An adaptor for contacting a card-shaped support, having electronic components connected thereto, to a PCMACIA-standard connector of a computing unit has a housing shaped as a computer expansion card having opposed first and second end faces and opposed longitudinal sides connecting the first and second end faces. The housing has an insertion slot at the first end face for receiving the card-shaped support. The housing has a plug-in contact at the second end face of opposite the insertion slot. The printed ciruit board is mounted in the housing. It is electrically connected to the plug-in contact. The printed circuit board includes contact elements for contacting the electronic components of the card-shaped support. A first one of the longitudinal sides has an open portion adjacent to the first end face. A second one of the longitudinal sides has an opening allowing insertion of the card-shape support into the housing in a plane of the housing and angled to the longitudinal sides.

The present invention relates to an invention for contacting card-shaped supports of electronic components, especially of chip cards, to a connector of a computing unit such as a notebook computer, whereby the connector is preferably according to PCMCIA standard. The adaptor is comprised of a housing shaped like a computer expansion card. At one end face it has an insertion slot for receiving the card-shaped support and at the opposite end face has a plug-in contact for contacting the notebook or other computing unit. A printed circuit board is provided in the housing and is electrically connected to the plug-in contact. The printed circuit board is provided with contact elements for contacting the electronic components of the support.
In the context of further miniaturization in the area of computer technology electronic components are often arranged on card-shaped supports in order to provide for variability and transportability. Common are supports according to the so-called PCMCIA standard that refers to cards having a standardized matrix-like contact field and which can receive, depending on the application, various electronic components. Such cards are, for example, used as memory extension cards, hard drive cards, modem cards etc. The connection to a data processing unit is realized by a PCMCIA plug-in contact that effects together with a PCMCIA slot of the data processing unit a mechanical and electric contacting.
Also common are so-called chip cards which comprise an integrated circuit (IC) and have large surface contact fields for contacting respective reading units. Known applications for such chip cards are presently telephone cards, authorization cards or so-called charge cards.
Adaptor systems are also known in the prior art which allow to connect a chip card to a PCMCIA standard connector of a data processing system. For this purpose, PCMCIA cards are known which are provided with a slot for a chip card whereby in the area of the slot at the exposed surface a field of contact elements for the electronic components of the chip card are provided. By placing the chip card onto the PCMCIA card a connection of the chip card to a PCMCIA standard connector of a data processing system is thus possible. It is disadvantageous that the contact elements of the PCMCIA card, when the chip card is not present, are exposed and that due to lack of guiding of the chip card a safe contacting can not be ensured.
From German patent application 43 10 517 it is further known to enlarge the area opposite the PCMCIA contact field to such an extent that a guide slot for a chip card is formed. With this proposal, however, it is not ensured that the chip card is prevented from tilting out of the guiding plane in a lateral or an upward direction. Inasmuch as inner guide plates are suggested, it can not be prevented that the chip cards upon insertion hit these plate elements so that a safe contacting and a long service life cannot be ensured.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve an adaptor of the aforementioned kind such that, while avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages, a safe and secure guiding and a simple and comfortable manipulation of a card-shaped support results.

Adaptor for contacting card-shaped supports

Stocko Metallwarenfabriken Henkels und Sohn GmbH & Co.


Provided is a method and apparatus that may generate a ping packet, transmit the generated ping packet to at least one tunnel end point (TEP), receive a response ping packet from each of the at least one TEP in response to the ping packet, and update information on a state of at least one segment connected to each of the at least one TEP based on the received response ping packet.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and apparatus for managing segments connected via a network, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus that may manage segments connected via a network by transmitting and receiving a ping packet through multicasting.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN) environment, a VXLAN ping packet may be transmitted and received between VXLAN tunnel end points (VTEPs) connected to segments to monitor and manage states of the segments connected via a network.
A VTEP receiving a ping packet may determine current states of segments connected to the VTEP, and transmit a response ping packet to a VTEP transmitting the ping packet. In a method according to a related art, when N members are present in a system of the VXLAN environment, 2N(N−1) traffic may be periodically provided and processed in a layer 3 (L3) network in order for each VTEP to verify states of the other VTEPs, which may place a great burden on the L3 network.
Accordingly, a method and apparatus that may efficiently manage and monitor segments in a VXLAN environment while reducing a burden on an L3 network will be described hereinafter.
The foregoing is provided for better understanding, may include contents not forming a portion of a related art, and not include contents suggested by a related art to those skilled in the art.

Method and apparatus for managing segments connected via network

Electronics Telecommunications Research Institute


A disk driving apparatus includes a base chassis supported in a cabinet through an elastic body, and equipped with a spindle motor to rotate and drive a disk and a pickup moving radially with respect to the disk rotated by the spindle motor. Preferably, the base chassis is provided with a dynamic vibration absorber including an elastic body fixed to the base chassis, and a pendulum plate supported in the base chassis through the elastic body, and the pendulum plate is displaced by external force applied to the cabinet and makes contact with the cabinet ahead of the base chassis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk driving apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A disk driving apparatus for rotating and driving an optical disk and recording or reproducing information with respect to this optical disk requires that accurate recording or reproducing should be performed by suppressing vibration occurring at the time of the driving.
A disk driving apparatus having a structure of reducing vibration at the time of driving has been proposed conventionally (for example, see JP-A-11-328944). The disk driving apparatus described in JP-A-11-328944 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The disk driving apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a main frame 3 supported in a cabinet 2 through an elastic member 1. The main frame 3 includes a spindle motor 5 for rotating a turntable 4 on which an optical disk D is fixed. Also, this main frame 3 includes a stepping motor 7 for radially reciprocating a pickup 6 with respect to the optical disk D rotating along with the turntable 4. Then, this pickup 6 moves radially with respect to the rotating optical disk D and information is recorded or reproduced. Also, a sub frame 9 is mounted in an upper surface of the main frame 3 through an elastic member 8, and vibration occurring in the main frame 3 is propagated to this sub frame 9 through the elastic member 8.
In such a disk driving apparatus, vibration propagating from the cabinet 2 to the main frame 3 damps by the elastic member 1, but vibration occurring due to rotation of the spindle motor 5 directly propagates to the main frame 3. Particularly, vibration caused by imbalance of the optical disk D rotating along with the turntable 4 tends to occur in the main frame 3.
Then, in the disk driving apparatus described above, the sub frame 9 has a resonance frequency vibrating in a phase opposite to that of the main frame 3 and thereby, the vibrations of the sub frame 9 and the main frame 3 are canceled and vibration near to the resonance frequency of the sub frame 9 is reduced.
Thus, the disk driving apparatus described above can reduce vibration at the time of driving but, for example, in case of applying a large impact due to a fall etc., there is fear that the main frame 3 supported in the cabinet 2 through the elastic member 1 is displaced in the surface direction due to the impact and makes contact with the inside of the cabinet 2. As a result of this, particularly, a problem that breakage or misalignment of the pickup 6 which is a precision component for recording or reproducing information while moving radially with respect to the rotated optical disk D with high accuracy occurs and recording or reproducing with respect to the disk D cannot accurately be performed is given as one embodiment.


An infrared sensor flushing control method and the plumbing fixture flushing system. The realization of flushing with two different jets is achieved by using the infrared sensor and MCU to control the electromagnetic-controlled valves. The MCU preinstalled with three different solid waste flushing procedures and one liquid waste flushing procedure, providing the water-saving consumption according to the requirements of each individual and the automatic discrimination of the usage. The integrated design also accomplishes the purpose of convenient installation and space saving.

1. Field of Invention
This present invention relates to a plumbing fixture and a flushing method, and more particularly to an infrared sensor technology applied in a flushing control method and a plumbing fixture flushing system.
2. Description of Related Arts
The most common plumbing fixture design is a manually-operated flushing system in a plumbing fixture with a float-ball-controlled toilet tank. However, this specific plumbing fixture design is superannuated. Drawbacks of this design are low reliability, frequent malfunction, waste of water in each flush, and sanitation hygiene problem owing to operation of this specific commode design with bare hand. Because of the demand for plumbing fixture with water saving function, the retrofit of the manually-operated float-ball-controlled plumbing fixture is achieved by, for instance, using electromagnetic-controlled valve, especially in combination with the infrared technology into the automatic flushing system, yet mostly on the urinal flushing system and poorly performed in the excrement flushing. Since the retrofit only uses single electromagnetic-controlled valve to control, without modification on the flushing method, the water consumption is still considerably high. If the single electromagnetic-controlled valve controller is redesigned to meet the requirement of the sufficient flushing discharge quantity for excrement or solid waste, the overall volume of this controller integrating into the plumbing fixture would be increased, hence, it is difficult to install.

Infrared sensor flushing control method and plumbing fixture flushing system


A method of compiling byte code into native code disclosed together with a server (100) and a receiving terminal (101) for the same. The method comprises the steps of transmitting byte code files containing byte code from a server to a receiving terminal; transmitting grouping information relating to the grouping of byte code files to the receiving terminal; and compiling byte code files received at the receiving terminal to native code. The byte code files are selected for compilation as a function of the grouping of byte code files.

Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) is an organization which undertakes standardization activities in the field of digital broadcasting (see http://www.dvb.org). DVB's Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) standard (ETSI reference TS 101 812, version 1.1.1, blue book reference A057 05/00) is a series of measures designed to promote the harmonized transition from analogue television (TV) to a digital interactive multimedia future. In particular, the MHP defines a generic, i.e. hardware independent, interface between interactive digital applications and the terminals on which those applications execute. This enables digital content providers to address all types of terminals ranging from low-end to high-end set top boxes, integrated digital TV sets and multimedia PCs. The MHP supports many kinds of applications including the following examples: electronic program guides, information services (enhanced teletext, news and stock tickers etc.), applications synchronized to TV content, gaming and e-commerce.
The DVB MHP standard and its composite elements are known and well documented, and therefore only those elements which relate to the present invention are elaborated upon hereafter.
Digital Storage Media Command and Control (DSM-CC) is employed in DVB's MHP as a toolkit for developing control channels associated with MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 streams. Principally defined in part 6 of the MPEG-2 standard (Extensions for DSM-CC), it enables amongst other things broadcast carousels to be defined. Such carousels are mechanisms for assembling data sets into a buffer which are played-out in a cyclic manner, i.e. broadcast periodically. For example, such a carousel may be used to broadcast all the application files including Java class files, textual information and graphical data required for the receiver to execute MHP applications.
The DSM-CC Object Carousel is used not only in DVB's MHP but also in some digital terrestrial television broadcasts including, for example, ONdigital, BBC TV and Channel 4 digital broadcasts in the UK.
MHP is based around a platform known as DVB-J and includes a virtual machine as defined in the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) specification from Sun Microsystems. Java provides a means of producing hardware independent, executable "byte code" which is executed on a JVM. Different hardware platforms can have different JVM implementations but all will execute the same byte code. This is ideal for broadcast environments such as digital TV, where applications can be written, compiled and broadcast to a variety of different set-top boxes or integrated digital TVs.
Java source code is compiled with a Java compiler into byte code and stored in class files, which can be executed by a JVM. With DVB's MHP, Java application class files are broadcast to a receiver using DSM-CC which may prescribe a corresponding file structure which can then be replicated to store or cache the class files at the receiver. In addition, the DSM-CC may be used to defining modules comprising groups of related Java class files and other files for broadcast.
In the first JVM implementations, the byte code was interpreted however modern JVMs compile the byte code into faster executing, native instructions. Such compilation may typically occur in any of the following ways:
Just in Time (JIT)
This is where byte code is compiled to native code either when a class file is loaded or a method (a section of byte code which performs a certain function) within a class file is executed. A disadvantage of JIT implementations is that the JVM must spend an amount of time compiling a class or method when it is first accessed. During this time the JVM waits until the compilation is completed, pausing the execution of the Java application. Typically the more optimization that is performed by the compiler the larger the latency, but the faster the native code will run.
Runtime Analysis
These are based on an interpreted JVM. The JVM takes measurements at runtime and assesses which classes or methods would produce the best performance gain if they were compiled. This could include measuring the number of times a class or method is used and the amount of time spent executing byte code from that class or method. Once identified these can be compiled in the foreground (introducing latency) or compiled in the background, using otherwise wasted processor time. JVMs using this technology have less latency when new class files are loaded or previously unused methods are executed than JIT implementations, but run at a slower speed since some interpretation is always performed. The storage of runtime information has a small overhead on the execution speed. This technique requires both a byte code interpreter and a byte code to native code compiler.
Ahead of Time (AOT)
The byte code is processed after compilation and a new class file is produced. The new class file contains native implementations of methods. The JVM recognizes these native implementations and uses them instead of byte code. Typically better optimizations can be performed by AOT time compilation than JIT since compile time does not hold up the execution of the Java application. The native code is specific to a single processor, thus AOT compilation is not well suited to a broadcast environment since there is likely to be wide range of processors used by different receiver manufacturers.

Method of compiling bytecode to native code


The present invention provides a system and method to efficiently generate and switch page display views on a portable electronic book. The method includes generating an ebook binary file including a plurality of book views, each of the plurality of book views including information needed to generate page display images representing content of a reading material in a font having a particular font point size. The method further includes parsing the ebook binary file and generating the page display images representing content of a reading material.

This invention relates generally to portable electronic books, and particularly to a system and method to efficiently generate and switch page display views on a portable electronic book.
Advances in computer and communication technology have provided consumers or users a convenient and economical way to access information in a variety of media. One particular area of information access includes electronic books. An electronic book is a virtual device that receives documents, publications, or reading materials downloaded from an information network. Users of an electronic book can read downloaded contents of documents, publications, or reading materials subscribed from a participating bookstore at his or her own convenience without the need to purchase printed version. When reading the documents, publications, or reading materials, users of an electronic book may wish to scale the pages of the reading materials up or down depending on the users"" preferences. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to include a view switching feature to allow users to increase or decrease size of page display images or visual representations of pages of the reading material.
The present invention provides a system and method to efficiently generate and switch page display views on a portable electronic book.
The method includes generating an electronic book (ebook) binary file including a plurality of book views, each of the plurality of book views including information needed to generate page display images representing content of a reading material in a font having a particular font point size. The method further includes parsing the ebook binary file and generating the page display images representing content of a reading material.
The above described and many other features of the present invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

System and method to efficiently generate and switch page display views on a portable electronic book


An automatic position-locking tool carrier apparatus and method include a carriage that rides on a first rail and a second rail translatably connected to the carriage perpendicular to the first rail. Pinion gears that engage with the two rails are attached to the carriage and coupled to position encoders which transmit position signals to a controller. The controller produces control signals to control brake mechanisms coupled to the pinion gears. Translational motion of the carriage and the second rail are limited or prevented when the position of the carriage and the second rail are within predetermined limitations from a predetermined location, fixing the position of an end-effector head attached at one end of the second rail. The carriage and the second rail are propelled by forces external to the system.

Manufacturing operations frequently require repetitive execution of identical or similar tasks. This fact has led to continued efforts to automate manufacturing operations. Much effort has focused on relatively large, stationary automated machines; nevertheless, a need also exists for smaller, lighter-weight, relatively mobile automated manufacturing devices to perform relatively light-duty manufacturing operations.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a flexible rail-mounted tool-carrying device that conforms to a contoured workpiece surface, is relatively light-weight and readily attachable to and detachable from the workpiece, can extend beyond the excursion envelope defined by the rail footprint, and is of relatively low complexity, so as to be relatively inexpensive.

Automatic position-locking tool carrier apparatus and method


A signal monitoring system includes four sensors, a multiplexer, a signal converting circuit, and a monitor chip. The multiplexer is electrically connected to the sensors for receiving the signals from the sensors. The multiplexer includes two selecting ports for selecting one of the sensors to communicate with the multiplexer, and a data bus for transmitting the signals generated by the selected sensor. The signal converting circuit includes an ADC electrically connected to the multiplexer for converting analog signals output therefrom to digital signals, and an MCU electrically connected to the ADC and the multiplexer. The MCU includes a digital port electrically connected to the monitor chip for outputting digital signals thereto, and a timer electrically connected to the monitor chip for outputting pulse signals thereto. The monitor chip is for processing the digital signals or pulse signals. A related signal monitoring method is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to signal monitoring systems and methods used for checking and controlling apparatuses such as electronic equipment, and particularly to a signal monitoring system and method that can monitor plural signals by only employing a single data bus.
2. Description of Prior Art
Generally, an electrical system can be wired so that various monitoring signals such as voltage signals or temperature signals are generated. The monitoring signals correspond to measurements of various critical functions of the electrical system, which are determined according to practical requirements. A good example is the temperature of a central processing unit (CPU) in a personal computer system. The temperature should be monitored in order to prevent the CPU from overheating and failing, for example when a fan on the CPU malfunctions. A signal monitoring system is provided to fulfill the above-mentioned object. The signal monitoring system generally includes a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the CPU, generating temperature signals, and transmitting the temperature signals to a monitor chip via a data bus. Thereupon the monitor chip may send a control signal to shut down the CPU in order to prevent the CPU from overheating.
The above-mentioned signal monitoring system can include a plurality of sensors for monitoring a plurality of functions and for transmitting corresponding generated signals to the monitor chip via a respective data bus. The signals may, for example, be one or more voltage signals. FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of hardware infrastructure of the above-mentioned signal monitoring system. The signal monitoring system includes a plurality of sensors 110, 120, 130, 140, a plurality of data buses 210, 220, 230, 240, and a monitor chip 300. Each of the sensors 110, 120, 130, 140 is electrically connected to the monitor chip 300 via a respective one of the data buses 210, 220, 230, 240. The sensors 110, 120, 130, 140 generate signals, and transmit the signals to the monitor chip 300 via corresponding data buses 210, 220, 230, 240. The monitor chip 300 processes the signals generated by the sensors 110, 120, 130, 140.
The above-mentioned signal monitoring system is capable of monitoring plural signals by employing the plurality of data buses 210, 220, 230, 240. Each of the data buses 210, 220, 230, 240 connects one of the sensors 110, 120, 130, 140 with the monitor chip 300. That is, the monitor chip 300 can only control a particular class of signal via a respective single data bus. As a result, the more sensors there are, the more data buses are needed for transmitting the signals generated by the sensors. In practice, this means that the number of classes of signals that the monitor chip 300 can process is limited. Consequently, a signal monitoring system and method that can monitor plural signals by only employing a single data bus is desired.


A method for recovering hydrocarbon diluent present in froth treatment tailings, comprising introducing the tailings into a vessel; adding a first portion of steam into the vessel to form a vapour-tailings interface; and operating the vessel to increase the exposure of the tailings to the vapour-tailings interface formed in the vessel.

Oil sand, as known in the Fort McMurray region of Alberta, Canada, comprises water-wet sand grains having viscous bitumen flecks trapped between the grains. The oil sand lends itself to separating or dispersing the bitumen from the sand grains by slurrying the as-mined oil sand in water so that the bitumen flecks move into the aqueous phase.
Water-based bitumen extraction processes typically involve slurrying the oil sand ore with heated water and, optionally, a process aid such as caustic (NaOH), and then conditioning the oil sand slurry in tumblers or a hydrotransport pipeline to release the bitumen from the oil sand. The conditioned oil sand slurry is then subjected to separation in one or more separation apparatus to form a bitumen froth.
The bitumen froth, which generally comprises 60 wt % bitumen, 30 wt % water and 10 wt % solids, is then subjected to further processing before the bitumen can be upgraded. More particularly, it is conventional to dilute the bitumen froth with a light hydrocarbon diluent, such as naphtha or a paraffinic diluent, to first improve the difference in specific gravity between the bitumen and water and to reduce the bitumen viscosity, thereby aiding in the separation of the water and solids from the bitumen. Separation of the bitumen from water and solids is commonly achieved by treating the diluent diluted froth in a sequence of inclined plate settlers, scroll and disc centrifuges, and the like. Other processes for separating solids and water from diluted bitumen froth are known in the art.
The primarily water and solids fraction obtained after separation is commonly referred to as froth treatment tailings. Paraffinic froth treatment tailings typically comprise water, asphaltenes, fines solids, bitumen and about 5-10 wt % residual paraffinic solvent. Naphthenic froth tailings typically comprise 20 wt % fine solids, 3 wt % bitumen and about 2 wt % naphtha, with water making up the remainder of the stream. It is desirable both economically and environmentally to recover the hydrocarbon diluent from the tailings prior to disposal of the tailings to meet the regulated volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions limit.
Typically, the consolidated froth treatment tailings produced during naphthenic froth treatment is steam stripped in a naphtha recovery unit (NRU) to recover about 85% of the naphtha (see, for example, Canadian Patent No. 2,272,045, hereinafter referred to as the "steam stripping process"). In particular, the froth treatment tailings enter a steam stripping vessel at near atmospheric pressure and flow down numerous shed decks, where the tailings form thin layers on the shed decks where they meet stripping steam flowing countercurrently. The stripped tailings gather in the bottom slurry pool and are pumped out of the vessel. Live steam is introduced below the shed decks but above the slurry pool. However, the treated tailings still contain about 0.2-0.3 wt % naphtha. At present, the solvent loss is below the regulated emissions limit, however, it is desirable to minimize naphtha loss even further from both an environmental and an economic perspective.
Equilibrium simulation shows that nearly 100% naphtha recovery should be achieved for an idealized system without solids when the steam-to-feed mass ratio is more than 0.1. In reality, however, the recovery is far lower. The low actual recovery of the NRU is believed to be caused mainly by inadequate breaking of the naphtha's attachment to the solids, either in solids pores or on the surface. New research also indicates that inadequate contacting between vapour and the hydrocarbon suspended in the water/solids rich slurry phase may be another contributing factor. Live steam stripping as used in the above-discussed NRU is inherently limited in both these aspects.
Thus, a new method and apparatus is needed to overcome these limitations to achieve 90+% naphtha recovery.

Recovery of hydrocarbon diluent from froth treatment tailings

SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD. in trust for the owners of the Syncrude Project as such owners exist now and in the future


A basketball backboard may include one or more weights disposed proximate the perimeter of the backboard in order to enhance the rebounding characteristics of the backboard. In particular, a first weight may be positioned proximate a first side of the backboard and a second weight may be positioned proximate a second side of the backboard in order to enhance the rebounding characteristics of the backboard. Advantageously, the weights may be positioned internally within the backboard or the weights may be positioned externally to the backboard. In addition, the weights may be selectively or permanently attached to the backboard, and the weights may also be sized and configured to increase the rigidity of the basketball backboard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to basketball backboards and, in particular, to basketball backboards that provide improved rebounding characteristics.
2. Description of Related Art
Basketball is well known sport that is frequently played in the United States and in many countries throughout the world. In order to play a game of basketball, a basketball backboard and rim or hoop is required. The rim is typically positioned ten feet above a playing surface and the backboard is generally placed slightly behind and above the rim. The rim and backboard are typically held in a stationary position by a support pole. The support pole, backboard and rim may form part of a permanent system that is frequently used in dedicated basketball facilities such as a gymnasium or basketball court. The support pole, backboard and rim may also form part of a portable basketball system that can be moved from one location to another. These portable basketball systems are often used at individual homes or in multi-purpose facilities where it is not desired to install a permanent basketball system.
Basketball backboards used in connection with permanent or portable basketball systems are frequently constructed from solid materials such as wood or metal. Basketball backboards constructed from wood or metal, however, are often relatively heavy and expensive. In addition, basketball backboards constructed from wood or metal often deteriorate over time, especially when used in outdoor environments because the backboards are constantly exposed to harsh weather environments such as rain and snow.
It is also known to construct basketball backboards from injection molded plastic. Injection molded plastic backboards, however, are often excessively flexible and that causes poor rebounding characteristics. In particular, when a basketball strikes the injection molded plastic backboard, the backboard will flex or bend. The amount that the injection molded plastic backboard flexes or bends, however, is often dependent upon which portion of the backboard that the basketball strikes. For example, if the basketball strikes one portion of the injection molded plastic backboard, then the backboard may bend or flex a relatively small amount. On the other hand, if the basketball strikes another portion of the injection molded plastic backboard, then the backboard may bend or flex a much larger amount. The flexing and bending of the backboard different amounts causes the basketball to rebound at different angles and velocities. Accordingly, the basketball does not bounce or rebound from the backboard in a consistent manner, which is very undesirable when playing basketball. In contrast, the basketball should rebound or bounce off the backboard in a consistent and reliable manner regardless of which portion of the backboard that the basketball strikes.
The rebounding performance of conventional injection molded plastic backboards is especially poor for portions of the backboard that are not near the support structure or support pole. For example, only the center portion of a conventional backboard is often connected to the support structure or support pole. Because the center portion of the backboard is supported by the support structure, this portion of the backboard typically flexes or moves a relatively small amount. The outer edges of the backboard and other portions furthest from the support pole are typically not well supported and these portions of the backboard tend to flex or move the most. Thus, the basketball will rebound one way when it strikes near the center portion of the backboard and proximate the support pole, and in another way when it strikes near an outer edge of the backboard and away from the support pole. Therefore, conventional injection molded plastic backboards often have unpredictable and undesirable rebounding characteristics.
It is also known to construct basketball backboards using a structural foam material with an internal cellular structure and a hard external shell to increase the rigidity of the backboard. This type of backboard, however, requires a multiple step manufacturing process that increases the time and cost to manufacture the backboard. Additionally, the internal cellular structure may breakdown over time and it may detach from the external shell after extended use. Because different portions of the backboard may be supported differently, this often creates a backboard with undesirable rebounding characteristics.
Conventional basketball backboards are also constructed from fiberglass. Fiberglass is a relatively inexpensive material that is easy to construct into the desired shape. In addition, fiberglass is a lightweight material that is generally weather-resistant. Unfortunately, fiberglass is not sufficiently impact-resistant to withstand prolonged and vigorous use as a basketball backboard.
It is also known to use acrylic and graphite materials to construct basketball backboards that are lightweight and weather-resistant. Lightweight basketball backboards are especially desirable for use with portable basketball systems because lightweight backboards decrease the weight of the system, which may reduce shipping and transportation costs. In addition, lightweight basketball backboards are often easier to move and assemble. Further, lightweight backboards may allow lighter weight and/or less complex support poles or support structures be used to hold the backboard above the playing surface.
These known lightweight basketball backboards, however, may not provide suitable rebounding characteristics because the backboards may undesirably flex, move or otherwise deflect when struck by the basketball. As discussed above, the basketball may rebound with less force or energy because of the flexing or moving of the basketball backboard. In addition, the amount that these known lightweight basketball backboards flex or move is often dependent upon which portion of the backboard that the basketball strikes. For example, the basketball may rebound with a certain amount of force or energy if it strikes one portion of the backboard, but the basketball may rebound with a different amount of force or energy if it strikes a different portion of the backboard. Further, the basketball may rebound from the backboard at a different angle depending upon which portion of the backboard the basketball strikes. For example, if the basketball strikes near the center of the backboard, which is supported by the support pole, the backboard may deflect or move a relatively small amount and the basketball will rebound at an angle. On the other hand, if the basketball strikes near an outer edge of the backboard and away from the support pole, the backboard may deflect or move a much larger amount and the basketball may rebound at a different angle. Thus, conventional lightweight basketball backboards may cause the basketball to rebound with a different amount of force or energy and at a different angle depending upon where the basketball strikes the backboard.
In order to overcome these problems, it is known to increase the thickness of the basketball backboard. Undesirably, this increases the weight and cost of the backboard. It is also known to fill hollow backboards with a material such as polyurethane foam in order to strengthen the backboard. The polyurethane foam, however, tends to lose adhesion over time and after repeated impacts from basketballs striking the backboard. The polyurethane foam also adds significantly to the cost of the backboard because additional materials and manufacturing steps are required.
It is also known to construct basketball backboards from tempered glass. Tempered glass basketball backboards are often used in professional and collegiate games to allow spectators to view the game through the backboard. Tempered glass backboards are generally one-half (½) to three-eights (⅜) of an inch thick and the tempered glass is very heavy. These very heavy backboards require large support frames and support structures to hold the backboards above the playing surface. Tempered glass backboards are generally not suitable for use with portable or home basketball systems because of their large weight and the tempered glass is often prohibitively expensive.
In order to create a look similar to the tempered glass backboards used in professional and college games, transparent or clear backboards are now being used in connection with portable or home basketball systems. For example, conventional portable basketball systems may use a welded steel frame with a planar acrylic rebound member or panel attached to the front surface of the frame. Disadvantageously, the outer edges of the acrylic panel are often exposed and not supported by the metal frame. This allows the edges of the acrylic panel to be broken or damaged when struck by a basketball or other object, and the acrylic panel is generally very difficult and expensive to fix or replace.
It is also known to use an injection molded plastic frame to support the acrylic rebound member or panel. Conventional injection molded plastic frames may include separately molded front and rear sections that are connected to form the frame. In particular, the front and rear sections of the frame may include alignment features that allow the sections to be attached in the desired manner and a slot or opening may be disposed between the front and rear sections of the frame. A substantially planar rebound member constructed from molded plastic may be inserted into the slot to form the basketball backboard. Disadvantageously, the two-piece, injection molded plastic frame is relatively heavy, which increases shipping costs and makes the assembly process more difficult. The two-piece injection molded plastic frame also requires a significant amount of labor to attach the front and rear sections of the frame and insert the rebound member into the slot between the sections.
While conventional basketball backboards constructed with injection molded plastic frames and acrylic rebound members or panels may allow relatively lightweight backboards to be constructed, these types of backboards may not provide suitable rebounding characteristics because the backboards may undesirably flex or move when struck by the basketball. Thus, as described above, a basketball may rebound with different amounts of energy or force and at different angles depending upon which portion of the backboard that the basketball strikes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Systems, methods and devices relating to coordinated network communication (e.g. transport-layer communication) of client requests and client request responses between a client and a distributed network service system, the network service nodes of the distributed network service system comprising a storage resource, a network interface, and a computer processor module for sending a coordinated network communication of data request responses to the client upon receipt of (1) network communication of client requests from clients; or (2) communication data channel information from another network service node. There is also provided a network switching device for managing a coordinated network communication of data transactions between clients and a distributed network service system comprising a plurality of network service nodes, the network switching device configured to manage higher-layer data units to coordinate a network communication of data transactions between clients and a distributed network service system.

Among other drawbacks, enterprise storage targets are very expensive. They can often represent an estimated 40% of capital expenditures on a new virtualization deployment (the servers and software licenses combine to form another 25%), and are among the highest-margin components of capital expenditure in enterprise IT spending. Enterprise Storage Area Networks (SANs) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices, which are typically utilized as memory resources for distributed memory systems, are very expensive, representing probably the highest margin computer hardware available in a datacenter environment.
Some systems, such as Veritas™'s cluster volume manager (to name just one), attempt to mitigate this cost by consolidating multiple disks on a host and/or aggregate disks within a network to provide the appearance of a single storage target. While many such systems perform some degree of consolidating memory resources, they generally use simple, established techniques to unify a set of distributed memory resources into a single common pool. They provide little or no differentiation between dissimilar resource characteristics, and provide little or no application- or data-specific optimizations with regard to performance. Put simply, these related systems strive for the simple goal of aggregating distributed resources into the illusion of a single homogenous resource.
Managing the storage of data (documents, databases, email, and system images such as operating system and application files) is generally a complex and fragmented problem in business environments today. While a large number of products exist to manage data storage, they tend to take piecewise solutions at individual points across many layers of software and hardware systems. The solutions presented by enterprise storage systems, block devices or entire file system name spaces, are too coarse grained to allow the management of specific types of data across the most appropriate types of available storage resources (e.g. "All office documents should be stored on a reliable, high-performance, storage device irrespective of what computer they are accessed from"). It is difficult or impossible to specify other fine-grained (i.e. per-file, per-data object, per-user/client, e.g.) policies that utilize the priority, encryption, durability, or performance properties of data, and then associate these properties of specific data objects with the optimal storage resources available across a storage system that in one way or another aggregates multiple storage resources. This is for static data, but is certainly true for more real-world scenarios where data characteristics (e.g. priority or "hotness") or the storage resource characteristics (i.e. a storage node becomes inoperable) are continually in flux over time.
In existing enterprise or aggregated storage systems, network switches or other devices direct data requests (or responses thereto) between clients and distributed storage servers or other network nodes. In many cases the nodes are implemented to appear as a single logical unit to the client, or in some cases the nodes are presented as available virtual memory devices; in either such case, data requests and responses must presently be handled in accordance with existing communication and file server protocols. In conventional distributed memory systems, in order to maintain communication integrity of any higher than network layer data units, the requesting client establishes a point-to-point communication service with a destination node; in this case the requesting client is the computing device that sends a read, write or update request and the destination node is the physical node to which it sends the request (and where data that is associated with the data request/response is or will be stored). Typically, this point-to-point communication occurs in accordance with a transport protocol such as TCP or UDP, although other such protocols exist in the transport layer, but also other layers in the TCP/IP model or the OSI model. In distributed storage systems, however, in which data may be in any one of the available storage resources that are aggregated and presented as a single logical unit, there are significant limitations placed on the system because the communication service, such as TCP, which provides for communication between the requesting node and destination node, is not configured to permit responses to data requests from storage resources that are not the expected destination node, not to mention other problems such as out of order TCP segments or IP packets. Since data units will be associated with the destination node, if the data is returned from an alternative node, the data unit will not be accepted by either the requesting node, or in some cases the network infrastructure devices therebetween (e.g. routers, switches), unless the system is configured to have the destination node understand the current state of other nodes and then have a means for seeking out the requested data from the appropriate node. This problem becomes worse as distributed storage systems are scaled to be larger and as such current enterprise storage systems have historically faced significant challenge with scalability.
Some alternatives have been developed which enable the destination node to query all other nodes, obtain the data from the appropriate node, and then package and return it as if it had been stored on the expected destination node (that is the node with which a communication service is engaged in point-to-point communication). This, however, places a significant operational load on the distributed storage system. This problem will increase as data is moved around on the distributed data system, or the distributed data system is made more complex, scaled or made more distributed. In the last example, the farther the correct destination node is from the expected destination node, the more taxed the system will become when it is seeking and returning data from the correct destination node.
In some so-called "soft switches," there have been efforts to more finely control a data stream travelling over a network switching device by, for example, extracting some higher layer data unit information (e.g. the TCP header from within an IP packet or Ethernet frame). These require a processing load, however, for each data unit travelling over the network switch enroute to the expected destination that is incompatible with the requirements of today's data networks. It is for this reason that most modern switches, such as Ethernet switches, have been logically divided into a control plane and a forwarding plane (see for example "Forwarding and Control Element Separation (ForCES) Framework," RFC 3746, Network Working Group, April 2004, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference). These components, while inter-related, perform functions that are largely independent of each other. The forwarding plane is generally responsible for a router's capacity to process and forward packets, which may include functions such as packet forwarding (also referred to as packet switching), which is the act of receiving packets on the router's interfaces and usually sending them out on other interfaces, classification, traffic shaping, and metering. The control plane is generally responsible for controlling the router. The control plane implements functions such as routing protocols, signaling protocols, control protocols (e.g., RIP, OSPF, and RSVP), and network management and dictates the forwarding behavior by manipulating forwarding tables, per-flow QoS tables, and access control lists. For example, the control plane gathers and maintains network topology information and passes this information to the forwarding plane so that the forwarding plane knows where to forward received packets. Typically, the architecture of these two components combines all of the required functionality into a single functional whole with respect to external entities. The forwarding plane in many switches is specifically designed for high speed handling of data units, and can perform an extremely high number of forwarding operations. These are typically orders of magnitude higher than the processing capabilities of the control plane, which tends to rely on more general purpose processing techniques. As such, management of data requests, and in particular when management may require an understanding of information that is only available from data units in layers above those available to the network switch (e.g. information available in TCP segments within the payload of an IP packet or Ethernet frame being managed by a network switching device). A mechanism of handling such management at the forwarding plane is required in order to meet the requirements of today's data networks.
TCP termination methodologies, which generally include a TCP stack between a client and network device (that acts as an endpoint) and which is configured to generate additional TCP stacks between itself and storage nodes, fails, amongst other drawbacks, to provide for a scalable architecture for adding storage nodes, and suffers from limited functionality.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art.

Methods, devices and systems for coordinating network-based communication in distributed server systems with SDN switching


A power supply system suitable for use by an aircraft is disclosed. The power system converts power from an unregulated DC power source to multiple AC and DC voltage outputs. The power supply system comprises an interleaved buck converter, and interleaved full-bridge converter, an interleaved inverter, and a control system. In one configuration, the interleaved inverter uses high-voltage DC generated by the interleaved four-bridge converter as its power input to generate a high-voltage AC output.

Using low-voltage, unregulated DC output power from fuel cells or other unregulated power sources in distributed power systems for aircraft is an emerging technology. Current aircraft power system use a centralized power generation system, such as engine driven generators, with typical voltages of 115 VAC or 230 VAC. Emergency backup power sources of the aircraft may use low-voltage batteries. However, such backup power systems do not use power converters since the batteries are only employed to support local power buses.
Fuel cells may be used as auxiliary electric power sources on aircrafts to deliver localized and/or peak power. They may also be used as a source of emergency power. However, a fuel cell provides an unregulated DC voltage which varies with the load by as much as 50% from low-load to full-load operation. Therefore, fuel cells alone are not a valid substitute for the engine driven generators used in current aircraft since they are incapable of providing various levels and configurations of DC and AC voltages.


An image reading apparatus includes an original table for supporting an original cassette which contains an original to be read, and an auxiliary scanning mechanism for feeding the original cassette, with the original table, in an auxiliary scanning direction substantially normal to a main scanning direction of an illuminating light source. The image reading apparatus also has a rotating mechanism mounted on the original table and having a turntable for holding the original cassette, a positioning mechanism for positioning and fixing the original cassette with respect to the turntable, and a trimming mechanism for moving the turntable in the main scanning direction of the illuminating light source, the main scanning direction being a trimming direction in which the turntable can be trimmed. The original cassette is automatically fed from a cassette insertion slot to the turntable by a feed mechanism. The image reading apparatus also has an identifying mechanism for optically identifying the type and number of thee original cassette.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for automatically feeding an original cassette containing an original to be read, with respect to a subject holder, thereafter rotating and trimming the original cassette, as required, and feeding the original cassette in an auxiliary scanning direction while illuminating light is applied to the original in a main scanning direction thereby to read the original.
2. Prior Art
Image scanning reading and reproducing systems are widely used in the printing and platemaking industries for electrically processing image information of originals or subjects to produce original film plates with a view to simplifying the entire process and improving the quality of printed images.
The image scanning reading and reproducing systems are basically constructed of an image reading apparatus and an image reproducing apparatus. In the image reading apparatus, an original or subject whose image information is to be read is contained in an original cassette, and the original cassette is fed in an auxiliary scanning direction by a subject holder. While the original cassette is being fed in the auxiliary scanning direction, an illuminating light source is energized to apply illuminating light to the original in a main scanning direction substantially normal to the auxiliary scanning direction. Therefore, the image information of the original is two-dimensionally scanned by the illuminating light.
The subject holder is often combined with a mechanism for rotating the original cassette with respect to the subject holder in order to adjust the halftone dot angle or gravure angle of the original, and a mechanism for moving the original cassette in a direction normal to the auxiliary scanning direction of the subject holder in order to trim the original mechanically.
Heretofore, the subject holder has a table movable in trimming directions toward and away from the subject holder and a turntable mounted centrally on the table. The original cassette needs to be manually installed on and detached from the turntable by the operator. Therefore, the procedure for mounting and removing original cassette on and from the turntable is tedious and inefficient, and the entire image reading process cannot be automatized.
If the original cassette were to be automatically fed to the turntable by a feed mechanism, the original cassette would have to be positioned highly accurately and rigidly with respect to the turntable because the original cassette would tend to be positionally displaced when the turntable rotates. The positionally displaced original cassette would not allow the original contained therein to be read accurately.
If the original cassette were to be fed to the turntable by a feed mechanism, the feed mechanism would interfere with the turntable when the turntable is rotated, trimmed, and moved in the auxiliary scanning direction, together with the original cassette, with the result that it would not be able to displace the turntable smoothly in any desired direction. Because of these difficulties, there has not yet been proposed any feed mechanism for automatically feeding the original cassette to the turntable.
In the image reading apparatus, it is sometimes desirable to automatically identify the type of an original or subject contained in the original cassette or the individual identification number of the original cassette. One proposed arrangement for such automatic identification includes a reflective code comprising white and black bars which encode the type of an original and the number of the original cassette, and the reflective code is applied to the original cassette, so that the code will be optically detected by a reflective light sensor.
Reflective codes are fixedly applied to respective original cassettes. Therefore, the original cassettes are dedicated respectively to the types of originals. Accordingly, as many original cassettes as there are the types of originals are required. Furthermore, it is quite difficult for an inexpensive reflective light sensor to be able to detect many types of codes.

Image reading apparatus in which an original image is automatically fed to a turntable


Exemplary orthopedic implants are disclosed. The orthopedic implants may include one or more sensors. Exemplary sensors include sensors to monitor bone growth, changes to the implant over time, and proper placement of the implant. The orthopedic implants may include a woven material. Sensor arrangements to detect a state of an item are disclosed. Exemplary states include folded, unfolded, and inflated. Exemplary items include an orthopedic implant and a parachute.

The present invention relates generally to orthopedic implants and more particularly to orthopedic implants including one or more sensors.
Orthopedic implants are known. Further, it is known to implement inflatable orthopedic implants and to implement orthopedic implants including a woven portion.
The present invention relates to the use of one or more sensors with an orthopedic implant. The orthopedic implant may include one or more sensors for use during a surgical installation of the orthopedic implant. The orthopedic implant may include one or more sensors for use following a surgical installation of the orthopedic implant. The one or more sensors may include a passive sensor. The one or more sensors may include an active sensor.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an orthopedic implant for placement in a cavity formed in a bone is provided. The cavity having a predetermined shape. The orthopedic implant comprising a flexible body having an opening. The flexible body having an inflated state wherein said body has an outer shape generally corresponding to said predetermined shape formed in said bone and a non-inflated shape wherein said outer shape has a smaller envelope than said inflated state. The implant further comprising a plurality of sensors supported by said flexible body, said plurality of sensors providing an indication of whether said flexible body is in said inflated state or said non-inflated state; and a filler. The filler being positioned in said flexible body and causing said flexible body to transition from said non-inflated state to said inflated state.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an orthopedic implant for placement in a cavity having a predetermined shape formed in a bone is provided. The orthopedic implant comprising a flexible body having an inflated shape generally corresponding to said predetermined shape formed in said bone; means for sensing said shape of said flexible body; and a filler. The filler being positioned in said flexible body.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of implanting an orthopedic implant in a cavity having a predetermined shape formed in a bone is provided. The method comprising the steps of providing a flexible body which is inflatable to a first state having an outer shape generally corresponding to said predetermined shape formed in said bone; positioning said flexible body in said cavity having said predetermined shape formed in said bone; inflating said flexible body; and sensing whether said flexible body is inflated to said first state.
In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for monitoring wear of orthopedic implant for placement proximate a bearing surface when installed in a body is provided. The system comprising an orthopedic implant body; a plurality of sensors supported by said orthopedic implant body and arranged to be positioned proximate said bearing surface, each sensor corresponding to a location on said orthopedic implant; and an interrogation system to interrogate said plurality of sensors subsequent to installation in said body. Each sensor of said plurality of sensors providing a first indication in response to an interrogation signal in an absence of wear of said orthopedic implant at said location corresponding to said sensor and a second indication in response to said interrogation signal in a presence of wear of said orthopedic implant at said location corresponding to said sensor.
In a yet further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of monitoring wear of an orthopedic implant placed proximate a bearing surface when installed in a body is provided. The method comprising the steps of providing a body of said orthopedic implant; providing a plurality of sensors supported by said orthopedic implant body and arranged to be positioned proximate said bearing surface, each sensor corresponding to a location on said orthopedic implant; and interrogating said plurality of sensors to determine if said orthopedic implant has experienced wear.
In still a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a woven material for use within the body is provided. The woven material comprising a first woven layer having a first plurality of weft fibers and a first plurality of in layer warp fibers, said first layer having a first stiffness; a second woven layer having a second plurality of weft fibers and a second plurality of in layer warp fibers, said second layer having a second stiffness generally less than said first stiffness; a third woven layer having a third plurality of weft fibers and a third plurality of in layer warp fibers, said third layer having a third stiffness generally less than said second stiffness; a first plurality of out of layer warp fibers which couple together said first layer and said second layer; and a second plurality of out of layer warp fibers which couple together said second layer and said third layer.
In still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an orthopedic implant for positioning proximate a bone in a body is provided. The orthopedic implant comprising a first body portion including a three-dimensional woven material having a plurality of layers; and a second body portion coupled to said three-dimensional woven material. The three-dimensional woven material includes a first woven layer having a first plurality of weft fibers and a first plurality of in layer warp fibers. The first layer having a first stiffness. The orthopedic implant further comprising a second woven layer having a second plurality of weft fibers and a second plurality of in layer warp fibers. The second layer having a second stiffness generally less than said first stiffness. The orthopedic implant further comprising a third woven layer having a third plurality of weft fibers and a third plurality of in layer warp fibers. The third layer having a third stiffness generally less than said second stiffness. The orthopedic implant further comprising a first plurality of out of layer warp fibers which couple together said first layer and said second layer and a second plurality of out of layer warp fibers which couple together said second layer and said third layer.
In still a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an orthopedic implant for positioning proximate a bone in a body is provided. The orthopedic implant comprising a body portion including a three-dimensional woven material having a plurality of layers; and a plurality of sensors supported by said three-dimensional woven material. The plurality of sensors positioned proximate said bone and configured to provide an indication of a presence of bone in-growth into said three-dimensional woven material.
In still yet a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an orthopedic implant for positioning proximate a bone in a body. The orthopedic implant comprising a body portion including a three-dimensional woven material having a plurality of layers; and sensing means supported by said three-dimensional woven material, said sensing means being passive.
In still yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of measuring bone in-growth into an orthopedic implant placed proximate a bone when installed in a body is provided. The method comprising the steps of providing a body of said orthopedic implant, said body including a woven material; providing a sensor supported by said woven material and arranged to be positioned proximate said bone; and interrogating said sensor to determine if said bone has grown into said woven material, said sensor providing a first indication if bone in-growth is present.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of measuring strain experienced by an orthopedic implant placed proximate a bone when installed in a body is provided. The method comprising the steps of providing a body of said orthopedic implant, said body including a woven material; providing a sensor supported by said woven material and arranged to be positioned proximate said bone; and interrogating said sensor to determine an amount of strain experienced by said orthopedic implant.
In still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an assembly is provided. The assembly comprising a flexible body having a folded state and an unfolded state; and a plurality of sensors supported by said flexible body. The plurality of sensors providing an indication of whether said flexible body is in said folded state or said unfolded state.
In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an assembly is provided. The assembly comprising a flexible body having a folded state and an unfolded state; and means for sensing whether said flexible body is in said folded state or said unfolded state.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


Flip-chips are aligned by making a fiducial in the “top” chip that is translucent/transparent to light of a wavelength shorter than infrared, and at least one corresponding fiducial in the “bottom” chip. The top-chip fiducial may be made of a transparent or translucent material, its shape may be outlined by an opaque material, or it may be formed by etching through the top chip. The bottom-chip fiducial may be reflective of the light which is transparent/translucent to the fiducial in the top chip, in which case alignment can be achieved by employing at least one video camera which is located above the top chip. Alternatively, the fiducial in the bottom chip may also be transparent/translucent to the light, in which case alignment can be achieved by having the video camera located below the bottom chip. The chips are aligned by aligning the fiducials as seen by the video camera.

Prior art methods for performing the prior-to-bonding alignment of the chips which will make up the flip-chip are adequate for chips that only contain electronic circuits, because it is necessary to align the electrical contact pads of each chip with merely sufficient accuracy that an electrical connection can be made. One prior art alignment method involves inserting a visible wavelength sensitive bi-directional video camera between the two chips to be bonded, the bi-directional video camera being a video camera which can look up and down simultaneously through the use of appropriately placed prisms, and aligning opaque-to-visible-light fiducials in the chips to be bonded as seen by the bi-directional video camera. Another prior art alignment method takes advantage of the fact that silicon is transparent to infrared light. This method uses video camera that can see infrared light to look though both chips and align fiducials which are specially made on the chips to be opaque to infrared light while at least their surrounding area is transparent to infrared light.
Neither of the foregoing prior art methods can achieve the high precision required for making flip-chips that contain optical devices such as micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. The precision required for a MEMS flip-chip is considerably higher than for an flip-chip that contains only electrical devices because the alignment tolerance required for a MEMS flip-chip is much less than the size of an electrical contact pad. The former prior art method is unable to achieve such high precision because the chips can only be aligned when they are far apart enough to insert the bi-directional, sensitive-to-visible-light, video camera, and thereafter, as the chips are then moved toward each other for bonding they may become misaligned again. The latter prior art method is limited by the resolution of the infrared video camera, which is on the order of the alignment precision desired, e.g., several microns. Also, it restricts the types of materials that can be employed to those which ensure that the fiducials can be seen using infrared light.


A steering column assembly includes a compression bracket for attachment to a vehicle body, and an adjustable steering column assembly movably supported by the compression bracket along a longitudinal axis between adjusted positions. A pair of locking elements are operably connected to the compression bracket and movable between a locked position for preventing longitudinal movement therebetween and a release position for allowing longitudinal adjustment of the steering column. The first element presents a detent recess, and the second locking element is movable between the locked position engaging the detent recess and the release position out of engagement with the detent recess.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to an adjustable steering column for a vehicle and having telescoping components to adjust a height position of a steering wheel to accommodate the position of a driver.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Contemporary automobiles include a steering column to adjust a height position of a steering wheel connected to the vehicle steering column to accommodate the position of a driver. A typical telescoping steering column assembly includes one bracket fixed to the frame of a vehicle and another bracket in telescoping relationship with the first bracket to provide relative longitudinal movement between the two brackets. These brackets, engaged one within another in a telescoping fashion, allow the driver to push or pull the steering wheel to a desired position and then to lock the brackets in the telescoping column against telescoping movement relative to one another.
The art is replete with various designs of steering column assemblies with locking devices for releasably adjusting and securing the telescoping steering column to accommodate the position of a driver. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,719 to Gartner; the French Patent No. FR 2787842 to Chartrain et al.; and the European Patent No. EP 0443881 to Kinoshita disclose various designs of a clamping and locking device for a steering column assembly utilized to releasably adjust and secure the steering column to accommodate the position of a driver.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,719 to Gartner teaches a locking device for releasably securing an adjustable steering column to a motor-vehicle body. The locking device comprises two locking elements where one of the two locking elements is attached to the steering column and the other is attached the motor-vehicle body. The two locking elements are adjustable in relation to each other between a release position, which allows the steering column to be adjusted, and a locking position, which secures the steering column against adjustment. One of the two locking elements is designed as an elastically ductile deformation element that can be deformed in the locking position by means of the other locking element.
The French patent No. FR 2787842 to Chartrain et al. teaches a vehicle steering column clamp moved to a clamping position by a cam rotatable about an axis extending through the clamp. The European Patent No. EP 0443881 to Kinoshita teaches a tilting steering column employing a caming device with a resilient member between two cam members. A tilt lever is mounted on the bolt to operate the first and second cam members to retain and release the frictional clamping engagement. The resilient member is provided between the first and second cam members to provide a positive lock during steering column tilting operation.
There remains a constant need in improving steering column assembly design that includes a clamping mechanism for releasably adjusting and securing the steering column assembly and to provide a positive lock.

Steering column assembly having clamping mechanism


A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balfafusimp’ characterized by its fuchsia-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, trailing growth habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Balfafusimp'.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Cartago, Costa Rica during March 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Impatiens cultivars with numerous large flowers, attractive flower colors, and trailing, freely basal branching growth habit.
The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was an unnamed proprietary Impatiens×hybrida breeding selection, not patented, characterized by its lilac-colored flowers and semi-prostrate growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was a bulk of Impatiens Hawkeri pollen collected from the Java Series F1 hybrid New Guinea impatiens, not patented, characterized by its medium vigor and a bushy well branched habit. The pollen was collected from several plants having a variety of flower colors and may have included orange, red, salmon, red and salmon bicolor, rose and lilac bicolor, lavender, cherry red, and white. The new Impatiens was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during April 2004 in a controlled environment at Cartago, Costa Rica.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2004 at Cartago, Costa Rica and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.


Disclosed herein is a camera module comprising: a circuit board; a frame coupled to the circuit board; an image sensor on the circuit board; a bobbin on the frame, a plurality of lenses being inside the bobbin; a coil wound on the bobbin, the bobbin moving to two directions based on a current applied to the coil; a magnet configured to interact the coil; and a yoke on the frame, the magnet being at an inner side of the yoke, wherein the bobbin moves to a first direction when a forward current is applied to the coil and to a second direction when a reverse current is applied to the coil.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile phone installed with a camera module.
Description of the Related Art
Concomitant with the development of recent communication and digital information processing technologies, a mobile phone technique integrated with information processing and computations, communications, and image information input/output has newly emerged.
Consistent with this, a mobile phone merged with a camera function has commercialized, at which system the mobile phone installed with a camera module photographs and stores moving images and still images and transfers them to the other party.
A mobile phone installed with such a camera module simply does not remain in a function of shooting an object, but is actually in a stage of adding an accessory function like a focus function of adjusting a focus of objects to be shot and a zoom function of making an object in the distance appear a near-sight or a close positioned object coming into a far distance.
A conventional lens unit of a camera module moves upward/downward along with an optical axis by a VCM (Voice Coil Motor), and through such an action, a camera module can do an auto focusing of a focal point of an object.
At this time, an upper part and a lower part of a lens unit is installed with an upper spring and an lower spring, and in a case a force applied to a lens part by a voice coil motor is greater than tension of a spring, a lens unit moves in an optical axis direction.
A camera module-installed mobile phone may operate in "vibration mode" vibrating by drive of a vibration motor, where a spring supporting a lens unit may rock simultaneously when a mobile phone is trembling due to a vibration mode.
When a spring supporting a lens unit rocks, so does a lens unit, whereby a banging sound occurs in a vibration mode as the lens unit touches a bottom surface.

Camera module and mobile phone using the same


A method, system or computer usable program product for managing exchanges of sensitive data including utilizing a processor to request a service across a network from an application, the service requiring a disclosure of a first set of sensitive data by the application; providing a set of certified policy commitments regarding the first set of sensitive data to the application for a determination of acceptability; and upon a positive determination, receiving the service including the disclosure of the first set of sensitive data.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to managing exchanges of sensitive data, and in particular, to a computer implemented method for managing exchanges of sensitive data between applications of multiple nodes.
2. Description of Related Art
The secure exchange of information in the age of the internet is an ongoing issue. Internet security can include browser security and network security as that applies to operating systems and applications. Many technologies have been utilized including passwords, biometrics, encryption, and authentication such as with the use of public and private keys. Various communication protocols have been utilized including transmission control protocol and internet protocol (TCP/IP) and a secure socket layer (SSL). Various languages have also been utilized that can take advantage of the foregoing including hypertext markup language (HTML), extensible markup language (XML) and more recently LXML which binds certain XML with certain libraries through an application program interface.

TRUE ULTIMATE STANDARDS EVERYWHERE, INC.


A digital palm PC (10) includes a housing, a storage device to store digital text and/or image data, and a printer located within the housing and receiving digital information from the storage device. The printer built into the palm PC (10) casing is configured to print an image (12) on print media (11) external to the casing as the palm PC (10) traverses the media (11).

Known palm PCs have no means of providing an "instant" print-out of text and/or images therefrom Instead, if a print-out is needed, the palm PC must communicate data stored therein to another PC to which there is attached a printer.
The mere incorporation into a palm PC of a known conventional printer device would not result in a compact, easily portable palm PC. This is because prior printers incorporate a supply of print media and employ a print media feed mechanism to transport the print media past the printheads to effect printing onto the print media. Moreover, known printers, having a supply of print media, are large and heavier than would be desirable in a portable palm PC that is sized and shaped to fit conveniently with a user's pocket or purse for example.

Swipe digital palm computer with built-in printer


A photolithography mask structure having a novel optical focus test pattern is described. The mask structure has a non-phase-shifted, transparent substrate and includes a phase shifter of other than 180.degree. disposed between spaced, parallel opposing lines such that an alternating pattern of non-phase-shifted material and phase-shifted material is defined transverse said parallel lines. When projected onto the surface of an object measurable shifts of the test pattern corresponds in direction and magnitude with the extent of system defocus. Various alternating test pattern embodiments are presented, all of which include at least one phase shift window of other than 180.degree. in relation to the mask substrate. Further, a monitoring system and a monitoring process are discussed employing the presented mask structures.

With the trend toward ever higher integration of integrated circuits, photolithography patterns formed on a semiconductor substrate are continually becoming increasingly fine and precise. Linewidth control of micro-lithographic processes is negatively impacted by numerous effects, such as resist thickness variations, bake non-uniformities, batch-to-batch resist sensitivity changes, thin film interference effects (e.g., swing curve), non-flat wafers, lens field non-flatness, etc. Many of these issues can be classified as producing an effective focus change. Therefore, to improve linewidth control one must either improve the focus window of the process or reduce the focus variations. A key problem in accomplishing either approach is to accurately measure the focus variations present in practical processes.
Determination of optical focus in photolithography has always been a time-consuming and relatively uncertain process. Traditionally, focus is determined by exposing a matrix of fields through a range of focus settings, then inspecting the resultant patterns for the best looking images. Experienced operators can be quite good at this, but the process is necessarily slow and always inherently subjective. A variety of automated schemes for determining tool focus have also been developed. Most of these methods use an aerial image monitor of some sort to determine the spatial location of best focus. The wafers being exposed are then placed at this best focus location (or at a predetermined offset from this position) by high-precision mechanical means. Although in the abstract such a technique is very accurate, in practice it is susceptible to slight drifts in the wafer positioning mechanism or changes in the required focus offset induced by changes in the film stack from one batch of wafers to the next.
Both of the above-noted focusing techniques are used to set up lithographic equipment to expose the best possible image. But after a wafer is exposed, developed, and inspected, there is no good method for confirming that focus was good while the wafer was being exposed. Loss of image quality can be seen by subjective inspection of a wafer, and loss of linewidth control can be confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) linewidth measurement, but image quality and linewidth control are affected by many variables besides focus. Even if an image appears obviously out of focus to an experienced operator, it is impossible to determine quantitatively how many microns the focus offset has shifted, or even whether the shift has been in a positive or negative direction.
Therefore, a means of unambiguously determining focus accuracy (e.g., from a structure on the kerf of a product wafer) would be a valuable asset to the effort to control lithographic tools and enhance the lithographic process. Even greater value in terms of time savings would be achieved if the monitor structure/process could quantitatively measure the magnitude and sign of the defocus. If measurable, this information could be used to adjust the exposure tool without the need of a focus check using one of the conventional focus evaluation techniques.

Optical focus phase shift test pattern, monitoring system and process

International Business Machines Corporation


In one embodiment, a processor includes at least one floating point unit. The at least one floating point unit may include an adder, leading change anticipator (LCA) logic, and a shifter. The adder may be to add a first operand X and a second operand Y to obtain an output operand having a bit length n. The LCA logic may be to: for each bit position i from n−1 to 1, obtain a set of propagation values and a set of bit values based on the first operand X and the second operand Y; and generate a LCA mask based on the set of propagation values and the set of bit values. The shifter may be to normalize the output operand based on the LCA mask. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Embodiments relate generally to floating point operations.
Modern processors include various circuitry for performing operations on data. This circuitry may include a Floating Point Unit (FPU), which may include functionality to carry out operations on floating point numbers. For example, floating point operations may include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square root. Such floating point operations may be heavily used in certain applications such as graphics, games, science, and engineering applications.


A duty ratio correction circuit includes: a buffer circuit configured to generate a second signal based on a first signal, the second signal having a DC component corresponding to a first control signal; a waveform shaping section configured to shape a waveform of the second signal to generate a third signal that is a target of duty ratio correction; a first capacitor; and a first charge-discharge control circuit configured to selectively charge or discharge the first capacitor based on the third signal, to generate the first control signal.

The present disclosure relates to a duty ratio correction circuit adjusting a duty ratio of a signal, and to a phase synchronization circuit provided with such a duty ratio correction circuit.
In an electronic circuit, a clock signal is often used. Typically, a duty ratio of the clock signal may be desirably about 50%; however, for example, the duty ratio may deviated from about 50% due to characteristics of a buffer circuit, a load, or the like. In such a case, a duty ratio correction circuit correcting the duty ratio is often used.
Various technologies about such a duty ratio correction circuit have been disclosed. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H11-243327, a circuit that acquires a DC level of a clock signal with use of a low pass filter and performs negative feedback control of a rise time and a fall time of the clock signal so that the DC level becomes about half of a source voltage has been disclosed.

Duty ratio correction circuit and phase synchronization circuit


An interposer chip providing translation of data between DASL and Unilink protocols and operating in one of the line card mode or switch card mode is provided. Additionally, it provides compatibility of Unilink ports with EQ switch fabric, sub-port flow control and capability of DASL ports to support individual ports and link parallel ports.

DASL is an IBM protocol which is based on 500 MHz serial links that are bundled into 4 Gbps logical ports. DASL is used by the IBM Rainier network processor (NP) and the IBM PRIZMA-EP switch chip. Normally, the NP is connected directly to the switch via the DASL interface. However, to allow compatibility with future IBM products, there is a desire to use Unilink as a backplane interface.
Unilink protocol is based on Infiniband compliant 2.5 GHz serial links, using 8b/10b encoding and bundled into 16 Gbps logical ports (20 Gbps raw data rate with encoding). The EQ switch fabric uses Unilink as its interface. It allows the use of sub-ports, where backpressure information is gathered for four sub-ports in each logical port. This information is then broadcast to all other ports, allowing non-blocking backpressure to be applied to ports that are less than 16 G.
IBM provides a current solution which allows a Unilink backplane to connect to an EP switch fabric. This is known as the SCIC (Switch Core Interface Chip). The SCIC converts Unilink into DASL protocol on the switch card, and is designed to allow next generation line cards to communicate with the EP switch fabric. Next generation line cards will communicate with the switch through the C192 chip, which is a CSIX to Unilink converter. The C192 can communicate with both the SCIC and the EQ switch fabric, the EP switch chip is a currently used switch fabric which is a predecessor of EQ switch chip.
Unfortunately, there are several problems with the SCIC. First, it is not designed to interface to the NPs on the DASL side, as it only communicates with the EP switch fabric in a link parallel mode, where four 4 Gbps ports are logically connected to create a 16 Gbps port, thus making it impossible to connect four NPs to the DASL side. The second problem with the SCIC is that the data formats on the Unilink backplane are not compatible with data formats used by the EQ switch fabric. The C192 is designed to operate in two modes, the modes being SCIC or EQ. Third, the SCIC does not support the sub-port backpressure mechanism.
Currently, the only way to transfer information from the Rainier NPs to a Unilink backplane is to use an external programmable device (or several of them). This means that the FPGA chips must also have two modes, namely SCIC or EQ modes. In SCIC mode, there is no sub-port backpressure mechanism, so the four NPs connected through the FPGA to the SCIC must share a single port with only one backpressure mechanism. This means that each NP can block other processors. Additionally, it means that several different types of chips have to be used to achieve the required translation of signals between the two protocols. It makes electronic design extremely complicated and expensive.
Accordingly, there is a need in industry for development of an alternative solution, an interposer chip, which would avoid the above-mentioned problems.