A mobile patient bed includes a bench that may be moved vertically via a lifting mechanism. Vertical movement may be effected via a first, electric drive mechanism including a drive device that may be operated when connected to an energy supply. As an alternative, vertical movement may be effected via a second drive mechanism that may be actuated by the operator using a foot pedal. The drive device is a drive motor that is coupled to the lifting mechanism via a motor shaft and is coupled to the second drive mechanism via a clutch. The clutch is closed with no connection to the energy supply and is opened with connection established. The motor shaft may be driven via the second drive mechanism when the clutch is closed.

The present embodiments relate to a mobile patient bed including a bench that may be moved vertically via a lifting mechanism.
Mobile patient beds are used, for example, in hospitals. Mobile patient beds make it possible for patients to be moved around the hospital and delivered, for example, to a piece of medical examination and/or treatment equipment and the like. The patient bed includes a bench (e.g., a platform) that may be moved vertically via a lifting mechanism in order for the table height to be adjusted and for adaptation to any given location. Such patient beds may be "docked" to a piece of examination and/or treatment equipment (e.g., coupled to this piece of equipment so that the patient lying on the bench, and remaining there, may be examined and/or treated using the examination and/or treatment equipment). An example is such a docking system for coupling the patient bed to a piece of equipment that uses magnetic resonance. The height of the bench may be set accordingly via the lifting mechanism.
As described, a known mobile patient bed has two separate drive mechanisms (e.g., a first, electric drive mechanism including a drive device that may be operated when connected to an energy supply, where this drive mechanism serves for automatic bed adjustment, and a second drive mechanism that is a manual drive mechanism and includes at least one foot pedal that may be actuated by the operator in order to move the bench vertically). In the case of a known patient bed, the entire lifting mechanism (e.g., both the first, electric drive mechanism and the second "manual" drive mechanism) is realized hydraulically. There is a hydraulic circuit with a hydraulic cylinder that executes the actual lifting work. Also provided is an electric pump in the form of an electric drive device. The electric pump, when connected in the docked state to an energy supply provided with the piece of an examination and/or treatment equipment, delivers the hydraulic fluid and, consequently, drives the hydraulic cylinder thereby in order to move the table upward or downward. Additionally provided is at least one foot pedal that makes it possible for the hydraulic fluid to be delivered by pedal movement and for the hydraulic cylinder to be actuated "manually" in this way. The foot pedal acts as or operates a mechanical pump for fluid-delivery purposes. In order to move the bench upward or downward, the foot lever consequently is to be actuated a number of times in order to achieve a mechanical pumping capacity. In order to shift the bench downward, a second foot lever that opens a valve is actuated in order to let hydraulic fluid out of the hydraulic cylinder and to lower the bench.
These two separate and differently operating drive mechanisms make it possible for the bench adjustment, in the "docked" state, to be carried out automatically (e.g., via the first, electric drive mechanism), and with the bench adjustment to be effected, in the "non-docked" state, by actuation of the foot pedal.
The task of realizing the hydraulic circuit involves considerable outlay, since corresponding hydraulic lines and a fluid reservoir are to be provided. In addition, a high level of outlay is required for providing the sealing of the hydraulic system, since, in view of the fact that the patient bed is being used in a clinical environment, the sealing is provided to avoid leakage.


The present invention provides a method and a system for stripping volatile compounds such as ammonia from liquids. Part of the ammonia is stripped from the liquid in a system having a shunt through which liquid such as e.g. fermented biomass can be diverted in the form of a side stream in liquid contact with a main fermentor(s). The stripper system is connected to an evaporator. In the evaporator aqueous liquid is heated at a pressure below atmospheric pressure whereby vapor is developed at a temperature below 100° C. The vapor from the evaporator is directed to the liquid medium containing ammonia and this results in ammonia being stripped from the liquid and transferred to the vapor phase. The vapor phase is condensed in a first condenser at a low pressure, and the liquid thus obtained is further treated in a stripper unit at a higher pressure.

Industrial plants for production of sugars, alcohols, industrial enzymes, medicaments and the like as well as different energy plants for production of renewable energy from biomass is usually based on the activity of microorganisms under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions in process tanks. Examples are the production of insulin and beverages by yeast under anaerobic conditions in fermentation tanks where the substrate is malt or molasses, or a similar agricultural plant product rich in carbohydrates.
The treatment of waste is another area widely accepted as a proven technology and extensively used. Also in this case microorganisms in aerobic/anaerobic process tanks digest the waste. However, not only municipal sewage waste but also a number of various industrial and agricultural wastes are also treated through microbiological means.
The microbial activity is based on the growth kinetics of the different groups of microorganisms involved and of the activity of a number of specific enzymes necessary to perform the biochemical processes. The overall result of the processes is microbial growth, substrate consumption, and product formation. However, enzymes and microorganisms may be inhibited by the main products or side products, which accumulate in the process tank or any other substance resulting from the microbial transformations of the substrate. Also substances in the biomass or the substrate in it self may hamper optimal performance of the bioreactor. Such inhibition may lead to a substantially lower microbial activity and thus substantially lower production and perhaps a complete break down of the microbial process if the inhibitory substances are not carefully controlled.
Such risks are usually avoided or controlled by managing the substrate loading or the organic loading rate, the rate being set to ensure a concentration of the critical component below levels unacceptable to the process. Other process parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, media composition, and the microbial consortia employed may also be selected according to the process optima. However, managing the organic loading rate at low inputs to the bioreactors inevitably result in low product formation and a poor performance of the process in general. The control of the other process parameters such as temperature and pH compensates only partly for the inhibition by the inhibitory substance or substances. A direct control of the inhibitory substance at levels sub critical to the process is far the most effective control if possible.
It is often desirable to remove volatile components from microbial process tanks during continued operation of the process, i.e. the inhibitory substance is continuously removed yet the process and the microorganisms are left unaffected.
Generally, volatile components can be separated from a liquid by air stripping or vapor stripping, such as e.g. steam stripping of ammonia from aqueous solutions, or e.g. steam stripping of methanol.
Methods and systems for vapor stripping of volatile components from liquids comprise steps and means for producing a vapor of volatile components, such as ammonia, from the liquid. Typically, evaporation means requires energy from a suitable heating medium, typically a heating medium of high value such as e.g. electricity or combustion fuel, whereas available on-site heating media often are low-valued heating media such as cooling media comprising otherwise wasted heat from e.g. combustion of organic waste gases in an engine.
For effective removal of volatile components from liquids at atmospheric pressure, large amounts of steam or heat are required. Consequently, typical vapor stripping apparatus comprises large, energy consuming, and expensive components, which are not suited for small in-situ liquid treatment systems, such as system for treatment of liquids of manure at animal farming sites.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,385,646, 5,498,317, 5,643,420 and 5,779,861 disclose an apparatus and method for treating process condensate from a chemical production plant wherein contaminants are substantially removed from a condensate by steam stripping and subsequent rectification in a relatively low pressure stripping/-rectification tower. A portion of condensed overhead and scrubbing aqueous liquid-containing contaminants is returned to the top of the rectification section of the tower as reflux and the balance is withdrawn as a concentrated steam.
DE 43 24 410 C1 discloses a method of removing ammonia from waste aqueous liquid of a biological waste treatment plant, the method consisting of a two step process: a first step comprising stripping ammonia from the waste aqueous liquid by steam at atmospheric pressure, condensing said steam comprising stripped ammonia, and producing condensation heat for producing said steam; and a second step comprising rectifying said condensed steam comprising ammonia to at least 20% by weight of aqueous ammonia, said second step advantageously being carried out at a pressure above atmospheric pressure.

Method and device for stripping ammonia from liquids


A fin block is provided for a calibrating device for the calibrating of an extruded profile. The fin block includes a fin structure, which has a plurality of fins which are spaced apart from one another by grooves and are arranged in longitudinal direction of the fin block, wherein the fins of the fin structure have a variable dimension in longitudinal direction of the fin block. Further, there is provided a method for the production of the above-mentioned fin block and a calibrating device, which includes a plurality of the above-mentioned fin blocks. Furthermore, there is provided a system for the additive manufacture of the above-mentioned fin block, a corresponding computer program and corresponding data set.

Calibrating devices are used for the calibrating of extruded endless profiles, such as for example tube profiles. In the production of such profiles, firstly a desired plastic melt for the production of the profile is produced in an extruder. The produced plastic melt is then pressed through an outlet nozzle of the extruder, which prescribes the shape of the profile. The profile exiting the outlet nozzle of the extruder then passes through a calibrating device, which post-forms the still heated profile with dimensional accuracy.
Such a calibrating device for the dimensioning of extruded profiles is known from DE 198 43 340 C2. There, a variably adjustable calibrating device is taught, which is configured for the calibrating of extruded plastic tubes with different tube diameter. The calibrating device comprises a housing and a plurality of fin blocks arranged in a circular shape in the housing, which together form a calibration basket with a circular calibration opening through which the tubes which are to be calibrated are directed (cf. in particular FIGS. 1 and 2 of DE 198 43 340 C2). Furthermore, each fin block is coupled with an actuating device which is provided for the individual radial displacement of the respective fin block. In this way, the effective cross-section of the circular calibration opening, formed by the plurality of fin blocks, can be adjusted accordingly as required.
The fin blocks described in DE 198 43 340 C2 consist respectively of a plurality of fins which are strung on two carrier rods arranged spaced apart from one another. To maintain a desired distance between adjacent fins, spacer sleeves are used (cf. also FIG. 3 of DE 198 43 340 C2). An example of a strung fin block is further shown in FIG. 1. The fin block 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of fins 12 and spacer sleeves 14, which are strung alternately along two carrier rods 16. Such strung fin blocks are laborious to manufacture and therefore cost-intensive.
Differing from the strung fin blocks described above, furthermore fin blocks with closed carrier structures (or respectively back structures) are known. FIGS. 2a and 2b show an example of such a fin block. The fin block 20 comprises a plurality of fins 22, which are carried by a back structure 24 configured in a block shape (cf. 3D view in FIG. 2a). The block-shaped back structure 24 is realized here in the form of a solid body (e.g. bar-shaped body). Further examples of fin blocks with a closed back structure are known from WO 2004/103684 A1. Such fin blocks can be formed in one piece. They can be produced at a favourable cost by suitable processing methods (such as for example milling, cutting) from a material block. However, the use of a casting method is also conceivable in order to produce the fin block 20.
The fin blocks 10, 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b have in common that the fins 12, 22 and the spacing regions between the fins 12, 22 (also designated as grooves) have respectively a predefined constant width. Therefore, the fin structures of the fin blocks 10, 20, produced by the fins 12, 22 and grooves, have respectively a constant spacing T (periodicity) in longitudinal direction of the fin blocks 10, 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 2b). Spacing T is understood to mean here the smallest length within the fin structure after which the arrangement of the fins is repeated. The spacing T depends on the width d of the fins and the width D of the grooves within the fin structure and corresponds to the sum of the widths of a fin and its adjoining groove (therefore T=d+D).
In the case of the fin blocks with constant spacing described here, frequently a rattling is observed of the profiles which are to be calibrated when they are pushed through the calibration basket. The cause of the rattling is the bulge structure on the profile surface which occurs during the calibrating of the profile. This is because the plastic of the profile which is to be calibrated, which is still plastically deformable during the calibration process, is easily pressed into the grooves of the fin structure. Thereby, bulge areas (abbreviated as bulges) form on the surface of the profile which is to be calibrated, the dimensions of which bulge areas correspond to the dimensions of the grooves. Thus, a repeating bulge structure with the spacing T of the fin structure occurs on the surface of the profile which is to be calibrated. With the feed of the profile which is to be calibrated through the calibration basket of the calibrating device, already produced bulges on the profile surface "engage" into subsequent grooves of the fin blocks. The repeating engaging of the bulges into the grooves leads to the undesired rattling of the profile to be calibrated in the calibration basket. On the other hand, through the repeating impression of the fin structure on the profile surface, the bulge structure is intensified on the profile surface.

Fin block with continuously varied fin width


Integrated differential data signal generator circuitry for providing differential data signals with controlled rise and fall times and built-in test capabilities.

The present invention relates to differential signal generator circuits, and in particular, to differential signal generator circuits having controlled signal rise and fall times.
As the density of a typical integrated circuit (IC), or chip, continues to increase, increasing numbers of complex circuit functions are being integrated into each single chip. As the prices for such chips have declined, sometimes dramatically, this has become increasingly problematic from the standpoint of production costs, since such increasingly complex chips become more difficult and often, therefore, more costly to adequately test for defects. As a result, it has become increasingly common for chips to include some form of built-in system test (BIST) circuitry for performing internal testing of various portions of the integrated circuit to provide some form of output status signals indicative of any defects or performance problems. This advantageously allows for the use of simpler and typically less costly external automatic test equipment (ATE), as well as reduced testing times.

Differential signal generator having controlled signal rise and fall times with built-in test circuitry


A unit for sealing filter bags for products for infusion comprises at least: a shaped revolving roller (2) with circumferential and radial tracks (3, 4) that act as guides to make longitudinal and transversal contact seals on a web (5) of filter paper folded onto itself and moving under the roller (2), using sealing sonotrode means (6) arranged in sealing position under the roller (2) and close to the moving web (5) in such a way as to form) a tubular web of filter paper with a succession of substantially flattened filter bags formed on it; the sealing sonotrode means (6) being operated upon by fluid-driven means (7) designed to control, through appropriate means (8), the variable constituted) by the contact force and/or the distance between the sealing means (6) and the roller (2).

Prior art machines for making filter bags from a web of filter paper comprise a plurality of stations, including a station for feeding a web of filter paper, a folding station and a first station for longitudinally sealing the folded web to form a continuous tubular wrapping of filter paper and preferably for transversally sealing the continuous tubular wrapping to form a succession of filter bags of substantially flattened shape.
The longitudinal and transversal sealing station comprises a specially shaped upper roller with tracks for longitudinally and transversally sealing the continuous tubular wrapping of filter paper. The seals may be made by heat sealing means or, in the solutions of the latest generation, by sonotrodes, positioned in contact with the product to be sealed.
In practice, the sonotrode is the transducer element that converts the power supply into vibrations that are discharged onto the product to be sealed.
Current sealing units based on sonotrodes usually comprise a pair of sonotrodes placed side by side to enable both seals to be made. The sonotrodes are positioned so that they face the roller and are mounted on a rigid structure so as to keep the gap between each sonotrode and the filter paper as constant as possible.
Indeed, the Applicant has found that the relative position between the emitting surface of the sonotrode and the product supporting surface constitutes a fundamental variable for good sealing quality.
Current sealing units based on sonotrodes, however, involve highly rigid systems of supports with a multiplicity of sensors and devices for controlling the force applied to the sonotrodes which make it extremely difficult to keep this relative position firm and constant.
Indeed, the system is unsuitable for very thin materials such as filter paper since the rigidity of the supports and the high number of external control variables for maintaining the distance between the sontrode and the product create vibrations resulting in distances that are larger than acceptable for a good quality seal and slowing down sealing operations themselves on account of control and feedback between the sonotrodes and the control system.
The present invention therefore has for an object to overcome the above mentioned drawback through a unit that enables the sealer sonotrode to apply a substantially constant contact force on the product to be sealed, while at the same time allowing high operating speeds and reducing costs.

Ultrasound unit for sealing lengths of filter paper

I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.


A luminaire is providing, having a substrate of a particular shape and a plurality of solid state light sources mounted thereon. The plurality has a measurable characteristic and includes an adjustable solid state light source, such that the characteristic changes in response to adjustment thereof. The luminaire also includes a sensor that detects the characteristic from outputted light, compares it to a baseline value and, based on the comparison, so adjusts the adjustable solid state light source. The luminaire also includes a reflector with a lower edge that conforms to the particular shape of the substrate, and reflects outputted light from the plurality so that it exits past the reflector's upper edge. The luminaire also includes a lightguide having an input that is surrounded by the reflector and captures a portion of the outputted light so as to provide the captured outputted light to the sensor.

As solid state light sources have increased in efficiency and decreased in cost, they are more commonly being used in products as general illumination sources. One way of generating white light and/or substantially white light from solid state light sources is to use a yellow phosphor, whether directly on a chip or remote, to convert blue light from the solid state light sources to a substantially white light. An alternative technique is known as color mixing. In color mixing, light emitted from solid state light sources of two colors (e.g., greenish-white ("mint") and amber ("red")) or three colors (e.g., red, green, and blue) is mixed together to create white light and/or substantially white light. In such color mixing applications, it is generally desirable to sense the light being output and to adjust it as the solid state light sources change over time, to maintain a similar and/or near similar color of light.

Hybrid reflector including lightguide for sensor


An apparatus for two degree of freedom positioning a moveable structure relative to a support structure is provided. The apparatus includes a moveable structure, a support structure, a compliant support disposed between the moveable structure and the support structure. The compliant support biases the moveable structure away from the support structure. In addition, three shape memory alloy actuators are provided between the structures and symmetrically arranged about the compliant support. The shape memory alloy actuators are selectively activated to provide two degrees of freedom of movement for the moveable structure relative to the support structure.

Mechanical actuators for tilting a payload are well known and have applications ranging from inexpensive rearview mirror assemblies in automobiles to expensive positioning stages for telescopes. While the use of mechanical actuation is known, existing mechanical actuators typically employ a number of servo motors coupled to the payload by a network of pulleys, gears and linkages. Thus, current mechanical actuator assemblies have high part counts, complex workings and are relatively expensive to fabricate. What is needed, therefore, is a relatively simple actuator that is more reliable and less expensive than existing mechanical actuators.

Actuator for two angular degrees of freedom

Alfmeier Prazision AG Baugruppen Und Systemlosungen


A method is disclosed of fully densifying a plurality of preformed ceramic plates by axial compression of the billets along a wall defining a cylinder and cavity. A series of the plates are stacked along the wall with the smallest dimension of the billets aligned with the axis of the cavity. The billets have a ratio of the smallest dimension to the largest dimension in the range of 1:3 to 1:40. The largest dimension of each of the plates is less than the lateral dimension of the cavity to leave an annular space; the space is filled with a pseudo isostatic pressing medium. The assembly is hot pressed under sufficient pressure and heat to convert the plates to billets of substantially full density.

This invention is directed to an improvement in the art of making hot pressed silicon nitride from silicon or silicon nitride powder as a starting material. When starting with silicon powder, such powder is first subjected to a reactive nitriding gas to form a mixed phase polycrystalline silicon nitride rigid body, the body being then hot pressed. Within this art there are several ways to agglomerate the powder materials: (a) by cold compacting or forming into a powder preform as an early stage in the process before or without nitriding (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,540), (b) nitriding without compaction (see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 448,889, commonly assigned to the assignee herein), and (c) by hot pressing, without prior compaction or nitriding, as the last stage in the process with Si.sub.3 N.sub.4.
The preform or resulting cake, using any of the above agglomeration techniques, presents a severe height to width ratio requiring an unusually long hot pressing stroke to obtain full densification of the material. For example, the cake or preform can have a density of 0.9-2.5 gm/cm.sup.3 and must be converted to a density of 3.25 gm/cm.sup.3 or above. A long pressing stroke, particularly under the high temperature and pressing conditions associated with hot pressing, induces significant side wall drag, a friction impediment at the interface between the sides of the cake or billet and the interior wall of the pressing cavity. The side wall drag, in conjunction with the thermal and pressure gradients within the material, produces "material transport," leading to a dishing effect of the resulting pressed product which can be quite pronounced.
What is needed is a method by which relatively low density cakes or preforms can be hot pressed without the above recited disadvantages.

Making hot pressed silicon nitride by use of low density reaction bonded body


A combination and method for centralized distribution of laser carrier beams to collocated wavelength division multiplexing systems divide and couple the optical carrier beam from high power laser sources to each of more than one collocated system. The carrier beam is then modulated by modulators in transponders residing in each wavelength division multiplexing system. Each modulated signal is then combined by a wavelength division multiplexer for transmittal onto an output fiber.

In 1984 the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) T1 Committee promulgated the Synchronous Optical NETwork (SONET) standard in ANSI document T1.105. The SONET standard essentially added new digital data rates to the North American digital hierarchy above the digital data rate of 44,736,000 b/s (44.736 Mb/s), which, at the time, was the highest digital data rate deployed. The new SONET digital data rates began at approximately 52 Mb/s, the STS/OC-1 rate, and extended up to approximately 2,500,000,000 b/s (2.5 Gb/s), the STS/OC-48 rate, i.e., 48 times the STS/OC-1 rate. Since that time ANSI has further extended the North American digital hierarchy up to approximately 10 Gb/s, STS/OC-192. Although discussions have taken place in the ANSI committees regarding increasing the SONET digital hierarchy up to 40 Gb/s, an increase to 40 Gb/s may be years away because of economic and technical issues. Thus, 10 Gb/s may be a real upper bandwidth limit for some time to come up. In addition, SONET transport systems are limited to fiber spans having maximum lengths of 40 kilometers (40 km) or 25 miles.
Despite the availability of these relatively large bandwidth transport pipes network service providers have nonetheless been demanding the capability to carry even larger amounts of data over fiber spans having a reach of more than 25 miles. The higher demand is primarily attributable to the accelerating pace of traffic growth in the inter-exchange carrier networks. The traffic growth has been dominated by the growth in data traffic. This data traffic growth is also beginning to creep into the local exchange network causing similar network exhaustion problems. Fiber exhaustion in the local exchange network may also be attributed to the increasing demand for internet access, and support of broadband technologies such as Digital Subscriber Loop and 100 Mb/s Ethernet. In any event, the higher traffic demand has exhausted the capacity of the inter-exchange and local interoffice fiber plant at a time when new fiber installations are effectively prohibited by cost and right of way concerns.
Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) technology has developed as the solution to the fiber plant exhaustion problems described above. WDM systems differ from traditional time division multiplexed fiber systems, e.g., SONET systems, in that in lieu of requiring faster time division multiplexing electronics modulating fast lasers, WDM systems multiplex the individual signals from pulse amplitude modulated systems onto one fiber by assigning each pulse amplitude signal a specific wavelength. For example, several "lower speed input" OC-48 signals may each enter a WDM system as a pulse amplitude modulated 1310 nanometer (nm) laser signal. Each OC-48 signal is then assigned or transposed to a specific wavelength or channel in the 1550 wavelength band, for example, a 1553 nm signal at a rate of at least 2.5 Gb/s. The wavelength conversion is typically performed by a device called a wavelength converting transponder. Each channel or wavelength requires one transponder. After wavelength conversion each individual channel or wavelength is then multiplexed by a wavelength division multiplexer and coupled onto the same fiber. By this method a WDM system may transmit several OC-48 signals onto the same fiber. This results in tremendous cost savings in that each pulse amplitude modulated OC-48 signal transmitted would otherwise require a separate fiber and additional electronics. WDM technology essentially solves the fiber exhaustion and cost problems by increasing the capacity of the fiber without requiring the installation of new fiber. In fact each wavelength carried by a WDM system may be considered a virtual fiber.
WDM systems while providing great cost savings are nonetheless fairly expensive and are proving costly to maintain. One of the major factors contributing to the high maintenance costs of WDM systems is the fact that current WDM systems require a different transponder for each channel. Thus, a service provider has to maintain and track an inventory of incompatible transponders in the event an in-service transponder fails. As such, maintenance costs rise in proportion to the number of channels in a system.
A transponder typically has an optical to electric converter (O/E converter), a laser, and in most cases an external modulator, e.g., lithium niobate modulator. The lower speed input signals entering a WDM system are coupled to the O/E converter on the transponder and converted to an electrical signal. The electrical signal may then be used to directly modulate thc laser on the transponder. On the other hand, for WDM systems having external modulators the electrical signal is then used to modulate the external modulator as the continuous wave laser or carrier beam is coupled through the external modulator. The laser on the transponder is typically a distributed feedback (DFB) laser operating in the 1550 nm band. These lasers are required to meet certain guard band requirements critical to the operation of a WDM system. These requirements stem from bandwidth channel limitations. That is, there is some limited range within the 1550 nm wavelength band wherein transmission is feasible. Thus, the more channels the tighter the guard band requirements. For example, ITU Draft Recommendation G.629 recommends a channel spacing of 100,000,000,000 Hz or approximately 0.78 nm for a WDM system having eight or more channels. Furthermore, the laser residing on the transponder has to be stable in order to be kept within the guard band. As such, DFB lasers having narrow linewidths are required. Furthermore, these DFB lasers are usually monitored by costly electronics to maintain their stability. Thus, transponders are costly items.
As such, the more channels and consequently the more transponders employed per WDM system the greater the costs associated with purchasing and maintaining these systems. For example, a forty channel WDM system requires forty transponders, one for each wavelength. Furthermore, a service location having ten forty channel WDM systems would require maintaining and tracking four hundred transponders. Moreover, transponders cannot be shared among different WDM system suppliers. Of great utility, then, would be a generic transponder, able to be placed into operation for any wavelength and capable of being shared among different WDM systems.
Wavelength tunable lasers have been considered as replacements for DFB lasers. Under such a scheme a transponder having a tunable laser could be used for several channels within a WDM system. Tunable lasers, however, cost more than DFB lasers and would require even more costly electronics to be resident on the transponder. Thus, the costs associated with using tunable lasers are currently prohibitive. Furthermore, tunable multi-channel lasers are not yet commercially available.

Centralized wavelength distribution for wavelength division multiplexed systems


An industrial lift truck having a body which includes a battery container cover, spaced straddle legs projecting from the body and a lift mast which moves along the straddle legs. The lift mast is moved along the straddle legs by a mechanism operated by a battery which is held in a container. The container is supported on a platform resting on the straddle legs and is moved along the straddle legs between a rear stored position and a forward open position by a hydraulic cylinder and piston. A guide arrangement for the battery container is located below the cover and is disposed internally of the end walls of the battery container to contact the inner surfaces of the end walls to direct the battery container during movement into the rear stored position and to prevent movement of the battery container transversely of the straddle legs when it is in the rear stored position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an industrial lift truck and more particularly to the arrangement for positioning the battery container on an electrically operated industrial lift truck and for retaining it in position.
2. Description of Prior Art
In a conventional electrically operated industrial lift truck a load carriage is mounted on a vertical mast which is mounted for movement along spaced straddle legs. The battery which is the power source for the truck is located in a DIN battery container supported on the straddle legs and located between the mast and the operator's seat. The battery container is movable along the spaced straddle legs by a shift mechanism when it is necessary to check the battery or remove it for recharging or replacement. In its rear stored position, the DIN battery container is located beneath a cover forming a part of the body of the truck in the area of the operator's seat. The battery container and the battery located therein are moved from the stored position below the cover into its forward open position when the shift mechanism is actuated.
A standard DIN battery container is a rectangular, open topped box which is mounted transversely of the shift mechanism bridging the spaced straddle legs of the truck. Two different arrangements are presently used to mount a battery container on a lift truck. In a first arrangement, the battery container is located on a tray mounted bridging the spaced straddle legs for connection with the shift mechanism for movement between the rear stored position and forward open position. The battery container and the battery are both positioned transversely of the straddle legs and are physically restrained from lateral movement by upturned edges on the tray. In a second arrangement, the battery container is provided with downwardly projecting feet which are placed in apertures in a flat platform which replaces the tray. The platform is aesthetically more pleasing than the tray, but the feet on the bottom of the container make the DIN battery container a special container and therefore more expensive.


A versatile low cost capacitive type of electrical pressure transducer includes a sensor module providing an output signal indicative of fluid pressure effective thereon, and an elongate cylindrical housing receiving the module and providing for communication thereto of a first fluid pressure (which may have a high pressure level), and of a second fluid pressure (which may range from a vacuum through atmospheric pressure to a pressure level of a few hundred pounds). Consequently the transducer may operate as a gauge pressure sensor or as a differential pressure sensor. Alternatively, other types of sensor modules may also be employed in housings of the same or substantially the same design to fulfill other types of pressure measurement tasks. The commonality of component parts of the various sensors contributes to a reduces cost. Also, the components of the housing are economical to manufacture and assemble, and provide for testing and calibration of the sensors at an intermediate step of manufacture. Thus, further cost savings are realized. The housing provides for electrical shielding of the sensor module from electromagnetic and radio frequency interference, as well as filtering power surges and higher frequency noise. Accuracy and service life of the transducers are thus improved. A connector portion of the housing is secured by a tubular portion thereof by means of low cost rolling operations, and also provides a second source of support to the sensor module in resisting displacement in the housing caused by high fluid pressures. As a result an inexpensive pressure transducer is realized which is applicable to measurement of rather high fluid pressures.

A high-pressure capacitive pressure transducer is known in accord with U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,607, (the '607 patent) issued 14 Oct. 1986 to Kyong M. Park (who is a coinventor of the present invention) and Hung-Chih Chen, and which is assigned to the assignee of the present application. According to the teaching of the '607 patent, a high pressure transducer may include a high pressure fitting cooperating with a capacitive sensor module. The high pressure fitting includes a flexible metal diaphragm sealingly separating the high pressure fluid from the sensor module. An electrical circuit of the sensor module provides an electrical signal in response to fluid pressure force transmitted to the module via the flexible metal diaphragm. Also, the transducer includes a power supply for the electrical circuit of the module. A housing of the transducer includes at one end thereof the high pressure fitting, and a cylindrical portion of the housing encloses the sensor module and the power supply. At its end opposite the high pressure fitting, the housing includes an electrical connector providing for connection of the electrical signal externally of the transducer.
The transducer according to the '607 patent is accurate, rugged, and reliable. It is applicable over a considerable pressure range. Unfortunately, the transducer according to the '607 patent is somewhat expensive to manufacture. The housing of this sensor is somewhat complex, its parts count is high, and manufacturing assembly is undesirably time consuming. Also, while this transducer might be used either as a gauge pressure or absolute pressure sensor, it does not provide for its use as a differential pressure sensor.
Another conventional pressure transducer is known in accord with the teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,799, (the '799 patent) issued 17 Jan. 1984, to Kyong M. Park, and also assigned to the assignee of the present application. According to the '799 patent, a differential pressure transducer includes a pressure fitting sealingly cooperating with a pressure sensor module to define a first chamber. The pressure fitting defines part of a housing for the transducer, and provides for admission of a first pressurized liquid to the first chamber. The pressure sensor module includes a diaphragm on one side bounding the first chamber, and on the other side bounding a second chamber. The housing and pressure sensor module cooperatively define a passage connecting the second chamber with a port. At the port, the housing defines a liquid reservoir, and provides for communication to the reservoir to a second pressurized liquid. A low-viscosity liquid fills the second chamber, the passage, and part of the liquid reservoir. A membrane in the liquid reservoir sealingly separates the second pressurized liquid from the low viscosity liquid while providing for transmission of liquid pressure from the former to the latter. As with the pressure transducer taught by the '607 patent, the transducer taught by the '799 patent includes an electronic circuit for converting capacitance changes of the sensor module into an electrical signal. An opening in the housing of the transducer according to the '799 patent provides for extension outwardly of electrical conductors carrying this signal.
While the differential pressure transducer of the '799 patent is also accurate, rugged, reliable, and provides for measurement of differential pressures, it does not provide for its use either as a gauge or absolute pressure sensor. The pressure transducer according to the '799 patent is lower in parts count than the sensor according to the '607 patent, but is nevertheless more expensive to manufacture than is desired.
In view of the above, a need exists for a versatile low cost electronic pressure sensor which can be used either as a gauge pressure sensor, or as a differential pressure sensor, which can be used over a wide range of pressures, which by substitution of pressure sensor modules of different configurations and types allows the same or substantially the same housing design to be used also for other pressure measurement tasks, which allows parts commonality among the several sensor configurations, and which has wide-ranging applicability to a variety of pressure sensing uses in addition to the versatility of applications allowed by its use in either gauge or differential-pressure mode. Also the low cost pressure transducer should be rugged, accurate, reliable, and low in parts count to facilitate low costs of manufacture and assembly. A desirable pressure transducer of the foregoing type should also facilitate its calibration during manufacture and provide good retention of this initial calibration so that subsequent recalibrations are not needed. The sensor should also provide for shielding of the sensor module and circuitry from radio frequency interference (RFI) as well as electromagnetic interference (EMI). Desirably, such a low cost versatile pressure transducer should also filter out power supply surges or pulses so that the electronic circuitry of the transducer is protected and is not damaged by such surges or impulses.


A new flash memory cell structure and operational bias approach for allowing programming operations significantly faster than prior approaches, is based on the use of band-to-band tunneling induced hot electron injection in cells to be programmed and on the use of triple-well floating gate memory structures. The method comprises inducing band-to-band tunneling current from the semiconductor body to one of the source and drain near the channel, and applying a positive bias voltage to the control gate to induce hot electron injection into the floating gate. The other of the source and drain terminals is floated, that is disconnected so that current does not flow through that terminal. The band-to-band tunneling current is induced by applying a reference potential to one of the source and drain sufficient to establish conditions for the band-to-band tunneling current. For example, a reference potential of approximately 0 volts is applied to the drain, and negative bias of about -4 volts to -8 volts is applied to the semiconductor body, and a positive voltage is applied to the control gate which falls in a range of about +6 volts to about +10 volts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to nonvolatile memory devices, and more particularly to an improved nonvolatile memory based on floating gate transistors with fast programming.
2. Description of Related Art
Flash memory is a class of nonvolatile memory integrated circuits, based on floating gate transistors. The memory state of a floating gate cell is determined by the concentration of charge trapped in the floating gate. The operation of flash memory is largely dependent on the techniques used for injecting or removing charge from the floating gate.
Low power consumption, adaptability to low voltage operation as well as fast write and read constitute the desirable features for high density flash memory to be used as mass storage media in portable systems.
Much effort has been devoted to developing high density and high performance flash memory. However, there still remain some important aspects to be improved. Two of them are low voltage operation and high program/erase PGM/ERS cycling endurance. Flash memories generally use Fowler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling to inject and emit electrons through tunnel oxide. This means that a high electric field is required for flash memories to achieve high PGM/ERS speeds, and high voltages are needed at least inside the chip. Both high field and high voltage requirements go against low voltage operation and high PGM/ERS cycling endurance.
There are drawbacks associated with all of the various prior art program PGM operation schemes used to inject electrons into the floating gate. Channel Hot Electron Injection (CHEI) requires high current, high power, and causes a hot hole injection (HHI) issue for over-erased cells. Drain Avalanche Hot Carrier (DAHC) is low speed, and suffers a HHI induced reliability issue. Fowler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling suffers a speed/reliability trade-off. High speed leads to severe stress and reliability degradation due to the high fields. Channel FN tunneling suffers the disadvantage that substrate HHI cannot be avoided under increasing FN current. Edge FN tunneling suffers band-to-band tunneling BBT induced HHI which leads to critical reliability issues.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a flash memory cell design and operating technique which increases the speed and efficiency of programming of a floating gate memory array, in order to improve the overall performance of the device. Furthermore, it is desirable that the flash memory operating technique be suitable for low supply voltages.

Floating gate memory with substrate band-to-band tunneling induced hot electron injection


A color-coded method and apparatus of learning to type is disclosed having three sets of flash cards which teach the location of keyboard symbols and the appropriate finger to employ a given symbol by the use of a predetermined sector-color-coded keyboard. The invention also includes adhesive backed colored appliques matching the sector-color-coding which can be removably applied to the fingers or another support to provide a means for initial learning of the method prior to practicing the method. Finally, the keyboard is covered with the color appliques according to the predetermined sector color code and a look-away image of the predetermined sector-color-coded keyboard is provided to prevent the user from looking at the keyboard while typing. This system can also be applied to other multiple finger actuated input devices.

1. Fields of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method of learning or teaching operations, such as typing, and, more particularly, to operations based on a color-coded data input device, such as a typing keyboard, divided into sectors by color and aided by sets of color-coded flash cards, finger appliques and a "look-away" image of the color-coded data input device.
2. Discussion of Background and Prior Art
There is a long felt need for an easy way to learn to type.
Sectorized keyboards with finger applied aids have been known for almost 100 years since the invention of the typewriter. The earliest device used key-coded finger rings bearing letters of the keyboard divided into groups based on convenience and finger dexterity. These devices gave birth to a variety of gadgets mounted on top of the user's hands. These devices provided a variety of finger-key correlations by group and finger-home position correlations and were designed to provide an unobstructed view of the keyboard encouraging students to look toward their hands and hence the keyboard as they learned to type.
Sector-color-coded touch type keyboards have also been known for almost 100 years. It was early recognized that it was helpful to blank out the keyboard with opaque discs in alternate sets of distinctly, differently colored columns, coupled with the use of a discardable, matching, color-coded index or letter plate which facilitated initial learning of typing. Despite this early teaching, it has not proven successful. Typing to this day remains a difficult task to learn.
In the early 1960's still other methods of teaching touch typing were introduced including a system whereby the keyboard remained locked until it was unlocked by the student touching the correct key, or electrical contraptions which vibrated the student's fingers as an instructor typed on a master and lighted a central display. Of course, these systems also failed to achieve wide acceptance.
With the advent of widespread use of computer keyboards in the late 1960's, Mildred Olsen invented a system described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,501,849 utilizing a device for teaching typing and language skills to people culturally deprived of language development. Her system was based on use of a sector-color-coded keyboard blanked by opaque discs with matching colored finger rings and a chart, picture or instruction manual which presented colored circled letters or recognizable objects (i.e,. a cat) with a direction arrow. By color and direction indications, the student would know which finger to move and where to move it to strike the appropriate key. While Olsen had the right idea, nevertheless, she did not unlock the key to learning typing easily because her system still encouraged looking at the hands and keys with the resultant use of hunt and peck technique. Her device has not been commercially successful.
So, too, the more recent software implemented, computer-aided methods of various types have only modestly advanced the art by reverting to updated earlier methods, such as, applying color-coded adhesive backed appliques to finger guides mounted on the user's hands in an effort to teach typing by sector-color-coded methods.
No one has recognized the problem is the tendency of typing novices to develop the unhealthy "hunt and peck" technique at the initial learning stage. It is disgraceful, for example, to observe students, in particular, pre-school aged children, having a computer keyboard thrust upon them and then watching them stare at the keyboard and hunt and peck as they search the keyboard to learn where the letters are located and which finger to use to strike the desired key. Once these bad typing habits are learned, they are very difficult to break.
Accordingly, today there is still a long felt need for an easy method to learn typing which effectively teaches color-symbol-finger-sector-key position correlations in a way that avoids the initial development of hard to break, bad, typing habits.

Color-coded data input system method and apparatus


A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a gate structure disposed over the substrate, a drain structure disposed in the substrate, and a source structure disposed in the substrate on an n opposite side of the gate structure from the drain structure. The substrate includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer over the first semiconductor layer, and an insulating layer sandwiched between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The source structure and the drain structure include a same conductivity type. The source structure includes at least an epitaxial layer. The source structure extends deeper into the substrate than the drain structure.

Non-volatile memory (NVM) is often used in various devices, such as computers. NVM is a type of memory storage that can retain data even while it is not powered on. NVM may be electrically addressed or mechanically addressed. Examples of electrically addressed NVM include flash memory, EPROMs, and EEPROMs. Functionality of NVM includes having information programmed into it, having information read from it, and/or having information erased from it.
On the other hand, continuing reduction of the minimum features produced by semiconductor processes and reduction in the size of the resulting devices has enabled continued improvements in speed, performance, density, and cost per unit function of integrated circuits and systems. As reliable memory becomes increasingly important for portable devices, such as mobile phones, tablet computers and other battery operated devices, the use of NVM is increasingly prevalent. Thus the need for efficiently manufactured, robust and cost effective NVM with high performance is increasing.

Semiconductor structure for memory device and method for forming the same

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.


A microcomputer having a program storing unit (16) separately from a CPU. The program storing unit (16) receives from a host computer (7) a boot program used for loading data into a flash memory (11), and stores the boot program into a RAM (2), when a mode decision circuit (15) makes a decision that a chip mode is an RSIF mode. This solves a problem of a conventional microcomputer in that it must reserve a boot program area in the flash memory in advance to prestore the boot program in the boot program area, and hence the entire area of the flash memory cannot be released as a user program area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microcomputer capable of effectively storing data like user programs (briefly referred to as "user programs" below) in a flash memory incorporated in the microcomputer.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional microcomputer. In this figure, the reference numeral 1 designates a microcomputer including a RAM 2 and a flash memory 3. The flash memory 3 includes a boot program area 3a and a user program area 3b as shown in FIG. 7. The boot program area 3a is provided for storing a boot program used for loading user programs, and the user program area 3b is provided for storing the user programs.
The reference numeral 4 designates a CPU, 5 designates a serial interface (abbreviated to SIO from now on) of the microcomputer 1, 6 designates an internal bus of the microcomputer 1, and 7 designates an external host computer. The CPU 4 executes the boot program stored in the boot program area 3a of the flash memory 3 to load the user programs into the user program area 3b of the flash memory 3. The user programs are received from the host computer 7 through the SIO 5, and stored in the user program area 3b of the flash memory 3.
Next, the operation will be described.
A user can freely store the user programs in the user program area 3b of the flash memory 3 in the microcomputer 1.
A procedure for storing the user programs in the user program area 3b of the flash memory 3 will now be described.
First, the CPU 4 sets its program counter at the beginning address of the boot program area 3a to start the boot program which has been stored in the boot program area 3a of the flash memory 3.
Starting the boot program, the CPU 4 receives the user programs from the host computer 7 through the SIO 5 in accordance with the boot program, and stores the user programs into the user program area 3b of the flash memory 3.
Thus, the conventional microcomputer can load the user programs into the user program area 3b of the flash memory 3 by executing the boot program stored in the boot program area 3a of the flash memory 3. However, since the boot program must be prestored in the boot program area 3a of the flash memory 3, the user programs cannot use the entire area of the flash memory 3.
Japanese patent application laid-open No. 7-49852 (1995) discloses a technique in which the CPU 4 receives the boot program from the host computer 7. This technique, however, has a problem in that it must prestore a load program for receiving the boot program in the flash memory 3, and so it cannot release the entire area of the flash memory 3 as the user program area 3b.

Microcomputer utilizing flash memory for data storage


A warp knitting machine comprises a brake operative upon current interruption. The guide bars are displaced by an electrical setting motor as well as a control arrangement, which establishes the position of the guide bars in dependence upon the angular position of the main shaft. The control arrangement bases its control upon a predetermined displacement function relating the positions of the main shaft and guide bar. The setting motor and control arrangement are connected to a main power source via an intermediate circuit, which has at least one storage condenser. This machine allows for a rather rapid change of the lapping pattern and a continuance of controlled guide bar displacement right up to the standstill of the main shaft.

1. Field Of the Invention
The present invention relates warp knitting machines having (a) a main shaft driven by an electrical main motor, (b) an electrically operated brake activated upon current interruption, and (c) at least one supplemental electrical system connected to the main power circuit, for influencing the thread feed.
2. Description Of Related Art
When a warp knitting machine of the foregoing type (DE PS 30 25 792) is switched, the supplemental control system is separated from the power mains by a time delay relay, so that the supplemental system operates until the actual standstill of the main shaft. However, if power mains fail both the main shaft motor as well as the supplemental system lose power. While inertia causes the main shaft to runs on, immediate inoperability befalls the supplemental system, that is, the controlling motor for the warp beam drive speed and a jacquard arrangement. The main shaft is not considered a substantial problem since the brake on the main shaft operates quite rapidly, that is, within one or two revolutions. The thus resulting pattern errors are not observable to the naked eye.
Generally speaking, guide bars are mechanically connected to the main shaft, suitably by means of a cam plate system or pattern chains. Thus, after the run down of the main shaft, the correct correspondence between the guides and the remaining operating elements remains. It is however, burdensome to alter such displacement patterns since this requires an exchange of cam plates or pattern chains. It is thus either impossible or rather difficult to provide a displacement pattern with a longer repeat.
A control arrangement for the displacement of guide bars in warp knitting machines is known (DE OS 22 57 224), in which the displacement steps to be taken are read off from a schedule carrier, for example a punched or magnetic tape. A synchronizing transmitter generates a signal in particular angular positions of the main shaft, based on which, the most recently read displacement step is carried out by means of a position control circuit. By using another schedule carrier, it is possible to change the pattern by changing the displacement motion. The progress of the displacement motion cannot be controlled since it depends upon the design of the control circuit.
Accordingly, there is a need for a warp knitting machine of the above-mentioned type in which the displacement pattern for the guide bars may be altered in a simple and procedurally safe manner.

Warp knitting machine with electrically controlled thread feed


A facsimile apparatus includes: receiving unit which receives plural types of sheets including facsimile sheets; a printing unit which performs printing on the sheet received in the receiving unit; an operation unit which is operated; a facsimile data receiving unit which receives facsimile data; a reception print controller which allows the printing unit to perform facsimile printing on the basis of the received facsimile data; and a sheet-setting acquiring unit which acquires sheet setting of a type of sheets to be printed, wherein the reception print controller selectively performs reception setting for automatic reception in which the facsimile printing is performed by the printing unit when the facsimile data is received and reception setting for manual reception in which the facsimile printing is performed on the basis of the operation of the operation unit after the facsimile data is received, and the reception print controller performs the reception setting in accordance with the acquired sheet setting.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of performing facsimile printing on a preset paper sheet and a method of controlling the facsimile apparatus.
2. Related Art
Recently, a printer, a so-called multi-function printer capable of performing a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a facsimile function, and a printing function has been widely used. Since the multi-function printer has the printing function of a normal printer, the multi-function printer is mounted with a sheet tray which can receive various types of sheets such as an A4 regular sheet and an L-size photo sheet.
An apparatus such as the multi-function printer having a facsimile function can perform a plurality of reception setting. In this case, as the reception setting, there are manual reception in which an image of facsimile data is allowed to be printed by performing an operation by a user when the facsimile data is received, and automatic reception in which the printing is performed without the operation of the user when the facsimile data is received.
As the apparatus having the facsimile function, JP-A-5-130385 discloses a technique in which the size of a printing sheet is set in advance and a facsimile reception image is magnified according to a set print size to print the image.
However, if the technique disclosed in JP-A-130385 is applied to the multi-function printer, there may arise a problem that a facsimile document is printed on a sheet such as the L-size photo sheet which is not a facsimile sheet. That is, the sheet tray of the multi-function printer is configured so as to receive various types of sheets. Accordingly, in a case of using the facsimile function which is set to the automatic reception after use of the printing function, for example, there is a probability that facsimile printing is performed on a sheet such as a sheet with a different size or an expensive sheet which are not the facsimile sheet.

Facsimile apparatus and method of controlling facsimile apparatus


A dielectric polymeric composition comprising a polymeric matrix comprising structural units derived from a polymerizable vinyl monomer; an ionic liquid comprising an organic cation and a balancing anion, wherein the ionic liquid is miscible or partially miscible with the polymerizable vinyl monomer, and wherein the concentration of ionic liquid in dielectric polymeric composition ranges from 0.5 to 30 wt. %; and less than 10 ppm of unreacted polymerizable vinyl monomer, based on the total weight of the composition, wherein an amount of unreacted polymerizable vinyl monomer in the composition is measured via HPLC. The polymeric matrix further comprises structural units derived from a polymerizable co-monomer comprising a functional group that has the ability to form hydrogen bonds within the polymeric matrix. The polymeric matrix further comprises a crosslinking agent, and wherein the polymeric matrix comprises covalent crosslinks between the crosslinking agent and the structural units derived from the polymerizable vinyl monomer.

Piezoelectric materials are key components of electromechanical transducers (sensors and actuators) for automatic control systems, as well as measurement and monitoring systems. Ferroelectric materials (a subset of piezoelectric materials) can be found in a wide range of applications, such as sensors actuators, transducers, and electronic devices (e.g., nonvolatile memory); which in turn connects the use of ferroelectric materials to industry segments such as consumer electronics, healthcare, transportation (e.g., aviation), etc. As a result, ferroelectricity has been the focus of research over last several decades and continues to dominate the material research world. Most commercial applications of ferroelectric materials are based on inorganic piezoceramics (e.g., lead zirconate titanate (PZT), barium titanate), despite the fact that these inorganic piezoceramics are heavy, brittle and pose a variety of challenges, such as lead toxicity, low achievable strain under external electric field, as well as difficult and expensive processability. In addition, severe processing conditions, such as high temperatures (>500° C.) used to process inorganic ferroelectric materials into thin layers onto substrates, limits the choice of substrate materials. These high processing temperatures can further cause serious issues for certain applications, such as degradation of data retention characteristics in ferroelectric memory. Further, inorganic piezoceramics are difficult and expensive to produce on a commercial scale.
Ferroelectric polymers can offer several advantages, which include mechanical flexibility, light weight, low processing temperatures, and ease of processing to achieve complex shapes. Despite such advantages over ceramic materials, the ferroelectric polymers generally suffer from lower ferroelectric response compared to inorganic piezoceramics, and further require a high electric field. Examples of ferroelectric polymers are polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and its copolymers and terpolymers. PVDF is a semicrystalline polymer; which is polymorphic in nature, having four crystal phases (α, β, γ, δ), out of which the polar β phase is responsible for ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity. In the case of a free standing PVDF film, the β phase can be obtained by mechanical stretching, which cannot be used in conjunction with film deposition on a substrate. The use of polar solvents for casting thin films on a substrate could lead to the PVDF β phase; however, such films are only stable at low drying temperatures (<50° C.), and such low drying temperatures lead to porous films with poor electrical properties. Vinylidene fluoride based piezoelectric polymers can solve some of the problems posed by the inorganic piezoceramics by offering mechanical flexibility and ease of processing. However, vinylidene fluoride based piezoelectric polymers are also limited owing to their low piezoelectric response and requirement for high input voltage.
Ionic liquids have been used in polymer matrices for developing polymer electrolytes that operate in the electronically conducting region.
Ionic electroactive polymers (EAP) (conductive polymers) based on ion gels have been used in ionic EAP actuators, owing to low input voltage requirement. While ionic EAPs need low voltage for activation (e.g., 1 to 2 V), they suffer in response speed due to the migration of ions.
The use of ionic liquids in polymers with the purpose of producing ferroelectric polymers has led to materials with a high polarization loss (leakage). Thus, there is an ongoing need for the development of ferroelectric materials with improved ferroelectric properties and methods of making and using same.


A system and method for generating a set of programming instructions for manipulating a vehicle frame are provided. A frame computing device obtains configuration information for an identified vehicle frame. The frame computing device sub-divides the selected vehicle frame into a set of regions and obtains programming modules for each of the components mounted in the set of regions. The frame computing device processes the program modules to generate a cumulative set of programming instructions for manipulating the vehicle frame.

Generally described, the manufacture of vehicles, especially large commercial vehicles, can require a specification of a number of components that are to be included with the vehicle. In many instances, a purchaser, or designer, can select from a number of options for each component to be included in the vehicle. For example, a purchaser may have the ability to select from more than a half dozen variations of fuel tank components for a commercial truck. In turn, each specified component can correspond to one or more pieces of geometry that make up the component. For example, a fuel tank component can include one piece of geometry that corresponds to the tank, two or more pieces of geometry that correspond to straps/brackets for mounting the tank and a number of additional pieces of geometry that correspond to mounting bolts that attach the tank to the straps/brackets and that attach the straps/brackets to the frame. As the number of component options increase, the design of the vehicle, often referred to as a frame design, becomes customized and unique for each truck.
In a typical large-scale manufacturing environment, automated robotic systems can be utilized to apply paint to the vehicle frame and its mounted components. One skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that automated robotic systems can be programmed by a series of instructions that control the movement of the robotic components, such as robotic arms, to achieve a desired result. As applied to painting, the automated robotic systems can be programmed to execute a series of steps designed to apply paint to the vehicle frame and its unique components.
Although automated robotic system can facilitate the manufacturing process, current approaches to generating a set of instructions for the automated robotic system can become deficient for highly customizable items. With specific reference to vehicle frame painting, current declarative programming approaches for automated robotic systems typically require that a customized set of programming instructions be generated for each vehicle frame to be painted. This current approach can be inefficient in the additional time to program specific instructions for each vehicle frame.
Thus, there is a need for a system and method for automating the generation of programming code for manipulating frame design components.

Dynamic program module generation for manipulating vehicle frame


The invention relates to interconnects for an integrated circuit memory device. Embodiments of the invention include processes to fabricate interconnects for memory devices in relatively few steps. Embodiments of the invention further include memory devices with metallization layers having unequal pitch dimensions in different areas of the chip, thereby permitting simultaneous fabrication of array electrodes and electrical interconnects in different areas of the chip. This reduces the number of fabrication steps used to make interconnects, thereby speeding up fabrication and reducing production costs.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for metallization in data storage devices for integrated circuits, and more particularly, to randomly accessible memory devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computers and other digital systems use memory to store programs and data. A common form of memory is random access memory (RAM). Many memory devices, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices and static random access memory (SRAM) devices are volatile memories. A volatile memory loses its data when power is removed. For example, after a conventional personal computer is powered off, the volatile memory is typically reloaded through a boot up process upon a restart. In addition, certain volatile memories such as DRAM devices require periodic refresh cycles to retain data even when power is continuously supplied.
Nonvolatile memory devices retain data for long periods of time when power is removed. Examples of nonvolatile memory devices include read only memory (ROM), programmable read only memory (PROM), erasable PROM (EEPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, and the like. These memory devices are also randomly addressable memory devices. Disadvantageously, conventional nonvolatile memories are relatively large (physically), slow, and expensive. Further, conventional nonvolatile memories are relatively limited in write cycle capability and typically can only be programmed to store data about 10,000 times in a particular memory location. This prevents a conventional non-volatile memory device, such as a flash memory device, from being used as general purpose memory.
An alternative memory device is known as magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM). An MRAM device uses magnetic orientations to retain data in its memory cells. Advantageously, MRAM devices are relatively fast, are nonvolatile, consume relatively little power, and do not suffer from restrictive write cycle limitations. There are many different types of MRAM devices.
In a giant magneto-resistance (GMR) MRAM cell, at least two ferromagnetic layers are separated by a non-magnetic layer. One of the ferromagnetic layers has a relatively high coercivity and is provided a fixed or "pinned" magnetic vector. The other ferromagnetic layer has a lower coercivity, wherein the orientation of its magnetic vector can be "varied" by a field not large enough to re-orient the pinned layer.
In a tunneling magneto-resistance (TMR) cell, the layer of non-magnetic material corresponds to a relatively thin layer of insulating material, which is made thin enough to permit electron tunneling, i.e., quantum mechanical tunneling of electrons from one of the ferromagnetic layers to the other. The passage of electrons through the stack of layered materials depends upon the orientation of the magnetic vector of the soft magnetic or variable layer relative to that of the pinned layer; electrons pass more freely when the magnetic vectors of the variable and pinned layers are aligned.
The demand for larger and larger memory devices is ever increasing. To meet the demand for larger memory, even more memory cells are packed into memory arrays of memory devices. This increases the number of electrodes for memory cells and interconnects for logic throughout the memory device. Electrodes and interconnects are typically fabricated by forming layers of interlayer dielectric (ILD) and layers of metallization. The fabrication of multiple layers of metallization can be time consuming and expensive.

Integrated circuits with contemporaneously formed array electrodes and logic interconnects


A method of assembling a slider window assembly for a vehicle includes providing at least one fixed window panel defining an opening with an upper frame portion and a lower frame portion fixed relative to the fixed window panel. A movable window panel is loaded at the upper and lower frame portions by (i) inserting a lower portion of the movable window panel into a portion of a lower channel element of the lower frame portion to a first depth, (ii) aligning an upper portion of the movable window panel with an upper channel of the upper frame portion, (iii) raising the movable window panel so that the upper portion is at least partially received in the upper channel and the lower portion is at a second depth to generally align with a receiving portion of the guide element, and (iv) moving the lower portion into the guide element.

It is known to provide a slider window assembly for an opening of a vehicle, such as a rear slider window assembly for a rear opening of a pickup truck. Conventional slider window assemblies for rear openings of trucks or the like typically include three or more panels, such as two fixed window panels and a slidable window panel. The slidable window panel is supported by rails and may be moved along the rails to open and close the window. Typically, the upper rail includes a resilient filler and is sized to be able to sufficiently receive the upper edge region of the slidable window panel to allow for a carrier at the lower edge region of the slidable window panel to be aligned with and dropped or lowered into the lower rail.

Method of assembling a slider window assembly


Connector (20) includes switches (32,132) each having a movable switching terminal (34,134) with a spring arm (40,140) engaged by a stationary terminal (54,154) at a switch point when the connector is unmated. Upon connector mating, switching terminal (34,134) is deflected by the mating connector (90) out of engagement with the stationary terminal thereby disrupting a circuit therebetween. The stationary terminal (54,154) engages the switching terminal (34,134) by means of a spring arm (60,160) biased against the switching terminal when the connectors are unmated, resulting in a wiping action when the switching terminal is being deflected away therefrom or resiling thereagainst, during connector mating and unmating respectively.

Electronic devices and connectors such as, for example, audio jacks and like include at least one switch having two terminals that are electrically engaged at a switch point. One such example of a switching jack connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,048 in which one of the terminals is a fixed terminal and the other terminal is a movable terminal that can be moved from electrical engagement with the fixed terminal within the connector to engagement with a mating plug upon inserting the plug into the connector housing. When switching connectors are repeatedly mated and unmated, there is a chance that there will be oxide buildup that will prevent effective electrical connection of the switch after a period of time. It is desirable, therefore, that there be some inherent means for removing any oxide buildup to assure good electrical connection when the plug is removed from the connector.


A seating arrangement designing apparatus includes: a seating arrangement condition table that stores an attribute score indicating intensity of an attribute different for each position regarding a seating arrangement condition, in a data structure of contour lines; a staff condition table that stores tolerance in terms of the attribute of each of staff members; a point calculation unit that calculates a tolerance point indicating a degree of suitability of a certain seat arranged for any of the staff members, based on the attribute score and the tolerance, in a case of planning the seat to be arranged for the staff member; and a seating arrangement determination unit that determines seating arrangement, such that a total sum of the tolerance points for all the staff members satisfies a predetermined condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a program, all of which determine seating arrangement of a plurality of seats for staff members.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, a design of seating arrangement for staff members is a significant factor for improvement or deterioration of business effectiveness at an office. Conditions that should be considered when designing seating arrangement is so diverse to include, for example, sensible temperatures by air conditioning, job titles, work contents, human relationships, and the like; therefore, it has not been easy to determine suitable seating arrangement in accordance with individual conditions.
In such a context, a seating arrangement management apparatus has been disclosed for the purpose of resolving contradictions among a plurality of seating arrangement rules based on a lot of seating arrangement requirements, and responding to the seating arrangement requirements (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2005-004386: Patent Document 1).

Apparatus, method and program for designing seating arrangement


A lever type traction machine including a pair of chain holders for holding a chain entering, between side plates, towards the load sheave. Each of the chain holders is provided with a chain-swelling (slacking) restraint portion for preventing the drain from slacking at the rear of the chain holders. The machine is especially advantageous in that the chain will not become entangled or slackened, even if the traction machine is operated up-side down or on its side.

Conventionally, such a lever type traction machine has been proposed, which as disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Utility Model Publication Gazette No. Hei 2-6065 and shown in FIG. 5, is so constructed that a load sheave A engageable with a chain B is rotatably interposed between side plates; an operating lever is operated to drive a driving shaft S directly connected to or in association with the load sheave A through a speed reduction mechanism so as to haul the chain B engaged with the load sheave A, and a pair of chain holders, C1 and C2 are provided between the side plates, at both radial sides of the load sheave A for guiding therebetween the entering chain B to load sheave A.
The chain holders C1 and C2 in the lever type traction machine, as shown in FIG. 5, each form a guide surface in a circular arc at the opposite surface to the load sheave A, and the guide surface is formed in a circular arc around the center apart from the guide surface with respect to the axis of the driving shaft so that the chain B entering between the side plates can be guided toward the load sheave A.
At both side surfaces of the respective chain holders C1 and C2 are provided circular projections to be fitted into fitting bores provided at the side plates, respectively. Insertion bores F are also provided for receiving stay bolts E for fixing the side plates, respectively. The stay bolts E are screwably tightened by nuts so as to fixedly maintain each chain holder C1 or C2 between the side plates at the two positions of the projection D and stay bolt E.
In the lever type traction machine constructed as above, the guide surface at each chain holder C1 or C2 is formed in a circular arc and a wide forward gap is provided between the guide surface and the load sheave A in the entering direction of the chain, whereby the chain B can properly be guided, so as to enter between the side plates toward the load sheave A and prevented from rising with respect to the load sheave A at the portion of a smaller gap. However, the guide surface of each chain holder C1 or C2 similarly is formed in a circular arc which is wide rearwardly in the entering direction, whereby, when the chain is hauled, the load sheave is free-rotatably controlled so as to adjust the chain in length as discussed below, or load traction is released in the state where the lever type traction machine is turned sidewise or upside down. That is, in the state where the drawing plane in FIG. 5 is turned upside down, the chain B engaging with the load sheave A may be swollen (slackened) due to gravity rearwardly in the entering direction of the chain B with respect to each chain holder C1 or C2. Such a swollen chain B interferes with the stay bolt E, or links of the chain B become intertwined with each other, thereby creating the problem in that the load sheave A is hindered from being smoothly driven.
The traction machine, usually, makes the load sheave freely rotatable in the traction direction or the traction releasing direction as the above-mentioned, but since the guide surface of each holder C1 or C2 is formed in a circular arc, when the chain B is intensively hauled in the twisted condition during the free rotation operation, the chain B may enter between each chain holder C1 or C2 and the load sheave. As the result, a problem is created in that the chain B is caught by the chain holder C1 or C2, thus locking the free rotation of the load sheave A.
The chain holders C1 and C2 each fit the fitting projection D into the round fitting bore at each side plate and insert the stay bolt E into the insertion bore F, so as to be fixedly sandwiched between the side plates while being locked at the two positions of the projection D and stay bolt E. Hence, the chain holders C1 and C2 must be constructed to form thereon the insertion bores F, other than projections D, so as to be complicated in construction and requiring much time for machining. Also, the chain holders are large-sized and heavy due to the formation of the insertion bores F. Moreover, the chain holders C1 and C2, when fixedly placed between the side plates, require much time to insert the stay bolts E into the insertion bores F, respectively, thereby creating the problem in that the assembly is complicated.

Hoist including guards with chain swelling and twist corrective surfaces


An antenna, which may be used as an element in an array, includes an elongated curved dielectric member having a high dielectric constant. One end of the dielectric member is in physical contact with the “center” conductor of an unbalanced transmission line, and projects above a ground plane. The dielectric member is roughly vertical at the feed point and horizontal at the distal end. The dielectric constant is greater than 10, preferably greater than about 80, and most preferably 120 or more.

Antennas are recognized as being transducers which transduce electromagnetic signals between the guided-wave form, in which the direction of propagation is controlled by a conductive or dielectric waveguide, and a free-space form, in which the propagation takes place in an unguided manner. Those skilled in the art know that many terms associated with antennas are used for historical reasons. For example, at a time at which reception of signals was accomplished only by the use of a long wire connected to the receiver, antenna coupling problems were experienced only when high power was involved, which was the case with transmitting antennas. These antenna coupling problems were discussed in terms of radiation of signals applied to a "feed" point or terminals of the antenna. Only later was it recognized that the radiation pattern and impedance characteristics of antennas were identical regardless of the direction of transduction, but by that time the "feed" terminology was firmly established. Thus, both transmitting and receiving antennas have "feed" points or terminals, and characteristics which are the same. Thus, descriptions of antenna operation may be couched in terms of transmission or reception modes, whichever provides the greater clarity in a given context, with the operation in the other mode being understood from the one description.
Antennas are widely used, to the extent that modern communication and sensing would be unrecognizable without their application. Many antenna types are known, including the long-wire Beverage antenna, the dipole and its monopole-over-ground-plane equivalent. The monopole and dipole antenna linear antennas have well-known radiation and impedance characteristics. Among the radiation pattern characteristics of monopole and dipole antennas are relatively limited bandwidth and relatively low gain, which tend to reduce their usefulness for demanding applications.
The art of arraying of elemental antennas such as monopoles and dipoles has long been used to ameliorate some of the disadvantages of linear antennas. Broadband arrays of dipoles and monopoles are known in the form of one-dimensional or line arrays, which tend to provide greater directivity than a single antenna element. Among the line arrays are log-periodic arrays, in which the dimensions of the constituent antenna elements vary in a monotonic manner along the length of the antenna. Log-periodic arrays, in addition to providing more directive gain than a single linear antenna, also have theoretically unlimited bandwidth. U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,857 issued Mar. 23, 1993 in the name of Chiappetta and U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,439 issued May 25, 1993 in the name of Reed describe log-periodic arrays. Another widely used type of array is the planar array, which is a two-dimensional arraying of elemental antennas. As ordinarily configured, such arrays can provide relatively high directivity in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the array. Those skilled in the art know that many different types of elemental antennas can be arrayed in two dimensions. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,771 issued Nov. 2, 1993 in the name of Praba describes a two-dimensional array of elemental helix antennas.
For some uses, two-dimensional arrays of antenna elements may include hundreds or even thousands of elemental antennas. The use of elemental antennas in an array may require a transmit-receive "feed" module for each elemental antenna. One arrangement for implementing transmit-receive feed modules for a two-dimensional array of elemental antennas is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,927, issued May 21, 1991 in the name of Agrawal et al. Another feed arrangement for implementation of a two-dimensional antenna array is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,244, issued May 19, 1992 in the name of Freedman et al. Regardless of the type of feed, cost considerations become important when considering arrays of more than a few elements. The cost of the elemental antennas is of more than passing interest when large numbers of elements are to be used. In addition, the complexity of the mounting arrangements for each elemental antenna must be considered. U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,474, issued Oct. 17, 1995 in the name of Mattioli et al. describes an array antenna in which the elemental radiating antennas are horns, and the feed arrangement for each elemental horn includes a movable feed element which is inserted from the rear into the horn.
Simple and or low-cost antennas are desired, especially those which are convenient to array.

Antenna element with curved dielectric member and array of such elements


A technique for passive alignment of an opto-electronic device, such as laser, by alignment fiducials to a silicon wafer board utilizes a tilted notch in the opto-electronic device. This system overcomes limitations using standard etched notches for previous passive alignment systems. Specifically, the tilted notch presents a range of offset distances between the edge of the notch and the active light-emitting spot of the laser. Depending on the location at which the wafer is diced or cleaved, the distance from the notch on the laser to the laser stripe can be adjusted after the laser wafer is fabricated.

Optical communications have been fostered by passive alignment techniques which eliminate a substantial portion of active alignment of an optoelectronic device to an optical waveguide. Typical examples of such alignment techniques are with a laser aligned to an optical fiber or planar waveguide. While offering a great deal of precision, active alignment is very labor intensive, and accordingly results in a very high cost end product. The desire is for a high precision alignment, without the attendant disadvantage of cost associated with active alignment. One such technique for passive alignment as a low cost replacement for active alignment is found using silicon waferboard (SWT) technology. In silicon waferboard technology, a substrate of preferably monocrystalline material is selectively etched to effect alignment fiducials as well as grooves for reception of optical fibers.
One such example of passive alignment in silicon waferboard technology is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,108 to Armiento et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. This reference discloses a notch for passive alignment of an optoelectronic device to alignment fiducials, pedestals and standoffs, located on the silicon waferboard substrate. Such an alignment scheme is as shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen, the alignment notch 101 on the laser bar 102 has a substantially right angle orientation. The pedestals 103 and standoffs 104 which facilitate alignment of the laser bar in the x, y plane and z direction, respectively, are also of a right angle orientation as is shown. While such an apparatus for the alignment of an optoelectronic device to an optical fiber or planar waveguide has definite merit when compared to active alignment techniques, there is a potential disadvantage due to the limitation of the precision etch. To this end, tolerances for the notch location relative to the laser mode are on the order of 0.1 to 0.2 microns for passive alignment assemblies suitable for single mode optical fiber alignment. Typically, the technology for locating etched notches in laser wafers is .+-.0.2 to 0.5 microns in precision at best, so it can be seen that the potential for manufacturing yield loss is great. To this end, the degree of freedom afforded the right angle notch and pedestal/standoff alignment fiducials is not great enough when compared to the required tolerances for passive alignment assemblies given the current state of precision etching techniques. Accordingly, because a single wafer of semiconductor lasers is relatively expensive, the overall cost per part is correspondingly higher as the manufacturing yield is reduced by unacceptable alignment.
What is needed is an alignment scheme in a passive manner where aligning an optoelectronic device to an optical waveguide using silicon waferboard technology has a greater degree of freedom to enable an overlap of the alignment tolerances of single mode applications with the etching precision limitations of standard technology.

Tilted notched for passive optical alignment