One embodiment of the present invention is a hydrogen generator that includes: (a) an anode material; (b) a cathode material; and (c) an electrolyte; wherein the electrolyte comprises a metal hydride, at least one stabilizing agent, and a solvent; and wherein hydrogen gas is generated whenever the anode material and the cathode material are electrically connected.

Hydrogen is a "clean fuel" because it can be reacted with oxygen in hydrogen-consuming devices, such as a fuel cell or combustion engine, to produce energy and water. Virtually no other reaction byproducts are produced in the exhaust. As a result, the use of hydrogen as a fuel may solve many environmental problems associated with the use of petroleum based fuels. Safe and efficient storage of hydrogen gas is important for many applications that use hydrogen. In particular, minimizing the volume and weight of hydrogen storage systems is important in mobile applications.
Several methods of storing hydrogen currently exist but are either inadequate or impractical for consumer applications. For example, hydrogen can be stored in liquid form at very low temperature or hydrogen can be stored under high pressure in cylinders, however, both of such storage methods are not practical for most consumer applications for a number of well known reasons related, for example, to safety and economics. Other methods of hydrogen storage include the use of chemical compounds that either: (a) chemically react with water or other species to generate hydrogen; or (b) reversibly adsorb and then release hydrogen. However, these methods are also not practical for most consumer applications for a number of well known reasons related, for example, to safety and economics.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,033 issued Mar. 18, 2003 discloses a hydrogen generation system that includes a stabilized metal hydride solution and a hydrogen generation catalyst system which includes a supported hydrogen generation catalyst having molecules of a hydrogen generation catalyst bound to, entrapped within, and/or coated onto a substrate. In one disclosed system, mechanical pumps pump a sodium borohydride solution through a catalyst chamber containing precious metal catalysts. One disadvantage of such a system is that mechanical pumps are not only unreliable and heavy, but tend to leak and/or clog in the presence of the highly caustic solutions used. This reduces the reliability of the device. In addition, precious metal catalysts tend to wash out of the catalyst chamber due to the abrasive nature of the solution. This loss of precious metal catalyst is not only expensive but also results in seriously reduced catalytic activity and reduced hydrogen output. In further addition, the catalyst chamber must be periodically replaced.
In light of the above, there is a need in the art for method and apparatus for generating hydrogen that solves one or more of the above-identified problems.

Method and apparatus for generating hydrogen


An inexpensive pre-molded package for electronic semiconductor circuit with increased thermal extraction capability, improved electrical performance, improved dielectric constant of sealing medium, optically transmissive sealing lid, and partially reduced electromagnetic radiation. In one embodiment, the pre-molded package includes electronic semiconductor circuit, a plurality of electrically conductive leads, a heat spreader, a plurality of electrically conductive bond wires, and a seal lid. Preferably, a surface of the heat spreader remains exposed to the exterior of the pre-molded package. In another embodiment, the pre-molded package includes a semiconductor circuit, a plurality of electrically conductive leads, a heat spreader, a plurality of electrically conductive bond wires, and an optically transmissive seal lid.

A semiconductor circuit device packaged in an inexpensive molded plastic package does not provide the electrical performance of a device packaged in an expensive ceramic or metal package that provide a die cavity. The dielectric constant of the air in the die cavity formed in the ceramic or metal package is 1.0 where as plastic is about 4.4.
The latest semiconductor devices have greatly increased device complexity and transistor gate count even more rapidly than with the reduction of the semiconductor device processing from 1.0 micron to sub-micron technologies. This proliferation of device functionality and increase in operational frequency response requirements of most semiconductor devices are beyond the normal dielectric constant range of the plastic package which is nominally greater than 1. The demand for low cost molded plastic packaging of these highly complex functional and high frequency semiconductor devices requires a novel solution to meet requirements of 2, 3, or more giga-hertz devices per plastic package.
The concept of displacing plastic material surrounding and contacting the device for low cost plastic packaging to meet these requirements has been reduced to practice by creating a pre-molded plastic package die cavity to reduce the dielectric constant of the semiconductor circuit device by hard ejection or transfer mold package tooling or pre-cast die attach cavity spacer. The cavity has been arranged to provide the semiconductor circuit device with an air dielectric medium which is approximately 1/2 or less than that of a molded plastic package. This feature of the pre-molded plastic package improves the electrical performance of these complex and high frequency semiconductor circuit devices.

Packaging of semiconductor circuit in pre-molded plastic package


Improved management feedback-based controller techniques are disclosed for use in accordance with a computing system. For example, a method for managing a computing system includes the following steps. At least one measured performance metric is obtained from the computing system being managed. At least one control input value is generated based on parameters including a control error and a control deadzone such that uncertainty associated with the computing system is accounted for in accordance with the parameters. The control error is determined from a computation comprising the at least one measured performance metric and at least one performance metric goal. The control deadzone is defined such that the control input value is not generated when the control error is within the control deadzone. The control input value is sent to the computing system to effectuate achievement of the at least one performance metric goal associated with the computing system.

Most Internet service sites such as electronic commerce (e-commerce) web sites have a multi-tier computing system architecture that partitions the processing of web requests into tiers or stages. Such a multi-tier architecture may, for example, include an edge server stage, an Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) server stage, an application server stage, and a database server stage.
Management systems are typically used to monitor the performance of the computing system and to cause actions to be taken to address performance problems. Feedback control is desired in such management systems in order to handle computing system dynamics and disturbances. However, the design and deployment of existing management feedback-based controllers is known to be quite complicated. For example, the system dynamics need to be modeled through linear or nonlinear models, and the feedback control law needs to be designed to satisfy certain closed loop system performance criteria.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an improved management feedback-based controller for use in accordance with one or more tiers of a computing system.

Method and apparatus for automatic uncertainty-based management feedback controller

International Business Machines Corporation


A magneto-optical pickup apparatus includes an objective lens for focusing a laser beam emitted from a laser device onto a magneto-optical recording medium, driving coils, on which the objective lens is mounted, for driving the objective lens in focusing and tracking directions, and a plate arranged at an end portion of the driving coils between the objective lens and the magneto-optical recording medium. The plate is formed with a coil pattern for generating a magnetic field to be applied to the magneto-optical recording medium, and can allow a laser beam transmitted through the objective lens to pass therethrough.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magneto-optical pickup apparatus for recording/reproducing an information signal or from a magneto-optical recording medium by utilizing a magneto-optical effect such as a magnetic Kerr effect or a Faraday effect, and a magneto-optical recording/reproducing apparatus using the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Background art in order to record a signal on a magneto-optical recording medium, it is known to use a light modulation method or a magnetic field modulation method. Of these methods, the magnetic field modulation method is advantageous since it can achieve an overwrite operation.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional magneto-optical pickup apparatus in which the magnetic field modulation method is employed.
A magneto-optical pickup apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is arranged as follows. When a single-sided magneto-optical recording medium 50 is loaded, an optical system including a laser device 58, an objective lens 59 and the like is arranged on the upper surface side of the single-sided magneto-optical recording medium 50, and a magnetic field generator 60 is arranged on the lower surface side of the recording medium 50.
A driving system (not shown) is arranged to drive the optical system in focusing and tracking directions with respect to the magneto-optical recording medium 50. Another driving system (not shown) is arranged to drive the magnetic field generator 60 in the direction of an arrow in FIG. 1 and the tracking direction.
In the magnetic field modulation method, since a magnetic field must be reversed at high speed, a sufficient excitation current cannot be obtained, and the generated magnetic field strength is limited. For this reason, the magnetic field generator 60 is arranged near a recording magnetic layer 53 (to be described later) of the single-sided magneto-optical recording medium 50.
The single-sided magneto-optical recording medium 50 is constituted by sequentially stacking a dielectric layer 52, a recording magnetic layer 53 formed of, e.g., a rare earth-transition metal alloy amorphous thin film, and having a large magneto-optical effect, a dielectric layer 54, a reflecting layer 55 and a protection cover 56 on one surface of a transparent substrate 51 formed of, e.g., polycarbonate. In this case, the thickness of the transparent substrate 51 is constant, e.g., 1.2 mm.
An operation of the prior art device will be briefly described below.
The single-sided magneto-optical recording medium 50 is placed on a rotary disk (not shown), and a magnetic field is applied from the magnetic field generator 60 to the recording magnetic layer 53 of the single-sided magneto-optical recording medium 50. The magnetic field to be applied is reversed at high speed, and a laser beam emitted from the laser device 58 is focused on the recording magnetic layer 53 applied with the magnetic field, so that a region of the recording magnetic layer 53 where the laser beam is focused can be magnetized, and an information signal can be overwritten in real time.
Along with an increase in information volume in recent years, a double-sided magneto-optical recording medium which can record information signals on two surfaces has been developed.
As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional double-sided magneto-optical recording medium 70 is constituted by bonding a magneto-optical recording medium A obtained by sequentially stacking a transparent substrate 71a, a dielectric layer 72a, a recording magnetic layer 73a, a dielectric layer 74a and a reflecting layer 75a, and a magneto-optical recording medium B obtained by sequentially stacking a transparent substrate 71b, a dielectric layer 72b, a recording magnetic layer 73b, a dielectric layer 74b and a reflecting layer 75b by means of an adhesive 76. In this double-sided magneto-optical recording medium 70, the thickness of the transparent substrates 71a and 71b is several mm to assure a sufficient mechanical strength. Since the recording medium 70 is constituted by stacking the transparent substrates 71a and 71b, the recording magnetic layer 73a, and 73b and the like, the medium 70 becomes thicker than to the single-sided magneto-optical recording medium 50.
When the conventional magneto-optical pickup apparatus of the magnetic field modulation type shown in FIG. 1 employs the double-sided magneto-optical recording medium 70, the following problems arise. Since the optical system is arranged on the upper surface side of the double-sided magneto-optical recording medium 70 and the magnetic system is arranged on the lower surface side thereof to perform recording, if recording is performed on the upper magneto-optical recording medium A of the double-sided magneto-optical recording medium 70, a laser beam can be focused on the recording magnetic layer 73a from the upper surface side. But a magnetic field with a sufficient intensity cannot be applied from the magnetic field generator 60 on the lower surface side since the recording medium 70 itself is too thick. In the magnetic field modulation type magnetic field generator, a high-frequency current responding to a high-frequency data signal must be flowed through an electromagnetic coil. However, since the current cannot easily be flowed through the coil as the frequency is increased, the generated magnetic field is limited. In addition, the distance between the magnetic field generator 60 and the recording magnetic layer 73a is large. For this reason, it is very difficult to achieve double-sided magneto-optical recording of a magnetic field modulation method by the conventional techniques.

Magneto-optical pickup apparatus and magneto-optical recording/reproducing apparatus


A system for retrieval of text includes a processor which identifies grammar rules associated with text fragments of a text string that is retrieved from an associated storage medium, and retrieves text strings from the storage medium which satisfy the grammar rules. A display displays retrieved text strings. A user input device in communication with the processor enables a user to select text fragments of the displayed text strings for generating a query. The processor identifies grammar rules associated with the user-selected text fragments and retrieves text strings from the storage medium which satisfy the grammar rules.

The present exemplary embodiment relates generally to document processing. It finds particular application in conjunction with a system and a method for extracting facts from documents, and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present exemplary embodiment is also amenable to other like applications.
Information retrieval (IR) systems using databases or the Internet are widely used for retrieving documents associated with a query. The extensible markup language (XML) format imposes stringent document formatting requirements and is a widely accepted format for exchange of documents. Some queries are generally expressed by a small set of fixed words or expressions and thus are readily easy to detect. For example, they may be detected automatically, using a simple keyword search or a set of regular expressions. Keyword searching alone, however, is less effective for concepts conveyed by a wide range of linguistic expressions. Additionally, while conventional Information Retrieval-based search engines help to locate documents which might contain the information needed, they do not provide a way to extract this information in order to process it further or to answer directly user queries.
The ability to perform information retrieval has recently been incorporated into portable devices. Mobile users often seek precise information quickly. While it is often acceptable to refine Internet queries or fill in user profiles when operating a PC with a keyboard, such lengthy procedures are undesirable when using a mobile device.
Information Extraction (IE) processes seek to extract and store information in a formal representation (e.g., in the form of relations in databases, such as in relational databases or XML databases) in order to allow efficient querying and easy processing of the extracted data. Information stored and queried in a canonical way can be processed and interpreted by a computer without human interaction. It can also be used to build ontologies, create knowledge bases, and perform data analysis. The area of IE comprises techniques, algorithms and methods for performing two tasks: grasping the desired data, and storing it an appropriate form for future use.
Fact extraction can be regarded as a subset of IE, focusing on technologies for extracting facts from documents rather than on storing this information in databases. The goals of fact extraction, however, are typically more specific where fact extraction is defined as the transformation of facts expressed in natural language into a given, formal, properly defined target structure. In classical information extraction, the emphasis is made mainly upon the text processing stage. The target representation is only a secondary element.
Although fact extraction has been widely discussed, few concrete solutions have been proposed. Existing solutions rely on simple pattern matching techniques sometimes enriched with taxonomies. Commercial fact extraction systems extract a limited number of entities (usually person names, location, organizations, and dates) and identify simple links between these entities. For example, such systems can extract from sentence the following facts: Who led X Corporation and when? The general method used consists first in matching person names to "who" and time expressions to "when" and then in writing a regular "like" expression to translate the fact that in order to contain this information (who led X and when?) a sentence should contain a person name and a time expression, in this order, separated by "lead" or one of its synonyms.
A variety of methods and tools are available for information and fact extraction. Statistical and linguistic techniques are used as well as those from the field of artificial intelligence. For example, statistical approaches such as the naive Bayes approach, Hidden Markov Models, and machine learning techniques in general have been proposed. The type of facts such systems extract is rather limited. Additionally, they often miss facts because they do not use sophisticated linguistic tools and are not able to capture the semantics of the links between entities. For example, "when" questions, can often be answered only by a time expression, such as a date. In a technical context, being able to answer a "when" question requires also being able to extract more complex facts, such as events.
As an example, when searching technical printer documentation for when to use the "resume" button, the system should be able to extract the event "after you have corrected an 'out of paper' condition or cleared a paper jam" in order to extract the following sentence:                Press the resume button to restart printing after you have corrected an "out of paper" condition or cleared a paper jam.
The variety of expressions which can be used for the same general concept can result in the retrieval of text which is non responsive to the actual query.
The lack of a powerful linguistic engine for performing the fact extraction task is only one part of the problem. It is just as important to provide users with an easy way to express the type of facts for which they are looking. Because users are looking for different facts depending on the task, fact extraction is not a static process. An efficient user interface is thus a complement to the linguistic technology. Most information extraction systems propose learning a high level language, such as regular expressions, to describe the type of facts users want to extract from documents. This type of solution, however only works for specialists and not for the general public. Additionally, for users of mobile devices, such a system may be unwieldy even for trained users.


Disclosed are systems, servers and methods for improving temperature profile control in a reactor with at least three fixed beds, exothermic reactions and interstage cooling. A model of the temperature differential across the first bed is developed and its error is used to infer unmeasured feed composition disturbances, which are used in the control of the downstream fixed beds for faster response to unmeasured feed composition changes and improved control of the temperature profile throughout the reactor. The first bed model error is then used as an input into an overall model that predicts reactor temperature profiles, which provides advanced notice of reactions in downstream beds, and enables efficient adjustment and compensation to a feed composition change. A Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithm is applied to adjust the bed intercooling and first bed feed temperature so that the reactor temperature profile can be more precisely controlled.

Control of the temperature profile of a series of fixed bed reactors can be a common problem in the chemical and hydrocarbon industries. There are several technologies that can be used to address this problem, for example, 1) proportional integral derivate (PID) loop control residing in a Distributed Control System ("DCS") or Programable Logic Controller ("PLC"); 2) PID loop control with feed forward inputs residing in a DCS or PLC; 3) expert systems; 4) fuzzy logic; and/or 5) Model Predictive Control ("MPC").

Computerized systems and methods for temperature profile control in a reactor with a series of fixed beds


A sensor is coupled to a reservoir for generating a first signal responsive to the liquid level therein falling below a first level spaced above an output port and indicative of a reserve level of liquid remaining. A pump is coupled to the reservoir for pumping the liquid therefrom in metered volumes and responsive thereto transmitting a volume pumping signal. An integrator receives and integrates the volume pumping signal, and then generates, after receiving the first signal, an output signal indicative of the volume of the liquid remaining in the reservoir. An indicator is coupled to the integrator for displaying the output signal.

Two stroke engines are known which are not lubricated by mixing oil with the fuel but by supplying accurately metered quantities of oil to the bearings in the crankcase by means of a positive displacement pump. With such engines, if no oil is available for lubrication, then the engine can seize and be severely damaged. It is therefore important to ensure that the level of oil in the oil reservoir is monitored at all times and to give the vehicle driver ample warning of a depletion in the oil level.
To this end, it is known to provide two oil level warning lights, the first giving advance warning to replenish the oil reservoir and the second advising the driver to switch off the engine immediately to prevent it from being damaged.
There are several disadvantages in using a system with two different level sensors and lights. First, there is the cost arising from the duplication of sensors and lights. Second, the vehicle dashboard must be modified to accommodate an extra warning light, and an additional wire must be included in the wiring harness for this purpose. If a manufacturer is to offer a vehicle with a choice of two stroke and four stroke engines, this would require the different variants of the same model to have different electrical systems. Furthermore, two warning lights for the same liquid level may confuse the driver and may even suggest to the driver that the early warning light can be safely disregarded.

Low liquid level monitoring and warning apparatus and method


Examples of a breast support garment are disclosed. The breast support garment comprises a front panel with a chest area configured to support a wearer's breasts and dampen an accelerating movement of the breast tissue, and a hydration system that comprises a hydration reservoir and a dispensing tube connected to the reservoir. The breast support garment further comprises a holder that is dimensioned to receive the reservoir of the hydration system and one or more guides to support the dispensing tube. The breast support garment of the present invention integrates the functions of a high support sports bra and a hydration vest or backpack.

During sport activities, such as running, cycling or hiking, athletes require water, food and other essentials that they need to bring with them on their workout. Typical hydration vests and backpacks are designed to provide water to the wearer engaged in the activity; however, such vests may be uncomfortable since they add shoulder and chest straps over the breast area. Traditional hydration vests/backpacks are not designed to address the shape and/or support required for breast motion during sport activities.
Therefore, there is a need for a piece of apparel that integrates the function of a hydration vest or backpack and a sports bra, designed to meet breast biomechanics and form, and to provide movement management of the breast tissue as well as the necessary hydration/nutrition required for the workout.


A design method for an optical sheet for solar concentration and an optical sheet for solar concentration obtained by means of the design method are disclosed. The design method is characterized in that, for a resin optical sheet for solar concentration containing an ultraviolet absorber in a base material thereof, an amount of the ultraviolet absorber to be contained in the base material is determined such that: in an accelerated degradation test by means of a metal-halide-lamp weathering test (device specification: JTM G 01:2000, Japan Testing Machinery Association), decrease in average transmittance in a wavelength range of 400 nm to 1850 nm after testing for an irradiation time T1 satisfies the following equation (1)τuv(0)+τuv(T1)>τ0(0)+τ0(T1)  (1)and that decrease in transmittance at each of wavelengths in the wavelength range from a corresponding initial value after testing for the irradiation time T1 is not greater than 10%. T1 is the accelerated test time required corresponding to the actual location of use. The optical sheet of the present invention is capable of efficiently concentrating light without decrease in transmittance while being used for a long time in an environment with a large amount of ultraviolet radiation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to: a Fresnel lens sheet for solar concentration which has a function to concentrate direct light from the sun and is used in a solar power plant to concentrate sunlight on solar cell units in attempt to improve the power generation efficiency; and a design method therefor.
2. Background Art
A concentrator photovoltaic device is a device configured to generate electric power by concentrating sunlight on solar cells through concentrating lenses. Each solar cell only needs to have an area large enough to receive the light concentrated by its corresponding lens, and thus can be reduced to a size that is significantly smaller than the lens size. Accordingly, the amount of the solar cell, which is very expensive among other parts of the power generating device, can be reduced, allowing a cost reduction. On the other hand, the use of lens requires the device to be used in an area having a large amount of direct light (long sunshine duration). In view of this, the concentrator photovoltaic device has started to be widely used as a power supply in areas having long sunshine durations and large lands that allow the device to be built in a large scale. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-343435, for example, can be cited as an example of the concentrator photovoltaic device.
To utilize light highly efficiently in general, a highly transparent acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin or the like is used for lenses used in general optical applications. These resins generally contain a predetermined amount of an ultraviolet absorber to prevent coloration, resin degradation, and the like of the lenses due to the influence of ultraviolet rays. These optical members are generally used indoors as a screen and a backlight member of a television, and therefore the amount of ultraviolet rays directly applied thereto is low, and the concentration of the added ultraviolet absorber is low as well. Moreover, as shown in an embodiment, etc. of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 05-156113, it is possible to add a large amount of the ultraviolet absorber to improve the light resistance of the resin. However, coloration may be caused by the ultraviolet absorber, which in turn causes optical problems such as decreasing the transmittance and external problems such as yellowing, as well as problems such as decreasing the formability. For this reason, the ultraviolet absorber is generally added at the lowest possible concentration.
However, due to the facts that lenses for solar concentration are used in an environment where they are irradiated with a significantly large amount of ultraviolet rays, they are required to be used for a long term such as 20 years or longer, and so on, it is necessary to add a large amount of ultraviolet absorber as described above, but at the present a proper amount thereof concerning influences of the coloration and degradation on the decrease in transmittance, an influence on the formability, and the like is unknown.

Fresnel lens sheet for solar concentration and design method therefor


A conductive roller which can form images of consistent quality and does not cause image failures such as formation of blank spots and a method for inspecting the roller. The conductive roller having a metallic core and at least one rubber elastic layer provided on the outer peripheral surface of the core, the rubber elastic layer being formed from a conductive rubber to which conductivity has been imparted by carbon powder, wherein the conductive roller satisfies the relationship represented by formula (1):Zr/Zc≧5  (1),wherein Zr (Ω) represents a resistance component and Zc (Ω) represents a capacitive reactance component, the resistance component Zr (Ω) and the capacitive reactance component Zc (Ω) being calculated respectively from impedance Z (Ω) and phase difference θ, when the impedance Z (Ω) is measured upon application of an AC voltage of 0.2 V at a frequency of 1 Hz to the rubber elastic layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a conductive roller for use in an image-forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, and to a method for inspecting the roller. More particularly, the invention relates to a conductive roller suitable for a development roller and to an inspection method therefor.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, a development roller for use in an image-forming apparatus is formed of a polyurethane material to which an ion-conducting agent such as lithium perchlorate has been added.
Such a development roller containing an ion-conducting agent has a drawback in that electric resistance of the roller varies considerably in accordance with variation in use conditions. Specifically, under low temperature and low humidity conditions, resistance value increases, resulting in insufficient charging of a toner, and under high temperature and high humidity conditions, resistance value decreases, resulting in fogging of a toner, Needless to say, both cases result in image failure.
Meanwhile, there has been investigated a development roller to which electrical conductivity has been imparted by use of carbon black. Such a development roller exhibits comparatively small environmental dependency, but large charge in electrical resistance in accordance with applied voltage, which is problematic. In addition, variation in electric resistance value makes it difficult to control electrical resistance to a predetermined value, which is also problematic.
Under the foregoing circumstances, a development roller which can be used with consistent performance was previously proposed. Specifically, Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2003-202750 (in claims and other sections) discloses the development roller to which electrical conductivity has been imparted by use of carbon black, in which variation in electrical resistance is minimized to obtain a predetermined resistance value.
However, the present inventors have found that image quality of actually obtained printed products cannot be predicted on the sole basis of variation in electrical resistance. In other words, even under the same variation conditions in electrical resistance, quality of obtained images may vary.

Conductive roller and inspection method therefor


A dielectric member with an integral, electrically conductive surface is made by molding a substrate from a zirconia alloy powder using a tape casting process. The resulting green substrate is sintered and after sintering may be cut to the final desired size and shape. Once the insulating ceramic substrate has been formed, the surface of the substrate is modified using infrared laser energy. Through the impingement of infrared laser radiation upon the surface of the ceramic substrate, an electrically conductive region is produced on the surface of the substrate. In such manner, the entire surface can be made electrically conductive or a particular pattern can be traced. As an integral part of the substrate, the surface will not delaminate from the substrate. Further, because the modified surface region and the substrate are both a zirconia, the coefficients of thermal expansion of the substrate and the modified surface region will be closely matched.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electrically conductive layers or surfaces on non-conducting substrates and, more particularly, to an electrically conductive surface or pattern integrally formed with a non-conductive ceramic substrate using lasers.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The use of ceramics in the production of capacitors is widely known. In such capacitors, thin ceramic layers or ceramic coatings are bonded to metal substrates. Ceramics are used for their higher dielectric strength and durability against heat. Traditionally, alumina ceramic has been used in conjunction with metals such as copper and aluminum because of the ease of availability. However, prior art devices using these materials have significant shortcomings. There is poor bond development between the alumina ceramic and the various metal electrodes. Further, the combination of alumina ceramic materials with copper or aluminum electrodes has been found to be incompatible at elevated operating temperatures. There have also been recurring problems related to low dielectric properties and bond failure between coatings when used at high power levels.
U.S. Patent No. 5,391,841 to Quick teaches laser processing of ceramic coatings on electronic circuit substrates. A thin ceramic layer, such as alumina, is plasma spray deposited on a relatively thick metal substrate as a heat sink for improved dielectric and thermal properties which are produced by laser-reflow and recrystallization. This laser-reflow and recrystallization provide a different ceramic of higher dielectric and denser structure. Subsequent to the laser treatment of the plasma spray deposited ceramic layer, a metal coating is plasma spray coated onto the ceramic layer. Laser treatment of the ceramic layer apparently improves bond development between the substrate and the ceramic layer.
There is a general problem with adhesion of coatings on metal substrates and there is always the potential for delamination of a coating from the substrate to which it has been applied. This is particularly true if the coefficients of thermal expansion of the substrate and the coating applied thereto are not closely matched when the devices are to be used at elevated temperatures.

Zirconia ceramic members with laser induced electrical conductivity in surfaces thereof


A filter element includes a cylindrical housing enclosing a ring-shaped filter media assembly. The media assembly includes inner and outer media rings, moveably supported relative to one another, to remove particulate matter and water from a fluid stream. The outer ring surrounds the inner ring and is sealed by a first seal to the housing. An end cap assembly at the upper end of the element includes an annular end cap piece attached to an upper end of the inner ring, a flat plate, and a threaded flange portion bounding the periphery of the plate. A second seal is provided between the upper end cap of the inner ring, and an upper end cap of the outer ring. The housing is secured to the media assembly by forming an open end of the housing around the flange portion.

Many types of fuel filters (also known as "separators" ) are known in the art. A popular type of filter construction is a type that has a filter head to which a replaceable "spin-on" element is attached. The head is a permanent part of the fuel system of the vehicle and includes inlet and outlet connections to the fuel lines. The filter element includes threads on an upper tap plate or cap which cooperate with threads on the underside of the head and allow the element to be spun onto the filter head. The element can be easily removed from the filter head and a new element attached without removing the filter head from the fuel line connections.
One issue with filter elements is that elements with different efficiencies, applications, and/or qualities can sometimes fit on the same filter head. Periodic replacement of the element is necessary such that the filter element will not become so loaded with impurities that fuel flow is restricted. Replacing the element also ensures that impurities are removed from the fuel before it is delivered to downstream components such as fuel injection pumps and fuel injectors, where such contaminants may cause damage. It is important to replace a spent element with the same type of element or one that at least meets the same filtration specifications. It is also important to run the filter with an element installed. Using the wrong type of element or failing to use any element can allow damage to occur to the downstream engine components. Certain elements have been designed whereby the element can only fit a certain filter head, and where the filter will not operate without such a filter element installed, such as shown and described in Clausen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,446. In the Clausen patent, a projection supported at one end of the element is configured to engage a valve in the filter head—thereby opening a fuel flow path through the element and head when the filter element is properly installed.
Jensen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,883 similarly shows a projection configured to actuate a valve in the filter head; and in addition, among other things, shows and describes a series of holes formed radially through a flange portion of the upper end cap to direct fuel flow into the element. In both Clausen and Jensen the media assembly is assembled through the open end of a cup-shaped canister, and the open end is then formed, such as by roll-forming, over an upper end cap to secure the media components within the housing.
The Clausen and Jensen elements are each relatively simple and straightforward to manufacture and assemble, and address some of the issues identified above; namely, attaching an appropriate filter element to a filter head. Nevertheless these elements provide only a single type of media to remove particles from the fluid stream passing through the element. With more advanced system requirements, it is desirable that such elements also remove all or substantially all of the water in the fuel as the fuel passes through the filter element. Water can adversely effect fuel injectors and other critical downstream components in the engine, and thereby degrade performance.
It is of course known to provide hydrophobic (water-separating) media in filter elements to separate water from a fluid stream; however it is believed such elements have basically just incorporated a single or multi-layered structure into a ring shape, and attached conventional single-piece annular or circular end caps at either end of the media ring. The water collecting on the outside surface of the element drips down into a lower collection chamber or bowl where it is periodically removed.
A more efficient (effective) structure is also know using concentric media rings, with an outer particle-separating media surrounding an inner hydrophobic media, and an annular gap provided therebetween. Water collects on the surfaces of the media rings and can drain down into the lower collection chamber or bowl. The outer media can be optimized for its particle separation capabilities, while the inner media can be optimized for its water separating capabilities. Nevertheless, again it is believed such design has used a single-piece upper end cap -with both media rings being adhesively bonded to the inner/lower surface of such end cap. While this may minimize the part-count of the media assembly, the rigid multi-ring media structure can be misaligned or cock within the housing during manufacture and/or assembly, and otherwise not sit properly in the housing when the open end of the housing is formed over the upper end cap of the media assembly. A misaligned upper end cap can allow leakage from the housing, and also prevent proper sealing between the element and filter head.
It can also be complicated and difficult to properly attach both the inner and outer media rings to the underside of the one end cap. For example, an oven-cured adhesive may be used to attach the end caps. It can be difficult to achieve consistent heat transfer to both media ends for proper curing in a dual-element design; and in some cases the different media configurations and structures can require different curing temperatures, which can be problematic to accomplish with a single, integral structure.
As should be appreciated, the above issues can lead to undesirable manufacturing inconsistencies between elements, and otherwise require time-consuming and complicated manufacturing steps.
As such, it is believed there is a demand in the industry for a further improved filter element that not only prevents improper elements form being installed on a filter head, but which also removes water in the fuel as the fuel passes through the element. And more importantly, it is believed there is a demand in the industry for such a filter element which is simple and straightforward to manufacture and assemble on a consistent and repeatable basis.


An enhanced filling/weighing system utilizes first and second weighing stages. The first stage includes a first top container having an associated weighing device, e.g., a load cell. The second stage includes a second bottom container having an associated weighing device, e.g., a load cell. A high speed bulk feed subsystem supplies product to the top cup. A low speed dribble feed subsystem supplies product to the lower cup. In operation, the bulk feed subsystem feeds product to the top cut at a high speed. The top cup fills to its first setpoint (plus overfill, e.g., attributable to feed momentum) once per cycle. When the system controller recognizes that the top cup weight has reached the first setpoint, it pauses th bulk feed, discharges the top cup into the bottom cup, starts the dribble feed into the bottom cup, and starts the next cycle of bulk feed into the top cup. Thus, the top cup fills at high speed during cycle N+1 concurrently with the bottom cup filling at low speed during cycle N. When the system controller recognizes that the bottom cup weight has reached a second setpoint, the dribble feed is interrupted and the content is transferred out of the bottom cup awaiting the next transfer from the top cup.

This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for rapidly filling small containers with an accurate weight of a product consisting of discrete pieces. The product can, for example, comprise beans, nuts, hard candy, fruit items, hardware items, etc.
Various systems are described in the prior art for rapidly filling small containers, e.g., one, three, or five pound, with discrete pieces of product, e.g., beans, nuts, hard candy, fruit items, hardware items, etc. Such systems typically include a product supply station which supplies the product onto a feeder subsystem, which in turn sequentially feeds pieces to a weighing station. A controller monitors the weight of the product at the weighing station and attempts to control the feeder subsystem and the discharge from the weighing station in order to achieve a precise discharge, by weight, into a product container.
Such systems traditionally use either a xe2x80x9clinear weighxe2x80x9d or a xe2x80x9ccombination weighxe2x80x9d procedure for filling the container with a correct product weight. In a typical linear weigh system, each successive cycle is comprised of two sequential phases, frequently referred to as a xe2x80x9cbulk feedxe2x80x9d phase and a xe2x80x9cdribble feedxe2x80x9d phase. During the bulk phase, a weighing cup is filled at high speed, e.g., by a conveyor, vibratory feeder, gravity gate, pump, etc., toward a target weight. When the cup weight reaches a first setpoint, the controller terminates the bulk phase high speed feed and switches to the dribble phase low speed feed. The cup weight thereafter increases at a lesser rate enabling the system to respond to a second setpoint to stop the product feed close to the target weight. Typically, the first setpoint is set at about 80% of the target weight in anticipation of overfill attributable to feed momentum (i.e., xe2x80x9cin-the-airxe2x80x9d) and component reaction time. In practice, with a first setpoint set at about 80% of target weight, the cup will typically weigh about 90-95% of target weight at the end of the bulk phase. The second setpoint is set to about 100% of target weight to cause the cup weight to just reach target weight when the dribble phase ends and the product pieces settle. It should be understood that the aforementioned setpoint numbers are exemplary only and depend in significant part on the reaction time of the system, the feed speeds, the incremental weight of each product piece, the geometry, settling time, etc. Thus it is generally necessary to xe2x80x9cfine tunexe2x80x9d a system to optimize accuracy and throughput.
Although the implementations of linear weigh systems can differ markedly, the cycle duration of such systems is comprised of the sum of the bulk phase duration and the dribble phase duration. Typically, the dribble phase, which may only involve about a few percent of the product weight, might consume up to 40% of the total cycle duration.
The present invention is directed to an enhanced filling/weighing system capable of exhibiting a greater system throughput than the aforedescribed linear systems. Enhanced throughput is achieved by configuring the system to concurrently perform bulk and dribble operations. More particularly, systems in accordance with the invention execute the bulk phase of cycle N+1 concurrent with the execution of the dribble phase of cycle N.
A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes first and second weighing stages. The first stage includes a first top cup or container having an associated weighing device, e.g., a load cell. The second stage includes a second bottom cup or container having an associated weighing device, e.g., a load cell. A high speed bulk feed subsystem supplies product to the top cup. A low speed dribble feed subsystem supplies product to the lower cup, which can in fact comprise the end product container, e.g., a one pound capacity bag or box.
In operation, the bulk feed subsystem feeds product to the top cup at a high speed. The top cup fills to its first setpoint (plus overfill) once per cycle. When the system controller recognizes that the top cup weight has reached the first setpoint, it pauses the bulk feed, discharges the top cup into the bottom cup, starts the dribble feed into the bottom cup, and starts the next cycle of bulk feed into the top cup. Thus, the top cup fills at high speed during cycle N+1 concurrently with the bottom cup filling at low speed during cycle N. When the system controller recognizes that the bottom cup weight has reached the second setpoint, the dribble feed is interrupted and the content is transferred from the bottom cup to an end-proudct container. In a preferred system, the bottom cup comprises an end-product container so that after it is filled, it is moved and replaced by an empty end-product container.

Method and apparatus for filling containers with a target weight of product


An apparatus for delivering devices. The apparatus comprises a catheter with an elongated shaft having a first lumen and a second lumen extending therethrough. The apparatus further comprises a distal section with a lumen in communication with a port in a distal end of the catheter and with the first lumen and the second lumen. The first lumen is configured for a first device and the second lumen is configured for a second device to be disposed therein. The apparatus further comprises a proximal adapter coupled to the elongated shaft with a first port in communication with the first lumen and a second port in communication with the second lumen.

1. Field
The present invention pertains to for delivering multiple devices such as needles to a treatment site using one delivery apparatus.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A major component of morbidity and mortality attributable to cardiovascular disease occurs as a consequence of the partial or complete blockage of vessels carrying blood in the coronary and/or peripheral vasculature. When such vessels are partially occluded, lack of blood flow causes ischemia to the muscle tissues supplied by such vessel, consequently inhibiting muscle contraction and proper function. Total occlusion of blood flow causes necrosis of the muscle tissue.
Blood vessel occlusions are commonly treated by mechanically enhancing blood flow in the affected vessels. Such mechanical enhancements are often provided by employing surgical techniques that attach natural or synthetic conduits proximal and distal to the areas of occlusion, thereby providing bypass grafts, or revascularization by various means to physically enlarge the vascular lumen at the site of occlusion. These revascularization procedures involve such devices as balloons, endovascular knives (atherectomy), and endovascular drills. The surgical approach is accompanied by significant morbidity and even mortality, while the angioplasty-type processes are complicated by recurrent stenoses in many cases.
In some individuals, blood vessel occlusion is partially compensated by natural processes, in which new vessels are formed (termed "angiogenesis") and small vessels are enlarged (termed "arteriogenesis") to replace the function of the impaired vessels. These new conduits may facilitate restoration of blood flow to the deprived tissue, thereby constituting "natural bypasses" around the occluded vessels. However, some individuals are unable to generate sufficient collateral vessels to adequately compensate for the diminished blood flow caused by cardiovascular disease. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for delivering agents to help stimulate the natural process of therapeutic angiogenesis to compensate for blood loss due to an occlusion in a coronary and peripheral arteries in order to treat ischemia. Delivering agents to a treatment site are needed in many other therapeutic treatments or procedures.
In some therapies, e.g., cardiovascular-related, cancer-related, and certain surgical or minimally-invasive therapies, it may be desirable to inject a treatment agent of or including a sustained release matrix intralumenally, intracardially, or intraventricularly. Unfortunately, however, it is generally difficult to retain the treatment agent at a desired treatment site. In cardiovascular-related therapies, for example, rarely is greater than 30 percent of the sustained release matrix retained at the injection site following such therapies. The loss of sustained release matrix generally occurs either during the initial injection or as a result of backflow from the needle site. The backflow from the needle site can occur due to an excessive amount of fluid required to deliver the matrix material, or, as the needle is removed from the injection site, the site does not seal before matrix material escapes. The consequences of matrix material escaping can be multifold depending on the interaction of the matrix and the surrounding blood or fluid.
The loss of matrix material and release can result in inconsistent dosage delivery. The inconsistency in dosage delivery in turn results in the delivery of the treatment agent that possibly will be at a dosage outside of the desired or optimum therapeutic window. In the case of arterial or ventricular treatment sites, a second response would occur if the sustained release matrix has thrombogenic effects, resulting in the formation of thrombosis that may have severe consequences in the arterial or ventricular region. Delivering an agent in a way that allows the agent to be retained at a treatment site is important.
Techniques are being developed for injections that can retain a treatment agent or agents, including a treatment agent of or including a sustained-release matrix at a treatment site. In many instances, it may be desirable to inject one or more agents and in many intakes, these agents once mixed, may form thick gel. In many other instances, it may be desirable to inject several agents that when allowed to react may form a gel matrix, thus, the agents need to be kept separate until injected at the treatment site. For instance, in some myocardial reinforcement therapy, two chemical components are to be injected to the injured myocardium. At the treatment site, the two components mix and form a gel to increase the wall thickness of the myocardium.
It is thus advantageous to have apparatuses and/or methods that enable delivering of device(s) to a treatment site that may benefit or enhance injection (or withdrawal) of agents at a treatment site.


A disconnect clutch includes a hub, a carrier, a wedge plate, a friction plate, a pressure plate, and a pin. The hub has a radially outer surface with a ramp and the carrier has a radially inner surface. The wedge plate is disposed radially between the hub and the carrier. It has a radially inner surface with a ramp, proximate and complementary to the hub outer surface, a radially outer surface proximate the carrier inner surface, and a split extending from the radially inner surface to the radially outer surface. The friction plate is drivingly connected to the carrier. The pressure plate is arranged for frictionally engaging the wedge plate with the at least one friction plate. The pin is rotationally fixed and radially or axially displaceable with respect to the hub, and arranged for limiting rotation of the at least one wedge plate relative to the hub.

Disconnect clutches are known. One example of a clutch in a power transfer unit (PTU) of an all-wheel drive vehicle is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,694. Other examples include U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,694 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,309,301 showing transfer clutches in a differential to control torque to a secondary drive shaft. U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,885 is an example of using a roller or dog clutch to control torque to a secondary drive shaft. However, a vehicle must be at a stand still to use of such clutches.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


These methods, systems, and other aspects can provide for adaptive distribution/re-distribution of data processing tasks. An example method may create, by a processor in a first node, a status object for a data processing task and assign, by the processor in the first node, the data processing task to a worker of a second node. Further, after a first period of time, the method may query, by the processor in the first node, the status object for a task status of the assigned data processing task reported by the second node. The task status reflects a status of execution of the assigned data processing task by the second node. The method determines, by the processor in the first node, to reassign the assigned data processing task based on a received task status reported by the second node, and reassign, by the processor in the first node, the assigned task.

The present disclosure relates to computing systems. In a more particular example, the present disclosure relates adaptive distribution/re-distribution of data processing tasks among distributed system nodes.
In distributed systems, work or task distribution among a set of processes/system nodes is widely used. Usually, an assigning component (or assignor) generates a set of tasks and then distributes the generated tasks to the set of system nodes (or workers) spread across a cluster of systems. Workers attempt to finish the tasks and then inform back the assignor. Assignor marks a task as "DONE" and moves forward. In a failure path, either a worker informs the assignor about the failure or the assignor considers the task as "FAILED" if it does not receive any indication from the worker. In the next attempt, assignor reassigns the "FAILED" task to another worker to restart the process.
In the existing technologies, even a partially done task in the system needs to restart the whole process from the beginning. This wastes the previous processing of the partially done task. Accordingly, the current task distribution/re-distribution process is not optimal for task distribution, especially for the partially done task re-distribution.

Adaptive work distribution in distributed systems


A method apparatus for hardware and software co-simulation in ASIC development includes developing hardware and software concurrently and co-simulating the hardware and software therebetween via a network while the hardware and software are being developed. The method and apparatus for hardware and software co-simulation allows the software development and testing of hardware and software to start with the design of hardware so as to reduce an overall system development cycle involving ASICs.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to the field of Custom Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) development, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for hardware and software development and simulation/testing in ASIC development.
2. Description of Related Art
Digital systems today are primarily task specific embedded systems that include standard and/or custom hardware and software. Standard hardware may include off-the-shelf microprocessors and memory. Custom hardware is usually implemented as programmable logic devices (PLDs), or Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Hardware architecture provides a framework on which the software processes execute. Standard software typically includes a real time operating system (RTOS) and configurable device drivers. Customer software includes embedded applications. The software architecture defines how these processes communicate.
Often, software is executed with a hardware simulator or model, and very often in cooperation with a hardware simulator or model, e.g., a semiconductor chip tester. A hardware prototype is coupled to the hardware simulator or model. The hardware simulator or model provides the hardware architecture with the values on the input pins of a prototype hardware used as a building block in a system. This then drives the values onto the actual input pins of the prototype hardware. The hardware simulator or model can sample the output pins of the prototype hardware and return these values to the hardware simulator.
Traditionally, the hardware and software will not be validated together until at least a prototype of the hardware with sufficient functionality is available. As a result, the software development is generally delayed until final stages of the hardware development of a first prototype. This makes product development cycles too long for today's competitive market.
Also, part of the hardware development requires software functionality to be present to allow proper testing of the hardware. For instance, when developing an ASIC, usually a CPU model, which includes ASIC initializations and maybe another higher level functionality, is written. This higher level functionality is developed for a hardware testing and will later, again, be developed on the software side once the software development starts. As a result, the same tasks are written twice, once for the hardware test by using a high level language (e.g. in Verilog), and once again for the software development by using another high level language (e.g. in C). The translation between the two languages is not straightforward most of the time. In addition, these programs are often developed by different groups with different objectives in mind. Frequently, a system software finds that ASIC does not have the proper functionality after the system has been built. This may require building the ASIC again. Thus, a system development involving ASICs is a lengthy and resource intensive exercise. Further, a high performance multi-function ASIC, such as the Porche switching and routing ASIC system, developed by Level One Communications, Inc., is extremely complex and would require lengthy test and verification cycles. The time-to-market pressure makes it impractical to wait for hardware delivery before starting software development.
Problems in designing a complex hardware circuit board are also similar in nature. Typically, components of a hardware circuit board have to be tested before software development/debugging. Often times, software drivers run into hardware problems, which would require an expensive and time consuming hardware circuit board redesign.
It is with respect to these or other considerations that the present invention has been made.

Method and apparatus for hardware and software co-simulation


A recovered clock signal is phase aligned with timing data that has been extracted by a digital signal processor (DSP) from an input signal by a multiple phase-lock-loop (PLL) clock recovery circuit that utilizes a digital error word generated by the DSP. The multiple PLL clock recovery circuit uses a first PLL and a second PLL to generate a first biasing signal and a second biasing signal, respectively, which have a magnitude which is a function of the frequency of a first clock signal and a second clock signal, respectively. A multiplexor allows either the first biasing signal or the second biasing signal to be selected as a selected bias signal. A controlled oscillator generates the recovered clock signal with a center frequency which is a function of the magnitude of a phase error signal. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) generates the phase error signal by modifying the selected bias signal in response to the digital error word. The first biasing signal and the second biasing signal can be switched in and out of the DAC to quickly bias the DAC to drive the controlled oscillator to a specific center frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to phase-lock-loop circuits and, in particular, to a multiple phase-lock-loop circuit for recovering a clock signal from an input data signal.
2. Background of the Related Art
A signal detector for a digital communications channel, such as the read channel of a hard disk drive, is a circuit that generates a stream of recovered data and a recovered clock signal from an input data signal which is transmitted through the communications channel. Recently, as a step towards increasing the density of data transmitted through a digital communications channel, signal detectors have begun to utilize quasi-DSP (digital signal processing) techniques to produce both the stream of recovered data and the recovered clock signal.
Some DSP-based signal detector architectures utilize a phase-lock-loop (PLL) clock recovery circuit to generate the recovered clock signal. FIG. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a conventional DSP-based PLL clock recovery circuit 10. As shown in FIG. 1, circuit 10 includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 12, a DSP 14, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 16.
In operation, VCO 12 generates a recovered clock signal RCLK which has a phase and frequency that are a function of the magnitude of a phase error signal PE. DSP 14 uses the recovered clock signal RCLK to sample an input data signal V.sub.IN to produce the stream of recovered data SRD. Ambiguous samples are typically resolved by recognizing probabilistic data patterns within the stream of recovered data SRD.
To accurately recover data from the input data signal V.sub.IN, the recovered clock signal RCLK should be "locked" onto the clock signal that was originally used to transmit the data through the communications channel. As is well-known, since the frequency of the original clock signal is used to define the individual bits within the input data signal V.sub.IN, an extracted clock signal which approximates the original clock signal can be derrived from the individual bits of the sampled input data signal.
DSP 14 uses voltage level and sequence detection circuitry to generate timing data from the sampled input data signal which indicates the phase difference between the recovered clock signal RCLK and the extracted clock signal. The timing data is then utilized to generate a digital error word DEW which represents the phase difference.
DAC 16 converts the digital error word DEW to the phase error signal PE which, in turn, adjusts the VCO 12 to change the magnitude of the phase and frequency of the recovered clock signal RCLK. The net result is that the phase of the recovered clock signal RCLK is adjusted so as to reduce any phase and frequency difference between the clock signal embedded in the incoming data and the extracted clock signal.
One problem with utilizing DSP techniques in the read channel of a hard disk drive is that data is transmitted through the read channel at different frequencies as a result of the different frequencies used to fix the data on the hard disk drive. With disk drives, each track typically contains user data which has been recorded at one clock frequency and servo data which has been fixed at another clock frequency. In addition, groups of tracks, often called zones, are frequently recorded at different frequencies. Thus, the center frequency of the extracted clock signal will change each time the read head of the hard disk drive reads a different zone of data.
One technique for accommodating the changing center frequency of the extracted clock signal is to incorporate a multiplying DAC and bias the DAC with a variable input such that its bias point corresponds to the desired frequency of the extracted clock signal. With this technique, the center frequency of the recovered clock signal RCLK can be rapidly changed by simply changing the bias on the DAC.
Another problem with utilizing DSP techniques with a read channel is that the clock recovery circuit must be able to quickly lock the recovered clock signal onto each of the zone frequencies. As stated above, to accurately recover data from the input data signal V.sub.IN, the recovered clock signal should be "locked" onto the clock signal originally used to transmit the data. Thus, to avoid excessive latency time each time the frequency of the extracted clock signal changes, the circuit must quickly lock the recovered clock signal onto the current clock frequency of the data signal.
One technique for quickly locking the frequency of the recovered clock signal onto each of the zone frequencies of the data is to incorporate a processor which "learns" the bias point which corresponds to the frequency of each type of data.
In a learning process, the processor typically sends a series of digital bias words to a DAC which drives the oscillator to produce the recovered clock signal with a corresponding series of different frequencies. The processor measures each of the frequencies and generates a "look-up" table which matches each digital bias word to a specific frequency.
FIG. 2 shows a simplified block diagram which illustrates a processor 18 connected to the PLL circuit 10 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, processor 18 receives the recovered clock signal RCLK from VCO 12 and transmits a digital bias word DBW to DAC 16.
In operation, when data from a particular track or zone is to be read, processor 18 looks up the center frequency for that zone in the look-up table, and then generates the digital bias word DBW which corresponds to that center frequency. The digital bias word DBW then drives VCO 12 to produce the recovered clock signal at a center frequency which is close to the original center frequency.
DSP 14 then samples the input data signal V.sub.IN and produces digital error word DEW. DAC 16 combines the digital error word DEW and the digital bias word DBW to modify the phase error signal PE. Since the recovered clock signal is substantially identical to the original write-clock signal, the recovered clock signal is able to quickly lock onto the data clock frequency. When, for example, the data changes from user data to servo data, processor 18 simply looks up the center frequency of the servo data and generates a new digital bias word DBW.
The principal advantage obtained from using a learning process is that processor 18 can quickly drive VCO 12 to produce the recovered clock signal with a series of very precise center frequencies. The principal disadvantage of utilizing the learning process, however, is that the circuitry required to implement the learning process consumes a significant amount of die area, power, and processing time.
In addition, if the oscillator does not have low thermal (or other) drift characteristics, then the learning process must be periodically repeated to insure that the look-up table remains accurate. Thus, there is a need for a DSP-based PLL clock recovery circuit that can quickly lock the recovered clock signal onto an extracted clock signal which has a changing center frequency without utilizing a learning process.

Multiple biasing phase-lock-loops controlling center frequency of phase-lock-loop clock recovery circuit


In a check mode, a determination is made as to whether or not a disc is stored in each of disc storage positions, and mapping data representing the presence of the discs are recorded into a memory. Disc storage and removal operations are performed based on such mapping data. Further, in a disc storage mode, when a disc is already stored in a specific storage position, the word "FULL" is displayed. When no disc is stored in a specific storage position, the word "EMPTY" is displayed. Further, in a skip button disc storage mode, one of empty disc storage position number is displayed, and when the skip button is pushed, the next empty disc position number is displayed. When the enter button is pushed while an empty disc storage number is displayed, a disc is stored into the empty disc storage position represented by the displayed number. Moreover, in the check mode, when power is turned off, the check mode is continued in order to complete the mapping process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auto disc changer which can store a large number of audio discs and play back the discs one at a time, and in particular, to an auto disc changer in which a disc storage position is mapped, which mapping data can be recorded.
Further, the present invention relates in particular to an auto disc changer which can continue a check mode recording the presence of the discs when the power is turned off.
Moreover, the present invention relates in particular to an auto disc changer which can display information about whether or not a specified disc is already stored in a specified disc storage position.
Moreover, the present invention relates in particular to an auto disc changer which can display the presence of the discs in order to allow the user to easily and quickly store and remove the discs.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, auto disc changers currently in use with a disc playback operation comprise a disc tray which removes discs from and loads discs into the unit (disc removal and loading means), a stocker which stores a number of discs inside the unit (disc storage means), a carriage which transfers the discs to and from a predetermined storage position in the stocker (disc carriage means), and a control means which controls the loading, and removal operations and the transfer of the discs.
When a unit has a storage capacity of only two or three discs, a user is able to see the stored discs in the unit.
With the auto disc changers which store no more than ten discs, the stored discs are easily checked without an information display indicating at which disc storage position a specified disc is stored, because only a small number of discs are stored, and accordingly, a user does not ordinarily make a mistake with regard to the disc storage position.
However, when storing a much greater number of discs than are currently storable in a conventional changer, the user cannot easily confirm disc storage positions by merely looking. This is due to the construction of such large capacity changers in which the gaps between the disc storage positions are made narrow so that a large number of discs can be stored in a limited space.
In this case, if the status (presence or absence) of the discs in the disc storage positions are checked and such data can be provided for the user, the user can correctly determine whether or not a disc has already been stored in a specified disc storage position, with reference to the data, and can know in advance, for example, whether or not a disc storage position is empty.
Such check mode is normally performed at the same time the power is turned on, and the time required for such check depends on the disc storage capacity of the changer. If the unit can store up to 100 discs, the check may take several minutes. During such time, the power switch may be (accidentally) turned off.
If the power is turned off during the check mode, the check mode is terminated because power is not supplied to the control block with the microcomputer which drives the check mode, and the recorded data is lost.
When the power is again turned on, the check mode must be re-started. The user cannot operate other changer functions such as disc play or storage, until the check mode is completed. This delay may irritate the user.
Further, when the user tries to store a disc, he must specify the disc storage position. However, a disc may already be stored in the specified disc storage position, therefore it would be helpful to be able to determine the status of the disc storage position ahead of time. Otherwise, the user can not know that the disc storage is unavailable until he begins to operate the unit. A storage operation for the occupied disc storage position is useless, unnecessary burdening the mechanical parts.
When a disc is removed, the empty disc storage position may also be specified. Otherwise, the user may try to play back from an empty disc storage position and not recognize his mistake in specification until the disc tray is opened. It would be convenient for the user to be informed in advance that a specific disc storage position is empty.
The above would be particularly useful for an auto disc changer which can store a large number of discs, for example up to 100, because operations in which a disc is stored or removed are repeated many times.
Moreover, if the status (full or empty) of the discs storage is displayed during the operation mode, the operations in which the disc is stored and removed can be smoothly and quickly performed.
For example, if only the empty disc storage positions are displayed successively, the user can specify the disc storage easily, and the disc can be smoothly and quickly stored into the storage position.
Currently, because the number of the discs which a typical changer can store is small, such means described above have not been provided.


Techniques are described of using votes of third-party components to select a master processor from a plurality of redundant processors. A master processor and a standby processor maintain communications with one another. If communication between the master processor and the standby processor fails, the processors may poll a set of registered voters to determine which of the processors is to be the master processor. In this way, the processors may determine which of the processors is to be master without the use of a shared indicator to specify which of the processors is to be the master processor.

Contemporary computers may include multiple processors that cooperate to perform complex computational tasks. In a mainframe computer architecture, for example, multiple processors may be grouped into multiple cells. Each of the cells in a mainframe computer may perform one or more computational tasks independently or in cooperation with the other cells. Furthermore, a mainframe computer may include a service processor to manage the cells. For instance, the service processor may be responsible for allocating workload among the various cells of the mainframe computer.

Third-party voting to select a master processor within a multi-processor computer


A capacitance measuring circuit uses only a DC voltage source to perform the capacitance measurement. For this purpose, the circuit is arranged to charge an unknown capacitor which is being measured from a DC source and to discharge the capacitor through a constant current circuit such that the discharge voltage across the capacitor decreases linearly from its initial value to a predetermined, final value. The measurement circuit monitors the time taken by the capacitor to discharge in order to determine the capacitance value.

The measurement of circuit components is fundamental in all phases of work involving electricity and electronics. Traditionally, one of the most versatile instruments has been the hand held multimeter originally available in commercial form in a hand held case. Such a device was generally provided with various scales for reading both AC and DC voltage and both AC and DC current; for these measurements, the instrument received its power directly from the external AC or DC source. The instrument used an internal battery to actuate a galvanometer type meter indicator in order to measure passive quantities such as resistance. Since the source of voltage for such instruments was a battery, the arrangement of the circuits necessary for such measurements was straightforward and the instruments usually provided a wide range of scales for measuring and indicating each of these circuit values.
Generally, however, the original multimeters were incapable of measuring passive AC impedance quantities such as inductance and capacitance because only a DC voltage source was available and, in the prior art, the measurement of capacitance and inductance values has generally been accomplished by means of an AC bridge circuit. This conventional circuit uses either an external or internal AC signal source (typically operating at frequencies of a thousand Hertz, for example) to operate a bridge circuit, one leg of which contained the unknown AC impedance. Such bridge circuits are complicated by the fact that they require the presence of an AC signal source and further they require the bridge to be balanced and that, in turn, requires a calibrated AC impedance of like kind to that which is being measured.
In some modern versions of the multimeter circuit, a digital circuit with digital readout has been provided for giving an accurate reading of the same DC quantities and some of these units are capable of measuring AC impedances. However, these more modern circuits still use the conventional bridge technique to measure the impedances with the attendant problems discussed above.

Battery operated capacitance measurement circuit


A display panel displaying an image includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate, electric optical substance sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a transistor disposed on the first substrate and supplying an electric signal to the electric optical substance and including an oxide semiconductor film as an activating layer, and a light blocking film disposed on the second substrate and blocking visible light from transmitting therethrough, the light blocking film having a hole in a position overlapping the transistor in a plan view.

A display panel including a pair of substrates that are opposite each other and an electric optical substance that is sealed therebetween has been known. Such a display panel displays an image by supplying electric signals to the electric optical substance. Such a display panel includes thin film transistors (TFTs) as switching components for supplying electric signals to the electric optical substance and controlling operations of each pixel. There has been a proposal of using an oxide semiconductor film as an activating layer for the TFTs instead of a silicon semiconductor film such as amorphous silicon.
The oxide semiconductor film has high electron mobility and an uniform property compared to the silicon semiconductor film; however, the electric characteristics thereof may be changed by electric stress such as application of voltage. If a threshold value of the TFT is increased according to the change of the electric characteristics and the electric optical substance may not be supplied with the electric signals properly, errors such as a lighting error may be caused. Patent Document 1 proposes a method of applying an electric stress between a gate terminal and a source terminal when the TFT is not driven such that the electric characteristics are less likely to be affected by the electric stress during use of the TFT.
A conventional display panel includes a light blocking film that is disposed between the pixels that are used for displaying an image in the display area where images are displayed. Generally, the light blocking film is disposed to overlap the gate line and the source line in a plan view and cover a front surface side of a display area TFT that is arranged at an intersection of the lines. A non-display area TFT may be arranged in a non-display area where no image is displayed. The non-display area including a section having the non-display area TFT is normally covered with the light blocking film to restrict leaking of light and increase a contrast of a displayed image. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a liquid crystal panel having a hole in the light blocking film in the display area. The hole is formed to provide light to a sensor diode included in each pixel through a film having wavelength selectivity and the hole is not configured such that the light is provided to the TFT.


A surgical retractor has a frame and first and second retractor blades coupled to the frame. The retractor blades engage opposite sides of an incision in a patient's body and are relatively movable toward or away from each other along a first axis. When using the retractor in lift mode, a foot is coupled to the frame or one of the blades and engages the patient's body adjacent the incision. An actuator imparts relative movement to the retractor blades along the first axis and the foot acts as a support base with one of the blades moving relative to the frame to lift the ribs at one side of the incision above the other. To use the retractor in spread mode the foot is removed and the retractor blades spread of the ribs without lifting. The retractor may be used in various modes to facilitate a variety of surgical procedures, including, for example, harvesting the right or left internal mammary artery, repair or replacement of the mitral and aortic valves, proximal anastamosis of arterial conduits to the aorta, distal anastamosis of the conduits to coronary arteries, and any of various other procedures requiring access to the heart, great vessels, lungs, or other thoracic contents.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to retractors for use during surgery and, more particularly, for use in retracting ribs and adjacent tissue during surgery of the thorax.
2. Description of Related Art
During surgery it is frequently necessary to retract tissue, bone or other body material in order to facilitate access to and visualization of the surgical site. This is particularly true in surgery of the thorax. If access to the chest cavity is sought between the ribs, both the chest wall tissue and the ribs must be retracted to provide an opening large enough for insertion of surgical instruments and to allow visualization of the chest cavity, either directly through the incision or through an endoscope, microscope or other visualization device. In certain surgical procedures, such as coronary bypass grafting, it may be desirable to both lift the chest wall anteriorly and spread the ribs superiorly and inferiorly, for example, to harvest one or both of the internal mammary arteries located on the interior of the chest wall. During the same surgical procedure, it may be desirable, in addition to lifting and spreading the ribs, to only spread the ribs, depending upon the surgical manipulations to be performed.
Although many surgical retractor designs have been proposed, there remains a need in the art for a retractor that is able to perform various functions while having minimum size, few parts, and high ease of use.

Surgical retractor and method of retracting


A digital pulse width generator and a method for generating a digital pulse width are provided. The method for generating a digital pulse width includes the following. Generating a first period according to first set of bits of pulse data. The first period includes an interval. First phase signals are set to a first logic value in the interval and are generated according to first phase clock signals after an end of the interval. Second phase signals are set to the first logic value in the first period and are generated according to second phase clock signals after an end of the first period. Selecting a first signal from the first phase signals and the second phase signals according to second set of bits of the pulse data as a pulse width signal.

Pulse width modulation (PWM) is widely used. PWM may meet the circuit specification by switching and may be used in the field such as biomedical technology, industry, science, smart grid, etc. Pulse width generators are generally implemented using analog circuits. However, most analog pulse width generators have large area and long response time. In addition, analog circuits may need to be re-designed for different fabrication processes. Thus, it is the trend to develop pulse width generators implemented with digital circuits.

Digital pulse width generator and method for generating digital pulse width

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A method of longitudinal recording using a medium with a magnetically soft underlayer is described. The method includes lowering the longitudinal coercivity in a magnetic domain in the magnetic recording medium by generating a vertical component of magnetic flux in the magnetic recording medium and writing a longitudinal orientation in the magnetic domain in the magnetic recording medium by generating a larger horizontal component of magnetic flux in the magnetic recording medium using the write head. Optionally the method further includes magnetically saturating the magnetically soft underlayer after lowering the longitudinal coercivity to limit the vertical component of the magnetic flux. The recording medium has a magnetic recording layer, a spacer layer and a soft underlayer. In one embodiment the soft underlayer is an antiferromagnetically coupled magnetic layer stack with two soft magnetic layers separated by a non-magnetic spacer layer selected to achieve the antiferromagnetic coupling.

A typical prior art a disk drive system 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. In operation the magnetic transducer 20 is supported by the suspension 13 as it flies above the disk 16. The magnetic transducer 20, usually called a "head" or "slider," is composed of elements that perform the task of writing magnetic transitions (the write head 23) and reading the magnetic transitions (the read head 12). The electrical signals to and from the read and write heads 12, 23 travel along conductive paths (leads) 14 which are attached to or embedded in the suspension 13. The magnetic transducer 20 is positioned over points at varying radial distances from the center of the disk 16 to read and write circular tracks (not shown). The disk 16 is attached to a spindle 18 that is driven by a spindle motor 24 to rotate the disk 16. The disk 16 comprises a substrate 26 on which a plurality of thin films 21 are deposited. The thin films 21 include ferromagnetic material in which the write head 23 records the magnetic transitions in which information is encoded.
The conventional disk 16 consists of substrate 26 of AlMg with an electroless coating of NiP which has been highly polished. Glass is also commonly used for the substrate 26. The thin films 21 on the disk 16 typically include a chromium or chromium alloy underlayer which is deposited on the substrate 26. The ferromagnetic layer in the thin films is based on various alloys of cobalt, nickel and iron. For example, a commonly used alloy is CoPtCr. Additional elements such as tantalum and boron are often used in the magnetic alloy. A protective overcoat layer is used to improve wearability and corrosion. The three film disk described above does not exhaust the possibilities. Various seed layers, multiple underlayers and laminated magnetic films have all been described in the prior art. In a disk drive using perpendicular recording the recording head is designed to direct magnetic flux through the recording layer in a direction which is perpendicular to the plane of the disk. Typically the disk for perpendicular recording has a hard magnetic recording layer and a magnetically soft underlayer. During recording operations using a single-pole type head, magnetic flux is directed from the main pole of the recording head perpendicularly through the hard magnetic recording layer, then into the plane of the soft underlayer and back to the return pole in the recording head.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,202 to Litvinov, et al. is an example of a magnetic recording medium for perpendicular or vertical recording. The medium includes a a magnetically soft underlayer deposited on the substrate. Suitable soft magnetic materials for the underlayer are said to include CoFe and alloys thereof, FeAlN, NiFe, CoZrNb and FeTaN, with CoFe and FeAlN being preferred soft materials. A magnetically hard recording layer is deposited on the soft underlayer. Suitable hard magnetic materials for the recording layer are said to include multilayers of Co/Pd or Co/Pt, L10 phases of CoPt, FePt, CoPd and FePd and hcp Co alloys, with such multilayers and L10 phases being preferred hard materials.
In contrast to perpendicular recording, longitudinal recording media typically uses a non-magnetic underlayer under the ferromagnetic recording layer. Typical underlayer materials are chromium and various alloys of chromium. In order to maintain thermal stability for long duration storage of data, the coercivity of the magnetic recording layer must be kept high. High coercivity, in turn, places large demands on the field generated by the write head and results in poor overwriting (OW) and poor field gradients. The field generated by the write head can be the limiting factor for increasing recording density.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,730 to Ga-Lane Chen a soft magnetic underlayer for vertical recording is referred as "keeper layer". The soft underlayer is said to give better writing efficiency by pulling the magnetic flux down from the writing pole of a head of the magnetic recording medium. Examples given of soft magnetic materials are NiFe, CoZrNb, FeAlNx. A particular problem with a NiFe soft underlayer is that the thickness required results in an unacceptable surface roughness. The patent describes a process for thick NiFe deposition that can reduce surface roughness of thin films. The presence of interstitial nitrogen in a soft magnetic layer is claimed to greatly reduce the surface roughness of the soft magnetic layer as compared to another soft magnetic layer without interstitial nitrogen. Interstitial nitrogen is different from nitrogen in the material forming the soft magnetic layer.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,495,252 to Richter, et al., a recording medium with a superparamagnetic underlayer is described and asserted to solve problems arising from the generation of Barkhausen noise in magnetic recording media employing magnetically soft underlayers, e.g., of NiFe (Permalloy). According to the specification, high bit density magnetic recording, storage, and retrieval media of either perpendicular or longitudinal type substantially free of Barkhausen noise are fabricated by substituting a layer or film of a very finely grained (i.e., polycrystalline), magnetically soft material for the continuous, magnetically soft films or layers conventionally utilized as underlayers. The grain size of the ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material utilized for the magnetically soft underlayer is sufficiently small, such that the grains thereof become superparamagnetic, i.e., they remain magnetically ordered but lose their hysteresis. Although Richter, et al. assert that the described media can be used for longitudinal recording, every example given is for perpendicular recording. No mention is made as to how the media should be changed to function in longitudinal recording.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,813 to Carey, et al. a layer structure is described that includes at least two ferromagnetic films antiferromagnetically coupled together across a nonferromagnetic coupling/spacer film. In general, it is said that the exchange coupling oscillates from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic with increasing coupling/spacer film thickness and that the preferred 6 angstrom thickness of the ruthenium coupling/spacer layer was selected because it corresponds to the first antiferromagnetic peak in the oscillation for the particular thin film structure. Materials that are appropriate for use as the nonferromagnetic coupling/spacer films include ruthenium (Ru), chromium (Cr), rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir), copper (Cu), and their alloys. Because the magnetic moments of the two antiferromagnetically coupled films are oriented antiparallel, the net remanent magnetization-thickness product (Mrt) of the recording layer is the difference in the Mrt values of the two ferromagnetic films. This reduction in Mrt is accomplished without a reduction in the thermal stability of the recording medium because the volumes of the grains in the antiferromagnetically coupled films add constructively. An embodiment of the structure includes two ferromagnetic CoPtCrB films, separated by a Ru spacer film having a thickness selected to maximize the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between the two CoPtCrB films. The top ferromagnetic layer is designed to have a greater Mrt than the bottom ferromagnetic layer, so that the net moment in zero applied magnetic field is low, but nonzero. The Carey '813 patent also states that the antiferromagnetic coupling is enhanced by a thin (5 Angstroms) ferromagnetic cobalt interface layer added between the coupling/spacer layer and the top and/or bottom ferromagnetic layers.

Longitudinal magnetic recording using magnetic media with a soft underlayer

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.