A method and system for automatically executing an internationalization test of web applications by recording and utilizing HTTP transmitted and received data in the internationalization test in a multilingual web application. By processing and storing recorded HTTP transmitted and received data in a base language to prepare an HTTP request corresponding to a user specified test object language to a web server, a test is automatically executed while emulating user operations on the web browser in the test object language. This generates corresponding HTTP transmitted and received data in the test object language. By comparing and analyzing the HTTP transmitted and received data in the base language and test object language, a required verification for an internationalization test is automatically conducted and the verification results are stored or recorded for later use in subsequent operations.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to web applications. More particularly, it relates an internationalization test in multilingual web applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Methods of detecting garbled characters exist where visual inspection for a user is facilitated by figuring out a good way to handle the pseudo translation resource. Other methods and devices for internationalizing software or managing message resources of the software are also known. However, no know prior methods or systems related to automating the internationalization of software applications and the testing required for the same.

Method for automating an internationalization test in a multilingual web application

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided is an acoustic insulation device for a mobile vehicle in which sound transmitted to the exterior of the vehicle body is blocked by being reflected or diffracted by acoustic insulation bodies provided upright to the vehicle body; and the amount of noise that an observer or local residents are subjected to is further reduced. Movement of a mobile vehicle generates noise in, and in the vicinity of, a power collector or a similar device provided upright on the roof (3) of the vehicle. Acoustic insulation bodies (1L), (2L), (1R), (2R) are provided upright on the roof (3), and block noise travelling directly ahead. The noise is diffracted or reflected by the acoustic insulation bodies (1L), (2L), (1R), (2R), and moves so as to be transmitted to the vehicle exterior. However, a branched, blade-shaped acoustic insulation body (1LB) provided to the acoustic insulation body (2L), or branched acoustic insulation bodies (1RB1), (1RB2) provided to the acoustic insulation body (2R), act on the diffracted or reflected noise to block sound, and therefore makes it possible to provide an acoustic insulation device for a mobile vehicle in which transmission to the outside of the vehicle body is minimized and the resulting noise is reduced.

Conventionally, in railway vehicles, and especially in railway vehicles that travel at high speed, there are concerns that the noise generated in, and in the vicinity of, a device, especially a power collector, disposed on the roof of the vehicle may be increased by the increase in speed of the railway vehicles, so in order to insulate such noise, acoustic insulation bodies which are placed with a distance from the rooftop device in a width direction of the vehicle body and having a given length along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body are provided on the roof.
On the other hand, in Shinkansen (bullet train) lines that are designed to be able to travel through conventional railway sections, such as miniature Shinkansens which travel from Shinkansen tracks directly to conventional railway lines, wherein the conventional railway lines have the track gauge converted from a narrow track for conventional railways to a standard gauge, the critical range of the vehicle body is narrow, so that the restrictions related to the width of the vehicle body or the height of the vehicle body are strict compared to Shinkansen sections, and in order to cope with such restrictions, there are demands for downsizing the device for insulating (blocking) the noise generated from the devices disposed on the roof of the vehicle.
In order to reduce or insulate the noise generated from devices such as the power collector disposed on the roof of the vehicle body of a mobile vehicle, an art of covering the vicinity of the power collector with a wind cover and providing an acoustic insulation wall for insulating noise to the outer side of the wind cover is already proposed, and an acoustic insulation device as disclosed in patent literature 1 is already proposed. In other words, an acoustic insulation device for a mobile vehicle having a simple configuration and having a high sound insulating effect is proposed, that fits within the critical range of vehicles in a conventional railway section, and that enables to ensure sufficient insulation distance between the acoustic insulation panel and the power collector. The acoustic insulation means is composed of first and second acoustic insulation bodies provided upright in a chevron-shape in a width direction of the vehicle body with respect to a device on the roof and having a predetermined length along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, wherein the first acoustic insulation body is arranged rearward to the second acoustic insulation body with respect to a direction of travel of the mobile vehicle.
Further, there is proposed a soundproof wall that is used as a side wall for roads, railways, factories and so on, that exerts sufficient soundproof effect not only for the nose that travels upward from a low area, but for the noise that travels downward from the upper area (patent literature 2). The soundproof wall illustrated in patent literature 2 has a first bifurcation wall that is inclined to a noise source side at an upper end of a main wall that extends upward, and a second bifurcation wall that is inclined to an opposite side from the noise source side, wherein at least one bifurcation wall out of the first and second bifurcation walls has a re-bifurcation wall that is re-bifurcated to a direction that differs from said bifurcation wall.
However, the soundproof wall taught in patent literature 2 is a soundproof wall that is provided at a fixed location such as on the ground, and there is no consideration on placing the wall on a railway vehicle that travels at a high speed. Therefore, it is difficult to apply the soundproof wall simply to a railway vehicle to realize a design that fits within the critical range of the vehicle. In addition, if there is a need to provide a means for insulating noise generated from a power collector of the railway vehicle, an insulation distance (the range of distance in which an object cannot be placed for insulation) with respect to the high voltage section of the power collector must be ensured, so that it is difficult to satisfy this request according to the method taught in patent literature 2.
In a railway vehicle, the main noise source is the power collector disposed on the roof of the vehicle. The acoustic insulation device of a mobile vehicle according to patent document 1 has been developed to block the noise generated from the power collector efficiently. The acoustic insulation device for a mobile vehicle is disposed to block the main source of noise that appears on a downstream side of the direction of flow of the noise source from an observer of the noise (or local residents) considering the direct advancing property of sound. However, sound not only has a direct advancing property, but it also has a reflecting or diffracting property. As for the noise generated from a power collector of the mobile vehicle, a portion of the noise is reflected or diffracted to come around the sound insulation wall and reaches the observer of the noise (or local residents).

Acoustic insulation device for mobile vehicle


An image processing apparatus which is connected to a printer apparatus and controls the printer apparatus to print a shot image, includes an image sensing unit for shooting an image, a setting reception unit for receiving settings as to whether or not date information of shooting is to be added to the image shot by the image sensing unit, an addition unit for adding the date information to the image shot by the image sensing unit on the basis of the received settings, an identifier generation unit for generating an identifier, which is used to identify whether or not the date information is added to the shot image and to limit a printing condition of the printer apparatus, on the basis of the received settings, and appending the identifier to a header of the shot image, and a transmission unit for transmitting the image having the header appended with the identifier to the printer apparatus.

Conventionally, in a system where an image sensing apparatus such as a digital still camera, digital video camera, or the like is connected to a printer apparatus via a communication cable or wireless channel or is integrated with it, image information shot by the image sensing apparatus can be printed without going through any information processing apparatus such as a computer or the like for processing image information.
Such image sensing apparatus, which can print shot image information by connecting the printer apparatus, allows the selection of images to be printed and to make print settings such as a paper setting, a date stamp setting, setting of the number of copies, and the like from the image sensing apparatus itself. When the date stamp setting is set ON at the image sensing apparatus side, the printer apparatus can append a shooting date on a recording medium.
Also, the image sensing apparatus itself can directly add a shooting date as image information to an image, and record it on a recording medium.
However, when such a date-added image shot by the digital still camera is printed by connecting the printer apparatus like in the prior art, since the shooting date is already added to the image as image information at the camera side, if the printer apparatus prints a shooting date based on the date stamp setting, the date added to the image by the digital still camera itself and the date to be appended by the printer apparatus are doubly printed.
That is, the present invention has as its object to prevent the double printing of date information upon printing a shot image.

Image processing apparatus and control method, computer program, and recording medium storing a program determining or identifying whether date information is added to an image


A graphical user interface (GUI) for use in a graphical display on a computer monitor includes a cursor that allows a user to point to an area of interest in the graphical display. The GUI also includes an information element that provides a first level of information in the graphical display when the user first points to the area of interest and then provides a subsequent level of information in the graphical display if the user continues to point to the area of interest or presses a selected keystroke.

In the computer world, the term "tool tip" has been used to describe a short textual label that appears over an icon or control area in a graphical user interface (GUI) to provide a brief indication of the program function associated with the icon or control area. Tool tips most commonly are associated with icons appearing in a "tool bar," i.e., a group of icons that each provide a unique graphical image representing a particular function of a computer program. For example, referring to FIG. 1, a tool tip 50 typically appears on a computer display 28 when a user of the computer places a cursor 52 over an icon 54 in a tool bar 56 for a predetermined period of time, known as the "tool tip trigger interval" (typically about one-half second). The tool tip 50 usually consists of a small text box containing a very short (e.g., 1-4 words) description of the program function associated with the icon. When the user selects the icon with a pointing device, such as a mouse, the corresponding function of the computer program is invoked. In some applications, such as Adobe Systems Incorporated's PageMill.TM. product, the tool tip disappears if, after some predetermined amount of time, known as the "tool tip timeout interval," the user has not selected the icon, moved the mouse, or taken some other prescribed action.
For many icons in the typical program, the brief description provided by the associated tool tip adequately explains, even to a novice user, the program function associated with the icon. However, for many users, the descriptions provided by many tool tips are too brief and too cryptic to provide much insight into the functions of the related icons. The present invention addresses this problem.


A robotic painting system includes a device for generating a vacuum and a dump line disposed upstream from a connection between an isolation line and a canister, wherein the device for generating a vacuum and the dump line are employed for filling and cleaning the robotic painting system.

Prior art paint booths are well known. A typical prior art paint booth for painting an exterior surface of a vehicle body in a continuous conveyance and stop station system includes an enclosure housing and a plurality of paint applicators. In one configuration, the applicators are mounted on an inverted U-shaped support structure that includes two vertical supports, one on either side of the path of travel of the vehicle body, and connected at a top thereof by a horizontal support structure. The support structure facilitates painting of a top surface of the vehicle body, and the horizontal beam can be fixed or have an additional degree of freedom to move along the top surface of the vehicle body being painted. Another painting device is used in the same painting zone to paint sides of the vehicle body, and generally is not capable of moving laterally along the length of the vehicle body. Disadvantages of this type of painting apparatus include lack of flexibility to provide optimized standoff distance between the vehicle body surface and the applicator, and inefficient use of the allotted painting cycle time. The paint applicators of the painting devices adapted to paint the top surface of the vehicle are mounted on a common beam. Therefore, the distance between each paint applicator and the surface to be painted varies with the contours of the vehicle body. The paint applicators of the painting devices adapted to paint the sides of the vehicle include applicators that do not move transverse to the path of the vehicle body. Accordingly, the paint applicators can only paint a portion of the vehicle body that is in front of the applicator, leaving a substantial portion of the available cycle time unused.
A more recent alternative to the support structure is a floor-mounted robot disposed along the sides of the paint booth. The robots include spray guns or rotary applicators (bell machines) mounted thereon for directing atomized paint toward the vehicle body. While rotary applicators have advantages over spray guns, there are some associated disadvantages. The prior art floor mounted robot, especially robots having rotary applicators, are costly and limit visual access to the spray booth. The bell machines require more bells for the same throughput due to limited orientation capability. The additional bells use more paint per vehicle due to the waste generated by each bell during a paint color changing operation. Prior art floor mounted robots also require significant booth modification when installed in existing paint booths, thereby increasing installation time and cost, and requiring more floor space within the paint booth. The rail axis of floor mounted robot requires doors at both ends of the paint booth. The waist axis of the floor mounted robot requires an additional safety zone at the ends of the spray booth, and the rail cabinets of the floor mounted robot encroach into aisle space. The floor mounted robot also requires frequent cleaning due to a down draft of paint overspray causing paint accumulation on the robot arm and base, which results in higher maintenance and cleaning costs.
Due to the conductivity of the waterborne paint, it is necessary to electrically isolate the grounded bulk paint supply system from a charged local dispensing canister and spray application system. In the prior art, the bell applicator, canister, canister drive, electrostatic cascade, and docking interface were all integrated into a single unit mounted on the robot wrist as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,911 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,944. Such an applicator has the following shortcomings: 1) the applicator is heavy, expensive, and subject to damage via collision with objects in the painting booth; 2) the applicator docking with a docking station must occur in a fixed booth position which limits process flexibility; 3) the docking process takes cycle time as the robot must travel to and from the docked position, and the canister filling cannot start until the applicator reaches the docked position; and 4) the docking hardware is expensive and unique to waterborne systems.
To prepare the robot for a painting operation, the canister must be filled with paint. To fill the canister with paint, a piston slidably disposed in the canister is drawn away from the cylinder bottom and an applicator valve is opened, thereby introducing a small amount of air into the canister. The paint is then caused to flow from a selected color valve, through an isolation line, and into the canister. As the initial volume of the canister is filled through a trigger passage of the applicator, air is pushed out of the system through the applicator until the paint reaches a restriction in the trigger passage. The restriction causes an increase in the fluid pressure in the canister due to the viscosity difference between the paint and the air being displaced by the paint. The pressure increase causes a torque applied by a drive motor to increase, which can be sensed and used to adjust the rate of filling of the canister. Once the canister and applicator are filled, air in the canister is removed. To remove the air from the canister, an amount of air and paint is expelled from the canister through the applicator until the air is removed, thereby wasting the amount of paint expelled. Another filling operation known as the pressure based fill through injector tip mode of filling the canister utilizes the torque feedback to determine when the paint will fill the canister. A single torque feedback value is typically used for the filling operation of each of the colors. However, because the viscosities and bulk pressure of the paints vary from color to color, time based filling operations may lead to wasted paint (time too long) or an improperly filled system (time too short).
The piston may be utilized to optimize the canister fill operation time. First, if the fill rate of paint into the canister is known or can be automatically measured, the rate at which the canister piston mechanism is drawn away from the canister bottom may be adjusted to minimize the pressure drop of the incoming paint, and decrease the fill time. The fill rate may be sensed by measuring either servo error (positive or negative) or motor torque feedback applied to the piston. Second, the piston may be drawn away from the canister bottom at a rate known to be slightly below the system fill rate. However, as the paint rapidly fills the canister, air may become entrapped in the canister and mixed with the paint.
The grounded bulk paint supply must be isolated from charged system components to militate against voltage leakage and electrostatic erosion. A method to isolate the bulk paint supply system from the charged paint dispensing canister is to clean and dry the paint transfer line between the supply system and the canister. In an automotive-type painting system (rapid color changing on a continuous conveyance type system), a dump line is typically connected to and in fluid communication with the bell applicator or other portion of the system downstream from the canister. When cleaning the interior of the canister, the piston is drawn away from the canister bottom. The piston is cycled in and out of the canister as a solvent and air mixture is introduced into the canister to facilitate effective cleaning of the area between the piston and the bottom of the canister. Simultaneous to the cleaning of the canister with a solvent and air mixture, a paint line from the canister to the applicator is backflushed. As the piston cycles and is caused to slidably enter the canister toward the applicator, the solvent and air mixture is forced out of the canister and through the dump line. After canister cleaning, the system is ready to be filled with a different color of paint.
This method of cleaning the robot has numerous shortcomings, including: 1) a time to clean and dry the line and provide high voltage isolation exceeds the allotted dwell time between the vehicle bodies being painted; 2) paint residue remaining on the walls of the transfer line, the dump line, or the interior of the canister may lead to a high voltage leakage causing electrostatic erosion that may burn holes in the transfer line, the dispensing system, the supply line to the applicator, or the waste collection lines; 3) an amount of waste that is left in the paint transfer line is excessive when compared to other means of isolation; and 4) because the solvent and air mixture containing paint residues is caused to flow through the dump line downstream from the solvent and air mixture input, paint residue may remain at the connection between the dump line and the canister.
It would be desirable to provide a robotic painting system and method for filling and cleaning the same, wherein the air in the painting system during the filling operation is minimized and the cleaning operation of the system is optimized.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Robotic apparatus and method for painting


A power control device for a pressing iron includes a position sensor that has a casing, an optical coupler and a shielding plate. The optical coupler is mounted in a lower part of the casing, and has a photoemitter and a photoreceiver that faces the photoemitter and that forms a clearance therewith. The shielding plate is received in the casing, and has an upper plate portion pivoted to an upper part of the casing, and a lower plate portion that extends into the clearance of the optical coupler. The lower plate portion is formed with a notch to permit light transmission between the photoemitter and the photoreceiver when the pressing iron is in an ironing position. The shielding plate pivots by virtue of gravity such that the notch is moved out of alignment with the photoemitter and the photoreceiver, and such that the lower plate portion blocks the light transmission between the photoemitter and the photoreceiver when the pressing iron is in a resting position.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a pressing iron, more particularly to a power control device for a pressing iron.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide a pressing iron with a power control device that incorporates a position sensor to permit disabling of a heating device of the iron upon detecting that the iron has been left unattended for a first time period, such as 30 seconds, in an ironing position, i.e. with its soleplate substantially horizontal, or for a second time period, such as from 5 to 8 minutes, in a resting position, i.e. with the soleplate substantially vertical.
The position sensor of a conventional power control device for a pressing iron is usually mounted in the handle portion of a housing of the pressing iron, and is used to detect if the iron is in the ironing or resting position. The position sensor includes a rectangular casing, an inclined ramp mounted on a bottom wall of the casing and inclining upwardly from a front portion to a rear portion of the casing, an optical coupler including a photoemitter and a photoreceiver mounted on left and right sides of the ramp at the rear portion of the casing, and an opaque ball received in the casing and movable along the ramp between a non-shielding position, where the ball is in the front portion of the casing and does not interrupt light transmission between the photoemitter and the photoreceiver when the iron is in the ironing position, and a shielding position, where the ball drops into the rear portion of the casing by virtue of gravity and interrupts light transmission between the photoemitter and the photoreceiver when the iron is in the resting position.
While the aforementioned position sensor is capable of generating signals to enable the power control device to detect whether the iron is in the ironing or resting position, the position sensor is not satisfactory due to the following reasons:
1. There is a possibility that the ball will get stuck between the top wall of the casing and the ramp, thereby resulting in faulty operation of the position sensor.
2. The ball must have a size that is sufficient to effectively block the light transmission between the photoemitter and the photoreceiver when the iron is in the resting position, thereby resulting in a corresponding increase in the size of the casing and in the size of the handle portion of the housing of the iron.

Power control device for a pressing iron using a position sensor that includes an optical coupler and a shielding plate


The present system in one embodiment provides a conversion module that receives and converts webpage documents to an Adobe Acrobat compatible format for further processing. In some embodiments the present system provides and enacts a plurality of conversion rules to convert the webpage so that it may be stored, printed or emailed. In other embodiments the user is further able to customize the conversion rules and select between the plurality of conversion rules used in the document conversion process.

In recent years, the widespread dependence and the proliferation of computers have led to the development of computer networks. Computer networks allow individual PC's as well as large computer systems to communicate with one another independent of their locations. Network interfaces allow computer systems to send and receive data to and from any network the computer system may be connected to. The Internet is another form of a computer network that has become very popular recently, allowing different users and computers to establish communication with one another.
A user commonly accesses the Internet through a software application known as a web browser. A web browser makes a connection through the Internet to other computers systems, and receives information from the web servers that is then displayed on the individual user's work-station. Information displayed to the user is typically organized into pages that are constructed using a specialized language called Hypertext Markup language or HTML.
While HTML is relatively faster to retrieve and display information on individual work-stations and portal interfaces, the task of printing, storing or emailing the retrieved information does not have an adequate solution.
Typically, HTML documents provide links to other documents in order to help the user obtain further information if necessary. When a user accesses a certain page of the document on the internet, the target page often provide "links" to other pages which are related in some respect to the target page and/or the subject matter of the target page. These "links" are often referred to as "hyperlinks" and the context in which they are presented is referred to as "hypertext". "Hyperlinks" are defined by a word or words, descriptive of the subject matter of the "linked" page and are usually highlighted in some manner to distinguish them over the rest of the text. Hyperlinks can appear in a bold, underscored fashion and/or even in a different color, to allow the user to easily locate them from an otherwise full page of text. A user can then utilize the keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse, to activate the desired "hyperlink" by placing the cursor at or pointing the mouse to the desired area and activating the "link" by an entering or clicking action.
When searching a particular subject matter, often the first retrieved page only provides the most basic information in a broad manner but other links are provided to retrieve more detailed information. The next "link" level provides more specialized information about the selected topic with other "links" to provide even more detailed information. In this way each "link" level becomes more specialized and more detail oriented. It is not unusual to have to access several links before obtaining a full amount of information necessary about a specific subject matter.
One example is a document that is made up of different sections. The original search retrieves the table of contents, with each section provided as a link. In order for the user to download or print the entire document, each section has to be individually selected, downloading them individually one at a time in sequence and sometimes on a page-by-page basis, each time going through the printing protocol and having to return to the table of contents in order to accomplish the printing or downloading task. This can be a time consuming process, since each time a hyperlink is selected, the entire page will be retrieved including all of the graphics and text and graphics-related parameters specification that is necessary.
In addition to the above problems, the browser printing functionality is unsuitable for printing user portal display content. In portal interfaces, it is common that the display is customized for each computer user based on their specific needs and role within a company. Currently while enacting printing operations, it is not possible to exclude the part of the screen, that is not interesting for the user, e.g. a portal header and a detailed navigation function section. Printing errors frequently occur using the browser printing function, e.g. the output cuffs the content of a page. Additionally, the content may be shown in an unsuitable way, if complex controls like tables or tab strips are used. For example print output may include only the content that is currently shown on the screen. This is not acceptable as users may want to see the whole content of a table or a tab.
The above problems relating to printing documents also are relevant to saving the documents into memory and emailing. In order to save the content of a page e.g. for work reference, the user needs to create a series of screenshots and copy them in a graphical or other appropriate application. In this instance the size of the file may be quite large and the handling of the created document is complicated. For E-Mailing purposes, screen shots need to be copied to a mail client like MS Outlook via a cut and paste operation. The disadvantages of this are that these emails can't be sent directly to a receiver and the E-mail size gets huge very quickly. In order to overcome these obstacles, users need to create zip files or send several E-mails. This again results in cumbersome and time consuming operations for the computer user.
Therefore a fast and convenient way of storing, printing and emailing webpage documents is desired.


A system includes a bandgap voltage generator coupled to a voltage supply and configured to produce a plurality of reference voltage levels in response to a plurality of calibration codes; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to a reference voltage output of the bandgap voltage generator; a logic circuit coupled to an output of the ADC; a first memory element coupled to the logic circuit and configured to store a calibration coefficient indicative of a relationship of the calibration codes and the reference voltage levels; and a second memory element coupled to the logic circuit and configured to store a value of a first reference voltage level for the reference voltage output, wherein the logic circuit is configured to generate a first calibration code from the value of the first reference voltage level and the calibration coefficient.

Some systems use bandgap reference generators to generate either a current or voltage (or both) which is used as a reference for various components and is expected to be the same across temperature and power supply voltage. Since the bandgap reference generators produce reference currents and voltages, it may be desirable to calibrate bandgap reference generators so that the output of the bandgap generators precisely matches desired targets.
One example uses an off-line calibration technique during manufacture. The technique includes an external automated test equipment (ATE) to receive a voltage from a bandgap generator. The bandgap generator may be controlled by applying codes, which change the output of the bandgap reference generator by, for example, adjusting an output voltage up or down. The purpose of the calibration is to find a calibration code that matches a target voltage.
Continuing with the example, the technique applies a first calibration code at or near a lowest end of calibration codes and applies a second calibration code at or near a highest end of calibration codes. This is a coarse measurement, which gives a rough evaluation of a slope of calibration codes versus bandgap voltage. The technique then uses that rough evaluation of slope to estimate a first potential target code and a second potential target code. The technique applies the first potential target code and the second potential target code to the bandgap voltage generator and measures the resulting voltages. Based on these resulting voltages, the technique identifies a final target code, which sets the bandgap voltage as close as possible to the target voltage.
The example technique further blows fuses in the product chip to permanently store the target code. During mission mode of the product chip, the chip applies the saved target code to the bandgap generator to cause the bandgap generator to provide the calibrated voltage.
However, this technique may be less than desirable for some applications. Specifically, in some instances, time at an ATE may be expensive, and the example technique above uses four measurements to find the target code. If each measurement uses multiple milliseconds, and the manufacturing process may handle millions of product chips, the milliseconds may add up to noticeable cost. And each fuse may take up chip area and use ATE time to blow. Accordingly, there is a need in the art to reduce or eliminate ATE costs, especially for bandgap calibration.

Circuits and methods providing bandgap calibration


A system and method of integrating information from multiple sources in a document centric application system. A plurality of application systems are connected through an object request broker to a central repository. The information may then be posted on a webpage. An example of an implementation of the method and system is an online procurement system.

The data processing resources of large organizations are increasingly taking the form of a client/server or distributed computing environment (DBE) in which data and processing are dispersed over a network comprising many heterogeneous and geographically remote servers and databases. Many of these servers and databases are programmed in a different variety of computing languages and cannot communicate properly.

Method and system of integrating information from multiple sources

The Regents of the University of California


A circuit includes a receiver channel and a built-in self-test circuit. The receiver channel has a serializer and a deserializer. The built-in self-test circuit generates test signals that are transmitted in parallel to the serializer during a test of the receiver channel. The serializer converts the test signals into serial test signals. The deserializer converts the serial test signals into parallel test signals that are transmitted to the built-in self-test circuit.

The present invention relates to electronic circuits, and more particularly, to techniques for performing a built-in self-test of a receiver channel having a serializer.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a prior art dynamic phase alignment (DPA) built-in self-test (BIST) structure, a receiver channel, and a transmitter channel. Built-in self-test (BIST) refers to a circuit design or testing technique within an integrated circuit (IC) that is used to verify the operation of circuit blocks in the same IC. The transmitter channel includes output buffer 102 and serializer 114. The receiver channel includes input buffer 101, multiplexer 103, dynamic phase alignment (DPA) block 104, first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer 105, multiplexer 106, bit-slip (BSLIP) block 107, and deserializer 108. The DPA BIST structure of FIG. 1 includes test verifier 110, test pattern generator 111, DPA BIST controller 112, and DPA BIST interface block 113.
Test pattern generator 111 generates test signals. DPA BIST interface block 113 transmits the test signals in parallel through a 10-bit bus to serializer 114 in the transmitter channel. The parallel test signals are serialized in serializer 114. The serialized test signals are transmitted to DPA block 104 through multiplexer 103, then to FIFO buffer 105, then to bit-slip block 107 through multiplexer 106, and then to deserializer 108 in the receiver channel. Deserializer 108 deserializes the test signals. Test verifier 110 then verifies the deserialized test signals.

Techniques for performing built-in self-test of receiver channel having a serializer


An IACK keypad with independent key regions arranged in an array of multiple rows and columns, and combination key regions defined between rows and columns of the array of independent key regions. A trace matrix underlying the keymat either includes, in addition to normally isolated column traces and row traces underlying the independent key regions, trace extensions extending from the row and column traces to underlie the combination key regions, or additional row and column traces underlying the combination key regions and tied to other row and column traces. The trace extensions extend to within a contact region of an opposed electrical contact, such as on a snap dome, beneath the combination key region. Independent and combination key snap domes are constructed to insure singular tactile feedback during combination key operation.

The miniaturization of electronic products is one of the primary tenets of technologic advance. Competitive advantage and the success of a product line largely hinges on the ability of a company to successfully provide products that are both increasingly functional and increasingly portable. As technology advances, it becomes increasingly possible to miniaturize electronic circuitry below human scale, with the result being that the interface alone (e.g., screens, keypads, cursor control devices) come to define the size of portable products. Therefore, the ergonomic quality and size of input devices (such as keypads) continue to have a growing significance to product acceptance and success.
One type of keypad or keyboard that provides a particularly space-efficient input means are Independent And Combination Key (IACK) keypads. IACK keypads have both independent and combination key regions, typically arranged in alternating rows and columns. An independent key, or independent key region, is an element of a keypad that, when pressed independent of adjacent keys, produces an associated output. By contrast, a combination key, or combination key region, is a keypad element with adjacent independent keys (such as at diagonally-oriented corners of the combination key region) that, when pressed in combination, produce an output associated with the combination key region. Typically, both independent and combination key regions will display graphics associated with their outputs.
IACK keypads represent an advance in keypad miniaturization, as they are readily configured to have an on-center distance between adjacent independent key regions about equal to one half the width of a typical adult human finger, or only about one-third of an inch.
One challenge of implementing such keypads is interpreting whether the user intends a combination or individual key output, especially in implementations with a desirably strong and definite tactile feedback, such as with polyester or metal snap dome keys. The discrete nature of such tactile feedback means may cause problems sensing combination key input when the finger is held at an angle during key actuation, as only one switch, or two adjacent and non-diagonally oriented switches, may be actuated when the underside of the keypad membrane "bottoms out" against the underlying printed circuit board (PCB), before activating a subset of independent keys necessary to identify the intended combination key. The result is that instead of registering the desired combination output, the system registers either an erroneous output of an independent key character, or nothing at all, in the case of two adjacent non-diagonally oriented keys.
Even when the finger is held correctly, some IACK keypads with strongly defined tactile feedback will, while providing an intended combination key output, produce a plurality of tactile or even audible "clicks" as the tactile elements actuate at slightly different times. Such multiple tactile or audible feedback is disconcerting, as it is inconsistent with the user's intent of indicating a single input. The result can be an unsatisfying tactile feedback experience.
Some successful IACK keypads employ rubber domes or other less defined tactile feedback means to "hide" the plurality of switch activations that occur during a combination key input. However, well-defined tactile feedback is highly desirable feature in many products, especially at the high-end of product lines. It is therefore highly desirable to provide a single, well-defined tactile feedback "click" for each IACK keypad input, whether the input is associated with a single independent key or a combination of adjacent keys.
Solutions to these and other keypad performance issues, both for IACK keypads and conventional keypads, are desired.
Some further background information regarding IACK keypad constructions can be found in my pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/862,948 filed May 22, 2001, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth.


A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device capable of improving injection efficiency and simplifying manufacturing process is provided. The device comprises a memory cell having second conductive type of first impurity diffusion area and second impurity diffusion area on a first conductive type of semiconductor substrate, between the first and second impurity diffusion areas, a first laminate section formed by laminating a first insulating film, a charge storage layer, a second insulating film and a first gate electrode in this order from the bottom, and a second laminate section formed by laminating a third insulating film and a second gate electrode in this order from the bottom, wherein an area sandwiched between the first and second laminate sections is the second conductive type of a third impurity diffusion area having impurity density lower than that of the first and second impurity diffusion areas and not higher than 5×1012 ions/cm2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a manufacturing method thereof and a method of programming information into the memory, in particular, to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device capable of performing electrical writing and erasure of information, a manufacturing method thereof and a method of programming information into the memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device which programs information using channel hot electrons and erases information using an FN (Fowler-Nordheim) tunneling current has been conventionally provided (Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,266 (hereinafter referred to as a known document 1), for example). FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a memory cell of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device described in the known document 1.
In the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device 90 having a conventional configuration as shown in FIG. 6, second conductive type (hereinafter referred to as an "N-type") of impurity diffusion areas 3, 4, and 91 are formed on a first conductive type of (hereinafter referred to as an "P-type") semiconductor substrate 2. A first insulating film 5 is deposited in the area sandwiched between the impurity diffusion area 91 and the impurity diffusion area 4 on the semiconductor substrate 2. A charge storage layer 6, a third insulating film 7 and a first gate electrode 8 are formed on the first insulating film 5 in this order. On the other hand, a second insulating film 9 is deposited in the area sandwiched between the impurity diffusion area 3 and the impurity diffusion area 91 on the semiconductor substrate 2. A second gate electrode 10 is formed on the second insulating film 9. The impurity diffusion area 91 is described to be in a high-density impurity state having the range of 2×1015 to 6×1015 ions/cm2.
With such configuration, the impurity diffusion area 3, the second insulating film 9, the second gate electrode 10 and the impurity diffusion area 91 form one transistor (hereinafter referred to as an "access transistor") 11. The impurity diffusion area 91, the second insulating film 5, the charge storage layer 6, the third insulating film 7, the first gate electrode 8 and the impurity diffusion area 4 form another transistor (hereinafter referred to as a "memory cell transistor") 12. The access transistor 11 is serially connected to the memory cell transistor 12 via the impurity diffusion area 91. The impurity diffusion area 4 is connected to a drain bit line and the impurity diffusion area 3 is connected to a source bit line.
An example of a method of driving the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device 90 thus constituted will be described. In an example of a programming method, a predetermined positive voltage is applied to the first gate electrode 8, the second gate electrode 10 and the impurity diffusion area 4 as a drain of a selected memory cell respectively, and the impurity diffusion area 3 as a source is connected to a ground voltage. At this time, a channel area is formed in each of portions under the first gate electrode 8 and the second gate electrode 10 on the semiconductor substrate 2. Thus, the access transistor 11 and the memory cell transistor 12 are put into a conductive state. At this time, since a pinch-off point where channel disappears occurs in the vicinity of the drain of the impurity diffusion area 91 and electrons drift through the point, a high electrical field is generated in the area near the drain due to a high potential difference between channel potential and drain potential. Since a positive voltage is applied to the first gate electrode 8, channel hot electrons are drawn toward the first gate electrode 8 and taken into the charge storage layer 6 so that information may be programmed. As described above, since it is necessary to concentrate the high potential difference on the portion near the drain and prevent voltage drop in the other areas as much as possible, the impurity density in the impurity diffusion area 91 must be high.
In an example of an erasing method, the impurity diffusion area 3 is opened and a predetermined negative voltage is applied to the second gate electrode 10 and the first gate electrode 8. A predetermined positive voltage is applied to the impurity diffusion area 4. As a result, a high potential difference occurs between the first gate electrode 8 and the impurity diffusion area 4, thereby generating a high electrical field between them. The high electrical field generates a current (FN current) tunneling through the first insulating film 5 to pull out the electrons held in the charge storage layer 6 toward the impurity diffusion area 4. Thus, stored information is erased.
In an example of a reading method, by applying a positive voltage to the impurity diffusion area 4, the first gate electrode 8 and the second gate electrode 10 and grounding the impurity diffusion area 3, current amount passing through the source line is detected. When information is stored in the memory cell transistor 12, electrons are held in the charge storage layer 6. Thus, compared with an initial state (no electrons are held in the charge storage layer 6, that is, no information is stored), a threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor 12 rises. In other words, since the current amount passing through the selected memory cell transistor 12 varies depending on whether information is stored in the memory cell transistor 12 or not, it is possible to determine whether information is programmed into the memory cell or not by detecting the current amount from the source line.
However, according to the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device described in the known document 1, information is programmed by injecting channel hot electrons. Thus, in programming, the current amount of 100 μA or more per memory cell and high voltage applied to the impurity diffusion area 4 serving as the drain are required. This is because it is necessary to give enough energy to cross an energy barrier of the first insulating film 5 to the electrons by forming a pinch-off area in the vicinity of impurity diffusion area 4 to constitute a high electrical field state and thus increasing the speed of electrons moving in the channel within the high electrical field in the pinch-off area. However, according to this method, energy necessary for crossing the energy barrier of the first insulating film 5 is given to the electrons, resulting in that excessive energy is given to the electrons with high voltage between the drain and the source. For this reason, the above-mentioned large current amount is needed. As a result, disadvantageously, injection efficiency becomes low.
In consideration with this, a nonvolatile semiconductor device capable of improving injection efficiency by adding a certain characteristic to configuration has been conventionally provided (Refer to, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2862434 (hereinafter referred to as a known document 2) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,541 (hereinafter referred to as a known document 3).
FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic sectional views of a memory cell of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having conventional configuration described in the known document 2 and the known document 3. FIG. 7A shows the memory cell described in the known document 2 and FIG. 7B shows the memory cell described in the known document 3.
As shown in FIG. 7A, in a memory cell 94 having conventional configuration described in the known document 2, the second gate electrode 10 and the charge storage layer 6 in the form of a side spacer are formed between the impurity diffusion area 4 as a drain and the impurity diffusion area 3 as a source. A first gate electrode 8 is formed so as to cover these elements.
As shown in FIG. 7B, in a memory cell 95 having conventional configuration described in the known document 3, a part of the second gate electrode 10 extends above the first gate electrode 8 between the impurity diffusion area 4 as a drain and the impurity diffusion area 3 as a source. Thus, the gate electrodes in the area constitute a two-layer structure in which the first gate electrode 8 is situated next to a part of the second gate electrode 10 on the side wall of the first gate electrode 8 via an insulating film.
With such configuration as shown in FIG. 7A or 7B, in a state where a positive voltage is applied to the impurity diffusion area 4 as the drain and the impurity diffusion area 3 as the source is connected to a ground voltage, a positive voltage is applied to the second gate electrode 10 and the first gate electrode 8 in this order. A channel formed in an area under the second gate electrode 10 is put into a weak inversion state by applying the positive voltage to the second gate electrode 10 and a channel formed in an area under the first gate electrode 8 is put into a strong inversion state by applying the positive voltage to the first gate electrode 8. Since a high electrical field occurs in the vicinity of these boundaries, electrons fed from the side of the source (impurity diffusion area 3) are excited in this high electrical field and injected to the charge storage layer 6 from the source, thereby programming information (source-side injection). As compared with the method described in the known document 1, this method enables injection efficiency to be improved by about one digit.
However, in both the configurations described in the known document 2 and the known document 3, as shown in FIG. 7A or 7B, disadvantageously, two-layer gate materials are deposited so that the first gate electrode 8 may be situated next to a part of the second gate electrode 10 on the side wall of the first gate electrode 8 via an insulating film, resulting in a complicated manufacturing process. When the first and second gate electrodes are formed on the same layer to simplify the manufacturing process, the distance between the first and second gate electrodes becomes too large. Thus, it becomes difficult to control the inversion state of the surface of the first conductive type of semiconductor substrate in the area between the gate electrodes. As a result, since minority carrier density is greatly lowered, the current necessary for programming cannot be disadvantageously ensured.

Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, manufacturing method thereof and method of programming information into the memory device


Methods, systems, and computer program products for generating semi-automated visual analytics solutions are provided herein. A computer-implemented method includes automatically transforming a first version of specifications for visualization of a data analysis task being performed by a user into one or more subsequent versions of the specifications, wherein the transforming is based on data analysis visualization design guidelines; outputting at least one of the subsequent versions of the specifications to the user; processing user inputs, in response to the at least one outputted subsequent version of the specifications; automatically transforming the at least one outputted subsequent version of the specifications into one or more additional versions of the specifications based on the processing of the user inputs; and iteratively outputting the additional versions of the specifications until an indication of user satisfaction is obtained.

The practice of data science can be ad hoc and agile, wherein needs and requirements evolve continuously and can be resolved through collaboration among multiple entities. To support such practice, visual analytics systems need to similarly evolve, as data, users, tasks, media, visualizations, and interaction capabilities change.
With respect to visual analytics, users of different backgrounds can interact with a multitude of data represented through a series of visualizations to support individual analytic tasks. Such interactions can occur on different devices, and can dynamically change as the analysis changes in connection with different users, task changes, new data, and new visualizations. However, challenges exist in supporting users through a visual analytics process via interactive visual interfaces, given ad hoc practices and continuously evolving needs and requirements.
Existing approaches are limited in that such approaches commonly consider only human perception-based guidelines, are not based on a formal language, and match merely to a limited set of solutions.

Generating semi-automated visual analytics solutions

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Oraanisation


A method of managing a distributed system comprises: in response to receiving data that changes in a first memory region of a client, updating data in a second memory region with the received data based on a mapping between the first memory region and the second memory region; in response to receiving a calling request for a computing node in a server from the client, causing the computing node to perform a processing step based on the updated data in the second memory region; determining data that changes after the processing step in the second memory region; and transmitting, to the client, the data that changes after the processing step, such that the client updates the data in the first memory region based on the mapping.

Applications on a client device may be designed for utilizing computing resources such as processing and storage resources for accomplishing processing or analysis tasks of various types. With the increase of demand and complexity of computing tasks such as deep learning, high performance computing, machine learning, data mining and so on, a large amount of and/or variable computing nodes are needed to satisfy operations of corresponding applications, which may be realized by a machine or a system having a plurality of computing nodes. For example, a cloud-based distributed system has been developed, which includes a host having one or more computing nodes. Different clients may rent the computing nodes of the system as needed so as to run their respective applications.
In addition, with the development of computer technologies, the type of computing nodes becomes richer and richer and is no longer limited to traditional computing nodes, such as computing nodes with a central processing unit. For instance, in recent years, the computing capability of a graphic processing unit (GPU) has become more and more powerful. Based on its specific attributes, the GPU is particularly well-suited for performing large-scale data computation in aspects such as deep learning, machine learning and the like. However, for most client devices, performances of their GPUs are generally rather limited and these devices do not have a processing capability with high performance. Meanwhile, a GPU with high performance is usually very expensive. Therefore, studies are more and more focused on how to more effectively utilize the computing capability of the high-performance GPU used by remote devices to process local computing tasks.

Method, device and computer program product for managing distributed system


A fabric pressure switch includes a first resilient conductive tissue, a second resilient conductive tissue, and a support tissue. The support tissue is arranged between and connects the first resilient conductive tissue and the second resilient conductive tissue. The first resilient conductive tissue, the second resilient conductive tissue, and the support tissue are unitarily combined through knitting to form the fabric pressure switch.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional detection element 1 for physiological examination comprises a base layer 10 and an electrically conductive layer 11 formed on the base layer 10. To use, the electrically conductive layer is attached to human skin surface to detect a signal generated by the human body. However, the electrically conductive 11 of such a detection element 1 is generally of poor resiliency and has poor electrical conductivity with human skin is poor, making it difficult to detect the signal generated by the human body and also making wear uncomfortable. As shown in FIG. 2, an improvement is made such that a resilient layer 12 is arranged between the electrically conductive layer 11 and the base layer 10 so that contact tightness between the electrically conductive layer 11 and human skin can be improved with the resilient layer 12. Further, a moisture-retaining material is also included in the layer to make the layer also function moisture retaining thereby improving electrical conductivity of the electrically conductive layer 11. However, since the resilient layer 12 and the electrically conductive layer 11 are two separate layers, moisture must penetrate through the electrically conductive layer 11 before being absorbed by the resilient layer 12. Consequently, the absorbability of moisture is affected. When the resilient layer 12 releases water between the electrically conductive layer 11 and human skin, the release of water is also affected by being blocked by the electrically conductive layer 11. Further, since the resilient layer 12 and the electrically conductive layer 11 are two separate layers that are bonded to each other by an external force (such as adhesion). These layers are easily detached from each other due to the high humidity long maintained by the resilient layer 12, making the detection element 1 losing its function. However, said method is to stick the detection element 1 to a garment. When a user wearing the garment, the detection element 1 is probably contact the user's body without pressure to cause the wrong detection.
In view of this problem, the present invention aims to provide a structure that possesses the characteristics of resiliency, electrical conduction, and detection when taking a quantity of pressure in order to achieve the goal of improving electrical conduction and lifespan of product.

King's Metal Fiber Technologies Co., Ltd.


A joint structure for removably attaching a ball member to an end of a bar member to form a truss structure is disclosed having an engagement member attached to the ball member, which engagement member has an exterior portion extending outwardly of the outer surface of the ball member, and an attachment device associated with the end of the bar member which removably engages the exterior portion of the engagement member. The joint structure according to the present invention may be utilized with bar members with or without tension rods extending through the bar member. The ball structure may be a spherical shell made of metal or fiber reinforced plastic which is located within a hollow concrete sphere. The spherical shell is not removed from the interior of the concrete sphere, but, instead, is used to increase the tensile force resistance of the ball member. The spherical shell may be imbedded in the ball member at the time of forming the concrete ball and can be used as a molding core.

The present invention relates to a joint for a truss structure, more particularly such a joint for removably attaching a ball member to an end of a bar member to form a truss structure.
It is known to submerge truss structures under water to form an artificial habitat for fish, or for minimizing the erosion effect of waves on the undersea terrain. Truss structures are typically made by joining a plurality of bar members together by means of concrete balls. The bar member may comprise a concrete cylinder through which a tension member, such as a tension cable, extends. The ends of the tension cable may be attached to the concrete balls at opposite ends of the bar member so that tensile forces exerted on the bar member are borne by the tension cable, while compression forces exerted thereon are borne by the concrete cylinder.
The conventional truss structure elements are difficult to assemble, since the ends of the tension member extending through the bar must be attached to the ball member. This is usually accomplished by a press fitting connection between projection members fixed on the end of the tension member which must be inserted into holes on the ball member.
Another disadvantage of the known truss joints is their poor assembly accuracy caused by the inability of the connecting mechanisms to facilitate adjusting the length of the tension member.
Additional disadvantages involve the fabrication of the concrete ball member. Since the concrete ball used in conventional truss structures is made in a hollow spherical shape to compensate for the difference in specific weights between concrete and sea water, it must be formed around a spherical core. This spherical core is extremely difficult to remove from the concrete ball member.
As is well known in the art, concrete is strong against compression forces, but is weak against tensile forces. Therefore, a concrete ball member cannot bear large tensile forces. Thus, it is quite desirable to provide a ball member having simplified construction, while at the same time increasing its strength against tensile forces.


A document platen. A support member supports an end portion of the document platen from below in a sub scanning direction. A sensor module has a first protruding portion protruding in the sub scanning direction. The sensor module includes a first sensor, and a second sensor being shorter than the first sensor in length and being housed into the first protruding portion. A transport unit transports the sensor module in the sub scanning direction. When the sensor module is transported to an end part in the sub scanning direction, the support member is housed into a space disposed at a side of the first protruding portion in a main scanning direction.

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus.
An image reading apparatus (see JP-A-2001-133906) mounted with a contact image sensor module has heretofore been known. Since an optical system of the contact image sensor module has a short optical path, it is easy to reduce the size of the image reading apparatus.
However, since the contact image sensor module has a shallow depth field, the image reading apparatus cannot clearly read a document placed at a position away from a platen surface of a document platen. For example, an image reading apparatus described in JP-A-2001-133906 cannot clearly read a 35 mm film or the like held by a holder.
Image reading apparatuses described in JP-A-2003-37712 and JP-A-2003-37713, each including a plurality of optical systems, can clearly read a reflective document and a transmissive document by changing an optical path in response to the document. However, the image reading apparatuses described in JP-A-2003-37712 and JP-A-2003-37713, the optical systems of which have a complex configuration and a long optical path, have the problem in which they are high in manufacturing cost and unfit for a reduction in size.
A first linear image sensor and a second linear image sensor are disposed to provide a configuration such that an optical image of a document placed on the platen surface of the document platen is focused onto the first linear image sensor, and such that an optical image of a document placed at a position away from the platen surface of the document platen is focused onto the second linear image sensor. Such a configuration makes it possible to clearly read the document placed on the platen surface of the document platen and the document placed at a position away from the platen surface of the document platen.
When provided with the two linear image sensors parallel to each other, the contact image sensor module is increased in size in a sub scanning direction. As the contact image sensor module is increased in size in the sub scanning direction, when a support supports an end portion of the document platen in the sub scanning direction, it follows that the support must be displaced in the sub scanning direction so as not to hinder when the contact image sensor module has been transported to an end. However, when the support is displaced in the sub scanning direction, the document platen must be extended in the sub scanning direction by an amount equivalent to the displacement, which raises the problem of an increase in size of the document platen.


For many applications pressure-medium cylinders have to achieve high adjusting forces which often impairs the dynamics of such cylinders due to the large piston cross sections and cylinder volumes, and/or pressure medium has to be supplied at very high pressure. The present invention shows a pressure-medium cylinder which has short reaction times, high adjusting forces and small overall sizes, which is achieved in that two cylinders 5, 8 are arranged in the pressure-medium cylinder 1, which cylinders can be activated independently of one another.

The present invention relates to a pressure-medium cylinder with pressure intensification, the pressure-medium cylinder having arranged in it two cylinders which are separate from one another and in each of which a piston is arranged, and the piston of the first cylinder having a piston rod which is operatively connected to the second cylinder for the increase in pressure, and to a use of such a pressure-medium cylinder as an adjusting cylinder in a roll stand, and also to a method for operating and regulating such a pressure-medium cylinder.
For specific applications, for example in roll stands, pressure-medium cylinders have to be capable of applying high forces and/or of being regulatable exactly in position. For this purpose, a pressure-medium cylinder, for example a hydraulic cylinder, with a piston of large cross section may be provided, and/or the pressure-medium cylinder must be supplied with pressure medium which is under high pressure. In the first instance, the pressure-medium cylinder becomes very large, and, in the second instance, the operation of the pressure-medium system involves a high outlay. Furthermore, where large cylinders are concerned, a large quantity of pressure medium has to be moved, with the result that the dynamics of such cylinders, that is to say the time for executing adjusting movements of the cylinder, are impaired.
DE 36 30 725 A, then, discloses, for example, a pressure intensification for increasing the pressure in the hydraulic supply line to a hydraulic cylinder. Here, however, the pressure intensifier operates pneumatically, thus necessitating two different supply media and the installations associated with this. The problems described above, however, cannot be solved by means of such pressure intensifiers.
WO 02/053920 A2 shows a hydraulic or hydropneumatic pressure intensifier which combines a low-pressure cylinder and a working cylinder in a housing. In such a pressure intensifier, however, the two pistons cannot be activated independently of one another. Only the low-pressure cylinder which transmits the movement to a working piston can be activated. This, however, also restricts the latitude of movement of the working cylinder, or large volumes and dimensions are again required, with the result that, once more, the dynamics would be impaired. Moreover, the pressure medium for the working cylinder is not supplied from outside, but is enclosed in the pressure intensifier, which may lead to problems with leakage losses, and the pressure medium has to be regularly topped up.
US 2002/0029569 Ai discloses a hydraulic working cylinder, in which a hydraulically activated pressure amplifier piston increases the hydraulic pressure on the working cylinder. In addition, a path measurement system for controlling the piston positions is described. In this case, however, the position of only one piston can be detected.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,267 discloses a cylinder which has two pistons operatively connected to one another. Each piston rod has its own measuring device, so a more complex measuring apparatus is required.

Pressure-medium cylinder with pressure intensification

VOEST-ALPINE Industrieanlagenbau GmbH & Co.


A co-rotating self-cleaning two-screw extruder with a gradual number of threads and through self-cleaning function, and a processing method using the same, are disclosed. The screw assembly in the extruder includes a first screw (3) and a second screw (4) that co-rotate at the same speed in engagement; the first screw (3) includes a first single threaded element, a first transition element, a multiple threaded element, a second transition element and a second single threaded element that are connected in sequence; and the second screw (4) includes a first single threaded element, a third transition element, a multiple threaded element, a fourth transition element and a second single threaded element that are connected in sequence. The materials are transferred by rotation of the first (3) and second screws (4), and get their respective compositions mixed based on the structure of a gradual number of threads; with the flow passage expanded, contracted and re-expanded in shape in sequence, the materials undergo the single-to-multiple threaded, multiple-to-single threaded and again single-to-multiple threaded chaotic mixing in sequence; and the first and second screws achieve the self-cleaning effect by wiping each other.

A co-rotating two-screw extruder with the self-cleaning function is nowadays a widely used mixing processing device. Such a device mainly includes a barrel and two screws mounted in parallel in a barrel chamber of the barrel. In order to produce high-shearing enhanced mixing, a multiple threaded structure is mostly used in the traditional practice, which leads to several independent flow passages into which the materials are separated while they are transferred forward; for example, a double threaded screw may divide the flow passage in the barrel into three flow passages not in communication with each other, which makes the materials move forward along the respective flow passages during the transmission without mixing. In this way, nonuniform division of the feed composition may cause that the materials entering different flow passages have nonuniform composition; this situation cannot be improved by mixing the materials with each other while they are moving forward, and is thus usually a key factor leading to unstable product quality. Only in a zone provided with a kneading block can the materials be mixed with each other, but the kneading block may result in problems such as high-friction heat and a sudden surge in the motor current caused by gap deformation at a high rotational speed, as well as high shearing, material accumulation, dead space and the reduced self-cleaning effect. On the other hand, determined by the geometric engaging relation, a multiple threaded screw may also cause the spiral groove to become shallow and reduce the production. A traditional co-rotating two-screw extruder provides disturbance only in the engaging zone to improve the mixing quality, but lacks the chaotic mixing enhance mechanism in a zone far away from the engaging zone. Besides, the materials have the consistent volume in the left and right spiral grooves, which cannot introduce the elongation force field, cutting distribution and other action mechanisms; the main part of the spiral groove capacity lacks the structure effectively improving the mixing effect, disenabling the distributive mixing effect to be further improved, and lacks the elongation force field effect, resulting in the nonideal dispersive mixing effect. Moreover, the processing course of the two-screw extruder is mostly in a non-filled state, and the almost unchanged flow passage makes the plasticating mixing effect of the materials greatly discounted; in order to improve the mixing effect and production, high shearing is achieved by the high rotational speed in the engineering practice; however, a big length-diameter ratio screw prolongs the processing course, which results in high energy consumption, low efficiency and material degradation, and many other issues.

Co-rotating self-cleaning two-screw extruder with a gradual number of threads and through self-cleaning function, and a processing method using the same


A vehicle light bulb has a glass bulb and a base for receiving the glass bulb. A flat portion is used to seal a bottom of the glass bulb, and at least one filament is provided inside the bulb and connected between two legs that extend out the flat portion. The base is mainly made up of a holder and a plate extending from a bottom of the holder, wherein the holder has a top defined with a slot for receiving the flat portion. At least two apertures are defined in a bottom of the plate. When the glass bulb is received in the base, the two legs individually extend through the apertures so as to electrically connect in a socket of a vehicle light, such as a brake light.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle light bulb applied to automobiles and other types of vehicles.
2. Related Art
With reference to FIG. 5, a conventional automobile light bulb comprises a glass bulb (40) and a base (41) that securely receives the glass bulb (40) therein. Two filaments (42,42xe2x80x2) each connected between two respective conducting legs (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) are provided in the glass bulb (40), wherein each conducting leg (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) has a wire (not shown) that extends into the base (41). Usually, the wires extending from the conducting legs (43a, 43c) are connected together to form a common wire. When the glass bulb (40) is adhered to the base, the common wire is disposed to electrically connect with the inner wall of the base (41), wherein the base (41) is made of conductive material and is used as one electrode, such as a cathode. Other wires, which extend from the conducting legs (43b, 43d), are electrically connected to a conductive point (44) formed on the bottom of the base (41), wherein the conductive point (44) is used as the other electrode, such as an anode.
When the conventional automobile light bulb is being installed in a socket of a signal light, such as a brake light or a turn signal, the base (41) and the conductive point (44) are respectively and electrically connected to the cathode and anode of the socket. Thus the automobile light bulb is activated when the socket is provided with power.
However, such a structure of the conventional light bulb has some defects that need to be overcome. When the glass bulb (40) is adhered with the base (41) by using viscose, one essential point is that the common wire must be electrically connected with the base (41) well, if not, the light bulb will not light up.
Another defect appears at the time when the conventional light bulb is being installed in the socket. With reference to FIG. 5, two stubs (45) are further symmetrically formed on an outer periphery of the base (41). The installation of the light bulb into the socket is as follows. The glass bulb (40) is gripped by a user and the base (41) is pushed into the socket, whereafter the glass bulb (40) is rotated so as to find a proper position whereby the two stubs (45) are able to engage with the corresponding mechanism in the socket.
Since the connection between the glass bulb (40) and the base (45) is only achieved by the viscose, once the light bulb has been installed and detached from the socket several times, the glass bulb (40) and the base (45) may separate due to the torque between the bulb and the base. An even worse situation is that once the light bulb is damaged and needs to be replaced with a new one, the separated base (44) may possibly still remain in the socket and be very hard to take out, thus the replacement of the light bulb becomes very difficult.
Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicle light bulb to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the invention is to provide a vehicle light bulb that is convenient to install in or detach from a socket of a signal light in a vehicle.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A method for data storage includes accepting write commands belonging to a storage operation invoked by a host computer, and caching the write commands in a volatile memory that is powered by external electrical power. A current execution status of the storage operation is also cached in the volatile memory. Responsively to an interruption of the external electrical power during the storage operation, the cached write commands and the cached execution status are backed up in a non-volatile memory. Upon resumption of the external electrical power, the backed up execution status is recovered, so as to resume the interrupted storage operation.

The present invention relates generally to data storage, and particularly to methods and systems for protecting cached data against loss of electrical power.
Various methods and systems for data storage are known in the art. A typical storage application accepts Input/Output (I/O) commands (e.g., read and write commands) from a host, and executes the commands vis-à-vis a storage device, such as a disk. Some data storage systems employ caching techniques, which cache read and/or write commands in volatile memory before committing them to disk. Caching techniques generally improve the I/O access time of the system and the efficiency of the storage process.


A system for controlling exhaust flow from an internal combustion engine powering a marine propulsion device includes a primary exhaust conduit having an upstream end receiving exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine and a downstream end discharging exhaust gas to a body of water via a gearcase housing. A bypass exhaust conduit has an upstream end receiving exhaust gas from the primary exhaust conduit and a downstream end discharging exhaust gas from a bypass outlet of the marine propulsion device. A bypass valve is selectively openable to allow exhaust gas to flow through the bypass conduit. A control module is in signal communication with the bypass valve. The control module opens the bypass valve to divert the exhaust gas through the bypass conduit and out the bypass outlet in response to selection of a control mode of the marine propulsion device other than a default lever control mode.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,324 discloses an engine-driven outboard propulsion unit having a reversible propeller to selectively drive the propulsion unit in forward and reverse directions and passage means for conducting the exhaust gases from the engine through said unit, a pair of underwater discharge openings for said propulsion unit and respectively disposed fore and aft of the propeller to provide for selective exhaust discharge into the outflow of the propeller slipstream regardless of the direction of propulsion unit operation and thereby assure a solid flow of water to the propeller in both forward and reverse directions of operation of the propulsion unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,998,663 discloses an outboard motor and a method of making an outboard motor including providing an exhaust conduit having a first end that receives exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine and a second end that discharges exhaust gas to seawater via a propeller shaft housing outlet. An exhaust conduit opening is formed in the exhaust conduit between the first and second ends. The exhaust conduit opening is for discharging exhaust gas from the exhaust conduit to atmosphere via a driveshaft housing of the outboard motor and via an idle exhaust relief outlet and a driveshaft housing outlet in the driveshaft housing. The driveshaft housing outlet is vertically located between the propeller shaft housing outlet and the idle exhaust relief outlet. A cooling pump pumps cooling water from a cooling water inlet for cooling the internal combustion engine to a cooling water outlet for discharging cooling water from the outboard motor. The exhaust conduit opening and cooling water outlet are configured such that the cooling water collects by gravity in the driveshaft housing to a level that is above the exhaust conduit opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,944,376 discloses exhaust systems for outboard marine engines that are configured to propel a marine vessel in a body of water. An intermediate exhaust conduit is configured to receive the exhaust gas from the primary exhaust conduit. A primary muffler receives the exhaust gas from an intermediate exhaust conduit. A secondary muffler receives the exhaust gas from the primary muffler. An idle relief outlet discharges the exhaust gas from the secondary muffler to atmosphere. A bypass valve is positionable into an open position wherein the exhaust gas is permitted to bypass the secondary muffler and flow from the primary muffler to the idle relief outlet and into a closed position wherein the exhaust gas is not permitted to bypass the secondary muffler and instead flows from the primary muffler to the idle relief outlet via the secondary muffler.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,724,410 discloses a marine propulsion device including an internal combustion engine powering the marine propulsion device and an engine compartment containing the engine. A primary exhaust passageway routes exhaust gas away from the engine and out of the engine compartment. A sound enhancement assembly communicates with the primary exhaust passageway. The sound enhancement assembly includes a sound enhancement device tuned to amplify exhaust sounds of a predetermined frequency and a sound duct downstream of the sound enhancement device that transmits the amplified exhaust sounds to an area outside the engine compartment. The sound enhancement device isolates the sound duct from the exhaust gas. A method for modifying sounds produced by an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine is also disclosed.
Unpublished U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/936,671, filed Mar. 27, 2018, discloses a marine drive having a primary exhaust outlet on its lower gearcase that discharges a primary flow of exhaust gas from the engine to seawater in which the marine drive is situated. A secondary exhaust outlet is located on the marine drive above the primary exhaust outlet and discharges a secondary flow of exhaust gas from the engine to atmosphere around the marine drive at least when the engine is operated at an idle speed. A tertiary exhaust outlet is located on the marine drive between the primary and secondary exhaust outlets, and discharges a tertiary flow of exhaust gas from the engine to the seawater or to the atmosphere depending upon a current location of the tertiary exhaust outlet with respect to the seawater. A muffler is configured to reduce noise emanating from the tertiary exhaust outlet.
Patents describing various joysticking, autopilot, station-keeping, and waypoint tracking features and related system and methods include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,267,068; 7,305,928; 7,561,886; 8,050,630; 8,417,399; 8,694,248; 8,777,681; 8,807,059; 8,924,054; 9,039,468; 9,132,903; 9,248,898; 9,377,780; 9,733,645; and 9,927,520.
Each of the above patents and applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

System and method for controlling exhaust flow from an internal combustion engine


Disclosed is a method of treating disorders which have prominent symptoms of behavioral disinhibition (e.g., Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Tourette's Syndrome, Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome, or the disinhibitory symptoms accompanying Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or dementia) in a primate with minimal sedative side effects by administering thereto a therapeutically effective amount of lofexidine.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity is a major disorder of childhood which often continues into the adult years. Patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity have difficulty concentrating and organizing their behavior. In addition, they are impulsive and easily distracted. Some display major hyperactivity while others outgrow or never show the motor symptoms. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity affects about 3.5 million children and adolescents in the United States, about half of whom retain attentional difficulties into adulthood (Cantwell and Baker, 1988). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity can result in low self-esteem, poor relationships with peers and adults, and inferior performance in school. These difficulties can lead to serious emotional problems, truancy, drug abuse and criminal behavior (Pelham and Murphy, 1986). Moreover, the symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity commonly accompany those of Conduct Disorder (inappropriate aggression) and Tourette's Syndrome (inappropriate movements). Many of these same symptoms of disinhibited, inappropriate behaviors are also observed in elderly, demented individuals (e.g., agitation, wandering, inappropriate aggression). These disinhibited behaviors pose a serious problem to nursing homes and other caregivers.
This spectrum of disinhibited behaviors may arise from a dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex (Arnsten, A. F. T., Steere, J. C., Hunt R. D., (1996). The contribution of alpha-2 noradrenergic mechanisms to prefrontal cortical cognitive function: Potential significance to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 53:448-455.). The prefrontal cortex projects to the brain's motor areas (striatum, motor cortices; Goldman-Rakic, P. S. et al., (1992) The Prefrontal Cortex and Internally Generated Motor Acts, Current Opinion Neurobiol. 2:830-835) and thus functions to guide behavior appropriately. In addition, the prefrontal cortex may perform this function for intellectual and affective behaviors. Degeneration of the prefrontal cortex may produce disinhibited behavior in elderly demented individuals, while altered development of these systems may lead to childhood disorders such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity, Conduct Disorder, and Tourette's Syndrome.
The ventromedial/orbital PFC (vm/orbPFC) is thought to play an essential role in behavioral calming, and thus drugs which improve vm/orbPFC function may represent an important advance in pharmacological treatment for behavioral disorders. In particular, treatments that improve vm/orbPFC function may be able to calm behavior without inducing sedation. In contrast to the dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC) which is important for attention regulation, the vm/orbPFC is thought to be more involved in regulation of emotional behavior and suppression of inappropriate behaviors. Lesions of vmPFC and/or orbital PFC in humans can produce immature behavior, lack of restraint, and increased motor activity (e.g. Blumer & Benson, 1975); Luria, 1966; Miller, 1992; Stuss et al., 1992). In monkeys, lesions localized to the ventral surface of the PFC have also been shown to produce locomotor hyperactivity (Ruch & Shenkin, 1943), hyper-reactivity to environmental stimulation, and altered aggression (Butter et al., 1970). These cortical areas have strong reciprocal connections with the amygdala (e.g. Morecraft et al., 1992), providing an opportunity to regulate the expression of aggressive and emotional behavior. Lesions of the vm/orbPFC impair reversal of object or spatial discrimination problems without altering original acquisition performance (Dias et al., 1996; Iversen & Mishkin, 1970; McEnancy & Butter, 1969; Mishkin et al., 1969; Oscar-Berman, 1978; Ridley et al., 1993). Impaired reversal performance is especially persistent following orbital PFC lesions (Butter, 1969; Iversen & Mishkin, 1970). Importantly, monkeys with orbital lesions are also disproportionately impaired in suppressing a response to a preferred stimulus independent of baiting conditions produced by the experimenter (Mishkin, 1964). Aged monkeys are also impaired on reversal, but not acquisition of discrimination problems, consistent with orbital PFC dysfunction with age (Bartus et al., 1979; Rapp, 1990).
Because recent research efforts have focused almost exclusively on developing treatments for the memory problems of dementia, there have been few new treatments for this spectrum of disorders. This focus has resulted in little research directed to the disorders of childhood. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity is usually treated with methylphenidate (Ritalin.TM. commercially available from Ciba Pharmaceutical), an amphetamine-like compound which is helpful for many patients (Hunt et al., 1991). However, methylphenidate has many deleterious side-effects including insomnia, appetite suppression, irritability, attentional "sticking", perseverative thoughts, increased aggression, and stunted growth (Hunt, R. D. (1988) Attention Deficit Disorder: Diagnosis, Assessment and Treatment. In Handbook of Clinical Assessment of Children and Adolescents--A Biopsychosocial Approach. C. Kestenbaum and D. Williams (eds.), pp. 519-561; McBurnett et al., 1991; Tannock and Schachar, 1992). Moreover, methylphenidate is contraindicated in patients with Conduct Disorder or Tourette's Syndrome because it can aggravate aggression and tics. Because many patients cannot tolerate methylphenidate, or find it only partially effective, alternative medications would be beneficial.
One alternative treatment for behavioral disorders has been the alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, clonidine (Hunt, R. D. et al., (1985) Clonidine Benefits Children with Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity: Report of a Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study, J. Amer. Acad. Child Psych., 24(5):617-629; 1986). Clonidine is particularly useful in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity patients who are very aggressive and/or highly aroused (Hunt, R. D. et al., (1990) Clonidine in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, J. Child & Adol. Psychopharm., 1:87-101). However, it also has significant adverse side effects, including hypotension, "withdrawal" effects due to its short half life, and excessive sedation (ibid). It has been commonly assumed that the sedative action of clonidine is responsible for its beneficial effects in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity patients. It was presumed that clonidine attenuates noradrenergic tone, thereby decreasing arousal to near optimal levels (ibid). It was also presumed that clonidine improved Tourette's syndrome by a similar mechanism (Leckman, J. F. et al., (1989) Clonidine Treatment of Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome, Arch. Gen. Psychiatry, 48 324-328). Thus, even though the sedation itself often interfered with academic performance and other activities, the sedative side effects of clonidine treatment were thought to be essential for the beneficial effects of the drug.
Guanfacine, another alpha -2 adrenergic agonist, is less sedating than clonidine in monkeys (Arnsten, A. F. T. et al. (1988) The alpha-2 adrenergic agonist guanfacine improves memory in aged monkeys without sedative or hypotensive side effects: Evidence for alpha-2 receptor subtypes, J. Neurosci., 8: 4287-4298) and in humans (Kugler, J. et al., (1980) Differences in Psychic Performance with Guanfacine and Clonidine in Normotensive Subjects, Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 99:803-809). However, because clonidine was presumed to have its beneficial effects through its sedating actions, guanfacine was assumed to be less effective than clonidine in treating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity and related disorders. Very low doses of guanfacine (e.g. 0.00001-0.001 mg/kg) or moderate does of clonidine (about 0.01-0.05 mg/kg) improve working memory performance in aged monkeys without hypotensive or sedative side effects (Arnsten, A. F. T. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,300 which is incorporated herein by reference; Arnsten, A. F. T. et al., (1985) Alpha-2 adrenergic mechanisms in prefrontal cortex associated with cognitive decline in aged non-human primates, Science, 230:1273-1276; Arnsten, A. F. T. et al., (1988) The alpha-2 adrenergic agonist guanfacine improves memory in aged monkeys without sedative or hypotensive side effects: Evidence for alpha-2 receptor subtypes, J. Neurosci., 8:4287-4298). In addition, very low doses (0.000011-0.0011 mg/kg) of guanfacine enhanced working memory and attention regulation in aged monkeys (Arnsten, A. F. T. et al., (1992) Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists decrease distractibility in aged monkeys performing a delayed response task, Psychopharm. 108:159-169). The beneficial effects of guanfacine were particularly evident under conditions where distracting stimuli were present (ibid).
Lofexidine (2-{.alpha.-(2,6-dichlorphenoxy)-ethyl}-AE.sup.2 -imidazoline) is an investigational .alpha.-2-adrenergic agonist which is an antihypertensive similar to clonidine. Animal studies have shown that lofexidine lowers blood pressure (Burke J T, Koch-Weser J (1977) Lofexidine, a new centrally acting antihypertensive. Clin Pharmacol Ther 21: 99-100; Timmerman PBNWN, van Zweitan PA (1981). Correlations between central and hypotension and peripheral hypertensive effects of structuraly dissimilar alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists. Life Sci 28: 653-660; Graf E, Doppelfeld I S, Prop G (1982) Animal experiments on the cardiovascular effects of lofexidine. Arzneimittel-Forschung 32: 941-955), and some animal studies have shown that lofexidine may be less sedating than clonidine (Graf E, Sieck A, Wenzl H and Winkelmann J (1982) Animal experiments on the safety pharmacology of lofexidine. Arzneimittel-Forschung 32: 931-940). Clinical studies (Lopez, L M and Mehta J L (1984) AM. J. Cardiol 53: 787-790) have shown that lofexidine is significantly less potent than clonidine in decreasing blood pressure in hypertensive patients (lofexidine mean dose of 0.83 mg.+-.0.54 mg twice daily; clonidine mean dose 0.48.+-.0.29 mg twice daily). Lofexidine also produced fewer side effects than clonidine. In particular, clonidine produced significantly more dizziness and drowsiness than lofexidine (ibid; and Wilkins L H, Winternitz S R, Oparil S, Smith L R and Dustan H P (1981) Lofexidine and clonidine in moderate essential hypertension. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 30: 752-807). Lofexidine is also under investigational use for the treatment of opiate withdrawal (reviewed in Cox S and Alcorn R (1995) Lofexidine and opioid withdrawal. Lancet 345: 1385-1386). These studies indicate that lofexidine can decrease withdrawal signs with fewer sedative and hypotensive side effects than clonidine (Washton A M, Resnick R B, Geyer G (1983) Opiate withdrawal using lofexidine, a clonidine analogue with fewer side effects. J Clin Psychiatry 44: 335-337).
Because of the large patient population suffering from behavioral disinhibition and the deficiencies associated with existing therapies, a significant need exists for a method of treating behavioral disinhibition having a low incidence of adverse side-effects, especially sedation.

Use of lofexidine in the treatment of behavioral disorders