A system, method, and device for measuring camber in a film is disclosed. The system generally includes: a flat surface with a longitudinal axis, at least three sensors spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and a computing device operatively connected to each sensor. When the film is positioned in relationship to the sensors, the computing device computes the camber of the film. The flat surface may be a table with a film holder. At least one of the sensors may be a LED sensor. The computing device may have an output means, such as a monitor, a printer, or both. The computing device defines a straight line between the first and third sensor based on the position of the film, and the camber is a deviation of the film, measured by the second sensor, from the straight line.

Flat sheet membranes, films or webs can be manufactured by a variety of methods. Hereinafter, membrane, film, and web may be used interchangeably. Regardless of the method employed to manufacture a film, the final product is typically collected by winding up the film in roll form with the film wound around a central core. The roll of film can be trimmed or slit to a desired width and length. It is highly desirable that the film have a uniform width and, when unrolled, have a minimum amount of camber in order to meet camber specifications defined by the end user.
Camber refers to the curvature along the lateral edges of an elongated film. Camber inherently arises as a result of the film manufacturing process. Specifically, during manufacture (i.e., after stretching and wind-up), the produced film will have a slight thickness variation, for example, in the cross machine direction. The wound-up film will shrink on the roll after a period of time. The slight thickness variation and the shrinkage produce the undesired camber when the roll is unwound. This camber cannot be measured 'on-line' during the manufacture of the film. Camber is more evident in wider films, 4 inches or more. Camber is a quality issue in the subsequent use of the film in, for example, the manufacture of batteries, e.g., larger format batteries (those used in, for example, tablets, laptops and hybrid or electric vehicles).
Camber has been historically measured by quantifying the curvature down the lateral edge of a section of the membrane as the amount of deviation in the middle of the sample from a straight line drawn between both ends of the test sample. For example, see FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a plan view (from above) of sample S secured (via, for example, weight W or tape, not shown) at one end of the sample S to a flat surface (or table), not shown. The sample is flattened on the surface by, for example, de-airing the space between the sample and the surface (e.g., by use of a squeegee). A straight line SL (defined, for example, by a taut string) is placed adjacent one lateral edge of the film. The length X of the sample may be arbitrarily set at any distance, but lengths of 1 or 2 meters (or longer) are common. The amount of camber is measured (for example by a steel ruler or caliper) as the amount of deviation D from the straight line SL at the mid-point C of the sample S.
This camber measurement method is a slow and labor intensive process and is subject to testing variation since human judgment of the tester is involved in the camber measurement process. Current manual camber testing methods or devices in the marketplace are typically accurate only to the nearest 0.5 mm.
A need exists for a practical camber testing method and system that can not only achieve a level of accuracy better than +/−0.5 mm, but that is economical to operate and affordable to purchase, and/or has a level of accuracy preferably to the nearest 0.3 mm, more preferably to the nearest 0.2 mm, and most preferably to the nearest 0.1 mm or better.

Method and system for optical camber measurement of flat sheet membranes, films, and webs


An optical fiber amplifier with an absorber, including a first amplification unit for amplifying an input signal light, using first pump light; an absorption unit for separating the signal light and the pump light from the output light of the first amplification unit and absorbing a light signal in a wavelength range; and a second amplification unit for amplifying the signal light output by the absorption unit, using second pump light. The optical fiber amplifier can be easily manufactured by adding an absorber, an erbium doped fiber, to a conventional optical fiber amplifier. The characteristics of the optical fiber amplifier can be easily changed by controlling the length of the absorber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber amplifier with an absorber, and more particularly, to an optical fiber amplifier having an absorber for absorbing a signal light having a predetermined wavelength range.
2. Description of the Related Art
An erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) periodically amplifies a weakened optical signal to make up for attenuation of the optical signal due to long distance transmission, when a great amount of data is transmitted over a long distance via an optical fiber. The EDFA directly amplifies light without transforming the light temporarily into electricity for amplification. Thus, the EDFA is effective and economical in amplification.
FIG. 1 shows the structure of a conventional EDFA. The EDFA shown in FIG. 1 comprises a first isolator 100, a first pump light source 102, a first wavelength selective coupler (WSC) 104, an Erbium Doped Fiber (EDF) 106, a second WSC 108, a second pump light source 110, and a second isolator 112.
The operation of the EDFA in FIG. 1 will now be described. First, the first and second pump light sources 102 and 110 inject pump light having a center wavelength of 980 nm. The first and second WSCs 104 and 108 couple the pump light to a signal light having a 1500 nm band which is input via their respective input ports. The pump light excites erbium ions in a ground state in the EDF 106. A signal light is amplified by stimulated emission of excited erbium ions. The amplified signal light is output to the second isolator 112 via the second WSC 108.
The first isolator 100 prevents efficiency of amplification of the signal light from being degraded by amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) from the EDF 106, which is reflected by an optical device, such as a signal input connector, and reenters the EDF 106. Similarly, the second isolator 112 prevents efficiency of amplification from being degraded by the ASE which is reflected by an optical device, such as a signal output connector and reenters the EDF 106.
However, the EDFA has different amplification gains depending on wavelength. In particular, ASE in 1530 nm band is strong, and a gain within this range is high. As a result, the gain in a 1550 nm wavelength band, which is often used for transmission, is reduced and the noise figure increases, thus widening the difference in the gain of the EDFA between wavelengths.
Also, when EDFAs are connected in the middle of a system to amplify an optical signal weakened during transmission, gain is considerably higher in the 1530 nm wavelength band than in other wavelength ranges. Therefore, gain peaking occurs in the 1530 nm wavelength band.


An outdoor pull device comprising a handle; at least two through holes through the handle, the through holes running substantially parallel to each other; one or more cords traveling through at least two through holes of the at least two through holes of the pull device, wherein the one or more cords affixes to the handle at each through hole such that the integrated handle and one or more cords create at least one loop; and at least two fastening mechanisms on the cord to prevent the cord from exiting the handle, wherein the at least two through holes each have at least two distinct diameters in the handle, wherein the first diameter is sufficient to allow both the one or more cords and the affixed fastening mechanisms into the handle, and wherein the second diameter is sufficient to allow the one or more cords through the handle, but not the affixed fastening mechanisms.

Hunting season is one of the most anticipated times of the year for many outdoor enthusiasts. Many devices assist an individual in transporting cargo, particularly items that are cumbersome or difficult to grip. In hunting, along with other outdoor activities, the surroundings can cause greater difficulties.
Wild game is often found in uneven terrain with obstacles to man made paths and roads. The outdoorsman looking to move his kill to a vehicle can have great difficulty depending on the size or the weight of the animal. Thick underbrush, close trees, rocks, and foliage create a greater difficulty for a hunter to bring home his prize. Objects in paths, such as fallen branches, logs, and debris from other people in the forest can also present a problem in navigating to a desired location. Moving the objects by hand can cause great difficulties to an outdoorsman. A device to assist moving objects can be desirable to provide more time to the user to engage in the activities intended instead of struggling with transportation.


A magneto-optical head assembly that includes two load points. The two load points are laterally disposed from and longitudinally aligned with the center of the magneto-optical transducer carried on the head assembly. When contact between the head assembly and an asperity on the disc surface causes vibration of the head assembly in the pitch axis of the head assembly, the vibration is centered closely on the magneto-optical transducer, thus minimizing read/write signal modulation.

Magneto-optical disc drive data storage devices, or magneto-optical drives, are well known in the industry. Such devices utilize a combination of electromagnetic and optical light technologies to store and retrieve data on the surface of appropriately designed plastic discs.
Evolutionary advances in the disc media and read/write heads have lead to the present generation of magneto-optical disc drives which are capable of storing large amounts of data on one side of a single disc. In order to achieve such data capacities, the magneto-optical transducers used to record and retrieve data are incorporated in self-acting hydrodynamic head assemblies that fly above the discs on a thin layer of air dragged along by the spinning disc. Head assemblies of the current generation typically fly at heights above the disc that bring the operative component of the magneto-optical transducer to within approximately 4 microinches (0.000004 inch) of the media surface.
"The magneto-optical head assembly is commonly mounted to an actuator which is capable of controllably moving the head assembly to any desired one of a plurality of data tracks on the disc surface. The most common type of actuator currently in use is a rotary type which includes a pivot shaft located near the outer periphery of the disc and extending normal to the plane of disc rotation. An actuator body is mounted to the pivot shaft via an arrangement of precision ball bearings. One side of the actuator body is connected to a motor which provides the motive force necessary to rotate the actuator body, and a second side of the actuator body provides a mounting system for attaching the rotatable actuator body to the magneto-optical head assembly, as well as a system of lenses or fiber-optic elements for directing light to and from the magneto-optical transducer on the head assembly.
As mentioned above, the head assembly typically includes an arrangement of self-acting hydrodynamic air bearing surfaces which interact with a thin layer of air dragged along by the surface of the spinning disc. The interaction between the air bearing surfaces of the head assembly and the spinning disc produces a lifting force which tends to lift the head assembly away from the disc surface.
It is well known in the industry to mount the head assembly to the actuator body via a head suspension, commonly formed of a thin, flexible stainless steel foil. Besides providing a physical mounting apparatus for the head assembly, the head suspension also typically includes a spring portion, a rigid beam portion and a gimbal portion. The head assembly is mounted to the gimbal portion, which also provides compliance in the roll and pitch axes of the head assembly, to allow the head assembly to follow minor variations in the surface of the disc. The spring portion of the head suspension produces a load force used to balance the hydrodynamic lifting force of the air bearing surfaces of the head assembly. This load force is transferred from the spring portion to the gimbal portion--and thus to the head assembly--by the rigid beam portion of the head suspension.
It is also common to localize the application of the load force to the head assembly by providing a precisely located feature on the gimbal portion of the head suspension, such as a stamped dimple. The exact location at which the load force is applied to the head assembly is referred to as the load point, and this load point is typically selected in relationship to the overall head assembly to act in cooperation with the air bearing surfaces of the head assembly and cause the head assembly to fly at a desired attitude in relationship to the disc surface."
While improvements to the surface quality of magneto-optical discs are being made, typical magneto-optical discs of the current generation still include media defects, or asperities, that are large enough to cause direct contact between the head assembly and the disc. Such contacts can result in excitation and vibration of the head assembly, which can lead in turn to uncontrolled variations in the spacing between the data transducer in the head assembly and the disc surface. Spacing variations of this type can produce undesirable modulation of the read/write signals and degradation of the data recording and/or recovery capability of the disc drive.
A need clearly exists, therefore, for a magneto-optical head assembly which can withstand contact with disc asperities without being subject to vibration-induced read/write signal modulation.

Reduction of mesa fly height modulation due to media asperities in magneto-optic drives


An optical information recording apparatus for at least recording information by irradiating an optical information recording medium having a plurality of information tracks with at least one light beam. The apparatus includes a recorder for recording information on the recording medium with an information recording light beam and a plurality of detecting elements for detecting reflected light from the recording medium. Also provided is a high-frequency component detector for detecting a high-frequency component of a signal corresponding to an output signal from at least one of the plurality of detecting elements. Also provided is a controller for stopping recording of information by the recorder when the high-frequency component detector detects the high-frequency component during recording of information by the recorder.

1.Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for optically recording or reproducing information and, more particularly, to an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus for preventing overwrite recording, i.e., preventing new information from being recorded over information already recorded.
2. Description of the Related Art
As conventional information recording systems for recording information in the form of digital signals, magnetic recording systems, optical recording systems and magneto-optical recording systems are known. Optical recording systems will be described below by way of example. Various types of recording media in the form of a disk, a card, a tape and the like are known as a medium on which information is optically recorded or from which information is read out. It is believed that a card-like recording medium (hereinafter referred to as an "optical card") will be extensively used because it can be manufactured easily and has good portability and accessibility.
Various optical information recording and reproducing apparatuses have been proposed for use with such an optical card. In each such apparatus heretofore proposed, information is recorded or reproduced while automatic tracking control and automatic focusing control are being continuously performed. Information is recorded on a recording medium in this kind of apparatus by scanning information tracks with a light beam modulated in accordance with the recorded information and condensed to form a very small light spot. Information is recorded as information bit strings which can be optically detected. Information is reproduced from the recording medium by scanning information bit strings in the information tracks with a light beam spot of a certain power such that no signal is recorded on the recording medium, and by detecting reflected light or transmitted light from the medium.
As typical examples of an optical system for optically recording and reproducing information in this manner, a single light source system and a multiple light source system are known. Examples of such light source systems will be described. A single light source system will first be described with reference to FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, a beam of light emitted from a semiconductor laser device 101 is made parallel by a collimator lens 102 and is thereafter split into a plural light beams by a diffraction grating 103. The split light beams travel through a polarized beam splitter 104, a 1/4 wavelength plate 105 and an objective lens 106 to be condensed on the surface of an optical card 107. Reflected light from the optical card 107 travels through the objective lens 106, the 1/4 wavelength plate and the polarized beam splitter 108 and a toric lens 108 to be incident upon a light detecting device 109. Recording, reproduction and automatic focusing control (hereinafter referred to as "AF") are performed by using 0-order diffracted light in the light beams split by the diffraction grating 103, while automatic tracking control (hereinafter referred to as "AT") is performed by using .+-.1-order diffracted light. An astigmatism method is adopted to perform AF, while a three-beam method is adopted to perform AT.
FIG. 2(a) is a schematic plan view of the optical card 107 used in the above-described information recording and reproducing apparatus. A multiplicity of information tracks for recording and reproducing information are formed on the optical card 107 so as to extend parallel to each other. Only tracks T1, T2, and T3 among them are illustrated. These information tracks are separated by tracking tracks tt1 to tt4, which are formed by grooves in the card or by a material having a reflectivity different from that of the material of the tracks T1 to T3, and which are used as guides for obtaining a tracking signal. In FIG. 2(a), an example of recording of information in the track T3 or reproduction of information from this track is illustrated. A light spot 110 of .+-.0-order diffracted light for recording, reproduction and AF irradiates the track T3 while light spots 111 and 112 of .+-.1-order diffracted light irradiate to the tracking tracks tt3 and tt4.
A later-mentioned tracking error signal is obtained from reflected light from the light spots 111 and 112, and tracking control is performed on the basis of the tracking error signal so that the light spot 110 scans correctly along the track T3. The light spots 110, 111, and 112 are moved by an unillustrated mechanism so as to scan horizontally as viewed in FIG. 2(a) while being maintained in the same positional relationship, thereby recording or reproducing information. This scanning is accomplished by a method of moving the optical system or a method of moving the optical card. In either case, the optical system and the optical card make a relative reciprocating motion and, therefore, they are not moved at a constant speed near opposite ends of the optical card. FIG. 2(b) shows the speed of this relative motion. The abscissa of FIG. 2(b) represents the distance in the horizontal direction of the optical card while the ordinate represents the scanning speed. Ordinarily, a constant speed area at the center of the optical card 107 is used as a recording area. Thus, FIG. 2(b) shows a central recording section-constant speed area, and two reversing areas at both ends of the card where the light spots reverse their direction of travel by decelerating and then accelerating. Therefore, the reversing areas comprise acceleration/deceleration areas.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged illustration of a portion of the information track T3 and portions of the adjacent tracks shown in FIG. 2(a). The light spot 110 of 0-order diffracted light for AF is positioned at the center of track T3 between the .+-.1-order diffracted light for AT and scans the center line of the track T3. Hatched areas 113a, 113b, and 113c represent digital information recorded by a 0-order diffracted light spot 110a shown in FIG. 4. Such areas are generally called information pits. The information pits 113a, 113b, and 113c have a reflectivity different from that of the track portion surrounding them. Therefore, when the information pits are again scanned with the light spot 110 at a lower intensity than that at which they were recorded, reflected light of the light spot 110 is modulated at the pits 113a, 113b, and 113c to obtain a reproduction signal in accordance with recorded information.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing details of the light detecting device 109 shown in FIG. 1 and a signal processing circuit for processing output signals from the light detecting device 109 to form a reproduction signal and a servo error signal. The light detecting device 109 is constituted by six photosensors, i.e., 4-split photosensors 114 and photosensors 115 and 116. Light spots 110a, 111a, and 112a are formed by reflected light of the light spots 110, 111, and 112 projected onto sensing surfaces of these sensors. The light spot 110a is condensed on the 4-split photosensors, while the light spots 111a and 112a are condensed on the photosensors 115 and 116, respectively. Two sets of sensor outputs in diagonal directions of the 4-split photosensors 114 are respectively added by addition circuits 117 and 118, and addition outputs from these addition circuits are further added by an addition circuit 121 to output an information reproduction signal RF. That is, the information reproduction signal RF is a signal representing the total sum of detection signals obtained as detection output fragments from the 4-split photosensors 114. The outputs from the addition circuits 117 and 118 are subtracted from each other by a differential circuit 120 to output a focusing error signal Af. That is, the focusing error signal Af is a signal representing the difference between the sums in the diagonal directions of the 4-split photosensors 114. This astigmatism method will not be described because it is described in detail in published documents and because it is not directly related to the present invention. Outputs from the photosensors 115 and 116 are subtracted from each other by a differential circuit 119 to output a tracking error signal A.sub.ts. Ordinarily, tracking control is performed in order to prevent deviation of the light spots from the information track by controlling the tracking system so that the tracking error signal A.sub.ts. becomes zero.
That is, when the portions of the light spots 111 and 112 located on the tracking tracks tt3 and tt4 have the same area, the quantities of reflected light of these light spots received by the photosensors 115 and 116 are equal to each other. Accordingly, if the apparatus is controlled so that the tracking error signal A.sub.ts representing the difference between the outputs from the photosensors 115 and 116 becomes zero, then the light spot 110 of 0-order diffracted light scans the center of the information track T3, thus normally performing tracking control. In FIG. 4, a block 122 represents an addition circuit which adds the output signals from the photosensors 115 and 116 to output a tracking sum signal A.sub.ta, as described below in detail. T.sub.s1 denotes a received light signal from the photosensor 115, while T.sub.s2 denotes a received light signal from the photosensor 116.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing changes in the received light signals T.sub.s1 and T.sub.s2 from the photosensors 115 and 116 when the light spots 110 to 112 deviate to the left and right from the information track. The abscissa represents the deviation of the light spots from the center of the information track along the transverse direction perpendicular to the center line of the track, and the ordinate represents the quantity of light of the received light signals (light quantities) T.sub.s1 and T.sub.s2 from the photosensors 115 and 116. When the light spot 111 or 112 has no portion located on the tracking track tt3 or tt4, the received light signal T.sub.s1 or T.sub.s2 from the photosensor 115 or 116 is at a solid reflection level. When the area of the portion located on the tracking track is maximized, the received light signal is at a tracking track reflection level.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing changes in the tracking error signal A.sub.ts when the light spots 110 to 112 deviate to the left and right from the information track. The abscissa represents the deviation of the light spots from the center of the information track along the transverse direction perpendicular to the center line of the track, and the ordinate represents the amplitude level of the voltage of the tracking error signal A.sub.ts. When the light spot 110 is positioned at the center of the information track, the light quantities T.sub.s1 and T.sub.s2 are equal to each other and the value of the tracking error signal A.sub.ts is zero. The amplitude level of the tracking error signal A.sub.ts varies in plus and minus directions according to the directions of deviation of the light spots to the left and right. If the light spots 110 to 112 deviate in a direction perpendicular to the track to such a large extent that the light spots 111 and 112 have no portions located on the tracking tracks tt3 and tt4, then the signals T.sub.s1 and T.sub.s2 become equal to each other at the solid reflection level and the tracking error signal A.sub.ts also becomes zero. This state is established when the light spot 111 or 112 is at a position X1 or X2 of FIG. 6.
Referring again to FIG. 3, if the light spot 110 of 0-order diffracted light scans along different scanning loci at the times of recording and reproduction, that is, if tracking misalignment occurs, the contrast and the pit time interval of the information reproduction signal RF may vary to such an extent that the information cannot be reproduced. Such a situation may take place due to vibration of the apparatus, or dust or a scratch on the optical card 107. If different apparatuses are respectively used for recording and reproduction, such a situation may also occur due to a difference between the characteristics of the apparatuses. In particular, in the case of a single light source system such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, there is a possibility of information reproduction failure even when tracking misalignment between recording and reproduction is small, since the size of the light spot is constant during recording and reproduction. It can therefore be said that the tracking margin in single light source systems is disadvantageously small. Moreover, the powers of the light spots 110, 111, and 112 are largely changed during recording and non-recording times, and the light spots 110a, 111a, and 112a are also changed correspondingly to affect the AF control and the AT control.
A dual light source system is known in which the recording-reproducing tracking is increased in comparison with that in the single light source system to prevent power variation in the light detecting device. Details of such a dual light source system will be described. The operation on the optical card will first be described below with reference to FIG. 7. In a dual light source system, the three light spots of the single light source system are not used for recording information; rather a recording light spot 225 is separately provided. A light spot 226 for reproduction and AF control and light spots 227 and 228 for AT control correspond to the light spots 110, 111, and 112 shown in FIG. 3. The light spots 226, 227, and 228 are equal in size but the light spot 225 is smaller than the light spots 226, 227, and 228. FIG. 7 illustrates a situation where the track T3 is scanned with the light spot 225 in the direction of the arrow to record information. The light spot 226 moves ahead of the light spot 225.
The width of a pit 229a recorded with the light spot 225 as indicated by hatching is smaller than that of the reproducing light spot 226. Therefore, even if the scanning locus of the light spot 226 is shifted from that of the light spot 225 to a small extent, the information reproduction signal RF is not considerably influenced by such a shift, in contrast with the case of the single light source system shown in FIG. 3. The tracking margin becomes larger if the ratio of the sizes of the light spot 226 and 225 is increased in this manner. However, a reduction in the contrast of the information reproduction signal RF also results and, therefore, the increase in the size of the light spot 226 must be limited. If the wavelength of the light of the light spot 225 is selected so as to be different from that of the light spots 226, 227, and 228, reflected light of the light spot 225 can easily be separated by using a dichroic mirror to be prevented from mixing in the output from the light detecting device to affect the AF and AT controls.
An example of the construction of such a dual light source system will be described with reference to FIG. 8. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 8, an astigmatism system is used for AF control and a three-beam system is used for AT control. Referring to FIG. 8, a recording semiconductor laser device 201 emits a divergent beam of laser light having a wavelength of 830 nm. The divergent beam is changed into a parallel beam by a collimator lens 203. The parallel beam travels through a dichroic prism 207, a polarized beam splitter 208 and a 1/4 wavelength plate 209 to be incident upon an objective lens 210. The beam is condensed as a small light spot on an optical card 211 by the objective lens 210 to record recording pits on a recording surface of the optical card 211 in accordance with information. The optical card 211 is the same as the optical card 107 shown in FIG. 1. Reflection light from the optical card 211 travels through the objective lens 210 and the 1/4 wavelength plate 209 and is reflected by the polarized beam splitter 208 to travel toward a light detecting device 213 (same as the device 109 shown in FIG. 1). In this case, the reflected light is reflected and absorbed by a toric lens 212 having a film capable of cutting light having a wavelength of 830 nm which is prevented from reaching the light detecting device 213, thereby preventing 830 nm light from adversely influencing the information reproducing system and the AT/AF control system.
A divergent light beam from a reproducing semiconductor laser device 202 having a wavelength of 780 nm is changed into a parallel beam by a collimator lens 204, limited by an aperture 205, and split into plural beams by a diffraction grating 206. These plural beams are reflected by the dichroic prism 207 to irradiate the optical card 211 with a small spot by traveling along an optical path which is substantially the same as the optical path from the semiconductor laser device 201. Reflected light from the optical card 211 travels through the objective lens 210 and the 1/4 wavelength plate 209, is reflected by the polarized beam splitter 208 and is condensed on the light detecting device 213 by the toric lens 212.
The light beam from the semiconductor laser device 202 forms, on the optical card 211, light spots larger than the light spot formed by the light from the semiconductor laser device 201, because of the aperture control with the aperture 205. The semiconductor laser device 202 is used for focusing control and tracking control and is therefore driven by a reproducing laser driver 223 so that the quantity of light emitted therefrom is constantly set to a small value irrespective of recording and reproduction. Information output from a controller 220 having a micro processing unit (MPU) is modulated in a modulation circuit 221 to form recording codes, and a recording laser driver 222 drives the recording semiconductor laser 201 in accordance with the recording codes to record the information on the optical card 211. Ordinarily, in actual apparatuses, recording information is supplied from an external unit. In such a case, the controller 220 includes an interface for connection with the external unit, and recording information is transmitted through the interface. Reproduced information is also transferred to the external unit through the interface.
The light detecting device 213 is the same as the light detecting device 109 shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, it includes the same elements as photosensors 114 to 116 shown in FIG. 4. A light receiving processing circuit 216 has the same components as the addition circuits 117, 118, and 121 and the differential circuits 119 and 120 shown in FIG. 4, and forms information reproduction signal RF, focusing error signal Af and tracking error signal A.sub.ts on the basis of signals of light received by the light detecting device 213. Focusing error signal Af is used to perform focusing control in such a manner that a focusing coil 214 is driven through an AF servo circuit 217 to displace the objective lens 210 in a focusing direction so that the light spots are focused on the optical card 211. Similarly, tracking error signal A.sub.ts is used to perform tracking control in such a manner that a tracking coil 215 is driven through an AT servo circuit 218 to displace the objective lens 210 in a tracking direction. The optical card 211 is reciprocatingly moved in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 8 relative to the light spots by a reciprocating movement mechanism (not shown), thereby scanning the information tracks of the optical card 211 with the light spots. Also in the thus-constructed dual light source system, when light spots deviate in a direction perpendicular to the track, received light signals T.sub.s1 and T.sub.s2 from the tracking control photosensors 115 and 116 of the light detecting device 213 change as shown in FIG. 5 and the tracking error signal A.sub.ts changes as shown in FIG. 6.
If a tracking control error occurs during information recording, the light spots may move to an adjacent or other track to destroy information already recorded in this track by doubly recording new information on the already-recorded information. To prevent information from being destroyed in this manner, a destruction prevention means for preventing information destruction by detecting a tracking control disturbance is adopted in each of the single and dual light source systems. In general, a tracking control error is detected through the level of the tracking error signal. That is, as explained above with reference to FIG. 8, the level of the tracking error signal is zero when the light spot 110 is positioned at the center of the information track. If the light spot 110 deviates in a direction perpendicular to the tracking direction from this state, the tracking error signal level changes in the plus or minus direction according to the direction of the deviation. A method is therefore adopted in which, when this level exceeds a predetermined positive or negative level, the occurrence of a tracking control error stops the information recording operation and prevents information from being destroyed by overwrite recording.
Such a prevention method, however, entails a problem described below. If the light spots 111 and 112 deviate from the tracking tracks tt3 and tt4 so that no portions thereof are located on the tracking tracks, then the tracking error signal becomes zero, as described above with reference to FIG. 6. This state cannot be discriminated from the normal state of tracking control. Thus, there is a possibility of failure to detect a tracking control error. This problem will be explained with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 illustrates a situation where light spots 110 to 112 of the single light source system or light spots 225 to 228 of the dual light source system are scanning the information track T2 in the direction of the arrow to record information, and where a defect 224, such as a medium defect, an foreign particle attached to the card or a scratch, exists in an intermediate portion of the information track T2.
In the situation illustrated in FIG. 9, tracking control is normally made before a point O is reached. When the spots thereafter pass over the defect 224, the tracking error signal cannot be formed normally and tracking control is disturbed, so that the light spots move toward the adjacent information track T3. When the light spots pass the defect 224 and reach a point X such that no portions of the tracking control light spots 111 and 112 or 227 and 228 are located on the tracking tracks tt3 and tt4, the tracking error signal becomes zero, the tracking state is recognized as normal and this tracking control error cannot be detected. Thus, if such defect 224 exists on the information track, there is a possibility that the light spots moves to the adjacent information track T3 while the detection systems fails to perform tracking control, and new information is recorded over already-recorded information to destroy the same.

Optical information recording and reproducing apparatus having a function of preventing overwrite recording


A reinforced package comprising a carton comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel along a first fold line, a back panel foldably connected to at least the first side panel along a second fold line, and a second side panel foldably connected to at least one of the front and back panels. A bag is at least partially attached to the carton. An access feature can be selectively opened for receiving products into the interior space of the bag. The access feature extends in at least a portion of the carton and the bag. The carton can be positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased. The first side panel and the second side panel comprise retention features for retaining the carton in the erect position.

The present disclosure generally relates to reinforced packages for receiving and/or holding products and to methods of forming the packages. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a package including a bag or liner attached to a carton or blank having features to reinforce the shape of the formed package and allow the package to receive products, and features that facilitate forming the package and keeping the package open.


A toner bottle for containing toner has a cylindrical body and a scraper. The bottle body can be rotated on its axis by a driving source. The scraper is supported movably in the bottle body. The bottle body has an opening and ribs. The toner in the toner bottle is supplied through the opening to a developing unit. When the bottle body rotates, the ribs convey the toner toward the opening. The scraper includes a shaft and a scraping part. The shaft extends over the whole length of the bottle body and supports the scraping part. A portion of the scraping part is in contact with the inner cylindrical surface of the bottle body. When the bottle body rotates, the scraper moves perpendicularly to the axis of the body.

The present technology relates to a toner bottle for containing toner which is supplied to a developing unit. The technology also relates to an apparatus for image formation.
An apparatus for electrophotographic image formation includes a toner storage station and a developing unit. The toner storage station includes toner boxes supported removably in it. The toner boxes can be rotated to supply the developing unit with toner, to which colloidal silica or the like is added to improve its flowability.
In recent years, apparatus for image formation forms finer images at higher speeds with toner smaller in particle diameter. The smaller toner is lower in flowability and liable to cohere in the toner boxes of the apparatus. Some toner boxes have ribs formed on their inner surfaces. The ribs convey toner when the toner boxes rotate. The toner has a great tendency to move slowly and cohere between the ribs.
JP 2006-53446 A discloses a toner bottle fitted with a coil or another conveying member in it, which conveys toner toward the opening of the bottle. The main body of the toner bottle does not rotate, but the conveying member does. Accordingly, toner is liable to remain in the ends of the bottle body and on the inner surface of the body, so that toner is liable to cohere in the body.
JP H11-305531 A discloses a toner bottle fitted with a loosening member near the opening of its main body. The loosening member restrains toner from cohering only near the body opening. One end of the loosening member is fixed to the bottle body. Accordingly, the movement of the loosening member is restricted, so that this member is insufficiently effective in loosening the toner. In particular, near the end of the bottle body where the loosening member is fixed, toner can hardly be loosened, so that it is liable to cohere.
An object is to provide a rotating toner bottle which restrains the cohesion of toner over its whole length. Another object is to provide an apparatus for image formation fitted with such a toner bottle.

Toner bottle and apparatus for image formation


An emission treatment system including a catalyzed soot filter comprising a wall flow monolith and a catalyst comprising at least two types of support particles is described. The first support particle contains at least a platinum component, the second support particles contains at least a palladium component. The wall flow monolith may be washcoated with a slurry comprising at least two types of particles without applying a passivation layer to the wall flow monolith.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to components for an emission treatment system for removing pollutants from an exhaust stream. More particularly, the present invention relates to catalyzed soot filters for exhaust systems and methods of manufacturing the same.
Diesel engine exhaust is a heterogeneous mixture which contains not only gaseous emissions such as carbon monoxide ("CO"), unburned hydrocarbons ("HC") and nitrogen oxides ("NOx"), but also condensed phase materials (liquids and solids) which constitute the so-called particulates or particulate matter. Often, catalyst compositions and substrates on which the compositions are disposed are provided in diesel engine exhaust systems to convert certain or all of these exhaust components to innocuous components. For example, diesel exhaust systems can contain one or more of a diesel oxidation catalyst, a soot filter and a catalyst for the reduction of NOx.
Oxidation catalysts that contain platinum group metals, base metals and combinations thereof are known to facilitate the treatment of diesel engine exhaust by promoting the conversion of both HC and CO gaseous pollutants and some proportion of the particulate matter through oxidation of these pollutants to carbon dioxide and water. Such catalysts have generally been contained in units called diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC's), which are placed in the exhaust of diesel engines to treat the exhaust before it vents to the atmosphere. In addition to the conversions of gaseous HC, CO and particulate matter, oxidation catalysts that contain platinum group metals (which are typically dispersed on a refractory oxide support) also promote the oxidation of nitric oxide (NO) to NO2. The total particulate matter emissions of diesel exhaust are comprised of three main components. One component is the solid, dry, solid carbonaceous fraction or soot fraction. This dry carbonaceous matter contributes to the visible soot emissions commonly associated with diesel exhaust. A second component of the particulate matter is the soluble organic fraction ("SOF"). The soluble organic fraction is sometimes referred to as the volatile organic fraction ("VOF"), which terminology will be used herein. The VOF can exist in diesel exhaust either as a vapor or as an aerosol (fine droplets of liquid condensate) depending on the temperature of the diesel exhaust. It is generally present as condensed liquids at the standard particulate collection temperature of 52° C. in diluted exhaust, as prescribed by a standard measurement test, such as the U.S. Heavy Duty Transient Federal Test Procedure. These liquids arise from two sources: (1) lubricating oil swept from the cylinder walls of the engine each time the pistons go up and down; and (2) unburned or partially burned diesel fuel.
The third component of the particulate matter is the so-called sulfate fraction. The sulfate fraction is formed from small quantities of sulfur components present in the diesel fuel. Small proportions of SO3 are formed during combustion of the diesel, which in turn combines rapidly with water in the exhaust to form sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid collects as a condensed phase with the particulates as an aerosol, or is adsorbed onto the other particulate components, and thereby adds to the mass of TPM.
One key aftertreatment technology in use for high particulate matter reduction is the diesel particulate filter. There are many known filter structures that are effective in removing particulate matter from diesel exhaust, such as honeycomb wall flow filters, wound or packed fiber filters, open cell foams, sintered metal filters, etc. However, ceramic wall flow filters, described below, receive the most attention. These filters are capable of removing over 90% of the particulate material from diesel exhaust. The filter is a physical structure for removing particles from exhaust, and the accumulating particles will increase the back pressure from the filter on the engine. Thus the accumulating particles have to be continuously or periodically burned out of the filter to maintain an acceptable back pressure. Unfortunately, the carbon soot particles require temperatures in excess of 500° C. to burn under oxygen rich (lean) exhaust conditions. This temperature is higher than what is typically present in diesel exhaust.
Provisions are generally introduced to lower the soot burning temperature in order to provide for passive regeneration of the filter. The presence of a catalyst promotes soot combustion, thereby regenerating the filters at temperatures accessible within the diesel engine's exhaust under realistic duty cycles. In this way a catalyzed soot filter (CSF) or catalyzed diesel particulate filter (CDPF) is effective in providing for >80% particulate matter reduction along with passive burning of the accumulating soot, and thereby promoting filter regeneration.
Future emissions standards adopted throughout the world will also address NOx reductions from diesel exhaust. A proven NOx abatement technology applied to stationary sources with lean exhaust conditions is Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). In this process, NOx is reduced with ammonia (NH3) to nitrogen (N2) over a catalyst typically composed of base metals. The technology is capable of NOx reduction greater than 90%, and thus it represents one of the best approaches for achieving aggressive NOx reduction goals. SCR is under development for mobile applications, with urea (typically present in an aqueous solution) as the source of ammonia. SCR provides efficient conversions of NOx as long as the exhaust temperature is within the active temperature range of the catalyst.
While separate substrates each containing catalysts to address discrete components of the exhaust can be provided in an exhaust system, use of fewer substrates is desirable to reduce the overall size of the system, to ease the assembly of the system, and to reduce the overall cost of the system. One approach to achieve this goal is to coat the soot filter with a catalyst composition effective for the conversion of NOx to innocuous components. With this approach, the catalyzed soot filter assumes two catalyst functions: removal of the particulate component of the exhaust stream and conversion of the NOx component of the exhaust stream to N2.
Coated soot filters that can achieve NOx reduction goals require a sufficient loading of SCR catalyst composition on the soot filter. The gradual loss of the catalytic effectiveness of the compositions that occurs over time through exposure to certain deleterious components of the exhaust stream augments the need for higher catalyst loadings of the SCR catalyst composition. However, preparation of coated soot filters with higher catalyst loadings can lead to unacceptably high back pressure within the exhaust system. Coating techniques that allow higher catalyst loadings on the wall flow filter, yet still allow the filter to maintain flow characteristics that achieve acceptable back pressures are therefore desirable.
An additional aspect for consideration in coating the wall flow filter is the selection of the appropriate SCR catalyst composition. First, the catalyst composition must be durable so that it maintains its SCR catalytic activity even after prolonged exposure to higher temperatures that are characteristic of filter regeneration. For example, combustion of the soot fraction of the particulate matter often leads to temperatures above 700° C. Such temperatures render many commonly used SCR catalyst compositions such as mixed oxides of vanadium and titanium less catalytically effective. Second, the SCR catalyst compositions preferably have a wide enough operating temperature range so that they can accommodate the variable temperature ranges over which the vehicle operates. Temperatures below 300° C. are typically encountered, for example, at conditions of low load, or at startup. The SCR catalyst compositions are preferably capable of catalyzing the reduction of the NOx component of the exhaust to achieve NOx reduction goals, even at lower exhaust temperatures.
A significant driver to the development of diesel emission technologies is the relative rarity of the catalytic materials and the difficulty of manufacture. Most catalyzed soot filters are Pt/Pd based, with ratios typically between 4:1 and 2:1. By decreasing the percentage of platinum in the catalyst composition, the cost of the catalyst is reduced. However, platinum is more catalytically active than palladium or Pt/Pd formulations for CO and HC conversion. Therefore, there remains a need in the art for catalyst compositions with activity close to or greater than that of currently available platinum and Pt/Pd formulations.


A line sense amplifier comprises: a presearch block, a main search block, and a timing circuit. The presearch block is coupled to a presearch line for sensing the presearch line. The main search block is coupled to a main line for sensing the main line. The timing circuit operates the presearch block and the main search block for charging and sensing of the presearch line and the main line. The timing circuit initiates the main search block to determine a match condition for the main line based on whether a match condition is determined for the presearch line.

Content addressable memories ("CAMs") are commonly used in cache and other address translation systems of high speed computing systems. Ternary content addressable memories ("TCAMs") are ternary state CAM cells and are commonly used for parallel search in high performance computing systems. The unit of data stored in a TCAM bitcell is ternary, i.e., having three possible states: logic one, logic zero, and don't care state (referred to as an "X" state). To store these three states, TCAM bitcells include a pair of memory elements.
CAMs permit its memory cells to be referenced by their contents. Thus, CAMs have found use in lookup table implementations such as cache memory subsystems and are now rapidly finding use in networking system applications such as network address translation, and other applications such as pattern recognition and data compression. A valuable feature of CAMs is its ability to perform a fast search operation in which search data is compared with stored data. Typically, a searched data word is loaded onto search lines and compared with stored data words in the CAMs. The stored data words are compared bit-by-bit with the searched data word. During a search-and-compare operation, the CAMs perform a parallel search and generates match or mismatch signal associated with each stored data word, indicating whether the search word matches any of the stored data words.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art block diagram for TCAM unit cells connected to a match line sense amplifier. TCAM bitcells 10 that form a data entry can be connected along the same row and connected to a match line ML. The bitcells 10 can also be coupled to word lines WLY and WLX, search lines ST and SC, and bitlines BC and BT. The word lines WLY and WLX run perpendicular to bitlines BC and BT. A match line sense amplifier 20 is connected to an end of the match line. Each of the TCAM bitcells 10 comprise two static random-access memory ("SRAM") cells (or dynamic random access memory ("DRAM") cells, depending on the implementation) and a compare circuit 12 (e.g., an XOR circuit) to compare the data within the respective TCAM bitcell with bits of the searched data word.
An indication of a match or mismatch is indicated on the match line. The compare circuits 12 of the TCAM cells 10 of a stored data word can have their respective outputs logically dotted together in a dot-XOR structure via the match line. If any of the compare circuits 12 are on (i.e., driving the match line to a low state to indicate a mismatch), a mismatch can be identified for that respective stored data word. If the match line goes to a high state, then the stored data word can be identified as a match and the location of that data entry is outputted.
FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art block diagram for compare circuits of TCAM bitcells connected to a match line sense amplifier. As indicated above, the compare circuits 12 of the TCAM data entry are connected together via the match line. Due to the large number of compare circuits 12, the match line can be highly capacitive. The match line is further coupled to the match line sense amplifier 20 at one end of the match line to charge the match line and sense the voltage on the match line. Due to the charging requirement for operation, the match line can consume large amounts of power. For this reason, TCAMs require relatively high power and large current pulses to operate the compare circuits and the match line sense amplifier.
FIG. 3 illustrates a prior art circuit for a match line sense amplifier. A match line sense amplifier 30 comprises a p-channel field effect transistor ("PFET") 31 and an inverter 32. The PFET 31 is connected across the power supply Vdd and a match line. The inverter 32 inverts the signal ML of the match line to an inverted output signal OUT. The amplifier 30 has several drawbacks. First, the large voltage swing between ground and Vdd on the match line can cause large current burn off. Second, the amplifier 30 suffers from poor performance due to taking a long time to discharge the match line for single bit mismatches. Third, the search lines may also transition states for each search cycle that can cause more power burn.
FIG. 4 illustrates a prior art circuit for another match line sense amplifier from U.S. Pat. No. 7,724,559. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,724,559 (herein the "'559 patent"), the '559 patent has addressed such problems by charging the match line using an n-channel field effect transistor ("NFET") to a voltage below the power supply voltage Vdd. A self-referenced sense amplifier 40 is coupled to the match line ML of a CAM to determine the state of the match line ML. The self-referenced sense amplifier 40 includes a PFET transistor 43 coupled in series to an NFET transistor 44 to connect ML to the power supply voltage Vdd. A sensing inverter 45 is coupled to the end of ML. The output of the sensing inverter 45 is fed back to the gate of NFET 44, while the gate of PFET 43 is coupled to a PREbar signal. A sensing inverter 46 is coupled to a sense node 47 between the PFET 43 and then NFET 44 to output the MLOUT determination. A keeper 48 is used to maintain that voltage on the match line.
Prior to operation, ML is set low, e.g., to ground, and precharge bar PREbar is set high, e.g., to Vdd. In operation, ML is precharged to the threshold (or trigger point) of the inverter 45, and, thereafter, ML sensing occurs. To begin precharging ML from its initial low, PREbar goes low from its initial high, which turns on the PFET 43. Because ML is initially set low, the gate of NFET 44 is set high by inverter 45, turning on NFET 44, whereby current flows to begin charging ML to the threshold of inverter 45. When the voltage on ML crosses the threshold of the sensing inverter 45, the sensing inverter 45 will start discharging the gate of the NFET 44 low until the NFET 44 turns off. As a result, the sense node 47, which was originally coupled to ML through NFET 44, uses the full charge provided by PFET 43 to charge node 47 to Vdd. This causes the output of the inverter 46 to discharge low to GND. Precharge bar PREbar is subsequently disabled by a signal from a one-bit miss reference ML (not shown). Moreover, the keeper 48 can be coupled between the gate of the NFET 44 and ML. The keeper 48 is provided to maintain the precharged value to prevent leakage on ML from being misinterpreted as a mismatch.
The '559 patent precharges the match line through the NFET 44. A drawback of such match line sense amplifier is that precharging of the match line is slow since the NFET 44 is in a source follower mode, i.e., overdrive of that NFET 44 is significantly reduced when the source of the NFET 44 goes up in voltage. Furthermore, it is well known that NFETs can only pull up as far as its Vgs voltage minus a threshold voltage. In doing so, the NFET 44 can only pull up to its threshold voltage before the NFET 44 turns off. The turn off of the NFET is asymptotic, which leads to a very slow charging of the match line by the NFET. Also, the NFET does not allow for overshooting since it cannot charge above the threshold voltage of the NFET.
Additionally, the sensing inverter 45 requires a Schmitt trigger since the sensing inverter 45 does not provide enough margin to combat the sensitivity of the system which may lead to tripping back and forth by the sensing inverter 45. The Schmitt trigger provides hysteresis to keep the inverter 45 in a current state unless the input is beyond the trip point to trip back to its other state. A drawback of using such sensing inverter 45 that has the Schmitt trigger is that the inverter 45 would require more complexity, and, in particular, additional transistors for implementing the Schmitt trigger.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for new methods and apparatuses for a sense amplifier that is self-referencing, provide adequate overshoot of the line voltage, reduce complexity, quickly charge a line to be sensed, and/or increase performance speed.

Sense amplifier having a timing circuit for a presearch and a main search


An improved magnetic tunnel junction device and methods for fabricating the improved magnetic tunnel junction device are provided. The provided two-etch process reduces etching damage and ablated material redeposition. In an example, provided is a method for fabricating a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). The method includes forming a buffer layer on a substrate, forming a bottom electrode on the substrate, forming a pin layer on the bottom electrode, forming a barrier layer on the pin layer, and forming a free layer on the barrier layer. A first etching includes etching the free layer, without etching the barrier layer, the pin layer, and the bottom electrode. The method also includes forming a top electrode on the free layer, as well as forming a hardmask layer on the top electrode. A second etching includes etching the hardmask layer; the top electrode layer, the barrier layer, the pin layer, and the bottom electrode.

Random access memory (RAM) is a ubiquitous component of modern digital architectures. RAM can be a standalone device, or can be integrated in a device that uses the RAM, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), system-on-chip (SoC), and other like devices. RAM can be volatile or non-volatile. Volatile RAM loses its stored information whenever power is removed. Non-volatile RAM can maintain its memory contents even when power is removed. Although non-volatile RAM has advantages, such as an ability to retain its contents without applied power, conventional non-volatile RAM has slower read/write times than volatile RAM.
Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) is a non-volatile memory technology having response (read/write) times comparable to volatile memory. In contrast to conventional RAM technologies, which store data as electric charges or current flows, MRAM uses magnetic elements. As illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an in-plane magnetic tunnel junction (iMTJ) storage element 100 (also known as an "iMTJ stack") can be formed from two magnetic layers, a pin layer 110 (also known as a "fixed layer"), and a free layer 130, each of which can retain a magnetic moment or polarization, separated by an insulating layer 120 (also known as a "tunnel barrier layer"). One of the two magnetic layers (e.g., fix or pin layer 110), is fixed or pinned to a particular polarity. The other magnetic layer's (e.g., free layer 130) polarity 132 is free to change to switch magnetic moment polarity orientation. The free layer 130 can be switched by a field or a current by spin torque. A change in the polarity 132 of the free layer 130 changes the resistance of the MTJ storage element 100. For example, when the polarities are aligned, as depicted in FIG. 1A, a low resistance state exists. When the polarities are reverse-aligned, as depicted in FIG. 1B, then a high resistance state exists. The polarization of the free layer 130 can be reversed by applying current in a specific direction such that the polarity of the pin layer 110 and the free layer 130 are either substantially aligned or opposite. The resistance of the electrical path through the MTJ changes depending on the alignment of the polarizations of the pin layer 110 and the free layer 130. The illustration of MTJ 100 is simplified, and each layer illustrated can comprise one or more layers of materials. There is also a perpendicular MTJ (pMTJ), in which magnetic moment polarity is vertically aligned or reverse aligned to fix a layer moment. The pMTJ also can be switched by a field or a current to provide a high resistance state (reverse aligned) and a low resistance state (aligned).
Referring to FIG. 2A, a memory cell 200 of a conventional field switching MRAM is depicted during a read operation. The cell 200 includes a transistor 210, a bit line 220, a digit line 230 and a word line 240. The cell 200 is read by measuring the electrical resistance of the MTJ 100. For example, a particular MTJ 100 can be selected by activating an associated transistor 210, which can switch current from a bit line 220 through the MTJ 100. Due to a tunnel magnetoresistive effect, the electrical resistance of the MTJ 100 changes based on the magnetic moment orientation of the polarities in the two magnetic layers (e.g., 110, 130), as discussed above. A resistance inside any particular MTJ 100 can be determined from a current intensity determined by the polarity of the free layer. If the fix or pin layer 110 and free layer 130 have the same polarity, the resistance is low and a logic "0" is read. If the fix or pin layer 110 and free layer 130 have an opposing polarity, the resistance is higher and a logic "1" is read.
Referring to FIG. 2B, the memory cell 200 of a conventional field switching MRAM is depicted during a write operation, which is a magnetic operation. Transistor 210 is off during the write operation. Current propagates through the bit line 220 and the digit line 230 to establish magnetic fields 250 and 260, which affect the polarity of the free layer of the MTJ 100, and consequently the logic state of the cell 200. Accordingly, data can be written to, and stored in, the MTJ 100.
MRAM has several desirable characteristics that make it a candidate for a universal memory, such as high speed, high density (i.e., small bitcell size), low power consumption, and no degradation over time.
A variation of MRAM is Spin Transfer Torque Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (STT-MRAM). STT-MRAM uses electrons that become spin-polarized as the electrons pass through a thin film (spin filter). STT-MRAM is also known as Spin Transfer Torque RAM (STT-RAM), Spin Torque Transfer Magnetization Switching RAM (Spin-RAM), and Spin Momentum Transfer (SMT-RAM). During a write operation, the spin-polarized electrons exert torque on a free layer, which switches a polarity of the free layer. During a read operation, a current detects the resistance/logic state of the MTJ storage element, as discussed in the foregoing description. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, a STT-MRAM bit cell 300 includes a MTJ 305, a transistor 310, a bit line 320, and a word line 330. The transistor 310 is switched on for both read and write operations to allow current to flow through the MTJ 305, so the logic state can be read or written. There is also a perpendicular MTJ (pMTJ) (not shown), in which magnetic moment polarity is vertically aligned and/or reverse aligned to fix a layer moment. The pMTJ also can be switched by a field and/or a current to provide a high resistance state (reverse aligned) and a low resistance state (aligned).
Referring to FIG. 3B, a more detailed diagram of a STT-MRAM cell 301 is illustrated, for further discussion of the read/write operations. In addition to the previously discussed elements such as the MTJ 305, the transistor 310, the bit line 320 and the word line 330, a source line 340, a sense amplifier 350, read/write circuitry 360, and a bit line reference 370 are illustrated. As discussed above, the write operation in an STT-MRAM is electrical. The read/write circuitry 360 generates a write voltage between the bit line 320 and the source line 340. Depending on the polarity of the voltage between the bit line 320 and the source line 340, the polarity of the free layer of the MTJ 305 can be changed, and correspondingly, the logic state can be written to the cell 301. Likewise, during a read operation, a read current is generated, which flows between the bit line 320 and the source line 340 through the MTJ 305. When the current is permitted to flow via the transistor 310, the resistance (logic state) of the MTJ 305 is determined, based on the voltage differential between the bit line 320 and the source line 340, which is compared to a reference 370, and then amplified by the sense amplifier 350. Additional details are provided, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,764,537, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Accordingly, a non-volatile MRAM memory can be fabricated as an array of the memory cells 301. A gate of the transistor 310 is coupled to a word line (WL). During write operations, a supply voltage is applied to the bit line 320 or the source line 340. During read operations, a read voltage is applied to the bit line 320, and the source line 340 is set to ground. The WL is coupled to a supply voltage during both read and write operations.
Despite the characteristics described above, the memory cell 301 is not a perfect device. Etching an MTJ is a challenging part of the MTJ fabrication process. The conventional MTJ fabrication process includes a single-step etch that can damage an MTJ sidewall by etching the MTJ sidewall and redepositing ablated material on the MTJ sidewall, which degrades the MTJ's tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR), coersivity (Hc), and increases switching current when operating the MTJ.
Accordingly, there are long-felt industry needs for methods and apparatus that improve upon conventional methods and apparatus, including the improved methods and apparatus provided hereby.

Magnetic tunnel junction and method for fabricating a magnetic tunnel junction


A natural language processing system is disclosed herein. Embodiments of the NLP system perform hand-written rule-based operations that do not rely on a trained corpus. Rules can be added or modified at any time to improve accuracy of the system, and to allow the same system to operate on unstructured plain text from many disparate contexts (e.g. articles as well as twitter contexts as well as medical articles) without harming accuracy for any one context. Embodiments also include a language decoder (LD) that generates information which is stored in a three-level framework (word, clause, phrase). The LD output is easily leveraged by various software applications to analyze large quantities of text from any source in a more sophisticated and flexible manner than previously possible. A query language (LDQL) for information extraction from NLP parsers' output is disclosed, with emphasis on its embodiment implemented for LD. It is also presented, how to use LDQL for knowledge extraction on the example of application named Knowledge Browser.

Natural language processing (NLP) systems are computer-implemented methods for taking natural language input (for example, computer-readable text), and operating on the input so as to generate output that is useful for computers to derive meaning. Examples of NLP systems applications include spell checkers/grammar checkers, machine translation systems, and speech-to-text systems. Increasingly, there is interest in developing methods for machines to more intelligently interpret human language input data (such as text) for the purpose of directing the computer as if it were another person who could understand speech. One application for such methods is search engines that receive a typed query from a person and perform web searches to attempt to generate a set of meaningful answers to the query. An important subclass of NLP systems is NLP parsers, especially grammatical parsers such as Part-Of-Speech tagger, constituency parsers, dependency parsers, and shallow semantic parsers such as SRL (Semantic Role Labeling). Their role is to preprocess text and add additional information to words to prepare it for further usage. Current NLP systems are mostly built on top of NLP parsers and current NLP systems rely heavily on the information produced by these parsers to provide features and accuracy. Quality of the information delivered by these parsers is strongly correlated with the efficiency of NLP systems.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of prior art NLP parsers 100. The input is a text, which is processed by NLP parser (102) consisting of machine learning techniques (104) trained on manually annotated corpus (105). The parser (102) produces the output (103) which is then used by other systems/applications (106).
All current parsers are dependent on corpora and therefore on the context in which they were written. Typically corpora are in a context of correctly written, grammatically correct sentences and common syntactic structures which are manually annotated by humans. The system is then trained using this corpus.
This is one reason that traditional NLP parsers are most accurate on the same type of content they were trained on (the same corpus). That is why always-changing language, such as user generated content (e.g. reviews, tips, comments tweets, social media content) presents a challenge for NLP parsers built with machine learning techniques. Such content often includes grammatically incorrect sentences and non-standard usage of language, as well as emoticons, acronyms, strings of non-letter characters and so on. This content is constantly changing and expanding with different words or syntactic structures. All of this content has meaningful information and it is easy to understand by humans but it is still difficult for NLP applications to extract meaning out of it.
One way in which current NLP parsers can be updated or improved (for better accuracy or extracting additional information) is to modify the existing corpus, or create a new corpus or re-annotate existing one and retrain the system with it to understand new content. However, this is a tedious, costly and time-consuming process. For example all current NLP parsers are using corpus as a training data annotated by linguists with predefined tags (e.g. Penn Treebank)—especially use machine-learning algorithms.
If there was a need to distinguish the pronominal or adjectival aspect of "that" (giving them different POS tags in different context), linguists would need to manually re-annotate all the sentences in the whole corpus that contain the word "that" regarding the context of each usage of "that" and retrain the parser.
Building a particular application on top of an NLP parser requires building a module to transform the NLP parser output into usable data. The application using the parser's output could be coded in a programming language, use a rule based systems or be trained with machine learning techniques—or created with combination of any of the above methods.
Using NLP parsers can be challenging due to the need to understand the structure of the output and parameter's (requires expert knowledge). One of the challenges in NLP parsers is to provide constant consistent structure of information. Also, the output of the NLP parsers rely on the quality of the input text data.
For example,
Let's consider these sentences
                1. John likes math.        2. John likes to learn.        3. John likes learning math in the evening.
By using grammar parsers in each case you will get different notations for the object that John likes.
In constituency parsers the number of levels (depth) in a parse tree depends on the length and the grammatical structure of the processed sentences. In the given example above the first sentence has 3 levels, the second sentence has 0.5 levels and the third example has 6 levels in a tree representation.
In state-of-the-art dependency parsers the structure of the output and number of levels in the dependency tree representation also vary. Adding even one word in the sentence can alter the grammatical information of all the other words.
The given example about John would produce different structure for each sentence. The first sentence require extracting dependents of "dobj" relation connected to the word "likes", in the second all dependents of "xcomp" relation connected to the word "likes" and in the third example there is a need for analyzing all governors connected to dependents of "xcomp" related to the word "likes"
All of the above is the reason why it is difficult for people and especially non-linguists (e.g., developers, analysts) to use the parser output and write rules to adjust it to their current needs. For example, to write an information extraction engine to extract information about product features from reviews you could use a constituency parser or a dependency parser but you need to write complex algorithms to search through the parse tree. To move to another domain (e.g. extracting information from twitter) the algorithms must be redesigned, and part of the code rewritten.
To deal with these problems NLP systems use machine learning techniques. This approach has some limitations in terms of accuracy and amount of extracted information.
There are query languages to process structured data (e.g. SQL for relational databases, Cypher for graph databases, SPARQL-RDF tagged texts (resource description framework)) but there are no languages designed directly to query the structure of the natural language (output of the NLP parser).
It would be desirable to have an efficient framework for storing information decoded from text. It should provide an invariant and consistent way of storing information which would be insensitive to different types of input. Having such a framework, it would be possible for non-experts to write efficient rules on top of the NLP parser's output.
It would be desirable to have a parser for natural language processing that is built fully algorithmically so it allows for constantly improvement in accuracy, and the addition of new features, without building or re-annotating any corpus. It would desirable to have an NLP system that is more capable than current NLP parsers of dealing with non-typical grammatical input, deals well with constantly-changing language on the web, and produces accurate output which can be stored into an efficient framework of information.
It would also be desirable to have a query language that can be used on the logical layer across different input contexts allowing humans to write efficient rules for extracting information, and that is capable of effectively leveraging many NLP systems.

Natural language processing system and method


In a digital matched filter used as a correlator in a receiver in an SSC system, different bits of a received signal converted into a multi-bit signal are inputted into different correlators. After having weighted different correlation outputs, the different weighted correlation outputs are added together and weighting factors are varied, depending on a synthesized correlation output obtained by addition. When such a matched filter is used in an SSC system, it is possible to obtain precisely a desired signal without controlling transmission electric power.

A correlator is used in a receiver in an SSC system, e.g. receiver indicated in FIG. 1 in U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,326. FIG. 10 shows the construction of a general asynchronous type 4-bit judgment digital matched filter serving as such a correlator, etc., in which reference numeral 1 and 2 are multipliers; 3 is a carrier oscillator; 4 is a 90.degree. phase shifter; 5 and 6 are low pass filters (LPF); 7 and 8 are A/D converters; 9 and 10 are correlators; 11 and 12 are fixed type weighting circuits; 13, 14 and 17 are adders; and 15 and 16 are squaring circuits. As indicated in the figure, when an asynchronous type digital matched filter receives a signal, it divides received wave into two parts and thus separates the received signal into two signals, called I channel and Q channel, by multiplying signals having the same frequency as the carrier of the received signal, whose phases are shifted by 90.degree. from each other, by the two parts of the received wave in the multipliers 1 and 2, respectively, to convert them in frequency into a base band. Thereafter the two signals are A/D-converted by the A/D converters 7 and 8 through the low pass filters 5 and 6, respectively, to transform the received signal into multi-bit signals. Then, in order to obtain a correlation value, each of the bit signals is correlated with reference data by each of the correlators 9. Thereafter, for the I channel, different bits of correlation values thus obtained are weighted by different weighting circuit 11 and added together by the adder 13. The same operations are effected also for the Q channel. The correlation values thus obtained for the I channel and the Q channel are squared by the squaring circuits 15 and 16, respectively, and added to each other by the adder 17 to obtain a final correlation value.
(c) in FIG. 11 indicates the waveform of the received wave at a point A in FIG. 10, which is a synthesized wave of a desired wave (a) and a non-desired wave (b) in FIG. 11 and has an amplitude corresponding to one of digital values from 0000 to 1111.
Further (a) in FIG. 12 indicates waveforms of different bits B.sub.0 to B.sub.3 at a point B in FIG. 10; (b) in the same figure indicates waveforms of correlation values C.sub.0 to C.sub.3 of the different correlators 0 to 3 at a point C in FIG. 10; and (c) in the same figure indicates a waveform of the correlation value obtained by the addition at a point D in FIG. 10.
However, by the prior art method described above, although an ideal correlation value can be obtained, when a desired wave signal is sufficiently great with respect to other disturbance, D/U increases, when the source transmitting the desired wave is far, when a number of SSCs exist simultaneously etc., and most of desired wave information is not always included in significant bits after it has been decomposed into different bits by an A/D converter. Therefore it had a drawback that, in such a case, electric power should be controlled so that transmission electric power of a desired wave transmitter is increased.


This disclosure relates to a method and system of processing chain calculations in spreadsheet applications utilizing multiple processors, each having a separate recalculation engine. A single calculation chain may be reordered into a unified chain where supporting and dependent formulas are organized into a tree hierarchy of child chains. The unified chain is further divided into dependency levels, where entries in each dependency level may be moved to a next dependency level during reordering. If an entry within a dependency level is dependent upon another entry not found within its own child chain, the unified chain is ordered such that an entry is only dependent upon an entry in a prior dependency level. Further, dependency levels allow a control thread to perform control-thread-only operations while maintaining multi-thread processing capabilities.

The use of spreadsheet applications for data analysis has become prevalent. Further, as more and more businesses depend upon these applications for complex data computation, the need for faster and more efficient processing of these applications has become desirable. Microsoft Excel™ is an example of such a spreadsheet application. It is typical in spreadsheet applications for a formula in one cell, referred to as a "dependent" formula, to depend upon the contents of or a formula in another cell, referred to as a "supporting" formula. When the contents of a cell are changed, a recalculation ("recalc") operation may be triggered, in which a program thread is used to iterate through the formulas and recalc any formulas requiring recalculation based on these changes. The processing time for computation operations may be reduced in speed, if not paused altogether for a significant period of time, when a recalc program thread confronts a formula dependent upon a supporting formula which has yet to be calculated. Even where multiple processors, or multiple program threads, are employed in such applications, the performance speed of the calculations and recalcs may not be improved where at least one of the processors is unable to complete a calculation or recalc while waiting for a supporting formula to be computed. The problem is exacerbated as the number of dependent formulas in the spreadsheet application increases.
Although specific problems have been addressed in this Background, this disclosure is not intended in any way to be limited to solving those specific problems.

Multi-thread spreadsheet processing with dependency levels


A luggage article having a lower portion supporting a pluralities of supports and including a plurality of walls forming a luggage case structure defining an interior cavity and having a front wall, back wall, opposing side walls, and a bottom wall, at least one support assembly being mounted on a lower portion adjacent the front wall, the lower portion of the front wall has a protruding ledge structure extending at least partially laterally across the front wall, front edges of the opposing sidewalls being offset rearwardly from the front edge of the protruding ledge structure to enhance stability.

Luggage cases conventionally include supports, such as wheels, attached to the case to allow the case to stand on or be transported over a support surface easily during use. The supports are attached at or near the bottom of the luggage case support structure.
The supports on a luggage case are typically positioned at or near the perimeter of the bottom side wall, near the corners. The supports are mounted at or near the perimeter to provide a base having as large of an area between the supports as possible, for stability purposes. In particular, the depth dimension between the supports positioned at the front and rear edges of the bottom wall, respectively, helps determine the stability of the luggage case. This depth dimension in relation to the depth dimension of the luggage case at a location midway along the height of the luggage case largely determines whether the luggage case is stable when loaded with contents. In some conventional luggage cases, the bottom side, as well as the dimension between front and rear supports, is smaller in the depth dimension than the depth at a location midway along the height of the luggage case.
An identified problem with the conventional support location scheme is that many luggage cases may be loaded in a manner that causes instability, either by an off-center loading of the luggage case, or where the front wall extends outwardly to define a depth dimension greater than that of the supports, and thus extends beyond the location of the front supports. This can cause instability, and possibly result in the luggage case tipping over either when at rest or during transport. Using a pocket on the front wall of a luggage case, or an expandable feature on the front wall may concentrate the load at that lateral location causing the instability.
Some conventional luggage cases taper from a lesser depth dimension at a top portion to a greater depth dimension at a base. In the event this style of case tips over onto its front panel, the front panel engages the support surface along all or a majority of its length. These conventional cases, aside from having reduced packing volumes, lack a protective feature to lessen the impact and negative effect of such an occurrence, and specifically related to the lower region of the front panel and any zipper or other closure feature that may extend across the lower front portion of the front side.
Additionally, some convention luggage cases improve stability by using supports that are designed to extend beyond the perimeter of the bottom side of the luggage case, thereby increasing depth, and thus the stability. These extended supports may be structurally less sound than supports mounted more integrally with the luggage case, and also increase the outer most peripheral dimension of the luggage case without improving its packing volume.
It is therefore desirable to provide an improved luggage article, and more specifically an improved luggage case main structure, that addresses the above-described problems and/or which more generally offers improvements or an alternative to existing arrangements.
Documents that may be related to the present disclosure in that they include various means of defining the location of the supports are:
EP1718183; CN2342662Y; U.S. Pat. No. 590,893; US2011/0120828; (TW) D14465251; U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,561; U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,408; U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,198; U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,318; U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,676; U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,762; U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,527; US2013/0032558; U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,570; OHIM001770777-0001; EP0106906; EP0900031; and WO97/31550.

Luggage case structure with protruding lower portion


According to one embodiment of the present invention, a network adapter is provided that is used in the system to permit data communication among external data exchanging devices and an input/output (I/O) controller residing in the system. The adapter includes one or more interfaces that may be coupled to an electrical backplane in the system. The backplane is coupled to the controller, and is configured to permit communication between the controller and the adapter when the interfaces are coupled to the backplane. The adapter also includes an integrated switching system that has a first set of ports that may be coupled to the data exchanging devices and a second set of ports that may couple the switching system to the controller when the one or more interfaces are coupled to the backplane.

Network computer systems generally include a plurality of geographically separated or distributed computer nodes that are configured to communicate with each other via, and are interconnected by, one or more network communications media. One conventional type of network computer system includes a network data storage subsystem that is configured to provide a centralized location in the network at which to store, and from which to retrieve data. Advantageously, by using such a storage subsystem in the network, many of the network's data storage management and control functions may be centralized at the subsystem, instead of being distributed among the network nodes.
One type of conventional network data storage subsystem, manufactured and sold by the Assignee of the subject application (hereinafter "Assignee") under the tradename Symmetrix™ (hereinafter "the Assignee's conventional storage system"), includes a plurality of disk mass storage devices configured as one or more redundant arrays of independent (or inexpensive) disks (RAID). The disk devices are controlled by disk I/O controllers (commonly referred to as "back end" directors) that are coupled to a shared cache memory resource in the subsystem. The cache memory resource is also coupled to a plurality of host I/O controllers (commonly referred to as "front end" directors). The disk controllers are coupled to respective disk adapters that, among other things, interface the disk controllers to bus systems (e.g., small computer system interface (SCSI) based bus systems) used to couple the disk devices to the disk controllers. Similarly, the host controllers are coupled to respective host channel/network adapters that, among other things, interface the host controllers via channel input/output (I/O) ports to the network communications channels (e.g., Gigabit Ethernet, SCSI, Enterprise Systems Connection (ESCON), or Fibre Channel (FC) based communications channels) that couple the storage subsystem to computer nodes in the computer network external to the subsystem (commonly termed "host" computer nodes or "hosts").
In one conventional data storage network arrangement, a standalone network switch may be interjected in the communications channels intermediate to the host adapter I/O ports and the host nodes. More specifically, the host adapter channel I/O ports may be coupled to a first set of the switch's I/O ports, and a second set of the switch's I/O ports may be coupled to the host nodes. In this conventional data storage network arrangement, if the standalone network switch is appropriately configured, the host adapters (and their associated host controllers) may be able to exchange data/commands via the switch with any of the host nodes.
Unfortunately, standalone network switches tend to be relatively expensive and complex devices that may require substantial amounts of time and effort to install, configure, manage, and maintain in the data storage network. Also unfortunately, the presence of a standalone switch in the data storage network introduces into the network another stage, or hop, that the data must pass through when the data moves from the host nodes to the data storage system, and vice versa; this may increase latency in moving data from the host nodes to the data storage system, and vice versa.

Data storage system with integrated switching