An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention comprises a fingerprint sensor, a display and a processor, wherein the processor may be configured to: execute an application comprising a plurality of resources corresponding to a plurality of images to be displayed on the display with respect to the fingerprint sensor; determine a resource among the plurality of resources which corresponds to the fingerprint sensor, on the basis of an attribute of the fingerprint sensor; and display one of the images which corresponds to the determined resource, on the display with respect to the fingerprint sensor.

With the development of mobile communication technology and processor technology, electronic devices (e.g., portable terminal devices) can perform a great variety of functions in addition to a traditional telephony function. For example, various applications such as an Internet browser, a game, and a calculator have been developed and used in electronic devices. As functions available in electronic devices have become more diverse, the security of information stored in electronic devices has become more important. In order to meet such security needs, authentication techniques based on user's biometric information are being developed.
Authentication techniques based on biometric information may acquire biometric information such as a fingerprint, an iris, a voice, a face, and a blood vessel from a user, compare the acquired biometric information with previously registered biometric information, and thereby determine whether or not the user is an authenticated user. Among authentication techniques based on biometric information, a fingerprint recognition technique is one of commercially available techniques for various reasons such as convenience, security, and economy. For user authentication using fingerprint recognition, an electronic device may store in advance fingerprint information extracted from a user's fingerprint image in a memory. Then, the electronic device may newly acquire a fingerprint image from a user who requests authentication, compare it with the stored fingerprint image, and authenticate the user as a registered user when both fingerprint images coincide with each other.

Electronic device and screen provision method of electronic device


An auxiliary hydraulic system for a working vehicle having an operator station is disclosed herein. The system includes a hydraulic pump for providing hydraulic fluid under pressure, auxiliary hydraulic fittings for connection to auxiliary attachments, and electrically-actuated auxiliary valve assemblies for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid from the pump to the fittings in response to control signals. The system also includes an operator control console mounted at the operator station and including control levers moveable between different flow positions, flow limit input devices for setting flow limits for the control levers, and a console control circuit for generating command signals based upon the positions of the control levers and the flow limits. The command signals are transmitted to an auxiliary control circuit which generates the control signals in response thereto and applies the control signals to the auxiliary valve assemblies. Thus, the supply of fluid to the auxiliary valve fittings depends upon the positions of the control levers and the flow limits which are controlled by an operator from an integrated operator control console.

Working vehicles often include auxiliary hydraulic systems configured to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid from a vehicle hydraulic pump to auxiliary equipment or attachments. For example, agricultural and construction equipment vehicles (e.g., tractors; tractor-loaders; skid-steer loaders) may be coupled to attachments such as augers, grapples, sweepers, landscape rakes, backhoes, scarfers, snowblowers, stabilizers, raising and lowering implements or other attachments driven by hydraulic actuators such as hydraulic cylinders or hydraulic motors.
The attachments can be referred to as "auxiliary" equipment since they are typically connected to a vehicle to perform a particular job, and then disconnected when the job is complete. Accordingly, the working vehicles include external fluid fittings to facilitate connecting and disconnecting the hydraulic fluid supply lines of the attachments to the vehicles' auxiliary hydraulic systems. The auxiliary hydraulic systems include valves configured to control the supply of hydraulic fluid flowing through the fittings. The use of auxiliary equipment increases versatility of working vehicles by allowing the vehicles to perform different functions at different times.
Different attachments impose varying requirements on auxiliary hydraulic systems with respect to timing, rate and control of fluid flow. For example, an attachment equipped with a hydraulic motor (e.g., auger) may require a continuous flow of fluid while an attachment equipped with a hydraulic cylinder actuator (e.g., plow) may only require a flow of fluid for a discrete period. A desired rate of flow may depend upon the weight of an implement or on the work being performed by an attachment. For example, the flow rate required to raise an implement at a desired speed (e.g., fast enough for efficiency yet slow enough for safety) may be higher for a relatively heavy implement than for a relatively light implement. Closed-loop control based upon feedback signals may or may not be required. For example, a plow can be raised and lowered between desired raise and lower positions by a hydraulic cylinder actuator based on position feedback signals while a landscape rake may be raised or lowered by applying a fluid flow for a period sufficient to fully raise or lower the rake. Further, an auxiliary hydraulic system may be required to supply fluid to an attachment at a maximum flow rate in some situations and at a "feathered" flow rate (e.g., proportional control) in other situations such as during precision operations.
An auxiliary hydraulic system may also be required to provide hydraulic fluid flows to a number of auxiliary attachments having different fluid flow timing, rate and control requirements. For example, a tractor could be required to provide hydraulic fluid to simultaneously raise and lower a plow based upon position feedback signals, raise and lower a rake, and drive an auger.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an improved auxiliary hydraulic system capable of providing pressurized fluid to attachments in continuous or timed modes, of providing fluid to attachments at flow rates which can be set by an operator, of providing fluid to certain attachments using closed-loop control based upon feedback signals, and of providing fluid to attachments at maximum or feathered flow rates. Further, it would be advantageous to provide an improved auxiliary hydraulic system for supplying pressurized fluid to attachments having varying timing, rate and control requirements.
It would also be advantageous to provide an improved operator control console for a working vehicle equipped with an auxiliary hydraulic system. Advantages which can be realized by the improved operator control console disclosed herein include the versatility to provide fluid flow command signals for attachments with varying timing, rate and control requirements. The command signals can be used to control different types of attachments which may be coupled to auxiliary hydraulic systems. Further, the operator control console provides flow limit input devices to allow an operator to set maximum flow rates for each auxiliary valve within the system. The operator control console includes an interface for communication across a vehicle databus.


A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle is provided utilizing a membrane suspension for supporting an occupant seated on the seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion and a seat back operatively coupled to the seat cushion for movement between a plurality of reclined positions. Both the seat back and seat cushion are similarly configured each having a frame extending between interconnected and spaced apart side members. The membrane suspension includes opposite terminal edges each fixedly secured to one of the side members to support the membrane suspension in tension between the side members. A rigid panel having an upstanding wall is fixedly secured to the seat back and seat cushion frames. The wall increasingly tensions the membrane suspension during installation of the panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seat assembly for an automotive vehicle, and more particularly, to a seat frame panel for covering a portion of a seat frame and for applying tension to a fabric suspension supported by the seat frame.
2. Description of Related Art
Automotive vehicles typically include seat assemblies for supporting occupants within the vehicles. Seat assemblies comprise a seat cushion and a seat back for supporting the back of an occupant seated upon the seat cushion and operatively coupled to the seat cushion for pivotal adjustment between a plurality of reclined positions. Typically, each of the seat back and the seat cushion include a rigid frame and a foam pad supported on the frame and encased by a fabric trim cover for comfortably supporting the occupant.
The seat back and seat cushion may further include a fabric membrane suspension fixedly secured in tension to the frame's perimeter. The membrane suspension presents a seating surface for supporting the occupant thereupon. Construction of the seat back and the seat cushion utilizing the membrane suspension is labor intensive, usually requiring a mechanical or powered assist to stretch the membrane suspension and, at the same time, allow the membrane suspension to be fixedly secured to the frame to maintain the resulting tension in the membrane suspension.
Accordingly, it remains desirable to provide a seat frame design that allows simple, low-effort installation of the membrane suspension to the seat back or seat cushion frame.

Seat frame panel for attaching a fabric suspension


A new and distinct kiwifruit variety is disclosed. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from crossing the kiwifruit selections known as 40-10-14e.92 (not patented, Actinidia deliciosa) and CK71_06 (not patented, Actinidia chinensis). The fruit of the plant of this new kiwifruit variety is characterized by early maturity, green flesh color, and a sweet, tropical/kiwifruit flavor. The new kiwifruit variety has been named ‘ZESH004’.

The invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new and distinct variety of kiwifruit, Actinidia deliciosa×Actinidia chinensis 'ZESH004', as herein described and illustrated. The new kiwifruit variety 'ZESH004' was selected from a population of seedlings derived from crossing two unpatented kiwifruit selections: A. deliciosa hexapoloid female 40-10-14e.92×A. chinensis diploid male CK71—06 in the course of a planned kiwifruit variety breeding program. The cross was made in November 2000 at Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. The new variety was selected as 16-01-03h.02 and has been named 'ZESH004'.
The new kiwifruit variety 'ZESH004' may be distinguished from presently available Actinidia cultivars by the following distinguishing characteristics:
The fruit of the new variety 'ZESH004' are high in sweetness (ripe brix) and vitamin C and are low in acidity compared with those of 'Tomua' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,065).
The flesh of 'ZESH004' fruit are green in color at harvest but will change to a yellow-green color at warm temperatures, compared with 'Hayward' (non-patented ) and 'Tomua', which stay completely green regardless of storage temperature.
'ZESH004' are a cross between the Actinidia deliciosa and Actinidia chinensis species, compared with 'Hayward' and 'Tomua' which are Actinidia deliciosa species.
The fruit of the new kiwifruit variety 'ZESH004' mature earlier than those of 'Hayward'.
The fruit of the new kiwifruit variety 'ZESH004' are much sweeter than those of 'Hayward' and have a tropical flavor, as well as standard kiwifruit flavors.
The fruit shape at the stylar end of the new variety 'ZESH004' is blunt with a slight indentation compared with that of 'Hort16A' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,066), which extends into a characteristic 'beak'.
The flesh of the new kiwifruit variety 'ZESH004' fruit is green-yellow in color when ripe for consumption, compared with 'Hayward' (non-patented) which is green in color.
'ZESH004' is tetraploid compared with 'Hayward' (non-patented) which is hexaploid.
'ZESH004' is tetraploid whereas its maternal parent (40-10-14e.92) is hexaploid, they can be distinguished by the fruit maturity timing, 40-10-14e92 is late maturing while 'ZESH004' is medium.
'ZESH004' is distinguished from its paternal parent (CK71 06—non-patented) as it is a female fruit bearing kiwifruit variety whereas CK71 06 is a male non-fruit baring kiwifruit.
Asexual propagation of the new kiwifruit variety 'ZESH004', at Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, by grafting shows that the unique combination of characteristics of the variety come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagation. In order to obtain true-to-type clones of the initial plant, asexually propagated plants were obtained by grafting dormant buds from the original seedling onto rootstocks.


The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including, a heating member heating an image on a recording material having a first exothermic element in which the calorific value of the central portion is larger than that of the end and a second exothermic element in which the calorific value of the end is larger than that of the central portion, a temperature detecting member for detecting the temperature of the heating member, power supply controlling device for controlling the power supply to the first and second exothermic elements so that the temperature of the heating member becomes a target temperature, a first starting mode for stopping the power supply to the first exothermic element and starting temperature rise of the heating member when reaching a preset temperature to start temperature rise of the heating member up to a target temperature capable of forming an image, a second starting mode for starting temperature rise up to the target temperature by using the fist and second exothermic elements, and selecting device for selecting a starting mode in accordance with a detection temperature at start of the starting operation.

1. Field of the Invention
An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system normally has a fixing apparatus for melting and fixing a transferring material and toner made of a resin, magnetic material and coloring material electrostatically carried by the transferring material by heating and pressuring the transferring material and toner while nipping and conveying them by heating means (roller and endless belt body) for pressure-contacting them each other and rotating them and the pressure-contacting portion (nipping portion) of pressuring means (roller and endless belt body).
2. Related Background Art
In general, a fixing apparatus is used to thermally fix a toner image formed on a recording material serving as a recording material to the recording material in accordance with an electrophotographic recording system.
A fixing apparatus has a heating roller provided with a heater for producing heat and a pressuring roller for forming a nipping portion for pressure-contacting with the heating roller and nipping and conveying a recording material and fixes a toner image on the recording material to the recording material with heat and pressure.
A recording material to which a toner image is transferred is guided by a guide and conveyed between a hearing roller and a pressuring roller and heated and pressured and thereby, the toner on the toner image is melted and fixed to the recording material and the recording-material toner image is fixed to the recording material.
Thus, conditions necessary for fixing are a roller temperature for melting a toner layer on a recording material, time for the toner layer to pass through a heating roller and pressuring roller and pressure between the heating roller and pressuring roller and the time for the recording material to pass through the heating roller and pressuring roller is decided by circumferential speeds of the heating roller and pressuring roller and the nipping width between the heating roller and pressuring roller.
Moreover, to prevent a temperature rise of a non-sheet passing portion which occurs when passing a small-size recording material, heaters A4 and B5 are used so that calorific value distributions of the heaters A4 and B5 in the longitudinal direction become two types different from each other as shown in FIG. 5 and peak positions of these calorific values due to these calorific value distributions are not approximately overlapped. That is, in the case of a small-size recording material with a small width when forming a normal image, temperature control is performed by decreasing the turning-on rate of the heater B. Moreover, in the case of a recording material with a large width, temperature control is performed by successively turning on the both heaters in time shearing. In FIG. 5, the output of the heaters A4 is approx. 800 W and that of the heater B5 ranges from about 400 to 600 W. These values are decided so that they do not exceed the allowable power of an image forming apparatus even if the heaters A4 and B5 are simultaneously turned on under warm-up and a small-size recording material can be sufficiently fixed by only the heater A4.
In the case of a color-image forming apparatus for forming a color image by mixing a plurality of color toners, it is impossible to obtain a clear color image because an unfixed toner image expands at a nipping portion when a heating roller contacting with a toner image on a recording material has a high hardness. Therefore, by forming an elastic layer on the core bar of the heating roller and preventing the toner image from expanding by the elastic layer, it is possible to obtain a clear color image.
In the case of the starting operation of the fixing apparatus having the above configuration, it is possible to start rise of the temperature of the heating roller up to a preset start-completion temperature in a short time by fully turning on the heaters A and B with the maximum power respectively.
However, when heating a heating roller having an elastic layer, the following problem occurs. Overshoot occurs in which heat inside a heating roller is transmitted to the surface of the roller later even if a heater is turned off after the surface temperature reaches a target temperature because the heat conductivity of the elastic layer is low and time is required unit heat reaches the surface via the elastic layer after the heat is supplied to the core bar. Therefore, to decrease the overshoot, there is a method for decreasing a calorific value. In this case, however, the start time increases.
Therefore, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open NO. H62-124581, to prevent overshoot without extremely increasing the start time, there is a method for uniformly keeping a temperature distribution by forcibly turning off a main heater when the surface temperature of a heating roller reaches a predetermined temperature, operating only a subheater and causing overshoot at the central portion while only the subheater is operated.
However, an overshoot mount greatly depends on a calorific value supplied to the heating roller. That is, when turn-on time of a heater increases, the calorific value accumulated in the heating roller also increases and the overshoot amount also increases. When turn-on time of a heater decreases, the overheat decreases. Therefore, when the temperature of the heating roller is high like the case of the recovery operation after jam processing, the time for the surface temperature of the heating roller to reach a target temperature is short. Therefore, the overshoot amount decreases even if continuously turning on the main heater. Therefore, by forcibly turning off the main heater when reaching the above predetermined without variation independently of the surface temperature of the heating roller, a problem occurs that time is required for recovery because the starting operation is performed by only the subheater though the overshoot amount is small even if turning on the main heater.

Power supply for a first and second heating elements in image forming apparatus with control based on detected temperature at start


A golf souvenir holder for safe keeping and display of golf score cards, tees, and pencils. The holder includes a backing sheet and a thin cover sheet of clear plastic film attached to the backing sheet. The cover sheet overlays the backing sheet and forms a first pocket having an opening for removably receiving a golf score card. The souvenir holder also includes a second pocket attached to the cover sheet adjacent the first pocket and having an opening for receiving a golf pencil or a golf tee. Desirably, the souvenir holder includes a third pocket for holding a golf pencil or golf tee and is adapted for engaging the rings of a ring binder.

Avid golfers keep souvenirs such as score cards, pencils, and tees from the courses they play. Such souvenirs can be stored in a variety of conventional ways. For example, score cards can be stored in a file or a box or displayed in a scrap book by mounting the score cards on pages in the scrap book. Scrap books, however, are not suitable for storing and displaying golf pencils and golf tees without using adhesive or other means which can damage the souvenirs. Instead, pencils and tees are often stored in separate containers such as a cup or a box or a desk drawer. Furthermore, scrap book pages usually have a clear sheet adhered to an opaque sheet and can only display one side of a golf score card. Golf score cards are often two-sided and have to be removed from the sheets of a scrap book for full viewing.
Souvenirs stored separately are sometimes lost and are difficult to arrange for viewing in sets of souvenirs from the same golf course. Accordingly, there is need for an article for storing golf souvenirs, such as score cards, pencils, and tees, so that such items are safe and can be displayed or viewed in sets which include souvenirs from the same golf course.


First and second corrugated single ply paperboard side members are formed of rectangular tubular nested boxes to provide rigid elongated members. The members are secured to a corrugated single ply box-like collapsible paperboard stiffening structure at a base region which rigidly spaces the side members in a display state and which secures the side members together in the collapsed state. A plurality of single ply corrugated shelves are releaseably interlocked to and between the side members to provide additional bracing action. A like plurality of single ply corrugated article receiving display trays releaseably rest on the shelves and are horizontally immobilized with a tab arrangement. A cap is releaseably secured on the tops of the side members to stiffen the side members in the display state relative to each other. A tray assembly is placed over the cap and releaseably rests on the cap with a pair of oppositely disposed trays which slope downwardly at the top of the display stand. The trays, shelves, cap and tray assembly are removed and the box-like structure placed in a collapsible state wherein the side members are in closely spaced juxtaposed relation for portability. A relatively tall portable structure is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to paperboard collapsible display stands comprising a plurality of collapsible self supporting panels to which merchandise display shelves are secured, and more particularly, to corrugated paperboard display stands.
2. Cross Reference
Of interest is copending application entitled Corrugated Display Stand Ser. No. 744,872 filed Aug. 14, 1991 in the name of the present inventor.
3. Description of the Prior Art
Paperboard display stands typically sheet corrugated cardboard material comprise a plurality of side, front and back panels which are self supporting in an upright display mode. These stands are collapsible in which the panels usually fold upon each other and the shelves are either removable or foldable with the panels. The objective is to provide portable stands which are easily erected to the display mode and readily collapsed for storage or transport to a different location. Further, low cost and durability are common goals. These stands usually are employed in retail establishments for display of merchandise, the panels and at times, the shelves, often carrying advertising for selling the displayed merchandise.
The prior art side and back, and in some instances, front panels typically are formed from common sheet material which has crease lines separating the different panels so that they are hinged to each other. The hinges permit the panels to fold and unfold as desired. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,506,790; 4,519,319; 4,493,424; 4,942,830; 4,854,246 and 3,987,737 all show stands which comprise side and rear panels and in some cases, front panels, which are formed from a single sheet of material. As by way of example, in the '737 and '319 patents (the last three digits of the patent numbers) the walls comprise doubled over sheet material to increase their strength. In '790, the side and rear panels are a single sheet with an insert structure for supporting shelves which are also supported by the displayed merchandise.
In '319; '424 and '246, front, back and side panels are all formed from the same sheet material and foldable as a unit. In '246 the shelves are accessible from all sides while in '424 and '737 the shelves are accessible only from the front. The above patents are representative of a wide assortment of collapsible paperboard display stands. While the '246 structure is accessible on all sides it is relatively complex in appearance. The '830 patent employs a shroud over an interior shelving structure which makes this relatively complex to collapse. The shelves are not disclosed as being readily removable with the shroud in place.


Cloud network implementations for a distributed antenna system (DAS) control plane are provided. In one embodiment, a DAS architecture comprises: a DAS cloud computing network; a first DAS comprising a first user plane, wherein the first user plane includes uplink circuity and downlink circuity, wherein the uplink circuity forwards uplink radio frequency traffic from at least one remote antenna unit to a master unit, wherein the downlink circuity forwards downlink radio frequency traffic from the master unit to the at least one remote antenna unit; wherein the DAS cloud computing network comprises a control plane in communication with the user plane through a network; the first user plane comprises a high level protocol interface abstraction layer coupled to the network and processes and forwards the uplink and downlink radio frequency traffic based on configuration commands received from the control plane via the high level protocol interface abstraction layer.

A Distributed Antenna System (DAS) typically includes at least one master unit that is communicatively coupled with a plurality of remote antenna units. Each remote antenna unit can be coupled directly to the master unit or indirectly via one or more other remote antenna units and/or via one or more intermediary or expansion units. A DAS is typically used to improve the coverage provided by one or more base stations that are coupled to the master unit. These base stations can be coupled to the master unit via one or more cables or via a wireless connection, for example, using one or more donor antennas. In some implementations, a DAS may comprise more than one such master unit, for example to address redundancy concerns. The wireless service provided by the base stations can included commercial cellular service and/or public safety wireless communications.
A DAS is typically controlled by various software applications executed by a DAS controller which is implemented within a master unit of the DAS. For example, the master unit may comprise rack mounted controller hardware that includes a processor that executes the various functions of the DAS controller. In some systems, the DAS controller may be implemented by electronic components and processors located directly on the backplane of the DAS master unit. Functions performed by the DAS controller typically includes applications for managing aspects of controlling the DAS such as, but not limited to, hardware population, cabling, managing software updates, managing and maintaining a database of DAS hardware configuration, uplink and downlink RF component configurations, and overall system configuration, leveling of uplink and downlink RF signals, hardware diagnostics, generating and distributing alarms, and maintaining a log of alarms in a database on the DAS controller. The DAS controller typically also includes an SNMP interface providing operations and maintenance (O&M) access to the system operators, and may include a server providing a Web page interface for administration of the DAS. In short, the DAS controller implements the logic for controlling the signal processing and forwarding behavior of RF traffic through the DAS between the one or more base stations and user devices which are in wireless communication with the plurality of remote antenna units. This logic may be referred to as the DAS "control plane." In contrast, the DAS "user plane" provides the transport platform that forwards the RF traffic through the DAS according to the directions provided to the DAS user plane by the DAS control plane.
In that art today, both the control plane and user plane comprise hardware specific software that utilizes low level software that directly interfaces with the DAS hardware electronics, such a memories, registers, interrupts, and the like. This hardware specific software would be supplied by the DAS developer and provided to the operator at the time the DAS hardware is installed. As a result, a telecommunications system operator that owns and operates multiple DAS installations, not only needs to access each DAS installation separately to make updates, reconfigurations, or respond to alarm messages, but they also need maintain familiarity with the software and user interfaces associated with each installation. Moreover, scalability of the control plane at each DAS installation is limited by processing resources present and available for the DAS controller on the DAS hardware, thus potentially limiting the ability of a DAS operator to implement new protocols and standards and/or address increasing RF traffic demands.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification, there is a need in the art for cloud network implementation for a distributed antenna system control plane.

Cloud network implementation for a distributed antenna system control plane


For ultrasound imaging using Golay-coded excitation for echocardiology, at least three focused and coded beams are transmitted at a fundamental frequency to each transmit focal zone during acquisition of acoustic data for a single image frame. The resulting receive vectors then undergo receive correlation and xe2x80x9cslow-timexe2x80x9d filtering, i.e., filtering from firing to firing. The xe2x80x9cslow-timexe2x80x9d filtering is accomplished by multiplying each set of receive correlation filter coefficients by respective scalar weightings before summing the resulting set of filtered receive vectors for subsequent processing to form one image scan line. Employment of more than two firings suppresses the sidelobe response without altering the mainlobe response substantially in the presence of tissue motion after the weighted receive vectors have been summed.

This invention relates to ultrasound imaging systems and, more particularly, to methods for ultrasound imaging using coded excitation.
Conventional ultrasound imaging systems comprise an array of ultrasonic transducer elements which transmit an ultrasound beam and receive the reflected beam from the object being studied. Such operation comprises a series of measurements in which the focused ultrasonic wave is transmitted, the system switches to receive mode after a short time interval, and the reflected ultrasonic wave is received, beamformed and processed for display. Typically, transmission and reception are focused in the same direction during each measurement to acquire data from a series of points along an acoustic beam or scan line. The receiver is dynamically focused at a succession of ranges along the scan line as the reflected ultrasonic waves are received.
For ultrasound imaging, the array typically has a multiplicity of transducer elements arranged in one or more rows and driven with separate voltages. By selecting the time delay (or phase) and amplitude of the applied voltages, the individual transducer elements in a given row can be controlled to produce ultrasonic waves which combine to form a net ultrasonic wave that travels along a preferred vector direction and is focused at a selected point along the beam. The beamforming parameters of each of the firings may be varied to provide a change in maximum focus or otherwise change the content of the received data for each firing, e.g., by transmitting successive beams along the same scan line with the focal point of each beam being shifted relative to the focal point of the previous beam. For a steered array, by changing the time delays and amplitudes of the applied voltages, the beam with its focal point can be moved in a plane to scan the object. For a linear array, a focused beam directed normal to the array is scanned across the object by translating the aperture across the array from one firing to the next.
The same principles apply when the transducer probe is employed to receive the reflected sound in a receive mode. The voltages produced at the receiving transducer elements are summed so that the net signal is indicative of the ultrasound reflected from a single focal point in the object. As with the transmission mode, this focused reception of the ultrasonic energy is achieved by imparting separate time delay (and/or phase shifts) and gains to the signal from each receiving transducer element.
An ultrasound image is composed of multiple image scan lines. A single scan line (or small localized group of scan lines) is acquired by transmitting focused ultrasound energy at a point in the region of interest, and then receiving the reflected energy over time. The focused transmit energy is referred to as a transmit beam. During the time after transmit, one or more receive beamformers coherently sum the energy received by each channel, with dynamically changing phase rotation or time delays, to produce peak sensitivity along the desired scan lines at ranges proportional to the elapsed time. The resulting focused sensitivity pattern is referred to as a receive beam. Resolution of a scan line is a result of the directivity of the associated transmit and receive beam pair.
The output signals of the beamformer channels are coherently summed to form a respective pixel intensity value for each sample volume in the object region or volume of interest. These pixel intensity values are log-compressed, scan-converted and then displayed as an image of the anatomy being scanned.
Coded excitation is the transmission of long encoded pulse sequences and decoding of the received signals in order to improve image SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) and/or resolution. The energy contained in a long transmit pulse sequence is compressed into a short time interval on receive by virtue of the code. Coded excitation is a well-known technique in medical ultrasound imaging. For example, the use of Golay codes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,869, issued Nov. 16, 1999 and assigned to the instant assignee. Because Golay codes use a pair of transmits for each transmit focal zone, only minimal tissue motion between the two transmits can be tolerated to avoid decoding errors and sidelobes (or rangelobes). As such, the two-transmit version of Golay-coded excitation may be unsuitable for imaging applications where fast tissue motion is present, such as imaging the heart.
Thus there is a need for a method of ultrasound imaging using Golay-coded excitation which increases the motion robustness of the system.
More than two focused and coded beams are transmitted at a fundamental frequency to each transmit focal zone or position during the acquisition of acoustic data for a single image frame. The resulting receive vectors then undergo receive correlation and xe2x80x9cslow-timexe2x80x9d filtering, i.e., filtering from firing to firing. The xe2x80x9cslow-timexe2x80x9d filtering is accomplished by multiplying each set of receive correlation filter coefficients by respective scalar weightings before summing the resulting set of filtered receive vectors for subsequent processing to form one image scan line. The employment of more than two firings serves to suppress the sidelobe response without altering the mainlobe response substantially in the presence of tissue motion after the weighted receive vectors have been summed.
Since frame rate is inversely proportional to the number of firings per focal zone, it is desirable to have as few firings as possible per focal zone, so the preferred embodiment has three firings: the first and third firings being pulse sequences encoded with the Golay code A and the second firing being a pulse sequence encoded with the Golay code B of a Golay code pair {A, B}. The echoes from the three firings are summed together after receive correlation, with the first and third echoes being weighted less than the second echo. Preferably the receive correlation filter coefficients are designed to pass a desired band of frequencies.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a [0.5, 1.0, 0.5] weighting is used on receive for summing the three echoes. The resulting effective wall filter for the mainlobe is [0.5, 1.0, 0.5], while that for the sidelobes is [xe2x88x920.5, 1.0, xe2x88x920.5]. The sidelobe response is suppressed by 5-20 dB below that for two-transmit Golay-coded excitation, while the mainlobe is reduced by less than 3 dB. Although substantial sidelobes still result at the higher tissue speeds, these are expected to be tolerable due the inherent visual blurring from very fast motion.

Method and apparatus using golay-coded excitation for echocardiology


A separating device for separating workpieces includes a driving unit, a supporting board, and a moving assembly. The supporting board defines a number of sliding grooves spaced from each other. The moving assembly includes a sliding board slidably assembled to the supporting board, and a plurality of first moving blocks for holding workpieces. The sliding board slides along a first direction and defines two latching holes, each extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the first moving blocks extends through the latching holes to be inserted in one of the sliding grooves. The driving unit drives the sliding board to slide along the first direction. The sliding board forces the number of first moving blocks to slide along the number of sliding grooves.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to devices for separating workpieces.
2. Description of related art
Electronic devices (such as mobile phones) comprise many workpieces. During an assembling process of the electronic devices, the workpieces need to be evenly spaced apart from each other to facilitate assembly. However, devices for separating workpieces can not always effectively or rapidly separate the workpieces.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.


A precision information collating device is disclosed. The device comprises means for inputting keywords and key phrases and defining level of traverse for establishing interlinks and interdependencies between keywords and key phrases entered and using previously stored interlinks and interdependencies to form a map. The device facilitates searching for keywords and key phrases and filtering out unwanted results, indexing, rating and posting of the result obtained and means for browsing the result.

Acquiring requisite data from information stored in stand alone, intranet or internet systems is highly relevant in knowledge based industries. The contemporary search methods/tools have limitations as they are more concerned with primitive functions like searching a file in a stand alone system, intranet or internet systems and culling out a query based searches in internet environment giving voluminous information. For collection and extraction of information from internet, the main contemporary tool is a search engine. Such search engines are able to go through millions of pages and extract links/websites, which contain the requisite information in a general manner.
The main drawback of these tools is that the search tools or search engines present hundreds and thousands of links or web pages and the user is required to check the various links depending on the description made available by the search tool. The process of narrowing down one or a few relevant sites from hundreds and thousand of links and web pages is time consuming thus delaying the entire process of searching. Although some of the tools provide the facility of advance searches, the real effect of such advance searches is narrowing down the number of pages/links to be verified.
Another aspect of the traditional approach of searching using prior art search tools and search engines is that separate search tools are required for searching different resources. A single search tool cannot be used for searching information on the intranet as well as on the internet. While using separate search tools it is also necessary that the user should be aware of the functionality of all the search tools being utilized for the purpose of searching. Searching for information using different search tools each search tools using a varying range of operations and options increases the time required for searching.
Hence there was a need for a simple and efficient information collating device.
An object of this invention is to overcome the limitations of the prior art.
Another object of this invention is to provide a simple, efficient information collating device.
Another object of this invention is to provide a single information collating device for searching information on a standalone system, intranet as well as on the internet.


A laminated packaging material for liquid-tight, dimensionally stable packages has superior gas-barrier properties, particularly oxygen barrier properties. The laminated packaging material includes a core layer and a barrier layer juxtaposed to the core layer. The barrier layer is formed from a polyvinyl alcohol, a polysaccharide and a cross-linking agent, the polysaccharide being chitosan and the cross-linking agent being a dialdehyde compound. A method for making the laminated packaging material is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a laminated packaging material comprising a core layer and a layer of cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol applied on one side of the core layer and acting as gas barrier. The present invention further relates to a method of producing the laminated packaging material, as well as to packaging containers produced from the laminated packaging material and possessing superior tightness properties vis-à-vis liquids and gases, in particular oxygen gas.
Within packaging technology, use has long been made of packages of the disposable type (so-called single use packages) for packing and transporting products such as, for example, liquid foods.
A predominant group of these single use disposable packages is produced from a laminated packaging material which comprises a core layer of paper or paperboard and outer, liquid-tight coatings of plastic, preferably polyethylene, on both sides of the core layer.
The point of departure and prime object of the composition of the packaging material is to impart to the package the best possible mechanical and chemical product protection properties for the packed product, at the same time as making possible simple and rational production of the package. A core layer of paper or paperboard imparts to the package the requisite mechanical configurational stability so that the package can be conveniently handled in a rational distribution system, while the outer plastic coatings efficiently protect the liquid-absorbent fibre layer against penetration of moisture and liquid which otherwise would rapidly render the package sloppy and unusable. If the outer liquid-tight plastic coatings consist of polyethylene, the advantage is also afforded that the laminated packaging material is given excellent heat-sealing properties such that a package may be permanently given its desired geometric configuration by conventional heat sealing technology during conversion of the laminated packaging material into finished packages.
A laminated packaging material consisting solely of paper or paperboard and plastic as described above thus makes for a rational production of configurationally stable, liquid-tight packages, but however lacks tightness properties vis-à-vis gases, in particular oxygen gas and must therefore be supplemented with such gas tightness properties in order to be usable for packages for oxygen gas-sensitive products such as, for example, foods.
It is known in the art to supplement the described paper or paperboard material with a foil of aluminum (so-called Alifoil) which serves as a gas barrier and is applied on the one side of the core layer between the core layer and the one outer liquid-tight plastic coating of the laminated packaging material. An intact Alifoil is practically completely gas tight, but because of the slight (or non-existent) extensibility and ductility of the Alifoil, there is a risk that the once applied Alifoil cracks in particularly exposed areas of the packaging material when this, by fold formation, is reformed into finished packages. In addition, Alifoil is relatively expensive to produce and is therefore a major contributory factor in greatly increasing the material and production costs of the laminated packaging material.
By way of alternative to the above-described Alifoil it is also known in the art to employ as gas barrier polymers of the barrier polymer type in paper or paperboard materials as described above. One among numerous known examples of such alternative barrier polymers possessing superior gas tightness properties is polyvinyl alcohol which, like the Alifoil, is applied on one side of the core layer between the core layer and the one outer liquid-tight plastic coating of the laminated packaging material.
Compared with an Alifoil, polyvinyl alcohol possesses several valuable properties which render polyvinyl alcohol particularly attractive as an alternative material to the Alifoil. First, it is considerably cheaper than an Alifoil, and further, a layer of polyvinyl alcohol is more ductile and extensible and therefore less crack-sensitive than the Alifoil. Polyvinyl alcohol possesses good gas tightness properties, in particular oxygen gas tightness properties, fully on a par with an Alifoil, at the same time as polyvinyl alcohol (as opposed to an Alifoil) is an approved and licensed material in food contexts and may, therefore, be used without legal hindrance in direct contact with foods.
One serious drawback inherent in polyvinyl alcohol is, however, that it is moisture-sensitive and rapidly loses its valuable gas-tightness properties if it is exposed to the effects of moisture.
The problem of polyvinyl alcohol""s moisture sensitivity is solved according to one prior art proposal in that the polyvinyl alcohol layer applied as the gas barrier is encapsulated or enveloped between surrounding liquid-tight plastic coatings which efficiently protect the interjacent polyvinyl alcohol layer against penetration by moisture and wet from both sides of the laminated packaging material. The application of such protective layers renders not only the overall structural build-up of the laminated packaging material more complex but also the method of producing the laminated packaging material, in that it requires at least one additional coating stage with associated coating equipment for applying these protective coatings.
According to another prior art method, the moisture sensitivity problems inherent in polyvinyl alcohol are solved by a chemical modification of the polyvinyl alcohol using chemical cross-linking agents with whose help the polyvinyl alcohol is chemically cross-linked for the formation of a cross-linked, water-resistant polyvinyl structure which withstands the action of moisture better than the pure polyvinyl alcohol without losing any gas barrier properties. Examples of such known cross-linking agents may be dialdehyde compounds (e.g. glyoxal) and acid anhydrides. Amongst other things, this prior art technology enjoys the advantage over and above the previously described encapsulation technique in that it makes for a simple production of the laminated packaging material without the need for additional application stages, at the same time as the thus produced packaging material displays a simpler material structure (fewer material layers) than the encapsulated material structure as described above. However, the problem inherent in this known chemically modified material structure is that the cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol layer is relatively rigid and unbending and therefore runs the risk, as in the known Alifoil structure, of cracking or rupturing in particularly exposed areas of the packaging material when this is reformed into finished packages.
One object of the present invention is therefore to obviate the above-described drawbacks in the prior art laminated packaging materials.
A further object of the present invention is to realise an improved laminated packaging material of the type described by way of introduction, without complicated material structure, as in the known packaging material employing an encapsulated polyvinyl alcohol layer.
Still a further object of the present invention is to realise a moisture and water-resistant polyvinyl alcohol material which may readily be reformed into liquid-tight, dimensionally stable packages possessing superior gas barrier properties, in particular superior oxygen gas barrier properties, without the risk of crack formation and other breaches in tightness in the cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol layer.
Solution
These and other objects and advantages will be attained according to the present invention by means of a laminated packaging material possessing the characterizing features as set forth in appended claim 1.
Expedient and practical embodiments of the laminated packaging material according to the invention have further been given the characterizing features as set forth in the claims.
Outline of the Invention
The combination of polyvinyl alcohol, chemical cross-linking agent and polysaccharide in the polyvinyl alcohol layer realises, according to the invention; a cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol structure which, through the chemical cross-linking, is water-resistant and which, at the same time as a result of the incorporation of the polysaccharide, is sufficiently flexible to be bendable without the risk of crack formation as a result of structural rigidity.
One preferred example of such a usable polysaccharide is chitosan, while examples of applicable chemical cross-linking agents may be conventional dialdehyde compounds, for example glyoxal and acid anhydrides.
The mixing ratio between polyvinyl alcohol and polysaccharide in the polyvinyl alcohol layer is between 99:1 and 50:50 on a weight basis, preferably, between 90:10 and 70:30.
The mixing ratio between the chemical cross-linking agent and the combination of polyvinyl alcohol and polysaccharide is between 99:1 and 50:50 on a weight basis.
The polyvinyl alcohol which is employed in the laminated packaging material according to the present invention should have a hydrolysis degree of at least 70 per cent, such as for example between 90 and 100 per cent.
In order to render the laminated packaging material according to the present invention readily convertible by fold forming and heat sealing into liquid-tight dimensionally stable packages, the packaging material is provided with outer, liquid-tight coatings of plastic, preferably thermoplastic, such as polyethylene, whereby the laminated packaging material may be sealed by conventional heat sealing techniques using existing equipment.
According to the present invention, the core layer may be a fibre-based material, such as paper or paperboard, or consist of plastic, such as polyolefin, polyester, polyamide etc.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there will be realised a simple method of producing the laminated packaging material using existing production techniques and equipment. The method according to the present invention has the characterizing features as set forth in appended claim 13. Expedient and advantageous embodiments of the method according to the present invention have further been given the characterizing features as set forth in several of the claims.
According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there will be realised a liquid-tight, dimensionally stable packaging container which has the characterizing features as claimed below.

Laminated packaging material, a method of producing the same, as well as packaging containers


A postal delivery system equipped with a computer database system, input peripheral devices, user input devices, a printer, and a terminal. The computer database system processes the data generated from the input peripheral device and generates sorted database output in according to the user selected sorting option. The mail or package is delivered to the appropriate designation following the sorted database output.

The United States Postal Service and other non-government owned postal services provide services including, but not limited to: collection, processing, transportation, and delivering of mail or packages.
The mail room, whether it is the United States Postal Service mail room or the mail room of a corporation, currently does not have a comprehensive automated system for the efficient handling, sorting, and distribution of mail. The current system creates an inefficient work environment that fosters costly repetitive time consuming procedures.
This invention addresses the many inefficiencies and deficiencies of the processing aspects of the incoming mail.
In the United States Postal Service mail room, one of the deficiencies is the limitation of the physical area in which information can be displayed on the carriers' postal casing and routing unit. The limited space only allows for the last name of a post office box holder or street information. Typically, this information is hand written on a temporary sticky type of note pad and affixed to the casing and routing unit. Another typically used method of conveying up-to-date information to the mail room clerk is the usage of small color coded labels affixed to the casing and routing unit to reflect the current status of the mail stop. The current method of tracking the mail stop information does not adequately assist the mail room clerks and often times results in redundancy, routing errors, and late deliveries.
In addition to the above, the current system of tracking accumulated mail stop information at the United States Postal Service stations is done by the usage of index cards. Each mail stop record is kept on an index card. The index card records allow for manual processing of sorting records and record look up. Typically, the mail stop record is hand written and input manually.
Currently, all postal notices and accountable items are hand written in duplicates. Notices are pre-sorted in sequential order prior to delivery. Similarly, accountable mail is maintained with hand written reports for the purpose of tracking.
In terms of forecasting future workload and staffing requirements, the United States Postal Service currently has not implemented a consistent method of gathering relevant statistical information. The present invention also addresses this deficiency.
A great deal of machinery and automated procedures have been developed for the processing of out-going mail. These machines will print, fold, insert, seal, label, pre-sort, imprint bar code, imprint metered postage, detect thickness, weigh, and affix stamps. These machines and procedures are geared for postal savings from the consumer point of view. However, they dc not address the aforementioned inefficiencies and deficiencies in the mail room.
Searches on the commercially available solutions to the aforementioned mail room issues show that a company called M.A.I.L. Code offers a system called "In-Sort". Primarily, In-Sort is a name management database program designed for the automation of company wide personnel look-ups.
Another company called Tracer Research addresses the problem of tracking and reporting of accountable mail with a system called "Tracer." Tracer provides the ability to correctly track, route and report the multitudes of accountable mail. Typically accountable mail includes, but is not limited to, registered, certified and insured.
Another company called REI, which primarily produces furniture for mail rooms, has designed a mail casing unit equipped with plexiglass routing guide display boards. These display boards are connected to the top of the casing unit and provide routing information to the mail room clerk.
The aforementioned companies offer piece-meal solutions. They do not offer an integrated solution to the complexities typically involved in the processing department of the United States Postal Service station.


A surgical apparatus particularly adapted for use in the cosmetic surgery field of skin resurfacing in which a laser is directed towards the imperfection of the skin. The surgical site is bathed with an inert or noble gas which has the affect of replacing the oxygen in the surgical site. Without the oxygen, burning of the surrounding tissue from the laser is minimized. This results in a reduced recuperation time and less pain associated with the procedure. In one embodiment of the invention, a "basin" is created to hold the inert gas; in another embodiment, the inert gas is "sprayed" in line with the laser against the surgical site. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the surgical site is encapsulated and the inert gas in inserted into the capsule. A window in the capsule permits the laser to be used in the now oxygen poor environment within the capsule. Once the surgery is completed, the inert gas is removed from the capsule and a sterile gas adapted to encourage healing (i.e. an oxygen rich gas), in injected into the capsule.

This invention relates generally to surgical techniques and more particularly to the treatment of skin using a laser.
Each year, a vast number of cosmetic treatments of skin imperfections are preformed. These procedures treat a wide variety of skin imperfections ranging from age lines to birth marks, from tattoos to scar tissue. The mode of treatment of these imperfections falls generally into three different categories: abrasion, chemical peeling, and laser treatment.
Abrasion involves physically abrading of the skin tissue to remove the affected tissue. A variety of mechanisms are applied including grinding wheels and files. While these techniques work in general, they often create their own scars and are further extremely painful or uncomfortable for the patient.
Further, in many applications (i.e. strawberry birthmarks), the amount of abrading which must be performed is so extensive that, to perform the procedure with any success, almost the entire skin layer must be removed.
Chemical treatments are easier to control and are used generally for treating an upper layer of the skin. In general, the chemicals applied kill the upper layer of cells which are then sloughed. The treatment though is applied to a wide area, not just the affected tissue, so recuperation is extended. Further, is not finely controlled, the chemical treatment can "burn"the patient and cause further scarring.
Because of the drawbacks to the above two methods, laser treatment of skin disorders has quickly become the method of choice. In this modality, the laser beam is directed against the disorder itself. Due to the heat generated by the laser beam, the beam kills the cells. These cells are either vaporized immediately by the laser beam or are sloughed later.
While the laser beam has a fine focal point and ancillary damage is minimized, the beam does cause some excessive heating of the site which damages the surrounding "good" or healthy cells. This damage creates a heightened discomfort and extends the time required for recuperation.
Further, during the procedure, an excessive amount of smoke is created which obscures the surgical site.
It is clear that there is a need to decrease the secondary damage caused by laser treatment of the skin.


A forced-circulation boiling-water reactor includes fluidic diodes in the coolant fluid return path between the pump deck and the core inlet plenum. The fluidic diodes permit a downstream flow to proceed relatively freely, but substantially resist upstream flow. When pumps are shut down, the fluidic diodes serve to augment natural circulation, thus enhancing core stability. When the pumps are operating, the fluidic diodes serve to resist backflow, minimizing any loss of pump efficiency. This direction-flow asymmetry imposed by the fluidic diodes is achieved without moving parts, so as to achieve a high level of reliability.

The present invention relates to energy generation systems and, more particularly, to a forced-circulation dual-phase reactor. A major objective of the present invention is to provide for enhanced core neutron power stability during pump shutdowns in a forced-circulation boiling-water reactor (FCBWR).
Nuclear reactors generate heat as a byproduct of fissioning in the reactor core, and generally remove this heat from the core using a liquid transfer medium. In dual-phase reactors, the core heat vaporizes the liquid transfer medium; this energy in the form of vapor pressure is readily transferred from the reactor for use elsewhere. The predominant type of dual-phase reactor is the boiling-water reactor (BWR). Accordingly, much of the following discussion concerning BWRs is readily extrapolated to other dual-phase reactors.
In a BWR, heat generated by nuclear fission in a core can be used to boil water to produce steam. Water passing through the core without being vaporized is recirculated within a reactor vessel to provide a continuous flow of water through the core. The steam that is generated can be separated from the water and transferred from the reactor vessel to deliver energy. For example, the steam can be used to drive a turbine, which in turn can be used to drive a generator to produce electricity. In the process, the steam condenses and can be returned to the vessel as feedwater. The condensate is merged with the internally recirculated water and continues to aid heat transfer.
BWRs can be distinguished by the means employed to recirculate the water within the reactor vessel. Forced-circulation boiling-water reactors (FCBWRS) rely primarily on pumps to drive the water along a recirculation path. Natural-circulation boiling-water reactors (NCBWRS) rely primarily on the driving force provided by the density difference between a downcomer and a steam column above the core. NCBWRs have the advantage of simplicity. However, their inherently lower pumping capacity limits reactor power output. Accordingly, the largest capacity BWRs are all FCBWRS. The distinction between FCBWRs and NCBWRs notwithstanding, FCBWRs are preferably designed to take advantage of natural circulation to allow decay heat to be removed from the core in the event the pumps are shut down.
In a NCBWR, water rising up from the core is guided vertically to promote steam-water separation and to support a relatively low-density steam/water head above the core. Water recirculates down the downcomer annulus between the reactor vessel and the chimney and core. The water in the downcomer is denser than the steam and water mixture in the core and chimney region. The difference in density forces circulation up through the core and chimney and down through the downcomer.
Natural circulation provides limited power output in part because its limited circulation rates allow the water flowing through the core more time than is optimal to be converted to steam. The excess boiling results in a larger volume of steam in the core. This larger steam volume adversely affects core stability, as the stability-decay ratio of the nuclear fission rate is dependent on the ratio of two-phase pressure drop to single-phase pressure drop. In NCBWRs, this problem is addressed by limiting the amount of heat generated by the core, and thus the power output of the reactor.
FCBWRs, on the other hand, are typically designed so that they exceed the power output that would be available using natural circulation alone. Total pumping power failure in an FCBWR operating at full capacity could result in excess boiling and core instability. To minimize the likelihood of total pumping power failure, several independent pumps are provided.
Despite the levels of safety afforded by redundant pumping, it is still worthwhile to enhance the throughput due to natural circulation in a FCBWR. Natural circulation is especially attractive as a safety backup because it does not depend on active components. Thus, improvements in natural circulation are highly desirable in FCBWRs.
The above-identified patent discloses the use of bypass valves to augment natural circulation in a FCBWR. The valves are designed to open automatically when the pumps stop pumping, thereby increasing the flow cross section and enhancing natural circulation. The valves are automatically closed while the pumps are operating to block backflow through the valves. The bypass valves have moving parts, which can give rise to reliability issues. An object of the present invention is to provide the advantages that these bypass valves provide for FCBWRs without requiring moving parts.

Forced-circulation reactor with fluidic-diode-enhanced natural circulation


An ice skate strip-blade holder that provides a means to remove, replace, tension, and maintain tension in a strip-blade fastened and tensioned on the holder. In a preferred embodiment, the strip-blade holder assembly includes a front segment fixed to the skate plastic superstructure; a latched, pivoting rear segment arranged to apply and maintain tension in the strip-blade. In a preferred embodiment, the pivot and latch are positioned such that the pivot carries the majority of the tensile load maintained in the strip-blade and the latch carries a minor component of this tensile load. This arrangement provides for easy latch release. The latch provides release of the rear segment for subsequent pivoting and unhooking of the strip-blade for replacement.

It is usually desired to minimize the mass of any footwear and this is especially true for footwear used in competitive sports such as ice hockey and figure skating. The mass of a steel blade conventionally used for ice skates is significant and comprises a large component of the mass of the overall skate assembly. Strip-blade technology has been used for many years, an example of such a blade technology is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,150,964 and 3,947,050 which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, and whereby the strip-blade is hooked or otherwise connected at each end and tensioned over the rocker of the strip-blade holder. As described by these patents, tension in the strip-blade is required to meet the desired requirements of skating.
Prior art strip-blade technologies utilized relatively massive and complex blade tensioning mechanisms. As a result, this technology does not offer a significant weight reduction. The pre-sharpened strip-blades are typically sold in pairs at retail stores and vending machines to be mounted by consumers on skates equipped with the special mounting fixture and blade-tensioning device. The technology has gained limited popularity based upon other benefits, as follows. The strip-blades are made available to consumers at a price approximately the same as it costs to sharpen conventional skates that utilize conventional single piece steel blades. As such, the strips are typically disposed after they become dull from use. The consumer then replaces the dulled strip-blades with newly purchased pre-sharpened strip-blades. It is thus more convenient for the consumer to use the strip-blades then to have his or her skates re-sharpened. Furthermore, the pre-sharpened strip-blades are typically sharpened on accurate and repeatable factory machines that provide much higher reliability in sharpening quality then the sharpening typically done at ice rinks, arenas, and sporting goods shops—usually by unskilled operators utilizing poor equipment.
Thus, the strip-blade technology provides a convenient and preferred method of procuring high quality sharp blades over conventional re-sharpening. This is important because reliable blade sharpness is a key factor for consistent, maximum performance for hockey and figure skating, for example. Spare strip-blades can be kept on hand, ready for use as soon as blades in use become dull. This avoids the undesired consequence of skating on dull blades because the skater was unaware of the need to sharpen his or her skates. This occurs frequently because the rate of dulling is variable, as it depends on many factors, and thus knowing when to re-sharpen is unpredictable. Replaceable strip-blade technology provides an immediate fix to dull skate blades, even during a game or competition, whereas conventional sharpening technology is employed after the event—when it is too late. It also saves time otherwise waiting for skates to be sharpened.
The degree of success of the strip-blade technology has been limited due primarily to complexities in design in the holder and tensioning devices that resulted in excessive cost to manufacture and devices that are not convenient to use. Examples of such holder and tensioning devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,108,128; 5,383,674; and 5,988,683, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Thermoplastic compositions with improved mechanical characteristics, including:. a) a graft impact-resistant vinylaromatic copolymer containing a quantity of between 0.1 and 2% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated compound having a carboxylic group or one of its derivatives in the molecule; PA1 b) a polyamide resin and PA1 c) a polyolefin.

It is well-known that impact-resistant vinyl aromatic copolymers are obtained by bulk polymerization or bulk-suspension polymerization, of solutions of olefinic rubbers, of the ethylene-propylene (EPM) or unconjugated ethylene-propylene-diene type, in a vinyl aromatic monomer alone or mixed with other copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers.
Styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers grafted on olefinic rubbers (AES) have excellent impact strength but their low thermoresistance makes them unsuitable for certain applications where temperatures of 120.degree.-160.degree. C. are used or for the preparation of products which come into contact with parts heated up to these temperatures.
To overcome this defect in AES copolymers, it is customary to mix these with other polymers having a good thermoresistance, such as a polyamide. This resin does, in fact, have good elongation, high energy absorption, especially in ball drop tests and excellent thermoresistance; however its great sensitivity to notching and high water absorption considerably limit the use of this resin. In addition, the polyamides are not very compatible with impact-resistant vinyl aromatic copolymers, consequently the interfaces between the domains of the components of the mixture represent extremely weak areas along which breakage of the material occurs.
To make polyamides compatible with the impact-resistant vinylaromatic polymers, Italian Patent Application 20921 A/90, filed on Dec. 17, 1990 by the present Applicant, proposed the use of a graft, impact-resistant, vinylaromatic copolymer containing in its chain units deriving from an ethylenically unsaturated comonomer having a carboxylic group or one of its derivatives.
The above Italian Patent Application relates to a thermoplastic composition including:
A) from 10 to 90% by weight of a graft, impact-resistant, vinylaromatic copolymer composed of a copolymer of a vinylaromatic monomer and of an acrylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and an olefinic elastomer, said copolymer formed by vinylaromatic monomer-acrylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer being at least partially grafted on the olefinic elastomer, and containing a grafted quantity of between 0.1 and 2% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing in the molecule a carboxylic group or one of its derivatives, such as anhydride, amide or ester; PA1 B) from 90 to 10% by-weight of a polyamide resin. PA1 A) from 10 to 90% by weight of a graft impact-resistant, vinyl aromatic copolymer composed of a copolymer of a vinylaromatic monomer and an acrylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and an olefinic elastomer, said copolymer based on vinylaromatic monomer-acrylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer being at least partially grafted on the olefinic elastomer, and containing a grafted quantity of between 0.1 and 2% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing in the molecule a carboxylic group or one of its derivatives such as anhydride, amide or ester; PA1 B) from 90 to 10% by weight of a polyamide resin; and PA1 C) from 1 to 10 parts by weight, with respect to the mixture of graft impact-resistant, vinylaromatic copolymer (A) and polyamide resin (B), of a polyolefin. PA1 100 parts by weight of an impact-resistant vinylaromatic copolymer composed of 90 to 30% by weight of a copolymer made up of a vinylaromatic monomer-acrylic ethylenically unsaturated monomer, at least partially grafted on 10-70% by weight of an olefinic elastomer, and PA1 from 0.1 to 2 parts by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing in the molecule a carboxylic group or one of its derivatives such as anhydride, amide or ester; said monomer being grafted to said impact-resistant, vinylaromatic copolymer. PA1 Y represents hydrogen, a halogen or an alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and n is 0 or an integer between 1 and 5.
The compositions thus obtained, however, still do not have a combination of properties suitable for all the applications for which they are destined; in particular, the ultimate elongation is rather limited. This elongation can be improved by increasing the content of ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a carboxylic group or one of its derivatives in the vinylaromatic copolymer; but this increase, however, prejudices other characteristics, such as the tensile modulus, especially for high contents of monomer containing a carboxylic group or one of its derivatives.


The invention discloses a polyaniline/c-MWNT nanocomposite and a method for fabricating the same. The method comprises the following steps: carboxylating at least one carbon nanotube to form at least one carboxylic carbon nanotube; mixing the at least one carboxylic carbon nanotube with a solvent to form a first carbon nanotube solution; mixing at least one aniline monomer with the first carbon nanotube solution to form a second carbon nanotube solution; mixing an ammonium persulfate solution with the second carbon nanotube solution to form a third carbon nanotube solution; air-extracting and filtering the third carbon nanotube solution to obtain the polyaniline/c-MWNT nanocomposite; cleaning and baking the polyaniline/c-MWNT nanocomposite. The polyaniline/c-MWNT nanocomposite fabricated by the method could be used for electromagnetic shielding or anti-static shielding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a polyaniline/c-MWNT nano-composite and a method for fabricating the same, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a polyaniline/c-MWNT nanocomposite which could be used for electromagnetic shielding or anti-static shielding and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As electronic devices are designed smaller and smaller with higher and higher density, electronic devices are disturbed more and more seriously by electromagnetic waves and radiation frequency. Therefore, the electron-magnetic compatibility of an electronic device is always concerned while fabricated, stored, transported and operated. Because electronic devices are broadly applied to various fields including the people's livelihood, the national defense and even the space industry, etc, how to avoid the disturbance by electromagnetic waves and radiation frequency has become the gist of research.
Those electronic devices need avoiding the disturbance of electromagnetic waves and radiation frequency could adopt conducting shields to cut off the electromagnetic waves. When electromagnetic waves pass through the shields, the energy of electromagnetic waves would be reflected or absorbed and therefore the disturbance of the electromagnetic waves could be decreased. In conventional arts, conducting materials are electroplated or coated on plastic casing, or infilled in plastic casing for electromagnetic shielding. The method of electroplating to electroplate metals on casing has disadvantages of pollution, inconvenience in manufacturing, and high cost. Moreover, a metal shield has a problem of easy oxidation. A metal shield avoids the disturbance by means of reflecting electromagnetic waves, however, as for some other application fields such as national defense, electromagnetic waves should be shielded by means of absorbing them. On the other hand, the method of infilling conductive materials in plastic casing has problems such as bad efficiency of shielding and difficulties in recycling plastic casings. To summarize, a material with low pollution, high conductivity, microwave absorption, and capable of coated on a large area could solve the problems mentioned above.
Electromagnetic shielding effect is related to the absorbing and reflecting ability of a material. A metal shield has high density of free charge on its surface, so when electromagnetic waves incident the surface of a metal, most of the electro-magnetic waves will be reflected. Therefore, a metal shield avoids the disturbance by means of reflecting electromagnetic waves.
When electromagnetic waves incident a conductive high polymer, the conductive high polymer generates an induced current corresponding to the electromagnetic waves and transforms the electric energy to heat by means of the flowage of the induced current to deplete the energy of the electromagnetic waves. Thereby, a conductive high polymer could avoid the disturbance by means of absorbing electromagnetic waves. Among all kinds of conductive high polymers, the polyaniline, which is a material with high potential, has advantages of high conductivity, cheap raw materials, high stability, and easy fabrication.
Otherwise, the carbon nanotube has fine physical, mechanical, chemical, and electric characteristics as well as high stability, so it is widely applied to various fields. Moreover, a composite is composed of two or more materials with different material characteristics by means of physical or chemical combination, so the composite not only has better property than any one of the composition but also keeps every single material's origin characteristic. Practically, nanocomposite has become an important issue for researchers from all over the world because of its enormous potential. A composite including carbon nanotubes therein succeeds to the characteristic of the carbon nanotube, and it is supposed to have high value.
However, the carbon nanotubes tend to entwine each other owing to their own van der waals force. And also because the chemical stability, there is no functional groups on the surface of the carbon nanotube, so that they are difficultly dissolved or dispersed in organic solvent or water. The above-mentioned characteristics of carbon nanotubes are problems waiting to be improved.

Polyaniline/c-MWNT nanocomposite and method for fabricating the same

Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology Armaments Bureau, Ministry of National Defense


By analyzing the mechanism for inducing a histone deacetylase inhibitor (Trichostatin A)-mediated expression of cyclin-CDK inhibitory factor having a proliferation suppressing effect (tumor-suppressing effect), it was revealed that the binding of Sp3 to the Sp1 binding sequence within a promoter is important in the expression of the above factor. Thus, a novel antitumor agent can be developed by screening a pharmaceutical agent capable of elevating Sp3 activity.

Cancer is caused by a series of genetic alterations destroying the normal mechanisms that control the cell cycle, differentiation, and morphology. A large number of natural compounds have been isolated based on their ability to restore cells having abnormal morphology, to induce cell differentiation, and to stop uncontrolled cell cycles in various cancer cells and transformed cells. Trichostatin A (TSA) (Sugita K et al. (1992). Cancer Res., 52, 168-172) and trapoxin (Itazaki H et al. (1990). J. Antibiot., 43, 1524-1532) have been isolated as substances capable of suppressing transformation. These substances also induce cell differentiation and cell cycle arrest. However, it was not clear how these materials showed such tumor-suppressing activity.
It is the current belief that histone deacetylases (HDAC) are the target of these drugs. Actually, TSA and trapoxin inhibit HDAC activity at the same concentration in which they show antitumor activity (Yoshida et al., 1990, J. Biol. Chem., 265:17174-17179; Kijima M et al., 1993 J. Biol. Chem., 268, 22429-22435). Rapidly accumulating findings suggest that acetylation and deacetylation of histone and non-histone proteins play an important role in the transcriptional control of eukaryotic cells (Wolffe A P and Pruss D. (1996). Cell, 84, 817-819; Wade P A et al. (1997). TIBS, 22, 128-132; Pazin M J and Kadonaga J T. (1997). Cell, 89, 325-328; Struhl K. (1998). Genes Dev., 12, 599-606; Kuo M H and Allis C D. (1998). Bioessays, 20, 615-626). Since many transcription factors, transcription coactivators, and basic transcription initiation complex proteins have histone acetyltransferase activity, it became clear that acetylation of histone plays an important role in the initiation and promotion of transcription. Furthermore, the recent cloning of some of the HDACs, and the fact transcriptional repressors, and transcription corepressors form complexes with HDAC, gradually revealed that HDAC plays an important role in transcriptional repression (Wolffe A P. (1997). Nature, 387, 16-17). As HDAC inhibitors show antitumor activity, HDAC may repress transcription of a group of antitumor genes whose products induce cell proliferation arrest or cell differentiation (DePinho R A. (1998). Nature, 391, 533-536).
The present inventors earlier proved that sodium butyrate, which is well known as a differentiation inducer and acts as a HDAC inhibitor at micro molar concentrations, induced the expression of p21/WAF1/Cip1, which is a cyclin-CDK inhibitor (a negative regulator of cell cycle) acting independently of p53 (Nakano K et al. (1997). J. Biol. Chem., 272, 22199-22206). They also reported that both sodium butyrate and TSA activated p21/WAF1/Cip1 gene promoter through the Sp1 binding sequence (Sowa Y et al. (1997). Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 241, 142-150). Interestingly, it was reported recently that the Sp1 binding site in p21/WAF1/Cip1 promoter was also involved in the induction of p21/WAF1/Cip1 by TGF-β, phorbol ester, okadaic acid, progesterone, or geranylgeranyl-transferase I inhibitor GGTI-298 (Datto M B et al. (1995). J. Biol. Chem., 270, 28623-28628; Biggs J R et al. (1996). J. Biol. Chem., 271, 901-906; Adnane J et al. (1998). Mol. Cell. Biol., 18, 6962-6970; Owen G I et al. (1998). J. Biol. Chem., 273, 10696-10701). Among these, TGF-β and GGTI-298 have been reported to induce transcription of p21/WAF1/Cip1 by enhancing the transcriptional activity of Sp1, whereas progesterone accomplishes the same through Sp1 and CBP/p300 (Li J M et al. (1998). Nucleic Acids Res., 26, 2449-2456; Owen G I et al. (1998). J. Biol. Chem., 273, 10696-10701).
These reports are thought to suggest the induction of transcription by SP1-mediated activation of histone acetyltransferase. Histone acetylation is thought to be involved in the transcriptional activation of many genes. In contrast, histone deacetylation is considered to be involved in transcriptional repression, although the detailed mechanism is not clear. Recently, it was reported that transcriptional repressors N-CoR and SMRT repressed the transcription specific to a DNA sequence by binding to intranuclear transcription factors (Horlein A J et al. (1995). Nature, 377, 397-404; Kurokawa R et al. (1995). Nature, 377, 451-454; Chen J D and Evans R M. (1995). Nature, 377, 454-457). As these factors bind to HDAC simultaneously and form a higher order complex, it is suggested that the rigid organization of chromatin, which is mediated by histone deacetylation, represses transcription (Pazin M J and Kadonaga J T. (1997). Cell, 89, 325-328; Heinzel T et al. (1997). Nature, 387, 43-48; Alland L et al. (1997) Nature, 387, 49-55). In fact, studies using a fusion protein of promyelocytic leukemia or promyelocytic leukemia zinc-finger protein and retinoic acid receptor revealed that the binding of HDAC was necessary for transcriptional repression (Lin R J et al. (1998). Nature, 391, 811-814; Grignani F et al. (1998). Nature, 391, 815-818; He L Z et al. (1998). Nature Genet., 18, 126-135). A similar HDAC-mediated mechanism of transcriptional repression specific to a DNA sequence was revealed also in the case of Myc/Mad/Max (Hassig C et al. (1997). Cell, 89, 341-347; Laherty C D et al. (1997). Cell, 89, 349-356), E2F/Rb (Brehm A et al. (1998). Nature, 391, 597-601; Magnaghi-Jaulin L et al. (1998). Nature, 391, 601-605; Luo R X et al. (1998). Cell, 92, 463-473), and in the case of DNA methylation (Nan X et al. (1998). Nature, 393, 386-389; Jones P L et al. (1998). Nature Genet., 19, 187-191). However, it was not clear whether or not a specific transcription factor capable of binding to the Sp1 binding sequence mediates the transcriptional activation signal by a HDAC inhibitor.


The present invention relates to distributing the load between the set routes among a plurality of routes between a communication apparatus which serves as a start point to another communication apparatus which serves as an end point. An apparatus provided in a router in a network collects traffic characteristics of transmission paths connected to the router, notifies other routers of the collected traffic characteristics, calculates load based on the collected traffic characteristics, decides based on the calculated load information whether or not a transmission path should be added or deleted, and equalizes the load among the plurality of transmission paths.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a transmission path controlling apparatus provided in a communication apparatus (for example, a router or load equalization apparatus) which forms an network, and further to a transmission path controlling method executed by the apparatus as well as a medium on which a transmission path controlling program used in the apparatus is recorded. The method and apparatus may be provided within, for example, an Internet Protocol network (in the following description an Internet Protocol is sometimes referred to simply as IP; accordingly, an Internet Protocol network is referred to simply as IP network).
2. Description of the Related Art
The Internet is intended to handle all communication applications on the internet protocol and is being popularized rapidly at present. Further, the Internet originally has a connectionless network architecture which does not involve establishment of a connection, and is routed to an outgoing path based on a destination address described in an IP packet. In short, in a communication apparatus having the function described, at a point of time when an IP packet arrives at the apparatus, the IP packet is merely transferred to an outgoing path which corresponds to the IP address.
In the Internet having such a network architecture as described above, in order to determine to which outgoing path each IP address should be transferred, a protocol for path determination called routing protocol is handled between communication apparatus.
At present, as an algorithm for the routing protocol, a system which employs the algorithm of Dijkstra is commonly used. However, the routing protocol mentioned has a problem in that a plurality of routes to a destination cannot be selected or the routing protocol is executed only when the network topology varies.
In short, with such a technique as described above, once a route is established, an IP packet is transferred only along the route, and as a result, there is the possibility that chronic congestion occurs.
Further, such a technique as described above has a problem also in that, since a plurality of routes cannot be set, when a certain route suffers from congestion, even if some other route is unoccupied, this unoccupied route cannot be used.
Thus, the following techniques have been proposed.
(1-1) Equal cost multipath technique in the OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)
(1-2) Multipath technique in the IBGP (Internal Border Gateway Protocol)
In particular, the method according to the technique of (1-1) is a method which uses a function of the OSPF, and uses a function capable of laying a plurality of paths having an equal cost from a communication apparatus which serves as a start point to another communication apparatus which serves as an end point to distribute load among the plurality of paths (multipaths).
Meanwhile, the method according to the technique of (1-2) uses a function of the IBGP to lay a plurality of paths and distribute load among the plurality of paths (multipaths).
However, the method which uses a function of the OSPF according to (1-1) above has the following problems.
In particular, there is a restriction in that the multipaths must be equal in cost, and the degree of freedom in path selection is low. Further, since the OSPF is used, the method cannot cope with a variation of the network load on a real time basis.
Also the method which uses a function of the IBGP according to (1-2) above has a restriction in that the multipaths must be equal in cost and has a problem in that the degree of freedom in path selection is low, similarly to the problems of the method which uses a function of the OSPF.
It is to be noted that also a technique has been proposed wherein a path is set in the layer 3 between data processing apparatus which connect networks to each other and load is distributed in a unit of a route in the layer 3 to dynamically provide a traffic balance to improve the network performance (refer to the official gazette of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI 10-224400). With the technique, however, even if a traffic balance can be provided between networks, load distribution in each network cannot be performed. Further, only load distribution in the layer 3 and in a unit of a route is taken into consideration, and there is the possibility that load distribution control may be complicated.

Transmission path controlling apparatus and transmission path controlling method as well as medium having transmission path controlling program recorded thereon


A far side airbag device for a vehicle has: an inflator that is provided at a central-side side portion of a seat back along a height direction of the seat back, and that jets gas out from a jetting portion; a side airbag that receives a supply of gas from the inflator and is thereby inflated and expanded; a diffuser that is housed at the interior of the side airbag, that receives a supply of gas from the inflator and is thereby inflated and expanded in a shape of a tube that surrounds the inflator; and a protecting patch that covers the gas supplying end portion in a state in which the side airbag and the diffuser are inflated and expanded.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a far side airbag device for a vehicle.
Related Art
There are far side airbag devices for a vehicle that are equipped with an inflator that is provided at the vehicle transverse direction central-side side portion of a seat back, and a side airbag that is provided in the side portion of the seat back and receives a supply of gas from the inflator and inflates and expands (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2012-051557, JP-A No. 2012-081958, JP-A No. 2005-306377, and JP-A No. 2011-057208).
By the way, in order to improve the inflation and expansion performance of a head portion protecting area that has a large volume at a side airbag, it has been thought to provide a jetting portion, that jets-out gas, at the upper end portion of the inflator. However, in this case, the following points are of concern. Namely, because the gas supplying end portion has a small diameter as compared with the inflator main body portion, if (the head portion of) a vehicle occupant of that seat or of another seat is pushed-against the side airbag that has inflated and expanded accompanying a vehicle collision, that vehicle occupant interferes, via the side airbag, with the upper end portion (the gas supplying end portion) of the inflator, and there is the possibility that the side airbag will be damaged.


Disclosed is a light emitting display device capable of minimizing a current driving capability deviation among driving switching elements. The light emitting display device includes pixels each including a first TFT for supplying data voltage to a first node in response to a scan signal, a second TFT for forming a current path between first and second nodes in response to an emission control signal, a driving TFT for forming a current path between a first driving voltage supply line and a third node in accordance with a voltage level of the second node, a third TFT for supplying a reference voltage to a fourth node in response to a sensing signal, a fourth TFT for supplying an initialization voltage to the third node in response to an initialization signal, and a fifth TFT for supplying the reference voltage to the second node in response to the initialization signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting display device capable of minimizing a current driving capability deviation among driving switching elements of pixels, thereby achieving enhancement in picture quality.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Each pixel of a light emitting display device includes a driving switching element, which is generally a constant current element. The current driving capability of such a driving switching element is greatly influenced by the turn-on threshold voltage of the driving switching element.
To this end, a technology for reducing a current driving capability deviation among driving switching elements of pixels is required.

Light emitting display device capable of minimizing a current driving capability deviation among driving switching elements


A memory cell exhibiting threshold switch behavior, such as a phase change memory, can be programmed in a way that eliminates the need for a separate post-programming verification cycle. In particular, a circuit can be used to apply the programming pulse to a cell in a way that determines whether the cell has reached the desired threshold voltage. If the cell has not reached the desired threshold voltage, it receives another programming pulse. If it has, it does not receive another programming pulse. Thus, by applying a voltage across the cell that never exceeds the threshold voltage of the cell, the need for a separate verification cycle can be eliminated in some embodiments.

This relates generally to memories, such as phase change memories, that exhibit threshold switch behavior.
Threshold switch behavior is the tendency of an element to discontinuously change its current voltage characteristics upon exceeding a threshold voltage. For example, a phase change memory may have set and reset states with different threshold voltages.
Due to variation of cells within a product, different cells may require different levels of programming current to reach the same threshold voltage. Thus, after programming, a verify may be used to ensure that the threshold voltage of each cell has been programmed above the level required to yield an adequate read window.

Writing memory cells exhibiting threshold switch behavior