An apparatus and method for processing information of a drawing comprises steps of defining figure data representing figures, respectively, included in a drawing, preparing a plurality of regions called as field block memory regions for storing the figure data so that they can be selectively read out for edition of a drawing later on, and determining a usable range in each of the field block memories in accordance with the number of the figures included in the drawing. In a preferred mode, the method further includes steps of dividing the drawing into congruent rectangles called as buckets in a number determined in accordance with the number of the figures included in the drawing, allocating the abovementioned field block memory regions to the buckets, respectively, and storing the figure data in the memory region allocated to the bucket to which the associated figure belongs.

The present invention generally relates to a method of processing information or data of a drawing and an apparatus for carrying out the same. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a method and an apparatus for extracting at a high speed a set of figures viewed in a designated rectangular region (referred to as a window) from a drawing of large scale such as a logic circuit design drawing and a mask pattern drawing for a very large scale integrated circuit (VLSI) and others, for thereby allowing the extracted figure data to be used for the edition of drawings later on.
As the techniques for extracting at a high speed a set or group of figures viewed in a designated window, there have heretofore been known a field block method and a bucket division method such as those described, for example, in Japanese patent unexamined publications, JP-A-60-163169, JP-A-61-150073, JP-A-61-241873, JP-A-62-80766, Japanese patent examined publication JP-61-26713 and T. Asano et al "Computational Geometry Algorithms" North-Holland, Advances in CAD for VLSI, Volume 4 (1986), pp. 307-308.
According to the field block method disclosed in JP-A-61-241873, a plurality of field block memory regions each of a predetermined fixed size are previously prepared, wherein figure data indicating given figures are sequentially stored at first in a first field block memory region. When the first field block memory region becomes full of the figure data, the succeeding figure data are then sequentially stored in a second field block memory region. When the second region is filled up, the storage of the figure data is then performed for the succeeding field block memory region. In this way, similar storage process is repeatedly carried out.
By way of example, reference is to be made to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings. The figure data of a FIG. 1 indicated by a hatched area contains position data of a rectangle 2 which can cover or encompass this FIG. 1 with a minimum area (which rectangle is referred to as a figure covering rectangle), and shape data concerning the shape or profile of the FIG. 1. The position data of the figure covering rectangle 2 are given in terms of the coordinates (E1, E2) of a bottom leftmost point a of that rectangle and the coordinate (E3, E4) of a top rightmost point e thereof, while the shape data includes the coordinates of individual discontinuity points or inflection points a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h as well as other data concerning the shape of the FIG. 1. Accordingly, of the figure data for given figures, the amount of the shape data may differ from one to another figure in dependence on the shapes or geometries thereof, even when the position data can remain constant. Suppose, for example, a drawing illustrating thereon a plurality of figures covered by rectangles g1 to g8, respectively, as is shown in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings. These rectangles g1 to g8 are to be stored in this order in the field block memory regions FB1 to FB4 in such a manner as shown in FIG. 3A. In that case, the figure data of the figure covering rectangles g1 and g2 are stored in the field block memory region FB1, the figure data of the figure covering rectangles g3 and g4 are stored in the field block memory region FB2, the figure data of the figure covering rectangles g5 and g6 are stored in the field block memory region FB3, and finally the figure data of the figure covering rectangles g7 and g8 are stored in the field block memory region FB4. Since the amount of the shape data contained in the figure data may differ in dependence on the shape or geometry of the figure encompassed by the figure covering rectangle, as described above, the individual field block memory regions can not always store the figure data for a same number of the figure covering rectangles as in the case of the abovementioned example. In other words, the number of the figure covering rectangles whose figure data are stored in given ones of the field block memory regions can not be constant. Besides, the number of the field block memory regions to be used will vary in dependence on the scale of the drawing to be processed, i.e. the total number of the figures illustrated on the drawing and the shapes of the individual figures.
Further, for storing information or data for managing the field block memory regions, there is provided a managing memory having memory regions allocated in correspondence to the field block memory regions, respectively, as is shown in FIG. 3B. In this case, a rectangle capable of covering with a minimum area all the figure covering rectangles which stored in a given field block memory region is referred to as a field block, wherein the position data indicating the position of the field block, e.g. the coordinates of the bottom leftmost and the top rightmost points of the field block are stored in the region of the managing memory which corresponds to that given one field block memory region. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 2, the field block memory region including the figure covering rectangles g1 and g2 constitutes a field block indicated by a broken-line rectangle FB1. The field blocks FB2, FB3 and FB4 are defined in similar manner. FIG. 4 shows only the field blocks extracted from the illustration shown in FIG. 2. The position data of the field block FB1, by way of example, are given in terms of the coordinates P1, P2 of the bottom leftmost point of that block and the coordinates P3, P4 of the top rightmost point thereof and stored in the region of the managing memory corresponding to the field block memory region FB1. Similarly, the position data of the field blocks FB2, FB3 and FB4 are stored in the corresponding regions of the managing memory, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3B.
Next, referring to FIG. 5, description will be made of a procedure for extracting those figures which is viewed in or overlaps with a designated window such as, for example, a window 9 from a number of figures stored in a number of the field block memory regions. It should however be understood that for the sake of simplification of the description, the number and the positions of the figure covering rectangles and the field blocks shown in FIG. 5 bear no relation to those illustrated in FIG. 4. Now, referring to FIG. 5, the figure viewed in the window 9 is extracted through the procedure steps mentioned below. Step 1: The position data of the given window 9 represented by the coordinates (W1, W2) of the bottom leftmost point and the coordinates (W3, W4) of the top rightmost point are compared with the position data of the individual field blocks stored in the managing memory, whereby all the field blocks overlapping with the window 9 are extracted. In the case of the example illustrated in FIG. 5, one field block 5 is extracted. Step 2: The position data of the figure covering rectangles included in each of the extracted field blocks are read out from the associated field block memory regions to be compared with the position data of the abovementioned window 9, to thereby extract all the figure covering rectangles overlapping with the window 9. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 5, only the figure covering rectangle g2 is extracted from the rectangles (g1, g2 and g3) that are included in the field block 5. Step 3: The shape data of the figure included in the extracted figure covering rectangle g2 is compared with the position data of the window to thereby extract the figure included in the window.
Next, consideration will be paid to the time involved in executing the calculations for extracting the figure covering rectangle viewed in the designated window.
It is assumed that N represents the number of the field blocks, n represents the number of all the figures included in a drawing, m represents the number of the field blocks overlapping with the window, T.sub.1.sup.2 represents the time involved in the calculation for extracting the field blocks overlapping with window, T.sub.2.sup.2 represents the time involved in calculation for extracting the figure covering rectangle overlapping with the window from each of the extracted field block, and T.sup.2 represents the time in total involved in all the calculations. Then, T.sub.1.sup.2 and T.sub.2.sup.2 can be given by the following expressions (1) and (2): ##EQU1## on the assumption that each of the field block memory regions stores a same number (n/N) of the figures. The processing for extracting the field block overlapping with the window and the processing for extracting the figure covering rectangle overlapping with the window are both executed by repeating the step of checking whether two rectangles overlap each other. In this connection, t.sub.o appearing in the above expressions (1) and (2) represents the time required for the processing of this one step.
From the expressions (1) and (2), ##EQU2## On the condition that scale of the drawing to be processed, i.e. n is constant, there exists such value of N which can minimize the time T.sup.2. In this conjunction, n/N may be regarded to represent the size of the field block memory. Thus, it can be said that there exists the size of the field block memory which is optimal for minimizing the time T.sup.2. According to the field block method known heretofore, however, the size of the field block memory region is fixed independent of the scale of the drawing to be processed as described hereinbefore. Consequently, there can not always be obtained the minimum time (i.e. maximum processing speed) for extracting the figure associated with the window, although it depends on the scale of the drawings.
Generally speaking, however, the figure extraction based on the field block method is still advantageous in that only a small amount of information is sufficient for the managing purpose, and that when the figure is altered, it is sufficient to alter the managing information only for such field block whose region including the figure of concern needs to be correspondingly altered, whereby the procedure for updating the managing information can be extremely simplified.
Now, description will be turned to the bucket division method. According to this method, a drawing is previously divided into a plurality of rectangular regions each of a same size referred to as the buckets, as is shown in FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings, wherein the figures existing within the buckets are stored in a managing table on the bucket basis. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the drawing is divided into four buckets B1, B2, B3 and B4, and the regions in the managing table stored in a memory are correspondingly allocated to the buckets, respectively, as is shown in FIG. 7A. More specifically, the region B1 of the managing table memory stores the figure data of the figure covering rectangles g1 and g8 which are at least partially included in the bucket B1, while the region B2 stores therein the figure data of the figure covering rectangle g4 and g5 included at least partially in the bucket B2. Further, the region B3 of the managing table memory stores the figure data of the figure covering rectangles g3 and g6 included at least partially in the bucket B3. The region B4 stores the figure data of figure covering rectangles g2, g7 and g5 included at least partially in the bucket B4.
For extracting the figures overlapping with a designated window from the figure data stored in the managing table in the manner mentioned above, the bucket overlapping with the window is first extracted, being then followed by extraction of the figure covering rectangle viewed in the window from those included in each of the extracted buckets. Thereafter, the desired figure is determined from the extracted figure covering rectangle.
The bucket division method outlined above requires significant alternation or modification of the contents of the managing table, when the figure is to be moved or migrated. By way of example, in case the figure covering rectangle g3 is migrated from a solid line position to a dotted line position, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the figure covering rectangles included in the buckets B1, B2 and B4 are changed. As the consequence, it is necessary to alter correspondingly the contents in the regions of the managing table which are allocated to the buckets B1, B2 and B3, as shown in FIG. 7B. Nevertheless of the shortcoming of the bucket division method mentioned above, this method is yet advantageous in that extraction of the figures overlapping with the window can be performed with high efficiency by virtue of the capability of classifying the figures located close to one another in a group on the bucket basis.

Drawing information processing method and apparatus


Three or more frequency components are used as deformation waveforms to perturb a sample during spectroscopic measurement. Simultaneously measuring more than one frequency allows for multiplexing. Further, many frequencies insure that the optimal perturbation frequencies for a particular measurement are present. The multiplex advantage of a particular spectroscopic instrument may accrue simultaneously with a multiplex advantage in the characterization of the time dependence of the sample response.

The use of rheological, viscoelastic and dynamic-mechanical measurements to determine the macroscopic properties of materials is a well known art. Several commercially available instruments can make these types of measurements. Kramer et al, incorporated herein by reference, discloses an example of such instruments in U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,190. Kramer discloses variations on the use of a mechanical frame together with transducers for generating mechanical displacement, measuring mechanical displacement, and for measuring force. Ramp functions, in which strain or shear varies as a linear function of time, can be used. Force, as a function of time, may be measured after a sudden change of strain or shear. A manually operated eccentric for the purpose of generating a sudden change in shear or strain is disclosed by Kramer. In both of these cases, and in much of the practice of rheology, such forces can be applied to a sample once while the resulting force as a function of time is recorded. However, these forces are not modulated as a continuous functions of time. The technique of dynamic mechanical analysis does use single-frequency, continuous sinusoidal modulation in the measurement of loss angle as a function of frequency.
Spectroscopic measurements of submolecular components during sample deformation has been called spectro-rheology [R. A. Palmer, C. J. Manning, J. L. Chao, I. Noda, A. E. Dowrey, and C. Marcott, Appl. Spectrosc. 45, 12 (1991), "Application of Step-Scan Interferometry to Two-Dimensional Fourier Transform Infrared (2D FT-IR) Correlation Spectroscopy" and references therein.] However, there has been no use of continuous multifrequency waveforms in such measurements. Instead, single-frequency waveforms have been used almost exclusively. Continuous single-frequency sinusoidal deformation waveforms can be applied to samples to obtain spectroscopic measurements of samples undergoing deformation [see Palmer, et al.] Optical or spectroscopic measurements, particularly of the polarized infrared absorption or polarized Raman scattering of samples, may be used to obtain information about the time dependence of reorientation of the individual submolecular components. The origin of macroscopic rheological properties is the microscopic reorientation of the various submolecular components of a material. Hence, the use of spectroscopic measurements together with various deformation waveforms has the potential to provide deeper insight into the properties of materials.
To date, predominantly two types of deformations have been used in such spectro-rheological measurements. The first is to ramp strain as a single event in which the strain is increased linearly as a function of time. This approach closely follows the art of rheology and has the advantage that it can be used to study samples undergoing very large deformations which are inherently irreversible, i.e., the sample is irreversibly altered. A significant disadvantage of this approach is that it can be done only once with any particular sample. It is usually restricted to slow events because the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of measurements made by infrared, Raman and many other spectroscopic techniques is generally too low to observe rapid transients from a single event. The second common approach to spectro-rheological measurements has been to apply a continuously varying, sinusoidal strain having a small amplitude. This technique follows the art of dynamic mechanical analysis. Continuous signals modulate the spectroscopic properties of the sample. This approach has the advantage that the deformation cycle may be repeated many times so that signal averaging may then be used to improve the SNR of the resulting small spectral variations. The effective time resolution may also be greatly increased by such signal averaging. The principal disadvantage of this approach is that the signal amplitude is intrinsically limited by the requirement that the sample not be irreversibly altered by the deformation cycle.
Many of the advantages of rheo-optical spectroscopy have been discussed by Noda [see for example, I. Noda, Appl. Spectrosc. 44, 550 (1990), "Two-Dimensional Infrared (2D IR) Spectroscopy: Theory and Applications".] The general method allows the measurement of the reorientation of submolecular components of a polymer or other sample material. It can simplify interpretation of the spectrum of a material by reducing the portion giving a signature to only those which respond to a particular external perturbation, and further simplifies interpretation by the fact that, in general, each portion of a molecule which does respond to the perturbation does so with a different time delay. Typically the different submolecular groups (not to be confused with the monomer units) of a polymer or other material have differing vibrational absorption frequencies which can be independently monitored with an infrared, Raman or other spectrometer. Hence, the reorientation during or following mechanical perturbation can be observed separately for each subgroup at an appropriate wavelength or energy. Traditionally, these measurements have been made by the use of a single-frequency sinusoidal mechanical perturbation of the sample under study. It is possible, however, to gain advantage in signal-to-noise ratio and/or reduction of measurement time by the use of a multifrequency mechanical perturbation as disclosed herein.
Two simultaneously applied sinusoidal components have been used as a deformation force for spectro-rheology [C. J. Manning and P. R. Griffiths, 9th International Conference on Fourier Transform Spectroscopy, August, 1993, (SPIE Proceedings, Vol. 2089), 248 (1993)]. This approach has the advantage that the frequencies of the two components may be independently optimized for the purpose of obtaining information about particular submolecular motions. However, this approach does not automatically accomplish the necessary optimization of spectral components.
The present invention uses more than two, and preferably many more, frequency components in a deformation waveform. In general, submolecular motions have different time-scales for which different deformation frequencies are appropriate for probing. It is a feature of the present invention to provide a way to stress a sample simultaneously at more than one frequency. Measuring more than one frequency simultaneously can produce a multiplex advantage. It is possible to gain considerable advantage in signal-to-noise ratio and/or reduction of measurement time by the use of a multifrequency mechanical perturbation. The advantage is equal to square root of n, where n is the number of perturbation frequencies used simultaneously. Further, by using many frequencies the optimal frequencies may be included in the waveform. This multiplex advantage can complement the very different multiplex advantage arising in the spectroscopic portion of the measurement. The multiplex advantage of a particular spectroscopic instrument may accrue simultaneously with a multiplex advantage in the characterization of the time dependence of the sample response. Two extreme cases of the multifrequency waveform are suggested. One is a pulse waveform containing all frequencies within the bandwidth of the pulse generating equipment. In this case, the component frequencies of the pulse have the same phase, hence adding together in the time-domain to produce a large excursion in amplitude. Such pulses are readily generated by electrical means. The second extreme case also uses all frequencies within the bandwidth of the pulse generating equipment, but such that each component has random phase. In this case, the components do not add coherently at any point in the time domain. Hence, the dynamic range of the waveform applied to the sample is smaller, allowing more optimal use of the mechanical range of motion of the modulation device, but slightly complicating the measured data.
It is accordingly an objective of the present invention to measure the reorientation rates of submolecular components, particularly of polymeric materials, using a spectrometer together with the method and device described. It is also an objective of the present invention to use mechanical perturbation to simplify spectral interpretation. It is also an objective of the present invention to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of such measurements by using a multiplex advantage.

Method and device for multiplexed spectro-rheological measurements


Taking a bodily sample from deep within the body of a patient and collecting the sample outside the body to facilitate treatment of the patient. A sampling probe is provided in the form of an elongate catheter having a proximal portion that remains outside the body and a distal portion that can be located within the body. The distal portion includes a membrane with openings that communicate with space that communicates with a source of suction force. The catheter is positioned within the body. The sample is taken by exposing the membrane by placing it in proximity with a desired location so that the bodily sample is received by the membrane. The catheter is removed from the patient and the sample is collected outside the body.

Samples of tissue, bodily fluids, etc. are frequently taken from patients for analysis to help in diagnosing disease or monitoring the progress of treatment. For example, samples of cells from the lungs or gastrointestinal tract are taken with a cytology brush. The brush is rubbed against tissue to scrape cells from the surface and collect them in the bristles. Other sampling techniques sever tissue from the body. For example, biopsies are taken with a needle device that penetrates the tissue and then severs a sample with a sharp cutting cannula. A biopsy forceps device is another example. This device is a catheter with a jaw-type cutter at its end. The catheter is threaded through an endoscope to a position deep within the body where it bites a sample of tissue from a desired location. Samples of tissue are taken from within blood vessels using an artherectomy cutter. An artherectomy cutter is a catheter that can be threaded through a blood vessel to a desired site. A cutting member is provided at the end of the catheter. The cutting member can be pressed against a desired site in the blood vessel, such as the site of a vascular occlusion resulting from the build up of plaque, and then actuated to sever occluding matter from the wall of the blood vessel. Samples of bodily fluids are typically drawn from body conduits.

Sample collection using catheter with expandable member


A computer program product is provided for performing a method including: receiving transmission data over a selected time interval for each of a plurality of communication paths; calculating an average round-trip transmission time for each of the plurality of communication paths over the time interval; comparing an average round-trip transmission time for a communication path having the highest average round-trip transmission time to a threshold value and to a multiple of an average round-trip transmission time for a communication path having the lowest average round-trip transmission time; and determining, based on a result of comparing the highest round-trip transmission time to the threshold value and to a multiple of the lowest round-trip transmission time, whether the time period indicates a delay in communication between the I/O subsystem and the control unit requiring at least one of a monitoring action and a recovery action.

The present invention relates to computer Input/Output (I/O) systems and devices and, more specifically, to real time monitoring of system performance to identify SAN and I/O device conditions causing performance degradations.
Storage Area Networks (SANs) can consist of a number of physically separate fiber channel switches with hundreds and possibly thousands of ports connected together to form a single logical fabric. Although a single logical fabric can consist of many physical switches with redundant inter switch links (ISLs), the switch fabric as a whole is a single point of failure because the intelligence that manages the fabric, e.g. the name server, can fail. Clients that require continuous availability for accessing devices from computer systems over the SAN will typically configure redundant paths from the host to the storage devices through a fabric and also deploy redundant fabrics. There are many causes for poor performance in a fabric without an explicit error being detected. For example, firmware errors managing ISL traffic can have bugs, and high traffic can cause congestion which in turn can cause secondary effects where I/O traffic is delayed. The target storage subsystems can also have errors causing I/O delays on specific channel paths. The host processor and operating system may also have errors in their path selection algorithms leading to congestion and resulting in unnecessary high average I/O service times.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Monitoring network performance and detecting network faults using round trip transmission times

International Business Machines Corporation


A process is described which eliminates the need to account for mask alignment tolerances in forming vias for metallurgy by the use of a common vertical edge or common plane defined by a first mask representing a first level of interconnect. Subsequent masks for defining interconnecting vias and a second level of interconnect utilize at least one edge of the first mask pattern as a common element to define subsequent metal levels. The combination of an etch stop layer and an oversized second level mask enable the mask overlay to be eliminated.

In the development of VLSI device technology it has long been a desire to provide as many self-aligning features in a process as practical. Each self-aligned technology segment has the capability of reducing the required area taken by a combination of integrated circuit devices, thus increasing density as well as reducing the cost to manufacture components.
Traditionally, semiconductor processes utilize minimum definable dimensions only at the earliest process steps because, as the mask defining levels increase, alignment tolerances become cumulative and positioning of technology segments for proper alignment to lower levels requires the use of increased dimensions for each successive level. In many semiconductor processes 15 or more mask levels are required rendering the final metalization steps, or Back End Of the Line (BEOL), a limiting factor in obtaining greater VLSI densities.
Another factor effecting usable densities for BEOL technology has been that, as the number of process steps increase, the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate becomes more and more irregular or non-planar. In order to provide for adequate functional structures, larger dimensions were needed for contact via holes between different levels of interconnect metallurgy.
Recently it has become clear that in order to continue to provide increases in circuit density, improved techniques would be required. One of the improvements has been the development of techniques for achieving greater planarity in both metallurgy used for interconnects and its associated dielectric layers. For example, one planarization technique is that of Chemical-Mechanical, or Chem-Mech, Polishing (CMP) as described in greater detail in Beyer et al U.S. Pat. No. 9,944,836, issue Jul. 31, 1990, entitled "Chem-Mech Polishing Method for Producing Coplanar Metal/Insulator Films on a Substrate," based on application Ser. No. 791,860, filed Oct. 25, 1985 and assigned to the assignee of the instant application. CMP enables metal, dielectric or both to be planarized in order to reduce the processing and alignment tolerances required to fabricate high density devices.
High density BEOL processing has evolved from the use of a single layer of metal as both the interlevel via and interconnect to the use of separately definable via stud and line processing. Hazuki et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,563 issued Apr. 15, 1986 is an example of such technology in which a separate via stud is formed to act as the vertical interconnect and a substantially planar interconnect line is used for horizontal interconnects.
Another technique useful in reducing or eliminating alignment tolerances is that of providing self-aligning features in one or more mask levels. Several techniques are known to enable the formation of self-aligned studs and interconnecting lines. The article "Single Mask and Imaging for a Dual Level Self Aligned Definition," IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, December 1987, pp. 195-6 teaches a "studs up" self aligned technique. Chow et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,648 issued Dec. 6, 1988, entitled "Method for Producing Coplanar Multi-Level Metal Insulator Films on a Substrate and for Forming Patterned Conductive Lines Simultaneously with Stud Vias," and assigned to the assignee of the subject invention, the article "Single-Step, Multilevel, Metalization Technique for Conformal Wiring," IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, September 1988, pp. 400-1, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 516,394 (BU9-89-025) by Cronin et al, filed Apr. 30, 1990, entitled "Process for Forming Multi-level Coplanar Conductor/Insulator Films Employing Photosensitive Polyimide Polymer Compositions" teach different techniques for forming self-aligned "studs down" interconnect metallurgy. Cronin et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,058 issue Oct. 9, 1990, entitled "A Multi-Level Integrated Circuit Wiring Structure from a Single Metal Deposit," and assigned to the assignee of the subject invention teaches a technique for forming both stud up and stud down structures. In each of the above references, both the stud and one of the interfacing layers of metallurgy are formed by a process in which a self-alignment between stud and line is achieved.
If circuit densities are to continue to increase, additional techniques are needed to further enhance BEOL technology.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide substantial enhancement in the ability to obtain self-alignment for multiple levels of interconnect metallurgy by providing triple-level self-aligned metallurgy.
It is a further object to provide a process for achieving self-alignment between a first level of interconnect, a second level of interconnect, and their associated studs.

Triple self-aligned metallurgy for semiconductor devices

International Business Machines Corporation


This invention relates generally to devices which are designed to prevent loss of shopping carts from shopping center parking lots or other areas where use thereof is expected. More specifically, it relates to a particular wheel design which locks when removal is attempted and thereby provides a braking action under certain circumstances, namely when removal of the shopping cart from a given area is attempted. This locking of the wheel occurs when the longitudinal axis of the cart to which the wheel is attached, which is normally horizontal, is tilted away from the horizontal in order to negotiate curbs or when traversing a sloped surface such as a driveway and the like.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to devices which are designed to prevent loss of shopping carts from shopping centers and the like. More particularly, it relates to a specific wheel design which has a braking mechanism activated by deviation of the longitudinal axis of the shopping cart from the horizontal.
2. Prior Art
Many devices have been disclosed in the prior art which basically fall into two general classes. First, there are those devices typified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,356,185 by Isaack which involve braking devices which engage the wheels of a shopping cart in some manner which prevents rotation thereby braking the cart. Second there are those devices as typified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,783 to Clark which cause entrapment of the wheels of said cart such that either the hub of the wheels or some other portion of the cart engages the surface of the entraping mechanism. The instant invention falls generally into the first category. As can be noted, however, the device in Isaack is very complex and does not cause braking until the wheel is raised off the ground, hence one could simply exit down a driveway with such a cart and thereby defeat the purpose of the mechanism. Alternatively, very expensive groving of driveways and other areas is required to entrap or otherwise engage wheels of carts which creates a dangerous surface condition and increases the likelihood of a customer or other person tripping or falling because of the surface deviation necessary for the device to operate. The instant invention utilized the existing surface conditions with little, if any, modification to provide the braking action. The instant invention addresses these inherent prior art defects as is described herein and accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a braking apparatus which allows a very simple maintenance free wheel locking construction. It is a further object of this invention to provide a braking apparatus which will engage and disengage automatically.


An easily removable safety guard for application to the barrel of a vertical drilling machine so as to overlie the drill bit comprises a coaxially arranged telescopingly connected, guard body and guard sleeve. The guard body is yieldably and resiliently retained in a mounting ring which is in turn clamped on the barrel of the drilling machine. The guard sleeve, or skirt, depends from the guard body to engage at its underside the workpiece or machine bed plate. The guard body moves progressively downwardly relative to the sleeve during progressive downward motion of the barrel. The sleeve is provided with clear-view panels therein and the guard body includes breaker bars to break off slivers of metal cut from the workpiece. Spring pressed ball catches enable the guard body with its sleeve, to be readily removed from the mounting ring with a downward extraction force.

The invention concerns machinery safety guards, and has more particular, though not exclusive reference to guards for machines which employ a rotating cutter or like tool rotating about a vertical axis, such as milling machines or drilling machines.
Guards are known for use with drilling machines which comprise a part-cylindrical, transparent shield intended, when in a position of use, to be disposed coaxially with the drill bit, the shield extending partially around such bit in the peripheral direction thereof. In order to provide ready access to the chuck for the purpose of drill inspection, drill changing or the like, or to facilitate inspection of the workpiece, the shield is movably mounted on a ring secured to the quill or barrel of the drilling machine, being adjustable between a first, or operative position, wherein the shield and drill bit are arranged in coaxial relationship, and a second, or inoperative position, wherein the shield is pivoted upwardly and away from the drill bit about an horizontal axis transversely of the axis of the drilling head, against the restraint of spring means, the spring means holding the shield in one or other of the two extreme positions when in such position.
Other arrangements are known wherein the shield is pivotal about a generally vertical axis as defined by one or more hinges provided at a lateral edge of the shield and whereby such shield is mounted on a guard body.
Whilst the guards as aforesaid are effective in offering protection to the drilling machine operator when in an operative position, a guard may, inadvertently or otherwise, be left in an inoperative position, being held in such position by spring means, and the machine operated with the shield in such position.


A method and apparatus of tracing VP's (virtual paths) wherein operational information of VP connectors are collected through OAM (operation and maintenance) cells. The VP connectors establish a connection at a VP level within a network in which the cells are transferred in an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode). Each VP connector detects an OAM cell for VP tracing as received from another of the VP connectors, and judges if an area for affixing the operational information in the VP connector itself exists in the detected OAM cell. In the VP connector when the area exists, the detected OAM cell is specified to be the OAM cell for writing the operational information thereinto, and the specified OAM cell is sent out after affixing the operational information thereto. When the area does not exit, the OAM cell received from the other VP connector is sent out after indicating therein that the received OAM cell is not the rearmost cell, the OAM cell for the VP tracing is generated anew, and the generated cell is sent out after indicating therein that the generated OAM cell is the rearmost cell. Also the operational information is affixed to newly generated OAM cell.

The present invention relates to a virtual path tracing method and apparatus wherein the operational information of virtual paths are collected through OAM (operation and maintenance) cells for the purpose of managing an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) network architecture.
A known path tracing method intended to manage a network architecture is a method based on an SDH (synchronous digital hierarchy) which is defined in "CCITT (Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique) Recommendation G. 709". A detailed paper concerning the path tracing of SDH is `Yasuda et al.: "Proposal of Method of Tracing Connection System and Automatically Collecting Network Equipment Data by Utilizing SDH Frame Structure", Technical Bulletin of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers of Japan, IN90-50, pp. 31-36`.
The path tracing method in the SDH will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 8 illustrates the format and arrayal of path trace information in the SDH. In the SDH path tracing, the path trace information are affixed to overhead areas of predetermined time slots and are iteratively transmitted by a path terminator located on a transmitting side. Shown in FIG. 8 is only the arrayal of the path trace information (of J1 [bytes]) in the path terminator. The path trace information denoted by numeral 100 is formed of a series of character data of 64 [bytes], and it bears logical name information 102 in the path terminator. Besides, a delimiter 101 for indicating the break of the character data series is affixed at the tail of this series. Since the end of the path trace information is indicated by the delimiter 101, the path trace information 100 can also be set as character data exceeding 64 [bytes]. In addition, symbols (#k-1), (#k), (#k+1), (#k+2), . . . annexed to the path trace information signify that the same information is iteratively output. The logical name information 102 is indicated in VC-3 (virtual container 3) unit and VC-4 unit. The expressions "VC-3" and "VC-4" indicate the hierarchical levels of digital transmission. By way of example, the level VC-3 corresponds to a transmission rate of 50 [MBPS], and the level VC-4 a transmission rate of 150 [MBPS].
FIG. 9 illustrates the form in which the path tracing in the SDH is realized. Shown in the figure is a construction in which the path trace information is transmitted from the path terminator 110 located on the transmitting side and is received by a path terminator 114 via a VC-3/VC-4 path network 113. In the path terminator 110 on the transmitting side, a path trace information generating circuit 112 is previously furnished with information on a logical name and attributes. The circuit 112 generates the path trace information shown in FIG. 8 on the basis of the given information, and it inserts the generated information into the path overhead of J1 [bytes] via a transmitting-side path terminating circuit 111. A receiving-side path terminating circuit 115 included in the path terminator 114 on a receiving side, separates the path trace information of J1 [bytes], detects the delimiter 101 indicating the break of the character data series and regenerates the character data series of 64 [bytes]. Further, a path trace information checking circuit 116 collates the received and regenerated character data series with the logical name and attributes of the transmitting side given as expected values beforehand. In a case where the paths at the VC-3 and VC-4 levels are correctly connected, the received path trace information agrees with the expected values. On the other hand, in a case where the paths are erroneously connected, the received path trace information disagrees with the expected values.
In the SDH in which the information is transmitted in an STM (synchronous transfer mode), the normalcy of the path connection between a transmitting-side path termination point and a receiving-side path termination point is acknowledged by the method stated above.
Next, a method of tracing paths in an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) will be stated as the second prior-art technique. The ATM has a management unit called a "virtual path (VP)", in correspondence with the virtual container of the SDH. With the ATM, in managing a network in VP unit, operation and maintenance information is transferred using an OAM (operation and maintenance) cell as fundamentally stipulated by CCITT Recommendation I. 610. According to the fundamental principle, it is considered that the trace information of the virtual path will also be transferred on a cell basis by the use of the OAM cell. By the way, in the ensuing explanation, the function of tracing the virtual path shall be shortly called the "VP tracing", while the OAM cell which is used for tracing the virtual path shall be called the "VP tracing cell".
FIG. 10 illustrates the form in which the VP tracing function is realized, and which is naturally derived from the above premises. The form shown in FIG. 10 is the same as stated in `Matsunaga et al.: "Proposal of Virtual Path Tracing System in ATM Network", Lecturing thesis B-482, the Autumn National Meeting of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers of Japan, 1991`. In FIG. 10, four VP connectors 120.about.123 are arranged between the first VP terminator 124 and the second VP terminator 125. These VP terminators 124 and 125 are devices which terminate the virtual paths, and each of which is an ATM exchange, an ATM terminal, or the like. 0n the other hand, the VP connectors 120.about.123 are devices which set the route of the cells in virtual path unit, and each of which is an ATM cross connection device or the like. Identification Nos. (XC-ID) are affixed to the VP terminators 124 and 125 in advance. An operating system (hereinbelow, expressed as "OpS") 126 is connected to the VP connector 120 serving as the start point of the paths and to the VP connector 123 serving as the end point of the paths. The OpS 126 is a control center for operating and maintaining the ATM network. By way of example, the OpS 126 can perform the continuity test of the VP's, acknowledge the route of the VP's and update the database of the network architecture management.
Now, the operation of tracing the virtual paths in the construction shown in FIG. 10 will be explained.
First, a command for performing the VP tracing is sent from the OpS 126 to the VP connector 120. Upon receiving the command, the VP connector 120 generates a VP tracing cell 130. It writes the operational information a of its own into the generated cell, and thereafter sends out the resulting cell as a VP tracing cell 130 to the ATM network. The VP connector 121 discriminates the cell 130 received from the VP connector 120, as the VP tracing cell, and it separates and holds this VP tracing cell 130. Further, it affixes the operational information b of its own to the VP tracing cell 130 and thereafter sends out the resulting cell as a VP tracing cell 131 to the succeeding stage. The VP connector 122 operates similarly to the VP connector 121. The VP connector 123 discriminates a cell 132 received from the VP connector 122, as the VP tracing cell, and it separates and holds this VP tracing cell 132. Further, it affixes the operational information d of its own to originate network operating information 133 and sends the resulting cell back to the OpS 126.
In this way, the operational information at the respective nodes of the ATM network can be read into the operating system 126 which integratively controls the network.
The individual VP connectors for executing the VP tracing shall be classified into three types and have their appellations defined as follows:
1 Tracing start point;
Intended to mean the VP connector which generates the VP tracing cell and then sends it out to the ATM network at the command of the OpS 126. In FIG. 10, the VP connector 120 corresponds to this type.
2 Tracing relaying point;
Intended to mean the VP connector which separates the VP tracing cell from the ATM network, and which writes the operational information of its own into the separated cell and thereafter sends out the resulting cell to the ATM network again. In FIG. 10, the VP connectors 121 and 122 correspond to this type.
3 Tracing end point;
Intended to mean the VP connector which separates the VP tracing cell from the ATM network, and which informs the OpS 126 of the operational information borne in the separated cell. In FIG. 10, the VP connector 123 corresponds to this type.
Of the two prior-art techniques stated above, the first one which is the path tracing method utilizing the path overhead has the drawback that a section for executing the path tracing is so limited as to extend between the termination points of the VC-3 or the VC-4. Therefore, this method is not applicable to the tracing of the virtual paths (the VP tracing) in the ATM network.
On the other hand, the second prior-art technique which is the method employing the VP tracing cells is problematic as stated below. As compared with the conventional STM network, the ATM network is subject to the dynamic change of the network architecture. When this condition is considered, the VP tracing requires, not only the function of acknowledging the continuity between the VP termination points, but also the function of collecting the information on the route of the VP's. In the explanation of the second prior-art technique, this function corresponds to the operations of writing the operational information of the VP connectors into the VP tracing cells and finally informing the operating system of the written operational information. To be noticed here is the fact that the total value of the operational information of the VP connectors, which belong to the route of the VP's to be traced, can exceed the capacity of the payload of each cell. The "payload" of the cell signifies the area of the cell except the header part thereof. Since the length of the cell is fixed to 53 [bytes], the payload area is limited to the capacity of 48 [bytes]. In spite of the limited capacity, the operational information are affixed at the respective VP connectors, so that the total value thereof can become greater than the capacity of the payload of the cell. In carrying out the VP tracing, therefore, the operational information of the VP connectors need to be divided and be distributively borne by a plurality of VP tracing cells. In the aforementioned thesis "Proposal of Virtual Path Tracing System in ATM Network", the necessity of pluralizing the VP tracing cell is referred to, but a concrete processing algorithm is not presented.
The principal problems to be solved in realizing the processing algorithm are as follows:
(1) Method of specifying a VP tracing cell to have operational information written thereinto, among pluralized VP tracing cells. PA1 (2) Decisional condition for pluralizing a VP tracing cell, and method of pluralizing the VP tracing cell. PA1 (3) Method of deciding the end of VP tracing. PA1 (4) Methods of coping with the error and loss of a VP tracing cell.

Virtual path connector and virtual path tracing method and apparatus

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


Apparatus and method for pressing the sleeves of a shirt and the pleated areas of the sleeves adjacent the cuffs during the same pressing operation.

This invention relates generally to apparatus and method for pressing the sleeves of a long sleeve shirt and more particularly, to apparatus and method capable of pressing the sleeves, the pleats and the adjacent areas of the sleeves just above the cuffs during the same pressing operation.
The sleeve of a standard long sleeved shirt is manufactured with a pleat just above the cuff on the outside edge of the shirt while wearing it. This pleat is present due to the fact that the sleeve diameter is larger than the cuff diameter causing the gathering of the material, hence the pleat.
Machines for pressing the sleeves of a shirt are commercially available such as the cabinet style bag sleever Model CSL which has been manufactured and sold by the assignee of this invention, Hoffman-New Yorker, Inc. and which is generally illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,716 B1 which is commonly owned by Hoffman-New Yorker, Inc. As illustrated in that patent, those machines generally include a pair of laterally spaced, vertically extending, sleeve bucks with inflatable air bags attached to the front and rear faces of the bucks. At the upper end of each of the bucks is a pneumatically operated T-clamp for holding the cuffs of the shirt in place during a sleeve pressing operation. To press the sleeves, at an accessible loading station, with the back of the shirt facing an operator, the operator passes the shoulders of the shirt over the cuff clamps and the shirt is fully extended downwardly with the sleeves over the bucks. The cuffs of the shirt are positioned under the open T-clamps and the clamps are then closed to lock the cuffs in place with the pleats of the shirt resting against the rear face of the bucks. Low pressure air is then supplied to the air bags to expand the sleeve cavity and remove wrinkles from the sleeves, and the shirt is then tensioned to define the pleats. The bucks are then moved from the loading station to a pressing station within a pressing cabinet and movable steam heated pressing heads are then applied against the sleeves and the bucks for a predetermined period of time under the control of a timer. Upon completion of the timed cycle, the bucks are returned from the pressing cabinet to the loading station and upon movement out of the cabinet the clamps are automatically opened thereby releasing the cuffs. The sleeves and the shirt are then removed upwardly from the bucks. This is generally the manner in which the apparatus illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,716 is operated.
When the shirt is removed from the press, the pleat is then pressed by a secondary operation separate from the machine and is normally performed on an ironing board with a hand iron.
It certainly is desirable to be able to press the pleats on the sleeve of the shirt during the same sleeve pressing operation, and thereby eliminate the separate manual pleat pressing operation. This would provide a more efficient, reliable and economical machine and would save substantial time and labor associated with the overall pressing operation.
While the CSL machine illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,060 has enjoyed substantial commercial success, applicants have recognized the need to improve the construction and operation of that machine and the invention as described below was developed to satisfy that need.

Shirt sleeve pressing machine with pleat pressing heads


An assembly system for automatic installation of a roof module in a vehicle body comprises an adhesive bonding station, in which a cylindrical dose of adhesive is applied to the inside of the roof module, and an assembly robot, whereby the roof module is then inserted into the body delivered on an assembly line. For accurate positioning and fixing of the roof module in the roof opening of the body, the assembly robot is provided with a floatingly mounted assembly tool. On the assembly tool are provided centering tools by which the assembly tool can be positioned with high accuracy relative to the roof module and the body. In addition, fixing hooks are provided on the assembly tool and permit a controlled firm pressing on the roof module into the roof opening of the body.

The present invention relates to an assembly system for installing a roof module, especially a glass roof, in a roof opening of a vehicle body delivered on an assembly line.
The use of adhesive bonding techniques for fixing vehicle roofs in vehicle bodies is known from German documents DE 40 24 837 A1, DE 44 28 913 A1 and DE 195 02 019 C1. Such adhesive connections guarantee a high degree of crash-proofing, make it possible to compensate for tolerances and ensure that the external region of the body is sealed off from the passenger compartment in a watertight manner. German document DE 40 24 837 A1 also discloses a method for adhesively bonding a sliding roof module to a vehicle body. In this method, a cylindrical dose of adhesive is mechanically and automatically applied to the roof opening of the body. The sliding roof module is then lowered onto the body; the intention is that the cylindrical dose of adhesive will be compressed by the weight of the sliding roof module and a process-proof adhesive bonding of the roof module to the body will be achieved.
However, the method described in German document DE 40 24 837 A1 is time-consuming, as the body must be stationary during the application of the adhesive and the subsequent installation of the roof module until the adhesive has set. Moreover, any error occurring during application of the cylindrical dose of adhesive to the (previously finished) body involves high secondary costs: the body concerned has to be transferred out from the assembly line and carefully cleaned.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly system for the installation of roof modules in vehicle bodies that avoids the abovementioned problems.
This object is achieved, according to the invention, by the claimed assembly system for installing a roof module in a roof opening of a vehicle body delivered on an assembly line. The assembly system includes an adhesive bonding station comprising a bonding robot for applying a cylindrical dose of adhesive to an inside of the roof module, an insertion station comprising an assembly robot for inserting the roof module provided with adhesive into the body, a first handling device for supplying the roof module to the adhesive bonding station and positioning it therein, a second handling device for removing the roof module from the adhesive bonding station and supplying it to the insertion station, and a control system for controlling the bonding robot, the assembly robot, and the handling devices. A roof module installation process is also claimed.
According to certain features of the invention, the cylindrical dose of adhesive is applied not to the vehicle body but to the roof module, which is subsequently positioned with high accuracy relative to the roof opening of the vehicle body and fixed therein. The associated assembly system comprises a bonding robot which applies a cylindrical dose of adhesive to the inside of the roof module. The roof module, provided with the adhesive, is passed by means of a handling device to an assembly robot, which inserts it with accurate positioning into the roof opening of a body delivered on an assembly line. A control system is provided to control and monitor the assembly operation.
Advantageous synchronization of the method steps of delivering the body on the assembly line on the one hand and applying the adhesive to the roof module on the other hand allows a substantial saving of time to result from the assembly system according to the invention as compared with conventional assembly methods. In contrast to the conventional methods, where the assembly system according to the invention is used, the body needs to be stationary only during the insertion of the roof module. The application of the cylindrical dose of adhesive to the roof module and the delivery of the roof module, provided with the adhesive, onto the assembly line can then take place before the point at which the body is transferred by the assembly line to the installation station.
Furthermore, where the assembly system according to the invention is used, errors in the application of the adhesive, such as smearing, premature setting of the adhesive, etc., are associated with much lower costs than in the case of conventional methods: in the event of defective application of the adhesive, the roof module in question is transferred out and at the same time a new roof module is provided with adhesive and inserted into the body. This is much less costly than the outward transfer of a contaminated body from the assembly line, cleaning and return to the assembly line that are necessary in the case of the conventional methods. The transferred roof module is cleaned and delivered again, without the assembly cycle or the assembly sequence of vehicle bodies being affected thereby.
The assembly system according to the invention permits fully automated assembly of the roof module even under the very cramped conditions in the immediate vicinity of an assembly line. The roof modules are advantageously delivered to the assembly system in load carriers that contain a plurality of roof modules. In a first step, they are separated and laid in templates with the inside upwards, so that they are already in an advantageous attitude for the application of the cylindrical dose of adhesive. To fix the roof modules in this attitude, the templates are expediently provided with automatic tensioning elements (e.g. suction cups which grip onto the outside of the roof module).
In order to deliver the roof modules laid in the templates to the adhesive bonding station, the assembly system comprises a first handling device. In order to avoid soiling of the joint regions of the roof modules during transfer and handling, the joint regions are in many cases covered with protective adhesive tapes directly after production of the roof module. Before the roof modules are delivered to the adhesive bonding station, these protective adhesive tapes have to be removed in order to expose the joint regions on the roof modules. For this purposes, a fully automated stripping device can be used. In that event, the protective adhesive tapes are expediently provided with projecting gripping loops; the stripping device grips these loops and strips off the protective adhesive tapes. Alternatively, the protective adhesive tapes can be stripped off manually. In that event, for ergonomic reasons, the roof module should be tilted in order to permit easy access to the protective adhesive tapes in all marginal areas of the roof module. Therefore, in this case, a pivoting device is provided by means of which the roof module fixed on the template is pivoted through approximately 80° about its longitudinal axis; after removal of the protective adhesive tapes by an operative, the roof module is pivoted back again into its initial position.
Immediately after the removal of the protective adhesive tapes, the roof module fixed on the template—with the inside upwards—is delivered to the adhesive bonding station where cylindrical doses of adhesive are applied to the joint regions. The adhesive is applied by means of a bonding robot, which travels along a pre-programmed bonding path with the aid of a CNC control system and in so doing deposits a cylindrical dose of adhesive on the joint regions by means of an adhesive nozzle. In order to ensure process-proof application of the cylindrical dose of adhesive, the adhesive nozzle is pressed by means of a spring against the roof module. The state of tension of the spring is continuously monitored, so that a defective contact between the adhesive nozzle and the roof is detected immediately and suitable counter-measures can be taken.
After application of the cylindrical dose of adhesive, the roof module is removed from the template by means of a further handling device and delivered to the assembly robot. For this purpose, the roof module is first advantageously tilted through 180° about its longitudinal axis in order to bring it in the installation position. In this attitude, the roof module is gripped by the assembly robot, by means of which the roof module is inserted into the roof opening of the body.
The insertion of the roof module into the body has to take place with extreme precision in order to ensure a high-quality visual impression made by the finished vehicle. In particular, the roof module must be oriented with high precision in the transverse direction of the body coordinate system relative to the roof opening in order to produce uniform gaps on both sides between the edges of the roof module and the roof struts of the body, into which clip-on trim strips are introduced in a subsequent assembly step. In order to guarantee such precise positioning of the roof module in the body, it is advantageous to install the roof module by means of an assembly tool which is mounted floatingly relative to the assembly robot. The tracking movement of the assembly robot corresponds to a permanently programmed CNC path; the floating mounting then permits compensation for tolerance-induced inaccuracies in the geometric dimensions and/or position of the roof module and/or of the body delivered on the assembly line, so that precise orientation of the roof module relative to the body can be achieved.
A precondition for this is that the roof module can be received in the assembly tool in a manner such that a high-precision orientation of the roof module relative to the assembly tool is ensured. For this purpose, the assembly tool is provided with (first) centering tools, whereby centering of the roof module relative to the assembly tool is achieved. Furthermore, the assembly tool is provided with additional (second) centering tools, by means of which accurate positioning of the assembly tool relative to the roof opening of the vehicle body is achieved. Thus, the roof module is gripped in a defined position relative to the assembly tool of the assembly robot, transferred to the body and inserted there in a defined position relative to the roof opening.
Once the roof module has been inserted into the roof opening of the body, the cylindrical dose of adhesive is compressed under the dead weight of the roof module. Experience suggests that it is extremely difficult here to dimension the quantity of adhesive applied or the distance between the regions of the roof module and of the roof opening to be bonded in such a way that the roof module sinks under its dead weight into the vehicle body in a process-proof manner and by exactly the right distance. In order to achieve a high-precision vertical orientation of the roof module relative to the roof opening, it is therefore advantageous to increase the size of the quantity of adhesive to be applied (or reduce the size of the distance between roof module and roof opening in the connection region) and to press the roof module with additional force while it is being inserted into the roof opening. For this purpose, the assembly tool is provided with fixing hooks which—after the roof module has been inserted into the vehicle body—engage into the window openings of the body and pull down the assembly tool to a level relative to the body roof that has been previously defined with high precision. In this manner, a reproducible vertical orientation of the roof module relative to the surrounding body roof can be achieved. The exertion of force by means of the fixing hooks is typically maintained for a few seconds until initial setting of the adhesive takes place and the roof module is fixed in that position.
In order to carry out a rapid quality control on the bodies—especially at the start of line production or in the event of equipment or design modifications—in relation to the size of the gaps between roof opening and roof module, it is advisable to provide the assembly system with a sensor system for detecting relevant measured parameters of the body and the roof module. Particularly advantageous is the use of optical sensors—for example, light-section sensors—by means of which a rapid contact-free detection and analysis of the gap sizes can be carried out before insertion of the roof module has ended; in the event of defective insertion, the position of the roof module can be adjusted immediately—i.e. before the adhesive has set—with the aid of the assembly tool.
The assembly system is particularly suitable for use on assembly lines on which different versions of motor vehicles are assembled, only selected motor vehicles needing to be provided with a roof module to be installed in the course of assembly whereas other vehicles have already been provided with a (welded-in) solid roof at the carcass stage. In order to ensure a smooth assembly of the different versions, it is advantageous to feed early information to the control system of the roof module assembly system on the points within the assembly sequence where vehicle bodies are present which have to be fitted with a roof module. This permits prompt commencement of the application of adhesive to the roof module to be inserted at the same time as the body in question is being delivered to the assembly line, so that the body reaches the assembly station at the same time as the adhesive-coated roof module. As a result, the time requirement associated with the bonding-in of the roof module is minimized. Furthermore, the adhesive is here prevented from being applied to the roof modules too early (or at the wrong time), which can result in setting of the adhesive before the roof module has been inserted into the body and hence increased reject rates or remedial work.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the bodies are provided on the assembly line with electronically or optically readable mobile data storage media which contain information on the equipment of the particular vehicle body. The data from these mobile data storage media are read out with the aid of a sensor located at a suitable distance from the roof module assembly station at the edge of the assembly line and transmitted to the control system of the assembly system which analyses them to determine whether or not the installation of a glass roof is necessary. If a data set reaching the control system contains the requirement that a roof module is to be inserted, the control computer triggers the application of adhesive and the delivery of the roof module so that the roof module reaches the assembly station (as nearly as possible) simultaneously with the body.

Assembly system and method for installing a roof module into a vehicle body


A modeling system 10 comprises a central processing unit 12 coupled to an arithmetic logic unit 16. A device testing system 18 is used to empirically analyze the operational characteristics of a transistor to be modeled by the system 10. A set of parameter values are stored in a memory circuit 14 coupled to central processing unit 12. An input and display system 20 is used to interact with the central processing unit 12. The central processing unit 12 uses the arithmetic logic unit 16 to calculate an objective function which is essentially a measure of the error between the measured values of operating variables of the device to be modeled and theoretical values of the operating variables calculated using initial guesses of modeling parameters. The objective function is minimized by calculating the gradient of the objection function to obtain a next guess point with its associated parameter values. If one of the parameter values for the next guess point violates a constraint on that parameter value, the gradient of the objective function is recalculated ignoring the particular parameter. The multiple iterations associated with the "hem-stitching" operations common with prior art systems are thus avoided.

Computerized modeling of electronic devices allows for inexpensive and efficient computerized design of electric circuits and systems. A discrete electronic device such as a bipolar transistor requires a large number of parameters to accurately model its operational characteristics. For example, a typical bipolar transistor using the SPICE modeling system requires on the order of thirty parameters to sufficiently specify its operational characteristics.
Once the parameters of an electronic device have been calculated so that the electronic device can be modeled, computer aided design systems can efficiently design circuits using the electronic device and use the calculated parameters to accurately predict the operational characteristics of the circuit comprising the device. In order to calculate the thirty or so parameters used to model an electronic device such as a bipolar transistor, the device is tested at various points in its operating spectrum to construct a data set of measured data values. A first guess is then made at the values for the modeling parameters of the device. An objective function is then calculated which represents a summation of the error between the measured and calculated parameters for all of the parameters necessary for modeling the device. Using an iterative process, the parameters are changed to minimize the value of the objective function. When the objective function is minimized, the values for the modeling parameters represent the closest approximation of the modeled parameters to the actual measured parameters.
For a variety of reasons, the modeling parameters are given minimum or maximum limiting values. These limiting values aid in the efficient minimization of the objection function as well as embodying certain physical constraints of the devices and their corresponding parameters. In some systems, the minimization of the objective function is slowed considerably when the minimization process crosses one of these arbitrary boundaries. Accordingly, the need has arisen for an optimization system which can react to the presence of an arbitrary maximum or minimum value of a modeling parameter and efficiently proceed with the minimization of the objective function to quickly and efficiently arrive at the correct set of modeling parameters for a given device.

Method and system for optimizing a transistor model


The invention relates to extruded ceramic tiles for exterior walls which can be used for constructional purposes or for decorative purposes. The tiles have holes extending in the direction of the extrusion of the tile and possesses a relatively low weight. The instant tiles can be adapted to size in a stepless manner without any cut intersecting even one of the holes or one of the grooves and have satisfactory draining of water. They are simple and economic to produce. The marginal webs of the instant tiles are arranged between the marginal surfaces of the tile extending in parallelism to the holes and the marginal holes possess a width at least twice that of the internal webs of the tiles.

The Austrian patent publications 344,963 and 350,237 disclose extruded ceramic exterior wall tiles for mounting with their long sides axis upright and having vertical, rectangular rounded holes, and which have U-shaped recesses at the marginal surfaces, which to the front and to the rear are delimited by the front and rear projecting tile part and in the middle or internal part are delimited by a web connecting said parts together. The head and foot marginal surfaces, which are interrupted by the holes, are essentially constituted by a simple straight cut which is perpendicular to the surface of the tile.
The disadvantages of such exterior tiles are to be more particularly seen in the fact that lateral cutting to size, frequently necessary during mounting the tiles, is not possible in a manner which is satisfactory both technically and aesthetically. Thus if an exterior wall tile is cut down to size at the side, that is to say parallel to the holes, the cut will as a rule not extend through one of a few narrow webs, but rather through one of the holes. Frequently the remaining front and rear tile parts will extend far past the two webs connecting the two parts so that the resistance of the exterior wall tile to fracture is substantially reduced. If such exterior tiles are installed with vertical spacing gaps, the small thickness of the material will be full disclosed, something undesired from the architectonic point of view. This will also be the case if--as with a tile not cut to size--the front and rear tile parts only project laterally to a slight extent and the resistance to fracture for such parts is insufficient, Further drawbacks of such exterior tiles are that the laterally projecting tile parts connecting webs and the lateral connecting webs cause a considerable braking effect on the ceramic material during extrusion and accordingly an insufficient compaction of the material. This in turn leads to an increased proneness to dry cracking, increased rates of dry breakage end a reduced resistance to fracture of the fired exterior tiles. These disadvantages are furthermore also accelerated because the marginal drying of the tiles is still further increased by the increased surface area here so that the speed of drying of the tile body is even more advanced than in a normal case.
A further drawback of such extruded exterior tiles is to be seen in the fact that owing to their straight cuts at the head and foot no satisfactory conduction or draining of water is ensured. This is more particularly significant if the exterior tiles are installed with horizontal spacing gaps, through which water on the wall and beating rain may penetrate and which also permit unobstructed viewing through as far as the supporting structure behind the tiles.
The German patent publication 3,110,606 C discloses extruded exterior tiles with round or oval holes and simple or undercut grooves, which are respectively arranged in the direction of extrusion. Exterior tiles are, to the extent that they are to be attached with their long sides horizontal, provided with an extruded hole and foot interlocking ledges for the purpose of draining away water and improving the appearance of the joins.
The tiles mounted with their long sides vertical are cut straight at the sides, that is to say perpendicularly to the holes, so that in this case a stapless horizontal adaptation to size is readily possible by cutting the exterior tiles. Should exterior tiles be installed with their long sides vertical, then they will be cut straight at the top and bottom so that poor water draining and a gaping space between the tiles will have to be tolerated. On the other hand however vertical adaptation to size is simple, because it is possible by straight cutting of the tiles. The substantial drawbacks of such exterior tiles are that stepless adaptation of the exterior tiles perpendicularly to the direction of extrusion is not possible, since then cuts as a rule extend either parallel through the holes or parallel through the grooves so that the resistance to fracture of the tiles is substantially reduced. The wall thickness, which is reduced at the positions of cutting through the holes or grooves will then be betrayed to the eye owing to open spaces between tiles. A further disadvantage of such exterior tiles is that the proportion of holes and grooves is very low with the result that their weight is relatively high. The consequence of this is that such tiles take a long time to dry during manufacture, are prone to become bent while soft and there is a high fracture rate during drying and firing. Furthermore, the supporting bracket structure necessary for installation of the tiles has to support a greater load.
Further extruded exterior tiles are disclosed in the German patent publication 3,401,271 C. They are arranged with their long sides vertical and are provided with square holes. The front and rear tile parts are connected by narrow webs extending between the holes and at the tile edge. These exterior tiles may be attached with the long sides vertical, but then with the disadvantage that owing to the straight cut transversely in relation to the holes there is poor drainage and there are gaping spaces left between the tiles. A particular drawback is however furthermore to be seen in the impossibility of stepless size adaptation transversely to the holes, since the cuts parallel to the holes which are necessary generally intersect the holes. In the case of attachment of the tiles with the long sides horizontal there is an increased chance of fracture of the downwardly over-lapping front tile part. The thinner tile portion becoming visible in the space or gap is accepted by the eye as a draining or drip sill in the case of tiles with the long sides vertical but not if they are horizontal.
A further drawback of such exterior wall tiles is to be seen in the complex configuration at the top and bottom edges due to the head and foot ledges, which as described above owing to an increased surface area and low wall thickness leads to a poor flow of the plastic ceramic material during extrusion, to excessively rapid drying at the edges and consequently to increased breakage rates and to greater lability to fracture.
One object of the invention is accordingly to provide an extruded, more particularly ceramic, exterior wall tile, which has a relatively low weight, renders possible a good stepless adaptation to size in a direction across the direction of the holes without even a single cut through one of the holes or grooves being necessary, and which furthermore ensures satisfactory drainage and is also simple and economic to produce.


A device for generating opinion pairs having sentiment orientation based impact relations, having: a reception unit which receives a plurality of object-oriented opinions; an extraction unit which extracts opinions having impact relations among the plurality of object-oriented opinions; an analysis unit which analyzes sentiment orientations of the extracted respective opinions; and a generation unit which establishes correlations between the opinions having sentiment orientation based impact relations to generate the opinion pairs having the sentiment orientation based impact relations. The present device can search and locate more implicit opinions as supplementary opinions by detecting impact relations from a plurality of opinions, and help users interested in different objects obtain more comprehensive comments and summaries.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a method and device for generating or retrieving opinion pairs having sentiment orientation based impact relations.
2. Related Art
With the universal use of web and the rapid expansion of e-commerce, more and more people express their opinions and reviews on the internet. Reviews and opinions are helpful for potential customers, product manufacturers and online merchants. Customers and manufacturers want to know the specific opinions on some given objects. Through summarizing these opinions, users can easily discover which objects are mostly concerned by customers and the overall sentiment orientation on each object. In general, people can concern different aspects of a product and focus on certain aspects to express views. For example, a customer who bought a laptop gives his comments on both aspects of display card and screen of the laptop. Another customer expresses his comments on the aspect of standby time for a battery. Summarizing all customers' comments is helpful to comprehensively reflect all aspects of the product. However, a customer who wants to know the performance of playing an E-game on the laptop can not find any directly helpful opinions from these two customers' reviews.

Device and method for generating opinion pairs having sentiment orientation based impact relations


A programmable logic controller includes: a parameter storage ROM to store transmission destination mail address data set as a parameter; a communication processing unit to acquire the transmission destination mail address data from an external apparatus; an internal device being a storing unit for storing the transmission destination mail address data acquired by the communication processing unit; an internal memory to store the transmission destination mail address data in the internal device when the transmission destination mail address data in the internal device is added data; a Flash ROM to store backup data of the transmission destination mail address data stored in the internal memory, and an arithmetic processing unit to perform processing for backing up, in the Flash ROM, the transmission destination mail address data acquired from the external apparatus and performs, in reoperation, processing for writing, in the internal memory.

As a programmable logic controller (hereinafter referred to as PLC) that controls a controlled apparatus such as an industrial machine used in a factory or the like, there has been a programmable logic controller equipped with a function of transmitting an electronic mail to a designated transmission destination. Patent Literature 1 described below discloses a technology for defining, in a PLC, an event serving as a trigger and, when the event occurs, transmitting, by an electronic mail, data or a message indicating contents of the event.
The PLC equipped with the function of transmitting an electronic mail is triggered by a change in a value of a memory present inside the PLC called an internal device that temporarily stores data concerning execution of a command exclusive for the PLC or data concerning the controlled apparatus or a state change such as operation or stop of the PLC and transmits, by an electronic mail, data or a message indicating contents of the change. At this point, by setting a transmission destination mail address as a parameter, it is possible to designate the transmission destination mail address to the PLC. As an alternative method of designating the transmission destination mail address to the PLC, there is a method of designating a transmission destination mail address from an external apparatus and writing data of the transmission destination mail address in the internal device.

Programmable logic controller configured to back up transmission destination mail address data and restore the transmission destination mail address data during reoperation


Apparatus and system including a hanger device which is releasably clampable to a rod. The hanger device includes a pair of blocks each having a plurality of differently configured bore sections therein adapted for cooperating with a plurality of differently configured bore sections of the other block such that predetermined ones of the cooperating bore sections may be aligned to clamp the rod therebetween, whereby the blocks may be clamped to rods of a plurality of different configurations. One of the blocks is provided with a member for suspending a hoist. The apparatus further preferably comprises structure for connecting the hanger device to a come-along device whereby the functions of the hoist and come-along device may be effectively interrelated to lift and substantially horizontally translate material in an efficient and coordinated process.

A variety of devices are known which are adapted to releasably clamp elongated members, such as, for example, ropes, cables, pipes, tubes, rods, and the like. The applications for such devices are wide ranging including, among others, clamps for use in securing worker safety harnesses to scaffold ropes, tube clamps and clamps for joining oil well pump walking beams to pumping rods. Examples of such clamp devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,679,028, 2,296,182, 2,333,646 and 4,597,140.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,830 describes a clamp device in the form of a hanger for use with hoisting equipment. The hanger is comprised of two blocks connected by a hinge with a threaded bore centered on the parting line of the blocks. The hanger is assembled on a threaded suspension rod and serves as an anchor site for a hoist adapted to lift a pipe into a position whereat the pipe can be secured in a saddle connected to the threaded rod. The clamp device is capable of fitting only a single rod size or diameter and has no provision enabling the hoist to be simultaneously used in cooperation with a "come-along" or material translation device whereby the functions of the hoist and come-along device may be effectively interrelated to lift and substantially horizontally translate the suspended material in an efficient and coordinated process.
A need exists, therefore, for a clamp device in the form of a hanger for use with hoisting equipment wherein the clamp device is capable of fitting a plurality of rod sizes and which may include provision enabling the hoist to be simultaneously used in cooperation with a come-along device whereby the functions of the hoist and come-along device may be effectively interrelated to lift and substantially horizontally translate the suspended material in an efficient and coordinated process.

Material handling system including a hanger and a come-along attachment device


A roll stand for a rolling mill, comprising: a support structure adapted to be fixed at a selected location along a mill center line. First and second work rolls are configured and arranged to roll products directed therebetween. The first work roll has roll necks journalled for rotation in bearings contained in first chocks, and the second work roll likewise has roll necks journalled for rotation in bearings contained in second chocks, with the first and second chocks of the work rolls being arranged in pairs located on opposite sides of the mill center line. The first and second chocks of each pair are connected to the support structure for pivotal movement respectively about parallel first and second connecting axes which extend in parallel relationship with respect to the axes of the rolls and orthogonally with respect to the mill center line. An adjustment mechanism is provided for simultaneously pivoting the first and second chocks of each pair in opposite directions about their respective connecting axes in order to symmetrically adjust the parting between the work rolls.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to rolling mills, and is concerned in particular with an improvement in the design of so-called "housingless" roll stands.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the conventional housingless roll stand, the roll necks of the two work rolls are journalled in bearings contained in pairs of clocks located on opposite sides of the mill center line. The chocks of each pair are interconnected by two screw posts. The four screw posts (two on each side of the mill center line) absorb the roll separating forces during rolling.
The screw posts have opposite hand threaded portions engageable with nuts carried by the chocks. Symmetrical roll parting adjustments are effected by simultaneously rotating all four screw posts.
There are several drawbacks associated with this type of arrangement. For example, insertion and removal of the work rolls and their respective chocks entails painstaking and precise alignment of coacting components, requiring the use of expensive specially designed robotic equipment.
Moreover, the multiple pairs of screw posts and the gear drives required to effect their simultaneous rotation adds significantly to the initial price of each roll stand.
Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a housingless roll stand which has a simplified compact design, in which only two screw posts are required to effect symmetrical roll parting adjustments.
A companion objective of the present invention is to simplify the task of removing and inserting the work rolls, chocks and associated adjustment mechanisms, thus making it unnecessary to resort to the use of specially designed and expensive robotic equipment.


Piperidinyl-substituted cyclohexanes of Formula I have anti-ischemic properties: ##STR1## wherein R=R.sub.1 and is independently H or halogen; or R and R.sub.1 may be taken together to form an --O(CH.sub.2).sub.m O-- (m=1 or 2);. X=a phenyl residue; PA1 R.sub.2 =R.sub.3 and is independently H or C.sub.1-4 alkyl; and PA1 R.sub.4 =phenyl or substituted phenyl wherein the phenyl group is mono-, or di-substituted with groups selected from: F, Cl, I and C.sub.1-4 alkoxy.

This invention generally pertains to piperazinyl- and piperidinyl-cyclohexanes having anti-ischemic, antipsychotic and other bio-affecting properties and to their preparation and use. In some preferred embodiments, the invention is concerned with 1,4-disubstituted piperazine or piperidine derivatives wherein the 4-substituent is benzyl or substituted benzyl, and the 1-substituent is a 4-arylcyclohexan-1-yl moiety. These compounds, and others structurally related thereto, possess a unique profile that makes them useful in the treatment of ischemia-induced illnesses and psychosis.
Caprathe et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,445, disclosed a series of piperazinyl-cyclohexene compounds characterized by structural formula A: ##STR2## wherein R' is an aryl or heterocyclic ring, a is 0-2 and b is 0-4.
As can be seen, these earlier compounds are chemically distinguishable from the instant compounds on the basis of their chemical structures because they are aryl- or heteroaryl-piperazines, whereas the instant compounds are benzyl- or heteroarylmethyl-piperazines (when, in Formula I below, Y=N) or -piperidines (when, in Formula I below, Y=CH).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,502 to Smith et al discloses compounds of the following formula: ##STR3## wherein A may be a C.sub.5-7 cycloalkyl ring. The compounds are taught to be antidepressants. There is no suggestion in the patent that these compounds are useful in the treatment of stroke or other ischemia-based conditions.
Caprathe et al disclosed a series of piperazinyl-cyclohexanol compounds characterized by structural formula B in U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,921. Formula B is: ##STR4## wherein n is 0 to 4 and Ar and Ar' are aryl or heterocyclic rings. These compounds are structurally distinguishable from the instant compounds. The reference compounds are aryl-piperazines, while the instant compounds are benzyl- or heteroarylmethyl-piperazines.

Antischemic piperazinyl- and piperidinyl-cyclohexanes