A braille printing device includes a device body; a linear actuator with an actuator body and an actuator hammer; a liquid ejection unit, including a liquid container a resin piston, and a dispensing tube; a slidable connector with a groove; a vertical stop; a trigger switch; a slide stop member; a slide holder plate including a slide holder back portion, a slide stop member, and first and second sliding rails; and a control unit, such that the braille printing device deposits spherical domes of printing fluid on a printing substrate to form a braille text.

Manufacturing of braille dots for ADA compliant signs according to conventional method requires use of complex systems and methods, that necessitate extensive training and are associated with a time-consuming manufacturing process.
Current common methods of manufacturing braille dots include:                a) Raster type braille, which is done using complicated machinery to drill and force small acrylic spheres into the newly drill hole only halfway, thereby leaving half of the sphere above the surface resulting in a raised bump, which forms a braille dot; and        b) Photopolymer braille, which is the most complicated method, involving creation of a photo negative, which is used as a mask for ultraviolet light exposure on to a special light sensitive plate. After exposing, the uncured areas are removed leaving only the raised areas to produce the braille dots.
As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved devices and methods for printing braille text.


An assembly may include a shelf-stable pouch for fruits or vegetables. The assembly may comprise a pouch having a closed condition and an open configuration. The closed configuration may be configured to seal portions of at least one of the fruits and vegetables and brine prior to heating the pouch for pasteurization. The open condition may allow for the removal and serving of the portions after pasteurization from heating.

Vegetables or fruits such as cucumbers (sometimes considered a culinary vegetable), also referred to as gherkins, may be processed to be shelf-stable, so that they may be stored and distributed in non-refrigerated conditions. Traditionally, pickles may be made from vegetables or fruits such as cucumbers and packaged in glass jars to retain freshness and quality. While the glass jar product represents a taste and texture that is desirable to the consumers, customers may desire cucumbers that are freshly packed in a portable format, e.g., using flexible packaging for convenient, on-the-go snacking. Products in flexible packaging, however, may require different processing than those in glass jars, thereby providing a need for improved methods for products in flexible packaging. Furthermore, most pickles are packaged in jars which are not conducive to a single serving portion of a whole or sectioned pickle. Moreover, traditional pouches do not insulate the pickles from oxygen that may enhance spoilage. Thus, there is a need for fresh-packed vegetables or fruits such as cucumbers, e.g., in a single serving portion and using a shelf-stable pouch that minimizes spoilage.

Shelf-stable pouch for fresh-packed fruits or vegetables


Embodiments of the present invention relate to a communication arrangement for distinguishing between network entities having the same address by translating between the same addresses and surrogate addresses using an intermediary network entity.

Signalling end points within an SS7 network address or communicate with other entities using point codes. For example, originating point codes and destination point codes are used to identify source and destination entities within a network. The point codes are carried by or available from the MTP3 layer of the SS7 protocol stack. An SS7 network comprises a set of signalling points having respective point codes unique to that set.
Within European signalling networks based on the ITU Recommendations (Q Series) no regulatory organisation equivalent to ANSI, which imposes a numbering plan, exists to ensure SS7 entities in different SS7 networks have globally unique point codes. Thus, the situation may be encountered where a SS7 node in one SS7 network might use the same point code as another SS7 node in another SS7 network.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A self-tightening device for fastening two structures together includes a female component and a male component where the female component is capable of receiving the male component. The female component includes a moveable member, an energy storing mechanism and a retaining mechanism. The movable member is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The energy storing mechanism has stored energy for causing the moveable member to move from the unlocked to locked position when the energy in the energy-storing mechanism is released. The retaining mechanism holds the energy-storing mechanism in the stored-energy state until the retaining mechanism is released. Upon the release of the retaining mechanism, the energy storing mechanism is actuated from the stored-energy state to the released-energy state causing the movable member to move from the unlocked position to the locked position engaging the male component with the female component when the male component is inserted within the female component.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a fastening system that may be used to fasten two structures or objects together. More particularly, the invention relates to a fastening device in which a male part may be inserted into a female part such that the male and female parts may be securely locked together.
2. Related Art
Many types of manufactured products often consist of two or more parts or components that must be assembled together to attain finished, usable products. To save cost in assembly, handling, shipping and storage, manufacturers often make such products available to end users in an initially disassembled form. For instance, manufacturers often provide a product that is packaged in a "flat pack," which typically consists of a cardboard box containing the various parts of the product in disassembled form and a bag of fastening hardware required for assembling the parts together. In particular, manufacturers often ship furniture such as bookshelves, cabinets, and the like in flat packs containing the wood panels, other parts, and bag of hardware necessary for the end user to assemble the complete piece of furniture.
While the provision of disassembled products is beneficial to manufacturers or sellers, it is nonetheless attended by well-known disadvantages for purchasers and end users. The process of assembly can be difficult, complex, and time-consuming for the average consumer. Often, the process requires the use of tools and in some cases special tools that are packaged with the fastening hardware, all or a portion of which may sometimes be missing from the flat pack. Additionally, the fastening components themselves typically are required to be fastened to their corresponding parts prior to being secured together during assembly, because the fastening components are not pre-installed by the manufacturer to the parts to be assembled. This is often because pre-installed fastening components by convention would protrude from the parts, thereby increasing the space required for the package or container (e.g., preventing wood panels from being closely stacked together) and increasing the risk that parts become damaged during shipment and handling.
Therefore, a need exists for providing improved fastening solutions that enhance the ability of end users to assemble the parts of a product together. Generally, any objects for which assembly is desired through the employment of fastening hardware may benefit from improved fastening solutions.


The embodiment of the present invention provides a method for realizing a voice recognition function, including: setting a corresponding relationship between the attitude parameter of a mobile terminal body and a voice recognition mode (S10); if a gravity sensor in the mobile terminal detects that a change of the attitude parameter of the mobile terminal body satisfies a condition of switching the voice recognition mode, then switching the voice recognition mode, and performing voice recognition under the switched voice recognition mode (S20). Through self-adaptively switching the voice recognition mode of the mobile terminal, the voice recognition function of the mobile terminal can be made to free the hands of a user to the greatest extent and save power consumption. An apparatus for realizing the voice recognition function corresponding to the method is also disclosed.

With the constant increasing of the functions of the intelligent terminal and the portable device, the voice recognition technology is increasingly applied extensively; for example, the voice recognition function is very practical during driving or when the hands need to do other things.
According to the current situation, most mobile terminals with the voice recognition function provide the key or the button to the user to start the voice recognition procedure; the user can send the voice instruction after pressing the key or the button, and the terminal makes the corresponding operation according to the voice instruction of the user. However, there is a very big problem to do it in this way that the user still needs to rely on the hands to click the mobile terminal.
In order to further free the hands of the user, the voice recognition function supporting the voice wake-up technology also appears at present. After the voice wake-up technology is used, the terminal is in the audio detection state all the time, and once special voice wake-up instruction (such as, Hey, voice assistant) is detected, then the voice recognition function is started to identify the voice instruction of the user. The voice wake-up technology can further free the hands of the user, however, because the terminal will consume the electric quantity of the battery to monitor the voice wake-up instruction, the mobile terminal supporting the voice wake-up technology has the problem that the electric quantity is consumed fast.
Therefore, how to make the voice recognition function of the mobile terminal not only free the hands of the user to the greatest extent but also save the power consumption is a technical problem required to be solved.

Voice recognition function realizing method and device


An electromagnetic shield (20) for protecting individuals from the adverse effects of electromagnetic radiation includes a homogenous composition of finely ground tourmaline and a porous carrier. The electromagnetic shield (20) is attached to a radiating device such as the handset of a portable telephone. The tourmaline reacts with moisture in the air to produce negative ions which cancel the positive ions created by the radiating device, thereby substantially reducing or eliminating the harmful effects of the radiation. The electromagnetic shield (20) composition can be molded into housings for radiating devices.

It is well known in the scientific community that exposure to electromagnetic radiation can have debilitating effects on humans. The effects are most pronounced when the exposure is protracted and at high radiation levels, however lesser degrees of exposure can also cause illness and even death. It is therefore desirable to protect people from the adverse effects of electromagnetic radiation by in some way shielding or blocking the radiation before it reaches a person. The most simple and direct method of protection is to simply install a physical shield between the electromagnetic radiation source and the person. The shield is usually made of metal which absorbs and blocks the electromagnetic radiation and thereby protects the person. Examples of this technology include the lead pads used during X-ray diagnosis, and the mesh screen in the door of a microwave oven.
Another protection technique is to employ the principles of physics to cancel and therefore neutralize the electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation waves strike the human body with a stream of positive ions. These positive ions create a magnetic field which magnetizes the cells in the body thereby causing the unwanted health effects. If the positive ions can be stopped before they reach the body by canceling them with negative ions, then the damaging effects of the positive ions can prevented. It is toward this ion cancellation principle that the present invention is directed.


A wrap-around carrier has side end panels that facilitate erection of the carrier and closure of the carrier ends.

Wrap-around carriers are formed by wrapping a blank around a group of containers and securing the ends of the blank together. The containers are held in place by the tightly wrapped carrier and also by heel cutouts through which bottom portions of the containers extend. Conventional carriers, have open ends that typically do not sufficiently enclose the containers. Conventional carriers may also be difficult to erect.


Aspects of a method and system for a linear regulator with high bandwidth, PSRR, and a wide range of output current are provided. A method for isolating voltages in a circuit may comprise applying a reference voltage to an isolation resistor based on a supply voltage. An internal voltage at a reference point may be determined based on the applied reference voltage, and a maximum and/or minimum voltage may be determined based on the internal voltage. A plurality of output transistor devices may be controlled based on either the maximum voltage or minimum voltage. The reference voltage may be modified based on controlling the plurality of output transistor devices. By turning ON and OFF the output transistor devices, a much wider operating range is facilitated.

A feedback system designed to hold the value of its output constant independent of disturbances may be known as a regulator. In some conventional electronic circuits, linear regulators may be utilized for isolating voltages in a circuit. In these electronic circuits, power for operating the circuits may be supplied by a voltage source and a ground reference. There may be jitter or noise in the voltage source, which causes the voltage level supplied by the power supply to operating circuits to vary.
Jitter is time-based error resulting from abrupt and unwanted variations of one or more signal characteristics, such as the interval between successive pulses, amplitude of successive cycles, frequency of successive cycles and phase of successive cycles. Jitter may result from varying time delays in the circuit paths between components in a path in which a signal traverses. Jitter is generally characterized in qualitative terms such as amplitude, phase, pulse width and pulse duration, and/or in quantitative terms such as average, RMS or peak-to-peak.
Noise that occurs in a ground reference may also cause the voltage level of a voltage supply to vary. A linear regulator may be utilized in applications where it is important that the voltage applied to a circuit block be maintained at a constant voltage level with a minimum of variation in that constant voltage. Although some circuits may be utilized to limit unwanted variations in voltage levels, these circuits are applicable for use at a specific frequency.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Line regulator with high bandwidth (BW) and high power supply rejection ration (PSRR) and wide range of output current


In an insertion support system according to the present invention, on the basis of the rotation angle data of the VBS images stored in the memory, an image processing unit rotates and corrects the VBS image and the thumbnail VBS images to generate the insertion support screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insertion support system for supporting insertion of an endoscope.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, diagnosis using an image has been widely performed. For example, a cross-sectional image of a subject is captured by using an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus or the like to obtain three-dimensional image data of the subject. The obtained three-dimensional image data is then used for diagnosing an affected area.
The CT apparatus continuously performs X-ray irradiation and detection in a direction of the body axis of the subject while continuously rotating the subject. Thereby, spiral and continuous scanning (i.e., helical scanning) is performed for a three-dimensional region in the subject, and a three-dimensional image is produced from successive cross-sectional slice images of the three-dimensional region.
Such three-dimensional images include a three-dimensional image of the bronchi of the lungs. The three-dimensional image of the bronchi is used for three-dimensionally locating the position of an abnormal area suspected to contain lung cancer, for example. Then, to examine the abnormal area through a biopsy, a bronchoscope is inserted and a tissue sample is obtained by using a biopsy needle, biopsy forceps, or the like which is protruded from a distal end of the bronchoscope.
In a duct within the body that branches in multiple stages, such as the bronchi, if the abnormal area is located near a periphery of a branch, it is difficult to make the distal end of the endoscope correctly reach a target location within a short time period. Therefore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-135215, for example, proposes an apparatus which navigates the bronchoscope to the target location by producing a three-dimensional image of the duct within the subject on the basis of image data of the three-dimensional region in the subject, determining a route leading to a target point along the duct on the three-dimensional image, producing a virtual endoscope image of the duct along the route based on the image data, and then displaying the virtual endoscope image.

Insertion support system for producing imaginary endoscopic image and supporting insertion of bronchoscope


Disclosed are an optical signal communication method, and an optical signal transmission device and an optical signal reception device which perform the method. The optical signal communication method may comprise the steps of: receiving input data to be modulated into an optical signal, modulating the input data into the optical signal, and transmitting the optical signal to an optical signal reception device, wherein the optical signal includes a start pulse and an end pulse, and a time interval between the start pulse and the end pulse is determined on the basis of a data value of the input data.

The aging population is increasing and medical and social security expenditures are thus rapidly increasing, which is becoming a major social and economic issue. To resolve these issues, medical devices using information and communication technology (ICT) are emerging. These ICT-based medical devices are provided in various forms that are attachable to the human body, directly worn on the body, or insertable in the body. The medical devices may detect various signals of a living body, transmit the detected signals to an external device, and provide real-time diagnosis and treatment.
As the functions of implantable medical devices contributing to convenience, stability, and accuracy have become more diversified, the implantable medical devices are being more widely used, increasing their presence. However, medical devices including existing radio frequency (RF)-based wireless communication modules may consume a large amount of power, and batteries in the devices may thus be rapidly exhausted. For example, a patient with such a medical device implanted in his or her body through a medical procedure may need to have another procedure for replacing a battery of the medical device when the battery is exhausted, and thus the patient with the medical device may experience great inconvenience and potential risks. Thus, there is a desire for research to resolve these issues.

Optical signal communication method and device

FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND BUSINESS, Seoul National University of Science and Technology


A method of forming contacts for a semiconductor device structure comprises forming contact holes extending into neighboring semiconductive pillars and into a nitride material of nitride-capped electrodes. Composite structures are formed within the contact holes and comprise oxide structures over sidewalls of the contact holes and nitride structures over the oxide structures. Conductive structures are formed over inner sidewalls of the composite structures. Additional nitride-capped electrodes are formed over the conductive structures and extend perpendicular to the nitride-capped electrodes. Pairs of nitride spacers are formed over opposing sidewalls of the additional nitride-capped electrodes and are separated from neighboring pairs of nitride spacers by apertures extending to upper surfaces of a portion of the neighboring semiconductive pillars. Portions of the oxide structures are removed to expose sidewalls of the portion of the neighboring semiconductive pillars. Semiconductor device structures and additional methods are also described.

Semiconductor device designers often desire to increase the level of integration or density of features within a semiconductor device by reducing the dimensions of the individual features and by reducing the separation distance between neighboring features. In addition, semiconductor device designers often desire to design architectures that are not only compact, but offer performance advantages, as well as simplified designs.
A relatively common semiconductor device is a memory device. A memory device may include a memory array having a number of memory cells arranged in a grid pattern. One type of memory cell is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). In the simplest design configuration, a DRAM cell includes one access device, such as a transistor, and one storage device, such as a capacitor. Modern applications for memory devices can utilize vast numbers of DRAM unit cells, arranged in an array of rows and columns. The DRAM cells are electrically accessible through digit lines and word lines arranged along the rows and columns of the array.
Reducing the dimensions and spacing of memory device features places ever increasing demands on the methods used to form the memory device features. For example, one of the limiting factors in the continued shrinking of memory devices is the resistance of the contacts associated therewith. As used herein, a "contact" refers to a connection facilitating a conductive pathway between at least two structures. For example, in a DRAM device exhibiting a dual bit memory cell structure, a digit line contact is provided between a digit line and an access device (e.g., a transistor) formed in or above a substrate, and storage node contacts are formed between the access device and a storage node (e.g., a capacitor) where electrical charge may be stored. As the dimensions of memory device (e.g., DRAM device) features decrease, the dimensions of the contacts associated therewith also decrease, resulting in increased contact resistance. Increased contact resistance decreases the drive current of the memory device, which can adversely affect memory device performance.
One approach toward decreasing contact resistance within a memory device has been to increase the surface area of the contacts thereof. For example, material may be removed from multiple surfaces of a memory device feature to form a three dimensional (3D) contact exhibiting greater contact surface area than the memory device feature would otherwise exhibit. Unfortunately, conventional methods of forming such 3D contacts can suffer from a variety of problems. For example, conventional methods of forming 3D contacts for a DRAM device structure exhibiting lower critical dimensions, such as critical dimensions less than about 20 nanometers (nm), can require complex and costly processes to sufficiently form and align 3D storage node contacts relative to digit line contacts to ensure proper performance of the DRAM device. If, for example, a contact hole in which a digit line contact (e.g., a doped polysilicon plug) is formed does not completely expose an active area of a semiconductive pillar associated with the digit line contact, or extends into storage node contact regions of neighboring semiconductive pillars, the DRAM device may short during use and operation. In addition, conventional methods of forming 3D contacts for a DRAM device structure may also require increased feature dimensions, such as thicker nitride caps over digit lines, to account for material (e.g., silicon nitride) loss associated with dry etching processes (e.g., reactive ion etching processes) required to form the 3D contacts.
A need, therefore, exists for new, simple, and cost-efficient methods of forming contacts for a semiconductor device structure, such as, for example, a DRAM device structure including features having critical dimensions less than about 20 nm.

Methods of forming contacts for a semiconductor device structure, and related methods of forming a semiconductor device structure


A distributed sensing system for detecting partial electric discharge along the length of an extended object or objects. An optical fiber having a cladding integrated with luminescent material and a silica core of less than 500 micro-meters in diameter with a first reflective end deployed in proximity to test objects. A photo detector is positioned at the second end of the optical sensing fiber and receives and measures both a direct emission light from an electric partial discharge event and the reflected emission light from the reflection end of the optical sensing fiber. The measured signals and their arrival times are used to determine the location and magnitude of a partial electrical discharge.

The present disclosure relates to electric partial discharge detection, and more particularly, to a system and method for detection and measuring electric partial discharge using an optical fiber.
As electrical wires age, insulation may become brittle and crack leading to arcing or shorts. Small arcs can carbonize the insulation, leading to bigger arcs and the potential for fire. Control of electrical discharge is necessary to avoid degrading the insulation in electrical wires in air or in insulating oil. The need for reliable monitoring is increased when the cable is used in high altitude where ambient pressures may be well below one atmosphere such at flight altitudes. The inception level for discharges is reduced as pressure decreases. Therefore, intermittent partial discharge or arcing that can occur in flight may not be reproducible during ground maintenance.
Intermittent discharges can occur from a wire with cracked or faulty insulation. Such partial discharges are in the form of pulses having time durations as short as a few nanoseconds or less. The pulses form because, once a discharge initiates, electrons quickly become depleted in the gap by buildup of space charge between the electrodes.
This extinguishes the discharge until the space charge dissipates sufficiently for a fresh discharge to occur. The presence of residual space charge along with surface charges and meta-stable excited gases act as a memory thus affecting ensuing pulse amplitudes and times of onset. Such discharges create an avalanche of electrons whose collisions with nitrogen molecules in air produce spectrum from near-UV photons to visible as shown in FIG. 1.
In order to detect the presence of cable defects in air or in oil, various imaging systems or electrical reflectometry techniques have been used to monitor entire wiring systems. But these devices provide limited coverage or require direct electrical connection, which can be inconvenient or even unsafe in some applications.
One potential detection concept that has been reported is photoluminescence. Photoluminescence is the emission of near or visible light from any substance under external excitation and it can be categorized into fluorescence and phosphorescence. The emission rates of fluorescence are typically 108/sec and its lifetime is near 10 nsec. Phosphorescence is emission of light from triplet-excited states, in which the electron in an excited orbital has the same spin orientation as the ground state electron. The transitions to ground are forbidden and the emission rates are slow (103-100), so phosphorescence lifetimes are typically milliseconds to seconds.
When an electron is excited to an upper state, it decays non-radiatively to a lower meta-stable state. From this meta-stable state the, electron decays radiatively emitting a photon. The energy of the emission, which is described as E=hν (where h is Plancks constant and ν is the frequency of the light) is typically less than that of absorption.
Sarkozi, U.S. Pat. No. 7,142,291, proposed a system for detecting partial discharges in wiring using a fluorescence optical fiber. The system required large diameter plastic core fiber optic cables embedded into the insulation material surrounding the wiring. The large core diameter optical fiber had a fluorescent material incorporated into the fiber core. Upon exposure of that fluorescent material to a discharge frequency it generates light that travels in both directions in the optical fiber. Optical detectors at each end of the fiber record the arrival of that light and a processor calculates a location of the discharge from the arrival times.
McSherry, et. al. (IEEE Sensors Journal October 2004) proposed a coated sensor model for measuring germicidal UV irradiation in which a large core diameter plastic optical fiber had its cladding removed and replaced by a fluorescent coating. When placed near a UV lamp the fluorescent coating would generate light that would travel down the optical fiber core to be detected.
Both of these prior art systems made use of large (1000 micro-meter) core diameter plastic optical fibers. Plastic fibers usually have cores of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and typically have core diameters close to 1000 micro-meters. Such fibers have a limited transmission distance and poorer resistance to environmental conditions than optical fibers of a silica (glass) core. Silica glass core fibers typically have silica cores of between 50-500 micro-meters. Thus the plastic core fibers of these prior art references are significantly limited to very short sensor systems (around 10 m range) in favorable environments. In addition less complex detection systems than the two optical detector system of Sarkozi are needed. A silica core based sensor system with a hard plastic cladding for electric partial discharge would enable sensor systems based on large distances (potentially up to 1 kilometer with attenuation of less than 1 dB/100 m at the 550 nm emission band) and in more stringent environmental conditions.
In addition there is a need is for a distributed system that is easily deployable in close proximity to the objects being monitored without the need to incorporate them into the structural design as in the Sarkozi reference. And there is a need to decrease bend related attenuation in the fibers, which is possible with much smaller (<500 micro-meter) core diameter fibers with silica cores.

Systems and methods for detecting electric discharge


A fabric comprises first and second webs of gel-forming fiber needled to the first and second sides respectively of a textile fiber scrim. Such fabrics find application as wound dressings, in particular for packing cavity wounds.

Gel-forming fibres such as alginate fibres and carboxymethylated cellulose fibres are known. Wound dressings of various constructions containing such fibres have been marketed. Treatment of cavity wounds, including the use of dressings, is discussed by C P Berry in an article entitled "Cavity wound management" in J. Wound Care, 1993, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 29-32 and by A Hallett in an article entitled "Cavity-Wound Management" in Nursing Times, 1995, vol. 91, no. 30, pp. 72, 74 and 79. Dressings for packing cavity wounds are desirably flexible and conformable and capable of removal in one piece after use, without trauma to the patient and without leaving residual fragments of the dressing in the wound. Alginate cavity wound dressings are recommended for moderately and heavily exuding wounds. Such dressings are commonly in the form of a textile sliver and consequently have low mechanical strength and integrity.
Needled nonwoven fabrics (needle-tacked or needle-punched fabrics, needlefelts) of alginate staple fibres have been marketed as wound dressings. Alginate fibres are weak fibres, particularly when wetted, and accordingly a balance must be struck between conflicting desires for mechanical strength and integrity (requiring high-intensity needling and/or high basis weight fabric) and for suppleness (reduced by high-intensity needling and/or the use of high basis weight fabric). If a dressing has poor mechanical strength, a secondary (backing) dressing may be employed; but this is time-consuming and adds extra work and cost when the dressing is applied. Also, use of such secondary dressings is undesirable or inappropriate with dressings for cavity wounds. Alginate dressings having a backing layer affixed with adhesive are known, but they are unsuited for applications such as the treatment of cavity wounds.
WO-A-89/12471 discloses a pad of alginate fibres which have first and second cations (e.g. calcium sodium alginate) and the wetting of such pads prior to their use as wound dressings. The pad may be a needle-punched nonwoven fabric of staple fibre.
EP-A-0,344,913 discloses a hydroentangled fabric of alginate staple fibres and the use thereof as a wound dressing. At low basis weights (less than about 20 or 50 g/m2), the fabric preferably includes a small percentage of reinforcing fibre such as rayon to permit it to be handled easily while saturated with saline water.
EP-A-0,476,576 discloses a nonwoven fabric of alginate staple fibres made by a modified needle-tacking process, in which the leading barb of the needles penetrates into a mat of fibres to a depth of from about 60 to about 99% of the thickness of the mat. These fabrics are said to find use as wound dressings.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,524 discloses an alginate dressing having an integral non-alginate backing layer. A web of alginate staple fibre and a backing layer are brought together and needle-punched to yield a composite dressing. Examples are given of a fibrous backing layer which is an acrylic/cotton continuous backing or is an elastic polyurethane foam.

Nonwoven fabrics and their manufacture and use


The present invention relates to a method for producing coal gas, including: feeding raw material pulverized coal and a high temperature gasification agent (7) into a coal gas producer (a) for reaction to produce coal gas; performing heat exchange between the coal gas coming out of the coal gas producer and a gasification agent to produce the high temperature gasification agent (7); performing heat exchange between the coal gas, after performing heat exchange with the gasification agent, and water to produce vapor (4), wherein the vapor (4) is a component of the gasification agent; and outputting the coal gas after further dust removal and desulfuration which has performed heat exchange with the water.

The process for producing coal gas using pulverized coal generally comprises: feeding pulverized coal, vapor, air and oxygen into a coal gas producer, for reaction under a high temperature to produce the coal gas; passing the produced coal gas through a cyclone dust collector while recovering and sending pulverized coal back into the coal gas producer; the coal gas being passed through a waste heat boiler for producing vapor, and sending scrubbed and cooled coal gas to users. Since the temperature of the coal gas coming out of the coal gas producer is very high, the vapor produced through the waste heat boiler is in excess of what is needed for producing the coal gas, and the excessive portion will be used for other applications. At the same time, since the temperature of gasification agent composed of vapor, air and oxygen entering into the coal gas producer is relatively low, usually 65° C.-120° C., while reacting in the coal gas producer, the temperature of the gasification agent needs to be increased to 1000° C.-1100° C., a large amount of reaction heat will be consumed during increasing the temperature of the gasification agent. All of the factors above lead to the coal consumption in producing unit coal gas being relatively high, usually above 0.3 kg/Nm3-0.4 kg/Nm3; and the thermal value of the coal gas produced using above traditional process is low.


Several driver circuits for energizing series arrays of LEDs are disclosed. The LED driver circuits incorporate programmable microcontrollers and switching regulators in circuits that permit precise control of current applied to the series array of LEDs. One driver circuit senses the condition of a SYNC line such that the light emission pattern of multiple LED light sources, each with a driver circuit connected to the SYNC line may be coordinated without need for a central controller. Another driver circuit applies an overdrive current to the LEDs for a first pre-determined time period, then ramps down the applied current to a sustainable level. A four channel driver circuit provides each channel with electronic switches arranged to simultaneously turn on and electrically connect a constant current source to an LED array, resulting in abrupt turn on and turn off of the LEDs.

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are extremely durable and efficient sources of light. Recent developments in LED technology have resulted in components that can be combined into arrays having a brightness and light emission pattern comparable with light sources such as halogen bulbs and xenon flash tubes. Among other attractive characteristics such as durability and energy efficiency, LEDs have a very fast turn-on time of approximately 20 μS that is comparable with the turn on time of a xenon flash tube. If properly energized, an LED array can simulate the light-emission pattern of any pre-existing light source, including a xenon flash tube.
LEDs are solid-state components whose light output (luminous flux) increases in proportion to the applied forward current. However, excessive current through an LED generates heat that can damage the device. Each LED develops a forward voltage VF that varies with the color of the LED as well as the ambient temperature. LED manufacturers typically rate each type of LED for continuous operation at an average forward current IAvg. Each type of LED is also rated for momentary operation at a peak pulsed forward current IPeak. Application of IPeak to an LED produces increased brightness when compared to an LED energized by application of IAvg. This peak brightness is particularly desirable in warning lights used in conjunction with emergency vehicles, aircraft, traffic signaling, etc. However, continuous application of IPeak would result in excessive heat and damage or failure of the LED. There is a need in the art for LED driver circuits that permit precise control of the pattern and quantity of current applied to an LED array to produce a light emission pattern of maximum intensity without overheating the LEDs.
It is desirable that each LED driver circuit generate the requisite controlled current over a range of output voltages to accommodate variation not only in the ambient temperature and the type of LED employed but also variation of the number of LEDs being driven. Constant current sources suitable for such an application are known in the art. One approach is to employ a chip called a switching regulator to control the applied current by varying the duty cycle of energy applied to the LEDs. The switching regulator is responsive to a current sensing circuit to control the applied current. In this manner, circuits can be configured to apply controlled currents to a series array of LEDs over a range of output voltages. For example, a switching regulator configured as a buck converter circuit may be used to produce controlled current over a range of voltages less than the available input voltage, while a boost converter may be used to produce controlled current over a range of voltages greater than the available input voltage.
Maximum flexibility in terms of output voltage range allows a single driver circuit (also referred to as a ballast) to be used in conjunction with different numbers of LEDs of different types and over a range of ambient temperatures. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the design and manufacture of a driver circuit for each individual LED in an array or for each array having a particular number of LEDs is not cost-efficient. Therefore, there is a need in the art for multi-purpose LED driver circuits for energizing LED light sources that incorporate different numbers and/or types of LEDs.
Warning light arrays for emergency vehicles and aircraft may require coordinated light emission from several light sources arranged at various points on the vehicle or aircraft. This has typically been accomplished by use of a central controller. The central controller stores light emission patterns which are applied in a coordinated manner to energize the several light sources to produce the coordinated pattern of light emission. Such pre-existing warning light arrays may employ prior art light sources such as halogen bulbs and/or xenon flash tubes as emitters. Many operators of fleet vehicles and aircraft are desirous of replacing the prior art light sources to take advantage of the superior durability and energy efficiency of LED light sources. Thus, there is a need in the art for LED driver circuits responsive to control signals from a central controller to energize an LED light source, such that the prior art light sources may be replaced without requiring replacement of the controller and/or the control wiring.


In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting Power over Ethernet (PoE) in a PoE distribution system at a power greater than 100 watts, the distribution system comprising at least two pairs of wires, monitoring a thermal condition in the distribution system, periodically checking each of the wires for a fault, and checking for an electrical imbalance at the wires. An apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technology for providing electrical power over a wired telecommunications network from power sourcing equipment (PSE) to a powered device (PD) over a link section. In conventional PoE systems that use 100 W or less power sources, significant protection mechanisms are not needed because the limited power system classification does not cause destructive damage or life safety concerns. In newer systems that may exceed the 100 W threshold, it is important to define safety protocol mechanisms that protect both the system and the user.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Method and apparatus for detecting wire fault and electrical imbalance for power over communications cabling


This memory device comprises a word-line control circuit applying a read voltage and a soft-value read voltage as a word line voltage to a word line to generate soft-values. The soft-value read voltage is between an upper limit and a lower limit of each of plural threshold voltage distributions. A likelihood calculation circuit calculates a likelihood value of data stored in a memory cell based on the soft-value. An error correction circuit executes data error correction for the data read from the memory cell based on the likelihood value. A refresh control circuit controls a timing of a refresh operation for the memory cell based on the soft-value or the likelihood value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-volatile semiconductor storage device and a non-volatile semiconductor storage system, and particularly, to a non-volatile semiconductor storage device and a system with a refresh function of memory cells to improve reliability of data.
2. Description of the Related Art
One of the well-known non-volatile semiconductor storage devices is a NAND cell type flash memory. The NAND cell type flash memory includes a memory cell array including a plurality of NAND cell units. Each NAND cell unit includes a plurality of memory cells connected in series and two selection transistors connected to both ends thereof. The memory cell holds, in an erase state, data "1" having a negative threshold voltage. In a data write operation, a floating gate is injected with electrons to rewrite data "0" having a positive threshold voltage. The NAND cell type flash memory may change the threshold voltage only from a lower value to a higher value in a data write operation, and may change the threshold voltage in the reverse direction (from a higher value to a lower value) only by an erase operation per a block.
However, a probability of fail bit occurrence in a memory cell array is increasing greatly, as the memory cell is miniaturized, thus lowering the yield of non-volatile memory chips. In considering this situation, a memory with an error correction circuit using an error correction code (ECC) in order to guarantee data reliability of a memory cell has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1: JP 2002-251884 (Paragraph 0026-0030 etc.))
Moreover, a technology for performing a refresh operation is also known (for example, see Patent Documents 2: JP 3176019 B1). The refresh operation to stored data is accomplished by performing periodical data rewrite, performing data rewrite to other areas, an additional write-verify operation or the like, in order to lowering a fail-bit occurrence rate.
Performing a refresh operation in all memory areas results in a long time for finishing a refresh operation. In addition, it might give an unnecessary stress to areas with a small amount of fail bits. Accordingly, in the technology disclosed in the Patent Document 2, a number (a number of times) of error corrections conducted is fed back from an error-correction circuit, and a refresh operation is carried out only in areas where a number of error corrections conducted is close to a limit correctable by an error correction code.
An error-correction circuit using iterative decoding method with soft-decision information as an input (a decoder circuit with an LDPC code or the like) has a splendid error correction ability. However, it does not count the number of errors corrected. Moreover, in an error-correction process using iterative decoding method based on soft-decision information, it is difficult to judge whether the number of error corrections conducted is close to a limit correctable by an error correction code.

Non-volatile semiconductor storage device and non-volatile storage system


Adapters are provided for stable holding of non-cylindrical multi-sided food containers in beverage container receptacles, and also packaged food products integrating such adapters, and container support systems including beverage receptacles and the packaged food products held in the beverage receptacles via the adapters.

Many vehicles such as automobiles, vans, buses, boats, aircraft, and recreational vehicles, as well as stationary seating venues, such as in stadiums, arenas, theaters, lawn furniture, home leisure chairs, tables, and so forth, have built-in receptacles sized for receipt and holding of beverage containers.
Typical beverage holders of the prior art are configured to support cylindrical-shaped beverage containers. However, in addition to beverage containers, consumers also often desire to transport packaged food items which can be eaten directly from containers by hand without the need for serving plates/bowls and eating utensils, e.g., Kraft LUNCHABLES® ready-to-eat meals and snacks. Also, for example, many convenience restaurants and stores sell fried or baked chicken pieces or nachos, etc., which are packaged in a small hinged carton, or a tray having a removable cover. These food cartons and trays often have a rectangular shaped bottom profile. Such trays and cartons generally do not have a size and/or shape allowing them to nest in a typical beverage container holder.

Beverage holder adapters for non-cylindrical, multi-sided food containers


A clamp for connecting together a set of structural bars having a body defining at least one pair of prismatic guides for positioning one of the bars within the clamp and a locking mechanism for securing the bars inside the guides. The body is defined by four sheet metal plates arranged parallel and facing each other in pairs of two, each pair of two arranged perpendicular to the other such that each pair is connected to the other collectively along four parallel edges of the body. The prismatic guides are each defined by a pair of aligned seats formed along respective sides of each pair of facing plates.

The present invention relates to a bar connecting clamp.
The invention may preferably be used, though not exclusively, for connecting bars supporting tools on folding-gluing machines employed in the graphics industry (hereinafter referred to simply as "graphic machines"), to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
Graphic machines normally comprise a conveying surface on which blanks of sheet paper material are conveyed successively; and a number of tools suspended over the conveying surface, and which interact with the blanks for conveyance purposes (pressure rollers) or to perform various processing operations (folding, gluing, etc.). By varying the type, number and sequence of the tools, more or less complex paper articles can be obtained, such as folders with one or more pockets, CD holders, etc.
In one known solution, the tools are supported on vertical bars, in turn fixed to horizontal bars suspended over the conveying surface and fixed directly or indirectly to the machine structure. In one known solution, the horizontal and vertical bars are connected by clamps comprising a substantially parallelepiped-shaped body in which prismatic guides are machined with the same cross section as the bars for connection; and pressure screws are screwed into the body to lock the bars longitudinally inside the respective seats.
One problem of known clamps is high cost, on account of the machining involved and the large amount of waste material removed in the form of chips during machining. Another problem is the need for clamps with guides of different sections for different types of bars, which further increases overall tooling cost.


A mechanism is provided whereby a parent, or other second party, can monitor and/or control a child's or other first party's wireless device usage. An interface can allow the parent to set rules for the child's usage, and can specify that the parent should receive messages when a call is made to or from the child's wireless device. In addition to call information, the message may prompt the parent for approval of the call connection. Thus, a parent can decide whether a call that is incoming from or outgoing to a third party should be permitted.

One reason parents may not allow a child to have a mobile device, such as a cellular telephone, is that the parent has little control over the child's usage of the device. For example, the parent cannot prevent a child from placing or receiving calls while at school, and cannot prevent the child from calling or being called by a particular party. In addition, a parent has no ability to know when a child is using the device or the types of conversations the child is having. As a result, some parents do not allow their children to have a mobile device, or resign themselves to not being able to control their child's use of the device.
There is a need in the industry to provide a practical solution that allows providing a mobile device to a first party by a second party while retaining some control by the second party over the first party's device usage.

Second party control over mobile device usage


Interactive content can be managed and provided to occupants of an automated vehicle to enhance their experience while in the vehicle. Orchestrator component can determine interactive content based on conditions associated with the vehicle, user preferences, video content, or other information. Interactive content can comprise video content, audio content, and control content. Video content can comprise augmented reality or virtual reality content. Control content can be used to control vehicle operation in relation to or synchronization with presentation of video content. Orchestrator component can correlate between certain roads on which the vehicle can travel and entertainment presentations presented to a vehicle occupant. Orchestrator component can control vehicle operation to have the vehicle recreate a vehicle action sequence (VAS) in a video program being presented to the occupant in the vehicle. Orchestrator component can notify nearby vehicles when VAS is be recreated, or another vehicle also can participate in VAS.

Vehicles can comprise communication features (e.g., communication and/or content presentation devices) that can be utilized to provide information, entertainment, and other services to occupants of a vehicle and/or allow communications between the occupant of a vehicle and other users outside of the vehicle. Autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles are expected to become more prevalent in the years to come. Occupants of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle will have to interact significantly less with such vehicle with regard to driving the vehicle or managing the travel of the vehicle as it travels to the desired destination of the occupants.
The above-described description is merely intended to provide a contextual overview regarding electronic communications and vehicles, and is not intended to be exhaustive.


An extruder for paste-like food substances including a barrel provided at one end with an outlet from which the paste-like food substance can be extruded in either measured amounts or in a steady flow, a rotatable screw is located within the barrel and is capable of being rotated and moved vertically within the barrel, a clutch located within a housing is capable of engaging the screw to ensure measured amounts of paste-like food are extruded or capable of being disengaged from the screw to permit the screw to be freely rotated and moved vertically within the barrel to permit the paste-like food substance to be extruded from the outlet in a steady flow.

There are various situations where it is desirable to extrude a precise amount of food or to extrude a steady flow of food, eg. when making cookies where it is desirable that each cookie be of approximately the same size or where one wishes to control the flow of icing onto a cake.
There are various devices available in the market which deliver a measured amount of biscuit or cookie paste or dough to a baking tray prior to cooking. Such devices all work on the principle of what might be called a pistol-grip, operation of which causes a pawl to engage and disengage the teeth of a piston rod to permit the piston to advance a predetermined distance along the barrel to deliver a predetermined amount of paste-like food through an outlet.
The disadvantages of such devices is that the amount of paste-like food delivered through the outlet is predetermined by the size of the teeth on the piston rod and cannot be varied to suit the wishes of the user.

Room A12, 5/F., Block A2, Yau Tong Ind City, 17 Ko Fai Road


A liquid treatment system for hollow articles having an open end facing downwardly upon a moving conveyor belt includes a vacuum stripper tube connected to a blower for generating a suction force withdrawing excess liquid from the hollow articles and the belts, and a pair of flow splitters for distributing the suction force applied to opposite ends of the vacuum stripper tube. The system is provided with a baffle disposed in the vacuum stripper tube for improving the distribution of suction force in the vacuum stripper tube. The system also includes an excess liquid collection arrangement constructed and arranged to establish a one-way flow of and collect excess liquid evacuated from the vacuum stripper tube. The system further contemplates a blow-off unit operably connected to the blower for supplying dry air to the hollow articles and conveyor belt.

This invention relates broadly to liquid treatment of hollow articles and, more particularly, pertains to improvements in the removal of liquid applied to inverted cans transported upon a conveyor belt moving through a can washing apparatus.
Newly formed metal food and beverage cans are typically cleaned of forming oils and other contaminants in a high volume can washer in which masses of upstanding or inverted cans are moved on a mesh conveyor between banks of water supply pipes or risers to each of which a plurality of particularly oriented spray nozzles are attached. By carefully controlling nozzle orientation, flow and pressure, the cans may be moved through the washer supported solely from below by the wire mesh conveyor belt on which the cans are carried.
In a typical can washer, as many as six separate liquid treatment stations are provided in serially connected orientation with the cans conveyed by the conveyor belt through, for example, pre-wash, acid cleaning, rinse, surface fixing, and two final rinse stations. Each station has its own underlying liquid collection tank and, to enhance recycling and prevent cross-contamination caused by the conveyor belt moving through multiple stations, it is desirable to remove as much liquid as possible from the cans and the belt as the cans move from one station to the next. Below the belt, a number of different devices may be used, including brushes which contact the underside of the belt or a vacuum stripper system which runs the full lateral width of the belt to extract excess liquid from the belt and the cans. In addition, compressed air blow-off units forming a blow-off system are positioned above the cans on the belt as they exit each treating station. The blow-off system blows free liquid out of the dished bottoms of the inverted cans and provides a flow of drying air.
The vacuum stripper system in the can washing system described above includes a vacuum tube sometimes provided with a pair of splitters which serve to distribute the vacuum applied to opposite ends of the tube so that the center of the tube receives a divided flow. In many instances, this flow modification proves to be insufficient such that the removal of excess liquid from the cans and belt by vacuum is less than desired. Because the conveyor belt is subjected to various substances, the excess liquid removed from the belt and the cans is often contaminated. Contaminated excess liquid evacuated from the vacuum stripper tube is generally collected at the ends of the tube and drained into a tank beneath the belt. However, because of the drainpipe structure extending between the vacuum stripper tube and the tank, contaminated air and liquid are frequently withdrawn back into the system in a manner which will impair the suction force applied to the vacuum stripper tube. In addition, the blow-off unit employed upstream of each treating station and the blower providing the suction force for the vacuum stripper tube are each driven by separate motors such that the intake of the blow-off unit is subject to handling contaminated air and the blower will blow an undesirable, contaminated mixture of excess liquid and air into a blower discharge pipe for return to the cans and the belt.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system in which the vacuum induced flow which is split and travels through opposite ends of the vacuum stripper tube is better balanced so as to improve the amount of the excess liquid extracted from the cans and the belt. It is likewise desirable to provide a system having an excess liquid collection system which will prevent contaminated air and excess liquid from being withdrawn into the system in a manner which will not adversely affect the vacuum applied to the vacuum stripper tube. It is further desirable to provide a system in which the blower discharge pipe is connected to a separation device to remove any remaining contaminated excess liquid from the flow and direct a dry decontaminated air discharge into a return duct used to supply the blow-off system. It is further desirable to provide a system employing a single electric motor driven blower to supply the vacuum stripping flow and the compressed air for blow-off.

System and method for removing liquid applied to hollow containers


A unidirectional torque-transfer coupling is disclosed. The coupling may include a first ring and a second ring that share a common axis, wherein the first ring is configured to rotate about the common axis from a first position to a second position; a first member extending from the first ring; and a second member extending from the second ring, wherein, when the first ring is in the second position and a valve coupled to the second ring is in an open position, the second member engages the first ring, and wherein, when the first ring moves from the second position to the first position, the first member causes the second ring to rotate in a same direction as the first ring Furthermore, when the first ring is in the second position, a valve is substantially unrestricted by the first ring with regard to moving to an open position.

In a system that includes a valve assembly, an actuator applies torque to a valve shaft in order to close an associated valve, when desired. A fluid flowing through the valve is used to open the valve when the pressure balance on the valve changes such that fluid can flow in the desired direction. It may be desirable for an opening interval for the valve to be quick, to permit fluid to pass through the valve, thereby improving the performance of the system. However, a resistance of the actuator may slow the valve opening speed to an unacceptable rate, thereby negatively impacting performance of the system.
One attempt to improve a valve opening speed is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,224 that issued to SULZER on Apr. 14, 1981 ("the '224 patent"). In particular, the '224 patent discloses a valve actuator that includes a planetary gear assembly. The valve stem is coupled to the planetary gear assembly through torque-release gearing; the handwheel is coupled to the planetary gear assembly through the worm; and the motor is coupled to the assembly through a one-way coupling means. The train from the valve stem to the planetary drive gear encompasses a sleeve which is keyed to the valve stem and is provided with an external gear coaxial with the valve stem. The external gear is meshed with the torque-limiting assembly which includes a first pinion, a second pinion, and detent means releasably interconnecting the two pinions. The detent is spring biased by spring washers pressing the first pinion into axial engagement with the second pinion to retain the ball of the detent means in position. The confronting surfaces of the pinions have detents which are axially aligned with one another to form two pairs of registering seats. This torque-limiting connection is effective to interrupt the train when the torque differential is sufficient to overcome the bias of the spring washers and to permit disengagement of the ball from one of its seats in the pinions. The second pinion is meshed with the planet drive gear. The direct, in-line drive from the motor through the planetary gear assembly to the valve stem enables the valve stem to be operated at a high speed, consistent with the ability of the butterfly valve element to open or close in the passageway provided by the valve casing. In the event of resistance, as for example, caused by a blockage of the motion of the valve stem, the resistance to rotation of the valve stem is transmitted backwardly as a counter-torque. This counter-torque is fed back through the torque release gearing to the planet drive of the planetary gear assembly. If the fedback torque is greater than that which can be transmitted by the torque-release coupling to the coupling will release and prevent overloading of the valve stem.
While the valve actuator of the '224 patent may provide a motor coupled to an assembly through a one-way coupling means, the planetary gear device, torque-limiting assembly, and worm and pinion connection of the '224 patent may increase complexity and expense and may decrease reliability of the system relative to a simpler valve actuator. Furthermore, the structure described in the '224 patent releases and prevents overloading of a valve stem when fedback torque is greater than that which can be transmitted by the torque-release coupling to the coupling, which is a different structure to that described herein. The unidirectional torque-transfer coupling of the present disclosure solves one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art.


A sync signal time difference detection circuit detects a time difference of reproduced sync signals reproduced by a first head and a second head having different azimuth angles. Rotation of a capstan motor is controlled in accordance with sync signal time difference information output from the sync signal time difference detection circuit, thereby performing a highly accurate tracking control not affected by jitter or eccentricity.

In a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing data signals with high density on and from a magnetic tape, a helical-scan recording method is employed using a rotary magnetic head (hereinafter referred to as "head"). The data signals are divided and recorded on a group of sequential unconnected slant tracks that are oblique to a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape. A tracking control is performed to keep the head to follow the tracks during reproduction of the recorded data signals.
Conventional tracking control techniques using a control data obtained from a rotary head include, for instance, an ATF control method disclosed in the Television Technology, September 1985 edition, page 25–27, and a timing control method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 07-29256, page 3. In the ATF control method, a pilot signal is recorded either in a burst-like manner on a part of a track, or superposed on a data signal, and this pilot signal is used to perform the tracking control at the time of reproduction.
In the timing control method, the tracking control is performed using a tracking error data detected from a time difference between a rotation phase signal of a rotary drum (hereinafter referred to as "PG signal") and a timing signal (hereinafter referred to in this invention as "synchronizing signal") recorded on a track.
With the above-cited ATF control method, the data becomes redundantly long because it needs to record the pilot signal beside a data signal, and it makes worse the tracking accuracy due to residual pilot signal not completely erased on the track base when another data signal is overwritten.
In the timing control method, a difference in timing from a PG signal to a synchronizing signal recorded on a track is likely to receive an influence of irregular rotation of the rotary drum, vibration of the magnetic tape (hereinafter referred to as "jitter" of the rotary drum) and so forth, that also make worse the tracking accuracy.
With an advancement of high-density digital recording in recent years, it has become important to enhance accuracy of tracking control technique with narrow tracks.
In the timing control method, as discussed above, since there are large distances from a position of detecting the PG signal to positions of detecting the individual synchronizing signals, a timing error is liable to get influence of jitter and off-centered shaft of a rotary drum. It is especially difficult to obtain accurate tracking error data, as the closer the synchronizing signal is to a tail end of the track the greater the influence of jitter and off-centered shaft of the rotary drum. Furthermore, the influence of jitter and off-centered shaft of the rotary drum becomes even more significant if the rotary drum is small and light in weight.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A toy track assembly for use with a toy vehicle is supported by a substantially vertical wall or a substantially horizontal flat surface. The toy track assembly includes at least one scenery cutout, an upper track and a lower mounting having a first mating surface and a rear surface. The first mating surface includes a projection and/or a recess. The rear surface is attachable to the vertical wall. The upper track includes a track surface for carrying the toy vehicle, the track surface having two sides and being oriented orthogonally to the rear surface. The upper track includes two upstanding walls, each of which is disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to a corresponding one of the two sides of the track surface. Each of the two upstanding walls has at least one slot extending substantially parallel to the track surface and configured for receiving the at least one scenery cutout. The upper track includes a second mating surface having a mating projection and/or a mating recess detachably connected to a corresponding projection and/or recess. The second mating surface has a substantially planar contact area for resting on the substantially horizontal flat surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to toy tracks for toy vehicles, and, more particularly, wall-mountable toy tracks.
2. Description of the Related Art
A toy track is generally an elongated flat surface on which a toy vehicle can travel. On either side of the elongated flat traveling surface typically are upstanding walls or rails running parallel to the track surface. The purpose of the upstanding walls is to block the vehicle from rolling off of the track surface as the vehicle travels down the track, as there is often no steering control of the toy vehicles. The toy vehicles can include toy cars, trucks, trains, etc.
It is known to lay out a toy track on a flat, horizontal surface, such as a floor or table top. It is also known to elevate a toy track off of a horizontal surface by mounting the toy track to a vertical wall, with the track surface remaining horizontal. A problem is that such toy tracks are generally configured to be mounted in only one of the two ways, which limits the ways in which a single track can be arranged. A wall-mounted track cannot be laid out on a floor if the need arises, nor can a track designed to be laid out on a floor be mounted to a vertical wall.
It is also known to place toy buildings, trees, animals, etc. around a toy track to make the scene appear more life-like. A problem is that such toy decorations can easily become displaced and can scatter onto the track surface, blocking the path of the toy vehicles.
What is needed in the art is a toy track assembly capable of retaining decorative items and including a track surface which can be securely mounted in an orthogonal orientation to a wall, yet the track surface can be easily be disconnected from the wall mounting for placement on a horizontal surface.

Wall-mountable toy track assembly with scenery slots


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate (102), forming a dielectric layer (104) over the semiconductor substrate (102), and etching a trench structure (106) or a via structure (106) in the dielectric layer (104) to expose a portion of a surface of the semiconductor substrate (102). The method also includes the steps of treating a surface (104a) of the dielectric layer (104) with an adhesion solution, such as a reactive plasma including hydrogen, and forming a diffusion barrier layer (110) over the dielectric layer (104). Moreover, the adhesion solution chemically interacts with the surface (104a) of the dielectric layer (104) and enhances or increases adhesion between dielectric layer (104) and diffusion barrier layer (110).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of semiconductor devices. Specifically, the invention relates to semiconductor devices having a dielectric layer and a diffusion barrier layer formed over the dielectric layer, and methods of manufacturing such semiconductor devices.
2. Description of Related Art
A known method of manufacturing a known semiconductor device having copper interconnect lines includes the step of forming a dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate may include device layers which previously were manufactured on the substrate. The method also includes the step of etching a plurality of via structures or a plurality of trench structures into the dielectric layer. Because copper atoms diffuse readily into other materials, such known methods also include the step of forming a diffusion barrier layer, e.g., a metal diffusion barrier layer, over the dielectric layer. Known metal diffusion barrier layers may comprise Ta, Ti, TaN, TiN, W2N, or similar metal compounds which, when used in a layer of sufficient thickness, substantially reduces or prevents the diffusion of copper atoms from one material to another material. This method also includes the steps of forming a copper seed layer over the diffusion barrier layer, and forming an electroplated or otherwise deposited copper layer over the copper seed layer. Moreover, a portion of the copper seed layer, a portion of the copper plate layer, and a portion of the diffusion barrier layer subsequently are removed by a known, chemical-mechanical polishing process, and a stop etch layer may be formed over the exposed copper plate layer.
As a trend for developing semiconductor devices capable of operating at faster speeds continues, the interconnect lines, e.g., copper interconnect lines, have become a speed bottleneck for developing semiconductor devices capable of operating at faster speeds. When the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer employed in the semiconductor device decreases, the speed at which the semiconductor may operate may increase. Consequently, there has been an increased demand for a dielectric layer having a lower dielectric constant, e.g., about 4.0 or less. For example, in another known method of manufacturing a known semiconductor device, the dielectric layer, e.g., a silicon oxide dielectric layer, may be modified with organic ligands, e.g., organo-silicate glass, polymeric dielectric films, or the like, which may decrease the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer. However, adhesion between the modified dielectric layer and the metal diffusion barrier layer inherently may be weak. In yet another known method of manufacturing a known semiconductor device, a reactive metal, e.g., Ti or Cr, may be deposited on the modified dielectric layer by physical vapor deposition prior to forming the metal diffusion barrier layer over the modified dielectric layer. The reactive metal deposited on the modified dielectric layer may increase adhesion between the modified dielectric layer and the metal diffusion barrier layer. Nevertheless, for most semiconductor devices having copper interconnect lines and a dielectric layer with a low dielectric constant, e.g., about 4.0 or less, the depth of the trench structure or the via structure formed in the dielectric layer is greater than the width of the trench structure or the via structure, respectively. As such, when physical vapor deposition methods are used to deposit the reactive metal on the modified dielectric layer, it may be difficult to form a reactive barrier layer on the modified dielectric layer having a substantially level topography, e.g., the reactive barrier layer has a decreased step coverage. Consequently, the performance of the semiconductor device is degraded using these known methods of manufacturing such known semiconductor devices.

Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing such semiconductor devices


A slot machine has a first reel group and a second reel group. The second reel group is constituted of auxiliary reels, on a peripheral surface of which re-rotation symbols are arranged. The auxiliary reels are respectively provided so as to correspond to each reel constituting the first reel group. After all the reels of the first reel group have stopped, any of the reels thereof is re-rotated and stopped if the corresponding auxiliary reel stops the re-rotation symbol at a predetermined position. Thus, a symbol combination displayed by the first reel group is changed in accordance with the auxiliary reel. It is preferable that the re-rotation symbol represents a rotational direction and a rotational amount of the re-rotated reel of the first reel group.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slot machine in which occurrence of a winning is judged in accordance with a combination of symbols stopping at a winning line.
2. Description of the Related Art
As well known, a slot machine has a plurality of reels or a CRT. The reel is rotatable and is provided with symbols arranged on a peripheral surface thereof. On the other hand, the CRT displays the symbols on the basis of graphic data stored in ROM. The symbol displayed in the CRT is moved so as to simulate the rotation of the reel. In such a slot machine, the reels are rotated together by an operation of a start button or a start lever after inserting a coin, a token and so forth (hereinafter, coin). The reel is stopped by an operation of a stop button provided for each reel or after a predetermined time has passed. When the reels have stopped, occurrence and kind of winning is determined in accordance with a combination of the symbols stopping at a predetermined winning line. When the winning is obtained, coins, number of which is predetermined, are paid out according to the kind of the winning.
There are various kinds of winning. For example, there is a winning such that the coins, number of which is from five to fifteen, are paid out when the prescribed symbols of two or three kinds are displayed at the winning line. Besides that, there are a jackpot winning, a bonus game winning and so forth. As to the jackpot winning, a great deal of dividend is obtained when the specific symbol combination, for example, "7-7-7" is displayed along the winning line. Regarding the bonus game winning, a bonus game is given. In the bonus game, winnings occur frequently at high probability in comparison with the normal game. In such slot machine, it becomes a great pleasure for a player whether various winnings are obtained or not.
In order to increase the pleasure of the slot machine, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 60-185579 discloses a slot machine in which a winning chance is obtained again by re-rotating the reel after it has stopped once.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-275432 discloses a slot machine having a first reel group for normal game and a second reel group for bonus game. The second reel group is used only when the specific symbols of the first reel group are arranged along the winning line, namely, the bonus game is obtained. Such slot machine has various game modes in the bonus game.
However, regarding the slot machine in which the reel stopped once is re-rotated when the game is lost, one set of the reels is used to decide whether the chance for re-rotating the reel is given or not, besides determining whether the winning occurs or not. Accordingly, even if winning chance according to the re-rotation of the reel is taken, a feeling that the game is extended is merely given to the player. Particularly, great expectation and interest for the winning are not given to the player.
As to the slot machine employing the second reel group used only for the bonus game besides the reel for the normal game, freshness is given for the bonus game. However, while the normal game is played, this slot machine is not different from a conventional one. Further, winning probability of the bonus game is set at low so that most of the players might lose the interest before playing the bonus game utilizing the second reel group.


A method of forming a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device comprises defining an active area in an unstrained semiconductor layer structure, depositing a hard mask overlying the active area and a region outside of the active area, patterning the hard mask to expose the active area, selectively growing a strained semiconductor layer overlying the exposed active area, and forming a remainder of the MOS device. The active area includes a first doped region of first conductivity type and a second doped region of second conductivity type. The strained semiconductor layer provides a biaxially strained channel for the MOS device. During a portion of forming the remainder of the MOS device, dopant of the first conductivity type of the first doped region of the active area and dopant of the second conductivity type of the second doped region of the active area diffuses into overlying portions of the strained semiconductor layer to create a correspondingly doped strained semiconductor layer, thereby providing corresponding doping for the biaxially strained channel.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to LDMOS transistors, and more specifically, to LDMOS transistors with stress in the channel.
2. Related Art
In laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistors, there is a tradeoff between resistivity, commonly known as Rdson, and high voltage breakdown. Breakdown can be increased by reducing the doping level of the high voltage N well that is for the drift region. This, however, causes the Rdson to increase. An approach for reducing Rdson that has been proposed is to introduce stress into the channel by forming a silicon layer over a thick epitaxial layer of silicon germanium (SiGe). One difficulty with this approach is that while depositing the underlying SiGe layer sufficiently thick for the SiGe layer to be relaxed, a high density of threading dislocations occurs. Some of these threading dislocations continue to grow into subsequently grown silicon causing defects in the silicon that lead to leakage and other potential problems. Further, other device types may be on the same integrated circuit as the LDMOS device and the grown SiGe layer may not be desirable for those other circuit types such as MOS transistors designed for logic operations and MOS transistors designed for analog operations. Also a thick SiGe layer is relatively expensive because of the time required to perform the growth.
Thus, there is a need for improving the tradeoff between Rdson and breakdown voltage in an LDMOS transistor while avoiding or reducing the impact of one or more of the problems described above.


A memory 1-bit error checking method is provided. Firstly, at least one piece of data fragment whose side is 2n bits is received. Next, an error correction code, a parity code and a data code are generated and written in the memory. Then, the at least one piece of data fragment is read from the memory and used as at least one piece of read data fragment. Next, a new error correction code, a new parity code and a new data code are generated. Afterwards, a determination as to whether the at least one piece of read data fragment has a 1-bit error is made. After that, if the at least one piece of read data fragment does not have a 1-bit error, then the at least one piece of read data fragment is outputted.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a memory and a 1-bit error checking method thereof, and more particularly to a memory simplifying hardware configuration and saving memory space, and a 1-bit error checking method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Memory device has now been widely used in the storage of data. The completeness of data storage is essential in the design of memory. Conventionally, the above data completeness is achieved via the use of an error correction code (ECC). The error correction code is used in a data completeness checking method for detecting and correcting a 1-bit error.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a flowchart of a conventional memory 1-bit error checking method is shown. Firstly, the method begins at step 100, at least one piece of data fragment whose size is 2n bits is received, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 0. Next, the method proceeds to step 110, an error correction code whose size is 2n bits is generated according to the at least one piece of data fragment, wherein the error correction code is generated according to an error checking and correction algorithm (ECC algorithm). In order to avoid a 1-bit error occurring to the error correction code, the error correction code further includes an error checking and correction (ECC) parity bit and its complement. The error correction code is an overhead bit for the at least one piece of data fragment.
Then, the method proceeds to step 120, the at least one piece of data fragment and the error correction code are written in the memory. After that, the method proceeds to step 130, the at least one piece of data fragment is read from the memory and used as at least one piece of read data fragment. Next, the method proceeds to step 140, a new error correction code is generated according to the at least one piece of read data fragment by using the ECC algorithm. Then, the method proceeds to step 150, a determination as to whether the at least one piece of read data fragment is the same with the at least one piece of data fragment is made according to the error correction code and the new error correction code. Substantially, in step 150, according to the error checking and correction algorithm, an "exclusive or" operation is performed on the error correction code and the new error correction code, and if the result is 0, the at least one piece of read data fragment is determined to be the same with the at least one piece of data fragment.
If the at least one piece of read data fragment is the same with the at least one piece of data fragment, then the method proceeds to step 160, the memory determines that the read operation is correct and outputs the at least one piece of read data fragment. If the at least one piece of read data fragment is different from the at least one piece of data fragment, then the method proceeds to step 170, if the memory determines that the read operation has a 1-bit error, then the memory corrects the at least one piece of read data fragment as the at least one piece of data fragment according to the new error correction code and outputs the at least one piece of read data fragment.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a schematic diagram of the error checking and correction algorithm is shown. As shown in FIG. 1B, at least one piece of data fragment whose size is 8 bits (D0˜D7) is exemplified. The 6-bit error correction code of the at least one piece of data fragment is generated according to the ECC algorithm. The error correction code includes ECC parity bits P1, P2 and P4, and the complements P1′, P2′ and P4′. Likewise, the new error correction code also does. The equations of ECC parity bits P1, P2 and P4, and the complements P1′, P2′ and P4′ are described as below, wherein ⊕ means "exclusive or".P4=D7⊕D6⊕D5⊕D4  (eq. 1)P2=D7⊕D6⊕D3⊕D2  (eq. 2)P1=D7⊕D5⊕D3⊕D1  (eq. 3)P4′=D3⊕D2⊕D1⊕D0  (eq. 4)P2′=D5⊕D4⊕D1⊕D0  (eq. 5)P1′=D6⊕D4⊕D2⊕D0  (eq. 6)
In step 170, if the memory determines that the read operation has a 1-bit error, that means the result of the "exclusive or" operation performed on the error correction code and the new error correction code is not all 0. The "exclusive or" result is the error location of the at least one piece of read data fragment. Then invert the error bit and the error is corrected.
According to the conventional memory error checking method, despite the ECC algorithm is able to detect and correct a 1-bit error. However, in checking the 1-bit error of a memory, the size of the error correction code is 2n bits, not only make the overhead bit to occupy too much memory space, but also make it difficult to simplify the hardware configuration of the memory.

Memory and 1-bit error checking method thereof


A liquid level detection device includes a sensor provided in a container which stores a liquid therein and having a variable resistance which changes a resistance value in association with a change of liquid level to output a voltage signal according to the resistance value of the variable resistance when a voltage is applied thereto, and a power supply circuit applying the voltage to the sensor intermittently on a predetermined cycle. A conducting time during which the power supply circuit applies the voltage to the sensor is equal to or less than 40 ms per cycle.

The present invention relates to a liquid level detection device, and more particularly a liquid level detection device which is suitable for detecting a residual fuel amount of a vehicle such as a motor vehicle which uses an electrolytic fuel such as alcohol itself like ethanol or methanol or alcohol-based fuel which contains such alcohols.
An example of a conventional liquid level detection device is shown in FIG. 9. A liquid level detection device 101 shown in FIG. 9 has a sensor 102 disposed within a container which stores a liquid therein. The sensor 102 has a variable resistance 103 which changes a resistance value by allowing a contact to move in association with a change in liquid level to thereby output a voltage signal according to a resistance value of the variable resistance 3 when a predetermined voltage is applied to the sensor. In addition, the liquid level detection device 101 includes a power supply circuit 104 which applies a voltage to the sensor 102 (for example, refer to Patent Document No. 1).
An example of the configuration of the sensor 102 is shown in FIG. 10. The sensor 102 shown in FIG. 10 includes an arm 111 to a distal end of which a float 110 adapted to float in the liquid is attached, a frame 112 which supports rotatably a proximal end portion of the arm 111, a circuit board 113 mounted on the frame 112 and a contact element 114 provided at the proximal end portion of the arm 111. A resistor, not shown, is formed on a surface of the circuit board 113, and a predetermined voltage is applied to this resistor by the power supply circuit 104. The contact element 114 swings about an rotational axis of the arm 111 in association with rotation of the arm 111 and slides over the resistor on the circuit board 113 (for example, refer to Patent Document No. 4).
One end of the resistor of the circuit board 113 and the contact element 114 are electrically connected to output terminals 115, 116 of the sensor 102, respectively. The float 110 fluctuates while linking with a change in liquid level, and the arm 111 rotates in association with fluctuation of the float 110, causing the contact element 114 to slide over the resistor, whereby a resistance value of a portion of the resistor which lies between the end where the resistor connects to the output terminal 115 to the contact element 114 (hereinafter, referred to as a first region of the resistor) changes. Namely, the variable resistance 103 is made up of the resistor and the contact element 114. The voltage applied to the resistor is divided according to the resistance value of the first region of the resistor, and the voltage applied to this first region is detected between the output terminals 115, 116 as an output signal of the sensor 102.
Referring to FIG. 9 again, the liquid level detection device 101 obtains the output signal of the sensor 102 at a processing circuit 105 and drives a gauge 106 which indicates a residual amount of the liquid based on the signal so obtained.
Incidentally, when detecting a residual amount of fuel of a vehicle such as a motor vehicle, the sensor 102 of the liquid level detection device 101 is disposed within a fuel tank, and in recent years, bio-ethanol or the like is used for fuel of a vehicle. Alcohol-based fuel such as bio-ethanol is an electrolytic liquid, and when the sliding contact surfaces of the resistor and the contact element 114 of the sensor 102 are exposed to the electrolytic liquid, an electrochemical reaction such as electrolytic corrosion is produced on the sliding contact surfaces as the voltage is applied thereto, as a result of which the sliding contact surfaces are deteriorated, and this raises the contact resistance at the contact portion, interrupting an accurate measurement. In order to avoid the drawback like this, there is proposed a technique in which a voltage is applied to the sensor intermittently in a predetermined cycle (for example, refer to Patent Document Nos. 1 to 3).
[Patent Document No. 1]JP-A-2002-214023[Patent Document No. 2]JP-A-63-138215[Patent Document No. 3]JP-A-2006-214828[Patent Document No. 4]JP-B-3898913
Here, although the conducting time (energizing time) constitutes an important factor in electrochemical reaction such as electrolytic corrosion, in Patent Document Nos. 1 to 3 above, nothing is stated about a preferable conducting time per cycle, and no sufficient countermeasures has been taken in those related art liquid level detection devices.