A method of punching a via or through hole in a polymer-metal laminate workpiece in a punch press. The punch press has a punch tool, a driver coil for driving the punch tool through the polymer-metal laminate workpiece, and a stopper for stopping the punch travel of the punch tool and mechanically returning the punch tool to its starting position. The method includes the steps of applying an electrical current pulse through the driver coil to electromagnetically drive the punch downward to and through the workpiece, and then elastically colliding the punch tool with the stopper to stop and return the punch tool on an upward return stroke. Subsequently a second, braking pulse is applied through the driver coil to electromagnetically brake the punch. The second electrical current is applied after the start of the punching pulse, for a time and magnitude sufficient to brake the punch press.

The invention relates to via and through hole structures especially for parallel processor packages having a plurality of printed circuit cards and/or boards, e.g., dedicated printed circuit cards and/or boards, for carrying processors, memory, and processor/memory elements. The printed circuit cards and/or boards are mounted on and interconnected through a plurality of circuitized flexible cable substrates, i.e., flex strips. The circuitized flexible cable substrates, i.e., flex strips, connect the separate printed circuit boards and cards through a central laminate portion. This central laminate portion provides Z-axis, layer to layer means for inter-processor, inter-memory, inter-processor/memory element, and processor to memory bussing interconnection, and communication through vias and through holes extending from flex strip to flex strip through the laminate. The punch press method and apparatus of the invention provides electromagnetic braking of the punch press, thereby reducing bounceback and problems concomitant therewith.
Parallel processors have a plurality of individual processors, all capable of cooperating on the same program. Parallel processors can be divided into Multiple Instruction Multiple Data (MIMD) and Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) designs.
Multiple Instruction Multiple Data (MIMD) parallel processors have individual processing nodes characterized by fast microprocessors supported by many memory chips and a memory hierarchy. High performance inter node communications coprocessor chips provide the communications links to other microprocessors. Each processor node runs an operating system kernel, with communications at the application level being through a standardized library of message passing functions. In the MIMD parallel processor both shared and distributed memory models are supported.
Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) parallel processors have a plurality of individual processor elements under the control of a single control unit and connected by an intercommunication unit. SIMD machines have an architecture that is specified by:
1. The number of processing elements in the machine.
2. The number of instructions that can be directly executed by the control unit. This includes both scalar instructions and program flow instructions.
3. The number of instructions broadcast by the control unit to all of the processor elements for parallel execution.
This includes arithmetic, logic, data routing, masking, and local operations executed by each active processor element over data within the processor element.
4. The number of masking schemes, where each mask partitions the set of processor elements into enabled and disabled subsets.
5. The number of data routing functions, which specify the patterns to be set up in the interconnection network for inter-processor element communications.
SIMD processors have a large number of specialized support chips to support dozens to hundreds of fixed point data flows. Instructions come from outside the individual node, and distributed memory is supported.
Parallel processors require a complex and sophisticated intercommunication network for processor-processor and processor-memory communications. The topology of the interconnection network can be either static or dynamic. Static networks are formed of point-to-point direct connections which will not change during program execution. Dynamic networks are implemented with switched channels which can dynamically reconfigure to match the communications requirements of the programs running on the parallel processor.
Dynamic networks are particularly preferred for multi-purpose and general purpose applications, Dynamic networks can implement communications patterns based on a program demands. Dynamic networking is provided by one or more of bus systems, multistage intercommunications networks, and crossbar switch networks.
Critical to all parallel processors, and especially to dynamic networks is the packaging of the interconnection circuitry. Specifically, the interconnection must provide high speed switching, with low signal attenuation, low crosstalk, and low noise.
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for fabricating parallel processor packages. The parallel processor packages have a plurality of printed circuit cards and/or boards, e.g., dedicated printed circuit cards and/or boards, for carrying processors, memory, and processor/memory elements. The printed circuit cards and/or boards are mounted on a plurality of circuitized flexible substrates, i.e., flex strips. The circuitized flexible substrates connect the separate printed circuit boards and cards through a relatively rigid central laminate portion. This central laminate portion provides means, e.g. Z-axis means, for inter-processor, inter-memory, inter-processor/memory element, and processor to memory bussing interconnection, and communication.
Parallel processor systems have a plurality of individual processors, e.g., microprocessors, and a plurality of memory modules. The processors and the memory can be arrayed in one of several interconnection topologies, e.g., an SIMD (single instruction/multiple data) or an MIMD (multiple instruction/multiple data).
The memory modules and the microprocessors communicate through various topologies, as hypercubes, and toroidal networks, solely by way of exemplification and not limitation, among others. These inter-element communication topologies have various physical realizations. According to the invention described in the commonly assigned, copending U.S. Patent Applications listed above the individual logic and memory elements are on printed circuit boards and cards. These printed circuit boards and cards are, in turn, mounted on or otherwise connected to circuitized flexible substrates extending outwardly from a relatively rigid, circuitized laminate of the individual circuitized flexible substrates. The intercommunication is provided through a switch structure that is implemented in the laminate. This switch structure, which connects each microprocessor to each and every other microprocessor in the parallel processor, and to each memory module in the parallel processor, has the physical structure shown in FIG. 1 and the logical/electrical structure shown in FIG. 2.
More particularly, the preferred physical embodiment of this electrical and logical structure is a multilayer switch structure shown in FIG. 1. This switch structure provides separate layers of flex 21 for each unit or pairs of units, that is, each microprocessor, each memory module, or each microprocessor/memory element. The planar circuitization, as data lines, address lines, and control lines are on the individual printed circuit boards and cards 25, which are connected through the circuitized flex 21, and communicate with other layers of flex through Z-axis circuitization (vias and through holes) in the central laminate portion 41 in FIG. 1. The bus structure is illustrated in FIG. 2, which shows a single bus, connecting a plurality of memory units through a bus, represented by OR-gates, to four processors. The Address Bus, Address Decoding Logic, and Read/Write Logic are not shown. The portion of the parallel processor represented by the OR gates, the inputs to the OR gates, and the outputs from the OR gates is carried by the laminated flex structure 41.
Structurally the parallel processor 11 has a plurality of integrated circuit chips 29, as processor chips 29a mounted on a plurality of printed circuit boards and cards 25. For example, the parallel processor structure 11 of our invention includes a first processor integrated circuit printed circuit board 25 having a first processor integrated circuit chip 29a mounted thereon and a second processor integrated circuit printed circuit board 25 having a second processor integrated circuit chip 29a mounted thereon.
Analogous structures exist for the memory integrated circuit chips 29b, the parallel processor 11 having a plurality of memory chips 29b mounted on a plurality of printed circuit boards and cards 25. In a structure that is similar to that for the processor chips, the parallel processor 11 of our invention includes a first memory integrated circuit printed circuit board 25 having a first memory integrated circuit chip 29b mounted thereon, and a second memory integrated circuit printed circuit board 25 having a second memory integrated circuit chip 29b mounted thereon.
Mechanical and electrical interconnection is provided between the integrated circuit chips 29 mounted on different printed circuit boards or cards 25 by a plurality of circuitized flexible strips 21. These circuitized flexible strips 21 each have a signal interconnection circuitization portion 211, a terminal portion 213 adapted for carrying a printed circuit board or card 25, and a flexible, circuitized portion 212 between the signal interconnection circuitization portion 211 and the terminal portion 213. The signal interconnection circuitization portion 211, has X-Y planar circuitization 214 and vias and through holes 215 for Z-axis circuitization.
The flexible circuitized strips 21 are laminated at their signal interconnection circuitization portion 211. This interconnection portion is built up as lamination of the individual circuitized flexible strips 21, and has X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis signal interconnection between the processor integrated circuit chips 29a and the memory integrated circuit chips 29b. In the resulting structure the circuitized flexible strips 21 are laminated in physical and electrical connection at their signal interconnection circuitization portions 211 and spaced apart at their terminal portions 213.
The power core 221 may be a copper foil, a molybdenum foil, or a xe2x80x9cCICxe2x80x9d (Copper-Invar-Copper) laminate foil. The circuitized flexible strip 21 may be a 1S1P (one signal plane, one power plane) circuitized flexible strip, a 2S1P (two signal planes, one power plane) circuitized flexible strip or a 2S3P (two signal planes, three power planes) circuitized flexible strip.
The circuitized flexible strip 21 can have either two terminal portions 213 for carrying printed circuit boards 25 at opposite ends thereof, or a single terminal portion 213 for carrying a printed circuit board 25 at only one end of the circuitized flexible cable 21.
The connection between the printed circuit boards and cards 25 and the terminal portions 213 of the circuitized flexible strip 21 may be provided by dendritic Pd along the edge of terminal portion 213.
The solder alloy means for pad to pad joining of the circuitized flexible strips 21 at the signal interconnection circuitization portions 211 thereof is an alloy composition having a final melting temperature, when homogenized, above the primary thermal transition temperature of the dielectric material and having a system eutectic temperature below the primary thermal transition temperature of the dielectric. This can be a series of Au and Sn layers having a composition that is gold rich with respect to the system eutectic, said alloy having a system eutectic temperature of about 280 degrees Centigrade, and a homogeneous alloy melting temperature above about 400 degrees Centigrade, and preferably above about 500 degrees Centigrade.
In one embodiment our invention provides a method of punching a via or through hole in a polymer-metal laminate workpiece in a punch press. The punch press has a punch tool, a driver coil for driving the punch tool through the polymer-metal laminate workpiece, and elastic means for stopping the punch travel of the punch tool and mechanically returning the punch tool to its starting position. The method of the invention includes the steps of applying an electrical current pulse through the driver coil to electromagnetically drive the punch downward to and through the workpiece, and then elastically colliding the punch tool with stopping means to stop and return the punch tool on an upward return stroke. This is followed by applying a second, braking pulse through a driver coil means to electromagnetically brake the punch. The second electrical current is applied after the start of the punching pulse, for a time and magnitude sufficient to brake the punch press.
The punch press of our invention includes a bed for carrying a workpiece, a punch press tool adapted to move with respect to the bed, a driver coil capable of being energized by an electric current applied thereto, a stopper for elastically stopping the punch and for returning the punch, and an electromagnetic brake for electromagnetically braking the return of the punch.
The electromagnetic brake means for braking the return of the punch includes electrical circuitry for applying a braking pulse to the driver coil, for example by applying the second pulse after a fixed time has elapsed since the first pulse.

Electromagnetic bounce back braking for punch press and punch press process

International Business Machines Corporation


The disclosed system employs vehicle seat track assembly including an easy entry system for a vehicle seat, further including a memory system having an adjustment increment compensator which allows for memory system which records displacement by an incremental distance, y, to be employed in a vehicle seat which employees a seat track that allows for fore-aft adjustment by a second incremental distance, x, thereby allowing seat designers and manufacturers to employ a single easy entry memory system on multiple vehicle seat track designs, each of which may have seat tracks which allow fore-aft adjustment at different increments, without modifying the easy entry memory system for each variation in fore-aft adjustment increment. The disclosed compensator also insures that the memory system will be activated even when there is a slight misalignment of the memory module components at the time of activation.

Vehicles such as passenger cars typically include seats for the use of the driver and other occupants. In many vehicles, the position of the seats may be adjusted for the comfort of the occupants. Adjustment options, particularly for the first row of seats, typically include the capability to move the seat in fore and aft directions by operation of a track assembly which mounts the seat to the vehicle floor. These existing systems typically employ a comfort adjustment bar which is operatively connected to the seat track locking system to release the track locking system to unlock the seat from the lower track when the bar is operated by the occupant, thereby allowing the occupant to slidably position the seat along the length of the tracks as desired. The seat track fore-aft adjustment system may be designed to incrementally adjust the seat forward and rearward by any desired increment. One such adjustable seat track assembly is disclosed in PCT Publication No. WO 2010/080597 A1.
Some vehicle seats, particularly first row seats, may include the capability of folding the seatback forward then sliding the entire seat forward to facilitate access to the second row of seats. This is known as an "easy entry" option, and is commonly seen in two-door vehicles. The easy entry option allows the generally upright back portion of the seat to be dumped, or pivoted, forward from its normal position, at the same time unlocking the seat to allow the seat to be slidably positioned forward in the passenger compartment to provide more spaced behind the seat to gain entrance into the second row of seats.
Seats which include an easy entry capability may also include a memory system, typically disposed in one of the pair of seat tracks and configured to remember a longitudinal position of the corresponding upper track with respect to the corresponding lower track such that, whenever the seatback is dumped forward and the seat slid forward for easy entry to the second row, and the seat is thereafter slidably positioned rearward for use by the front row occupant, the sliding seat automatically stops at the previously selected use position. Vehicle seats including easy entry capabilities with position memory systems are disclosed in PCT Publication No. WO 2010/080593 A1.
In memory systems of the type disclosed in PCT Publication No. WO 2010/080593 A1, a separate set of notches in one of the pairs of upper or lower tracks are often employed and accessed by a memory wheel to "record" the amount of seat travel to accomplish the above-described memory function.

Vehicle seat memory track assembly with memory adjustment compensation


This invention provides synthetic promoters capable of promoting and/or initiating transcription of a polynucleotide in an algal cell, and methods of designing, producing and using such promoters.

Algae are among the most ancient and diverse organisms on the planet. Microalgae have evolved to adapt to a wide range of environments and consequently have proven to be a rich source of genetic and chemical diversity (Blunt et al., 2012; Gimpel et al., 2013; Parker et al., 2008). This diversity has been exploited as a unique source of bioactive compounds, including antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, and potentially novel therapeutic drugs (Cardozo et al., 2007). In addition, microalgae have also proven to be cost-effective and safe hosts for expressing a wide array of recombinant proteins, including human and animal therapeutics, vaccines, and industrial enzymes (Georgianna et al., 2013; Griesbeck and Kirchmayr, 2012; Rosales-Mendoza et al., 2012; Specht et al., 2010).
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a long established model system for studying molecular and genetic systems of algae. The most successful advances in recombinant protein expression within C. reinhardtii have been within the chloroplast where exogenous protein levels have reached almost 10% of total soluble protein (Manuell et al., 2007). This progress has been aided by the fact that gene integration occurs exclusively by homologous recombination within the plastid (Fischer et al., 1996). The chloroplast also has strong, well-characterized promoters and regulatory untranslated regions (UTRs) to enable high levels of transgene expression (Rosales-Mendoza et al., 2012; Specht et al., 2010). The most successful regulatory elements are those from endogenous highly expressed photosynthetic proteins (Gimpel and Mayfield, 2013; Rosales-Mendoza et al., 2012; Specht et al., 2010). However, recent work in the Mayfield laboratory has shown that high-throughput analysis of synthetic 5′ UTRs can identify novel regulatory elements and lead to increased transgene expression within the plastid (Specht and Mayfield, 2012).
While advancements have been made in heterologous nuclear gene expression in C. reinhardtii over the last several years (Rasala et al., 2013; Rasala et al., 2012; Schroda et al., 2000), these tools still lags significantly behind both plastid gene expression in algae, as well heterologous gene expression in many other eukaryotic organisms. Controlled nuclear gene expression is an essential tool for synthetic biology in any industrial microorganisms. Recent advances also allow protein products to be targeted to any cellular location in C. reinhardtii (Rasala et al., 2013). Targeted expression is essential for metabolic engineering, since enzymes need to be localized to their functional site. Proper localization is also important for the production of high-value protein products. Specific organelles may be better suited for proper post-translational modification and folding of complex proteins. In particular, chloroplasts lack the enzymes involved in protein glycosylation, an essential modification for many therapeutic proteins (Lingg et al., 2012). Finally, nuclear expression allows for the secretion of recombinant proteins, which can lead to simpler and cheaper downstream processing (Corchero et al., 2013).
One of the main reasons for poor heterologous gene expression from the nuclear genome of algae is the lack of strong promoters (Rosales-Mendoza et al., 2012; Specht et al., 2010). Studies have identified several endogenous promoters that promote exogenous gene expression, including those from the well-characterized and highly expressed genes such as those for the Rubisco small subunit (RBCS2), heat shock protein 70A (HSP70A), and photosystem I protein psaD (Cerutti et al., 1997; Schroda et al., 2000; Fischer and Rochaix, 2001). In an attempt to increase expression above the modest levels achieved with these native promoters, chimeric promoters have been developed that contain the heat shock 70A promoter region fused upstream of the RBCS2 promoter (arl), which has led to increased transcription (Schroda et al., 2002; Schroda et al., 2000; Wu et al., 2008). However, protein accumulation from exogenous genes expressed using this best chimeric promoter is still poor, with recombinant protein levels peaking around 0.25% of total soluble protein, which is well below the level of economic viability for almost any recombinant protein product. Finally, viral promoters that are favored in higher plant expression systems have been shown to be minimally successful in algal systems (Diaz-Santos et al., 2013). Therefore, novel regulatory elements must be identified or generated and combined into robust promoters capable of driving high rates of transcription in order to achieve the robust exogenous protein expression required to make algae a true industrial organisms.
Several recent reviews have highlighted the generation of synthetic promoters and promoter libraries as important biobricks for protein expression and, in particular, systems engineering (Blazeck and Alper, 2013; Hammer et al., 2006; Mukherji and van Oudenaarden, 2009; Ruth and Glieder, 2010). Engineered promoters have demonstrated the ability to drive exogenous gene expression above levels achieved by the best native promoter systems. In addition, development of libraries of designer promoters is essential for systems engineering. The synthetic nature of these promoters reduces or eliminates the chance of homology dependent gene silencing and can potentially allow them to be utilized in multiple species or cell lines. In this study, publicly available mRNA expression data was utilized to identify cis-motifs found in promoters of highly expressed C. reinhardtii genes. These motifs were then used to generate a novel set of completely synthetic algal promoters (saps) that allowed for high constitutive gene expression within the C. reinhardtii nucleus. A combination of analyzes of these native promoters and novel saps revealed previously uncharacterized C. reinhardtii promoter structures including a newly identified core DNA motif important for promoter function in highly transcribed genes.

The Regents of the University of California


System for controlling data transfer between a host system and storage devices. A virtualization controller implements the data transfer and includes first ports for connection with the storage devices, a second port for connection with the host system, a processor, and a memory configured to store volume mapping information which correlates first identification information used by the host system to access a first storage area in one of the storage devices, with second identification information for identifying the first storage area, the correlation being used by the processor to access the first storage area. When data stored in the first storage area is transferred to a second storage area, the processor correlates the first identification information with a third identification information for identifying the second storage area and registers the first identification information and the third identification information in the volume mapping information.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for transferring data between a plurality of storage devices, and more particularly to method s and systems for transferring data between the plurality storage devices without a host computer issuing an access request to a storage device being aware of the data transfer process.
There has been a data transfer control technique as used in a storage device subsystem such as a disk array subsystem in which a plurality of volumes are controlled by a controller, that frequently accessed data is transferred to a quickly accessible volume and infrequently accessed data is transferred to a slowly accessible volume. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2001/0054133 also discloses a technique for efficient data transfer concerning a system in which a volume used by an application is provided over a plurality of storage areas which are controlled by different controllers. According to this technique, data in a volume which is used by a specific application is transferred preferentially.
Data transfer in a storage device subsystem is executed by a controller which controls the storage device subsystem, and the controller can hide the data transfer process from a host computer connected with it. However, this method does not take into consideration data transfer which takes place over more than one storage device subsystem. Therefore, if data stored in a certain storage device subsystem is to be transferred to another storage device subsystem, the controller must inform the host computer that, in data transfer, the storage device subsystem to be accessed will change, which means that it is impossible to hide the data transfer process from the host computer. Also, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2001/0054133 does not disclose any technique of hiding such data transfer process from the host computer. Consequently, for data transfer, the host computer must stop its operation once and specify the storage device or volume to be accessed again.
Recently as data communications in companies have been explosively increasing, demand for continuous, around-the-clock access to storage devices has been growing. Taking this situation into account, it is expected that data transfer between a plurality of storage devices will have to be handled more and more frequently in the future. Thus, there is a growing need for a technique that enables data transfer between storage devices without interrupting operation of the host computer.
When a controller which manages the storage area of a storage device and forwards an access request from the host computer to the storage area is replaced or newly installed, the host computer deems that the storage area to, be accessed has been changed, and has to once stop its operation and specify the storage area to be accessed again as when data transfer between a plurality of storage devices takes place.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Virtualization controller and data transfer control method


A lamp device includes a light bulb secured to a lamp base and a lamp shade having one or more hooks for engaging with the lamp base and for allowing the lamp shade to be easily disengaged from the lamp base. The lamp base includes a shell extended downward from the bottom peripheral portion for forming an annular groove between the lamp base and the shell and for engaging with the hooks. A projection extends into the annular groove for engaging with the hooks and for allowing the lamp shade to rotate the lamp base without contacting the hand with the light bulb.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light device, and more particularly to a light device having a detachable lamp shade.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical light devices, particularly the light devices that may generate high light intensity and that requires low power, includes one or more light tubes or light bulbs extended outward of a base and having no lamp shade for covering the light bulbs, such that the user may be hurt by the light bulb inadvertently. In addition, the light bulb may generate a great heat and may not be easily rotated or disengaged from the lamp base due to the great heat of the light bulb.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional lamp devices.

Lamp device having a detachable lamp shade

No. 109-1, Avenue 6, Lane 164, Tzong Sa Rd., Da du Hsiang


The present invention is directed to automating the sending of campaign messages in computing environments. Campaign scores are determined for messaging campaigns and eligible recipients are assigned to campaigns with a higher score. More specifically, eligible recipients are assigned to a particular messaging campaign if the campaign is the “best” campaign for each eligible recipient based on the campaign score. Additionally, a portion of the eligible recipients are reserved as a control group for each campaign. After campaign messages have been sent out to assigned recipients, the behavior of the recipients who received campaign messages and the behavior of the control group members are differentiated to update the campaign's score. Continually updating campaign scores makes it possible to continually update which campaign is best for a particular recipient.

Communication networks are well known in the computer communications field. By definition, a network is a group of computers and associated devices that are connected by communications facilities or links. An internetwork, in turn, is the joining of multiple computer networks, both similar and dissimilar, by means of gateways or routers, that facilitate data transfer and conversion from various networks. A well-known abbreviation for the term internetwork is "internet." As currently understood, the capitalized term "Internet" refers to the collection of networks and routers that use the Internet Protocol ("IP"), to communicate with one another. The Internet has recently seen explosive growth by virtue of its ability to link computers located throughout the world. As will be appreciated from the following description, the present invention could find use in many interactive environments; however, for purposes of discussion, the Internet is used as an exemplary interactive environment for implementing the present invention.
The Internet has quickly become a popular method of disseminating information due in large part to its ability to deliver information quickly and reliably. To send a document or other data over the Internet, a user typically uses communications software. A common way of addressing a document is through an e-mail address that provides the location of an individual with an e-mail account on a server connected to the Internet.
A drawback of using e-mail to communicate with individuals has been the lack of consideration for the amount of e-mail sent to a particular recipient. If a particular recipient met the criteria for receiving a multitude of different e-mail, there was no method of limiting the quantity of e-mail received by the recipient. This lack of "inbox control" led to both disillusionment on behalf of recipients who received too much e-mail and on behalf of campaign message senders whose e-mails were not given the desired consideration they might have received if fewer messages had been sent.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method of automatically controlling the sending of campaign messages (mail) to different groups of recipients that does not require regular operator intervention, that is stable, and that supports an "inbox management" mechanism for limiting how many campaign messages are sent to a particular recipient.

Method for selecting relevant campaign messages for transmission to recipients


A crawler assembly including a crawler frame member having a first crawler extension and a second crawler extension and an idler wheel disposed therebetween. The idler wheel defines a bore therethrough. The crawler assembly includes a shaft that extends through the bore. The shaft is fixed relative to the wheel by a tapered interference fit and rotatable relative to the first and second crawler extensions. A first side of the shaft is received by the first extension and has at least one journal bushing disposed therebetween. A second side of the shaft is received by the second extension and has a least one journal bushing disposed. A removable endcap is secured to each of the first and second sides of the shaft. A thrust surface is created at an interface between the endcaps and the journal bushings.

The present invention relates to a mining shovel, and in particular to an idler wheel assembly.
Front idler wheel assemblies are used in conjunction with machines, such as, among other applications, mining shovels, which utilize a straddle mount axle shaft support where the axle shaft is intended to rotate with the idler wheel. The current front idler wheel and idler axle shaft configuration utilizes a splined joint between the shaft and the wheel. The spline connection provides a torsional constraint between the two; however, the spline connection does not constrain the wheel from sliding axially from side to side across the splines. Side to side motion across the splines results in high wear between the components of the front idler wheel assembly. Furthermore, splined components found in the current idler wheel configurations are expensive to manufacture.


A circuit and method for a portable telephone prevents a finder from exploiting the interests of the owner if the telephone becomes lost. The method contemplates the steps of: generating an audible alarm and a first message requesting input of a predetermined password when one of a predetermined time period elapses and a number of outgoing calls exceeds a predetermined number after an alarm function is enabled; detecting whether the predetermined password is input, and stopping generation of the alarm and the first message when the predetermined password is input; generating a second message indicating how an owner of the portable telephone can be contacted and activating a loss mode of the portable telephone when the predetermined password is not input; and automatically dialing a telephone number corresponding to the owner when a predetermined key on the portable telephone is input after the loss mode is activated.

The present invention relates generally to a portable telephone, and more particularly, to a circuit and method for indicating that a portable telephone has been lost by its owner.
Since a portable telephone is typically moved from place to place with its owner, it can easily become lost or misplaced. If the lost telephone winds up in the hands of an unscrupulous finder, unauthorized long distance fees can be charged to the owner. Therefore, the economic loss involved when a portable telephone is lost may be substantially greater than the cost of the telephone itself
Moreover, if a person calls the lost telephone in an effort to contact the owner, the finder may obtain information that is private to the owner, and can possibly make statements that are harmful to the owner's interests. The main reason why this problem exists is because, conventionally, there has been no way for the finder to easily contact the owner, even if the finder is gracious enough to want to return the telephone to its rightful owner.
One notable effort directed towards the general concept of locating a particular portable telephone is the Vehicle Locating And Communicating Method And Apparatus Using Cellular Telephone Network, U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,132 issued to Wortham. In Wortham '132, a method is provided by which one can locate and communicate with a vehicle having a mobile cellular unit installed therein. A microprocessor periodically instructs the mobile cellular unit to initiate a call to a host controller, and upon receipt of transmitting instructions from the host controller, the mobile cellular unit transmits information regarding its location to the host controller. While this type of effort is useful as an attempt to provide some type of scheme for determining where a particular mobile cellular unit and the corresponding vehicle are located, I have noticed that this scheme prevents individuals from effectively using the mobile cellular unit if the unit should become lost. Accordingly, I have found there exists a strong need for a portable telephone having features that enhance the ability of the telephone owner to recover the telephone when lost, and also to prevent a vicious finder from exploiting the interests of the owner.

Circuit for indicating loss of portable telephone and control method thereof


A post-processing apparatus includes a suspension member that suspends a center-folded booklet by being inserted into the booklet along a fold of the booklet, a pair of clamp members that are disposed so as to face outer surfaces of the booklet suspended by the suspension member and that clamp the booklet by moving closer to each other, and a post-processing mechanism that performs a post-processing operation on the booklet clamped by the clamp members. The suspension member includes an upwardly tapering portion whose thickness between opposing sheets of the booklet, into which the suspension member has been inserted, gradually decreases upward, and the suspension member supports an inner surface of the booklet with the upwardly tapering portion.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a post-processing apparatus that performs various post-processing operations on a center-folded booklet, and an image forming system including the post-processing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Arts
In recent years, post-processing apparatuses for performing various post-processing operations on a printed sheet output from an image forming apparatus, such as a printer or an MFP, have been increasing used. The term "post-processing operations" refers to, for example, an operation of center-folding a sheet ("folding operation"), an operation of binding a plurality of sheets with a staple ("stapling operation"), an operation of cutting an edge of a booklet ("cutting operation"), and an operation of forming a spine of a booklet ("square folding operation"), and the like.
Referring to FIG. 9A, when performing a cutting operation on a center-folded booklet B, it is necessary to clamp the booklet B with clamps 371 and 372. In the process of transferring the booklet B to the clamps 371 and 372, the position of a fold F may become displaced from the central position in the booklet B in the thickness direction.
If a cutting operation is performed on the booklet B, which is clamped in a state in which the fold F has been displaced, a cut edge E of the booklet B becomes inclined with respect to the thickness direction, so that the appearance of the finished booklet B is not good (see FIG. 9B). Likewise, referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, if a square folding operation is performed on the booklet B, which is clamped in a state in which the fold F has been displaced (FIG. 10A), the position of a staple S may become displaced from the central position in the thickness direction or the cut edge E may become inclined, so that, also in this case, the appearance of the finished booklet B is not good (FIG. 10B). In the present example, the square folding operation is performed by moving a roller R back and forth in directions perpendicular to the plane of FIGS. 10A and 10B.
Regarding this problem, Japanese Unexamined Publication Nos. 2007-118518, 2010-195582, and 2010-241112 describe post-processing apparatuses that clamp a booklet with clamp members after pressing an end of the booklet against contact members of various types. However, even with such post-processing apparatuses, if the booklet is too strongly pressed against the contact member, the end of the booklet may become deformed, so that it is difficult to appropriately correct displacement of a fold. Japanese Unexamined Publication No. 2005-040890 describes a post-processing apparatus that clamps a portion of a booklet near an edge with clamp members. The post-processing apparatus can perform a cutting operation with high precision, but cannot correct displacement of a fold.
The present invention has been achieved to address the problems of existing technologies described above. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a post-processing apparatus that can correct displacement of a fold in the thickness direction of a booklet that is clamped by clamped members for various post-processing operations, and an image forming system including the post-processing apparatus.

Post-processing apparatus and image forming system


An optical logic device is provided by an interferometer having an output which defines a logic state 1 or 0 in dependence upon an interference condition existing in the interferometer. Each arm of the interferometer contains a semiconductor optical amplifier in which the effect of cross phase modulation is utilized to modulate the phase of light transmitted through the respective arms. Optical signals are counter propagated through one or both of the arms in order to provide the cross modulation and thereby enable the interference condition to be set to one or other of the logic states. Automatic level control is provided at inputs to the interferometer and between successive stages of logic device. The method has application to high frequency digital optical communication systems where all optical logic operations are required.

Optical communication systems typically handle optical pulses with frequencies in the range 2 to 10 gHz with the next generation of systems being expected to handle signals with frequencies up to 40 gHz. In existing systems, logic functions are performed on the pulsed signals as part of regeneration, error detection and clock recovery processes for example, it being typically necessary to convert the optical signals to electrical signals and to reconvert electrical signals to optical signals after performing logical operations and other processing.
The tendency for higher frequency signals means that it is increasingly desirable to avoid such conversion to electronic signals because of the difficulty and expense of high frequency electronic processing.
A number of optical logic devices and methods exist for performing logical operations without conversion to electrical signals but hitherto have proved unsatisfactory in the context of the above communication systems.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,889 (Hinton et al) to provide optical logic arrangements with self electro-optic effect devices for use in an optical digital processor. Control light beams are directed onto electro-optic devices in two dimensional arrays such that elements of the arrays have eight transmission or reflection characteristics which are optically controlled. Such arrangements are however suited to relatively low frequency parallel processing rather than logical functions between signals confined within waveguides.
Berthold discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,992 optical logic elements which operate on the principle of constructive and destructive interference between light beams, the refractive index of certain waveguides being controlled by applied voltages to produce relative phase differences in the propagated signals. A necessary condition for operation however is that optical signals are carried by input lights beams which are coherent, in phase and of equal amplitude which will seldom be the case in a practical communication system.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,739 (Islam) to provide logic functions which utilise soliton trapping between two optical signals propagated in a birefringent fibre. The technic however relies upon the use of frequency filters and polarisers. A further disadvantage is that, where a logic function is to be performed between two optical signals, both optical signals must be in the form of pulses having similar characteristics. Since the soliton trapping effect is associated with very long fibre lengths, it is anticipated that the lengths of fibre required would make use of such techniques impracticable.
It is known from Idler et al (IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol. 8, No. 9, September 1996--"10 Gb/s Wavelength Conversion with Integrated Multiquantum-Well-Based 3-Port Mach-Zehnder Interferometer") to provide inversion of a single optical signal in addition to wavelength conversion by means of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer in which semiconductor optical amplifiers are utilised to set an interference condition between optical components of an input signal transmitted through first and second arms of the interferometer. A continuous wave optical signal propagated equally through the first and second arms is recombined to form an output signal which is modulated according to the interference condition and a pulsed optical signal is counter-propagated through only one of the arms so as to modulate the phase of one of the component signals by cross-phase modulation due to the non-linear characteristics of the semiconductor optical amplifier in that arm.
There remains a need for a practical technique for performing optical logic in an optical communication system.

Welwyn Garden City AL8 7DL Hertfordshire


A method detects symbols in a signal received via a wireless channel by generating a statistical model for each symbol, and determining contribution from all other symbols in the signal as an expected interference. The expected interference is subtracted from the signal to obtain an interference-free signal. Then, the symbol is inferred based on the statistical model and the interference-free signal.

Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication enables machines to exchange short command and control messages. The main design goal is to achieve fast and highly reliable transmission of short messages over wireless channels with relatively simple devices having a small number of antennas, preferably one or two. One of the major application of M2M is in factories wherein automated production processes benefit when machines can communicate directly with each other wirelessly.
A single-input single-output (SISO) communication system with block transmission and detection is a candidate for M2M. The type of messages should use small block sizes, e.g., less than 100 symbols.
One M2M communication system uses pseudo-random phase precoding (PRPP) and likelihood ascent search (LAS) detection. That scheme performs extremely well in practice when the block size is at least 400 symbols. However, the goal is to greatly reduce the block size without degrading performance.
Maximum likelihood detection (MLD) is an optimal symbol detection scheme. However, the complexity of MLD increases exponentially with the block size. Therefore, a variety of suboptimal detection methods with polynomial complexity have been developed. One of the best known is probabilistic data association (PDA).
PDA was originally developed for radar target tracking and has gained interest in wireless communication applications. As such, PDA has been applied for multiuser detection in code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, turbo equalization, multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems, and decision feedback equalization (DFE) for detecting symbols transmitted in MIMO systems over a frequency selective channel. A bit-by-bit detection of a higher order quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) using the PDA method is also known.

Method and apparatus for detecting symbols received wirelessly using probabilistic data association with uncertainty

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


A raised platform for a microwave cooking of a food product that includes a support surface, a pair of generally rectangular legs depending from opposing sides of the support surface, a pair of leg extensions attached to each of the generally rectangular legs, and a susceptor surface disposed on the food product support surface for conducting heat to a food product thereon during microwave cooking. The raised platform can be converted between a collapsed configuration, where the legs are generally parallel to the support surface, and an expanded configuration, where the legs are generally perpendicular to the support surface.

Heretofore, considerable effort has been expended to provide food products such as frozen or refrigerated pizzas and sandwiches for preparation by a consumer, utilizing conventional gas or electric heated ovens. More recently, with the increasing popularity of microwave ovens, attention has turned to providing consumers with kits and components for preparing dough-containing products such as frozen or refrigerated pizzas and sandwiches.
As has been detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,304, microwave ovens exhibit their own unique challenges when preparing frozen food products. For example, microwave ovens exhibit substantial temperature gradients or non-uniform heating. In addition, frozen dough-containing products have been found to exhibit a nonuniform temperature response to microwave radiation throughout their volume, during a typical heating cycle. As a result, portions of the food item melt or thaw before other portions and this results in localized accelerated heating due to the preferential absorption of microwave energy by liquids being irradiated. As a result of these and other conditions, further improvements in the preparation and packaging of dough-containing food products are being sought.

Raised platform for microwave cooking of a food product


A method for representing security features of a distributed system is presented. The method includes creating abstractions to describe security mechanisms of a system, and creating a specification using the abstractions. The specification models components of the security mechanisms, features of an environment in which the system operates, and supporting security features. The method may further include linking the specification to graphical representations, and using the specification to construct an instance diagram that graphically depicts the security features of the system and its operational environment. The specification or the instance diagram may be used to construct an instance model, which may be a textual rendering, that models the security features of the system and its operational environment. Where the specification is used to construct the instance model, the method may further include using the instance model to construct the instance diagram.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to modeling methods, and in particular, to a method for representing security features of a distributed system.
2. Background Art
Organizations are delivering an increasing number of services over the Internet or internal versions thereof. For many, the situation is further complicated as they adopt new information technologies such as directories, which themselves might be important components of a security design. These services can now be distributed across multiple networks or geographical locations, and be deployed within multi-tier configurations. It is also not unusual to find different security policies in effect depending on the location or responsible owner of a service. Many organizations must adapt to new methods of delivery, to an accompanying increased complexity in their systems and system designs, and to new classes of threats that follow from allowing wider and different styles of access to the organization's data and services. In such environments, having tight, clear descriptions of both system and security designs is invaluable. Yet, system-level security is remarkably resistant to being described piecemeal; the security of each piece is dependent on the security of many others. As such, it is difficult to develop a clear understanding of the security position of a system without the aid of diagrams which show its high-level security architecture. Visual representations can depict where security mechanisms are positioned, how security mechanisms relate to the system design, and how security requirements are met. A diagram of a system's security position would improve communications, not only between security engineers and architects and their systems engineering counterparts, but also with others who have a vested interest in a system's security.
The ability to convey the essence of a security design visually, while following some formalism for constructing its visual representation, is not available. Even where security features are pictured, for instance in a network diagram, the features themselves usually give only vague hints as to the actual security posture in place. There is no existing work that attempts to build models or diagrams depicting security features using a formalized or repeatable method.
What is needed, therefore, is a method for representing security features of a distributed system that provides a model builder with the ability to convey a large amount of security-relevant information, while at the same time melting away much of the detail that would obscure the diagram's readability, and thus its impact. The present invention satisfies these and other needs, and provides further related advantages, as will be made apparent by the description of the present invention that follows.

Method for representing security features of a distributed system


A luggage item may include a first and second outer portions defining an inner compartment of the luggage item and a closing mechanism. At least one of the first outer portion or the second outer portion may include a frame structure and a relatively flexible cover member. The closing mechanism may be configured to operably engage a peripheral edge of each of the outer portions and configured to selectively open and close the luggage item. The frame structure may include a first frame member. The first frame member may form at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the at least one of the first outer portion or the second outer portion. The first frame member may define a width dimension extending in a direction away from the peripheral edge. The relatively flexible cover member and the closing mechanism may be joined to the first frame member by a common sewn attachment.

Luggage items, such as soft side suitcases, may include wire or extruded plastic reinforcement beads, honeycomb boards and/or other reinforcing panels as shape retaining structures and anchor plates for components, such as wheels and handles. To form a luggage case incorporating these frame and reinforcement structures, multiple manufacturing steps are usually involved. The wire reinforcements are first formed or bent into a predetermined shape and then received in piping, which is then attached around the perimeter of the structure requiring reinforcement. Other materials are attached to the structure in the same step, such as outer fabric, liner fabric, or the like. Reinforcing panels are held in place within the walls of the luggage case by being positioned in pockets, or separately attached to the wire frame or other panels. Not only does this wire-frame structure involve a multi-step assembly process, it adds unnecessary weight and creates interruptions at the outer panels of the luggage case, thereby restricting the aesthetic design flexibility.
Documents that may be related to the present disclosure in that they include various approaches to luggage construction include GB2339679, U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,010, U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,760, U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,156, U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,744, US2004/0079604, US2006/0249344, US2007/0045071 and CN2380081. These proposals, however, may be improved.
It is therefore desirable to provide an improved luggage construction, in particular an improved luggage frame structure, which addresses the above described problems and/or which more generally offers improvements or an alternative to existing luggage structures and construction methods.


Multiple computers in a cluster maintain respective sets of identifiers of neighbor computers in the cluster for each of multiple named resource. A combination of the respective sets of identifiers define a respective tree formed by the respective sets of identifiers for a respective named resource in the set of named resources. Upon origination and detection of a request at a given computer in the cluster, a given computer forwards the request from the given computer over a network to successive computers in the hierarchical tree leading to the computers relevant in handling the request based on use of identifiers of neighbor computers. Thus, a combination of identifiers of neighbor computers identify potential paths to related computers in the tree.

In certain conventional applications, computer systems sometimes include one or more processors and corresponding software that supports access to corresponding externally attached storage. For example, according to certain conventional applications, multiple computers may couple and communicate to a common shared storage system that stores large volumes of data. Depending on access configuration information, two or more of the computers may be afforded access to the same files stored in the shared storage system.
To prevent file corruption, conventional applications supporting access to the shared storage typically employ some means for preventing two or more users from modifying the same file at the same time. Otherwise, the two or more computers having write access to a given file in the shared storage system may simultaneously access and modify the same file. For example, one user may modify the given file with a first set of changes. Another user may attempt modify the given file with a second set of changes. Without an accounting for each user's changes, some of the changes to the given file may be lost when the users eventually store the modified file back to the shared storage system. It is quite possible in such applications that the latter user writing the file to storage may overwrite changes by the first user storing the file to storage. Thus, simultaneous access to the same file in storage is sometimes avoided altogether.
There exist conventional techniques to enable multiple users to work on the same file in a storage system without corruption. For example, according to one conventional application, each of multiple computers couple to a server device that, in turn, selectively provides access to a corresponding storage system. While a first user at a corresponding computer modifies a file in the storage system, the server device prevents other users from accessing (both reading and writing to) the same file to prevent two different users from simultaneously modifying the same file or one user to read stale data. After the first user completes any modifications and updates to the file in the storage device, the server device may allow another user to access the file in the storage system. Thus, the server device prevents corruption of shared files in the storage system by restricting access to any files presently being modified by other users. In other words, only one user is allowed to access and modify a file at a time. There also exist conventional techniques for allowing multiple computers shared access which shared access is devoted only to reading the file, and thus allows no corruption. Whenever some of the computers need to modify the file, the server device revokes the shared access from the other computers and grants write access to the requesting computer ensuring no computer keeps stale file contents.

Methods and apparatus facilitating access to storage among multiple computers


In a mobile communications terminal 100, there is provided a gestural control application for associated operation with an image viewing application. The gestural control application is configured to receive user gestures inputted through a touch-sensitive display of the apparatus when one or more images is displayed by the image viewing application. The gestural control application is configured to identify a correspondence between a received gesture and one of a plurality of locally-stored reference gestures and to identify selection by means of the inputted gesture of one or more entities in the or each image. By means of this identification and selection, said application is configured to communicate and apply a function associated with the identified reference gesture to an external web site through which is accessed a predetermined social network application, the function being applied in relation to the selected one or more entities.

User interaction with social network applications is usually by means of logging into a website and thereafter browsing pages of the website over the Internet.
Social network applications contain large quantities of information and store profiles for large numbers of people. This means that, in order for a user to locate a particular contact, a number of sequential browsing steps are required over the Internet. There may be numerous people with the same or similar names, and so further browsing steps are required to confirm that a particular profile corresponds to the required contact. Even when a user is connected to a contact, applying a social network function to that contact, such as a photo sharing function, will require transmission of a number of separate commands including selecting the function from a menu of available functions, then selecting the or each friend.
As well as being time-consuming, each browsing step requires data to be transmitted and received over a network such as the Internet. Where communication with social network applications is performed using a wireless data terminal, such as a mobile telephone or tablet computer, data usage is an important factor given the limited bandwidth available.


A data card for storing individual data for the use of an exerciser, such as a stationary bicycle. The data card includes a base having a transparent plate and a photo intercepting film formed on the plate for intercepting light except for a plurality of portions. A plurality of removable light stopping films each formed at least on one surface of the base at a position corresponding to the plurality of portions for stopping the passage of light through the portions. Individual data is stored by removing the light stopping film on a portion corresponding to the individual data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pedaling exerciser (hereinafter referred to as "exerciser"), and more specifically, to an optical data card for an exerciser which can be easily used for exercising by pedaling, used in a field of equipments for improving physical strength of users.
2. Description of the Background Art
Various exercisers for home use and for business use as equipments for promoting health has been proposed.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-8267 discloses an example of such prior art, showing an exerciser including a mechanical structure portion including a frame, a rotary portion including pedals, a brake portion of eddy current system, a control system including a sensor, and a control panel including a display window.
However, in the invention disclosed in the above mentioned patent publication, when the exerciser is used, an user must input target exercise data, and the control system in the exerciser controls load on the brake portion based on the data every time the exerciser is used. Therefore, the user must input his own individual data through the control panel every time he uses the exerciser, which data input was troublesome.
In view of the foregoing, the applicant of the present application has proposed an exerciser in U.S. Ser. No. 773306.
According to the exerciser, individual data such as age, physical strength and the like of the user are stored in advance in the exerciser, and at the time of use, an individual identifying code for identifying the user is input. Then, the individual data corresponding to the identifying code is read, and based on the data and pulse data detected during use, the magnitude of load is controlled. Therefore, different from the exerciser disclosed in the above mentioned patent publication, it is not necessary to input individual data at every use, and therefore it is very convenient.
Although such an exercise is more convenient, it still has some disadvantages. More specifically, when the exerciser is used, the user must at first select and input training mode manually, and then he must correctly input the individual identification code by ten keys or the like. If the input of the individual identification code is incorrect, it is possible that safety during exercise cannot be ensured, since the magnitude of load is controlled based on a data of a stranger.
There is an economical disadvantage as well as disadvantages during use. More specifically, for storing individual data, memory means having a prescribed storage capacity is necessary. If the exerciser is for business use, memory means having large capacity is necessary when the number of users is large, which naturally costs much. Meanwhile, if the storage capacity is limited, the number of users must be limited, which is also disadvantageous for business purpose.


An apparatus includes a two-dimensional array of single-chip modules (SCMs) and at least one component. A respective SCM in the array includes at least a semiconductor die that is configured to communicate data signals by capacitive coupling using one or more proximity connectors in a first set of proximity connectors. The first set of proximity connectors are coupled to the semiconductor die. A second set of proximity connectors is coupled to at least the one component. At least the one component is coupled to semiconductor dies in two or more SCMs using one or more proximity connectors in the second set of proximity connectors thereby enabling communication of the data signals by capacitive coupling.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to packaging techniques for semiconductor dies. More specifically, the present invention relates to packaging techniques for coupling single-chip and/or multi-chip modules that include semiconductor dies that communicate signals using proximity connectors.
2. Related Art
Researchers have begun to investigate alternative techniques for communicating between semiconductor chips. One promising technique involves integrating arrays of capacitive transmitters and receivers onto semiconductor chips to facilitate inter-chip communication. If a first chip is situated face-to-face with a second chip so that transmitter pads on the first chip are capacitively coupled with receiver pads on the second chip, it becomes possible to transmit data signals directly from the first chip to the second chip without having to route the data signals through intervening signal lines within a printed circuit board.
Capacitive coupling depends on a relative position of the transmitter pads and the receiver pads, both in a plane defined by the pads and in a direction perpendicular to the plane. Misalignment in the plane may cause each receiving pad to span two transmitting pads, thereby destroying a received signal. In theory, for a geometry with a single transmitter and receiver pad per signal channel, and with each pad having the same size, satisfactory communication requires alignment such that misalignment is less than half of a pitch between the pads. In practice, the alignment requirements may be more stringent. In addition, limiting overall misalignment may improve communication performance between the chips and reduce power consumption.
Unfortunately, it is not a simple matter to align the chips properly using existing mounting structures, such as conventional single-chip modules or conventional multi-chip modules. The chips in these structures are subject to thermal expansion and mechanical vibrations, as well as manufacturing and assembly perturbations that result in misalignment problems.
Capacitively coupled inter-chip communication may offer a high-bandwidth when communicating between adjacent chips and chips that are in close proximity to one another. Latency challenges, however, may occur when communicating over longer distances, such as in a multi-chip module (MCM). This latency may impact communication between a CPU and an external cache and/or main memory, and therefore, may adversely affect the system performance.
What is needed is needed are packaging techniques for single-chip modules and multi-chip modules to facilitate capacitive inter-chip communication without the problems listed above.

Single-chip and multi-chip module for proximity communication


A linear extension and retraction mechanism that is mounted in a robot arm mechanism includes: a plurality of first pieces having a flat plate shape which are bendably connected to each other at front and rear end faces; a plurality of second pieces having a groove shape which are bendably connected to each other at front and rear end faces of a bottom part, with the first and second pieces becoming linearly rigid when superposed, and the first and second pieces returning to a bent state when separated from each other; a head section which joins a leading first piece of the plurality of first pieces and a leading second piece of the plurality of second pieces; and a sending-out mechanism section including a plurality of rollers and for firmly superposing the first and second pieces and supporting the first and second pieces movably to front and rear. At least one groove section that extends from front to rear is formed in the surfaces of the first and second pieces that contact the rollers.

Conventionally, articulated robot arm mechanisms are used in an industrial robot and various other fields. The present inventors developed a linear extension and retraction mechanism that can be applied to such kinds of articulated robot arm mechanisms (Patent Literature 1). Adoption of the linear extension and retraction joint in an articulated robot arm mechanism makes an elbow joint unnecessary, and can easily eliminate a singular point, and hence the linear extension and retraction joint is an extremely useful structure.
A linear extension and retraction mechanism includes a plurality of pieces made of metal that have a flat plate shape and which are bendably connected together (first pieces), and a plurality of pieces made of metal that have a groove shape which are bendably connected together at a bottom plate (second pieces). The first and second pieces are connected at the front ends thereof, and the first and second pieces are superposed when sent out in the forward direction, and a rigid state is thereby secured. By this means a columnar arm section having a certain rigidity is formed. The first and second pieces are separated when pulled back toward the rear, and thus the first and second pieces return to a bendable state and are housed inside a columnar support. A sending-out mechanism is equipped with a plurality of rollers on four faces of a frame having a rectangular cylinder shape, and realizes forward and rearward movement of the first and second pieces while firmly sandwiching the first and second pieces from four directions, and also supports the arm section in the upward, downward, left and right directions.
An end effector such as a hand is mounted at the tip of the arm section, and smooth forward and rearward linear movement of the arm section is required in order to realize high positional accuracy of the end effector. Therefore, high surface accuracy (surface roughness) is required for the respective surfaces on the top, bottom, left and right of each of the first and second pieces that contact rollers, and it is necessary to use expensive components as the first and second pieces.

Linear extension and retraction mechanism


In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main pole configured to write data to a magnetic medium, a trailing shield positioned on a trailing side of the main pole, and a STO between the main pole and the trailing shield, wherein the STO includes a laminated structure having a FGL, a spun polarization layer (SPL), and a non-magnetic spacer positioned between the FGL and the SPL, wherein the FGL includes a laminated structure having one or more layers of a CoFe alloy and a Heusler alloy alternately laminated in this order from an end of the FGL closest to the non-magnetic spacer. In another embodiment, a method is presented for forming such a magnetic head utilizing a FGL that includes a laminated structure baying layers of a CoFe alloy and a Heusler alloy alternately laminated in this order from an end of the FGL closest to the non-magnetic spacer.

The heart of a computer is a magnetic hard disk drive (HDD) which typically includes a rotating magnetic disk, a slider that has read and write heads, a suspension arm above the rotating disk and an actuator arm that swings the suspension arm to place the read and/or write heads over selected circular tracks on the rotating disk. The suspension arm biases the slider into contact with the surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating but, when the disk rotates, air is swirled by the rotating disk adjacent an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider causing the slider to ride on an air hearing a slight distance from the surface of the rotating disk. When the slider rides on the air bearing the write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic impressions to and reading magnetic signal fields from the rotating disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing circuitry that operates according to a computer program to implement the writing and reading functions.
The volume of information processing in the information age is increasing rapidly. In particular, HDDs have been desired to store more information in its limited area and volume. A technical approach to this desire is to increase the capacity by increasing the recording density of the HDD. To achieve higher recording density, it is useful to increase the quality of the magnetization transition which determines the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the bit information stored to the magnetic medium. In order to achieve this with conventional techniques, a write bubble that is faster than the transition speed of the recording medium is generated. Therefore, many attempts have been made to shorten a magnetic circuit length for a magnetic head in order to further improve the high frequency properties.
Microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) has been researched for use as a recording method for improving surface magnetic recording density of magnetic media. In MAMR, a magnetic field is exerted by a main pole which applies an alternating current (AC) field from a spin-torque oscillator (STO) to a medium. Applying an AC field to a medium reduces the coercivity of the medium, which facilitates high-quality recording. Therefore, for MAMR to be more efficient, an STO which generates a sufficiently large AC field should be developed. With a STO structure as described in IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, Vol. 44, No. 1, January 2008 or J. Appl. Phys. 109, 07B741 (2011), and as shown in FIG. 1 according to the prior art, the STO 100 comprises a FGL 102 for generating an AC field, a spacer 104, and a spin polarization layer (SPL) 106 for transmitting spin-polarized torque. The SPL comprises a material having strong vertical anisotropy energy. The STO is also charged by a current from the SPL toward the FGL. During this charging, a spin torque oriented in the same direction as the magnetization of the FGL acts on the magnetization of the SPL, and a spin torque oriented in an antiparallel direction to the magnetization of the SPL acts on the magnetization of the FGL. The STO also comprises a cap layer 112 positioned above the FGL 102 and an underlayer positioned below the SPL 106. The STO is positioned between the main pole 108 and the trailing shield 110.
Spin torques are described in detail in J. C. Slonczewski, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 159, L1, 1996. Because a perpendicular field is applied to the STO, the magnetization of the SPL is stable vertically. The magnetization of the FGL, however, oscillates while having a large in-plane component. Oscillation of the STO in this structure is called T-mode oscillation because the SPL and the FGL oscillate in a T-shape.
A different STO structure is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-65385, Application No. 2011-204843. With this structure, as shown in FIG. 2 according to the prior art, the STO 200 comprises a FGL 102 for generating an AC field, a spacer 104, and a SPL 106 for transmitting a spin-polarized torque. The differences between the STO 100 in FIG. 1 and STO 200 in FIG. 2 are that the magnetization of the SPL 106 is effectively oriented in the in-plane direction of the film, and both the FGL 102 and the SPL 106 in STO 200 oscillate. Specifically, a current is charged from the FGL toward the SPL, and a structure is used in which the SPL has a thin film thickness and a low vertical anisotropy field such that the anisotropy field of the SPL is effectively zero. This structure inverts quickly because inversion of the magnetization of the SPL is not delayed by switching the polarity of the write head field, which is useful in high-speed transfer recording. Oscillation of the STO 200 is called AF-mode oscillation because the SPL and the FGL oscillate while maintaining an antiparallel state.
A feature demanded of an STO is improvement in the generated AC field, which may be accomplished by increasing the spin torque acting on the FGL. Since the size of the spin torque is inversely proportional to the density of the current to the STO, increasing the application current obtains a higher AC field strength. FIG. 3 shows a relationship between AC field strength and application current in an STO structure using CoFe, while FIG. 4 shows a state of magnetization of the FGL and the SPL, as viewed from a side opposite the medium, when the charging current is 4 mA, 8 mA, and 18 mA.
The state of magnetization is a result of a micromagnetic simulation numerical calculation. FIG. 3 reveals that increasing the current charging the STO increases AC field strength, but too high a charging current attenuates AC field strength. As suggested by the state of FGL magnetization in FIG. 4, a major contributor to increasing AC field strength is a large in-plane component of FGL magnetization near the spacer boundary with the FGL. At greater distances from the spacer boundary with the FGL, however, FGL magnetization is greater in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the film, which contributes little to improving AC field strength. This is because the spin torque acting on the FGL is strongest near the spacer boundary, and becomes weaker as the distance from the spacer boundary increases. Because applying more charging current to the STO produces too high a spin torque near the spacer boundary with the FGL, FGL magnetization is disordered and develops multi domains, while there is little increase in the film surface component of FGL magnetization at greater distances from the spacer boundary. As a result, too strong of a STO current attenuates the AC field strength.

Magnetic head having a spin torque oscillator (STO) with a hybrid heusler field generation layer (FGL)


A composite hearing aid system comprises two hearing aids (11, 31) with respective microphones (12, 32) and electronic receivers (17, 37), a microphone (42) and a transmitter (41) adapted to transmit the signal from the microphone (42) to the electronic receivers. At least one of the hearing aids (11, 31) comprises means for inverting the phase of the signal received by the electronic receivers (17, 37). When the phase of the received signal is inverted in one of the hearing aids (11, 31), a release from masking is obtained, and the perceived signal-to-noise ratio is improved. The invention provides a composite hearing aid system, a hearing aid and a method for processing audio signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hearing aids. The invention further relates to hearing aid systems and to a method for processing audio signals. More specifically the invention relates to hearing aid systems capable of processing signals from more than one type of signal source, such as a microphone in combination with any one of a radio wave receiver, an audio-input device, a telecoil receiver, an optical receiver (e.g. infrared) and the like. The invention, in a further aspect, relates to a method for enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in a composite hearing aid system.
2. The Prior Art
Hearing aids having more than one input are well known. Hearing aids having inputs for different types of signals, herein designated composite hearing aids, also exist. Particularly well known examples comprise hearing aids with a microphone input and with a telecoil input. DE-A-3032311 discloses a radio receiver accessory adapted for plug-in connection to a hearing aid in order to provide a radio reception capability. The receiver is powered by the hearing aid battery. U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,976 discloses a miniature radio receiver adapted for connection to a hearing aid fitted with an additional loop antenna. A switch permits changing the balance between microphone input and radio input.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,945 provides a personal hearing aid system. The hearing aid system interfaces with existing hearing aids using the "T" facility (i.e. a telecoil capability). The system comprises a microphone, an FM radio transmitter connected to the microphone, a receiver unit for receiving a signal from the transmitter unit, and a hearing aid with a "T" facility. The receiver unit connects to an induction loop, and the hearing aid receives the signal from the induction loop and transmits an audio signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,075 shows a hearing enhancement system for co-operation with a conventional hearing aid used in "T"-switch mode, including a microphone and an induction loop. The induction loop is worn around the body of a speaking person. The induction loop generates an electromagnetic signal that may propagate some distance away from the speaking person to be picked up by a telecoil-enabled hearing aid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,229 provides a short range wireless communications system employing a belt worn receiver coupled via a cord or cable to a loop which is worn under the clothing of the hearing aid user. The hearing aid in turn has an inductive pick up coil for picking up the loop signal. The receiver may include RF receiver circuitry to pick up and convert an RF signal to an audio frequency electrical signal.
In a composite system, the transmitter is typically positioned near a distant sound source that is of interest to the hearing-impaired individual. The delivery of information from the transmitter to the receiver, connected to the hearing-impaired individual's hearing aid, will thus permit the audibility of the distant sound sources. The main use for a composite hearing aid system is in situations where the preferred acoustic source, e.g. an orator, has a remote, but well known, location and where additional use of the hearing aid microphones is advantageous. For the hearing-impaired, these situations include educational settings, meetings, public presentations, church sermons and the like. In these situations a wireless receiver is beneficial in order to achieve an appropriate S/N ratio and an increased speech intelligibility for the hearing aid user.
Nevertheless, using a wireless receiver with a hearing aid without using the hearing aid microphones also exposes some inherent problems in use. One problem is the reduced ability to pick up wanted sounds other than those being fed directly into the transmitter, e.g. comments from parts of the audience outside the range of the transmitter microphone. This can impair the ability to participate in, for instance, an educational setting, as the inclination to ask any questions is modest if one cannot hear his or her own voice.
The hearing aid user may have a wireless receiver for both hearing aids (left and right) or for just one of them. When using wireless receivers on both hearing aids, the signals reproduced by the two receivers can be presumed to be identical and mutually in phase, i.e. they are perceived as a diotic signal.
In research dealing with determining perception of signals in noise, both the noise source and the desired signal source are often controlled to a great extent. The noise level and the balance between the noise and the desired signal determine the conditions under which experiments are carried out. The noise source usually masks the signal in some way, and is therefore denoted a masker. Different properties like intelligibility or hearing threshold level may be examined during such experiments, including binaural conditions.
A diotic signal may be a stimulus presented in the same way to both ears, M0S0, where M denotes a masker and S denotes a desired signal of the combined stimulus. This condition should be distinguished from the monotic condition, MmSm, a stimulus presented to one ear only, and from the dichotic condition, where the stimulus is presented differently to the two ears, e.g. M0Sπ, M0Sm, MπS0, etc. This is explained in further detail in the following, where S denotes the signal and M denotes the masker.
If a signal is presented binaurally in a homophasic condition (the same signal is presented in an identical form to both ears), this signal can be denoted S0, where the suffix 0 indicates the lack of phase difference between the signals presented to both ears. Likewise, a signal presented 180° out of phase to one ear when compared to the other ear can be denoted Sπ, where the suffix π denotes the antiphasic relationship between the two signals.
In the dichotic conditions, one of the two stimuli (i.e. the tone) is presented differently to the two ears, binaurally (e.g. SπS0, where the speech is presented in phase binaurally while the masker is presented 180° out-of-phase binaurally).
A well-known method for improving perceived SNR exploits a psychoacoustic phenomenon known as the binaural masking level difference (BMLD). Listening tests have revealed that a difference in masking level can improve the ability to detect a tone presented to the listener in competing noise. The BMLD is evaluated where tones are presented to both ears at the same time that a masking or competing noise is being delivered binaurally (Licklider, 1948). See table 1. The listener is tested under two conditions, a homophasic and an antiphasic condition. In the homophasic condition the speech or tones are presented either monotic to one ear, MmSm, or diotic to both ears in phase, M0S0.
TABLE 1Interaural condition compared to MmSmMLD (masking level difference)Monotic, dioticMmSm, M0S00 dBDichoticMπSm6 dBDichoticM0Sm9 dBDichoticMπS013 dB DichoticM0Sπ15 dB
When the signal and masker are presented in this antiphasic fashion, a maximal release from masking is obtained, i.e. the listener is able to comprehend a tone level that would otherwise have been buried by the masker. The difference in thresholds between the homophasic and antiphasic condition reveals the BMLD. Green and Yost (Handbook of Sensory Psychology, Springer-Verlag, 1975, pp 461-465) have demonstrated a BMLD effect of up to 15 dB in a population of normal listeners (Table 1). The BMLD, as shown in table 1, is limited to deal with detection of pure tones in unmodulated broadband noise only, but are incorporated to explain the principles behind the invention.
Currently, the masking level difference may be observed in systems where only one of two hearing aids is equipped with a wireless receiver, and where the HA microphones are active, "ON", corresponding to the dichotic condition M0Sm, thus giving a theoretical benefit of 9 dB if pure tones are used for the signal.
Green and Yost verified these values with white noise with a spectrum density level of 60 dB as the masker and a low-frequency sinusoid, e.g. 500 Hz, presented intermittently to the listener at brief durations of approximately 10-100 ms, as the signal. The conclusions drawn from the experiments are that the BMLD is never negative, but, for some binaural conditions, may be zero dB, i.e. no improvement.
A more practical approach may be taken by applying a different type of measurement, known as the binaural intelligibility level difference, or BILD. This test is based on the fact that the recognition of speech can be measured by presenting nonsense, one-syllable words, denoted logatomes, to a listener at varying sound pressure levels to determine the degree of syllabic recognition. This is measured as the percentage of syllables in a spoken sentence that are perceived correctly. The syllabic intelligibility level is defined as the sound pressure level of speech in connection with which a given degree, say, 50%, of syllabic intelligibility is attained. (Blauert et. al., Spatial Hearing, The MIT Press, 1974.)
In a real-life situation, even a modest improvement in SNR from a BMLD or a BILD may provide a major enhancement of the intelligibility of speech in noisy conditions. See table 2. One example of a situation where speech and masking noise are present is that of an educational setting. In this situation, the teacher is positioned in the front end of the room and there may be instances of noise from other students or from the environment that make it difficult, especially for hearing-impaired individuals, to hear what is being said by the teacher. For hearing-impaired listeners, the use of a composite system is often preferred in these situations in order to permit the delivery of acoustic characteristics of distant sound sources, such as the teacher's voice, to the ear.
TABLE 2Interfering noiseBILD, MπS0White noise, 75 dB7.2 dBModulated white noise fm = 4 Hz, m = 62%5.5 dB1 speaking voice4.3 dB1 speaking voice + white noise5.7 dB1 speaking voice + modulated white noise5.2 dB2 speaking voices9.0 dB2 speaking voices + white noise6.4 dB2 speaking voices + modulated white noise6.6 dB
The use of a composite system will thus improve the perceived SNR and facilitate the comprehension of the teacher's voice. However, in order for the hearing-impaired individual to monitor his/her own voice and the immediate acoustic environment, the hearing aid microphones are usually activated in the composite system together with the transmitter microphone, and this combination has a negative influence on the S/N ratio when compared to the wireless receiver on its own.
However, a moderate release from masking may be obtained in a composite system where the hearing aid microphones are activated, but where a wireless receiver is connected to only one of the two hearing aids. This corresponds to the M0Sm condition in table 1. This approach combines the advantages of a desirable SNR and monitoring of one's own voice. Also, this approach in providing composite systems is common practice by practising audiologists today, partly due to economical considerations.

Hearing aid system, a hearing aid and a method for processing audio signals


During a period after starting exposure to a plurality of shot areas subject to exposure on a wafer until completing the exposure, a light via a slit pair arranged on a stage that holds the wafer, of illumination light via a pattern generating device, is received, and information on a positional relation between an illumination light and the stage (and hence a positional relation between the illumination light and the wafer) is detected. With this operation, even if the information on the positional relation between the illumination light and the wafer varies due to some reason, information on the variation can be detected while performing the exposure to the plurality of shot areas. Accordingly, high-precision exposure can be achieved in an exposure operation, by considering this detection results.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pattern forming methods and apparatus, exposure methods and apparatus, and device manufacturing methods and devices, and more particularly, to a pattern forming method and a pattern forming apparatus to form a pattern in a divided area on an object using a variable shaped mask, an exposure method and an exposure apparatus to expose an object with an energy beam via the pattern forming apparatus, and a device manufacturing method using the pattern forming method or the exposure method, and a device manufactured with the device manufacturing method.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, in a lithography process for manufacturing electron devices (microdevices) such as semiconductor devices or liquid crystal display devices, a projection exposure apparatus is used that transfers a pattern formed on a mask (such as a reticle, or a photomask) onto a substrate (such as a glass plate, or a wafer), on which a sensitive agent such as a resist is coated, via a projection optical system.
In recent years, various scanning exposure apparatus of a so-called maskless type have been proposed, which use a variable shaped mask (which is also called an active mask) instead of a costly mask (a mask which is a fixed pattern master), regardless of size of a device pattern. As a kind of this maskless type scanning exposure apparatus, a scanning exposure apparatus that uses a micromirror array which is a type of a reflective spatial light modulator, as a variable shaped mask, has been proposed (e.g., see Kokai (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication) No. 2004-327660). According to the scanning exposure apparatus that uses the micromirror array as a variable shaped mask, by changing a pattern generated at a variable shaped mask in synchronization with scanning of a substrate stage in a scanning direction and by exposing a substrate held on the substrate stage, a desired pattern can be formed on the substrate without difficulty, and also cost reduction and downsizing of the apparatus are possible.
However, in the scanning exposure apparatus that uses the micromirror array as the variable shaped mask, since it is relatively difficult to increase the size of the micromirror array, an illumination area (pattern formation area) on the substrate is so small (e.g. the width in a non-scanning direction (a direction orthogonal to a scanning direction in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate) is about 0.2 mm). Therefore, in the case of using a wafer with a diameter of 300 mm as the substrate, in order to expose one wafer (assuming that the entire surface of the wafer is exposed), the wafer needs to be scanned in the scanning direction at least about 1,500 times (750 round trips), which takes a long time.
Therefore, in the case of the scanning exposure apparatus of a maskless type, there is a possibility that temperature variation of the atmosphere in the vicinity of the substrate stage or the like occurs during exposure of one substrate, and due to the temperature variation, the measurement values of a measurement device (such as a laser interferometer) used for position measurement of the substrate stage vary, which causes measurement error. In addition, there is also a risk that the exposure accuracy is lowered due to the measurement error.
Further, because the illumination area (pattern formation area) on the substrate is so small, it is difficult to expose a shot area with a size of 25 mm×33 mm on the wafer at one time. Meanwhile, in an exposure apparatus such as a liquid crystal exposure apparatus, a method is employed in which a plurality of projection optical systems are placed in a zigzag shape and a projection area (illumination area) of a mask pattern by each of the projection optical systems is set to have a trapezoidal shape using a field stop. When this method is employed for screen stitching in an exposure apparatus using a micromirror array, however, it is inefficient because some of micromirrors of the micromirror array are not used all through the exposure. Therefore, development of the pattern forming technologies, which are suitable for performing screen stitching with the variable shaped mask, has been expected.

Pattern forming method and apparatus, exposure method and apparatus, and device manufacturing method and device