An information processor capable of ensuring time synchronization accuracy, ensuring EtherCAT command consistency, and easily developing the software based on a 2-port configuration even when a communication path error occurs includes: an arithmetic section; at least two communication sections each including a transmission section and a reception section; and a redundant communication control section that controls a communication path between the arithmetic section and the communication section. The redundant communication control section includes: a communication path state determination section that determines a network path state; and a redundant path switching section that switches connection between the arithmetic section and at least two communication sections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processor including information processing hardware and information processing software used for redundant networks for real-time communication and to a control network system including the information processor and control targets.
2. Description of the Related Art
In some control systems, a single control computer controls one or more control targets via a network. As a control system example, a control network system allows one control computer to be connected with multiple control targets via the ring topology. In this control network system, a control packet is transmitted from the control computer to multiple control targets in order. The control packet may be composed of control instructions for the control targets.
The network topology may be specified as a logical ring topology. In this case, the star topology or the bus topology may be available on the condition that the control packet is transmitted to control targets in order. Control systems based on the ring topology include EtherCAT (registered trademark) and SERCOS (registered trademark), for example.
Generally, the control computer repeatedly performs a specified control process on a control target at a specified cycle. The cycle causes temporal restriction on the control process. The temporal restriction results from the performance or the control scheme required of the control system. The temporal restriction needs to be satisfied for the communication between the control computer and a control target. On the other hand, little or no temporal restriction is imposed on acquisition of statistic information in order to diagnose or monitor control targets.
EtherCAT (Communication Profile Family 12 of IEC61784 Part 2) is available as real-time Ethernet (registered trademark) and configures ring topology using a master provided as the control computer and a slave device (hereafter referred to simply as a slave) attached to a control target. Generally, the slave has two Ethernet ports. The Ethernet ports of slaves are successively connected to configure the ring topology. The master may include one Ethernet port.
When the control network system uses the master having one Ethernet port, the last slave on the ring network internally loops back a packet to finally return the packet to the Ethernet port of the master. For example, the network physically or seemingly configured as line topology can logically function as the ring topology from the viewpoint of the packet communication path.
Such control system may be subject to requirements for the temporal restriction and may require additional processes in order to perform the reliable control processing. Especially, additional processes are needed when a serious disadvantage might result from unsuccessful control processing caused by an error occurrence on the communication path. There is provided a method of making the communication path redundant in order to configure highly reliable ring topology including the single control computer and multiple control targets. Such a technology is known in the prior art in the patent document of Japanese Laid Open Patent JP-2004-96460 or JP-2003-60666.
Connection to the ring topology is made redundant by providing the EtherCAT master with two Ethernet communication ports. When the EtherCAT master is physically provided with two communication ports, an available method of ensuring the redundancy is to transmit the same packet from both of the two communication ports.
Generally, however, the following three problems arise when the conventional method is used to make the EtherCAT master redundant.
Firstly, when the EtherCAT ring network is disconnected, the EtherCAT time synchronization function may not be fully available. The EtherCAT time synchronization function is outlined below. The EtherCAT time synchronization function includes three stages: measuring a communication delay between slaves; compensating an offset between slave clocks; and compensating an advance drift between the slave clocks. The communication delay measurement between slaves is based on an algorithm as shown in FIG. 14.
FIG. 14 shows a packet communication path and reception times at ports of EtherCAT slave ICs 151a, 151b, and 151c. Reference symbols Ta, Tb, Tc, Td, and Te in FIG. 14 denote times for the ports to receive a packet. Reference symbol tdiff denotes a communication delay between the slaves. Reference symbol tp denotes a processing time period of an EtherCAT Processor Unit 160.
Regarding slave A, a clock in the same slave IC 151a measures Ta and Te. The slave IC 151a differs from the slave IC 151b in clock offsets or drifts. It is impossible to simply compare Ta and Te with Tb and Td. Let us suppose that Ta through Te in FIG. 14 are measurable and tp is known. Then, communication delay tdiffBC between slaves C and B is calculated as follows.tdiffBC=(Td−Tb)÷2where (Tc−Tb) and (Td−Tc) are assumed to be equal. It is also assumed that the EtherCAT slaves use the same type of processor unit. When different processor units are used, tp differences need to be taken into consideration.
The following equations find communication delay tdiffAB between slaves B and A.tdiffAB=((Te−Ta)−(Td−Tb)−tp)÷2+tp tdiffBA=tdiffAB−tp
An EtherCAT slave incompatible with the time synchronization function is assumed to be a mere communication path. In other words, packets need to be transferred at a fixed communication delay.
A time synchronization packet needs to circulate through the ring network in order to enable the time synchronization function. In other words, a communication delay is calculated based on packet reception times on the forward and backward paths for a given slave.
The EtherCAT master may have two communication ports each transmitting time synchronization packets. The packets do not circulate through the ring network and are received at the other communication port than that used for the transmission. Accordingly, it is impossible to calculate a communication delay for the time synchronization.
(Software-Based Redundant Processing)
As another possible redundant method, only one communication port transmits a packet. The packet is looped inside a slave farthest from the packet transmission port, that is, a slave adjacent to the other port of the master. In this case, when the network malfunctions, the same communication port transmits a packet and receives it. Software for the EtherCAT master is used to transmit the packet from the other communication port.
However, the software processing causes a long delay and jitter compared to the packet transfer processing of a slave. This software processing needs to transfer packets at a fixed communication delay as well as an EtherCAT slave incompatible with the time synchronization function.
The synchronization accuracy degrades compared to the time synchronization function for the normal network.
Secondly, commands transmitted from the master may be inconsistent. Especially, the consistency may not be ensured for commands for logical addresses and auto-increment addresses.
(Command Consistency for Logical Addresses)
The following describes a problems of commands concerning logical addresses. The EtherCAT function can map any address spaces for the slaves to a single virtual address space. This virtual address space is referred to as a logical address.
According to the normal redundant configuration for the EtherCAT master, a network error, if any, may cause each of two communication ports to transmit a packet containing a command. Some commands are issued to addresses corresponding to EtherCAT slaves such as station addresses for specifying individual slaves. A packet containing the commands can be issued by determining to which of the two communication ports the slave is connected.
When a command corresponds to the logical address, however, an address to be read or written by the single command may be mapped to the slaves belonging to portions of the network divided by the error. In this case, the EtherCAT master needs to manage a correspondence table of logical addresses and combine results of the command corresponding to the logical address while ensuring the command consistency. This complicates development of the software.
(Command Consistency for Auto-Increment Addresses)
Commands for auto-increment addresses also cause a problem. An EtherCAT auto-increment address is based on EtherCAT slave addressing in accordance with an arrival sequence of packets. When each of the slaves receives a packet having an auto-increment address, the slave determines whether the address equals 0. The slave increments the address value and transfers the packet to the next slave.
FIG. 12 shows how auto-increment addresses specify the slaves. As shown in FIG. 12, the control network system includes multiple slaves 121 connected to a control computer 120 via a network 122. To communicate with the fourth slave (n=4), for example, the master sets the auto-increment address to −3.
An error occurrence on the network 122 changes the packet processing sequence. A packet is processed on an EtherCAT slave different from that intended by a developer. FIG. 13 shows auto-increment addresses for the slaves 121a through 121e when an error occurs on the network 122. According to the configuration in FIG. 13, two communication ports in the control computer 120 simultaneously transmit packets. A path error occurs between the slaves n=3 and n=4 and disconnects the network 122, changing the auto-increment addresses of the fourth and fifth slaves as the original orders.
Thirdly, the software needs to be developed in consideration for two communication ports used for the redundant EtherCAT master. The software development becomes more complicated than that for conventional EtherCAT masters having one port with respect to command combination in the event of an error and the time synchronization, for example.
In short, the conventional information processor based on the redundant configuration of the general-purpose EtherCAT master and the control network system using such information processor entail the problems of a decrease in the time synchronization accuracy, the need for ensuring the EtherCAT command consistency, and the complicated software development due to the 2-port configuration.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the foregoing. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an information processor and a control network system using the same for configuring a network capable of improving the time synchronization accuracy, ensuring the EtherCAT command consistency, and facilitating the software development for the 2-port configuration.

Information processor and control network system


An extendable fluid transport apparatus for conveyance of a fluid to a remote surface. A rigid fluid tube (300) receives fluid and is in fluid communication and interconnection with a flexible flex tube (400) which is in fluid communication and interconnection with a connection means proximal a telescoping tube (200) second end for conveyance of a fluid, including paint, to a distant surface. The telescoping tube (200) is slidably received into a casing (100). The flex tube is received through a casing slot (120) and a telescoping tube slot (240) into the telescoping tube.

Devices which convey a fluid and which are extendible are known in the prior art including U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,920 to Nance et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,392 to Pleshek; U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,644 to Troudt; U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,100 to Bardinet et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,864 to Sorenson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,024 to Krohn; U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,598 to Sorenson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,601 to Hammer; U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,922 to Troudt; U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,960 to Troudt; Patent Application US 2005/0045751 to Nance et al, and Patent Application No. US 2005/0029366 to Troudt. The patents referred to herein are provided herewith in an Information Disclosure Statement in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97.


A method of preparing pattern information for a jacquard fabric produced on an electronically controlled knitting machine is disclosed. Yarn color information that is to be fed to yarn feeders for the courses in a knit fabric is prepared. This information is resolved into information for knitting and welting which is to be fed to different wales for each yarn feeder. Tucking information for the different colored yarns is separately prepared. This tucking information is resolved into tucking and welting pattern information. The knitting and welting information which is to be fed to different wales for each yarn feeder is combined with the separately prepared information on tucking and welting to form synthesized pattern information for knitting, welting, and tucking.

In a conventional electronic pattern knitting machine used in knitting jacquard fabric, usually one course of the knitted fabric is knit on the basis of pieces of color information stored within the memory of the knitting machine. Pattern information commonly is transferred from a storage medium, such as a floppy disc or paper tape, through the software loading mechanism and to the knitting machine controller, which activates/deactivates the needle selection mechanisms. The needle selection mechanisms work in conjunction with yarn feeders, which selectively feed the desired color of yarn to the knitting needles. Much of the pattern information is resolved based on individual courses of a plurality of pieces of color information.
In one common electronic pattern knitting machine, one needle selection mechanism is selectable between two positions--knitting and welting (FIG. 6). In this type of machine, tucking is not performed. When knitting a single knit fabric, the yarn floats produced by welting extend between patterns of the same color on the reverse side of the knit fabric, and the resulting structure has a reduced commercial value. The floating yarns are not fixed within the single knit fabric as would be obtained if tuck knitting were performed. In improved knitting machines, in which tucking operations are possible to form a rugged surface, all needle selection information needed to form a jacquard fabric are not always available even when the information is derived directly from the conventional knitting machine mentioned above and applied to the controller of these improved knitting machines. These more complex machines are capable of three major methods enabling needle selection at the three positions of knitting, welting, and tucking (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9). As illustrated, one yarn feeder is controlled by pairs of yarn feed mechanisms 13,14; 16,17; and 19,20, all which Can have different functions and yet enable tucking. Each needle selection mechanism typically has two states and the combination of the mechanisms provides the diversity needed for enhanced jacquard knitting.
For example, in FIG. 7, one yarn feeder has two needle selection mechanisms 13,14 associated therewith. Needle selection for knitting or Welting is performed at needle selection unit 13, and needle selection for tucking or Welting is performed at needle selection unit 14. In FIG. 9, a different method is illustrated in which needle selection at three positions is performed by needle selection mechanisms 19 and 20, which are erected vertical to each other. In FIG. 8, another method is disclosed. Thus, it is difficult to compose pattern information for these improved knitting machines on the basis of color information used on the conventional electronic pattern knitting machines.

Method of preparing pattern information for jacquard fabric


For each pair of traffic participants (TPs) entering an intersection, a time to collision (TTC) value is calculated. A matrix of TTC values between TPs entering the intersection is created. A matrix of criticality values containing a respective criticality value for each pair of TPs is created. Each criticality value is determined as a function of both TTC and at least one additional weighting factor. A basic safety message (BSM) and/or a pedestrian safety message (PSM) is broadcast on behalf of at least one traffic participant based on having determined the criticality for each pair of traffic participants and having identified a near-miss and/or a potential-collision situation between traffic participants based on the respective criticality values in the matrix of criticality values. One or more warnings are provided to a pedestrian, a driver of a vehicle, and/or a cyclist based on the broadcasted BSM and/or PSM.

Embodiments of the invention relate to determining the criticality of traffic participants to identify potential collision situations between traffic participants at an intersection.
As is known in the art, an intelligent intersection may increase safety of intersections through sensor-based object detection. The sensors may be mounted on road-side units, which may also referred to as infrastructure. Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) links infrastructure road-side units and vehicles and other traffic participants to protect against collisions with vulnerable road users (e.g., pedestrians and cyclists) and other traffic participants.
The road-side units may use various technologies including radar, camera, access to cloud-based servers, and Infrastructure-to-Everything (I2X) communication, which may include Infrastructure-2-Vehicle communication (I2V) communication, Infrastructure-2-Infrastructure (I2I) communication, Infrastructure-2-Pedestrian (I2P) communication, and the like, based on DSRC.
As is known in the art, road-side units, on-board vehicle units, and communication units of other traffic participants may include a DSRC, or other type of wireless, transceiver, which may include a processor, a memory, a communication interface, and an antenna assembly for enabling wireless communication.
Improved techniques for determining the criticality of traffic participants to identify and capture near miss/potential collision situations between traffic participants and finding critical traffic participants on behalf of which BSM (basic safety message)/PSM (pedestrian safety message) may be broadcasted would advance the state of the art.

Determining I2X traffic-participant criticality


A microbrowser in a mobile telephone or other hand-held mobile device generates a Graphical User Interface (GUI) having features that make the device more user-friendly. In one mode, the GUI includes a softkey indicator indicating a corresponding softkey action and an input field for receiving a user-input character string, such as a telephone number. In response to typing in the input field, a softkey action previously associated with the input field, such as a dial action, is automatically selected, and the softkey indicator is automatically changed to indicate the selected action. In another mode, the GUI displays an input field and a menu listing performable actions. In response to a user input representing a single action by the user and designating one of the performable actions, the designated action is selected and the input field is activated, enabling the user to input characters associated with the designated action.

For people and businesses requiring instant access to information, the Internet and intranets have provided a vehicle for near real-time delivery of information from an enormous number of sources. For many of those same individuals, mobile devices such as cellular telephones, two-way pagers, and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) have provided a way of communicating regardless of locality. In recent years, Internet technology and mobile computing and communications technologies have begun to merge, to the point where mobile devices such as mobile telephones, PDAs, and pagers are now common entry points to the Internet and intranets.
Devices used to access the Internet (or intranets) generally have certain features in common, whether they sit on a desktop or are held in the palm of the hand. One such feature is that they may be used to display and navigate hypermedia content, such as World Wide Web pages. Such devices normally include software known as a browser, which allows the user to access and navigate hyperlinked content. In a mobile device, this software is sometimes referred to as a microbrowser or minibrowser, because the software consumes much less memory than a conventional PC browser, but it is nonetheless simply a particular type of browser and may be referred to as such.
To access the Internet, network servers and network personal computers (PCs) normally use standard web protocols and mark-up languages, such as hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) and hypertext markup language (HTML), respectively. Mobile devices generally use wireless protocols, such as wireless access protocol (WAP) or handheld device transport protocol (HDTP), and wireless markup languages, such as wireless markup language (WML) and handheld device markup language (HDML), to accomplish the same tasks.
One problem with using mobile devices to access the Internet is the lack of user-friendliness of their user interfaces. Because these devices are designed to be mobile, they normally have very small displays, limited memory, compact keypads and, commonly, only a limited provision for pointer/cursor movement. These restrictions exist on mobile devices because the mobile devices are designed to be relatively inexpensive and small so as to fit into the palm of the hand. What is needed, therefore, is a mobile device which provides a more user-friendly interface for accessing the Internet or other remote data networks.
In a mobile (e.g., cellular) telephone, because of the small amount of device memory, it is difficult to fit in memory a browser with code for one user interface for browser functions and another, completely separate set of code for a second user interface for telephony functions (e.g., dialing telephone numbers, accessing the telephone's internal address book, and accessing the telephone's settings). It is also difficult for many users to learn two user interfaces if these user interfaces have different end-user features. Therefore, it is desirable on some mobile telephones to leverage the browser's user interface to implement the telephone's user interface, in order to save memory (only one set of user interface code is needed in the telephone) and to reduce end-user confusion (only one user interface is presented to the user).

Graphical user interface features of a browser in a hand-held wireless communication device


In a resist composition comprising a base resin which is a high molecular weight structure free from an aromatic substituent group, a photoacid generator, and a solvent, the photoacid generator is a one capable of generating a perfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acid. The resist composition has many advantages including excellent resolution, minimized size difference between isolated and densely packed patterns, and minimized line edge roughness.

While a number of recent efforts are being made to achieve a finer pattern rule in the drive for higher integration and operating speeds in LSI devices, DUV and VUV lithography is thought to hold particular promise as the next generation in microfabrication technology. In particular, it is strongly desired that photolithography using an ArF excimer laser as the light source reach the practical level as the micropatterning technique capable of achieving a feature size of 0.13 μm or less and that photolithography using an F2 laser as the light source reach the practical level as the micropatterning technique capable of achieving a feature size of 0.1 μm or less.
In the photolithography using an ArF excimer laser (wavelength 193 nm), as the light source, a high sensitivity resist material capable of achieving a high resolution at a small dose of exposure is needed to prevent the degradation of precise and expensive optical system materials. Among several measures for providing a high sensitivity resist material, and the most common is to select each component which is highly transparent at the wavelength of 193 nm. For example, polyacrylic acid and derivatives thereof, norbornene-maleic anhydride alternating copolymers, polynorbornene and metathesis ring-opening polymers have been proposed as the base resin. This choice is effective in that the transparency of a resin alone is increased. However, the photoacid generator has the problem that increasing its transparency leads to a drop of acid generation efficiency, resulting in a low sensitivity or the lack of thermal stability and storage stability. There is available no photoacid generator which is practically acceptable.
For example, JP-A 7-25846, JP-A 7-28237 and JP-A 8-27102 disclose alkylsulfonium salts which are highly transparent, but unsatisfactory in acid generation efficiency and thermal stability. JP-A 10-319581 discloses alkylarylsulfonium salts which have a high sensitivity and a good balance of transparency and acid generation efficiency, but lack thermal stability and storage stability. Arylsulfonium salts, which are regarded effective in photolithography using a KrF excimer laser, are good in acid generation efficiency, thermal stability and storage stability, but very low transparent to ArF excimer laser light so that the pattern resulting from exposure and development is noticeably tapered. The lack of transparency can be compensated for by thinning the resist film, but such a thin resist film has extremely low etch resistance. This is inadequate as the pattern forming process.
Onium salts are widely used as the photoacid generator. They are neutralized salts between a sulfonium or iodonium cation having an alkyl or aryl group bonded thereto and an anion. Upon exposure to light, the cation is dissociated and the anion is released as an acid. Illustrated in the above-referred patent publications are structures on the cation side of onium salts. It was reported that with respect to resolution and pattern shape, the type of acid generated or anion is closely correlated to the type of acid labile group. Illustratively, regarding those resists based on polyhydroxystyrene and polyhydroxystyrene/(meth)acrylate copolymers, a number of studies using a variety of acids have been reported. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,537 discloses that a satisfactory pattern shape is obtainable when a photoacid generator capable of generating camphorsulfonic acid is added. However, alicyclic structure-bearing polymers adapted for ArF and F2 laser exposure have a low reactivity for acid elimination. Even when such polymers have the same acid-eliminatable group as the polyhydroxystyrene and polyhydroxystyrene/(meth)acrylate copolymer, elimination reaction does not proceed with camphorsulfonic acid.
On the anion side of onium salts, fluorinated alkyl sulfonic acids having a high acidity are often applied. Illustrative fluorinated alkyl sulfonic acids include trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, nonafluorobutanesulfonic acid, and hexadecafluorooctanesulfonic acid. Also included are fluoro-substituted or fluoroalkyl-substituted arylsulfonic acids. Examples include 4-fluorobenzenesulfonic acid, 3-benzenesulfonic acid, 2-benzenesulfonic acid, 2,4-difluorobenzenesulfonic acid, 2,3-difluorobenzenesulfonic acid, 3,4-difluorobenzenesulfonic acid. 2,6-difluorobenzenesulfonic acid, 3,5-difluorobenzenesulfonic acid, 2,3,4-trifluorobenzenesulfonic acid, 3,4,5-trifluorobenzenesulfonic acid, 2,4,6-trifluorobenzenesulfonic acid, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzenesulfonic acid, 4-trifluoromethylbenzenesulfonic acid, 5-trifluoromethylbenzenesulfonic acid, 6-trifluoromethylbenzenesulfonic acid, and 4-trifluoromethylnaphthyl-2-sulfonic acid.
With the advance toward a finer feature size, line edge roughness and a size difference between an isolated pattern and a densely packed pattern, known as I/G bias are regarded problematic. It is well known that even when feature sizes are then same on the mask, a size difference appears between an isolated pattern and a densely packed pattern after development. This problem becomes serious with sizes in excess of the wavelength. This is because a difference in light interference upon image formation between an isolated pattern and a densely packed pattern brings about a difference in optical intensity. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates how the size of line on the ordinate changes when the pitch between repetitive lines of 0.18 microns on the abscissa is changed under optical conditions of wavelength 248 nm, NA 0.6 and σ 0.75. Under the normalization that a line size of 0.18 microns is reached at a 0.36 micron pitch (0.18 micron line+0.18 micron space), the size of an optical image once decrease (or narrows) and then increases (or thickens) as the pitch increases.
Next, the results of determining resist line sizes after development are reported. The resist size and the size of an optical image were determined using simulation software PROLITH2 Ver. 6.0 commercially available from KLA-Tencor Corp. (ex-Finle Co.). The resist size decreases with an increase of pitch and becomes increasingly thinner with the enhancement of acid diffusion. The problem of size dependency on line density that the size of an isolated pattern is thinner than that of a densely packed pattern becomes serious. It is understood from the result of simulation that an effective approach for reducing the line density dependency is to reduce the distance of acid diffusion.
However, if acid diffusion is extremely restrained, the side walls of resist patterns after development are serrated or roughened by standing waves, and line edge roughness is enhanced. The resist cross-sectional configuration of a 0.18 μm line-and-space pattern on a silicon substrate achieved when the distance of acid diffusion is changed is computed using simulation software PROLITH2 Ver. 6.0 by KLA-Tencor Corp., with the results being shown in FIG. 2. It is evident that the serration of side walls by standing waves becomes sharper as the distance of acid diffusion is reduced. For the line edge roughness as observed under overhead SEM, the same tendency is ascertained, that is, line edge roughness increases as acid diffusion decreases. A common approach for reducing the roughness of lines is by increasing the distance of acid diffusion, but this approach fails to improve the line density dependency over a certain limit. For improving line edge roughness, it may be effective to increase the optical contrast. For example, at the same exposure wavelength, the line edge roughness decreases as the line width increases. Even at the same exposure wavelength and line width, the line edge roughness decreases with an increasing NA of a stepper and in the case of repetitive patterns, is smaller with modified illumination (e.g., annular illumination, quadrupole illumination) than with normal illumination and with phase shift masks than with conventional Cr masks. The contrast at pattern line edges is correlated to the line edge roughness so that the line edge roughness is smaller as the line edge contrast is sharper. With respect to exposure wavelength, the line edge roughness is smaller with shorter wavelengths. However, when line edge roughness is compared between KrF exposure and ArF exposure, the ArF exposure is deemed advantageous to optical contrast owing to its shortness of wavelength, but actually, the KrF exposure is advantageous, as reported in SPIE 3999, 264 (2001). This is attributable to the performance difference between KrF and ArF resist materials, indicating that the line edge roughness originating from material factors upon ArF exposure is serious. It would be desirable to have a photoacid generator which improves line edge roughness and at the same time, does not exacerbate line density dependency.

Resist compositions and patterning process


A device for concealing a caulking joint formed between adjacent first and second surfaces comprising an elongated central strip having first and second edges and the strip having first and second sides; a first flap longitudinally connected to the elongated central strip along the first edge, the first flap having a first side adapted to be adhered to a first of the adjacent surfaces such that the first flap conforms to the first of the adjacent surfaces in a watertight manner; a second flap longitudinally connected to the elongated central strip along the second edge, the second flap having a first side adapted to be adhered to a second of the adjacent surfaces such that the second flap conforms to the second of the adjacent surfaces in a watertight manner; and the central strip being adapted to cover the caulking joint with the first side of the central strip facing the caulking joint when the first flap is adhered to the first surface and the second flap is adhered to the second surface, whereby the caulking joint is concealed by the device.

In a bathroom, joints need to be properly sealed against water infiltration, for example the joints between a tile wall and an adjoining bathtub or the joint between a similar wall and a counter. These joints are usually sealed using a caulking compound such as silicone or latex based products. Over time, the high humidity level in the bathroom can stimulate the growth of mildew on the caulking joints. Also, these joints can be damaged.
To improve the appearance of these joints, a number of moldings have been introduced to replace caulking. Such devices as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,427, issued on Nov. 17, 1987 to Zeilinger, are often rigid and are designed to be installed, with an adhesive, on an unprotected joint to seal it. While these devices isolate the joint from water exposure and resist deterioration better than a caulking joint, their installation requires the removal of the existing caulking, a process that can be very difficult and time consuming.
Another kind of molding has been proposed to protect a bathroom joint. Such a molding, taught by U.S. Pat. No. 2,541,768, issued on Feb. 13, 1951 to Keller, is installed by being pressed on a fresh joint of caulking before it is cured. It is often flexible and is maintained in place by the cured caulking, effectively protecting it against deterioration. Unfortunately, this device also requires the removal of the existing caulking before installation in order to be able to apply a fresh caulking joint.
Other kinds of protectors are described in the art, such as the drywall finishing edge strips taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,374, issued on Sep. 3, 1991 to Tucker. Such finishing strips are adapted to cover corners of various configurations, such as straight and arched wall corners as well as exterior and interior wall corners. These finishing strips are however limited to drywalls, as they are either too rigid to adequately conform to irregular wall and bathtub surfaces or include a plurality of slits making them unsuitable for use in a bathroom joint.
Accordingly, there is a need for a device that can improve and preserve the appearance of bathroom joints while being easily and rapidly installed.

Device for concealing caulking joint and method


A CNC apparatus has a memory configured to compensate for offsets in a pivot point. The machine tool has a head, a pivot point, a spindle, a table, and at least four axes including an X-axis, a Y-axis, a Z-axis, and a C-axis. A method for calibrating the CNC apparatus for controlling the machine tool includes placing an artifact of known height on the table, placing a plug having a known diameter on the spindle and touching the plug to the artifact in a plurality of orientations of the plug and in a plurality of locations of the plug and the artifact to determine uncalibrated X and Y pivot point locations at a plurality of orientations of the spindle. The uncalibrated X and Y pivot point locations are used to determine and store values in the memory of the CNC apparatus to compensate for offsets in the pivot point.

This invention relates generally to the use and control of grinding machines for producing machined parts.
It has been observed that the pivot point location of grinder machine tool heads can vary when maintenance is performed on a machine spindle. The pivot point is offset from the spindle centerline. This offset is unknown and can cause all part programs for a particular machine to become obsolete as the relationship between the pivot point and the machine home position is different. As a result, each grinding program has to be re-programmed. In addition, programs cannot be transferred to other machines, since the offset variation between machines is also different and unknown.
In at least one known system, any change in the spindle offset or movement of a program to a different machine requires a programmer to manually place a machine in a position of each of the operations needed to simulate a production cut. The five axis coordinates of the machine's grinding are then manually recorded and adjustments are manually made to a program to compensate for the new relationship between the pivot point of the spindle and the home position of the grinding machine. The need for such adjustments makes it difficult or impossible to use computer numerical control (CNC) programs for grinding a part on other grinders within a shop having a plurality of grinders without personal attention being given to adjusting the program on each of the grinders.

Method and apparatus for pivot point determination and machine tool adjustment


A water seal system is provided for a latch assembly that comprises a housing having a receptacle in which a handle extends therein. A trigger extends from the handle through an aperture in the receptacle to a latching mechanism on a rear side of the housing. The trigger is operative to cause the latching mechanism to operate, responsive to movement of the handle. The water seal system includes a gasket mounted to a metal backing plate, with slots extending through the backing plate and gasket. The trigger extends through the slots such that the backing plate abuts a stop surface of the trigger. Movement of the handle from the extended position to the retracted position is operative to cause the stop surface to urge the backing plate to compress the gasket adjacent portions of the receptacle that extend around the aperture.

Latch assemblies are mechanical apparatuses that are typically used to releasably hold/latch two elements in closed relation. For example, latch assemblies may be used to hold/latch a closure member such as a door or hatch in a closed position relative to a body member such as a door frame or hatch frame. Such latch assemblies are also operative to release/unlatch the closure member relative to the body member via mechanical manipulation of a portion of the latch assembly such as a handle. Latch assemblies may benefit from improvements.


A carton for housing sheets, particularly dryer sheets. The dryer sheets are preferably stacked in a "C" shape and are removed via an access flap which may include 2 hinges and may be reclosable. The ratio of the length of the horizontal axis of the access flap is preferably of a defined ratio to the width of the sheet.

A convenient method of applying fabric softener to clothes entails the use of sheets impregnated with fabric softening materials. These sheets may be readily placed in the dryer with the clothes. During drying the fabric softening actives and optionally other materials, such as perfumes, are transferred to the clothes.
Fabric softener sheets are typically provided to consumers in the form of a roll. Individual sheets are formed by separating the sheets from the roll at lines of weakness provided at intervals along the roll. Since the sheets need to withstand the temperature conditions of a clothes dryer, they must be comprised of fairly durable plastic. They must also be sufficiently durable to withstand the tumbling action of the dryer without losing their integrity. The sturdy construction of the sheets, while advantageous for keeping the sheets intact during the drying process, has the disadvantage that it is difficult to create a perforation permitting the consumers easily to separate one sheet from another on a roll.
Additional problems associated with the use of dryer sheets include the escape of fragrance from the carton prior to use.
Sheets of various shapes are known for use in household products. Individually folded dove tail sheets are known for products such as dusting cloths.

Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.


A command register holding a decoded result of information relating to an access request supplied from an outside and an address register are provided, and decode of the information relating to an access request from the outside in a processing circuit, namely, a chip control circuit and an address decoder, and an operation corresponding to the external access request in a memory cell array by an access control circuit are made executable independently in parallel, whereby access requests from the outside can be inputted in multiple, and a pipelined operation can be realized for decode and an operation corresponding to the external access request in the memory cell array, thus making it possible to speed up the access operation to a semiconductor memory device without causing any problem.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and a memory system, which are particularly preferable for use in a pseudo-SRAM (Static Random Access Memory).
2. Description of the Related Art
A pseudo-SRAM which is one of semiconductor memory devices is a memory of which memory cells for storing data are constituted of the same cells as those of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), and of which external interface has compatibility with a SRAM. The pseudo-SRAM has the characteristics of the DRAM of having larger capacity at lower bit cost as compared with the SRAM, and has equal usability to the SRAM, and thus realizes an increase in capacity and facilitation of system design. For example, a low-power (low power consumption) pseudo-SRAM is used as a memory (RAM) for a cellular phone.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a constitution of a conventional pseudo-SRAM 101. The pseudo-SRAM 101 has a memory cell array 102, an array control circuit 103, a refresh control circuit 104, a chip control circuit 105, an address decoder 106, a data signal control circuit 107 and an interface circuit 108.
The memory cell array 102 is constituted of a plurality of memory cells disposed in an array form with respect to a row direction and a column direction. Each memory cell is a 1T-1C type (one transistor and one capacitor type) memory cell as in the DRAM as described above. The array control circuit 103 performs a data read operation, a data write operation and a refresh operation for the memory cells in the memory cell array 102.
The refresh control circuit 104 outputs a request for a refresh operation for holding the data stored in the memory cells in accordance with a timer value included inside.
The chip control circuit 105 decodes a command (external command) CMD from an outside, which is supplied via the interface circuit 108, and outputs a control signal based on the decoded result and the refresh request from the refresh control circuit 104 to the array control signal 103. The command CMD is constituted of a chip enable signal /CE, an address valid signal /ADV, an output enable signal /OE and a write enable signal /WE ("/" which is affixed to the reference symbol of each signal indicates that the signal is of negative logic).
The chip control circuit 105 performs arbitration (arbitration processing) of the access request (data read/write) by the command CMD and the refresh request. In this arbitration, the request precedently generated is processed in preference.
The address decoder 106 decodes an address signal ADD from an outside, which is supplied via the interface circuit 108, and outputs the decoded result to the array control circuit 103.
The data signal control circuit 107 controls transmission and reception of data signals between the inside and the outside of the memory in the read operations and the write operations performed in accordance with the external commands.
A clock signal CLK, which synchronizes the input and output timings of the command CMD and a data signal DQ, is inputted into the interface circuit 108 from an outside, and is supplied to each functional section in the pseudo-SRAM 101.
FIG. 2 is a timing chart explaining the operation (data read operation) in the conventional pseudo-SRAM. In FIG. 2, a "core operation" is a selection operation for the memory cell array 102, in other words, the operation executed for the memory cell array 102 by the array control circuit 103. A "Peri operation" is the operation of peripheral circuits of the memory cell array 102 (array control circuit 103) such as the chip control circuit 105 and the data signal control circuit 107.
First, at a time T51, the chip enable signal /CE which brings the device (pseudo-SRAM) into an operational state, the address valid signal /ADV indicating that the address signal ADD is valid, and the output enable signal /OE change to "L". The chip control circuit 105 decodes this command CMD and determines that the access request from the outside is the data read operation RD (A). The address decoder 106 takes in the address signal ADD and decodes it.
However, if the refresh request from the refresh control circuit 104 generates before the time T51 when the access request from the outside is received, the refresh operation REF is executed in the memory cell array 102 (time T52). From a time T53 when the refresh operation REF is finished, the data read operation RD (A) is executed in the memory cell array 102, and data (1A), (2A) and (3A) of the memory cells corresponding to the decoded result in the address decoder 106 are sequentially read and outputted as the data signal DQ.
When the chip enable signal /CE changes to "H" at a time T54, the chip control circuit 105 instructs termination of the data read operation RD (A) to the array control circuit 103. By this, the data read operation RD (A) executed in the memory cell array 102 is finished (time T55).
When the chip enable signal /CE and the address valid signal /ADV change to "L" at the time T55, the chip control circuit 105 decodes the command CMD at this time, and determines that the access request from the outside is a data read operation RD (B). The address decoder 106 takes in the address signal ADD and decodes it.
At a time T56 when a refresh entry term TREN elapses from the time T55, the data read operation RD (B) is executed in the memory cell array 102, and data (1B), (2B), (3B), (4B) and (5B) are outputted as the data signal DQ. The refresh entry term TREN is always set between the data read/write operation according to the access request from the outside so that the refresh operation can be executed in the memory cell array 102 when the refresh request generates.
Thereafter, as in the data read operation RD (A), the chip enable signal /CE changes to "H" at a time T57, and thereby the data read operation RD (B) executed in the memory cell array 102 is finished (time T58).
FIG. 3 is a timing chart explaining an operation (data write operation) in the conventional pseudo-SRAM. The data write operation shown in FIG. 3 differs from the data read operation shown in FIG. 2 only in the respects that the write enable signal /WE is made "L" and the output enable signal /OE is kept at "H" and that the data (1A) to (3A) and (1B) to (5B) supplied as the data signal DQ are written into the memory cells, and in the other respects, it is the same as the data read operation shown in FIG. 2 (times T61 to T68 correspond to the times T51 to T58 respectively). Therefore, the explanation of the data write operation will be omitted.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the data read operation, the data write operation and the like are performed in the conventional pseudo-SRAM.
In recent years, a large-capacity and real time data communication related to video data and the like comes to be performed, and the operation at higher speed is demanded of the pseudo-SRAM which is used as the memory of a data communication apparatus including a cellular phone or the like.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 11-16346
[Patent Document 2] International Publication No. WO 98/56004
However, in the conventional pseudo-SRAM, the refresh entry term TREN is always provided as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and therefore, the access time related to the access request from the outside is specified so as to include the latency on the assumption of the case in which the refresh request precedently occurs, which is the worst case. A series of operations from reception of the access request (command) from the outside to input and output of the data is executed so that the series of operations corresponding to the next access request is started after a series of operations corresponding to an access request, namely, only the processing according to one access request is always performed.
As a method for enhancing the speed of the operation (access) in the pseudo-SRAM, the method of decreasing the access time from the outside by shortening the latency as shown in FIG. 4A can be considered. However, if the latency is shortened, a time interval TC between the data read/write operations by the access request from the outside is shortened, and there arises the fear that the term corresponding to the refresh entry term TREN cannot be ensured. Namely, when the latency is shortened, the refresh operation cannot be executed between the data read/write operations by the access request from the outside if the refresh request occurs, and there arises the fear that the data stored in the memory cells disappear.
As another method for enhancing the speed of the operation in the pseudo-SRAM, the method of multiplexing the access requests from the outside as shown in FIG. 4B is considered. However, if the data read operation RD (B) is requested when the data read operation RD (A) is being executed as shown in a time T91 in FIG. 4B, the address signal ADD related to the data read operation RD (B) is taken in and decoded at this point of time. Therefore, the decoded result in the address decoder 106 changes, and different memory cells are selected. Accordingly, when the data read operation RD (B) is requested during execution of the data read operation RD (A), the access request from the outside cannot be recognized accurately, and it cannot be guaranteed that accurate data is outputted from this point of time (data (3A) in the example shown in FIG. 4B). The same is equally true of the data write operation.

Semiconductor memory device and memory system


Disclosed herein is a sample-analyzing method, in which an incident beam slit is provided between an X-ray source and a sample, a receiving side beam slit is provided between the sample and an X-ray detector, the X-ray detector detects X-rays scattered again from the sample and coming through the receiving side beam slit when the sample is irradiated with the X-rays applied through the incident beam slit, and a value is measured from a value detected by the X-ray detector. In the method, a true value is measured from the value, by using a slit function representing an influence which the incident beam slit and receiving side beam slit impose on the detected value. The slit function is determined from an intensity distribution of the X-rays scattered again from the sample. The method obtains an accurate slit function in accordance with the structure of the optical system employed and can therefore analyze the sample with high precision.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus, both designed to analyze a sample by applying propagation rays, such as X-rays and particle beams, to the sample.
2. Description of the Related Art
A method of analyzing a sample by applying propagation rays, such as X-rays, to the sample is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-349849. In the method disclosed in the publication, an X-ray scattering curve simulated of a thin film is compared with an X-ray scattering curve measured of the thin film, in order to evaluate the non-uniformity of density of the particles contained in the thin film.
To simulate the X-ray scattering curve, a scattering function I(q) is set in advance. The scattering function I(q) includes one or more fitting parameters selected from parameters pertaining to the scattering state of particles. Among these parameters are average particle size parameter "R0," distribution-broadening parameter "M," diameter parameter "D," aspect-ratio parameter "a," minimum inter-particle distance parameter "L," inter-particle correlation coefficient parameter "η," particle-content parameter "P," inter-particle distance parameter "ε", and the like.
The simulated X-ray scattering curve may coincide with the X-ray scattering curve actually obtained. In this case, it is determined that the values of the fitting parameters simulating the X-ray scattering curve represent the scattering state of the particles in the thin film.
This method can analyze thin films in non-destructive fashion, more easily, more quickly and more precisely than the gas adsorption and the small angle X-ray scattering, both hitherto known.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-349849 describes in, for example, paragraph [0086] that the scattering function actually acquired can be effectively corrected by using a slit function, in order to correct the error that has resulted from the limited length of the slit. However, the slit function disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-349849 is very simple. Due to this, the slit correction may not be accomplished as precisely as desired in the optical system employed in practice.

Method of performing analysis using propagation rays and apparatus for performing the same


A system for distributing measured quantities of viscous lubricant to a plurality of lubricating points. The system includes a plurality of injector cylinders and a container for viscous lubricant. A selectively operable hydraulic fluid pressure supply pump supplies hydraulic fluid to an hydraulic cylinder for pressurizing lubricant in the container at a low pressure to feed lubricant to the injector cylinders, and the fluid pressure supply pump supplies hydraulic fluid at a high pressure to the injector cylinders to feed lubricant to the lubricating points.

The present invention relates to a centralized lubrication system for feeding lubricant in predetermined quantities to a plurality of points of use such as bearings in vehicles and machinery.
Various centralized lubrication systems have heretofore been proposed for distributing and injecting lubricant to a plurality of bearings or the like. Some centralized lubrication systems such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,995,717 and 4,520,902, utilize a single positive displacement lubricant pressure pump, and a plurality of distributing valves that are connected to the pressure pump and arranged to distribute the pressurized lubricant to a plurality of points of use. However, problems are encountered in using a lubricant pump for pumping viscous lubricants or greases. Some other central lubrication systems such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,600 pressurize the grease in supply tanks and feed the pressurized grease through distribution and metering valves to the various points of use under the pressure of the grease from the supply tanks. This not only requires grease supply tanks capable of withstanding relatively high pressures, but also limits the pressure at which the grease is fed to the points of use. U.S. Pat. No. 2,719,603 discloses a lubricant dispensing system wherein grease is fed to a distributing valve and a pneumatically actuated injector and in which the injector actuating piston has an area that is large as compared to the area of the injector piston, to increase the pressure on the grease supplied to the points of use. However, this arrangement requires a relatively complex injector and valving arrangement and seals which are capable of preventing leakage of air into the grease.

System for distributing viscous lubricant


A cassette capable of preventing breakage in glass substrates includes lower and upper frames; side frames between the lower and upper frames for connecting the lower and upper frames to each other, the side frames having a plurality of insertion recesses for receiving glass substrates; and a stopper at the rear of the cassette for preventing the glass substrates from exiting a rear portion of the cassette, wherein the stopper formed with a buffer covering material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cassette for receiving a plurality of glass substrates, and more particularly, to a cassette for facilitating an etching of a plurality of glass substrates, wherein the cassette includes a stopper for preventing glass substrates from exiting a rear portion of the cassette.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Flat panel display devices such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), Plasma Display Panels (PDPs), Electro-Luminescence Displays (ELD), and Vacuum-Fluorescent Displays (VFD) have recently been the subject of intense research and development. Of the aforementioned flat panel display devices, particular attention has been directed toward LCDs due to their ability to express images at a high resolution while consuming low amounts of power.
Despite the widespread applications of LCD devices as monitors of portable televisions and notebook computers, problems that need to be resolved still exist. For example, the weight and/or size of LCD devices must decrease to enable users to carry the LCD devices used in portable televisions or notebook computers. Even though various methods for decreasing the weight and/or size of LCD devices exist, it is desirable, though difficult, to decrease weight or size of essential elements within the LCD device using present techniques. For example, it is desirable to decrease the weight of glass substrates, the heaviest of the essential elements within the LCD device.
To decrease their weight, glass substrates are dipped into a container filled with an etchant and surfaces of the glass substrate are etched. However, according to the aforementioned etching process, the surface of a glass substrate may be unevenly etched when, for example, particles generated during the etching process are deposited on the surface of the glass substrate. Accordingly, the generated particles may form a sludge on an edge surface of the glass substrate.
LCD devices generally include LCD panels which typically include two glass substrates bonded together, wherein one glass substrate supports a color filter and the other supports a thin film transistor (TFT). By decreasing the weight of the glass substrates within the LCD panel, the overall weight of the LCD panel may be reduced. Accordingly, to reduce the weight of LCD panels, a glass substrate is etched at an etching station and, after being etched, is loaded to a cleaning station where particles deposited on the surface of the etched glass substrate are removed with distilled water. Next, the cleaned glass substrate is loaded into a drying station.
The etching station includes a container filled with an etchant such as a hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution. A cassette holding a plurality of glass substrates is dipped into the etchant within the etching station and, after the plurality of glass substrates in the cassette are etched, is loaded to a cleaning station where particles deposited on the surface of the etched glass substrates are removed with deionized (DI) water. At the cleaning station, the cassette moves upward and downward to allow the deionized water (DI) to be sprayed uniformly onto the plurality of glass substrates. Accordingly, the uniformly sprayed deionized (DI) water removes any HF solution remaining on the surfaces of the glass substrates and sludge formed at edges of the glass substrates. After the aforementioned cleaning process is performed twice, the cassette is loaded into the drying station. Accordingly, using the aforementioned cassette, a plurality of glass substrates, provided in a multi-layered arrangement, are etched simultaneously.
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a related art cassette used in etching a plurality of glass substrates. FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the related art cassette shown in FIG. 1 having an altered orientation during an etching process.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of glass substrates 1 are received by the cassette 2 and are provided within the cassette 2 in a multi-layered arrangement. Two bar-shaped two stoppers 25 are formed at the rear of the cassette 2. The stoppers 25 prevent the plurality of glass substrates 1 from exiting a rear portion of the cassette 2 when the plurality of glass substrates 1 are loaded along substantially a horizontal direction into the cassette 2, oriented substantially vertically (as shown in FIG. 1). The stoppers 25 further prevent the plurality of glass substrates 1 from exiting a rear portion of the cassette 2 when the cassette 2 is oriented substantially horizontally (as shown in FIG. 2).
The related art cassette 2 and stoppers 25 are formed of PVC, a material resistant to etchant. Forming the related art cassette 2 and stopper 25 of PVC, however, is disadvantageous because PVC has a hard surface and may crack or scratch the glass substrates 1. Side portions of the glass substrates 1 are susceptible to breaking upon exposure to external impacts. When the cassette 2 is oriented between its horizontal and vertical positions, the glass substrates 1 may collide with the stoppers 25. Accordingly, the side portions of the glass substrate 1 that collide with the stoppers 25 may break or crack. Further, glass substrates 1 containing cracks may subsequently be broken as a result of being pressed.

Cassette for preventing breakage of glass substrate


A shift register includes a plurality of stages to output a plurality of output signals, in sequence. Each of the stages includes a driving part and a discharging part. The driving part outputs an output signal of a present stage based on one of a start signal and an output signal of a previous stage, and a clock signal. The discharging part discharges the output signal of the present stage. The discharging part includes a discharge transistor and an auxiliary transistor. The discharge transistor has a gate electrode receiving an output signal of a next stage. The auxiliary transistor has a gate electrode receiving the output signal of the next stage. The auxiliary transistor is electrically connected in series to the discharge transistor. Therefore, the chance of a malfunction is decreased, and image display quality of the display device is improved.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a shift register and a display device having the shift register. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shift register capable of decreasing malfunction and a display device using the shift register to improve image display quality.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A display device, in general, includes a display panel, a gate driving circuit and a data driving circuit. The display panel includes an array substrate and an opposite substrate. The array substrate includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of switching elements. The opposite substrate faces the array substrate. The gate driving circuit includes a plurality of thin film transistors, and applies a gate signal to the gate lines. The data driving circuit applies a data signal to the data lines.
The gate driving circuit and the switching elements are formed through a photolithography process. A short circuit between source and drain electrodes of one of the thin film transistors can be caused by poor etching, a particle, etc., so that the thin film transistor of the gate driving circuit, the data driving circuit, the switching elements, etc., can malfunction. In addition, when a high voltage is applied to one of the thin film transistors, the thin film transistor often malfunctions.
When the thin film transistor of the gate driving circuit, the data driving circuit, the switching elements, etc., malfunction, the overall image display quality of a display device is deteriorated.

Shift register and display device having the same


A container and dispenser device for mascara and like products, consists of a shouldered bottle and a screw cap applicator which is screwed onto the bottle. In the bottle neck there is situated a shroud or separator member which has unique doctor means in the form of hinged webs which surround the actuator rod and control the amount of product which adheres to the applicator brush when the latter is withdrawn for use. Cooperable with the hinged webs is a circular bead on the applicator rod, which is engageable with the webs and normally constitutes a seal to prevent product from invading the shroud. Various types and shapes of doctoring webs are used, in various combinations to produce "clean" and also "product carrying" portions on the brush, thereby to enable a combing action to be had by the user, and the applicator rod can extend for an appreciable distance below the shroud and into the product contained in the bottle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices for containing and dispensing mascara and like cosmetics.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR .sctn..sctn.1.97-1.99
U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,128 dated Jun. 28, 1994 shows a spill-preventing cosmetic applicator wherein a small bottle carries mascara or similar cosmetic substance. By a series of seals and small passages it is claimed that leakage and spillage of the bottle contents are prevented. However, multiple components of somewhat complicated shapes are involved, with the result that labor in assemblage becomes significant, as well as component costs, and maximum economy of manufacture is difficult to obtain.
The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,425 involves a mascara container and applicator wherein multiple wiper devices are provided, one for the applicator brush and the other for the brush carrier rod. Both wiper devices are positioned close to each other, and the rod wiper engages and seals against the side wall of the carrier rod, approximately midway between the rod ends. Thus, lower portions of the rod are exposed to the mascara product which is in the container, and the cleanliness of this rod portion depends on the efficacy of the wiper device. If the wiper deteriorates or loses elasticity, the carrier rod can become smudged and cause a messy operation.
In the first-mentioned U.S. Application above identified, a mascara sampler device is disclosed that does not effect a doctoring of the product being removed from the container but does provide a considerable simplification of structure and economy of manufacture while at the same time overcoming other disadvantages of the 1994 patent. It is applicable to small sampling quantities, but its construction does not favor extended use.
Copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/990,977 identified above discloses a mascara dispenser where a shroud or separator member is provided with fixed interior doctoring edges or masks that have variously-shaped openings for the applicator rod and brush to pass through, for the purpose of controlling the amount of product which is brought out by the brush. This represents one simple method of accomplishing the desired control. Also, dependence on simultaneous seals at different locations but with a single movement could result in manufacturing and assembly problems involving various components. Since the rod portion of the applicator is never in contact with mascara, no wiping of the rod is necessary. However, there is a limited extension of the rod in product below the separator. This may require an unusually long spring wound brush.
Other prior patented devices also suffered from poor sealing, with the result that liquid product could leak from the container and soil surrounding articles. If a user were to be careless in the replacement of the applicator of these prior devices, such leakage would very likely occur.
Additionally, prior devices are unable to conveniently provide, using the same applicator, a combing action after the application of the mascara product. Often it is necessary to "dress down" the applied mascara, and users resort to a separate brush for this purpose, which can be inconvenient.


A high speed slicing machine feeds two or more food loaves continuously along parallel loaf paths through an orifice member into a slicing station for slicing by one cyclically driven knife blade; the slices are stacked or shingled in groups on a receiving conveyor below the slicing station. There are two independent loaf feed drives; slices from one loaf may be thicker than slices from the others. Each loaf feed drive advances at least one loaf into the slicing station, partly by gravity and partly by a positive loaf feed drive. Each positive loaf feed drive comprises a pair of angularly converging "short" conveyors; adjustments and bias are provided for each set of "short" conveyors. In the slicing station, an arcuate blade is rotated along a closed cutting path that intersects the ends of food loaves fed into the slicing station. A conveyor system discharges groups of food loaf slices after they are weighed.

There are many different kinds of food loaves; they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Meat loaves are made from various different meats, including ham, pork, beef, lamb, turkey, fish, and others. The meat may be in large pieces or may be thoroughly comminuted. Meat loaves come in different shapes (round, square, rectangular, oval, etc.) and in different lengths, up to six feet (180 cm) or even longer. The cross-sectional sizes of the loaves can be quite different; the maximum transverse dimension may be as small as one and one-half inches (four cm) or as large as ten inches (twenty-five cm). Loaves of cheese or other foods come in the same ranges as to composition, shape, length, and transverse size.
Many food loaves meet a common fate; they are sliced, the slices are grouped in accordance with a particular weight requirement and then packaged and sold. The number of slices in a group may vary, depending on the size and consistency of the food loaf and on the desires of the producer, the wholesaler, or the retailer. For some products, neatly aligned stacked slice groups are preferred. For others, slice groups should be shingled so that a purchaser can see a part of every slice. For bacon or other food products of variable shape, the problems do not just increase; they literally multiply.
There are a variety of different known slicing machines for food loaves. They range from small, manually fed slicers used in butcher shops to large, high speed slicers usually employed in meat processing plants. The present invention is directed to a continuous food loaf feed mechanism for a high speed slicing machine of the kind used in a meat processing plant.
Some known high speed food loaf slicing machines have sliced two food loaves simultaneously with a single, cyclically driven knife blade. Other prior high speed slicing machines, including that shown in S. Lindee et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,263, slice one loaf at a time, but could be expanded to slice two or more loaves simultaneously. None of the prior high speed slicing machines have had the versatility needed to slice food loaves of the many different sizes and shapes referred to above, particularly with provision for either stacking or shingling of the sliced output, variations in slice thickness from two or more different loaves, and precision control of the weight of slice groups.

Continuous feed for food loaf slicing machine


A mass flow sensor is provided with reduced zero point fluctuation, and a mass flow meter and a mass flow controller using the mass flow sensor, the mass flow sensor comprising a U-shaped flow path passage in which a fluid flows from first end to a second end, having a bottom portion and two straight portions connecting the bottom portion to the ends, a first thermal resistor wound around one of the straight portions, a second thermal resistor wound around the same straight portion as the first thermal resistor and provided away from the first thermal resistor toward the second end, and a heat dissipating portion provided so as to be in contact with the flow path passage on the side opposite to the second thermal resistor across the first thermal resistor.

A mass flow meter or a mass flow controller for horizontally flowing a fluid is provided so that a U-shaped sensor tube is arranged with a U-shaped bottom portion facing upward, and a pair of sensor elements are provided horizontally side by side on the U-shaped bottom portion.
On the other hand, when such a mass flow meter or a mass flow controller is disposed so as to flow a fluid in a vertical direction, there is a problem that a zero point fluctuates due to the thermal siphoning phenomenon as described with reference to FIG. 7 in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 11-64060.
The thermal siphoning phenomenon (also referred to as a thermal siphoning phenomenon) is a phenomenon that occurs when a mass flow meter or a mass flow controller is arranged so as to flow a fluid in a vertical direction, that is, if a pair of sensor elements are arranged in a vertical direction and the fluid pressure on the primary side is high, a phenomenon occurs when used for gases with a high molecular weight, and this is a phenomenon in which the fluid heated by the sensor element rises in the sensor pipe, joins the main flow path (so-called bypass portion), the fluid cooled in the main flow path drops, and flows back into the sensor pipe.
If this thermal siphoning phenomenon occurs, even if no fluid flows to the mass flow meter or the mass flow controller (flow rate is zero), the fluid in the sensor tube moves, so that the sensor element senses the flow rate and a zero point variation occurs.
In response to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 11-64060, preventing the thermal siphoning phenomenon is possible even if the mass flow meter or the mass flow controller is arranged so that the fluid flows in the vertical direction.
However, in recent years, particularly in the semiconductor field, integration of systems equipped with mass flow meters and mass flow controllers has progressed, and increasing the tube length of a sensor tube or adding a heater is difficult in a situation where miniaturization of the mass flow meter and the mass flow controller is required.
So, by arranging the U-shaped opening in the horizontal direction and arranging the sensor element (thermal resistor) in the horizontal direction on a pair of side portions of the U-shape for a mass flow meter or a mass flow controller which flows a fluid in the vertical direction, suppressing zero point fluctuation due to thermal siphoning phenomenon is possible, but in situations where higher accuracy is required, the zero point fluctuation caused by the collapse of the heat balance of the pair of sensor elements due to the influence of the heat dissipating by the main body block to which the end portion of the sensor pipe is connected when the flow rate is zero becomes a problem.
Note that the zero point refers to a state in which no fluid flows through the mass flow meter or the mass flow controller, and refers to a state where there is no difference in temperature sensed by the two sensor elements.
The temperature distribution of the sensor tube at the zero point is the highest in the middle of the two sensor elements, and the temperature decreases as the distance from the middle increases, indicating a line-symmetric peak.

Mass flow sensor, mass flow meter including the mass flow sensor, and mass flow controller including the mass flow sensor


An image processor (10) has a window selector for choosing a detection window within the image, and a self similarity computation part (40) for determining self-similarity information for a group of the pixels in any part of the detection window, to represent an amount of self-similarity of that group to other groups in any other part of the detector window, and for repeating the determination for groups in all parts of the detection window, to generate a global self similarity descriptor for the detection window. A classifier (50) is used for classifying whether an object is present based on the global self-similarity descriptor. By using global self-similarity rather than local similarities more information is captured which can lead to better classification. In particular, it helps enable recognition of more distant self-similarities inherent in the object, and self-similarities present at any scale.

Pedestrian detection has been a focus of recent research due to its importance for practical applications such as automotive safety [see refs 11, 8] and visual surveillance [23]. The most successful model to date for "normal" pedestrians, who are usually standing or walking upright, is still a monolithic global descriptor for the entire search window. With such a model, there are three main steps which can be varied to gain performance: feature extraction, classification, and non-maxima suppression. The most common features extracted from the raw image data are variants of the HOG framework, i.e. local histograms of gradients and (relative) optic flow [3, 4, 10, 24, 27], and different flavors of generalized Haar wavelets, e.g. [6, 23]. Competitive classifiers we know of employ statistical learning techniques to learn the mapping from features to scores (indicating the likelihood of a pedestrian being present)—usually either support vector machines [3, 13, 17, 19, 27] or some variant of boosting [23, 27, 28, 30].
The spectacular progress that has been made in detecting pedestrians (i.e. humans in an upright position) is maybe best illustrated by the increasing difficulty of datasets used for benchmarking. The first [16] and second [3] generation of pedestrian databases are essentially saturated, and have been replaced by new more challenging datasets [7, 27, 6]. These recent efforts to record data of realistic complexity have also shown that there is still a gap between what is possible with pedestrian detectors and what would be required for many applications: in [6] the detection rate of the best methods is still <60% for one false positive detection per image, even for fully visible people.

Detection of objects in an image using self similarities


In one embodiment, pixels that cannot change their color due to the alpha blend mode and the color already stored in a render target are detected. For example, if destination alpha blending is used and a target pixel has an alpha value of 1.0, it will not change color regardless of the computed color of subsequently composited objects. Both computing the object colors and accessing the frame buffer can be avoided when such a case is detected. This may save computations and bandwidth in some embodiments.

This relates generally to compositing and particularly to alpha blending in connection with graphics pipelines.
A graphics pipeline, typically executed by a graphics processing unit, performs a series of operations that result in the display of graphical images on computer displays. Compositing is a process of building the image, typically from back to front, but also possibly from front to back. Back to front compositing builds layer after layer, starting with the rearmost layer (i.e. the one farthest from the viewer). Each layer is composited on top of its predecessors. In front to back compositing, the foreground image plane is generated and then the layers that lie behind that image plane are successively produced.
Two-dimensional casual games and other applications very often perform compositing by drawing the image in a back to front order, always painting closer objects on top of objects further away. Each of the elements is drawn with an alpha value signifying whether a pixel is opaque, transparent, or somewhere between opaque and transparent. This process of repeatedly painting one object over the other results in significant amounts of bandwidth usage. Even simple casual games and other tasks, such as web page rendering, can consume significant amounts of power due to this process of repeatedly painting one object over the other.
In the case to front to back rendering, a rendered target needs to store an alpha channel, indicating how opaque each pixel is. Assuming an object's color is C and alpha value of N (between 0.0 for fully transparent, and 1.0 for fully opaque), and the render target's color is P and alpha value is M, the pixel may be updated as follows:P′=(1−M)*N*C+P. M′=M+(1−M)*N
The set of rules about how to update the color and alpha value of a pixel is called the blend mode. The blend mode for front to back rendering is generally called destination alpha or DestAlpha blending in OpenGL and Direct3D.
The range of M may also be reversed in some cases, such that an alpha value of zero means fully opaque and a value of one means fully transparent.


An on-screen display is generated for an MPEG compliant receiver. Externally of the MPEG compliant receiver, an MPEG transport stream is accessed, first data in the accessed MPEG transport stream is replaced with second data that relates to the data to be provided in the on-screen display, and the MPEG transport stream with the second data is remodulated as an RF signal. The RF signal is forwarded to the MPEG compliant receiver. The first data can be close caption data, and the second data can be installation and/or configuration menu data.

The Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) has adopted a body of standards that relates to the digitization of video and audio and that covers a wide variety of compression techniques. Devices that are compliant with the MPEG standards include VHS players, DVDs, telephones, digital cameras, and satellite, terrestrial, and cable receivers such as digital televisions and high definition televisions, etc.
Many of these devices generate installation and/or configuration menus to perform custom set-up. In typical situations where the configuration program has access to the MPEG decoder of the MPEG compliant device, a simple on-screen display can be generated by interacting with the graphics overlay capability of the MPEG decoder. However, in the case of a remote control device or a device that only has access to the compressed MPEG stream, the generation of on-screen displays becomes a much more difficult undertaking because no overlay capability is available.
The present invention relates to the generation of on-screen displays when the compressed MPEG stream but not the MPEG decoder of an MPEG compliant device is available.

Menu generation for MPEG complaint devices


An agitator for vibrating a drill string includes an agitator housing, a rotor and an agitation mass. The drill string has a central axis. The rotor is coupled to the agitator housing and being rotatable about an agitator axis. The agitation mass is coupled to the rotor and is rotatable about the agitator axis. During rotation, a center of mass of the agitation mass is spaced apart from the agitator axis to cause deflection of the agitator axis relative to the central axis to produce vibration in the drill string.

The friction on a drill string being advanced within the wellbore increases with the length of the drill string and wellbore. The drill string can be progressively lengthened by joining consecutive segments or strands in the process of drilling. The friction may be primarily due to contact between the wall of the wellbore and drill string. The contact between the wall and the drill string can be affected by the wellbore orientation in various sections of the wellbore. For example, vertical sections may provide less contact between the wall and the drill string while bends and non-vertical sections can provide more contact between the wall and the drill string. The friction may also increase due to build-up of solid materials around the drill string. To advance the drill string, a stationary drill string must overcome a static friction force, while a moving drill string must overcome a dynamic friction force, which is lower than the static friction force.
Downhole vibration generating devices are sometimes coupled to the drill string to vibrate the drill string to help maintain movement of the drill string. The vibrations also help prevent the build-up of solid materials around the drill string and prevent the drill string from becoming stuck in the well.


An isotropic carbon alloy is formed from various carbon allotropes such as SWCNT, fullerenes, MWCNT, diamond-like carbon, diamond, nanocrystalline diamond, diamondoids, amorphous carbon, graphitic polyhedral crystals, graphite, graphene, HOPG, and hydrogenated amorphous carbon. The SWCNTs are present in different morphologies such as ropes, bundles, single filaments, tangled webs, etc. The SWCNT have large aspect ratios and weave throughout the alloy. Many morphologies of ICA are possible with a range of properties attainable as a function of the composition of carbon allotropes and post-processing techniques. Post-processing can be done to enhance particular properties of the ICA and may include HIP, furnace heating, ion beam irradiation, electron beam irradiation, laser irradiation, electric resistive heating, inductive heating, IR irradiation, etc. Contaminants may be present in the ICA as a consequence of the process equipment, process feedstock, or catalysts used in the reactors.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to an improved composition of matter and, in particular, to a novel composition of matter comprising a pure carbon isotropic alloy consisting of a plurality of allotropic forms of carbon.
2. Description of the Related Art
Elemental carbon has many different allotropic forms and applications. This wide variety of allotropic forms is attributable to carbon being the only element in the periodic table known to have isomers with 0, 1, 2, or 3 dimensions. The carbon atom can hybridize electronic states in several different valence bonds which allows for a variety of different atomic bonding configurations. The isomers can have sp, sp2, or sp3 hybridization in the valence electron orbitals. Some of the more common forms of carbon are graphite, charcoal, carbon fibers, and diamond. Many other allotropes of carbon exist, some of which have been discovered as recently as within the last 20 years.
In the 1980s, carbon fullerenes were discovered. These molecules are ellipsoidal shaped and typically contain 60 carbon atoms with near-planar sp2 hybridization. Each molecule resembles a soccer ball in configuration with a collection of pentagonal and hexagonal rings. Larger fullerenes with 70 or 84 carbon atoms do exist but are less common and more ellipsoidal in shape. Carbon fullerenes have been made using an arc-discharge method to generate carbon plasma and then a controlled deposition in a furnace.
Carbon nanotubes are another form of carbon allotrope which also have sp2 near-planar hybridization, but form high aspect ratio, hollow tubes. Carbon nanotubes can have a range of diameters of about 0.7 nm and larger. The mechanical properties of single tubes have very high strength, stiffness, and elongation making them one of the most impressive structural materials known. Carbon nanotubes have been made using several techniques such as arc-discharge and laser ablation to generate carbon plasma followed by a controlled catalytic deposition, sometimes done in a furnace. There are two main types of carbon nanotubes:
single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). A SWCNT appears as a single filament of material and has superior mechanical behavior to the MWCNT type. A MWCNT is a collection of carbon nanotubes nested inside other carbon nanotubes to make a sheathed tube. The absence of chemical bonding between nested tubes results in slippage between layered tubes that does not allow translation of load to occur effectively in the radial direction of the tube. Furthermore, since a MWCNT is larger in diameter than a SWCNT, the aspect ratio is smaller resulting in larger cross sectional area and lower specific strength. Different morphologies of SWCNT have been demonstrated. Some of these morphologies are tangled webs, aligned filaments, bundles, ropes, and crystals.
Polycrystalline Diamond is a carbon allotrope that has sp3 hybridization and a continuous 3-dimensional structure of carbon atoms. Diamond is one of the hardest materials known. Due to the potential applications for this material, techniques for vapor phase deposition of diamond have been developed and advanced. Recent developments have led to the formation of nanocrystalline diamond as a domain of diamond material in a second phase of graphitic carbon. Diamondoids have recently been discovered, which are very small crystals of diamond, 4–11 crystal cages of carbon in size. Diamondoids are essentially small particles of diamond that have been identified as possible building blocks for nano-structured materials.
Diamond-like carbon (dlc) is a broad class of amorphous materials having sp2 and sp3 -hybridized carbon and hygrogen. The physical and chemical properties of dlc are between diamond and graphite. The most notable feature of dlc is high hardness. Techniques for vapor phase deposition of dlc have been advanced recently.
Amorphous carbon describes a disordered, three-dimensional material with random sp2 and sp3 hybridization. Amorphous graphite is similar but consists mostly of sp2 hybridization having random stacking of graphitic layer segments. Hydrogenated amorphous carbon is a dlc with a significant fraction of sp3 hybridization.
While graphite is a commonly known form of carbon, there are many types of graphite with a wide range of properties and applications. Graphite is a layered, planar form of carbon bonded in a hexagonal array with sp2 hybridization. The different types of graphite typically describe the degree of order of the planar layers, the flatness of the planar layers, and the distance between the planar layers. Amorphous graphite has been described above and has little order and a relatively large interlaminar spacing. When this material has curved and twisted planar layers it is called tubostratic graphite. Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) is a synthetic material with nearly perfect planar structure that is very ordered with a minimum interlaminar spacing. The term graphene describes a single sheet of graphite, so order is not significant and layer spacing is large enough that it is essentially irrelevant. A graphene platelet is a single small layer of material. Graphitic polyhedral crystals have been reported which resemble a very large MWCNT with a high degree of order and small interlaminar spacing, but the layers are not strictly flat. The graphite layers wrap consistently around a polyhedral core to form a crystal shaped structure. Graphite whiskers, also called vapor grown carbon fibers, have a tree ring concentric cylinder morphology which is similar to the polyhedral graphitic crystals, but are formed about around a circular core to make a fibrous shape.
Often carbon and graphite are used as reinforcement in a composite system. A composite is a combination of two or more different materials that form a single material. Composites typically are hard, strong, or stiff fibers or particles which serve as reinforcement to a softer, more compliant material. An alloy is traditionally used to describe blends of different metals to make a material with designed properties. Similarly, in polymer science, an alloy is a blend of different polymers which is designed to have desirable properties. In both of these definitions of an alloy, two or more similar materials are mixed together in solid solution to form a single material. Therefore, a combination of different carbon allotropes is not a composite, but is strictly an alloy material. Although these prior art types of materials are useful, it would be even more desirable to have a composition of matter comprising a pure carbon isotropic alloy having properties that exceed those of prior art alloys.

Pure carbon isotropic alloy of allotropic forms of carbon including single-walled carbon nanotubes and diamond-like carbon


An integrated circuit oscillator includes a microelectromechanical (MEM) resonator having input and output terminals. An oscillation sustaining circuit is provided. The oscillation sustaining circuit is electrically coupled between the input and output terminals of the microelectromechanical resonator. The oscillation sustaining circuit includes a sustaining amplifier and a negative impedance circuit electrically coupled to the sustaining amplifier. The negative impedance circuit is configured to increase a tuning range of the oscillator by at least partially cancelling a parasitic shunt capacitance associated with the microelectromechanical resonator.

Reference frequency oscillators play a significant role in the performance of modern integrated circuit devices and systems. With the development of integrated low-loss (e.g., <1 kΩ) microelectromechanical resonators, circuit designers are able to develop microelectromechanical oscillators to deliver highly-stable and low-jitter clock signals with smaller form-factor and lower power than oscillators using quartz crystals.
Despite their short-term and long-term stability, microelectromechanical oscillators may suffer from inferior frequency accuracy compared to quartz crystals, both in terms of temperature stability and manufacturing tolerance. For example, the relatively large temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of many microelectromechanical oscillators may cause significant frequency drift over a commercial temperature range. This relatively high level of frequency drift may make microelectromechanical resonators unacceptable for many applications, including those requiring ±50 ppm of accuracy. To address this potential limitation associated with microelectromechanical resonators, temperature compensation techniques have been developed. Some of these temperature compensation techniques, which include electrical compensation and material compensation, are disclosed in articles by K. Sundaresan et al., entitled "A Low Phase Noise 100 MHz Silicon BAW Reference Oscillator," Proceedings of the Custom Integrated Circuits Conference, pp. 841-844, Sep. 10-13 (2006); H. M. Lavasani et al., entitled "Low Phase-Noise UHF Thin-Film Piezoelectric-on-Substrate LBAR Oscillators," Proc. IEEE MEMS, pp. 1012-1015, January (2008); G. Ho et al., entitled "Temperature Compensated IBAR Reference Oscillators," Proc. IEEE-ASME MEMS 2006, pp. 910-913, Jan. 22-26, 2006; and H. M. Lavasani et al., "A 145 MHz Low Phase-Noise Capacitive Silicon Micromechanical Oscillator," IEEE IEDM, pp. 675-678, December (2008). The disclosures of these articles are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
As these articles describe, frequency tuning in microelectromechanical oscillators can be achieved by varying the resonance frequency of the microelectromechanical resonator and/or introducing additional phase shift in an oscillation loop. The continuous tuning of resonance frequency can be achieved by modifying the acoustic properties of the resonating structure by changing the electrical and/or mechanical stiffness of the resonating portion of the oscillator. Unfortunately, techniques for modifying acoustic properties by electrostatic and thermal tuning typically require relatively large DC voltages and increase power consumption. The absence of a polarization voltage also makes these techniques impractical for resonators requiring piezoelectric transduction.
Techniques to provide additional phase shift in the oscillation loop typically include using tunable/variable capacitors placed in parallel ("parallel tuning") or series ("series tuning") with the resonator. Parallel tuning usually changes the feedthrough capacitance to thereby cause a shift in the anti-resonance of the resonating element. The shift in anti-resonance will indirectly impact the resonance frequency, but the tuning range is mainly limited to the difference between the resonance (when the feedthrough is completely cancelled) and the anti-resonance frequency.
In contrast, series tuning provides the possibility of a theoretically unlimited tuning range. Thus, as illustrated by FIG. 1, in a laterally-vibrating microelectromechanical resonator, which may be modeled as a series RLC tank circuit 18 with relatively large parasitic shunt capacitors 15a, 15b (e.g., Cp≈2 pF), series tuning can involve placing a tuning network 10 in series with the resonator as the most efficient way to change resonant frequency. This tuning network 10 is illustrated as including a transimpedance amplifier 12 with tunable gain (provided by RF and CTUNE) and a voltage amplifier 14, which may drive an off-chip buffer 16. Unfortunately, the presence of the relatively large parasitic shunt capacitances may significantly reduce the tuning range to a level below what is necessary for adequate temperature compensation.

Integrated circuit oscillators having microelectromechanical resonators therein with parasitic impedance cancellation