A unitized fuel supply assembly is disclosed including an in-line reciprocating cam driven pump (14) for supplying fuel to an accumulator (12) from which fuel is directed to a plurality of engine cylinders by means of a distributor (16) mounted on the unitized assembly. Dual pump control valves (20) provide fail safe electronic control over the effective pump displacement. One or more injection control valves mounted on the distributor are provided to control injection timing and quantity. The accumulator (12) contains a labyrinth of interconnected chambers (36) which are shaped and positioned to produce a minimum overall package size while providing for easy manufacture.

For well over 75 years the internal combustion engine has been mankind's primary source of motive power. It would be difficult to overstate its importance or the engineering effort expended in seeking its perfection. So mature and well understood is the art of internal combustion engine design that most so called "new" engine designs are merely designs made up of choices among a variety of known alternatives. For example, an improved output torque curve can easily be achieved by sacrificing engine fuel economy. Emissions abatement or improved reliability can also be achieved with an increase in cost. Still other objectives can be achieved such as increased power and reduced size and/or weight but normally at a sacrifice of both fuel efficiency and low cost.
An engine's fuel system is the component which often has the greatest impact on performance and cost. Accordingly, fuel systems for internal combustion engines have received a significant portion of the total engineering effort expended to date on the development of the internal combustion engine. For this reason, today's engine designer has an extraordinary array of choices and possible permutations of known fuel system concepts. Design effort typically involves extremely complex and subtle compromises among cost, size, reliability, performance, ease of manufacture and backward compatibility with existing engine designs.
The challenge to contemporary designers has been significantly increased by the need to respond to governmentally mandated emissions abatement standards while maintaining or improving fuel efficiency. In view of the mature nature of fuel system designs, it is extremely difficult to extract both improved engine performance and emissions abatement from further innovations in the fuel system art. Yet the need for such innovations has never been greater in view of the series of escalating emissions standards mandated for the future by the United States government. Meeting these standards, especially those for ignition compression engines, will require substantial innovations in fuel systems unless engine manufacturers are prepared to adopt significantly more costly fuel systems and/or engine redesigns. For example, Cummins Engine Company, Inc., assignee of the subject application, presently manufactures a pair of mid-range compression ignition engines identified as the B series and C series (5.9 and 8.3 liters displacement respectively). These engines employ a state of the art pump-line-nozzle (PLN) type of fuel system provided to Cummins by another manufacturer. However, this type of fuel system will not permit the B and C series engines to meet the future emissions abatement standards imposed by the United States government.
Among the universe of known fuel systems are several concepts which would appear initially to provide a possible solution to the requirement for improved emissions abatement and satisfactory engine performance. However, for the various reasons outlined below these systems are inadequate.
One possibility pioneered by the assignee of this invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,445 to Peters et al. This patent discloses a cam driven unit injector designed to provide very high injection pressures (30,000 psi or higher) even at low engine speeds. Such high injection pressures promote better fuel vaporization during injection thereby helping to assure complete combustion and thus reduced emissions in the engine exhaust. Implementation of this concept requires a unit injector (defined as a single unit device combining a fuel injection nozzle and high pressure pump) adjacent each engine cylinder wherein the injector is designed to achieve the desired high injection pressure at low engine speeds. The Peters et al injector is equipped with a hydraulic variable length chamber for controlling the timing of each injection event in response to engine conditions. Excessive pressures are avoided in this type of injector at elevated engine speeds by the provision of a pressure relief valve for dumping timing fluid during the injection stroke of the unit fuel injector.
Other types of unit fuel injectors are known which are capable of adequate high pressure injection and sufficiently precise injection to achieve some of the performance objectives discussed above. One example is disclosed in SAE Paper No. 911819 relating to a PDE unit injector developed by Bosch. Still another is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,672 to Smith assigned to the assignee of this application.
While the unit injectors described above are capable in many ways of achieving the desired performance objectives, major cost penalties are associated with adoption of such injectors on pre-existing engine designs. In particular, retro-fitting an existing engine such as the Cummins B series or C series engine with one of the above described unit injector designs would require a major overhaul of the engine. In particular, when these types of injectors were considered for the B and C engines, it became clear that a redesigned block, head, front end and all associated parts would be required. In short, a substantially new engine would be required with an attendant retooling investment in excess of several hundred million dollars.
Another approach for achieving the desired high pressure injection and variable timing required to meet the escalating emissions limitation standards is disclosed in a fuel system offered by Bosch under the designation PLD. This design approach is characterized by the provision of a separate high pressure pump unit associated with each engine cylinder and connected through a short line to a nozzle arranged to inject fuel into the associated cylinder. Each pump unit is individually packaged separate from the associated nozzle and from all other pump units associated with the engine. The pump units are mounted on the engine for actuation by the engine cam shaft as close as possible to the associated engine cylinder. Although this approach has fuel system cost and performance advantages resulting from the use of existing engine components and minimal impact on the head design, major changes would be required in the engine block. More particularly, the block would need to be entirely redesigned to accommodate the attachment of the individual pump units along the engine cam shaft. Implementation of this approach on the B and C engines would require an investment estimated to be in the neighborhood of several tens of millions of dollars.
One high performance approach requiring less engine redesign is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5.096,121 to Grinsteiner. This style of unit injector includes a fluid pressure intensifying piston which has the effect of multiplying the pressure of a motive fluid, such as pressurized lubrication oil, by the ratio of the effective cross sectional areas of the intensification piston contacted on its larger, low pressure side by the motive fluid and on the smaller, high pressure side by the engine fuel. Such a design has the potential for achieving many of the desired performance objectives but some significant redesign of the base engine is still required. For example, the system requires an entirely new cylinder head to accommodate not only the injector but also the oil accumulator that provides the intensification. A separate lubrication circuit or a totally redesigned lubrication circuit must be provided to supply the motive fluid through a control valve to the intensification piston. Such an system would require a separate suction tube, oil pump, and filtration system.
The cost for base engine redesign required by a fluid intensification unit injector is likely to be considerably less than the engine redesign costs associated with adoption of any of the other unit injector and unit pump concepts described above. Nevertheless, Cummins estimates that adoption of fluid intensifiers on the B and C series engines would still require an investment in the range of multiple tens of millions of dollars. In addition to the costs associated with redesign of the engine, the fuel system itself including the hydraulic unit injectors, redesigned lubrication circuit, filters and associated equipment would likely be far more expensive than many other known types of fuel systems. U.S. Pat. Reissue No. 33,270 to Beck et al. discloses another type of hydraulic intensifier unit injector which would appear to supply the same benefits but suffer the same drawbacks discussed above.
Yet another approach to meeting the goal of increased fuel system performance would be to provide an accumulator for storing the output of a high pressure pump and to provide a plurality of injection nozzles connected with the accumulator and associated with the engine cylinders wherein each nozzle includes a separate integrated solenoid valve to control the timing and quantity of fuel flow from the accumulator into each cylinder. Examples of this type of system are disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 5,094,216 to Miyaki et al. and SAE article no. 910252 entitled Development of New Electronically Controlled Fuel Injection System ECD-U2for Diesel Engines by Miyaki et al. This system allows the accumulator pressure (and thus the injection pressure) to be regulated as necessary independent of engine speed. However, solenoids capable of handling the very high pressure and the necessary fast response times are relatively bulky and costly. Such solenoids will require severe head redesign on the C series and some modification on the B-series engines. Also, mounting of the high pressure accumulator on an internal combustion engine is not necessarily simple nor does it yield an uncluttered engine package or appearance. While the total engine redesign costs would be less than the engine redesign costs associated with adoption of the fuel systems noted above, the costs associated with the fuel system components themselves, including the high pressure pump and solenoid controlled injection nozzles, could be prohibitively high.
The above described approaches could potentially achieve many of the desired performance objectives but a major cost penalty is associated with each design either in the form of a costly engine redesign or added fuel system costs or both. Other less costly fuel system concepts are known but these concepts fail to provide the full complement of performance objectives desired.
One approach which would require virtually no engine redesign involves the provision of a high pressure "in-line" pump such as offered by Bosch under the designation P7100. In this type of system injection nozzles located at each engine cylinder are connected through separate lines to corresponding pumping chambers contained within the housing of a single unitized high pressure pump. The chambers are aligned along the axis of a pump drive shaft and contain corresponding plungers mounted to be reciprocated by the pump drive shaft in synchronism with the engine crankshaft. With appropriate design and controls, in-line systems of this type can achieve the necessary pressures and injection accuracy under some engine conditions but can not be relied upon to provide the desired performance objectives over the long term especially at low engine speeds. Further, in-line fuel pumps which are capable of approaching some of the more important pressure and control objectives are enormously more expensive than the present pump line nozzle system used on the Cummins B and C series engines.
Another fuel system which would necessitate little redesign of the basic engine involves the use of a rotary pump design. This type of pump is characterized by a pump housing containing a plurality of radially oriented pump chambers within which are mounted plungers adapted to be reciprocated by a cam surface located at the center of the pump housing. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,498,442 and 4,798,189 disclose examples of this type of pump. Although engine impact is low and cost is relatively low, rotary pumps lack performance capability at higher engine ratings. In particular, rotary pumps are not capable of providing the desired volume or the desired high pressure over the full operating range of a typical engine.
Still another fuel system concept is disclosed in Japanese Pat. Application Document 57-68532 to Nakao and assigned to Komatsu. This reference discloses an electronically controlled high pressure pump and an accumulator for receiving the pump output for supply of a plurality of injection nozzles through a distributor type valve and corresponding fuel supply lines. The timing and quantity of injection is controlled by means of rotary valve elements combined with the distributor valve. The pressure within the accumulator is regulated by a feedback signal responsive to the accumulator pressure to control the effective displacement of the high pressure pump. While this design has features of interest, it fails to disclose how to achieve the necessary operating pressures in a unitized assembly of sufficiently compact size to allow the resulting system to be mounted in a practical manner on an internal combustion engine. No provision is made for operating the system in a fail safe manner in case one or more of the electronic control mechanisms should fail during operation. Furthermore, the design provides for an entirely separate pump assembly and accumulator components connected by a plurality of separate fluid lines which would multiply the sites of potential leaks.
The Komatsu reference also fails to teach how to manufacture in a practical manner an accumulator so that the very high pressures, i.e. 5,000 to 30,000 psi or higher, could be stored within a compact package having adequate fuel storage capacity with freedom from potential leakage or dangerous failure. The Komatsu reference further fails to suggest how to design and assemble the system to achieve an acceptably low manufacturing cost. The disclosed distributor valve would also not be suitable for handling the very high pressures required for the system without simultaneously giving rise to a high probability of fuel leakage that would cause excessive parasitic loses, that is an excessive amount of mechanical energy would be required to drive the fuel system pump that would otherwise be available as useful output from the engine.
Still other references have disclosed the concept of providing an accumulator in a fuel system wherein fuel from the accumulator can alternatively be controlled for injection into the respective engine cylinders either by a distributor valve or a plurality of solenoids associated with each of the individual injector nozzles. German Printed Pat. Application No. DE 3618447 Al assigned to Bosch discloses an example of this type of system. The highly schematic disclosure of this teaching, however, causes this reference to fail to teach how to solve the problems referred to with respect to the Komatsu reference.
Attempts have been made to design a high pressure common rail or accumulator for storing the output of a high pressure pump for delivery to injection nozzles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,822 to Martin discloses a high pressure common rail fuel injection system including a common rail formed from a one-piece metal housing having a series of elongated bores formed therein for temporarily storing the high pressure fuel delivered by a high pressure pump. However, Martin fails to teach how to determine the optimum arrangement of elongated chambers or bores for producing a compact common rail with minimum outer dimensions which fit within existing available mounting envelopes required by existing engines while ensuring that the common rail housing walls are sufficiently strong to withstand the forces generated by the very high operating pressure of the fuel in the chambers. In addition, Martin does not disclose how to ascertain the minimum required fuel storage volume for the common rail which is a primary factor in designing a compact common rail. Also, the common rail disclosed in Martin is not integrated with the high pressure pump unit and/or other components, such as a fuel pump control valve, to form a compact fuel delivery assembly which is capable of efficiently controlling the pressure in the common rail. U.S. Pat. No. 2,446,497 to Thomas discloses a high pressure pump, a common high pressure chamber or accumulator, a distributor and fuel injection control governors mounted adjacent one another to form a combined fuel injection assembly. However, Thomas fails to disclose a fuel assembly which is highly compact and integrated, and also capable of efficiently and effectively controlling both the pressure in the accumulator and injection timing and quantity.
Attempts have also been made to design high pressure, high speed solenoid operated valves for use in fuel systems for compression ignition internal combustion engines. For example, U. S. Pat. No. 3,680,782 to Monpetit et al discloses an electronically controlled fuel injector employing a force balanced three-way valve having a nearly force balanced "pin-in-sleeve" valve member design. In valves of this type, the movable valve member is movable between first and second positions to alternatively connect an output valve passage to one of two alternative valve passages, typically a high pressure source and a drain. The movable valve member contains a cavity opening at one end to telescopingly receive a floating pin. A first valve seat is formed between the sleeve and the surrounding valve housing and a second valve seat is formed between the sleeve and pin. The valve element is movable between a first position in which the injector nozzle is connected with a source of fuel under high injection pressure and a second position in which the valve element isolates the source of fuel from the injection orifices of the nozzle and connects the passage leading to the injection orifices to a drain to insure near instantaneous termination of each injection event.
Other examples of three-way high speed, high pressure fuel system valves are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,826 to Kabai et al (Nippondenso). While capable of handling high pressure and operating at high speed, the "pin-in-sleeve" arrangements of the Monpetit et al. and Nippondenso references do not permit the effective valve seats of each disclosed design to be substantially unequal in size while maintaining the valve member substantially force balanced.
Another important feature of an effective fuel delivery system is the ability to regulate the injection pressure as necessary independent of engine speed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,216 to Miyaki et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,445 to Roca-Nierga et al. both disclose a plural chamber "in-line" fuel pump assembly having an output control device which varies the effective displacement of one or more pump plungers by providing a separate pump control valve for each pump chamber which operates to vary the beginning of injection with a constant end of injection occurring when the pumping plunger reaches its top dead center position. Specifically, fuel is supplied to the pumping chamber during the retraction stroke and then pumped out of the pumping chamber during the advancing or pumping stroke until the control valve is closed blocking the discharge of fuel from the chamber thereby commencing injection or delivery. The delivery or discharge from the pumping chamber is finished only at the end of the pumping stroke of the plunger.
Yet another important feature of an effective fuel delivery system capable of meeting the ever increasing requirements of emissions abatement is the ability to control the rate of fuel delivery during each injection event. It has been shown that the level of emissions generated by the diesel fuel combustion process can be reduced by decreasing the volume of fuel injected during the initial stage of the injection event. One method of reducing the initial volume of fuel injected during each injection event is to reduce the pressure of the fuel delivered to the nozzle assemblies during the initial stage of injection. Various devices have been developed to control or shape the rate of fuel delivery during the initial phase of fuel injection so as to reduce the fuel pressure delivered to the nozzle assemblies. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,718,283, 3,747,857, 4,811,715 and 5,029,568 disclose devices associated with each injector nozzle assembly for creating an initial period of restricted fuel flow and a subsequent period of substantially unrestricted fuel flow through the nozzle orifice into the combustion chamber. However, these rate control devices require modifications to each of the fuel injector assemblies in a multi-injector system thus adding costs and complexity to the injection system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,068 to Kuroyanagi et al. discloses a distributor-type fuel injection apparatus including an variable volume accumulator to vary the rate of fuel injection to achieve effective combustion. However, this device uses a complex accumulator control system to vary the rate of injection which is specifically designed to be used with a distributor having a reciprocating plunger.
Distributor-type fuel injection systems are also subject to another undesirable phenomena known as secondary injection. When the nozzle element of the nozzle assembly closes at the end of each injection event, reverse pressure waves or pulses are generated which travel back upstream in the fuel delivery lines to the distributor or delivery valves. Under certain operating conditions, these pressure waves may be reflected back toward the nozzle assembly by the distributor or delivery valve creating a secondary nozzle operating pulse of sufficient magnitude to cause the nozzle valve to lift from its seat causing an undesired secondary injection. U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,876 to Bouwkamp et al. discloses a conventional "snubber valve" used to dampen or diffuse the pressure wave energy traveling from the nozzle valve thereby preventing secondary injection by minimizing the intensity of any resultant reflected pressure wave. However, this design requires a separate snubber valve to be used in each fuel injection line thus adding cost to the system. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,336,781, 4,624,231 and 5,012,785 all disclose rotary distributor fuel delivery systems using a single snubber-type valve positioned in the rotary shaft of the distributor to dampen pressure waves in each injection line.
In order to achieve accurate and predictable injection quantities of fuel during each injection event, it is important to ensure that the fuel transfer circuit connecting the fuel supply to the nozzle assemblies is continuously full of fuel. It has been found that vapor pockets or voids (called cavitation) in the transfer circuit result in insufficient injection pressure and variations in both fuel quantity and timing of injection. Vapor pockets or voids are especially prone to be formed in high pressure lines of fuel systems where such lines are connected to a low pressure drain. When the fuel transfer circuit, and thus an injection line, is connected to drain at the end of the injection event, fuel at one end of the injection line exits out of the nozzle while fuel at the other end of the circuit exits to drain thus rapidly drawing fuel away from, and reducing the pressure in, intermediate portions of the circuit and injection line. This effect can result in the formation of a vapor pocket or void in the fuel transfer circuit and injection line between the drain and nozzle. Snubber valves, mentioned hereinabove with respect to the prevention of secondary injections, are also used to prevent excessive cavitation by allowing substantially full flow through an injection line to an injector while restricting the return flow of fuel from the injector thereby maintaining fuel in the fuel delivery lines. For example, Japanese Pat. Publication 05-180117 discloses a damping valve positioned downstream of a delivery valve for preventing cavitation erosion. The damping valve includes a spring-biased valve element having an orifice and a pressure regulation valve positioned in a bypass channel. This device appears to regulate the fuel pressure in the fuel injection line between the damping valve and a fuel injection valve to below a preset maximum.
In short, the prior art does not provide a practical, low cost fuel system which satisfies the conflicting demands of emissions control and improved engine performance especially in situations where it is desired to retrofit a pre-existing engine design. Moreover, there does not exist those fuel system components (such as accumulators, solenoid valves, and injection control valves) having all the characteristics necessary for providing fuel under extremely high pressure in precise quantities at precise times as determined by controls that are responsive to a wide range of engine conditions.

Compact high performance fuel system with accumulator


An optical waveguide display substrate includes a first base substrate (10); a reflective element (1) on the first base substrate (10), the reflective element (1) comprising a first surface facing the first base substrate (10), a second surface on an opposite side of the reflective element (1) from the bottom surface, and two light-receiving surfaces connecting the first surface to the second surface at opposite ends of the reflective element (1); and a first film assembly between the first base substrate (10) and the reflective element (1), the first film assembly comprising a first optical layer (2) and a second optical layer (3) on the first optical layer (2). A refractive index of the first optical layer (2) may be smaller than a refractive index of the second optical layer (3). A display device includes the optical waveguide display substrate.

The transparency of a transparent display is precisely what draws consumers to the technology. Transparent displays used to be things of science fiction, but with advancements in display technology, transparent displays are playing an ever larger part in people's real, everyday lives. Transparent displays have myriad utilities in everyday lives, particularly when used to provide smart technologies, such as smart refrigerator, smart window, smart computer, and smart traffic signs.

Optical waveguide display substrate, and display device


Extensible online help systems and methods are described. There can be at least two parts to the extensible help facility, such as may include a help system and a help display. A help system can be integrated with runtime extensibility mechanisms to process documentation content upon import of an extension. A help display can support help display operations, such as providing search capabilities and a table of contents.

When a software developer extends a system or a development environment, that developer often wishes to extend any associated help systems. This often requires the developer to take a number of manual steps, often in a different environment, or using a different set of tools in the same environment. This problem arises in a number of situations, including adding help while developing new or extending existing controls to an extensible controls environment, as well as adding help while extending the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) itself.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Abstract: This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.


Generally speaking, systems, methods and media for automatically generating a role based access control model (RBAC) for an organizational environment with a role based access control system such as a hierarchical RBAC (HRBAC) system are disclosed. Embodiments may include a method for generating an RBAC model. Embodiments of the method may include accessing existing permissions granted to users of an organizational environment and analyzing the permissions to create permission characteristics. Embodiments of the method may also include performing cladistics analysis on the permission characteristics to determine role perspective relationships between individual users of the organizational environment. Embodiments of the method may also include generating an RBAC model based on the determined role perspective relationships between individual users of the organizational environment. Further embodiments of the method may include where generating the RBAC model includes generating a cladogram based on the determined role perspective relationships.

Computer systems are well known in the art and have attained widespread use for providing computer power to many segments of today's modern society. Computer systems such as personal computers (PCs) and servers may typically include a system unit having a central processing unit (CPU) and associated volatile and non-volatile memory, including random access memory (RAM) and basic input/output system read only memory (BIOS ROM), a system monitor, a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, a data storage device (often a non-removable disk drive, also known as a "hard drive"), user input devices, and a network interface adapter. Computers systems typically include software such as computer programs in addition to the hardware. As advances in semiconductor processing and computer architecture continue to push the performance of computer hardware higher, more sophisticated computer software has evolved to take advantage of the higher performance of the hardware, resulting in computer systems that continue to increase in complexity and power.
Computer systems have thus evolved into extremely sophisticated devices that may be found in many different settings. Many organizations utilize server computer systems for more complicated tasks such as providing e-commerce websites, providing complex multi-user applications, maintaining large databases, or performing other resource-intensive tasks. Organizations with significant computing needs often have many servers performing a wide variety of tasks with the servers communicating with each other via a network such as a local area network (LAN). In these systems, individual users may interact with the servers to access various system resources, such as applications, databases, or other resources, so that the systems resources may be shared by multiple users.
Maintaining information security in a complex computing system is an increasingly complex task as more users and/or resources are added to a system, particularly when those resources are shared by multiple users. Information security provides the ability to restrict access to information or other resources to only those users who should have access to that resource. Modern information security systems often attempt to provide information security by combination of authentication or identity management (i.e., only providing access to the system to the appropriate users) and/or authorization (i.e., only providing access to information to authenticated users who are authorized for that particular information).
Currently, one of the more robust models for developing access controls to implement an authorization scheme is the role based access control (RBAC) model. In the RBAC model, users are assigned sets of zero or more roles which are each defined as zero or more permissions. A permission within the RBAC model consists of an object and an operation that may be performed on, in or with the object. The use of an RBAC model has proven to be effective in managing user privileges within a single system or application. More complicated systems with multiple applications or other more heterogeneous aspects, however, result in development of the RBAC model becoming more unwieldy and requiring significantly more time and effort to create.
The RBAC model has proven less effective for larger, complicated computer systems because defining particular roles—and their permissions—can be labor intensive and difficult. In large organizations, for example, determining roles and defining permissions can be very problematic. Most organizations do not have any individual or group that can clearly and adequately define even their own member roles, much less those of other individuals or groups. Under the current state of the art, role definition typically begins with a complex interview process and is followed by patient, tedious review of large tables of data to determine which permissions should be assigned to each role. In a hierarchical RBAC (HRBAC) where roles inherit permissions of their parents, the project becomes even more daunting as relationships between these roles must be carefully examined for their relationship. These problems can be exacerbated with dynamic organizations as changes to the organizational structure or responsibilities can result in inaccuracies in the RBAC model and thus necessitate additional model revisions. Accordingly, the creation of an HRBAC model of roles and relationships becomes a time-consuming and inefficient process using existing methodologies.

Automated organizational role modeling for role based access controls

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus (500) for detecting removal of items from a compartment is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a reader (540) for reading Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags attached to items in the compartment and a processor (510), coupled to the reader (540), for identifying items removed from the compartment. Removal of an item from the compartment is detected based on absence of a RFID tag that was previously detected by the reader (540). The RFID tags may be read exclusively when a door of the compartment is closed and the apparatus may further comprise a detector coupled to the processor (510) for detecting open/close status of the door. Removal of an item is preferably confirmed only when a RFID tag attached to an item has been absent from the compartment for longer than a defined time period.

Mini-bars are commonly found in rooms of hospitality establishments throughout the world and are usually stocked with various items such as chocolates, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks. However, management of mini-bars represents a problematic challenge to hospitality operators and frequently requires a dedicated department in the establishment. Stocking of mini-bars is labour intensive. Up-to-date information relating to consumption of items from a mini-bar by a guest is generally not available at the time of check-out of the guest. Such consumption frequently goes unrecorded, resulting in a high percentage of lost sales. Although problematic to hospitality operators and even unprofitable in certain instances, mini-bars are a necessary amenity that guests expect to find in a hotel room.
Various attempts to solve the foregoing problem have been devised. For example, a fridge with individual compartments for items and micro-switches located in the compartments to detect removal of items from the compartments has been proposed. This disadvantageously necessitates replacement of an existing mini-bar, thus requiring capital expense, room furniture modification, time delays and general inconvenience. Moreover, the micro-switches occupy valuable fridge space, thus limiting overall storage capacity. Air circulation and cooling efficiency are also negatively impacted by the geometry of the compartments and the micro-switches. The micro-switches may also be tampered with, for example, guests may jam pieces of paper in the micro-switch mechanisms in an attempt to remove an item without detection thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,755, entitled "System for detecting removal of items from a hotel mini bar and for the automatic charging of the bill of the gas for items removed from the minibar", issued to Amram Asher on Jan. 2, 1990. The system described in this specification is based on weight measurements which are used to identify items removed by a guest. Disadvantageously, accurate weight sensors such as strain gauges are necessary.
A need exists to provide apparatuses and systems for stock control in mini-bars that overcome or at least ameliorate deficiencies in existing arrangements.


An electronic device comprising a display assembly comprising a dial having a viewing window, the electronic device comprising a first rotateable ring having a plurality of dates thereon; a second rotateable ring having an extending portion that overlies the first ring, wherein the extending portion has a plurality of dates thereon; means for rotating the first rotateable ring so as to cause a selected subset of the plurality of dates to be positioned within in the viewing window; and rotating the second rotateable ring so as to cause a selected subset of the plurality of dates to be visible in the viewing window; wherein the overlying of the extending portion of the second rotateable ring over the first rotateable ring causes dates of the first rotateable ring positioned in the viewing window to be non-viewable in the viewing window; and selected rotation of the first and second rotateable rings causes different subsets of the respective plurality of dates on the respective rotateable rings to be positionable in the viewing window; whereby the position of the extending portion of the second rotateable ring over the first rotateable ring in the viewing window causes the viewability of differing sequences of dates in the viewing window.

The present invention relates to electronic devices such as timepieces in general and wristwatches in particular, and specifically, to an improved construction and methodology for displaying and conveying date information. Most advantageously although not limited thereto, the present invention is applicable to timepieces typically referred to as "analog" or "quartz-analog" watches having hands for displaying time.
Analog timepieces that indicate the date are well known. Most typically, a small window, such as at the 3 o'clock position, is provided in the dial and allows for the viewability of sequential dates on a date ring positioned below the dial. Other constructions, such as a hand that points to a series of dates displayed on the dial, are known as well.
However, it is believed that further advances are both desirable and achievable. For example, it would be desirable to be able to display a plurality of dates, such as a week (e.g. seven (7) days) at a glance with accurate date information (e.g. taking into account months with 28, 29, 30 and/or 31 days), thereby providing the user with the benefits of a small calendar, thus allowing the user the advantageous opportunity to view dates other than only the "current" (i.e. present) date.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a timepiece with an improved calendar function that overcomes perceived deficiencies in the prior art and further achieves the aforementioned and below mentioned objectives.

Electronic device with calendar function


A method for forming a fine pattern a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a first photoresist pattern over a semiconductor substrate having an underlying layer; coating a pattern hardening coating agent over the first photoresist pattern, thereby forming a pattern hardening film; forming a second photoresist film over the resulting structure; and selectively exposing and developing the second photoresist film, thereby forming a second photoresist pattern to be defined between neighboring first photoresist pattern.

The invention relates generally to a method for forming a fine pattern in a semiconductor device
In order to manufacture smaller semiconductor devices, patterns have become smaller. Research has been directed to developing resists and exposers for obtaining fine patterns.
Regarding exposers, KrF (248 nm) and ArF (193 nm) have been applied as an exposure light source, and attempts have been made to use short wavelength light sources such as F2 (157 nm) or EUV (13 nm; extreme ultraviolet light) or to increase numerical apertures (NA).
However, when new light sources such as F2 are applied, a new exposer is required, and increased manufacturing costs result. Also, the increase of numerical apertures degrades the focus depth width.
Although an immersion lithography process with an immersion solution having a high refractive index has been developed, it is difficult to apply the process on a mass production scale.
Meanwhile, a fine pattern having a resolution beyond the lithography limit has been formed by a double exposure method. However, it is difficult to secure margins of overlapping and arrangement, which results in excessive production cost and time.

Method for forming a fine pattern in a semicondutor device


A lighting device, such as a replacement lighting device, comprising a light source (LS), e.g. LEDs, for producing light along an optical axis (OA). A heat sink (HS) made of a material with an electrical resistivity being less than 0.01 Ωm, e.g. a metallic heat sink being a part of the housing, transports heat away from the light source (LS). A Radio Frequency (RF) communication circuit (CC) connected to an antenna (A) serves to enable RF signal communication, e.g. to control the device via a remote control. Metallic components, including the heat sink (HS), having an extension larger than 1/10 of a wavelength of the RF signal are arranged below a virtual plane (VP) drawn orthogonal to the optical axis (OA) and going through the antenna (A). Hereby a compact device can be obtained, and still a satisfying RF radiation pattern can be obtained. The antenna can be a wire antenna or a PCB antenna, e.g. a PIFA or a IFA type antenna. In a special embodiment the antenna is formed on a ring-shaped PCB with a central hole allowing passage of light from the light source. Preferably, the antenna is positioned at least 2 mm in front of the heat sink (HS).

Intelligent lighting has become widespread, and RF communication is a powerful technology to be used in the tele management of lamps, in particular for domestic and office environments. Instead of controlling the power, e.g. 230 V supply, to the lamp, the trend has moved towards directly controlling the light source or lighting device, i.e. the exchangeable element of the lamp, by sending an RF control signal to the lighting device. For indoor use the ISM band covers suitable frequencies to allow communication over a range of up to 20 meter. A suitable communication standard for low data-rate applications such as tele management of lamps is ZigBee. The transmitted control signals can be used to remotely control the state (ON/OFF), light-output (color, Luminous Flux), beam-width or orientation of the lamp. To effectively transmit or receive such tele management control signals, each lamp has to be provided with an antenna.
The performance of the antenna in a lamp must not be disturbed by other lamp components made from electrically conductive materials (or non-conductive materials that may lower the Q factor or resonance frequency) that could shield the RF signal in certain directions or change resonance frequency of the antenna, and thus significantly influence the RF communication with remote controls or other lamps. Thus, it is import that the antenna that radiates with significant directive gain in a large solid angle. For reliable communication with other lamps and with remote controls, the solid angle corresponding to all directions with sufficient gain (e.g. more than −10 dB with reference to an loss-less isotropic antenna) should practically be in the range between 2π and 3π. This is a problem to obtain within the limited dimensions of the outer enclosure of such device, since such dimensions are often dictated by standard size housings and power sockets.
US 2007/0252528 describes a lighting fixture or luminaire, such as used in street-lighting, incorporating an RF antenna. However, the RF antenna is placed outside the lighting device forming the light source, rather the RF antenna is placed in a portion of the external housing which is made of a non-shielding material that does not disturb RF waves in reaching the antenna.

Lighting device with built-in RF antenna


A coding method conversion apparatus converts the first coded data coded by the first coding method into the second coded data. The coding method conversion apparatus includes: an H.264 decoder which decodes the first coded data; a deblocking filter strength calculation unit which calculates a filter strength of deblocking filtering of a second coding method, using at least one piece of decoding information except a coding type of the first coded data, the decoding information being obtained by decoding the first coded data; and a deblocking filter which performs the deblocking filtering to reduce noise in a boundary of blocks according to the filter strength calculated by the deblocking filter strength calculation unit.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to coding method conversion apparatuses which code image information of moving pictures, and more particularly to a coding method conversion apparatus which performs variable length coding on quantized Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) coefficients and outputs the coded data.
(2) Description of the Related Art
For technologies of coding moving pictures, coding efficiency has been improved. This allows mobile telephones to serve as television telephones having smooth moving images, capture high-quality moving pictures, and the like. With the development of coding technologies, conversion between different coding technologies has become necessary to share moving picture data between different apparatuses, to achieve long-length recording, and the like. For example, terrestrial digital television broadcast employs a moving picture coding technology called an MPEG-2 method. When TV programs provided by the above broadcast are to be recorded onto a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) recorder or the like, more programs can be recorded onto the recorder as longer-hour recording, by selecting a recording method with a coding rate lower than the MPEG-2 broadcast waves (including a change of a coding rate within the same method).
Coding apparatuses, which are represented by an apparatus which codes data by the MPEG-2 method (hereinafter, referred to as a "MPEG coding apparatus"), divide an image region into specific image blocks, perform orthogonal transformation and quantization on predictive residual signals which are generated by intra prediction or inter prediction, then perform variable length coding on the resulting signals in order to be outputted. Such coding apparatuses are liable to cause particular noise called block noise in decoded signals of the coded signals. In order to address this problem, a technology has been disclosed in which, when conversion between different coding technologies is to be performed, signals decoded from signals coded by the first coding device is applied with post filtering and block noise reduction, and then coded by the second coding unit (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-23640).
In the above technology, a coding type of the decoded signal is detected, and depending on whether the detected coding type is intra-prediction or inter-prediction, a strength of the post filtering is determined.


In a power driven roller conveyor having a plurality of rollers mounted on a driven shaft for supporting and transporting a work piece with a limiting drive force. The drive shaft is provided with concentrically disposed spacers, rollers, and bearings which are compressed between an end driving sprocket and an adjustable spring pressure plate on an opposite end and wherein adjustment of the axial compressor force produced by the end mounted spring pressure plate serves to vary the release torque of the individual rollers mounted on the shaft.

This invention relates generally to conveyors and more particularly to power driven roller conveyors wherein the roll driving force is selectable to permit stopping of a work piece on the conveyor without undue roller drive damage to the work piece or to the driving mechanism. In the prior art, as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,789, entitled "Torque Responsive Drive Coupling for Roller Conveyors", such couplings were relatively complex and did not permit the use or spacing of multiple individual work support rollers on a single driven shaft.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present devices and methods. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.

Torque limiting roller drive for conveyors


Wireless transceivers connect with or in building automation components. The components are bound. Since the transceivers control the access media, the transceivers are likewise bound. The transceiver associated with a component queries the component for the component address. When a request from a controller addressed to the component is received, the transceiver for the component may recognize the component address. In response, the transceiver records the controller transceiver address in the request and transmits a response with the component transceiver address. Other features may assist in binding. For example, the controller transceiver distinguishes between components connected by wire from wireless. Only communications for wireless connections are transmitted. For example, if a binding is not used for an amount of time, the binding is removed. For example, a random or set order is used to avoid or minimize overlapping traffic for the responses for a binding list.

The present invention relates to building automation systems. In particular, binding allows optimized wireless communications between wireless devices in building automation and control systems.
Building automation systems may integrate heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, security systems, fire systems, or other systems. The systems are typically formed from distributed components wired together. Controllers or field panels provide process controls based on sensor inputs to operate actuators. For example, a temperature sensor is read. An adjustment of a damper, heating element, cooling element or other actuator is determined based on a set point and the measured temperature. Other basic control functions for room comfort may be provided, such as by using single input, single output feedback loops employing proportional-integral-derivative methods. Panels or other controllers control distribution systems, such as pumps, fans or other central plants for cooling and heating. Management computers may also communicate with the field panels or other devices.
To communicate, the field panels are connected to the building automation components. For example, a wired RS-485 floor level network is created. Each floor level network includes multiple terminal equipment controllers of building automation components such as sensors or actuators, each with a specific address. Each component is manually assigned an address during installation, allowing the field panels to communicate with specific components of a larger number of components. Each component address is unique on the network or for a group of components connected with a field panel. Information from or for one component is distinguished from information for other components using the address. The controllers and building automation components are bound together by programming the addresses to be used.
To reduce costs associated with wiring, and for those cases where running wiring is impractical or impossible, wireless architectures for building automation systems have been proposed. Wireless standards provide single or multiple tier networks for implementing building automation processes. For example, a multi-tier wireless network emulates current wired building automation systems. A controller wirelessly communicates with sensors and associated actuators. The lower level sensors and actuators provide input and output functions controlled by controllers. Another example is the wireless architecture disclosed in U.S. Published Application 2006/0028997.
In a wireless system, the controllers and building automation components are bound together. Medium Access Control (MAC) addresses between two devices are exchanged so that the devices can communicate directly. However, if the building automation component does not have an address, the communications and binding may fail.

Binding wireless devices in a building automation system


A method, apparatus and program storage device for protecting data write operations against write failures in a data storage device is provided. The data storage device includes a storage medium, a write cache including a copy of data written to the storage medium, and a controller configured for testing data write operations to the storage medium. The controller tests data write operations to the storage medium before the write cache is flushed to confirm that it is safe to flush the write cache. If the test fails, the data in the write cache can be recovered.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to data storage devices, and more particularly to a method, apparatus and program storage device for protecting data write operations against write failures in a data storage device.
2. Description of Related Art
Disk drives are a form of data storage wherein data is read from and written onto storage media. There are different types of disk drives for different types of storage media. Different types of storage media include magnetic hard disks, floppy disks and optical disks. Although the term disk drive is used throughout this document, the storage media may not be in the form of a disk, but instead may be implemented in another form, for example, tape storage. Disk drives can be either internal and housed within a computer or external and housed separately from a computer.
Disk drives may be used in storage systems in which a plurality of separate disk drives is combined into a single storage system. Such storage systems include RAID (redundant array of independent disks) architectures, which use several low-cost disk drives to create a large and reliable storage system.
Disk drives may use caching to improve their performance. A cache is a small fast memory holding recently accessed or written data. When data is read from or written to a storage medium, a copy is also saved in the cache, along with the associated medium storage address. A disk cache can be implemented in software in a computer or in hardware in a disk drive.
A read cache is used to save a copy of data that is read from a storage medium. The read cache monitors addresses of subsequent reads to see if the required data is already in the read cache. If it is, then it is returned immediately and the read of the storage medium can be aborted. If it is not already in the cache, the data is read from the storage medium and saved in the read cache.
A write cache can be a write-through cache in which data is written to the storage medium at the same time as it is cached. In a write-through cache, an entry that is to be replaced can be overwritten in the cache. Alternatively, a write cache can be a write-back cache in which data is only written to the storage medium when it is forced out of the cache.
Data that is written to disk drives is assumed to have been saved if the drive indicates a good completion to the write operation, with no errors reported. However, there remains a small possibility for error, in which the drive itself is unable to detect whether the data has been correctly recorded without re-reading the data and comparing it to the written data. Situations in which such an error occurs are known as dropped write failures. Any data which is not otherwise backed up or protected will be permanently lost in a dropped write failure and so a defense against this possibility is needed.
Most conventional methods imply a much longer write operation using a readback check to verify that the written data is safe. These are not efficient methods since they execute on all writes, but will very rarely detect a failure. This means that all of the good writes carry an unnecessary performance penalty.
It can be seen that there is a need for a method, apparatus and program storage device for protecting data write operations against write failures in a data storage device.

Method, apparatus and program storage device for protecting data writes in a data storage device


An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit configured to repeatedly perform cyclic shooting operation including shooting with a first exposure condition and a second exposure condition different from the first exposure condition; and a correction unit configured to detect a first flicker among frames shot with the first exposure condition and perform flicker correction for a frame shot with the first exposure condition based on the first flicker and to detect a second flicker among frames shot with the second exposure condition and perform flicker correction for a frame shot with the second exposure condition based on the second flicker.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique of generating an image having a wide dynamic range by composing a plurality of images shot with different exposures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, in order to implement a dynamic range exceeding the dynamic range of an image sensor formed from a CCD or CMOS, a technique called HDR (High Dynamic Range) composition is proposed. HDR composition is a technique of generating an image having a wide dynamic range by shooting a plurality of images with little highlight-detail losses and a plurality of images with little shadow-detail losses with different exposure conditions and composing them (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-273354).
In the above HDR composition, however, when, for example, shooting a moving image under a fluorescent lamp, flickers occur in the respective frames to be composed. As a consequence, flickers also occur in the frame after the composition.

Image capturing apparatus configured to perform a cyclic shooting operation and method of controlling the same


The present invention enables users to instantly purchase desired items with their mobile device (e.g., cell phone/PDA) while viewing services such as the Home Shopping Network, QVC, etc. on television or the Internet (using a PC). When the service displays a product on-screen, a barcode would also be displayed associated with the product being sold. To purchase the item, the user utilizes a camera-equipped mobile device to scan the on-screen barcode. The barcode information and user information is then sent to the vendor's server where it is processed. The preexisting transaction system is used to complete the user's transaction. Once the transaction has been complete, the vendor's server sends a confirmation message to the mobile device.

Home shopping originated in the 1950s and 1960s in the form of infomercials. In these original infomercials, a product would be displayed and discussed on screen for a limited amount of time during which a home user could call and order the product. This form of shopping gained instant popularity mainly due to the convenience of shopping from home and is still in use to this day.
However, it was not until the 1980s that the first major advancement in home shopping technology occurred. In 1982, the Home Shopping Network ("HSN") debuted as the first cable channel exclusively dedicated to home shopping. The channel operated virtually continuously and displayed thousands of products for sale. To order a product, a user only had to call the HSN toll-free telephone number and place an order.
Since 1982, the home shopping industry has increased exponentially and many other companies, such as QVC, have emerged as industry leaders. Currently, there are many different types of home shopping channels. Some sell many different types of merchandise while others sell only specific types of merchandise such as collectibles.
However, home shopping does have its drawbacks. To order each item, a user must call the shopping service and order the product through an automated service or through an operator. This can be burdensome when a consumer desires to order many products. Additionally, this method of ordering may not be possible for consumers who are hard of hearing or otherwise handicapped.
Therefore, there clearly exists a need for a system which simplifies the home ordering process. The system should easily integrate with the preexisting home shopping application while offering the consumer a simpler and streamlined ordering method.

System and method for on the spot purchasing by scanning barcodes from screens with a mobile device


Disclosed is a signal transmitting and receiving method and system in a mobile communication system provided with a plurality of antennas. The signal transmitting method in the mobile communication system that transmits a signal through a plurality of antennas includes separating by layers and primarily encoding input data for an independent signal generation interleaving in space and time the primarily encoded data of the respective layers, receiving and secondarily encoding the interleaved data, and transmitting the secondarily encoded data through the plurality of antennas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and a system for transmitting and receiving a signal in a mobile communication system provided with a plurality of antennas.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, in the 3rd generation and the following wireless communication systems has been used a high-performance channel coding technique using a convolutional code, a turbo code, etc., to maintain a high quality of a transmitted signal. This channel coding technique is for protecting information through a process of inserting redundant check bits into information bits.
Meanwhile, diverse space-time coding techniques for obtaining a transmission diversity using a multi-antenna transmission system have recently appeared. Especially, in a system that uses multiple antennas, researches have been actively made for a layer type space-time coding system for separating information to be transmitted into a plurality of layers and encoding the separated layers in order to simultaneously obtain a channel coding and transmission antenna diversity.
FIG. 1 shows an example of the construction of a conventional transmitter using space-time encoders. FIG. 2 shows another example of the construction of a conventional transmitter using space-time encoders.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, encoding of input data is performed twice through two kinds of encoders 101, 103, 202, and 204 provided in front and rear of interleavers 102 and 203. This encoding process is performed for respective layers to generate signals to be transmitted through a plurality of modulators 104 and 205 to a plurality of antennas. A demultiplexer 201 receives input data and outputs the data to a plurality of encoders 202. A part of encoders 101 and 202 use a channel error correction code such as a convolutional code and so on. The space-time encoders 103 and 204 use an orthogonal code and so on that can increase the independence among the antennas.
The two kinds of encoders (i.e., the encoders and the space-time encoders) used in the above process are independently constructed. This causes decoders for twice decoding in a receiving end to separately operate without exchanging information with each other. That is, the iterative decoding process is not performed.
As described above, according to the conventional multi-antenna transmission system, the channel coding and the space-time code system of the respective layer are not combined with those of other layers, but are independently combined in the corresponding layer only. Thus, the conventional system has the limitations that it cannot obtain an ascending effect through combination of a channel decoder and space diversity by layers.
Also, the members of the next-generation mobile communication system such as the 3GPP for developing the recent 3rd generation mobile communication system, adapts the turbo code as a standard, and a diversity structure that performs transmission using two antennas. However, even in this system, the turbo code and the transmission diversity system independently exist without correlation between them, and thus the additional gain through the combination of the two systems cannot be obtained.

Method and system for transmitting and receiving signal in mobile communication using a 2-dimensional space-time interleaver


A comb-line antenna structure (80) includes a multiplicity of parallel current straps (86) through which an appropriate rf electrical current passes in order to launch a desired magnetosonic wave (42) into an adjacent plasma mass (39). The current straps are mounted within a conductive, shallow, open box (88, 90) that faces the plasma mass. The current straps are inductively coupled, thereby requiring only a single rf input port (82) at one end of the comb-line structure. The rf input port provides a substantially constant impedance to an rf power source. A single rf output port (84) at the other end of the comb-line structure allows for the recirculation of the rf power. A multiplicity of U-shaped wickets (92) loop over and enclose each current strap. Such wickets function as a Faraday shield to shield the plasma and adjacent current straps from electrostatic fields. The comb-line antenna structure finds primarily applicability in providing plasma heating and/or current drive in a tokamak, or equivalent plasma-forming structures.

The present invention relates to an improved comb-line antenna structure that may be used to launch magnetosonic waves into a plasma for plasma heating or current drive in a plasma device, e.g., a tokamak. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved comb-line antenna structure suitable for use in a tokamak that, in one embodiment, eliminates the need for discrete loading capacitors at the end of each current strap used in the comb-line antenna, and provides Faraday shielding between the antenna and plasma in a way compatible with a traveling wave.
Tokamaks are devices that are used in connection with the study and generation of thermonuclear fusion energy. Fusion is the energy source of the sun and other stars. While science has not yet advanced sufficiently far to allow fusion to be used as a practical energy source, scientists and engineers, working at laboratories around the world, are making great strides relative to fusion research and to the engineering development of fusion for electrical power and other applications. Advantageously, fusion fuel is in abundant supply, and the generation of fusion energy provides a safe and clean energy source.
In generating fusion energy, the atoms of two or more fuels, typically deuterium (.sup.2 H) and tritium (.sup.3 H), heavy hydrogen isotopes, are exposed to extremely high temperatures. Such high temperatures separate the positively charged nuclei of the hydrogen isotopes from their normally tightly bound negatively charged electrons, forming a plasma. (A plasma is a hot ionized gas.) When this separation occurs, the neutrons and protons of the nuclei recombine to form a heavier element, such as .sup.4 He, and a neutron or other small nuclear particle. Energy from this reaction is released as kinetic energy of the fast moving reaction products, and it can be converted to heat. The heat thus created provides the high temperature needed to sustain the fusion reaction, and portions thereof can be extracted and used as a useful energy source, e.g., to generate electricity.
The conditions for the fusion reaction are very difficult to achieve. For example, in order to kindle a deuterium-tritium fusion fire, the temperature of the fuel must be heated to over 50,000,000.degree. C. Moreover, to sustain the fusion fire, i.e., to keep the fusion reaction going, it is necessary to confine the normally chaotic mass of fast moving, superheated nuclei (the plasma) long enough for the fuel to react and produce energy beyond that necessary to sustain the temperature. To produce enough fusion reactions to make the process worthwhile, the heat losses from the fuel must be low enough so that the fuel can sustain a temperature of around 150,000,000.degree. C. Once such a self-sustaining reaction is achieved, it is possible to use the heat thus produced to generate electricity, or for other purposes.
Achieving such high temperatures requires supplying energy to the fuel and raising its temperature to a level where the internal fusion reactions can provide further heating. Various techniques are currently used to accomplish such heating, e.g., heating with an internal electric current, heating by various waves, and/or heating by the injection of energetic neutralized hydrogen atoms ("neutral beam injection"). The present invention relates to a particular type of antenna structure, referred to as a "comb-line antenna" structure, that may be used to launch a particular type of fast electromagnetic wave, referred to as a "magnetosonic wave", into the forming plasma for plasma heating and current drive.
Unlike the sun and stars, where the massive plasma ball is confined by gravity, fusion reactors require some type of container for holding the 150,000,000.degree. C. plasma fireball in a way that prevents it from touching the container walls. (Plasma, which has a density approximately 100,000 times lower than atmospheric pressure, is a mere puff of gas that would quickly cool if it touched the container walls.)
Fortunately, because plasma is an ionized gas, it can be confined with a magnetic field. That is, the otherwise random motion of the charged particles that are found within plasma may be converted to an orderly form of motion that follows the magnetic field lines of an applied magnetic field. Thus, various types of "magnetic bottles" have been developed in the art to create the appropriate magnetic field lines to confine the plasma to a desired volume.
One of the most highly developed magnetic bottles is a toroidal bottle known as the "tokamak". Tokamaks were first developed during the 1960s in the then-existing USSR, and have subsequently been adopted as the leading magnetic confinement device. A tokamak includes both external toroidal-field coils and poloidal-field coils that generate magnetic fields, as well as means for generating a toroidal electrical current that flows through the plasma itself. The magnetic fields created by such toroidal- and poloidal-field coil currents, as well as by the plasma electric current, all combine to confine the plasma to a general toroidal shape that encircles a major axis of the tokamak. The poloidal-field coils are also used to magnetically shape the general cross section of the plasma. Tokamaks are well documented in the literature. See, e.g., Artsimovich, L. A., Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 12, pp. 215 et seq. (1972); and Furth, H. P., Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 15, pp. 487 et seq. (1975).
The fast magnetosonic wave is a preferred wave for noninductive current drive in tokamaks containing high temperature plasmas. See, Fisch et al., Phys. Fluids, Vol. 24, p. 27 (1981). Note, the term "magnetosonic" wave is used herein and in the art to describe a "fast wave" or a compressional "Alfen wave." The launching structure used to launch such a magnetosonic wave into the plasma has typically consisted of several (typically four) poloidal straps that are individually fed through external matching networks and phase shifters to an appropriate power source (a high power rf generator). Disadvantageously, such a launching configuration does not present a matched load to the generator when the plasma position and edge density vary. Further, the mutual coupling between the current straps causes unbalanced loading of the straps. Such unbalanced loading greatly complicates the phasing and matching of the structure to the generator. Hence, what is needed is a launching structure for use in a tokamak (or similar plasma-confining device) that presents a matched load to the generator even though the plasma position and edge density of the plasma may vary, and wherein any mutual coupling between the current straps may be used to an advantage rather than a disadvantage.
A "comb-line" structure is a structure that includes an array of antenna loops, or equivalent current straps, where only one of such loops or straps is driven with an input signal, while the others are coupled through mutual inductance. Comb-line structures have long been used as band-pass filters having a narrow or moderate bandwidth. See, e.g., Matthaei, George L., "Comb-line Band-Pass Filters of Narrow or Moderate Bandwidth:, Microwave Journal, pp. 82-91 (August 1963).
A few years ago, the comb-line structure was identified as a possible launching structure for launching the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) into the plasma of a fusion tokamak for plasma heating and current drive. See, Chiu et al., "Study of the Slow-Wave Structure as an ICRF Launcher", Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 24, No. 6, p. 717-723 (1984). The comb-line structure is a good candidate for current drive because it can easily be made to produce a traveling wave spectrum, and the principle of its operation requires that it be only weakly coupled to the plasma. Weak coupling is plausible for reactor applications because it allows the structure to be recessed from the plasma.
Despite the potential benefits to be derived from using a comb-line structure to launch magnetosonic waves into a plasma, the comb-line structure has not heretofore been used for such application. Such non-use can be attributed, in large part, to practical considerations associated with the dimensions of the various elements of the comb-line structure. For example, discrete capacitors have heretofore been used with each current strap in order to allow each current strap, which must function as a resonant circuit, to be of a manageable length. The physical size of such capacitors, while having a capacitance value of only tens of picofarads for most frequencies, must nonetheless be quite large so that the capacitors can hold off the extremely high voltages in the plasma environment. Such large physical size restricts the spacing of the current straps. Hence, what is needed is either a physically smaller capacitor that can hold off the extremely high voltages in the plasma environment, or a comb-line antenna structure that eliminates the need for discrete capacitors.
An additional problem associated with using a comb-line structure as a launching structure with a plasma device, such as a tokamak, is that of providing shielding of the plasma from the electrostatic fields emanating from the current straps. An electrostatic field is ever present around the current carrying straps of a comb-line structure. Such electrostatic field must be confined to the region near the current straps in order to avoid its penetration into the plasma, which penetration can cause an influx of impurities into the plasma. The appropriate magnetic fields associated with the current straps, on the other hand, need to encircle the adjoining straps so that the desired mutual coupling between the straps can occur, and so that the requisite magnetosonic wave can be launched into the plasma. Thus, there is a need when using a comb-line structure as a magnetosonic launcher for establishing an effective electrostatic shield between the current straps and the plasma that blocks electrostatic fields, yet passes traveling magnetic fields.

Shielded comb-line antenna structure for launching plasma waves


A production method for devices includes: a bonding process for placing circuit surfaces of other divided plural semiconductor chips onto circuit surfaces of semiconductor chips of a wafer and bonding the other semiconductor chips to the semiconductor chips of the wafer; and a semiconductor chip grinding process for grinding rear surfaces of the other semiconductor chips by a grinding apparatus while the wafer is held such that the rear surface of the wafer faces a chuck table of the grinding apparatus. The production method further includes a resin filling process for filling a resin on the surface of the wafer so that a surface of the resin corresponds with the rear surfaces of the other semiconductor chips; and a wafer grinding process for grinding the rear surface of the wafer by a grinding apparatus while the wafer is held such that the surface of the wafer on which the resin is filled faces a chuck table of the grinding apparatus. The production method further includes a wafer supporting process for supporting one of the surface and the rear surface of the wafer by a supporting member; and a dividing process for dividing the wafer along predetermined division lines while the wafer is supported by the support member, thereby obtaining devices having the semiconductor chips and the other semiconductor chips bonded on the semiconductor chips.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a production method for devices which have chip-on-chip structures or the like in which (for example, two) semiconductor chips are stacked and bonded. In particular, the present invention relates to a production method for devices which can be made very thin by reducing the overall thicknesses of the devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, as typified by compact digital devices (for example, mobile phones and digital cameras), various electronic devices have been greatly improved in lightness, thinness, and compactness. In order to achieve this, semiconductor chips and semiconductor package components which have important functions as components are required to be compact and thin. In recent years, a semiconductor device having a chip-on-chip structure in which two or more semiconductor chips are stacked and packaged has been widely used as a device that can be integrated and be made thinner. In particular, instead of a conventional structure in which electrodes are wire-bonded, a structure, in which surfaces of chips face each other and electrodes of electronic circuits formed thereon are directly connected to each other, can be simple and made thinner, thereby being advantageous. For example, semiconductor chips of this type are produced as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-196528.
However, these thin devices having a chip-on-chip structure are required to be even thinner. In order to meet this requirement, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-57404, a technique, in which semiconductor chips stacked on a substrate are ground by a grinding device or the like so as to have desired thicknesses, may be effectively used.
However, when the semiconductor chips, which are stacked on the substrate, are made thinner, there is a limit to the reduction of the overall thickness of the chip-on-chip structures of the semiconductor chips. In addition, it is difficult to make the semiconductor chips thinner while at the same time maintaining the sufficient strength of the semiconductor chips so that no damages (for example, cracking or breakage) occurs therein.


The invention includes methods of forming circuit devices. A metal-containing material comprising a thickness of no more than 20 Å (or alternatively comprising a thickness resulting from no more than 70 ALD cycles) is formed between conductively-doped silicon and a dielectric layer. The conductively-doped silicon can be n-type silicon and the dielectric layer can be a high-k dielectric material. The metal-containing material can be formed directly on the dielectric layer, and the conductively-doped silicon can be formed directly on the metal-containing material. The circuit device can be a capacitor construction or a transistor construction. If the circuit device is a transistor construction, such can be incorporated into a CMOS assembly. Various devices of the present invention can be incorporated into memory constructions, and can be incorporated into electronic systems.

There can be advantages associated with the utilization of high-k gate dielectrics in various semiconductor constructions, including, for example, transistor devices and capacitor devices. High-k dielectrics are understood to be dielectric materials having a dielectric constant greater than that of silicon dioxide, and can include, for example, Ta2O5, Al2O3, and numerous other materials.
There has been some interest in attempting to integrate high-k dielectric materials into standard CMOS flow. However, such presents several difficulties when utilized in conjunction with the silicon gate electrodes typical of CMOS constructions. For instance, direct deposition of silicon (such as, for example, polycrystalline silicon) on high-k gate dielectric films typically results in a reaction layer at the interface of the silicon and the dielectric. The reaction layer can occur during the silicon deposition, and/or during subsequent high-temperature annealing of the silicon. The reaction layer generates an interfacial film, such as a silicate, between the silicon and the dielectric material. This interfacial layer reduces the effective dielectric constant of the dielectric stack, and thus limits the scalability of the dielectric. Further, the interfacial layer can be a source of charge trapping/fixed charge, due in part to metal-atom d states and charged atom defects. The charge trapping/fixed charge can be affected by post-gate annealing, and can result in uncontrollable shifts in a threshold voltage of a transistor device. In addition, the threshold voltage can shift due to boron diffusion from a p-type conductively doped silicon into a high-gate dielectric. Such threshold voltage shifts can be particularly significant and problematic for high thermal budget processing, such as, for example, memory cell processing. The boron diffusion through the dielectric can be a problem in spite of the thickness increase of the dielectric associated with utilization of a high permittivity film.
For the above-discussed reasons, it would be desirable to develop new methods for incorporating high-k dielectric materials into CMOS flow. Additionally, since high-k dielectric materials are utilized in other semiconductor constructions besides CMOS assemblies, it would be desirable if the methodologies could be applicable to other semiconductor fabrication besides CMOS flow, and particularly if the methodologies could be applicable to capacitor device fabrication. Also, it would be desirable if the methodologies could be applied not only to high-k dielectric materials, but also to other dielectric materials.


The system includes an assembly building of sufficient dimension to permit a launch vehicle to be vertically integrated within the building, and to simultaneously receive a combination launch pedestal-lift and transport unit within the building. The launch vehicle is vertically integrated within the building upon the pedestal, and then transported to the launch pad where the vertical height of the lift and transport unit is reduced, leaving the launch pedestal and vehicle in place at the launch pad. Various other features facilitate low cost launch programs using the system and method.

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for launching spacecraft, and in particular to systems and methods for integrating the assembly, transportation and support of launch vehicles.
A number of systems and methods have been employed in the past for first conducting the assembly of spacecraft and launch vehicles,, then transporting the launch vehicle to a launch pad, and thereafter providing necessary support and testing before launch. In one arrangement utilized with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Saturn and Space Shuttle Programs, the launch vehicle is integrated vertically within the interior of a Vertical Assembly Building (VAB), and then moved to the launch site on a mobile transport unit, while the launch vehicle and spacecraft are positioned vertically upon the transport unit.
A mobile build up, transport and support system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,998 to Rogge et al. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,257, Harris et al disclose a service assembly for a vertical launch system.
In the early days of the space and defense missile program, a variety of assemblies and facilities for launching and servicing spacecraft were used, including mechanical lay down towers and rail mounted launch towers. Assembly, transport and support systems which were relatively simple and economical in design were replaced by mobile service towers weighing several thousand tons, massive umbilical towers and large water cooled flame buckets contained within specialized concrete structures. The launch facilities presently used by NASA at the Kennedy Space Center are multifunctional, automated and sophisticated, but represent replacement costs in excess of two billion dollars. There is a need for an integrated system and method for assembling launch vehicles, and then for the rapid transport of the launch vehicle and payload to a clean, uncomplicated launch pad where launch support can be completed and the vehicle launched with a minimum of expense.

Integrated system and method for assembling, and then transporting and supporting a launch vehicle


An adjustable reading and writing aid system (10) is provided which is primarily to be used for mounting on a table top, desk top, or other base surface (12). The adjustable reading and writing aid system (10) includes a first planar member which is mounted on the base surface (12) and further includes a second planar member (18) which may be angularly adjusted at selective angles (32) to provide an optimized position for the user to write on a piece of paper or read book (58) mounted on a frontal surface (62) of the second planar member (18). An adjusting mechanism (34) is rotatably mounted to a rear surface (26) of second planar member (18) and is insertable within notches (54 and 56) formed on opposing transverse sides of first planar member (14) to provide stabilization in selective angular orientations between second planar member (18) and first planar member (14). Adjustable mechanism (34) may be rotated to a sandwiched position between first and second planar members (14 and 18) to allow compactness of an overall housing for transport and storage of the adjustable reading and writing aid system (10).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a combined reading and writing aid system which is primarily mounted on a table top or a desk base surface. The adjustable reading and writing aid system allows the user to optimize his or her writing or reading orientation and generally reduces tension created on the user's body by providing a relaxed and balanced posture orientation of the user during operation and use of the adjustable reading and writing aid system. In particular, the adjustable system of the subject invention concept allows for angularly positioning a planar member upon which a writing pad, paper, book or other workpiece is mounted, and provides a stabilized positioning of the planar member during the reading or writing function. Further, this invention relates to an adjustable system which allows for selectively positioning the angular orientation of the workpiece being used at the discretion and comfort of the user. More in particular, this invention relates to an adjustable reading and writing aid system which is completely foldable and allows for an overall minimization of volume dimensions when not in use to allow for storage or ease of transportability. Additionally, the foldability of the aid system allows the system to be left on the base surface subsequent to use in a folded manner. Still further, this invention directs itself to an adjustable reading and writing aid system which includes an adjusting mechanism mounted to a rear surface of a planar member and is rotatable with respect thereto to allow sandwiching of the angular adjustment mechanism between a first and second planar member. Still further, this invention relates to an adjustable reading and writing aid system which includes a handle section allowing easy transportability of the overall system when not in use. Still further, this invention relates to an adjustable reading and writing aid system which includes a positioning bar mountable on a frontal surface of an inclined planar member to allow paper, pads, books, or other workpieces to be further positionally located at the comfort level of the user. Further, the positioning bar member may be stored internal to the writing aid system when not in use and maintained in removable fashion therein. Additionally, the subject system provides leg, foot or lug members fixedly mounted thereto to abut or catch the edge of the base surface being worked upon. In this manner the aid system is substantially positionally stabilized during operational use and may be simply and quickly removed from the base surface subsequent to use.
2. Prior Art
Reading and writing aid systems for use in maintaining paper, pads, or books at predetermined positional orientations are known in the art. The best prior art known to Applicant includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,172,636; 4,852,909; 3,821,936; 3,172,636; 905,836; 2,826,857; 2,476,620; 2,640,747; 3,376,009; 3,381,928; 4,522,364; 3,980,266; 2,530,605, and 5,035,393.
In some of such prior art systems such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,928, there is provided a bookrest which includes a pair of planar sections which may be rotated with respect to each other, however, such includes ledges which increase the overall thickness of the system when not in use. Additionally, such do not provide for a positioning or mounting mechanism as in the inventive concept system for attachment to one of the planar members for further positioning of the workpiece, book, or sheets of paper being used. Additionally, such systems do not provide for ease of transportability as provided by the subject invention concept system. Other types of prior art systems such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,636 provide for a portable desk which does include a handle section, but such does not provide for the angular adjustability as provided in the subject system to allow optimization of the orientation of the workpiece with respect to the user.
Additionally, prior art systems such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,393 in general do not provide for system positional stabilization members which abut the table, desk or base surface edge to provide a releasable stabilization positioning of the system in accordance with the invention concept of the subject reading and writing aid system.

Adjustable reading and writing aid system


A technique for enriching sparse data for machine learning techniques such as supervised artificial neural network includes receiving the sparse data and enriching the received data around a deviation of the mean of the received data using a predetermined distribution. The technique further includes outputting the enriched data for unbiased and increased performance during the machine learning.

The future of intelligent information retrieval is based on machine learning techniques such as Artificial Neural Network (ANN). ANN's ability to express non-linear relationships in data results in better classification and is best suited for information retrieval in applications such as pattern recognition, prediction, and classification.
The ANN technique attempts to emulate the architecture and information representation schemes of the human brain and its architecture depends on the goal to be achieved. The learning in ANN can be either supervised or unsupervised. In a supervised learning (SL) we assume what the result should be (like a teacher instructing a pupil). In this case we present the input, check what the output shows and then adjust the connection strengths between the input and output mapping until the correct output is given. This can be applied to all inputs until the network becomes as error free as possible. The SL method requires an output class declaration for each of the inputs.
Present SL methods require large numbers of sample inputs (data) to produce unbiased learning, prediction, and classification. When only sparse data is available, the SL methods require a greater number of iterations for convergence and this generally results in lower performance. Sparse data means available data is less than the required larger numbers of data to produce unbiased learning. The requirement of large amounts of data is generally a constraint. Current approaches use traditional techniques, including linear methods based on statistical techniques to compensate for the lack of large amounts of data when only sparse data is available. However, these methods can still result in biased (skewed) learning, classification, and prediction.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for unbiased learning, prediction, and classification using the SL method when only sparse data is available. Further, there is also a need in the art to increase performance and reduce the number of iterations required for a faster convergence by the SL method during machine learning when only sparse data is available.

Distribution theory based enrichment of sparse data for machine learning