There is provided a vapor deposition method for depositing a deposition material of an evaporation source on a substrate while a temperature of the substrate is uniformly kept. The method is implemented in a vapor deposition apparatus in which the evaporation source comprising the deposition material is opposed to the substrate in a vacuum chamber, a heater for heating the substrate is provided across the substrate from the evaporation source in the vacuum chamber and an equalizing plate is provided between the substrate and the heater. In addition, the equalizing plate is larger in size than the substrate and its thermal conductivity is 200 W.multidot.m.sup.-1 .multidot.K.sup.-1 or more and an infrared energy emissivity is 0.2 or more.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vapor deposition method and, more particularly, to a vapor deposition method for forming a thin film having uniform distribution of thickness on a substrate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, a vapor deposition method for forming an electroluminescent (EL) thin film is sometimes implemented in an apparatus shown in FIG. 10. In this apparatus, an evaporation source 11 comprising a deposition material such as zinc sulfide (ZnS), whose deposition rate depends on a temperature of a substrate, is opposed to the substrate 12 of an EL element in a vacuum chamber. In this vacuum chamber provided are heaters 14 and 16 apart from the substrate 12. In addition, a reflecting plate 13 is provided close to the substrate on the side opposite to the evaporation source 11. The substrate 12 is heated up by the heaters 14 and 16 and the reflecting plate 13 adjusts a quantity of heat transmitted from the heaters 14 and 16 to the substrate 12 by reflecting infrared rays. Then, the deposition material of the evaporation source 11 is deposited on the substrate 12 while a temperature of the substrate 12 is uniformly kept at approximately 250.degree. C. As shown in FIG. 9, when the substrate temperature is Ts to 250.degree. C., every time the substrate temperature Ts changes by 1.degree. C., the EL thin film thickness changes by approximately 1%. A material of the reflecting plate 13 is stainless steel SS, so that it does not react with the deposition material. In addition, since the reflecting plate 13 has a specular surface, the infrared rays from the heaters 14 and 16 are effectively reflected thereon.
Referring to the EL thin film formed by the above-described vapor deposition method, uniformity of the film thickness is sufficient for a thin film EL element with non-gradation display (monochrome display) but it is not sufficient for a thin film EL element with 16-gradation display. The reason for this is that allowable distribution of the film thickness on the substrate when 16-gradation display function is implemented is .+-.2% and further it is preferably .+-.1% in order to improve display grade while it is approximately .+-.5% in a case of the thin film EL element with non-gradation display. In addition, in the 16-gradient in which non-luminous state is at B0 level and brightest luminous state is at B15 level, the above .+-.2% is determined so that a luminance distribution at B1 level (referred to as B1 level luminance distribution hereinafter) of a darkest luminous state may be 40% or more. As described above, according to the conventional vapor deposition method, the EL thin film can not satisfy that level of the 16-gradation display and uniformity of the film thickness is not sufficient.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vapor deposition method in which uniformity of thickness of a thin film to be formed can be improved and the level of the 16-gradation display can be satisfied when the EL thin film is formed.

Vapor deposition method and apparatus for producing an EL thin film of uniform thickness


Monoamine re-uptake inhibitors and more specifically serotonin and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors are disclosed that have utility in the treatment of disorders of the central or peripheral nervous system in both men and women. The compounds of this invention have the structure:

Decreased concentrations of monoamine neurotransmitters, such as serotonin (also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT), noradrenaline (norepinephrine), and dopamine, are implicated in a number of disorders of the central or peripheral nervous system. These disorders include depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia, inflammatory bowel disorders, pain, addiction disorders, urinary incontinence, dementia, Alzheimer's, memory loss, Parkinsonism, anxiety, attention-deficit disorder, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, substance abuse and withdrawal, cognitive disorders, fibromyalgia and sleep disorders. These neurotransmitters travel from the terminal of a neuron across a small gap (i.e., the synaptic cleft) and bind to receptor molecules on the surface of a second neuron. This binding elicits intracellular changes that initiate or activate a response or change in the postsynaptic neuron. Inactivation occurs primarily by transport (i.e., reuptake) of the neurotransmitter back into the presynaptic neuron. Enhancing the amount of one or more of these monoamines has been shown to have utility in the treatment of disorders such as depression, anxiety, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, urinary incontinence and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). One advantageous method to increase the amount of a monoamine or monoamines is by administering a re-uptake inhibitor which has a particular selectivity/affinity to one or more monoamine transporters.
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) function by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin by afferent neurons. SSRIs well known in the art include sertraline (Zoloft®), fluoxetine (Prozac®) and paroxetine (Paxil®). Selective noradrenaline (or norepinephrine) re-uptake inhibitors function by increasing noradrenaline levels and include drugs known in the art including reboxetine (Edronax®), atomoxetine (Strattera®), and buproprion (Wellbutrin®). Dual serotonin-noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs) which inhibit the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine include venlafaxine (Effexor®), duloxetine (Cymbalta®), milnacipran and imipramine (Tofranil®).
While significant strides have been made in this field, there remains a need in the art for effective small molecule monoamine re-uptake inhibitors. These inhibitors may advantageously possess characteristics such as enhanced selectively toward one or more monoamine transporters, enhanced pharmacokinetic properties (such as half-life, bioavailability, and minimal interaction with liver enzymes such as the cytochrome P450 family), and/or enhanced potency. There is also a need for pharmaceutical compositions containing such monoamine re-uptake inhibitors, as well as methods relating to the use thereof to treat, for example, conditions caused by low concentrations of a monoamine or monoamines. The present invention fulfills these needs, and provides other related advantages.

Monoamine re-uptake inhibitors and methods relating thereto

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, m, n, W, X, Y, and Z are as defined herein, including stereoisomers, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and solvates thereof. Also disclosed are compositions containing a compound of this invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as well as methods relating to the use thereof for inhibiting monoamine re-uptake in a subject in need thereof.


The present invention relates generally to the fields of molecular biology and pharmacology. More particularly, it concerns the use of abscissic acid to treat various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases and neuromuscular diseases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the fields of molecular biology and pharmacology. More particularly, it concerns the use of abscissic acid to treat various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases and neuromuscular diseases.
2. Description of Related Art
Although increases in iron have been associated with several diseases, synthetic chemical chelators of iron have side effects that prevent their widespread use in human medicine. Additionally, most synthetic chelators do not penetrate the blood-brain barrier and are thus of very little clinical use (e.g., in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's Disease).
Ferritin H (FH) is a protein which can chelate iron, and FH is produced by organisms including mammals. It has been shown that ferritin-H can also repress the human beta-globin gene (U.S. Application 2002/0128183, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety without disclaimer). Thus, ferritin H could be beneficial in treating diseases which are caused and/or characterized by increases in iron (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease) and/or diseases which are characterized by the production of a dysfunctional beta-globin (e.g., sickle cell anemia).
There exists a need to selectively induce FH expression with a compound that may be used clinically. Several compounds may be used to induce FH expression; however, problems including lack of selectivity and/or undesirable systemic effects can result from these compounds. For example, free iron itself can induce ferritin synthesis in cells through a regulation that occurs at the translational level of gene expression. However, this induction is not selective since both FH and ferritin-L (ferritin light chain, FL) are produced. Furthermore, the amount of ferritin induced by this mechanism is unlikely to correct the problem of iron overload. Gene therapy administration of ferritin H is described in U.S. application 2002/0128183, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety without disclaimer.
Cytokines such as IL-1β, TGFβ, and TNFα may cause a more specific induction of FH at the transcriptional level of gene expression (i.e., selective in the sense that the ferritin-L gene does not respond to these stimuli). However, these cytokines cause significant unwanted systemic effects in humans and experimental animals such as inflammation, thus limiting their clinical potential.
Retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A, is also a ferritin-H inducer. However, high doses of retinoic acid can result in vitamin toxicity.

Abscissic acid and derivatives thereof for the treatment of diseases


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, a lead arranged on a side portion of the semiconductor chip, and a wire, whose one end and another end are bonded to the semiconductor chip and the lead respectively, having a ball portion and a stitch portion wedged in side elevational view on the semiconductor chip and the lead respectively. An angle of approach of the wire to the lead is not less than 50°, and the length of the stitch portion is not less than 33 μm.

A typical semiconductor device includes a die pad, a semiconductor chip arranged on the die pad, leads arranged on the periphery of the die pad, and wires connecting the semiconductor chip and the leads with one another.
When extending the wires, normal bonding of bonding (first bonding) the wires to the semiconductor chip in advance and subsequently bonding (second bonding) the same to the leads is performed in general. In a case where a difference in elevation between portions (pads) of the semiconductor chip to which the wires are connected and the leads is relatively large, however, it is difficult to excellently bond the wires to the leads, and hence the so-called reverse bonding is performed. In the reverse bonding, the wires are first-bonded to the leads, and second-bonded to the semiconductor chip.
FIG. 34 is a schematic side elevational view of a semiconductor device in which a wire is extended by reverse bonding.
The rear surface of a semiconductor chip 201 is bonded to the upper surface of a die pad 202 in a state upwardly directing the front surface which is an element forming surface. A pad 203 is arranged on a peripheral edge portion of the front surface of the semiconductor chip 201. A wire 205 is extended between the pad 203 and the upper surface of a lead 204 arranged on the periphery of the die pad 202.
In wire bonding, the lead 204 is pressed by a press plate 208, in order to fix the die pad 202 and the lead 204 to a wire bonder. The press plate 208 is brought into contact with a position at a small interval from a bonded position of the wire 205 (ball portion 206) on the upper surface of the lead 204 on a side opposite to the semiconductor chip 201. Then, an FAB (Free Air Ball) is formed on a forward end portion of the wire 205 held in a capillary C (shown by broken lines) of the wire bonder, and the FAB is bonded to the upper surface of the lead 204. Thereafter the capillary C is moved toward the pad 203, and the wire 205 is pressed against the pad 203, and further rent away. Thus, the wire 205 is extended between the pad 203 and the lead 204. The wire 205 extended by the reverse bonding has the ball portion 206 in the form of a round rice cake on the lead 204, and has a stitch portion 207 wedged in side elevational view on the pad 203.
A resin-sealed semiconductor device has a structure obtained by sealing a semiconductor chip with a resin package along with a lead frame. The lead frame is formed by punching a metal thin plate, and includes an island (die pad) and a plurality of leads arranged on the periphery of the island. The semiconductor chip is die-bonded to the upper surface of the island, and electrically connected with each lead by a bonding wire extended between the front surface thereof an each lead.
For the die bonding of the semiconductor chip to the island, a pasty bonding agent such as solder paste is employed, for example. After the pasty bonding agent is applied to the upper surface of the island, the semiconductor chip is arranged on the bonding agent, and a load is applied to the semiconductor chip. Thus, the bonding agent is spread between the semiconductor chip and the island, the semiconductor chip and the island are bonded to each other, and the die bonding of the semiconductor chip to the island is achieved.

Semiconductor device and production method therefor


The intonation of speech is modified by an appropriate combination of resampling and time-domain harmonic scaling. Resampling increases (upsampling) or decreases (downsampling) the number of data points in a signal. Harmonic scaling adds or removes pitch cycles to or from a signal. The pitch of a speech signal can be increased by combining downsampling with harmonic scaling that adds an appropriate number of pitch cycles. Alternatively, pitch can be decreased by combining upsampling with harmonic scaling that removes an appropriate number of pitch cycles. The present invention can be implemented in an automated speech-therapy tool that is able to modify the intonation of prerecorded reference speech signals for playback to a user to emphasize the correct pronunciation by increasing the pitch of selected portions of words or phrases that the user had previously mispronounced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to audio signal processing and more specifically to automated tools for applications such as speech therapy and language instruction.
2. Description of the Related Art
Intonation is an important aspect of speech, especially in the context of spoken language. Intonation is associated with a speech utterance and it represents features of speech such as form (e.g., statement, question, exclamation), emphasis (a word in a phrase or part of word can be emphasized), tone, etc.
The benefits of intonation variation as an aid to speech therapy are known. In a typical case, a speech therapist listens to the live or recorded attempts of a student to pronounce test words or phrases. In the event the student has difficulty pronouncing one or more words, the therapist identifies and stresses the mispronounced words for the student by repeating the word to the student with an exaggerated intonation in which the pitch contour of the word or one or more parts of the word is modified. Generally, the student will make another attempt to properly pronounce the word. The process typically would be repeated as necessary until the therapist is satisfied with the student's pronunciation of the target word. Continued failure to properly pronounce the word could invoke progressively more severe intonation variations for added emphasis.
Automated tools for general speech therapy are known in the art. The automated tools currently available for speech therapy are typically software programs running on general-purpose computers. Coupled to the computer is a device, such as a video monitor or speaker, for presenting one or more test words or phrases to a student. Test words or phrases are displayed to the student on the monitor or played through the speaker. The student speaks the test words or phrases. An input device, such as a microphone, captures the spoken words or phrases of the student and records them for later analysis by an instructor and/or scores them on such components as phoneme pronunciation, intonation, duration, overall speaking rate, and voicing. These tools, however, do not provide a mechanism for automated intonation variation as an aid to speech therapy.

Intonation transformation for speech therapy and the like


A method of determining steering rack rattle propensity of a rack and pinion steering assembly may comprise: simultaneously recording audio, and measuring acceleration of a rack, and right and left side tie-rod end loads; identifying rack rattle events from the audio recording; determining common characteristics of the measured rack acceleration and tie-rod end loads during the identified rack rattle events; creating a rack rattle index level; applying a predetermined force profile to a test rack and pinion steering assembly; measuring a test acceleration on the test rack and pinion steering assembly; calculating a test RMS level in a test frequency range using a test time constant; determining a rack rattle index value from the calculated test RMS level; and comparing the rack rattle index value to the rack rattle index level.

The present invention relates generally to undesirable rattle that sometimes occurs in steering racks of vehicle steering systems, and more particularly to a test procedure for being able to determine a propensity for rack rattle in a vehicle from a lab test.
In conventional rack and pinion steering systems for vehicles, wear occurs in the rack and pinion system that results in increased clearance between components. Typically, the wear occurs at the interface of the rack with the pinion and in the system that preloads the rack to the pinion. The clearance resulting from the wear then results in rattles inside the steering rack that can be heard by the vehicle occupants, typically when they are driving over rough roads. The wear may actually occur early in a vehicle's life, costing a great deal to replace a steering rack or steering column, and possibly reducing a vehicle owner's satisfaction with the vehicle overall. Occasionally, depending on the design or initial settings, some racks and columns even rattle when new.
Since steering rack rattle is an audible event that can be heard by vehicle occupants, the rattle events can be binaurally recorded while driving a vehicle on rough roads and played back with high accuracy. But there is generally too much extraneous noise in these recordings to allow for objective analysis based solely on these recordings. Consequently, the typical steering rack rattle performance ratings are determined subjectively on random road test events, making repeatability very difficult. Moreover, since this is done on a vehicle level test, other components in the vehicle can make noise during the test that make it even more difficult to correctly determine the noise levels of the steering system separate from these other noises.

Test procedure for determining steering rack rattle


An optical scanning device includes a scanning optical system scans an image surface in a main scanning direction by focusing a deflected light beam onto the image surface as a beam spot, the scanning optical system providing an amount of linearity at an outer peripheral end of the image surface. An optical writing unit controls ON/OFF state of a light source in accordance with an image signal. A frequency dividing unit generates a secondary frequency of a pixel clock, which is equal to an initial frequency of the pixel clock divided by an integer. An electrical correction unit adjusts the secondary frequency of the pixel clock with respect to each of respective pixels included in the image signal, when the beam spot is located near the outer peripheral end of the image surface, so as to obtain uniform-velocity characteristics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical scanning device that scans an image surface within an image forming system by focusing a light beam from a light source on the image surface. Moreover, the present invention relates to an image forming system in which the optical scanning device is provided. The optical scanning device of the present invention is appropriate for use in digital copiers, laser printers and laser facsimiles.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many conventional optical scanning devices, the optical parameters of each optical scanning device are optimized in order to provide good performance for all the necessary optical characteristics of the optical scanning device. However, the optical characteristics, which must be corrected by the optical parameter optimization, include the main-scanning or sub-scanning field curvature, the wavefront aberration, the linearity and the scanning line deviation. It is difficult to achieve an easy-to-manufacture, cost-effective configuration of the optical scanning device while providing good performance for all the necessary optical characteristics. In many conventional optical scanning devices, the easy-to-manufacture, cost-effective configuration is traded off for obtaining a reasonable level of the necessary optical characteristics.
For example, even if an optical scanning device has a certain amount of linearity, it is possible to provide the cost-effective configuration and the uniform-velocity characteristics for the optical scanning device. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-333069 discloses such an optical scanning device. The optical scanning device of the above document provides good performance for the uniform-velocity characteristics (the linearity=±0.1%). Moreover, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 11-64760 discloses a similar optical scanning device. The optical scanning device of the above document provides good performance for the uniform-velocity characteristics (the linearity=−0.1% to +0.2%).
The optical parameter optimization is a conceivable method for increasing the performance of the optical scanning device. However, the optimization for all the necessary optical characteristics of the optical scanning device requires a large amount of time and effort, and it is difficult to determine the easy-to-manufacture, cost-effective design of the optical scanning device while the optical parameter optimization is obtained.
Suppose an optical scanning device that scans an image surface by focusing a deflected light beam from a rotary deflector which is rotated at a uniform-velocity. The scanning speed becomes relatively large (when compared to the uniform-velocity level) as the beam spot, created as a result of the focusing of the deflected light beam, approaches an outer peripheral end of the image surface in the main scanning direction. The linearity of the scanning light beam on the image surface has a positive value and it tends to be excessively large. A simple method for correcting the excessive linearity is that a meniscus lens "L" having a convex lens surface, facing a reflection point "P" of a rotary deflector, and a relatively small lens power is located adjacent to the rotary deflector, as shown in FIG. 6. When the meniscus lens "L" is used, the light beam from the rotary deflector is converted at the meniscus lens "L" into a refracted light beam as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 6. It is possible to correct the excessive linearity at the outer peripheral end of the image surface so as to approach the uniform-velocity characteristics by using the meniscus lens "L".
However, the convex and concave lens surfaces of the meniscus lens "L" are not concentric with respect to the reflection point "P" of the rotary deflector, and the use of the meniscus lens "L" is detrimental to increasing the optical system performance of the optical scanning device.

Optical scanning device and image forming system including the same


A defocus amount of an object is detected by a focus detection unit of a camera, whereby a defocus velocity is calculated according to the detected amount. An average velocity is calculated using a plurality of defocus velocities and then a smoothing velocity is calculated, whereby a reversed position of a velocity direction is detected using the data. An average velocity, a smoothing velocity, and the time of a velocity direction reversed are calculated, whereby a correction velocity is obtained according to the calculation. A driving amount of lens is calculated according to the calculated correction velocity, whereby the photographic lens is driven by the lens driving device so as to follow the moving of an object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic focusing device, and more particularly, to an automatic focusing device that can keep an object in an in-focus state even in the case where there is change in the direction of the velocity or acceleration of the object with respect to the camera such as in the case where the object makes an U turn movement in front of the camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
An automatic focusing device is proposed that follows the movement of an object to keep an object in an in-focus state (for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,045). This automatic focusing device can keep in an in-focus state for an object that does not change in the direction of velocity or acceleration with respect to the camera.
In such an automatic focusing device it is inhibited to try to keep an object in an in-focus state when the direction of velocity or acceleration of the object with respect to the camera is reversed, such as in the case where an object makes an U turn movement in front of the camera. This is because the movement of the object can not be followed if the focus detecting operation is continued identical to that employed before the object changes its reverse direction of velocity or acceleration.


An organic light emitting device includes an anode, a hole auxiliary layer on the anode, the hole auxiliary layer including an arylamine derivative, an emission layer on the hole auxiliary layer, an electron auxiliary layer on the emission layer, the electron auxiliary layer including a 9,10-diarylanthracene derivative and a bifluorene derivative, and a cathode on the electron auxiliary layer.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to an organic light emitting device and a display apparatus including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Flat display apparatuses may be classified as a light emitting type device and a light receiving type device. The light emitting type device may include a flat cathode ray tube, a plasma display panel, an organic light emitting device (OLED), etc. The OLED is a self-luminous display apparatus having merits such as a wide viewing angle, excellent contrast, and a rapid response time.
Therefore, the OLED may be applied in a display apparatus for a mobile apparatus including a digital camera, a video camera, a camcorder, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone, an ultra slim laptop, a tablet personal computer, a flexible display apparatus, etc. or a large-sized electronic and electric product such as an ultra slim television and is highly favored.
The OLED displays color based on the principle of recombining of holes and electrons injected in an anode and a cathode in an organic emission layer and emitting light. Excitons obtained by the combination of the injected holes and electrons emit light while being dropped from an excited state to a ground state.

Organic light emitting device and display apparatus including the same


A tool structure includes an outer housing formed of upper and lower tube structure coaxially mounting a punch member therebetween, with the punch member having a collar and a spring interposed between the collar and an abutment flange of a lower portion of the housing. In this manner, the punch member includes a punch head having a receiving socket to position the tool structure overlying a component of a motherboard for permitting projection of the component relative to the motherboard minimizing damage to the component.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to tool structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved motherboard tool permitting the projection and removal of a stand-off member relative to a motherboard.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tool structures of various types have been utilized throughout the prior art for accommodating manipulation of various components such as exemplified in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,372,186 and 3,994,320 indicating the use of prior art tool structure relative to tool wrapping relative to an electrical motherboard type member.
The instant invention attempts to address a specialized need for the projection of a component relative to a motherboard permitting registration and alignment of the tool structure in a coaxially aligned relationship relative to the component permitting its ejection from an associated motherboard plate.


A nonvolatile memory array includes a grid of word lines WL1, . . . ,WL6 and bit lines BL1, . . . ,BL8. Of a plurality of memory cells 210, each memory cell is located at an intersection region of one of the word lines and one of the bit lines. A read/write circuit 280 for reading/writing a data word including a plurality of bits is operative to map each pair of sequential bits of the data word to a respective pair of memory cells located at intersection regions of both a different word line and a different bit line.

As memory sizes increase, the range of applications using non-volatile memories increases sharply. For example, it has already become possible to store audio in non-volatile solid-state memories, e.g. using MP3 coding. It is expected that in the foreseeable future it will be possible to store a movie in a non-volatile memory at reasonable costs. Using such non-volatile memories enables relatively cheap and reliable rendering devices, such as an MP3 player, and opens many new applications in hand-held computer-like devices, such as PDAs and new generation mobile phones. Magnetic or Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) is currently being considered by many companies as a successor to flash memory. It has the potential to replace all but the fastest static RAM (SRAM) memories. It is a non-volatile memory device, which means that no power is required to sustain the stored information. This is seen as an advantage over most other types of solid-state memory. The MRAM concept uses magnetisation direction in a magnetic multilayer device as information storage and the resultant resistance difference for information readout. Each magnetic memory cell is able to store at least two states which represent either a "1" or a "0". An array of magnetic memory cells is often called magnetic RAM or MRAM.
Different kinds of magnetoresistive (MR) effects exist, such as the anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) effect and the Giant Magneto-Resistance effect (GMR). For MRAMs, it is preferred that the Tunnel Magneto-Resistance (TMR) effect is used. In a Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ), the memory cells are formed using a stack of thin films of which at least two are ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic, and which are separated by an insulating tunnel barrier. The magnetoresistance results from the spin-polarized tunnelling of conduction electrons between the two ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic layers. The tunnelling current which flows in the perpendicular direction to the plane of the stack depends on the relative orientation of the magnetic moments of the two ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic layers. The tunnelling current is observed to be the largest (or thus resistance to be the smallest) when the magnetisation directions of the films are parallel and tunnelling current is the smallest (or thus resistance the largest) when the magnetisation directions of the films are anti-parallel.
MTJ memory elements generally include a layered structure comprising a fixed or pinned ferromagnetic layer (PFL), a free ferromagnetic layer (FFL) and a dielectric barrier in between. The PFL layer has a magnetic vector that always points in the same direction. The magnetic vector of the FFL layer is free, but constrained within the easy axis of the layer, which is determined chiefly by the physical dimensions of the element. The magnetic vector of the free layer points in either of two directions: parallel or anti-parallel with the magnetisation direction of the pinned layer, which coincides with the said easy axis. These two possible directions of magnetization of the FFL layer along this easy axis define the two states of the memory cell. The magnetization direction of the PFL layer is more difficult to change than that of FFL. In the range of fields applied by currents through the bit and word lines, the magnetization direction of PFL is fixed or pinned. The magnetic fields applied to write the memory cell are large enough to reverse the direction of magnetization of FFL, but not the direction of PFL. Thus, the magnetization of PFL does not change direction during operation of the memory cells in the MRAM.
For accessing the memory elements, word lines and bit lines are patterned separately into two metal layers under and above the MTJ stack. Each memory element is located at a cross-point region of a word line and a bit line. Word lines extend along rows of memory elements, and bit lines extend along columns of memory elements. During reading a current is directed through a cell to be read. Since cells share word and bit lines, it is known to use for each cell a transistor to control through which cell the read current is fed. Such MRAMs are referred to as 1T1MTJ MRAMs (one-transistor per one MTJ cell). U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,343 describes an alternative MRAM that uses a diode per cell to control the reading. The advantage of this so-called 0T1MTJ MRAM is that it uses a small chip area FIG. 1 illustrates the known 0T1MTJ MRAM. The MRAM array of magnetoresistive memory cells includes a set of electrically conductive traces that function as parallel word lines WL1, WL2, and WL3, and in a horizontal plane, and a set of electrically conductive traces that function as parallel bit lines BL1, BL2, and BL3 in another horizontal plane. The bit lines are oriented in a different direction, usually at right angles to the word lines, so that the two sets of lines intersect when viewed from above. A memory cell, such as typical memory cell 10, is located at each crossing point of the word lines and bit lines in the intersection region vertically spaced between the lines. The memory cell 10 is arranged in a vertical stack and may include a diode-like device 7 and a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) 8. During operation of the array, current flows in a vertical direction through the cell 10. The vertical current path through the memory cell permits the memory cell to occupy a very small surface area. Contact to the word lines, the MTJ, the diode, and the contact to the bit line all occupy the same area. The array is formed on a substrate, such as a silicon substrate on which there would be other circuitry (not shown). The detailed construction of the diode-like device and the MTJ are not relevant for the invention.
The MTJ 8 changes resistance when the direction of magnetization of the FFL switches from being parallel to being antiparallel to the magnetization direction of PFL. As will be explained, this occurs as a result of magnetic fields generated when current is passed through the bit and word lines. When a sufficiently large current is passed through both a write line and a bit line of the MRAM, the self-field of the so combined currents at the intersection of the write and bit lines will rotate the magnetization of the FFL of the single particular MTJ located at the intersection of the energized write and bit lines. The current levels are designed so that the combined self-field exceeds the switching field of the FFL. This self-field is designed to be much smaller than the field required to rotate the magnetization of the PFL. The cell array architecture is designed so that the write currents do not pass through the MTJ itself. The memory cell is read by passing a sense current perpendicularly through the diode and MTJ from the PFL through the tunnel junction barrier to the FFL (or vice versa). The state of the memory cell is determined by measuring the resistance of the memory cell when a sense current, much smaller than the write currents, is passed perpendicularly through the MTJ. The self-field of this sense or read current is negligible and does not affect the magnetic state of the memory cell. The tunneling current is spin polarized, which means that the electrical current passing from one of the ferromagnetic layers, for example, the PFL, is predominantly composed of electrons of one spin type (spin up or spin down, depending on the orientation of the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer). The tunneling probability of the charge carriers is highest when the magnetic moments of both layers are parallel, and is lowest when the magnetic moments are antiparallel. As a result, the two possible magnetization directions of the FFL uniquely define two possible bit states (0 or 1) of the memory cell.
To read and write the 0T1MTJ MRAM only the bit lines and the word lines are required; no other control lines from outside the array are necessary to read or write the memory state of the memory cells. This provides a very efficient memory array. A selected cell, e.g. cell 10 of FIG. 1, is written by passing current Ib through the bit line BL3 and current Iw through word line WL3 connected to the cell 10. Bit line control circuitry is attached to the bit lines and controls Ib. Word line control circuitry is attached to the word lines and controls Iw. The magnetic field produced by either Ib or Iw alone in the region of the cells is less than the magnetic field required to change the magnetic state in a cell, so half-selected cells (those over which only Ib or Iw alone is passing) are not written. However, the combination of magnetic fields from Ib and Iw is sufficient to change the state of selected memory cell 10. At least one of the currents Ib or Iw has to be reversible to write the two different magnetic states of the cell 10. The bit lines are also connected to the sensing circuitry, which may be part of bit line control circuitry. The voltage level of the bit lines during a write operation is near a voltage Vb for convenience in providing for the bidirectional currents. The voltage level of the word lines is near a more positive voltage Vw. The voltage levels are selected to ensure that all diodes in the array are reverse biased so that the currents Ib and Iw do not flow vertically through any memory cell. In a read operation a forward bias voltage is established across the selected cell 10 by pulling the word line WL3 voltage down to Vb, and raising the bit line BL3 voltage to Vw. During a read, unselected bit lines BL1, BL2 remain at the standby voltage level Vb, and unselected word lines WL1, WL2 remain at the standby voltage level Vw. Half-selected cells have zero voltage drop from word line to bit line and do not conduct. The resistance of the selected memory cell determines the sense current that flows from the bit line through the selected memory cell to the word line. In the sense circuitry, this current is compared to a reference current set to a value halfway between the expected values for the two possible states of the memory cell and the difference is amplified to read the data stored in selected cell 10.
In particular for mobile devices, it is very important to reduce the power consumption of memory devices. For non-volatile memories in general the writing operation is most power-consuming. For example, a write operation on MRAM elements involves two current pulses of several mA, that must be sent simultaneously through a bit line and a word line for each bit of a word to be written.

Simultaneous reading from and writing to different memory cells


In a first step, a conductive layer a1 is formed on a three-dimensionally curved upper surface of a main mold. In a second step, a peripheral surface mold is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the main mold, and a liquid dielectric of an age hardening type is cast onto the conductor layer, and hardened. In a third step, the peripheral surface mold is detached from the main mold, and an unnecessary portion of the hardened dielectric is cut to thereby form a dielectric layer. In a fourth step, another conductor layer is formed on the dielectric layer. A method comprising these steps enables a dielectric board with a voluntary three-dimensionally curved surface to be manufactured with high accuracy.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a curved board such as a dielectric board with a three-dimensionally curved surface (like a semispherical surface) on which surface a great number of printed antenna elements are arranged.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional case of manufacturing an array antenna, its dielectric board is formed by laminating flat dielectric layers and copper foil layers on each other and attaching them at high temperature under high pressure. The thus-formed flat dielectric board is curved in the next step.
Further, in the case of manufacturing a curved printed wiring board, various methods are now being used--a method for first etching a flat board, and then curving the board into a shape similar to part of a cylinder or a cone; a method for producing a curved board with a relatively low curvature, and etching the board in units of one local spot which corresponds to each element; or a method for designing a curved board divided into portions with relatively low curvatures, forming these divided portions of small flat boards, and attaching the flat boards to each other after subjecting them to an etching process, thereby forming a single large curved board.
In each of the above-mentioned methods, processing at high temperature and under high pressure is necessary to shape a board or to make a board with a multi-layer structure. High temperature and pressure may well cause a change in size of the board, which cannot be ignored in producing the board. As regards etching, in the method in which etching is performed spot by spot, the line width of a continuous line pattern, for example, is hard to accurately set if adjacent spots intersect each other.
Even if an allowable range of changes in size or variations in accuracy is set, it significantly narrows the range of allowable curved surface shapes or limits the performance of products, in particular, in the case of boards for a high frequency antenna. As a result, a desired curved surface shape is hard to select.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing radio frequency board with curved surface


A therapy seat cushion, method of making the cushion and method of using the cushion. The cushion has a planar array of at least two sets of alternatively inflatable and deflatable cells controlled by an inflation control system, and at least one non-inflatable offloading cushioning cell interspersed amongst the inflatable cells. The non-inflatable offloading cushioning cell configured and arranged to align with a pressure sore or an area prone to development of a pressure sore on an individual.

Persons with limited mobility, such as the elderly or persons confined to a wheelchair, are susceptible to the development of pressure sores. Pressure sores are formed when the tissue is compressed for extended periods of time causing a restriction in the flow of blood. The exchange of nutrients and waste in the compressed tissue cells is slowed, resulting in skin breakdown and the formation of pressure sores. The retention of heat and moisture are two additional factors that contribute to the formation of pressure sores.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,175,297, 5,500,965, 5,839,140, 5,963,997, 6,014,784, 6,216,299, 6,560,803, 6,668,405 and 7,392,557 disclose inflatable seat cushions wherein the cushion includes an array of inflatable cells including separate groupings of cells which are alternately inflated and deflated on a predetermined schedule in order to vary the location of contact between the cushion and the posterior of a person seated on the cushion. The disclosure of these United States Patents are incorporated by reference.
While effective for reducing the development of discomfort, numbness, pain and pressure sores resulting from prolonged periods of sitting, such seat cushions are not well adapted for use with an individual who has one or more pressure sores on their buttocks. The cells directly underneath the pressure sore(s) will press against the pressure sore(s) when those cells are inflated, causing pain and aggravating the pressure sore(s).
Accordingly, a need exists for a comfortable inflatable wheelchair seat cushion that accommodates preexisting pressure sores.

Therapy seat cushion with interspersed selectively inflatable load bearing cells and off loading cushioning cells


A decoking system that not only enables an operator to remotely switch the coke-cutting process from boring to cutting mode without removing the drill stem from the coke drum, but also to remotely determine the drill stem's mode so that efficiency, safety and convenience are not compromised, is provided.

Petroleum refining operations in which crude oil is processed to produce gasoline, diesel fuel, lubricants and so forth, frequently produce residual oils. Residual oil, when processed in a delayed coker is heated in a furnace to a temperature sufficient to cause destructive distillation in which a substantial portion of the residual oil is converted, or "cracked" to usable hydrocarbon products and the remainder yields petroleum coke, a material composed mostly of carbon. Many oil refineries recover valuable products from the heavy residual hydrocarbons, which remain following delayed coking.
Generally, the delayed coking process involves heating the heavy hydrocarbon feed from a fractionation unit, then pumping the heated heavy feed into a large steel vessel commonly known as a coke drum. The unvaporized portion of the heated heavy feed settles out in the coke drum, where the combined effect of retention time and temperature causes the formation of coke. Vapors from the top of the coke vessel are returned to the base of the fractionation unit for further processing into desired light hydrocarbon products. The operating conditions of delayed coking can be quite severe. Normal operating pressures in coke drums typically range from twenty-five to fifty pounds per square inch. Additionally, the heavy feed input temperature may vary between 800° F. and 1000° F.
The structural size and shape of the coke drum varies considerably from one installation to another. However, the typical coke drum is a large, upright, cylindrical, metal vessel commonly ninety to one-hundred feet in height, and twenty to thirty feet in diameter. Coke drums have a top head and a funnel shaped bottom portion fitted with a bottom head. Coke drums are usually present in pairs so that they can be operated alternately. Coke settles out and accumulates in a vessel until it is filled, at which time the heated feed is switched to the alternate empty coke drum. While one coke drum is being filled with heated residual oil, the other vessel is being cooled and purged of coke.
Coke removal, also known as decoking, begins with a quench step in which steam and then water are introduced into the coke filled vessel to complete the recovery of volatile, light hydrocarbons and to cool the mass of coke. After a coke drum has been filled, stripped and then quenched so that the coke is in a solid state and the temperature is reduced to a reasonable level, quench water is drained from the drum through piping to allow for safe unheading of the drum. The drum is then vented to atmospheric pressure when the bottom opening is unheaded, to permit removing coke. Once the unheading is complete, the coke in the drum is cut out of the drum by high pressure water jets.
Decoking is accomplished at most plants using a hydraulic system comprised of a drill stem and drill bit that direct high pressure water jets (2600–3600 p.s.i.) into the coke bed. A rotating combination drill bit, referred to as the cutting tool, is typically about eighteen inches in diameter with several nozzles, and is mounted on the lower end of a long hollow drill stem about six inches in diameter. The drill bit is lowered into the vessel, on the drill stem, through a flanged opening at the top of the vessel. A "bore hole" is drilled through the coke using the nozzles, which eject high pressure water at an angle approximately sixty degrees down from horizontal. This creates a pilot bore hole, about three to six feet in diameter, for the coke to fall through.
After the initial bore hole is complete, the drill bit is then mechanically switched to at least two horizontal nozzles in preparation for cutting the "cut" hole, which extends to the full drum diameter. In the cutting mode the nozzles shoot jets of water horizontally outwards, rotating slowly with the drill rod, and those jets cut the coke into pieces, which fall out the open bottom of the vessel, into a chute that directs the coke to a receiving area. In all employed systems the drill rod is then withdrawn out the flanged opening at the top of the vessel. Finally, the top and bottom of the vessel are closed by replacing the head units, flanges or other closure devices employed on the vessel unit. The vessel is then clean and ready for the next filling cycle with the heavy hydrocarbon feed.
In the typical coke-cutting system, after the boring hole is made, the drill stem must be removed from the coke drum and reset to the cutting mode. This takes time, is inconvenient and is potentially hazardous. In less typical systems the modes are automatically switched. Automatic switching within the coke drum oftentimes results in drill stem clogging, which still requires the drill stem to be removed for cleaning prior to completing the coke-cutting process. Often, in automatic switching systems, it is difficult to determine whether or not the drill stem is in cutting or boring mode, because the entire change takes place within the drum. Mistakes in identifying whether the high pressure water is cutting or boring lead to serious accidents. Thus, coke-cutting efficiency is compromised because the switching operator does not know whether or not the cutting process is complete or simply clogged.
Decoking is dangerous work. Serious incidents occur each year in connection with coke-cutting operations. OSHA Report entitled Hazards of Delayed Coker Unit (DCU) Operations, found at http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib082903c.html (Aug. 29, 2003) which details several safety hazards associated with decoking. OSHA's report describes some of the most frequent and severe hazards. Id. The OSHA's report explains that if the hydro-cutting system is not shut off before the drill stem is raised out of the top drum opening, operators are exposed to the high-pressure water jet and serious injuries including dismemberment occur. Id. Additionally, the report adds that fugitive mists and vapors from the cutting and the quench water contain contaminants posing a health hazard. Id. Further, the water hose occasionally bursts while under high pressure, resulting in a whipping action that may seriously injure nearby workers. Alternatively, the wire rope supporting the drill stem and water hose could fail, allowing the drill stem, water hose, and wire rope to fall onto work areas. Id. Finally, gantry damage may occur, exposing workers to falling structural members and equipment. Id. Thus, operators are exposed to significant safety hazards from exposure to high pressure water jets, steam, hot water and fires because operators must be present, in close proximity to the vessel being decoked, to manually change the cutting head from the boring to cutting mode. Accordingly, the industry has concentrated most of their technological improvements in the field of coking to minimize the safety hazards.
Steps taken to control hazards inherent in coke-cutting systems consist of providing protective wear to the operators, requiring personnel training, maintaining equipment so that it is fail-proof, and allowing remote operation of certain steps of the decoking process (e.g., "deheading"). Despite efforts to reduce the hazards associated with decoking, there still exists a need for improved safety.

Systems and methods for remotely determining and changing cutting modes during decoking


The method comprises straightening the threads of the fringe of a rug, carpet or the like, and applying a product on the fringe without displacing the straightened threads and causing the product to be engaged with the threads of the fringe, so that the threads stay evenly aligned.

(a) Field of the Invention PA1 (b) Description of Prior Art
The present invention relates to a method for evenly aligning the fringes or tassels or the like of a rug or the like, and is also concerned with a rug provided with such fringes or tassels. Any time the word "fringe" is used in this specification it is intended to include fringes, tassels or the like. Similarly as used herein the term "rug" includes rugs, carpets, tapestries or the like. More particularly, the present invention is directed to the production of a rug wherein the threads constituting its fringes are set in evenly aligned fashion to stay neat and straight. The result is a rug wherein the fringe or tassel remains evenly aligned with the threads being generally parallel to one another.
It is well known that fringes or tassels that are seen on most area rugs and carpets as well as on tapestries and similar products create a problem which has been the subject of complaints by many people, because these fringes or tassels never stay neat and straight. The fringes look messy, tangled and out of place and must constantly be brushed and straightened only to become messy and tangled all over the again. Messy fringes create an unpopular task that many homeowners as well as commercial establishments, such as hotels, offices, stores, and the like, where carpets or rugs are present, must constantly perform and repeat. The task involves a never ending brushing and straightening of the fringes on rugs and carpets in order to keep them looking neat and presentable.
As far as Applicant is concerned, the prior art has failed to address the above problem.
U.S. Pat. No. 445,228 describes a strip applied by means of adhesive material on the border of an uncut material.
U.S. Pat. No. 463,651 describes a fabric which is stitched on loops to provide a beaded ruching.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,773,321 describes strips secured on the body of a belt wherein the strips have free edges in the form of threads.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,784,657 discloses a tape which is sewn together with the fringe and border of a rug to provide stiffer edges. The tape itself has no effect whatsoever on the fringe.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,294,480 describes a strip which is used to hold the bristles of a paint brush.
It will therefore be seen that the prior art has not disclosed how to solve the problem of messy fringes of rugs or the like.

Method for aligning rug fringe and rug obtained thereby


This invention is an apparatus for straightening handhold safety appliances located on the side of rail cars.

This invention relates generally to a hand tool which serves as a tube straightening apparatus. More specifically, the apparatus is used to straighten handhold safety appliances which are located on the sides of rail cars.
Although the prior art is replete with devices for straightening tubes and bars, there is an absence of devices capable of easily and quickly straightening railroad car safety appliances. Up until the present time, no one has developed a simple, efficient, light-weight apparatus which straightens handhold safety appliances and insures that a handhold maintains its required clearance from the side of the rail car.

Apparatus for straightening rail car handhold safety appliances


A method and apparatus for identifying gated clocks within a circuit design. In a typical design, each of the number of gated clock signals is uniquely determined by a particular logical combination of a number of raw clock signals and a number of enable signals. In the present invention, the gated clock signals may be identified by: identifying which of the number of raw clock signals is coupled, through combinational logic, to a selected one of the number of state devices, thereby resulting in an identified raw clock signal; identifying which of the number of enable signals is coupled, through combinational logic, to the selected one of the number of state devices, thereby resulting in an identified enable signal; and determining which of the number of gated clock signals is uniquely determined by the particular combination of the identified raw clock signal and the identified enable signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to electronic design automation (EDA) systems used for designing integrated circuits. The invention is more specifically related to a method and apparatus for identifying gated clocks within a circuit design using a standard EDA optimization tool during the integrated circuit design process.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The design process for all integrated circuits is composed of several discrete operations. Initially, the proposed functionality for a circuit is analyzed by one or more chip designers. These designers define the logical components of the circuit and their interactions by specifying the logic design using design capture tools. These design capture tools are commonly implemented in software executing on an engineering workstation, with well-known input devices being used to receive design information from the chip designer, and output devices, such as computer displays, being used to provide visual feedback of the design to the designer as it is being constructed. Such software is typically implemented as part of an electronic design automation (EDA) system. Specifically, the design entry operation involves generating a description of the logic design to be implemented on the circuit chip in an appropriate machine-readable form. Chip designers generally employ hierarchial design techniques to determine the appropriate selection and interconnection of logic and/or memory devices which will enable the chip to perform the desired function. These techniques involve describing the chip's functionality at various levels of abstraction, ranging from the most general function performed by the chip to the precise functions performed by each logic and/or memory element on the chip.
A common method for specifying the integrated circuit design is the use of hardware description languages. This method allows a circuit designer to specify the circuit at the register transfer level (also known as a "behavior description"). Using this method, the circuit is defined in small building blocks. The names of the building blocks are specified by the circuit designer. Thus, they usually are logical names with specific functional meaning.
Encoding the design in a hardware description language (HDL) is a major design entry technique used to specify modern integrated circuits. Hardware description languages are specifically developed to aid a designer in describing a circuit. These languages often contain specific functions and syntax to allow complex hardware structures to be described in a compact and efficient way.
It is useful to distinguish between those components of an integrated circuit design called cells, provided by a silicon chip vendor as primitive cells (i.e., leaf candidates), and the user-defined hierarchy blocks built upon them. One way is to speak of a "cell library" vs. a "design library" as two separate libraries, both of which are available to subsequent designs. Alternatively, at least initially, a design library contains a cell library. A cell library is a database containing detailed specifications on the characteristics of each logical component available for use in a design. Initial cell library contents are usually provided by the chip vendor. The components in the cell library are identified by the generic description of the component type. For example, the term "NAND" for a NAND gate is its type description and distinguishes this component from others such as OR gates, flip-flops, multiplexors, and so on. A two-input NAND gate might be of type 2NAND. When a 2NAND component is specified as part of a given circuit design, it is given an instance name, to distinguish it from all other 2NAND gates used in the circuit. The instance name typically includes the instance names of all parent instances by concatenation when defining the instance in the context of the chip.
A single name is sufficient when dealing only in the context of a single user function. The user-defined blocks can then be used to design larger blocks of greater complexity. The user-defined blocks are added to the design library, which grows from the additions of new design modules as the design evolves. The top level of the design hierarchy may be a single block that defines the entire design, and the bottom layer of the hierarchy may consist of leaf cells, the cells (i.e., the logical components) that were originally provided in the cell library. The resulting design is often called a detailed (or gate-level) description of the logic design.
The generation of the detailed description is often accomplished by logic design synthesis software for HDL entry. The logic design synthesis software generates a gate-level description of user-defined input and output logic, and also creates new gate-level logic to implement user-defined logical functions. Typically, the logic design synthesis software is executed many times during the integrated circuit design process, because errors may be detected during the simulation and testing phases of the design cycle and then fixed in the behavioral description.
The output of the design capture and synthesis tools is typically a logic design database which completely specifies the logical and functional relationships among the components of the design. Once the design has been converted into this form, it may be optimized by sending the logic design database to a logic optimizer tool typically implemented in software.
In many logic optimizer tools, the optimization process may include a characterization step and an optimization step. During the characterization step, various optimization parameters are assigned to selected portions of the design. For example, for those portions of the design that are to be optimized for timing, the characterization step may perform a timing analysis of the design, and identify critical paths within the design that need to be improved by optimization. The characterization step may then assign timing constraints to those portions of the design, indicating the degree that they must be optimized to meet the desired timing goals.
After the characterization step is complete, the optimizer tool may perform an optimization step. The optimization step typically attempts to optimize the design such that all of the timing constraints assigned by the characterization step are satisfied. During the optimization step, the logic optimizer may, for example, remove logic from the design that is unnecessary, minimize the logic that is necessary to implement certain functions, increase the power of selected cells to improve performance, etc.
After the design has been optimized, the circuit designers typically verify that the resulting logic definition is correct and that the integrated circuit implements the expected function. This verification is currently achieved by timing and simulation software tools. The design undergoes design verification analysis in order to detect flaws in the design. The design is also analyzed by simulating the design to assess the functionality of the design. If errors are found or the resulting functionality is unacceptable, the designer modifies the behavior description as needed. These design iterations help to ensure that the design satisfies the desired requirements.
After timing verifications and functional simulation have been completed, placement and routing of the design's components is performed. These steps involve allocating components of the design to locations on the integrated circuit chip and interconnecting the components to form nets. Finally, final timing verification is performed after placement and routing is complete.
A problem in the above design process may occur when gated clocking schemes are used in the design. That is, typical logic optimizer tools can only handle standard clocking schemes, such as where a number of clock signals are independently generated and distributed throughout the system, and each state device in the design is coupled to only one of the clock signals. For high performance designs, however, it is often desirable to use gated clocking schemes to increase the density and performance of the design, and to ease the difficulty of placing and routing the various clock trees. It has been found that a gated clocking scheme can increase the performance of a design by as much as 10-20 percent over standard clock schemes. Further, the use of a gated clocking scheme can reduce the number of raw clock signals that must be routed throughout the design, and thus the number of critical clock nets within the design.
In a gated clock scheme, both a clock enable signal and a raw clock signal may be provided to a logic gate, wherein the output of the logic gate may provide a "gated clock" signal to the corresponding state devices. Typically, the clock enable signals may have a substantially wider pulse width than the raw clock signals, and may easily envelope the corresponding clock pulses. Thus, the logic used to distribute the clock enable signals is generally not subject to the same timing constraints as the clock trees used to distribute the raw clock signals. For this reasons, the logic used to distribute the clock enable signals can typically be automatically placed and routed, without any special consideration given thereto.
In contrast, the clock trees that distribute the raw clock signals must typically either be manually placed and routed within the design, or priority routing channels must be assigned to those nets during the auto place and route process. In either case, the designer typically must compare the corresponding net lengths for each of the raw clock trees to ensure that the clock skew between the resulting raw clock signals is minimized. As can readily be seen, a gated clocking scheme may reduce the number of critical raw clock signals by providing a number of less sensitive clock enable signals, and thus may reduce the overall complexity of placing and routing the clocking network.
Logic Optimizer tools typically use clock information during the logic optimization process to optimize the overall design. Such clock information typically identifies a particular clock signal for each of the state devices within the design. For example, the clock information may identify each state device within the design that is controlled by each clock signal. The logic optimizer tool may then calculate the maximum allowed propagation time between any two registers in the design by identifying the corresponding clock signals that are associated therewith.
The clocking information may be provided to the logic optimizer tool in any number of ways. For example, the user may provide a list of the ASIC pins that are used as clock inputs, and/or the instance names of drivers contained within the design that generate the clock signals. To identify the particular clock signal that corresponds to each state device, the logic optimizer tool may include a tracing capability, wherein the tracing capability may trace each clock signal from the pre-identified clock source to the corresponding state devices, thereby identifying a correspondence between the various clock signals and the number of state devices.
A limitation of the above clock identifying method is that the tracing scheme provided by the logic optimizer tool may not properly identify the correct clock in designs that use gated clocking schemes. That is, when the raw clock signals are traced to the corresponding state devices, the clock enable signals may not be identified or taken into account. Accordingly, the above-referenced clock tracing scheme may incorrectly associate a raw clock signal with each state device, rather than the correct gated clock signal. It is recognized that it may be possible to provide the logic optimizer tools with the proper clock information by manually assembling a clock list with the appropriate clocking information, including the gated clocking information. However, for large designs, this is a prohibitively large task, and extremely tedious.

Method and apparatus for identifying gated clocks within a circuit design using a standard optimization tool


An information processing system includes an image forming part and an operation part attachable to and detachable from the image forming part. The information processing system includes: a first detection unit configured to detect whether a state where a function of the image forming part is usable via the operation part is established; a second detection unit configured to detect whether the operation part has been detached from the image forming part; and a restriction control unit configured to perform control to restrict a predetermined function of the operation part when, while the first detection unit has detected that the state where the function of the image forming part is usable via the operation part is not established, the second detection unit has detected that the operation part has been detached from the image forming part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing method, and a computer program product.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, operations (user interfaces) of printers and multifunction peripherals (MFPs) have been generally performed by use of operation part units each formed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a keyboard. Via such an operation part unit, a user can, for example, input the number of copies, give an instruction to execute copying by pressing a start button, and input an Internet Protocol (IP) address for connecting a machine to a network. In recent years, a highly functional operation part unit equipped with an Android (registered trademark) operating system (OS) has been developed, which also functions as a tablet apparatus, a smartphone, or the like. For example, with a printer or an MFP being equipped with a near field communication (NFC) device, an operation part unit can be used for user administration such as logout/login on the printer or the MFP and user-by-user restriction of usable functions.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-92786 discloses a technique for higher power-saving performance, which is configured not to allow the state of power to turn back to a normal state from a power-saving state when authentication by a near field communication (NFC) device has failed.
For example, in the case of a highly functionalized operation part unit, although authentication is necessary for using functions of an image forming apparatus via an operation part, such a highly functional operation part unit may have its specific functions usable without authentication, and has a risk of being stolen with an intention to use such authentication-free functions.

Information processing system, information processing method, and computer program product


A processing scheme and arrangement for enhanced olefin production involves cooling or treating an olefin cracking reactor effluent stream by contacting the olefin cracking reactor effluent stream with a quench oil stream in a single contact cooler contact zone to produce a cooled vapor stream and to form a heated quench oil stream. A pressure differential across the single contact cooler is less than about 3.5 kPa. The heated quench oil stream can be subsequently cooled and returned to the single contact cooler.

A major portion of the worldwide petrochemical industry is concerned with the production of light olefin materials and their subsequent use in the production of numerous important chemical products via polymerization, oligomerization, alkylation and other well-known chemical reactions. Light olefins include ethylene, propylene and mixtures thereof. These light olefins are essential building blocks for the modern petrochemical and chemical industries.
Olefin conversion technologies may be employed to produce light olefins from other olefins. Such olefin conversion processes are often combined or integrated with other olefin producing technologies such as, for example, steam or fluid catalytic cracking processes or oxygenate to olefin processes to provide increased light olefin production.
There are generally two main types of olefin conversion technologies available to produce light olefins, metathesis and olefin cracking. Such metathesis processes typically produce propylene by reacting ethylene with 2-butenes. Such olefin cracking processes typically produce ethylene and propylene by cracking or converting C4-C8 feedstocks to produce effluent streams containing predominantly C2-C6 compounds along with some hydrogen and other lighter gases. Such effluent streams are subsequently separated into various product streams such as, for example, product streams containing ethylene and propylene.
While such processing can desirably result in the formation of increased relative amounts of propylene and/or ethylene, further improvements such as to further enhance the relative amount of propylene and/or ethylene production and recovery are desired and have been sought.
Generally, olefin cracking processes are conducted in a reactor at elevated temperatures and typically produce effluent streams having temperatures in excess of 500° C. Such olefin cracking reactor effluent streams are subsequently cooled and compressed to facilitate separation into individual product streams. Olefin cracking reactor effluent streams can be cooled using various heat exchange methods such as, for example, indirect heat exchange with a cooling medium such as, for example, cooling water. One such indirect heat exchange method generally involves passing the hot olefin cracking reactor effluent through a heat exchange unit such as, for example, a tube and shell heat exchanger, to produce a cooled olefin cracking reactor effluent stream having a temperature profile that is suitable for efficient compression.
However, such indirect heat exchange units can be susceptible to fouling by constituents of the olefin cracking reactor effluent stream. For example, heavy hydrocarbon compounds can condense on surfaces of the heat exchange unit which can result in a reduction of the cooling capacity of the heat exchange unit. Generally, the temperature of a gas to be compressed controls the capacity of an associated compressor, i.e., the higher the temperature of the gas the less it can be compressed. Thus, reducing the cooling capacity of the heat exchange unit results in a reduced compression capacity in an associated compressor which can, in turn, result in increased down time for cleaning of the heat exchange units and decreased product output.
In view of the above, there is a need and a demand for processing schemes and/or arrangements effective to reduce fouling of heat exchange units used to cool olefin cracking reactor effluent streams.
Additionally, gaseous materials which pass through such indirect heat exchange units can also experience a significant pressure drop from inlet to outlet resulting in a cooled effluent stream having a pressure which is lower than may be desired and can require additional energy expenditures and increased compressor size to compress the cooled effluent stream to a pressure suitable for further processing in subsequent separation units. Thus, there is a further need and a demand for processing schemes and/or arrangements that result in a reduced pressure drop across the heat exchange unit.
Further, a pressure drop across the heat exchange unit can result in an increased pressure at an associated olefin cracking reactor outlet which can cause reductions in the yield of ethylene and/or propylene produced by the olefin cracking process. Accordingly, there is a still further need and a demand for processing schemes and/or arrangements effective to result in an increased relative yield of light olefins, particularly, ethylene and/or propylene.


According to one embodiment a computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes a microprocessor and a chipset coupled to the microprocessor. The microprocessor removes stale branch instructions prior to the execution of a first cache line by finding existing branch prediction data for the first cache line.

In high-performance, superscalar microprocessors, a decoded instruction cache (or trace cache) is used to improve performance. This type of instruction cache improves the bandwidth, throughput, and latency of "fetch" and "decode" portions of microprocessors by quickly sending packets of decoded macro-instructions (called micro-operations) into the core of the microprocessor. At the end of the pipeline that fetches and decodes macro instructions, the micro-operations are typically assembled into packets and written into a trace cache on their way into an allocation pipeline.
For many applications, the trace cache performance is strongly correlated to hit rate. Large trace cache arrays provide high hit rates but consume a great deal of power. General-purpose applications exhibit different size requirements on the trace cache for realizing their performance benefits. Some applications require only a small size.
However for others, the performance continues to improve as the size is increased. If the trace cache is larger than is needed for a given application to achieve an acceptable level of performance, the over allocation of cache resources will consume unnecessary power. If the trace cache is too small, the application may not achieve an acceptable level of performance. Additional resources can be added to improve the performance. However, increased power consumption may degrade the performance benefit.


A developing blade 10 is insert molded by forming a rib portion 13 which projects from an end portion in the longitudinal direction of a blade body 12 in the transverse direction of the blade body 12, opposite to the contact surface 12a side of the blade body 12, on the blade body 12 in contact with the developing roll of the developing blade 10 and forming the gate 21G of a metal mold 20 in which a metal plate 11 as an insert member has been installed only in a cavity 21b corresponding to the above rib portion 13. Therefore, a developing blade 10 without burrs and recesses on its contact surface with the developing roll or without welds can be easily manufactured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a developing blade for use in the developing device of a copier such as a laser printer and a metal mold for a developing blade.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, in an electrophotographic copier or a copier such as a laser printer, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive drum, toner is adhered to this electrostatic latent image by a developing device to visualize it, and this image is transferred to a recording medium such as paper to form an image.
FIG. 7 shows the outline of a developing device of the prior art. In this developing device 50, toner 52 is contained in a housing 51 as a developer and supplied to the surface of a developing roll 55 by means of a toner feed roll 54 while it is stirred by a stirrer 53. The toner 52 supplied to the surface of the above developing roll 55 is controlled to become a uniform thin layer by a developing blade 30 while the developing roll 55 is turned and friction charged to be limited to a predetermined film thickness, and this friction charged toner 52 is carried to a developing area opposite to the above developing roll 55 of the photosensitive drum 56 to be adhered to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the above photosensitive drum 56.
FIG. 8 shows an example of the developing blade of the above prior art. This developing blade 30 is a prolonged member comprising a metal plate 31 which is a plate spring as a support member having one end fixed to the above housing 51 and a blade body 32 which is made of an elastic material such as urethane or rubber, has a projecting sectional form and sandwiches the other end of the metal plate 31. The developing blade 30 is generally manufactured by insert molding using the above metal plate 31 as an insert member.
FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) show an example of the process for manufacturing a developing blade of the prior art. This developing blade 30 is manufactured by installing the prolonged metal plate 31 shown in FIG. 9(b) as an insert member in the cavity 43 of a metal mold 40 for forming the blade body 32, which consists of a fixed mold 41 and a movable mold 42, in such a manner that its short side projects into the above cavity 43, introducing a rubber material or resin material injected from an unshown injection device into the above cavity 43 from a large number of gates 44 formed above a portion corresponding to the blade body 32 of the above cavity 43 to transfer mold it and solidifying it (refer to patent document 1, for example).
As for the process for manufacturing a developing blade, as shown in FIG. 10, there is proposed a process in which a tab portion 33 extending in the longitudinal direction of the above blade body 32 is formed at the end in the longitudinal direction of the blade body 32 and the gate 45 of an unshown hot runner is formed in this tab portion 33 as a gate for injecting a resin. Thereby, the blade body 32 having a smooth surface can be manufactured by removing the surface distortion of the blade body 32 (refer to patent document 2, for example).
[patent document 1] JP-A 11-231647 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application")
[patent document 2] JP-A 2001-42639

Metal mold for manufacturing a developing blade


Frame sections on an implement are supported above the ground by lift wheel assemblies having positive mechanical depth stops and series connected lift cylinders. A pressure responsive bypass valve is installed in series with an orifice between the ports of the series connected cylinders. The valve permits the corresponding cylinder to be retracted and positively held against the depth stop and allows bypass flow to the next cylinder in series for continued retraction of the next cylinder until it bottoms against the stop. The orifice protects the bypass valve poppet from damaging high flows and controls the rate of descent of the other frame sections onto the remaining stops. The system permits the cylinders to positively maintain the down-stopped positions of the sections without unwanted looseness typical with slotted or other lost motion types of connections. A restrictor valve may be added to limit the maximum pressure so that all the bypass valves cannot open at the same time.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements, and, more specifically, to lift and depth control systems for the frames of such implements.
2) Related Art
Agricultural implements such as field cultivators, chisel plows and seeders include frames having two or more sections hinged together and moveable between a narrow folded position and a wide field-working position. Lift wheel assemblies connected to the frame sections and controlled by hydraulic cylinders raise and lower the frame sections relative to the ground to move the implement between a raised transport position and a lowered field-working position and to control tillage or planting depth in the field-working position. The hydraulic cylinder circuit controlling the lift functions typically includes a plurality of cylinders connected to a selective control valve (SCV) on the tractor. The cylinders on some circuits are connected in series with each other so that the frame sections raise and lower in unison. However, many of these circuits rely on the cylinder pressure to maintain a selected frame height during operation, and cylinder leakage or leakage elsewhere in the circuit can cause unwanted variations in the operating depth of the implement. Depth control stops can be utilized to positively set the cylinder rod position for operation of the tools on the frame sections at the desired depth, but if the cylinders are plumbed in series for level lift, the entire system will be stopped when the first cylinder hits a stop and the remaining cylinders will ride on hydraulic fluid and thus be subject to leakage. If the cylinders are plumbed in parallel, movement of the sections between transport and field-working positions is uneven unless a mechanical link such as a rockshaft is connected between wheel assemblies or a complicated valve or flow control arrangement is added to the parallel circuit. The additional links or control arrangements add complexity and cost to the system. Other systems include a slotted or lost motion connection between the cylinder and wheel assembly which eliminates stall out when the stop is reached, but such systems typically do not allow cylinder pressure to hold the wheel assembly against the stop in the operating position and, with such systems, raising the wheels into the air is difficult or impossible.
Still other depth control systems utilize series cylinders which are fully extended when the frame sections are in the transport position and fully retracted when in the frame sections are in the transport position. These types of systems rely on cylinder anchor adjustments to make changes in the frame height in the operating position. The full retraction provides a positive stop in the field-working position so drift is eliminated and allows cylinder rephasing at the end of the stoke, but the anchor adjustment may also adversely affect transport height. In addition, most cylinder anchor adjustment mechanisms are relatively large and cumbersome.


An engine control device is configured to prevent surging in an engine equipped with both a variable-nozzle turbocharger and an EGR device while curbing costs by utilizing existing equipment and avoiding undesirable secondary effects. When the engine is in a prescribed engine operating state in which the fuel injection quantity should be reduced, the EGR quantity delivered by the EGR device is reduced to a value lower than the normal value and the opening degree of the turbine nozzle of the turbocharger is increased. The prescribed engine operating state is defined to exist when the vehicle is decelerating and when the fuel injection quantity is decreased after regeneration of the NOx trapping catalytic converter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a control device for an engine. More specifically, the present invention relates to technology for preventing surging in the turbocharger compressor of an engine equipped with a turbocharger and an EGR device.
2. Background Information
The idea of supercharging an engine using a turbo-supercharging device (turbocharger) comprising a turbine installed in an exhaust passage and driven by exhaust gas and a compressor installed in an air intake passage and driven by the turbine is well-known. When a turbocharger is used, there is a minimum allowable compressor flow rate that depends on the rotational speed of the turbine or the supercharging pressure. If the turbocharger is run with a compressor flow rate that is below the minimum allowable flow rate, a backflow of intake air moving in the upstream direction from downstream of the compressor will occur intermittently. This intermittent backflow is called "surging." Surging is known to occur when the fuel injection quantity decreases and the exhaust pressure declines. A conventional method of avoiding surging is to provide a bypass that links the upstream side of the compressor to the downstream side and arrange for the bypass to open when the fuel injection quantity decreases, thereby securing a compressor flow rate at least as large as the minimum allowable flow rate. One example of such a control method is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 06-069331 (See, paragraph 0005).
The idea of supercharging an engine by providing an intake air throttle valve in addition to a turbocharger is also well known. The intake air throttle valve can be driven independently of the accelerator depression amount and is configured to reduce the opening area of the air intake passage when it is driven in the close direction. In this kind of engine, when the fuel injection quantity decreases, the supercharging pressure is reduced by driving the intake air throttle valve in the close direction. One example of such a control method is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-170588 (See, paragraph 0012).
Engines that are provided with both a turbocharger and an exhaust gas recirculation (hereinafter called "EGR") device for recirculating a portion of the exhaust gas to the air intake passage are also well known. The EGR device generally comprises an EGR passage linking the exhaust passage and air intake passage together and an EGR valve that is provided in the EGR passage and configured to control the flow rate of the recirculated exhaust gas.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved engine control device. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A vehicle for physically disadvantaged persons and others desiring assistance which carries a chair at a relatively high level, is supported by wheels on front and rear axles. It has a rear bumper, supported by the frame and consisting of side attaching elements connected by a bumper cross element. Pivotally connected to each bumper side element is an anti-tip wheel support leg which mounts an anti-tip wheel having an axle connected to the lower end of each leg such that the legs are gravity biased to swing in toward the bumper. The wheel-supporting legs support the anti-tip wheels at a predetermined vertical distance above the ground when the frame is traveling over level ground, and are operative to automatically swing rearwardly away from the rear wheels to cause the anti-tip wheels to engage the ground and stabilize the vehicle from further tilting, when the frame tilts upwardly a predetermined amount from front to rear.

The present invention relates particularly to steerable, battery powered three or four wheeled vehicles of the type used by physically disadvantaged persons and others desiring to ride, and more specifically to new and useful improvements in such vehicles which stabilize them and resist their rearward over-turning when over-tilted upwardly from front to rear for any reason. Vehicles of this type have very significantly improved the quality of life for many people around the world by enhancing their freedom, independence, and mobility, however, it is well recognized that such vehicles must be extremely safe to operate under varied traveling conditions. Because vehicles of this character typically mount a vertically adjustable contour chair on an upstanding post at the rear end of the vehicle so that a relatively high center of gravity load is concentrated at the rear of the vehicle, there is a need to seek to prevent such vehicles from overturning and injuring the passenger, when an adverse tilt occurs.

Bumper mounted anti-tip stabilizers for chair-mounting vehicles utilized by physically disadvantaged persons and others desiring mobility assistance, and methods of stabilizing such vehicles


A method of acquiring transmission self-contamination data for correcting transmission scan data in a nuclear camera system including two transmission radiation sources and two scintillation detectors. A first source is for transmitting radiation to only a first detector and a second source is for transmitting radiation to only a second detector during a transmission scan of an object to be imaged. To acquire the calibration data, radiation is transmitted from the second source to the second detector while the first source is maintained in a non-transmitting state. While the second source is transmitting, the first detector is used to detect the radiation transmitted from the second source. A set of self-contamination data is then generated based on the radiation from the second source detected with the first detector. The calibration data is used to correct a subsequent transmission scan of the object by subtracting the self-contamination data from the transmission scan data.

In the field of nuclear medicine, images of the internal structures or functions of a patient's body are formed by using gamma cameras to detect radiation emitted from within the body after the patient has been injected with a radiopharmaceutical substance. A computer system generally controls the gamma cameras to acquire data and then processes the acquired data to generate the images. Nuclear medicine imaging techniques include Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). SPECT imaging is based on the detection of individual gamma rays emitted from the body, while PET imaging is based on the detection of gamma ray pairs that are emitted in coincidence in opposite directions due to electron-positron annihilations. PET imaging is therefore often referred to as "coincidence" imaging.
One factor which has a significant impact on image quality in nuclear medicine is non-uniform attenuation. Non-uniform attenuation refers to the attenuation of radiation emitted from an organ of interest before the radiation can be detected. Such attenuation tends to degrade image quality. A technique which has been used to correct for non-uniform attenuation is transmission scanning, in which gamma radiation from a transmission source is transmitted through the patient to a corresponding scintillation detector and used to form a transmission image. The transmission images provide an indication of the amount attenuation caused by various structures of the body and can therefore be used to correct for attenuation in the emission images.
Many gamma camera systems include multiple detectors, multiple transmission sources, or both. In such systems, a particular transmission source may be directed at a particular "target" detector at any given point in time. One problem which may be encountered with such systems is that of adequately shielding a transmission source from the detectors which it is not supposed to be illuminating. For example, the correct interpretation of detected transmission radiation may depend upon knowing the location of the source of that radiation. Radiation detected by a detector that is not the intended target is referred to as transmission self-contamination. Transmission self-contamination introduces inaccuracies into the transmission scan and therefore degrades the quality of the emission images that are ultimately corrected by the transmission data. Even with proper shielding, it may be impossible to completely prevent transmission self-contamination. Hence, it is desirable to have a technique for characterizing and correcting for transmission self-contamination in a nuclear medicine imaging system.

Method and apparatus for performing correction of transmission self-contamination in a medical imaging system


Provided are an automobile interior/exterior material including a low-melting-point polyester resin fiber layer, and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, an automobile interior/exterior material having excellent processability and price competitiveness without deterioration of properties, such as strength and durability, is provided.

Automobile interior/exterior materials, particularly interior materials, are required to have characteristics such as light weight, buffering properties, heat insulation, moldability, high strength, and energy saving effects. Conventionally, a low-melting-point fiber was used as an automobile interior material. A low-melting-point resin, which is an adhesive fiber which melts at a lower temperature of 100 to 200° C. than the temperature of 265° C. or more at which general polyester fiber melts, is an eco-friendly material not requiring a chemical adhesive, and has an advantage of easy construction. By attaching a laminate, which includes a substrate layer made of a thermoplastic resin, a soft polyurethane foam layer, and a fiber layer, to such a low-melting-point resin fiber layer, durability may be improved and the manufacturing cost per volume may be lowered. In addition, an automotive interior material having a small dimensional change rate and an excellent sound absorption rate may be obtained.
However, when the laminate includes a soft polyurethane foam layer, the thickness of the laminate increases to meet required properties of an automobile interior/exterior material and a large amount of adhesive is used to compound different materials in a manufacturing process. Accordingly, the amount of VOCs increases and the laminate is not recycled.
Therefore, there is a need for an automobile interior/exterior material having superior processability and being capable of lowering manufacturing costs.

Automobile interior and exterior materials comprising low melting polyester resin and methods for producing same