An exemplary structure for testing an integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and first and second via chains disposed over the substrate. The via chains include a substantially same sequence of segments interconnected at N via regions by a respective first and second via arrangement. The first via arrangement includes MN first vias at each respective via region and the second via arrangement includes MN+KN second vias at each respective via region. The first via arrangement is different than the second via arrangement and KN≧1 for at least one via region. The structure includes a voltage sensing apparatus in electrical connection with each via chain and configured to drive a first constant current through the first via chain and to drive a second constant current through the second via chain to measure a differential voltage between the via chains.

Integrated circuits comprise a large number of individual circuit elements, such as transistors, capacitors and resistors. These elements are connected by means of electrically conductive features to form complex circuits, such as memory devices, logic devices, and microprocessors. Multiple conductive layers are formed over individual circuit elements in and on a semiconductor substrate and are typically separated from each other by insulating dielectric layers. The conductive layers are often selectively connected or "wired" together in order to allow for conduction of electricity in a desired pattern. One means of connecting conductive layers is through the formation of a via at an interconnection between conductive layers. Vias are channels or plugs of conductive material. Interconnections between multiple conductive layers may be formed by a series of vias, i.e., a via chain.
During the formation of a via, problems may arise from high contact resistance between the via material and the region of the conductive layer to which it contacts, or through void or seam formation within the via. However, integrated circuit performance requires that the vias have substantially uniform resistances.
Therefore, it is desirable to measure the resistances of vias to ensure proper integrated circuit performance. However, along with the miniaturization of device features of modern, ultra-high density integrated circuits, vias have decreased in size such that measurement of via resistance is difficult. Specifically, typical testing tools struggle to measure accurately in the microvolt (μV) differential voltage range. Further, noise and offset levels are substantial in the μV range. At the same time, current cannot be raised to overcome the testing limitations as the vias under testing generally cannot carry high currents. Specifically, high current densities lead to overheating and destruction of the vias. As a result, it is difficult to measure the resistance of vias that have low resistance and low current carrying capacity.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide improved structures and methods for testing integrated circuits and via chains therein. Further, it is desirable to provide structures and methods for measuring resistances of via chains in integrated circuits. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Structures and methods for testing integrated circuits and via chains therein


An olefin such as isobutylene is reacted with a carboxylic acid to produce the ester in the presence of a modifying agent effective to suppress olefin polymerization, the feed to the reaction containing not more than 0.7 mols water per mol of olefin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention provides an improved method for the preparation of esters such as t-butyl acetate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to produce esters by the reaction of an olefin such as isobutylene with a lower carboxylic acid over a sulfonate group-containing cation exchange resin. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,099 and the references disclosed therein including U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,678,332, 3,031,495, 3,172,905 and 3,173,943.
A problem which is encountered in such prior procedures has been the tendency for polymerization of the olefin to occur during the esterification which results both in significant yield losses and in the formation of products such as olefin dimer which are difficult to separate from the product ester. For example, isobutylene dimer forms an azeotrope with t-butyl acetate thus making separation exceedingly difficult.
Work has been performed with sulfuric acid as a catalyst. See, for example Pavlov et al., "GENERAL PREPARATIVE METHOD FOR THE ESTERIFICATION OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS WITH ISOBUTYLENE IN THE PRESENCE OF TERT-BUTANOL", BULL soc. Chem Fr4. No. 12 P 2985-6 (1974). This reference describes the use of tertiary butanol in the sulfuric acid catalyzed system to suppress isobutylene polymerization. The sulfuric acid catalyst system has severe inherent difficulties associated with corrosion, problems of catalyst separation and recovery, and the tendency for side reactions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,272 relates to a method for the production of tertiary butyl alcohol by reaction of isobutylene with water in the presence of a sulfonic acid resin and an organic acid such as acetic acid. Water is used in at least equimolar amount relative to the isobutylene and tertiary butyl alcohol is the primary product. The patent teaches that the minor amounts of tertiary butyl acetate which are formed can readily be hydrolyzed to form additional tertiary butyl alcohol.


A method and apparatus for comparing torsional stress/strain states of a power transmitting member of an internal combustion engine to detect an abnormal combustion condition, including misfire, knock or roughness. Statistical processing steps may be used to detect an abnormal combustion event including: calculating a mean and standard deviation for a set of signals related to the torsional stress induced in the power transmitting member, calculating a difference between a later signal and the mean, calculating a ratio of the difference to the standard deviation, and comparing the ratio to a threshold. The ratio so obtained from a given cylinder may further be compared with one or more other such ratios from other cylinders. In other words, the autocorrelation and/or cross-correlation techniques may be used. A magnetostrictive sensor may preferably be used to obtain the signals relating to the torsional stress in the power transmitting member, such as the engine crankshaft. In addition, the magnetostrictive sensor may include windings to cancel induced electromagnetic interference signals. The magnetostrictive sensor may also generate signals relating to the position of the power transmitting member in addition to the torsional stress in the power transmitting member. Spatial integration techniques may be used to obtain torsional stress/strain signals which are independent of the rotational speed of the power transmitting member. Spatial integration may be performed using variable amplifiers, variable attenuators, switched capacitors or other techniques.

Two primary objectives of automobile engine control systems are to maximize engine performance, such as power for passing, etc., and to minimize fuel consumption. Rough running engines affect both power output and fuel economy adversely. Onboard monitoring and control systems should be able to detect and, in some instances, correct for such roughness. Roughness may be due to incomplete burning of fuel in one or more cylinders. Extreme engine roughness occurs during cylinder misfire, that is, when no fuel is burned in one or more cylinders. Misfire can occur for several reasons, including lack of spark from the ignition system, malfunctioning of the fuel injection system, lack of sufficient air intake, faulty valves, etc.
While detection of roughness and misfiring during vehicle operation is highly desirable from the standpoints of performance and fuel economy, it has significant environmental impact as well. Incomplete burning of fossil fuels is a prime source of air pollution. An engine which misfires only 2% of the time, for example, may produce pollutant levels which exceed emission standards by 150%.
Governmental regulations covering emissions caused by cylinder misfire are being proposed. For example, the state of California has already notified automakers that beginning with the 1994 model year, vehicles sold in California must have onboard means for detecting and warning of cylinder misfire. Such means must be capable of identifying which particular cylinder is misfiring, or in the case of multiple cylinder misfire, indicating that more than one cylinder is misfiring. California regulators have also stated they would prefer a system which could additionally: determine precisely which cylinders are misfiring in the case of multiple misfires; identify sporadic, non-periodic misfiring events; detect isolated misfires occurring a small percentage of the time, for example, 5 or fewer misfires for every 1,000 firings; and function properly under all engine speeds and driving conditions. Other states, as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, have indicated that they may issue cylinder misfire regulations similar to those proposed for California.
Prior art devices for roughness and misfire detection in internal combustion engines have utilized several different approaches. For example, the measurement of rotational speed (RPM) fluctuations is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,870 to Citron et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,379 to Tang et al.; and SAE papers #900232 by Plapp et al., #890486 by Citron et al., and #890884 by Rizzoni.
Detecting roughness and misfire has also been attempted by determining the absence of a spark in the ignition system as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,029 to Lill et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,228 to Fujimoto. The spark plug has also been used as a plasma probe as described in Johnson and Rado, "Monitoring Combustion Quality in Internal Combustion Engines Using Spark Plug as s Plasma Probe," IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology Vol VT-24, No 2, May 1975.
Sensing temperature at the exhaust port of each cylinder is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,711 to Hanaoka. Using non-magnetostrictive torque sensing and speed measurements is disclosed in SAE paper #890485 by Mauer et al. A generic torque sensor and comparing mean or maximum versus minimum torque signals (and typically other signals such as RPM, accelerator depression level, etc.) to expected values stored in computer memory, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,005 to Ribbens, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,030 to Morikawa. Monitoring exhaust chemistry, such as with a Lambda oxygen sensor in the exhaust flow, is taught in SAE paper #900232 by Plapp et al.
Each of these prior art approaches has disadvantages and it is likely that none may meet the strict standards that the California regulators and others seek. For example, rotational speed fluctuation detection is computationally intensive, and may be limited to engine speeds below 3500 to 4000 RPM, and has difficulty detecting non-repetitive misfires. Moreover, engine speed detection is subject to false alarms for vehicles operating on rough roads. A rough road will induce speed changes into the engine driveline at the drive wheels, irrespective of any engine misfire. These road induced speed changes will effectively mask the changes in speed that may be caused by engine misfire.
Detecting the absence of a spark will not detect misfire if the misfire is caused by fuel injection, valve, or other mechanical malfunctions. Plasma probing, temperature sensing, and exhaust gas chemistry sensing are all too slow and, heretofore, impractical for detecting low percentage misfire states. Further, exhaust gas sensing cannot identify which cylinder, or cylinders, are faulty. Torque sensing using non-magnetostrictive torque sensors are typically too large and unwieldy--often also requiring two or more monitoring locations along the crankshaft. Non-magnetostrictive torque sensors, such as strain gauge torque sensors, are impractical for mass production and extensive usage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,005 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,030 disclose using generic torque sensors; however, to the best of Applicants' knowledge, no such sensors currently exist which have proven suitable for automobile engine torque onboard monitoring.
A number of researchers have attempted to develop magnetostrictive torque sensors. Magnetostrictive torque sensors take advantage of the magnetostrictive property of ferromagnetic materials whereby tension stress in the material causes an increase in an induced magnetic field B in the material. Compressive stress causes a decrease in the induced magnetic field B. Typically an alternating current carrying coil is used to induce the magnetic field B into a ferromagnetic torque transmitting shaft. A secondary pickup coil, or other means, then monitors the change in the induced magnetic field B as the stress of the shaft changes with torque. The voltage signal generated across the secondary coil is an indicator of the torque. Specific geometry and the number Of Coils may vary for different magnetostrictive torque sensor designs, but the underlying principle is the same.
Typical magnetostrictive torque sensors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,745 to Gashelis; U.S. Pat. No. 2,912,642 to Dahle; U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,856 to Winterhof; U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,290 to Sugiyama; U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,459 to Nonomura et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,937 to Klauber et al.; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/518,083 to Klauber et al. The sensor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,745, for example, is a four solenoidal coil design which is inherently larger and is, therefore, typically more expensive and less suited for automotive application than the other types of magnetostrictive torque sensors. The other sensors may be miniaturized and are less expensive, but are limited by the random anisotropic variations in magnetic permeability of the iron and steel materials used in production crankshafts and driveshafts. These variations are inherent in the material and distort any measured induced magnetic field changes thereby resulting in inaccuracies and prohibiting the instantaneous monitoring of the power variations for individual cylinder misfiring or firing events.
Applicants are currently unaware of any system for roughness or misfire detection which is completely satisfactory. Moreover, Applicants are unaware of any system which may satisfy more stringent environmental regulations, such as those pending in California.
The present invention may also be suited for a number of other uses. For example, during engine knock, the fuel in the cylinder ignites at an earlier point of the firing cycle and lasts for a much shorter period of time. When knock occurs, the combustion process is typically over near the point at which normal combustion would be just beginning. The torque pulse delivered during knock is therefore much shorter in width, different in magnitude, and located at a different location with respect to top dead center (TDC). Hence, comparison of signals such as those described herein to determine misfire or roughness can be used in similar fashion to determine knock.
Other uses according to the present invention include anti-lock braking wherein obtaining of peak braking torque is critical. By using the methodology shown herein, comparison of signals generated at the same or different points on a shaftwheel system can result in a relative indication of torque, i.e., even though the actual value for torque may not be determined, it may be possible to determine when the maximum amount of torque is occurring. Feedback systems would then automatically seek the maximum signal, thereby maximizing braking torque, without actually having to determine the precise value of the torque. Similar logic holds for traction control systems wherein maximum traction torque is desired. Additionally, such comparisons of signals may be used in transmissions to facilitate smooth shifting without sudden torque shifts. Smoothness of torque transitions may be obtained, again without necessarily having to determine the actual value of the torque. Still another application includes bearing failure monitoring in which the signals monitored should increase in magnitude as the bearing operation became rougher. Yet other applications include machine tool monitoring, electric motors, generators, and any other devices wherein comparison of signals at least partially dependent on torque may be useful.

Engine misfire, knock or roughness detection method and apparatus


A flash memory includes an encoded cryptographic key xe2x80x9ckxe2x80x9d stored therein. A protected ROM, an external access to which is inhibited, includes a decoding program stored therein to decode the cryptographic key xe2x80x9ckxe2x80x9d. The cryptographic key xe2x80x9ckxe2x80x9d is decoded by using the decoding program. With the cryptographic key xe2x80x9ckxe2x80x9d as decoded, data is encrypted and stored in the flash memory. Data read out from the flash memory is output after decrypted with the cryptographic key xe2x80x9ck.xe2x80x9d In order to check an area having the decoding program stored therein, data which forms the decoding program is processed by using a hash function stored in the ROM, and a processing result and an expected value are compared with each other. When the processing result and the expected value matches with each other, the aforementioned area is determined as being in a normal condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for testing a storage device, and more particularly to a technique for testing a storage device which stores an encryption key, information for decoding the encryption key, and information such as a confidential document or the like to be kept secret from an outsider.
2. Description of the Related Art
The necessity to guard confidential information is increasing with the advancement of a computer technology. The importance of an encryption technique for encrypting data before stored or transmitted is becoming higher accordingly. Encrypting data to be stored in a computer external memory and storing the encrypted data in the memory, etc. are also in actual practice. More specifically, an encryption key is stored in advance in a storage device. Data is encrypted with the encryption key and is stored in a memory. Data read out from the memory is decrypted with a decryption key.
Meanwhile, in order to check whether a storage medium is defective or not, it is required to ascertain whether the storage medium can store data and output the stored data properly.
The steps of storing a predetermined test pattern or the like in a memory, reading it therefrom and comparing the readout test pattern and the original test pattern with each other, etc. have been conventionally conducted to ascertain the above.
When the memory is a ROM (read-only memory), the steps of reading out data stored in the ROM and ascertaining whether the readout data and written data match with each other, etc., have been conventionally performed.
However, when a memory device, having a encryption key stored therein, is tested by the above-described method, there is the problem of the encryption key itself being read out to the outside of the memory device.
In order to solve this problem, a memory device having the testing function of reading out stored data from the memory device, converting the readout data and thereafter outputting the converted data to the outside of the memory device, has also been proposed. According also to this method, however, a transformed code is read out to the outside of the memory device. The transformation scheme can easily be prospected, and the encryption key can be prospected as well.
Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 8-63402 has proposed a semiconductor IC which has the function of testing a ROM without reading out data stored in the ROM directly to the outside of the IC, by way of comparing data stored in the ROM and an externally supplied expected value with each other and outputting a comparison result. According also to this method, whether confidential data matches with the expected value can be determined per address or the like. Therefore, by performing the test while changing the expected value from one to another, the confidential data can be specified. Furthermore, since the comparison is effected per address, a large amount of checking time is required.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a testing method for testing a memory, and a storage device having a testing function.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a testing method, which is suitable for testing a storage device which stores highly confidential data, and such a storage device having a testing function.
According to the first aspect of the present, invention having the above-described objects, there is provided a storage device comprising:
first storage means for storing data;
second storage means including an encoded cryptographic key stored therein;
third storage means including decoding information stored therein to decode the cryptographic key;
fourth storage means including an arithmetic function stored therein to test the third storage means;
writing means for decoding the cryptographic key with the decoding information stored in the third storage means, encrypting externally supplied data with the cryptographic key as decoded and writing the encrypted data in the first storage means;
reading means for decoding the cryptographic key with the decoding information stored in the third storage means, reading data from the first storage means, decrypting the read data with the cryptographic key as decoded and outputting the decrypted data; and
comparing means for processing the decoding information stored in the third storage means, by using the arithmetic function stored in the fourth storage means, and for comparing a resultant value and an expected value with each other and outputting a comparison result.
If the storage device was designed so that storage data of the third storage means could be read externally to permit the third storage means to be tested in regard to whether the decoding information had been properly stored therein, there would be the risk that an observer could obtain the decoding information and decode the cryptographic key.
According to the present invention, in light of the above, an arithmetic function for use in the test is stored in the fourth storage means, and the decoding information is processed using the arithmetic function. A resultant value and an expected value are compared with each other, and the output of a comparison result is effected. If the decoding information has been stored properly, the comparison result will indicate an equality between both values. Thus, without the decoding information being output to the outside of the storage device, a determination can be performed as to whether one or more stored cryptographic keys are proper or not.
Furthermore, since the decoding information is processed using the arithmetic function and the resultant value and the expected value are compared with each other, there is no possibility of the decoding information being prospected from the expected value. In the case of comparing the value obtained as a result of the decoding information being processed using the arithmetic function and the expected value with each other, the number of times of comparison is smaller than in the case of comparing per address the decoding information and the expected value with each other. This ensures more speedy processing.
The storage device may further comprise scan means for scanning an address of at least one of the first, second and fourth storage means and reading out a storage content thereof, in order to test whether the above-mentioned at least one of the first, second and fourth storage means is defective or not. The scan means may include inhibiting means for inhibiting an access to the third storage means.
According to the above-described structure, the acts of directly accessing the third storage means and reading out stored data therefrom are also inhibited to maintain the confidentiality of the decoding information.
For example, the first storage means is a rewritable nonvolatile memory, the second storage means is a part of the unrewritable memory, and the third storage means and the fourth storage means are nonvolatile memories.
According to the above structure, a cryptographic key can be stored in the rewritable nonvolatile memory. The cryptographic key may be set to differ depending on storage devices so that even if the cryptographic key of one storage device should be decoded, the cryptographic key of another storage device cannot be prospected.
The expected value described previously may be a value pre-stored in the nonvolatile memory of the storage device or may be an externally supplied value.
The aforementioned arithmetic function may be a one-way function which is, for example, a hash function.
By processing the decoding information with such a one-way function, a single value or processing result is obtained from the decoding information. Meanwhile, however, many pieces of decoding information can be prospected from the processing result and consequently it is difficult to specify the decoding information.
It is preferred that the third storage means and the comparing means be sealed integrally with each other by a resin or the like and be designed so that the contents of communications between the third storage means and the comparing means are not output to the outside of the storage device.
If a data line, etc. for the third storage means were integrated with a data line for another storage means, data might leak to the outside of the storage device while the data was being exchanged between the third storage means and the comparing means. In light of this, the present invention employs the above-described structure to keep the storage content of the third storage means confidential.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage device comprising:
confidential information storage means including confidential information stored therein;
test information storage means including test information stored therein to test the confidential information storage means;
receiving means for receiving an externally supplied instruction signal which indicates an instruction to test the confidential information storage means; and
outputting means for processing the confidential information in response to the instruction signal received by the receiving means, by using the test information stored in the test information storage means, and for comparing a processing result and an expected value with each other and outputting a comparison result.
According also to the above-described storage device, a determination can be performed as to whether the confidential information has been stored properly in the confidential information storage means, without the confidential information being directly read out to the outside of the storage device.
The expected value may be a value pre-stored in the above storage device or an externally supplied value.
The confidential information contains, for example, information for decoding an encoded key which is used to perform at least one of encryption and decryption of data, while the test information contains a predetermined arithmetic function, for example.
It is preferred that the aforementioned arithmetic function be a one-way function, such as a hash function or the like, which satisfies a xe2x80x9cmany (values which are substituted for the function)-to-one (calculation result)xe2x80x9d relationship.
A plurality of confidential information pieces which are, for example, a private key xe2x80x9cnxe2x80x9d and a public key xe2x80x9cexe2x80x9d, can be stored in the confidential information storage means. In this case, whether the confidential information pieces have been properly stored or not can be determined based on a comparison result which indicates, for example, whether a relationship of me mod n=0 is satisfied or not. In the above relationship, xe2x80x9cmxe2x80x9d is an externally supplied constant or a constant pre-stored in the storage device.
Further, a private key (d, n) and a public key (e, n) can be stored in the confidential information storage means. In this case, whether the confidential information pieces have been properly stored or not can be determined based on a comparison result which indicates, for example, whether a relationship of d=md mod n is satisfied or not. xe2x80x9cmxe2x80x9d is an externally supplied constant or a constant pre-stored in the storage device.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a testing method for testing a memory which stores confidential information and a direct external access to which is inhibited, the testing method comprising steps of:
processing data stored in the memory, by employing a predetermined technique;
comparing a processing result and an expected value with each other; and
determining whether a storage content of the memory is proper or not, based on a comparison result.
With the above testing method, the memory can be tested without the storage data of the memory being directly read out to the outside thereof. Since data after processed is used in the comparison, a processing amount can be reduced.
The above-described confidential information is information such as key decoding information for decoding an encoded cryptographic key, a confidential document, etc.
The predetermined technique mentioned above is the technique of processing the data with a one-way function.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage device comprising:
a first memory storing data;
a second memory storing an encoded cryptographic key;
a third memory storing decoding information to decode said cryptographic key;
a fourth memory storing an arithmetic function to test said third memory;
a controller for decoding the encoded cryptographic key stored in said second memory with the decoding information stored in said third memory, encrypting externally supplied data with the cryptographic key as decoded and writing the encrypted data in said first memory, for decoding the cryptographic key stored in said first memory with the decoding information stored in said third memory, reading data from said first memory, decrypting the read data with the cryptographic key as decoded and outputting the decrypted data, and for processing the decoding information stored in said third memory, by using the arithmetic function stored in said fourth memory, and comparing a resultant value of the processing and an expected value with each other and outputting a comparison result to detect said third memory is proper or not.
Said third memory and said controller may be sealed integrally with each other so that contents of communications between said third memory and said controller are not output to an outside of said storage device.
Said controller may scan an address of at least one of said first, second and fourth memories and reading out a storage content thereof, in order to test (check) whether said at least one of said first, second and fourth memories is defective or not. Said controller may inhibit an access to said third memory.
Said first and second memory comprises, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and said third and fourth memories comprises nonvolatile memories.
Said expected value is one of a value pre-stored in said storage device and an externally supplied value.
The arithmetic function is a one-way function such as a hush function.

Storage device having testing function and memory testing method


An example of a beverage dispenser includes a nozzle and a valve coupled upstream of the nozzle. A sensor is operable to detect an object within a detection zone and provide a signal representative of a distance between the object and the sensor. A controller is configured to receive the signal from the sensor. The controller is configured to determine a sub-zone from a plurality of sub-zones within the detection zone in which the object is located. The valve is controlled between an open condition to dispense the substance through the nozzle and a closed condition based upon the determined sub-zone.

The following U.S. Patents and Patent Applications provide background information and are incorporated by reference in entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,315,236 discloses a dispenser with cleaning functionality. The dispenser enters a cleaning mode upon reading a QR code selected from a plurality of instructional QR code inputs.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,077,180 discloses a beverage dispensing head with a mixing nozzle configured to dispense a flow of beverage. A valve is configured to control the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle and a switch is movable into and between a closed position in which the valve opens the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle and an open position in which the valve closes the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle. A lighting module disposed in the housing is configured to illuminate the front of the housing and the base of the housing when the switch is moved into the closed position.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,840,407 discloses a beverage dispensing system that includes a plurality of beverage sources each containing a beverage component, and at least one flow valve connected to one or more of the beverage sources and operable to control a flow of the beverage component therefrom. The system further includes a graphical display that presents a plurality of available beverages and a gesture capture device that receives a selection gesture input to select a beverage from the plurality of available beverages. A controller is also included that adjusts the at least one flow valve based on the selection gesture input to dispense the selected beverage.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,359 discloses an automated system for preparing and delivering postmix beverages in response to one or more drink orders being entered from a remote point of sale unit or a local keypad that includes: a postmix beverage preparation assembly for dispensing ice and a selected postmix beverage into a cup; an oblong carousel type conveyor assembly including a plurality of upwardly open cup holders which are driven by a motor driven belt so as to pass beneath a cup dispensing station, an ice dispensing station, a beverage dispensing station, and a plurality of pick-up stations; a cup storage and dispenser assembly including a bidirectionally rotatable turret upon which is mounted a plurality of different sized cup supply tubes for holding a respective stack of beverage cups; and a pneumatic vertically driven cup gripper/extractor mechanism having a pair of pneumatically operated gripper arms which operate to remove a cup from a selected supply tube on the turret and placing the extracted cup into an empty cup holder which is then transported past the dispensing stations and then to a pick-up station on the conveyor for manual removal by an attendant.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0075426 discloses a beverage dispensing apparatus that includes a dispensing structure, a transportation mechanism linked with the dispensing structure, and a staging structure linked with the transportation structure. A control system is linked with the dispensing structure, staging structure, and the transportation mechanism. A sensor mechanism is linked with the control system. The sensor mechanism provides signals indicating the position of a cup. A cup identification system having an interactive display is connected to the control system. The display has visual characteristics indicating the position and characteristics of a cup.

Systems and methods of selecting operations for a dispenser based on path of travel


An electrophysiology diagnostic device generating a high voltage (HV) pulse of a predetermined shape, which device is electrically connected to a patient's heart, i.e., a load resistance and which device includes a microprocessor and a load resistance measuring device, includes of a rapid response voltage threshold determination (RRVTD) circuit. The RRVTD circuit receives an actual signal corresponding to the HV pulse waveform, compares the actual signal with a desired signal and produces an error signal when the actual signal deviates from the desired signal by a predetermined threshold value. A method for operating a RRVTD circuit is also described.

The present invention relates generally to an electrophysiology diagnostic device employed during the implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). More specifically, the present invention relates to a rapid response voltage threshold determination circuit used in an electrophysiology diagnostic device.
A healthy heart beats approximately 100,000 times a day and pumps about five quarts of blood each minute. The heart beat is regulated by electrical impulses or signals, which signals originate in the heart's natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node. The SA node, which is located in the right atrium, produces very small electrical impulses that vary in rate depending upon the body's demands for oxygen and nutrients. Typically, the SA node controls the heart rate in the range of 60 to 80 heart beats per minute (bpm) in an average person at rest. These signals first cause the atria to contract and are then routed to the ventricles, causing the latter to contract, via the atrioventricular (AV) Node.
If the heart's own electrical signal is interrupted, delayed, or stopped, heart rhythm disturbances, i.e., arrhythmia, can result. Cardiac arrhythmia is classified as either bradyarrhythmia or tachyarrhythmia. In bradyarrhythmia or bradycardia, the heart rate is too slow to meet the body's demands; in tachyarrhythmia, the heart rate is fast but inefficient so that the heart cannot meet the body's blood circulation demands. Tachyarrhythmia is further subdivided into tachycardia and fibrillation. Tachycardia generally signifies a resting heart rate in excess of 100 bpm while fibrillation signifies a heart beat which is so fast and random that blood circulation, for all practical purposes, stops. Tachyarrhythmia, particularly ventricual fibrillation, is a life threatening condition.
A recently introduced medical device, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), delivers bradycardia pacing and tiered therapy, i.e., three different therapeutic electrical impulses to the heart: antitachycardia pacing; cardioversion; and defibrillation. ICDs are electrical devices, about the size of a deck of cards, that are attached to one or more leads or wires inside or outside of the heart, and are implanted into either the patient's chest or abdomen. These devices can detect and treat very fast, lethal heart rhythms by either shocking the heart or pacing the heart back to a normal rhythm. Most ICD's utilize diagnostic algorithms base primarily on sensed heart rate to identify tachyarrhythmias. For example, a device may be programmed to identify tachyarrhythmia for a sensed heart rate of 180 bpm or greater. If it senses that the average heart rate for a predetermined number of intervals is greater than or equal to 180 bpm, it will initiate either anti-tachycardiac pacing or a high voltage (HV) cardioversion pulse according to its programmed parameters. Many ICDs also offer electrogram (EGM) storage of arrhythmia events treated by the ICD.
ICD implantation requires a surgical procedure which has evolved over time. The most common technique currently used includes a non-thoracotomy, lead alone approach which involves insertion of one or more transvenous leads into the subclavian vein in the shoulder after which the lead is advanced into the right ventricle of the heart. The proximal end of the lead is attached to the ICD placed in the chest (like a pacemaker). If needed, a small subcutaneous patch electrode may be implanted under the skin on the left lateral chest wall.
The output stage 100 of a typical ICD is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. The illustrated resistance-capacitance (RC) circuit consists of a capacitor C.sub.0 for supplying a controlled electrical HV pulse to the load resistance R.sub.L, i.e., the patient's heart and the leads connected thereto, via a switch assembly S.sub.0, which is shown as a double pole, double throw (DPDT) type switch assembly. It will be appreciated that the electrical pulse delivered to the load R.sub.L exhibits a high voltage peak soon after switch assembly S.sub.0 is closed, followed by exponential decay of the voltage through load resistance R.sub.L. Many advanced ICDs apply a so-called biphasic pulse to load resistance R.sub.L, as shown in FIG. 2, by reversing the leads running to the load resistance R.sub.L during the pulse period. It will be appreciated that V.sub.1i and V.sub.1f and that V.sub.2i and V.sub.2f in FIG. 2 refer to the initial and final voltages of pulses P.sub.1 and P.sub.2, respectively, of pulse widths PW.sub.1, and PW.sub.2. The specified pulse shape can also be derived by switching between two capacitors located in the ICD, as discussed below. Hereinafter, the delivered, exponentially decaying HV electrical pulse shall be referred to using the generic term "HV pulse" irrespective of the output waveform.
It will also be appreciated that the energy E stored by the capacitor C.sub.0 is given by the expression: EQU E=0.5*C.sub.0 *V.sup.2 (1)
where E is the energy in joules, C.sub.0 is the capacitance in farads (F) and V is the voltage in volts. Pacing pulses (delivered from a separate, independent output stage) are normally in the range of micro--to millijoules; cardioversion pulses generally range between 1.0 and 5.0 joules. Defibrillation therapy applies HV pulses delivering from 5.0 to 50 joules to the patient's heart per pulse.
During implantation of the ICD device, two parameters are typically determined. First, the load resistance R.sub.L, i.e., heart impedance and lead resistance, is determined. Load resistance R.sub.L must be assumed to be an unknown at first since it is a complicated function of a given patient's heart and the ICD lead placement. Moreover, since it should be assumed that the patient impedance may vary somewhat from shock to shock due to possible repositioning of the leads, i.e., changes in the electrode/tissue interface, patient safety considerations suggest that a determination of R.sub.L should be made via a measurement at the beginning of or immediately following each HV pulse event. For example, the electrophysiology apparatus described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,115,807, 5,014,697 and 4,827,936, which patents are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, disclose that the load resistance R.sub.L is not determined until the HV pulse event has been completed. Since the amount of energy delivered to a patient and the rate of change in the HV pulse energy are greatest during the first portion of the HV pulse exponential decay, the patient impedance should be determined as soon as possible in order to limit energy delivery to the patient's heart in excess of that needed for defibrillation. Conventional measurement systems in such electrophysiology apparatuses permit as much as a 25 Volt error between the desired HV pulse and the actual HV pulse before corrective measures to limit the energy applied to the heart are initiated.
Although the size of the capacitor C.sub.0 in the ICD output stage 100 is known, new ICD models are being released every year and they may have different capacitor values. It will be appreciated that the size of the capacitor C.sub.0 will impact the useful life of the power supply incorporated into the ICD, i.e., the smaller the capacitor, the longer the power supply will last. However, the smaller the capacitor, the less energy it can deliver and, consequently, the less safety margin it can provide. For that reason, a number of ICD devices, each with a different capacitance, may be provided to the physician for selection during the implantation procedure with the optimum device being selected based on measured defibrillation thresholds (DFTs). Since the electrophysiology diagnostic device should provide at least a corresponding number of exponentially decaying HV pulse waveforms for accurate DFT testing, it is generally accepted that the electrophysiology diagnostic device will contain either a variable capacitor or a selection of fixed capacitors corresponding in size to the capacitors in the available ICD device models, which fixed capacitors can be installed in the electrophysiology diagnostic device one at a time. However, since variable capacitors are generally not available in the 50-150 microfarad (.mu.F) range, particularly with the compact footprint and low equivalent series resistance (ESR) needed for the electrophysiology diagnostic device, the conventional solution is to use replaceable, interchangeable capacitors. It will also be appreciated that since the capacitors used in ICD devices are fast discharge capacitors, e.g., photo-flash capacitors, the cost for providing several interchangeable capacitors for use in the electrophysiology diagnostic device may be prohibitively expensive due to the custom nature of the capacitors, based on the limited number of sizes of suitable, commercially available capacitors.

Rapid response voltage threshold determination circuit for electrophysiology diagnostic device


A method of fabricating a field emission element includes the steps of: forming an overhang portion in a substrate, the overhang portion including two opposing parts in cross section; depositing a sacrificial film on the overhang portion with two opposing parts, the sacrificial film including two opposing parts in cross section; chemically reacting the sacrificial film with two opposing parts to expand the volume of the sacrificial film and make the two opposing parts partially contact each other; depositing a field emission cathode film on the sacrificial film with contacted two opposing parts; and removing part of, or the whole of, the sacrificial film to expose a tip of the field emission cathode film.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacture method of a field emission element.
b) Description of the Related Art
A field emission element emits electrons from a sharp tip of an emitter by utilizing electric field concentration. For example, a flat panel display can be structured by using a field emitter array (FEA) having a number of emitters disposed on the array. Each emitter controls one pixel of the display.
FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate conventional manufacture methods of a field emission element.
As shown in FIG. 16A, on a substrate 101 having a recess with a vertical side, a sacrificial film 103 is deposited by a deposition method having poor step coverage. The upper surface of the sacrificial film 103 has a tapered portion at the recess. An emitter electrode (cathode) 105 formed by using this sacrificial film 103 as a mold has a tip A. If the radius of curvature of the tip A of the emitter electrode 105 is large, an electric field is hard to concentrate and the electrical performance is not good.
As shown in FIG. 16B, if a sacrificial film 103 is deposited thick on a substrate 101 having a recess, two side wall parts in cross section of the sacrificial film 103 at the recess become partially in unison so that an emitter electrode 105 having a relatively small apex angle of the emitter tip can be formed.
With this method, it is necessary to deposit the sacrificial film thick so that the tip of the emitter electrode is formed at an upper position remote from the substrate 101. If a field emission element has a gate electrode in addition to an emitter electrode, this gate electrode is generally formed near at the boundary between the substrate 101 and the sacrificial film 103, although not shown in FIG. 16B, With the method illustrated in FIG. 16B, the emitter electrode 105 is formed remotely from the gate electrode so that a high drive voltage of the field emission element is required and the electrical performance is lowered.
A large radius of curvature of the emitter electrode tip makes an electric field hard to concentrate, lowering the performance of the field emission element. A relative position of the emitter and gate electrodes greatly influences the performance of the field emission element.

Fabrication of field emission element with small apex angle of emitter


A routing system for a linear ADM having two drop switches, operates to establish paths according to a relatively simple process and to establish paths according to a program that is relatively small in scale and inexpensive to develop. The routing system includes a first selection switch for selecting one of a plurality of channels connected to a first transmission line and for outputting a first signal transmitted through the selected channel. A first selector selectively outputs and inhibits the first signal transmitted from the first selection switch. The first selection switch and the first selector are provided in one of the drop switches. A second selection switch selects one of a plurality of channels connected to a second transmission line and outputs a second signal transmitted through the selected channel. A second selector inhibits the second signal transmitted from the second selection switch when the first selector outputs the first signal, and outputs the second signal when the first selector inhibits the first signal. The second selection switch and the second selector are provided in the other of the drop switches. The first and second signals are selectively transmitted from the first and second selectors to a transmitter/receiver for lower signal levels.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a routing system for a linear add-drop multiplexer, and more particularly to a routing system for a linear add-drop multiplexer having a cross-connect function.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Recent demands for higher performance optical transmission systems require add-drop multiplexers (ADM) with a cross-connect function. Generally, ADMs are classified into linear ADMs for use in a linear transmission line and ring ADMs for use in a ring-shaped transmission line. Linear ADMs receive signals from terminals connected to the opposite ends of a bidirectional linear transmission line, and transmit signals to the terminals. When a linear ADM is to receive a signal, one of the terminals (hereinafter referred to as East and West terminals) is selected for a path in use and the other for a path not in use. A channel connected to the terminal selected for a channel in use, is dropped. To drop the channel, the ADM has a routing unit for establishing the path in use to drop the channel to lower signal levels. For signal transmission, one of the East and West terminals is selected for a path in use and the other for a path not in use, with an add channel connected to the path in use. To connect the add channel, the ADM has a gate for transmitting a signal to the path in use.
FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a diagram of an overall arrangement of an optical transmission system in which ADMs are disposed between linear transmission lines. As shown in FIG. 1, ADMs 72, 73, 74 are disposed between linear optical transmission lines 70a through 70h, with line terminal equipment (LTE) 71, 75 connected to opposite ends thereof. A multiplexed optical signal is transmitted at a rate of 600 Mbits/s over the optical transmission lines 70a through 70h. To the LTE 71, 75 and the ADMs 72, 73, 74, there are connected transmitter/receivers 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80 for lower signal levels, which are connected to exchanges 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89. Telephone sets 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95 or other terminal devices are connected to the exchanges 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89. Input/output devices 96, 97 and 98 are connected to the respective ADMs 72, 73, 74 for applying path connecting commands to the ADMs 72, 73, 74.
In operation, multiplexed optical signals transmitted from the LTE 71, 75 are converted into electric signals and then demultiplexed by the ADMs 72, 73, 74. The ADMs 72, 73, 74 then transmit lower-level signals to the transmitter/receivers 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80 through a path that has been established, thereby providing a drop channel. The ADMs 72, 73, 74 pick up signals, through a path that has been established, out of the lower-level signals transmitted from the corresponding transmitter/receivers 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80, and also out of demultiplexed signals (through signals) that are not transmitted to the transmitter/receivers 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80, thus establishing an add channel. Then, the ADMs 72, 73 and 74 multiplex the picked-up signals, convert them into optical signals, and output the optical signals to the LTE 71, 75. The LTE 71, 75 also establish a drop channel or an add channel based on the established path. The transmitter/receivers 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80 convert the signals that have been transmitted at a rate of 45 Mbits/s from the LTE 71, the ADMs 72, 73, 74 and the LTE 75, into signals at a rate of 1.5 Mbits/s, and transmit the converted signals to the exchanges 81 through 89. Alternatively, the transmitter/receivers 76 through 80 convert signals transmitted at 1.5 Mbits/s from the exchanges 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89 into signals at 45 Mbits/s, and transmit the converted signals to the LTE 71, the ADMs 72, 73, 74 and the LTE 75. The exchanges 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89 convert the signals that have been transmitted at 1.5 Mbit/s from the transmitter/receivers 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80, into signals at a rate of 64 Kbits/s, and transmit the converted signals to the telephone sets 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95. Alternatively, the exchanges 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89 convert signals at 64 Kbits/s from the telephone sets 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95 into signals at 1.5 Mbits/s, and transmit the converted signals to the transmitter/receivers 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80.
FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings is a block diagram of a conventional ADM for use in the above optical transmission system. A multiplexed optical signal of higher signal level transmitted from an optical transmission line 111 connected to an East terminal is converted into an electric signal by an optoelectronic (O/E) transducer 112. The electric signal is then separated by a demultiplexer (DMUX) 113 into a plurality of channels, which are then transmitted to drop switches 114 and add switches 134. There are as many drop switches 114 and as many add switches 134 as the number of channels. Each of the drop switches 114 is connected to all of the channels, and each add switch 134 is connected to one of the channels, thus establishing a through channel. The drop switches 114 select, as a drop channel, one of the channels separated by the demultiplexer 113 in response to a selection signal from a controller 160, and transmit the signal through the selected channel to channel switches 150 for lower signal levels. There are as many channel switches 150 as the number of channels, and the signals from the drop switches 114 are transmitted to these channel switches 150. A drop channel to be selected has previously been indicated to the controller 160 by keystrokes entered through an input/output device 165. The selection signal applied to the drop switches 114 represents the drop channel thus selected.
The channel switches 150 select either the output signal from the drop switches 114 (i.e., the signal received from the East terminal), or an output signal from drop switches 144 (described below--i.e., a signal received from a West terminal), and transmit the selected signal to a transmitter/receiver 170 for lower signal levels. The above selection made by the channel switches 150 is based on a selection signal that is produced by the controller 160 according to keystrokes entered through the input/output device 165, and which is applied to path switches 150a in the respective channel switches 150.
Similarly, a multiplexed optical signal of higher signal level transmitted from an optical transmission line 141 connected to a West terminal is converted into an electric signal by an optoelectronic (O/E) transducer 142. The electric signal is then separated by a demultiplexer (DMUX) 143 into a plurality of channels, which are then transmitted to drop switches 144 and add switches 124. There are as many drop switches 144 and as many add switches 124 as the number of channels. Each of the drop switches 144 is connected to all the channels, and each add switch 124 is connected to one of the channels. The drop switches 144 select, as a drop channel, one of the channels separated by the demultiplexer 143 in response to a selection signal from a controller 160, and transmit the signal through the selected channel to the channel switches 150 for lower signal levels. As described above, there are as many channel switches 150 as the number of channels, and the signals from the drop switches 144 are transmitted to these channel switches 150.
A signal transmitted from the transmitter/receiver 170 is sent through gates (not shown) in the channel switches 150 to the add switches 124 and the add switches 134. The channel switches 150, which are as many as the channels, are connected to the add switches 124, 134, so that all signals from the channel switches 150 are sent to any one of the add switches 124, 134.
In response to a selection signal from the controller 160, the add switches 124 connected to the East terminal select one of the signals in the channels and the one-channel signal from the demultiplexer 143, thus establishing an add channel, and outputs the selected signal to a multiplexer 123. The add switches 124 select the signal based on a selection signal transmitted from the controller 160 representing a channel to be selected, as indicated by the input/output device 165.
Inasmuch as there are as many add switches 124 as the number of channels, the multiplexer 123 is supplied with signals transmitted from the add switches 124 in the respective channels. The multiplexer 123 multiplexes the supplied signals signals into an electric signal, which is then applied to an electro-optic (E/O) transducer 122. The electric signal is then converted by the electro-optic transducer 122 into an optical signal that is outputted to an optical transmission line 121.
Likewise, responsive to a selection signal from the controller 160, the add switches 134 connected to the West terminal select one of the signals in the channels and the one-channel signal from the demultiplexer 113, and output the selected signal to a multiplexer 133. The multiplexer 133 multiplexes the signals supplied from the add switches 134 in the respective channels into an electric signal, which is then applied to an electro-optic (E/O) transducer 132. The electric signal is then converted by the electro-optic transducer 132 into an optical signal that is outputted to an optical transmission line 131.
In the linear ADM, the drop switches connected to the East terminal, the drop switches connected to the West terminal, the add switches connected to the East terminal, the add switches connected to the West terminal, and the channel switches for lower signal levels operate to change channels based on established paths. Therefore, the transmitter/receivers for lower signal levels can be connected to any channels connected to the East and West terminals. The above path exchange capability is known as a cross-connect function.
However, the input/output device 165 is required to command the controller 160 for establishing paths with respect to the five switch assemblies, i.e., the drop switches 114, 144, the add switches 124, 134, and the channel switches 150 which are provided for each of a plurality of channels. Since the number of switch assemblies to be addressed for establishing paths is equal to 5 multiplied by the number of channels, the process of establishing paths with the input/output device 165 is complex and time-consuming. Therefore, there has been a demand for a simplified process of establishing paths which is to be carried out by the input/output device 165.
Heretofore, the path switches 150a in the respective channel switches 150 operate to determine which paths connected to the East or West terminal, are to be dropped based on the selection from the controller 160. The channel switches 150 are normally composed of respective individual block units. Consequently, the block units of the channel switches 150 are connected to the controller 160 by respective control lines. A program for establishing paths with respect to the channel switches 150 approaches the individual path switches 150a in the channel switches.
The drop switches connected to the East terminal, the drop switches connected to the West terminal, the add switches connected to the East terminal, and the add switches connected to the West terminal are normally assembled as four block units, respectively. These four block units are connected to the controller 160 through respective control lines. Therefore, no individual control lines are connected from the controller 160 to the individual drop or add switches. A program for establishing paths with respect to these switches first approaches the block units, and then controls the individual drop or add switches.
The program for establishing paths with respect to the channel switches is more complex than the program for establishing paths with respect to the drop and add switches, because the former program is required to approach the individual channel switches rather than a single block unit. As a consequence, the program for establishing paths with respect to the channel switches is relatively large in scale and highly expensive to develop.

Routing system for linear add-drop multiplexer


A method of operating a communication system comprises, in a wireless communication device, acquiring a packet address from a communication network, wherein the communication network assigns the packet address to the wireless communication device, and transmitting the packet address, a device identifier, and a location of the wireless communication device for delivery to a database in the communication network. The method further comprises, in a packet router, receiving a data packet with a destination address of the packet address assigned to the wireless communication device, querying the database with the packet address to determine the device identifier and the location of the wireless communication device, processing the location to select a plurality of output ports of the packet router, and broadcasting the data packet over the plurality of output ports.

Wireless communications have become increasingly prominent for sending and receiving information. For example, individuals may utilize a wireless communication device for voice communications, research, entertainment, or for conducting critical business transactions. As wireless communications have increased, so have the number of wireless access modes used to support these communications. For example, many modern wireless communication devices are capable of communicating over both third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) wireless networks, often referred to as "dual-mode" devices. In addition, a wireless communication device may also communicate using other wireless protocols, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
In order to utilize a wireless communication device, a user typically operates the device to register with a communication network operated by a wireless communication service provider. Upon successful registration, a communication session is established in a particular wireless protocol. During the communication session, the user may send and receive data via the access network of the communication service provider. However, if a dual-mode wireless communication device transitions between access media, a new communication session is typically established. For example, when a wireless communication device transitions to a different access mode by switching from a 3G network to a 4G network, the 3G communication session would typically be torn down and a new communication session for the 4G network would be established.
Overview
A method of operating a communication system comprises, in a wireless communication device, acquiring a packet address from a communication network, wherein the communication network assigns the packet address to the wireless communication device, and transmitting the packet address, a device identifier, and a location of the wireless communication device for delivery to a database in the communication network. The method further comprises, in a packet router, receiving a data packet with a destination address of the packet address assigned to the wireless communication device, querying the database with the packet address to determine the device identifier and the location of the wireless communication device, processing the location to select a plurality of output ports of the packet router, and broadcasting the data packet over the plurality of output ports.
A communication system comprises a wireless communication device and packet router. The wireless communication device is configured to acquire a packet address from a communication network, wherein the communication network assigns the packet address to the wireless communication device, and transmit the packet address, a device identifier, and a location of the wireless communication device for delivery to a database in the communication network. The packet router is configured to receive a data packet with a destination address of the packet address assigned to the wireless communication device, query the database with the packet address to determine the device identifier and the location of the wireless communication device, process the location to select a plurality of output ports of the packet router, and broadcast the data packet over the plurality of output ports.
A method of operating a communication system comprises, in a wireless communication device, transmitting a packet address, a media access control address, and a location of the wireless communication device for delivery to a database in a communication network. The method further comprises, in a packet router, receiving a data packet with a destination address of the packet address assigned to the wireless communication device, querying the database with the packet address to determine the media access control address and the location of the wireless communication device, processing the location to select a plurality of output ports of the packet router, wherein each output port of the plurality of output ports communicates using a different wireless protocol of a plurality of wireless protocols, and broadcasting the data packet over the plurality of output ports. The method further comprises, in the wireless communication device, identifying the media access control address in the data packet, and receiving the data packet based on the media access control address.


A data processing system and method are described for permitting a portable computer to automatically detect the presence of a printer within a remote area, and responsive to the detection, automatically establishing a communications link with the printer. The portable computer is physically disconnected from the printer. The portable computer transmits a wireless query signal to the remote area. In response to a printer physically located within the remote area receiving the wireless query signal, the printer transmits a wireless reply signal to the remote area. In response to the portable computer receiving the wireless reply signal, the computer automatically establishes a communications link with the printer so that the computer may utilize the printer to print information. The communications link may be established with a printer for which the computer does not include a printer driver necessary for communicating with the printer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to data processing systems and, in particular, to a data processing system and method for permitting a computer to automatically detect and establish a communications link with a printer. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a data processing system and method for permitting a computer to automatically detect and establish a communications link with a printer utilizing wireless signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal computer systems are well known in the art. They have attained widespread use for providing computer power to many segments of today""s modern society. Personal computers (PCs) may be defined as a desktop, floor standing, or portable microcomputer that includes a system unit having a central processing unit (CPU) and associated volatile and non-volatile memory, including random access memory (RAM) and basic input/output system read only memory (BIOS ROM), a system monitor, a keyboard, one or more flexible diskette drives, a CD-ROM drive, a fixed disk storage drive (also known as a xe2x80x9chard drivexe2x80x9d), a pointing device such as a mouse, and an optional network interface adapter. One of the distinguishing characteristics of these systems is the use of a motherboard or system planar to electrically connect these components together. Examples of such personal computer systems are IBM""s PC 300 series, Aptiva series, and Intellistation series.
Currently, it is difficult for a mobile computer user to locate and utilize printers at a remote site. A mobile computer user will likely be unaware of the physical locations of printers at the remote site. The mobile user must first locate a printer. One method for locating a printer is to require the computer user to physically connect the computer to the network, and utilize a listing of network printers. The user must then determine a physical location of the printer. The network address of the printer must also be added to the computer.
The user must also determine whether the computer includes the driver necessary for communicating with the printer. If the computer does not include the necessary driver, the driver must be added to the computer, or a different printer must be located.
Therefore a need exists for a data processing system and method for permitting a computer to automatically detect the presence of printers within a remote area, and thereafter, automatically establish a communications link with one of the printers in order to utilize the printer to print information such that the communications link may be established with a printer for which the computer does not include the necessary driver.
A data processing system and method are disclosed for permitting a portable computer to automatically detect the presence of a printer within a remote area, and responsive to the detection, automatically establishing a communications link with the printer. The portable computer is physically disconnected from the printer. The portable computer transmits a wireless query signal to the remote area. In response to a printer physically located within the remote area receiving the wireless query signal, the printer transmits a wireless reply signal to the remote area. In response to the portable computer receiving the wireless reply signal from the printer, the computer automatically establishes a communications link with the printer so that the computer may utilize the printer to print information. The communications link may be established with a printer for which the computer does not include a printer driver necessary for communicating with the printer. Additionally, the printer provides locating information so that the user can find the printer.
The above as well as additional objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.

Data processing system and method for permitting a computer to automatically detect a presence of and establish a communications link with a printer

International Business Machines Corporation


A step-by-step bending machine has a first movable bending member, a second cooperating adjustably fixed bending member, and a third central positionally fixed bending member on an opposite side of a plate to be bent from the first and second members and positioned between the first and second members. The second and third members hold the plate while the first member bends the plate against the third central member. The second member is positionally adjustable to accommodate thickness of the plate. The first member is positioned by cooperating pairs of positioning rams and is moved against the plate by parallel main rams.

To bend plates, plate bending roll machines are used. In the case of extreme plate thickness, a high tonnage press brake is used. Greater efforts to bend plates occurs in the initial pinch, when the thickness of a plate is too large or when the plate is extremely tough. Those factors require use of extremely heavy and powerful machines.
Needs exist for lighter bending machines and methods which are capable of bending thick, strong plates.


The invention discloses a method and a device for identifying specific text information, relates to the technical field of computers, and is mainly intended to enable quick, easy and effective identification of text information with a specific format in a target text. The main technical solution of the present invention is to perform multi-dimensional vectorization to the target text according to a preset dimension to obtain a vectorized text; acquire text information compliant with a preset state transition rule in the vectorized text; calculate the text information by using a dynamic programming algorithm, and determine optimal text information compliant with a preset format, and output the optimal text information as the result of identifying the specific text information in the target text. The invention is mainly used for identifying and acquiring text information.

Natural Language Processing, as one of the early research fields of artificial intelligence and also an extremely important field, mainly includes human-computer dialogue and machine translation. It is a science integrating linguistics, computer science and mathematics. Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a technique for processing natural language information. From a linguistic point of view, the NLP is also called Computational Linguistics. Natural Language Processing includes Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and Natural Language Generation (NLG). Natural Language Understanding refers to a deep understanding to the content and intention of natural language. In the field of artificial intelligence, the Natural Language Understanding refers to a deep understanding by a computer to the content and intention of natural language. Natural Language Generation refers to the processing from an unnatural language input to a natural language output. The Natural Language Understanding and the Natural Language Generation are reversed with each other.
In the identification of natural language, the accuracy of identifying many named entities, such as an address, an organization, etc., often affects the accuracy of the entire analysis. In particular, the complexity and ambiguity of Chinese make it more complex to identify a Chinese named entity than an English one. For traditional identification methods, such as those that make reference to HMM (Hidden Mardov Model), Maximum Entropy Model, Conditional Random Field and the like model to identify the named entities, because the use of these models requires high quality training samples and also results in complex training and slow retrospection, it takes much preparation and time to get the desired results. For some simple identification methods, such as regularization, state machine, and the like, the provided constraints are too harsh, which makes it difficult to achieve the desired effect of identification.

Method and device for identifying specific text information


A heatsink made of aluminum is provided in a liquid crystal display device. A plurality of light emitting diodes are contacted to a front surface of the heatsink. A fin unit is contacted to a rear surface of the heatsink. In addition, a display panel is supported by a holding member so as to be positioned at a constant distance from the light emitting diodes. The holding member is composed of a front cover and a rear cover of the display panel, supported by the heatsink and a chassis provided between the display panel and the rear cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device using light emitting diode (LED) as a light source.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-311417, priorly, cold cathode tubes have been used for light sources of liquid crystal display devices. As the light sources of liquid crystal display devices using cold cathode tubes, direct backlights and side backlights can be mentioned. And, in a liquid crystal display device with a built-in direct backlight, cold cathode tubes have been arranged on the rear surface-side of a liquid crystal panel, and a white light emitted from these cold cathode tubes passes through the liquid crystal panel, whereby an image is displayed. In addition, in a liquid crystal display device with a built-in side backlight, cold cathode tubes have been arranged at lateral sides on the rear surface-side of a liquid crystal panel, and a white light emitted from these cold cathode tubes is supplied to the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel by a light-guide plate, and this light passes through the liquid crystal panel, whereby an image is displayed.
In contrast thereto, recently, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. H04-118205, literature (Yourii Martynov et al., "High-efficiency slim LED backlight system with mixing light guide," SID 03 DIGEST 43.3/Martynov, [on line], <URL: http://www.lumileds.com/pdfs/LEDBacklightMixingLightguideSID.PDF> [searched on Jun. 21, 2004]), and literature (Nikkei Electronics Jun. 21, 2004 Issue, pp. 60-61), in order to improve color reproducibility of images, a technique using red light emitting diodes, green light emitting diodes, and blue light emitting diodes as a light source has been developed. This technique is for arranging red light emitting diodes, green light emitting diodes, and blue light emitting diodes in line on the rear surface-side of a liquid crystal panel, mixing lights from these by a light guide, and irradiating the same as a white light onto a liquid crystal panel.
However, the aforementioned conventional technique has problems as shown in the following. Although light emitting diodes are more favorable in color reproducibility than cold cathode tubes, the light emitting diodes consume greater electricity than the cold cathode tubes, and the calorific value is also greater. Therefore, the light emitting diodes are raised in temperature by heat generated on their own. And, when the temperature is raised, the light emitting diodes are lowered in luminous efficiency. In addition, when the temperature of the light emitting diodes is excessively raised, the light emitting diodes themselves are destroyed.


Provided is a laser propelled craft having a) a forebody or nose, b) a tapering parabolic afterbody optic or mirror, c) a shroud mounted therebetween and extending aft to define an annular space around a portion of the afterbody near its base and d) means to transmit a pulsed laser beam toward the laser craft and afterbody optic and thence to focus into the annular shroud. The laser beam is pulsed to heat and pressurize the air in the annular space to expand same and propel such craft, the afterbody and shroud being so shaped as to self center or remain in the laser beam as the craft is propelled thereby. Such craft, which is spin-stablized, can also carry a fuel insert ring mounted in the shroud around the afterbody, to be ablated by the laser beam at a desired altitude, so as to transition from an air breathing craft to a rocket craft, when the atmospheric density becomes too low, e.g., at 30 km altitude so that the lasercraft can thereafter be propelled into, e.g., low earth orbit.

None
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.
This invention relates to laser propelled vehicles, particularly launching such vehicles or craft with a laser beam.
The fundamental problem facing our nation""s ability to conduct routine space operations is the high cost now associated with conducting launch operations with conventional chemical rockets. Current information shows that it costs between $2,500 and $12,000 a pound to reach low-earth orbit. Chemical rockets typically carry their working fluid and energy source (propellants) on board. This results in a payload fraction (satellite weight/total rocket weight) of only a few percent. Rocket based combined cycle concepts employing momentum exchange with the atmosphere during a portion of the ascent and pure rocket propulsion as it enters space, can reduce costs by perhaps a factor of two and improve the payload fraction slightly. No other near term chemically-fueled launch vehicle prospects are in view that can create a significant reduction in space launch cost and payload.
Laser propelled lightweight vehicles, e.g. 20-60 grams have been tried and flown for short distances. See for example xe2x80x9cGround and Flight tests of a Laser Propelled Vehiclexe2x80x9d by L.N. Myrabo et al. Jan. 12-15, 1998, AIAA 98-1001 and a subsequent paper entitled xe2x80x9cFlight and Ground Tests of a Laser-Boosted Vehiclexe2x80x9d by F. B. Mead, Jr. et al. Jul. 13-15, 1998, AIAA 98-3735, which papers are incorporated herein by reference.
However, such systems have succeeded in vertical laser propulsion of a vehicle for only short vertical distances, e.g., up to 28 meters and there is need and market for a laser propulsion system that surpasses such altitudes.
There has now been discovered a laser propulsion system that can boost such vehicles considerably higher, e.g., up to 100 meters or more, toward suborbital or orbital flights including, launch-to-orbit of satellites and other payloads at greatly reduced costs.
Broadly the present invention provides a laser propelled vehicle or craft comprising,
a) forebody or nose,
b) a tapering afterbody optic and
c) an annular shroud mounted around and between the extremities of the forebody and the afterbody, which shroud extends aft and defines an annular space around a portion of the afterbody and
d) means to direct a laser beam toward said afterbody and thence to the annular shroud, to heat and pressurize the air in the annular space to an expanding plasma to propel the craft; the afterbody and shroud being so shaped as to self center or remain in the laser beam as the craft is propelled thereby.
The above embodiment is employed in the atmosphere up to an altitude of, e.g., 30 km and is designated herein as the air-breathing embodiment of the invention.
In a second (or hybrid) embodiment of the invention, the lasercraft of the invention can carry a propellant therein so that after launch it can transition from air breathing to rocket mode, as discussed below. The above lasercraft is initially an air breathing laser propulsion system. However air-breathing engines can only be used within the atmosphere and such craft going into space must, in reality, carry some additional propellant on board for operation in the vacuum of space. Being able to operate well, either with just an air based propellant and also with an onboard propellant, is the definition of a xe2x80x9cdual-modexe2x80x9d engine. In the case of launching the lasercraft of the invention into orbit, propellant is carried on board for use above, e.g., at an altitude of up to 30 km (18.6 mi or roughly 100,000 ft) and at a velocity of up to Mach 5. Thus for an actual space mission, the lasercraft would carry about half its weight in propellant.
In a third embodiment, the lasercraft of the invention carries a propellant on board, which is heated to ablation at launch and thereafter, by a laser beam to generate thrust and accordingly operates at all times as a rocket engine, through the atmosphere in a suborbital path or into space in an orbital path, as desired.
All three of the above embodiments can fly suborbital paths and in the case of embodiments two and three hereof, fly as well, in orbital flight paths per the invention.
Definitions:
By xe2x80x9cair plasmaxe2x80x9d as used herein, is meant air heated sufficiently high by the inverse Bremsstrahlung Process to provide dissociated and ionized particles, including those of oxygen and nitrogen, which subsequently produce a high pressure burst of thrust between shroud and afterbody, created by laser supported detonation (LSD) and/or combustion(LSC) waves. Between such laser pulses or the propulsion bursts, new air rushes into the annular space to await the next laser pulse.
By xe2x80x9claser craftxe2x80x9d, as used herein, is included the alternate designation of xe2x80x9claser lightcraftxe2x80x9d.

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


Provided are a structure of an automobile electronic key for security and a method for performing the function thereof. It is determined whether at least one of a driver seat door closing signal and a brake pedal signal is on. A key fob of an automobile is requested to send the ID thereof, and the ID is received from the key fob when at least one of the driver seat door closing signal and the brake pedal signal is on. The key fob is authenticated using the received ID. An actuator is driven to move a locking member such that a car key is switched to a rotatable state when the key fob passes authentication. The actuator is driven to move the locking member such that the car key is switched to an unrotatable state when the key fob does not pass authentication.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure of an automobile electronic key for security and a method for performing the function thereof, and more particularly, to a structure of an automobile electronic key for security and a method for performing the function thereof, which allow a proper user to insert the key of an automobile and rotate the inserted key to operate steering and start the engine of an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an ignition lock device of an automobile is also called a start switch for starting the engine of the automobile and integrated with a locking device of a steering column in order to prevent the automobile from being stolen.
The ignition lock device of an automobile is fixed to a steering column connected to a steering wheel and includes a key hole into which a car key is inserted by a driver. That is, the ignition lock device includes an ignition lock into which a car key is inserted, a key cylinder rotated with the car key being inserted into the ignition lock such that the car key operates, and an ignition lock body for performing a locking operation according to the operating state of the key cylinder, and the state of the automobile is changed according to the rotating operation of the car key. The rotating operation of the car key is composed of four steps of a locking step, an accessory power supply step, a controller and driver on step, and a starting step. The car key is inserted into or ejected from the ignition lock only in the locking step.
The aforementioned conventional ignition lock device is a mechanical lock device provided near a car door locking unit and the steering column. This mechanical lock device operates according to the rotating operation of the car key inserted by a driver to start the engine or cancel a locked state of the steering column.
However, the conventional mechanical lock device requires the driver to insert the car key thereinto and rotate the car key. Furthermore, even though the conventional mechanical lock device is damaged, the engine can be started through a simple operation. Accordingly, the automobile having the mechanical lock device is easily stolen.
To solve this problem, a smart key is provided to some of recent automobiles on the market. The car using the smart key has a key cylinder and a steering column in modified structures such that the car key cannot be inserted into the key cylinder when normal authentication is not performed. A user can lock/unlock the doors of the car only using the smart key and start the car according to an authentication result without inserting the car key into the key cylinder.
However, in the case of a car having no smart key, it is required to insert a mechanical key into the key cylinder and rotate the key to unlock the steering column in order to start the car. Accordingly, to apply the smart key to the car using the mechanical key to eliminate the inconvenience of inserting and rotating the key, the car key must be being inserted into the key cylinder all the time. In this case, the car can be stolen because the car key is being inserted into the key cylinder.

Structure of automobile electronic key for security and method for performing function thereof

Dong-A University Research Foundation for Industry Academy Cooperation


An industrial vehicle includes a battery that is shaped to expand or otherwise modify the space available within an operator's compartment. As a result, operator accommodations may be satisfied within the space requirements of the vehicle. The present invention further provides an industrial vehicle having an adjustable feature, such as a repositionable operator's seat and/or repositionable control element or operator control surface, and a shaped battery that enables or otherwise corresponds with the repositioning capability of the adjustable feature.

The present invention relates in general to industrial vehicles, and more particularly to industrial vehicles having a battery that is shaped to expand or otherwise modify the space available within an operator's compartment of such vehicles. The present invention further relates to industrial vehicles having an adjustable feature, such as a repositionable operator's seat and/or repositionable control element, and a battery that is shaped to enable or otherwise correspond with the repositioning capability of the adjustable feature.
Industrial vehicles such as fork lift trucks may include a rechargeable battery for powering the vehicle, e.g., as an alternative to operating under fuel-based engine power. The battery is typically configured as a relatively large, rectangular structure consisting of a plurality of individual battery cells that are electrically connected together to achieve a desired nominal voltage. In such vehicles, the battery and its associated battery container are known to consume a substantial amount of space. Thus, battery powered industrial vehicles may be larger than their engine powered counterparts, or have significantly reduced space available to accommodate an operator in an operator's compartment of the vehicle. For example, in some fork lift trucks, the battery is positioned underneath the operator's compartment, and is arranged so as to extend out towards the back of the vehicle over the rear wheel(s). Under such an arrangement, a hood or other battery access door may be provided under the operator's seat. Alternatively, the battery may be contained entirely between the front and rear wheels, e.g., in a compartment underneath the operator's seat that extends down to the vehicle frame.
However, locating the battery underneath the operator's compartment consumes a significant amount of space, thus reducing vehicle operator comfort and work ability. For example, the size of the battery may result in added operator effort in getting into and out of the vehicle due to a high entrance step. For vehicles such as fork lift trucks that perform functions requiring the operator to frequently climb into and out of the vehicle, this feature may lead to early operator fatigue and reduced operator efficiency.
Alternatively, the battery may be moved to a position within, or adjacent to, the operator's compartment, e.g., located along one side of an operator's compartment. However, relocating the battery to an area that is within or adjacent to the operator's compartment eliminates a significant amount of area that would otherwise be available for the operator. Thus, such arrangements may cramp the operator or limit the accommodations available to the user.