The fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine includes an electronic control unit (ECU) for transferring the engine from a state in which a high-pressure fuel pump does not deliver any pressurized fuel to a state in which the high-pressure fuel pump begins to deliver the pressurized fuel by gradually varying an output period of a drive signal for controlling opening/closing behavior of a solenoid valve while monitoring changes in fuel pressure detected by a pressure sensor, and for estimating a mounting error between angular mounting positions of the high-pressure fuel pump and a pump actuating cam with reference to a rotation signal from a state of the solenoid valve drive signal when a change in the fuel pressure has been detected. The solenoid valve drive signal is corrected based on the value of the mounting error estimated by the ECU.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle and, more particularly, to a fuel supply system for regulating the quantity of fuel supplied to a fuel injector in a direct injection internal combustion engine to which fuel must be supplied at a high pressure.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, an electronically controlled fuel supply system used in an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes a plurality of fuel injectors for injecting fuel into individual cylinders of the engine, a delivery pipe for feeding the fuel to the fuel injectors, a high-pressure fuel pump for feeding the pressurized fuel to the delivery pipe, a low-pressure fuel pump for feeding the fuel from a fuel tank to the high-pressure fuel pump, and a controller for controlling such parameters as fuel injection timing and injection quantity as well as discharge rate of the high-pressure fuel pump.
The aforementioned high-pressure fuel pump includes a cylinder, a pump piston and a solenoid valve. Controlled by a pump actuating cam fitted on a rotary shaft of the internal combustion engine, such as a camshaft, the pump piston reciprocates inside the cylinder, whereby the high-pressure fuel pump draws the fuel into a pressure chamber formed between the cylinder and the pump piston in each successive intake stroke and delivers the pressurized fuel from the pressure chamber to the delivery pipe in each successive output stroke. In the high-pressure fuel pump thus structured, the solenoid valve relieves the pressure of the pressurized fuel in the pressure chamber to a low-pressure side with specific timing to thereby regulate the quantity of fuel discharged from the pressure chamber, so that the fuel in the delivery pipe is maintained at a specific pressure level.
The fuel in the delivery pipe is normally held at the specific pressure level as the solenoid valve regulates the rate of fuel discharge from the pressure chamber as mentioned above. If it becomes impossible to properly regulate fuel pressure in the delivery pipe, however, the fuel injectors would not be able to inject the fuel in an optimal state and this makes it impossible to produce a mixture of a desired condition. Should such a situation occur, it is likely that combustion efficiency of the internal combustion engine drops, resulting in deterioration of running performance of the vehicle, or harmful emission gases are released from the engine. Thus, it is important that the solenoid valve properly regulate the quantity of fuel discharged from the pressure chamber all the time.
It is necessary to control the solenoid valve in such a manner that the solenoid valve opens and closes with proper timing according to the amount of lift of the pump actuating cam. Thus, in a prior art arrangement, a sensing signal of a crank angle sensor for detecting crank angle, or the angular position of a crankshaft, is used as a rotational position signal indicating the angular position of the pump actuating cam for controlling open/close timing of the solenoid valve.
If there is an error in mounting position of the high-pressure fuel pump or the pump actuating cam is mounted on other than the crankshaft, causing an error in angular position between the crankshaft and the pump actuating cam, however, the sensing signal output from the crank angle sensor would not indicate the correct angular position of the pump actuating cam. This would make it impossible to properly control the open/close timing of the solenoid valve.
A previous approach to the resolution of the aforementioned problem is found in Japanese Patent No. 2836282 which describes a fuel injection system provided with a delivery pipe, wherein an error in angular position between a crankshaft and a pump actuating cam is corrected based on a phase difference between a sensing signal output from a cam angle sensor mounted at the pump actuating cam and a sensing signal output from a crank angle sensor.
Another previous approach to the resolution of the aforementioned problem is found in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-41985. Although this Publication does not include a description with respect to the position of a pump actuating cam, a fuel injection system disclosed in the Publication has a capability to detect a delivered fuel quantity property corresponding to operating conditions from changes in fuel pressure occurring in response to a delivered fuel quantity command given at engine start.
The aforementioned fuel injection system of Japanese Patent No. 2836282 can correct the error in angular position occurring between the crankshaft and the pump actuating cam by using the detected phase difference between the sensing signal of the cam angle sensor and the sensing signal of the crank angle sensor. If there is an error in relative mounting position of a high-pressure fuel pump and the pump actuating cam, however, the fuel injection system of Japanese Patent No. 2836282 can not correct this error and this potentially causes an error in the quantity of fuel delivered by the high-pressure fuel pump. This is because the fuel injection system simply detects the phase difference between the sensing signals of the cam angle sensor and the crank angle sensor. If the fuel pressure in the delivery pipe can not be regulated to a specific level, fuel injectors would not be able to inject the fuel in an optimal state and produce a mixture of a desired condition. Should this situation occur, combustion efficiency of the internal combustion engine may drop, resulting in deterioration of vehicle running performance or of exhaust gas quality.
The fuel injection system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-41985 detects the delivered fuel quantity property at engine start under conditions involving the influence of engine operating conditions, such as engine temperature, in addition to variations in individual system parameters. Although the fuel injection system of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-41985 can regulate the quantity of fuel delivered by the high-pressure fuel pump with high precision at engine start, the quantity of the actually delivered fuel varies with changes in engine operating conditions after engine start, such as an increase in engine temperature. Therefore, an error is likely to occur in the detected delivered fuel quantity property.

Fuel supply system of internal combustion engine


A multimedia transfer apparatus is described comprising: a plurality of media readers; one or more encoder modules, configured to encode data read by the media readers in a specified encoding format; and a data communication interface configured to copy the encoded data to a media storage and playback apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of digital audio/video storage and playback systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a compact disc system in which digital audio/video content is stored, indexed and played back from a mass storage device such as a hard drive.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of high capacity compact disc (hereinafter "CD") and digital video disc ("DVD") players have been developed over the years. These players typically include a rotary carousel or, alternatively, a plug-in cartridge with a plurality of slots for holding CD/DVDs to be played. Some more advanced CD/DVD players/changers are capable of storing several hundred CD/DVDs at one time.
There are several drawbacks associated with these devices, however. First, as the number of CD/DVDs that a CD,/DVD player can accommodate increases, so does the size of the CD/DVD player. Accordingly, CD/DVD players which are capable of storing 100 or more CD/DVDs are typically require large and bulky, requiring a significant amount of shelf space.
In addition, once a user loads all of his CD/DVDs into one of these high-capacity players, his CD/DVDs are no longer easily accessible. In order to remove a particular CD/DVD from his player, a user may need to search through several hundred CD/DVDs to find the one he needs. Accordingly, this type of system may be burdensome to users who need to swap out their CD/DVDs on a regular basis (e.g., users who own a car CD/DVD player). Finally, these "high-capacity" systems present a serious limitation in that the user cannot add CD/DVDs to the unit once the user reaches the storage capacity of the unit. Thus, said systems are impractical for cataloging growing media libraries.

Abstract: Also described is a computer-implemented method for transferring multimedia content comprising: reading first multimedia data from a first CD/DVD; encoding the first multimedia data to produce first encoded data in parallel with reading multimedia data from a second CD/DVD; encoding the second multimedia data to produce second encoded data; and transmitting the first and second encoded data to a multimedia storage and playback apparatus.


A computer implemented method and system for automatically generating a net list for a printed circuit board are described. Selection of one or more pins on a first and second component to be connected is based on one or more of a logical definition, an electrical definition, a distance property, and a programmable constraint. Once pins of the first and second connections are selected and connected, a net list is automatically generated. The net list includes information associated with the first component, information associated with the second component and at least one pin of the second component.

A printed circuit (PC) board provides a surface to mount and interconnect electronic components without discrete wires. In general, a PC board consists of an insulating sheet onto which conductive paths are printed. The insulating sheet, also referred to as the substrate, is often composed of fiberglass-reinforced epoxy composite. The printed conductive paths, also referred to as traces, are often composed of copper. After the PC board has been manufactured, electronic components are mounted on the substrate and attached to the traces usually by soldering. As PC boards are rugged, inexpensive, and highly reliable, they are used extensively in many types of electronic equipment and systems.
There are many different types of electronic components that can be mounted and interconnected using a PC board. Examples of such electronic components include memory chips, transistors, resistors, processor chips, and field programmable gate arrays (FPGA). An FPGA is a large-scale integrated circuit that can be programmed and re-programmed after it is manufactured. Thus, an FPGA is an example of an electronic component that is not limited to a predetermined, unchangeable hardware function.
A pin often serves as a connection point to an electronic component. In other words, when connecting two electronic components together, it is a pin of the first electronic component that is being connected (e.g., via a copper trace) to a pin of the second electronic component. An electronic component may have any number of pins. Some electronic components have fewer than a dozen pins. Some electronic components, an FPGA for example, may have over 1,000 pins.
Each pin of an electrical component has both an electrical definition and a logical definition that must be observed when connecting the pin. The electrical definition indicates voltage ranges, current ranges, frequency ranges, rise times, fall times and other electrical properties well known in the art under which the pin and portion of the electronic component associated with the pin are designed to operate. Failure to observe an electrical definition may result in undesirable performance and even damage to the electronic component. The logical definition of a pin indicates the function of the pin. For example, the pin may be a signal input pin, a signal output pin, a data pin, an address pin, a clock input pin, a power pin, a configure pin, or another type of pin well known in the art. Pins may be connected based on both the electrical definition and the logical definition. Clearly, a signal input pin on a first electronic component should not be connected to a signal input pin on a second electronic component. Likewise, a pin restricted to an operating frequency of less than 10 MHz should not be connected to a pin that outputs or requires a signal with a frequency exceeding 200 MHz.
Although it is possible for a pin of an electronic component to be functionally isolated from other pins of the same electronic component, some pins of an electronic component may be closely related. For example, numerous pins may be grouped as an address bus or a data bus. In addition to the electrical definition and logical definition that must be observed, a group of closely related pins may have additional connection requirements. For example, a group of closely related pins may require the connections (e.g., copper traces) made to each pin in the group be similar in length. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that other connection requirements may also exist.
Prior to the manufacture of a PC board, all the electronic components and interconnections between the electronic components must be determined. The electronic components and connections between the electronic components are stored in a file known as a net list file. Once a net list file exists and is complete, a PC board can be manufactured based on the net list file. Visual outputs, such as schematics, can also be constructed based on the net list file.

Netlist synthesis and automatic generation of PC board schematics


In a first aspect, a first method is provided repositioning support provided by an end effector. The first method includes the steps of (1) employing the end effector to support a substrate carrier by a bottom of the substrate carrier; (2) transferring the substrate carrier from the end effector to an intermediate support location, wherein the intermediate support location supports the substrate carrier by a bottom of the substrate carrier; (3) repositioning the end effector proximate an overhead transfer flange of the substrate carrier; (4) employing the end effector to support the substrate carrier by the overhead transfer flange of the substrate carrier; and (5) transferring the substrate carrier from the intermediate support location. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Manufacturing of semiconductor devices typically involves performing a sequence of procedures with respect to a substrate such as a silicon substrate, a glass plate, etc. These steps may include polishing, deposition, etching, photolithography, heat treatment, and so forth. Usually a number of different processing steps may be performed in a single processing system or "tool" which includes a plurality of processing chambers. However, it is generally the case that other processes are required to be performed at other processing locations within a fabrication facility, and it is accordingly necessary that substrates be transported within the fabrication facility from one processing location to another. Depending on the type of semiconductor device to be manufactured, there may be a relatively large number of processing steps required, to be performed at many different processing locations within the fabrication facility.
It is conventional to transport substrates from one processing location to another within substrate carriers such as sealed pods, cassettes, containers and so forth. It is also conventional to employ automated substrate carrier transport devices, such as automatic guided vehicles, overhead transport systems, substrate carrier handling robots, etc., to move substrate carriers from location to location within the fabrication facility or to transfer substrate carriers from or to a substrate carrier transport device. However, a need remains for improved methods and apparatus for supporting substrate carriers during transport operations.

Methods and apparatus for repositioning support for a substrate carrier


A quick-connect for attaching plural conduits to a fluid communicating ported block or valve. A recess provided in the block face between the ports has an attachment member, received in the recess and retained on the block by through-bolting from the back side of the block. A snap ring is retained between the attachment member and the block. The conduits are prepared with a convolution and an end fitting spaced from the convolution with a seal ring on the end fitting. A retaining plate has the spaced portion of each conduit received in an edge cutout. The retaining plate has a barbed stud mounted between the conduits; and, the conduit ends with seal rings are inserted in the block ports and the stud inserted in a hole in the attachment member to engage the captured snap ring. Removal of the through bolts from the backside is required for disassembly.

The present invention relates to the connection of conduits to a junction or block, and particularly relates to the connection of plural conduits to a valve block. An example of such connections is that utilized in connecting conduits or tubes in a refrigeration system such as an automobile air conditioning system to an expansion valve block. In high volume mass production of motor vehicles, it is desired to minimize assembly time and to provide for connection of hoses, harnesses, conduits and the like without the need for fasteners or tools in the vehicle assembly operations. In particular, it is desired in the automotive air conditioning systems to be able to connect the conduits or tubes from the evaporator to the expansion valve block by a quick-connect without the need for separate fasteners installed at assembly. The requirement that separate fasteners be needed to install the conduits to the valve block, or that threaded tube fittings be engaged with the block using spanners or wrenches has proven to be prohibitively costly and time consuming in high volume assembly as is encountered in motor vehicles.
Heretofore, threaded type tube fittings have been provided on the ends of the conduits which required corresponding threads be provided in the valve block; and, spanners or wrenches were required at assembly to manually engage and then tighten the threaded tube fittings with respect to the valve block which was deemed to be relatively time consuming and costly. Accordingly, it has been desired to provide a way or means of quick-connecting plural conduits to a block, such as a refrigerant expansion valve block, without the need for threaded engagement of tube fittings or separate fasteners.


A continuous heat treating furnace in which heat is efficiently recovered from the combustion exhaust gas from the heating section of a continuous annealing furnace. The continuous annealing furnace of the metal strip is a heating furnace or a heating device provided with plural burners for heating to a predetermined temperature a steel material or a continuously supplied metal strip by means of combustion of the burners; a regenerative heat exchanger for collecting a sensible heat of a combustion exhaust gas of the burners, reserving the heat in a regenerator and supplying a predetermined gas to the regenerator to recover the heat to the predetermined gas; and a preheating section for blowing the predetermined gas from the regenerative heat exchanger to the metal strip for preheating. The heat exchanger body is divided into at least three sections, each section having a regenerator. When the heat exchanger body is continuously or intermittently rotated, each section is provided with a path for successively repeating to pass a heating section combustion exhaust gas for applying a sensible heat of exhaust gas to the regenerator, a purging gas for removing debris sticking to the regenerator when applying the sensible heat of the heating section exhaust gas and a circulating gas for collecting the sensible heat of the regenerator and blowing the heat to the metal strip passing the preheating section to raise a temperature of the metal strip.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a continuous heat treating furnace for a metal strip such as a continuous annealing furnace for annealing a continuously supplied steel strip or the like, and especially to a continuous heat treating furnace for a metal strip. The furnace is provided with a preheating section for preheating the metal strip to some temperature on an incoming side, and a heating section for treating the metal strip at a higher temperature.
In the annealing furnace exchanger for use in the invention, which anneals the metal strip, the temperature of the circulating gas to be blown over the surface of the metal strip in the preheating section is efficiently raised by re-circulating the heated exhaust gas from the preheating section.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional continuous annealing furnace for continuously annealing a strip or a metal-strip continuous heat treating furnace is known wherein the furnace structure has a heating section for heating a metal strip to its transformation temperature A.sub.2 or higher. This heating device, constituted of multiple radiant tubes, is disposed around the continuously supplied strip. As the metal strip is supplied, if the necessary heat treating process is the annealing in a finishing process, the metal strip must be prevented from oxidizing. Since the heating temperature is high, oxygen components including CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O in the atmosphere of the furnace promote oxidization of the strip. Therefore, the annealing atmosphere of the strip needs to be at least a non-oxidizing atmosphere or a reduction atmosphere. In a burner which generates combustion exhaust gas including CO.sub.2 or H.sub.2 O, the in-furnace or atmospheric temperature cannot be directly raised.
To solve this problem, a high-temperature combustion exhaust gas or accordingly heated gas is supplied from the burner to the radiant tubes. Then, the strip can be heated with the radiant heat from outer walls of the radiant tubes. Consequently, by maintaining the in-furnace atmosphere as the non-oxidizing atmosphere or the reduction atmosphere, oxidization of the strip can be avoided as well as efficient heating of the supplied strip.
In a conventional continuous annealing furnace for annealing a metal strip or the like, by passing the heating-section exhaust gas or another combustion exhaust gas through the heat exchanger, heat is applied to the circulated gas. By blowing the gas over the metal strip passing through the preheating section, the temperature of the metal strip is raised.
Additional information pertaining to convective heat exchangers for recovering heat via tubes and regenerative burners is disclosed in Japanese published patent application 4-80969. A regenerative radiant tube burner is disclosed in Japanese laid open patent applications 6-257738 and 6-257724.
The foregoing related arts have problems. In an actual continuous annealing operation, to improve the production efficiency, the strip supply speed (plate passing speed) has a lower limitation. To improve equipment efficiency, the size of the heating section through which the strip passes should be as short as possible. To satisfy such a requirement, the in-furnace or radiant-tube temperature has to be set relatively higher than the desired ultimate strip temperature. Specifically, by raising the radiant-tube temperature, thereby increasing the difference between the in-furnace temperature and the strip temperature, the strip can be quickly heated to a predetermined higher temperature. However, by raising the radiant-tube temperature above the desired strip temperature, the radiant-tubes are subjected to additional thermal load and subsequent breakdown.
Specifically, thermal stress and high-temperature creep cause the radiant tubes to break. Their high-temperature life is deteriorated, and when the temperature of the radiant tubes is raised, the fuel consumption rate is increased, thereby disadvantageously increasing cost as well.
In the above first example, the high-temperature life of the radiant-tubes is shortened by several years. In the latter, the fuel consumption rate is directly reflected in increased cost. Therefore, economic constraints have focused improvements on decreasing the fuel consumption rate.
In an attempt to solve this problem, the combustion efficiency of the burner for heating the radiant tubes is raised. A sensible heat of combustion exhaust gas resulting from heating of the radiant tubes is recovered by a convective heat exchanger to a sensible heat of combustion air. Specifically, by increasing the temperature of the combustion air supplied to the burner, the combustion efficiency in the burner is enhanced.
Realizing the above solution, the operation line is provided with a preheating section for preheating the strip. In the preheating section, the sensible heat of the combustion exhaust gas from the burner is recovered as the sensible heat of a predetermined gas by a convective heat exchanger in the same manner as aforementioned. By blowing the heated gas directly onto the strip in the preheating section, the temperature of the strip can be directly increased.
However, in the aforementioned convective heat exchanger, combustion air, steam or another gas is passed through the tubes. Surrounding the tubes is the combustion exhaust gas. Therefore, via the tubes a sensible heat of the combustion exhaust gas is transmitted to the combustion air, steam or another gas for recovery. Hence, not only a sufficient difference in temperature between the combustion exhaust gas and the recovery gas must exist, but a large heat transmission area is also required. Even though large heat exchangers are available for recovering a sufficient amount of heat from the combustion exhaust gas, the installation space for these large exchangers is not available. Therefore, the heat recovery ratio is low.
Even if a sufficiently large heat transmission area is secured, it is difficult to heat the gas in the tubes in such a short time to a sufficiently high temperature. Thus, whether the combustion efficiency of the burner is enhanced with the convective heat exchanger, or the strip is preheated in the preheating section, the fuel consumption rate or the high-temperature life of the radiant tubes cannot be enhanced as expected.
To solve these problems, Japanese laid-open patent application 6-288519 discloses a continuous heat treating furnace in which continuous annealing is performed by using a regenerative burner device. In this reference, the regenerative burner device comprises of a pair of burners. One burner performs combustion, and a sensible heat of combustion exhaust gas is stored in the regenerator of the other regenerative burner. For example, when the temperature of the regenerator of the other regenerative burner reaches an upper-limit temperature and the combustion-heat reserve cycle reaches its limit, then that burner stops combustion, while the other regenerative burner performs combustion. Specifically, combustion air is passed through the regenerator of the other regenerative burner for combustion. In this case, the sensible heat of the combustion exhaust gas can be efficiently recovered as can that of the combustion air. Therefore, when the regenerative burner device is used as a burner in the continuous annealing furnace or another continuous heat treating furnace, the heat recovery efficiency can be enhanced. This hereby provides the expected reduction in fuel consumption.
In the regenerative burner device, each combustion burner needs to have a regenerator, which complicates the structure and increases the size of the device. In actual operation, however, the standard continuous annealing furnace or continuous heat treating furnace is provided with up to a hundred burners or heaters, while a larger furnace may contain hundreds of burners or heaters. If the burners or the heaters are replaced with regenerative heaters or burners, the structure is greatly complicated and enlarged. Not to mention the fact that it would be impossible to replace all the burners with regenerative burners or heaters because of the already restricted space. Additionally, control would become very laborious, which would disadvantageously complicate both maintenance and repair. Finally, it would be economically inferior to modify the existing equipment by replacing the usual burners with the regenerative heaters or burners.

Heat treating furnace for a continously supplied metal strip


A device for measuring the relative angular position of two bodies with respect to a point is provided with a first measuring element and a second measuring element, relatively movable with respect to one another and connectable to a first body and a second body, respectively; the first measuring element includes a first inclination sensor, which has a first detection axis and supplies a first inclination signal, correlated to a first angle of inclination of the first detection axis with respect to a reference axis, and the second measuring element includes a second inclination sensor, which has a second detection axis and supplies a second inclination signal, correlated to a second angle of inclination of the second detection axis with respect to the reference axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for measuring the relative angular position of two bodies with respect to a point, and to an articular prosthesis provided therewith.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is known, active articular prostheses have been developed, which, when applied to a patient, enable a much more effective recovery of the functionality of the injured or missing limb than do traditional passive prostheses. In particular, active articular prostheses for the lower limbs (knee and ankle) tend to facilitate movement of the patient during deambulation.
Active articular prostheses comprise a pair of artificial skeletal members (for example, prostheses of tibia and femur), hinged to one another, so as to form an joint, and are provided with a control unit, an angular-position sensor, and an actuator, which is able to supply a torque between the artificial skeletal members of the joint. The angular-position sensor detects the relative angular position of the skeletal members, and the control unit, on the basis of the information supplied by the angular-position sensor, operates the actuator so as to control the movement of flexo-extension of the joint, especially during deambulation.
In known articular prostheses, angular-position sensors of a resistive type (angular potentiometers) or of an inductive type are normally used. Angular potentiometers are used for obtaining voltage dividers with variable voltage-division ratio. More precisely, an angular potentiometer is provided with a resistive element and a moving slider, in sliding electrical contact with the resistive element. The resistive element, fixed to one of the skeletal members, is thus divided into two resistive portions, and the division ratio between the two resistive portions depends upon the position of the slider, which is fixed to the other skeletal member. The information on the angular position of the skeletal members is hence supplied by the value of the voltage-division ratio. Angular sensors of an inductive type are based upon detection of the current flowing in a first winding on account of the variations in a magnetic field generated by a second winding, which is angularly movable with respect to the first winding. In particular, variations in the relative angular position of the two windings (each fixed to a respective skeletal member) modify the magnetic flux concatenated by the first winding, which is thus subject to an induced electromotive force and is traversed by a current.
Both of the types of sensors described, however, suffer from serious drawbacks that limit the performance and possibility of use thereof. In particular, angular potentiometers are readily subject to failure, have considerable encumbrance and usually require an extremely accurate assembly, in so far as even minimal misalignments are critical for their operation. In addition, angular potentiometers show problems of mechanical wear, on account of the sliding contacts. In the case of use for prostheses of the knee or ankle, these problems of wear are aggravated by the intensive use of the sensor. Angular sensors of an inductive type are more robust, have higher linearity, and do not present problems of mechanical wear. However, the encumbrance of inductive sensors is considerable, on account both of the electronic control circuits and of the shaft necessary for connection of one of the windings to the respective skeletal member. Inductive sensors are hence far from suitable for being miniaturized and integrated in a prosthesis.

Device for measuring the relative angular position of two bodies with respect to a point, and articular prosthesis provided therewith


A mechanism is provided for automatic genre determination of web content. For each type of web content genre, a set of relevant feature types are extracted from collected training material, where genre features and non-genre features are represented by tokens and an integer counts represents a frequency of appearance of the token in both a first type of training material and a second type of training material. In a classification process, fixed length tokens are extracted for relevant features types from different text and structural elements of web content. For each relevant feature type, a corresponding feature probability is calculated. The feature probabilities are combined to an overall genre probability that the web content belongs to a specific trained web content genre. A genre classification result is then output comprising at least one specific trained web content genre to which the web content belongs together with a corresponding genre probability.

The present invention relates in general to the field of internet communication, and in particular to a method and a system for automatic genre determination of web content. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a data processing program and a computer program product for automatic genre determination of web content.
The internet contains a huge number of web pages, and is growing at an astonishing rate. It is not uncommon for 150,000 new domains to be registered under a generic top level domain (TLD) in a single day. Search engines crawl the internet, and attempt to index and classify these web pages. Web page classification is generally based on content classification. Simply stated, the textual content is extracted from the web page and analyzed for the occurrence of words and phrases indicative of a content genre. For example, to ascertain whether a web page contains content regarded as illicit, the text content could be compared against a list of known illicit keywords. If the text contains sufficiently many illicit keywords, then it is regarded as being illicit in content. The keywords used to classify content can also be ascertained automatically in a so-called "supervised learning" environment, where corpora of content relating to genre and not-genre are presented to a learning algorithm, which then selects the statistically significant keywords for the given genre.
Keywords for a genre must not even be complete words. Using a technique known as "shingling" (or n-gram analysis), a "sliding window" of N-characters is passed over the text, and a token of length N is extracted from each window position in the text. The window is typically shifted by a single character. The computing resources required for n-gram analysis are typically higher than that required for traditional keyword extraction, as there are far more possibilities for token values. The technique is more robust, however, as it (for example) automatically takes into account word stems.
An increasing proportion of web content is, however, not reliably classifiable via the text content. This is because the text itself does not relate to one particular genre, but rather, contains a wide range of different topics and contexts. An example of such web content is a "web log" page, often referred to as a "blog". If the blog author limits his writings to a single topic, for example ornithology, then the content may be assigned by automatic classification to a general category, e.g. "nature" or "birds". If the blog author writes about current affairs, for example, or has many different topics which interest him, then the content will not be reliably classifiable.
The real problem, however, is that the "true" genre of the web page is "blog", and this genre can never be ascertained from the textual content of the web page. Blogs are only one example of a "meta" genre which is not classifiable via its content. Other examples are forums, chat rooms, social media sites, internet discussion sites and so forth. In general, all sites which act as a container for user generated content fall into this genre.
The requirement for search engines to identify blog pages is current. For example, to include or exclude blog or social media content from search engine queries, the content, and therefore the web page, must first be labeled as belonging to such a genre.
In another scenario, a next-generation firewall product (NGFW) may wish to restrict access to, for example, chat rooms and social media sites. The ability to identify such web page genres in a "live" environment, or via a database of known URLs, would be very valuable.
Whilst there are many classification schemes for traditional web content, there are relatively few proposals to solve the problem of meta genres.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 7,565,350 B2 "IDENTIFYING A WEB PAGE AS BELONGING TO A BLOG" a method to identify blog pages is disclosed. The disclosed method is restricted to blog pages, and could not be used to identify the other "meta" genres mentioned previously.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Automatic genre classification determination of web content to which the web content belongs together with a corresponding genre probability

International Business Machines Corporation


An ink composition is provided that includes (A) an N-vinyllactam, (B) a polymerization initiator, and (C) a basic compound, the content of the N-vinyllactam (A) being at least 15 wt % of the total weight of the ink composition. There is also provided an inkjet recording method that includes (a1) a step of discharging the ink composition onto a recording medium, and (b1) a step of curing the ink composition by irradiating the discharged ink composition with actinic radiation. Furthermore, a printed material obtained using the ink composition is provided. Moreover, there is provided a process for producing a lithographic printing plate that includes (a2) a step of discharging the ink composition onto a hydrophilic support, and (b2) a step of curing the ink composition by irradiating the discharged ink composition with actinic radiation so as to form a hydrophobic image on the hydrophilic support by curing the ink composition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink composition suitably used for inkjet recording, an inkjet recording method and, furthermore, a printed material obtained by employing the ink composition and a process for producing a lithographic printing plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
With regard to an image recording method for forming an image on a recording medium such as paper based on an image data signal, there are an electrophotographic system, sublimation type and melt type thermal transfer systems, an inkjet system, etc. In the electrophotographic system, a process of forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum by electrically charging and exposing is required, and the system is complicated; as a result, there is the problem that the production cost is high. With regard to the thermal transfer system, although the equipment is inexpensive, due to the use of an ink ribbon there is the problem that the running cost is high and waste material is generated.
On the other hand, with regard to the inkjet system, the equipment is inexpensive and, since an image is formed directly on a recording medium by discharging an ink only on a required image area, the ink can be used efficiently and the running cost is low. Furthermore, there is little noise and it is excellent as an image recording system.
With regard to an ink composition that can be cured by irradiation with radiation such as ultraviolet rays and, in particular, an inkjet recording ink composition (radiation curing type inkjet recording ink), there is a desire for an ink composition that cures with high sensitivity and forms an image with high image quality. By achieving higher sensitivity, high curability upon exposure to actinic radiation can be imparted, and there are therefore provided various benefits such as a reduction in power consumption, longer lifetime of an actinic radiation generator due to a decrease in the load thereon and, as a result of adequate curing being achieved, suppression of evaporation of uncured low molecular weight material and of a reduction in the strength of an image formed.
Furthermore, there is a desire for an ink composition that gives an image (printed material) that is resistant to cracking, peeling off, etc., and gives a cured film that has excellent flexibility and adhesion to a substrate. A cured film having high flexibility and adhesion to a substrate enables a printed material to be displayed or stored for a long period of time in various environments while maintaining high image quality, and also has advantages such as ease of handling of the printed material.
Furthermore, improvement in the image strength due to higher sensitivity imparts high plate life to an image when the ink composition is used for the formation of an image of a lithographic printing plate.
As an ink composition that cures with high sensitivity and gives a cured film having excellent flexibility and adhesion to a substrate, an ink composition comprising an N-vinyllactam has been disclosed (Japanese Registered Patent No. 2880845). However, the ink composition described in this patent publication is a highly viscous ink composition containing a polymer and an oligomer as main ink components, and it is difficult to discharge by ink jet.
Furthermore, as an ink composition that can be cured by irradiation with radiation such as ultraviolet rays, an ink composition having excellent adhesion has been disclosed (Published Japanese translation of PCT application No. 2004-514014).
Conventionally, when a lithographic printing plate is produced, a so-called PS plate having a constitution in which a lipophilic photosensitive resin layer is provided on a hydrophilic support is used; this photosensitive resin layer is imagewise exposed to light to thus improve or degrade the solubility of the exposed area toward an alkaline developer and form an image, and the non-image area is then dissolved and removed. However, in recent years, a digitization technique of electronically processing, storing and outputting image information using a computer has become widespread, and a new image output method that matches the above technique has been desired. In particular, a method that can produce a printing plate without a treatment employing a developer has been examined, and a process for directly producing a lithographic printing plate using an inkjet recording ink composition has been investigated (ref. e.g. JP-A-54-117203; JP-A denotes a Japanese unexamined patent publication application). In this process, an ink is discharged imagewise on the surface of a preferably hydrophilic support by an inkjet method, etc., and this is then cured by irradiation with actinic radiation, thereby giving a printing plate having a desired image (preferably a hydrophobic image). In order to form an image area of a lithographic printing plate, it is desirable that ink droplets discharged onto a support cure quickly without spreading, and there is currently a desire for an ink composition that is suitable for such an application.

Ink composition, inkjet recording method, printed material, and process for producing lithographic printing plate


A locking and releasing mechanism for a seat having a first fitting part associated with one of a seat part and a backrest and a second fitting part associated with the other one of the seat part and the backrest that may be locked and released relative to one another by the mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism includes a detent pawl configured to selectively latch the first fitting part to lock a displacement of the first fitting part and the second fitting part relative to one another and a detent plate configured to be reversibly displaced between a detent position, wherein the detent plate locks the detent pawl so that the detent pawl remains latched with the first fitting part, and a release position, wherein the detent plate allows the detent pawl to be released from the first fitting part. The mechanism also includes driver configured to selectively move the detent plate between the detent position and the release position. The driver includes a securing segment for securing the detent plate against self opening.

The present disclosure relates to a locking and releasing mechanism for adjusting the inclination of a seat (i.e., a locking and releasing mechanism). In particular, the present disclosure relates to a locking and releasing mechanism for a vehicle seat, a vehicle seat with a locking and releasing mechanism and a method for securing a locking and releasing mechanism against self-opening.
Locking and releasing mechanisms are designed to withstand high loads in order not to be opened and to be displaced inadvertently when used in motor vehicle seats (e.g., in the event of an accident). However, it has been demonstrated that certain locking and releasing mechanisms tend to open inadvertently under high loads. Attempts have been made to provide safety catches which prevent such automatic opening. For example, DE 100 48 127 A1 discloses a fitting for a vehicle seat in which locking elements are provided on a pivotably mounted clamping eccentric for securing the pawl and which prevent the displacement of the clamping eccentric in the event of an accident, so that the pawl is not able to be opened. The disclosed mechanism, however, has the drawback that it has to be manufactured and mounted with very fine tolerances which has a disadvantageous effect on production and assembly costs.
Thus, there remains a need to provide a locking and releasing mechanism, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, which does not have the drawbacks of the prior art.

Locking and releasing mechanism for vehicle seat


One embodiment of a caster-camber plate assembly as disclosed herein includes a base plate, a main plate and a strut top mounting plate. The base plate includes four spaced apart main plate fastening members attached thereto. The main plate includes four spaced apart strut top mounting plate fastening members attached thereto. The main plate has the main plate fastening members extending therethrough for attaching the base plate adjacent to a first side of the main plate and is capable of being moved with respect to the base plate along a first translation axis. The strut top mounting plate is positioned adjacent to the main plate with the four strut top mounting plate fastening members extending therethrough. The strut top mounting plate is capable of being moved with respect to the main plate along a second translation axis. The second translation axis extends approximately perpendicular to the first translation axis. A central axis of the strut top mounting plate is positioned within an area defined between the main plate fastening members and within an area defined between said strut top mounting plate fastening members.

The disclosures herein relate generally to automobile suspensions and more particularly to caster-camber plate assemblies.
Many automobiles have a front suspension using a MacPherson strut arrangement or similar type of strut arrangement. In such a strut arrangement, a top mounting point of a strut is attached to an upper strut mounting assembly. The upper strut mounting assembly is attached to a strut tower of the automobile. The strut tower is a portion of the chassis of the automobile. Loads exerted on the front suspension are transmitted from a front suspension assembly, such as a control arm and a strut, to the chassis via the upper strut mounting assembly.
Factory upper strut mounting assemblies suitably attached to the strut tower often allow camber of the front suspension to be adjusted, but not caster. One arrangement for allowing camber to be adjusted is to provide slots in the strut tower and to mount the upper strut mounting assemblies to the strut towers via fasteners extending through the corresponding slots. Moving the upper strut mounting assemblies relative to the corresponding slots facilitates adjustments in camber. However, the range of adjustment for camber afforded by the slots is often insufficient for achieving desired or preferred camber settings on a lowered vehicle or a vehicle with a modified front suspension.
A caster-camber plate assembly is an example of an upper strut mounting assembly. The caster-camber plate assembly permits the caster and the camber to be adjusted. Some caster-camber plate assemblies allow the caster and camber to be adjusted independently from each other, while others permit camber and caster to be adjusted jointly. By enabling the caster and camber to be adjusted, desired or at least preferred front suspension alignment setting can be better achieved. Also, caster camber plates, such as those disclosed herein, generally provide for greater adjustment of caster and/or camber than do factory upper strut mounting assemblies.
A caster-camber plate assembly having a conventional construction suffers from one or more drawbacks. A caster camber plate assembly having a conventional construction is referred to herein as a conventional caster-camber plate assembly. Conventional caster-camber plates are commercially available from manufacturers and distributors such as Steeda Autosports, Griggs Racing, and BBK Incorporated. Examples of drawbacks associated with a conventional caster-camber plate assemblies include, but are not limited to, less than optimal strength of one or more caster-camber plate assembly components, limited clearance for a coil-over upper spring perch and complexity of installation. These limitations reduce the reliability, effectiveness and versatility of a conventional caster-camber plate assembly.
Accordingly, a caster-camber plate assembly capable of overcoming these drawbacks is useful.


A fundus camera which includes an illumination optical system for projecting an illumination light to a fundus of a subject's eye: a photographing device for photographing the fundus; and light-receiving optical systems, which include a focus lens disposed in a light-receiving optical path for focusing the photographing devices with respect to the fundus and diopter compensation lenses disposed for being inserted into or withdrawn from the light-receiving optical path for guiding reflected light from the fundus to the photographing devices; a controlling device for determining whether a feasible focusing range of the focus lens is surpassed; and driving devices for inserting the diopter compensation lenses into or withdrawing them from the light-receiving optical path. The controlling device controls the driving devices in a defined manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fundus camera having a diopter compensation lens to compensate a diopter scale with respect to a fundus of a subject's eye.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, there is known a fundus camera including an illumination optical system for projecting an illumination light to a subject's eye fundus, an observing optical system for guiding the reflected illumination light from the fundus to a first photographing device, and a photographing optical system for guiding the reflected illumination light from the fundus to a second photographing device.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Nos. 2000-262478 and H9-66032, it is known that such fundus camera includes a stick mirror which may be inserted into or withdrawn from an optical path of the illumination optical system and a focus-target projecting optical system for projecting focus-target light split into two bundles by the stick mirror and the illumination optical system to the fundus.
In such fundus camera, it is determined that the fundus camera is out of focus if two focus-target images formed from the two split bundles of the focus-target light are positioned separately side by side, and the fundus camera is in a focused state if the two focus-target images are lined up vertically.
After a main body of the fundus camera is aligned with respect to the subject's eye fundus, a light-receiving optical system is focused by operations on a focus handle, etc., to shift a focus lens disposed in the light-receiving optical system along an optical axis of the light-receiving optical system.
While in the above described fundus camera, a focusing range of the focus lens is set in a feasible diopter compensation range for a normal person. However, the subject's eye may be of either severe myopia or hyperopia. Thus, it is impossible to conjugate the fundus of the subject's eye with a photographing element even though there are performed focus operations with respect to the fundus of the subject's eye when the subject's eye is of severe myopia or hyperopia.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. H7-39523, in order to solve the above problem, there is also known a fundus camera in which diopter compensation lenses enabling a feasible focus of the focus lens are inserted into a light-receiving optical path of an observing and/or a photographing optical system in a case when the subject's eye is of either severe myopia or hyperopia.
However, a subject will not be discovered to be of severe myopia or hyperopia unless it is impossible to have the focus lens focused on the fundus through practical attempts on operating the focus lens while observing the fundus of the subject's eye. And only after that may a diopter compensation lens be manually inserted into the light-receiving optical path. Thus, it costs more time to obtain a photograph for the fundus.


A method of making game racket frame of plastic compound material includes a tubular body, which is formed by a bendable inner tube wrapped orderly and windingly with the cured thermoplastic plastic thin films and the long fiber fabric sheets made up of a plurality of long fiber bundles. The tubular body is placed in a mold cavity of a molding tool, which is subjected to a heat corresponding to the melting point of the thermoplastic plastic thin film. A gas with a first predetermined pressure is introduced into the tubular body so as to force the molten thermoplastic plastic thin film to diffuse uniformly into the interstices of the fiber bundles. Another gas having a second predetermined pressure is introduced into the tubular body to force the outer shell of tubular body to attach intimately to the wall of mold cavity of the molding tool, which is then cooled to permit the removal of the racket frame made therein. The method produces a recyclable racket frame and no waste causing environmental pollution.

The present invention relates to a method of making a game racket frame, and more particularly to a method of making a game racket frame of plastic compound material, which is made up of a thermoplastic plastic as a base material and a long fiber material as a reinforcing material.
In order to make a lightweight and strong ball racket frame of plastic compound material, the outer shell of such racket frame is generally made from a plurality of stacked and intertwined long fiber fabric sheets preimpregnated in epoxy resin. However, such method as described above is defective in that the cured epoxy resin can not be recycled easily, and that the viscosity of the epoxy resin used to preimpregnate the fabric sheets must be reduced by dilution by means of a volatile diluent, which is toxic and hazardous to the health of workers. In addition, the releasing paper used in wrapping the long fiber bundles becomes a cost factor of making a ball racket frame as well as a source of waste responsible for environmental pollution.

Method of making game racket frame of plastic compound material


Various embodiments of a method, apparatus and article of manufacture that identify a boundary of a field of a text-based screen for a test tool are provided. These embodiments allow single test tool to test software applications that have a text-based screen and software applications that have a graphical user interface with Java objects.

1.0 Field of the Invention
This invention relates to testing software, and in particular, this invention relates to a method, system and article of manufacture for testing software applications that have a text-based screen with a test tool for testing software applications that have a graphical user interface that uses objects.
2.0 Description of the Related Art
Computer systems execute many software applications. A software application can comprise millions of lines of code. Therefore, it is important for organizations that develop software applications to test their software applications prior to selling that software to customers.
A test tool is a type of software application that is used to test other software applications. The test tool helps an organization to ensure the quality of a software application.
Some test tools are designed to test software applications that provide a graphical user interface in which the objects on the graphical user interface are Java® (Registered trademark of SUN Microsystems, Inc.) objects. One such test tool is the IBM® (Registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation) Rational® (Registered trademark of Rational Software Corporation) XDE tester™, also referred to as the IBM® Rational® Functional Tester. Many software applications for mainframe computers have a text-based screen as a user interface, and do not have a graphical user interface which comprises Java objects. A user interacts with those software applications using the text-based screen. The text-based screen comprises cells which are organized into rows and columns. Each cell is typically associated with a character. Therefore, test tools which are designed to test software applications which have a graphical user interface with Java objects cannot be used to test software application that has a text-based screen. Organizations which develop software applications having a text-based screen and software applications having a graphical user interface with Java objects typically use two different test tools—one test tool for software applications having the text-based screen and another test tool for the software applications having a graphical user interface with Java objects. However, using two different test tools is more expensive than a using a single test tool.
Therefore there is a need to allow a single test tool to test software applications that have a text-based screen and software applications that have a graphical user interface with Java objects.

Method, system and article of manufacture for testing a software application having a text-based screen with a test tool for a software application having a graphical user interface which uses objects


A central shaft is arranged for positioning through an opening within a vessel hull, with the central shaft including first and second collars spaced to slidably mount a second collar, wherein a first collar is positioned in adjacency relative to a first end of the shaft, with the first collar having a plurality of positioning legs pivotally mounted to the first collar, and the positioning legs each including a link pivotally mounting each positioning leg to the second collar. A central mounting web includes a pneumatic chamber for effecting a fluid-tight sealing relationship against the hull, with the mounting web including the central shaft directed therethrough, having an externally threaded portion that threadedly receives a lock collar. A pull handle directed through the shaft in adjacency to the lock collar permits pivoting in an over-center relationship of the positioning legs relative to the first collar to permit the positioning and subsequent replacement and removal of the apparatus relative to the ship hull.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to vessel repair apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved vessel opening repair apparatus wherein the same is directed to the sealing in a fluid-tight relationship of a vessel hull for temporary repair thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hull repair is indicated in the prior art and typified by the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,669,055; 5,009,180; 4,712,502; 4,161,155; and 4,569,303.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for an apparatus arranged for ease of one-man repair of a ship vessel hull opening and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A desired instance of a service model is stored, and an observed instance of the service model is provided. Inconsistencies between the desired instance and the observed instance may be detected based on a comparison between the desired instance and the observed instance.

An information technology (IT) service is composed of a set of hardware and software artifacts deployed in one or more data centers. Availability and performance of such artifacts vary greatly over time. For example, changes can range from reconfiguration of service attributes to upgrade and downgrade, as well as migration, scale out, etc. Typically, these changes are accomplished manually, resulting in unsatisfactory repeatability, speed of execution, cost efficiency, etc.
The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) provides a framework for service support. A configuration management is an example of the service support. The configuration management refers to a process for recognizing a configuration item targeted for IT service management to keep, update, confirm, and audit information about the configuration item. The configuration item represents resources targeted for configuration. The configuration item includes not only system resources inclusive of hardware and software but also facilities necessary for providing an IT service, documents such as a description about how to provide IT services, an operating procedure, and a diagram, hardware or software maintenance services, processes, etc.
Some systems provide for IT systems monitoring, but IT systems modeling is less advanced. The Configuration Management Database (CMDB) attempts to capture IT service model instances. However, the CMDB typically is used to store the output of monitoring systems to capture the state of the IT service "as is" in the data center. In other cases, the CMDB is used to store model instances that represent only what the desired IT service should look like.

Information technology service management

Hewlett Parkard Enterprise Development LP


A signal analyzer and method for measuring signal compression levels of one or more individual orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) signals among a plurality of OFDM signals within a composite signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to testing of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmitters, and in particular, to testing of OFDM transmitters using a vector signal analyzer (VSA).
2. Related Art
As is well known, multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) communication systems use multiple transmitters and receivers to enhance the reliability and signal capacity of the communication link. Testing of each transmitter is usually done by connecting each individual transmitter to a VSA, and repeating measurements for each transmitter sequentially. Alternatively, another method involves connecting each transmitter to its own VSA and performing the tests simultaneously. Accordingly, the first method only requires one VSA, but significantly more time, while the second method requires multiple VSA systems, but significantly less time.
Traditionally testing of wireless devices has involved testing one active transmitter at a time. Even if the device has offered multiple transmitters, they have typically not been operated in parallel. However, people are constantly trying to increase the data rate. In the past this has been achieved by using more complex modulation and higher bandwidth. These methods have used a single transmitter so measurements could be performed with a single input test instrument.
With the introduction of MIMO technology, multiple parallel transmitters are used to increase the allowable data rate in a given bandwidth by having the individual transmitters carry separate information using the same frequency and bandwidth for transmission. During normal operation, system requires multi-path for reliably transmitting the parallel data streams over the same bandwidth simultaneously. The system relies on advanced signal processing to separate the different transmit signals in the required multiple receivers. The receivers separate and extract the data transmitted by the multiple transmitters. Accordingly, multiple parallel receivers are needed to fully analyze a true MIMO signal, and one can no longer use a single input test instrument to fully analyze the transmitted signal.
This is particularly true for research and development (R&D) testing, where one needs to get as much information as possible about the device under test (DUT). However, for production testing, one may not need as much information, as one is really testing to determine if the DUT is correctly assembled and if all components are fully functional. It is assumed that all major components (e.g., chips) have already been tested, and that the design being produced is verified to work correctly if the assembly is complete and correct, thereby obviating a need for as detailed of a test setup.
From a production perspective, one is looking to have the lowest possible test cost that satisfies full coverage of the required tests. Production testing usually includes both product verification, and often more importantly product calibration. During the product calibration, the performance of the device is adjusted to meet the desired performance.
Optimizing costs of testing in production includes ensuring the fastest possible test time with reasonably priced test equipment. Testing MIMO transmitters would indicate that one could utilize parallel test equipment, such that each transmitter is tested in parallel. This will add little to the test time compared to a traditional device, but will double the cost of the test setup, thus increasing the overall test cost.
Since modem test equipment offers significantly more signal processing capability, options other than simply performing all tests in parallel do exist. As noted, it may not be necessary to measure all parameters of a DUT in production; often one can simply measure the parameters that are expected to change in production devices. This includes identifying failing components and assembly problems, as well as the ability to calibrate the individual transmitters' performance to be close to optimal.

Apparatus and method for simultaneous testing of multiple orthogonal frequency division multiplexed transmitters with single vector signal analyzer


A graphical programming system and method which includes three-dimensional nodes that are wired or connected to from a graphical program or block diagram. Each of the three-dimensional nodes includes a plurality of sides that are designed to receive pre-defined inputs. In one embodiment, each node includes a left side for receiving data input and a right side for producing output data. The upper or top side of each node is designed to receive inputs regarding error conditions and/or initialization information. The front side of each node is reserved for displaying the name of the node or the function performed by the node. The back side of each node is reserved for timing and synchronization inputs. The bottom side of each node is designed to receive base configuration information and/or type declaration information. The user is only allowed to connect data of the specified type to the designated inputs of each node. If the user attempts to connect the wrong type of data to a respective input side of a node, the connection is broken, thus alerting the user of the problem. Therefore, the graphical programming system of the present invention simplifies the assembly process and provides increased error checking. The user can also manipulate or rotate the graphical program or block diagram to view different sides and thus view different classes of inputs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to graphical systems for creating and executing data flow programs, and more specifically to a graphical programming system and method having three-dimensional nodes with formatted or pre-defined input characteristics, wherein sides or faces of the three-dimensional nodes are pre-defined to receive inputs of a certain type.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of instrumentation, computer systems are employed to model physical systems and emulate or control test and measurement hardware. An instrument is a device which collects information from an environment and displays this information to a user. Examples of various types of instruments include oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, pressure sensors, etc. Types of information which might be collected by respective instruments include: voltage, resistance, distance, velocity, pressure, frequency of oscillation, humidity or temperature, among others. An instrumentation system typically includes a general purpose computer system which controls its constituent instruments from which it acquires data which it analyzes, stores and presents to a user of the system.
Computer control of instrumentation has become increasingly desirable in view of the increasing complexity and variety of instruments available for use. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,901,221 and 4,914,568 to Kodosky et al disclose a graphical system and method, i.e. a graphical programming environment, for modeling a process and for emulating or controlling instruments. The system and method disclosed in Kodosky et al allows a user to create a program by connecting graphical objects or nodes in a data flow manner. As the user constructs the data flow program, machine language instructions are automatically constructed which characterize an execution procedure which corresponds to the displayed procedure. Therefore, a user can create a text-based computer program solely by using a graphically based programming environment. This graphically based programming environment may be used for creating virtual instrumentation systems and modeling processes as well as for any type of general programming.
When a graphical data flow program, also referred to as an iconic program, is created, each graphical object or node has one or more inputs for receiving data and one or more outputs for producing data. The graphical data flow program may also include one or more structure nodes which perform sequencing or looping functions in the program. When the program is executed, each node executes when it has received data at all of its inputs. Thus each node executes in turn and produces data on its one or more outputs that are provided to other nodes in the system.
One problem with creating a graphical data flow program, as with any program, is debugging the program to correct errors. In a graphical programming environment, it is important to properly connect the inputs and outputs of the various nodes to avoid errors. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,901,221 and 4,914,568 to Kodosky et al disclose a graphical system where the wires or connectors between nodes have different widths and colors corresponding to the different types of data propagating along the wire. This enables the user to more easily see which data types are connected to which node inputs, thus facilitating debugging. If the user connects the wrong data type to an input of a node, the system "breaks the wire" to the node, thus informing the user of the error.
However, it would be highly desirable for a graphical programming system to have more intuitive control characteristics and debugging features which provide a greater amount of error checking information to the user.

Graphical programming system and method including three-dimensional nodes with pre-defined input and output capabilities


The subject invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an open matrix network incorporating one or more pharmaceutically active ingredients, wherein the open matrix network comprises maltodextrin and hyaluronic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Fast disintegrating pharmaceutical dosage forms which are designed to release an active ingredient in the oral cavity are well known and can be used to deliver a wide range of drugs (Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 21(6):433-475 (2004); Seager H. (1998), J. Phar. Pharmacol 50:375-382; Bandari et al. (January 2008), Asian Journal of Pharmaceutics 2-11).
In a fast disintegrating dosage form, a drug is physically trapped in a matrix composed of e.g. mannitol and fish gelatin (EP 1501534; EP 1165053), modified starch (U.S. Pat. No. 6,509,040), pullulan in combination with an amino acid (EP 1803446), or maltodextrin in combination with sorbitol (US 2004/0228919). A solution or suspension of the drug and the matrix (carrier) material may be filled into blister cavities, frozen and thereafter lyophilized. However, some of these dosage forms produced in this manner are fragile and brittle, have limited physical strength, and cannot withstand any pressure. In addition, dosage units so produced are difficult to pack and unpack.
In a second generation of fast disintegrating dosage forms, drugs are physically trapped in a matrix composed of levan (WO 2011/120904), or levan in combination with inulin (WO 2013/037708). These dosage forms show an improved tensile strength while maintaining a rapid disintegrating rate.
The subject invention now provides for an improved third generation fast disintegrating dosage form based on a matrix comprising a combination of maltodextrin and hyaluronic acid (HA) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Fast disintegrating pharmaceutical composition


Methods of forming a metal interconnect and an IC chip including the metal interconnect are disclosed. One embodiment of the method may include providing an integrated circuit (IC) chip up to and including a middle of line (MOL) layer, the MOL layer including a contact positioned within a first dielectric; recessing the first dielectric such that the contact extends beyond an upper surface of the first dielectric; forming a second dielectric over the first dielectric such that the second dielectric surrounds at least a portion of the contact, the second dielectric having a lower dielectric constant than the first dielectric; forming a planarizing layer over the second dielectric; forming an opening through the planarizing layer and into the second dielectric to the contact; and forming a metal in the opening to form the metal interconnect.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates generally to integrated circuit (IC) chip fabrication, and more particularly, to methods of forming a metal interconnect on an IC chip and the IC chip including the metal interconnect.
2. Background Art
In the integrated circuit (IC) chip fabrication industry, there are three sections referred to in a typical IC chip build: front end of the line (FEOL), back end of the line (BEOL) and the section that connects those two together, the middle of the line (MOL). The FEOL is made up of the semiconductor devices, e.g., transistors, the BEOL is made up of interconnects and wiring, and the MOL is an interconnect between the FEOL and BEOL that includes material to prevent the diffusion of BEOL metals to FEOL devices.
The FEOL transistor devices are typically processed using single crystal and poly-crystalline silicon. The BEOL interconnects are typically made of multiple metals; the bulk of the conductor is copper. If copper diffuses into the FEOL silicon based devices it can cause shorting or alter sensitive transistor characteristics and render the semiconductor useless. This is the reason for the MOL connection. This connection is usually made of tungsten. Although tungsten has a higher resistivity compared to other metals, its ability to prevent copper diffusion while still maintaining high conductivity is extremely desirable. The insulator that the MOL resides in is a higher dielectric constant (high-k, e.g., >3.9) value than the BEOL insulator. The dielectric constant value of the insulator is one major factor that determines the speed at which the signals can travel in that conductor. The high-k MOL insulator is necessary because of its close proximity to the FEOL devices. The high-k MOL insulator is used for various manufacturing issues that are well known in the art.
One challenge relative to current technology is that when the BEOL first metal layer (M1) is processed, typically some portion of the metal line resides in the high-k MOL insulator. That is, the metal protrudes into the high-k MOL insulator, perhaps surrounding a MOL layer contact. Accordingly, the trend of the industry towards low-k materials (e.g., k<3.9) for BEOL insulators is severely hampered by the first line level residing in a high-k insulating material. In particular, any advantage gained by using low-k dielectric is lost for at least the first metal layer of the BEOL by the above situation.
One approach to address this situation is to use a thin layer of high-k dielectric around the contacts of the MOL layer with a low-k material (e.g., hydrogenated silicon oxycarbide (SiCOH)) over the high-k dielectric.
Unfortunately, contact materials typically used in the MOL layer (e.g., tungsten) usually require an aggressive planarizing process, which easily damages the less physically robust low-k material.

Metal interconnect forming methods and IC chip including metal interconnect


A circuit having a core circuit for sinking a first current from a first internal power supply node; a power bouncing reduction circuit for receiving power from a second internal power supply node and sourcing a second current to the first internal power supply node in accordance with a comparison between a voltage at the first internal power supply node and a low-pass filtered voltage of the first internal power supply node; and a package for coupling the first internal power supply node and the second internal power supply node to a first external power supply node and a second external power supply node, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuits.
2. Description of Related Art
Persons of ordinary skill in the art understand terms and basic concepts related to microelectronics that are used in this disclosure, such as PMOS (p-channel metal-oxide semiconductor) transistor, NMOS (p-channel metal-oxide semiconductor) transistor, "inductor," "capacitor," "resistor," "voltage," "current," "current-source," "circuit node," "low-pass filter," "pre-amplifier," "comparator," "clock," and "latch." Terms and basic concepts like these are apparent from prior art documents, e.g. text books such as "Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits" by Behzad Razavi, McGraw-Hill (ISBN 0-07-118839-8), and thus will not be explained in detail here.
An integrated circuit (IC) comprises a large number transistors fabricated on a silicon. The integrated circuit is packaged in a package so that it can be placed as an IC component on a printed circuit board. The integrated circuit receives power from a power supply circuit on the printed circuit board.
As depicted in FIG. 1A, an application 100 comprises: a power supply circuit 130 and an IC component 140. The power supply circuit 130 provides a power supply voltage Vps for IC component 140. The IC component 140 comprises an integrated circuit 110 and a package 120, which can be behaviorally modeled as a circuit comprising a combination of a shunt capacitor 122 and a serial inductor 123. The voltage that the integrated circuit 110 actually receives is an internal power supply voltage Vdd, which is different from Vps that the power supply circuit 130 provides. The integrated circuit 110 comprises a large number of transistors working on a variety of tasks that vary from time to time, and the current I that the integrated circuit 110 is sinking also varies from time to time, due to a dynamic nature of the activities of the integrated circuit 110. As a result, the received voltage Vdd is also dynamically changing in accordance with the activities of the integrated circuit 110.
An exemplary waveform is shown in FIG. 1B. Trace 180 denotes the current I that the integrated circuit 110 is sinking; trace 190 denotes the internal power supply voltage Vdd. As shown in FIG. 1B, a sudden surge of the current (due to a sudden increase in circuit activities) induces a bouncing of the voltage due to an interplay between the inductor 123, the capacitor 122, and the integrated circuit 110. The phenomenon that the internal power supply voltage Vdd starts ringing upon a sudden surge of current of the integrated circuit 110 is known as "power bouncing." Power bouncing is highly undesirable, as it makes the integrated circuit 110 less reliable. A package with smaller inductance can be used to alleviate the power bouncing problem; however, a lower inductance package is usually more expensive.
What is desired is a method and apparatus for reducing power bouncing without using low inductance package.

Power bouncing reduction circuit and method thereof


The axes of a first press roll (1) and of a second press roll (3) lie in a press plane (E). Each of the press rolls has a journal pin (2) and (4) respectively. The first press roll is supported in a first bearing pedestal (5). The second press roll rests in a second bearing pedestal (6) which is coupled to the first bearing pedestal (5) by utilizing flexurally soft tension bars (7, 8). In the unloaded condition of the roll press, the second bearing pedestal (6) rests on the first bearing pedestal (5). In the loaded condition, play (p) is established between the bearing pedestals (5 and 6) so that the bearing pedestals (5 and 6) are displaceable axially relative to each other.

The present invention relates to a roll press having a first press roll and a second press roll the principal axes of which lie in a press plane and which form a press nip with each other. The invention proceeds from a roll press having a first press roll and a second press roll which cooperate to form a press nip. The principal axes of both of the press rolls lie in a press plane. Each press roll has a rotatable shell. There are journal pins at both ends of the press rolls. Either a rotatable shell has a rotatable journal pin or a stationary support extends through the roll shell and has stationary journal pins. Both of the press rolls are supported at their journal pins on a respective bearing pedestal for the journal pin. At least one bearing pedestal at one end of one of the press rolls is coupled to the other bearing pedestal at the same end of the press rolls by at least one and more usually by two detachable tension bars. The two tension bars are located at both sides of the press plane, extend substantially parallel to that plane and extend in a direction perpendicular to the principal axes of the press rolls. These features of a press roll are known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,514.
In one embodiment of the known roll press, the first press roll is located in the lower position and the second press roll in the upper position. Thus, the bearing pedestals of the first press roll are on a stand, foundation or the like. From U.S. Pat. No. '514, however, the reverse arrangement is also known, in which the bearing pedestals of the first (in this case upper) press roll are suspended from the bottom of a stand. The invention concerns both arrangements. Furthermore, the known roll press is developed in the manner that the bearing pedestals in which the second press roll rests are rigidly attached to the bearing pedestals of the first press roll by tension bars. Said tension bars are developed as screws and, in loaded condition of the roll press, must transmit high tensile forces which result from the pressing force prevailing in the press nip. It must be borne in mind in this connection that such press rolls are used preferably in paper manufacturing machines, the width of which may in extreme cases amount to up to 10 m. Furthermore, certain roll presses (for instance in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,765 are developed as shoe presses in which the linear force prevailing in the press nip may reach an order of magnitude of 1000 kN/m.
To be sure, in the case of the object of U.S. Pat. No. '514 the pressing forces are kept away from the machine stand so that the latter must bear at most the weight of the roll press itself. However, there is the problem that said screw connections become extremely bulky and expensive. Furthermore, the screws must be under a considerable initial stress, which, according to U.S. Pat. No. '514, must be greater than the maximum pressing force. In other words: the screws are strongly stressed even in the unloaded condition of the roll press. Therefore, the mounting of the screws can be effected only at enormous expense.
Upon the use of the known roll press in the press end of a paper manufacturing machine, there is the further complication that at least one endless felt belt must pass through the press nip and that such felt belt must be replaced at regular intervals by a new felt belt. For this purpose, it is necessary each time to loosen the said screw connections and then priestess them again after the new endless felt belt has been introduced. These are very cumbersome and time-consuming operations in view of the bulk of the screw connections and the high initial stressing of the screws required.
Another problem in connection with such roll presses is that in the case of each press roll at least one of the two journal pins must be displaceable in axial direction under the full operating load because of the thermally caused changes in length of the rotatable roll shell or the stationary support which at times take place. In the case of a turnable journal pin, therefore the outer ring of the antifriction bearing, for example, must be displaceable in the bearing housing. Or in the case of a stationary journal pin, it must be seen to it, for example, that this journal pin is axially displaceable in a sleeve (or bushing). In both cases, slide surfaces must be provided which are suitable for transmitting the immense press forces and at the same time permit the necessary axial displacement.

Tension bars for roll press for paper making machine


An integrated circuit design has circuit macros made up of device cells. The cells are characterized by determining the leakage current dependency on various process, environmental and voltage parameters. When circuit macros are designed their leakage power is calculated using this data and multi-dimensional models for power and temperature distribution. Circuit macros are identified as timing-critical and timing-noncritical macros. Statistical methods are used to determine the average leakage sensitivities for the specific circuit macros designed. The designer uses the sensitivity data to determine how to redesign selected circuit macros to reduce leakage power. Reducing leakage power in these selected circuits may be used to reduce overall IC power or the improved power margins may be used in timing-critical circuits to increase performance while keeping power dissipation unchanged.

With continuous shrinking of minimal feature size, leakage current is expected to become a major challenge for future complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) designs. Although each is about 10% of total chip power for the current generation of CMOS technology, the number is expected to rise to 50% for next generation techniques. The increasing leakage current not only poses a problem for battery powered devices, such as mobile and hand-held electronics, it is increasingly critical for active operation as it is becoming a higher percentage of total power.
Most of the leakage estimation and reduction techniques have focused on sub-threshold leakage due to the lowering of the power supply voltage and the accompanying reduction of the threshold voltage. With the reduction of the gate oxide thickness, the gate leakage current can no longer be ignored. Gate leakage is on a trend to become comparable to the sub-threshold leakage. An accurate full chip leakage estimation needs to consider both gate and sub-threshold leakage.
Methods to estimate the full chip leakage have been reported in several publications. The authors of one publication use a linear regression model to estimate full chip leakage based on the gate count in the application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) environment. In another publication, a method is proposed to include the effect of width in die process variation. It is known that the leakage current has strong dependency on the environmental factors, such as channel temperature, power supply voltage (Vdd) and workload. The leakage power has a near linear dependency on temperature, for example, a 30° C. change in temperature will affect the leakage by 30%. However, leakage power's dependency on Vdd is more exponential, whereby a 20% fluctuation in Vdd may affect the leakage power by more than a factor of two.
Chip designers have used empirical methods to estimate leakage power which assumes a uniform temperature and Vdd distribution across the whole chip. However, in today's complex industrial designs, both temperature and Vdd fluctuations have very strong locality, i.e., they are not uniform across the chip. The exact amount of these fluctuations at certain locations depends on the distribution of the transistors and decoupling capacitors, the workload, as well as the quality of the power grid and package design. Leakage also depends on circuit topology as well as process parameters. Empirical methods in full chip leakage estimation are too simplistic thus inaccurate.
Modern ICs used to implement computer and other data processing functions usually have circuit macros whose performance determines the processing power of the IC. These timing-critical circuit macros may only constitute 20% of the total circuits for the function of the IC. The other 80% of the circuits (timing-noncritical) are not as timing or speed dependent. However, leakage power is primarily dependent on the logic states of nodes, IC power supply voltage, temperature, and process variables. Therefore, the timing-noncritical circuitry may be dissipating more leakage power than is necessary. If the leakage power for the timing-noncritical circuitry could be reduced, then the excess power margin may be used to increase the performance of the timing-critical circuitry while keeping overall chip power within a desired limit. To do this, leakage power needs to be considered during the design process. Furthermore, the chip designers need to know how leakage power varies with process, feature size, and environmental factors so that design tradeoffs may be done that are most effective in reducing leakage power.
There is, therefore, a need for a method to determine average leakage power sensitivities for circuit macros that are independent of circuit state as well as a method for using leakage power sensitivities in the IC design process to optimize the IC.

Method for determining and using leakage current sensitivities to optimize the design of an integrated circuit