A system and method for preventing cascading failures of clusters in a large-scale distributed system are disclosed. An example method begins with determining the current system conditions including the state and capacity of each cluster in the system. Given the current system conditions, the maximum number of entities that can be served by the system may be determined. The determined maximum number of entities are then served. In the event of a cluster failure, a determination is made as to whether the entire load from a cluster can be failed over by the system without creating cascading failures. Responsive to determining that the entire load from a cluster cannot be failed over by the system without creating cascading failures, a partial amount of cluster load is identified to failover in the event of cluster failure.

In recent years, software engineers have focused on building global-scale Internet applications. These Internet applications often require large-scale distributed systems as back ends. As shown in FIG. 1, large-scale distributed systems provide networked online storage and allow multiple computing devices to store, access, and share data in the online storage. Distributed systems may use a client/server architecture in which one or more central servers store data and provide data access to network clients. Data may be stored in multiple datacenters and in multiple datacenter shards which each contain multiple clusters.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary distributed system 200 for providing data in a large-scale distributed system. The system 300 includes a plurality of user terminals 202 (e.g. 202-1 . . . 202-n), each of which includes one or more applications 204 (e.g. 204-1 . . . 204-n), such as an Internet browser. The user terminals 202 are connected to a server 206 and a plurality of computer clusters 210 (e.g., 210-1 . . . 210-m) through a network 208 such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless network, or a combination of networks. The server 206 may include one or more load balancing engines 212, one or more memory devices 214, and one or more CPUs 216.
Each of the user terminals 202 may be a computer or similar device through which a user can submit requests to and receive results or services from the server 206. Examples of the user terminals 202 include, without limitation, desktop computers, notebook computers, tablets, mobile devices such as mobile phones, smartphones, personal digital assistants, set-top boxes, or any combination of such devices.
In order to support global-scale access to data, distributed systems should have high availability and low latency when providing data to users. Distributed systems may also require service resiliency, which is the ability of a distributed system to quickly react to a series of system failures or disruptions to data access and to smoothly maintain data availability at an acceptable level. In the case of failure or disruption, a system should be able to avoid cascading failure and maintain the availability of a service. A system should also be able to quickly rebalance the service loads across clusters so that the system is prepared for future failures.
Data replication is a widely used conventional technique in distributed computing for better data reliability. Replication entails creating copies (or replicas) of data entities and storing the entity copies in multiple datacenters. By maintaining several copies of the same entity, an application can ensure that its back end can tolerate datacenter failures. If a datacenter is unavailable, replicate entities can be accessed from alternate datacenters.
A conventional coarse-grained replication scheme for better data reliability includes duplicating an entire database in a single replica set, which is usually determined prior to duplication. Coarse-grained replication schemes may handle service resiliency by providing data from replicas in other data clusters when clusters in datacenters fail. However, the conventional coarse-grained replication scheme may not be able to provide fast data access and due to legal requirements, not every data entity can be replicated everywhere.
To address these issues, an alternative replication scheme, referred to as fine-grained replication (FGR) has been used in global-scale applications. In the FGR scheme, an entire database is portioned into a number of sub-databases, each of which has its own replication set. The partition criterion may vary depending on application logic. A common practice is to partition the database by individual service entity. FGR allows flexible replica placement in order to satisfy various performance, load, cost, legal, and other requirements for a single service.
In FGR configurations, there is a serving replica for every data entity stored in the system. A serving replica is the primary replica of a data entity providing service on the data entity in normal operation. A failover replica is the secondary replica of an entity providing failover service in case of primary replica failure. The roles of a data entity's replicas can be changed online with very low operation cost. In a case of cluster failure, entities with their serving replicas in the failed cluster will have the service load shifted to their corresponding failover replicas automatically. Data consistency among replicas of an entity is guaranteed by various distributed system algorithms. Some replicas in the replica set of an entity can temporarily fall behind due to reasons such as a datacenter being unreachable or unresponsive. An FGR-based application can tolerate temporary inconsistency between replicas of an entity
Although FGR provides advantages in flexibility, creating a resilient FGR configuration scheme is extremely challenging because this scheme requires: (1) a prohibitively high computing complexity in solving for replication configuration (including replica placement and service scheduling) to achieve service resiliency and (2) expensive and time-consuming executions of replication configuration solutions involving moving and copying data partitions.


An optical disk drive for optimizing laser power to be used at the time of recording operation. In a DVD-R drive and a DVD-RW drive, a controller performs OPC to set recording power and records RMD serving as recording management data in an RMA serving as a recording management area. The RMD are verified. When the RMD can be read, the number of PI errors in the RMD is detected. If the number of PI errors is equal to or less than an allowable value, data are recorded in a data area at that recording power. If the number of PI errors exceeds the allowable value, OPC is again performed, to thereby reset the recording power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk apparatus, and more particularly, to optimization of recording conditions employed by an optical disk apparatus capable of recording data.
2. Related Art
According to a known technique, when data are recorded by means of a CD-R/RW drive, a DVD-R/RW drive, or the like, test data are recorded in a test area on an optical disk (e.g., a power calibration area; i.e., a PCA area). Recording power is optimized on the basis of the quality of a signal reproduced from the test data. Such a technique is generally called optimum power control (OPC), and the power optimized through OPC is used in recording data in data areas of an optical disk.
FIG. 6 shows, as an example, a flow chart pertaining to data recording processing to be performed by a DVD-RW drive. First, when a DVD-RW disk is loaded into a drive, a controller provided in the drive performs OPC operation (S101). Specifically, this is performed by sequentially recording test data in PCA areas while laser power is changed in increments of 0.5 mW. For each level of laser power, the quality of a reproduced signal produced by reproduction of the test data is evaluated. A β value, a degree of modulation "m," a γ value, jitter, or the like is used as the quality of the reproduced signal. For example, when a β value is used as a parameter for evaluating the quality of the reproduced signal, the β value representing the quality of the reproduced signal is compared with a preset target β value, whereby laser power closest to the target β value is extracted. After execution of OPC, the thus-extracted laser power is set to recording power (S102).
After recording power has been set, RMD (recording management data) serving as management data are recorded in an RMA serving as a recording management area of the DVD-RW (S103). After recording of the management data RMD, verification is made as to whether or not the RMD have been recorded without fail (S104). The reason for this is that, if the RMD fail to be read, the DVD-RW cannot be activated; or even if the DVD-RW can be activated, the extent to which data have been recorded becomes unknown because of absence of management data, thereby hindering accurate recording of data. If the result of verification shows that the RMD cannot be read, RMD will again be written or OPC will again be performed in order to optimize recording power and write RMD, thus performing verification. In contrast, if the result of verification is positive; that is, if the RMD can be read, data are recorded in the data areas at the recording power set in S102 (S105).
FIG. 7 shows a data format of the DVD-RW. A PCA (power calibration area), an RMA (recording management area), a lead-in area, and data areas are present on the DVD-RW. An RMA lead-in and RMD are recorded in the RMA. The RMA lead-in includes an ID of a drive manufacturer, a serial number, a disk ID, or the like. Further, the RMD include OPC-related information, data area information, recording mode information, or the like. The RMD are made up of 28 sets of data ranging from set 1 to set 28. Each set includes five blocks. Each block includes a concatenation loss area and Fields 0 to 14. Each block has a size of 32 KB. Different information items are recorded in the Fields 0 to 14 in accordance with the mode of the DVD-RW (i.e., an incremental mode, a disk-at-once mode, or an overwrite mode). For instance, in an incremental mode (which is a write-once mode, and data can be sequentially recorded; when recording of data has been completed, information about completion of the data is recorded in the RMA), common information is recorded in Field 0; OPC information and information about a pointer of an RMD set are recorded in Field 1; and data designated by the user and erasing operation information are recorded in Field 2. The erasing operation information shows an erasing position and the number of times erasing operation has been performed.
If the RMD serving as management data can be verified and read, data supplied from a higher-level apparatus are recorded in data areas. If a record margin is small, there will arise a case where, even if RMD can be read, data cannot be read after having been actually recorded in the data areas. The reason for this is that during the verification operation for the RMD verification is made solely as to whether or not RMD can be read; the recording quality of the data are not quantitatively evaluated. The quality of the data recorded in the data areas is not ensured. Particularly, a wide variety of optical disks are circulated in the market, and variations exist in a characteristic of a recording film. There often arises a case where, even when an attempt is made to reproduce data recorded by a certain drive through use of another drive, the attempt ends in a failure because recording power is not always optimal.
In order to prevent occurrence of such a failure, there have been proposed a techniques for ensuring recording quality by further optimizing recording power obtained through OPC. For instance, according to one technique, a CD-RW drive records data in data areas at the recording power obtained through OPC and detects errors by reproducing the data. When the errors exceed an allowable value, OPC is again performed, thereby optimizing recording power. The data written in the data area are overwritten at the thus-obtained recording power. Alternatively, according to another technique, when OPC is performed in the test area, the quality of a signal reproduced from the test data is recorded, along with errors in the signal, whereby recording laser power is set to laser power at which the errors are reduced to an allowable value or less. Please refer to the following publications for the above-described techniques.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 11-45440
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-260230
However, in the case of a configuration in which data are recorded in data areas and errors in the data are detected, to thereby again perform OPC, data are written in data areas for a trial, thereby presenting a problem of consumption of data areas. The data written in the data areas for a trial must be overwritten. In principle, the technique is limited to a CD-RW disk or the like. Another problem is that the technique cannot be applied to a disk which does not enable overwriting of data. Even in the case of a configuration in which test data are recorded in a test area (i.e., a PCA) and errors in the test data are detected, extra test data must be recorded for detecting errors (at least test data corresponding to 16 sectors which are equal to one ECC block, and test data of at least this quantity must be recorded for each of a plurality of laser power levels), thus consuming the test area. Further, a time required to perform OPC is a wait time for the user during which data are not recorded. In view of convenience, an increase in the time required to record test data is not preferable.

Optical disk apparatus for optimizing laser power during recording


A thermally actuated fluid shuttle valve that is a three-way direction control valve that shifts when fluid passing through said valve reaches a preset temperature. The control valve, including three ports, an internal shiftable spool, and a thermal element, wherein fluid entering a first port from a source of heated fluid passes around a thermal element and out of a second port, until the fluid is warm enough to cause the thermal element to expand, thereby shifting said spool so that the first port is closed, and the second and third ports are in fluid communication with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a thermally actuated fluid shuttle valve that is a three-way direction control valve that shifts when fluid passing through the valve reaches a preset temperature. Fluid entering a first port from a first source where the fluid is being heated, passes around a thermal element and out of a second port, until such time as the fluid reaches a preset temperature then, the valve shifts internally and the first port is blocked while the second and a third port are in fluid communication with each other and with a second fluid source.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve is useful in conjunction with a hot water line to a warm water outlet is a sufficient distance from a source of heat, so that instead of just running the water until the water is warm enough for use, the water can be diverted to a useful outlet.
2. Brief Description of Prior Art
In fluid distribution systems, where it is desirable to pass warm or hot fluid through an outlet, and where it takes some time to reach a desired temperature, often the fluid is not warm enough, so a user or operator drains the fluid until sufficiently warm or hot fluid has reached the outlet. In water systems, such as in washing operations, the fluid that is not warm enough goes down a drain. This wastes water and entails treatment and sewage handling expenses. In fluid power systems, it often wastes horsepower and energy.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,456 discloses a manual diverter valve, manually operable by a user to allow storage of cold water from the hot water line in an auxiliary tank. While such an arrangement can save water, it has limitations based on the manual operation. Such an arrangement relies on the individual operator to initiate the savings of water. This is not convenient and may not be reliable depending upon the number of potential users.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,688 discloses an automatic method of purging a hot water line. But this complex arrangement uses pumps and solenoid powered valves that will be expensive to install and maintain.
As will be seen from the subsequent description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention overcome these and other shortcomings of existing fluid technology.


Deaggregated highly disperse silicic acid, in which the average particle size is less than 100 nm, preferably less than 50 nm, is prepared by extremely high mechanical stress. The deaggregated silicic acid is employed as a filler in silicone rubber mixtures.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for deaggregating highly disperse silicic acid in which average particle sizes of less than 100 nm, preferably less than 50 nm, are achieved by exposure to extremely high mechanical stress. The deaggregated silicic acid may be employed as a filler in silicon rubber mixtures.
2. Description of the Background
Diverse possible uses are known for highly disperse silicic acids prepared by pyrogenic or wet chemical processes. A main field of use is to employ these products as so-called reinforcing or active fillers in silicone rubber mixtures. These silicone rubber mixtures essentially comprise polydimethysiloxanes which have a sufficient number of reactive groups in order to convert the silicone rubber mixture into a rubber-elastic state with the aid of crosslinking substances and, if appropriate, catalysts, and the pyrogenic silicic acids mentioned, which usually have BET surface areas of at least 50 m.sup.2 /g. Depending on the nature of the crosslinking, a distinction is made, for example, between 1- or 2-component systems which crosslink at room temperature (RTV1, RTV2) and systems which crosslink at high temperature (HTV).
Regardless of the nature of the crosslinking, the properties of the products of all the systems are also determined decisively by the silicic acid employed. In addition to the size of the specific surface area of the silicic acid, above all the surface treatment of the silicic acid and the distribution of the silicic acid in the polysiloxane matrix are of import for the product characteristic values, both of the non-crosslinked silicone rubber mixture and of the finished elastomer.
The size of the silicic acid surface can be varied during the preparation of the mixture only within narrow limits. In contrast, the surface treatment of the silicic acid can be carried out to a varying intensity both during and after its incorporation into the polysiloxane. During this process, Si--OH groups bonded on the silicic acid, which otherwise have the effect of stiffening the silicone rubber mixture, are blocked chemically. The so-called in Situ hydrophobization is carried out with a reactive organosilicon compound, usually with hexamethyldisilazane.
In addition, the distribution of the silicic acid can be greatly influenced. Highly disperse silicic acids have a specific structure (Degussa: Schriftenreihe Pigmented NR. 11 [Pigment Publication Series No. 11], 1993, page 26). The primary particles having a size of between 7 nm and 40 nm, and are agglomerated into aggregates, which in turn join together to form even larger structures, agglomerates.
To achieve product properties which represent a combination of the best possible flow properties of the non-crosslinked silicone rubber and at the same time high mechanical strength of the crosslinked silicone rubber, such as is necessary, for example, in two-component systems employed as impression materials, the structure of the silicic acid must be broken down as far as possible. Small particle sizes, as far as possible primary particles, are aimed for in the rubber. As is known, larger structures are broken down by introducing shear energy, by subjecting the mixture of polysiloxane and silicic acid to greater or lesser mechanical stress.
German Patent Application DE 25 35 334 describes a process for homogeneous distribution of highly disperse fillers into polysiloxanes. In this process, the filler is hydrophobized in situ during mixing into the polymer, and the mixture is then subjected to a mechanical treatment. Although the silicone rubber mixtures prepared by this process are storage-stable, they do not have the properties required for impression materials because of inadequate breakdown of the agglomerated silicic acid particles.
A Drais mixer with the smallest possible gap width is described in DE 195 07 878 as a special mixing unit for effective introduction of shear energy. The average particle size which can be achieved is 100 to 200 nm. In this process also, the filler is hydrophobized in situ.
An extrudable material comprising polymer and filler is described in DE 44 42 871. For this material, 33 to about 65% by weight of filler is combined with a polymer under conditions of a relatively high shear action, and the components are then mixed, while maintaining the high shear forces. Particle sizes of 100 to 200 nm are obtained.
Another possibility of achieving small silicic particles is described in EP 622 334. In this case, pyrogenic silicic acid is obtained immediately with a particle size between 40 and 200 nm in a special process by combustion of a chlorosilane in a mixture of oxygen, hydrogen and, if appropriate, nitrogen. The silicic acid obtained is then employed for the preparation of silicone rubber mixtures without a further change in its structure, and hydrophobized in situ (EP 622 421).
No processes are described for deaggregation of aggregated and agglomerated highly disperse silicic acid in silicone rubber mixtures in which the silicic acid in the mixture finally has average particle sizes of less than 100 nm, down to the primary grain.


An alkaline electrolyte solution is electrolyzed by a diaphragm-less electrolyzer to provide electrolytic water as purging and disinfecting water. The alkaline electrolyte solution is a mixture of at least one alkaline electrolyte selected from caustic sodium carbonate, caustic potassium carbonate, phosphorous sodium carbonate and sodium hypochlorite, and at least one neutral salt selected from sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bromide and potassium bromide. The purging and disinfecting water is added to a water circulatory system. The result is that contaminants and noxious chemicals in the circulatory system are oxidation decomposed to thereby purge the circulating water, and noxious microorganisms such as germs, yeasts, fungi, and viruses, growing in the water circulatory system and causing degradation of water or development of slime are disinfected and thereby purged from the water circulatory system. The purging and infecting method can be carried out in a simple manner with minimum cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for purging and disinfecting water for use in an air-conditioning system or a waste-gas scrubber; combined treatment water for recycling drainage water; water in which a water-soluble cutting oil, a water-soluble grinding oil, a water-soluble plastic oil, a coolant, etc. is dissolved for metalworking treatment; rinsing water for use in metal coating or surface treatment; water for use in sizing warp yarns of woven cloth; water for treating non-woven cloth; hydrophilous reaction water for emulsion polymerization and pearl polymerization; water for use in processes in a pulp plant or a papermaking plant; hot spring water; medicinal bath water; and pool water or other water for use in a plant, home, or public facility environment for humans or animals, such as a medical center or a food manufacturer. The invention is also useful in purging soil contaminated with agrichemicals, trichloro-ethylene, or dioxin, which are harmful to humans and animals.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the described field of the invention, heretofore, various methods using noxious microorganism-eradicating chemicals, such as chlorine-group, bromine-group and fluorine-group chemicals, sodium hypochlorite, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, or ultra-violet rays have been employed to kill microorganisms—such as germs, yeasts, fungi, and viruses, growing in a water circulation system and causing the degradation of water quality and the development of slime in circulating water. However, there has not yet been provided any inexpensive, useful method that has a wide spectrum of killing germs, yeasts, fungi, and viruses without producing drug-resistant microorganisms.
As the circulating water becomes dirty, the circulating water pipeline and water bath also become dirty and, as a result, an organic film is formed on the pipeline and bath walls, so that an adequate disinfections effect is difficult to achieve even when chemicals are put into the circulating water. Further, organic floaters adhere to the organic film so that microorganisms breed in the organic floaters and act as nutrients to form slime, causing clogging of the pipeline. As another problem, the slime when peeled off the pipeline walls could contaminate prospective products being processed.
The last-mentioned problem is particularly serious with the process of manufacturing paper pulp, during which a large volume of water is circulated and microorganisms, such as pulp organisms and yeasts in the pulp slurry tend to breed therein. The slime developed in the pulp slurry or white liquor in the water circulation system could be peeled off the system walls and cause drawbacks, such as staining, loss of paper product and/or breakage of a continuously traveling sheet. In many conventional methods, noxious-microorganism-eradicating chemicals, such as chlorine, bromine, fluorine, hydantoin, isothiazolon, glutaraldehyde, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, or ultraviolet rays are used. However, their operating cost is high and they are not entirely effective. Further, since part of the circulating water is drained, it could influence microorganisms in the drain water. Therefore, it would be necessary to use a moderate inhibitor rather than an antibacterial agent or fungicide disinfecting microorganisms, such as germs, yeasts, or fungi, which cause degradation of the drain water or the development of slime.
The present inventors filed the following patent applications for methods and apparatuses for purging and disinfecting pool water, bath water, water of 24-hour-open bath, fish pond water, pond water, air-conditioning water, car-wash drainage water, or combined treatment water, by electrolysis:    (1) Japanese Patent Application No. H05-087676 for apparatus for purging pool water or bath water;    (2) Japanese Patent Application No. H06-233739 for water purging method and apparatus;    (3) Japanese Patent Application No. H09-299084 for water quality purging method and mechanism;    (4) Japanese Patent Application No. H09-369487 for an electrolyzer;    (5) Japanese Patent Application No. H10-014089 for a water quality purging mechanism;    (6) Japanese Patent Application No. H10-016752 for a water quality purging mechanism;    (7) Japanese Patent Application No. H10-030555 for method and apparatus for purging water or drainage water;    (8) Japanese Patent Application No. H10-223702 for system for assessing dirt in water;    (9) Japanese Patent Application No. H10-340973 for combined treatment system and apparatus for purging combined treatment water;    (10) Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-168578 for an electrolyzer;    (11) Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-328779 for apparatus for purging water;    (12) Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-323356 for method and apparatus for treating wastewater or drainage water; and    (13) Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-369794 for an electrolyzer.
According to applications (1) and (2), although it is possible to purge and disinfect pool water or bath water by electrolysis using a titanium electrode plated with platinum, which is most resistant to corrosion, as the anode of an electrolyzer, the electrolyzing voltage would rise significantly in a short time if the electrolyzing load is large. According to application (5), by using a ferrite anode with a novel terminal-joining technique, it is possible to achieve a service life three-to-five times longer than when a platinum-plated titanium electrode is used under the same conditions.
According to applications (10) and (11) above, it is possible to provide a water-purging and disinfecting apparatus in the form of a compact, reliable electrolyzer which is easily attachable in a small environment, such as an existing bathtub or an ornamental fish tank. When the current value is increased in order to achieve a further-enhanced purging and disinfecting effect, terminals can be prevented from heating up. According to application (12) above, it is possible to provide a method and apparatus for treating waste water or drainage water containing agrichemicals, dioxin, etc.
According to these prior applications, some of the water or drainage water is introduced directly into the inter-electrode passageway (inter-electrode reaction section) of the electrolyzer so that organisms in the introduced water are oxidation decomposed to enhance the purging and disinfecting effect. However, these prior methods are not useful if water-soluble organisms essential to the processing water exist in the water. Another problem with the prior methods is that ordinary antibacterial agents or fungicide now in use would remain in the drainage water when added to the processing water, thus affecting microorganisms during a subsequent process for organisms in the drainage water.
Accordingly, there has been a need for an inexpensive, useful method which has a wide applicability for disinfecting microorganisms, such as germs, yeasts, fungi, and viruses growing in the water circulation system and causing degradation of water quality and the development of slime; and which can disinfect noxious microorganisms, such as germs, yeasts, fungi, and viruses, without giving rise to drug-resistant organisms and affecting any necessary chemicals, additives, etc. and can purge the water circulation system of such noxious microorganisms.

Method and apparatus for purging and disinfecting water


A single screw clamping tuner is provided for clamping and tuning a string of a stringed musical instrument. The tuner includes one and only one externally threaded screw which accomplishes both the clamping of a string end and the tuning of the string. The tuner includes a housing having a channel defined therein. A slider is slidably received in the channel and receives the string end therein. The one and only one screw has a first portion threadably engaged with the slider for clamping the string end against the slider. A tuning knob is threadably engaged with the one and only one screw for adjusting a position of the screw and the slider relative to the housing when the tuning knob is rotated relative to the housing to tune the string. An integral wrench carried by the tuning knob is selectively engagable with a head of the screw for rotating the screw relative to the slider to clamp or unclamp the string end against the slider.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for clamping and tuning a string of a stringed musical instrument.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A stringed musical instrument typically has an instrument body with a plurality of strings mounted thereon. Each string has one end fixedly attached to the instrument body and has the other end adjustably mounted relative to the instrument body The tension in the string is varied by tightening or loosening the adjustable end so as to tune the string
U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,740 to Tripp discloses a combination bridge and tail piece having a first threaded screw which clamps a string end onto a sliding member. A second threaded screw adjusts the position of the sliding member relative to the instrument body to tune the string.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,652 to Gittler discloses a tuning system for an electric guitar having a plurality of hollow tuning nuts which are threadedly engaged with studs which are received within the tuning nuts. Rotation of the tuning nut relative to the instrument body causes the threaded stud to slide relative to the instrument body and adjust the tension in a string which has one end attached to the sliding stud.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,904 to Steinberger discloses a tuning system for a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of threaded knobs which are rotated relative to the instrument body. The knobs are attached to a screw which when rotated causes translational motion of a sliding element which has the end of a string fixed thereto so as to adjust the tension in the string.


The invention provides a system to physically dispense an item on-site from a dispenser whereby the item to be dispensed is selected by the system based on user-specific or item-specific information. In an embodiment, the system selects the dispensed item based on both user-specific and item-specific information. In another embodiment the invention comprises a system that activates gaming features in a gaming device based on user-specific information.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates in general to systems and methods for on-site, automated dispensing of items to users based on user-specific information. The system and methods can also be applied to gaming devices in which a special feature is actuated and/or an item is dispensed based on user-specific information.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, the retail market continues to become more competitive. There are an increasing number of options for consumers in terms of where to shop and which items to purchase. At the same time, providing targeted samples to consumers is an effective method of marketing. Therefore, there exists a powerful need to direct consumers into appropriate store locations and/or to direct samples of products into the hands of a targeted consumer.
While promotional methods have existed for ages, e.g., sales coupons, targeted discounts, free items with purchase, no system or method has attempted an automated approach to targeted on-site sampling. To do so would require (1) pre-knowledge of the targeted consumer, also referred to as the "user" of the system, and (2) the actual dispensation of samples to said user based on that pre-knowledge. Such a system would differ from one that issues a coupon or other redeemable, such as a token, to a user based on user-specific information, in that said system would actually physically dispense the item to the user on-site, thereby removing the necessity of a redemption step.
Such a system would provide a novel method and system to provide automated, on-site sampling based on user-specific information. The system and method could incorporate RFID, bar code, or any other reader technology into an automated system that can be kept and maintained on a target site or maintained from a central site. Reader systems such as RFID tags, bar codes, and other conventional data reading methods are incorporated into a variety of devices ranging from monitoring systems to gaming devices. One example would be a grocery store chain issuing discounts to holders of a preferred customer card. The card may have information on it that is readable by a bar code reader. The system identifies the user by the information contained on the card and issues a discount, or tracks the consumers purchase history, and issues coupons based on said history. Another example is Bam et al.'s U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/691,459 (Publication No. US 2004/0128197), which discloses an electronic promotion system that sends coupons to targeted consumers, the coupons tailored to the specific consumer's profile. The consumer then may redeem said coupons at some future time.
Another example of the prior art is Meyer's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/245,149 (Publication No. US 2003/0061098 A1), which discloses a system that encourages consumers to patronize a particular business by awarding a prize or a discount to randomly selected consumers. But the system disclosed in Meyer's patent application does not physically dispense a sample. Another drawback of this system is that a dispensed item may not meet the needs or desires of the actual user because the dispensed item is not customized to that user's individual characteristics or preferences. Such a system is not necessarily based on user-specific information but rather simply rewards consumers that have a card.
Thus, there is a need for a system that both physically provides the item on-site from the dispenser unit itself and one that dispenses an item that is user-specific based on the particular user's characteristics.


A magnetic coupling system may be used in a fluid displacement apparatus to magnetically couple a drive shaft to a piston. The magnetic coupling system may include first and second magnetic couplers at the ends of the drive shaft and piston, respectively. The second magnetic coupler is configured to magnetically engage the first magnetic coupler and configured to mechanically engage the first magnetic coupler if the couplers disengage magnetically.

Fluid transfer devices (e.g., pipette mechanisms and pumps) are used to aspirate, dispense and transfer small volumes of fluid in many applications. The devices may range from simple glass tubes to more elaborate mechanical displacement devices. In either case, the devices operate by displacing fluid and a seal is used to hold the displaced fluid, which facilitates the liquid transfer. Traditional devices use displacement pistons with mechanical seals, such as lip seals or o-rings, to prevent air from entering the displacement chamber. These seals can be run dry, and wear eventually causes the seal to leak and degrades accuracy of the device.
Such devices may use a linear actuator to provide linear motion to the displacement piston. Couplings and other structures may be used to couple the linear actuator to the displacement piston. Misalignment of the actuator to the piston may result in premature seal degradation and may adversely affect the accuracy of the device during fluid transfer.

Coupling system for use with fluid displacement apparatus


In one embodiment, a method for facilitating centralized issue tracking. The method includes receiving information on a case from an issue tracking system (case information). The method facilitates executing a tagging method stored in a memory device that reads the case information, determines whether a part of the case information is desired information, and then tags the desired information. Finally, the method facilitates communicating the tagged information to a centralized database, where the centralized database stores the tagged information, and where the tagged information is accessible to the issue tracking system and at least one other issue tracking system.

Issue tracking system(s) (ITS), also commonly known as trouble ticket systems, are computer systems that manage tracking issues within an organization, service, and/or product. ITS are commonly used by customer support departments or internal support departments, such as a company's information technology department. Also, ITS typically includes a knowledge base containing information on end users, common issues, solutions for such issues, and the like.
A ticket (also known as a case) is a basic element stored within an issue tracking system, which includes information on a particular issue. The information can include particulars with respect to issues concerning an end user, solutions provided by support staff to remedy the issues, other parties involved, timing of the issues and the solutions, and the like. Also, a ticket, being an element of an information system can include various identifiers and links, including a unique identifier that identifies a particular ticket.
For the most part, architectures of ITS are well known. Typically, an ITS includes one or more databases that are managed by a business logic layer. The logic layer provides for organizing and reporting raw data collected by the ITS, so that end users, such as support staff can better serve their clients (who are also end users). Further, the data can include historical and real-time data, so that staff can learn to improve support processes and so they can provide immediate support for urgent issues.
Furthermore, ITS and other IS providers have developed architectures that provide federated knowledge bases, so that information collected in an ITS can be merged with information collected from other resources of an organization, such as a computerized accounting system and other information systems. However, these systems typically rely on originating from a common software framework or are at least being supported by a common software framework.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for centralized issue tracking


Albumin, for example human albumin, is expressed and secreted in yeast which has been mutated to lack the yeast aspartyl protease 3 (Yap3p) or its equivalent, thereby reducing the production of a 45 kD albumin fragment. A further reduction is achieved by additionally deleting the Kex2p function. Alternatively, a modified albumin is prepared which is not susceptible to Yap3p cleavage, for example human albumin which is R410A, K413Q and K414Q.

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a protein of 585 amino acids that is responsible for a significant proportion of the osmotic pressure of serum, and also functions as a carrier of endogenous and exogenous ligands. It is used clinically in the treatment of patients with severe burns, shock, or blood loss, and at present is produced commercially by extraction from human blood. The production of recombinant human albumin (rHA) in microorganisms has been disclosed in EP 330 451 and EP 361 991.
In recent years yeast species have been widely used as a host organisms for the production of heterologous proteins (reviewed by Romanos et al, 1992), including rHA (Sleep et al, 1990, 1991; Fleer et al, 1991). Yeasts are readily amenable to genetic manipulation, can be grown to high cell density on simple media, and as eukaryotes are suitable for production of secreted as well as cytosolic proteins.
When S. cerevisiae is utilised to produce rHA, the major secreted protein is mature 67 kDa albumin. However, a 45 kDa N-terminal fragment of rHA is also observed (Sleep et al, 1990). A similar fragment is obtained when rHA is expressed in Kluyveromyces sp. (Fleer et al, 1991) and Pichia pastoris (EP 510 693). The fragment has the same N-terminal amino acid sequence as mature rHA, but the carboxy terminus is heterogeneous and occurs between Phe.sup.403 and Val.sup.409 with the most common termini being Leu.sup.407 and Val.sup.409 Geisow et al, 1991), as shown below.
.dwnarw. .dwnarw. -Phe-Gln-Asn-Ala-Leu-Leu-Val-Arg-Tyr-Thr-Lys-Lys-Val-Pro-Gln- (SEQ ID NO:16) 405 410 415
The amount of fragment produced, as a percentage of total rHA secreted, varies with both the strain and the secretion leader sequence utilised, but is never reduced to zero (Sleep et al, 1990). We have also found that the amount of fragment produced in high cell density fermentation (75-100 g/L cell dry weight) is approximately five times higher than in shake flask cultures.
The 45 kDa albumin fragment is not observed in serum-derived human serum albumin (HSA), and its presence as non-nature-identical material in the recombinant product is undesirable. The problem addressed by the present invention is to reduce the amount of the 45 kDa fragment in the product. The simplest and most obvious approach would have been to have purified it away from the full length albumin, as proposed by Gist-brocades in EP 524 681 (see especially page 4, lines 17-22). However, we have chosen a different approach, namely to try to avoid its production in the first place.
Sleep et al (1990) postulated that rHA fragment is produced within the cell and is not the result of extra-cellular proteolysis. These authors codon-optimised the HSA cDNA from Glu.sup.382 to Ser.sup.419 but this had no effect on production of rHA fragment. They noted that a potential Kex2p processing site in the rHA amino acid sequence, Lys.sup.413 Lys.sup.414, is in close proximity to the heterogeneous carboxy terminus of the fragment, but neither use of a kex2 host strain (ie a strain harboring a mutation in the KEX2 gene such that it does not produce the Kex2p protease), nor removal of the potential cleavage site by site-directed mutagenesis of the codon for Lys.sup.414, resulted in reduction in the amount of the fragment.
There is a vast array of yeast proteases which could, in principle, be degrading a desired protein product, including (in S. cerevisiae) yscA, yscB, yscY, yscS, other vacuolar proteinases, yscD, yscE, yscF (equivalent to kex2p), ysc.alpha., yscIV, yscG, yscH, yscJ, yscE and kex1.
Bourbonnais et al (1991) described an S. cerevisiae endoprotease activity specific for monobasic sites, an example of which (Arg.sup.410) exists in this region of albumin. This activity was later found to be attributable to yeast aspartyl protease 3 (Yap3) (Bourbonnais et al, 1993), an enzyme which was originally described by Egel-Mitani et al (1990) as an endoprotease similar to Kex2p in specificity, in that it cleaved at paired basic residues. Further work suggested that Yap3p is able to cleave monobasic sites and between, and C-terminal to, pairs of basic residues, but that cleavage at both types of sites is dependent on the sequence context (Azaryan et al, 1993; Cawley et al, 1993).
As already discussed, the region of the C-terminus of rHA fragment contains both a monobasic (Arg.sup.410) and a dibasic site (Lys.sup.413 Lys.sup.414). However, even though a Kex2p-like proteolytic activity is present in human cells and is responsible for cleavage of the pro sequence of HSA C-terminal to a pair of arginine residues, the fragment discussed above is not known to be produced in humans. This indicates that the basic residues Arg.sup.410, Lys.sup.413 and Lys.sup.414 are not recognised by this Kex2p-like protease, in turn suggesting that this region of the molecule may not be accessible to proteases in the secretory pathway. Thus, the Yap3p protease could not have been predicted to be responsible for the production of the 45 kDa fragment. In addition, Egel-Mitani et al (1990 Yeast 6, 127-137) had shown Yap3p to be similar to Kex2p in cleaving the MF.alpha. propheromone. Since removal of the Kex2p function alone does not reduce the amount of the fragment produced, there was no reason to suppose that removal of the Yap3p function would be beneficial. Indeed, Bourbonnais et al (1993) showed that yap3 strains had a decreased ability to process prosomatostatin, and therefore taught away from using yap3 strains in the production of heterologous proteins.


The present invention relates to improved thickening compositions, often referred to as Theological additives, used to provide viscosity control, flow, leveling and other rheological properties to clear aqueous systems such as automotive clear-coat paints and coatings. The invention hereof involves the synthesis of a new family of Theological additives by combining, through a reaction process, chemicals used to make specified polyurethane polymer compositions. These novel copolymers provides the good flow and leveling and gloss retention that polyurethane associative thickeners impart to water-based systems, without the loss of clarity that such polymers have caused in the past. Levels of the rheological thickening composition, varying between about 0.01% and about 10%, based on the total weight of the system to be thickened, have been found to be useful to create novel clear aqueous systems containing such thickening compositions.

1. Brief Description of the Invention
The present invention relates to improved polyurethane thickeners, often referred to as rheological additives, used to provide viscosity control, flow, leveling and other rheological properties to clear and high gloss aqueous systems such as clear coats and clear coatings including textile coatings. The invention also includes a method of making such improved polyurethane thickeners, clear aqueous systems containing such thickeners and a method of thickening clear aqueous systems using such thickeners.
Coatings have been widely used to beautify and in addition to protect an underlying substrate. A growing new area of coatings are clear aqueous systems used for example as automotive clear coats. Clear aqueous systems must provide transparency and depth of field, as well as other optical properties, after application in addition to protecting the underlying surface. Clear aqueous systems include automotive clear coatings, wood lacquers, paints and other clear coatings, varnishes and textile coatings.
The invention hereof involves the synthesis of a new family of polyurethane rheological polymers especially suitable for clear systems by combining, through a reaction process, a defined set of chemicals to make such polyurethane polymers. These polymers provide both good flow and leveling and gloss retention to clear water-based systems. There has been a need for some time for a rheological additive for clear systems which imparts Theological properties including sag resistance and shear thinning, and which simultaneously does not adversely affect the clarity, transparency and gloss of such clear systems. The product of the instant invention results in a valuable Theological additive for a large variety of modern clear and transparent aqueous systems. Some companies in the past have used polyurethane thickeners in clear systems, but this use has generally resulted in some amount of haziness in the finished film.
The Paint and Coatings Dictionary, published by the Societies For Coatings Technology in 1978, defines a clear system or coating as a transparent protective and/or decorative film. Typical applications for such clear coatings include interior clear wood finishes, furniture polishes, water-based lacquers and automotive clearcoat finishes, and many other common commercial uses.
2. Description of the Prior Art

Polyurethane thickeners useful for clear and high gloss aqueous based systems a process for providing rheological properties to clear aqeous-based systems using such thickeners and clear aqueous-based systems containing such thickeners


The present invention provides an aqueous coating composition that can form a coated film having excellent appearance, in which a change in the color of the coating composition during the storage of the coating composition is prevented or suppressed, excellent storage stability is provided, and the generation of popping is prevented or suppressed; and a method for forming a coated film. The aqueous coating composition contains (A1) a film-forming aqueous resin, (B) a dioxazine pigment, (C) a hydrophobic solvent and (D) a resin having an aromatic ring with a nitro group bonded thereto, and a method for forming a coated film using the composition.

Painting the bodies of automobiles is generally conducted by applying an electrodeposition coating composition as a primer coating composition, applying an intermediate-coating composition, and then applying a topcoat coating composition.
Examples of methods of applying the topcoat coating composition include a one-coat one-bake method, in which one kind of topcoat coating composition is applied and cured with heating; a two-coat one-bake method, in which two kinds of topcoat coating compositions (a base coating composition and a clear coating composition) are used, first by applying the base coating composition, then applying the clear coating composition on top of the uncured coating composition, and simultaneously curing the two coated films with heating; etc. Among these, in the application by the two-coat one-bake method, improvement in the design properties of the coated film is achieved by the widely carried-out usage of a coloring base coating composition containing a coloring pigment as the base coating composition. Among the above-mentioned coloring pigments, dioxazine pigments are widely used as purple coloring pigments (for example, Patent Document 1).
Heretofore, solvent-type heat-curable coating compositions that comprise a combination of a base resin (a base polymer) component such as an acrylic resin, a polyester resin, an alkyd resin having a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group or other cross-linking functional group and a curing agent such as an amino resin, a blocked or unblocked polyisocyanate compound and an epoxy compound have been widely used as the above-mentioned coloring base coating composition.
Recently, for the purposes of environmental preservation and resource conservation, the use of aqueous coating compositions has increased. For this reason, in the above-mentioned coloring base coating composition, the switch from known solvent-type heat-curable coating compositions to aqueous heat-curable coating compositions has been made.
However, when a temperature abruptly rises during the heating and curing process, a phenomenon called "popping" is generally known to occur on the cured coated film formed from such an aqueous heat-curable coating composition. Popping is a foam-like flaw of a coated film on the surface of the coated film, where a solvent remaining inside the coated film abruptly evaporates during heating and curing, or produces a bubble inside the coated film while a resin component within the coated film is solidified, whereby a portion where a bubble is produced appears to be a foam-like flaw. This popping is also referred to as a pinhole.
Since popping is produced by the abrupt evaporation of the solvent within the coated film during heating and curing, it is generally lessened by using an organic solvent having a relatively high boiling point as the solvent within the coating composition, and lowering the evaporation rate of the solvent. However, the main component of the solvent of the aqueous coating composition is water, and the amount of organic solvent having a relatively high boiling point is limited. Therefore, popping is more likely to occur in the aqueous solution than in a solvent-type coating composition.
To address such a problem, methods for suppressing popping by using a hydrophobic solvent in the aqueous coating composition have been suggested. For example, Patent Document 2 states that an aqueous coating composition containing an organic solvent with a solubility of 10 or lower in water and in an internally cross-linked resin emulsion can provide a coated film having a homogeneous appearance of the coated film and that can suppress the generation of pinholes (popping).
Patent Document 3 states that when an aqueous coating composition that mainly comprises an aqueous dispersion of the reaction product obtained by neutralizing a product of a carboxyl group-containing reaction comprising an aromatic epoxy resin and a carboxyl group-containing acrylic resin with a basic compound, and dispersing the product in a solvent mainly composed of water that contains (a) a water-miscible organic solvent comprising 30 to 70 weight % of an ether alcohol solvent having a boiling point of 175 to 240° C. and 70 to 30 weight % of alkanol having a boiling point of 140° C. or lower, and (b) a non-water miscible organic solvent comprising 20 to 80 weight % of a hydrocarbon solvent having a boiling point of 170 to 240° C. and 80 to 20 weight % of a higher alcohol solvent having a boiling point of 150 to 200° C., an aqueous coating composition having excellent film-forming properties, anti-popping properties and coating composition stability can be obtained.
However, when the above-mentioned aqueous coating composition containing the hydrophobic solvent uses the dioxazine pigment as a coloring pigment, it has problematic color variation during the storage of the coating composition.


The present invention provides a contact-type developing method for developing a static latent image using a single-component non-magnetic toner wherein a non-magnetic toner fusion is hardly occurred. In the contact-type developing method for developing a static latent image using a single-component non-magnetic toner, a single-component non-magnetic toner essentially consisting of a coloring agent and a binder resin of a styrene copolymer having a number average molecular weight of 8,000 to 30,000 and a weight average molecular weight of 100,000 to 300,000, and having a single peak molecular-weight distribution in a gel partition chromatograph is employed.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a contact-type developing method for developing a static latent image using a single-component non-magnetic toner.
2. Prior art
Conventional developing methods for developing static latent images using toners are divided roughly into two main classes. One is a two-component type developing method using a two-component developer essentially consisting of a non-magnetic toner and a carrier. The other is a single-component type developing method using a single component developer essentially consisting of a magnetic toner. Various improvements in connection with the two-component type and single-component type developing methods have been proposed.
However, the developing method using the two-component developer has the following drawbacks as compared with the developing method using the single-component developer:
(1) there is a need for a toner density sensor to control the ratio of the toner and the carrier;
(2) the life of the developer is short; and
(3) a mixer for mixing the developer must be handled with care and a large developing machine must be utilized.
The single-component type developing method using a magnetic toner has the following disadvantages:
(1) an electrostatic charge element must be formed as a sleeve or a blade and has less electrostatic charge stability and capacity as compared with a carrier;
(2) there is a need for a precision developing machine to produce a uniform magnetic brush; and
(3) the magnetic toner has fewer transferring, fixing, and environmental properties, and produces more damage to the photo-conductor than a non-magnetic toner.
In order to overcome the disadvantages described above and provide a small developing machine, the developing methods using single-component non-magnetic developers (toners) have been considered extremely efficient and attractive, and some of these have been practical.
The developing methods using single-component non-magnetic developers are roughly divided into two types: one is a contact-type developing method using single-component non-magnetic developers for developing a static latent image on a photo-conductor by contacting a developing roll which carries a toner with the photo-conductor. The other is a non-contact type developing method using single-component non-magnetic developers for developing a static latent image on a photo-conductor by virtue of flying a toner provided on a developing roll onto the photo-conductor which is adjacent to the developing roll with a gap.
The non-contact type developing method using single-component non-magnetic developers has an advantage in that the mechanical load exerted on the toners is smaller than in the contact-type developing method, since the toners are triboelectrically charged by only charging member. However, in the non-contact type developing method, the toner-flying properties tend disadvantageously to depend on the environmental conditions.
On the other hand, the contact-type developing method using single-component non-magnetic developers has an advantage in that good developing properties are exhibited. In the contact-type developing method, the mechanical load exerted on the toners is considerably greater than in the non-contact type developing method since not only a frictional force generated by the difference between the peripheral speeds of the photo-conductor and the developing roll, but also a triboelectric charging force caused by the charging member during the formation of a thin layer of toner on the developing roll is exerted. Therefore, one of the most important points associated with the contact-type developing method using single-component non-magnetic developers is that the toners not be fused to the triboelectric-charging member and the photo-conductor. In addition, another important point is that the photo-conductors and the developing roll not be cracked. In order to obtain a toner which will undergo reduced binding to the developing roll or the photo-conductor, one method which is effective is the use of a material having a high transition temperature as the binder resin used in the toner. However, this alone is not satisfactory.

Developing method using single-component nonmagnetic toners


According to example embodiments of inventive concepts, a semiconductor package apparatus includes a first semiconductor package including a first substrate, a first solder resist layer on the first substrate, and a first sealing member that covers and protects the first solder resist layer, and a plurality of solder balls on the first substrate. The plurality of solder balls includes a first solder ball having a first height and a second solder ball having a second height that is different from the first height. The first sealing member includes holes that expose the solder balls.

Example embodiments of inventive concepts relate to a semiconductor package apparatus.
Generally, a semiconductor package apparatus may be completed through processes of die-bonding one or more semiconductor chips on the surface of a lead frame or a printed circuit board, wire-bonding and flip-chip-bonding the lead of the lead frame or the terminals of the printed circuit board to be electrically connected to the semiconductor chips, and then sealing the semiconductor chips by covering the semiconductor chips with an insulating sealant.
Furthermore, some examples of technologies for reducing the size of such a semiconductor package apparatus are a package on package (POP) technology in which a package is stacked on a package, a system on chip (SOC) technology in which various functions are included in one chip, and a system in package technology in which semiconductor chips (e.g., a memory chip and a control chip) in charge of a plurality of functions are integrated into one package.

Semiconductor packaging apparatus formed from semiconductor package including first and second solder balls having different heights


A system may render glyphs based on stored textures without loss of quality at subpixel scales. The system may determine a content of a pixel of a display corresponds to a glyph, determine a subpixel alignment offset of a specified screen coordinates for the glyph with respect to the pixels of the display, based on the subpixel alignment offset, select one or more versions of the glyph from a plurality of versions of the glyph, a first version of the glyph of the plurality of versions of the glyph having a corresponding first subpixel alignment offset and a second version of the glyph of the plurality of versions of the glyph having a corresponding second subpixel alignment offset, and generate a display version of the pixel based on the selected one or more versions of the glyph and the subpixel alignment offset of the specified screen coordinates.

In text rendering, glyphs (e.g., characters) may be rendered by reusing a texture of the glyph, for example included in a texture atlas. However, when using the same texture, differences between glyphs on the display may be noticeable due to different pixel alignments, especially when displaying glyphs near the pixel scale.


Systems and methods for protecting data being sent between a client and a server include the capability of defining programmable processing steps that are applied by the server when protecting the data and the same steps are applied by the client when unprotecting the data. The programmable processing steps can be defined uniquely for each client, and the programmable processing steps are selected from a number of functions using sequencing data that defines the processing steps. The programmable processing steps allow for each client to process encrypted data in a different manner and the programmable processing steps are defined by what is called a digital rights management (DRM) Sequencing Key, and as such the system and method introduces a key-able DRM whereby each DRM message can be processed in a unique (or pseudo unique) manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data security and to systems and methods for encrypting and decrypting data transmitted between devices.
2. Related Art
Digital piracy and computer hacking is a common problem, particularly now that digital content is often made available to the public over the Internet. Digital piracy occurs at content creation sites, content preparation sites, as well as in content distribution networks.
Piracy or theft of digital content is a particular problem for content distribution systems such as digital down load services and cable television companies. There are security techniques available to secure digital content files, including cryptography, watermarking, and the like. In spite of these practices, digital piracy still occurs as a result of hacking, theft and the like.
Therefore, what is needed is a system and method that reduces or overcomes these significant problems and others found in the conventional systems as described above.

System and method for defining programmable processing steps applied when protecting the data


A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a contact plug over the semiconductor substrate, and an Inter-Layer Dielectric (ILD) layer over the semiconductor substrate, with the contact plug being disposed in the ILD. An air gap is sealed by a portion of the ILD and the semiconductor substrate. The air gap forms a full air gap ring encircling a portion of the semiconductor substrate.

In integrated circuit manufacturing processes, devices such as transistors are formed at the surfaces of semiconductor chips. The devices are isolated from each other by isolation regions. Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) regions are commonly used as the isolation regions to isolate active regions of the semiconductor substrate. Typically, STI regions are formed of a dielectric material or dielectric materials filled into trenches in semiconductor substrates.
The integrated circuits that adopt the STI regions still suffer from drawbacks, which include leakage currents at the junctions of p-type and n-type regions. For high-voltage devices, the conventional integrated circuits further suffer from low breakdown voltages and latch ups.

Semiconductor isolation structure with air gaps in deep trenches

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A water level sensor (91) is provided in an auxiliary tank (39) whose bottom portion communicates to a bottom portion of a pot (41) for generating steam and which is opened to the atmosphere. When water in the pot (41) keeps boiling and the stop time of a pump (35) reaches a predetermined time (e.g., 60 sec.), the pump (35) is driven for a predetermined time (e.g., 6 sec.) to supply water to the pot (41). This temporarily suppresses the boiling of water in the pot (41), lowering a steam pressure in a space formed by an external circulation passage (60), a heating chamber, and the pot (41). The water level in the auxiliary tank (39) then returns to a normal one, making it possible to correctly detect the water level in the pot (41).

The present invention relates to a heating cooker for heat-cooking foods by using steam.
Heretofore, as a heating cooker for heat-cooking an object to be cooked such as food by using steam, there is a heating cooker with a steam generator disclosed in JP 4-123790 A (reference 1). The heating cooker with a steam generator includes a heating chamber, an induction heating coil, a tank, a water reservoir and an opening/closing valve. Then, with vaporization water fed to the water reservoir, the opening/closing valve is opened to fill the tank with water, and the induction heating coil is turned on with an alternating current so that the tank is heated by an alternating magnetic field generated in the coil to generate steam. The generated steam is sent into the heating chamber, thus allowing the heat cooking to be carried out.
However, the heating cooker with a steam generator disclosed in the above reference 1 involves manpower for supply of water to the water reservoir. The opening/closing valve is to be operated also by hand. Due to this, even if the tank is emptied, the heating chamber is continued to be heated, accompanied by a risk of overheating damage, catching fire or the like. Further, since the tank is fixed, there is an inconvenience that the water supply has to be done by using a water container for water-carrying use.
Accordingly, in order to solve the risk and the inconvenience, it is conceivable to provide an auxiliary tank which has a bottom portion communicated with a bottom portion of the fixed tank while having an upper end opened, and in which a water level sensor is set up, the water level sensor functioning to detect a water level within the tank. In this case, since the water in the auxiliary tank goes up until its water level becomes flush with that of the fixed tank, the water level in the fixed tank can be detected by detecting the water level in the auxiliary tank by means of the water level sensor. This water level detection method is often used because it requires no setting of the water level sensor on the fixed tank side, which is to be directly heated, so that the water level in the fixed tank can be detected conveniently.
In the case where the water level in the tank for generating steam is detected by the water level sensor of the auxiliary tank, unfortunately, there is a problem as shown below. That is, since the fixed tank is closed, continued heating of the heating chamber causes the generated steam to become increasingly filled in the tank and the heating chamber, which in turn causes pressures in the tank and the heating chamber to increase due to the difference in volume between water and steam, the latter being larger. Then, the water surface in the tank is pressed by the increased pressure, causing the water in the auxiliary tank to be forced up with its water level no longer lowered. Meanwhile, the water in the fixed tank, which evaporates, continues to decrease.
Therefore, the water level in the fixed tank and the water level in the auxiliary tank differs from each other, giving rise to cases in which the auxiliary tank is not emptied even when the fixed tank is substantially emptied, so that the water level sensor outputs a normal value. In this case, because the water level sensor outputs a normal value, the fixed tank is not supplied with water, accompanied by a risk of heating without water.


Provided are an arbiter capable of improving memory access efficiency in a multi-bank memory, a memory access arbitration system including the arbiter, and an arbitration method thereof, where the arbiter detects requests that are not included in a busy bank, and allows the requests corresponding to a bank receiving the largest number of pending requests priorities; and write request information generated by masters is stored in a predetermined buffer to be output as additional master request information, and provides the corresponding master with an opportunity to generate new request information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to memory access, and more particularly, to an arbiter that arbitrates access of a multi-bank memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an application system supporting a multi-bank memory such as a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) or a double data rate (DDR)-SDRAM, a system on chip (SOC) for video or audio requires high memory bandwidth. In order for the SOC to have higher memory bandwidth, increases are needed in arbitration efficiency of a memory bus as well as in system clock speed. That is, in an access arbitration in the multi-bank memory, when masters such as a micro-control unit (MCU) and an ARM core (a microchip of ARM Inc.), for example, access the banks included in the memory, the arbitration should be performed so as to allow the masters to access grants efficiently and perform an interleaving bank arbitration process. The masters transfer information to write data on the memory or to read the data stored in the memory, and to access the banks.
A conventional arbiter uses a simple way to arbitrate the requests of the masters accessing the banks in the memory. That is, in a bank interleaving method, requests that are not accesses to busy banks are detected from pending requests, and access grants are allowed to the masters. The busy bank is a bank performing a read or write operation among the banks in the memory, and the read or write operation is performed during predetermined cycles of the system clock. In addition, in a read/write turn-around time minimizing method, requests that have the same direction as those of the previous access are detected among the pending requests, and these requests are granted. In addition, in a same row access detection method, requests that are to access a row of the memory cell array the same as an active row of the busy bank are detected, and the grants are given to the requests.
Since the memory bank is in the busy state during predetermined cycles of the system clock when the memory bank is accessed, the above memory bank can be accessed again when the bank is released from the busy state. During a time when a certain bank is in the busy state, other banks that are not in busy states are accessed.
FIG. 1A is a view illustrating a conventional accessing method to the multi-bank memory, indicated generally by the reference numeral 100. Referring to FIGS. 1A through 1C, each figure represents a normal case, indicated generally by the reference numerals 100, 120 and 140, respectively. The first case 100 has an overhead cycle, and the second case 120 also has an overhead cycle. Here, it is assumed that the busy state of the bank is maintained for three access times (ATs). The case 100 of FIG. 1A is a case where the bank 0 is accessed again after a 3AT period has elapsed since the first access, and a normal bank interleaving operation is performed without the overhead cycle. In (b) of FIG. 1, a request for accessing bank 0 is generated again within a 1AT period before the busy state of the bank 0 is released, and the access to the bank 0 should be made after passing the overhead cycle of 1AT in order to access the bank 0 after accessing to the bank 1, because the busy state of the accessed bank is maintained for a 3AT period. Like the case 120, in the case 140 there is a request for accessing the bank 0 within a 2AT period before the busy state of the bank 0 is released, and the access to the bank 0 should be made after passing the overhead cycle of the 2AT period. In the conventional method of accessing the multi-bank memory, many overhead cycles happen when the accessing order to the multi-banks is not arbitrated appropriately, thus, the system speed is lowered, and accordingly, the high memory bandwidth required in the application system cannot be satisfied.

Bank arbiter system which grants access based on the count of access requests


A method for operating a horizontal axis wind turbine is provided, the wind turbine including: a rotor including a rotor blade, wherein the rotor is rotatably coupled to a nacelle, and the rotor is rotatable about a horizontal rotor axis extending through the nacelle, and the nacelle is rotatably coupled to a tower, the nacelle rotatable in a yaw plane about a yaw axis. The method includes determining a wind direction; determining a yaw angle setting, wherein the yaw angle setting deviates from an alignment of the rotor axis and the wind direction in the yaw plane; yawing the nacelle to the yaw angle setting; and operating the wind turbine for example to generate electricity.

The subject matter described herein relates generally to a wind turbine generator, methods and systems for controlling a wind turbine generator, and more particularly, to methods and systems for reducing noise generated by a wind turbine generator such as noise amplitude modulation and/or abnormal noise amplitude modulation.
At least some known wind turbines include a tower and a nacelle mounted on the tower. A rotor is rotatably mounted to the nacelle and is coupled to a generator by a shaft. A plurality of blades extends from the rotor. The blades are oriented such that wind passing over the blades turns the rotor and rotates the shaft, thereby driving the generator to generate electricity. Acoustic noise is also generated. It is desirable to reduce noise generated from wind turbines. Embodiments described herein address wind generator noise, particularly amplitude modulation noise and abnormal amplitude modulation noise.

Method and apparatus for wind turbine noise reduction


Systems, methods and apparatuses described herein generally provide a millimetre size package-free complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (“CMOS”) chip (referred to as a “die”) for the in situ (on-site) measurement or imaging of electrochemically detectable analytes.

Micro-scale chips can be implanted or otherwise positioned in situ on a subject to measure target analytes. Integrating measurement functions of laboratory techniques into micro-scale implantable chips has myriad possible advantages, including added convenience and accuracy of measurement. Excessive power draw from components of implantable micro-scale chips can limit utility.

System, methods and apparatuses for in situ electrochemical imaging

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO


A device for tissue ablation comprises plural arrays of segmented needle electrodes, each of which contains a plurality of electrically conductive segments, a plurality of non-conductive joints, and a needle tip. Each of the electrically conductive segments is wired to a radio-frequency electrical power source and can be connected to and disconnected from the power source. After the needle electrodes of the device are penetrated into a target tissue to be ablated, the intended volume of ablation can be configured in three dimensions. Thus, the device allows physicians to effectively control ablation boundaries.

In treatment of tumors and cancerous tissues in human body, various methods are available, which include medication, radiation, dissection and ablation. Radio frequency (RF) ablation is commonly used to treat diseased tissues. RF ablation is a tissue treatment by which two or more electrodes are inserted into the vicinity of a diseased tissue and an alternating electrical current, typically at a frequency of a few hundred kHz, is applied to the tissue through the electrodes to ablate the tissue between the two electrodes. It is commonly believed that when the RF current passes through the tissue, electrical energy transforms into heat by what is known as Joule heating effect, and when the temperature of the tissue is high enough (it is generally believed that the temperature needs to be above 55° C.), the cells of the tissue between the two electrodes are destroyed. For most tissue ablation cases, it is desirable to ablate the tissues only within intended boundaries (e.g., desirable size and shape). Therefore, it is critical that the RF energy is directed only to the targeted tissue within the desirable boundaries to minimize damage to the healthy tissues surrounding the targeted tissue.
"Le Veen Needle Electrodes", described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,740, is a device currently available on the market for the treatment of tumors and cancerous tissues. This device contains an array of deployable needles, which can be inserted into the tumor tissue, and a large grounding pad, which may be in contact with a large area of the skin of a patient. In an ablation operation, the needles are inserted into the diseased tissue and the ground pad is properly placed in contact with a large area of the skin of the patient. Then, an RF current is applied to all the needle electrodes at once. The current passes through the diseased tissue (and some normal tissues) at higher current density, the large area of skin at lower current density, and the grounding pad, going back to the RF power source. This technique is referred to as monopolar RF ablation technology. The drawback of the technique is that because the RF current goes through part of the healthy tissues, it sometimes causes unintended damages to them if the current is not carefully controlled.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,078, Jawahar Desai discloses a device and technique for generating a large lesion to treat endocardiac tissue for ventricular tachycardia and other cardiac dysrhythmias. Desai used an array of electrodes, which was placed on the surface of the ablation zone and an RF power source that had a plurality of voltage outputs, each having an individual phase. Each individual electrode was connected to one of the individually phased outputs of the RF power source. When power was turned on, the electrode array together with the multi-phased RF power source produced plural current paths on the surface of the ablation zone and resulted in a uniform lesion with a size defined by the span of the electrode array. This method is good in the sense that it can generate a bigger lesion on the surface of a targeted area. However, it does not provide any means for controlling the depth of ablation; and the RF electrical current tends to concentrate in the vicinity of the needles. Therefore, this device cannot be used to achieve desirable three-dimensional large lesions consistently.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,514,252 disclosed a device for ablating tissue using two optional arrays of tissue penetration elements (needles) on a pair of actuable jaws using bipolar RF energy. This device extended the electrodes from the forceps to the tip of the needles. However, the application of this device is not really suitable for tumors or other type of tissues due to the fact that it is attached to a jaw mechanism.
For all the reasons mentioned above, there is a need for developing a device, which is capable of producing large and uniform three-dimensional lesions by using bipolar RF energy; and there is a need for developing a method capable of controlling the size and shape of three-dimensional lesions by using bipolar RF energy.

Device and method for tissue ablation using bipolar radio-frequency current


The present invention improves both the quality and the flow of air delivered by a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans provide limited indoor air flow, but do not function as air quality improvement apparatus. The present invention provides all ceiling fans with an ability to increase indoor air quality where they operate. One or a combination of a physical/chemical filter, an electrostatic particulate matter remover, a heating unit, and a secondary multidirectional fan provide consumers with air quality improvement options for ceiling fans to fulfill their specific needs for a given area.

There is a need for an apparatus which will improve the quality of air delivered by a ceiling fan. Currently, ceiling fans provide limited indoor air flow, and do not function as air quality improvement apparatus. The present invention provides ceiling fans with an ability to improve indoor air quality where they operate. The apparatus can be connected to a ceiling fan by using the light fixture connection port of said ceiling fan. Therefore the present invention will provide consumers with improved quality of air delivered by ceiling fans.

Apparatus for qualitative and quantitative air management for ceiling fans


An apparatus and method for the efficient, safe, and hygienic removing of removable tooth positioning appliances such as aligners or other dental appliances from the teeth of a patient. A straight rigid barrel has a lever appendage on the proximal end for fully engaging and removing a lower aligner and a hook appendage on the distal end for fully engaging and removing an upper aligner.

Removable tooth positioning appliances (invisible braces), such as clear plastic aligners and retainers that tightly fit over teeth are commonly used in orthodontic treatments as an alternative to braces and other bonded orthodontic equipment for controlled tooth movement to a pre-determined position. These clear plastic tooth positioning appliances are not bonded to the teeth which they are used to manipulate but are made to be removed in order to eat, drink, brush, and floss the teeth as well as during dental procedures. The appliance is fabricated from a mold of the patient's teeth in order to provide accuracy of placement in compliance with the exact shape of the teeth or the exact shape and any necessary attachment devices. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,248 for an example of such a removable tooth positioning appliance which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Total treatment time with clear plastic aligners averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case. When teeth are moved into their final position patients are then only required to wear the aligners at night.
Removable tooth positioning appliances consist of a thin shell of clear material that conforms to a patient's teeth but just slightly out of alignment with the initial tooth configuration. By properly choosing the configuration, placement of the appliance over the teeth will move individual teeth to desired intermediate or final positions over time. These positioning appliances can be designed to fit over any number of teeth, and are typically designed to be placed over the entire top and/or bottom set of teeth.
To achieve the repositioning forces required to move a tooth from one position to another position these tooth positioning appliance must be relatively stiff (i.e. possess a high strength or high modulus) to provide a sufficient grip on the teeth The stiffness provides the repositioning force necessary to move the teeth and ensures that the dental appliance remains firmly in position on the patient's teeth. The stiffness also permits the positioning appliance to grab hold of an anchor device or attachments on the tooth to apply a directed force to execute orthodontic tooth movements.
The stiffness of the tooth positioning appliance and the requirement that the appliance tightly conform to the teeth of the patient makes it difficult to remove these appliances. It is necessary to remove the positioning appliance many times daily in the course of the patient's daily life for cleaning, dental hygiene, to eat, and removal for cosmetic purposes and replacement in the course of treatment. Patients are instructed to use their fingers and fingernails to remove the appliances but they often find removing the appliances to be difficult and in many cases painful. Patients also find it unsanitary to be continually putting their hands in their mouths. Because removal of the appliances requires a lever action patients often will attempt to use household instruments, such as forks, spoons, or nut picks to remove their tooth positioning appliance. Using improvised instruments can damage the patient's teeth, gums and the appliance itself. During visits to the dental practitioner these practitioners use orthodontic instruments designed for other uses to remove the appliance. These orthodontic appliances often present the same problems and dangers as the patient's improvised instruments. For these reasons, it is desirable to provide a lightweight and convenient tool that is specifically designed to remove such tooth positioning appliances from a patient's teeth in a safe, easy, and effective manner.
Present principles recognize problems of the existing tool seen in U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,517—"Apparatus and method for removing a removable tooth positioning appliance from the teeth of a patient, ART® The Appliance Remover Tool." The Art® tool is not effective for the use it was designed as it is difficult to hold and manage, it does not have a place to grip, the U shape is curved so that there is no leverage, the distal ends are too large to position under the aligners, and both ends are the same shape so it doesn't solve the problem of removing both top and bottom appliances. Because both ends of the ART are the same shape it requires the person to attempt to remove appliances by inserting the ART on the inside or tongue side which is ineffective due U shaped design making it difficult to grip, the distal ends are too large to insert between the appliance and the teeth, and there no visibility when using it on the inside of the mouth, the person has to search blindly to find a place to attempt to engage the tool.
Problems of the ART tool are as follows:    1. Due to the curved U shape of the tool persons cannot maintain grip and adequately apply leverage to exert force.    2. Persons cannot position the Art Tool between the teeth and the aligner because the distal ends are too large.    3. The curved shape of the distal ends reduces leverage required to exert force to remove the appliance. Instead of pulling down or pushing up like persons do with the Outie Tool, with the ART the persons must pull out away from the mouth reducing mechanical force.    4. The curved shape and the thickness of the distal ends that taper to a point increases the potential to injure the gums or teeth. The person may attempt to quickly jerk off the appliance because they cannot adequately engage the tool between the teeth and the appliance. This may harm the gums, teeth or tear appliance.    5. The distal ends of the ART tool are both the same, this requires the person to put the tool on the tongue side where there is no visibility and the person is unable to grip and exert force, and a person cannot engage the tool fully in order to easily and effectively remove the appliance.
For all these reasons the ART tool is ineffective in its design.

Outie tool for removal of a plastic tooth positioning appliance or aligner (invisible braces) from teeth of a patient


A method and apparatus for injecting fluid into areas having high density tissue that creates a high backpressure resistance on the injection device is disclosed. The high backpressure resistance is overcome through a mechanical advantage achieved by using a secondary reservoir having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of a primary reservoir. Exemplary injection device reservoir housings may comprise a primary reservoir, a secondary reservoir, a check valve, a septum penetrating cannula, travel limits, a pen needle connecting portion, sliding seal guide ribs, a sliding seal, a pen needle assembly, a needle stop, and a patient needle.

In certain circumstances, it is desirable to inject medication directly into human tissue. Typically, syringes are used to inject medicaments into tissue areas, such as the intramuscular tissue layer, the subcutaneous tissue layer, and the intradermal tissue layer. Each of these tissue layers has specific characteristics that affect the amount of fluid pressure needed to inject a fluid into the targeted tissue layer. When injecting fluids into each of these tissue layers, the user must exert enough force on the injection device to overcome different amounts of backpressure associated with the particular tissue layer. In general, practitioners and self-injectors, such as diabetics, are familiar with the force necessary to inject fluids into the subcutaneous layer. Injections into the subcutaneous and intramuscular tissue layers can cause discomfort to the patient or self-injector because of the characteristics of the tissue, needle length and needle diameter or gauge. It is desirable to employ shorter, smaller gauge needles to achieve delivery into the intradermal tissue layer.
It is noted that when the needle lengths are shortened and needle diameters are made smaller, the fluid dynamics of the injection device changes. Additionally, the fluid dynamics between the injection device and the targeted tissue layer also change because the shorter needle length injects the fluid into a different tissue layer, such as the intradermal layer. Since the tissue density between the intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal tissue layers varies, the ease with which fluid may be injected into each type of tissue layer varies. The variation in tissue density causes changes in the backpressure exerted by the tissue against the fluid when it is injected. For instance, the backpressure associated with the intradermal tissue layer is greater than the backpressure associated with the subcutaneous tissue layer.
Currently, several pen injection systems are commercially available for subcutaneous substance delivery of medication. These pen injection systems typically use 29 to 31 gauge needles having lengths of between 5 mm and 12.7 mm, and are used to deliver the contents of a medicament cartridge, such as insulin, to the subcutaneous tissue layers of a patient rapidly and conveniently. The medicament cartridges are generally of a standard volume and size (including a fixed cross sectional area). The pressure of delivery is the quotient of the actuation force exerted by a user and the cross sectional area of the cartridge. Since the cross-sectional area of the cartridge is fixed, higher delivery pressures require higher actuation forces by the user.
A "microneedle" pen system has been developed that reduces the pain and sensation to the user normally experienced with subcutaneous substance delivery. Such "microneedle" drug delivery systems may include shorter needles, typically less than or equal to 3 mm, with smaller diameters, in the range of 30 to 34 gauge or thinner. Such needle length and gauge size combinations are desirable to provide for sharp, yet short, point geometries that can more accurately target substance delivery to only certain selected tissue, such as the deep intradermal or shallow subcutaneous tissue layers, thereby permitting controlled fluid delivery. Current typical pen injection systems used for subcutaneous delivery are not believed optimal for use by the general population of self-injectors for delivery into the intradermal layer because of, inter alia, the high backpressures associated with injecting fluid into the intradermal layers of the skin using microneedles.
To achieve effective medication delivery to the targeted tissue layer in light of higher backpressures, it is desirable to control two factors: the depth accuracy of the injection and the rate of the injection. This is of particular interest in connection with intradermal injections because the backpressures are relatively high, but similar analysis can be applied when injecting into the intramuscular or the subcutaneous tissue layers. The delivery of medicament within the narrow depth range of the intradermal tissue layer should first be assured, and maintained during injection. Once the depth accuracy is obtained, the rate of injection should be controlled to minimize or eliminate leakage of the medicament into other tissue layers or back out through the skin. Additional details of intradermal drug delivery and microneedles are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,865, issued on Dec. 17, 2002, U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,143, issued on May 27, 2003, U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,222, issued on Mar. 6, 2007, PCT Application No. 2004/02783, filed Jan. 30, 2004, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0065472, published Mar. 24, 2005, all of which are assigned to Becton, Dickinson and Company, and the entire content of each such patent and published patent application being incorporated herein by reference.
The intradermal tissue layer of the skin is considerably denser than the subcutaneous tissue region. The density of the intradermal tissue layer on a particular patient is, in part, a function of their collagen make-up, which is affected by the patient's age, and the location of the injection site on the patient's body. This increased density of the intradermal tissue layer can create a greater backpressure resistance on the injection device than the resistance created when injecting into the subcutaneous tissue region. To overcome the increased backpressure resistance when injecting into the intradermal tissue layer with a conventional pen system, the user or patient would need to exert greater actuation force (which could be substantial) on the injector device actuator or employ some sort of powered injector device. In these applications, the injector device must be designed to withstand the greater backpressure from the intradermal injection site as well as the additional force exerted by the user or patient. Further, the increased actuation force required to actuate the injector device may result in the fluid "jetting" past the desired tissue depth due to the increased fluid pressure.
Conventional pen-type injection systems may require that the user keep the needle seated in the skin for a period of up to about 10 seconds, after the injection has been completed, to allow for the "axial compliance" of the pen mechanism (or lead screw) and the cartridge back-end stopper to equilibrate to minimize "drool" from the needle tip upon withdrawal. Such time periods may need to be increased to accommodate any additional axial compliance resulting from higher backpressures.
Therefore, a need exists to provide a system and method for enabling users or patients to inject compounds, such as therapeutic drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic materials, at a controlled rate into the intradermal tissue layer while still exerting forces similar to that required for injecting medication into the subcutaneous tissue region.

Injection device with secondary reservoir