A T-RAM array having a plurality of T-RAM cells is presented where each T-RAM cell has dual vertical devices. Each T-RAM cell has a vertical thyristor and a vertical transfer gate. The top surface of each thyristor is coplanar with the top surface of each transfer gate within the T-RAM array to provide a planar cell structure for the T-RAM array. A method is also presented for fabricating the T-RAM array having the vertical thyristors, the vertical transfer gates and the planar cell structure.

This invention relates to the field of integrated circuit (IC) design. Specifically, it relates to a Thyristor Random Access Memory (T-RAM) structure and method for fabricating the same. The T-RAM structure has dual vertical devices and a planar cell structure.
A low-power, high-speed and high-density negative differential resistance (NDR) based (NDR-based) SRAM cell which can provide DRAM-like densities at SRAM-like speeds has been proposed by Farid Nemati and James D. Plummer in xe2x80x9cA Novel High Density, Low Voltage SRAM Cell with a Vertical NDR Device,xe2x80x9d 1998 Symposium on VLSI Technology Digest of Technical Papers, IEEE, pages 66-67, 1998.
The memory device structure is shown by FIG. 1 and is designated by reference numeral 10; the memory device structure is called a Thyristor-based Random Access Pi Memory (T-RAM) cell. The T-RAM device or memory cell 10 consists of a thin vertical pnpn thyristor 12 with a surrounding nMOS gate 14 as the bistable element and a planar nMOSFET as the access transistor 16. The circuit schematic of the T-RAM cell 10 is shown by FIG. 2.
To access the T-RAM cell 10, two wordlines are necessary. The first wordline WL 1 is used to control an access gate of the transfer nMOSFET device 16, while the second wordline WL2 is the surrounding nMOS gate 14 which is used to control the switch of the vertical pnpn thyristor 12. The thyristor 12 is connected to a reference voltage Vref. The second wordline WL2 improves the switching speed of the thyristor 12 from 40 ns to 4 ns with a switching voltage. A bitline BL connects the T-RAM cell 10 to a sense amplifier for reading and writing data from and to the T-RAM cell 10. The T-RAM cell 10 exhibits a very low standby current in the range of 10pA.
When writing a xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d, the bitline BL is set at low, and both wordlines WL1, WL2 are switched on. At this moment, the thyristor 12 behaves like a forward biased pn diode. After a write operation, both gates are shut off, and a xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d state is stored in the thyristor 12. In a read operation, only the first wordline WL1 is activated, a large xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d current will read on the bitline BL through the access gate. When writing a xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d, the bitline BL is set at xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d state, and both wordlines WL1, WL2 are switched on. At this moment, the thyristor 12 behaves like a reverse biased diode. After the write operation, both gates are shut off, and a xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d state is stored in the thyristor 12. Similarly, in a consequence read, a very low current will be detected on the bitline BL. Further details of the operation of the T-RAM cell 10 and its gate-assisted switching are described in Nemati et al.; the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
A T-RAM array having a plurality of T-RAM cells 10 has demonstrated a density equivalent to that of DRAM arrays and a speed equivalent to that of SRAM arrays. Hence, the T-RAM array provides advantages afforded by both SRAM and DRAM arrays. These advantages make T-RAM an attractive choice for future generations of high speed, low-voltage, and high-density memories and ASICs.
However, there are several drawbacks of the T-RAM cell 10. First, there is the requirement of forming the thyristor 12 having a vertical pillar on a substrate during a fabrication process. Difficulties arise in controlling the dimensions of the vertical pillar and reproducing these dimensions for each T-RAM cell 10 in the T-RAM array. Second, due to the existence of a vertical thyristor 12 in each T-RAM cell 10, each T-RAM cell 10 is not planar and therefore difficult to scale. Third, it is difficult to control the dimension while forming the surrounding gate around the base of each vertical thyristor 12. Fourth, each T-RAM cell is fabricated prior to or after fabricating any other devices, such as P-MOS and n-MOS support devices (i.e., sense amplifiers, wordline drivers, column and row decoders, etc.), which results in extra fabrication steps, thereby increasing thermal budget and manufacturing cost. Finally, due to these drawbacks, the resulting T-RAM cell 10 cannot be smaller than 8F2 and the cost of fabricating a T-RAM array is high.
An aspect of the present invention is to provide a T-RAM array having a planar cell structure for overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a T-RAM array having a plurality of T-RAM cells, wherein each of the plurality of T-RAM cells has a planar cell structure and dual vertical devices, i.e., a vertical thyristor and a vertical transfer gate.
Also, another aspect of the present invention is to provide a memory system having a plurality of T-RAM cells arranged in an array, wherein each of the plurality of T-RAM cells has a planar cell structure and dual vertical devices, i.e., a vertical thyristor and a vertical transfer gate.
Further, another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating a high-density, high-yield and low-cost T-RAM array having a plurality of T-RAM cells and a planar cell structure on a SO1 substrate. Each of the plurality of T-RAM cells has a planar cell structure and dual vertical devices, i.e., a vertical thyristor and a vertical transfer gate.
Finally, another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating a T-RAM array which improves performance and yield, and reduces cost and thermal budget.
Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention, a T-RAM array is presented having a planar cell structure and a plurality of T-RAM cells where each T-RAM cell has dual vertical devices. That is, each T-RAM cell has a vertical thyristor and a vertical transfer gate. A top surface of each thyristor is coplanar with a top surface of each transfer gate within the T-RAM array to provider the planar cell structure for the T-RAM array. The inventive structure of each T-RAM cell results in higher performance at low voltage, e.g., Vdd=1V.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a memory system is presented having a plurality of T-RAM cells arranged in an array. Each of the T-RAM cells in the array has a planar cell structure and dual vertical devices, i.e., a vertical thyristor and a vertical transfer gate.
Further still, in another embodiment of the present invention, a method is presented for fabricating a T-RAM array having a planar cell structure. Each of the T-RAM cells in the T-RAM array has dual vertical devices, i.e., a vertical thyristor and a vertical transfer gate. The method entails forming the vertical devices in trenches of the same base, such that alignment of the transfer gate to a channel region in each T-RAM cell is highly reproducible. Preferably, the T-RAM array is built on a semiconductor silicon-on-insulator (SO1) wafer to reduce junction capacitance and improve scalability.

T-RAM structure having dual vertical devices and method for fabricating the same


An anti-tamper device for preventing data from being tampered with by an unauthorized person includes a top cover, a bottom cover, a printed circuit board (PCB), and a signal connector. The bottom cover is assembled to the top cover. The PCB has a plurality of terminal couplers. The signal connector is fastened to the top cover, and the signal connector defines a plurality of terminal grooves. At least one of the terminal grooves receives a terminal. When the terminals are electrically connected to the terminal couplers, a first relation signal is generated to enable the anti-tamper device. When the terminals are not connected to the corresponding terminal couplers, a second relation signal different from the first relation signal is generated by the PCB to make the anti-tamper device unable to work.

Electronic devices usually store confidential data such as account information in components of the electronic devices. In order to prevent an unauthorized person from accessing the components storing the confidential data, the components are located in a sealed housing. However, the housing of the electronic device must be able to be easily opened in order for a service repairman or technician to repair or replace any components when maintenance is required.


A data storage device includes a memory having a three-dimensional (3D) memory configuration. A method includes writing first data at a first physical page that is disposed within the memory at a first distance from a substrate of the memory. The first data is written at the first physical page using a first write technique. The method further includes writing second data at a second physical page that is disposed within the memory at a second distance from the substrate. The second distance is greater than the first distance. The second data is written at the second physical page using a second write technique that is different than the first write technique.

Non-volatile data storage devices have enabled increased portability of data and software applications. For example, multi-level cell (MLC) storage elements of a flash memory device may each store multiple bits of data, enhancing data storage density as compared to single-level cell (SLC) flash memory devices. Consequently, flash memory devices enable users to store and access a large amount of data. As a number of bits stored per cell increases, bit errors in stored data typically increase. A data storage device may encode and decode data using an error correcting code (ECC) technique to correct certain bit errors in data. The ECC technique may utilize parity information that decreases data storage capacity for other information, such as user data.
To further increase data storage capacity, a memory may have a three-dimensional memory configuration. A three-dimensional memory may include multiple layers of storage elements that are "stacked" relative to a semiconductor substrate. Depending on the particular implementation, each layer of a three-dimensional memory may operate similarly to a two-dimensional (or "planar") memory. A three-dimensional memory fabrication process typically includes different fabrication steps than a two-dimensional memory fabrication process. For example, a three-dimensional memory fabrication process may connect layers of storage elements to form a column of storage elements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Memory access techniques for a memory having a three-dimensional memory configuration


A pressurized fluid-driven engine includes an engine chamber defined by a housing having one or more endplates which include serpentine channels for the flow of temperature-regulating fluid. Preferably, each endplate has a pair of channels that each has a scroll pattern. The temperature-regulating fluid may be the same fluid that is employed in driving the engine. The fluid is utilized both to preheat the engine and to cool the engine during use. The engine may be coupled to a generator for the production of electrical energy.

Major strides have been made in reducing the need for oil and natural gas to satisfy the world's energy requirements. For example, solar energy plays a small but increasingly important role in supplying power for the operation of electrical devices.
In addition to utilizing alternative sources of energy, the dependency on oil and natural gas can be lessened by reducing waste. A waste reduction may be in the form of increasing the efficiency of a device or in the form of utilizing by-products of the device. A water heater of a major hotel is one example of a device which produces by-products that can be utilized. Heating the water to a desired temperature creates pressurized steam. The pressurized steam can be employed to drive a motor for the generation of electrical energy. U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,191 to Schadeck teaches a vapor-driven rotary engine that can be driven by steam from a hotel boiler and coupled to a generator for conversion to electrical energy, whereafter hotel lights can be operated.
While vapor-driven rotary engines may be used in a capacity to conserve energy, any inefficiencies of the engine will limit the degree of conservation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary engine that promotes both energy efficiency and fuel conservation.

Preheating and cooling system for a rotary engine


The present invention relates to an apparatus with reconfiguration function and signal gathering function. The apparatus with reconfiguration function and signal gathering function according to the present invention comprises a signal gathering unit which gathers at least one alarm digital alarm signal, an alarm signal address setting unit where the address of the alarm signal gathering unit is setup; and an alarm signal collection controller which outputs the at least one digital alarm signal through serial bus. Therefore, address is allocated to a plurality of digital signals and thus the number of necessary components decreases and the embodiment area decreases, as well.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for digital alarm signal gathering and reconfiguration signal transmission in a communication system which has a function of gathering digital alarm signal which is needed for checking the state inside of the system and allocating reference address to such component as PLD (Programmable Logic Device) which needs a reconfiguration function.
The present invention was supported by the IT R&D program of Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) and Institute for Information Technology Advancement (IITA) [Project reference number: 2007-S-014-01, Title of the Project: Metro-Access Integrated Optical Network Technology].
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, when detecting the occurrence of digital alarm signals, an alarm signal gathering apparatus gathers and transmits the digital alarm signals to an integrated controller through a parallel bus.
In case the digital alarm signals which are to be collected outnumber the digital alarm signals which can be gathered by the alarm signal gathering apparatus, a plurality of alarm signal gathering apparatuses are connected to a single parallel bus.
FIG. 1 shows a block-diagram which illustrates the constitution of a general digital alarm signal gathering apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 1, in case digital alarm signal 1 exists, the digital alarm signal gathering apparatus 5 gathers and transmits the digital alarm signal to an integrated controller (not shown in the figure) through a parallel bus 10.
FIG. 2 shows a block-diagram which illustrates the constitution of general digital alarm signal gathering apparatus in case the 1st to the nth digital alarm signals exist.
Referring to FIG. 2, in case the 1st to the nth digital alarm signals 15 exist, an address decoding gathering apparatus 20 collects the 1st to the nth digital alarm signals 15a, 15b, . . . 15n according to its respective address which is allocated to the 1st to the nth digital alarm signals, respectively, and transmits them to an integrated controller (not shown in the figure) through a parallel bus 10.
In case the digital alarm signals 15 which are to be collected outnumber the digital alarm signals which can be gathered by the address decoding gathering apparatus 20, a plurality of address decoding gathering apparatuses may be connected to a single parallel bus. However, as compared with a serial bus connection structure where a single bus is serially connected to a plurality of decoding gathering apparatuses 20 so that single input and single output may be transmitted to the decoding gathering apparatuses, in a parallel bus connection structure where a single bus is parallel connected to a plurality of decoding gathering apparatuses 20 so that input and output to the decoding gathering apparatuses may be shared, signal integrity of the parallel data transmission line has to be secured in the course of circuit design or printed circuit board design for the sharing of a single bus due to limited electrical drive strength, the number of components wholly needed increases because the components related to the parallel bus buffering are to be added, and thus the necessary area is to be increased. Further, a difficulty follows that gathering software is to be additionally developed for the respective address decoding gathering apparatus 20.
Still further, to reconfigure the components such as reconfigurable and internally modifiable PLD (Programmable Logic Device) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) in a unit of the blocks or modules during the operation of the communication system, such inconvenience takes place as entire system is to be put to stop or the corresponding blocks or modules are to be pulled out and reconfigured in another working place.

Apparatus with reconfiguration function and signal gathering function

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Analytical methods and devices for analyzing biological signals, for example, electrical signals from the brain to determine whether an abnormal condition caused by a medical condition exists. In one embodiment, the medical disorder may be epilepsy. The analytical methods include wavelet analysis and neighbor cross-correlation count, which is a frequency specific measure of the degree of correlation of a single channel of data with respect to its neighbors. The devices according to the invention are programmed to include the analytical methods and to administer treatment regimens such as electrical stimulation, heating, cooling and medication as needed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to methods for biomedical signal analysis, heat flow management, and stimulation techniques to treat medical disorders.
2. Description of Related Art
Biological signal processing and analysis can be used in a variety of contexts, ranging from purely scientific applications to patient diagnosis and treatment. Virtually any biological signal can be analyzed to yield scientifically or medically useful information, although bioelectrical signals, particularly from the nervous system, heart, and muscles, are very often analyzed in scientific and clinical contexts. During patient diagnosis and treatment, biological signal processing may be coupled to a treatment regimen, such as electrical stimulation or administration of medication.
Epilepsy is one example of a medical disorder in which bioelectrical signal processing and analysis has proven to be a useful part of a treatment regimen. In general, epileptic seizures occur because of an abnormal intensity and synchronized firing of brain cells. The fundamental neuronal disturbance during a seizure consists of large amplitude, sustained electrical depolarization, superimposed on which are a protracted volley of action potentials. The phenomena which cause these disturbances are not fully known at the time of writing. Generalized epileptic seizures may begin over the entire brain at essentially the same time, while more localized seizures, known as focal seizures, may begin in a more localized region in the brain and then spread.
Bioelectrical signal processing is used in the analysis and treatment of epilepsy to identify pre-ictal (i.e., pre-seizure), ictal, and post-ictal patterns from an electroencephalogram (EEG). When pre-ictal or ictal patterns are identified, a treatment regimen may be administered to the patient.
Two difficulties are often encountered in the kind of analysis-and-treatment scheme described above. The first difficulty lies in identifying the pre-ictal or ictal pattern so that a treatment can be administered. The second difficulty lies in synchronizing the application of the treatment regimen with the pre-ictal or ictal EEG signal so as to achieve maximum effect from the treatment.
Similar problems in identifying a desired portion of a biological signal and synchronizing treatment or analysis tasks with that desired portion of the biological signal occur in the analysis and treatment of many medical disorders.

Signal analysis, heat flow management, and stimulation techniques to treat medical disorders


A sensor comprises a reference sample arranged to be subject to at least one variable physical parameter such that a variation in the value of the at least one variable physical parameter causes a change in the magnetisation of the reference sample, means for measuring the magnetisation of the reference sample, and means for determining in dependence upon the measured magnetisation whether there has been a variation in the value of the at least one variable physical parameter, wherein the reference sample comprises a Heusler alloy.

The present invention relates to magnetic devices and in particular to the use of Heusler alloys in magnetic devices.
Heusler alloys may order in the L21 form, a crystal structure that determines the crystal arrangements of the elements in the Heusler alloy with respect to one another.
The Heusler alloys which are of interest exhibit itinerant ferromagnetic behaviour. This means that the magnetic moments which are ferromagnetically ordered below the Curie temperature are associated with electrons which show extended behaviour and are able to move through the material rather than being localised to particular atomic sites.
Certain Heusler alloys exhibit half-metal behaviour below the Curie temperature, in which, at the Fermi energy, there is a band gap in the density of states for one spin direction of the electrons and no band gap—and hence spin-polarised metallic behaviour—in the density of states for the other spin direction.
Heusler alloys which exhibit spin-polarised metallic behaviour as described in the preceding paragraph have been the subject of interest in relation to their possible use in spintronics applications, for instance in spin-polarised tunnel junctions or in magnetic memory read/write heads. Such uses for Heusler alloys exhibiting spin-polarised metallic behaviour require that the alloys are well below their Curie temperature, and thus efforts have been made to find, and to use, Heusler alloys having Curie temperatures far above room temperature.


Surgical tool systems and methods of use thereof for performing endoscopic surgical procedures, which systems include a handpiece and a surgical accessory which detachably connects to the handpiece. The surgical accessory has a distal end which defines a cutting head incorporating two different types of tissue-treating areas.

Endoscopic surgical procedures are routinely performed in order to accomplish various surgical tasks. In such a surgical procedure, small incisions or portals are made in the patient. An endoscope, which is a device that allows medical personnel to view the surgical site, is inserted in one of the portals and surgical instruments used to perform other tasks are inserted into other portals. The surgeon views the surgical site through the endoscope to determine how to manipulate the surgical instruments in order to accomplish the desired procedure. An advantage of performing endoscopic surgery is that, since the portions of the body that are cut open are minimized, the portions of the body that need to heal after the surgery are likewise reduced. Moreover, during an endoscopic surgical procedure, only relatively small portions of the internal organs and tissue are exposed to the open environment. This minimal opening of the body lessens the extent to which the organs and tissue are open to infection.
The ability to perform endoscopic surgery is enhanced by the development of powered surgical tool systems especially designed to perform such procedures. One such exemplary tool system is sold by the assignee hereof under the trademark FORMULA®. This tool system includes a handpiece designed to be held in the hand of the surgeon. The handpiece has a front or distal end provided with a coupling assembly for releasably holding a surgical accessory, and a motor disposed within a handpiece housing which drives the accessory. The surgical accessories, such as shavers, drills and burs, include a hub which defines the proximal end of the accessory and is appropriately configured to cooperate with the coupling assembly of the handpiece to lock the accessory thereto. Such accessories also include an elongated and tubular outer housing element having a proximal end fixed to the hub, and an elongated cutting element including a drive shaft disposed within the housing element. When the accessory is attached to the handpiece, the handpiece motor couples to the drive shaft of the accessory and moves same relative to the outer housing element. The handpiece motor is selectively actuable to drive the accessory drive shaft so as to cause a desired cutting action at the distal end of the accessory. The handpiece is associated with a control unit which controls the functioning thereof, and is actuated by the user via appropriate buttons provided on the handpiece itself, at the control unit or through use of a footswitch.
Mechanical surgical accessories, such as the shaver, drill and bur discussed above, are commonly used in arthroscopic procedures, and allow for the resection of hard and soft bodily tissues, for example, those found within the knee, shoulder and other joints. This type of surgical accessory may be utilized for both soft and hard tissue removal. In a shaver-type surgical accessory, the outer housing element incorporates a window or opening at the distal end, which window is defined by an edge of the wall of the outer housing element. The cutting element drive shaft at the distal end thereof includes a cutting head having a window defined by an edge of the wall of the cutting head. These window edges of the housing and cutting elements are configured to cut tissue, and when the cutting element is disposed within the housing element, the cutting head window is positioned adjacent the window of the housing element. As the drive shaft is moved relative to the housing element by the handpiece motor, the cutting edge of the cutting head window and the opposed and facing cutting edge of the housing element window cause a cutting or scissoring action which effectively severs tissue located within the housing element window and between the opposed cutting edges of the housing element and the cutting head. The configurations of these opposed edges allow for removal of particular tissue types, and a variety of different cutting window geometries are available to specifically address the type of cutting the accessory is to carry out or in accordance with the particular preference of the surgeon. In this regard, the windows of both of the housing element and the cutting head may be provided with straight cutting edges which may be useful for making fine or detailed cuts, and may also be used for removing areas of hard tissue, such as bone. This straight-edge configuration of a shaver-type surgical accessory can also be used to cut soft, fibrous tissue. Alternatively, the windows of both the housing element and the cutting head may be provided with toothed or serrated cutting edges which may achieve a more aggressive cut for removal of soft fibrous tissue. Other arrangements include providing the window of the housing element with a straight cutting edge and the window of the cutting head with a toothed cutting edge. The predominant function of teeth provided on a surgical accessory, and specifically the teeth provided on the cutting head of the inner cutting element of a shaver-type surgical accessory, is to pull tissue towards the cutting edge of the outer housing element window, at which point the tissue is cut by the scissoring action mentioned above.
A bur-type surgical accessory is commonly used to resect bone or other hard tissues, and includes cutting features which, when the accessory is rotated, serve to cut away such tissue. Such cutting features of this type of accessory may be helically or non-helically oriented. Non-helically oriented cutting features may be those which extend linearly or parallel with the axis of the accessory. The cutting element of a bur-type surgical accessory includes a cutting head with these cutting features which, in some accessories, are exposed through a window formed at the distal end of the outer housing element when the cutting element is located therein. In some bur-type surgical accessories, the window formed in the outer housing element opens primarily sidewardly, so that the distal end of the outer housing element covers a portion or one side of the cutting head of the bur to allow the user to better target bone or hard tissue. Alternatively, the entire cutting head geometry may project distally beyond the terminal end of the outer housing element. A variety of bur geometries are available to specifically address the type of cutting the accessory is to carry out.
Additionally, in an endoscopic surgical procedure, irrigating fluid is introduced into the surgical site, which fluid serves as a transport media for removing tissue and debris therefrom. In order to remove the irrigating fluid and the material contained therein, the above-discussed handpiece and the various accessories which are usable therewith together define a suction conduit. In this regard, a suction pump is connected to the handpiece to provide the suction force needed for drawing the fluid and material away from the surgical site. In order to control the suction flow through the accessory and the handpiece, the handpiece is typically provided with a manually operated valve which is manipulated by the surgeon to control suction of material away from the surgical site. In a shaver-type surgical accessory, surgical debris is suctioned away through the aligned windows of the outer housing element and the cutting head of the cutting element, and then evacuated via a passage provided in the surgical accessory. Likewise, some bur-type surgical accessories incorporate a suction arrangement including a suction opening formed in a distal end of the drive shaft and proximally of the cutting head, which suction opening communicates with a hollow interior of the drive shaft. Surgical debris is thus suctioned inwardly into the surgical accessory through this suction opening and then into a passage of the drive shaft and away from the accessory. In other bur-type surgical accessories, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,636,131 (owned by the assignee hereof), a suction opening or openings are provided in the cutting head itself adjacent the cutting features thereof.

Surgical tool systems, and methods of use thereof


A method and system is provided for treating wastewater. In one process, wastewater is directed into a treatment tank and biologically treated. The biologically treated wastewater is directed as mixed liquor from the treatment tank to a bottom portion of a downstream filtration tank having at least one submerged membrane module that extends across substantially the entire cross sectional area of the filtration tank mixed liquor is directed from the bottom of the filtration tank upwardly into the membrane module such that substantially all of the mixed liquor received in the bottom of the filtration tank flows through the membrane module. As the mixed liquor flows vertically through the membrane module, the method includes inducing at least some of the mixed liquor through walls of one or more membrane filters that form a part of the membrane module, producing a permeate stream. The remaining mixed liquor passing through and from the membrane module is referred to as a non-permeate stream and the non-permeate stream, or at least a substantial portion thereof, is recirculated to the treatment tank. The filtration tank is sized relative to the membrane module and the process is carried out such that there is no substantial recycle of mixed liquor in the filtration tank itself. Although mixed liquor may be recirculated from the filtration tank back to the treatment tank and then back to the filtration tank and so forth and so on, once the mixed liquor in the filtration tank makes one pass through the membrane module the mixed liquor is recycled back to the treatment tank and generally not permitted to be recycled back through the membrane module without first returning to the treatment tank.

In recent years, membrane bioreactors have become popular for treating wastewater. Membrane bioreactors combine biological treatment processes with membrane filtration to generally provide an advanced level of organic and suspended solids removal. These systems typically provide an advanced level of nutrient removal. Such membranes typically have porosities ranging from about 0.035 microns to 0.4 microns. This level of filtration provides high quality effluent to be transported through the membranes and generally eliminates the sedimentation and filtration processes typically used for wastewater treatment. Because the need for sedimentation is eliminated, the biological process can operate at much higher mixed liquor suspended solids concentrations. This can reduce the size of tanks required to carry out wastewater treatment.
One type of system includes at least one biological reactor and a membrane filtration tank disposed downstream from the reactor. A membrane module or cassette is typically submerged in the filtration tank. Mixed liquor is transferred from the reactor to the downstream filtration tank. The membrane module or cassette typically includes an array of submerged individual membrane filters. Mixed liquor is induced into the open space between the individual membrane filters, resulting in the mixed liquor being filtered and producing a permeate. The permeate is pumped or is flowing by gravity from the individual membrane filters and the filtration tank.
Typically the filtration tank is relatively large compared to the size of the membrane modules or cassettes. This means that when the membrane module or cassette is placed in the filtration tank, it is surrounded by mixed liquor or non-permeated mixed liquor. The term "non-permeated mixed liquor" means mixed liquor in the filtration tank that has passed through the membrane module or modules in the filtration tank. Practically, the non-permeated mixed liquor in the filtration tank tends to be recirculated multiple times through the membrane module or cassette. That is, the mixed liquor or non-permeated mixed liquor tends to move upwardly through the membrane module and exits the top of the module and then returns downwardly outside of the module, and then is induced back upwardly through the membrane module.
Typically, an air diffuser is disposed below the membrane module or cassette. The air diffuser tends to accelerate the non-permeated mixed liquor upwardly through the membrane module. The air bubbles created by the air being diffused gives rise to an air-lift effect within the membrane module or cassette. The air bubbles, after exiting the membrane module, tend to move upward in the direction of the water surface in the filtration tank while the non-permeated mixed liquor tends to turn and move downwardly in the opposite direction. The non-permeated mixed liquor is now flowing mainly outside of the membrane module towards the bottom of the filtration tank. In some cases, the non-permeated mixed liquor exiting the top of the membrane module has a velocity that is relatively high. When the velocity of the water exiting the top of the module is relatively high, the non-permeated mixed liquor tends to retain the air bubble and does not release the air bubbles to move to the top of the water surface in the filtration tank. The entrapped air bubbles reduce the velocity of the down flowing non-permeated mixed liquor, and by doing so the volume of the mixed liquor flowing upwardly through the membrane module is limited. This reduces the turbulence of the mixed liquor passing through the membrane module and tends to reduce finally the efficiency of filtration. Typically a portion of the non-permeated mixed liquor is coming from the treatment tank and another portion is flowing back into the treatment tank. This limits the increase of the mixed liquor suspended solids in the filtration tank.
Further, in these types of membrane filtration systems, it is seen that the footprint of the filtration tank is substantially greater than the footprint of the membrane module or cassette. This, of course, can increase capital costs and other process related costs.

Method and system for treating water and utilizing a membrane filtering system


An object of the present invention is to provide a coordinates input apparatus whereby various operations on a screen can be carried out where practicable with one finger, and the number of operations reduced, thus giving a marked improvement in user operability. The coordinates input apparatus of the invention therefore comprises a detection section and an operating section. The detection section is provided with an operating surface for operation by a coordinates pointer such as a finger, and detects the operating conditions on the operating surface caused by the coordinates pointer. The operating section executes screen operations corresponding to the operating condition detected by the detection section, and in addition detects tapping of the coordinates pointer on the operating surface within a predetermined region, and carries out previously determined processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coordinates input apparatus for operating such as a cursor or a window on a screen.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally a mouse or a track ball is used for the pointing device connected to a computer. Moreover, recently pointing devices such as pads, touch pads or track pads have also come to be used. The pad is used either in an integral form such as with a portable type computer, or in an externally attached form such as with a desk top type computer. Since it is not necessary to move the pad, as with a mouse, it has the feature that it can be operated even in a limited space such as on a desk-top without obstruction.
In moving a cursor (also referred to as a pointer) on a screen using such a pad, the finger may simply be placed on and slid over the small (a few square centimeters) operating surface on the pad. The pad is provided with left and right buttons as with mouse type devices, and in addition various operations the same as for left button clicking, such as selecting and moving an object displayed on the screen can be realized by lightly tapping the operating surface with the finger. This operation is in particular referred to as "tap" or "tapping." By means of this tapping operation, then as well as the above-mentioned clicking operation, operations such as left button double clicking where the left button is clicked two times in succession (used for example in starting an application), and drag (where the cursor is aligned with the screen object and the object moved to a desired location while pressing the left button) can be carried out with one finger.
By operating the operating surface of the pad with the finger above manner, the pad achieves the same function as the cursor moving and left button click operations using the mouse. However, with the conventional pad, the same function as the mouse right button click operation cannot be achieved by an operation on the operating surface. Hence it is necessary to click a right button provided on the pad with the finger, as with a mouse. To carry out the right button click operation, the following operations are required. First, in the case where the user wishes to operate the pad continuously using only one finger, the finger is moved from the operating surface to the right button location, and the right button then pressed with the finger to carry out the click operation. Moreover, in the case where the user operates the pad with two fingers, the operating surface is operated with one finger, while the other finger is placed at the right button location to carry out the click operation. Therefore, to carry out the right button click operation, it is necessary to either operate the pad with two fingers, or to move one finger back and forth between the operating surface and the right button. Hence, the advantages of the present pad in that it can be operated with only a minimal number of one finger operations is lessened.
Moreover, with the latest computers wherein operation of a window (that is to say a plurality of separate screens on the display unit) is a prerequisite, user operations such as adjusting the size of the window to suit the work conditions, scrolling the contents displayed in the window up and down or sideways within the window (the method of successively displaying the screen contents as a scroll), or closing an unnecessary window, are frequently carried out.
Here adjustment of the window size is carried out for example by moving the cursor while clicking on the right hand lower corner of the window. Moreover, to scroll in the window, it is necessary to move the cursor to a so called scroll bar (or slide bar ) provided at the right edge or bottom edge of the window, and then click the scroll bar a required number of times. Furthermore, closing the window is carried out by moving the cursor to a small box, referred to as a close box, provided for example on the upper right corner of the window, and clicking on this box.
In carrying out the various window operations in this way, various combinations of cursor movement and the button clicking are required. Hence if the right button finger clicking operation is included, then the above-mentioned advantages of the pad are not fully realized. Moreover, positioning the cursor on the screen using the pad is not considered easy, even for a user skilled in pad operation, and hence considering a normal user these operations are quite complicated, thus putting a load on the user.


A tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) optical head includes a housing configured for attachment to a sight tube attached to a wall of a process chamber. The TDLAS optical head further includes optics within the housing for transmitting, receiving, or transmitting and receiving a laser beam within a process chamber through the sight tube. The TDLAS optical head further includes a photo sensor in the housing positioned to receive light emitted by combustion within the process chamber to which the housing is attached.

Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy ("TDLAS") has been used to monitor and control processes in a wide variety of combustion and process chambers. TDLAS measurements require a clear line of sight for transmission of a laser beam through the environment being sensed. In many industrial applications, keeping a clear line of sight can be an issue. For instance, in coal-fired power plants, slag and ash can build up in or on sight tube openings to the furnace that provide the necessary line of sight, effectively blocking the laser beam. In steel reheat furnaces or electric arc furnaces, friable refractory and scale can build up in or on sight tubes providing the line of sight access and in electric arc furnaces, molten metal, slag or dust can block the sight tubes. Steam methane reformers, basic oxygen furnaces for steel making, glass furnaces, ethylene cracking furnaces, refinery process furnaces or any other type of industrial furnace, particularly those having a friable refractory, can have similar port blockage issues. All such furnaces and process chambers referred to in this paragraph constitute "process chambers" as used herein.
In addition to port blockage issues, there are other problems that can cause a loss of laser beam transmission in these environments. For instance. in all of the applications listed above, the process chambers or duct walls are mechanically dynamic. Thus, alignment between the laser transmission and receive optics can be difficult to maintain. This can be overcome by the use of automatic alignment systems, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,248,755. In addition, the particle loading in certain environments, in particular in electric arc furnaces, basic oxygen furnaces and coal-fired furnaces, can be sufficiently high under certain circumstances that no light can be detected (sometimes referred to herein as "high opacity") leading to a loss of light transmission and the corresponding measurements of such light. In addition, the optical windows separating the TDLAS optics from the process chamber can become fouled, leading to a loss of light transmission. Because the precise cause of a loss of laser beam transmission can be difficult to determine, misdiagnosis of system issues is common and can lead to unnecessary service and maintenance costs. The present disclosure is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems discussed above.

Method and apparatus for monitoring port blockage for TDLAS measurements in harsh environments


A semiconductor device that can cope with larger numbers of pins and finer pitches while suppressing lowering of the manufacturing yield and reliability includes: a semiconductor chip having a plurality of electrodes provided on an upper surface thereof; a plurality of lead terminals including inner lead portions disposed toward the semiconductor chip; a sheet-form wiring member having a plurality of conductors insulated from one another on one main surface thereof; and a sealing-resin layer for sealing at least the semiconductor chip, the inner lead portions and the wiring member. The electrodes of the semiconductor device and the inner lead portions of the lead terminals are electrically connected respectively to each other via the conductors of the wiring member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and in particular to a semiconductor device of the resin-sealed type formed with a lead frame.
2. Description of Related Art
As an example of semiconductor devices of a resin-sealed type that are formed with a lead frame, those of a QFP (Quad Flat Package) type are conventionally known. Generally, in QFP type semiconductor devices, by narrowing the width of the inner lead portions (lead terminals) of the lead frame, larger number of pins and finer pitches are achieved so as to cope with higher degrees of integration in semiconductor elements.
However, since there is a limit to the formation of the width of inner lead portions (lead terminals), in a case where the number of inner lead portions (lead terminals) is increased so as to cope with an increased number of pins, it is necessary to enlarge the size of the lead frame itself. And as the lead frame is enlarged, the distances between electrode pads of a semiconductor chip and the inner lead portions corresponding thereto are lengthened. Accordingly, there arises a disadvantage that the bonding wires that electrically connect the electrode pads and the inner lead portions are lengthened.
Here, if the lengths of the bonding wires exceed a predetermined length, so-called wire sweep takes place in which the bonding wires are deformed in the flow direction of sealing resin during the process of resin-sealing the semiconductor chip with the sealing resin. As a result, there arises a disadvantage that a short-circuit occurs owing to the mutual contact of adjacent bonding wires. Generally, in a semiconductor device of a QFP type, of all the bonding wires, those at the corners of the semiconductor chip are longest, and therefore the occurrence of the aforementioned wire sweep is noticeable at the corners of the semiconductor device.
In this connection, there is conventionally known a QFP type semiconductor device capable of suppressing the wire sweep at the corners thereof. A semiconductor device of this type is described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H10-116953. This publication discloses a QFP type semiconductor device in which the inner lead portions connected to the electrode pads at the corners of the semiconductor chip are arranged closer to the semiconductor chip than the adjacent inner lead portions are. In the conventional semiconductor devices structured in this manner, it is possible to prevent the bonding wires at the corners from becoming longer than the rest, and therefore it is possible to suppress the wire sweep at the corners of the semiconductor device.
However, in the conventional semiconductor device disclosed in the aforementioned publication JP-A No. H10-116953, in a case where the number of lead terminals (inner lead portions) is further increased so as to cope with an even larger number of pins, the lead frame becomes even larger, and therefore there arises a disadvantage that the bonding wires except those at the corners of the semiconductor device become longer than a predetermined length. Thus, with the structure described above, the semiconductor device, though capable of suppressing the wire sweep at the corners thereof, yet has a disadvantage that the wire sweep still occurs at any part of the device other than the corners. Accordingly, in a case where even larger numbers of pins and even finer pitches are to be coped with, the semiconductor device in JP-A No. H10-116953 raises a problem of lowering the manufacturing yield and reliability of the semiconductor device due to a short-circuit between bonding wires resulting from the wire sweep. Incidentally, it is difficult to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and problems by changing the conditions of the resin-sealing process or changing the material of the bonding wires.


A method of playing a card game which includes providing at least one of the players with a challenge device to increase the amount waged in a game, and playing a hand comprises dealing cards to each player, and the placing of bets by the players. A second player, before he or she has viewed the identities of his or her cards, may present the first player with the challenge device to thereby increase the initial wager. The first player may accept or refuse the challenge device, and if the challenge device is refused by the first player, the first player forfeits the initial wager, and any subsequent wagers, and the game is ended. If the challenge device is accepted by the first player, the wager of both the first and second players is increased by the appropriate amount, and play of the game continues.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to poker-based card games and more particularly pertains to a new head to head challenge card game for providing a challenging and fast paced card game.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cards games are well known and myriad in implementation. However, the pace of some card games, such as Texas hold 'em, can be somewhat slow compared to other games. Since the take of the gambling establishment on such games can be fairly small, the relatively slow pace can further reduce the profitability of the game to the establishment as a result of the small take spread over a relatively long period of each game. Thus, despite the relative popularity of the Texas hold 'em game, the game is less profitable to gaming establishments than other games.
Thus, there is a need for a method of playing a hold 'em type card game that plays faster, and can result in higher profitability to the gaming establishment in which it is played.


A stacked rubber tire separation-transport apparatus equipped with a low-speed discharge conveyor at the bottom of a rubber tire stack hopper with a discharge end section formed on a downward inclined discharge surface and with high-speed separation rollers in the vicinity of both sides of the discharge end section for contact with at least some of the tires.

Used and worn out rubber tires from vehicles such as automobiles and the like are presently being used as an auxiliary fuel. These waste tires are charged individually into an incinerator in order to control the incinerator temperature. Delivery of a large stack of waste tires has previously required that the tires be separated manually. However, since the contact surface of waste tires is made of rubber which has a high co-efficient of friction, it is extremely difficult to slide the tires, particularly when two or more tires are in mutual contact. The work required for manual separation of the waste tires is difficult and cannot be easily performed.
In some instance, such as when waste tires are used for fuel in a calcination kiln for cement, there is a need to charge the waste tires into the incinerator continuously over a complete twenty-four hour period. As a result, supplies cannot be stockpiled and this process becomes labor intensive.
In order to resolve this problem, two prior Japanese Patent Publications have proposed systems for operation of a waste tire separating system. In Japanese Patent Publication No. 11808/1982, tires are individually separated using a stream of water. In order to deal with a large quantity of waste tires, a large pool of water is required. Moreover, the work involved in draining water to remove the water from the annular hollow space in the tires which have been separated is necessary before the individual tires can be transported to an incinerator.
In another disclosure, Japanese Patent Publication No. 11955/1988 describes a transport technique for classifying individually separated waste tires by size. This patent publication does not contain any disclosure of the method for individual separation of large quantities of stacked tires.
Accordingly, it is objection of the present invention to provide a system for facilitating the individual separation of waste tires.
More particularly, it is the object of the present invention to separate large numbers of stacked waste tires into smaller quantities or groups, to then transport them to an individually separating conveyor system.
Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Stacked rubber tire separation-transport apparatus


The invention provides a solid golf ball having a solid core and a cover layer that encases the core and has an outermost layer on an outside surface of which are formed a plurality of dimples. The solid core is formed of a rubber composition composed of 100 parts by weight of a base rubber that includes from 60 to 100 parts by weight of a polybutadiene rubber having a cis-1,4 bond content of at least 60% and synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, from 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of an organosulfur compound, an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a metal salt thereof, an inorganic filler, and an antioxidant. The solid core has a deformation, when compressed under a final load of 130 kgf from an initial load of 10 kgf, of from 2.0 to 4.0 mm, and has a specific hardness distribution. The cover layer is formed by injection molding a single resin blend composed primarily of (A) a polyurethane material and (B) a polyisocyanate compound, which resin blend includes a polyisocyanate compound in at least some portion of which all the isocyanate groups on a molecule remain in an unreacted state. The cover layer has a thickness of from 0.5 to 2.5 mm and a Shore D hardness at the surface of from 50 to 70. The golf ball has a deformation, when compressed under a final load of 130 kgf from an initial load of 10 kgf, of from 2.0 to 3.8 mm. The solid golf ball is advantageous overall in competitive use.

The present invention relates to a solid golf ball having a solid core and a cover layer which encases the core. More particularly, the invention relates to a solid golf ball which has a good deformation, especially on full shots with a driver at low head speeds, and thus an excellent flight performance, which also has a good controllability on approach shots and a good feel on impact, and which moreover has an excellent scuff resistance and durability to cracking.
Two-piece solid golf balls designed to satisfy the overall characteristics desired in a golf ball, such as good flight performance, feel on impact and controllability on approach shots, have hitherto been improved in various ways. One example is the golf ball described in JP-A 6-98949.
However, because such a golf ball has a hard cover, there are problems with its spin performance.
In addition, JP-A 9-308708, JP-A 2003-70936 and JP-A 2003-180879, for example, disclose solid golf balls in which the feel and controllability have been improved without a loss of rebound or cut resistance by setting the thickness, flexural rigidity and Shore D hardness of the cover within specific ranges.
Yet, because these golf balls have an inadequate core resilience and the core hardness distribution has not been optimized, properties such as the distance and the spin performance leave something to be desired.
JP-A 9-215778, JP-A 9-271538 and JP-A 11-178949 disclose solid golf balls in which a polyurethane material is used as the cover material. However, in these golf balls, the core lacks an adequate resilience and the resin from which the cover is formed has a less than adequate scuff resistance. Hence, there remains room for improvement in the distance traveled by the ball and the scuff resistance of the cover.
The golf balls described in JP-A 2002-355338 and JP-A 2004-180793 do have a good core resilience, but because these balls have a large deflection hardness and are soft, the rebound by the ball decreases, resulting in a less than satisfactory distance.
Moreover, in JP-A 2002-355338, an ionomer is used as the cover material, but the golf ball has a poor scuff resistance and the core does not have an optimized hardness distribution, as a result of which the ball rebound remains insufficient.
With regard to two-piece solid golf balls, JP-A 11-290479, JP-A 10-127823 and JP-A 2001-25908 describe art in which the hardness distribution such as at the center and surface of a rubber core is optimized. Yet, the rubber core in these golf balls has a resilience which falls short of what is desired, leaving room for improvement in the distance traveled by the ball.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solid golf ball which has a good deformation, especially on full shots with a driver at low head speeds, and thus an excellent flight performance, which also has a good controllability on approach shots and a good feel on impact, and which moreover has an excellent scuff resistance and durability to cracking.


In an airbag, a distal side is inflated away from a proximal side with an inflator disposed on the proximal side. The airbag includes a left airbag section, a right airbag section, and a belt strap disposed in one of the left and right airbag sections located closer to a vehicle body side for connecting a portion of the airbag section on the vehicle body side and an opposite portion. A height H1 in a vertical cross section from a lowest level to a joint portion between the belt strap and the portion is within a range from 0.4 H to 0.8 H, wherein H represents an entire height. A height H2 from the joint portion between the belt strap and the opposite portion is within a range from 0.3 H to 0.6 H, and is smaller than H1.

The present invention relates to an airbag and an airbag apparatus for protecting a passenger in case of collision of a vehicle or the like and, more specifically, to an airbag and an airbag apparatus including a left airbag section and a right airbag section to be inflated on a left side and a right side in front of the passenger, respectively.
As an airbag for protecting a passenger upon collision of the vehicle or the like, an airbag having a left airbag section and a right airbag section to be inflated on a left side and a right side in front of the passenger respectively by a common inflator is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 4-292239. In the airbag, the left airbag section and the right airbag section are connected to each other by a tie panel at distal end portions thereof.
The airbag is stored in a case in a folded state and is covered by a cover. When an inflator (gas generator) is activated and ejects gas upon collision of the vehicle, the airbag is inflated in front of the passenger while pushing and opening the cover.
The inflator is disposed inside or outside the airbag at a proximal side thereof. In the airbag apparatus having a structure in which the inflator is disposed outside the airbag at the proximal side thereof, gas ejected from the inflator is supplied into the airbag via a gas introduction port provided on the proximal side of the airbag.
When the inflator is disposed inside the airbag on the proximal side, the entire inflator may be disposed in the airbag or a part of the inflator may be disposed in the airbag. As an example of the latter case, a pair of slit-shaped openings is provided in the airbag, and the rod-shaped inflator is passed through the slit-shaped openings, so that both ends of the inflator project from the airbag.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 4-292239
In the airbag having the left airbag section and the right airbag section as disposed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 4-292239, when the left airbag section and the right airbag section in the inflated state have large capacities, it is necessary to employ an inflator having a large capacity in order to inflate the airbag quickly.
In the airbag disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 4-292239, the left airbag section and the right airbag section are connected to each other at the distal end portions thereof by the tie panel. Accordingly, a lateral center of a passenger body is received by the tie panel when the airbag is inflated.
In the airbag disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 4-292239, when the left airbag section and the right airbag section are inflated, gas from the inflator flows more in one of the airbags and hence inflation of the other airbag may be delayed in comparison with the one of the airbags.
In the airbag disposed in Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 4-292239, the left airbag section and the right airbag section are connected by the tie panel. Accordingly, even when inflation of one of the airbags is delayed, the airbag inflated earlier can pull the airbag which is delayed in inflation via the tie panel in the direction of inflation to promote inflation thereof. Since the tie panel connects the left airbag section and the right airbag section to each other at the distal end portions, the airbag which starts inflation earlier can not pull the airbag which is delayed in inflation sufficiently until the distal side thereof is inflated.
In view of the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag and an airbag apparatus in which a left airbag section and a right airbag section are inflated sufficiently quickly even when a capacity of an inflator is relatively small, while interference with an A-pillar and the like when being inflated is prevented.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an airbag and an airbag apparatus in which a left chest portion of a passenger is received by an inflated left airbag section, a right chest portion thereof is received by a right airbag section, and a space of the inflated airbag is opposed to a lateral center of the passenger chest.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an airbag and an airbag apparatus in which a left airbag section and a right airbag section are inflated smoothly and evenly from an early stage of inflation.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.


Sensitive data is stored in a secure buffer, and never in an unencrypted, accessible location at any time. The data is accessed only by low-level processor instructions that load only a portion of the data into processor registers. The portion of data can then be used before the next portion of data is transferred from the secure buffer into the processor registers. In some embodiments, only one portion is available at any time. In other embodiments, a number of portions may be available at one time. However, the entirety of the sensitive data is never present in the clear. Thus, the entirety of the sensitive data will never be available if an adversary gains access to the contents of memory.

When data is being used by an application in a computer system, it is generally stored in computer memory allocated to that application. Generally, this computer memory is not available to other applications in the system, nor is it directly readable by a user of the computer system. However, the contents of memory may be made available during a memory dump, when execution is paused for an application and the contents of memory are made available for analysis. This memory dump may occur due to some problem in execution, or in other ways. For example, when a notebook computer's lid is closed, a complete memory dump may occur. By analyzing the contents of a memory dump, the contents of memory being used by an application may be discovered.
Many applications, for example, digital rights management applications, utilize data in their execution which is not intended to be made directly available to any user, even to a legitimate user. For example, cryptography keys to decrypt content for which digital rights are being managed may be used by an application, but are not intended to be directly available to a user. Currently, applications decrypt the key, store it in the application's memory, and then use the key. While in the application's memory, the key is vulnerable.
If made directly available, a user could use cryptography keys to subvert the digital rights management system in the future. Additionally, for digital rights management applications or similar sensitive applications, other information such as other users' passwords or other sensitive data are similarly stored "in the clear" (without encryption or obfuscation and in a directly useful state) so that it can be used by the application. However, such sensitive information should not be available in the clear to any user or adversary.
A memory dump attack occurs when an adversary uses the memory dump or other techniques which allow access of application memory in order to gain access to sensitive information in the clear. In such an attack, when an application has decrypted or otherwise rendered the sensitive information so it is stored in application memory in a clear state, a memory dump is triggered. The contents of memory are examined, and the sensitive information, in the clear, is retrieved from those contents. Other attacks are possible in which the contents of memory are examined and sensitive information in the clear is retrieved. When the sensitive information is available in the clear, the digital rights management system or other application using the sensitive data is compromised.


The present invention provides a silicone resin composition for an optical semiconductor device, comprising    (A) 100 parts by mass of an organopolysiloxane having a weight average molecular weight of from 500 to 20000, reduced to polystyrene, and represented by the following average compositional formula (1),(CH3)aSi(OR1)b(OH)cO(4-a-b-c)/2  (1)            wherein R1 is an organic group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and a, b, and c are numbers satisfying the equations: 0.8≦a≦1.5, 0≦b≦0.3, 0.001≦c≦0.5, and 0.801≦a+b+c<2,            (B) 3 to 200 parts by mass of a white pigment,    (C) 400 to 1000 parts by mass of an inorganic filler other than said white pigment,    (D) 0.01 to 10 parts by mass of a condensation catalyst, and    (E) 2 to 50 parts by mass of an organopolysiloxane comprising a linear diorganopolysiloxane moiety represented by the following formula (2),

Optical semiconductor elements, such as light emitting diodes (LED), are used as indicators or light sources. Recently, their output is higher and their wavelength is shorter, so that there is a problem that resin materials present near the optical semiconductor elements degrade due to light to turn yellow and, therefore, light output lowers.
The following Patent Literature 1 discloses, as a resin composition for encapsulating optical semiconductors, an epoxy resin composition in a B stage which comprises an epoxy resin, a curing agent, and a curing promoter. It describes that bisphenol A epoxy resin or bisphenol F epoxy resin is mainly used as the epoxy resin and triglycidyl isocyanate may be used. However, the afore-mentioned composition has the aforesaid yellowing problem, particularly when a semiconductor element is lightened at a high temperature or for a long time.
Patent Literature 2 discloses a composition which comprises an epoxy resin derived from isocyanuric acid, as a heat-resistant and light-resistant epoxy resin composition for encapsulating light emitting elements. However, light resistance of the composition is insufficient, again.
Patent Literature 3 discloses a resin composition for encapsulating LED devices, which composition comprises an organopolysiloxane having a weight average molecular weight of 5×102 or higher and a condensation catalyst. However, the composition is directed to applications where high transparence is required, rather than to applications where white pigments are used, such as reflectors.
Meanwhile, recently, sizes of molded package become bigger, for instance, in Matrix Array Package (MAP) method and, therefore, warpage in curing of an encapsulating resin becomes a serious problem. Large warpage causes various malfunctions in a package carrying step or a package cutting step. The afore-mentioned compositions are unsatisfactory in this respect, either.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei-02-189958
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open 2005-306952
Patent Literature 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open 2006-77234

Silicone resin composition for optical semiconductor devices

Abstract: wherein R2 and R3 are, independently of each other, a group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a cyclohexyl group, a vinyl group, a phenyl group and an allyl group, and wherein m is an integer of from 5 to 50.


Absorbent articles comprising one or more sensors capable of detecting the presence of a body waste in the absorbent article are described. In particular, the absorbent articles comprise at least one chemiresistor capable of detecting the presence of volatile organic compounds associated with a body waste. When a body waste is detected, an indicator means signals a caregiver and/or a user of the absorbent article that an insult has occurred.

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles, such as diapers, training pants, incontinence garments, and feminine hygiene products, which comprise one or more sensors capable of detecting the presence of a body waste, such as urine, feces, or menses, in the absorbent article. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to absorbent articles comprising at least one chemiresistor capable of detecting the presence of volatile organic compounds associated with body wastes. When the presence of a body waste is detected, an indicator means signals a caregiver and/or a wearer of the absorbent article that the absorbent article needs to be changed.
Disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence garments, and feminine hygiene products are widely used. Such articles are worn to catch and hold body waste, such as urine, feces, and menstrual fluid, for extended periods of time. However, body waste may be a skin irritant, in addition to being a major source of various types of bacteria. Consequently, when body waste is held in contact with skin for extended periods of time, the skin can become inflamed and irritated, and may develop, for example, skin rash (e.g., diaper rash, irritant rash, etc.) or other related conditions that may be caused by prolonged exposure to moisture, heat, irritants, enzymes, bacteria, the products of bacterial action, and/or pressure.
In addition to causing skin conditions such as skin rash, bacteria present in the waste can produce significant amounts of volatile organic compounds. Because human waste contains such a large number of bacteria which can lay next to the skin after release, these volatile organic compounds may also be a major source of irritants to the skin, and may be involved in skin irritation in the diapered and vaginal environments.
Furthermore, volatile organic compounds may be a significant source of objectionable odors. For example, some bacteria produce ammonia, mercaptans, or other odorous compounds through degradation of urine. Urine, for example, may also be used as a nutritional substrate by bacteria, resulting in growth of more bacteria and production of more ammonia in an increasing detrimental cycle.
As such, it would be beneficial for caregivers and/or wearers of absorbent articles to know when an absorbent article had been insulted with a body waste so the caregiver and/or wearer could change the absorbent article, thus reducing or eliminating the occurrence of unpleasant odor and skin irritation associated with wearing an absorbent article for an extended period of time. Thus, a need exists in the infant care, adult care, wound management, and feminine care products industries for a method of quickly and accurately identifying the presence of a body waste in an absorbent article.

Personal care products with microchemical sensors for odor detection


This invention provides a prismatic zinc-air cell including, in general, a prismatic container having therein an air cathode, a separator and a zinc anode. The container has one or more oxygen access openings, and the air cathode is disposed in the container in gaseous communication with the oxygen access openings so as to allow access of oxygen to the cathode. The separator has a first side in electrolytic communication with the air cathode and a second side in electrolytic communication with the zinc anode. The separator isolates the cathode and the zinc anode from direct electrical contact and allows passage of electrolyte therebetween. An expansion chamber adjacent to the zinc anode is provided which accommodates expansion of the zinc anode during discharge of the cell. A suitable collapsible foam member generally occupies the expansion space, providing sufficient resistance tending to oppose movement of the zinc anode away from the separator while collapsing upon expansion of the zinc anode during discharge of the cell. One or more vent openings disposed in the container are in gaseous communication with the expansion space, functioning to satisfactorily minimize the pressure buildup within the container by venting gasses expelled as the foam collapses during cell discharge.

Metal-air cells typically include a metal anode, an air cathode, and a separator all disposed and supported in some sort of container. The metal anode usually comprises a fine-grained metal powder, such as zinc, aluminum, or magnesium, which is blended together with an aqueous electrolyte, such as potassium hydroxide, and a gelling agent into a paste. The separator is a porous material that allows the passage of electrolyte between the cathode and anode, but prevents direct electrical contact therebetween and short circuiting of the cell.
The air cathode is a catalytic structure designed to facilitate the reduction of oxygen. Typically, it is composed of active carbon, a binder, and a catalyst which, together with a metal current collector, are formed into a thin sheet. The air cathode also commonly incorporates a hydrophobic polymer, such as polytetrafluoroethylene or polystyrene, directly into the cathode sheet and sometimes also as a coextensive film. The hydrophobic polymer prevents electrolyte from flooding the cathode or passing through it and leaking from the cell. The container includes oxygen access openings, diffusion chambers and the like which are designed to allow sufficient oxygen to reach all parts of the air cathode.
Metal-air cells have high specific energies. In fact, zinc-air cells have the highest specific energy, up to 450 Wh/kg, of all aqueous primary systems, and high energy per unit volume as well. The components of zinc-air cells also are relatively benign.
Because of their high energy density, button cells incorporating zinc-air chemistry currently are the most popular energy source for hearing aids. The much larger majority of electronic devices, however, has higher energy requirements requiring the use of larger (i.e., greater than one ampere hour capacity) cells or batteries. Despite the electrochemical advantages of metal-air and especially zinc-air systems, carbon-zinc and alkaline manganese dioxide systems continue to dominate the much larger world market for larger primary batteries.
Many portable electronic devices, such as portable computers, also place severe constraints on battery weight and volume. In such applications, prismatic cells would be preferable over button or cylindrical cells, which latter type of cells, in general, require more space to be allocated in the device than the cells themselves actually occupy. Prismatic zinc-air cells also can be much thinner than alkaline cells of equivalent capacity.
Attempts to scale up and reconfigure zinc-air button cells to a larger, prismatic configuration, however, have generally failed. Zinc-air batteries currently are not a competitive option for use in the full spectrum of consumer and electrical products, and they represent a small portion of all primary batteries sold today.
A major problem has been in achieving an inexpensive, light-weight and easily constructed zinc-air cell configuration which is leak-proof, but which provides for efficient electrochemical discharge of the cell. Those problems are only exacerbated by the expansion of the zinc anode during the life of the battery.
That is, as a zinc-air cell is discharged, zinc is oxidized to zinc oxide, and zinc oxide has a lower density than zinc. The zinc anode therefore will expand during discharge of the cell. The amount of this expansion is reported to be from 17% up to 60%. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,714 to J. Oltman et al. (17%) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,000 to J. Jammet (60%).
This anodic expansion can cause various problems to develop. For example, Jammet '000 and Oltman '714 report that anodic expansion can cause the metal anode to directly contact the air cathode, thereby short-circuiting the cell.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,295 to M. Cheiky reports that the pressure buildup caused by anodic expansion can cause the container to expand, thereby causing air pockets to form between the air cathode and the electrolyte. This in turn diminishes electrolytic communication between the air cathode and the anode, reducing the battery output capacity.
Oltman '714 also reports that the internal pressure created by anodic expansion may force the air cathode so tightly against the container that complete exposure of the air cathode to oxygen may be diminished. To the extent that oxygen cannot efficiently reach all portions of the air cathode, the discharge rate of the battery is likewise diminished.
Further, as discussed in Oltman '714, the internal pressure buildup caused by anodic expansion can cause a cell to leak. While various strategies to prevent leakage have been devised, an increase in internal pressure necessarily increases the risk of leakage in any configuration. Likewise, although the degree to which the problems discussed are present will vary from design to design, all zinc-air cells must be designed to tolerate the increase in volume by the metal anode during discharge.
One such strategy, discussed in Oltman '714, is to provide free space inside the cell into which the anode may expand. When the individual anode particles expand freely into a void, however, they may not remain in physical contact with one another, and that may cause incomplete cell discharge. Oltman '714 addresses that problem by reducing the size of the expansion space and by allowing a portion of the battery container to expand as the cell is discharged.
While this approach may have some merit in button cells, such as those disclosed in Oltman '714, it has drawbacks in larger, prismatic cells. Button cells are relatively small and cylindrically shaped, comprising disc-shaped, layered electrochemical components. Typically, button cells are about 1/4 to 3/8 inches in diameter and about 1/4 inches or less in height. The metal anode is set initially into intimate contact with the separator during manufacture. The gelled anode, in small cells, usually is sufficiently strong to stay in position, despite the presence of a vacant expansion space and despite mechanical shocks that the cell might receive during subsequent handling.
In larger, prismatic cells, however, the strength of the gel alone may not be sufficient to hold the anode in place. The metal anode may shift into vacant expansion space, becoming separated from the desired electrochemical contact with the separator and air cathode as the cell is handled in the manufacturing and distribution process. If so, the desired cell discharge performance will be adversely impaired.
Cheiky '295 discloses a generally prismatic metal-air cell. There is no expansion space provided, and so the problem of anode separation should be minimized. The battery disclosed therein accommodates anodic expansion by incorporating a flexible bottom which can expand as the anode grows.
Expansion of the container, however, is not entirely desirable. Such expansion or distortion of the container can make it more difficult to fit the battery in the battery compartment of an electrical device. While the batteries in Oltman '714 and Cheiky '295 to a certain extent purport to minimize such problems by limiting container expansion to certain portions of the container, such an approach needlessly complicates design of the container. Moreover, the Cheiky '295 design, with its unique surface geometry, may pose further constraints on the design of battery compartments and attempts to standardize external cell or battery configurations.
Further approaches to accommodating anodic expansion are disclosed in Jammet '000 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,726 to H. Sauer. Jammet '000 discloses cells having a cylindrical container in which a compressible structure, such as a spring-biased plate, a frictionally slidable piston, or a compressible open-cell polyethylene foam layer or equivalent material, is situated in an expansion space located within the container. The expansion space and compressible structure are adjacent to the metal anode.
The spring-biased plate and frictionally slidable piston disclosed in Jammet '000, however, involve relatively complicated designs which drive up the cost and efficiency of manufacture. They also add significant weight to the cell and occupy a significant amount of space which consequently can neither be filled with anode paste or reserved for anodic growth. All Jammet '000 embodiments, it is stated, operate to maintain the negative electrode in the desired state of compression during use. For example, the negative electrode may expand upwardly against the opposition provided by the foam such that the electrode is maintained in the desired state of compression against the electrolyte.
In Sauer '726, metal-air button cells are disclosed in which a compressible expansion body is positioned within the zinc electrode. The placing of the expansion body within the zinc electrode has the particular advantage, it is stated, that the entire inner surface of the metallic cover remains in electrical contact with the negative electrode. Sauer also states that it is necessary that the expansion body have closed compressible pores and preferably be hydrophobic.
To ensure trouble-free operation, Sauer '726 further states that it is necessary to coordinate the compressibility of the individual structural elements of the cell. Thus, the specific compression of the expansion body must be lower than the specific compression pressure of the layer performing the air distribution and support function as well of the air electrode layer and its adjoining layer.
While the Jammet '000 and Sauer '726 structures may be satisfactory to deal with anodic expansion in cylindrical and button cells, such structures would be unsuitable for use in prismatic zinc-air cells. Thus, what was not appreciated was that the resulting increase in the internal pressure within the cell, while probably less than that encountered in the absence of an expansion space, would be significant and would create severe problems in a prismatic design.
Button and cylindrical cells, such as those disclosed in Sauer '726 and Jammet '000, are inherently more rigid structures than are prismatic cells. The containers for button and cylindrical cells also are frequently made from relatively thick steel. Consequently, button and cylindrical cells, especially those with steel casings, can withstand higher pressures without significant change in their external diameters.
The weight of the battery, however, is frequently an important consideration in cell design, especially those cells which are intended for use in portable electrical devices, such as portable computers. Fabricating a casing from steel, however, tends to add considerable weight to a larger, prismatic cell.
On the other hand, prismatic containers which are fabricated from lighter-weight materials, such as structural plastics, tend to expand and swell as internal cell pressure increases during discharge. With this expansion of the container come various problems, as noted above.
Higher internal pressures causes problems in prismatic cells in other ways as well. That is, plastic container components in theory can be sealed relatively easily by, for example, ultrasonic welding. The materials also are hydrophobic, and thus, the seals have less of a problem of electrolyte creepage, which is common with metal containers and aqueous potassium hydroxide electrolytes.
It is not always possible, however, to achieve a defect-free seal between plastic container components or between the air cathode and the container during mass production of cells. Electrolyte or anode paste which spills on the sealing surfaces, as well as imperfections in the plastic parts themselves, can lead to minor defects in a seal. Even small defects can allow electrolyte to leak as the pressure within a cell increases. Moreover, larger cells have more extensive areas which must be sealed and, therefore, a somewhat higher likelihood that a given cell will have a defect in its seal. Cell designs which have minimal internal pressure buildup in service are required so as to lessen, if not eliminate, the probability of electrolyte leakage.
It seems apparent that, for considerable time, there has existed a substantial need for larger prismatic metal-air cells, especially for thin prismatic zinc-air cells, which can satisfy the energy requirements for a wide variety of applications. It seems further apparent that a considerable amount of effort has been directed to providing suitable cells capable of providing satisfactory performance. Yet, despite recognition of the need and the considerable efforts made to date, there still exists the need for prismatic, and especially for thin prismatic metal-air cells such as zinc-air, which can provide satisfactory and reliable performance for a wide variety of commercial applications.
An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a prismatic metal-air cell which provides more reliable electrochemical performance in service. A related and more specific object is to provide a thin prismatic zinc-air cell having satisfactorily reliable electrochemical performance in service.
It also is an object to provide a prismatic zinc-air cell which is more leak resistant, and especially, which is more leak resistant notwithstanding the presence of minor defects which can occur in the seal during mass production of cells.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a prismatic zinc-air cell which can accommodate anodic expansion during discharge without significant expansion of the cell container, even when the container is a relatively light-weight, thin-walled plastic container. A related object is to provide a zinc-air cell which can accommodate anodic expansion during discharge without significant buildup of pressure within the container.
It also is an object to provide a prismatic zinc-air cell in which the metal anode is more reliably supported against the separator to prevent separation therefrom and to maintain electrolytic communication therebetween.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a prismatic zinc-air cell which is simple in design, easy and economical to assemble and does not place excessive constraints on the types of materials from which the cell may be constructed.
Yet another object of the subject invention is to provide a prismatic zinc-air cell wherein all of the above-mentioned advantages are realized.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.

Metal-air cells comprising collapsible foam members and means for minimizing internal pressure buildup


This disclosure relates to methods and systems for selling products across sales channels in a single swipe transaction. In one aspect a method for purchasing products is disclosed. The method includes identifying a first product to be purchased from a first sales channel, determining whether the first product is available from the first sales channel, in response to determining that the first product is not available from the first sales channel, determining whether the first product is available from a second sales channel, in response to determining that the first product is available from the second sales channel, adding the first product from the second sales channel to the transaction, and selling the first product from the second sales channel, wherein the transaction is completed with a single tender.

Conventional systems for distributing products are typically based on the model that a product can only be purchased from a single sales channel in any single transaction. For example, retail stores will often have both a brick-and-mortar presence and an internet presence. The products that are sold through these two sales channels may come from a single source (or be identical products). Nevertheless, conventional sales distribution systems treat these two sales channels as two separate businesses, each with its own accounting, distribution, and reconciliation.
This conventional arrangement leads to the result that a customer may often have to go through multiple sales channels to purchase all of the items they would like to buy. For example, the user may travel to a store in hopes of buying several items, only to find out that one of the items they wanted to buy is sold out in the store, but is available over the internet. To obtain all of the products they desired, the customer may have to both complete their purchase from the store and then make a second transaction over the store's internet storefront. This causes inconvenience, which may lead to reduced sales.

Systems and methods for single swipe cross-channel sales


In various embodiments, a device receives profile data regarding users or devices of an on-premise telephony system. The device identifies, based on the profile data, group features associated with the users or devices of the on-premise telephony system. The device forms a candidate set of users or devices of the on-premise telephony system for migration to a cloud-hosted call agent, based on them sharing at least one of the group features. The device provides data indictive of the candidate set of users or devices to a user interface for display.

Enterprises are increasingly moving their telephony deployments from on-premises (on-prem) to the cloud. For enterprises with a relatively small number of endpoints, it may be feasible to 'flash cut' a location, thereby migrating all of its users to the cloud at once. Larger enterprises, however, are typically unable or unwilling to do the same. Instead, a more gradual approach is often taken, whereby some users at a location are migrated to the cloud, while others continue to use the on-prem telephony deployment.
In cases in which only a portion of the telephony users at a location are migrated to the cloud while others remain on-prem, basic connectivity is preserved through the use of tandem connections. However, group features such as call pickup, call parking, etc. will not operate properly when users are homed to different call agents.

Cloud migration utilities for telephony services


The power supply system includes a generator, a transformer circuit, and a battery. The generator generates electric power of a first voltage. The transformer circuit boosts the electric power of the first voltage to a second voltage. The battery is connected, via the transformer circuit, to the generator and stores electric power of the second voltage obtained by the boosting by the transformer circuit. At least one of actuators is connected on the generator side of the transformer circuit, so as to be supplied with the electric power of the first voltage.

Conventionally, a vehicle having an internal combustion engine mounted therein has been commercialized. In such a vehicle, for example, a power supply system is mounted as shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, a battery 101 that supplies electric power of a predetermined voltage (for example, approximately 12V) is mounted in the vehicle. The battery 101 is charged with electric power generated by an alternator (generator) 102 that is driven under a rotation torque from the internal combustion engine. To the inside of the vehicle, a plurality of electric loads that are supplied with electric power from the battery 101 or the alternator 102 are connected. In FIG. 5, as exemplary electric loads, an ECU 103 and a plurality of actuators 104 (three representative actuators 104a to 104c) are shown. Note that, the operations of the actuators 104a and 104b are each controlled by the ECU 103.
A power supply system with two batteries, which is mounted in a vehicle, has also been developed, the two batteries supplying electric power of different voltages, respectively (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the power supply system, upon detection of a drop of the output voltage of one battery, the output voltage of the other battery is boosted or stepped down to the output voltage of the one battery by a DC-DC converter, such that the resultant electric power is supplied.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-171691