An image sensor package and method for fabricating the same is provided. The image sensor package includes a first substrate comprising a via therein, a driving circuit and a first conductive pad thereon. A second substrate comprising a photosensitive device and a second conductive pad thereon is bonded to the first substrate, so that the driving circuit, formed on the first substrate, can electrically connect to and further control the photosensitive device, formed on the second substrate. A solder ball is formed on a backside of the first substrate and electrically connects to the via for transmitting a signal from the driving circuit. Because the photosensitive device and the driving circuit are fabricated individually on the different substrates, fabrication and design thereof is more flexible. Moreover, the image sensor package is relatively less thick, thus, the dimensions thereof are reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to image sensor packages, and more particularly to an image sensor package with reduced dimensions and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Charge coupled devices (CCD) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor devices are widely used in digital imaging applications. Consumers are familiar with image capture technology due to the proliferation of devices employing image sensor devices, including digital cameras, digital video recorders, image capture capable mobile phones, and monitors.
FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a conventional image sensor package. A chip 2 comprising an image sensor 4 and a bonding pad 5 thereon is provided. A covering plate 8 is attached to the chip 2 by an adhesive film 6. The chip 2 is disposed on a carrying substrate 10. A conductive layer 12 is subsequently formed on a lower surface of the carrying substrate 10 and is extended along a sidewall of the carrying substrate 10 to the bonding pad 5 to electrically connect a solder ball 14 and the bonding pad 5. The image sensor package has larger dimensions since both the chip and the carrying substrate, having certain thicknesses, exist in the image sensor package structure. Moreover, because the conductive layer is formed close to an exterior portion of the image sensor package, for example the sidewalls of the substrates, damage to the conductive layer may occur during the fabrication process.
Thus, an image sensor package and fabrication method thereof ameliorating the described problems is needed.


The invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyether polyols by means of double metal cyanide (DMC) catalysts, in which the induction phase is shortened markedly. By continuous dispensing of an alkylene oxide into the starter-catalyst mixture it is possible to achieve a substantial shortening of the induction phase by comparison with the batch-wise activation.

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyether polyols by means of double metal cyanide (DMC) catalysis, in which the induction phase is shortened markedly.
According to prior art polyether polyols are prepared by polyaddition of alkylene oxides to starter compounds having active hydrogen atoms, by means of metal hydroxide catalysis (for example KOH), see Ullmanns xe2x80x9cEncyclopxc3xa4die der technischen Chemiexe2x80x9d [Encyclopaedia of Industrial Chemistry], Vol. 14, 1963, p. 49 et seq. The polyaddition reaction rates are very slow in this process. Depending on the reaction temperature, catalyst concentration and OH number of the polyether polyol prepared, in the prior art process monofunctional polyethers having terminal double bonds, so-called monools, form additionally and restrict the use of the product for subsequent polyurethane applications. Furthermore, after the polyaddition the base which was used must be removed. This can be achieved, for example, either by the addition of acids, by the use of neutralising adsorbers, ion exchangers or by other methods. The water of neutralisation which arises in this case and the salts which have formed must likewise be separated before further processing. This brief description of the process used according to the present state of the art illustrates the labour- and cost-intensive nature of polyether polyol preparation.
Double metal cyanide (DMC) catalysts for the preparation of polyether polyols have long been known (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,404,109, 3,829,505, 3,941,849 and 5,158,922). The use of these DMC catalysts for the preparation of polyether polyols in particular brings about a reduction in the proportion of monofunctional polyethers having terminal double bonds, so-called monools, by comparison with the conventional preparation of polyether polyols by means of basic catalysts. The polyether polyols thus obtained can be processed to high-grade polyurethanes (for example elastomers, foams, coatings). Improved DMC catalysts such as are described in EP-A 700 949, EP-A 761 708, WO 97/40086, WO 98/16310, DE-A 197 45 120, DE-A 197 57 574 and DE-A 198 10 269, for example, are additionally extremely highly active and enable polyether polyols to be prepared at very low catalyst concentrations (25 ppm or less), such that it is no longer necessary to separate the catalyst from the polyol.
Induction times which are sometimes protracted are a disadvantage of DMC-catalysed polyether polyol preparation. During this phase the chain is built up only very slowly, such that only a very poor space-time yield is achieved. This in turn means a reduction in the economic advantage afforded over the KOH-catalysed process by the more rapid polyaddition and substantially simplified working-up of the product.
One possibility of reducing the induction times resides in elevating the alkylene oxide concentration in the reactor. However, a high concentration of free alkylene oxide constitutes a major hazard potential, because catalyst activation may result in intensified liberation of heat and consequently uncontrolled temperature increases. This would lead to greater thermal loading of the polyol, such that on the one hand, product quality might be impaired, for example owing to higher viscosities or broader molecular weight distributions and, on the other hand, the catalyst activity could be reduced by accelerated ageing. In an extreme case, an uncontrolled temperature increase may even lead to adiabatic thermal decomposition of the polyether polyol.
In the light of the difficulties described in the section above, the reactor is normally (see, for example, WO 97/23544) charged only with part of the total quantity of alkylene oxide necessary for carrying out the reaction to the polyol. Then only after waiting until a pronounced pressure drop in the reactor signals that the catalyst is completely activated, is further alkylene oxide supplied to the reactor.
It has now surprisingly been found that the induction phase in DMC-catalysed polyether polyol preparation can be shortened markedly if small quantities of alkylene oxide are supplied in continuous manner during the induction phase also, preferably quantities such that a constant pressure prevails in the reactor. The quantity of free alkylene oxide used for activation should here be oriented on the basis of either the maximum permissible reactor temperature (Tmax) or, if this is above the decomposition temperature of the polyether polyol to be prepared, on the basis of the decomposition temperature (Tmax) thereof. The threshold concentration (Cthreshold) of free alkylene oxide in the reactor can be calculated as a function of the reaction temperature (Treaction) and the reaction enthalpy (xcex94HR), in accordance with the following formula:
Cthresholdxe2x89xa6Tmaxxe2x88x92Treaction/xcex94HR


The present invention relates to an intelligent bracelet for attracting a baby's attention, and this bracelet comprises a circular main body, in which a microcomputer controlled circuit is provided, and an USB interface, a button, a loudspeaker, a microphone and a memory are connected by the microcomputer controlled circuit; the inner sidewall of the circular main body is surrounded by a plate jacket with protrusion, and the plate jacket has a jacket hole in its central part, which can be attached around any round item for self-fixation; and this bracelet has a phonating function. The intelligent bracelet of this invention is small in volume, convenient to carry and operate, and automatically-fixed; the bracelet can be directly attached around the baby's wrist; the plate jacket of the bracelet outer casing is suitable for babies' wrists of different sizes, and will not cause harm to the babies' skin; besides, the intelligent bracelet can be put on baby milk bottles of various types, which is convenient for baby to enjoy music when having milk, increasing the baby's attention when having milk, increasing their appetite, and allowing the baby to enjoy music when having milk to develop intelligence of the baby sooner.

Bracelet is a common ornament worn on wrist. While current bracelet is mainly used for decoration and seldom has other functions. With the improvement of people's living standard, people pay more and more attention to baby's antenatal training and 'early education. Now, people pay more and more attention to baby's antenatal training and early education, before a child is born, people generally tend to cultivate children's interest to music through fetal music, etc. After the child is born, the parents usually like playing the music or lullaby, etc that baby enjoys with CD(s). However, when taking baby out, because many baby items need be carried, such as a stroller, feeding bottles, water bottles, napkins and diaper etc., parents generally will not carry CD(s) etc. with them, and can't play songs that baby enjoys at any time. Baby's skin is relatively delicate, and design of articles used by the baby should be suitable to baby's characteristics. Therefore, requiring a novel portable intelligent bracelet, which is convenient for parents to carry around to cultivate the baby' interest to new things and cultivate their ability of initiatively thinking at any time.

Intelligent bracelet for attracting a baby's attention


A recumbent stepper includes a frame, a pair of lever arms, pedals, pulleys, flexible members, springs and adjustable resistance devices The pair of lever arms are pivotally attached to the frame and are movable from a retracted position to an extended position. Pedals are attached to each lever arm. The pair of pulleys are rotatably attached to the frame. The pair of flexible members are attached between the lever arms and pulleys and are wound around the pulley when the lever arm is in the retracted position and deploys as the lever arm moves to the extended position. Springs are operably attached to each pulley such that each lever arm is biased to the retracted position. Adjustable resistance devices are operably connected to each pulleys whereby increasing the resistance on the pulley increases the force required to move the lever from the retracted position toward the extended position.

The exercise category of steppers includes both upright and recumbent devices designed for both exercise and rehabilitation of certain conditions. Recumbent steppers are a relatively recent addition to the category, originally designed to provide a full body work-out for those recovering from cardiac episodes. Aside from providing cardiovascular exercise, the major advantage of recumbent steppers is their ability to accommodate a joint range of motion (from extension to flexion) of less than 110°, a figure that devices based on circular pedal require.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,356 issued Oct. 18, 1994 to Hildebrandt et al. discloses a recumbent exercising device that works both the upper and lower extremities and includes an integrated, adjustable seat. In the Hildebrandt device, the action of the arm levers are coupled together and the action of the foot pedals are coupled together and the upper and lower halves are contralaterally synchronized to simulate a natural "walking" motion. Resistance is generated magnetically, providing constant, smooth, and adjustable effort.
While the action of the lever arms (both upper and lower) and contralateral synchronization provides a familiar and natural motion, the dependence of the lever arms restricts range of motion in the elbow joint and knee joint, respectively, if the range of motion is not identical side-to-side. In other words, each joint is not allowed to work to its respective abilities because the joint with the least range of motion dictates how long the stroke length will be because the motion is dependent.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,162 issued September 2004 to Ellis et al. discloses a similar recumbent exercising device, working both the upper and lower extremities and also including an integrated, adjustable seat, but the two foot pedals and two arm levers employ a one-way clutch so that the action of each respective movement is independent and not coupled together as found in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,356. In addition in the Ellis device the upper half and lower half are not synchronized in any way. A stop structure is employed to limit movement in both fore/aft directions and resistance is provided by way of eddy current brake. However magnetically (or eddy current) generated resistance is speed dependent, so the resisting force is only constant at a constant operator rate. This device allows each joint to work to its respective abilities due to the use of a one-way clutch and resulting independent movement, but the resisting force is common to both sides. This has the effect of the weakest leg and/or arm dictating the amount of resistance and not allowing the stronger arm and/or leg to work to its muscular ability.
In this single resistance generator arrangement, the resisting force works against all operator inputs. Therefore if more than one limb is moving against the resistance at the same time, the resistance felt by each limb will be less than if fewer (down to one) limbs are moving. This results in a varying resistance felt by the limbs as input movements overlap.
All of these devices transform the linear movement of the operator, into a circular motion about a fixed shaft, by means of a rigid mechanical connection to the shaft. This means the point of operator input, be it a foot pad or handle, travels in an arc centered on the fixed shaft. The result is that the input force of the operator is divided into a radial component and tangential component, relative to this shaft. Only the tangential component of the input force acting through the length of the input lever, creates torque to overcome the resisting torque and cause movement of the shaft and hence lever. Therefore, the current art requires a varying input force to move any input lever against a resisting force. The operator may not notice this variation, but for rehabilitation purposes, this is not a desirable condition and can cause injury to the recovering limb.
Accordingly it would be advantageous to provide a recumbent stepper that has a generally constant resistance force. It would be advantageous to provide a recumbent stepper wherein each pedal is operated independently such that the stroke length may be different for each leg and the resistance may be different for each leg. Further it would be advantageous to provide a recumbent stepper that can easily be used with different chairs including wheel chairs.


A system for securely transmitting Real Time Protocol voice packets to a remote multimedia terminal adapter over an Internet protocol network. The system features an MTA (a local multimedia terminal adapter) having a key stream generator for generating a first key stream used for encrypting the voice packets. The remote multimedia terminal adapter receives and decrypts the voice packets. Also, the system includes a remote key stream generator for generating the first key stream in order to decrypt the encrypted voice packets and a packet decryptor decrypting the encrypted voice packets using the first key stream, wherein both key stream generators are capable of generating a second key stream to prevent reuse of any portion of the first key stream during the communication session.

The present invention relates generally to the field of internet protocol (IP) communications, and specifically to a system for securely delivering voice packets over an IP network.
Conventional stream ciphers for securely encrypting information in communication networks are well known. Stream ciphers, a class of encryption algorithms, may be employed to encrypt data. Encryption converts data into an unintelligible form, e.g., ciphertext, that cannot be easily understood by unauthorized users. The reverse process, known as decryption, converts encrypted content to its original form such that it becomes intelligible. Simple ciphers include a rotational shift of letters in the alphabet, the substitution of letters for numbers, and the "scrambling" of voice signals by inverting the sideband frequencies.
More complex ciphers work according to sophisticated computer algorithms that rearrange the data bits in digital information. In order to easily recover the encrypted information, the correct decryption key is required. The key is an algorithm that decodes the work of the encryption algorithm. The more complex the encryption algorithm, the more difficult it becomes to decode the communications without access to the key. Encryption algorithms are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and need not be discussed in detail.
In internet protocol (IP) networks, there are various instances in which encryption may be employed. A user may wish to communicate voice packets over the Internet (VoIP) via a personal computer to a remote end user's personal computer, for example. Similarly, a head end (cable central office) may wish to transmit multimedia information to its consumers using RTP (Real Time Protocol). Advances in compression algorithms and computer processing power make it possible to support real time communication over packet networks. Protocols like RTP now provide end-to-end transport functions for multimedia transmissions. Typically, a user is coupled to an IP network via a telephony adapter (TA). In packet cable networks, a cable telephony adapter (CTA) or multimedia terminal adapter (MTA) may be employed. The MTA converts content such as voice or data into packets for transmission on the network, and converts received packets into digital or analog signals for use by the user. To implement a secure channel between two users in the IP network, the associated MTAs use the same keys and encryption ciphers.
One such stream cipher is RC4, which involves continuously generating a random key stream (of bytes) which is combined with original clear text data using an exclusive or (XOR) logic. Like various stream ciphers, however, RC4 requires that the same portion of a key stream must not be reused to encrypt multiple messages. Failure to meet this constraint will result in the encryption being more susceptible to unauthorized decryption. Furthermore, many stream ciphers require an external synchronization source which enables the sender and receiver key streams to be synchronized. In this manner, the cipher text can be decrypted at the remote location.
Within PacketCable, for example, time stamps (RTP) are used as a pointer (synchronization source) to the RC4 random stream of bytes. The RTP time stamp is a number (32 bit) contained within an RTP packet header which specifies the sampling instant of the first byte in the RTP packet. The sampling instant is derived from a clock which increases linearly in time, so the time stamp can be used for synchronization. Specifically for audio streams,RC4 Key Stream Offset=Frame Number*Frame size
The frame number is the number of audio frames generated since the start of the stream and can be derived directly from the RTP time stamp. The Frame size is given in bytes.Frame Number=(RTP Time stamp−RTP Initial Time stamp)/Nu
where Nu is the number of audio samples in an uncompressed frame of audio.
However, only some of the audio CODECs are frame-based; for example, the G.711 CODEC is sample-based, where an RTP packet can contain any number of samples. In the case of a sample-based CODEC, a virtual frame size can be assumed, where all RTP packets would contain a multiple of that frame size (even though the CODEC itself is not frame-based). For example, if RTP packets with the G.711 CODEC always contain 3, 6 or 9 samples, the virtual frame size could be assumed to be 3 samples (corresponding to 1-frame, 2-frame and 3-frame packets).
Equivalently, for both frame-based and sample-based audio CODECs the RC4 Key Stream Offset calculation can be based directly on the number of samples (instead of frames). In the formula below, sample size is specified in bytes:RC4 Key Stream Offset=Sample Number*Sample sizeSample Number=(RTP Time stamp−RTP Initial Time stamp
One limitation of this invention is that it applies to fixed-rate audio CODECs only—if it is a variable-rate codec with a variable sample size, this encryption method does not apply.
Typically, CODECs (COder/DECoder) are employed for coding and decoding information into and from frames having information samples. Due to the variety of CODECs available in the industry, CODECs may implement different frame sizes. As noted, RTP time stamps are used as a synchronization source for the RC4 random stream of bytes The time stamp provides an indication of the number of audio frames processed and is typically a multiple of the frame size (plus a random initial value). However, during a communication session, if a CODEC change occurs, the frame size (as well as sample size) will also change so that the above formula can no longer be used to determine the RC4 key stream offset. Furthermore, the RTP timestamp is no longer a multiple of a new frame size. The net result of a CODEC change is that information cannot be decrypted at the receiving end.
Conventional techniques have been specified so that the time stamp continues to be a multiple of the new frame size after an audio change. One such technique is providing a formula for adjusting the timestamp, wherein an adjustment value is added to the time stamp in order to adjust the RC4 key stream. However, the adjustment value added to the time stamp depends on exactly which audio frame is being processed when the CODEC change is discovered. With the MGCP-based call signaling, each endpoint is controlled by a Call Agent (to which we also refer to as a Gateway Controller) and there is no guarantee that the two communicating endpoints will be notified (by their Call Agent) of the CODEC change at exactly the same time. Thus, a high probability exists that after the CODEC change the two MTAs would loose synchronization on their RC4 key streams and all RTP packets would not be decrypted.
A further problem relates to the receipt of identical RTP session synchronization source (SSRC) identifiers by a gateway terminating several voice connections, that is, in the event that two different sessions are assigned identical session identifiers. The RTP standard requires that each endpoint generating RTP session identifiers (SSRC) allow for the contingency that two identical SSRCs collide at a mixer or a bridge. If such a collision occurs, an RTP BYE message is employed to hang up one of the RTP sessions and a new one is restarted with a new SSRC value. Herein lies a problem similar to the above CODEC change problem. The sequence numbers and the timestamp sequence are both re-initialized which causes the re-use of portions of the previously used key stream and re-start with the same initial timestamp value.
Therefore, there is a need to resolve the aforementioned problem relating to the conventional approach for securely delivering voice packets over an IP network.

System for securely communicating information packets


An interposer connector is provided that is suitable for translatable connection between a first and second connector. The interposer connector includes a housing with a face that includes an opening and a terminal positioned in the opening. The terminal is configured to pivot about the opening so that when the interposer is caused to couple the first and second connector, the terminal may translate along a first plane to account for misalignment in a first direction between the first and second connector. The housing may further be configured to allow the terminal to translate in a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane so as to account for misalignment in a second direction.

The present invention generally relates to interposer connectors having a translatable component for multiple contact mating.
In general, an interposer connector facilitates the mating of connector assemblies by bridging the gap between two different sides of a connector assembly. An interposer can also be translatable so as to allow the interposer to move from an unmated positioned to a mated position. Prior to being in the mated position, the interposer connector is in contact with a first side of the connector assembly. Once the interposer connector is translated to the mated position, the interposer connector remains in contact with the first side of the connector assembly but is also brought into contact with a second side of the connector assembly, thus bridging the two sides of the connector assembly. Unmating can be achieved by translation in the opposite direction. Both electrical power and signal terminals can be provided by interposer connectors.
While existing connector assemblies have provided some acceptable features and functions, certain aspects of existing designs make the manufacture of such connector assemblies more costly or difficult than desired. Furthermore, systems and methods of improving the reliability or ease of assembly would be appreciated. Accordingly, improvements in the design and construction of a connector assembly would be appreciated by certain individuals.


The present invention relates to a mobile terminal capable of controlling a navigation device and to a method for controlling same. The method for controlling the mobile terminal includes the steps of: receiving home information generated by home appliances, which includes product information; outputting the received home information to a display unit and detecting purchase reservation commands for the products; searching for a navigation device positioned on a predetermined street in response to the purchase reservation commands; and transmitting destination setting commands to the navigation device, together with the home information, in order to allow a found navigation device to set a destination related to the products.

Terminals may be divided into mobile/portable terminals and stationary terminals according to their mobility. Also, the mobile terminals may be classified into handheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals according to whether or not a user can directly carry.
As it becomes multifunctional, a mobile terminal can be allowed to capture still images or moving images, play music or video files, play games, receive broadcast and the like, so as to be implemented as an integrated multimedia player. Efforts are ongoing to support and increase the functionality of mobile terminals. Such efforts include software and hardware improvements, as well as changes and improvements in the structural components.
On the back of the improvements, terminals are being developed as a means for supporting smart home automation (or domotics). Smart home refers to constructing networks among various devices or information appliances at home (hereinafter, referred to as 'home appliances'). In more detail, the smart home refers to constructing environments in which those home appliances are allowed to communicate with one another through wired or wireless networks in the home and to be accessible to one another through an Internet or the like out of the home. A terminal may output information generated from the home appliances and provides various functions for controlling the home appliances by use of such networks. Here, improvement of a method for utilizing the information generated from the home appliances is required.

Mobile terminal and method for controlling same


A track driven machine has a pair of track frames on opposite sides thereof, and each of the track frames has a pair of laterally extending arms fixed thereto. The arms are joined to a machine frame only through vibration isolating elastomeric blocks that carry compression loads from the arms to the machine frame. The elastomeric blocks are held in place with bolts that pass through openings in the machine frame. There are second elastomeric blocks above each of the first blocks to support downward movement of the arms relative to the machine frame.

The present invention relates to drive track supports for track-laying machines. Specifically, the present invention deals with a resilient suspension system for isolating track vibration in a track-laying vehicle, such as a track drive skid steer loader.
A track driven machine has identical track frames on opposite sides of the machine frame. Each track frame mounts an endless track which is driven by a drive sprocket that is driven from a shaft of a drive motor. The track frames are supported relative to a machine frame. Contact with the ground during machine motion creates vibration in the track. Additional track vibration is created by the impact forces caused by the track tread and drive lugs. This track vibration is transmitted to the track frame and to the vehicle or machine frame and the operator's platform. Currently, there exist various track suspension systems to minimize vibrations; U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,474,918 and 5,899,543 are representative of the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,474,918 discloses a suspension system for a track-laying vehicle having an undercarriage rocking cross-beam with ends attached to each side of the track frame by means of spherical bearings. The cross-beam has two springs of limited flexibility mounted near the two ends for attaching the cross-beam to the machine frame. Additional suspension is provided by a similar spring mounted on top of the roller wheels assembly of each track.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,543 teaches a suspension system for a tracked vehicle having a roller wheel assembly comprising six roller wheels rotatably attached to a roller wheel beam having three wheels on each side of the beam. The beam has two ends with a T-shaped mounting bracket rigidly attached to each end, wherein the leg of the T-shaped bracket has a resilient component attached to each side of the leg. The T-shaped bracket is to be fitted into a corresponding female U-shaped mounting bracket that is rigidly attached to an undercarriage support beam that is ultimately attached to the machine frame. The U-shaped mounting bracket also has resilient component on each inner side of the "U" while having space in between to receive the T-shaped bracket. This design is an attempt to dampen vibration coming from the roller wheels by using resilient components as contact points.
The need still exists for a simple resilient track suspension system that will provide effective suspension and effective overall track vibration isolation.

Drive track support with vibration isolation


A neural network for comparing a known input to an unknown input comprises a first layer for receiving a first known input tensor and a first unknown input tensor. A second layer receives the first known and unknown input tensors. The second layer has at least one first trainable weight tensor associated with the first known input tensor and at least one second trainable weight tensor associated with the first unknown input tensor. The second layer includes at least one first processing element for transforming the first known input tensor on the first trainable weight tensor to produce a first known output and at least one second processing element for transforming the first unknown input tensor on the second trainable weight tensor to produce a first unknown output. The first known output comprises a first known output tensor of at least rank zero and has a third trainable weight tensor associated therewith. The first unknown output comprises a first unknown output tensor of at least rank zero and has a fourth trainable weight tensor associated therewith. The first known output tensor and the first unknown tensor are combined to form a second input tensor. A third layer receives the second input tensor. The third layer has at least one fifth trainable weight tensor associated with the second input tensor. The third layer includes at least one third processing element for transforming the second input tensor on the fifth trainable weight tensor, thereby comparing the first known output with the first unknown output and producing a resultant output. The resultant output is indicative of the degree of similarity between the first known input tensor and the first unknown input tensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sparse comparison neural network which compares a known input to an unknown input, and a method of comparing a known input to an unknown input.
2. Description of the Related Art
A neural network is an information processor which simulates biological neural functions in a computer. Neural networks may be used for visual pattern recognition. A type of neural network currently utilized for pattern recognition is a feedforward network which is trained using back-propagation techniques. Such a network is described in Parallel Distributed Processing, Volume I: Foundations, by D. E. Rumelhart et al. (MIT Press, 1987).
A conventional, three-layer, fully-connected, feedforward neural network trained using back-propagation techniques is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The feedforward neural network as shown in FIG. 1 comprises an input layer 12, a hidden layer 14 and an output layer 16. Input layer 12 receives an input. Input layer 12 includes a plurality of artificial neurons, or nodes, 18. Hidden layer 14 receives inputs from input layer 12, and a weight is associated with each of the inputs to the hidden layer. Hidden layer 14 comprises a plurality of artificial neurons, or processing nodes, 20. A plurality of interconnections 22 distributes information from each node 18 in input layer 12 to each processing node 20 in hidden layer 14. Output layer 16 receives inputs from hidden layer 14, and a weight is associated with each of the inputs to the output layer. Output layer 16 also comprises a plurality of artificial neurons, or processing nodes, 24. Nodes 18 in input layer 12 are of a passive nature compared to processing nodes 20 and 24 in hidden layer 14 and in output layer 16, respectively. Processing nodes 20 and 24 perform a linear or non-linear transformation. A plurality of interconnections 26 distributes the information processed by each processing node 20 in hidden layer 14 to each processing node 24 in output layer 16. In each of the input and hidden layers, one of the nodes is fixed to a constant value and operates with its associated weight as an effective bias.
The weights associated with the inputs to the hidden layer and the output layer are derived during a training process. When the weights have been set to correct levels, a complex stimulus pattern at the input layer is sent to the hidden layer, resulting in an output pattern. The network is trained by feeding it a succession of input patterns and corresponding expected output patterns. The network "learns" by measuring the difference, at each output element, between the expected output pattern and the pattern that it just produced. Having done this, the weights are modified by a learning algorithm to provide an output pattern which more closely approximates the expected output pattern, while minimizing the error over the spectrum of input patterns.
While pattern recognition using a feedforward neural network trained using back-propagation techniques is known, successful applications in areas with large input arrays, e.g., in image processing and machine vision, are hindered by the fact that fully-connected, feedforward networks require large numbers of processing elements and weights in the hidden layer and the output layer for distributing information. Even though large back-propagation networks are feasible to build in principle, the major shortcoming of such networks is the training time required. The back-propagation training time for practically sized imaging feedforward networks can rapidly approach geological time periods on the largest supercomputers. Thus, the need exists for reducing the training time in neural networks having large input arrays.
Moreover, a back-propagation training algorithm for a known neural network can only be fed very rudimentary information for estimating feedback error. The teacher may give only a simple code, corresponding to a specific pattern that is being learned, at the network output. Therefore, the need also exists for developing a feedforward neural network trained by a back-propagation algorithm where considerably more information can be processed.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to decrease the required network size, both in number of processing elements and in the number of connections between elements, compared to known feedforward neural networks of similar classification capacity.
In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a neural network for performing pattern recognition which significantly decreases the back-propagation training time compared to known networks of equivalent size which are applied to identical pattern recognition problems.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Object recognition system employing a sparse comparison neural network


A metallic head of a fastener includes merlon portions between crenel portions. The crenel portions form a slot which may be used to tighten or loosen the fastener. An insulating material covers portions of the metallic head to prevent human contact with the metallic head and terminal lugs secured thereby. The metallic head defines a counter bore portion. Inner walls of the counter bore portion may be formed into a hexagon. The insulating material may extend into the counter bore portion covering the inner walls, as well as the surfaces of the crenel portions. The bottom of the counter bore may remain uncovered to facilitate signal testing with a test probe.

Electrical devices are often connected to other devices via one or more conductors, which are typically wire conductors. For example, wires carrying household electrical current are terminated at a fuse panel or breaker panel located in a basement or other remote location. These panels often require tools to open and may include a means for locking the panel to prevent unauthorized personnel, like children, from entering the panel where high voltages are terminated.
Another example is communication device that provides an interface between a home or office building and a service provider's communication network. The communication network may include a cable network, such as a community television antenna ("CATV"), which may also be used for transporting video, data, voice and other types of information signals. The communication network may also include a telephony network that may comprise plain old telephony service ("POTS") equipment, or digital subscriber line ("DSL") equipment. These various types of communication networks typically interface with a user's home or office building at an outdoor interface device.
A network interface device ("NID") interfaces the service provider's communication with the user's internal home or office wiring. The communication signals typically carried across the interface are low voltage signals that do not pose a safety hazard from personnel contact with an electrical termination at the interface.
However, the same conductors that carry the communication signals may also carry higher voltages. For example in a telephony communication network, a voltage signal is impressed in the same wires that carry a communication signal to cause a telephone being dialed to ring. This is typically referred to as the ringing voltage and is typically ninety volts DC in United States. In a cable system that provides telephony, the NID provides voice signals to a line interface card that couples to the home's or office's internal telephone system wiring. The wiring from the line interface card to the telephony wiring also carries ringing voltage.
Since the housing that encloses the NID equipment is typically plastic and located outside of a house, curious children may open the housing doors to see what is inside. Adults may also open the housing trying to correct an operational problem with their television, telephone or data service.
Conductors that carry ringing voltage typically terminate with a lug such as a ring tongue lug or a spade lug. Installation personnel then connect the lugs to terminal strips using terminal screws. To prevent inadvertent human contact with the head of terminal screws, which could be dangerous if a ringing voltage was impressed on the conductors at the same time as contact, screws with insulated heads are used.
An example of an insulated screw fastener is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,021 to Medal, entitled Encapsulated Fastener and Washer ("'021"). In the '021 patent, a screw with a slotted round head is covered with a plastic cover that provides access to the screw slot. A hexagonal shape is molded into the plastic cover to facilitate the use of a wrench or nut driver in tightening the screw. The plastic cover edges extend slightly above the top of the screw head to block a finger from contacting the otherwise exposed screw head. Thus, the flat screw top is slightly recessed into the plastic cover.
Although the arrangement described in the '021 patent provides some protection from contact with the screw head, a determined child with small, fleshy finger tips could press the screw end and contact the metallic flat screw head surface. Thus, there is a need in the art for a terminal fastener that further reduces the possibility that contact with the metallic fastener can occur, either inadvertently or deliberately.


A method and apparatus is provided for measuring the spatial temperature distribution of a flame emitted from a burner nozzle for use in the fabrication of tapered optical fibers and fused couplers so that the position of the burner can be calibrated to locate the optical fiber within the most thermally stable part of the flame during production.

Tapered optical fibers and fused couplers are widely used as low loss all-fiber components in optical fiber communications systems. The typical method of fabricating tapered and fused fiber devices involves heating the fibers in a small flame to soften them as they are drawn and fused. The characteristics of the flame used to soften the optical fibers effects the uniformity of the taper, and therefore the performance of the device. Flames produced by burners have height and width dimensions, which vary in size according to the diameter of the burner nozzle, flow rate of gasses and gas mixture, and, the temperature at various positions within flames of different size is not the same. In order to ensure fabrication repeatability and device uniformity, tapered optical fibers and fused couplers should be manufactured using the most thermally stable part of the flame. It is therefore important to accurately determine the spatial temperature distribution of the flame so that the burner position setting(s) can be calibrated for the fabrication process.
Various techniques have been employed in the past which could be used to either measure the flame temperature directly, or indirectly by measuring the heat radiated from an optical fiber subjected to the flame. For example, spectropyrometers such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,379,038 and 5,772,323 collect the emitted blackbody radiation from a heated body and use spectral processing to determine the emissivity as a function of wavelength and the absolute temperature of the blackbody. Glass, used to form optical fibers, has low emissivity and radiated light from heated optical fibers is difficult to detect using a spectropyrometer.
Another device for measuring temperature is a thermocouple, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,857,776 and 6,632,018. Thermocouples operate based upon the thermoelectric effect at the junction of two dissimilar metals. In response to the application of heat, a voltage is generated across the junction which is proportional to the temperature. The emissivity and conductivity of the metals used in thermocouples is very different from that of glass fibers. Additionally, at the temperature range of interest, e.g., 1700° C. to 1900° C., temperature measurements of thermocouples have a large degree of uncertainty.
Single and multiple wavelength pyrometers are also employed to measure temperature. Devices of this type use infrared radiation to measure temperature, but the accuracy of such measurements is dependent on knowledge of the emissivity of the target material. Emissivity is a property which changes during the heating cycle of most materials, and, as noted above, glass has low emissivity. These factors make it difficult for pyrometers to provide an accurate measurement of the flame temperature applied to an optical fiber.

Method and apparatus for measuring spatial temperature distribution of flames


A pressure exchange device is equipped with a rotator, for which first flow paths through which a first fluid flows in and out and second flow paths through which a second fluid flows in and out are arranged around a shaft center so as to penetrate through in the direction of the rotation axis. The device includes a first lateral member with a first fluid inflow path, a second fluid outflow path, a second fluid inflow path, and a first fluid outflow path. The device also includes a second lateral member with communication sections that connect the first flow paths and the second flow paths and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid.

In a seawater desalination facility which uses a reverse osmosis membrane device, there is provided a pressure exchange device that utilizes the pressure of high pressure concentrated seawater, which is a high pressure concentrated fluid discharged from the reverse osmosis membrane device, for raising the pressure of low pressure seawater, which is a concentration target fluid supplied to the reverse osmosis membrane device.
As is illustrated in FIG. 25, in Patent Document 1, a pressure exchange device is described that includes a rotor 80 in which a plurality of tubular pressure transmission units are provided around a rotation axis.
The pressure exchange device is configured to allow the high pressure concentrated seawater supplied to a high pressure inlet side port 82 and the low pressure seawater supplied to a low pressure inlet side port 81 to be brought into contact with each other in a pressure transmission unit with the rotation of the rotor 80, discharge the low pressure seawater, whose pressure is raised by the pressure of the high pressure concentrated seawater, from a high pressure outlet side port 83 as the high pressure seawater, and discharge the low pressure concentrated seawater, in which the transmission of the pressure has been completed by means of the low pressure seawater supplied to the low pressure inlet side port 81, from a low pressure outlet side port 84.
As is illustrated in FIG. 26, in Patent Document 2, a pressure exchange device is described that includes a rotator 90 constituted by a pair of rotational plates 91 and 92 and an axis 93 contiguous with the rotational plates 91 and 92.
In one rotational plate 91, there are formed a flow path 91a that guides the low pressure seawater supplied to a low pressure inlet side port 95 to a pressure transmission unit 96, and a flow path 91b that guides the high pressure seawater discharged from the pressure transmission unit 96 to a high pressure outlet side port 97.
In the other rotational plate 92, there are formed a flow path 92b that guides the high pressure concentrated seawater supplied to the high pressure inlet side port 94 to the pressure transmission unit 96, and a flow path 92a that guides the low pressure concentrated seawater discharged from the pressure transmission unit 96 to a low pressure outlet side port 98.
The pressure exchange device is configured to allow the high pressure concentrated seawater supplied to the high pressure inlet side port 94 and the low pressure seawater supplied to the low pressure inlet side port 95 to be brought into contact with each other in the tubular pressure transmission unit 96 with the rotation of the rotator 90, discharge the low pressure seawater, whose pressure is raised by the pressure of the high pressure concentrated seawater, from the high pressure outlet side port 97 as the high pressure seawater, and discharge the low pressure concentrated seawater, in which the transmission of the pressure has been completed by means of the low pressure seawater supplied to the low pressure inlet side port 95, from the low pressure outlet side port 98.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


One step ortho-alkylation of anilines with styrenes to give chiral anilines is obtained using a strong acid catalyst, e.g. CF3SO3H. Condensation of the product to give ligand and metallation gives complex which catalyzes polymerization of propylene to give isotactic propylene or regiorandom propylene of low PDI or blocks thereof, depending on polymerization temperature.

Catalysts that are more functional group tolerant for polymerizing functional alkenes and show living behavior, generally produce amorphous atactic polymers.
We conceived that anilines with ortho-substituents containing stereogenic centers would be universal building blocks for a wide array of stereoselective catalysts. Our initial effort was directed to synthesis of bulky chiral substituents for incorporation into an α-diimine Ni (II) catalyst for the isospecific polymerization of trans-2-butene; this work is described in Cherian, A. E., et al., Chem. Commun. 20, 3565-2567 (2003). This work relied on the zeolite-catalyzed reaction of phenylacetylene and p-toluidine as described in Arienti, A., et al., Tetrahedron 53, 3795-3804 (1997), followed by subsequent hydrogenation of the resulting 2,6-bis(1-phenyl vinyl) anilines catalyzed by Pd/C. However, the scope of anilines that could be synthesized by this method was limited and the synthesis required two steps.

Production of isotactic and regiorandom polypropylene based polymer and block copolymers


Example embodiments relate to processing user interactions with a computing device, comprising receiving a user-initiated action performed on a character button, the character button representing a character, determining whether the user-initiated action is performed in a normal or abnormal operating manner. When a normal operating manner is determined, displaying the character on a graphical display. When an abnormal operating manner is determined: identifying a previously entered character preceding the character, activating a microphone and receiving, by the microphone, a spoken word, searching a subset of a database for a textual form of the received spoken word, the subset based on one or more of the character and the previously entered character, and displaying a correct textual form of the spoken word on a graphical display by amending one or more of the character and the previously entered character when one or more of the character and the previously entered character is inconsistent with the textual form of the spoken word found in the searching.

Today, a variety of methods, systems, and input devices are available for interacting with computing devices. Examples include various forms of physical keyboards, both wired and wireless, that enable users to press physical buttons (or keys) of the keyboard to interact with the computing device. Examples of interacting include typing (or inputting or entering) characters into one or more editable areas of the computing device, which may be correspondingly displayed on the computing device. Editable areas may include, but are not limited to, those found in an electronic document, such as Microsoft Office products, email, and cloud-based documents such as Google Docs documents; an executable application, such as a computer program installed on the computing device and/or remotely located, in part or in whole, such as cloud-based applications; a chat or messaging application, such as email, SMS, MMS, iMessage, Google Chat, WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook Chat, Yahoo Chat, Messenger, Blackberry Messenger, and LinkedIn; and any other input fields, as generally known by persons of ordinary skill in the art, that allow users to interact and/or edit, such as those found in websites, desktop and mobile applications, social media, and electronic documents; and the like. Other input devices include a mouse, a touchpad, and more recently, devices that recognize, among other things, human gestures and sound.
In respect to mobile computing devices, such as touchscreen-based mobile devices like the iPad, iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, HTC One, Windows-based devices like the Nokia Lumina, and Blackberry, "soft" or virtual keyboards are quickly replacing physical keyboards in popularity. Users of virtual keyboards typically require practice in order to become proficient in character entry. However, even the most experienced virtual keyboard users will often press wrong buttons and/or miss buttons on the virtual keyboard, particularly for those virtual keyboards having relatively small buttons, large buttons, closely spaced together buttons, and/or spread apart buttons. It is recognized herein that conventional methods of interacting with a computing device can be improved so as to enable users to, among other things, more accurately and more efficiently input information into a computing device.

Methods, devices and systems for entering textual representations of words into a computing device by processing user physical and verbal interactions with the computing device


A magnetic head having a spin valve sensor that is fabricated utilizing an Al2O3, NiMn0, Si seed layer upon which a PtMn spin valve sensor layer structure is subsequently fabricated. In the preferred embodiment, the Si layer has a thickness of approximately 20 Å and the PtMn layer has a thickness of approximately 120 Å. An alternative fabrication process of the Si layer includes the overdeposition of the layer to a first thickness of from 15 Å to 45 Å followed by the etching back of the seed layer of approximately 5 Å to approximately 15 Å to its desired final thickness of approximately 20 Å. The Si layer results in an improved crystal structure to the subsequently fabricated PtMn and other spin valve sensor layers, such that the fabricated spin valve is thinner and exhibits increased ΔR/R and reduced coercivity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to spin valve sensors for magnetic heads, and more particularly to an improved Si seed layer for a PtMn spin valve sensor structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Increasing the areal data storage density of hard disk drives can be accomplished by reducing the written data track width, such that more tracks per inch (tpi) can be written on the disk, and/or by reducing the size of data bits, such that the number of bits per inch (bpi) on a data track can be increased. However, to read data from a disk with an increased bpi, it is also necessary to develop a sufficiently thin read gap within the read head of the magnetic head, such that unwanted magnetic field interference from adjacent data bits is substantially eliminated. Current state of the art magnetic heads have read head gaps of approximately 800 Å to 1,000 Å.
Magnetic heads for hard disk drives typically have a read head portion including a magnetoresistive (MR) spin valve sensor structure for reading data from the disk of the hard disk drive. As is well known to those skilled in the art, such MR sensor structures include a plurality of thin film layers disposed between two magnetic shields that define the read gap. The thin film layers have particular magnetic properties, and are sensitive to the magnetic field of the data bits on the hard disk. Thus, thinner layers disposed between the two magnetic shields will create a thinner read gap, which will allow the read head to detect the smaller data bits that a higher bpi data track contains. Additionally, where one or more of the sensor layers can be made thinner, the electrical insulation layers (G1 and G2) within the sensor can be made thicker, which reduces the incidence of electrical shorts through the G1 and G2 insulation layers.
The thin film layers of a typical MR spin valve sensor will include at least one antiferromagnetic layer, at least one pinned magnetic field layer, and at least one free magnetic field layer. When the magnetic field direction of the free magnetic field layer is parallel to the magnetic field direction of the pinned magnetic field layer, the electrical resistance R of the MR sensor is lowest. When reading data, a magnetic data bit of a hard disk will cause the magnetic field direction of the free magnetic field layer to change, whereupon the electrical resistance of the sensor increases. This change in resistance (ΔR) affects the electrical current passing through the sensor, which is thus detected as a data signal. The parameter ΔR/R is useful in comparing magnetic head performance.
It is therefore desirable to develop MR sensors having a decreased thickness, while maintaining or even increasing the ΔR/R value. Where the metallic MR sensor layers are made thinner, there is less shunting of electrical current through these layers and away from the free magnetic layer. This leads to an increase in ΔR and improved magnetic head performance. Another parameter that is significant in spin valve sensor performance is the free layer coercivity, and generally, the lower the coercivity, the more stable the MR sensor will be. Thus a thinner sensor that maintains coercivity or even decreases coercivity is desirable.
Many different materials have been utilized in the prior art in attempts to increase ΔR/R and reduce the coercivity of the MR sensor. The present invention relates to a MR spin valve sensor that is fabricated utilizing a particular seed layer that replaces the prior art Ta sublayer with a Si sublayer. This allows the use of a thinner PtMn antiferromagnetic layer, thus leading to a thinner MR sensor, which allows for thicker G1 and/or G2 insulation layers while maintaining the same read gap thickness.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.


The present invention provides a process for producing DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)-containing tofu or soybean milk drink, or a dry powder thereof which does not influence taste even if a DHA-containing fish oil is incorporated at a high concentration, which is stable and of which starting materials are inexpensive. A DHA-containing fish oil emulsion is prepared by mixing soybean milk with a DHA-containing fish oil at a weight ratio of 1:0.2 to 1, and stirring the mixture. Then, soybean milk drink can be produced by further diluting this emulsion with soybean milk to give a predetermined DHA concentration. Still further, DHA-containing tofu can be produced by coagulating the soybean milk containing this emulsion with the addition of a coagulant. Since the same soybean milk as the starting material of tofu or soybean milk drink is used as an emulsifying agent, such a product is obtained that even if DHA is contained at a high concentration, this does not influence a taste or properties of the product. A dry powder can be obtained by freeze-drying, vacuum-drying or spray-drying this tofu or soybean milk drink as required.

DHA is one of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids that in recent years, have attracted attention as essential fatty acids having a wide variety of physiological activities. DHA has been known to have an antithrombogenic activity, an antiinflammatory activity, an antiallergic activity and an antitumor activity and to be important in developing and maintaining a nerve tissue of brain, retina or the like; it has therefore aroused interest. DHA is contained in a fish oil extracted from fish and shellfish in a relatively large amount. Such a DHA-containing fish oil has been marketed as a capsule-type healthy food formed by coating the same with gelatin or the like. Meanwhile, attempts have been made to add the same to general foods such as a beverage, a confectionery, a dairy dish, a seasoning and the like, and there are a large number of commercial products.
However, since DHA has a long chain and many double bonds and gives a peculiar smell derived from a fish oil, the purification, the concentration and the anti-oxidation thereof are technically difficult in many cases. As a result, a DHA-containing fish oil which is subjected to purification, emulsification, milling and anti-oxidation such as addition of an antioxidant is costly. For this reason, DHA is currently added to food only in an amount which is far from an average amount of DHA (from 0.5 g to 1.0 g per day) ingested by a Japanese from fish and shellfish. Further, in the conventional technique, after the DHA-containing fish oil emulsified or milled is added to a food, the stability of DHA is not maintained satisfactorily, so that such a food cannot be stored. Thus, the addition of DHA at a high concentration is prevented.
On the other hand, soybeans abundantly contain proteins having a high essential amino acid content and excellent in vivo absorbability, linoleic acid which is an n-6 highly unsaturated fatty acid, and functional substances such as lecithin and saponin having a cholesterol-decreasing activity owing to their emulsifiability. Further, soybeans, as well as garlic, onion and the like, have drawn attention as a food having an activity to prevent tumor. Tofu or soybean milk drink which is produced using such soybeans as a starting material naturally contains these useful substances abundantly, and is eaten and drunk every day as a traditional healthy food in Japan.
If DHA can be added to the above-mentioned tofu or soybean milk drink which is the typical healthy food in Japan, a person who does not eat fish frequently can naturally ingest DHA from a dairy meal or drink, and his health can be expected to thereby be maintained or promoted. It is considered that DHA is added to tofu or soybean milk drink by a method in which an emulsion having a high storage stability, which is obtained by emulsifying a DHA-containing fish oil using an appropriate emulsifying agent and adding a preservative such as sugar or salt at a high concentration to increase a storage stability, is added; a method in which the above-described emulsion is added as a dry powder; or a method in which a powder obtained by adsorbing a DHA-containing fish oil onto a porous carrier is added.
However, there has been no report indicating that DHA is added to tofu or soybean milk drink in such an amount that a Japanese can ingest DHA in a day from fish or shellfish, nor has the commercial product been marketed. The reason is that not only the above-described emulsion, its powder or porous support-adsorbed powder of the DHA-containing fish oil is expensive relative to the DHA content, thereby increasing the costs of the starting materials for tofu or soybean milk drink, but also the emulsifying agent, the preservative, the porous carrier and the like which are used influence the taste and the properties of tofu or soybean milk drink, thereby preventing the addition of DHA at a high concentration.

Process for producing DHA-containing tofu or soybean milk drink, or dry powder thereof


A large-size weighty radiator (1) having an array of rubber dampers (21) at the bottom is mounted between transversely spaced side members (2) of a vehicle body, by a structure (M) including a hollow frame portion having a transversely extending body part (H1) and a pair of fixed parts (H2) fixed to the side members (2), and a receiving portion (H3) formed on the frame portion for receiving the array of rubber dampers (21) inserted thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a heat exchanger, and particularly, to a mounting structure for a large-scale weighty heat exchanger.
2. Relevant Art
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 8-310258 has proposed a mounting structure for mounting a radiator to a vehicle body. The mounting structure includes: a bracket elastically mounted to a downside of the radiator, which bracket is provided with a pin to be inserted in an insertion hole in a lower portion of the vehicle body; and another bracket elastically mounted on an upside of the radiator, which bracket is provided with a button engageable with a button hole in an upper portion of the vehicle body, so that the radiator can be mounted to the vehicle body by a single operation.
This structure is adapted to mount the radiator to the vehicle body by a simple pin-inserting operation to the insertion hole, without use of fastening elements such as bolts and nuts, thus allowing an enhanced workability.


A sheet discharging apparatus is provided with a brake member which can be contact with a sheet discharged from a sheet discharging portion. The brake member is activated when the size of a sheet discharged is sensed to be smaller than a predetermined size.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet discharging apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a sorter and a printer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An ADF (automatic document feeder) is employed, for example, for an electrophotographic copying machine. In the ADF, the conveying speed of originals (sheets) is generally high. Since a discharging speed of originals to be discharged from a discharging mechanism of the ADF is also high, the originals are discharged into a mess unless the discharging speed is reduced. The mess is remarkable particularly when the size of the original is small (for example, B5 and A5), since small-size originals are of light weight. As methods of discharging originals from the above-mentioned ADF, etc. into a well-ordered condition so as to improve stocking capability (aligning capability), methods of electrically reducing the discharging speed and methods of mechanically reducing the discharging speed have conventionally been known.
As one of the methods of mechanically reducing the speed, a method is known where a special discharged original stopper, as shown in FIG. 1, consisting of an elastic body 1 and a stopper body 2 is provided on a discharging portion 5 to align originals discharged in the direction of arrow m1. As another method of mechanically reducing the speed, a method is known where a brake member 3 made of a film or a bar is hung, as shown in FIG. 2, from a discharging outlet 6 onto the discharging portion 5 and originals discharged by discharging rollers 4 in the direction of arrow m2 are brought in contact with the rear surface of the brake member 3 to reduce the discharging speed.
In the method employing the stopper shown in FIG. 1, however, the stocking capability deteriorates because of a rebound of originals unless the discharging outlet is arranged at a position higher than the position where the stopper is arranged. On the other hand, in the method employing the brake member 3 shown in FIG. 2, the stocking capability is not stable for some paper sizes unless the distance between the discharging outlet 6 and the stopper 7 is adjustable. Further, for originals of large sizes, since an unnecessary load is imposed thereon by the brake member 3, the originals can be damaged.
Moreover, as electric methods, a method of reducing a discharging speed by reducing a rotation speed of a discharging roller by controlling the discharging speed with a clutch (Japanese laid-open Patent Application No. S62-12564) and a method of reducing the discharging speed of the discharging roller by reducing a rotation speed of a motor which drives the discharging roller (Japanese laid-open Patent Application S62-269853) have conventionally been known. In automatic document conveying apparatuses of the above prior arts, the stocking capability is improved by reducing the discharging speed just before an original is discharged regardless of the size of the original.
In the apparatus of Japanese laid-open Patent Application S62-12564, however, since two driving systems (a gear and a toothed belt) for a high speed and for a low speed, respectively, are required, it is necessary to provide a changeover clutch and a one-way clutch. Consequently, the mechanism is complicated, and a larger space is required due to the increase in size of the apparatus, thereby increasing the cost.
In the apparatus of Japanese laid-open Patent Application S62-269853, since a separate driving motor is required for a discharging portion, the cost of the motor increases. Moreover, if the discharging portion is driven by the same motor that drives another unit (such as a document conveying portion), the conveying speed of the above-mentioned another unit also decreases when the conveying speed of the discharging portion is low. Consequently, the processing speed of original changeover decreases.

Sheet discharging apparatus for use in an image forming apparatus


There is provided a printing apparatus that can prevent a user from forgetting to set print settings and that can markedly reduce the number of unnecessary prints caused by unsuitable print settings, for example, in a case in which print data such as image data is sent from an image-supplying apparatus to the printing apparatus and in which the printing apparatus prints the print data. The printing apparatus, which receives print data from an image-supplying apparatus and prints the print data, need not start printing image data immediately after the image data is received. An input of print settings is accepted in the printing apparatus, and the image data is printed using the printing settings that have been input.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of receiving image data from an image-supplying apparatus using a plurality of communication protocols.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, sending of images from various types of image-supplying apparatuses, such as mobile phones and digital cameras, directly to printing apparatuses and printing of the images have been implemented. As communication protocols used to print the images, a picture transfer protocol (PTP) of a universal serial bus (USB) interface (I/F), an object exchange (OBEX) protocol of an infrared data association (IrDA) I/F, a generic object exchange profile (GOEP) of a Bluetooth I/F, a basic imaging profile (BIP) of the Bluetooth I/F, a basic printing profile (BPP) of the Bluetooth I/F, and so forth have been used.
Examples of data received by the printing apparatuses using various types of protocols of the I/Fs include image data, and data in a specific format such as vCard or vCalender. Additionally, printing apparatuses have appeared, which can receive and print data in extensible hypertext markup language (XHTML)-print format capable of handing document data and image data at the same time using the BPP of the Bluetooth I/F. Printing apparatuses have supported a plurality of communication protocols and data formats.
For such printing apparatuses supporting a plurality of communication protocols, there are the following technologies.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-304007, a printer is disclosed, in which a plurality of types of protocols of devices can be switched in correspondence with hosts via a serial bus. A technology associated with the printer is disclosed, in which, first, the printer performs an initialization protocol that is not related to the types of protocols, and in which, then, the printer switches from the initialization protocol to a printer-specific protocol.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-036668, a printing apparatus is disclosed, in which two types of I/Fs, such as an IEEE 1284 I/F and a USB I/F, are mounted. It is disclosed that the printing apparatus can selectively use any one of the two types of I/Fs.
In a case in which data is printed using a connection established between a personal computer (PC) and a printing apparatus as in the related art, for example, print settings, such as a sheet type, a print quality, a sheet size, a sheet orientation, and layout printing or duplex printing, need to be determined. When data is printed, the print settings can be set using a setting user interface of a printer driver on a display of the PC.
However, from among communication protocols used to print data, there are some types of communication protocols in which a function of sending image data is defined, and in which no function of sending print-setting information is defined. More specifically, when image data is sent from an image-supplying apparatus, such as a digital camera or a mobile phone, directly to a printing apparatus to print the image data instead of using a PC, there are some cases in which image data is sent using a communication protocol in which a function of sending print-setting information is not defined. Accordingly, when the communication protocol is used, it is not possible to print the image data using print settings that are set in the image-supplying apparatus.
In this case, the user can input the print settings in the printing apparatus in advance before the printing apparatus receives the image data, the printing apparatus prints the received image data using the print settings, whereby the received image data can be printed using the print settings specified by the user.
However, in this manner, after the image data to be printed is sent from the image-supplying apparatus to the printing apparatus, it is not possible to input the print settings. For this reason, when the image data is printed and the user looks at the print result, the user recognizes that the print settings are not desired print settings in some cases.

Printing apparatus and method for controlling the same


A data processing apparatus is disclosed that comprises a pipelined processor, said pipelined processor comprising a processing pipeline for processing instructions in a plurality of stages, at least some of said plurality of stages each comprising storage elements for storing an instruction or decoded instruction being processed in said stage, said storage elements in at least one of said stages comprising settable elements, each of said settable elements being adapted to store a predetermined value in response to a wake up event, said settable elements being arranged such that in response to said wake up event said values stored in said settable elements form an instruction or decoded instruction.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention relates to data processing and in particular to the initialisation of a pipelined processor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
On switch on the state of some elements within a processor may need to be set to enable the processor to function as expected. For example, there may be certain behaviour that the programmers' model of the processor predicts will not happen unless certain values are stored in particular registers at start up. Thus, some sort of initialisation or boot-up routine may be required to ensure correct behaviour. This may also be the case following other events such as an interrupt or reset.
A known way of providing a processor hardware boot-up sequence is to have a state machine within the processor that forces micro code down the core pipeline to achieve the desired initialisation effects. A drawback of this is the need to provide the state machine and store the micro code. Furthermore, the instructions or micro code need to be loaded into the pipeline and progress down it to be executed which takes time and adds a delay to the processor being ready. Additionally, the values stored at start up in instruction registers within the pipeline will be clocked through the pipeline ahead of the loaded code. Thus, there is the additional task of ensuring that they do not generate any undesired operations.


Expansion of the bandwidth of a wideband CMOS data amplifier is accomplished using various combinations of shunt peaking, series peaking, and miller capacitance cancellation. These various combinations are employed in any of the amplifier input stage, in intermediate stages, or in the last stage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the field of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuitry; and, specifically, to the field of high speed CMOS wideband data amplifiers for wideband data communication applications.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
High speed wideband data amplifiers are used in wideband data communication applications. For a number of reasons including speed limitations of processing technology, power consumption and other cost related concerns, it is desirable to develop efficient techniques to boost the amplifier bandwidth for higher frequency operations. High speed circuit techniques such as current-controlled CMOS (or C3MOS) logic have been developed that have brought about marked increase in the speed of circuitry fabricated using standard CMOS process technology. Various C3MOS circuit techniques are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 09/484,856, titled "Current Controlled CMOS Logic Family," by A. Hairapetian, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Other techniques have been developed to increase the gain-bandwidth product of CMOS circuitry. For example, shunt peaking is one approach that has resulted in improved gain-bandwidth product. Shunt peaking involves putting an inductor in series with the output resistor to expand the bandwidth of the circuit. Such inductive broadbanding technique combined with C3MOS circuitry has been described in greater detail in commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 09/610,905, titled "Current-Controlled CMOS Circuits with Inductive Broadbanding," by M. Green, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The expansion of the gain-bandwidth product brought about by such inductive peaking, however, is limited to about 1.5 times, and the inductors needed are generally large which requires a large area on an integrated circuit. In wideband data communications, the usable data frequency range starts at several kilohertz and extends all the way up to many gigahertz. A wideband amplifier is required to handle such a broad spectrum of data frequencies. This is in contrast to the wireless domain where communications occurs only over a narrow band, which can be accomplished using a tuned amplifier with an inductor and a capacitor. However, a relatively constant or flat frequency response is desired over a wide frequency band in a wideband data amplifier.
Typically, in designing a wideband amplifier there is a trade off between gain and bandwidth. The product of gain and bandwidth is usually a constant for the same topology. However, by using special techniques, bandwidth can be extended while maintaining the same gain level. One conventional way is to employ a faster process technology, such as GaAs or InP when fabricating integrated circuits upon which the wideband data amplifier is implemented. However, these technologies are generally more costly and not as widely available as standard CMOS process.
As is apparent from the above discussion, a need exists for widening the high gain portion of the frequency response of the amplifier without compromising the gain, for minimizing the power consumption of the amplifier, and for eliminating expensive process requirements.

Current-controlled CMOS wideband data amplifier circuits


A device for measuring the temperature of the water inside a water container. A temperature probe that defines a front end and a rear end has its front end exposed to water inside the water container. A temperature probe mount mounts the temperature probe to the side of the water container and allows access of the front end of the temperature probe to the water inside the water container. A temperature probe insulator fits over the rear end of the temperature probe. The temperature probe insulator attaches to the temperature probe mount and prevents rearward motion of the temperature probe. In a preferred embodiment, the water container is a spa. In a preferred embodiment, the temperature probe insulator is made of a rubbery substance.

A spa (also commonly known as a xe2x80x9chot tubxe2x80x9d) is a therapeutic bath in which all or part of the body is exposed to forceful whirling currents of hot water. When located indoors and equipped with fill and drain features like a bathtub, the spa is typically referred to as a xe2x80x9cwhirlpool bathxe2x80x9d. Typically, the spa""s hot water is generated when water contacts a heating element in a water circulating heating pipe system.
FIG. 1 shows prior art hot tub spa 1. Spa controller 7 is programmed to control the spa""s water pumps 1A and 1B and air blower 4. In normal operation, water is pumped by water pump 1A through heater 3 where it is heated by heating element 5. The heated water then leaves heater 3 and enters spa tub 2 through jets 11. Water leaves spa tub 2 through drains 13 and the cycle is repeated.
The prior art spa shown in FIG. 1 includes safety protection devices designed to prevent dangerous overheating conditions. For example, a circuit incorporating temperature sensor 50 serves to protect spa 1 from overheating. Temperature sensor 50 is mounted to the outside of heater 3. Temperature sensor 50 is electrically connected to comparator circuit 51A and control circuit 52A, which is electrically connected to high limit relay 53A.
As shown in FIG. 1, power plug 54 connects heating element 5 to a suitable power source, such as a standard household electric circuit. Water inside heater 3 is heated by heating element 5. Due to thermal conductivity the outside of heater 3 becomes hotter as water inside heater 3 is heated by heating element 5 so that the outside surface of heater 3 is approximately equal to the temperature of the water inside heater 3. This outside surface temperature is monitored by temperature sensor 50. Temperature sensor 50 sends an electric signal to comparator circuit 51A corresponding to the temperature it senses.
When an upper end limit temperature limit is reached, such as about 120 degrees Fahrenheit, positive voltage is removed from the high temperature limit relay 53A, and power to heating element 5 is interrupted.
Some conditions may cause little or no flow of water through the pipe containing heating element 5 during the heating process. These problems can cause what is known in the spa industry as a xe2x80x9cdry firexe2x80x9d. Dry fires occur when there is no water in heater 3 or when the flow of water is too weak to remove enough heat from the heating element 5. Common causes of low water flow are a dirty filter or a clogged pipe. For example, referring to FIG. 1, if a bathing suit became lodged in pipe 17 clogging the pipe, flow of water through heater 3 would be impeded and a dry fire could occur.
FIG. 1 shows water pressure sensor 15 mounted outside heater 3. As shown in FIG. 1, water pressure sensor 15 is located in a circuit separate from temperature sensor 50. It is electrically connected to spa controller 7, which is electrically connected to regulation relay 111.
In normal operation, when water pressure sensor 15 reaches a specific level, the electromechanical switch of the sensor changes its state. This new switch state indicates that the water pressure inside heater 3 is large enough to permit the heating process without the risk of dry fire. Likewise, in a fashion similar to that described for temperature sensor 50, when a lower end limit pressure limit is reached, such as about 1.5 xe2x88x922.0 psi, positive voltage is removed from regulation relay 111, and power to heating element 5 is interrupted.
It is well known in the spa industry to place a tub temperature sensor inside the spa tub to help monitor and control the temperature of the water inside the spa tub. FIG. 1 shows temperature probe 112 located inside spa tub 2. A user of spa 1 can set the desired temperature of the water inside tub 2 to a predetermined level from keypad 200. Spa controller 7 receives an input from tub temperature probe 112. When the temperature of the water inside tub 2 reaches the predetermined level, spa controller 7 is programmed to remove the voltage to regulation relay 111, and power to heating element 5 will be interrupted.
In order to function properly, temperature probe 112 must be correctly mounted to the side of spa tub 2. FIG. 2 shows a cut-out perspective view of the side of spa tub 2. While water is contained in the inside of spa tub 2, ambient air is allowed to contact the area underneath spa tub skirt 2A. Hole 150 is drilled into the side of spa tub 2 below the water level for the purpose of mounting a temperature probe. FIG. 3 shows a side view of spa tub 2 and temperature probe 112 and prior art temperature probe mount assembly 151.
It is well known in the spa industry to use thermistors to measure the temperature of the water inside the spa tub. The thermistor changes its resistance with changes in temperature. Thermistors typically work over a relatively small temperature range and can be very accurate and precise within that range. An exemplary thermistor temperature probe 112 is made by Gecko Electronics, Inc with offices in San Marcos, Calif. (part no. 9920-400262). It is approximately 2 inches long and xe2x85x9c inches in diameter.
Prior art temperature probe mount assembly 151 is manufactured by Waterway Plastics with offices in Oxnard, Calif. (part no. 400-4360). As shown in FIG. 3, temperature probe mount assembly 151 consists of socket 152, nut 153, O-ring 154 and rear nut 155. FIG. 4 shows temperature probe 112 mounted to the side of spa tub 2 utilizing temperature probe mount assembly 151. As shown in FIG. 4, an ideal distance for the tip of temperature probe 112 to extend beyond the edge of temperature probe mount assembly 151 into the water inside spa tub 2 is approximately xc2xc inch. However, this exposes rear end 112A of temperature probe 112 to ambient air underneath spa tab skirt 2A. If a spa is located in a cold area, such as at a ski-resort during the winter, the cool air contacting rear end 112A of temperature probe 112 could cause a signal to be sent to spa controller 7 (FIG. 1) that is not representative of the true temperature of the water inside spa tub 2. This could cause heating element 5 to stay on longer than desired, causing a potential safety hazard to the user of the spa. A prior art solution to the problem of protecting rear end 112A from ambient cold air is to spray the inside of spa skirt 2A with foam insulation. However, the foam insulation has been known to deteriorate over time. Or, during maintenance operations, workers have been known to rip the foam insulation out without replacing it when the maintenance is over.
FIG. 5 illustrates another potential problem associated with prior art temperature probe mount assembly 151. During the installation process, it is possible for temperature probe 112 to be incorrectly installed so that its tip extends too far out into the inside of spa tub 2. A user of the spa may inadvertently bump into temperature probe 112 and damage it or, by bumping it, cause it to damage or crack temperature probe mount assembly 151. It is also possible for temperature probe 112 to be pressed so far forward that it is pushed beyond O-ring 154 (FIG. 3) causing the seal to break.
Also, while sitting inside the spa, a user may notice that temperature probe 112 is extending too far. He then may decide to press it back it with his finger. By mistake, or due to the possibility that the user may not know the correct distance that temperature probe 112 should extend beyond temperature probe mount assembly 151, the user could press temperature probe 112 too far so that it is in the position shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, a large portion of rear end 112A is exposed is exposed to ambient cool air inside spa tub skirt 2A. The front tip of probe 112 has been pressed in so that it is barely in contact with spa water. Under these conditions, temperature probe 112 could cause a signal to be sent to spa controller 7 (FIG. 1) that is representative of a temperature that is far cooler than the true temperature of the water inside spa tub 2. This could cause heating element 5 to stay on longer than desired, causing a potential safety hazard to the user of the spa.
FIG. 7 shows prior art temperature probe mount assembly 156 with blocking strip 157. Temperature probe mount assembly 156 is manufactured by Balboa Instruments, Inc. (part no. 30387WHT). Blocking strip 157 prevents an installer from pressing temperature probe 112 too far into temperature probe mount assembly 156. However, it does not prevent cool ambient air from contacting rear end 112A. Nor does it prevent a user of the spa from pressing the front end of temperature probe 112 and moving it back into the area underneath spa skirt 2A, as was shown in FIG. 6. Another problem with the Balboa device is that blocking strip 157 prevents water from moving freely around the tip of temperature probe 112, thereby distorting its readings. Vico Products, Inc. with offices El Monte, Calif. also makes a temperature probe mount assembly that has a blocking device similar to blocking strip 157. However, it also has the same limitations.
What is needed is a better temperature probe mount assembly.
The present invention provides a device for measuring the temperature of the water inside a water container. A temperature probe that defines a front end and a rear end has its front end exposed to water inside the water container. A temperature probe mount mounts the temperature probe to the side of the water container and allows access of the front end of the temperature probe to the water inside the water container. A temperature probe insulator fits over the rear end of the temperature probe. The temperature probe insulator attaches to the temperature probe mount and prevents rearward motion of said temperature probe. In a preferred embodiment, the water container is a spa. In a preferred embodiment, the temperature probe insulator is made of a rubbery substance.

Temperature probe mounting device for hot tub spa