A FIFO buffer capable of erasing any particular data set or sets without influencing the data sets not to be erased. At the time of writing data sets into the FIFO buffer, the starting point of the data set is recognized and the pointer value of the write pointer at that time is stored in a pointer buffer. When an erase instruction is given, the pointer value stored in the pointer buffer is loaded at the write pointer or the read pointer in response to the erase instruction. By this, the data sets after the specified pointer value or the data sets before the specified pointer value at the pointer value conforming to the data set to be erased in the pointer buffer. When the value of the read pointer reaches a pointer value to which the erase flag is attached, the value of the read pointer is made to skip to the next pointer value. By this, it is possible to erase any particular desired data set or sets as well.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a first-in first-out (FIFO) buffer capable of storing a plurality of data sets having different data lengths, more particularly relates to a FIFO buffer capable of partially erasing data sets.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known in the art is a FIFO buffer (hereinafter referred to as a "FIFO") provided with a memory circuit, a write pointer for specifying an address for writing to that memory circuit, and a read pointer for specifying an address for reading from that memory circuit. This buffer compares the pointer values of the write pointer and the read pointer and detects a full/empty state of the memory circuit to control the writing and reading of data sets.
As will be explained later by reference to the drawings, in a FIFO having this conventional configuration, it is impossible to erase a particular data set or sets among the stored data sets.
Partial erasure of the data sets would become possible by using a plurality of FIFOs. However, in a FIFO which should store therein a plurality of data sets having different data lengths, ordinarily just a single FIFO is used from the viewpoint of storage efficiency. To erase a particular data set in that FIFO, it is necessary to clear out at least all of the data sets to be erased. During this clear out operation, it becomes impossible to write any data set into the FIFO.
As explained above, in a conventional FIFO, there was a problem in that it was not possible to erase a particular data set without clearing out all of the data sets to be erased.

Fifo buffer capable of partially erasing data set held therein


In an example, an interposer chip is provided. The interposer chip includes a base portion and a chip mounting portion. The interposer chip also includes one or more flexures connecting the base portion to the chip mounting portion. Additionally, a first plurality of projections extends from the base portion towards the chip mounting portion, and a second plurality of projections extends from the chip mounting portion towards the base portion and extending into interstices formed by first plurality of projections.

Sensing systems that are used in harsh environments usually need some form of isolation from that environment. For example, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) is often subjected to vibration and/or large shocks. Therefore, a vibration isolation system is typically used to damp out the vibration and/or large shocks from the IMU.
Conventional micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) IMUs can include a vibration isolator that separates the IMU housing from the internal components. This vibration isolator is typically an elastomeric material that can both absorb and damp a significant amount of vibration (e.g., approximately critically damped) over a wide temperature range (−55 degrees C. to 85 degrees C.).


Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and a device for establishing a router neighbor. The method includes: obtaining a first discovery protocol Hello message sent by a neighbor router, where the first Hello message carries identification information and priority information of the neighbor router; and determining whether to add the relevant information of the neighbor router into the neighbor list of a local end router, according to the priority information of the neighbor router, and/or priority information of the local end router, and/or whether the identification information of the neighbor router is identification information of an opposite end device of a virtual link configured for the local end router. The embodiments of the present invention ensure that a small device can establish neighbor relationships with a DR and a BDR on a network and that the small device's OSPF function is normal.

Open Shortest Path First (Open Shortest Path First; OSPF) is an interior gateway protocol. The protocol specifies that routers on a subnet include: a designated router (Designated Router; DR), a backup designated router (Backup Designated Router; BDR), and a non-designated router or a non-backup designated router (Not DR or BDR; DR Other). All routers on the subnet have a same link state database (Link state database; LSDB). The DR generates a link state advertisement (Link state advertisement; LSA) representing the network. A router on the subnet needs to exchange LSDB information with the DR; the DR generates a piece of information (Network LSA) that describes the network for the network, and the DR floods the information to all other routers on the subnet. A router on the subnet, according to information (Router LSA) that describes a router node in the LSDB and the Network LSA in the LSDB, calculates a shortest path tree which adapts a local end as a root node, and calculates all routes in a subnet area according to the shortest path tree.
In the prior art, any node on a network needs to establish neighbor relationships with all other devices. However, a small device with a limited processing resource, after establishing neighbor relationships with a part of devices, may fail to establish connection relationships with other devices. Once these devices fail to establish router adjacency with routers that may function as a DR and a BDR, an OSPF function of these devices is affected. For example, subnet routes cannot be calculated or route information of a local end router cannot be released.

Method and device for establishing router neighbor


A tail pad portion is provided in a flexure tail including a metal base and a conductive circuit portion. Tail terminals are arranged in the tail pad portion. The metal base is made of stainless steel, and includes a frame structure having a first frame and a second frame. An opening is formed between the first and second frames. The tail terminals are arranged parallel to each other between the first and second frames. A bridge portion is provided between the first and second frames. The bridge portion is constituted of at least one conductive bridge member, and arranged at a position which does not overlap the tail terminals. One end of the bridge member is connected to the first frame, and the other end of the bridge member is connected to the second frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flexure of a disk drive suspension, and more particularly, a flexure tail comprising a tail pad portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hard disk drive (HDD) is used in an information processor such as a personal computer. The HDD comprises a magnetic disk rotatable about a spindle, a carriage turnable about a pivot, etc. On an arm of the carriage, a disk drive suspension (which will be hereinafter simply referred to as a suspension) is provided.
The suspension comprises elements such as a load beam, and a flexure disposed to overlap the load beam. A magnetic head including a slider is mounted on a gimbal portion formed near a distal end of the flexure. The magnetic head is provided with elements for accessing data, that is, for reading or writing data. The load beam and the flexure, etc., constitute a head gimbal assembly.
Various types of flexures have been put to practical use according to the required specification. As an instance, a flexure with conductors as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,325,446 (Patent Document 1) or U.S. Pat. No. 8,295,013 (Patent Document 2) is known. The flexure with conductors includes a metal base made of a thin stainless steel plate, an insulating layer made of an electrically insulating material, such as polyimide, which is formed on the metal base, a plurality of conductors formed on the insulating layer. The flexure includes a proximal portion which overlaps the load beam, and a flexure tail which extends toward the rear of a baseplate.
Part of the conductors is for writing, and the other part of the same is for reading. Ends of these conductors are connected to elements (for example, MR elements) provided in the magnetic head. The other ends of the conductors are connected to tail terminals formed in the flexure tail. These tail terminals are electrically connected to terminals of a circuit board such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC). On the circuit board, a signal processing circuit such as a preamplifier is mounted.
In a tail pad portion provided in the flexure tail, a plurality of tail terminals are arranged. These tail terminals are connected to conductors which constitute a conductive circuit portion of the flexure. The tail terminals are laid over the terminals of the circuit board, and the tail terminals and the terminals of the circuit board are electrically connected by bonding means such as ultrasonic bonding.
As a result of the intensive study of the inventors of the present invention, in a flexure tail having the tail terminals as described above, it has been found that crosstalk (a leakage current) occurs in a read conductor when a pulse signal is passed to a write conductor. The crosstalk becomes a cause of the electrical characteristics of the disk drive to be adversely affected.


A wide range radiation detector which can precisely detect high energy region radiations. The detector has a plurality of layered semiconductor elements wired in parallel, and outputs the energy of the radiation by summing the charges generated by ionization of the radiation incident on the semiconductor elements.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a wide range radiation detector for detecting radiations in wide range energy regions, and more particularly relates to a radiation detector for detecting radiations in high energy regions highly sensitively.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a construction of a conventional wide range radiation detector. In the figure, reference numeral 1 designates a semiconductor element. Reference numerals 2, 3 and 4 designate radiations incident on the semiconductor element 1. Reference numeral 5 designates a preamplifier for taking out and amplifying output pulses having pulse heights proportional to the energy of radiations absorbed in the semiconductor element 1. Reference numeral 6 designates a main amplifier connected to the preamplifier 5. Reference numeral 7 designates an analog-digital converter connected to the main amplifier 6. Reference numeral 8 designates a multi-channel pulse height analyzer connected to the analog-digital converter 7.
Next, the operation of the wide range radiation detector structured as above will be described. At first, the radiations 2, 3 and 4 enter the semiconductor element 1. Then, the whole energy of the radiation 2 is absorbed in the semiconductor element 1; the radiation 3 passes through the semiconductor element 1 without any interaction; the radiation 4 causes, for example, Compton scattering in the semiconductor element 1, so that the energy of the radiation 4a is absorbed and the energy of the radiation 4b is emitted to the outside of the element 1 without being absorbed.
Consequently, only the output pulses having pulse heights proportional to the energy of the radiations 2 and 4a are outputted from the semiconductor element 1. Then, the output pulses are amplified by the preamplifier 5 and the main amplifier 6 to be converted from analog signals to digital signals by the analog-digital converter 7. And further, the converted digital signals are counted by the multi-channel pulse height analyzer 8 by every pulse height value. Thus, the energy distributions and the dose rates of the radiations incident on the semiconductor element 1 are measured on the basis of the results of the analysis of the multi-channel pulse height analyzer 8.
Since the conventional wide range radiation detector is structured as above, high energy region radiations cannot be detected accurately because they pass through without any interaction like the radiation 3 or cause Compton scattering and so forth like the radiation 4 so that the whole energy of them are not absorbed but a part of the energy of them is emitted to the outside of the semiconductor element 1. Accordingly, the followings can be considered for resolving the above problem. At first, it is considerable to cope with high energy region radiations by increasing the thickness of the semiconductor element 1 itself. But it is very difficult to form the thickness of the semiconductor element 1 up to an extent capable of coping with the high energy region radiations by means of traditional semiconductor manufacturing skills. Alternately, it is also possible to cope with the high energy region radiations by increasing the area of the semiconductor element 1 itself and disposing the longer side of the element 1 in parallel with the incident directions of the radiations. But the plan can not be adopted in spite of the capability for detecting the high energy region radiations, because the part of the semiconductor element 1 for detecting radiations would be very narrow owing to the thin thickness direction of the element 1 to be disposed parallel to the incident thereof. Another problem of the plan is that the whole energy given to the element by radiations cannot be transmitted to outer circuits in the case of semiconductors whose mobility of charge carriers is small. The reason is that the collection of charges becomes insufficient because some generated charges cannot reach collection electrodes owing to the small mobility of charge carriers.


An apparatus for assembling an automotive body on an assembly line having a right-hand body subassembly line, a left-hand body subassembly line and an underbody subassembly line, for delivery to a pallet transport system for movement through a body framing subassembly line. The apparatus includes an overhead transport system for transporting automotive components along at least one of the subassembly lines and for conveying the automotive components along a pallet transport system on the body framing subassembly line. The overhead transport system includes a trolley movable along a single overhead rail, a carriage slidably movable relative to the trolley, and a plurality of antler nests. Each antler nest is individually engageable with the carriage. The apparatus also includes a lowerator for transferring components from the overhead transport system to a geometry fixture at a workstation along the subassembly line. The workstation along the subassembly line can include a plurality of geometry fixtures that are exchangeable at a ready position of the workstation.

Current body assembly lines typically use a palletized approach for assembling components of the automotive body style to be built and for joining those components to one another at a framing station. The palletized approach requires that sufficient pallets be provided for each type of body style to be assembled and transported along the assembly line at one time, including spares for any pallets that may be damaged during the assembly process. When this number is multiplied by the number of models to be produced on the assembly line, the number of pallets can be a very large number requiring large amounts of off line storage space and also requiring a tremendous amount of maintenance to maintain the accurate geometry required of a palletized fixture.

Flexible automotive assembly line method


In a CVD apparatus, an epitaxial apparatus or an etching apparatus, the processing conditions are made uniform in a batch process by changing, with time, positions which are disposed in the direction of a gas flow in a reaction vessel and at which the optimal surface processing conditions are attained. By doing so, homogeneous and uniform films can be formed with a large substrate processing apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of processing substrates and a substrate processing apparatus, utilized to produce semiconductor devices, such as a method of processing substrates and a substrate processing apparatus for forming films by the use of gas or the like or by means of ashing process, and more particularly to a batch type method of processing substrates and substrate processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices have been fabricated by means of thin film formation processes utilizing the vapor phase deposition method (the CVD method) due to vapor phase reactions, the epitaxial growth method and the like. Further, etching and ashing have been widely used. Particularly, the batch process which processes a plurality of substrates in one lot has frequently been used as a method having high productivity.
When the batch process is used, however, variation occurs in surface process of substrates. For example, in forming thin films on a plurality of substrates, the thickness and quality of the films vary. The variation occurs due to the fact that surface processing conditions are delicately changed according to the positions of the substrates arranged in a reaction vessel.
The reason why the variation occurs when thin films are formed will now be explained. In the CVD method and the epitaxial growth method, surface processing is carried out by a reaction caused by energy of heat, light, plasma or the like, decomposition of gas introduced in the reaction vessel, or a reaction of gas on the substrates. In the batch process, substrates are generally arranged in the direction of the flow of the gas introduced in the reaction vessel. The time interval of energy exposure to substrates at the upstream side of the gas flow is different from the time interval of energy exposure to substrates at the downstream side of the gas flow. Further, when a plurality of gases are mixed with each other in the reaction vessel, the mixed gas arrives at respective substrates at different time. In this connection, the degrees of the deposition or reaction of the gas (gaseous species) differ at different positions of the substrates. The process of CVD at lower temperatures is reported in J. Sato and K. Maeda: VERY LOW TEMPERATURE CVD OF SiO.sub.2 FILMS USING OZONE AND ORGANOSILANE (Electro Chemical Society, Spring Meeting, Abstract No. 9, pp. 31-33, May 1971).
As described above, the conventional batch process is encountered with a problem that the surface-processed states of substrates vary.

Method of processing substrates and substrate processing apparatus


Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing a flexible host memory buffer are disclosed. One method includes allocating an amount of host memory as a host memory buffer accessible by a solid state drive (SSD) as a cache for SSD data. The method further includes caching data from the solid state drive in the host memory buffer. The method further includes monitoring utilization of the host memory buffer. The method further includes dynamically increasing or decreasing the amount of host memory allocated for the host memory buffer based on the utilization.

Solid state drives, or SSDs, are mass storage devices that use flash memory for bulk memory storage rather than the rotating magnetic disks used in traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) and are typically intended as a drop-in replacement for HDDs, meaning that the SSD is pin- and protocol-compatible with the HDD that it replaces. SSDs typically have faster access time and use less power than a comparable HDD, but usually cost substantially more than a comparable HDD. It is expected that SSDs will widely replace HDDs as the cost of SSDs continues to go down.
SSDs typically include a cache memory for temporarily storing data being read from or written to the SSD. Conventional SSD designs use SRAM for the level one (L1) cache, NAND or NOR flash memory for the level two (L2) cache, and NAND flash memory for the mass data storage (also called "bulk data storage" or "bulk storage".) SDRAM is also used to store a flash transition list's (FTL's) metadata. The L1 cache can be part of SRAM, which can be on chip. The L1 cache can also be part of DRAM, which can be part of the storage device address space and solely addressable by the storage device. Though SRAM or DRAM improves the performance, neither technology is favorable to a low end/low cost SSD, as using SRAM or DRAM increases die size, cost of materials and power consumption.
There are disadvantages associated with these conventional SSD designs, however. Although the SRAM used for the L1 cache is fast, the memory density of SRAM is quite low compared to flash memory, and so the memory capacity of the L1 cache is relatively small. It is possible to increase the L1 cache capacity by increasing the amount of SRAM on the SSD, but this leads to increased die size and cost. As SSDs become commodity items, it is important to keep the size of the silicon die down, and so increasing the amount of SRAM on the SSD (referred to as "on-board SRAM") is disfavored.
The flash memory typically used for the L2 cache has a high memory density relative to the die size, also has disadvantages. NOR flash is true random access memory, but has a lower memory density relative to NAND flash. NAND flash has a higher memory density relative to NOR flash, but must be accessed a page at a time, which necessitates the use of additional hardware, called the flash translation layer, or FTL, to make it appear as if the NAND flash supports true random access.
The use of an NAND flash for the L2 cache, however, imposes additional costs and constraints. Because flash is erasable only in large chunks, called pages—a common page size is 4096 bytes—modifying a single byte or word of NAND flash in actuality requires modification of an entire page at a time. Since flash memories degrade over time proportional to the number of program/erase cycles performed, the illusion of random access provided by the FTL has the undesired side effect of reducing the operating life flash memory.
Thus, the use of on-board flash as cache memory is less desirable than the use of RAM, and the use of SRAM as cache memory is limited by the physical size constraints of the on-board SRAM memory that would be required. Therefore, what is desired is an SSD that provides the advantages of a large RAM cache but without the disadvantages of either on-board flash or on-board SRAM. In addition, it is desirable to have an SSD architecture that can be configured for use for either high-end (high cost, high performance) and low-end (low cost, low power consumption) markets.
Accordingly, in light of these disadvantages associated with conventional SSD architectures, solid state drive caching across a host bus is desirable. When performing solid state drive caching across a host bus, a portion of host DRAM is used to cache data, such as FTL tables, for the SSD. Allowing host DRAM to be used as a cache by the SSD makes SSD operations more efficient and reduces the requirement for on-board DRAM in the SSD. However, if host DRAM is being used by the SSD, that portion of the DRAM is not available to the host and may adversely impact the performance of the host. The portion of host DRAM used for caching SSD data is referred to interchangeably herein as the host cache or host memory buffer. Because the host memory buffer is a shared resource between the SSD and the host, there exists a need for allocating the appropriate amount of DRAM for the host memory buffer that balances the needs of the SSD and the host and does not adversely affect the user experience. Accordingly, there exists a need for methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing a flexible host memory buffer.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing flexible host memory buffer


A sensor element for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of a gas includes a front electrode configured to be exposed to the gas to be measured, a back electrode, and an electrically insulating layer positioned between front electrode and back electrode. The front electrode and the back electrode can be electrically contact connected to an AC voltage source for a qualitative and/or quantitative detection of a gas. The electrically insulating layer is at least locally polarizable in such a way that in a polarized state the electrically insulating layer has a relative permittivity which is lower than in a non-polarized state by a factor in a range of greater than or equal to 1.1.

Field effect transistors (FETs) having a gas-sensitive gate have long been researched and used as gas sensors, for instance. Field effect based semiconductor components afford the advantage of very small dimensions, low unit costs and high integrability. For applications at high temperatures, for example, the use of silicon carbide or other semiconductors having a high band gap is known, in order to avoid the intrinsic conduction dominant starting from approximately 250° C. in the case of silicon.
The document DE 10 2009 029 621 A1 discloses a detection device and a method for detecting a gas. In particular, said document describes metal-insulator-semiconductor structures (MIS structures) that are used for detecting gases. In that case, a capacitance structure is used which can consist of at least one gas-sensitive electrode, at least one dielectric, a semiconducting material and a conductive back electrode.
The article W. Zhu et al. Amorphous ferroelectric (Ba0.67Sr0.33)Ti0.02O3 thin films with enhanced H2 induced interfacial polarization potential, Journal of Applied Physics, 84(9), pages 5134-5139, 1998, furthermore discloses using specific dielectric layers without a semiconductor substrate in a sensor element, and using DC leakage current as a measurement signal.

Sensor element and method for detecting a gas


Disclosed is a magnetic tape transport system which has multiple magnetic heads arranged parallel to each other that a magnetic tape slides in contact with, and which has a structure to prevent a decrease in contact pressure between the magnetic tape and the magnetic heads. The magnetic tape transport system includes a supply reel for feeding the magnetic tape, a take-up reel for winding the magnetic tape fed from the supply reel, a plurality of magnetic heads being arranged parallel to each other, a partition plate for dividing a space between the magnetic heads into an air space and a close-tape space, a negative pressure generation means for setting a pressure in the air space to be lower than that in the close-tape space, and a communicating path for allowing the air space and the close-tape space to communicate with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
An apparatus consistent with the present invention relates to a magnetic tape transport system for transporting a magnetic tape, which has multiple magnetic heads arranged parallel to each other in contact with the magnetic tape.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, the high density recording design of magnetic recording media has advanced, and some backup media for computers have a recording capacity of several hundreds of gigabytes. For example, a magnetic tape has several hundreds of data tracks along the width, thereby achieving the high density recording design. Such a high density recording design involves excessive narrowing of the data tracks and of the intervals between the adjacent data tracks in a magnetic tape. Thus, in order to allow recording/reproducing devices of a magnetic head to trace such narrow data tracks, servo signals are written on a magnetic tape in advance, and the servo signals are then read by a magnetic head, while the position of the magnetic head relative to the magnetic tape (the position along the width of the magnetic tape) is servo-controlled (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 8-30942 (Paragraph No. 0004)).
The servo signals are written on corresponding non-magnetized servo bands on a magnetic tape by magnetizing the servo bands in one direction by use of a servo write head of a servo writer, to which a record current is supplied.
In a conventional type magnetic tape MT1 as shown in FIG. 7B, as a means of preventing the saturation of a servo signal read device (not shown) of a magnetic tape drive (not shown) upon reproduction, a record pulse current PC1 having positive pulses and zero pulses as shown in FIG. 7A is generated and used to form servo signals SS1. When the zero pulses of the record pulse current PC1 are supplied to a servo write head of a servo writer, the servo bands SB1 are not magnetized. Meanwhile, when the positive pulses are supplied, parts (servo patterns SP1) of the servo bands SB1 are magnetized in one direction. As a result, the servo signals SS1 are written. The servo write head for writing the servo signal SS1 has head gaps in the form of a symmetric trapezoid at predetermined angle with respective to the transport direction of the magnetic tape MT1. With these head gaps, servo patterns SP1a shown in FIG. 7B are formed when positive pulse currents PPa shown in FIG. 7A are fed to the servo write head, and servo patterns SP1b are formed when positive pulse currents PPb are fed.
A magnetic tape drive uses a servo signal read device to sense magnetic flux transitions of the servo signal SS1, based on a variation in an electric resistance of the servo signal read device, and outputs, as a read signal, a differential voltage waveform produced from the magnetic flux transitions being sensed. Accordingly, as the variation in the electric resistance of the servo signal read device is increased, the peak-to-peak value of the read signal is increased, in other words, the SN ratio of the read signal is enhanced. Specifically, if the magnetic flux transitions of the servo signal SS1 are great, or if the servo signal read device has a large sensing area, then the signal RSL generated upon reading of the servo signal SS1 acquires a large peak-to-peak value, as shown in FIG. 7C.
In the future, it is expected that magnetic tapes will develop to have a recording capacity of several tens of terabytes. As such a high density recording design proceeds, the number of data tracks formed on a magnetic tape is increased, the width of data tracks and the interval between adjacent data tracks are further narrowed, and thus, a magnetic tape itself is thinner. This involves decrease in a magnetic quantity sensed upon reading of the servo signal SS1, that is, decrease in the magnetic flux transitions sensed by the servo signal read device. This causes lowering of the peak value of the voltage signal RSS produced upon reading of the servo signal SS1, as shown in FIG. 7D, and the SN ratio of the signal RSS is thus deteriorated. Consequently, a magnetic tape drive fails to read the servo signal SS1 correctly, and to exactly control the position of the magnetic head.
To overcome this disadvantage, a technique disclosed in JP 2003-110396 (non-published) was conceived by this inventor. In this technique, as shown in FIG. 8A, a servo writer uses a DC erase head (not shown) to magnetize the servo bands SB2 in one direction (i.e. in the right direction in the figure) along the long side of the magnetic tape MT (DC magnetization) and, then uses a servo write head (not shown) to write the servo signals SS on the servo bands SB by magnetizing the parts of the servo bands SB in the opposite direction (i.e. in the left direction in the figure). In this figure, the magnetized directions are denoted by small arrows. The level of the voltage signal, which is generated upon reading of the servo signal SS2, is increased at a border where the orientation of the magnetization is changed. On the servo signal SS2, the magnetic orientations are greatly changed from the right to left directions in the figure, and the magnetic orientations are greatly changed from the left to right directions. Therefore, the voltage signal (see FIG. 8B), which is generated when a servo signal read device S of a magnetic head of a magnetic tape drive reads the servo signal SS2, has a large amplitude, thus improving the SN ratio of the voltage signal.
In addition, when the DC erase head magnetizes the servo bands SB2 in one direction along the long side of the magnetic tape MT2 (hereinafter, this process is referred to as "DC erase"), the DC erase head also DC-erases a data band DB2 to which data signal will be written later, as shown in FIG. 8A. In this case, remanent magnetization on the data band DB2 may cause noise upon reproduction of the data signal.
This disadvantage can be overcome by use of, for example, a servo writer 22 equipped with a DC erase head 20 and a servo write head 21 as shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a plane view depicting the DC erase head 20 and the servo write head 21 of the servo writer 22, as seen from the direction of the magnetic tape MT2 being transported. Referring to FIG. 9, each head gaps 20a of the DC erase head 20 and each head gap 21a of the servo write head 21 are arranged in the longitudinal (transport) direction of the magnetic tape MT2. Thanks to this arrangement, in writing the servo signals SS2 (see FIG. 8) on the corresponding servo bands SB2 of the magnetic tape MT2 being transported in the right direction of FIG. 9, the DC erase head 20 uses the head gaps 20a to subject only the servo bands SB2 to the DC-erase, and the servo write head 21 then uses the head gaps 21a to write the servo signals SS2 on the DC-erased servo bands SB2. This makes it possible to write the servo signals SS2 on the servo bands SB2 without DC-erasing the data band DB2. In this case, the DC erase head 20 and the servo write head 21 need to be arranged as close to each other as possible to the extent where the cross-talk therebetween does not occur. This is because the servo bands SB2 that have undergone the DC-erase must be prevented from shifting from the corresponding head gap 21a of the servo write head 21, when the magnetic tape MT2 is displaced in the lateral direction (upward and downward directions in FIG. 9) during the transport.
However, when the servo signals SS2 (see FIG. 8A) are written on the servo bands SB2 of the magnetic tape MT2 by the DC erase head 20 and the servo write head 21 arranged close to each other, airflow involved by the transport of the magnetic tape MT2 circulates within an air gap 23 between the two heads 20 and 21. This airflow within the air gap 23 then forces the magnetic tape MT2 to move away from the two heads. In this case, the contact pressure between the magnetic tape MT2 and the DC erase head 20 or the servo write head 21 may be decreased, thereby causing the writing error of the servo signals SS2. In addition, the magnetic tape MT2 may be displaced on magnetic tape contact surfaces 20b and 21b of the DC erase head 20 and the servo write head 21, respectively, in the lateral direction, thereby causing the shift of the DC-erased servo bands SB2 from the respective head gaps 21a of the servo write head 21.
The present invention has been conceived, taking the disadvantages above into account. An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic tape transport system which is equipped with multiple magnetic heads arranged parallel to each other in contact with a magnetic tape being transported, and which has a structure to prevent a decrease in the contact pressure between the magnetic tape and the magnetic heads.

Magnetic tape transport system generating air pressure between magnetic heads


Embodiments include an air filtration media element comprising a plurality of layers of fluted media, each layer comprising a facing sheet and a fluted sheet, the fluted sheet comprising a first plurality of flutes and a second plurality of flutes, the first and second plurality of flutes being arranged in a parallel flow configuration; wherein the first and second plurality of flutes exhibit regular repeating differences in flute shape, flute size, flute height, flute width, cross-flute area, or filter media.

Z-flow filter media, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,959,702 to inventor Rocklitz, has a plurality of layers of media. Each layer has a fluted sheet, a facing sheet, and a plurality of flutes extending from a first face to a second face of the filtration media element. A first portion of the plurality of flutes are closed to unfiltered air flowing into the first portion of the plurality of flutes, and a second portion of the plurality of flutes are closed to unfiltered air from flowing out of the second portion of the plurality of flutes. Air passing into flutes on one face of the media element passes through filter media before flowing out flutes on the other face of the media element.
Although z-flow media has many benefits, a need remains for improved filter performance, including filter media, media packs, and elements with reduced pressure drop across the element and/or improved particulate loading capacity.

Filter media, filter media packs, and filter elements


A resurf structure is provided which includes an n type diffusion region surrounded by a n- diffusion region, in which a part of the joined combination of the n type diffusion region and the n- diffusion region is separated by a narrow p- substrate region in between. An aluminum lead is provided between the separated n- diffusion regions, and a signal is level shifted. A high voltage semiconductor device which includes a small area high voltage isolation region is obtained without process cost increase.

There is known a conventional high voltage semiconductor devices which includes a high breakdown voltage isolation region using a resurf structure (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,642). FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a conventional semiconductor device with a level shift function which uses a high breakdown voltage resurf structure. As shown in the figure, the semiconductor device consists of an n-channel resurf MOS FET shown in the left side of the figure, and a resurf isolation island region in the right side of the figure. The semiconductor device comprises a p- substrate 1, an n- epitaxial layer 2, a p- diffusion region 3 formed to reach the p- substrate 1, an n+ buried diffusion region 4, an n diffusion region 5, a p diffusion region 6, an oxide film 7, aluminum lead 8, a polysilicon gate 9, an aluminum electrode 10, and a polysilicon 11. The aluminum electrode 10 is formed in contact with the n diffusion region 5 and the p diffusion region 6, and has the same potential as that of the resurf isolation island. The polysilicon 11 has the same potential as that of the p diffusion region 3, and serves as a field plate. In addition, the n diffusion region 5 and the n+ buried diffusion region 4 constitute a resurf structure surrounded by the p diffusion region 3.
In the semiconductor device arranged as above, the n channel MOS FET is turned on by positively biasing the gate electrode 9. Thereby, a potential difference is caused between the electrode 10 and the aluminum lead 8 by a current flowing through the p diffusion region 6. Outputting this potential difference enables a logic signal applied to the gate 9 to be level shifted to a higher potential.
A problem in the structure of such conventional high voltage semiconductor devices lie in that, because the aluminum lead 8 at a high potential crosses over the p diffusion region 3 at the substrate potential, a depletion layer is prevented from extending between the n- epitaxial layer 2 and the p diffusion region 3, lowering the breakdown voltage. Countermeasures may be taken to prevent this problem, as shown in FIG. 12. One approach is to assure the extension of the depletion layer by forming field plates 11 with polysilicon or the like on the pn junction, or to form floating multiple field plates so as to stabilize the surface field with capacitive coupling (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,439). However, such approach has a problem. As the breakdown voltage is increased, it becomes necessary to considerably thicken an oxide film between the field plates 11 and the aluminum lead 8 to assure dielectric strength of the oxide film itself, thereby increasing the cost to process.

Semiconductor device having a high breakdown voltage isolation region


A combination molded plastic bucket and lid includes a series of outwardly extending ribs on the top edge of the bucket and inwardly extending flanges on a depending outer skirt of the lid which engaged with the bucket ribs to provide a wedging action that holds the lid tightly in a sealing position on the top of the bucket. A zig-zag tear strip permits removal of a portion of the lowermost lid flange. The top of the bucket includes a groove adapted to receive a projection or tongue seal.

The present invention relates to a molded plastic container or bucket and a compatible lid wherein the lid is removably secured to the open end of the container.
Many designs of molded plastic buckets or containers are known, for example, as disclosed in the following patents of John W. Von Holdt, Sr.: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,375,948; 4,574,974; 4,512,494; 4,512,493; 4,452,382; 4,380,305; 4,308,970; and 4,210,258. Buckets or containers for food, paint, solvents and chemicals have been made from molded plastic materials in accord with the teachings of such patents. However, molded plastic buckets may lack the strength of buckets fabricated from metal. Thus special designs for plastic buckets may be adopted to obtain, for example, desired structural integrity, hoop strength and stacking strength. Hoop strength relates to the function or characteristic of the container to resist lateral deformation or change in the cross sectional shape of the container when lateral forces act upon the sides of the container. Stacking strength relates to the function or characteristic of the container to support vertical loads such as those which may occur when containers are stacked upon each other.
Also the design of the mouth or open end of a plastic bucket or container and a compatible lid presents a challenge to provide a lid that is properly retained and sealed on the open top of the bucket. VonHoldt in U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,154 entitled Snap-OnFlexible Lid discloses a plastic lid with a peripheral flange constructed to enhance the "drop strength" of the lid while retaining flexibility adequate to permit removal of the lid from a container. Drop strength relates to the function or characteristic of the lid to maintain attachment to a container even when dropped from various heights. Von Holdt in U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,386 entitled Container with Tamper-Evident Lid Removal Means discloses additional embodiments of compatible molded plastic bucket and lid constructions.
Attachment of a lid to the open end of a molded plastic bucket often involves frictional or interference engagement or interaction between a rib, lip or groove molded in the open end of the bucket and a circumferential flange projection or groove in the lid. For example, the lid may include a radially, inwardly extending flange, rib or lip that is engaged with an outwardly extending rib on the outside wall of the bucket. A typical prior art lid and bucket combination is depicted in the cross section in FIG. 1. A bucket side wall 10 includes two circumferential, outwardly extending radial ribs 12, 14 which are each cooperative with a separate, inwardly extending circumferential, radial flange, 18, 20 on a skirt 13 of the lid 11. Flanges 18, 20 fit over the bucket ribs 12, 14 and thereby hold or retain the lid 11 on the bucket. The flanges 18, 20 resist release or removal of the lid 11 from the top or open end of the bucket.
Such prior art constructions work well. However, the need for a tamper resistant, improved lid construction for use in combination with a molded plastic bucket has remained.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for generating loudspeaker signals associated with a target screen size is disclosed. The method includes receiving a bit stream containing encoded higher order ambisonics signals, the encoded higher order ambisonics signals describing a sound field associated with a production screen size. The method further includes decoding the encoded higher order ambisonics signals to obtain a first set of decoded higher order ambisonics signals representing dominant components of the sound field and a second set of decoded higher order ambisonics signals representing ambient components of the sound field. The method also includes combining the first set of decoded higher order ambisonics signals and the second set of decoded higher order ambisonics signals to produce a combined set of decoded higher order ambisonics signals.

One way to store and process the three-dimensional sound field of spherical microphone arrays is the Higher-Order Ambisonics (HOA) representation. Ambisonics uses orthonormal spherical functions for describing the sound field in the area around and at the point of origin, or the reference point in space, also known as the sweet spot. The accuracy of such description is determined by the Ambisonics order N, where a finite number of Ambisonics coefficients are describing the sound field. The maximum Ambisonics order of a spherical array is limited by the number of microphone capsules, which number must be equal to or greater than the number O=(N+1)2 of Ambisonics coefficients.
An advantage of such Ambisonics representation is that the reproduction of the sound field can be adapted individually to nearly any given loudspeaker position arrangement.

Method and apparatus for screen related adaptation of a Higher-Order Ambisonics audio signal

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation


This disclosure is directed to calibrating sensors mounted on an autonomous vehicle. A dense depth map can be generated in a two-dimensional camera space using point cloud data generated by one of the sensors. Image data from another of the sensors can be compared to the dense depth map in the two-dimensional camera space. Differences determined by the comparison can indicate alignment errors between the sensors. Calibration data associated with the errors can be determined and used to calibrate the sensors without the need for calibration infrastructure.

The use of sensors by various systems requires accurate calibration to be useful. For example, an autonomous vehicle may have multiple cameras, LiDAR sensors, radar sensors, time-of-flight sensors and/or the like to detect objects, e.g., objects approaching the vehicle and/or objects the vehicle is approaching, and sensor data about those objects can be necessary to navigate relative thereto. In some environments, including those in which pedestrians, bicyclists, other vehicles, and/or static objects may be present, improperly calibrated sensors can result in unsafe conditions, even collisions. Some conventional calibration techniques use infrastructure, such as fiducial markers, to calibrate sensors. For example, by capturing data of a fiducial marker, a correction term can be determined and applied to subsequently-captured data. While the infrastructure may be readily available at a location at which a system is manufactured or at other locations, subsequent calibration requires bringing the system (e.g. an autonomous vehicle) to a location that has infrastructure, resulting in undesirable downtime for the system and/or, for those examples which rely on sensors for navigation, potentially unsafe travel to the location.

Sensor calibration using dense depth maps


This system measures the speed of an airborne vehicle relative to the surrounding atmosphere. The measurement is based on the scattering of pulses of coherent laser radiation, generated in the vehicle, preferably in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, by particles naturally present in the atmosphere at all times. The pulses are focused into the atmosphere at a sufficient distance from the vehicle, preferably 10-30 meters, to be beyond that region perturbed by the passage of the vehicle. The frequency of the radiation scattered by the particles differs from the frequency of the transmitted pulses by virtue of the relative motion of the vehicle and the atmosphere. Equipment in the vehicle digitally processes the received energy to determine this frequency difference for each pulse, and hence the component of the vehicle's velocity in the direction of the pulse transmission. Successive pulses are transmitted into the atmosphere in differing directions lying on the surface of a cone whose axis is fixed with respect to the vehicle, making possible the vectorial determination of the vehicle's relative motion. This conical scan is repeated without interruption over successive cycles of pulses. In determining the vehicle's velocity vector from the measured velocity components, account is taken, through weighting factors, of the statistically variable quality of the individual measurements from successive pulses. These weighting factors are derived from the properties of the measurements themselves and are applied to the data to enhance both accuracy and continuity of information.

This invention relates to a system for, and method of, determining atmospheric data relating to the movements of an airborne vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a system included in an airborne vehicle for using energy scattered from aerosol particles in the atmosphere to determine the vectorial speed of movement of the airborne vehicle relative to the aerosol particles. The system and method of this invention are especially adapted to determine the vehicle speed relative to that of the particles at a position sufficiently removed from the airborne vehicle to avoid any disturbance created by the movement of the airborne vehicle but sufficiently close to the airborne vehicle to indicate accurately the movement of the airborne vehicle with respect to the particles.
Mechanical instruments have long been used to measure the relative speed between a moving object such as an airborne vehicle and the free airstream through which the airborne vehicle is moving. The mechanical instruments determine the kinetic pressure exerted in a first defined area disposed on the vehicle in the direction of movement of the vehicle. The mechanical instruments also determine the static pressure exerted on a second defined area disposed on the airborne vehicle in substantially perpendicular relationship to the first defined area. The systems then compare the kinetic and static pressures to determine the relative air speed of the vehicle.
The mechanical instruments now in use typically employ Pitot tubes, pneumatic tubing and pressure transducers which are exposed to the external environment and are accordingly subject to degraded performance resulting from calibration changes from various causes such as component aging or changes in temperature. They are also subject to catastrophic failures as a result of accidental breakage. Furthermore, they protrude physically into the airflow.
As air navigation becomes increasingly complex, it becomes important to determine other data than the movement of the airborne vehicle relative to the ground. For example, it becomes increasingly important to know the characteristics of the air flow around the vehicle at each instant so that the response of the vehicle to such air flow can be properly controlled. For example, the air flow around the vehicle may affect the rate at which the yaw and pitch of the vehicles may be safely varied. The equipment now in use and discussed in the previous paragraphs has not been found satisfactory to provide the sensitive and accurate data which is now often required to control the rate at which the attitude of the vehicle can be safely varied.
A considerable effort has been made for a long period of time, and substantial sums of money have been expended during such period, to develop a system which will overcome the disadvantages discussed above. For example, systems have been developed using aerosol particles in the atmosphere to obtain desired air data. Such systems have directed energy from the airborne vehicle in such forms as substantially coherent light and/or radiation to the aerosol particles and have received coherent light scattered from the aerosol particles. Such systems have then processed the received signals to obtain the desired data. Although such systems appear to be promising, they have not yet demonstrated the performance that will be realized by this invention and they do not provide as accurate, sensitive and reliable information as may otherwise be desired and that will be attained by this invention.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,213 issued to Anthony E. Smart and Roger P. Woodward on Dec. 12, 1989, for a "System For, and Methods of, Providing for a Determination of the Movement of an Airborne Vehicle in the Atmosphere" and assigned of record to the assignee of record of this application, a system is disclosed and claimed for overcoming the above disadvantages. In one embodiment, light generated from a moving airborne vehicle and scattered from particles in the atmosphere produces, at first and second detectors at the vehicle, signals indicative of such scattered light. The detected signals are converted in the system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,213 to digital signals. The digital signals from each particle are grouped. A centroid, based upon a weighting of the signals in each group in accordance with amplitude and time, is determined to represent the most probable time at which the particle crosses the peak of the illuminated region.
The peak amplitude of each signal from a first detector in the system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,213 is paired with the peak amplitude of the successive signals from a second detector. The time difference between the paired signals, and their product amplitudes, are determined. The amplitude products are separated into successive bins on the basis of the time difference between the signals in each pair. The amplitude products in each bin are averaged. The bin with the greatest average amplitude product and the two (2) adjacent time bins are then selected.
The median time in the bin in the system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,213 having the highest average product amplitude is used as a first approximation to the transit time of a particle between the two sheets. An estimate with enhanced accuracy may be obtained by calculating the "centroid", by a method analogous to that used above, of the distribution of events in the three (3) chosen bins. The movement of the airborne vehicle may be determined from the selected time difference.

System for, and method of, determining the speed of an airborne vehicle


A telephone that includes: a storage unit 108; a transmission/reception unit 102 for, when an incoming call is received, acquiring a caller's phone number corresponding to the incoming call; a counting unit 105 for measuring a time period between a start of a reception of the incoming call and a disconnection of the incoming call; and a one-ring-call judgment unit 107 for, if the measured time period is shorter than a predetermined time period, instructing a general control unit 103 to store the acquired phone number into the storage unit 108 as a target for a connection rejection so that if an incoming call is received from a caller having the stored phone number thereafter, a connection thereto is rejected.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a telephone having a function to store information.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, communication devices providing a function called caller ID service have become wide spread. Such communication devices include: telephones connected to regular telephone lines; mobile phones; and PHS (Personal Handyphone System). The caller ID service function notifies a user of a caller's telephone number when the telephone receives an incoming call.
Such communication devices having the caller ID service are hereinafter referred to merely as telephones, for the sake of conveniences.
Each time a telephone receives an incoming call, this function provided in the telephone records the callers' telephone number in the call register. Such a function is convenient for telephone users in that if they fail to answer a call, they can ring back to the caller by referring to the call register.
However, a junk call called Wangiri in Japanese (hereinafter referred to as one-ring-call), which has become a matter of public concern, has been rampant recently. The one-ring-call is a telephony abusing the caller ID service. The caller of one-ring-call discontinues a call before a person on the other end answers the call. The purpose is to enter the one-ring caller's phone number in the call register of the target telephone. With this method, the one-ring caller can enter his/her phone number into the receiver's call register without paying a toll.
If the receiver originates a call to the one-ring caller by dialing the registered phone number, the call would be connected to a reception or guidance of a dating site or the like. This is a waste of money.
If a user, using a telephone connected to a regular telephone line, makes a call to the one-ring caller, the call may be connected to a service called Dial Q2 in which the caller is charged for being supplied with information from the Dial Q2 service. If this happens, the user has to pay the Dial Q2 service fee, as well as the regular toll.
Also, as shown in FIG. 8, such one-ring-calls may be made anytime day or night. For users who always set their telephones to a receivable mode providing for an emergency, such one-ring-calls would disturb their sweet sleep.
To avoid oneself from becoming a victim of one-ring-calls, the user may disregard the one-ring-calls, without making a call to the one-ring-callers. However, it is difficult to discern one-ring-calls among a lot of phone numbers recorded in the call register.
Also, when a telephone receives an incoming call while the user is at a great distance, the user, who does not know how many times the telephone rang, cannot determine whether the call was a one-ring-call or not.
As understood from the above description, it is difficult for conventional telephone users to avoid themselves from becoming victims of one-ring-calls.

Telephone having phone number registration function, phone number registration method, and call register display method


A device for the identification of a roller shell includes a microchip incorporated into a flexible material roller shell for printing presses. A scanning device excites the microchip for emitting signals permitting a definite identification of the microchip and of the roller shell.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for the identification of a roller shell manufactured of flexible material and utilized in printing presses.
2. Description of the Related Art
The monitoring or control of the inventory of rubber blankets or rubber rollers presents a problem, especially in large printing companies. Certainly, the rubber blankets or the rubber rollers carry embossed identification features. However, due to wear and tear the identification features become illegible, as soon as the rubber blankets or rubber rollers have been utilized in a printing process. Since in each case the selection of the rubber blanket or the rubber roller conforms to the respective print parameters, for example of the color, assurance must be provided that the selection of the rubber blanket or the rubber roller is clearly possible at all times. However, this is not always the case in the prior art.

Device for the identification of a flexible roller shell


A one piece clamp for affixing a pliable bag to a container. The device can be deformed to an open position and normally assumes a closed position. While in the closed position, the clamp is in condition to secure a bag to a container. The clamp may be deformed to place it in position on the lid of a container, and to allow release of the bag from the container.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to clamping devices, and more particularly to a simple, efficient clip device to fasten a plastic trash bag to a rigid container.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Virtually all human activity results in the generation of some refuse or waste. The sanitary storage and collection of waste is a hallmark of a civilized society. People generally store waste, or trash, in relatively small containers ranging anywhere from one to 55 gallons in size. Plastic or paper liners, or bags, are frequently used in an effort to keep these containers clean, and to facilitate easy removal of the trash. These liners are placed inside the rigid trash container and frequently are attempted to be secured to the container by folding the upper section of the bag over the lip of the container.
Several disadvantages exist with this arrangement. When garbage is placed in the bag, the bag often detaches from the lip of the container and falls to the bottom of the container, where it becomes another trash item. Attempts to remedy this by closely matching the bag opening with the container opening frequently result in bags that split or tear when folded over the container lip. And a bag that splits, or otherwise detaches from the container fails to perform its primary task of holding the refuse placed within it, and protecting the container from soiling.
The present invention solves the problem of pliable bags becoming detached from containers. Broadly, the present invention provides for the secure removable fastening of bags to containers.
More specifically, one embodiment of the invention attaches a pliable bag to a container by locating a clip over a portion of the bag and container so that a gripping section of the clip secures the bag against the container. The clip is positioned over the bag and container by applying pressure to the upwardly projecting grip, which causes the arms of the clip to separate sufficiently to be placed over the bag which is layed over the rim of the container. The clip secures the bag and container once pressure is removed from the grip.
The invention affords its users with a number of distinct advantages. First, trash bags no longer need to be folded over container lips, thus avoiding the possibility of tearing bags. Second, the bag remains securely attached to the container lip at all times and thus can perform its intended functions of containing refuse and protecting the container from being soiled by the refuse. Additionally, the clip of this invention has a low profile so that when it is in use it does not interfere with use of the container cover to close the top of the container.


Provided are apparatuses, methods, and user interfaces for requesting access to a program or service, receiving the requested program or service and displaying the requested program or service at a user terminal. In one example, a request for a period of time for access to the program or service is transmitted from a user terminal via a broadcast network. The period of time may be converted to a key decryption count corresponding to the period of time and key interval, the key interval being a period of time separating adjacent key stream messages in a key stream corresponding to a content data stream for the program or service. The encrypted program or service may be decrypted at the user terminal based on the period of access, key interval, and/or key decryption count.

Digital broadband broadcast networks enable end users to receive digital content including video, audio, data, and so forth. Using a mobile terminal, a user may receive digital content over a wireless digital communications network. For example, a user may receive data such as a broadcast program in a data stream. However, certain data transmissions may be intended for selected end users and not other end users. In this case, a method should be employed to prevent unauthorized access of the data transmission by end users not entitled to receive the data transmission.
Typically, transmitted data is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access to the data. For example, an algorithm may be employed to encrypt the data such that the encrypted data is unreadable. The data may be decrypted at an authorized terminal with the use of a key such as a particular number or string of characters. For the unidirectional communication of data in a digital communications network, a user terminal may receive a signal and filter encrypted services and decrypt the encrypted services with keys that are delivered through the digital communications network. In addition, the keys used to decrypt the data may be encrypted such that a user would need access to both the key for encrypting the data (i.e., a transport encryption key) and the key for encrypting the transport encryption key.
A user terminal may have access to a transmitted program or service for an authorized period of time such as, for example, when a user pays for access to the program or service. In this case, the user gains access to a program or service for a particular length of time, for example, the length of time of the program or service. As an example, a user may wish to view a television program that is one hour long. In this case, the user may purchase access to view the television program during that one hour period which the television program is broadcast.
However, access to the program or service for the user is limited in many ways. For example, the access to the program is time-based such that the keys for decrypting the program or for decrypting transport encryption keys are based on a length of time corresponding to the program. Such a key management system is inefficient since the user is purchasing the keys that provide access to the program or service content and may thus be unable to purchase access to a desired program/service or portion of a program/service.
Thus, a system and method is needed for providing access to a program or service such as programming via a digital communications network in an efficient and flexible manner. Also, a system and method is needed for permitting an end user to gain access to desired portions of a program or service.


Methods and apparatus provide for performing pre-execution processes to prepare instructions of an instruction set for further processing; executing the instructions in a pipeline of execution stages using digital logic for processing data in accordance with the instructions within one clock cycle per stage; latching the data each clock cycle for delivery to a next execution stage using one or more of a plurality of latch point circuits; and controlling each of the latch point circuits to operate as a buffer or as a latch.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving processing performance by controlling the latch points in, a processing system, such as a pipelined system.
In recent years, there has been an insatiable desire for faster computer processing data throughputs because cutting-edge computer applications involve real-time, multimedia functionality. Graphics applications are among those that place the highest demands on a processing system because they require such vast numbers of data accesses, data computations, and data manipulations in relatively short periods of time to achieve desirable visual results. These applications require extremely fast processing speeds, such as many thousands of megabits of data per second. While some processing systems employ a single processor to achieve fast processing speeds, others are implemented utilizing multi-processor architectures. In multi-processor systems, a plurality of sub-processors can operate in parallel (or at least in concert) to achieve desired processing results.
Semiconductor process technologies increase about every 18 months, with the current process being 90 nm. With the increase in process technology comes an increase in processing frequency and resultant increase in power dissipation. Although the increase in frequency improves processing performance, the increase in power dissipation is not desirable. Although, some have proposed decreasing the operating voltage to reduce the power dissipation, this has an undesirable complication: the leakage current increases.

Methods and apparatus for improving processing performance by controlling latch points


A fastener includes an annular body having a screw thread spiraling therearound. The thread has a crest and a pair of front and back flanks extending laterally therefrom, with a start end disposed adjacent to a front end of the body. The start end is flat from the back flank to the front flank and is inclined at an acute back angle relative to a helical axis of the crest for facing the start end toward a back end of the body.

In the environment of a nuclear reactor such as a boiling water reactor (BWR) for example, components within the reactor pressure vessel are located at a substantial distance below the top thereof and underwater when flooded during maintenance operations. Reactor components are typically assembled and disassembled by remote manipulation through the water to provide maximum shielding and distance from the radioactive environment adjacent the nuclear reactor core.
Threaded fasteners such as bolts and nuts are often used for assembling together components within the reactor. The engagement thereof is relatively difficult since limited access is typically provided in the crowded reactor pressure vessel and due to the flexibility of the remote handling tools which may extend up to about 25 meters below the operator and through the water.
A typical conventional bolt has a thread with a blunt or tapered start or leading edge for engaging with the respective leading edge or start end of the nut. The nut and bolt must be suitably initially axially aligned with each other with the respective threads being disposed closely adjacent to each other within a relatively small percentage of the thread pitch, for example about 5%, to ensure effective mating of the threads as they are rotated into engagement. Other configurations of the bolt front end are also conventionally known for more accurately initially joining together the bolt to the nut without damaging the threads due to misalignment or cross-threading thereof. However, conventional configurations vary in effectiveness and vary in their ability to be assembled using remote robotic or manipulation devices such as those required in the environment of the BWR for engagement at a substantial distance underwater.


Silicon carbide wafers are prepared for semiconductor epitaxial growth by first lapping a silicon carbide wafer derived from a boule, by placing the wafer in a recess of a metal backed template and moving the wafer over and against a rotating plate. Two different diamond slurry mixtures of progressively smaller diamond grit sizes are sequentially used, along with a lubricant, for a predetermined period of time. The lapping operation is followed by a polishing operation which sequentially utilizes two different diamond slurry mixtures of progressively smaller diamond grit sizes, along with three different apertured pads sequentially applied to a rotatable plate, with the pads being of progressively softer composition. In a preferred embodiment the wafers are cleaned and the templates are changed after each new diamond slurry mixture used.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention in general relates to silicon carbide technology and more particularly to the preparation of a silicon carbide wafer for production of a silicon carbide semiconductor device.
2. Description of Related Art
Silicon carbide is being used extensively as a semiconductor material for various electronic applications. Semiconductor devices of silicon carbide have the ability to operate at higher voltages and temperatures than conventional silicon or gallium arsenide devices thus providing for higher power devices with reduced cooling requirements. Silicon carbide metal-semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFET) have been made to operate at power densities two times the highest reported for a GaAs MESFET and silicon carbide static induction transistors have operated at four times the power density of comparable silicon devices for high frequency microwave radar systems.
Electronic applications for silicon carbide semiconductor devices include compact, low cost airborne, ship and ground radars, aircraft engine and flight controls, electric tank and ship propulsion systems and satellite communications, to name a few. In the commercial sector, silicon carbide may be used in the field of high definition television, industrial power conditioning, nuclear control and instrumentation and electric vehicle power trains.
Silicon carbide semiconductor devices are fabricated utilizing a thin silicon carbide wafer which is obtained from the sawing of a silicon carbide crystal boule. The sawing operation results in a wafer surface which, although appearing smooth, actually is damaged and contains microscopic scratches completely unacceptable for a subsequent epitaxial growth procedure. Due to the damaged surface the resulting semiconductor device would either not operate or operate at reduced efficiency.
Accordingly, the silicon carbide wafer surface must be highly polished to substantially eliminate all traces of any scratches and surface defects. In view of the fact that silicon carbide is twice as hard as silicon, the exact process for polishing silicon wafers is unsuitable for silicon carbide. Conventional optical polishing techniques may take ten days or more to achieve an acceptable surface finish for silicon carbide wafers.
The present invention reduces silicon carbide wafer polishing time to a matter of hours.

Method of preparing silicon carbide wafers for epitaxial growth


The connector contains a main member, a casing member housing the main member, and a sliding member slidably configured on the casing member. The main member contains a flexible locking element along a lateral side. The sliding member has a second bulge element along a lateral side's internal wall for engaging the locking element. When a user holds and pulls the sliding member backward, the second bulge element presses the locking element, and the locking element is pushed to escape the detainment by a female connector. The present invention therefore achieves secured and convenient plugging and unplugging.

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to an electrical connector, and more particular to an improved electrical connector providing secured plugging and convenient unplugging.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Electrical connectors are of various specifications and technologies. For example, there are USB connectors, HDMI connectors, etc., to name just a few. Connectors of different specifications are of course structured differently. For the recent Super Mobile High-definition Link (Super MHL) connectors which provides high-definition video images, they are quite inconvenient in terms of plugging and unplugging due to their rather small dimensions.

Electrical connector providing secured plugging and convenient unplugging