of insect pests, such as cockroaches and the like, it is widely practiced to spray those areas where such insects are known to travel. Such areas include the hidden corners of cupboards and cabinets, and behind appliances, and other such secluded places. The well known conventional appliance for accomplishing such spraying is a hand pressurized sprayer such as that used for spraying a great variety of liquids in both commercial and noncommercial applications. Such spraying devices are inexpensive and reliable, and do a very adequate job of dispensing liquids in a medium fine spray pattern. However, although no superior device has been discovered in the industry, as evidenced by the still widespread use of the conventional sprayers, such sprayers do broadcast the liquid as small droplets in a fairly indiscriminate pattern. These droplets then settle on all objects in the path of the spray, and the droplets readily condense and join into larger drops which can carry the toxic liquid into areas wherein it is certainly not desirable to place such liquid, such as unprotected food storage areas.
A part of the problem with the prior art methods has involved the fact that it is necessary to make sure that sufficient insecticide is delivered to those particular areas where the insects tend to accumulate and travel. In order to insure this, it is sometimes necessary to spray a great deal of insecticide toward the intended area, with much of this spray falling in unintended areas.
Still another problem with prior art methods and means has been that pesticides are delivered in liquid form which will run off of generally vertical surfaces, rather than sticking to and settling on such surfaces. Therefore, much of the effective power of the insecticide runs away from the intended area rather than staying where intended. This is a particular problem where it is intended that the pesticide have a very long lasting effect, such as in spraying for ants, and the like.
Yet another problem with prior art methods and means has been that spray could be delivered generally only in a "line of sight", thereby missing many hidden crevices and hiding places of the pest.
It would be desirable to find a way to accurately and effectively place the spray in the intended areas such that a lesser total quantity of insecticide could be used, thereby minimizing the amount delivered to unintended areas. However, to the inventor's knowledge, no prior art insecticide spraying mechanism has accomplished this. To date, the conventional hand pressurized spray tank mechanism remains essentially universally accepted in this application.


In order to improve the corrosion resistance, carbonitrided components formed of ferrous material are treated, after an oxidation treatment, with a solution of a heat hardenable organic synthetic resin and heat-treated at 80.degree. to 200.degree. C.

The present invention relates to a method of improving the corrosion resistance of carbonitrided components formed from ferrous material, which are subjected after the conventional carbonitriding process to one or more conventional oxidation treatments and, if necessary, to a conventional mechanical treatment, by coating them with a thin layer of an organic synthetic resin material.
The corrosion resistance of parts and components made of ferrous material which were carbonitrided and quenched from the carbonitriding temperature in water or oil is considerably improved over the untreated state. It is of no consequence whether the carbonitriding treatment took place in a salt bath, in gas or in plasma. Carbonitriding of ferrous objects is well understood in the art and the term is used herein in its recognized meaning.
A further increase in the corrosion resistance can be achieved if an oxidation treatment takes place following the carbonitriding. This can take place, for example, by means of a water vapor treatment in a temperature range of 500.degree. to 580.degree. C. Moreover, the oxidation following the carbonitriding can be carried out in an oxidizing salt bath, as described for example in DE patent 29 34 113. Such oxidation processes are well known in the art.
If the carbonitriding process is carried out in a salt bath, the oxidation process should follow immediately, that is, the ferrous components are to be switched in a suspended state without intermediate cooling directly from the carbonitriding bath into the oxidizing bath. If, on the other hand, the ferrous components are carbonitrided in gas or plasma, they must generally be cooled at first to room temperature and the oxidation is subsequently brought about by suspending the ferrous components in the salt bath. A considerable increase in the corrosion resistance of the ferrous parts also results in this method of procedure; however, it is less than in the case of salt bath carbonitriding with direct oxidation in the salt bath without intermediate cooling.
A further increase of the corrosion resistance of the ferrous products is possible if the oxidation treatment is followed by a mechanical surface treatment (e.g. polishing, lapping, slide grinding) and another oxidation. The corrosion resistance values achieved with this method of operation (e.g. in a salt spray test) are comparable to or better than those of qualitatively first-class galvanic coatings.
EP patent 0,077,627 teaches a method of providing carbonitrided components formed of ferrous material with an oxide layer and of then quenching them. The components can be subsequently provided with a thin coating of wax. However, this wax film does not entail any appreciable increase in corrosion resistance in practice.

Method of improving the corrosion resistance of carbonitrided components made of ferrous materials


An automatic overload release and power stoppage device consisted of a central control mechanism, a power switching mechanism, a power output mechanism, a torque control mechanism, and a release control mechanism, whereby the central control rod of the central control mechanism is moved upwards to trigger the power switch of the power switching mechanism in turning the main shaft thereof and the output shaft as the output shaft of the power output mechanism; the central control rod is moved downwards by the release control ring of the release control mechanism to cut off power source as the torsional force surpasses the critical level set by a torque control mechanism.

The present invention relates to an automatic overload release and power stoppage device installed in a power tool to automatically cut off power supply upon an overload.
In a motor-driven or pneumatic screw driver, drill, or any of a variety of torque tools, there is generally provided an overload protecting device to protect against overload. The most commonly used overload protecting device is an overload circuit breaker. FIG. 15 illustrates an overload circuit breaker for a power tool according to the prior art. The shaft of the power tool has a through hole into which a link is inserted. As the shaft is depressed, the link to turn on the power switch. Power supply is sent through a triac, then rectified, and then sent to the motor, causing the motor to produce a torsional force. As the workpiece, for example: a screw or nut, is fastened tight, the clutch provides a signal to trigger the circuit breaker, causing it to cut off the power switch of the motor. By means of the operation of a time delay circuit, the circuit breaker is started again to short circuit the two opposite poles of the motor, and therefore the motor is stopped. Sparks are produced each time the motor or the circuit breaker is started. The sparks will damage the carbon brush and the rectifier of the motor easily. This structure of circuit breaker is complicated, and expensive to manufacture. Further, it needs much installation space. During the operation of the circuit breaker, the triac may be falsely triggered by serge. If the triac is triggered falsely as the circuit breaker is electrically connected, a short circuit will occur, the related parts will be burnt out. If a surge absorber is installed, a satisfactory result is still not achievable, and much installation space is needed.

Automatic overload release and power stoppage device


In a wireless communication system formed of a plurality of nodes, an arbitrary node receives messages broadcasted from neighbor nodes and calculates amounts of changes in receiving times that are differences between receiving times when the messages are currently received and receiving times when the messages are previously received with respect to the neighbor nodes. The node corrects reference time thereof based on the amounts of changes calculated with respect to the neighbor nodes.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reference time correction. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for correcting reference time for distributed time synchronization in a wireless communication system.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In a wireless communication system that requires distributed control such as a wireless mesh network or an AD-hoc network, in order to improve mobility of nodes and to perform flexible work, synchronization for stabilizing time and frequency offset is required when a network is initially formed or when a network is re-constituted.
In relation to time synchronization, a method of performing distributed time synchronization that may be more flexibly applied to mobility of nodes and expandability to a multi-hop is more efficient than a topology structure of a centralized method of performing time synchronization based on a reference node.
Time synchronization among nodes in a wireless mesh network may be performed using a global positioning system (GPS) based clock. However, due to vulnerability to a shadow region and a jamming signal, a method of performing distributed time synchronization without using the GPS is necessary.
In order to perform distributed time synchronization among nodes, round trip delay (RTD) values of the nodes are updated using a periodic ranging process, and a position of reference time is periodically corrected so that reference time is shared by all of neighbor nodes. As described above, in order to perform the distributed time synchronization among the nodes, it is necessary to measure the RTD values of the nodes using distributed ranging and to manage reference time of a distributed mesh network.
However, in the distributed mesh network, due to differences in frequency offsets of oscillators that generate frame reference times of the nodes, as time goes by, the frame reference times of the nodes are changed. Therefore, during a periodically performed distributed ranging operation, since the reference time that must be shared by the nodes is changed, it is not possible to measure correct RTD.

Method and apparatus for correcting reference time for distributed time synchronization

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A racket is provided such as that used in the game of tennis, racquetball, squash, badminton and the like. The racket has a frame head that defines the periphery of a generally oblong shaped area. A plurality of apertures are periodically disposed along the frame head. In one embodiment, a plurality of set screws are disposed in the frame head. Each of the set screws intersects a separate one of the apertures and selectively obstructs that aperture depending upon the tightened condition of the set screws. In an alternate embodiment, a separate structure is provided that surrounds the head frame. The separate structure contains apertures and set screws that intersect the apertures. The opposing ends of individual strings are fed through apertures on opposite sides of the head frame. The string is tensioned to a predetermined value. Once at the desired tension, the set screws are used to engage the string and retain it in place at the set tension. The hold of the set screws prevents the string from becoming slack or otherwise retracting from the aperture through which it passes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to rackets that are used in sports activities such as tennis, racquetball, squash, badminton and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to rackets and stringing devices for rackets that enable the racket to be strung with a plurality of individual strings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are many sports that are played with a racket. One of the most popular of these sports is tennis. In the game of tennis, the racket includes an oblong head section supported by a handle. A string is strung back and forth through the head section of the racket, thereby producing a mesh structure. The mesh structure creates the surface that is used in the game to contact the ball.
In the prior art, the head section of rackets are typically manufactured with periodic apertures. To create the mesh structure across the head of the racket, a single unbroken string is woven through the various apertures. As the string is being woven through the apertures in the head section of the racket, the string is kept at a preset tension that is desired by the player.
Since the stringing of a racket with a single string is a complicated process, most players have their rackets professionally strung. A professional stringer typically has a stringing machine that assists in weaving the string through the various apertures in the head section of the racket at the appropriate tension. One problem associated with having a racket professionally strung is that it is expensive and inconvenient. If the racket string breaks during a game, the player can not fix the racket string and continue with the game. Rather, a player must either change rackets or stop playing.
Recreational tennis players often own inexpensive rackets. Commonly, a recreational player can buy a cheap new prestrung racket for less money than it would cost to have their old racket professionally prestrung. However, players with expensive rackets have little choice but to restring their rackets if the string breaks. To help reduce the cost and inconvenience of having rackets professionally restrung, many devices have been developed in the prior art that enable a person to restring their own racket by themselves. Such prior art patents are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,091,654 to Roberts, entitled Apparatus For Stringing Rackets. Although such devices make it possible for a person to string his own racket, the process is still very time and labor extensive. Accordingly, if the racket string breaks during a game, the racket string can not be repaired on the spot. The player must still then either change rackets or stop playing.
When the racket string of a conventional racket breaks, the string becomes loose and leaves the weave pattern. Since only one string is used, the broken string eventually unwinds to a point where the racket is no longer functional. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,459 to Korte-Jungermann, entitled Process For Stringing Rackets For Ball Games And A Device For Carrying Out The Process, a racket stringing system is shown where a racket can be strung with a plurality of different strings. In the Korte-Jungermann patent a different string is used to string each vertical column and horizontal row in the mesh structure. Accordingly, if any one string broke, it would not effect the remaining strings. The device described in the Korte-Jungermann patent uses a rivet sleeve. The individual strings are tensioned through the rivet sleeves. Once at the proper tension, the rivet sleeves are compressed using a crimping tool, wherein the rivet engages the string and holds it at the preset tension. Although the system described in the Korte-Jungermann patent allows individual strings to be used in a racket, the disadvantages are many. In order to use the Korte-Jungermann system, a person must have spare rivet sleeves and a specialized crimping tool to crush the rivets around the racket string. The placement of the rivets on the string and the crimping of the rivets with the crimping tool is a complicated and time consuming procedure. Furthermore, the strength of the crimp holding the string is directly proportional to the skill of the person using the crimping tool, the manufacturing tolerances of the rivet collar and the placement of the rivet collar in the crimping tool. Consequently, the ability of the various crimped rivet collars to retain a racket string will vary from application to application and from time to time.
A need therefore exists in the art for a racket and a racket stringing system that enables a plurality of different strings to be individually applied to a racket head in a quick and easy manner without the use of a crimping tool. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

Racket device and associated method of stringing a racket


A flash memory cell of the present invention comprises a silicon substrate consisted of an insulating film and a silicon film in which a first and second channel regions are formed and a pair of gate electrodes formed on the first and second channel regions, respectively. Each channel region has a drain region and source region formed at both sides thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flash memory cell, in particular, to a flash memory cell which can increase an operating speed and decrease a power consumption.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art In general, the memory device such as a flash electrically erasable and programmable read only memory cell (EEPROM) has both functions of electrically programming and erasing, and is classified into a stack-gate type and split-gate type depending on the shape of a gate electrode thereof. Now, the structure and operation of conventional stack-gate type flash memory cell will be described below.
In the conventional stack-gate type flash memory cell, as shown in FIG. 1, a tunnel oxide film 2, a floating gate 3, a dielectric film 4 and a control gate 5 are sequentially stacked on a silicon substrate 1 to form a gate electrode G, and a source and drain regions 7 and 6 are formed in the silicon substrate 1 at both sides of the gate electrode G, respectively. The operation of programming and erasing of the flash memory cell as described above is as follows.
To program an information to the flash memory cell, that is, to charge the floating gate 3 with an electric charge, high voltage of +12 V is applied to the control gate 5, supply voltage of +5 V is applied to the drain region 6, and the ground voltage is applied to the source region 7 and the silicon substrate 1, respectively.
Then, a channel is formed in the silicon substrate 1 below the floating gate 3 due to the high voltage applied to the control gate 5, and the high electric field zone is formed in the silicon substrate 1 at the side of the drain region 6 due to the voltage applied to the drain region 6. At this time, a part of electrons existing in the channel receive the energy from the high electric field zone so as to be hot electrons, and a part of the hot electrons are injected to the floating gate 3 through the tunnel oxide film 2 by an electrical field formed in a vertical direction due to the high voltage applied to the control gate 5. Therefore, the threshold voltage (V.sub.T) of the flash memory cell rises due to the injection of the hot electron.
To erase the information programmed in the flash memory cell, that is, to discharge the electric charge stored in the floating gate 3, the ground voltage is applied to the control gate 5 and the silicon substrate 1, high voltage of +12V is applied to the source region 7, and the drain region 3 is floated. Then, the electrons injected into the floating gate 3 are moved to the source region 7 due to the F-N (fowler-nordheim) tunneling phenomenon, whereby the threshold voltage V.sub.T of the memory cell is lowered.
The conventional flash memory cell as described above has two gates (floating gate and control gate) formed of a polysilicon. Therefore, two insulating films, that is, the tunneling oxide film 2 and the dielectric film 4 are necessary to isolate between the silicon substrate 1 and the floating gate 3 and between the floating gate 3 and the control gate 5, respectively. However, in the process of forming the insulating films, it is difficult to control precisely a characteristic of the insulating films and to form the insulating films having a high reliability. In addition, a negative charge pump circuit must be comprised in the device to operate the memory cell, therefore, a high integration of the device is difficult. Furthermore, a power consumption increases due to the junction leakage.

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A multicore optical fiber comprises a common cladding and a plurality of core portions disposed in the common cladding. Each of the core portions includes a central axis, a core region extending from the central axis to a radius r1, the core region comprising a relative refractive index Δ1, an inner cladding region extending from the radius r1 to a radius r2, the inner cladding region comprising a relative refractive index Δ2, and a depressed cladding extending from the radius r2 to a radius r3, the depressed cladding region comprising a relative refractive index Δ3 and a minimum relative refractive index Δ3 min. The relative refractive indexes may satisfy Δ1>Δ2>Δ3 min. The mode field diameter of each core portion may greater than or equal to 8.2 μm and less than or equal to 9.5 μm.

The transmission capacity through single-mode optical fiber has theoretically reached its fundamental limit of around 100 Tb/s/fiber. Transmitting even 80 Tb/s in a single-mode optical fiber over transoceanic distance has proven challenging in the absence of an improved optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR). The actual capacity limit over about 10,000 km of a submarine single-mode optical fiber system used in a transoceanic transmission system is only about 50 Tb/s, even with advanced ultra-low-loss and low-nonlinearity optical fibers.
Multicore fiber (MCF) may exhibit less transmission loss when used in transoceanic applications. However, for practical use in ultra-long-haul submarine systems, the MCF should have ultra-low loss (i.e., low attenuation) to produce a high OSNR, have high spatial-mode density to increase the spatial channel count, and enable low differential group delay (DGD) between spatial modes to decrease the digital signal processing complexity. Also, the standard cladding diameter of 125 μm should be maintained so that no major modifications are needed for installation of the cable.

Low cross-talk multicore optical fiber for single mode operation


A video coding method includes for each target image portion to be encoded, selecting a preferred one of a set of encoding modes by optimizing a function comprising an estimate of distortion and a measure of bit rate required to encode the target image portion, the encoding modes comprising at least an intra frame mode and an inter frame mode; and transmitting the encoded video stream over a lossy channel. The estimate of distortion is based on a contribution from possible new loss over the channel comprising possible loss of the target block, and on a contribution from possible past loss over the channel comprising possible loss in a history of the encoded video stream upon which decoding of the target portion depends. The method includes accumulating the contribution from past loss over time, such that the estimate of distortion grows irrespective of the contribution from new loss.

A stream of video data to be encoded is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1a. The stream comprises multiple frames (F) each representing the video image at a different respective moment in time. As will be familiar to a person skilled in the art, for the purpose of encoding, each frame (F) is divided into portions and each portion may also be subdivided into smaller sub-portions, each portion or sub-portion comprising a plurality of pixels. For example, according to one terminology each frame of a video stream to be encoded is divided into macroblocks (MB) and each macroblock is subdivided into blocks (b), each block comprising multiple pixels. Each frame may also be divided into independently decodable slices (S), each slice comprising one or more macroblocks. N.B. the divisions shown in FIG. 1a are only schematic for illustrative purposes and it will be appreciated that these are not necessarily meant to correspond to any actual encoding scheme—e.g. each frame is likely to contain a larger number of macroblocks.
A goal of a video codec is to reduce the bit rate needed to transmit a video signal, while maintaining highest possible quality. This goal is achieved by exploiting statistical redundancies (similarities in the video signal) and perceptual irrelevancies (related to sensitivity of human visual system).
Most of today's video codecs are based on an architecture that includes prediction of pixel blocks from other pixel blocks, transform of prediction residuals, quantization of transform coefficients, and entropy coding of quantization indices. These steps contribute to reducing redundancies and irrelevancies.
The prediction typically can be done from pixels in video frames different from the current frame (inter prediction) and from pixels in the same frame (intra prediction). That is, if encoded using intra frame encoding then a block or portion of the frame (the target block or portion) is encoded relative to another block or image portion in the frame (the reference block or portion); and if encoded using inter frame encoding then the target block or portion is encoded relative to a reference block or portion in another frame. This process is commonly referred to as prediction or prediction coding. The inter or intra prediction module will thus generate a prediction e.g. in the form of an indication of a neighboring block in the case of intra frame encoding and/or a motion vector in the case of inter frame encoding. Typically the encoder also generates a residual signal representing a "left over" difference between the predicted block and the actual block. The intra prediction, motion vectors and residual are then output into the encoded video stream, typically via further coding stages such as a quantizer and entropy encoder. Hence most blocks in the video can be encoded in terms of a difference between blocks, which requires fewer bits to encode than encoding absolute pixel values and hence saves on bitrate. Intra prediction encoding typically requires more bits than inter prediction, though still represents a saving over encoding absolute values. Details of suitable inter and intra encoding techniques for video will be familiar to a person skilled in the art.
Modern codecs allow the use of different prediction encoding modes for different portions within a frame. The possibility of having different coding options increases the rate-distortion efficiency of a video codec. The optimal coding representation has to be found for every frame region. Typically, such region is a macroblock, e.g. of 16×16 pixels. I.e. so it is possible for an intra prediction or inter prediction mode to be selected individually for each macroblock, so that different macroblocks within the same frame can be encoded with different modes. It is also possible in some codecs to use different modes based on different levels of partitioning of macroblocks, e.g. selecting between a higher complexity mode in which a separate prediction is performed for each 4×4 block within a macroblock or a lower complexity mode in which prediction is performed based on only 8×8 or 8×16 blocks or even whole macroblocks. The available modes may also include different options for performing prediction. For example as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1b, in one intra mode the pixels of a 4×4 block (b) may be determined by extrapolating down from the neighboring pixels from the block immediately above, or by extrapolating sideways from the block immediately to the left. Another special prediction mode called "skip mode" may also be provided in some codecs, which may be considered as an alternative type of inter mode. In skip mode (PSkip) the target's motion vector is inferred based on the motion vectors to the top and to the left and there is no encoding of residual coefficients. The manner in which the motion vector is inferred is consistent with motion vector prediction, and thus the motion vector difference is zero so it is only required to signal that the MB is a skip block.
A coding representation may thus include block partition information, prediction mode, motion vector, quantization accuracy, etc. The optimal coding option depends on video content, bit rate, earlier coding decisions, etc. The accuracy of quantization of transform coefficients is typically chosen to meet a bit rate constraint. Furthermore, distortion should be minimized.
For example, the H.264 video coder provides a great flexibility in choosing the prediction mode. For inter prediction of the luma component, a macroblock of 16×16 pixels can be represented as one block of 16×16 pixels, or two blocks of 16×8 pixels, or two blocks of 8×16 pixels, or four blocks of 8×8 pixels. Further, an 8×8 block can be represented as one block of 8×8 pixels, or two blocks of 8×4 pixels, or two blocks 4×8 pixels, or four blocks of 4×4 pixels. The inter prediction is tried for each allowed partition of a macroblock. The inter prediction of a block is represented by indexing the reference frame(s) and the motion vector(s) (spatial shift from the reference block in the respective reference frame), which typically are estimated with sub-pixel precision. For intra prediction of the luma component, there are four possible modes for 16×16 blocks and nine possible modes for 4×4 blocks. Further, there are four possible modes for chroma components. The best prediction mode is chosen by comparing the performance of inter and intra prediction modes.
The rate-distortion performance of a video codec such as H.264 AVC depends to a large extent on the performance of the macroblock mode selection o. That is, the procedure of determining whether the macroblock is best encoded, in terms of rate-distortion trade-offs, using e.g. intra mode or inter mode (predicted from previously encoded frame). From a robustness perspective, intra coded macroblocks are beneficial since they stop temporal error propagation (assuming the use of constrained intra prediction, i.e. intra prediction from inter predicted macroblocks is prohibited). However, intra coded macroblocks are generally more expensive in terms of rate compared to inter coded macroblocks, and thus it is important to introduce intra coded macroblocks systematically such that the distortion (e.g. average distortion) at the decoder is minimized given a certain bit budget and channel condition. Zhang et al., "Error resilience video coding in H.264 encoder with potential distortion tracking", (Proc. IEEE International Conference on Image Processing, pp. 163-166, 2004) (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) propose such a systematic framework to introduce intra coded macroblocks based on the minimization of the expected average sum of squared differences (SSD) at the decoder. By tracking the potential distortion Zhang et al are able to compute a bias term related to the expected error-propagation distortion (at the decoder) that is added to the source coding distortion when computing the cost for inter macroblocks within the encoder rate-distortion loop.
The rate-distortion performance optimization problem can be formulated in terms of minimizing distortion under a bit rate constraint R. A Lagrangian optimization framework is often used to solve the problem. There, the optimization criterion is formulated asJ=D(m,o)+λR(m,o),  (1)where J represents the Lagrange function, D represents a measure of distortion (a function of mode o and macroblock m or macroblock sub-partition), R is the bitrate, and λ is a parameter defining a trade-off between distortion and rate. Commonly used distortion measures are sum of squared differences (SSD) between original and reconstructed pixels or sum of absolute differences (SAD) between the original and predicted residual.
In this application solving the Largrangian optimization problem means finding the encoding mode o which minimizes the Lagrange function J, where the Lagrange function J comprises at least a term representing distortion, a term representing bitrate, and a factor (the "Lagrange multiplier") representing a tradeoff between the two. As the encoding mode o is varied towards more thorough or better quality encoding modes then the distortion term D will decrease. However, at the same time the rate term R will increase, and at a certain point dependent on λ the increase in R will outweigh the decrease in D. Hence the expression J will have some minimum value, and the encoding mode o at which this occurs is considered the optimal encoding mode.
In this sense the bitrate R, or rather the term 2R, places a constraint on the optimization in that this term pulls the optimal encoding mode back from ever increasing quality. The mode at which this optimal balance is found will depend on λ, and hence λ may be considered to represent a tradeoff between bitrate and distortion.
The Lagrangian optimization is commonly used in the process of choosing coding decisions, and is applied for every frame region (e.g. every macroblock of 16×16 pixels). Commonly, the distortion may be evaluated to account for all processing stages. These include prediction, transform, and quantization. Furthermore, in order to compute reconstructed pixels, steps of inverse quantization, inverse transform, and inverse prediction must be performed. SSD is often preferred as distortion criterion since it results in higher quality compared to SAD. Commonly, the rate also accounts for coding of all needed parameters, including parameters describing prediction and quantized transform coefficients.
In Zhang et al, the authors estimate the potential distortion in the decoder due to source coding and channel errors. The estimated potential distortion is then indirectly used to bias the mode selection towards intra coding (if there is a probability of channel errors).
Zhang's so-called end-to-end distortion expression is based on the sum of squared differences (SSD) distortion measure and assumes a Bernoulli distribution for losing macroblocks. The optimal macroblock mode oopt is given by:
                                          o            opt                    =                                    argmin              o                                                  (                                                                    D                    s                                                                          (                                          m                      ,                      o                                        )                                                  +                                                      D                                          ep                      -                      ref                                                                                (                                          m                      ,                      o                                        )                                                  +                                  λ                                                                                R                                                              (                                              m                        ,                        o                                            )                                                                                )                                      ,                            (        2        )            where Ds(m,o) denotes the SSD distortion between the original and reconstructed pixel block for macroblock in and macroblock mode o, R the total rate, and λ the Lagrange multiplier relating the distortion and the rate term. Dep-ref(m,o) denotes the expected distortion within the reference block in the decoder due to error propagation. Dep-ref(m,o) thus provides a bias term which bias the optimization toward intra coding if error propagation distortion becomes too large. Dep-ref(m,o) is zero for the intra coded macroblock modes. The expression Ds(m,o)+Dep-ref(m,o)+λR(m,o) may be considered an instance of a Lagrange function J. Argmino outputs the value of the argument o for which the value of the expression J is minimum.
In Zhang et al. the Dep-ref (m,o) follows the motion of the objects and is calculated from a total distortion map using the current motion vectors. The total expected error propagation distortion map Dep is driven by the performance of the error concealment and is updated after each macroblock mode selection as:Dep(m(k),n+1)=(1−p)Dep-ref(m(k),n,oopt)+p(Dec-rec(m(k),n,oopt)+Dec-ep(m(k),n)),  (3)
where n is the frame number, m(k) denotes the kth sub-partition (i.e. block) of macroblock m, p the probability of packet loss, Dec-rec denotes the SSD between the reconstructed and error concealed pixels in the encoder, and Dec-ep the expected SSD between the error concealed pixels in the encoder and decoder.


A reinforced container assembly and method for making the same are provided. The reinforced container assembly comprises a fiberboard container and a first reinforcement strap. The fiberboard container has a lower portion and an upper portion. The first reinforcement strap wraps continuously around a periphery of the container a plurality of times in a spiraling manner from a starting point of the reinforcement strap to a terminating point of the reinforcement strap. The reinforcement strap physically connects to the container at a first location. The reinforcement strap is further physically connected to the container at second location. The reinforcement strap provides structural support to the fiberboard container to increase the strength of the container assembly.

Corrugated fiberboard containers have been used for many years as shipping and storage containers for a large variety of products. Corrugated fiberboard generally refers to a multi-layer sheet material comprised of sheets of liner bonded to central corrugated layers of medium. Single-wall corrugated involves two sheets of liner bonded on alternate sides of one corrugated medium, while double-wall corrugated involves three liners bonded alternatively to two corrugated mediums. Corrugated fiberboard containers can vary greatly in size depending on the intended usage of the container.
The distribution of products in large containers is common in a wide variety of industries, from automotive to food. Corrugated semi-bulk containers ("CBCs") serve as an example common in the meat industry for storing and shipping beef, pork, and other animal products between processing facilities, and from those processing facilities to customers. CBCs often require local horizontal zones of additional reinforcement for containment, to prevent container failure and ensure products are saleable when they arrive at the end of the distribution process and any auxiliary processes. Reinforcement methods are often used on CBCs and other corrugated containers in order to increase the performance more cost-effectively (by localizing the region of peak performance) than by switching to some other container material or increasing the overall strength of the corrugated component of the CBC.
Internal reinforcement of corrugated board can include polymeric straps located between one of the sheets of liner and one of the mediums to further enhance the bulge or tear resistance of the structure, increasing the performance of the overall container. However, even when polymeric straps are included within the corrugated board structure, a weak spot will occur at the manufacturing joint, which is the area of overlap of the fiberboard sheet when a container is formed. Because the corrugated board is discontinuous at this joint, the internal reinforcement is also discontinuous, creating a failure nucleation zone at the joint. This weakness is typically overcome by using external reinforcement in conjunction with or in lieu of internal reinforcement.
External reinforcement is most often accomplished by the use of multiple horizontal bands of strapping material. These external reinforcing straps may be placed on the container when it is in a flat semi-assembled orientation before being formed into a typically shaped container ("knocked down") or may be applied after the container has been formed into its final typical shape ("set-up"). Previous reinforcing straps have been made from metallic materials or polymeric materials. The reinforcing straps are formed onto a set-up CBC or around a knocked down CBC in a continuous loop, with the two ends of the strapping material typically attached together using methods common in the industry. Metallic straps may be crimped together, while polymeric straps may be heat welded together.
Frequently, reinforcing straps are applied so that the spacing between two adjacent straps is generally equal around the periphery of the container, whether they are applied to containers in a knocked down or set up configuration, i.e. the straps are typically parallel. The reinforcing straps are spaced some distance apart along the height of the container. When straps are applied to a container in a set up configuration, the reinforcing straps are typically applied one-at-a-time by one or more individuals. The process of adding reinforcing straps to the container in a set up configuration often results in large variations in strap placement and strap tightness when comparing several containers, with an associated variation in strap impact on overall container performance.
Reinforcing straps applied to containers while the containers are in a knocked down orientation typically are applied in a semi-automated process. In the semi-automated mode one automatic strapper is used to apply straps. One or more individuals moves the knocked down CBC through the strapper manually, with the external straps applied at predetermined locations. While this process only requires one strapping machine, it is quite slow and requires significant manual labor. Strap placement accuracy depends on the patience and attention of the operators. This process can be automated (intermittent motion) on a conveyor, by having the CBC stop at fixed locations relative to the individual strapper, so that the external straps are applied at the specified locations. It can be further automated by using one strapping machine for every band/strap placed on the box (frequently 3 or more). Not only does this require extensive capital expense but also a dedicated manufacturing line. Initial strap placement is typically controlled to within roughly one-to-two strap widths of the target location, depending on the mechanism by which the knocked down CBC is started and stopped on the manufacturing line.
Reinforcing straps currently used are individually joined continuous loops that are not physically attached to the container so as to prevent movement or sliding of the bands. They rely on the tension of the strapping material as well as friction to stay in place. If the tension is high, the strap will remain precisely where placed at the risk of also deforming or damaging the CBC, potentially decreasing container performance. Typically, tension levels are set to avoid significantly damaging the container while allowing the strap to remain in an intended location by friction. When strap tension level is low, bands often slip from their intended locations when the containers are put into use, increasing the likelihood of lower container performance.
Additionally, reinforcement straps currently used typically have a much higher elongation at failure compared to the corrugated fiberboard material used to make the containers. Corrugated fiberboard typically has an elongation at failure of about between one and a half percent and two percent (1.5%-2%). Many polymeric reinforcement straps used currently have an elongation at failure of about fifteen percent (15%). This near order of magnitude difference of elongation at failure requires that the strapping material used be selected so that it has the necessary strength to reinforce the container at the elongation of failure of the corrugated fiberboard, to ensure that the straps help prevent the failure of the fiberboard, not simply help to contain the contents of the container after the fiberboard fails. This is important as some customers will not accept the contents of a container if the container has been breached. Using a material in a reinforcing strap that has the required strength at the elongation at failure of the corrugated material typically requires that a much stronger material be used, as most materials have their greatest strength just prior to failure. Thus, the majority of the strength of the reinforcing strap goes unused.
Thus, it would be desirable to use a reinforcement material that is physically attached to the container, and which further is made of one continuous piece to allow for quicker application. It would be further desirable to use a reinforcing material with a more similar elongation at failure than that typically used currently for container reinforcement.

Continuously wound reinforced container and method of making the same


In accordance with the invention, the width of a gate electrode is smaller than the width of the semiconductor film. A sub gate electrode connected to the gate electrode is disposed, at the gate electrode side of the semiconductor film, away from the semiconductor film more than gate electrode. The width of the sub gate electrodes is larger than the width of the semiconductor film. Ends of the semiconductor film have regions formed of an intrinsic semiconductor which is not doped with dopant. In a semiconductor device, this structure is suitable to reduce degradation over time which is caused by an increase of the electric field strength or the carrier concentration at the ends of the semiconductor film.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a semiconductor device, an electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus in which degradation in performance over time can be reduced, minimized or prevented.
2. Description of Related Art
FIGS. 1(a)–1(c) show a thin-film transistor as an example of a conventional semiconductor device. FIG. 1(a) is a plan view of a conventional polycrystalline-silicon thin-film transistor, FIG. 1(b) is a sectional view taken along plane b—b in the plan view of FIG. 1(a), and FIG. 1(c) is a sectional view taken along the plane c—c in the plan view of FIG. 1(a). As shown in FIGS. 1(a)–1(c), the polycrystalline-silicon thin-film transistor generally has a top gate structure, as disclosed in Liquid Crystal Display Technology written and edited by Shoichi Matsumoto, published by Sangyo Tosho.
FIGS. 2(a)–2(c) show a manufacturing process of a typical polycrystalline-silicon thin-film transistor. First, an amorphous silicon layer is formed on a glass substrate 51 by PECVD using SiH4 or LPCVD using Si2H6, as shown in FIG. 2(a). The amorphous silicon layer is recrystallized by radiating with, for example, an excimer laser or by solid-phase growth to form a polycrystalline silicon layer 52. Next, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the polycrystalline silicon layer 52 is patterned so as to have an island shape, and then is provided with a gate insulating film 53 thereon. Subsequently, a gate electrode 54 is formed by deposition and patterning. Next, as shown in FIG. 2(c), a dopant, such as phosphorous or boron, is implanted into the polycrystalline silicon layer 52 by self-aligning using the gate electrode 54. Subsequently, the polycrystalline silicon layer 52 is activated, and thus source/drain regions 55, which have a CMOS structure, are formed. Following the formation of an interlayer insulating film 56 and a contact hole, source/drain electrodes 57 are formed by deposition and patterning.
Conventional semiconductor devices, such as MOS elements, have had a problem in that their performance deteriorates over time while the devices are operated for a long time. It is thought that this degradation over time is caused by an electric field concentrated at, for example, ends of a semiconductor film serving as an active layer, or at an interface between the semiconductor film and an insulating layer. The degradation over time arising from this cause is significant in some semiconductor devices, such as thin-film transistors, which include a thin semiconductor film serving as an active layer on the insulating layer.
In the thin-film transistor, since an electric field is concentrated at the ends of the semiconductor film, the electric field strength increases. In addition, since the thickness of the semiconductor film is small, the carrier concentration is liable to increase.
FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show results of distribution analyses, by device simulation, of the electric field strength and the carrier concentration of the polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistors. The electric field strength distribution in FIG. 3(a) shows that a substantially central area of the semiconductor film had an electric field strength of 4.5×105 V/cm, and that a far end of the semiconductor film had a high electric field strength of 6.6×105 V/cm. Also, FIG. 3(b) shows that the substantially central area of the semiconductor film had a carrier concentration of 2.7×1017 cm−3, and that the far end of the semiconductor film had a carrier concentration of 1.6×1020 cm−3.


A vehicle dash panel storage compartment includes a storage compartment including at least a top, a bottom, and sides defining a storage slot, and a pivoting mechanism configured to translate the storage compartment between a stowed configuration within an interior of a housing of the instrument panel and a variety of deployed configurations. Optionally, the top may be hingedly connected to the storage compartment. The pivoting mechanism may include at least one strut pivotally connected at a first end to a support and at a second end to the storage compartment.

Space in the modern motor vehicle is at a premium. As an example, with reference to FIG. 1 only a finite amount of space can be devoted to a conventional vehicle glove box or glove compartment 10 (or indeed any other storage compartment conventionally or conveniently disposed on or in a vehicle dash panel 12) in order to accommodate other necessary and desired components typically disposed in, on, or near the vehicle dash panel, for example audio systems (not shown), speakers (not shown), center consoles 14, HVAC registers 16 and ductwork not shown), audio system controller/information center/navigation system control panels (shown generally as ref. num. 18), etc. For a conventional vehicle glove box 10 design, in view of the many components which must be packaged in the dash, it may not be possible to alter the glove box to provide a deeper or wider storage space because of lack of room to expand the glove box rearwardly or to the side. Therefore, any increase in storage space or versatility of a glove box often comes at the expense of passenger legroom. However, particularly in smaller vehicles passenger legroom is also at a premium and so represents a significant consideration to which extensive engineering expertise and effort are applied.
Moreover, in certain vehicles it may not be necessary or desirable to provide a full-sized glove box. Instead, the user may prefer a sleek, uninterrupted dash panel design and may only require dash panel storage capable of holding small items such as a purse, small shopping bags, smaller electronic devices, etc.
To solve this and other problems, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle dash panel storage compartment configured to provide storage capacity for a passenger while minimizing intrusion into passenger legroom. Advantageously, the dash panel storage compartment of this disclosure is configured for deployment in a variety of configurations, maximizing utility and convenience.


The disclosed embodiments relate to method and apparatus for providing computer security system. The method may include calculating a hash value of an operation at an administrative system. The signed hash of the operation may be created in the administrative system. The signed hash may be received at the managed system. The managed system may validate the signed hash by using a stored reference hash. Upon determining if the signed hash is valid, the managed system may execute the operation that corresponds to the signed hash.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present techniques. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In the field of processor-based computer systems, it may be desirable for information to be transferred from a computer system to another computer system via a network. Computer networks may be arranged to allow information, such as files or programs, to be shared across an office or any geographic boundary. As an aspect of efficiently maintaining the exchange of information, computer systems in a network may include various security systems, such as programs or devices, to prevent unauthorized intrusions or attacks from outside sources. These security systems, for example, may prevent attacks from malicious or unknown code that corrupt data and programs stored on the computer system.
To maintain the security of a computer system, remotely accessible computer systems, such as servers, may rely on locally defined lists of users and passwords to perform such authentication and access control. Network administrators may maintain these lists on multiple systems, and users often keep track of separate accounts and passwords. Accordingly, these security systems may include a footprint of code within the read only memory (ROM), which may be a signed certificate. However, the size of the footprint may be quite large in some situations, such as web access.
Accordingly, it may be desirable to minimize the performance impact by providing security protection to the central processing unit ("CPU") of a computer system. For example, when access is attempted from a location not directly affiliated with the computer system, there may be no assurances of the actual identity of the user absent rigorous authentication.

Method and apparatus to provide secure communication between systems

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A support film for tape which is used for a tape includes a film-shaped support formed of polyurethane, a barrier layer which includes polyvinyl alcohol and a layered inorganic compound and is formed on a surface of the support, and an undercoat layer which is disposed between the support and the barrier layer, and which causes the support and the barrier layer to adhere to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support film for tape, and particularly a support film for tape having barrier properties, and a tape using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
A tape on which an adhesive layer is formed on one surface of a sheet-shaped or film-shaped support has been widely used for various purposes such as for medical use or industrial use. In addition to adhesive materials, in some cases a plasticizer and the like are combined to the adhesive layer of the tape. Since there is a concern over a negative effect due to adsorption of the plasticizer depending on materials of a support, it is preferable that at least a surface of the support which comes into contact with the adhesive layer have barrier properties.
A gas barrier film disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2003-136645) has been used as a film material having barrier properties. In this gas barrier film, a barrier coating film is formed by applying a barrier coating material which is obtained by mixing montmorillonite, which is a layered inorganic compound, and a water-soluble polymer compound on one surface of a plastic base film.
A tape is used in a harsh environment to be contacted with or dipped in a liquid in a state of being attached to an object, in some cases. However, since a gas barrier film disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not conceived to be used under an ordinary environment, it is uncertain whether adhesiveness between a support and a barrier coating film is sufficient. If the gas barrier film disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied to the tape, peel-off between the support and the barrier coating film occurs. As a result, there is a problem in that the tape is not enough to endure harsh environments.


A process is provided for the production of a superconducting cable having a single cable core that contains at least one elongated superconducting element and a flexible tube that which surrounds the cable core. The process includes continuously pulling the single cable core from a supply unit, continuously pulling a metal strip from a strip supply unit and continuously forming a slotted tube around the cable care with the metal strip to form a slotted tube. The longitudinal slot of the slotted tube is welded shut corrugating the welded tube with the cable core inside the tube. The then semi-finished superconducting cable is wound in at least one turn on a cable drum, and the ends of the cable core are mechanically joined to the ends of the corrugated tube while the cable is on the cable drum.

The conductor is hollow, and liquid helium flows through it during operation. Between the cryogenic envelope and the conductor, there is a channel, through which liquid or gaseous helium also flows as a return line.
The cryogenic envelope consists of several corrugated metal tubes, arranged a certain distance from each other, between which a vacuum is present as well as so-called "superinsulation".
A cable of this type can be produced in lengths of up to 200 m on a continuous production basis. The maximum transmission-line power of a system consisting of two of these types of single-conductor cables is 5 GW.
A superconducting cable in which a plurality of tapes, consisting of so-called 2nd-generation superconducting material, are wrapped around a support tube, through which liquid nitrogen flows, is known from spring 1999 edition of the Epri Journal. These modern superconductors consist of flexible metal tape, onto which an yttrium-barium-copper oxide compound has been applied.
A corrugated metal tube is provided over the superconducting tapes. Several layers of thermal insulation are then wrapped around the corrugated metal tube. The thermal insulation is surrounded by a second corrugated metal tube, and a spacer of Teflon is also provided on the thermal insulation. A solid dielectric and an external electrical shield are installed around the second corrugated metal tube.
Common to both types of cable is that, when the cable is in the operating state and the superconductor and the cable elements surrounding it are at the temperature of the liquid helium or of the liquid nitrogen, they become shorter than the external cable elements, which are at ambient temperature. To prevent this decrease in length, fittings are provided at both ends of the cable to connect the individual cable elements nonpositively to each other and thus to prevent the inner cable elements from becoming shorter than the outer cable elements.
Proceeding from this state of the art, the task of the present invention consists in providing a process for the production of superconducting cable, according to which it is guaranteed during the production process itself that the cable core will not contract as a result of a drop in temperature and become shorter than the outer cable elements, which are at ambient temperature.

Process for producing a superconducting cable


In one embodiment, this invention provides an antagonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) consisting essentially of a 24 amino acid polypeptide corresponding to positions 7–30 of the sequence of GIP. In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of preventing and treating obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (Type II) in a patient comprising administering to the patient an antagonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a method of improving glucose tolerance in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an antagonist of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).

Insulin release induced by the ingestion of glucose and other nutrients is due in part to both hormonal and neural factors (Creutzfeldt, et al., 1985, Diabetologia 28: 565–573). Several gastrointestinal regulatory peptides have been proposed as incretins, the substance(s) believed to mediate the enteroinsular axis and that may play a physiological role in maintaining glucose homeostasis (Unger, et al., 1969, Arch. Intern. Med, 123:261–266; Ebert, R., et al. 1987, Diab. Metab. Rev., 3:1–16; Dupré J., 1991, "The Endocrine Pancreas." Raven Press, New York, p 253). Among these candidates, only glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon like peptide-1 (7–36) (GLP-1) appear to fulfill the requirements to be considered physiological stimulants of postprandial insulin release (Dupré, et al. 1973, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 37:826–828; Nauck, et al., 1989, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 69:6540662; Kreymann, et al. 1987, Lancet, 2:1300–1304; Mojsov, et al., 1987, J. Clin. Invest., 79:616–619).
Following oral glucose administration, serum GIP levels increase several fold (see Cleator, et al., 1975, Am. J. Surg., 130:128–135; Nauck, et al. 1986, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 63:492–498; Nauck, et al., 1986, Diabetologia, 29:46–52; Salera, et al., 1983, Metabolism, 32:21–24; Kreymann, et al., 1987, Lancet, 2:1300–1304), and although the increment in plasma GLP-1 concentration in response to glucose is also significant, it is far smaller in magnitude (Kreymann, et al., 1987, Lancet, 2:1300–1304; Ørskov, et al., 1987, Scand. J. Clin. Invest., 47:165–174; Ørskov, et al., 1991, J. Clin. Invest., 87: 415–423; Shuster, et al., 1988, Mayo Clin. Proc., 63:794–800). In human volunteers, Nauck et al. (1993, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 76:912–917) showed that GIP and GLP-1 are major contributors in the incretin effect after oral glucose. Shuster et al. (1988) also suggested that GIP was the most important, but not the sole, mediator of the incretin effect in humans.
Some studies have demonstrated that GIP and GLP-1 are equally potent in their capacity to stimulate insulin release (Schmid, et al., 1990, Z. Gastroenterol., 28:280–284; Suzuki, et al., 1990, Diabetes, 39:1320–1325), whereas others have suggested that GLP-1 possesses greater insulinotropic properties (Siegel, et al. 1992, Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 22:154–157; Shima, et al. 1988, Regul. Pept., 22:245–252). Recently, using a putative specific antagonist to the GLP-1 receptor, exendin (9–39), Wang et al. have demonstrated that exendin reduced postprandial insulin release by 48% and thus concluded that GLP-1 might contribute substantially to postprandial stimulation of insulin secretion (Wang, et al. 1995, J. Clin. Invest., 95:417–421). More recent studies, however, have shown that exendin might also displace GIP binding from its receptor and thereby reduce GIP-stimulated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) generation (Wheeler, et al. 1995, Endocrinology, 136:4629–4639: Gremlich, et al. 1995, Diabetes, 44:1202–1208). Therefore, the antagonist properties of exendin (9–39) might not be limited to GLP-1.
The availability of a GIP-specific receptor antagonist would be invaluable for determining the precise roles of these peptides in mediating postprandial insulin secretion.

Specific antagonists for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)


A method or system for managing the noise level of a vehicle establishes one or more noise sensitive zones in a work area. A present location is determined for a corresponding vehicle in the work area. A charge level is measured. The charge level pertains charge level of an energy storage device of the vehicle. A mode of operation of the vehicle is selected based on the determined present location of the vehicle, the established noise sensitive zones, and the measured charge level. The mode of operation is selected from a quiet mode and a charging mode, or the equivalent of either.

Hybrid vehicles may be powered by an internal combustion engine or by one or more electric motors. The internal combustion engine produces noise from the ignition and combustion of fuel, among other things. Although mufflers reduce the level of noise emanating from an exhaust system, even the reduced level of noise may exceed requisite noise levels for one or more of the following applications: mowers operating in residential areas, mowers operating on golf courses near golfers or guests, all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) in nature preserves or parks, military vehicles operating in a stealth mode, transportation or commercial vehicles in urban settings, vehicles used indoors at airports or in warehouses. Accordingly, there is a need to control or manage the noise reduction of a vehicle based on its location.

Vehicular navigation with location-based noise reduction


A turbofan nacelle includes forward and aft cowls adjoining at a joint, and including an exhaust duct having a main outlet for discharging exhaust. A variable nozzle surrounds the exhaust duct and includes a secondary outlet around the main outlet. A thrust reverser bridges the forward and aft cowls upstream from the variable nozzle. The variable nozzle is inductively powered and controlled across the closed joint, and is uncoupled inductively from the forward cowl when the joint is open.

The present invention relates generally to turbofan aircraft engines, and, more specifically, to exhaust nozzles therefor.
A typical turbofan aircraft engine includes a fan powered by a core engine. The core engine includes a surrounding cowl or nacelle, and the fan includes a corresponding cowl or nacelle at the forward end of the core engine which extends aft either in part or fully thereover.
The fan nacelle is spaced radially outwardly from the core nacelle to define an annular bypass duct therebetween. During operation, the core engine powers the fan which pressurizes ambient air to produce propulsion thrust in the fan air bypassing the core engine and discharged from the fan exhaust nozzle.
A portion of the fan air is channeled into the core engine wherein it is pressurized and mixed with fuel for generating hot combustion gases. Energy is extracted from the combustion gases in high and low pressure turbines which in turn power a compressor and the fan. The core exhaust gases are discharged from the core engine through a core exhaust nozzle and provide additional thrust for propelling the aircraft in flight.
In a typical short fan nacelle, the fan nozzle is spaced upstream from the core nozzle, and the fan exhaust is discharged separately from and surrounding the core exhaust. In a long nacelle, the fan nacelle extends aft of the core nozzle to provide a single common nozzle through which both the fan bypass air and core exhaust are discharged from the engine.
The fan nozzle and the core nozzle are typically fixed area nozzles, although they could be configured as variable area nozzles. Variable area nozzles permit adjustment of the aerodynamic performance of the engine which correspondingly increases complexity, weight, and cost of the nozzle.
Furthermore, turbofan aircraft engines typically include thrust reversers for use in providing braking thrust during landing of the aircraft. Various types of thrust reversers are found in the engine nacelle and further increase complexity, weight, and cost of the engine.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,944; and entitled "Confluent Variable Exhaust Nozzle," assigned to the present assignee, and incorporated herein by reference, an improved variable area exhaust nozzle is disclosed for a turbofan aircraft engine. The confluent nozzle includes outer and inner conduits, with a plurality of flaps therebetween. The flaps may be selectively opened to bypass a portion of exhaust flow from the inner conduit through the outer conduit in confluent exhaust streams from concentric main and auxiliary exhaust outlets.
In this way, the auxiliary outlet may be operated during takeoff operation of the aircraft for temporarily increasing exhaust flow area for correspondingly reducing velocity of the exhaust flow. Noise may therefore be reduced during takeoff operation using a relatively simple and compact variable area configuration.
However, the typical thrust reverser includes thrust reversing cascade vanes mounted at the axial splitline or joint between a fixed forward cowl and a translating aft cowl. A main actuator deploys aft the aft cowl during landing for reversing exhaust thrust and braking the aircraft on the runway.
The variable exhaust nozzle is mounted in the aft cowl and includes a secondary actuator for controlling its operation during engine takeoff. Whereas the variable nozzle operates during aircraft flight with the aft cowl retracted, the thrust reverser operates only during landing with the aft cowl deployed.
Deployment of the aft cowl opens the joint with the forward cowl to expose the cascade vanes, and would therefore require sufficient length and slack in the power and electrical control lines for the variable nozzle. The power and control connections to the variable nozzle must be sufficiently durable and redundant for long life, which would therefore increase the complexity and cost thereof for bridging the intercowl joint during the repeated opening and closing thereof required every time the aircraft lands.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide an improved power and control system for the variable area exhaust nozzle in a turbofan aircraft engine having a thrust reverser therein.


Methods for removing photoresist from semiconductor structures are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for removing photoresist from a semiconductor structure having a high-k dielectric material layer overlying a substrate comprises depositing a photoresist overlying the high-k dielectric material layer and patterning the photoresist. The temperature of the substrate is adjusted to a temperature of no less than about 400° C. and hydrogen gas is excited to form a hydrogen plasma of excited H and H2 species. The photoresist is subjected to the excited H and H2 species from the hydrogen plasma.

Field effect transistors (FETs) are widely used in the electronics industry for a variety of applications related to both analog and digital electrical signals. One of the most common FETs is a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). MOSFETs generally have a metal or polycrystalline silicon gate contact or electrode that is biased to create an electric field in an underlying channel between source and drain regions of a semiconductor substrate. The electric field inverts the channel and enables a current to flow between the source region and the drain region. A gate dielectric typically separates the channel region from the gate electrode. In prior art transistor structures, the gate dielectric is typically silicon dioxide (SiO2).
However, as integrated circuit transistors have become smaller, the thickness of the dielectric materials in the gate structure has become thinner. Recent efforts directed to MOS device scaling accordingly have focused on dielectric materials having dielectric constants greater than that of SiO2. As a result of higher physical gate dielectric thickness, these materials, commonly known as high-k dielectric materials, reduce gate current leakage compared to that of equivalent SiO2 or nitrided SiO2 while keeping the overall capacitance density to the required equivalent SiO2 thickness.
Referring to FIG. 1, MOSFET gate structures 100 typically are formed by depositing a dielectric material 102 on a semiconductor substrate 104 and depositing gate electrode material 106 on the dielectric material. A photoresist 108 then is formed on the gate electrode material and is patterned by conventional photolithography. Once patterned, the photoresist serves as an etch mask during the etching of the gate electrode material 106 and, optionally, the dielectric material 102. Commercial photoresists are polymeric coatings that are designed to change properties upon exposure to light during a photolithography process. Then, either the exposed or unexposed regions of the coating can be selectively removed to reveal the substrate beneath.
After formation of the gate structure, the photoresist then is removed by an ashing process, which typically includes exposure to oxygen-based plasmas. However, oxygen-based plasmas often result in damage to high-k dielectric material-comprising gate structures. As illustrated in FIG. 2, an oxygen-based plasma process creates atomic oxygen, which can readily diffuse to the high-k dielectric material/substrate interface and the gate electrode/high-k dielectric material interface and form regrown silicon oxide 110. This diffused oxygen and regrown silicon oxide can severely degrade device characteristics and performance of the MOSFET.
Hydrogen-based plasma ("H-plasma") processes have been used to circumvent the damage caused by oxygen-based plasma processes. In H-plasma processes, the photoresist is exposed to H-plasma at temperatures at or below 350° C. Exposure of the gate electrode structure to the H-plasma results in a sputtering process whereby photoresist particles are physically "knocked" off the gate structure. However, as illustrated in FIG. 3, such physical sputtering also may result in "clipping" 114 of the exposed corners of the gate electrode 106, which degrades the gate electrode profile. In addition, prior art H-plasma processes can result in chemical etching 112 of silicon-containing materials, such as a silicon-containing substrate 104 and polycrystalline silicon-containing gate electrode 106, due to the generation of silane (SiH4).
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method for removing photoresist from a semiconductor gate structure having a high-k dielectric material layer without substantial oxidation at the high-k dielectric material layer interfaces. In addition, it is desirable to provide a method for removing photoresist from a semiconductor structure while minimizing damage to the semiconductor structure. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.

Methods for removing photoresist from semiconductor structures having high-k dielectric material layers


Aspects of the invention include an optical housing including a substrate having a reflective side and an absorbing side. The substrate has a generally planar base portion and a protruding cover portion. The cover portion defines a pocket on the absorbing side. The substrate has an open position where the base portion is distal the cover and a closed position where the base portion is proximate the cover. The substrate is configured to enclosed a detector within the pocket in the closed position. The base portion defines an aperture generally centered within the base portion and aligned with the detector in the closed position so as to pass light through to the detector.

Pulse oximetry is a widely accepted noninvasive procedure for measuring the oxygen saturation level of arterial blood, an indicator of a person's oxygen supply. Early detection of low blood oxygen level is critical in the medical field, for example in critical care and surgical applications, because an insufficient supply of oxygen can result in brain damage and death in a matter of minutes. FIG. 1 illustrates a pulse oximetry system 100 having a sensor 110 applied to a patient, a monitor 160 and a patient cable 140 connecting the sensor 110 and the monitor 160. The sensor 110 is attached to a tissue site, such as an adult patient's finger (as shown). Other sensor types are configured to attach, say, to a neonatal patient's foot. The sensor 110 is configured with both red and infrared LEDs 112 (hidden) that, for finger attachment, project light through the fingernail and into the blood vessels and capillaries underneath. A photodiode 114 (not visible) is positioned at the finger tip opposite the fingernail so as to detect the LED emitted light as it emerges from the finger tissues.


A system and method for manipulating toolbar dimensions are provided. Each toolbar includes a number of toolbar components having a textual representation and a graphic representation. As the toolbar dimensions are adjusted, a first size threshold defines when to adjust the graphic representation while maintaining the text representation, a second size threshold defines when to omit the textual representation and adjust the graphic representation and a third size threshold determines when to omit the graphic representation and fix the textual representation.

Generally described, computing devices can be utilized to display images and provide functionality to computer users on a display screen. In one common embodiment, the functionality provided by the computer is embodied in the form of a graphical user interface in which software applications are displayed within rectangular windows. Each rectangular window corresponding to a particular application can include multiple portions designed to provide a user with different functionality. For example, a word processing software application may have a primary display section to manipulate/read text and graphics. The word processing application may also include a toolbar section, such as at the top of the display, that allows the user to implement various functions provided by the software application.
In one commonly known embodiment, the toolbar section includes a number of individual components that correspond to a particular function for the software application. In one aspect, each toolbar component can be represented in a graphical form, such as a graphical icon illustrative of the function represented by the individual component. In another aspect, each toolbar component can be represented in a textual form, such as keywords illustrative of the function represented by the individual component. In another aspect, each toolbar component can be represented in both a graphical and textual form. In many embodiments, a user may be allowed to select one of the three forms of representing toolbar components.
In one common embodiment, the dimensions of the toolbar and the toolbar components are typically fixed. Generally, the dimensions of the toolbar are selected in manner that allows the toolbar components to be distinguishable to the user. However, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the size of a display screen available to display the toolbar component can vary greatly. For example, the display screen available for a large, flat panel display will vary greatly from the display screen available for a personal digital assistant. In addition to display size limitations, some users may have different needs/preferences for the dimensions of the toolbar. Accordingly, a fixed dimension toolbar is not preferred for various software applications.
One attempt to overcome the deficiencies associated with a fixed dimension toolbar involves the use of a graphical control to allow a user to vary the dimension of the toolbar. As a user manipulates a selection device, such as a mouse, the toolbar dimensions, and the size of the textual and/or graphical components within the toolbar components, vary according to the movement of the selection device. However for embodiments utilizing textual and graphical representations, varying the dimension of the toolbar components can yield varying results. If the overall dimension of each toolbar component is sufficiently large, varying the size of textual and graphical representations within the components can be satisfactory. However, as the dimensions of the toolbar component decrease, the dimensions of the textual and graphical representations become sufficiently small to diminish the value of an adjustable toolbar. Accordingly, the user must select to use either the graphical representation and/or the textual representation. This process can be time consuming and inefficient.
Thus, there is a need for a system and method for manipulating the dimensions of toolbar components having graphical and textual representations.

System and method for manipulating toolbar component dimensions


An efficient fluid energy collection and conversion system which has energy collectors that travel both upstream and downstream in a fluid stream. Energy collectors are mounted on a rotatable hub; during each rotation, the energy collectors travel through a downstream portion and an upstream portion of the fluid. The energy collectors' shape is changed to increase their drag while traveling downstream in the fluid stream to collect energy, and their shape is changed to decrease their drag while traveling upstream in the fluid stream to conserve energy. The energy collectors' shape are changed either passively by the pressure of the fluid stream, or actively, by computer control using servos, hydraulics, gears, pulleys, or the like. The system is adjustable to varying wind conditions. Some, or all, of the collectors are deactivated when less energy collection is desired such as during very high wind conditions. Likewise, all the energy collectors are activated when the winds are light. The energy collected from the fluid stream is converted into electrical power or used for other purposes.

This invention relates generally to energy generation and more specifically to wind and fluid energy collection and conversion to electrical power.
Man has harnessed wind and water power for hundreds or even thousands of years. Windmills and water mills have been used to grind wheat, pump water, power machines, generate electric power, and the like.
Today the need to harness wind and water power continues. It is used when other sources of power are too expensive, inconvenient, unavailable, environmentally undesirable, encouraged by government regulation, or for many other reasons.
Traditional windmills are comprised of a plurality of vanes which face into and collect energy from the prevailing winds. Vanes are mounted on a horizontal axis. The vanes capture wind energy causing the vane assembly to rotate on the horizontal axis thereby converting wind energy into rotating mechanical energy.
Traditional windmills did not rotate on a base to face directly into the wind at all times. They were built to face the only the prevailing winds. Because of this, their efficiency is decreased when the wind comes from other than directly at the windmill's vanes.
More recent windmills are designed to be rotatable on a base so the vanes face into the wind regardless of the direction the wind.
Despite many improvements and new designs in this field, there remain many problems which have not been adequately resolved.
Traditional windmills are large, inefficient, costly to build and maintain, and are a safety hazard to pedestrians due the rotation of their vanes. There is also the problem of controlling the speed of the windmill in high winds. High winds can destroy a windmill unless precautions are taken to slow the windmill, stop it completely, or protect it from the wind, etc.
Additionally, windmills do not rotate at the most efficient speed for the task they are performing. If the wind is strong they rotate too fast, if the wind is light they rotate too slow. Finally, most windmills are designed to be most efficient for an average wind speed. They are not designed to be adaptable to varying wind speed conditions.
Clearly, there exits a need for an improved wind or fluid energy collection device which is efficient, safer, adaptable for use in high wind or low wind conditions, and which is controllable to rotate at a desired speed.