A method is disclosed for determining peak carrier concentration in ultra shallow junctions of semiconductor samples. A region of the surface of the sample is periodically excited. The effects of the excitation are monitored by a probe beam. Synchronous detection produces in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals. These signals are compared to signals obtained from calibration samples to evaluate peak carrier concentration.

As geometries continue to shrink, manufacturers have increasingly turned to optical techniques to perform non-destructive inspection and analysis of semiconductor wafers. The basis for these techniques is the notion that a sample may be examined by analyzing the reflected energy that results when an optical beam is directed at a sample. This type of inspection and analysis is known as optical metrology and is performed using a range of different optical techniques.
One widely used type of optical metrology system includes a pump laser. The pump laser is switched on and off to create an intensity-modulated pump beam. The pump beam is projected against the surface of a sample causing localized periodic excitation of the sample. As the pump laser is modulated, the localized periodic excitation creates a train of thermal and plasma waves within the sample. These waves reflect and scatter off various features and interact with various regions within the sample in a way that alters the flow of heat and/or plasma from the pump beam spot.
The presence of the thermal and plasma waves has a direct effect on the surface reflectivity of the sample. Features and regions below the sample surface that alter the passage of the thermal and plasma waves will therefore alter the optical reflective patterns at the surface of the sample. By monitoring the changes in reflectivity of the sample at the surface, information about characteristics below the surface can be investigated.
To monitor the surface changes, a probe beam is directed at a portion of the sample that is illuminated by the pump laser. A photodetector records the intensity of the reflected probe beam. The output signal from the photodetector is filtered to isolate the changes that are synchronous with the pump beam modulation. For most implementations, this is performed using a heterodyne or lock-in detector (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,978,074 and in particular FIG. 2 for a discussion of such a lock-in amplifier/detector). Devices of this type typically generate separate "in-phase" (I) and "quadrature" (Q) outputs. These outputs are then used to calculate amplitude and phase of the modulated signal using the following equations:Amplitude=√{square root over (I2+Q2)}  (1)Phase=arctan(Q/I)  (2)
The origin of the phase angle and the geometry of "in-phase" and "quadrature" components are illustrated in FIG. 1.
The amplitude and phase values are used to deduce physical characteristics of the sample. In most cases, this is done by measuring amplitude values (amplitude is used more commonly than phase) for one or more specially prepared calibration samples, each of which has known physical characteristics. The empirically derived values are used to associate known physical characteristics with corresponding amplitude values. Amplitude values obtained for unknown samples can then be analyzed by comparison to the amplitude values obtained for the calibration samples.
Systems of this type (i.e., those using external means to induce thermal or plasma waves in the sample under study) are generally referred to as PMR (photomodulated reflectance) type systems. PMR-type systems are used to study a range of attributes, including material composition and layer thickness. PMR-type systems and their associated uses are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,634,290, 4,646,088, 4,679,946; 4,854,710, 5,854,719, 5,978,074, 5,074,699 and 6,452,685. Each of these patents is incorporated in this document by reference.
One PMR-type system is manufactured and sold by the assignee herein under the name Therma-Probe and is discussed below with respect to FIG. 8.
Another important use of PMR-type systems is measurement and analysis of the dopants added to semiconductor wafers before and after their activation. Dopants are ions that are implanted to semiconductors during a process known as ion implantation. The duration of the ion implantation process (i.e., total exposure of the semiconductor wafer) controls the resulting dopant concentration. The ion energy used during the implantation process controls the depth of implant. Both concentration and depth are critical factors that determine the overall effectiveness of the ion implantation process.
PMR-type systems are typically used to inspect wafers at the completion of the ion implantation process. The ion implantation damages the crystal lattice as incoming ions come to rest. This damage is typically proportional to the concentration and depth of ions within the crystal lattice. This makes measurement of damage an effective surrogate for direct measurement of dopant concentration and depth.
For this purpose, a PMR-type optical metrology tool with advanced signal processing algorithms is used to record both quadrature (Q) and in-phase (I) components of the signal for a series of specially prepared calibration samples. The measurement method then performs a linear fit using the recorded points to define a calibration line within an I-Q plane. The slope of this line is defined by the implantation energy and the points along the line correspond to different dopant concentrations. Thus, the damage profile can be characterized by comparison of measured and calibration data in I-Q space. Characterization of samples using I and Q outputs is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0083528, published Apr. 21, 2005, assigned to the same assignee and incorporated here by reference.
Dopant activation after the ion implantation step is usually performed by rapidly heating and cooling the sample is a special chamber. This process is also known as annealing of semiconductor wafers. During the anneal dopant ions diffuse away from the surface and form a concentration profile within the sample. The transition between the implanted region containing activated dopants and the non-implanted substrate is commonly referred to as a junction. For advanced semiconductor manufacturing, it is generally desirable for the implanted and activated region to be shallow, typically 500 Å or less. Devices of this type are generally referred to as having ultra-shallow junctions or USJ.
A selection of experimentally obtained USJ profiles of six different wafers using secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) is shown in FIG. 2. We investigated whether it would be possible to characterize an unknown USJ profile (having precisely two unknown characteristics, i.e., junction depth and active dopant level) from a single PMR measurement, involving two independent measurement parameters, i.e., I and Q (or amplitude and phase).
FIG. 3 illustrates schematically two typical USJ profiles having different peak concentration values (C1 and C2, lying on the upper and lower curves respectively). The quality of USJ wafers is usually assessed using three parameters: junction depth (Xj in FIG. 3), peak carrier concentration (C) and junction abruptness (not depicted in FIG. 3). In practice, the required junction depth is often relatively easy for the manufacturer to achieve. However, keeping the USJ profile abrupt and close to the surface with desired carrier concentration is a big challenge. As a result, techniques to measure Xj, C, and abruptness are critical for the manufacture of USJ semiconductors.
A number of techniques have been developed to characterize the effectiveness of USJ process. Destructive and contact methods include secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and spreading resistance depth profiling (SRP). These techniques are capable of providing detailed USJ profile information, but at the expense of a turnaround time that is usually measured in days or even weeks or at the expense of damaging the surface with contacts.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0251927, published Dec. 16, 2004, assigned to the same assignee and incorporated herein by reference describes a non-destructive PMR-type system for simultaneous measurements of Xj and abruptness. System of this type performs a series of measurements at different separations between the pump and probe beams followed by the analysis of measured data in I-Q space. A similar approach to measuring USJ depth and abruptness is described in the following publications: L. Nicolaides et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 74(1), 586 (2003) and A. Salnick et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 75(6), 2144 (2004) incorporated here by reference. See also U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0253751, published Dec. 16, 2004, incorporated herein by reference.
While USJ depth and abruptness can be characterized using this method in the above cited patent application, no reliable non-contact and non-destructive technique has been described to monitor the peak carrier concentration in USJ samples.

Method for measuring peak carrier concentration in ultra-shallow junctions


An object of the present invention is to provide a structure for a choke coil which facilitates making choke coils more compact, thinner and easier to manufacture. The structure uses a band-shaped conductor, the terminal portions at both ends are fixed in a terminal fixing plate provided to one end of the winding portion of a bobbin.

The present invention relates to the structure of a choke coil for high-frequency power use and which is suitable to make the coil more compact and thinner.
The requirements in development for more compact and thinner electronic apparatus for switching power and the like have been continued as they are directly linked to the requirement for more compact electronic parts.
In particular, there is a great demand for more compact choke coils which are one electronic part which requires a particularly large area.
So far, choke coils have been designed with regards to the ease of manufacture of the product, and efficient combinations of a core and a coil within a predetermined volume.
FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of a conventional choke coil, and shows a general configuration where a wire member 22 is wound around a bobbin 21 into which a core 20 is inserted, and where the ends of a wire member 22 are connected to the terminal pins 23.
This structure is easy to manufacture but it makes gaps between the wire members and so the volume of the wound wire member, that is, the coil becomes large.
FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of a different type of conventional choke coil, and where a band-shaped conductor 32 is wound around a bobbin 31 into which a core 30 is inserted, and separate leads 33 electrically connected to the band-shaped conductor 32 are connected to terminal pins 34 provided to the bobbin 31.
A structure, where a band-shaped conductor is wound, has the advantage of having a smaller volume for the wound coil, compared with a structure where a wire member is wound. The band-shaped conductor 32 is connected to a terminal pins 34 via leads 33 and so connecting the leads 33 involves a connection process using either soldering or welding to the band-shaped conductor 32, and so there is room for improvement as far as ease of manufacture is concerned.
Conventional choke coils have various technical problems as described above, and are unsuitable as regards making the coil more compact, thinner and easier to manufacture.


To provide an oscillating actuator which is capable of easily changing an oscillation start position of a shaft. An oscillating actuator includes an actuator main body 2 having a shaft 4 which is configured to oscillate about an axis L in a predetermined range of angle by means of a compressed air, and a fixing plate 3 for fixing the actuator main body 2 to a load device 30, wherein the actuator main body 2 and the fixing plate 3 are connected together by a connection mechanism 5 so as to be displaceable relative to each other in the rotation direction of the shaft 4 so that an oscillation start position A of the shaft 4 is changed by displacement of the actuator main body 2 and the fixing plate 3 relative to each other.

A vane type oscillating actuator, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is commonly known as the above type of oscillating actuator. In this vane type oscillating actuator, a vane mounted on a shaft and a fixed wall which defines an oscillation angle of the vane are disposed inside a body which is formed in a cylindrical shape. The vane is oscillated by alternatively supplying and exhausting a compressed air to and from pressure chambers located on each side of the vane through ports, and an oscillation motion of the vane is output via the shaft so that the shaft oscillates a load such as a robot hand, a transportation table or the like by a predetermined angle.
The oscillating actuator is connected to a device having the load (load device) in a certain orientation by using screws or the like and is used in a state that the shaft is connected to the load. In some cases, however, the oscillation start position of the shaft when the oscillating actuator is connected to the load device may not match the oscillation start position of the load depending on the load device, or the oscillation start position of the load may need to be changed when performing a different operation process. In such cases, it is preferable that the oscillation start position of the shaft of the oscillating actuator can be adjusted for the oscillation start position of the load.
This can be achieved, for example, by changing the mounting orientation of the oscillating actuator to the load device in the rotation direction of the shaft. However, a technique to easily achieve the changing has not been proposed. Moreover, it is not preferable that the load device itself is provided with a configuration which allows the mounting orientation of the oscillating actuator to be changed, since it leads to a complicated structure or increased cost. Accordingly, there is a need for an oscillating actuator which is capable of changing the oscillation start position of the shaft.


A vehicle drive apparatus includes a battery that is a direct current power source, a converter that increases the voltage of the battery, an inverter connected to a motor that drives the vehicle, an inverter connected to a motor generator that functions as a motor or generator, and a motor control device that controls the motor. The vehicle drive device is also provided with a voltmeter, non-energized state determination devices that determine a non-energized state of the inverters, and ammeters that detect currents applied to a motor from each phase arm of the inverters. Signals of these devices and a signal from the non-energized state determination device are sent to the motor control device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a short circuit phase identification method for a motor control device of an electric automobile or a hybrid vehicle, and more particularly to a short circuit phase identification method for identifying a short circuit phase of a motor control device from an electric current generated by the rotation of a motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A demand has recently grown for environmentally friendly electric automobiles and hybrid vehicles. In a hybrid vehicle, part of the engine power is transmitted to a drive shaft via a power distribution mechanism provided with a first motor generator. The remaining power is recovered as electric power by the first motor generator, and the recovered electric power may be used to charge a secondary battery or to drive a second motor generator.
In a motor control device of an electric automobile or a hybrid vehicle, an alternating current motor is used and feedback control of a drive current is performed for each phase. In the motor control device, a current offset is adequately detected from a detected signal of a current sensor, measuring accuracy of the current sensor may be enhanced by using a configuration in which the current is learned over time, and adequate feedback control, state monitoring of the motor generator, and malfunction detection are implemented.
In the above-described hybrid vehicle, for example, when a one-phase short circuit occurs in the first motor generator, a brake torque is applied to the engine by a torque in the reverse rotation direction and undesirable torque fluctuations sometimes occur. Accordingly, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-28733 (JP-A-2007-28733) discloses a feature that resolves a problem causing the brake torque when a short circuit malfunction occurs in the first motor generator.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-246564 (JP-A-2006-246564) describes a feature relating to a malfunction diagnostic device that accurately detects a plurality of malfunction modes, more particularly to a malfunction diagnostic device that can distinguish between a malfunction occurring in a boost converter from that in an inverter circuit by using an offset-corrected current sensor.
JP-A-2007-28733 indicates that a three-phase short circuit control is executed, by which when one phase or two phases of a motor generator are short circuited, the remaining phase is also short circuited to obtain a three-phase short circuit state and the short circuit malfunction control means is provided to control the engine speed so that the rotational speed of the motor generator does not fall within a predetermined range after a short circuit malfunction occurs.
When a short circuit malfunction occurs in transistors provided above and below each phase arm of the inverter when one or two phases of the motor generator are short circuited, electric current flows even in a non-energized state. Consequently, the offset value of the current sensor is changed by zero point adjustment. The resultant problem is that fluctuations of the offset point when a malfunction has occurred adversely affects subsequent feedback control, state monitoring, and malfunction diagnostics.

Short circuit phase identification method


The present disclosure provides novel primers and method for the detection of specific nucleic acid sequences. The primers and methods provided herein are useful in a wide variety of molecular biology applications and are particularly useful in allele-specific PCR.

Assays capable of detecting and quantifying the presence of a particular nucleic acid molecule in a sample are of substantial importance in forensics, medicine, epidemiology and public health. Such assays can be used, for example, to identify the causal agent of an infectious disease, to predict the likelihood that an individual will suffer from a genetic disease, to determine the purity of drinking water or milk, or to identify tissue samples. The desire to increase the utility and applicability of such assays is often frustrated by assay sensitivity. Hence, it would be highly desirable to develop more sensitive detection assays.
Nucleic acid detection assays may be predicated on any characteristic of the nucleic acid molecule, such as its size, sequence and, if DNA, susceptibility to digestion by restriction endonucleases. The sensitivity of such assays may be increased by altering the manner in which detection is reported or signaled to the observer. Thus, for example, assay sensitivity may be increased through the use of detectably labeled reagents. A wide variety of such labels have been used for this purpose. Detectable labels include, for example, radioactive isotopes, fluorescent labels, chemiluminescent labels, bioluminescent labels and enzyme labels.
Although the use of highly detectable labeled reagents can improve the sensitivity of nucleic acid detection assays, the sensitivity of such assays remains limited by factors including, but not limited to, non-specific reactions which increase the background signal and limitations in discriminating between sequences which differ by one or a few nucleotides. In response to these problems, a variety of detection and quantification methods using DNA amplification have been developed.
Amplification of DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) uses a pair of primers whose sequences determine the specificity of the amplification. However, the amplicon sequence outside of the priming regions has little or no contribution to amplification specificity. In a typical PCR reaction, forward and reverse primers are used to preferentially target and amplify a DNA sequence of interest. In TaqMan® assays, a probe picked from within the amplicon sequence is also provided to selectively detect and monitor the amplification product. The remainder of the target sequences outside of the primer and probe regions is not utilized. A need still remains to increase the specificity of amplification reactions, especially for amplification of samples which differ by one or a few nucleotides. Examples of such analyses include, but are not limited to, genotyping, rare allele detection, and pre-amplification of mutant sequences.

Compositions, methods and kits for enhancing PCR specificity


An optical correlation unit for correlating the images of an inspection object and a reference object. The unit uses two phase modulating reflective spatial light modulators. A first spatial light modulator receives electronic input in the form of image data representing the inspection object. It modulates incoming light with this input and reflects the modulated output to a first Fourier transform lens. This lens provides the optical input to a second spatial light modulator, whose electronic input is transform data representing the complex conjugate of the Fourier transform of the reference image. The electronic input modulates the optical input, resulting in the Fourier product of the two images, which is then transformed to provide correlation data.

One method of testing for defects in articles of manufacture is to compare the article with a desired image of the object or with another object that is known to be satisfactory. A typical example is the inspection of wafers to be used in semiconductor fabrication. A slice of a wafer in process is compared to a reference, which may be a reference slice of a known good wafer, or to a desired image.
Various methods of pattern comparison have been developed. Typically, correlation techniques are used, where a signal representing a reference image is compared to a signal representing the article under inspection. In an optical correlation system, the correlation peak, which indicates a match between two images, is represented by a bright point of light in the output light distribution.
For optical applications with coherent light, where lenses may be used to produce Fourier transform images, correlation systems are often based on Fourier optics. These systems involve optical operations on transform images, which may be expressed mathematically as functions, f(x,y) and transform functions, F(u,v). The Fourier transform of the correlation is the same as multiplication of the Fourier transform of one function by the complex conjugate of the Fourier transform of the other.
One conventional approach to coherent optical correlation of two images is the use of Fourier holograms along a 4f system. The 4f system is so called because the light follows a path along a single axis that is four times the focal length of the lenses used. A photographic hologram recording is made that represents the Fourier transform of a reference object's light distribution. The hologram acts as a spatial filter, whose transmittance is the complex conjugate of incoming light. Then when light representing a first function passes through the hologram, it is modulated by the complex conjugate of the function representing the image from which the hologram was made. This output light is inverse Fourier transformed by a second lens to provide the correlation output. If the images are matched, a bright spot appears.
One problem with holographic methods that use photographic holograms is that the hologram is fixed for a particular reference object. If the reference changes, another hologram must be generated, which is costly in terms of time and money.
Correlation with spatial light modulators provides an alternative to holographic methods that use photographic recordings. In effect, the spatial light modulator acts as a real time, programmable, hologram. In an exemplary system, an input image is Fourier transformed with a lens to a transform plane, where an LCD type of transmitting spatial light modulator represents a reference image. The total light transmitted through the spatial light modulator is again Fourier transformed to result in the transform product. Although an advantage of many spatial light modulators is their programmability, problems with using them arise from their low resolution and slow write-use-erase rates. Other difficulties arise because of the sensitivity of Fourier transform operations to scale and alignment differences between image planes.
Variations of the above described techniques include joint transform systems, in which two images are presented to two different input planes. Both are Fourier transformed by the same transform lens and their Fourier product falls on the same plane. However, these systems typically include photographic holograms or spatial light modulators as holographic filters and have the problems associated with the other systems described above.
A need exists for an optical correlation system that is programmable and can respond to a changing reference in real time.


The present invention relates to a system and method for multimedia messaging system collaboration. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sender sends a message to multiple recipients. A recipient wishing to make a comment or insert changes to the message submits his comments to a moderator for approval. If the moderator approves of the changes, then the changes are automatically incorporated into the message. The original message is then automatically recalled from recipients who have not yet opened the message and a revised message is automatically sent to those whose messages were recalled. Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a message is automatically sent to those recipients who have already opened the original message to indicate the change to the original message and update those recipients.

The present invention relates to electronic messaging systems. In particular, the present invention relates to multimedia message collaboration.
In addition to electronic mail (e-mail) and voice mail, today""s electronic messaging systems may also include multimedia messages. A multimedia message is typically a message that includes more than one media. For example, a multimedia message may include text, video, audio, and images such as graphs and charts. In a multimedia messaging system, the ability to exchange e-mails, voicemails, faxes, images and video is part of a basic multimedia system. Examples of multimedia messaging systems include ViewMail, Phone Max, Repartee, and View Call Plus, all by Active Voice.
A sender may send a multimedia message to numerous recipients, several of whom may wish to make comments or revisions to the multimedia message. For example, a sender may send a multimedia message of a proposed presentation for a company. Some of the recipients of the message may wish to comment or revise portions of the message. Typically, if recipient A makes a comment or a revision to the message, recipient A would return the commented or revised message back to the sender. For example, assume an incorrect statement is made in the message and recipient A corrected the statement and returned it to the sender. In the meantime, recipients B through Z may also have noticed that the statement was incorrect, and most of them may correct the statement and return the corrected statement to the sender. Since recipients A-Z would each review the message in their own time, the sender may receive multiple comments regarding the same incorrect statement over a period of days.
Alternatively, a recipient of the multimedia message may feel compelled to forward his comments to all the recipients and sender for discussion and agreement. All responses to those comments are also likely to be sent to recipients and sender. Accordingly, it is likely that all recipients and sender have multiple messages with regard to the same issue. The cumulative time lost on the matter of a single message may be substantial.
It would be desirable to have a multimedia messaging system which collaborates comments and revisions while minimizing time wasted reading obsolete messages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and method for multimedia messaging system collaboration. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sender sends a message to multiple recipients. A recipient wishing to make a comment or insert changes to the message submits his comments to a moderator for approval. If the moderator approves of the changes, then the changes are automatically incorporated into the message. The original message is then automatically recalled from recipients who have not yet opened the message and a revised message is automatically sent to those whose messages were recalled. Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a message is automatically sent to those recipients who have already opened the original message to indicate the change to the original message and update those recipients.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a vote may also be called to determine whether a revision of the message should be accepted. If the vote accepts the change, then the revisions are automatically incorporated into the message and recipients who have not yet opened then original message will automatically have their original message recalled and automatically have an updated version of the message sent to them.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for collaboration of an electronic message is presented. The method includes receiving a proposal associated with an issued electronic message and determining whether the proposal is approved. The method also automatically recalls the electronic message from a recipient who has not yet opened the electronic message, wherein the automatic recalling of the electronic message is performed if the proposal is approved.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a system for collaboration of an electronic message. The system includes a network interface configured to receive a proposal associated with an issued electronic message and a user interface configured to receive an instruction on whether the proposal is approved. The system also includes a processor coupled with the network interface, wherein the processor is configured to automatically recall the electronic message from a recipient who has not yet opened the electronic message if the proposal is approved.

System and method for multimedia messaging system collaboration including proposal approval

Siemens Information and Communications Networks, Inc.


An image capture device may include an image sensor configured to capture an image and processing apparatus. The processing apparatus may be configured to obtain data and associate a function for each of the obtained data. The processing apparatus may be configured to store each function instance as analytic data. The processing apparatus may determine an analytic trigger occurrence and determine if the analytic trigger occurrence is greater than a function instance threshold. The processing apparatus may be configured to display a notification based on the analytic data.

Image capture devices, such as cameras, may capture content as images or video. Users of image capture devices often find themselves overwhelmed with the amount of information they receive from the image capture devices during a first time use (FTU). Systems, methods, and devices are needed to progressively disclose information to the users as they use the image capture devices.


A method and apparatus for media thickness measurement in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving images of a media stack from an imaging device, measuring one or more sheet-to-sheet interfaces in the media stack from the received images, determining the media thickness based on the sheet-to-sheet interface measurements, and adjusting at least one image production device parameter based on the determined media thickness.

Disclosed herein is a method for media thickness measurement in an image production device, as well as corresponding apparatus and computer-readable medium.
One of the most important media properties that impact overall performance of an image production device is media thickness. Media thickness is a major variable that determines optimal parameters for feeding, image transfer and fusing within xerographic systems and affects print head gaps for direct marking systems. When media thickness is known, each subsystem can adjust their parameters to optimize for that thickness.
Most conventional image production devices rely on the operator entering the media type when loading the media tray. In an office environment, this information may not be accurate if it relies upon a casual operator's input. Other conventional image production devices measure media thickness within a paper transport. However, this information is only available after feeding and often provided too late for other subsystems to perform corrective action.

Method and apparatus for media thickness measurement in an image production device


A stackable tray system used, for example, as an organizer tray system in offices, includes two or more trays spaced vertically from one another. Support elements are provided for separating the trays and for supporting the upper tray in each tray pair. Furthermore, the support elements, in combination with the upper tray in a pair and a slide retainer, permit the upper tray to be moved horizontally with respect to the lower tray to provide a cascading appearance. With the upper tray displaced horizontally from the lower tray, access to the lower tray is facilitated, both to add material thereto or to remove contents of the tray.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of office supplies and more particularly to trays used for organizing material. Still more specifically, the present invention relates to stackable trays used for purposes such as, but not limited, to "in-out" trays and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Trays of various sizes, shapes and arrangement are common accessories in homes, offices and other businesses where it is desirable to organize materials. In many offices, for example, trays are used to sort incoming and outgoing mail, memos, etc. Typically such trays are rectangular in shape and are sized for particular types of functions. A common example of such a tray would be a plastic tray having a base and a rim or wall surrounding all or a part of the base. Small feet could be provided on the lower side of the base, and the upper surface of the base may include elongate ridges. The rim may also be provided with slots, holes or other design features.
It is also well known that such trays may be stacked, one on top of the other, to provide a space saving tray organization system. A variety of stacking techniques are known in the art, an example being to provide slots in the top of the wall or rim of one tray and ridges on the bottom of the trays, the ridges being arranged to be received within the slots, to fix one upper tray with respect to a lower tray. The process can be repeated to create a taller stack. With such systems, the upper tray, of any tray pair, is not movable horizontally with respect to the lower tray.
Stackable trays also have utility in a wide range of other applications where organization or display of different types of materials is desired. One problem, however, is that when trays are spaced apart from one another and stacked vertically, it may be difficult for the user to add or remove material from the lower tray. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a horizontal offset of an upper tray with respect to a lower tray and even more desirable to provide a variable amount of such offset. An enhanced aesthetic appeal can also be achieved, the trays in such a system presenting a "cascading" appearance. A stackable tray system which accomplishes the foregoing design and utilitarian capabilities would represent a significant advance in the art.


Methods of enhancing well production, including enhancing fluid flow by conductivity enhancement, diversion, and fluid-loss control, are described. The method of enhancing fluid flow includes introducing a fracturing fluid including resin-coated proppant particles into the formation; introducing (i) a thermosetting composition including one or more di- or tricarboxylic acids and one or more epoxidized fatty acid esters or (ii) thermoset particulates comprising an anhydride network of one or more epoxidized fatty acid esters cross-linked with one or more di- or tricarboxylic acids, into the formation; allowing the resin-coated proppant particles and (i) the thermosetting composition or (ii) the thermoset particulates to form a proppant matrix in a fracture; and allowing voids to form in the proppant matrix.

The present invention relates generally to methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of enhancing well production (e.g., by enhancing fluid flow) from a subterranean formation by introducing thermosetting compositions into the formation. The thermosetting compositions include water, one or more di- or tricarboxylic acids, and one or more epoxidized fatty acid esters.
Treatment fluids may be used in a variety of subterranean treatments. Examples of common subterranean treatments include drilling operations, fracturing operations, perforation operations, sand control treatments, and acidizing treatments.
Hydraulic fracturing is a technique for stimulating the production of a subterranean formation. The technique generally involves injecting a viscous liquid through a wellbore into a portion of a subterranean formation at a chosen rate and pressure to overcome the formation's stresses and form or enhance a fracture in the formation, and placing proppant particulates in the fracture to, among other things, maintain the fracture in a propped condition when the injection pressure is released. The resultant propped fracture provides a conductive channel in the formation for fluids to flow to the wellbore.
The degree of stimulation afforded by the hydraulic fracture treatment is largely dependent on the permeability and width of the propped fracture. Thus, the productivity of the well, in effect, becomes a function of fracture conductivity. To enhance well productivity, it may be necessary to enhance fracture conductivity.
Oftentimes, to effectively prop open the fractures as well as to prevent proppant particulate flow back, the proppant particulates are caused to consolidate within the fractures. One conventional means of doing this is to use resin-coated proppant particulates so that when the resin cures, the proppant particulates can consolidate into a mass within the fractures.
Although consolidating the proppant particulates within a fracture may have some benefits, for example, preventing proppant particulate flow back, such methods may adversely affect the conductivity of the fracture. That is, some methods of consolidating proppant particulates themselves may introduce a barrier to the free flow of fluids from the subterranean formation to the wellbore for subsequent production. Fracture conductivity may suffer as a result. This is undesirable as this may affect overall well productivity.
In addition, after a certain amount of time, fractures may cease to produce oil or gas. To provide for the production of more oil and gas, a fracturing fluid may again be pumped into the formation to form additional fractures. The previously used fractures, however, must be plugged to divert the fracturing fluid away from the old fractures and prevent the loss of fracturing fluid into the formation.
Traditional fracturing operations typically use solid particulate diverting agents to plug existing fractures. These particulate diverting agents, however, must be subsequently removed to allow the maximum flow of hydrocarbons from the wellbore. Methods for removing these particulate diverting agents often involve considerable time and expense to carry out.
Thus, there is a need for improved compositions and methods for treating (e.g., fracturing) a subterranean formation.

Degradable thermosetting compositions for enhanced well production


Pixels A, B, C, D and E of a reference image X, which are suitable for use in a pattern matching operation, are automatically determined on a pattern of the reference image. The automatic determination of the pixels is done based on a change of brightness at areas around the selected pixels. Coordinates of all of the selected pixels, such as (x.sub.1, y.sub.1), (x.sub.2, y.sub.2), (x.sub.3, y.sub.3), (x.sub.4, y.sub.4) and (x.sub.5, y.sub.5) are stored in memory. A scan of the image to be detected is done at a fixed offset area for each of the selected pixels. The values of the difference in brightness between the selected pixels and the scanned points are accumulated. The minimum value of the accumulated difference is detected, and the coordinate of the scanned point which provides the minimum accumulated difference is determined as a deviation of the detected image from the reference image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring, by using an image processing technology, a pattern of an article to be tested, such as a dial plate (figured plate) for a measuring instrument or a mask with a pattern for a wafer for producing a semiconductor.
2. Description of Related Art
A known prior art device measures a deviation of a pattern, wherein an image to be detected is, under a pixel to pixel basis, compared with a reference image, thereby detecting a deviation of the detected image from the reference image. In order to increase a calculation speed, the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 3-167407 has proposed the use of a part or section of the reference image, which is then compared with the detected image. However, such a use of partial image is defective due to its low precision of measurement.

Method and device for measuring the position of a pattern


An optical recording device that records to a multi-layer disk having multiple recording layers includes a controller which sets a data area in which user data is recorded, and a calibration area including a main calibration area and at least one sub-calibration area which are used to calibrate the intensity of laser light for recording, with the same layout among the plurality of recording layers, conducts first calibration for performing initial recording in the data area by using the main calibration area, records dummy data in the remainder of the main calibration area, and conducts second calibration for performing additional recording in the data area by using the sub-calibration area.

Optical disks such as DVDs (digital versatile disks) and Blu-ray Discs (registered trademark) are given multiple recording layers for the purpose of increasing their capacity. As these disks now have multiple layers, a tracking control method is known whereby data is recorded to or played back from the recording layers using guide tracks provided in a layer different from the recording layers. For example, optical drive devices, etc., are available that perform tracking control using light of 390 nm to 420 nm in wavelength (blue) to a guide tracking layer having grooved guide tracks provided in it, and record data to one of multiple recording layers using light of 650 nm to 680 nm in wavelength (red) (refer to Patent Literature 1, for example).
Even with such optical drive devices that record data to a multi-layer disk having multiple recording layers, it is important to calculate an optimal recording power by test-writing to each recording layer.
For example, assume that a PCA (power calibration area) used for test-writing purposes is provided in the same area of each recording layer in a multi-layer disk and that user data is recorded to fill the recording layers of the multi-layer disk one by one from the recording layer closest to the objective lens of the optical pickup. In this case, after the OPC (optimized power control) process is performed as a calibration process to adjust and optimize the intensity level (power level) of recording laser light in a given recording layer, the PCA is filled with dummy data, so that the OPC process in the next recording layer will be performed under the same conditions applicable to the user data area, because doing so is considered effective in ensuring that data is recorded in a stable manner (refer to Patent Literature 2, for example).

Optical recording device, optical recording method and multi-layer disk


Embodiments of the invention provide a display screen for a network security device. The screen includes representations of a source and a destination having respective source and destination indicators, such as LEDs. The source indicator is operable to indicate whether the source is authorized or unauthorized. The destination indicator is also operable to indicate whether the destination is authorized or unauthorized to receive the packet. A directional indicator oriented to point from the representation of the source to the representation of the destination is activated if the source and the received packet is authorized, The screen can further comprise additional indicators to indicate whether the security device is operational, to indicate a level of traffic through the security device, or to display a level of activity of a processor for the security device. The screen can be displayed on a computer screen.

This invention relates to network security devices, and more particularly to displaying network security information.
Computer networks are often vulnerable to attack. As long as companies use a public computer network, such as the Internet, for transferring files, sending e-mail, downloading programs, etc., there is always a chance that some malicious outsider (sometimes referred to as a xe2x80x9chackerxe2x80x9d) will find a way to obtain unauthorized access to a company""s internal computer network (e.g., an xe2x80x9cIntranetxe2x80x9d) used by the company""s employees.
There are ways to make a network more resistant to an attack by hackers. For instance, a xe2x80x9cfirewallxe2x80x9d software program acts as a gatekeeper between the Internet and a company""s computer network. One type of firewall is known as a xe2x80x9cpacket filter.xe2x80x9d A traditional packet filter, which runs on a machine called a router, uses a rigid set of rules to allow or deny packets by examining a source address and a destination address of every packet of data going in or out of the company""s network. This is somewhat analogous to a company""s mailroom sorter who examines envelopes to make sure that they are both coming from a legitimate source address and/or bound for a legitimate destination address.
Another type of firewall is an application-level firewall (sometimes referred to as a xe2x80x9cproxyxe2x80x9d). In contrast to packet filters, traditional proxies work at the application level. This application-level firewall examines the contents of packets as well as their addresses, and therefore allows the company to implement a more detailed security screen for incoming and outgoing network traffic. A traditional proxy can be analogous to mailroom employees who x-ray bulky packages: the proxy scans packets for computer viruses or potentially dangerous Internet programs. However, in order to be installed and to operate, traditional proxies often require special modification or configuration to a company""s existing network software.
Firewall programs sometimes include a software program that logs and records information associated with packets transmitted to and from the company""s computer network. For instance, logging programs can record dates, times, and number of attempts that an outsider tries to repeatedly access the company""s computer network.
However, such information is often recorded in large log files that require manual or automated data processing methods to later obtain selected records of packets that have interfaced with the firewall. It is desirable to be able to provide a firewall device that can easily interface with existing hardware and software and that provides some convenient indication of a real-time representation of network traffic at the firewall.

Device and method for graphically displaying data movement in a secured network


An electrical connector, which may be a multi-pin connector, includes magnetic elements and mechanical alignment elements which provide connective forces and precision alignment and orientation. The magnetic elements permit a user to bring male and female connector portions only into “rough” alignment before magnetic forces bring the portions into the correct position. Pin contacts on the connector portions extend only a small amount beyond respective protective annular openings and are thereby protected. Spring-biased pin elements may be included on one of the connector portions to bias the contact pins into engagement and create conductive paths when the portions are in a connected position. Paramagnetic or non-magnetic sheaths may surround the magnetic elements to focus, or distribute, magnetic forces.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to connectors for electronic devices and data communication. More particularly, the disclosure relates to self-aligning, magnetically biased connectors, including multi-pin connectors.
2. Prior Art
It is generally known to provide magnetic coupling elements in electrical and non-electrical connectors. Examples of connectors that include magnetic coupling elements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,484,761; 4,776,406; 7,277,013 and 7,334,433. Examples of magnetic breakaway connection devices for power lines or cables are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,315,064 and 5,623,122.
Examples of other types of electrical connectors that include magnetic elements are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,170,287; 3,363,214; 3,431,428; 3,521,216; 3,808,577; 4,844,582; 4,874,316; 5,401,175; 5,812,356; 5,816,825; 5,941,729; 5,954,520; 6,183,264; 6,250,931; 6,267,602; 6,478,614; 6,527,570; 6,561,815; 6,607,391; 6,623,276; 6,727,477; 6,988,897; 7,066,739; 7,264,479; 7,311,526; 7,351,066; 7,517,222; and in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2004/0209489; 2005/0208783 and 2005/0255718.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,479 describes a connector for connecting two coaxial cables, wherein the holding forces between two connector or adapter portions are formed by means of magnetic forces. The mutually facing end faces of the two adapter portions are each provided with disks or plates for grounding. For this reason, connectors of this type require a user to orient and align the two adapter portions axially with respect to one another before the magnetic forces act and peg-shaped contact elements can latch into the corresponding annular mating contact elements.
Multi-pin connectors are useful for connecting signal carriers, such as computer cables, to peripheral devices, such as printers or displays, or for connecting signal carriers or other cables to electronic equipment, such as medical equipment. Multi-pin connectors may incorporate elements for connecting a plurality of conductive paths. Known multi-pin connectors may include connectors known as "D-sub connectors." A D-sub connector contains two or more parallel rows of pins or sockets usually surrounded by a D-shaped metal shield that provides mechanical support, ensures correct orientation, and may screen against electromagnetic interference.
One problem with prior art connectors that utilize threaded fasteners, for example, or which are not readily connected or disconnected, is that in environments where many cables and connectors are utilized, cable management becomes challenging. The rigid coupling implements, i.e., threaded fasteners, of known connectors makes untangling and proper wire or cable routing time consuming. A related problem is that sudden forces on such prior art connectors may cause irreparable damage to the connector, cable or electronic device. For example, in a hospital environment where electronic devices providing vital patient support functions are connected with prior art "hardline" connectors, medical personnel or others tripping over a cable could result in medical equipment falling and being damaged from impact, or other consequences that could be catastrophic to equipment and patients.
Another problem in the prior art is that connectors that utilize multiple pins are prone to damage from misalignment or attempting connection with respective portions in an improper orientation. Typical prior art multi-pin connectors utilize somewhat lengthy pins on the male connector portion, which may extend to a point that is generally flush with the connector shield. Because of their length, the pins are more prone to bending and deformation caused by damage when they are exposed, or by misalignment during the connection process. If connection is attempted before the connector portions are properly aligned, bending, deformation or other damage may result to one or more pin conductors, rendering the connector permanently damaged and useless.
Yet another shortcoming in prior art connectors, such as those that are mechanically connected to a computer, peripheral or other device, for example, using threaded fasteners or other rigid connectors, is that they require dexterity and visibility for connection in hard to reach or confined places, such as in the case where a number of connectors are engaged in the back of a computer or server in a tightly confined space, such as a server rack.
There is thus a need in the art for connectors that address the aforementioned problems in the prior art. The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above, and others.


An apparatus includes a tank for holding a fluid for delivery to a printhead, the tank being open to the atmosphere. A manifold enables the fluid to flow from the tank to the printhead, a height of the manifold being lower than a level of the fluid in the tank when the fluid is flowing from the tank to the printhead. A siphon has a lower end of the siphon that is connectable to the manifold. An upper end of the siphon extends above the level of the fluid and is openable to the atmosphere. A height of a segment of the siphon between the upper end and the lower end is lower than the height of the manifold.

In an inkjet printer, ink is ejected from a printhead so as to be deposited on a substrate. The ink is stored in a container and is conveyed to the printhead. The printhead is operated so as to eject a drop of ink when required.
An inkjet printer that is designed for commercial use or for large-scale printing may be expected to print on a large substrate, or on a large number of substrates, in a short amount of time. In able to achieve acceptably high throughput, the inkjet printer may be provided with a large number of printheads arranged in a printhead array. The printhead modules of the array may be operated concurrently. For example, the length of a printhead array may be on the order of meters, and may include tens or hundreds of printhead modules. The printer may be designed to produce a large printed product (e.g. 4 meters long and 1.8 meter wide) in a few (e.g. less than four) minutes.
Such printing capability requires supplying a large amount of ink to the printhead array. For example, ink may be provided in large (e.g. 5 liter) supply tanks. The ink is conveyed from the supply tanks to the printhead modules as needed.

Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing LTD.


Rotary systems are described, which can include at least one of compressors and vacuum pumps. Each rotary system includes a corresponding piston that rotates in an orbital motion around a respective eccentric of a shaft in order to either compress fluid or function as a vacuum pump. Multiple rotary systems can be executed on parallel on a single shaft such that these rotary systems are powered by a single motor. Various components of the rotary systems are coated with an abradable coating, which minimizes friction when these components come in contact with each other. The minimized friction minimizes the wear and tear of these components. Each rotary system can be lubricated by only the fluid being processed (for example, compressed or vacuumed) by that rotary system. The use of the fluid being processed for lubrication and the abradable coatings eliminate a need for another lubricant for lubricating the rotary system.

U.S. Pat. No. 993,530 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,313,387 disclose rotary compressors. Compressors configured in this manner are commonly used as vacuum pumps and as refrigeration compressors. Liquid lubricants perform several functions within a compressor. Lubricants reduce the friction between contacting components that are in relative motion with respect to one another. This reduces frictional heating and wear. For example, surrounding the compression space of a compressor small leakage paths exist between adjacent parts that allow compressed gas at a relatively high pressure to leak to low pressure areas. This reduces the efficiency of the compressor. Liquid lubricants are able to effectively seal these leakage paths, thus, increasing efficiency.
In addition, the specific thermal capacitance of liquids is much higher than that of gases. Therefore, relatively small amounts of liquid lubricant in the compression space are able to absorb a relatively large amount of heat. When a gas is compressed adiabatically a substantial temperature rise of the gas occurs. During operation of a lubricated compressor, liquid lubricant, in the compression space can absorb some of the heat-of-compression. This decreases the temperature rise of the gas being compressed. Because compression work is directly proportional to gas temperature, the efficiency of the compressor is improved.
Liquid lubricants can also bear substantial loads, such that parts that appear to contact are actually separated by a thin film of lubricant even when the force trying to bring the parts into contact is substantial. Gases, on the other hand, support relatively small loads due to their low viscosity and high compressibility. Gases also leak much more readily from very small clearances.
In view of the benefits attributed to liquid lubricants in compressors, it becomes difficult to design an oil-less compressor that is efficient, reliable and cost effective to manufacture. Additionally, typical compressors suffer from other deficiencies that make them inefficient and noisy, they require increased power, and are subject to wear. The rotary compressors described herein solve these and other such issues.

Rotary systems lubricated by fluid being processed


A multi-layer article of woven fabric includes a woven base layer; a woven mesh layer, disposed above the base layer, the mesh layer utilizing a first common warp for each one of a plurality of stacked wefts; and a woven binding layer, disposed above the mesh layer. The base layer and the binding layer share a second common warp.

In ergonomic furniture manufacturing, there are two common methods used to create a seat. The first method produces an upholstered seat. It includes an outer shell, an inner shell, a foam cushion, and a fabric. Sometimes, two foam cushions are employed. A textile is applied to cover all components except the outer shell, and provides visual and tactile aesthetics.
The second method is the suspended seat. A textile is applied in or over a frame and put under tension. The textile, the seat frame and the back frame are the only components of the seat. Each method has its own benefits and disadvantages.
While an upholstered seat offers long term comfort, the comfort can be compromised if the cushion is too soft. A soft cushion allows a person's weight to sink too far down. The most comfortable foam seats have two foam components. This is achieved by combining a softer-dense foam layer with a closed-cell medium-dense foam layer. However, over time the foam cushions break down. The breakdown happens with use, but it can also occur from an abrasive fabric. Often the fabric is glued to the cushion for stability, yet over time the fabric delaminates as the glue loses effectiveness. The other components, such as the outer shell and inner shell, can crack with continuous use. Lastly, there is the problem of breathability and heat buildup. Cushions typically do not breathe and do not disburse heat. The combination of four to five components prevents breathability and results in discomfort for long-term sitting.
The second method applies fabric in suspension over or onto a seat and back frame. This allows for breathability if the fabric is porous, such as a mesh textile. Various woven and knitted mesh textiles are applied in suspension in furniture. The seat and back are constructed of two components: (i) a frame for a seat or back and a (ii) textile. The textile has some elasticity, so as to be both supportive and comfortable. The textile may be knitted or woven. However, textiles give limited support and comfort to the user. If the fabric has considerable elasticity, it does not sufficiently support the weight of the body. (A person in a seated position presents approximately 75% of the total body weight to the chair.) If the fabric is supportive, it might not offer comfort. Fabrics applied in suspension often use rigid yarns or other materials strong enough to support the weight of a human. Some of examples of rigid materials are monofilament yarns or cellulose yarns such as rattan. This seating surface does not distribute the weight of the sitter and is often abrasive to the touch and to clothing. Thus, the seating experience does not offer long-term comfort. A person sits "on" a suspended seat, whereas a person sits "in" a conventional seat. Aesthetically, mesh fabrics integrate easily into interior environments.
There is a third, but not widely used, method, which combines three materials together into a thin seat cushion and applies it in suspension. The components are a rigid under-fabric, a thin piece of sculpted foam and a soft elastic upholstery textile. All three materials are sewn together to create a cushion. While this combination offers good comfort and support, there are drawbacks. First, separate materials are used to make the cushion. Second, the cushion is not breathable. Third, it requires the combination of three different materials working separately from each other, but within the same package. These materials have characteristics that work against the other. For example, the rigid under-fabric is a harsher material than the soft foam. Continuous use results in stress and abrasion from the top and bottom of the foam cushion. It is likely that it wears out the cushion faster than on a typical upholstered cushion seat as described in the first method. Fourth, the use of three materials requires more materials cost and labor to create the item. This increases the risk of mistakes and miscalculations.


A steering wheel workstation support is provided for mounting a laptop computer. The steering wheel workstation support contains a support portion with a lip, a hook arrangement, and a standoff member integrally formed from a single piece of material. The support portion lip secures the laptop base. The hook arrangement attaches the workstation support to the steering wheel. The standoff member, located on the back of the support portion, causes the lower end of the support portion to be displaced from a lower part of the steering wheel so as to present the laptop keyboard and display at ergonomically desirable angles. In addition, the workstation support may be placed on a horizontal surface so as to present the laptop display to viewers.

Laptop computers are necessities in business, especially for those whose work takes them by car between customer and division locations. Between visits, a user must often use the laptop to prepare for an upcoming visit or to process the results of a just concluded one. In addition, the user may need to communicate with his home location to check and respond to messages received in his absence. Often, this communication is over the Internet.
When seeking to use a laptop in a car, the user encounters serious difficulties. Most importantly, there is the need to present the laptop keyboard at a comfortable and ergonomically desirable angle and position and the need to present the display in such a manner as not to lead to vision or muscle strain. Although the car steering wheel offers a potential support for the laptop, alone it cannot meet the support requirements.
In addition to accessing a laptop on the road between visits, a user also uses the laptop during visits, for example, as a means of presentation to a group. By using his own laptop instead of depending on the variable facilities of different sites, the user can quickly initiate his talk without the necessity of individualized preparation. However, a laptop on a tabletop ineffectively delivers information. The screen is often low, presenting viewing difficulties to the audience not seated immediately adjacent to the laptop.

Steering wheel workstation support for a laptop computer


A SIM card connector includes an insulative base including on its either side an L-shaped rear groove, a recess including a rear ramp, an intermediate protrusion, a tab between the rear ramp and the protrusion, and a front protuberance, and a front stop member; a cover including two side flanges each including a rear pin slidably fitted in and confined by the groove to form a pivot, rear and front gables, and an intermediate tongue; and conductors on a bottom of the base. Sliding the cover forward will interlock the cover and the base by moving either pin to a forward end of the groove with either rear fastening member being urged against the protuberance, either tongue being stopped by the protrusion, and either front fastening member being securely engaged with both the stop member and protuberance after passing the stop member.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card connectors, and more particularly to such a SIM card connector having an improved locking arrangement.
2. Description of Related Art
Technology, particularly mobile communication technology, has known a rapid, spectacular development in recent years. For mobile phones, its trend is compact, aesthetic, and multi-functional. In this regard, components (e.g., SIM card connectors) for mobile phone are also required to improve.
A conventional SIM card connector in its open condition is shown in FIG. 1. The substantially rectangular SIM card connector comprises an insulative base 4, a cover 5, and a plurality of parallel conductors 41 on a bottom of the base 4. The base 4 comprises two opposite, cylindrical arms 42 on both sides proximate two rear corners, two opposite snap fastening members 43 on both sides proximate two front corners, the snap fastening member 43 including a cavity 44 and a tab 45, two front edge sections 40, and a rectangular recess 402 formed between the front edge sections 40.
The cover 5 comprises a body 50, two pivots 52 at two rear corners of the body 50, the pivot 52 including an elongate opening 521 snugly fitted around the arms 42 to form a hinge, two side flanges 51, and two opposite, mating snap fastening members 53 on both sides proximate two front corners, the mating snap fastening member 53 including a latch 531 and a hook 532.
A user may close the cover 5 onto the base 4 by pivoting the cover 5 about the pivots 52. As a result, the latches 531 are fitted in the cavities 44 and the hooks 532 are matingly engaged with the tabs 45.
But this locking design is unsatisfactory for the purpose for which the invention is concerned for the following reasons: An accidental back or forth movement of the cover 5 may unlock the SIM card connector because there is no stopping mechanism. Further, the locking engagement of the snap fastening members 43 and 53 is not reliable. In fact, it is relatively loose. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SIM card connector with locking arrangement


A computer-readable storage element has code stored thereon that programs a processing device within a communication device to implement a method. The method includes: receiving a plurality of bursts and detecting a failure to receive a preceding header burst; extracting embedded data from the plurality of bursts; determining from the embedded data whether the plurality of bursts comprises valid voice bursts; and when the plurality of bursts comprises valid voice bursts, generating at least one header burst using the embedded data, and transmitting the at least one header burst and the voice bursts.

When facilitating calls (either private or group calls) in a communication system such as a two-way radio system, a "late entry" condition may occur. A late entry condition occurs when all or a portion of data embedded in a header signaling is lost during a transmission. Unfortunately, known procedures used during a late entry condition ultimately lead to degradation in performance by an end user.
For example, in accordance with European Telecommunications Standards Institute-Digital Mobile Radio (ETSI-DMR) standard (e.g., ETSI-Technical Specification (TS) 102 361 standard), a transmission includes at least one header burst that precedes a plurality of voice bursts, with the voice bursts comprising a voice superframe. The transmission also includes embedded link control (LC) data as part of the standard protocol. Since the embedded LC data indicates attributes about the transmission such as call type (group or individual call), transmitting unit's identity, identity of the destination such as talk group identifier (TGID), subscriber unit identity (SUID), privacy encryption status such as privacy on/off, etc., the embedded LC data could be used to facilitate late entry when a receiving device misses the at least one voice (and/or Privacy) header burst. However, no method currently exists that effectively uses this embedded LC data to improve performance during a late entry condition.
More particularly, where an intermediary device (such as a base radio repeater that repeats transmissions between a transmitting device and an end user device) is involved in a late entry condition, the intermediary device typically repeats the transmissions to the end user device without first recovering and Forward Error Correction (FEC) decoding the LC data, which leaves this function to be performed at the end user device. A shortcoming with this approach is that without error correction of the embedded LC data at the intermediary device, uplink errors (from the transmitting unit to the intermediary device) and downlink errors (from the intermediary device to the end user device) will net together making LC recovery at the end user device much more difficult, thereby, leading to degraded late entry performance at the end user device.
A further shortcoming with the approach is that the end user device typically must satisfy a number of conditions during a late entry condition before it can unmute and begin interpreting received data. The latency delay experienced while these conditions are satisfied may cause the device to miss portions of the voice transmission. Turning again to an ETSI-DMR transmission, the conditions that the end user device must satisfy to unmute are as follows. First, the end user device detects presence of a radio frequency (RF) carrier. Additionally, a synchronization ("sync") presence is detected such as a data/control burst or a voice burst that includes a sync word. A timeslot is identified and a color code validated, which indicates that the end user device is on the correct system or site. Finally, the entire embedded LC data is extracted, FEC decoded and validated in order for the device to unmute to begin interpreting the received signal.
This extraction, FEC decoding and validation takes some time due to the format of the embedded LC data, which includes 72 bits of information along with a 5-bit checksum that is protected with a block product turbo code (BPTC) scheme, resulting in 128-bits of LC data. That 128-bit result is then interleaved and divided into four LC fragments which are embedded into four voice bursts of the voice superframe, for transmission. Thus, the voice data in a major portion of a transmitted voice superframe cannot be heard because the end user device is busy validating the LC data, and resources will be reserved on a downlink channel for at least an entire length of the voice superframe regardless of whether the transmission is a valid transmission for the end user device to join.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and device that addresses at least some of the shortcomings of past and present techniques used for call set-up when a voice late entry condition exists.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments. In addition, the description and drawings do not necessarily require the order illustrated. Apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the various embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Thus, it will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, common and well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment may not be depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments.

Method and device for selectively transmitting voice bursts and regenerated header bursts


Disclosed is a method of generating a physical unclonable function (PUF) by causing unpredictable partial process failure for a semiconductor process. In a designing process, a second mask pattern may be printed by distorting a size and/or shape of at least one mask window included in a designed first mask pattern, without violating semiconductor design rules. A PUF may be generated using a photomask including the printed second mask pattern for photolithography.

A physically unclonable function (PUF) may provide an unpredictable digital value. Each individual PUF provides a different digital value even when the exact manufacturing process is given and the same design and the same process are used.
Thus, a PUF may also be referred to as a physical one-way function practically impossible to be duplicated (POWF).
Such a PUF characteristic may be used for generating an encryption key for security and/or authentication. For example, a PUF may be utilized to provide a unique key to distinguish devices from one another.
KR Patent Registration No. 10-1139630 (hereinafter, "Patent 630") discloses a PUF embodying method. Patent 630 presents a method for stochastically determining using a process variation whether an inter-layer contact or via is formed between semiconductor conductive layers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for generating physical unclonable function by modifying photo mask of semiconductor process


A pneumatic tire includes the belt layer that is formed by laminating the circumferential reinforcing layer and the pair of cross belts. Also, the tire external diameter R at the point of intersection O of the tire equatorial plane CL and the tread profile, the distance D1 in the tire radial direction between the tire ground contact edge T and the point of intersection O, and the distance D2 in the tire radial direction between the foot X of the line drawn from the end portion on the outer side in the tire width direction of the circumferential reinforcing layer 145 normal to the tread profile and the point of intersection O have a relationship such that 0.010≦D1/R≦0.015 and 0.27≦D2/D1≦0.3.

In recent years, tires have been provided with a circumferential reinforcing layer in a belt layer in order to suppress radial growth of tires. The technology described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-73337A is a known conventional pneumatic tire that is configured in this manner. However, in a configuration in which the belt layer has a circumferential reinforcing layer, the amount of change in diameter before and after driving differs greatly between a region where the circumferential reinforcing layer is disposed, and a region on an outer side in a tire width direction from the circumferential reinforcing layer, and there is the problem that tire uneven wear can easily occur (in particular, step wear of a shoulder land portion).


An ink jet recording apparatus has an ink jet head mounted for movement in a scanning direction to record on a surface of a recording medium using an active ray curing type ink. An active ray irradiation device is disposed adjacent to the ink jet head for irradiating an active ray to cure the ink on the surface of the recording medium. A plate is mounted to undergo movement in the scanning direction of the inkjet head for preventing an active ray from the active ray irradiation device and reflected by the platen from entering in ink discharge surface of the ink jet head. The plate is disposed adjacent to an end portion of the recording medium and in an arbitrary position between a surface lying substantially on the same plane as the surface of the recording medium and the ink discharge surface of the ink jet head. A plate position adjusting mechanism and a head position adjusting mechanism are provided for moving the plate and the ink jet head, respectively, in a direction orthogonal to the recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording by using a recording liquid which is cured by irradiation with an active ray.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, there is known an ink jet recording apparatus in which ultraviolet curable ink (hereinafter, referred to as UV ink) to be cured by an ultraviolet ray is used as ink ejected by an ink jet head, the UV ink is ejected and adhered to a recording medium such as a PVC sheet, glass, a foamed board, or a plate, and after that, an ultraviolet ray is applied to cure and fix the UV ink on the recording medium.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 60-132767 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-338264 and the like, there are proposed recording apparatuses of a type, in which an ink jet head moves in a direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of a recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as main scanning direction), that is, a so-called serial type, and which has an ultraviolet ray irradiation lamp provided to at least one of both side portions in the main scanning direction of the ink jet head and moving together with the head. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Sho 60-132767 also proposes an apparatus of a so-called line type, in which an ink jet head is stationary and has a length larger than a width of a recording medium in the main scanning direction and an ultraviolet ray irradiation lamp for irradiating an overall width of the recording medium is disposed on a recording medium delivery side of the head.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-338264 discloses an invention for solving a problem in that, when an ultraviolet ray irradiation lamp moves to the outside of a region of a platen (home position or head moving direction changing position) for supporting a recording medium in an ink ejection forward side of an ink jet head, an ultraviolet ray applied from the ultraviolet ray irradiation lamp is reflected on a casing wall portion of the apparatus to enter a nozzle portion of the ink jet head, thereby causing the ink in the nozzle portion to be cured. As means for solving the problem, a plate material for preventing the reflection of the ultraviolet ray is set, in the home position or the head moving direction changing position, to substantially the same height as the platen.
However, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-338264 is perhaps effective in a case where printing is performed on thin recording media such as roll paper, but in a case where the recording medium is thicker, a step height between a recording surface of the recording medium and the platen for supporting the recording medium cannot be ignored for solving the above-mentioned problem. That is, in flatbed printers, hybrid printers, or the like, in a case where printing is performed on a rigid medium having a plate thickness, such as aplastic board or a glass plate, when an ultraviolet ray irradiation device is situated above the rigid medium, an ultraviolet ray does not enter the nozzle portion, but at a moment when the ultraviolet ray irradiation device retained at a constant height with respect to a recording surface of the rigid medium moves to the outside of an end side in a width direction of the rigid medium, the height thereof becomes larger. That is, an irradiation direction space of the ultraviolet ray irradiation device increases. As a result, due to reflection, scatter, diffraction, or the like of the ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device to the ink jet head side, leak light increases, thereby causing the ink curing in the nozzle portion.
An occurrence state of this problem is described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A-4C. FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are each a schematic view of a recording apparatus viewed from a conveying direction of a rigid medium 1, and illustrate a step in which an ink jet head 2 performs printing with UV ink while moving in a main scanning direction, and an ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3 allows the UV ink to be cured. In a stage shown in FIG. 4A, a height of the ink jet head 2 and the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3 with respect to a printing surface of the rigid medium 1 on a platen 4 is set to a position where an ultraviolet ray from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3 does not enter a nozzle portion of the ink jet head 2, the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3 being provided on an opposite side of the head moving direction thereof. Further, by a light shielding plate 5 provided between the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3 and the ink jet head 2 adjacent thereto, the ultraviolet ray to the nozzle portion is shielded. However, in a stage shown in FIG. 4C, the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3 is positioned outside the rigid medium 1, so the irradiation direction space of the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3 increases by a thickness of the rigid medium 1. As a result, an ultraviolet ray 6 from the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3 reflects, scatters, etc. on the platen 4 or a member therearound, or diffracted light diffracted around the light shielding plate 5 enters the nozzle portion of the ink jet head 2.
The problem described above can be solved by providing the ultraviolet ray irradiation device with a shutter mechanism capable of shielding the ultraviolet ray. However, in order to achieve this, at a timing immediately before the ultraviolet ray irradiation device 3 positioned on a back side of the ink jet head 2 moving in the main scanning direction reaches the end side in the width direction of the rigid medium (stage shown in FIG. 4B), the shutter of the ultraviolet ray irradiation device has to be closed. As a result, there is a problem in that the UV ink printed in the vicinity of the end side in the width direction of the rigid medium 1 cannot be cured, so the printing with respect to the corresponding portion (no-margin printing) cannot be performed.


A compliant electrical contact assembly for interconnecting a lead or terminal of an integrated circuit having two cantilever beams positioned within a slot in a housing arranged such that a portion of the beams slide along a portion of one another and within the housing as the beams are deformed elastically in order to allow more travel and compliance without yielding or totally deforming the beam. The sliding action during deformation effectively multiplies the total compliance in the assembly above and beyond the compliance otherwise available to elastic compression of the cantilever beams.

Many applications exist for effecting electrical contact between two conductors. An application includes interconnection between the leads of an integrated circuit device and conductive pads or terminals on a printed circuit board which serves as an interface between the integrated circuit device under test and the tester apparatus.
Both electrical and mechanical considerations are necessary to design an interconnect between an integrated circuit and the printed circuit board, also known as a load board. One of the mechanical considerations to be taken into account in designing an interconnect system is that a wiping action should be accomplished between the contact itself and the lead of the integrated circuit by which the contact is engaged. The wiping action functions to effect maximization of effective contact in view of oxide build-up which can occur on the lead of integrated circuit. In effect, the wiping action enables a good interface to be accomplished between the contact and the lead of the integrated circuit. Electrical considerations for such an electrical interconnect contact system include that the contact should be a high-speed, short path device. In addition, the contact should have a low inductance without having a controlled impedance requirement.
One example of an electrical interconnect contact system designed to address the problems associated with designing an interconnect between the leads of an integrated circuit device and a printed circuit board is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,629. The electrical interconnect assembly disclosed in the '629 patent includes a housing which is interposed between the lead of the integrated circuit and the corresponding spaced terminal of the printed circuit board. The housing is provided with slots extending from a first surface to an opposite surface and has troughs formed on the surfaces of the housing. A first rigid element is received in the trough formed on one surface and extends across slots in which one or more contacts are received. An elastomeric second element is received in the trough formed in the second surface of the housing and extends across the slots in which contacts are received. The elastomeric elements are provided with the measure of compressability and tensile extendability. A planer contact is received within the slots and has a protruding contact surface extending from either end to contact the lead of the integrated circuit and the pad on the printed circuit board.
Disadvantages with the design embodied in the '629 patent is that the contact provides an extremely small amount of travel, 0.008 inches, which leaves little room for error. This is particularly problematic when you consider there is a very small amount of room available for interconnection between the leads on an integrated circuit and the contact pads on the load board. A second disadvantage is that the load board is quickly worn out because of wiping action of the device at both the integrated circuit lead and the load board pads. Considering the integrated circuits are continually cycling through the test and being changed a single wipe is advantageous, however, the load board is continually used throughout the repeated testing of integrated circuits and therefore the constant wiping wears out the load board.
Consequently, a need exists for a semiconductor electromechanical contact which addresses the problems associated with prior contact devices and is inexpensive to manufacture.


In one embodiment, the present teachings provide for an efficient means to implement bidirectional data and signal channels in optical interconnects. Each optical interconnect channel may include two pairs of emitters and detectors that are imaged onto each other. Many such bidirectional optical channels may be simultaneously interconnected in dense two-dimensional arrays. The send or receive state of each bidirectional optical channel may be directly set in some embodiments by an electronic control signal. In other bidirectional optical channel embodiments, the send/receive state may be controlled locally and autonomously as derived from the output of the local detector.

These teachings relate generally to alignment tolerant optical interconnects and, more particularly, to bidirectional channels incorporated into optical interconnects such as the Optical Data Pipe (ODP). The optical data pipe technology is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,015,454, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, and related cases.
In one embodiment of the optical interconnect system or optical data pipe approach of U.S. Pat. No. 7,015,454, mating emitter and detector arrays are pre-aligned and fixed on or near the ends of a gradient index rod imager, and this flexible pre-aligned structure is then mounted to the host. In another embodiment infinite conjugate imagers are used to produce Optical Data Pipe modules that are useful for interconnecting chips, boards, backplanes, etc. with generous alignment tolerances in all degrees of freedom. Using these technologies hundreds or thousands of high bandwidth channels can be interconnected for short distances (intra-die, between neighboring chips or MCMS), board to board, board to backplane, or over relatively long distances (full board wrap-around, board-to-board, computer to peripheral, computer to computer, etc.). The optical interconnect system of U.S. Pat. No. 7,015,454 provides a nearly lossless one-to-one optical interconnection from a set of input channels to a set of output channels, and supports extreme density, low power, and low crosstalk for high bandwidth signals.

Bi-directional data and signal channels in optical interconnects


Code is synchronized with design in an object oriented computer programming environment. Execution steps are created for a selected method. Then, as directed by the execution steps, the design is traced through one step at a time. Tracing includes fetching appropriate design information and checking for design violations.

Software designs, much like abstract analogs (such as maps and blueprints), are built because they are useful for explaining, navigating, and understanding the richer underlying realities. With software, however, it is rare for even the most general design of an implemented system to be either complete or accurate. In many projects, senior programmers brainstorm on a white board, produce the program and produce just enough of a retrospective design to satisfy management. In projects with formal analysis and design stages, the design may be accurate when it is first made, but it seldom matches the final implementation. As code is developed it diverges from the design. These changes are rarely transferred back to the design documents because programmers seldom take the trouble to find and edit the design documents.
The lack of accurate design adds dramatically to the life cycle cost of software systems. Mismatches between design and code slow initial development of large systems because teams working on one portion of the system rely in part upon the design descriptions of other portions of a system. Inaccurate design has an even more dramatic effect on maintenance because maintenance done without understanding the underlying design is time consuming and prone to error.
Design and code can neither be completely separated from each other nor completely joined with one another. They overlap in that both describe the same system but are different because the intended audience of those descriptions are quite different. Design communicates the intent of the designers to other humans, while code communicates design intent to the machine. Humans share a vast common knowledge and can deal with abstractions but are weak at handling masses of detail. The machine is not hampered by details but is oblivious to abstraction and generality.
One prior art approach to synchronizing code and design supposes that if programmers are unable or unwilling to keep the code synchronized with design, perhaps programmers can be dispensed with and simply generate the code from the design. In some cases, such as when an application merely maintains a database, this approach works. However, for general programming this approach fails for several reasons. One of these reasons is that analysts and designers seldom, if ever anticipate all the details encountered in the actual coding. Programmers need to make changes that extend or "violate" the design because they discover relationships or cases not foreseen by the designers. Removing the programmers from the process does not impart previously unavailable omniscience to the designers. Additionally, most real world applications contain behavior that is best described with algorithmic expressions. Programming code constructs have evolved to effectively and efficiently express such algorithms. Calling a detailed description of algorithmic behavior "design" simply because it is expressed in a formalism that isn't recognizable as "code" does not eliminate the complexity of the algorithmic behavior.
Another previously known method is the automated extraction of object structure from code. Some tools are available that can create more or less detailed object structure diagrams directly from C++ class definitions that contain inheritance and attribute type information. Some Smalltalk systems also provide attribute "type" information that allows these tools to be similarly effective. Without the attribute information, tools can only extract the inheritance structure. This method does not actually parse and model code other than C++ header files or Smalltalk class definitions. Therefore, this approach can at best identify "has-a" and "is-a" relationships. These relationships may imply collaboration but this approach does not specifically identify any of the transient collaborations that are important for understanding design. In addition, it does not provide any information about algorithms.
Another method is the automated deduction of design by analyzing code execution. Collaborations implicit in Smalltalk code are difficult to deduce statically from the code and may not be fully determined until run time. However, Smalltalk is strongly typed at runtime so it may be determined exactly what kind of objects are participating in all collaborations by examining the receiver and the arguments involved in all message sends. The resulting information can be used to specify the collaborations observed during the execution. This method suffers from the following problems: (1) it requires test cases to exercise the code; each of these test cases must construct an initial state which is sometimes elaborate; (2) the test cases themselves require careful construction and may become obsolete as the system changes; (3) the effort needed to construct and maintain these test cases can be a deterrent to routine use of this technique; and (4) full coverage by the test cases is difficult to obtain and the degree of coverage is difficult to assess. This undermines confidence in the resulting design. Without full coverage, the extracted collaboration design is likely to be incomplete in important ways. For instance, the way a system is designed to handle the exceptional cases can be more telling than the way it handles the common ones.
A further method previously known is a static analysis of the parse tree that represents the code. Nodes in the parse tree share the ability to answer their "value" in terms of the type of the object they would represent at runtime given the type of objects they depend upon. The parse tree is then traversed in a depth first order to obtain the value of all the nodes. In this process, message expressions validate that their arguments are appropriate, variables validate assignments, and finally the value of the whole method (which is its return value) is validated against the design statement of what the method should return. As is the case when reading code, literal blocks complicate matters.
Code with literal blocks pose problems for static analysis in that these blocks are not necessarily invoked where they appear in the parse tree. Also, a literal block may be invoked more than once. Static analysis must not analyze a block when it first appears, and it must pass through that block each time it is invoked. No one-pass traversal of the parse tree can analyze this code. The parse tree approach to static analysis can be elaborated to handle multiple invocations of the same literal block and perhaps even recursive invocations of literal blocks. But the farther the analysis departs from a simple traversal of a parse tree, the more complex the system becomes.
Another practical problem with basing static analysis on a parse tree is that the parse trees used by the Smalltalk system compilers are optimized for byte code generation. The parse tree inheritance hierarchy may prove to be awkward for hosting a static analysis system. Also, many Smalltalk systems hide the code for parsing and compiling although that is more of an inconvenience than a real barrier.
Lastly, future systems may support the intermixing of multiple languages, e.g., Smalltalk, Java and Visual Basic, using the same bytecode set. Static analysis based on parse trees would have to be done separately for each language and is, therefore, potentially too complex and too difficult for practical use.
Thus, there is a need for a method and system which allows for a simple and efficient synchronization of code with design.

Method and system for synchronizing code with design