A new cultivar of Lavendula plant named ‘Grace Leigh’ that is characterized by silver spike flower heads with a violet corolla, an arching habit and fragrant silver grey green leaves.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lavendula angustifolia and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Grace Leigh'. The new cultivar was discovered growing in a cultivar area of Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand in 1999. The exact parents are unknown.
The new Lavender plant 'Grace Leigh' is distinct and unique due to its silver white flower heads, violet corolla, fragrant silver grey green leaves and arching foliage.
The closest comparison plant is Lavendula 'Alba' (not patented). 'Grace Leigh' is distinguishable from 'Alba' by its violet corolla, arching habit and fragrant leaves.
The new cultivar was first asexually propagated by cuttings in Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand by the inventor in 1999. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.


A fastener which enables the attachment of an article to a panel having front and rear surfaces and an aperture formed therebetween, particularly in cases where access to the panel is limited to one side only. The fastener includes a stud having a head and a shank, a spring mounted upon said stud, and a washer having a through hole. The shank further includes a first retaining portion for securely engaging the washer within said through hole and a second retaining potion for engaging an article for securement thereto.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mounting devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel and improved removable mechanical fastener for mounting to an article which permits another article to be securely mounted thereto.
II. Description of the Related Art
Various types of hardware have been developed for securing articles to another article. Generally where access is available to both sides of a pane or wall the hardware choice is quite extensive. However where access is available to one side of the panel or wall, the selection of mounting hardware becomes limited. For these applications the panel mounting hardware is generally limited to screws, lag bolts, expandable anchoring inserts, and spring loaded wing bolts. Each one of these mounting hardware types has advantages and disadvantages in application.
In many applications where single side available panel mounting hardware can be used, it is preferable that support for the anchor be provided by more than the through hole such as is the case of for screws, lag bolts and inserts. Such additional support can be provided by the spring loaded wing bolt assembly. However where a threaded insert is necessary the spring loaded wing bolt is generally not preferred since the bolt is needed to support the placement of the wing nut behind the panel. In many cases it is desirable to distribute the load supported by the fastener over a larger surface area on the rear surface of the panel than is provided by conventional fasteners.
On occasion it is desirable to remove the stud or insert hardware. Several of the existing hardware types have their drawbacks in easily permitting such action. For example, in removing inserts it may be lost on the unavailable side of the panel. Similar is the case for the spring loaded wing bolt where the wing nut is typically lost on the unavailable side of the panel when the bolt is removed.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved form of panel mounting hardware which provides maximum support contact to the mounting panel.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide panel mounting hardware which may be removable without loss of the hardware.


Methods and systems for classifying an image. For example, a method includes: inputting a medical image into a recognition model, the recognition model configured to: generate one or more attribute distributions that are substantially Gaussian when inputted with a normal image; and generate one or more attribute distributions that are substantially non-Gaussian when inputted with an abnormal image; generating, by the recognition model, one or more attribute distributions corresponding to medical image; generating a marginal likelihood corresponding to the likelihood of a sample image substantially matching the medical image, the sample image generated by sampling, by a generative model, the one or more attribute distributions; and generating a classification by at least: if the marginal likelihood is greater than or equal to a predetermined likelihood threshold, determining the image to be normal; and if the marginal likelihood is less than the predetermined likelihood threshold, determining the image to be abnormal.

Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to object recognition. More particularly, some embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for classifying an anomaly medical image using variational autoencoder. Merely by way of example, some embodiments of the invention are configured to classify a medical scan image. But it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability.
Many medical examinations involve scanning patients using tools such as MR, CT, and PET scanners to guide diagnosis or treatment planning. One common challenge is identifying poor scan images which do not comply with a quality standard, such as ones that do not provide clear or accurate information. In one example, a poor scan image may result from a patient not able to stay still, such as by not holding breath, during a scan. Poor scan images are typically unusable for clinical decision-making and therefore are generally discarded and rescanned. Rescanning a patient, especially for imaging techniques that requires long process time, such as PET image reconstruction that involves attenuation and scatter correction, leads to great inefficiency. Images that are not up to standard, which are sometimes referred to as anomaly images, regardless of the scanning technique, are generally required to be manually identified and discarded by an imaging technician, such as prior to sending images to a radiologist. Generally, a technician would browse a set of images and identify anomaly images, which not only is a slow process, but also prone to human error. Therefore, systems and methods for identifying anomaly medical images with improved efficiency and accuracy are desirable.

Systems and methods for classifying an anomaly medical image using variational autoencoder

Shanghai United Imaging Intelligence Co., Ltd.


An optical position detecting apparatus that detects a position of a target object in a detection region, includes: a light source device for position detection that emits position detection light to the detection region and forms an intensity distribution of the position detection light in the detection region; plural photodetectors that direct incident angle ranges to regions not overlapping one another in the detection region; and a position detecting device that detects the position of the target object on the basis of results of detection by the photodetectors of the position detection light reflected on the target object.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an optical position detecting apparatus that optically detects the position of a target object in a detection region and a display device with position detecting function including the optical position detecting apparatus.
2. Related Art
In recent years, in electronic apparatuses such as a car navigation system, a personal computer, a ticket machine, and a bank terminal, a display device with position detecting function in which a touch panel is arranged on a front surface of an image generating device such as a liquid crystal device is used. In such a display device with position detecting function, a user inputs information while referring to an image displayed on the image generating device. Such a touch panel is configured as an optical position detecting apparatus for detecting the position of a target object in a detection region (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,384).
The optical position detecting apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,384 is an optical type. A light transmitting plate is provided on an input operation side with respect to a direct-view display panel such as a liquid crystal panel. Alight source, a light receiving element, and the like are arranged on the opposite side of the input operation side with respect to the light transmitting plate. Position detection light emitted from the light source is emitted to the input operation side via the light transmitting plate and the position detection light reflected on the target object is received by the light receiving element.
The inventor proposes, for example, an optical position detecting apparatus schematically shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B making practical use of the technique described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,384. In the optical position detecting apparatus having such a configuration, light sources for position detection 12 (light sources for position detection 12A to 12D) form an intensity distribution of position detection lights in an in-plane direction of a detection region 10R. A photodetector apparatus 15 detects the position detection lights reflected by a target object Ob in the detection region 10R. A light intensity distribution of position detection light emitted from a light guide plate 13 to the detection region 10R is different between the time when position detection light L2a is emitted from the light source for position detection 12A and the time when position detection light L2b is emitted from the light source for position detection 12B. Therefore, if light reception results in the photodetector apparatus 15 at the time when the position detection light L2a is emitted and at the time when the position detection light L2b is emitted are compared, the position of the target object Ob in a direction indicated by an arrow A can be detected. If light reception results in the photodetector apparatus 15 at the time when position detection light L2c is emitted from the light source for position detection 12C and at the time when position detection light L2d is emitted from the light source for position detection 12D are compared, the position of the target object Ob in a direction indicated by an arrow B can be detected.
However, in the optical position detecting apparatus having the configuration shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the position of the target object Ob is detected according to one physical value (light reception intensity) detected by the photodetector apparatus 15. Therefore, when plural target objects Ob are present in the detection region 10R and a light reception amount in the photodetector apparatus 15 increases, the optical position detecting apparatus detects in error that the positions of the target objects Ob are closer to the light sources for position detection 12 than actual positions of the target objects Ob. The configuration shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B is a reference example of the invention and is not a related art.

Optical position detecting device and display device with position detecting function


A fuel injector comprises a body having a longitudinal axis, a piezoelectric actuator that has first and second ends, a needle coupled to the first end of the piezoelectric actuator, and a hydraulic compensator coupled the second end of the piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements along the axis between the first and second ends. The needle is movable between a first configuration permitting fuel injection and a second configuration preventing fuel injection. And the hydraulic compensator axially positions the piezoelectric actuator with respect to the body in response to temperature variation. Also, a method of compensating for thermal expansion or contraction of the fuel injector comprises providing fuel from a fuel supply to the fuel injector; and axially adjusting the piezoelectric actuator with respect to the body in response to temperature variation. The axially adjusting includes moving hydraulic oil through an orifice connecting first and second hydraulic oil reservoirs.

The invention generally relates to piezoelectric strain actuators. In particular, the present invention relates to a hydraulic compensator for a piezoelectric actuator, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for hydraulically compensating a piezoelectrically actuated high-pressure fuel injector for internal combustion engines.
It is believed that a known piezoelectric actuator is includes a ceramic structure whose axial length can change through the application of an operating voltage. It is believed that in typical applications, the axial length can change by, for example, approximately 0.12%. In a stacked configuration, it is believed that the change in the axial length is magnified as a function of the number of actuators in the piezoelectric actuator stack. Because of the nature of the piezoelectric actuator, it is believed that a voltage application results in an instantaneous expansion of the actuator and an instantaneous movement of any structure connected to the actuator. In the field of automotive technology, especially, in internal combustion engines, it is believed that there is a need for the precise opening and closing of an injector valve element for optimizing the spray and combustion of fuel. Therefore, in internal combustion engines, it is believed that piezoelectric actuators are now employed for the precise opening and closing of the injector valve element.
During operation, it is believed that the components of an internal combustion engine experience significant thermal fluctuations that result in the thermal expansion or contraction of the engine components. For example, it is believed that a fuel injector assembly includes a valve body that may expand during operation due to the heat generated by the engine. Moreover, it is believed that a valve element operating within the valve body may contract due to contact with relatively cold fuel. If a piezoelectric actuator stack is used for the opening and closing of an injector valve element, it is believed that the thermal fluctuations can result in valve element movements that can be characterized as an insufficient opening stroke, or an insufficient sealing stroke. It is believed that this is because of the low thermal expansion characteristics of the piezoelectric actuator as compared to the thermal expansion characteristics of other engine components. For example, it is believed that a piezoelectric actuator stack is capable of 30 microns of movement and that a valve element is capable of contracting 10 microns due to temperature fluctuations, in which case the piezoelectric actuator stack loses 30% of its overall movement. Therefore, it is believed that any contractions or expansions, of a valve element can have a significant effect on fuel injector operation.
It is believed that conventional methods and apparatuses that compensate for thermal changes affecting piezoelectric actuator stack operation have drawbacks in that they either only approximate the change in length, they only provide one length change compensation for the piezoelectric actuator stack, or that they only accurately approximate the change in length of the piezoelectric actuator stack for a narrow range of temperature changes.
It is believed that there is a need to provide thermal compensation that overcomes the drawbacks of conventional methods.
The present invention provides a fuel injector. The fuel injector comprises a body having a longitudinal axis, a piezoelectric actuator that has first and second ends, a needle coupled to the first end of the piezoelectric actuator, and a hydraulic compensator coupled the second end of the piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements along the axis between the first and second ends. The needle is movable between a first configuration permitting fuel injection and a second configuration preventing fuel injection. And the hydraulic compensator axially positions the piezoelectric actuator with respect to the body in response to temperature variation.
The present invention also provides a method of compensating for thermal expansion or contraction of a fuel injector. The fuel injector includes a body that has a longitudinal axis, a piezoelectric actuator that has first and second ends, a needle coupled to the first end of the piezoelectric actuator, and a hydraulic compensator coupled the second end of the piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements along the axis between the first and second ends. The needle is movable between a first configuration permitting fuel injection and a second configuration preventing fuel injection. The method comprises providing fuel from a fuel supply to the fuel injector; and axially adjusting the piezoelectric actuator with respect to the body in response to temperature variation. The axially adjusting includes moving hydraulic oil through an orifice connecting the first and second reservoirs.

Hydraulic compensator for a piezoelectrical fuel injector


A method receives authentication credentials for a user from a client device and receives a request from the user for content stored on a remote storage system. A portion of the content is encrypted and a corresponding decryption key is available only at the computer system. The remaining portion of the content is unencrypted. The method retrieves the content from the remote storage system and uses the received credentials to determine whether the user is authorized to view the encrypted portion. When the user is not authorized, the method forms alternative content by replacing the encrypted portion with a substitute element and transmits the alternative content to the client device. When the user is authorized, the method decrypts the encrypted portion of the content using the decryption key, and combines the decrypted portion with the unencrypted portion to form updated content. The updated content is transmitted to the client device.

Data files can be stored remotely at remote third-party sites (or company servers) rather than locally. Benefits of remote storage include data backup and redundancy, and remote access to the particular data files by one or more users. A data file to be stored remotely may contain private or confidential content, and the private content needs to be protected from attacks on the third-party site from without or within. To protect the private content, the data file may be transmitted in secure data transmissions between local systems and the third-party site, and the data file may be encrypted and stored in the encrypted form. However, in such an environment the encryption of the data file is typically handled by the third-party site, and the decryption keys are held by the third-party site. Thus, the privacy of the data file is still vulnerable to compromise by malicious operators of the third-party site or an external attack on the third-party site. Alternatively, each user of a data file with private content can encrypt the file prior to transmitting it to the third party site, but this requires each user to have the appropriate key or keys for encrypting the document each time it is transmitted to others and for decrypting the data file when it is accessed. This arrangement is inconvenient due to the need of multiple users to manage keys and also insecure due to the sharing of keys.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An apparatus for truing twisted wooden boards by twisting them in an oppoe direction, comprises an upper set of parallel plates and a lower set of parallel plates. A channel is formed between opposing edges of the upper and lower plates. The upper plates are pivotable about an upper pivot axis, and the lower plates are pivotable about a lower axis. Those axes are oriented transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the channel and are situated at an inlet end of the channel. A pivoting mechanism causes the plates to be displaced vertically relative to one another to twist the channel about its longitudinal axis.

The invention concerns a process for the rotary truing of boards and similar elongated wood products by means of a plurality of adjustably supported guide bodies, which together form a flat board guide channel extending along the longitudinal axis of the frame and having a twist around the longitudinal axis of the frame, said twist being variable by the adjustment of the guide bodies.
Boards and similar plate like elongated wood products may be cut by chipless cutting methods from the sides of flattened logs or tree trunks. These boards or similar wood products have not only curvatures, but also twists, i.e. they are turned or twisted around their longitudinal axis. In numerous applications, this deformation prevents any automatic further processing of the boards. The intensity of the twist increases with the inclination at which the blades cutting the board are set against the longitudinal direction of the wood.
By means of a known apparatus of the aforementioned type (for example, Gonner et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,940) the boards may be subjected to a rotary straightening process, so that they lose their twist due to the manufacturing process and become suitable for further processing.
In the case of this known apparatus in a plurality of successive guide stands, rollers are provided as the board guide bodies. The guide stands are pivoted around a common axis, for example the longitudinal axis of the frame, in a manner such that together they form a board guide channel, the twist around the longitudinally axis whereof is chosen so that it straightens the existing twist of the boards.
As the twist of the boards varies depending on the manufacturing conditions, the type of wood and its properties, the guide stands of the known apparatus are individually equipped with separate pivot drives to move them into the pivoting position required. The control of these individual pivot drives is relatively expensive. In addition, the necessary design effort is relatively high.
In a known apparatus for example, Hobbs U.S. Pat. No. 2,399,348 for the bending of laminated work pieces to be glued together, a plurality of parallel bending stops may be moved against the work piece in order to press it against a group of stationary stops. However, the work piece is not twisted in the process, but bent. Furthermore, the work piece does not travel in a guide channel, but is inserted between the two groups of bending stops prior to their displacement.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to develop an apparatus of the aforementioned generic type so that it is very sturdy while having a simple design configuration; said apparatus making possible the adjustment of the board guide channel.

Gebruder Linck Maschinenfabrik "Gatterlinck" GmbH & Co. KG


Various implementations described herein are directed to a device having memory circuitry with a core array of bitcells. The device may include write assist circuitry having passgates coupled to the bitcells via bitlines. The passgates may include a first passgate coupled to the bitcells via a first bitline and a second passgate coupled to the bitcells via a second bitline, and a gate of the second passgate may be coupled to the first bitline.

This section is intended to provide information relevant to understanding the various technologies described herein. As the section's title implies, this is a discussion of related art that should in no way imply that it is prior art. Generally, related art may or may not be considered prior art. It should therefore be understood that any statement in this section should be read in this light, and not as any admission of prior art.
Memory compilers utilize configuration data to generate physical layout designs of memory circuitry for read and write access operations. Traditional memory compilers examine characterized data to develop various memory instances that cover the memory compiler space. However, some traditional techniques typically introduce accuracy errors in reference to memory instance data. In some cases, various leakage, timing, power and noise data for the memory instances is stored, and some traditional memory compilers typically analyze error prone memory instances related to entire memory circuits, gather results, and then compute a final result. These accuracy errors often effect reliability of memory instances. Thus, traditional layout techniques can be inefficient, time-consuming and unreliable, and traditional layout techniques can cause accuracy errors due to some memory instances having sensitivity to a number of rows (e.g., bitcells, columns, and/or wordline drivers). As such, there exists a need to improve physical design implementation of memory circuits to provide for more reliable read and write access operations.


An equal flow scale catcher device, or EFSC, is designed based on a unique scale catching technology for a reactor. With multiple scale catching modules, the EFSC offers equal flows to a catalyst bed or distribution tray of the reactor, independent of each module's degree of saturation with particles of an incoming fluid during operation. Thus, the innovative EFSC system achieves substantial uniformity of fluid delivery across the distribution tray of the reactor and the static pressure field above the liquid level on the distribution tray. Further, the EFSC effectively captures solid particles in the incoming fluid to the reactor and solid particles that form at the top head of the reactor. The EFSC employs a modular structure that allows optimal configuration of the scale catching modules and scale catching units inside each scale catching module, thus efficiently facilitating simple and efficient installation, maintenance, and/or replacement of the EFSC.

A device for filtration of reactors is in demand. During hydroprocessing, pressure drop over a fixed catalyst bed can intensify for various reasons, including polymerization, coking, and plugging of the catalyst bed with various particles and compounds brought to the reactor by the inlet streams (gas and/or liquid).
The reasons for reactor shutdown can be various, but beyond deactivation of the catalyst, buildup of pressure drop over catalytic beds is the most common.
Because all reactors have a maximum allowable pressure drop, with operational costs (energy consumption) increasing if operated under increased pressure drop, the unit of which a reactor is a part must be shut down for complete or partial change of the catalyst loaded in that reactor.
The industry has developed various technologies for protecting the active catalyst in the reactor. Catalyst grading and different high-void and porous materials that can store particles before reaching the catalyst have been introduced to the market and are used widely, but they have limitations. For example, such materials are loaded into the "reactor active space," so the quantity of main/bulk catalyst must be reduced to leave space for grading. What's more, it has never been positively shown that all grading is used. As larger materials are loaded atop smaller ones, the layers of the catalyst act as a serial sieve, with separation of particle sizes taking place at the interfaces between those layers.
Many leading technology licensors (Shell©, Topsoe©, UOP©) offer proprietary scale catching technology that is used in many hydroprocessing reactors globally. Even so, there is a need to develop a device to solve the aforementioned problems.
The present invention is intended to address problems associated with and/or otherwise improve on conventional devices through an innovative scale capture device that is designed to provide a convenient means of installing and capturing solid particles that enter a reactor while incorporating other problem-solving features.


A technique for eliminating tone signal noise generated using a speakerphone, in which the communication path of a microphone is interrupted when a key is pressed, and then the communication path of the microphone is linked only after a constant time period after the key has been released, thereby eliminating the noise input through the microphone during usage of the speakerphone.

The present invention relates to digital key telephone desksets, and more particularly, to a method and circuit for canceling a tone signal noise generated in using a speakerphone deskset.
Typically, in digital key telephone deskset, a dual tone multifrequency signal (hereinafter referred to as a "DTMF" signal) is generated in correspondence with the different ones of the number keys of a keypad pressed by a user when using a speakerphone deskset, and noise that is input via the microphone of the speakerphone are concurrently transmitted to the key telephone main equipment. If the user presses number keys using the keypad of the deskset, the microprocessor controls a tone generator included in telephone communication unit to generate the DTMF signal corresponding to the pressed number keys. The DTMF signal is transmitted to a data transmitter via network controller and coder. The data transmitter transmits the DTMF signal to the key telephone main equipment together with a channel D among 2B+D channels. Since the user uses a speakerphone, a communication path including the microphone of the deskset is formed. Thus, in using the speakerphone, the noise input through the microphone is transmitted to the data transmitter via switch, an analog-to-digital converter, a transmitting bandpass filter, network controller and coder. The data transmitter transmits the noise to key telephone main equipment together with a channel B among 2+D channels.
Therefore, the DTMF signal and the noise are mixed in the network formed when the key telephone main equipment transmits the DTMF signal to another exchange system via a central office line. As the result, a DTMF receiver of another exchange system for receiving the DTMF signal from the central office line can not precisely analyze the DTMF signal due to the noise. The noise input to the microphone of the digital key telephone apparatus is the sounds, i.e., the noise, generated when the number keys are pressed. The tone signal noise generated when the user presses the number keys. The DTMF signal is not intense so as to be negligible while keys are being pressed. The DTMF signal is however, severely affected by the noise when the keys are pressed into an electrically conducting, or "on", state or released to an electrically non-conducting, or "off", state. Since the noise is maintained for a predetermined time period ta when a key is released (no longer pressed), the quality of the DTMF signal is considerably deleteriously affected.

Method and apparatus for canceling tone signal noise generated when using a speakerphone in a digital key telephone apparatus


This method for producing a structure wherein base materials are bonded by atomic diffusion comprises: a step for applying a liquid resin on the base material; a step for smoothing the surface of the liquid resin by surface tension; a step for forming a resin layer by curing; a step for forming a metal thin film on the resin layer; a step for forming a metal thin film on the base material; and a step for bringing the metal thin film of the base material and the metal thin film of the base material into close contact with each other, thereby bonding the metal thin film of the resin layer and the metal thin film of the base material with each other by atomic diffusion.

A structure may be manufactured by bonding multiple elements. For example, a semiconductor assembly may be manufactured by bonding (laminating) semiconductor devices and substrates. Patent Literature 1 discloses a bonding method by forming a resin layer over a surface of a substrate to cover electrodes on the surface of the substrate and bonding semiconductor devices to the electrodes on the substrate while melting the resin layer. This manufacturing method can reduce contaminants entering between the electrodes and the semiconductor devices on the substrate.
Recently, besides the above described bonding method, an atomic diffusion bonding method for elements are known. In the atomic diffusion bonding method, a metal thin film is formed on each of a pair of facing surfaces of elements. The elements are bonded by tightly attaching the metal thin films together to cause atomic diffusion. Because the atomic diffusion bonding method can be performed at room temperature, the bonding is possible without applying heat to the elements, and is applicable to elements of different materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion. Further, because the bonding is achieved at an atomic level, no adhesive agent is required. The atomic diffusion bonding method is excellent in bonding strength, reliability, and durability.

Method for producing structure, and structure


An eyeglass device includes a frame supporting first and second lenses therein. The frame includes support hooks and latch assemblies that permit the securing of third and fourth lenses to the frame over a respective first and second lens. Alternatively, an auxiliary frame is fastened to the frame using securing members attached to the auxiliary frame, the frame, or both the auxiliary frame and the frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to eyeglass devices and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to eyeglass devices with auxiliary lenses or frames.
2. Description of the Related Art
Eyeglass devices typically include a primary frame for supporting two lenses that, depending upon the needs of a wearer, function to correct vision, provide eye protection, or shade the eyes. Due to these varying needs, some frames permit the interchanging of lenses or the attachment of auxiliary frames to the primary frames to provide the wearer flexibility.
One such eyeglass device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,080, which issued on Nov. 2, 1982, to Solomon. Solomon includes an eyeglass frame having two latches. Hooks are positioned about the frame's periphery to secure the lenses to the frame. Each latch has a pivotable arm that, in a first horizontal position, secures a lens against the hooks and, in a second vertical position, permits removal of the lens from the hooks. To remove a lens, a wearer's finger pivots the latch arm upwards releasing the lens. Once the lens is removed from the hooks, another lens is slid underneath the hooks. Pivoting the arm downward secures the lens to the frame.
Another eyeglass device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,537, which issued on May 16, 1995, to Sadler. The Sadler device includes a primary spectacle device and a separate one-piece lens. The primary spectacle device includes a bridge, two eyepieces, two temple members, and two primary lenses. Each eyepiece supports a single lens and is integrally formed with an opposing end of the bridge. The frame temple members permanently and pivotally connect to respective eyepieces. Each eyepiece also has a magnetic member connected to its face corresponding to the temporal region of the wearer. The one-piece lens has two magnetic members affixed to its backside. The lens's magnetic members connect with the primary magnetic members for facilitating the lens's attachment to and removal from the primary spectacle device.
A further eyeglass device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,207, which issued on Oct. 22, 1996, to Chao. The Chao device includes a primary spectacle device and an auxiliary spectacle device. The primary spectacle device includes a bridge, two eyepieces, two temple members, two primary lenses, and two protrusions. Each eyepiece supports a single lens and is integrally formed with an opposing end of the bridge. The frame temple members permanently and pivotally connect to respective eyepieces. The protrusions have respective magnetic members and connect at the periphery of respective eyepieces. Each protrusion is located proximate to the connection of the respective eyepiece and temple member.
The auxiliary spectacle device includes a bridge, two eyepieces, and two arms. Each eyepiece supports a single lens and is integrally formed with an opposing end of the bridge. The arms are integrally formed with respective eyepieces and extend rearwardly from their respective eyepieces' periphery. Each arm has a magnetic member for engagement with respective magnetic members of the primary spectacle device. The magnetic members of both devices facilitate the auxiliary spectacle device's attachment to and removal from the primary spectacle device.
Although the Solomon frame design permits the interchanging of lenses, it suffers several disadvantages. A wearer requiring prescription lenses to correct vision defects cannot substitute non-prescription lenses if, for example, safety lenses are required because a substantial impairment of vision will occur. In addition, the latch arm is sometimes difficult to operate. The wearer's finger engages the relatively smooth, elongated latch arm to raise it. If moisture is present on the wearer's finger or the arm, the finger may slide off the arm's smooth surface, thereby failing to lift it.
Although the Sadler and Chao devices use magnets to attach a respective auxiliary lens or frame to a primary frame, both designs fail to properly secure the auxiliary piece. If the wearer should pivot his head rapidly downward, the auxiliary piece disengages from the primary frame. This accidental disengagement may result in damage to or loss of the auxiliary lens or frame.
Accordingly, an eyeglass device permitting a prescription lens wearer to wear non-prescription lenses and having an easily grasped latch arm, or an eyeglass device that enhances the securing of an auxiliary piece to a primary frame will improve over conventional eyeglasses.

Eyeglass devices with removable auxiliary lenses or frames


An apparatus for adjusting touch sensitivity in a mobile terminal apparatus includes a touch sensitivity adjuster for adjusting touch sensitivity of a touch screen unit, and a controller controlling the touch sensitivity adjuster to selectively adjust the touch sensitivity according to an input method.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for adjusting touch sensitivity in a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method capable of adjusting touch sensitivity depending on an input method of a mobile terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a touch screen has been applied to various terminals such as mobile phones, smart phones, unmanned Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs), palm Personal Computers (PCs), and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) as an input means. Examples of a terminal with a touch screen may include electronic organizers, mobile terminals, PDAs, etc.
The touch screen provides a user interface that allows a user to input commands and information by touching icons displayed on a screen of the terminal with his or her finger or a stylus pen. In line with the growing trend of miniaturization and lightweight of mobile terminals, the touch screen unit should be more reduced in both size and weight.
In mobile terminals with a touch screen, the touch screen uses, as its input methods, a tap input method (e.g., touch input method) in which a touch is released within a predetermined time period, and a move input method (e.g., drag input method) in which a touch is released after a lapse of a predetermined time period.
In the case of the tap input method which is used to input characters and symbols using a key input unit displayed on the touch screen, if touch sensitivity is low and when two adjacent keys on the touch screen are input or touched fast, each input or touch may be recognized not as a point but as a line. Therefore, a character or symbol for only one of the two input keys may be input input accuracy. Thus, the touch sensitivity should be increased in order to increase input efficiency.
In the case of the tap input method which is used to input characters and symbols using a key input unit displayed on the touch screen, if touch sensitivity is low and when two adjacent keys on the touch screen are input or touched fast, each input or touch may be recognized not as a point but as a line. Therefore, a character or symbol for only one of the two input keys may be input. Thus, the touch sensitivity should be increased in order to increase input efficiency.
As described above, adjusting the touch sensitivity has a trade-off relationship between the tap input method and the move input method. In the conventional mobile terminals, therefore, touch sensitivity of an intermediate level is only set as a default level of the touch sensitivity.

Apparatus and method for adjusting touch sensitivity in mobile terminal


A detection system for a washroom device evaluates outputs from an active sensor and a passive sensor to determine whether to activate the device (e.g., operate a valve in a sink or a lavatory). The active sensor has a transmitter that directs a light beam to a selected zone and a receiver that detects whether the light beam is reflected back to the sensor. The passive sensor detects changes in a temperature signature around the washroom device. A controller evaluates the outputs from both the active sensor and the passive sensor to determine how to operate the washroom device.

Automatically operable touchless washroom devices, such as lavatories and sinks, are becoming increasingly common, particularly in facilities having public washrooms. Touchless washroom devices allow users to avoid touching contaminated surfaces to operate the devices. These devices usually incorporate one or more sensors that detect a person's location and/or movements. A control system then operates a valve or other washroom device component based on the sensor output.
Currently known touchless devices incorporate different kinds of sensors. Active sensors, such as active infrared (IR) sensors, may be used to sense the presence of a person near the washroom device by transmitting a light beam (e.g., an IR beam) and detecting whether the beam is reflected back to the sensor. If a person is near the sensor, the light beam will reflect off of the person's clothing back to the sensor. Different materials and different surface textures, however, reflect light in widely varying different ways. For example, shiny fabrics tend to reflect light more than matte fabrics. Some fabrics even tend to absorb light, making it difficult for an active sensor to detect the presence of a person at all. Moreover, various surfaces, such as shiny tile, tend to reflect light beams back to the sensor, potentially causing the sensor to erroneously detect the presence of a person near the washroom device.
Although systems incorporating two or more sensors are known in the art, these systems either use different sensors to sense a person's presence at different zones and/or distances, to detect a person's presence in different types of light conditions (e.g., high ambient light vs. low ambient light), or to reduce energy consumption by using one sensor to determine whether to activate another sensor. The actual operation of the washroom device, however, still depends on the output of a single sensor in currently known systems, making them susceptible to the inherent operational weakness of the sensor. As a result, the washroom device will not engage accurately, causing either wasted water due to unnecessary device operation and/or user inconvenience due to the failure of the device to operate when needed.
There is a device for a detection system that can detect the presence and absence of a person near the washroom device in a more accurate manner.

Dual detection sensor system for a washroom device


A utility network powered by a power source has a plurality of substations enabled to power electrical equipment in a participant site. At least one substation is disconnected from the utility network and is to be reconnected via a substation with a power constraint. A processor determines how much power should be shed in a participant site of the substation with the power constraint to allow reconnection of the substation that is disconnected. The processor initiates a Demand Response signal to power consuming equipment in the participant site of the substation with the power constraint to shed power. After shedding power based on the Demand Response signal, the substation that was disconnected is connected to the utility network by closing a switch.

In electrical grids, a power supply fault triggering a circuit breaker to open must first be isolated through the identification of the relevant switching devices and the systematic opening of those devices. Only once the fault is isolated, can electricity supply be restored to the remaining customers or equipment electrically connected to the feeder. This is done through the closing of switching devices that isolate the faulty feeder from another feeder, effectively making a portion of the faulted feeder an extension of the good feeder. Complicating this process is the need to ensure that the power consumed by customers on a given segment of the feeder does not exceed the maximum capacity of the feeder.
Determining a sequence of switching devices to be opened or closed is the domain of Outage Management Systems under guidance by utility operators. The process to determine that sequence is non-trivial and is performed through the sub-field of artificial intelligence systems known as automated planning Current Outage Management Systems define the planning problem in terms of two potential actions that can be applied to any switching device in the grid—to open the device (preventing electrical current flow), or to close the device (allowing electrical current flow). The planner uses heuristics based on the power consumed by customers on the feeder and the maximum supported power on the feeder to decide which devices to open or close. This is the extent of the power restoration benchmark used in biennial automated planning competitions conducted as the "International Competition on Knowledge Engineering for Planning and Scheduling" or ICKEPS competitions. Search algorithms to solve this benchmark area an active area of research. The complexity of the search is at least O(n log n) which implies that a human taking 5 minutes to evaluate each state of a search for an outage covering 1000 locations could expect to complete their analysis in 24 complete days.
Different restoration search programs exist. These analyze a grid, its constraints and the known outages. Based on the constraints, recommendations are made for instance on routing decisions to restore areas and optimized for instances for the greatest number of restored customers per restoration action. As discussed earlier, while the routing optimization is known, DR methods are currently not part of these analyses. One restoration routing method is disclosed in "Strategic Planning for Power System Restoration" by Coffrin et al. p. 180-187, Proceedings of the International Conference on Vulnerability and Risk Analysis and Management (ICVRAM 2011) and the International Symposium on Uncertainty Modeling and Analysis (ISUMA 2011), held in Hyattsville, Md., Apr. 11-13, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
In a so-called Smart Grid, the electrical grid gains the ability to have two-way communication between customers on the line and the electrical distribution utility company. This provides several important features to the Outage Management System, among which are: 1) accurate power consumption measurements of customers on the line, and 2) the ability to modify the power consumption of customers on the line by issuing what are known as Demand Response events.
One known application of Demand Response is to prevent outages by load management as for instance described in a Siemens® Sell Sheet on its Demand Response Management System dated Oct. 18, 2012 of Siemens Industry, Inc. of Minnetonka, Minn.
It is believed that currently no Demand Response solutions exist to restore power to consumers who have lost power and restoration is hampered by capacity issues in grid equipment as happened in the Indian Point Unit 3 Nuclear power shutdown of 2012.
How Outages are Handled Currently
Power companies employ a wide range of tactics to handle an outage situation such as those caused by large storms. Depending on the size of the storm, a company may bring in restoration crews from surrounding areas. Prior to Hurricane Sandy, PSE&G requested more than 1300 linemen from other areas. Afterwards, there were more than 60,000 linemen and utility staff and an extra 3000 bucket trucks, involved in restoring power to 8.5M homes (2M of which were PSE&G customers).
Protection devices shut down power by separating circuits to prevent further damage, and restoration then involves identifying the damage then repairing the damage and then restoring power. In this process, telemetry is processed; and work crews are dispatched to locations of known damage or outage.
Managing so many resources requires talented dedicated teams of operators and human communication between control centers. Some Outage Management System software helps with customer communications, and some help with deploying work crews. However, ultimately operators must apply their expertise to prioritize locations.
Reduced Power is a Real Scenario
During Sandy, Entergy in NYC had to shut down Unit 3 at Indian Point Energy Center removing 1041 MW from the grid. Unit 3 serves a million customers. In a robust electrical system, it is better to serve less power to more customers than create a blackout. Substations that have multiple incoming feeders are common.
A substation that loses power on one feeder must transfer load to the feeders that are still energized. This can be done remotely if telemetry is available and no repairs are required. However, if the combined load will be excessive, the transfer cannot be accomplished.
Demand Response is a Real Capability
The demand response capability can reduce the load consumed by energized consumers. Currently most demand response participants operate in a manual mode whereby they may be informed by telephone that they need to power down certain devices. The FERC national action plan for Demand Response includes language encouraging the deployment of automated response systems. It is expected that automated DR systems will be deployed widespread in the near future.
Demand Response is Currently not used in Operator Based Outage Restoration Today
Demand Response is not typically used in developing a restoration strategy for work crews during an outage, to determine how to bring people back online, instead it is used in grid stabilization—simply ensuring that supply meets demand. (FP&L 2008). Operators must still carefully determine a restoration plan. The current manual process requires the operator to use his or her judgment to determine which sites to send work crews to identify or repair damage. This is a complicated procedure due to several factors, including (a) The analysis of supply and prioritization of types of customer and demand served by each outage area; (b) Distances to each outage; (c) There may not be enough work crews available to fix all problems at the same time; (d) It is not efficient to have work crews available at all times for the maximum number of simultaneous outages; (e) Cascading outages prevent repairs upstream until downstream repairs are complete; and (f) Current work crew locations.
To demonstrate the complexity of this process, one can equate solving this problem to a weighted graph search, in which the operator must analyze both the structure of the network and establish goals (weights) for repairing outage locations. This is a typical search problem on a weighted undirected connected graph for which search algorithms exist with O(E log V) time complexity; here E is the number of transmission lines, and V is the number of outage locations. This is a minimum, but the fact that there are multiple work crews, and dependencies between outage locations complicate the search process.
For small grid networks of outages, the search can be executed by a human in a reasonable time. Due to the minimum O(n log n) complexity, the problem scales non-linearly; for example at 1000 outage locations, there are 6908 steps to complete the search. At 5 minutes to analyze each outage location, the search would take 24, 24-hour days to complete, which is clearly not acceptable in addressing real-life outage situations.
Thus outage restoration is best served by heuristic search software that models the structure of the electrical network and can perform this analysis in real time. Furthermore if the operator wishes to apply the demand response methodology described herein, then the operator must at each solution communicate with the selected consumers for power restoration. As discussed above, the number of consumers could easily be in the 1000's. For example, a 10 kw drop on a 1 MW house would require 100 demand response notifications to be communicated to end users, before 1 additional house can be brought online (1 customer for 100 1% drops). Clearly a 10 MW drop on a 200 MW industrial site would be another matter (10 customers could be brought online for a 5% drop).
Accordingly, novel and improved methods and systems are required to apply Demand Response methods for restoring power in parts of a utility grid with capacity constrained equipment after a power outage.

Use of demand response to enable improved power supply restoration planning


A VCR or other microcomputer controlled equipment may be subjected to AC supply interruption resulting from many causes, such as, plugging or unplugging the AC supply with the unit switched on, contact bounce on the AC power switch, AC supply drop outs caused by heavy load switching, lightning etc. Short term AC disconnects should not result in the VCR user settings being lost or the user having to manually reset the control system to restore operability. To gain the earliest indication of imminent supply interruption, the AC supply is monitored and a control signal (STOP) is produced that instructs the microcomputer system to save current parameters and assume a low power dissipation mode. With the reappearance of the supply, a RESET signal is generated which enables commencement of the microcomputer system. AC interruptions as short as two cycles are detected and STOP and RESET signals are produced.

In a consumer product, such as a VCR, a microcomputer system may drive a fluorescent display and control multiple functions such as on-screen programming, tuning and channel numbering, audio and video switching, servo mechanism control and motor control logic. When the AC supply is connected or the supply is resumed following a discontinuity, it is essential that the microcomputer be powered up or reset in a prescribed manner in order to avoid possible physical damage to the mechanism or recording medium, and user inconvenience and annoyance. In a consumer environment a VCR may be subject to AC supply interruption resulting from many causes, such as, plugging or unplugging the AC supply with the unit switched on, contact bounce on the AC power switch, AC supply drop outs caused by heavy load switching, lightning etc. Short term AC disconnects should not result in the VCR user settings being lost or the user having to manually reset the control system to restore operability. To satisfy these requirements it is often necessary to monitor for supply interruption and produce appropriate control signals such as stop, halt, watch, etc., and at the reappearance of the supply to generate a reset signal appropriate for the microcomputer system.
One method employed to detect AC supply interruption, and imminent power supply failure, is by monitoring one of the DC power supply output voltages. A drop in the monitored supply voltage signals to the microcomputer system that a power shut down is imminent. The microcomputer assumes an appropriate mode, i.e. stop, halt, watch, standby etc. wherein certain parameters values are stored in non-volatile memory. Usually the microcomputer power is sustained by a backup system such as a battery or a large value capacitor for a period sufficient to perform an orderly shut down. In a consumer product, such as a VCR, power supply loading may vary significantly with operational mode. Hence monitoring a DC power supply voltage to detect an external AC supply interruption, may prove insensitive if the detection level is set to cope with the normal supply load variations.
Monitoring an AC supply after rectification, filtering, and possibly regulation, will only detect an AC supply failure after an undesirably long period of time has elapsed. In fact the cessation of the AC input supply will be indicated by the drop, or progressive disappearance of the monitored DC supply. The time period between the AC supply failure and the DC supply disappearance may be maximized by the selective use of battery or capacitor back up of specific system elements. However, both batteries and large value capacitors may represent both cost and size/volume penalties.
FIG. 1 shows a prior art reset circuit for a key display board (KDB) microcomputer used in a consumer VCR. The purpose of this circuit is to monitor a power supply voltage and at power up, or after a power interruption, generate a microcomputer RESET pulse.
When the AC supply is connected or the supply is resumed, the power supply produces +5 volts which feeds the circuit. Transistor TR1 is off since the voltage on C1 is less than the voltage required to turn on the base emitter junction of the transistor. With TR1 off, the +5 volts supply voltage, will charge C2 via R5, causing the RESET line to be at the supply voltage. A microcomputer may typically be reset by a potential equal to supply voltage applied to the RESET input and it remains in the reset condition until the RESET line switches to zero volts.
To switch the RESET line to zero volts, capacitor C1 starts to charge to a voltage level Vc, determined by voltage divider R1 and R2. When the voltage on capacitor C1 exceeds the base emitter turn on potential of TR1, the transistor switches on, drawing current from the supply and C2. The discharge of C2 forces the RESET line to a low, near zero volt potential. With zero volts on the RESET line the microcomputer starts to execute the internal instruction set.
When the power is switched off or interrupted, and the +5 volt supply disappears, diode D1 provides a discharge path for C1. However, if the interruption is of short duration between e.g. 32 millisec. to 273 millisec., capacitor C1 will not discharge below the turn on potential of TR1 base emitter junction. Thus when the supply returns immediately, TR1 turns on, since the base emitter junction has remained conducting due to the potential on C1. With TR1 on, the circuit fails to produce a RESET pulse upon resumption of the supply voltage. For power interruptions that occur without the +5 volts supply disappearing the circuit again fails to produce a RESET pulse upon resumption of the supply voltage.
To overcome the limitations of AC power failure detection and to generate an earlier indication of AC failure, a power failure control circuit according to the invention is provided.

Microcomputer power failure control circuit


A queue control system is disclosed for use in connection with the transfer of information, in the form of information transfer units, in a digital network. The network provides a plurality of service rate classes, based on, for example transmission rates for the various paths. The information buffer control subsystem includes a information transfer unit receiver, a information transfer unit buffer and a group controller. The information transfer unit receiver receives the information transfer units, and the buffer is provided to buffer the received information transfer units prior to transmission. The group controller controls the buffering of information transfer units received by the information transfer unit receiver in the buffer. In that operation, the group controller aggregates the information transfer units for each path in the buffer according to respective service rate classes, in particular aggregating the information transfer units for each path in a queue and further aggregating the queues for the paths associated with each service rate class in a queue. A transmission scheduler is also disclosed for use in transferring information, in the form of information transfer units, each associated with a path, in a digital network. The network provides a plurality of service rate classes, based on, for example, transmission rates for the various paths. The information transfer units for each path in a path queue, and the path queues for the paths associated with each service rate class are aggregated in a service rate queue. The transmission scheduler includes a information transfer unit selector for selecting from among the service rate queues, one path queue to provide a information transfer unit for transmission, and a information transfer unit transmitter for transmitting the information transfer unit provided by the selected path queue.

Digital networks have been developed to facilitate the transfer of information, including data and programs, among digital computer systems and other digital devices. A variety of types of networks have been developed and implemented using diverse information transfer methodologies. In some networks, such as the well-known Ethernet, a single wire is used to interconnect all of the devices connected to the network. While this simplifies wiring of the network in a facility and connection of the devices to the network, it results in generally slow information transfer, since the wire can only carry information, in the form of messages, from a single device at a time. To alleviate this to some extent, in some Ethernet installations, the network is divided into a number of sub-networks, each having a separate wire, with interfaces interconnecting the wires. In such installations, wires can carry messages for devices connected thereto simultaneously, which increases the number of messages that can be transferred simultaneously. It is only when a device connected to one wire needs to send a message to a device connected to another wire that wires in two or more sub-networks will be used, making them unavailable for use by other devices connected thereto.
To alleviate this, networks have been developed in which communications are handled through a mesh of switching nodes. The computer systems and other devices are connected to various ones of the switching nodes to, as information sources, provide information for transfer over the network and/or, as destinations, for receiving information from the network, with the information that is transferred being transferred over selected paths of switching nodes comprising the network. In various types of networks, including networks in which information is transferred using the well-known "ATM" ("Asynchronous Transfer Mode") transfer methodology, various information transfer paths through the network between respective sources and destinations can be assigned classes of guaranteed transfer services, such as guaranteed rates at which information can be transferred over the respective paths in the network. A problem arises, however, in that the switching nodes in the network need to be able to efficiently ensure that information to be transferred over the paths with the guaranteed service rates is transferred in accordance with those guaranteed rates, and in addition to provide that they will also be able to transfer information over paths for which no guaranteed service rates are provided.

Digital network including mechanism for grouping virtual message transfer paths having similar transfer service rates to facilitate efficient scheduling of transfers thereover


A method and system receives a print job from a host device, parses the print job into individual print data for at least two separate printing devices, generates a random set of marks for identification of the print job, embeds the identification marks into the individual print data for a first printing device; and sends the individual print data and the marks to each printing device. Simultaneously, each printing device in the system receives its individual dataset for printing and the set of identification marks from the control unit and starts its print engine at a high speed. The first printing device prints its dataset and the identification marks on at least a first page of the printed dataset. The remaining printing devices then scan the roll of print media until they recognize the matching identification marks and begin printing their individual dataset on the roll of print media.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to the field of printer systems, and more particularly relates to a method for aligning two or more independent printing systems.
2. Description of Related Art
A high-speed printing system is used by businesses to print a large volume of information such as bills and account statements. The printing system prints on a continuous, fan-fold type of media that is threaded through the machine. However, it is very difficult for the printing system to print duplex (both sides of the paper). Also, the printing system can only operate from one source, as it is critical that the variable data to be printed remains together.
Printing duplex when running continuous fan-fold forms at high speed requires either large and expensive printing devices, or the use of more than one printing device that can only print on one side. When running more than one independent printing device (which includes a print engine) that are separated by several meters, it becomes critical that the print data that is to match the second side be placed in conjunction with the data printed on the first side by the first print engine. Whether two, three, four or more print engines are used, the data that is printed on the paper by each of the engines must be the matching data for the page.
In non-automated methods, an operator is required to align the print engines by visually inspecting the print and manually indicating to the control unit that the print alignment is correct. This introduces the possibility of potential operator error, which wastes paper and costs valuable time.
Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above, and particularly for a method of aligning two or more printing systems.

Method for aligning two or more independent printing systems with a single control unit and intelligent print controllers

International Business Machines Corporation


Techniques are disclosed herein for applying different process steps to single-level cell (SLC) blocks in a memory array than to multi-level cell (MLC) blocks such that the SLC blocks will have high endurance and the MLC blocks will have high reliability. In some aspects, different doping is used in the MLC blocks than the SLC blocks. In some aspects, different isolation is used in the MLC blocks than the SLC blocks. Techniques are disclosed that apply different read parameters depending on how many times a block has been programmed/erased. Therefore, blocks that have been cycled many times are read using different parameters than blocks that have been cycled fewer times.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to non-volatile memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor memory has become increasingly popular for use in various electronic devices. For example, non-volatile semiconductor memory is used in cellular telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, mobile computing devices, non-mobile computing devices and other devices. Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) and flash memory are among the most popular non-volatile semiconductor memories. With flash memory, also a type of EEPROM, the contents of the whole memory array, or of a portion of the memory, can be erased in one step, in contrast to the traditional, full-featured EEPROM.
Both the traditional EEPROM and the flash memory utilize a floating gate that is positioned above and insulated from a channel region in a semiconductor substrate. The floating gate is positioned between the source and drain regions. A control gate is provided over and insulated from the floating gate. The threshold voltage (VTH) of the transistor thus formed is controlled by the amount of charge that is retained on the floating gate. That is, the minimum amount of voltage that must be applied to the control gate before the transistor is turned on to permit conduction between its source and drain is controlled by the level of charge on the floating gate.
Some EEPROM and flash memory devices have a floating gate that is used to store two ranges of charges and, therefore, the memory element can be programmed/erased between two states, e.g., an erased state and a programmed state. Such a flash memory device is sometimes referred to as a binary flash memory device because each memory element can store one bit of data.
A multi-state (also called multi-level) flash memory device is implemented by identifying multiple distinct allowed/valid programmed threshold voltage ranges. Each distinct threshold voltage range corresponds to a predetermined value for the set of data bits encoded in the memory device. For example, each memory element can store two bits of data when the element can be placed in one of four discrete charge bands corresponding to four distinct threshold voltage ranges.
Some flash memory devices operate as both binary and multi-states. For example, some memory cells are used to store one bit of data ("single-level cell or SLC blocks") and other memory cells are used to store multiple bits per cell ("multi-level cell or MLC blocks"). For some devices, the SLC blocks and MLC blocks are part of the same integrated circuit, and may even be part of the same memory array. The SLC blocks may be used for short term storage of data, whereas the MLC blocks may be used for long term data storage. Thus, the SLC blocks may be programmed/erased many more times over the life of the device than MLC blocks. Therefore, endurance may be a more significant problem for SLC blocks than for MLC blocks.
On the other hand, because the MLC blocks have more states than SLC blocks, the states are packed in more closely, which leads to greater reliability problem with MLC blocks. An example of a reliability problem is program disturb, which may be experienced during programming due to the proximity of the non-volatile storage elements to one another. Program disturb occurs when the threshold voltage of a previously-programmed non-volatile storage element is shifted due to subsequent programming of other non-volatile storage elements. Because MLC blocks have more states and, therefore, have less separation between the threshold voltage of one state and the next, program disturb is a greater problem for MLC blocks then for SLC blocks.
However, it can be difficult to form SLC blocks and MLC blocks that have desired characteristics for each type of block on the same integrated circuit. For example, the process of forming the integrated circuit can be tailored to achieve high reliability for MLC blocks, but this may come at the expense of lower endurance for SLC blocks.

Fabricating and operating a memory array having a multi-level cell region and a single-level cell region


Methods and apparatus for initially decoding a frame control header (FCH) in an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system in an effort to accurately determine the downlink frame prefix (DLFP) such that the remainder of an OFDM/A frame may be properly decoded are provided. Used, for example, when boosting factors applied in the transmitter to various elements of the OFDM/A frame and/or available pilots for the FCH are unknown, such methods may utilize a preamble channel estimate, the FCH pilots, or a combination thereof.

OFDM and OFDMA wireless communication systems under IEEE 802.16 use a network of base stations to communicate with wireless devices (i.e., mobile stations) registered for services in the systems based on the orthogonality of frequencies of multiple subcarriers and can be implemented to achieve a number of technical advantages for wideband wireless communications, such as resistance to multipath fading and interference. Each base station emits and receives radio frequency (RF) signals that convey data to and from the mobile stations. Such an RF signal from a base station includes an overhead load, in addition to the data load (voice and other data), for various communication management functions. Each mobile station processes the information in the overhead load of each received signal prior to processing the data.
Under the current versions of the IEEE 802.16x standards for the OFDM/A systems, every downlink subframe from a base station includes a preamble and a frame control header (FCH) following the preamble as part of the overhead load. The preamble includes information for searching a cell and a cell sector within a cell and for synchronizing a mobile station in both time and frequency with the received downlink signal. The FCH portion of the downlink subframe includes 24 bits with information on the downlink transmission format (e.g., the downlink media access protocol, or DL MAP) and control information for the downlink data reception (e.g., allocation of the subcarriers in the current downlink frame).
Therefore, a receiver, such as a mobile station, first decodes the FCH to determine the position of the DL MAP, decodes the DL MAP of the corresponding position, and then extracts the data. Due to the nature of the information in the FCH, if the reception of FCH fails or the FCH is decoded incorrectly, the following downlink operations on the receiver side cannot be properly executed. Accordingly, proper interpretation of the FCH is important to OFDM and OFDMA system operation.

Methods and systems for initial FCH processing


The power or frequency characteristics of a layered frequency selective surface assembly (1) having a dielectric substrate layer (2) and, superimposed therewith at a spacing (X) therefrom, at least one layer (3) of electrically conductive elements (4) disposed in an array, is modulated by moving at least one layer (2, 3) relative to the or each other layer (2, 3). The layers (2, 3) maybe substantially planar or substantially non-planar and may be disposed substantially parallel to one another. Relative movement between the layers (2, 3) may retain the substantially parallel orientation or may not retain the substantially parallel orientation. The relative movement may have the effect of changing the spacing between the layers (2, 3) for example to tilt, skew or rotate one layer relative to the or each other layer.

Passive planar frequency selective surface assemblies are known in the form of an array of identical electrically conductive elements printed on a flat dielectric substrate. Such known assemblies have the useful property, by virtue of resonances within and between the conductive elements, that the transmission and reflection of microwave energy by the surface of the assembly is strongly frequency dependent. This allows the assembly to be used in the construction of, for example multi-band reflector antennae, in which the routing and possible transmission of microwave signals is strongly frequency dependent. Thus the assembly can be used to reflect signals in one frequency band and to pass signals in another frequency band. Additional to such two layer assemblies, assemblies are also known with a plurality of layers of electrically conductive elements.
Recent research has proposed that the characteristics of a frequency selective surface assembly can be electronically altered on a very short time scale by switching or otherwise controlling active electronic devices embedded into the individual electrically conductive elements. Such an active frequency selective surface assembly could have many potential applications, but embedding electronic devices in individual electrically conductive elements is difficult and would make such assemblies expensive and difficult to make and use.

Layer frequency selective surface assembly and method of modulating the power or frequency characteristics thereof

British Aerospace Public Limited Company


A sensor device for detecting a substance contained in a fluid comprises first and second photonic crystal regions, first and second flow channels, an optical waveguide connected to the first and second photonic crystal regions and an optical detector for detecting the lights transmitted through the first photonic crystal region and the waveguide and transmitted through or reflected by the second photonic crystal region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sensor device of a microanalysis system (μ-TAS) for detecting a concentration, a fine pressure distribution, a fine temperature distribution, biological information, genetic information, and so forth of a substance flowing through a flow channel of the system.
2. Related Background Art
Recently, techniques are being developed for microanalysis in chemistry, biochemistry, and the like fields by use of a much smaller system. A typical example is a μ-TAS system which employs a micro flow channel, which enables separation/mixing, reactions, and so forth by a much smaller flow channel.
With development of biotechnology and bio-industry, detection elements like DNA chips are being developed and commercialized for reading bio-genetic information.
With the development of three-dimensional working techniques, chemical analysis systems are attracting attention which are constituted of liquid elements such as a micro flow channel, a pump, and a valve, and a sensor in integration on a substrate made of glass, silicon, or the like to conduct chemical analysis. Such a system is called a miniaturized analysis system, μ-TAS (micro total analysis system), or a lab-on-a-chip. The miniaturized chemical analysis system enables decrease of a dead volume in the system, remarkable decrease of a sample quantity, shortening of analysis time, and saving of power consumption of the total system. Further, cost-down of the system can be expected by the miniaturization. Owing to such advantages, the μ-TAS is promising in application in biotechnology fields such as in medical treatment like home medical care, and a bedside monitor; in biotechnology fields such as DNA analysis, and proteome analysis.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-337173 discloses a micro-reactor which conducts sequential biochemical experimental operations of mixing solutions causing a reaction of the mixture, analyzing a component, and separating the component by employing combination of several cells. FIG. 11 shows schematically a structure of a micro-reactor. In FIG. 11, micro-reactor 1111 has independent reaction chambers closed by a flat plate on a silicon substrate. The reactor is constituted of reservoir cell 1112, mixing cell 1113, reaction cell 1114, detection cell 1115, and separation cell 1116. With plural reactors formed on a substrate, plural biochemical reaction can be simultaneously and concurrently conducted. Further, not only the analysis, but also a substance synthesis reaction such as protein synthesis can be conducted by use of the cells.
Such a μ-TAS system or a bib-chip requires a final detection step after the reaction or other operation steps. In the detection step, a light beam is useful as the precise detecting means less affective to the objective substance owing to non-contacting and non-reactive properties of the light.
In an example of the detection procedure, an objective substance is labeled with a fluorophor, an exciting light beam is projected to the objective substance, and the fluorescence is detected. In another example of the detection procedure, a light beam is projected to the objective substance, and light transmittance is measured. In still another example of the detection procedure, the light beam is projected to an objective substance through a prism brought close to the objective substance and the loss of the total reflection light is measured.
In the fluorescence labeling method, a desirable label, namely a label sufficiently sensitive for the detection, is not necessarily applicable owing to compatibility between the objective substance and the labeling substance. Further, in this method, the fluorescence as the signal component is interfered less by the intense exciting light as a noise because of the wavelength difference between the exciting light and the fluorescence advantageously, but the generation efficiency of the fluorescence as the signal component cannot readily be raised, which renders difficult to improve the total SN ratio.
In the light transmission measurement method or the light absorbance measurement method utilizing the transmitted light, when the objective substance is contained in a high concentration in the measurement fluid to exhibit a low transmittance, the signal is weak to result in a lower SN ratio. On the other hand, in this method, when the concentration of the objective substance is lowered to solve the above disadvantage, the original signal becomes weak to lower the SN ratio, also. Furthermore, even though the influence of the light is not remarkable, the light penetrating through the objective fluid may cause heat generation or a photoreaction, so that the intensity of the light should be limited.
In the total reflection loss measurement method, more intense light can be used than in the light transmission measurement method. However, the wavelength of the light for detection of a change or loss and the wavelength of the irradiated light are the same, which requires extremely large dynamic range of the detector, disadvantageously. Therefore, with this measurement method, a slight loss by a slight degree of reaction in the micro flow channel cannot be measured with a high accuracy.
On the other hand, a sensor device employing a photonic crystal, which has a high sensitivity, tends to detect an external disturbance as a noise component.
The external disturbance includes a fluctuation of a concentration, a temperature, and a density. The photonic crystal region itself and the substrate connected thermally to the photonic crystal region change in the temperature in various manners depending on the measurement operation environment. This is different from a high-cost or large-sized constitution which is equipped with a temperature-controlling feedback system, namely a temperature sensor, a heater/cooler element, a control circuit, or a power source. The constitution of small integration or a low cost cannot be equipped with such a temperature control means.
In particular, in a detection device in which a concentration of a biological substance as the objective substance in a solution flowing through a flow channel is measured, the measurement is conducted in a sequence of operation steps: (1) firstly a buffer solution containing no biological substance is allowed to flow through the flow channel, (2) secondly a buffer solution containing a biological substance is allowed to flow through the flow channel, and (3) finally a buffer solution containing no biological substance is allowed to flow through the flow channel to detect the difference from the initial level. In such an operation sequence, fluctuation of the concentration, temperature, or density of the buffer solution directly causes fluctuation of the baseline to produce a noise component. To decrease the temperature fluctuation, a means should be equipped for keeping the temperature constant in the aforementioned measurement region, and further a means should be equipped for keeping constant the temperature of the buffer solution before entering the measurement region. This causes a cost increase and a larger size of the device.


A process for the synthesis of quinazolinone containing compounds which may be useful for the treatment of cancer, is hereby disclosed. In addition, compound intermediates relating to these processes are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates generally to the synthesis or preparation of certain phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors and their synthetic intermediates. Inhibitors of PI3K, such as quinazoline-purinyl containing compounds, may be useful in treating PI3K-mediated disorders such as cancer. There is a need to have alternative processes in making such PI3K inhibitors.

Process methods for phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors


A ground lead connection is provided to electrically ground a motor armature shaft. In one embodiment the device has a motor housing in which is mounted a bearing. An armature shaft is journaled in the bearing and a ground lead is attached to the bearing. The bearing is provided with a counter bore socket which receives a terminal from the ground lead. The terminal includes a ferrule and a plug which has flared fingers. When connected, the plug engages the bore of the socket and the fingers engage the counter bore to permanently prevent removal of the terminal from the socket. The shaft is thereby grounded via the bearing without the need for numerous parts.

It is well known that electric motor installations often require that the motor shaft be electrically grounded. Such is desirable to prevent the flow of electrical current through the shaft to power transmission equipment, fans, work pieces, and the like which are attached to the motor in the event that a short circuit occurs inside the motor. Previously, it has been known to attach a ground lead to the stator laminations by means of a ground standoff or boss which is welded onto the laminations. The ground lead is in turn attached to the boss by a screw or rivet. It should be apparent that in order to ground the shaft, using this method, it is necessary to effect a connection between the stator and the shaft. This is typically accomplished by a copper strap which contacts the laminations and also contacts the sleeve bearing in which the shaft is journaled. As can be seen, such a prior art structure requires a number of parts and manufacturing steps simply to effect an adequate ground. Accordingly, the prior art techniques and structure have been both labor intensive and costly to manufacture.
There is clearly a need in the art for a ground lead for a motor shaft which is easy to connect and which can consistently provide suitable grounding without the need for numerous parts and labor intensive assembly techniques.


A plug-in part for a plug connector arrangement is provided. The plug-in part being in the form of a piece of tubing and having a sealing portion, comprising a sealing element enclosing the piece of tubing in a circumferential direction, and a locking portion with at least one undercut, and it being possible for the plug-in part to be plugged into the receptacle of a coupling part of the plug connector arrangement in order to produce a fluid-tight connection, and for at least one locking element of the coupling part to engage behind the plug-in part in the region of the undercut. In order to develop the plug-in part so as to reduce the risk of the sealing element being adversely affected, the undercut is formed by a protrusion which projects from the outside of the piece of tubing and extends circumferentially merely over a sub-region of the piece of tubing.

The invention relates to a plug-in part for a plug connector arrangement, the plug-in part being in the form of a piece of tubing and having a sealing portion, comprising a sealing element enclosing the piece of tubing in a circumferential direction, and a locking portion with at least one undercut, and it being possible for the plug-in part to be plugged into the receptacle of a coupling part of the plug connector arrangement in order to produce a fluid-tight connection, and for at least one locking element of the coupling part to engage behind the plug-in part in the region of the undercut.
Such plug-in parts are used in plug connector arrangements by means of which pipes or hoses can be connected to one another in a releasable manner. For this purpose, the plug connector arrangement has a coupling part with a receptacle into which the plug-in part can be plugged. By means of locking elements, the plug-in part can be locked in the coupling part. The plug-in part is in the form of a piece of tubing and, adjacent to its free end, has a sealing portion with a sealing element which fully encloses the piece of tubing in the circumferential direction. If the plug-in part is plugged into the receptacle of the coupling part, then the sealing element engages in a fluid-tight manner against the wall of the receptacle, and a locking element of the coupling part engages behind at least one undercut, which is positioned in the region of a locking portion of the plug-in part. The plug-in part is thus secured in the direction of its longitudinal axis in the receptacle of the coupling part, with a fluid-tight connection being maintained in the process.
Such plug-in parts are known, for example, from German Utility Model DE 86 24 767 U1. In order to lock the plug-in part in the receptacle of the coupling part, this utility model proposes the use of a locking plug having two legs and a cross-piece connecting the two legs to one another, the legs each forming a locking element. The plug-in part is in the form of a piece of tubing and has a conical portion which is adjoined by an annular groove which, on its side which is directed away from the conical portion, is bounded by a cylindrical portion. Both the cylindrical portion and the conical portion fully enclose the known piece of tubing in the circumferential direction. The rear side of the conical portion, this rear side being directed away from the front side of the known plug-in part, forms an undercut, and this has two locking elements engaging behind it when the plug-in part is inserted into the receptacle of the coupling part.
The fluid-tight connection between the plug-in part and the coupling part is ensured by a sealing element. If the sealing element is adversely affected, this results in it being possible for a fluid which is routed through the plug-in part and the coupling part to escape out of the receptacle of the coupling part via the locking portion.
It is an object of the present invention to develop a plug-in part of the type mentioned in the introduction so as to reduce the risk of the sealing element being adversely affected.

Plug-in part for a plug connector arrangement


In a multi-core stream processing system and scheduling method of the same, a scheduler is coupled to a number (N) of stream processing units and a number (N+1) of stream fetching units, where N≧2. When the scheduler receives a stream element from a Pth stream fetching unit, the scheduler assigns a Pth stream processing unit as a target stream processing unit when the Pth stream processing unit does not encounter a bottleneck condition, assigns a Qth stream processing unit, which does not encounter the bottleneck condition, as the target stream processing unit when the Pth stream processing unit encounters the bottleneck condition, where 1≦P≦N, 1≦Q≦N, and P≠Q, and dispatches the received stream element to the target stream processing unit such that the target stream processing unit processes the stream element dispatched from the scheduler.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a scheduling method for a multi-core system, more particularly to a multi-core stream processing system and scheduling method for the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional multi-core stream processing system, since workloads of respective stream processing units differ from each other, the utilization rate of each stream processing unit cannot be optimized, thereby adversely affecting system performance.

Multi-core stream processor having (N) processing units and (N+1) fetching units


A high performance, high bandwidth memory bus architecture and module. The module may be a card that includes standard synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) chips and reduces latency and pin count. Four bus pins separate input commands from data and establish parallel system operations. By maintaining "packet" type transactions, independent memory operations can be enhanced from that of normal SDRAM operations. The architecture divides its buses into command and data inputs that are separate from output data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to Random Access Memory (RAM) bus architectures and, more particularly, to a RAM bus architecture that utilizes standard Synchronous Dynamic RAMs (SDRAMs) and that is capable of high bandwidth, high speed data transfer while minimizing Input/Output (I/O) pin count.
2. Background Description
High bandwidth architectures have been proposed for Dynamic Random Access Memories (DRAMs) that reduce chip pin count to nine pins by multiplexing input commands, addresses and data. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,676 to Ware et al., entitled "Dynamic Random Access Memory System," U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,817 to Ware et al., entitled "Dynamic Random Access Memory System," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,024 to Ware et al., entitled "Dynamic Random Access Memory System."
In these high bandwidth DRAM architectures, commands are serially input on the nine pins at a 553 MHZ clock rate. Packets of control information called "Request Packets" are transferred to and stored in the DRAM during what is termed a transaction operation. After a pre-specified latency period, data is either input or output at a 500 MHZ transfer rate.
Request packets include a device, bank, and row address of a page to be activated; the column address of the first of eight bytes (an octo-byte) to be read; and, a Data packet. A Data packet includes input data and data masking commands.
Bus switching rates during these command or data transactions place stringent requirements on system bus net. Since all system communication and handshaking with the DRAM is through the nine bit bus, parallel system operations become difficult. Although the high bandwidth architecture may provide a faster data transfer rate than other high bandwidth RAM alternatives, bus contentions and bus blocking may result to reduce overall system performance and prevent seamless data transfers.

High performance, high bandwidth memory bus architecture utilizing SDRAMs

International Business Machines Corporation


A glass-ceramic cooktop includes a glass-ceramic plate having a periphery. At least one heating body is disposed below the glass-ceramic plate. A sprayed-on plastic frame embraces the periphery of the glass-ceramic plate and has an upper surface. A protective lining of high-temperature-proof material embraces the glass-ceramic plate and is disposed on the upper surface of the plastic frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a glass-ceramic cooktop with a glass-ceramic plate, at least one heating body located beneath the glass-ceramic plate, and an injection molded plastic frame embracing the periphery of the glass-ceramic plate.
One such glass-ceramic plate is known from Published European Patent Application 0 449 347 A1, in which the plastic frame is firmly joined to the glass-ceramic plate to make a structural unit by injection molding. A disadvantage thereof is that when hot cooking pots are set down to rest on the plastic frame, the frame can be damaged or its appearance can be impaired.