In a magnetic head 20 includes a pair of cores 21 and 22 bonded with each other, a gap portion 26 defined between bonding surfaces of the pair of cores, track width restriction grooves 21b and 22b provided respectively in the cores so that the gap portion has a width TW equal to a predetermined track width, and bonding glass 25 sealed in the track width restriction grooves, a plurality of grooves 27 and 28 are formed in parallel to each other and the cores are partly remained on the opposite ends of the plurality of grooves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic head for use in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus such as a video tape recorder (VTR), a digital video cassette (DVC), a digital audio tape recorder (DAT), etc.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, a magnetic head for use in a VTR is configured, for example, in such a manner as shown in FIG. 10.
That is, in FIG. 10, a magnetic head 1 is a so-called ferrite bulk magnetic head in which a pair of ferrite cores, that is, a C-shaped core 2 and an I-shaped core 3, are made to face each other and bonded with each other by bonding glass 4 so as to form a predetermined gap portion 5 and coils (not shown) are respectively wound in winding grooves 2a and 3a which are provided respectively in the cores 2 and 3.
Here, as shown in FIG. 11, with respect to the gap portion 5, track width restriction grooves 2b and 3b are formed in the opposite side surfaces of the respective cores 2 and 3 in order to obtain a desired track width, and then when the cores 2 and 3 are bonded with each other, the bonding glass 4 is filled in the track width restriction grooves 2b and 3b at the same time.
Thus, a tape slide surface A is defined by the upper surfaces of the cores 2 and 3 and the upper surface of the bonding glass 4 in a manner so that the region of the gap portion 5 formed between the track width restriction grooves 2b and 3b are disposed on the way of the slide surface A.
Further, such a so-called metal-in-gap (MIG) magnetic head as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is also known.
In FIG. 12, a MIG magnetic head 6 is formed in such a process that after metallic magnetic films 7a and 8a are deposited on bonding surfaces of a pair of cores 7 and 8 made from Mn--Zn ferrite, the bonding surfaces are made to face each other so as to be bonded with bonding glass 4 to thereby form a gap portion 9 of a predetermined gap width, and coils (not shown) are wound in winding grooves 7b and 8b formed in the respective cores 7 and 8.
Here, as shown in FIG. 13, with respect to the gap portion 9, track width restriction grooves 7c and 8c are formed in the opposite side surfaces of the respective cores 7 and 8 in order to obtain a desired track width, and then when the cores 7 and 8 are bonded with each other, the bonding glass 4 is filled in the track width restriction grooves 7c and 8c at the same time.
Thus, a tape slide surface A is defined by the upper surfaces of the cores 7 and 8 and the upper surface of the bonding glass 4 in a manner so that the region of the gap portion 9 formed between the track width restriction grooves 7c and 8c are disposed on the way of the slide surface A.
In each of the thus configured magnetic heads 1 and 6, however, there is such a problem as follows.
In the magnetic head 1 (6), since the cores 2 and 3 (7 and 8) are bonded with each other after formation of the track width restriction grooves 2b and 3b (7c and 8c), there is a possibility that the track width restriction grooves 2b and 3b (7c and 8c) of the cores 2 and 3 (7 and 8) are displaced from each other as shown in FIG. 11 (FIG. 13), so that at the time of recording/reproducing by means of the magnetic head 1 (6), noise may be generated by magnetic flux leakage from such track displacement portions d so as to make it impossible to perform accurate signal recording/reproducing. Particularly in the case of a magnetic head for DVC or the like having a narrow track width, there is a fear that it becomes impossible to perform recording/reproducing per se by the track displacement portions d.
In this regard, for example, a magnetic head having such a configuration as shown in FIG. 14 is known.
In FIG. 14, a magnetic head 10 is formed in such a process that after the cores 2 and 3 are bonded in the magnetic head 1 of FIG. 10, the regions of the track width restriction grooves 2b and 3b are removed along the longitudinal direction of the tape slide surface A so that the track width restriction grooves 2b and 3b pass the opposite sides of the gap portion 5 to thereby prevent occurrence of track displacement of the gap portion 5, bonding glass 11 is filled in the removed regions, and the opposite sides of the bonding glass 11 are removed to thereby form steps 12.
In such a magnetic head 10, while it is possible to suppress the occurrence of track displacement, there arises a problem in practical use that the bonding glass 11 is worn away early in use because the bonding glass 11 having low abrasion resistance is exposed widely with respect to the tape slide surface A.

Magnetic tape head having longitudinal track width restriction grooves


A seat assembly includes: a backrest having a cushion surface formed on a first side of the backrest and support surface formed on a second side of the backrest; a first track assembly located along a first side of the backrest and a second track assembly located along a second side of the backrest; and a plurality of guide pins extending from the backrest into the first track assembly and the second track assembly such that the backrest is movable along the first track assembly and the second track assembly on the plurality of guide pins between a stowed position and a deployed position.

Many types of recreational watercraft include an open bow that allows for passengers to sit in the open bow of the watercraft. Seats in an open bow watercraft are typically arranged along sides and at the front of the bow. To access the bow, a walk-through is typically located through the windshield and helm of the boat to allow passengers to access the bow seating area of the boat.
In existing arrangements of seating in an open bow watercraft, the location of a walk-through precludes allowing passengers to sit at the walk-through. Although some open bow watercraft may include a wind screen or other element to attempt to block wind at the walk-through area, those screens do not allow passengers to sit in front of the screen.
What is needed, therefore, is a seating arrangement for an open bow watercraft that allows a seat back to be movably located at the walk-through area to provide additional seating at the bow of the watercraft.


A self-healing video surveillance system is described. The self-healing video surveillance system includes one or more surveillance cameras that are configured to store configuration data of a network video recorder in operable communication with the surveillance cameras. The network video recorder includes configuration data, and a module configured to store the configuration data on the surveillance cameras and/or retrieve configuration data stored on the surveillance cameras. A new network video recorder introduced into the network retrieves the stored configuration data to self-configure with minimal or no human interaction. In embodiments, configuration data is distributed among a plurality of surveillance cameras, and may be stored in encrypted format.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for the automated backup and recovery of digital data, and, in particular, to systems and methods for storing server configuration information on one or more remote devices and for automatically locating, identifying, and retrieving the stored data for use by a replacement server.
2. Background of Related Art
Many modern enterprises depend upon information technology to achieve mission objectives, to manage administrative tasks, to build and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, to ensure compliance, and to enhance security. As a result, computing devices of all types are in common business use, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones, and server computers. In addition, a wide range of specialized devices are in common use, such as printers, scanners, still and video cameras, biometric devices (hand, retina, fingerprint scanners) and automated identification devices (barcode scanners and RFID devices).
Servers play a vital role in an organization's information infrastructure, because they provide the fundamental storage, processing, and communication functions necessary for the operation of the other computing devices in the enterprise. As a result, the continuous, uninterrupted availability of servers is a much-desired goal of the system administrator. This goal, however, is elusive, because failures inevitably occur due to hardware faults, software errors, or power failures. Techniques have been devised which reduce the occurrence and/or mitigate the effects of a server crash, such as the use of redundant or standby servers, server clustering, cloud computing, virtual server pools, and so forth. However, these techniques may have drawbacks, such as high cost, requiring a high level of skill to maintain, or are overkill for many small businesses. Moreover, in many instances a server may need to be replaced due to an irreparable failure, upgrade, or even theft of equipment.
Typically, when a server is deployed, the operating system and application software is installed onto the server prior to delivery to the end-user. However, before the server is placed into service, a number of configuration settings which tailors the operation of the server to its environment must be entered. Such configuration settings include network settings, user accounts, user data, application data, authentication and access control data, and information relating to other devices with which the server must communicate. Manual entry of configuration data is slow and error-prone, and relies upon the accuracy and completeness of the last recorded set of configuration parameters. Often no such record exists, because a backup was never performed, the backup device was lost or stolen, or configuration notes were lost, illegible, or incorrect.


A process for making alkyl ether glycerols involving: (a) providing a feedstock component having at least one terminal hydroxyl group selected from the group consisting of glycerides and polyols; (b) providing a heavy metal catalyst; and (c) contacting the feedstock component with the heavy metal catalyst.

It is known that various surfactants have been found to be useful in cleaning compositions, such as shower gels, shampoos, and light duty detergents such as dishwashing detergents. In these types of compositions, good foamability is a prerequisite. The most widely used surfactants in these types of compositions are anionic surfactants such as alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, sulfonates, sulfosuccinates and sarcosinates.
It is sometimes advantageous to use mixtures of surfactants in cleaning compositions when the surfactants can serve different functions, e.g., one serving to improve foamability and another serving to adjust viscosity. Regardless of the specific types of surfactants which are employed in a composition, the fact remains that the use of surfactants is very prevalent in our society.
An object of the present invention is to provide a process for effectively producing intermediates used in making surfactants.

Process for making alkyl ether glycerols


The present invention is a housing retrofit assembly for a milling machine or the like, including a quick adjusting stop nut for selective sliding coarse adjustment and rotational precision fine adjustment for rotatable engagement with a threaded rod or shaft in close tolerances, which provides stable precision engagement with the shaft, and which provides a positive locking mechanism. A unique lighting assembly is also disclosed which moves with the machine head for illuminating the milling cutter or the workpiece.

Vertical milling machines are known in the art and a number of different types of milling machines are commercially available. By way of example, Bridgeport® and RF Rong Fu® produce various models of milling machines. These commercially available milling machines are generally classified into two main divisions, vertical and horizontal. In the horizontal milling machines, the cutter is horizontally mounted to a spindle and moves in a horizontal manner. Similarly, in a vertical milling machine, the cutter is vertically disposed and moves in a vertical fashion.
A conventional vertical milling machine generally includes a table on which a workpiece can be supported, and a quill that supports a tool or cutter for movement toward and away from the table for milling the workpiece. Typically, the table is adjustable within the horizontal plane from side to side and from front to back relative to the quill. Although many milling machines are manual, in the sense that adjustment of the table and movement of the quill is manually achieved, improvements in the art have been made for fully automated machines. These automated machines provide some advantages over manual machines, however, they are considerably more expensive for users. Moreover, they lack the versatility of manual machines.
In addition to the above, many of the manual, vertical milling machines commercially available provide an already attached manual measuring apparatus for determining the vertical travel, or milling depth, of the quill. By way of example, RF Rong Fu® milling machines provide a plastic assembly located on the face of the machine. The assembly comprises a housing attached to the milling machine and a moveable indicator attached to a quill shaft stop bar. The housing further has a rectangular hole which is centrally located thereon and a measurement scale surrounding the hole. As the quill is lowered and raised the indicator points to a corresponding measurement on the measurement scale, thereby informing a user of the approximate vertical movement or depth.
A disadvantage of the current measuring devices provided in milling machines is that they do not provide precise measurements. Typically, the units of measure on the devices are not small enough and one's ability to properly bore holes and mill workpieces is restricted. An example of an industry that thus is restricted is the steel industry, in which machined parts must be milled to precise tolerances. The measuring units currently provided simply do not and cannot accurately measure pieces to ensure that certain hole depths meet those tolerances. Thus, a need exists for an apparatus which provides a precise measurement of the depth or vertical movement of a quill.
Currently, there exist some measuring devices which accurately determine the vertical movement of the quill. However, for various reasons, these devices are ineffective to accomplish the objects stated herein. For example, the Mitutoyo Corporation manufactures the Digimatic Quill Kit for vertical Bridgeport® milling machines and Bridgeport® type machines. The Quill Kit essentially is a retrofitted housing comprising a main scale, a digital display indicator attached to the front surface of the main scale, a rear support plate secured to the rear of the indicator, thereby securing the indicator to the main scale, a tapped hole mounting bracket which is attached to the scale, a base, a scale stop bar that is mounted to the rear plate, a scale stop bracket and a plurality of screws and washers. The Quill Kit unit is attached to a milling machine by first retracting the spindle of the machine and removing the quill wheel. Vernier scale screws of the milling machine are removed and the base is placed over the vernier scale. The vernier screws are replaced and the mounting bracket is attached to the base. The scale is attached to the mounting bracket by the scale stop bracket.
A disadvantage of the Quill Kit is that it is only useful for Bridgeport® type machines. The device simply cannot be used on other types of milling machines, such as the RF Rong Fu® models. Moreover, the Quill Kit is comprised of many unnecessary components. As such, it is expensive to manufacture.
Stops and guides for use on drilling, depth milling and other similar machinery are known, as are quick release nuts which provide for selective sliding or threading motion with respect to a threaded shaft. Guthrie U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,656 describes such devices. Current stops, as shown by Guthrie, have a spring which presses against the end of the release nut, causing the stop to remain in place. However, such arrangement is not sufficiently tight to prevent movement of the stop on the threaded shaft or rod.
Thus, it is clear that a need exists for an inexpensive, stop which can hold be tightly when desired, and which can be provide both coarse and fine adjustments, and which is simple and versatile, and readily retrofit for use with vertical milling machines, and which is readily removable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Housing retrofit assembly for a milling machine or the like


An image signal processing device of the present invention includes an RGB-YC conversion for converting color component signals output from a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor to luminance signals and components thereof lying in a high frequency range. The luminance signals and their components lying in a high frequency range are fed to a first, a second and a third low pass filter (LPF), respectively. Luminance signals output from a third LPF are fed to an adder while components lying in a high frequency range are fed from the first LPF to a selector. Further, the components output from the second LPF are fed to the selector via a resolution correcting section. The selector selects either one of the two different kinds of components input thereto. The adder adds the luminance signals output from the third LPF and the components selected by the selector and thereby outputs second luminance signals. A false signal reducing section reduces false signals contained in the second luminance signals and appearing at horizontal color boundaries and feeds the resulting luminance signals to a contour correcting section. With this configuration, the device is capable of reducing false signals appearing at horizontal color boundaries.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image signal processing device for a digital still camera or similar imaging apparatus and, more particularly, to an image signal processing device capable of reducing false signals appearing when the high frequency components of luminance signals are produced from signals output from a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor on which a G stripe, R/B full checker color filter is fitted.
2. Description of the Background Art
A digital still camera, for example, includes an imaging device implemented as a CCD image sensor. A color filter for separating an R (red), a G (green) and a B (blue) color component pixel by pixel is fitted on the image sensor. Various kinds of color filters are known in the art and include a G stripe, R/B full checker color filter. Considering the noticeable influence of G component signals on resolution, the G stripe, R/B full checker color filter has R filter components, G filter components and B filter components arranged such that a number of G component signals can be detected. For example, the filter components are arranged in a repetitive GRGB pattern. In addition, the filter components are arranged such that the G filter components form vertical stripes while the R filter components and B filter components alternate with each other in the vertical direction. In this condition, the R filter components and B filter components each forms a checker pattern.
An image signal processing device for converting the R, G and B color components output from the above image sensor to luminance signals Y and chrominance signals R-Y and B-Y is conventional. It has been customary with this conventional image signal processing device to determine a luminance signal YL, a component YH of the luminance signal YL lying in a high frequency range and chrominance signals R-Y and B-Y for each pixel by using the color component signals of, e.g., a 2 (vertical)×2 (horizontal) pixel matrix including the pixel under observation. Specifically, when the 2×2 pixel matrix including a pixel whose luminance signal should be determined consists of four color component signals R, G1, G2 and B, the luminance signal YL is determined by use of a formula 0.3R+0.295(G1+G2)+0.11B.
Further, the component YH lying in a high frequency range is produced by a formula (G1+G2)/2 if the color component signal of the pixel whose luminance signal should be determined is a G component signal, or by a formula (R+B)/2 if it is an R or a B component signal. The component YH is subtracted from the luminance signal YL. The resulting difference is passed through a low pass filter to turn out a luminance signal YL1 which is a low frequency component. The component YH is added to the luminance signal YL1 so as to output a luminance signal Y implementing a high resolution.
However, the conventional device of the type determining the component of the luminance signal lying in a high frequency range by using two color component signals on two adjoining scanning lines has some problems left unsolved, as follows. When a difference in level between the two color component signals is great at a color boundary between the pixels, a false signal occurs at the color boundary. For example, assume an RB column having the R and B filter components arranged alternately. Then, if a difference in level between the R and B component signals of the adjoining pixels is great, the value of the component YH derived from the formula (R+B)/2 noticeably differs from the original value and turns out a false signal.
Moreover, a false signal ascribable to the fold of the high frequency component of the component YH of the luminance signal causes a vertical stripe to appear in an image. It is a common practice to reduce this kind of false signals by passing the components YH of the luminance signals through a low pass filter so as to reduce the frequency components lying in the high frequency range. This, however, cannot be done without deteriorating the resolution of an image. It is therefore difficult to reduce vertical stripes while guaranteeing a desired resolution.

Image signal processing device for minimizing false signals at color boundaries


The invention provides a method of switching a call set up between a first station and a second station from a current propagation path to a following propagation path. The method includes the following steps:. a value representative of signal-to-noise ratio is measured for each of said propagation paths, namely the current path and the following path; and PA1 the first station switches the call from a current channel on the current propagation path to a following channel on a following propagation path as a function of values representative of signal-to-noise ratio measured respectively for said current propagation path and for said following propagation path. In the method:. the following call channel is reserved for said call; and:. in said second station, said call is switched from the current channel to said following channel in response to said call failing to be received in the current channel.

In a "switched diversity" satellite telecommunications network, a call, or channel, set up with a mobile terminal 6 is conveyed selectively over one of at least two propagation paths 4A and 5A. Propagation path selection is based on minimizing satellite transmission power for the call in question. Thus, the call set up with the mobile terminal 6 is switched to that one of the two propagation paths 4A or 5A, respectively associated with the two satellites 4 and 5, which enables satellite transmission power to be minimized for a given transmission quality. As seen from the terminal, the two propagation paths define between them a propagation time difference equal to the time difference between the respective instants at which data is received after being transmitted synchronously over the two propagation paths 4A and 5A. As a result, the switching procedure for switching between propagation paths must be associated with a synchronization procedure for synchronizing the terminal.
In the prior art, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Recommendations for the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) define a handover procedure for handing over between cells as follows. On a channel referred to as the "slow associated control channel" or "SACCH", a terminal sends the reception levels of channels referred to as "broadcast common channels" or "BCCHs" transmitted respectively by the current base station with which the call channel is set up, and by the adjacent base stations. As a function of the various power levels, the infrastructure makes the decision to switch the call from the current base station to a following base station. The current base station then transmits a handover request message to the terminal. The terminal responds by transmitting an access request message to the following base station immediately after receiving a message in a BCCH from said following base station. The following base station responds to the access request message by measuring a propagation time between itself and the mobile terminal, and by transmitting information to the terminal relating to a timing advance that the terminal should apply to its clock relative to what it believes to be the clock of the following station, so that the call data transmitted by the terminal is received by the following base station such that it is time synchronized in a time slot of a frame received by said following base station, taking into account the distance between the following base station and the terminal.
In a satellite network, that prior art solution is not very satisfactory. In such a network, the narrow margin of power allocated to each call in order to guarantee at least a minimum call quality gives rise to a rapid deterioration of the call in the presence of an obstacle, for example. Such rapid deterioration of the channels also applies to the control channels. This might then make it impossible for the terminal to receive a message requesting it to switch a channel from a first propagation path to a second propagation path, and as a result the call might be lost.

Method of switching a channel from a first propagation path to a second propagation path


In a p-type base layer of a trench IGBT comprising a p-type collector layer, an n-type base layer formed on the p-type collector layer, the p-type base layer formed on the n-type base layer, and an n-type emitter layer formed on the surface of the p-type base layer, the point of the highest impurity concentration is located closer to the n-type base layer than the junction with the emitter layer. In other words, the pinch-off of the channel is generated in the position closer to the n-type base layer than to the junction between the p-type base layer and the n-type emitter layer.

The present invention relates to a power semiconductor element including a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) used in a power inverter and a method of fabricating the same, particularly, to an element structure capable of improving the short circuit withstand capability and a method of fabricating the same. The present invention is applied to, for example, an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) a power MOSFET, a MCT (MOS Controlled Thyristor), and an IEGT (Injection Enhanced Gate Transistor).
In recent years, the power source apparatus used in the field of the power electronics is required to be miniaturized and to exhibit a high performance. Therefore, in the power semiconductor element (switching element), vigorous efforts are being made in an attempt to improve the performance of the power source apparatus in respect of the improvements in the breakdown voltage, in the adaptability for the large current, in the reduction of the loss, in the withstand capability to the breakdown, and in the operating speed. Particularly, a power IBGT excellent in the breakdown voltage and in the adaptability for the large current and capable of obtaining an ON-voltage lower than that of the power MOSFET is widely used as a power semiconductor element having a breakdown voltage not lower than about 300 V.
The power IGBT is an element that is driven by a MOS gate. Widely known to the art are two kinds of the power IGBT, i.e., a power IGBT of a planar structure, in which a MOS gate is formed in the shape of a flat plate, and a power IGBT of a trench structure, in which the MOS gate is buried inside a trench.
The trench IGBT has a trench-gate structure in which a large number of trench IGBT cells each including a channel region formed of the trench side wall are arranged on a semiconductor substrate. In general, the trench IGBT is said to be advantageous over the planar IGBT in that the trench IGBT permits easily improving the performance (or permits decreasing the loss) by the reduction of the channel resistance. The construction of the trench IGBT will now be described with reference to FIG. 1A, which is a cross sectional view schematically showing the construction of a conventional trench IGBT.
As shown in FIG. 1A, an n+-type buffer layer 11, an nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12, and a p-type base layer 13 are formed in the order mentioned on a p+-type collector layer 10. Also, an n+-type emitter layer 14 is in a part of the surface region of the p-type base layer 13. Also formed is a trench 15 extending downward from the surface of the emitter layer 14 to reach the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12 through the emitter layer 14 and the p-type base layer 13. A gate electrode 17 (trench-gate electrode), which is covered with a gate insulating film 16, is buried in the trench 15. The trench-gate electrode 17 is withdrawn to reach, for example, a pad (not shown) for the gate electrode for contact with the outside.
An emitter electrode 18 is formed to cover the emitter layer 14 and the p-type base layer 13. The emitter layer 14 and the p-type base layer 13 are electrically short-circuited by the emitter electrode 18. Also, an insulating film 19 is formed on the trench-gate electrode 17. The trench-gate electrode 17 and the emitter electrode 18, are electrically isolated from each other by the insulating film 19. Also, a collector electrode 20 is formed on the back surface of the collector region 10.
A MOSFET is formed of the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12, the p-type base layer 13, the emitter layer 14, the gate insulating film 16 and the trench-gate electrode 17. It should be noted that electrons are injected from the emitter layer 14 into the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12 through a channel region CH formed in that region of the p-type base layer 13 which is in contact with the trench 15.
FIG. 1B is a graph relating to an impurity concentration profile along the line X1-X2 shown in FIG. 1A and shows the impurity concentration distribution in the active area including the channel region CH. As shown in the drawing, the profile includes the n-type impurity concentration distribution 30 in the emitter layer 14, the p-type impurity concentration distribution 31 in the p-type base layer 13, and the n-type impurity concentration distribution 32 in the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12. The p-type impurity concentration in the p-type base layer 13 is increased to reach the highest concentration Cp0 in the position close to the junction between the emitter layer 14 and the p-type base layer 13, and the p-type impurity concentration is gradually lowered toward the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12.
The fabricating process of the trench IGBT shown in FIG. 1A will now be described briefly. In the first step, the p-type base layer 13 is formed by diffusion in a surface region of the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12 formed on the collector region 10 with an n-type buffer layer 11 formed therebetween. Then, a large number of n-type emitter layers 14 having a stripe pattern when viewed from above are formed in a surface region of the p-type base layer 13. As a result, the exposed portion of the p-type base layer 13 is allowed to have a large number of stripe pattern as viewed from above.
Then, the trench 15 having a stripe pattern as viewed from above are formed in each of the emitter layers 14 in a manner to extend to reach the nxe2x88x92type base layer 12. In other words, the trench 15 is formed to extend through the emitter layer 14 and the p-type base layer 13. After formation of the trench 15, the gate insulating film 16 such as a SiO2 film is formed to cover the inner wall of the trench 15 and the upper surfaces of the emitter layer 14 and the p-type base layer 13.
In the next step, a polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) film 17 containing P (phosphorus) is formed by a CVD (Chemical vapor Deposition) method within the trench 15 and on the surfaces of the emitter layer 14 and the p-type base layer 13. The polysilicon film 17 is for formation of the trench-gate electrode.
Then, the polysilicon film 17 is patterned on the basis of the trench gate lead pattern so as to form a pad (not shown) for contact of the gate electrode. Also, the upper surface of the polysilicon film 17 within the trench 15 is etched back so as to permit the upper surface of the gate electrode 17 to be flush with the upper surfaces of the emitter layer 14 and the p-type base layer 13.
Then, an insulating film 19 is deposited on the upper surfaces of the trench 15, the emitter layer 14 and the p-type base layer 13, followed by forming a large contact hole for the lead of the gate electrode in the insulating film 19 formed on the pad for contact of the gate electrode. Also formed is a contact hole for the lead of the emitter-base in a manner to extend through the insulating film 19 around the opening of the trench 15 and through the gate insulating film 16 positioned below the insulating film 19.
Further, a metal wiring layer such as an aluminum wiring layer is formed by a sputtering method within the contact holes and on the insulating film 19 for the lead of the gate electrode and for the lead of the emitter-base, followed by patterning the metal wiring layer as desired so as to form an emitter electrode 18 and a gate electrode wiring (not shown). Still further, a collector electrode 20 is formed on the back surface of the collector layer 10, thereby forming the trench IGBT.
The operation of the trench IGBT shown in FIG. 1A will now be described.
When the IGBT is turned on, a collector voltage VCE is applied between the collector electrode 20 and the emitter electrode 18. At the same time, a positive gate voltage VGE is applied between the trench-gate electrode 17 and the emitter electrode 18. As a result, an inverted layer (n-type channel) whose conductivity type is inverted from the p-type to the n-type is formed in the channel region CH of the p-type base layer 13. Electrons are injected from the emitter electrode 18 into the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12 through the inverted layer, and the injected electrons are allowed to migrate through the n+-type buffer layer 11 to reach the p+-type collector layer 10. It should be noted that, since a forward bias is applied between the p+-type collector layer 10 and the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12, holes are injected from the p+-type collector layer 10 into the n+-type base layer 12. Since both electrons and holes are injected into the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12, the conductivity is modulated in the region of the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12 so as to markedly decrease the resistance of the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12. As a result, the IGBT is turned on.
When the IGBT is turned off, a negative voltage relative to the emitter electrode 18 is applied to the trench-gate electrode 17. As a result, the inverted layer is caused to disappear, with the result that the electron injection from the emitter layer 14 into the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12 is stopped. On the other hand, the holes accumulated in the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12 are partly discharged through the p-type base layer 13 into the emitter electrode 18. The remaining holes are re-combined with the electrons so as to be caused to disappear, thereby turning off the IGBT.
Where the load is short-circuited in the IGBT having the construction and operation as described above, the power source voltage is applied to the collector electrode 20 when the IGBT is under the conductive state. In this case, a short circuit peak current Icp flows through the IGBT, with the result that the IGBT is broken down a certain time tsc later. The time between the short-circuiting of the load and the breakdown of the IGBT is called herein the short circuit withstand capability tsc. It has been confirmed that the short circuit withstand capability tsc is diminished with increase in the short circuit peak current Icp of the IGBT because of the thermal breakdown caused by the short circuit peak current.
The conventional trench IGBT described above has the advantage that it is possible to increase the channel density so as to decrease the on-voltage. However, if the channel density is increased, the current flow is facilitated, with the result that the short circuit peak current Icp is increased and the short circuit withstand capability tsc is diminished. In other words, the on-voltage and the short circuit withstand capability have a trade-off relationship.
Incidentally, various constructions in addition to the construction shown in FIG. 1A are proposed in respect of the conventional IGBT. For example, proposed is the construction that, where the distance between the adjacent trench-gate electrodes 17 (cell pitch) is relatively large and the width of the contact opening is large to some extent compared with the processing accuracy in the construction shown in FIG. 1A, the short circuit between the emitter layer 14 and the base layer 13 is achieved by the emitter electrode 18 in the entire surface in a direction parallel to the trench 15.
On the other hand, if the cell pitch is diminished, the width of the contact opening is diminished, with the result that it is difficult to achieve the short circuit between the emitter layer 14 and the base layer 13 by the emitter electrode 18 in the entire surface in a direction parallel to the trench.
In order to solve the problem described above, it is proposed to form the emitter layer 14 of the trench IGBT to have a ladder-like pattern as viewed from above. In other words, it is proposed to form the trench IGBT such that rectangular exposed portions of the base layer 13 are dotted.
It is also proposed to form the trench IGBT such that the emitter layer 14 as a whole has a mesh-like (or a lattice-like) pattern or a mesh-like (or zigzag patterned lattice-like) pattern having an offset as viewed from above. In other words, it is proposed to form the trench IGBT such that the band-like emitter layer 14 and the band-like exposed portions of the base layer 13 are alternately present along the trench 15.
Further proposed is a trench contact structure in which a trench for the emitter contact is formed in that portion of the base layer 13 which is positioned between the adjacent emitter layers 14, and the emitter electrode 18 is formed in contact with the side surface of the emitter layer 14 and with the base layer 13 within the trench.
The on-voltage and the short circuit withstand capability have the trade-off relationship in the various trench IGBT""s of the constructions described above, making it difficult to satisfy both the on-voltage and the short circuit withstand capability simultaneously.
The construction of a conventional planar IGBT will now be described. FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view schematically showing the construction of the conventional IGBT of the planar gate type.
As shown in the drawing, an nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12 is formed on a p+-type collector layer 10, and a p-type base layer 13 is formed in a part of the surface region of the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12. Also, an n+-type emitter layer 14 is formed in a part of the surface region of the p-type base layer 13. Further, a gate insulating film 16 is formed to cover the base layers 12, 13 positioned between the adjacent emitter layers 14, and a gate electrode 17 is formed on the gate insulating film 16. An emitter electrode 18 is formed on the other region. It should be noted that the emitter electrode 18 and the gate electrode 17 are electrically insulated from each other by the insulating film 19. Further, a collector electrode 20 is formed on the back surface of the collector region 10 so as to form an IGBT.
FIG. 2B is a graph relating to an impurity concentration profile along the line Y1-Y2 shown in FIG. 2A and shows the impurity concentration distribution in the active area including the channel region CH. As shown in the drawing, the profile includes the n-type impurity concentration distribution 30 in the emitter layer 14, the p-type impurity concentration distribution 31 in the p-type base layer 13, and the n-type impurity concentration distribution 32 in the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12. The p-type impurity concentration in the p-type base layer 13 is increased to reach the highest concentration Cp0 in the position close to the junction between the emitter layer 14 and the p-type base layer 13, and the p-type impurity concentration is gradually lowered toward the nxe2x88x92-type base layer 12.
The planar IGBT differs from the trench IGBT in the gate construction. However, since the planar IGBT is equal to the trench IGBT in operation, the on-voltage and the short circuit withstand capability have the trade-off relationship in the planar IGBT, too, though the detailed description thereof is omitted.
As described above, if the on-voltage is increased in the conventional IGBT, the short circuit peak current Icp is increased, with the result that the short circuit withstand capability tsc is diminished. It follows that it is difficult to satisfy simultaneously the requirements for maintaining a low on-voltage and for improving the short circuit withstand capability.
A semiconductor element according to an aspect of the present invention comprises:
a first base layer of a first conductivity type;
a second base layer of a second conductivity type formed selectively in one surface region of the first base layer;
an emitter layer or a source layer of the first conductivity type formed selectively in a surface region of the second base layer;
a gate electrode formed on that portion of the second base layer which is positioned between the emitter layer or source layer and the first base layer with a gate insulating film interposed between the gate electrode and the second base layer;
a collector layer or a drain layer formed on the other surface region of the first base layer or formed selectively on one surface region of the first base layer;
a first main electrode formed on the collector layer or on the drain layer;
a second main electrode formed on the emitter layer or source layer and on the second base layer; and
a channel region formed in contact with the gate insulating film to permit the carrier to migrate between the emitter layer or source layer and the first base layer, the channel region having an impurity concentration profile such that the impurity concentration that permits bringing about a pinch-off phenomenon most promptly within the channel is formed in a position closer to the first base layer than to the junction between the emitter layer or source layer and the second base layer.
A method of fabricating a semiconductor element according to an aspect of the present invention comprises:
selectively forming a second base layer of a second conductivity type in one surface region of a first base layer of a first conductivity type, the second base layer having an impurity concentration profile such that the point of the highest impurity concentration is positioned in a region close to the junction between the second base layer and the first base layer;
selectively forming an emitter layer or source layer of the first conductivity type in a surface region of the second base layer;
forming a gate electrode on the surface of that region of the second base layer which is positioned between the emitter layer or source layer and the first base layer with a gate insulating film interposed between the gate electrode and the second base layer;
selectively forming a collector layer or drain layer in the other surface region of the first base layer or in one surface region of the first base layer; and
forming a first main electrode in contact with the collector layer or drain layer and a second main electrode in contact with the emitter layer or source layer and the second base layer.

Power semiconductor element capable of improving short circuit withstand capability while maintaining low on-voltage and method of fabricating the same


This invention relates to a communication apparatus capable of facilitating a connection with a device in a network by using a discovery protocol for discovering a device in a network. After selecting a device based on pieces of device information transmitted from devices in the network in response to a search command to search devices in the network, the communication apparatus transmits a notification signal to notify devices in the network of the presence of the communication apparatus. If a connection request received from a device which has received the notification signal is one transmitted from the selected device, the communication apparatus transmits a response representing that connection is accepted for the connection request.

Recently, digital cameras incorporating a wireless communication function and recording media equipped with a wireless communication function have made their debut. By using these devices, an image file obtained by a digital camera can be quickly transmitted to a personal computer (to be referred to as a PC hereinafter).
However, to connect to a specific PC on a network when wirelessly connecting to a PC, information for specifying the destination PC needs to be registered in a digital camera. To solve this problem, the following digital camera has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-67231). More specifically, when wirelessly connecting a digital camera and PC, the digital camera is connected to the target PC via a USB cable, and pairing information for specifying the communication partner PC is set in advance in the digital camera. When the start of wireless connection is instructed, the digital camera executes advertisement to the network and establishes a wireless connection with the specific PC based on the set pairing information.
Before establishing a wireless connection, the digital camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-67231 needs to be connected to a communication partner PC via a USB cable and set in advance pairing information for specifying it, resulting in poor usability.
Depending on the installed OS, the PC has a different discovery protocol used in connection processing between devices. Typical discovery protocols are UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and Bonjour.
UPnP is a technical specification for connecting devices such as a PC, peripheral device, AV system, telephone, and household appliance in the home via a network, and providing their functions to each other. UPnP was proposed by Microsoft in 1999 and is supported by 20 or more companies including Intel. UPnP is founded on a standard technology for the Internet, and aims at operating a device by only connecting it to a network without any complicated operation or setting work.
Bonjour is a technique of automatically detecting and connecting a device on an IP network such as Ethernet or wireless LAN (Local Area Network). Bonjour has been developed as a zero configuration technology which is based on a standard protocol defined by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) Zeroconf working group and has the same usability as that of Apple Talk. The Zeroconf working group requests three functions: IP addressing, naming, and service discovery. These functions are implemented as follows. In addressing, communication not involving a router is determined to be of a local network, and an IP address is automatically acquired. Naming uses a multicast DNS in which no local host name need always be set. In service discovery, a device having a function the user wants to use is searched for. Bonjour is mainly adopted in Mac OS available from Apple.
Another discovery protocol is Jini available from Sun Microsystems. In the digital camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-67231, pairing information needs to be set in advance while being aware of the type of discovery protocol for each PC. Therefore, it is not easy for a user having little knowledge about the network to correctly set pairing information.
A digital camera and PC have a so-called device & control point relationship in which the digital camera provides an image file to the PC in accordance with an instruction from the PC to acquire the image file. Generally, the PC serving as the control point controls a series of operations including the start of a connection with the digital camera, image transfer, and the end of the connection. However, the user may want to transfer an image file to the PC immediately after shooting, or change the transmission destination PC depending on the type of image file. In such a case, usability would be improved if the user were able to list PCs on the network by operating the digital camera and instruct a connection with the PC he wants while holding the digital camera with his hand.

Communication apparatus and method of controlling the same


A process is provided for ignition control in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, using an ignition coil which has a connected primary winding and a secondary winding which is connected to a spark plug, and an ignition control unit which is used to control circuit logic connecting the primary winding by means of a line. According to the process, at the beginning of a working cycle, a switching signal is transmitted from the ignition control unit to the circuit logic, marking the beginning of the working cycle, and the temporal length of the signal is used as a reference length (idle time) for other digital information transmitted to the circuit logic by the ignition control unit.

The present invention relates to an ignition control process in a cylinder of an internal-combustion engine, having an ignition coil whose primary winding is switched and a secondary winding thereof being connected with a spark plug, as well as an ignition control unit which, by way of a line, controls a switching logic switching the primary winding.
A process for the ignition control of the above mentioned type is known from German Patent document DE 101 38 976 A. As a rule, this process is used in the case of an internal-combustion engine having a single-coil ignition system, in which a correspondingly switched ignition coil, and a spark plug connected therewith, are assigned to each cylinder. Several of these single-coil ignition systems are switched by an ignition control unit. As a rule, the switching logic assigned to each single-coil ignition system is also arranged in the single-coil ignition system. Its switching action, for example, for the start and the termination of the charging of the primary winding, is determined by the ignition control unit.
The ignition control unit itself is arranged at a spatial distance from the cylinders and is connected with the switching logics by way of individual electric lines. These lines are problematic with respect to electromagnetic compatibility because electric irradiation and, thereby, interferences with the signal transmission may occur which are caused by the high electrical fields.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an ignition control process of the above-mentioned type by which the signal transmission between the ignition control unit and the switching logics is implemented largely free of interferences.
This object is achieved by a process for the ignition control in a cylinder of an internal-combustion engine, having an ignition coil whose primary winding is switched and a secondary winding thereof being connected with a spark plug, as well as an ignition control unit which, by way of a line, controls a switching circuit logic switching the primary winding. At the start of a power cycle, a switching signal is transferred from the ignition control unit to the switching logic, which switching signal marks the start of the power cycle, and whose length of time is used as the reference length (idle time) for additional digital control information transferred from the ignition control unit to the switching circuit logic.
According to the invention, a further development is provided for the signal transmission between the ignition control unit and the switching logics, which switching signal marks the start of the power cycle, and whose length of time is used as the reference length (idle time) for additional digital control information transferred from the ignition control unit to the switching logic. As a result, fusing the length of time of this switching signal as the reference length, high-expenditure time bases in the switching logics can be eliminated. Synchronization measures required in the case of several time bases also become superfluous for these time bases. A process is therefore obtained which is largely protected from interfering influences and is connected with low expenditures.
Advantageous further developments of the invention are described and claimed herein.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


The resistant to biological degradation of composite wood products is improved by applying a suitable aqueous dispersion of zinc borate onto the fibers to uniformly distribute and to adhere the zinc borate to the strands of the wood composite, applying a suitable adhesive to the wood strands, forming a strand lay-up and consolidating a lay-up under heat and pressure to form a consolidated product with zinc borate uniformly distributed therethrough.

Composite wood products are generally formed from wood strands or the like bonded together by a suitable resin such as phenol formaldehyde (PF) or isocynate resins (MDI). The strands may be random or parallel oriented relative to one another and in some cases, the composite product is made from layers with different orientation or strands in adjacent layers.
These composite products find a variety of different usages, many of which are enhanced by providing the product with improved biodurability.
It has been shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,083 issued Nov. 7, 1989 to Knudson et al. to apply anhydrous borax or zinc borate to the wood strand and bond the strands together into a composite product resistant to decay by insects and/or organisms using phenol formaldehyde as the binding agent. This teaching overcame a particular problem of the use of borax with phenol formaldehyde wherein the borax impeded the binding characteristics of the phenol formaldehyde.
It is also now known to add zinc borate to wood composites in conventional blending operations in processes using resins such as phenol formaldehyde as taught by Knudson et al. or other resins including isocynate resins for binding the strands for form the composite product resistant to biological degradation. Such addition of zinc borate in powdered form has been found to be difficult implement on a commercial scale as the powdered zinc borate and causes dusting and other problems regardless of the adhesive resin being used. For example, zinc borate sometimes absorbs liquid when MDI resin are used thereby reducing the internal bond of the product. Generally, the poor adhesion of the produced zinc borate causes waste and increase dust problem throughout the mill.

Trus Joist MacMillan a Limited Partnership


A novel and useful baseline wander correction mechanism for use with transformer coupled baseband communication receivers. Parametric estimation of the transformer model is used estimate and cancel the baseline wander effect. A parametric model is used to model the baseline wander impairment created by the transmitter and receiver transformers as a high pass filter having an exponential decay parameter alpha. A correction signal for both the far end and echo signal paths are calculated and summed to generate a total correction signal. The total correction signal is partitioned into an analog correction signal that is applied to the analog portion of the communications receiver and into a digital correction signal that is similarly applied to the analog portion of the communications receiver.

Modern network communication systems are generally of either the wired or wireless type. Wireless networks enable communications between two or more nodes using any number of different techniques. Wireless networks rely on different technologies to transport information from one place to another. Several examples, include, for example, networks based on radio frequency (RF), infrared, optical, etc. Wired networks may be constructed using any of several existing technologies, including metallic twisted pair, coaxial, optical fiber, etc.
Communications in a wired network typically occurs between two communication transceivers over a length of cable making up the communications channel. Each communications transceiver comprises a transmitter and receiver components. The receiver component typically comprises one or more cancellers. Several examples of the type of cancellers typically implemented in Ethernet transceivers, especially gigabit Ethernet transceivers include, echo cancellers, near-end crosstalk (NEXT) cancellers, far-end crosstalk cancellers (FEXT), etc.
A typical wired communications link is shown FIG. 1. The link, generally referenced 10, comprises communications transceivers 12, 20 connected by a channel 18. The communications may comprise, for example Ethernet transceiver (e.g., 10Base-T, 100Base-TX or 1000Base-T). Transceiver 12 comprises a transmitter and receiver which include isolation transformers for coupling the Ethernet signal to the channel. The isolation transformers are effectively high pass filters (HPFs) as represented by the TX HPF block 14 and RX HPF block 16. Similarly, the magnetics in transceiver 20 is represented as RX HPF block 22 and TX HPF block 24. In operation, the transmitter on each end of the connection takes its respective input data and converts and encodes it for transmission over the twisted pair wiring of the channel. Each receiver is optimized to receive the transmitted signal and decode it to generate the received output data.
Since both the channel model and the high pass filters are linear, the order of the components of FIG. 1 can be changed without affecting the output. A simplified block diagram illustrating a combined representation of the transmitter and receiver high pass filters used to model the baseline wander impairment is shown in FIG. 2. The combined representation, generally referenced 30, comprises a channel 32 having an input αk and an output zk and a combined TX/RX HPF 34 having an output yk.
Ethernet transceivers on either end of a link are AC coupled to the twisted pair wiring connecting them to each other. Most communication networks (including Ethernet networks) whose links are AC coupled suffer from what is referred to as baseline wander or DC droop. For example, wired Ethernet links such as 10, 100 or 1000 Mbps links all exhibit baseline wander. Baseline wander occurs when a very long pulse propagates through an isolation transformer. Decoupling transformers are a standard component in Ethernet receiver circuits. Decoupling transformers act as a high-pass filter having very low cutoff frequencies which typically prevents most frequencies less than 4 kHz from passing through to the receiver circuit. The decoupling transformer, acting as a high pass filter with an extremely low cutoff frequency, eliminates the DC component of the incoming waveform and causes a long pulse to drift towards the common mode. This is known in the art as "DC droop." Thus, the baseline wander is created as a result of the high pass frequency response of the magnetics in both the transmitter and the receiver.
As a result, transmitted pulses are distorted by a droop effect similar to the exaggerated example shown in FIG. 3. In this example, the transmitted symbol 40 is a pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) signal. The received symbol 42 exhibits the droop effect due to the effect of the magnetics (i.e. high pass filter) in the signal path. It is noted that in long strings of identical symbols, the droop can become so severe that the voltage level passes through the decision threshold, resulting in erroneous sampled values for the affected pulses.
In addition to the baseline wander caused by the far end signal, in communication systems using bi-directional transmission on the same line (such as gigabit Ethernet), the echo signal also contributes its own baseline wander in the form of undesired low frequency hybrid compensation as shown in FIG. 4. The circuit, generally referenced 50, comprises a hybrid 56, amplifiers 52, 58, TX high pass filter 54 and adder 60. Note that unlike the far end baseline wander, the echo baseline wander is generated by a single high pass filter. Note also that the echo signal does not suffer from channel attenuation. In fact, it can be up to 10 dB stronger then the far end signal, which makes the echo baseline wander a substantial source of interference.
When the secondary winding of the decoupling transformer decouples the received waveform and sends the signal to the transceiver chip, the DC component of the original waveform does not pass through. When a coded signal (e.g., MLT-3 coded signal) remains constant (i.e. there are no transitions) for periods longer than the cut-off frequency of decoupling transformer, the output of decoupling transformer begins to decay to common mode. This phenomenon is caused by the inductive exponential decay of the decoupling transformer.
Depending on the particular code used, certain strings of bits will generate more baseline wander than others. For example, since the MLT-3 code has a transition for every 1 bit and no transition for every 0 bit, only constant 0 bits (not constant 1 bits) converted into MLT-3 code produce a baseline wander condition. Multiple baseline wander events result in an accumulation of offset which manifests itself either more at +1 V or more at −1 V, depending on the direction the wander goes over time. While certain data patterns can cause very severe baseline wander, statistically random data can reduce the amount of baseline wander, but it would still be significant.
The effects of baseline wander can be reduced, however, by encoding the outgoing signal before transmission. This also reduces the possibility of transmission errors. The early Ethernet implementations, including 10Base-T, used the Manchester encoding method wherein each pulse is identified by the direction of the midpulse transition rather than by its sampled level value.
A problem with Manchester encoding, however, it that it introduces frequency related problems that make it unsuitable for use at higher data rates. Ethernet versions subsequent to 10Base-T all use different encoding procedures that make use of one or more of the techniques of data scrambling, expanded code space and forward error correcting codes.
Data scrambling is a technique that scrambles the bits in each byte in an orderly and recoverable way. Some 0s are changed to is, some is are changed to 0s, and some bits are left the unchanged. The result is reduced run-lengths of same-value bits, increased transition density and easier clock recovery. Expanding the code space is a technique that allows the assignment of separate codes for data and control symbols (e.g., start-of-stream and end-of-stream delimiters, extension bits, etc.) which assists in the detection of transmission errors.
Even after coding and scrambling, baseline wander can still occur depending on the case and input data. For example, in 100Base-TX baseline wander can still occur because numerous runs of 0 bits can be generated by the scrambler. The scrambler generates numerous 0 bits when certain packets, known as "killer packets," enter the scrambler. The probability of a killer packet entering a scrambler is a small number out of all the possible data packet permutations. Further, even if a killer packet enters the scrambler, a problem arises only if the data pattern aligns with the scrambler seed. The probability of this happening is one out of every 2,047 tries. Although the occurrence of killer packets are a rare occurrence in the real world statistically, they are often used in during the design and testing of transceivers to demonstrate the baseline wander problem.
Forward error correcting codes are encodings which add redundant information to the transmitted data stream so that some types of transmission errors can be corrected during frame reception. Forward error-correcting codes are used in 1000Base-T to achieve an effective reduction in the bit error rate. Ethernet protocol limits error handling to detection of bit errors in the received frame. Recovery of frames received with uncorrectable errors or missing frames is the responsibility of higher layers in the protocol stack.
Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus and method that is effective in mitigating the effects associated with baseline wander. Ideally, the mechanism would have minimal cost impact in terms of components, power consumption, computing resources and board or chip real estate.

Baseline wander correction for communication receivers


The invention entails a defeathering cylinder having a plurality of fingers extending radially from its curved surface. The cylinder is mounted on a shaft positioned along the axis of the cylinder. The cylinder is rotatably mounted to an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, and sides connecting the front wall to the back wall. The front wall of the enclosure contains a cylinder opening. The back wall contains a plurality of apertures sized to substantially inhibit the passage of feathers. A power source such as an electric motor is functionally connected to the shaft on which the cylinder is mounted. Operation of the motor causes the shaft and the cylinder to revolve within the cylinder opening. The revolution of the fingers extending from the cylinder causes air to flow into the cylinder opening and out the apertures. When a bird is placed in contact with the revolving fingers, the feathers will be removed and drawn into the enclosure and toward the back wall. Once inside the enclosure, the direction of air flow will prevent the feathers from exiting the enclosure though the cylinder opening. The size of the apertures in the back wall prevents the feathers from exiting the enclosure through the back wall. Eventually, gravity will pull the feathers downward to the enclosure bottom where an opening is provided to allow the feathers to exit the enclosure.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to poultry defeathering devices in general, and to devices intended to be used with unscalded birds in particular.
2. Prior Art
It is well known in the prior art to remove feathers from poultry using a machine essentially comprising a plurality of rubber fingers mounted on a rotatable wheel or cylinder. A bird's feathers may be plucked by bringing the bird into contact with the rotating fingers.
In commercial poultry processing operations, the bird is frequently scalded prior to plucking. The bird is typically dipped in very hot water (in excess of 150.degree. F.). This loosens the feathers in the skin and makes them easy to remove. It also adds weight to the feathers, making them easy to capture. A simple wall can be placed behind the rotating wheel so that the plucked feathers are thrown against the wall upon the rotation of the cylinder. The feathers will then slide down the wall into a receptacle.
However, scalding has substantial drawbacks that are particularly pertinent outside of large scale poultry processing operations. For example if the birds are overheated, the skin may be damaged so that it may be easily torn during plucking. If the birds cool after scalding, the skin will contract around the feathers, locking them into the skin. This makes the feathers more difficult to remove than they would have been had the bird not been scalded at all. To ensure that birds are scalded at the correct temperature, it is necessary to have a water heater of some sort that is capable of maintaining the water temperature at a uniform level. Such equipment may constitute a substantial expense. Additionally, the presence and use of scalding hot water creates obvious burn risks to human operators.
It is not necessary to scald the bird in order to remove its feathers using a rotating cylinder type plucker. However, if the feathers are not wet, they are quite light. Plucking them with a rotating cylinder will scatter the feathers. This makes the feathers difficult to collect if they are to be used for pillow stuffing or other purposes. It can also make a substantial mess such as that which might result from the ill advised combination of a hair dryer, a burst feather pillow, and a mischievous child.
Therefore, a poultry defeathering device meeting the following objectives is desired.


The invention introduces a method for session failover in OS (Operating System) level, which contains at least the following steps. A VM (Virtual Machine) OS is selected to perform a failover when a server OS is determined to have failed. A memory and a local storage device of the VM OS are mapped to the physical memory space and physical storage space of a distributed share-memory-and-cloud-storage, which were allocated for the failed server OS via a hypervisor corresponding to the VM OS. The OS state of the failed server OS is obtained from a distributed cache system via the hypervisor.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to failover, and in particular, to methods for session failover in OS (operating system) level and systems using the same.
Description of the Related Art
Multi-tier architecture is a type of client-server architecture in which the user interface, functional process logic, computer data storage, and data access are run as independent modules, most often on separate platforms. Multiple nodes are coordinated with a client session, starting from a front-end that carries out stateful communications with a client over TCP/IP, going through one or more tiers that implement application logic and ending with a database or storage server that manages persistent data. However, errors in OS (Operating System) level are difficult to recover, resulting in data loss of applications. Thus, it is desirable to have methods for session failover in OS level and systems using the same to address the aforementioned drawbacks.

Methods for session failover in OS (operating system) level and systems using the same


A method and apparatus is presented for detecting the presence of a packet being transmitted on a communications medium using self-correlation of samples taken from the communications medium. The method saves on power consumption by sampling the communications medium at a sampling rate that is lower than the sampling rate used for sampling the data in the packet. An unexpected result is achieved when packet detection performs better at the lower sampling rate than at the higher sampling rate.

Receivers for digital communications systems regularly check the status of a communications channel in order to detect the presence of a packet on the channel. If the receivers do not check frequently enough, they may miss the beginning of a packet. This is important since control information is often transmitted at the beginning of a packet. However, if the receiver checks the channel too often, then power and processing time is expended unnecessarily on the detection of a packet. Power consumption is a vital consideration for both line-powered and battery-powered devices since power consumption has a direct bearing on power supply size and/or battery life.
A commonly used technique for detecting the presence of a packet on a communications medium involves sampling the communications channel at a sampling rate that is equal to the sampling rate used by the receiver for subsequent processing. In other words, the sampling of the communications channel while attempting to detect the presence of a packet is at the same rate as the sampling of the communications channel while receiving a packet. Using the same sampling rate simplifies system design and does not require programmable channel sampling devices. Sampling the communications channel produces a sequence of digital samples with each sample corresponding to a snapshot of the communications channel for an instant of time. The sequence of samples can then be correlated, either with a known sequence that is stored in a memory in the receiver or with itself, to detect the presence of a packet. Correlating the sequence of samples with itself is possible if the start of a packet contains a periodic signal since while the communications channel is idle, the sequence of samples will be random and display no pattern, while when a packet is present on the channel, the samples will contain a pattern. It is the presence of a pattern in the samples that can be used to detect the presence of a packet.
Many receivers operate with a sampling rate that is greater than the minimum sampling rate required to accurately recover the transmitted data. The minimum required sampling frequency is twice the frequency of the highest frequency component. This minimum is known as the Nyquist Frequency and is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art of the present invention. However, many receivers operate at a higher sampling rate than the Nyquist Frequency. By operating at higher sampling rates, these receivers are able to more readily separate noise from desired signal (transmitted in a frequency band of interest), making it easier to filter out the desired signal from noise that is in portions of the communications channel outside of the frequency band of interest.
However, operating at a higher sampling rate than necessary results in greater power consumption, hence a correspondingly larger power supply or shorter battery life. Additionally, operating at a higher sampling rate while attempting to detect the presence of a packet on an otherwise idle communications medium has proven to actually degrade the packet detection mechanism. This is due to the fact that sampling at higher sampling rates will also introduce any noise present at those frequencies that are outside of the frequency band of interest into the system often masking the pattern used to detect the presence of a packet.
A need has therefore arisen for a method that will minimize power consumption and at the same time, permit fast and accurate detection of a packet on a communications channel and that introduces a minimum amount of unnecessary noise into the system.

Low-power packet detection using decimated correlation


A vehicle mounted, navigation device is disclosed. This invention combines a global position system (GPS) with an image capturing system into a portable device that can be optimally mounted within a vehicle. The image capturing system detects and interprets visual information in the vicinity of the vehicle to provide the vehicle operator with appropriate navigational guidance assistance and to compensate for the positioning errors embedded in commercial GPS signals. Additionally, the device has the capability to store consecutive frames of detected, visual information so as to enable the device to be used for accident aftermath analysis and the documentation of an event or scene that occurs within the vicinty of the vehicle. The device includes a mounting assembly which enables the device to be used in most automotive vehicles, with the device usually being mounted behind the vehicle's rearview mirror such that a set of directional turning indicators naturally fall within the vehicle operator's field of view.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to vehicle-mounted, navigational guidance and image capturing systems, and the means for improving their portability and usability. More particularly, this invention relates to devices capable of detecting and interpreting visual information in the vicinity of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
There exist many types of vehicular navigational systems. The most sophisticated of these utilize local-area, digitized-road-map systems with video monitors which display a map portion of interest and a cursor that indicates the position of the driver's vehicle within the map portion of interest. The position of the vehicle is typically determined by using either a combination of a wheel-sensor odometer and a compass or the reception of electric signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellites. Using such a digitized map, the driver can locate departure and destination points on the map, and then visually follow the displayed map as the driver travels towards the desired destination point. During this travel, the portion of the map that is displayed is periodically adjusted to keep the cursor representing the driver's current position within the displayed map portion.
Several recent U.S. patents have been directed towards inventions to provide such navigation aids or to improve upon the various components of existing systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,990 discloses an improved vehicle position detecting apparatus that utilizes tire rotation and bearing sensors, along with techniques for compensating for road map errors, to compute the current position of the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,706 discloses a vehicle navigation system that utilizes global positioning system (GPS) data along with sensors for monitoring tire rotation to determine the current position of the vehicle. This system includes a computer with an arithmetic section that, in the event the driver deviates from an initially identified optimum route, researches from stored, local area map data the shortest distance route back to the optimum route, with preference being given to those routes which avoid the driver having to make a U-turn. This system also includes an optional vocal control section that can provide voice guidance for the driver.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,106 discloses a visual incremental turn detector. This patent suggests that such a camera might be combined with an odometer and a CD-ROM device, for storing digitized video information obtained by driving an associated vehicle over a known course, in order to allow the subsequent determination of the present position of an automobile traveling along this same course. These elements are then described as being combinable with a computer and a video monitor or audio speaker to communicate navigation instructions to the driver.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,060 discloses a vehicle navigation system that sequentially outputs updated path information, based on a calculated optimal path, in accordance with the determined present position of the vehicle. This determination is described as being made by utilizing an axle sensor and a geomagnetic (or bearing) sensor. The path information is given by a microprocessor-generated videographical directional indicator that displays turn icons, along with pertinent road names and indications of the distance to be traveled before making the next scheduled turn. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,892 describes the improvement that consists of allowing for the display of more complex icons that indicate various road anomalies along with turn directions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,856 describes a vehicle navigation system including means for storing data representing a route to be followed; means for detecting an actual position of and the actual path traveled by the vehicle; comparison means for comparing the actual position of the vehicle to the route to be followed; and means responsive to said comparison means for giving direction commands to the vehicle operator; and particularly manually operable means for inputting data representing a desired route. The means disclosed for detecting an actual position of the vehicle consists of "angle sensors and sensors on the vehicle wheels." By obeying the direction commands, the operator is able to steer the vehicle along the selected route. The advantage cited for this system is that it does not require a route search algorithm or an extended database and is therefore less complex and less expensive to produce than previously known systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,482 discloses an optional electro-optical obstacle detection system which is part of a larger automobile navigation guidance, control and safety system.
In terms of the mounting of a device so that it is visible to a vehicle operator but does not interfere with the operator's field of view, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,667,176, 5,631,638, 4,625,210 and 4,896,855 disclose various mounting arrangements.
None of these vehicle navigation systems are proactive. Most of them require a driver to repetitively study a displayed map, thereby diverting attention away from the road and the safe operation of the automobile.
In general, these prior art systems can be classified into three major types. The first type consists of built-in systems in which the systems are designed into a new vehicle at the factory. The second type consists of after-market adds-on devices in which the devices are securely added to the vehicles after the vehicles are on the ground. The third type consists of those that run on portable computers with a GPS devices attached to the such computers. Even though there are advantages in all these systems, there are significant disadvantages in all them.
The main problem with the built-in systems are their high cost-to-usage ratio. Because they are hardwired into the vehicle and thus cannot be moved from one vehicle to the next, such systems often sit idle most of the time. Furthermore, they are usually dedicated to the single purpose of providing navigational assistance, a need that most people experience only occasionally. And, they are usually only available on the more expensive vehicles.
The main problem with most of the adds-on type navigational systems is that they tend to alter the inside look of the vehicles and also require installations that are often destructive to the vehicles, such as drilling a number of holes on the floor pan of the vehicles in order to allow the system's equipment be held securely while the vehicle is in motion. Once installed, the equipment takes up valuable space and often gets in the way of operator when the system is not in use.
The main problem with the navigation systems utilizing GPS devices with portable computers that the use of such systems can often create a hazardous situation for their users. Such situations arise because it is often difficult to find an easily observable place in the vehicle where portable computer can be securely fastened. So, unless there is a companion traveling with the vehicle operator who can hold and operate the portable computer, the use of such navigation systems may be ill-advised, possibly even an irresponsible act once the vehicle is in motion.
The common problem found in existing navigation systems is that they require the vehicle operator to look at a map, or other means that contains directional information, on some sort of display that is outside the vehicle operator's normal field of view when the vehicle is in motion. In most cases, operators have to turn their heads to look sideways or downward to see the displays. This can make driving with such navigation system a challenging and hazardous task.
Some navigation systems have attempted to overcome this problem by providing synthesized speech feedback to the vehicle operator. However, such solutions are not always viable. For example, in the case of convertible vehicles or when the vehicle's windows are down with loud noises in the vicinity, any voice feedback is often inaudible. In other cases, such as during casual trips, vehicle operators may find such communications to be interruptive of their preferred silence, conduct of a conversation with a passenger, or listening to a radio or stereo.
Despite this prior art, the need exists for an improved vehicle navigation device with more precise position determining means and a proactive, driver-friendly interface that reduces diversions away from the driver's safe, attentive operation of the vehicle.


An online system enforces policies to content items that are distributed on its platform and blocks content items that violate one or more of those policies. To identify content items that are slightly varied from each other, the online system generates an embedding for each of the known content items that have already been determined to be noncompliant with one or more policies. The online system then groups the known noncompliant content items that are clustered together in the embedding space. The texts of the group of known noncompliant content items are converted to finite state automata and are merged to generate a common automaton. The common automaton is used to generate a common regular expression that is used to screen new content items. When a new content item matches the textual pattern defined by the common regular expression, the system may block the new content item.

This invention generally relates to adaptive generation of regular expressions, and in particular to generation of regular expressions based on semantic analysis and classification of textual content of items using machine learning and embedding techniques.
Many online systems, such as social networking systems, serve as common platforms for users to connect, interact, and communicate with others. The users may be individuals, companies, entities, and even robots. Those online systems often allow users to upload content items and share the content items with their connections and sometimes with the general public. The content items may take various forms, including text, images, audios, videos, hyperlinks, interactive objects, and the like. The subject matters of the content items vary and in some cases may include promotional content such as advertisements.
To ensure a high quality user experience and to comply with different laws and regulations, an online system often includes one or more policies that regulate the posting of the content items. For example, an online system may have policies that generally prohibits adult content, phishing communications, scams, fraudulent schemes, and the like. In some high traffic online systems, millions or even billions of content items are generated on a daily basis. The policing of content items and enforcement of various content policies have become increasingly challenging for those large-scale online systems. Conventional techniques that mainly rely on reports, complaints, and reviews are often too labor-intensive, ineffective, and slow.

Regular expression generation and screening of textual items


This invention provides a stent for implantation in a blood vessel or other tissue, wherein the stent is coated with or contains C3 exoenzyme, a chimeric version thereof or an inhibitor of RhoA. This invention also provides a method for treating or inhibiting the onset of restenosis in a subject which comprises implanting one of the instant stents in the subject's blood vessel.

Coronary artery disease, the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the developed world, is widely treated by implantation of stents in the coronary artery. It is estimated that more than 500,000 Americans and 1,000,000 patients internationally undergo dilation of the coronary arteries by balloon angioplasty and/or stent implantation. However, a major limitation of this revascularization procedure is the high incidence (up to 40-60%; Marx and Marks, 2001; Rensing et al., 2001) of restenosis, the recurrence of constriction of the artery following apparently successful efforts to dilate it, which often occurs within 6 months of the procedure.
Because smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation has been strongly implicated in the etiology of in-stent restenosis, many strategies currently being investigated to prevent coronary artery stent restenosis involve coating stents with drugs that inhibit SMC proliferation. The most promising drug evaluated to date for coating stents is rapamycin (sirolimus), an antibiotic that inhibits cell migration and proliferation (Marx and Marks, 2001; Rensing et al., 2001; Sousa et al. 2001). Recent animal and human clinical studies have shown that rapamycin-coated stents are safe and effective in reducing restenosis by more than 90%. Moreover, the luminal diameter of stented coronary arteries actually increased during follow-up in patients with rapamycin-coated stents.
Notwithstanding its early dramatic clinical success in preventing stent restenosis, rapamycin is a first-generation drug and new drugs showing similar or better efficacy with no side effects need to be developed. It has already been demonstrated that prolonged exposure of smooth muscle cells to rapamycin results in the development of resistance to the drug (Luo et al., 1996), suggesting that some patients with implanted rapamycin-coated stents might become resistant to the action of rapamycin and consequently develop restenosis.
Vascular SMC migration is believed to play a central role in the pathogenesis of many vascular diseases, including restenosis after both percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary stenting (Schwartz, 1997). In normal blood vessels, the majority of SMCs reside in the media or middle coat of the vessel, where they are quiescent and possess a "contractile" phenotype, characterized by an abundance of actin- and myosin-containing filaments. In diseased states, however, SMCs migrate from the media to the intima or inner coat of the blood vessel.
Rapamycin, a macrolide Lactone, inhibits SMC proliferation both in vitro and in vivo by blocking cell cycle progression at the transition between the first gap (G1) and DNA synthesis (S) phases (Cao et a., 1995; Gallo et al., 1999; Gregory et al., 1993; Marx et al., 1995). The inhibition of cellular proliferation is associated with a marked reduction in cell cycle-dependent kinase activity and in retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation in vitro (Marx et al., 1995) and in vivo (Gallo et al., 1999). Down-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI), p27kip1, by mitogens is blocked by rapamycin (Kato et al., 1994; Nourse et al., 1994).
In p27kip1 (−/−) knockout mice, relative rapamycin resistance was demonstrated, and rapamycin-resistant myogenic cells expressed constitutively low levels of p27kip1 that were not increased with serum withdrawal or addition of rapamycin (Luo et al., 1996).
Rapamycin has been shown to inhibit SMC migration in rats, pigs and humans (Poon et al., 1996). It also has potent inhibitory effects on SMC migration in wild type and p27 (+/−) mice, but not in p27 (−/−) knockout mice, indicating that the CDKI, p27kip1, plays a critical role in rapamycin's anti-migratory properties and in the signaling pathway(s) that regulates SMC migration (Sun et al., 2001).

C3 exoenzyme-coated stents and uses thereof for treating and preventing restenosis

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


A hoisting device and method for hoisting material up an extension ladder. The device includes a load-carrying carriage having a wheel and roller axle assembly that also serves as rollers for engagement with the rails of the ladder. The wheel and roller axle assembly allows the cart to transition from the ladder rails to the roof surface. Also provided is a dual braking means that serves to prevent the carriage from rolling back down the ladder or off of the roof in cases of cable malfunction. The method employs a hoisting mechanism having a removable winch used in conjunction with a releasable coupled pull cable that is brought to the roof surface on the carriage, detached from the carriage, mounted on the roof and used to return the carriage to and from the roof during hoisting operations. An adjustable ladder support is provided to support the ladder during a hoist.

Construction workers are often called upon to transport construction materials and equipment onto the roof portion of a building. The materials may include roofing shingles, plywood sheets, bricks, ventilation units or even ornamental structures. Various lifting devices have been employed to accomplish this task. Such devices often require multiple persons to operate, have limited safety features and are often quite expensive to purchase and maintain.
Applicant proposes a load lifting system used in conjunction with a ladder, and a method to move a load to the roof of a building. The system is comprised of a carriage that rolls along the rails of conventional extension ladders and a self-contained hoisting mechanism for raising a load to the roof surface of a building.
The carriage of Applicant's lifting system includes a dual braking mechanism that reduces the risk of a loaded carriage sliding or rolling down the ladder during a lift or off of the roof once the load is brought to the roof surface. Applicant's lifting system also includes ladder rail adaptors to provide for a smooth transition of the carriage as it rolls along the rails of extension ladders and an eave adaptor to provide for a smooth roll surface between the ladder rails and the roof surface. The proposed lifting system also includes an infinitely adjustable ladder support to provide an intermediate support to the extension ladder.