Apparatus and method of achieving diversity in reception of plural digital broadcast signals. A stream of a complete set of code bits is generated from one or more sources of data bits. A first Critical Subset of code bits is chosen or selected for a first channel (e.g. a specified puncturing pattern is applied to the stream of a complete set of code sets). A second (e.g. alternative) Critical Subset of code bits is chosen or selected for a second channel (e.g. a second or alternative puncturing pattern is chosen for the second channel). Further alternative Critical Subsets may be chosen for any additional channels. All the channels are transmitters, some can incorporate time delay to achieve temporal diversity. Moreover, the order of transmitting the code bits on each channel can be different (for example, the interleaving depths can be different). At the receiver, the stream of Critical Subsets of code bits for all of the channels are simultaneously received and a reconstruction of a complete set of code bits accomplished and the reconstructed code and may be inserted into a single Viterbi decoder. Various weighting functions and reconstruction algorithms are disclosed.

Introduction
A general strategy for sending digital data reliably through a communications channel of varying quality is to send redundant information so that a stream of transmitted source bits can be recovered without error at a receiver even though the communications channel may be erratic. This is particularly important for one-way broadcasts of audio and multimedia that must be received in real-time with a low error rate. In such cases, a low error rate is achieved partly through the use of forward error correction (FEC) code.
The mobile satellite broadcast channel is such an erratic channel since, particularly at lower elevations angle, the line-of-sight (LOS) between a mobile vehicle and the satellite is often obstructed by trees, buildings, signs, utility poles and wires. Such obstructions attenuate and distort a communications waveform, thereby causing high error rates for brief and longer periods of time. A common approach to reliable satellite broadcasting is to implement spatial diversity by broadcasting duplicate signals from satellites at two different orbital locations. In addition, temporal diversity may also be used by delaying one signal by a fixed amount of time. Indeed, some satellite systems also rely upon terrestrial repeating of the satellite signal which is yet another source of diversity. FIG. 1 illustrates a satellite broadcasting system that has dual diversity from 2 satellites (101 and 102) and is augmented by terrestrial repeating (104), thereby providing 3-fold diversity. The origin of the satellite broadcasts is the hub station (103). Both of the satellites and the terrestrial repeaters broadcast the same source data, but the channels that the data travels over are different so that diversity is provided. A diversity radio in the vehicle (104) would in general receive all the signals (satellite and terrestrial) and use this to reconstruct the source data as faithful as possible based upon the reception from the multiple sources.
Current State of the Art for Diversity
FIG. 2 illustrates a generic implementation of diversity using two channels A and B. Although the discussion here is limited to two channels (A and B), all of the concepts put forth are applicable to 3 or more diverse channels. For a broadcast satellite application, signals A and B would be sent by two different satellites, and the channels for those signals are denoted also denoted as A and B. At the outset, each individual channel has some diversity due to the fact that Encoding (201) adds redundancy to a single data stream so that the source bits can be recovered without error even though limited numbers coded bits may be lost over the channel. Also, additional diversity (spatial) is used that involves modulating (Mod 204) duplicate streams of data over independent channels A and B. Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 2, time diversity is also used by implementing a fixed Time Delay (203) on signal B at the transmitter, and compensating for this with a comparable Time Delay (253) at the receiver. The diversity receiver has two demodulators (Demod-254) to receive the signals on Channel A and B simultaneously. Finally, the diversity receiver implements Combining (252) of the bits received on Channels A and B and Decoding (251) of the recovered code bits.
Note that in the implementation of diversity illustrated in FIG. 2, encodes the data stream and places identical coded data streams on both A and B channels. In this case, the diversity receiver captures the same coded bits from each channel and then implements a combining scheme to come up with a xe2x80x9cbestxe2x80x9d estimate for each received code bit. Such combining may involve ongoing calculation of a quality metric for data on channels A and B and selecting the coded bits that are carried on the best channel at any point in time. Alternatively, combining may be more sophisticated in which the quality metric is used to generate weights for the code bits arriving on channels A and B and thereby constructing a summed estimate that maximizes the signal to noise composite signal. Such an approach is referred to as maximum ratio combining (MRC).
A widely used implementation of an encoder is a convolutional code. The typical construction of a convolutional code is illustrated in FIG. 3. The source bits are input into a digital shift register from the left, and the coded bits are constructed by a sum of the current and 6 most recent input source bits as weighted by a generator polynomial over a Galois Field. This implementation generates a rate 1/2 code because it outputs 2 code bits (x and y) for every input source bit.
It is customary to construct less redundant codes from such a code by puncturing (deleting) output code bits in a particular pattern. Table 1 illustrates the construction of a rate 3/4 code from a rate 1/2 code. Three source bits are input and the output is 6 code bits: {x(i), y(i), i=1, 3}. Two code bits, x(2) and y(1) are deleted, leaving 4 output code bits for 3 input code bits, thus making a rate 3/4 code.
Table 2 illustrates the use of this rate 3/4 code in a standard implementation in which the puncturing for both A and B channels is identical. Therefore the coded bits on both channel A and B are also identical.
The standard implementation of a punctured convolutional code implemented in the context of spatial and temporal diversity with dual channels is illustrated in FIG. 4. At the transmitter, the Convolutional Encoder (401) generates the code bits from input source bits. Some of the code bits are deleted by the Puncture element (402) prior to modulation by the Mod element (404). The diversity receiver again has two demodulators (Demods-454) to simultaneously receive the broadcasts on both Channel A and B. The retrieved code bits from both A and B are input to the Combining element (452b) which aligns, weights and combines redundant information about a received bit on the two channels. The intent of most combining algorithms is to maximize the signal to noise ratio of the combined signal. After combining, the stream of recovered code bits are input to the De-puncture element (452a) which inserts the erasures into the slots of the code bits that were deleted in the Puncture element (402) of the transmitter.
An object of the invention is to provide an improved digital information broadcasting system and method. Another object of the invention is to provide code diversity in a digital broadcast system. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method of achieving diversity in reception of plural digital broadcast signals.
Briefly, according to the invention a stream of a complete set of code bits is generated from one or more sources of data bits. A first Critical Subset of code bits is chosen or selected for a first channel (e.g. a specified puncturing pattern is applied to the stream of a complete set of code sets). A second or alternative Critical Subset of code bits is chosen or selected for a second channel (e.g. a second or alternative puncturing pattern is chosen for the second channel). Further alternative Critical Subsets may be chosen for any additional channels. All the channels are transmitters, some can incorporate time delay to achieve temporal diversity. Moreover, the order of transmitting the code bits on each channel can be different (for example, the interleaving depths can be different). At the receiver, the stream of Critical Subsets of code bits for all of the channels are simultaneously received and a reconstruction of a complete set of code bits accomplished and the reconstructed code is inserted into a decoder.


A non-over-the-wire catheter for use in angioplasty including a core wire which extends distally beyond a distal end of a tubular member. The tubular member defines an interior passage which is in fluid communication with a distal interior passage of a waist tube that extends about the core wire. An inflatable balloon member extends about the core wire and is in fluid communication with the distal interior passage of the waist tube. A distal end of the balloon member extends coaxially about a portion of the core wire so as to allow rotational movement of the core wire relative to the balloon member. First and second sealing plugs are secured to the core wire proximal to and distal of, respectively, the distal end of the balloon member. The sealing plugs provide resistance to flow of pressurized balloon fluid to minimize leakage through the distal end of the balloon member. The first and second sealing plugs also prevent the waist tube and balloon member from being displaced axially relative to the core wire.

The present invention relates to the field of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). In particular, the present invention is a non-over-the-wire dilatation balloon catheter.
Angioplasty has gained wide acceptance in recent years as an efficient and effective method for treating certain types of vascular diseases. In particular, angioplasty is widely used for opening stenoses in the coronary arteries, although it is also used for treatment of stenoses in other parts of the vascular system.
The most widely used form of angioplasty makes use of a dilatation catheter which has an inflatable balloon at its distal end. Typically, the catheter is introduced and directed partially through a patient's vascular system via a guide catheter. Using fluoroscopy, a physician guides the catheter through that portion of the patient's vascular system distal of the guide catheter until the balloon is positioned across the stenosis. While the catheter is being steered through the vascular system, the balloon is in a deflated state, wrapped (i.e., folded) tightly about the distal end of the catheter to reduce the profile of the balloon. Reducing the profile of the balloon allows the catheter to easily travel through the guide lumen of the guide catheter and traverse arterial vessels and stenoses having small through openings. Once the catheter is positioned with the balloon across the stenosis, the balloon is inflated by supplying fluid under pressure through an inflation lumen to the balloon. Inflation of the balloon causes stretching of the artery and pressing of the lesion into the artery wall to re-establish an acceptable blood flow through the artery.
Over-the-wire catheters and non-over-the-wire catheters are two types of dilatation catheters that are commonly used in angioplasty. An over-the-wire catheter has an inflation lumen and a guide wire lumen through which a separate guide wire is advanced to establish a path to the stenosis. Since the guide wire is separate from the catheter, torque applied to the guide wire to steer the guide wire through the vascular system and across the stenosis is not conveyed to any part of the catheter. Once a distal end of the guide wire is across the stenosis, the separate over-the-wire catheter is advanced over the guide wire until the balloon is positioned across the lesion.
One type of non-over-the-wire catheter has its own built in guide wire (sometimes referred to as a core wire) such that the core wire, balloon and inflation lumen comprise a single unit. Due to this single unit construction, torque (i.e., a rotational force) applied to a proximal end of a hypotube of the non-over-the-wire catheter (to which the core wire is fixedly attached) to steer the catheter through the vascular system and across the stenosis, is conveyed to other parts of the catheter.
In particular, torque induced rotation applied to the hypotube and core wire combination is transmitted to a distal end of the balloon and to a proximal end of a waist tube that extends about the core wire and couples the hypotube to the balloon. However, due to the tortuosity of portions of the guide catheter and of the patient's vascular system, the balloon and the waist tube may contact parts of the walls of the guide catheter guide lumen and the arterial vessels. This contact may cause rotation of portions of the balloon and the waist tube to lag behind rotation of the hypotube and core wire combination. The lag in balloon rotation dampens steering responsiveness of the balloon catheter itself, since contact of the balloon with the walls of the guide lumen and arterial vessels imparts drag to the distal end of the core wire. This, in turn, dampens the responsiveness of the core wire distal spring tip.
Typically, a spring tip is provided at the distal end of the core wire and is formed with a J-bend. The J-bend permits the balloon catheter to be steered into desired arterial branches. That is, torque induced rotation applied to the hypotube is transmitted to the spring tip through the core wire to position the J-bend to enter the desired arterial branch. A non-uniform ability to accurately position the J-bend of the spring tip, such as may be caused by a lag in balloon rotation which dampens steering responsiveness, makes the balloon catheter difficult to steer and may unnecessarily prolong the angioplasty procedure.
In addition, the lag in balloon rotation causes the balloon and the waist tube to twist upon themselves. The balloon tends to twist upon itself proximally from its distal attachment to the core wire, while the waist tube twists upon itself distally from its proximal attachment to the hypotube. If balloon twist is minimal, as a result of minimal steering torque applied to the hypotube, the balloon will untwist upon application of inflation fluid pressure to inflate the balloon once the balloon is positioned across a stenosis. However, if balloon twist is significant, the balloon may not inflate uniformly. Non-uniform balloon inflation exhibits balloon behavior wherein portions of the balloon (i.e., constrictions in the balloon due to twist) do not inflate to their maximum diameter. These under-inflated constrictions do not uniformly press the stenosis into the arterial wall and hence, do not effectively dilate the lesion to allow acceptable blood flow through the arterial vessel. In addition, upon deflation of the balloon, those segments of the balloon (i.e., segments adjacent the constrictions) which were fully inflated may not completely deflate. These partially deflated segments may make withdrawal of the balloon catheter from the patient's vascular system back through the guide catheter difficult.
It is desirable in a non-over-the-wire catheter to reduce the transmission of torque (applied to the hypotube and core wire combination) to the balloon of the catheter. The reduction in torque transmission would abate twisting of the balloon as the catheter is steered through the vascular system, and thereby permit uniform inflation and deflation of the balloon which is needed to effectively dilate the stenosis to re-establish an acceptable blood flow through the arterial vessel. In addition, the reduction in torque transmission, from the core wire to the balloon, would reduce, if not eliminate, the twisting of the balloon from the lag in balloon rotation upon the application of torque to the core wire. This reduction in balloon twist would alleviate steering difficulties sometimes associated with non-over-the-wire catheters wherein torque is readily transmitted from the core wire to the balloon.

Balloon dilatation catheter having dual sealing plugs


It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer sheet which has high adhesion strength of a dye layer to a base and a high reflection density, and has a good releasing property from a image-receiving sheet in printing even after being stored in the conditions of high temperatures and high humidity, and can attain adequately satisfactory printed substances having high sharpness of thermal transfer images.

As a method of forming images using thermal transfer, a thermal diffusion dye transfer method (sublimation dye transfer printing method) of superimposing a thermal transfer sheet in which a thermal diffusion dye (sublimation dye) as a recording material is supported on a base of a plastic film or the like on a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet in which a layer receiving the dye is provided on another base sheet of paper, a plastic film or the like to form a full color image. Since this method uses a thermal diffusion dye as a coloring material, a density and a tone can be freely adjusted on a dot by dot basis and a full color image which is faithful to a source document can be sharply displayed on the image-receiving sheet, and therefore this method is applied to the formation of color images of a digital camera, a video recorder, a computer, and the like. These images are of high quality equivalent to a silver halide photo.
However, in the formation of images by the sublimation dye transfer printing method, a problem that conventional thermal transfer sheets cannot attain sufficient print densities has arisen as a printing speed of a thermal transfer printer are becoming increasingly high.
It was also thought to increase a ratio of a dye to a resin (Dye/Binder) in a dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet for the purpose of improving print density and transfer sensitivity in printing, but if this ratio is increased, the dye is shifted to a heat resistant slipping layer on the backside of the thermal transfer sheet during winding and storing the thermal transfer sheet, and this shifted dye is kicked back to a dye layer of different colors to contaminate the layer when the thermal transfer sheet is wound off. When this contaminated layer is thermally transferred to the image-receiving sheet, there were problems that the image-receiving sheet has the hue different from a designated color or the so-called scumming is produced. Further, when high energy is applied in a thermal transfer printer at the time of thermal transfer in forming images for the purpose of improving print density and transfer sensitivity in printing, the thermal adhesion of the dye layer to the receiving layer occurs and the so-called abnormal transfer tends to occur. When a large amount of a release agent is added to the receiving layer in order to prevent the abnormal transfer, there was a problem of producing the blur/scumming of images.
In the formation of images by the sublimation dye transfer printing method, it is required that the adhesion strength of the base sheet to the dye layer in the thermal transfer sheet is high in order to prevent the so-called abnormal transfer, in which the whole dye layer is transferred to the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet.
As a thermal transfer sheet in which the print density is high and the adhesion strength of the base sheet to the dye layer is improved, a thermal transfer sheet in which an intermediate layer is provided between the base sheet and the dye layer is known.
As the thermal transfer sheet provided with the intermediate layer, there are known, for example, a thermal transfer sheet in which a hydrophilic barrier consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone and poly vinyl alcohol/under coat layer is provided between a dye layer and a base sheet, and a thermal transfer sheet in which an intermediate layer containing a sublimation dye having a diffusion coefficient smaller than that of a sublimation dye contained in a recording layer is provided between a base film and the recording layer containing a sublimation dye (See, for example, Japanese Kokai Publication Hei5-131760 and Japanese Kokai Publication Sho60-232996). However, a printed substance having an adequately high print density cannot be obtained in any thermal transfer sheet.
In Japanese Kokai Publication Sho59-78897, a thermal transfer sheet, in which a layer formed by vapor deposition of metal or metal oxide is formed on a base and on this layer, a thin layer of dye is provided, is described. However, there was a problem that this thermal transfer sheet cannot attain a printed substance having an adequately high print density, and it requires special equipment in vapor deposition and a production cost becomes high.
In Japanese Kokai Publication 2003-312151, a thermal transfer sheet, in which a good adhesive layer containing a homopolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone or a copolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone and another component is provided between the base and the dye layer, is described. This good adhesive layer may be a substance formed by mixing alumina, silica and like in addition to the polymers described above, but it is not essential to contain these compounds. In the thermal transfer sheet of Japanese Kokai Publication 2003-312151, there is a problem that the efficiency of dye transfer is insufficient and in addition a releasing property in printing is low and further deteriorated when being stored in the conditions of high temperatures and high humidity.
In Japanese Kokai Publication Sho63-135288, an example, in which trialkoxysilane is applied as an under coat layer to an interface between the base and the dye layer of a thermal transfer sheet, is described, but a problem that a dye-donating element adheres to a receiving element after printing a dye on a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet and therefore the releasing property is low is pointed out. This under coat layer is unstable against water and is prone to hydrolysis since the above-mentioned silane compound has an alkoxide group, and has a problem of deteriorating a dye in the dye layer. Furthermore, in Japanese Kokai Publication Sho63-135288, there is no description on mixing with other oxides.
In Japanese Kokai Publication Hei5-155150, an under coat layer formed by reacting a polymer having an inorganic primary chain comprising oxide of Group IVb metal with a copolymer such as acryloxyalkoxysilane is described. The under coat layer in Japanese Kokai Publication Hei5-155150 has a problem that it is low in heat resistance since it is an organic chain derived from the above copolymer and that it is prone to hydrolysis and unstable since it has the above inorganic primary chain. In addition, with respect to silicate, in Japanese Kokai Publication Hei5-155150, silicon is only presented as of a Group IVb metal, and there is no further specific description and no description on mixing of silicate with other oxides.
Japanese Kokai Publication Hei5-131760
Japanese Kokai Publication Sho60-232996
Japanese Kokai Publication Sho59-78897
Japanese Kokai Publication 2003-312151
Japanese Kokai Publication Sho63-135288
Japanese Kokai Publication Hei5-155150

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a thermal transfer sheet, wherein an under coat layer containing a thermoplastic resin and colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles and a dye layer are formed in order on a face on one side of a base and a thermal transfer sheet, wherein an under coat layer formed by using colloidal inorganic pigment ultrafine particles and silicate or aluminum alcoholate and a dye layer are formed in order on a face on one side of a base.


In a plasma processing apparatus, a showerhead is provided that allows for selective ionization of one or more process gasses within the showerhead. The showerhead allows the gasses to react after they exit the showerhead. As a result, a greater volume of materials are. available for deposition on a wafer surface during a chemical vapor deposition process than would be available in a process that remotely generates plasma. In addition, less damage is done to the wafer that would be done in a process that generates plasma next to the wafer.

The present invention relates generally to a plasma processing apparatus and a method of performing various plasma processes. More specifically, the present invention concerns depositing a thin film of material on an object, such as a semiconductor wafer, through a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process.
In the formation of integrated circuits, thin films of material are often deposited on the surface of a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer. These thin films may be deposited to provide conductive and ohmic contacts in the circuits and between various devices of those circuits. For example, a thin film might be applied to the exposed surface of a contact or via hole on a semiconductor wafer, with the film passing between the insulative layers on the wafer. This would provide plugs of conductive material and allow interconnections across insulating layers. Those skilled in the art are aware of additional reasons for applying thin films on an object.
One well known process for depositing thin metal films is chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In this process, deposition occurs as a result of chemical reactions between various gasses. These gasses are pumped into a chamber that contains the wafer. The gasses subsequently react, and one or more of the reaction by-products form a film on the wafer. Any by-products that remain after the deposition are removed from the chamber. Films deposited by CVD tend to exhibit good step coverage. Step coverage indicates the ability of a material to consistently cover an underlying topography. For example, if a film is deposited onto a surface and into a trench recessed in that surface, it would be ideal if the thickness of the film on the surface was the same as the film thickness on the bottom and sides of the trench. In general, if the film thickness at the bottom of the trench is at least 50% of the thickness at the top of the trench, the step coverage is considered to be good. One of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate however, that the 50% benchmark is merely a general guideline and that specific benchmarks depend on the particular chemistry used for deposition. Traditional CVD processes often result in a step coverage of at least 50%. However, while CVD is useful in depositing films, many of the traditional CVD processes are thermal processes requiring high temperatures in order to obtain the necessary reactions. These high temperatures may adversely affect the devices comprising the integrated circuit.
One way to lower the reaction temperature is to ionize one or more of the component gasses used in the CVD process. Such a technique is generally referred to as plasma enhanced CVD (PECVD). Prior art teaches ionizing the gas in one of two places differentiated by their proximity to the chamber. One option is to ionize the gas locallyxe2x80x94creating a plasma within the chamber immediately above the wafer. This can be accomplished by providing electrodes within the chamber. Based on the frequency and power generated by the electrodes, an electric field is generated right over the wafer that ionizes the gasses and attracts the plasma to the wafer surface. The gas is introduced into the chamber through a xe2x80x9cshowerheadxe2x80x9dxe2x80x94a receptacle that defines a volume, receives a process gas into that volume, and allows the gas to disperse through a porous portion, such as a wall defining a plurality of perforations. In doing so, the showerhead serves to distribute the gas throughout the chamber in a more even distribution than would occur if the gas simply entered the chamber through a single hole. Oftentimes, the showerhead itself acts as one electrode, and the wafer support surfacexe2x80x94also known as the susceptorxe2x80x94serves as another electrode. Accordingly, the showerhead can be coupled to a radio frequency (RF) power source (or other power source) and the susceptor can be grounded. Conversely, the showerhead may be grounded while RF power is applied to the susceptor. Regardless of what components serve as electrodes, the resulting RF field induces a glow discharge, which transfers energy to the reactant gasses that have been introduced into the chamber. As a result, free electrons are created within the discharge region. These free electrons gain sufficient energy from the RF field so that when they collide with gas molecules, gas phase dissociation and ionization of the reactant gasses occurs. Energetic species, or free radicals, diffuse out of the plasma and are then absorbed onto the wafer. However, an unfortunate side effect of generating the plasma between the showerhead and the wafer is that heavy ions from the plasma, having an energy of up to 1.5 KeV per ion, impact the wafer and cause physical damage to the structures on the wafer. Moreover, the electrons freed by the RF field may also impact the wafer and alter the electrical properties of certain materials on the wafer, such as a gate oxide.
Another option that avoids this potential damage is to generate the plasma remotelyxe2x80x94away from the chamber. As demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,498, by Lee, et al., a plasma can be created by ionizing a gas used in the deposition process at a location removed from the chamber. The plasma is then passed through a conduit and is introduced into the chamber through the showerhead. Other gasses, whether they are ionized or not, enter the chamber from another entrance. Once inside the process area, the gasses interact with each other and, hopefully, produce the by-products needed to form the thin film on the wafer. Because the particles constituting the plasma lose their energy over time, generating the plasma a suitable distance away from the chamber results in the deposition materials impacting the wafer surface with less energy than deposition materials diffusing from locally generated plasma. Thus, there is less physical damage done to the wafer. In addition, the electrons recombine with ions and therefore create fewer changes in the electrical properties of the wafer. However, during the time taken to reach the chamber, the free radicals needed to deposit onto the wafer also stabilize, thereby slowing the deposition process. As a result, step coverage is poor and either the required deposition time is increased or the amount of gasses used must be increased.
Given these limitations, there is a need in the art for a plasma processing method that provides deposition superior to that of remote plasma-generation systems yet avoids the wafer damage caused by local plasma-generation systems.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a plasma-generation area for a plasma-processing system, wherein said area is located intermediate the conventional remote and local plasma-generating locales employed in the prior art. One exemplary embodiment of the present invention places this intermediate plasma generation area within a shell or volume defined by a showerhead located in the process area. Within the showerhead of this embodiment, a selection of gasses are ionized. Materials to be deposited are formed outside of the showerhead. This embodiment has the advantage of allowing the activated gas molecules to reach the substrate without the recombination that occurs in remote systems. The deposition materials will also be more uniformly distributed, which will allow for a more uniform film on the substrate. This and other exemplary embodiments also have the advantage of avoiding the damage caused by local plasma-generation systems. The present invention also comprises methods for achieving these advantages.

Quasi-remote plasma processing method and apparatus


An electronic device assembly includes an electronic device, a transfer card configured for connecting the electronic device to another electronic device, and a fixing board for mounting the transfer card to the electronic device. The electronic device includes a front wall defining a port. The transfer card is coupled to the electronic device. The transfer card comprises a printed circuit board perpendicular to the front wall, a first connector arranged on the elongated printed circuit board and protruding beyond a first longitudinal edge of the printed circuit board for engagement in the port in the front wall of the electronic device, and a second connector arranged on the printed circuit board and protruding beyond an opposite second longitudinal edge of the printed circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic device assemblies, particularly to an electronic device assembly with transfer card for coupling an electronic device to another electronic device.
2. Description of Related Art
With the development of the information industry, various kinds of electronic devices are often connected together to perform data exchange. However, different kinds of electronic devices usually adopt different transfer interfaces. The electronic devices cannot be connected together directly via the transfer interfaces. At this time, a transfer card is generally used for connecting the electronic devices together. Conventionally, the transfer card includes two connectors respectively mounted on a top surface and a bottom surface thereof, for respectively connecting to the electronic devices. When the transfer card is connected to the electronic devices, the height of the transfer card is generally greater than the electronic devices. When the electronic devices are disposed in an enclosure, the transfer card will occupy a lot of vertical space.
What is needed, therefore, is an electronic device assembly with transfer card which saves space in an electronic device enclosure.

Electronic device assembly with transfer card


A data structure and method for uniquely identifying, and optimizing access to, object instances in an object oriented programming environment on a data processor containing a memory. Objects are categorized into one or more classes which define the method of the categorized objects, and messages are sent by the data processor to objects to perform actions. The data structure consists of a persistent portion containing a unique object identifier and a non-persistent portion containing the access address of an instance data frame in memory. The access address is set to the address of the instance data frame control block when the message is sent in order to optimize subsequent messages to the same object instance. The instance data frame control blocks are not allocated in memory until a first message is sent to an instance.

The field of the invention relates generally to an object oriented programming environment. More particularly, the invention relates to an Object Reference data structure that enables operation within an object oriented environment.
This section provides a brief description of object oriented computing system concepts which are pertinent to the present invention. A more detailed description of the concepts discussed in this section can be found in a number of references, including Object-Oriented Systems Analysis by Sally Shlaer and Stephen J. Mellor (Yourdon Press Computing Series, 1988), Object Oriented Design With Applications by Grady Booch (The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, 1990) and Object Oriented Software Construction by B. Meyer, (Prentice Hall, 1988).
In object oriented programming systems (OOPS), "messages" are sent to "objects". There are two parts to a message. The parts are: (1) Object (2) Action. The object of the message simply identifies the piece of data that comprises a specific object, called an "instance". The action specifies what to do to with that data.
In order to operate within an OOPS environment, it is necessary to have what is know as an Object Identification (OID) or Object Reference (OREF). The Object Reference is used to uniquely identify an object instance, which, in turn, allows messages to be forwarded to the object. Essentially, each object has a unique name. The Object Reference serves as a place holder for the unique name of a specific object.
The Object Reference Works in conjunction with an Object Manager and a Messenger, both of which are fundamental to an object oriented programming system, to ensure that messages are sent to the appropriate objects. The Object Manager's (OM) responsibility is to manage and keep track of all objects, whether stored in volatile memory (RAM) or in non-volatile persistent memory (called DASD or Direct Access Storage Device). Additionally, the Object Manager transparently provides data access indirection, memory management, a unit of work environment, and automatic materialization and dematerialization of persistent objects from the data base. The Messenger's responsibility is to see that every message is sent to the correct method code and that this method operates upon the correct object data. The appropriate method code for the message is determined by the messenger by using the action portion of the message.
Unlike conventional programming systems wherein emphasis is placed on methods to be conducted on data sets, in object oriented programming systems the concern is with real world objects. These real world objects have both attributes and actions to be performed on the attributes. An object is a data structure containing information about something of interest to the system and its users. Objects having similar characteristics and common behavior are instance objects of the class. In summary, instance objects contain information about things in the system and class objects contain information about instance objects. Class objects contain information that is global to all instances of a single class.

System for persistent and delayed allocation object reference in an object oriented environment


Fibre channel interface apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one input interface adapted to receive one or more frames of data, the frames of data being at least one of transmitted and received at a node of a fibre channel network, and an output interface adapted to provide the received one or more frames of data to a device. The device may comprise a radar system, such as an electronically-scanned radar system. In a further embodiment, the system is adapted to combine multiple data streams of the fibre channel network by a method including encoding the first and second data streams of the fibre channel network, and merging the encoded first and second data streams into a plurality of frames.

In many applications, electronic equipment is interconnected and communicates via a network. An example of electronic equipment interconnected in a network includes avionics, such as a radar system, on an aircraft. To accommodate performance enhancements and their associated increase in data requirements, advanced systems may include a fibre channel network. Each node on a network can simultaneously transmit and receive according to a full duplex transmit-receive protocol. For example, each data word may include 32 bits and each frame up to 528 data words. Each frame as part of a sequence and the sequences can be part of different exchanges. Therefore, one frame may be out of context without the other frames from the same sequence of an exchange.
Fibre channel networks may include switches to enable communication to occur simultaneously between two nodes, such as a four-port fibre channel switch. With multiple switches, multiple paths can be found and, therefore, variable frame delays may result.
More specifically, in conventional fibre channel networks having multiple switches X, Y, and Z, and multiple nodes A and B, one communication path may become busy for an instant in time. This may cause a next frame in a sequence to be routed using another path, which can create different delays for each frame of a sequence. For example, the following sequence may be sent by the node A: FRAME #1, FRAME #2, FRAME #3, FRAME #4, FRAME #5, and FRAME #6. However, the sequence received by the node B may be as follows: FRAME #1, FRAME #3, FRAME #2, FRAME #5, FRAME #4, and FRAME #6. A lower level device driver of the receiving node may be responsible for reordering the frames back to the original order.
Although desirable results have been achieved using such prior art systems, there may be room for improvement. For example, it may be desirable to monitor and record data communicated within a fibre channel network. However, because multiple devices may be communicating simultaneously, and due to redundancy considerations, the monitoring and recording of networks having multiple switches may be complex and expensive to implement, and may entail intrusive modifications to hardware, such as providing special ports on switches. Furthermore, such monitoring may be time and labor intensive, and limited in applicability. Advanced apparatus and methods for fibre channel interface units and for methods of encoding and merging multiple data streams within fibre channel networks that at least partially mitigate these characteristics would be useful.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


High speed transfer of data over any distance can be easily achieved using high speed optical fibers and an optical fiber interface that couples signals transferred using the optical fibers to and from a computer. A specific implementation of the present invention is a fiber optic interface for a Macintosh brand computer that provides a direct fiber optic interface having no parts external to the computer that couples data to and from an optical image storage unit. The fiber optic interface circuit comprises an optical receiver coupled to a fiber optic cable for receiving optical signals from the image storage unit that converts them into corresponding electrical signals. An optical transmitter is coupled to a second fiber optic cable for converting electrical signals derived from the computer into optical signals and for transmitting them to the image storage unit. A plurality of data buffers are provided for buffering the electrical signals received from the optical receiver and to be transmitted by the optical transmitter. A compression circuit is provided for compressing the electrical signals generated by the optical receiver. A data buffer is provided for buffering the data signals received thereby. An interface circuit is provided for interfacing between the data buffer and a computer bus or backplane that forms a part of the computer.

The present invention relates generally to fiber optic interfaces, and more particularly, a fiber optic interface that may be employed with a computer system to provide a direct interface between the computer system and an image storage system coupled to the computer by way of optical cables.
In an image distribution system comprising a plurality of imaging consoles or computer workstations, it is generally required that images be distributed rapidly. Otherwise an operator using an imaging console has to wait long periods for images to appear on a display monitor. If the wait is too long, the operator may opt to use film instead of the imaging console. Film has a large effective image capacity, but is expensive, and it is clumsy to use, requiring chemicals to produce the images and large storage areas for retention of historical images. A high speed interface between an image storage device and image workstations has been used using copper cables. However, the length of the copper cables is very limited. Typical lengths for a 10 megabit per second data transfer rate are less than 100 feet. When the data rate is higher than 10 megabit per second or the distance is longer than 100 feet, another technique is necessary. A fiber optic relay may provide a high speed serial data path from the image storage device to a computer workstation.
The data transfer rates over a fiber optic link using inexpensive transmitters and receivers can be several kilometers. The conventional approach is to build the image storage device with a copper cable interface to a fiber optic interface where the data is transformed from parallel to serial form and then sent out to the image workstations at high data transfer rates, typically on the order of 100 megabits per second. The length of the copper cable is relatively short, since the transformation to the fiber optic cable can be close to the image storage unit. At the image workstation, there is a fiber optic receiver that converts the optical signal transmitted over the fiber back to an electrical signal suitable for transmission over a copper cable that ultimately connects to the image workstation. With this approach, however, there is a small external interface box that is attached to each image workstation. The external interface box provides the means for providing signal transformation from the optical fiber to the copper cable.
However, if the interface transformer from fiber to cable could be eliminated, the image workstation would be much simpler. The image workstations are the most numerous component in the system. Any simplification of the workstation reduces the cost of the total system in proportion to the level of the simplification. In a typical system, there are only one or two central optical storage units, or archive optical systems, and several host computers. When there are many (100 ) workstations, for example, a reduction of 10% in the cost of a workstation will have a dramatic effect on the overall cost of the system.
Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide for a fiber optic interface that may be employed with a computer system to provide a direct interface between the computer system and an image storage device coupled to the computer by way of optical cables.


Medical devices and methods are provided for forming an intestinal bypass anastomosis, such as for treatment of obesity. The medical devices and methods are minimally invasive and reduce complications. Two magnet assemblies are deployed in a spaced apart relationship, and are transluminally brought together to approximate the tissue and form an anastomosis therebetween.

It is well known that obesity is a very difficult condition to treat. Methods of treatment are varied, and include drugs, behavior therapy, and physical exercise, or often a combinational approach involving two or more of these methods. Unfortunately, results are seldom long term, with many patients eventually returning to their original weight over time. For that reason, obesity, particularly morbid obesity, is often considered an incurable condition.
More invasive approaches have been available which have yielded good results in many patients. These include surgical options such as bariatric surgery, bypass surgery or gastroplasty. However, these procedures carry high risks, and are therefore not appropriate for many patients. Even when carried out laparoscopically, these procedures are still considered major surgery due to the high risk and complication rates.


Provided herein are antibody conjugates comprising toll-like receptor agonists and the use of such conjugates for the treatment of cancer. In some embodiments, the conjugates comprise anti-HER2 antibodies.

Innate immunity is a rapid nonspecific immune response that fights against environmental insults including, but not limited to, pathogens such as bacteria or viruses. Adaptive immunity is a slower but more specific immune response, which confers long-lasting or protective immunity to the host and involves differentiation and activation of naive T lymphocytes into CD4+ T helper cells and/or CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, to promote cellular and humoral immunity. Antigen presentation cells of the innate immune system, such as dendritic cells or macrophages, serve as a critical link between the innate and adaptive immune systems by phagocytosing and processing the foreign antigens and presenting them on the cell surface to the T cells, thereby activating T cell response.
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors (PRR) that are expressed predominantly on dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, natural killer cells, and T lymphocytes. TLRs bind to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) from bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses, and act as a first line of defense against invading pathogens. TLR activation leads to increased antigen uptake, maturation, and T-cell stimulatory capacity of the dendritic cells. TLRs comprise an extracellular N-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain, followed by a cysteine-rich region, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular (cytoplasmic) tail that contains a conserved region named the Toll/IL-1 receptor (TIR) domain. The LRR domain is important for ligand binding and associated signaling and is a common feature of PRRs. The TIR domain is important in protein-protein interactions and is associated with innate immunity. TLRs are essential to induce expression of genes involved in inflammatory responses, and play critical roles in the development of antigen-specific acquired immunity.
There remains a need for new immunotherapies for the treatment of diseases, in particular cancer.

Antibody conjugates comprising toll-like receptor agonist


To provide a wavelength selection method or a plasma processing method to achieve accurate detection of residual thickness or etching amount, there is provided a plasma processing method, in which a processing object wafer is disposed within a processing chamber in the inside of a vacuum container, and plasma is generated by supplying a processing gas into the processing chamber and used to process a processing-object film layer beforehand formed on a surface of the wafer, and at least two wavelengths are selected from among wavelengths with large mutual information in emission of a plurality of wavelengths of plasma generated during processing of the processing-object film layer, and a temporal change in the emission of at least the two wavelengths is detected, and an endpoint of the processing of the film layer is determined based on a result of the detection.

In the process for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the following processing, so-called dry etching processing, is performed. That is, the substrate-like sample such as the semiconductor wafer is disposed in the processing chamber within the vacuum container, plasma generated in the processing chamber is used to etch a film structure having a plurality of film layers including a dielectric material and a mask layer formed on the sample surface to form a circuit pattern of the semiconductor device. In such etching processing, it is required to accurately determine an endpoint of etching and appropriately control the processing condition to stop the processing at a desired film thickness or etching depth to form the circuit pattern at high accuracy in order to achieve integrity of the semiconductor device in an increased tendency.
In general, in such etching processing, while the semiconductor wafer is disposed in the processing chamber within the vacuum container, an electric or magnetic field is supplied to a processing gas supplied into the processing chamber and thus atoms or molecules of the gas are excited to generate plasma, and the plasma is used to process a processing object film in the film structure on the sample. During the processing, intensity of light of a specific wavelength contained in plasma emission in the processing chamber varies with progress of etching of a specific film as a processing object or another film being processed.
In a previously known technique to accurately detect the endpoint of processing, a change in intensity of the light of the specific wavelength contained in emission from the processing chamber during etching processing is detected, and the endpoint of processing is detected based on results of such detection. However, such emission typically includes not only emission of the specific wavelength caused by a reaction greatly correlating with plasma properties or a film state during processing, but also emission associated with a change in intensity with the lapse of time. Thus, it is necessary to reduce or suppress erroneous detection due to such a variation in waveform of light of the wavelength as the detection object due to a so-called baseline.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-23104 (patent literature 1) discloses a technique to accurately detect a change in intensity of emission in response to such noise. In such an existing technique, an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter is used to detect a baseline component of a temporal change in a signal of emission intensity while following a temporal change in a gradient of the baseline component, and the detected baseline component is removed from the signal of emission intensity to extract a component of the change.

Plasma processing method and wavelength selection method used in plasma processing


An antenna built-in module which incorporates an antenna, is thin and excellent in antenna characteristics, a card type information device and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. A wiring board (110) which has a wiring pattern (120) and in which an electronic component is mounted on at least one surface thereof, a magnetic substance (160) embedded in the other surface of the wiring board (110), an antenna pattern (170) provided on the magnetic substance (160), the wiring pattern (120) of the wiring board (110) and the antenna terminal electrode of the antenna pattern (170) are connected by a conductive via (200).

Recently, non-contact IC tag has been demanded in many fields including the physical distribution, and reduced costs and an increase in performance have been required therefor.
In addition, various mass storage memory cards have been widely used in portable digital equipment such as a digital camera, a portable music player or a portable information terminal along with the spread of the memory cards.
In recent years, to widen the application of a memory card further, it has been demanded to have a wireless communication function.
In response to such demands, an SD memory card (registered trademark) having a wireless interface function added thereto is disclosed (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-195553).
The disclosed SD memory card incorporates not only a main functional unit as a storage medium but also a wireless controller, and is configured so that an antenna module formed of a loop antenna is connected to the wireless controller through an interface. A flash memory serving as a storage medium functions as a flash ROM for a memory used in the SD memory card, and stores a driver program for operating a wireless communication function.
With such a configuration, the SD memory card connected to the antenna module can communicate with an external wireless communication device since radio waves are transmitted and received to/from the antenna module by using the wireless communication function. In addition, a configuration in which the antenna module is built in a casing of the SD memory card is also disclosed.
In addition, an IC card which achieves a reduction in size and includes a transceiving coil for preventing communication failures therein is disclosed (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-16745).
The IC card is configured so that a magnetic substance having high magnetic permeability and high resistivity is deposited or adhered on a rear side of a substrate on which an IC chip and the transceiving coil are mounted. In addition, when the IC card mounted on a reading unit transmits and receives information, the magnetic substance prevents electric power loss of the reading unit caused by magnetic flux of an electromagnetic field of radio waves and an eddy current that is generated from a metallic conductor such as a battery. Specifically, the magnetic flux is shielded by the magnetic substance, and thus an occurrence of eddy current in the metal conductor caused by the magnetic flux is prevented.
In addition, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-16745, there is also disclosed an IC card configured so that an IC chip is mounted on a first print board, a transceiving coil is formed on a second print board, and a magnetic substance is interposed between two print boards. With such a configuration, it is possible to increase the storage capacity due to enlargement of an area on which the IC chip is mounted, and it is also possible to miniaturize the IC card in a case where the storage capacity is not increased.

Antenna built-in module, card type information device, and methods for manufacturing them


A variable relief valve is inserted in a hydraulic piping for connecting a first pump/motor to a second pump/motor. The variable relief valve is controlled such that when shifting the transmission from forward to reverse or vice versa, a relief set pressure of the variable relief valve is reduced in response to switching of a forward/reverse shifting clutch mechanism and after completion of the switching of the forward/reverse shifting clutch mechanism, the relief set value is increased.

There have been known hydro-mechanical (power split type) transmissions (HMTs) which hydraulically transmit part of input power while mechanically transmitting the remaining part of it. Since mechanical power is transmitted with high efficiency, hydro-mechanical transmissions (HMTs) are designed to convert only part of mechanical power into hydraulic power, so that they can achieve high transmission efficiency. By virtue of this, they are considered to be ideal transmissions for vehicles subjected to wide load variations such as bulldozers and wheel loaders and some of them are, in fact, employed in such vehicles.
In a typical hydro-mechanical transmission (HMT), variable speed characteristics are achieved by a planetary gear train. More concretely, the following arrangement is employed. Of three elements of the planetary gear train (i.e., the sun gear, the carrier provided with planetary gears, and the ring gear), a first element is coupled to the input shaft, a second element is coupled to the output shaft, and a third element is coupled to a hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor. The rotational speed of the hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor is varied thereby changing the rotational speed of the output shaft.
In the known art, there are basically two types of HMTs. One is an "output-split type" where a hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor, which is connected by means of a hydraulic circuit to another hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor coupled to the planetary gear train, is coupled to the input shaft of the transmission so as to obtain a constant speed ratio. The other is an "input-split type" where a hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor, which is connected by means of a hydraulic circuit to another hydraulic pump or hydraulic motor coupled to the planetary gear train, is coupled to the output shaft of the transmission so as to obtain a constant speed ratio. Further, the output-split type and input-split type are respectively classified into six types according to which of the three elements of the planetary gear train is coupled to the hydraulic pump, hydraulic motor or input/output shafts and, in total, 12 types are available as basic combinations.
The conventional output-split type HMT and input-split type HMT will be respectively described in more detail.
FIG. 5(a) shows a schematic structural diagram of an output-split type HMT. In this output-split type HMT 100, a first gear 103 is secured to an input shaft 102 to which power from an engine 101 is input. A second gear 104 meshing with the first gear 103 is secured to a shaft 105a of a first pump/motor 105. Secured to the input shaft 102 is a sun gear 107 of a planetary gear train 106. A plurality of planetary gears 108 are disposed so as to mesh with the periphery of the sun gear 107. Each planetary gear 108 is axially supported by a planetary carrier 109 to which an output shaft 110 is secured. A ring gear 111 meshes with the periphery of the planetary gear set 108. Meshing with the periphery of the ring gear 111 is a third gear 112 which is secured to a shaft 113a of a second pump/motor 113. In this arrangement, the first pump/motor 105 is hydraulically connected to the second pump/motor 113 by a piping 114.
In such a system, when the rotational speed of the second pump/motor 113, that is, the rotational speed of the ring gear 111 is zero, hydraulically transmitted power becomes zero so that all power is transmitted through the mechanical unit. On the basis of the rotational speed of the output shaft 110 at that time, the operation of this system will be described.
(1) When increasing the rotational speed of the output shaft 110, the second pump/motor 113 receives motive power through the medium of hydraulic pressure and is activated to increase the rotational speed of the output shaft 110. At that time, the first pump/motor 105 serves as a pump whereas the second pump/motor 113 serves as a motor, so that energy is transmitted from the first pump/motor 105 to the second pump/motor 113 through the medium of hydraulic pressure. Then, the horsepower transmitted by hydraulic power becomes plus (+) as indicated by line A-B in FIG. 5(b) and the hydraulic power flows in a forward direction, i.e., from the input shaft 102 toward the planetary gear train 106.
(2) When reducing the rotational speed of the output shaft 110, the second pump/motor 113 receives motive power from the planetary gear train 106 and rotates in a direction opposite to that of the case (1). At that time, the second pump/motor 113 serves as a pump whereas the first pump/motor 105 serves as a motor, so that energy is transmitted from the second pump/motor 113 to the first pump/motor 105 through the medium of hydraulic pressure. Then, the horsepower transmitted by hydraulic power becomes minus (−) as indicated by line A-C in FIG. 5(b) and the hydraulic power flows in a reverse direction, i.e., from the planetary gear train 106 toward the input shaft 102.
FIG. 6(a) shows an input-split type HMT 200 in which the planetary gear train 106 is disposed on the side of the input shaft 102 whereas the first pump/motor 105 is disposed on the side of the output shaft 110. In FIG. 6(a), the parts that are substantially equivalent or function substantially similarly to those of the transmission 100 shown in FIG. 5(a) are indicated by the same numerals as in FIG. 5(a), and a detailed explanation of them is skipped herein.
The input-split type transmission 200 is constructed as follows.
(1) When increasing the rotational speed of the output shaft 110, the second pump/motor 113 serves as a motor while the first pump/motor 105 serves as a pump, so that energy is transmitted from the first pump/motor 105 to the second pump/motor 113 through the medium of hydraulic pressure. Then, the horsepower transmitted by hydraulic power becomes minus (−) as indicated by line A-D in FIG. 6(b) and the hydraulic power flows in a reverse direction, i.e., from the output shaft 110 toward the planetary gear train 106.
(2) When reducing the rotational speed of the output shaft 110, the second pump/motor 113 receives motive power from the planetary gear train 106 and rotates in a direction opposite to that of the case (1). At that time, the second pump/motor 113 serves as a pump whereas the first pump/motor 105 serves as a motor, so that energy is transmitted from the second pump/motor 113 to the first pump/motor 105 through the medium of hydraulic pressure. Then, the horsepower transmitted by hydraulic power becomes plus (+) as indicated by line A-E in FIG. 6(b) and the hydraulic power flows in a forward direction, i.e., from the planetary gear train 106 toward the output shaft 110.
As such, in both output-split type and input-split type transmissions, energy flows in forward and reverse directions occur in the speed increasing region and the speed reducing region. The transmission efficiency of energy in this case will be hereinafter examined, taking the output-split type HMT 100 shown in FIG. 5 for example. Herein, the transmission efficiency of the mechanical unit is 95% and the transmission efficiency of the hydrostatic unit is 80% (Generally, where pump-motors are used, transmission efficiency is low). For easy comparison, assume that the amount of engine power is 1.0 and one third the engine power is input to the hydrostatic unit.
FIG. 7(a) shows the case where hydraulic power flows in the forward direction. Specifically, one third (0.333 part) the energy output from the engine 101 flows to the hydrostatic unit for increasing speed. Transmitted to the output shaft 110 are 0.633 (=(1−⅓)×0.95) part of energy from the mechanical unit and 0.267 (=0.333×0.8) part of energy from the hydrostatic unit. As a result, the overall efficiency becomes 0.9 (=0.633+0.267). The case where hydraulic power flows in the reverse direction is shown in FIG. 7(b). In this case, 1.267 (=1+0.267) parts of energy are input to the mechanical unit and 1.20 (=1.267×0.95) parts of energy are transmitted, so that the overall efficiency is 0.870 (=1.20−0.333).
As just described, when hydraulic power flows in the reverse direction, a large flow of energy occurs in each element, resulting in poor efficiency. In other words, a forward flow of hydraulic energy is better than a reverse flow of hydraulic energy. As seen from FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), if part of energy flows in the reverse direction, the energy that pass through the mechanical unit will increase, and therefore, there arises a need to increase the size of the planetary gear train, which leads to a disadvantage in economical efficiency.
As an attempt to solve the problems of the prior art output-split type HMT and input-split type HMT, there has been proposed a transmission capable of serving as an output-split type HMT when the rotational speed of the output shaft is increased and as an input-split type HMT when the rotational speed of the output shaft is reduced. This proposed transmission has several advantages: the horsepower transmitted by hydraulic power can be kept to be plus irrespective of the rotational speed of the output shaft, so that hydraulic power can be allowed to constantly flow in the forward direction and increased energy efficiency can be achieved in all speed zones including the low speed zone to high speed zone.
In a vehicle having the above transmission capable of selectively functioning as an output-split HMT or as an input-split HMT, when the transmission is shifted from forward to reverse or vise versa, the following operation is usually carried out: After disengagement of the forward (or reverse) clutch, the reverse (or forward) clutch is allowed to slide, so that the movement of the vehicle is changed from forward (or reverse) to reverse (or forward) and the reverse (or forward) clutch is engaged.
However, such sliding engagement of the forward or reverse clutch during operation for shifting the transmission of the vehicle between forward and reverse causes higher load and heat load on the forward and reverse clutches, with higher vehicle speed before initiating the gear shifting operation. As a result, it becomes necessary to increase the capacity of the clutches.
The invention is directed to overcoming the foregoing shortcomings and a primary object of the invention is to provide a control system for a hydro-mechanical transmission which selectively functions as an output-split type HMT or as an input-split type HMT, the control system being capable of reducing the load imposed on the forward and reverse clutches during gear shifting between forward and reverse.

Control system for a hydro-mechanical transmission


An audio application programming interface (API) enables an audio processing graph to be modified during processing. If they are received while the audio graph is playing or paused, graph modifying commands may be inserted into either an asynchronous command queue or a deferred command queue. The audio API may also include a clock manager for synchronizing clocks from a number of different connected audio rendering devices, applications, processors, functions, operations, modules, or other resources. The clock manager may provide an interface that enables a number of control groups to be defined. Each such control group may include a master clock, a slave clock, and a control.

Audio application programming interfaces (API's) may enable a wide variety of applications to set up complex audio processing graphs and to render audio output to a variety of different output devices. During processing of such a graph, it may be desirable to make a number of changes that modify the structure and/or state of the graph. For example, it may be desirable to add a new filter path to the graph. This may involve, for example, creating and adding a new voice and also a number of filters to mix points in the existing graph. Additionally, it may be desirable to modify a path of an existing filter. This may involve, for example, changing a source buffer of a voice, swapping filters, inserting new filters, or removing filters. A drawback of conventional audio API's is that they are limited with respect to their ability to allow changes to such graphs while the graphs are being processed without negatively affecting overall performance.
Audio API's may also have the ability to separate audio processing from rendering. This and other features of audio API's may create a number of clock synchronization issues that arise when an audio API is connected to audio rendering devices, applications, and processors that are using different clocks. For example, one problematic scenario may arise when a connected rendering device is consuming audio samples at a different rate than an audio API and/or a digital signal processor is producing the samples. Another problematic scenario may arise when the audio API is connected to a number of different rendering devices that are each consuming audio samples at a slightly different rate. Thus, another drawback of conventional audio API's is that they are limited with respect to their ability to coordinate clock synchronization among different connected audio rendering devices, applications, and processors.


A zip tie operable with one hand comprising a head having a channel defined by a first top wall, a second top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second sidewall, a front wall and an end wall. The first top wall and the second top wall are configured to cooperate to provide a top access to the channel. Teeth are disposed on an inner wall of the channel transverse to a longitudinal axis of the channel and an elongated member extends from the head. The elongated member has a distal section having a serrated section, a starter cord and a pull tab. The starter cord is insertable into the channel typically through the top access and the pull tag enables pulling of the elongated member through the channel while the one or more teeth engage with the serrated section to prevent the zip tie from getting undone.

Cable ties or zip ties, also known as tie-wraps are typically plastic fasteners comprising a head (female end) at one end, a tail (male end) at the other end and a longitudinal strap in between. Zip ties are commonly used for securely holding together two or more objects, such as wires or cables or pipes and also for securing a cable or a wire to another object. For use, reference to FIG. 1 the strap of prior art zip tie 100 is wrapped around the bundle of articles and the tail 104 is inserted through an aperture or passage provided in the head 102 to form a closed loop. The head 102 of the cable tie typically includes a locking element which is engageable with the body of the strap so that when the tail 104 is pulled through the head aperture, the locking element secures the strap body in the head and the loop can be tightened as desired. The zip ties are widely used for their convenience in use, reliability and their utility. However, Zip ties (and common sutures, string and rope) suffer from three major drawbacks, often which make them unusable or limit their utility and application.
One disadvantage is the need to visually see the entrance point in the head end of the zip tie where the male end goes into the female end. For some people with excellent dexterity and experience, they may be able to feel this entrance with their fingers with some difficulty and by trial and error.
The need to use two hands to use a zip tie is a second major drawback because often size or space or location limitations do not allow use of two hands. Conventional zip ties require the use of two hands, one hand to hold the female end and one hand to hold the male end and then thread the male end through the female clasp end. The threading is delicate and requires delicate hand motions and good sight lines. Either hand may then align the entrance, both vertically and horizontally and then either hand may insert the male end into the female end by threading the tapered entry point of the male end in and forcing or pulling the strap body of the zip tie through to the desired tension.
Finally, another drawback is the need to pull the free end of the zip tie through the locking mechanism head (female clasp end) to the desired tension. The pulling of one end can be difficult because the zip tie offers no material to obtain a firm grasp with fingers or even with pliers. The small amount of a tapered male end which is provided to facilitate threading the female clasp end more easily is, by its very design, tapered and smooth which make it difficult to grasp. Once the small tapered end is threaded through the female locking mechanism, it is also difficult or impossible to grab the tapered end and pull, especially if the user is in a blind, long reach, one handed situation. In this way zip ties are also very limited in that the locking mechanism is unidirectional, one way, and tension must be applied for them to engage, which also requires securing (holding) the head with one hand and inserting and then pulling the free end with another hand.
While some people with exceptional dexterity and strength in their fingers can, with luck and patience, accomplish this task with one hand on smaller zip ties, it is rare and difficult and limited in practice. In fact, in most cases, zip ties are needed in difficult to reach places, often out of sight and at a long arms length away, such as at the back of an automotive engine compartment or at the end of a surgeon's reach and sight inside a body of a human or animal. Often there is no room to put two hands, even if there is a sight line, or vice versa.
The design of the human body, particularly the head, shoulders, arms and hips, in combination with difficult to reach situations such as under or behind an airplane or automotive or boat dash board is such that one hand can often reach the desired work zone on full extension, but the shoulder and tilt of the head prevent the second hand from reaching the work zone and also prevent the eyes from having a direct line of sight due to the tilt of the head. These situations are frustrating for the worker, who can touch the components that are scheduled to be zip-tied together with one hand but cannot bundle them with the zip-tie due to the inability to wrap, feed and pull the zip tie together without the use of second hand or other method.
Thus, there exists a need for a zip tie design which can overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art


The exemplary embodiments described herein relate to systems and/or methods for competitive simulations and, more particularly, to systems and/or methods in which users build stock portfolios that compete against each other, with the performance of each user's stock portfolio being based on one or more stock market related metrics (e.g., price per share, market capitalization, volume of trade, etc.). A user's portfolio may be formed and/or reformed so as to comply with certain predefined criteria (e.g., company traded on a particular exchange, company belonging to a particular market sector, etc.). The performance of each team/portfolio may be depicted using sports-related imagery (e.g., as teams on a football field, a basketball court, around a baseball diamond, etc.).

Every year, people spend countless hours and dollars trying to figure out how to "beat the market." There is no set definition of "beating the market," but generally it refers to the process of trying to understand and explain the structure, function, and overall performance of the stock market and other investment tools and then using this savvy to achieve a subjectively good return on investment. Yet, despite hours of study, consultations with experts, the development of complicated models, attendance at lectures, and study of investment books, the stock market remains a poorly understood—if not completely misunderstood—phenomenon. The thrill of "winning" in the market often is offset by the pain of "losing" in the market. The recent history of market "booms" and "busts," references to various bubbles bursting, and the collective memory of the Depression, for example, each accentuate these fears.
Thus, there is an inherent impediment to full participation in, and understanding of, the market, especially when the stakes quite literally can be high. Indeed, even beyond relatively risk-averse individuals, many people are turned off simply because of the inherent risk associated with the market. These people never experience the fun of "playing the game" and fail to gain investment intuition that comes through experience. They also miss out on the opportunity to compete with others, therefore missing out on the ability to use their own micro-strategies and behaviors to help influence the macro-performance of the market.
Thus, it will be appreciated that there exists a need for overcoming one or more of the above-described and/or other drawbacks. It also will be appreciated that there is a need for allowing individuals to experience the thrill of, and/or learn about, the stock market in a fun, easy, and risk-free environment.
Fantasy sports games have gained popularity over the last few years. In brief, fantasy sports games enable individuals to create fantasy teams and compete against the fantasy teams of others. Each fantasy team may comprise players drafted from a pool, with or without regard to the real-world teams. Once created, the fantasy teams generally "score points" based on the performance of the players comprising the teams. As such, fantasy sports games enable players to create fantasy teams that compete in a fantasy scenario in which real sports-related statistics are translated into fantasy sports-based performance of the fantasy teams.
According to certain exemplary embodiments, a competitive simulation between players is provided. Each player may have a team/portfolio comprising a plurality of individual players/stocks. The team/portfolio performance may be based on at least one stock-market related metric of each individual player/stock. The performance of each team/portfolio may be depicted using sports-related imagery. As such, certain example embodiments may provide a fantasy-like scenario in which fun and familiar sports-related imagery is used to represent more complex stock-market related statistics. The representation of the more complex stock-market related statistics via the sports-related imagery may be provided at varying levels of complexity and/or detail such that, for example, the dynamics of the stock market are brought to life in an interesting, engaging, and understandable manner. In these and/or other ways, it is therefore possible to advantageously allow individuals to experience the thrill of, and/or learn about, the stock market in a fun, easy, and risk-free environment.
In certain exemplary embodiments, in a computer-mediated network environment, a method of conducting a competitive simulation between a plurality of users, each said user having an associated team is provided. A sport to be simulated is selected as a part of the competitive simulation. At least two teams are built, with each said team comprising a plurality of player stocks and with each said team being built in dependence on the selected sport. Games to be played over a predetermined game time by two of said teams are defined. While a game is being played, a stock market related metric for each player stock of each team playing in the game is tracked. The stock market related metrics for each team playing in the game are compared over one or more predefined periods of the game time. Points are awarded to each team playing in the game based on the comparison. A winner is determined based on the total number of points awarded to each team over the entire game time.
In certain exemplary embodiments, there is provided a computer readable storage medium tangibly storing instructions for performing a competitive simulation based on a sport, the instructions being executable so as to cause a computer in a network environment to perform method steps. A plurality of positions on a team are filled via a draft, with the team comprising a plurality of player stocks, and with each said player stock being assigned a position on the team in dependence on a characteristic of the player stock. A starting lineup of drafted players on the team is selected, with the starting lineup being selected so that each position of the team is filled with a player stock assigned to that respective position. A stock market related metric is tracked for each player stock in the starting lineup during a predefined game scenario of the competitive simulation, with the game scenario occurring over a predetermined time period. Team performance is simulated in dependence on the tracked stock market related metrics of the team during the game scenario.
In certain exemplary embodiments, in a computer-mediated network environment, a method of conducting a competitive simulation between a plurality of users, each said user having an associated team is provided. A sport to be simulated is selected as a part of the competitive simulation. At least two teams are built, with each said team comprising a plurality of player stocks and with each said team being built in dependence on the selected sport. Built teams are divided into one or more leagues, with each said league having one sport associated therewith. Games to be played over a predetermined game time by two of said teams are defined for each said league. While a game is being played, a stock market related metric for each player stock of each team playing in the game is tracked. Prices of the player stocks for each team playing in the game are compared over one or more predefined periods of the game time. Points are awarded to each team playing in the game based on the comparison. A winner is determined based on the total number of points awarded to each team over the entire game time. The player stocks are displayed on a field arranged according to the selected sport and also animated in dependence on the comparison.
In certain exemplary implementations, the sport is at least one of football, basketball, baseball, racing, soccer, and ice hockey. The predetermined game time may be a five-day period from Monday through Friday, and/or each predefined period of the game time may correspond to one day in certain exemplary implementations. A team may be rewarded with a bonus situation (e.g., a corner-kick, a penalty kick, a free throw attempt, a power play, etc.) randomly or in dependence on a predetermined event in certain exemplary implementations. In certain exemplary implementations, a team may be penalized (e.g., with a technical foul, a player stock being placed in a penalty box, an ejection of a player, etc.) randomly or in dependence on a predetermined event.
The exemplary embodiments described herein may be implemented as any suitable combination of programmed logic circuitry (e.g., hardware, software, firmware, and/or the like). Also, the exemplary embodiments described herein may be tangibly stored as instructions on a computer-readable storage medium.
These aspects and exemplary embodiments described herein may be used separately and/or applied in various combinations to achieve yet further embodiments of this invention.
Other aspects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of this invention.

Systems and/or methods for stock portfolio based competitive simulations


A production system that includes a single main conveying line capable of defining a plurality of manual work areas and capable of conveying workpieces, a shuttle that holds a workpiece thereon and that reciprocates along the main conveying line, a shuttle conveying line on which the shuttle is reciprocated over a predetermined distance, a plurality of automatic processing machines that are disposed along the shuttle conveying line on the side opposite to the side on which the main conveying line is laid and that automatically apply a variety of process operations to the workpiece, and a plurality of display units that are disposed adjacent to the manual work areas and that display information about process operations to be applied to the workpiece.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an article production system in which automated process operations performed by a plurality of automatic processing machines and manual process operations performed by a plurality of workers are mixed together, and, more particularly, to a production system including shuttles that convey workpieces while reciprocating at high speed.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional production system that manufactures vehicle engines or the like is shown in FIG. 1. In this production system, a plurality of automatic processing machines 2 that apply various process steps, such as machining, attachment of parts, screw loosening, and screw tightening, onto workpieces W, such as engine cylinder blocks or engine cylinder heads, are arranged along a conveying line 1 that conveys workpieces W. Manual work areas 3 in which workers M can perform various process operations by manual work are located between the automatic processing machines 2.
In this production system, since the automated process steps and the manual process steps are performed in series with each other, the absence of any one of these process steps causes a stoppage in the flow of the whole of the system, and, since the system has an arrangement structure in which the manual work area 3 (i.e., the manual process step) is located between the automatic processing machines 2, one worker M has difficulty in performing a plurality of manual process operations across the automatic processing machine 2. Therefore, a conventional problem resides in the fact that it is difficult to efficiently station the workers M, for example, when a production adjustment is required to be carried out in response to a demand drop in the market.
Additionally, in one conveying line, workpieces W being conveyed on the upstream side of the flow line must be held until all process operations to be performed by the automatic processing machine 2 are completed if the automatic processing machine 2 has a plurality of processing functions. Additionally, when the automatic processing machine 2 is replaced in accordance with a change in specifications of the workpiece W or a change in the machine model, all conveying lines must be stopped. Therefore, another conventional problem resides in the fact that it is not easy to increase the amount of production in response to a demand rise in the market, and that it is not easy to change the automatic processing machine 2 or add a new machine so as to be suited to workpieces W.
On the other hand, a production system capable of increasing and decreasing the number of pieces of equipment in accordance with an increase and decrease in the amount of production is known. This production system includes one conveying line having shuttles that convey workpieces, an automatic processing machine that is disposed on one side of the conveying line and that automatically performs a plurality of process operations, and a plurality of manual work stands that are disposed on the opposite side of the conveying line and in which workers perform various process operations by hand (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-18869, for example).
However, in this production system, the manual work stands are disposed adjacent to each other on the same side. Therefore, there is a fear that a worker will handle a workpiece conveyed to a manual work stand by a shuttle without following a correct procedure (for example, a process step may be performed prior to the proper time, or a worker in charge of a manual work area will perform a series of process operations in improper order). Additionally, workpieces are all transferred by shuttles between the automatic processing machine and the manual work stand and between the two manual work stands. Therefore, it is difficult to, for example, smoothly convey a workpiece, which has undergone faulty processing, to a manual work stand located on the upstream side in order to apply an alteration to this workpiece, and hence it is impossible to smoothly apply all of the process steps to the workpiece.