A method for enhanced web browsing includes receiving, by an executable application associated with a web browser on a computer system, a user selection of a reference to a business entity included within contents of a web page being displayed by the web browser during a user browsing session. The executable application causes the web browser to display an object in response to the user selection of the reference to the business entity. The object includes information associated with the business entity retrieved from a third-party information source. The executable application transmits instructions to store the information associated with the business entity retrieved from the third-party information source in an on-demand database based on a user input.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.
In marketing, lead generation is a process of stimulating and capturing interest of business entities, products or services for the purpose of developing a sales pipeline. To develop leads, employees often use a variety of resources to gather information about companies, businesses, or contacts, including checking newspaper articles and following trade journals. For example, reading local newspapers and trade journals provides vital information on different company developments and new technology. This information can be used for direct marketing to specific companies.
In recent years, digital platforms have become the preferred choice for obtaining such information. For example, the number of people that read news articles or journal articles on their laptops or on their computers has increased exponentially in the past decade. Additionally, online news resources, blogs and journals provide real-time articles on current and new company developments and new technologies.
However, with the abundance of information readily available online, a concern is making meaningful use of the information provided by website content. For example, while browsing through articles on various web pages, an employee of a company may come across a particular article that provides vital information on a potential lead, such as a particular company announcing a new development. The employee may want to gather more information on the particular company and/or determine if the particular company was already stored as a lead within a database.
Conventionally, upon reading the article on the web page, the employee would have to connect and log into the employee's customer relationship management (CRM) database, and search the database to identify if the company within the article is already stored as a lead in the CRM database. Additionally, if the employee determines that the company is not stored as a lead in the CRM database, the employee would have to open a new web page and use a search engine to obtain more information. This process of obtaining additional information is time consuming and cumbersome. Currently, technology does not exist that allows a web browsing user to determine if a potential lead is stored in a database, such as a CRM database, or obtain additional information about the potential lead in a time-efficient and convenient manner.


This oriented electrical steel sheet is a non-oriented electrical steel sheet consisting of, in mass %: C: not less than 0.0001% and not more than 0.0040%, Si: more than 3.0% and not more than 3.7%, sol.Al: not less than 0.3% and not more than 1.0%, Mn: not less than 0.5% and not more than 1.5%, Sn: not less than 0.005% and not more than 0.1%, Ti: not less than 0.0001% and not more than 0.0030%, S: not less than 0.0001% and not more than 0.0020%, N: not less than 0.0001% and not more than 0.003%, Ni: not less than 0.001% and not more than 0.2%, P: not less than 0.005% and not more than 0.05%, with a balance consisting of Fe and impurities, in which a resistivity ρ at room temperature ≧60 μΩcm, and saturation magnetic flux density Bs at room temperature ≧1.945 T are established, and the components contained satisfy 3.5≦Si+(⅔)×sol.Al+(⅕)×Mn≦4.25.

Due to environmental issues typified by global warming, and resource issues such as the depletion of oil resources and anxiety over nuclear power resources, energy conservation has been increasingly important.
Under such circumstances, the automobile fields, for example, have been making remarkable progress in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles that contribute to energy conservation.
Further, in the household appliance fields, there is an increasing demand for highly efficient air conditioners and refrigerators that consume less electric power.
These products commonly use motors, and hence, these motors are increasingly required to have improved efficiency.
The motors in these products have been miniaturized in response to the need for miniaturization and weight reduction, and further are designed to rotate at high speeds to meet the need for outputting sufficient power.
In order to reduce increasing losses occurring from high rotational speed and the resulting heat occurring in the devices, cores of the motors are required to be formed by a non-oriented electrical steel sheet having reduced high-frequency iron loss.
Further, these motors need to generate high torque, and there is a demand for the non-oriented electrical steel sheet to have increased saturation magnetic flux density: Bs, especially at the time of motor acceleration.
Since the eddy current loss accounts for a large portion of the iron loss in the high-frequency iron loss, the iron loss can be reduced by increasing the resistivity of the non-oriented electrical steel sheet, as described, for example, in Patent Document 1.
However, alloying, which is necessary to increase the resistivity, brings about a problem of a reduction in the saturation magnetic flux density Bs.
Further, alloying makes the steel sheet significantly brittle, which has a large adverse effect on the productivity.
In particular, if the amount of Si exceeds 3%, the reduction in Bs and brittleness of the steel sheet become notable, which makes it extremely difficult to achieve all the desired magnetic properties and productivity.
In Patent Document 1, the amount of Si+Al is controlled to be less than or equal to 4.5%. However, this control is not sufficient enough to prevent the steel sheet from becoming brittle. Further, Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the effect of Mn, which is the main point of the present invention.
Yet further, Patent Document 1 does not evaluate Bs, and hence, favorable magnetic property cannot be necessarily obtained.
Patent Document 2 describes making the relationship between resistivity and Bs constant. However, Patent Document 2 is not intended to obtain high torque, and cannot prevent the steel sheet from becoming brittle.
Further, Patent Document 2 is not directed at improving iron loss at high frequencies, and does not take into consideration brittleness of a steel sheet having the amount of Si exceeding 3.0% or improvement in the iron loss of the steel sheet. Thus, favorable magnetic properties cannot be necessarily obtained.

Non-oriented electrical steel sheet and method of manufacturing non-oriented electrical steel sheet

NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION


The operation of a data flow is improved by providing for validation of the consistency of the data flow with the external data files it works with, even in the face of changes in those external data files Metadata is stored regarding the external data files. Because external data files may change, this metadata is used when determining whether the external data files are still compatible with the data flow. In such performing such validation, the metadata tracks what changes in the external data files have occurred, and allows increased flexibility in presenting the user with options or in automatically fixing the data flow to correspond with changes in external data files. When the external data files are not available, the stored metadata can be used to validate the data flow to the last information regarding the external data files. The external metadata can be resynchronized to the data flow or to the external data files to provide updated external metadata for later validation.

Large collections of data may be used in complex ways. For example, collections of data, such as in files, databases, and other data storage means, may be opened, queried, or used as part of a long string of activities, with different transformative activities occurring to the data, and with resulting data then stored.
For example, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data flow with two data inputs and two data outputs. As shown in FIG. 1, a file A and a database table A are both opened. As shown in FIG. 1, data is read from the file A 1000 and data is read from the database table A 1010. A union 1020 is performed on these two sets of data. The result of the union is examined, to determine (box 1030), for each record in the union of data, whether the value stored in an associated age field is less than fifty. For records where the associated age field is less than fifty, the records are aggregated by gender 1040, and stored in a database table B 1050. For records where the associated age field is not less than fifty, the records are stored in a file B 1060.
In order to allow for the use of large complex collections of data, ETL (Extract Transform Load) tools have been developed. These tools provide an automated way to perform operations using collections of data. ETL tools automate the tasks of extracting data—taking data from a data source; transforming data—utilizing the extracted data; and loading data—storing the result of the transformation is stored for later use. For example, the actions shown in actions are performed by an ETL tool.
In order to allow the easy use of such ETL functionality and expand the functionality available, design tools which allow the visual design of processes which use files or other data collections have been developed. One such design tool is known as Data Transformation Services (DTS), available from Microsoft Corporation. DTS allows a user to visually design processes by which data in files, databases, or other data collections can be used. The operations in the processes designed by DTS may include but are not limited to those available through standard ETL tools. For example, a DTS-designed data flow may allow a user to specify that certain files will be deleted, other files obtained (e.g. by file transfer protocol (FTP) from a designated source), and that a specific ETL process will then be performed on each file so obtained.
The data flow designed by an ETL tool or a design tool such as DTS is designed in advance of its use. This can lead to ambiguities when the data flow is used. For example, a data flow is designed to open a data source and, for each record in the data source, and read information in a specific column A and column C. However, at run-time, upon opening the data source, it may be that the data source contains, for each record, information in a column A, column B, column C and column D.
It may be that the designer of the data flow knew that column B would be included in the data source. If so, a design choice may have been made not to read information from column B, in order to minimize the time and other computational costs for doing so. Thus, asking the user at run-time whether column B should be included could cause unnecessary confusion and delay.
However, it may be that the designer of the data flow did not know that column D would be included in the data source, and that the user of the data flow would find column D useful to include in the data flow. Thus, asking the user at run-time whether column D should be included would be useful.
However, there is no way to distinguish between situations in which data was intentionally not included from a data source, and situations in which the data source has changed. Thus, either unnecessary questions are put to the user at run-time, or useful data may be lost.
Additionally, other changes may be made to a data collection. For example, the type of column A may have been changed from what is expected. This may or may not be compatible with the operations designed for column A in the data flow. Some changes in data type may allow operations may proceed successfully but with unexpected results. However, there is no way to tell whether the change was anticipated, or whether it was not. Again, the user is either consulted on data type incompatibilities, even in cases in which the change was anticipated, or the user is not consulted, which may allow problems to develop.
Thus, there is a need for a system and method to overcome these deficits in the prior art. The present invention addresses the aforementioned needs and solves them with additional advantages as expressed herein.


A balancing apparatus comprises a rotating shaft (2) arranged on a transition coupler (1), a rotating rod (4) and a top seat (7). The rotating rod (4) comprises an upper and lower end plates (11,12), and a ramp protrusion (13) that is arranged between the upper and lower end plates (12), and is of a sheet protruding structure; when the upper and lower end plates serve as the reference, in the longitudinal direction, the ramp protrusion (13) outward inclines towards the rotating rod, one end of the rotating rod (4) is arranged on the rotating shaft, a pin shaft (5) is arranged at the other end of the rotating rod (4), an eyelet bolt (6) is further arranged on the pin shaft (5), and the rotating rod (4) can rotate around the rotating shaft (2) and hinged to the eyelet bolt (6) through the pin shaft (5). A through hole is formed in the top seat (7), the eyelet bolt (6) penetrates through the through hole in the top seat, a nut (9) is fixedly arranged at the tail end of the eyelet bolt (6), a spring (10) is arranged between the nut (9) and the through hole of the top seat (7), and the diameter of the spring (10) is larger than the diameter of the through hole in the top seat (7). The balancing apparatus prevents a “bent head” phenomenon in a transition coupler when coupling car-couplers.

A transition coupler is an important device used for shunting operation, train delivery and rescue. In the field of railway vehicles, it is very common of application of the transition coupler whose No. 15/13 coupler is an adaptive and tight-lock coupler.
The existing transition coupler is not provided with a balancing apparatus. In the process of field application, as the coupling gap of the No. 15/13 coupler is large, the tight-lock coupler end of the transition coupler after installation may be lowered under its own weight so that the tight-lock coupler end is difficult of coupling with a formal coupler unless the coupling speed is increased. Under this circumstance, not only the tight-lock coupler is easily damaged, but also the vehicle body may be subject to negative influence.
In the shunting operation site, some shunters put wood chips or metal plates under the No. 15/13 coupler, which can relieve the "bent head" phenomenon. However, this method is difficult for operation, and unable to solve problems fundamentally.

Balancing apparatus for a transition coupler

CRRC QINGDAO SIFANG ROLLING STOCK RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD.


A joint apparatus which has a spherical bearing member which is outsert-molded at the end of a rod, a spherical shaft inserted to the spherical bearing member rotatably in three-dimensional directions, a circular concave portion provided at the top of the spherical shaft, and a convex portion provided in protrusion at the spherical bearing member and inserted into the concave portion. The convex portion is formed to have the width perpendicular to the axis of the rod, being larger than the longitudinal width.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a joint apparatus which connects a couple of rods oscillatably in three dimensional directions and more particularly to a technique for controlling the angle of oscillation, which can be effectively used, for example, in a joint apparatus provided between a crank arm and a rod in a wiper apparatus mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.
2. Related Art Statement
There has been a wiper apparatus for wiping automobile window glass, which comprises a crank arm rotated by a motor; a connecting rod (hereinafter referref to as a rod) for converting the rotation of the crank arm into reciprocating motion so as to reciprocatively rotate a linkage connected with a wiper arm; and a joint apparatus provided between the crank arm and the rod for enabling three dimensional oscillation.
Among joint apparatuses used in such a wiper apparatus, there has been one in which spherical bearing members of resin as joint members are integrally formed (hereinafter referred to as outsert-molding) at both ends of the rod, and spherical shafts as pair joint members are inserted respectively into the spherical bearing members.
In the joint apparatus thus-described, in order to prevent the spherical shaft from falling off the spherical bearing member, a circular concave portion is recessed at the top of the spherical shaft; a circular convex portion which is smaller than the concave portion, is projectingly provided at the spherical bearing member; and the convex portion is inserted in the concave portion. When the rod is bent in the direction perpendicular to its axial direction, the concave and the convex parts in this joint apparatus are designed to interfere mutually in order to prevent an accident in which the spherical shaft falls off the spherical bearing member and to control excess relative swing movement between the spherical shaft and the spherical bearing member.
However, in the above joint apparatus, the concave and the convex parts in the spherical shaft and the spherical bearing member are respectively formed to similar large and small circular shapes so that the angle .theta. of oscillation formed by the spherical shaft and the spherical bearing member, which is delimited by the concave and the convex, parts has the same maximal value for the all circumferential directions, inviting the following problems.
(1) In the wiper apparatus, the maximum value of the inclination angle .alpha. formed by the rod and the crank arm (hereinafter referred to as lengthwise angle) is determined by the relation L/O of the distance L between the spherical centers to the fall O between the spherical centers in a pair of joint apparatuses mounted at both ends of the rod. The lengthwise angle .alpha. is essential for the operation of the wiper system and as a result the oscillation angle .theta. must not be set smaller than the lengthwise angle .alpha.. As a consequence, the angle of rotation .beta. (hereinafter referred to as widthwise angle) having its center on the axis of the rod can not be set smaller than the lengthwise angle .alpha..
(2) When the widthwise angle .beta. is large, it makes the sealing of the joint apparatus difficult.
(3) In addition, in the case of curving rod there is a problem that when the widthwise angle .beta. is large, a large widthwise space must be secured.

Mitsuba Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


Disclosed is an instrument for detecting neutron backscatter from an object including a source of neutrons (12), a neutron detector (14) capable of detecting thermal neutrons and a housing (10) which is impervious to water and having at least one external operating surface (20) for placing adjacent the object, the source and detector being located within the housing in such a way that the distance between the detector and the operating surface(s) is less than 25 mm and the distance between the detector and any other external surface of the housing is at least 50 mm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a neutron backscatter instrument for detecting and identifying the contents of a vessel. The instrument is especially adapted for use in water, i.e. for sub-sea measurements but may be useful in other environments.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is frequently a requirement to identify and estimate the level of fluids (including vapour and liquids) such as water or hydrocarbon fuels in vessels located underwater. For example, it may be necessary to measure the amount of water in a buoyancy tank. Another important application for sub-sea measurement is in the salvage of submerged or sunken sea-going marine vessels or wrecks, in order to locate fuels for recovery and to avoid leakage into the environment as the vessel structure degrades over time. It may be required to recover fuel, for example, as part of an environmental protection scheme or maritime emergency response. Neutron backscatter measurement involves emitting fast neutrons from a neutron generator into a material, then detecting and measuring the number and/or energy of the thermal neutrons scattered from the material as a result of interaction of the molecules of the material with the fast neutrons in order to provide information about an object, including the contents of a vessel. One problem with using neutron backscatter measurements in a hydrogen-rich environment, for example underwater, is that most neutron detectors are very sensitive to thermal neutrons scattered from hydrogen-rich materials such as water. Therefore the sensitivity of the detector to other materials is reduced because of the large number of counts received from the water. It is an object of the invention to overcome at least some of the problems associated with using neutron backscatter instruments in an underwater environment.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,711 describes a water-level gauge, using a neutron source, for indicating the water-level in a sunken vessel. The device is designed to be placed against the flat external wall of a vessel so that neutrons emitted from the source can enter the vessel and interact with its contents. Slow neutrons which are scattered by water present within the vessel are then detected by the detector within the water-level gauge. The gauge incorporates a moulded urethane shroud to provide buoyancy.


A data storage system includes: non-volatile solid state memory including non-volatile storage units and a temporary register; a data storage controller configured to receive a write command including a plurality of logical segments of data from a host; a write buffer allocated to receive a portion of the plurality of logical segments of data and accumulate a physical segment of data corresponding to a write unit of the solid state memory; a solid state memory controller configured to transmit the accumulated data from the write buffer to the temporary storage register each time the write buffer accumulates a physical segment of data. The data storage controller acknowledges completion of the write command to the host after the last logical segment of data is written to the write buffer; and deallocates the write buffer after the solid state memory completes reception of the accumulated data into the temporary storage register.

1. Technical Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present inventive concept relate to data storage devices and more particularly to early de-allocation of a write buffer used to temporarily hold data before the data is sent to the data storage device.
2. Related Art
A data storage system may include various volatile and non-volatile storage devices such as a hard disk drive (HDD), an optical storage drive, and a solid state drive (SSD). In a SSD, a write buffer is used to temporarily hold data before it is sent to the memory controller to be written to the solid state memory, which may be, for example, but not limited to, a NAND device.
Generally, space in the write buffer is deallocated after the data in the write buffer is written successfully to the solid state memory. Referring to FIG. 1, data received by the SSD controller 110 is transferred by the controller front end 120 to the write buffer 130 where it is held before being sent to the memory controller 140. The memory controller 140 receives the data and transfers it to a temporary register 150 (e.g., page register that temporarily stores page(s) of data to be programmed) in the solid state memory 160 prior to the data being programmed into the nonvolatile memory units 170 of the solid state memory 160. After the data programming in the solid state memory 160 is completed successfully, the write buffer is de-allocated.
Programming the data from temporary register 150 to the solid state memory units 160 is a relatively time consuming operation (on the order of milliseconds) in comparison to other data transfer operations (on the order of microseconds) and causes significant delay in deallocating the write buffer. The delay in write buffer deallocation can result in reduced system throughput or require a large amount of buffer memory.

Early de-allocation of write buffer in an SSD


Data can be automatically anonymized in a distributed storage system. For example, a system can receive a notification indicating that an object is stored in a non-persistent bucket of a distributed storage system. The system can read the object from the non-persistent bucket in response to receiving the notification. The system can generate an anonymized version of the object by performing one or more anonymization operations with respect to the object. The system can store the anonymized version of the object in a persistent bucket of the distributed storage system. The system can then transmit a command for causing the object to be removed from the non-persistent bucket.

Cloud computing systems provide on-demand access to a shared pool of computing resources, such as computing power and data storage. Some cloud computing systems include distributed storage systems for synchronizing, coordinating, and storing data. Such distributed storage systems include storage nodes that can work together so that the distributed storage system behaves as one storage system. Distributed storage systems can provide improvements to scalability, redundancy, and performance. For example, distributed storage systems can be easily scaled horizontally to include more or fewer storage nodes depending on demand. Distributed storage systems can also store multiple copies ("replicas") of the same data for high availability, backup, and disaster recovery purposes.
Distributed storage systems can implement file storage, block storage, or object storage techniques. File storage involves a hierarchical structure in which data is organized and represented as a hierarchy of files in folders. Block storage involves chunking data into arbitrarily organized, evenly sized volumes called "blocks." Each block has a unique identifier for allowing it to be placed wherever is most convenient in the distributed storage system. Object storage involves a flat (non-hierarchical) structure in which data is stored in discrete units called "objects," which may be kept in a repository. Each object is composed of the data itself, which can be any type of content, along with metadata about the data. The low cost and scalability of object storage has made it prevalent in public cloud storage systems.

Automatically anonymizing data in a distributed storage system


Optical windows are provided that transmit light such as deep-UV (DUV) light. An exemplary window includes a window substrate that is transmissive to at least one wavelength of the light. The window substrate has an incidence surface decorated with sub-wavelength asperities arranged so as to render the incidence surface solvophobic to the light-transmissive liquid. The arrangement of sub-wavelength asperities can be configured to render the incidence surface super-solvophobic to the liquid. The sub-wavelength asperities can have any of various shapes and combinations thereof, and can be regularly or irregularly arranged.

In immersion microlithography, as in other types of microlithography, an image of a desired pattern is transferred by a beam of exposure light to a suitable substrate. In many types of microlithography systems the pattern is defined by a reticle or mask. The reticle is illuminated by an illumination beam to form a patterned imaging beam. The imaging beam passes through a projection-optical system that shapes and conditions the beam as required to form the pattern image on a suitable substrate such as a semiconductor wafer, glass plate, or the like. For exposure, the substrate normally is held on a movable platform called a "substrate stage," and the reticle normally is held on a movable platform called a "reticle stage." The stages undergo controlled motion relative to each other as exposure of the substrate progresses. So as to be imprintable with the pattern image, the substrate usually is coated with a light-sensitive material called a "resist."
To perform accurate exposures, the microlithography system is equipped with detectors and sensors that ensure, for example, proper alignment of the reticle and substrate with each other and with the system optics. Respective detectors and sensors are placed at various locations throughout the microlithography system, including on or in proximity to the reticle stage and the substrate stage.
To obtain better imaging resolution microlithographic exposures are normally performed at shorter wavelengths of exposure light. The incessant demands of forming increasingly more and smaller active-circuit elements in micro-circuits has generated a relentless demand for microlithography systems that can make exposures using shorter wavelengths. The currently most advanced microlithography systems that are commercially available perform exposures using deep-ultraviolet light produced by excimer lasers. The wavelength range for this light is approximately 150-250 nm, which is generally in the "deep-ultraviolet" or "DUV" range, wherein a favorite current wavelength is 193 nm. Very few materials are transmissive to this and other DUV wavelengths. Since optical glass is not transmissive to DUV, the projection-optical system and other system optics are usually made of fused silica (amorphous quartz).
As the world awaits a practical "next-generation" lithography system capable of making exposures at wavelengths substantially less than the excimer-laser-produced DUV wavelengths, substantial effort is being directed to urging more imaging performance from systems employing excimer laser light. In this effort, surprisingly good results have been obtained from excimer-laser-based systems that utilize "immersion" projection optics. These "immersion-microlithography" systems exploit a principle used in light microscopy, in which improved image resolution is obtained by interposing a liquid (having a refractive index substantially greater than of air) between the specimen and the objective lens. In immersion-microlithography systems an immersion liquid is interposed between the end of the projection lens and the substrate surface on which the projection lens forms the image. Whereas light-microscopy apparatus can readily accommodate use of an immersion liquid (usually an oil) in this manner, accommodating an immersion liquid in a microlithography system is more problematic, especially without actually degrading imaging performance or causing other problems.
Currently, in most immersion microlithography systems, water is generally used as the immersion liquid. As an immersion liquid, water has many desirable properties. It has a refractive index (n) of approximately 1.44 (compared to n=1 for air), and it is transmissive to the wavelength of exposure light currently being used (λ=193 nm) in immersion microlithography. Water also exhibits high surface tension, low viscosity, good thermal conductivity, and no toxicity, and the optical properties of water are well known.
To supply immersion liquid in an immersion-microlithography system, the projection-optical system is provided with a nozzle assembly (some configurations are aptly called "showerheads") situated at or near the end of the projection-optical system adjacent the substrate. The nozzle assembly is configured to discharge the immersion liquid and to recover excess immersion liquid as required to maintain a desired amount of the liquid at the desired location in the space between the projection optics and the substrate surface.
Substrate stages used in immersion-microlithography stages typically have several optical sensors used for alignment and image evaluation. In each such sensor, a respective "optical window" normally separates the actual sensor element from the environment of the substrate stage, and detection light passes through the optical window to the sensor element. Many of these sensors are located so as to be situated at or close to the edge of the substrate carried on the stage. Thus, with a substrate stage of an immersion-microlithography system, there are instances in which the upstream-facing surface (incidence surface) of an optical window for a sensor may be contacted, at least intermittently during exposure of a substrate or exchange of substrates, by the immersion liquid.
Use of water as an immersion fluid has revealed that contact of the immersion liquid with the incidence surface can have any of several undesirable consequences. For example, such contact can cause formation of bubbles in the body of water contacting the incidence surface, especially whenever the body of water and the window are experiencing relative motion. Also, such contact can result in formation of droplets of immersion water that remain behind on the incidence surface after the body of immersion water has passed over the window. In either event, bubbles or droplets usually interfere with the function of the sensor located downstream of the window. Additionally, droplets can also perturb the fluid body remaining in the nozzle assembly if the stage motion subsequently brings the droplets and fluid body together again, thereby producing further disruption of the fluid body. These problems with bubble and droplet formation tend to be more pronounced at higher stage velocities, which is unfortunate because higher material throughput from the microlithography system usually requires higher stage velocities.
To reduce adverse consequences of contact with immersion water, the incidence surface of a conventional optical window for a sensor associated with the substrate stage is usually flush (coplanar) with the upper surface of the substrate resting on the substrate stage. Also, the incidence surface is coated with a film of a "hydrophobic" ("water-hating") substance. A substance that is hydrophobic resists being wetted by water. Hence, droplets of water placed on the film tend to assume a "beaded" configuration rather than spreading out onto the film surface. The presence of a hydrophobic surface reduces the likelihood that the fluid body will be perturbed by motion over the surface, thereby leading to droplet formation. More generally, a water droplet placed on a hydrophobic film exhibits a "contact angle" (θ) with the film surface of greater than 90°. Conventionally used hydrophobic-film materials are polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE; a type of TEFLON®) and certain silane compounds such as fluoroalkylsilanes. These materials are normally applied to the incidence surfaces as very thin films to ensure that the films do not excessively block transmission of light through the window.
Although water currently is widely used as an immersion liquid in immersion microlithography, certain aspects of water are not entirely favorable. One aspect is its index of refraction. Desirably, the immersion fluid has an index of refraction that is equal to or greater than the index of refraction (approximately 1.6) of the objective element in the projection-optical system actually contacted by the fluid. Water has n=1.44, which has allowed its use as an immersion fluid for 193-nm immersion lithography at the 45-nm half-pitch node, but n=1.44 is inadequate for use in immersion lithography aimed at producing finer features (38-nm half-pitch node and below). Second, water tends to absorb into and partially dissolve resist applied to a substrate surface. As a water droplet on a resist surface evaporates, the bit of resist that had been dissolved in the droplet is left behind on the resist surface, usually at a different location than originally. This redeposited resist can significantly alter the topology of the resist surface and can cause problems with measurements (such as autofocus measurements) performed at the substrate surface. Third, water readily evaporates, which increases the concentration of water vapor in the vicinity of the substrate stage and of the various interferometers used for determining stage position. This change in vapor in the paths of the interferometer laser beams can introduce errors in measurements performed by the interferometers. Also, water vapor can damage delicate optical surfaces such as the reflective surfaces of mirrors used in the various interferometers.
Also, with conventional optical windows used in immersion microlithography systems in which water is used as the immersion fluid, the thin film of conventional hydrophobic substance applied to the incidence surface is easily damaged by high-intensity DUV exposure light and is not physically durable. Consequently, the thin film tends to have a short lifetime under actual-use conditions. Surfaces that are more durably "phobic" to the immersion liquid are needed.
In view of the limitations of water, new immersion liquids for immersion microlithography are currently being sought. The search is difficult because very few substances have the requisite high transparency to DUV light and a sufficiently high index of refraction to DUV light. High transparency is advantageous for several reasons, including maximizing the exposure light incident on the photoresist, minimizing photo-degradation of the fluid, and minimizing temperature increases of the fluid. Recent work has revealed promising results with certain saturated hydrocarbons, especially certain cyclic alkanes. For example, cyclohexane has an index of refraction of 1.55 at 193 nm, compared to approximately 1.44 for water. French et al., "Second Generation Fluids for 193 nm Immersion Lithography," Proceedings SPIE 6154:15, 2006. But, the new immersion liquids pose certain tradeoffs with respect to water. For example, compared to water the new liquids tend to be more viscous, have lower surface tension, and be more difficult to contain between the objective element and the substrate. They also tend to "wet" many surfaces more readily than water, resulting in a higher likelihood of droplets and films being left behind after passage of the liquid over a surface (such as of an optical window, which can interfere with sensor performance). Thus, the liquids pose new challenges with respect to making the incidence surfaces of optical windows sufficiently "phobic" to the liquids.

Incidence surfaces and optical windows that are solvophobic to immersion liquids


A modulating clutch for disposition and use in a motor vehicle drive train includes a disc pack clutch assembly and clutch actuator. The clutch actuator includes an assembly for generating compressive force which is applied to the clutch pack assembly and a preload member which partially engages the clutch pack to provide torque transfer up to a predetermined level without activation of the clutch actuator. Activation of the clutch actuator increases the torque transfer or throughput above the predetermined level. The differential of the present invention thus functions passively as a limited slip differential by allowing torques in excess of the predetermined torque level to slip each axle relative to the driveline input thereby provide a constant, minimum level torque coupling between the driveline and each axle. When the clutch actuator is energized, it may be utilized to control torque transfer at levels above the predetermined level between the input and output of the clutch mechanism. The modulating clutch of the present invention has application in vehicle differentials.

The invention relates generally to modulating clutches for motor vehicle drivelines and more specifically to a clutch having a biasing or preloading member which establishes a predetermined maximum torque throughput without activation of the clutch operator.
Controls systems and transfer cases having both electric and hydraulic modulating clutches have found broad application in adaptive vehicle drive systems. Such systems generally monitor the speeds of the front and rear drive shafts or compute such speeds by taking averages of individual readings of the two front and two rear wheels and, upon determining a speed difference between the drive shaft speeds or average speeds of the wheels, energize the modulating clutch according to a predetermined program to drive the speed difference and thus wheel slip back to zero.
Typically, such modulating clutches are physically disposed in a transfer case adjacent and driven by the output of the vehicle transmission and operably disposed between the primary and secondary drivelines. Systems exemplary of this configuration are disclosed in co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,407,024 granted Apr. 18, 1995 and 5,485,894 granted Jan. 23, 1996.
Typically, when such modulating clutches are inactive (during periods of equal drive shaft speed), they transfer either no torque from the primary driveline to the secondary driveline or a residual or minimal torque resulting merely from the internal drag of the clutch components. From a vehicle operational standpoint, such residual torque transfer is negligible and thus irrelevant. While such configurations provide exceptionally accurate torque modulation and thus prop shaft speed control when energized, they do have the drawback that until the clutch is activated or energized, substantially no torque transfer occurs. Stated somewhat differently, until or unless energy is expended to actuate the clutch, no torque transfer occurs. This is, of course, true whether the modulating clutch is disposed in a transfer case or a differential.
Given this operational rule, maintaining even a minimal, standby torque which maintains the secondary driveline components in a staged condition, that is, with all slack taken up, ready to transfer drive torque, can be accomplished only by the constant consumption of energy. In a clutch having an electromagnetic operator, this constant energization of the electromagnetic coil not only constantly consumes electrical energy but can also result in objectionable magnetization of driveline components and other proximate ferrous vehicle components which, while not deleterious, is preferably avoided.
From the foregoing, it is apparent that improvements relating to the art of modulating clutches specifically intended for use in the drivelines of motor vehicles addressing these drawbacks would be desirable.


Sufficient negative charge density may be present in the wet steam flowing through the exhaust hood of a steam power generating unit to cause intense electrical discharges which cause severe corrosion of exposed carbon steel members and generate turbulence, decreasing power output. The electric charge density is proportional to current from a charge probe exposed to the flowing steam to ground. Electric charge density can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of ammonia in the steam supply. A small positive charge density will eliminate corrosion and minimize turbulence related to electrical discharges, thereby increasing power generated. The amount of negative charge released can also be decreased by cladding the portions of the flow guides and other carbon steel members located near to the turbine exhaust with stainless steel, or with an appropriately chosen insulating composition. These improvements may be included in the design of a new power generating unit or provided by retrofitting an existing unit.

1. Background--Field of Invention
This invention provides methods to measure and control the release of electric charge in the turbine and exhaust hood of a steam power generating unit, whereby harmful electrical discharges that cause corrosion, induce turbulence and decrease power output may be decreased.
2. Background--Discussion of Prior Art
HUEBNER, U.S. Pat. No. 3,859,005 teaches that the size of water droplets in the wet steam flowing through the last stages of a turbine may be reduced and erosion within the turbine thereby decreased by applying an electric potential to stationary surfaces within the turbine and, optionally, also applying an electrical potential to the rotating turbine blades. HUEBNER makes no mention of naturally occurring electrostatic charge in the wet steam, and does not talk about the effects of electrostatic charge in the exhaust hood and condenser of the generating unit.
3. Background--Case Study of Harmful Electrostatic Effects
While we believe the explanations given here to be true, we do not wish to be bound by them. Terms and symbols are defined in the section "Background--Definition of Terms", below.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/589,420 TARELIN et al. reported measurements of electric charge density in the wet steam exiting a 50 MW turbine in an electric power plant in Ukraine (referred to as "Unit A" hereinafter) indicating a positive electric charge density in the wet steam .rho..sub.fg =+1mC m.sup.-3 =+1nC cm.sup.-3.
Similar measurements of electric charge density have been carried out in a modern 800 MW electric power generating unit in the United States (referred to as "Unit B" hereinafter). Both generating units were operating on "All Volatile Treatment", wherein ammonia was added to the feedwater. The pH values and chemical compositions of feedwater and moisture at Units A and B are further discussed in Example 2, below. The method of charge measurement employed is described in Example 1. The design of Unit B is described in Example 5.
Prior to November 1996, ammonia concentration of 800-1400 ppb was maintained in the feedwater of Unit B with feedwater pH in the interval 9.2-9.6, most commonly about 9.2. Since November 1996, the concentration of ammonia in the feedwater has been maintained at 70-90 ppb with feedwater pH in the interval 8.0-8.5. Oxygen has also been added to maintain 60-150 ppb oxygen in the feedwater.
During an outage in March 1997, large corroded areas were first observed on the condenser walls of Unit B in areas where the steam flows down along the walls, and most of the tubular braces inside the condenser of Unit B were severely corroded on their upper surfaces. The corroded surfaces were clean, shiny metal with an etched appearance and feel to it. The outer flow guides of the low pressure turbine were mostly covered with a thin layer of red iron oxide. Most surface analyses of the turbine buckets, nozzles, casings, and other turbine components exposed to steam flow indicated a surface layer consisting mostly of silicon dioxide with iron and other elements present in smaller amounts. The silica contamination is derived from silica carry-over in the steam and is commonly observed in many generating units.
The electric charge carried by water droplets in the turbine exhaust is produced by flow electrification (Loeb, 1958). If ammonia or another volatile base (for example, morpholine) is present in the steam, some of the base will dissolve in the condensate film that forms on the turbine blades and other surfaces within the turbine. If pH.sub.M >IEP (isoelectric point) of the oxide film upon the metal surface, the metal surface will release protons to the alkaline condensate. The surface of the metal will have a slight negative charge, which is matched by the positive charge of the diffuse double layer consisting of ammonium ions. Due to the dilute nature of the condensate, the diffuse positive charge extends some distance into the liquid phase (.kappa..sup.-1 in Table 1 represents this distance; charge density in the diffuse double layer decreases by a factor of e.sup.-1 =0.367879 . . . over a distance of .rho..sup.-1). When liquid drops are torn from the turbine blades by the rapidly flowing steam, the outer portion of the diffuse double layer is torn away with the drop. The drop thereby acquires a positive charge. High velocity flow of wet steam in contact with other metal surfaces (for example, the nozzles, turbine casing, flow guides, etc.) can also produce electrically charged water droplets. The extreme purity of the liquid water in the wet steam allows large charge separation to occur, because the ability of charge to return through the water to the surface of the metal is limited by the very small conductivity of the condensate.
A negative charge can also be released to the wet steam. The metal oxide-covered metal surfaces usually are amphoteric, and their acid-base properties are primarily determined by the value of IEP, which is different for different materials. Values of IEP for several metal oxides and minerals are summarized in Table 2. If pH.sub.M <IEP, the metal surface will have a positive net charge, the charge of the diffuse double layer will be negative, and the wet steam will acquire a negative charge. If pH.sub.M =IEP, the surface has no net charge, there is no diffuse double layer, and water droplets separated from the surface of the metal will have no electric charge.
A simple quantitative model of the charge release process is presented in Example 3. This model predicts charge densities of the magnitude actually observed at Unit A and Unit B. It predicts that the positive charge of the wet steam will increase with increasing pH.sub.M and pH.sub.FW, while the release of negative charge will decrease with increasing pH.sub.M and pH.sub.FW.
In Unit B, it was found that positive charge was released from the turbine; as predicted the amount of positive charge released increased with increasing pH.sub.M and pH.sub.FW (Example 4). Because silica has a very low IEP (Table 2), the presence of silica contamination on metal surfaces inside the turbine readily explains the large amount of positive charge coming out of the turbine at the higher pH values. Negative charge was released from the flow guides and other carbon steel members exposed to high velocity steam flow; as predicted, the amount of negative charge released decreased with increasing pH.sub.M and pH.sub.FW. At pH.sub.FW near to 9.3 the positive charge released from the turbine approximately equaled the negative charge released from the flow guides. Charge density values measured down in the condenser were relatively small, and both positive and negative values were recorded. At pH.sub.FW <9, negative charge predominated, and substantial negative charge densities were recorded in the upper part of the condenser. These measurements are described in Example 6.
The large negative charge that predominates in the condenser traverses at pH.sub.FW <9 is probably released by the flow guides and similar members, which are exposed to nearly the same flow velocities as the turbine blades, and have sharp downstream edges, which are conducive to good charge release. The flow guides are made of carbon steel and are covered with a red iron oxide; if the iron oxide present is hydrous Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 (that is, common rust) with IEP=8.6 (Table 1) the release of negative charge is to be expected, as pH.sub.M <IEP throughout the range of ammonia concentrations of interest (Table 1). Because the presence of oxygen in the steam would favor the formation of rust on carbon steel surfaces, oxygen may also be a factor in releasing the large amount of negative charge observed.
The maximum values of voltage measured on the traverse probes indicates a break-down electric field strength E.sub.bd =1.3 kV/cm=130 kV/m within the condenser (Example 7). The electric field strength calculated for four of the traverses exceed this value by a large margin, much larger than the likely error in all of the approximations that went into the calculation. It is obvious that electrical discharges are taking place at least in the region that extends from the turbine to the Perpendicular Traverse. At the very large electric field strengths indicated, arc discharges are to be expected, probably resembling little lightening bolts hitting the metal surfaces exposed to the flow. The presence of characteristic corrosion on the upper surfaces of virtually all support braces, even those just above the tube bundle and those down between the tube bundles suggests some degree of electrical discharge activity at all metal surfaces exposed to rapid steam flow.
The calculated charge densities at Unit B summarized in Table 3 are smaller than the +1mC m.sup.-3 measured at Unit A by a factor of ten or more. The steam leaving the turbine of Unit B is immediately deflected by the several flow guides and baffles, and then flows down the end walls and past the numerous support braces before it gets to the tube bundles. The space charges is rapidly dissipated by discharges to these grounded metal surfaces, as evidenced by the progressive decrease of total estimated current as the tube bundle is approached (Table 3).
At pH.sub.FW .gtoreq.9, immediately downstream of the turbine there exists a plume of positive charge released from the turbine surrounded by a zone of negative charge released from the outer flow guide. This zone contains intense electrical discharge activity and turbulence, and the opposite charges dissipate rapidly, consistent with the relatively small charge densities (both positive and negative) observed along the diagonal and perpendicular traverses further down in the condenser.
Release of the positive space charge from the turbine blades produces a moderate anodic polarization along the blade edges where the charged water droplets leave the edge of the blade. This anodic polarization may favor SCC on the trailing edges of the L-stage turbine blades if the current density is large enough. Release of negative space charge produces a moderate cathodic polarization where the charged droplets leave the edges of the flow guides. This moderate cathodic polarization may produce some degree of hydriding at the edges of the flow guides.
Discharges from zones of positive space charge to ground will produce small areas of large cathodic polarization and high current density which persist for a very short time in any one spot. These cathodic "strikes" are likely to be important on the turbine blades and portions of the flow guides at high pH, emanating from the positive charge in the wet steam coming out of the turbine. These discharges may cause hydriding or another form of metal damage associated with cathodic polarization concentrated near to the trailing edges. The damage to stainless steel is not likely to be large in this situation, but titanium alloy blades could be damaged severely.
Discharges of negative space charge to grounded surfaces will produce spots of large anodic cathodic polarization and high current density on the grounded metal surface. This mechanism is consistent with the severe metal wastage observed on the carbon steel braces and condenser walls at Unit B since pH.sub.FW was decreased in late 1996. Brass would likewise be severely damaged if exposed to these discharges; for example, brass condenser tubes. Cupronickel condenser tubes might also be damaged. On the other hand, stainless steel and titanium would be damaged little if at all.
The electric field strength is greatest adjacent to a grounded metal surface, and the dissipation of charge will be most rapid, as evidenced by the drop-off in charge density at small values of x in the traverses (FIGS. 6 and 7). With this charge distribution, electrostatic forces induce convection; parcels of fluid with high charge density located at some distance from the metal surface will move toward the surface, displacing parcels of fluid near to the surface which have low charge density. The amount of electrostatic energy dissipated as kinetic energy of turbulence may exceed the amount of energy dissipated through electrical discharge because electrical discharge preferentially removes charge from zones closer to the surface where the electric potential is relatively low, while turbulence removes charge from throughout the profile. This means that at pH.sub.FW <8 hundreds of kW will be dissipated by electrical discharge, and hundreds of kW as kinetic energy of turbulence. The turbulent motion created will predominantly be perpendicular to the solid surface, thereby favoring the rapid transport of momentum from the bulk fluid to the solid surface. Thus, frictional drag between flowing steam and the solid surface is increased, increasing pressure losses between the turbine and the tube bundles.
The large average velocity of steam leaving the turbine represents substantial kinetic energy (Table 3); turbulence in the steam contains additional kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of the turbulent flow feeds on the average flow, and may far exceed the electrostatic energy that initiates turbulence. The average flow velocity of the steam just above the tube bundle is largely recovered as static pressure as the flow impinges the tube bundle and condenses. The kinetic energy of turbulent flow perpendicular to the average flow will be recovered much less efficiently, if at all. The useless dissipation of most of the kinetic energy associated with turbulence comprises a large efficiency loss related to the electrostatic discharge.

Method for controlling electric charge within the exhaust hood and condenser of a steam turbine

Prospect Traktorbudivelnykiv 77, Apt. 286


Conventionally, there was no method for automatically selecting the layers to be overlaid, so when the number of layers to be overlaid was large, there was a problem that much time was required for selecting the layers. It is an object of the present invention to provide a defect image analysis method capable of specifying patterns and layers in which a defect occurs by overlaying defect images to be analysis targets and design layout data, and a defect image analysis system capable of improving the efficiency to select the layers from the design layout data. The present invention is characterized in dividing analysis target images for each hierarchy corresponding to a manufacturing process and generating a plurality of layers; calculating a degree of matching between each of the layer division images and each design layer of the design layout data; and specifying a design layer with a highest degree of matching of the each design layer as a design layer corresponding to the layer division image.

In the manufacturing process that forms fine patterns on a substrate such as a semiconductor and a liquid crystal, there is a change in a defect to be an analysis target along with the miniaturization of manufacturing patterns. Conventionally, a defect species, which is called as a random defect occurring from dusts and foreign particles, was a target to be analyzed in many cases. However, along with the introduction of an OPC (Optical Proximity Correction) technique, such a case that a systematic defect highly dependent on a layout of a design pattern should be a target to be analyzed has been increasing.
The systematic defect is the defect which occurs caused by specific patterns and layers or a combination of such patterns and layers, the systematic defect can be solved by changing design patterns and layouts, or by changing manufacturing conditions. Therefore, there has been an important problem in improvement of a yield ratio of the semiconductor manufacturing process that the patterns and layers or combinations of such patterns and layers having caused the systematic defect are efficiently specified.
As a technique for efficiently specifying the systematic defect, Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which defect coordinates and design layout data are overlaid (hereinafter, it will be referred to as "matching") to specify patterns and layers in which a defect occurs. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which a device pattern is extracted from an image where a semiconductor device is captured, and the extracted pattern and design layout data are overlaid to perform pattern measurements.

Defect analysis assistance device, program executed by defect analysis assistance device, and defect analysis system


A data storage apparatus comprises a tape cartridge having a cartridge memory which is configured to store data representing a distinctive identity of the memory and data representing a distinctive identity of the cartridge. The cartridge has a data storage tape storing WORM data in a succession of data sets. Each data set is recorded with data representing a respectively associated data set information table. The data set information table includes an identifying data structure including data representing the identity of the cartridge memory and the data representing the identity of the cartridge. The integrity of all the WORM data written at any point along the tape can be checked against tampering by reference to the data structure that is recorded with each WORM data set.

Tape cartridges in use today incorporate a magnetic tape having data tracks for recording a succession of units of information known as data sets. Each data set consists of a data region within which data is recorded and a data set information table that describes the content of the data region. Data to be recorded is sent to the cartridge by a tape drive and is recorded within the data regions. The data set information table for each data set has a multiplicity of fields each of which has a pre-allocated number of bytes of storage. The fields store records of information such as the data set number, the valid data length, the data set type, and the drive manufacturer identity.
Data written to the tape may be protected from being overwritten. Such data is protected by drive level processing that renders the tape as write-once-read many (WORM) protected. When trying to protect data written to tape in a WORM environment, safeguards are implemented to prevent the data from being overwritten, accidentally or intentionally.
Tape cartridges typically comprise a memory device such as a memory circuit which is mounted in the casing of the tape cartridge. Such a device is usually referred to as a "cartridge memory". The cartridge memory typically comprises a memory circuit module such as an EEPROM semiconductor memory chip and a transponder. The transponder is powered by and exchanges information with a reader/writer device via an inductively coupled interface. The cartridge memory can be used to store many types of information including usage information, cartridge manufacturer information and cartridge memory manufacturer information. The cartridge manufacturer information includes the cartridge type, a serial number of the cartridge and an identification of the manufacturer. The cartridge memory manufacturer information includes the serial number of the transponder, the type of transponder and the serial number of the cartridge memory.
The safeguards to prevent overwriting of WORM protected data include providing information in the cartridge memory to inform the drive that the cartridge is WORM protected. It may however be possible to tamper with the cartridge so that either information in the cartridge memory is altered or the cartridge memory is swapped for another such memory, thereby allowing the unauthorised overwriting of data that should be WORM protected.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,674,596 describes a tape drive unit that stores data in a magnetic tape cartridge incorporating a cartridge memory built into the cartridge. A cartridge serial number is stored in the cartridge memory and is written on the magnetic tape. When the cartridge is loaded into a tape drive, the serial numbers are compared and reading data from or writing data to the tape is inhibited if the cartridge serial number in the memory does not coincide with the cartridge serial number on the tape.

Data storage method and apparatus employing a tape cartridge having a cartridge memory

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A stored resource overlay system and method are presented. The method comprises: at a MFP, accepting a document, either in tangible form to be copied, or as an electronically formatted scan job; accessing a resource file stored in permanent storage; converting the resource file into an image; merging the image with the document; and, creating a merged document in an electronic format. The saved resource file may represent an image type such as a logo, background, signature, border, graphic, picture, or overlay for example. After accepting the document, it is converted to a rasterized data first image. Likewise, the image, converted from resource file in permanent storage, is supplied as a rasterized data second image. Then, merging the image with the document includes: adding the first image to the second image; and, generating a rasterized data third image. The resource file in permanent storage may be saved in a PDL format for example.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to digital document processing and, more particularly, to a system and method for using a multifunctional peripheral (MFP) device to merge an image overlay into an independent document.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional MFP and copiers do not provide a mechanism that permits a user to automatically add image resources, such as a logo or a background, to the document being copied. For example, if a user wishes to add the company logo to the document being copied, or add a border to the top of the document for identification purposes, the user begins with a copy of a document, takes the document to their desk, and manually applies the modifications to the document. For example, the user may cut-and-paste an overlay onto the document. Alternately, the user may take two separate documents to the printer, and arrange the two documents to create a single copy that includes sections of both of the original documents. Either of these processes is cumbersome and time consuming, wasting company time and resources.
As another alternative, the user can have paper prepared with the logo or border pre-printed on the sheets. However, this solution is expensive and can also be cumbersome. For example, if the user wishes to add the company logo to the document being copied, the user would have to manually place pages that have been pre-printed with the company logo into the appropriate input tray and configure the MFP to select the proper input tray for the copy job. If the paper is inserted into the wrong tray, or if the input tray is not properly configured for the copy job, the copy will not be correct, and the user will be forced to discard the output, and go through the process again.
It is known that a copier may scan an image and store the image as raster data. This raster data image may subsequently be accessed from a memory or a storage device, and combined with other copied documents. However, raster files are extremely large, meaning that only very small images, or a limited number of images can be saved. Alternately, an extremely large copier memory or storage device is required.
It would be advantageous if a process existed for using an MFP to conveniently merge an image, stored in the MFP, into an independent document.
It would be advantageous if the above-mentioned images could be stored in an efficient manner.

System and method for stored resource overlay


A method is provided for evaluating two or more instructions in an out of order issue queue during a particular cycle of the queue, to select an instruction for issue during the next following cycle. If an instruction was previously designated to issue during the particular cycle, one or more instructions in the queue are evaluated to determine if any of them are dependent on the designated instruction. For the evaluation, each instruction placed into the queue is accompanied by corresponding logic elements that provide destination to source compares for the instruction. In an embodiment comprising a method, the oldest ready instruction in the queue during a particular cycle is identified. When an instruction was previously designated to issue during the particular cycle, it is determined whether at least a first instruction in the queue complies with each condition in a set of conditions, the set including at least the conditions that the first instruction has a dependency on the designated instruction, and that the first instruction is older than the oldest ready instruction. The first instruction is selected for issue during the next following cycle only if the first instruction complies with each condition in the set.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention disclosed and claimed herein generally pertains to a method and apparatus for selecting dependent instructions in an out of order issue queue for issue out of the queue. More particularly, the invention pertains to a method of the above type that allows back to back issue of dependent instructions. Even more particularly, the invention pertains to a method of the above type that allows multiple instructions to be considered during a cycle of the queue, so that one of them can be selected for issue out of the queue during the very next cycle.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known by those of skill in the computer arts, instructions are placed in an issue queue during successive cycles, for sequential issue and execution. However, in an out of order issue queue, some of the instructions can be selected for issue ahead of older or earlier instructions. As is further well known, currently available out of order issue queues generally allow dependent instructions to issue no more frequently than every other cycle, and thus do not support back to back issue of dependent instructions. A dependent instruction is one that must wait for issue and execution of an earlier instruction, in order to ensure that essential data required by the dependent instruction will be available. Back to back issue refers to issue of instructions from the queue during each of two consecutive cycles of queue operation.
To illustrate an out of order issue queue of currently available design, the following code sequence may be considered:
1) Add 1,x,x,
2) Add x,1,x
The out of order issue queue of the current design will take three cycles to issue both of these instructions, following initial selection of instruction 1. The timing diagram for this queue, showing successive pipeline stages, is as follows:
cycle01231)add 1, x, xselectissue2)add x, 1, xcmpselectissue
Instruction 1 is selected to issue during cycle 0, and is actually issued during cycle 1. Also during cycle 1, all instructions in the issue queue resolve dependencies, through destination to source compares. From this effort, it is determined that a source register of instruction 2 matches the target destination register of instruction 1. Accordingly, the source of instruction 2 is set to ready, to indicate that data needed for instruction 2 will be available. In cycle 2 instruction 2 is selected for issue, and during cycle 3 instruction 2 issues.
To improve on the above current design, and to thereby avoid wasted cycle time, it would be beneficial to provide an out of order issue queue in which back to back issue of dependent instructions is allowed to occur. In particular, it would clearly be beneficial to have instruction 2 selected during cycle 1 rather than cycle 2, so that instruction 2 would issue during cycle 2 instead of during cycle 3. This would reduce the issue time by an entire cycle. However, while some solutions have previously been proposed to achieve back to back issue, such solutions have typically required substantial hardware. For example, some of the proposed solutions pre-calculate all the dependencies of an instruction as it is placed into an issue queue. This requires a large number of compares and latches, in order to hold the pre-calculated state.
It would thus be desirable to provide an out of order issue queue that supported back to back issue of dependent instructions, and at the same time required only minimal amounts of additional hardware.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for back to back issue of dependent instructions in an out of order issue queue

International Business Machines Corporation


A banner mount for hanging a banner between first and second surfaces is provided. The banner mount utilizes a single rope to couple a banner having a pair of support brackets to the first and second surfaces. Disposed on the first and second surfaces as well as coupled to the brackets are a set of pulleys which, when used in conjunction with the single rope, allow for a centered stable mounting of the banner.

A banner for displaying advertising or other information usually take the form of an elongated rectangular strip which is secured at its corners, to support poles utilizing cables. Such banners are usually displayed in an outdoor setting, and are subject to wind and other conditions of air turbulence. In order to secure the banners to the poles, individual cables are coupled to each corner of the rectangular banner. As seen FIG. 1, each individual cable is then fixedly coupled by tying to upper and lower locations of the pole. The position of these cables take a significant amount of time. Furthermore, it is often necessary to adjust the lengths of the cables to ensure that the banner is properly located between the support poles.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a banner mounting construction which will reduce the amount of time it takes to raise the banner between the poles. It is further an object of the present invention to provide a construction which will be durable and which will respond well to forces generated by strong winds and other turbulences.


A liquid ejecting head of the present invention has a nozzle plate including a nozzle substrate composed of a non-conductive material in which nozzle openings pass through the nozzle substrate and a conductive film formed to cover at least a part of the inner peripheral wall surface of the nozzle opening. The film forming area where the conductive film is formed includes the moving range of a meniscus moving on the inner peripheral wall surface of the nozzle opening in accordance with the ejection operation of liquid drops from the nozzle opening. According to the present invention, even if a non-conductive nozzle plate is used, a charge can be injected smoothly into liquid drops without causing problems of deterioration of the image quality due to electrophoresis and of defective ejection due to foreign substances and gas generated by electrolysis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid drop from a nozzle opening by changing a pressure of a liquid inside a pressure chamber interconnected to the nozzle opening, and a liquid ejecting apparatus having the liquid ejecting head.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a representative example of conventional liquid ejecting apparatuses, there is an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head for image recording. As other liquid ejecting apparatuses, for example, an apparatus having a coloring material ejecting head used to manufacture a color filter for a liquid crystal display, an apparatus having an electrode material (conductive paste) ejecting head used to form an electrode for an organic EL display or a face emission display (FED), an apparatus having a biological organic substance ejecting head used to manufacture biological chips, and an apparatus having a sample ejecting head as a precise pipette may be cited.
The ink jet recording apparatus, which is a representative example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, has been used in various types of printing including color printing in recent years since noise during printing is comparatively low and moreover small dots can be formed at a high density.
Such an ink jet recording apparatus generally includes an ink jet recording head moving back and forth in the width direction (head scanning direction) of a recording medium (a processed article) such as a recording form loaded on a carriage and a paper feed mechanism for moving the recording medium in the direction (feeding direction) perpendicular to the head scanning direction and additionally includes a platen arranged opposite to the recording head for supporting the recording medium fed by the paper feed mechanism from the rear thereof and defining the position of the recording medium for the recording head.
In this ink jet recording apparatus, printing is executed by ejecting ink drops from the recording head to the recording medium in correspondence to print data. And, the recording head loaded on the carriage is designed so as to eject ink of various colors, for example, black, yellow, cyan, and magenta, thus not only text printing by black ink but also full-color printing by changing the ejection rate of each ink can be executed.
When printing the overall surface of a recording medium without leaving blanks on the edges thereof (so-called four-side edge-free printing) using this ink jet recording apparatus, in consideration of an allowance for shifting of the recording medium and carriage, an area slightly wider than the size of the recording medium is printed.
Namely, to print the recording medium without leaving blanks on the left and right edges (the edges extending in the feeding direction) thereof, the scanning range of the recording head during printing can be set to positions shifted outside from the edges of the recording medium.
Furthermore, when printing the recording medium without leaving blanks on the front and rear edges (the edges extending in the head scanning direction) thereof, at start time of printing of the recording medium, up to an area shifted forward from the front edge of the recording medium is designated as an area to be printed and at end time of printing of the recording medium, up to an area shifted backward from the rear edge of the recording medium is designated as an area to be printed.
And, ink drops ejected toward the areas other than the recording medium are absorbed by an absorption member (sponge, etc.) arranged on the rear side of the recording medium opposite to the recording head.
As mentioned above, when printing the recording medium without leaving blanks on the edges thereof, ink drops are ejected into the areas shifted from the edges thereof in the longitudinal direction or transverse direction. Therefore, a problem arises that an ink mist moved on the rear side of the recording medium is stuck to the edges of the rear thereof, thus the recording medium is soiled. Particularly, a case of executing double-side printing on a recording medium and a case of printing a recording medium using both sides like a postal card cause a problem. Further, problems also arise that misted ink soils the inside of the apparatus, and an operation defect is caused by adhesion of an ink mist to the electrical circuit and linear scale, and an ink mist is accumulated on the ink cartridge, thereby soils the user's hands.
Further, generally, the feed mechanism for feeding a recording medium in the feeding direction has rollers arranged opposite to each other so as to hold and feed it. One of the rollers arranged opposite to each other is a drive roller having a structure of baking aluminum on the surface of a metallic roller to improve the frictional force and the other roller is a follower roller made of plastics.
And, generally, the recording medium, at the point of time when it is fed into the print area, is electrically charged by contact or separation between the rollers and the recording medium, rubbing with the next recording medium when feeding the recording medium from the auto sheet feeder, or contact with the structural member on the feed route of the recording medium. And, when the recording medium is electrically charged like this, an ink mist is easily stuck to the rear of the recording medium.
To solve those problems, for example, a method for generating an electric field between a nozzle plate and an absorption member so as to move ink drops up to the absorption member by the Coulomb force, thereby preventing them from misting is proposed. This method is required to generate an electric field so as to inject an electrical charge into ink drops. Conventionally, the nozzle plate is formed by a metallic member (conductive member), so that an electrical charge can be injected into ink via the contact surface between the nozzle plate and the ink. In the metallic nozzle plate, the nozzle openings are formed by pressing.
As a document disclosing the related art, for example, JP-A No. 2004-202867 may be referred to.
However, in order to realize a higher image quality and a higher speed of the ink jet recording apparatus, it is necessary to increase the density of a plurality of nozzle openings (nozzle density) formed on the recording head, thus it is difficult to form nozzles by pressing of a metallic plate.
As a method for forming nozzle openings at a high density, laser processing for a resin plate using, for example, excimer laser, photolithography using photosensitive resin, and dry etching for an Si substrate are known.
However, nozzle plates manufactured by these methods are all formed by a non-conductive member, so that it is impossible to inject an electrical charge into ink drops via a nozzle plate.
When ink in the recording head is not electrically conducted to the ground (Gnd) (or to the power source), ink drops can be electrically charged initially by dielectric polarization. However, the ink in the recording head is gradually charged and becomes equal to the potential on the absorption member side, thus no potential difference is generated so that the effect cannot be continued.
Further, when the electrode for injecting an electrical charge into ink is installed in the ink flow path of the recording head, an electric field is generated in the ink in the recording head. Therefore, there are worries that electrophoresis occurs in the ink in the recording head, thus the image quality is deteriorated due to irregularities in the coloring material density in the recording head or electrolysis occurs in aqueous ink, and foreign substances and gas are generated, thus defective ejection is caused.
Further, there is a nozzle plate formed by electroforming using Ni, etc. A problem arises that electroforming is not productive and is expensive.
Further, conventionally, for the flow path substrate in which the pressure chambers interconnected to the nozzle openings and the flow path for feeding ink to the pressure chambers are formed, a Si single-crystal substrate is used in order to form a precise flow path at a high aspect ratio. When the recording head becomes longer in correspondence with an increase in the printing speed of the ink jet recording apparatus, if the flow path substrate and nozzle plate are formed by materials different in the coefficient of linear expansion, it is difficult to ensure the reliability of the head with respect to change in the temperature environment.
Also from this viewpoint, in place of the conventional metallic nozzle plate, it is preferable to use a nozzle plate of the same material as that of the flow path substrate. In this case, the nozzle plate is non-conductive so that the aforementioned problem arises with respect to the injection of an electrical charge into ink drops.

Liquid ejecting head with nozzle opening and liquid ejecting apparatus including same


The present invention provides a method for upgrading embedded configuration databases while a network device is operating and with minimal disruption to network device operation. While a network device is operating and using an embedded primary configuration database, an embedded backup configuration database stops performing as a backup database and is upgraded. The upgraded configuration database is then switched over to become the primary configuration database. The original primary configuration database may immediately become the backup configuration database, or the original primary configuration database may remain unchanged until the upgrade is committed. If the upgrade is not committed, for example, due to errors, then the original primary configuration database may be quickly switched over to again become the primary configuration database. As a result, embedded configuration databases may be upgraded while a network device is operating and with minimal disruption to network device operation.

In general, element management systems (EMS) are designed to configure and manage a particular type of network device (e.g., switch, router, hybrid switch-router), and network management systems (NMSs) are used to configure and manage multiple heterogeneous and/or homogeneous network devices. Both an NMS and an EMS may interpret data gathered by programs running on a network device relevant to network configuration, security, accounting, statistics, and fault logging and present the interpretation of this data to a network administrator. To configure and manage a network device, therefore, the EMS and/or NMS must be synchronized with all programs running on each network device. That is, the EMS and/or NMS and all programs running on the network device must use the same data in the same way and must perform in expected ways. Hereinafter, the term "NMS" is used for both element and network management systems.
The most common approach to represent network attributes and configuration data within an NMS is to use the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and Management Information Bases (MIBs). One of the inherent shortcomings of SNMP and MIBs is the inability to represent all necessary relationships between tables and attributes. MIBs provide a straightforward way to define tables with attributes but offer an inadequate solution for representing relationships between tables or attributes within tables. Since networking builds off many complex hierarchical models, relationships are fundamental to designing and building networking software. To accommodate this SNMP shortcoming, relationships are often hard-coded within the network device and NMS programs. This makes it very difficult to understand the actual ramifications of subsequent enhancements to the software. Often, relationships are "discovered" during implementation; sometimes these discoveries limit or invalidate the actual implementation.
Moreover, the hard-coded relationships (i.e., integration interfaces) may be disbursed through out the programs at non-standardized, de-centralized locations. If a program executing on a network device (i.e., embedded program) or the NMS is modified to fix a problem or upgraded to add a new feature, integration interfaces in multiple other programs typically also need to be changed. For example, an integration interface may require new parameters and/or additional or different shared data. These interdependencies must be manually modified to address the changes and ensure that the programs and NMS continue to work together properly.
Complex implementations of distributed system software have many integration interfaces that must be properly synchronized in order for the system to work properly, and manual synchronization of integration interfaces is extremely error-prone. If one or more interdependency is not completely addressed, errors may occur and/or the network device may crash. Moreover, some time may pass before the integration interface mis-match causes a problem making error diagnosis more difficult. Often a network device crash may bring down an entire network. More concerning is the fact that many interdependencies go undocumented by the programmers, and because the interdependencies are de-centralized, synchronization of all integration interfaces is difficult if not impossible, especially given the size and complexity of today's networks. In addition, over time, as programmers come and go, interdependency tracking becomes even more difficult.
The difficulties attendant to synchronizing all integration interfaces in a complex networking environment result in considerable development time to get a program and/or an NMS program ready for release, and even extensive testing may not detect all errors. Consequently, initial release of these programs as well as future modifications and upgrades are delayed while the programs are repeatedly modified and retested. New software releases to customers are often limited to a few times a year at best. In some cases, only a single release per year is feasible. Moreover, these interdependencies often prevent modular releases of one program since many or all programs may need to be modified to reflect a change in the one program and simultaneously released.
Unfortunately, limiting the number of software releases also delays the release of new hardware. New hardware modules, usually ready to ship between major software releases, cannot be shipped more than a few times a year since the release of the hardware must be coordinated with the release of the new software designed to run the new hardware.
Aside from program interdependencies, the network device programs and NMS program also have data dependencies. A classic problem with most network management systems is lack of data synchronization between the NMS and the actual network device. Typically a network device's embedded software and NMS have independent views of the configuration data, and generate considerable network traffic to keep these views "approximately" synchronized. Data synchronization issues can result in service outage, the need to re-provision "lost" configuration data, and worst yet entire network outages. For example, in current systems, the NMS stores configuration data in an NMS repository. The NMS then uses SNMP to issue a series of "sets" to the network device. Errors may occur during these multiple sets such that the data used by the NMS in the NMS repository is different from the data used by the programs executing on the network device. For example, errors may occur during the multiple SNMP "sets". In addition, because SNMP typically runs over UDP (an unreliable protocol), an attribute may or may not be "set" during a series of sets since any "set" may or may not get to the designated network device.
In addition, network devices typically have console interfaces, and network administrators may change the run time data by changing the device configuration directly through the console using command line interface (CLI) commands. Until the new configuration data is accurately and quickly sent to the NMS and stored in the NMS repository, the NMS and the programs running on the network device will use different data, which may result in errors. Synchronization with CLI changes is often the responsibility of the NMS which must re-read large portions of information to ensure that it is properly synchronized. Further CLI changes may be made during this time, and again, the synchronization procedure can become out of date, leaving the NMS data out-of-sync even after it performs its synchronization procedure.
More troublesome, is the situation where the NMS periodically synchronizes the NMS data with the data used by the network device by overwriting the data used in by the network device with the NMS data from the NMS repository. If the repository was not updated with the changes made by the network administrator, then the changes will be lost. This may cause errors, may cause customers to lose service if provisioning records are lost, and/or may cause a network device crash or network crash.

Method for upgrading embedded configuration databases


A system and method for controlling a cigarette tipping paper perforation process includes supplying the paper in the form of a flexible web from a supply spindle that is mounted for powered angular rotation to a take-up spindle that receives a portion of the flexible web, and the take-up spindle also being mounted for powered angular rotation. A laser beam generator provides at least one laser beam through a series of optics that can include a laser beam expander or contractor, a rotating multi-faceted mirror, collimating lenses and downstream focusing lenses that focus the plurality of laser output beams received from the rotating multi-faceted mirror to burn a plurality of holes in the flexible web of cigarette paper. A control device controls the angular rotation of the supply spindle, the angular rotation of the take-up spindle, tension of the web, laser power and rotation of the multi-faceted mirror.

During cigarette manufacturing, long rolls of paper provided on spools or bobbins are used and processed to form the cigarettes. The cigarettes use substantial amounts of the paper as a wrapper, to enclose filter tow material as filters, and to tip filters onto columns of wrapped tobacco. The various manufacturing functions that are performed to the paper can include perforation, either mechanically or by thermal energy transfer (e.g. focused laser energy), printing, embossing, slitting, or other comparable functions on the paper or other flexible webs of material. The following patents are directed to various aspects of these manufacturing functions, and are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,226,527; 3,965,327; 4,121,595; 4,265,254; 4,404,454; 5,210,390; 5,259,401; 5,341,824; and 5,367,144.
In performing manufacturing functions such as perforation of the paper used in making the cigarettes, the rolls of paper are generally unwound from bobbins or spindles of the paper, the perforation process is performed upon the paper, and a new bobbin or spindle is formed by winding the processed paper on a new, hollow bobbin core. The paper is unwound from one bobbin, processed by undergoing various operations such as perforation, and then rewound onto another bobbin at very high rates of speed. The very high rates of speed at which paper is processed, up to 1525 meters per minute or 5000 feet per minute during these manufacturing operations, requires the use of high speed analog and digital controls that can synchronize the movement of the paper with operations such as laser perforation that are being performed on the moving paper. U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,278, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a method and apparatus for reducing the amount of waste that can result during the startup of a web of paper in high-speed manufacturing processes which involve laser perforation or other processes.

High speed laser perforation of cigarette tipping paper


A fractionable polydisperse stable double oil-in-water emulsion, having 50 to 95 wt. % relative to the total weight of the double emulsion, droplets of an invert monodisperse emulsion Ei dispersed in a continuous aqueous phase. The continuous aqueous phase includes a polysaccharide thickening agent in a proportion of 1 to 10 wt. % relative to the total weight of the continuous aqueous phase, a water-soluble ethylene oxide and propylene oxide block copolymer as surfactant, and an osmotic pressure balancing agent. The emulsion Ei has a viscosity not higher than the viscosity of the continuous aqueous phase and has 50 to 95 wt. %, relative to the total weight of Ei, droplets of an internal aqueous phase dispersed in an oily phase. The internal aqueous phase includes an active hydrophilic substance and the oily phase includes poly glycerol polyricinoleate as surfactant.

The invention concerns a monodisperse stable double emulsion of the water-in-oil-in-water type, its method of preparation and the polydisperse stable double emulsion used as a starting emulsion in the preparation method.
The advantage of double emulsions is widely recognised in fields as diverse as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pest and disease control, food and/or coatings of the paint type.
The double emulsions of the water-in-oil-in-water type allow in particular the encapsulation of various active substances at the internal aqueous phase. Under well determined conditions, it is in fact possible to cause the salting out of the encapsulated active substances whilst controlling their release kinetics.
The preparation of stable double emulsions of the water-in-oil-in-water type comprising an active substance in their internal aqueous phase is problematic. The development of such emulsions is generally achieved by trial and error on the basis of empirical rules according to the constituents present in the different phases. In the art, monodisperse double emulsions are particularly sought because of their homogeneity: in particular they allow a regular salting out of the active materials.
Various methods of preparing monodisperse emulsions are known: a first method is that described in EP 442 831 and EP 517 987.
This method involves the fractionation of a starting polydisperse primary emulsion, by successive creamings. It is lengthy and tedious and not easily applicable on an industrial scale. A second method is described in FR 97 00 690 or in International Application WO 97/38787. It consists of subjecting a starting viscoelastic primary emulsion to a controlled shearing so that the same maximum shearing is applied to all the emulsion. This method has various advantages and in particular allows control over the size of the droplets of the monodisperse emulsion obtained.
When one or other of these methods is applied to a double emulsion, it is essential not to introduce the destruction of the double emulsion by causing for example the coalescence of the droplets forming the emulsion or the premature leakage of the active principle.
Under these circumstances, it will be understood that the development of a double emulsion of the water-in-oil-in-water type which is both stable and fractionatable is extremely tricky. It must be understood that, in the context of the invention, fractionatable emulsion means an emulsion which it is possible to process according to the methods described above with a view to obtaining an emulsion, of the same nature (of the water-in-oil-in-water type), with the same formulation (same compositions of the different phases), and which is both stable and monodisperse.

Polydisperse double emulsion, corresponding monodisperse double emulsion and method for preparing the monodisperse emulsion

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (C.N.R.S.)