Approaches to bias control are disclosed for an optical modulator that modulates an optical carrier with a data input signal. In one embodiment an electrical bias input signal provided to the modulator is adjusted based on a characteristic of the data input signal detected from the modulated optical output signal. Another embodiment injects an additive dither signal into an optical modulator receiving a data input signal having a modulation depth of at least on the order of 50%. These embodiments can obtain and maintain a correct bias point on a modulator's transfer function curve when the modulation signal has a modulation depth on the order of 100%.

One method for imposing an electrical signal onto an optical carrier is to use an external modulator. Examples of external modulators presently in use include Mach-Zehnder (MZ) and electro-absorption (EA) types. In most cases, pyroelectric, photorefractive and photoconductive effects in the device material of a modulator (often lithium niobate, or a semiconductor like GaAs, or an electro-optic polymer) can cause its output power-vs-input voltage characteristic (i.e., its transfer function) to change or "drift," over time or temperature. The result of drift is that a specific DC bias voltage (or even 0 Volts) may, for example, yield a minimum point on the transfer function curve at one time, but yield a different point on the curve at a later time and/or at a different temperature. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 1 for a digital application of a Mach-Zehnder type of external modulator in which the same digital electrical input signal produces two very different optical output signals, depending on the location of the operating point on the modulator transfer function.
There have been many attempts either to eliminate the drift problem through better modulator design or to circumvent it through the use of auxiliary circuits that maintain a fixed bias point. Since it appears that there has not been a commercially viable solution using the former approach, the use of bias controllers that implement the latter approach has become the standard method for dealing with the modulator drift problem.
Many prior art methods for maintaining a specific bias point have assumed a Mach-Zehnder modulator. The modulation transfer function of an MZ modulator is such that the intensity of light passing through it varies in a sinusoidal fashion to the applied voltage, as shown in FIG. 2. The magnitude of the control voltage change required to transition from a maximum (or minimum) to a minimum (or maximum) is generally stable; and is known as the switching voltage (often designated as Vπ). It can be measured for each individual modulator and will have a fixed value. The four most commonly utilized DC operating bias points for the MZ modulator are known (by their relationship to the output Intensity) as the maximum ('Max'), minimum ('Min'), or one of two half-way points ('Quad +' and 'Quad −', depending on whether the intensity is increasing or decreasing with increasing applied voltage).
FIG. 3 shows a representative EA modulator transfer function. While the output optical intensity from interferometric modulators like the MZ type vary periodically with voltage, the EA modulator transitions only once between "on" (minimum optical absorption) and "off" (maximum absorption) when the voltage is changed by a magnitude Vs. Therefore there is no "Quad +" bias point for an EA modulator.
The most common approach to measuring the operating bias point is to apply a small, low-frequency signal to the modulator. Such a signal is referred to as a dither signal, because it dithers or perturbs the operating bias point. By measuring the optical modulation that results from applying these perturbations—and knowing the functional form of the modulator transfer function—it is possible to determine the present operating bias point. For example, at the principal points on a modulator's transfer function curve—i.e., the maximum, quadrature, and null points—the signal amplitude at either the fundamental frequency (or frequencies) of a dither signal or second-order distortion products of this signal is minimized.
FIG. 4 shows a prior art dither-based modulator bias controller. Along with a variable DC bias voltage, the controller applies a periodic, low-frequency, small-amplitude dither signal to the MZ modulator electrodes. A small fraction of the optical output of the modulator is diverted to a detector in the bias control circuit, and the output of this detector is routed through a filter. The filter rejects all frequencies other than the frequency of the dither signal required for controlling the desired bias point. The feedback circuitry continually adjusts the DC bias to the modulator to minimize the level of the signal that is passed through the filter.
These prior art methods for controlling the bias point on an optical modulator are believed to fail to effectively maintain an optimum bias point when a large modulation signal is applied to the modulator, as is the case in digital telecommunication applications. Unlike these prior art methods, embodiments according to the invention described in this application can obtain and maintain the correct bias point on a modulator's transfer function curve when the modulation signal has a modulation depth on the order of 100% (e.g., when the peak-to-peak voltage of a digital modulation signal is on the order of the modulator's on-to-off switching voltage).


A plug and receptacle electrical connector can be repeatedly connected and disconnected in harsh environments such as seawater. The plug unit has blade-like pins with insulated shafts and conductive tips. The plug unit engages the receptacle unit housing socket contacts within closed, nested, oil-filled chambers. The chambers are pressure balanced to the in-situ environment and to each other and employ positive means to remain sealed before, during, and after mating and demating.

The first rudimentary electrical connectors that could be connected and disconnected underwater appeared in the mid-1960's, with reliable commercial products not becoming available until the mid-1980's. Prior to that time, subsea systems had to be fully connected electrically before submersion. In the intervening years many Offshore Industry applications have been developed that require electrical elements to be repeatedly connected and disconnected while immersed in seawater. There are several known devices that fulfill that requirement. A subset of such devices comprises connectors wherein the electrical contacts consist of pins and sockets to be joined in a chamber filled with a benign substance that protects them from the external environment. The protective substance, a mobile dielectric material such as oil, grease, or gel, hereinafter referred to simply as fluid or oil, is pressure-balanced to ambient in-situ conditions by way of a compensating element which is typically a flexible wall of the chamber in which it is housed. Representative examples of the prior art can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,508,188; 3,522,576; 3,643,207; 4,085,993; 4,142,770; 4,373,767; 4,795,359; 4,948,377; and 5,171,158.
In this subset of prior-art underwater connectors the pins generally have elongated electrically-conductive shafts that are coated with dielectric sheaths, and have exposed electrically conductive contact tips. The pins enter the contact chamber by way of penetrable end-seal passages that are intended to remain sealed from the outside environment before, during, and after mating and de-mating. Once mated, the conductive pin-tips are completely immersed within the contact chamber, leaving a portion of the electrically insulated shafts exposed to the in-situ environment. For ease of discussion, the connector unit in which pins are housed shall hereafter be referred to as the "plug," and the unit housing the sockets within the mating chamber shall be referred to as the "receptacle."
It is a challenge to keep the receptacle end-seal passages leading into the oil chamber closed before, during, and after mating and de-mating. To meet that challenge, connectors that represent this subset and are currently commercially available have evolved into complex devices having plug pins with circular cross sections, and receptacles with resilient end-seals having circular, re-sealable passages to accept the respective cylindrical pins. Currently on the market there are connectors employing one or the other of two different approaches for keeping the cylindrical, bore-like end-seal passages sealed at all times.
In the first approach, when the connector portions are unmated the elastomeric receptacle end-seal passages are occupied by rigid, non-electrically-conductive, cylindrical stoppers housed within the mating chamber. The stoppers are biased outward by robust springs. During mating, the entering plug pins force the stoppers inward beyond the end-seals and further into the mating chamber, thereby compressing the springs. The result is that the receptacle mating-chamber end-seal passages are always occupied, either by the stoppers when unmated, or by the plug pins when mated. That keeps the circular end-seal passages always sealed from the outside environment, but it does so at the expense of a great deal of complexity. The springs must be robust to guarantee reliable return of the stoppers into the end-seal passages upon demating. That creates substantial mating forces, and requires a latching mechanism or other means to keep the connector portions from springing apart once mated. And even though the return springs are robust, failures occasionally occur when the spring-driven stoppers fail to return outward into the end-seal passages. That leaves a leak path between the chamber fluid and the in-situ environment. A representative example of this sort of connector is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,377.
The second, less reliable approach to the circular end-seal closure challenge is to pinch resilient, tubular, end-seal passages closed when the connector portions are unmated. The force required to keep the circular tubular passages pinched closed is provided either by an elastomeric sphincter surrounding the passage, or by a metal spring, or by both a spring and an elastomeric sphincter acting together. Upon mating, the pinched tube is forced open by a slender, tapered end of the circular cross-section incoming plug pin; thus remaining sealed against the plug pin's surface during mating and de-mating, and while mated. One example of this sort of connector is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,767. The invention has no stoppers or stopper-biasing springs, and therefore is mechanically much simpler than connectors built around the concept mentioned in section [005]. It has major disadvantages however: the substantial force required to pinch a circular end-seal passage completely closed makes mating and de-mating difficult, sometimes resulting in tearing of the tubular passage, and subsequent failure. The construction has the further disadvantage of failure of the circular tubular passages to close properly after prolonged mating at cold temperature. When that happens a leak path is created between the chamber oil and the in-situ environment, for instance electrically conductive seawater. In addition, the high stress required of such end-seals is detrimental to the seal's elastomeric properties. All of these disadvantages compromise the reliability of this sort of connector.
There is third, completely different, approach which is not currently on the market. The early technology disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,207 approached the connector seal-closure problem in a much less complex way. Instead of attempting to keep circular bore-shaped resilient passages closed, it employed one narrow, slitted passage through an elastomeric receptacle end-seal for each respective one blade-like plug pin. Little or no end-seal material was removed in creating the slits. A slit is much easier to keep closed than a cylindrical bore because it is closed in its natural unstressed condition. A blade-like pin causes little distortion of a properly-sized slitted opening, and only slight stress on the elastomeric seal material. Although the blade-in-slit sealing concept itself is very sound, connectors incorporating that approach lacked the necessary attributes to function reliably. For example, the only mechanism provided to close the slits was the elasticity of the resilient end-seal material through which the slits were cut. Upon demating after prolonged mating at cold temperatures the slits closed very slowly, allowing a temporary leak path between the chamber fluid and the in-situ environment. When that happened, the chamber fluid became contaminated by intruding environmental fluid such as seawater, thereby degrading its electrical properties. No positive means were included to isolate conductive elements within the chamber fluid from each other, so intruding contaminants occasionally caused electrical circuit-to-circuit internal breakdown. For those and other reasons the concept was abandoned years ago in favor of the aforementioned more complex approaches.
In addition to the fact that all of the aforementioned products have some technical shortcomings, the complexity and expense of the underwater connectors described in paragraphs [005] and [006] puts them out of reach of many, if not most, harsh environment projects. Those described in paragraph [007] never resulted in viable commercial products. What is still needed is a connector device that reduces or overcomes the shortcomings found in the known harsh environment connectors as described above, while simultaneously reducing the complexity and cost of manufacture. This invention fulfills that need.

Electrical connector having an end-seal with slit-like openings and nipples


A clock multiplexer including a plurality of clock selection circuits. Each clock selection circuit determines if a clock input is selected and provides the clock input to a clock output based on the determination. Each clock selection circuit further includes deselect inputs, and a select input which is coupled to a deselect output, the deselect output providing a signal indicating if the select input is active. Each deselect input is connected to a respective one of the deselect outputs from the other clock selection circuits. In each clock selection circuit, the clock input is not provided to the clock output when one of the deselect inputs is active.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed towards selecting and providing one of a plurality of clock signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
When data is retrieved from a medium, the data is often interpreted with reference to a clock. The clock provides an indication of the frequency at which the data is being provided and the instances at which the data is switched. Devices that are retrieving the data often utilize the clock when interpreting the data.
In some cases, a device may retrieve data from several mediums, and each medium may be providing data having an associated clock. The device may select to only receive data from one of these mediums at any given time.
FIG. 1 depicts a repeater set 100 in accordance with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ("IEEE") 802.3u standard for communications networks. The IEEE 802.3u standard is set forth in IEEE Standards for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks: Supplement to Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) Access Method and Physical Layer Specifications, Media Access Control (MAC) Parameters, Physical Layer, Medium Attachment Units, and Repeater for 100 Mb/s Operation, Type 100BASE-T (Clauses 21-30), The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., 345 East 47th Street, New York, N.Y. 10017-2394, 1995, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The repeater set 100 includes a repeater unit 101 coupled to a plurality of physical layer devices 102. Each of the physical layer devices 102 is coupled to a medium 103, such as a Category 5 unshielded twisted pair cable, which is typically coupled to either data terminal equipment (not shown) or another repeater set (not shown). The interface between each physical layer device 102 and medium 103 may conform to a medium dependent interface ("MDI") specified by the IEEE 802.3u standard.
Upon receiving data from a medium 103, a physical layer device 102 recovers a receive clock from the incoming receive data stream and provides the receive clock and the receive data to the repeater unit 101. The repeater unit 101 performs the function of receiving data from one of the physical layer devices 102 and retransmitting the data to each of the other physical layer devices 102 coupled to the repeater unit 101. Each of the other physical layer devices then transmits this data to its respective medium 103.
The repeater unit 101 provides transmit data to each of the physical layer devices 102 through a set of signals forming a transmit channel (TX.sub.1, TX.sub.2, TX.sub.3, and TX.sub.N). Each physical layer device 102 provides the repeater unit 101 with a set of signals forming a carrier channel (CAR.sub.1, CAR.sub.2, CAR3, and CAR.sub.N) to indicate that valid data is being received by the physical layer device 102 from its respective medium 103.
Each physical layer device 102 provides the data received from its respective medium 103 to the repeater unit 101 via a receive channel (RX.sub.1, RX.sub.2, RX.sub.3, and RX.sub.N). Each receive channel includes a receive clock signal (RX.sub.-- CLK) and receive data signal (RXD). The repeater unit 101 uses the receive clock to sample the receive data from the physical layer device 102. The physical layer device 102 provides an indication signal on its carrier channel, indicating that it is providing data from a medium 103 on its receive channel. In response, the repeater unit 101 selects the receive clock from that physical layer device 102 to sample the data that is being provided on the receive channel. The repeater unit 101 then retransmits the data to all of the other coupled physical layer devices 102 for transmission to their respective mediums 103.
The IEEE 802.3u standard provides limitations on the amount of time that may elapse from an instance that incoming data arrives at the MDI of a receiving physical layer device 102 until an instance that the same data is transmitted onto the MDI's of all the other physical layer devices 102 in the repeater set 100. Accordingly, it is desirable for the repeater unit 101 to be able to rapidly select the receive clock from the receiving physical layer device 102, so that the repeater unit 101 can begin propagating the receive data through the repeater set 100.
However, the repeater unit 101 operates asynchronously with respect to the receive channel from each physical layer device 102. As a result, if the repeater unit 101 merely selects a receive clock when one is desired, the receive clock may be provided at any instance within the period of the receive clock's cycle. If this moment is close to an edge transition, the repeater unit 101 may be provided with only a small pulse (spike). Such a spike may result in a metastability or other corruption in the sampling of data from the selected receive channel. Accordingly, it is desirable for a mechanism for selecting a receive channel, including a receive clock, to provide for reducing the probability that spikes will occur in the selected receive clock.


A straightness measuring instrument includes a base, two loading units, a center clamping apparatus, and a measure apparatus. The base includes two support rods and a sliding rod. The loading units are mounted on the base and are arranged along an axial direction of the support rods at intervals. The center clamping apparatus is mounted in the base and includes a fixed seat and a movable seat. The measure apparatus is mounted movably around the sliding rod. The loading units are adjustable for easy and quick movement depending on the length of a workpiece. Also, the center clamping apparatus can assist with clamping the workpiece that has different diameters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a measuring instrument and more particularly to a straightness measuring instrument.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIG. 10, a conventional straightness measuring instrument 70 includes a base 71, two support units 72 and a measure unit 73. The support units 72 and the measure unit 73 are mounted on the base 71 and arranged parallelly. Each support unit 72 has two rollers 721. The measure unit 73 has an indicator 731. A workpiece 80 is placed on the rollers 721 of each support unit 72. The workpiece 80 is a long stick and has an identical diameter. In order to measure the straightness of the workpiece 80, the indicator 731 needs to be leaned against the periphery of the workpiece 80. If the workpiece 80 is bent or not straight enough, the pointer of the indicator 731 will be moved when the workpiece 80 is rotated by the support unit 72. Therefore, the conventional straightness measuring instrument 70 can measure the straightness of the workpiece 80.
If the workpiece 80 has different diameters at different parts of the workpiece 80, the workpiece 80 cannot be placed on the rollers 721 horizontally and be measured exactly by the measure unit 73. In addition, the rollers 721 of each support unit 72 are arranged separately and are hard to be moved. If the length of the workpiece 80 is shorter than a distance between the rollers 721, the workpiece 80 cannot be placed on the rollers 721.
To overcome the shortcomings of the conventional straightness measuring instrument, the present invention provides a straightness measuring instrument to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


An output buffer in each stage of a shift register applies a first clock signal to an output line under control of a first node and a second driving voltage to the output line under control of second and third nodes. A first node controller controls the first node using a start pulse and an output signal of the next stage. A second node controller selectively applies a voltage at a fourth node and the second driving voltage to the second node under control of the first and second clock signals. A third node controller applies the voltage at the fourth node and the second driving voltage to the third node opposite to the second node. A fourth node controller controls the fourth node such that the fourth node has a voltage opposite to the first node using a voltage at the first node and the first driving voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a driving circuit for a liquid crystal display, and more particularly to a shift register employing an amorphous silicon thin film transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a liquid crystal display (LCD) used as a display device for a television or a computer controls light transmittance of a liquid crystal using an electric field to thereby display a picture. To this end, the LCD includes a liquid crystal display panel having liquid crystal cells arranged in a matrix type, and a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal display panel.
In the liquid crystal display panel, gate lines and data lines are arranged to intersect each other. The liquid crystal cell is positioned at each area defined by intersections between the gate lines and the data lines. The liquid crystal display panel is provided with pixel electrodes and a common electrode for applying an electric field to each liquid crystal cell. Each of the pixel electrodes is connected, via source and drain terminals of a thin film transistor as a switching device, to one of the data lines. A gate terminal of the thin film transistor is connected to one of the gate lines.
The driving circuit includes a gate driver for driving the gate lines and a data driver for driving the data lines. The gate driver sequentially applies a scanning signal to the gate lines to sequentially drive the liquid crystal cells on the liquid crystal display panel. The data driver applies a video signal to each data line whenever the scanning signal is applied to one of the gate lines. Thus, the LCD controls light transmittance by an electric field applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode in accordance with a video signal for each liquid crystal cell, thereby displaying a picture.
In such a driving circuit, the gate driver generates a scanning signal for sequentially driving the gate lines using a shift register. The data driver generates a sampling signal for sequentially sampling video signals inputted from the exterior thereof by a specific unit using the shift register.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a general two-phase shift register.
Referring to FIG. 1, the shift register includes 1st to nth stages connected in cascade. The 1st to nth stages are commonly supplied with first and second clock signals C1 and C2 along with high-level and low-level driving voltages (not shown), and are supplied with a start pulse Vst or an output signal of the previous stage. The 1st stage outputs a first output signal Out1 in response to the start pulse Vst and the first and second clock signals C1 and C2. The 2nd to nth stages output 2nd to nth output signals, respectively, in response to the output signal of the previous stage and the first and second clock signals C1 and C2. The 1st to nth stages have an identical circuit configuration, and sequentially shift a specific voltage of the start pulse Vst. The 1st to nth output signals Out1 to Outn are supplied with a scanning signal for sequentially driving the gate lines of the liquid crystal display panel, or with a sampling signal for sequentially sampling a video signal within the data driver.
FIG. 2 shows a detailed circuit configuration of one stage shown in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 2, the stage includes a fifth NMOS transistor T5 for outputting a first clock signal C1 to an output line under control of a Q node, a sixth NMOS transistor T6 for outputting a low-level driving voltage VSS under control of a QB node, and first to fourth NMOS transistors T1 to T4 for controlling the Q node and the QB node.
Such a stage is supplied with high-level and low-level voltages VDD and VSS, and with the start pulse Vst and the first and second clock signals C1 and C2. Herein, the second clock signal C2 is a signal in which a high-state voltage and a low-state voltage each having a predetermined pulse width are alternately supplied, whereas the first clock signal C1 is a signal having a voltage opposite to the second clock signal C2. A high state of the start pulse Vst is synchronized with a high state of the second clock signal C2. The start pulse Vst is a signal supplied from the exterior or an output signal of the previous stage.
Hereinafter, an operation procedure of the stage will be described with reference to driving waveforms shown in FIG. 3.
In an A period, the first NMOS transistor T1 is turned on by a high-state second clock signal C2 to thereby apply a high-state voltage of the start pulse Vst to the Q node, that is, to pre-charge it. The high-stage voltage pre-charged to the Q node turns on the fifth NMOS transistor T5 to thereby apply a low-state voltage of the first clock signal to the output line. At this time, the second NMOS transistor T2 also is turned on by the high-state second clock signal to thereby apply a high-level driving voltage VDD to the QB node. Then, the high-level driving voltage VDD supplied to the QB node turns on the sixth NMOS transistor T6 to thereby supply a low-level driving voltage VSS. Thus, in the A period, the output line of the stage outputs a low-state output signal OUT.
In a B period, the first NMOS transistor T1 is turned off by a low-state second clock signal C2 to thereby float the Q node into a high state. Thus, the fifth NMOS transistor T5 keeps a turn-on state. At this time, as a high-state voltage is supplied as the first clock signal C1, the floated Q node is boot-strapped by an affect of an internal capacitor Cgs provided between the gate and the drain of the fifth NMOS transistor T5 and a capacitor CB. Accordingly, a voltage at the Q node is further raised to keep the fifth NMOS transistor T5 turned on, thereby rapidly supplying a high-state voltage of the first clock signal C1 to the output line. Further, the Q node floated into a high state turns on the fourth NMOS transistor T4 and a high-state first clock signal C1 turns on the third NMOS transistor T3 to supply the low-level driving voltage VSS to the QB node, thereby turning off the sixth NMOS transistor T6. Thus, in the B period, the output line of the stage outputs a high-state output signal OUT.
In a C period, the first NMOS transistor T1 is turned on by a high-state second clock signal C2 to supply a low-state voltage of the start pulse Vst to the Q node, thereby turning off the fifth NMOS transistor T5. At this time, the second NMOS transistor T2 is turned on by a high-state second clock signal C2 to supply the high-level driving voltage VDD to the QB node, thereby turning on the sixth NMOS transistor T6 to output the low-level driving voltage VSS to the output line. At this time, the third NMOS transistor T3 is turned off by a low-stage first clock signal C1 and the fourth NMOS transistor T4 is turned off by the low-state Q node, thereby keeping the high-level driving voltage VDD at the QB node. Thus, in the C period, the output line of the stage outputs a low-state output signal OUT.
In a D period, the second NMOS transistor T2 is turned off by a low-state second clock signal C2 and the fourth NMOS transistor T4 is turned off by the low-state Q node, thereby floating the QB node with keeping the high-level driving voltage VDD supplied in the previous period C even though the third NMOS transistor T3 is turned on by a high-state first clock signal C1. Thus, the sixth NMOS transistor T6 keeps a turn-on state to thereby output the low-level driving voltage VSS to the output line. As a result, in the D period, the output line of the stage outputs a low-state output signal OUT.
In the remaining period, the C and D periods are alternately repeated, so that the output signal OUT of the stage continuously keeps a low state.
Recently, various attempts have been made to apply a polycrystalline silicon thin film transistor capable of directly forming a shift register on a glass substrate to an amorphous silicon thin film transistor. However, the amorphous silicon thin film transistor has a bias temperature stress characteristic in which it operates erroneously due to bias stress when a direct current (DC) voltage is continuously supplied to the gate terminal thereof in a high temperature operation.
In a conventional shift register, a DC-type high-level driving voltage VDD is applied to the QB node that is a gate node of the sixth NMOS transistor during a majority of period (i.e., during the remaining period other than 1H or 2H interval at which the Q node has a high state) as shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the conventional shift register has a problem in that, when it is operated at a high temperature, the sixth NMOS transistor T6 is erroneously operated due to gate bias stress.


An engine for a vehicle, which is configured to enable a combustion stroke to occur in a plurality of cylinders substantially simultaneously, comprises a fuel pipe coupled to a fuel supply source for storing a fuel, a plurality of fuel injectors which are attached to the fuel pipe to respectively correspond to the plurality of cylinders and are configured to inject the fuel to their associated cylinders, and a damper chamber which is provided at the fuel pipe and has an inner space connected to an inner space of the fuel pipe.

In multi-cylinder engines, typically, a fuel feed system is configured so that a fuel is suctioned by a fuel pump from a fuel tank through a fuel pipe, and is fed through the fuel pipe to a fuel rail forming a part of the fuel pipe. The fuel rail supports fuel injectors corresponding to respective cylinders and distributes the fuel to the fuel injectors.
In some engines, simultaneous expansion occurs. The term "simultaneous expansion" means that a combustion stroke occurs in two or more cylinders substantially simultaneously. The simultaneous expansion has various advantages and has been employed before. When the simultaneous expansion occurs, the amount of the fuel consumed in the two or more cylinders is twice or more as large as that of the fuel consumed when expansion (hereinafter referred to as non-simultaneous expansion) occurs only in a single cylinder.
However, when the fuel is injected in the simultaneous expansion, a pressure within the fuel pipe including the fuel rail is reduced more significantly than in the non-simultaneous expansion, making an engine speed unstable in some cases.

Engine for a vehicle and vehicle equipped with an engine


The present invention relates to an apparatus for relieving back pain, the apparatus having a top and a leg assembly for supporting the top when the apparatus is placed on a surface. A method of relieving back pain is also provided, wherein a user adjusts the height of an apparatus according to the user's buttock popliteus length, and lay on the surface and place his/her lower legs or feet on the top of an apparatus such that the knees are bent at substantially 90 degrees and his/her back is flat on the surface.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to treatment of back ailments and, more particularly to a device and method for relieving back pain of persons of varying height.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known that back pain is commonly experienced by people all around the world, and various methods of treatment are also well known, including different devices and mechanisms. However, these known devices typically have a fixed height, and the effectiveness of the methods and devices may vary by the height of the person.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a device for relieving back pain wherein the device is adjustable, and thus suitable for use by persons of different heights.
It is also desirable to provide a method of relieving back pain for persons of different heights using an adjustable apparatus.

Device and method for relieving back pain


A hub secured to a substrate having a recording medium with a bond layer having a thickness of less than 1 millimeter. The bond layer bonds the hub with the substrate and includes a cross-linked adhesive with a monolayer of glass spheroids dispersed within the cross-linked adhesive. The bond layer thickness is no less than the effective maximum diameter of the spheroids.

The present invention relates to magnetic, optical, and magneto-optic recording media disks, and in particular, it relates to bonding hubs to disk substrates.
Such recording media disks more generally consist of three elements, a substrate having one or more recording layers, a hub, and an adhesive which secures the substrate to the hub.
Typically, the substrate is made from polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyester, aluminum or glass. The magneto-optic layer is deposited through well-known methods of sputtering on to the substrate.
A hub is then applied to the substrate. The hub generally includes a metal centering disk embedded in a polymeric flange. The typical method for attaching the hub to the substrate is to place a ring of polymer film with a pressure-sensitive adhesive coated to both sides between the substrate and the hub to secure the hub to the substrate.
In situations in which optical disks must operate in a wide temperature range, a danger exists that the hub may move relative to information stored on the active layer of the substrate. Such movement, of course, causes problems with storing and retrieving data. Furthermore, a uniform adhesive thickness or "bond line" between the hub and substrate is needed to minimize disk wobble during rotation especially on large diameter disks.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


The formation of a resistive electrode layer as a portion of an external electrode of a monolithic ceramic capacitor by baking a resistive paste, which contains ITO, a glass frit, and an organic vehicle, to impart the function of a resistance element to the external electrode may lead to the occurrence of blisters or reduced denseness. This is modulated when the resistive paste further contains a densification promoting metal or oxide, which promotes densification of a sintered compact of the resistive paste, and a densification preventing metal oxide, which prevents the densification.

Use of a monolithic ceramic capacitor for decoupling in the vicinity of a CPU may cause an oscillation due to parallel resonance in a circuit and increase impedance, because the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the monolithic ceramic capacitor is very low. In such a monolithic ceramic capacitor, therefore, the ESR is sometimes required to be controlled in the range of several tens to several thousands of milliohms. In response to this demand, one proposed monolithic ceramic capacitor includes an external electrode that also functions as a resistance element.
Thus, International Publication WO 2006/022258 (Patent Document 1) describes a monolithic ceramic capacitor that includes an internal electrode containing Ni or a Ni alloy, in which an external electrode has sufficient reduction resistance and includes a resistive electrode layer, which includes an In—Sn complex oxide (ITO) reactive to the Ni or Ni alloy contained in the internal electrode and a glass component.
According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, advantageously, the external electrode can have sufficient resistance, a conductive layer for continuity between the external electrode and the internal electrode is not needed under the resistive electrode layer, and a protective layer for protecting the resistive electrode layer does not require an expensive non-oxidizable metal.
Patent Document 1 also discloses that part of ITO is substituted by Ag, Al2O3, or ZrO2 to control the resistance.
However, it was found that an increase in the substitution rate of Ag, Al2O3, or ZrO2, for example, to increase the resistance may lead to the occurrence of blisters due to over-sintering or reduced denseness due to insufficient sintering. Even if the resistive electrode layer has a constant resistance, the ESR may easily vary with the dimensions of a ceramic laminate, which is a component of the monolithic ceramic capacitor, the thickness of the resistive electrode layer, and the number of laminated layers in the internal electrode. Thus, resistive pastes having different substitution rates of Ag, Al2O3, or ZrO2 for different designs, such as the dimensions of the ceramic laminate, the thickness of the resistive electrode layer, and the number of laminated layers in the internal electrode, must be prepared to achieve a desired ESR.    [Patent Document 1] International Publication WO 2006/022258

Resistive paste and monolithic ceramic capacitor


This disclosure relates to methods of treating anal gland disease in subjects. In particular, the disclosure provides supplement compositions useful for treatment of anal gland disease. Such compositions comprise a probiotic, a fiber source, and an anti-inflammatory agent.

Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to methods of treating anal gland disease in mammals. In particular, the disclosure provides supplement compositions useful for treatment of anal gland disease.
Description of Related Art
The anal glands (or anal sacs) are small glands found near the anus in many mammals, including pets such as dogs and cats. The two glands are located on either side of the anus, between the external and internal sphincter muscles. These glands secrete an oily discharge when the mammal defecates and this secretion is used for scent marking purposes. As the mammal defecates, the movement of the stool causes pressure over the glands, which secrete a few drops of liquid.
Many factors can cause the anal glands to not empty properly or to become inflamed and irritated, which can lead to various problems for the mammal. Some factors include poor quality stool (too soft or too small to exert pressure on the glands), allergies that may cause inflammation to the glands or the ducts where the liquid is secreted from, infection, and poor anatomy. When the glands do not empty regularly, the pressure builds up within the glands causing discomfort. If this continues an infection may set in and, if left unchecked, an abscess may develop which usually requires surgical treatment. Dogs or cats with severe ongoing anal gland problems may require complete surgical removal of the anal glands by a veterinarian.
The symptoms that a dog or cat with anal gland disease may display are: scooting the rear end on the ground, licking or biting at the rear, straining to defecate, giving away a very foul odor, defecating outside the litter box, etc. In severe cases, the sacs may abscess and rupture. Treatment usually involves having the glands manually emptied at a veterinarian's office or groomer. The standard recommendation for long-term treatment or prevention for animals that have repeated problems with their glands is a high fiber diet, which can help to add bulk and firm the stools.
The method by which fiber bulks up the stool is directly correlated to the ability of fiber to bind water in the large intestine. Feces are comprised of 75% water and 25% dry weight. The dry weight is comprised of bacteria and residue from unfermented fiber and excreted compounds. The amount of feces excreted a day varies for any one animal over a period of time. Of dietary constituents, only dietary fiber increases fecal weight. Water is distributed in the colon in three ways: 1) free water which can be absorbed from the colon, 2) water that is incorporated into bacterial mass, and 3) water that is bound by fiber. Fecal weight is dictated by: the holding of water by the residual dietary fiber after fermentation, the bacterial mass, and, possibly, an added osmotic effect of products of bacterial fermentation on fecal mass. Insoluble dietary fiber is minimally fermented and binds water. When added to the diet, insoluble fiber increases fecal weight in a predictable linear manner and decreases intestinal transit time. The greater the water-holding capacity of the fiber the greater the effect on fecal weight and bulk. For most healthy animals, an increase in wet fecal mass, depending on the particle size of the fiber, is generally on the order of 3-5 g/g fiber.


A semiconductor device has an active element structure formed on a semiconductor substrate. The active element has a connection region formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate. An insulating film is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A connection hole is formed in the insulating film, and has a bottom connected with the connection region. An interconnect trench is formed in the insulating film, and has a bottom connected with the connection region. A first conductive film is filled in a first region ranging from the connection region in the connection hole to a first height, and is composed of an alloy containing CoW or NiW. A second conductive film is formed in the interconnect trench, and is electrically connected with the first conductive film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device. For example, the present invention relates to the structure of contacts connecting a transistor on a semiconductor substrate and an interconnect trench in an interlayer insulating film thereon.
2. Description of the Related Art
The conventional method of manufacturing contacts and interconnect (wiring) layers will be described below with reference to FIG. 14. First, a contact hole 103 is formed in an interlayer insulating film 102 on a semiconductor substrate 101. The contact hole 103 has a bottom portion reaching the semiconductor substrate 101. The contact hole 103 is filled with conductive materials via an adhesion layer 104 using a blanket CVD (chemical vapor deposition) process. The adhesion layer 104 has a function of providing preferable adhesion of materials filled in the contact hole 103 with the sidewall thereof when the CVD process is carried out. Extra conductive materials on the interlayer insulating film 102 are removed using CMP (chemical mechanical polishing), and thereby, a contact plug 105 is formed. An interlayer insulating film 107 having an interconnect trench 106 connected with the contact plug 105 is formed on the interlayer insulating film 102. Thereafter, the interconnect trench 106 is filled with a conductive film via a barrier metal 108.
Recently, with the scale-down of semiconductor devices, the aspect ratio of the contact hole 103 increases. For this reason, the following phenomena take place when the contact hole 103 is filled with conductive materials using blanket CVD. First, according to blanket CVD, the conductive material film uniformly grows from the side of the contact hole 103. For this reason, if the contact hole 103 has a defective shape (e.g., the diameter of hole opening is smaller than that of other portions), the opening of the contact hole 103 is closed before the contact hole 103 is filled. As a result, an empty space called a seam (void) 109 is formed in the contact hole 103. Secondary, if tungsten (W) is used as the material of the contact plug 105, the interface of W deposited from both sides of the contact hole 103 is formed with the empty space because W has a coarse surface.
The seam 109 is formed in the contact hole 103; as a result, the seam 109 opens as seen from FIG. 14 in the process of removing extra W by CMP or the RIE (reactive ion etching) process for forming the interconnect trench 106. Consequently, the barrier metal 108 is not continuously formed in the hole opening of the seam 109; for this reason, a broken portion is formed. If the interconnect trench 106 is filled with interconnect conductive film in a state that a broken portion is formed, the following problem arises. Electro-migration resistance is reduced on the basis of the broken portion; as a result, desired reliability is not obtained.
The adhesion layer 104 is employed when W is used as the material of the contact plug 105; in this case, the adhesion layer 104 has a specific resistance smaller than W. For this reason, when the diameter of the contact hole 103 become gradually small, the ratio of the adhesion layer 104 occupying the cross-sectional area of the contact hole 103 becomes high. As a result, the resistance of the contact plug 105 increases.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A coil component includes a body; a support substrate embedded in the body; a coil portion disposed on the support substrate, and having an end portion exposed to a surface of the body; and an external electrode disposed on the surface of the body, and in contact with and connected to the end portion of the coil portion. An interface between the end portion of the coil portion and the external electrode, and an interface between the surface of the body and the external electrode are located on levels different from each other.

An inductor, a coil component, is a representative passive electronic component used together with a resistor and a capacitor in electronic devices.
In accordance with the implementation of high performance and miniaturization in electronic devices, coil components used in electronic devices have increased in number and decreased in size.
In the case of a general thin film type inductor, a plurality of coil portion are formed on a large-area substrate, a magnetic composite sheet is stacked, and then diced to manufacture a body of individual components in a batch.
After the dicing process, a surface of the body is polished to remove contaminants remaining on the surface of the body (e.g., an insulating material and burrs of the conductor, and the like), and as a size of the body is reduced, difficulty in the polishing process becomes gradually higher.


Methods for file archiving using machine learning are disclosed herein. An exemplary method comprises archiving a first file of a plurality of files from a storage server to a tiered storage system, training a machine learning module based on file access operations for the plurality of files, determining one or more rules for predicting access to the archived files using the machine learning module, determining a prediction of access of the archived file based on the one or more rules and retrieving the archived file from the tiered storage system into a file cache in the storage server based on the prediction of access.

In an increasingly common scenario, a user of a computer or server has to manage a large number of files, even though the user does not necessarily need access to all of the files at a given moment. At the same time, the storage devices of a computer or server, with which the user works directly, has a limited amount of resources (e.g., disk space). Some files have to be archived, which typically involves creating a backup of the files by copying the contents of the storage devices onto some other medium (such as another hard disk drive, a DVD ROM, a DVD RAM, a flash disk, tape drive, etc.) or, frequently, over a network (such as to a remote server or to a cloud storage service).
In some known approaches to data archiving, links to the archived files instead of the files themselves are placed on a front end storage server. If the user accesses these files, they are requested from the front end storage server and are provided to the user. The drawbacks to this procedure include significant delays and lost time, which are caused by network latency and time needed to search and extract archived files. These problems are especially acute in large corporations, which have a very large amount of data and a high number of users that work with this data.

System and method for file archiving using machine learning


A method and implementing system includes transmitting a sampled and digitized source analog signal which is sampled for transmission at a rate of FT, to a receiving device and converting the received signal by a first sample rate converter circuit which is effective to multiply the sample rate FT by a first factor "N". The converted signal is then processed by a receiver sampler circuit and applied to a second sample rate converter circuit operating at a rate of a receiver frequency FR. The second sample rate converter circuit is effective to divide the processed signal by a second factor "M". The signal is then processed by a digital to analog converter and filtered to filter out the spurious components and provide a reproduction of the source analog signal.

Transmission of digital information and data between systems has become an essential part of commonly used systems, and in most cases users are not aware that the information has been transmitted in digital format. For the most part, it is difficult if not impossible for a user to perceive any indication that the transmission is digital rather than analog. In applications where the contents of the data transmission represent information like voice, sound, moving pictures, or sensor data, there is usually a requirement on delivery time, which will hereinafter be referred to as a "real-time" requirement.
Digital communication between devices distant from each other usually precludes the availability of identical sampling frequencies except for those cases where a distant clocking hierarchy structure has been defined and a common distributed clock source can be employed. In a variety of applications, the transmitter (data source) and receiver (data sink) operate at different sampling clock frequencies where the ratio between the frequencies is a non-integer. In some cases, there is no flexibility for the receiver clock to fine-tune or adjust to a common clock, or an integer product quotient, of the clock of the transmitter. That is, even though information is being transmitted at the same nominal sampling rate, when the local clocks are not the same, there will usually be a slight difference in the actual sampling rates. As a result, sampling at the sending terminal and reconstruction at the receiving terminal will be accomplished with a slight variance in the nominal sampling rates. Frequencies may also vary over temperature, part scattering, and time. For clock ratios with a fractional part, a rate exists at which sample overruns or underruns at the receiver input will occur. Those overruns and underruns are hereinafter referred to as sample slippage. Sample slippage generates objectionable distortion, for example, in the form of an audible click noise in audio transmissions and horizontal jitter in television systems.
Also, in some systems, the error due to slippage is cumulative and segments of transmitted information are backed-up and/or delayed. Over a period of time, such segments may eventually be periodically lost especially if the system is designed to re-synchronize or to attempt to re-synchronize itself to real time or to a master clock.
Thus, there is a need for a digital transmission system effective to reduce slippage signal distortions to a tolerable level, where the computational effort can be tailored to the required degree of accuracy in signal reproduction.

Sample rate conversion between asynchronous digital systems


Embodiments of the invention prevent a spindle motor from stopping rotation while data on a magnetic disk is being erased by using a permanent magnet. In one embodiment, data in the whole area of the magnetic disk is erased as a consequence of the magnetic disk rotating in the magnetic field of the permanent magnet located so as to face a part of the magnetic disk. A back yoke is located so as to face a base. The back yoke gives a magnetic force to the spindle motor in the opposite direction of the magnetic force of the erasing permanent magnet so that the fluid dynamic bearing spindle motor can retain the rotation as required without stopping rotation.

The present invention relates to a data erasure apparatus, a data erasure method and a method for writing servo patterns on a recording disk.
A typical hard disk drive (HDD) comprises a magnetic disk, a spindle motor to drive the magnetic disk to rotate, a magnetic head to write/read data to/from the magnetic disk, and others. The HDD has an enclosure case which accommodates the components. The enclosure case is generally made of a boxy base having an opening and a top cover plate covering the opening of the base.
Assembling of the disk device is completed when the opening of the base is covered by the top cover after the components are mounted in the base. After the assembly is completed, servo patterns are written on the magnetic disk. After the writing of servo patterns is completed, the HDD is put to various tests before shipment. If judged defective, the HDD is disassembled to collect and reuse non-defective components. To reuse the magnetic disk, however, it is necessary to erase the servo patterns written thereon since otherwise the servo patterns may interfere with new servo patterns to be written. Also if the written servo patterns themselves are judged not good, the servo patterns must be erased. Further, test data are written in pre-shipment test. If the disk device does not pass the test, it is also necessary to erase the test data.
As for erasing data from magnetic disks, International Patent Publication WO98/49674 discloses an apparatus capable of erasing data from magnetic disks in a condition where magnetic disks are mounted in an HDD. This apparatus comprises two upper permanent magnets which are adjacently positioned with opposite poles faced so as to attract each other, and two lower permanent magnets which are also adjacently positioned with opposite poles faced so as to attract each other. In addition, they are perpendicularly arranged such that like poles are faced with each other.
In a central area between the permanent magnets, a mainly horizontal magnetic field is formed. Today, horizontal magnetic recording is employed for magnetic disks. Accordingly, letting the horizontal magnetic field act on a magnetic disk erases the data stored on the magnetic disk. The strength of the magnetic field must be higher than the coercive force of the magnetic disk. While the magnetic disk is rotated in the magnetic field, the horizontal magnetic field acts over the whole surface of the magnetic disk to erase the data. By using the external field by the permanent magnets, the data on the magnetic disk can quickly be erased.

Data erasure apparatus and data erasure method

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A putter having a putter head with a vertical flat machined surface thereon and a hosel threadedly connected to the putter head. The putter head has a hole extending into a top surface toward a bottom surface. The hosel has a portion extending into the hole. The hosel has a shaft receiving opening on an end opposite to the portion extending into the hole for receiving a shaft therein. The putter head and the hosel are made of a leaded steel or brass material. The hole is threaded within the putter head for receiving the threads of the hosel in mating engagement. The hole extends in parallel relationship to the machined surface generally adjacent to the machined surface.

In the game of golf, the most exacting and difficult part of the game for most golfers is putting. This is indicated by the fact that many golfers change their putters several times during the course of a golf season in order to attempt to discover a putter with a "right feel." In the construction of putters, as well as other types of golf clubs, it is well recognized that the degree of resilience of the club head plays an important roll in the accuracy and distance imparted to a golf ball by the club head. Club head resilience also has a great effect on the "feel" of a putter in striking the golf ball.
There has been two recent developments in the technology of putters that have greatly increased the feel and accuracy of the putter design. The first is the development of the machined surface on the putter head. Typically, putter heads have been made of cast material. Unfortunately, even with the most precise casting techniques, a truly flat surface cannot be formed. The casting process will conventionally cast the putter head and the hosel as a single unit. Any variation on the true flatness of the putter will detract from putting accuracy. The putter will not be considered as "true" to the golfer. Virtually all putters, at present, are made from castings.
The process of machining provides a technique in which a very flat surface can be placed upon the putter head. Normal casting processes will leave bubble holes and other inconsistencies in the material quality. In order to properly machine a putter head, the putter head must begin with a stock of forged material. The putter head can then be put through a milling machine so as to place a flat surface on the putter head. Unfortunately, machined putter heads are not common and have not been widely adopted. Part of the problem with machined putter heads is the fact that it is expensive and extremely difficult to machine a hosel in direct connection to the putter head. In the present, it is necessary to weld a hosel to the exterior surface of the machined putter head. It has been found that the welding of a hosel to the exterior of the machined putter head does not provide an adequate "feel" to the person using the putter. In addition, the process of welding tends to heat treat the putter head and, thusly, tends to distort the true consistency and hardness of the material itself.
The other important development has been the use of soft leaded steel and brass materials for the putter head. It is generally true that the softer the material of the putter head, the better the "feel" of the putt. It has been found that leaded steel materials and brass are excellent materials which properly convey the "feel" of the striking of the ball. In the past, brass putter heads and hosels have been made through the casting process. It has not been possible, in the past, to create a suitable machined brass putter head since brass is not a material that is easy to weld. It has also been difficult to make a putter head of a leaded steel material since such leaded steel materials cannot be cast and ca only be welded with great difficulty.
In the past, various U.S. patents have been directed to the threaded attachment of a shaft to a club head. U.S. Pat. No. 1,334,189, issued on Mar. 16, 1920, to A. S. Swanson shows a driving head having a pair of intersecting angled threads extending into the head. The shaft is directly connected by threading into one of the angled holes. The dual holes are provided so as to make the driving club adaptable to either left-hand or right-hand use. Rubber strips are fastened to the exterior surfaces of the head for added resiliency.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,840,924, issued on Jan. 12, 1932, to E. E. Tucker shows a golf club having a cast head. A shank is formed into the cast head which includes a thread extending thereinto. The shaft of the club is threadedly connected into the threaded shank.
U.S Pat. No. 2,129,068, issued on Sep. 6, 1938, to W. F. Reach shows a similar type of golf club having a cast club head. The cast club head includes an upwardly extending shank portion. A hole is drilled into the shank portion so as to receive a threaded hosel. The threaded hosel is connected to the shaft of the club.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,231,847, issued on Feb. 11, 1941, to J. B. Dickson et al. also provides a golf club with a cast-type club head having a shank portion extending upwardly from an end of the club head. The shank portion includes a threaded opening for receiving a threaded metal shaft. The threaded metal shaft is internally received within the golf club shaft. The threaded metal shaft extends into the threaded shank of the golf club head.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,170,691, issued on Feb. 23, 1965, to F. C. Pritchard provides a golf club shaft and hosel connector. The club head is a cast-type head having a threaded shank extending upwardly from the end of the club head. The shaft of the club is connected to the golf club head by a threaded hosel having a pin connector for preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the club head.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,888, issued on Aug. 20, 1968, to D. R. Springer et al. shows an adjustable golf putter in which a plurality of holes are formed into the top surface of the putter head. A pivotable connector is provided for threaded receipt within the holes. The shaft of the club is connected within a plastic sleeve. The shaft can be manipulated angularly with respect to the putter head.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,429,576, issued on Feb. 25, 1969, to Y. Ikeda provides a golf club having a level indicating means and a weight means. A level indicator is provided on the top surface of the club head. The shaft of the club is received within a threaded opening formed within the shank portion of the club head.
British Patent Application No. 2 225 959 A, published on Jun. 20, 1990, to N. W. Wharton, provides a golf club having a golf club assembly with a bore and a screw-threaded portion. A shaft assembly has a ferrule and a screw-threaded portion. The club head assembly is screw-threadedly engaged on the end of the shaft assembly. A plug is inserted to prevent disassembly.
Additionally, Canadian Patent No. 646,942, issued on Aug. 21, 1962, to E. S. Giza illustrates a hollow-headed golf putter. The shaft of the putter is angularly connected within threaded openings on the putter head. The hollow-headed golf putter is intended for resiliency so as to affect the putting action.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a putter which provides greater feel to the golfer.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a putter having a machined flat surface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a putter made of leaded steel or brass material.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a completely machined putter that is easy to assemble, relatively inexpensive, and easy to manufacture.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.


A polishing machine comprising a frame 1, a mobile polishing head 2 mounted on the frame, an abrasion tool 10, and a reciprocating slide 7 for causing the tool to polish a contacted object. The tool is mounted on a tool holder 9 fitted with a pneumatic system 36, 38; 50 producing a dual adjustment of the bearing pressure generated by the tool 10 on the object P being polished.

This invention concerns machines for polishing objects whose surfaces must exhibit a very high-quality luster.
One important condition required for obtaining high-quality polishing is the generation of a constant pressure of the abrasive on the object to be polished, so as to avoid deformations. One machine incorporating a vibrating tool has a balanced hydraulic suspension making it possible to keep the pressure constant when the height of the contact area varies while the abrasive tool travels over the object, as described in French Patent No. 73 14 262 and its Certificate of Addition No. 75 10 522.
If the treated object has a curvature or slope in the direction of vibration, the tool suspension system must react with a reduced time constant at most equal to the period of Vibration occurring transversely to the direction in which the tool advances, in order to satisfy the requirement dictating constant pressure between the tool and the object. Because of the low value of this period, the moving parts of the machine must have very low inertia, and the suspension must possess great flexibility.

Polishing machine with pneumatic tool pressure adjustment


The subject invention discloses a pneumatic rubber tire comprised of a toroidal shaped fabric-reinforced rubber carcass and an outer circumferential rubber tread, two spaced substantially inextensible beads and two sidewalls extending radially from and connecting said tread to said beads, said tire characterized by having a circumferential fabric reinforced rubber belt positioned between said tread and supporting carcass where the rubber of said belt is comprised of (A) from about 25 to about 75 weight percent of a highly dispersed blend of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene in synthetic polyisoprene, (B) from about 25 to about 75 weight percent natural rubber, and (C) from 0 to about 40 weight percent polydiene rubbers other than natural rubber. The present invention also reveals the utilization of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene containing rubber compounds in and around the edges of the belt plies as a gum layer and in undertread gum layers. In the practice of the subject invention, it is important for the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene to be highly dispersed throughout the rubber compound. For this reason, syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene which is made by inverse phase polymerization is highly preferred.

Pneumatic tires are sometimes constructed with a circumferential belt reinforcement positioned in their crown portion between tread and carcass. Such construction is often used with radial ply carcass tires and sometimes with bias ply tires.
The belt is typically a fabric-reinforced rubber in the form of a rubber encapsulated textile fabric, or multiple filament, such as steel, glass, nylon, aramid or polyester.
The belt reinforcement is used, for example, to control or limit the outward expansion or deformation of the tire in service, to provide some stability for the overall tire construction and to aid in providing a strengthening interface between the carcass plies and tread rubber.
Another and important purpose is to limit the distortion, or squirming, of the tread element as the tire rotates across a substrate (the ground or pavement, for example) and the tread passes through its footprint against the substrate. At this point of contact, a considerable and continuing flexing and distortion of the tire is observed in the region of the footprint. Belt reinforcement resists such distortion at the footprint which usually results in better tread wear characteristics.
High performance tires typically also have one or more overlay layers which are positioned between the belt reinforcement and the tread. Such overlay layers can be made utilizing a wide variety of materials with nylon being among the most common. Such overlay layers improve the tire's performance characteristics but are expensive to apply and add significantly to the cost of the tire.

Pneumatic tire containing syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene


A surgical suture fabricated from a copolymer containing dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate and glycolide is treated with gamma radiation to enhance bioabsorbability without adversely effecting handling properties.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure herein relates to a surgical suture, and in particular to a surgical suture which has been subjected to radiation treatment.
2. Background of Related Art
Implantable surgical devices such as surgical fasteners, clips, staples, and sutures are typically employed in surgical procedures to hold body tissue together to promote the healing and joining of the tissue. Such surgical devices are often made from synthetic bioabsorbable polymers. The advantage of bioabsorbable devices is that, once implanted, they do not need to be removed by a separate surgical operation since they are degraded and absorbed by the body. Ideally, the surgical device maintains its strength for as long as it takes the body tissues to heal. Thereafter, the device should rapidly degrade and disappear.
In various applications the body tissue heals much faster than the suture implanted therein is absorbed. In such cases, the suture remains in the body tissue longer than is necessary. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to treat the suture so that it degrades faster, without adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the suture.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,446 discloses modifying the absorption rate of anastomosis rings by the inclusion of certain filler materials in the ring, pre-treatment of the ring with hot water or steam, and subjecting the ring to gamma radiation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,590 discloses that exposure of sutures to radiation leads to distinct degradation in mechanical properties and to clinically unacceptable in vivo strength retention. Thus, those skilled in the art would not expect a treatment that includes radiating the suture to provide an acceptable product.
It would be desirable to provide a suture treatment that enhances absorption rate while not adversely affecting the desired physical qualities of the suture.

Irradiated surgical suture and method for making same


A method of allocation a computer to service a request for a data set in a system having a plurality of computers. The method is implemented on a neural network having only an input layer having input nodes and an output layer having output nodes, where each output node is associated with a specific computer. Connecting the input nodes to the output nodes are weights w(j,k). The method includes the steps of receiving a request for data set “I” and inputting to the input layer a vector R(I)                dependent upon the number of requests for the requested data over a predetermined period of time and        selecting a computer assignment associated with of one of the output nodes to service the data request, where the output node selected is associated with a specific weight selected to minimize a predetermined metric measuring the distance between the vector entry R(I) and the weights(I,k).

(1) Field of Invention
The invention relates to methods of allocating page requests to servers on a web farm and, more particularly, to using a neural network to allocate page requests to web farm servers.
(2) Description of Related Art
The World-Wide-Web offers tremendous opportunities for marketers to reach a vast variety of audiences at less cost than any other medium. Recent studies have shown that the web consumes more Internet bandwidth than any other application. With huge amount of capital invested in these sites, it has become necessary to understand the effectiveness and realize the potential opportunities offered by these services.
The number of Web sites on the Internet has grown from an estimated 11,000 sites in 1994 to over 4 million in 2000. The traffic load on the web site is normally measured in terms of the number of http requests handled by the web site. Web sites with heavy traffic loads must use multiple servers running on different hardware; consequently this structure facilitates the sharing of information among servers through a shared file system or via a shared data space. Examples of such a system include Andrews file system (AFS) and distributed file system (DFS). If this facility is not there, then each server may have its own independent file system.
There are four basic approaches to route requests among the distributed Web-server nodes: (1) client-based, (2) DNS-based, (3) dispatcher-based, and (4) server-based. In the client-based approach, requests can be routed to any Web server architecture even if the nodes are loosely connected or are not coordinated. The routing decisions can be embedded by the Web clients like browsers or by the client-side proxy servers. For example, Netscape spreads the load among various servers by selecting a random number i between 1 and the number of servers and directs the requests to the server www.netscape.com. This approach is not widely applicable as it is not easily scalable and many Web sites do not have browsers to distribute loads among servers. However, client-side proxy servers require modifications on Internet components that are beyond the control of many institutions that manage Web server systems.
In the DNS based systems, by translating from a symbolic name to an IP address, the DNS can implement a large set of scheduling policies. The DNS approach is limited by the constraint of 32 Web servers for each public URL because of UDP packet size constraints although it can be scaled easily from LAN to WAN distributed systems.
In the dispatcher-based approach, one single entity controls the routing decisions and implemented through a wide variety of algorithms. Dispatcher failure can disable the system. However, as a centralized controller, the dispatcher can achieve fine-grained load balancing.
The server-based approach can be viewed as a combination of the DNS approach and the dispatcher approach. In the server-based approach, two levels of dispatching are used: (1) cluster DNS first assigns a client request to a Web server; and (2) each Web server may reassign the request to any other server of the cluster. It can achieve the fine-grained control on request assignments as the dispatcher approach and reduces the impact of a central dispatcher failure, but redirection mechanisms typically increase the latency time perceived by the users.
Only the Internet2 Distributed Storage Infrastructure Project (I2-DSI) proposes a "smart" DNS that uses network proximity information such as transmission delays in making routing decisions, as proposed by M. Beck, T. Moore, "The Internet2 Distributed Storage Infrastructure Project: An architecture for Internet content channels," Proc. Of 3rd Workshop on WWW Caching, Manchester, England, June 1998.
Traditionally, scheduling algorithms for distributed systems are not generally applicable to control Web server clusters because of the non-uniformity of load from different client domains, high variability of real Web workload, and a high degree of self-similarity in the Web requests. The Web server load information becomes obsolete quickly and is poorly correlated with future load conditions. Further, because the dynamics of the WWW involves high variability of domain and client workloads, exchange of information about the load condition of servers is not sufficient to provide scheduling decisions. What is needed is a real time adaptive mechanism that adapts rapidly to changing environment. However, none of the approaches incorporates any kind of intelligence or learning in routing of Web requests.
Further, in any routing scheme, request turn around time (time to service the request) can be greatly decreased if the server chosen to respond to a request has the requested file in that server's cache memory. For instance, requests encrypted using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) use a session key to encrypt information passed between a client and a server. Since session keys are expensive to generate, each SSL request has a lifetime of about 100 seconds and requests between a specific client and server within the lifetime of the key use the same session key. So it is highly desirable to route the requests multiple requests from the same client to a server be routed to the same server, as a different server may not know about the session key, and routing to the same server increases the probability that the prior request is still in the systems cache memory, further decreasing the time required to service the user request. One proposal that combines caching and server replication for client-side proxy servers is given by M. Baentsch, L. Baum, G. Molter, "Enhancing the Web's infrastructure: From caching to Replication," IEEE Internet Computing, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 18-27, March-April 1997. However, a general scheme to increase the probability that the server chosen to service a particular request has the request page in cache is not presently available.

Data set request allocations to computers

Louisiana Tech University Foundation, Inc.

Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University Agricultural and Mechanical College on Behalf of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center


A mode setting portion sets a mode to either one of a normal mode in which a developer amount set value T is set to a base developer amount Tbase and a developer-saving mode in which the value T is set to a value smaller than the base developer amount Tbase based on a saving coefficient S. A parameter obtaining portion obtains both a cumulative number of printed sheets Pttl and a developer remaining amount Rt. A determining portion determines in the developer-saving mode whether a first inequality Rt≦Tbase×Sdef×(Pmax−Pttl) is satisfied. A saving-coefficient setting portion sets the saving coefficient S to a default saving coefficient Sdef if the determining portion determines that the first inequality is satisfied, and sets the saving coefficient S to a value satisfying a second inequality Sdef<S≦Rt/{Tbase×(Pmax−Pttl)} if the determining portion determines that the first inequality is not satisfied.

A replaceable toner cartridge is used for a laser printer. Such a toner cartridge accommodates a certain amount of toner so that toner is supplied from the toner cartridge to a printing unit for printing. When the toner cartridge runs out of toner, the used toner cartridge is replaced with a new toner cartridge.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H11-125999 proposes a laser printer which employs a lower developing bias and a lower laser power than in its normal operation so as to lighten printing density The proposed laser printer provides a toner-saving mode for reducing toner consumption by forcibly thinning out dots (reducing the number of dots). If the toner-saving mode is used to reduce toner consumption, it is possible to delay replacement time for replacing the toner cartridges due to toner exhaustion.
The toner cartridge includes various rotary components such as an agitator for agitating toner and a gear for transferring driving force to the toner cartridge. The replacement time of the toner cartridge is also determined based on lives of the rotary components (a rotation driving time calculated on a predetermined number of pages to be printed, or a maximum time in which the rotary components can be used).
Therefore, even if the toner-saving mode is used to reduce an amount of toner to be consumed, the toner cartridge needs to be replaced when the replacement time based on the lives of the rotary component arrives before toner exhaustion. Hence, the replacement time of the toner cartridge cannot be delayed. Further, toner left in the toner cartridge is wasted when the toner cartridge is replaced due to an end of life of the rotary components.

Image forming apparatus capable of preventing waste of developer


A steel sheet for porcelain enameling having improved press formability and enameling properties comprises particular amounts of C, Mn, B, Cu, Al, O, N, and P or further Ti and Nb and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities and is produced by hot rolling a slab of steel having a chemical composition as mentioned above as a starting material, cold rolling the resulting hot rolled sheet at a reduction of not less than 70%, and then subjecting the resulting cold rolled sheet to a continuous annealing at a heating temperature of not lower than 800.degree. C. but not higher than A.sub.c3 transformation point.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to steel sheets for porcelain enameling having good press formability and improved enameling properties such as fishscale resistance, enamel adhesion property, resistance to blistering and pinhole defects and the like, and a method of producing the same.
2. Related Art Statement
Since the steel sheets for porcelain enameling are subjected to severer press forming as represented by the formation of drainboards, bathtubs and the like, it is required to have a fairly deep drawability and satisfy enamel adhesion property (particularly adhesion property in direct enameling at once), firing strain resistance, fishscale resistance and resistance to blistering and pinhole defects.
From the old time, decarburization capped steels are mainly used as a steel sheet for porcelain enameling having a good press formability, but continuously cast Ti-added steels become a main current at the present.
As to the Ti-added steel, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 42-12348, No. 44-18066 and the like disclose that an excellent press formability is obtained when the C content is not more than 0.005 wt% (hereinafter shown by % simply). Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 45-40655 and Japanese Patent laid open No. 53-131919, No. 56-9357 and the like disclose that such a Ti-added steel also possesses an excellent fishscale resistance.
In the Ti-added steel, Ti is an element forming carbide, nitride or sulfide and is utilized as a precipitate thereof to trap hydrogen in steel causing the fishscale, resulting in the improvement of the fishscale resistance.
However, Japanese Patent laid open No. 61-276958 discloses that the Ti-added steel creates defects due to poor weldability. Further, Japanese Patent laid open No. 60-110845 discloses that the Ti-added steel is poor in the enamel adhesion property and resistance to blistering and pinhole defects as compared with the conventional decarburization capped steel.
Particularly, the above Japanese Patent laid open No. 61-276958 discloses that the blistering defect and the shrinkage created due to the poor weldability are attempted to be improved by adding slight amounts of Se and Te to suppress blowhole defects at a weld zone and shrinkage. However, the Ti-added steel has a problem that the blistering and pinhole defects are easily caused at portions other than the weld zones.
In addition to the Ti-added steel, B-added steels are widely known as a steel sheet for porcelain enameling as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 54-3446 and No. 54-39808. In such a B-added steel, the precipitate such as BN and the like formed by the addition of B is utilized to improve the fishscale resistance, and also there is no problem on the weldability.
In these references, however, box annealing is used as an annealing method, so that the resulting steel sheets are unsuitable for applications requiring a severe press forming because the mechanical properties of the steel sheet, particularly f-value are considerably poor.
For this end, a method of improving the r-value in the B-added steel is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 63-54049. In this case, the heating rate in the annealing is restricted to a particular range of not more than 150.degree. C./hr. Such a heating rate clearly indicates a box annealing. Such an annealing step not only takes considerably many days and runs up the production cost but also is apt to create temperature unevenness in longitudinal and widthwise directions of coils. Particularly, the temperature unevenness in the annealing largely affects a precipitation form of a precipitate effectively preventing the fishscale or a surface segregation exerting on the enamel adhesion property as well as the quality and enameling properties of the coil, and has a drawback that the poor adhesion and fishscale are apt to be caused in use by enameling makers.

Steel sheets for procelain enameling and method of producing the same


A subscriber terminal for a radio system and an arrangement, a method and a computer program for presenting contact attempts to a subscriber terminal of a radio system are disclosed. The subscriber terminal includes: a transceiver configured to receive calls and messages; a control unit connected to the transceiver configured to save unanswered call data and messages relating to unanswered calls, and to constitute contact attempts from the unanswered call data and the messages relating to the unanswered calls; and a user interface connected to the control unit configured to present the contact attempts.

Calling other people to communicate is natural to us nowadays. Even so, problems arise when we try to call somebody and the call is not answered. Usually the person we tried to contact checks his mobile phone later and notices our contact attempt. He will then normally call back to ask why he was called. This is not always what we wish. We do not always want the other person to call back to us, for example if we called the wrong person or we already got the information we wanted from somewhere else.
Currently the most natural way to let the other person know why we tried to call him is to send him an SMS (Short Message Service) message. With the current mobile phones, attaching messages to unanswered calls is cumbersome. The message is not combined with the call at the receiving end, because SMS messages cannot be associated with a particular call attempt. This can easily lead to unnecessary calls back to ask the reason for the call. Contact attempts are also shown in an unintuitive way; we are shown the number of missed calls and unread messages rather than who has tried to contact us. If a person has both called us and sent us an SMS message stating the reason for his call we may check the missed calls first and call the person before reading the message he has sent.

Subscriber terminal for a radio system and an arrangement, a method and a computer program for presenting contact attempts to a subscriber terminal of a radio system


An electronic device and method are disclosed herein. The electronic device includes memory storing a certificate list including first certificate data of the electronic device, and second certificate data of an external electronic device, a short-range wireless communication circuit, and a processor. The processor implements the method, including: detecting a trigger event for requesting establishment a communication connection with a device local to the electronic device, controlling the short-range wireless communication circuit to broadcast an advertisement packet generated based on the first certificate data, in response to detecting the trigger event, receiving a response packet from the external electronic device and acquire a third certificate data from the received response packet, authenticating the external electronic device based on the second certificate data and the third certificate data, and establishing a secure communication channel with the external electronic device if the external electronic device is authenticated.

With the development and proliferation of consumer electronic devices, there has been an increase in connectivity and content sharing between user devices. Short-range wireless communication is commonly used to enable communication between devices located within a shared locale. Short-range wireless communication methods include sharing through common access points, and direct peer-to-peer pairing of devices with one another. Examples of direct pairing-based communication through a local wireless-fidelity (WiFi) circuitry include an "ad-hoc" method, usage of a mobile access point, and WiFi direct.

Method for communicating with external electronic apparatus and electronic apparatus thereof