Methods for the continuous determination of the properties of a flow of wood fibers for use in the production of fiberboard are disclosed including determining reference value characteristics for calibration samples of the fibers, determining predetermined relationships between those reference value characteristics and measured spectral values for the fibers utilizing multivariant statistical regression methods, measuring reflectance spectral values for the fibers illuminated by light, and determining the fiber characteristics relating to the properties from the measured spectral values utilizing the predetermined relationship.

Properties such as fiber moisture content, resin content, optical characteristics and fiber characteristics, such as shives and fiber length distribution, are generally known to affect the quality and properties of the finished fiberboard. Appropriate and, in particular, a stable fiber moisture content facilitates, e.g. checks on the pressing phase of panel fabrication and creates conditions for good control of the density profile of these panels.
After the panel is pressed, the resin added during panel fabrication hardens and creates, with the fiber network, a strong fiber composite structure. The resin is added either by injection into the blower line after the defibering process or into a mechanical resin mixer after the drying phase. The resin content has a major impact on the finished panel's strength properties, such as bending strength and tensile strength. The resin content is often governed by the specific properties the finished panel is to have. However, an excessive amount of resin is often dispensed in order to ensure the desired level of quality, as there is no way to accurately control other factors, such as fiber moisture, fiber length distribution and density, factors which also affect the properties of the finished fiberboard.
To date, the way in which fiber properties (such as the fiber length distribution and shives content) should be specified in order for the fiber network to optimally achieve the desired properties for the finished fiberboard has been unclear. One reason for this is because of the previous unavailability of any simple and rapid measurement method for determining and characterising fiber length distribution for MDF (medium density fiberboard) fibers. However, equipment is now available for determining and characterising fiber properties with the aid of image analysis. This is a complex technique, however, which is only practical in a laboratory environment, and which is definitely unsuitable for on-line measurement in the fabrication of MDF.
Since no facilities have hitherto been available for continuous on-line measurement of parameters for fiber characterisation during fiberboard fabrication, studying the way in which fiber properties should be devised in order to manufacture finished panels with the desired properties in an optimal fashion has been very difficult. This also applies to efforts to achieve optimal control of the defibering process so that the desired fiber properties are attained.
The need for resin can be minimized, and the production costs reduced, when fiber properties are controlled. Resin accounts for about one-third of the direct cost of fiberboard fabrication. Resin coating, i.e. the distribution of resin on the wood fibers, is also affected by the distribution of fiber lengths. Fine fiber fractions require more resin than the thicker fibers. As a result, increasing the resin content does not produce the anticipated increase in the strength of the finished panel when the fiber length distribution of the fibers used is inappropriate.
Multivariate analysis of spectral data for determining wood chip components, such as Klason lignin, extract and the total amount of carbohydrates, is described in "Dialog Information Services," File 248, PIRA, Dialog accession No. 00393878/5, PIRA accession No. 20017450, Meder R. et al.: "Prediction of wood chip and pulp and paper properties via multivariate analysis of spectral data," Melbourne, Australia, 2–6 May 1994, pp. 479–484, which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. In this article, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Principal Component Regression (PCR) were used for analysing near-infrared (NIR) spectra, Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectra and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra taken from examined wood chips.
International Patent Application No. WO 97/04299 describes multivariate data analysis of near-infrared (NIR) spectra taken from raw materials, such as sawdust, shavings and wood chips, used for manufacturing chip board. Use of the measured values for controlling panel fabrication is also described. One of the objectives of the present invention is to refine this technique, based on multivariate analysis of spectral data, so it can also be used for continuous determination of the properties of wood fibers for fiberboard fabrication, these properties being of decisive importance to the properties of the finished panel.

Method for continuous determination of the properties of a flow of wood fibres for fabrication of fibreboard


In the read-write apparatus of the present invention, concentrated sliding of the read-write head in a specific area on the recording media is reduced. The recording media is rotationally set and the read-write head contacts the recording media to read and write information on the recording media. While the read-write head is accessing (read/write) the information on the recording media, a slide count calculation section calculates a slide count of the read-write head by monitoring the servo information of the recording media. The memory section stores the slide count calculated by the slide count calculation section by unit of access area. The relocation section suitably relocates the information recorded on the recording media in accordance with the slide count by unit of the access area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to read-write apparatus and methods for reading and writing information on a recording media using a read-write head which contacts the recording media.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an example of the read-write apparatus of a prior art, a magnetic disk apparatus is explained. In the magnetic disk apparatus of the prior art, the read-write head ("head" hereafter) consisting of a head slider of magnetic head flies above the surface of the recording media ( "disk" hereafter) using pressure generated by air while the disk rotates at high speed. The information is read and written under a condition that spacing between the head and the disk is almost fixed. In short, the head does not contact the disk while the diak is rotating. The head does not slide on the disk.
However, when recording wave length becomes short to improve recording-density, if the spacing between the head and the disk is kept constant, output from the magnetic head decreases. Therefore, it is necessary that flying height of the head become smaller. However, there are limits on how small the flying height can be. Recently, a magnetic disk apparatus which contacts the recording surface has been developed.
In the magnetic disk apparatus with contact recording heads, the head always contacts the disk and slides on the disk. Therefore, it often happens that both surfaces of the head and the disk are worn. In order to decrease wear of the head and the disk, the load force of the head to the disk should be decreased as much as possible (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Disclosure (Kokai) No.7-307069). However, the wear of the head and the disk is not entirely avoided. As for the wear of the head, structure not have influencing magnetic function is prepared in the magnetic disk even if the head is worn to some extent. Under this structure, some wear is permissible (as disclosed in "H. Hamilton, IEEE Trans. on Magn., Vol.27, No.6-pp 4921-4926 (1991)).
On the other hand, as for the wear of the disk, the disk is fatally wounded if the magnetic layer of the disk is greatly worn. Therefore, the wear of the disk should be avoided to the utmost. However, if the head is frequently located on a specific area (e.g. the area to store information to control file) wear progresses move quickly on the specified area.
As mentioned above, in a read-write apparatus which contacts the recording, if the head slides on the specified area of the disk at excessive times, the wear progresses on that specific area.

Disk wear prevention by relocating data in response to a head slide count


Disclosed is a lighting device (D′) on a motor vehicle, including: at least one light source (D1, D2, D3, D4) controlled by a pulse-width modulated lighting signal (PWM′); and a body controller module (10) generating the lighting signal (PWM′) linked to the light source and, to at least one sensor (100, 200, 300, 400) detecting the approach and/or contact of the user's hand. The device includes a switching element (S1, S2, S3, S4) located between the detection sensor and the light source. The detection sensor includes: receiving and a processing element (101, 201, 301, 401) of the lighting signal; and a control element (102, 202, 302, 402) of the switching element, linked electrically firstly to the receiving and processing element, and secondly to the light source via the switching element. Also disclosed is a method for controlling the light source.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an on-board lighting device in a motor vehicle and a related method for controlling a light source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nowadays, motor vehicle door handles are fitted with devices for detecting the presence of a user, i.e. the approach and/or contact of the user's hand. Detection of the presence of a user coupled with recognition of an electronic "hands-free" badge for remotely controlling access to the vehicle that is carried by this user enables the doors of the vehicle to be locked and unlocked remotely. Thus, when the user carrying the corresponding electronic badge that has been identified by the vehicle approaches the handle or touches the door handle of his vehicle, the doors of the vehicle are automatically unlocked. By approaching or pressing a specific point on the door handle of the vehicle, referred to as the "unlocking zone", the door opens without having to unlock it manually. Conversely, when the user, still carrying the necessary badge identified by the vehicle, wishes to lock his vehicle, he closes the door of his vehicle and approaches or momentarily presses another specific point of the handle, referred to as the "locking zone". This gesture enables the doors of the vehicle to be locked automatically.
Presence detection devices usually include two capacitive sensors, in the form of two electrodes linked electrically to a printed circuit and built into the handle, each one in a specific locking or unlocking zone. Generally, one electrode is dedicated to each zone, i.e. one electrode is dedicated to detecting the approach and/or contact of the user's hand on the locking zone and one electrode is dedicated to detecting the approach and/or contact of the user's hand on the unlocking zone. These detection devices work as follows:                one electrode, when energized, emits an electrical field that defines a detection zone (locking or unlocking zone),        the approach of the user's hand to this detection zone disturbs this electrical field and modifies the capacitance at the terminals of said electrode,        measuring the variation in this capacitance then makes it possible to detect the approach of the user's hand in said zone, in this case towards the handle,        once this detection has been performed, the capacitive sensor then sends an unlocking/locking instruction to the unlocking/locking system of the door.
These presence and/or approach detection devices are usually built into a module, located in the door handle and also comprising a radio frequency antenna, used to recognize the "hands-free" access badge carried by the user, as well as one or more light sources illuminating certain specific zones of the vehicle or of the handle. It is common for each door handle of the vehicle to be fitted with such a light source.
These light sources are usually, on account of their compactness and resistance to vibrations, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), preferably white in color. Depending on the applications, these white light-emitting diodes illuminate the locking/unlocking zones of the handle in which they are located, in order to guide the user towards these zones:                if an authorized hands-free access badge has been recognized near to the vehicle, or        alternatively to confirm to the user that his presence has been detected, once he has moved his hand close to these locking/unlocking zones.
Illuminating and extinguishing these diodes is controlled by a body controller module (BCM) on board the vehicle. The body controller module is an electronic processor that receives data from different sensors located on the vehicle, in this case receiving user presence detection information from the presence detection sensors located in the door handles of the vehicle. As a function of this information, for example, the body controller module decides to illuminate and/or extinguish the light-emitting diode located in the handle near to which the user's presence has been detected. The body controller module, the presence detection sensors and the light-emitting diodes form a lighting device carried on board the vehicle.
However, a major problem with diodes is that, even when they come from the same production line, they have different luminous intensities (expressed in millicandelas, mcd). This variability in luminous intensity comes from the method used to manufacture the light-emitting diodes themselves. Luminous intensity can vary from, for example, 1500 mcd, to nearly double that, for example 2800 mcd, for two light-emitting diodes from the same production line.
This variation in luminous intensity is such that a user can see it on a vehicle fitted with several diodes. For example, if the vehicle is fitted with light-emitting diodes on each door handle, since it is particularly easy to compare luminous intensity between two handles located on the same side of the vehicle, if the difference in luminous intensity between these two light-emitting diodes is visible, the user of the vehicle is liable to think that the dimmer diode is faulty. However, this is not the case.
One solution to this problem is to select the light-emitting diodes at the end of the production line, sort them into classes according to the luminous intensity thereof, then fit the vehicle with diodes all taken from the same class. However, this solution is very expensive in terms of time and the logistics are complicated.
Another solution involves fitting the vehicle with light-emitting diodes from different classes, then paring them on the vehicle, adding a resistor to each diode as a function of the luminous intensity class thereof. The resistor modifies the intensity of the charge flowing through the light-emitting diode, enabling the luminous intensity to be corrected by imposing a fixed value thereon, that is the same for all of the light-emitting diodes fitted to a given vehicle. In this case, the simplest solution available is to select resistors that make it possible to obtain the luminous intensity of the class having the lowest intensity of all of the diodes.
FIG. 1 shows a lighting device D in the prior art carried on board a motor vehicle (not shown).
The lighting device D includes:                a body controller module 10, connected electrically:                    firstly to four approach and/or contact detection sensors 100, 200, 300, 400 arranged in parallel, in order to supply them with a current (VBAT) and connect them to ground (GND),            and secondly to four light-emitting diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 arranged in parallel, each being connected in series to a regulating resistor R1, R2, R3, R4, itself connected to ground.
Each set comprising an approach and/or contact detection sensor 100, 200, 300, 400, a diode D1, D2, D3, D4 and a related resistor R1, R2, R3, R4 is built into a vehicle door handle P1, P2, P3, P4.
The body controller module 10 powers the approach and/or contact detection sensors 100, 200, 300, 400 and receives information I1, I2, I3, I4 as feedback from these latter relating to detection of the approach and/or contact of a user near to the locking/unlocking zones. On receipt of this information I1, I2, I3, I4, the body controller module 10 then sends a lighting signal using pulse-width modulation (PWM) to the four diodes D1, D2, D3, D4 located in the door handles P1, P2, P3, P4 of the vehicle in order to illuminate or extinguish them, as applicable. This PWM lighting signal is shown in FIG. 3. It involves a succession of changes from a low state DB (0%) to a high state DH (100%), and changes from a high state (100%) to a low state (0%), also known as pulses Imp (see FIG. 3). Such signals usually have three phases:                a progressive illumination phase A, to progressively illuminate the diode D1, D2, D3, D4, during which the durations of the high state, DH increase progressively,        a continuous illumination phase B of the diode D1, D2, D3, D4, during which the PWM signal is constantly in the high state DH, and        a progressive extinction phase C, during which the durations of the high state DH are progressively reduced, in order to progressively extinguish the diode D1, D2, D3, D4.
As with all pulse-width modulation (PWM) signals, the ratio between the durations of the high states DH and the durations of the low states DB determines a duty cycle:
      R                          c    =            D                                      H              D                                      B
The intensity of this lighting signal PWM is modified differently through each diode D1, D2, D3, D4 through the presence of the resistors R1, R2, R3, R4. The value of the resistors R1, R2, R3, R4 is selected as a function of the luminous intensity class of each diode D1, D2, D3, D4, in order to obtain four diodes having substantially equal luminous intensity.
This solution has several drawbacks:                this solution is complicated, since it requires the luminous intensity class of each diode D1, D2, D3, D4 fitted to the vehicle to be known, and a dedicated resistor R1, R2, R3, R4 needs to be physically paired with each diode, by means of an additional manual operation on the production line,        the logistics are difficult because the number of diodes produced in each class needs to be forecast in order to order an equal number of corresponding resistors,        sorting at the end of the production line is costly. In order to reduce the cost of this sorting, it is essential to reduce the number of classes, for example to four or five classes. Consequently, this means only four or five resistors paired with these classes. This reduced number of resistors is insufficient to cover the variation in luminous intensity that still exists within a single class. Therefore, there remains a risk of differences in the luminous intensity of the diodes located on the vehicle, which remain visible to the user.

On-board lighting device in a motor vehicle and related method for controlling a light source


The objective of the present invention is to provide a laminated phase retarder film that is superior in evenness, exhibits a biaxial optical property as a whole, and makes it possible to set the biaxial optical property over a wide range. This object is achieved by a laminated phase retarder film comprising a transparent resin film as a substrate and at least one coat layer having a refractive-index anisotropy laminated on at least one surface of the substrate, wherein a in-plane retardation value (R0) is not less than 20 nm, a retardation value (R′) in the film-thickness direction, which is calculated from a retardation value (R40) measured by inclining by 40 degrees around the slow axis of the film and the in-plane retardation value (R0), is greater than 40 nm.

Liquid crystal displays (hereinafter, referred to as LCDs) have been widely used as flat-panel displays ranging from small-size devices to those having a large display capacity. However, these LCDs have the viewing angle characteristics that the display characteristic becomes bad, when it sees from an angle; for example, contrast falls or glay-scale inversion which brightness reverses within glay-scale occurs. Therefore, there have been strong demands for solving these problems.
Recently, with respect to an LCD system for improving these viewing-angle characteristics, a vertically aligned nematic type liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred to as VA-LCD) has been developed, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2548979. As described at pages from 845 to 848 in SID 97 DIGEST, it has been known that the VA-LCD has an arrangement in which two negative uniaxial phase retarder films having optical axes in a direction perpendicular to the film surface are placed above and below liquid crystal cells so that it becomes possible to provide a characteristics of a wider viewing-angle, and in this LCD, a uniaxially oriented phase retarder film having a positive refractive index anisotropy having an in-plane retardation value of 50 nm is used so that a characteristics of wider viewing-angle can be achieved. A phase retarder plate in which a negative uniaxial orientation phase retarder film having an optical axis in a direction perpendicular to the film surface and a uniaxial orientation phase retarder film having a positive refractive index anisotropy are combined to provide the same optical properties as a biaxial orientation phase retarder film as a whole.
Moreover, in addition to VA-LCDs, for example, it has been know that a method in which a biaxially oriented phase retarder film is used in a 90-degree twisted nematic liquid crystal display so as to improve the viewing angle. It has been known that the biaxially oriented phase retarder film is obtained by biaxially drawing a film made from a thermoplastic polymer. With respect to an apparatus to be used for the biaxial orientation, an experimental apparatus which can biaxially draw a piece of film or a simultaneous biaxially drawing machine which has been conventionally used for producing packaging films and the like have been known; however, in the experimental apparatus, it is difficult to produce a large amount of phase retarder films that are sufficiently large films adequate to LCDs; in contrast, the simultaneous biaxially drawing machine can not achieve evenness in the retardation value that is sufficiently applied to the LCD, evenness in the slow axis direction and surface properties (without scratches) in a large area. Moreover, when a conventional drawing machine for producing phase retarder films used for LCD is used, although sufficient evenness is obtained in a large area, the resulting optical properties only have a very limited range in its biaxial orientation.

Laminated phase retarder film and a liquid crystal display using the same


A Schottky junction is formed at the connection between an SOI layer and a contact (namely, under an element isolation insulating film) without forming a P+ region with a high impurity concentration thereat. The surface of a body contact is provide with a barrier metal. A silicide is formed between the body contact and the SOI layer as a result of the reaction of the barrier metal and the SOI layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a semiconductor device including a contact connected to the body region of a semiconductor element.
2. Description of the Background Art
Widely known semiconductor devices include a device (hereinafter referred to as "SOI device") using an SOI substrate in which a silicon substrate, an oxide layer (BOX (buried oxide) layer), and a silicon layer (SOI (silicon on insulator) layer) are formed in this order from bottom to top. The SOI device allows reduction in parasitic capacitance, reduction in power consumption and speedup of operation, and is widely used for example in communication LSIs and portable devices.
The reduction in resistance of interconnect lines and contacts is normally an essential technique for speeding up the operation of the SOI device. In order to realize such reduction in resistance, a compound layer of silicon and metal (silicide layer) is generally formed at the connection between an element formed in the SOI device and a contact which may be the upper part of a gate wiring or source/drain region. The formation of a silicide layer is disclosed for example in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-204334 (1994) (FIGS. 83-84), in which a metal layer containing Ti (titanium) or Co (cobalt) is deposited by sputtering and the like on the upper part of a source/drain region defined in an SOI layer and on the upper part of a gate electrode containing polysilicon. This metal layer is then subjected to thermal processing to form a silicide layer.
As a technique for stabilizing and speeding up the operation of the SOI device, a contact is formed to be electrically connected to the body region of an element formed in the SOI device (body contact) to control the potential of the body region. Such a technique is adopted for use for example in a DTMOS (dynamic threshold voltage metal oxide semiconductor) transistor in which the gate electrode of the MOS transistor is connected through a body contact to a body region, an example of which is introduced in Japanese Patent application Laid-Open No. 2001-77368.
In the SOI device having a body contact, a leakage current is likely to flow from the body contact into a body region. Accordingly, a resistance of a certain value is desirably provided between the body contact and the body region to reduce the leakage current and power consumption. However, variations of this resistance value will disadvantageously result in variations of electrical characteristics of the SOI device.

Semiconductor device including a contact connected to the body and method of manufacturing the same


A closure latch assembly equipped with a double pawl latch mechanism and including a resilient linkage arrangement between a component of the double pawl latch mechanism and a component of a latch release and reset mechanism which is configured to assist in both latch release and latch reset operations.

This section provides a general summary of background information related to vehicle door latches and the components and examples provided in this section are not necessarily prior art to the inventive concepts and features provided by the present disclosure.
A vehicle closure member, such as a door for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, is typically hinged to swing between open and closed positions and is equipped with a closure latch assembly. The closure latch assembly functions in a well-known manner to latch the door when closed, to lock the door in the closed position, and to unlock and unlatch the door when required to permit the door to be opened and swung to its open position.
The closure latch assembly can be operated remotely from the exterior of the motor vehicle by at least two distinct operators which typically include a key cylinder that controls a "locking/unlocking" operation of a latch mechanism and an outside door handle that controls operation of a latch release mechanism. Similarly, the closure latch assembly can also be operated remotely from inside the passenger compartment by at least two distinct operators which typically include a sill button/pull knob that controls the locking/unlocking operation of the latch mechanism and an inside door handle controlling operation of the latch release mechanism. Modern closure latch assemblies commonly include one or more power-operated features, such as power lock and/or power release functionality for controlling operation of the latch mechanism and/or the latch release mechanism using electric motors which receive control signals from a keyless entry system.
Virtually all closure latch assemblies employ a ratchet and pawl type of latch mechanism for releasably engaging and holding a vehicle-mounted striker when the door is in its closed position. Due to door sealing loads, it is known that a rather large latch release effort may be required to release the pawl from engagement with the ratchet so as to permit the ratchet to subsequently rotate from a striker capture position to a striker release position. As an alternative to single pawl latch mechanism, some closure latch assemblies are equipped with a double pawl latch mechanism which utilize a "primary" ratchet and pawl set that is operably connected to an "auxiliary" ratchet and pawl set. The connection may be configured such that only a portion of the forces exerted on the primary pawl and ratchet set are applied to the auxiliary pawl and ratchet set, thus requiring only relatively low latch release efforts to release the closure latch assembly.
In closure latch assemblies equipped with a power-operated actuator for selectively releasing the double pawl latch mechanism, it is known that the auxiliary ratchet and pawl set must be "reset" back to their initial positions in anticipation of a subsequent door closing operation. The power-operated actuator commonly provides a dual function of providing a "power release" feature and a "power reset" feature in cooperation with the double pawl latch mechanism. Unfortunately, the power reset operation can be rather noisy and typically increases the complexity of the latch release/reset kinematics.
While closure latch assemblies of the type noted above operate satisfactorily for their intended purpose, a recognized need exists to develop alternative closure latch assemblies that improve upon known configurations in terms of enhanced operation, reduced weight, noise and cost, and optimized packaging. In particular, a need is recognized to advance the art related to the power release and resetting of double pawl latch mechanisms by simplifying the configuration thereof via reducing the number of moveable components and the complexity of such components.

Smart latch assembly with double pawl latch mechanism having flexible connection to release mechanism


A method for manufacturing a non-volatile memory is provided. An isolation structure is formed in a trench formed in a substrate. A portion of the isolation structure is removed to form a recess. A first dielectric layer and a first conductive layer are formed sequentially on the substrate. Bar-shaped cap layers are formed on the substrate. The first conductive layer not covered by the bar-shaped cap layers is removed to form first gate structures. A second dielectric layer is formed on the sidewalls of the first gate structures. A third dielectric layer is formed on the substrate between the first gate structures. A second conductive layer is formed on the third dielectric layer. The bar-shaped cap layers and a portion of the first conductive layer are removed to form second gate structures. A doped region is formed in the substrate at two sides of each of the second gate structures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an isolation structure and a memory, and in particular, to a method for manufacturing a trench isolation structure and a non-volatile memory.
2. Description of Related Art
A memory is a semiconductor device designed to store data. As the microprocessors in computers become more powerful than ever to be compatible with growingly massive amount of programs and calculations executed by the software, the capacity of the memory needs to be increased accordingly. The developments of memories move toward manufacturing large-storage and low-cost memories to meet the requirements in the semiconductor manufacture.
Among various kinds of memory products, the non-volatile memory is a kind of memory characterized by the advantages that it allows multiple data storing, reading or erasing operations and the stored data therein will be retained after the device is not powered. Hence, the non-volatile memory has become a widely adopted memory device in personal computers and electronic equipments.
In regard to the operation of the non-volatile memory, generally, if the coupling ratio of a device is large, the work voltage required for operating the device is low. The method of increasing the coupling ratio includes increasing an overlap area between the floating gate and the control gate, reducing the thickness of the dielectric layer between the floating gate and the control gate, and increasing the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer between the floating gate and the control gate. However, the general non-volatile memory usually has a problem of an overly low coupling ratio. The problem affects the electron flowing efficiency when a programming operation or an erasing operation is performed. Therefore, the work efficiency of the non-volatile memory is reduced.

Method for manufacturing non-volatile memory


Power line communication (“PLC”) signals are transmitted between a head-end PLC transceiver coupled to multiple remote PLC transceivers over a electric power and communications distribution network in accordance with a timing controlled PLC data frame which determines how much bandwidth is allocated to downstream transmission from the head-end to the remotes and to upstream transmissions from one or more of the remotes to the head-end. The configuration of the timing controlled data frame can be dynamically modified to achieve higher bandwidth for the downstream traffic and to satisfy changing bandwidth needs of each remote.

The delivery of broadband data communications services, such as Internet traffic, telephony, broadcast TV and video-on-demand, to homes and business over existing power distribution systems is very attractive to content service providers as well as their customers. The power distribution systems can constitute, for example, a power distribution network that delivers energy to homes and businesses, a power distribution system within a multiple dwelling unit ("MDU") or a multiple tenant unit ("MTU"), such as a hotel or an apartment building, or any other power network environment where access to the transmission media for the purpose of the data or content delivery is shared in accordance with time division multiplexed access ("TDMA") techniques. A power line communications ("PLC") system, which can carry both power and communications signals, is a highly desirable communications signal distribution network because it usually already exists at locations where communications services are desired and does not require the installation of additional cables. As a result, the use of a PLC system to provide communications services can lead to a tremendous savings in installation costs, which in turn can translate into lower costs for services to the end customer.
Many prior art PLC systems operate in accordance with a point to point communications method where a plurality of PLC transceiver devices communicate with one another over the power line media in an ad hoc fashion, similarly as typically occurring in a lateral access network ("LAN"). As such, system complexity is required to support transmission detection and synchronization for each PLC device in the network. In such PLC systems, all of the PLC devices normally share the available communications bandwidth somewhat equally and symmetrically. In addition, some of these prior art point to point PLC systems need to implement data priority methods to handle cases of contention and bandwidth saturation.
Some prior art PLC systems are arranged in the form of a point to multipoint network configuration where the primary objective is distributing broadband data or content to destination PLC devices located in homes, businesses, MDUs or MTUs. In the point to multipoint network configuration, a main, or head-end, PLC transceiver typically is the source or distribution point of broadband data and communicates with a plurality of end point, or remote, PLC transceivers, which are destinations for the bulk of the broadband data transmitted from the head-end. Ordinarily, the data flow between the head-end and the remotes is asymmetric, where the bulk of the data is transmitted downstream from the head-end to the remotes.
The use of adhoc or asynchronous communications methods for transmission of PLC signals in a point to multipoint network, however, has several drawbacks. First, adhoc administration of communications involves an overhead associated with media access and node synchronization and also can result in increased latency, which can degrade the quality of communications services being provided. Furthermore, networks that operate based on adhoc types of media access typically show a considerable degradation in bandwidth utilization as the number of communication nodes increases. In addition, as each of the remotes is typically utilized by a different customer located within a same point to multipoint network, the decoding of all PLC signals present on the PLC network by each of the remotes creates difficulties in maintaining isolation and security between the remotes. Consequently, in many prior art point to multipoint PLC systems, data distributed to one customer from the head-end is not isolated and protected to prevent other customers on the same network from accessing the data.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and method for efficiently utilizing available bandwidth for PLC signal transmissions between a head-end PLC transceiver and remote PLC transceivers in a point to multipoint PLC system configuration and also for isolating remotes from one another, reducing latency and simplifying data synchronization processing in point to multipoint PLC systems.

Method and system for timing controlled signal transmission in a point to multipoint power line communications system


A semiconductor multi-device system incorporated on a single semiconductor chip is disclosed including a central processing unit, a bus, a plurality of peripherals, a plurality of on-chip data bus drivers connected to selected lines of the bus, and logic means for controlling the operation of the on-chip data bus drivers. The multi-device system of the invention is capable of interacting with off-chip components including an off-chip processing unit and off-chip peripherals. The off-chip components may also include a plurality of off-chip data bus drivers that drive data signals onto and off of an off-chip data bus. The on-chip and off-chip drivers must cooperate in order for data signals to transfer properly between the on-chip and off-chip components. The logic means of the invention is designed so as to minimize the logic necessary to cause the on-chip drivers and the off-chip drivers to cooperate properly. The logic means of the invention is also designed to function properly regardless of whether the on-chip processing unit or the off-chip processing unit is in control of the overall system comprising both on-chip and off-chip components. The logic means is also designed to control the operation of the on-chip drivers in a simple and efficient manner. Thus, a multi-device system is disclosed which is a significant improvement over those of the prior art.

This invention relates to semiconductor multi-device systems and specifically to a semiconductor multi-device system incorporated on a single semiconductor chip with a logic means for efficiently controlling the mode of operation of a set of on-chip data bus drivers.
In most systems using semiconductor devices, the devices comprising the system are discrete, that is, each device is formed on its own individual chip. To interconnect the devices together to form a system, each chip is electrically attached to a printed circuit board. The circuit board usually has an electrically conductive path pattern already formed upon it so that once the devices are attached to the board, they are electrically connected to each other as well. This type of system is referred to as a discrete system. In recent years, there has been a movement away from discrete systems toward a multi-device system wherein a plurality of devices, usually including a central processing unit, are formed on a single chip. In multi-device systems, the chip is itself a system with the interconnections between the different devices formed within the semiconductor material itself. Multi-device systems provide several advantages over discrete systems. First of all, because the entire system is incorporated on a single chip, no circuit board is needed. This results in a significant reduction in the physical size of the system. Also, because the entire system is solid state, the multi-device system is more reliable than the discrete system. The advantage of a discrete system is that it gives the buyer of the chips much more freedom because it is the buyer, not the chip manufacturer, that assembles the system. However, in many applications, it is the functionality and not the flexibility of the system that is the major concern. For these applications, multi-device systems are ideal.
Forming a multi-device system is not simply a matter of fabricating a plurality of discrete devices onto a single semiconductor chip and interconnecting them. Some considerations which were insignificant in a discrete system need to be taken into account in a multi-device system. One such consideration is that of data bus drivers. In a discrete system, each of the individual devices has its own set of data bus drivers to enable it to transfer data to and from the other devices. Equipping each device of a multi-device system with its own set of data bus drivers is impractical, however. Not only do these drivers require space on the chip but they also consume a certain amount of power even when they are not driving any signals. Thus, from both a space standpoint and a power standpoint, these drivers are inefficient. For these reasons, multi-device systems are usually equipped with only one set of data bus drivers which are shared by the different devices. For most multi-device systems, on-chip devices are typically directly connected to each other so that, internally, no data bus drivers are needed at all. Data bus drivers are only used to communicate with off-chip components and, for this reason, they are considered to be an interface between the multi-device system and the off-chip components. Because the data bus drivers behave as an interface, a logic means must be provided to control the drivers to ensure that they function properly in relation with the off-chip components. Frequently, the off-chip components have a set of data bus drivers of their own so that the logic means controlling the on-chip drivers should take the possible presence of the off-chip drivers into account. Otherwise, the on-chip drivers may interfere with the operation of the off-chip drivers and vice versa. This interfacing of the on-chip drivers and the off-chip drivers often requires very complicated logic and the more complex the logic, the more components are required to implement the logic. Thus, a logic means for controlling the on-chip bus drivers which simplifies the logic necessary to interface with the off-chip drivers would be desirable.
Typically, in a multi-device system, it is the on-chip central processing unit that controls access to the on-chip data bus. In some applications, however, it is desirable for an off-chip processing means to control access to the on-chip data bus. It would be desirable for the logic means controlling the operation of the bus drivers to be able to accommodate both types of arrangements.
It is an object of the invention to provide a multi-device system having a logic means for controlling the on-chip bus drivers which simplifies the logic necessary to interface with off-chip components including off-chip drivers.
Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-device system having a logic means for controlling the on-chip bus drivers which is capable of functioning properly regardless of whether the processing unit controlling access to the on-chip data bus is on-chip or off-chip.

Semiconductor multi-device system with logic means for controlling the operational mode of a set of input/output data bus drivers


Methods and systems are provided for communicating an event from a server to a set of applications via a real time messaging framework hub, which communicates with the applications on individual channels and with the server on a single channel. A polling message is sent to the server and a reply is received. From the reply, it is determined whether the event has occurred. A polling message is received from a client, and a reply is sent containing either the event, if it has occurred, or a null response is sent indicating that the event has not occurred. Limitation of server communication with the hub to a single open channel substantially reduces server overhead.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to computer network protocols. More particularly, this invention relates to a real time messaging framework for use in a communications network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Real Time Messaging Framework (RTMF) is an instant messaging system that is available from SAP AG, Neurottstraβe 16, 69190 Waldorf, Germany. This is an infrastructure for transferring messages between clients and servers in an application platform. Typically, clients are connected to a RTMF server through a RTMF client running in a hidden frame in their portal browsers. In one aspect of RTMF, every RTMF-based client sends an automated request to a RTMF server every number of seconds to check if messages, events, requests, or invitations have been sent to it. The time between each check is commonly referred to as the polling interval. The polling mechanism, if not configured properly, has the potential to generate load on the portal server as the number of users increases.

Real time messaging framework hub to intercept and retransmit messages for a messaging facility


A printing apparatus including a conveyer system configured to convey a pallet having a print substrate thereon, anteroposterior moving mechanisms, fitting members disposed on the moving mechanisms, a guide bar member that extends in a lateral direction mounted on the fitting members, and a head device that is movably disposed along the guide bar member and has a plurality of inkjet nozzles. The printing apparatus is adapted to conduct printing by ejecting ink droplets from the inkjet nozzles to the print substrate on the pallet which is secured above an upper conveying passage and which is conveyed by the conveyer system while moving the head device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing intended characters, images etc. on a print substrate such as a T-shirt.
2. Discussion of the Background
Conventionally, an apparatus and method for printing characters, images, etc. on a print substrate such as a T-shirt, using screen printing are known in which a plurality of screens corresponding to printing colors are prepared and are used to print each color on the surface of the print substrate so that printed colors are overlapped. Since the screen printing requires a plurality of exclusive screens corresponding to designs and colors, making the screens is troublesome and expensive. Thus, screen printing is not suitable for high-mix, low-volume production type printing. Recently, methods for printing on a print substrate such as a T-shirt by using an inkjet printer to eject ink droplets directly on the print substrate have been carried out. JP-A-2002-154247 and JP-A-2007-031888 describe such printing apparatuses and methods using an inkjet printer.
For printing characters, images, etc. on a print substrate made of cloth such as a T-shirt by using an inkjet printer, it may be required to conduct a lot of processing steps such as preprocessing for the purpose of preventing ink blurring and post-processing for the purpose of protecting images printed on the surface of the print substrate. Especially as an industrial printing apparatus, there is known an apparatus of a type that print substrates are conveyed by a conveying means such as a belt conveyer. In this case, a pallet is put on a conveying member such as conveyer belt and the print substrates are placed and held at predetermined positions on the pallet. In this state, the print substrates are conveyed together with the pallet and stopped at every working position where various working devices are placed so that print substrates are processed according to the processing steps such as the aforementioned preprocessing.
In a case where the print substrates are conveyed together with the pallet by the conveying means such as a belt conveyer and a predetermined printing process is carried out relative to the print substrates on the pallet being conveyed, such an apparatus is only allowed to conduct relatively rough printing without requiring high precision and it is difficult to conduct printing requiring high precision because of variation in speed and generation of vibration during the conveyance. Therefore, there is an idea to fix the pallet at a predetermined working position on the conveying member such as a conveyer belt where a predetermined printing process is conducted relative to the print substrates. However, in such a case, there is a problem of requiring a moving mechanism for moving a working device such as a printer head having a plurality of inkjet nozzles forward, backward, leftward, and rightward above the fixed print substrates.
Thus, a printing apparatus and method are desired that can solve the aforementioned problems.

Printing apparatus with movable head device for ejecting ink


A fuel cell stack includes: a first fuel cell and a second fuel cell, each of which has a structure in which a solid oxide electrolyte layer having oxygen ion conductivity is provided between two electrode layers; and an interconnector that is provided between the first fuel cell and the second fuel cell and has a separator made of a metal material, wherein the interconnector has a first metal porous part and a first gas passage on a first face of the separator on a side of the first fuel cell, wherein the interconnector has a second metal porous part and a second gas passage on a second face of the separator on a side of the second fuel cell.

A cell having resistance to vibration and having resistance to crack in rapid temperature increasing is requested in order to develop a solid oxide fuel cell system which can be used in a vehicle. For example, there is disclosed a fuel cell having an interconnector made of a ceramic material (for example, see International Publication No. 2018-042476). However, mechanical strength and the resistance to rapid temperature increasing or decreasing of the fuel cell are low. It is therefore difficult to mount the fuel cell in a vehicle. And so, there is disclosed a fuel cell having a separator which is made by pressing a steel board (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-39099).

Fuel cell stack and manufacturing method of the same


Hybrid rotor bar assemblies and electric motors having hybrid rotor bar assemblies are disclosed, as are other aspects. The hybrid rotor tar assemblies have rotor bars lined with shims. The rotor bars can be copper rotor bars. In certain aspects, the shim may be about one fourth to about one eighth of a thickness of the rotor bar. Also disclosed are electric motors with shims lining the rotor bars and functioning as secondary rotor bars.

An electric motor (e.g., an induction motor), typically comprises a stator and a rotor core assembly that is rotatable in relation to the stator. The rotor core assembly may include a plurality of aligned laminated plates. The so-called squirrel cage of the rotor core assembly may include a plurality of rotor bars inserted through radial slots formed in plurality of aligned laminated plates. Rotor bars often are copper rotor bars, especially for medium-sized and large-sized motors. Copper's greater conductivity versus other materials, such as aluminum, enhances the electrical energy efficiency of motors. Accordingly, induction motors with copper rotor bars have higher breakdown torque. However, motors having such copper rotor bars have lower starting motor torque. Copper rotor bars are relatively expensive.
Loose rotor bars may sometimes be a source of rotor Failure. One conventional way to tighten the copper rotor bars is using than steel shims to line alongside of the rotor bars. These conventional thin steel shims are sized appropriately to ensure that the rotor bars are relatively tightly secured in the slot. Typically, these thin mild steel shims are about 0.01 inch to 0.015 inch. (0.25 mm to 0.38 mm) in thickness and function to tighten the rotor bars and to provide a barrier between the rotor bars and the laminated plates of the rotor assembly so as not to shave or abrade the soft copper rotor bars as they expand and shrink.
There still exists a need for improved electric induction motors having rotor bars that are not only sufficiently tightly held within the slot, but have high breakdown torque and also improved starting motor torque.

Hybrid rotor bar assemblies, electric motors including hybrid rotor bar assemblies, and methods of assemblying same


Anisotropic multilayer thin-film coating that may be used in fabrication of various optical elements, such as polarizers, beam splitters, interference-polarizing light filters, polarizing mirrors, etc. The invention is aimed at creating a multilayer optically anisotropic structure, which contains at least one layer with high degree of anisotropy and perfect structure, whereas refraction indexes and thicknesses of all layers and their combination is selected according to the known law, determined by the purpose of the structure, such as to provide an interference extremum for at least one polarization of light. The technical result is the increase of effectiveness of transforming incident radiation, which corresponds to the functional purpose of the multilayer optically anisotropic structure, due to the high reproducible degree of amsotropy of at least one layer in the structure.

The currently utilized polarizers represent polymer films oriented by uniaxial stretching and colored with organic dyes or iodine compounds. Polyvinyl alcohol is usually used as the polymer (PVA) in these films [U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,942]. Additional layers in such a polarizer, for example, a layer of lacquer, perform protective and other functions and are not intended for optimization of transmission of light through the polarizer (or reflection of light—for a reflecting polarizer) from the point of view of light interference.
There is a known polarizer [WO 95/17691], which represents a multilayer structure comprising at least one birefringent layer with the thickness, which provides interference extremum at the exit of the optical polarizer, for at least one linearly polarized component of light. This polarizer comprises alternating layers of two transparent (non-absorbing in the working range of wavelengths) polymer materials, one of which is birefringent, and the other—optically isotropic. The birefringence in the polymeric material is obtained via stretching it in one direction by 2–10 times.
The working principle of such polarizer is in the following: one linearly polarized component of light, to which corresponds the extraordinary (larger) refraction index of the birefringent layer, is significantly reflected from the multilayer optical polarizer due to the difference in the refraction indexes at the boundaries between the isotropic and the anisotropic layers. With the corresponding choice of the layers' thickness and refraction indexes the optical path difference between the wavelengths reflected from the boundaries of layers comprises a whole number of wavelengths, i.e. there is interference maximum. In this case, reflection of the linearly polarized component of light, to which corresponds the extraordinary (larger) refraction index of the anisotropic layer significantly increases.
The ordinary (smaller) refraction index of the anisotropic layer is chosen close to the refraction index of the isotropic layer, therefore the other linearly polarized component of the incident light, to which corresponds the ordinary (smaller) refraction index, travels through the multilayer optical polarizer without reflections.
Thus, upon incidence of an unpolarized light onto the known polarizer, one linearly polarized component of light is reflected, while the other passes through practically without losses (in essence, the polarizer functions as a beam splitter).
Multilayer polarizer may also contain additional dichroic polarizer (with weak absorbance), axis of which is parallel to the axis of the reflecting polarizer. The role of the dichroic polarizer is basically to remove reflections of the external light when such combination polarizer works "in transmission".
One of the drawbacks of the known multilayer polarizer is the necessity to use large number of alternating layers, due to the low degree of anisotropy (the deference between the ordinary and extraordinary refraction indexes) in the transparent polymer materials. Usually this value does not exceed 0.2. Therefore, coefficient of reflection from the boundaries of layer is small, and to obtain high coefficient of reflection in general one needs 100–600 layers, deposition of which poses difficult technical challenge and requires special precision equipment.
There is a known polarizer [WO 99/31535], comprising at least one anisotropically absorbing layer, at least one refraction index of which increases with the wavelength. To increase effectiveness of light polarization, it has been suggested to use multilayer polarizer, in which the thickness of layers and their refraction indexes are selected such as to provide interference extremum for at least one linearly polarized component of light. This is the so-called "interference-type" polarizer. Anomalous dispersion of at least one refraction index of the anisotropic layer allows to effectively polarize light in a wide spectral range. In the capacity of the material of the anisotropic layer, it has been suggested to use corresponding dichroic dyes, their mixtures and dyes with various modifying additives. The degree of anisotropy of these materials is significantly higher, than of the stretched polymer films. However, the modern level of technological development, in particular displays, requires obtaining coatings with higher degree of anisotropy and perfect structure.
Patent [RU 2155978] describes polarizers comprising a film of dichroic organic material, molecules of which or fragments of molecules of which have flat structure and at least a part of the film has crystalline structure. In particular, such films may be fabricated from various dyes and their mixtures. Crystalline structure of these films allows obtaining high degree of anisotropy and homogeneity of optical characteristics.
However, experiments have shown that such films are hygroscopic and require additional protection or processing to modify their chemical properties. For this purpose, in particular, the already finished films are processed with ions of the 2x and 3x valence metals.
Optical characteristics of the known films are determined by the order parameter, which in this case is the averaged characteristic, not accounting for the particular situation of the optical axes of the crystalline structure relative to the substrate, which in turn, imposes restrictions on the possibility to obtain structures "film-substrate" with the given optical properties.
Other literature also describes other multilayer structures with an optically anisotropic layer, having other (not limited only to the polarizing light) functional purpose. For example, interference-polarizing (IFP) light filters, operation of which is based on interference of the polarized rays [Gvozdeva et al., Fisichaskaya optika, M.: Mashinostroenie, 1991]. The peculiarity of these filters is in the possibility to extract very narrow spectral ranges (up to 10−2 nm) without any background noise. Often to fabricate separate layers of IFP, one uses thin plates of various crystals, for example crystalline quartz or Iceland spar.


A vehicle light distribution control device includes: an illumination device controlled to change a light distribution pattern among high, low and split beam patterns and of which an optical axis direction is controlled; and a control unit. When a vehicle ahead has been detected, the control unit changes the light distribution pattern to the split beam pattern, and controls a cut-off line position of the split beam pattern so as not to irradiate illumination light to the vehicle ahead. When the vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, the control unit maintains the split beam pattern while controlling the cut-off line position in such a manner that the shielded area of the split beam pattern gradually reduces. After the shielded area becomes smaller than or equal to a predetermined reference, the control unit changes the light distribution pattern from the split beam pattern to the high beam pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vehicle light distribution control device and a vehicle light distribution control method.
2. Description of Related Art
There is known an existing technique that, in order not to cause a driver, or the like, of a vehicle ahead, such as a leading vehicle and an oncoming vehicle, to experience glare, a vehicle light distribution control device that controls the light distribution of illumination light for illuminating an area ahead of a vehicle on the basis of a vehicle ahead, detected by a camera, uses a split beam pattern in which part of an area in a high beam pattern is shielded with a boundary set at a cut-off line (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-005992 (JP 2011-005992 A) and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-063070 (JP 2011-063070 A)).
Incidentally, when a detected vehicle ahead becomes undetectable (that is, disappears), the above described vehicle light distribution control device that uses a split beam pattern is required to return the light distribution pattern from the split beam pattern to the high beam pattern. At this time, when the control device is configured to return the light distribution pattern from the split beam pattern to the high beam pattern immediately when a detected vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, chattering due to a repetition of disappearance and detection of a vehicle ahead problematically occurs as in the case where a vehicle ahead momentarily disappears and is detected again thereafter.
In contrast to this, it is also conceivable that, when a detected vehicle ahead becomes undetectable, the light distribution pattern at that point in time is maintained until a set period of time elapses and, when the vehicle ahead is still undetectable after a lapse of the set period of time, the light distribution pattern is returned from the split beam pattern to the high beam pattern.
However, with the above configuration, for a driver, the split beam pattern is maintained until the set period of time elapses although the vehicle ahead has disappeared. Therefore, this may bring a feeling of strangeness to the driver, and also may lead to a decrease in visibility.

Vehicle light distribution control device and vehicle light distribution control method


The present invention relates to a catheter assembly including a catheter body, a first and a second set of a plurality of fenestrations, a first and a second inflatable device, a first and a second pleat, at least one obstructing stop near each end portion of the catheter body, and a first and a second flexible tube connected to the first and the second inflatable device. The catheter assembly further includes a pumping device in communication with the first and the second inflatable device via the first and the second flexible tube. The catheter assembly is used to restore blood flow to a traumatized blood vessel.

Hemorrhage remains a leading cause of death in trauma patients. Vascular injuries, which threaten both life and limb, have always constituted a serious problem in the surgical management of traumatic conditions. Intravascular shunts have been used to restore and maintain arterial flow during the repair of complex injuries, especially those involving extensive bony or soft tissue destruction.
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a catheter assembly used as a shunt for restoring blood flow in a traumatized blood vessel. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for restoring blood flow to a traumatized blood vessel using a catheter assembly.

Intravascular shunt for traumatized arteries

Indiana University Research and Technology Corp.


Methods and systems for collecting and analyzing application usage are disclosed. A usage analytics module is integrated within an application. The application is deployed to a device. Usage analytics are received, at a server, in response to usage of the application at the device. The usage analytics are provided to the developer, wherein the usage analytics includes at least one of: information identifying a user of the application or information linking the usage analytics to an existing user identity.

Recent advancements in technology have resulted in increased usage of mobile applications. As a result, developers are increasingly reliant on information regarding how their applications are used, the demographic of the application users, and other information regarding application use. Different tools may be used in conjunction with a mobile application and executing separately to assist developers. However, these solutions may not be optimal. For example, analytic usage information with respect to mobile applications do not tie into a user's actual identity and other details which may reveal more about the user and how they use the application, and what their true preferences are. Several services provide passive analytics collection such as receiving information about device type, time of usage, location usage, feature usage, and event reporting. However, none of these solutions process or utilize information relating to a user's identity.

Method and system for collecting and providing application usage analytics