The present invention is an air bearing slider comprising a transducer for communicating with a disc; a composite slider body with a front portion composed of a first material and a rear portion composed of a second material; an air bearing surface defined on a disc opposing face of the composite slider body, where the air bearing surface comprises the front portion and the rear portion; and a transducer basecoat portion attached to the rear portion of the slider body and containing the transducer. During flight, the mechanical close point of the slider body is at the transducer pole tip.

The present invention relates to an air bearing slider for use in a data storage device such as a disc drive. More particularly it relates to an air bearing slider capable of operating at ultra-low flying heights.
Air bearing sliders have been extensively used in magnetic disc drives to appropriately position a transducing head above a rotating disc. In a disc drive, each transducer "flies" just a few nanometers above a rotating disc surface. The transducer is mounted in a slider assembly which has a contoured surface. An air bearing force is produced by pressurization of the air as it flows between the disc and slider and is a consequence of the slider contour and relative motion of the two surfaces. The air force prevents unintentional contact between the transducer and the disc. The air bearing also provides a very narrow clearance between the slider transducer and the rotating disc. This allows a high density of magnetic data to be transferred and reduces wear and damage.
In most high capacity storage applications, when the disc is at rest, the air bearing slider is in contact with the disc. During operation, the disc rotates at high speeds, which generates a wind of air immediately adjacent to the flat surface of the disc. This wind acts upon a lower air bearing surface of the slider and generates a lift force directing the slider away from the disc and against a load beam causing the slider to fly at an ultra-low height above the disc.
In negative pressure sliders, the wind also acts upon a portion of the air bearing surface of the slider to generate a suction force. The suction force counteracts the lift force by pulling the slider back toward the surface of the disc. A slider is typically mounted on a gimbal and load beam assembly which biases the slider toward the rotating disc, providing a pre-load force opposite to the lift force acting on the air bearing surface of the slider. For the slider to maintain the ultra-low flying height above the surface of the disc, the lift force must be balanced with the pre-load and suction forces.
As disc storage systems are designed for greater and greater storage capacities, the density of concentric data tracks on discs is increasing (that is, the size of data tracks and radial spacing between data tracks is decreasing), requiring that the air bearing gap between the transducing head carried by the slider and the rotating disc be reduced. One aspect of achieving higher data storage densities in discs is operating the air bearing slider at ultra-low flying heights.
However, shrinking the air bearing gap and operating the slider at ultra-low flying heights has become a source of intermittent contact between the transducing head and the disc. Furthermore, when a disc drive is subjected to a mechanical shock of sufficient amplitude, the slider may overcome the biasing pre-load force of the load beam assembly and further lift away from or off the disc. Damage to the disc may occur when the slider returns to the disc and impacts the disc under the biasing force of the load beam. Such contact can result in catastrophic head-disc interface failure. Damage to the disc may include lost or corrupted data or, in a fatal disc crash, render the disc drive inoperable. Contact resulting in catastrophic failure is more likely to occur in ultra-low flying height systems. Additionally, intermittent contact induces vibrations detrimental to the reading and writing capabilities of the transducing head.
For the disc drive to function properly, the slider must maintain the proper fly height and provide adequate contact stiffness to assure that the slider does not contact the disc during operation. Also, the air bearing slider must have enhanced take-off performance at start up to limit contact between the slider and the disc. Such contact would cause damage to the slider during take-off and landing of the slider.
Air bearing sliders typically possess three primary degrees of movement, which are vertical motion, pitch, and roll rotation. The movement is relative to the gimbal and load beam associated with three applied forces upon the slider defined as pre-load, suction, and lift force. Steady state fly attitude for the slider is achieved when the three applied forces balance each other. A typical air bearing slider has a taper or step at its leading edge to provide for fast pressure buildup during takeoff of the slider from a resting position to a flying altitude above the disc. Air bearing sliders have a trailing edge at which thin film transducers are deposited. Typically, the air bearing surface includes longitudinal rails or pads extending from the leading edge taper toward the trailing edge. The rail design determines the pressure generated by the slider. The pressure distribution underneath the slider determines the flying characteristics, including flying height and pitch and roll of the slider relative to a rotating magnetic disc. Other characteristics that are affected by the configuration of the air bearing surface of a slider are takeoff velocity, air bearing stiffness, and track seek performance.
Flying height is one of the most critical parameters of magnetic recording. As the average flying height of the slider decreases, the transducer achieves greater resolution between the individual data bit locations on the disc. Therefore, it is desirable to have the transducers fly as close to the disc as possible.
In a conventional air bearing slider, the slider body is formed from a substrate wafer of conductive ceramic material. On this substrate, a thin film of insulating material is deposited, and a metallic transducer is built therein, by a process such as sputtering. The transducer, which typically includes a writer portion for storing magnetically-encoded information on a magnetic media and a reader portion for retrieving that magnetically-encoded information from the magnetic media, is formed of multiple layers successively stacked upon the substrate. The volume of the transducer is typically much smaller than the volume of the substrate.
The wafer with transducers formed thereon is then cut into bars, and a cut edge of each bar is lapped to form an air bearing surface. The layers of the transducer, which include both metallic and insulating layers, all have different mechanical and chemical properties than the substrate. These differences in properties affect several aspects of the transducer. First, the different materials of the slider will be lapped at different rates. Because of the difference in hardness or lapping durability of the wafer substrate material, the thin film insulating material, and the transducers, the lapping operation results in differential recession of the materials at the air bearing surface.
Thus, when an air bearing surface of a slider is lapped during its fabrication, differing amounts of the different materials will be removed—resulting in the slider having a uneven air bearing surface. The recession of a particular component is defined as the distance between the air bearing surface of the ceramic substrate and the air bearing surface of that component. Commonly, a greater amount of the metallic layers of the transducer will be removed during the lapping process than will be removed from the slider body substrate. Thus, this lapping process results in a Pole Tip Recession (PTR) of the metallic layers of the transducer with respect to the slider body substrate.
Additionally, the insulating material will often recede at an even greater rate than the transducer, leading to material recession that results in a discernable offset at the interface of the insulating material and the slider body substrate material. The offset prevents the transducer from flying as close to the surface to the magnetic disc as would otherwise be possible.
Further, the differing mechanical and chemical properties of the substrate and transducer layers further affect the air bearing surface during operation of the transducing head. As the magnetic data storage and retrieval system is operated, the transducing head is subjected to increasing temperatures within the magnetic data storage and retrieval system. In addition, a temperature of the transducing head itself, or a part thereof, may be significantly higher than the temperature within the magnetic data storage and retrieval system due to heat dissipation caused by electrical currents in the transducer.
The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is a measure of the change in length for a unit length of material for an incremental change in temperature. The CTE of materials used in forming the substrate is typically much smaller than the CTE of materials used in forming the metallic layers of the transducer. Due to the larger CTE of the transducer's metallic layers, those layers will tend to expand a greater amount than will the substrate. Thus, when the transducing head is subjected to higher operating temperatures, the metallic layers tend to protrude closer to the magnetic disc than the substrate; thereby affecting the PTR of the transducer. This change in PTR caused by temperature is referred to as the Thermal PTR (T-PTR).
During operation of the magnetic data storage and retrieval system, the transducing head is positioned in close proximity to the magnetic media. A distance between the transducer and the media is preferably small enough to allow for writing to and reading from a magnetic medium having a large a real density, and great enough to prevent contact between the magnetic media and the transducer. Performance of the transducer depends primarily on this distance.
Thus, a need exists for an air bearing slider design which achieves a constant, ultra-low transducer flying height, despite the obstacles of differential mechanical and thermal recession. This should be accomplished while minimizing the chance of contact between the transducer and the magnetic disc surface.

Extended alumina basecoat advanced air bearing slider


A moulded container with a detachable hinged cover, and a method of applying the cover into hinging engagement with the remainder of said container.

There are a large number of U.S. patents covering details of the familiar folding egg carton, which embodies the concept of the subject container, but in which the cover is hinged along a fold line integrally moulded between the cover and the tray.
It is the object of this invention to create a container which avoids the requirement for a moulded fold line connecting the cover and the tray together. By eliminating also the traditional hinged locking flap according to the teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,908 awarded to Emery in 1986, the selection of the raw materials for manufacture of the container is not limited by the requirement for foldability at a hinge line. In accordance with this invention, the cover and tray may be separately manufactured and thereafter joined. This allows the moulding and printing of said cover, and the moulding and filling of the tray while said cover and said tray are still separated. The use of a container modified in this way is made practical by the provision, on line in the filling operation, of a simple and precise mechanism for fitting and closing the cover on the tray.

Hinged container with separately moulded cover and tray


A device and method for implementing a hybrid drive mechanism, which stands out by a very low construction expenditure, a small need of installation space, low cost of parts and a simple and effective maneuverability. Particularly, the start and stop of the internal combustion engine should stand out by simplicity and reliability. By a development of a one clutch, hybrid drive mechanism or without an additional second clutch, the needed installation space and costs can be minimized and by control, the expenditure for and the complexity of the control or regulation of a hybrid drive mechanism are considerably reduced. An electric machine (4) is disposed between a single clutch (2) situated between the internal combustion engine and a mechanical transmission (5) so that the electric machine can transmit a positive or negative torque directly to a transmission input shaft of the mechanical transmission.

Because of the low particulate emissions on the vehicle side and of the low need of fuels, so-called hybrid drive mechanisms have become increasingly important in automobile construction. They contain, at least one additional electric machine as an added drive mechanism, together with a conventional internal combustion engine which is based on a piston motor with internal combustion.
It is optionally customary to operate both drive mechanisms separately and, in the case of low speeds when traveling at constant speed or at low acceleration, to exclusively use the electric machine as a drive mechanism while the internal combustion engine either runs along in idle drive or load free or is separated from the drive train and disengaged. Conversely, the internal combustion engine serves as a prime mover when driving with great need of power while the electric machine is uncoupled, runs along free of load or works as a generator.
It is further known that by simultaneous operation of both motors in the so-called boost operation, to achieve a specially high momentary driving power, the same as to use the electric machine in delay operations of the vehicle for so-called recuperation and thus recover motion energy of the vehicle in the form of electric energy.
Against these advantages of the hybrid drive mechanisms, however, stand a considerable constructional expense and often a considerable expenditure in regulation technology.
Very attractive solutions of the linkage of an internal combustion engine and an electric machine in a drive train of a vehicle result from the laid-open publications DE 199 34 696 A1 and DE 101 52 471 A1. In both cases, a planetary transmission is used as a summarizing transmission in order to couple an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, on one hand, and an input shaft of a mechanical transmission with another on the other. Planetary transmissions stand out by small construction volume and weight in relation to the transmissible outputs. By relatively simple modifications, it is optionally possible to decelerate the sun gear, the planetary gears or the ring gear and multiple possibilities of torque conversion and torque control are implemented. Such a solution, of course, associated with considerable added costs for the planetary transmission and other additional elements as clutches and brakes. Lastly, a planetary transmission requires additional installation space which considerably complicates the transmission on already existing drafts of drive mechanisms.
A simpler known version of a hybrid drive mechanism is more strongly supported on a conventional layout of a drive train and, therefore, aids better assembly and conversion of existing drive drafts. For this, a conventional drive train—consisting of an internal combustion engine, a mechanical transmission and therebetween a first clutch—is only separated in the area between the internal combustion engine and the first clutch and one electric machine is inserted, the same as a second clutch between the electric machine and the mechanical transmission.
Such a construction makes a purely electromotive start possible when the second clutch is closed and the first clutch open. The internal combustion engine can then be started while the first clutch, between an electric machine and internal combustion engine is closed. The second clutch between electric machine and transmission can be at least partly open to reduce reactions on the moving behavior of the vehicle, due to rotation uniformities, during start of the internal combustion engine.
This known solution, however, stands out by a relatively expensive regulation technology for control of both clutches according to a multiplicity of factors to be taken into account and, lastly by the need of providing a second clutch between the internal combustion engine and the transmission. This, together with the expenses associated therewith, also relative to the existing installation space, is critical in particular, since the added clutch must be capable of transmitting at least the whole power of the internal combustion engine and, due to the insertion of the second clutch, there necessarily results one other shaft to be independently supported in the area of the electric machine.
With this background, the problem on which the invention is based is to introduce a device for implementing a hybrid drive mechanism which stands out by a very small construction expenditure, a small need of installation space, low cost of parts and a simple and effective maneuverability. The invention is also based on the problem of introducing a method for control or regulation of such a device, especially for the start and stop of the internal combustion engine preferably to be carried out automatically, which stands out by simplicity and reliability.

Hybrid drive mechanism and method for operation thereof


The re-transmission of transmission units (TUs) received in a communication device over a communication link is controlled to improve the information carrying capacity of the link. A received TU has an associated service characteristic indicative of a quality of service (QOS) for the TU. The service characteristic is associated with a select set of key performance indicators (KPIs), such as measures of packet error, packet delay, packet delay variation, and/or packet loss experienced by TUs on the communication link. Upon receipt of a TU, the performance of the communication link is evaluated with respect to each KPI in the select set to obtain a corresponding measurement value, and the measurement values are compared to corresponding threshold values. Upon determining that a determined performance value does not satisfy a corresponding threshold value for a KPI in the select set, re-transmission of the TU is requested.

Communications over wired and wireless links are subject to degradation as a result of electromagnetic interference, changes to propagation characteristics of the transmission media, transmission losses, and synchronization errors. Packets transmitted from one device therefore commonly contain errors upon receipt at their intended destination, and/or fail to be received at the destination.
A number of network protocols have been designed in order to minimize the loss of data during transmission. For example, networks conforming to Long Term Evolution (LTE) protocols use a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) error-control method to maximize information throughput. HARQ methods use a combination of error correction coding and repeat requests to provide almost lossless communication links. In particular, HARQ maximizes the possibility of errorless delivery of data packets over the air interface by repeating the packets that are received with errors.
Different applications have different requirements for the data received over wired and wireless communication links. For example, real-time voice or video communication applications can maintain conversational audio/video quality without requiring lossless or errorless delivery of audio/video packets. However, the real-time voice or video communication applications may be sensitive to delay. Such applications may therefore not require repetition of all lost or erroneous audio packets, and repetition of such packets may cause inefficient use of an LTE communication link. In contrast, file transfer applications are generally sensitive to packet loss but insensitive to delay. Such applications may therefore rely on repetition of all lost or erroneous audio packets to ensure lossless reception of all packets across the LTE communication link.
In order to make efficient use of communication links and improve the information carrying capacity of such links, systems and methods are therefore needed to control the re-transmission of packets based on characteristics of the transmitted information.

System and method for improving information carrying capacity by controlling re-transmissions


An optical assembly includes a first tubular member having a pitched bearing surface proximate one end; a second tubular member having a pitched bearing surface proximate one end; a coupling tubular member fixedly coupled to the second tubular member and rotatably and slideably coupled to the first tubular member; and an optical element received in at least one of the first, the second or the coupling tubular members. At least a portion of the pitched bearing surface of the first tubular member is in engaging contact with at least a portion of the pitched bearing surface of the second tubular member. Rotating the first tubular member with respect to the second tubular member smoothly varies a distance between the first and second tubular members and allows a large, smooth adjustment with little effort. Rotation in a single direction returns the distances to an initial starting point.

1. Field of the Invention
The method, apparatuses, and articles described herein generally relate to optical devices, and may, for example, be useful in automatic data collection devices such as optical readers of machine-readable symbols.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, the most prevalent method of adjusting an optical device appears to employ threaded screws. However, adjusting an optical device through use of a screw has a number of disadvantages.
For example, the amount of time and effort required to make an adjustment is disproportionately high relative to the amount of adjustment actually provided. Numerous repeated rotations of the screw are often necessary to achieve the desired adjustment. For example, movement of a lens from one end of the adjustment range to the other end of the adjustment range may take ten rotations of the screw. If, at that point, the user desires to move the lens back to its initial position, the user must rotate the screw ten more times in the opposite direction. In some situations, due to either space constraints or user limitations, it may be difficult to affect both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation with comparative ease. And if the user rotates the screw too far in one direction while the lens is near either end of the adjustment range, the optical device loses the smooth ability to focus.
Furthermore, a screw is typically offset from the optical axis. Such an arrangement may cause misalignment or unequal forces in the carriage mechanism, and/or may require adjustment of multiple screws.
Optical assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same, which address at least some of the aforementioned problems, would be desirable.

Method, apparatus, and article for adjusting optical device


A light string is provided. The light string includes a plurality of light-emitting components, a first polyvinyl chloride covered wire and a second polyvinyl chloride covered wire. The light-emitting components are configured to emit light having a same color or different colors. A first polyvinyl chloride covered wire is electrically connected to a first terminal of each of the light-emitting components and a first power terminal of a power supply component. The first polyvinyl chloride covered wire receives a first voltage from the first power terminal of the power supply component. The second polyvinyl chloride covered wire is electrically connected to a second terminal of each of the light-emitting components and a second power terminal of the power supply component. The second polyvinyl chloride covered wire receives a second voltage from the second power terminal of the power supply component.

String lighting sets have long been used throughout the world on a commercial basis to provide illumination in car lots, etc. or for enhancing trees or the like at night. Such string lights are also used worldwide on Christmas trees and as decorative lighting on houses and in businesses for festive periods and advertising.


Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method, which can comprise automatically generating a trouble ticket responsive to a determined failure of one or more elements of a management Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC). The management PVC can be established between a signaling device and a device communicatively coupled to a backbone network.

United States Patent Publication No. 20060067237 (Burns), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, allegedly discloses a "novel method and system for testing network connections is provided. In an embodiment, the system includes a network, such as the Internet, which is connected to subscriber devices in a subscriber site via an service provider, a gateway in a telephone company central office, and a DSLAM in an open plant interface. The system also includes a test apparatus operable to inject itself in the connection between the subscriber devices and the Internet at the gateway. The test apparatus can mimic the service provider and, thereby connect directly with the device at the subscriber site and try to test network connections for issue between the service provider and the device. The test apparatus can also mimic the customer and, thereby connect directly with the device and the test network connections between the service provider and the device." See Abstract.
United States Patent Publication No. 20040117475 (Taylor), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, allegedly discloses, "[s]ystems and methods for obtaining logical layer information in a frame relay and/or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network are described. In an exemplary embodiment, a physical layer test system, such as an integrated testing and analysis system, communicates with a broadband network management system, which in turn communicates with an element management system for a frame relay and/or ATM network." See Abstract.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,133,367 (Powers), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, allegedly discloses the "present invention relates to a method and apparatus for testing components in ATM networks utilizing loop-back based ATM layer testing. The method and apparatus utilize interfaces and identifier codes to send and loop-back test cells along portions of virtual channels to test the virtual channels." See Abstract.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,459 (Chuah), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, allegedly discloses the "present invention provides system and method of identifying a failure location in any datapath in a set of datapaths in a communication element, each datapath of the set of datapaths traversing from an ingress point through at least a first component to an egress point. In an embodiment, the method comprises: providing a diagnostic cell adapted to be inserted at a starting point upstream of the first component in the any datapath; providing at least a first diagnostic cell counter module adapted to be associated with a first location in the first component, the first diagnostic cell counter module adapted to recognize when the diagnostic cell passes the first location and adapted to track passage of the diagnostic cell past the first location; inserting the diagnostic cell into the any datapath at the starting point; and analyzing the diagnostic cell counter module to identify the failure location in the any datapath." See Abstract.

Systems, devices, and methods for determining network failures


A cover for an airbag cushion has a fabric for enclosing a folded airbag cushion forming the cover and a frangible tear seam extending across the length of the cover. The tear seam has a plurality of slits. Each slit includes a linear main slit portion arranged in a straight line, an inclined leading end slit portion and an inclined trailing end slit portion. A space between each adjacent slit forms a single fabric tear portion defined by a trailing end slit portion of one slit overlapping an inclined oppositely leading end slit portion of an adjacent slit. Each fabric tear portion is formed as short cut woven yarns cut axially and perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of fabric tear portions forms the frangible tear seam.

Historically, dust covers or airbag covers are provided to protect an airbag cushion generally. A curtain airbag cushion employs a dust cover that protects the airbag cushion when it is in a folded and undeployed state. This cover is designed to protect the cushion and keep it in a constrained condition by encircling the airbag cushion to keep it in its proper folded state. On deployment, the dust cover must open to allow the airbag cushion to expand and inflate. To do this efficiently, tear seams have been provided on airbag dust covers. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,093, a typical airbag dust cover is illustrated in prior art FIG. 1 wherein the tear seam line is shown as a plurality of straight slits cut into the fabric and the space between the slits provides a location for the airbag dust cover to be weakened sufficiently that it will tear along these lines.
This form of simple linear slits while efficient, is not predictable in many regards and in some cases, causes the airbag to underinflate from meeting some resistance as the airbag cover does not tear evenly across the slits.
An improvement was discovered in U.S. Pat. No. 7,748,732, wherein the slits were oriented on a slight inclination as opposed to a linear straight line as illustrated in prior art FIG. 2. The slits were provided as a plurality of short lines that slightly overlapped vertically by being on a slight inclination. This creates a much more efficient weakening along the tear seam. Other shapes such as herringbone patterns or zig zag portion have been contemplated even a use of a plurality of rows of slits has been considered to provide an efficient tearing across an airbag cover, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,408.
It has been determined that the use of tear seams on dust covers can be improved by a more efficient use of the tear seam as disclosed in the present invention hereinafter. The advantage of the present invention tear seam is that it is entirely adjustable such that a uniform tearing at each location between adjacent slits can be achieved and this tearing can be adjusted in terms of strength of tear.


A process for CVD coating of a hollow body with a barrier layer, comprising measuring the temperature inside of the body by igniting plasma within said body with at least one ignition pulse and correlating the time between the ignition pulse and a pulse of light given off by plasma ignition, and a device for carrying out such a process.

The invention relates to a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process for coating the insides of hollow bodies, such as flasks, ampoules or the like, with at least one barrier layer, whereby, before the coating phase, i.e., before the coating gas is being introduced into the hollow body, the hollow body is heated in a heating phase using plasma, especially O.sub.2 plasma, to a specified temperature. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out such a process.
Pharmaceutical packing material, such as injection flasks, ampoules or the like, can be provided on the inside with a barrier layer, such that the release of glass components and their transfer into the liquid that is in the packing agent or, in the case of plastic packaging, the penetration of foreign gases, is prevented. Very strict requirements therefore have to be imposed on the quality of such barrier layers. Since the quality of the coating in the coated product cannot be examined or can be examined only with extreme difficulty, the coating process has to be controlled, so that from the process parameters, conclusions can be drawn as to the quality of the coating.
In addition to electrical measuring methods (Langmuir probe for electron and ion properties, mass spectrometry for design and shattering of compounds in gaseous form in plasma), it is known to use optical emission spectroscopy (OES) to study the reactions that occur in a plasma and to control plasma coatings and etchings. OES has the advantage that it works in a "contactless" manner, unlike the other measuring methods, i.e., not in contact with the plasma or tie gas that is to be studied and that thus no harmful interaction with the object to be examined occurs.
"Thin Solid Films" 266 (1995) 8-13 describes that the microstructure and chemical composition of a separated film from the system TiTP/N.sub.2 /N.sub.2 varies owing to the process parameters, whereby the gas composition and cathode temperature can be inferred from the optical emission of the dc voltage plasma.
In conference session 3 "10th International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry" (1991), 2.4-30, the production of La.sub.2 O.sub.3 layers with low C-contamination using HF-plasma-CVD from an organic La compound and oxygen is described, and it is recommended the ratio of intensities of two lines (CO and O.sub.2.sup.4) be used to adjust the vapor pressure of the La precursor to a fixed value, so that a C content of <3% of the layer is ensured.
The book "Plasmatechnik [Plasma Technology]" by Schade, Suchanek and Tiller, published in 1990 by Verlag Technik GmbH Berlin, describes on pages 140 and 141 how the time plot of CO and AlCl emission is used, or in another example, how Si emission is used as a process control during plasma etching. In the latter case, how good or poor etching homogeneity is can be judged from the time plot of the emission line.
EP-0 299 752 indicates a process for monitoring and controlling plasma-CVD coatings. The process lies in the optical plasma emission being measured and spectrally analyzed, and the results in this regard being used to adjust plasma properties to be able to produce, in a reproducible manner, layers with specified properties. The signal that guides the adjustment is the ratio of two or more characteristic lines that are at a fixed ratio to the important plasma parameter electron temperature.
DE-38 30 622 describes a pulsed plasma-CVD process for coating the insides of quartz glass tubes. The specific emission of a layer-forming compound (SiO) is used to adjust the length and position of the plasma area in the tube, which contributes to layer formation, during coating to a specified value.
From DE 4008405 C1 a PCVD process is known for the production of a dome-shaped substrate that is provided on the inside surface and/or outside surface with a dielectric layer system, in which before coating is done, an O.sub.2 gas discharge is ignited to condition the inside surface of the dome that is to be coated. The desired substrate temperature is set by the intensity and duration of the O.sub.2 gas discharge. No indications are made, however, about whether and how the heating phase is monitored to ensure the desired substrate temperature.
None of the known processes, however, takes into consideration the specific requirements that are to be met in coating the insides of hollow bodies.

CVD process for coating the inside of hollow bodies


A device is for braking a magnetic levitation railway, wherein the stator winding of a linear motor is short-circuited as a brake winding in a last section before an end of the route. There is a provision for two stator windings which extend alternately on the stator to be present in a penultimate section.

It is customary that the last section of the stator winding before the end of the route is short-circuited in a terminus station for a magnetic levitation railway. This is possible because the stator winding has separate sections which are arranged in series. As a result of the short-circuiting of the last section of the stator winding, a braking force is applied to the vehicle when a vehicle travels through this section. Since the braking force emanates from the route, braking of the vehicle is always ensured when it reaches the last section before the end of the route.
The last section must be so long that safe stopping of the vehicle is ensured even if the vehicle has accelerated until just before the last section was reached. Although it is generally ensured that the velocity of the vehicle is already reduced before the last section is reached, a fault in the control of the vehicle may nevertheless result in an undesired acceleration just before the last section of the route. In order to ensure safe stopping always, the last section before the end of the route must therefore be made so long that safe stopping is always ensured even after undesired acceleration. As a result, the costs for setting up the route are very high.
It has already been proposed to reduce the velocity of the vehicle before it reaches the last section of the route by providing the stator of the penultimate section only partially with a winding. As a result, the vehicle always enters the station at a very low velocity, which undesirably lengthens the travel times.

Device for braking a magnetic levitation railway


A deflectable tip catheter that is used in combination with a guidewire for delivery of an ablation element to target areas of a patient's vasculature. The deflectable tip catheter has a handle portion, an elongated shaft and a deflectable tip portion. A guidewire lumen extends through the elongated shaft and deflectable tip portion. A guidewire passes through the guidewire lumen and exits from a port in the distal end of the deflectable tip portion. The deflectable tip of the catheter is deflected by manipulation of the handle portion to direct the advancement of the guidewire as the guidewire is advanced out of the distal port. By using the deflectable tip portion to direct the advancement of the guidewire, the physician's ability to navigate sharp angles is greatly improved. The deflectable tip catheter is particularly suitable for delivering an ablation element to a pulmonary vein or pulmonary vein branch for performing circumferential ultrasound vein ablation to treat atrial fibrillation.

Abnormal patterns of electrical conduction in the heart can produce abnormalities in the cardiac cycle known as arrythmias. A common form of arrhythmia, known as atrial fibrillation, is a pervasive problem in modem society. Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of myocardial ischemia, especially during strenuous activity, and has also been linked to congestive heart failure, stroke, and other thromboembolic events.
In the human heart, normal cardiac rhythm is maintained by a cluster of pacemaker cells, known as the sinoatrial ("SA") node, located within the wall of the right atrium. The SA node undergoes repetitive cycles of membrane depolarization and repolarization, thereby generating a continuous stream of electrical impulses, called "action potentials." These action potentials orchestrate the regular contraction and relaxation of the cardiac muscle cells throughout the heart. Action potentials spread rapidly from cell to cell through both the right and left atria via gap junctions between the cardiac muscle cells. Atrial arrhythmias result when electrical impulses originating from sites other than the SA node are conducted through the atrial cardiac tissue.
In some cases, atrial fibrillation results from perpetually wandering reentrant wavelets, which exhibit no consistent localized region(s) of aberrant conduction. In other cases, atrial fibrillation may be focal in nature, resulting from rapid and repetitive changes in membrane potential originating from isolated centers, or foci, within the atrial cardiac muscle tissue. These foci exhibit consistent centrifugal patterns of electrical activation, and may act as either a trigger of atrial fibrillatory paroxysmal or may even sustain the fibrillation. Recent studies have suggested that focal arrhythmias often originate from a tissue region along the pulmonary veins of the left atrium, and even more particularly in the superior pulmonary veins.
Several surgical approaches have been developed for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. For example, Cox, J L et al. disclose the "maze" procedure, in "The Surgical Treatment Of Atrial Fibrillation. I. Summary", Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 101(3):402–405 (1991) and "The Surgical Treatment Of Atrial Fibrillation. IV. Surgical Technique", Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 101(4):584–592 (1991). In general, the maze procedure is designed to relieve atrial arrhythmia by restoring effective SA node control through a prescribed pattern of incisions about the cardiac tissue wall. Although early clinical studies on the maze procedure included surgical incisions in both the right and left atrial chambers, more recent reports suggest that the maze procedure may be effective when performed only in the left atrium (see for example Sueda et al., "Simple Left Atrial Procedure For Chronic Atrial Fibrillation Associated With Mitral Valve Disease" (1996)).
The left atrial maze procedure involves forming vertical incisions from the two superior pulmonary veins and terminating in the region of the mitral valve annulus, traversing the inferior pulmonary veins en route. An additional horizontal incision connects the superior ends of the two vertical incisions. Thus, the atrial wall region bordered by the pulmonary vein ostia is isolated from the other atrial tissue. In this process, the mechanical sectioning of atrial tissue eliminates the atrial arrhythmia by blocking conduction of the aberrant action potentials.
The moderate success observed with the maze procedure and other surgical segmentation procedures have validated the principle that mechanically isolating cardiac tissue may successfully prevent atrial arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, resulting from either perpetually wandering reentrant wavelets or focal regions of aberrant conduction. Unfortunately, the highly invasive nature of such procedures may be prohibitive in many cases. Consequently, less invasive catheter-based approaches to treat atrial fibrillation have been developed.
These less invasive catheter-based therapies generally involve advancing a catheter into a cardiac chamber, such as in a percutaneous translumenal procedure, wherein an energy sink on the catheter's distal end portion is positioned at or adjacent to the aberrant conductive tissue. Upon application of energy, the targeted tissue is ablated and rendered non-conductive.
These catheter-based methods can be subdivided into two related categories, based on the etiology of the atrial arrhythmia. The first category includes various localized ablation methods used to treat focal arrhythmias by targeting the foci of aberrant electrical activity. Accordingly, devices and techniques have been disclosed which use end-electrode catheter designs for ablating focal arrhythmias centered in the pulmonary veins, using a point source of energy to ablate the locus of abnormal electrical activity. Such procedures typically employ incremental application of electrical energy to the tissue to form focal lesions. The second category includes methods designed for the treatment atrial fibrillations caused by perpetually wandering reentrant wavelets. Such arrhythmias are generally not amenable to localized ablation techniques because the excitation waves may circumnavigate a focal lesion. Thus, the second category of catheter-based approaches have generally attempted to mimic the earlier surgical segmentation techniques, such as the maze procedure, wherein continuous linear lesions are required to completely segment the atrial tissue so as to block conduction of the reentrant wave fronts.
An example of an ablation method targeting focal arrhythmias originating from a pulmonary vein is disclosed by Haissaguerre et al. in "Right And Left Atrial Radiofrequency Catheter Therapy Of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation" in J. Cardiovasc. Electrophys. 7(12):1132–1144 (1996). Haissaguerre et al. describe radiofrequency catheter ablation of drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation using linear atrial lesions complemented by focal ablation targeted at arrhythmogenic foci in a screened patient population. The site of the arrhythmogenic foci was generally located just inside the superior pulmonary vein, and was ablated using a standard 4 mm tip single ablation electrode.
Another ablation method directed at paroxysmal arrhythmias arising from a focal source is disclosed by Jais et al. "A Focal Source Of Atrial Fibrillation Treated By Discrete Radiofrequency Ablation" Circulation 95:572–576 (1997). At the site of arrhythmogenic tissue, in both right and left atria, several pulses of a discrete source of radiofrequency energy were applied in order to eliminate the fibrillatory process.
The treatment of reentrant wavelet arrhythmias through the use of catheter-based ablation techniques required the development of methods and devices for generating continuous linear lesions, like those employed in the maze procedure. Initially, conventional ablation tip electrodes were adapted for use in "drag burn" procedures to form linear lesions. During the "drag" procedure, as energy was being applied, the catheter tip was drawn across the tissue along a predetermined pathway within the heart. Alternatively, sequentially positioning the distal tip electrode, applying a pulse of energy, and then re-positioning the electrode along a predetermined linear pathway also made lines of ablation.
Subsequently, conventional catheters were modified to include multiple electrode arrangements. Such catheters typically contained a plurality of ring electrodes circling the catheter at various distances extending proximally from the distal tip of the catheter. More detailed examples of such catheter-based tissue ablation assemblies have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,662 to Fleischhacker et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,267 to Panescu et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,078 to Desai et al.
Further more detailed examples of transcatheter-based tissue ablation assemblies and methods are described in the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,810 to Swanson et al.; PCT Published Application WO 96/10961 to Fleischman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,438 to Avitall; U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,723 to Avitall; U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,385 to Avitall; and PCT Published Application WO 97/37607 to Schaer.
While the disclosures above describe feasible catheter designs for imparting linear ablation tracks, as a practical matter, most of these catheter assemblies have been difficult to position and maintain placement and contact pressure long enough and in a sufficiently precise manner in the beating heart to successfully form segmented linear lesions along a chamber wall. Indeed, many of the aforementioned methods have generally failed to produce closed transmural lesions, thus leaving the opportunity for the reentrant circuits to reappear in the gaps remaining between point or drag ablations.
Due to the shortcomings associated with linear ablation techniques, a new method of treating atrial fibrillation was developed whereby a circumferential lesion is formed along a pulmonary vein ostium. The formation of a circumfential lesion creates a circumferential conduction block that electrically isolates a substantial portion of a posterior atrial wall from an arrhythmogenic focus located in a pulmonary vein. In a variation of this method, a circumferential lesion can be formed in combination with linear lesions to treat atrial fibrillation caused by wandering reentrant wavelets. These methods are disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,740 to Lesh.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,740 to Lesh et al. discloses a circumferential ablation device assembly used to form a circumferential lesion. The circumferential ablation device assembly includes an ablation element and an expandable member. The device is anchored in the pulmonary vein ostium using the expandable member and the ablation element is energized to form a circumferential lesion.
Although the aforementioned methods and devices have shown great success in treating atrial fibrillation through the formation of a circumferential lesion, optimizing the effectiveness of such methods and devices depends to some extent on the precise positioning of the ablation element at a location where the pulmonary vein extends from the atrium. At this time, minimal means have been disclosed for advancing ablation catheters to anatomic sites of interest such as the pulmonary veins.
Guidewire positioning techniques are known in the art and have been used extensively for catheter placement within difficult areas of a patient's vasculature. Guidewire positioning techniques generally involve advancing a guidewire through a patient's vasculature to the desired anatomical site and then advancing a catheter over the guidewire. However, the use of a guidewire alone does not provide an adequate means for placement of a catheter in a pulmonary vein because placement of the guidewire itself within a pulmonary vein poses a significant challenge.
Deflectable tip catheters are also known in the art and are often used for facilitating catheter placement. Deflectable tip catheters generally incorporate one or more internal pull wires affixed to the distal tip and to a proximal handle with a steering control mechanism. The steering control mechanism is used to deflect the tip of the catheter, usually in a single direction, as the catheter is advanced through a patient's vasculature. Detailed examples of steerable catheters and methods are described in the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,433 to Taylor, U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,327 to Randolph, U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,800 to Mirarchi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,333 to Schaer, U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,955 to Willems, U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,739 to Ponzi, U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,222 to Klein to Taylor,
Although deflectable tip catheters have been successful in addressing certain internal cardiac areas, existing deflectable tip catheter designs are not well-suited for advancing an ablation catheter into a pulmonary vein. In practice, it has been found that existing deflectable tip catheter designs are not capable of navigating the sharp angle from the fossa ovalis to the pulmonary vein without great difficulty. Furthermore, once the deflectable tip catheter reaches the pulmonary vein ostium, the ablation element is often unable to sustain sufficient contact with the surrounding tissue to create an adequate circumferential lesion.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved ablation catheter that can be advanced through a patient's vasculature to a pulmonary vein ostium in a quick and easy manner. It is also desirable that such an ablation catheter be capable of engaging the surrounding tissue to create a circumferential lesion for isolating a pulmonary vein from the posterior atrial wall of the heart. A device that achieves these objectives would represent a significant advancement in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Deflectable tip catheter with guidewire tracking mechanism


A structure of mounting a shield cover according to the present invention includes a shield cover having an insertion part which is inserted into a gap formed between a circuit substrate and a shield cover fastening part along the circuit substrate. The insertion part of the shield cover includes a convex part that is elastic and deformable, and the end of the insertion part and the shield cover fastening part come in contact with each other by the elasticity with the convex part being in contact with the circuit substrate as the fulcrum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to structures of mounting shield covers and display devices, and more specifically to a structure of mounting a shield cover shielding electric and electronic components on a circuit substrate and a display device.
2. Description of the Background Art
Metal shield covers have been used to shield electric and electronic components on a circuit substrate. Conventional structures of mounting a shield cover typically use screws. While the shield cover is fastened and ground connection is established with reliability between the shield cover and the circuit substrate, the mounting with screws increases the number of screw components and results in poor assembly workability. To tackle these problems, a structure has been proposed to mount a shield cover by inserting an insertion part of the shield cover into a gap between the circuit substrate and a fastening part of the shield cover.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-286584 discloses a structure in which a shield cover is provided with a cushion contact piece that is used for pressure-contact, to establish reliable ground connection.
Unfortunately, the conventional mounting methods by inserting an insertion part of the shield cover into the gap cannot fasten the shield cover and establish ground connection between the shield cover and the circuit substrate with reliability. To solve this disadvantage, screws have to be used or conductive tape has to be affixed, which ends up increasing the number of components and results in poor assembly workability.
Moreover, JP 2000-286584 does not disclose a detailed method of mounting the shield cover, which cannot be fastened with reliability by a simple hook structure.

Structure of mounting shield cover and display device


A hingedly collapsible batting practice device with a top v-shaped component hingedly connected to two side members and supportable in an approximate horizontal orientation. A rear member attaches to the top of each side member. A bottom v-shaped component hingedly connected to the two side members with a support member for supporting the two side members in an approximate vertical orientation. Each v-shaped component is also hinged at the front to permit each side of the component to pivot toward each other to facilitate collapsing the device. An elastic cord attached to the rear member extends frontward and downward from the top v-shaped component and supports a ball at its terminal end. A non-elastic cord is attached to the ball and each loose end of the non-elastic cord is attached to the bottom v-shaped component.

This currently described device relates to an improvement in batting-practice devices, and more particularly to collapsible and truly portable batting-practice device suitable for batting practice and which is easily collapsible and easily returned to an operational state.
Baseball is an extremely popular sport from the backyard player to the sandlot to schools to professional sports. Many elements are associated with this popular game. Among one of the most important is batting as without good batting skills no runs can be scored. Coaching and practice are key elements to batting in play. A common method of improving a player's swing is to bat against live pitchers or against a pitching machine. This of course requires more than one ball player, in the case of live pitching, or many players merely standing around waiting for their turn to bat in the case of pitching machines. Time and manpower are wasted and pitching machines are costly in purchase and in maintenance. Additionally, most players also like to take practice swings against a baseball during a game while waiting for their turn to bat.
Several batting type devices have been designed for the purpose of permitting a single player to practice swinging at a ball with a bat typically where a single rope or cord was merely tethered to a ball. After striking the ball using this device, the ball would continue to circle around and around until it loses its speed or the cord becomes wrapped around its support structure. In such instances, the player has to reset the ball by unwinding it or waiting for the ball to stop circling. Time is wasted in the process.
A patent to Ratajac (U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,791) teaches a collapsible portable batting cage having an upper frame assembly, a lower frame assembly, a rear frame assembly on top and bottom, and one side frame assembly on each side of the upper and lower frame assemblies. A length of shock cord (elastic bungee type cord) is threaded through a vertical bore hole in a ball. The shock cord attaches to the top front, back to the top rear, and is insertably adjustable into one of a plurality of holes, of pre-determined spacing, on one side of the top rear assembly. The other end of the shock cord attaches to the bottom front and back to the rear frame on the bottom.
The ball is suspended approximately mid-height a the front by a non-elastic line (referred to as a safety line) attached to the ball with its two ends attached at approximately mid-height at the rear on the side frames. The height of the static position of the ball is adjustable by moving the shock cord at the rear frame assembly to different locations. This device is portable due to the nature of its light weight components and it is also collapsible which allows it to be stored or carried in a compact manner. Collapsing this device, however, requires that all fasteners must be removed from the frame components and that the frame components be removed from each other and, when its use is required, that they all be re-assembled. An extremely time-consuming process. In addition, the safety line has a tendency to interfere with a swing which is angled slightly up or down from a perfect horizontal swing.
A patent to McKenna (U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,540) describes a portable apparatus for the practice of a person's batting swings that includes a frame, a net, and a ball attached to non-elastic cords. Each lower terminal end of the frame has a ball-engaging eye bolt. A pair of net-engaging uprights of the frame have a pair of tubes that are formed as one-piece therewith for ease of manufacture by eliminating a need for welding. Button fasteners replaceably maintain the members of the frame together for ease of fabrication and collapsing by eliminating a need for nuts and bolts. A second upper member of the frame has a plurality of ball-engaging blind bores for adjusting the height of the ball.
A lowermost terminal edge of the net drapes so as to prevent any balls from rolling thereunder while providing a dampening effect for the ball when hit against the net. There is no lower cross member which eliminates any rebound of a ball that hits low on the net. One section of the non-elastic cords extend from the ball first upward to the top front then to the side attaching any one of the pre-determined blind bores. Two sections of the non-elastic cords emanate from the bottom of the ball and attach to either bottom rear side of the frame. This device eliminates the problems associated with the safety lines of Ratajac; but, the non-elasticity of the cords limits its effect of travel and renders it slower to rebound and reset.
As with the Ratajac device, this device, though it may be "collapsible" it too must be taken apart for travel and re-assembled when need. Also a time-consuming process. Typically, after each device is first assembled, users generally leave them assembled and either leave them where there are or find a means to transport them, in their assembled state, to the desired location. Either prospect renders each such device less desirable. Moreover, if left assembled, each takes up quite a bit of storage space.
The currently described device solves all the problems associated with the above devices and other prior art devices. Because the frame components are hingedly connected, the entire device is truly collapsible. From its assembled state, the device easily and quickly "folds" into a "dis-assembled" state for storage or transportation and easily and quickly "unfolds" into an assembled stated when it is needed. Height adjustment for the ball is not based on a pre-determined set of height increments but can be adjusted to accommodate even the slightest of increments to the millimeter.
Safety/return lines are structured as not to interfere with a batter's swing and a removably attachable rear elastic cord removably attachable to the ball facilitates resetting of the ball after it has been struck and is a greater practice aid for an experience player. Its removability permits a less experienced player, who may have a tendency to under swing the ball and hit the cord below the ball, to also use the same device by merely removing this cord from the bottom of the ball. Detailed adjustments to all the cord components permits a skilled user to make minute adjustments to tautness to thereby establish a sense of dynamic reality in the batting/swinging practice.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the currently described device are to:
a. provide an effective batting-practice device suitable for beginners, intermediate player, and for more experienced players all in one such device.
b. facilitate storage of by creating a collapsible batting-practice which easily unfolds from a collapsed state into an operational state and folds easily into a collapsed state.
c. facilitate transportation of a batting-practice device by establishing collapsibility without necessity of disassembly of frame parts from one another.
d. establish an ability to easily adjust ball height by as low as one millimeter or less, up or down, as suited to a particular user's needs, desires, or skill.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the currently described device. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the currently described device. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed currently described device in a different manner or by modifying the currently described device within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the currently described device may be had by referring to the summary of the currently described device and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the currently described device defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Collapsible batting practice device and frame


A channel coding and multiplexing apparatus and method in a CDMA communication system is disclosed. In the channel coding and multiplexing apparatus, each of a number of radio frame matchers (equal in number or greater than the number of transport channels) has a radio frame segmenter and segments each of transport channel frames that may have different transmission time intervals to radio frames. A multiplexer multiplexes the radio frames to form a serial data frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a channel communication apparatus and method in a mobile communication system, and in particular, to a channel coding and multiplexing apparatus and method in which multi-transport channel frames are converted to multi-physical channel frames.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) mobile communication system primarily provides a voice service. However, the future CDMA mobile communication system will support the IMT-2000 standard, which can provide a high-speed data service as well as the voice service. More specifically, the IMT-2000 standard can provide a high-quality voice service, a moving picture service, an Internet browsing service, etc. This future CDMA communication system will be comprised of a downlink for transmitting data from a base station to a mobile station and an uplink for transmitting data from the mobile state to the base station.
It will thus be desirable for the future CDMA communication system to provide various communication services such as simultaneous voice and data communications. However, details are yet to be specified for the simultaneous implementation of voice and data communications.

Apparatus and method for channel coding and multiplexing in CDMA communication system


An example method of the present disclosure includes, responsive to a loss of last written page information by a memory system, initiating a last written page search to determine last written page information of a memory device, where the last written page search is initiated via a command from a controller of the memory system to the memory device, responsive to receiving the command, performing the last written page search on the memory device, and providing the last written page information to the controller.

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor, integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There are many different types of memory including volatile and non-volatile memory. Volatile memory can require power to maintain its data and includes random-access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), among others. Non-volatile memory can provide persistent data by retaining stored data when not powered and can include NAND flash memory, NOR flash memory, read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), and resistance variable memory such as phase change random access memory (PCRAM), resistive random access memory (RRAM), and magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), among others.
Memory devices can be combined to form a storage volume of a memory system, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). As an example, an SSD can include non-volatile memory (e.g., NAND flash memory and NOR flash memory), and/or can include volatile memory (e.g., DRAM and SRAM), among various other types of non-volatile and/or volatile memory.
An SSD can be used to replace hard disk drives as the main storage volume for a computer, as the SSD can have advantages over hard drives in terms of performance, size, weight, ruggedness, operating temperature range, and power consumption. For example, SSDs can have superior performance when compared to magnetic disk drives due to their lack of moving parts, which may avoid seek time, latency, and other electro-mechanical delays associated with magnetic disk drives.
In various memory systems, it can be beneficial to maintain certain information such that it can be retrieved when needed. However, it may be difficult to obtain and/or access such information due to occurrence of various events, which may be unexpected and/or unpredictable. For instance, loss of such information may result from a loss of power (e.g., an asynchronous power loss event). Some memory systems may include a mechanism such as a hold up capacitance that can be used to write such information to nonvolatile storage such that it is not lost due to a power loss event. However, if the system does not include a mechanism such as hold up capacitance, which may allow the information to be retrieved from nonvolatile storage, the system may attempt to determine such information at power up (e.g., as part of a "rebuild" process).
However, retrieving such information at power up can take time and resources, which can adversely affect system performance. For instance, determining such information at power up can increase the time-to-ready (TTR), which can be part of a product specification and can refer to the time required before a memory system is ready to accept commands (e.g., from a host).


An input apparatus is adapted to communicate wirelessly with a portable computerized apparatus that has a wireless communications device. The input apparatus includes a wireless communications unit adapted to establish wireless communication between a keyboard module and the wireless communications device, a computerized apparatus support member coupled to the keyboard module and adapted to support the portable computerized apparatus, and a communications unit support member having a lower section coupled to the keyboard module and an upper section mounted with the wireless communications unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an input apparatus, more particularly to an input apparatus adapted to communicate wirelessly with a portable computerized apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional handheld computer keyboard system, as proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,200, that includes a keyboard portion 1, a cover portion 2 and an interface assembly 3. The keyboard portion 1 has a top surface 101 provided with a plurality of keys 103, and a bottom surface 102. The keyboard portion 1 further has a stabilizing leg 4 mounted retractably thereto at the bottom surface 102. The cover portion 2 is pivotally connected to the keyboard portion 1, and has an inner surface 201, and an outer surface 202 opposite to the inner surface 201. The cover portion 2 is operable so as to move from a closed position, where the inner surface 201 overlies the top surface 101 of the keyboard portion 1, to an opened position, where the cover portion 2 forms an angle with the top surface 101. The interface assembly 3 is mounted on the inner surface 201 of the cover portion 2, and includes an input/output connector 301 to be connected to an input/output port 501 of a computerized apparatus 5, such as a personal digital assistant or a mobile telephone, that is supported by the cover portion 2 when the latter is at the opened position.
Since the interface assembly 3 is mounted on the cover portion 2, and since the space between the input/output connector 301 and the inner surface 201 is fixed, the conventional keyboard system cannot be adapted for use with another computerized apparatus of a different thickness.
There is available in the art, a computer keyboard that is designed to communicate wirelessly with a computer main module. However, the computer keyboard as such is not designed to serve as an input apparatus for a personal digital assistant.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an input apparatus adapted to communicate wirelessly with a portable computerized apparatus.
According to the present invention, an input apparatus is adapted to communicate wirelessly with a portable computerized apparatus having top, bottom, left, right and rear portions. The top portion of the portable computerized apparatus is provided with a wireless communications device. The input apparatus comprises:
a keyboard module having front and rear ends, a bottom surface, and a top surface provided with a plurality of keys thereon;
a wireless communications unit coupled electrically to the keyboard module and adapted to establish wireless communication between the keyboard module and the wireless communications device of the portable computerized apparatus;
a computerized apparatus support member coupled to the rear end of the keyboard module and adapted to support the rear and bottom portions of the portable computerized apparatus such that the portable computerized apparatus forms an angle greater than 90 degrees with respect to the top surface of the keyboard module; and
a communications unit support member having a lower section coupled to the keyboard module and an upper section mounted with the wireless communications unit, the upper section of the communications unit support member being adapted to extend beyond the top portion of the portable computerized apparatus when the portable computerized apparatus is supported on the computerized apparatus support member so as to dispose the wireless communications unit proximate to the wireless communications device.

Input apparatus for wireless communications with a portable computerized apparatus


A method of determining search engine rank for digital content. The method may include performing a search for digital content on a network using a search term to obtain search results. The method may also include obtaining search engine optimization data from the search results and analyzing the search engine optimization data to determine a position of digital content related to an entity with respect to non-category specific search results and sub-links of non-category specific search results.

Search engine optimization (SEO) generally describes the use of computing systems for running computing processes that collect, store and analyze search engine data in order to provide recommendations to improve visibility of a website or a webpage in search engines. Search engine result may be obtained by various search strategies, such as natural, un-paid, organic, or algorithmic search results as well as for paid search algorithms of search engine marketing (SEM) target paid listings. Generally, the higher a website is located on a website listing and the more frequently a website appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine's users. An entity may target different kinds of search results besides strictly website results for SEO. For example, universal results, such as images, location, videos, news, and other industry-specific vertical search results may be optimized for search engines. SEO may improve the availability of digital content, such as a website or webpage, to internet users.
SEO is implemented by Internet Technology (IT) professionals to improve the volume and quality of traffic to digital content on a network. Typical techniques include keywords in title tags, keywords in meta tags, keywords in body text, anchor text in inbound links, age of site, site structure, link popularity in a site's internal link structure, amount of indexable text/page content, number of links to a site, popularity/relevance of links to site and topical relevance of inbound link tags, any of which may include SEO data. Additional techniques are sometimes employed based on the search engine for which the webmaster is attempting to optimize. Since search engine algorithms and metrics are proprietary, SEO techniques are widely used to improve visibility of a webpage or other online data on search engine result pages.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An integrated circuit packaging system comprising: fabricating a system-in-package substrate; mounting a first integrated circuit die on the system-in-package substrate; mounting a second integrated circuit die on the system-in-package substrate; and coupling a passive component over and between the first integrated circuit die and the second integrated circuit die.

There are strong needs for downsizing, weight reduction and functional upgrading in the recent fields of mobile devices, such as cellular telephones, personal audio players, hand held navigation devices, and information/home appliances, which eventually demands functional upgrading of LSI (large-scale integrated circuit). Thus there is an accelerated trend of fabricating circuits using a plurality of different processes on a single wafer, which is known as SOC (system-on-chip). SOC, however, requires a longer and more complicated process as compared with a single process, and thus has general tendencies of lower yield ratio and longer development period. SOC is also disadvantageous in that the individual circuits cannot be fabricated according to respective optimum processes since all processes are carried out on the wafer basis, which may yield poorer functions ones rather than those obtained in the single process.
In recent years, interest has been growing in the area of a system-in-package (SIP). The SIP enables the same kind of or different kinds of LSI or IC, to be fabricated by the conventional single process. The individual IC's may be inspected as non-defective and assembled into a unit or module which can be handled as a single component (LSI or IC) by combining and re-wiring. SIP can thus readily realize an LSI unit or IC package having a high yield ratio and diversified functions.
A common requirement of all SIP devices is the incorporation of discrete passive devices with the multiple integrated circuits that make-up the system. In some cases resistors might be used for level translation between two different semiconductor technologies that must be combined in the same package. The power systems of all SIP devices need capacitors or inductors for conditioning and isolating the power source. These devices are normally mounted on a substrate that provides a conductive path that terminates adjacent to the destination IC. A bonding wire is normally used to complete the connection path.
Many of today's high speed devices require tight impedance control on the interconnection path. This presents a serious problem to the signal quality of the normal interconnect solution. As the number of high speed interconnections increases, the integrated circuit dice are pushed closer together in order to reduce the effects of the conductive path between the dice. These conflicting requirements may cause delay in system delivery in order to reconfigure the dice or increase the size of the package in order to accommodate a large number of interconnect structures adjacent to the dice.
Thus, a need still remains for an integrated circuit packaging system with passive components, that satisfies the signal quality needs without increasing the size of the SIP. In view of the increasing demand for more function packaged in smaller spaces, it is increasingly critical that answers be found to these problems. In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations and the diminishing opportunities for meaningful product differentiation in the marketplace, it is critical that answers be found for these problems. Additionally, the need to save costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures, adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Integrated circuit packaging system with passive components


Even when the atmospheric pressure is lowered, a sufficient amount of oxidant gas is supplied to a fuel cell without causing any failure in a compressor. A control unit judges whether or not both the following conditions are satisfied: the accelerator opening degree detected by an accelerator opening degree sensor is equal to or larger than a predetermined opening degree; and the state where the atmospheric pressure detected by a pressure sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure value has been maintained for a predetermined time period or longer. If the judgment result is positive, the control unit changes the maximum rotation speed permitted in the compressor from a normal maximum rotation speed to an increased maximum rotation speed. The control unit then judges whether or not a predetermined time period has elapsed from when the maximum rotation speed was changed to the increased maximum rotation speed, and also judges whether or not the state where a discharge temperature of the compressor detected by the temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature has been maintained for a predetermined time or longer. If the result of at least one of these judgments is positive, the control unit returns the maximum rotation speed to the normal maximum rotation speed.

Recently, developments have been made for fuel cell systems using, as energy sources, fuel cells that generate electrical power through a chemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas serving as reactant gasses. In order to generate electrical power efficiently in a fuel cell system, the amounts of supply of the fuel gas and the oxidant gas need to be optimally adjusted. However, since the amounts of supply of the reactant gasses vary in accordance with usage environments, such optimal adjustment is not easy. For example, when the fuel cell system is used in a highland, the density of the air is lowered and the amount of the oxidant gas supplied to a fuel cell becomes insufficient, thereby resulting in the efficiency of power generation being lowered. In order to solve such a problem, in the fuel cell system disclosed in patent document 1, when the atmospheric pressure is lowered, the amount of oxidant gas supplied to the fuel cell is maintained by increasing the rotation speed of the compressor.
Patent document 1: JP2000-48838 A

Fuel cell system and method of controlling rotation speed of compressor


An ultrasonic sensor system (40) has a transducer (44) that emits an ultrasonic signal (52), in response to an electrical excitation signal (50) from driver/receiver circuitry (46), and outputs an electrical response signal (56), in response to receipt of a reflected ultrasonic signal (54) from an occupant (54). The transducer (44) rings-down upon termination of the excitation signal (50). The transducer (44) has a natural resonant frequency that is subject to change. In an occupant sense mode, a receiver portion (68) of the driver/receiver circuitry (46) and a controller (30) process the response signal (56), resulting from transducer excitation at a predetermined frequency, to determining distance between the transducer (44) and the occupant (14). In an adjust mode, the controller (30) varies the frequency of the excitation signal (50) over a range of frequencies, and monitors the ringdown of the transducer (44) during the variation of the frequency to determine a current natural resonant frequency of the transducer (44). The controller (30) changes the predetermined frequency to the determined natural resonant frequency, so that subsequent operation in the sense mode utilizes the resonant frequency.

Ultrasonic sensors are used to make remote distance measurements. One particular use of ultrasonic sensors is within a vehicle occupant restraint system within a vehicle.
One particular type of restraint system includes an actuatable restraint device. Examples of actuatable devices include inflatable air bags and seat belt system pretensioners. The actuatable devices are actuated in response to one or more conditions for which it is predetermined that the occupant is to be restrained. For example, the restraint system includes a crash sensor that senses a vehicle collision. A controller of the restraint system causes actuation of the restraint device in response to a signal indicative of a vehicle collision from the crash sensor.
It is known in the art to adjust or tailor the actuation or deployment of a restraint device. For example, the art has recognized that it is not always desirable to inflate an air bag with 100 percent of the available gas provided from a source of inflation fluid. It is known to adjust or tailor the restraint deployment based upon one or more sensed occupant characteristics. An occupant restraint device that has an adjustable aspect that is adjusted in response to a determination based upon a sensed occupant characteristic is commonly referred to as a "smart restraint." It is known to use one or more ultrasonic sensors to sense one or more occupant characteristics (e.g., occupant position) for use in determining adjustment of a restraint device.
Ultrasonic sensors typically have a piezoelectric ceramic transducer that converts an excitation electrical signal into ultrasonic energy bursts. The energy bursts travel from the ultrasonic sensor, bounce off objects, and are returned toward the sensor as echoes. The transducer converts the echoes into electrical signals.
The efficiency of an ultrasonic transducer varies with the frequency at which the transducer is excited. It is known that ultrasonic sensors perform optimally at their natural resonant frequency. The natural resonant frequency is also referred to as the "ringdown" frequency, because once excitation of the transducer ceases, the transducer has a decaying ringdown that occurs at the natural resonant frequency of the transducer.
The natural resonant frequency (or natural frequency) of an ultrasonic sensor transducer changes or "drifts" in response to temperature change. In order to maintain an ultrasonic sensor operating at peak efficiency, it is known to adjust the operating or excitation frequency to track the changes in the natural frequency. One known method of tracking the "drifting" natural frequency includes using a temperature sensor co-located with the transducer and a calibration table stored in memory. As temperature change is sensed, the calibration table is accessed to select an updated excitation frequency.
However, such an approach requires the collection and processing of temperature information. Also, the manner and amount of temperature-induced frequency drift varies from sensor unit to sensor unit. Thus, separate calibration tables may be required for each sensor unit. Further, the natural frequency may change for other reasons, such as component aging.

Ultrasonic sensor system and method having automatic excitation frequency adjustment


A dual reward game for play by a game user wherein the game has a plurality of possible game outcomes sensible by respective outcome sensors, a reward device being dispensed by a dispenser actuatable responsive to at least one sensor input upon the occurrence of all game outcomes and a further reward device being dispensed responsive to a certain sensor input upon the occurrence of a certain game outcome. A method of rewarding the outcome of play of a game is further included.

The present invention relates to arcade type games. More particularly, the present invention relates to games in which a physical article is rewarded to the user at the end of play.
Over the years, many arcade type games have been brought to market. In time, users of such games tend to lose interest in the games as skill of the user increases and mastering the challenges of the game become more routine. Further, the game typically does not reward the user with a perceived adequate reward for the user""s efforts in mastering the challenges of the game. Accordingly, there is a need in the industry to continue to attract users to play the game. Such attractions may include increasing the challenges associated with play of the game and providing suitable rewards to the user for successful mastery of the playing challenges. Further, the appearance of the cabinet housing of the game should be attractive to the user and should also be readily updateable in order to recapture a user""s interest. Additionally, safeguards should be built into the game in order to minimize pilferage. The game should be further easily maintained and, where electrically operated, should be capable of being powered from a standard wall outlet.
The present invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry. The cabinet housing the dual reward game of the present invention includes eye-catching graphics to draw customers to the game. These graphics can be readily replaced to update the appearance of the game cabinet. An embodiment of the dual reward game includes a unique playfield designed to create many opportunities to keep the game in play. Significantly, the dual reward game of the present invention includes two different types of rewards for the user. The first type of reward is preferably a gumball that is used in play on the playfield. The gumball is always rewarded to the user. A second type of reward is a capsule that may contain a prize or other type of reward. The capsule is rewarded in addition to the first reward as a result of certain outcomes of the play on the playfield. Such dual reward is significant in attracting users to repetitively play the game. The second type reward may also be a second gumball that is put into play on the playfield.
The dual reward game of the present invention further includes a price adjustable coin mechanism that is easily changed. Further, the coin box associated with the coin mechanism is separately locked to increase security. The dual reward game is preferably a 12V D.C. system that is powered by a 12 volt transformer that plugs into a standard wall outlet.
The present invention is a dual reward game for play by a game user wherein the game has a plurality of possible game outcomes sensible by respective outcome sensors, a reward device being dispensed by a dispenser actuatable responsive to at least one sensor input upon the occurrence of all game outcomes and a further reward device being dispensed responsive to a certain sensor input upon the occurrence of a certain game outcome. The present invention is further a method of rewarding the outcome of play of a game.


A manufacturing management device includes a determination section configured to determine the necessity of maintenance on any of the multiple production devices during production by the production line; and a conveyance management section configured to stop loading circuit boards, at a predetermined time, onto a reference device among the multiple production devices when it is determined that maintenance is necessary, the reference device being positioned upstream in the production line from a maintenance target device having a cause for maintenance.

Manufacturing management devices are applied in production lines for producing board products. As disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a production line is configured by installing multiple production devices such as solder printers, component mounters, appearance inspection devices, and reflow furnaces in the conveyance direction of a circuit board. In such a production line, a component mounter is stopped when an error requiring maintenance is detected in the component mounter. Accordingly, production devices upstream and downstream from the component mounter are subsequently stopped by the stagnation of circuit board conveyance. In a case where the production line has a buffer device capable of holding multiple circuit boards during production, the stagnation of circuit board conveyance can be mitigated to some extent.


In the custom-fitting of athletic footwear, such as ski boots and hockey skates, which include an outer shell and an inner bladder, a patch is provided between the shell and the bladder at a selected location where there is a poor fit between the shell and a wearer's foot. The patch forms a receptacle which can be inflated or otherwise supplied with a filler, such as foam, to an extent sufficient to improve the fit at the selected location.

Ski boots, hockey skates and the like are commonly provided with bladders which are similar to thickly padded socks. Such bladders are usually of a unilayer construction and are worn under the shell of the boots, skates or the like. The bladder is intended to prevent shifting of the wearer's foot inside the shell, hence reducing the abrasion of the shell on the foot and thereby providing greater comfort to the wearer. Typically, the area for which comfort is the most difficult and most critical to attain is that about the ankle. Since the bladder and shell cannot be mass produced in a manner which will fit everyone equally well, various different techniques have, in the past, been developed for custom-fitting ski-boots, hockey skates and the like after their manufacture.
One such prior technique requires the wearer to affix self-adhesive foam pads directly to the bladder exterior. This method suffers from the disadvantage that it is very time-consuming to attain a comfortable fit. It is also very difficult for the manufacturer to pre-determine in what thicknesses the foam padding should be provided.
Another prior technique involves the provision of a ladder having a special two-layer construction. The area between the layers forms a reservoir into which is blown a two-part foam. One disadvantage of this technique is that too much foam can be delivered to areas in which it is not required. Further, once the foam has cured, it is difficult and painful to break in the boot, skate or the like. Additionally, this technique requires radical modification of the bladder to hold the foam.

Method for custom-fitting boots by providing attachments thereto or to an inner liner therefor


A system and method for generating power having a partial oxidation turbine system and a primary turbine system. The partial oxidation turbine system receives a first air stream and a fuel stream and then partially oxidizes said fuel stream to produce a partially oxidized fuel stream. The primary turbine system receives the partially oxidized fuel stream and a second air stream and then combusts said partially oxidized fuel stream to produce rotating shaft power and an emission stream.

This invention relates to staged combustion of fuel and partial oxidation of fuel.
Numerous approaches for improving the thermal performance of combustion turbine power generation systems have been proposed since the early 1950s when combustion turbines were first applied for stationary power generation. Alternative approaches range from advanced topping and bottoming cycles, to advanced turbine firing conditions. Some of these approaches have been put into practice to reach the current level of performance that combustion turbine power generation has evolved to today. The prevalent factor enhancing performance has been increases in firing conditions (temperatures and pressures) through advances in airfoil design, materials and cooling methods. Cycle variations are also being developed to improve system performance in contrast to hardware improvements, such as evaporative cooling cycles, recuperative cycles, intercooled cycles, humid air cycles, reheat cycles, advanced bottoming cycles, and elevated steam bottoming conditions.
Many proposed approaches for advanced combustion turbine power cycles have been rejected as being unworkable or uneconomical, and some have not yet been developed sufficiently to be verified, demonstrated and commercialized. Therefore, a need exists for new, viable approaches for improved power generation.

Partial oxidation power plants and methods thereof


Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for improved, real-time survey data processing and analysis. Certain embodiments use distributed computing techniques to perform statistical calculations for survey data, such as general purpose and multi-rater feedback data. Certain embodiments use a matrix structure coupled with hash tables for efficient processing of survey statistics across an entire survey. Certain embodiments use a criteria parser based on externally definable lexical rules to determine which survey responses belong to which groups. Certain embodiments allow coalescing of summarization requests between summarization servers to allow for peak performance across any number of surveys. Certain embodiments provide a scalable, adaptable survey processing system and method that processes survey results in real time, allowing for immediate feedback during the survey process.

The present invention generally relates to survey data processing and analysis. More specifically, the present invention relates to improved, real-time survey data processing and analysis.
Many companies value surveys, such as employee evaluation and satisfaction surveys. Companies use employee surveys to judge performance and award promotions, for example. Companies also use customer satisfaction surveys to gauge success of products or services and determine improvements. Managers may also be evaluated by employees using surveys.
Surveys may help initiate changes in a workplace environment, product or service improvements, and employee training, for example. Survey results may influence major strategic decisions by a corporation. Current survey systems do not provide a rapid response to help in making important, timely business decisions. Additionally, current survey systems are not easily accessible on demand.
Therefore, a system that provides real-time administration and processing of a survey would be highly desirable. Additionally, a system that improves accessibility to surveys, survey data, and survey statistics would be highly desirable. A survey processing system that allows survey information and classifications to be dynamically adjusted would also be highly desirable. Thus, there is a need for a system and method for improved, real-time survey data processing and analysis.

Method and apparatus for survey processing