A technique for PMD mitigation in an optical communications system that utilizes a plurality of polarization rotators in an optical fiber to continuously rotate the polarization state of at least one optical signal that propagates through the fiber. The optical fiber is segregated into a plurality of sections and the polarization rotators are disposed between adjacent sections of the fiber. The polarization state of at least one optical signal received from the first of a pair of adjacent sections is continuously rotated by the polarization rotator prior to being transmitted to the second of the pair of adjacent sections. The rotated optical signals are collected at a receiver and corrected for errors using, for example, forward error correction.

Optical communications have revolutionized the telecommunications industry in recent years. The fiber optic medium provides the ability to efficiently transmit high bit rate signals through a low-loss medium. The development of modern high bandwidth techniques, and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) to permit the simultaneous transmission of multiple high bandwidth channels on respective wavelengths, has enabled a tremendous increase in communications capacity. The last decade has been seen efforts to increase capacity by taking advantage of the fiber optic medium to the maximum extent possible.
Signals transmitted through an optical medium can be affected by PMD, which is a form of signal distortion that can be caused by subtle physical imperfections in the optical fiber. In principle, an optical fiber with a circular core has rotational symmetry, so that there is no preferred direction for the polarization of the light carrying the optical signal. However, during fabrication, jacketing, cabling, and installation, perturbations in the fiber that will distort this symmetry can occur, thereby causing the fiber to "look different" to various optical polarizations. One of the manifestations of this loss of symmetry is "birefringence," or a difference in the index of refraction for light that depends on the light's polarization. Light signals with different polarization states will travel at different velocities. In particular, there will be two states of polarization (SOPs), referred to as the "eigenstates" of polarization corresponding to the asymmetric fiber. These eigenstates form a basis set in a vector space that spans the possible SOPs, and light in these eigenstates travels at different velocities.
A birefringent optical fiber transporting a modulated optical signal can temporally disperse the resulting optical frequencies of the signal. For example, an optical pulse, with a given optical polarization, can be formed to represent a "1" in a digital transmission system. If the signal is communicated through a medium with uniform birefringence (i.e., remaining constant along the length of the fiber), the SOPs can be de-composed into corresponding eigenstates, thereby forming two independent pulses, each traveling at its own particular velocity. The two pulses, each a replica of the original pulse, will thus arrive at different times at the end of the birefringent fiber. This can lead to distortions in the received signal at the end terminal of the system. In this simple illustrative case, the temporal displacement of the two replicas, traveling in the "fast" and "slow" SOPs, grows linearly with distance.
In a typical optical communications system, birefringence is not constant but varies randomly over the length of the transmission medium. Thus, the birefringence, and therefore, the eigenstate, changes with position as the light propagates through the length of the fiber. In addition to intrinsic changes in birefringence resulting from imperfections in the fabrication processes, environmental effects such as, for example, temperature, pressure, vibration, bending, etc., can also affect PMD. These effects can likewise vary along the length of the fiber and can cause additional changes to the birefringence. Thus, light that is in the "fast" SOP in one section of fiber might become be in the "slow" SOP at another section of the fiber. Instead of increasing linearly with distance, the temporal separations in the pulse replicas eventually take on the characteristics of a random walk, and grow with the square root of the distance. Despite the local variations in the fast and slow states, it is understood that when the fiber as a whole is considered, another set of states can be defined that characterize the PMD for the entire fiber and split the propagation of the signal into fast and slow components. These "principal states" can be imaged (in a mathematical sense) back to the input face, and used as an alternative basis set. Thus, an arbitrary launch SOP will have components in each of the principal states, and distortion will result from the replication of the pulses after resolution into principal states and their differential arrival times. While the physical process is described in the foregoing in a "global" as opposed to "local" sense, the basic impairment is the same; distortion results from the time delay introduced in the pulse replicas.
The above discussion relates to "narrowband" signals, i.e., having a narrow enough bandwidth that the optical properties of the fiber can be characterized as operating at a single wavelength. This is commonly referred to as "first order PMD." Birefringence, however, can also vary with wavelength, such that each section of fiber may have slightly different characteristics, both in the magnitude and direction of the birefringence. As a consequence, after a long propagation through an optical medium, light from two neighboring wavelengths initially having the same polarization may experience what looks like a fiber with two different characteristics.
Theoretically, PMD can be represented by a Poincare sphere, or "Stokes' space" representation. In this representation, the equations of motion for SOPs and PMD at a given optical frequency are given by:∂s/∂z=β×s  (1a)∂s/∂ω=τ×s  (1b)∂τ/∂z=∂β/∂ω+β×τ  (1c)In these equations (which are in the "representation" space, not "real" space) "β" represents the birefringence of the fiber at position z, "s" represents the SOP of the light at position z, and "τ" represents the PMD. Generally, Eqn. (1a) states that birefringence causes the representation of the SOP to rotate about the "β" axis as light propagates through the fiber. Eqn. (1b) states that, when viewed at a given position (e.g., the fiber output), the system's PMD causes the SOP to rotate about it as a function of optical frequency. In this regard, light launched at a given optical frequency will evolve to an SOP at the output, and if the optical frequency is then changed (but the launch polarization remains the same), the SOP at the output will also begin to rotate about the PMD vector, τ. Eqn (1c) states that the vector characterizing PMD changes along the length of the fiber. The driving term in Eqn (1c), β′=∂β/∂ω, which we refer to as the "specific PMD," describes the relationship of birefringence to optical frequency. Even for the simplest cases, there is usually a non-zero driving term (and thus PMD) for birefringent fibers. Based on the above, the vector s will suffer infinitesimal rotations about the axis defined by β, and that the rotation axis will change as β changes with distance (and parametrically with time). However, the total evolution of s can be represented by a single, finite rotation based upon Euler's theorem. If the signal bandwidth is large enough to experience these variations, it is commonly referred to as "higher order" PMD. Higher order PMD also leads to pulse distortion as the optical bandwidth of the signal increases. As the bandwidth increases, the input signal can be decomposed into Fourier components, with each propagated in accordance with the equations discussed above, and the components collected at the output. In the narrowband context, for illustrative purposes, the "concatenation rule" represented by the above equations states that the PMD of a given section of fiber can be "imaged" to the PMD at the output through the same transformation that governs birefringence. For a fiber consisting of two sections having respective PMDs τ1 and τ2, and respective rotations of the SOP via finite rotations R1 and R2, the total PMD can be represented by:τ=τ2+R2τ1  (2)This equation states that the final PMD vector is represented by the vectorial sum of the second (i.e. final) section's PMD vector and the first section's PMD vector, but only after that first PMD vector has been rotated by the same rotation operator (R2) that rotates the SOPs propagating at that wavelength. This is shown by noting the rotations by β implied in Eqns. 1a and 1c.
A generalization of Eqn. 2 shows that a similar rule applies for a fiber having multiple sections. Thus, each section of length Δz can be considered as having it's own uniform primitive PMD vector, β′Δz. The PMD of the entire multi-sectioned fiber can be characterized as a vector sum of the transformed primitive PMDs, one for each section, where each PMD primitive vector is transformed by the concatenated rotation of all the sections between it and the output. Since each of these constituent vectors is only a transformed version of its corresponding primitive PMD vector, each has the same length as its primitive vector, but effectively suffers a random rotation (the Euler's theorem equivalent of the concatenated rotations between the section and the output). This process is illustrated in FIG. 1, where for an arbitrary optical frequency ω0, the fiber (hereinafter, the optical fiber will be referred to as optical fiber) 100 is segregated into five independent sections (i.e., A, B, C, D, E), where each section's PMD is represented by a vector (row 102) directly below that section, and these PMD vectors represent a random distribution in magnitude and direction for the respective sections of the optical fiber. Each section's PMD vector (except the last one's) is imaged to the end and is shown on the right side of the figure (at 106) as a primed version of the original. Thus, the PMD vector for section B is propagated through sections C, D, and E, resulting in its output image, vector B′. The PMD for the entire fiber is then computed as the vector sum of these constituents as depicted at 108 in FIG. 1.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the PMD of the same fiber is shown at a slightly different optical frequency, ω0+Δω. In this example, in row 202 the PMD for each section at ω0 (from FIG. 1) is represented by dotted vectors, while the PMD for each section at ω0+Δω is represented by solid vectors. Each primitive vector corresponding to this neighboring frequency (ω0+Δω) is slightly different than the primitive vector for the original frequency ω0. This, by itself, results in a slightly different sum for the total PMD vector at ω0+Δω. However, in addition to slight changes in the primitive vectors, the new optical frequency also causes different rotations in each section, since the birefringence in each section can also be a function of optical frequency. The images for each section are imaged (trajectories 204) to the output at 206, and are slightly different from those depicted in FIG. 1 as shown by the difference at 206 between the solid and dotted arrows. These change more dramatically as the optical frequency changes. In FIG. 2, the total PMD vector 208 at this new optical frequency is shown as a solid arrow, while the PMD vector at ω0 (from FIG. 1) is depicted as a dotted arrow. Thus, the PMD will change in magnitude and direction as a function of the optical frequency, even though the constituent PMD vectors for the sections may be drawn from the same statistical ensemble representing the fiber's properties. In large part, the study of PMD is a study of the properties of the statistics of the vector sum of these images.
Both the magnitude of the PMD vector, called the "differential group delay" or DGD, and the directions of the unit vectors parallel and anti-parallel to the PMD vector, called the "Principal States of Polarization" (PSPs), change with optical frequency. The principal states are orthogonal and thus are on opposite sides of the sphere. The unit vector is usually associated with the slowest mode. Most frequently, it is the DGD which is plotted in discussions of PMD, but variations in the PSPs with optical frequency also can cause distortion in the optical link. The properties of the PMD are therefore going to follow the statistics of the sum of a set of vectors from the sections of the fiber that are chosen from a distribution and then, for the most part, randomly rotated after propagation through the fiber before being summed.
As discussed above, PMD fluctuates with changes in environmental conditions. Even small environmental changes can add perturbations to the birefringence of sections of the fiber and thereby move many of the imaged primitive vectors. This will consequently change the vector sum. It is to be expected that, at least for subtle environmental changes, the major effect is randomization of the individual rotations in each of the sections. However, since the original distribution was already random, the statistical properties of the perturbed fiber are expected to be essentially the same as those of the original fiber.
Based on the above, a "statistical ensemble" of the PMD can be studied. There are three common statistical ensembles from which observations can be made of this random process: (1) an ensemble of identical, in the statistical sense, fibers in which each primitive section of the fiber is drawn from a sample set, (2) the PMD of a specified fiber transmitting light at a particular wavelength over a very long period of time (this implies the existence of environmental perturbations that will cause each section's primitive vector to change significantly over time and thus also sample the distribution), and (3) the PMD of a specific fiber at a given time over wavelength (where it is assumed that the wavelength spread is sufficient to cause each of the primitive vectors to change significantly over that wavelength spread). The "ergodic hypothesis" is that these three statistical ensembles will have the same properties. This can be represented intuitively by a set of imaged primitive vectors in the three cases. A multi-section fiber (representing the fiber of interest) can be constructed by drawing statistical samples from either a distribution that represents the fiber) or, more generally, the distributions appropriate to the section if a length-dependent fiber is analyzed. Referring again to FIG. 1, a statistical ensemble of identical fibers will draw, for each section, an element from the distribution, and that element will be imaged to the end of the fiber. That is, each section's representative will be imaged to the end and, as each element of the ensemble is examined, that section's contribution will be randomly rotated by the succeeding elements for each ensemble element. Similarly, over a long enough period of time, the image from that section will also be rotated in a random way because environmental perturbations over time will likewise cause the image to be rotated in a random manner. Thus, the average over an ensemble and the average of an ensemble element over time will have the same statistics.
For the case of PMD of a specific fiber at a given time averaged over wavelength, essentially the same distribution of primitive PMD vectors exists. The rotations of the fiber sections vary with frequency because of the linear omega term in β (as discussed above, β=Δn(ω)ω)/c) while the direction and magnitude of the birefringence Δn is set by variations in the slow and fast values of the refractive index, Δn=ns−nf. Thus, the distributions at the wavelengths of interest will be substantially the same distributions as from the earlier samples. Although the rotations corresponding to the various sections may change greatly due to phase accumulation from the frequency changes, the net effect is simply another layer of randomization on an already random variable as long as the rotations lead to further randomization. This further randomization occurs if the change in optical frequency is large enough. Thus, the gross features of the statistical nature of PMD can be captured by the statistics of a set of primitive PMD vectors for the fiber sections that are randomly imaged (i.e. rotated) to the end of the fiber and summed.
If, for example, the probability, Pn of a fiber system having unacceptable PMD impairments, for a given channel, is 10−5 (the "natural" PMD outage probability) then from a statistical ensemble of such fiber systems, 10−5 of them will experience outage at any given instant. In a statistical sense, this might mean that an outage of 5 minutes [i.e., 10−5*(1 year)] can occur per year. Given an ensemble of systems that run for infinite duration, one would expect this to be true when calculating the expectation value for the outage. In real systems, however, it is much more likely that a channel will drift into an outage condition and stay in that condition for some time. Thus, there will be long stretches of time in which the system is operational, perhaps some stretches in which the PMD varies rapidly (due to some perturbation) passing from one operational condition to another through an impaired condition, but there will also be situations in which the system remains impaired for long periods of time. Averaged over very long periods of times, the outage may be 5 minutes per year, but in any given year, it is possible for the system to experience outages of less or much greater duration.
Systems designers may be able to tolerate such impairments, for example, by deploying compensators that correct for the PMD impairments by introducing the opposite PMD. This may lead to additional costs in WDM systems, however, as the following example shows. If, for example, in a WDM system that has 100 wavelengths on a single fiber operating over a link with a natural PMD outage probability of 10−5, PMD that is excessive enough to cause impairment is also likely to vary over wavelength and time, and thus place all channels in potential jeopardy. Accordingly, if one channel needs to be protected with a compensator, then all of them must compensated, or in time, they will all fail. The system operator must therefore purchase 100 compensators, one for each wavelength, even though the expected probability that even one of the compensators might be used at any given time is roughly 0.001 (i.e., 100×10−5). The odds are therefore 1000 to one that none of the compensators are needed at any given time, even though all 100 must be deployed because each of them will eventually be needed at some time.
Co-owned Eiselt et al. (Eiselt) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/729,954, filed Dec. 1, 2000, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein, proposes a technique for mitigating the effects of PMD that utilizes a plurality of polarization rotators in an optical fiber to rotate the SOP of an optical signal. The Eiselt method is based on the premise that if the system is about to fail, it is statistically in one of the "1000 to 1" cases (i.e., an unlikely "long-shot" condition has occurred). The Eiselt system changes the optical link slightly to effectively "roll the dice again" in an attempt to hit one of the favorable 999 cases. FIG. 3 conceptually depicts an optical medium 300 segregated into a plurality of birefringent sections separated by the subscripted polarization rotators "R" which are under system control. The polarization rotators are weak birefringent elements that can be controlled to change the SOP of the signal in a prescribed manner. The polarization can be rotated as a result of the weak birefringence so that, in effect, another element of the statistical ensemble corresponding to that fiber can be chosen. In FIG. 3, the primitive vectors in row 302 for each of the sections are the same as those in FIG. 1. The polarization rotators rotate each section's primitive vectors to a new direction 304. As discussed above, each of these new primitive vectors is imaged to the end of the fiber as represented in row 306. These images are summed at 308 to represent the total PMD vector for the fiber with the polarization rotators. In this example, the total PMD vector is smaller than the original PMD (108) shown in FIG. 1 (and represented by the dashed line in FIG. 3), but it could have been larger. The rotators provide an extra level of randomization of the image vectors, and thus will lead to a realization of PMD that is another ensemble element of the original statistical ensemble, since each section's contribution is drawn from the same distribution. When a new configuration is needed, the polarization rotators are set to new states, thereby choosing another fiber realization from the ensemble. Thus, the polarization controllers essentially enable the choice of another ensemble member from the ensemble that represents the fiber.
The net effect is that by setting (possibly random) polarization rotations in the fiber in this way, the current transmission line is replaced with another one in the ensemble. If, as in the example above, the natural outage probability is 10−5 and since there are 100 wavelengths to consider, the odds are overwhelming (e.g. 1000:1) that this new transmission line will not have a serious impairment. In Eiselt, an error signal is generated when, by virtue of monitoring the errors in all 100 channels, one of the channels is determined to be suffering a penalty, presumably due to PMD. This error signal can be generated from SONET bytes that are running parity checks, or from diagnostics in the forward error correction (FEC) circuitry that is used on many modern systems. By monitoring each of the FEC diagnostic channels, the system can determine that one of its channels is nearing (or experiencing) an outage, it then resamples the ensemble space by sending commands to change the settings on the R rotators, hopefully landing on one of the ensemble members for which all the channels are operating.

Technique for mitigation of polarization mode dispersion in fiber optic transmission links


An end cap for engaging a raceway having an end wall portion and a gripping wall portion extending from the inner surface of the end wall portion at a first end of said gripping wall portion. A plurality of barbs extend from opposing surfaces of the gripping wall portion which engage the inner channel surface of the raceway to form a friction fit therewith. In a second embodiment, the plurality of barbs are progressively wider from the distal end of the gripping wall portion to its first end, allowing the end cap to be employed with various sized raceways.

The present invention relates to a self-securing end cap for wire delivery systems, such as a raceway. In particular, upon insertion of the end cap on the terminal end of the raceway, a plurality of barbs extending from the end cap engage the inner surface of the raceway. The barbs provide a friction fit between the end cap and the raceway preventing the end cap from separating from the raceway.
Wire delivery systems, such as raceways, are employed to hold and manage wires, such as voice, data, and power wiring. Specifically, the raceway is mounted to a supporting surface, such as a wall or ceiling, and the raceway distributes the wires carried therein throughout a room. This provides efficient delivery and management of the wiring throughout a room while hiding the unattractive wires. End caps are employed to provide a closure element or cap at the point where the raceway ends, enclosing the wires held within the raceway delivery system.
Prior art end caps for raceways commonly include a threaded screw hole that accepts a screw that has been inserted through the sidewall of the raceway, thus securing the end cap to the raceway. Since the prior art end caps require the use of a separate fastener, such as a screw, costs are increased in employing the end cap. In addition, efficiency is decreased because the prior art end caps are not self-securing in the additional steps of inserting and tightening the screw are required for assembling the end cap onto the end of the raceway.
Another problem with prior art end caps is that a single end cap cannot be used with raceways that vary in their inner channel width. As a result, different end caps must be made to accommodate different sized raceways.
Examples of prior art end caps are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,972 to Nudelmont et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,169 to Palmer; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,672 to Rohder.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved end cap for a raceway that is cost effective and efficient to use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an end cap that is self-securing with the raceway.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an end cap that is a one-piece unitary member that can be employed without the use of separate fasteners.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an end cap that can accommodate raceways that vary in their inner channel width.
The foregoing objects are basically attained by an end cap for engaging a raceway, comprising an end wall portion extending in a first direction, the end wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface. A gripping wall portion extending from the inner surface of the end wall portion in a second direction, the gripping wall portion having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface and the second surface facing in opposing directions. A first securing member extending from the first surface of the gripping wall portion for engaging an inner perimeter surface of the raceway, the first securing member includes a plurality of first securing elements. A second securing member extending from the second surface of the gripping wall portion for engaging the inner perimeter of the raceway, whereby the first securing member and the second securing member form a friction fit with the raceway.
The foregoing objects are also attained by an end cap for engaging a raceway, comprising an end wall portion extending in a first direction, the end wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a sidewall. A gripping wall portion having opposing first and second surfaces and opposing first and second ends, the gripping wall portion extending in a second direction from the inner surface of the end wall portion at the first end of the gripping wall portion. A first securing member extending from the first surface of the gripping wall portion proximate the sidewall of the end wall portion, the first securing member tapering from the first end to the second end of the gripping wall portion for engaging an inner perimeter surface of the raceway. A second securing member extending from the second surface of the gripping wall portion, the second securing member tapering from the first end to the second end of the gripping wall portion for engaging the inner perimeter surface of the raceway, whereby the first securing member and the second securing member form a friction fit with the raceway.
The foregoing objects are also attained by a raceway assembly, comprising a raceway having a base for attaching to a support, a cover releasably attached to the base, and an inner perimeter surface defining an inner channel, the inner perimeter surface having a substantially flat and continuous inner portion, and the inner channel having a terminal end. An end cap releasably engaging the raceway at the terminal end. The end cap including an end wall portion extending in a first direction and having inner and outer surfaces. A gripping wall portion received in the inner channel of the raceway, extending from the inner surface of the end wall portion in a second direction. A first securing member extending from the gripping wall portion, engaging the inner portion of the raceway forming a friction fit therewith preventing the end cap from separating from the raceway.
By designing the end cap in this fashion, it can be secured to the end of a raceway without the need of a separate fastener, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. In addition, then end cap can be employed with various sized raceways.
Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.


An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting tampering of devices such as fiscal printers. A memory module includes a volatile memory that stores multi-bit data. An operation module allows operation of an electronic device, such as a fiscal printer, in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory. A detection module detects an attempt to access the enclosed device where access to the enclosed device is restricted by an enclosure. A tamper switch module disconnects power to the volatile memory such that the predefined multi-bit data stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device. A shutdown module disables operation of the electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is not stored in the volatile memory.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to detecting tampering of a device and more particularly relates to tamper evident devices for protecting fiscal printers and other electronic devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In most countries, sellers of goods and services are required to collect taxes, such as sales taxes, which are later collected by governmental tax agencies. Point of Sale ("POS") systems are typically used to record transaction data using transaction recording devices. For example, a fiscal printer may be provided with the POS system to record and print sales receipts showing an amount of taxes that have been collected by a particular merchant. These records and receipts may then be used by the government tax agencies to audit merchants and ensure that the amount of taxes collected by a merchant equals the amount of taxes that are passed from the merchant to the government.
In order to ensure integrity of the tax data recorded by a fiscal printer, it is important that the data be protected from tampering. A conventional fiscal printer typically uses an existing single or double station printer platform and adds logic devices in an enclosure at the bottom of the fiscal printer in order to comply with governmental regulations. The enclosed logic devices may include devices such as an electronic journal and fiscal memory which are used to electronically store recorded tax data. Such logic devices are typically enclosed in a drawer or compartment that slides into the printer beneath the existing printer platform so as to be protected from tampering.
Some countries have specific tamper-proof requirements for fiscal printers and other transaction recording devices. Thus, conventional fiscal printers in most countries include several tamper-proof measures. For example, a screw or screws for accessing the inside of the printer may be physically sealed or the fiscal memory and electronic journal may be imbedded in epoxy to prevent access to those devices. However, such tamper proofing measures have proven insufficient, because the only way for an auditor to know if a device has been tampered with is by visual inspection of the device.
Some conventional systems, have utilized a capacitor-based tamper switch to electronically detect when a tamper occurs, but such switches have also proved insufficient. This is because a capacitor provides only a single bit of information, so it can be easily bypassed or can result in frequent false tampers being recorded. Thus, tampering remains a problem in most conventional fiscal printing systems.

Apparatus, system, and method for detecting tampering of fiscal printers

International Business Machines Corporation


This invention pertains to methods for detecting B. anthracis and antibodies to B. anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, in a subject.

Anthrax spores were first produced as weapons in the 1950s. Several countries including the former Soviet Union, the United States and Iraq are known to have produced anthrax weapons. Anthrax is a particularly fearsome biological warfare agent, not only because of its deadliness, but also because anthrax weapons are relatively easy to produce and deliver. Production of anthrax spores requires little more than basic laboratory equipment and growth media. Anthrax weapons may be comprised of an anthrax source and an industrial sprayer that can produce aerosol particles of the appropriate size for victims to inhale. Such sprayers, for instance, can be mounted on low flying airplanes or other vehicles and used to spread anthrax over a wide area. Because of the ease and relatively small expense involved in producing and delivering anthrax weapons, such weapons are potentially highly attractive weapons of mass destruction for terrorist groups. Thus, in addition to potential organized military conflicts that may give rise to the use of such weapons, terrorist organizations are a potential threat for the use of such weapons in airports, office buildings and other centers of human activity.
Anthrax is caused by B. anthracis, a gram-positive, sporulating bacillus. B. anthracis is a soil bacterium and is distributed worldwide. The organism exists in the infected host as a vegetative bacillus and in the environment as a spore. The anthrax spore is typically the infective form of the bacterial life cycle. Anthrax spores can survive adverse environmental conditions and can remain viable for decades. Animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and horses can contract the spores while grazing. Humans can contract anthrax from inoculation of minor skin lesions with spores from infected animals, their hides, wool or other products, such as infected meat (Franz et al. (1997) J. Am. Med. Assoc. 278(5): 399-411).
The typical mode of entry of the anthrax spore into the body, inhalation, results in an illness known as woolsorter's disease. After deposit in the lower respiratory tract, spores are phagocytized by tissue macrophages and transported to hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes. The spores germinate into vegetative bacilli, producing a necrotizing hemorrhagic mediastinitis (Franz et al., supra). Symptoms include fever, malaise and fatigue, which can easily be confused with the flu. The disease may progress to an abrupt onset of severe respiratory distress with dyspnea, stridor, diaphoresis and cyanosis. Death usually follows within 24 to 36 hours.
Cutaneous anthrax infection occurs following external contact with anthrax. In cutaneous anthrax infection, symptoms include a skin infection that is distinguished by a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite in the first days and develops into a vesicle and then ulcer with a characteristic black necrotic area in the center. 20% of untreated cases of cutaneous infection result in death.
Gastrointestinal anthrax infection follows consumption of contaminated meat. Symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting of blood and severe diarrhea. Death results in 25%-60% of cases.
Because the effects of exposure to anthrax are not immediate, and because the initial symptoms are easily confused with the flu, there is a need for a fast method to detect B. anthracis in a subject. This need is enhanced by the increasing number of anthrax threats that are called into governmental authorities each year and the recent transport of anthrax through the United States Postal System. A fast method for determining whether a subject has been infected with anthrax is, therefore, essential.
Anthrax spores have S-layers, as do spores of many other archea and bacteria. Most S-layers are comprised of repeats of a single protein (Etienne-Toumelin et al., J. Bacteriol. 177:614-20 (1995)). The S-layer of B. anthracis, however, is comprised of at least two proteins: EA1 (Mesnage et al., Molec. Microbiol. 23:1147-55 (1997)) and surface array protein (SAP) (see Etienne-Toumelin, et al., supra). Fully virulent B. anthracis isolates are encapsulated by a capsule that encompasses the S-layer of the bacteria and prevents access of antibodies to both EA1 and SAP (Mesnage et al., J. Bacteriol. 180:52-58 (1998)). Amino acids 180 to 700 of SEQ ID NO:1 are specific for SAP.
A fast and efficient method is needed to detect infection of animals, and especially humans, by anthrax. The present invention addresses this and other problems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention provides synthetic chimeric fimbrin peptides which induce an immunogenic response in animals to non-typable Haemophilus influenzae and that do not require tedious purification techniques. The synthetic chimeric fimbrin peptides reduce the severity of otitis media caused by Haemophilus influenzae. The synthetic chimeric fimbrin peptides are synthesized using commercially available peptide synthesizers. The synthetic chimeric fimbrin peptides comprises three peptide units. The first peptide unit is a subunit of the fimbrin protein. Preferably, the fimbrin subunit is comprised of the amino acids of Sequence ID No. 1 or Sequence ID No. 2. The second peptide unit is a t cell epitope, and preferably has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3. The third peptide unit is a linker peptide unit which joins the first and second peptide unit. The linking sequence preferably has from about 2 to about 15 amino acids, more preferably from about 2 to about 10 amino acids, most preferably from about 5 to about 6 amino acids. The synthetic chimeric fimbrin peptides are useful immunognes against NTHi and also useful as laboratory tool for detecting antibodies in sera. The invention also relates to an immunogenic composition containing the synthetic chimeric fimbrin peptides and a pharmacologically acceptable carrier.

Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear that occurs primarily in children. Left untreated, the disease can result in hearing loss and developmental delays. It is estimated that otitis media accounted for 31 million of the 130 million office visits for respiratory diseases in the period from 1977–87. Recent data indicate that suppurative and unspecified otitis media rank first in the list of the 30 most common diagnoses requiring a physician's office visit for patients up to age 24. Over one billion dollars per year is spent on treatment of this disease and the related loss of income for working parents is estimated to be between $300 and $600 million. Approximately 83% of all children will have had at least one episode of acute otitis media by three years of age. Non-typable strains of Haemophilus influenzae account for 25–30% of all cases of otitis media, 53% of recurrent otitis media, and are the primary pathogens isolated from 62% of cases of chronic otitis media with effusion. Although non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) are primary pathogens in otitis media, neither the pathogenic mechanisms nor the host immunological response has been fully defined for this disease.
Fimbriae, which are surface appendages found on non-typable Haemophilus influenzae, are produced by 100% of the bacteria recovered from the middle ears and nasopharyngeal region of children with chronic otitis media. A vaccine comprised of fimbrin, a filamentous protein derived from the fimbriae of non-typable Haemophilus influenzae was previously developed and is useful in studying, preventing, or reducing the severity of otitis media. However, existing methodologies to isolate fimbrin protein from the bacterial outer membrane are tedious and time-consuming. Similarly, purification of fimbrin expressed by the fimbrin gene in other host vector, is also tedious due to the homology between the fimbrin protein and the outer membrane proteins of the host vector.
A strategy with other bacterial species has been to use an alternative immunogen having relatively short linear peptides. However, such alternative immunogens are of limited value since antibodies to such alternative immunogens frequently fail to recognize the native pathogen.
It would be desirable to have an immunogenic composition to immunize animals against non-typable Haemophilus influenzae which does not depend on tedious purification techniques.

The Ohio State University Research Foundation


To provide a coupling member for fixing a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays on a toilet bowl that is able to prevent a bolt from being screwed too tightly. A coupling member for fixing a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays on a toilet bowl is constituted and characterized by comprising a circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion 70 that is inserted into a mounting hole 14 formed at a rear portion of a toilet bowl 10, a bolt 60 that is inserted into the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion 70 and that has a threaded portion 62 and a stopper portion 64 formed respectively on a lower side and an upper side, and a nut 80 that is provided on the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion 70 and screwed on the aforementioned threaded portion 62 and that moves upward by a rotational operation in one direction from an upper side of the aforementioned bolt 60 so as to enlarge the aforementioned circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion 70 in a circumferential direction.

As is known in the art, a coupling member is used to install a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays at a rear portion of a toilet bowl. The coupling member is inserted in a mounting hole formed at the rear portion of the toilet bowl. A wide variety of coupling members are provided as the coupling member. A coupling member for a toilet seat device with warm-water sprays is disclosed in a Patent document No. 1, for example, in which it has a good workability since it is operated only from an upper side of the toilet bowl.
That is, the coupling member for the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays disclosed in the Patent document No. 1 has a circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion that is inserted into a mounting hole formed at a rear portion of a toilet bowl, a bolt that is inserted into the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion and that has a threaded portion along an entire length thereof except a head portion, and a nut that is provided on the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion, screwed on the threaded portion, and moved upward by rotational operation in one direction from an upper side of the bolt so as to enlarge the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion in a circumferential direction. In such coupling member for the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays, if the nut is moved upward by the rotational operation in one direction from the upper side of the bolt, the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion is enlarged in the circumferential direction. Then, when the circular cylindrically-shaped elastic deforming portion enlarged in the circumferential direction is strongly and firmly held between the nut and an inner wall of the mounting hole of the toilet bowl, the toilet seat device with warm-water sprays located at the side of the coupling member is indirectly and detachably fixed on the toilet bowl.    PATENT DOCUMENT No. 1: Japanese Laid Open Utility Model Publication No. Shou-62-72372

Coupling member for toilet seat device with warm-water sprays


A facepiece insert (16) that has a fluid communication component (30, 32) non-integrally joined to a supporting portion (34). The insert can be made by (a) providing at least one supporting portion (34) of a facepiece insert (16); (b) providing at least one fluid communication component (30, 32) separately from the supporting portion (34) of the facepiece insert (16); and (c) securing the at least one fluid communication component (30, 32) to the at least one supporting portion (34).

Many respirators that are sold today use a thin rigid structural part for attaching filter elements and valves to the mask body. These rigid structural parts are commonly produced through injection molding and are often referred to as a "nosepiece" or "rigid insert". A soft compliant material, which conforms to a person's face, is disposed on or about the rigid structural insert to enable the mask to fit snugly over the wearer's nose and mouth. The use of a rigid insert in conjunction with a soft compliant portion tends to make the mask lighter and more comfortable to wear, particularly when compared to previous masks that had used thick rubber throughout essentially the whole mask body to support the filter cartridges and valves. Examples of masks that use a rigid insert in conjunction with a compliant face-contacting member are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,804 to Gleason et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,937 to Freund, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,421 to Burns et al.
The rigid structural components that are employed in mask facepieces regularly incorporate multiple integrated elements that have distinct dimensional tolerance requirements and complex shapes that are customarily formed in molds at relatively great expense.
The control of dimensional tolerance—including actual dimension and conformation of an injected molded part—can be affected by the material used, the cycle time of the part, the mold configuration, and the part design. For a given material and a given part design, the factor that limits production typically is related to the element that has the greatest tolerance requirement. Higher tolerance parts, more-often-than-not, require additional oversight and technical expertise to correctly manufacture.
To properly utilize the efficiency and accuracy of injection-molding technology, designers have sought to encompass as much detail as possible in the molded part so that the whole rigid structural insert can be manufactured in one step. The result therefore often involves complex tooling that is difficult to maintain and operate, especially when used in remote facilities that do not have access to well-trained technical resources. Thus, the higher tolerance requirements for certain portions of the rigid inserts can limit both the design and the production of the whole insert when made using conventional, single-stage, injection-molded technologies. Additionally, when a change to a feature in the facepiece insert is needed, such as a different filter mount, a whole new mold must be provided to make the change. That is, a separate mold must be furnished for the whole nosepiece and not simply for a portion of it.

Respiratory facepiece and method of making a facepiece using separate molds


A flash memory disposed on a substrate is provided. The flash memory includes a semiconductor transistor including stacked gate structures, lightly doped regions and spacers. The stacked gate structures include a gate dielectric layer, a first conductive layer, a dielectric layer and a second conductive layer sequentially disposed on the substrate. The dielectric layer has an opening there around such that the first conductive layer electrically connects with the second conductive layer. The lightly doped regions are disposed in the substrate under the opening at sides of the stacked gate structures. The spacers are disposed on sidewalls of the stacked gate structures. A width of spacers is adjusted by controlling a height of the first conductive layer under the opening. The lightly doped regions are disposed by using the dielectric layer as a mask layer, so as to gain margins of the lightly doped regions for good electrical properties.

Technical Field
The invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof, and particularly relates to a semiconductor transistor and a flash memory and a manufacturing method thereof.
Related Art
Since a non-volatile memory is capable of implementing data storage, data reading and data erasing operations for multiple times, and data stored therein is not disappeared after power-off, the non-volatile memory is widely used in personal computers and electronic equipment.
A typical non-volatile memory includes a memory cell region and a peripheral circuit region. In the memory cell region, a plurality of memory units and standard operating voltage transistors as switch transistors are disposed. In the peripheral circuit region, various semiconductor transistors with different operation voltages are disposed according to an actual requirement. Generally, a plurality of standard operating voltage transistors (core transistors), a plurality of middle operating voltage transistors or high operating voltage transistors are disposed in the peripheral circuit region. The semiconductor transistors with different operation voltages are required to have different structures according to electrical performances thereof.
However, in the typical non-volatile memory, the memory units, the standard operating voltage transistors, and middle operating voltage transistors and/or high operating voltage transistors are formed together in a same manufacturing process. Regarding a middle operating voltage transistor or a high operating voltage transistor, in order to avoid generating a leakage current, a lightly doped drain (LDD) structure with a large width is formed in a substrate between a source/drain region and a gate.
Taking an NAND flash memory as an example, during the manufacturing process, the middle operating voltage transistors or the high operating voltage transistors are not easy to get a wide LDD, so that a offset a spacer overlay margin is required, i.e. an extra lithography etching process is needed to widen the LDD of the middle operating voltage transistors or the high operating voltage transistors. Taking an embedded flash memory as an example, in the manufacturing process, the width of the LDD of the middle operating voltage transistor or the high operating voltage transistor can be determined by a width of the spacer of the middle operating voltage transistor or the high operating voltage transistor, and the width of the spacer is influenced by a height of the gate. In case that a height the gate of the middle operating voltage transistor or the high operating voltage transistor is lower than a height of the stacked gate structure of the memory unit or a height of a gate of the standard operating voltage transistor, the wide LDD cannot be achieved, which influences properties of the semiconductor device.

Semiconductor transistor and flash memory, and manufacturing method thereof


A water heater includes a combustor, a gas valve, a blower, a detector, and an operating device. The detector senses a speed of a motor of the blower. The operating device is stored with reference speed ranges under various gas supplies to control the gas valve to cut off the gas supply when the detector senses that the speed of the motor of the blower is beyond the reference speed range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a water heater, and more particularly to a direct vent or power vent water heater and a method of testing for safety thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional water heater exhausting gas after burning by convection is very dangerous to be mounted indoors since carbon monoxide generated from the water heater is fatal when the gas is accumulated in the rooms. An improved water heater, direct vent or power vent water heater, was provided, in which a blower is provided to exhaust the gas after burning, including carbon monoxide, out of the rooms and to raise the burning efficiency as well. The blower may provide more gas for burning to generate more heat. Jam or aging of the blower causes a poor ventilation of air in the water heater that burning will generate more carbon monoxide. However, user may think he/she is safe with the direct vent water heater without being aware that it is still dangerous with the direct vent water heater having a jammed or aged blower.

Direct vent/power vent water heater and method of testing for safety thereof


A monitoring system includes a plurality of image-capturing apparatuses each including an event detector that executes on a corresponding captured image at least one of a plurality of processing algorithms for detection of a monitor event, and a transmission controller that outputs to a network only a processing result of the executed processing algorithm when a monitor event is not detected and that outputs to the network at least the captured image when a monitor event is detected; and a management apparatus managing the plurality of image-capturing apparatuses via the network and including an event determination unit that determines occurrence of a monitor event in accordance with the received processing result and a record controller that records the received captured image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system that detects occurrence of a monitor event within an image capture range and to an event detecting method. The present invention also relates to an image-processing apparatus disposed on an image capture side in a monitoring system. The present invention also relates to a management apparatus that records a captured image in accordance with occurrence of a monitor event within a system in the monitoring system. The present invention also relates to a program for realizing functions of the image-processing apparatus and the management apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, monitoring systems are used in various fields, such as in the establishment of security systems.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a known structure of a security system. Referring to FIG. 1, the security system includes an image-capturing camera 1 and a management apparatus 3 managing the image-capturing camera 1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a display device 5 is externally connected to the management apparatus 3.
Moving body detection is a typical function of security systems. Moving body detection is a function of detecting intrusion of a moving body, such as a human being or a vehicle, into an image capture range. In general, when a moving body is detected, an alert is sent out and a captured image is recorded.
In known security systems, the image-capturing camera 1 is provided with only a function of distributing a captured image, and the management apparatus 3 performs a moving body detection process.
For example, the image-capturing camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an image-capturing element 11, a camera signal processor 13, a central processing unit (CPU) 15, an image compressor 17, and a network processor 19. The camera signal processor 13 is a processing device that performs signal amplification processing, analog/digital conversion processing, exposure control processing, and other processing necessary for converting a captured image into a video signal. The image compressor 17 is a processing device that compresses and encodes a captured image in, for example, a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) format or a moving picture experts group (MPEG) format.
The management apparatus 3 includes a network processor 31, a CPU 33, a display controller 35, an image decompressor 37, an event detector 39, a disk controller 41, and a hard disk device 43. The event detector 39 is a processing device that detects intrusion of a moving body using image processing of a captured image received via a network. The network is based on the communication standard defined by, for example, the IEEE 802.3 standard.
FIG. 2 shows an example of function allocation of processing algorithms for moving body detection. Referring to FIG. 2, the image-capturing camera 1 performs processing from image capture to transfer of a captured image to a network. The management apparatus 3 performs a series of processes from motion detection to alert execution.
A known technology is described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-233889.

Monitoring system, image-processing apparatus, management apparatus, event detecting method, and program


A method and apparatus enables the BIOS to be stored on a mass storage device, such as a hard disk, to enable a computer system to be booted even during conditions of disk failure. A fully functional version of the BIOS, such as a first production version of the BIOS, provided on a non-volatile memory device, such as a MASKED ROM memory device or a one time programmable (OTP) memory device, is used to initially boot the computer system. An upgraded or newer version of the BIOS may be loaded into an unprotected area of the hard disk by way of a floppy disk. Initially, during installation, the system checks to determine if the upgraded version of the BIOS is compatible with the computer system and newer than the BIOS version currently stored in the computer system. If so, the upgraded BIOS is copied to the hard disk and treated like any other file. After the BIOS is copied to the hard disk, the system is rebooted to install the upgraded version of the BIOS. In the event of a disk crash, the fully functional or first production version of the BIOS in the OTP device enables the computer system to be rebooted and diagnostics to be run in order to ascertain the cause of the disk failure. By utilizing a fully functional or first production version of the BIOS stored in an OTP device for initial startup, the production cycle for manufacturing a personal computer can be reduced, as well as providing optimal utilization of OTP devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The following application is related to co-pending application, entitled "Flash ROM Programmer," by Clark Buxton, Ser. No. 07/885,805, filed on May 15, 1992 and co-pending application, entitled "Memory System," by Min E. Lee and Jiming Sun, Ser. No. 07/995,803 filed on Dec. 23, 1992.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for upgrading a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) for a computer system stored on a system mass storage device, such as a disk drive, without changing any hardware which obviates the need for partitioning the disk or providing for disaster recovery which enables the computer system to be booted in the event of a disk failure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various methods and systems are known for upgrading the BIOS in a computer system. In earlier personal computers, the BIOS was loaded into a programmable read only memory (PROM) or an ultraviolet erasable electrically programmable ROM (EPROM). In such systems, since the BIOS is very hardware specific, any changes in the computer hardware normally required the BIOS to be upgraded. Such upgrades required that the computer case be opened and the PROM or EPROM chip containing the BIOS to be removed and replaced with a new PROM or EPROM chip containing the updated BIOS. In such a situation, the replacement of the BIOS was known to require the services of a computer technician which can be relatively expensive.
In other known systems, such as the system disclosed in co-pending application, Ser. No. 07/995,803, filed on Dec. 23, 1992, assigned to the same Assignee as the Assignee of the present invention, the BIOS is loaded into flash ROM. Flash ROM is relatively expensive, which drives up the cost of the computer system. In addition, the boot block portion of the flash ROM has a limited size which limits the number of BIOS functions that can be stored. Such flash ROMs also require programming circuitry which, inter alia, requires a 12-volt programming voltage in order to program the flash ROM in contradistinction to a ROM or EPROM which does not require programming circuitry, since such devices are normally programmed outside the computer system. Moreover, relatively complex disaster recovery is required to enable the system to be rebooted in the event of a failure of the flash ROM device.
In yet other known systems, the BIOS is loaded into a protected area of a hard disk. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,928,237; 5,022,077; 5,063,496; 5,072,370; 5,128,995; and 5,136,713, as well as European Patent Application No. 0 479 427 A2, all herein incorporated by reference. In such systems, basic start-up BIOS functions are provided on a ROM with the balance of the BIOS function stored on the hard disk and written to main memory during the start-up sequence. In such an application, the BIOS is normally loaded onto a protected area of the hard disk, thus reducing the disk space available for other applications. In addition, such computer systems will not boot when the hard drive fails in such systems. As such, no diagnostic utilities can be utilized to ascertain the source of the disk failure.
In order to reduce costs, it is also known to utilize a MASKED ROM, fabricated with the BIOS code already stored, also known as a MASKED device. Such MASKED devices are relatively inexpensive and obviate the need for programming circuitry. However, the use of such MASKED devices can have a dilatory impact on the development and production schedule of a computer system due to the relatively long lead time (i.e., 6-8 weeks) to obtain such devices, often necessitating the use of the more expensive memory devices such as one time programmable (OTP) memory devices which typically cost less than EPROM, EEPROM and flash ROM memory devices. More particularly, since the MASKED and OTP devices cannot be reprogrammed after fabrication, the commercial version of MASKED devices are normally ordered relatively late in the production cycle of a computer system. The relatively long lead time of such MASKED devices thus undesirably extends the development and production cycle of the computer system into which the MASKED device is being incorporated. In addition, since such MASKED devices are normally ordered in relatively large quantities, many of such devices normally end up as surplus.


Disclosed is a circuit for storing and processing information in channel units servicing four channels in a digital loop carrier transmission system. Separate registers are provided for processing information related to different pairs of channels. However, one of the registers duplicates the information included in other register so that only a single register need to be addressed for a particular function.

This invention relates to digital loop carrier transmission systems.
In standard digital loop carrier transmission systems, such as the Subscriber Loop Carrier (SLC.RTM.) system, each channel unit (CU) interfacing with the customer provides service for two channels. Such channel units generally include registers for storing and processing information related to particular functions so that the information can be read by a bank controller unit (BCU). For example, a "health" register includes information related to the proper functioning of the unit.
In newer systems, each unit will service four channels, as well as provide enhanced services such as inventory and automatic loss control. Such "quad" channel units should be compatible with existing systems, and also handle additional information related to the two additional channels. At the same time, it is desirable to minimize the time needed to address the registers on the channel unit to optimize the operating speed of the system.

Quad channel unit registers for channel pairs


In a communication system having connector modules, a switching network serving for the through-connection of calls, a central signal channel, as well as a multiprocessor system for central control, patch methods must take specific multiprocessor properties of the communication system into consideration. After the call-in of a patch command composed of a plurality of sub-components and provided with a plurality of destination addresses, a branching is implemented to the patch processes residing in the respective local memory systems of the various connector modules or of the multiprocessor system. Furthermore, after evaluation of the sub-components, information data corresponding to code modifications are edited. Further patch processes exclusively reserve at least one of the processors of the various connector modules or of the multiprocessor system, in that a first patch process having a lower priority level than the processes allocated to the normal operation of the communication system accesses at least one of the processors only when all processes of a high priority level sequencing on this processor have ended their task and in that, following immediately thereupon, a second patch process having a priority level exceeding the priority levels of the processes allocated to the normal operation of the communication system assume the introduction of the edited code modifications and, due to its priority level, can also not be interrupted by processes of a lower priority level. After the conclusion of the patch, the exclusively reserved processors are returned to the procedures of the switching technology.

The present invention is directed to a communication system having a switching network, connector modules, a multiprocessor system and patch procedures for the correction of software errors.
Complex communication systems are usually realized as multiprocessor systems. Compared to single processor systems, the multiprocessor systems have advantages such as, for example, a significant increase in the processing speed. This is achieved by parallel handling of a plurality of tasks, each of which respectively represent sub-tasks of a task to be handled. Every processor handles a sub-task and the sub-results are compiled to form an overall result.
In addition to high processing speed, another requirement of modern communication systems is to assure the availability of the system for all subscribers at any time, this being achieved by a far-reaching redundancy of central parts of the system. Thus, international standardization committees for communication systems/communication networks, for example, CCITT, require a high availability of the system over the entire service life, for example in the form that a communication system cannot be down for more than two hours over a period of twenty years. In order to satisfy these requirements, the internal operational sequences of the system must be controlled and monitored by a plurality of processes and procedures. The complexity of the procedures and processes sequencing in a communication system, however, is thus greatly increased. What is generally valid is that the error probability becomes greater as the system becomes more complex and multi-layered.
Errors occurring during operation must therefore be analyzed and correction data must be immediately introduced into the system in order to reduce the error probability of the system and, thus, to enhance the availability of the system. In general, errors are unavoidable when creating procedures. Syntax errors can in fact be eliminated during the course of creation by specific procedures such as, for example, compiler procedures. However, logical coding errors cannot be identified via such a syntax check. They thus take affect during the ongoing operation and particularly occur where a complex interaction of procedures and processes takes place. The complexity of such a system, makes the appearance of a logical coding error possible only after a long operating time and thus makes an immediate elimination of such an error more difficult.
Although single processor systems of a traditional type allow corrected and, thus, re-coded procedure sequences to be edited, compiled, and linked again, as well as, re-introduced into the system with low outlay for time and work, such a procedure is no longer practical for present multiprocessor communication systems. The introduction of even minute corrections would require a renewed editing, compiling, as well as linking of all procedures of the overall communication system. Such a process, however, would generally take several days and would thus block computer centers for other jobs for a long period of time.
The necessity of developing methods that allow a fast, short-term introduction of less significant error corrections into the software of a communication system lead to the development of procedures for rapid correction of logical coding errors, referred to below as patches. Small software corrections can be implemented in the short-term with patches. On the basis of instructions via a user terminal, the modifications are directly supplied to the code executions to be corrected in the respective procedures. For simple logical coding errors the faulty code is overwritten. When, however, additional code must be inserted into the program execution, the introduced patch is connected to what is referred to as a "backpack". This contains additional program code that is necessary for eliminating the logical error and is deposited in a main memory area specifically provided for this purpose. The correction of the program code that has now been modified is effected during the later operational sequence in that the procedure branches to the introduced "backpack" at the corresponding modification location, after which a return occurs to the original program code. This event is controlled by what is referred to as a patch administration. The addresses of the "backpacks" allocated to the patches are stored in tabular form.
The creation of the procedures of a communication system implies a number of complex development steps since, first, the procedure is still affected with errors immediately after the coding process that can only be eliminated after further development steps and, second, further performance features are added, this usually denoting a linking of further procedures into the software of the communication system.
For organizational reasons, a version number is assigned to every development step. However, by means of a patch, only temporary error corrections that do not establish new versions are introduced into the system. When, during the course of using new performance features, new procedure components are produced and linked into the system to which corresponding, new version numbers are then assigned, these new procedure components are occasionally used to completely work the temporarily introduced patches into the procedures. The "former" patches are thus no longer carried along in the procedures provided with a new version number.
Simple logical coding errors can be corrected in the short-term with this method for fast error correction (patch method) and can be introduced into the procedures of the communication system. What are to be understood by simple logical coding errors are, for example, those errors that appear in a module to be handled by a single processor. However, due to the development toward multiprocessor systems, there are constellations that do not occur in a single processor architecture. Logical coding errors are thereby so complex and multilayered due to the interaction of a number of procedures and processes that an immediate correction of faulty code in the respective procedures is no longer possible without further steps. In addition to the errors known from the previous "single processor world", new types of errors have been introduced that occur cross-module, occur cross-processor, only occur when a specific network environment is present, or only occur in combination with corresponding firmware.
Such complex logical coding errors, however, can no longer be corrected and introduced into the system with the above-described patch method since the error corrections, (for example, in the case of cross-module logical coding errors) must be introduced in a modification step.
As already mentioned, the complexity of a system is directly correlated to its error probability and also to its availability. In practice, this means that the more patches (i.e. fast error corrections) that are situated in the modules, procedures and tables, the more complex the system. During the further course of the development process of the procedures of a communication system, additional procedures access these patches, in this case, thus, up to the assignment of the next version number.
Permanent physical addresses are allocated to the patches in the working memory. When additional data are to be inserted into the tables of the communication system during the course of a development process (particularly when additional subscribers are connected to the communication system), then this inherently involves a relocation of these physical addresses. This, however, is avoided in that the patches coming into consideration are analyzed and temporarily removed in a succession of laborious individual steps in order to introduce the corresponding data. In particular, the removal of patches that have already been introduced presents enormous problems in practice since errors formerly handled may now crop up again under certain circumstances. Since, as mentioned, additional procedures access introduced patches during the further course of the development process of the communication system, there is a probability of a total collapse or of a drastic limitation of the availability of the overall communication system that must be considered.

Method for error correction of software errors in a communication system


A shaving system includes a razor body having a blade releaseably secured at a first distal end thereof. A processor having a timing mechanism is positioned within the razor body. A pressure sensor is positioned externally on the razor body for selectively determining if the razor body is being gripped. A movement sensor is positioned adjacent to the blade and within the razor body for selectively determining whether the blade is moving along a surface. Both the pressure sensor and movement sensor are coupled to the processor. The system further includes means for indicating that the blade should be replaced. Upon the pressure sensor and the movement sensor being activated simultaneously, the timing mechanism is caused to count down from a predetermined initial value representing an amount of time required until the blade needs to be replaced which is indicated by the indicating means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a shaving system and, more specifically, to a razor that notifies a user to replace a blade connected thereto. The system of the present invention includes sensors so that when gripped by a user and the razor blade head is activated, a processor counts down from a pre-determined time which represents the amount of shaving time before the blade is dulled. The time remaining until the blade needs to be replaced is displayed by LED lights whereby upon all lights being extinguished, the blade should be replaced with a new blade. Upon depressing a blade release switch positioned on the razor body, the timer of the CPU is reset.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous other types of shaving systems exist in the prior art. Typical of these are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,328,336; 2,750,664; 3,137,939; 3,233,322; 4,208,984; 5,062,209; 5,347,715; 6,009,623; 6,460,251; 6,708,408 and WO95/22444 and French Patent No. 2,758,757. While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.


A plurality of flexible printed circuit boards are held on a transfer carrier, which is formed by a base plate and a resin layer formed on an upper surface of the base plate. Reference pins are positioned at reference pin openings of the carrier base plate and reference holes of the flexible printed circuit boards are positioned at the reference pins in order to adhere the board to the carrier resin layer. Electronic parts are mounted on the flexible printed circuit board by bonding the electronic parts to bonding portions of the flexible printed circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transfer carrier for a flexible printed circuit board for holding and transferring flexible printed circuit boards on each of which a semiconductor device and small parts are mounted, and also relates to an electronic parts mounting method on a flexible printed circuit board.
2. Description of Related Art
Since a film-shaped thin circuit board such as a flexible printed circuit board on which electronic parts are mounted is hard to be treated by itself, the film-shaped thin circuit boards are usually treated in a state that a plurality of the flexible printed circuit boards are held on a plate-shaped transfer carrier. Electronic parts are also mounted on such the flexible printed circuit boards in a state that the flexible printed circuit boards are held on the transfer carrier. Thus, the transfer carrier used in an electronic parts mounting process is required to have a positioning function for holding the flexible printed circuit boards with preferable positioning accuracy.
The electronic parts to be mounted on the flexible printed circuit board are not limited to ones of the same mounting method but there is a case that the electronic parts are mounted on the same flexible printed circuit board with different mounting methods. For example, there is a case that small parts such as resistors and capacitors to be mounted through the reflow soldering are mounted on the same flexible printed circuit board together with a semiconductor device such as a flip chip to be mounted through the bonding method. The transfer carrier for holding such a type of the flexible printed circuit board is desirably provided with heat resisting property so as to be usable in the reflow process together with the aforesaid positioning function.
However, conventionally, it is difficult to realize such a transfer carrier provided with both the preferable positioning function and heat resisting property, and hence the transfer carriers dedicated for the respective mounting methods are required. That is, it is required to perform such a procedure that the flexible printed circuit boards on which the semiconductor devices were bonded are removed from a transfer carrier for bonding and the flexible printed circuit boards are transferred on another transfer carrier for soldering. Thus, it is necessary to prepare plural kinds of the transfer carriers for respective kinds of the flexible printed circuit boards. As a result, there arises a problem that the cost of the equipment increases, and it is troublesome to transfer the flexible printed circuit boards on the way of the mounting process to another transfer carrier and so the manufacturing efficiency is degraded.

Method of mounting electronic parts on a flexible printed circuit board

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A feeding radiation electrode and a non-feeding radiation electrode are provided extending from a front side surface to top surface of a dielectric base. In the feeding radiation electrode, a slit that extends from a feeding end in an inward direction is formed, and, in the non-feeding radiation electrode, a slit that extends from a ground end in an inward direction is formed. In addition, on the non-feeding radiation electrode, a branch electrode is formed so as to extend toward the side of the feeding radiation electrode. With this configuration, gain is obtained in two frequency bands by using a multi-resonance of fundamental wave resonances and harmonic resonances generated by the feeding radiation electrode and the non-feeding radiation electrode, and a good return loss characteristic caused by coupling of harmonic resonances is provided. In other embodiments, the feeding and non-feeding radiation electrodes may be formed on a flat substrate, or directly on a circuit board.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to an antenna for use in a radio communication apparatus such as a mobile communication apparatus, and a radio communication apparatus provided with the antenna.
2. Background Art
Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose antennas for use in plural frequency bands in radio communication apparatuses such as terminal devices (cellular phones) of a cellular phone system. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the antenna described in Patent Document 1. In FIG. 1, a radiation electrode 12, and non-feeding electrodes 13 and 14 are formed on a top surface of a dielectric base 11. In addition, a ground electrode 15 is formed on substantially the entirety of a bottom surface of the dielectric base 11 so that an excitation conductor 19 does not touch the ground electrode 15. Further, ground conductors 16, 17, and 18, for respectively grounding the radiation electrode 12 and the non-feeding electrodes 13 and 14, are formed on a side surface of the dielectric base 11.
As described above, by forming a radiation electrode, and a plurality of non-feeding electrodes having resonant frequencies close to that of the radiation electrode on the same plane, and combining a plurality of resonances, an antenna having wideband characteristics is realized.
In addition, Patent Document 2 indicates that an antenna having gain in two frequency bands is configured by using a multi-resonance of fundamental wave resonances and harmonic resonances generated by a feeding electrode and a non-feeding electrode. Specifically, by forming spiral slits in the feeding electrode and the non-feeding electrode, a resonant frequency of a harmonic resonance (higher mode) can be set to a desired frequency almost without changing a frequency of a fundamental wave resonance (fundamental mode).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-127014
Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-8326
As indicated by Patent Document 2, by providing slits on a feeding electrode and a non-feeding electrode, a resonant frequency of a harmonic can be controlled. However, depending on a combination of a resonant frequency of a fundamental wave and a resonant frequency of a harmonic, matching is frequently not established at the resonant frequency of the harmonic. Accordingly, an optimal return loss may not be obtained. In other words, considering capacitive coupling between the feeding electrode and the non-feeding electrode, as the length of the slit formed in each of the feeding electrode and the non-feeding electrode increases, inductance functionality increases and capacitance functionality decreases. Accordingly, the amount of coupling of harmonic resonances between the feeding electrode and the non-feeding electrode is reduced, so that a problem occurs in that a desired gain cannot be obtained since a return loss at a harmonic resonant frequency is large.

Antenna and radio communication apparatus


A gas venting system for an electrical submersible pump (ESP system includes a shroud and a venting system fluidically coupled to the shroud. The shroud is configured to encapsulate and fluidically seal an ESP system that includes an ESP and a motor operatively coupled to the ESP to drive the ESP. The shroud can receive well fluids including liquid components and gaseous components. The venting system can flow a portion of the gaseous components towards the surface before the gaseous components enter the ESP based on a quantity of the gaseous components received in the shroud exceeding a threshold gaseous component value.

Hydrocarbons, for example, oil, natural gas, combinations of them, or other hydrocarbons, are trapped in hydrocarbon reservoirs beneath a surface of the Earth. Wellbores are formed from the surface to the hydrocarbon reservoirs to recover the trapped hydrocarbons. In some instances, the hydrocarbons can flow to the surface due to a pressure differential between the reservoir pressure and the surface pressure. In some instances, artificial lift systems can be implemented in the wellbore to assist the hydrocarbons to flow to the surface. Electrical submersible pumps (ESPs) are examples of such artificial lift systems.

Electrical submersible pump with gas venting system


The invention provides a method and a device for communicating a signal over a power line. One embodiment may comprise a length of power cable that comprises a center conductor substantially surrounded by an insulator. A concentric conductor is disposed external to the insulator over a first portion of the cable. A coupling conductor may be disposed concentrically around a second portion of the cable external to said insulator and having a first end and a second end. The concentric conductor is absent in a manner to form a gap between the concentric conductor and the first end of said coupling conductor. A transceiver cable is coupled to the first end of said coupling conductor and a common mode choke may be disposed substantially around the entire circumference of a portion of said coupling conductor. Finally, the second end of the coupling conductor may be coupled to ground through a convenient neutral conductor.

Transmitting data to end users has become the main focus of many technologies. Data networks provide the backbone necessary to communicate the data from one point to another. Of course, using existing networks, like electrical power distribution networks, provides the benefit of not having to run new cables, which can create a great expense. On the other hand, using existing networks requires that the components that help carry the data conform to the requirements of the existing networks.
One particular existing network that recently has been used to carry data is the electrical power system. This system has the advantage of providing an existing connection to every customer premise. The electrical power distribution network includes many various divisions and subdivisions. Generally, the electric power system has three major components: the generation facilities that produce the electric power, the high-voltage transmission network that carries the electric power from each generation facility to distribution points, and the distribution network that delivers the electric power to the consumer. Generally, substations act as the intermediary between the high-voltage transmission network and the medium and low voltage distribution network. The substations typically provide the medium voltage to one or more distribution transformers that feed the customer premises. Distribution transformers may be pole-top transformers located on a telephone or electric pole for overhead distribution systems, or pad-mounted transformers located on or in the ground for underground distribution systems.
The sections of the electric power distribution system that are connected to the customers typically are low voltage (LV) sections having a voltage between 100 volts AC and 480 volts AC, depending on the system. In the United States, the low voltage section typically is about 120 volts AC (120 Vrms, 60 Hz). The sections of the power distribution system that provide the power to the low voltage sections are referred to as the medium voltage (MV) sections. The voltage of the MV section typically is in the range of 1,000 Volts to 100,000 volts and typically several thousand volts (e.g., 8.66 kilo volts (kV) to neutral or 15 kV between phase conductors). The transition from the MV section to the LV section of the power distribution system typically is accomplished with a distribution transformer, which converts the higher voltage of the MV section to the lower voltage of the LV section.
The medium and low voltage networks of the electrical power system have been used to establish a data network among the end users. In particular, the medium voltage network acts as an interface between centralized data servers and the low voltage network that connect to the end users. In order to obtain the advantages of using this existing network for transmitting data, however, certain constraints inherent with every power distribution system must be overcome. For example, any connections made between the medium and low voltage networks, outside of the usual and protected transformer interfaces, create concern for the safety of individuals and equipment brought about by the possibility of placing medium voltage levels on the low voltage network. Moreover, the difficulty of providing power to the equipment necessary to network the end user with the medium voltage network must be considered.
Many couplers that have been designed prior to this invention have relied on direct contact with the MV power line. The phase-to-earth ground voltage of the 15 kV system is 8.66 kV. As a consequence, the electronics and power supplies associated with the couplers have to be built to isolate the 8.66 kV potential from earth ground.
Thus, a coupling device should be designed to provide safe and reliable communication of data signals with a medium voltage power line, facilitate bi-directional broadband communications, ensure the safety of installation personnel, and prevent dangerous MV voltage levels from being conducted to the customer premises.
Various embodiments of the coupler of the present invention may provide many of the above features and overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

Power line coupling device and method of using the same


A cardiac pacemaker includes circuitry which receives a raw impedance signal from the sensor leads of the pacemaker, derives data from the impedance signal that is descriptive of the impedance signal over an entire (or a large part of the) cardiac cycle, develops first order parameters which define that cycle, and provides these parameters to a microprocessor for control of the pacing signal. These parameters may also be used to determine other information about the functioning of the pacemaker. The present invention may also be applied to the determination of tachycardia of an intrinsically paced heart, as well as other applications.

A variety of cardiac pacemakers have been developed which rely upon measured parameters to control heart rate in order to respond to the level of activity of the patient. A number of these pacemakers seek to eliminate or at least reduce the effects of extraneous or otherwise interfering signals from the desired measured parameter. For example, Deno, U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,785, discloses a rate responsive pacemaker that is sensitive to impedance changes in the heart as an indicator of cardiac stroke volume or minute volume. This pacemaker uses a biphasic test signal to reduce or eliminate common interfering signals from the measurement of the impedance. This pacemaker also includes separate detector and injector circuits so that a variety of electrode configurations may be used.
Other proposed pacemakers are directed to certain measurements that more precisely time the events of interest in the cardiac cycle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,976 to Spinelli describes a parameter derived from intracardiac impedance referred to as "total active time". The active time is evaluated using the intraventricular impedance technique, the active time being the length of the interval between the onset of contraction and the point where a line passing through two points on the fast filling segment of the impedance waveform reaches the impedance level corresponding to the end-diastole impedance of the preceding beat. In other words, the impedance signal from the first part of the cardiac cycle is used to derive a minimum (pacing) interval which just accommodates systolic ejection and enough diastolic filling time to support adequate cardiac pump function.
Unfortunately, this technique depends on local (in time) impedance signal characteristics so that additional humps and variations in morphology yields an estimate of total active time that is unreliable. Furthermore, the total active time as determined by Spinelli is not valid for the many cases at high pacing rate when impedance peaks occur after the subsequent pace event.
Spinelli and other techniques also require a high sampling rate to accurately determine crossing times on the impedance waveform. Such a high sampling rate is very demanding of the power source for the pacemaker and therefor reduces the length of time that the pacemaker's installed power source may effectively perform its intended functions. Thus, there remains a need for a cardiac pacemaker that effectively controls cardiac function over a range of demands but requires a much lower rate of sampling the impedance signal over an entire cardiac cycle.
Other proposed solutions are directed to impedance signal processing and certain physiologic sensor implementations. An early example of such a pacemaker is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,401 to Citak et al. Citak et al. describe a method to determine the pre-ejection period, or PEP, and use this parameter to control pacing. With a few noteworthy exceptions, the resulting parameters of such techniques have not been sufficiently reliable and robust for commercial implementations.
Several factors make the physiologic sensing of heart function by an implantable medical device difficult and thus yield less than robust results. As a result of tradeoffs between size, weight, longevity, and power, as well as mechanical and materials compatibility, the resulting signals reflective of heart function are often contaminated. Artifacts, noise, and variations from one sensor to another and from one subject to another must be artfully dealt with in robust, practical implementations.
One important example of a challenge to the art in sensing heart function is the physiologic determination of maximum pacing rate in response to an activity sensor or paroxysmal atrial tachycardia. Other examples of the difficulties of sensing heart function include tachycardia discrimination and hemodynamic tolerance assessment for ventricular tachycardias and supra-ventricular tachycardias (SVTs), as well as pacing and anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) capture detection for autothreshold and therapy termination and success evaluation.
Thus, there remains a need for a rate responsive cardiac pacemaker that is more immune to aberrations in sensor output waveforms, including artifacts, noise, and variations from one sensor to another. Such a pacemaker should be robust, should provide robust and reliable responses to the impedance waveform, and should be capable of practical implementation. A sensor must be combined with good signal processing and parameter extraction to assist the medical device to select appropriate therapeutic stimulation. Such a sensor should also be capable of a full range of other therapeutic and analytical functions.

Implantable cardiac stimulator with physiologic sensor based on mechanical-electric phase relation


A serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module (SATA DIMM) device includes a circuit board. A storage chip is arranged on the circuit board and stores a first firmware. A memory is arranged on the circuit board and stores a second firmware. A control chip is arranged on the circuit board and connected to the memory, to read the second firmware from the memory and load the second firmware in the storage chip when the first firmware stored in the storage chip is damaged. The control chip is also connected to the storage chip, to control the storage chip to read or to write data.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module (SATA DIMM) device.
2. Description of Related Art
Solid state drives (SSD) store data on chips instead of on magnetic or optical discs and are used for adding storage capacity. One type of SSD has the form factor of a DIMM device and is called a SATA DIMM device. The SATA DIMM device can be inserted into a memory slot of a motherboard to receive voltages from the motherboard through the memory slot and receive hard disk drive (HDD) signals through SATA connectors arranged on the SATA DIMM device and connected to a SATA connector on the motherboard. However, when firmware stored in the storage chips of the SATA DIMM device are damaged, the SATA DIMM device will not be identified by the operation system and cannot be initialized. Thus, the SATA DIMM device needs to be returned to the manufacture for repair, this is time consuming and inconvenient. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

Serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module device

HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.


In some embodiments, techniques for document integrity may include detecting an initiator associated with a key, detecting the end of a document, determining that no terminator matching the key has been detected, and rejecting all or part of the document.

Electronic documents are used for a wide variety of applications. In many cases, electronic documents incorporate content that may be erroneous. Examples of such potentially erroneous content include content received from an external source, such as a vendor, partner or user. Such content can compromise the integrity of a document with which it is associated. Many forms of such compromises are possible. Examples include content injection such as cross-site scripting, SQL injection and HTTP response splitting. Some such compromises include erroneously ending a document, an element of a document, or metadata associated with a document. Compromises to the integrity of documents have been used for malicious and/or fraudulent purposes.
The absence of a mechanism for protecting the integrity of documents and/or their associated elements and/or metadata leaves the door open for many such compromises. Accordingly, it would be useful to be able to protect the integrity of electronic documents.

Abstract: In some embodiments, techniques for document integrity may include generating a key and associating the key with an initiator insertion point and a terminator insertion point.