An extensible and replaceable network-oriented component system provides a platform for developing network navigation components that operate on a variety of hardware and software computer systems. These navigation components assist users in navigating from information locations quickly and accurately. Also, these navigation components may be modified or replaced with new navigation components for embedding various types of information therein. Communication among these components is achieved through novel application programming interfaces (APIs) to facilitate integration with an underlying software component architecture. Such a highly-modular cooperating layered-arrangement between the network component system and the component architecture allows any existing component to be replaced, and allows new components to be added, without affecting operation of the network component system.

The Internet is a system of geographically distributed computer networks interconnected by computers executing networking protocols that allow users to interact and share information over the networks. Because of such wide-spread information sharing, the Internet has generally evolved into an "open" system for which developers can design software for performing specialized operations, or services, essentially without restriction. These services are typically implemented in accordance with a client/server architecture, wherein the clients, e.g., personal computers or workstations, are responsible for interacting with the users and the servers are computers configured to perform the services as directed by the clients.
Not surprisingly, each of the services available over the Internet is generally defined by its own networking protocol. A protocol is a set of rules governing the format and meaning of messages or "packets" exchanged over the networks. By implementing services in accordance with the protocols, computers cooperate to perform various operations, or similar operations in various ways, for users wishing to "interact" with the networks. The services typically range from browsing or searching for information having a particular data format using a particular protocol to actually acquiring information of a different format in accordance with a different protocol.
For example, the file transfer protocol (FTP) service facilitates the transfer and sharing of files across the Internet. The Telnet service allows users to log onto computers coupled to the networks, while the netnews protocol provides a bulletin-board service to its subscribers. Furthermore, the various data formats of the information available on the Internet include JPEG images, MPEG movies and .mu.-law sound files.
Coincident with the design of these services has been the development of applications for implementing the services on the client/server architecture. Accordingly, applications are available for users to obtain files from computers connected to the Internet using the FTP protocol. Similarly, individual applications allow users to log into remote computers (as though they were logging in from terminals attached to those computers) using the Telnet protocol and, further, to view JPEG images and MPEG movies. As a result, there exists a proliferation of applications directed to user activity on the Internet.
A problem with this vast collection of application-specific protocols is that these applications are generally unorganized, thus requiring users to plod through them in order to satisfyingly, and profitably, utilize the Internet. Such lack of uniformity is time consuming and disorienting to users that want to access particular types of information but are forced to use unfamiliar applications. Because of the enormous amount of different types of information available on the Internet and the variety of applications needed to access those information types, the experience of using the Internet may be burdensome to these users.
An alternative to the assortment of open applications for accessing information on the Internet is a "closed" application system, such as Prodigy, CompuServe or America Online. Each of these systems provide a full range of well-organized services to their subscribers; however, they also impose restrictions on the services developers can offer for their systems. Such constraint of "new" service development may be an unreasonable alternative for many users.
Two fashionable services for accessing information over the Internet are Gopher and the World-Wide Web ("Web"). Gopher consists of a series of Internet servers that provide a "list-oriented" interface to information available on the networks; the information is displayed as menu items in a hierarchical manner. Included in the hierarchy of menus are documents, which can be displayed or saved, and searchable indexes, which allow users to type keywords and perform searches.
Some of the menu items displayed by Gopher are links to information available on other servers located on the networks. In this case, the user is presented with a list of available information documents that can be opened. The opened documents may display additional lists or they may contain various data-types, such as pictures or text; occasionally, the opened documents may "transport" the user to another computer on the Internet.
The other popular information service on the Internet is the Web. Instead of providing a user with a hierarchical list-oriented view of information, the Web provides the user with a "linked-hypertext" view. Metaphorically, the Web perceives the Internet as a vast book of pages, each of which may contain pictures, text, sound, movies or various other types of data in the form of documents. Web documents are written in HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and Web servers transfer HTML documents to each other through the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
The Web service is essentially a means for naming sources of information on the Internet. Armed with such a general naming convention that spans the entire network system, developers are able to build information servers that potentially any user can access. Accordingly, Gopher servers, HTTP servers, FTP servers, and E-mail servers have been developed for the Web. Moreover, the naming convention enables users to identify resources (such as directories and documents) on any of these servers connected to the Internet and allow access to those resources.
As an example, a user "traverses" the Web by following hot items of a page displayed on a graphical Web browser. These hot items are hypertext links whose presence are indicated on the page by visual cues, e.g., underlined words, icons or buttons. When a user follows a link (usually by clicking on the cue with a mouse), the browser displays the target pointed to by the link which, in some cases, may be another HTML document.
The Gopher and Web information services represent entirely different approaches to interacting with information on the Internet. One follows a list-approach to information that "looks" like a telephone directory service, while the other assumes a page-approach analogous to a tabloid newspaper. However, both of these approaches include applications for enabling users to browse information available on Internet servers. For example, TurboGopher is a text-based browser application for client computers operating in accordance with the Gopher protocol. Additionally, each of these applications has a unique way of viewing and accessing the information on server computers.
Typically, a computer includes an operating system and application software which, collectively, control the operations of the computer. The applications are preferably task-specific and independent, e.g., a word processor application edits text, a drawing application edits drawings and a database application interacts with information stored on a database storage unit. Although a user can move data from one application to the other, such as by copying a drawing into a word processing file, the independent applications must be invoked to thereafter manipulate that data. This is primarily because the applications are designed as monolithic, autonomous modules that generally do not interact efficiently.
Netscape Navigator.TM. ("Netscape") is an example of a monolithic Web browser application that is configured to interact with many of the previously-described protocols, including HTTP, Gopher and FTP. However when instructed to invoke an application that uses one of these protocols, Netscape "translates" the protocol to hypertext. Such awkward translation places the user farther away from the protocol designed to run the application and, in some cases, actually thwarts the user's Internet experience. For example, a discussion system requiring an interactive exchange between participants may be bogged down by hypertext translations.
Each of these information services provides a mechanism for keeping track of places explored while navigating the computer networks. For example, Netscape has a log mechanism which typically manifests as a pop-up menu that shows recent places a user has explored. These mechanisms, however, are not generally configured to interact with applications other than their own, primarily due to the monolithic nature of the Netscape and TurboGopher applications. Thus, it is difficult to replace the logs with similar mechanisms provided by other developers; furthermore, the monolithic nature of the applications generally precludes extension of the functions and behaviors of these mechanisms other than by those developers associated with the respective services.
The Gopher and Web services may further require additional applications to perform specific functions, such as playing sound or viewing movies, with respect to the data types contained in the documents. For example, Netscape employs helper applications for executing application programs having data formats it does not "understand". Execution of these functions on a computer requires interruption of processing and context switching (i.e., saving of state) prior to invoking the appropriate application. Thus, if a user operating within the Netscape application "opens" a MPEG movie, that browsing application must be saved (e.g., to disk) prior to opening an appropriate MPEG application, e.g., Sparkle, to view the image. Such an arrangement is inefficient and rather disruptive to processing operations of the computer.
Generally, the application program presents information to a user through a window of a graphical user interface by drawing images, graphics or text within the window region. The user, in turn, communicates with the application by "pointing" at graphical objects in the window with a pointer that is controlled by a hand-operated pointing device, such as a mouse, or by pressing keys of a keyboard.
The graphical objects typically included with each window region are sizing boxes, buttons and scroll bars. These objects represent user interface elements that the user can point at with the pointer (or a cursor) to select or manipulate. For example, the user may manipulate these elements to move the windows around on the display screen, and change their sizes and appearances so as to arrange the window in a convenient manner. When the elements are selected or manipulated, the underlying application program is informed, via the window environment, that control has been appropriated by the user.
A menu bar is a further example of a user interface element that provides a list of menus available to a user. Each menu, in turn, provides a list of command options that can be selected merely by pointing to them with the mouse-controlled pointer. That is, the commands may be issued by actuating the mouse to move the pointer onto or near the command selection, and pressing and quickly releasing, i.e., "clicking" a button on the mouse.
Command options in the menus typically act on one or more objects. If an application requires more information to carry out a command, a dialog box may be employed. A dialog box is a special type of window that elicits information from the user, such as requiring the user to check items or fill in the blanks, typically through the use of a graphical object that the user can manipulate with the mouse. Such an object is called a control and, by manipulating the control, the user can take an immediate action or change a setting to modify a future action. A modal dialog box requires that the user respond to the elicitation prior to performing other actions.
In contrast to this typical application-based computing environment, a software component architecture provides a modular document-based computing arrangement using tools such as viewing editors. The key to document-based computing is the compound document, i.e., a document composed of many different types of data sharing the same file. The types of data contained in a compound document may range from text, tables and graphics to video and sound. Several editors, each designed to handle a particular data type or format, can work on the contents of the document at the same time, unlike the application-based computing environment.
Since many editors may work together on the same document, the compound document is apportioned into individual modules of content for manipulation by the editors. The compound-nature of the document is realized by embedding these modules within each other to create a document having a mixture of data types. The software component architecture provides the foundation for assembling documents of differing contents and the present invention is directed to a system for extending this capability to network-oriented services.
Therefore, it is among the objects of the present invention to simplify a user's experience on computer networks without sacrificing the flexibility afforded the user by employing existing protocols and data types available on those networks.
Another object of the invention is to provide a document-based computing system that enables users to replace and extend modules configured to provide services directed to information available on computer networks.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a framework that allows third-party developers to extend a layered network component system by building new components that seamlessly interact with the system components.

Replaceable and extensible navigator component of a network component system


A detecting apparatus which detects a quantity of various kinds of vehicle motion without using materials arranged on a road surface. The detecting apparatus is provided on a vehicle. A marking mechanism provides a mark on a road surface, the marking mechanism provided on the vehicle. An imaging device takes images of the road surface including the mark at a predetermined time interval. A quantity of vehicle motion is calculated by detecting a change in a position of the mark during the predetermined time interval based on a plurality of the images.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting a quantity of vehicle motion and, more particularly, to a detecting apparatus for detecting the quantity of various kinds of vehicle motion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an apparatus for detecting motion of a vehicle by an optical method has been suggested. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 52-26880 discloses a system for detecting speed and position of a vehicle in which an optical guide is arranged on a ground side and an optical source and optical receivers are provided on the vehicle, a detection being based on a duration of reception of a light by the optical receivers and a position at which the light is received.
In the conventional apparatus, since the optical guide must be arranged on the ground side, the system is expensive. Additionally, information obtained by the conventional apparatus is limited to the speed and position of a vehicle and, thus, it is insufficient for practical use.

Apparatus for detecting quantity of vehicle motion


Disclosed is a multilayer optical film having a structure in which a first resin layer and a second resin layer are alternately laminated, wherein the first resin layer comprises a crystalline naphthalene dicarboxylic-acid polyester and the second resin layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing a multilayer optical film comprising (a) melting extrusion a first resin comprising a crystalline naphthalene dicarboxylic-acid polyester and a second resin comprising PETG respectively and then alternately laminating the first resin and the second resin; and (b) elongating the laminated sheet in step (a) and then thermosetting them.

Prior multilayer optical films use alternate layers of a polymer based a crystalline polyester and another polymer. This uses a phenomenon in which rays are reflected through a constructive interference generated at an interface of materials having different refractive indexes with each other. Especially, among multilayer optical films, polyester is used as a useful material for a first component of a polarizer film, and this is because it has high double refractive index in the case of a naphthalene dicarboxylate polyester among polyesters. In addition, the characteristics of the polymer based polyester are determined by monomer materials used during manufacturing the polymers, and therefore, there are advantages of being able to easily adjust the refractive index. Also, when compatibility of a second component with the first component drops, peeling off of films may occur, but this is because a variety of copolymerization of the polymer based polyester is possible, and selecting a material that may satisfy optical characteristics while preventing peeling off of the first component and the second component is easily carried out.
Likewise, regarding the multilayer optical films, until now, development of simplification of methods for manufacturing the multilayer optical films and improvement of optical characteristics of materials have been carried out, and also in Korea patent registration No. 10-0364029, regarding a multilayer polymer film comprising multiple alternate layer agents of crystalline naphthalene dicarboxylate ester and another selected polymer is disclosed. But, different from before, along with recent trends of slimness of display devices, problems of heat generating from devices are becoming issues, and importance of developing materials having stability is coming to the fore.

Multilayer optical film having high heat resistance and method for manufacturing the same


A contactless volume control device with adjustable gain and multi-output is configured as a contactless structure with a magnetic slider and a plurality of magnet sensors. The magnetic field of the magnetic slider is sensed by the plurality of magnet sensors to generate a plurality of sensed signals, which allows an output module to provide a data table to show the position of the magnetic slider and the corresponding output voltage thereof according to the sensed signals. Furthermore, the output module is capable of storing multiple variable data to produce different outputs so as to achieve the objective of gain adjusting. Additionally, a processing unit built in the output module has a plurality of output ends so as to output multiple signals. And the magnetic slider and the plurality of magnet sensors have advantages of simple structure, easy manufacture and low cost.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to a contactless volume control device with adjustable gain and multi-output, and more particular to an output voltage modulation via a position sensing device.
2. Description of Related Art
Ordinary volume control devices have the advantages of simple structure and high reliability, whose output voltages are mostly controlled by a contact structure consisting of a conductive carbon film and an electric brush. But the output (location vs. output voltage relationship) applied to volume adjustment must be a logarithmic type so as to comply with the feelings of the human auditory, thus this kind of contact causes high manufacturing cost and the usage value thereof relatively low. The contact type has a certain service life, and if the contact interface is polluted, the voltage output will be affected and the service life will be shortened. Further, even a contactless type consisting of variable capacitors is also able to solve the above mentioned output problem, the manufacturing cost of this type is still high.
In fact, a common volume control device is a position sensing device. Currently the contactless position sensing technologies and patents mainly use the combination design of magnets and a Hall element to achieve the required voltage output. For example: a magnet with a special designed shape generates a special magnetic field to allow the Hall element to move therein, so that the output voltage has a linear relationship with the angle change of the magnetic field. Another example is to form a digital position sensor by using multiple sets of bipolar NS magnets according to the Hall element. Still another example is to use two groups of NS magnets respectively having n pairs of magnetic poles and n+1 pairs of magnetic poles, in association with two groups of Hall elements so that the variation of the output voltage is detectable by the two groups of Hall elements.
Most Hall elements are used as movable members due to the magnet's special shape to provide a special magnetic field, which allows a linear relationship existing between the output voltage and the position of the Hall element.
Further, assuming that the Hall element is designed as a movable member, the signal line movement problem must be dealt with Therefore, in contrast to the fixed Hall element, the movable magnet ensures the reliability of the Hall element wiring.
However, according to the prior art, it is necessary to consider the stability of the magnet magnetization and the distance between the Hall element and the magnet. The closer the magnet is to the Hall element, the Hall element becomes more influenced by the distance of the magnet and thus the resulting voltage output is also influenced, which is because the Hall element is sensitive to the variation of the intensity of the magnetic field. So that the distance (X) between the magnet and the Hall element and the output voltage (V) of the Hall element have the linear relationship with smaller scope. The solution is to increase the configuration number of the magnet and the Hall element, which, however, also increases the volume of the whole device. Further, mounting error and the consistency of each magnet are the issues that must be considered in increasing the configuration number of the magnet and the Hall element. Because either one of the issues will cause the Hall element to output unexpected voltages.
In addition, when installing multiple Hall elements and magnets, the installation error factors and the magnetic flux density of the magnet must be considered, which will cause the voltage output not ideal.

Contactless volume control device with adjustable gain and multi-output

CHUNG SHAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ARMAMENTS BUREAU, M. N.D.


An imaging apparatus includes a first X-ray detector that includes: a low energy scintillator operable to convert an incident X-ray spectrum into a first set of light photons; a first light imaging sensor operable to generate a set of low energy image signals from the first set of light photons, wherein a first exit radiation is a remainder portion of the first incident radiation after the X-ray spectrum passes through the low energy scintillator and the first light imaging sensor; an energy-separation filter operable to absorb or reflect at least a portion of the energy of the first exit X-ray spectrum and convert the first exit X-ray spectrum into a second exit X-ray spectrum; a second X-ray detector that includes: a high energy scintillator operable to convert the second exit X-ray spectrum into a second set of light photons; a second light imaging sensor operable to generate a set of high energy image signals from the second set of light photons; and a processor configured to: generate a high-energy image that is based on the set of high energy image signals and a low-energy image that is based on the set of low energy image signals; and perform a comparison of the high-energy image from the low-energy image to generate a soft tissue image.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Use of radiotherapy (RT) to treat tumors, and other areas of targeted tissue, is widely known. One challenge associated with using radiation to treat tumors is to precisely locate a tumor in a patient's body during radiation therapy. When the treatment is applied accurately to the targeted tumor in the patient, the impact of the treatment on the surrounding healthy tissue is minimized.

Dual-layer detector for soft tissue motion tracking


A metal strap is formed in a middle-of-line (MOL) process for communication between an eDRAM and a FinFET. An oxide is deposited in a trench over the eDRAM to prevent development of an epitaxial film prior to formation of the metal strap. The result is an epiless eDRAM strap in a FinFET.

The fabrication of semiconductor devices involves forming electronic components in and on semiconductor substrates, such as silicon wafers. These electronic components may include one or more conductive layers, one or more insulation layers, and doped regions formed by implanting various dopants into portions of a semiconductor substrate to achieve specific electrical properties. Semiconductor devices include transistors, resistors, capacitors, and the like, with intermediate and overlying metallization patterns at varying levels, separated by dielectric materials, which interconnect the semiconductor devices to form integrated circuits.
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor device (CMOS) uses symmetrically-oriented pairs of p-type and n-type metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) arranged on substrate, such as bulk silicon or silicon or silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. Source and drain regions associated with the MOSFET are connected by a channel. A gate disposed over the channel controls the flow of current between the source and drain regions. The channel may be defined by a thin "fin" that provides more than one surface through which the gate controls the flow of current, thereby making the MOSFET a "FinFET" device.
Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) employs memory cells having a FinFET (or other type of transistor) and a storage capacitor arranged in series. Embedded DRAM (eDRAM) embeds these memory cells into the same semiconducting material that contains a microprocessor, which allows for wider buses and faster operating speeds (as compared to DRAM) in an integrated circuit (IC) chip. Many of these embedded memory cells comprising FinFETs and storage capacitors can be arranged on a single chip or within a single package to define an array. Operation of the memory cells is controlled by various circuits, many of which are structurally different from each other, and warrant different manufacturing techniques.

International Business Machines Corporation


A memory device failure recovery system includes a memory device management engine that is coupled to a first memory device via a first memory device slot, and a memory device management database. The memory device management engine identifies that the first memory device has experienced a failure in a configuration region of the first memory device during a current boot operation and, in response, retrieves memory device component information and memory device configuration information that is stored in the memory device management database and that was retrieved as part of a prior boot operation from a memory device that was connected to the first memory device slot. During the current boot operation, the memory device management engine determines whether first memory device components on the first memory device correspond to the memory device component information and, if so, uses the memory device configuration information to configure the first memory device.

The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to recovering from failures of memory devices in an information handling system.
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems such as, for example, server devices, desktop computing devices, laptop/notebook computing devices, tablet computing devices, mobile phones, and/or other computing devices known in the art, include memory device that are utilized by their processing systems in order to perform a variety of computing device functionality. With the advent of persistent/storage class memory devices that may be configured to store from hundreds of gigabytes to many terabytes of data in a manner similar to storage device usage models, there is a need to improve the overall Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS) features of such memory devices. For example, Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) memory devices often include a Serial Presence Detect (SPD) Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) device that stores DIMM memory device configuration information that enables the configuration of the DIMM memory device, and a memory cell failure in the SPD EEPROM device can make that DIMM memory device configuration information unavailable in a manner that prevents configuration of the DIMM memory device during boot (e.g., a Power On Self Test (POST)) of the computing device.
While such memory cell failures in DIMM memory devices are relatively rare, as discussed above their occurrence renders the DIMM un-configurable, and can result in the effective loss of data written to that DIMM (which can be a relatively large amount of data in the case of persistent/storage class memory devices.) Furthermore, such memory cell failures in DIMM memory devices can lead to the un-configurable DIMM being removed from the main memory capacity of the computing device, which can result in operating systems, hypervisors, and/or other computing device applications being provided less memory than is necessary for their optimal operation, and can also negatively impact memory bandwidth and memory latency if that DIMM was part of a memory (cache line) interleave group. 4, 8, and 16 rank Load-Reduced DIMM (LRDIMM) memory devices and terabyte-storage-capacity Storage Class Memory (SCM) DIMM memory devices are expected to costs in the thousands of United States Dollars (USDs) for the next several years, and thus the inability to utilize those memory devices due to the failure of the relatively inexpensive SPD EEPROM device (e.g., $1 USD) will be an unacceptable failure scenario for most users.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a memory device failure recovery system that addresses the issues discussed above.


A system for measuring dimension of photomasks comprises a light source emitting measuring light having a wavelength, a transmission detector for receiving the measuring light, a stage on which a photomask having circuit patterns is placed, the stage being disposed between the light source and the transmission detector, and a controller having a dimension-deciding algorithm to determine a dimension of the circuit patterns from a spectroscopic characteristic of the received measuring light, the controller being connected to the transmission detector.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for measuring semiconductor patterns, and more particularly to a system and method for measuring a dimension of patterns formed on a photomask.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A fabricating process of semiconductor integrated circuits includes photolithography for transferring a circuit pattern formed on a photomask onto a photoresist layer coated on a wafer. A photoresist pattern formed using photolithography is used as a mask for etching an underlying material layer. A critical dimension (CD) of the photoresist pattern on the wafer is a factor to determine an integration density of semiconductor devices. The integration density affects the prices of the semiconductor devices. Thus, reduction of a CD of the wafer photoresist pattern has been studied.
Since a linewidth uniformity of the photoresist pattern on the wafer affects a yield of semiconductor devices, various technologies have been suggested for improving the linewidth uniformity as the demand for smaller and denser integrated circuits (ICs) increases. Since the photoresist pattern on the wafer is the result of transfer using photolithography, shapes and characteristics of the photoresist pattern on the wafer are affected by shapes and characteristics of a corresponding photomask. Due to a non-linear characteristic during the transfer, a linewidth of the photoresist pattern on the wafer varies at a higher reduction ratio than a reduction ratio of transfer. Thus, a photomask used in photolithography needs to pass a test including factors such as linewidth uniformity.
Conventionally, an image of a pattern or a reflective spectrum reflected from the pattern is used in measuring a linewidth uniformity of the photomask. A method using the image is illustrated in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, after an image 10 is displayed on an optical device such as a monitor, a pattern dimension is measured using the phenomenon that a brightness (or luminance) of the image varies at a boundary of the pattern. Since a measurement error is determined by a photographing resolution, a photographing method using a resolution to distinguish pattern dimensions smaller than a required measurement error is needed. To achieve a high resolution, the method using the image 10 employs a scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Although circuit patterns are designed with the same shape, their dimensions may vary based on their locations. Accordingly, a large number of measurements are needed to obtain an accurate measuring result. The measuring method using SEMs has a non-negligible measurement error and requires long measuring time. Thus, increased time and cost are needed for obtaining an accurate measuring result.
Another conventional method using a reflective spectrum is illustrated in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, the method includes using reflective spectrum-pattern dimension data prepared from design data of the photomask to indicate a relationship between a reflective spectrum and a pattern dimension. Since the reflective spectrum is the result of a complex reflection procedure, valid reflective spectrum-dimension data based on a theoretical access may be obtained only in limited cases (e.g., regularly repeated linear patterns shown in FIG. 3). Therefore, an empirical method is needed to obtain valid reflective spectrum-dimension data for patterns of complex shapes, as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.
The empirical method includes, for example, determining the reflective spectrum-dimension data using a different test mask. However, the empirical method is incapable of generating valid reflective spectrum-dimension data if pattern shapes are too complex. As a result, methods using the reflective spectrum are used in a photomask having circuit patterns which are as simple as shown in FIG. 3 (e.g., ISO mask for defining an active region).

System and method for measuring dimension of patterns formed on photomask


This invention has as its subject a basic organo-mineral proton conducting polymer, produced by copolymerization of three precursors:. a precursor based upon a trialkoxysilane, onto which a methane sulphonamide group is grafted by means of an alkyl or aryl link, PA1 a "deprotonizing" precursor based upon a trialkoxysilane, onto which is grafted a group derived from a nitrogenous base, preferably an imidazoline group, by means of an alkyl or aryl link, PA1 a "plasticizing" and solvating precursor, having at least one urea group which is the product of a reaction between a primary mono-, di- or triamine D and a trialkoxysilane E onto which an isocyanate group has been grafted by means of an alkyl link.

The present invention concerns proton conducting polymers and their use as electrolytes in electrochemical devices More specifically, the present invention is directed to polymers which have a proton conductivity and mechanical characteristics that allow them to be used as electrolytes in electrochromic panes; i.e., in panes in which light transmission can be modified by the action of a potential difference, thanks to the presence of a layer of electrochromic material (such as oxides and/or hydroxides of tungsten, iridium, nickel or titanium) which material has the ability to reversibly change color upon the insertion of cations and, notably, of protons.
In order for proton conducting polymers to be effective as electrolytes in electrochemical devices they must fulfill several criteria notably combining good film-forming abilities with both satisfactory compatibility and sufficient bonding with adjacent layers of an electrochromic system. Generally, both for reasons of ease of use and in order to achieve a sufficiently high conductivity, it is necessary for these polymers to be essentially amorphous, as any onset of crystallinity is very unfavorable toward the eventual conductivity of the material, and, further, it is necessary for these polymers to have an elastomeric character which favors mobility of the segments of the polymer network and, accordingly, promotes proton transfer.

Proton conducting polymer, and application thereof as electrolyte in electrochemical devices


A novel pressure sensor housing configuration and method of assembly are described. A pressure transducer including a tube for measuring pressure and leads for providing signals indicated of the measured pressure is mounted to a printed circuit board. A housing including elongated mounting portions or legs taller than the pressure sensor transducer and a cavity for receiving the tube is mounted over the pressure transducer to the printed circuit board. The housing is connected to the printed circuit board using the elongated mounting portions. A pneumatic connection to the housing provides a pressure to be measured to the cavity and thence to the pressure transducer tube.

The present invention relates generally to a novel sensor housing and method of use thereof, and more particularly, to a pressure sensor housing and method of use thereof.
Pneumatically and electrically interfacing with a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted TO-8 pressure transducer is a recurring problem. Current solutions, interface TO-8 pressure transducers using two circuit boards in a stacked configuration. In order to manufacture the stacked configuration, manufacturing alignment/assembly issues force an expensive assembly process.
A side view of a prior art mounting configuration of a pressure transducer is shown in the diagram of FIG. 1. A standard size, i.e., TO-8, pressure transducer 10 is connected to a lower printed circuit board 12 and electrical leads 14 extend from the bottom of the pressure transducer 10 through lower board 12. Pressure transducer may be any known pressure transducer for generating a signal representative of a pressure sensed. The leads 14 may be attached to a lower surface 12A of the lower board 12, may be routed to an upper surface 12B of lower board 12, or may be connected to another board (not shown). In other embodiments, the leads 14 may not extend through lower board 12 at all, rather they may connect directly to the surface of lower board 12.
Pressure transducer 10 has a tube 16 extending upward, i.e., away from the upper surface 10A of transducer 10 and the upper surface 12B of lower board 12, for directing pressure to a sensing portion 18 of transducer 10. The sensing portion 18 is located within the radius of intersection of the tube 16 and the upper portion 10A of the transducer 10. Additional transducers may include additional sensing portions (not shown) to enable the transducer to provide differential pressure readings.
The upper end of tube 16, opposite transducer 10, is open to the pressure to be measured. The pressure to be measured includes a gas or liquid. The upper end of tube 16 extends through an upper printed circuit board 20 mounted (not shown) on lower board 12. The upper board 20 has an upper surface 20A and a lower surface 20B, respectively facing away from upper surface 12B of lower board 12 and facing toward the upper surface 12B of lower board 12. That is, upper board 20 is in a stacked configuration with lower board 12.
The upper end of tube 16 extends into a cavity 22 formed by housing 24 mounted on the upper surface 20A of upper board 20. The housing 24 is generally cylindrically shaped and includes a mounting points 26A, 26B for connection to the upper surface 20A. Housing 24 is typically bolted to the upper board 20 using bolts passing through upper board 20 and mounting points 26A and 26B. Pressure to be measured or monitored using transducer 10 is supplied to cavity 22 via a barb hook-up 28 (also referred to as a pneumatic connection) providing a passage into cavity 22. Barb hook-up 28 is a generally cylindrical shaped tube having a ridge 30 (shown more clearly in conjunction with FIG. 2) encircling the outside surface for retaining attached supply tubing (not shown). Typically, flexible tubing is used to supply a gas or liquid under pressure from a remote location to barb hook-up 28 and thus into cavity 22 for measurement by transducer 10.
The prior art or xe2x80x9ctwo-boardxe2x80x9d design is shown in a perspective view in FIG. 2 prior to assembly. Specific additional features viewable in FIG. 2 include a through-hole 31 for insertion of upper end of tube 16 through upper board 20 and into cavity 22, mounting through-holes 32A and 32B for receiving the mounting bolts securing housing 24 to upper board 20 via mounting points 26A and 26B, respectively, and ridge 30 on barb hook-up 28 for retaining supply tubing connected to the barb hook-up.
Also shown in FIG. 2 is central axis line C (dashed line) depicting the necessary alignment of lower board 12, transducer 10, upper board 20, and housing 24 for proper assembly. Each of the component parts must be aligned for assembly, e.g., the upper portion of tube 16 must be aligned with through-hole 31 and upper board 20 must be aligned with the mounting mechanism attaching it to lower board 12. Thus, multiple openings in the upper board 20 must be aligned for mounting to lower board 12. Misalignment of components increases the difficulty of assembly. Further, replacement or maintenance is made more difficult by having multiple parts to be aligned. Thus, there is a need in the art for a simpler pressure sensor housing mounting configuration to reduce or eliminate alignment issues.
Somewhat relatedly, due in part to the alignment issues described above and because of the multiplicity of component parts involved, the two-board design requires a longer assembly time than a single board design. Thus, there is a need in the art to reduce the assembly time required for a pressure sensor housing configuration. Further, because assembly is simplified with a single-board design, there is no additional specialized tooling required for assembly. With a two-board design, additional special tools are needed to ensure proper alignment of upper board 20 over lower board 12, housing 24 on upper board 20, and tube 16 inside housing 24 and upper board 20. Once aligned, the piece parts need to be attached to one another, as well. Thus, there is a need in the art to eliminate the necessity of special tools for assembly. In conjunction with a reduction in the number of tools required and a simplified alignment process, an important by-product is the reduction of the amount of mounting hardware required for assembly. This reduces the cost and complexity of the assembly process. Thus, there is a need in the art for a sensor housing configuration requiring a reduced amount of mounting hardware.
Necessarily also, the amount of assembly-induced rework due to errors in assembly is increased because of the complicated nature of the two-board design. More component parts are handled, moved, and removed increasing the possibility of errors and/or breakage of components. Thus, there is a need in the art to reduce assembly-induced rework in the sensor housing configuration.
Further, in the two-board design it is difficult to test the individual component parts prior to assembly because the entire configuration must be assembled for a test.
That is, the housing 24 must be mounted to upper board 20 which must be attached to lower board 12 which must have the transducer 10 mounted thereon. Therefor, there is a need in the art for a mounting configuration more conducive to testing of components prior to assembly.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simpler pressure sensor housing mounting configuration to reduce or eliminate alignment issues.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting configuration more conducive to component-level testing prior to assembly.
Still another object of the present invention is to reduce the assembly time required for a pressure sensor housing configuration.
Further still, another object of the present invention is to eliminate the necessity of special tools for assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sensor housing configuration requiring a reduced amount of mounting hardware.
Still another object of the present invention is to reduce assembly-induced rework in the sensor housing configuration.
The above described objects are fulfilled by a pressure transducer including a tube for measuring pressure and leads for providing signals indicated of the measured pressure is mounted to a printed circuit board. A housing including elongated mounting portions or legs taller than the pressure sensor transducer and a cavity for receiving the tube is mounted over the pressure transducer to the printed circuit board. The housing is connected to the printed circuit board using the elongated mounting portions. A pneumatic connection to the housing provides a pressure to be measured to the cavity and thence to the pressure transducer tube.
An apparatus aspect of the pressure transducer mounting configuration includes a printed circuit board, a pressure transducer mounted on the printed circuit board, and a housing surrounding the pressure transducer on a side of the printed circuit board. The housing is mounted to the printed circuit board. A further embodiment includes a pressure transducer having a tube for receiving pressure to be measured by the pressure transducer and the housing further includes a cavity for providing the pressure to the pressure transducer and a sealing ring for receiving and sealing the tube of the pressure transducer in the cavity open to the pressure.
An apparatus aspect of the housing includes a central and generally cylindrical portion having (a) a central cavity open at the bottom of the cylindrical portion and (b) two elongated mounting portions connected at opposing locations along the bottom of the outside surface of the longitudinal cylindrical portion and long enough to extend above a pressure transducer when the bottom edge of the mounting portions are mounted on a printed circuit board. The housing further includes a pneumatic connection connected to a through-hole in the side of the longitudinal cylindrical portion and opening to the central cavity for providing pressure. A further embodiment of the housing includes a sealing ring located within the central cavity and adapted for sealing around a tube inserted into the open bottom of the central cavity.
A method aspect of mounting a pressure transducer housing on a printed circuit board includes mounting a pressure transducer to the printed circuit board and mounting a housing to the printed circuit board. The housing surrounds the pressure transducer on a side of the printed circuit board and provides a pressure to be measured to the pressure transducer. In a further embodiment the method includes a pressure transducer including a tube for receiving the pressure to be measured and a housing including a cavity for receiving the tube and providing the pressure to the transducer.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description thereof are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.


When a semi-solidified metal composition is formed in a forging die assembly, it is formed under conditions satisfying particular mass fraction solid and flowing rate in the die and then held under a given pressure until the metal composition is completely solidified.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of forming a metal material in a die assembly, and more particularly to a die-forging of a semi-solidified metal composition as a starting material at a solid-liquid coexistent temperature region.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, there are various methods of forming a metal material, among which a forming method such as press forming or the like is widely used for the formation of structural parts. In press forming, the metal material has hitherto been shaped at a temperature below solids, but such a method has several problems cracking is apt to be caused when forming complicated parts or hardly workable parts, a large working load is required, plural forming steps are required, and the like. In order to provide the parts of a given shape, it may be obliged to adopt another method such as forging or the like even if the properties of the resulting part are poor.
As a countermeasure for solving the above problems, there has been developed a method wherein the material is formed at such a state that the material temperature is approximately equal to the die temperature under particular working conditions, or a so-called isothermal forging method. This isothermal forging method can reduce the mechanical working cost for finishing into a final shape when forming a hardly workable material and also effectively contributes to decreasing the working load and the like.
However, the isothermal forging method requires precise control over working rate, so that it has a problem that the equipment for conducting this method becomes too large.
In order to solve the aforementioned problems and widen the range of materials to be formed, a method of working metal in a temperature region between solids and liquids or a solid-liquid coexistent temperature region has recently been studied in various fields. As an example of this method, a method wherein the metal is agitated at the solid-liquid coexistent temperature region by a mechanical means or the like to form non-dendritic structure or a granular structure and solidified at once to form a working material and then the working material is again heated to the solid-liquid coexistent temperature region for forming is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,818.
In general, the method of working the metal at the solid-liquid coexistent temperature region is advantageous for forming hardly workable material, complicated parts or the like because the fluidity of the metal material is good and the force required for the working is small.
However, the above working method has a problem which has never been observed in the conventional techniques.
That is, since the metal is formed at the solid-liquid coexistent temperature region, when the metal material is filled in a die assembly at the forming step, solid phase and liquid phase flow ununiformly and hence the ununiform distribution of solid phase and liquid phase or macrosegregation is caused in a section of the resulting formed product at the completion of the forming. As such a segregation is caused, the structure of the product section becomes ununiform and hence the mechanical properties of the product are ununiform, which are harmful in practical use.

Method of forming semi-solidified metal composition


Disclosed are an apparatus for recognizing a fingerprint, a display device, and the apparatus includes: a display panel, light sources, a supporting element, an optically-coupling element, a photo-detecting element on optical paths of the light sources, a processing element; the light sources, the supporting element are on side of a second surface of the display panel; the supporting element supports light sources so that light rays exiting light sources are incident obliquely onto the display panel; the optically-coupling element, the photo-detecting element are on the second surface; the photo-detecting element is on side of the optically-coupling element away from light sources; the optically-coupling element makes light rays emitted from light sources totally reflect in the display panel; the photo-detecting element detects exiting light after light rays exiting the light sources are reflected by the display panel, transmits detected signals to the processing element; the processing element determines a fingerprint pattern.

As the display technologies are advancing, electronic devices with a biological recognition function have stepped gradually into our life and working. Particularly, the fingerprint recognition technologies has been highly regarded as the most widely applied and the cheapest recognition technologies among the biological recognition technologies in more and more application fields due to their uniqueness and stability.

Apparatus for recognizing a fingerprint, and display device


A transient electronic device includes electronic elements (e.g., an SOI- or chip-based IC) and a trigger mechanism disposed on a frangible glass substrate. The trigger mechanism includes a switch that initiates a large trigger current through a self-limiting resistive element in response to a received trigger signal. The self-limiting resistive element includes a resistor portion that generates heat in response to the trigger current, thereby rapidly increasing the temperature of a localized (small) region of the frangible glass substrate, and a current limiting portion (e.g., a fuse) that self-limits (terminates) the trigger current after a predetermined amount of time, causing the localized region to rapidly cool down. The frangible glass substrate is engineered such that a stress profile produced by the rapid heating/cooling of the localized region generates an initial fracture force that subsequently propagates throughout the glass substrate, whereby sufficient potential energy is released to powderize the electronic elements.

Large area sensing is critical for a variety of military, ecological and commercial interests and has historically been served through the use of centralized long-range sensors. However, rapid improvements in miniaturization of electronic systems have significantly improved the capabilities of small sensor devices. These micro-sensors have the potential to create "large N" distributed networks with advantages in operational adaptability, non-traditional sensing modalities that are only possible with close proximity, increased sensitivity and knowledge extraction through networked intelligence.
While distributed network systems have remarkable promise, their realistic use is limited by risks associated with their accumulation in the environment, detection and defeat, and exploitation due to inability to maintain positive control (unlike centralized long-range sensors).
The phrase "transient electronics" refers to a relatively new family of electronic devices that disappear (disaggregate and disperse) within a set period of time, making them ideally suited for distributed network systems. Conventional transient electronic systems typically rely on the use of soluble substrates and electronic materials (such as silk). When placed into solvent (typically water), these conventional substrates and electronics slowly dissolve into solution. As such, a distributed network system made up of conventional transient electronic devices can be expected to "disappear" over a relatively short amount of time (e.g., after periodic rainfall).
Although the conventional transient electronic approaches achieve the goal of causing the electronics to "disappear" after use, the long dissolution period required to achieve complete disaggregation and dispersal make the conventional approaches unfit for discrete (e.g., military) applications that require rapid and complete disaggregation upon command. Moreover, early conventional approaches utilize materials that were not compatible with existing integrated circuit fabrication and assembly techniques, requiring the development of new IC fabrication processes at significant cost.
More recently, a new type of transient electronic device was introduced in which functional circuitry fabricated using well-known low-cost fabrication techniques (e.g., CMOS or SOI) and disposed on a frangible glass substrate that, when subjected to a small initial fracture force, underwent complete disaggregation (shattering) in a manner that releases sufficient potential energy to also cause disaggregation of the functional circuitry. The transient event (i.e., disaggregation) was controlled by a trigger mechanism configured to generate the required initial fracture force by way of applying resistive heating, a chemical reaction or a localized mechanical pressure to the frangible glass substrate in response to a suitable trigger signal. An issue with some triggering approaches is that they may require a substantial electronic system to provide a particular current or voltage pulse in order to provide the necessary conditions to initiate fragmentation. For example, resistive heating type trigger mechanisms may require a pulse shaping circuit configured to generate and transmit a shaped current pulse from a power source to the resistive heating element in order to generate initial fracture.
What is needed is a simple and reliable trigger mechanism and triggering method for initiating the powderization of a frangible glass substrate in a transient electronic device that reliably achieves complete, on-command disaggregation of the electronic circuitry formed thereon in response to an electronic trigger signal.

Self-limiting electrical triggering for initiating fracture of frangible glass


In described embodiments, an adaptive equalizer employed by a receiver in a communication channel, such as Fiber Channel, employs pattern recognition. When a repeating pattern, such as an IDLE or ARBFF pattern, is employed by a standard to, for example, maintain a communication link, an equalizer of the receiver might adaptively set its equalizer parameters based on characteristics of the signal energy of the repeating pattern rather than adaptively set its equalizer parameters based on characteristics of the signal energy of generally random user data carried on the link. Pattern recognition by the receiver allows for maintaining adaptive equalizer parameters at settings preferred for data detection of the typical random data, improving data detection performance of the receiver when the channel transitions from a preset or synchronization repeating pattern to a user random data pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication systems, and, in particular, to adaptive equalization using pattern recognition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fibre Channel (FC) is a high performance communications interconnect standard specifying data transfer that is capable of transporting a relatively great amount of user data traffic between, for example, desktop workstations, mass storage devices, peripheral components, and host systems at rates much faster that those present in typical local area network (LAN) communication networks. FC is rapidly becoming a generally accepted network architecture for stage area networks (SANs), which are increasingly important for managing the large volume and complexity of data in post internet-era applications.
One component of FC devices is a serializer and de-serializer (SerDes) device that is commonly used in high speed communications to convert data between serial and parallel interfaces in each transmit/receive direction. A common coding scheme used with SerDes devices, such as those employed in FC, is (8B10B) coding. All information is first encoded 8-bits at a time into a 10-bit transmit character. The 10-bit character is then sent serially bit-by-bit over a communication link, such as an electrical or optical link. This (8B10B) encoding supports DC-balance, provides framing, and guarantees signal transitions. Guaranteed transitions allow a receiver to extract the embedded clock signal (clock data recovery, or CDR), while control codes allow framing, typically on the start of a data packet. This encoding scheme also improves error detection with running disparity, providing separation of data bits from control bits, and permits derivation of byte and word synchronization. The typical (8B10B) SerDes parallel side data bus interface has 1 clock line and 8 (or multiples of 8) data lines for each transmit and receive lane.
SerDes systems transfer data, but during some periods data might not be sent over the communication link. During these non-data periods, many standards, including FC, specify that a primitive signal be employed to keep a low-energy signal with transitions in the link, allowing for continued timing extraction and reduction of sample-timing wander at the front end of the receiver. By keeping a receiver's front end active, the receiver can transition to active data detection relatively rapidly while maintaining a low bit error rate (BER).
An important signal degradation that occurs in SerDes devices is from electromagnetic interference (EMI) introduced by toggling signals, which EMI degradation increases as data rates increase. Generation of EMI is closely regulated by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) since it can interfere with other user devices. Consequently, lowering the EMI of a device might lower device costs of a given implementation by lowing shielding requirements.
To reduce lower EMI while minimizing impact to existing designs, the T11 Technical Committee has proposed replacing the currently employed primitive signal IDLE with an ARBFF signal for synchronization. The ARBFF signal exhibits a lower transition density than the IDLE signal. Both an IDLE signal and an ARBFF signal are specified as an "ordered set" of signals where each element of the ordered set exhibits a distinct pattern. Table 1 summarizes the FC data rates and proposed primitive signals for those data rates.
TABLE 1BeginningRunningFC StandardSerial Data RatePrimitive SignalDisparityOrdered Set1G1.0625GbpsIDLENegativeK28.5-D21.4-D21.5-D21.52G2.125GbpsIDLENegativeK28.5-D21.4-D21.5-D21.54G4.25GbpsIDLENegativeK28.5-D21.4-D21.5-D21.58G8.5GbpsARBFFNegativeK28.5-D20.4-D31.7-D31.710G 10.51875GbpsARBFFNegativeK28.5-D20.4-D31.7-D31.7
Lower transitional density of the ARBFF signal's repeating data pattern, however, works against adaptive equalization (AEQ) by the receiver, and SerDes receiver performance in general. The effect is amplified when data traffic resumes after a long period of link synchronization. During the long period of non-random repeating data patterns and with low transitional density, AEQ might drifts away from relatively optimum settings for random data detection, leading to incorrect data decisions or data corruption once user data traffic resumes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Adaptive equalization employing pattern recognition


Disclosed is an electric double layer capacitor including polarizable electrodes immersed in an organic electrolyte, wherein a carbon material for forming the polarizable electrode is a carbon material including graphite-like microcrystalline carbon produced by effecting a heat treatment together with at least one of an alkali metal and an alkali metal compound at not less than a temperature at which alkali metal vapor is generated, and an electrostatic capacity is expressed by insertion of ions of a solute of the organic electrolyte into a space between microcrystalline carbon layers of the carbon material. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve an electrostatic capacity and a withstand voltage which exceed those of the conventional electric double layer capacitor based on the activated carbon system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric double layer capacitor comprising polarizable electrodes immersed in an organic electrolyte, and a method for producing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
The conventional electric double layer capacitor, which is based on the use of an organic electrolyte, uses so-called activated carbon having a specific surface area of not less than 1000 m2/g, as an active material for its polarizable electrodes.
The electrostatic capacity is expressed in the electric double layer capacitor as follows. That is, the expression is achieved by a treatment which is called xe2x80x9cactivationxe2x80x9d to artificially form pores in a carbon material, the pores being controlled so that the solute of the organic electrolyte may be adsorbed (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-320906).
However, in the case of the conventional electric double layer capacitor, the electrostatic capacity and the withstand voltage depend on the activation method, and they have had the following limits. That is, in the case of the steam activation method, the electrostatic capacity has had the limit of about 15 F/cc and the withstand voltage has had the limit of about 3 V. In the case of the alkaline activation method, the electrostatic capacity has had the limit of about 20 F/cc and the withstand voltage has had the limit of about 2.5 V.
The present invention has been made taking the foregoing problem into consideration, an object of which is to provide an electric double layer capacitor which makes it possible to achieve an electrostatic capacity and a withstand voltage exceeding those of the conventional electric double layer capacitor based on the activated carbon system, in the case of the use as a polarizable electrode of the electric double layer capacitor, and a method for producing the same.
According to the present invention, there is provided an electric double layer capacitor comprising polarizable electrodes mainly composed of a carbon material immersed in an organic electrolyte, wherein the carbon material has graphite-like microcrystalline carbon, and an electrostatic capacity is expressed by insertion of ion of a solute of the organic electrolyte into a space between microcrystalline carbon layers of the carbon material.
According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve an electrostatic capacity and a withstand voltage which exceed those of the conventional electric double layer capacitor based on the activated carbon system.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the carbon material is a carbon material having the graphite-like microcrystalline carbon produced by performing a heat treatment at not less than a temperature at which alkali metal vapor is generated, together with at least one of an alkali metal and an alkali metal compound.
Those preferably used as the solute include tetrafluoroborate (BF4xe2x88x92) or hexafluorophosphate (PF6xe2x88x92) of quaternary ammonium; tetrafluoroborate (BF4xe2x88x92) or hexafluorophosphate (PF6xe2x88x92) of tetraethylammonium (TEA+) or tetrabutylammonium (TBA+); tetrafluoroborate (BF4xe2x88x92) or hexafluorophosphate (PF6xe2x88x92) of triethylmethylammonium (TEMA+); tetrafluoroborate (BF4xe2x88x92) or hexafluorophosphate (PF6xe2x88x92) of quaternary phosphonium; and tetrafluoroborate (BF4xe2x88x92) or hexafluorophosphate (PF6xe2x88x92) of tetraethylphosphonium (TEP+); as well as tetrafluoroborate (BF4xe2x88x92) or hexafluorophosphate (PF6xe2x88x92) of imidazolium derivative represented by the following general formula:
wherein R1 and R2 are alkyl groups each having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and R1 and R2 may be either the same group or different groups; and tetrafluoroborate (BF4xe2x88x92) or hexafluorophosphate (PF6xe2x88x92) of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (EMI+).
Those usable as a solvent of the electrolyte without any problem in the electric double layer capacitor according to the present invention in which the solute ion is inserted into the space between the graphite-like microcrystalline carbon layers contain at least one of propylene carbonate (PC), xcex3-butyrolactone (GBL), ethylene carbonate (EC), and sulfolane (SL) which are standard solvents for the conventional electric double layer capacitor based on the activated carbon system.
It is also allowable to use a solvent composed of a mixture comprising a primary solvent containing at least one of propylene carbonate (PC), xcex3-butyrolactone (GBL), ethylene carbonate (EC), and sulfolane (SL); and a secondary solvent containing at least one of dimethyl carbonate (DMC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), and diethyl carbonate (DEC).
In the case of the conventional electric double layer capacitor based on the activated carbon system, the secondary solvent has been added in order to lower the viscosity of the electrolyte and improve the electric conductivity. Also in the case of the electric double layer capacitor according to the present invention in which the solute ion is inserted into the interlayer of the graphite-like microcrystalline carbon, equivalent effects have been observed concerning, for example, reduction of internal resistance.
The secondary solvent may be defined such that if the substance is used singly, the performance as an electrolyte solvent is low, however, it is possible to obtain the performance equivalent or superior to that obtained by using the primary solvent or the secondary solvent alone, by combining the substance with the primary solvent. There is no special limitation for the amount of addition of the secondary solvent, for example, not more than 50%.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing an electric double layer capacitor comprising polarizable electrodes immersed in an organic electrolyte, wherein a carbon material for forming the polarizable electrodes is prepared by effecting a first heat treatment step of carbonizing a raw material to allow graphite-like microcrystalline carbon to grow, and a second heat treatment step of performing a heat treatment at not less than a temperature at which alkali metal vapor is generated.
According to the present invention, it is easy to obtain the electric double layer capacitor which makes it possible to achieve the electrostatic capacity and the withstand voltage exceeding those of the conventional electric double layer capacitor based on the activated carbon system.
The raw material, which is usable in the present invention, includes, for example, those based on petroleum (petroleum pitch (tar) and petroleum coke), those based on coal (coal pitch (tar) and coal coke), those based on plant (wood material such as coconut husk and sawdust), and those based on resin (phenol resin, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), and polyimide). However, there is no limitation to the raw materials described above.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing an electric double layer capacitor comprising polarizable electrodes immersed in an organic electrolyte, wherein a carbon material for forming the polarizable electrodes is a carbon material including graphite-like microcrystalline carbon produced by effecting a heat treatment together with at least one of an alkali metal and an alkali metal compound at not less than a temperature at which alkali metal vapor is generated; and a voltage of not less than a rated voltage is firstly applied between the polarizable electrodes after assembling the electric double layer capacitor so that ions of a solute of the organic electrolyte are forcibly inserted into a space between microcrystalline carbon layers composed of the carbon material to express an electrostatic capacity.
According to the present invention, it is easy to obtain the electric double layer capacitor which makes it possible to achieve the electrostatic capacity and the withstand voltage exceeding those of the conventional electric double layer capacitor based on the activated carbon system.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

Electric double layer capacitor and method for producing the same


A method, system and article of manufacture for processing requests in web applications and, more particularly, for processing requests between two different applications. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method of processing a copy request in a distributed environment including at least a first and a second application. The method comprises receiving, from the first application, a copy request for a copy of a selected object. A fully defined instance of the selected object resides in the second application and only a representation of the fully defined instance resides in the first application. The method further comprises generating, by the second application, an object descriptor representing the fully defined instance. At least a portion of the fully defined instance is excluded in the object descriptor. The object descriptor is transmitted from the second to the first application. Thereby, access by the first application to the fully defined instance is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to managing web applications and, more particularly, to processing requests in web applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a distributed computer system comprises a collection of loosely coupled machines (mainframe, workstations or personal computers) interconnected by a communication network. Through a distributed computer system, a client may access various servers to store information, print documents, access databases, acquire client/server computing or gain access to the Internet. These services often require software applications running on the client's desktop to interact with other applications that might reside on one or more remote server machines. Thus, in a client/server computing environment, one or more clients and one or more servers, along with the operating system and various interprocess communication (IPC) methods or mechanisms, form a composite that permits distributed computation, analysis and presentation.
Distributed systems are often implemented with web applications. Using a web application one or more server side objects, such as pages from the server computer, can be provided to the client computer. Such pages can be displayed in a graphical user interface on the client computer using one or more windows managed by standard software such as a web browser. Each page typically includes data such as text, images, audio, or the like. A page may also include one or more items for accepting input from a user, a small amount of source code, and/or a link, each of which may generate a request when operated by the user. The request can be sent to the server computer for processing, and the server computer can communicate a response to the client computer when processing is complete. The response may include one or more additional pages that are to be displayed on the client computer.
One type of functionality that web applications may need to support is copy/cut and paste processing. For instance, a user may want to copy an object from and/or paste an object to a web application in order to share the object with other users. However, there are several constraints on copy and paste operations in web applications. By way of example, assume a user who uses a client computer to issue a copy request in a web application for a server-side object that is stored on a corresponding server computer. In this case, the entire server-side object can be rendered on the server computer as an object that is consumable by the user, such as a XML or text object.
The consumable object can be transmitted to and stored in a clipboard of the user's client computer, allowing the user to paste it anywhere, including back into the server-side web application or into other applications. However, by rendering the entire server-side object, the consumable object may expose sensitive or internal implementation details of the server-side object. On the other hand, if the entire server-side object is not rendered (on the client computer) in order to protect the sensitive and/or internal implementation details, recreating the server-side object on the server computer can be difficult or even impossible. More specifically, as a result of the user performing a paste operation back into the web application, recreation of the server-side object on the server computer on the basis of the consumable object is requested. However, as the consumable object does not include the sensitive and/or internal implementation details, these details of the server-side object can be lost during the recreation.
Therefore, there is a need for an efficient technique for processing copy and paste requests in web applications.

System and method for managing web applications


A portable device includes set of charger contacts and a set of battery contacts. The battery contacts mate with corresponding contacts of a battery pack used to power the portable device, and the charger contacts allow charging of the battery pack while connected to the portable device. The battery pack includes an undervoltage protection circuit that opens when an undervoltage condition occurs across the battery pack contacts. The portable device further includes short circuit protection element connected between corresponding contacts of the set of battery contacts and the set of charger contacts that, upon a short circuit condition occurring at the charger contacts, prevents the undervoltage protection circuit from tripping and opening.

It is common to design portable devices with an enclosed battery compartment, or with means for attaching a battery pack (or simply "battery") to the portable device. In many devices the battery can be recharged either by removing the battery and placing the battery in a charger, by connecting the portable device to a charger, or in some cases, placing the portable device with the battery together into a charger.
Many portable devices, such as, for example, portable two-way radio devices and accessories, are designed to be operated by personnel wearing gloves. As such having to take a small, handheld device apart to remove a battery for charging, or connecting a cable to a small connector (e.g. micro USB) is not optimal. Accordingly, such devices are often designed to have prominent charger contacts on a surface of the device so that the device including the battery can easily be placed into a charger without need for fine manipulations. However, such exposed contact can present an opportunity for contact with electrically conductive items, potentially creating a short circuit between the positive and negative charger contacts. When this occurs, if it occurs, an undervoltage protection circuit in the battery can open an undervoltage switch, removing power from the device. Typically, the undervoltage switch will remain opened, even though the short circuit is removed from the charger contacts, due to the load presented by circuitry in the device. When this occurs, the battery must be momentarily removed from the device in order to reset the protection circuitry. Cleary, having to remove the battery from the device to reinstate battery operation can be considerably inconvenient, particularly if the device is a portable two-way radio device being used by a public safety operator.
Accordingly, there is a need for a way to prevent short circuit conditions from tripping protection circuitry in the battery while still preventing a short circuit from interrupting device operation.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Short circuit protection for a portable device powered by a battery pack having undervoltage protection


Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle including a manual transmission to prevent cold-start drive-away. In one example, a method for a vehicle with a driver clutch pedal may include preventing one of a clutch coupled between an input of a transmission and an engine output from closing and a driver-operated gearshift lever for adjusting a gear of the transmission from coming out of neutral in response to a catalyst light-off condition.

Engine emission control systems may include one or more exhaust catalysts such as three-way catalysts, NOx storage catalysts, and SCR catalysts. At catalyst light-off temperature (e.g., operational temperature where the catalytic activity is sufficiently activated to convert regulated emissions), the exhaust catalyst may oxidize and/or reduce exhaust constituents in an exhaust gas. However, during a cold-start of an engine, when a temperature of the exhaust catalyst is below the light-off temperature, the exhaust catalyst may not be able to effectively treat one or more of the regulated constituents of the exhaust gas, and as a result, cold-start emissions may increase. For example, during a cold-start, a portion of liquid fuel injected to the cylinders may not be combusted and such unburned hydrocarbons may contribute to the increased cold-start emissions.
One way to reduce cold-start emissions is to reduce engine load during catalyst warming. However, reducing engine load may still produce more emissions compared to engine idling, for example, while the vehicle is stationary, due to higher fuel consumption. Another way to reduce cold-start emissions is to prevent drive-away until the catalyst reaches the light-off temperature. For vehicles with automatic transmissions, preventing drive-away may be achieved with a software change, for example by operating a braking device of a drivetrain with an automatic gearbox and/or keeping the automatic transmission in a neutral state until one or more operating conditions are met. However, the inventors herein have recognized such approaches are inapplicable for vehicles with a manual transmission.
In one example, a method for a vehicle with a driver clutch pedal may include preventing one of a clutch coupled between an input of a transmission and an engine output from closing and a driver-operated gearshift lever for adjusting a gear of the transmission from coming out of neutral in response to a catalyst light-off condition. In this way, cold-start drive-away is prevented until catalyst activity is sufficiently activated.
As another example, a method for a vehicle may include preventing the clutch coupled between the input of the transmission and the engine output from closing, wherein the clutch is not coupled to a driver-operated clutch pedal and an electric actuator is coupled to the clutch. In such an example, the actuator may be adjusted to follow the driver-operated clutch pedal after reaching catalyst light-off. In an example, a method for a vehicle with a driver clutch pedal may include preventing the clutch coupled between the input of the transmission and an engine output from closing by engaging a clutch lock to lock the clutch in an open position until after reaching catalyst light-off. In another example, a method for a vehicle with a driver clutch pedal may further include engaging a gearshift lever lock to lock the gearshift lever in neutral until after reaching catalyst light-off.
In another example, a method for a vehicle may include controlling engine speed to a desired engine speed during idling before reaching catalyst light-off with a first feedback control parameter, and controlling engine speed to the desired engine speed during idling after reaching catalyst light-off with a second feedback control parameter different from the first. Before catalyst light-off is reached, desired engine idle speed may be set based on at least engine temperature. After reaching catalyst light-off, the desired engine idle speed may be reduced as compared with engine idle speed before reaching catalyst light-off, and the feedback control parameter and the desired engine idle speed may be gradually changed when transitioning around catalyst light-off.
In this way, by preventing drive-away during a cold start and adjusting engine idle speed control based on the catalyst light-off condition, heat from the warming engine may be directed to warming the catalyst. By warming the catalyst to light-off temperature before drive-away is allowed, emissions of unburned hydrocarbon are reduced, exhaust may be effectively treated sooner, and reduced cold-start emissions on vehicles equipped with manual transmissions is achieved.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

System and method for vehicle drive-away control


The invention is related to a method and an apparatus for generating an output clock. The method comprises: measuring a reference clock according to a free-run clock to produce a counter signal in a normal mode; suspending the reference clock; and generating the output clock according to the counter signal and the free-run clock in a power-saving mode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for generating an output clock, particularly relates to an apparatus and a method for generating an output clock signal using a free-run clock generator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The reference clock generator is a very popular device for providing a reference clock. Conventionally, a reference clock generator can be an oscillator or a combination of a crystal and an oscillation circuit. The power consumptions of these kinds of reference clock generators are high.
The electronic device can operate in a power-saving mode or a sleep mode to reduce the power consumption of the electronic device. When the electronic device operates in the power-saving mode or the sleep mode, the electronic device periodically check whether the electronic device receives the link signal or not and determines whether the electronic device need to operate in the normal mode.
The conventional method is utilized an external component, such as a resistor or a capacitor, and an internal component, such as a resistor or a capacitor, to generate a clock signal having a long period according to a RC constant. However, this long period clock signal is not stable that the period may change with the changes of temperature, voltage or/and the manufacture process of semiconductor.
In additions, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a phase-lucked loop (PLL) and needs at least one pin, which receives an external clock. The PLL produces the other reference clock according to the external clock.

Clock signal generator with low power comsumption function and method thereof


A staple gun tacker for driving staples of various leg lengths is disclosed in which the staple gun housing has a front staple gun driving end and a base. The base has a staple discharge opening formed therein through which staples to be driven by the staple gun are discharged into a workpiece. A staple spacer guide is slidably mounted on the staple driving end of the housing and includes a free end which extends beyond the staple discharge opening and the base of the staple gun. Cooperating means are provided on the spacer guide and the housing to enable the spacer guide to be retracted along the housing relative to the base, thereby to control the position of the staple discharge opening relative to the workpiece into which a staple is to be driven. By controlling the position of the staple driving end of the staple gun relative to the workpiece, the depth to which a particular staple is driven in the workpiece can be controlled to avoid damage to the item being stapled to the workpiece.

The present invention relates to staple gun tackers and more in particular to staple gun tackers which are adapted to drive staples of multiple lengths and shapes to varying controlled depths.
Heavy duty staple gun tackers are well known hand tools which are adapted to drive staples of varying lengths into a workpiece in order to tack something to the workpiece or work surface. Such staple gun tackers are very popular in use, particularly those sold by the Arrow Fastener Company, Inc. under the trademarks T-50.RTM. and T-25.RTM.. Such staple gun tackers are designed to drive staples in a range of leg lengths.
The Arrow Fastener Company has developed specific staple guns which are adapted to drive staples having a round crown shape, which staples are used for stapling telephone wires, electrical cables, and the like, to a workpiece. Such staple gun tackers, while entirely satisfactory in use, have not had the ability to control the depth to which the staples are driven. Thus, whether the wire to be attached to a workpiece was a small diameter wire or a larger diameter wire, the staple was driven to essentially the same depth. As a result, when a large diameter wire was used, it was possible that the wire would be damaged by the bight portion of the staple when the staple was driven. In order to avoid that possibility sometimes larger size staples than necessary were used to hold the wire to the workpiece.


A pallet jack with a pallet engaging fork having separate and independently movable first and second fork arms connected to independently controlled and operable first and second fork arm elevating means, for lifting a pallet loaded with a stack of items so that when the stack of items leans and is out of balance one fork arm can be elevated higher than the other to compensate and restore balance to the stack of items.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of commercial trucks and carts for carrying merchandise items such as various types of product containers. More specifically the present invention relates to a pallet jack with a pallet engaging fork having separate and independently movable first and second fork arms connected to independently controlled and operable first and second fork arm elevating means, for lifting a pallet loaded with a stack of items so that when the stack of items leans and is out of balance one fork arm can be elevated higher than the other to compensate and restore balance to the stack of items. The fork arm elevating means may be powered electrically, manually or by any other suitable power source. The first and second fork arm elevating means preferably include first and second hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies drivably linked to first and second fork arm risers of conventional design. Each piston and cylinder assembly moves the corresponding fork arm riser linkages to lower fork arm wheels to elevate the corresponding fork arm and the corresponding side of a loaded pallet and to raise the fork arm wheels to lower the corresponding fork arm and the corresponding side of the loaded pallet. Apart from the fork arms being separate and independently raised and lowered by separate and independently controlled fork arm elevating means, the remainder of the pallet jack is conventional.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have long been pallet jacks having pallet engaging lifting forks for lifting and transporting pallets loaded with containers of various products. Some pallet jacks have included hand powered hydraulic systems for elevating the lifting fork, while others have included electrically powered hydraulic systems. The lifting forks of all of these prior pallet jacks have had structurally interconnected fork arms, constraining the arms to move in unison. A problem with operating these prior pallet jacks has been that item loads on pallets are often stacked off center and off balance so that if the pallet remains level as it is lifted, the loads remain off balance and are likely to tip over while being transported.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a pallet jack which has separately elevatable lifting fork arms so that a pallet can be tilted while being elevated to compensate for a tilt and imbalance of a stack of items on the pallet.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a pallet jack which alternatively can keep a pallet level while the pallet is lifted, where the load stacked on the pallet is adequately balanced.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a pallet jack which has lifting fork arms which can be separately raised and lowered under either manual power or electrical power.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such pallet jack design features which can be incorporated into a fork lift to achieve the same benefits.
It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such a pallet jack which is sturdy, relatively simple in design, reliable and easy to operate, and which is comparable in manufacturing cost to a conventional pallet jack.

Pallet jack with independently elevatable fork arms


A motor vehicle air conditioning arrangement having a heater (H) and an evaporator (V) which are arranged in an air guiding housing (2). Each of the heater and evaporator have a plane that is traversed perpendicularly by air and have an inclined position such that the planes are each arranged at an angle of less than 40° with respect to the horizontal plane (E).

The invention pertains to a motor vehicle air conditioning arrangement.
In conventional motor vehicle air conditioning systems, the heater and the evaporator are usually arranged upright and essentially parallel to one another such that they can be traversed by air with the least losses possible.
Arrangements of auxiliary air conditioners in the center console or behind a wheel housing are also known. A heater may also be arranged in connection with an air conditioner, i.e., an evaporator. In this case, the components are also arranged essentially upright and in the direction of the longitudinal vehicle axis.
DE 195 34 738 A1 discloses a motor vehicle air conditioning system that features an offset fan for blowing air, an evaporator that is centrally arranged in the dashboard and receives air from below, as well as a heater that is arranged above the evaporator approximately horizontally. In this case, the evaporator is inclined downward along the direction of the air flow in order to discharge condensation water. The evaporator is preferably inclined relative to the horizontal line by an angle of 10 to 30°. The two heat exchangers, i.e., the evaporator and the heater, are arranged in different planes and essentially in alignment, and the flow path of the air through them is as short as possible in order to realize a largely compact air conditioning system.
However, air conditioning arrangements of this type leave something to be desired.

Motor vehicle air conditioning arrangement