An image forming apparatus includes a heat roller comprising a heater and configured to generate heat to fix a toner image on a print medium, a system controller configured to transmit, when printing is performed on a print medium, a control signal that indicates when power is to be supplied to the heater, and a heater control circuit configured to control amount of power supplied to the heater according to the control signal, a target temperature of the heater, and a current temperature of the heater. When printing is to be continuously performed on a plurality of print media, the system controller transmits the control signal to the heater control circuit a first predetermined time before start of printing.

An image forming apparatus performs an image forming process of receiving a toner from a toner cartridge and forming a toner image on a photosensitive drum. The image forming apparatus transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum to a print medium. The image forming apparatus fixes the toner image to the print medium by applying heat and pressure to the print medium by a fixing device including a heat roller and a press roller. As such, an image is formed on the print medium. In order to reduce unevenness of the image printed on the print medium, the surface temperature of the heat roller needs to be kept constant.
The image forming apparatus causes the heater to heat the heat roller to a predetermined temperature. However, there is a time lag until heat is transferred from the heater to the surface of the heat roller. For example, the image forming apparatus may perform intermittent paper feeding (for example, initially feeding 10 sheets of paper, and after a predetermined interval, feeding 10 more sheets of paper). In such a case, even if the heater is turned off after the completion of the first paper feeding, no paper is fed during the interval, and thus, the temperature of the heat roller rises due to residual heat of the heater. After the interval, the image forming apparatus turns on the heater and paper is fed, again. However, when heat is transferred from the heat roller to the print medium while the heat from the heater is not sufficient (e.g., immediately after the start-up of the heater), the temperature of the surface of the heat roller decreases and temperature fluctuation of the surface of the heat roller surface becomes large. As such, since the temperature of the surface of the heat roller cannot be instantaneously controlled, it is difficult to keep the temperature of the surface of the heat roller constant.

Image forming apparatus configured to set different target heater temperatures during printing


A system, method and means is provided for withstanding mechanical shock for use with fluid dynamic bearings. A sealing system is provided that withstands 1000 G shock events. In an aspect, a grooved pumping seal employed between a thrust plate and a shield, a thrust plate having spiral grooves, a fluid recirculation passageway, and a reservoir creates an asymmetric pressure gradient. In an aspect, fluid is retained and air is purged utilizing an enlarged fluid reservoir, axial channels and an angled fill hole. In an aspect, a shaft is attached to a top cover supplying radial stiffness, and an enlarged single-sided thrust plate improves dynamic parallelism.

Disc drive memory systems are widely used throughout the world today. These systems are used by computers and devices including digital cameras, digital video recorders, laser printers, photo copiers and personal music players. Disc drive memory systems store digital information that is recorded on concentric tracks of a magnetic disc medium. Several discs are rotatably mounted on a spindle, and the information, which can be stored in the form of magnetic transitions within the discs, is accessed using read/write heads or transducers. The read/write heads are located on a pivoting arm that moves radially over the surface of the disc. The discs are rotated at high speeds during operation using an electric motor located inside a hub or below the discs. Magnets on the hub interact with a stator to cause rotation of the hub relative to the shaft. One type of motor is known as an in-hub or in-spindle motor, which typically has a spindle mounted by means of a bearing system to a motor shaft disposed in the center of the hub. The bearings permit rotational movement between the shaft and the hub, while maintaining alignment of the spindle to the shaft. The read/write heads must be accurately aligned with the storage tracks on the disc to ensure the proper reading and writing of information.
Spindle motors have in the past used conventional ball bearings between the hub and the shaft. However, the demand for increased storage capacity and smaller disc drives has led to the read/write head being placed increasingly close to the disc surface. The close proximity requires that the disc rotate substantially in a single plane. A slight wobble or run-out in disc rotation can cause the disc to strike the read/write head, possibly damaging the disc drive and resulting in loss of data. Further, resistance to mechanical shock and vibration is poor in the case of ball bearings, because of low damping. Because this rotational accuracy cannot be achieved using ball bearings, disc drives currently utilize a spindle motor having fluid dynamic bearings on the shaft and a thrust plate to support a hub and the disc for rotation. One alternative bearing design is a hydrodynamic bearing.
In a hydrodynamic bearing, a lubricating fluid such as gas or liquid or air provides a bearing surface between a fixed member and a rotating member of the disc drive. Dynamic pressure-generating grooves formed on a surface of the fixed member or the rotating member generate a localized area of high pressure and provide a transport mechanism for fluid or air to more evenly distribute fluid pressure within the bearing and between the rotating surfaces, enabling the spindle to rotate with more accuracy. However, hydrodynamic bearings suffer from disadvantages, including a low stiffness-to-power ratio and increased sensitivity of the bearing to external loads or mechanical shock events.
To increase stiffness, spindle motors have been attached to both the base and the top cover of the disc drive housing. However, in order to use top cover attachment, the motor is open on both ends, which increases the risk of oil leakage. This leakage among other things is caused by differences in net flow rate created by differing pumping grooves in the bearing. If the flow rates within the bearing are not carefully balanced, a net pressure rise toward one or both ends may force fluid out through a seal. Balancing the flow rates is difficult because the flow rates created by the pumping grooves are a function of the gaps defined in the hydrodynamic bearing, and the gaps, in turn, are a function of parts tolerances. Proper sealing is also critical. Bearing fluids give off vaporous components that could diffuse into a disc chamber. This vapor can transport particles such as material abraded from bearings or other components. These particles can deposit on the read/write heads and the surfaces of the discs, causing damage to the discs and the read/write heads as they pass over the discs.
Efforts have been made to address these problems. One design is a top-cover-attach conical bearing having two independent flow paths. This design uses asymmetric sealing and includes a centrifugal seal and a grooved pumping seal. Another existing design, the exclusion seal (x-seal), is used to seal interfacial spaces between the hub and shaft (shown in FIG. 4). The x-seal includes an asymmetric sealing design with a single thrust plate, wherein one end is pumped inward with thrust spiral grooves and the other end with a groove pumping seal. At the thrust bearing end, a centrifugal seal maintains oil level change in the capillary reservoir during static to dynamic stage, and non-operating shock. Tests have shown, however, that the centrifugal seal fails at about 500 G shock, and oil leaks through fill holes at about 500 G shock.
Mobile applications require higher non-operating shock than desktop or enterprise products. Laptop computers can be subjected to large magnitudes of mechanical shock as a result of handling. It has become essential in the industry to require disc drives to be able to withstand substantial mechanical shock. A sufficient sealing system that can withstand 1000 Gs shock is needed for mobile applications. Further, a need exists to increase shaft stiffness and dynamic parallelism (alignment of the disc surfaces to the plane of the actuator arm motion) while simultaneously lowering bearing power.

Method and system for withstanding shock in a spindle motor bearing


A panel driver integrated circuit (IC) and a cooling method of the panel driver IC are provided. The panel driver IC includes a data encoder, a level shifter, a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), a rearrangement circuit and an output buffer. The data encoder receives and selectively changes an original data for outputting to the level shifter. An input terminal and an output terminal of the level shifter are coupled to an output terminal of the data encoder and a data input terminal of the DAC, respectively. The output terminals of the rearrangement circuit are respectively coupled to the reference voltage input terminals of the DAC for providing different reference voltages. The rearrangement circuit correspondingly rearranges the order of the reference voltages according to the operation of the data encoder. An input terminal of the output buffer is coupled to an output terminal of the DAC.

Technical Field
The invention relates generally to an integrated circuit (IC), and more particularly to a panel driver IC and a cooling method thereof.
Description of Related Art
In a conventional panel driver integrated circuit, the level shifter and the output buffer are the main cause for the internal temperature to rise. As more output bits of the level shifter change states, the level shifter generate more heat, and accordingly the temperature of the converter increases. For example, the heat generated when the digital data outputted by the level shifter changes from 00000000 to 11111111 (i.e. 255) is bound to be far greater than the heat generated when 00000000 changes to 00000001.
As for the output buffer, when the output voltage swing is too wide, the output buffer generates excess heat and causes the buffer temperature to be too high. For example, the heat generated when the analog voltage of the output buffer changes from the lowest grayscale voltage (e.g. V(0)) to the highest grayscale voltage (e.g. V(255)) is bound to be far greater than the heat generated when the grayscale voltage V(0) changes to the grayscale voltage V(1).
Accordingly, when the pixel data transitions from 00000000 to 11111111, both the level shifter and the output buffer generate high temperate simultaneously and cause the chip temperature to rise drastically. The chip temperature increase alters the circuit characteristics and lowers the reliability.

Panel driver IC and cooling method thereof


A semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor chips disposed in a vertical form through a spacer, in which a shield layer having a thickness such that an electromagnetic field radiation generated from a generation source of the semiconductor chip can sufficiently be absorbed is disposed between the semiconductor chips.

In the case of a semiconductor device in which a plurality of semiconductor chips is mounted in one package, a configuration in which the plurality of semiconductor chips is disposed in the state of being aligned horizontally is adopted. In such a conventional semiconductor device, there is a problem that an area of the semiconductor device is large. In addition, in a semiconductor device in which a plurality of semiconductor chips is disposed in the state of being stacked in the vertical direction, there is a problem that deterioration of the characteristics of the semiconductor chips is generated under an influence of electromagnetic field interference between the semiconductor chips attendant on the close disposition of the upper and lower semiconductor chips.
For example, in the case of a tuner device used for reception of television broadcasting (terrestrial broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, cable television, etc.), a PLL circuit includes an LC resonance type oscillation circuit. For example, for diversity reception, two tuner sections are used. In the case where two semiconductor chips stacked vertically constitute respective tuner sections, the positions where a coil of an LC resonance type oscillation circuit on each semiconductor chip are the same. Therefore, a magnetic flux generated from the coil of the oscillator on one side intersects the coil on the other side, resulting in a problem that the oscillation frequency of the oscillator on the other side fluctuates.
In addition, in PTL 1 described below, a technology in which two or more layers of spacers different in area are interposed between semiconductor chips is proposed as a technology for avoiding flexure in a semiconductor stacked package.

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


A head-mounted display (HMD) tracks a user's hand positions, orientations, and gestures using an ultrasound sensor coupled to the HMD. The ultrasound sensor emits ultrasound signals that reflect off the hands of the user, even if a hand of the user is obstructed by the other hand. The ultrasound sensor identifies features used to train a machine learning model based on detecting reflected ultrasound signals. For example, one of the features is the time delay between consecutive reflected ultrasound signals detected by the ultrasound sensor. The machine learning model learns to determine poses and gestures of the user's hands. The HMD optionally includes a camera that generates image data of the user's hands. The image data can also be used to train the machine learning model. The HMD may perform a calibration process to avoid detecting other objects and surfaces such as a wall next to the user.

The present disclosure relates to a hand tracking system and method, for example, a hand tracking system and method for determining hand poses and gestures of an obstructed hand using an ultrasound sensor on a head-mounted display.
It is known that motion tracking systems can use image processing to determine the position and gestures of a person. Existing systems can use different types of cameras (for example, structured light scanners, RGB cameras, and depth cameras) to capture images and video of a person. However, the person must be in the field of view of the camera. For instance, if the person's right hand is obstructed by the person's left hand, then the camera cannot capture images or video of the right hand. Accordingly, image based motion tracking systems are unable to determine the position of obstructed body parts.
An ultrasound sensor can determine the distance between the ultrasound sensor and another object or surface. The ultrasound sensor emits an ultrasound signal, i.e., a sound wave between 20 kiloHertz and 200 megaHertz. The ultrasound signal reflects off of the object or surface, and the ultrasound sensor detects the reflected ultrasound signal. The ultrasound sensor determines the distance based on the known speed of sound (approximately 340 meters per second) and the time of flight of the reflected ultrasound signal.

Hand tracking using an ultrasound sensor on a head-mounted display


Devices, systems, and methods for treating dementia or Alzheimer's disease in a subject in need thereof. In one example, chronic visual stimuli having a frequency of about 30 Hz to about 50 Hz, and more specifically about 40 Hz, are non-invasively delivered to the subject to entrain gamma oscillations in multiple brain regions of the subject, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the hippocampus. The entrained gamma oscillations modulate neuronal activity across multiple brain regions (e.g., facilitate functional binding of neural networks at low gamma frequencies) to induce various neuroprotective effects (e.g., amelioration of amyloid plaques and tau hyper-phosphorylation) and reduce neurodegeneration. Neuronal activity mediated by the chronic visual stimuli reduces an immune response in microglia and ameliorates aberrantly modified genes and proteins involved in membrane trafficking, intracellular transport, synaptic function, neuroinflammation and DNA damage response. Behavior modification including enhanced learning and memory is observed.

Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), is a devastating disease of the brain characterized by the deterioration of brain and cognitive functions (Canter et al., 2016; Palop and Mucke, 2016). Multiple factors contribute to the pathogenesis of AD including amyloid-β deposition, hyper-phosphorylated tau accumulation, microglia- and astrocyte-mediated inflammation, and the loss of neurons and synapses (Ballatore et al., 2007; Huang and Mucke, 2012; Jacobsen et al., 2006; Meyer-Luehmann et al., 2008; Oakley et al., 2006; Ulland et al., 2017; Yoshiyama et al., 2007).
More recent studies have increasingly examined the physiological aspects of AD pathologies, such as neuronal hyper-excitability, interneuron dysfunction, shifted inhibition/excitation balance, epileptic discharges, and altered network oscillations (Canter et al., 2016; Holth et al., 2017; Hsia et al., 1999; Palop and Mucke, 2010; Palop and Mucke, 2016; Verret et al., 2012). These findings are consistent with the network abnormalities observed in human AD (Guillon et al., 2017; Koenig et al., 2005; Ribary et al., 1991; Stam et al., 2002). Recent studies in AD mouse models have highlighted that these changes occur at the presymptomatic stage (Gillespie et al., 2016; Iaccarino et al., 2016). Changes in neural activity have been previously shown to impact AD pathology, such as amyloid-β and tau accumulation, in several mouse models (Bero et al., 2011; Wu et al., 2016; Yamada et al., 2014). Given these observations, multiple approaches have been employed to investigate whether manipulating neuronal oscillations can be effective in ameliorating AD pathology (Iaccarino et al., 2016; Martinez-Losa et al., 2018; Verret et al., 2012).
In particular, oscillations in the gamma frequency band (˜30-90 Hz) have been found to be reduced in multiple AD mouse models including hAPP-J20, ApoE4, 5XFAD, but also notably in human AD patients (Gillespie et al., 2016; Guillon et al., 2017; Iaccarino et al., 2016; Koenig et al., 2005; Ribary et al., 1991; Stam et al., 2002; Verret et al., 2012). Given this, several recent studies have targeted gamma oscillations and their findings suggest that this might represent a promising strategy to alleviate AD pathology.
In one previous approach, increasing gamma oscillations through expression of the voltage-gated sodium channel subunit Nav1.1 in parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons, or with brain transplants of Nav1.1 over-expressing interneuron progenitors, alleviated gamma deficits and reduced both epileptiform activity and cognitive decline in hAPP-J20 mice (Martinez-Losa et al., 2018; Verret et al., 2012).
In a second approach, optogenetic activation of PV+ interneurons at 40 Hz, which has been shown to induce robust gamma frequency oscillations (Cardin et al., 2009; Sohal et al., 2009), was found to reduce amyloid load and enhance morphological transformation of microglia in 5XFAD mice (Iaccarino et al., 2016). This non-invasive approach of using 40 Hz visual stimulation was similarly effective in decreasing amyloid load and altering microglia in the visual cortex of 5XFAD mice (Iaccarino et al., 2016). However, in this previous study, amyloid levels in the visual cortex returned to baseline 24 hours after acute visual stimulation for one hour. This earlier study found, however, that extending one hour of visual stimulation to one hour per day for seven days reduced not only amyloid levels (soluble and insoluble forms of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42), but also plaque pathology in the visual cortex in 6 month old 5XFAD mice (Iaccarino et al., 2016). Moreover, visual stimulation impacted multiple cell types, including neurons and microglia, to reduce the production and enhance clearance of Aβ, respectively in 5XFAD mice.

Systems and methods for preventing, mitigating, and/or treating dementia via visual stimulation that binds higher order brain regions, reduces neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, and improves cognitive function


When a certain file is updated, a document management server determines whether a “registration state information mail” is set for that file, and after that, performs “self information mail” setting processing. Computer requests the document management server to transmit an electronic file, and prints and displays the electronic file according to an operation definition corresponding to the file format of the received electronic file. MFP inquires whether the document to be displayed is an electronic file stored in the document management server or an electronic file recorded on an external storage medium. Further, in response to an operation of a touch panel, MFP changes a magnifying power of display data, and rotates an image to change the direction by setting the central position of the rotation to a display center of an image being currently displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a document management server, information terminal apparatus, image forming apparatus, document managing method, and program.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, document management servers for collectively managing documents stored in various devices have been proposed and put to practical use.
For example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2004-171571 discloses a document management system having a configuration in which an application apparatus such as an image processing apparatus (for example, MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral)) and a document management server are connected to each other via a network. According to this document management system, a user can operate the MFP and manage (refer to, display, print, register, delete) documents within authorization given to the MFP.
By the way, the document management system disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2004-171571 allows multiple users to use managed documents. Accordingly, there is a case in which a certain user, who can use a document, changes the contents of the document. In such a case, it is preferable that other users, who can use this document, be informed of the change in the contents by mail.
Moreover, there is a case in which there is a document in which one user has a particularly interesting among the managed documents. In the case where the other user gains access to such the document, one sometimes desires to be informed of this fact by mail. However, in such the case, when mail is sent to the certain user, multiple mails are resultantly transmitted to the user to cause a problem in notification of the document management cannot be appropriately transmitted.
Furthermore, for example, it is assumed that the user desires to print a document in a predetermined print format using certain software from a client apparatus. The user first searches a target document. Then, when the user starts the software corresponding to the file format to perform reading and further carry out printing using the software, the user inputs setting items (for example, the number of colors, font, paper size, etc.), and performs printing. However, in the case where the number of printing electronic files is large or kinds of setting items are decided, it is extremely troublesome for the user to perform a series of these operations. Moreover, when the electronic file created in a predetermined file format is printed, it is difficult to limit the items whose setting can be set by the user to correspond to the file format. It is also difficult for the user to automatically perform a desired operation.
Furthermore, when the client apparatus is MFP, the document can be printed but cannot be referenced (displayed). In other words, the conventional MFP can input identification information of the document from an operation panel, read the document from the document management server, and print the document. However, the contents of the document themselves cannot be displayed on a screen (operation screen) which the MFP includes.
Accordingly, unless a file name of a document to be desirably printed is not memorized before operating the MFP, there occurs a problem in which the document cannot be specified or designated.

Document management server, information terminal apparatus, image forming apparatus, document managing method, and program


An electrode (3) is joined to a wiring substrate (2). A nut box (7) is inserted in the bent portion (5) of the electrode (3) so that the nut (6) is positioned in alignment with the opening (4) of the electrode (3). A case (8) covers the wiring substrate (2). The nut box (7) and the case (8) are members separate from each other. The nut box (7) is fixed in the electrode (3) so as not to come off from the bent portion 5).

Conventionally, assembling for a product is performed in a state where the nuts are placed in a case. There is, therefore, a need to simultaneously connect the case and electrodes to a wiring substrate in a state where the electrodes are inserted in the case, or to attach the case after joining the electrodes.


A method for preparation of an iodoalkylalkoxysilane includes contacting a haloalkylmethoxysilane with an alcohol in the presence of a protic acid to form a haloalkylalkoxysilane. The haloalkylalkoxysilane is contacted with an iodide to form the iodoalkylalkoxysilane. The iodoalkylalkoxysilane can be used as a chemical intermediate in the preparation of functional aryl amine molecules which have application in the formation of thin films for photoreceptors.

The present disclosure relates to a method for preparation of alkoxysilanes. It finds particular application in conjunction with the preparation of 3-iodopropylmethyidiisopropoxysilane and imaging members incorporating the same, and will be described with specific reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present disclosure is also amenable to other like applications.
Photoreceptor devices having a multilayer organic photoconductor coating (OPC) have been formed with a silicon-containing overcoat which increases the mechanical lifetime of the OPC. An exemplary patent directed to a photoconductive imaging member is U.S. Pat. No. 6,495,300 (Qi, et al.), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The imaging member disclosed comprises a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, a charge transport layer, and an overcoat consisting of a crosslinked composite polysiloxane-silica. The overcoat may be derived by crosslinking a trialkoxysilyl-functionalized hydroxyalkyl acrylate or trialkoxysilyl-functionalized hydroxyalkyl alkacrylate with an aminoalkylalkoxysilane, such as gamma-aminoalkyltrialkyloxysilane, and dispersing silica particles therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,679 (Schank, et al.), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a flexible electrophotographic imaging member including a supporting substrate and a resilient combination of a photoconductive layer and an overcoating layer, the photoconductive layer comprising a hole transporting arylamine siloxane polymer and the overcoating comprising a crosslinked polyamide doped with a dihydroxy amine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,967 (Schank et. al.), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses an electrophotographic imaging member comprising a substrate, a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer, and an overcoat layer comprising a small molecule hole transporting arylamine having at least two hydroxy functional groups, a hydroxy or multihydroxy triphenyl methane, and a polyamide film forming binder capable of forming hydrogen bonds with the hydroxy functional groups of the hydroxy arylamine and the hydroxy or multihydroxy triphenyl methane.
Recently, overcoat layers comprising siloxane and aromatic segments which include a triarylamine hole transport molecule have been produced. Such triarylamine molecules are prepared by reaction of carbonic acid salt groups on a triaryl amine precursor molecule with 3-iodopropylmethyldiisopropoxysilane by elimination of the iodide salt. The 3-iodopropylmethyldiisopropoxysilane is formed by reaction of 3-chloropropylmethyidimethoxysilane with a large excess of isopropyl alcohol in the presence of a protic acid catalyst (such as paratoluenesulphonic acid or anhydrous hydrochloric acid) with fractional distillation to remove the produced methyl alcohol as a mixture with excess isopropyl alcohol. Further reaction of this intermediate with iodide salts (such as potassium and sodium salts) under traditional Finklestein conditions affords 3-iodopropylmethyldiisopropoxysilane.
Accordingly, a need exists for producing 3-iodopropylmethyldiisopropoxy-silane and/or imaging members incorporating the same.

3-iodopropylmethyldiisopropoxysilane and imaging members including the same


Portable exercise apparatus comprising a collapsible support bench having a pair of movably connected leg members at both ends thereof, the leg members being movable between a storage position wherein they are disposed adjacent to each other and an open support position wherein they are disposed at an angle to each other with their ends separated. Generally laterally extending and substantially parallel support rods are connected to and extend between the upper and lower portions of the leg members at both ends of the support bench. A seat member is movably connected to one of the adjacent upper support rods and is movable between a storage position wherein it is disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to the leg members when they are in the storage position, and a support position wherein it extends across the upper portions of the leg members when they are in the open position and is supported on the upper support rods. Attachment devices are mounted in spaced relation on the outer portions of the upper and lower support rods. Flexible and resilient resistance exercise members can be removably attached to different or selected attachment devices for the performance of different exercises on the support bench when the leg members and seat member are in the open support position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable exercise apparatus and, more particularly, to such apparatus that is constructed to be easily movable between a collapsed or closed position and an open or support position wherein numerous exercise movements can be performed thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many types of exercise and fitness equipment currently used for rehabilitating certain muscle groups following surgery or injury, or for achieving and maintaining a desired fitness level. Such equipment usually comprises elaborate and specialized apparatus and devices that can be used effectively in gyms and fitness centers for controlled anaerobic exercises, which are movements based on resistance to tension or weights. Owing to cost and space requirements for storage and use, however, such specialized apparatus and devices are generally unavailable for home or private use.
Many persons would prefer to exercise privately or on their own schedules without travelling to a gym or fitness center. Although relatively simple exercise apparatus and devices are available for home or private use, they normally can be used only for a limited number of exercises and cannot duplicate the variety of controlled exercises which have been performed with more elaborate equipment at a gym or fitness center. Also, such home exercise devices have not been easily storable and have been difficult to move from one location to another.
Accordingly, there is a need for a portable exercise apparatus which enables many common anaerobic exercises to be performed in a private setting, that is small and lightweight enough to be easily moved to a desired location for use and then to be easily storable when not in use, and also, which is simple in construction to enable a variety of exercises to be performed without requiring numerous benches and/or large specialized machines. The present invention provides such an apparatus which meets these needs.


A resolver can have a stator installed in a housing simply, without requiring a special jig. In the resolver including a housing and a stator core fixed in the housing, the stator core is fixed to the inside of the housing by rotating relative to the housing.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resolver having a specific structural characteristic for fixing a stator in a housing.
Description of Related Art
In a structure of a resolver for fixing a stator in a housing, when the housing is clamped and fixed to the stator by pressing, the housing is often cracked, depending on the material or shape of the housing. In addition, when a clamping deformation amount in a shape is decreased in order to prevent generating a crack, the strength tends to be reduced. As a resolver structure in which a stator is fixed in a cylindrical case (housing), techniques described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-190598, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-178603 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-172164, are known. In addition, as a resolver structure in which a stator is fixed in a housing, a method using an adhesive is known (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Laid-open No. 2010-178603).


Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, and the like, for an energy interface system for interfacing alternative energy sources with a utility power source on a premises. The energy interface system provides flexibility in the use and distribution of utility energy sources and alternative energy sources based on several measurements and criteria of the interface system. For example, the energy interface system may allow for the energy consumption to adapt to changing parameters, such as utility rate schedules, cost of alternative fuels and utility premiums for consumption or generation of energy at particular times. The energy interface system also allows for deferment of charging or other high-energy loads to be recognized by the system at otherwise low-energy times. In addition, the energy interface system allows for monitoring and communication with the system for ease of configuring the system based on one or more criteria or measurements.

Typically, residences, office buildings, apartment buildings and the like connect to a regional utility that provides power to buildings. This connection to the utility is generally through a meter that measures the amount of energy consumed by the connecting customer for billing purposes. However, recent trends have included adding to a typical utility power source on a premises by connecting renewable energy sources, standby power sources and/or electrical vehicles, among others, to reduce the amount of energy received from the utility and/or to compensate for a loss of power at the utility connection. For example, renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and hydro-electric, may be generated on premises and may reduce the amount of power needed from the utility. Standby sources of power, such as fossil fuel motor-generators and battery-based sources, may be utilized as back-up energy sources when the utility power connection fails.
Additionally, many of these renewable or standby power sources may provide energy back to the utility that may then be provided to other customers of the utility. For example, electrical vehicles may function as a source of power to the premises as well as consume power, similar to battery-based storage. Also, energy generated by a wind, solar or hydro-electric source may be provided back to the utility and credited to offset the cost of the energy consumed on the premises.
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C illustrate typical existing utility power source installations before any additional alternative energy sources are added to the connection. The most common construction in the United States is currently represented by FIG. 1A. FIGS. 1B and 1C represent less common constructions that may still occur. Each system depicted in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C contains a meter socket and meter 1 connected to a load center 2. The load center 2 may include a main circuit breaker 3 and a plurality of branch circuit breakers 4 that provide the access points to the utility power. In FIG. 1A, the main circuit breaker 3 is located within the load center, while in FIG. 1B the main circuit breaker is located within the meter 1. In FIG. 1C, the meter and load center 2 are combined in what is referred to in the trade as a "meter-main-load center" or an "all-in-one" 5. Recent changes in the National Electric Code (NEC) require that no more than 20% of the panel rating in additional power sources be added, and that the addition is only permitted at the furthest point from the normal input. These changes thus limit the additional power sources to two sources.
FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art utility power source installation including several alternative energy sources connected to several of the plurality of branch circuit breakers 4. In the example, an alternative energy source 6 is connected to the premises electrical system through an external disconnect switch 7, which is typically required by the National Electric Code. Each switch 7 connects to the branch circuit breakers 4 in the load center 2 through a conductive line 9 and an over-current protective device 8, such as a fuse or circuit breaker. Thus, the alternative energy source 6 is connected to the load center 2 through the disconnect switch 7, the over-current protective device 8 and the conductive line 9. Shown in FIG. 2 are three separate alternative energy sources 6 connected to the branch circuit breakers 4 in this manner.
FIG. 3 shows another connection method that is known in the art. In some instances spaces in the branch circuit breaker 4 may not be available for use, such as if each of the plurality of branch circuit breakers are already connected or reserved. In this instance, the alternative energy source 6 may be connected at the line side of the main circuit breaker 3 using the disconnect switch 7, the over-current protective device 8 and the conductive line 9 discussed above with reference to FIG. 2. However, in this configuration, the utility power supply provided through the meter socket 1 would likely energize the circuit such that this connection configuration is not desired.
Several disadvantages exist for the prior art installation configurations discussed above. For example, the above connection configurations require a separate externally accessible disconnect switch 7 for each alternative energy device. Also, in typical load-centers 2, the circuit breakers 4 used for connection consume a space in the load center 2 that may be originally intended to be available for a premises load connection of a device. As a result, not enough spaces may exist in the load center 2 to connect all the devices. Another potential disadvantage of the prior art is that it may not provide information to a user regarding the amount of energy consumed or generated at a premises.
In addition, the prior art systems of connecting the alternative energy source to the utility connector is that it is "hard-wired" and thus has no ability to adapt to changing parameters such as utility rate schedules, cost of alternate fossil fuels, and possible utility premiums for consumption or generation of power at specific times. Also, the prior art connection systems cannot generally defer loads, such as an electric vehicle charging, until low demand hours to help relieve loading of the utility grid. While it would be possible to rewire a system to adapt to changing parameters, it would involve the use of an electrician, more hardware, and substantial costs to the customer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A series of channels formed in the bow portion of the deck create both a series of wave breakers and a plurality of footrests inside the passenger compartment of this sit-in kayak. The kayak is integrally molded in a single piece and has a contoured seat with a downwardly sloping, rearwardly directed portion. A combination of the footrests and the downwardly sloping, rearwardly directed portion increases leverage available during paddling.

The present invention is directed to the field of water craft. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a sit-in kayak.
Kayaking has become increasingly popular, spurred to a significant degree, by the reduction in cost associated with plastic molded sit-on and sit-in kayaks. It is the object of the present invention to provide a sit-in kayak with enhanced features including multiple shock-absorbent foot rests and wave breakers which significantly reduce the amount of water from waves breaking over the bow which finds its way into the passenger compartment. The same indentations in the bow provide the dual function of forming both the footrests and wave breakers. The foot rests, in conjunction with a significant slope on the rear half of the seat, enable the paddler to get significant leverage with each stroke.
The sit-in molded kayak of the present invention includes a) a hull; b) a deck having a bow portion, an aft portion, and a central opening into a passenger compartment, the bow portion having a plurality of wave-breaking channels extending entirely across the bow portion, each of the channels having a first forward-most central section, and second and third sections which angle outwardly aft around the central opening; whereby when waves break over the bow portion, the wave-breaking channels captivate water from the waves and channel the water around the central opening.
The kayak further includes a plurality of footrests integrally molded into the bow portion, each foot rest including a forward directed surface and an aft directed surface, the aft directed surface receiving a toe and ball-of-the-foot portion of a kayaker's foot. The plurality of footrests are formed in pairs, one on a right side of the kayak and one on a left side of the kayak. Most preferably, each of the footrests is an underneath portion of one of the second and third sections of said wave-breaking channels. The kayak has a contoured seat molded in the passenger compartment, the contoured molded seat having a downwardly sloping, rearwardly directed portion, whereby a combination of the footrests and the downwardly sloping, rearwardly directed portion increase leverage available during paddling. Also, it is preferred that the sit-in molded kayak be integrally molded as a single piece.
Various other features, advantages, and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent after a reading of the following detailed description.


The reliability of a tamper resistant module for safeguarding stored information, e.g. in an electronic computer system, is improved to deny access to the system by an unauthorized person or at least to a specific portion of the system. For this purpose, the module has for example a pair of substrates which are bonded together to confine confidential data inside the module. On the outer surfaces of the substrates, a plurality of logical elements, such as transistors, form detecting memory devices. The plurality of these detecting memory devices are operative under a normal condition, but at least one of these detecting memory devices is rendered inoperative when a tampering is applied to the outer surface of the substrate. In a tamper free normal situation all memory devices work properly. The inoperability of any of the detecting memory devices is detected when tampering occurs. When the tamper is detected, the confidential data confined within the module are erased.

The present invention relates to a tamper resistant module for resisting against a tamper contemplating to decode confidential data confined within the module.
In order to prove reliability of security of an electronic computer system, a mechanism needs to be provided which does not permit an unauthorized person to physically access a specific portion of the computer system. Particularly, such a mechanism is needed to prohibit the unauthorized person from making a copy of the contents contained in a certain location of the system or from altering codes contained therein. To this end, a confidential portion of the system is confined within a module to preserve confidence. In case there is a tamper against the module contemplating to decode the confidential data confined therein, e.g. in case there is an activity to bore a hole in the module, such a tamper has conventionally been defended by erasing the confidential data.
Such a tamper resistant module is disclosed in "Physical Security for the .mu. ABYSS System" by Steve H. Weingart of IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Proceedings, 1987 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, Oakland, Calif., Apr. 27-29, 1987, p.p. 55-58. In this module, a thin wire such as a nichrome wire is wound about the module confining the confidential data therein. In case that the wire is cut, short-circuited or connection of the wire is changed, the tamper against the module is detected from the change in resistance of the wire, whereupon the confidential data is erased.
However, winding of the module is not suitable for mass production. Further, the resistance of the wire changes due to aging or in accordance with change in temperature or other ambient changes. For such reasons, notwithstanding the fact that the tamper is not existing, the confidential data tends to be erroneously erased. In contrast, despite the fact that the tamper is existing, the existing tamper cannot be detected with the result that the module fails to erase the confidential data.

Tamper resistant module with logical elements arranged on a substrate to protect information stored in the same module

c/o Institute of Information Sciences And Electronics University of Tsuku, 1-1, Tennodai, 1-chome


An apparatus for displaying an object such as a billboard in a virtual world is provided. An input history of a user's operation for moving a character in the virtual world is obtained. The movement track of the character in the virtual world is also obtained. The position and direction of the billboard are changed according to the input history and the movement track so that the billboard is visible to the user. For instance, on a street where the user is expected to move at a high speed, the direction of the billboard is changed so that its display surface can face the front of the character and the billboard is displayed in a position far away from the user's viewing position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an object display technology, and it particularly relates to method, apparatus, and system for displaying an object such as a billboard and a message board in a virtual world that is provided by a server on a designated network such as the Internet. The present invention also relates to method for setting a land value and an advertisement fee in the virtual world.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, virtual world systems are being used in which the server, which is connected to a designated network like the Internet, provide the virtual world. In such systems, the players explore the virtual world by controlling their favorite characters or communicate with one another through their characters.
In a virtual world, which is provided by such a virtual world system, objects such as billboards and message boards are often displayed, on which sponsors advertise their enterprises and merchandise to the players who visit the virtual world, or through these the system administrator of the virtual world informs players of important information and such.
Such objects as billboards and message boards are meaningless unless the players see them. Therefore, they tend to be displayed in the area where the players' characters gather, for example, in the central area of town or along the main street in the virtual world. In this way, many players will see the displayed billboards and message boards. As a result, it is possible to attain significant advertising impact for an enterprise or merchandise, or to have many players view important information, etc.
However, since the action pattern of a player's character in the virtual world varies, not all the players' characters necessarily gather in the central area or places where the level of human traffic is higher. Therefore, displaying objects like a billboard only in the central area of town or places where the level of human traffic is higher is not enough to show an advertisement of an enterprise or merchandise, or send the important information to every player.
As described above, it is important to have as many players as possible see the important information or the like, and consequently many billboards and message boards tend to be displayed in close proximity to one another in the central area of town and in places where the level of human traffic is higher. In such a condition, if, for example, the server in charge of managing the virtual world has displayed important information such as maintenance related information in a busy area, the message board, on which such important information is displayed, might be lost among the clutter of so many other billboards and message boards, and become barely recognizable to the players. Consequently, players may be inconvenienced because they failed to see some important information.
To prevent this kind of problem from occurring, setting up a separate display area in the virtual world, which is irrelevant to the landscape and streetscape, to display important information may be considered. By displaying important information using this method, it is possible to have the players easily recognize the important information, etc. even in areas where there are numerous billboards and message boards in close proximity to one another. However, such a method of displaying important information might reduce the area available for landscapes and streetscapes in the virtual world, and negatively impact the image of the virtual world.
In addition, just as in the real world, when a user has an object displayed in the virtual world, for example, such as having a store in the virtual world, the system administrator will levy a fee. The fee is calculated based on the land value which is determined by taking into account the level of human traffic and convenience, etc.: a higher land value will be set for areas which for example are in the vicinity of a station or busy shopping area and a lower land value will be set for suburbs. However, the places users visit vary by their hobbies and tastes. Therefore, if land values are determined only by taking into account the level of human traffic and convenience, inappropriate land values will be determined in the virtual world which do not accurately reflect the sense of land value perceived by each individual player. This is certainly not the ideal means to do this.
Further, just as in the real world, when an advertiser has an object like a billboard installed in the virtual world to display an advertisement, the system administrator will determine the advertisement fee by taking into account the possible number of users who might see the advertisement: a higher advertisement fee will be set for areas where the level of human traffic is higher such as in the vicinity of a station or busy shopping area. However, the area in the virtual world where many users may gather will fluctuate according to the hobbies and tastes of the users, or the buildings constructed and types of stores located. Therefore, if advertisement fees are determined only by using a fixed method such as setting a higher advertisement fee for the areas where the level of human traffic is higher, they will not adequately correspond to the fluctuation of the condition in the virtual world. As a result, an advertiser might be charged an inappropriate advertisement fee, which is also not ideal.

Object display system in a virtual world


β-mannosylceramides or salts or solvates thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for use as a Type I NKT cell agonist in conjunction with a therapeutically effective amount of α-galactosylceramide or a salt or a solvate thereof, and/or at least one or more T-cell co-stimulatory molecules, disclosed. Compositions comprising β-mannosylceramide, as well as methods of treatment of tumors are also provided.

Natural killer T cells (NKT) are a unique lymphocyte population that expresses a T cell receptor (TCR) as well as NK lineage markers and possesses functional properties of both T and NK cells. Type I NKT cells, often called invariant NKT (iNKT) cells, express an invariant TCRα chain composed of a Vα14-Jα18 chain rearrangement in mice (Vα24-Jα18 in humans), that pairs preferentially with Vβ8.2, 7, and 2 (Vβ11 in humans). NKT cells are defined functionally by their ability to recognize glycolipid antigens presented in the context of the MHC class Ib molecule CD1d. NKT cells bridge the gap between the innate and adaptive immune systems and are equipped to rapidly respond to stimuli to elicit an immune response.
When activated, iNKT cells rapidly produce large amounts of cytokines including interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-4 and IL-13, and the cytokine profile differs depending on the stimulus. α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) is the most extensively studied ligand for CD1d and is well established to be a potent stimulator of iNKT cells in both mice and humans. α-GalCer-stimulated iNKT cells produce high levels of IFN-γ and promote immunity against tumors as well as infectious pathogens. Multiple studies in murine tumor models have shown the ability of α-GalCer to induce anti-tumor immunity by iNKT- and IFN-γ-dependent mechanisms.
There still exists a need in the art to develop methods of NKT cell activation which may result in other ways to treat certain cancers, or induce immune responses.

β-mannosylceramide and stimulation of NKT cell anti-tumor immunity

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


An expansion device configured for securely holding a rolled material when the rolled material is handled on roller is disclosed. The expansion device includes a roller spindle, two expansion members, a fixing sleeve, a clamping nut, and a locking member. The locking member moves toward the expansion members, so that the two expansion members expand toward the fixing sleeve, and protrusions which are formed on the expansion members are pressed outward through fixing holes of the fixing sleeve, and then resist against an inner surface of rolled material inside a rolling hole formed therethrough the rolled material. Thus, the rolled material is held securely by the expansion device.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to expansion devices, and particularly to an expansion device for holding and securing rolled materials.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a rolled material is involved in a manufacturing process, an expansion device is required to hold or secure the rolled material onto a roller spindle or mandrel. A typical expansion device includes a roller and two expansion members movably mounted on opposite ends of the roller. Each expansion member includes an inclined surface. Inclined directions of the two inclined surfaces of the two expansion members are opposite to each other. The roller is inserted into an axial hole of the rolled material. When the two expansion members move away from each other, the inclined surfaces resist against opposite ends of the rolled material, respectively, such that the rolled material is being securely held, and can rotate along with the roller. However, the inclined surfaces of the expansion members contact the rolled material in a linear fashion, so that resisting forces exerted therebetween are relatively small. Thus, the rolled material easily slips relative to the roller.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Expansion device for holding and securing rolled material

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


An aperture coupled microstrip patch antenna coupling circuit. Electromagnetic energy propagating along a stripline feedline is coupled through one of the ground plane surfaces through a tuned aperture to an adjacent microstrip feedline device, which may be a microstrip patch antenna. Undesirable propagation modes are suppressed by enclosing the aperture-coupled slot in a non-resonant cavity. Impedance matching is accomplished with an impedance matching section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to antennas and stripline to microstrip coupling circuits. More specifically, the present invention relates to aperture coupled stripline fed microstrip patch antennas and aperture coupled stripline to microstrip coupling circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
Stripline and microstrip feedlines are commonly used at high operating frequencies, such as the VHF, UHF, microwave and millimeter wave frequency ranges. A stripline feedline is typically assembled from metal-clad printed circuit board substrate with two ground planes spaced apart by a dielectric substrate material. Within the dielectric material is a feedline which is formed as a flat conductive strip by etching away unwanted metal cladding. The physical dimensions of the feedline and dielectric material, as well as the dielectric constant of the dielectric material determine the impedance of the stripline feedline.
In a similar fashion, microstrip feedlines are formed from metal-clad printed circuit board substrate. A single ground plane and a feedline, spaced apart by the dielectric substrate material form the microstrip. The feedline is a flat conductive strip formed by etching away unwanted metal cladding. The impedance of the microstrip is a function of the thickness of the dielectric, its dielectric constant, and the physical dimensions of the feedline.
It is well understood by those skilled in the art that resonant structures can be formed using microstrip and stripline technology. Antennas are commonly fabricated as microstrip patches formed by etching away unwanted metal cladding, leaving behind a patch of metal cladding, the size of which is selected to be resonant at a particular frequency of operation. The patch is supported by the printed circuit board dielectric substrate over a ground plane, which is formed by the metal cladding on the opposite side of the printed circuit board.
A useful combination is to feed a microstrip patch antenna with a stripline feedline. In doing so, it is necessary to couple the signal between the antenna patch and the stripline feedline which is located between two ground planes. Drawing FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a prior art method of accomplishing the signal coupling.
Reference is directed to FIG. 1A which is a top view of the prior art stripline fed microstrip patch antenna. The stripline is formed with multiple metal-clad printed circuit board layers 1, which have a feedline 4 located therein. The microstrip patch antenna 2 is supported above the stripline 1 and is formed to the desired resonant characteristics. In this figure, the microstrip patch 2 is comer clipped to yield an antenna with circular polarization characteristics. The coupling of electromagnetic energy between feedline 4 to antenna patch 2 is accomplished with a coaxial feed comprising a coaxial opening 6 in the ground plane of the stripline structure 1 and a coaxial pin connector 7 which is conductively coupled to both feedline 4 and antenna 2. To prevent undesired electromagnetic propagation modes, several plated-through holes 8 are placed around the coaxial opening 6.
FIG. 1B shows a cross-section of the prior art stripline to microstrip patch antenna coupling circuit. The stripline 1 includes two dielectric substrate layers 10 and 12. At the outer edges of these two layers are ground plane surfaces 16 and 18, respectively. The feedline 4 is sandwiched between dielectric layers 10 and 12. The microstrip patch antenna 2 is insulated from the stripline 1 by dielectric layer 14. Energy is coupled from feedline 4 to antenna 2 by metal coaxial pin 6, which passes through coaxial opening 7 in ground plane layer 16. This form of coupling is known as xe2x80x9cprobe-couplingxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccoaxial couplingxe2x80x9d by those skilled in the art. The plated through holes 8 conductively couple ground plane layers 16 and 18 for the purpose of suppressing undesired propagation modes.
The pin or xe2x80x98probexe2x80x99 coupling techniques work well at the lower frequency ranges since the physical dimensions are relatively large allowing generous tolerance ranges. Also, hand assembly techniques are acceptable because the physical size of the components is such that they can be hand soldered with relative ease. However, as the desired frequency of operation increases, the component sizes decease. In the Q-band, for example, frequencies in the 44 GHz range, the wavelength requires components of very small physical size. The coaxial pin would be on the order of 0.010 inches in diameter. This diameter is so small that it becomes difficult to solder to the antenna. The process then requires a very skilled technician to do the assembly work. If reflow solder techniques are used, there is an increased possibility the solder will flow so as to bridge the small insulating regions. While larger- coaxial pin sizes could be utilized, the pin becomes too close to the antenna patch size and antenna performance is degraded. Likewise, the coaxial opening may need to be so large that it becomes significant with respect to the antenna patch size.
Thus there is a need in the art for a coupling circuit design to couple high frequency signals between stripline feedline circuits and microstrip circuits, such as microstrip patch antennas, which eliminate the need for coaxial, or probe, coupling techniques.
The need in the art is addressed by the apparatus of the present invention. One embodiment of the inventive apparatus is an aperture coupled antenna, including a stripline feedline with two ground planes positioned substantially parallel to each other with dielectric material in between them. A feedline is placed within the dielectric material thus forming a stripline feedline. A resonant opening is formed in one of the ground planes and is located adjacent to an end of the feedline. A non-resonant cavity is formed with several conductors connected between the two ground planes and is located around the resonant opening. An antenna is located adjacent to the resonant opening on the opposite side of the ground plane, with the resonant opening, from the feedline. This arrangement allows electromagnetic energy to be coupled between the feedline and the antenna through the resonant opening without the need to solder a pin or probe between the feedline and the antenna.
Coupling between a stripline feedline and an antenna is not the only useful application of the present invention. It is equally useful in any situation where a stripline feedline needs to be coupled to a microstrip circuit. A second apparatus is a stripline to microstrip coupling circuit, including a stripline feedline with two ground plane positioned substantially parallel to each other with dielectric material in between them. A feedline is placed within the dielectric material thus forming a stripline feedline. A resonant opening is formed in one of the ground planes and is located adjacent to an end of the feedline. A non-resonant cavity if formed with several conductors connected between the two ground planes, and is located around the resonant opening. A stripline conductor is supported by another dielectric material on the opposite side of the ground plane, with the resonant opening, from the feedline. The stripline conductor is located adjacent to the resonant opening. This arrangement allows electromagnetic energy to be coupled between the feedline and the microstrip conductor through the resonant opening.

Stripline fed aperture coupled microstrip antenna


A downhole seismic acoustical signal source capable of selectively firing numerous, prewired explosive charges. The downhole seismic source has a firing system that uses a sequence of combinations of two conductors at a time and a downhole diode array to select and fire a single charge. The conductors are connected to a Surface Control Unit at the surface. A seismic crew on the surface can select and fire any charge through this control unit. The downhole seismic source has the ability to fire numerous explosive charges in a given downhole trip through the firing of many individual explosive charges.

In geophysical prospecting, seismic operations are frequently used to generate, collect, and analyze Q information about subsurface formations. These operations are usually performed by initiating seismic waves or acoustic signals that travel downward into the earth until they encounter discontinuities in the earth's structure in the form of varying subsurface strata formations. Such discontinuities reflect at least part of the acoustical signals back toward the earths surface. In oil and gas explanation operations, these reflected acoustical signals are recorded and studied to help locate and analyze various subsurface formation for potential oil and gas production.
In oil and gas operations, seismic energy sources such as dynamite or blasting caps are frequently used to generate acoustic signals. In addition, sources such as vibrators or thumpers are used to generate the acoustic signals.
One variation of the typical seismic exploration method is called Vertical Seismic Profiling ("VSP"). VSP is known to be valuable in structural and stratigraphic interpretation of subsurface formations and geological prospecting for oil and gas. In VSP, a geophone or other type of acoustic detector is lowered into a borehole. Acoustic signals are then generated at various ground surface locations away from the borehole. Recordings are made through the geophones at various levels in the borehole.
In VSP, the acoustical signals travel from the signal source through the near ground surface only once on their way to the geophone in the borehole. This results in less attenuation of high frequency waves than occurs for typical surface seismic operations when signals must travel through the near ground surface twice. These higher frequencies give VSP better resolution than surface seismic methods.
A disadvantage of VSP is that numerous offset energy source locations are required to obtain the amount of seismic information necessary to properly study a given subsurface formation. Placement of these offset energy sources is time consuming and expensive. Often the placement of the seismic energy sources, such as dynamite, blasting caps, or large vibrators or thumpers, at a desired location is difficult. Seismic sources must be kept some distances from buildings, dwellings, roads and other structures that would be affected by blasting or the use of dynamite. Also roads to isolated exploration areas may not allow for transporting large pieces of seismic equipment to required locations.
In order to obtain the benefits of VSP in areas where using a seismic source to create acoustical signals from a surface location may be difficult, a modified VSP method referred to as reversed VSP, is used. In reverse VSP, a seismic source is placed in the borehole and geophones or other types of acoustical detectors are laid out on the surrounding ground surface. The surface receivers can be located in positions that would not permit the use of dynamite that are inaccessible to seismic sources such as large vibrators. In addition to being useful in places conventional VSP cannot be used, reversed VSP is capable of obtaining higher quality data than conventional VSP. In reversed VSP operations, receivers can be buried in complicated arrays which improve the frequency content of the reflected signals and reduce noise in the reflected signals. Accordingly, higher frequency and more consistent data can be recorded with reversed VSP than with conventional VSP. The most significant advantage of reverse VSP is that a single downhole seismic source, if used with a large number of geophones at the ground surface, can generate data equivalent to many standard VSP operations with various offsets.
A seismic operation similar to reverse VSP is cross-hole seismology. In cross-hole seismology, a seismic source is lowered into one borehole and a geophone is lowered into a second borehole. The seismic source creates acoustical signals that travel from the first borehole to the second borehole where the signals are measured and recorded. Cross-hole seismology does not require the laying out of surface geophones as is required in reversed VSP. Because the acoustical signals do not have to travel through the near ground surface, seismic data is produced having high resolution and a high signal-to-noise ratio. Cross-hole seismology is most generally used in producing fields, where existing boreholes may be used to provide additional information about previously discovered reservoirs.
Various downhole energy sources are available for use in reversed VSP and cross-hole seismology. As stated previously some of the methods for generating acoustical signals include the use of explosive blasting caps, sidewall coring guns, and perforating guns. Although these methods could provide an energy source of acceptable intensity for generating acoustic signals, a blasting cap allows only a single explosion for each downhole trip and sidewall coring and perforating guns may damage the casing of the borehole. Currently, individual explosive charges or series of explosive charges without the damaging effects of the above mentioned guns are frequently used. These charges are electrically detonated from the ground surface by a seismic crew through a standard seven conductor wireline cable. However, the use of a standard wireline cable, limits the number of individual explosions available to be fired on a single downhole trip with a downhole source.
Another downhole seismic source currently used is an air gun. An advantage of an air gun is that it may be moved up and down the borehole and repeatedly fired at various positions on a single downhole trip. However, an air gun has mechanical limitations and use restrictions that can make its operation and handling difficult. The firing control line and high pressure air hose are very bulky and can be difficult to operate in a deep borehole. In addition, a downhole air gun usually produces less acoustical energy than a 10 gram explosive charge of a standard pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) explosive. Because of this relatively weak energy source level, air guns are usually used only for cross-hole seismology but not for reversed VSP.
Another disadvantage of using an air gun is that air guns produce more tube-wave energy in the borehole than do other explosives. Existence of such tube waves complicates data processing and interpretation of the recorded data. Additionally, air bubbles are produced during operation of an air gun which change the acoustical properties of the mud column, which complicates signal processing.
Finally, an air gun's performance may be adversely affected by large hydrostatic pressures such as when the gun is operated at significant depths.
The downhole energy source that generates the most desirable acoustical signals is an explosive charge, such as is obtained in firing a sidewall coring gun or perforating gun. Explosive shot arrangements without the damaging effects of coring guns or perforating guns are commercially available. The firing of these explosive shot arrangements can be controlled at the ground surface through standard seven conductor wireline cable. A limitation in using standard surface firing control equipment with a standard seven conductor cable is that a maximum of 14 individual or group shots can be fired before a downhole firing arrangement must be removed from the borehole and reloaded. The reason for this limitation is that present methods use the seven lines to carry current to the explosive and uses only the armor line as a return to complete the circuit that allows current to flow. This method is limited because each line can have only one positive or negative signal. With seven lines, there are possibilities for current flow to generate only 14 signals. Therefore, using only the armor line as stated above only 14 explosives can be fired. Since in typical reversed VSP and cross-hole seismology operations, the firing of hundreds or thousands of shots might be required to generate the necessary amount of seismic information, a downhole firing apparatus using a standard surface firing control arrangement would require many downhole trips. Such numerous trips are time consuming, expensive, and prevent quick gathering of large amounts of data.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,218 (Chen et al.) addresses many of the above mentioned problems by providing a downhole seismic source capable of selectively firing numerous explosives in a downhole arrangement to produce seismic waves in a subsurface formation. The downhole source is capable of firing numerous prewired explosive charges. The downhole source uses a self-contained firing circuit that receives select signals and fire signals from a seismic crew at the ground surface through a standard seven conductor wireline cable to detonate the explosive charges. The downhole seismic source is capable of generating numerous signals in a given downhole trip through the firing of many individual explosive charges. However, this device requires complex equipment in order to operate. There exist a need for a simple and safe way of individually firing more than 14 small (typically 7 gram) explosives in a borehole via a standard seven conductor wireline. The principal application of these small explosives would be as an effective downhole acoustic source for borehole geophysics.

Simple multishot downhole explosive tool


A source macro base station exchanges user data with a wireless communication device using an enhanced Radio Frequency (RF) service and receives RF measurement data from the wireless communication device. The RF measurement data is processed using a hysteresis parameter to detect a pico handover event to a target pico base station, and in response, determine if the target pico base station supports the enhanced RF service, and if the target pico base station does not support the enhanced RF service, the hysteresis parameter is modified to inhibit a pico handover to the target pico base station. The RF measurement data is processed to detect a macro handover event to a target macro base station, and in response, the hysteresis parameter is modified to drive a macro handover to the target macro base station if the target macro base station supports the enhanced RF service.

Wireless communication devices transmit and receive information wirelessly via a wireless access node to communicate over a communication network. Typically, the wireless access node is part of a radio access network (RAN) which provides the wireless communication devices with access to further communication networks, systems, and devices. The wireless communication devices typically utilize "forward link" communication channels to receive voice and/or data transmitted from the wireless access node, and "reverse link" communication channels to transmit information up to the node. In fourth generation (4G) long term evolution (LTE) communication systems, a wireless communication device is referred to as user equipment (UE), while a wireless access node is typically called an enhanced node B (eNodeB).
In response to increased demand for high-speed wireless communication services, wireless communication service providers may deploy heterogeneous networks to improve system capacity and enhance network coverage. A heterogeneous network contains wireless access nodes that have different characteristics, such as transmission power and radio frequency (RF) coverage areas. For example, a wireless coverage area provided by a macrocell base station may be supplemented by many smaller, low-power nodes, such as femtocells, picocell base stations, and relay nodes. However, other advanced communication features, such as carrier aggregation, beamforming, and Voice over LTE (VoLTE), may have varying degrees of support among the different base stations in a heterogeneous network.
Overview
A method of operating a source macro base station to perform a macro handover of a wireless communication device is disclosed. The method comprises exchanging user data with the wireless communication device using an enhanced Radio Frequency (RF) service and receiving RF measurement data from the wireless communication device. The method further comprises processing the RF measurement data using a hysteresis parameter to detect a pico handover event to a target pico base station, and in response, determining if the target pico base station supports the enhanced RF service, and if the target pico base station does not support the enhanced RF service, then modifying the hysteresis parameter to inhibit a pico handover to the target pico base station. The method further comprises processing the RF measurement data to detect a macro handover event to a target macro base station, and in response, determining if the target macro base station supports the enhanced RF service, and if the target macro base station supports the enhanced RF service, then modifying the hysteresis parameter to drive the macro handover to the target macro base station.
A source macro base station to perform a macro handover of a wireless communication device comprises a wireless communication transceiver and a processing system. The wireless communication transceiver is configured to exchange user data with the wireless communication device using an enhanced Radio Frequency (RF) service and receive RF measurement data from the wireless communication device. The processing system is configured to process the RF measurement data using a hysteresis parameter to detect a pico handover event to a target pico base station, and in response, determine if the target pico base station supports the enhanced RF service, and if the target pico base station does not support the enhanced RF service, then modify the hysteresis parameter to inhibit a pico handover to the target pico base station. The processing system is further configured to process the RF measurement data to detect a macro handover event to a target macro base station, and in response, determine if the target macro base station supports the enhanced RF service, and if the target macro base station supports the enhanced RF service, then modify the hysteresis parameter to drive the macro handover to the target macro base station.
A computer apparatus to operate a source macro base station to perform a macro handover of a wireless communication device comprises software instructions and at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing the software instructions. The software instructions are configured, when executed by the source macro base station, to direct the source macro base station to exchange user data with the wireless communication device using an enhanced Radio Frequency (RF) service and receive RF measurement data from the wireless communication device. The software instructions are further configured to direct the source macro base station to process the RF measurement data using a hysteresis parameter to detect a pico handover event to a target pico base station, and in response, determine if the target pico base station supports the enhanced RF service, and if the target pico base station does not support the enhanced RF service, then modify the hysteresis parameter to inhibit a pico handover to the target pico base station. The software instructions are further configured to direct the source macro base station to process the RF measurement data to detect a macro handover event to a target macro base station, and in response, determine if the target macro base station supports the enhanced RF service, and if the target macro base station supports the enhanced RF service, then modify the hysteresis parameter to drive the macro handover to the target macro base station.

Dynamic hysteresis offset manipulation for wireless communication device handovers


A low voltage CTAT current source includes a bipolar transistor connected across two series-connected resistors. A voltage developed across the resistors turns on the transistor, making the current through the resistors CTAT. A second transistor supplies the resistor current; its base (if bipolar) is connected to the node between the resistors, which are selected to limit the transistor's base-collector forward bias and collector-emitter voltage to a preselected fraction of the first transistor's V.sub.be, allowing the CTAT current source to operate with supply voltages of less than two junction voltage drops. A PTAT current can be combined with the CTAT current to create a temperature-compensated current. A low voltage current mirror has the respective bases of a pair of cascoded transistors connected across a resistor which is also connected between the bottom transistor's collector and a programming current. When the transistors are matched, the top transistor's collector-emitter voltage about equals the voltage across the resistor, which is selected to establish a V.sub.ce just high enough to avoid saturation and allow the circuit to operate with only two unsaturating V.sub.ce 's of headroom. The current mirror's lower headroom requirements are advantageously employed in a low voltage differential to single-ended converter circuit, and the current mirror and CTAT current source can be combined in numerous analog circuits to enable their operation at lower supply voltages.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of current source and mirror circuits, particularly those designed for use with low supply voltages.
2. Description of the Related Art
Integrated circuit components continue to shrink in size, and demands on circuit efficiency, particularly in battery-powered devices, continue to increase. One way to accommodate these trends is to lower a circuit's supply voltage, which reduces the amount of heat which must be dissipated as well as the drain on the battery.
However, as supply voltages fall, some commonly used analog circuit building blocks no longer function as designed. One such circuit is shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 1, which is designed to generate a complementary-to-absolute temperature (CTAT) current from a poorly controlled source of current i.sub.poor. A "poorly controlled" source of current is characterized as a current whose precise magnitude is unpredictable. Such a current may arise, for example, in a voltage regulator circuit at start up. The poorly controlled current i.sub.poor is connected to the collector of a pnp transistor QA and the base of a pnp transistor QB whose emitter is connected to the base of QA. QA's emitter is connected to a supply voltage V+ and the collector of QB serves as the output 10 of the current source. A resistor R is connected across the base and emitter of QA.
In operation, the base of QB is pulled low by i.sub.poor until QA is turned on and supplies i.sub.poor. When turned on, QA's base-emitter voltage V.sub.beA is across R. Since V.sub.beA responds only weakly to i.sub.poor, but strongly to temperature, the current through R and passed by QB to the output 10 is nominally CTAT.
The voltage drop from the emitter of QA to the base of QB is equal to the base-emitter drop of QA plus that of QB (V.sub.beA +V.sub.beB), which may equal 1.6 volts or more, particularly at cold temperatures. This works well with a V+ of 3 volts or more, but will not operate with a supply voltage of 1.5 volts or less, as modern-day circuits increasingly demand. Moreover, the output terminal cannot approach the rail voltage (V+) any closer than V.sub.satB (QB's saturation voltage)+V.sub.beA.
Current mirror designs are also challenged by the use of lower supply voltages. A Wilson mirror is widely used where performance superior to a simple current mirror is needed, and is shown in FIG. 2. Here, a programming current i.sub.pgm is sourced by a transistor QC, which is mirrored by a diode-connected transistor QD connected to have the same base-emitter voltage as QC. A cascode transistor QE is inserted between QD and the load to pin the collector of QC at two junction voltage drops below V+ and thus reduce voltage variations across QC. Use of this circuit, however, requires that V+ be equal to at least 2 junction voltage drops, or two gate voltages for an FET implementation, in series.
The differential amplifier is another analog circuit building block, an example of which is shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 3. Transistors QF and QG form a differential amplifier, biased with a current source i.sub.diff connected to their respective emitters. A differential input voltage V.sub.in is applied across QF's and QG's respective bases and a differential output current appears at their respective collectors. The collectors of two current mirror transistors QH and QJ are connected to the collectors of QF and QG, respectively, to provide a differential to single-ended converter for the differential output current, with a single-ended output taken from QJ's collector. The differential amplifier and its tail current source typically consume about one volt of headroom at low temperatures, with another 0.6-0.9 volts lost due to the base-emitter voltages of converter transistors QH and QJ. Thus, this conventional differential amplifier and converter is also rendered unusable at supply voltages below about 1.6 volts.

Low voltage current mirror and CTAT current source and method


A device for determining the version of metal mask utilized for producing a given metal layer (Metal3) in an integrated circuit including a plurality of metal layers (Metal0, . . . , Metal3), and any modification made to the given metal layer (Metal3) requiring generation of a new version of the corresponding metal mask. The device includes a cell (Cell) integrated into the metal layer (Metal3) including at least a first voltage source (Vdd) for supplying a first voltage level, at least a second voltage source (GND) for supplying a second voltage level, and an output bus composed of at least one conductor wire (S1, S2) connected selectively to one of the first and second voltage sources as a function of the version of metal mask used to produce the metal layer, so as to generate a binary output signal representative of the mask version utilized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device enabling determination of the linking of version numbers of photo-engraving masks used in a production process of a chip, and especially of metal masks, automatic determination of the version numbers of the masks corresponding to each metal layer advantageously capable of being carried out from a software point of view. The invention therefore relates to the domain of microelectronics and more particularly that of producing chips generally designating any type of electronic component in integrated circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
An integrated circuit is typically a multi-layered electronic device which comprises, for example, source/drain regions formed in a silicon substrate (transistor level), a layer of polysilicone for forming a grille region on the substrate (poly level), as well as a plurality of interconnection layers (metal levels). To produce each of these levels of an integrated circuit, one or more engraving masks are utilized in combination with standard photo-engraving techniques and chemical attack for transferring the respective units of each of the masks used at the level of the various layers of the integrated circuit. In particular, for producing complex integrated circuits, a large number of mask levels is required and all the engraving masks utilized to produce the complex integrated circuit form a given set of masks which is linked to the integrated circuit.
Each given integrated circuit is in fact provided with a version number to which the set of masks refers corresponding to the version of the integrated circuit. Each mask of the set of masks likewise has its own version number.
In effect, when an improved version of an existing integrated circuit must be produced, for example with the aim of correcting certain defects identified in the initial topology of the circuit, novel mask versions are generated for each level where one or more defects have been identified, so as to correct this. A new mask version is therefore inserted where the identified defect has been corrected in place of the existing defective mask in the initial set of masks, thus generating a new version of the integrated circuit. Attributed to each improved version of an integrated circuit is a new version number of the circuit with which a corresponding set of masks is associated. This version number is the simplest method of knowing the topology of the different layers of the integrated circuit as well as the abovementioned defects associated with each version of the integrated circuit.
Multiple mask versions can thus be generated from an initial topology of integrated circuit, so as to correct the defects identified in certain corresponding layers. These are essentially metal layers. Within the scope of the present invention, there will be greater interest taken in the metal mask levels, that is, the mask levels utilized to produce the interconnection layers.
The version number of the integrated circuit is usually indicated on the circuit housing, via serigraphy for example. Therefore, the version number can be accessible visually to allow the operator to determine the version of the chip and as a consequence the set of masks corresponding to the related mask versions.
However, when the housing of the chip is inserted for example, the information concerning the version number of the chip is no longer available.
Furthermore, in the modelling phase, the approach consisting of visually reading the version number of a chip on the casing of the chip can be a source of error due primarily to vague or imprecise documentation of the changes of mask required for each version change, or due to possible interpretation or incorrect identification by the operator of the adapted set of masks corresponding to each version.
Likewise, another disadvantage is that the version number of the chip engraved on the casing cannot be exploited from the software point of view, creating a handicap in the context of increased automation of administering and validating the different version numbers of each level of metal mask to be used for a given version of chip.
Also, for those chips comprising a ROM type memory layer, a solution consists of indicating the version number of the chip in a microprogram onboard the memory of the chip. If modifications are necessary to correct one or more defects identified on at least one level of metal mask, at least one new corresponding mask version is going to be generated and the microprogram is then also going to be modified so as to indicate the new version number of the chip. This microprogram can be interrogated by an external application by way of software resources, thus precisely identifying the version number of the chip and thus draw inferences from this concerning the administration of the defects to use for this version.
This solution does have certain disadvantages. In particular, in the case where there would be no defect at the microprogram level and where the correction to be made would be at the level of another metal layer, all the same it is necessary to generate a new microprogram onboard to reflect the new version number of the chip and, similarly, to generate a new corresponding mask version at the metal level to be corrected. This solution in this case thus implies changing two mask levels in place of a single one, which makes it costlier.
Another solution consists of administering the version number of the chip by coding it by a plurality of wires attached either to ground, or to the mains voltage, so as to create a binary code reflecting the version number of the chip.
However, the drawback to this solution is associated with its lack of flexibility. In effect, coding the version number of the chip is done first at a high level of modelling and then, the automatic placement routing tool which is going to make use of this coding will code the version number by distributing the wires on several layers. As a consequence, as the version number of the chip is coded on several layers, it is required to optionally regenerate several levels of metal mask if the modification to be carried out does not involve the layers where the version number of the chip is coded. Administering the version numbers of the chip is on the one hand fairly complex to put into practice and, on the other hand, onerous since it is necessary to intervene at the level of several layers to modify the code reflecting the version number.
Accordingly, there exists a need for overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art as discussed above.

Device for determining the mask version utilized for each metal layer of an integrated circuit


An medical device such as a guidewire or a catheter having a flexible elongate component which comprises a thermoplastic rigid rod polymer, which component may comprise a bundle of threads, a sleeve, a coil, a co-extrusion, a strut, or other suitable component.

Medical devices often require a confluence of characteristics not readily achievable in a single device. For instance, in medical devices such as guidewires and catheters, the device is often navigated distally through a tortuous vascular system. This requires high levels of pushability, torqueability, and flexibility while retaining a narrow cross-sectional area. It is also desired to have a device which minimizes the trauma to the surrounding vessels. One way to minimize this trauma is through a soft distal tip. Other characteristics that are often desirable include MRI compatibility and radiopacity. There is thus an ongoing need to provide alternative structures and designs for such medical devices.


A pharmaceutical composition comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:s 3-5 or pharmaceutically equivalent sequences. Methods employing the pharmaceutical compositions include treatments to increase angiogenesis, to stimulate HIF-1α function, to treat hypoxia-related conditions, and to maintain normal cell functions under hypoxia.

Angiogenesis is a critical function for normal organism functioning and survival. Insufficient angiogenesis can result in cell or tissue death. Excessive angiogenesis has been linked to tumor development and other undesirable conditions. Some of the genes and biochemical processes involved in angiogenesis have been described. For example, disregulation or enhanced activation of HIF-1α function have been implicated in a variety of pathological conditions including induced tumor growth rates9,17,18 and inflammatory angiogenesis19. Since it is important for organisms to maintain normal angiogenesis and for certain cells or tissues to be able to functionally counteract the activated form of HIF-1α, there remains a need in the art to provide both further information on the mechanisms that underlie angiogenesis and to present new methods useful in either increasing or decreasing angiogenesis.

Regulation of hypoxia-inducible gene expression with antisense Inhibitory PAS domain protein


Methods and apparatus for improved contact and activity management and planning where subject data, activity data and topic data are created and functionally linked through interfaces and processing modules to organize information in a useful way that permits system users to have access to the information they need to conduct business in an efficient and productive manner.

The basic activity management and recordation program, of which the present invention is an important improvement, is, and has been for several years, successfully marketed by Applicant under the commercial name "TeleMagic/400". The TeleMagic/400 program advanced the art by, for the first time, interconnecting a plurality of Users to allow integrated effort in a way not possible with manual systems. Unlike many "workflow" or "work management" computer programs which are computerizations of manual systems, the TeleMagic/400 program is a tool that changes the way business is conducted in a truly fundamental sense. Its benefits include greater efficiency, control and productivity. The present invention expands the capabilities of, and adds new dimensions to, the TeleMagic/400 program to the end of creating a new, different and improved product.

Method and apparatus for improved contact and activity management and planning