A portable double-brush shoe polishing device includes a polish body, and an assembly comprising a press button and a polishing storage tube. The polish body is designed to facilitate holding by the human hand, and it comprises an annular outer brush at a bottom side thereof. The press button is held in the polish body in a resilient condition. The press button has a positioning rib and a curved flange formed thereon to achieve positioning. An inner brush is disposed beneath the press button and the polish oil storage tube. In use, the outer brush is used to preliminarily clean and wipe the shoe surface, and the press button is pressed to allow penetration of a suitable amount of polish oil into the inner brush which may then polish the shoe surface with an even distribution of the polish oil. If another amount of polish oil is required, a little pressure is applied to the inner brush so that it retracts inwardly slightly, causing the valve cover to open to allow polish oil in the press button to penetrate the inner brush again. Thus, the user may easily control the flow of polish oil in polishing shoes. Besides, the outer brush may be covered by a protective cover after use.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a shoe polishing device, and more particularly to a portable double-brush shoe polishing device which is compact in structure and may be used to quickly polish shoes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The conventional way of cleaning or polishing shoes is to use a cloth to rub some shoe polish oil onto the shoe surface. This method not only would dirty the hands but also requires a long time to make the shoes shine. For white-collars who need to rush to work early in the morning, such slow way of polishing shoes is inefficient.

Portable double-brush shoe polishing device


The vibration measuring apparatus of a rotating shaft is made up of a pair of projection groups provided radial directions of the shaft with spacings therebetween and having the same height, a source of measuring light for irradiating the projection groups, a light receiving element for receiving the measuring light reflected by the projection groups, and a calculating device for calculating a peripheral speed difference between the two projection groups spaced in the axial direction of the rotating shaft.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring vibrations of a rotary shaft.
In a rotating machine such as a pump or the like, for supervising the performance of the rotating shaft, a method of measuring the vibration of the shaft has been used.
For measuring the vibration of the shaft from a remote position and in a noncontact condition, a laser Doppler vibration meter utilizing the light Doppler effect has been used. As shown in FIG. 5, this laser Doppler vibration meter comprises a laser beam generator 1 and the laser beam generated thereby is passed through an optical modulator 2 for dividing the beam into two laser beams B.sub.1 and B.sub.2, one laser beam B.sub.1 being used as an output beam 3 directed to an object 4 to be measured, whereas the other beam B.sub.2 being used as a reference beam.
A beam, reflected by the body 4 which is to be measured, undergoes a Doppler shift corresponding to the vibration speed of the object to be measured and is input to a fiber coupler 7 via a light receiving optical system 6.
The reference beam 9 interferes with the reflected beam 5 in the fiber coupler 7 and an optical fiber, not shown. The output of the fiber coupler 7 is converted into an electric signal by a light receiving element 8. This electric signal is converted into an output representing the vibration speed of the object 4 to be measured by a converter, not shown. By integrating the output of the vibrating speed, the vibration displacement of the object 4 to be measured can be outputted.
By using the prior art Doppler vibration meter described above, the vibration displacement of one point on the rotating shaft can be measured from a remote position in a noncontact condition. However, during this measurement, when the rotating shaft inclines, the measured vibration displacement would contain an inclining error, thus making inaccurate the result of measurement.
Moreover, it is impossible to measure the twisting angle vibration of the shaft and the inclination angle vibration of the shaft. To measure these various vibrations, independent vibration meters must be used. As a consequence, vibration measuring operations become complicated, and the adjustments of various measuring apparatus become difficult.

Method and apparatus for measuring vibrations of rotating shaft


A bond pad layout for an integrated circuit die. The die includes a plurality of inner bond pads and a plurality of outer bond pads. To minimize the spacing pitch of the bond pads the die contains an inner layer of metallization that routes the outer bond pads to the inner portion of the integrated circuit. To enhance the structural integrity of the integrated circuit the die contains a plurality of dielectric pillars that support the bond pads. The inner layer of metallization is typically routed around the dielectric pillars so that the metallization does not create stress points in the die.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bond pad layout for an integrated circuit die.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Integrated circuits are assembled into a package that is mounted to a printed circuit board. The integrated circuit die is typically supported by a substrate that has a plurality of internal bond fingers that are coupled to corresponding bond pads of the die. The substrate contains internal routing that connects the bond fingers to external contacts that are soldered to the printed circuit board. The bond fingers are typically connected to the die bond pads by bond wires.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional bond pad layout of an integrated circuit die 1. The bond pads 2 are arranged into two staggered rows that are coupled to the circuitry of the integrated circuit by lead traces 3. The lead traces 3 connected to the outer bond pads are routed between the inner bond pads. Routing the lead traces between the inner bond pads limits the spacing pitch of the bond pads and the current carrying capability of the traces. It is generally desirable to minimize the pitch of the bond pads to increase the number of bond pads, and/or reduce the size of the die.
The bond wires are typically attached to the bond pads with an automated bonding machine. The bonding machine exerts a certain amount of pressure on the bond pads during the bonding process. It is imperative that the bond pads and supporting die structure withstand the forces created by the automated bonding machine. Any cracks or other material deformation in the die may effect the operation of the integrated circuit. It would therefore be desirable to provide a bond pad structure that minimizes the spacing pitch of the pads and has enough structural integrity to withstand the forces exerted during an automated bonding process.

Silicon metal-pillar conductors under stagger bond pads


A two-platen injection molding machine without tie bars has a platen fixed relative to the machine frame and a platen that moves relative to it, a traverse mechanism that operates the movable platen, a device for generating clamping force and a device to compensate for the deformation forces occurring during generation of the clamping force. The traverse mechanism and the device for generating clamping force are decoupled. Preferably, the device for generating clamping force has at least one connecting rod that passes through both the fixed and movable platens beneath the mold space. The connecting rod is detachably fastened to one of the platens and can be locked to the other platen by means of a clamping device that produces the clamping force. The device to compensate for the deformation forces includes at least one rigid spacer detachably fastened at one end to one platen, while the other end of the spacer is forced against the other platen.

1. Field of Invention
The invention concerns a two-platen injection molding machine without tie bars, more particularly, an injection molding machine having a machine frame, a fixed platen, a movable platen, a drive mechanism that translates the movable platen, a device for generating clamping force on a closed mold, and a device to compensate for the deformation forces occurring during generation of the clamping force that would otherwise affect parallelism of the platens.
2. Description of the Related Art
In prior art injection molding machines, the fixed platen, also called the injection platen, is connected via tie bars in its four corner regions to an end platen, which is stationary during operation. The tie bars serve as a guide for a movable platen, which is driven relative to the fixed platen by means of a drive mechanism supported on the end platen. The tie bars together with the fixed platen and the end platen form a stable power transfer (clamp) mechanism that provides accurate guiding of the moveable platen and maintains parallelism between the mold mounting surfaces of the fixed and movable platens during mold closure. A drawback of such machines is that difficulties arise from the limited space between tie bars in the mold mounting region of the clamp mechanism that is encountered during installation or replacement of a mold. This is especially true for a large mold construction, which may have outwardly protruding hydraulic cylinders to operate sliding mold elements, etc.
To make the mold mounting region more accessible, injection molding machines without tie bars have been the focus of increasing development effort in recent years. In this type of injection molding machine, a C-shaped frame carries the aforementioned fixed platen and end platen, and generally serves to oppose the forces generated during the mold clamping function. Given the absence of tie bars to connect the platens, upward bending of the sections of the C-frame supporting the platens can occur during generation of the clamping force, so that the mold mounting surfaces of the platens are moved obliquely outward. In other words, due to this C-frame deflection when tonnage is applied to the mold, the platens and the mold elements mounted thereon are no longer parallel.
Some solutions have already been proposed in the prior art to compensate for this C-frame deflection. For example, platens are coupled to the C-frame so that they are guided independently of the frame, as by a pivoting connection. In prior art solutions, however, a relatively high cost is incurred to overcome the adverse effects. Another shortcoming of such machines is the large overall length and weight of the machines caused by the structure required to stabilize C-frame machines. For this reason, it has already been proposed in the prior art to produce two-platen injection molding machines without tie bars. A machine configured in this fashion is known, for example, from WO 94/17977, especially FIG. 7.
An injection molding machine is shown in WO 94/17977 in which the movable platen is arranged directly on the moveable end of the machine frame. Movement of the platen occurs via a hydraulic cylinder in which the piston rod is fastened on the inside of the fixed end of the machine frame, whereas the cylinder that guides the piston rod is positioned on the outside of the moving end of the frame.
The hydraulic cylinder-piston unit therefore has the dual tasks of bringing the mold halves together and applying the required clamping force to the closed mold. An additional hydraulic cylinder serves to compensate for the deformation forces occurring during generation of the clamping force that would otherwise affect parallelism of the platens. This second hydraulic cylinder is arranged beneath the drive cylinder. Both cylinders are fed separately. This variant of a two-platen injection molding machine has several shortcomings.
First, it should be mentioned that environmental protection is not adequately addressed by a purely hydraulic solution to drive the machine. A significant volume of hydraulic oil is required since both the traverse movement (demanding relatively little power) and the generation of clamping force must be produced by the same cylinder.
A second, related drawback is that a correspondingly large cylinder is required as a result of the dual tasks of the hydraulic cylinder, as described above, so that the machine weight is increased proportionately. Moreover, an unusually large amount of hydraulic fluid is moved even during traverse of the platen (which requires little power), resulting in a significant environmental hazard, given the leaks or line breaks that can occur during normal operation.
A third shortcoming of the hydraulic solution lies in the use of a hydraulic cylinder to compensate for frame deformation. Despite the relative incompressibility of hydraulic oil, hydraulic systems are inherently elastic so that a high force must be applied in the compensation cylinder to prevent deformation or keep it sufficiently small. These cylinders must therefore also be dimensioned relatively large.

Two-platen injection molding machine without tie bars


A programmable optical processing device employing a plurality of controllable light modulator elements. First and second optical elements are positioned to create an optical region therebetween comprising a Fourier transform plane and at least one non-Fourier optical region from the Fourier transform plane. In one embodiment at least one of these non-Fourier optical regions comprises fractional Fourier regions. Multiple controllable light modulator elements located in a non-Fourier optical region may be adjacently stacked, spatially separated, or separated by GRIN material. The controllable light modulator elements further implement optical transfer functions that are positive-definite or non-positive-definite, and which may be controlled by electrical and/or optical control signals. In one embodiment the system may comprise a monolithic device and/or be comprised by a monolithic device.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to optical signal processing, and more particularly to the use of fractional Fourier transform properties of lenses with traditional non-phase-shifting optical elements within traditional Fourier optical signal processing environments to realize, or closely approximate, arbitrary non-positive-definite transfer functions. The system and method herein can be applied to conventional lens-based optical image processing systems as well as to systems with other types of elements obeying Fractional Fourier optical models and as well to widely ranging environments such as integrated optics, optical computing systems, particle beam systems, radiation accelerators, and astronomical observation methods.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A number of references are cited herein; these are provided in a numbered list at the end of the Detailed Description. These references are cited as needed through the text by reference number(s) enclosed in square brackets. Further, the cited disclosure contained within references [1-19] is hereby incorporated by reference.
The Fourier transforming properties of simple lenses and related optical elements is well known and heavily used in a branch of engineering known as "Fourier Optics" [1,2]. Classical Fourier Optics [1,2,3,4] allows for flexible signal processing of images by (1) using lenses or other means to take a first two-dimensional Fourier transform of an optical wavefront, thus creating at a particular spatial location a "Fourier plane" wherein the amplitude distribution of an original two-dimensional optical image becomes the two-dimensional Fourier transform of itself, (2) using a translucent plate or similar means in this location to introduce an optical transfer function operation on the optical wavefront, and (3) using lenses or other means to take a second Fourier transform which, within possible scaling and orientation differences, amounts to the convolution of the impulse response corresponding to the optical transfer function with the original image. In this way images can be relatively easily and inexpensively lowpass-filtered (details softened) and highpass-filtered (details enhanced) as well as multitude of other possibilities. These multitudes of possibilities have, due to properties of materials and fabrication limitations in transcending them, been limited to transfer functions that mathematically are "positive-definite;" that is, those which affect only amplitude and do not introduce varying phase relationships.
The Fractional Fourier transform has been independently developed several times over the years [5,7,8,9,10,14,15] and is related to several other mathematical objects such as the Bargmann transform [8] and the Hermite semigroup [13]. As shown in [5], the most general form of optical properties of lenses and other related elements [1,2,3] can be transformed into a Fractional Fourier transform representation. This fact, too, has been apparently independently rediscovered some years later and worked on steadily ever since (see for example [6]), expanding the number of optical elements and situations covered. It is important to remark, however, that the lens modeling approach in the later long ongoing series of papers view the multiplicative-constant phase term in the true form of the Fractional Fourier transform as a problem or annoyance and usually omit it from consideration; this is odd as, for example, it is relatively simple to take the expression for lenses from [2] and repeat the development in [5] based on the simplified expression in [1] and exactly account for this multiplicative-constant phase term.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Programmable optical processing device employing multiple controllable light modulator elements in fractional fourier transform planes


A method of performing a network management transaction between a network device, having a network management agent installed thereon, and a remote device, having a web-browser installed thereon, is described. The method involves firstly performing a network management function relating to the network device. Data concerning the network management function is then propagated from the agent to the remote device in a format capable of display by the browser. More specifically, a document is propagated from the agent to the remote device for display by the browser, the document incorporating the data concerning the network management function. The document may be an HTML document. Alternatively, the data may be propagated in a format for display by the browser under the direction of an application program resident of the remote device.

The proliferation of both local area networks (LANs) and wide area network (WANs) has resulted in increasing demands being made on network management tools and on network management personnel. In order to increase the ease and speed with which network management personnel are able to perform management tasks and respond to network problems, it is desirable to provide such personnel with convenient and ready access to network management tools.
The Internet, and more specifically the World Wide Web (hereinafter referred to as "the web") component thereof, have become increasingly accepted as a medium of data communication in recent years. Programs which allow documents and objects to be retrieved from the web, and to be viewed are generically termed "web browsers". Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the language used for the construction of documents that are viewable by web browsers, and a specification of this language is provided in the Request For Comments (RFC) document by Berners-Lee, T., D. Connolly, "Hypertext Markup Lanugue--2.0", RFC 1866, MIT Laboratory of Computer Science, November 1995. A large number of browsers are commercially available, including the Netscape Navigator.RTM. browser developed by Netscape Communications of Mountain View, Calif., and the Microsoft Internet Explorer.RTM. browser developed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.
While browsers operate to display HTML documents, they are also responsible for negotiating a HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP) with a web server prior to the retrieval of an HTML document or other object, the submission of information from the browser to a web server, and responding to requests to "link" to (or retrieve) other HTML documents identified in an HTML document currently displayed by the browser. The capabilities of web browsers and servers are further continually being enhanced by the development of so-called "plug-ins", which are software modules which can be added to web browser and server software to provide enhanced functionality.
In view of the popularity and proliferation of the web browsers there has been some development towards allowing network managers to perform network management functions utilizing a web browser over the internet or an intranet. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, two arrangements for facilitating management of a network segment 10, utilizing a web browser, are illustrated. The network segment 10 comprises a network management station 12 and a network device 14, which may be a host, gateway, terminal server, hub, repeater, bridge or frame switch. A network management application 16 resides on the network management station 12, while a network management agent 18 resides on the network device 14. The application 16 and the agent 18 communicate management information using the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), as defined in the RFC by Case, J. M. Fendor, M. Schoffstal, and J. Davin, "The Simple Network Management Protocol", RFC 1157, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Performance Systems International, Performance Systems International, and the MIT Laboratory of Computer Science, May 1990. More specifically, the agent 18 will provide the application 16 with status information regarding network activity relating to the network device 14, either when polled by the application 16, or as a trap. The application 16 assimilates network status information from a number of network management agents to provide a network manager with an overall view of network activity and status. A network manager can perform network management functions by receiving messages from and sending messages to the agent 18.
All network management functions with an SNMP environment are performed by altering and inspecting variables or "managed objects". These managed objects are termed Management Information Base (MIB) objects, and each network management agent 18 supports a predetermined set of MIB objects (termed an SNMP MIB view of that agent ). The sets of MIB objects supported by various network management agents may vary from network device to network device. A number of MIB objects are defined in the RFC by McCloghrie, K., and M. Rose, "Management Information Base for Network Management of TCP/IP-based Internets", RFC 1156, Hughes LAN Systems and Performance Systems International, May 1990. Examples of such managed objects includes the "sysUpTime" object (which provides a value indicating the time since the network management portion of a system was last re-initialized) and the "ifAdminStatus" object (which indicates whether an interface is up, down or in a testing state).
In order to maintain the simplicity of the SNMP, the exchange of messages using the SNMP utilizes an unreliable datagram service, such as the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) as specified in the RFC by Poster, J., "User Datagram Protocol", RFC 768, USC/Information Sciences Institute, November 1980. The UDP protocol allows the transmission of message packets in a serial fashion, and accordingly has a limited bandwidth.
Also shown is FIG. 1A is a remote device 20, such a desktop computer, on which is resident a client 22 in the form of a web browser. The client 22 communicates with a proxy agent 24, which is resident on the network management station 12 using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), as defined in the RFC by Fielding, R., H. Frystyk, T. Berners-Lee, J. Gettys, J. C. Mogul, "Hypertext Transfer Protocol--HTTP/1.1", RFC xxxx, UC Irvine, MIT Laboratory of Computer Science, MIT Laboratory of Computer Science, DEC, DEC, April 1996. Accordingly, all data packages passed between the client 22 and the proxy engine 24 conform to the HTTP protocol. The proxy agent 24 receives and translates data packages from the client 22 into a format understood by the network management application 16, before propagating the translated message to the application 16. Accordingly, the proxy agent 24 is an intermediate program which acts as both a server and a client for the purposes of translating and forwarding requests to the application 16 on behalf of the client 22. Similarly, messages intended for transmission from the application 16 to the client 22 must firstly be propagated to the proxy agent 24, which translates the message into a format required by the HTTP protocol. After performing the translation, the proxy agent 24 then propagates the message to the client 22.
FIG. 1B shows the network management station 12 and the network device 14 which communicate network management information according to the SNMP protocol, as described above. However, the proxy agent 24 is now shown to reside on the network device 14, instead of the network management station 12. In the shown arrangement, the client 22 installed on the remote device 20 communicates with the network management agent 18 via the proxy agent 24 as described above. In this case, the proxy agent 24 translates a message received from the client 22 from a format specified by the HTTP protocol to a format specified by the SNMP format. Similarly, a message from the network management agent 18 to the client 22 is translated by the proxy agent 24 from a format specified by the SNMP protocol to a format specified by the HTTP protocol.
While the arrangements shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B allow a degree of network management to be performed from a client 22 resident on a remote device, there are a number of limitations inherent in these arrangements. Specifically, the HTTP protocol is primarily intended to facilitate the retrieval of static documents by a client from a server. The SNMP protocol is intended to facilitate network management in a simple and effective manner. Furthermore, the existence of a proxy agent for the translation of messages between the two protocols is inefficient and undesirable.

Method of performing a network management transaction using a web-capable agent


Apparatus for applying a coating of a slurry of a powdered solder material and a binder to the inner surface of a hollow metal cylinder. The apparatus includes solder material coating device including a coating nozzle which may be moved between a coating position within the interior of the hollow metal cylinder and a non-coating position; a guide for guiding and transporting a hollow metal cylinder towards the nozzle; means for rotating and supporting the hollow metal cylinder when the nozzle is in the coating position. The solder coated metal cylinder is used, for example, to provide an exhaust gas cleaning metal carrier in which a metal honey inner core is inserted into and soldered by the solder slurry applied to the hollow metal cylinder.

As a catalyst carrier for cleaning exhaust gas of automobiles, a honeycomb-formed metal carrier comprising heat-resistant stainless steel is known. The metal carrier is formed by winding round a stack of a flat plate and a corrugated plate to form a honeycomb core body and joining the outer periphery of the honeycomb core body and inner surface of a metal outer cylinder.
Various methods are known as the production method of the metal carrier. For example, Japanese Patent Publication 63-44466 describes a metal carrier in which a pile of a flat plate and a corrugated plate is wound round, and the vicinity at least one of end faces of the wound honeycomb core body is soldered. However, such a metal carrier, when actually used on an internal combustion engine for automobile, tends to undergo deformation of the honeycomb core body or breakage of a foil on an outer periphery of the honeycomb core body due to thermal fatigue by heat cycle of heating and cooling. In particular, the exhaust gas inlet side of the honeycomb core body undergoes considerable cell deformation and foil breakage because it is exposed to high-temperature exhaust gas. Further, the metal carrier may be broken at the joined portion due to engine vibration and vibration during traveling.
Further, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 56-4373 discloses a honeycomb core body produced by a method in which solder is coated on a flat steel plate or at peaks of a corrugated steel plate through a supply roller from a vessel filled with liquid solder paste, and the former is wound round with a corrugated steel plate, or the latter is wound round with a flat steel plate. The patent also discloses a honeycomb core body produced by a method in which before coating solder, an adhesive is coated at a position to be solder coated through a supply device, and wound round while sprinkling a powder-formed solder material by a distribution device. In these honeycomb core bodies, the powder-formed solder material is piled in layers between the flat steel plate and the corrugated steel plate. Further, since the stack of the powder-formed solder material particles between the flat steel plate and the corrugated steel plate exists in amounts of twice the number of turns from the center of the honeycomb core body to the outermost periphery, when treated by vacuum soldering, the solder material melts to generate voids between the flat steel plate and the corrugated steel plate, and the voids in layers collect at several positions. Therefore, the honeycomb core body obtained by this method has unsoldered portions between the flat steel plate and the corrugated steel plate. Further, since the solder thickness increases at the joined portion of the flat steel plate and the corrugated plate, the core body tends to break at the brittle solder material and is insufficient in strength.
As another method, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 4-141238 discloses a production method of a metal carrier, in which a plurality of binder injectors having needles on the surface and backside of a corrugated foil are disposed in a single or multiple stages parallel to the corrugation, and operation of the binder injectors is selected so that the binder is coated at peaks of the corrugation in a previously designed range according to the movement of the corrugated foil to select joining positions of the corrugated foil and flat foil at desired positions of the honeycomb core body.
In producing a honeycomb core body by this method, to select a joining position of the corrugated foil and flat foil at a desired position of the honeycomb core body, first only the binder is supplied, after winding the honeycomb core body, or after containing it in an outer cylinder, a process to sprinkle the solder material from the end face of the honeycomb core body to apply the solder material to the binder coating portion. This results in an increase in cost. Further, when the binder is roll coated on the corrugated plate or the flat plate before forming the honeycomb core body and the solder material is also supplied, wound round into the honeycomb core body, and then soldering is made, since the solder material is sandwiched between the flat plate and corrugated plate, the solder material melts by soldering treatment to generate voids between both plates, and effective joining is not obtained. This is also true for a slurry which is a mixture of the binder and powder-formed solder. Since the binder and powder-formed solder are sandwiched between the flat plate and corrugated plate, the solder material melts after soldering to generate voids between both plates, and cannot provide effective joining. When the slurry is coated on the same joining position of the surface and backside of the flat plate and corrugated plate, voids further increase between both plates due to melting of the solder material from the slurry sandwiched between the flat plate and corrugated plate, resulting in insufficient joining. Further, Ni, Cr, and Si, which are ingredients of the solder material, diffuse into the base material, and formation of an intermetallic compound concentrates in a same position, degrading the strength.
Then, there have heretofore been known various types of exhaust gas cleaning apparatus, in which a metal honeycomb body is inserted into a metal outer cylinder, and a gas cleaning catalyst is carried on the metal honeycomb body. In particular, various types of honeycomb structures have been proposed to control or prevent peeling or damage of the joined portion due to a strain caused by a thermal stress generated by heat of exhaust gas of automobiles. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 4-29750 discloses a metal carrier in which a metal honeycomb core body and an outer cylinder are joined with a plurality of bands formed at 1-15 mm ring-formed intervals in an axial direction of the metal carrier. This absorbs a stress generated in the axial direction of the carrier during cooling/heating cycle by deforming an unjoined portion at the ring-formed spacing to disperse a stress acting on the joined portion and unjoined portion. However, in some cases, depending on the joining condition of the metal honeycomb core body, the stress cannot be efficiently dispersed even by joining the plurality of bands between the outer cylinder and the metal honeycomb core body. For example, when the boundary of the metal honeycomb core body and the outer cylinder is in line with the boundary in the metal honeycomb core body, the stress is concentrated at that position due to the heat cycle, and the foil is broken from that position. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 4-148016 discloses a metal carrier which has a region where a flat foil and a corrugated foil are joined in an axial direction in a length of 5 to 20% the axial direction length of the metal honeycomb core body. An outer layer reinforcing layer is joined in an axial direction within five layers from the outer most layer towards the inside, and the metal outer cylinder and the metal honeycomb core body are joined in a region in the axial direction within the outer layer reinforcing layer. In this case, the metal outer cylinder and the metal honeycomb core body are joined at a position in the axial direction to relax the thermal deformation in the axial direction of the metal outer cylinder and the metal honeycomb core body. However, because the metal outer cylinder and the metal honeycomb core body are joined only at a position, mechanical vibrations of the engine or vibrations of the vehicle during traveling tend to concentrate in the joined portion, leading to a breakage.
Further, Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication 2-83320 describes an exhaust gas cleaning apparatus comprising a plurality of metal honeycomb core bodies having a number of reticulated ventilation holes in an axial direction formed by stacking thin flat band materials and corrugated band materials to contact each other, mounted at intervals in a metal case with both ends open. Thus, an exhaust gas cleaning apparatus in which at least one position is joined is disclosed, except for a case that a contact surface of the outer peripheral surfaces of the individual metal honeycomb core bodies and the inner wall surface of the metal case are simultaneously joined with the inner wall surface of the metal case in the vicinity of both ends of the metal honeycomb core body. Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication 2-85814 describes an exhaust gas cleaning apparatus which comprises two metal honeycomb core bodies having a number of reticulated ventilation holes in the axial direction, manufactured by stacking thin metal flat band materials and corrugated band materials to contact each other, mounted with spacing in a cylindrical metal outer cylinder having both ends open and an enlarged diameter section, wherein the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of the opening of the metal outer cylinder of each metal honeycomb core body is mounted to the inner wall surface of the metal outer cylinder, and the outer peripheral surface in the vicinity of the spacing of the individual metal honeycomb core bodies does not contact the inner wall surface of the metal outer cylinder.
In these exhaust gas cleaning apparatus, a plurality of metal honeycomb core bodies are disposed at spaces in a metal outer cylinder, and only a portion in the axial direction of the contact surface of the outer peripheral surface of the individual metal honeycomb core body and the inner wall surface of the metal outer cylinder is annularly joined, preferably over the entire periphery to disperse and relax thermal stress, thereby preventing peeling of the outer peripheral surface of the metal honeycomb core body and the inner wall surface of the metal outer cylinder or peeling or cracking of the flat plates and the corrugated plates forming the metal honeycomb core bodies due to thermal stress and thermal deformation.
However, even when thermal stress is dispersed and relaxed by the above method, it is impossible to absorb a strain in the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the metal honeycomb core body due to thermal stress and thermal deformation generated in the exhaust gas cleaning apparatus. Therefore, the vicinity of the peripheral surface is liable to be subjected to thermal stress and thermal deformation, resulting in cell deformation or peeling of the flat plate and corrugated plate. Further, joining the inner wall surface of the metal outer cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the metal honeycomb core body at only a portion tends to weaken the joining, and cannot withstand the pressure of exhaust gas flow at high temperatures.
Further, in a conventional metal carrier, a plurality of metal honeycomb core bodies are joined at spaces in a metal outer cylinder (e.g. Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication 2-83320). In this carrier, in an attempt to remove thermal stress and thermal deformation generated in the metal carrier at high temperatures by only joining of the outer peripheral surface of the metal honeycomb core body and the inner wall surface of the metal outer cylinder, a strain occurs that cannot be removed, and the metal honeycomb core body may be broken by the strain if the metal honeycomb core bodies are not joined at spaces. This easily leads to a large-sized exhaust gas cleaning apparatus, except for a case to intentionally generate a turbulent flow. Further, as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication 2-85815, a large-diameter section provided in the metal outer cylinder leads to a large-sized exhaust gas cleaning apparatus.
On the other hand, in an exhaust gas cleaning apparatus carrying a gas cleaning catalyst on a metals honeycomb core body, it has been known to use a curved metal carrier. For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-open Publication 4-78938 proposes a curved metal carrier, in which flat plates and corrugated plates are stacked in alternation to form a honeycomb structure, and the honeycomb structure is inserted into an outer cylinder. In the metal carrier, arrays of slits is provided so that each slit has a length of more than one wave in the cross direction of the flat plates and corrugated plates, the slits are arranged at spaces in the longitudinal direction, and a number of the arrays are formed in parallel and shifted front each other.
However, in the curved metal carrier, since the flat plates and corrugated plates forming the metal honeycomb core body are provided with slits and inserted into a curved metal outer cylinder, if thermal stress and thermal deformation occur in the metal carrier at high temperatures, the slits expand to generate cracking, cell deformation, peeling of joined portions, and breakage of the metal honeycomb core body. Further, since the flat plates and corrugated plates have slits, when the metal honeycomb core body is inserted into the curved metal outer cylinder after the carrier is formed, the honeycomb structure cannot be maintained, and the predetermined cell structure cannot be maintained. That is, when designing a metal carrier, it is difficult to ensure the desired porosity ratio and surface area. Further, due to the slits, exhaust gas tends to flow only the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the curved metal outer cylinder, resulting in a considerably deteriorated efficiency of exhaust gas cleaning.
Then, the inventors have conducted intensive studies to solve such defects and found that flat plates and corrugated plates are soldered with a solder material coated in spots or stripes on the peaks of the corrugated plate to form a metal honeycomb core body, while the solder material coated on the metal honeycomb core body still has a fluidity and the solder material coated on the inner wall surface of the metal outer cylinder has no fluidity, the outer peripheral surface of the metal honeycomb core body and the inner wall surface of the metal outer cylinder are assembled, and then soldering heat treated, thereby sufficiently absorbing a thermal stress and achieving the present invention. Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a stable metal carrier which sufficiently absorbs a thermal stress and, when used on vehicles, can withstand practical use for an extended period of time.

Apparatus for producing an exhaust gas cleaning metal carrier


The invention relates to a process for preparing substituted imidazole derivatives of formula (I) and acid addition salts thereof

The compounds of the above-mentioned formula (I) are highly selective and long-acting antagonists of α2-adrenoceptors and they have a good peroral bioavailability. The compounds are especially valuable in the treatment of cognitive disorders. Compounds of formula (I) have been described in patent publication EP 0 618 906 B1. Specific examples of such compounds are 4-(2-ethyl-5-fluoroindan-2-yl)-1H-imidazole and 4-(5-fluoroindan-2-yl)-1H-imidazole.
The above-mentioned publication EP 0 618 906 B1 also discloses methods of preparing compounds of formula (I). Said methods relate to various ways of modifying the substituents in the benzene moiety of the indan ring system. There is no disclosure of a total synthesis, which would lead to the desired compounds in good yield.
Publication EP 0 310 745 B1 discloses a process for preparing compounds of formula (I), wherein the last step of the process comprises the use of formamide for the formation of the imidazole ring. The use of formamide, however, requires severe reaction conditions, which should be avoided in connection with industrial production in large scale.
Although the individual steps of the process according to the present invention are known as such (see e.g. EP 0 146 228 B1), it has now surprisingly been found that compounds of formula (I) can be prepared, also in large scale, in very good yields by using the synthesis route described below.

Process for preparing substituted imidazole derivatives and intermediates used in the process

Abstract: in which formula Y is —CH2— or —CO—, R1 is H, halo or hydroxy, R2 is H or halo and R3 is H or lower alkyl, starting from a compound of formula (II)

Abstract: wherein Y, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined above. The invention also relates to intermediates and their preparation.


Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for decrypting a protected resource on a cryptographic device are provided herein. A method includes decrypting encoded information under a first cryptographic key to access a protected resource, wherein the first cryptographic key is read from a first cryptographic device subsequent to authenticating to the first cryptographic device using a first authentication key, randomly selecting a second cryptographic key, encrypting the protected resource under the second cryptographic key, and writing the second cryptographic key onto the first cryptographic device subsequent to authenticating to the first cryptographic device.

In many applications, it is desirable for one computer, server, mobile telephone, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag or other type of cryptographic device to pair with, authenticate or otherwise share secrets with another cryptographic device. Unfortunately, such arrangements can be problematic when carried out using existing techniques.
RFID is a catchall term for a range of technologies that perform short-to-medium range wireless communication, typically between a well-resourced reader and a highly-constrained device referred to as a tag. Near-field communication (NFC) is a specialization of RFID directed to a particular set of radio frequencies and protocol standards, and is designed for near-contact communication. NFC is also an extension of RFID that permits reader-to-reader networking.
Mobile devices, particularly handsets, are increasingly outfitted with NFC readers. Objectives for the inclusion of NFC readers on such devices include permitting such devices to act as contactless payment devices, ticketing devices, interactive posters, etc. Also, as tags are compact and easily carried by users, they are becoming attractive as factors for the release of credentials on mobile devices. For instance, consider the following example.
A user, referred to in this example as Alice, runs a software-based password authentication product on her mobile handset. She also keeps an NFC tag attached to a monitor on the desk of her office. Rather than typing her personal identification number (PIN) into her mobile handset to authenticate using the password authentication product, she physically taps her phone against the NFC tag. When she does so, her PIN is automatically instantiated in the software-based password authentication product on her mobile handset.
Special-purpose, cryptographically-enabled tags can be designed to support this mode of use. However, conventional or general-purpose tags, both with and without cryptography, cannot accomplish such objectives. Accordingly, a need exists to provide capabilities for storing a key on a conventional or general-purpose tag that can serve to decrypt a credential on a mobile device.

Decryption of a protected resource on a cryptographic device using wireless communication


A method for removing tar from a gas by contacting a first gas containing tar with a second gas containing oxygen for time period sufficient to effect oxidation of at least a portion of the tar in the first gas, thus producing an oxidized product gas that contains less tar than the first gas.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The various embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the process of gasification and the production of synthesis gas. More particularly, the various embodiments of the present invention relate to the process of biomass gasification and the oxidation of tar from the hydrocarbon-rich product gas derived from biomass gasification.
2. Background of the Invention
Gasification is a process by which either a solid or liquid carbonaceous material (e.g., biomass, coal, petroleum), containing mostly chemically bound carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and a variety of inorganic and organic constituents, is reacted with air, oxygen, and/or steam. Sufficient energy is provided to produce a primary gaseous product comprising mostly CO, H2, CO2, H2O(g), and light hydrocarbons laced with volatile and condensable organic and inorganic compounds (e.g., tars). When gasified with steam and/or oxygen, biomass will produce a product gas, sometimes referred to as "synthesis gas" or "syngas" that is rich in CO and H2. Synthesis gas can then be catalytically converted to produce high-value fuels and chemicals.
Unless the raw product gas is combusted immediately following production, it is generally cooled, filtered, and scrubbed with water or a process-derived liquid to remove condensables and any carry-over particles. Alternatively, the raw gas can undergo either medium-temperature (350° C. to 400° C.) or high-temperature (up to gasifier exit temperatures) gas cleaning to provide a fuel gas that can be used in a variety of energy conversion devices, including internal combustion engines, gas turbines, and fuel cells.
A major barrier to the energy efficient and environmentally benign utilization of biomass by gasification is the "clean-up" of the product gas. Unless the gas can be used hot, for example in an adjacent boiler, removal of condensable tars from the product gas is usually necessary. For example, one of the most efficient and cleanest ways to use biomass to generate power to date is to use the product gas in a gas combustion turbine; however, this application requires that essentially all condensable tars are removed from the product gas. Another promising application of a product gas derived from biomass gasification is for the synthesis of a wide variety of liquid fuels, including ethanol and higher alcohols. Similar to the gas turbine applications, the synthesis of alcohols from a biomass gasification product gas also demands the removal of tars and, if possible, even non-condensable hydrocarbons from the product gas.
Several approaches have been tested for the removal of tar from the product gas of biomass gasification, such as catalytic and non-catalytic cracking of tar, dry scrubbing with activated carbon and filters, wet scrubbing, steam reformation of tar, and partial oxidation of biomass directly to produce synthesis gas. However, according to a study published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, currently available technologies for tar removal do not meet the needs of the industry in terms of cost, performance, and environmental considerations (T. A. Milne, et al., Biomass Gasification Tars, Their Nature, Formation, and Conversion, NREL/TP 570-25357, November 1998).
Accordingly, there is a need for systems and methods for the reduction in the level of tar or destruction of tar from synthesis gas. It is to the provision of such systems and methods for the reduction in the level of tar or destruction of tar from synthesis gas that the various embodiments of the present invention are primarily directed.

Systems and methods for oxidation of synthesis gas tar


A process and apparatus provide a paperless electronic receipt. A storage device stores a communication identifier prior to a transaction at a point of transaction. Further, a transmitter sends the communication identifier to a point of transaction receipt transmission device at a point of transaction so that the point of transaction receipt transmission device sends an electronic receipt of a transaction at the point of transaction to the communication identifier based upon a selection being received at the point of transaction receipt transmission device to send the electronic receipt to the communication identifier. In addition, the electronic receipt is received and stored at the storage device based upon a selection being received at the point of transaction receipt transmission device to store the electronic receipt at the storage device.

1. Field
This disclosure generally relates to the field of electronic communications. More particularly, the disclosure relates to electronic communication devices that provide paperless electronic receipts for transactions at a point of transaction.
2. General Background
Many point of transaction locations, e.g., point of sale locations, point of service locations, etc., currently provide paper receipts for a transaction. Many possible environmental concerns have resulted from the utilization of massive quantities of paper for printing such paper receipts on a frequent basis.
Some current approaches allow a user at a point of transaction location to request that a receipt is e-mailed to the user. Such configurations typically require a user to either input an e-mail address or provide the e-mail address to a point of transaction location representative that inputs the e-mail address. Such approaches often lead to delays at the point of transaction. Many consumers often find that having a paper receipt printed is much faster. Further, many consumers that are concerned about the environment often select a paper receipt out of concern for a possible return of an item.
Such approaches also lead to privacy concerns as many consumers do not want to provide their e-mail addresses to a significant quantity of point of transaction locations. Such consumers are often concerned about the possibility of spam e-mail.
Further, such approaches often lead to organizational concerns. Many consumers want to keep their paper receipts organized so that they may find a particular receipt if they need to return purchased items. Organizing e-mails with electronic receipts is often more difficult for many users than simply organizing a set of paper receipts. If a user has to return an item, searching through many e-mails of electronic receipts that are mixed in with e-mails not associated with electronic receipts may often be difficult.
As a result of possible delays at a point of transaction location, privacy concerns, return concerns, and organizational concerns, many consumers often request a paper receipt from a point of transaction location rather than having the receipt e-mailed to them. Accordingly, many point of transaction locations still have to provide paper receipts.


A multi-piece chest protector includes a front section connected to side sections by straps or other connectors that provide independent and relative movement between the front section and the side sections. The front and side sections include padding for absorbing impact. Additional padding, such as shoulder pads, may optionally be removably or permanently attached to the chest protector.

Protective gear, such as chest protectors, helmets, masks, and shin pads, has long been used to protect baseball catchers from pitched balls and balls foul-tipped off of bats. Chest protectors are typically made from a relatively flexible material, and have padding sewn into the flexible material for absorbing the impact of a pitched or tipped baseball. Straps are commonly attached to the chest protector for securing the chest protector around the back of the catcher.
While existing chest protectors have been relatively effective at protecting catchers from pitched and tipped balls, they typically restrict the catcher's upper body and arm movements to some degree. This can be problematic, for example, for a catcher who is trying to throw out a runner attempting to steal a base. In these situations, the catcher typically has to quickly hop into an upright position and accurately throw the baseball to a base ahead of the runner so that a teammate can receive the ball and tag out the runner before the runner reaches the base. Due to the somewhat restrictive nature of a typical chest protector, however, it is often difficult for a catcher to quickly and accurately make a throw, particularly because the entire chest protector shifts as a single unit against the catcher's upper body and throwing arm. The restrictive nature of existing chest protectors can also cause a catcher difficulty when reaching for a pitched, thrown, or batted ball. Thus, a need exists for a flexible chest protector that does not restrict a catcher's ability to quickly and accurately throw a baseball or to move to catch a baseball.

Multi-piece protector for a baseball catcher


A selected positive coefficient resistor is connected in parallel across a laser, Light Emitting Diode (LED) or amplifier LED (ALED) to adjust the bias current, respectively, to the laser, LED or ALED as a function of temperature so as to maintain a more regulated optical power output therefrom.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and Amplified LEDs (ALEDs) have recently become very important for use as transceivers in local access systems. Illustrative applications of the use of LEDs and LEDs in transceivers is described in our recently filed U.S. patent application C. R. Doerr, K -Y Liou and B. Glance, case 11 - 46 - 12, Ser. No. 08/857,347, filed on May 16, 1997 and entitled FULL-DUPLEX WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXING SYSTEM USING SINGLE-DEVICE TRANSCEIVERS, pending. That application describes the use of LEDs and ALEDs as transceivers at both the Central Office (CO) and Remote Node (RN) locations of a single-fiber full-duplex WDM system. In such typical applications, the temperature at the CO location is usually controlled while the temperature at the RN location is uncontrolled and can vary drastically. As a result, at the RN location the optical power from an LED/ALED varies substantially with temperature changes which, undesirably, may cause LED/ALED laser operation (at low temperatures) or reduced signal to noise levels (at higher temperatures). Consequently, a problem exists at the RN location to maintain a nearly constant optical output from an LED/ALED transceiver over the expected temperature range.
In the prior art, a circuit for the regulation of the power output of a laser or LED transmitter typically uses a photodiode to monitor power levels. The detected optical power level from the photodiode is then used by a feedback control circuit to regulate the power level of the laser or LED. Undesirably, such active power regulators are complex and expensive.

Circuit for controlling the output power of an uncooled laser or light emitting diode


Novel photosensitizers useful for photodynamic therapy and diagnosis of tumors. Photosensitizers are derived from chlorophyll-a of photosynthetic plants and algae, possess long wavelength absorption between 600 and 800 nm, are stable, and water soluble. A process of preparation of these compounds and method of use for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

1. Field of Invention
This invention concerns novel photosensitizing compounds useful for photodynamic therapy and diagnosis of tumors. In particular, the invention concerns photosensitizers which are derived from photosynthetic plants and algae, which possess long wavelength absorption between 600 and 700 nm, which are water soluble and which are useful for diagnostic tumor localization and photodynamic therapy of tumors. The invention further concerns the process of preparation of these compounds and method of use, both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Long-wavelength water soluble chlorin photosensitizers useful for photodynamic therapy and diagnosis of tumors

The Regents of the University of California


A “speech onset detector” provides a variable length frame buffer in combination with either variable transmission rate or temporal speech compression for buffered signal frames. The variable length buffer buffers frames that are not clearly identified as either speech or non-speech frames during an initial analysis. Buffering of signal frames continues until a current frame is identified as either speech or non-speech. If the current frame is identified as non-speech, buffered frames are encoded as non-speech frames. However, if the current frame is identified as a speech frame, buffered frames are searched for the actual onset point of the speech. Once that onset point is identified, the signal is either transmitted in a burst, or a time-scale modification of the buffered signal is applied for compressing buffered frames beginning with the frame in which onset point is detected. The compressed frames are then encoded as one or more speech frames.

1. Technical Field
The invention is related to automatically determining when speech begins in a signal such as an audio signal, and in particular, to a system and method for accurately detecting speech onset in a signal by examining multiple signal frames in combination with signal time compression for delaying a speech onset decision without increasing average signal delay.
2. Related Art
The detection of the boundaries or endpoints of speech in a signal, such as an audio signal, is useful for a large number of conventional speech related applications. For example, a few such applications include encoding and transmission of speech, speech recognition, and speech analysis. In most of these schemes, it is desirable to process speech in as close to real-time as possible, or using as little non-speech components of the signal as possible so as to minimize computational overhead. In fact, for most such conventional systems, both inaccurate speech endpoint detection and inclusion of non-speech components of the signal have an adverse effect on overall system performance.
There are a large variety of schemes for detecting speech endpoints in a signal. For example, one scheme commonly used for detecting speech endpoints in a signal is to use short-time or spectral energy components of the signal to identify speech within that signal. Often, an adaptive threshold based on features of an energy profile of the signal is used to discriminate between speech and background noise in the signal. Unfortunately, such schemes tend to cut off the ends of words in both noisy and quiet environments. Other endpoint detection schemes include examining signal entropy, using neural networks to examine the signal for extracting speech from background noise, etc.
As noted above, the detection of speech endpoints in a signal is central to a number of applications. Clearly, identifying the endpoints of speech in the signal requires an identification of both the onset and the termination of speech within that signal. Typically, analysis of several signal frames may be required to reliably detect speech onset and termination in the signal, even in a relatively noise free signal.
Further, many conventional speech detection schemes continue to encode signal frames as speech for a few frames after relative silence is first detected in the signal. In this manner, the end point or termination of speech in the signal is usually captured by the speech detection scheme at the cost of simply encoding a few extra signal frames. Unfortunately, since it is unknown when speech will begin in a real-time signal, performing a similar operation for capturing speech onset typically presents a more complex problem.
In particular, some schemes address the onset detection problem by simply buffering a number of signal frames until speech onset is detected in the signal. At that point, these schemes then encode the signal beginning with a number of the buffered frames so as to more reliably capture actual speech onset in the signal. Unfortunately, one of the problems with such schemes is that transmission or processing of the signal is typically delayed by the length of the signal buffer, thereby increasing overall signal delay or computational overhead. Attempts to address the average signal delay typically involve reducing buffer size in combination with better speech detection algorithms. However, the delay due to the use of a buffer still exists. Some schemes have attempted to address this problem by simply eliminating the buffer entirely, or by using a very small signal buffer. However, as a result, these schemes frequently chop off some small portion of the beginning of the speech in the signal. As a result, audible artifacts are often produced in the decoded signal.
Therefore, what is needed is a system and method that provides for robust and accurate speech onset detection in a signal while minimizing average signal delay resulting from the use of a signal frame buffer.

System and method for real-time detection and preservation of speech onset in a signal


An impact energy absorbing member in which a plurality of impact absorbing plates are arranged with predetermined intervals along a direction in which a collapse stroke progresses is provided on either one of a vehicle side bracket or a column side bracket slidably fitted to the vehicle side bracket. On the other bracket, there is provided a breaking member for sequentially breaking said plurality of impact absorbing plates as the collapse stroke progresses. With this structure, the impact energy absorbing member is sequentially broken by the breaking member as the collapse stroke progresses upon secondary collision, so that impact energy is absorbed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an impact absorbing type steering column apparatus for a vehicle in which the impact energy absorption amount can be minutely controlled in the course of a collapse stroke upon secondary collision.
2. Background Art
When a vehicle collides with a building structure or the like, the driver sometimes suffers secondary collision with the steering wheel due to inertia. In order to protect drivers from such secondary collision, it has become a common practice to use an impact absorbing type steering column.
The impact absorbing type steering column apparatus has such a structure that when the driver suffers secondary collision and the impact energy acts on the steering column in the frontward direction of the vehicle, the steering column collapses to be detached from the vehicle body and moves forward (in a stroke), so that the impact energy is absorbed in the course of the collapse stroke.
For example, in a ripping type impact absorbing mechanism disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-68776, the central portion of an energy absorbing member in the form of a strip-shaped steel plate is fixed to a bracket on the vehicle body and both the end portions of the steel plate are bent in a U-shape and fixed to the steering column, so that when the steering column moves in the frontward direction of the vehicle, the energy absorbing member is deformed to be bent and ripped.
On the other hand, there is a drawing type impact energy absorbing mechanism in which an end of a metal wire is fixed to a bracket on the steering column and the wire is wound around a tilt bolt on the vehicle body and extended toward the front side of the vehicle. Thus, when the steering column moves in the frontward direction of the vehicle, the wire is drawn and deformed by the tilt bolt.
However, the above-described impact absorbing type steering column apparatuses for a vehicle are designed in such a way that substantially constant impact energy is absorbed as the collapse stroke progresses. Therefore, it is not possible to control the impact energy absorption amount in the course of the collapse stroke or in accordance with the type of the vehicle.

Shock absorption type steering column device


Methods, systems, and media for providing information are provided. In some implementations, a method for providing information is provided, the method comprising: associating a first recording device of a group of recording devices located in an environment of a user with a trigger term; receiving, from a user device, a query that includes the trigger term; in response to receiving the query, determining that audio data is to be transmitted from at least one recording device from the group of recording devices in the environment of the user; identifying the first recording device based on the inclusion of the trigger term in the received query; receiving the audio data from the first recording device; identifying a characteristic of an animate object in the environment of the user based on the received audio data; and presenting information indicating the characteristic of the animate object on the user device.

Many people own multiple user devices that may all be capable of recording audio and/or video data within their home. For example, a person may have multiple mobile devices, a virtual assistant device, one or more smart televisions, and/or other such devices within their home, and these devices may be located in different rooms. In many cases, a device may be capable of recording audio data or video data that indicates an event that may be of interest to the person, such as a child crying. However, it can be difficult to use devices to detect events of interest and provide information of the events to people.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide new methods, systems, and media for providing information related to detected events.

Methods, systems, and media for providing information relating to detected events


Method and system for allowing a computer network operations manager to subscribe for and receive notifications concerning network events from one or more objects or object levels, as defined by distinguished name scoping, and optionally having at least one event characteristic from a selected list. The selected list of characteristics may include: one or more levels of network objects involved in the event; one or more specified network nodes involved in the event; a specified geographical region in which said event occurs; a specified period of days within which the event occurs or is initiated; a specified time interval within which the event occurs or is initiated; a specified class of devices involved in the event; and an event of one or more specified event types.

Portions of this patent document contain material subject to copyright restriction. The copyright owner has no objection to facsimile reproduction of the patent document after grant, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights relating thereto.
The field of this application relates to apparatus, methods and computer program products relating to network management operations and protocol adapter security software.
Network management is performed by network carriers and operators to ensure that mission-critical networks are continually operating normally, without service-affecting problems. Accordingly, network management platforms, such as the Sun Microsystems Solstice Enterprise Manager (SEM) are employed. The SEM is a management framework that complies with Telecommunications Management Network (TMN) standards, as defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). To ensure that an operator""s network is functioning properly, it is necessary to monitor or listen for information on events that might indicate network status changes. For example, failure of a network switching device or break in a circuit may produce an event that is received and processed by the SEM network management platform.
An xe2x80x9ceventxe2x80x9d may be defined as a signal, or the underlying occurrence, indicating that one or more changes has occurred in the state of an entity or device on the network. Event signals may include a communications alarm signal (indicating that a device has come on-line, has gone off-line or has developed a problem), an equipment alarm signal (occurrence of an error state), a quality-of-service alarm signal (deterioration of the strength or resolution or throughput of a signal or group of signals), security alarm signal (indicating that unauthorized access has been detected), and an attribute change (indicating that data for a device or process are no longer available, for reasons other than occurrence of an error).
To control and coordinate the software associated with a network of computers and peripherals, network managers often employ special purpose software designed to track, establish communications with and control other software entities and processes that represent one or more network reporting devices (referred to as xe2x80x9cagentsxe2x80x9d) or that exist independently. Software used by the network manager interacts with various platform-level software services to allow the network manager to locate and interact with other entities running on the network. Entities on the network can communicate with each other and with a network manager by sending and receiving messages with agreed-upon formats. A message can be a request, a response or an event signal. An entity running on the network may xe2x80x9csubscribe toxe2x80x9d notifications of events generated by other entities so that a cooperative relationship between the entities can be maintained. Given the number and variety of events that can occur, the volume of event notifications processed by the network management software can be very large, even when few or no error messages are being transmitted. This volume can reduce system performance dramatically.
Typically, a computer network will rely upon a single, centralized service to manage, process and/or monitor the network communications. This reliance upon a single service to process such high volumes of data creates a risk of catastrophe or collapse if the central service fails, even with swift recovery. These risks are not acceptable for large-scale networks that must be available at all hours, seven days per week. Further, if all event notifications must be processed and analyzed by each network operator or monitor, each such operator may have to provide enormous computing power for this purpose, even where the amount of information of interest to an operator is small.
During an associated event processing activity, appropriate operators are notified and corrective actions may be taken. In a large network, events occur very frequently, perhaps on the order of hundreds of events per second. Accordingly, efficient event notification processing and distribution is a key to successful network management platform operation. Currently, events are characterized by event type, indicating the nature of the event, to the extent that this information is determinable. Possible event types are defined in the managed object""s management information base (MIB). By subscribing to particular types of events, a network manager can receive notifications of events of a particular type. When a network manager subscribes to several notifications of several types of events, an event filtering mechanism or discriminator is implemented, using common management information system (CMIS) filtering to ensure that only notifications of selected event types are forwarded for consideration by the subscribing network manager.
However, there is currently no mechanism permitting a network manager to receive notifications concerning events associated with a specified source. It is not possible for a network manager to receive information focusing on a selected managed object or objects. However, it is frequently desirable for a network manager to be able to subscribe only to events from particular sources or objects. For example, a network management operator responsible for cellular switches in and around Frankfurt might only want to receive event notifications concerning the Frankfurt portion of the network. This is a practical, long-felt need of network operators throughout the world, as well as in the United States. Further, it is desirable that the event notification processing be scalable to correspond to the volume that is anticipated under given circumstances on a network.
This invention makes it possible to subscribe to notification of events that arise or occur at specified sources or specified objects. This makes it easier for a Solstice Enterprise Manager (SEM) to focus on the portion of a network of interest to that operator and reduces the burden on an SEM application developer, who would otherwise have to subscribe to all event notifications from all sources, and then to use custom code to laboriously filter or screen out events from sources or objects that are of no interest to the developer. According to the invention, the SEM operator may specify one or more event characteristics and/or one or more levels of objects associated with a computer network. An object may have associated with it one or more attributes or characteristics, such as an event type, the location (node or group of nodes) or region where an event occurred, a date and/or time interval during which one or more events of interest occurred, a type of component or device that was affected by an event, and other similar attributes. With this specification in place, only events that arise from one or more specified levels of objects and have specified characteristics are registered for consideration by that developer.
The SEM infrastructure is enhanced, according to the invention, to permit filtering internally, according to the source or object associated with an event. A network management operator thereafter receives only event notifications only from one or more specified sources and, optionally, only as to specified types of events. Accordingly, a sophisticated and improved capability is provided to allow network operators to more precisely specify notifications of events to be received. This improves the ability to focus on the portion(s) of the network system of particular concern to the operator.
The SEM has a distributed client-server architecture in which clients or applications use the services offered by the server or platform. One service offered by the platform is subscription for event notifications from network agents managed by the platform, based on one or more filtering criteria. An event notification distribution subsystem (EDS), according to the invention, allows transmission of an event notification to an event subscriber, an application that monitors network communications for event notifications (ENs) in which the event subscriber is interested. The event subscriber specifies a discriminator mechanism or CMIS filter, which is written in a predetermined CMIS filter specification. The event source includes an application or service entity that issues an EN that will be received by one or more identified event subscribers, if certain characteristics or attributes of an underlying event agree with attributes specified by an event discriminator.
However, this type of CMIS filter is of limited flexibility and does not permit specification of, and subscription for, notification of xe2x80x9cwild cardxe2x80x9d events associated with one or a group of distinguished names (DNs). The present invention permits an application to receive notifications of all events whose objects belong to one or more specified levels of objects. A managed object may agree with a given data network prefix, which may include a specification of site, channel and/or element. For example, if the prefix is set to SiteId=5, ENs corresponding to all events with SiteId=5 and ChannelId=DC (don""t care) and ElementId=DC will be received and registered by the EN application.
According to the invention, an EN received by an application passes its DN prefix for scoping, in addition to specific information concerning characteristics of the underlying event. Use of a DN scoping mechanism allows reduction in the number of fan-out events within the EDS, because an application only registers for events that are likely to be of common interest. Thus, the present invention permits receipt of ENs for all events whose managed object instances (MOIs) agree with a specified DN prefix. DN filtering may be implemented by specifying a DN scope and at least one DN attribute.

Distinguished name scoping system for event filtering


An apparatus and method are disclosed which provide a substantially linear relationship between an input signal, such as an input voltage or current, and a predetermined parameter, such as a frequency response or capacitance of a parallel plate capacitor or varactor. The apparatus comprises a square root converter and a logarithmic generator. The square root converter is adapted to provide a square root signal which is substantially proportional to a square root of the input signal. In the various embodiments, the logarithmic generator is adapted to provide an applied signal which is substantially proportional to a sum of a logarithm of the input signal plus the square root of the input signal. The applied signal is a pre-distorted signal which generally has a non-linear relation to the predetermined parameter and which, when applied, allows the predetermined parameter to vary substantially linearly with the input signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related generally to linearizing apparatuses and methods, and more specifically, to apparatuses and methods which provide a linear relationship between an input signal, such as an input voltage, and a selected or predetermined circuit parameter, such as a frequency response or capacitance.
2. Background Art
The following references are noted herein:                [1] G. M. Rebeiz and J. B. Muldavin, "RF MEMS Switches and Switch Circuits," IEEE MICROWAVE MAGAZINE, vol. 2, issue 4, pp. 59–71, December 2001.        [2] C. T.-C. Nguyen, "High-Q Micromechanical Oscillators and Filters for Communications (invited)," IEEE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS, Hong Kong, Jun. 9–12, 1997, pp. 2825–2828.        [3] D. Young and B. Boser, "A Micromachined-Based RF Low-Noise Voltage-Controlled Oscillator," IEEE CUSTOM INTEGRATED CIRCUITS CONFERENCE, pp. 431–434, 1997.        [4] D. Young et al., "Monolithic High-Performance Three-Dimensional Coil Inductors for Wireless Communication Applications," INTERNATIONAL ELECTRON DEVICES MEETING, pp. 3.5.1–3.5.4, 1997.        [5] J. Zou et al., "Development of a Wide Tuning Range MEMS Tunable Capacitor for Wireless Communication Systems," INTERNATIONAL ELECTRON DEVICES MEETING, pp. 403–406, 2000.        [6] H. Ainspan and J.-O. Plouchart, "A Comparison of MOS Varactors in Fully-Integrated CMOS LC VCO's at 5 and 7 GHz," EUROPEAN SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS CONFERENCE, 2000.        [7] E. Vittoz and J. Fellrath, "CMOS Analog Integrated Circuits Based on Weak Inversion Operation," IEEE JOURNAL OF SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS, vol. SC-12, no. 3, pp. 224–231, June 1977.        [8] I. M. Filanovsky and H. P. Baltes, "Simple CMOS Analog Square-Rooting and Squaring Circuits," IEEE TRANS. ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS I: FUNDAMENTAL THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, vol. 39, no. 4, April 1992.        [9] R. Gregorian and G. C. Temes, "Analog MOS Integrated Circuits for Signal Processing," New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1986.
Microelectromechanical systems ("MEMS") technology has been demonstrated successfully in a variety of RF applications including switching [1], filtering [2], and frequency synthesis [2]. Components such as MEMS varactors [3] and inductors [4], when coupled, have been shown to provide a high quality factor (Q-factor) reference for voltage controlled oscillators ("VCOs") [3] when compared to alternative integrated technology. Several parallel plate varactor topologies have been reported with impressive results [3][5]. However, a significant drawback associated with the parallel plate topology is the highly nonlinear tuning or frequency response as a function of the electrostatic actuation of the device.
Other devices also exhibit nonlinear characteristics, such that a selected or predetermined device parameter has a nonlinear relationship to an input or control signal, such as an input voltage. In addition to MEMS varactors, the frequency response of parallel plate capacitors, more generally, has a nonlinear relationship to the voltage of the capacitor. Similarly, junction varactors and metal oxide semiconductor ("MOS") varactors also exhibit such nonlinear characteristics.
Tuning of such capacitors to a selected or predetermined frequency, as part of an oscillator, for example, as a nonlinear response, is comparatively difficult. In the prior art, the nonlinear frequency response is modeled, with particular voltage levels (as coefficients) specified for corresponding frequencies. The resulting modeled coefficients are stored as a look-up table in memory, which is subsequently accessed to tune a particular device to a selected frequency. Such an implementation, however, requires additional processing circuitry, a memory circuit, and memory interface circuitry. In addition, to the extent fabrication varies from assumed modeling parameters, such stored coefficients are inaccurate, and do not provide the desired result of tuning such a device to a selected frequency.
As a consequence, a need remains for a more robust and accurate solution for selecting or determining device parameters, such as for tuning a device to a particular frequency, when such parameters have a nonlinear relationship to corresponding input or control signals. Such a solution should be capable of being implemented using existing integrated circuit fabrication technology, without the additional need for memory and memory interface circuitry.

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A memory cell array includes isolated semiconductor regions formed on a supporting insulating substrate, memory cells formed in the respective semiconductor regions, and insulating regions formed so as to insulate the memory cells. Each memory cell formed in a semiconductor region includes a source region, a drain region, a front gate region formed on a gate insulating film formed on one of side surfaces of the semiconductor region such that the source region and the drain region are separated from each other by the front gate region, and a back gate region formed on a gate insulating film formed on an opposite side surface of the semiconductor region such that the source region and the drain region are separated from each other by the back gate region. Each memory cell shares the back gate region with a memory cell adjacent in a row direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory cell array in which fin-FET memory cells of DRAM are arranged in the form of an array and which is advantageous for use as a memory device embedded in an LSI, a method of producing such a memory cell array, and a semiconductor device using such a memory cell array. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fin-FET memory cell array of DRAM, which can be disposed in a reduced area without causing a problem of multiple selection, a method of producing such a memory cell array, and a semiconductor circuit device using such a memory cell array.
2. Description of the Related Art
State-of-the-art high-density LSIs include a huge number of logic circuits and an embedded memory. In such an LSI, an embedded memory part occupies a large area relative to the total chip area. In order to further increase the integration density of LSIs to meet requirements for improved performance, it is needed to reduce the size of the embedded memory part. In view of the above, much effort has been made to reduce the size of SRAM which is advantageous in compatibility with logic circuits and the size of DRAM which is expected to be capable of being further reduced in size. However, SRAMs have a limit in reduction in size. On the other hand, DRAMs including memory cells each composed of one MOSFET and one capacitor need a complicated production process and is not good in compatibility with the production process of logic circuits. To solve the above problems, it has been proposed to configure a DRAM using memory cells each composed of one vertical double-gate transistor (hereinafter, such a DRAM will be referred to as a "1T-DRAM") (see for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-78026).
Logic circuits can also be produced using vertical double-gate transistors. In this case, 1T-DRAMs including memory cells each composed of vertical double-gate transistor have good compatibility with the production process of logic circuits. Compared with conventional DRAMs including memory cells each composed of one MOSFET and one capacitor, 1T-DRAMs including memory cells each composed of one vertical double-gate transistor are expected to be capable of being further reduced in size.
The vertical double-gate transistor refers to a MOSFET configured such that a 3-dimensional isolated region of silicon (Si) is formed on a supporting substrate and a MOSFET having two gate electrodes is formed in this 3-dimensional isolated region of silicon (Si) such that one gate electrode is formed on one side surface thereof and the other one is formed on the opposite side surface. In the vertical double-gate transistor having such a structure, because the channel of the MOSFET is controlled using the two gate electrodes, a reduction in a current flowing between the source and drain in a waiting state can be achieved. Thus, use of the vertical double-gate transistor structure makes it possible to solve problems caused by reduction in size of MOSFETs.
Referring to FIG. 1, a memory cell including a vertical double-gate transistor for use in a 1T-DRAM disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-78026 is described below.
FIG. 1 shows one of memory cells used in the 1T-DRAM disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-78026. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a semiconductor region (3-dimensional region of semiconductor), reference numeral 2 denotes a source electrode, reference numeral 3 denotes a gate electrode, reference numeral 4A denotes a first side-surface gate electrode, reference numeral 4B denotes a second side-surface gate electrode, and reference numeral 5 denotes drain electrodes. The source electrode 2 is formed on the top of the semiconductor region 1, and the drain electrodes 5 are formed in regions where the semiconductor region 1 is in contact with a semiconductor substrate, that is, in regions on the bottom of the semiconductor region 1.
When a charge is accumulated in one of the first side-surface gate electrode 4A and the second side-surface gate electrode 4B, the accumulated charge causes a change in the threshold voltage of the vertical double-gate transistor used in the 1T-DRAM. A logical value "0" may be assigned to this state in which the threshold voltage is shifted, and a logical value "1" may be assigned to the other state in which the threshold voltage has a normal value. Thus, it is possible to configure a DRAM in which states of respective cells are detected by detecting the change in threshold voltage.
To use a 1T-DRAM including memory cells composed of vertical double-gate transistors as an embedded memory in a practical LSI, it is needed that memory cells each composed of a vertical double-gate transistor be disposed in the form of an array, and interconnection lines be formed so as to adequately connect drain regions, source regions, first side-surface gate electrode, and second side-surface electrodes.
However, when memory cells each including a vertical double-gate transistor are disposed in the form of an array, the following problems can occur.
When drain regions, source regions, first side-surface gate electrodes, and second side-surface gate electrodes of vertical double-gate transistors in respective memory cells are connected by common interconnection lines extending in row and column directions, it is difficult to connect electrodes located at the bottom of 3-dimensional regions of semiconductor to common interconnection lines such as bit lines or word lines.
In the memory cell array structure, it is required that information written in each memory cell should be retained. If isolation regions are simply disposed between adjacent memory cells to electrically isolate drain regions, source regions, first side-surface electrodes, and second side-surface electrodes of respective memory cells, the result is an increase in the total area of the array, and it is difficult to realize a high-density memory cell array.
In the memory cell array structure, when a voltage is applied to a common interconnection line such as a bit line or a word line to select a particular one of memory cells, there is a possibility that a plurality of memory cells are selected because a plurality of memory cells are activated.
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a memory cell array of 1T-DRAM having a high density and having no problem with multiple selection of memory cells, a method of producing such a memory cell array, and a semiconductor circuit device using such a memory cell array.

Memory cell array, method of producing the same, and semiconductor memory device using the same


The present disclosure relates to an oscillator including a charge and discharge circuit which generates a first oscillation signal according to a clock signal using a first constant current and a second oscillation signal according to an inverted clock signal using a second constant current, an integrating circuit which generates a first comparison voltage reflecting an amount of change in the first oscillation signal based on a comparison reference voltage and a second comparison voltage reflecting an amount of change in the second oscillation signal based on the comparison reference voltage, and a comparison circuit which generates the clock signal and the inverted clock signal according to a result of comparison between the first oscillation signal and the first comparison voltage and a result of comparison between the second oscillation signal and the second comparison voltage.

An electronic apparatus includes an oscillator which generates a signal having a frequency. For example, an oscillator embedded in an electronic apparatus generates a clock signal having a set frequency, and the electronic apparatus operates based on the clock signal of the oscillator. The oscillator should generate a precise and stable clock signal for reliability of the electronic apparatus.
In an oscillator according to the related art, a reset-set (RS) latch circuit may generate a clock signal according to a result of comparison between first and second oscillation signals, which are generated by capacitors which periodically perform charging and discharging operations, and a reference voltage, and the charging and discharging operations of the capacitors may be controlled by the clock signal that is fed back and an inverted clock signal.
The first and second oscillation signals may be changed in an unbalanced manner due to various causes, such as process deviations or surrounding environments, and in the oscillator according to the related art, since the clock signal is generated according to the result of comparison between the first and second oscillation signals and one reference voltage, an error in which a duty cycle of the clock signal is changed may occur due to the unbalanced first and second oscillation signals.

Oscillator and method of driving the same


The disclosure provides skin probiotics, fermented media extract and fermentation byproducts thereof for the treatment of skin disease and disorders as well as for the prevention/treatment of acne and MRSA.

Fermentation of milk with gut-friendly bacteria, yogurt, is a great example of bacterial antagonism (interference) via fermentation, and an excellent aid to balancing the bacteriological ecosystem in the human intestine. Bacterial antagonism via fermentation occurs in other natural ecosystems as well. For example, microorganisms both on and inside fruits consume sugars, converted from starch during ripening, to produce fermentation products including ethanol and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Production of SCFAs and ethanol by fermentative yeasts is, in fact, a part of an evolved strategy to compete with other microbes for access to sugars.
Bacterial antagonism also occurs on skin, and in particular human skin. However, it has yet to be described how bacterial antagonism affects the skin microbiome, and various diseases or disorders caused by an imbalance in the skin microbiome. Several publications disclose the effect of inflammation in diseases and disorders of the skin. Other publications disclose the use of SCFAs to direct human immune response towards an increase in Th1 and decrease in Th2 and towards the switch from Th2 to Th1 responses. However, no publication has described the use of SCFAs to balance the microbiome, particularly on human skin.
Therefore, what is needed are compositions and methods for affecting diseases and disorders of the skin using SCFAs to balance the skin microbiome.

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