A surgical device including a frame member having a distal end and a proximal end and a pair of clamping mechanisms movably mounted to the frame member at the distal end thereof for exerting respective clamping forces on spaced organic tissues of a patient. Actuators mounted to the frame member at the proximal end thereof are operatively connected to the clamping mechanisms for controlling the operation thereof. Another actuator, also mounted to the frame member, is operatively connected to the clamping mechanisms for increasing a distance therebetween, thereby stretching organic tissues between the clamped tissues and facilitating access to the stretched tissues. The instrument assembly is particularly useful during laparoscopic surgery.

This invention relates to a surgical instrument assembly. More particularly, this invention relates to a clamping device for use in surgery. This invention also relates to an associated surgical method or procedure.
During surgical operations, one of the most important operations is the spreading of convoluted and folded organic tissues to enable visual inspection and physical access to a potential surgical site. Generally, such access is achieved by initially attaching a first clamp to tissues on one side of the desired site and a second clamp to tissues on the opposite side of the site. The clamps are then pulled apart, by surgical assistants, to spread the tissues between the two clamps.
Such a procedure, although useful and effective in open surgery, could be streamlined. In addition, the procedure is cumbersome if used in laparoscopic surgery.
Laparoscopy involves the piercing of a patient's abdominal wall and the insertion of a cannula through the perforation. Generally, the cannula is a trocar sleeve which surrounds a trocar during an abdomen piercing operation. Upon the formation of the abdominal perforation, the trocar is withdrawn while the sleeve remains traversing the abdominal wall. A laparoscopic instrument, such as a laparoscope or a forceps, is inserted through the cannula so that a distal end of the instrument projects into the abdominal cavity.
Generally, in a laparoscopic surgical procedure, three or four perforations are formed in the abdomen to enable deployment of a sufficient number of laparoscopic instruments to perform the particular surgery being undertaken. Each perforation is formed by a trocar which is surrounded by a sleeve, the sleeves or cannulas all remaining in the abdominal wall during the surgical procedure.
Prior to insertion of the first trocar and its sleeve, a hollow needle is inserted through the abdominal wall to enable pressurization of the abdominal cavity with carbon dioxide. This insufflation procedure distends the abdominal wall, thereby producing a safety space above the patient's abdominal organs.
Laparoscopic surgery provides several advantages over conventional incision-based surgery. The laparoscopic perforations, in being substantially smaller than the incisions made during conventional operations, are less traumatic to the patient and provide for an accelerated recovery and convalescence. Hospital stays are minimized. Concomitantly, laparoscopic surgery is less time consuming and less expensive than conventional surgery for correcting the same problems.
To enable access to a desired surgical site during a laparoscopic operation, the tissue spreading procedure described above requires the formation of at least four abdominal perforations and the insertion of four trocar sleeves. Two sleeves are required for the clamps, another sleeve for the laparoscope and a fourth sleeve for an instrument (e.g., scalpel, forceps, cautery probe, etc.) to perform a surgical operation at the sugical site which has been made visible by the tissue spreading procedure.

Surgical clamping assembly and associated method


A control system for controlling outputs associated with off-road vehicles is disclosed herein. The outputs are actuated by actuators in response to control signals generated by a control circuit. In a normal mode, the control circuit generates the control signals based upon command signals generated by operator-actuatable command devices, and applies the control signals to the actuators to control the outputs. In a record mode, the control circuit stores a sequence of commands in a memory circuit to record the sequential actuations of the command devices. Then, in a playback mode, the control circuit generates the control signals based upon the recorded command sequence instead of the command signals. Playback can be triggered manually by a playback switch, or automatically based upon the geo-graphic position of the off-road vehicle. The control system can record and playback more than one command sequence. Each sequence step generates a recorded command which can depend upon a recorded event based upon values of a timer, geographic position or feedback signal. In addition, the operator can erase, view and edit the commanded sequences. The operator can also download and upload command sequences.

Off-road vehicles can include control systems for controlling a plurality of outputs in response to command signals. For example, an off-road vehicle may include systems for controlling a four-wheel drive (4WD) clutch, a differential lock (DL), a power take-off (PTO) clutch, an engine speed actuator, and a transmission. Specific off-road vehicles may include control systems for other outputs. Agricultural tractors, for example, may include control systems for raising and lowering mounted, semi-mounted and trailing implements (e.g., drills, planters, plows, drags, fertilizer spreaders, etc.), and control systems for applying farming inputs using the implements. Mounted implements are coupled to tractors by hitch assemblies (e.g., three-point hitches), and trailing implements are coupled by drawbars. Combines include systems for controlling settings of crop processors such as headers, rotors, concaves, sieves and cleaning fans. Construction vehicles include systems for controlling the settings of construction equipment devices such as booms, arms, buckets and augers.
The command signals applied to off-road vehicle control systems are typically generated by operator-actuatable command devices. Command devices may include discrete (e.g., switches or pulsers) and analog devices (e.g., levers or potentiometers). For example, a DL may be locked, or a 4WD or PTO clutch engaged, based upon actuations of a switch. An engine speed actuator may be controlled based upon positions of a throttle lever. A transmission gear may be selected based upon positions of a shift or pulser lever. An implement may be raised and lowered based upon positions of a position or draft force lever or actuations of a raise/lower switch. A farming input may be applied by an implement based upon settings of a lever which controls a hydraulic valve supplying hydraulic fluid to an actuator on the implement. The command signals on combines and construction vehicles also depend upon command devices. The command signals generated by the command devices may control the outputs directly, or may be combined with other signals by a control circuit and then used to control the output.
Modern off-road vehicles are being equipped with a plurality of control systems for controlling many outputs with increased levels of control. This trend is likely to continue or accelerate with the growing use of digital control systems and data busses. To provide effective control over the increasing numbers of more complex control systems, the cabs of off-road vehicles are being equipped with more operator-actuatable command devices requiring more sequential or concurrent actuations.
The situation wherein a tractor exits a field at the headlands illustrates the many command device actuations required for effective control. For example, it may be desired to perform the following output functions each time a tractor exits a field: raise hitch; disengage 4WD; unlock DL; disengage PTO; lower throttle setting; and shift transmission. Each step may require actuation of a separate command device. The sequence is reversed as the tractor re-enters the field. The sequences repeat each time the tractor exits and re-enters a field. A tractor performs other sequences in other situations, and other types of off-road vehicles perform other sequences.
For effective control, each command sequence step may need to be performed based upon a different event. For example, the operator may have raised the hitch when the tractor was a certain distance from the border of a field, disengaged 4WD after the hitch reached a transport position, unlocked DL one second after starting to raise the hitch, disengaged PTO at the field border, lowered the throttle setting while the implement was raised, and shifted the transmission two, three and four seconds after starting to raise the implement. The operator may have sensed the occurrence of each event and actuated each command device appropriately. Thus, each step may occur in response to an event based upon a geographic position, feedback signal, timer value or other signal.
As the example shows, each command sequence may require actuation of a number of command devices, with each command device actuated once or more than once. Further, effective control may only occur if the correct command devices are actuated in the correct sequence in response to the correct events. Thus, effective control may require a high level of operator skill, training and experience. However, even a skillful operator may not achieve optimal efficiency due to fatigue caused by the high workload needed for effective control. Thus, the efficiencies achievable by off-road vehicles equipped with modern control systems may not be realized due to imprecise command device actuations caused by inadequate operator skill, training or experience, or by fatigue.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an improved system for controlling outputs associated with off-road vehicles. It would be advantageous to provide a control system for an off-road vehicle which can record a command sequence, and then repeat the recorded sequence. Such a control system could control multiple outputs with each output receiving one or more commands. It would be advantageous to provide a control system for an off-road vehicle which can repeat a plurality of command sequences in response to separate playback signals having either manual or automatic triggers (e.g., geographic position). It would be advantageous if the command sequences could be erased, viewed and edited. Further, it would be advantageous to provide a control system for an off-road vehicle which can repeat a command sequence wherein the steps occur in response to events based upon a geographic position, a feedback signal, a timer value or another signal. It would further be advantageous to download and upload command sequences to external devices.

Sequential command repeater system for off-road vehicles


A programming method includes a first program loop applying first and second pulses to a selected word line and thereafter determining a threshold voltage for the selected memory cell in relation to first and second verification voltages. Then, upon determining that the threshold voltage is lower than the first verification voltage, performing the second program loop by applying the first pulse to the selected word line, or upon determining that the threshold voltage is higher than the first verification voltage and lower than the second verification voltage, performing the second program loop by applying the second pulse to the selected word line.

The inventive concept relates generally to the programming of data in a semiconductor memory device. More particularly, the inventive concept relates to methods of programming a nonvolatile memory device.
Nonvolatile memory devices and memory systems including nonvolatile memory devices have become staple components in a wide variety of contemporary electronic devices including computers, cellular phones, PDAs, digital cameras, camcorders, voice recorders, MP3 players, handheld PCs, game machines, and televisions.
Nonvolatile memory devices include, as examples, mask read-only memory (MROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and the like.
With an increase in a need for a large-capacity memory devices, multi-level cell (MLC) or multi-bit memory devices capable of storing multi-bit data per memory cell have become more common. It is essential to manage the threshold voltage distributions for MLC during program and read operations in order to maintain an acceptable level of data reliability.

Nonvolatile memory device and program method


A hybrid air-ground vehicle design that cycles through a regenerative energy phase during a ground-based trajectory. The regenerative ground-based trajectory, in turn, produces energy for purposes of implementing another air-based trajectory cycle. The design significantly improves the versatility and endurance of robotic position-adaptive sensor designs. The radar (or electro-optic) sensors on the platform perform surveillance operations during both the ground and air trajectories of the hybrid air/ground vehicle.

Position-adaptive robotic sensor concepts for radar applications are known and have been investigated to a small degree in the prior art. Present-day combat scenarios often involve a foot soldier patrolling within hostile urban environments. The development of position-adaptive radar concepts allow for several advancements in the area of intelligent preparation for the battlefield by providing soldiers the capability of safely pre-surveying embedded urban canyons and obscured indoor environments for unforeseen adversaries and obscured weapons from a reasonable stand-off distance. This technology also allows for the continuous electronic surveillance of activities within an uncontrolled region and also for monitoring of suspicious materials transfers within uncontrolled regions of interest. In general, multi-platform position-adaptive UAV radar concepts allow for the acquisition of intelligence information in many important and challenging environments with obscured and embedded channels and allow for the safe preparation of an uncontrolled region-of-interest for day to day military operations. Position-adaptive multi-UAV radar is also a dual-use technology in the sense that many system configurations and geometries can be defined with important applications to commercial security and homeland defense.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art position-adaptive radar system concept for interrogating difficult and obscured targets in urban environments using low-altitude smart, or robotic-type, unmanned air vehicle (UAV) platforms. The UAVs are shown at 100 and 101 and the urban environment is shown at 102. A low-altitude position-adaptive platform is denoted as a "LUAV" and a high-altitude radiating platform as "HUAV." The system concept entails two modes. In mode 1, LUAVs perform real-time onboard computations of differential phase parameters, phase discontinuities, and amplitude signatures to position-adaptively isolate signal leakage points (e.g., between two buildings).
After the LUAV position-adaptively converges to an optimum location (at a leakage point), the system enters mode 2 (see FIG. 1). The mode 2 technique is based on modulating scattering centers on embedded objects 103 (denoted by the small black box in the figure) by implementing a fast trajectory on the HUAV as the LUAV hovers in front of an obscured channel. This fast trajectory on the HUAV generates a modulation signal that a smart LUAV can measure in a passive mode and analyze. Under this concept, the hovering LUAV measures the modulation signals and implements a set of real-time onboard computations to determine characteristics of embedded target that are non-line-of-sight to either the HUAV or the LUAV.
Position-adaptive radar system development efforts for future systems include analysis, simulations, and data collection efforts for interrogating indoor urban environments, tunnels, embedded cavities, and other challenging clutter environments. Position-adaptive sensor concepts for interrogating embedded objects-of-interest in challenging environments using electro-optic and laser sensors can also be formulated and investigated for advanced sensor development applications. Developing a hybrid air/ground position-adaptive UAV radar capability with regenerative energy sources addresses many of the limitations of existing UAV-based sensor systems due, for example, to energy-limited loiter and reconnaissance times within an embedded urban environment. In addition, a hybrid air/ground capability enhances the flexibility of a distributed multi-UAV system by allowing for a continuum of platform altitudes.
The present invention introduces a platform design that will significantly improve the versatility and endurance of future robotic or robotically-enhanced (partially autonomous) positive-adaptive sensor designs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Regenerative hybrid system for position-adaptive sensor applications

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


Disclosed is a silyl thioalkene compound, as a class of organosilicon compounds, represented by the general formula EQU R(--CSAr.dbd.CHSiX.sub.3).sub.n,. in which the subscript n is 1 or 2, R is, when n is 1, a hydrogen atom or unsubstituted or substituted monovalent hydrocarbon group or, when n is 2, a divalent hydrocarbon group, Ar is an unsubstituted or nucleus-substituted aromatic monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group and X is a halogen atom, a monovalent hydrocarbon group or hydrocarbyloxy group, having usefulness as an intermediate in the synthesis of various precision organic chemicals. The compound, of which X is a halogen atom X.sup.1, can be prepared, for example, by the reaction of an alkyne compound of the general formula EQU R(--C.tbd.CH).sub.n,. with a silyl sulfide compound of the general formula EQU ArS--SiX.sup.1.sub.3,. in the presence of a platinum complex catalyst. The compound, of which X is a monovalent hydrocarbon group or a hydrocarbyloxy group, can be derived from the above obtained halogen-containing compound.

The present invention relates to a novel silyl thioalkene compound having a silicon atom and a sulfur atom in the molecule, which is useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of various kinds of organic compounds, as well as to a method for the preparation of the compound.
A silyl thioalkene compound is a compound having a silicon atom and a sulfur atom in the molecule so that the compound is useful in the synthetic preparation of an organic compound having a sulfur atom by undertaking a position-specific or stereospecific coupling reaction between the compound and an organic halogen compound in the presence of a catalyst readily to form a carbon-carbon linkage and in the preparation of a diol or enol ether compound having a sulfur atom in the molecule by undertaking the so-called osmium oxidation. Accordingly, silyl thioalkene compounds are expected to be useful as a starting material or an intermediate compound in the synthesis of various kinds of organic compounds as a medicine or as an agricultural chemical.
Several methods are proposed in the prior art for the synthetic preparation of certain silyl thioalkene compounds including a method by the photochemical reaction between a silylalkyne compound and a thiol compound under irradiation with light in the presence of a radical initiator and a method by the coupling reaction between a silylalkenyl halide compound and stannyl sulfide in the presence of a catalyst. These methods, however, are industrially not advantageous because the silyl group-containing compound as the starting material cannot be obtained without difficulties. Accordingly, it is eagerly desired to obtain a novel silyl thioalkene compound capable of being synthesized directly from a hydrocarbon compound.

Silyl thioalkene compound and method for the preparation thereof

Japan as represented by Director General of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology


A display device which has a liquid crystal display which has a plurality liquid crystal pixels arranged in a matrix and which writes an image thereon after resetting the liquid crystal. The method of writing on the liquid crystal display can be selected from driving methods according to interlace scanning in which a frame is divided into a plurality of fields and writing by interlace scanning is performed and driving methods according to sequential scanning in which scanning lines are subjected to writing serially. When high-speed writing is required, for example, when display of a motion picture, display of inputted letters or scroll display is desired, one of the driving methods according to interlace scanning is selected. In interlace scanning, based on the end of a blackout state of a scanning line in a field, selection of a scanning line in the next field for writing is started. Writing on a scanning line comprises a reset step of resetting the liquid crystal, a selection step of selecting the final state of the liquid crystal, an evolution step of stabling the liquid crystal into the selected state, and one of the length of the reset step and the total length of the selection step and the evolution step is n times (n: natural number) the other. For example, when the length of the reset step is n times the total length of the selection step and the evolution step and when a frame is divided into m fields (m: natural number larger than n) for interlace scanning, there is a moment when, in serial m scanning lines, n scanning lines of them are in the reset step, one of them is in the selection step or in the evolution step, and the other m-n-1 scanning lines are in a display step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a display device which has a liquid crystal display which has a plurality of liquid crystal pixels arranged in a matrix and on which writing is carried out after reset of the liquid crystal.
2. Description of Prior Art
In recent years, liquid crystal displays which use chiral nematic liquid crystal which exhibits a cholesteric phase at room temperature attracts attention because such displays have a memory effect, that is, are capable of displaying an image thereon continuously after the supply of electric power thereto is stopped.
However, in such a liquid crystal display, it is necessary to reset the liquid crystal before writing, and it takes a long time to complete writing. During the writing, in the part on which writing is being carried out, the light absorbing layer provided on the backside of the pixels is seen as black lines (blackout), which raises a problem that the screen is difficult to see.
In portable equipment such as note-type personal computers, mobile telephones, PDA, digital cameras, video cameras, etc., batteries are used as the power sources, and therefore, the available time of such a device after an electric charge thereto is limited. It is demanded to lengthen the available time.
In order to comply with this demand, it is good to use the above-described reflective type liquid crystal displays which have a memory effect and which therefore consume little electric power. This will contribute to energy saving and will never obstacle downsizing, lightening and thinning of the devices. Thus, in the near future, it will be indispensable to employ a reflective type liquid crystal display with a memory effect for portable equipment.
A liquid crystal display with a memory effect consumes electric power while carrying out writing thereon. Therefore, such a liquid crystal display consumes little electric power while displaying a still image continuously but consumes great electric power while writing images repeatedly.
A typical example of liquid crystal with a memory effect is chiral nematic liquid crystal. This kind of liquid crystal takes a longer time for writing thereon than TFT liquid crystal, and this kind of liquid crystal has been considered to be unsuited to display motion pictures and rapidly changeable images (for example, display of inputted letters, scroll of a screen).

Liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal display driven by interlace scanning and/or sequential scanning


A camera agnostic core monitor for an enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) is disclosed. In embodiments, a structured light projector (SLP) generates and projects a precise geometric pattern or other like artifact, which is reflected by collimating elements into the EFVS optical path. Within the optical path, the EFVS focal plane array is illuminated by, and detects, the projected artifacts within the scene imagery captured for display by the EFVS. Image processors assess the presentation of the detected artifacts (e.g., position/orientation relative to the expected presentation of the detected artifact within the scene imagery) to verify that the displayed EFVS imagery is not misleading.

Enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) provide electronic displays (e.g., cockpit-based primary flight displays (PFD)) of scene imagery and topography external to an aircraft (e.g., directly forward thereof) via electromagnetic image sensors of various wavelengths, e.g., infrared (IR) image sensors (which may include short-wave IR (SWIR) and/or near IR (NIR)); millimeter-wave radar and/or radiometry, low-light image intensifying, and other like imaging sensors). Displayed scene imagery may be enhanced by flight symbology for at-a-glance updates of flight parameters, aircraft information, and terrain details, providing a visual advantage in distance over pilots not using EFVS or in degraded visual environments (DVE).
As the information presented to the pilot via PFD is considered true unless flagged otherwise, EFVS must be designed and monitored to prevent the display of hazardously misleading information (HMI). HMI may include incorrect representation of aircraft parameters as terrain detail, "frozen" or "stuck" display systems providing information that is no longer temporally accurate, or any other presentation of inaccurate information that may create hazardous conditions for pilots, crew, and passengers.
Conventional core monitoring approaches mitigate the presentation of HMI by tracking intrinsic flaws in the EFVS focal point array (FPA). For example, manufacturing variations in pixel responsivity or vulnerability to cosmic radiation may manifest as dead pixels or fixed pattern noise (FPN). However, such camera-dependent approaches are less effective with respect to modern low-noise imaging sensors, which are less susceptible to dead pixels.

Camera agnostic core monitor incorporating projected images with high spatial frequency


An ATM network which collects billing data from ATM switches in a switched voice network. A full, partial or summary report is produced. The ATM switches can be anywhere in the network. The ATM network includes the ATM switches, a data collection unit and billing systems. The data collection unit collects pertinent data and outputs the data to an AT&T billing system or any other desired billing system. Because ATM systems use cells for carrying information, the system is faster and more efficient than TDM systems. In addition, the output of the data collection system is table driven and can be defined to match the input needs of TDM billing systems without increased effort or expense.

Switched voice networks are generally of the time-division multiplex (TDM) type. TDM systems operate using switches and frames defined in time. In TDM systems, information is transmitted in frames. In-band signaling in a TDM system is inside each of the frames and is treated as a payload. A system utility takes a signaling part of the payload out of the frame and uses the information for billing purposes. This is also true for out-of-band signalling in the TDM system. A system utility recognizes the signal characteristics along with an associated payload and uses the information for billing purposes as well.
In private line exchanges customers can pay a flat rate regardless of usage. Collecting data does not occur since a bill is generated on a monthly basis, for example, and is the same every month. This type of billing system is used strictly for data transfer and not voice systems such as telephone or facsimile systems.
In telephone systems, for example, information for billing purposes is extracted by employing in-band signaling inside frames or out-of-band signaling. As noted above, the TDM system handles the in-band signaling as part of the payload or the out-of-band signalling and the associated payload. A system utility continuously extracts the signaling (dialing) part of the payload (and at the end of the day (midnight) produces an Automatic Message Accounting (AMA) record for calls spanning multiple days). That is, all network signalling is collected and sent to an appropriate billing system in the form of an AMA record. AMA is a standard billing format that directs what information is needed, where it is to go and or what to record for billing purposes. This precludes others such as hackers from accessing the information. All the billing pieces, such as time, length of call, party doing the calling, party being billed, billing company, type of service, etc., are collected and used to generate a bill. Because TDM systems operate on a time basis, billing occurs, along with other functions, at a predetermined time.
Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) systems for transferring information are becoming more popular. Information in an ATM system is transmitted in cells rather than in frames as in a TDM system. Thus, ATM systems are flexible in terms of not having constraints as to the type of service being carried (voice, data, video, etc.).
There are no current standards on how to collect billing data from an ATM system. Standards exist only with respect to what data should be included in the AMA system. The current state of ATM technology has standards bodies working to study and approve standards in the areas of signaling, cell transfer, and accounting record format. However, using ATM in a switched voice and data network has not been achieved. Particularly, extracting billing (or other information) from a switched voice or data network using ATM has not been accomplished.

Switched voice and data ATM network with billing system


A method for communicating backpressure messaging over a serial encoded link is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention enable advanced backpressure signaling to be retrofitted into legacy systems to achieve performance improvements and support new or enhanced services. Specifically, such signaling enables per-context and per-priority backpressure signaling information to be conveyed by a backpressure message; thereby enabling flow control to be performed in accordance with a priority or context associated with a traffic flow, or flows, carried over the serial link.

Backpressure signaling is a method of flow control used in data communications systems. It can be used on communication links between data communications systems, and also for communications between subsystems of data communications systems. Generally, the purpose of backpressure signaling is to prevent packet loss at receiver queues caused by overflowing those queues.
Legacy backpressure techniques typically employ simple on-off signaling. According to this technique, a receiver queue of a data communications system, upon crossing a fill-level threshold, causes a backpressure signal (e.g. halt) to be generated that is sent to the source of the packets. In the case of inter-system communication, the packet source would typically be a transmit buffer of another data communications system. In the case of intra-system communication, the packet source would typically be an egress queue of a subsystem and the receiver queue would be an ingress queue of another subsystem. The backpressure signal (halt) indicates to the source that it should suspend sending packets to that queue until further notice, which will be given in the form of another backpressure signal (e.g. resume). In some cases there can be more than one packet source, and in those cases the backpressure signal would normally be sent to all of those sources. This technique has been highly successful in communications systems because it is simple to implement; requiring only a limited amount of information to be sent back to the transmitting source to process.
More advanced backpressure techniques are known that offer more than simple on-off signaling. These include techniques employing progressive throttling of a packet flow to a queue as successively higher fill-level thresholds are exceeded at the queue. Other techniques have means for applying backpressure to packets of only certain priorities. Generally, more advanced backpressure techniques require more information to be sent back to a packet source via advanced backpressure signaling.
With the introduction of advanced backpressure techniques, the problem of how to overlay these new techniques onto legacy systems arises. Specifically, in the case of priority based backpressure, the amount of information that needs to be communicated to a packet source increases and the problem becomes how to send this information back to the transmitting source over the existing infrastructure that was designed to handle a simple backpressure technique.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide advanced backpressure signaling capability in a legacy system to gain the advantages that such signaling offers without requiring substantial redesign of the system.

Method for communicating backpressure messages in a data communications system


A patterned magnetic recording medium, accessible by a magnetic recording head, including a plurality of tracks, a width direction of each track and that of the magnetic recording head being of a skew angle. The patterned magnetic recording medium includes a plurality of magnetic dots, each corresponding to a recording bit, formed on a non-magnetic material. The plurality of magnetic dots are arranged in a plurality of arrays, each array corresponding to one of the tracks. Every N adjacent magnetic dots of the array define a polygon, one side thereof being parallel to the corresponding track, and another side thereof being parallel to a direction determined by the skew angle of the corresponding track.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium and a method for producing the same. Particularly, it relates to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium having a magnetic recording pattern formed therein and a method for producing the perpendicular magnetic recording medium.
2. Description of the Background Art
A stationary magnetic storage device (hard disk drive) is used as one of information recording devices for supporting recent sophisticated information society. Improvement in recording density is required of a magnetic recording medium used in the magnetic storage device with the increase in quantity of information. To achieve high recording density, a unit in which inversion of magnetization occurs must be small-sized. To this end, it is important that magnetic grain size is reduced and the unit of inversion of magnetization is separated and partitioned clearly to reduce magnetic interaction between adjacent recording units.
As a technique for achieving higher-density magnetic recording, a perpendicular magnetic recording method has been recently used in place of a longitudinal magnetic recording method. As a magnetic recording layer material for use in a perpendicular magnetic recording medium, a CoCr alloy crystalline film having a hexagonal close-packed structure (hcp structure) is discussed chiefly at present. Perpendicular magnetic recording is performed while crystal orientation is controlled so that a c axis of the hcp structure is perpendicular to the film surface (i.e. a c surface is parallel to the film surface).
Approaches to refinement of crystal grains forming the CoCr alloy crystalline film, reduction of the grain size distribution, reduction of magnetic interaction between grains, etc. have been proposed to cope with further increase in density of the magnetic recording medium in future.
As a magnetic layer structure control method for higher magnetic recording density, there is a method using a magnetic layer having a structure in which the periphery of a magnetic crystal grain is surrounded by a non-magnetic non-metal substance such as oxide or nitride, generally called granular magnetic layer. Low noise characteristic is obtained in the granular magnetic film because the grain boundary phase of the non-magnetic non-metal substance separates magnetic grains physically so that magnetic interaction between magnetic grains is lowered to thereby suppress zigzag domain walls from being formed in a recording bit transition region.
Generally, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium using Ru as an underlying layer and using a CoPtCrO alloy having a granular structure as a magnetic layer has been proposed. As the thickness of the Ru layer which is the underlying layer located under the granular magnetic layer is increased, c axis orientation is improved. Excellent magnetic characteristic and electromagnetic transducing characteristic are obtained with the improvement of c axis orientation.
It has been reported that when RF sputtering film formation is performed by using a CoNiPt target containing oxide such as SiO2, a granular recording film having a structure in which respective magnetic crystal grains are surrounded by non-magnetic oxide so as to be separated individually can be formed to thereby achieve low noise characteristic (e.g. see U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,473, and so on). It is conceived that low noise characteristic is obtained in such a granular magnetic film because the grain boundary phase of the non-magnetic non-metal substance separates magnetic grains physically so that magnetic interaction between the magnetic grains is lowered to thereby suppress zigzag domain walls from being formed in a recording bit transition region.
When a crystal orientation control layer having the same crystal structure, that is, the same hcp structure as that of ferromagnetic crystal grains of the magnetic layer is provided, Co grains of the magnetic layer is grown on the crystal orientation control layer corresponding to a crystalline substance (crystal grains) of the crystal orientation control layer and that oxide is precipitated and grown in the magnetic layer corresponding to a crystal grain boundary porous region or amorphous region of the crystal orientation control layer. In other words, there is a proposal that crystal grains of the magnetic layer are grown epitaxially on crystal grains of the crystal orientation control layer, so that crystal orientation of the crystal orientation control layer is taken over to the magnetic layer to thereby make it possible to control the crystal orientation of the magnetic layer, and that an amorphous phase crystal gain boundary interposed in the periphery of crystal grains forming the magnetic layer is formed to thereby make it possible to control the crystal state of the magnetic layer having a granular structure (e.g. see JP-A-2003-123239, JP-A-2003-242623, and so on).
It has been reported that when a magnetic layer of a perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a first magnetic layer of a granular structure and a second magnetic layer of a non-granular structure, good electromagnetic transducing characteristic and high durability can be guaranteed (e.g. see JP-A-2007-103008, and so on).
In order to improve easiness of recording without spoiling thermal stability, there has been proposed a layer structure including a first magnetic recording layer and a second magnetic recording layer which are ferromagnetically coupled to each other while a coupling layer is interposed therebetween. It has been reported that at least one of the first magnetic recording layer and the second magnetic recording layer preferably has a granular structure (e.g. see JP-A-2006-48900, and so on).
In such a granular perpendicular magnetic recording medium, relatively good magnetic characteristic and electromagnetic transducing characteristic are obtained. The granular perpendicular magnetic recording medium proposed heretofore was however a continuous film in plan view, that is, a so-called solid film. To achieve higher recording density, it is necessary to prevent writing from being blurred in adjacent tracks, reduce the formation of zigzag domain walls due to grains arranged at random, reduce the influence of thermal fluctuation due to reduction in crystal grain size, and reduce magnetic interaction between magnetic grains as much as possible.
Therefore, a discrete track medium has been proposed. The unit in which magnetization is inverted is partitioned clearly, that is, a magnetic substance row in which intervals of tracks are magnetically completely separated is formed to obtain an adjacent track boundary artificially. Writing can be prevented from being blurred in the adjacent tracks, and zigzag domain walls can be prevented from being formed.
Further, a patterned medium has attracted attention. As the patterned medium, there has been proposed a patterned medium in which dots separated into single domains made uniform artificially in shape and size are arranged as an array so that each single magnetic material dot is used as a single recording bit for performing recording and reproducing (e.g. see JP-A-10-233015, and so on).
Although various techniques known heretofore can be used as a method of forming a structure in which a magnetic material of a patterned medium is separated, improvement is required because each of the techniques has advantages and disadvantages. For example, photolithography has an advantage in terms of throughput because of batch exposure but comes with such difficulty that a large area of the magnetic recording medium is exposed to light in batch with a fine pattern of dozen nm. Although an electron beam lithography method or a converged ion beam method can form a fine pattern of dozen nm because an electron beam or a converged ion beam is irradiated while following along the pattern, the electron beam lithography method or the converged ion beam method is not realistic in terms of processing cost based on processing time because few days are required for processing all the large area of the magnetic recording medium.
Several methods using self-assembling have been proposed as a method for solving this disadvantage. For example, there has been proposed a method of producing a magnetic recording medium, in which fine grains with a diameter in a range of from the order of nanometers to the order of micrometers are two-dimensionally arranged on a substrate and patterning is performed with the fine grains as a mask to thereby form magnetic fine grains isolated on the substrate (e.g. see JP-A-10-320772, and so on).
A pattern forming method using a self-assembling phase separation structure of a block copolymer has been proposed (e.g. see P. Mansky et al, Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 68, p. 2586, M. Park et al, Science, vol. 276, p. 1401, and so on). The method using a block copolymer can form a regularly arranged pattern by a very simple process of dissolving the block copolymer in a suitable solvent and applying the resulting solvent on a piece to be processed. Generally, the phase separation structure of the block copolymer is self-assembled as a honeycomb hexagonal close-packed lattice.
A magnetic recording medium which uses a self-assembling arrangement structure of anodized alumina pores so that the alumina pores are filled with magnetic metal has been also proposed (e.g. see JP-A-2002-175621, and so on). The magnetic recording medium has an underlying electrode layer and anodized alumina pores in this order on a substrate. The anodized alumina pores are formed so that a large number of alumina pores are arranged orderly. The alumina pores are filled with ferromagnetic metal to thereby form a ferromagnetic layer. Incidentally, the anodized alumina pores are generally self-assembled in the form of a honeycomb hexagonal close-packed lattice.
According to the arrangement of fine grains, the self-assembling of block copolymer and the self-assembling of anodized alumina, a fine array can be formed in a large area at low cost. Although the arrangement based on this method is provided as a two-dimensional arrangement which is well-ordered at a relatively short distance among dozen fine grains, the arrangement is disordered at a long distance and exhibits an aspect of a polycrystalline substance so that a large number of defective places occur when the magnetic recording medium is viewed as a whole.
Several methods have been proposed to solve this problem to thereby keep the whole magnetic recording medium well-ordered. For example, there has been proposed a method in which: a concave-convex line is formed on a substrate; fine grains are arranged as a patterned single layer on the concave-convex line; the arrangement pattern of the fine grains is transferred onto a stamper-forming material to thereby form a stamper; and a start point for forming nano-holes is formed on a metal substrate by using the stamper; and a nano-hole forming process is applied to the metal substrate (e.g. see JP-A-2006-346820, and so on). Or as for a method using self-assembling of a block copolymer, there has been proposed a recording medium having a structure in which: cells shaped like parallelograms surrounded by separation regions containing substantially parallel straight lines along a track direction and substantially parallel straight lines intersecting the first-mentioned straight lines at an angle of 60° or 120° are formed on a disk substrate; and a granular recording material is arranged to assemble a regular lattice in each of the cells (e.g. see JP-A-2002-334414, and so on).
As described above, there have been proposed various methods in which a recording unit for performing magnetic recording is made from a fine pattern to improve recording density. The methods of simply making the recording unit fine are however not enough to effectively perform an actual read/write operation used in a hard disk drive.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a locus of movement of a magnetic recording head (hereinafter also referred to as head simply) when information is recorded/read on/from a magnetic recording medium by the magnetic recording head. To scan a recording portion of a disk-like magnetic recording medium 10 having a hole of an inner circumference 20 in its central portion and an outer circumference 24, a magnetic recording head 11 fixed to a head arm 14 makes a seeking operation between the inner circumferential side and the outer circumferential side of the doughnut-shaped magnetic recording medium by using a rotation center 12 of the head as a pivot to thereby form a locus 15 of the head. In a hard disk drive, magnetic recording is performed along a circumferential direction which is a track direction of the magnetic recording medium. Accordingly, a read/write element of the head (hereinafter referred to as "head RW element" for short) and a track intersect each other at an angle of intersection of the track direction and the locus of the head. An angle between the track width direction of the magnetic recording medium and the track width direction of the magnetic recording head is called skew angle.
FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged view of an upper half of the magnetic recording medium showing a state where the skew angle α varies according to the radial track position. For example, on an intermediate circumference 22 in the radial direction of the magnetic recording medium, the radial direction (track width direction) of the magnetic recording medium and the track width direction of the head RW element coincide with each other, so that the skew angle is 0°. However, at other points, the radial direction of the magnetic recording medium and the direction of the head do not coincide with each other. On an inner circumference 21 in the radial direction of the magnetic recording medium, the skew angle is α°. On the outer circumference 23 in the radial direction of the magnetic recording medium, the skew angle is not 0° likewise. Generally, in a hard disk drive, the skew angle is allowed to be up to about ±15°.
In the background-art magnetic recording medium in which a magnetic recording layer is formed uniformly on the whole surface of the magnetic recording medium, the magnetic recording layer is present in the position of the head RW element even if there was the skew angle. The magnetic recording layer may be however absent in the position of the head RW element when the magnetic recording layer is patterned to be made from magnetic dots.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic enlarged views showing a part of an upper surface of the magnetic recording layer of the magnetic recording medium for explaining a state where the positional relation between the head RW element and each patterned magnetic dot varies according to the skew angle. The magnetic recording layer is made from magnetic dots 30 which are arranged in a non-magnetic substance 31 to have such a predetermined pattern that one magnetic dot 30 is disposed in each rectangle formed from a track width 34 and a bit width 35. On the assumption that anodized alumina is self-assembled into pores shaped like a honeycomb hexagonal close-packed lattice, there is shown the case where six magnetic dots adjacent to a certain magnetic dot are substantially shaped like a hexagon 36. Arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4 express a track direction 32 of the magnetic recording medium and a radial direction 33 of the magnetic recording medium, respectively. A position where the head RW element is projected onto the magnetic recording medium is shown as a projection 37 of the head RW element.
Each of FIGS. 3 and 4 shows the case where the magnetic dots 30 are lined up and arranged regularly along the radial direction of the magnetic recording medium. FIG. 3 shows the case where the skew angle is 0°. FIG. 4 shows the case where the skew angle becomes large. In the case of FIG. 3, it is possible to read/write information without affecting other bits because one magnetic dot 30 corresponds to each projection 37 of the head RW element. When the skew angle becomes large, the projection 37 of the head RW element however comes out of the rectangle formed from the track width 34 and the bit width 35, as shown in FIG. 4. Consequently, it is known that it is impossible to read/write information accurately because the head RW element interferes with magnetic dots of adjacent bits.
A method of changing the arrangement of magnetic dots in accordance with the skew angle has been proposed (e.g. see JP-A-2006-73137) in order to avoid interference with adjacent bits even when the skew angle changes. In the proposed method, magnetic dots are made of nano-holes each filled with a magnetic material. To form the nano-holes, a line groove is formed and a row of nano-holes is formed in the line groove to thereby arrange magnetic dots. The direction of the line groove is changed according to the radial position of the magnetic recording medium to thereby arrange magnetic dots so that the direction of arrangement of the magnetic dots is substantially the same as the track width direction of the RW element of the magnetic recording head. According to the method, the same micro-fabrication level as that of the adjacent bit width is required as the minimum width of patterning. It is however considerably difficult to perform the same micro-fabrication as that of the bit width because the bit width is very fine.
It is preferable that one recording bit is made from one magnetic dot in order to reduce magnetic interaction between magnetic dots. When recording density is intended to be increased, however, it is necessary to reduce the bit size which is the smallest unit of information recording and it is therefore necessary to reduce the size of the magnetic dot. Accordingly, a higher-grade micro-fabrication technique is required for arranging such a small magnetic dot in a desired position.

Magnetic recording medium and method for producing the same


A copyright server receives a copyright request from a requester, such as a portal server. The copyright request corresponds to a user requesting a particular content to be transcoded. The copyright server identifies content copyright permissions associated with the requested content that indicate whether it is permissible to transcode the requested content. If the copyright server does not locate content copyright permissions associated with the requested content, the copyright server identifies the owner of the content and sends a message to the content owner requesting content copyright permission. The copyright server receives a response from the content owner, stores the response on a local storage area, and forwards the response to the requester. The content copyright permissions may include an amount of a transcoding fee that the content owner requires in order to transcode the requested content.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a system and method for an accessibility content copyright permission. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for managing copyright permissions for corresponding to content transcoding.
2. Description of the Related Art
Information technology has provided, and continues to provide, a seemingly unlimited amount of information to users. Using the Internet, a user is able to retrieve content corresponding to a particular subject from virtually anywhere around the world. However, this seemingly unlimited amount of information is not in a presentation form that is useful to many users. For example, "spoken" content or content in brail is useful to a blind user but written content is not useful.
A user with accessibility needs may build a functional system that converts a content's original presentation form into a presentation form useful to the user. Using the example described above, the blind user is able to build a functional system that converts written content into spoken content. However, problems of high costs, incompatibility, and the complexity of building such a system exclude many users from building a system. In addition, multiple content formats, markup languages, device capabilities, and network constraints also limits a user's ability to use a personal computer to convert a content's original presentation form into a presentation form useful to the user.
The worldwide migration of the Internet to deliver applications to end users and the spread of wireless communications are decreasing dependence on PC based applications. This migration creates an opportunity to make content available to a user in a useful presentation form by providing a central architectural point from which to transform (i.e. transcode) a content's presentation form. This central architecture may be in the form of a portal server where data is aggregated and possibly transcoded to produce content. It may also be in the form of a "transcoding gateway" such as a transcoding proxy server. The capacity to transform a content's presentation form makes information more usable to a broad range of users, including users with special needs. By using a portal server or intermediary server at the central architectural point, this server modifies the content's presentation form independent of a target operating system and browser. This reduces the installation costs and management costs of client-based accessibility solutions.
Industry and the U.S. government also recognize that content is not currently available to many users. Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act requires the U.S. government to purchase accessible information technology. As a result of Section 508, businesses that market to the U.S. government are modifying their information technology products and enhancing their web content in order for it to be more accessible to users. To make web content more readily accessible, accessibility transcoding services are emerging. A transcoding server, or "web intermediary", intercepts content requested by a user and modifies its original presentation form to a presentation form useful to the user. The content's original presentation form remains unmodified on the content's server.
A challenge found with the onset of transcoding services is managing a content's copyright permissions. Many content owners have copyright protection for their content and may not authorize the content to be altered (i.e. transcoded). Other content owners that have content copyright protection for their content may authorize content transcoding if they are monetarily compensated (i.e. paid a transcoding fee).
What is needed, therefore, is a system and method for managing content copyright permissions and associated transcoding fees for content transcoding events.

Accessibility content copyright permission

International Business Machines Corporation


An SCR type memory apparatus which is short in access time, easy in setting current values upon reading and writing and easy in constructing a peripheral circuit with less power supply voltage limitation is described. The semiconductor memory apparatus comprises of a basic cell circuit which includes an SCR type memory cell. The SCR type memory cell includes a pair of pnp transistors and a pair of double emitter transistors. The basic cell circuit also includes a pair of write npn transistors. The collector of each write npn transistor is connected to a voltage holding node of the SCR type memory cell and the base is connected to a word selecting line.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor memory apparatus, and more particularly to a semiconductor memory apparatus suitably used to operate SCR type memory cells at a high speed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An SCR type memory cell shown in FIG. 1 is conventionally employed as a memory cell for storing information therein. It is formed from a pair of pnp transistors and a pair of double emitter transistors, and one of the two emitters of each of the double emitter transistors is connected to a terminal 2. When the SCR type memory cell is used in a selecting circuit, the terminals 2 are connected individually to bit lines BL1 and BL2 represented by short dash lines in FIG. 1.
A typical memory cell selecting circuit which is constituted using conventional SCR type memory cells is shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, since generally a large number of memory cells (loads) are assigned to each word selecting line UWL, the access time to a memory cell can be decreased to raise the throughput by decreasing the amplitude between the select and deselect word lines. The case is considered now where the first memory cell 11 connected to a word selecting line UWL1 is in a selected condition, the second memory cell 12 connected to another word selecting line UWL2 is in a deselected condition, the memory cells 11 and 12 have internal voltage values shown in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, the voltage value of the word selecting line UWL1 is -2 Vf.perspectiveto.-1.6 volts; the voltage value of the low side of the first memory cell 11 is -3 Vf.perspectiveto.-2.4 volts; and the voltage value of the high side of the first memory 11 is -2 Vf.perspectiveto.-1.6 volts, the voltage value of the word deselecting line UWL2 is -2 Vf-1.1 volts.perspectiveto.-2.7 volts; the voltage of the low side of the second memory cell 12 is -3 Vf-1.1 volts.perspectiveto.-3.5 volts; and the voltage value of the high side of the second memory 12 is -2 Vf-1.1 volts.perspectiveto.-2.7 volts.
Normally, the amplitude between the select and deselect word selecting lines UWL is determined by the low side voltage value of a selected memory cell and the high side voltage value of a deselected memory cell. For example, when the base potential of a transistor Q1 which is the holding node of the selected memory cell in FIG. 2 is low and the base potential of transistor Q3 which is the holding node of the deselected memory cell is high, the word selecting line amplitude is 1.1 volts.
In this case, the base potential of transistor Q1 is equal to the low side voltage value=-3 Vf.perspectiveto.-2.4 volts while the base potential of transistor Q3 is equal to the high side voltage value=-2 Vf-1.1 volts.perspectiveto.-2.7 volts, and the potential of the low side of the selected memory cell is higher than the potential of the high side of the deselected memory cell. Consequently, upon writing write current flows from the emitter of the transistor Q1 so that the transistor Q1 is turned from off state to an on state, thereby to allow normal writing of data.
If the word selecting line amplitude is set, for example, to 0.6 volts in order to realize higher throughput with such a selecting circuit as described, the base potential of the transistor Q1 is equal to the low side voltage value=-3 Vf.perspectiveto.-2.4 volts and the base potential of the transistor Q3 is equal to the high side base potential=-2 Vf-0.6 volts.perspectiveto.-2.2 volts. Consequently, the potential of the high side of the deselected memory cell is higher than the potential of the low side of the selected memory cell. As a result, the write current does not flows not from the emitter of the transistor Q1 which is a target upon such writing but flows from the emitter of the deselected transistor Q3. Therefore, there is a potential problem that, if the amplitude between word selecting lines is reduced in order to realize higher throughput, then a write error may occur in this manner.
From the above discussions, when such a conventional SCR type memory cell as described above is employed, the word selecting line amplitude must be at least higher than 1.1 volts, including a mergin of about 0.3 volts (0.8 volts+0.3 volts=1.1 volts) taking dispersion and other factors into consideration. This results in increase of time required for selection of a memory cell and hence in increase of access time, which is disadvantageous for the memory apparatus.
Furthermore, since write/read bit lines are common, current values upon reading and writing must be set to individually suitable set values while the write side bit line voltage is low at -4 Vf (.perspectiveto.-3.2 volts). Designing a peripheral circuit which operates on a power supply voltage of (4 Vf-V.sub.EE) for writing and reading operations is difficult.
Also, when data are to be written into a selected memory cell, transistor Q1 must be turned from an off to on state as described above and the emitter potential of the transistor Q1 must be lowered below -4 Vf.perspectiveto.-3.2 volts. This makes it very difficult to construct a write controlling circuit which operates on very low power voltage supply, when the emitter potential of the transistor Q1 is low.


The fluorescent lighting fixture includes a protective tube having a roulette configuration dented portions of which extend longitudinally and a rib having a long hole in which a wire is inserted. The roulette configuration appears as a stripe pattern on the protective tube and the wire inserted in the hole becomes less noticeable. When the fluorescent lamp is set alight, the light reflects, the entire protective tube becomes luminous uniformly, and the wire becomes hard to be seen. The wire can be invisible without an extra part such as a screening plate, and sufficient luminous intensity can be obtained from the entire protective tube.

The present invention relates to a fluorescent lighting fixture used in construction sites of buildings, engineering sites of tunnels or subways, factories of automobile maintenance and repair, and the like.
In a known fluorescent lighting fixture of this type using a straight fluorescent lamp, terminals at both ends of the lamp must be connected with two electric wires. The wires extend parallel to the straight fluorescent lamp. In order not to show the wires, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, a slender screening plate 11 is provided in a gap between the fluorescent lamp 1 and a protective tube 2 for the lamp 1 to hide the electric wires 6.
In the above known fluorescent lighting fixture, since the slender screening plate 11 is inserted in the gap between the fluorescent lamp 1 and the protective tube 2, when the lamp 1 is lit, the screening plate 11 casts its shadow and the entire periphery of the fixture does not become luminous. Consequently, the sufficient luminous intensity (brightness) cannot be obtained.
The above known fluorescent lighting fixture requires the above mentioned screening plate 11 to be inserted in the gap between the fluorescent lamp 1 and the protective tube 2, which causes to increase the number of parts of the fixture. As a result, an extra cost for materials involves and is responsible for a higher production cost.


A rigid carton of packets of cigarettes, having a first container, which houses a group of packets of cigarettes and is in turn housed inside a second container so as to slide, with respect to the second container, between a closed position wherein the first container is fully inserted inside the second container, and an open position wherein part of the first container is extracted from the second container.

A rigid carton of packets of cigarettes is normally defined by a parallelepiped-shaped container formed by folding a blank about a group of five/ten packets of cigarettes, and having a top portion which is torn open by the user along a precut tear line to extract the packets of cigarettes. A user normally removes one packet of cigarettes at a time from the carton at intervals normally ranging between one and three days, so the carton is used for three to thirty days by a normal user, depending on the number of packets of cigarettes in the carton (normally five or ten) and the number of cigarettes normally smoked by the user. Once the carton is opened, however, e.g. by tearing along a precut tear line, it cannot be closed again, as normally required in the case of relatively prolonged use. Known rigid cartons of packets of cigarettes also fail to provide for adequate mechanical protection of the packets.
WO-0010892-A discloses a carton for containing a plurality of packs of cigarettes and having a shell and slide construction. One end of the shell is partially open to allow the user to push the lidded slide, containing packs of cigarettes, to an open position; this is defined by a hooking engagement between shell and slide to expose just a little more of a lid of the slide than a detachable portion, which is detached by the user to expose only one pack at a time for extraction from the carton. However, the rigid carton of packets of cigarettes disclosed by WO-0010892-A is relatively complex and thus expensive to produce.

Rigid carton of packets of cigarettes including finger hole


In a method of detecting firmware using a first electronic device, the first electronic device comprises a first baseboard management controller (BMC). The first electronic device receives a first message of requiring the first electronic device from a host computer, to detect whether firmware of a second BMC of a second electronic device runs in a normal state. The electronic device sends a second message of requiring the second BMC to obtain whether firmware of the second BMC runs in the normal state. Once the second BMC dose not response to the second message in a first predetermined time period, the electronic device recovers the firmware of the second BMC using firmware of the first BMC.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to detecting technology, and more particularly to an electronic device and a method for detecting firmware of a baseboard management controller (BMC).
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a server container includes a plurality of the servers. Each server includes a baseboard management controller (BMC), which acts as a monitoring unit to monitor health states of the server. However, if the firmware of the BMC runs in an abnormal state, the health states of the server cannot be monitored by the BMC. Therefore, what is needed, is an electronic device and a method to improve the prior art.

Electronic device and method for detecting firmware of BMC

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


A plasma panel including two plates having a sealed space between them is disclosed. The sealed space is filled with discharge gas and is divided into discharge cells that are bounded between these plates by barrier ribs forming an array. The barrier rib portion that separates any two adjacent cells of the same column includes a cavity that is made in the thickness of that rib, and a notch that brings these two cells into communication with each other through the cavity. Such an arrangement makes it easier to apply the phosphors on the walls of the cells, while at the same time eliminating any risk of optical crosstalk.

Document WO 00/46832 (FUJITSU) describes, in particular in FIG. 15, reproduced in FIGS. 1 and 2 below, a plasma panel, in which an array of barrier ribs define the cells 1 and includes a series of narrow ribs 2 that are continuous, parallel and directed along a first direction along with a series of thick ribs 3 that are discontinuous, parallel and directed along a second direction perpendicular to the first. The narrow ribs 2 define cell columns and the thick ribs 3 define cell rows. In each cell 1, each thick rib 3 is interrupted by a notch 4, 4′ that extends over the entire height of the rib. The notch is positioned in a plane of symmetry of the cell parallel to the direction of the columns.
For such a plasma panel, the side walls of the barrier ribs 2, 3 and the bottom of the cells 1 are generally covered with a layer of phosphor intended to emit visible light, generally red, green or blue, after excitation by radiation emitted by the plasma discharge in these cells.
In such a plasma panel, the arrangement of the pixels is generally organized in such a way that the adjacent cells of the same column, which are bounded by thick barrier ribs, are provided with phosphors of the same emission color. Adjacent cells of the same row, which are bounded by narrow barrier ribs, are provided with phosphors of different emission colors.
These phosphors are generally applied as a liquid paste, for example by screen printing or by dispensing. During application of this paste, the screen printing squeegee or the dispensing syringe is therefore moved in the direction of the columns in such a way that, between each cell, there is a risk of phosphors being unnecessarily deposited on the top of the thick ribs. Such deposition runs the risk of causing optical crosstalk phenomena between the cells and covering the notches 4, 4′. The notches 4, 4′ are important because they make it easier to pump the panel, that is to say to remove the gas between the plates before filling with the discharge gas, this being particularly useful when the barrier ribs are not porous.
However, such notches have drawbacks, especially that of also causing crosstalk, since the cells are less isolated from one another than when there are no notches. It is therefore recommended to limit the width of these notches, thereby reducing their effectiveness in preventing inopportune deposition of phosphors on the tops of the thick ribs.
One objective of the present invention proposes barrier rib structures that are better suited to preventing the risks of crosstalk.
Document EP 1 187 166 (FUJITSU) discloses a plasma panel having an array of cell-defining barrier ribs that is identical to the one just described, except that, instead of having notches passing through the thick ribs separating the rows of the cells, cavities are provided in the thickness of these ribs, which cavities emerge at the top of these ribs. Each cavity has side walls that isolate it from each of the adjacent cells and extend so as to be level with the tops of the ribs. Owing to the height of these walls, the risks of crosstalk are thus further reduced, since the adjacent cells are isolated from one another.
However, such an array of barrier ribs with cavities in their thickness has drawbacks such that during application of the phosphors, luminescent material may nevertheless be deposited on the tops of the barriers, outside the cavities. Also, there is a risk of encountering difficulties when pumping the panel, that is to say difficulties in removing the gas between the plates before filling with the discharge gas.
Document JP 56-134451 discloses a plasma panel having an array of barrier ribs that is quite similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned document EP 1 187 166. In that panel, the cavities separating the adjacent cells of the same column are used to initiate or ignite the discharges that then propagate in the cells. In no case are there notches connecting each cavity to the two adjacent cells of the same row.

Plasma panel having an array of barrier ribs provided with cavities that emerge via their top


A packing puller and puller lifting tool are used together for extracting packing material or seals from a stuffing box, as used for sealing various hydraulic equipment such as motors, pumps, shafts, etc. The pulling tool comprises either a rigid or a flexible shaft with a bit attachment end at one end and a handle at the opposite end. The working bits may be interchangeable in order that the optimum configuration may be selected for a given job, and/or for replacement of a damaged bit. The shaft of the puller includes a series of lifting lugs permanently affixed thereto, with which a lifting or lever tool may be engaged to provide additional mechanical advantage in lifting the puller and packing from the stuffing box. The lifting tools may comprise a single elongate arm with each end having a different working bit configuration for optimum efficiency, or may comprise a lever arm with removably interchangeable bits so the appropriate bit configuration may be selected for any given situation. The lever arm and bits preferably have a mating square drive configuration, with the lever arm being similar to a square drive ratchet extension with a handle at one end thereof and the bits having square sockets opposite their working ends. Alternatively, the handle may comprise a square drive ratchet with the bits having square drive sockets in their sides, so the ratchet may be rotated in the manner used for working with a threaded fastener.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to extraction tools and the like, and more specifically to a kit for extracting packing from a stuffing box, as commonly used in hydraulic devices and steam fittings of various types. The kit comprises a pulling tool which may include either a rigid or flexible shaft, with a series of pulling lugs immovably affixed to the shaft. Various embodiments of prying or lifting tools are disclosed which engage one of the lifting lugs of the pulling tool to extract the tool, and packing with which the tool is engaged, from the stuffing box.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hydraulic seals, generally called "packing," are commonly installed around rotating and sliding shafts in various hydraulic devices, such as valves, pumps, etc. As the name implies, the packing is generally wedged or jammed rather tightly about the shaft, and can be difficult to remove for replacement or work on the article, particularly if it is recessed within the stuffing box.
Accordingly, various tools have been developed in the past for the purpose of extracting the packing or seals from a stuffing box. These tools generally comprise a long, rigid or flexible shaft with a handle at one end and a screw type bit at the opposite end. The screw is imbedded into the packing, and the tool is pulled from the stuffing box using the handle to withdraw the packing from the box.
This process can be somewhat awkward, depending upon the force required to extract the old packing, the amount of space available to manipulate and withdraw the tool, and other factors. Yet, all of the tools known to the present inventor operate essentially on this same principle, with relatively minor variations in the configuration of the tool bit, handle, or other component. None of the prior art tools known to the inventor provide any leverage means to assist in the packing extraction process, and to provide any mechanical advantage over the straightforward procedure of pulling the tool, and packing, straight out of the stuffing box. A discussion of the packing removal tools known to the present inventor, and their differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 118,823 issued on Sep. 12, 1871 to Hiram N. Smade describes an Improvement In Instruments For Extracting Packing From Stuffing Boxes. The tool includes a rigid rod with a different packing removal bit at each end. A handle is slidably installed to the rod, with the handle having a handle ring thereon. The handle may be moved to either end of the rod, so the user may select the most appropriate bit on one end or the other of the tool. However, Smade does not disclose any additional prying instruments for use with his extractor, nor does he disclose any means of applying such a prying tool to his extractor rod, as provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 931,718 issued on Aug. 24, 1909 to Haden H. Bales describes a Packing Extracting Bit with intertwined and generally helical elements. The bit is removably secured to a shaft with a handle, with the handle comprising a flattened closed loop. No prying tool is disclosed, nor is any means disclosed of applying such a tool to the Bales extracting bit.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,653,995 issued on Dec. 27, 1927 to Frank English describes a Flexible Handled Tool having a coiled spring extension between a T-shaped handle and the interchangeable working bit. The bit may be a helical "corkscrew" type tool, or may be interchanged with a standard screwdriver bit. The present invention may also include a T-shaped handle, flexible shaft, and interchangeable bits, but English does not disclose a prying tool or means of applying such a prying tool to the extractor, each of which is provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,758,504 issued on May 13, 1930 to Frank English describes a Flexible Handled Tool having a flexible shaft formed of two concentric wire coils turned oppositely to one another. A T-shaped handle and permanently affixed helical corkscrew bit are disclosed. The device is similar to that of the '995 patent to the same inventor described above, with no prying tool or means of applying such a tool being disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,858,176 issued on May 10, 1932 to Ervin F. Webb describes a Packing Extractor having a bendable housing with a flexible wire or the like therein. The wire includes a helical extractor bit formed integrally therewith, and a loop formed at the opposite end for turning the bit into the packing. The housing includes a handle affixed thereto. As in the other devices discussed above, no prying tool is disclosed, nor is any means provided for applying such a prying tool to the extractor, both of which are provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,066,598 issued on Jan. 5, 1937 to Christopher E. Wiessner describes a Pulling Tool Or Implement having a shaft with a center core of flexible wire and an outer sheath formed of multiple strand cable, somewhat along the lines of the device of the '995 patent to English discussed further above. Again, no prying tool or means of applying such a prying tool to the extractor, is disclosed by Wiessner.
Finally, German Patent Publication No. 817,730 published on Oct. 18, 1951 to Karl Moosreiner et al. illustrates an extracting tool having an outer housing and concentric flexible shaft therein. The housing is apparently rigid, but is permanently bent at an angle with the flexible shaft rotating therein. Handles are provided on the ends of the flexible shaft and housing. As in the other devices discussed above, neither a prying tool nor means of applying such a prying tool to the extractor tool, is disclosed.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


The vehicular navigation system of the present invention includes a present position detector for detecting the present position of a vehicle, an input device for inputting a destination, an information memory for storing road data for searching for an optimal route, a route search system for searching for an optimal route to the destination based on the road data stored in the information memory, a route information converter for converting the route information near the present position of the vehicle to a visually 3-dimensional route information based on configuration of the road by the route search system, and a display for outputting and displaying the route information converted by the route information converter. The present position of the vehicle is detected, and the present position of the vehicle and route information ahead of the present position can be easily confirmed by detecting the present position of the vehicle and by converting the route information of the present position, based on the configuration of the road, to a 3-dimensional road display.

The present invention relates to a navigation system for providing a driver of a vehicle with information on a route to a destination when the vehicle is driven along a route unfamiliar to the driver.
A vehicular navigation system is a system which searches for an optimal route from the present position of the vehicle or from a specified starting point to a destination based on inputted data such as the destination data, and provides the driver with information on a route to reach the destination, when the vehicle is driven along a road unfamiliar to the driver, by displaying a road map on a screen of a display unit, based on the suggested optimal route, and by displaying the suggested route or the present position of the vehicle on the map.
With regard to the display on the screen, a system has been known in the past in which a route is searched from the present position of the vehicle or from a destination based on inputted data such as a destination, a transit point, etc., and a suggested route is displayed on a map or the advancing direction is displayed by an arrow on an enlarged map. FIG. 28 represents a map, which shows a route to guide the vehicle to a destination (park marked with an asterisk) via a highway shown by a white line (outlined line). FIG. 29 is an enlarged view of an area near a branch point for guiding toward a route from PARI to an airport, and an arrow indicating the advancing direction from the branch point and a message "5.0 miles; 10 minutes to the destination" is displayed.
In a conventional type system as described above, the suggested route is drawn on a map as shown in FIG. 28, and the driver must find out the turning point and the turning direction by watching the map. Thus, it takes some time until the driver fully understands the situation. Also, in case the present position of the vehicle, the advancing direction, or the route already driven are displayed by the same magnification factor, it is difficult for the driver to discriminate between the information necessary for immediate guiding and other information. Because a large amount of information is displayed in addition to the information on the present position and it is not always easy to recognize the information on the present position, the display is not always satisfactory in terms of recognizability. For example, in case a road is curved, it is sometimes difficult to judge whether or not the road is curved.
Also, when an area is enlarged in the map as shown in FIG. 29 and the next guide branch point is not in the displayed area, this is inconvenient because the driver cannot find out the direction to be taken from that guide branch point. To solve this problem, it has been proposed to indicate two advancing directions for adjacent intersections on the suggested route. However, by simply displaying two advancing directions, it is not easy to judge which of the advancing directions should be chosen, and it is difficult to find out the next advancing direction.


A three-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism with curved sliding pairs includes a fixed platform, a moving platform, and three curved branches disposed between the fixed platform and the moving platform. Each of the curved branches includes a first curved link and a second curved link that share a common arc center. One end of the first curved link is connected to fixed platform by a rotational pair. One end of the second curved link is disposed in a cavity at another end of the first curved link. The second curved link is operative to perform a reciprocating motion along a tangent of an arc of the first curved link. Another end of the second curved link is connected to the moving platform by a ball joint. The axes of the three rotational pairs of the three curved branches coincide with each other and are perpendicular to the fixed platform. In the three-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism with curved sliding pairs, the moving platform of the parallel mechanism is rotatable around the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis of a three-dimensional coordinate system taking the arc center of the three curved branches as the origin, where the rotation of the moving platform about the Z axis is decoupled from the rotation in the other two orientations.

Since the parallel robot was first proposed in 1938, it has been widely used in various fields of the society because of its large rigidity, strong bearing capacity, small error, high precision, small self-weight to load ratio, good dynamic performance, and ease of control. Nowadays, commonly seen are 2 degrees of freedom (DOF), 3 degrees of freedom, 4 degrees of freedom, and 6 degrees of freedom parallel mechanisms. At present, the 3-DOF parallel mechanisms are the most researched and widely used type of parallel mechanism with relatively fewer degrees of freedom. They can be divided into four categories depending on the type of platform DOF, including 3-rotational parallel mechanisms, 2-rotational and 1-translational parallel mechanisms, 1-rotational and 2-translational parallel mechanisms, and 3-translational parallel mechanisms. Among them, the spherical parallel mechanism belongs to a 3-rotational parallel mechanism, which can achieve arbitrary rotation about a spherical center of a moving spherical surface of a reference point of the moving platform. When the mechanism moves, all the points on the moving platform of the mechanism rotate around the spherical center at a fixed radius. Advantages of a spherical parallel mechanism over a general parallel mechanism are a large workspace, flexibility and reliability, and non-vulnerability to interference.
One example is a biased-output three-degree-of-freedom spherical parallel mechanism (CN101306534) with a central spherical hinge proposed by Professor Feng GAO et al. of Yanshan University, which features a typical 3-RRR type mechanism. It can achieve the rotation in three orientations around the fixed center.
Professor Zhen HUANG of Yanshan University proposed a parallel mechanism (CN102962840) with a symmetrical structure and no accompanying motion. The moving platform can rotate continuously around any axis or any point in the middle symmetry plane between the moving platform and the fixed platform, which can effectively avoid the occurrence of accompanying motion.
Long SHEN of Shanghai University proposed a spherical three-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism antenna structure system (CN101924266). Compared with the general 3-DOF spherical mechanisms, it has a relatively larger workspace.
Rongfu LIN et al. of Shanghai Jiaotong University proposed a three-degree-of-freedom spherical parallel mechanism with curved sliding pairs (CN104827463), which accomplishes the rotation of the moving platform around the midpoint of the arc in three orientations by means of curved sliding pairs.
Most of the kinematic pairs of the branches of these mechanisms include RR or RRR configurations, and the axes of these kinematic pairs intersect at one point to realize the movement of three degrees of freedom of the moving platform. Among them, Rongfu LIN of Shanghai Jiaotong University adopts curved sliding pairs so that by the curved configuration of the kinematic pairs the moving platform is subjected to forces in three orientations. However, the moving platform can only rotate around the center of the arc in three orientations, lacking the feature of partial decoupling.

Three-degree-of-freedom parallel mechanism with curved sliding pairs

SHENZHEN INSTITUTES OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES


A multiple, disposable, biodegradable dental implement system in which a plurality of disposable, flat dental implements are formed from a large planar blank. Each dental implement includes a flat toothbrush head and a flat gum massager head formed on opposite ends of a flat elongated shank. Adjacent implements are formed in the blank by perforation lines that allow the implements to be individually detached from the blank just prior to use. In the preferred embodiment, each toothbrush head includes a plurality of concave ridges formed while the gum massaging head is made of a plurality of convex curved ridges complimentary with the concave ridges on the adjacent toothbrush. The planar blank is made of disposable paper and embedded with dry toothpaste or mouthwash which is activated by the user's saliva when used.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to personal, oral hygiene products and more particularly to such products designed for portability in the user's purse or pocket and are disposable and biodegradable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most dentist and dental hygienists recommend that their patients brush and floss between their teeth and message their gums at least twice a day. Unfortunately, many patients commute several hours each day and are away from their homes for long periods and do not carry a toothbrush, dental floss or a gum massager with them. Today, motor vehicle drivers and passengers often spend more and more time sitting in traffic and away from home or work. While public use of chewing gum and toothpicks are acceptable, brushing teeth and massaging gums with a standard toothbrush in public is generally not acceptable. If a person massaging gums with a standard toothbrush in public is generally not acceptable. If a person chooses to use a standard toothbrush while sitting in traffic, he or she must find a compact storage container for storing the saliva wetted toothbrush between uses.

Disposable, biodegradable, portable dental implement


A control circuit for a power supply device, a power supply device, and the like are provided in which the power supply device has a plurality of DC/DC converters provided for generating voltage while the mutual relationship of potential between the voltage outputs is maintained. The control circuit 20 in the power supply device 10 which outputs different direct current voltages (VCC, VBGP, and VBGN) includes a voltage setting unit 22 for determining the setting level of a second direct current voltage VBGP which has a potential relationship with the setting level of the first direct current voltage VCC which is one of a plurality of the different direct current voltages.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply device control circuit, a power supply device, and a control method for the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As up-to-date ICs (integrated circuits) have been improved in the integration and reduced in the source voltage, they are demanded for being lowered and minimized in the power consumption. Also, with the source voltage becoming reduced, the threshold voltage of MOS transistors in each IC is lowered. As the threshold voltage is lowered, its sub threshold area will be declined in the characteristic of current interruption. This may hence cause a current to be leaked during the off state where no voltage is applied between the gate and the source of a MOS transistor. Although the power consumption is successfully lowered and minimized, the effect of current leakage will hardly be eliminated.
For attenuating the current leakage at a MOS transistor where the threshold voltage is lowered, a technique is known of controlling the backgate voltage. According to the technique, by modifying the back gate voltage deeply at the off state, the characteristics of current interruption in the sub threshold area can be improved. The action of deeply modifying the back gate voltage means that when the transistor is of NMOS type, a voltage lower than that at the source is applied to the P substrate. When the transistor is of PMOS type, a voltage higher than the source voltage is applied to the N substrate. In the MOS transistor, while the back gate voltage is shallowly modified to maintain the on state with a low threshold voltage, the current leakage can be minimized during the off state where no voltage is applied between the gate and the source.
Such a power supply device having the above described IC is designed to connect with a variety of electronic apparatuses which are different in the voltage requirement and thus includes a plurality of DC/DC converters (as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2003-61341, 2005-210884). The power supply device having the described IC may be arranged to detect the power efficiency of each of the DC/DC converters and when any DC/DC converter is found having its power efficiency lower than a predetermined setting level, cancel the action of the DC/DC converter (as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-333833).
A power supply device 100 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a plurality of DC/DC converters 120 to 140 and is connected to an external device 200. The power supply device 100 supplies the external device 200 with a source voltage VCC, gate voltages VBGP and VBGN to be supplied to the back gate of its MOS transistor, an input/output voltage VIO, and other voltages VXX. The power supply device 100 exchanges a variety of data carried on the control signal (IIC) with the external device 200. The external device 200 consists of one or more integrated circuits.
The power supply device 100 includes an interface controller 150 as shown in FIG. 5. The interface controller 150 is connected with a bus B1. The external device 200 includes such a NAND circuit 210 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The DC/DC converters 120 to 140 in the power supply device 100 are arranged to modify the source voltage VCC to be supplied to the NAND circuit 210, the back gate voltage VBGP to be supplied to the back gates of the PMOS transistors FET10 and FET30 in the NAND circuit 210, and the back gate voltage VBGN to be supplied to the back gates of the NMOS transistors FET20 and FET40 in the NAND circuit 210 respectively. Denoted by X and Y in the drawings are input terminals to which a high level signal or a low level signal is supplied and denoted by Z is an output terminal.
For example, when its interface controller 150 receives an action command signal from an external device connected to the interface controller 150, the power supply device 100 instructs the register REG0 to store the action command signal. When the action command signal carries a stop command, the action of the DC/DC converters 120 to 140 is canceled. When the action command signal carries an action command, the DC/DC converters 120 to 140 are activated.
When its interface controller 150 receives a voltage operation signal for the source voltage VCC from an external device connected to the interface controller 150, the received voltage operation signal is stored in the register REG1 and an analog voltage signal (reference voltage) corresponding to the voltage operation signal is inputted via a D/A converter DAC1 to an error amplifier ERA1. Then, the power supply device 100 drives the error amplifier ERA1 to compare a feedback of the source voltage VCC with the reference voltage and thus controls so that the source voltage VCC is close to the reference voltage. Also, when its interface controller 150 receives voltage operation signals for the gate voltages VBGP and VBGN from an external device connected to the interface controller 150, the power supply device 100 instructs the error amplifiers ERA2 and ERA3 to modify the back gate voltages VBGP and VBGN, which are supplied to the back gates of the MOS transistors FET10 to FET40, to be close to their reference levels in the same manner as of the error amplifier ERA1 controlling the source voltage VCC to its reference level. Accordingly, the power supply device 100 allows the DC/DC converters 120 to 140 to modify the voltages VCC, VBGP, and VBGN to their respective optimum levels independently in response to the action command signals and the voltage operation signals received at its interface controller 150.

Power source control circuit, power supply device, and control method for the same