An initialization for runout cancellation for a hard disk drive such as a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) hard disk drive. The hard disk drive at a servo sample rate updates a set of state variables. At an index wedge the state variables are stored to a memory. Upon a command to perform a head switch the hard disk reads the previously stored state variables from the memory. The previously stored state variables are used to adjust the repeatable runout based on the location of a head relative to an index wedge.

Hard disk drives use spindle motors to spin a number of magnetic disks past a number of read/write heads. The read/write heads follow tracks on the magnetic disks during track following operations. The spindle motor introduces spindle harmonics into the motion of the magnetic disks. These spindle harmonics cause tracking error known as "repeatable runout." Eliminating the repeatable runout from the tracking error in a disk drive is a common problem facing the hard disk drive designer. Conventional methods use an algorithm which measures the amplitude and phase of the repeatable runout to be eliminated or canceled. A feedforward signal based on the measured phase and amplitude is injected into the system that causes the head to track the disk motion for that harmonic, eliminating it from the tracking error. The injected signal can be calculated from parameters of the control system, or the measurement can be made repeatedly and an approximate injection signal refined over several iterations until the repeatable runout is reduced to an acceptable level. This process is repeated for each head, and the magnitude and phase is stored in memory during a calibration procedure that is done during drive power up, and possibly other defined times. These values are then used whenever the head is selected.
A disadvantage to these systems is that the repeatable runout may change phase and magnitude during normal operation of the drive. Temperature changes are the most likely cause of such shifts. This causes the previous calibration and cancellation of the runout to be wrong, possibly making it worse than if there were no cancellation at all. This requires the drive to either periodically initiate a calibration to detect any changes, or to use an error detecting scheme to decide when to calibrate. In either case, the normal operation of the drive is interrupted, since the calibration can take on the order of seconds to complete.
Schemes that accomplish a continuous cancellation of a repeatable signal are well known. These methods add two state variables that form an oscillator with feedback that conceptually works as an integrator does to eliminate DC bias. This oscillator integrates the error at the harmonic frequency and applies a canceling drive to the actuator, the advantage being that it operates continuously and responds to any changes in the harmonic at a rate that is determined by the normal control system tuning procedures. The cancellation scheme is integrated seamlessly with a standard state space design, allowing for all the well known design procedures to be applied, such as pole placement. Since it adapts itself to the magnitude and phase of the harmonic continuously, the need for an initial calibration procedure is eliminated.
A difficulty arises during initialization of these state variables when a new head is selected--i.e. a head switch is performed. After a new head is selected, the canceler states still apply to the prior head because each head represents a new gain factor in the system. Thus, without initialization, the canceler does not remove the runout error. Further, the state variables are applied according to the angular location of an upcoming servo wedge in a sampled servo system. Considering that there may be 60 or more servo wedges dispersed along a track, and perhaps 4 or more heads, the time and storage requirements for initialization of the variables is significant.
What is needed is a method for initializing the states of the repeatable runout canceler in a digital control system when switching heads that is efficient from a time and storage perspective.

initialization method and apparatus for a runout cancellation method


Provided is a method of manufacturing a nano-sized MTJ cell in which a contact in the MTJ cell is formed without forming a contact hole. The method of forming the MTJ cell includes forming an MTJ layer on a substrate, forming an MTJ cell region by patterning the MTJ layer, sequentially depositing an insulating layer and a mask layer on the MTJ layer, exposing an upper surface of the MTJ cell region by etching the mask layer and the insulating layer at the same etching rate, and depositing a metal layer on the insulating layer and the MTJ layer.

Priority is claimed to Korean Patent Application No. 2004-3237, filed on Jan. 16, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a nano-sized magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) cell without a contact hole, and more particularly, to a method of forming a nano-sized MTJ cell in which a contact is formed in the MTJ cell without forming a contact hole.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flash memory is a type of nonvolatile memory that has an advantage in that data recorded in the memory is preserved even if power is turned off. However, the recording speed of data in flash memory is approximately one one-thousandth that of DRAM, and flash memory also has high power consumption. Also, there is, to some extent, a limit of data erasing and writing times. Therefore, research has gone into the advantages of the DRAM and the flash memory, that is, reading and recording at a high speed, low power consumption, and data preservation even if power is turned off. As a result of the research, ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), ovonic unified memory (OVM), and MRAM have been introduced as non-volatile memory.
Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) is non-volatile memory in which a memory cell includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) that stores information using a tunneling magneto resistance effect. Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an MTJ includes an insulating layer 200 (tunnel barrier layer) interposed between two ferromagnetic layers 100 and 300. Data stored in the MTJ depends on the direction of magnetization, i.e., whether the direction of the magnetization either same or opposite. That is, as depicted in FIG. 1A, if the directions of magnetization are parallel, the tunnel resistance of the insulating layer 200 (barrier layer) interposed between the two ferromagnetic layers 100 and 300 is minimized, and the MTJ is in a "1" state. On the other hand, as depicted in FIG. 1B, if the directions of magnetization are anti-parallel, the tunnel resistance of the insulating layer 200 is maximized, that is, the MTJ is in a "0" state. By utilizing these unique characteristics of the MTJ, the MTJ can function as a memory cell. Hereinafter, a memory cell including the MTJ will be called an MTJ cell for convenience.
FIGS. 2A through 2H are cross-sectional views illustrating a conventional method of forming an MTJ cell.
Referring to FIG. 2A, an MTJ layer 220 and a hard mask layer 230 are sequentially formed on a substrate 10. After stacking a photo-resist 232, on a portion of the hard mask layer 230 in which an MTJ cell will be formed, the hard mask layer 230 is dry etched using the photo-resist 232 as an etch mask. Referring to FIG. 2B, the photo-resist 232 is then removed.
Next, a remaining portion of the hard mask layer 230 and a portion of the MTJ layer 220 are dry etched (FIG. 2C), and then an insulating layer 240 is deposited on the resultant product (FIG. 2D). Then, referring to FIG. 2E, a mask layer 235 for forming a contact hole 260 is coated on the insulating layer2 40, and then, a contact hole is patterned by performing lithography using a Kr stepper. Then, referring to FIG. 2F, central portions of the insulating layer 240 and the photo mask 235 are etched, thereby forming the contact hole 260 in the middle of the MTJ cell. Finally, the mask layer 235 is removed (FIG. 2G) and a metal layer 250 is coated on the resultant product (FIG. 2H) to complete the manufacturing of the MTJ cell.
A memory cell formed in this manner can record and reproduce at high speeds and has lower power consumption, and an unlimited number of data corrections can be made.
However, for practical applications, high integration of the MRAM is essential. Therefore, the MTJ cell must have a width less than 100 nm. However, it is difficult to manufacture an MTJ cell having a width less than 100 nm using the present technique. If the MTJ cell is manufactured according to a conventional method, a contact has to be formed after forming a contact hole having a diameter much less than 100 nm in the MTJ cell with a width of 100 nm. Thus, it is impossible to form an MTJ cell having a width less than 100 nm using conventional methods. The size of conventional MTJ cells developed is no smaller than 400×800 nm, which is much greater than the required size for high integration. That is, the applicability of conventional MRAM is very low. Moreover, when an MTJ cell is formed according to a conventional method, a resistance of the contact is high since the contact hole is very small, thereby causing errors during recording and reproducing data and increasing power consumption.

Method of forming nano-sized MTJ cell without contact hole


A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for problem identification and resolution using intelligent agents. In at least one embodiment, an agent is a software element configured to detect a situation (e.g., problem or problems) and take steps to preserve a context in which the situation occurs. The agent may also be configured to identify one or more courses of action (e.g., solutions) to be taken in response to the situation. In one embodiment, a user trains an agent to take a particular action upon detecting a particular problem. The training may be initiated after accessing a log containing details about the problem context and recommended courses of action.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to data processing and, more particularly, to intelligent software agents.
2. Description of the Related Art
The automation of tedious and complex tasks has long been a goal of computer science. In this regard, intelligent agents have attracted significant attention in recent years. Generally, an agent is a computer system or software program that supports a user with accomplishment of some task or activity. Intelligent software agents may be characterized as long-running processes that monitor information concerning their environment via events or polling, process that information using procedural or declarative domain knowledge, and then take actions to respond to situations detected in their environment.
Agents have found utility in a variety of environments. For example, on the Internet, an agent is a program that gathers information or performs some other service on a regular schedule and without the immediate presence of a human user. Typically, an agent program, using parameters provided by a user, searches all or some part of the Internet gathering information of interest to the user, and then presents it to the user on a periodic basis. A particular example of an agent is the email reminder service that alerts the user about news on specified topics of interest. A number of similar agents compare shopping prices and bring the news back to the user. Other types of agents include specific site watchers that tell users when the site has been updated or look for other events and analyst agents that not only gather but also organize and interpret information.
In a commercial multiagent system application, hundreds or thousands of software agents could be running at one time. When managing a large number of systems, an administrator depends on these agents to take action. However, the administrator must maintain some degree of interaction (i.e., control over and communication with) with the agents. Interaction is needed to allow observation of an agent's behavior, to prevent agents from performing undesired actions, and to facilitate changes to the agents, if needed. These needs must be met without sacrificing the utility of the agent.
However, the conventional agent lifecycle does not provide the degree of interaction necessary to achieve the foregoing needs. A conventional agent lifecycle includes training, start up and interaction, problem identification and problem resolution. An agent is typically trained using a set of data or encoded rules. The agent is then invoked (e.g., instantiated) and allowed to interact with its environment according to the data or rules. Upon identifying a problem the agent either asks permission of a user to fix the problem, or attempt to fix the problem automatically. The information relating to the problem and its resolution may be logged.
The current approaches to problem identification and resolution using agents are problematic. Specifically, if the agent is configured to ask permission to fix the problem, the agent is suspended from performing its functions until the user provides an answer. No mechanism exists for allowing the agent to continue its functions pending an answer from the user. If the agent is configured to fix the problem automatically (i.e., without requesting explicit permission from the user upon identification of the problem), the agent may pursue a solution which is later considered to be undesirable by the user (e.g., the course of action taken by the agent failed to adequately solve the problem, and/or had destructive results). In addition, the only remedy to prevent a reoccurrence under similar circumstances is to take the agent off-line and retrain it. The success of a retraining effort depends, of course, upon the user's understanding of the problem and the circumstances giving rise to the problem. For this understanding, the user may resort to the log in which the problem is recorded. However, the log provides little more than a top-level generalization of the problem and is, therefore, of little value to a user seeking a more comprehensive understanding of the problem.
Therefore, there is a need for agents capable of more efficient problem resolution.

Communication between intelligent agents and humans in a distributed system environment

International Business Machines Corporation


A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing the processing of a document. A set of services registered for use in processing a document received from a client is identified in which registration information for each service within the set of services provides input requirements. A service from the set of registered services is selected to form a selected service by comparing a current state of the document with the input requirements for each service within the set of registered services. Execution of the selected service on the document is initiated, wherein a state transition occurs to a new state, which becomes the current state of the document processing system. The document processing system state is comprised of a collection of information fragments (tuples) which represent the set of documents currently being processed and the state of each document currently being processed. The selecting step and the initiating step are repeated until a response is returned to the client. In response to a request to register a new service, the set of registered services provided for processing of the document is dynamically altered to include the new service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for processing requests from clients. Still more particularly, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for processing documents received from clients using services associated with a gateway.
2. Background of the Invention
The Internet, also referred to as an "internetwork", is a set of computer networks, possibly dissimilar, joined together by means of gateways that handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from a protocol of the sending network to a protocol used by the receiving network. When capitalized, the term "Internet" refers to the collection of networks and gateways that use the TCP/IP suite of protocols.
The Internet has become a cultural fixture as a source of both information and entertainment. Many businesses are creating Internet sites as an integral part of their marketing efforts, informing consumers of the products or services offered by the business or providing other information seeking to engender brand loyalty. Many federal, state, and local government agencies are also employing Internet sites for informational purposes, particularly agencies which must interact with virtually all segments of society such as the Internal Revenue Service and secretaries of state. Providing informational guides and/or searchable databases of online public records may reduce operating costs. Further, the Internet is becoming increasingly popular as a medium for commercial transactions.
Currently, the most commonly employed method of transferring data over the Internet is to employ the World Wide Web environment, also called simply "the Web". Other Internet resources exist for transferring information, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Gopher, but have not achieved the popularity of the Web. In the Web environment, servers and clients effect data transaction using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a known protocol for handling the transfer of various data files (e.g., text, still graphic images, audio, motion video, etc.). The information in various data files is formatted for presentation to a user by a standard page description language, the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). In addition to basic presentation formatting, HTML allows developers to specify "links" to other Web resources identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). A URL is a special syntax identifier defining a communications path to specific information. Each logical block of information accessible to a client, called a "page" or a "Web page", is identified by a URL. The URL provides a universal, consistent method for finding and accessing this information, not necessarily for the user, but mostly for the user's Web "browser". A browser is a program capable of submitting a request for information identified by an identifier, such as, for example, a URL. A user may enter a domain name through a graphical user interface (GUI) for the browser to access a source of content. The domain name is automatically converted to the Internet Protocol (IP) address by a domain name system (DNS), which is a service that translates the symbolic name entered by the user into an IP address by looking up the domain name in a database.
Many businesses initiate and execute business transactions over the Web. Many of these transactions involve the exchange of documents, such as Web pages or extensible markup language (XML) documents. For example, a client of a supplier may request goods by submitting an order contained in an XML document. When this document is received by the supplier, the document is processed to fill the order. A receipt and/or invoice may be returned as a response to the order. This receipt and/or invoice may be returned in an XML document to the client.
Currently, the workflow used in handling business transactions and other types of requests involves a process or workflow that is implemented within a server computer. This processor workflow is static. Changes to the workflow require redesigning of the program or process implementing the workflow. For example, a supplier may desire to selectively send invoices along with receipts to some clients while only sending receipts to other clients. If the workflow system currently sends receipts and invoices to all clients, the workflow system must be altered to allow for selective sending of invoices. Making such changes may be time consuming and complex depending on the architecture of the workflow implemented in the server.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for allowing dynamic changes to processes used to handle client requests.

Method and apparatus for processing workflow through a gateway


Cable comprising at least one of aramid, ceramic, boron, poly(p-phenylene-2.6-benzobisoxazole), graphite, carbon, titanium, tungsten, or shape memory alloy and having a stress parameter not greater than 5 MPa. Embodiments of the cable are useful, for example, as an overhead power transmission line.

In general, composites (including metal matrix composites (MMCs)) are known. Composites typically include a matrix reinforced with fibers, particulates, whiskers, or fibers (e.g., short or long fibers). Examples of metal matrix composites include aluminum matrix composite wires (e.g., silicon carbide, carbon, boron, or polycrystalline alpha alumina fibers embedded in an aluminum matrix), titanium matrix composite tapes (e.g., silicon carbide fibers embedded in a titanium matrix), and copper matrix composite tapes (e.g., silicon carbide or boron fibers embedded in a copper matrix). Examples of polymer matrix composites include carbon or graphite fibers in an epoxy resin matrix, glass or aramid fibers in a polyester resin, and carbon and glass fibers in an epoxy resin.
One use of composite wire (e.g., metal matrix composite wire) is as a reinforcing member in bare overhead electrical power transmission cables. One typical need for cables is driven by the need to increase the power transfer capacity of existing transmission infrastructure.
Desirable performance requirements for cables for overhead power transmission applications include corrosion resistance, environmental endurance (e.g., UV and moisture), resistance to loss of strength at elevated temperatures, creep resistance, as well as relatively high elastic modulus, low density, low coefficient of thermal expansion, high electrical conductivity, and high strength. Although overhead power transmission cables including aluminum matrix composite wires are known, for some applications there is a continuing desire, for example, for more desirable sag properties.


A computer-implemented method for handling path failures to active-passive storage arrays may include identifying a host system with multiple I/O paths to an active-passive storage array. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying a backup system operating for the host system, the backup system having multiple I/O paths to the active-passive storage array. The computer-implemented method may also include disabling at least one secondary path from the backup system to the active-passive storage array. The computer-implemented method may further include detecting a path failure. The computer-implemented method may additionally include reconfiguring the backup system to access the active-passive storage array through the host system. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Organizations increasingly depend on digitally-stored data in the course of business. For this reason, many organizations may employ a backup system, such as a continuous data protection appliance, to protect their data.
In a common configuration, a continuous data protection appliance continuously backs up data from a host system. The continuous data protection appliance may need access to the host data from the same storage system which the host uses to store its data. Furthermore, the host system and the continuous data protection appliance may each connect to the storage system via one of multiple available input/output paths. If one path fails between the storage system and another system (either the host system or the continuous data protection appliance), the system may use another available input/output path.
Unfortunately, if the storage system is an active-passive array, switching paths after path failure may lead to a path conflict and may, consequently, degrade and/or disrupt application I/O from the host system while the continuous data protection system backs up or restores host data. Since application I/O performance may take priority over continuous data protection I/O performance, any interference with application I/O on account of a continuous data protection system may be unacceptable. Accordingly, the instant disclosure addresses a need for systems and methods that handle path failures to active-passive storage arrays without creating path conflicts.

Systems and methods for handling path failures to active-passive storage arrays


A LIDAR system includes a monolithic frequency-stabilized semiconductor laser having a linear thermal wavelength shift and a bandpass filter that is configured to effectuate a thermal wavelength shift that does not deviate from the linear thermal wavelength shift of the semiconductor laser by more than 40%, and a temperature stabilization of the semiconductor laser can be dispensed with by the use of the invention. The LIDAR system can be provided in a control system that includes a control unit that controls obstacle avoidance of a motor vehicle based on an obstacle distance determined by the LIDAR system.

Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) systems are able to determine distances of objects based on reflection light transit times. LIDAR systems are used, for example, in motor vehicles for obstacle avoidance. They supply a controller with a detected obstacle distance, which the controller uses for the obstacle avoidance.
To be able to recognize that detected light was previously emitted and was accordingly reflected from an object, lasers, for example, which in principle emit light at a constant wavelength, are used together with an optical bandpass filter. The bandpass filter is used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio by filtering out background light and includes, for example, an interference filter or a filter which uses a combination of interference and absorption effects.
Solely dielectric interference filters having a low temperature-induced wavelength shift of 0.01 nm/K are typically used. The semiconductor lasers typically used as the laser source, in contrast, have a comparatively large temperature dependence of 0.3 nm/K. Even semiconductor lasers having a monolithic integrated frequency stabilization still have a thermal wavelength shift of 0.07 nm/K.
In order for a laser to be used without temperature stabilization in a LIDAR system, a bandpass filter having a correspondingly broad passband should be used, since otherwise the wavelength of the laser runs out of the passband because of the operating temperature. This limits the achievable signal quality, since the more interfering light is incident on the detector the broader the passband is.
A multilayer interference filter is known from DE 4424717 A1, which includes layers made of hydrogenous amorphous silicon, where a dλ/dt of the two mirror layers is able to be equal, so that a change of the temperature results in a shift of the central wavelength with consistency of the transmission breadth.

Lidar system and control system for a motor vehicle


There is provided a weather strip for a car which is made up of a grip and a seal part. The grip is U-shaped in cross section and is attached to a flange. The grip has a holder part and an insert which is embedded in the holder part. The seal part performs a sealing function. The holder part is made of an olefinic rubber or thermoplastic resin, and the insert is made of an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer or a material containing a filler such as talc or glass fiber.

Conventionally, there is provided a metal insert in a grip of a weather strip which, for example, is attached to a flange formed along an opening for a door in a car body. This insert performs an important function for firmly attaching a grip to the flange.
However, since the conventional insert is made of metal, it is heavy and difficult to handle and, as such, has become a drawback in reducing the weight of a car. Further, since the conventional insert is made of metal, it corrodes and produces rust, decreasing the mechanical strength and outlook of the weather strip. Moreover, in order to recycle materials forming the weather strip, it is necessary to remove the embedded metal insert from the grip, so that there is required a lot of manpower in doing so, and such has become another drawback.
This invention is invented to overcome those drawbacks, and it is an object of the invention to provide a weather strip which is reduced in weight, is prevented from producing corrosion and rust, and is easy to recycle materials forming the weather strip. It is another object of this invention to provide a production method which can easily produce such a weather strip.
It is still another object of the invention to overcome a newly developed drawback which is raised as the present invention comprises an insert made of a thermoplastic elastomer instead of the conventional metal insert. That is, according to the conventional weather strip comprising the metal insert, a coating material (rubber or thermoplastic elastomer) covering the metal insert does not fuse with the metal insert, so that it is easy to bend the weather strip along curved lines of corners.
However, when an insert made of thermoplastic elastomer is used instead of the metal insert, and when the insert as well as the coating materials are both made of olefinic materials, the insert and the coating material fuse with each other by heat when they are co-extruded. Therefore, it is difficult to bend the weather strip along the corners as an extension of the coating material is restrained by the insert. Because of this reason, a bending operation of the weather strip cannot be performed smoothly. One of the objects of this invention is to solve such a problem.

Weather strip for car and production method thereof


A self-aligned split gate bitcell includes first and second regions of charge storage material separated by a gap devoid of charge storage material. Spacers are formed along sidewalls of sacrificial layer extending above and on opposite sides of the bitcell stack, wherein the spacers are separated from one another by at least a gap length. Etching the bitcell stack, selective to the spacers, forms a gap that splits the bitcell stack into first and second gates which together form the split gate bitcell stack. A storage portion of bitcell stack is also etched, wherein etching extends the gap and separates the corresponding layer into first and second separate regions, the extended gap being devoid of charge storage material. Dielectric material is deposited over the gap and etched back to expose a top surface of the sacrificial layer, which is thereafter removed to expose sidewalls of the split gate bitcell stack.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to semiconductor devices, and more specifically, to non-volatile memories having a split gate.
2. Related Art
Non-volatile memories (NVMs) have many important uses in combination with other circuitry, especially when power may not always be applied. This can be for power loss or power savings applications. Primarily, NVMs have been floating gate devices, but floating gates have limitations, especially as geometries have gotten smaller. If there is any leakage path, regardless of how localized, to the floating gate, the charge can be completely removed from the floating gate. Thus, nanocrystals and nitride as the storage layer have become of more interest because one leakage path does not discharge the entire storage layer. One of the structures that has been shown to have much promise for programming efficiency is a split gate memory cell using source side injection in which both a control gate and a select gate influence the channel but only the control gate ever has the higher voltage needed for programming and erasing.
Known split-gate memory cell devices use two gates. A first gate is a control gate to control the program and erase operations. A second gate is a select gate to select when the memory bit is to be programmed. Such known split-gate memory cells are therefore bigger than single gate memory devices. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce dimensions of the structures that are used to implement known split-gate memory cells to take advantage of improvements in processing technology. Thus, it is desirable for a split gate cell, as well as an improved method of making such a split gate cell, in which one or more of the desirable improvements are achieved.

Split gate memory cell using sidewall spacers


The invention relates to a sealing piston, which is designed for use in a hydraulic expansion chucking device. The sealing piston comprises a pin that extends in an axial direction (A), and a seal that adjoins the pin and likewise extends in said axial direction (A). The seal comprises a sealing shaft that adjoins the pin and has a shaft radius (Rs). The seal further comprises a sealing head that adjoins the sealing shaft, wherein the sealing head comprises a circumferential sealing lip, which has a sealing radius (Rd) that is greater than the shaft radius (Rs). The sealing lip forms a contact surface in radial direction (R) for abutment and sealing against an inner wall of a bore in the expansion chucking device, and, measured in axial direction (A), has a sealing length (Ld) that is greater than the difference between the sealing radius (Rd) and the shaft radius (Rs). The invention further relates to a corresponding expansion chucking device.

A hydraulic expansion chucking device holds a tool or a workpiece by means of hydraulic pressure. One example of an expansion chucking device is an expansion chuck. For clamping or unclamping the tool or workpiece, the expansion chucking device comprises an expansion sleeve having a wall and a pressure chamber, in which a fluid is contained. The pressure chamber can be accessed via a bore in the expansion chucking device. A sealing piston is inserted into this bore, by means of which pressure is exerted on the fluid and thus on the wall. The pressure, and consequently also the clamping of the tool or the workpiece in or on the expansion sleeve, can be adjusted by moving the sealing piston in the bore, e.g. by screwing it in or out. Accordingly, more or less pressure is exerted.
EP 1 737 594 B1 and DE 10 2017 002 144 A1 include examples of hydraulic expansion chucks and the associated sealing pistons.
The tightness of the sealing piston inside the bore of the expansion chucking device is of key importance to its optimum operation. Leakage of the fluid out of the pressure chamber should be avoided as much as possible. But, since the sealing piston has to be movable, a seal is difficult to achieve; especially since the repetitive movement of the sealing piston when clamping and unclamping a tool or workpiece causes the sealing piston to wear out over time, as a result of which the sealing effect decreases.

Sealing piston for a hydraulic expansion chucking device and expansion chucking device


A new and distinct variety of female holly plant, having great merit as a landscape plant due to its attractive foliage, heavy production of large berries, and adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions, is herein described.

This new and distinct variety of Ilex, hereafter referred to Ilex .times.. `Wyeriv,` was selected from a group of seedlings in 1971. The plant is a superior specimen plant as a foundation plant or for landscape applications. Because of its highly attractive foliage and berries, cut branches can be used for interior decoration. It is a supposed hybrid of Ilex .times.. Nellie R. Stevens and Ilex cornuta, but the male parentage is uncertain. The plant has been asexually propagated by cuttings at Wye Nursery in Caroline County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.


An OFDM transmitter generates FSK symbols in a communications network. Complex values representing OFDM tones are partitioned in groups. A distinct energy is assigned to each group of complex values. An OFDM modulator is applied to the complex values having the assigned distinct energies to generate FSK symbols corresponding to the groups, and the FSK symbols are transmitted serially.

A number of possible modulation/multiple access schemes are being considered for a physical layer of an ultra wide bandwidth (UWB) communications system by the IEEE 802.15.3 standards working group. One is multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).
As shown generally in FIG. 1, OFDM transmitters send data (OFDM symbols or 'blocks') 101 in parallel on K carrier frequencies ("tones") 102. Note that for multiband OFDM, all of the carrier frequencies are within one band. For example, in one proposal to the IEEE 802.15 standards working group, the 128 tones are spaced approximately 4 MHz apart, and have a duration of approximately 300 ns. Each of the tones is quaternary phase shift keying (QPSK) modulated.
In practice, OFDM signals are not generated by multiple, separately modulated, local oscillators. Instead, an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) is applied to the symbols to be transmitted as individual tones, e.g., see May et al., "Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing," Part IV, Molisch (ed.), Wideband Wireless Digital Communications, Prentice-Hall, pp. 309–385, 2001. The IFFT is typically implemented as a 'butterfly' structure, see, van Nee et al., "OFDM for Wireless Multimedia Communications," Artech House, pp. 33–39, January 2000.
Such a transceiver is relatively complex. However, for some applications, the complexity of OFDM signaling may not be required at a receiver.
An alternative, less complex form of signaling is multiband frequency shift keying (FSK) within each band. Although FSK has usually a lower data rate, and perhaps, a lower quality, FSK signaling is much simpler to implement, reducing the cost of the receiver.
However, providing FSK signaling as an alternative signaling mode has drawbacks for a standardized implementation. Now, the transmitter is required to be able to transmit both high complexity OFDM signals and low-complexity FSK signals. That is, the transmitter must include two different types of modulators, i.e., both OFDM and FSK. This increases the cost of the transmitter.
It is desired to provide an OFDM transmitter that is able to transmit FSK signals without substantially increasing the cost.

OFDM transmitter for generating FSK modulated signals

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


A displacement control valve includes an electromagnetic solenoid, a drive force transmitting body actuated, and a pressure sensitive portion having a pressure sensitive body that selectively extends and contracts in the movement direction of the drive force transmitting body in correspondence with pressure in a pressure sensitive chamber. A first valve body is arranged in the pressure sensitive body to adjust the cross-sectional area of an outlet passage. A second valve body is connected to the drive force transmitting body to adjust the cross-sectional area of a supply passage. The pressure sensitive body is movable in the movement direction of the drive force transmitting body in the pressure sensitive chamber. The pressure sensitive chamber is configured to communicate with the control pressure chamber. The pressure sensitive body is urged by the pressure in the control pressure chamber in the direction in which the first valve body closes.

The present invention relates to a displacement control valve configured to be used in a variable displacement compressor. In the variable displacement compressor, refrigerant is supplied from a discharge pressure zone to a control pressure chamber through a supply passage and sent out from the control pressure chamber to a suction pressure zone through an outlet passage. In this manner, the pressure in the control pressure chamber is adjusted to control displacement of the compressor.
Such variable displacement compressors include a control pressure chamber accommodating a swash plate having a variable inclination angle. Specifically, the inclination angle of the swash plate decreases as the pressure in the control pressure chamber increases. The inclination angle increases as the pressure in the control pressure chamber decreases. A decrease in the inclination of the swash plate leads to a decreases in the piston stroke, thus decreasing displacement of the compressor. In contrast, an increase in the inclination angle of the swash plate causes an increase in the piston stroke so that the compressor displacement increases.
The pressure in the control pressure chamber is adjusted using, for example, a displacement control valve disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-280660. The displacement control valve includes a first valve mechanism for adjusting the opening degree of a passage extending from a crank chamber to a suction chamber in correspondence with extension/contraction of a bellows sensing the pressure in the suction chamber or the crank chamber. The displacement control valve also has a second valve mechanism for adjusting the opening degree of a passage extending from a discharge chamber to the crank chamber in correspondence with opening/closing of the first valve mechanism. The second valve mechanism receives the pressure in the crank chamber or the suction chamber on the surface of a second valve body opposite to the surface of the second valve body by which the second valve body contacts a valve seat. In the second valve mechanism, the pressure receiving area of each of the opposite surfaces of the second valve body is adjusted to substantially cancel the influence by the pressure in the discharge chamber in the directions in which the second valve body is selectively opened and closed. An urging spring is arranged between a valve casing receiving the bellows and the bellows. The urging spring urges the bellows in the direction in which the first valve mechanism closes.
To prevent the second valve mechanism from being influenced by the discharge pressure, the displacement control valve applies the pressure in the crank chamber or the suction chamber also to the back pressure portion of the second valve body. Also, the displacement control valve adjusts the discharge pressure through the valve body so that the displacement control valve as a whole does not receive the discharge pressure. Further, the bellows is urged by the spring to maintain the first valve body in a closed state even when the pressure in the suction chamber increases and the bellows contracts. In addition, since the second valve body is maintained in an open state, a minimum displacement is maintained constantly even when the electric current value in the electromagnetic solenoid is zero.
The bellows is urged by the urging spring such that the first valve body is urged toward a valve hole closing position. The urging force of the urging spring is set to such a value that the first valve body is maintained in the closed state even if the pressure in the suction chamber increases and the bellows contracts. Accordingly, when the first valve body is urged to open by the electromagnetic solenoid, an electric current must be supplied to the electromagnetic solenoid by an amount corresponding to the urging force of the urging spring. Also, when the pressure in the crank chamber increases at the minimum displacement at which the first valve body is maintained in the closed state, a guide is urged by the pressure in the crank chamber to open the first valve body. If the urging force of the urging spring is small compared to the pressure in the crank chamber, the first valve body opens.
As has been described, the conventional configuration allows the first valve body to open when the pressure in the crank chamber increases at the minimum displacement, at which the first valve body is maintained in the closed state. As a result, the minimum displacement cannot be maintained, and the power consumption of the compressor cannot be reduced.


A vehicle capable of being converted between a flying condition and an automotive riding condition. The vehicle has a telescopically extendable tail having a first tubular tail segment and a second tail segment disposed axially slideable within the first tubular tail segment. The tail is provided with at least two form-closing coupling members located at an axial distance from each other for providing a force-transferring coupling between the second tail segment and the first tubular tail segment in the extended state of the second tail segment, each of the form-closing coupling members capable of transferring torque and transverse forces, and each of the form-closing coupling members coming into engagement by axial displacement of the second tail segment in the outward direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a vehicle capable of flying in air.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically, it is customary for airplanes and helicopters to be either flying or standing on the ground, in a parking condition. Nevertheless, it is customary for airplanes and helicopters to have wheels, so that they can be displaced over ground, for instance towards and from a parking location. Airplanes and helicopters may even ride over land, for instance during take-off or landing or during taxiing: except during landing when they already have airspeed, they use their air-propulsion for creating forward groundspeed. However, such ground travel is typically over a relatively short distance at a relatively low speed (except for take-off or landing), and such air-vehicles are not suitable for participating in road traffic.
On the other hand, for road traffic, cars have been developed, and they must meet requirements regarding size, maneuverability, safety, etc. These requirements are not met by flying vehicles, and airplanes and helicopters are not certified for use in traffic on public roads.
While flying machines are not equipped for road traffic, cars are not equipped for flying. Nevertheless, it is desirable to have a vehicle that can be converted from a flying condition to an automotive riding condition, and vice versa.


An apparatuses for pumping fuel to an internal combustion engine has a feed pump, a pressure line leading from the feed pump to the internal combustion engine, a check valve, and a pressure sensor connected to the pressure line is operatively connected to the pressure line downstream of the feed pump and upstream of the check valve. The measurement signal of the pressure sensor is used as a controlled variable for regulating the feed pump and/or for a leak diagnosis in the pressure line and/or for a tank leak diagnosis. The apparatus according to the invention is simplified because only a single pressure sensor is provided for the pressure change in the pressure line and in the tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an improved apparatus for and method of feeding fuel from a tank to an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One apparatus for feeding fuel to an internal combustion engine, known from German Patent Disclosure DE 10043 688 A1, has a feed pump, a pressure line leading from the feed pump to the engine, a check valve located in the pressure line downstream of the feed pump, and a pressure sensor communicating with the pressure line. The pressure line is provided on a so-called fuel distributor and detects the pressure in the fuel distributor and in the pressure line. For a so-called tank leak diagnosis, one additional pressure sensor in the tank is necessary, if a leak in the tank is to be detectable.

Apparatus for pumping fuel from a tank to an internal combustion engine, and method for pressure detection


A color image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an image transfer part openable frontward about the lower portion of the apparatus, and a belt part openable upward about the rear portion of the apparatus. With this configuration, the apparatus promotes easy handling of a paper jam and efficient maintenance.

The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus and, more particularly, to a color image forming apparatus promoting efficient maintenance and easy handling of a paper jam.
An electrophotographic color image forming apparatus, as distinguished from a monochromatic image forming apparatus, needs a plurality of developing units each assigned to a particular color, e.g., one of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Further, a color image forming apparatus involves a sophisticated process including development and image transfer with different colors being superposed one above the other and the fixation of laminate toner. In addition, developers of different colors must be replenished from time to time. On the other hand, a photoconductive element or image carrier and an intermediate transfer body included in the apparatus are frequently replaced, so that measures against paper jams are necessary. In these circumstances, there is an increasing demand for an image forming apparatus promoting efficient maintenance and easy handling of a paper jam.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 5-323690, for example, discloses a color image forming apparatus having a clamshell type structure made up of an upper body part and a lower body part. The upper body part is movable, or openable, about a shaft away from the lower body part. A photoconductive belt and a case accommodating developing units are constructed into a cartridge. The cartridge is mounted to the apparatus while being positioned relative to a laser writing unit. When a paper or similar recording medium jams a transport path, the operator opens the upper body part away from the lower body part in order to uncover the path and then removes the paper.
However, a problem with the above clamshell type apparatus is that the upper body part is bulky and heavy and thereby difficult to operate. Further, a sufficient space for removing a jamming paper is not available with the apparatus. Moreover, removing a jamming paper under such a heavy article is not desirable from the safety standpoint. In addition, the cartridge including the belt and developing units is bulky and difficult to replace.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2-262676 teaches a color image forming apparatus including a photoconductive belt and developing units constructed into a cartridge removable from the apparatus. A transport path for transferring an image to a paper or similar recording medium is formed above the belt. A cover covering the transport path is openable upward away from the belt. After the cover including an image transfer section has been opened upward, the above cartridge is removed sideways for replacement. This, however, cannot be done without resorting to sufficient spaces above and at the side of the apparatus that originally has a substantial size. As a result, a broad space is necessary for the installation of the apparatus. In addition, the cartridge is bulky and awkward to replace.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 8-211816 proposes a color image forming apparatus including a top cover. When the top cover is opened, a cartridge including a photoconductive element and developing units can be moved upward in order to uncover a transport path. With this kind of apparatus, the operator intending to remove a jamming paper must open the top cover and then lift the cartridge including the photoconductive element and developing units. This obstructs efficient maintenance.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-325444 discloses a color image forming apparatus including a top body part openable upward about a shaft mounted on the rear portion of the apparatus. A unit including a photoconductive element and an intermediate transfer body is removably mounted to the upper body part. A cover is mounted on the top body part and may be opened in order to remove a jamming paper. This apparatus has a drawback that although the photoconductive element and development units are constructed integrally, a paper jamming an image transfer station must be dealt with at the top rear side of the apparatus, resulting in troublesome work. Moreover, the apparatus gives no consideration to a paper jam apt to occur just after a paper cassette. In addition, because printings are driven out to the rear of the apparatus although face up, the apparatus needs a broad space and renders the handling of printings awkward.


Provided is a floor structure 11 disposed on a chassis frame and equipped with a bed 23 behind a driver's seat 21. The floor structure includes a floor panel 12 and a reinforcement member 13. The floor panel 12 includes: a front-side floor portion 16 that extends rearwards from a bottom portion of a front edge of a cabin 3 and includes a seat-attachment portion 22 supporting the seat 21 from below; a rising portion 17 that is bent at the rear edge of the front-side floor portion 16 and extends upwards; and a rear-side floor portion 18 that is bent at the upper edge of the rising portion 17 and extends rearwards, and that includes a bed-attachment portion 24 on which the bed 23 is mountable. The reinforcement member 13 is opposed to the bottom surface of the rear-side floor portion 18, and is joined to the bottom surface of the rear-side floor portion 18 and at least any one of the bottom surface of the front-side floor portion 16 and the rear surface of the rising portion 17 so that the reinforcement member 13 can define and form a structure having a closed cross-section together with the rear-side floor portion 18.

A conventional floor structure of a cabin that includes a bed behind a driver's seat is described, for example, in Patent Document 1. The structure in Patent Document 1 includes a floor pan (floor panel) that forms the floor of the cabin. The floor pan includes: a central portion which is located substantially at the center of the vehicle; two side portions which are provided respectively at both sides, in the vehicle-width direction, of the central portion and on which seats for occupants can be installed; and a horizontal portion which is joined to the rear edges of the central portion and of the two side portions and on which a bed for the occupants can be mounted. The floor pan is disposed on a main sill. The main sill includes: parallel portions which are fixed respectively to the bottom surfaces of the two side portions and extend from the front edges of the two side portions to the horizontal portion; and a base portion which is continuously connected to the rear edges of the parallel portions and is fixed to the bottom surface of the horizontal portion of the floor pan so as to extend in the vehicle-width direction.    Patent Document 1: JP-A 10-129531


A gravity-assisted rotational mechanism and a generator device cooperating therewith. The gravity-assisted rotational mechanism includes multiple concentric rotational members having different sizes and rotatable about the same rotational center, several link members having equal weights for driving the same, and at least one connection member for pivotally connecting the rotational members with the link members. The rotational members can symmetrically push/pull each other. The link members and connection member are respectively mounted on interference sections of at least some of the rotational members to absorb gravitational energy. The energy of the link members is transmitted via the interference sections to the rotational members to form a cycle of energy storage and transmission. The generator device serves to convert the gravitational energy and minimize the rotational inertia loss and increase yield rate of electrical energy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a gravity-assisted rotational mechanism and a generator device cooperating therewith. The gravity-assisted rotational mechanism has precisely designed weight arrangement. After an initial force is applied to the gravity-assisted rotational mechanism to make it rotate, the gravity-assisted rotational mechanism has energy fully converted from gravity so as to reduce rotational energy loss.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional decorative or entertaining self-rotating article such as a top or a bamboo dragonfly is manually driven to swivel so as to achieve visual effect and entertaining or educational or other added function. However, the self-rotating article will contact the ground or air and gradually turn from a fast rotating state to a still state due to friction. The lasting time of the rotation of the article varies with the article's own configuration and weight arrangement.
The so-called "Newton's cradle" is another often seen decoration working in the Law of Conservation of Energy. A Newton's cradle includes multiple metal balls suspended from a rack via strings. The metal balls are originally still and arranged side by side. When a first metal ball is lifted and then released and dropped to hit a second metal ball, the kinetic energy is sequentially transmitted from the second metal ball to a last metal ball. At this time, the last metal ball bounds up to transform the kinetic energy into potential energy. The conversion between the kinetic energy and the potential energy is repeated, whereby the Newton's cradle can lastingly operate.
The above self-rotating mechanism or decoration is driven by external force or operate in the Law of Conservation of Energy. The above decorations can be modified to have longer operation time and wider application range. For example, in condition of minimum energy loss or full conversion of other energy during operation, the self-rotating article can operate more lastingly in different pattern to achieve more novel and funny visual effect. In addition, by means of the ingenious energy conversion during rotation, a generator device can be provided to generate power at higher electrical energy yield rate and lower loss.

Gravity-assisted rotational mechanism and generator device cooperating therewith


Some embodiments provide a method of specifying speed effects for playing a video clip. The method defines a set of speed effects for the video clip. It then displays in real-time a presentation of the video clip that accounts for the set of speed effects defined for the video clip. In some embodiments, this method represents the playback speed of a video clip in terms of a graph that is part of a graphical user interface (“GUI”). This graph is defined along two axes, with one axis representing the playback time, and the other axis representing the content-time (i.e., the time within the video clip). In these embodiments, a user can change the playback speed of the video clip by using a set of GUI operations to select and modify the graph. For instance, a user can select and adjust the graph at different instances in time in order to change the playback speed of the video clip at these instances. Different embodiments use different types of graphs to represent playback speed. For instance, some embodiments use a deformable line bar that is superimposed on a rectangle that represents the video clip.

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of video editing applications. These applications allow a user to create video presentations by combining one or more video and audio tracks, and applying one or more video and/or audio effects to these tracks. Speed effects are one type of effects that are commonly employed by video editing applications. Speed effects allow a user to specify different speeds for playing different sections of the presentation. For instance, by using speed effects, an editor can divide a video presentation into three parts, where the first part plays at twice its created rate (e.g., at 60 frames per second (fps) for a content rate of 30 fps), the second part plays at half its created rate (e.g., at 15 fps for a content rate of 30 fps), and the third part plays at 3 times its content rate (e.g., at 90 fps for a content rate of 30 fps).
Applying speed effects with prior video editing applications is often difficult and time consuming. Specifically, prior video editing applications do not apply speed effects to presentations in real-time. For instance, each time a user (also referred to below as an editor) specifies a new set of speed effects, some prior editing applications render a new media file with the speed effect. This rendering is quite time consuming. Also, if the editor is not happy with the rendered results, the editor would have to re-specify the speed effects, and re-render the media file once again. In addition, while the user is specifying new speed effects, this editing application does not provide adequate feedback regarding the frames on which the speed effects are being defined.
Therefore, there is a need for a method that can apply speed effects to a presentation and display the results of this application in real-time. Ideally, this method can apply the speed effects and display the results without having to render the presentation. Furthermore, ideally, this method would use an intuitive interface that allows the editor to easily specify speed effects and to discern the result of these effects.

Application of speed effects to a video presentation


A trash bag holder and expanding form is made from a sheet of stiff material that has at least three panels to hold a bag in an erect condition and to expand the opening of the bag into a shape that will allow the user to fill the bag with leaves or trash without having to hold the bag. The panels are separated by parallel, vertically disposed score lines that act as fold lines or hinges between the panels of the holder. The panels are stiff in character, because the invention is intended to hold the bag upright. The holder is formed from high density corrugated polyurethylene (HDPE) board, recycled plastic corrugated board or corrugated boxboard. The panels are proportioned so that the sheet material can be folded flat with the panels lying against one another. When the invention is folded into its operational configuration, the score lines act as corners such that the form takes a tubular shape with open ends. Retainers such as slits near a top edge of the form can be used to pinch and thereby lock the upper edge of the bag in place on the form.

Several devices have been proposed to hold trash bags made from thin plastic film. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,031 describes a trash bag assembly and holder which is employed to hold the trash bag open while trash is placed in the bag. This device is especially useful when a person placing the trash in the bag has his or her hands full of trash and cannot hold the bag open. However, the device requires numerous metal components and is therefore expensive to produce and cannot easily be stored in a confined space. The vast majority of the other devices developed to solve this problem are complex in construction and have many parts which need assembly. Although these devices once assembled are able to hold the bag open, the assembly and disassembly times make these devices unappealing. Moreover, a significant portion of the prior art consists of devices that are made from metal wire or metal brackets. Although metal is generally sturdy, it is expensive, prone to bending and most of the metal pieces are subject to corrosion and to rusting over time. U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,724 discloses a container with four walls and a bottom, but it can only be used on the outside of a bag that has carrying handles.
Consequently, there remains a need for an inexpensive, simple, sturdy, easy to store, rustproof device that adequately holds the bag in the proper configuration to receive refuse, leaves and other trash.
In view of these and other shortcomings of the prior art, it is one object of the present invention to provide a trash bag expanding form and holder which is inexpensive to produce and yet will hold any of several sizes of non-self-supporting trash bags such as 33-, 39- and 45-gallon trash bags in an expanded condition to facilitate filling them with leaves or other trash.
Another object of the invention is to provide an expandable form for trash bags that can be readily inserted into a flimsy plastic trash bag without damaging the bag and protects the bag from being punctured, e.g. by twigs that are placed in the bag with the leaves, yet can be collapsed to form a small bundle for shipment, display or storage and is durable enough to be used by a typical household for several years.
A further object is to provide a trash bag expanding form that will hold a bag open and is capable of holding the upper edge of a flimsy bag in place near the top of the form.
These and other more detailed and specific objects of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following figures and detailed description which illustrate by way of example but a few of the various forms of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Folding trash bag expanding form and holder


Users may be presented with different viewing interfaces for a document based on a combination of factors relating to display rights possessed for the document and user specific information. In one implementation, the user's location is used to determine portions of the document that can be displayed to the user. More particularly, access privileges to a document for a user are determined based on geographical location information of the user and based on access rights possessed for the document. Portions of the document may then be formatted for display to the user based on the determined access privileges.

A. Field of the Invention
Systems and methods described herein relate to data formatting and presentation and, more particularly, to techniques for presenting textual and graphical material.
B. Description of Related Art
Modern computer networks, and in particular, the Internet, have made large bodies of information widely and easily available. Free Internet search engines, for instance, index many millions of web documents that are linked to the Internet. A user connected to the Internet can enter a simple search query to quickly locate web documents relevant to the search query.
One category of content that is not widely available on the Internet, however, are the more traditional printed works of authorship, such as books and magazines. Before presenting this type of digital content to users, the content may first be scanned using an optical scanner. Once scanned, optical character recognition (OCR) may be used to convert text in the scanned digital images of the pages of the content to a searchable digital form.
When transmitting the scanned/OCR'ed version of the content (e.g., books or magazines) to users, the content provider may only be able to lawfully provide certain portions of the content to the users. For example, the content provider may provide certain books that are in the public domain and other documents for which the content provider does not have full legal rights. Accordingly, the portions of the book that the content provider chooses to provide to the users may vary.

Variable user interface based on document access privileges


Disclosed herewith is a semiconductor device, which includes a semiconductor chip; a lead device that includes an island for mounting the semiconductor chip and having an area smaller than that of the semiconductor chip at its contact surface, as well as plural hanging leads for supporting the island and coming in contact partially with the semiconductor chip; a mounting material provided on a contact surface between each of the island and hanging leads and the semiconductor chip so as to adhere the semiconductor chip to the island and the hanging leads; and sealing resin for sealing the semiconductor chip. The modulus of elasticity of the mounting material is lower than that of the sealing resin. The mounting material is further coated on the back surfaces of the contact surfaces of the island and the hanging leads.

The patent document 1 (JP-A-HEI03-022465) discloses a resin sealing type semiconductor device having a semiconductor element (chip) sealed with resin. In the configuration of this semiconductor device, the semiconductor element is mounted on an island larger in size than the semiconductor element. In this case, both the front surface of the semiconductor element and the back surface of each lead frame disposed on the island are coated with a polyimide-based resin film having a thickness of 5 to 100 μm so as to give favorable adherence to both the sealing resin and the semiconductor element/lead frames and absorb the stress to be generated between the sealing resin and each of the semiconductor element/lead frames.
However, if the surface of the semiconductor element is also coated with a polyimide-based resin film in such a way according to the technique as disclosed in the patent document 1, the manufacturing cost rises. Furthermore, if the island is larger in size than the chip and polyimide-based resin is to be coated all over the back surface of the island, the resin coating will have to be made on a wider area, thereby the manufacturing cost further rises.
In recent years, there have come to be employed semiconductor devices in which the lead frames are disposed in a chip area that is smaller in size than the chip. If the lead frames disposing area on the chip is smaller than the chip in such a way, semiconductor devices will come to be able to correspond to chips in various sizes and mount those chips with use of only one type of lead frames. Furthermore, lead frames can be used commonly among those chips, thereby the lead frame material cost is reduced and accordingly the manufacturing cost of the semiconductor device is reduced. And the coating amount of the mounting material required between the lead frames disposing area on the subject chip and the chip itself is required less, thereby the mounting material and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. These are the merits of those semiconductor devices.
The patent document 2 (JP-A-2005-109007) also discloses a semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip and its leads are overlapped with each other and part of each lead is positioned under the semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip is adhered not only to a tab where the chip is mounted, but also to an island provided for the hanging leads connected to the tab with an adhesive material.
On the other hand, the patent document 3 (JP-A-HEI07-321280) discloses a die pad having a cross-shaped chip adhering surface. The chip adhering surface is smaller than the subject chip, so the surrounding surface of the chip is practically exposed when the chip is adhered to the adhering surface.


A semiconductor source spectroscopy system controls optical power variation of the tunable signal due to polarization dependent loss in the system and thus improves the noise performance of the system. It relies on using polarization control between the source and the sample and/or the sample and the detector. In one example, the source has a semiconductor optical amplifier and an intracavity tunable element for generating a tunable optical signal for illuminating a sample. The tunable optical signal is spectrally tuned over a scan band of the spectroscopy system by operation of the intracavity tunable element.

Most spectroscopy systems fall into one of two categories. They can be tunable source systems that generate a wavelength tunable optical signal that is scanned over a wavelength scan band. A detector is then used to detect the tunable optical signal after interaction with the sample. The time response of the detector corresponds to the spectral response of the sample. Such systems are typically referred to as pre-dispersive. Alternatively, a tunable detector system can be used. In this case, a broadband optical signal is used to illuminate the sample. Then, signal from the sample is passed through an optical bandpass filter, which is tuned over the scan band such that a detector time response is used to resolve the sample's spectrum. Such systems are typically referred to as post-dispersive.
Between tunable source and tunable detector systems, tunable source systems have some advantages. They can have a better response for the same optical power transmitted to the sample. That is, tunable detector systems must illuminate the sample with a broadband signal that covers the entire scan band. Sometimes, this can result in excessive sample heating and power consumption at the source, making the system inefficient. In contrast, at any given instant, tunable source systems only generate and illuminate the sample with a very narrow band within the scan band.
Further, tunable source systems have advantages associated with detection efficiency. Relatively large detectors can be used to capture a larger fraction of the light that may have been scattered by or transmitted through the sample, since there is no need to capture light and then collimate the light for transmission through a tunable filter or to a grating, for example.
A number of general configurations are used for tunable source spectroscopy systems. The lasers have advantages in that very intense tunable optical signals can be generated. A different configuration uses the combination of a broadband source and a tunable passband filter, which generates the narrowband signal that illuminates the sample.
Historically, most tunable lasers were based on solid state or liquid dye gain media. While often powerful, these systems also have high power consumptions. Tunable semiconductor laser systems have the advantage of relying on small, efficient, and robust semiconductor sources. One configuration uses semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and microelectromechanical system (MEMS) Fabry-Perot tunable filters, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,603, by Flanders, et al., which is incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety. In other examples, intra cavity gratings are used to tune the laser emission.
In commercial examples of the broadband source/tunable filter source configuration, the tunable filter is an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) and the broadband signal is generated by a diode array or tungsten-halogen bulb, for example. More recently, some of the present inventors have proposed a tunable source that combines edge-emitting, superluminescent light emitting diodes (SLEDs) and MEMS Fabry-Perot tunable filters to generate the tunable optical signal. See US2005/0083533A1, U.S. patent application Ser No. 10/688,690, filed on Oct. 17, 2003, by Atia, et at., which is incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety. The MEMS device is highly stable, can handle high optical powers, and can further be much smaller and more energy-efficient than typically large and expensive AOTFs. Moreover, the SLEDS can generate very intense broadband optical signals over large bandwidths, having a much greater spectral brightness than tungsten-halogen sources, for example.

Polarization controlling fiber probe for semiconductor source spectroscopy system


Extendable conveyors with lights are disclosed herein. An example extendable conveyor disclosed herein includes a base unit and a mechanically extendable section, which is adjustably positionable between a nested position within the base unit and an extended position telescoped forwardly from the base unit. The conveyor includes a conveying surface to convey articles extending at least partially on an upper side of the mechanically extendable section. A light source is positioned at a lower side of the mechanically extendable section to illuminate at least an area below the mechanically extendable section.

The loading and unloading of packages from truck trailers or the like is typically a physically challenging task for which extendable conveyors are used.
Extendable conveyors, such as described in WO 2006/068443 A1 and DE 10 2010 005 267 A1, have a base unit and multiple extendable conveyor sections which are nested within each other. The total length of the extendable conveyor can be adjusted by extending or retracting the nested extendable conveyor sections. The end of the extendable conveyor, (e.g., the outmost extendable conveyor section), can move, for example, into a truck at a loading dock for loading or unloading goods. Such known extendable conveyors have a front light at the front of the outmost extendable conveyor section to illuminate the front area of the outmost conveyor section.
It is anticipated that the volume of loose-loaded goods being transported will continue to increase. Additionally, it is anticipated that attracting people to work in the (un)loading zone will become more difficult as smaller generations enter the labor market. Moreover, (un)loading zones are typically cramped and the environment in the zones is uncomfortable.


A home cloud computing system employs a virtualization system to virtualize data of a device and adaptively transform type or format of the virtualized data for one or more other devices, thus leveraging resources of the device for the one or more other devices. Through data virtualization and adaptive transformation, devices of heterogeneous types are seamlessly connected to one another and can act as input or output devices for each other to create a home cloud network of devices.

The development of new computing technologies brings unprecedented experience to people's daily lives. Among the newly developed technologies, new human-computer interaction (HCI) technologies have become a driving force and a determining factor of success for today's home entertainment. Different from conventional user interfaces which include physical keyboards and mice, more natural user interfaces (NUI), such as user touch, gesture, voice, etc., are proposed and developed for user interaction with a variety of computing devices which include televisions, game consoles, desktop computers, tablets, smart phones, to name a few. Although significant developments have been made so far, computing capabilities and NUI functions are still confined to respective devices, platforms or applications, and cannot be shared with other devices, platforms or applications due to diverse and incompatible input and output data formats of different computing devices, for example.

Home cloud with virtualized input and output roaming over network


Systems and techniques may be used to estimate a patient state during a radiotherapy treatment. For example, a method may include generating a dictionary of expanded potential patient measurements and corresponding potential patient states using a preliminary motion model. The method may include training, using a machine learning technique, a correspondence motion model relating an input patient measurement to an output patient state using the dictionary. The method may include estimating, using a processor, the patient state corresponding to an input image using the correspondence motion model.

In radiotherapy or radiosurgery, treatment planning is typically performed based on medical images of a patient and requires the delineation of target volumes and normal critical organs in the medical images. One challenge occurs with accurately tracking the various objects, such as a tumor, healthy tissue, or other aspects of patient anatomy when the patient is moving (e.g., breathing).
Current techniques are unable to directly measure a changing patient state in real-time. For example, some techniques use 2D imaging, such as 2D kV projections or 2D MRI slices, which are not able to completely track the various objects.
Other techniques may rely on detecting surface information, either directly or by tracking markers on a vest or a box affixed to the patient. These techniques assume that the surface information is correlated to internal patient state, which is often not accurate.
Yet other techniques may rely on implanting markers, such as magnetically tracked markers, or using x-ray detection of radio-opaque markers. These techniques are invasive and correspond only to limited points within the patient.

Machine learning approach to real-time patient motion monitoring


An electrode assembly and a secondary battery comprising the same are provided. The secondary battery includes at least one electrode assembly formed by winding together a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate each coated with an active material layer, a current collector, and a case accommodating the electrode assemblies and the current collector.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to an electrode assembly and a secondary battery comprising the same.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Unlike primary batteries which cannot be recharged, secondary batteries can be repeatedly charged and discharged. Low capacity batteries that use single battery cells may be used as power sources for various small portable electronic devices such as cellular phones, and camcorders. High power batteries that use tens of battery cells connected to each other in a battery pack may be used as power sources for electric scooters, and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV).
Secondary batteries may be manufactured in various shapes, including a cylinder shape, and a prismatic shape. The secondary battery may be fabricated by forming an electrode assembly having a separator as an insulator disposed between a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode, accommodating the fabricated electrode assembly and an electrolyte in a case, and installing a cap assembly having electrode terminals in the case.
A secondary battery employed to propel an automotive vehicle requires a high capacity and is gradually getting bulky, unlike the conventional low-capacity secondary battery used with a small-sized electronic device. A prismatic battery may have a difference in the heat dissipation between the inside and the outside of a cell due to an increase in the thickness, making it difficult to attain improved safety. In particular, in a high power secondary battery having a plurality of battery cells in a jelly roll configuration for use in HEV, there may be a considerable temperature difference between a central cell and a peripheral cell. In addition, when penetration or internal short circuit occurs to a prismatic battery, a temperature of the centrally positioned cell may be increased. Thus, there is high probability of thermal runaway, potentially resulting in fire or explosion.

Secondary battery comprising at least a first and second electrode each coated with an active material layer


A starting motor with an intermediate gear wherein rotation of a rotating shaft of a DC motor is transmitted to a pinion in a one-way rotational direction by an overrunning clutch, and an intermediate gear supported rotatably and forward-and-backward slidably by an intermediate shaft retained by a front bracket through a bearing and in mesh with the pinion, meshes with a ring-gear of an internal combustion engine by a forward movement thereof thereby starting the internal combustion engine, characterized by that; a storage for a lubricant is provided at a middle portion of the intermediate gear in the axial direction, which is fixed to an inner diameter portion of the intermediate gear; and dust seals are provided in a bearing with metal back supported by the intermediate shaft and at both ends of the inner diameter portion of the intermediate gear.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a starting motor with an intermediate gear utilized in a vehicle, particularly to sealing of a bearing of an intermediate gear thereof.
2. DISCUSSION OF BACKGROUND
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional diagram showing a conventional starting motor with an intermediate gear. A reference numeral 1 designates a DC motor, wherein a rotating shaft 3 is extended from an armature 2 and a field pole 6 is attached to a yoke 5 of a stator 4. A numeral 7 designates a front bracket connected to the yoke 5, which supports a front end of the rotating shaft 3 through a bearing 8.
A numeral 10 designates an overrunning clutch supported by the rotating shaft 3 slidably in the axial direction, composed as follows. A numeral 11 designates a clutch outer connected to a periphery of the rotating shaft 3 by a helical spline 9 thereby transmitting the rotation, and 12, a clutch inner to which a one-way rotation is transmitted through rollers 13 from the clutch outer 11, which is supported by the rotating shaft 3 through a sleeve bearing 19. A pinion 14 is integrally formed at a front end of the clutch inner 12. A numeral 15 designates a clutch cover fixed to the clutch outer 11 by calking through a holding plate 16, and 17, a stop ring attached to the clutch outer 11. An engaging groove 18 is formed between the stop ring and a stepped portion of the clutch outer. A numeral 20 designates a stopper attached to the rotating shaft which restrains a forward movement position of the overrunning clutch 10.
A numeral 21 designates a shift lever, an intermediate fulcrum of which is supported by the front bracket 7 and a receiving body 24 that is received by a grommet 22 attached to the yoke 5, through a compression spring 23, and a forked lower end of which engages with the engaging grooves 18 in the axial direction. An upper end of the shift lever 21 engages with a front end of a plunger of an electromagnetic switch (not shown) of the motor 1 in the axial direction and the shift lever 21 swivels around the fulcrum.
A numeral 25 designates an intermediate shaft fixed to the front bracket 7 in parallel with the rotating shaft 3, 26, a grommet inserted into a hole of the intermediate shaft of the front bracket 7, and 27, an intermediate gear supported by the intermediate shaft 25 rotatably and slidably in the axial direction, through a sleeve bearing 28 which is fixed to an inner periphery thereof, which meshes with a pinion 14. The sleeve bearing 28 is made of a non-oil-feeding sintering alloy. A numeral 29 designates a ring-like co-rotating body fixed to an outer periphery of the clutch cover 15, of which flange 29a engages with an engaging groove 27a at an outer periphery of a boss of the intermediate gear 27. The intermediate gear 27 moves forwardly and backwardly in accordance with a forward and a backward movement of the overrunning clutch 10, through the ring-like co-rotating body 29. A numeral 30 designates a ring-gear provided at a flywheel of an internal combustion engine, which meshes with the intermediate gear 27 by the forward movement thereof, thereby starting to rotate the internal combustion engine.
Next, explanation will be given to the operation. When current flows in an excitation coil of the electromagnetic switch, the plunger is drawn and swivels the shift lever 21 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3. By this operation, the overrunning clutch 10 moves forwardly and is received by the stopper 20. By the forward movement of the overrunning clutch 10, the intermediate gear 27 moves forwardly by the ring-like co-rotational body 29 and meshes with the ring gear 30. Next, fixed terminals of the electromagnetic switch are closed, current flows in a circuit of the DC motor 1, the armature 2 starts rotating, the rotation of the rotating shaft 3 is transmitted to the intermediate gear 27 through the overrunning clutch 10 and the pinion 14 and the rotation is transmitted to the ring-gear 30, thereby starting up the internal combustion engine.
In the above conventional starting motor with an intermediate gear, by meshing the pinion 14 with the ring-gear 30, the sleeve bearing 28 of the intermediate gear 27 is applied with a force approximately twice as much as that in meshing a pair of gears. The sleeve bearing 28 is composed of a sintered alloy and the mechanical strength thereof is weak compared with a general bearing. Therefore, the service life thereof is shortened. Especially, in case of a means of transmitting the rotation of the armature 2 to the overrunning clutch through a planetary gear speed reducing device, the torque thereof is increased thereby further decreasing the service life of the sleep bearing 28. Furthermore, the front bracket 7 is provided with a large opening owing to the intermediate gear 27. Therefore, outside dusts are attached to the intermediate shaft 25, which invade into a bearing surface of the sleeve bearing 28 thereby damaging the bearing surface.

Starting motor with an intermediate gear


An integrated circuit vehicle diagnostics interface adapter includes a semiconductor substrate with two integral gateway conductors. A set of paired switches on the substrate link any two of a first set of contacts to the gateway conductors, and another set of paired switches on the substrate link the two gateway conductors to any pair of a second set of contacts corresponding to a particular vehicle network communications protocol circuit in a vehicle diagnostics device. Both sets of switches are controlled by an integrated switch control module.

With the advent of the microprocessor, virtually all modern vehicles have come to utilize onboard computers to control and monitor engine and electrical system functions. Such vehicle onboard computers typically interface with a multiplicity of sensors and transducers, which continuously detect vehicle and engine operational parameters and provide representative electrical signals to the onboard computer. The data collected and processed by the onboard computer can be useful in the diagnosis of vehicle engine and electrical system malfunctions. Thus, the vehicle onboard computer typically includes a communication port connector that allows certain of the collected data to be transmitted to an independent computer analyzer, which may process the vehicle diagnostic data, store the vehicle diagnostic data, or present the vehicle diagnostic data in a visual format that can be interpreted by vehicle maintenance and repair technicians.
In conjunction with these technological developments, a variety of specialized computer analyzers, or vehicle diagnostic tools, have been developed and marketed to provide vehicle maintenance and repair technicians access to the vehicle diagnostic data available from the vehicle onboard computers. The current technology includes a variety of hand-held vehicle diagnostic tools with considerable processing capabilities, typically incorporating an integral display and capable of displaying the vehicle diagnostic data in a variety of graphical formats that allow vehicle technicians to view and interpret the data. Use of such vehicle diagnostic tools, frequently referred to as scan tools, has become the standard in vehicle diagnostics.
Because modern vehicles incorporate multiple electronic control modules to control the various vehicle systems, an onboard computer network is required to allow communication between the various electronic control modules. In order to facilitate the use of off-board test equipment, wiring harness connectors have been provided on vehicles to allow an off-board tester to be connected to an in-vehicle network. When computer control was introduced into the automotive industry, each manufacturer developed its own proprietary architecture and protocol for an in-vehicle network, and manufacturers had complete discretion to implement any communication connector with any combination of pin assignments. This proved inefficient and costly, so the various manufacturers collaborated to establish a set of standards for vehicle-based computer networks.
Subsequently, state, federal and foreign governments implemented legislation requiring network interface standards for On-Board Diagnostics (OBD). Generally, these statutes have required the adoption of a standard vehicle interface connector, or diagnostic link connector (DLC), for cars and light trucks sold in this country and much of the world, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1962 connector. Since 1996, United States federal law and state laws require that the vehicle manufacturers equip vehicles with a sixteen-pin SAE J1962 connector, and that the in-vehicle network support at least one of several common network standards. As a result, most cars produced today include the J1962 connector as the diagnostic link between on-vehicle computers and off-vehicle test equipment, utilizing one or more network interface protocol standards.
Although the laws have standardized the connector, the current laws do not specify all of the pin assignments. As a result, even though virtually all cars and light trucks manufactured today have the same vehicle diagnostics connector, the various manufacturers continue to use different connector pin combinations to support communications with their in-vehicle networks. Thus, even though a vehicle diagnostic tester with a J1962 connector may be connected to virtually all vehicles manufactured since 1996, the data received on the individual connector pins differs from one vehicle manufacturer to another.
In order to address this issue, special vehicle diagnostics interface adapter harnesses have been developed that allow switching between the various connector pins on the vehicle interface and the off-board tester interface. However, in order to accommodate both pre-1996 vehicles and post-1996 vehicles, more than twenty different adapter harnesses may be required. In addition, in order to accommodate the various interface adapter harnesses, off-board test equipment inserts, such as the Smart System Inserts (SSI) made by the SPX Corporation of North Carolina, U.S.A. for use with its scan tools, or multiple discrete switches in the wiring harness are required to interface with the various in-vehicle networks. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a vehicle diagnostics interface adapter that is capable of switching vehicle interface connector pins to the various diagnostic scan tool connector pins, requires fewer adapter harnesses and off-board test equipment inserts, has flexibility to accommodate future configuration changes, conserves space and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Integrated circuit vehicle diagnostics interface adapter apparatus and method