Lamp piece units in a parabolic pillar type capable of forming a luminous intensity distribution pattern prolonged sideways are formed as side irradiating lamp piece units. Thereby, a portion of diffused and reflected light from reflectors of the respective side irradiating lamp piece units is prevented from being blocked by other lamp piece constituting members, even when a surface shape of a vehicular headlamp is flexed to the rear side. Further, although the respective side irradiating lamp piece units are constituted by the lamp piece units of the parabolic pillar type having an angular outer shape as a whole, a large depth space for arranging the units is dispensed with.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vehicular headlamp that forms a luminous intensity distribution pattern for a low beam by irradiating light from a plurality of lamp piece units, each of which constitutes a light source by a semiconductor light emitting element.
2. Related Art
In the related art, a vehicular headlamp is able to form a luminous intensity distribution pattern for a low beam having a cutoff line at an upper end edge thereof, to ensure front recognizability of a driver of one's own car as much as possible while preventing the casting of glare to a driver of a car running on the opposite side or the like.
In such a case, Japanese publication JP-A-2003-123517 describes a vehicular headlamp constituted to form a luminous intensity distribution pattern for low beam by irradiating light from a plurality of lamp piece units each constituting a light source by a semiconductor light emitting element.
Further, Japanese publications JP-A-2003-31007 and JP-A-2003-31011 describe a vehicular lamp piece of a parabolic pillar type constituted to reflect light from a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements linearly aligned in a horizontal direction to a front side of the lamp piece by a reflector including a reflecting face comprising a curved face in a shape of a parabolic pillar.
By adopting the lamp piece constitution described in JP-A-2003-123517, thin formation of the vehicular headlamp can be achieved in the related art. In such a case, when the vehicular lamp piece of the parabolic pillar type described in JP-A-2003-31007 and JP-A-2003-31011 is adopted as a lamp piece unit, a luminous intensity distribution pattern prolonged sideways can be formed to enable formation of a wide diffusing region of the luminous intensity distribution pattern for the low beam.
However, in a number of related art vehicular headlamps, a shape of surface thereof is formed to flex to a rear side from an inner side of a vehicle width direction to an outer side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, when the vehicular lamp piece of the parabolic pillar type described in JP-A-2003-31007 or JP-A-2003-31011 is adopted as the lamp piece unit in a lamp piece constitution in which a plurality of lamp piece units are arranged simply to direct to a front direction of a vehicle as in the vehicular lamp piece described in JP-A-2003-123517, the following related art problem occurs.
When the lamp piece unit of the parabolic pillar type is arranged to direct to the front direction of the vehicle in the vehicular headlamp having the surface shape flexed to the rear side, there is a related art problem in that a portion of diffused and reflected light from the reflector is blocked by other lamp piece constituting member and the luminous intensity distribution pattern prolonged sideways cannot be formed.
Further, the lamp piece unit of the parabolic pillar type is provided with an outer shape which is angular as a whole. Therefore, when the lamp piece unit is arranged to direct to the front direction of the vehicle in the vehicular headlamp having the surface shape flexed to the rear side, a large space in the depth direction is needed for arranging the lamp piece unit. Therefore, there is a related art problem in that the ability to achieve thin formation of the lamp piece by adopting the semiconductor light emitting element as the light source is reduced.


Contacts that can be highly corrosion resistant, can be readily manufactured, and can conserve precious materials. One example can provide contacts having a layer of a precious-metal alloy to improve corrosion resistance. The precious-metal-alloy layer can be plated with a hard, durable, wear and corrosion resistant plating stack for further corrosion resistance and wear improvement. The resources consumed by a contact can be reduced by forming a bulk or substrate region of the contact using a more readily available material, such as copper or a material that is primarily copper based.

Electronic devices often include one or more connector receptacles though which they may provide and receive power and data. Power and data can be conveyed over cables that include a connector insert at each end of a cable. The connector inserts can be inserted into receptacles in the communicating electronic devices. In other electronic systems, contacts on a first device can be in direct contact with contacts on a second device without the need for an intervening cable. In such systems, a first connector can be formed as part of the first electronic device and a second connector can be formed as part of the second electronic device.
The contacts in these various connectors may be exposed to liquids and fluids that can cause the contacts to corrode. For example, a user may purposely or inadvertently submerge an electronic device or a connector insert in a liquid. A user may spill a liquid or perspire on contacts on an electronic device or connector insert. This can cause one or more contacts to corrode, particularly where a voltage is present on the one or more contacts. This corrosion can impair the operation of the electronic device or cable and in severe cases can render the device or cable inoperable. Even where operation is not impaired, corrosion can mar the appearance of the contacts. Where the contacts are at the surface of an electronic device or at the surface of a connector insert on a cable, such corrosion can be readily apparent to a user and it may create a negative impression in the mind of a user that can reflect poorly on the device or cable and the device or cable's manufacturer.
Some of these electronic devices may be very popular and can therefore be manufactured in great numbers. Therefore, it may be desirable that these contacts be readily manufactured such that demand for the devices can be met. It may also be desirable to reduce the consumption of rare or precious materials.
Thus, what is needed are contacts that can be highly corrosion resistant, can be readily manufactured, and can conserve precious materials.


A method for manufacturing DRAM capacitor comprising the steps of providing a substrate having a transistor already formed thereon and an insulating layer covered on top, wherein the insulating layer has an opening exposing one source/drain region of the transistor. Next, a first conductive layer, a first hemispherical grained silicon layer and a material layer are sequentially formed over the insulating layer and the source/drain region exposed through the contact opening, and then followed by a patterning operation. After that, a second conductive layer, a second hemispherical grained silicon layer are sequentially formed over the device, and then etched to expose the insulating layer and the material layer. Subsequently, the material layer is removed to expose the first hemispherical grained silicon layer forming a lower electrode. Finally, a dielectric layer and an upper electrode are sequentially formed over the lower electrode. The characteristic of this invention includes an effective increase in the surface area of the capacitor, the lowering of profile height of the capacitor, and the prevention of spike formation and its associated problems.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to the method of manufacturing a crown-shaped dynamic random access memory (DRAM) capacitor.
2. Description of Related Art
Memory is a type of semiconductor devices for registering data and storing numerical information. As microprocessors become more powerful functionally and the amount of software data that needs to be processed becomes very large, the amount of memory necessary for storing the data is also correspondingly greater. In order to satisfy the need for storing large amount of data, production of memory cells that can have a higher level of integration is the driving force behind some of the newly developed techniques in semiconductor manufacture. DRAM is now an extensively used integrated circuit device for data storage.
FIGS. 1A through 1D are cross-sectional views showing the progression of manufacturing steps in the fabrication of a conventional DRAM capacitor. First, as shown in FIG. 1A, a substrate 10 having a transistor (not shown) already formed thereon is provided. Next, a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) method is used to deposit a layer of insulating material over the substrate 10 and the transistor. The insulating layer can be a silicon dioxide layer or a silicon nitride layer. Then, conventional photolithographic and etching techniques are used to pattern the layer of insulating material to form an insulating layer 12 and a contact opening exposing one source/drain region (not shown) of the transistor. Thereafter, a low pressure chemical vapor deposition method is used to deposit a layer of conductive material over the insulating layer 12 and into the contact opening covering the source/drain region (not shown) to form a conductive layer 14a. The conductive material can be an impurities-doped polysilicon layer having a thickness preferably of about 0.5 to 1.5 .mu.m.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, conventional photolithographic and etching techniques are used to pattern the conductive layer 14a to form a conductive layer 14b. Subsequently, a hemispherical grained silicon layer 16a is formed over the conductive layer 14b and the insulating layer 12. A low pressure chemical vapor deposition method is used to deposit the hemispherical grained silicon. During the reaction, silane (SiH.sub.4) or disilane (Si.sub.2 H.sub.6) is used as the gaseous source and a temperature between the growth of amorphous silicon and polysilicon is maintained. For example, for silane the temperature is about 550.degree. C. to 590.degree. C. for the direct deposition of silicon.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1C, an anisotropic etching method is used to remove the hemispherical grained silicon above the insulating layer 12 forming a hemispherical grained silicon layer 16b. The hemispherical grained silicon layer 16b and the conductive layer 14b together constitute the lower electrode of a capacitor.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1D, a dielectric layer is formed covering the lower electrode. The dielectric layer 18 can have, for example, an oxide/nitride/oxide triple-layered structure, and deposits by using a low pressure chemical vapor deposition method. Thereafter, a layer of conductive material is deposited over the dielectric layer 18 to form the upper electrode 19 of the capacitor. The conductive layer can be, example, an impurities-doped polysilicon layer formed by using a low pressure chemical vapor deposition method.
However, in the step of etching to remove the hemispherical grained silicon layer above the insulating layer 12 as shown in FIG. 1C, the hemispherical grained silicon layer above the conductive layer 14b will also be removed. Hence, there is the possibility that the conductive layer 14b can be over-etched leading to the formation of spikes (as shown in FIG. 1C). These spikes can easily cause serious current leakage problems, and may affect the operation of the DRAM considerably. Furthermore, surface area produced by the conventional techniques is small, and so the corresponding capacitance of the capacitor is small. In addition, the height 17 of the capacitor produced by a conventional method is rather high, which can lead to processing problems due to the large step height that exists relative to the surrounding areas.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need in the art to provide an improved method of forming DRAM capacitor.

Method for manufacturing DRAM capacitor using hemispherical grained silicon


An interferometer comprises a plurality of waveguide branches comprising a plurality of bus waveguides and a plurality of photonic resonators. A first waveguide branch of the plurality of waveguide branches comprises a first photonic resonator coupled to a first bus waveguide. The first photonic resonator is disposed to couple and circle a first portion of an optical beam at the first photonic resonator to generate a first phase shift of the first portion of the optical beam, where the first phase shift is the same as a second phase shift of a second photonic resonator coupled to a second bus waveguide.

OFS is a key aspect of integrated microwave photonics (IMWP) with applications in signal processing, heterodyne interferometry, optical communications, and LiDAR systems. IQ modulators are commonly employed for OFS, as the IQ modulators enable carrier suppression, single-sideband modulation, and offer a large conversion efficiency (CE) to the first-order sideband. However, conventional integrated IQ modulators use straight waveguide sections that cause large device footprints as well as large optical and radio frequency (RF) losses that can lead to low CE, poor suppression of third and higher-order harmonics, and drive up power consumption and noise.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Techniques for phase shifting by a photonic resonator


An inverter circuit includes a temperature measuring section for measuring a temperature of switching elements forming a powering section, a motor speed detector for detecting a speed of a motor, a carrier frequency determiner for determining a carrier frequency based on a temperature of the switching elements and a speed of the motor, and an output waveform determining circuit for determining a duty in response to a load applied to the motor and for switching a carrier frequency.

FIG. 12 shows a first example of conventional inverter circuits. This example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H09-140155. Transistor module (TRM) 3 drives motor 4 following PWM signal 2 supplied from controller 1. Temperature transducer 5 is disposed near TRM 3.
As shown in FIG. 13, microprocessor 6 in controller 1 receives data from temperature transducer 5, and controls TRM 3 for preventing thermal breakdown.
FIG. 14 illustrates control over TRM 3.                Step 10001: start        Step 10002: When a rate of temperature rise (a temperature rise per unit time; ° C./second) detected by temperature transducer 5 exceeds a given value, a carrier frequency is lowered, thereby decreasing switching loss of TRM 3 for suppressing a temperature rise of TRM 3. When the rate of temperature rise lowers to not higher than the given value, the carrier frequency is restored.        Step 10003: If the rate of temperature rise does not lower to not higher than the given value although the carrier frequency is lowered, an operating frequency of motor 4 is lowered, so that the temperature rise of TRM 3 is suppressed.
FIG. 15 shows a second example of conventional inverter circuits. This example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H05-227793. PWM control circuit 12 compares carrier signal CA generated by carrier generator 11 with a control signal. Switching elements 15 are PWM-controlled in response to the comparison, thereby driving motor 13.
Since driving at a higher carrier frequency for reducing magnetic noises increases the heat generated by switching elements 15, appropriate selection of the carrier frequency is required so that the temperature of switching elements 15 can fall within a rated one. In addition to this preparation, a load applied to driving motor 13 is monitored with a current supplied from PWM control circuit 12, and when overload detector 14 detects an overload, the carrier frequency is lowered. In other words, as shown in FIG. 16, comparator 16 compares signal DE indicating a load status with reference signal S00, and when the comparison shows DE>S00, it is determined that the motor is overloaded and switch SW is turned on. A difference between signal DE and reference signal S00 supplied from subtracter AD1 is fed into filter 17 via switch SW. Time constant T1 of filter 17 is set to be T1>T2. T2 is an acceleration or deceleration time of driving motor 13. Adder-subtracter AD2 finds difference S2 between output S1 from filter 17 and predetermined set value S01 indicating a rated load status. The carrier frequency is lowered in response to difference S2.
However, in the first conventional example, since the inverter circuit monitors a rate of temperature rise of the switching elements, a long continuous driving will sometime overheat the switching elements even if the rate of temperature rise is low. In the second conventional example, since only a load applied to the motor is monitored, if a temperature around the switching elements is high, the switching elements will be sometime overheated although the motor is not overloaded.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In one embodiment, the image sensor includes a first photodiode configured to convert an optical signal into a photocharge, a sensing node configured to store the photocharge of the first photodiode, and a circuit configured to selectively output an electrical signal corresponding to the photocharge at the sensing node on an output line. The circuit is connected to at least a first conductive contact, and the output line is disposed between the sensing node and the first conductive contact.

The example embodiments relate to an image sensor, and more particularly, to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor for increasing conversion gain using a Miller effect.
A sensor including a pixel array, which senses effective physical quantity such as light intensity, temperature, mass, or time and outputs an electrical signal, is used in various areas. In particular, an image sensor measuring an image of a photographed object is applied to various fields.

CMOS image sensor for increasing conversion gain


The object is to appropriately control a frequency of performing the link process.

Conventionally, because of the increase of environmental awareness and the rise in energy prices, the demand for efficient use of electric power is increasing in various fields. In offices, in order to aim at energy conservation of a whole department, individual use of electric power is grasped in small unit. In recent years, an energy management system to grasp power consumption of individuals by distributing power outlets, which have power measuring function, called smart outlets is popular.
Such an energy management system increases cost in an office where layout is often changed, in a conference room having outlets whose users often change, in an office where individual desks are not fixed, called non-territorial office, and the like. Therefore, a mechanism for automatically linking appliances and outlets are proposed.
For example, there is a known method for equipping plugs with RFIDs (Radio Frequency Identification) having IDs of appliances, and for reading the RFIDs by RFID readers provided in outlets so as to associate appliances and outlets. In addition, there is a known method for outputting a command to generate a specific power consumption pattern from a server to an appliance, and for detecting the same power pattern on the outlet side, thereby associating appliances and outlets. Further, there is a known technique of sending an appliance ID when the condition of the appliance changes, and of associating the appliance with an outlet having power change at that time. Related-art examples are described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-228225, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-197931, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-134920.
However, the technique that uses RFID increases cost since special outlets with RFIDs are used. In addition, the technique that outputs a command from server decreases usability since resource is consumed regardless of the intention of users. Further, the technique that sends an appliance ID increases a rate of erroneous decision since the number of outlets whose power change at the same time is large in an environment where multiple appliances operate at the same time, such as in an office.
On the other hand, there is also a conceivable technique that links time-series data of power consumption measured at outlets and resource consumption data of electric appliances such as PCs plugged into the outlets by calculating correlation therebetween. However, this technique is difficult to secure scalability, and thus it is difficult to control the frequency of performing the link process, which is disadvantageous.
Specifically, since a link of actual appliances dynamically changes by various factors, it is desirable to update link data in real time to follow the change. Therefore, data is periodically acquired in order to address a case where event load information is difficult to be registered from an appliance side upon movement of the appliance in a case where a network environment is difficult to be provided immediately, for example. However, in order to frequently update the correlation, information is acquired and correlation is calculated frequently. These processes deteriorate performance of a server that calculates the correlation. As described above, it is difficult to secure scalability, and thus the frequency of performing the link process is difficult to be appropriately controlled.

Frequency control device, frequency control method

Abstract: A link device detects a movement of a user based on a result of a link process for linking an outlet and an electronic appliance used by the user. The link device also detects a scheduled event from a schedule of the user. In case an event is detected, the link device calculates a difference between a scheduled time when the event will occur and the current time, and increases a frequency of performing the link process as the calculated difference gets smaller. In case the movement detection unit does not detect a movement of the user by the scheduled event time, the link device increases the frequency of performing the link process larger than a current frequency being used.


A platform assembly for supporting a portable computer. The platform assembly includes a support member having an outer perimeter and a plurality of engagement features spaced inwardly of the perimeter. The support member defines a support surface configured to provide weight bearing support to a portable computer. The platform assembly also includes a plurality of securing devices, each of the securing devices having fastening members releasably securably engagable with a selected one of the engagement features. Each of the securing devices has a clamping surface adapted to engage a portable computer, and the clamping surface is positionable to bear against a portable computer with a clamping force directed generally towards the support surface.

The present invention relates to a platform for supporting portable computers and the like, and in particular to a platform that can be quickly and easily adapted to support a variety of such portable computers.
Personal computers are becoming more and more common in many industries and office environments. Such systems typically employ a keypad, mouse, and/or other data input devices, such as a digitizing pad. In addition to conventional personal computers, compact portable or xe2x80x9cnotebookxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9claptopxe2x80x9d computers have also become popular due to the portability of such computers. Such portable computers typically include a base having a plurality of input keys, and a flip up top/screen that is pivotally mounted to the base. Typically the top/screen can be pivoted to a closed position for transport, and pivoted upwardly for use.
A number of devices have been developed to support conventional personal computer keyboards, monitors, and the like. However, such devices are generally not suitable for supporting a portable computer due to the dimensions of the portable computer and other such constraints.
To date, no one has developed an adjustable platform that can be readily adapted to support a variety of portable computers, that is adjustable to provide a comfortable viewing height for the portable computer screen.
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a platform assembly for supporting a portable computer. The platform assembly includes a support member having an outer perimeter and a plurality of engagement features spaced inwardly of the perimeter. The support member defines a support surface configured to provide weight bearing support to a portable computer. The platform assembly also includes a plurality of securing devices, each of the securing devices having fastening members releasably securably engagable with a selected one of the engagement features. Each of the securing devices has a clamping surface adapted to engage a portable computer, and the clamping surface is positionable to bear against a portable computer with a clamping force directed generally towards the support surface.
Another aspect of the present invention is a platform assembly for supporting a portable computer of the type having a generally flat base defining an upper surface and a perimeter. The platform assembly includes a support member having an upper surface configured to support a portable computer thereon. The platform assembly also includes at least one clamp positioned on the support member. The clamp is configured to press on the upper surface of the base of a portable computer positioned on the support member to clamp the base to the support member.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a platform assembly for supporting a portable computer. The platform assembly includes a support member defining an upper surface configured to provide a weight bearing support for a portable computer. The platform assembly also includes a pair of horizontally spaced apart ratcheting clamps configured to clamp a portable computer against the upper surface of the support member.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

Platform assembly for supporting portable computers and the like


A semiconductor device capable of preventing an interlayer dielectric film from deterioration resulting from a liquid such as a chemical solution penetrating into the interlayer dielectric film and recovering the interlayer dielectric film from deterioration with a prescribed gas is obtained. This semiconductor device comprises a first insulating film formed on a substrate and a first gas-liquid separation film, formed on at least a part of the surface of the first insulating film, composed of a material hardly permeable by a liquid and easily permeable by a gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly, it relates to a semiconductor device comprising an interlayer dielectric film and a method of fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Background Art
A porous interlayer dielectric film is generally known as a film isolating conductive layers of a semiconductor device from each other, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-272188, for example. In the semiconductor device employing the porous interlayer dielectric film disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-272188, the dielectric constant of the interlayer dielectric film can be so reduced as to reduce a parasitic capacitance between wires.
A structure of a semiconductor device having an SiO2 or SiN film formed on an interlayer dielectric film is also known in general. When a wiring layer is formed on the interlayer dielectric film and the surface thereof is flattened by partially polishing the wiring layer by CMP (chemical mechanical polishing), the SiO2 or SiN film formed on the interlayer dielectric film functions as a CMP stopper.
In the conventional semiconductor device employing the porous interlayer dielectric film, however, a large quantity of hydrophobic groups such as methyl groups disappear from the interlayer dielectric film when a wet process using a liquid such as a chemical solution or a plasma process is-employed in any step of preparing the semiconductor device, to disadvantageously increase hygroscopicity of the interlayer dielectric film. Consequently, the liquid such as a chemical solution easily penetrates into the interlayer dielectric film, to disadvantageously deteriorate the interlayer dielectric film.
When the interlayer dielectric film of the conventional semiconductor device having the SiO2 (SiN) film formed thereon is exposed to a prescribed gas atmosphere for recovering the interlayer dielectric film from deterioration, on the other hand, the SiO2 (SiN) film disadvantageously inhibits the prescribed gas from penetrating into the interlayer dielectric film. Consequently, it is difficult to recover the interlayer dielectric film from deterioration with the prescribed gas.

Semiconductor device comprising insulating film


A computer-implemented method and system for improving caller verification is provided. The method comprises registering an intended communications session by generating a key using, at least, a first call time window identifier, and storing the key in a database; in response to registering the intended communication session, receiving a request for caller verification, wherein the request comprises data representing a second call time window identifier; in response to receiving the request for caller verification, generating a comparison key based on the request; comparing the comparison key with the key stored in the database; and verifying the intended communication session in response to comparing the comparison key with the key.

Users of a telephony service often receive unwanted phone calls from a variety of callers engaging in phone-based campaigns. These phone-based campaigns range from telemarketing campaigns, political surveys, and charity drives to more nefarious phone scams, financial fraud schemes, identity theft schemes, and other scams.
Users who receive phone calls have no reliable means of identifying the caller for an incoming call before deciding to accept a call. The caller identification (ID) system often displays just a phone number to the recipient and there are no assurances that the caller is complying with legal requirements to not abuse the system by spoofing the caller ID. Appropriate use of the caller ID system is entirely at the discretion of callers, resulting in various types of abuses. For example, perpetrators of a robocalling scheme may spoof a caller ID to make it appear as through a call is coming from the same area code as that of the user.
Even in cases where a caller ID is not being spoofed, the information associated with the phone number displayed is limited. For example, since users often keep their mobile phone number permanently, even when they move to a new geographical location, an area code of a phone number is not guaranteed to reflect the real location of the caller. Consequently, the location displayed to the user who is receiving an incoming call cannot be relied on.

System and method of caller verification


A method and system for generating robust XPath expressions for a selected node in transcodable markup. The system of the invention can include a set of differing XPath expression generators; an interface through which at least one of the XPath expression generators can be selected; and, an XPath generator processor configured to apply each of the selected XPath expression generators to the selected node in the transcodable markup to produce a redundant set of robust XPath expressions configured to identify the selected node. Notably, the system also can include an XPath resolution processor. The XPath resolution processor can resolve each XPath expression in the redundant set. The resolutions, in turn, can identify a set of candidate nodes, the XPath resolution processor identifying the selected node from among the set of candidate nodes based upon the XPath expressions resolving to the selected node more than any other node in the set of candidate nodes.

1. Statement of the Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of Web content transcoding and more particularly to generating XPATH expressions.
2. Description of the Related Art
End-users increasingly access Web content with devices other than conventional desktop content browsers. Such devices include personal digital assistants, cellular telephones and cable television set top boxes. Yet, as these devices lack the same rendering capabilities as the conventional desktop content browser, it is necessary to adapt the Web content from one format intended for use in one type of device, to a another format suitable for rendering in another device. This content adaptation process has been referred to as "transcoding".
The transcoding process can be facilitated through the use of information about the Web content, referred to hereinafter as "meta-information". Meta-information can be provided with the original Web content and can be used to assist the transcoding process in uniquely identifying portions of the Web content. Notably, meta-information can be created without any modification of the original Web content if the meta information is described separately from the Web content. In this regard, the separate provision of such meta-information often is referred to as "external annotation".
External annotations consist of the meta-information and corresponding references to portions of the original Web content. The meta-information and references typically are described according to the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and the XML Path/Pointer (XPath/XPointer) specification. XPath is a syntax for identifying particular sections of markup, such as an HTML or XML formatted document. Each of the RDF and XPath/XPointer specifications have been standardized by the World Wide Web Consortium, referred to hereafter as the "W3C".
XPath, described in depth in James Clark and Steve DeRose, XML Path Language (XPath) Version 1.0, W3C Recommendation (Nov. 16, 1999), arose from an effort to provide a common syntax and semantics for functionality which is shared between Extensible Style Sheet Transformations (XSLT) and XPointer. A primary purpose of XPath is to address parts of an XML document in support of which XPath provides basic facilities for manipulating strings, numbers and boolean values. XPath uses a compact, non-XML syntax to facilitate the use of XPath technology within Universal Resource Indicators (URI) and an XML attribute value. XPath operates on the abstract, logical structure of an XML document, rather than its surface syntax. Thus, XPath is aptly named in view of its URL-like path notion for navigating through the hierarchical structure of an XML document.
Notably, XPath expressions can be difficult to create. The XPath standard syntax requires an understanding of complex concepts, including multiple axes and predicates. As will be recognized by one skilled in the art, the XPath syntax plainly is unusual and non-intuitive. Importantly, though creating simplistic XPath expressions can be problematic, creating robust XPath expressions which remain valid notwithstanding changing portions of referenced markup can be even more so problematic. In particular, conventional XPath creation techniques are not configured to handle changing content relied upon as a reference point in associated markup.
For example, the structure and content of hypertext markup language (HTML) documents are known to change with time as the information contained in the HTML document sometimes can be updated hourly or daily. As the contents and structure of the document changes, however, associated annotations which uniquely identify those changed portions of the HTML document can become invalid. This can be particularly true where specific annotations uniquely identify portions of the changing HTML document by reference to a specific document structure. Hence, conventional annotation methods are ineffective in the face of a dynamically changing document.

Selectable methods for generating robust XPath expressions

International Business Machines Corporation


A cognitive MANET system is disclosed that uses TDD (Time Division Duplexing) and TDMA MAC to maintain routes that allow delivery of adequate bandwidth for applications resulting in an efficient way of maintaining information on neighboring wireless terminals and access points by using a routing protocol that has a built in slot reservation algorithm.

A Mobile Ad-Hoc Network (MANET) is a distributed system that consists of mobile nodes that can organize in an Ad-Hoc manner. These types of networks have been historically implemented for tactical and commercial use.
Recent developments in 4G and beyond technologies are helping to integrate different wireless and wired systems using Internet Protocol (IP). The IP protocol allows a core network to maintain compatibility even when transport layers evolve. The same IP based networking approach can be effectively used to create wireless networks that form when devices are in proximity. These types of networks do not necessary need infrastructure as they are created when intelligent mobile devices cooperatively create a network on their own.
The traditional MANET technology can be improved by combining it with a Cognitive Radio (CR) technology. Cognitive MANET networks use cognitive radio terminals to relay traffic. These types of systems can intelligently decide on what frequencies they are operating, and can modify operating parameters dynamically.
This invention describes a cognitive MANET system that uses TDD (Time Division Duplexing) and TDMA MAC. To maintain routes that allow delivery of adequate bandwidth for applications a cognitive MANET system needs an efficient way of maintaining information on neighboring wireless terminals and access points. A cognitive system can intelligently decide on what band and frequency in a band to use. The radio channel varies dynamically and terminals can suffer from interference due to hidden and exposed terminal phenomena. This problem is mitigated using a routing protocol that has a built in slot reservation algorithm.

Cognitive mobile time division duplex Ad-Hoc network


Some embodiments of the invention includes a data generator. The data generator includes a data generating circuit having a combination of linear feedback shift registers and shift registers for generating a pseudo-random data pattern in a first order. The data generator also includes a recovery circuit for allowing the data generating circuit to generate the pseudo-random data pattern in a second order. The second order is a reverse of the first order. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

An LFSR is occasionally used in data generators to generate a pseudo-random pattern for purposes such as testing of electrical devices. A typical LFSR often includes a combination of one shift register circuit combined with some logic circuits. Most data generators with a typical LFSR generate the pseudo-random data pattern data in only one order.
In some situations, generating a pseudo-random data pattern in only one order may limit the use of the pseudo-random data pattern.

Data generator having linear feedback shift registers for generating data pattern in forward and reverse orders


According to the present invention a cache within a multiprocessor system is speculatively filled. To speculatively fill a designated cache, the present invention first determines an address which identifies information located in a main memory. The address may also identify one or more other versions of the information located in one or more caches. The process of filling the designated cache with the information is started by locating the information in the main memory and locating other versions of the information identified by the address in the caches. The validity of the information located in the main memory is determined after locating the other versions of the information. The process of filling the designated cache with the information located in the main memory is initiated before determining the validity of the information located in main memory. Thus, the memory reference is speculative.

The present invention relates generally to computer processor technology. In particular, the present invention relates to memory access transactions within a computer system having a main memory and one or more cache memories.
A popular multiprocessor computer architecture is formed by coupling one or more processors to a shared main memory storing data, with each processor typically having a local cache to store its own private copy of a subset of the data from the main memory. An important operation to optimize in any computer system, including a multiprocessor system, is the memory access. The memory access time may create a bottleneck impeding performance of a multiprocessor system, especially in the situation where the processor executes its instructions at a faster rate than the memory rate.
A processor executing a memory access seeks to locate the most recent copy of data which may be stored in the main memory or one of the caches. A typical memory reference to retrieve data in a multiprocessor system is resolved by fetching data from the main memory and concurrently probing the caches of the other processors for any other copy of the data and from this information determining the most recent valid copy of the data.
In order to achieve a high performance in a multiprocessor system, the memory reference process to retrieve data is designed to be completed within a specified memory resolution time interval. However, there are two factors which make this specification difficult to achieve. First, in a memory reference, all of the references to the various memories may not take the same amount of time with some references taking longer than others. Sometimes, the return of data from a reference to main memory is faster than the return of data from the probe to a cache. Thus, it is not known definitively which copy of data is the valid copy until the slowest copy is retrieved.
Next, a high performance processor typically employs highly pipelined designs to aggressively reduce the cycle time of the processor. One ramification of highly pipelined designs is that before a fill to a processor""s cache memory can occur, the pipeline must be primed to prepare the pipeline for data reception. This requires a lead-off notice time to schedule the internal resources of the pipeline. This lead-off time further reduces the amount of time available for the multiprocessor system to completely resolve the memory reference from all possible sources of the data.
Thus, a solution is needed to reduce the memory resolution time interval which would subsequently reduce the time for memory access.
According to the present invention a cache within a multiprocessor system is speculatively filled. The multiprocessor system includes a main memory coupled to a plurality of processors having a plurality of caches. Each processor may have one or more internal or external caches. To speculatively fill a designated cache, the present invention first determines an address which identifies information located in the main memory. The address may also identify one or more other versions of the information located in one or more of the caches. The process of filling the designated cache with the information is started by locating the information in the main memory and thus locating other versions of the information identified by the address in the caches. The validity of the information located in the main memory is determined after locating the other versions of the information. The process of filling the designated cache with the information located in the main memory is initiated before determining the validity of the information located in main memory. Thus, the memory reference is speculative.
Typically, the information located in the main memory is invalid if one of the other versions of the information is a more recent, e.g., more current, version than the information located in the main memory, and is valid if the information located in the main memory is more recent than the other versions of the information. More generally, the validity of the information located in the main memory may be determined to be invalid or valid based upon a cache protocol. The process of filling the designated cache is canceled after determining that the information located in the main memory is invalid.
Beneficially, the process of filling the designated cache has a primer stage, wherein a pipeline associated with the filling process is prepared for delivery of the information located in the main memory, followed by a delivery stage, wherein the information located in the main memory is delivered to the designated cache. The process of filling the designated cache is canceled upon determination that the information located in the main memory is invalid before the information located in the main memory is delivered to the designated cache in the delivery stage. The process of filling the designated cache is completed without interruption after determining that the information in the main memory is valid.
In accordance with other aspects of the present invention, a computer system includes a main memory and a computing apparatus connectable to a cache. The cache may be internal or external to the computing apparatus. The computing apparatus includes address circuitry for presenting an address to the main memory. The computing apparatus also includes cache fill circuitry for receiving information from the main memory corresponding to the address and for speculatively filling a section of the cache with the information. The computing apparatus additionally includes validation circuitry for receiving a validation signal having a value indicating whether the main memory information is valid or invalid. The cache fill circuitry initiates a speculative fill of the cache with the main memory information before the validation circuitry receives the validation signal.
The computing apparatus advantageously includes cache fill abort circuitry for canceling the filling of the section of the cache with the main memory information if the value of the validation signal indicates the main memory information is invalid, or for allowing the filling of the section of cache to continue if the value of the validation signal indicates that the main memory information is valid. The value of the validation signal is determined after the cache fill circuitry begins filling the cache with information. Thus, the cache fill is speculative.
The cache fill circuitry may be configured as a pipeline. Beneficially, the cache fill circuitry includes a data setup stage for preparing the main memory information for delivery to the cache, and a data delivery stage for receiving the main memory information from the data setup stage and delivering the main memory information to the cache. If the value of the validation signal indicates that the main memory information is invalid, the process of filling the cache is canceled by the cache fill abort circuitry before the main memory information is received by the information delivery stage.
In a further embodiment, the computing apparatus may also include a memory controller for receiving the address from the address circuitry, locating the main memory information corresponding to the address and providing the main memory information to the cache fill circuitry. Typically, the memory controller sets the value of the validation signal to indicate the main memory information is invalid if the main memory information is not the most recent version of the information. Generally, the memory controller sets the value of the validation signal based upon a cache protocol.
In accordance with still other aspects of the present invention, a multiprocessor system includes a main memory configured to store information, a memory controller, coupled to the main memory, and a plurality of processors, each processor coupled to the memory controller. A processor includes a cache and a system port configured to receive main memory information from the memory controller. Each processor also includes cache fill circuitry for filling a section of the cache with the main memory information, validation circuitry for receiving a validation signal having a value indicating whether the main memory information is valid or invalid, and cache fill abort circuitry for canceling the filling of the section of the cache if the value of the validation signal indicates the main memory information is invalid. The value of the validation signal is determined after the point in time when the cache fill circuitry begins the process of filling the cache with the main memory information, the cache fill is thereby considered to be speculative.
The memory controller retrieves the main memory information from the main memory and generates the validation signal by setting the value of the validation signal to invalid if a more recent version, e.g. a more recent copy, of the information than that in the main memory is located in one of the caches, or setting the value of the validation signal to valid if the copy of the information in memory is the most recent version.
According to yet other aspects of the present invention, a computer system includes a memory reference unit for selecting an address identifying a selected section of information in a memory, an address bus for supplying an external system, typically, a memory controller, with the address for the selected section of information, and an information bus for receiving the selected section of information from the external system in response to the address. The computer system further includes a cache for storing sections of information from the memory, a validation pin for receiving a validation signal indicating whether the selected section of information is valid or invalid according to a cache protocol, and cache fill circuitry for filling one of the sections of the cache with the selected section of information. The cache fill process is initiated before determining if the selected section of information is valid or invalid.
Further, the computer system includes cache fill abort circuitry for canceling the filling of the selected section of the cache if the validation signal indicates the information is invalid. The validity of the selected section of information is determined at a point in time after the point in time when the cache fill circuitry begins filling the cache with the information. Thus, the cache fill is speculative.
Objects, advantages, novel features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure, including the following detailed description, as well as by practice of the invention. While the invention is described below with reference to a preferred embodiment(s), it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those of ordinary skill in the art having access to the teachings herein will recognize additional implementations, modifications, and embodiments, as well as other fields of use, which are within the scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed herein and with respect to which the invention could be of significant utility.

Method and apparatus for performing speculative memory fills into a microprocessor

Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.P.


A trim strip has a bar of an at least partially transparent plastic having parallel inner and outer faces, an opaque decor layer laminated to the inner face, and a layer of adhesive on the opaque decor layer. The trim strip is adhered to a board edge with the decor layer against the board edge and the outer face directed away therefrom, and edges of the trim strip at the outer face are machined with removal of material so that the decor layer is left exposed through the bar at the machined edges.

Furniture nowadays is typically made of boards manufactured as plywood, particleboard, chipboard, or the like having at least one face covered with a decor layer or veneer, typically with wood grain to give the appearance of a solid piece of wood. The core is a pressed-together mass of particles or fibers or crossing layers of wood. Such boards are extremely strong, dimensionally stable, and inexpensive, but they have the disadvantage that their core materials are clearly visible at the edges.
Thus it is standard to cover the edges with a trim strip having a matching finish, normally woodgrain or veneer. Such a strip typically comprises a layer of plastic laminated with a decor layer. The strip is glued to the edge of the manufactured board and trimmed to fit.
The disadvantage of this system is that if the edges of the thus trimmed board are rounded or chamfered, the decor layer is removed and either the underlying plastic layer of the trim strip or the interior of the board is exposed. If left alone the effect is unattractive at best, and touching up this edge is a fairly difficult job that rarely will pass any meaningful scrutiny. Another disadvantage is that the trim strip is frequently subject to substantial abuse, if only from periodic cleaning, so that the decor layer can be chipped and/or worn off, revealing the core material it was intended to hide.


Described is the use of microbicidal phenolic compounds in combination with glutaraldehyde for the preparation of disinfectants which are suitable for the disinfection of surfaces and instruments, but also of parts of the body (for example hands) in hospitals and doctors' surgeries.

It is known that there is a considerable risk of infection for patients and staff in hospitals and in doctors' surgeries from microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts and viruses which are pathogenic to humans. Taking into account this risk of infection for patients and staff, the disinfection of surfaces and instruments in hospitals and doctors' surgeries is of particular importance. Apart from the known causative agents of hospitalism from amongst the bacteria and yeasts, viruses have gained increasing importance amongst disinfection procedures.
The requirements regarding the effectiveness of disinfectants are described, for example, in the regulations of the DGHM (Dt. Gesellschaft fur Hygiene und Mikrobiologie [German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology]) and the guideline of the Bundesgesundheitamt (BGA [Federal Health Office]) and the Dt. Vereinigung zur Bekampfung von Viruserkrankungen (DVV [German Association for Viral Disease Research]). Disinfectants which meet the DGHM requirements are listed in the VII list as per 1.1.92. Nothing is mentioned as yet in these lists on the virucidal properties of the disinfectants.
When used at concentrations, and over periods, which are relevant under realistic conditions, the combination according to the invention guarantees a greatly reduced number of pathogenic microorganisms amongst bacteria and yeasts and also inactivation of, for example, DVV-listed, naked and enveloped viruses while fully meeting current requirements. The invention is based on a combination of microbicidal phenolic compounds (ph) and glutaraldehyde (glu).
Phenolic active substances for the disinfection of surfaces and instruments are known (Ullmann-Enzyklopadie der tech. Chemie [Ullmann's Encyclopaedia of Chemical Engineering], 4th Edition, 1975, Volume 20, pp. 41-58). It is furthermore known that microbicidal phenolic compounds have an insufficient activity against naked viruses. It is also known that inactivation of naked viruses, such as polio, is made possible by concentrations from 1% of glutaraldehyde (10,000 ppm) in alkaline solution.
CA 2.015.079 describes a disinfectant composed of glu, o-phenylphenol, p-tert-amylphenol, sodium arylalkylsulphonate, citric acid and water. A combination of the abovementioned active substances allows stabilization and an activity specifically against bacteria which are pathogenic to humans, even in the acidic range. A virucidal activity is not described. Moreover, this formulation comprises an extremely large amount of glu, which results in odour and corrosion problems and might, under certain circumstances, cause allergic reactions.

Chemical disinfectants based on phenolic active components and glutaraldehyde


Disclosed herein are combinatorial therapies for treating or preventing reoccurrence of cancer. The therapies involve inhibition of LIMK1 in conjunction with taxane therapy. Specifically exemplified herein is co-administration of a LIMK1 RNA interfering molecule along with administration of a taxane.

Despite recent advances in development of improved cancer therapeutics one of the many clinical challenges is that patients often show resistance to cancer drugs. This invention provides evidence that an alternate method of treatment of cancer could be adopted for improved efficacy of existing therapies and/or treatment of drug resistant cancers. Taxane compounds, such as docetaxel and paclitaxel, are microtubule-targeted tubulin-polymerizing agents and have proved to be the first line treatment choice for castration-resistant prostate cancer and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells. However resistance to taxane compounds develops commonly due to altered beta tubulin isotypes or development of multidrug resistance (MDR) through activation of p-glycoprotein drug efflux pump. In addition there are serious side effects and systematic toxicity encountered with docetaxel treatment.

Increasing taxane sensitivity in cancer cells

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.


A magazine and tube dispensing method is provided. The magazine includes a receiving compartment for temporarily receiving unfilled tubes intended for filling with a flowable product, the compartment being formed with a movable outer rail wall. A gate assembly downstream from the receiving compartment includes a constriction passageway formed between a lateral inner wall and a lateral member wall allowing downward gravity feed of tubes only in a single file. The lateral member wall is movable in a direction toward or away from the lateral inner wall and integrally movable as a member of the outer rail wall, thereby adjusting a cross-sectional dimension of the passageway to accommodate processing of different diameter tubes.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a tube dispensing magazine readily reconfigured to accept different sized diameter tubes and a method for packaging flowable products.
2. The Related Art
Tube dispensing magazines are found at upstream locations in tube filling production lines. Empty cylindrical tubes capped at one end and open on an opposite end are placed in the magazine awaiting individual downstream transfer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,563 discloses cylindrical piece parts which descend under their own weight down an incline surface of a supply hopper to a discharge opening. To prevent clogging of the opening, a sweeper blade is cyclically passed over the opening to break up piece part accumulation at that opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,135 discloses an apparatus for dispensing a preselected number of generally cylindrical articles such as pens or pencils through a hopper having two facing vertical walls and two facing walls that converge downwardly. Lower edges of the walls form an opening at the bottom for the hopper such that only one article at a time can pass through the opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,229 reports a process and machine for packaging individual drinking straws. The machine includes a hopper with a hinged front wall flanked by two side walls and held by a connecting rod. A bottom of the hopper features a thin platform with a raised front edge exhibiting an alternating longitudinal motion which pushes straws out of the hopper and ensures formation of a tight and compact line of straws.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,633 describes a machine for insertion of elongated cylindrical objects such as pens into a rapidly moving stream of envelopes. A supply hopper for the objects includes a trough feeding the objects to a delivery station and a horizontally reciprocating assembly which takes one object at a time from the trough and feeds into an open envelope.
Often a filling line must service production of many different sized packaged products. Changeover from one size of tube to another must be rapid to avoid production delays. Traditional tube dispensing magazines utilize a constriction passageway funneling a multi rowed array of tubes into a single line. Walls of the passageway can be adjusted but only at the expense of stopping the filling process. The mechanism for wall adjustment is tied to other process equipment within the line. Changeover to a different diameter tube requires relative adjustment to every adjacent mechanism. The switch is time consuming and often inaccurate.
The present invention overcomes the problem of long delay in package changeover from filling one size tubing to a different sized one. Production is thereby rendered more efficient.

Tube dispensing magazine device and method


A memory sharing method for at least a functional module and a target module is disclosed. The functional module includes at least a static random access memory (SRAM), the memory sharing method includes the steps of calculating a memory capacity of the functional module; if a total memory capacity of a module group satisfies a memory capacity requirement of the target module, allocating the SRAM of the module group, wherein the module group comprises at least one functional module; and accessing the SRAM of the functional module of the module group by utilizing the target module.

The present invention relates to memory sharing, more particularly, to a memory sharing method for sharing SRAMs with a plurality of functional modules in a SOC device.
The evolution of system-on-chip (SOC) device greatly decreases the manufacture cost of electronic devices. However, the cost is still high for manufacturer since SOC device comprises several functional modules which comprise the corresponding memories. The total memories in an SOC device occupy substantial chip area of the SOC device. For example, internal memory blocks may occupy as much as about 70% area of an SOC device.
In related art SOC devices, a static random access memory (SRAM) is generally assigned for each functional module in each SOC device. The memory allocation depends on the features of the functional modules, such as the required memory size and data bits. Furthermore, each SRAM includes a number of memory cells where each memory cell typically stores one bit of information.
A problem that arises in the SOC device of this type is that the SRAMs distributed in different functional modules generally are not accessed simultaneously, thereby causing idle SRAMs to remain unused. Therefore, it is evident that an enhanced mechanism to reallocate the SRAMs for functional modules is needed. This will help improve the utilization of the implemented SRAMs.
Similarly, the sharing of SRAMs by the functional modules in an SOC device should be considered early on the allocation design of SRAMs. For an SOC device, modification of the access instructions and the associated controlling mechanism for the SRAMs is capable of reducing the total SRAM quantity and hence lower production costs.

Memory sharing method for sharing SRAM in an SOC device


Computer-readable instructions, when executed by a processor of a server, cause the server to receive a request from a terminal device, using a protocol configured to be used by a browser of the terminal device. The computer-readable instructions cause the server to generate, in response to receiving the request, specific data. The specific data comprises first location information for location of a web data configured to display a message screen for transmitting target data from the terminal device to a communication device using a short-range wireless communication, and the target data is stored in a memory of the server associated with authentication information configured to authenticate the communication device to a service providing server. The specific data configured to be in a format for transmission using the protocol.

For example, in a known technique, a system includes a personal computer ("PC"), a relay device, a multifunction peripheral ("MFP"), and a service providing device. The PC transmits a temporary registration ID issue request to the relay device. Upon receipt of the temporary registration ID issue request, the relay device generates a temporary registration ID and transmits the temporary registration ID to the PC. Thus, the PC displays the temporary registration ID thereon. A user inputs the temporary registration ID displayed on the PC into the MFP by operating the MFP. Upon receipt of the temporary registration ID, the MFP transmits the temporary registration ID to the relay device. Upon receipt of the temporary registration ID, the relay device acquires an access token from the service providing device using the temporary registration ID. In the known technique, the user may need to operate the MFP to input the temporary registration ID into the MFP.

System, server, communication device and computer readable medium therefor


One embodiment of the present invention enables an individual to selectively choose an area(s) of interest and automatically scan a database to intelligently retrieve the relevant information and filter out the irrelevant information. Next, the relevant information may then be collated and made available in an electronic “book” format for ease of distribution. For example, a network administrator may go to his/her company's web page and utilize the present embodiment to download an electronic “book” pertaining to troubleshooting his/her particular network configuration. It is appreciated that the present embodiment may be utilized in a broad number of different areas since it covers any application where there may be a huge database of information and only a part of which may be of interest to selected parties. For example, the present embodiment may be quite useful in areas such as, but not limited to, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, medical, defense, and computer networking.

Computers are useful functional devices which are fabricated in a variety of sizes ranging from computers which occupy large office space down to computers which are held in one's hand. These varying sizes of computers also perform an extremely wide variety of useful operations, depending on the software which is installed within their particular memory storage device. For instance, computers have become an integral tool used in a wide variety of different applications, such as in finance and commercial transactions, computer-aided design and manufacturing, health care, telecommunication, education, etc. Additionally, computers are finding new applications as a result of rapid advances in hardware technology and development in software technology. Furthermore, a computer system's functionality is dramatically enhanced by coupling stand-alone computers together to form a computer network. In a computer network, computer users may readily exchange files, communicate via electronic mail (e-mail) and via video teleconferencing, pool resources, and share information stored on a common database.
It is understood that a computer accessible database can store an extremely wide range of information. For example, the database can potentially store information pertaining to manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, computer equipment, medical, defense, computer networking, chemistry, financial, among many others. Additionally, the computer accessible database can potentially store thousands of reference materials, instruction manuals, troubleshooting guides, set-up instructions, and any other resources covering different topics that are available to a product end user. As such, the computer accessible database can be a vast resource of information.
However, it should be pointed out that there are disadvantages associated with the typical computer accessible database. One of the disadvantages is that a computer user may find it difficult to locate relevant information associated with a specific topic within the computer accessible database that includes a huge amount of information. Furthermore, if one or more portions of the relevant information are retrieved from the database, they may not include the context necessary for understanding them.

Method and system for providing a user-customized electronic book


A substituted benzoic acid derivative which is represented by the following formula (I) and has an NF-κB inhibiting action (in the formula, R3, R4 and R5 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon(s) or an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon(s); R9 and R10 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon(s) or an acyl group having 2 to 11 carbons); R2 represents an optionally-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon group or an optionally-substituted heterocyclic group; and X represents a carboxyl group which may be esterified or amidated)

NF-κB is a protein which regulates the gene expression and is one of the so-called transcription factors. When normal cells are stimulated by an inflammatory cytokine such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and TNF-α or by lipopolysaccharide, or ultraviolet rays, NF-κB is activated and migrates from the cytosol into the nucleus to bind to its specific nucleotide sequences on the genome DNA and thereby participate in the expression of various genes (Blackwell, T. S. and Christman, J. W. (1997) Am. J. Respir. Cell. Mol. Biol., 17, 3–9).
Among the genes of which the expression is under the control of NF-κB, many genes participate in an immunoinflammatory reaction, such as inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α), cell adhesion molecules (e.g., ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and ELAM-1) and inducible NO-synthase (iNOS) (Collins, T., Read, M. A., Neish, A. S., Whitley, M. Z., Thanos, D. and Maniatis, T. (1995) Faseb. J., 9, 899–909). It is further known that, when inflammatory cytokine binds to its receptor, it transmits the signal which activates NF-κB through various pathways and it is believed to be a cause for more exacerbation of inflammation. As such, activation of NF-κB in inflammation is understood as a cause and an exacerbating factor of a diseases (Baeuerle, P. A. and Baichwal, V. R. (1997) Adv. Immunol., 65, 111–137).
Further, it has been reported in recent years that HIV, HTLV-1, CMV, adenovirus, etc. activate NF-κB in host cells (Dezube, B. J., Pardee, A. B., Beckett, L. A., Ahlers, C. M., Ecto, L., Allen-Ryan, J., Anisowicz, Z. A., Sager, R. and Crumpacker, C. S. (1992) J. Acquir. Immune Defic. Syndr., 5, 1099–1104; Nabel, G. and Baltimore, D. (1987) Nature, 326, 711–713; Fazely, F., Dezube, B. J., Allen-Ryan, J., Pardee, A. B. and Ruprechet, R. M. (1991) Blood, 77, 1653–1656; Munoz, E. and Israel, A. (1995) Immunobiology, 193, 128–136) and it is believed that activation of NF-κB participates in self-replication and proliferation of virus in the infected host cells.
Accordingly, when activation of NF-κB is suppressed, it is possible to suppress expression and induction of all of those inflammatory cytokines, cell adhesion molecule gene and virus and suppressors for NF-κB activation is promising as a therapeutic agent for diseases directly or indirectly caused by activation of NF-κB, particularly for various inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases, or as a immunosuppressant or as a therapeutic agent for viral diseases.
At present, many anti-inflammatory agents are clinically used for the purpose of treating osteoarthritis, lumbago, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. However, with regard to an agent which suppresses production of various inflammatory cytokines and expression of cell adhesion molecules, no effective one has been available yet. A frequently-used NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) suppresses production of prostaglandins by inhibition of cyclooxigenase in a metabolic pathway of arachidonic acid cascade but, generally, they do not directly inhibit the production of cytokines. Although steroids suppress the production of cytokines, they have been known to cause severe adverse actions such as undesirable harmonic action, exacerbation of infectious diseases, generation of peptic ulcer, central action, etc. and therefore not amenable to a long-term administration.
However, among those anti-inflammatory agents, several drugs which suppress the activation of NF-κB by high dose have been reported in recent years (Auphan, N., DiDonato, J. A., Rosette, C., Helmberg, A. and Karin, M. (1995) Science, 270, 286–290; Shackelford, R. E., Alford, P. B., Xue, Y., Thai, S. F., Adams, D. O. and Pizzo, S. (1997) Mol. Pharmacol., 52, 421–429; Bitko, V., Valazquez, A., Yang, L., Yang, Y. C. and Barik, S. (1997) Virology, 232, 369–378). For example, benzoic acid derivatives such as salicylic acid and aspirin have been reported to suppress the activation of NF-κB (Science, 265, 956–959, 1994) but insufficient effect, expression of adverse action caused by various pharmacological actions, etc. have been pointed out as the problems.
Accordingly, there has been a demand for development of medicines which inhibit the activation of NF-κB in more specific manner having higher safety. And investigation and molecular design of inhibitors for NFKB activation have been carried out by many investigators.
In recent years, as inhibitors for activation of NFKB, there have been reported isocarbazole derivatives (JP-A-08-319238; JP-A-2000-169479), isoquinoline derivatives (JP-A-10-87491; JP-A-11-180873), benzoquinone derivatives (JP-A-7-291859; JP-A-11-266872), β-lactam derivatives (JP-A-11-71278), lignan derivatives (JP-A-10175861), benzylidene derivatives (PCT/JP98/04774), pyrimidine-5-carboxamide derivatives (WO97/09315; WO97/09325), cyclopentabenzofuran derivatives (WO00/08007), benzene derivatives (WO00/15603), pyrrolidone dithiocarbonate (PDTC) (Eur. J. Immunol. (1999) 29, 1890–1900), 3-deazaadenosine (DZA) (J. Biol. Chem. (1999) 274, 27, 18981–18988), 2,21-bi-1H-pyrrole derivatives (J. Immunol. (1999) 162, 7102–7109), etc.
With regard to the action mechanism of those substances for suppressing the activation of NF-κB, there are many ambiguous points but, with respect to substances which are believed to inhibit the activation by antioxidant effects or activities of inhibiting protein phosphorylation, it is believed that stability as a substance or specificity of action will become problems. Further, at the present time, drugs exhibiting a enough potency as an inhibitor for the transcription factor NF-κB.
As an example for the fact that substituted benzoic acid derivatives act on transcription factor and receptor of an transcription factor type, there have been reported that retino-benzoic acid derivatives which are substituted benzoic acid derivatives act on receptors of a transcription factor type such as retinoic acid receptor (RAR) or retinoic acid X receptor (RXR) resulting in agonistic action or antagonistic action (Kagechika H., Kawachi E., Hashimoto Y., Himi T., Shudo K., J. Med. Chem., 1989, 31, 2182; Boehm M. F., Zhang L., Badea B. A., White S. K., Mais D. E., Suto C. M., Goldman M. E., Heyman R. A., J. Med. Chem., 1994, 37, 2930; Boehm M. F., Zhang L., Zhi L. McClurg M. R., Berger E., Wagoner M., Mais D. E., Suto C. M., Davis P. J. A., Heyman R. A., Nadzan A. M., J. Med. Chem., 1995, 38, 3146). However, NF-κB inhibiting activity of those retino-benzoic acid derivatives has not been reported.
On the other hand, in JP-A-7-291859, the following benzoquinone derivative (A) is disclosed as an NF-κB activiation inhibitor.

Further, in JP-A-11-266872, a novel screening method for substances which suppress the activation of NF-κB is disclosed and the following benzoquinone derivative (B) is listed as a substance which suppresses the activation of NF-κB which is able to be found by that method.

However, it cannot be said to be a compound having a sufficient effect as an NF-κB inhibiting substance and there has been a demand for investigation of substances having stronger inhibiting activity for NF-κB.

Substituted benzoic acid derivatives having NF-κB inhibiting action


A process and a device is provided for the positioning of bobbins which are delivered by a conveying device and are tilted from a conveyed position into a position from which they can be picked up by a grasper. Provisions are made for the bobbins to be brought into the desired position for pickup by the grasper. For this, further provisions are made for the tilting action to be triggered by the bobbin which is running up against a tilting surface and for the bobbin to be brought up against a stop so that the predetermined position is achieved.

The present invention relates a process and a device for the positioning of a bobbin which is delivered by a conveying device, wherein the bobbin is tilted from the conveyed position into a position suitable for pick-up by a grasper.
Modern spinning machines are normally provided with conveying devices which receive the bobbins of yarn produced on these machines to store them in intermediary storage and remove them to the packing station. Customarily, yarn bobbins are packed on pallets for shipment in such a manner that the bobbins are placed on the pallet with their axes in upright position in order to protect the layers of yarn. The bobbins which arrive from their winding stations with the bobbin axis in horizontal position must be repositioned in order to be palletized, and must be conveyed from the machine to the pallet with the yarn layers being touched as little as possible.
An automatic handling apparatus with six axles for automatic bobbin removal on a rotor spinning machine (VDI-Nachrichten No. 44; Oct. 30, 1987 page 36 ff.) This machine recognizes the bobbin and its orientation at the end of the conveyor belt of a rotor spinning machine (which ejects the bobbin), grasps it with an electronically controlled grasper, and transfers it under electronic control to a bobbin-conveying carriage. This device is extremely expensive and involves high costs because of the use of a robot controlled via six axles.
A system is also known in which the bobbins are processed by means of palletizing systems and the machine is emptied of bobbins in a fully automatic manner. In order to bring the produced bobbins to the pre-defined location on the pallet, it is necessary to known its exact bobbin position, or the position of the bobbin axis, so as to be able to grasp and transport the bobbin by means of the automatic handling device without damaging it. For this purpose, the bobbins with a horizontal bobbin axis are delivered by the conveyor belt of the spinning machine to the end of the machine with the "Pally" system, and are picked up by the "Pally" palletizing system. When the palletizing system has taken up its position at the end of the conveyor belt, the bobbins are tilted on two parallel conveyor belts. In this case, the tube protruding at the front of the bobbin lies between the belts which support the bobbin on its front side. These parallel belts convey the tilted bobbins to the desired position below a grasping device so that the latter is able to pick up the bobbins in order to place them on a pallet. This arrangement requires much space and is relatively complicated. Electronically controlled search and positioning devices are required so that the pick-up device is able to adjust itself on each spinning machine to the corresponding bobbin size or to the appertaining gap pattern of the intermediate layers.
A device is also known from DE 39 12 683 A1 which consists of a tilting element 25 and a linked positioning conveyor belt 26 as well as of a centering device 35. This tilting element serves to orient the axis of the bobbin vertically by rotating it by 90.degree.. It operates above a horizontal positioning belt conveyor which is designed so that it transfers the bobbins to this positioning belt conveyor 26 after their tilting movement has been executed, to be then transferred by the latter to a centering device which assures the precise positioning of each bobbin so that a grasper 47 may grasp the bobbin and convey it to a loading plane. Three devices, i.e. the tilting device, the positioning, and the centering device, are provided for this arrangement in order to tilt a bobbin and to bring it into a position which is provided for pick-up by a grasper. This arrangement is also relatively complicated and expensive. There furthermore exists the danger that the windings may be damaged at the bobbin's circumference when it is being centered.

Process and device for positioning a bobbin

Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG


A lighting control device includes: a candidate color selector; a candidate color adjuster; and a color controller. The candidate color selector selects, in accordance with the indication obtained by the indication obtainer, a plurality of candidate colors to be used for color control of lighting devices, from an image obtained by an image obtainer. The candidate color adjuster makes automatic-mode adjustment which is processing for determining colors reproducible by the lighting devices, in accordance with predetermined indexes and based on the plurality of candidate colors selected by the candidate color selector. The color controller causes the lighting devices to each emit illumination light having the color determined by the candidate color adjuster, by controlling the lighting devices.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a lighting control device and a lighting control method, and in particular relates to a lighting control device which is included in a mobile terminal and controls a lighting device, and a lighting control method.
2. Description of the Related Art
As light-emitting diode (LED) lights are widely used, a lighting control technique has been commonly adopted, and a new system for making a space appear pleasant is now created in which plural lights are controlled and wireless communication and a sensor are used, in addition to high-value added lighting devices having, for instance, dimming and color control functions.
Furthermore, along with the widespread use of smartphones, consumer-electronics products for which smartphones can be used as devices that control the products are now on the market. Also, an increasing number of LED lighting products can be directly controlled using iOS™ and Android™ devices, such as smartphones and tablet terminals, so that the products emit desired light.
In such circumstances, conventionally, a lighting system has already been disclosed (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-65465) which reproduces, using full color lighting, a color selected from a preferred picture.

Lighting control device and lighting control method

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


The invention relates to the synchronized playback of video and/or audio recordings in terminals of a communications network. A server stores recordings including timing markers, each of which indicates an internal position within the recording. The system comprises groups of user terminals, at least one channel being assigned to each group. A recording is transmitted to the terminals belonging to the same group and stored there. In response to a start command, the playback of the recording is started at each terminal. Status information indicating at least the playback position of the recording is maintained, and the playback is controlled by transmitting new status information to the terminals of the group. The playback status is changed at each terminal according to said new status information.

The rapid growth in the number of Internet users and of services provided through the Internet has been one of the most remarkable phenomena in communications in recent years. Another current trend is the rapidly increasing use of various mobile terminals, such as laptops, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) equipment, and intelligent telephones.
These two rapidly evolving network technologies, wireless communication and the Internet, are gradually converging to make the packet-switched data services used in the Internet available to mobile users. So far this converging development has occurred rather slowly, since most of the technology developed for the Internet has been designed for desktop computers and medium or high bandwidth data connections. It has therefore been difficult to introduce the IP-based (IP; Internet Protocol) packet services to the mobile environment, which is characterized by less bandwidth and poorer connection stability, as compared to fixed networks, and where the terminals have many fundamental limitations, such as smaller displays, less memory, and less powerful CPUs, as compared to fixed terminals. However, this development will occur at an increasing rate in the foreseeable future. This means that the services first introduced for fixed terminals will gradually be available also for mobile terminals.
One of the first multimedia services introduced for fixed terminals has been the so-called Video-on-Demand service, whereby viewers can use their telephone line to access a video server located in the network. Due to a reverse control channel from an individual user to the server, the service can be used in the same way as a conventional video cassette player, i.e. the film can be played backwards or forwards, stopped, or played in slow motion.
In these systems the users utilize the services independently of each other. One drawback resulting from this is that an arbitrary group of users, located separately from each other in the network, is not able to follow a recording in a synchronized manner so that the playback proceeds in the same phase for each user in the group. There are, however, many occasions when this would be desirable.
In known systems allowing synchronized listening and/or watching, the synchronization of the playback is based on a real-time video and/or audio signal sent to each terminal. This is a clear drawback since the real-time signal, such as a high quality video signal, requires a large bandwidth. Moreover, these systems are rigid in the sense that the transmitting party always acts as the master controlling the playback of the recording.
Thus, even though the present systems feature a reverse control channel from the user terminal to the server, several users wishing to follow a recording in a synchronized manner cannot utilize the system flexibly.
One objective of the invention is to obtain a system by means of which the above-mentioned drawbacks can be eliminated and multimedia services can be offered as flexibly as possible in a network where users located separately from each other may have the above-mentioned need.

Synchronized service provision in a communications network


For semiconductor chips (1) using thin film technology, an active layer sequence (20) is applied to a growth substrate (3), on which a reflective electrically conductive contact material layer (40) is then formed. The active layer sequence is patterned to form active layer stacks (2), and reflective electrically conductive contact material layer (40) is patterned to be located on each active layer stack (2). Then, a flexible, electrically conductive foil (6) is applied to the contact material layers as an auxiliary carrier layer, and the growth substrate is removed.

Thin film semiconductor chips are known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,111,272. To produce thin film semiconductor chips of this type, an active layer sequence suitable for emitting photons is grown on a growth substrate. Since the growth substrate generally absorbs some of the photons generated by the active layer sequence, to increase the light yield, the active layer sequence is separated from the growth substrate and applied to a different carrier. There is a reflective layer between the carrier and the active layer sequence. The active layer sequence is joined to the carrier by adhesive bonding or soldering. It is customary to use rigid carriers, such as gallium arsenide or germanium wafers. However, these rigid carriers have the drawback that the thickness of the carrier cannot be reduced to any desired extent, on account of the risk of fracture. In particular, it is difficult to realize carrier thicknesses of less than 100 μm by conventional processes. This represents an obstacle to limiting the overall thickness of thin film semiconductor chips.
A further drawback of the known thin film semiconductor chips is that it is difficult to manage the transfer of the active layer sequence from the growth substrate to the carrier body.
To alleviate this problem, it has been proposed in published US patent application no. 2004/0099873 to apply a reinforcing layer and an auxiliary carrier layer to the back surface of the contact material layers. The reinforcing layer and auxiliary carrying layer replace the mechanical carrier used in conventional methods and allow simplified handling of the active layer sequence. However, with this method it is impossible or only possible with great difficulty to test the function of all subsequent thin film semiconductor chips at wafer level following the transfer of the active layer sequence to the auxiliary carrier.

Method for producing semiconductor chips using thin film technology, and semiconductor chip using thin film technology


An aerosolization apparatus comprises a body defining an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and an aerosolization chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The aerosolization chamber is adapted to receive an elongated receptacle, such as a capsule, containing a pharmaceutical formulation. The elongated receptacle rotates end-over-end about an axis substantially orthogonal to an axis passing through the outlet opening when air or gas flows through the body. In another version, the elongated receptacle rotates end-over-end about an axis substantially orthogonal to an inhalation direction.

The need for effective therapeutic treatment of patients has resulted in the development of a variety of pharmaceutical formulation delivery techniques. One traditional technique involves the oral delivery of a pharmaceutical formulation in the form of a pill, capsule, elixir, or the like. However, oral delivery can in some cases be undesirable. For example, many pharmaceutical formulations may be degraded in the digestive tract before they can be effectively absorbed by the body. Inhalable drug delivery, where an aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation is orally or nasally inhaled by a patient to deliver the formulation to the patient's respiratory tract, has proven to be a particularly effective and/or desirable alternative. For example, in one inhalation technique, an aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation provides local therapeutic relief to a portion of the respiratory tract, such as the lungs, to treat diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and cystic fibrosis. In another inhalation technique, a pharmaceutical formulation is delivered deep within a patient's lungs where it may be absorbed into the blood stream. Many types of inhalation devices exist including devices that aerosolize a dry powder pharmaceutical formulation.
One type of inhalation device aerosolizes a pharmaceutical formulation that is stored in a capsule. For example, a dose or a portion of a dose of a dry powder pharmaceutical formulation may be stored in a capsule, and the capsule may be inserted into an aerosolization device which is capable of aerosolizing the pharmaceutical formulation. The aerosolization may be accomplished by releasing stored energy. For example, the aerosolization may be accomplished by utilizing energy supplied during the user's inhalation, such as the flow of inhaled air, to aerosolize the pharmaceutical formulation. After being inserted into the aerosolization device, the capsule is opened to expose the pharmaceutical formulation. The opening of the capsule may be performed, for example, by puncturing or tearing the capsule. When the capsule is properly opened and when aerosolization energy is supplied, the pharmaceutical formulation is aerosolized so that it may be inhaled by the user and a dose or portion of a dose of the aerosolized pharmaceutical formulation may be delivered to the user's respiratory tract.
The size and quality of the dose delivered to the user is dependent on the amount and condition of aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation that exits the capsule. However, in conventional aerosolization devices, the amount and condition of the aerosolizable pharmaceutical formulation may vary from use to use and/or from user to user. For example, sometimes it is difficult to cause large amounts of the pharmaceutical formulation to exit the capsule when a user is unable to generate a high flow rate inhalation. In addition, it is sometimes difficult to cause large amounts of the pharmaceutical formulation to exit the capsule during very high flow rate inhalations due to compaction of the pharmaceutical formulation within the capsule. The inefficient release of pharmaceutical formulation can be costly and can result in the necessity for numerous operations of the device in order to achieve a desire dosage. In some circumstances, the pharmaceutical formulation exits the capsule in agglomerated form, the agglomerations being undesirably large for inhalation therapy.
Therefore, it is desirable to be able to aerosolize a pharmaceutical formulation in a consistent manner. It is further desirable to be able to aerosolize a pharmaceutical formulation in a manner that extracts an increased amount of the pharmaceutical formulation from a receptacle. It is also desirable to be able to aerosolize a pharmaceutical formulation in a more deagglomerated form.

Aerosolization apparatus with rotating capsule


An image-capturing device includes: an image sensor that captures an image of a subject to output an image-capturing signal; a development processing unit that generates development data based on the image-capturing signal; and an output control unit that outputs the development data to an external device in a predetermined transmission format via a connecting member that connects the image-capturing device to the external device. The output control unit outputs the image-capturing signal to the external device via the connecting member in the predetermined transmission format.

With an image-capturing device described in Non-Patent Literature 1, a moving image developed by the image-capturing device can be transmitted to an external recording device that is connected to the image-capturing device via a SDI (Serial Digital Interface) cable or a HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) (registered trademark) cable. The image transmission recording system according to the prior art has a problem that only the developed image is to be transmitted.

Image-capturing device and image transmission recording system


The invention relates to closure, in particular for a nutrient medium container, wherein a lower part can be covered by an upper part, wherein the lower part and the upper part can be locked against each other by means of at least one locking receptacle and at least one locking part by rotating the lower part and the upper part about a longitudinal axis, and wherein the locking receptacle has a receptacle groove that is covered by a shoulder and that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, in which receptacle groove the locking part engages, wherein the shoulder has at least one ramp surface extending at an angle from the longitudinal axis on the outer face of the shoulder facing away from the receptacle groove.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to closure, in particular for a nutrient medium container, wherein a lower part can be covered by an upper part, wherein the lower part and the upper part can be locked against each other by means of at least one locking receptacle and at least one locking part by rotating the lower part and the upper part about a longitudinal axis, and wherein the locking receptacle has a receptacle groove that is covered by a shoulder and that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, in which receptacle groove the locking part engages.
2. Description of the Related Art
A closure for a nutrient medium container, wherein a lower part can be covered by an upper part, is known from DE 10 2007 027 273 A1. The lower part and the upper part can be locked against each other through two or more locking receptacles and two or more locking parts by rotating them about a longitudinal axis. To do so, the locking receptacle has a receptacle groove that is covered by a shoulder and that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, in which receptacle groove the locking part engages.
The disadvantage of this is that when used in automatic systems in which the upper part is automatically positioned on and/or removed from the lower part, for instance by a robot arm, an undesirable error rate occurs due to incorrect positioning when the locking part comes in contact with the shoulders of the locking receptacle during positioning.
The same disadvantages occur with regard to the closures known from US 2006/0240549 A1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,969,606 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,969,607 B2. These documents also disclose nutrient medium containers or "petri dishes" in which a lower part has a locking receptacle with a shoulder oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal and/or rotational axis, which shoulder covers a locking part of an upper part and/or lid when in the locked state.
These known closures also lead to undesirable positioning problems in automatic systems.
The task of the present invention is therefore to design the known closures and/or locking systems, especially for nutrient medium containers, such that the frequency of incorrect positioning is reduced or eliminated entirely when the upper part is automatically positioned on the lower part.