An electronic module compares the output voltage of a solar panel to an expected value and controls the power demand from the solar panel such that the output voltage does not vary from the expected value by more than a predetermined value. The predetermined value may be determined by correcting a room temperature value for the temperature dependence of the photodiodes comprising the solar panel and manufacturing tolerance.

Solar panels are expected by their makers to last at least twenty five years. One of many lifetime-limiting conditions to be dealt with to enable such a long lifetime is hot spots on the panel. Hot spots may limit lifetime by causing damage to the panel due to heat generated and/or longer term degradation of the panel cell material due to diffusion aging. Failure modes include melting solder joints, pin holes or open circuits in a cell, and damage to the panel case. Some causes of hot spots are manufacturing related, such as an assembly flaw, substandard materials, contamination of a solar cell, and the always-present manufacturing variations. Though a panel may have been manufactured with flaws, it may well be serviceable for an extended time, though less than expected. Other causes are beyond the control of the manufacturer or installer. For example, some cells in a panel may be exposed to more or less sunlight than other cells due to partial shade, dirt or bird droppings in a localized area, temperature variations across a panel, and non-uniform aging of the diffusion regions from cell to cell.
The destructive effects of hot-spot heating may be circumvented through the use of a bypass diode. A bypass diode is connected in parallel, but with opposite polarity, to a solar cell. Under normal operation, each solar cell will be forward biased and therefore the bypass diode will be reverse biased and will effectively be an open circuit. However, if a solar cell is reverse biased due to a mismatch in short-circuit current between several series connected cells, then the bypass diode conducts, thereby allowing the current from the good solar cells to flow in the external circuit rather than forward biasing each good cell. The maximum reverse bias across the poor cell is reduced by the bypass diode to about a single diode drop, thus limiting the current and preventing hot-spot heating.
A typical circuit model of a solar panel is shown in FIG. 16. For clarity of explanation, the example is simply two cells in series. Obviously a typical panel has many more cells in series to form a "string", and some have multiple strings in parallel. In the model of FIG. 16, each solar cell is modeled as a current source in parallel with a reverse-biased diode. The example of FIG. 16 includes a cell 1602 in series with a cell 1604, with bypass diodes 1610, 1612 respectively. The current of the model arises from the photodiodes 1606, 1608 when exposed to adequate light. We consider four cases related to solar cells that are equal and unequal in power capacity, each case in open and short circuit configurations. In a short circuit condition and with matched cells the voltage across both the solar cells and the bypass diodes is zero; the bypass diodes have no effect. When open circuit (also with matched cells) the short current from each cell forward biases the cell. The bypass diodes are reverse biased, and again, have no effect on the circuit.
Assume now that cell 1604 is shaded, thus has less power providing capacity than that of cell 1602. For the short circuit condition, some current flows from cell 1602, forward biasing the cell 1602. The bypass diode 1610 is again reverse biased and has no effect. The voltage of the good cell 1602 forward biases the bypass diode 1612 of the weak cell 1604, causing it to conduct current. The shaded cell 1604 itself is reverse biased with approximately a diode drop of about −0.5 volts. For the fourth condition, that is a weak cell 1604 and an open circuit, the shaded cell 1604 has a reduced voltage. The bypass diodes 1610, 1612 are reverse biased and have no effect.
In practice, however, one bypass diode per solar cell is generally too expensive and instead bypass diodes are usually placed across groups of solar cells. The voltage across the shaded or low current solar cell is equal to the forward bias voltage of the other series cells which share the same bypass diode plus the voltage of the bypass diode. The voltage across the unshaded solar cells depends on the degree of shading on the low current cell. For example, if the cell is completely shaded, then the unshaded solar cells will be forward biased by their short circuit current and the voltage will be about 0.6V. If the poor cell is only partially shaded, the some of the current from the good cells can flow through the circuit, and the remainder is used to forward bias each solar cell junction, causing a lower forward bias voltage across each cell. The maximum power dissipation in the shaded cell is approximately equal to the generating capability of all cells in the group. The maximum group size per diode, without causing damage, is about 15 cells/bypass diode, for silicon cells. For a normal 36 cell module, therefore, 2 bypass diodes are used to ensure the module will not be vulnerable to "hot-spot" damage.
Consider now a typical solar panel configuration and response to partial shading. A set of 25 modules connected in series form a nominal Vmpp of 467.5 V at 11.23 A or 5,250 W. Assume each module is constructed of three strings of 38 cells (mpp @492 mV, 3.743 A) each and the top middle and bottom of each string are connected. Between the middle of top and middle to bottom are bypass diodes (Vf 410 mV). If one cell became shaded or soiled to the extent that it's current dropped by 374 mA or more (10%) then two candidate operating points would be found by an MPPT scan for the string:
Approximately 467.5V @10.853 A or 5,075 W or
Approximately 457.7V @11.230 A or 5,140 W
Since the portion of the module with the shaded cell only produce 10.853 A, its bypass diode is forced into conduction forcing the bypass diode's 410 mV and the 9.350 V of the 19 bypassed cells to be subtracted from that modules voltage (total loss of 9.760V from the string of modules). Within the bypassed 19 cells the sum of the voltage across the good 18 cells plus the voltage across the shaded cell must equal −410 mV (the voltage across the bypass diode) at the current of the shaded cell (because all 19 cells are in series).
The solution is approximately 8.856V across the 18 good cells and −9.266V across the shaded cell @3.369 A or 31.2 w of power dissipation in the shaded cell. Note that a similar situation exists with the other two sets of 19 cells because they too are forced to sum to the −410 mV of the bypass diode.
The bypass diode has the difference of module string current minus the bypassed sections. The module is producing 97.026 W for a loss of 54% and dissipating an additional 100 was heat. A string monitoring means, for example an ADC, would record a 10V drop in nominal Vmp for the string. A technician dispatched to investigate would find a module operating at 9V when he expected 18V, no change in power when he cast a shadow across half of the module and that some cells in the module were abnormally hot (all standard trouble shooting observations). The technician may conclude that the module is below the 80% limit and assert that it has failed. However at the factory, this module would flash test as only 3.4% below nominal at 18.7V and 10.853 A or 203 w, although it would show a current step of 374 mA (3.3%) at about 8.940V.
The result of the reversal of one or more cells varies for differing solar cell technologies. For cells of a mono-crystalline type, there may be no lasting damage but a loss of efficiency. For cells of a thin-film construction, reversal of a voltage on a given cell is immediately catastrophic. As is seen, then, bypass diodes are a necessary and effective method for diminishing hot spots caused by partial shading or other causes for a weak cell. However, looking to FIG. 17, we see that the strings 1702, 1704, 1706, 1708, 1710, 1712 have an interconnect of conductors of a certain size which we will call size "X". If the bypass diodes 1712, 1722 conduct, they can carry as much as 3× the current of one of the strings, therefore the conductor for each bypass diode is normally sized as 3× that of a single string conductor. The size of the bypass diode interconnect 1730, 1732 then, adds significant area to the minimum area for constructing a solar panel.
What is needed is a means for avoiding hot spots without bypass diodes and their attendant area increase of a solar panel.

Detection and prevention of hot spots in a solar panel


A drive mechanism for conveying a photosensitive material in a processing tank filled with processing solution such as a developer, wherein a driving force from a driving source disposed outside the processing tank is transmitted to conveyor rollers located inside the processing tank through a pair of magnetic members. One of the magnetic members is located inside the processing tank and the other is located outside the processing tank so that the magnetic members face each other with the wall surface of the processing tank between them. Accordingly, the outside magnetic member is rotated by the driving force from the driving source. The rotation is transmitted to the inside magnetic member by means of a magnetic force, which rotates the conveyor rollers. The driving force is transmitted without a driving shaft or the like through the wall of the processing tank. Further, the processing tank can be made sufficiently airtight, thereby reducing degradation of the processing solution by oxidation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive mechanism suitable for conveying photosensitive material within a processing apparatus.
2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A processing apparatus, e.g. an automatic developing apparatus where an article to be processed is conveyed in processing tanks containing processing solution therein, is provided with a developing tank, a fixing tank and a washing tank which are box-shaped. A developing rack is placed in the developing tank. A fixing rack and a washing rack are similarly placed in the fixing tank and washing tank respectively. The developing rack, the fixing rack and the washing rack are each provided with an appropriate number of conveyor rollers, guides and the like.
The photosensitive material to be developed by such an automatic developing apparatus, is inserted through an insertion opening and conveyed for processing by conveyor rollers, guides and the like to the developing rack, the fixing rack, the washing rack, etc. for processing. After being washed by water in the washing tank, the photosensitive material is removed through an outlet after being dried in a drying section.
Conventionally, a motor has been employed as a driving source in this type of automatic developing apparatus. The driving force from the motor is transmitted to the conveyor rollers of each processing rack through a transmission shaft positioned adjacent to the vicinity of the upper portion of the processing rack. In other words, the transmission shaft is provided with a worm gear corresponding to each processing rack and the worm gear meshes a main gear placed on one side plate of each processing rack. Further, a driven shaft for supporting the main gear at its axis, crosses above the top of each tank so that the driving force can be transmitted, in turn, to a driven gear placed on the other side plate of each processing rack causing a plurality of conveyor rollers which convey the photosensitive material to rotate. In case such a drive mechanism comprising transmission shaft of the driving force, a driven shaft, a driven gear and the like is used, the drive mechanism is located above the upper portion of each tank so that the upper portion thereof is not completely enclosed, resulting in the disadvantage that air enters from the outside of tanks. Consequently, particularly in case of a developing tank, there has been the problem that oxidation of the developer is accelerated, since the developer accommodated in the developing tank reacts continuously with oxygen in the air.


A smart meter/billing system that eases the transition to commodity-like marketplace operations for electric power, and supports near real-time load balancing between competing suppliers of electric power. Existing watt-hour meters become multi-parameter terminals or smart meters that measure consumption per unit of time correlatible to calendar-time, measure near real-time demand, measure reliability, store information and transmitting it to a smart meter reader when properly interrogated. The smart reader periodically sends its accumulated information to a billing computer. An optional ancillary system uses the same smart meters to support automatic load balancing between competing suppliers that share common distribution facilities. Supplier designated demand increments from possibly millions of consumers, are summed according to the supplier-of-record, over near real-time intervals. These sums are used by the suppliers to adjust their output power so it equals the actual, near real-time demand of their customers-of-record at any time.

A vast economic restructuring of the public's electric power supply system is beginning to take place. The restructuring involves replacing the present regulated, fixed price non-competitive economic model by one in which price is determined by market forces. An objective for deregulating electricity should be to put in motion a process that results in the smooth transition from the present regulated status to deregulated markets that resemble, in function, those that exist for most other economic commodities. The integrated marketplace that now exists for many commodities is clearly a most efficient one. A goal for electricity should be to include as many of the aspects that contribute to that efficiency, as is practical for electricity, a commodity that is difficult to store.
Commodity economics requires that prices reflect supply & demand tensions, competitive pressures, quality of product, as well as the cost to produce it. The supply & demand situation is always changing for electricity so its price should fluctuate to counter the potential for excessive supply & demand imbalance. Since electricity must generally be consumed the moment it is produced and is a vital lifeline service, imposing a commodity regime onto the delivery of electricity poses special problems. One approach to pricing electricity commodity style is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,507.
What seems clear now is that there is no surefire approach to making electricity into a practical market-based commodity. Hence any new metering infrastructure being considered should have flexibility to support a number of possible advanced economic models. An approach now being taken to introduce competition would leave the existing metering infrastructure untouched and would achieve consumer choice through a corporate restructuring that separates existing utility generator assets from its other assets and would encourage competitors to enter by giving them the right to share existing Transmission & Distribution (T&D) facilities.
Sharing T&D requires some form of load balancing or apportionment of load among the competing suppliers, depending on the demand of all their customers of record. The method generally being suggested for achieving this relies on an independent system operator and uses historic load profiles from which the typical demand for each competitor's customers is projected for every hour of every day. However the use of historic load profiles to anticipate real-time demand for load balancing between intense competitors, that must share common T&D facilities, is fraught with unpredictable negative possibilities, particularly if prices were to fluctuate hourly, as they would in any advanced economic model.
Implementing true real-time load balancing based on the actual near real-time demand of each supplier's consumers of record would be desireable, if it could be done at reasonable cost. Such an approach would put less reliance on the need for skilled central management by an independent system operator and more on free market forces to keep prices honestly competitive.

System and methods that facilitate the introduction of market based economic models for electric power


Systems and methods enable users to exchange content, such as chat text, with other users that are consuming video media. In one implementation, several users collectively group together to form a video session. The users in the video session each consume the same video media, and the video media is played on individual user computer devices in a synchronized manner. The users send chat text or other content to one another over a network using a computer user interface. The chat text or other content is superimposed over or otherwise merged with the synchronized video running on the individual user computer devices.

Broadcast television reaches viewers across the globe. The signals belonging to broadcast television normally include video and audio signals that are selected by an entity delivering the signals. Recipients of broadcast signals cannot actively interact with the received signals; the media is generally passive in character and substance. Accordingly, broadcast television is often treated as background noise if there is nothing of interest currently broadcast. Alternately, a broadcast television recipient may simply turn off a television if the received broadcast programs are of no interest. Video media on DVDs and other replayable technology generally has the same passive character and substance as broadcast television.
At least one existing technology attempts to enrich video media. In particular, television broadcasters may advertise websites that television viewers can access to retrieve information related to television shows, advertisements, additional content, etc. Frequently, links to these websites are included as part of the broadcast signals. This type of video media enrichment normally necessitates the use of a separate device (e.g., computer) to gain access to the websites. This practice can result in information overload, or the loss of interest in a television show that includes the Website references.

Synchronized video session with integrated participant generated commentary


An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device which fixes a toner image on a recording medium. The fixing device includes a heating device. The heating device includes a heat-generating member, an exciting member, and a changing device. The heat-generating member is subjected to electromagnetic induction heating. The exciting member is placed to sandwich a front surface and a rear surface of the heat-generating member, without contacting the heat-generating member. The changing device changes an opposing distance of the exciting member to at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of the heat-generating member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heating device using an electromagnetic induction heating method, a fixing device of an image forming apparatus including the heating device, and an image forming apparatus including the fixing device, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a complex machine thereof.
2. Discussion of the Background Arts
In a widely-known background image forming apparatus, such as a copier and a printer, a fixing device using an electromagnetic induction heating method is used to reduce the start-up time of the fixing device in order to reduce energy consumption.
A first example of the background fixing device using an electromagnetic induction heating method includes a support roller (i.e., a heating roller), a fixing support roller (i.e., a fixing roller), a fixing belt extended under tension by the support roller and the fixing support roller, an induction heating device facing the support roller via the fixing belt, a pressure roller in contact with the fixing support roller via the fixing belt, and so forth. The induction heating device includes an exciting coil extending in the width direction (i.e., a direction perpendicular to a direction of conveying a recording medium), an exciting coil core facing the exciting coil, and so forth.
The fixing belt is heated at a position facing the induction heating device. The heated fixing belt heats a toner image formed on the recording medium, when the recording medium is conveyed to a position between the fixing support roller and the pressure roller. Thereby, the toner image is fixed on the recording medium. Specifically, the exciting coil is applied with a high-frequency alternating current, and an alternating magnetic field is generated around the exciting coil. Thereby, an overcurrent is generated near a surface of the support roller, and Joule heat is generated due to the electric resistance of the support roller. The thus generated Joule heat is used to heat the fixing belt wound around the support roller.
In the first example of the background fixing device using an electromagnetic induction heating method, the surface temperature of the fixing belt (i.e., a fixing temperature) can be increased to a desired value in a relatively short start-up time with lower energy consumption than in a fixing device using another method, such as a heat roller method.
In a second example of the background fixing device using an electromagnetic induction heating method, a magnetic conductor having a Curie point is used to form a heat-generating member (i.e., a heat-generating device) so that the heat-generating member has a self-temperature controlling function.
Further, in the second example of the background fixing device, to prevent the heat-up time at start-up of the fixing device (i.e., the start-up time) from being prolonged, two magnetic metal members of different Curie points are laminated with each other to form a heat-generating member, and the frequency of the alternating current supplied to an exciting member (i.e., an exciting device) is changed.
In a third example of the background fixing device using an electromagnetic induction heating method, the core of an induction heating device sandwiches a fixing belt. That is, the core of the induction heating device faces both the outer circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt for improving the heat-generating efficiency of the fixing belt.
In the second example of the background fixing device, the heat-generating member has the self-temperature controlling function. Therefore, the temperature of a fixing member can be prevented from being excessively increased, with no need for a complicated temperature controlling operation performed by an electric circuit, compared with the first example of the background fixing device. However, the second example of the background fixing device is still open to improvements.
For example, at a temperature near the Curie point of the heat-generating member, the relative magnetic permeability of the heat-generating member (i.e., a conductive layer thereof) is decreased, and the gradient of the increase in temperature of the heat-generating member is reduced. Due to the reduction of the gradient of the temperature increase, therefore, it is highly possible that the heat-up time at start-up of the fixing device is prolonged. That is, in the second example of the background fixing device, while the excessive increase in temperature of the fixing member can be prevented by the self-temperature control of the heat-generating member, the start-up performance of the fixing device is insufficient.
In view of the above, if the two magnetic metal members of different Curie points are laminated to each other to form a heat-generating member, and if the frequency of the alternating current supplied to the exciting member is changed, an effect of preventing the excessive increase in temperature of the fixing member through the self-temperature control of the heat-generating member, and an effect of reducing the start-up time of the fixing device can be expected. That is, through the adjustment of the frequency of the alternating current, the magnetic metal member having a Curie point higher than the fixing temperature is caused to generate heat at the start-up of the fixing device for preventing the reduction of the gradient of the temperature increase. Then, after the fixing device has been started up, the other magnetic metal member having a Curie point near the fixing temperature is caused to generate heat for preventing the excessive increase in temperature of the heat-generating member.
In the above example of the background fixing device, the benefits of both a reduction of the start-up time and a prevention of an excessive increase in temperature can be obtained. The background fixing device, however, tends to be complicated in structure due to the multilayer structure of the heat-generating member and to be relatively high in cost. Further, since the heat-generating member has the multilayer structure including the two magnetic metal members of different linear expansion coefficients, it is highly possible that heat strain occurs in the heat-generating member due to the difference in the linear expansion coefficients. If heat strain occurs in the heat-generating member, the layers of the heat-generating member may be separated and damaged, and thus the performance of the heat-generating member (e.g., conveying performance of a fixing belt formed by the heat-generating member) may be deteriorated.
On the other hand, in the third example of the background fixing device, the shape of the core of the induction heating device is improved such that the core sandwiches the fixing belt to improve the heat-generating efficiency of the fixing belt. However, prevention of an excessive increase in temperature of the fixing member cannot be obtained.
The above-described limitations are also found in other conventional devices.

Image forming apparatus, fixing device and image heater having an adjustable exciting member


A projection lens and a projection device using the same are provided. The projection device includes a projection lens and an optical element. The projection lens includes a first lens group and a second lens group from an image side sequentially. The first lens group has a negative refracting power, and the first lens group includes an aspherical lens surface. The second lens group has a positive refracting power. The first lens group has a first focal length f1, and the second lens group has a second focal length f2. The first focal length f1 and the second focal length f2 satisfy the following two conditions: 0.5<|f1/f2|<1.5, and −35 mm<f1<−15 mm.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to a projection lens and a projection device using the same, and more particularly to a projection lens having two lens groups and a projection device using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with the advance in technology, electronic devices are directed towards lightweight, slimness, simplicity and compactness. For the projection device to project a high quality image, the projection lens must have a certain number of lens group and lens. Thus, how to provide a projection lens which achieves the above object with lesser number of lens group and lens has become a focus in the research and development of projection device.

Projection lens and projection device using the same


A method of reducing errors in optical character recognition (OCR) procedures includes digitizing an image of an object, the image containing alpha-numeric characters, and storing a bitmap of the digitized image as a scanned document file (SDF). An OCR step is performed to obtain at least one candidate character, and an indication of the at least one candidate character is stored in a textural results file (TRF). The font of the digitized image is determined and the font is stored in a regeneration library file (RLF). A regenerated image file is generated using the TRF and the RLF. At least a portion of the regenerated image file is compared with a corresponding portion of the bitmap of the digitized image stored in the SDF. The TRF is outputted if the results of the comparison indicate a match of at least the portion of the regenerated image file with the corresponding portion of the bitmap. If a match is not found, further processing is performed to resolve the mismatch.

The ability to accurately recognize characters by scanning hard copy images is extremely important for many forms of automated data processing and has wide applications ranging from automatic text recognition for word processing to banking applications wherein numerical data is scanned, processed and stored. Accuracy is essential in most applications.
A great deal of effort has been devoted to correcting errors which invariably result from commercially available OCR devices. In some commercially available OCR devices, a confidence level indication is provided with the recognized character in order to permit flagging certain characters which are recognized with a low degree of confidence. In such cases, an operator may subsequently check the flag character and correct it if necessary by reference to the original scanned hard copy image.
An additional method for lowering the error rate for OCR devices is that of employing multiple OCR units each with their associated confidence factor and the use of certain algorithms for combining these confidence factors to obtain the most probable character. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,323; U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,864; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,872 incorporated herein by reference.
While the above approaches to improving error rates in OCR devices have some advantages, the current OCR recognition techniques are still inadequate for a number of reasons. First, the various confidence factors provided by the manufacturer of OCR equipment may, in fact, be incorrect and there are numerous instances in which characters are identified incorrectly without an associated low confidence factor, as for example, in substitution errors. The character "c", for example, may be incorrectly recognized as a character "e" with a 100% degree of confidence so in this case the OCR device does not detect a clear substitution error. In the multiple OCR environment, the typical majority voting or weighing techniques utilized in the prior art may, and often do, yield incorrect results. Further, most systems have no mechanism for dealing with characters which are completely unrecognizable.
Of course, manual techniques have also been utilized for checking the accuracy of scanned data. Some approaches utilize both machine scanning/recognition (OCR) and manual keying so that the data has effectively has been input twice, once by machine and once by hand. Subsequent machine comparisons then reject characters on the basis of inconsistencies in the two sets of data. Such manual keying is tedious, time consuming and expensive.

Methodology for OCR error checking through text image regeneration


Embodiments of an integrated circuit that includes a debug circuit are described. This debug circuit is configured to test an asynchronous circuit by performing analog measurements on asynchronous signals associated with the asynchronous circuit, and includes a triggering module configured to gate the debug circuit based on one or more of the asynchronous signals. This triggering module has a continuous mode of operation and a single-shot mode of operation. A timing module within the debug circuit has a timing range exceeding a pre-determined value, and is configured to provide signals corresponding to a first time base or signals corresponding to a second time base. Furthermore, control logic within the debug circuit is configured to select a mode of operation and a given time base for the debug circuit, which is either the first time base or the second time base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for testing and debugging integrated circuits. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus that facilitate on-chip sampling of asynchronously triggered events.
2. Related Art
Advances in semiconductor process technology are making it possible for semiconductor devices to perform increasingly complicated functions at higher processing speeds. Consequently, the process of testing and debugging of integrated circuits is becoming more complicated.
Conventional testing schemes use automated testers to perform a test procedure on a chip and compare the output from the chip to a stored expected response. If an error occurs, designers will determine the root-cause of the error and systematically search for additional problems. Then, corrective action is taken, such as: fixing the design, iterating the chip development cycle, publishing errata, and/or adding additional features.
To find the root cause of an error, designers traditionally rely on a combination of existing techniques, such as: inference measurements, measurements using Built-In Self-Test (BIST) circuits, and/or external-probe measurements. Unfortunately, all of these techniques have limitations.
Inference measurements plot chip functionality versus power supply and frequency. For example, 'shmoo' plots reveal circuit behavior through power and frequency trends. FIG. 1 provides a drawing illustrating a shmoo plot (with voltage 110 plotted as a function of period 112) for an existing interference-measurement technique. This plot shows behavior that indicates an RC-dominated speedpath. In particular, as the period 112 decreases, the chip fails the test (as indicated by the gray-shaded squares) no matter how high the voltage 110 is raised. Unfortunately, interference measurements only probe the symptoms of a problem, i.e., they cannot directly measure specific circuits. Thus, while simple and fast, these measurements are of limited use in determining the root-cause of a problem.
BIST circuits generate inputs (often random) to specific logic blocks and check the resulting output signatures. FIG. 2 provides an illustration of a conventional BIST circuit. Based on instructions from BIST controller 210, pattern generator 212 provides inputs to logic block 214, and the resulting outputs are analyzed by signature checker 216. However, while BIST circuits have advantages (they are cheap, relatively non-invasive, and monitor the potential cause of failure), these circuits require chip area and use scan chains to handle inputs and outputs. Consequently, BIST circuits can generally only test digital logic states.
External probes (such as electron beams, mechanical probes, or laser probes) offer direct analog measurements of individual nodes. For example, FIG. 3 provides an illustration of an existing external-probe measurement technique in which the reflectivity of portions of a thinned chip 310 as a function of voltage is probed using a laser beam 312. Unfortunately, external probes require either invasive measurement techniques and/or test setups that are incompatible with packaged chips. Consequently, while external probes can be used to directly measure signals of interest, their expense and the required modifications to the circuits being probed can severely limit their use.
To supplement these techniques, designers have also used on-chip high-bandwidth analog samplers (so-called 'analog BIST' or analog probe circuits) that can probe specific nodes in a chip. These circuits are placed at nodes that are known to require post-fabrication probing or are opportunistically placed in critical circuits in case their fabricated performance misses specifications. During operation, analog probe circuits use well-known sub-sampling techniques to transfer high-bandwidth information off the chip for analysis. However, these circuits require a synchronous clock, and are, consequently, not suitable for measuring asynchronous signals.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus that facilitates on-chip testing and debugging of integrated circuits that support asynchronously triggered events (such as those associated with asynchronous signals) without the problems listed above.

On-chip samplers for asynchronously triggered events


An electromagnetic converter in which a mobile magnetic pole body supported by a thin spring is driven by an exciting coil. A restricting member limits movement of the spring so the spring is not deformed beyond a stress limit when the spring receives an impact. The electromagnetic converter produces a large vibration using a simple structure which can withstand an impact without increasing the strength of the spring so the weight of a mobile magnetic pole member can be increased. The restricting member is a soft elastic member and arranged either on the spring or at a location opposite the spring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved electromagnetic converter used for mobile communications apparatuses, and more particularly, to an electromagnetic converter having a superior anti-shock property and a vibration generating structure having a mobile electrode supported by a relatively thin spring.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical electromagnetic sound generating body as a coil means of mobile wireless communications apparatuses, is shown in FIG. 3. That is, a magnetic pole member 2 is fixed at the center of a resin case 1 and an exciting coil 3 is arranged around the magnetic pole member 2. Also, a field magnet 4 is arranged around the exciting coil 3, and a diaphragm 6 on which an armature member 5 is fixedly installed, facing the magnetic pole member 2, is arranged at the case 1.
Recently, due to the sometimes unwanted noise produced by a sound alarming means, mobile communications apparatuses are adopting a more discrete vibratory call means.
As a vibration generating means, a flat coreless vibratory motor is used in which an eccentric weight is installed on an output shaft of a compact DC motor or an eccentric rotor is used. A motor is used because vibration of a relatively large range is possible and efficiency is improved by using a centrifugal force only.
Instead of the vibratory motor, an electromagnetic converter for obtaining both sound and vibrations, as shown in FIG. 1 of Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2549375, has been suggested. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a mobile magnetic pole member 22 is made by installing a magnetic pole member at the center of a spring body 7 and an exciting coil 3 is arranged around the mobile magnetic pole member 22. By applying a current having a frequency of 100 Hz, for example, vibrations are obtained so that the mobile magnetic pole member 22 is moved up and down, in the view of the drawing.
Also, since the structure in which the diaphragm 6 having the armature member installed thereon is installed at the case 1 to face the mobile magnetic member 22, is the same as the structure with the sound generating body only of FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are used and a description thereof is omitted.
In the electromagnetic converter, by applying a relatively high frequency, for example, a current having a frequency of 2-3 KHz, to the exciting coil 3, the diaphragm 6 to which the armature member 5 is fixedly installed, is vibrated to generate sound. The mobile magnetic pole member 22 cannot vibrate in a range of 2-3 KHz.
Accordingly, both functions of sound generation and vibration may be performed according to the period of the current applied to the exciting coil 3.
However, to obtain the same amount of vibration as the centrifugal force of a compact DC motor, the size of the mobile magnetic pole member 22 needs to be increased or the weight thereof needs to be increased by partially adding an auxiliary weight such as tungsten alloy. When the weight of the mobile magnetic pole member 22 is increased, if the strength of a supporting spring is not increased, when it falls, the spring body 7 is deformed so that the mobile magnetic pole member 22 cannot maintain a predetermined position. Further, when the strength of the supporting spring is increased, a large amplitude cannot be obtained without increasing the input, which is not preferred in view of efficiency.
To solve the above problems, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an electromagnetic converter providing a large vibration, which can bear an impact without increasing the strength of a supporting spring, having a simple structure, and permits increasing the weight of a mobile magnetic pole member.
Accordingly, to achieve the above objective, there is provided an electromagnetic converter having a superior anti-shock property in which a mobile magnetic pole body supported by a thin spring is driven by an exciting coil and a restricting member is arranged such that the spring is not deformed beyond a stress limit when the spring receives an impact such as precipitation.
It is preferred in the present invention that the restricting member is formed of a soft elastic member.
It is preferred in the present invention that the restricting member is arranged at a mobile side.
It is preferred in the present invention that the restricting member is arranged at a fixed side.

Electromagnetic converter having superior anti-shock property


A data communication system, in which a sender obtains a set of base data elements; generates a first and a second key from (i) the set of base data elements and (ii) sets of first and second entanglement data elements, the first and second keys comprised of a respective first and second public component and a respective first and second private component. A recipient generates first and second ciphers by encoding a digital message using the first and second public components; and sends the first and second ciphers towards the sender apparatus. The sender then extracts the digital message based on the first and second ciphers, the first and second private components, and the sets of first and second entanglement data elements. The private components are not derivable from the public components or from the ciphers irrespective of computing power. A method of digital signing and verification is also described.

There are many techniques for encoding and signing digital messages using digital keys. Generally speaking, in the case of encryption, a sender uses a recipient's publicly available (or public) key to encrypt a message and the recipient's private key is used to decrypt the message. The idea is for the holder of the private key to be the only one capable of decrypting the message. In the case of signing, a sender uses their private key to sign a message and the sender's public key is used by any recipient to verify the message. The idea here is for any recipient of a message purportedly from the sender to ascertain that the message was truly sent by that sender. In both encryption and signing, heavy reliance is placed on secretly guarding the private key and on the assumption that a user's private key cannot be cracked from other information, such as the user's public key and/or a message that was encrypted or signed with the user's private key. However, this assumption is becoming precarious for most public-private key algorithms, as computing power increases.
Specifically, for a typical public-private key algorithm, there is a relationship among the private key, the public key and the result of an encrypted or signed message. For example, it is common for the keys to be based on large prime numbers. With enough computing power, one could generate many candidate private keys and test for suitability of each with respect to a given public key. Knowledge of the pre-existing relationship between the public and private keys allows one to focus on a restricted set of possible candidates, effectively providing a "shortcut" to the private key. Advances in quantum computing make it increasingly feasible to find the right private key that is associated with a public key. As such, public-private key algorithms where one key is derivable from the other based merely on computational effort are becoming less secure by the day.

Methods and systems for digital message encoding and signing


The invention pertains to a weighing device for determining the weight of discrete weighing products in a speed-independent manner, wherein a weighing chute comprising a sliding surface that is inclined with respect to the horizontal is fed detached weighing products, and the load introduction direction of a weighing cell supporting the weighing chute is aligned perpendicularly to the sliding surface.

Many industrially manufactured products are produced continuously and with high piece numbers. In the process, it is often necessary to weigh the products, for example, in order to feed a certain quantity of a product, mostly determined by the weight, to an associated packaging unit. The moving product streams here have to be weighed to avoid delays, while they are conveyed, often at high speed, through the production installations. Weighing here has a control function, as it is used in order to make it possible to check the products with regard to weight, their completeness within the packaging unit, etc.
For this purpose, scales are known that have conveyor belts that rest on a weighing cell. The conveyor belt forms a preliminary load for the weighing cell. While the product stream continues to be moved by the conveyor belt, it can be simultaneously weighed. However, the construction of such conveyor belts is expensive, it is difficult to avoid a force shunt particularly on the motor cable, and the cleaning of the components of such a conveyor belt is also expensive.
Weighing chutes are known from the prior art, wherein the product stream glides sidewise over a sliding surface that is inclined with respect to the horizontal. The chute here forms an initial load for a weighing cell for determining the weight of the product stream while it slides over the weighing chute. In order to eliminate the influence of friction effects or other dynamic forces that act along the sliding direction on the weighing chute, the weighing cell is arranged with its load introduction direction as perpendicular as possible to the sliding surface or the transport direction of the weighing chute. In this manner, the dynamic forces resulting from the movement of the product due to acceleration/deceleration always act transversely to the load introduction and therefore they have no effect on the measured result.
In comparison to driven conveyor belts, weighing chutes of simpler design can be manufactured, and they are easier to clean and nearly wear-free, whereas in the case of conveyor belts the wearing at belts and/or shafts cannot be avoided over the long term.
From DE 689 083 64 T2, such a device for weighing a continuous stream of flowing material is known. DE 199 47 394 A1 also describes a method and a device for measuring bulk product streams. However, the two methods and devices disadvantageously require the determination of the speed of the bulk product, because no absolute weight value can be formed without determining the speed. For the determination of the speed of the bulk product, various methods can therefore be considered, which are technically elaborate and associated with errors. The device is not suited for determining the weight of detached or discrete weighing products.

Weighing device for weighing discrete and rapidly moving objects

Wipotec Wiege- und Positioniersysteme GmbH


A method of processing an error of an image forming apparatus judges an error occurrence of the image forming apparatus, and if the error occurs, it stops the operation of a conveyer unit. After the operation of the conveyer unit is stopped, the method cleans an image forming unit, and then displays the error occurrence. Thus, the remaining toner on a transfer medium can be removed in advance when the error occurs, and the quality of an image can be secured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of processing an error of an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a method of processing an error of an image forming apparatus that first cleans a transfer medium of the image forming apparatus and then displays an error when the error occurs.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, image-forming apparatuses such as laser printers, duplicators, and so on are provided with a conveyer unit for conveying a printing paper in the image forming apparatus, and an image forming unit for forming an image on the paper. The conveyer unit includes a feeder unit for feeding the paper to the image forming apparatus and a delivery unit for delivering the paper on which an image is formed outside the image forming apparatus.
The image forming unit includes a photosensitive unit having a photosensitive drum for forming the image and a transfer unit for transferring the image formed by the photosensitive unit to the paper.
The image-forming apparatus as constructed above prints a desired image on the paper through successive processes of charge distribution, exposure, development, transfer, fusing, and so on.
However, while the image is printed on the paper through the above-described processes, errors such as malfunction of the image forming apparatus and so on may occur in the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional method of processing an error of an image forming apparatus.
Referring to FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus performs a printing operation on the paper through interactions of various kinds of devices provided inside the image forming apparatus (S10).
During the printing operation, a control unit provided in the image forming apparatus detects the occurrence of an error through an error sensor (S11). If no error occurs, the image forming apparatus continues the printing operation (S12), while if an error occurs, the control unit displays an error signal through an error display device provided in one side of the image forming apparatus (S13).
For instance, the error may be a paper jam that occurs in the paper conveyer unit, or any malfunction of the devices provided inside the image forming apparatus. Generally, the error signal may be displayed through a liquid crystal display, or may be provided as an alarm signal for a predetermined time period.
Then, the control unit stops the operations of the feeder unit, the delivery unit, the photosensitive unit and the transfer unit provided in the image forming apparatus (S15).
In the image forming apparatus, a transfer from the photosensitive unit to the transfer unit is first performed, and then a transfer from the transfer unit to the paper is performed. If the operations of the feeder unit, the delivery unit, the photosensitive unit and the transfer unit are simultaneously stopped during the printing operation, the toner, which has not yet been transferred to a printing paper, may remain on a transfer medium or a transfer belt provided in the transfer unit.
Thereafter, if the cause of the error occurrence is removed and the image forming apparatus re-operates, the transfer is performed in a state that the toner remaining on the transfer belt is not completely removed, and thus the quality of the image to be printed on the paper deteriorates. Especially, in the case that the error is the paper jam, the transfer unit itself should be separated from the image forming apparatus, and thus the toner remaining on the transfer belt may be scattered in the image forming apparatus, thereby causing the contamination of the image forming apparatus.
If the cause of the error occurrence cannot be removed for a long time, the toner also remains on the transfer belt of the transfer unit for a long time, and this causes the lifespan of the transfer belt and the transfer efficiency to be reduced.
Also, if the error occurs in the image forming apparatus, the error signal is first displayed, and then the operation of the image forming apparatus is stopped. During this error processing time, a user may open a main cover of the image forming apparatus, and this causes the user to be exposed to the operation of various kinds of devices in the image forming apparatus, thereby threatening the user's security.

Method of processing an error of an image forming apparatus


One aspect of the disclosure relates to an apparatus including an extrusion nozzle. The nozzle includes an inlet end, an outlet end opposite the inlet end and an axis extending between the inlet end and the outlet end. The extrusion nozzle is configured to rotate about the axis. The extrusion nozzle also includes a rotary drive engagement portion between the inlet end and the outlet end. The extrusion nozzle further includes a cavity including an inlet opening at the inlet end and an outlet opening at the outlet end. The inlet opening has a different configuration than the outlet opening.

Fused deposition modelling includes extruding material from a nozzle and depositing the material onto a platform in layers or beads. The outlet orifices of most commercially available extrusion nozzles are circular, thus limiting the contact area between the deposited layers and, accordingly, reducing the strength of the final part. In some instances, the nozzles are provided with non-circular orifices. However, such nozzles are oriented relative to the workpiece using passive orientation techniques. For example, nozzle-to-workpiece orientation may be passively provided by a trowel guide that extends from the nozzle and follows the side surface of a previously deposited bead of material. Nozzles including a trowel guide may limit the shapes of the parts produced by fused deposition modelling because the trowel guide may not be able to follow the contours of the workpiece precisely and may dig into the previously deposited material as the nozzle is moved along the workpiece, damaging the workpiece and/or the nozzle.


A method for forming a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). There is first provided a semiconductor substrate. There is then formed upon the semiconductor substrate a gate dielectric layer. There is then formed upon the gate dielectric layer a gate electrode. There is then implanted into the semiconductor substrate while employing the gate electrode as a mask a pair of unactivated source/drain regions at a pair of opposite edges of the gate electrode, where the gate dielectric layer, the gate electrode and the pair of unactivated source/drain regions form an unactivated metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). There is then annealed thermally through a first thermal annealing method the semiconductor substrate to form from the pair of unactivated source/drain regions a pair of activated source/drain regions, where the gate dielectric layer, the gate electrode and the pair of activated source/drain regions form an activated metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). Finally, there is then annealed thermally through a subsequent second thermal annealing method the semiconductor substrate to form from the activated metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) a hot carrier effect (HCE) resistant activated metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hot carrier effects (HCEs) within metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for attenuating hot carrier effects (HCEs) within metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs).
2. Description of the Related Art
As integrated circuit integration levels have increased and integrated circuit device and conductor element dimensions have decreased, various novel effects have become more pronounced within advanced integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications. Within advanced integrated circuit microelectronics fabrications which have fabricated therein metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), a particularly common and generally detrimental effect incident to forming those metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) with decreased dimensions is the hot carrier effect (HCE).
The hot carrier effect (HCE) derives from injection of charge carriers into gate dielectric layers typically formed of silicon oxide formed beneath gate electrode edges within advanced metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). The injection of the charge carriers results from decreased channel widths and decreased gate dielectric layer thicknesses within advanced metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) while maintaining constant advanced metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) operating voltage. The decreased channel widths and decreased gate dielectric layer thicknesses within advanced metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) at constant metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) operating voltage typically provide increased electrical field gradients at gate electrode edges within advanced metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs), through which increased electrical field gradients charge carriers are injected into gate dielectric layers.
Along with other characteristics, the hot carrier effect (HCE) within an advanced metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) is typically manifested as: (1) an increased sub-threshold current within the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET); and (2) a drift in threshold voltage within the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). Hot carrier effect (HCE) damage sustained by a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) is often cumulative and typically results in premature metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) failure. Since inhomogeneous electrical properties within metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and premature failure of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are undesirable within advanced metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) operation, it is thus towards the goal of attenuating hot carrier effects (HCEs) within advanced metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) that the present invention is generally directed.
Various methods have been disclosed in the art of integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication for controlling hot carrier effects (HCEs) within metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). In addition, there has also been disclosed in the art of integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication various methods for forming contact layers upon source/drain electrodes within metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) of line width dimensions which may be susceptible to hot carrier effects (HCEs).
For example, Haken et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,809 disclose a dual ion implant method for forming a pair of source/drain regions within a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET) to provide the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) with enhanced hot carrier effect (HCE) resistance. The dual ion implant method employs two separate dopants of differing diffusivity within the pair of source/drain regions of the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), such that upon thermal annealing of the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) there is formed within the pair of source/drain regions dopant concentration gradients at the gate electrode edges.
In addition, Hsu, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,099 discloses a method for fabricating a silicided lightly doped drain (LDD) within a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) to provide the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) with enhanced hot carrier effect (HCE) resistance. The method recesses a lightly doped drain (LDD) low dose ion implant structure of the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) within a semiconductor substrate within and upon which is formed the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) to simultaneously form the metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) with enhanced hot carrier effect (HCE) resistance and decreased channel length.
Further, Inoue et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,968 discloses a method for forming within an integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication a metal silicide interconnect layer contacting a source/drain region of a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) formed within and upon a semiconductor substrate within the integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication. The method employs a barrier layer formed upon the source/drain region and beneath a polysilicon layer which is subsequently completely consumed when forming the metal silicide interconnect layer through thermal annealing with a metal layer overlying the polysilicon layer. Through the method there is avoided consumption of silicon from the semiconductor substrate when thermally annealing the polysilicon layer and the metal layer to form the metal silicide interconnect layer.
Finally, Yen et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,296 discloses a method for forming within an integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication a tungsten silicide polycide contact layer contacting a source/drain region within a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). The method employs an amorphous silicon underlayer formed upon the source/drain region and a chemical vapor deposited (CVD) tungsten silicide layer formed thereupon, where the tungsten silicide layer and the amorphous silicon underlayer are simultaneously annealed within a nitrogen containing atmosphere to form the tungsten silicide polycide contact layer contacting the source/drain region.
Desirable in the art of integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication are additional methods and materials through which there may be formed metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) which have enhanced hot carrier (HCE) resistance. It is towards that goal that the present invention is directed.

Multiple thermal annealing method for a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor with enhanced hot carrier effect (HCE) resistance

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


The invention relates to methods for producing cesium hydroxide solutions during which: cesium-containing ore is disintegrated with sulfuric acid while forming a cesium aluminum sulfate hydrate, which is poorly soluble at low temperatures; the formed cesium alum is separated away in the form of a solution from the solid ore residues; the aluminum is precipitated out of the cesium alum solution while forming a cesium sulfate solution; the formed cesium sulfate solution is reacted with barium hydroxide or stontium hydroxide while forming a cesium hydroxide solution, and; the formed cesium hydroxide solution is concentrated and purified.

Titanium-containing catalyst systems for olefin polymerisation have been known for a long time. In particular, the chlorides TiCl4 and TiCl3 were employed for the first time by Ziegler et al. as catalysts for polyolefin synthesis using co-catalysts (e.g. triethylaluminum). Ziegler systems are currently used in the form of supported catalysts, in which the active component (e.g. TiCl4 or also metallocene compounds) is deposited on supports which are inert or contain hydroxyl groups, utilising their specific properties, such as particle size, porosity, specific surface area etc. For this purpose, the supports are first prepared according to the morphological requirements, and are coated with the active components and co-catalysts in the next steps.
The object of the present invention was to develop supports having specific morphological properties, which polymerise olefins under normal pressure and at room temperature without the conventional catalyst coating.
The object was achieved according to the invention by the choice of particular powders, e.g. porous or catalytically active powders, which, as a result of the coating with a suitable co-catalyst which is known per se, can be employed as the catalyst system for olefin polymerisation.

Catalyst system consisting of a carrier and of a co-catalyst


A radio frequency identification tag is provided. The radio frequency identification tag includes a body and a cutting indication formed on the body. The body includes a substrate, an antenna disposed on the substrate and an integrated circuit disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the antenna for performing a radio frequency communication. An extension of the cutting indication intersects with the antenna to separate the body into two parts after breaking.

In the general logistics management system, the distributed goods have the identification elements for the identification use. Most of the identification elements are bar codes or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags currently. The general application of the bar code is to attach the bar code on the goods for identification use, and the saved information of the goods can be found in the database of the logistics management, after the bar code reader reads the code. Then the information of the goods can be further updated, if required. Although the cost of using bar codes is lower than that of using RFID tags, however the bar codes can be easily smudged or fallen off, and then the bar codes lose the identification function. Moreover, the bar code reader can read only single code each time, and the distance between the bar code and the bar code reader is limited to a short distance. Therefore the time cost is increased in the logistics management.
The application of RFID tag is to use the RFID reading and writing machine to read or to write the information of goods. The RFID reading and writing machine can read the information of hundreds of goods each time within the detection range of the radio frequency. The identification function still works, even though the RFID tags are covered by the non-metal materials, e.g. paper, wood, plastic, etc. In addition, the RFID tags are not easy to be damaged and can be reused repeatedly, and the information of RFID tags can be updated repeatedly. For those people who need to arrange a lot of laboring for tracking the warehouse goods in the past, the RFID tags are able to provide the warehouse and logistics management with high efficiency for them.
However the convenience of RFID tags has caused the issue of privacy invasion at the same time, since the RFID tags can be read by other RFID readers as long as those RFID tags are within the detection range of the radio frequency. The merchandise bought by the customers can not only be tracked, but also can be monitored by the RFID readers ubiquitously existing in the streets. Therefore, this new RFID technology is repulsive to a lot of customers. In order to solve this problem, currently most sellers disable the RFID function by detaching the RFID tags or by deleting the information data of the RFID tags, when the merchandise is sold. However, this way causes the management problem on the follow-up tracking for the post sale service, for example, the merchandise return, because the information can not be resumed by the RFID tags. On the other hand, some sellers provide special bags, inside which the RFID of the merchandise can not be read by the RFID readers, but this type of special bags are not cheap.
In order to solve the mentioned problems, the inventors of the present invention develop a new RFID tag, its fabrication method and its use method, after a lot of trials and improvements. The present invention is described below.

Radio frequency identification tag, method of fabricating the same, and method of using the same


A user interface device and system for providing a shared GTM and CDN (collectively Universal Distribution Network) for a service fee, where the customer or user does not need to purchase significant hardware and/or software features. The present interface device and system allows a customer to scale up its Web site, without a need for expensive and difficult to use hardware and/or software. In a preferred embodiment, the customer merely pays for a service fee, which can be fixed, variable, lump some, or based upon a subscription model using the present system. The present device and system are preferably implemented on a system including a novel combination of global traffic management and content distribution.

The present invention relates to world wide area networking. More particularly, the invention provides a technique including a user interface device and system for using a global traffic management system coupled to a plurality of content servers for a service fee. But it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability. For example, the invention can also be applied to other types of networks, and the like.
The Internet is a world wide xe2x80x9csuper-networkxe2x80x9d which connects together millions of individual computer networks and computers. The Internet is generally not a single entity. It is an extremely diffuse and complex system over where no single entity has complete authority or control. Although the Internet is widely know for one of its ways of presenting information through the World Wide Web (herein xe2x80x9cWebxe2x80x9d), there are many other services currently available based upon the general Internet protocols and infrastructure.
The Web is often easy to use for people inexperienced with computers. Information on the Web often is presented on xe2x80x9cpagesxe2x80x9d of graphics and text that contain xe2x80x9clinksxe2x80x9d to other pages either within the same set of data files (i.e., Web site) or within data files located on other computer networks. Users often access information on the Web using a xe2x80x9cbrowserxe2x80x9d program such as one made by Netscape Communications Corporation (now America Online, Inc.) of Mountain View, Calif. or Explorer(trademark) from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. Browser programs can process information from Web sites and display the information using graphics, text, sound, and animation. Accordingly, the Web has become a popular medium for advertising goods and services directly to consumers.
As time progressed, usage of the Internet has exploded. There are literally millions of users on the Internet. Usage of the Internet is increasing daily and will eventually be in the billions of users. As usage increases so does traffic on the Internet. Traffic generally refers to the transfer of information from a Web site at a server computer to a user at a client computer. The traffic generally travels through the world wide network of computers using a packetized communication protocol, such as TCP/IP. Tiny packets of information travel from the server computer through the network to the client computer. Like automobiles during xe2x80x9crush hourxe2x80x9d on Highway 101 in Silicon Valley, the tiny packets of information traveling through the Internet become congested. Here, traffic jams which cause a delay in the information from the server to the client occur during high usage hours on the Internet. These traffic jams lead to long wait times at the client location. Here, a user of the client computer may wait for a long time for a graphical object to load onto his/her computer.
From the above, it is seen that an improved way to transfer information over a network is highly desirable.
According to the present invention, a technique including a user interface device and system for global traffic management and content distribution is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the method is applied to a world wide network of computers, such as the Internet or an internet.
In a specific embodiment, the invention provides a service based system for traffic management and content distribution for a plurality of users over a world wide network of computers. The system includes a global traffic management device coupled to a world wide area network. The global traffic management device being provided to load balance across multiple origin sites. The system also has a content delivery network coupled to the global traffic management device. The content delivery network provides support content distribution and delivery of streaming media. The system also has a computing device including a computer memory coupled to the global traffic management device. The system also has an accounting module coupled to the computing device. The accounting module tracks a usage of the global traffic management device and the content delivery network for a customer of the global traffic management device and the content delivery network to determine a service fee for the usage based upon a period time frequency.
Many benefits are achieved by way of the present invention over conventional techniques. For example, the present invention can be implemented using conventional hardware and software in an easy manner in some embodiments. The invention can also be applied to conventional Web hosting sites. In other aspects, the invention provides an easy way for a Web site to using a content distribution network without spending capital costs. Depending upon the embodiment, one or more of these benefits may be achieved. These and other benefits will be described in more throughout the present specification and more particularly below.
Various additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention can be more fully appreciated with reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings that follow.

User device and system for traffic management and content distribution over a world wide area network


A system and method is disclosed whereby a customer involved in a transaction is offered a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for undertaking or agreeing to undertake some form of preventative treatment. The transaction may be a purchase of goods or services occurring, for example, over the Internet. In one embodiment, the customer may select an option whereby a third party, such as an insurer of the customer, will provide payment for at least part of the transaction, in exchange for the customer undergoing a preventative treatment. The preventative treatment may include a health treatment screening or test. The payment provided may be determined from an expected future savings in insuring the customer if the preventative treatment is undertaken. Payment may also be conditioned upon the customer's agreement to continue his or her insurance coverage with the insurer or to confirm that the preventative treatment was performed. In certain embodiments, the insurer may place a hold against a financial account for the value of the benefit until administration of the preventative treatment is confirmed.

With continuing advancements in the medical arts, it is possible to detect the onset of many serious conditions long before they become life-threatening. In addition, the behavior of certain individuals may be used to predict certain conditions to which they may be susceptible. However, many people are reluctant to undertake preventative treatments or early detection tests for a variety of reasons, such as fear of diagnosis, the cost of the treatment, the unpleasantness associated with certain tests, lack of time to seek treatment or an indifference to possible future health problems.
Nonetheless, it would be beneficial to insurers, primary health care providers and individuals if more people would adopt such preventative treatment on a more regular basis. By undergoing preventative treatment, a customer may avoid more serious health problems in the future. This, in turn, may decrease future costs to insurers, who would have to cover the typically expensive treatments associated with serious diseases.
Many insurers now offer to pay for the cost of preventative treatments undertaken by their insureds. Examples of preventative treatments may include blood pressure screenings, blood tests, cancer screenings, receiving a test or a diagnosis, teeth-cleaning, mammograms, pap smear tests, sigmoidoscopies, colonoscopies, immunizations, psychiatric examinations, psychological examinations, dental examinations and physical examinations. However, this is often insufficient to encourage reluctant people to adopt such preventative treatments, since the cost of the treatment is only one factor which discourages people from seeking treatment.
Insurance companies also typically offer lower premiums to people who adopt a healthy lifestyle, e.g. those who regularly visit a gym, maintain a proper diet, refrain from cigarette smoking or dangerous activities, etc. However, a discount in health insurance premiums only rewards those inclined to practice a healthy lifestyle in the first place and does little to motivate others to adopt such healthy practices.
There also exist many corporate wellness programs by which companies seek to encourage employees to adopt healthier lifestyles by providing rebates on gym memberships, lower premiums on health insurance, and the like. Again, however, such programs typically reward only those who are pre-disposed to healthy lifestyles and do not provide enough incentive to motivate others to adopt such practices.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus for encouraging the undertaking of preventative treatments which addresses certain problems in existing technologies.

System, method and apparatus for encouraging the undertaking of a preventative treatment


Microphthalmia (Mi) while present in melanocytes, a cells and osteoclast, is not normally present in other cells. We have found that Mi is present in the nucleus of melanoma cells. Melanoma can be diagnosed by contacting a malignant cell with a probe for Mi. If the probe identities Mi in the nucleus of the cell, the cell is a melanoma.

Melanoma has been on the rise for decades. It is presently the seventh most common cancer in the United States. It is currently estimated that by the year 2000 the lifetime risk of developing skin melanoma in Americans will be 1 in 75. The annual incidence of human melanoma worldwide is increasing at the rate of approximately 5% per year (16, 17). Due to its propensity to metastasize early, coupled to the common feature of late recurrence, relapses from melanoma represent an important and often life threatening clinical condition. The cancer starts in the skin, but frequently spreads. It can spread locally or throughout the body. Tissues with melanomas can include lymph glands, liver, bones, brain, lung, adrenal glands, the spinal cord, and vertebrae. Although, once melanoma has spread beyond the original skin site it is currently considered incurable, there are treatment modalities that can prolong an individual's survival.
Metastatic diseases of unknown origin are fairly common. Melanoma resides among the tumor types more commonly associated with metastases lacking an obvious primary tumor site (18-22). It has proven difficult to determine if such metastatic tissue is melanoma. One of the problems is that when a melanoma is not found on the skin, its diagnosis is problematic. Currently, there are two markers typically used to diagnose melanoma. These markers have problems because the first marker, S100, while sensitive and present in about 80% of melanoma, is also widely present in non-melanoma tumors [Kahn, H. J., et al., American J. of Clin. Pathol. 79:341-471 (1983). Thus, it also stains a significant number of nonmelanoma malignancies. The second marker, HMB-45, while very specific for melanoma, only detects about 50% of melanomas [Applied Immunolohistochemisty 4:73-95 (1996)]. Other estimate for HMB-45 have ranged as low as 5% and it has been suggested that it stains variably in a technique-dependent fashion (23, 27, 29, 30, 32-35). Thus, there is a need for other markers that will specifically detect melanoma.
Determining the origin of a metastatic tissue arising from a melanoma is extremely difficult. For example, a skin melanoma can be removed, yet come back years later at a different site. Conversely, the fact that someone had a melanoma removed 20 years ago, does not mean that a metastatic disease of unknown origin would necessarily be a melanoma because that individual could have developed a different cancer. Thus, the ability to determine the origin of a metastatic disease is very important because it can affect the diagnosis and/or the type of treatment regime prescribed. It would be extremely important if a better and more accurate means for diagnosing melanoma was available. It would also be important having a better means to determine prognosis.
Another problem with melanomas involves the treatment thereof. It is important to be able to selectively treat the malignant tissue and not the surrounding normal tissues. Side effects are frequently experienced from current treatments because some normal tissue is also harmed. Means for improving the selectivity are desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Use of microphthalmia for diagnosis, prognosis and/or treatment of melanoma


A system and methodology for processing of path based queries is described. In one embodiment, a method for processing a path based query requesting data from a markup language document comprises steps of: parsing the path based query requesting data to generate a query tree corresponding to the path based query; identifying all paths which may be utilized for obtaining data requested by the path based query from the markup language document; creating a transformed query tree to represent all identified paths; generating a query plan for obtaining data requested by the path based query based on the transformed query tree; and executing the query plan to obtain and return the data requested by the path based query.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to data processing environments and, more particularly, to a database system with a path based query engine providing methodology for path based query processing.
2. Description of the Background Art
Computers are very powerful tools for storing and providing access to vast amounts of information. Computer databases are a common mechanism for storing information on computer systems while providing easy access to users. A typical database is an organized collection of related information stored as "records" having "fields" of information. As an example, a database of employees may have a record for each employee where each record contains fields designating specifics about the employee, such as name, home address, salary, and the like.
Between the actual physical database itself (i.e., the data actually stored on a storage device) and the users of the system, a database management system or DBMS is typically provided as a software cushion or layer. In essence, the DBMS shields the database user from knowing or even caring about the underlying hardware-level details. Typically, all requests from users for access to the data are processed by the DBMS. For example, information may be added or removed from data files, information retrieved from or updated in such files, and so forth, all without user knowledge of the underlying system implementation. In this manner, the DBMS provides users with a conceptual view of the database that is removed from the hardware level. The general construction and operation of database management systems is well known in the art. See e.g., Date, C., "An Introduction to Database Systems, Seventh Edition", Part I (especially Chapters 1-4), Addison Wesley, 2000.
In recent years, applications running on database systems frequently provide for business-to-business or business-to-consumer interaction via the Internet between the organization hosting the application and its business partners and customers. Today, many organizations receive and transmit considerable quantities of information to business partners and customers through the Internet. A considerable portion of the information received or exchanged is in Extensible Markup Language or "XML" format. XML is a pared-down version of SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language), designed especially for Web documents, which allows designers to create their own customized tags, enabling the definition, transmission, validation, and interpretation of data between applications and between organizations. For further description of XML, see e.g., "Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0" (Second Edition, Oct. 6, 2000) a recommended specification from the W3C, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. A copy of this specification is available via the Internet (e.g., currently at www.w3.org/TR/2000/REC-xml-20001006). Many organizations utilize XML to exchange data with other remote users over the Internet.
Given the increasing use of XML in recent years, many organizations now have considerable quantities of data in XML format, including Web documents, newspaper articles, product catalogs, purchase orders, invoices, and product plans. As a result, these organizations need to be able to efficiently store, maintain, and use this XML information in an efficient manner. However, this XML data is not in a format that can be easily stored and searched in current database systems. Most XML data is sent and stored in plain text format. This data is not formatted in tables and rows like information stored in a relational DBMS. To search this semi-structured data, users typically utilize keyword searches similar to those utilized by many current Internet search engines. These keyword searches are resource-intensive and are not as efficient as relational DBMS searches of structured data.
Organizations with data in XML format also typically have other enterprise data stored in a structured format in database management systems. Increasingly, database system users are demanding that database systems provide the ability to access and use both structured data stored in these databases as well as XML and other unstructured or semi-structured data. In addition, users desire flexible tools and facilities for performing searches of this data.
One of the key roles of a database management system (DBMS) is to retrieve data stored in a database based on specified selection criterion. This typically involves retrieving data in response to a query that is specified in a query language. One particular need is for a solution that will enable efficient searches of information in XML documents. For instance, it would be desirable to have a XML version of SQL (Structured Query Language) that would enable a user to easily retrieve all nodes of type X that have descendants of type Y from a XML document.
One current solution used in XML-based applications to query the contents of a XML document is the XPath query language. XPath is commonly used in Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT) to locate and to apply XSLT templates to specific nodes in a XML document. XPath queries are also commonly used to locate and to process nodes in a XML document that match a specified criteria. XPath provides basic facilities for manipulation of strings, numbers and booleans. It uses a compact, non-XML syntax to facilitate use of XPath within URIs and XML attribute values. XPath operates on the abstract, logical structure of a XML document, rather than its surface syntax. XPath gets its name from its use of a path notation as in URLs for navigating through the hierarchical structure of a XML document. For further description of XPath, see e.g., "XML Path Language (XPath) Version 1.0" (Nov. 16, 1999), a recommended specification from the W3C, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. A copy of this specification is available via the Internet (e.g., currently at www.w3c.org/TR/xpath).
Although XPath provides a mechanism for locating nodes in a XML document that match specified criteria, problems remain in the processing of queries written in the XPath query language in current systems. One problem is in generating correct and efficient query plans from XPath expressions. In SQL query processing in current database systems, normalization and preprocessing components or layers are typically used to perform important tasks of semantic validation and tree transformations of SQL queries. In SQL query processing, these layers typically process a raw query tree and transform it into a correct and efficient tree structure for input into the optimizer/code generator of the database system. The optimizer/code generator can then translate this tree structure into more efficient query plans. Existing XPath query engines currently lack these normalization and preprocessing components which can result in incorrect processing of some queries and/or extremely large query plans in some instances.
XPath query parsers of current XPath query solutions generally construct trees assuming that the basic component of the tree is an element or attribute. However, XML storage and access in such systems is based on distinct paths in a XML document under consideration. In current systems, XML documents are frequently stored as collection of paths (path index) and value index. As a result, documents or fragments of documents are accessed using path based scans. However, in current XPath query engines, paths are constructed at the last moment; namely, at code generation time. Existing systems separately deal with components of paths; namely, elements, attributes and wildcards. Other XPath operators such as descendants, parenthesis, filters (predicates) are also processed without an understanding of semantic relationships between paths and the other XPath operators. The element-by-element processing in the query engine and path based access in the storage layer, represent an inherent mismatch (referred to as an "impedence mismatch") in the query processing model of current systems. This impedence mismatch between the output of parser (which is input to the code generator) and the output of the code generator results in an inefficient and sometimes error prone code generation process in processing path based queries in current systems. The problems which can result include large plans which may cause stack overflows in some cases and incorrect plans causing stack traces in certain other cases.
What is needed is a solution which provides improved processing of path based queries. Ideally, the solution should transform element-based parse trees into path-based parse trees so as to enable improved processing of XPath queries. The present invention provides a solution for these and other needs.

Database system and methodology for processing path based queries


A fullness detection device includes a waste toner collecting portion, a waste toner container configured to store the collected waste toner, the waste toner container has translucency, a detecting portion including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion disposed to sandwich the waste toner container, the light receiving portion receiving the light from the light emitting portion, and a determining portion configured to determine whether or not the waste toner container is full based on whether or not an output value of the light receiving portion is higher than a predetermined threshold value. The light emitting portion increases light intensity step by step and emits light at a level of smallest light intensity among light intensity levels at which it is determined that the waste toner container is not full.

The present disclosure relates to collection of waste toner in an image forming apparatus that performs printing using toner. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a fullness of a waste toner container detection device for a waste toner collection container.
In general, an image forming apparatus (such as a printer, a multifunction peripheral, a copier, or a facsimile machine) using toner and an electrophotographic method performs printing by forming a toner image on a photoreceptor drum, transferring the toner image onto a paper sheet, and fixing the toner image onto the paper sheet. Then, residual toner remaining on the photoreceptor drum without transferred is collected as waste toner. Further, a waste toner container for storing the waste toner may be disposed. When waste toner is continuously sent to the waste toner container despite the waste toner container is full, the waste toner may overflow and contaminate the inside of the image forming apparatus. In addition, when waste toner is continuously sent to the waste toner container despite the waste toner container is full, a large force may be applied to members for conveying waste toner (e.g. conveying screw and a conveying tube). As a result, members may be broken. Therefore, there is known a fullness detection device for detecting fullness of the waste toner container as follows.
For instance, there is known a waste toner fullness detection device including a waste toner collection container and a photosensor. The waste toner collection container includes a collection opening formed on a top surface of a book type storage portion for storing waste toner, so as to collect waste toner dropping to the storage portion, and a detection slit formed below the collection opening to protrude outward from the storage portion in such a manner that the center thereof is shifted from the waste toner dropping center in the collection opening, so that the waste toner level goes upward gradually along with increase of the waste toner stored in the storage portion. The photosensor detects the waste toner in the detection slit from outside of the waste toner collection container.
In this way, there is a case where the photosensor detects that waste toner is stored up to a certain level so that fullness of the waste toner container is detected. For instance, an optical sensor (a light emitting and a light receiving portion) sandwiches an upper end portion (neck portion) of a waste toner container having a certain transmittance, and transmitting light intensity is recognized on the basis of an output value of the light receiving portion. Because the waste toner interrupts light when the waste toner container becomes full, the light receiving portion cannot receive the light from the light emitting portion. For instance, it is determined that the waste toner container is full when the output value from the light receiving portion indicates that the light receiving portion receives little light when light emitting portion emits light.
The part of the waste toner container that transmits the light of the optical sensor is contaminated by the waste toner. In addition, the waste toner container is made of resin, and hence transmittance thereof is varied among individual waste toner containers. In addition, there is also a position error when disposing the optical sensor. In addition, there is also a position error when attaching the waste toner container. Because of these reasons, it is necessary to prevent a detection error even when worst conditions occur, by securing that the light from the light emitting portion reaches to the light receiving portion when the waste toner container is not full. Therefore, for example, when the fullness detection of the waste toner container is performed by using the optical sensor, maximum permissible rating power is supplied to the optical sensor considering worst conditions. In other words, the light emitting portion is driven to emit light at maximum intensity.
However, when the light emitting portion is always driven to emit light at maximum intensity (amount of luminescence) while the fullness detection of the waste toner container is performed, there is a case where the light intensity is higher than necessary. In other words, there is a case where non-fullness can be detected even when the light intensity of the light emitting portion is reduced to be lower than the maximum light intensity. Therefore, there is a problem that because the light emitting portion is driven at light intensity higher than a value necessary for detecting whether or not the waste toner container is full, for example, power is wastefully consumed, and life of a light emitting element of the light emitting portion is shortened.
Here, as to the known waste toner fullness detection device described above as an example, there is studied a position and the like of the detection slit. However, there is no description about light intensity of a light source of a photosensor 27. In addition, when the light source is always driven to emit light at light intensity lower than the maximum light intensity, there may occur a detection error such that fullness is detected though the waste toner container is not actually full, which causes an accuracy problem.

Fullness detection device, image forming apparatus, and method for controlling fullness detection device


A cutting insert according to one embodiment includes: a rake face; a flank face continuous to the rake face; and a cutting edge constituted of a ridgeline between the rake face and the flank face. A coolant flow path is provided inside the cutting insert. One end portion of the coolant flow path opens in the flank face to form a coolant ejection hole. The flank face is provided with a coolant guide groove extending from the coolant ejection hole toward the cutting edge with a base end portion of the coolant guide groove being connected to the coolant ejection hole and with a front end portion of the coolant guide groove being disposed at a position close to the cutting edge relative to the base end portion.

Conventionally, a cutting insert described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2016-190275 (Patent Literature 1) has been known. In a flank face of the cutting insert described in Patent Literature 1, a coolant holding portion is formed. The coolant holding portion is constituted of a plurality of grooves and a plurality of ribs formed in the flank face.
The cutting insert described in Patent Literature 1 is attached to a tool body. Inside the tool body, a path for supplying the coolant is formed. This path opens in a surface of the tool body, thereby forming a coolant supply hole. Part of coolant sent out from the coolant supply hole is ejected onto the flank face of the cutting insert described in Patent Literature 1, and is accordingly supplied to the coolant holding portion.

Cutting insert and method for manufacturing cutting insert