In a network, a router uses some secret information combined with a cryptographic process in determination of a subnet's routing prefix. Several methods are disclosed, including using an IP suffix for prefix generation and for decryption, maintaining a pool of pseudo prefixes at the router, using public key encryption and symmetric key encryption,

The present invention relates generally to network communication. More particularly, the present invention relates to maintenance of location privacy during network access through IP address space scrambling.
Internet Protocol (IP) allows any hosts on an IP network to have end-to-end communication between them if they know each other's IP address. An IP network generally includes one or more switches or routers and two or more hosts. The hosts communicate over a wire line or wireless link with a router. Routers similarly communicate with other routers and hosts. Generally, all communication is by internet protocol.
Each IP message consists of one or more IP packets. Header information in the IP packets identifies the sender, the recipient and allows the entire IP message to be reconstructed from the IP packets. The IP packets are independent and discrete and may not be routed from sender to receiver over the same path in the network. In an IP network, a sender can send IP packets to a receiver by setting a destination IP address in the IP packet header to the IP address of the intended receiver. Once the packet is injected in the IP network, routing mechanisms try to deliver the packet to the destination host.
The information contained in the Destination IP Address field of an IP packet is what enables the routing mechanism of the network to deliver the IP packet to its intended recipient. An IP address is structured in a Prefix-Suffix format. The prefix part of the IP address contains the subnet-prefix of the destination subnet, indicating where the packet ought to go. Routers make routing decisions, such as selection of the link on which the packet needs to be sent, by looking at the destination subnet prefix contained in the IP address and matching it against a routing table maintained at each router. There are a large number of routing protocols in use in different parts of the Internet such as RIP, OSPF, and BGP etc, which are used for communication among routers and for building valid and up to date routing tables.
Currently, matching the destination subnet prefix from the destination 1P address against the routing table is a very simple process. A router applies a mask function on the IP address to obtain the prefix and then searches in the routing table for the entry with longest match to this prefix. Once the entry is found, the packet is routed or sent out on the link described in that routing table entry.
While the inherent simplicity of this process allows the routers to process packets very quickly, and enables them to handle large amounts of traffic, it also creates some potential problems. These problems are becoming more and more important and significant as networks including the Internet become a primary means of communication.
One such problem is location privacy. This problem stems from the fact that most of the subnets, especially stub-subnets, usually have a fixed association with a fairly small geographical area. Due to the fixed nature of this association, a fairly accurate database of subnet-prefix-to-location mappings may be built. Thus, the user loses a substantial portion of the user's location privacy. It is possible to identify the geographic location of the user, even when that location is changing over time because the user is geographically mobile.
As noted, internet protocol requires hosts to know each other's IP addresses for true end-to-end communication in the network. In other words, a host cannot communicate with other host in end-to-end fashion without actually revealing its location. This is because inferring a subnet-prefix from a given IP address is extremely easy, and subnet-prefixes correspond to geographical locations.
Accordingly, a need exists to solve the above mentioned location privacy problem.

Location privacy through IP address space scrambling


A running machine that can prevent overturning of a body in the case of occurrence of an abnormality is provided. The running machine substantially supports the body with coaxially arranged drive wheels, and can drive while maintaining the balance of the body. A control module of the machine comprises a stabilization controller that computes a first torque command for maintaining the balance of the body and a travel controller that computes a second torque command for driving the running machine. A sum of the first torque command and the second torque command is inputted into the motors. When an abnormal condition detector detects occurrence of an abnormal condition, a safe mode controller prohibits the travel controller from outputting the second torque command. This could enable all torque that the motors can output to be used to maintain the balance of the body when occurrence of an abnormal condition is detected. Therefore, even when occurrence of an abnormal condition is detected, the balance of the body can be maintained. Or even if the balance cannot be maintained, it is possible to extend duration before overturning. During the duration, by pulling out a safety wheel from the body, for instance, overturning of the body can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a running machine with wheels coaxially arranged on a body substantially supporting it.
2. Description of the Related Art
A running machine with wheels coaxially arranged on a body substantially supporting it has been developed. A body of such a running machine is tiltable around a rotation axis of the wheels and the running machine runs while the gravity center of the body is higher than the rotation axis. Thus, the running machine needs to control the coaxially arranged wheels so as to maintain the tilt angle of the body in a predetermined angle range. Specifically, to maintain the tilt angle of the body in a predetermined angle range, adequate torque is given from a motor to the wheels. In the following, such a running machine maybe simply referred to as the machine. Maintaining the tilt angle of the body of a running machine in a predetermined angle range maybe simply referred to as "maintaining the body balance". In addition, wheels to be given torque maybe referred to as drive wheels.
It is important that the machine moves along an intended path. To this end, in the machine, torque not only for maintaining the body balance but also for driving the machine along an intended path is given from a motor to drive wheels. Consequently, the machine can run to an intended destination, while maintaining the body balance.
Because the machine can run while being substantially supported by the coaxially arranged drive wheels, the machine has the benefits of having compact configuration as a whole and having a small turning circle. The machine is convenient to move luggage or people in a narrow space.


A tap assembly and method for mounting on a compound of a fluid system to test fluid in the system employs a non-elastic yet flexible band adapted to extend around a portion of the shell of the component. A tap having a fluid passageway is disposed on the band. Pliers, a ratchet or other structure may used to tighten the band thereby to force the tap to penetrate the shell of the component and establish fluid communication with the fluid therein. In one embodiment, the band is formed as two connectible sections to allow adjustability in size. The assembly and method are especially used for measuring oil pressure in an oil filter.

The modern standard of living is based in large part upon the presence of machines designed to perform a variety of tasks. Machines help extract natural resources from the earth, and machines help transform those raw materials into finished goods. Machines are used to process food, and to transport water for consumption by the population. Machines are employed for transportation and recreation. Other machines are used for cooking, cleaning and maintaining homes.
Such machines, regardless of their field of application, typically involve component parts which are assembled together and which, during operation of the machine, move with respect to one another. Where two moving parts contact one another, friction exists and heat builds up. On one hand, such heat decreases the efficiency of the machine while, on the other hand, excess heat can deteriorate the machine and/or destroy its functionality. The amount of heat, of course, depends upon the coefficient of friction between the moving parts as well as the force of contact between them.
It is well known to try to reduce friction between two moving parts by reducing the coefficient of friction between them. Commonly, this is accomplished by a lubricating material whether it be a permanent lubricious coating or a transient lubricating fluid. It is known to provide certain machines with dynamic lubrication systems. In such systems, a lubricating fluid reservoir is provided and, during operation of the machine, the lubricating medium is circulated through the machine so as to provide a ready source of lubricating fluid to the moving parts. Often, a filter is provided as a component of such lubricating systems so that the lubricating fluid is passed through the filter to remove unwanted contaminants, especially particulate material, that could damage the contacting surfaces of the parts which are being lubricated. Moreover, such systems typically rely on supplying the lubricating fluid within as prescribed pressure range.
An example of such a machine is the internal combustion engine that remains the dominant power plant for motorized transportation. In such systems, the combustion of fuel in cylinders reciprocates a piston head so that the energy released may be transferred to an output through a desired mechanical linkage. The reciprocating cycle of the piston head within the cylinder can occur many thousands of times per minute. While some internal combustion engines rely on other techniques to lubricate the sliding surfaces of the piston head in the cylinder as well as other moving parts in the engine, many such engines employ dynamic lubrication as a subsystem thereof.
Since the health of these engines depends, in part, upon the proper functioning of the dynamic lubrication system, the monitoring of parameters associated with the lubrication and the diagnostic testing of those parameters plays an important part in the overall maintenance of the machine. One of the parameters commonly monitored and/or periodically measured is the pressure of the lubricating fluid during operation of the engine. Since oil is a typical lubricating fluid, this parameter is often referred to as "oil pressure". Some engines are provided with a real time oil pressure gauge that provides an ongoing readout of instantaneous oil pressure. However, many engines are not provided with such a gauge but rely on warning lights when oil pressure drops below a threshold value. Regardless of such real time monitoring, it is often desirable, in a diagnostic procedure, to perform an oil pressure check to verify the accuracy of the monitoring gauges or to identify other performance issues relating to the engine.
The existing diagnostic approach to testing oil pressure involves accessing the lubricating fluid during operation of the machine. A typical procedure involves removing the oil filter and thereafter threadably mating a cup-shaped cover to the mounting hole of the oil filter. This cover accesses the oil flow in the engine through the inlet port associated with the filter mount, but seals the remaining ports of the filter to prevent leakage. Adapters are provided so that the cover may mount to differently sized openings or where the opening have different thread pitches, depending upon the particular engine in question. An oil pressure gauge may then be connected to the adapter so as to read the oil pressure.
Another technique is to use an oil galley access on the engine block. Typically, the oil galley access is a threaded opening into the oil environment and communicates with the engine oil flow so that an oil pressure sending unit may be threadably mounted therein. This oil pressure sending unit, of course, is the detector that signals, for example, an oil pressure gauge on a vehicle dashboard. In order to use an oil galley access, the oil pressure-sending unit is removed, and an adapter is mounted into the access hole. The oil pressure gauge is then connected to this adapter.
These techniques both have drawbacks. For example, it is necessary to have a variety of adapters for the cup-shaped cover plate in order to match different sizes and pitches of the oil filter openings. Further, these cup-shaped cover plates do not have filtering capability so that, if contaminants are present, they may be passed through and into the engine thereby creating the risk of damage to the engine. In the case of utilization of the oil galley access, the oil galley access may be in a location on the engine block that it is difficult to reach. Indeed, in order to remove the oil pressure sending unit so that an adapter may be threaded into the galley access, other accessories of the engine, such as power steering and the like, may need to removed. This process can be exceedingly time consuming and expensive.
Accordingly, there is a need for a simplified device and method for obtaining a quick and reliable oil pressure reading. There is a need for a device which may operate with a variety of different oil filters without the need for complicated adapters. There is a further need for an oil pressure testing device and method that may be simply and quickly implemented with a minimum of effort. The present invention is directed to meeting these needs.

Fluid pressure testing device method and tap assembly therefor


This invention deals with genetically engineered immunoglobulins with affinity and specificity for (human) glycated albumin. The invention is directed to the DNA which encodes the immunoglobulins. The DNA sequence can be manipulated to produce chimeras and fragments such as Fab, F(ab').sub.2 or ScFv. The immunoglobulins can be produced by recombinant DNA methods and readily purified. The invention also provides a novel and improved method for treating the complications of diabetes.

The direct relationship between hyperglycemia and nonenzymatic glycation, the condensation between free glucose and reactive protein amino groups that is accelerated in diabetes, has implicated this reaction in the development of diabetic complications. Experimental studies have shown that albumin modified by Amadori glucose adducts has distinct biologic effects that unmodified albumin does not possess. Renal glomeruli isolated from normal rats exhibit preferential uptake of glycated albumin relative to nonglycated albumin, which is accompanied by an increase in cell hydrogen peroxide production, and this abnormality can be duplicated in glomerular cells from normal rats by injecting glycated albumin and raising its circulating concentration (Daniels et al, J Am Soc Nephrol 4:791A, 1993). Normal rats transfused with glycated serum proteins containing Amadori products of the glycation reaction in concentrations similar to those found in streptozotocin diabetic rats manifest hyperfiltration, a functional abnormality observed early in the development of diabetic nephropathy (Sabbatini et al, Kidney Int 42:875, 1992). Human sera containing diabetic concentrations of glycated albumin stimulate mesangial cell synthesis and gene expression of type IV collagen, the principal constituent of the expanded extracellular matrix observed in the diabetic renal glomerulus (Cohen and Ziyadeh, Kidney Int 45:475, 1994; Ziyadeh and Cohen, Mol Cell Biochem 125:19, 1993; Cohen et al, Mol Cell Biochem 151:61, 1995). The glycated albumin-induced in vitro effects on mesangial cell biology mimic the changes that characterize human diabetic nephropathy, are likely mediated by ligand-receptor systems that recognize the glucose-modified epitope in glycated albumin, and can be prevented by molecules capable of reacting with N-deoxyfructosyllysine in glycated albumin (Wu and Cohen, Biochem Biophys Res Comm 207:521, 1995). One such molecule is a murine monoclonal antibody, A717, which specifically binds to epitopes containing Amadori glucose adducts that are present on glycated albumin but are not present on nonglycated albumin, and which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,392 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,720. Administration of the murine A717 to diabetic mice prevents the changes in renal structure and function observed in diabetic control mice; namely, increased urine protein excretion, overproduction of matrix macromolecules, and accumulation of glomerular extracellular matrix (Cohen et al Kidney Int 45:1673, 1994; Cohen et al, J Clin Invest 95:2338, 1995). These properties of murine monoclonal antibodies in a murine model indicate that humanized antibodies with the same specificity for neutralizing the biologic effects of increased glycated albumin would be beneficial in the treatment of human diabetic nephropathy.
Monoclonal antibodies have emerged as therapeutic modalities for various pathological conditions including malignant, cardiovascular and autoimmune disease. However, clinical trials with murine monoclonal antibodies have indicated that administration of murine IgG elicits a brisk human humoral anti-murine immunoglobulin (HAMA) response that can reduce the circulating half-life of the antibody and produce allergic reactions. Almost all of the murine monoclonal antibodies used clinically have provoked HAMA responses, including HAMA against the framework, the isotype and the idiotype of the murine IgG antibodies. Even though severe side-effects are rare in patients with HAMA following treatment with antibody, most investigators take the position that if monoclonal antibodies are to be used therapeutically, reliable methods for avoiding an immune response must be devised. Genetically engineered antibodies are deemed to address these concerns. They can be constructed to have specific effector functions derived from the structures of different classes and isotypes, and new antibody variants with desired properties and minimal side-effects can be created in vitro.
It would therefore be desirable to create a genetically engineered monoclonal antibody that retains the binding specificities of the murine monoclonal A717 but possesses human antibody structural features at the level of immunoglobulin gene sequences.

Genetically engineered immunoglobulins with specificity for glycated albumin


A platform lift has support posts, and a platform that is coupled to the lift so as to be capable of being raised and lowered relative to the posts. A lifting mechanism moves the platform up and down relative to the posts. The platform has support structure and decking located on top of the support structure so as to provide a work area. An opening is provided in the support structure and the decking, which opening receives an engine, such as an aircraft engine. The platform provides a work area around the entire circumference of the engine, while the platform can be raised or lowered to provide access along the length of the engine. Filler plates can be provide so as to change the size of the opening to work on engines of different diameters.

Aircraft engines must be periodically maintained in order to ensure reliability and meet safety standards. Because the entire circumference of the engine must be accessed, the engine is either oriented vertically, on one end, or suspended horizontally.
In the prior art, vertically oriented engines are placed onto an elevator which descends into a pit in the ground. The construction of an elevator pit is expensive. A pit also poses environmental problems, as fluids leak out of the engines and into the pit, wherein the fluids can then enter the ground.
Also, in the prior art, horizontally suspended engines utilize a monorail-type device. Monorail systems are expensive to install and maintain. In addition, workers accessing the underside portion of the engine must work overhead, which is a difficult and awkward position.
Still another prior art device is scaffolding. The scaffolding must be carefully positioned so as to both safely hold workers and refrain from damaging the engine from adverse contact. Moving and stabilizing the scaffolding is time consuming and expensive.


An information processing apparatus capable of reducing time taken to return to a standby state after turn-off of a power switch in a power saving state. A power supply supplies power to a CPU and a RAM in a standby state, supplies power to the RAM without supplying power to the CPU in a second waiting state caused by turning off the power switch, and supplies power to the RAM without supplying power to the CPU in the power saving state caused without having the power switch turned off when a shift-to-power saving state requirement defined in advance is satisfied. A power supply controller causes the apparatus to shift from the second waiting state to the standby state using a standby memory image. The CPU writes the standby memory image in the RAM for storage in the power saving state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a plurality of power modes, and more particularly to shifting between a plurality of power modes.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, as an image forming apparatus, which is an example of an information processing apparatus, is multi-functionalized, the construction thereof becomes complicated, and it takes more time to start up the image forming apparatus.
To solve this problem, there have been proposed various techniques for reducing time taken to start up the image forming apparatus (see e.g. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-92474).
The information processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-92474 has a standby mode, a first energy saving mode, and a second energy saving mode, as power modes thereof. When the information processing apparatus is in the first energy saving mode, only a RAM and the minimum number of devices necessary for returning from the first energy saving mode are energized. Further, in the first energy saving mode, return data (first return data) necessary for returning from the first energy saving mode are stored in the RAM, and when a return event causing a return from the first energy saving mode occurs, the information processing apparatus returns from the first energy saving mode to the standby mode based on the return data stored in the RAM. Further, when the information processing apparatus is in the second energy saving mode, only the minimum number of devices necessary for returning from the second energy saving mode are energized. In the second energy saving mode, the information processing apparatus stores in advance return data (second return data) necessary for returning from the second energy saving mode in a hard disk, and when a return event causing a return from the second energy saving mode occurs, the information processing apparatus returns from the second energy saving mode to the standby mode based on the return data stored in the hard disk.
When shifting from the standby mode to the first energy saving mode, the disclosed information processing apparatus stores the first return data in the RAM, and stores the second return data in the hard disk. If the power switch is turned off in the first energy saving mode, the information processing apparatus shifts to the second energy saving mode. Then, when a return event causing a return from the second energy saving mode occurs, power is supplied to the whole information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus returns to the standby mode based on the second return data stored in the hard disk.
To cause the information processing apparatus to return from the second energy saving mode to the standby mode, the second return data read from the hard disk is restored in the RAM, and then the information processing apparatus is caused to return to the standby mode based on the second return data. In this information processing apparatus, however, it takes time to restore the second return data stored in the hard disk in the RAM. Therefore, in the case of the information processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-92474, if the power switch is turned off in the first energy saving mode to cause the apparatus to shift to the second energy saving mode, it takes time before the information processing apparatus returns to the standby mode.

Information processing apparatus configured to shift between plurality of power modes and reduce the time taken to return to a standby state


An LED lamp includes: a plurality of light source units, each of which includes one or more LED chips and an emission surface through which light from the LED chips is emitted; and a lens unit having a plurality of lenses, each of which is located in front of the emission surface of each of the plurality of light source units.

FIG. 25 illustrates a conventional LED lamp 900. The LED lamp 900 as shown in FIG. 25 includes a substrate 901 and a plurality of LED modules 902 mounted thereon. The LED lamp 900 may be used as a substitute for, for example, a mercury lamp. Each LED module 902 includes an LED chip 903 and a case 904. The LED chip 903 is mounted on the case 904. A mount electrode (not shown) is installed in the case 904. The LED module 902 configured as above is subjected to a heating treatment at a predetermined temperature within a reflow furnace, for example, under a condition where the mount electrode is temporarily bonded to a wiring pattern (not shown) of the substrate 901 by means of solder paste, which is called "surface mounting."
Mercury lamps are installed on a ceiling of a building such as a gymnasium or the like, in which case an illumination target is a floor of the gymnasium. When the LED lamp 900 is used for the same purpose, it is required to illuminate the gymnasium floor more uniformly from end to end. However, it is difficult for the LED lamp 900 to provide uniform illumination since the plurality of LED modules 902 is discretely arranged.

LED illumination apparatus including light source and lenses


Modular information handling systems supported in a modular chassis, such as blade information handling systems, have power allocation managed by dynamic and automated prioritization of power application to each modular information handling systems. A priority list of modular information handling systems is generated and updated by analysis of priority factors discovered from the modular information handling systems, such as with periodic polling of the modular information handling systems or detection of predetermined events at the information handling systems.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of information handling system power management, and more particularly to a system and method for dynamic information handling system prioritization.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems are often placed in a common location to ensure an adequate power supply and cooling. For example, plural information handling systems sometimes share one or more "racks" placed in a data center so that the systems take up a reduced amount of space. In modular chassis systems, plural information handling systems share a common chassis under the control of a chassis management controller (CMC) that, for instance, manages the power budget of the chassis. One example of a modular chassis system is a blade system that has a blade chassis populated by plural blade information handling systems which typically share a common power supply and cooling system. CMC firmware manages the sharing of blade chassis resources, such as by making blade power allocation decisions, throttling blade information handling systems installed in a chassis and responding to system events like power supply unit failure. Typically, the CMC firmware algorithm that makes resource allocation decisions relies upon a priority rating associated with each blade information handling system. For example, a higher priority might be assigned to a blade information handling system that supports an e-mail exchange server than one that supports information storage in a database. With such a priority example, if a power need arises, the CMC firmware throttles the blade information handling system that supports the database before throttling the blade information handling system that supports e-mail. Such power needs might arise where a chassis power supply is lost or removed or where an additional blade information handling system powers on.
One advantage of modular chassis systems is that they are scalable, meaning that information handling system modules may be added to a modular chassis as information processing needs increase. One example of a tool that helps to scale information handling system resources is the use of virtual machines. Virtual machines run as separately identifiable information handling systems on top of an operating system and physical information handling system. For example, a single blade information handling system might support operation of multiple virtual machines, each of which are managed as individual information handling systems. As various virtual machines are activated and deactivated, physical resources of various blade information handling systems within a modular blade chassis are used to support operation of the virtual machines. Dynamic provisioning of virtual machines helps to ensure that resources of a modular chassis system are efficiently used. Further, migration of virtual machines, such as with VMotion, allows flexible assignment of virtual machines to blade information handling systems to adapt as blade information handling systems are added to a chassis.

System and method for dynamic information handling system prioritization


According to an embodiment, a communication system includes a plurality of nodes that forms a wireless multi-hop network. Transmission timings of network advertising packets transmitted from the plurality of nodes are controlled based on a transmission schedule in which each of the plurality of nodes has one transmission cell at a location different from other nodes. One of the nodes includes a processor and a wireless communication controller. The processor determines a transmission timing of the corresponding network advertising packet based on the transmission schedule. The wireless communication controller transmits the network advertising packet at the transmission timing.

Time synchronized channel hopping (TSCH) has been conventionally used as a communication method for a plurality of nodes that forms a wireless multi-hop network. In the wireless multi-hop network, searching for neighboring nodes existing near the own node is performed.
However, in the conventional technology, there have been problems that it takes time to discover a neighboring node or that a specific neighboring node cannot be found.

Communication system, node, communication method, and computer program product


An encoder interferometry system includes a beam splitting element positioned to receive an input beam from a light source, in which the beam splitting element is configured to direct a first portion of the input beam along a measurement path to define a measurement beam and a second portion of the input beam along a reference path to define a reference beam, an encoder scale positioned to diffract the measurement beam at least once, one or more optical components configured and arranged to alter a direction of a first diffracted portion of the measurement beam and a direction of a second diffracted portion of the measurement beam such that beam paths of the first diffracted portion and the second diffracted portion are non-parallel subsequent to the first diffracted portion and the second diffracted portion passing through the beam splitting element, and a detector positioned to receive the first diffracted portion.

In some cases, interferometric measuring systems monitor changes in the relative position of a measurement object based on an optical interference signal. For example, an interferometer generates the optical interference signal by overlapping and interfering a "measurement beam" that interacts with (e.g., reflects from) the measurement object with a second beam, sometimes called a "reference beam." Changes in the relative position of the measurement object correspond to changes in the phase of the measured optical interference signal.
However, many interferometric measuring systems include nonlinearities such as what are known as "cyclic errors." In general, cyclic errors are understood as measurement errors that are periodic with the relative position of a measurement object. The cyclic errors can be expressed as contributions to the phase and/or the intensity of the measured interference signal and have a sinusoidal dependence on the change in an optical path difference between the measurement beam and the second beam. The cyclic errors can be produced by "beam mixing," in which a portion of an input beam that nominally forms the second beam propagates along a measurement path and/or a portion of an input beam intended to propagate along the measurement path instead propagates along a reference path. Such beam mixing can be caused by ellipticity in the polarizations of the input beam and/or imperfections in the interferometer components. Cyclic errors can also be produced by imperfections in components such as retro-reflectors and/or phase retardation plates that produce undesired ellipticities in beams in the interferometer. If not compensated, the foregoing cyclic errors can limit the accuracy of position changes measured by the interferometer system.

Interferometric heterodyne optical encoder system


A coating composition that can be applied to optical plastic moldings having a high refractive index, to protect them from deterioration by light without any adverse effect on their optical functions. The coating composition contains the following essential constituents.. (A) 1 part of a hydrolyzate of a silane compound; PA1 (B) 0.2-5 parts of titanium oxide-based composite fine particles having a particle diameter of 1-100 nm in which titanium oxide integrally combines with iron oxide, with the ratio of iron oxide to titanium oxide being 0.005-0.15 by weight; PA1 (C) 0.02-0.5 part of an unsaturated or saturated polycarboxylic acid or an anhydride thereof; and PA1 (D) 0.01-0.2 part of a heat-curing catalyst.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a coating composition for optical plastic moldings. The term "optical plastic moldings" as used in this specification implies plastic moldings for use as spectacle lenses, camera lenses, and other optical parts.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
Optical plastic moldings are expected to find use in various fields on account of their outstanding characteristic properties such as light weight, good processability, and high impact resistance. However, their use has been limited owing to their low hardness and poor resistance to scratch, light, and heat. They tend to decrease in hardness and resistance to scratch and light as they increase in refractive index. To eliminate these disadvantages optical plastic moldings are usually provided with hard coating film. The present inventors had previously proposed a coating composition for this purpose (Japanese Patent Publication No. 42665/1982). It is composed of a silane compound having an epoxy group, carboxylic acid, and curing agent and is applicable to dyeable optical plastic moldings. It has been put to practical use.
Unfortunately, this coating composition has been found to have a disadvantage that it brings about optical interference when it is applied to optical plastic moldings having a refractive index higher than 1.6, because it gives rise to a coating film having a refractive index in the neighborhood of 1.5. The interference is detrimental to the performance of the optical plastic moldings. Another disadvantage is that the coating film becomes poor in adhesion as the optical plastic moldings are deteriorated by light.

Coating composition for optical plastic moldings


An airbag apparatus includes an airbag, a gas generator, a retainer to which the airbag and the gas generator are attached, and a module cover for covering the folded airbag. The airbag has a front panel, a rear panel, and an inner panel for partitioning the airbag interior into a first chamber and a second chamber. The inner panel has communication ports for communication of inflation gas between the first chamber and the second chamber. In an inflated state, at least a portion of the communication ports is disposed in a section of the inner panel below an upper end of a leg portion of the module cover. Gas discharged from gas discharge ports is supplied to the second chamber via the communication ports. Inflation of the second chamber, therefore, is accomplished in an early stage of airbag deployment.

The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus provided on a high-velocity moving body, such as a vehicle, for inflating an airbag in case of an emergency such as a collision, and for protecting a human body.
In order to protect a passenger in case of an emergency such as the collision of a motor vehicle, various types of airbag apparatus such as an airbag apparatus for a driver's seat are used. The airbag apparatus for a driver's seat includes an airbag formed by stitching peripheral edges of a front panel on the passenger's side and a rear panel on the opposite side. An inflator port for receiving a distal side of an inflator is provided at a center of the rear panel. The peripheral portion of this port is mounted to a retainer by bolts, pins, rivets or the like. The rear panel is provided with a vent hole for releasing gas in the bag and absorbing an impact when the passenger seated on the driver's seat strikes against the airbag.
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1-311930, an airbag provided with an inner panel (referred to as "inner air bag" in the aforementioned reference) so as to extend between the inflator port on the rear panel and the front panel. An interior of the airbag is partitioned into a first chamber at a center and a second chamber around the first chamber. The inner air bag is provided with a communication port for bringing the first chamber and the second chamber into communication. When the inflator is activated, the first chamber is inflated first, and the second chamber is inflated subsequently.
It is an object of the present invention, in an airbag having an interior partitioned into a first chamber and a second chamber, to enable inflation of the second chamber to be accomplished in the early stage of the airbag deployment.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention and the associated drawings.


A three-piece solid golf ball having a solid core, an intermediate layer enclosing the solid core, and a cover layer enclosing the intermediate layer and having a large number of dimples formed in its surface, characterized in that the core deforms as much as 2.6 to 3.2 mm under a load which changes from 10 kg to 130 kg, the cover layer is formed mainly from thermoplastic polyurethane such that it has a lower hardness than the intermediate layer, a surface hardness of the cover layer being 58 to 64 in terms of Shore D hardness, with the difference in hardness between the cover layer and the intermediate layer being 4 to 10 in terms of Shore D hardness, the intermediate layer and the cover layer have a total thickness of 2.2 to 3.0 mm, the cover layer has a thickness of 0.8 to 1.3 mm, and the dimples have at least four different diameters and/or depths, with the average depth being 0.125 to 0.150 mm, and amount to 250 to 390 in all. The three-piece solid golf ball exhibits adequate spin performance by iron shot and approach shot. It also exhibits good flying performance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-piece solid golf ball characterized in that the cover layer is softer than the intermediate layer.
2. Prior Art
There have been proposed various kinds of three-piece solid golf balls with a softer cover layer than an intermediate layer in order to meet demands from pro golfers and advanced amateur golfers (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 7-24085). Their improvement in spin, flight distance, and durability has also been proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-151226. However, the desired object is not yet fully achieved.
Improved three-piece solid golf balls are disclosed in the patent documents such as Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-315848, No. 2003-190330 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,889; however, further improvements are required.


One field time period is formed of a plurality of subfields having at least a writing time period and a sustaining time period, of an initialization time period, the writing time period, and the sustaining time period. A display electrode pair is divided into a plurality of blocks. Starting timings of the subfields of the blocks are set to be shifted so that writing timings of two or more blocks of the plurality of blocks do not coincide with each other.

A plasma display panel (hereinafter referred to as "panel") is a display device that has a large screen, is thin and light, and has high visibility.
A typical alternating-current surface discharge type panel used as the plasma display panel has many discharge cells between a front plate and a back plate that are faced to each other. The front plate has the following elements:                a plurality of display electrode pairs disposed in parallel on a front glass substrate; and        a dielectric layer and protective layer for covering the display electrode pairs.Here, each display electrode pair is formed of a scan electrode and a sustain electrode. The back plate has the following elements:        a plurality of data electrodes disposed in parallel on a back glass substrate;        a dielectric layer for covering the data electrodes;        a plurality of barrier ribs disposed on the dielectric layer in parallel with the data electrodes; and        phosphor layers disposed on the surface of the dielectric layer and on side surfaces of the barrier ribs.The front plate and back plate are faced to each other so that the display electrode pairs and the data electrodes three-dimensionally intersect, and are sealed. Discharge gas is filled into a discharge space in the sealed product. In the panel having this configuration, ultraviolet rays are emitted by gas discharge in each discharge cell. The ultraviolet rays excite respective phosphors of red, blue, and green, emit light, and thus provide color display.
A subfield method is generally used as a method of driving the panel. In this method, one field time period is divided into a plurality of subfields, and the subfields at which light is emitted are combined, thereby performing gradation display. Here, each subfield has an initialization time period, a writing time period, and a sustaining time period.
In the initialization time period, initializing discharge is performed simultaneously in all discharge cells, the history of the wall charge for each discharge cell before the initializing discharge is erased, and wall charge required for a subsequent writing operation is formed. In the writing time period, scan pulse voltage is sequentially applied to the scan electrodes, writing pulse voltage corresponding to signals of images to be displayed is applied to the data electrodes, writing discharge is selectively raised between the scan electrodes and the data electrodes, and the wall charge is selectively formed. In the subsequent sustaining time period, a predetermined numbers of sustaining pulse voltages are applied between the scan electrodes and the sustain electrodes, and discharge and light emission are performed selectively in the discharge cells where the wall charge is formed by writing discharge. This method is described in "Whole plasma display", by Hiraki Uchiike and Shigeo Mikoshiba, Kougyou Chosakai Publishing Inc., May 1, 1997, p79-p80, p153-p154, for example.
A driving method allowing suppression of false contours generated by the subfield method is also proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H11-305726). In this method, only one initializing operation and only one writing operation are performed in a plurality of subfields, thereby continuing subfields in which light is emitted and suppressing the false contours.
In the driving methods discussed above, operations in the initialization time period, writing time period, and sustaining time period are executed by time division, and respective times required for the initializing operation, the writing operation, and the sustaining operation are summed. The driving time becomes therefore long. Therefore, the time assigned to the sustaining time period becomes short and sufficient luminance cannot be secured, or the time for increasing the number of subfields cannot be secured and the number of gradations to be displayed cannot be increased.
The present invention addresses the problems, and provides a driving method of a plasma display panel and a plasma display device. The method and device secure the time assigned to the sustaining time period or the time for increasing the number of subfields, and allow increase of luminance and high gradation display.

Method of driving plasma display panel and plasma display panel in which a difference between starting timings of the sustaining time periods in adjacent blocks is set substantially equal to the length of the writing time period in the adjacent blocks

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A bearing cleaning method and accompanying kit is provided which allows for the cleaning of roller blade wheel bearings. By following a succession of steps in cooperation with a kit comprising a modular stacking unit and container and closely sized to receive the unit, a user can quickly and easily clean a plurality of roller blade wheel bearings agitating an organic solvent partially filling the container. A plurality of roller blade wheel bearings are stacked within a modular stacking unit comprising a multitude of cylindrical spacing elements, a pair of planar end caps, with each planar end cap including two integral spacing elements, and a resilient band member. The modular stacking unit, once assembled, is placed within the interior volume of a container, along with a small quantity of organic solvent. After agitating the container by hand, the modular stacking unit is removed from the interior volume of the container and rolled, in a back and forth motion, along a flat, absorbent surface in order to dry the roller blade wheel bearings. The modular stacking unit is then disassembled permitting the individual roller blade wheel bearings to be lubricated and reinserted within a roller blade wheel.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of cleaning roller blade wheel bearings that utilizes a cleaning solvent and a kit comprising a modular stacking unit which has the proportions and dimensions to fit firmly within the interior of a holding container.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Roller blade skates are well known to be used by younger children and adults alike. Each roller blade skate includes multiple bearings well known to those who skate. Although bearing cleaning methods and devices are abundant and often have extreme ease of use as their primary aim, many individuals nonetheless have difficulty cleaning roller blade wheel bearings, because of age, time constraints, or lack of mechanical abilities. Therefore it would be useful to have a roller blade wheel bearing cleaning method, and accompanying apparatus, which could be easily understood and manipulated by any individual, regardless of age or skill.
Typically, roller blade wheel bearings are uniform, each having an outer cylindrical body and a concentrically disposed inner cylindrical body defining a central cylindrical aperture. The concentrically disposed bodies define a through-race circumscribing the central aperture. The through-race contains lubricated ball bearings exposed from both sides of the wheel bearing, which accumulate dirt, whether sealed by a gasket ring or not. Ordinarily when cleaning such wheel bearings, an individual must clean each wheel bearing individually, resulting in an inconvenient and time consuming process. In addition, cleaning solvents for bearings are generally offensive compounds that can cause a reaction if they come in contact with an individual's skin. Further, when attempting to clean a plurality of bearings simultaneously within one container, the bearings are often scratched or damaged through violent contact with one another. Finally, bearings that reside in contact during cleaning, one on top of the other, do not permit access by the solvent to the entire surface area of the bearings.
Apparatus for cleaning bearings including containers having caps for enclosing a plurality of bearings and a solvent fluid are known. The Racetec.TM. bearing holder kit adapted for cleaning roller blade wheel bearings includes a single and unitary frame having several slots within which a plurality of bearings can be inserted one on top of the other. The closed unitary structure differs dramatically from the modular and open structure of the instant invention which allows unimpeded passage of a solvent directly through a bearing race.
Devices for cleaning bearings that employ a modular stacking unit held firmly within the interior of a container or that prevent relative motion of and therefore limit damage to bearings are not known. Nor does any of the previously known art show a device which allows a user to facilely dry the roller blade wheel bearings by allowing a plurality of bearings to be rolled over an absorbent surface as a single unit while being held by the device.
None of the above references, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a bearing cleaning device solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

Method and apparatus for cleaning roller blade wheel bearings


A system and method are provided for detecting extension attacks made to a communication enterprise, and taking appropriate remedial action to prevent ongoing attacks and future attacks. One or more attributes of a suspect call are analyzed, and a risk is associated with each analyzed attribute. An overall risk or assessment is then made of the analyzed attributes, attack attributes are logged, and one or more remedial actions may be triggered as a result of the analyzed call attributes. The remedial actions may include recording the call, notifying an administrator of a suspect call, or isolating the communication enterprise from the attack by terminating the call or shutting down selected communication endpoints to prevent calls being made to those extensions. Rules may be applied to the analyzed attributes in order to trigger the appropriate remedial action. The call attributes analyzed may include call destination, call direction, call type, time of day of the call, call duration, whether a call source is spoofed, call volume from a particular call source, and hash values created for a suspect media stream.

Communication security is an increasing concern for most business and governmental organizations. With the advent of IP telephony and other uses of the Internet, organizations now have a number of means to communicate; however, this increased communications capability has also resulted in vulnerability to the organizations by hackers who wish to gain access to the organization's communication system. Most telephony extension attacks occur for the purpose of providing unsolicited messages to an organization, for example, to advertise various goods and services. However, many extension attacks may be initiated for clearly illegal purposes, for example, to gain access to confidential organizational information.
There are a number of different types of telephony extension attacks that can be initiated. For IP telephony, SPAM over Internet Telephony (SPIT) comprises unsolicited bulk messages broadcast over IP telephony devices. SPIT is a close relative of email SPAM and SPIM (SPAM over Instant Messaging). Although SPIT is not as prevalent as SPAM, the telecommunications industry expects that SPIT will become much more of a problem as time progresses. Other types of extension attacks include denial of service, war dialing, voice mail password brute forcing, extension password brute forcing, toll fraud, and others.
Some solutions exist for addressing telephony extension attacks. Currently available commercial products are primarily rule-based resulting in limited effectiveness, and are particularly ineffective for preventing attacks that utilize IP or caller ID spoofing to mask the source of the attack. Two known commercial products include the Voice Firewall and Voice Intrusion Prevention System by SecureLogix® and Sandtrap® by Sandstorm®.
While these products may be adequate for their intended purposes, there is still a need for a solution that can detect and prevent the new, more sophisticated attacks associated with voice over IP, such as SPIT. More particularly, there is a need for a telephony extension attack solution that can detect, record, alert, and effectively prevent attacks that occur over both traditional telephony (circuit switched) and IP telephony (packet switched) communication systems.

Telephony extension attack detection, recording, and intelligent prevention


A low profile mobile in-motion antenna and transmit/receive terminal system for two-way “VSAT” type satellite communication using FSS service, preferably in Ku band, supporting at the same time TV signal reception from the same satellite or a separate DBS satellite located at the same or nearby geo-stationary orbital position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a microwave antenna terminal applicable to two-way mobile in-motion communication systems using geostationary satellites, and capable of supporting concurrent two-way data transfer and satellite TV reception.
2. Description of the Related Art
Existing systems and technologies, which are known in the art provide for the following capabilities:                VSAT two-way system for fixed service.        VSAT two-way transportable systems.        Mobile transportable and in-motion low profile receive only antenna and receiver systems for satellite broadcast TV and data reception.        Phased array antenna technology.        Flat array antenna systems.
One disadvantage of existing two-way systems, whether fixed or transportable, is their considerable height and unattractive appearance, limiting applications and customer appeal for moving platforms. A further disadvantage is the inability of existing systems and technologies for land based vehicles to provide mobile systems with broad band two-way data communications, including Internet and telephone access, that would enhance communication capabilities for commercial, recreational and any other mobile-based activities, using a variety of vehicular transportation in both densely populated and remote locations. Yet another disadvantage is the inability of existing systems and technologies to provide mobile systems with a combination of concurrent two-way data communications and television reception capabilities for commercial, recreational and other activities.
As used herein, the term "transportable" refers to systems that may be moved by vehicles from one place to another, but wherein operation is limited to the case when the vehicle is parked, i.e. stationary. "Mobile" or "in-motion" refers to systems that may be operated while the vehicle is moving.

System for concurrent mobile two-way data communications and TV reception


A redundancy circuit in a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a comparison signal receiving unit to receive a plurality of comparison signals and a fuse enable signal in parallel, wherein the comparison signals are generated by comparing a plurality of row address signals to a plurality of fuse address signals; and a redundancy control signal generating unit for providing a redundancy control signal by controlling an output signal path of the comparison signal receiving unit in response to a signal level of a row address enable signal. The comparison signal receiving unit receives the plurality of the comparison signals and the fuse enable signal while the row address enable signal is activated.

1. Technical Field
The embodiments described herein relate to semiconductor memory apparatus and, more particularly, to circuits and methods for controlling an activation of a redundancy word line in a semiconductor memory apparatus.
2. Related Art
Generally, when a semiconductor memory apparatus has a few, or even just one defective memory cell, the memory apparatus will not be able to perform the necessary storage operations, and will be regarded as a bad product. Accordingly, redundancy technology, which uses supplementary memory cells in place of defective cells, has been employed in conventional semiconductor memory apparatus.
In conventional apparatus, after the completion of the wafer fabricating processes, a device test is carried out and repair of defective memory cells is performed through fuse cutting. In other words, to provide defect relief, a redundancy circuit containing fuses that can, e.g., be melted using a high-energy light such as laser, is manufactured together with the memory cell and circuit devices of the semiconductor memory apparatus. The address information associated with the defective memory cell, that is, address information for the fuse cutting can be stored and the defective memory cells can be replaced with redundant memory cells in a redundancy cell area by fusing the appropriate fuses in the redundancy circuit.
In a conventional memory device, the memory cells are often arrange into blocks, which can be termed sub-array blocks. There can be a redundancy circuit for each sub-array block, such that if there is a defect in one or more of the cells in a particular sub-array, the sub-array block, or certain cells therein can be replaced with redundancy cells under the control of the associated redundancy circuit. Alternatively, an integrated redundancy circuit can be used for multiple sub-array blocks. For example, a conventional redundancy circuit may comprise an address comparator and a discrimination circuit. For example, the address comparator can be dedicated to each sub-array block and can receive fuse address signals for the replacement of memory cells within the associated sub-array block. The external address signals are compared with the fuse address signals in order to allow access the appropriate redundancy cells. When there is a match between the external address and the fuse array signal, then the redundancy wordlines associated with the appropriate redundancy cells are activated allowing access to the redundancy cells.
Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary discrimination circuit has a plurality of NAND gates 1 to 3 that receive a fuse enable signal FE and a plurality of comparison signals HIT2 to HIT 12, a NOR gate 4 to combine outputs of the plurality of NAND gates 1 to 3 and an inverter 5 to invert an output of the NOR gate 4. A redundancy control signal HITB is generated by the discrimination circuit based on the plurality of the comparison signals HIT2 to HIT12. The defective memory cell is replaced with a redundancy cell based on the results of the address comparison unit and the discrimination circuit. In other words, word lines of the redundancy cell array can be activated or inactivated in accordance with the result of the discrimination performed by the discrimination circuit.
Unfortunately, the access time to the semiconductor memory apparatus can be increased due to the delay time that is required to compare the address signals and perform the discrimination. Particularly, in cases where the discrimination circuit is composed of logic combination circuits having a plurality of series-stages to receive a plurality of signals, as is often the case, the discrimination time is delayed while the signals are transferred through each stage. Further, it is not sufficient to simply operate the circuit at high speed because the redundancy control signal is generated after the comparison signals are received and the turn-on operations are progressively carried out via each stage. The series-stages architecture also brings the added disadvantage that it increases layout area requirements.

Redundancy circuit capable of reducing time for redundancy discrimination


Systems and methods are provided for evaluating workplace risk by associating sensors with individual members of a workforce to measure conditions affecting the individual. Data is obtained from the sensors for reoccurring work periods for each individual so that a risk analysis may be performed to derive a risk score. Probability of injury is calculated aggregating risk scores for multiple reoccurring work periods. The calculated probability of injury is used to quantify workplace risk for the at least one individual and an enterprise risk assessment is provided by combining the quantified risks for each individual.

Workplace safety directly or indirectly affects virtually every member of society. Despite concerted attempts to improve conditions, workplace injuries represent a significant source of economic loss resulting from wage and productivity reductions, medical expenses, administrative costs, damage, uninsured costs and others. Thus, there are significant needs to provide continuous and real time assessment of the potential cost and recordable incidents of workplace injury for a single employee, and the potential cost and recordable incidents on workplace injury for all employees within an enterprise. Accordingly, this disclosure is directed to systems and methods for workplace risk assessment that meet these and other needs.

Methods and systems for workplace risk assessment


A method of synchronizing data between two devices can include starting, in a first device, a first synchronization operation comprising transmitting a first data set to be received by a second device, the first data set comprising changes to multiple different data elements in the first device that have occurred since a prior successful synchronization operation between the first device and the second device; receiving at least one of separate acknowledgements for each of the multiple different data elements, each such acknowledgement indicating that a change to one of the multiple different data elements in the first device has been applied to a corresponding data element in the second device; and when the first synchronization operation is interrupted, initiating a second synchronization operation to synchronize the changes of the first data set for which a separate acknowledgement was not received during the first synchronization operation.

People use various devices to manage different kinds of information. For example, a person may use a desktop computer at his or her office to send and receive emails, manage a calendar, maintain personal and business contacts, and process various electronic documents and files. The person may also use a laptop computer while traveling to manage the same kinds of information. The person may also carry a personal digital assistant (PDA) to maintain a portable calendar. The person may also carry a cell phone or a smartphone to send and receive cellular calls. In some cases, the cell phone or smartphone includes PDA functionality and also provides access to office emails, calendar items and contact information. In such cases, the person may also use with the cell phone or smartphone an accessory I/O device that has a larger screen and keypad to more efficiently input data into or display data from the cell phone or smartphone.
To be most useful, each of the information-managing devices a person employs should provide access to the same version of information. To enable access to the same version of information from different devices, information can be synchronized between the different devices. For example, emails on a desktop computer can be synchronized with emails on a smartphone so that a person can read or respond to the same emails from either the desktop computer or the smartphone. As another example, calendar items on a PDA can be synchronized with calendar items on the desktop computer so that a user can determine his or her appointments and meetings by consulting either the desktop computer or the PDA.
Frequently, synchronization is managed with respect to a central repository. For example, the desktop computer at a person's office may connect to an enterprise server that maintains a central copy of emails and calendar items. To synchronize calendar items between the desktop computer and the PDA, the PDA may connect to the enterprise server. Similarly, to synchronize emails between the desktop computer and a smartphone, the smartphone may connect to the enterprise server.
A synchronization operation between two devices is sometimes interrupted for a variety of reasons. For example, the synchronization operation may be manually aborted by a user of one of the devices. As another example, one of the devices may lose power, causing the device to unexpectedly shut down. As another example, a connection between two devices being synchronized may be lost or subjected to interference. In particular, for example, a cellular connection between a smartphone and an enterprise server may be dropped, or the smartphone may be moved out of range of cellular coverage. When a synchronization operation between two devices is interrupted, there are different ways to recover, in order to enable information to ultimately be synchronized between the two devices.

Resuming a previously interrupted peer-to-peer synchronization operation


Methods of erasing a non-volatile memory device having discrete charge trap sites between a semiconductor substrate and a gate include applying a negative voltage to a gate at least partially spaced apart from a semiconductor substrate by a charge storage layer providing discrete charge trap sites. A first positive voltage is applied to a source formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to one sidewall of the gate. A second positive voltage, which is equal to or less than the first positive voltage, is applied to a drain formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the gate and located opposite the source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-volatile memory device and, more particularly, to methods of erasing a non-volatile memory device having discrete charge trap sites.
2. Description of the Related Art
A non-volatile memory device is configured to retain data previously stored in its memory cells, even when the power supply is turned off, unlike a volatile memory device which loses stored data when power is removed. The non-volatile memory device includes a charge storage layer, which is interposed between a semiconductor substrate and a gate. Non-volatile memory devices may be classified as a floating gate type memory device and an MNOS type memory device, depending on the structure of the charge storage layer.
The floating gate type non-volatile memory device structure includes a tunnel dielectric layer, a floating gate, an inter-gate insulating layer, and a control gate, which are sequentially stacked on a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate, in which the charge is stored, is formed of a conductive layer.
The MNOS type non-volatile memory device structure includes a stacked metal/nitride/oxide/semiconductor (MNOS) or metal/oxide/nitride/oxide/semiconductor (MONOS). In this configuration, a dielectric layer such as nitride, is interposed between a semiconductor substrate and a gate, to serve as a charge storage layer. The MNOS type non-volatile memory device stores data by using trap sites within the dielectric layer, and trap sites in an interface of the dielectric layer, for example, the interface between adjacent dielectric layers, and trap sites in an interface between the dielectric layer and the semiconductor substrate.
Chan, et. al. introduced SONOS (silicon oxide nitride oxide silicon)-type memory devices in "A True Single-Transistor Oxide-Nitride-Oxide EEPROM Device, IEEE Electron Device Letters, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 93–95, 1987). The conventional SONOS type non-volatile memory device includes a dielectric layer and a gate, which are formed on a silicon substrate, and source/drain formed in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to both sidewalls of the gate. The dielectric layer includes a tunnel dielectric layer, a charge storage dielectric layer, and a blocking dielectric layer. The tunnel dielectric layer, the charge storage dielectric layer and the blocking dielectric layer may be formed of a silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer and a silicon oxide layer respectively. The gate may be formed of a silicon layer. That is, the SONOS structure is formed of the silicon oxide layer, the silicon nitride layer, the silicon oxide layer and silicon layer, which are sequentially stacked on the silicon substrate.
When the SONOS type non-volatile memory device becomes programmed, and electrons are injected into the charge storage dielectric layer, the device threshold voltage is increased. Thus, when a voltage, being lower than the increased threshold voltage, is applied on the gate, electric current does not flow through the channel. When a voltage higher than the threshold voltage is applied, current flows through the channel. Using this property, stored data can be read.
Furthermore, the erase operation of the SONOS type non-volatile memory device is performed by applying a negative voltage to the gate and by applying a positive voltage to the source, while floating the drain and the semiconductor substrate. As such, the electrons stored within the charge storage dielectric layer are removed. In the case where the charge storage layer is a floating gate comprising a conductive layer, the electrons stored within the charge storage layer can be freely moved. On the contrary, in the case where the charge storage layer is formed of a dielectric layer, such as in the case of the SONOS type non-volatile memory device, the electrons stored inside the trap sites cannot be freely moved. Thus, the conventional erasing method described above fails to provide a complete erasure in such a SONOS type non-volatile memory device.
FIG. 1 is a graph showing the change of threshold voltage as a function of the number of program(P)/erase(E) cycles in the typical SONOS type non-volatile memory device. As shown in FIG. 1, while program threshold voltages remain somewhat constant as a function of the number of program/erase operations, the erase threshold voltages are gradually increased. Such an increase of the erase threshold voltages results from the fact that the electrons trapped within the charge storage layer are not completely removed as a result of the erase operation, as described above. If the increase in erase threshold voltage cannot be suppressed, after approximately 100,000 P/E cycles, a threshold voltage window between a programmed non-volatile memory device and a non-programmed non-volatile memory device is not obtained, thereby resulting in deterioration of device reliability.


A method of playing a game (e.g., blackjack or other wagering game), where the user is provided with the option of purchasing bet insurance by paying an additional fee at the time the time he/she pays the subscription fee. At a predetermined time during the course of the subscription period, and if the player is below a predetermined number of total points or other standing, the player's bet protection is automatically applied, and the player is refunded his initial subscription fee with the gaming operator keeping the insurance fee. Further, the player is eliminated from the plurality of game sessions for the remaining time of that subscription period.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates generally to gaming, and more particularly to games having protection for bets placed by a player.
2. Background of the Related Art
Casino games are popular, and recently many varieties of new Casino games have been introduced, especially those that can be played over a network such as the Internet. These games allow, in some jurisdictions, players to make bets and win prizes as if they were playing in a casino. The Internet has gained a great deal of popularity on certain "betting" card games, such as blackjack. The rules of these types of games are similar to those played in a casino, and therefore, these games have similar odds of winning as casino games.
Bet protection is often used by players engaging in gaming in order to limit their risk in playing the game. One such game in which players often utilize bet protection is blackjack, where bet insurance is available in several forms—these bet protection forms are referred to as "blackjack insurance" and "surrender."
"Blackjack insurance" provides each player with the option of making a side bet if that player believes based upon the dealer upcard, that the dealer may have a blackjack. Blackjack insurance is considered a side bet because it is distinct from the player's initial bet. A player is allowed to make a blackjack insurance side bet only if the dealer upcard is an ace. Typically, a player is typically allowed to wager, for this side bet, up to one-half of his initial bet. A player wins this side bet if the card that was initially dealt face down to the dealer completes a blackjack for the dealer, and otherwise loses this side bet. A player who wins this side bet (e.g., there is a blackjack for the dealer) will typically be paid based upon his side bet using a 2:1 ratio (e.g., such that a $5 side bet results in a $15 payout). If there is no blackjack for the dealer, the player loses the side bet. Because a player who wins this side bet is likely to have lost the initial bet (e.g., the dealer's hand turned out to be a blackjack), the player's winnings on this side bet typically cancels out the player's loss on his initial bet. Thus, "blackjack insurance" allows the player to hedge his/her initial bet to lower their risk of losing. Also, with blackjack insurance, each player is allowed to place a side bet that will win if the dealer's hand turns out to be a blackjack.
Another form of bet protection in blackjack referred to as "surrender" provides each player with the option of terminating a round of play after the starting hands have been dealt. Such an option is useful in situations where that player has been dealt a "bad" starting hand that is likely to bust (if an additional card is drawn) or to lose to the dealer's hand (if an additional card is not drawn). If, for example, a player's starting hand includes a 5 and a 10 and the dealer's upcard is a Jack, only an additional card of 6 or below will not "bust" the player, while "standing" with only 15 points is likely to lose to the dealer. In this situation, the player is likely to bust or lose. Surrender is typically practiced by the player taking back one-half of his initial bet and "surrendering" the other one-half of his initial bet to the dealer while terminating the round of play. For example, if a player who made a $10 initial bet surrenders, he/she takes back $5 of his/her initial bet, surrenders the other $5 to the dealer, and terminates the round of play. Historically, the surrender option has not proven to be popular among blackjack players.

System and method for performing bet protection


A non-volatile magnetic memory cell having a magnetic element with multiple segments which are not co-linear. Each of the segments is magnetized with a remnant magnetic field using a single write line. The segments can be magnetized in a first direction or a second direction, corresponding to first and second orientations of the memory cell. A sensor is provided to determine the direction in which the segments are magnetized and thereby the orientation of the cell. The segments are oriented such that the magnetic flux fields created by their respective remnant magnetic fields have a cumulative effect at a sensing region of the sensor. The cumulative effect allows a less sensitive sensor to be used than in known device. In various embodiments, the magnetic element can have a number of linear segments or a curved profile. In another embodiment, multiple magnetic elements are magnetized by a single write line. The multiple magnetic elements are arranged such that remnant magnetic field stored in them can be cumulatively sensed. In another embodiment, the magnetic element is arranged to be magnetized in a single general direction, but is shaped such that magnetic flux lines emanate from it in different directions. The different directions are arranged to direct flux lines through the sensing region of a sensor, which measures their cumulative effect.

Non-volatile magnetic memory cells have been known for sometime. Prior art devices have utilized a geometrically simple linear magnetic element to store a magnetic field. The magnetic field can typically have one of two orientations, which are arbitrarily assigned to represent "0" and "1" bit values. The prior art devices typically utilize a Hall effect sensor to detect the orientation of the magnetic field, thereby determining the data value stored in the cell.
The geometrically simple linear magnetic elements typically require a more sensitive sensor to determine the orientation of their stored magnetic fields. As a result, prior art devices are typically not suitable for integration in a standard device integration process due to the need for special highly sensitive materials used in their sensor elements. Such materials must be isolated from other integrated components with barrier layers, thus, complicating the fabrication process.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved magnetic memory cell with an improved magnetic element that allows its stored magnetic field to be sensed efficiently. Preferably, the improved magnetic memory cells is also suitable for integration in a standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process.


An apparatus for transferring articles such as absorbent cores or disposable diaper chassis components from a rotary mechanism, such as a pad turner, to a linear mechanism, such as a conveyor, for further processing. The invention provides a device for picking an article from the outside of a toroidal surface, thence extending transversely under tension the article to be transferred so that at the point of deposition the article is held flat and at full length. Further, the invention allows for apparatus to match the velocity of both the first and second transfer points, even if these velocities are not the same. The device is of particular benefit where an article to be transferred is subject to internally biasing elastic forces.

This invention related to an apparatus for transferring articles such as absorbent pads in the manufacture of disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinence control garments or female sanitary pads as they advance along a production line.
In the production and manufacture of disposable products such as sanitary napkins or pants-type diapers, it frequently becomes necessary to manufacture a component of the product in one orientation, and then to rotate that component part 90° so that it is suitably oriented for use in another step in the production process. Various devices have been developed for this purpose and are known to those experienced in the industry. Examples of such apparatus are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,726,876, 4,880,102, and 5,025,910.
As discussed above, a typical article to be reoriented by the apparatus of this invention is an absorbent pad. Because absorbent pads are typically comprised of several webs, an absorbent core and several elastic members, there is a tendency of these assemblies to contract and become distorted during transfer operations.
An example of a device developed for this purpose is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,122. In this patent, an apparatus is described which receives inserts at an infeed point, stretched them in the cross-direction to what is a more normal length, and then places them onto a receiving web. However this apparatus has the limitation of receiving and placing the inserts at similar product pitches, or web velocities. Additionally, as stated above, this apparatus is only able to stretch the inserts in a cross-direction.
It is desirable to have an apparatus which is capable of receiving items at one pitch, while placing them onto a receiving conveyor at a second pitch in order to provide more flexibility in the range of product configurations. It is also desirable to have an apparatus which is capable of stretching an item in both the cross direction and the machine direction.

Article transfer and placement apparatus


A music selecting apparatus and method, which are capable to indicate a music piece matching with the sensitivities of the user. A degree of chord change is stored as data for each of a plurality of music pieces, a sensitivity word for music selection is set in accordance with an input operation, and a music piece having the chord change degree corresponding to the set sensitivity word is detected in accordance with the chord change degree of each of the plurality of music pieces.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a music selecting apparatus and method which selects one of a plurality of music pieces.
2. Description of the Related Art
A well-known method to select a music piece preferred by a user of a plurality of music pieces involves extracting as data the physical characteristics of music pieces, classifying the plurality of music pieces in accordance with the extraction results, and using the result for music selection. As a method for obtaining physical characteristic data of each music piece, for example, a method for obtaining power spectrum data from music data is widely known (see Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 10-134549). A method for obtaining physical characteristic data through the patterning of time-series changes using an N-gram method, based on the frequency bandwidth and the length of the reproduced sound of the music piece and the musical score, is also known.
However, in such conventional music selection methods, the physical characteristic data is not data which has a correlation with the sensitivities of the user. Hence there is the problem that the music piece imagined by the user is not necessarily selected.


A variable optical attenuator comprising a separation/combination birefringent element, fixed polarization rotation means, a convex lens, variable polarization rotation means, and a mirror which are arranged in that order. The fixed polarization rotation means has a compensation film Faraday element placed in a cylindrical permanent magnet, and the variable polarization rotation means has a base film Faraday element that is placed outside the cylindrical permanent magnet, and an electromagnet applying a variable magnetic field thereto. Thereby, both the Faraday elements are magnetized in directions different from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reflection type variable optical attenuator.
2. Related Art
Optical communication systems or optical measuring systems need a variable optical attenuator for controlling the amount of transmitted light. A typical example of such a variable optical attenuator is an opposed type that has a polarizer and an analyzer placed on the optical axis in front of and behind (on the input and output sides) variable polarization rotation means (a Faraday rotation angle varying device). The variable polarization rotation means has an electromagnet, etc., applying a magnetic field externally to a Faraday element (such as a magnetic garnet single crystal film having a Faraday effect) and controls the Faraday rotation angle of light passing through the Faraday element by varying the applied magnetic field. By this control of the Faraday rotation angle, the variable optical attenuator variably controls the attenuation of light.
In these years, as wavelength multiplex communications are coming into practical use, an optical attenuator is provided for each wavelength to make insertion loss even for the wavelengths. In such a usage, it is particularly important that the optical attenuator is inexpensive to produce and can be made smaller in size. Conventional variable optical attenuators of the opposed type need a broad space for fibers to be laid in, except where their input and output are arranged opposite each other, resulting in less degrees of freedom in mounting.
As technology to solve this problem, there has been proposed a reflection type variable optical attenuator wherein a separation/combination birefringent element, a lens, and a mirror are arranged in that order and an input port and an output port are provided on the front side of the separation/combination birefringent element and wherein the attenuation of incident light is adjustable by controlling the rotation angles of the polarization directions by use of variable polarization rotation means provided in between the separation/combination birefringent element and the mirror. Refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-107420. This reference also discloses technology wherein a combination of a base film Faraday element whose Faraday rotation angle varies according to a variable magnetic field and a compensation film Faraday element whose Faraday rotation angle does not vary depending on the variable magnetic field is provided thereby achieving a high attenuation and widening the range in which the attenuation is variable.
In such a variable optical attenuator, the Faraday rotational directions of the base film Faraday element and of the compensation film Faraday element must be opposite to each other. Thus, the composition is different between the base film Faraday element and the compensation film Faraday element, and thus producing conditions are different. Hence, the base film Faraday element and the compensation film Faraday element are separately produced. Therefore, the base film Faraday element and the compensation film Faraday element are different in wavelength-dependent loss and temperature-dependent loss, and a difference in Faraday rotation angle occurs depending on conditions of wavelength and temperature. Thus, the maximum attenuation peak shifts against the drive current, resulting in a bad effect on optical characteristics of the variable optical attenuator such as the reduction of the attenuation range. Therefore, it is difficult to widen the range of operating temperatures and the range of operating wavelengths.


A composite material having at least one fullerene layer and at least one layer of an auxiliary substance provided on the fullerene layer and selected from metals metalloids, metal compounds, metalloid compounds and mixtures thereof. The auxiliary substance layer is formed by sputtering. The composite material emits strong luminescence when irradiated with an argon laser.

This invention relates to a composite luminescent material and, more specifically, to a composite photoluminescent material having a fullerene layer and the capabilty of luminescing upon being irradiated with argon laser. The present invention is also directed to a method of preparing such a composite luminescent material.
Fullerenes are hollow molecules containing 32 to 960 carbon atoms and may be produced by, for example, a method disclosed in Nature, 347, 354 (1990) by Kratschmer et al. Among fullerenes, it is known that C.sub.60 and C.sub..sub.70 are stable. It is also known that C.sub.60 emits luminescence. However, the luminescence of C.sub.60 is very weak.

Director-General of Agency of Industrial Science & Technology


A vehicle or trailer side marker and/or downlight (10) includes a casing or housing (1) and adjustable mounting (4,5),

When driving a motor vehicle and/or trailer combination it can be a problem for the driver to see along the side perimeter and the safe clearance area surrounding the sides of the vehicle. Front mounted headlights give illumination to the front and in some respects a wider forward field of vision beyond that of the vehicle width, at least when looking and driving forward. Rear mounted reversing lights are of little or no use to the driver in judging width, since the area immediately behind the vehicle is not visible.
Current side marker lights are again of little or no use to the driver, since they illuminate horizontally outward, rather than downward. They only give notice to other road users of some sort of vehicle presence when looking at the side of the vehicle and/or trailer.
When visibility is hampered, such as by thick fog or lashing rain, the current side marker lights are often not visible when being overtaken. Other road users have been known to go underneath an articulated trailer when in thick fog, due to the insufficient light being displayed along the side of the vehicle.
For a driver of a long vehicle is in a dark situation it is problematic to see the exact location of that vehicle or indeed anything else around it. Reference to this problem was highlighted in the 1992 heavy goods video 'Driving Skills For Life' Section 9D, which became the UK's Official Goods Vehicle Driving Video and was made by Creative Training. It is now 2012 and still nothing has been successfully produced to overcome this problem. Once a driver of an articulated vehicle is faced with the aforementioned dilemma, where a road might be narrow and there is no lighting, there is no way of knowing whether or not any damage is being committed by or to the side of the trailer, until the manoeuvre has taken place and the vehicle and surrounding area has been checked.

Abstract: an internal reflector an internal baffle or shield, a light source, a lens or diffuser cover to allow adjustment of beam orientation, direction or angular spread to determine ground spread and beam upper margin limits so as not to dazzle others.


A process is provided for producing a bonded nonwoven sheet from a lightly consolidated fibrous polyolefin sheet wherein the sheet is preheated on one or more preheating rolls, is bonded in one or more calendering nips, and is cooled on one or more cooling rolls. The process is used to make bonded polyolefin fibrous sheets that are smooth, are substantially impermeable to air and water, and are moisture vapor permeable.

Processes for manufacturing fibrous nonwoven sheets from polyolefin polymers are known in the art. Blades et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,081,519 (assigned to E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company (hereinafter "DuPont")), discloses flash-spinning of plexifilamentary polyethylene film-fibrils. Steuber, U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,899 (assigned to DuPont), discloses depositing a flash-spun polyethylene plexifilamentary film-fibril web onto a moving belt and compressing the deposited web to form a lightly consolidated nonwoven sheet. The term "plexifilamentary" means a three-dimensional integral network of a multitude of thin, ribbon-like, film-fibril elements of random length and with a mean thickness of less than about 4 microns, and with a median fibril width of less than about 25 microns. In plexifilamentary structures, the film-fibril elements are generally coextensively aligned with the longitudinal axis of the structure and they intermittently unite and separate at irregular intervals in various places throughout the length, width and thickness of the structure to form the three-dimensional network.
In order to produce sheets with the strength and barrier properties required for many applications, such as air infiltration barrier sheet material used in home construction (housewrap), the film-fibrils or other fibers of the lightly consolidated sheet material must be bonded together. Lightly consolidated nonwoven sheets made from polyolefin fibers have been bonded by calendering and hot air treatments. However, sheets so bonded have tended to melt, shrink and curl, resulting in sheets with irregular thickness, opacity, strength and permeability properties.
A process for bonding polyolefinic plexifilamentary, film-fibril sheets with properties sufficiently uniform for commercial applications is disclosed in David, U.S. Pat. No. 3,532,589 (assigned to DuPont) and is shown in FIG. 1. The thermal bonding process disclosed in the David patent requires that the unconsolidated film-fibril sheet 5 from supply roll 6 be subjected to light compression during heating in order to prevent shrinkage and curling of the bonding sheet. A flexible belt 2 is used to compress a sheet being bonded against a large heated drum 1 that is made of a heat-conducting material. Tension in the belt is maintained by the rolls 3. The belt is preheated by a heating roll 9 and a heated plate 10. The drum 1 is maintained at a temperature substantially equal to or greater than the upper limit of the melting range of the film-fibril elements of the sheet being bonded. The rotating heated drum 1 is large (about 2 m in diameter) so as to permit the film-fibril sheet to be heated long enough to allow the face of the sheet against the roll to reach a temperature within 7.degree. C. of the upper limit of the melting range of the film-fibril elements, but not substantially above said upper limit, and to allow the second face of the sheet to reach a temperature between 0.8.degree. to 10.degree. C. lower than the temperature of the first face of the sheet. The heated sheet 5 is removed from the heated drum 1 without removing the belt restraint and the sheet is then transferred to a cooling roll 4 where the temperature of the film-fibril sheet throughout its thickness is reduced to a temperature less than that at which the sheet will distort or shrink when unrestrained. Roll 7 removes the bonded sheet from the belt 2 before the sheet is collected on a collection roll 8. The sheet may be run through another thermal bonding device like that shown in FIG. 1 with the second surface facing the heated drum in order to produce a hard bonded surface on the opposite side of the sheet.
For the past twenty-five years, a thermal bonding process similar to that shown in FIG. 1 has been applied to the commercial production of hard-surfaced spunbonded polyolefin sheet material, such as TYVEK.RTM. spunbonded polyethylene sheet sold by DuPont. TYVEK.RTM. is a registered trademark of DuPont. This experience has demonstrated that the bonding apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is costly to construct, operate and maintain. The large heating drums are expensive to construct, they require large amounts of energy to heat, and their surfaces are difficult to keep clean. The flexible belt 2 used in the prior art process is similarly expensive to heat and maintain. In addition, the bonding process shown in FIG. 1 offers little flexibility for altering the degree of bonding in a sheet product or for producing sheet structures that are extra highly impermeable to air and water, while maintaining good moisture vapor transmissibility. Finally, the bonding process shown in FIG. 1 cannot be used to produce an embossed, point bonded, or otherwise patterned sheet without additional processing steps. Accordingly, there is a need for a lower cost process for bonding plexifilamentary film-fibril sheet material that also offers the flexibility to produce a variety of bonded sheet products including sheet structures that have excellent strength yet are also very smooth and printable, and sheet structures that are highly impermeable to air and water, but demonstrate good moisture vapor transmissibility.

Method of making fibrous, bonded polyolefin sheet