An auto-calibrating companion bit successive approximation system uses sampling and balancing capacitors in a charge redistribution digital-to-analog converter having multi-valued capacitors of magnitudes enabling redundant expression of electric charge values. Companion bits are used with sets of balancing capacitors for successive approximation of sampling voltages. A charge redistribution digital-to-analog converter has a sampling and balancing capacitors including associated companion bit capacitors represented by digital weights which are saved in memory. A non-binary weighted set of capacitors provides redundancy in a charge redistribution digital-to-analog converter employed in a successive approximation register architecture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to adaptive calibration of capacitor values in a successive approximation analog-to-digital converter having a radix weighted multi-capacitor charge redistribution digital-to-analog converter (CRDAC), and more particularly to adaptive calibration of the capacitor values in the CRDAC, and systems and methods for adaptive, self-stimulated autocalibration in connection with digital-to-analog converter (DAC) auto-measurement in analog-to-digital (A/D) converters.
2. Description of the Related Art
One attempt to design a calibrated successive approximation architecture is described in David R. Welland""s U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,225 (granted in 1987). Binary weighting after wafer fabrication is set forth in the patent according to the Welland approach, which includes adjusting an array of capacitors scaled according to a radix 2 (i.e., binary) function, resulting in non-overlap.
Related art U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,526 granted to Basil Weir describes successive approximation analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) using a radix less than two weighted digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in a feedback loop using a comparator and a successive approximation register (SAR) logic circuit to solve the binary non-overlap problem. A proposed conversion operation produces a digital output representative of an unknown analog input. A DAC accepts a digital word comprising a sequence of series bits, to produce a corresponding analog voltage value. An impedance network is described including capacitors, for example, which have sequential capacitance values which are a function of radix less than two. Costly and complicated switching circuits precisely represent accurate series weights in such an impedance network. A first analog cancellation voltage is produced in the DAC with a selected most significant bit (MSB) capacitance. The first analog cancellation voltage is input to a comparator to set-off a received analog voltage which is to be converted into digital form by SAR conversion. If the first analog cancellation voltage from the MSB is insufficient to cancel out the received analog voltage under conversion, as evidenced by the sign of the output value from the comparator, then the tested MSB is kept. Unfortunately, Weir does not show or suggest adaptive calibration.
In a binary sequence network, the MSB capacitance in a selected impedance network of n capacitors slightly exceeds the sum of the remaining totality of less significant capacitances. Accordingly, if by virtue of noise or some other ancillary effect, a MSB is erroneously kept, then not even summing all the contributions from the remaining less significant capacitances will result in an approximation which has a cumulative value greater than the most significant capacitance. In other words, the use of radix 2 for successive approximation according to the prior art is technically disadvantageous, because for radix 2, there is no recovery from an erroneous (e.g., noise-induced) approximation with a particular most significant value bit, because the sum of the less significant bit capacitances or voltage figures does not reach either singly or cumulatively to the magnitude of the single erroneously kept voltage or capacitance level. Simply stated, with a radix 2 series, there is no redundancy which permits alternative expressions of particular voltage or capacitance levels.
According to the present invention, a system for adaptive auto-calibration of radix less than 2 A/D SAR converters with internally generated stimuli, includes a plurality of DAC elements having element values ratioed by radix less than 2 with respect to at least one other element, the values of said plurality of DAC elements being subject to calibration. The system further includes a memory for storing digital DAC element values; and a controller for determining values of said plurality of DAC elements for storage in said memory, based upon calibration operation using said DAC elements, and performing conversion of analog voltages into digital counterpart values, during conversion operation using calibration values of the DAC elements established during calibration and stored in the memory.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a physically fixed set of capacitances is contructed as a tapered array for use without trimming or electronic adjustment, and a memory is trained to incrementally converge corresponding digital weights corresponding to the actual physical values of the constructed set of capacitances, permitting determination of unknown analog voltages by approximation with the constructed capacitances as reflected in corresponding digital weight values. According to the present invention, instead of physically or electrically adapting a constructed capacitor array, to establish a precise radix 2 tapered capacitor array, a digital weight array of values is constructed in register memory locations which is respectively representative of the actual constructed capacitor array values. This reduces manufacturing costs, because no precise capacitor array needs to be constructed. Instead, the actual capacitance ratios of a roughly constructed, non-precision capacitor array, are determined and stored in memory, to enable precise analog-to-digital conversion with an array of capacitors which are not precisely ratioed according to a predetermined radix value distribution.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, adaptive calibration of a charge redistribution digital-to-analog converter includes producing a set of sampling bits to connect sampling components such as capacitors or resistors to a selected reference voltage. Different sets of sampling bits are used to cover a selected calibration range, with the sampling sets being predetermined, fixed, random, or pseudo-random. Each set of sampling bits produces a corresponding sampled value. The sampled value is approximated with successive balancing values produced with corresponding sets of balancing bits. An analog residue is produced from the difference between the sampled and balancing values. Digital weights are generated corresponding to the sampling and balancing bits. A digital residue is determined from the difference between the sampling and balancing digital weights. The charge redistribution digital-to-analog converter includes a set of multi-valued components which can redundantly approximate particular sampled values. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the set of components includes capacitors which can be organized into subsets of capacitance values which can redundantly approximate desired capacitance values within a predetermined range.
According to the present invention, adaptive calibration is accomplished without an external impulse by a non-binary companion bit charge redistribution digital-to-analog SAR converter. Companion bits are selected lower significance bits used with associated test bits to choose particular capacitors during SAR processing and having a predetermined magnitude relationship with the test bits. Conversion of SAR capacitors according to the present invention includes balancing a sampled charge with a group of capacitors having capacitance values scaled according to a radix less-than-two function and including companion bit capacitors.

Systems and methods for adaptive auto-calibration of Radix less than 2 A/D SAR converters with internally generated stimuli


A lighting system includes a lighting apparatus provided along one side of an aisle and a specular reflection plate provided along the other side of the aisle to reflect the light emitted from the lighting apparatus toward a region where the lighting apparatus is provided. According to the above configuration, the lighting apparatus can illuminate the region where the lighting apparatus is provided. Therefore, it is possible to effectively illuminate a cabin of an aircraft with less lighting apparatuses as compared to conventional lighting apparatuses which are provided along both sides of the aisle. Moreover, since the number of the lighting apparatuses can be reduced, it is possible to improve fuel efficiency of the aircraft by reducing the total weight of the aircraft.

Examples of lighting apparatuses provided in a cabin of an aircraft include: lighting apparatuses provided at a floor surface of an aisle at prescribed intervals; lighting apparatuses that locally illuminate passenger seats for reading or the like; and lighting apparatuses that illuminate a ceiling above the aisle. Among these lighting apparatuses, the brightness in the cabin is mainly controlled by the lighting apparatuses that illuminate the ceiling above the aisle.
In recent years, for improvement of fuel efficiency of aircraft, not only the body of the aircraft but also various apparatuses installed in the cabin of the aircraft are required to be reduced in weight. For this purpose, a lighting apparatus for use in the cabin of an aircraft, which adopts LEDs as light sources, has been known (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-537613, for example). In particular, many lighting apparatuses for illuminating the ceiling above the aisle are provided over the entire length of the cabin, and therefore, using compact and lightweight LEDs as light sources of each lighting apparatus contributes to a reduction in the total weight of the aircraft.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of lighting systems using this kind of the lighting apparatuses. In FIG. 5, a lighting system 10 is used for illuminating a ceiling C above an aisle P in a cabin of an aircraft AP, and has lighting apparatuses 20 and 30 provided in two rows above and along one side and the other side of the aisle P, respectively. The lighting apparatuses 20 and 30 are mounted to upper ends of overhead storage bins 40 and 50 above a seat S, respectively, so as to be hidden from passengers sitting in the seat S. Light outputted from the lighting apparatuses 20 and 30 (indicated by arrowed broken lines) is emitted to the ceiling C and also to an upper part of the storage bins 40 and 50.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A stump grinding wheel includes a wheel member having a plurality of receiving brackets. Each receiving bracket includes a cutting tool channel. A cutting tool is received in each of cutting tool channel. Each cutting tool includes an elongated shaft having a base end and a distal end, and a cutting tip at the distal end. A stop is defined on the elongated shaft between the base end and the distal end and is configured so that it permits gauging of the distance between each receiving bracket and a respective cutting tip.

The present invention relates generally to stump grinding machines of the type having a grinding wheel located at the distal end of a movable boom. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in the replaceable cutting tools that are mounted on the machine""s grinding wheel.
Stump grinding machines are widely used to remove tree stumps. The stump is removed by a driven grinding wheel located at the distal end of a movable boom. Typically, the grinding wheel is swept back and forth in a generally horizontal plane across the stump. With each sweep the grinding wheel may be lowered or moved forward slightly to remove more of the stump and the final sweeps may be below ground level to ensure elimination of the entire stump. Details regarding the structure and operation of a stump cutter can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,570, incorporated herein by reference.
The grinding wheel includes a plurality of brackets or other mechanisms for receipt of cutting tools. The cutting tools are mounted to the grinding wheel in pockets or channels formed in the brackets so that the cutting tip portion of the cutting tool extends radially outward from its respective bracket to perform the grinding function. It will be appreciated, however, that these cutting tools must often be replaced due to normal and wear and tear. For example, both the shaft portion of the cutting tool and the cutting tip of the cutting tool (which is typically a carbide tip) may be subject to breakage or wear. In some cases, the manufacturer of the stump grinding machine may configure the grinding wheel and the corresponding brackets to maximize the stump grinding potential of the wheel and extend the life of the cutting tools.
One example of a prior art cutting tool and bracket that is conventional in many respects is shown in FIG. 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,345, to LeMaux et al. The cutting tool defines a substantially uniform crosssection extending from its base end towards its cutting tip. The cutting tool may include a bend toward the cutting tip end so that the cutting wheel defines a full cut pattern when all of the cutting tools are properly installed. The conventional receiving bracket includes a cutting tool receiving channel that defines a substantially uniform cross-section corresponding to that of the cutting tool""s shank. To properly gauge the distance between each cutting tool tip and its corresponding receiving bracket, operators of stump grinding machines utilizing conventional cutting tools and brackets must utilize a separate gauging bar or other measurement device. The measured depth must then be maintained while tightening the receiving bracket on the cutting wheel.
In addition to these conventional cutting tools, several other types of cutting tools exist in the art. In one case, a large cutting tool defines a dimpled portion that engages with a protrusion defined on the corresponding receiving bracket. In another design, the bracket and the cutting tool are simply made of a unitary construction. However, these prior art designs are larger, heavier, and generally more expensive than conventional cutting tools. For example, the dimpled cutting tool requires use of a special corresponding bracket that would not work well, if at all, with any other type of cutting tool.
The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing considerations, and others, of prior art constructions and methods. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel stump grinding machine.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stump grinding machine having improved cutter tools mounted to the cutting wheel.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a novel stump cutter tool which facilitates ease of mounting to the grinding wheel.
Some of these objects are achieved by a stump grinding wheel including a wheel member having a plurality of receiving brackets. Each bracket includes a cutting tool channel for receipt of a respective cutting tool. Each cutting tool includes an elongated shaft having a base end and a distal end, and a cutting tip at the distal end. A stop is defined on the elongate shaft between the base end and the distal end and is configured so that it permits gauging of the distance between the receiving bracket and the cutting tip.
In one exemplary embodiment, the stop is defined on one surface of the elongated shaft. The elongate shaft may include a first side surface, a second side surface, a front surface, and a rear surface. In one preferred embodiment, the stop is defined on the front surface. At least a portion of the front and rear surfaces may be parallel, and at least a portion of the first side surface and second side surface may also be parallel. The cutting tip may be defined on the front surface and it can be angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cutting tool. The elongate shaft may define a bend between its base end and its distal end, and the stop may be defined between the bend and the distal end.
Preferably, the wheel member rotates about a wheel shaft and each receiving bracket is configured on the wheel member so that the base ends of the cutting tools are closer to the cutting wheel shaft than the distal ends. In one embodiment, the bracket channel defines a longitudinal axis that is defined completely within a plane that extends completely through an axis of the wheel shaft. The stump grinding wheel can be powered by a power transmitting means between the wheel member shaft, an idler shaft, and an engine mounted on a turntable assembly. The turntable assembly may be mounted to a frame that is supported by at least one wheel. In one embodiment, the stop includes a generally planar surface that extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft.
Other objects of the invention are achieved by a stump grinding wheel having a wheel member rotatably mounted about a wheel member shaft. A plurality of receiving brackets are mounted to the wheel member, each receiving bracket includes a channel and holding means for holding the receiving brackets to the wheel member. A means for cutting a tree stump is received in each respective receiving bracket, the cutting means includes means for gaugably mounting the cutting means to the wheel member.
In one preferred embodiment, the stump cutting means includes a plurality of cutting tools and each cutting tool includes an elongated shaft having a base end and a distal end, and a cutting tip at the distal end. A ledge is defined on the elongated shaft between the base end and the distal end and is configured so that the ledge permits gauging of the distance between each receiving bracket and its respective cutting tip. The cutting tool elongated shaft base end may be slidably received within a respective bracket channel.
Other objects of the present invention are achieved by an independently gaugable cutting tool for use with a receiving bracket having a channel and mounted on a cutting wheel of a stump cutting apparatus. The cutting tool includes an elongated shaft generally correspondingly shaped to the bracket channel and defines a base end and a distal end. The base end defines a generally uniform cross-section for at least a portion thereof to permit slidable receipt of the cutting tool between the receiving bracket and the cutting wheel. A cutting tip is defined at the distal end, and a ledge is defined on the elongated shaft between the base end and the distal end and is configured so that it engages the receiving bracket to permit gauging of the distance between the receiving bracket and the cutting tip.
Still further objects are achieved by a stump cutting apparatus including a frame structure supported by at least one wheel and an engine supported by the frame. A boom is pivotally mounted to the frame and has a proximal end and a distal end. A cutting wheel is rotatably mounted to the distal end of the boom and includes a first side surface and a second side surface. A plurality of receiving brackets are mounted to the cutting wheel first and second side surfaces. Each bracket includes a channel for receipt of a cutting tool and a stop ledge adjacent to the channel. Each cutting tool includes an elongated shaft generally correspondingly shaped to the channel and has a base end and a distal end, and a cutting tip defined at the distal end. Each cutting tool also includes means for independently gauging the distance between each receiving bracket stop ledge and a respective cutting tip defined thereon.
In one preferred embodiment, the cutting tool independent gauging means includes a ledge defined on the elongated shaft between the base end and the distal end and is configured so that the ledge engages the bracket stop ledge.
Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below. The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, and illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention. These drawings, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Stump grinding apparatus having improved cutter tool


Even when a color difference diffusion (CD) method which allows high-speed color separation is used, it is difficult to attain preferred color reproduction corresponding to various user's requirements using a small-scale circuit. Hence, a color converter color-converts input image data using a 3D table selected from a plurality of 3D tables, and an interpolation process. A quantization processor obtains error-corrected data by adding error data to the color-converted image data. A dot pattern is selected based on the error-corrected data. The selected dot pattern is output to a print section. The error data is obtained by calculating the difference between a predetermined value corresponding to the dot pattern, and the error-corrected data. The error data is diffused to surrounding pixels.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method thereof and, more particularly, to an image process that realizes preferred color reproduction at high speed.
2. Background of the Invention
An image processing apparatus which makes color correction often uses 3×3 matrix operations and gamma conversion so as to attain a high-speed color process and a reduction of the circuit scale. Such matrix operations and gamma conversion can achieve arithmetically faithful color conversion, but cannot achieve preferred color reproduction in correspondence with one's memory colors and favor.
In order to convert color-corrected data into a CMYK signal depending on an output device, the color corrected data undergoes luminance-density conversion, and then undergoes a masking process, under color removal process, and black correction process. These processes impose heavy loads, and it is difficult to attain a size reduction of that circuit.
As a method that can compensate for the above drawbacks, a color difference diffusion (CD) method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-55535 is known. With this method, the distances on a color space are calculated for respective combinations of colors that an output device can reproduce, so as to associate colors closest to those of input image data with each other, and a combination of colors that can minimize the distances is selected. Furthermore, this method is a technique which can implement an arrangement for diffusing the differences among associated colors to other pixels by a small-scale circuit, and can improve a high-speed process and color reproducibility.
However, even when the CD method which allows high-speed color separation is used, it is difficult to attain preferred color reproduction corresponding to various user's requirements using a small-scale circuit.

Image processing apparatus and method thereof


A system and method for real-life interactive experience between virtual participants in a gathering of up to thousands of people attending a streamed event, using their computers and mobile devices. The virtual participants sit at boxes and tables at the event and see video and hear audio of other participants sitting at the same table and box. The participants interact with other participants of their choosing without disturbing the rest of the participants. They can use local chat boxes and global chat boxes to chat with the participants of the event. The participants may virtually move from one area to another area of the event using the event layout and sit in a new area of their choosing as they would at an in-person event while watching the streaming of the event thus providing a close to real-life experience of interacting with the event participants.

Individuals and businesses use video chat platforms such as Zoom™, Microsoft Teams™, Webex™, and Google Meet™ to communicate with each other one on one, or in small groups, to socialize, celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, family gatherings, or conduct business. These platforms allow users to see and talk to their family, friends, or colleagues virtually, without leaving their residence, office, or other locations. One of the setbacks of these platforms is that communication becomes difficult in large gatherings when everyone tries to speak at the same time. To avoid the resulting cacophony and mayhem, large events are usually conducted in conference mode in which one person speaks and everyone else listens, making it more or less a one-way communication with the participants not being able to communicate directly with each other. The other drawback with these platforms is that, if a participant does not want to see or hear from one or more of the attendees, the participant has no means to mute the audio and/or stop the video of these other attendees without muting and stopping the video of these other attendees for all attendees at the event. These platforms have features like a whiteboard, breakout rooms, town hall meetings, and conferences. However, they do not have a means for participants to communicate and interact with each other in real time while they are in remote locations watching the same event.
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies in the prior art platforms that provide virtual communications between individuals and groups of individuals. In the system and method of the present invention, participants in events having small to large gatherings experience real life close interactions with other event participants while viewing the event. The exemplary features of the present invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art through the summary of the invention, detailed description of the invention, and the claims that follow.

System and method for real-life interactive experience between event participants in a virtual gathering


A fast DRAM memory uses ground-sensing as opposed to traditional Vdd/2 sensing. A selected DRAM cell connects to a bit-line true (BLT) or a bit-line complement (BLC). At the start of each cycle the BLT and BLC are restored to ground potential. A pair of alternating reference cells are provided for each bit-line. When a selected DRAM cell is connected either BLT or BLC the first reference cell in the pair is connected to the other bitline to provide a reference voltage to the other bitline which can be compared to the voltage provided by the selected DRAM cell. On a subsequent cycle using the same bitline the second reference cell in the pair is used. Thus it is not necessary to wait for the first reference cell to recharge prior to beginning the next cycle. Switching between the first and second reference cells in the pair alternates in this manner resulting in faster cycle time. The write-back of the reference cells can be hidden since an alternate cell is available for next cycle""s reference bitline generation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) and, more particularly to a fast DRAM which uses an alternating reference cells and a ground-sensing technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) performance is a well known limitation to computer system performance. Processor speeds are rapidly outpacing main memory performance, with both processor designers and system manufacturers developing higher performance memory subsystems in an effort to minimize performance limitations due to the slower DRAM devices. Ideally, the memory performance would match or exceed processor performance, i.e., a memory cycle time would be less than one processor clock cycle. This is almost never the case and, so, the memory is a system bottleneck. While microprocessor speed has continued to increase almost exponentially, DRAM performance lacks a corresponding improvement. However, since DRAM memories continue to offer the highest density and lowest cost per bit they remain the most popular choice for computer system main memories.
By way of background, in their simplest form, a single DRAM memory cell comprises a single transistor and a single capacitor. Depending on the convention used, if a charge is stored on the capacitor the cell is said to store a 1-bit. If no charge is present, the cell is said to store a 0-bit. Since the charge on the capacitor dissipates over time, DRAM systems require additional overhead circuitry to periodically refresh the charge on the capacitor. With modern lower voltage devices it is difficult to distinguish the difference between 0 and a 1. Therefore, two bit lines are typically used for each bit with the first in the bit line pair known as bit line true (BLT) and the other being the bit line complement (BLC). In this manner, it is actually the difference between these two bit lines that determines the stored bit value.
The DRAM memory system is actually realized by incorporating many of such DRAM cell pairs in an array. Any pair in the array is addressable by row and column. The rows of the array are referred to a xe2x80x9cword-linesxe2x80x9d and the columns of the array are referred to as xe2x80x9cbit-linesxe2x80x9d. The bit lines occur in pairs, namely, bit-line true (BLT) and a bit-line complement (BLC). When a particular word-line is selected, all of the bit line pairs in that row are selected by a row address strobe (RAS) signal. Thereafter, a particular bit-line pair is selected by the column address strobe (CAS) which identifies the desired true and complement cell pair in the selected word-line to be read from or written to. A sense amplifier is connected the true and complement bit-lines. The charge transferred from each memory cell to each bit-line in the pair is differentially amplified and latched by the sense amplifier thus reading out the bit.
Over the years, many improvements have been made to DRAM array architectures, address latching and decoding circuits, sensing schemes, data paths, and the like which have greatly increased the speed, reliability and performance of DRAM memories. In particular, engineers have minimized operational power and reduced noise by using what is commonly referred to as half-Vdd (i.e. Vdd/2) sensing schemes. In a Vdd/2 sensing scheme, the bit lines are precharged to a voltage of Vdd/2 prior to reading. With Vdd/2 sensing when a particular cell is selected the charge stored on the memory cell capacitor will be shared with the bit line thus causing the voltage on the bit line to rise above or fall below Vdd/2. This difference is then sensed and amplified to read the bit. While providing benefits such as noise reduction, signal development is slowed due to the time required to precharge the bit lines and lower gain of the cell pass devices.
As is apparent from the above discussion, this type of DRAM system experiences what is commonly referred to as a destructive read. That is, when a particular cell is selected, the charge on the cell capacitor is shared or discharged onto the bit line to be read. Hence, if a charge was stored on the capacitor indicating storage of a xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d, after the read the charge is no longer present. Thus, after a read occurs, additional circuitry is required to rewrite the bit back into the memory cell. Traditionally, this rewrite step was done in the same cycle as the read.
So called xe2x80x9cfastxe2x80x9d DRAM memories have been developed that do not require signal development and write-back of the cell within the same DRAM cycle. The write-back of the cell occurs during a different cycle. As a result, by separating the read and write-back of the cell into two unique cycles the cycle time is decreased by roughly half of a conventional DRAM.
As shown in FIG. 1, there is shown a single column of a fast DRAM memory array. Each memory location comprises a bit-line true (BLT) 10 and a bit-line complement (BLC) 12 line, respectively, connected to a sense amplifier shown in box 14. In addition to a sense amplifier, the box 14 may also include additional circuitry such as isolation devices and bit line precharge circuitry. A plurality of wordlines, labeled WORDLINE-0 to WORDLINE-n, share access to the BLT 10 and BLC 12. Each DRAM cell comprises a single capacitor 160-n and a single FET transistor 180-n used to connect the capacitor to either the BLT 10 or the BLC 12 when the appropriate wordline is selected. Also shown in each DRAM cell is a resistor 200-n. However, this is a parasitic resistor inherent to the device and not an actual resistor purposely positioned.
This xe2x80x9cfastxe2x80x9d DRAM may only be implemented with a half-VDD (Vdd/2) sensing scheme where the bit-lines are precharged to Vdd/2. As noted above, this technique has several disadvantages including slow signal development time, limited low voltage functionality, slow sensing performance from small overdrive, and small signal margins which results in a more sensitive design at lower voltages.
An alternative, perhaps more desirable approach would be to use a ground-sensing scheme. In ground-sensing, each of the bit line pairs are precharged or xe2x80x9crestoredxe2x80x9d to ground potential prior to a read. Thereafter a reference cell is, activated in tandem with the word line to place a reference voltage on one of the bit-lines, either the BLT or BLC.
However, ground sensing will not work with this circuit. As an example, if one were to try and read a 1-bit out from the BLT 10 on WORDLINE-0, using ground-sensing, both BLT 10 and BLC 12 would be restored to ground (i.e. brought to ground potential). WORDLINE-0 is brought active and the charge stored on capacitor 160 would be discharged to the BLT through transistor 180. Assuming ideal conditions and thus neglecting the effects of parasitic resistance 200, the voltage on BLT would be:       V    BLT    =            V      C                  (                        C          cell                                      C            cell                    +                      C            BLT                              )
where Vc is the voltage on the cell capacitor 160,
Ccell is the capacitance of capacitor 160, and
CBLT is the capacitance of the BLT itself.
The sense amplifier 14 will be set and compares the voltages on BLT 10 and BLC 12. Based on the difference in voltages on BLT 10 and BLC 12, the sense amplifier circuitry 14 will output a signal amplifying BLT 10 to a full rail 1-bit signal and BLC 12 to a full rail 0-bit signal thus signifying that a 1-bit was stored in 160. However, as is apparent, ground sensing does not work well in the event a 0-bit is stored in 160 since in this case both BLT 10 and BLC 12 will have 0-volts on them after reading a 0-bit. Thus, the sense amplifier has nothing to compare leading to unpredictable results since there is no way to determine which of BLT 10 or BLC 12 should be amplified to rail potential.
The present invention is directed to a fast DRAM memory which uses ground-sensing as opposed to traditional Vdd/2 sensing. A selected DRAM cell connects to a bit-line true (BLT) or a bit-line complement (BLC). A ground-sensing technique is used wherein at the start of each cycle the BLT and BLC are restored to ground potential. A pair of alternating reference cells are provided for each bit-line. When a selected DRAM cell is connected either BLT or BLC the first reference cell in the pair is connected to the other bitline to add a reference voltage to the other bitline which can be compared to the voltage provided by the selected DRAM cell. On a subsequent cycle using the same bitline the second reference cell in the pair is used. In this manner it is not necessary to wait for the first reference cell to recharge prior to beginning the next cycle. Switching between the first and second reference cells in the pair alternates in this manner resulting in faster cycle time. The write-back of the reference cells can be hidden since an alternate cell is available for next cycle""s reference bitline generation.

Alternating reference wordline scheme for fast DRAM

International Business Machines Corporation


This technology provides a non-volatile memory device and a method of manufacturing the same, which may prevent an over-erase phenomenon and also increase the degree of integration, In an aspect, the non-volatile memory device includes a select gate formed over a substrate, a plurality of floating gates laterally formed with respect to the select gate and spaced apart from each other, to be independently programmable, and a plurality of junctions formed in the substrate and arranged to be controllable by the respective floating gates.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to semiconductor device manufacture technology, and more particularly, to a non-volatile memory device and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A life environment changes into a life environment in which anyone may easily use desired information at anytime and anywhere thanks to the recent digital media devices. A variety of rapidly spreading devices using a digital method require storage media that may store captured images, recorded music, and various data conveniently. In line with this trend, there is a growing interest in a system on chip (SoC) field according to a tendency for the degree of integration of non-memory semiconductors to increase, and worldwide semiconductor companies are in competition with each other in order to enhance SoC chip-based technology.
A SoC chip means that system technologies are integrated into one semiconductor. If system design technology is not secured, the development of a non-memory semiconductor will become difficult. One of the essential SoC chip fields in which complicated technologies are integrated as described above is an embedded memory chip, and an embedded flash memory chip has been in the spotlight from among the embedded memory chips.
However, the known embedded flash memory is problematic in that an over-erase phenomenon may be generated when an erase operation is performed. In order to solve the concern, an additional operation, such as recovery, is necessary. However, in this case, there may be another concern in that the size of a peripheral circuit is increased.
In contrast, there has been introduced a technology in which a select gate is disposed in each cell in order to prevent the over-erase phenomenon without an additional operation, such as recovery, and a peripheral circuit for the recovery operation. However, there may be another concern in that the size of a unit cell is doubled or more than being doubled due to the inclusion of the select gate.

Non-volatile memory device and method of fabricating the same


A manually propelled cart for the removal of snow, with dual function as garden cart, comprising: a PVC framework with handles on its upper segment, and a scoop on its lower segment. The framework supported by a rectangular metallic plate adhered to its underside, disposed on top of two large wheels in the middle of its length, with an axle attached to the plate's underside providing the cart a seesaw motion. A pivoted scoop designed as a rectangular bin, with an open forward section and an axle attached to its bottom underside, rotates in a vertical plane. A latch mechanism disposed adjacent the scoop's rearwall, controls its automatic motions and is operated by pulling a cable connected to a handle. Two springs hooked to the scoop's sidewalls and to the supporting plate acting cooperatively with the latch. Two swivel casters underside the plate's forward end, makes the cart steerable.

The present invention is in the technical field of new and improved manually propelled snow removal vehicles, with two large wheels and tilting scoops for scooping up to one feet accumulation in driveways, sidewalks and around homes and buildings. More particularly the field of the present invention relates to the incorporation of a cart with a special framework configuration with a new type of mechanical mounted tilting scoop unit.
According to its embodiment, the present invention has been expressly designed for the removal of snow, so it cannot be used for ice cracking or for picking up and transporting heavy materials. However, the embodiment of the invention permits one exception in its use which is that it can perform as a garden cart to transport bags of soil, fertilizers and other light weight garden items, as long as it does not surpass a comparable weight to a snow full scoop.
The need to remove snow has become an activity that does not discriminate a person's age, impelling most people to use a conventional shovel consisting of a blade and handle. That simple tool in many cases can cause severe damages to health, especially to seniors, due to continuous efforts of bending, lifting and throwing of heavy loads. The brisk last exertion, needed to discharge a load from a shovel results in back aches, muscular strains and even heart failure, all of which has been repeatedly expressed in prior arts and at this time should be interpreted as a wake up call.
Different efforts of improvements have been made by stages, aiming to simplify the use of conventional shovels, like the addition of small wheels to shovels blades which eliminates exertions when pushing and transporting snow.
In another stage, the addition of levered handles mounted on wheel axles it's been acknowledged. A significant step taken to help eliminate users efforts of lifting and transporting of snow, although leaving unsolved the elimination of the last physical exertion needed to discharge the load of snow, usually done by using arms and bodies.
In a later stage, a solution emerged in the heavy task of having to briskly throw loads of snow from blades or scoops to complete the whole operation of removing the snow. A tilting scoop mounted on the lower end of levered handles or frames, partially eliminated said last exertion for users. However, all these successful innovations still offer opportunities for improvements as it will be described further on in the present invention's description.
Examples of apparatuses equipped with tilting shovels or scoops pivotally mounted on handles or frames equipped with wheels are:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,894 to Sam F. Emma in Dec. 1, 1981, discloses a pivoted shovel on a roller of two small wheels; said wheels sizes limiting the elevation of the shovel.
U.S. Patent application No 2005/0160632 A1 of Jul. 28, 2005 to Cyril Williams, discloses a scoop pivotally mounted to the lower end of a frame, and upon activation of a release lever on the scoop head discharges its load. However the small sizes of its wheels allows a limited elevation of the scoop to release its load when the user exerts downward pressure on the handle bar.
U.S. Patent application No 2009/0320331 A1 of Dec. 31, 2009 to Johans S. Adinata, discloses a snow shovel with a spring-loaded shovelhead. A small wheel assembly acting as a fulcrum is attached to the device for easy handling of a snow load; the shovel head being able to tilt downward against a spring loaded mechanism. Like in the previous example the shovel elevation is limited by the small size of the wheel.
A common limitation in the aforementioned example (consisting in fulcrums too close to the ground surface, mainly due to the small sizes of the wheels which translates into a considerable effort for users when bearing down on handlebars) was improved with the use of large sized wheels in apparatuses like the ones indicated below:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,887 Manual snowplough, issued to Mohiuddin Muzzamel on May 18, 2004, discloses a snowplough that has a handle on one end and a large snow scoop on the other. The plough is supported on a frame that is mounted on a pair of large wheels placed well behind the snow scoop. Said wheeled plow limitation derives from the fact that the scoop is fixedly attached to the frame and therefore has no tilting movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,418 issued on Sep. 26, 2006 to Mark Noonan et. al, discloses an apparatus comprising a shovel disposed on a single relatively large wheel. The apparatus involves a shovel having a handle formed at the end of an elongated yoke, the yoke being mounted at its middle portion onto the axle of a relatively large wheel for the purpose of picking up of a load, transporting it to a location, and propelling the load overboard with a quick arm/body motion on the part of a person operating the handle. The substantially waist-high wheel is adapted to receive the body force of an operator as an effective leverage through the handle and cause a recoil action from the wheel to enhance the throwing power of the apparatus of the invention comprising the shovel, the wheel and the yoke as a driving member.
Now, said Mark Noonan invention being disclosed, with a sophisticated mechanical device that enhances the throwing power, is an innovation. However, because the Noonan apparatus has a shovel mounted in one single wheel, its operators have to make additional physical efforts, first to maintain the lateral balance of the apparatus while pushing it to transport its load toward a selected dumping place, and second, as it is claimed on its own patent application, a final physical exertion must be made by an operator "applying a quick arm/body motion", walking in haste to throw its load overboard, an operation that may find a complication mainly when an accumulation of snow surpasses one foot in areas adjacent to driveways and sidewalks. Said disadvantages of the referred invention need to be solved, focusing on improving load discharge with a different mechanical approach related to the shovel. Its current system does not thoroughly ensure eliminating users exertions.
To summarize, although it is apparent that current state of the art of apparatuses equipped with large wheels and tilting scoops involved in the removal of snow in driveways and sidewalks, intend to cover all the functions needed to safely complete a whole operation of removal, they still seem to offer opportunities for further innovations and improvements.


The novel process provides latices of homo- and copolymers of chloroprene and of one or more further copolymerizable monomers at a higher reaction rate and hence in an improved space-time yield. The latices obtained have a high gel content, distinctly lower levels of by-products, in particular of chloroprene dimer, than prior art products, and are useful, if appropriate in concentrated form, for a wide variety of applications.

Latices of polychloroprene are industrially produced by free-radical emulsion polymerization of chloroprene (2-chloro-1,3-butadiene), if appropriate by copolymerization with suitable monomers. Such latices will herein also be collectively referred to as "polychloroprene latices". The monomers are admixed in an aqueous medium with an emulsifier system in the course of latex production. This emulsifier system is generally anionic in nature, but occasionally nonionic or cationic systems are also used. The temperature range in which the polymerization is carried out comprises values of about 0° C. to about 60° C. The polymerization can thus be initiated by thermally disintegrating free-radical formers, or by means of redox systems. Generally, molecular weight regulators such as mercaptans or xanthogen disulphides are also used. In some cases, the molecular weight of the end product is also set by copolymerizing with sulphur and then splitting the resulting sulphidic bonds. The desired degree of conversion is set by stopping the reaction with a suitable agent. In the overwhelming number of cases, the resulting dispersion of polychloroprene in water, i.e. the so-called polychloroprene latex, is subsequently demonomerized by passing steam through it. A portion of the product obtained as a result finds direct industrial use as a latex, but the larger portion is freed of adherent water by coagulation, usually freeze coagulation, and shipped as a solid product to its ultimate use.
The polymerization generally by-produces products such as, for example, dimers of chloroprene or other low molecular weight compounds which can have an undesirable influence on the odour of the final product, whether it is to be used as latex or else as a solid rubber. These by-products are only imperfectly removable by the above-described steam treatments in the course of latex devolatilization or else by water wash in the course of the work-up of the solid rubber.
One way to reduce the undesirable odorant by-products to some degree at least consists in conducting the polymerization at a reduced polymerization temperature. However, a reduced polymerization temperature means directly a reduced polymerization rate and therefore is undesirable for economic reasons. It is further known that the crystallization tendency of polychloroprene products more often militates against the planned use.
One technologically important property of synthetic latices is the so-called gel content, which characterizes the fraction of the polymer that is insoluble in a certain solvent (toluene, for example). A high gel content is indispensable in various applications, for example for a high strength of a "wet", i.e. incompletely dried, film of the respective material. A high gel content is achievable when using chloroprene (as in the case of all emulsion-polymerized dienes) by crosslinking by means of multifunctional monomers or by a high conversion for the polymerization reaction. A high conversion (>95% for example), however, is associated with economically less desirable long polymerization times, in particular when relatively low polymerization temperatures are employed.
Yet an economically better polymerization at relatively high temperatures, which leads faster to the desired degrees of conversion, results in increased formation of dimeric by-products via Diels-Alder reactions, and there are other secondary reactions observed to take place. This frequently gives rise to products which lack utility for some applications due to the odour nuisance generated during production or use of the end products.
Various methods have been described in the past of "masking" the odorant by-products by adding scents having a more intense odour. Examples of such masking agents are "scent of hay", anisaldehyde, vanillin, camphor. This method is described by J. C. Carl in "Neoprene Latex", E.I. DuPont de Nemours (self-published monograph), 1962, page 67. WO-A-01/00683 describes a method comprising the removal of odorants by means of ozone or hydrogen peroxide. Common to all these methods is that they mask or remove the odorants formed, but do not avoid or minimize their formation.


A point-to-point microwave radio link that operates in a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) mode using direct digital modulation with a Continuous Phase Shift Keyed (PSK) scheme. The transmit signal is generated by a circuit that uses a Voltage-Control Oscillator (VCO) operating in a microwave radio band to obtain the modulated signal. The VCO output is fed to a phase modulator to obtain the modulated signal. The output of the VCO is then frequency multiplied by the predetermined factor to produce the modulated microwave output signal at the desired band.

The need to transport high-bandwidth signals from place to place continues to drive growth in the telecommunications industry. As the demand for high-speed access to data networks, including both the Internet and private networks, continues to evolve, network managers face an increasing need to transport data signals over short distances. For example, in corporate campus environments, it is often necessary to implement high-speed network connections between buildings rapidly and inexpensively, without incurring commitments for long-term service contracts with local telephone companies. Other needs occur in residential areas, including apartment buildings, and even private suburban neighborhoods. Each of these settings requires efficient distribution of high-speed data signals to a number of locations.
An emerging class of products provides a broadband wireless access solution via point-to-point communication links over radio carrier frequencies in the microwave radio band. The telecommunications transport signals may be provided on a wire, but increasingly, these are provided on optical fiber media. An optical to electrical conversion stage is thus first required to convert the baseband digital signal. Next, a microwave frequency radio is needed to up-convert the broadband digital signal to a suitable radio carrier frequency. These up-converters are typically implemented using multi-stage heterodyne receivers and transmitters such that the input baseband signal is modulated and then up-converted to the desired radio frequency. In the case of an OC-3 rate optical transport signal having a bandwidth of 155 MegaHertz (MHz), the input signal may be up converted to an ultimate microwave carrier of, for example, 23 GHz, through several Intermediate Frequency (IF) stages at lower radio frequencies.
Other implementations may use optical technologies to transport the signal over the air. These technologies use optical emitters and detectors operating in the high infrared range. While this approach avoids conversion of the optical input to an electrical signal, it has certain limitations. First, the light wave carrier has a narrow beamwidth, meaning that the transmitter and receiver must be carefully aligned with one another. Light wave carriers are also more susceptible to changes in physical conditions. These changes may be a result of changes in sunlight and shade exposure, or foreign material causing the lenses to become dirty over time. Other problems may occur due to vibrations from nearby passing automobiles and heating ventilating and cooling equipment. Some members of the public are concerned with possible eye damage from high powered lasers.
The present invention is a point-to-point microwave radio link that operates in a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) mode using separate microwave band radio frequency carriers for each direction. The transmitter uses direct digital modulation to convert an input baseband optical rate signal to the desired microwave frequency carrier. The design may be targeted for operation at unallocated frequencies in the millimeter wave spectrum, such from 40-320 GHz.
The direct digital modulation is implemented using a Phase Shift Keyed (PSK) scheme. The PSK signal is generated at the transmitter by a circuit that uses a stable voltage controlled oscillator operating in the 10-13 GHz band. The oscillator output is first up-converted to the desired microwave range. For operation in the 40-52 GHz range, this may be a single stage times four (xc3x974) frequency multiplier for operation at a higher range, such as from 81-87 GHz, a second, times two (xc3x972) multiplier may also be employed.
The frequency multiplier feeds a phase modulator and/or attenuator circuit. In particular, the frequency multiplier output is fed to a phase modulator that deviates the phase by a desired amount. The phase deviator may be one or more circulators in a preferred embodiment. A bandpass filter and power amplifier may typically be inserted prior to the phase shifter.
If amplitude modulation is also desired, an attenuator may be inserted in-line prior to the phase deviator. This allows multi-level modulation schemes such as QAM to be employed.
The receiver uses a similar but inverse signal chain consisting of a microwave oscillator, frequency multiplier, and bandpass filter. A single down conversion stage is all that is required. By inserting the frequency multiplier between the oscillator and down converter mixer, the local oscillator remains offset by a wide margin from the input RF carrier frequency. This permits the receiver image reject filters to be implemented more easily.
While the direct digital modulation approach is not necessarily bandwidth-efficient, it provides a low cost alternative to traditional approaches, since the base band modem and multiple RF stages are eliminated. Because there are no heterodyne stages, there also are no images of the modulated baseband signals created on either side of the carrier frequency. Thus, image reject filters are not necessary.
Direct digital modulation also only creates modulation artifacts at high multiples of the VCO center frequency. This allows the output bandpass filters to be implemented using inexpensive waveguide technologies that can easily reject the harmonics of the VCO output, as opposed to more stringent filters that might otherwise be required to reject the harmonics of the baseband signal.

Optical to microwave converter using direct modulation phase shift keying


A repositionable insulating truck bulkhead panel has lower and lateral reinforcing rails made form impact-resistant material to reinforce and support a pair of thermoplastic panel face panels between which closed cell foam is inserted to add insulating properties and structural strength. Molded-in channels on the front and rear of the panels provide multiple, selectable recessed mounting sites for hardware such as handles and cleats and also provides paths for air circulation.

A well-known technique for transporting perishable goods by truck trailer is to use moveable bulkhead units to divide the trailer into separate storage compartments and to maintain each compartment at a temperature necessary to preserve the goods during transport. As an example, truckers are frequently required to carry frozen goods, refrigerated goods and non-refrigerated, or "dry" goods on a single trailer for delivery to a number of different stops. Compartments must then be configured to provide storage spaces maintained at sub-freezing, cooling and ambient temperatures, and must be arranged to allow the trucker access to the compartments to off-load ordered goods at each stop. Preferably, the bulkhead units are repositionable to allow the trucker to adjust the sizes of the individual compartments to meet the load volume and variety for each day's deliveries. Size adjustment is important in maintaining cooling efficiency and economy: a compartment that is only partially filled requires the refrigeration unit to work much harder to keep the stored goods at the right temperature.
Keeping loads at "safe" temperatures sometimes means protecting the loads from ambient temperatures as well as allowing temperature-controlled air to refrigerate the compartments. For example, during winter months, dry goods may need to be protected from freezing and one way to provide such protection is to use thermally-insulated and repositionable bulkhead units to construct a temporary compartment around such goods until they have been safely delivered. It may also be necessary at times to erect temporary insulating shelters for goods that must be protected until used as, for example, frozen meats intended to be handled and served at a fair, festival and the like. Lightweight repositionable insulating bulkhead units make it possible to turn otherwise unrefrigerated interior space into temporarily insulated storage space.
A preferred use for repositionable insulating bulkhead unit is in refrigerated truck trailers, and it is this use that will form much of the disclosure of the present invention. One such bulkhead is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,943 (Boyer) as having a frame within which panels of polystyrene insulation are positioned, a number of reinforcing ribs placed in between adjacent polystyrene panels, a flexible insulating material covers the polystyrene panels and the frame members, a layer of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene ("ABS") and resilient seals which extend along the top and down both sides of the frame. The panel is sized to extend across the entire width of a truck trailer and the seals are designed to allow the Boyer panel to be "wedged" against the sidewalls of the trailer to hold them in place.
Boyer also describes a variation of the panel in which first and second panels are used, each equal in size to about one-half the trailer width. The panels interengage along one edge to form an equivalent of the large panel. No provision is made to combine Boyer's panels into other configurations.
Use of bulkheads to divide a refrigerated truck trailer into separate, temperature-maintained zones is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,848 (Lutton), assigned to Kidron, Inc. Lutton describes the advantages of dividing a truck trailer lengthwise using a continuous bulkhead held in floor and ceiling channels formed down the center of the trailer and the use of transverse bulkhead sections to divide the trailer further into frozen, refrigerated and dry zones. One of the advantages claimed by Lutton is ease of access to the individual compartments from the rear door of the trailer, obviating the need for a side door to load and unload.
Lutton describes repositionable bulkhead or partition units used to change the interior trailer configuration having an inner core of conventional insulating material sandwiched between two sheets of lightweight, flexible materia such as fiberglass. Each panel is closed off at its ends by "sealing structures" described as rigid, aluminum tongues sized to be inserted into a channel formed by a U-shaped fiberglass member. The seal formed by the panels is dependent upon the force with which the tongue is forced into and held within the channel. Lutton teaches the use of a foam rubber channel insert as a contact material for the tongue. As seen in FIG. 8 of Lutton, the sealing contact between adjacent panels appears to be confined to the area at which the tongue (110) touches the foam rubber insert (116), while the strength of the panels appears to be limited by the selection of materials used for the panels and the channels.
Lutton also teaches the use of transverse bulkhead panels with edges formed from foam rubber covered by flexible fabric. The bulkhead panels are sized to form a friction fit between the ceiling and floor of the trailer, and between the sidewall of the trailer and the panels used to form the center partition, and the flexible seals are intended to hold the bulkhead panel in place frictionally. Straps are also used to attach the bulkhead panels to special connectors attached to the center panels and to tracks specially installed along the trailer sidewall.
Sites are commonly provided on the faces of such panels for mounting hardware such as handles and tie-down cleats and typically the locations for these sites will be determined prior to molding or forming the panel faces and will be selected to place the handles or tie-downs back-to-back on opposite sides of the panel in order to allow the handles/cleats to be secured by bolts passing through a handle or cleat on one side of the panel, through the panel itself and through the handle or cleat located on the opposite side of the panel. Such sites are desirably recessed so that the handle or cleat does not protrude and interfere with the stacking of cargo. This system works well for initial construction but causes problems when a handle or cleat must be moved to a different location because of configuration problems or damage to the panel.
Accordingly, the need exists for improved durable, lightweight interengageable insulating panels adapted to be assembled within an enclosed space to divide the space into different temperature zones.
Further, the need exists for such panels to be constructed with oversized bottom rails to protect the lowermost portions of the panels and the fasteners used to assemble the rails to the panels.
The need further exists for such panels to allow the flow of air past cartons or other containers that may be stacked up against the panels.
Finally, a need also exists for such panels to provide recesses allowing the selective positioning of handles and cleats on the panels.
The present invention resides in a unique panel unit construction particularly useful for assembly into a center dividing wall down the length of a truck trailer with each panel including reinforcing bottom and side rails made from particularly durable materials and configured to protect the fasteners used to assemble the panels. A series of reinforcing and ventilating channels are formed on the panel faces to stiffen the panels, provide air circulation past goods stacked up against the panels and to provide selectable mounting sites for handles and cleats. Each panel unit is assembled from a pair of spaced-apart face panels glued or otherwise fastened together about their peripheries and between which is injected a closed-cell foam to provide support and insulation. Side rails are mounted to each panel unit with mating male and female connectors to enable the panels to be laterally interengaged. A centrally-positioned track located on the lowermost part of the bottom rail is inserted into a groove formed in the truck floor and a compression seal mounted to the top edge of the panel is compressed against the truck roof to hold the panel in place.


New donning-actuated clips and other fastening and tightening techniques for garments are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a garment includes a self-contained fitting and fastening system that, preferably, is reversibly actuated by donning, and therefore requires no additional fastening or fitting step to use—a user need only don the garment in an ordinary fashion. In one embodiment, a lateral tightening and fitting mechanism is provided, which translates donning movements into fitting and fastening force via channeled bands, eliminating lateral play in the garment when worn. In other aspects, the fitting and fastening system is configured to aid in compressing and folding the garment when the system is released and the garment is removed by a user. The techniques of the invention are also applied in the context of sporting garments, such as running shoes, allowing a user to put on well-fitted shoes quickly, with easy entry, and no need for separate lacing or binding steps.

Strength training by athletes to increase muscular and cardiovascular performance has been practiced for millennia. In the sub-field of weight training, a great number of specialized weights have been developed, including both freely moving ("free weights") and machine-fastened and administered weights (weight "machines"). With each of those, and in other strength training areas, force is applied against the force of contraction, or attempted contraction, of muscles, resulting in a training response by the body to maintain or increase muscle strength and/or endurance as an adaptation response.
Free weights have historically included one-piece weights, such as fixed dumbbells and kettle-bells, and adjustable weight sets, such as plate-loading barbells. With plate-loading barbells, typically, weights with a loading aperture (a.k.a., "plates") are threaded onto weight-loading ends of a generally rod-shaped barbell (a.k.a., "the bar"), and are held in place on the bar with the aid of weight "clips" or "collars." Many machines also incorporate plate-loading bars, which may benefit from the stability and safety of fixing the weights in place with such clips or collars. Generally, plate-loading bars are used in most advanced strength training programs because the ability to vary the weight loaded in a wide variety of increments on a variety of bars affords the most custom-fitted workout options with the least amount of gear, and storage space.
Plate-fastening weight clips have been developed in a variety of forms, as shown in related art FIGS. 9-12, and typically require several steps to deploy, such as, but not limited to: 1) loosen each clip; 2) slide each clip over a bar; 3) fasten each clip in place after sliding; 4) test the clip/weight for lateral play and security against lateral force; 5) adjust the tightness and lateral play of each clip, if necessary; and 6-8) reverse steps 1-3 to unload. As shown in FIG. 9, some clips include threading, such as inner lining threading 901 of clip 905, and work in conjunction with the complementary threading of the bar, for example, the examples of threading shown as 903, to tighten against a loaded plate and secure it in place on a bar. While, in the inventor's experience, the security of this type of clip may be relatively good, if correctly deployed, the inventor also finds that the loading times for changing out weight plates can be onerous in comparison to other clip types. Pin-pressure style weight clips, such as that illustrated in FIG. 10, also use threading, such as that shown as threading 1003, to fasten a collar, such as 1001, to a bar (not pictured) using complementary hole 1005 to drive a pin 1007 toward the center of the bar-holding port 1009 (and, therefore, against the bar, when inserted into a loading aperture of the collar). In the inventor's experience, time delay with that approach also may be great, and he also finds that the holding force of the pins can be weaker and subject to failure or tightening errors due to their relatively small contact area with the bar, in conjunction with non-tightness oriented resistance from a variety of sources, some of which are related to subtle rotational shifts in the collar on the bar. In other words, the inventor has discovered that these weight clips often feel tightened onto the bar when, in fact, they are still loose and poorly seated, and that they require lateral force toleration tests during use to ensure proper seating. The inventor has discovered that other clips, such as the handled spring coil weight clip (an example of which is given as FIG. 11), and the arm-actuated clamping weight clip (provided as FIG. 12), can be faster to attach, but still require the step of sliding a collar onto a bar, after sliding a plate weight on, and have limited fastening power and are more prone to loosen and break, especially from repeated use. These approaches each include actuating handle(s), 1101 and 1201, respectively, with which the user first widens the clip aperture (1103 and 1203) by moving the handles in the directions indicated by motion arrows 1105 and 1205 prior to sliding the clip on after sliding a separate plate-style weight onto a bar. A user then tightens the aperture in place on the bar with reversed handle movements (which may be aided by spring resiling, in the instance of a coil clip).
The inventor has discovered that the utility of all current weight clips can be frustrated by the need to locate and administer them. In the inventor's experience, weight clips may be borrowed, broken or worn—often unevenly, in comparison to one another. The inventor has found that, even within a single professional gym, different age, condition and types of clips may be found, and clips may have widely-differing weights, from anywhere from a few ounces to several pounds. The differing weights of varying clip types have made planning workouts and plotting progress more difficult for the inventor. The inventor has experienced still other disadvantages of present clips, including a tendency for lateral slippage due to an absence of significant active lateral force applying aspects.
None of the statements concerning prior art issues and limitations in the background section of this application are admissions that those statements or their subject matter are prior art. Rather, some information provided herein is the result of the inventor's personal experience and research, and is included in the background section to provide foundational information that may be helpful in understanding aspects of the invention set forth in this application. Thus, the "Background" heading refers to foundational information, some of which may or may not be prior art.
This application sets forth a variety of examples of aspects of the present invention, which are illustrative, not exhaustive, of the even wider variety of potential implementations. It should be understood that a virtually unlimited number and degree of alternative embodiments, including alternative systems and methods and parts thereof, even though not specifically set forth, fall within the scope of the invention.
It should also be understood that, for convenience and readability, this application may set forth particular pronouns and other linguistic qualifiers of various specific gender and number, but, where this occurs, all other logically possible gender and number alternatives should also be read in as both conjunctive and alternative statements, as if equally, separately set forth therein.


A strong but lightweight garment hanger includes a unitary body that can be made of Aluminum or plastic. A hook support member depends down from the hook of the hanger, and first and second arm members extend down from the hook support member. For strength, each arm member includes an inner arm and an outer arm connected to the inner arm by connector segments. A lower support member extends between the arm members and includes upper and lower elements and a strengthening web between the lower and upper elements.

Garment hangers typically cannot easily hold an ensemble but rather usually can support only a single coat or but a few items of an ensemble. This is because most garment hangers are intended to hold only a single garment. For example, the ubiquitous wire hanger cannot easily hold more than one garment and in some cases can leave a crease in the shoulder of a lighter garment such as a shirt. Also, most hangers do not securely hold many common items of an ensemble, such as a man's tie or a woman's scarf. When carrying such items on a hanger a person consequently must keep an eye on them to ensure they do not fall off.
As recognized by the present invention, this causes people who might wish to carry an entire clothing ensemble on a hanger to, e.g., the gymnasium or other location at which they intend to change clothes to resort to using several hangers. This is cumbersome. Further, many ensemble items may require separate baggage altogether particularly if the mode of transportation used to arrive at the destination causes insecurely hung items such as ties to slip off the hanger. Nonetheless, conveying clothing on a hanger is often preferable to folding the clothing into luggage because hung clothing does not wrinkle. Having made these critical observations, the invention herein is provided.


A network system includes a plurality of networks, a first internetwork apparatus having a plurality of first ports each connected to the plurality of networks, a second internetwork apparatus having a plurality of second ports each connected to the plurality of networks, and a data transmission path connected to the first and second internetwork apparatuses to transmit data mutually between the first and second internetwork apparatuses. In the normal state, each of the plurality of first ports is caused to be able to transmit and receive data to and from one of the plurality of networks and the plurality of second ports are caused not to be able to receive data from the plurality of networks and to be able to transmit data to the plurality of networks. Whether a failure occurs in any of one of the plurality of first ports and a route between one of the plurality of first ports and one of the plurality of networks connected thereto is detected and the one of the plurality of first ports is caused not to be able to transmit and receive data to and from the one of the plurality of networks in response to detection of occurrence of failure. One of the plurality of second ports connected to the one of the plurality of first ports through the one of said plurality of networks is caused to be able to transmit and receive data to and from the one of the plurality of networks in response to detection of occurrent of failure.

The present invention relates to a network system in which a plurality of internetwork apparatuses such as routers each connecting networks at the network layer level are used to connect a plurality of networks to one another, and more particularly to a network system having the redundant configuration in which a current internetwork apparatus is changed to a standby internetwork apparatus upon failure of the current internetwork apparatus.
In the system in which a plurality of networks are connected by a single router, when a failure occurs in the router, operation of the whole of the system is stopped, so that the whole of the system fails to be operated normally. On the other hand, there is a system having the redundant configuration using two routers one serving as a current router and the other serving as a standby router and in which in the normal state of the current router the system is operated by the current router and when a failure occurs in the current router the system is operated by the standby router instead of the current router to thereby attain a high reliability system.
Such a system having the redundant configuration is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-6-131208. In this system, when a failure occurs in a current network apparatus, operation of the whole of the current network apparatus is stopped and the current network apparatus is changed to a standby network apparatus to thereby realize the system having the redundant configuration.
Further, in a network system, various management information such as statistical information, set information and the like is exchanged among nodes in the network and is managed as a management information base (MIB).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Network system having function of changing route upon failure


A drag assembly for a spinning reel comprising a plurality of drag mechanisms axially arranged inside a spool, a drag control element for controlling the drag assembly, a changeover control element for switching a drag force acting on some of said drag mechanisms to a predetermined drag force different from a drag force determined by the drag control element, and an axially movable link member acting on said drag mechanisms requiring the drag force thereof to be changed to a plurality of stages by operating the changeover control element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drag assembly having a plurality of drag mechanisms and also to a spinning reel including such a drag assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
An example of the conventional drag assemblies as noted above is shown in Japanese patent application "Kokai" No. 61-66479 in which two drag adjusting elements are provided for adjusting drag forces of two drag mechanisms, respectively.
In such a reel having two drag mechanisms, a reference drag force is determined by the first drag mechanism while a greater drag force is determined by the second drag mechanism, which can vary the drag force. For instance, when the angler is fighting with a biting fish and the fish suddenly pulls to escape, the drag force applied by the second drag mechanism is slackened to feed out a fishing line, and when the fish ceases to escape, the drag force returns to the initial value to allow the angler to continue to draw the fish.
Such a structure is advantageous in that the angler can provide against a sudden pull of the fish, and that the wound fishing line is restrained from being increased in diameter due to over rotation of the spool under the reference drag force of the first drag mechanism.
However, the drag adjusting element for the second drag mechanism is a screw type to permit a fine adjustment, which requires the angler to watch an adjusted position whenever it is varied and does not provide a sufficient structure against the sudden pull by the fish.

Switchable drag assembly for a spinning wheel


A method and device for managing images stored in a plurality of storage media by using a display unit included in an image forming apparatus to prints the images are provided. The method includes: displaying identification names of a plurality of storage media included in or connected to the image forming apparatus; and linking information on images stored in the plurality of storage media with the identification names of the plurality of storage media and displaying the information on images stored in the plurality of storage media. Accordingly, the identification names of the plurality of storage media included in or connected to the image forming apparatus are displayed by linking information on images with the identification names in order to manage the images stored in the storage media. Therefore, a user can conveniently and promptly recognize and manage the storage media and the images stored in the storage media. In addition, since the plurality of storage media are controlled concurrently, image data can be promptly read from or written to the storage media, and data transfer speed between the storage media can be increased.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for printing images stored in a plurality of storage media. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and device for managing images stored in the plurality of storage media by using a display unit included in the image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In image forming apparatuses, documents to be printed are converted into encoded data through application programs, and the encoded data is then printed on paper in a readable format.
Recently developed image formatting apparatuses use a memory card or a universal serial bus (USB) memory stick storing image data to facilitate the printing the image data directly from the external storage media, or to include a big capacity hard disk.
To print image data from a memory card, the image forming apparatus includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) to display images stored in the memory card. The LCD permits a user to select an image to be printed after verifying the images. The display unit included in the image forming apparatus has an N-up function to display a plurality of images stored in the memory card on one screen.
FIG. 1 illustrates an N-up display which displays a plurality of images on one screen. When the user selects a hard disk included in the image forming apparatus or an external storage medium connected to the image forming apparatus, images stored in the selected storage medium are displayed on the screen, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
However, even when a plurality of storage media are connected to the image forming apparatus, the user only obtain information on images stored in the storage medium selected by the user. Therefore, images cannot be transferred between storage media, resulting in ineffective management of the images stored in the plurality of storage media.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system and method for effectively managing images stored in a plurality of storage media included in or connected to an image forming apparatus.

Method and device for managing images stored in a plurality of storage media included in or connected to image forming apparatus


In one embodiment, a node coupled to a plurality of solid state drives (SSDs) executes a storage input/output (I/O) stack having a plurality of layers. Write data associated with one or more write requests to the SSDs is stored in a volatile log. The write data is organized into one or more extents that are copied to the SSDs. The volatile log has a front-end and a set of records with metadata. The metadata includes a head offset referencing an initial record and a tail offset referencing a final record. A portion of the one or more write requests including the write data is copied to a non-volatile log maintained in a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). The front-end and the set of records from the volatile log are copied, but the head offset and the tail offset are not, to reduce an amount of metadata copied to the NVRAM.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to storage systems and, more specifically, to logging of data, including metadata, in non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) of a storage system.
2. Background
A storage system typically includes one or more storage devices, such as solid state drives (SSDs) embodied as flash storage devices, into which information may be entered, and from which the information may be obtained, as desired. The storage system may logically organize the information stored on the devices as storage containers, such as files or logical units (LUNs). These storage containers may be accessible by a host system using a data protocol over a network connecting the storage system to the host. Each storage container may be implemented as a set of data structures, such as data blocks that store data for the storage containers and metadata blocks that describe the data of the storage containers.
Some types of SSDs, especially those with NAND flash components, move data among those components at the granularity of a page (e.g., 8 kilobytes) and then only to previously erased pages. Typically, pages are erased exclusively in blocks of 32 or more pages (i.e., 256 KB or more). Accordingly, to store data from one or more input/output (I/O) requests, e.g., smaller than a page, an SSD may modify a page, then erase an entire block (e.g., 256 KB) and rewrite the entire block as modified by the data (i.e., less than a page, 8 KB). As a result, storage to SSD may be slow and inefficient, even slower than some traditional magnetic media disk drives. Thus, fast and efficient acknowledgement of the I/O requests by the storage system is desirable so as to reduce latency from the perspective of a host. To that end, some protocols permit data to be stored out-of-order, i.e., in different order to that which I/O requests from the host are received at the storage system.
However, data associated with an I/O request may be lost when power is interrupted on the storage system. This is particularly problematic when the I/O request, e.g., a write request, from the host has been acknowledged by the storage system and write data associated with the request has been sent to the one or more storage devices prior to a power loss, i.e., power is interrupted prior to permanent storage on the device. Recording, e.g., logging, the write request (including write data) to a persistent medium on the storage system and acknowledging the write request to the host reduces the window of storage system vulnerability, i.e., the time during which the storage system cannot guarantee persistent storing of the write request to the data container.
However, recording of the write request (including write data) along with eventual storage of the write data to the data container consumes storage system resources, such as I/O bandwidth. This is particularly acute in high I/O operations per second (TOPS) storage systems where recording each write request may involve multiple metadata accesses to storage which increases latency of write request acknowledgements to the host. Therefore, there is a need to provide low latency for acknowledgement of I/O requests while providing power loss resiliency by persistently logging those I/O requests.

NVRAM data organization using self-describing entities for predictable recovery after power-loss


A collapsible frame structure, movable between an open arrangement and a folded arrangement, includes a plurality of legs, a plurality of cross members arranged in pairs, a plurality of slider joints and pivot joints, and at least one latch mechanism. Each pair of cross members is located between respective adjacent legs to form sides of the collapsible frame structure that define an interior of the collapsible frame structure. Each slider joint slidingly engages a respective one of the legs and pivotably attaches to two adjacent cross members. Each pivot joint is at a respective one of the legs to pivotably attach two adjacent cross members. The latch mechanism, which is mounted to another frame component of the collapsible frame structure, remains so mounted in both the open arrangement and the folded arrangement. Nonadjacent legs and nonadjacent sides of the collapsible frame structure remain unconnected across an interior of the collapsible frame structure.

Various types of collapsible frame structures for a juvenile product, such as a playpen, cot or bed, are known.
One known frame structure, for example, is for a portable playpen. The frame structure includes top rails, a plurality of rods arranged in X-shaped pairs equal in number to the sides of the playard, and a locking hinge arranged between each respective top rail of the playpen and a pivot point of the respective rod pairs.
Another known frame structure, suitable for a playpen or cot, includes four upper frame joints and four lower frame joints pivotably connected to frame legs, where the upper frame joints and lower frame joints are respectively located in the upper and lower corners to form a box structure. The box structure also includes a bottom base frame with four legs radially extending from a central coupling joint that allows the four legs to fold relative to the central joint and that facilitates the collapse of the entire structure.
There is a need in the art for a frame structure that may be unfolded to encompass a relatively large area, yet also provides sufficient protection and containment for a child inside the playard and remains light weight for good portability.


A driving method of a plasma display panel capable of executing a dither processing without lowering display quality. When only discharge cells set to a light emission cell state in accordance with input image signals are allowed to emit light a predetermined number of light emissions allotted in accordance with weighting of sub-fields, the number of light emissions to be allotted is rendered different for each discharge cell inside a discharge cell block.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a driving method of a matrix display system plasma display panel.
2. Description of Related Art
An AC (alternating current discharge) type plasma display is known as one of display panels of a matrix display scheme.
Such a plasma display panel includes a plurality of row electrodes each bearing a role of a display line, and a plurality of column electrodes so arranged respectively as to intersect the row electrodes. These row and column electrodes are arranged in such a way as to oppose one another while interposing therebetween a discharge space filled with a discharge gas. Discharge cells serving as pixels are formed at the points of intersection between a row electrode pair and the column electrodes inclusive of the discharge space. Since the discharge cell emits light by utilizing a discharge phenomenon, it can assume only two states, that is, a "light emission" state and a "light non-emission" state. In other words, this plasma display device can express luminance of only two gradations, i.e., the lowest luminance (light non-emission state) and the highest luminance (light emission state). Therefore, gradation driving using a sub-field method is executed in order to accomplish luminance display of an intermediate tone corresponding to input image signals for the plasma display panel comprising such discharge cells.
In the driving system using the sub-field method, a display period of one field (frame) is constituted by a plurality of sub-fields. In each sub-field, each of discharge cells is set to either a "light emission cell" state or a "light non-emission cell" state in accordance with pixel data for each pixel on the basis of an input image signal. Only the discharge cell under the "light emission cell" state is allowed to discharge (with light emission) a number of times (for a time) corresponding to weighting of its sub-field, for each sub-field. In this instance, various intermediate luminance can be visually sensed stepwise in accordance with the sum of the number of light emissions made inside the one-field (frame) display period.
In recent years, display apparatus having the plasma display panel mounted thereto have contemplated to increase the number of gradations by combining gradation driving using the sub-field method described above with a multi-gradation processing such as a dither processing.
In such a dither processing, four discharge cells, for example, that are adjacent to one another among the discharge cells arranged in a matrix form are grasped as one discharge cell block. Sequentially, four dither coeffients having different values each are allotted to each of the four discharge cells inside the discharge cell block. Here, a dither coefficient allotted as described above is added to each pixel data corresponding to each discharge cell inside the discharge cell block. Only the high-order bit of the addition result is grasped as new pixel data, and gradation driving described above is executed. According to such a dither processing, new intermediate luminance can be visually sensed depending on the combination of the light emission (or light non-emission) state of the four discharge cells inside the discharge cell block, and the number of gradations can be virtually increased.
According to the multi-gradation method described above, however, a process for adding the dither coefficient to the pixel data is necessary. Therefore, a luminance difference between the adjacent discharge cells greatly fluctuates depending on the value of original pixel data with the result that display quality is likely to drop, too.


A device and process for detecting the presence of organic molecular analytes in a fluid comprising a first binding component having a predetermined first affinity for specifically reversibly binding an analyte, a molecular conjugate of the analyte with a signal generating molecule that generates a detectable signal, and a second binding component having a predetermined second affinity for reversibly binding the signal generating molecule. In the presence of analyte, a fluid conducting system allows competitive binding of the analyte with the molecular conjugate and causes displacement of the conjugate and conducts the displaced conjugate to the second binding component. The signal generating molecule generates a detectable signal distinguishing binding thereof at the first or second binding components thereby indicating the presence of the analyte in the fluid.

Various methods have been derived for monitoring low molecular weight compounds in blood plasma or other biological media. For example, enzyme electrodes have been used for the direct measurement of biomolecules in physiological samples, such as glucose, urea, amino acids, and others. These enzyme electrodes include a selective enzyme layer immobilized at the surface of a potentiometer or amperometeric device that senses the steady state concentration of a product formed in the immobilized layer as the substrate for the enzyme diffuses into this reactive film.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,438 to Schultz, issued Aug. 17, 1982 discloses an optical sensor for monitoring low molecular weight compounds in blood plasma. The device utilizes a binding protein immobilized inside a membrane. A conjugate between glucose and fluorescein serves to generate a signal. The conjugate binds to an immobilized lectin in the absence of glucose such that there is no fluorescence in an adjacent dialysis chamber. If glucose enters into the lumen through the membrane, it competes with binding sites on the lectin and sets free glucose fluorescein conjugate, hence there is fluorescence in the detector tube. It is disadvantageous to use enzymes as signal generators in this system because the dissociated conjugate in the presence of glucose in the middle of the detector tube could provide a high background signal so that the reduced amount of conjugate on the side of the tube might not be distinguishable from the background or from the previous signal where no external glucose was present.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,288 to Giegel et al, issued May 14, 1985 discloses a method for conducting a ligand assay in an inert porous medium wherein a binding material is immobilized within the medium. The method includes the steps of immobilizing a binding material within a finite zone of a medium and applying an analyte to the zone containing the immobilized binding material. A labeled indicator is applied to the zone and becomes bound within the zone in an amount which can be correlated to the amount of the analyte in the zone. A solvent is applied to the center of the zone to chromatographically separate the unbound labeled indicator from the zone and measuring the amount of labeled indicator remaining in the zone. This chromatographic method cannot be used in a continuous assay device for continually determining changes in a dynamic system.
Anderson et al reported in Clin. Chem. 34/7, 1417-1421 (1988) of a fiberoptic chemical sensor for continuous, reversible measurement of phenytoin. Beta-phycoerythrin-phenytoin and Texas Red-labeled antibody to phenytoin were sealed inside a short length of cellulose dialysis tubing. The tubing was cemented to the distal end of an optical fiber. When the sensor was alternately placed into solutions with various concentrations of free phenytoin, the drug crossed the dialysis membrane and displaced a fraction of the beta-phycor eythrin-phenytoin from the antibody. The resulting change in fluorescent signal was measured with a fiberoptic fluorometer. A reversible sensor could be made that has a response time suitable for continuous measurements utilizing the invention. In an abstract presented at the proceedings of the symposium on Sensor Science and Technology, Apr. 6-8, 1987 and published in the same proceeding abstracts by the Electrochemical Society, Inc. of Pennington, N.J., Vol. 87-15, W. Schramm, et al (the inventor of the present application) postulated an immunoglobulin-based biosensor including heterobifunctional structures that bind reversibly to immobilized counterparts. A combination of two antibody-antigen reactions hypothetically would generate a signal for continuous monitoring of analytes. The abstract hypothesizes several biosensor systems, the abstract being published prior to any attempt at reduction to practice of the concept.
The present invention provides means for constructing either a discontinuous single use disposable analytical test device or a reversible biosensor for continuous measurements of analytes. The invention utilizes the concept of a dislocated conjugate, such as the general concept being disclosed in the Shultz patent, but goes further so as to bind the conjugate at another site and measure it at that second site. Accordingly, the present invention can utilize enzymes as a signal generator. Further, the present invention can generate two signals, one at each of the two binding sites.

Immunoassay device for continuous monitoring

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