Performing cascading lookups at a network node involves using first header information from a packet to search a first set of search criteria for a match, identifying a tag associated with the match, and using second header information from the packet and the tag to search a second set of search criteria for another match.

A lookup is a data search performed within a predefined table of values. Lookups are performed frequently in the process of handling network traffic. For example, lookups may be performed in relation to a traffic distribution policy table or an access control list (ACL). In a lookup, information from incoming packets, such as header information, is used to compare against information stored in a lookup table to determine how the packet should be handled. In the process of handling network traffic, multiple lookups may be performed using information from different protocol layers, such as layer three (3) and layer four (4), where the layers are defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO) in the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model. As defined in the OSI model, layer 3 (L3) (also referred to as the network layer) is used to route data to different local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) based on network address (i.e., destination IP address). Layer 4 (L4) (also referred to as the transport layer) can be used to ensure delivery of an entire file or message. L3 lookups are commonly performed in order to determine a next hop for the packet. L4 lookups are commonly performed to implement a traffic distribution policy or for access control. Typically, L3 lookups and L4 lookups are performed in parallel. FIG. 1 is a logical depiction of conventional L3 and L4 lookup processes that are performed in parallel on incoming traffic. The two lookups are performed independently of each other using header information that is obtained from the incoming traffic.
FIG. 2 is an example of a lookup table (referred to as an "L3 lookup table") that is used to forward Internet Protocol (IP) traffic to the next hop. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the search field of the lookup table includes a "Source IP Address" and a "Dest. IP Address" (destination IP address). And the results field of the lookup table includes some associated data. For example, the associated data may include next hop information and/or a pointer to another location that holds next hop information. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the source IP address is irrelevant (as indicated by the "X" values) because incoming packets are matched solely based upon destination IP addresses.
FIG. 3 is an example of a lookup table (referred to as an "L4 lookup table") that is used to implement, for example, a traffic distribution policy or access control. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the search field of the lookup table includes "Source IP Address," "Dest. IP Address" (destination IP address), "Source Socket," "Dest. Socket" (destination socket). And the results field of the lookup table includes some associated data. For example, the associated data may include next hop information for application of a traffic distribution policy or a "permit/deny" determination for access control. As stated above with reference to FIG. 1, the L4 lookup is performed in parallel with the L3 lookup. Note that the source IP address in the L4 lookup is irrelevant, in this case, because incoming packets are matched based upon destination IP address, source socket, and destination socket. Since the L4 lookup is performed in parallel with the L3 lookup, information obtained from the L3 lookup cannot be used to benefit the L4 lookup. In addition, the L4 lookup table is populated with one L4 table entry for each combination of destination IP address, source socket, and destination socket.
Some packets have particular commonalities with other packets based on L4 information. For example, multiple entries may identify the same source and destination sockets and the same associated data even though their destination IP addresses differ. For example, the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth L4 table entries (destination IP address 10.1.1.1, source socket A, destination socket B), (destination IP address 188.8.131.52, source socket A, destination socket B), (destination IP address 184.108.40.206, source socket A, destination socket B), and (destination IP address 126.96.36.199, source socket A, destination socket B) all yield the same associated data (traffic info "H"). That is, packets having these characteristics are all handled in a similar manner.
Lookup tables are often implemented in network nodes using memory such as random access memory (RAM) and/or content addressable memory (CAM). In order to implement larger lookup tables, more memory is needed. Memory in a network node is a costly resource that should be used efficiently.
Because memory is a costly resource, what is needed is an efficient technique for implementing multiple lookups in a network node.

Efficient cascaded lookups at a network node


A circuit assembly includes a substrate having a substrate electrical circuit, opposite top and bottom substrate surfaces, and a substrate hole extending through the substrate. The circuit assembly also includes a discrete component assembly electrically connected to the substrate electrical circuit and a support member attached to the discrete component. At least a portion of the discrete component is physically mounted in the substrate hole.

Integrated circuit ("IC") packages are ubiquitous in modern electronic devices. A typical integrated circuit package includes an IC die ("chip") that is mounted on a substrate such as a lead frame. The die and portions of the substrate are usually covered in a layer of protective encapsulant. An IC die is a small block of semiconductor material, such as silicon, in which an electrical circuit that performs a predetermined function is provided. Some dies have contact pads on a top surface that allow the die circuit to be connected to the substrate or other electrical components by wire bonding. Another type of die known as a flipchip has an array of conductive solder balls formed on a bottom surface of the die. The solder balls are connected to corresponding contact pads of a substrate on which the die is mounted.
In some cases it may be desirable to add functionality to an IC die by attaching one or more discrete circuit components to an integrated circuit package that contains the die. The discrete components may be passive circuit elements, e.g., capacitors, inductors, and resistors. Or, the discrete components may be more complex circuit devices such as, for example, transistors, crystals, sensors, microelectromechanical system (MEMS), or oscillators. A discrete component is typically provided in a small hard surfaced package that may have various shapes, heights and sizes. Two or more electrical contacts, such as contact pads, or leads, may be provided for attaching the discrete component to corresponding electrical contacts on a die, substrate or other electrical component. The phrase "discrete component" as used herein means the primary circuitry of the component and packaging thereof. The phrase "discrete component assembly," as used herein, means the discrete component and any structure used to attach it to an electrical substrate and any electrical conductors/contacts that are provided to electrically connect the discrete component to an electrical substrate or other electrical components.
After attaching the die and discrete component(s) a layer of protective encapsulant is often applied to complete an IC package. The encapsulant usually covers the die, discrete component(s) and at least portions of the substrate. Some complex packages have multiple IC dies and multiple discrete components and are often referred to as "systems in package modules." The phrase "integrated circuit (IC) package" as used in this specification means any functional assembly that includes an IC die mounted on a substrate, including systems in package modules as well as simple die substrate assemblies, whether encapsulated or not.
There is a continuing need for manufacturers to decrease the size, and particularly the height, of IC packages to facilitate the production of ever smaller electronic devices, such as cell phones, tablet computers and smart appliances.


An electric motor for a magnetic disk memory device includes a conical hub and a conical plane or grooved base and an integral air-bearing which significantly reduces non-repeatable runout, audible noise, and vibration. The base is rigidly attached to the shaft while the hub, which carries all of the load, rotates on the air cushion created by a pressurized air film. An upper sleeve controls the pressure fluctuation in the air film in a dynamic condition. In a static condition, the hub rests on a dry lubricated surface. The force developed due to the pressurized air film balances the rotating member in any condition.

Disk drive memory systems have been used in computers for many years for storage of digital information. The digital information is recorded on concentric memory tracks of a magnetic disk medium. (The actual information is stored in the form of magnetic transitions within the medium.) The disks themselves are rotatably mounted on a spindle, and information is accessed by means of read/write heads generally located on pivoting arms which move radially over the surface of the disk. The read/write heads, or transducers, must be accurately aligned with the storage tracks on the disk to ensure proper reading and writing of information.
During operation, the disks are rotated at very high speeds by means of an electric motor generally located inside the hub or below the spindle. One type of motor is commonly known as an "in-hub" or "in-spindle" motor. In this type of motor assembly the drive motor is incorporated within the spindle itself. Such a motor assembly is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,754,353 and 4,928,029, both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present application. In-spindle motors have a spindle which is mounted by means of two ball-bearing systems to a non-rotating motor shaft disposed in the center of the hub. One of the bearings is typically located at the top of the spindle and the other is located at the bottom of the spindle. These bearings allow for rotational movement between the shaft and the hub while maintaining accurate alignment of the spindle to the shaft. The bearings themselves are normally lubricated by grease or oil, which creates a hydrodynamic bearing surface during operation.
The conventional bearing system described above is prone to several shortcomings. First, there is the problem of friction generated on the ball bearing surface. Since the ball bearings are always in mechanical or physical contact with either the grease lubricating layer or with the motor shaft itself, resulting friction limits the maximum speed of rotation that can be achieved. In other words, hydrodynamic mechanical bearings of this type are severely limited to a maximum rotational speed. This limitation conflicts with the need to spin the magnetic disk at ever higher speeds in order to improve the overall performance of the disk drive system.
Moreover, mechanical bearings are not always scaleable to smaller dimensions. This is a significant drawback since the trend in the disk drive industry has been to continually shrink the physical dimensions of the disk drive unit. Furthermore, the frictional nature of the ball-bearings leads to wear on the associated parts, thereby shortening the lifetime of the motor.
Another problem is that the seals which confine the grease and oil lubricants within the bearing are subject to leakage with increased wear. Any leakage into the disk drive environment is potentially hazardous since outgasing of contaminants can cause flaws and other data errors within the system.
In an attempt to overcome the problems associated with traditional ball-bearing systems, an alternative motor design has been developed that utilizes a dynamic pressure-type cylindrical groove bearing. This design, which is sometimes referred to as an "under-slung" motor, relies upon pressurized gas in the radial bearing gap between the spindle and motor shaft. This air pressure is increased by a series of dynamic pressure generating grooves located on the outer surface of the motor shaft. An example of this type of magnetic disk drive motor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,545.
While the under-slung motor design benefits from the use of air pressure bearings, the design is not without its drawbacks. For example, such designs typically require that the entire disk drive assembly including the magnetic disks themselves be totally enclosed within a pressurized air chamber. This means that the drive assembly must be hermetically sealed, which is often expensive and difficult to implement.
In another attempt to overcome the problems of ball-bearing systems, a spindle motor design based on a gas dynamic bearing using double-sided grooves to generate dynamic pressure was developed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,033. The bearing part of the motor is positioned in a manner that resembles either an under-slung or an over-hang. This requires extra space and is not suitable for small form-factor drives. The design uses a high viscosity lubricant and requires more electrical power to overcome increased drag force. It has only an unidirectional thrust mechanism and cannot work in all dispositions (horizontal, upside down, etc.). The design also has an insufficient mechanism for preloading and has no mechanism for providing radial balance at the top to control run-out.
What is needed then is an air-bearing system for a magnetic recording motor assembly which offers a simple construction, yet is capable of being manufactured at low cost and in high volume. As will be seen, the present invention provides a self acting air-bearing system that utilizes pressurized air as a bearing lubricant to overcome the problems inherent in the prior art. cl SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An air-bearing motor assembly for magnetic recording systems is disclosed. The primary advantages of using air as a bearing lubricant include a significantly lower coefficient of viscosity as compared to conventional hydrodynamic bearing systems. Hence, the power demand in the present invention is extremely low while the load carrying capacity remains essentially constant.
In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a motor assembly having a cylindrical shaft onto which is secured a stator. The stator has an electromagnetic coil disposed about the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Both the stator and the shaft are housed within a rotatable hub. A plurality of information recording magnetic disks are mounted in axially spaced apart relationship on the outer peripheral portion of the rotatable hub. Within the hub, a magnet means is attached and disposed radially about the stator for interacting electromagnetically with the coil to cause rotation of the hub relative to the shaft during normal operation.
The motor assembly also includes a pair of cylindrical sleeve members affixed to the hub and disposed about respective first and second ends of the shaft. Each of the sleeve members has a dry lubricated surface of a predetermined radial dimension which is calculated to be slightly larger than the radial dimension associated with the shaft. This creates a gap between the shaft and each of the sleeve members. Upon rotation of the hub relative to the shaft a pressurized air film develops within the gaps. It is these pressurized air films that function as the bearings for the system. The dimension of the gaps is preferably optimized based on the surface area of the bearings, the rotational speed of the hub, and the various loads that are supported. The gap-forming surfaces create axial force through pressure generation between the closely matched surfaces, and maintain the axial load and stiffness requirements.
The present invention is further characterized by its simple construction and its relatively low cost. Because the drive itself is normally in an air-ambient, there is no need to hermetically seal the motor assembly. Also, since air is chemically stable, the problem of outgasing into the disk drive environment is non-existent. In addition to being noiseless and vibration-free, the present invention is also characterized by a very long lifetime, since mechanical abrasion and wear are virtually eliminated.

Air-bearing motor assembly for magnetic recording systems


A two button safety umbrella is provided having an inner tube, a middle tube, and an outer tube, which are respectively coupled to related ribs of the umbrella. A coil spring is disposed within the inner tube and the middle tube is disposed over the inner tube. Two button assemblies are coupled to the middle and the outer tubes, respectively, to control the opening and closing of the umbrella, which is thereby operated easily and safely.

In prior systems, an umbrella which can be automatically opened and closed includes at least two coil springs in its shaft. One spring is compressed and the other is in tension. When a user is going to open or to close the umbrella, he must use enough force to overcome the total force of two springs, changing the state of both springs. Such an umbrella can be easily operated by a normal man, however, if the user is a woman or a child, they would obviously find it hard to operate this type of umbrella.


A color electronic photographic apparatus includes plurality of image forming units, each having a different electrostatic carrier and a different colored toner. Each of the image forming units can be moved to the same image forming position when exposed to light by a light exposing mechanism at the image forming position so as to effect an image forming operation, so that toner images are individually transferred onto a transfer material. In the color electronic photographic apparatus, the image forming units are sequentially moved into the image forming position, and also, the transfer material is reciprocated by the transfer carrying device so that the toner images of each color are properly superposed on the same transfer material.

The present invention generally relates to a color electronic photographic apparatus which can be applied to a color duplicating machine, a color printer and so on.
In order to form color images with an electronic photograph, a method of superposing the toner images of the respective colors of yellow, magenta, cyanide, and black on a transfer material so as to form color images is provided. As methods of effecting the superposition of the toner images on the transfer material, there have been provided a transfer drum system for rotating a transfer material around the transfer drum so as to repeatedly bring it to the same image forming position, where the sequentially formed toner images of each color are transferred in piles, and a continuous superposing system for arranging a plurality of image forming portions side by side so as to let the transfer material be carried by belts or the like to pass by the positions of the respective image forming portions so that the toner images of each color are transferred sequentially and are superposed.
There is an example of a color image forming apparatus shown in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 1-252982, which uses the transfer drum system discussed above.
FIG. 7 shows the overall construction of the conventional embodiment, which will be described hereinafter with respect to its construction and operation. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 101 is a photosensitive material. A charger 102, a developer portion 103, a transfer drum 104, and a cleaner 105 are positioned opposite the photosensitive material 101. The developer portion 103 is composed of a Y developer 106 for making the toner image of a yellow color, an M developer 107 for making a magenta color, a C developer 108 for making a cyanide color, and a K developer 109 for a black color. The respective developers are positioned in sequence opposite the photosensitive material 101 so that the developing operation can be effected through rotation of the whole developer mechanism 103.
The transfer drum 104 and the photosensitive material 101 are rotated at a constant speed in the directions respectively indicated by arrows in FIG. 7 while being positioned opposite one another during the operation.
When the operation starts, the photosensitive material 101 is rotated in the arrow direction, and the surfaces are charged evenly by the charger 102.
A laser beam 110 modulated by a signal for forming the yellow image of a first color impinges upon the surfaces of the photosensitive material so as to form latent images. The latent images are developed first by the Y developer 106 opposite to the photosensitive material so as to form a yellow toner image. One sheet of paper such as a transfer material fed from the paper feeding portion 111 is caught at its tip end by a pawl portion 112 and is already wound on the outer periphery of the transfer drum 104 by the time the yellow toner image reaches a position opposite the transfer drum 104. The timing is set so that the yellow toner image on the photosensitive material may reach a position opposite the given position of the paper so as to form the toner images.
The yellow toner image on the photosensitive material is transferred onto the paper by the function of the transfer charger 113, and thereafter, the photosensitive material surfaces are cleaned by the cleaner 105 so as to prepare for image formation with the next color. The toner images of magenta, cyanide, and black are then sequentially and continuously formed in a similar manner. At this time, each developer of the developer portion 103 is positioned opposite the photosensitive material when it is desired to develop the corresponding color. The diameter of the transfer drum is sufficient for the longest paper to be wound thereabout, and the developer portion 103 may be moved to develop the images of the respective colors.
The illumination by the laser beam 110 for forming images of the various colors is timed so that the toner image of each color and the toner images already transferred onto the paper on the transfer drum may be positioned in conformity. In this manner, four colors of toner images are transferred in a superposed manner onto the paper on the transfer drum 104 so that the color images are formed on the paper. After the toner images of all the colors have been transferred, the paper is peeled off from the transfer drum 104 with the peeling pawl 114. The upper toner images are fixed by a fixer 116 as the paper is carried through the carrying portion 115 to discharge the paper out of the apparatus. The above description is a brief description of the construction and the operation of a conventional embodiment.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 1-250970 is among examples of color image forming apparatus using a continuous transferring system. Four colors of image forming stations each including a photosensitive material, a light scanning means and so on are arranged side by side to form four-color images in the example. Paper carried by the belt passes under the lower portion of the respective photosensitive material so as to superpose the toner images.
A method of reciprocating the transfer material with respect to the photosensitive material so as to repeat the transferring operation and superpose the toner images is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,048 as another method for superposing toner images of different colors on the transfer material so as to form color images.
In the transfer drum system of such conventional embodiments as described hereinabove, a transfer drum is used so as to position the toner images of different colors to provide proper superposition. The transfer drum is rotated at the same speed as the photosensitive material, and further the timing of the movement of the tip end of the image is set so that the mutual positions of the toner images of the different colors are put into conformity. As the paper is required to be wound around the transfer drum in the construction described hereinabove, the diameter of the constant-size transfer drum must be large and the construction is very complicated so that the apparatus is quite large.
It has been impossible to use stiff paper such as postcards, thick paper or the like because it could not be wound around the transfer drum.
The continuous transfer system has a number of image forming positions corresponding to the number of colors. No transfer drum is necessary as the paper has only to pass there one after another. But in this case, the latent image forming means of the laser optical system and so on for forming latent images on the photosensitive material are necessary in accordance with the number of the colors, thus resulting in a very complicated construction in this portion. As the image forming positions are plural in number, the relative positional relation of the image forming portions of the respective colors has a large influence upon the color divergence.
It is especially important to provide correct positional alignment among the respective colors of the latent images by the latent image forming means. This requires a complicated construction of the image light exposing system as the latent image forming means as shown by way of example in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 1-250970.
In the example disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,048 for reciprocating the transfer material, the photosensitive material becomes large as the toner images of the various colors are formed in order on one photosensitive material, and the construction and control for combining the sensitive body with the developer for each color is very complicated such that the maintenance required to exchange them is difficult.

Color electronic photographic apparatus with multiple image forming units

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A software management database contains data structures supporting computer software provisioning for a range of CTO/BTO variations, language variations, region variations, and operating system variations.

Producing consumer electronics and in particular computers that might incorporate, in addition to operating systems with various configurations and suites of applications, several subsystems, each in turn with their own software drivers, can be complicated. Not only must a bill of materials (BOM) be defined, managed, and conformed to, but product defects and corrective actions must also be managed in way that ensures corrective action can be known and taken across the globe.
Because of the complexity inherent in the above considerations, it can happen that more than a single management system might develop over time, complicating efforts to integrate knowledge and data. As recognized herein, it is desirable to have a management system that can integrate the knowledge and input of designers, engineers, software integrators, etc. in ways that reduce engineering lead times and provide ease of tracking defects and cures to the defects in a single, globally shared system within an enterprise, while providing an easy way to manage regional differentiation of software offerings, sharing information between business groups within the enterprise, and eliminating duplicative data maintenance.
For example, many computers are sold on a configure to order/build to order (CTO/BTO) basis. Each software part can have a multidimensional relationship with each stock keeping unit (SKU) that represents a product when region, language, various operating system versions, and platforms are factored in. Thus, each software part can potentially have dozens of version releases to accommodate all of these variables. As but one example of the complexity of providing CTO/BTO computers, one version of a "click to DVD" software may be used only on French Windows MCE SR series SKUs that are sold only in Quebec, but another version may be designed to work on any model using Windows XP Home Edition Spanish Version regardless of region.
As another example of complexity, consider that there are currently about ten Sony VAIO platforms worldwide, and each platform may contain multiple VAIO models with variations on CPU, RAM, HDD capacity, wireless (WLAN, WWAN, and Bluetooth), graphics chipset, etc. Several major regions that include an even greater number of languages in many different countries, along with plural operating system variations, may require support. Still further, each model of VAIO for each region/language/country/OS variation contains well over one hundred pieces of software, each of which may be a unique version for only that model, or may be used for multiple models of VAIO, giving an idea of the exponential scope of the relationship between software and computer models the database must be designed to support. In summary, the relationships between software parts and the platforms they are used on have become extremely complex, and with this critical recognition in mind, the invention herein is provided.
In addition, the present invention critically recognizes that the quality of the final product is important. As understood herein, each piece of software may contain defects, or when combined in an image with other software may cause defects to be generated.

System and method for software integration and factory deployment


A power converter has an output that is coupled in parallel with an energy reservoir circuit and a power supply node of an audio power amplifier. The converter can set an upper limit on its input supply current that is variable in accordance with a control input. A controller is to produce a signal, coupled to the control input of the power converter, that is responsive to a measure of input supply voltage of the power converter and either output voltage of the power converter or output power of the amplifier. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Audio content tends to have a high peak to average ratio, also referred to here as crest factor or peak to average power ratio, by virtue of the nature of speech, music and movies that are intended for humans. While a dc signal has the smallest possible crest factor of 0 dB, and that of a pure or single-tone sinusoid is 3 dB, acoustic engineers who strive to produce audio systems that have improved sound fidelity may prefer relatively high crest factors in the range of 25-40 dB for example, depending upon the particular audio content being reproduced. While the audio signal peaks in such cases are relatively high, that is relative to the average of the audio signal, the peaks typically do not last very long and as such can be amplified without too much distortion by a well-designed audio power amplifier. In certain consumer electronic products, Class D power amplifiers are used because of their relatively high efficiency vs. other amplifier topologies such as linear amplifiers. Class D amplifiers are popular in portable, battery powered consumer electronic devices such as smartphones, tablet computers and notebook computers. In such audio power amplification systems, a rechargeable battery of the portable device is coupled to provide the input supply power of a voltage boost converter whose output supplies power to the audio amplifier. The converter boosts the battery voltage, so as to obtain louder sound from a speaker that is being driven by the amplifier. The voltage boost converter typically has an output boost capacitor, which acts as a filter for the regulated dc output voltage of the boost converter. The amplifier may be a Class D audio amplifier, for example, a differential h-bridge driver. The audio signal is fed to a signal input of the Class D amplifier, and the latter drives the loudspeaker with a predetermined gain. Variable volume is achieved by applying a variable full band gain to the audio signal. Typically, the voltage boost converter provides a regulated dc output voltage that remains fixed despite variations in the battery voltage and variations in the load (being the power amplifier).

Audio power amplification with reduced input power supply crest factor


A display device includes a clock oscillator, a register, and a data driver. The clock oscillator generates a clock signal. The register stores a clock signal parameter for the clock signal. The data driver determines a number of clock signals in 1 horizontal period based on the clock signal parameter, and applies data signals to data lines connected to a plurality of pixels based on the 1 horizontal period.

1. Field
One or more embodiments described herein relate to a display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display device generally includes scan lines and data lines connected to a plurality of pixels. In operation, scan signals are sequentially applied to the scan lines, and data signals are applied to the data lines in response to the scan signals. As a result, image data is written in the pixels. When the scan and data signals are properly synchronized, a correct image may be displayed.
Also, in terms of synchronization, the frequency of a frame in which an image is displayed may be set to coincide with the frequency of the data signal corresponding to the image in one frame. When these frequencies do not coincide, a tearing phenomenon may occur, in which two or more images are simultaneously displayed on a same screen.
For example, when the tearing phenomenon occurs, data of two or more frames may be divided and displayed on one screen. Also, R, G, and B colors of the pixels may be updated to data in a next frame. As a result, dot noise may occur in which different colors are displayed. All of these effects reduce display quality.

Display device and driving method thereof


A method for the operation of a computer system controlled by a real-time operating system, which computer system processes interrupt signals. Upon the occurrence of an interrupt signal, the computer system interrupts a program that is to be processed at that time. The acceptance of further interrupt signals is blocked, and an interrupt routine belonging to this interrupt signal is called. During the processing of this interrupt routine, a first part of the program parameters of the program that is interrupted upon the occurrence of the interrupt signal is intermediately stored, and at least one datum concerning the interrupt signal is stored in an interrupt memory. A branching takes place from the interrupt routine to an interrupt management routine (IVR), whereby the acceptance of further interrupt signals is again cleared during the processing of the IVR. During the processing of the IVR, the datum belonging to the interrupt signal is erased; the remaining part of the program parameters of the program that is interrupted upon the occurrence of the interrupt signal is intermediately stored. Dependent on the datum concerning the interrupt signal, at least one reaction routine belonging to this interrupt signal is activated. After the processing of the IVR, the operating system branches back to the program that was interrupted upon the occurrence of the interrupt signal, using the intermediately stored program parameters.

The present invention relates to methods for operating a real-time computer system controlled by a real-time operating system, which computer system processes interrupt signals, e.g., of a technical process.
Methods of this type are used for example in real-time computer systems utilized in telecommunication modules of the public and private networks. A real-time computer system is characterized in that the processing of a program activated, for example, as a reaction to an interrupt signal can be interrupted within a known limited time interval, in order to continue the processing of this program only when higher-priority programs have been processed. During the processing of a program in telecommunication modules, e.g. up to about 50,000 interrupt signals can occur per second, which respectively require an interruption of a program to be processed at that time and a reaction to the interrupt signal.
Known real-time computer systems block the acceptance of further interrupt signals for a predetermined time interval, called the interrupt blocking time, so that interrupt signals coming in during this time interval are not taken into account is processed, and information or instructions can be lost. The interrupt blocking time is required so that the microprocessor can secure its registers, can react at least partly to the interrupt signal, and can again update its registers in order to be able to continue the interrupted program. The longer this interrupt blocking time is, all the more incoming interrupt signals go without being processed. An improved method for the operation of a real-time computer system, in which the interrupt blocking time is reduced, would be advantageous.

Method for managing interrupt signals in a real-time computer system


A method for manufacturing a hub unit includes: preparing a hub unit intermediate including an inner shaft, an inner ring fixed to an axial end of the inner shaft, and an outer ring rotatably arranged with respect to the inner shaft and the inner ring; preparing a magnetic seal member including a seal member and an annular magnetic member having no magnetic pole; and arranging the magnetic seal member between the inner ring and the outer ring of the hub unit intermediate. The method further includes: forming splines extending along the axial direction by cutting the inner circumferential surface of the inner shaft of the hub unit intermediate in which the magnetic seal member has been arranged; and forming magnetic poles in a circumferential direction of the magnetic member of the hub unit intermediate in which the plurality of splines have been formed.

A hub unit is used to rotatably attach a wheel of a vehicle to a suspension. Further, in a vehicle having an anti-lock brake system (ABS), a magnetic encoder for detecting a rotation speed of a wheel is attached to the hub unit. The magnetic encoder has an annular shape and has a plurality of magnetic poles. The plurality of magnetic poles are arranged so that N poles and S poles are alternately positioned in a circumferential direction of the magnetic encoder.
JP-A-2007-254097 discloses a method for manufacturing a bearing device having a magnetic encoder. The bearing device manufactured by the manufacturing method has a bearing portion and a rotation sensor portion as the magnetic encoder. The bearing portion has an inner ring, an outer ring rotatably arranged with respect to the inner ring, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The rotation sensor portion includes a base member and a magnetic pulsar unit.
In the manufacturing method disclosed in JP-A-2007-254097, first, the bearing portion is assembled. The base member has an annular shape and is press-fitted to an outer circumferential side surface of the inner ring in the assembled bearing portion. A resin layer is formed on the outer circumferential side surface of the base member by discharging a magnetic ink onto the outer circumferential side surface of the base member by an ink-jet method. The resin layer is magnetized by a magnetizing device, in such a manner that the magnetic pulsar portion is formed.
There are two kinds of hub units, a hub unit for a driving wheel and a hub unit for a driven wheel.
The hub unit for a driving wheel includes an inner shaft, an inner ring, an outer ring, a plurality of first rolling elements, a plurality of second rolling elements, a seal member, and a pulsar ring.
The inner ring is disposed coaxially with the inner shaft and is fixed to one axial end portion of the inner shaft. The outer ring is rotatably arranged with respect to the inner shaft and the inner ring. The first rolling element is disposed between the inner shaft and the outer ring. The second rolling element is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The seal member has an annular shape and seals a gap formed between the inner ring and the outer ring. Further, the pulsar ring in which a plurality of magnetic poles are arranged in the circumferential direction is disposed on one axial end surface of the seal member.
A plurality of splines extending in the axial direction are formed in advance on an inner circumferential surface of a hole passing through the inner shaft in the axial direction. When a hub unit for a driving wheel is manufactured, an end portion on one side of the inner shaft is press-fitted into the inner ring. The splines previously formed on the inner circumferential surface of the inner shaft are slightly deformed by press-fitting.
Although the extent of deformation is slight, the splines formed on the inner circumferential surface of the inner shaft is deformed, and therefore metallic sound may be generated at contact portions between the splines formed on the inner circumferential surface of the inner shaft and splines formed on an outer circumferential side surface of a drive shaft when the drive shaft inserted in the hole of the inner shaft rotates. In order to prevent the generation of the metallic sound, it is preferable to prevent deformation of the spline formed on the inner circumferential surface of the inner shaft and improve the forming accuracy of the spline formed on the inner circumferential surface of the inner shaft.
Deformation of the spline formed on the inner circumferential surface of the inner shaft can be prevented by cutting the inner circumferential surface of the inner shaft and forming the spline after the hub unit for a driving wheel is assembled. However, there is a worry that metal pieces generated by cutting may adhere to a magnetic pole of the pulsar ring. When the metal pieces stick to the magnetic pole in the pulsar ring, the detection accuracy of a rotation speed of a wheel is lowered. In addition, when a surface of the pulsar ring is scratched by the metal pieces, the detection accuracy of the rotation speed of the wheel is lowered.


Notification of an executing object becoming idle is provided in a multitasking environment. As the object executes, a user can interface with a second object. When the executing object becomes accessible, a buoy icon object is displayed on the computer screen. The buoy icon has the name of the accessible object as well as a pointer line extending from the buoy icon to the accessible object. The buoy icon provides notification that the accessible object execution is complete or is ready to receive a user input. The user can either remove the buoy icon from the screen or select the buoy icon object to focused the accessible object. The newly focused accessible object can then be used. The buoy icon notification can be enabled or disabled on an object-by-object basis.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for notification of user input situations and execution terminations in asynchronously executing tasks in multitasking computer environments.
Multitasking computer environments allow users to run or execute plural objects (such as application programs) in an apparent simultaneous manner. For example, a user can execute a spread sheet application, a graphics application and a phone application at the same time.
Each object has a user interface displayed to a user on a computer screen. User interfaces for specific applications on a computer system present themselves on a computer screen as a window, a full screen session, an icon or plural combinations thereof. When a full screen session object is selected, the user interface takes up the entire screen and may prompt the user with a command line. When an object is displayed as a window, the window typically takes up only a portion of the screen, so that other objects may be seen.
A user input is provided to an object through a focused window or full screen session only one object can be focused (or otherwise made accessible to a user) at any one time. If an object is not focused, it is not enabled for receiving a user input. Unfocused objects may or may not be obscured from the view of the user by the focused object. For example, if the focused object is represented by a full screen session, then all unfocused objects are obscured from view. If the focused object is represented by a window that takes up only a portion of the screen, then some objects (represented as either windows or icons) are likely to be visible.
The limitation that only one object can be focused for receiving a user input at any given time presents a problem in multitasking computer environments. A user may start an application in one user interface and then go to another user interface to work with another application. The user must poll the first application to determine when the first application either completes or prompts for a user input. Alternatively, the user can simply sit at the screen, waiting for the first application to complete and prompt for a user input. For example, suppose a user begins the formatting of a diskette. To continue operations with the diskette, the user must wait for the formatting to be completed. While formatting, the user begins to use other applications. While using these other applications, a convenient method is needed to indicate the completion of the formatting of the diskette.
In general, a convenient method is needed to indicate to the user that either a specific asynchronously executing task is complete or that a prompt for user input has been provided.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for providing notification to a user of an object prompt mode, regardless of the activity that the user is engaging in.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for providing notification to a user of termination of an asynchronously executing task.
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing notification of availability of an object on a multitasking computer. A first object is executed. While the first object is executing, a second object is enabled for receiving a user input on a user interface of the computer. It is then determined when the first object becomes accessible. Becoming accessible implies either the availability for entering input to a task or session or the termination of an asynchronously executing task. When the first object becomes accessible, a notification is provided on the user interface.
The present invention provides automatic notification to a user of when an object becomes accessible. Thus, a user can execute a first object on a computer. The user need not wait for the object to finish executing. Instead, the user can turn to other tasks, such as interfacing with the second object. While interfacing with the second object, the user need not return to the first object to check on the progress of its execution. With the present invention, a buoy icon object is automatically displayed on the screen when the first object becomes accessible or otherwise ceases execution.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the determination of when the first object becomes accessible further includes the determination of when the first object provides a prompt for a user input.
In another aspect of the present invention, the determination of when the first object becomes accessible further includes the determination of when an asynchronously executing task terminates.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the provision of a notification on the user interface when the first object becomes accessible further includes displaying a buoy icon on a screen. In addition to the buoy icon, a name of the first object can be displayed in proximity to the buoy icon. Also, a line or other visual indicator between the buoy icon and the first object can be displayed on the screen.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the computer contains plural objects which include first and second objects. The present invention allows enabling the notification for selected ones of the objects. In still another aspect of the present invention, the notification can be disabled for selected ones of said objects.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the notification can be removed from the user interface after the notification has been displayed.
In still another aspect of the present invention, after the notification has been displayed, the notification is selected. Then, the associated object is focused on the user interface, wherein user input can be provided to the newly focused object.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the computer includes a third object, and the notification is a first notification. The third object is executed. A determination is made when the third object becomes accessible. A second notification is displayed on the user interface when the third object becomes accessible. The second notification is removed from the user interface while maintaining the first notification on the user interface. Alternatively, instead of removing the second notification from the user interface, the second notification can be selected, wherein the third object is focused on a user interface while maintaining the first notification on the user interface.

Buoy icon notification of object interface accessibility in multitasking computer environment

International Business Machines Corporation


A terrain referenced navigation system utilizing a five-state kalman filter with a filter distribution based on a fixed grid approach. The five-state kalman filter utilizes an aircraft's altitude, East velocity, East acceleration, a South velocity and South acceleration. The database of the terrain referenced navigation system also utilizes a state variable indicating whether the aircraft is headed over water or land. The accuracy of the terrain referenced navigation system is improved by ignoring filter coefficients over water. The invention provides increased computational efficiency and accuracy by predicting inertial navigation parameters in the line of flight of an aircraft within a circle error of probability at predetermined filter locations within the circle error of probability. The difference between actual and predicted values are then used to compute a new estimate. The method is repeated until the removal of the most divergent filter at each pass results in a single best filter.

One prior art terrain aided navigation system is available from Sandia Labs. Sandia has created the Sandia Inertial Terrain-Aided Navigation (SITAN) flight-computer algorithm that produces a very accurate trajectory for low-flying, high-performance aircraft by combining outputs from a radar or laser altimeter, an inertial navigation system (INS), and a digital terrain elevation map. SITAN is a recursive, real time, terrain-aided navigation algorithm for use on fighter aircraft. The algorithm has been implemented in a popular microprocessor. The aircraft's position can be estimated within a 926 meter circle error of probability. A good description of the SITAN terrain aided navigation system can be found in the proceedings of the IEEE National Aerospace and Electronics Conference--NAECON, May 20-24, 1985 entitled The AFTI/F16 Terrain-Aided Navigation System, by D. D. Boozer, M. K. Lau, J. R. Fellerhoff, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, N. Mex. 87185.
SITAN utilizes Kalman filter algorithms to process geophysical measurements. The algorithm estimates errors in a flight path produced by an inertial navigation system following the equations given in the above-mentioned article.
The Kalman filter can be formed with the following state model: and the measurement ##EQU1## where .delta.X.sub.k =INS error states to be estimated
.PHI.=state-transition matrix for INS errors PA1 X.sub.k =states of INS and aircraft PA1 C.sub.k =ground clearance measurement PA1 Z.sub.k =altitude of aircraft PA1 h=height of terrain at position (. , .) PA1 W.sub.k =driving noise with E(W.sub.k)=0 for all k and E(W.sub.k W.sub.j.sup.T)=Q.sub.k .delta..sub.kj PA1 V.sub.k =measurement error with E(V.sub.k)=0 for all k and E(V.sub.k V.sub.j)=R.sub.k .delta..sub.kj PA1 k=subscript denoting time k.
Since the measurement function c(x) is a nonlinear function of the states, the standard extended Kalman filter approach is used to obtain the measurement matrix, ##EQU2## where h.sub.x and h.sub.y are the terrain slopes in the x and y directions of the map evaluated at X.sub.k (-), the predicted aircraft position just before a measurement is processed at time k. The first three states are taken to be the x position, y position, and altitude, respectively. At any time k, EQU X=X.sub.INS +.delta.X
The state vector often used in a single filter implementation is EQU .delta.X=[.delta.X.delta.Y.delta.Z.delta.V.sub.X .delta.V.sub.Y ].sup.T
where .delta.X, .delta.Y, .delta.Z, .delta.V.sub.X, and .delta.V.sub.Y are errors in the X position, Y position, altitude, X velocity, and Y velocity, respectively. Other INS errors and states can also be included in .delta.X by using the proper .PHI..
Parallel SITAN was developed because the distance needed by SITAN to reach steady state becomes excessive as initial position errors (IPEs) approach several hundred meters. Parallel SITAN is a bank of extended Kalman filters that process identical altimeter measurements. After some updates, the filter with the minimum average weighted residual squared (AWRS) value is identified as having the correct position estimate. The AWRS value is defined by ##EQU3## where .DELTA..sub.i is the residual at the ith update, n is the number of updates, and HPH.sup.T +R is the residual variance. Once the IPEs are reduced by the parallel filters, a single filter performs well, starting off essentially in steady state.
To implement parallel SITAN, the number and geometrical layout of the parallel filters needed to cover an IPE must be specified. A square, constant-spaced grid can be used to center the filters about the horizontal position indicated by the INS. Filters at and near the corners are then eliminated to reduce the number of filters. To further lighten the computational burden, three-state, instead of five-state, filters are often used in parallel SITAN with EQU .delta.X=[.delta.X.delta.Y.delta.Z].sup.T
For both the single and parallel filter implementation, a least-squares plane fit to the map, known as stochastic linearization, is used to compute the slopes, h.sub.X and H.sub.Y. Horizontal uncertainties .sigma..sub.X and .sigma..sub.Y from the error-covariance matrix, defined by ##EQU4## are used to determine the size of the plane. Residuals from the plant fit, RFIT.sub.k, are added to the measurement error variance, R.sub.k, to ensure that the SITAN filter assigns less weight to the measurement when the plane fit is either very large or is over a rough area, thus adapting to local terrain.
SITAN has three basic modes: acquisition mode, lost mode and track mode.

Terrain referenced navigation-adaptive filter distribution


In an absorbent product (1), a first absorbent sheet (22) is disposed between a top sheet (21) and a back sheet (23). A second absorbent sheet (22a) is disposed between the first absorbent sheet (22) and the back sheet (23). The first absorbent sheet (22) includes a first upper sheet (221), a first highly absorbent material (222), and a first lower sheet (223). The first absorbent sheet (22) extends in the longitudinal direction beyond the longitudinal edges of the second absorbent sheet (22a) on both longitudinal sides. On each longitudinal side, an extension (224) of the first absorbent sheet (22) beyond the second absorbent sheet (22a) includes a back-sheet contact region (225) that is spaced in the longitudinal direction from the longitudinal edge of the second absorbent sheet (22a) and that is in contact with the back sheet (23). This configuration suppresses the return of liquid.

Absorbent products such as an absorbent pad for light incontinence that is used by being attached to the inner side of a disposable diaper conventionally use an absorbent sheet as an absorber disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, the absorbent sheet being produced by sandwiching and fixing particles of a highly absorbent resin or the like between two sheet members such as nonwoven fabric, as described in Japanese Translations of PCT Applications No. 2002-541979 (Document 1), No. 2002-513635 (Document 2), and No. 2002-519146 (Document 3). The absorbent sheet is formed by, for example, continuously supplying particles of a highly absorbent resin or the like on a long sheet member, superimposing another long sheet member from above on the particles, and bonding side edge portions of the two sheet members before cutting the sheet members to a predetermined length.
Document 1 discloses a technique for suppressing the escape of particles such as a highly absorbent resin to the outside from the longitudinal ends of the absorbent sheets by applying a foaming agent to cut portions (i.e., the longitudinal ends of the absorbent sheets) from above one of the sheet members after the two sheet members are cut. Document 2 proposes a technique in which the two sheet members are cut after a superabsorbent material movement obstruction agent is applied to to-be-cut portions of the two sheet members from above one of the sheet members. Document 3 proposes a technique in which the cutting of the two sheet members and the application of a superabsorbent material movement obstruction agent to the cut portions are carried out simultaneously. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-193207 (Document 4) uses, for example, a thermoplastic polymer having a softening point in the range of 50 to 300° C. as a superabsorbent material movement obstruction agent.
According to Document 4, the absorber between the top sheet and the back sheet may be fiber stacking of pulp fibers, an aggregate of filaments such as cellulose acetate, or a nonwoven fabric that may be mixed with or fixed to a highly absorbent polymer as necessary. This absorber is formed by laminating upper and lower layers. The ends of the upper layer of the absorber extend outward beyond the lower layer, and these extensions are turned toward the back sheet.
In the case of manufacturing an absorbent sheet as described above, if the blowing agent or the superabsorbent material movement obstruction agent is applied from above one of the sheet members as in Documents 1 to 3, the blowing agent or the superabsorbent material-movement obstruction agent may not be applied sufficiently between the two sheet members. In this case, the adhesion of the two sheet members may become insufficient, and particles of the highly absorbent resin may escape from the longitudinal ends of the absorbent sheet. Moreover, it is not easy with the manufacturing method according to Document 1 to apply the foaming agent with high positional accuracy to the longitudinal ends of the cut absorbent sheet. With the manufacturing method according to Document 3, the amount of the superabsorbent material movement obstruction agent applicable at the same time as the cutting of the two sheet members is relatively small, and therefore the adhesion of the two sheet members may become more insufficient.
With the absorber formed by laminating the upper and lower layers as in Document 4, a liquid such as urine that has passed through the upper layer may return to the top sheet as a result of passing through the upper sheet before being absorbed by the lower layer. The return of the liquid may cause the wearer discomfort since the liquid such as urine having returned to the top sheet may adhere to the wearer's skin.


A multi-channel analog to digital conversion circuit and methods thereon are provided. The multi-channel analog to digital conversion cirucit comprises a plurality of linearized channels wherein each channel comprises a multi-stage pipelined charge-to-digital converter and an integrating capacitor within each stage of the multi-stage converter wherein analog residue is processed by subsequent analog to digital converter stages. Each stage of respective linearized channels is configured for calculating gain and offset for each stage in the channel and such gain and offset is used in subsequent integration periods.

The present invention relates generally to a charge-to-digital converter for use in a charge sensor system.
This invention is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,366,231, "Integrate and fold analog-to-digital converter with saturation prevention" that describes a Charge-to-Digital (C/D) converter wherein the contents are incorporated by reference herein. That C/D converter performs analog to digital conversion by removing a fixed-size "teaspoon" of charge from the integration capacitor whenever the capacitor (and associated amplifier) get too full (the teaspoon-charge removal is also called a "fold"). The removed charge is discarded so as to allow room for further charge integration, but the removal is tallied. At the end of the integration period, the integer tally is noted and represents the most-significant part of the digital representation of the integrated charge. There is also a remainder charge that was insufficient for another tally. In the pipeline form, or alternatively multistage analog-to-digital converter, this remainder charge is amplified and applied to a second stage of integration, teaspooning (folding), and tallying so as to identify further significant digital bits. The second stage has yet another remainder charge that is then again processed by a third stage, and subsequent charges. The final result is a set of tally results from N (e.g., 4) stages of Integrate and Fold Amplification. The remainder charge in the last stage (of the pipeline) is an insignificant part of the total charge for the initial stage-1 integration period and is ignored.
The present invention relates to the practical aspects of making a pipelined Integrate and Fold based C/D converter that is very linear, has a wide input-charge dynamic range, and will function properly when packed with many other similar C/D converters (e.g., 64) and the associated digital-control logic on the same Integrated-Circuit (IC) die.
To aide in the description of the invention, the Integrate and Fold Amplifier (IFA) stage is cast as either a "current processing" or a "voltage processing" IFA stage (CPIFA or VPIFA, respectively). The current-processing stage is connected to the charge (current) source. The voltage-processing stage processes the residual charge (voltage) from a prior stage. FIG. 1 shows a schematic for the current-process stage and FIG. 2 shows the schematic for that voltage-processing stage. FIG. 3 shows how the two kinds of stages are combined in a pipeline to form a 4-stage C/D converter channel. In FIG. 3, see each stage generates a Fold count (the teaspoon tally) and a residual charge (or representative voltage) as output. The residual charge is passed to the next stage for further processing.
FIG. 1 shows the CPIFA 100 stage with switch positions set for normal integration. Current flows from the sensor 110 through switch Sd 120 into integration (feedback) capacitor Cf1 130. Sensor 110 is typically one of an array of sensors on a common integrated-circuit substrate. Resistor Rd 140 represents the sensor self-leakage resistance, and resistors Ra1 150 through RaK 160 represent the between-sensor leakage resistances to K other sensors. The resistance values are usually very high, but their effect often cannot be ignored. As charge accrues on feedback Cup 130 Cf1, stage-1 output voltage Vout1 170 becomes proportionally more negative. With positive current, Vout1 170 eventually becomes more negative than threshold voltage Vth1 180 so that comparator 190 trips and requests a "fold" from the Fold Processor 210 in the Digital Control bloc 200. When appropriate, the Fold Processor 210 responds with an accurately timed fold pulse that switches fold switch 220 thus removing Fold Current Ifold1 230 from the integration capacitor for the pulse duration. Over an integration period, multiple fold requests and folds may occur and the number of folds is counted for that integration period. At the end of the integration period, after all folding is completed, a residual charge remains on integration capacitor 130 and it is proportionally represented by Vout1 170 at the Analog Residual output 240. This voltage can be processed by the voltage-processing IFA stage 200 of FIG. 2 (or by conventional analog-to-digital conversion means) to extract more digital resolution of the total integrated charge.
At the end of each integration period, after the Analog Residual output 240 has been sampled by a following stage (not shown) or by an A/D converter (not shown), the stage-1 IFA can be reset so that the Analog Residual value starts at zero for each integration period. This is the "resetting mode" of CPIFA operation. Alternatively, this reset can be eliminated, but then the stage-1 Fold Count and the change in stage-1 Analog Residual together indicate the total integrated charge. This is the "no-resetting" mode of CPIFA operation.
Referring further to FIG. 1, in the resetting mode, before each integration period begins, reset switch Sr1 250 is closed and auto-zero switch Saz1 260 is connected to ground. This eliminates the prior residual charge from integration capacitor Cf1 130 and samples the small but typically non-zero input-offset voltage of imperfect amplifier A1 270 onto Cf1 130 and onto the parasitic sensor and interconnection capacitance, Cd 280. This makes the stage-1 analog residual value be zero when the total input charge is zero. During the reset period, current is not integrated by Cf1 130 and any charge source during this time is wasted. It is advantageous to minimize wasted charge source.
In the no-resetting mode, current is continually integrated. Charge is not wasted. Also, reset switch 250 is not closed and auto-zero switch 260 is not connected to ground. This has the advantage that inherent noise from amplifier 270 is not sampled onto Cf1 130 and Cd 280 as is done at the end of the reset period in the resetting mode of operation. It is advantageous to reduce any noise contributed to the integrated charge.
FIG. 2 shows the voltage-processing IFA (VPIFA) stage 300. In practice, the Input Voltage node is connected directly to the Analog Residual node (240-FIG. 1) of a preceding CPIFA or VPIFA stage (but it can also be connected directly to a voltage that is to be measured, not necessarily from a sensor). The VPIFA operates by first sampling the input voltage onto sample capacitor Cs2 310 as a stored charge, and then measuring the stored charge in a manner similar to the way a CPIFA measures integrated current. The sampling process consists of setting auto-zero switch Saz2 320 to ground, closing reset switch Sr2 330, and closing sample switch 340. During this time, discharge switch Sdis2 350, bypass switch Sbyp2 360 and fold switch Sf2 370 are all open. This samples the amplifier input-offset voltage onto Cf2 380, and the input voltage (minus the input-offset voltage) onto Cs2 310. This sampling method reduces/eliminates the effect of a non-zero amplifier input-offset voltage.
After sampling, the charge stored on sample capacitor Cs2 310 is measured by opening reset switch Sr2 330, setting auto-zero switch Saz2 320 to the downward position, and closing discharge switch Sdis2 350. Charge then flows from Cs2 310 to Cf2 380, and Vout2 390 goes more negative. If there is sufficient sampled charge, comparator Comp2 400 eventually trips and requests a fold. The Fold Processor 410 then generates a fold pulse and Vout2 390 is taken more positive. This is similar to operation of the CPIFA 100 (FIG. 1).
FIG. 3 shows a pipeline consisting of 3 VPIFA stages 300 following a CPIFA 100. Each stage emits a fold count associated with the input charge, and the size of a fold in each stage must be determined (calibrated) in order to determine the stage-1 input-referred charge value associated with the set of fold counts. For linear operation, the fold sizes must not change in an unknown manner between fold-size calibrations. Therefore, it is advantageous to have an IFA-based C/D converter whose fold-sizes are independent of the signal levels in the pipeline.
The sampling process between pipeline stages must be very accurate if high linearity is to be achieved. (Therefore, it's advantageous to have an IFA-based C/D converter with very high sampling accuracy between stages.)
Finally, multiple C/D converter channels (not shown) may be included on the same integrated circuit (IC) along with the associated digital control logic. Digital circuits and analog-switch commands both produce digital noise. Therefore, it is advantageous for a wide-range C/D converter (one that operates at very small signal levels) to be made insensitive to any digital noise and/or be able to ignore noise that occurs at predictable times.
In FIG. 1, the sensor leakage resistances Ra 140 are not infinite, and the amplifier input-offset voltage 290 is not zero. This means that there will be a leakage-current contribution to the input current, and the sign and magnitude of the leakage will depend on the relative signs and magnitudes of the input voltages of the CPIFA of the different channels. If the input voltage of one channel were to go very far positive or negative, that channel would corrupt the integration results for other channels by adding substantial inter-channel leakage via resistors Ra1 150 through RaK 160. Therefore, it is advantageous to insure that the input of each channel will remain near zero volts under all input conditions (for example, even when the CPIFA is overloaded or saturated by an input current that is too large).
What is needed is multi-channel analog to digital conversion circuit that overcomes the challenges described above. Some aspects apply only to a pipelined IFA channel (more than one stage) while others apply only to the current-processing IFA stage.

Very linear wide-range pipelined charge-to-digital converter


In at least one embodiment, a profile/content system generates, accesses, and/or serves a compilation profile for targeting content to identifiable communication devices (“ICDs”). The compilation profile can include data associated with a user of an ICD, and the profile/content system obtains the data from multiple data sources. The data sources can include a particular ICD and can also include particular applications running on the ICD and other data sources such as web sites and data aggregators that store data associated with the IDC user. The profile/content system can operate in a variety of modes depending upon a type of request received by the profile/content system. Exemplary modes are: (1) a direct content provision mode, (2) an indirect content provision mode, and (3) a compilation profile provision mode. In at least one embodiment, in the direct content provision mode, the profile/content system receives a request for content directly via an ICD.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of information processing, and more specifically to a system and method related to multi-source compilation profiles for targeted content sourcing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Use of mobile communication devices ("MCDs"), such as mobile telephones, is wide spread. Many data providers provide content to MCDs that is not specifically selected by users of the MCDs. A user can actively select content by intentionally activating a request for content. An MCD or an application executing on the MCD can also request content without the user's active participation. Content that is not actively requested by a user is referred to herein as "unsolicited content". When providing unsolicited content, data content providers prefer targeting users of MCDs who are interested in the content provided. More effective targeting generally enhances the value of the content. For example, advertisements represent a type of unsolicited content, and advertisers prefer targeting users interested in purchasing their products. In turn, advertisers compensate advertisement publishers for placement of advertisements, and generally compensate more for placement of advertisements that create the higher economic return.
Personal computer web browser applications, such as Microsoft Corporation's Internet Explorer and the Mozilla Foundation's Firefox, can store certain information about a user including information that can be used to determine a user's actual or inferred interests. Such user information can be stored on a personal computer as data referred to as a "cookie". Cookies can be accessed by server-side applications and can be utilized to better target advertising to a user.
However, data content providers providing unsolicited content have been less effective in targeting users of MCDs. Many MCDs execute one or more applications. An iPhone™ is a popular type of MCD that supports many native applications including a web browser. iPhones are available from Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif., USA. Applications allow the MCDs to exchange data with a variety of remote server applications. The data transmitted by the MCD represents actions taken by a user (referred to as "action data") and contextual data. Contextual data is data transmitted by the MCD that accompanies the action data and can provide some context about the action data. This contextual data does not provide data about the user of the MCD. For example, some MCDs can provide a time of connection, such as a timestamp, between a mobile application and a server as well as the location of the MCD. The time and location represent contextual data. Although the web browser application on an MCD may store a cookie, many other applications on the same MCD currently do not store or share cookies that could provide data useful in targeting unsolicited content to the user of the MCD.
Accordingly, some advertisers providing advertisements to an MCD user focus on contextual advertising and behavioral advertising. Contextual advertising involves using real-time contextual data to select a particular advertisement to send to an MCD. Such advertisements are believed to attract users because they share a similar context as this then-current active data provided by the MCD. For example, sending data from the MCD that a location could return an advertisement for an establishment in proximity to the location.
Behavioral advertising is based on a collection of action data (referred to as "clickstream data") taken by an MCD user and transmitted by the MCD. The clickstream data is used to gauge the user's interest in a particular advertisement. For example, if the MCD transmits data accessing multiple automotive sites, an advertiser could send the MCD an advertisement from a car dealer.
User's can provide user registration data to a system when a user registers with the system. For example, during registration, a user may provide the user's name, an age range, or other information about the user.
Thus, an advertising system can collects registration data of an MCD user and actively monitor a user's actions and accompanying contextual data as transmitted by the MCD of the user. The collected data is used by the advertising system to target advertisements to an MCD user.

Multi-source profile compilation for delivering targeted content


A communication system, clock generation circuit, and method are provided for receiving jitter upon data and to generate a clock reference that does not contain the received jitter. The clock reference can be used either by a digital subsystem of a communication system node, or can be transmitted as substantially jitter-free data from that node to a downstream node of the communication system. Instead of recovering the clock reference from the data having jitter, a pattern is regularly defined within the data stream preferably at periodic, timed intervals. The data pattern may be made up of a series of non-transitions which, regardless of any jitter in the data itself, does not impute any jitter onto a phase-locked loop triggered from an edge of the non-transitioning data pattern. Using the edge as a reference point, a jitter-free clocking signal can be derived at the same frequency as a clocking signal which would normally be produced from the jitter-induced data.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a communication system and, more particularly, to a transceiver that avoids imparting jitter to data transmitted by the transceiver when the transceiver receives data-dependent jitter. The transceiver transmits substantially jitter-free transition edges of the data by constructing a single edge during culmination of a consistent bit pattern within the received data and multiplying the single edge by however many clock cycles are needed to maintain a jitter-free clocking reference for the transmitted data.
2. Description of the Related Art
A communication system is generally well-known as containing at least two nodes interconnected by a communication link. Each node may include both a transmitter and a receiver, generally referred to as a "transceiver." The transceiver provides an interface between signals sent over a communication link and a digital system which operates upon that signal in the digital domain.
It is generally desirable that the communication link accommodate not only digital data, but also various forms of digital data such as audio data, video data, or bursts of data typically derived from a computer domain. The communication link can either be wire-based or wireless. The wired communication link can either be formed of copper or a waveguide of optical fiber.
The digital signals forwarded across the communication system are generally sent from a source to a destination. The source, similar to the destination, is a digital system and, preferably, can be classified as a multimedia device. A multimedia device can include a telephone, a compact disc (CD) player, a digital video disc (DVD) player, a computer, an amplifier, a speaker, or any device which can send and receive different types of data across the transmission line of the network.
Popular types of data include streaming data or packetized data. Streaming data is data that has a temporal relationship between samples produced from the source onto the communication system. The relationship between those samples must be maintained across the communication link to prevent perceptible errors, such as gaps or altered frequencies. A loss in the temporal relationship can cause a receiver at the destination to present jitter, echo or, in the worst instance, periodic blanks in the voice or video stream. Converse to streaming data, packetized data is data which need not maintain the sample rate or temporal relationship of that data and, instead, can be sent as disjointed bursts across the communication link.
Data transmitted across a communication link is generally encoded and placed within a packet or frame. There are numerous encoding schemes currently being used. A popular code includes either a bi-phase code or a, Miller code. The bi-phase code requires that for each logic high value of source data, a transition occurs at the middle as well as boundary regions of that clock phase. In Miller coding, a logic high value is encoded by transitioning at the center or middle of the clock phase, but not at the boundary regions of the clock phase. While Miller coding avoids encoding data at twice the source data rate, Miller coding unfortunately presents an accumulated DC value, the significance of which is set out in the commonly assigned patent application Ser. No. 09/710,220 entitled "Encoder within a Communication System that Avoids Encoded DC Accumulation and can use Coding Violations to Synchronize a Decoder and Detect Transmission Errors," herein incorporated by reference.
Regardless of the coding technique used, a clock is needed to synchronize with and thereby sample transitions of the streaming or non-streaming data sent across the communication link. In most instances, the master clock used to generate the data originates from the source, whereupon the data is synchronized to the master clock when it is received by a node downstream of the source. Digital systems within the downstream node or nodes often employ various clock recovery techniques to recoup a clock from the data received by that node. Ideally, the recovered clock should transition at a regular and periodic rate, consistent with the master clock of the source node. Unfortunately, however, due in part to the band-limited transmission networks and/or the low-pass characteristics of detectors within one or more nodes, jitter is imparted upon the data as received by the various nodes. If slave clocks are to be accurately recovered, and which substantially mimic the master clock, a technique must be derived that can avoid recovering any jitter induced onto the data stream. This means that if transition rates change depending on whether the encoder encodes a logic 1 or a logic 0 voltage value, that change should not cause downstream jitter recovery problems. A circuit, system, and method is thereby needed which can recover and/or generate a local slave clock absent any data-dependent jitter produced by the band-limited transmission links. Avoiding jitter on the recovered clock not only provides a more accurate synchronous operation of digital subsystems in each nodes, but also prevents compounding the jitter from one node to the next, downstream node.

System and method for transferring data among transceivers substantially void of data dependent jitter


A wireless access node serves wireless User Equipment (UEs) over Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) layers. The wireless access node wirelessly exchanges user data with some of the wireless UEs. The wireless access node exchanges the user data over backhaul links. The wireless access node determines backhaul link quality. The wireless access node accepts the attachment of a new wireless UE. The wireless access node selects an amount of MIMO layers for the new wireless UE based on the backhaul link quality. The wireless access node wirelessly exchanges user data with the new wireless UE over the selected amount of the MIMO layers.

Wireless communication networks provide wireless data services to wireless user devices. Exemplary wireless data services include machine-control, internet-access, media-streaming, and social-networking. Exemplary wireless user devices comprise phones, computers, vehicles, robots, and sensors. The wireless communication networks have wireless access nodes that exchange wireless signals with the wireless user devices using wireless network protocols. Exemplary wireless network protocols include Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR), and Low-Power Wide Area Network (LP-WAN). In some examples, both LTE and 5GNR networks serve the same wireless user device at the same time with an integrated data service called dual-connectivity.
The wireless communication networks have deployed Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology in the wireless access points. MIMO allows wireless user devices and wireless access nodes to transfer parallel data streams over the same frequency at the same time. MIMO uses precoding and spatial multiplexing to maintain isolation between these parallel data streams. For example, a wireless access node with 128 antenna elements may transmit parallel data streams over multiple MIMO layers to a wireless user device with eight antenna elements. The wireless access node might use four different sections of its 128 antenna elements to transmit four parallel signals to the wireless user device. The wireless user device uses its eight antenna elements receive and isolate the four parallel signals based on the precoding and spatial multiplexing.
The MIMO layers comprise independent radio links that carry different portions of the user data in parallel over shared time and frequency resources. The wireless user devices and the wireless access nodes exchange user data over the MIMO layers. The wireless access nodes exchange the user data with network elements over backhaul links. The network elements comprise network controllers and data gateways and are linked to external systems like the internet and content servers. The wireless access nodes determine the backhaul link quality—typically by measuring the data throughput on the uplink and/or the downlink.
Unfortunately, the use of multiple MIMO layers increases the load on the backhaul links. The congested backhaul links degrade the wireless data services to the wireless user devices. The wireless access nodes do not effectively and efficiently coordinate the use of multiple MIMO layers with the performance of their backhaul links.

Wireless communications over multiple input multiple output (MIMO) layers based on backhaul link quality


A scanning start timing for an optical scanning unit is adjusted according to detection values of belt position detecting units arranged upstream and downstream from a primary transfer position in a movement direction of an endless type belt to thereby transfer an image onto a proper position without being affected by one-sided or meandering travel of an intermediate transfer belt or the endless type belt that serves as a transfer material conveying unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including at least one image carrier, and an endless transfer belt for carrying an image or conveying a transfer material.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, a direct transfer method and an intermediate transfer method have been employed as a method for transferring toner images from a photosensitive member to a transfer material in an image forming apparatus that scans an electrophotographic photosensitive member with a laser beam that is modulated based on image information, for example.
According to the direct transfer method, a belt-like unit for conveying a transfer member conveys a transfer material through a transfer position to directly transfer toner images from a photosensitive member to the transfer material. The intermediate transfer method primarily transfers toner images on a photosensitive member onto a belt-like intermediate transfer member at a primary transfer position, and transfers the primary transfer images onto a transfer material at a secondary transfer position.
The endless transfer belt used as a transfer material conveying member or an intermediate transfer member in the image forming apparatus is stretched over a plurality of rollers and rotated in a predetermined direction (sub-scanning direction). However, a so-called one-sided travel sometimes occurs due to non-parallel movements of the plurality of rollers or variations in outer diameter among the rollers. In that case, the endless transfer belt moves while deviating from its normal direction in an axial direction of the roller (main-scanning direction, i.e., exposure-scanning direction), which is orthogonal to the moving direction.
The one-sided travel causes a phenomenon that the belt moves in the main scanning direction and toner images are not transferred onto a proper position on the transfer material. The phenomenon is called margin deviation. Further, in an inline-type color image forming apparatus in which an endless transfer belt circulates through a plurality of transfer positions to superimpose toner images on one another, a color drift may occur due to the one-sided travel. The color drift is a phenomenon that transferred toner images are misaligned in a main scanning direction.
To address the above problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-338111 discusses a method for changing a timing at which an optical scanning unit starts scanning a photosensitive member in a main scanning direction based on positional information of an endless belt in the main scanning direction. Thus, positions of toner images on the photosensitive member can be adjusted in the main scanning direction according to a position of the belt in the main scanning direction.
In general, the endless transfer belt does not deviate from its original course to a main scanning direction while moving in parallel to the sub-scanning direction, but the transfer belt is slightly skewed in a sub-scanning direction when the deviation occurs. Moreover, the belt is mechanically and electrostatically sandwiched between a photosensitive member and a transfer unit at a transfer position, so that an inclination angle of the belt to the sub-scanning direction might vary between an upstream side and a downstream side from the transfer position.
Thus, in such an image forming system which adjusts a timing to start scanning in a main scanning direction based on positional information of an endless transfer belt in a main scanning direction, if the scanning start timing is adjusted only based on positional information of the belt on an upstream side from a transfer position, it is difficult to adjust positional deviation of the belt in the main scanning direction. For example, a difference between a main scanning direction of the belt at a sensor detection position that is apart from a transfer position and a main scanning direction of the belt at the transfer position directly leads to a color drift.


A soft tissue closure system for closing a percutaneous puncture site or soft tissue voids, its method of manufacture and method of use are disclosed. The system comprises a delivery means and a self-expandable, resorbable implant disposed within the delivery means in a compressed configuration. Upon release of the implant member from the system within a soft tissue void, the implant member self-expands to conform to the shape of the soft tissue void and seals the void.

It has been a routine practice to insert a catheter through a puncture site into a blood vessel to either treat a diseased blood vessel by a procedure known in the art as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), or to deliver systemic drugs to the blood stream for chemotherapeutic applications. In the case of a PTA procedure, an introducer sheath is inserted into an artery through the puncture site such that a balloon or other type of catheter can then be inserted into the vessel to carry out the procedure within the vessel. Depending upon the nature of the disease and the site of arterial insertion, the size of an introducer sheath can vary from about 1 mm to as large as about 5 mm. One of the complications of these procedures is hemorrhaging at the percutaneous puncture site after removal of the catheter and the introducer sheath. In order to stop the bleeding, pressure is applied at the puncture site until hemostasis occurs. Since the angioplasty procedures often require the use of anticoagulant, the pressure approach is not always effective and may require a long period of pressurization.
A variety of commercial hemostatic products are available such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,465,357; 3,742,955; and 3,364,200. A felt or fleece like collagen hemostat is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,083. A hemostatic collagen paste comprising a mixture of collagen powder and saline is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,359. A number of other collagen based hemostatic materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,412,947; 4,578,067; 4,515,637; 4,271,070; 4,891,359; 4,066,083; 4,016,877 and 4,215,200. None of these patents teach the art of hemostasis at a vessel puncture site.
A device to close an arterial puncture site of a blood vessel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,364 to Kensey. This device involves the insertion of an expandable, resorbable material inside of the lumen of a blood vessel via a tubular member which fits inside an introducer sheath. A retraction filament is secured to the resorbable material for pulling it to the puncture site so that the resorbable material engages the inner surface of the blood vessel contiguous with the puncture. The filament is held taut and taped or otherwise secured to patients, skin to hold the resorbable material in position.
The Kensey device introduces several potential risks to the patient. The device may induce an acute thrombosis due to imperfect alignment of the sealing material or to non-hemocompatibility of the material. The premature degradation of the filament may leave the sealing material unsecured, leading to embolization distal to the puncture site. The migration of the sealing material may not only cause rebleeding, but potential thrombosis which requires surgical intervention. The potential risks involved in such a device may outweigh the benefits such a device can offer. Thus, a safe and effective method to close a puncture site and stop the bleeding is still highly desirable and welcome.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an implant which will close a puncture site and stop the bleeding while substantially reducing the disadvantages and risks associated with the prior art.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an implant which self-expands in vivo to fill the voids or defects of a tissue or organ with a biocompatible, resorbable material.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method to deliver the biocompatible, resorbable implant material to tissues or organs of interest by a tubular delivery device.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a means to deliver medicaments, antibiotics, growth factors and other biologically active molecules to selected tissues or organs.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing the implant.


In a method to unlock a touch screen of an electronic device, a press operation is received from the touch screen pressed by a user. The touch screen includes an unlocking interface. The method determines whether the press operation is within a press area of the unlocking interface. When the press operation is within the press area, the method further controls an indicator of the unlocking interface to move at a default speed, and locates a stop position of the indicator on the touch screen when the indicator stops moving. The method unlocks the touch screen when the stop position is within a predefined area of the unlocking interface.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to electronic device unlocking technology, and more particularly to a system and method for unlocking a touch screen of an electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
Many electronic devices (e.g. mobile phones having a touch screen) may be unlocked by making a sliding motion on a touch screen of the electronic devices, pressing a predefined area on the touch screen of the electronic device, or by rotating the electronic devices in a predefined motion. However, the touch screen may be scratched after frequent touches on the touch screen. The above-mentioned unlocking methods may damage the touch screen of the electronic device. Furthermore, the above-mentioned unlocking methods may easily be recognized by unauthorized users, and personal information of the electronic device may be viewed by the unauthorized users. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

System and method for unlocking touch screen of electronic device

SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.


A device of a New Radio (NR) User Equipment (UE), a method and a machine readable medium to implement the method. The device includes a Radio Frequency (RF) interface, and processing circuitry coupled to the RF interface, the processing circuitry to: encode for transmission, to a User Equipment (UE), a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) including a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) and a channel estimation signal that is time division multiplexed with the PBCH, the channel estimation signal to allow the UE to estimate a channel for the PBCH and including one of a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) or a Phase Tracking Reference Signal (PT-RS); and apply Discrete Fourier Transform-spread-Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM) to the PBCH prior to sending the SSB to the RF interface for transmission.

Current Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) specifications do not specifically address issues related to the design of SSB patterns and of Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) to maintain a low Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) for downlink (DL) transmissions where Discrete Fourier Transform spread Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (DFT-s-OFDM) is used for the transmission of PBCH.

Synchronization signal block pattern and demodulation reference signal design for physical broadcast channel for channel frequencies above 52.6GHZ