A multiprocessor computer system has a multiplicity of sub-systems and a main memory coupled to a system controller. Some of the sub-systems are data processors, each having a respective cache memory that stores multiple blocks of data and a respective set of master cache tags (Etags), including one Etag for each data block stored by the cache memory. Each data processor includes an interface for sending memory transaction requests to the system controller and for receiving cache transaction requests from the system controller corresponding to memory transaction requests by other ones of the data processors. The system controller includes transaction activation logic for activating each said memory transaction request when it meets predefined activation criteria, and for blocking each said memory transaction request until the predefined activation criteria are met. An active transaction status table stores status data representing memory transaction requests that have been activated, including an address value for each activated transaction. The transaction activation logic includes comparator logic for comparing each memory transaction request with the active transaction status data for all activated memory transaction requests so as to detect whether activation of a particular memory transaction request would violate the predefined activation criteria. With certain exceptions concerning writeback transactions, an incoming transaction for accessing a data block that maps to the same cache line a pending, previously activated transaction, will be blocked until the pending transaction that maps to the same cache line is completed.

The need to maintain "cache coherence" in multiprocessor systems is well known. Maintaining "cache coherence" means, at a minimum, that whenever data is written into a specified location in a shared address space by one processor, the caches for any other processors which store data for the same address location are either invalidated, or updated with the new data.
There are two primary system architectures used for maintaining cache coherence. One, herein called the cache snoop architecture, requires that each data processor's cache include logic for monitoring a shared address bus and various control lines so as to detect when data in shared memory is being overwritten with new data, determining whether it's data processor's cache contains an entry for the same memory location, and updating its cache contents and/or the corresponding cache tag when data stored in the cache is invalidated by another processor. Thus, in the cache snoop architecture, every data processor is responsible for maintaining its own cache in a state that is consistent with the state of the other caches.
In a second cache coherence architecture, herein called the memory reference architecture, main memory includes a set of status bits for every block of data that indicate which data processors, if any, have the data block stored in cache. The main memory's status bits may store additional information, such as which processor is considered to be the "owner" of the data block if the cache coherence architecture requires storage of such information.
The present invention utilizes a different cache in which each data processor that has a cache memory maintains a master cache index and a system controller maintains a duplicate cache index for each such cache memory. For each memory transaction by a data processor in which there is a cache miss or other state change requiring communication with either main memory or other cache memories in order to maintain cache coherence, the System Controller does a cache index lookup on all the duplicate cache lookups, the system controller selects the sequence of actions needed to perform the memory transaction.
In prior art "snoop bus" cache coherence systems, it is impossible for two overlapping memory transactions to simultaneously access the same address because only one cache coherent memory transaction can be performed at a time, and that transaction is broadcast to all data processors so that they can "snoop" on the address and control busses and thereby keep their local cache memories consistent with memory transactions performed by other data processors.
In prior art memory reference architecture cache coherent systems it is also impossible for two overlapping memory transactions to simultaneously access the same address because the memory reference logic inherently serializes such memory transactions.
In the "duplicate cache tag" architecture of the present invention in which multiple data processors can initiate memory transactions and in which the interconnect can process multiple memory transactions simultaneously, there needs to be a mechanism to avoid "coherence hazards." In particular, the pipelined execution of transactions in the present invention results in multiple transactions being active simultaneously in the System Controller. This would lead to coherence hazards in the system if multiple active transactions shared the same cache index in the Dtags. To avoid such hazards, the System Controller utilizes special transaction activation logic that blocks a first memory transaction from becoming active if a second memory transaction that is already active is using the same cache index as would be used by the first memory transaction. One important exception to this transaction activation blocking is that writeback transactions do not need to be blocked and do not cause other transactions to be blocked.

Transaction activation processor for controlling memory transaction processing in a packet switched cache coherent multiprocessor system


A circuit arrangement is disclosed herein comprising an amplifier circuit having inputs configured to receive an input signal, and an output configured to provide an output signal. The circuit arrangement further comprises a first operational amplifier. The first operational amplifier includes inputs coupled to the inputs of the amplifier circuit, an output coupled to the output of the amplifier circuit, and a first compensation input. The compensation input is configured to feed an offset compensation signal to the first operational amplifier. The circuit arrangement further comprises a first compensation circuit configured to provide the offset compensation signal. The first compensation circuit is coupled to the inputs of the first operational amplifier. The circuit arrangement further comprises a deactivation circuit which is designed to temporarily deactivate the first compensation circuit.

Such a circuit arrangement is described for example in Finvers et al.: "A High Temperature Precision Amplifier", IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 30, No. 2, February 1995, pages 120-128. Operational amplifiers in amplifier circuits are usually connected up in such a way that a voltage between the inputs of the operational amplifier is ideally zero. If the operational amplifier is beset with an offset, then an offset voltage not equal to zero is established between the inputs of said operational amplifier, which leads to a corruption of the measurement result. In such circuits, the offset compensation arrangement serves to detect such an offset voltage present between the inputs of the operational amplifier and to generate an offset compensation signal. Said compensation signal is fed to an offset compensation input of the operational amplifier in order to regulate the offset voltage between the inputs of the operational amplifier to zero.
This offset compensation by detecting the input voltage of the operational amplifier and generating the compensation signal depending on the input voltage may lead to problems when a frequently changing input signal is fed to the operational amplifier. This is because, in the event of a level change of the input signal, the input voltage difference of the operational amplifier is initially not zero until the operational amplifier has again attained a settled state. This input voltage difference not equal to zero is registered as an offset by the offset compensation arrangement and incorrectly leads to a change or adaptation of the compensation signal.
Offset compensation arrangements usually have an integrating behavior, which has the effect that the offset compensation signal increases with the number of level changes of the input signal or with the number of settling operations of the operational amplifier. The consequence of this is that the operational amplifier is "overcompensated", so that precisely during the settled state of the operational amplifier there is an offset present which increases as the number of level changes of the input signal increases or as the number of settling operations of the operational amplifier increases.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a circuit arrangement having an amplifier arrangement—which has an operational amplifier—and having an offset compensation arrangement which does not have these disadvantages.

Circuit arrangement having an amplifier arrangement and an offset compensation arrangement


Deinterlacing apparatus and method capable of outputting two consecutive deinterlaced frames include a field buffer, a shift buffer, a frame generator, and a line exchanger. The field buffer receives and stores a plurality of consecutive interlaced fields, and then outputs, in response to a control signal, p-th interlaced line data of an m-th field, p-th interlaced line data of an (m+2)-th field, p-th interlaced line data of an (m+1)-th field, and (p+1)-th interlaced line data of the (m+1)-th field in series or the p-th interlaced line data of the (m+1)-th field, p-th interlaced line data of an (m+3)-th field, the p-th interlaced line data of the (m+2)-th field, and (p+1)-th interlaced line data of the (m+2)-th field in series. The shift buffer which receives signals output from the field buffer in series, converts the signals into parallel signals, and outputs first through fourth line data in parallel. The frame generator which receives the first through fourth line data from the shift buffer, senses motion in the first through fourth line data between fields, and selectively outputs the result of temporally filtering adjacent line data or the result of spatially filtering adjacent line data in response to the result of the motion sensing. The line exchanger receives the first line data of the shift buffer and an output signal of the frame generator and selectively exchanges the first line data with line data of the output signal of the frame generator in response to a line exchange signal.

This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-73052, filed on Nov. 22, 2002, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image signal processing, and more particularly, to an deinterlacing apparatus and method capable of simultaneously outputting two deinterlaced frames using an input interlaced video signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various deinterlacing methods are utilized in contemporary signal processing systems, for example, using two field data, three field data, or four field data, by which an interlaced video signal is converted into a deinterlaced signal.
In general, conventional deinterlacing methods can be categorized according to two different methods, i.e., a deinterlacing method that utilizes a frame memory and a deinterlacing method that does not utilize a frame memory. T deinterlacing method that utilizes a frame memory can additionally sub-categorized depending on whether it adopts a motion-compensation method or a motion-adaptive method.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating signals input into and output from a conventional deinterlacing apparatus. In other words, a deinterlacing apparatus 100 receives video signals IN, performs a predetermined process on the input video signals IN, and then outputs deinterlaced frames fo in series.
As shown in FIG. 1, the deinterlacing apparatus 100 receives an interlaced video signal IN and then outputs a deinterlaced frame fo. In most cases, when the additional processing of images using deinterlaced frame data is required, an additional memory is necessary. For example, a circuit for compensating for the response speed of an LCD monitor requires both previous frame data and current frame data in order to compensate for the response speed of the LCD monitor, and thus an additional frame buffer is necessary.
In other words, since many peripheral devices require current frame data and previous frame data to perform their functions and so are required to have an additional memory, a deinterlacing apparatus capable of outputting two consecutive deinterlaced frames at the same time is necessary.


In one embodiment the invention comprises a system (50; 200) for controlling service brake and parking functions of at least one wheel of a vehicle comprising: an electric motor (64) drivingly connected to a hydraulic pump (66) for pressurizing hydraulic fluid; the output of the pump communicated to at least one service brake (58a,b), comprising a first hydraulic cylinder (62a,b), an electronics circuit for controlling the speed of the motor (64) to regulate hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic cylinder in response to operator braking activity (56, 64, 62), the motor and pump providing the primary means of service brake activation. The output of the pump is also communicated to a parking brake mechanism (30; 150), comprising a second hydraulic cylinder (34; 160), the parking brake mechanism having an activated mode of operation corresponding when the second hydraulic cylinder is unpressurized and a deactivated mode of operation corresponding when the second hydraulic cylinder is pressurized, and pressure control valves for controlling flow to and from the various hydraulic cylinders. A second variant of the system is disclosed in which only service brakes are electro-hydraulically controlled.

The present invention relates to a service/parking brake system especially useful in medium to heavy duty vehicles.
FIG. 1 illustrates one type of a prior art service/parking brake often called an in-wheel parking brake. There is shown a drum brake 10 comprising a drum 12 having a plurality of brake shoes 14a and 14b. The left hand side of each brake shoe 14a and b is attached to a wheel cylinder/adjuster assembly 16a and 16b respectively. The gap between friction material generally shown as 18 attached to each brake shoe and move the shoes outwardly in response to hydraulic pressure. The right hand end of each brake shoe 14a and 14b is attached to a hydraulic wheel cylinder generally shown as 20. As is known in the art, this type of hydraulic wheel cylinder includes a first piston 22 and a composite piston 24 having an upper portion 26a and lower portion 26b. During normal service, brake operation hydraulic fluid is received from a master cylinder in the space 28 between the pistons 22 and 24. In response to the actuation of the brake pedal these pistons 22 and 24 are separated thereby urging the friction material 18 into the drum 12. The hydraulic cylinder 20 in cooperation with a parking brake expander 30, is used to achieve a parking brake function. The parking brake expander 30 includes a housing 32 defining therein a fluid chamber 34. Situated in the housing 32 is a piston 36 biased outwardly by a spring 38. The chamber 34 is connected to a source of fluid such as the power steering pump. Lengthy fluid-carrying lines interconnect the power steering pump to the parking brake expander 30. Depending upon the length of the vehicle underbody, these lines can be 15 to 25 feet long as they typically extend from the engine compartment to the rear axle wheels where the parking brake expander 30 is located. During normal operation, fluid from the power steering pump enters the chamber 34 thereby urging the piston 36 outwardly from a cavity 40 located within the lower piston 24. With the parking brake piston 36 operatively removed from the hydraulic piston 20, the brake 10 is operated as a normal service brake. When the engine is turned off or a parking brake switch is actuated, pressurized power steering fluid is no longer able to operate against the force of the spring 38, thereby permitting such spring to urge the piston 36, and in particular a piston or wedge 42 or other element as is known in the art, into the chamber 40 thereby urging the piston portions 26a and 26b outwardly to activate the brake 10. As a result of the motion of the piston 36 of the parking brake expander, the brake shoes are urged outwardly, thereby achieving a parking brake function within the service brake.
The type of system described above is costly in that it utilizes a dual fluid system, that is, hydraulic brake fluid to actuate the service brake and power steering fluid to activate the expander piston 36. As mentioned above, lengthy fluid lines are needed to communicate the power steering pump to the parking brake expander 30.
An object of the present invention is to provide a braking system which is electro-hydraulically actuated and more specifically to provide an electro-hydraulically operated service brake system. A further object of the present invention is to provide a service/parking brake system which utilizes a single type of fluid, namely brake fluid.
Accordingly the invention comprises: a system for controlling service brake and/or parking functions of at least one wheel of a vehicle comprising electro-hydraulic means for providing the primary means of control of the service brake and parking brake functions. The means includes an electric motor drivingly connected to a hydraulic pump for pressurizing hydraulic fluid. The output of the pump is communicated to at least one service brake. The service brake includes a first hydraulic cylinder. First means are provided for controlling the speed of the motor to regulate hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic cylinder in response to operator braking activity. As will be seen, the motor and pump provide the primary means of service brake activation. The output of the pump is also communicated to a parking brake mechanism, comprising a second hydraulic cylinder. The parking brake mechanism has an activated mode of operation corresponding when the second hydraulic cylinder is unpressurized and a deactivated mode of operation corresponding when the second hydraulic cylinder is pressurized. The system includes means for repressurizing the parking brake mechanism when a reduction in its stored pressure is sensed.

Electro-hydraulic service & parking brake system


An upconversion stage for a wireless magnetic resonance imaging system local coil array has a number of upconversion circuits. Each upconversion circuit includes a parametric amplifier, an antenna and a delay line between the amplifier and the antenna. The path length of the delay line in one upconversion circuit differs from the path length of the delay line in an adjacent upconversion circuit by a predetermined amount.

1. Related Applications
This application is related to the subject matter of the following applications filed simultaneously herewith, designated with Ser. Nos. 12/612,831 and 12/612,842 and 12/612,856 and 12/613,004 and 12/613,082.
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an upconversion stage for a local coil array, in particular a local coil array of the type providing phase scrambling for improved resolution in wireless coils magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
3. Description of the Prior Art
MRI scanners use a combination of a strong constant magnetic field (B0) from a superconducting magnet which is modified by gradient fields generated by gradient coils, together with a rotating magnetic field (B1) from a radio frequency (RF) antenna to excite nuclear magnetic resonances in the body that generate short term RF signals that are received to build up a tomographic image.
All current-generation MRI scanners employ arrays of local coils mounted in close proximity to the scanned patient to receive the RF with maximum possible signal to noise ratio (SNR). The coils that receive signals from the back of the patient are mounted in the patient table. Coils that receive signals from the front of the patient are arranged into 'blankets' that are carefully placed over the patient. Associated with each blanket is typically a flexible cable containing one co-axial line for each local coil. The cables potentially interact with the B1 field and with the signals generated from the patient, so 'traps' (high impedance sections) must be included at regular (typically λ/8) intervals. These add cost and inconvenience to the structure.
In use, the requirement to connect the cables and sterilize them between scanning one patient and the next leads to increased down-time between scans. It is therefore desirable that the cables be eliminated. However, a wireless solution permitting the cables to be eliminated still needs to substantially satisfy all the requirements of the existing system, particularly with regard to noise.

Wireless magnetic resonance imaging upconversion stage with a paramagnetic amplifier and delay line converting RF signals to microwave signals


A passive latch provided in a clasped buckle provides a clasping action with no active release. The passive latch is disengaged when the buckle parts are separated through application of a separation force. The separation force can be provided in part by a component of a pinching force applied to another latch mechanism to release the other latch mechanism. The buckle may include other child resistant features, and can be composed of impact modified nylon to resist loss of tolerances or deformation to contribute to maintaining the child resistant features.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to safety buckles used with a strap, and relates more particularly to child resistant safety buckles for securing a child in a seat.
2. Description of the Related Art
Child resistant safety buckles are used in a number of applications including securing children in strollers, high chairs and shopping carts. Child restraint safety buckles contribute to securing a child in a seat to prevent the child from being free and thus avoid situations in which the child might be in danger or injured. A particular type of safety buckle is child resistant, to prevent children under a given age from releasing the buckle and freeing themselves. Although children under a certain age are prevented from unclasping the buckle, adults typically have no difficulty in disengaging the buckle to free the child. One type of buckle that is child resistant but can be opened by an adult has a double action feature to permit the buckle to be opened. That is, the buckle is opened by operating several disengaging elements to unlatch the buckle and disengage the buckle portions. By providing two actions to allow the buckle to be opened, the buckle is made child resistant, because a typical child under a certain age is unable to properly operate the two features, either sequentially or at the same time, for example, to unlatch and open the buckle. At the same time, an adult can easily and intuitively disengage the buckle by operating the two features as required.
A number of buckles are available that, while not designed to be child resistant, have security features, so that the buckles will not disengage unexpectedly. These types of buckles also have a multi-open feature, in that a number of operations must be conducted on the buckle to permit the buckle to be unlatched and opened. Typical applications for these types of buckles involve heavy duty or industrial uses, such as clasps for utility belts, sportswear or other applications where the buckle is subjected to high loading or must be well secured.
One such high security buckle is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,956 to French et al., which discloses a buckle with flexible side release latches and a third latch accessible on the front of the buckle. The male portion of the buckle includes a central latch arm that engages the female portion of the buckle in a central portion, and is released by pressing on a central button on one side of the female buckle portion. The buckle unlatches when both side latch arms are moved inwardly, and the central arm is moved away from the catch on the female portion. The buckle unlatches when all three arms are moved to unlatched positions simultaneously. Changing the orientation of the male portion when inserted into the female portion results in the central arm catch being defeated, because there is no corresponding catch cooperation on the back side of the female.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,985 to Galbreath discloses a safety buckle with side catch arms and a central catch that engages with a depressible button catch on the female portion of the buckle. To disengage the buckle, the central button on the female portion of the buckle is depressed to either disengage from the central arm or displace the central arm to disengage from a catch. If the male portion of the buckle is inserted into the female portion of the buckle in an opposite orientation so that the central arm does not engage the depressible button catch, the buckle either does not clasp or the central arm does not latch.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,374 to Anscher shows a two-operation buckle with a center arm that includes a push button near the base of the male member with a catch near the push button to engage an opening catch in the female member when the buckle portions are engaged. In addition, the buckle is non-reversible, i.e., if the male member is inserted in an opposite orientation, so that the push button faces the back of the buckle assembly, the male and female members do not engage with each other.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,466 to Nishida et al. teaches a two-operation safety buckle in which the male member has a center arm with a catch recess that engages a catch on the female member. The center arm of the male member is displaced downwardly during insertion to permit the latch member to protrude into the latch recess when the male member is fully inserted and the center arm returns to its undisplaced position. The center arm is disengaged from the catch with a button on the female member that is pressed to displaced the center arm away from the catch of the female member, so that the male member can be withdrawn from the female member, with the sidearms being depressed together. This buckle configuration is not reversible, in that if the male is inserted in an opposite orientation, the center arm does not latch with the female latch member. Due to the shape of the buckle components, high stress environments may have a further adverse impact on the buckle. For example, if the buckle deforms, a situation where the buckle can be clasped but not unclasped may occur.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,330 to Galbreath discloses a two-operation safety buckle in which the sidearms of the male member are prevented from being squeezed together to unlatch the buckle, when the male and female members are engaged together. A blocking device in the female member engages with the latching arms of the male member to prevent their displacement and thus prevent them from being unlatched until the blocking device is displaced away from the latching arms to permit their relative movement. Accordingly, the blocking device is first displaced, and then the arm latches are displaced towards each other until they are free of their respective latches in the female member, at which point the male member can be withdrawn from the female member. The configuration of this buckle permits the male member to be inserted in the female member in an opposite orientation. The blocking device and arm latching functions of this buckle are not independent of each other when the buckle is in a clasped condition. The arms are prevented from being operated due to the blocking device, which is first displaced away from the arms before they may be operated. The sequential operation to unblock the arms represents a major departure from other conventional buckles where the latching mechanisms are independent in the clasped condition. This difference is significant to operation in a commercial environment where buckles are subject to forces that routinely alter their shape. Even slight forces may deform a given buckle, resulting in the buckle being prone to jamming.
Moreover, the buckle of the '330 patent is difficult to manufacture due to practical tolerance limitations in the materials and the amount of area within the confines of the buckle interior. In addition, the buckle configuration is not designed to withstand high impact or compressive forces that are typically encountered in safety buckle applications. The combination of small manufacturing tolerances and lack of resilience to environmental factors contribute to operational problems. For example, small changes in tolerances due to impact or compressive forces, or through extreme temperature ranges, may influence operation of the blocking device leading to buckle failure.
A particular failure mode that is highly undesirable occurs when the deformed buckle can be easily clasped, but becomes extremely difficult to unclasp. Often, such failed buckles may respond to the application of brute force to be opened, such as the application of a high tensile force or prying force. However, a buckle with a blocking action does not respond to brute force methods to open the buckle due to the particular nature of the blocking mechanism design. In such a situation, the belt attached by the buckle is cut away to free the occupant, destroying the usefulness of the belt and buckle.
In each of the above two-operation safety buckles, a change in the orientation of the male member when being inserted into the female member causes the buckle either not to clasp, or defeats the operation of the second operation needed to unclasp the buckle. In a case of the '330 patent to Galbreath, reversing the orientation of the male member does not defeat the two-operation feature of the buckle. However, since the blocking device in the buckle makes the latching mechanisms dependent on each other, the buckle is more difficult to manufacture and operate in practice. In addition, there are challenges to making the buckle of the '330 patent to Galbreath impact resistant or durable in stressful environments. For example, if the buckle becomes deformed due to impact or compression, it is extremely difficult to unlatch the buckle.
Indeed, conventional buckles are made with materials that are inexpensive to avoid increased costs for the buckle components and seatbelts overall, for example. Low cost materials, such as acetal, tend to be brittle and somewhat inflexible, and the structural elements tend to be more difficult to operate. Accordingly, the structural elements that are manipulated to operate the buckle are minimized to maintain the operational characteristics of the buckle and permit the structural elements to be more easily operated. However, this minimization tends to limit the operational robustness of the manipulated structural elements.
It would be desirable to obtain a child resistant buckle with simplified child resistant features. It would also be desirable to obtain a child resistant feature for a safety buckle that can be used in addition to conventional child safety buckle functions.


An expansion card apparatus for expanding a motherboard which complies with a first signal transmission standard with an expansion card which complies with a second signal transmission standard, includes a first slot which complies with the first standard, a second slot which complies with the second standard, an expansion slot, and a transforming card. The first slot, the second slot, and the expansion slot are defined on the motherboard. The expansion slot is configured for receiving the expansion card and electrically connects to the second slot. The transforming card includes a first connector connecting with the first slot, a second connector connecting with the second slot, and a transforming chipset for transforming form of signals between the first standard and the second standard to allow the signals to be transmitted between the expansion card and the motherboard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to expansion card apparatuses, and more particularly to an expansion card apparatus for connecting an expansion card to a motherboard.
2. Description of Related Art
On a typical motherboard, an I/O (Input/output) chipset controls communications between the CPU and different peripheral components, such as expansion cards, and so on. These different peripheral components often comply with different signal transmission standards, such as PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) standard, PCI-E (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) standard, and so on. However, the I/O chipset can't support every signal transmission standard. For example, if users want to add a PCI-E expansion card to a motherboard whose I/O chipset doesn't support PCI-E standard, a riser card is used to connect the PCI-E expansion card to the motherboard to transform PCI-E signals.
The riser card includes at least an expansion slot on one side thereof, and an edge with a series of signal pads attached thereon. The riser card is mounted upright on the motherboard with the edge inserted in a slot of the motherboard. An expansion card is inserted in the expansion slot of the riser card to indirectly connect to the motherboard, so the expansion card is located parallel to the motherboard. However, if a scale of the expansion card is too large, the expansion card may interfere with other components on the motherboard.
It is therefore desirable to find a new expansion card apparatus which can overcome the above mentioned problems.

Expansion apparatus for expansion card on motherboard


A portable pain treatment unit includes: a first pulse generator configured to deliver pulses in a frequency range typical for interferential treatment; a second pulse generator configured to deliver pulses in the frequency range for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) treatment; electrodes operatively connected with the first and second pulse generators that are configured for application to a treatment area; and a power source operatively connected to the first and second pulse generators. A device of this configuration enables the patient to receive either IF or TENS treatment at a location of his/her choosing rather than being forced to receive IF treatment in a clinical setting.

The treatment of chronic pain has long been a troublesome area of medical practice. "Chronic pain" is a diagnosis that is less a true diagnosis of the physiological condition than a symptomatic diagnosis describing a chronic condition. The diagnosis often results after multiple interventions by licensed medical professionals using surgery, drugs, manipulation, stretching, chiropractic, and other modalities without substantial and/or permanent relief of the patient's pain. "Chronicity" is generally described as pain lasting for greater than 6 months, and in some cases, the time period is described as greater than 12 months.
Once a patient is diagnosed as suffering from chronic pain, often the patient is sent to a licensed professional, generally a physical therapist, who treats the patient 2 to 3 times per week in a clinic. One very common pain-treatment device is an interferential (IF) unit, which administers electrical pulses to and around the painful area. During treatment, the patient lies down and 2 to 4 electrodes are applied around the area of pain. The interferential unit then applies electrical pulses via two channels to the treatment area (typically about 5,000 to 8,500 pulses per second) for, typically, 20 to 40 minutes. The output of the two channels is configured so that the electrical currents from the two separate channels perpendicularly intersect each other in the mid-painful area, and so that the frequency of pulses differs between the channels, thereby allowing the two currents of differing orientation and frequency to interact. An exemplary interferential unit is the INTERFERENZ 5, available from Bosch.
The body is both an insulator and a conductor of electricity. At a pulse frequency of 4,000 to 5,000 pulses per second, the resistance imposed by the skin is reduced and the current can stimulate more nerves beneath the outer layer of skin. The body seems to modify the current from the two channels of an interferential unit. The resulting current from the intersection creates a new resultant waveform that alternates in amplitude and form. As a result of the current modifications the patient receives more sensory stimulation, which can relieve the pain. Generally there is a longer "carryover" period, post-treatment, in which the patient is relatively pain free, than what is achieved using other types of devices with less electrical output.
One significant shortcoming of a conventional interferential unit is its lack of portability. Viable interferential units have required alternating current for operation, as different batteries that have been tried that would enable the unit to be portable (typical 9 volt systems, including both disposable alkaline batteries and rechargeable Ni—Cd batteries) have been inadequate (some exhaust the system in less than one minute). As such, the typical setting for interferential treatment has been in a clinic, where the unit can be plugged into a wall outlet, rather than in the home or at the time of need.
One alternative unit for the treatment of chronic pain is a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) device. The TENS unit is a dual channel device that typically delivers 0.5 to 200 pulses per second at a pulse width of between about 50 and 250 microseconds. The patient receives 2 to 4 electrodes around the area of pain for as long as needed. The amplitude of the TENS wave is adjusted until the patient feels sensory input that is pleasurable and not uncomfortable. If the TENS treatment benefits the patient, the physician/therapist often recommends that a TENS unit be rented and/or purchased for the patient for home use, particularly for sessions between interferential treatments.
A TENS device uses a 9 volt battery, which is sufficient because of the relative low output required for the use of this device. The TENS unit typically is a truly portable device that that the patient can wear and use on a 24 hour basis without the constraint of a lack of electrical energy due to insufficient battery capabilities. An exemplary TENS unit is the EPIX XL unit, available from EMPI, Inc.
Unfortunately, a TENS unit is generally not as effective as an interferential unit and rarely has the carryover effect achieved with the IF units. Due to this lack of "carryover relief," it is not unusual for a patient to wear a TENS unit continuously initially, then less if the underlying condition improves. Also, in many instances patients' pain relief is limited to areas between the electrodes of the TENS unit: i.e., "deep" pain (such as sciatica or other joint pain) is not relieved.


The disclosure relates to an intumescent fire sleeve for a conduit, such as a pipe, a cable or a device penetrating a wall, a ceiling or a floor in a building, said fire sleeve comprising at least one layer of intumescent material and one carrier being connected to the layer of intumescent material, and said fire sleeve having a length (L) that at least corresponds to a circumference of the conduit for which it is intended, with the characteristics that at least the carrier has spring-loaded characteristics and that the carrier, in a non-applied position has the ability to coil onto itself in a spiral manner. The disclosure also relates to a coil of such intumescent fire sleeves and to a method for installation of such an intumescent fire sleeve.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Intumescent fire sleeves are well known in the prior art for closing gaps that appears in a wall, a ceiling or a floor in a building, when the conduit, such as a pipe, a cable or any other device, has melted or burned away during a fire. The intumescent material expands drastically due to the heat from the fire and closes the gap.
For example the applicant offers intumescent pipe wraps called "Rockwool Fire Pro" which is a fire protection product. These intumescent pipe wraps offer a simple and more economical alternative to more advanced fire stop pipe collars, for fire stopping plastic pipework and electrical tracking in walls and floors and will provide up to at least two hours fire protection. Furthermore, these intumescent pipe wraps comprise layers of a graphite based intumescent sheet encapsulated in a polyethylene sheath. The pipe wrap is intended to be wrapped around the outside diameter of the pipe work or trunking and is secured by means of a self-adhesive strip. The intumescent pipe wrap is then positioned within the compartment wall or floor so that the edge of the pipe wrap is left exposed at the face of the wall or soffit. The pipe wrap is then sealed into the structure with a firestop compound. Under fire conditions, the intumescent material expands against the structure and fills the void left by the burnt out plastic. For walls it may be necessary to fit two wraps depending on the fire risk areas concerned and if the wall thickness exceeds e.g. 150 mm.
According to this, intumescent pipe wraps are used to prevent fire penetration in plastic pipes that pass through walls or floors for a specified period of up to at least two hours. These known pipe wraps are manufactured as a sealed unit to the correct length and width to suit the pipe diameter and fire rating. The general benefit of the well known intumescent pipe wraps as described before is the simplicity of their construction.
Furthermore, EP 0 486 299 A1 discloses an intumescent firestop device having a collar. This device effectively and efficiently channels heat to an intumescent material so that the intumescent material expands quickly and uniformly. An inner surface of the collar has a plurality of heat conducting tabs that extend outwardly and secure the intumescent material to the collar. The heat conducting tabs extend into the intumescent material and thereby effectively channel heat from a fire into the interior regions of the intumescent material so that the intumescent material expands quickly and uniformly. The collar further includes a first interlocking end having at least one opening. The opening is configured to receive a finger on a second interlocking end of the collar. The inter-engagement of the finger and opening allows the collar to be firmly secured about a section of a pipe. The collar typically has a plurality of releasably secured Z-shaped mounting clips. The mounting clips are used to secure the collar to a firm, structural surface such as a wall or a ceiling having an opening through which the pipe passes.
Both intumescent firestop solutions described above have the disadvantages that on the one hand for each diameter of a pipe or the like a certain device is needed so that for different pipes different devices have to be hold available. Additionally, the installation of these firestop devices is relatively complicated. In the first step the firestop devices have to be arranged in the intended position and held with one hand. With the other hand the firestop devices then have to be closed and secured, so that the firestop devices are tightened around the pipe. Especially hereby it is not simple to move the firestop device to a position within the wall, the ceiling or the floor in the building where the position is intended.

Intumescent fire sleeve, coil of several intumescent fire sleeves and method for installation of an intumescent fire sleeve


A polymer composition comprising a star-branched copolymer having a plurality of arms is disclosed. Each polymer arm has a molecular weight Mp of from 1 kg/mol to 50 kg/mol and comprises polymerized units (i) derived from a first vinyl aromatic monomer comprising a radical-reactive group, wherein from greater than 10 mol % to 100 mol % of the units (i) are unhydrogenated; and optionally, polymerized units (ii) comprising hydrogenated and unhydrogenated forms of polymerized units derived from a high Tg monomer, and hydrogenated form of polymerized units (i) or hydrogenated form of polymerized styrene units; and optionally, polymerized units (iii) comprising (a) hydrogenated form of polymerized units derived from one or more acyclic conjugated dienes, and (b) polymerized units derived from one or more of a second vinyl aromatic monomer; wherein less than 10 wt. % of units (a) are unhydrogenated.

The rapid advancement of technologies related to diverse areas, such as electronics and automotive applications, has led to the demand for high performing materials. High capacity computer systems and networks require high frequency signal transmission, with circuit substrates suitable for high frequency and high speed transmission. It is desirable for the circuit substrates to operate signal at high frequency and low transmission loss, e.g., dielectric loss, conductor loss, and radiation loss. Transmission loss weakens electrical signals and destroys signal reliability.
Materials having good mechanical performance with low dissipation factors over a broad temperature range, combined with good processing capabilities are required in numerous areas of commerce, such as the automotive industry, construction, tool manufacture, adhesives and sealants. Some of the major applications require materials having good mechanical performance in term of strength and sufficient modulus or hardness. The existing materials may not be able to meet such requirements.
Printed circuit boards traditionally employ epoxy resin, which has relatively high dielectric constant and high dielectric loss tangent. Epoxy resin can be used in conjunction with phenolic compounds, amines, or acid anhydride curing agents for improved properties. It is still difficult for such resin compositions to achieve low dissipation factor. Polyphenylene ether resin (polyphenylene oxide resin or PPO) has been used in laminate due to its low dissipation property, but the use of high frequency signals in new electronic fields required even lower dielectric constant and dissipation factor. Other plastic solutions exist, e.g. based on fluorinated polymers, with lower dissipation factors but they lack easy processability or efficient curing capabilities to resist at high temperatures or to the presence of solvents.
There is still a need for improved compositions having improved properties, such as improved mechanical properties, high temperature performances and/or improved electrical properties, suitable for use in copper clad laminates and printed circuit boards made therefrom.


A display may have an array of pixels. Each pixel may have a light-emitting diode that emits light under control of a drive transistor. The organic light-emitting diodes may have a common cathode layer, a common electron layer, individual red, green, and blue emissive layers, a common hole layer, and individual anodes. The hole layer may have a hole injection layer stacked with a hole transport layer. Pixel circuits for controlling the diodes may be formed from a layer of thin-film transistor circuitry on a substrate. A planarization layer may cover the thin-film transistor layer. Lateral leakage current between adjacent diodes can be blocked by shorting the common hole layer to a metal line such as a bias electrode that is separate from the anodes. The metal line may be laterally interposed between adjacent pixels and may be formed on the planarization layer or embedded within the planarization layer.

This relates generally to electronic devices with displays and, more particularly, to displays such as organic-light-emitting diode displays.
Electronic devices often include displays. For example, cellular telephones and portable computers include displays for presenting information to users.
Displays such as organic light-emitting diode displays have arrays of pixels based on light-emitting diodes. In this type of display, each pixel includes a light-emitting diode and thin-film transistors for controlling application of a signal to the light-emitting diode to produce light. The light-emitting diodes may be provided with emissive materials of different colors to create color images The emissive materials may, for example, include red emissive material for forming red diodes in red pixels, green emissive material for forming green diodes in green pixels, and blue emissive material for forming blue diodes in blue pixels.
During fabrication, some of the layers of material that are used in forming the organic light-emitting diodes are deposited in the form of blanket films that cover the entire display. For example, a display may include a common hole layer formed from a blanket hole injection layer stacked with a blanket hole transport layer. Due to doping levels in the hole layer, it is possible for currents to leak laterally between adjacent pixels during operation of a display. For example, when a blue diode is being turned on and an adjacent red diode is being turned off, there is a potential for leakage current to laterally flow in the hole layer between an anode in the blue diode and an anode in the red diode. This can cause the red diode to turn on inadvertently.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide displays such as organic light-emitting diode displays that exhibit reduced lateral leakage currents.

Organic light-emitting diode display with reduced lateral leakage


An interbody insertion tool and cage for use during an interbody spinal fusion procedure is disclosed. In one aspect, the tool comprises a rod centrally located within the tool that has the ability to remain attached to the cage to aid in: coupling the tool to the cage, release of the tool from the cage, alignment of additional hardware, and insertion of materials within the hollow of the cage.

Field
The field of the invention relates to spinal surgery, and more particularly to methods, systems, and devices for spinal surgical procedures involving interbody fusions.
Description of the Related Art
Spinal surgery may be used to alleviate back pain and correct spinal disorders due to various causes including spinal disease, abnormalities, or trauma. Surgeons use spinal fusion during some forms of spinal surgery to join two or more vertebrae of a patient's spine. The procedure may include supplementary bone tissue in conjunction with the body's natural bone growth processes to fuse the vertebrae. Additionally, an interbody fusion cage (or spine cage) may be used in spinal fusion to maintain foraminal height and decompression. By fusing and/or aligning the spinal vertebrae, surgeons can reduce back pain and promote healing in the patient.
Surgeons often encounter difficulty in the surgical procedures for installing spine cages. Disadvantages associated with prior art reduction methods and devices include complicated procedures and patient trauma. Thus, methods, systems, and devices for improved interbody fusion are desired.


In a data-input device an actuator element that can be manually actuated, and a sensor mechanically coupled to the actuator element. The sensor is formed in a body of semiconductor material housing a first sensitive element, which detects the actuation of the actuator element and generates electrical control signals. The first sensitive element is a microelectromechanical pressure sensor, formed by: a cavity made within the body; a diaphragm made in a surface portion of the body and suspended above the cavity; and piezoresistive transducer elements integrated in peripheral surface portions of the diaphragm in order to detect its deformations upon actuation of the actuator element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an analog data-input device provided with a pressure sensor of a microelectromechanical type, in particular for use in a portable apparatus, such as a mobile phone, to which the ensuing description will make explicit reference, without this implying any loss of generality.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is known, latest-generation mobile phones offer a plurality of advanced functions, such as e-mail and internet managing, displaying of electronic documents, acquiring and displaying of images, in addition to "standard" functions, such as managing of telephone books, phone calls and text messages. Graphic user interfaces (GUIs) enable simple and effective management of the various functions, via data-input devices (generally called Trackpoints®) integrated in the mobile phones. The data-input devices enable scrolling of lists, making of selections, moving of a cursor displayed on the screen, or in general generation of actions within the graphic interface.
Data-input devices generally comprise an actuator element that can be actuated by a user, and a sensor mechanically coupled to the actuator element to detect its actuation and generate corresponding electrical signals. Such electrical signals, possibly amplified and filtered, are acquired by an electronic control circuit of the mobile phone, which thus generates the corresponding action within the graphic interface (for example, cursor displacement, or scrolling of a list).
In detail, the actuator element comprises one or more push-buttons, for example four arranged to form a cross. A direction of displacement within the graphic interface (for example, "Up", "Down", "Right", "Left") corresponds to each one of the push-buttons. Alternatively, instead of the push-buttons, the actuator element can comprise a single pin-shaped element (joystick), which is mobile in a number of directions.
The sensor comprises one or more sensitive elements, which can be of a digital type, or of an analog type. The sensitive elements of a digital type are switches, which are mechanically coupled to the actuator elements and close upon their actuation (for example, upon the pressure of a corresponding push-button, or else upon the displacement of the joystick in the corresponding direction). The sensitive elements of an analog type are piezoelectric or piezoresistive and comprise a mechanical element and an interface electronic circuit external to the mechanical element. The mechanical element undergoes a deformation following upon actuation of the actuator elements and generates an electrical quantity corresponding to the undergone deformation (a variation of electrical charge or of a resistivity). The interface electronic circuit generally comprises charge-amplifier circuits (in the case of piezoelectric sensitive elements), or bridge circuits (in the case of piezoresistive sensitive elements), and generates an electrical signal proportional to the deformation undergone by the mechanical element, which is acquired by the control circuit of the mobile phone.
If the data-input devices comprise sensitive elements of a digital type, the only information available to the control circuit of the mobile phone is the binary closing or opening state of the switches. Consequently, it is not possible to have a flexible control of the corresponding actions within the graphic interface; for example, it is possible to generate a displacement of a cursor in one or more directions, but it is not possible to regulate its speed of displacement. For this reason, operations such as the scrolling of a phone book, or else the zoom of an image are particularly laborious and far from immediate in so far as they require prolonged pressure on one and the same push-button, or else the displacement of the joystick in the same direction for a long time interval.
Instead, if the data-input devices comprise sensitive elements of an analog type, the control circuit of the mobile phone receives not only the information regarding the detection of an actuation of an actuator element, but also the information regarding the intensity of said actuation. Consequently, the control circuit provides a more flexible control of the actions generated within the graphic interface. For example, not only does it impart on the cursor a displacement in one or more directions, but also regulates its speed of displacement on the basis of the force with which the actuator elements have been actuated (and hence the amount of the corresponding deformation of the sensitive elements).
Known data-input devices comprising sensitive elements of an analog type have, however, the disadvantage of entailing a greater occupation of area and a greater complexity of implementation, both due to the presence of the mechanical element and the interface electronic circuit external to the mechanical element, and to the need for providing the corresponding electrical connections. Consequently, said devices are not particularly suited to integration in portable apparatuses, such as mobile phones.

Analog data-input device provided with a pressure sensor of a microelectromechanical type


A semiconductor device includes a plurality of memory cells connected to a match line; a word line driver connected to a word line; a valid cell configured to store a valid bit indicating valid or invalid of an entry; a first precharge circuit connected to one end of the match line and configured to precharge the match line to a high level; and a second precharge circuit connected to the other end of the match line and configured to precharge the match line to a high level. The plurality of memory cells are arranged between the first precharge circuit and the second precharge circuit, and the second precharge circuit is arranged between the word line driver and the plurality of memory cells.

This disclosure relates to a semiconductor device and is applicable to, for example, a semiconductor device including a content reference memory.
A storage device referred to as a content addressable memory or CAM as a search memory is configured to search a data word matching with a search word from among stored data words and output an address thereof when the matched data word is found. Here, the data word is referred to also as an entry and the search word is referred to also as search data.
There are BCAM (Binary CAM) and TCAM (Ternary CAM) as the CAM. Each memory cell of the BCAM stores information of "0" or "1". On the other hand, in the case of the TCAM, each memory cell can store information of "x (Don't Care)" in addition to "0" and "1". Note that "x" indicates that it can be either "0" or "1".
The CAM has a match line (ML) for comparing the information stored in the memory cell and the data that a user wants to search and showing whether both data match or mismatch. Then, address information (Hit Index) corresponding to the matched match line is output. Also, some CAMs store valid information indicating whether or not the entry content of the CAM is valid.
There are disclosed techniques listed below. [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-206451

Semiconductor device including a content reference memory


Disclosed is a vehicle guidance apparatus that can easily guide a vehicle in the vicinity of a power supply section to the power supply unit by guiding the vehicle along a path of travel to the power supply unit without employing image data. In this device, a power supply efficiency calculation unit calculates the power supply efficiency, which is the efficiency with which power is received from the power supply unit by the charging unit. An amount of change calculation unit calculates the amount of change of efficiency of power supply, which is the amount of change of efficiency of power supply calculated by the power supply efficiency calculation unit. A vehicle-side control unit displays on a display guidance to enable the vehicle to reach the power supply unit, based on the amount of change of efficiency of power supply calculated by the amount of change calculation unit.

In a vehicle that runs using electricity stored in a storage battery of an electric vehicle or the like as a power source, the storage battery needs to be charged by using a power supply apparatus when the vehicle stops in a parking lot or the like. As a non-contact power supply apparatus of the related art, there is known a power supply apparatus in which a power supply section installed on the ground surface supplies power to a power receiving section mounted on the vehicle. The power supply section is installed on a road surface at a position where the vehicle stops such as a parking space or the like. Meanwhile, the power receiving section is installed on the bottom surface of the vehicle at a position facing the power supply section installed on the ground surface.
In the non-contact charging system, when it is impossible to accurately match the positions of the power receiving section and the power supply section, a gap occurs in distance between the power receiving section and the power supply section. As a result, the charging efficiency is reduced or the leakage magnetic field or the unnecessary radiation occurs. Conventionally, as a method for improving the accuracy of position matching between the power receiving section and the power supply section, there is known a vehicle guidance apparatus that guides an accurate positional relation between the vehicle and the power supply apparatus by using images around the vehicle (for example, PTL 1).
In PTL 1, the image data obtained by capturing images around a vehicle by a camera is combined so as to generate a combined image of an area including the vehicle, and the positional relation between the power supply section and the power receiving section is specified based on the measured power receiving efficiency. In PTL 1, when the combined image thus generated includes an image of the power supply section, the position of the power receiving section is displayed based on the specific positional relation between the positions of the power supply section and the power receiving section in the combined image.

Vehicle guidance device and vehicle guidance method

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Existing indoor air quality monitoring technologies focus on measuring which turn out to be effective in increasing people's awareness of air quality. However, the lack of identification of pollution sources is prone to lead to general and monotonous suggestions. In this disclosure, an indoor air quality analytics system is presented that is able to detect pollution events and identify pollution sources in real-time. The system can also forecast personal exposure to air pollution and provide actionable suggestions to help people improve indoor air quality.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a significant role in our daily lives. In the United States, people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, consuming about 3400 gallons of air on average every day. Unfortunately, according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution may be two to five times—and on occasion more than 100 times—worse than the air outdoors. Poor IAQ could pose significant risks to people's health and is the leading cause of respiratory infections, chronic lung diseases, and cancers. Therefore, IAQ is ranked as one of the EPA's top five environmental risks to public health.
Although we are potentially exposed to such an amount of air pollution at home, IAQ is often overlooked for two major reasons. First, although some of the indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde have irritating odor, the majority of them is colorless, odorless, or too tiny to see. This makes indoor air pollutants almost impossible to be perceived by human beings. Second, many adverse health conditions caused by indoor air pollution such as cancer have no severe symptoms until years after long period of exposure. For immediate adverse health effects, some of them such as coughs and headaches are very similar to symptoms of colds or other viral diseases. Therefore, it is very difficult to determine whether the symptoms are results of exposure to indoor air pollutants.
Due to its critical role in health and wellbeing, IAQ has attracted considerable attention in the ubiquitous computing community in recent years. Pioneer works focused on developing IAQ monitoring systems for visualizing IAQ-related measures. Although those systems increased users' awareness of IAQ, they did not provide identification of pollution sources as well as any estimation of how long the pollution will stay. Without that critical information, users can only understand the overall IAQ vaguely. As a consequence, users are unlikely to realize the seriousness of pollution and take proper actions. The lack of information about the pollution sources, the estimate of the seriousness of the pollution as well as the specific suggestions to help reduce the immediate indoor air pollution make people feel powerless and frustrated, leading to the ignorance of the IAQ-related measures provided by the IAQ monitoring systems.
In this disclosure, this critical gap is bridged by developing an intelligent indoor air quality sensing system that is capable of automatically detecting indoor air pollution events, identifying pollution sources, forecasting future IAQ information to estimate the expected personal exposure to indoor air pollution, and provide specific suggestions to help people improve IAQ in a timely manner. The proposed air quality sensing system (referred to herein as AirSense) is developed upon commercial off-the-shelf air quality sensors to continuously monitor the ambient temperature, humidity and the concentrations of particulates (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) which are two of the most common indoor air pollutants. The proposed air quality sensing system detects air pollution events and then identifies air pollution sources of the events by analyzing the real-time sensor data. Based on the identified pollution sources, the sensing system predicts the IAQ in the near future to estimate the expected personal exposure to indoor air pollution. To minimize users' exposure to indoor air pollution, the proposed air quality sensing system provides specific suggestions based on the pollution source, level and degree of harmfulness to help users reduce indoor air pollution in a timely manner. Finally, the proposed air quality sensing system provides a detailed weekly IAQ profile, which helps people better understand how household activities impact IAQ and identify household activities that pollute air the most.
Equipped with both monitoring and analytics capabilities, AirSense would be very helpful for people who are sensitive to air quality. Although currently designed for home uses, AirSense can be extended and find its applications in public buildings, such as office rooms, shopping malls and subway stations. AirSense can be used as a replacement for the smoke detectors currently installed in homes and public buildings, to provide indoor air quality monitoring and analytics services beyond simple smoke detection and fire alarming.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Intelligent sensing system for indoor air quality analytics

Board of Trustees of Michigan State University


An anchor-in-anchor fixation system is provided for securing underlying structure, such as bone. The fixation system includes a linkage that defines first and second bores, a first bone anchor having a shaft for fixation to underlying bone, and a head that is configured to attach to the linkage in the first bore, and a second bone anchor having a shaft for fixation to underlying bone and a head that is configured to attach to the linkage in the second bore.

A variety of fixation devices for the reduction of bone or bone fragments are well known. For instance, external bone fixation devices, or external fixators, are used to reduce fractures of the long bones in the human body. Internal bone fixation devices, such as bone plates, are also commonly used to reduce bone fractures. Spinal fixation devices including intervertebral implants, spinal rods, and the like, are used to replace intervertebral discs, fuse or align adjacent vertebrae, and address other spinal issues.
A large number of fixation devices are attached to underlying bone using bone anchors, which can include screws, pins, nails, and the like. For instance, a typical bone plate includes screw holes that accommodate bone screws which are drilled into underlying bone on opposing sides of a fracture to join bone segments together. A typical cervical spine implant can likewise include screw holes that accommodate screws which are drilled into adjacent vertebral bodies in order to fix the position of the implant. Unfortunately, the attachment of fixation devices to the underlying bone can become compromised if, for instance, the screw becomes dislodged from the bone during normal anatomical function.
Referring to FIGS. 1A-B, a conventional anchor-in-anchor fixation system 20 includes a first bone anchor 22 that includes a first head 28 and a first shaft 26 that extends from the first head 28 and is integral and monolithic with the first head 28, and a second bone anchor 24 that includes a second head 44 and a second shaft 42 that extends from the second head 44 and is integral and monolithic with the second head 44. The first bone anchor 22 defines a bore 40 that extends through the first head 28 along a direction oblique to the first shaft 26. The bore 40 is sized greater than the second shaft 42, such that the second shaft 42 passes through the bore 40. The bore 40 can be threaded, and sized substantially equal to the second head 44, which can also be threaded, such that the second head 44 threadedly mates with the first head 28 in the bore 40. Thus, the second shaft 42 extends along a direction oblique with respect to the first shaft 26, which creates a stable triangular load bearing plane that allows the anchor-in-anchor fixation system 20 to withstand higher forces and prevent subsidence or migration with respect to single anchors.
As illustrated in FIG. 1D, the anchor-in-anchor fixation system 20 can join a pair of bone fragments 45a and 45b of a fractured bone 45 together, for instance when repairing the fractured bone 45, and can further fix an implant to the bone 45. The bone 45 can be a long bone, the first bone fragment 45a can be a diaphysis, or shaft, of the long bone, and the second bone fragment 45b can be a metaphysis of the long bone, though it is appreciated that the bone 45 can be any suitable bone as desired. As illustrated in FIG. 1C, the anchor-in-anchor fixation system 20 can be used to attach an implant to the bone 45. In particular, one of the bone anchors, such as the first bone anchor 22, can be driven through a bone plate 47 and into the bone 45, and the second bone anchor 24 can be driven through the bore 40 of the first head 28 and into the bone 45. As illustrated in FIG. 1D, the anchor-in-anchor fixation system 20 can be used to attach an implant in the medullary canal of the bone 45. In particular, one of the bone anchors, such as the first bone anchor 22, can be driven into the bone 45 and through an aperture of an intramedullary nail 49, and the second bone anchor 24 can be driven through the bore 40 of the first head 28 and into the bone 45.


A spinning-reel reel unit includes a rod-attachment leg and a reel body having a main piece and a lid member. The lid member is integrally formed with the rod-attachment leg and is attachably/detachably fitted to the main piece. The main piece and the lid member are shaped so that a joint forms a curved seam on the rod-attachment leg side. The joint is formed so as to bulge downward on a side of the main piece away from the rod-attachment leg. The joint is formed so as to be tilted upward on the rod-attachment leg aside toward the front. In the spinning-reel reel unit, the overall size of the reel is reduced while the strength of the reel unit is kept high.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reel units. More specifically, the present invention relates to spinning-reel reel units from which fishing line can be reeled out frontward.
2. Background Information
A spinning reel generally has a reel unit mounted to a fishing rod, a handle rotatably attached to the reel unit, a rotor rotatably fitted to the reel unit, and a spool fitted to the front of the rotor reciprocatably relative to the reel unit. Fishing line is guided by the rotor and is wound around the outer circumference of the spool.
The reel unit is furnished with a T-shaped rod-attachment leg to be fitted to a fishing rod, and a reel body that is formed integrally with the rod-attachment leg and is for accommodating a variety of mechanisms inside. The reel body includes a main piece having a housing space inside that opens sideways, and a lid member fitted to the main piece attachably/detachably covering the opening of the main piece. The opening of the main piece is formed in a substantially rectangular shape along the contour of the main piece so that the joint between the main piece and the lid member is exposed on the rod-attachment leg side in the shape of a liner line, as seen, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication. No 10-4836.
In the foregoing conventional spinning reel, the joint between the main piece and the lid member that is exposed on the rod-attachment leg side is formed so as to shape a liner line. However, such structure tends to create a wasteful space between the joint and the contour of the main piece. Such a wasteful space created in the main piece may prevent reduction in the overall reel size, and cause the strength of the reel unit to degrade.
In addition, in the conventional configuration, the joint was formed to shape a liner line substantially parallel to the spool shaft. For this reason, in cases where a force acts on to the reel unit in the axial direction of the spool shaft, the cross-sectional area of the rod-attachment leg with respect to the load direction decreases abruptly at the joint portion. Accordingly, there is a risk of breakage at the joint portion if the material strength or the thickness of the reel unit is insufficient.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved reel units that overcome the above-describe problem of the conventional art. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


On an n-InP substrate (101), a mask (102) having a first portion (102a) and a second portion (102b) is formed. The mask (102) has a first gap (NG) at the first portion (102a). A width of the second portion (102b) is greater than a width of the first portion (102a). A core layer (120) is epitaxially grown selectively on the substrate (101) at an area corresponding to the first gap (NG). The first gap (NG) is widened and an additional gap (AG) is formed at the second portion (102b) to form a second gap (WG) comprising the first gap after widened and the additional gap (AG). A clad layer (106) is epitaxially grown on the substrate (101) at an area corresponding to the second gap (WG) so as to cover the core layer(120). A difference in width between the first portion (102a) and the second portion (102b) is set so that a thickness of the clad layer at an area corresponding to the second portion (102b) becomes equal to a thickness of the clad layer (106) at an area corresponding to the first portion (102a). A structure of the semiconductor optical waveguide comprising a window structure region in which the reflection of the guided light is small is provided with good controllability and reliability and with high yield.

A distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode integrated electro-absorption (EA) modulator is important as a light source for transmitting high speed modulated signals (for example, 2.5 to 10 gigabit/sec) over a long distance of more than 80 km. With this integrated light source, if the light is greatly reflected by the end facet of the modulator, through which end facet the light is emitted, then the fluctuation of the wavelength of the oscillated light (chirping) of the DFB laser occurs due to the effect of the reflected light to the DFB laser when the light is modulated. The chirping causes a remarkable degradation of transmission performance in the long distance transmission. Therefore, the end facet of the modulator needs to be made with a low reflection structure.
In order to achieve this low reflection structure, at the end of the modulator, a window structure in which the bandgap energy is greater than the energy of the guided light is adopted as reported by Aoki et al. in IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, Vol. 29, No. 6, June 1993, pp. 2088-2096.
In a DFB laser diode integrated electro-absorption modulator (first conventional device) reported by Aoki et al. in the 1993 autumn conference C-96 of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, a method is adopted in which, after a multiple quantum well (MQW) waveguide layer in the window structure area is removed by etching, InP is buried for growth to realize a window structure. Hereinunder, with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1E, the first conventional device is described.
As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of SiO.sub.2 masks 92 having a width of several tens of .mu.m to several hundreds of .mu.m are formed on an n-InP substrate 91 only at the laser diode region with a gap of several tens of .mu.m. The masks are used for blocking the epitaxial growth.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2, a light guiding layer 93, an active layer 94, a clad layer 95 and a cap layer 96 are sequentially grown according to the MOVPE selective growth process.
Next, as shown in FIG. 3, SiO.sub.2 masks 97 are formed and both of the laser diode region and the modulator region are mesa etched using the SiO.sub.2 masks to form an optical waveguide of 1.5 to 2.0 .mu.m wide. At this time, a portion of 40 .mu.m length between the DFB laser diode and the EA modulator and a modulator side end portion of 20 .mu.m length are etched.
Subsequently, a Fe doped InP layer 98 which serves as a high resistance layer is grown using the SiO.sub.2 masks 97 to bury the optical waveguide. FIGS. 4 and 5 each show a cross-section taken along 4-4' and 5-5' respectively of FIG. 3 after being buried.
In order to realize a low reflectivity at the end surface with good reliability and to maintain an excellent coupling efficiency with the optical fiber, it is necessary to strictly control the length of the window structure region. However, in the first conventional device, since the window region is formed by etching the MQW layer followed by burying or regrowth of the Fe doped InP, variance of the length of the window region is great between devices, and it is difficult to make an excellent window structure having excellent performances with good reliability and good yield.
On the other hand, a DFB laser diode/optical modulator integrated light source (second conventional device) reported by Kato et al. in the 1994 vernal congress C-226 of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers and by Kato et al. in Electronics Letters, 16th, Jan., 1992, Vol. 28, No. 2, pp 153-154 is fabricated by using a growth blocking mask previously formed in a region which will be made to the window structure so that no MQW structure is grown in this region. Therefore, since the length of the window structure is determined with an accuracy of the mask patterning, even if the ordinary photoresist process is used, it can be realized with an accuracy of below 1 .mu.m. Hereinunder, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 and 9 to 11, the second conventional device is described.
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, after a diffraction grating 100 is formed on an n-InP substrate 101 at a DFB laser diode (DFB-LD) region, a SiO.sub.2 mask 102 is formed. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the mask 102. FIGS. 6 and 7 each show a cross-section corresponding to a cross-section taken along 6-6' and 7-7' respectively of FIG. 8. The mask width is 17 .mu.m at the DFB-LD region and 8 .mu.m at the modulator (MOD) region and the window (WIND) region. A gap NG having a width of 1.5 to 2.0 .mu.m is provided at the DFB-LD region and the MOD region. Further, no gap is present at the region of 25 .mu.m length which will be made to the WIND region. A core layer comprising InGaAsP light guiding layer 103, InGaAs/InGaAsP multiple quantum well (MQW) active layer 104 and p-InP layer 105 is formed on the susbtrate 101 at an area corresponding to the gap NG according to the MOVPE selective growth process.
Next, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the gap WG having a width of 5 to 6 .mu.m is formed in the mask 102 as extending through the DFB-LD, MOD and WIND regions, that is, the gap NG is widened at the DFB-LD and MOD regions and an additional gap is formed at the WIND region. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the mask 102 having the gap WG. FIGS. 9 and 10 each show a cross-section corresponding to a cross-section taken along 9-9' and 10-10' respectively of FIG. 11. An p-InP clad layer 106 and p-InGaAs cap layer 107 are formed on the substrate 101 so as to cover the core layer according to the MOVPE selective growth process. Then, an electrode forming process is carried out to obtain a DFB-LD/optical modulator integrated light source.
In this second conventional device, since the formation of the window structure does not require the process of etching the semiconductor, it is possible to strictly control the length of the window structure region to obtain the device with good controllability and reliability and with high yield. However, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 9, a level difference occurs on the upper surface of the p-InP clad layer 106 between the modulator region and the window region. This is because since there is no light guiding layer 103, MQW active layer 104 and p-InP layer 105 in the window region, difference in volume thereof between two regions appears itself as such. As shown in FIG. 12, if the level difference occurs on the upper surface of the clad layer 106, since part of the light is reflected by the level difference portion, the window structure does not function as the low reflection structure.

Semiconductor optical waveguide and method of fabricating the same


A support rod for supporting structures in a cryostat of a magnetic resonance system. The support rod has oppositely disposed stainless steel heads mounted on a glass reinforced plastic rod. The heads have threads on the main body thereof to minimize the length of the heads and thereby minimize heat condition.

The present invention relates to rods used for mounting structures in cryostats. The cryostat is a containing vessel designed to thermally isolate its interior from exterior ambient temperature conditions. To achieve the desired degree of thermal isolation, multiple nested vessels are generally employed with each of the multiple vessels functioning at one of a sequence of temperatures. The interior temperature of the inner-most vessel of the dewar is at the coldest temperature.
The vessels and the magnet have to be supported. The support structure should have minimal heat conductivity. For example, the magnet has to be supported within the dewar and yet spaced apart from the walls of the dewar with sufficient rigidity to withstand the shifting loads caused by the high magnetization of the magnet; i.e., 2 Tesla, for example. These loads include loads caused by hysteresis currents. Typically, in a magnetic resonance system, the inner-most vessel is a helium containing vessel which surrounds the superconducting magnet.
Heat shields help to isolate the nested vessels from each other. In most cryostats used in magnetic resonance systems, an innermost helium vessel is surrounded by a vessel containing nitrogen. Support rods are used to support the magnet and keep it stationary in three-dimensions by balancing out the magnet's weight and the forces generated by the magnetic field. The support rods are generally comprised of oppositely disposed stainless steel head sections and a low thermally conductive extended rod-like section connecting the head sections. The prior art head sections each has a threaded horn-like section and a receiving cylindrical bore containing-section. The low thermally conductive section fits into a bore of the bore containing section. The head sections are then crimped to the low thermally conductive section.
One horn-like threaded section is threaded into an outer nut means that retains and secures the support rod to the outer vacuum container. The head section at the other end of the low thermally conductive section of the support rod is connected to the actual magnet. The relatively long head section in the above described presently available support rod causes the support rod to conduct a relatively large amount of heat from outside the cryostat to the superconducting magnet.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic resonance cryostat that use a new support rod system wherein the support rod is designed to minimize heat conducted to the superconducting magnet from the ambient environment external to the cryostat.
In accordance with one preferred aspect of the present invention, a support rod for supporting structures in a dewar of a cryostat used in a magnetic resonance system is provided, said support rod comprising:
a rod-like mid-section of low thermally conductive material, PA1 a first head section of material of higher thermal conductivity than the material of said rod-like mid-section disposed on one end of said rod-like mid-section, PA1 a second head section of material of higher thermal conductivity than the material of said rod-like mid-section disposed on the other end of said rod-like mid-section, PA1 means for connecting said first head section of the support rod to structure in the interior of the cryostat, PA1 means for connecting said second head section to the outer vacuum container, and means for minimizing the length of said head sections.
A related feature of the present invention utilizes a portion of the main body of the head section for crimping onto an end of said rod-like mid-section. The main body of the head sections themselves are threaded for connecting the assembled support rod from the supported structure to a base means on a support structure associated with the cryostat.


A seal member includes a first seal portion abutting an end portion of a rotating body to seal a gap between a storage container and the end portion, and a second seal portion abutting an end portion of a blade to seal a gap between the storage container and the end portion. The second seal portion has a tip contacting portion to contact a tip portion of the blade and a non-tip contacting portion to contact a portion of the blade except for the tip portion. The non-tip contacting portion is recessed to form a step between the non-tip contacting portion and the tip contacting portion. The tip contacting portion includes a base portion to contact with the storage container, an abutting portion configured to abut the blade, and a connecting portion which connects the base portion and the abutting portion to each other.

Conventionally, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses (hereinafter, image forming apparatuses) using an electrophotographic image forming process may sometimes adopt a so-called process cartridge system. A process cartridge system refers to an apparatus configuration in which a drum-like electrophotographic photoreceptor (hereinafter, a photosensitive drum) and processing means which acts thereon are integrated as a cartridge and the process cartridge is configured so as to be attachable to and detachable from an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus. With such a process cartridge, a system is widely adopted in which a seal member is arranged between a cartridge frame body and an end of a rotating body such as a photosensitive drum or a developing roller to suppress or prevent a developer from leaking from the cartridge frame body. Examples of a seal member include those using an elastic body, those using fibers such as pile or felt, and those using a magnetic body.
Among these seal members, as an example of a seal using an elastic body, a seal is proposed in which the seal made of an elastic body is arranged between a rotating body and a frame body, a rib shape parallel to or inclined by approximately 10° with respect to a rubbing surface is provided in plurality on a rubbing surface with the rotating body, and a cantilevered shape with a spring property is provided on a surface that comes into contact with the frame body (PTL 1). In addition, a seal is proposed which is provided with a seat-shaped portion to be engaged with a blade assembly in addition to a portion that comes into contact with a rotating body (PTL 2). Furthermore, a seal member is proposed which is made up of a first surface that comes into contact with a rotating body and at least one printer constituent member and a second surface having a pair of protruding ribs that biases the first surface (PTL 3). The seal member is configured so as to abut the rotating body at a first abutment pressure and abut the printer constituent member at a second abutment pressure, the second abutment pressure made larger than the first abutment pressure by providing a difference in hardness on the second surface.

Seal member, unit, and image forming apparatus


A latch mechanism is provided, including a rack having a restricting structure and a linkage assembly connected to an electronic device in the rack. The linkage assembly includes a fixed frame, connected to the electronic device; a sliding frame, movable along a first direction relative to the fixed frame; a handle, connected to the sliding frame; a trigger, movably disposed between the handle and the sliding frame; and a latch member, connected to the fixed frame and the restricting structure to restrict the electronic device in the rack. When an external force is exerted on the trigger and the handle to move the sliding frame along the first direction relative the fixed frame, the trigger pushes the latch member to separate from the restricting structure along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, such that the electronic device can be drawn out of the rack.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to a latch mechanism, and in particular to a latch mechanism applicable to a Blade server system.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the rapid development of cloud computing, the computing ability of electronic devices is becoming increasingly important. Presently, the Blade server system is one of the platforms employed to meet the demands of cloud computing.
In general, a Blade server system primarily includes a rack and several blade servers therein. The rack may have an Optical-Disk-Drive (ODD) module, a network module, a power module, and a fan module etc. disposed therein, and each of the blade servers has the feature of hot swapping. However, the blade servers arranged in the rack are very close to each other, it is therefore a challenge to rapidly and conveniently lock the blade servers in the rack or draw the blade servers out of the rack for reducing the maintenance time of the system.


This disclosure provides methods for decoking tubular passes of crude oil heaters and processed hydrocarbon heaters. The method permits continued operation of an associated crude oil processing unit or a processed hydrocarbon processing unit receiving crude oil or processed hydrocarbons from the heater during the decoking operation. The decoking operation utilizes dry steam to remove coke from passes within the crude oil heater or processed hydrocarbon heater and dry steam to maintain balanced operation of the crude oil processing unit or processed hydrocarbon processing unit.

Crude oil processing systems typically have a crude oil processing unit, such as an atmospheric or vacuum tower, and a crude oil heater which brings the temperature of the crude oil substantially up to operating temperature before entering the crude oil processing unit. Crude oil heaters have burners configured to increase the temperature of crude oil as it flows through passes within the crude oil heater. Passes are typically tubular, but it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the passes may be any shape suitable for use in the art. Under typical operating conditions, coke, an insoluble organic deposit, forms over time on the internal walls of the passes resulting in fouling of the passes.
Coke deposits on the internal walls of the passes inhibit free flow of crude oil through the heater passes to the crude oil processing unit and reduce heat transfer through the walls of the passes. The reduction in heat transfer produces localized increases in tube metal temperatures of the passes within the heater which increases stress on the passes necessitating removal of the coke deposits, i.e., decoking. Decoking is typically understood as the conversion of coke to carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, or hydrogen, and/or the physical removal of coke from within the passes in the heater. Coke deposit removal, or decoking, currently requires taking the heater and associated crude oil processing unit offline to permit decoking of the heater passes. These periodic shutdowns increase operating costs.


To automatically determine the availability status of the user of a handheld communication device, various selected conditions of the device may be checked, which imply whether or not the user is likely Available, or Unavailable or the equivalent. Normally, the selected conditions are checked only if the user has not explicitly or semi-explicitly set his or her status to Unavailable. The conditions to be checked can vary widely, but generally include anything from which it might be inferred or implied that the user is likely either Available or Unavailable or the equivalent. Such conditions can include, for example, whether or not a specified timeout for use of a keypad, trackwheel or other mechanical feature of the device has elapsed yet; whether or not a real-time application is in use; and preferably any one or more of a variety of other conditions, one further example being whether or not there are any unattended-to notifications such as an unanswered phone call, or a missed e-mail, SMS or other message.

This invention relates to handheld communication devices, and in particular to a method for automatically determining the availability status of a user of a handheld communication device.
There are handheld communication device applications in which updated user availability status information is important. Instant messaging is a good example of such an application. A user expects answers mostly in real time (unlike SMS, for example), so it is critical to know other party's availability status at the time when the user sends his or her instant message. Most instant messaging allow the user to explicitly set his or her availability status. Most such applications also provide an implicit way for the client application to say whether the user is available or not. Usually the user availability status is changed by a desktop application based on whether the keyboard has remained idle for a certain period of time. However, this approach is not relevant for some handheld communication devices, such as when the device is in its holster, for example. The user may be actually available for responses, and just in a waiting mode, with the device idle. The implicit or automatic approach that is used by a desktop client is therefore not applicable to such devices.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Automatic user availability status determination for a handheld communication device