A method for determining distances for chassis measurement of a vehicle having a body and at least one wheel includes determining a center of rotation of a wheel of the vehicle by projecting a structured light pattern at least onto the wheel, recording a light pattern reflected by the wheel using a calibrated imaging sensor system, determining a 3D point cloud from the reflected light pattern, and determining the center of rotation of the wheel from the 3D point cloud. The method also includes determining a point on the body by evaluating the previously determined 3D point cloud or by evaluating a plurality of grey-scale images recorded under unstructured illumination. A height level is determined as a vertical distance between the center of rotation of the wheel and the point on the body.

The present disclosure relates to a method for determining distances and, in particular, ride heights in order to measure a chassis of a motor vehicle, and a chassis measuring device for carrying out the method according to the disclosure.
Contactless axle measurement such as is known, for example, from DE 10 2004 013 441, is based on the detection of a geometry detail of a wheel rim, the evaluation with respect to the position in space and the combination of the results to form an axle measurement.
In addition to the pure measured values, which describe the position of the wheel rims with respect to one another, the vehicle-specific predefined values, for example the structural position or an admissible range of the ride height which is predefined by the vehicle manufacturer, are necessary for an evaluation, which comprises, for example, a setpoint value/actual value comparison. The ride height is defined differently here by different vehicle manufacturers. According to one definition the ride height is defined as a difference in height between the upper edge of the wheelhouse and the upper edge of the rim. Other definitions consider, for example, the level at an element of the wheel suspension or the difference in height between the contact patch and a body feature.
Different load states of a vehicle result in different ride heights and therefore also different spring compression travel values for the same type of vehicle. Different spring compression travel values produce different results of the chassis measurement, for example, different toe—in values and camber values.
The ride height of a vehicle is conventionally measured using mechanical aids by measuring distances between fixed points on the vehicle and the contact patch, recording the measured values manually and inputting them into a computer of the chassis measuring device. Alternatively, the distances are measured with a special tool and transmitted to the computer via an interface.
This is laborious, tedious and susceptible to faults. In addition, accurate measurement is made more difficult by the fact that direct mechanical contact with the feature points to be measured is frequently impossible or can only be achieved with difficulty.
WO 2008/028832 A1 describes a method for determining distances for measuring a chassis in which firstly in each case an image of a wheel rim and an image of at least one area adjacent to the wheel rim are recorded by means of at least two measuring cameras of a measuring device. At least a first spatial point is then determined in the two recorded images of a wheel rim and the position of said first spatial point is calculated by means of triangulation. Subsequently, at least one second spatial point is determined in the two recorded images and the position of said second spatial point is calculated by triangulation. After this, the distance or the difference in height between the two spatial points is determined. The ride height of the vehicle can be determined directly or indirectly from the distance or the difference in height without the help of mechanical aids.

Method and device for determining distances on a vehicle


The mammalian TGF-.beta. type II receptor has been cloned. Nucleic acids encoding full-length and soluble receptor polypeptides, as well as fragments of such nucleic acids useful as probes, are provided. Corresponding vectors, transformed host cells, and their use to produce recombinant TGF-.beta. receptors are also described.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-.beta.) is a member of a family of structurally related cytokines that elicit a variety of responses, including growth, differentiation, and morphogenesis, in many different cell types. (Roberts, A. B. and M. B. Sporn, In: Peptide Growth Factors and Their Receptors, Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, pp. 421-472 (1990); Massague, J., Annu. Rev. Cell. Biol. 6:597-641 (1990)). In vertebrates at least five different forms of TGF-.beta., termed TGF-.beta.1 to TGF-.beta.5, have been identified; they all share a high degree (60%-80%) of amino-acid sequence identity. While TGF-.beta.1 was initially characterized by its ability to induce anchorage-independent growth of normal rat kidney cells, its effects on most cell types are anti-mitogenic. (Altschul, S. F. et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990); Andres, J. L. et al., J. Cell. Biol. 109:3137-3145 (1989)). It is strongly growth-inhibitory for many types of cells, including both normal and transformed epithelial, endothelial, fibroblast, neuronal, lymphoid, and hematopoietic cells. In addition, TGF-.beta. plays a central role in regulating the formation of extracellular matrix and cell-matrix adhesion processes.
In spite of its widespread effects on cell phenotype and physiology, little is known about the biochemical mechanisms that enable TGF-.beta. family members to elicit these varied responses. Three distinct high-affinity cell-surface TGF-.beta.-binding proteins, termed type I, II and III, have been identified by incubating cells with radiolabelled TGF-.beta.1, cross-linking bound TGF-.beta.1 to cell surface molecules, and analyzing the labelled complexes by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. (Massague, J. and B. Like, J. Biol. Chem. 260:2636-2645 (1985); Cheifetz, S. et al. J. Biol. Chem. 261:9972-9978 (1986).) The binding constants are about 5-50 pM for the type I and II receptor and 30-300 pM for the type III receptor. (Boyd, F. T. and J. Massague, J. Biol. Chem. 264:2272-2278 (1989)).
The type I and II receptors, of estimated 53 and 70-100 kilodaltons mass respectively, are N-glycosylated transmembrane proteins that are similar in many respects. Each of these receptors has a distinct affinity for each member of the TGF-.beta. family of ligands. (Boyd, F. T. and J. Massague, J. Biol. Chem. 264:2272-2278 (1989)). In contrast, the type III receptor shows comparable affinities for all TGF-.beta. isotypes; the type III receptor is the most abundant cell-surface receptor for TGF-.beta. in many cell lines (upwards of 200,000 per cell), and is an integral membrane proteoglycan. It is heavily modified by glycosaminoglycan (GAG) groups, and migrates heterogeneously upon gel electrophoresis as proteins of 280 to 330 kilodaltons. When deglycosylated with heparitinase and chondrontinase, the protein core migrates as a 100-110 kilodalton protein. The TGF-.beta. binding site resides in this protein core, as non-glycosylated forms of this receptor that are produced in cell mutants defective in GAG synthesis are capable of ligand binding with affinities comparable to those of the natural receptor. (Cheifetz, S. and J. Massague, J. Biol. Chem., 264:12025-12028 (1989). A variant form of type III receptor is secreted by some types of cells as a soluble molecule that apparently lacks a membrane anchor. This soluble species is found in low amounts in serum and in extracellular matrix.
The type III receptor, also called betaglycan, has a biological function distinct from that of the type I and II receptors. Some mutant mink lung epithelial cell (Mv1Lu) selected for loss of TGF-.beta. responsiveness no longer express type I receptors; others, similarly selected, lose expression of both the type I and II receptors. However, all these variants continue to express the type III receptor. (Boyd, F. T. and J. Massague, J. Biol. Chem. 264:2272-2278 (1989); Laiho, M. et al., J. Biol. Chem. 265:18518-18524 (1990)). This has led to the proposal that types I and II receptors are signal-transducing molecules while the type III receptor, may subserve some other function, such as in concentrating ligand before presentation to the bona fide signal-transducing receptors. The secreted form of type III receptor, on the other hand, may act as a reservoir or clearance system for bioactive TGF-.beta..
Additional information about each of these TGF-.beta. receptor types would enhance our understanding of their roles and make it possible, if desired, to alter their functions.

Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research


An input device includes a plurality of character input keys and is operable in a single and a multiple alphabetic character input mode. In the single alphabetic character input mode, an individual character input key is assigned a single alphabetic character, and activating the individual character input key inputs the alphabetic character. In the multiple alphabetic character input mode an individual character input key is assigned multiple alphabetic characters, and the specific character that is input depends upon the number of times the individual character input key is activated. Accordingly, a portion of the character input keys may be deactivated in the multiple alphabetic character input mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a character input device for computer-related systems. The invention concerns, more particularly, a character input device that is usable in a single alphabetic character input mode and a multiple alphabetic character input mode. In the single alphabetic character input mode, a plurality of character input keys are each associated with a single alphabetic character. In the multiple alphabetic character input mode, a portion of the character input keys are disabled, and the remaining portion of the character input keys are each associated with multiple alphabetic characters that are input with one or more activations of the various character input keys. The invention has application to various peripheral input devices for computers and gaming systems.
2. Description of Background Art
Game controllers are frequently used with gaming and computer systems, for example. Controllers are normally designed to be hand-held, and commonly include a wide variety of user interaction mechanisms such as thumbsticks, D-pads, and various depressible buttons. Due to progressions in video game systems and data transfer capability, some games permit the input of text and other characters. Such text input is commonly performed on a typical, full size keyboard due to the quantity and number of keys used for inputting text.
Attempts have been made to integrate push buttons corresponding to alphabetic keys onto a hand-held game controller. However, such attempts have been less than satisfactory, as the size, number, and/or configuration of the keys and/or the methods of using the keys have not provided a solution that permits for efficient entry of a large number of letters and other characters without drawbacks.
Additionally, other types of reduced-sized devices have provided a large set of reduced sized key buttons permitting entry of letters and other characters. Such devices have been used for wireless transmission and retrieval or emails. These devices commonly include an LCD display region. However, these devices suffer from many of the drawbacks present in the reduced-size keyboard regions of the controllers described above.


The present invention resides broadly in a dispersion of particles in a fluid medium which contains a polymeric dispersing agent. The particles are hydrophilic particles. The fluid medium has less than 0.5% by weight electrolyte based on the weight of the fluid medium. The polymeric dispersing agent is associative in nature, comprising hydrophilic moieties capable of adsorbing onto the particles, and hydrophobic moieties capable of interaction between themselves in the dispersion, or in a coating comprising the dispersion. The polymeric dispersing agent has a molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 20,000, preferably in the range of 1,500 to 5,000, and is present in the dispersion in an amount in the range of 0.01 to 2.5 weight percent based on the weight of the particles which are dispersed.

In paper coatings, kaolin clay is often a major component. Kaolin clay is traditionally manufactured by a series of steps which may include bleaching, floatation, particle size fractionation, magnet treatment, and dispersion. Like other pigments, such as titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, and talc, it must be dispersed. However, unlike other pigments, it is traditionally dispersed in the final stages of processing from an acidic filter cake. Normally, the dispersion is carried out with the combination of soda ash and sodium polyacrylate. This produces an approximately 60% solids dispersed filter cake. Dried clay is then back-added to the dispersion to achieve a normal shipping solids content of about 70%.
Traditionally, in paper coatings, dispersed clay is used with other coating ingredients. A latex, such as styrene butadiene, with other functional monomers, such as itaconic acid, is often used. Although these lattices are usually employed with hydrocolloids which provide viscosity and water retention for the coating process, increased levels of carboxylation on the latex, or introduction of an associative thickener, may provide a sole binder system. Both sole binder lattices and hydrocolloids, such as carboxymethyl cellulose and hydroxyethyl cellulose, influence the wet coating structure. The result is that the flow characteristics are changed from the basic dispersed clay.
It is normal for the high shear viscosity to be increased. The solids of these coatings must be adjusted to provide runnability, required for a defect-free coating. With the trend towards increased blade coating speeds, a common approach toward formulation is to search for lower high shear viscosity. However, with lower high shear viscosity, achieved by either lowering solids content, or judicious selection of coating materials, a compromise in loss of holdout of the coating may occur. This may occur through pressure penetration in the roll applicator before the blade, pressure penetration into the paper at the blade, or penetration due to base stock decompression after the blade. The problem faced by the formulator of blade coatings thus continues to be one of coating design in terms of achieving a satisfactory balance between runnability and coating holdout.

Associatively dispersed pigments and coatings containing said pigments


A life management system receives data from a client device worn by a user, the data comprising biotelemetry data and activity data collected about a user wearing the client device. The life management system generates snapshot information using information from a group consisting of: the biotelemetry data, activity data, social data associated with the user, and user profile information associated with the user. The life management system generates a recommendation using portions of the snapshot information, and updates the snapshot information with the recommendation. The life management system executes a recommendation associated with the snapshot information in accordance with the user controls associated with the user.

This invention relates to a life management system, and more specifically, to a life management system that makes recommendations for a user based on the user's real-time physical, social, and biotelometric activity.
In recent years, stress levels have been increasing for American adults, and many people report that they do not manage or reduce stress well. Stress can be caused by a difficulty to effectively multi-task with respect to activities such as work, exercise, nutritional intake, travel, and social engagements. Systems and methods for lowering stress and improving individuals' lifestyles are desirable.
Current health monitoring systems display a user's physical activity through sensors such as a pedometer, an elevation detector, or a heart rate monitor. However, these technologies are not necessarily used to lower an individual's stress level or make meaningful recommendations to the user regarding future activities or lifestyle choices. Further, these technologies are limited in the information that they can provide to a user, and do not provide an integrated life management solution allowing a user to better manage and improve multiple aspects of his lifestyle, including health, social, stress, schedule, organization, productivity, and overall well being. There does not currently exist a system that takes into account a user's physical activity, social activity, and biotelometric data to make recommendations to the user.
Additionally, health monitoring systems are generally user-centric, in the sense they do not allow third parties to analyze a user's physical activity, social activity, and biotelometric data to suggest and/or schedule actions that are beneficial to a user's health. Moreover, health monitoring systems lack means to coordinate third party services for their users and actively update calendars associated with their users based on the analyzed data.

System and method for making a recommendation for a user of a life management system


The systems described herein provide a remote keyboard service for a media device on a computing device without having to invoke an application or unlock the computing device. The computing device can receive a message indicating that a text input field on the other device is selected and present a notification to the user prompting the user to invoke the virtual keyboard on the computing device to provide text input to the selected text input field. The computing device can receive user input selecting the notification and present a virtual keyboard for providing text input to the other device. The computing device can receive keyboard input from the user selecting characters and send the characters to the other device. The other device can then user the characters as text input to the selected text input field.

Streaming media devices are becoming more and more popular. Streaming media devices allow a user to browse, search, and watch media content on demand. However, the input mechanisms for these streaming media devices are often simple remote controls without keyboards that require a user to hunt and select individual text characters when entering a search query into a text input control (e.g., text input box). Thus, the process of providing textual input to these streaming media devices can be burdensome to the user.
Some streaming media devices have a corresponding application by which a user can provide text input using a virtual keyboard on the user's handheld device (e.g., smartphone, tablet computer, etc.). However, the user must install and invoke the application before being able to use the virtual keyboard to provide text input to the streaming media device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A high precision z-theta stage having a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the translation axis comprises parallel spaced apart linear translation stages, a carriage supported between the parallel translation stages, and a rotation stage carried by the carriage between the parallel translation stages. Each brushless linear motor is connected to the carriage to apply translation forces in a horizontal plane intersecting the vertical center of gravity.

This patent relates to a high precision z-theta stage. The stage has a horizontal translation axis (z-axis) and a rotary axis (theta-axis) parallel with the horizontal translation axis. The stage is especially designed for the manufacture of expandable stents for implantation in a human body or other cylindrical laser-machined components. The stents are manufactured from a tubular feedstock, such as stainless steel, nitanol, or plastic, and are provided with intricate circumferential patterns. Processes for machining the patterns out of the feedstock include laser machining in which a z-theta stage controlled by a CNC controller presents the feedstock to a laser beam for cutting away portions of the tubular feedstock. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,504 entitled "Expandable Stents and Method for Making Same" for a description of one stent manufacturing process.


Provided is a base unit including a base unit chassis that supports a spindle motor, a heat dissipation member that dissipates heat generated from a stator of the spindle motor to a non-disk mounting side of the base unit chassis, and a bearing housing that suppresses heat transfer from a stator core to a bearing of the spindle motor.

A base unit (also referred to as a disk drive) is known provided with, inside a case, a mechanism for loading and unloading an optical disk, a spindle motor for rotating the optical disk, an optical head for writing data to the optical disk and reading data from the optical disk, a sled motor and a feed mechanism to move the optical head in a radial direction of the optical disk, and a substrate on which circuit components such as a system controller for controlling a system are attached.
In the base unit, when the spindle motor is operated, the temperature of the stator coil and the stator core rises mainly by heat generation due to the internal resistance of the stator coil. In particular, in a case where an outer rotor type spindle motor is operated, since the rotor covers the stator core and the stator coil, the temperature rise of the stator core and the stator coil tends to increase. For example, when operation (seek operation) is performed for moving the optical head at high speed in the radial direction of the optical disk with a constant linear velocity (CLV) method, it is necessary to rapidly change the rotational speed of the optical disk, and the spindle motor tends to be very hot.
There is a problem that performance of the spindle motor is adversely affected when the temperature of the spindle motor becomes very high. Furthermore, there has been a problem that, in the mechanical configuration of the conventional base unit, due to the temperature rise of the spindle motor, disk deformation (warping) due to thermal expansion occurs since the temperature rise of the surface on the motor rotor side of the optical disk increases, and drive performance is adversely affected.
Moreover, the housing part that holds the bearing and iron core of the spindle motor includes a metal member, and heat due to heat generation of the stator coil is transferred to the bearing, and the temperature rise of the bearing has an adverse effect on the bearing life characteristics. Moreover, the heat is transferred to the shaft, and causes the temperature rise of the optical disk through the turntable that holds the optical disk from the shaft, and there has been a possibility that the optical disk is deformed.
Proposals have been made to solve the problems due to heat generation of the spindle motor. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that heat transfer to the bearing is suppressed by providing an element that performs cooling by thermoelectric conversion in the housing part that holds the iron core and the bearing.
Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes that a heat dissipation material having good radiation heat dissipation is used as a mounting plate for the spindle motor, and heat generation of the coil is dissipated from the bearing housing to the non-disk mounting side through the mounting plate for the spindle motor.
Patent Document 3 describes that the coil that is a heat generation source is embedded in a resin chassis to prevent heat transfer to the rotor.
Patent Document 4 describes a heat dissipation mechanism of a fan motor, and a heat dissipation plate is attached to a metal housing that houses the bearing so that the heat of the coil is efficiently dissipated.

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


An airbag module has a rigid cushion with an integrated inflator. The cushion has a rear cushion panel and the inflator may have a front inflator plate attached to the rear cushion panel. A rear inflator plate is optionally provided and may be positioned within the cushion or outside the cushion. A pyrotechnic may be disposed within the space between the front inflator plate and the rear cushion panel and/or the rear inflator plate. An initiator may be seated in the rear inflator plate and/or the rear cushion panel to initiate combustion of the pyrotechnic. Instead of the front inflator plate, the inflator may have an expanse of tape that secures the pyrotechnic and/or the initiator to the interior of the cushion. The pyrotechnic may be sealed by the tape or by a foil pouch. The initiator may be secured by the tape or by a rear inflator plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for protecting vehicle occupants from injury. More specifically, the present invention relates to airbag cushions with integrated inflator hardware.
2. Description of Related Art
The inclusion of inflatable safety restraint devices, or airbags, is now a legal requirement for many new vehicles. Airbags are typically installed in the steering wheel and in the dashboard on the passenger side of a car. Additionally, airbags may be installed to inflate beside the passenger to provide side impact protection, in front of the knees or under the legs to protect the knees and/or maintain the posture of the occupant during impact, or at other strategic locations.
In the event of an accident, an accelerometer within the vehicle measures the abnormal deceleration and triggers the ignition of an explosive charge. Expanding gases from the charge fill the airbags, which immediately inflate to protect the driver and/or passengers from impact against the interior surfaces of the vehicle. During normal vehicle operation, airbags are typically stowed behind covers to protect them from tampering and to provide a more attractive interior facade for the vehicle.
Typically, the expanding gases are expelled into the cushion from an inflator that contains the gas in compressed form or generates gas through the ignition of a pyrotechnic. In certain airbag modules, the inflator is positioned within the cushion. Thus, the inflation gas is able to reach the cushion faster, and installation of the module may be simplified.
Unfortunately, the process of manufacturing, inserting, and attaching the inflator in place can add significantly to the cost of the airbag system. According to known methods, the inflator is often manufactured in a process entirely separate from that of the airbag cushion. Hence, two separate manufacturing processes must be used, and the products of both must be brought together to provide the complete module. The shipping, inventory, and general management costs associated with managing the separate production lines can be considerable.
Furthermore, installation of inflators for known airbag systems typically requires the use of nuts, bolts, clamps, retaining rings, and other pieces of installation hardware. Such hardware adds to the cost of the airbag system. Installation of the inflator may require considerable time from an operator, who may be required to use expensive, customized tooling to carry out the installation process.
When the inflator is to be installed in the cushion, the cushion may have to be sealed after installation of the inflator. Inflators installed outside a cushion may need to be connected to the cushion by gas guides or other expensive hardware designed to channel the inflation gas. The inflators used must often include baffles, screens, or other parts designed to cool the inflation gas and remove particulates to protect the cushion from damage.
Accordingly, a need exists for airbag modules and associated manufacturing and installation methods by which the inflator and cushion can be more easily combined for installation in a vehicle. Such modules and methods should preferably minimize the amount of time and hardware required for inflator/cushion integration. Additionally, such modules and methods should preferably be compatible with simplified, low-cost inflator designs. Furthermore, such modules and methods should preferably minimize the overall cost of the airbag module and the associated installation process.


A receiver comprises a first Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA) that amplifies an input signal in accordance with a first gain to produce a first amplified signal. The first gain is controlled based on the first amplified signal. The receiver includes a second VGA that produces a second amplified signal responsive to the first amplified signal. The second VGA has a second gain controlled based on the second amplified signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to receivers, and more particularly, to multi-channel receivers using automatic gain control.
2. Related Art
Many communication receivers employ Automatic Gain Control (AGC) circuits to maintain a received signal within a dynamic range of the receiver. Typically, the AGC includes a signal level detector to indicate whether an output power level of the receiver is too strong or too weak, and gain control to adjust one or more amplifiers in response to the power level, thereby establishing a proper output power level. This operation attempts to balance the detrimental but competing effects of noise and distortion.
Existing tuners typically rely on an external level detector, which is part of a larger receiver system, of which the tuner is also a part. This level detector is responsive only to the output of the tuner. At this point, all received channels (for example, TV channels) except a desired channel have been removed by one or more stages of Intermediate Frequency (IF) filtering. An output of the level detector is compared to a reference level, and from this comparison a feedback gain control signal for the tuner is derived. The gain control signal causes an increase or decrease in receiver gain, as appropriate. This feedback signal may be filtered to obtain a desired AGC system characteristic.
Some conventional tuners have two Variable Gain Amplifiers (VGAs): for example, a Radio Frequency (RF) VGA in an RF stage and an IF VGA in an IF stage following the RF stage. A single gain control signal, derived in the IF stage, feeds both VGAs. If two channels, including a desired channel and an adjacent undesired channel are present in a received signal, and the desired channel is much weaker than the adjacent channel, a conventional AGC will often allow too much gain in the RF stage, since the conventional AGC is responsive to only the desired channel level (in the IF stage). Excessive distortion will then result from the presence of the large adjacent channel. There is a need therefore for an AGC system that overcomes the above-mentioned and other related problems in conventional receivers.

Automatic gain control system and method using multiple local AGC loops


A well optimizing system and method for lifting fluid that accumulates and retards production in a well. The system includes a plunger having a piston and a detachable plugh. The piston has a sealing section and a retrieval end and defines a passage through the length thereof. One or more pads are radially extendable from the sealing section. The detachable plug is positional in the retrieval end in a position to substantially block the flow of fluid through the passage from below the plunger. The system may further include a production control system.

In the life of most wells the reservoir pressure decreases over time resulting in the failure of the well to produce fluids utilizing the formation pressure solely. As the formation pressure decreases, the well tends to fill up with liquids, such as oil and water, which inhibits the flow of gas into the wellbore and may prevent the production of liquids. It is common to remove this accumulation of liquid by artificial lift systems such as plunger lift, gas lift, pump lifting and surfactant lift wherein the liquid column is blown out of the well utilizing the reaction between surfactants and the liquid.
One method of producing fluids from a declining well having gas production is by utilizing a plunger lift system. A well is shut-in allowing a plunger to fall through the fluid column to the bottom of the well. When gas pressure from the formation is sufficient, the well may be opened allowing the gas to lift the plunger and the fluid above the plunger to the surface for production. The plunger acts as an interface between the gas and liquid in the well. However, when gas pressure is overcome by the hydrostatic head in the well, well production will cease.
Wells that are candidates for plunger lift are already very susceptible to being killed. These wells are commonly killed by allowing excessive liquid to accumulate in the well. Fluid may accumulate from allowing the well to remain flowing for too great a period of time or wiping fluid from the interior of the tubing, or both. The margin of error for maintaining production is further decreased as the well declines and the gas volume produced at the formation decreases.
Typical plunger lift systems require a well that produces a substantial quantity of gas. Therefore, there is a need for a plunger lift system that facilitates continued production of declining wells with decreasing produced gas volumes and gas pressures.


According to one aspect of the invention, a semiconductor memory has, as word lines, a layer of high-resistance signal lines that are paralleled in a separate layer by low-resistance signal lines. Each high-resistance signal line is divided into segments separated by gaps. Interconnections between the high- and low-resistance signal lines in each word line are aligned with the gaps in the high-resistance signal lines in the adjacent word lines. According to a second aspect of the invention, the low-resistance signal lines extend, from alternate directions, to approximately the midpoints of the high-resistance signal lines. The high-resistance signal lines are undivided, or are divided into only two segments apiece. The high- and low-resistance signal lines are interconnected at the midpoints, or at the midpoints and one end.

The present invention relates to an improvement in the word-line structure of a semiconductor memory, the improvement being particularly suited for use in dynamic random-access memories.
Increased bit capacities and densities in semiconductor memories have led to the following problem on the word lines that select memory cells. Since the word lines function as the gate electrodes of transistors in the memory cells, the word lines are fabricated from polysilicon, which has significant electrical resistivity. The resistivity can be reduced by mixing the polysilicon with a metal silicide such as tungsten silicide, but the resulting mixture, commonly referred to as polycide, still has significant resistivity, much greater than the resistivity of a metal such as aluminum. Because of this comparatively high resistivity, and because of the large number of transistors on each word line, the word lines present significant resistive (R) and capacitive (C) loads, and the attendant RC signal propagation delay slows the operation of the memory.
This problem has been attacked through three strategies in the prior art.
A first strategy places the driver circuit of each word line in the center of the word line, thus splitting the word line into two halves. Each half has only half the resistance and half the capacitance of the full word line, so the RC propagation delay is reduced by a factor of four. This strategy was used in memories with capacities measured in kilobits, but was inadequate for megabit memories.
A second strategy adds an aluminum shunt line, which has very low electrical resistance, above each polysilicon or polycide word line. The word line and shunt line are coupled at N+1 points, including the end points of the lines, by contact holes filled with interconnecting plugs of aluminum (N is an integer greater than one). This strategy reduces the RC delay by a factor of 4N.sup.2 , and has been used in one- and four-megabit memories.
In memories with higher integration densities, however, the second strategy encounters a further problem. To allow for mask alignment error in the fabrication process, the word lines and their aluminum shunt lines must be locally broadened at the points of contact with the aluminum interconnecting plugs. The consequent narrow spacing between adjacent lines at the interconnecting plugs makes fabrication difficult, and adversely affects production yields.
Memories with higher integration densities have, therefore, often adopted a third strategy. The third strategy divides the memory cell array into subarrays, so that each word line is divided into a corresponding plurality of shorter word lines, each shorter word line having its own driver. If a word line is divided into N such shorter word lines, the RC propagation delay is reduced by a factor of N.sup.2. The drivers themselves are activated via an aluminum word line which, although long, offers relatively little electrical resistance, has a comparatively small capacitive load, and thus causes little propagation delay.
A problem in this third strategy is that each word line requires N+1 drivers: one for the long aluminum line, and one for each shorter polysilicon or polycide line. The space taken up by the extra driving circuitry adds significantly to the length of the word lines, hence to the size of the memory device. Although a driver for a short polysilicon or polycide word line can use smaller transistors than are needed by a driver for long polysilicon or polycide word line, the size of the driver circuits does not scale down by a factor of N. To achieve a given reduction in propagation delay, the third strategy requires several times as much extra space as the second.

Semiconductor memory with improved word line structure


An ink composition for use as a support ink in three dimensional (3D) printing processes comprises a dispersion of solid particles in liquid carrier, compatible with an inkjet print head, wherein after removing the liquid carrier, the solid particles serve as support material for a Three Dimensional (3D) printed object, wherein the support material is separable from the 3D printed object.

The 3D (three dimensional) printing market is maturing rapidly. 3D printing or additive manufacturing (AM) is any of various processes for making a 3D object of almost any shape from a 3D computer model or other electronic data source primarily through additive processes in which successive layers of material are laid down under computer control. A 3D printer is a type of industrial robot, which utilizes printing technologies for fabricating the required object.
Conventional 3D processes include stereo lithography employing UV lasers to cure photopolymers, inkjet printers utilizing UV radiation to polymerize photo-monomers and oligomers, metal sintering (such as selective laser sintering and direct metal laser sintering), fused deposition modeling (FDM), based on extrusion technology, and deposition of liquid binders onto powders.
Some 3D printing processes require supporting materials for supporting the printed object during its printing. These support materials are temporary, and removed once the object has been printed.
Another approach in 3D inkjet printing is the use of UV-curable polymers, similar to those of the printed object, but modified to be water soluble. Complete removal of the support is difficult in these systems and the interfaces formed are not sharp. Moreover, it is difficult for the formed water soluble support polymer to maintain its dimensions and 3D structure at high temperatures, such as the temperatures used for sintering.

Support ink for three dimensional (3D) printing


The description details a preferred embodiment of an improved large area ultrasonic transducer 70 capable of reducing the generation of adverse "edge effect" waves. The transducer has a thin piezoelectric wafer 72 that has a high area-to-thickness ratio of preferably between 30 and 300. A front electrode coating 84 is deposited on the front surface 74, over the front edge 77, along the side surface 82 and over the back edge 78 and onto a border of the back surface 76 to minimize the application of a voltage potential along the side surface.. A voltage modifying layer 92 is placed on the back surface 76 along the back edge 78 for further minimizing the generation of "edge effect" waves. The layer 92 varies in thickness to progressively decrease the voltage applied to the back surface 76 from a large central area 79(a) to the back edge 78. The layer 92 is preferably composed of a non-piezoelectric dielectric material.

Although commercial application of ultrasonic holography has been actively pursued by many persons in the scientific and industrial communities for many years, only limited results have been obtained even though it was once thought that ultrasonic holography held great promise. It was felt that the application of ultrasonic holography was particularly applicable to the fields of non-destructive testing of materials and medical diagnostics of soft tissues that are relatively transparent or translucent to ultrasonic radiation. One of the principal problems that has been encountered and not effectively resolved is the difficulty of obtaining visible results having high resolution content.
Solutions to this problem have been elusive, in part because of the difficulty in identifying the many causes that contribute to the problem. One culprit that is believed to materially contribute to the problem has been the difficulty of generating undistorted ultrasonic plane waves from a large surface piezoelectric transducer. It has been suggested that "edge effect" radiation from the side and edges of the piezoelectric wafer materially interferes with and adversely affects the ability of the transducer to generate undistorted plane waves for insonifying the subject object. To illustrate this point, reference is made to a typical prior art ultrasonic holography system that is schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Such a typical "real time" ultrasonic holographic system is generally identified in FIG. 1 with numeral 10. The system 10 is intended to inspect the interior of an object 12. The system 10 generally has a hologram generating sub-system 13 and a hologram viewing sub-system (optical sub-system) 32. One of the principal components and the main subject of the focus of this invention is the provision of ultrasonic transducers, generally referred to as the object transducer 14 for generating ultrasonic plane waves 16 for insonifying the object 12 and reference transducer 22 for generating an off-axis beam.
The ultrasonic energy transmitted through the object 12 is directed to a hologram detection surface 18, which is generally an area of a liquid-gas interface or liquid surface, such as a water surface. Generally the hologram detection surface 18 is physically isolated in a detection container 20 to minimize distortions caused by vibration. The ultrasonic reference transducer 22 generates an off-axis ultrasonic beam that is also directed to the hologram detection surface 18 to form a standing hologram. It is frequently desirable to pulse the transducers 14 and 22 at desired intervals to minimize dynamic distortions of the detector surface 18.
Generally an ultrasonic lens assembly 26 is utilized to provide a focused hologram of a desired plane 27 within the object 12. In the example shown, the assembly 26 has a stationary lens 28 having a focal length coincident with the plane of the hologram detection surface 18. A movable complementary lens 30 is provided to be moved to focus on the desired object plane 27 of the object 12.
The optical subsystem 32 includes a source of coherent light, preferably a laser 34 for generating a beam of coherent light. The laser light beam is directed through a laser lens 36 to achieve a point source that is located at or near the focal point of a collimating lens 38 and then onto the hologram detector surface to illuminate the hologram. The reflected coherent light radiation containing holographic information is directed back through the optical lens 38 and separated into precisely defined diffracted orders in the focal plane of the collimating lens 38. A filter 42 is used to block all but a first order pattern 44 for "real time" observation by a human eye 46 or an optical recorder, such as a video recorder.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the prior art ultrasonic transducers, in addition to generating plane waves 16, generate edge effect waves 48 that adversely interfere with the fidelity of the plane waves 16 which causes a reduction in the resolution and clarity of the produced hologram. FIG. 2 illustrates the distortions in the plane waves. FIG. 2 illustrates the energy profile 52 of the plane wave emanating from the front face of the transducer 14. The energy profile or curve 52 has dramatic end or edge curve sections 54 showing the sharp decrease in the power levels at the edges of the transducer. The curve 52 also shows an irregular and distorted central plateau 60 of the wave form indicating the adverse interference of the edge effect waves distorting the plane waves emanating from the front face of the transducer.
A principal objective of this invention to provide an ultrasonic transducer that materially reduces the generation of disruptive edge effect sound waves. The present invention more nearly operates closer to the more ideal condition illustrated in FIG. 3, having a power wave form distribution across the face of the transducer with a uniform, undistorted central section 60 with gradually decreasing transition segments 64 and 66 toward the transducer edges.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the present invention.


A tunable optical fiber has a grating which is attached to an expander responsive to an external control including a temperature or a magnetic field. The expander changes length, and this is coupled to the optical fiber, which changes pitch, thereby accomplishing a tuning change. The expander may be coupled to the grating directly, or through an expansion reducer, which produces a greater range of tuning. Terfenol-D™ may be used for the expander material, and tubes which include a bonding point adjacent to the extents of the grating may form the extent reducers.

Fiber optic filters are well known in the art, and may be constructed using a combination of optical fiber and gratings. Using fiber of the previously described type, there are several techniques for creating fiber optic gratings. The earliest type of fiber grating-based filters involved gratings external to the fiber core, which were placed in the vicinity of the cladding as described in the publication "A single mode fiber evanescent grating reflector" by Sorin and Shaw in the Journal of Lightwave Technology LT-3:1041–1045 (1985), and in the U.S. patents by Sorin U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,624, Schmadel U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,116, and Ishikawa U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,663. All of these disclose periodic gratings which operate in the evanescent cladding area proximal to the core of the fiber, yet maintain a separation from the core. A second class of filters involve internal gratings fabricated within the optical fiber itself. One technique involves the creation of an in-fiber grating through the introduction of modulations of core refractive index, wherein these modulations are placed along periodic spatial intervals for the duration of the filter. In-core fiber gratings were discovered by Hill et al and published as "Photosensitivity in optical fiber waveguides: Application to reflected filter fabrication" in Applied Physics Letters 32:647–649 (1978). These gratings were written internally by interfering two counter propagating electromagnetic waves within the fiber core, one of which was produced from reflection of the first from the fiber endface. However, in-core gratings remained a curiosity until the work of Meltz et al in the late 1980s, who showed how to write them externally by the split-interferometer method involving side-illumination of the fiber core by two interfering beams produced by a laser as described in the publication "Formation of Bragg gratings in optical fibers by a transverse holographic method" in Optics Letters 14:823–825 (1989). U.S. patents Digiovanm U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,576 and Glenn U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,913, also disclose Bragg gratings, a class of grating for which the grating structure comprises a periodic modulation of the index of refraction over the extent of the grating. Within this class of in-fiber gratings, most of the art is directed to in-fiber gratings having the Bragg plane of refractive index modulation perpendicular to the principal axis of the core of the fiber optic cable. A new class of grating involves in-fiber gratings with an angular offset in the plane of refractive index modulation. This type of angled grating is referred to as a mode-converting two-mode grating, and, with properly chosen angle, has the property of converting fundamental-mode power into second-mode power and visa versa. Whether internal or external, both types of gratings can be fabricated as short-period gratings, or long-period gratings. Short-period gratings reflect the filtered wavelength into a counter-propagating mode, and, for silica based optical fibers, have refractive index modulations with periodicity on the order of a third of the wavelength being filtered. Long-period gratings have this modulation period much longer than the filtered wavelength, and convert the energy of one mode into another mode propagating in the same direction, i.e., a co-propagating mode, as described in the publication "Efficient mode conversion in telecommunication fibre using externally written gratings" by Hill et al in Electronics Letters 26:1270–1272 (1990). The grating comprises a periodic variation in the index of refraction in the principal axis of the core of the fiber, such variation comprising a modulation on the order of 0.1% of the refractive index of the core, and having a period associated with either short or long-period gratings, as will be described later.
Tunable fiber-optic filters can be produced in a variety of ways. FIG. 1 shows a fiber optic cable 12 having a core 14 which has a grating 16 written over an extent Lg 18. The pitch of the grating 16 may be fixed or variable, and may be incrementally varied by changing the temperature of the fiber in the region of the grating. Germanium doped silicon has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 10 ppm/° C. Alternatively, the fiber may be placed in a variable tension, and this tension causes a shift in wavelength, as in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 6,597,822 by Moslehi et al. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,623 by Sorin, the pitch of a grating is varied by applying a proximal grating mounted on a disk and rotating it to vary the apparent pitch experienced by the proximal fiber. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,881 by Moslehi et al, a method for tuning a fiber optic grating coupled to a variable index material is disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,746 by Chamberlain et al discloses a method for tuning an optical filter comprising grating coupled to a heater.
It is desired to provide a tunable fiber optic filter where the strain of a grating is varied through the expansion of an expander having a large extent which is coupled to the smaller extent of a Bragg grating. It is also desired to provide a magnetically tunable fiber-optic filter where the extent of an expander is the same as, or greater than, the extent of the fiber Bragg grating.
There are many materials known for its magnetostrictive properties, and among these materials the material of choice is Terfenol™ (Terfenol is a registered trademark of Etrema Products www.etrema.com, and Terfenol™ information is available at www.etrema-usa.com). Other magnetostrictive materials which change length in response to an externally applied magnetic field are KelvinAll®, Terbium-Dysprosium, and Terbium-Dysprosium-Zinc. FIG. 13 shows the magnetostrictive property of Tb0.3 Dy0.7 Fe1.9 which is commonly known by the tradename Terfenol-D™. Until recently, magnetostrictive materials typically produced lower strains than piezoceramic and electrostrictive materials. The graph 230 shows the magnetostriction of Terfonol-D varying from 0 to approximately 1800 ppm over the range 0 to 2000 Oersteds of magnetic field, which is on the order of 40 times greater magnetostriction than previous magnetostrictive materials, and a facter of 10 greater than piezoceramic devices. The graph 230 has a quadratic response for small fields (below 200 Oe), a quasi-linear response for fields from 200 Oe to 600 Oe, and a saturating region for fields in excess of 600 Oe. These points are approximate, and may vary depending on the particular material used.


A window regulator comprises a rail defining a central channel which receives an elongate flexible plastic tape having a plurality of slots, the width of the tape being sized to fit within the central channel, a drive mechanism for moving the tape, either electric or manual, and a universal housing connecting the rail and the drive mechanism. The universal housing can be used with either manual or electric window regulator designs. The universal housing has a central cavity which can receive an insert bracket for a manual drive drum when the drive mechanism includes a hand crank. The central cavity is sized to receive a larger, electric drive drum when the drive mechanism includes an electric motor. Either drive drum has teeth sized to engage the slots of the tape so that the drive mechanism can impart motion to the tape to raise and lower a windowpane. When the insert bracket is used, the tape is routed in the universal housing from a first slot, around the manual drive drum to a second slot. When the insert bracket is not used, the tape is routed from the first slot, around the electric drive drum to a third slot separated from the second slot.

Tape drive window regulators for controlling the motion of a windowpane were developed for automotive applications in the 1970s as a low-cost alternative to conventional window regulators. Typically a tape drive window regulator has a drive member such as a hand crank or a motor attached to an inner panel of a motor vehicle door, a housing for the drive member, and a flexible plastic tape connecting the drive member to the windowpane, with the tape being guided by a rail. A drive drum is directly connected to the drive member, and has circumferentially spaced teeth. The tape has slots which receive teeth of the drive drum. The drive member rotates the drive drum which, in turn, moves the tape to pull or push the windowpane up and down between a full up position and a full down position in a door.
While these designs work well, a problem has existed in connection with using a tape drive window regulator assembly for alternative manual and electric designs. Many motor vehicles are produced and sold with the option of either a manual regulator or a "power" option. Unfortunately, however, manually driven systems and motor driven systems have requirements and specifications which differ from each other. A manually driven window regulator normally includes a hand crank connected to the regulator by a spindle, clutch cup and spring. Automobile makers (sometimes referred to as Original Equipment Manufacturers or OEMs) require a hand crank to completely raise the windowpane from the full down position to the full up position in no more than a certain number of revolutions, typically about 4.5 revolutions. OEMs also restrict the amount of effort required of an operator to operate the hand crank. As the force to operate a manual window regulator is in part a function of the size of the drive drum, this restricts the maximum permissible size of the manual drive drum. For electric motor driven window regulators, in contrast, OEM requirements are directed toward a limitation of the time it takes to raise a windowpane to the full up position from the full down position. This restriction limits the size of the electric drive drum to a range which unfortunately may not overlap the size range for drive drums on manual window regulators. Consequently, two different tape drive regulator designs have been needed for the same vehicle, one for electric, and one for manual. With the ever-present pressure to reduce costs, it would be desirable to commonize the parts of a tape drive window regulator to the greatest extent possible, while still satisfying the OEM's competing design requirements for manual and electric design variations.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a window regulator with reduced cost, complexity and enhanced manufacturability. It is yet another related object of the present invention to provide a tape drive window regulator having a design which readily accommodates alternative manual drive and electric drive assemblies meeting their respective OEM requirements. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a window regulator that is highly reliable in operation.

Tape drive window regulator with universal housing for accommodating both manual and electric drive mechanisms


A transmission output circuit can always perform correct transmission power control, and can detect the abnormality of transmission power, which interferes with other users, and part troubles, which cause erroneous transmission. The transmission output circuit includes transmission power control data generation means for generating a gain control signal for performing the feed forward control of gain control amplification means in order that the output signal level of the power amplification means may be a target transmission power output level, detection means for detecting the output signal of the power amplification means to obtain detected signal data, and judgment means for judging the existence of the occurrence of trouble in the transmission output system by using the detected signal data from the detection means.

Generally, in mobile communication by the DS-CDMA system, even if each mobile station (mobile communication terminal) performs a transmission with the same transmission power in an up link from the mobile station to a base station, because distances and propagation environments from respective mobile stations to the base station are different, the so-called far-and-near problem in which the transmission signal of a mobile station located at a position near the base station masks the transmission signal of a mobile station located at a position distant from the base station occurs.
Consequently, it is important in the mobile communication by the DS-CDMA system to control the transmission power of each mobile station in order that reception signal levels from all of the mobile stations may be fixed at the base station.
As the methods of transmission power control in mobile stations in the mobile communication by the DS-CDMA system, there are an open loop transmission power control method and a closed loop transmission power control method.
The open loop transmission power control method is a method in which a mobile station itself variably controls its transmission power according to the field levels (reception field levels) of reception signals from a base station. In the open loop transmission power control, a wide range variable control of more than 10 dB is performed at one time of control in order to obtain desired transmission power. It is necessary in the open loop transmission power control to ensure the absolute value of the transmission power.
On the other hand, the closed loop transmission power control method is a method in which a base station performs a closed loop control for ensuring the output levels of up link signals between mobile communication terminals and the base station in order that the reception levels of the up link signals from the mobile stations may be fixed. That is, the base station generates a Transmit Power Control (TPC) command on the basis of the reception result of an up link signal from a mobile station, and transmits the generated TPC command to the mobile station to perform the variable control of the transmission power of the mobile station.
In the closed loop transmission power control, in each mobile station, a narrow range variable control by a level in the range of from one to three dB is performed on the basis of the TPC commands from the base station to perform an adjustment to a desired transmission power. In the closed loop transmission power control, it is necessary to ensure relative values of the transmission power of the mobile stations.
Incidentally, a transmission output circuit of a conventional mobile communication terminal in the DS-CDMA system to which the above-mentioned open loop transmission power control method or the closed loop transmission power control method is applied is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. 13. The transmission output circuit of FIG. 13 will be described in the following.
In FIG. 13, 100 designates a transmission signal processing system of a mobile communication terminal by the DS-CDMA system, and 200 designates a transmission power control system.
The transmission signal processing system 100 performs the up conversion of an input transmission signal in an intermediate frequency band (hereinafter referred as an IF band transmission signal) Sif, which was performed a spread spectrum processing and a predetermined orthogonal modulation, to a radio frequency (RF) band transmission signal, and further, applies a power amplification to the RF band transmission signal, supplies to an antenna 1 through an antenna connector end 2, and transmits the RF band transmission signal to a base station.
Then, the transmission signal processing system 100 performs the automatic gain control (AGC) of the IF band transmission signal and the RF band transmission signal by means of an AGC signal from the transmission power control system 200, and thereby controls the electric power of the transmission signal to be a desired power. The more detailed configurations and the processing operations of the transmission signal processing system 100 will be described in the following.
That is, the IF band transmission signal is supplied to an IF band AGC amplifier 101, and amplified while performing the gain control of the IF band transmission signal by means of an IF band transmission signal AGC voltage IFagc supplied from the transmission power control system 200 through an D/A converter 102.
The IF band transmission signal amplified by the IF band AGC amplifier 101 is limited its band by an IF band band pass filter (IF band BPF) 103, and then is supplied to a mixer circuit 104. In the mixer circuit 104, the IF band transmission signal is mixed with a local frequency signal from a local oscillation unit 105 and is performed the up conversion to a frequency signal in the RF band (hereinafter, referred to as an RF band transmission signal).
The RF band transmission signal from this mixer circuit 104 is amplified while performing the gain control by means of an RF band AGC voltage RFagc supplied from the transmission power control system 200 through a D/A converter 107 in an RF band AGC amplifier 106. After the amplified RF band transmission signal is limited its band by an RF band band pass filter (RF band BPF) 108, the RF band transmission signal is supplied to a power amplifier 109, and is amplified to a predetermined electric power.
The RF band transmission signal, the electric power of which was amplified by the power amplifier 109, is transmitted to the antenna connector end 2 through an isolator 110 and a duplexer 111, and is transmitted from the antenna 1.
Transmission power control data Cif and Crf, which are digital data as bases of the above-mentioned IF band transmission signal AGC voltage IFagc and the RF band transmission signal AGC voltage RFagc, are generated by the transmission power control system 200 in the way to be described in the following.
The transmission power control system 200 includes a transmission power control data processing unit 201, a transmission power control data table memory 202 which stores a transmission power control data table, and a transmission power control data correction table memory 203 which stores a transmission power control data correction table. The transmission power control data processing unit 201 is composed of, for example, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP).
In the transmission power control data table memory 202, transmission power control data, which becomes optimum to various values of the transmission power output level of the transmission signal intended to be transmitted and instructed by instruction data Po under environmental conditions such as a predetermined power supply voltage, a temperature, a transmission frequency, and the like, is written as the transmission power control data table in the way which will be described later.
Moreover, in the transmission power control data correction table memory 203, information of the transmission power control data correction table for correcting each transmission power control data written in the transmission power control data table according to parameters such as the environmental conditions is written in the way which will be described later.
In the conventional case, as the parameters for the transmission power control data correction table, an environmental temperature (an ambiance temperature) at the use of the transmission output circuit, the power supply voltage and the frequency of the transmission signal are used.
Then, the transmission power control data processing unit 201 in the transmission power control system 200 receives the voltage of a power supply 112 of the power amplifier 109, the information of the ambiance temperature of the mobile communication terminal in which the transmission signal processing system 100 is mounted, and the information Fx of a transmission frequency from a not shown communication control unit, which are the parameters. The transmission power control data processing unit 201 further receives the instruction data Po instructing the transmission power output level of a transmission signal intended to be transmitted, and refers to the tables in the transmission power control data table memory 202 and the transmission power control data correction table memory 203 to operate the transmission power control data Cif and Crf which are optimum to the transmission power output level of the transmission signal intended to be transmitted. Then, the transmission power control data processing unit 201 outputs the operated transmission power control data Cif and Crf.
Hereupon, after the voltage of the power supply 112 of the power amplifier 109 is converted to digital data by an A/D converter 113, then the converted digital data is supplied to the transmission power control data processing unit 201 in the transmission power control system 200. Moreover, a temperature sensor 114 is provided in the transmission signal processing system 100 and the temperature information in the vicinity of the transmission signal processing system 100 which was detected by the temperature sensor 114 is converted to digital data by the A/D converter 113, and then thus converted digital data is supplied to the transmission power control data processing unit 201 of the transmission power control system 200.
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the writing of the information in the transmission power control data table into the transmission power control data table memory 202, and the writing of the information in the transmission power control data correction table into the transmission power control data correction table memory 203.
As to the information in the transmission power control data correction table, the correction data of the transmission power control data to temperature changes, power supply voltage changes, transmission frequency changes as the parameters is previously produced at the stage of designing and/or the stage of developing the transmission output circuit or the mobile communication terminal. Then, the produced correction data of the transmission power control data is written into the transmission power control data correction table memory 203 through an external interface (external I/F) 204 as the transmission power control data correction table by means of a control data writing unit 21 shown in FIG. 14 on an adjustment line at the time of mass production of the transmission output circuit, or on an adjustment line at the time of mass production of the mobile communication terminal which mounts the transmission output circuit thereon.
The information in the transmission power control data table is a correspondence table of various target transmission power output levels pertaining to a transmission signal in a predetermined environmental condition and the transmission power control data to the transmission power output levels. The writing of the transmission power control data table into the transmission power control data table memory 202 is executed as follows.
A certain target transmission power output level is supposed. While the RF band transmission signal output from the antenna connector end 2 is monitored with a power meter and a transmitter tester 22, the transmission power control data is adjusted in order that the RF band transmission signal output may take the target transmission power output level. When the RF band transmission signal output takes the target transmission power output level, the transmission power control data at that time is written into the transmission power control data table memory 202 as the transmission power control data corresponding to the target transmission power output level. By performing the operation described above to all of the values of the necessary target transmission power output levels, the transmission power control data table is written into the transmission power control data table memory 202.
At the time of the writing, the ambient temperature, the voltage of the power supply 112, the frequency of the RF band transmission signal, and the like at the time of the writing of the transmission power control data are held in the transmission power control data table memory 202 as standard parameter information. Otherwise, the standard information is held by the transmission power control data processing unit 201.
As described above, the transmission power control data processing unit 201 outputs the transmission power control data Cif and Crf being the digital data to be the bases of the IF band transmission signal AGC voltage IFagc and the RF band transmission signal AGC voltage RFagc using the table information written in each of the table memories 202 and 203 as follows.
First, the transmission power control data processing unit 201 refers to the signal Po instructing the transmission power output level of the transmission signal which is intended to be transmitted and is supplied to the transmission power control data processing unit 201, and extracts the transmission power control data which makes it to be the transmission power output level from the transmission power control data table in the transmission power control data table memory 202.
Next, the transmission power control data processing unit 201 compares the digital data of the power supply voltage from the A/D converter 113, the digital data of the temperature information detected by the temperature sensor 114 from the A/D converter 115, and the information Fx of the transmission frequency with the above-mentioned standard data related to the transmission power control data table, and on the basis of the comparison result, the transmission power control data processing unit 201 extracts suitable transmission power control data correction data from the transmission power control data correction table in the transmission power control data correction table memory 203.
Then, the transmission power control data processing unit 201 operates the optimum transmission power control data to the output level at which transmission is intended to be performed on the basis of the data value of the transmission power control data obtained from the transmission power control data table memory 202, the present power supply voltage, and the data information of the temperature and the transmission frequency. As the transmission power control data, as described before, the IF band AGC data IFagc and RF band AGC data RFagc are severally operated, and then they are transferred to the D/A converters 102 and 107.
Thus, the transmission power control data processing unit 201 generates the transmission power control data Cif and Crf from which the influences of the environmental parameters such as the temperature, the power supply voltage, the using frequency and the like in the actual usage environmental condition are removed. Then, the AGC control of transmission signals is performed at the AGC amplifiers 101 and 106 by means of the AGC voltages IFagc and RFagc, which are the D/A conversion outputs of the transmission power control data Cif and Crf, and thereby the transmission signal is controlled in order that the target desired transmission power can be obtained from the power amplifier 109.
As described above, the transmission power control method of the transmission output circuit of the conventional mobile communication terminal adopts a correction table in which correction values to frequency changes, temperature changes and power supply voltage changes are severally written on adjustment lines at mass production in advance, and thereby performs a transmission power control by a feed forward system which compensates the transmission power according to ambient environment changes.
However, in the case where the above-mentioned conventional transmission power control method is actually applied to the mobile communication system by the DS-CDMA system, the following problems exist.
Because the conventional transmission power control shown in FIG. 13 is the feed forward system as described above, it is not examined whether the electric power of an actually transmitted transmission signal takes the target transmission power output level correctly or not. Consequently, there is no assurance of the output of the power amplifier 109 taking the target desired transmission power output level. Consequently, if any abnormality of transmission power or erroneous transmission is caused when each part constituting the transmission signal processing system 100 such as the power amplifier 109, the Rf band AGC amplifier 106 and the like is out of order, the conventional method can not detect it.
The abnormality of the transmission power in the mobile communication system by the DS-CDMA system causes defects such as the interference with other users, nonarrival of an up link signal to a base station in a fringe area of a cell, and the like.
On the other hand, in the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Standards and the TELEC Standards in Japan, there are regulations concerning the items pertaining to the maximum transmission power and the minimum transmission power (the items of the deviation of antenna power) as the transmission characteristics of the mobile communication terminal by the DS-CDMA system.
The items pertaining to the maximum transmission power regulate the ability for transmitting the maximum transmission power defined on the basis of the power class of mobile devices of the mobile communication terminal while keeping the maximum transmission power within a regulated level range. Moreover, the items pertaining to the minimum transmission power similarly regulate the minimum transmission power defined on the basis of the power class of mobile devices of the mobile communication terminal.
When a mobile communication terminal by the DS-CDMA system especially performs a transmission at the maximum transmission power, it is necessary to compensate the quantities of variations of the RF active components of the transmission signal processing system 100 such as the power amplifier, the RF band AGC amplifier, the IF band AGC amplifier and the like to the environmental condition changes such as the frequency, the power supply voltage, the temperature and the like.
In addition, in the case where the mobile communication terminal is mass-produced, due to dispersion among individual parts, even if the correction table to the frequencies, the power supply voltages and the temperatures which are uniquely determined at the stage of designing or development is provided like conventional embodiment, some deviations from the information in the correction table are produced in the above-mentioned transmission signal processing system 100.
That is, in the above-mentioned conventional transmission power control of a feed forward system, it is not easy to meet the standard values of the maximum transmission power in case of the mass-production of the mobile communication terminal. Moreover, it is also not easy to satisfy the standard values as to the minimum transmission power similarly.
Moreover, the DS-CDMA system mobile communication terminal uses a multi-code transmission for implementing a high speed data rate. Because a plurality of code channels are multiplexed by means of plural kinds of spread codes in the multi-code transmission, a peak power to the average transmission power changes according to the number of multiplexed channels. Accordingly, it is necessary to correct the transmission power output level according to a changed number of multiplexed channels when the number of multiplexed channels is changed.
However, as described above, the conventional transmission power control method by the feed forward system includes the correction table to the frequencies, the power supply voltage, and the temperatures, but does not include any correction table to the number of multiplexed channels. Moreover, even if the mobile communication terminal includes the correction table to the number of multiplexed channels, as described above, it is not easy to satisfy the standard values in the case where the number of multiplexed channels is changed when an up link signal is transmitted at the maximum transmission power or the minimum transmission power.
Then, in the case where the standard values of the transmission characteristic is not satisfied, as described above, the problems such as the decrease of the capacity of a cell based on the interference with other users, the nonarrival of an up link signal in a fringe area of a cell, and the like exist.
In this case, the mobile communication terminal performs adjustment to desired transmission power by means of the narrow range variable control based on the TPC control from the base station in the closed loop transmission power control. However, because the adjustment is performed by the step within the range of from one to three dB at the utmost, the problems continue for a while. Moreover, above all, not satisfying the standard values is a big problem as the mobile communication terminal.
This invention, in view of the problems described above, aims to provide a transmission output circuit capable of always performing accurate transmission power control, and capable of detecting the abnormality of transmission power which causes interference with other users and the failures of parts which cause erroneous transmission.

Transmission output circuit and mobile communication terminal


Systems and methods are provided for structuring database queries. In some embodiment, a method for querying a database to obtain desired information is provided, including forming at least one query of a first query language selected from a set of query languages and based at least in part on a set of constraints of the first query language to obtain at least part of the desired information; and forming at least one query of at least one additional query language from the set of query languages and based at least in part on a set of constraints of the at least one additional query language to obtain at least part of the desired information; wherein the at least one query of the first query language and the at least one query of the at least one additional language obtain at least all of the desired information.

When a database query or set of queries is created, there may be more to consider than simply what information will be returned by the query or queries. For example, system users and administrators may care not only that the correct data is returned by a query, but that the data is returned quickly and efficiently. Many variables can affect the speed of a query, such as, for example, the hardware and/or operating system being used. However, the structure of a query (e.g., the number of queries issued, the type and/or language of a query, the structure of data in a query, etc.) can also affect the query's speed and/or scalability. Additionally, data desired from a query is often located in many locations; and because of this, obtaining all the data can be slower than desired.
SQL (Structured Query Language) and MDX (Multidimensional Expressions) are two examples of languages used for interacting with a database. One difference between SQL and MDX is the ability of MDX to reference multiple dimensions. For example, MDX provides commands that are designed specifically to retrieve data as multidimensional data structures with almost any number of dimensions (each of these dimensions is referred to as an axis).
In SQL, the SELECT clause is used to define the column layout for a query, while the WHERE clause is used to define the row layout. However, in MDX the SELECT clause can be used to define several axis dimensions, while the WHERE clause is used to restrict multidimensional data to a specific dimension or member. In SQL, the WHERE clause is used to filter the data returned by a query. In MDX, the WHERE clause is used to provide a slice of the data returned by a query. The SQL query uses the WHERE clause to contain an arbitrary list of items that should (or should not) be returned in the result set. While a long list of conditions in the filter can narrow the scope of the data that is retrieved, there is no requirement that the elements in the clause will produce a clear and concise subset of data. In MDX, however, the concept of a slice means that each member in the WHERE clause identifies a distinct portion of data from a different dimension.
The process of creating an SQL query is also different than that of creating an MDX query. The creator of an SQL query visualizes and defines the structure of a two-dimensional rowset and writes a query on one or more tables to populate it. In contrast, the creator of an MDX query usually visualizes and defines the structure of a multidimensional dataset and writes a query on a single cube to populate it. This could result in a multidimensional dataset with any number of dimensions, for example, a one-dimensional dataset is possible. These differences are at least part of the reason that, for some queries, it is faster to use SQL than MDX, while for other queries, it is not even possible to use SQL.
Accordingly, there exists a need for systems and methods that generate fast, scalable, and efficient queries that consider, for example, query structure, query language, and/or the number of queries issued.

Systems and methods for structuring database queries


An automatic level controlling apparatus (100) for supporting an appliance includes a hollow leg body (110), a piston (140) inserted in the hollow leg body (110), a spring (130) seated on an upper portion of the piston (140), a cap (120) disposed on an upper portion of the piston (140) to support an upper portion of the spring (130), a frictional member (150) disposed around the piston (140), and a piston rod (160) coupled to the piston (140) and supported on a floor.

Generally, appliances such as a washing machine, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, and the like are designed in a hexahedral shape having fair corners on each of which a leg for controlling the level is mounted. The level is controlled by rotating the leg.
That is, in order to control the level of the appliances, the leg is provided at an cuter circumference with a screw so that the level can be adjusted while rotating the leg. However, such a level controlling structure has a problem in that the appliance must be lifted to rotate the leg. That is, it is very difficult for the aged and infirm to control the level of the appliance in a state where they are lifting the heavy appliance such as the washing machine and refrigerator.
Particularly, for the washing machine, since a large amount of vibration is generated during the washing process by the rotation of the washing tub. Therefore, the level controlling apparatus having the vibration absorbing function has been required.
To solve the above problem, an automatic leg structure that can control the level without rotating and effectively absorb the vibration generated during the operation of the washing machine has been proposed. The automatic leg is formed in a cylindrical shape, having a spring inserted therein. The level of the appliance can be automatically controlled while the spring is compressed by the self-gravity of the appliance.
That is, the automatic leg includes a leg body, a spring disposed in the leg body, a leg bolt inserted into the leg body and having a bottom contacting a floor, and a piston mounted on an upper-outer circumference of the leg bolt.
The leg bolt is inserted into the leg body and the piston mounted on the leg bolt contacts an inner circumference of the leg body. When the leg body descends by the self-gravity or vibration of the washing machine, the vibration can be absorbed by the spring.


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of active fins over a semiconductor substrate, sequentially forming first and second hard mask layers over the active fins, forming a first hard mask pattern by etching the second hard mask layer, trimming the first hard mask pattern to form a trimmed hard mask pattern, forming a first photo resist pattern over the first hard mask layer, forming second hard mask patterns by etching the first hard mask layer by using the trimmed hard mask pattern and the first photo resist pattern as an etching mask, and forming active fin patterns by etching the active fins by using the second hard mask patterns as an etching mask.

1. Field
At least one example embodiment of the inventive concepts, relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and/or a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a fin-type field effect transistor (FinFET).
2. Description of the Related Art
As semiconductor devices have become highly integrated, a gate length of a field effect transistor (FET) has gradually become shorter. Accordingly, in order to overcome the limitations of a planar-type metal oxide semiconductor FET (MOSFET), efforts to develop semiconductor devices including a FinFET with a channel having a 3-dimensional structure have been made.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device


A dispenser for volumetrically controlling the amount of lubrication which is fed into the shot sleeve of a die casting machine. Lubrication beads are fed into a hopper. The beads gravitationally travel through a port in the base of the hopper and into a screw extruder. The beads are then moved through a screw extruder both mechanically and pneumatically. The beads are moved mechanically by the rotation of the screw shaft in the screw extruder with a rotary motor. The beads are moved pneumatically by injections of air fed into the screw extruder. The air flow serves the additional purpose of cooling the beads as they move along the screw feeder so that they do not melt and become coagulated. The rotary motor and the air flow are both activated and deactivated by the use of adjustable timers. The timers are synchronistically metered so that the lubricating beads move through the shot bead dispenser and into the die casting machine at predetermined rates.

Extrusion is a well known process in which molten metal or some meltable substance such as plastic is introduced into the shot sleeve of a die casting machine or an injection molding device. The substance to be extruded is then forced by the application of pressure into the die cavity of a mold. Pressure is exerted by activating either a reversibly movable plunger or a screw extruder within the shot sleeve. Turning the screw extruder or moving the plunger forward through the shot sleeve will force the extrudant into the die cavity.
The process of forcing molten metal or some meltable substance into a die cavity produces friction between the extrudate and the metal surfaces within the shot sleeve. These metal surfaces include the inside barrel of the shot sleeve and, if used, the threads of a screw feeder. The amount of friction will depend upon the material being injected, the temperature inside the shot sleeve, and the amount of pressure being applied.
It is desirable that the amount of friction be controlled. In the context of metal die casting, the complete elimination of friction is desired. Friction increases the amount of power required to drive the motor which rotates the screw feeder or activates the plunger. It also acts as a source of physical wear as extrudate is forced by pressure into the die cavity.
In other applications, the presence of some friction is desirable. An example occurs during plastic injection molding where pellets of polymeric material are mixed and melted through the extrusion process. A certain amount of friction is needed in order to cause melting of the pellets as they move through the stationary barrel, or shot sleeve.
Whether the application involves metal die casting, plastic injection molding, or some other casting process, a way of controlling the level of friction inside the shot sleeve during the extrusion process can be achieved by introducing a lubricant. Prior art reveals efforts which have been made by others to introduce either liquid or solid lubricating additives. U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,568 discloses a process by which a liquid lubricant is mixed with pellets of polymeric material during injection molding by forcing the lubricant through a canal or "root" formed internal to the shaft of a screw feeder. The lubricant is able to travel through the screw shaft and then empty into the shot sleeve through an orifice within the screw which fluidly connects the shot chamber with the root.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,339 discloses the use of a solid lubricant in the form of a stick. The lubricant stick is manually inserted into a pour hole formed within the shot chamber proximal to the input end of the shot sleeve. The lubricating stick melts upon contact with the shot sleeve. This method, of course, requires the user to operate the die casting machine without lubricant until it becomes heated, and then manually insert the solid lubricant. This, in turn, subjects the operator to the risk of burns to his or her fingers.
Neither U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,568 nor U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,339 provides a mechanical means for controlling the amount of lubricant injected into the shot sleeve. Further, neither of these methods involves the use of lubricating beads, sometimes referred to as dry lube. Solid beads are cleaner to work with than liquid and work just as well. Further, unlike solid sticks, dry lube can be injected into the shot sleeve mechanically during die casting. Hence, a means for mechanically feeding lubricating beads into the shot sleeve of a die casting machine at a controllable rate is needed.
Volumetric dry solids materials feeders are known. As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,844, various feeders have been designed "to discharge material such as powders, granules, or stranded fiberglass at a predetermined rate based on volume." U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,844 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,151,782 each disclose a volumetric materials feeder which employs a vertical feeding auger. These devices utilize a vibratory mechanism for shaking material through the auger as it turns. These devices are unsuited for dispensing dry solids which are prone to melt. Thus, a dry solids materials feeder containing a means of cooling the solids during dispensing is needed.
Horizontal screw feeder mechanisms are also known. As already noted, these mechanisms operate to extrude molten metal or some meltable substance during die casting or injection molding. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,568, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,044,925. These devices do not serve a volumetric feeding function, nor do they dispense dry solids. U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,648 discloses a method for pelletizing thermoplastic resin products by grinding and treating rubber compositions and extruding the resulting material through a screw feeder, They also, like the vibrating vertical auger mechanisms discussed above, have no cooling feature.
In summary, the prior art fails to disclose a method by which a beaded lubricant may be volumetrically introduced into a shot sleeve during the die casting or injection molding process. Prior art further fails to disclose a method for cooling a dry solid such as dry lube while it is being mechanically dispensed. Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling the amount of lubricant placed within the shot sleeve of a die casting machine or injection molding machine. It is an additional object of this invention to provide a dispenser external to a die casting or injection molding machine which can volumetrically dispense lubricating beads without interrupting the die casting or molding process.
It is another object of the present invention to utilize a horizontal screw feeder which receives lubricating beads at one end and delivers the beads at the other, with the screw feeder operating on a timer so that the dispensing of lubricant is controlled.
It is also an object of the present invention to have a dry lube dispenser having within it an air flow operating synchronistically with the motor for assisting the beads through the screw extruder, and for cooling the dry lube pellets to prevent melting and coagulation.


An installation head is mounted on a vehicle and moves along and adjacent to a roadway as the vehicle moves along the roadway. The head has a loading station at the bottom of a vertical loading chamber and a slide that slides along a floor to move markers out of the loading station into a setting station. A setting ram forces markers down onto adhesive prepositioned on the roadway. A plurality of heads may be positioned on the vehicle and may form opposite rows for simultaneously installing markers on opposite sides of a traffic lane. An indexed marker that interlocks with adjacent markers to prevent tilting may be used to maximize the reliability of the system. Various types of delivery devices may be used to deliver markers to the loading station. These include a delivery platform or carrousel positioned above the loading chamber to deliver markers down into the loading chamber. They also include a collating tape that delivers markers into the loading chamber through a side opening.

The systems currently in use for installing raised road markers on a roadway have a number of serious drawbacks. These drawbacks include high labor requirements and thus high labor costs, slow speed of installation and consequent low productivity, and especially worker safety concerns. One of the primary sources of concerns for worker safety is the necessity of having a worker stationed in a position relatively exposed to traffic. The installation procedures currently in use are not automated or are incompletely automated. Therefore, a worker is commonly placed in a position adjacent to the roadway to permit the worker to manually place adhesive and/or markers onto the roadway. If, as commonly is the case, the roadway is not closed to traffic, traffic passes in close proximity to the worker. When hot melt adhesives are used, the worker is also subjected to the hazard of handling high temperature materials. In addition, the lack of automation is not conducive to accurate installation of markers because of the vulnerability of the procedures to human error.

System for installing raised road markers