An integrated optical device is disclosed comprising a substrate, optical waveguide, and compound optical resonator having a temperature sensor, at least two coupled optical resonators, and a heater localized to each optical resonator. An optical input signal is coupled to one of the resonators making up the compound resonator to form an optical output signal. The center wavelength and shape of the output signal is optimized with a feedback loop using the temperature sensor to control the power dissipated in at least one of the localized heaters. The power dissipated in the remaining resonator heaters is set according to a predetermined function having as an input variable the power dissipated in the resonant heater under control of the said feedback loop.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to integrated optical circuits having optical waveguides wherein a portion of the optical waveguides' refractive index is adjusted thermo-optically. More particularly, this invention pertains to thermo-optic control of the transfer function of a compound optical resonator by use of individual heaters localized to each resonator waveguide element and a local temperature sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
The field of integrated optics has expanded tremendously over the past decade, and integrated optical device solutions are now being proposed for applications in a variety of fields including: telecommunications, data communications, high performance computing, biological and chemical sensing, and RF networks. Long haul, metropolitan, and local networks, as well as fiber-to-the-home applications, predominately rely on optical communications for data transmission. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technologies have enabled a dramatic increase in the communications bandwidth of optical fiber. At channel spacings of 50 GHz, hundreds of signal channels are possible within the S-, C-, and L-bands of optical fiber covering the wavelength region from 1460 to 1625 nm. Some fiber-to-the-home applications utilize the O-band (1260–1360 nm) as well. More recently, optical data transmission has been investigated for computing systems to enable high bandwidth communications between processors, memory, and I/O. Improved RF system designs, such as phased array radars, with integrated optical devices in place of conventional microwave components have been shown to have higher potential bandwidths and target resolution. Lastly, spectroscopic applications of integrated optical devices in the ultra-violet and visible wavelength regions are being considered for biological and chemical sensors.
Integrated optics is the technology of integrating various optical devices and components to transport, focus, multiplex, demultiplex, split, combine, polarize, isolate, couple, switch, filter, modulate (phase or amplitude), detect, and generate light. Integrated optical devices combine several of these functions on a common chip or substrate. Examples include commercial planar lightwave circuits (PLCs), such as those that have been installed in WDM communication systems to multiplex and demultiplex optical channels on a fiber. More complex multiple layer PLCs have also been designed that incorporate waveguides and device circuitry on multiple planar layers interconnected using optical via technology. Newer integrated devices such as photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are now being developed by companies such as Infinera (Sunnyvale, Calif.) for high performance network operating systems and optical routing and switching applications.
Optical waveguides are the key building block of integrated optical devices. Optical waveguides are light conduits consisting of a slab, strip, or cylinder of dielectric core material surrounded by dielectric cladding materials of lower refractive index. FIG. 1 depicts an example planar optical waveguide 40, known in the art as a ridge waveguide, formed on a substrate or wafer 42 by the formation of a lower optical cladding 44; chemical vapor deposition, lithographic patterning, and etching of an optical core element 46; and lastly by surrounding the optical core element with an upper optical cladding layer 48. Other types of optical waveguide designs include rib, trench, filled trench, and strip-loaded waveguides. Typical lateral and vertical dimensions of the core elements in glass-based optical planar lightwave circuit waveguides lie between about 0.5 and 5 microns.
An optical waveguide or combination of optical waveguides can be assembled to form devices such as: optical resonators, arrayed waveguide gratings, couplers, splitters, polarization splitters/combiners, polarization rotators, mach-zehnder interferometers, multimode interference waveguides, gratings, mode transformers, delay lines, and optical vias. Devices such as these may then be combined or integrated on an optical chip to create an integrated optical device or planar lightwave circuit that performs one or more optical functions such as: multiplexing/demultiplexing, optical add/drop, variable attenuation, switching, splitting/combining, filtering, spectral analysis, variable optical delay, clock distribution, amplitude/phase modulation, polarization rotation, comb generation, and dispersion compensation.
Integrated optical devices and planar lightwave circuits can be fabricated on a variety of substrates or wafers. Some of the more common materials used are silicon, silicon wafers having silicon-oxide (SiO2) or thermal oxide layer coatings, and indium-phosphide (InP). Other materials considered for substrate or wafer applications include germanium, silica, fused quartz, sapphire, alumina, glass, gallium-arsenide, silicon-carbide, lithium-niobate, silicon-on-insulator, germanium-on-insulator, and silicon-germanium. Integrated optical devices or planar lightwave circuits may also be fabricated on or placed over preformed devices or circuits such as: one or more electrical devices (e.g., transistors), optical devices (e.g., mode transformers), microelectromechanical (MEMS) devices (e.g., mirrors), or optoelectronic devices (e.g., detectors, amplifiers, modulators, light emitting diodes, or lasers).
The material system most commonly used for planar optical waveguide devices is germanium doped silicon oxide SiO2:Ge. The waveguide consists of a SiO2:Ge optical core element, having a refractive index, that is surrounded by lower and upper cladding layers having smaller refractive indices. Typical cladding layer materials include air, polymer, silica (SiO2) and doped silicas such as phosphosilicate glass (PSG), borosilicate glass (BSG), borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG), and flourine doped silica (SiOF). The ability to shrink the dimensions of an optical circuit is generally limited by the refractive index contrast of the optical waveguides from which it is formed, where the refractive index contrast is defined as the ratio (ncore−nclad)/nclad. The smallest possible size of an optical device is constrained by the minimum allowable radius of curvature of its optical waveguides before incurring significant optical propagation loss of 0.5 dB/cm or more. Lower optical losses of less than 0.2 dB/cm are preferred. The higher the index contrast, the easier it is for waveguides to be routed on a chip using tight turns and small bend radii of curvature. For SiO2:Ge based optical waveguides, the maximum index contrast is limited to about 0.03 (3%), resulting in a minimum radius of curvature of at least 500 μm.
Silicon-oxynitride (SiON) is another doped silica that has been used for the fabrication of planar lightwave circuits (see, e.g., G. L. Bona, R. Germann, and B. J. Offrein, "SiON high refractive index waveguide and planar lightwave circuits," IBM J. Res. & Dev. 47 (2/3), 239 (2003) incorporated herein by reference). SiON materials can be formed that are substantially transparent with an absorption loss of less than about 0.5 dB/cm in the wavelength region from 700 nm to 1650 nm. For the wavelength range from 1460 nm to 1625 nm, propagation losses of less than 0.2 dB/cm have been demonstrated. Low loss optical waveguides have been demonstrated having SiON core elements and SiO2 cladding layers with significantly higher refractive index contrasts than is possible with SiO2:Ge (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,614,977). Optical waveguides with refractive index contrasts of about 0.17 (17%) can be fabricated from SiON core elements, having a refractive index of 1.7, and SiO2 cladding layers, having a refractive index of about 1.45 measured at a wavelength of 1550 nm. At this high index contrast, waveguides can be designed with radii of curvature as small as about 35 μm. For the SiON core elements, the highest potential refractive index value is 2, corresponding to silicon-nitride (Si3N4). Other materials being looked at for high index contrast waveguide applications include silicon, germanium, indium-phosphide, aluminum-oxide, silicon-oxycarbide (SiOC), and polymers.
A common optical element in most optical integrated circuits is a thermo-optic device, wherein a portion of the optical core waveguiding elements within the device is locally heated with respect to rest of the device by use of a local resistive heating element. Local heating of a waveguide shifts the phase of an optical signal within the waveguide by way of the thermo-optic effect on refractive index and is usually denoted by the change of refractive index with change in temperature or dn/dT. In addition, there can be a secondary contribution to the thermally induced phase shift from thermal expansion of waveguide dimensions. For example, an optical device such as a ring resonator has a set of resonant wavelengths given approximately by:λi=2πr n/i where r is the ring radius, n is the optical waveguide effective index, and i is an integer. The resonant wavelengths of the ring may be changed by locally raising or lowering the temperature of the ring waveguide, and the effective refractive index may be approximated byn=no+(dn/dT) ΔT where no is the effective index at the initial temperature To, dn/dT is the rate of change of refractive index with temperature at To, and ΔT is the net change in temperature T−To. For optical devices formed from SiO2:Ge, the dn/dT is typically just under 1×10−5/° C. For optical devices formed from chemical vapor deposited SiON-based optical waveguides, the dn/dT is typically about 1.1 to 1.4×10−5/° C. depending on the composition. Applications of optical resonator thermo-optic devices requiring precise control of resonant frequency of better than ±1 GHz are not well suited to materials with high dn/dT magnitudes greater than about 5×10−5. A large dn/dT in this case is not desirable as it will require very precise local temperature control on the order of 0.1° C. Low dn/dT magnitudes of less than about 1×10−5, however, require somewhat more power as larger local temperature changes are needed to achieve a desired refractive index change, Δn.
Optical resonators are optical cavities supporting standing or traveling wave resonant optical modes. This invention considers an optical resonator to be any closed loop optical waveguide or disk supporting resonant optical modes. Examples of optical resonator waveguides 60 are depicted in FIG. 2 and include an optical waveguide core with a disk geometry 62, ring geometry 64, ellipse geometry 66, or racetrack geometry 68. Optical resonator waveguides 60 having the ring geometry 64 are the most commonly studied resonator cavity for integrated optical devices with a set of resonant wavelengths determined by the radius and effective index of the cavity. Optical resonators can be used singly or in multiples to form a compound optical resonator. Higher order cascades of optically coupled resonators are depicted in FIG. 3 showing second 80, third 82, and fifth 84 order compound optical ring resonator cavities. The Lorentzian response of a single-ring, channel dropping filter can be improved upon to achieve a wider and flatter passband as well as larger out of band signal rejection by moving to higher order filters, that is compound resonators consisting of multiple optically coupled resonators. The theory of compound optical resonators is discussed by B. E. Little et al., in "Microring resonator channel dropping filters," Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 998–1005 (1997) and is incorporated herein by reference.
Compound optical resonators must be optically coupled to at least one optical waveguide to form a useful optical device. A compound optical resonator cavity coupled to a single optical waveguide, as shown by 90 in FIG. 4, can be used to modify the phase of an optical signal in an all-pass filter or a dispersion compensator device. A compound optical resonator cavity coupled to two optical waveguides, depicted by 92 in FIG. 4, can be used as a channel dropping filter in which an optical signal or set of optical signals resonant with the modes of the compound optical resonator are dropped from one optical waveguide and added to the other. In these examples, the optical waveguide or waveguides must be adjacent to one of the resonator waveguides of the compound optical resonator such that the optical modes are coupled. In FIG. 4, optical waveguides are shown that are positioned laterally adjacent 92, above 94, and below 96 optical resonators.
The transfer function of an optical system is the effect on an optical signal in the frequency domain. The transfer function, for example, of an optical filter device acting on an optical input signal determines both the shape and center wavelength (frequency) of the optical output. A filter composed of a single ring resonator will take an optically flat input signal and transform it into a set of Lorentzian shaped output signals centered at the resonant wavelengths of the resonator. Optical filters composed of multiple and identical coupled ring resonators produce an output signal having a flatter and broader passband as well as larger out of band signal rejection.
The output of a thermo-optic compound optical resonator device will generally remain at a fixed wavelength unless there is a change in temperature. The temperature may be changed globally using a heater or Peltier element such as a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) that is in thermal contact with the integrated optical device substrate. It is more desirable, however, to use a heater or set of individual heaters localized to each compound thermo-optic element in the integrated optical device to allow for independent control. Simple resistive heaters can be fabricated by the deposition and patterning of metal films (such as platinum, gold, aluminum, chrome, nickel, nichrome, or tungsten) or semiconductor materials such as polysilicon. Other possible heater designs include localized Peltier elements.
Some commercially available thermo-optic devices such as switch arrays and optical attentuators operate by the simple application of a predetermined fixed power to each thermo-optic element heater in order to achieve a calibrated optical state. More sophisticated devices, such as those incorporating compound resonators, require a method of control that utilizes a feedback control loop. One possible feedback method is to analyze the optical output signal itself, by monitoring the signal's center wavelength for example, and use this parameter to determine the appropriate heater power dissipation applied to the thermo-optic element in real time. This method becomes unwieldy for a complex integrated optical device and would involve multiple real time optical measurements for the elements within the device. A much simpler approach is to use as a feedback variable for each heater a measurement of the local temperature. The most simple device used for temperature measurement are thermistors or resistive temperature devices (RTDs) that have a resistance value that changes as a function of the local temperature. For example, a metal film resistor can be deposited around or over an optical resonator waveguide in order to monitor the local average temperature. Platinum is the most common metal used to fabricate metal film RTDs, but copper, nickel, and nickel-iron are also used. Thermistors are generally made from semiconducting metal-oxide ceramics. Other example temperature sensors include a temperature sensing diode or a thermocouple, which generates an electric potential between two dissimilar metals that is a function of temperature.
A control system is required to adjust, regulate, or control the power dissipation in a heater. Generally, a control system will monitor the feedback variable from a temperature sensor (e.g., the resistance value of an RTD) and change the power dissipated in the heater as needed to bring the feedback variable to a predetermined set value or setpoint. Example controllers include simple on/off, proportional, proportional bandwidth, and PID type controllers. Examples of these controllers are commercially available from vendors such as Omega Engineering Inc., Stamford Conn. Integrated optical devices, however, generally integrate the control functions and electronic devices within a printed circuit board. The controllers can adjust the heater power dissipation through an analog change in voltage (current) applied to a heater or through a change in the duty cycle of a digital pulse train, or filtered digital pulse train, known as pulse width modulation (PWM). PWM controllers are commercially available as digital signal processor chips from companies such as Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Austin Tex., (e.g., DSP56F8XX series). Often these functions are integrated into a printed circuit board as well.
Prior art work has focused on methods of thermally tuning optical resonators composed of a single ring. In P. Heimala et al., "Thermally tunable integrated optical ring resonator with poly-si thermistor," Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol. 14, No. 10, pp. 2260–2267 (1996), incorporated herein by reference, the authors disclose a Si3N4 rib-waveguide-based ring resonator integrated with a local thermistor and polysilicon heater. In this paper, the resonant wavelength is adjusted using the feedback of a thermistor to regulate the power dissipated in a heater overlaying a ring waveguide. U.S. Pat. No. 6,636,668, incorporated herein by reference, also discloses a thermally tunable resonator device, each resonator comprising a heater and a temperature sensor. Compound resonators comprising multiple rings are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,752, incorporated herein by reference, where the use of localized heaters placed above or below each ring is proposed as a method of tuning, however, there is no mention of feedback control methods.
Although it is relatively straightforward to control the resonant wavelength of a single ring resonator using a heater and a temperature sensor, compound optical resonators comprising at least two optically coupled resonators are more complex. One could simply devise a design incorporating one large area heater that covered all the optical resonators of the compound resonator. The resonant wavelength of the compound resonator could then be adjusted using feedback from a single temperature sensor to control the power sent to the one heater. There are two major limitations of this design. One, a large area heater will use significantly more power than an individual heater that is substantially of similar size and conformal in shape to the optical resonator waveguides. Two, it is difficult to devise a large area heater that produces a laterally uniform temperature profile across a set of coupled resonators and over a reasonably large temperature range of many tens of degrees Celsius. This type of heater will generally be hotter in the center and cooler near the edges resulting in an offset in resonant wavelength, or detuning, between optical resonators positioned nearer the center and nearer the edge of the heater. The result would be a deterioration in the compound filter shape from optimum.
An alternate method would be simply to use independent control for each resonator in the compound resonator as disclosed by Kuipers et. al., in "Integrated optical signal handling device," International Publication No. WO 02/103448 A2. There are several major disadvantages with this method. First, each optical resonator within the integrated optical device would need its own heater and temperature sensor. This greatly increases the number of electrical connections required by the optical chip. In addition, a complete feedback loop is required for each individual heater with electronics and software dedicated to the monitoring of each temperature sensor over time. An integrated optical chip having four compound resonators each consisting of five rings would require twenty temperature sensors and feedback loops. Second, independent feedback control loops localized to each ring will be influenced by the control loop operating on adjacent optical resonators. The optical coupling requirement between resonators causes a portion of the outer surfaces of each resonator waveguide to be positioned within about a micron or less of each other. This separation is known as the coupling gap. The small separation means that there will be significant thermal crosstalk between the temperature sensor of one resonator and the heaters of adjacent resonators that results in control loop instability.

Coupled optical waveguide resonators with heaters for thermo-optic control of wavelength and compound filter shape


Stiffener tool positioning apparatus and methods are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a base, a first flipper member and second flipper member. The first flipper member is slide-ably attached to the base. The first flipper member is also configured to selectively attach a first mandrel thereon and to rotate the first mandrel. The second flipper member is also slide-ably attached to the base. The first and second flipper members are slide-ably positioned select distances from each other on the base in embodiments. The second mandrel is further configured to attach a second mandrel thereon and to rotate the second mandrel.

In the fabrication of composite structures, structural members are often attached to a skin to provide reinforcement of the skin. Such structural members may include, for example, ribs, spars or frames configured to be attached to the skin of the composite structures. Such structural members may also include substantially elongated stiffening members often referred to as stringers or stiffeners. The stringers or stiffeners may be formed to exhibit various cross-sectional geometries including configurations such as I-beams, C-shapes (sometimes referred to as U-shapes or channels), J-shapes, Z-shapes, L-shapes or angles, omega shapes or what is often referred to as a hat shape or a hat channel.
A typical method of forming a composite stiffener includes laying up composite plies by hand, one at a time, over a mold, mandrel or other similar tool to form a laminate structure. Upon laying up every two to three plies, the laminate structure needs to be compacted or debulked. This is conventionally accomplished by vacuum debulking wherein a vacuum bag is placed over the laminate structure and a vacuum applied to the structure by way of the bag. Often, heat may be applied to assist in the debulking process and in an attempt to further compact the laminate structure. Each vacuum debulk performed on the laminate structure represents a time consuming process. In forming the laminate structure, multiple vacuum compactions may need to take place upon the building up of layers to form the laminate structure. However, even with multiple vacuum debulks being performed on a given laminate structure, the laminate structure may still undesirably exhibit a significant amount of bulk. Another issue with forming composites by hand relates to the handling the stiffeners especially when coupling two composite structures together to form a stiffener. It is difficult to produce a stiffener of coupled composites having desired characteristics in a fast and effective manner when made by hand.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for and effective an efficient method and apparatus for handling stiffeners.


The patent is for certain developments in hanger technology. Particularly attachments to provide broader shoulder supports for wood wire and plastic hangers and combinations thereof.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of clothes hangers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wooden and wire hangers have been the state of the art for many years. Recently plastic molded hangers have made an entrance into suits and round cross section plastic hangers have become available. Narrow hangers, plastic or wire and even old wooden hangers can cause indentations on the shoulders of garments from their weight being held over ends thereof. These indentations can cause stretching imperfections in clothing. Men's suits for larger shoulder dimensions can be a particular problem. Fine fabrics such as rayon and silks can be damaged by the indentations.
The Applicant's invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.


A dual function handlebar mounted actuator has first and second function operating devices arranged for activation by movement of a hand operated lever arrangement. The first and second functions operating devices are linked so that a combined first and second function can be activated and the first and second functions are a clutch and a brake function. The actuator has a lever movable between a first and a second position, and a master cylinder having a piston with the lever moving towards the second position to drive a piston from its initial position thereby increasing pressure in the master cylinder. By releasing the lever the pressure within the master cylinder is arranged to return the piston towards its initial position and the piston being returned fully to the initial position upon movement of the lever to the first position.

Motorised vehicles such a motor cycles are typically fitted with a hand operated clutch actuator and a foot operated rear brake actuator. Although such an arrangement is generally satisfactory for standard use, there are certain instances where it is disadvantageous and may even be viewed as being dangerous.
When negotiating difficult terrain on a motorcycle the rider is often required to adjust his body weight on the motorcycle or temporarily remove his feet from the rear brake foot pedal, in order to maintain balance of the motorcycle. When the rider's body weight is moved away from a standard seated position, for example when the rider is standing up and leaning forward, it can be difficult to operate a foot brake pedal effectively. If the rider has his foot off the brake pedal in order to better balance the motorcycle, the rear brake pedal cannot be actuated instantaneously by the rider. The delay in returning the foot onto the brake pedal before activating the brake may prove disastrous in some circumstances.
Furthermore, when a foot operated rear brake pedal is operated there is inevitably some body weight transfer to the brake pedal side which may upset the balance of the rider on difficult terrain or when traction is limited.
Injured or disabled riders may find it difficult or even impossible to ride a motorised vehicle with a foot operated rear brake and a hand operated clutch.
The present invention recognises that it would be desirable to provide a dual function handlebar mounted actuator. More particularly, it would be desirable to provide an arrangement that would combine the operation of the clutch function and the brake function of a motorised vehicle into a dual function handlebar mounted actuator.
The present invention also recognises that it may be advantageous to be able to simultaneously operate both the brake function and the clutch function. Most desirably, simultaneous operation of both the brake function and the clutch function would be achieved by operation of a single lever or actuator on the handle bar of the vehicle with the option of a conjunctive foot control.
WO 00/50295 describes an actuator for a motor-driven vehicle such as a motor cycle. The actuator includes a hand brake lever and a clutch lever mounted on a handle of the motor cycle. The hand brake lever and clutch lever are integrally mounted on the handle and are arranged so that the brake and clutch levers can be separately actuated for braking or disengaging of the clutch. Furthermore, the clutch and brake levers can be moved together, at the same time, by the rider's fingers for simultaneous braking and disengaging of the clutch.
The actuator of WO 00/50295 is disadvantageous because two fingers are required to operate it. Furthermore, it does not include an anti-stall capability because the brake lever has no mechanical connection to the clutch lever.

Dual function handlebar mounted actuator

Innovative Motorcycle Technology Pty Ltd


Apparatus, and an associated method, by which to facilitate selection of with which network portion of a WLAN-cdma2000, or other multi-network radio communication system, that the mobile node should communicate. A parameter message is communicated to the mobile node. The parameter message includes indications, values of which are extracted from the message, buffered at a buffer, and subsequently accessed. A selector utilizes the accessed values to determine with which of the network portions that the mobile node shall communicate.

A communication system operates to provide for the communication of data. Data is communicated during operation of the communication system between communication stations that are interconnected by way of a communication channel. At least one communication station forms a sending station that sends data upon the communication channel, and at least another of the communication stations forms a receiving station that receives the data communicated upon the communication channel.
Many different types of communication systems have been developed, deployed, and used by way of which to communicate data between communication stations. Different types of communication systems exhibit different communication capabilities, permitting different types of communication services to be effectuated by way of the different types of communication systems. As advancements in technologies permit, improvements to existing communication systems are made and new communication systems are developed and deployed. As technological advancements shall likely continue in the future, new and improved communication systems, incorporating new technologies, shall likely continue to be developed and deployed.
A radio communication system is an exemplary type of communication system. A radio communication system utilizes radio channels to form communication channels that interconnect the sending and receiving stations between which data is communicated. Radio channels are defined upon radio links, portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. When radio channels are utilized by way of which to communicate data, communications are effectuable between communication stations positioned at locations between which wireline connections cannot be formed.
Because a wireline is not required to interconnect the communication stations, communications are effectuable between communication stations positioned at locations at which interconnection by way of a wireline connection would be unfeasible. Communications by way of a radio communication system are thereby sometimes effectuable when communications by way of a wireline communication system would not be possible. Additionally, a radio communication system is amenable for implementation as a mobile communication system in which one or more of the communication stations between which data is communicated is permitted mobility. Communication stations of a wireline communication system, in contrast, are of limited mobility capabilities due to the need to utilize the wireline connection.
A cellular communication system is a type of radio communication system. Telephonic communication of both voice and data is provided by way of a cellular communication system. Network infrastructures of cellular communication systems have been deployed to encompass significant portions of the populated areas of the world. A user typically communicates by way of a cellular communication system through the use of a mobile node. A mobile node is, e.g., a portable radio transceiver, typically of dimensions permitting its carriage by the user. The network infrastructure of the cellular communication system includes a plurality of spaced-apart fixed-site transceivers, referred to as base transceiver stations. The base transceiver stations each define coverage areas. And, a mobile node typically communicates with a base transceiver station in whose coverage area that the mobile node is positioned. If a mobile node is moved, subsequently to be positioned within the coverage area of another base transceiver station, a communication hand-off is performed to permit continued communications with the mobile node.
While first-installed cellular communication systems generally utilize analog communication technologies, successor-generation cellular communication systems make use of digital communication techniques and, increasingly, provide for packet-based communications.
A wireless local area network (WLAN) is also a type of radio communication system. While a wireless local area network is a radio-extension of a local area network, a wireless local area network exhibits some characteristics that are analogous to those of cellular communication systems. That is to say, a wireless local area network also typically includes a network part having a plurality of fixed-site transceivers, each of which defines a coverage area. And, mobile nodes, operable in a wireless local area network, typically communicate with a fixed-site transceiver, sometimes referred to as an access point, of the wireless local area network when the mobile node is positioned within the coverage area of the access point.
Mobile nodes have been constructed to permit their operation to communicate in both a wireless local area network and to communicate in a cellular communication system, such as a cellular communication system operable pursuant to a cdma2000 operating specification. Interworking arrangements have been proposed to facilitate interworking, e.g., inter-adaptability of the separate wireless local area network and cellular networks to permit a mobile node to communicate by way of either of the networks and to switch therebetween.
For instance, proposals have been set forth by which to facilitate mobile-node selection of through which of the networks that the mobile node shall communicate. However, existing proposals generally do not provide for network selection from all of the operating modes and states in which a mobile node might be operated when the selection must be made.
If an improved manner by which to perform such selection could be provided to a mobile node, improved interworking operation would be permitted.
It is in light of this background information related to interworking arrangements in a multi-network radio communication system that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.

Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating system selection in a multi-network radio communication system


A vaccine comprising a protein immunogen capable of stimulating a protective immune response against snake venom as well as spider and bee venoms. The DNA encoding the protein is disclosed. The protein can be expressed in both recombinant host cells. The protein is useful as a thermostable, parenteral administration anti venom vaccine protective against envenomation by diverse snake species, spiders and bees.

Treatment for envenomation is largely through the administration of anti-venom. The anti-venom in current use generally is available in two forms, namely the polyvalent and monovalent, which are obtained by injecting snake venoms into horses and obtaining anti-bodies generated by the horse for further processing. Both forms are currently expensive and generally above the means of people in remote, austere or impoverished areas where envenomation is a danger.
Antibody-based antivenoms are developed by exposing host animals to pure venom for immunological conditioning and extracting the resulting antibodies. While an antibody-based strategy has yielded successful therapies for some snake species, there remain limitations in safety, efficacy, and the high cost of manufacturing. Additionally, antibody-based strategies have limited effectiveness in combating envenomation from other animals such as arachnids and medusae.
Serum is then isolated from the animals, and venom-reactive antibodies purified. While this antibody-based strategy has yielded successful therapies for some snake species, there remain limitations in safety, efficacy, and the economic aspects of manufacturing. One of the most serious side effects of antibody-based antivenom is patient's immunological reactions against heterologous immunoglobulins from horses or sheep, known as serum sickness. In addition, most antibody-based solutions require either special storage conditions or, if lyophilized, reconstitution prior to administration; both of which diminish their utility in remote and austere conditions. Although others have produced antibody-based antivenoms, their continued pursuit of antivenom production is questionable given the impact of a costly and time-consuming production process, as well as limitations of application.
The following references provide background information on the state of the art in antivenom technology and are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties: Molenaar, T. J. et al. Uptake and processing of modified bacteriophage M13 in mice: implications for phage display. Virology 293, 182-191, doi:10.1006/viro.2001.1254 (2002); Rabies and Envenomings A Neglected Public Health Issue (WHO 2007); WHO Guidelines for the Production Control and Regulation of Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulins (WHO 2010); Warrell, D. A. Guidelines for the management of snake-bites (WHO 2010); Smith, S. et al. Bedside management considerations in the treatment of pit viper envenomation. J Emerg Nurs 40, 537-545, doi:10.1016/j.jen.2014.01.002 (2014); Mowry, J. B., Spyker, D. A., Cantilena, L. R., Jr., Bailey, J. E. & Ford, M. 2012 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 30th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 51, 949-1229, doi:10.3109/15563650.2013.863906 (2013); Kanaan, N.C. et al. Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Pitviper Envenomations in the United States and Canada. Wilderness Environ Med 26, 472-487, doi:10.1016/j.wem.2015.05.007 (2015); Holland, D. R. et al. The crystal structure of a lysine 49 phospholipase A2 from the venom of the cottonmouth snake at 2.0-A resolution. J Biol Chem 265, 17649-17656 (1990); Fralick, J., Chadha-Mohanty, P. & Li, G. in Advances in Biological and Chemical Terrorism Countermeasures (eds R. Kendall, S. Presley, G. Austin, & P. Smith) 179-202 (CRC Press, 2008); Philipson, L., Albertsson, P. A., Frick, G. The purification and concentration of viruses by aqueous polymer phase systems. Virology, 11, 553-571 (1960); Yu, J. & Smith, G. P. [1] Affinity maturation of phage-displayed peptide ligands. 267, 3-27, doi: 10.10 16/s0076-6879(96)67003-7 (1996); Prakash S.S. Phage display technology for anti-venom production. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 13:4 (October 2015); Roncolato, E. C. et al. Phage display as a novel promising antivenom therapy: a review. 93:79-84 Toxicon. (January 2015; Epub November 2014).


A vehicle shell assembly, having a plate-like plastic body having an outside and an inside. A lighting unit is provided which is disposed on the inside and is configured to be switched between an active state and a passive state; the inside of the plastic body is provided with an opaque light-impermeable coating which has at least one gap; and the plastic body may have of a translucent material so that the gap is covered by the plastic body to the outside when the lighting unit is in the passive state and defines a light pattern which is visible from the outside when the lighting unit is in the active state.

A vehicle shell assembly of this kind is known from practice and in particular constitutes a paneling element which is disposed in the region of the front or rear of a vehicle. The known vehicle shell assembly comprises a plate-like plastic body whose outside forms a visible surface and whose inside faces the vehicle interior. The plate-like plastic body forms a closed surface which is opaque and has a black and shining outside of high quality. This plastic body thus creates a so-called "black-panel look".


A policy management system for an Internet service provider having standalone Internet provisioning servers in different regions includes a central policy database (CPD) for providing centralized configuration and local management of the policies which control aspects of service and level qualities of the Internet servers and for distributing central product definitions to the Internet servers. In addition to the central policy database, the policy management system includes a plurality of regional policy databases each associated with the Internet servers in a respective region. The central policy database is operable with each of the regional policy databases for providing central definitions to the Internet servers. The central policy database stores product, feature, subscriber, and device objects. The objects of the central policy database are operable with the regional policy databases for providing the central definitions to the Internet servers. The product objects define products supported by the Internet service provider and the feature objects define features of the products supported by the Internet service provider. Combinations of feature objects define each product object.

The present invention relates generally to policy servers for use with provisioning systems having Internet servers.
A provisioning system includes several standalone Internet servers. The Internet servers of a typical provisioning system must be individually configured with each change to the supported quality of service and level of service policies. Unfortunately, if the Internet servers are to support multiple or changing service classes (Internet access products that perform at varying levels of quality and speed) each standalone server must be educated of the new service class before the service class is fully supported by the entire system. This becomes cumbersome when all components of the existing system inherently support the new service but must be manually configured before the service can be made available. Traditionally, product cycles in the Internet provider service industry fall behind advancements in technology. This is due to poorly designed Internet provisioning systems that lag behind the development and deployment of products to keep up with advancements in technology and subscriber demand.
Providing Internet service is one such area where product offerings are driven by technological advances. Much of these advances do not come in any order and, more often than not, entities seeking to benefit financially from them are faced with expensive refitting of their infrastructure. Multiple subscriber organization (MSO) service providers need to be more agile and responsive in the Internet space to expand/retain their growing subscriber base.
In summary, configuring typical provisioning systems is not a scalable process. Essentially it is performed a number of different ways depending on the resources available in each region. Typical provisioning systems are developed based on their individual components and the capability of the components. As a result, provisioning systems must be redesigned with every new feature/product. This is prohibitively expensive to maintain and build upon.
Having a policy management system structured around a clear and identifiable business model enables MSOs to quickly bring new products to market and leverage the readily accessible information about the infrastructure to build and maintain the highest quality of service. Accordingly, what is needed is a policy management system that solves the problems caused by running standalone Internet provisioning servers by linking various aspects of them to a central policy database (CPD).
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a policy management system having a central policy database (CPD) for providing centralized configuration and local management of the policies which control aspects of service and level qualities of standalone Internet provisioning servers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a policy management system having a CPD for distributing central product definitions to standalone Internet provisioning servers.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a policy management system having a CPD provided with feature objects and product objects in which the products are defined by selected feature combinations.
In carrying out the objects and other objects, the present invention provides a policy management system for an Internet service provider having a plurality of Internet servers in different regions. The system includes a plurality of regional policy databases each associated with the Internet servers in a respective region and a central policy database operable with each of the regional policy databases for providing central definitions to the Internet servers.
Preferably, the central policy database stores a product object and a feature object. The objects of the central policy database are operable with the regional policy databases for providing the central definitions to the Internet servers. The product objects define products supported by the Internet service provider. The feature objects define features of the products supported by the Internet service provider. Preferably, the feature object includes a plurality of feature objects and the product object includes a plurality of product objects. Combinations of feature objects define each product object.
Further, in carrying out the objects and other objects, the present invention provides a policy management system for an Internet service provider having a plurality of Internet servers in different regions. The system includes a plurality of regional policy databases each associated with the Internet servers in a respective region and a central policy database operable with each of the regional policy databases. The central policy database stores a product object, a feature object, a device object, and a subscriber object. The objects of the central policy database are operable with the regional policy databases for providing central definitions to the Internet servers. The device object defines a device supported by the Internet service provider and the subscriber object defines a subscriber supported by the Internet service provider.
These and other objects, features, and advantages will be readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Policy management method and system for internet service providers


An electronic device that prevents a failure caused by a temperature drift of an angular velocity sensor, and a signal compensation system and a signal compensation method for compensating for the temperature drift are provided. The present invention provides a mechanism including an angular velocity sensor that outputs a first signal in accordance with a rotational angular velocity. The device stores in advance data of a second signal normally output by the angular velocity sensor while in a stationary state, detects a stationary state and extracts the difference between the first and second signals when the stationary state is detected. The device thereby compensates for the first signal based on the extracted difference signal. A display unit in the device scrolls an image based on the compensated signal. This prevents a failure caused by the temperature drift of the angular velocity sensor.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-7027 discloses a technique for scrolling an image displayed on a display unit in response to movement of a housing of a portable device such as a portable terminal or a cellular phone. For example, when a user who holds such a device in his/her hand moves the device to the right, the image is also scrolled to the right. An angular velocity sensor is used as equipment for sensing movement of the housing. For example, a reference value of the angular velocity sensor is determined, and the change from the reference value is output as an electrical signal. Then, a screen is scrolled according to the output result.
However, an angular velocity sensor for use in such a device changes the reference value upon a change in the ambient temperature, that is, a so-called temperature drift occurs. The temperature drift is output as low-frequency variations, and affects image scrolling. This can cause, for example, a failure that the image displayed on a display unit is automatically scrolled even when a user does not move the device or the screen is scrolled in the direction different from the direction in which the user moves the device.
The present invention has been made in view of such situations, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device, a signal compensation device, and a signal compensation method that prevent a failure caused by a temperature drift of an angular velocity sensor.

Electronic device, signal compensation device and signal compensation method


According to the present invention, entry into the test mode of an integrated circuit device is possible even when there is no device pin dedicated to a test mode function. Test mode control circuitry allows a pin of the integrated circuit device to be double mapped to a normal operation function and to a test mode function. The test mode control circuitry has a polarity circuit having a polarity bond pad and a fuse circuit having a fuse element, either of which may determine when the polarity of the pin is representative of a test mode function. Either down-bonding the polarity bond pad to the lead frame of the integrated circuit device or blowing the fuse renders the pin representative of the test mode function. Additionally, once the test mode of the device is entered, the device may be adequately stress tested. Holding an external clock signal of the integrated circuit device to a given logic state ensures that the device is stress tested for the duration of time the external clock signal is held to the given logic state.

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuit devices, and more specifically to integrated circuit devices which have no device pin assigned to the test mode function.
Stress testing is a critical step in the manufacture of an integrated circuit device. Stress testing provides important information on the reliability of the device and may indicate latent manufacturing and design problems which may then be remedied before the device is actually sold to a customer. Stress testing of an integrated circuit device is often performed during the burn-in phase of device manufacture when a test mode of the device is entered and the device is subjected to various stress tests well known in the art.
Often the testing of an integrated circuit device becomes complicated when no device pin is dedicated to the test mode function. This often occurs in high performance parts where every pin of the device is dedicated to functions, other than testing, which are necessary to the normal operation of the device. The very fast Burst Random Access Memory (RAM) device is an example of a high performance integrated circuit device which has no pins dedicated to entering a test mode.
The very fast Burst RAM device is a synchronous SRAM device which has a burst mode and is therefore used as an integral component in cache memory systems, often as a burstable, high performance secondary cache for microprocessors such as the Intel 486 or the Motorola family of microprocessors. SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, Inc. manufactures the M62486(Q) for use with the Intel i486 family of microprocessors and the M62940A for use with the Motorola MCM62940 family of microprocessors. The M62940A device produces a burst of data in a straight binary count (00, 01, 10, 11, etc.) as needed by the Motorola microprocessor, while the M62486(Q) device produces a more complicated burst of data which may count forwards or backwards in a binary count as a function of the initial state of the least significant address bit. Thus, the very fast Burst RAM device of either type has a burst counter which controls the burst mode, and the type of count provided by the burst counter to the microprocessor is a function of the type of count required by the microprocessor, as described above.
The very fast Burst RAM device uses a reserved pin (RES bar) to select the burst count desired. Typically, the reserved pin is tied to a low logic level, Gnd, for the Intel compatible M62486R(Q) device and is tied to a high logic level, Vcc, for the Motorola compatible M62940A device. With the reserved pin thus committed to the function of defining the type burst count the very fast Burst RAM will produce, the reserved pin is not readily available to help define the test mode of the device. Initially, the test mode for the Burst RAM was entered by applying a negative super voltage on the reserved pin signal (RES bar) and appropriately applying power supply voltages Vcc and Vss to two address pins in order to define the desired test mode. However, this approach was too complicated for the burn-in ovens to handle. Thus, there exists a current need in the art to be able to utilize an integrated device pin already committed to a normal operation function to a test mode function so that the device may be entered into a test mode for stress testing during burn-in of the device.
Another concern with stress testing of integrated circuit devices, such as the very fast Burst RAM, is that adequate stressing of the device be accomplished such that acceptable levels of device reliability are achieved. The very fast Burst RAM device, for instance, is fully synchronous and has many internally self timed clocks. For both read and write cycles, the very fast Burst RAM device times out when the read or write operation is complete. While this time out feature ensures low power consumption, it does not stress the device throughout a memory cycle and thus does not allow for adequate stress testing of the device. A device will undergo burn-in testing during the production flow and, if the device is tested while the device times out, maximum stressing of the device is not obtained. Thus, is it important to not only be able to enter a device test mode, but to ensure that once a test mode is entered that the device is adequately tested.

Test mode control circuit of an integrated circuit device


An apparatus for facilitating handling particularly tab stock in a sheet feeder, having a top feed vacuum corrugated feed head assembly for feeding sheets seriatim from a sheet supply stack. The facilitating apparatus includes a platform adapted to support a sheet supply stack of the tab stock type. A tab stock sheet supply stack is located on the platform in relation to the top feed vacuum corrugated feed head assembly. A force is applied to the tab stock sheet supply stack, such force having at least a component in a direction relative to such tab stock sheet supply stack to prevent individual tab stock sheets in such stack from prematurely moving out of control of the top feed vacuum corrugated feed head assembly.

The present invention relates in general to feeding tabbed sheets from a stack of tab stock, and more particularly to an apparatus for handling tab stock in a top feed vacuum corrugated feeder.
In typical reproduction apparatus such as copiers or printers, for example, information is reproduced on individual cut sheets of receiver material such as plain bond paper or transparencies. Receiver sheets, of the various types, are stored respectively in a stack and fed seriatim when copies are to be reproduced. The sheet feeder for the reproduction apparatus must be able to handle a wide range of sheet types and sizes reliably and without damage. Sheets must be accurately fed individually from the sheet stack, that is, without misfeeds or multi-feeds.
One recently described highly efficient and reliable sheet feeder is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,133, issued Sep. 6, 1994, in the name of Jantsch et al. In such apparatus, a stack of sheets is stored in a supply hopper. A sheet feed head assembly, including a plenum, a vacuum source in flow communication with the plenum, and a mechanism, such as a feed belt associated with the plenum, urges a sheet acquired by vacuum in a sheet feeding direction away from the sheet supply stack. The sheet supply stack is supported so as to maintain the topmost sheet in such stack at a predetermined level in spaced relation with respect to the urging mechanism of the sheet feed head assembly. A first positive air supply directs a flow of air at the sheet supply stack to levitate the top several sheets in the supply stack to an elevation enabling the topmost sheet to be acquired by vacuum from the sheet feed head assembly plenum; and a second positive air supply directs a flow of air at an acquired sheet to assure separation of any additional sheets adhering to such topmost sheet.
With the advancement in the operative capabilities of reproduction apparatus, it has been desired to expand the types of receiver material which can be utilized in the reproduction apparatus. One of the expanded types of receiver material desired to be used is the type referred to as tab stock. Tab stock includes sheets having an even edge and an opposed uneven edge with a projection spaced along such uneven edge. The projection (tab), which for example can serve as a location for a label (pre-printed or printed by the reproduction apparatus), enables the sheet to separate or provide divisions in a copy set. Due at least in part to the projections, typical reproduction apparatus receiver sheet feeders have some difficulty in reliably feeding tab stock. While the feeder of the above described type reliably handles a wide variety of standard individual cut sheets of receiver material, it also does not readily accommodate tab stock.

Apparatus for facilitating handling tab stock in a top feed vacuum corrugated feeder


Solid state light emitting apparatuses include blue LEDs (e.g., including short wavelength and long wavelength blue LEDs in combination) to stimulate green lumiphors, with supplemental emissions by red lumiphors and/or red solid state light emitters, to provide aggregate emissions with high S/P ratio (e.g., ≧1.95) and high color rendering values (e.g., ≧85), preferably in combination with high brightness and high luminous efficacy. In certain embodiments, a light emitting apparatus may be devoid of a LED having a peak wavelength of from 470-599 nm and/or devoid of lumiphors with peak wavelengths in the yellow range. Multiple LEDs may be arranged in an emitter package. A fabrication method includes mounting multiple solid state emitters (e.g., with a first blue and a second red emitter) to a common substrate, applying a stencil or mask over the second emitter, applying a lumiphoric material over the first emitter, and removing the stencil or mask.

Solid state light sources may be used to provide colored (e.g., non-white) or white light (e.g., perceived as being white or near-white). A solid state lighting device may include, for example, at least one organic or inorganic light emitting diode ("LED") or a laser. White solid state emitters have been investigated as potential replacements for white incandescent or fluorescent lamps due to reasons including substantially increased efficiency and longevity. Longevity of solid state emitters is of particular benefit in environments where access is difficult and/or where change-out costs are extremely high. Solid state light sources provide potential for very high efficiency relative to conventional incandescent or fluorescent sources, but present challenges in simultaneously achieving good efficacy, good color reproduction, and color stability (e.g., with respect to variations in operating temperature).
Color reproduction is commonly measured using Color Rendering Index (CRI) or average Color Rendering Index (CRI Ra). CRI and CRI Ra provide relative measures of the shift in surface color and brightness of an object when lit by a particular lamp, wherein CRI utilizes fourteen indices (reference color) and CRI Ra is a modified average utilizing the first eight indices, all of which have low to moderate chromatic saturation. Daylight has a high CRI (Ra of approximately 100), with incandescent bulbs also being relatively close (Ra greater than 95), and fluorescent lighting being less accurate (typical Ra of 70-80) for general illumination use where the colors of objects are not important. For some general interior illumination, a CRI Ra>80 is acceptable. CRI Ra>85, and more preferably, CRI Ra>90, provides greater color quality.
The term "white light" or "whiteness" does not clearly cover the full range of colors along the BBL since it is apparent that a candle flame and other incandescent sources appear yellowish, i.e., not completely white. Accordingly, the color of illumination may be better defined in terms of correlated color temperature (CCT) and in terms of its proximity to the BBL. The pleasantness and quality of white illumination decreases rapidly if the chromaticity point of the illumination source deviates from the BBL by a distance of greater than 0.01 in the x, y chromaticity system. This corresponds to the distance of about four MacAdam ellipses, a standard employed by the lighting industry. A lighting device emitting light having color coordinates that are within four MacAdam step ellipses of the BBL and that has a CRI Ra>80 is generally acceptable as a white light for illumination purposes. A lighting device emitting light having color coordinates within seven or eight MacAdam ellipses of the BBL and that has a CRI Ra>70 is used as the minimum standards for many other white lighting devices including compact fluorescent and solid state lighting devices.
General illumination generally has a color temperature between 2,000 K and 10,000 K, with the majority of lighting devices for general illumination being between 2,700 K and 6,500 K. The white area proximate to (i.e., within approximately eight MacAdam ellipses of) of the BBL and between 2,500 K and 10,000 K, is shown in FIG. 13 (based on the 1931 CIE diagram).
Luminous efficacy is a measure of how well a light source produces visible light, and represents the ratio of luminous flux to power (with the power being either radiant flux or total power consumed by a source, depending on context). Wavelengths of light outside of the visible spectrum are not useful for illumination because they cannot be seen by the human eye. Moreover, the human eye exhibits greater response to some wavelengths of light than to others, even within the visible spectrum. Response of the human eye to light also varies with respect to the level of intensity of light.
At the back of the eye, the retina contains millions of light receptors that convert light into electrified signals that are sent to vision centers of the brain. The retina contains two major categories of photoreceptors called cones and rods because of their geometric shapes. The very central part of the retina, called the fovea, contains only cones. The rest of the retina is populated with both rods and cones, with the number of rods exceeding the number of cones by a ratio of about 10 to 1.
Photopic vision is the vision of the eye under well-lit conditions. In humans and many other animals, photopic vision is mediated by cone cells, and allows color perception and significantly higher visual acuity than available with scotopic vision. The human eye uses three types of cones (with biological pigments having maximum absorption values at wavelengths of about 420 nm (blue), 534 nm (bluish-green), and 564 nm (yellowish green)) to sense light in three bands of color, providing maximum efficacy of about 683 lm/W at a wavelength of 555 nm (green). Scotopic vision is the vision of the eye under low light conditions. In the human eye, cone cells are nonfunctional in low light; as a result, scotopic vision is produced exclusively through rod cells, which are most sensitive to wavelengths of light around 498 nm (green-blue) and are insensitive to wavelengths longer than about 640 nm (red). For young eyes, scotopic vision may peak around 507 nm, with a sensitivity equivalent to about 1700 lm/W. Scotopic vision results in poor color discrimination. Scotopic vision occurs at luminance levels of 10−2 to 10−6 cd/m2; photopic vision occurs at luminance levels of 1 to 106 cd/m2 (normal light); and mesopic vision occurs in intermediate lighting conditions (luminance levels of 10−2 to 1 cd/m2), with mesopic vision effectively being a combination of scotopic and photopic vision but yielding inaccurate visual acuity and color discrimination.
FIG. 14 illustrates scotopic and photopic luminosity functions, with the leftmost curve embodying a scotopic luminosity function (as adopted by the Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage (CIE) in 1951), and with the rightmost curve embodying photopic luminosity functions (wherein the solid line represents the CIE 1931 standard, the dashed curve represents the Judd-Vos 1978 modified data, and the dotted curve represents the Sharpe, Stockman, Jagla & Jägle 2005 data). The CIE 1931 photopic luminosity function also forms the central color matching function in the CIE 1931 color space. As shown in FIG. 1, the scotopic curve exhibits significant response above 420 nm, a peak at 507 nm, and very little response above 600 nm, whereas the photopic curve exhibits very limited response below 450 nm, a peak at 555 nm, and significant response above 650 nm before declining to zero response around 700 nm. For everyday light levels, the photopic luminosity function best approximates the response of the human eye; however, for low light levels, the response of the human eye changes and the scotopic luminosity function applies. This difference in the scotopic and photopic luminous efficacy of the source results from the shift of eye sensitivity function peaking at 555 nm (under photopic lighting conditions) to 507 nm (under scotopic lighting conditions), also known as the Purkinje shift.
Historically, lighting manufacturers have utilized light meters to determine lumen output of a lamp, with such light meters being calibrated by examining the eye's sensitivity to only cone activated vision in the very central part of the retina, the fovea, while ignoring the effect of rod activated vision. As a result, traditional lighting practice accepted a single sensitivity function based on the assumption that the more light sensitive rods only functioned at very dim light levels. More recent studies have demonstrated that rod photoreceptors are active not only in dim light but also at typical interior light levels as well.
Since rods are more sensitive than cones to bluish-white light sources characteristic of higher correlated color temperature (CCT) values, light sources with higher S/P ratios may potentially provide equivalent levels of perceived brightness and visual acuity at lower output power level. This explains why environments lit by warm white (3000K) and even cool white (4100K) lamps (e.g., fluorescent lights) appear less bright than the same environment lit by lamps of higher color temperatures, such as 5000K or above. Light with high S/P ratios, which provides higher correlated color temperature (CCT), yields relatively smaller pupils at a given photopic light level, so that object light rays are collected more at the central region of the eye, which may result in improved optical vision. Since an environment may be illuminated with lamps having higher S/P ratios at lower power levels to provide perceived brightness levels equivalent to those attainable with lamps having lower S/P ratios at higher power levels, use of lamps having higher S/P ratios may provide basis for saving energy.
Despite the potential for saving energy using lamps with higher S/P ratios, it is not straightforward to make high S/P ratio light sources with sufficient levels of color rendering (i.e., to enable color differentiation). There exists a trade-off between S/P ratio and color rendering index (CRI). This trend makes it challenging to provide a lamp capable of high S/P ratio and high CRI. Yet another challenge exists in making high S/P ratio sources with acceptably high color rendering in combination with sufficient brightness and high luminous efficacy—particularly since long-wavelength blue and green solid state light emitters (with peak wavelengths proximate to the scotopic response peak) have reduced luminous efficacy (e.g., relative to short wavelength blue solid state light emitters).
In terms of S/P ratio and CRI, the performance of current lighting technologies is typically limited. For example, incandescent light bulbs have a poor (low) S/P ratio of 1.41 despite a perfect CRI of 100. Among solid state light sources, traditional LED light sources including blue LEDs arranged to stimulate emissions of (yellow) yttrium aluminum garnet phosphors exhibit S/P ratios typically ranging from approximately 1.68 to approximately 2.38, but such emissions provide low CRI. Integration of different phosphors might improve CRI, but such phosphors may also decrease luminous efficacy. A solid state lighting device including a blue LED combined with semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots arranged to output cyan, green, yellow, and red emissions to provide higher S/P ratio values (e.g., exceeding 2.50) is disclosed by Nizamoglu, S., et al., "High scotopic/photopic ratio white light-emitting diodes integrated with semiconductor nanophosphors of colloidal quantum dots," Optics Letters (May 15, 2011) Vol. 36, No. 10, pp. 1893-1895.
The art continues to seek improved lighting devices that address one or more limitations inherent to conventional devices.

Solid state lighting apparatus with high scotopic/photopic (S/P) ratio


A member for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes an AlN electrostatic chuck, a cooling plate, and a cooling plate-chuck bonding layer. The cooling plate includes first to third substrates, a first metal bonding layer between the first and second substrates, a second metal bonding layer between the second and third substrates, and a refrigerant path. The first to third substrates are formed of a dense composite material containing SiC, Ti3SiC2, and TiC. The metal bonding layers are formed by thermal compression bonding of the substrates with an Al—Si—Mg metal bonding material interposed between the first and second substrates and between the second and third substrates.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling plate, a method for manufacturing the cooling plate, and a member for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Electrostatic chucks are heated to high temperatures in a semiconductor process and have a cooling plate for heat dissipation. In this case, the material of the electrostatic chucks may be aluminum nitride, the material of the cooling plate may be aluminum, and a resin may be used as a bonding material. There is a very large difference in linear thermal expansion coefficient between aluminum nitride and aluminum. For example, aluminum nitride has a linear thermal expansion coefficient of 5.0 ppm/K (RT-800° C.: Uchida Rokakuho "Seramikku no butsuri (Physics of ceramics)"), and aluminum has a linear thermal expansion coefficient of 31.1 ppm/K (RT-800° C.: "Shinpen netsubussei handobukku (Thermophysical properties handbook new edition)", edited by Japan Society of Thermophysical Properties). In such electrostatic chucks, soft resins used as bonding materials can relieve stress resulting from a difference in linear thermal expansion coefficient.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Cooling plate, method for manufacturing the same, and member for semiconductor manufacturing apparatus


Non-volatile memory block management. A method according to one embodiment includes calculating an error count margin threshold for each of the at least some non-volatile memory blocks of a plurality of non-volatile memory blocks. A determination is made as to whether the error count margin threshold of any of the at least some of the non-volatile memory blocks has been exceeded. A memory block management function is triggered upon determining that the error count margin threshold of any of the at least some of the non-volatile memory blocks has been exceeded.

The present invention relates to non-volatile memory such as NAND Flash memory, and more particularly, this invention relates to advanced management of non-volatile memory blocks.
Using Flash memory as an example, the residual bit error rate (RBER) of a Flash memory block will typically increase over time due to additional program and erase cycling, retention, charge leakage from retention, and additional charge placed in the cells by read operations (i.e., read disturb errors). Typically, a Flash memory block is retired when any page in the block exhibits a code word that reaches a page retirement error count limit. This limit is typically set to be achieved in conjunction with an appropriate error correction code (ECC), with the RBER for a Flash memory block being set to be similar to the RBER in traditional hard disk drives, e.g., at around 10×10−15, but may be more or less.
Threshold voltage shifting, also known as block calibration, has been shown to be a key contributor to enhance endurance and retention for enterprise-level Flash memory systems using 19 nm and sub-19 nm NAND Flash memory. Preferably, the optimal threshold voltage shift values are determined shortly after a Flash memory block has been written. Unfortunately, this is not possible under a sustained heavy write workload without impacting data path performance. After initial writing, the threshold voltage shift values should be updated periodically as long as data remains on the Flash memory blocks. However, this would require significant additional read workload and data processing for every Flash memory block written, which is not acceptable in a Flash memory system.
Therefore, block calibrations are preferably executed at low frequency in the background and not in the data path, e.g., due to additional read operations and data processing which would otherwise be required. However, prior attempts to achieve such functionality have been unsuccessful because background calibration of a block may not always be executed at any time, e.g., when a block is not yet programmed after an erase operation.

Detecting error count deviations for non-volatile memory blocks for advanced non-volatile memory block management

International Business Machines Corporation


System and methods are provided for communicating with multiple wireless networks using a mobile communication system. An example mobile communication system includes a first communication device configured to communicate with a first wireless network and generate a reference signal for determining a first frequency deviation between the first communication device and the first wireless network, and a second communication device configured to communicate with a second wireless network and determine a second frequency deviation between the second communication device and the second wireless network based at least in part on the reference signal.

Wireless communication systems, such as cellular phones, can be used in many wireless networks implementing different technologies, e.g., Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), 3GSM, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Digital AMPS (IS-136/TDMA), and Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), etc.
When a wireless communication system (e.g., a cellular phone) communicates with a base station of a wireless network, there is usually certain deviation between the receiving frequency of the wireless communication system and the transmitting frequency of the base station. Such frequency deviation usually comprises local oscillation frequency deviation and Doppler frequency shift. The local oscillation frequency deviation generally includes the difference between a local oscillation frequency of the wireless communication system and the transmitting frequency of the base station. Doppler frequency shift is often caused by the movement of the wireless communication system, and thus is associated with the speed and the direction at which the wireless communication system is moving relative to the base station.

Systems and methods for automatic frequency control for mobile communication systems


A controller of a memory system is configured to reduce power requirements during memory backup transition. When transitioning to backup mode, the memory system controller performs a number of power saving techniques. The controller may change a number of configuration settings in the volatile memory system, such as reducing output driver strength, increasing differential impedance, increasing on-die termination, disabling receiver input circuitry, and disconnecting the termination voltage network. The controller may also assert a hard reset to the storage controller system to significantly reduce the load and allow the voltage regulator to continue to provide power to the memory system for a longer period of time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates generally to a dual mode memory system for reduced power requirements during memory backup transition.
2. Background of the Invention
A storage area network (SAN) is a network of storage disks. In large enterprises, a SAN connects multiple servers, or hosts, to a centralized pool of disk storage. Compared to managing hundreds of servers, each with its own disks, a SAN improves system administration. By treating all the company's storage as a single resource, disk maintenance and routine backups are easier to schedule and control. In some SANs, the disks themselves can copy data to other disks for backup without any processing overhead at the host computers.
A storage system typically comprises a plurality of storage devices and a storage controller in an enclosure. The storage controller may be a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller, for example. The storage controller receives host input/output (I/O) traffic to read and write data to the disk drives. The storage controller then reads data from or persists data to the disk drives via device I/O traffic. In storage systems, data is temporarily stored in volatile memory, such as Double Data Rate (DDR) Random Access Memory (RAM), due to the extremely fast access speeds that are required to meet maximum throughput to the disk drives.

Dual mode memory system for reducing power requirements during memory backup transition


A hand railing includes a metal rod, a plurality of positioning units and a plastic cover. The positioning units are adapted to be secured on the surface of the metal rod. The metal rod is then placed in the injection mold, and the positioning unit is disposed between the metal rod and injection mold. The melted plastic cover is then introduced into the mold to fill the mold including the recessed portions and melt the surface of the positioning unit, so the plastic cover can completely cover the metal rod and the positioning unit. Furthermore, since the melted plastic cover also flows into recessed slot, the engagement between the metal rod and plastic cover is even stronger.

Referring to FIG. 15, a metal rod 61 is inserted into a railing 60, and both ends of the metal rod 61 are secured against a molding apparatus. A plastic cover 62 is then covered the surface of the metal rod through an injection molding process and both ends of the plastic cover 62 have threaded portions 621, so the railing 60 can be secured vertically at the edge of a terrace through the threaded portions 621 and the railing 60 can be used for safety concerns.
However, conventional railing structure is disadvantageous because during the manufacturing process, the metal rod 61 is disposed in the molding directly and secured only at two ends thereof, so the metal rod 61 is not secured at the center portion of the molding. Also, when the metal rod 61 is in contact with the molding, the plastic cannot cover the contacted area of the metal rod 61, which would lead to a bad product and reduce the yield. Also, two ends of the metal rods are used to secure the metal rod 61 in the molding, so the plastic cannot cover the ends as well, so the metal rod 61 is easy to be separated from the plastic 62. Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved hand railing structure to overcome the problems stated above.


One embodiment of an adjustable pitching target includes a base which secures a central target stand which contains a plurality of target holders and flexible targets that create a frontal, visual, strike zone at which the pitcher throws the ball and which yields a physical, visual, reaction as the pitched ball encounters and passes through the visual strike zone's targets.

The ability to accurately throw a ball is important in many sports, but it is especially important in baseball and softball where a pitcher attempts to throw the ball past the batter. Pitches are judged to be "balls" or "strikes" in reference to a strike zone that includes both horizontal and vertical dimensions. The horizontal dimension of the strike zone is the width of home plate over which a pitch is thrown. Pitches thrown wide of the plate are out of the strike zone and are called "balls" whereas pitches that pass over the plate are within the horizontal strike zone. The vertical dimensions of the strike zone, officially defined as above the knees and below the shoulders of the batter, varies with the height of the batter. The strike zone's dimensions may also vary a little bit depending on the person calling the balls and strikes. Accurate pitching is a difficult skill to master, however, and requires a lot of practice. Good pitching practice not only entails throwing the ball into the strike zone, but learning to throw the ball to particular locations within the strike zone. An effective pitcher has sufficient control to throw pitches at the outer edges of the strike zone, known as "painting the corners" of the plate. A pitcher typically wants to avoid throwing the pitch right down the center of the strike zone, for a batter easily hits those pitches. Thus, one of the most important aspects of pitching is learning to hit the desired areas of the strike zone where that pitch will be called a "strike", but will be very hard to hit. For example, a pitcher may desire to throw a pitch low and toward the outer corner of the strike zone in an effort to get the pitch called a "strike" while making the pitch very difficult for the batter to hit well. To learn to throw that type of pitch requires the pitcher practice throwing to the various desired locations and to be aware of where the pitch passes through the strike zone over the plate. This practice allows the pitcher to develop the coordination and skill necessary to locate the pitch in the desired part of the strike zone.
It is sometimes difficult, however, for a pitcher to determine exactly where a pitch crosses the plate, and to determine the location of a pitch compared with other previously thrown pitches to achieve consistency. Whether due to the "break", or curve, of a pitch or due to the pitcher's follow-through, it may be difficult for the pitcher to determine the particular location of the pitch with reference to the plate. Thus, a pitcher typically relies on someone else, such as a catcher or an umpire, who stand close behind the plate to help the pitcher determine the particular location of the pitch with reference to the strike zone when it crosses the plate. Often, however, there may not be someone available to help the pitcher "call" the location of the pitches. Most teams have more pitchers than catchers, so there is a limited number of people available to help. Similarly, pitchers do not have an unlimited number of people who are both competent and willing to be an umpire. Furthermore, pitches may not be called consistently between the various umpires, catchers and coaches who may attempt to help and this may cause more confusion for the pitcher. In addition, some pitchers may choose to practice in private. Thus, although pitchers must practice often to develop their pitching skills, many pitchers find it difficult to practice as often as they would like due to the inability to have their pitches called with consistency and competence.
Various pitching targets have been developed over the years to assist pitchers in practicing their pitching, without the assistance of a catcher or an umpire to catch and/or call the pitches. But those devices have fallen short of providing the vital information the pitcher needs to know about the pitch he just threw: did the pitch hit the strike zone and where did it hit in the strike zone? Many of these prior art targets, such as Easton's Strike Zone, simply provide a target hole through which to throw the ball. Such devices fail to provide a pitcher with adequate feedback as to where the ball passed through the strike zone and don't provide the opportunity to adjust the strike zone to the size the pitcher will most likely be facing. Other prior art devices provide a target for the pitcher to throw at which comprise a target that is hung up on something (such as U.S. Patent Publication No. 20040127308 to Swanson, entitled "Padded Leather Pitching Target). Those devices tend to be bulky and require something to hang them from, making them difficult to use indoors or on undeveloped practice areas. They are not readily adjustable to provide different sized strike zones.
The pitching targets available currently are directed more toward collecting and/or returning the ball to the pitcher than assisting the pitcher in practicing pitch location. As mentioned above, a pitcher needs to learn how to throw pitches in the areas of the strike zone that are hard for a batter to hit, such as the outer portions of the strike zone, and not simply learn to throw pitches directly down the center of the strike zone. Most prior art pitching targets simply consist of some netting with a hole through which a pitcher attempts to throw the ball. Those devices lead pitchers to concern themselves more with getting the ball through the hole, than with placing the ball within the strike zone at locations that are difficult for the batter to hit well. In fact, these prior art devices actually strengthen the idea to just throw the ball directly down the center of the strike zone, which makes hitting rather easy for the batter. These target holes are typically provided in netting that is supported at the outside edges, which provides a large open target area in the middle. This ultimately trains the pitcher to pitch the ball right over the plate. That is not the location a successful pitcher wants to throw the ball when trying to get a batter out.
Other targets, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,250 to Newland et al., are very complex and require substantial set up. Furthermore, these devices do not have an easily adjusted strike zone, are expensive, have targets supported from the outside edges that may effect and/or alter the flight of the pitch which will impact what the pitcher needs to know—did my pitch hit and where did it hit the strike zone?


The present invention relates to methods for off-contact imaging solid relief printing plates and, in particular, to methods for imaging solid photocurable elements through a negative, where there is a gap between the solid photocurable element and the negative. The present invention also relates to printing plates produced by these methods.

Relief printing plates are used in both flexographic and letterpress processes for printing on a variety of substrates, including paper, corrugated stock, film, foil, laminates and the like. The photocurable elements that are used to make relief printing plates typically comprise a support layer, one or more layers of photocurable polymer in the form of solid sheets, and a cover sheet. The cover sheet is removed from the photocurable element, whereupon a silver halide photographic negative or some other masking device is placed directly upon the photocurable polymer. The photocurable element is then exposed through the negative to actinic radiation from multiple sources, thereby causing exposed areas of the photocurable element to harden or cure. After the uncured areas of the photocurable element are removed, the cured polymer remains as the relief printing surface of the relief printing plate.
New and improved relief printing plates and methods for making relief printing plates are needed to produce sharper printed images and, thus, reduce the printed dot gain that results from the previously used methods described above. The present invention is directed to these, as well as other, important ends.

Methods for off-contact imaging solid printing plates


Embodiments provide novel systems and methods for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Max-Log detection. These systems and methods enable near-optimal performance with low complexity for a two-input two-output channel. Some embodiments comprise using a Max-Log detector to compute a set of log-likelihood ratio (LLR) values for a channel input by minimizing cost function while computing only one instance of the cost function for each value of each bit in a symbol. Other embodiments comprise using a Max-Log detector to compute a set of log-likelihood ratio (LLR) values for a channel input by computing all instances of a cost function for each value of each bit in a symbol and selecting the minimum cost from all computed instances of the cost function for each value of each bit.

As consumer demand for high data rate applications, such as streaming video, expands, technology providers are forced to adopt new technologies to provide the necessary bandwidth. Multiple-Input Multiple-Output ("MIMO") is an advanced radio system that employs multiple transmit antennas and multiple receive antennas to simultaneously transmit multiple parallel data streams. Relative to previous wireless technologies, MIMO enables substantial gains in both system capacity and transmission reliability without requiring an increase in frequency resources.
MIMO systems exploit differences in the paths between transmit and receive antennas to increase data throughput and diversity. As the number of transmit and receive antennas is increased, the capacity of a MIMO channel increases linearly, and the probability of all sub-channels between the transmitter and receiver simultaneously fading decreases exponentially. As might be expected, however, there is a price associated with realization of these benefits. Recovery of transmitted information in a MIMO system becomes increasingly complex with the addition of transmit antennas. This becomes particularly true in MIMO orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Such systems employ a digital multi-carrier modulation scheme using numerous orthogonal sub-carriers.
Many multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) detection algorithms have been previously proposed in the literature. The optimal algorithm is conceptually simple, but is often impractical due to the fact that its complexity increases exponentially with the number of channel inputs and alphabet size. As a result, many algorithms have been proposed to solve the problem with less complexity, with the unfortunate effect of also significantly sacrificing performance.
Many MIMO detectors have been proposed and implemented as exclusively hard detectors that only give the final estimate of the channel input. Most notable is the sphere decoding detector because it can achieve Max-Log performance in an uncoded system with much less complexity on average. A summary of many MIMO detectors may be found in D. W. Waters, "Signal Detection Strategies and Algorithms for multiple-Input Multiple-Output Channels", Georgia Institute of Technology, PhD dissertation, December 2005, including many variations of the sphere detector that minimize complexity without sacrificing performance. At least one list-sphere detector computes the log-likelihood ratio (LLR) for a channel input. Unfortunately, implementing a list-sphere detector is still quite complex, requiring significant processing resources.
Improvements are desired to achieve a favorable performance-complexity trade-off compared to existing MIMO detectors.

Systems and methods for low-complexity max-log MIMO detection


The present disclosure discloses a system and method for dynamic control of channel sounding for transmit beamforming. Generally, sounding frames are periodically transmitted by a network device to a particular device at a first sounding interval. First feedback information is received from the particular device. The first feedback information corresponds to the sounding frames transmitted at the first sounding interval. Based on one or more current conditions included in the feedback information, a second sounding interval is selected to transmit the sounding frames to the particular device. The sounding frames are periodically transmitted to the particular device at the second sounding interval. Second feedback information is received from the particular device. The second feedback information corresponds to the sounding frames transmitted at the second sounding interval.

Depending on a channel bandwidth (number of subcarriers) and antenna transmitting and receiving configurations, the size of a beamforming report that is used to calculate a steering matrix at an access point can vary significantly. Typically, an average time of a sounding process using a standard based approach takes around 500 microseconds. This sounding can be done either on a per packet basis or at a coarser granularity based on configuration. If this sounding is done at very frequent sounding intervals, one can achieve superior beamforming gains. However, these increased beamforming gains would come at a cost of increased airtime required for the sounding. On the other hand, if this sounding is done infrequently and the location of a client device to which to transmit beamforming changes or if the multipath to the client device changes significantly, then the expected beamforming gains that one would expect may be reduced and further may result in lower rates and higher airtime consumption for the data transmission.

Dynamic control of channel sounding for transmit beamforming