A coated cutting tool member exhibiting not only a superior wear resistance during a high speed cutting operation in which a significant amount of heat is generated, but also exhibit a superior shipping resistance even when such a cutting operation is performed under severe conditions, such as with a large depth of cut or a large feed. In the coated cutting tool member, a hard coating layer of one of nitride compound and carbonitride compound containing Ti and Al is formed using a physical vapor deposition method at an average thickness of 1 to 10 μm, and the hard coating layer includes Zr at an atomic ratio of 0.002 to 0.1, and at least one of Y and Ce at an atomic ratio of 0.0005 to 0.05 in a coexistence state.

Conventionally and in general, cutting tools include an indexable insert which is detachably attached to a tip portion of a cutting tool in order to perform a turning or planing operation for a workpiece such as made of various steels or cast irons, a drill or a micro drill which is used for performing a drilling operation for a workpiece as mentioned above, and a solid type end mill which is used for performing a face milling operation, a groove milling operation, or a shoulder milling operation for a workpiece as mentioned above. In addition, an indexable type end mill is also known, to which an indexable insert is detachably attached to a body for performing a cutting operation as in the case of the solid type end mill.
Moreover, conventionally and in general, as the coated cutting tools as mentioned above, a coated hard metal tool is known in which a hard coating layer, which has an average thickness of 0.5 to 10 μm and is made of, for example, titanium nitride (hereinafter termed TiN), titanium carbonitride (hereinafter termed TiCN), or a nitride compound (hereinafter termed (Ti, Al)N) layer that includes Al and Ti, is formed on a surface of a substrate made of a tungsten carbide (hereinafter termed WC) based cemented carbide, a titanium carbonitride (hereinafter termed TiCN) based cermet, or a cubic boron nitride (hereinafter termed c-BN) based sintered material (hereinafter such a substrate is referred to as a hard substrate). It is also well known that such a coated cutting tool is used in a continuous cutting operation or an interrupted cutting operation for various kinds of steels and cast irons.
As disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication, No. S62-56565, it is known that the (Ti, Al)N layer as a hard coating layer for the aforementioned coated cutting tool is formed using a physical vapor deposition method in which an arc ion plating apparatus schematically shown in FIG. 2 is used, the inside of the apparatus is heated to a temperature of, for example, 500° C. using a heater, an electric current of, for example, 90A is made to flow as an arc discharge between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode (an evaporation source) to which a Ti—Al alloy piece having a predetermined composition depending on a desired coated layer composition is attached, a nitrogen gas as a reaction gas is simultaneously introduced into the apparatus so as to prepare a reaction atmosphere at, for example, 3 Pa, and on the other hand, a bias voltage of −200 V is applied to the hard substrate.
Among the aforementioned conventional coated cutting tools, a coated cutting tool in which a TiN layer is coated on a surface of a substrate exhibits a superior tool life when it is used for a cutting operation under a normal condition; however, the tool life of the coated cutting tool tends to end in an extremely short period due to excessive wear when it is used for a cutting operation under a high speed condition. Because a coated cutting tool, in which a TiCN layer or a (Ti, Al)N layer is coated, preferably, a (Ti, Al)N layer is coated, exhibits a superior wear resistance even when it is used for a cutting operation under a high speed condition due to an improved high temperature hardness and oxidation resistance of the (Ti, Al)N layer, it is known that the TiCN layer or the (Ti, Al)N layer is now widely used as a hard coating layer for coated cutting tools.
Moreover, in order to further improve the oxidation resistance and high temperature properties of the (Ti, Al)N layer, as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publications, Nos. H07-310174, H08-199338, H09-295204, and H11-131215, it is known that various (Ti, Al, X)N layers can be formed using a physical vapor deposition method, which include a third metal, such as Si, Y, Zr, V, Nb, or Cr, in the form of replacing Ti and/or Al. Among these layers, it is known that oxidation resistance is significantly improved, in particular, in a nitride compound (hereinafter termed (Ti, Al, Si)N) layer to which Si is added so as to includes Ti, Al, and Si, and which satisfies a composition formula of (Ti1−(x+y)AlxSiy)NzC1-z) (where "x" indicates an atomic ratio of 0.05 to 0.75, "y" indicates an atomic ratio of 0.01 to 0.1, and "z" indicates an atomic ratio of 0.6 to 1), or in a nitride compound (hereinafter termed (Ti, Al, Y)N) layer to which Y is added so as to includes Ti, Al, and Y, and which satisfies a composition formula of (TiaAlbYc)CxN1−x) (where "a" indicates an atomic ratio of 0.3 to 0.7, "b" indicates an atomic ratio of 0.3 to 0.7, "c" indicates an atomic ratio of 0.01 to 2, and "x" indicates an atomic ratio of 0 to 1), and it is also known that a coated cutting tool in which the (Ti, Al, Si)N) layer having a significantly improved oxidation resistance is coated exhibits a superior cutting performance than a cutting tool having a (Ti, Al)N layer in a cutting operation, in particular, for a hard steel.
Furthermore, another coated cutting tool has been proposed, in which a hard coating layer, which has an average thickness of 1 to 15 μm and is made of a nitride compound (hereinafter termed (Ti, Al, Zr)N) layer that includes Ti, Al, and Zr and satisfies a composition formula of (Ti1−(X+Y)AlXZrY)N (where X indicates an atomic ratio of 0.45 to 0.65, and Y indicates an atomic ratio of 0.01 to 0.15), is formed on the surface of the aforementioned hard substrate using a physical vapor deposition method. It is also known that such a coated cutting tool is used in a high speed continuous cutting operation or in a high speed interrupted cutting operation for various kinds of steels and cast irons in which a significant amount of heat is generated because the aforementioned (Ti, Al, Zr)N layer forming the hard coating layer has a superior high temperature properties (high temperature hardness, heat resistance, and high temperature strength).
Moreover, it is also known that the aforementioned coated cutting tool is fabricated through a method in which the aforementioned hard substrate is mounted in, for example, an arc ion plating apparatus schematically shown in FIG. 2, which is a type of physical vapor deposition apparatus, an electric current of, for example, 90A is made to flow as an arc discharge between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode (an evaporation source) to which a Ti—Al—Zr alloy piece having a predetermined composition is attached under the conditions in which the inside of the apparatus is heated to a temperature of, for example, 400° C. using a heater, a nitrogen gas as a reaction gas is introduced into the apparatus so as to prepare a reaction atmosphere at, for example, 2 Pa, and on the other hand, a DC bias voltage of −200 V is applied to the aforementioned hard substrate, so that a hard coating layer, which is made of a (Ti, Al, Zr)N layer is formed on the surface of the aforementioned hard substrate.
In recent years, cutting operation apparatuses tend to have significantly high performance, and on the other hand, it is strongly demanded that cutting operations be performed using lower power and less energy at lower cost. Accordingly, a coated cutting tool is strongly demanded, which exhibits not only a superior cutting performance during high speed cutting operations for various kinds of steels and cast irons in which a significant amount of heat is generated, but also a superior cutting performance during a cutting operation for various kinds of steels and cast irons under severe cutting conditions, such as with a large depth of cut or a large feed.
On the other hand, a coated cutting tool in which the aforementioned (Ti, Al)N layer, (Ti, Al, Si)N, or (Ti, Al, Zr)N is coated on a surface of a substrate exhibits a superior wear resistance when it is used for a cutting operation under a high speed condition; however, the cutting tool tends to easily chip and the tool life of the coated cutting tool tends to end in a relatively short period when it is used for high speed cutting operations under severe cutting conditions, such as with a large depth of cut or a large feed.

Mitsubishi Materials Kobe Tools Corporation


A method, system, computer program product and table lookup system for calculating image intensity for a mask used in integrated circuit processing are disclosed. A method may comprise: decomposing a Manhattan polygon of the mask into decomposed areas based on parallel edges of the Manhattan polygon along only one dimension; determining a convolution of each decomposed area based on a table lookup; determining a sum of coherent systems contribution of the Manhattan polygon based on the convolutions of the decomposed areas; and outputting the determined sum of coherent system contribution for analyzing the mask.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to optical lithography, and more particularly to calculating image intensity of a mask by decomposing a Manhattan polygon based on parallel edges.
2. Background Art
The design of Very-Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) or Ultra-Large Scale Integrated (ULSI) circuits requires analysis of the images produced by projection lithography systems. Due to the scale of this analysis, large computational resources are required. Using the information specific to the object (i.e., the mask) in a lithographic system, techniques have been developed to quickly generate the resulting intensity at a location of interest on the imaging plane. These techniques are widely utilized in model-based optical proximity correction (OPC) to determine the appropriate compensating adjustments to the integrated circuit (IC) shapes deployed on the mask. The mask can, in almost all cases, be represented as a number of two-dimensional (2D) polygon apertures. Such 2D polygons neglect the finite thickness of the mask film structure, and are thus known as a thin-mask representation. When the true finite-thickness topography is included, the mask is referred to as a topographic mask. A fast method for generating the impact at an image point from a polygon is derived from the Hopkins model. Two techniques are usually combined together to achieve a high-speed simulation module: Sum Of Coherent Systems (SOCS) decomposition and table lookup for convolution. In the SOCS decomposition, partial coherent imaging under the Hopkins model is approximately decomposed into an incoherent sum of a relatively small number of coherent sub-images. Here the term "sub-image" refers to the convolution of an eigenvector kernel of the Hopkins Integral (used in the Hopkins model) with the object, an operation equivalent to calculating a coherent image. The full image is obtained as the incoherent sum of the sub-images. Such an eigenvector kernel is referred to as a SOCS kernel. A table lookup will reduce the computational expense to obtain the coherent sub-image since each mask polygon can be decomposed into a superposition of unbounded sectors, and the coherent sub-images of each kind of unbounded sector are pre-computed and stored in a table.
In most cases the polygons are Manhattan polygons, whose edges are rectilinear with respect to the boundaries of the rectangular IC chip, with directions being referred to as either horizontal or vertical. Only one type of unbounded sector, i.e., a quarter-plane element, is needed to synthesize the internal area of a Manhattan polygon. Where structures are periodic (or assumed periodic for simulation purposes), the quarter-plane element needs not actually extend indefinitely to occupy an entire quadrant of the unbounded 2D mask plane, but may instead be terminated at the period boundaries. For simplicity the term "quarter-plane" will be used to refer to such elements used under either option.
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1, an arbitrary polygonal area 10 of Manhattan form (shown as shaded area) in the left part of FIG. 1 can be formed by superposing (or be decomposed into) quarter-planes 12a-12h (each may be generally referred to as quarter-plane 12) defined by each corner 11a-11h (each may be generally referred to as a corner 11) of polygon 10, respectively. Note that quarter-planes 12 must be superposed with alternately positive and negative sign (as shown by the "+" and "−" references in FIG. 1) to indicate whether a quarter-plane is added or subtracted from the mask plane. When quarter-planes 12 are added or subtracted from the mask plane in this way, the net residual added area is positive, and takes the form of the desired polygonal area 10.
In the conventional table lookup scheme, the lookup tables store the coherent sub-images of quarter-plane elements addressed by only a single coordinate point, e.g., the lower left corner (as shown in FIG. 1) or upper left corner of quarter-plane elements 12, as convolved with kernels from a Hopkins Matrix (or integral), and is called a corner lookup scheme. The way in which quarter-planes are used for the convolution is based on the decomposition method for Manhattan polygons described above with respect to Manhattan polygon 10 of FIG. 1. Without loss of generality, a quarter-plane 12's lower left corner is defined by a corner 11 of Manhattan polygon 10. Because of the linearity of SOCS approximation, the convolution between a Manhattan polygon and a kernel can be decomposed to the convolutions between quarter-plane elements 12 addressed by corners 11 of polygon 10 and the kernel, and all these convolutions that might be encountered will be pre-computed and stored in a lookup table(s).
Access to the lookup table during OPC involves a more-or-less random selection of entries, and in general random access to large data tables entails delays that are quite long on the time-scale of central processing unit (CPU) operations. As a result, the speed of today's OPC technology is strongly gated by memory access delays. OPC processing on each single chip layer currently requires many days or even weeks of processing on very large state-of-the-art computer clusters, which limits the speed at which semiconductor products can be produced.
As mask features get smaller and smaller, electromagnetic effects (EMF) will have a more and more substantial impact on the image calculation. When mask features are large compared to the wavelength, only consideration of the interior areas of the mask features is required when calculating the image, and the finite thickness of the mask films (which manifests itself as a topographic discontinuity at feature edges) can be ignored. This simple model maintains some accuracy even at the fine dimensions of today's IC features because lithographic masks are formed at an enlarged scale (typically 4× enlarged) and their polygonal features are demagnified by several folds when projected onto the wafer to form the circuit features. Even so, state-of-the-art simulations for OPC require that the EMF effects be accounted for, at least approximately. In the prior-art, the complex electromagnetic iteration between the incident illumination wave and the mask topography has been shown to be highly localized to the vicinity of the mask topography edges. Based on this observation, imaging with EMF considered is carried out by adding localized adjustments to the edges of the polygons. Examples of such adjustments include the Boundary Layer method (BL) and the edge-based Domain Decomposition Method (DDM). Until recently, the convolution of such an adjustment with each SOCS kernel requires an additional table lookup of a separate table. In addition, in the usual case of unpolarized illumination, it was necessary to calculate separate images for each independent polarization component of the illumination, and then combine them to form the complete image.

Calculating image intensity of mask by decomposing Manhattan polygon based on parallel edge

International Business Machines Corporation


A dispenser is described for a roll of cling wrap wound on a paper core (the “wrap core’), The dispenser comprises a main paper core which fits in the wrap core in such a way that the wrap core can rotate thereabout. A handle portion in the form of a paper core is wrapped around the main core on one side of the wrap core and a stop member formed of the same paper core is wrapped around the end section. The wrap core is held in position between the handle section arid the stop member. When the cling wrap has been fully used, the user disposes of the dispenser.

Cling wrap is sold in a roll wrapped around a hollow core (the "wrap core"). One form of cling wrap which is available in the United States is sold under the name Saran Wrap, which is polyvinylidene chloride film produced by The Dow Chemical Company. Cling wrap is a particularly satisfactory form of wrapping material having the ability to adhere to itself so that it can easily be wrapped around an article to be covered, However a disadvantage of cling wrap is that it will adhere to itself even when it is not intended that it should do so, and in particular if it folds or creases and it is often difficult thereafter to flatten out the cling wrap for use.
For industrial and commercial uses there are a variety of apparatus provided to enable the cling wrap to be unwound from the roll in a flat condition so that it can then be wrapped around whatever it is intended to protect, Such apparatus for dispensing the cling wrap in domestic use is not widely available, One item to our knowledge exists. It comprises a molded plastic handle having a spindle portion which is shaped to pass through the wrap core and to permit the wrap core to rotate thereabout. When the cling wrap has been fully used, the wrap core is removed and a fresh roll of cling wrap is placed on to the dispenser. Although this works quite satisfactorily, the cost of the holder is quite significant and this makes the cost of the entire product less attractive.


A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) client/server device and method of providing DHCP server services on a network uses a set of commands to convert the DHCP client/server device to function as a DHCP server. The DHCP client/server device is converted when a response message in response to a request message for an IP address from the DHCP client/server device over the network is not received within a predetermined time period.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a protocol that automates the process of assigning Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, subnet masks, routers and other IP parameters in a network, such as local area network (LAN). In a LAN that uses the DHCP standard, DHCP client devices such as laptop computers, desktop computers, workstations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), network printers and other input/output devices receive these IP parameters from a dedicated DHCP server. The process of assigning IP parameters is initiated by a DHCP client device, which sends a query to the DHCP server requesting one or more IP parameters on the LAN. The query from the DHCP client device is then received by the DHCP server, which responds with the IP parameters requested by the DHCP client device.
In a typical LAN that uses the DHCP standard, a number of DHCP client devices and a DHCP server are connected to each other via a network switch or hub. The network switch or hub enables each of the DHCP client devices and the DHCP server to communicate with other devices on the LAN. Thus, each DHCP client device is able to receive IP parameters from the DHCP server as long as there is connectivity between that DHCP client and the DHCP server. However, problems arise when the DHCP server is not available in the LAN due to server failure and/or loss of connectivity between the DHCP server and the network switch or hub.
One of the problems that arise due to the unavailability of a DHCP server is that IP addresses cannot be automatically assigned to devices that are trying to connect to the network. Without IP addresses, these devices are not able to function and communicate over the network. In this case, IP addresses would have to be manually assigned to the connecting devices, which is a complicated process especially for users who lack networking experience.
Thus, there is a need for a device and method for providing DHCP server services, including IP address assigning, when a DHCP server is unavailable.

DHCP client/server device and method of providing DHCP server services on a network

Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A technique includes identifying an address of a head end of a queue and monitoring a coherent interconnect to identify a data transfer that is communicated by a producer, which targets the address. The technique includes storing the data of the data transfer in the queue and selectively storing at least a portion of the data in a head-of-queue cache memory based at least in part on whether the monitoring identifies the address. At least a portion of the data is selectively retrieved from the head-of-queue cache memory instead of from the queue for transmission to a consumer.

The present invention relates generally to data communication systems and methods and, more particularly, to data communication systems and methods in which a number of virtual network interfaces efficiently share hardware resources in, for example, Ethernet-based, scalable and tightly coupled systems.
Ethernet's broad use continues to stimulate dramatic increases in performance and decreases in cost for components commonly used in commercial applications. Many of today's commercial applications tolerate the relatively high latency associated with Ethernet-based systems, however emerging commercial applications, such as multithreaded databases and file systems, will likely require reduced latency. Some specialized network solutions provide reduced latency, but are more expensive than Ethernet-based scalable clusters.
One area in which latency performance can be improved is in the network interface controller (NIC). A NIC is a hardware device that supports communication with a network. As context, consider the exemplary system of FIG. 1. Therein a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system 10 includes a number of central processor units (CPUs) 12 which share memory unit 14 via coherence fabric 16. Although SMP 10 is shown as having four processor cores, those skilled in the art will appreciate that SMP 10 can have more or fewer CPUs. SMP 10 sends messages to other SMPs 20 under the control of NIC 18 via Ethernet connections and a fabric (switch) 22. The NIC 18 will typically have a processor (not shown) associated therewith, either as an integral part of the NIC or in the form of a helper processor, so that the NIC has sufficient intelligence to interpret various commands. The fabric 21 will route messages to their intended recipients, although occasionally messages will be dropped such that the system illustrated in FIG. 1 needs to support retransmission of dropped messages.
Although there is only one hardware NIC 18 per SMP 10, 20, many different software programs may be running simultaneously on a given SMP and may have messages to transmit across the system via fabric 22. Thus the NIC 18 needs to be implemented as a shared resource. One approach for sharing the NIC 18 is to require that, as part of the message transmission process, the various software programs call a complex operating system driver to coordinate shared access to the NIC 18. However, this shared access mechanism leads to high software overhead as a time consuming operating system call is required for frequently executed communication operations.
Another approach for sharing the NIC 18 employs virtual network interface controllers (VNICs) to provide a distinct interface for each of the multiple programs that share that NIC. A VNIC is a user-level software interface that is used, by a program, to communicate directly with a NIC. A VNIC can be implemented within a special region of a user's memory space where actions, such as the reading and writing of data, are used to direct the NIC to carry out communication operations. A special communication library can be provided to translate higher level communication operations, such as sending a message, into appropriate lower-level actions used to control the NIC.
As shown in FIG. 2, since a number of VNICs 22 operate to share one NIC 18, a priority mechanism 24 is used to determine which VNIC shall receive service from a NIC among a set of competing service requests. However, to further reduce latency, once a VNIC 22 is selected for service by the NIC 18, it would be desirable to obtain a message from the selected VNIC as rapidly as possible.
Traditionally, doorbell interfaces have been used to signal the need to service a separate data queue. However the signaling function associated with doorbell interfaces was separate from the data queue and, therefore, could not be used to also assist in expediting data transfer. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide methods and systems for communicating data which overcome these drawbacks and limitations.

Head of queue cache for communication interfaces

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A vertical membrane module unit is allowed to be installed even at a place with a low ceiling. A housing containing a vertical membrane module unit is held by a housing holder. The housing holder holds the housing tiltably such that the housing can be positioned with the longitudinal direction of the membrane module unit being substantially vertical when treated water is extracted, and the housing can be positioned with the longitudinal direction of the membrane module unit being substantially horizontal when the membrane module unit is removed from the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water treating apparatus for treating water using a hollow fiber membrane module.
2. Description of the Related Art
In water treating apparatuses for treating organic wastewater, sewage water or other wastewater, a method is used wherein a hollow fiber membrane module is contained in a housing, and filtration treatment is carried out using the hollow fiber membrane module. Various structures have been proposed for the hollow fiber membrane module. Among them, a so-called vertical hollow fiber membrane module, which is structured to be disposed in a housing such that the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber membrane module is vertical, may sometimes be used.
When the above-described vertical hollow fiber membrane module is to be replaced or checked, the hollow fiber membrane module is typically pulled upward in the vertical direction to be removed from the housing. For minimizing the height to which the hollow fiber membrane module needs to be lifted, a structure has been proposed where the hollow fiber membrane module is contained in a housing that can be divided into multiple parts in the longitudinal direction (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-224796). In the structure disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-224796, the hollow fiber membrane module is contained in a cartridge, and the cartridge is contained in the housing. The housing is formed by three or more members coupled to each other. In order to remove the hollow fiber membrane module from the housing, upper two members and a lower cylindrical member forming the housing are decoupled, and the cartridge and the hollow fiber membrane module are pulled out in the vertical direction together with the upper two members.
Although the structure disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-224796 allows reducing the height to which the hollow fiber membrane module needs to be lifted, the cartridge have to be pulled upward from the housing for replacing the hollow fiber membrane module. This necessitates an enough space between the housing and the ceiling for accommodating the pulled out cartridge, and therefore the vertical hollow fiber membrane module may not be installed at a place with a low ceiling.


An open hem flange for a vehicle door includes an inner reinforcing panel and an outer panel having a first outer portion and a second inner portion folded about the inner panel at a base. The inner reinforcing panel includes dimpled sections against the second outer portion which provides a gap between the inner panel and the second inner portion of the outer. A gap also exists between the inner reinforcing panel and the outer portion of the outer panel to allow the hem flange to be properly cleaned and electrocoated.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to the field of vehicle doors, and more particularly, the hem flanges of vehicle doors, hoods, hatches and liftgates.
2. Background of the Invention
Vehicles generally include doors, hoods, decklids, or tailgates which each have one unitary outer panel of sheet metal. Each of these components are formed from inner and outer sheet metal panels which are connected by a hem. The outer sheet metal panel is slightly larger than the inner sheet metal panel. The outer panel of sheet metal is joined to the second inner reinforcing panel of sheet metal by hemming a flange over and along the edge of the door, hood, decklid or the like, and an adhesive is applied between the flange and the inner reinforcing panel.
According to known hemming processes, an outer sheet metal panel is stamped and formed to include a border flange along a periphery of the outer panel. An inner sheet metal reinforcing panel is formed and shaped to be slightly smaller than the outer sheet metal panel. The inner panel is placed against the outer panel such that a periphery of the inner panel is disposed adjacent and generally parallel to the border flange of the outer panel. The two panels are then secured together by hemming the border flange of the outer panel over the adjacent periphery of the inner panel.
As shown in FIG. 1, the lateral edge 19 of the outer panel 12 may be generally inclined against the inner reinforcing panel 14. To further secure the outer panel 12 to the inner reinforcing panel 14, an adhesive 17 is generally applied on the outer panel 12 prior to mating the outer panel 12 to the inner panel 14. Upon heating the assembled door arrangement, the adhesive 17 solidifies between the inner panel 14 and outer panel 12 to secure the inner reinforcing panel 14 to the outer panel 12. Furthermore, drain holes (not shown) are defined at the base 21 of the inner panel 14 to allow water to pass through.
As indicated, the traditional hem flange design implements adhesive to secure the outer panel to the inner panel. However, upon depositing the adhesive 17 and closing the hem flange 10 at the lateral edge 19 of the outer panel 12, the interior portion 18 of the hem flange 10 is closed off from being properly cleaned, phosphated and e-coated thereby resulting in the sheet metal being unprotected from corrosion. Without the proper barrier to protect the sheet metal, the hem flange may prematurely corrode.
Consequently a need has developed for a modified open hem flange design which allows the interior and exterior of the hem flange to be properly treated for protection against corrosion. The new open hem flange design eliminates the lower hem adhesive and provides a gap allowing for thorough cleaning, phosphating and e-coating of the interior and exterior of the hem flange.


A distribution of sample points, which are obtained by a two or three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine, is examined to classify into zero through third degrees. A geometry element is discriminated on the basis of the distribution of the sample points (zero through third degrees) and the number of the sample points. When the number of the sample points is equal to 2 or more and the distribution of the sample points is of the second degree, the geometry element can be discriminated as a plane or a circle in consideration of the probe moving direction. When the number of the sample points is equal to 6 or more, the geometry element can be discriminated as a cylinder or a circular cone on the basis of calculation of a half vertical angle of a circular cone that is specified from the sample points.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring geometry elements, which calculates geometry elements to be measured, on the basis of measured data obtained from a measuring machine such as a three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine and a form measuring instrument, and outputs them as measured results.
2. Description of the Related Art
A three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine is employed to measure geometry elements of works to be measured, such as points, lines, planes, circles, spheres, cylinders and cones. The machine first indicates a geometry element to be measured from a console then measures significant number of points required for measuring the geometrical form. For example, if the geometry element is a point, a probe is brought into touch with a position to be measured to obtain measured data from one point. If the geometry element is a plane, it is required to obtain measured data from at least three points on that plane. Then, some computational operations are executed to derive the indicated geometry element from one or more measured data.
In such the method of measuring, however, an operation for indication of geometry element is required during an interval between measurement operations by the probe directly or using a joystick, resulting in a lowered operability and causing a measurement error. JP 8-82521A proposes another method of measuring geometry elements, which omits the indication of geometry element to improve the operability. This method receives measured data of a work to be measured and applies the measured data in arithmetic expressions for respective geometry forms previously stored. It compares formal errors obtained from the arithmetic expressions and determines a geometry form with the minimum formal error as the geometry element to be measured.
The present invention has a first object to provide a method and apparatus for measuring geometry elements, which can reduce the computational complexity of data in the above-mentioned conventional method of measuring geometry elements to perform a high-speed processing.
The present invention also has a second object to provide a method and apparatus for measuring geometry elements, which can further improve the operability in the above-mentioned conventional method of measuring geometry elements.
The present invention is provided with a first apparatus for measuring geometry elements, which comprises: a measuring machine for measuring one or more sample points on a work required to calculate a geometry element which defines the work to be measured and outputting measured data; a sampling and sample processing section for receiving the measured data of the sample points measured by the measuring machine and counting the number of the sample points received; and an element discriminating section for discriminating the geometry element which defines the work to be measured on the basis of the number of the sample points received by the sampling and sample processing section and a distribution of all sample points.
The present invention is also provided with a second apparatus for measuring geometry elements, which comprises: a measuring machine for measuring one or more sample points on a work required to calculate a geometry element which defines the work to be measured and outputting measured data; a sampling and sample processing section for receiving the measured data of the sample points measured by the measuring machine and counting the number of the sample points received, the sampling and sample processing section determining the finish of reception of all sample points required to calculate the geometry element when a predetermined time is elapsed after the last measured data is received; and an element discriminating section for discriminating the geometry element which defines the work to be measured on the basis of the measured data and the number of the sample points received by the sampling and sample processing section.
The present invention is further provided with a first method of measuring geometry elements, which comprises the steps of: receiving one or more sample points on a work required to calculate a geometry element which defines the work to be measured and counting the number of the sample points received; determining a distribution of the sample points received in the step of receiving; and discriminating the geometry element to be measured on the basis of the distribution of all sample points determined in the step of determining and the number of the sample points counted in the step of receiving.
The present invention is still further provided with a second method of measuring geometry elements, which comprises the steps of: receiving one or more sample points on a work required to calculate a geometry element which defines the work to be measured and counting the number of the sample points received; determining the finish of reception of all sample points required to calculate the geometry element when a predetermined time is elapsed after the last sample point is received in the step of receiving; and discriminating the geometry element to be measured on the basis of the measured data and the number of the sample points after the finish of reception of all sample points is determined in the step of determining.
According to the first method and apparatus for measuring geometry elements of the present invention, it determines a distribution of one or more sample points on a work required to calculate a geometry element which defines the work to be measured. On the basis of the distribution and the number of the sample points, it discriminates the geometry element to be measured. Therefore, it can determine the geometry element with much lesser computational complex than that of the conventional method, which performs application processes of all geometry forms and their error calculations based on measured data, thereby greatly reducing the computational complexity of data to achieve a high-speed processing.
The measuring machine may comprise a three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine for outputting measured data that contains three-dimensional coordinates. In this case, the distribution of the sample points can be determined as any one of zero through third degrees on the basis of a thickness, width and height of the minimum rectangular parallelepiped that internally contains all sample points received.
The element discriminating process may be performed to discriminate the geometry element as: a point when the number of the sample point is equal to 1; a line when the number of the sample points is equal to 2 or more and the distribution of the sample points is of the first degree; a plane or a circle when the number of the sample points is 2 or more and the distribution of the sample points is of the second degree; a sphere when the number of the sample points is equal to 4 or 5 and the distribution of the sample points is of the third degree; and a cylinder or a circular cone when the number of the sample points is equal to 6 or more and the distribution of the sample points is of the third degree.
When the number of the sample points is equal to 2 or more and the distribution of the sample points is of the second degree, the geometry element can be discriminated as: a plane if the approaching direction for measurement which is employed when at least the last sample point is obtained (for example, the moving direction of the probe toward the position to be measured) is vertically close to a plane defined by the sample points; and a circle if the approaching direction for measurement is parallel close to a plane defined by the sample points.
When the number of the sample points is equal to 6 or more and the distribution of the sample points is of the third degree, calculation of a half vertical angle of circular cone from the measured data allows it to discriminate the geometry element as: a cylinder if the half vertical angle is equal to or less than a predetermined value; and a circular cone if the half vertical angle is larger than the predetermined value.
According to the second method and apparatus for measuring geometry elements of the present invention, during receiving one or more sample points on a work required to calculate a geometry element which defines the work on a work to be measured, it determines the finish of reception of all sample points required to calculate the geometry element when a predetermined time is elapsed after the last sample point is received. Therefore, an operator is not required to operate to indicate that measurement of required sample points is finished and he/she can concentrate all measuring operations on accessing to measuring positions by the probe to improve the measuring operability.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof.

Method and apparatus for measuring geometry elements


A wireless data communication card configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention includes a low profile antenna arrangement that does not protrude from the housing of the computing device when the wireless data communication card is inserted into the housing. The low profile design is achieved without compromising the radio frequency (“RF”) characteristics and performance of the wireless data communication card by tuning the antenna arrangement to account for conductive ground structure located within the housing of the computing device. In accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention, the wireless data communication card is compliant with IEEE Standard 802.11(b) and compliant with PCMCIA specifications.

Computers and computing devices are becoming common appliances in homes, offices, medical facilities, schools, manufacturing plants, and elsewhere. Customized computing devices that are based upon conventional personal computer architectures are also being deployed to support specific applications, such as medical testing, remote data communication with IMDs, automotive diagnostics, and the like. Furthermore, wireless data communication with computing devices and computer networks is becoming increasingly common. Such wireless data communication requires data transmission in accordance with a specific data communication protocol, a wireless transceiver, and a suitable antenna structure configured to transmit and receive signals, typically via a radio frequency ("RF") data communication link.
In practical applications, an RF antenna is attached to a wireless network card that is inserted into the computing device. In many compact devices, e.g., notebook computers, the wireless data communication card is received into a slot or receptacle in the computing device, where the slot or receptacle is sized and configured in accordance with an accepted standard. For example, one standard format is defined by the Personal Computer Memory Card Interface Association ("PCMCIA"), and most portable computing devices have a PCMCIA slot that is configured to receive PCMCIA cards, including PCMCIA wireless networking cards. In conventional systems, the RF antennas for wireless cards remain outside of the computing device housing (even when the cards are fully inserted into the card slot) to avoid signal interference with the hardware and metal structures found within the housing of the computing device. This situation is depicted in FIG. 1, which shows a notebook computer 100 and a wireless data communication card 102 inserted into a slot 104 formed within notebook computer 100. While this arrangement may result in adequate RF performance, the protruding wireless data communication card 102 is susceptible to tampering, damage, and inadvertent dislodging.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a compact, efficient, and effective RF antenna structure suitable for use with a wireless data communication card for a computing device (e.g., a personal computer, an IMD telemetry component, or the like). In addition, it is desirable to have a wireless data communication card having an integrated RF antenna that does not protrude from the computing device when the card is inserted into the computing device. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Wireless data communication card with compact antenna


A trunnion of a universal joint cross-shaped member supports a bearing cup, thrust washer, and needle bearing assembly. The thrust washer includes a first surface that faces the bearing cup and a second surface that faces an end face of the trunnion. A first lip extends outwardly from the first surface to contact the bearing cup and a second lip extends outwardly from the second surface to contact the needle bearing assembly. The first and second lips cooperate to hold the bearing cup and needle bearing assembly in a proper installation for final assembly to form a universal joint assembly.

Universal joints comprise two yoke members that are coupled together with a bearing cross member. The bearing cross member comprises a cross-shaped component having four (4) trunnions, with a bearing cup and needle bearing assembly supported on each trunnion. A thrust washer is positioned between an end face of each trunnion and an associated bearing cup to accommodate thrust loads during operation of the universal joint assembly.
Needle bearings are installed within the bearing cup and surround an outer circumferential surface of the trunnion. Traditionally, the thrust washer includes a first surface that faces the bearing cup and a second surface that rests on top of end surfaces of the needle bearings and trunnion. The thrust washer and needle bearings are loosely fit within an area defined between the bearing cup and the trunnion such that gaps can be formed between the thrust washer and bearing cup, and between the needle bearings and trunnion and/or bearing cup.
Typically, the gaps are filled by grease or lubricant, however, the grease/lubricant is not structurally sufficient to hold the needle bearings and/or bearing cups in a proper installation position during shipping and handling. Consequently, needle bearings can become dislodged during shipping and handling of the cross member. Further, the movement of the needle bearings can affect the position of the bearing cup such that the cross member and bearing cups will not assemble properly with the yoke members to form the universal joint assembly.
Thus, there is a need for a mechanism to retain and hold the needle bearings in a proper installation position and to prevent dislodgement.


The system is designed for the purpose of providing a means of conducting objective assessment of the actual or "real world" attenuation which is provided by insert-type hearing protection (IHP) devices. A device is constructed to serve as the input device to any commercially available noise dosimetry instrument or sound level measuring device. A miniature microphone is mounted on, or embedded in the proximal surface of the IHP which is to be inserted in the ear or upon the ear of the user. The miniature microphone is hard wired to a miniature jack which is mounted on, or embedded in, the distal surface of the IFP device. A cable connects to the jack on the outside of the IHP device and to the input of the noise dosimetry instrument or sound level measurement device. Thereby, when the IHP device containing the above is used, the dosimetry or sound level measurement instrument conducts assessments of actual sound levels to which the hearing mechanism is exposed when IHP devices are in use. In that manner, objective assessment of IHP device effectiveness is accomplished, allowing the ability to obtain experienced (real world) vs. non-experienced (laboratory) data. Furthermore, inter-subject and intra-subject variability as well as intra-IHP and inter-IHP variability data can be collected with the use of this device and method. This device and method also eliminate the need for any audiometric equipment necessary for the prior art assessment of the effectiveness of IHPs in general. In a preferred embodiment, the microphone and jack are mounted in a tube which is then inserted in the IHP. A similar tube, without the microphone and jack, can be used in IHPs actually worn for protection to replicate in field use conditions the field test conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hearing protection devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for testing hearing protection devices in the field to determine their effectiveness as actually used, not as theoretically used.
2. General Background of the Invention
Approximately nine million workers in the United States are exposed to potentially hazardous noise levels in the workplace.
Federal regulation of occupational noise exposure levels (OSHA: CFR 1910.95) has been in place for almost three decades. That regulation provides for use of hearing protection devices in numerous instances of exposure to potentially hazardous levels of workplace noise in order to prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss. Manufacturers of hearing protection devices are required to label products in terms of noise reduction capability according to the procedures promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency. That specification is designated as the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). The method used to calculate the NRR is a laboratory procedure. For more than ten years, scientific research has extensively and consistently demonstrated that the NRR in no way accurately represents the actual, "real world" attenuation of workplace noise which is provided by hearing protection devices. Numerous variables, such as individual fit, insertion or application technique, training, etc., affect the "real world" attenuation provided by hearing protectors. As a result, several computational procedures have been proposed in the scientific literature (such as derating the NRR by 7 dB or by 50%) in an attempt to render a modification of the NRR a more realistic estimate of the actual protection provided. However, all such techniques remain computational, and do not provide a means of objectively measuring the actual level of workplace noise which penetrates the hearing protection device and reaches the worker's hearing mechanism, possibly causing irreversible hearing loss.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,598 to Tegt et al. describes a system for measuring the effectiveness of the sound attenuating function of an earphone sound attenuation cover by employing the earphone transducer as a microphone and measuring the noise level with the cover on and with the cover removed, the difference being interpreted as the acoustic attenuation provided by the ear cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,298 to Epley et al. describes a portable device primarily for use in determining the effectiveness of various personal hearing protectors in attenuating hazardous noise. This is a subjective method whereby hearing tests are conducted using either threshold data in quiet or supra-threshold data in the presence of noise with the protection in place and compared to the open ear (protector out of ear) to establish an audiometric test differential corresponding to the level of protector performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,334 to Padilla describes a subjective method and apparatus for audiometrically testing the effectiveness and fitting of insert-type hearing protective devices. Each ear is enclosed under an earmuff which allows the pinna to be free of physical contact so as not to distort the ear canal in which the ear plug is inserted. The muff is equipped with an earphone to transmit audiometric signals. The series of transmitted signals are repeated both without and with ear plugs installed in the ears to obtain the relative difference between the two hearing thresholds.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,373 to Northeved et al. describes a method of measuring sound pressure levels in the auditory canal of a person in connection with the fitting of a hearing aid. The invention requires two microphones, one for calibration and one connected to a probe tube of known acoustic characteristics. An objective differentiation between the calibration microphone and the probe microphone yield an end result equal to the respective gain or attenuation of the hearing aid. Neither microphone is on the medial surface of the hearing aid and further more precise tube placement, relative to the distance from the ear drum to the tube tip, is necessary to ensure measurements are reproducible from test to test on the same subject by different technicians.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,273 discloses a hearing protection device evaluation apparatus for testing the effectiveness of muff-type hearing protectors. It mentions at column 1, fines 26-31 a method of testing ear plugs using an artificial head in which one microphone is placed "inside the head near the artificial ear drum" and the other is placed outside the muff. U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,194 discloses such an artificial head being used to measure earphones.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,701 is similar to U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,298 but only measures effectiveness subjectively.
Other patents which may be of interest include the following:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,973 to Stevens et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,769 to Arguimbau et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,906,158 U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,499 U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,083 to Baylor U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,362 U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,155 U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,194 to Kohashi et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,753 to Killion U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,196 to Killion U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,430 to Hecox et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,683 to Killion U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,160 to Birck et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,967 to Killion et al. ______________________________________
Whether the failure of a hearing protection device to adequately protect a worker is due to a defective device or improper placement of a hearing protection device in the worker's ear, the potential result can be the same--otherwise preventable noise-induced hearing loss.

Apparatus and method for testing attenuation of in-use insert hearing protectors


A hitch mountable refuse container transport device has a vertical element supporting a telescoping mount, in an exemplary embodiment, that carries engagement keys on a horizontal bracket. Each key is adapted for engagement with an upper attachment element and a lower attachment element on the refuse container. Adjustment of the telescoping mount lifts the containers for transport.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of refuse hauling and, more particularly, to a device mountable on a standard trailer hitch for lifting and transporting standardized residential refuse containers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Automation of collection devices for refuse containers has become an essential part of waste management for most locations whether metropolitan, urban or rural. Waste and recycling companies have developed standardized refuse containers that employ an integrated attachment recess and restraining bar. The containers are typically constructed of high impact polyethylene or other plastic. The attachment recess is molded into one side of the container with a horizontal restraining bar mounted in the recess. A vertical tine on a robotic lifting arm mounted to the side of the refuse collection vehicle is inserted into the recess and engages the restraining bar for automatically hoisting the container in an arc to dump the container into the refuse bin on the truck chassis. The use of such containers by waste collection companies is increasing because it speeds the collection process and reduces the chances of back injury to their employees.
To minimize the number of cans for pick up at any residence and as a result of the automated lifting devices on the collection trucks, the containers are frequently of a size larger than can be lifted by an individual when full. In many cases, the containers are massive enough that one person cannot lift them comfortably even when empty. Most containers have integral wheels for maneuvering into position for pick-up and returning to their location for use, however, the wheels are not sufficiently durable or properly positioned for moving the containers any distance. The containers typically incorporate a hinged lid that swings open in the dumping cycle and is opened by hand for inserting refuse into the container. The hinge of the lid normally incorporates one or more handles for tilting the container onto its wheels.
The lack of easy transportability of the containers for the home or business owner is particularly problematic in rural areas where the containers may need to be moved some distance to a main road for collection by the refuse company. Some users tie or employ clamping devices to attach the handles of the container to a vehicle bumper or trailer hitch to roll the container behind a vehicle to and from the collection point. The general lack of serviceability of the wheels for this purpose typically results in premature failure of the wheels or other inconvenient failure or accident with the containers during such transport.
Several forms of refuse containers are presently in use on a consistent basis.
These containers
It is therefore desirable to provide a device that engages the existing container-lifting interface for transport of the containers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hitch mounted refuse container lifting system


A dual bushing installation kit includes a first metal bushing and a second metal bushing. The first metal bushing can include a first body having first and second ends. The first and second ends are connected by a first outer surface having a first outer circumference and a first inner surface having a first inner circumference. The second metal bushing is defined by a second body having first and second ends. The first and second ends are connected by a second outer surface having a second outer circumference and a second inner surface having a second inner circumference. The second outer circumference is dimensioned to be substantially conforming with the first inner circumference such that the second bushing is closely receivable by a first opening of the first bushing. Both the second outer circumference and the first inner circumference can be expanded in an outwardly radial direction.

It is known to secure a bushing within an opening in a structural wall by positioning the bushing-within the opening, holding it in place, and then forcing an expansion mandrel through the bushing to radially expand the bushing into an interference fit with the opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,420, granted Mar. 7, 1989, to Michael A. Landy, Todd L. Thompson and Larry I. Wiemann, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,100, granted Jul. 18, 1995, to Eric T. Easterbrook, Todd L. Thompson and Mark R. Weiss, both disclose the use of a mandrel alone for installing bushings in openings in a work member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,033, granted Dec. 10, 1985, to Robert L. Champoux, discloses using a mandrel alone for cold expanding an opening in a work member for the purpose of introducing fatigue life enhancing compressive residual stresses in the work member immediately around the opening in the work member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,548, granted Apr. 14, 1992, to Leonard F. Reid and Roger T. Dolstad discloses the use of a mandrel and a split sleeve together for installing a tubular bushing in an opening in a work member and at the same time introducing fatigue life enhancing compressive residual stresses in the work member.
The contents of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,557,033; 4,809,420 and 5,103,548 are hereby incorporated herein by this specific reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,688, granted Sep. 17, 1974, to John O. King, Jr. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,535, granted Apr. 13, 1976, also to John O. King, Jr. each discloses a method of both installing a seamless tubular member in openings in two members to be joined and expanding the material immediately surrounding the openings for the purposes of fatigue life enhancement. The seamless tubular members disclosed by these patents have a flange at one end that contacts the side of one of the members from which the tubular member is inserted. U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,535 discloses providing a flare on the end of the sleeve opposite the flange to assist in retaining the sleeve in the opening in the workpiece. This flare is formed by the movement of the mandrel through the sleeve and it requires a particular end construction of the sleeve.
Thus, it is known to provide a bushing with a radial flange at one of its ends. There is a need for providing a bushing that has a radial flange at each of its ends. For example, when bushings are used in a lug or clevis, there is a potential of face-to-face contact between the joined parts. Flanges on both ends of the bushing would protect the face-to-fact contact of the parent material in which the bushing has been installed. The flanges could be used to react a load applied to the lug or clevis along a line parallel to the bore of the lug or clevis. For example, in a landing gear lug on an aircraft, the lug might see a load transmitted to the pin through the lug perpendicular to the axis of the bore, due to the weight of the aircraft. However, it could also see an axial load due to the fore and aft loading of the lug. A second flange on a bushing could also be used to provide a surface on which a nut and washer may seat when a threaded pin is used to retain the pin in the joint. The principal object of the present invention is to provide tubular bushings having flanges at both of their ends. Another object is to provide methods of making and installing tubular bushings that have flanges at both ends.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,835,688 and 3,949;535, and the other above-identified patents should be carefully considered for the purpose of putting the present invention into proper prospective relative to the prior art.

Double flanged bushings and installation methods


An electrodeposited diamond wheel including a circular substrate having an attaching aperture formed at the center and a plurality of cooling apertures each formed at a predetermined distance from the attaching aperture in the outer circumferential direction and each at a predetermined pitch. Diamond abrasive particles are electrodeposited on the outer circumference of the circular substrate. Ridges and grooves are formed as corrugations on both surfaces of the circular disc, and diamond abrasive particles are electrodeposited on the outer circumference of the corrugations to form a cutting edge, the cutting edge being formed into a corrugated shape conforming to the substrate. The diamond wheel is suitable for cutting of a composite material of a heat-softening material and a reinforcing material.

The present invention concerns an electrodeposited diamond wheel suitable for cutting of a composite material and, more particularly, it relates to an electrodeposited diamond wheel suitable for cutting of a composite material that contains a metal wire, glass fiber or carbon fiber as reinforcing material in a heat-softening material, for example, a thermoplastic material, rubber material or resin material.
At present, a blade (so-called cutter) is used for cutting a heat-softening material such as rubber, synthetic resin or thermoplastic material.
However, when a composite material including metal wire, glass fiber or carbon fiber as a reinforcing material in a heat softening material, for example, a thermoplastic material, various kinds of rubber or synthetic resins, is cut using a cutter, there are various disadvantages.
That is, when a composite material including a reinforcing material such as metal, carbon fiber or glass fiber in a heat softening material is cut using a cutter, a blade portion impacts against a portion of the reinforcing material during cutting to violently damage the blade portion of the cutter, which significantly shortens the working life of the cutter, makes it necessary for frequent grinding of the damaged blade portion and is not practical.

Corrugated electrodeposited diamond wheel


In a floating point arithmetic addition/subtraction system which is configured to receive a pair of input operands of floating point data including its mantissa part expressed in an absolute value so as to execute an addition/subtraction and which includes a mantissa adder, a normalizing shifter, an exponent part updater and a bit position decoder, integer data expressed in a 2's complement is supplied as one of the pair of input operands, and the integer data is converted into an absolute value by using the mantissa adder. Thereafter, the bit position of the obtained absolute value is modified by using the normalizing shifter so as to give a mantissa part, and a value of an exponent part is generated by using the updater and the bit position decoder.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a floating point arithmetic operation system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a floating point arithmetic operation system having a function of executing a data converting instruction for converting integer data into floating point data. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a floating point arithmetic operation system capable of executing an arithmetic operation with a reduced number of barrel shiftings. Still more, the present invention relates to a floating point arithmetic operation system capable of executing a fixed point arithmetic operation with an improved throughput.
2. Description of related art
In general, computer systems are configured to handle not only floating point data but also integer data. Therefore, in some cases it is necessary to execute a data converting instruction for converting the integer data into the floating point data.
In conventional computer systems, a floating point arithmetic operation unit has been used exclusively for the floating point arithmetic operation. On the other hand, no hardware for the data conversion has been incorporated in the computer system in order to suppress the overhead in the number of circuit elements, and therefore, the data conversion instruction has been executed by controlling an arithmetic operation unit for integer and shifters by microprograms. Therefore, execution of the data conversion instruction could not have been fastened.
On the other hand, the conventional floating point arithmetic addition/subtraction system can be broadly said to execute four steps, namely, (1) a large-and-small comparison and exponent subtraction, (2) a right barrel shifting of a mantissa part for matching of exponent parts, (3) a mantissa addition/subtraction, and (4) a normalizing barrel shifting of the result of arithmetic operation. In addition, this floating point arithmetic addition/subtraction system can be used for executing a fixed point arithmetic addition/subtraction, by controlling the system in such a manner that the fixed point arithmetic addition/subtraction is executed in the mantissa addition/subtraction step, and data is passed without modification in the other steps.
However, the above mentioned four steps are executed sequentially, and the two barrel shiftings needing a substantial processing time are required. Therefore, the conventional floating point arithmetic addition/subtraction system has a long delayed time in its data processing. In addition, since the floating point arithmetic addition/subtraction system includes only one addition/subtraction circuit, an execution speed of the fixed point arithmetic addition/subtraction is low.

Floating pointing arithmetic operation system


An underwater filtration system or operator which can be floated on and suspended in a river, lake, pond or other water body to filter water from the water body. The underwater filtration operator may be electrically charged with simultaneous introduction of continuous forced air to remove impurities from the water body and increase filtering efficiency and the system includes a split housing having a selected configuration and divided into one or more filtration units, each of which includes a filter medium or mediums for filtering water from the water body. A pump is provided in the interior of the system housing for receiving the filtered water from the filtration units and pumping the filtered water to a collection tank or dispenser, directly to an end user or to a reverse-osmosis water filtration unit for further filtration. This unique operator allows selected individual filtration compartments to be backwashed while other filtration compartments are producing filtered water without the necessity of an external clean water storage tank.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to water filters and more particularly, to an underwater filtration system or operator which can be floated on a water body to filter and disinfect water from the water body for drinking or other purposes. The underwater filtration operator includes a typically split housing having a selected configuration and divided into multiple filtration units which receive water from the water body, each of which filtration units includes at least one, and preferably, two filter elements or medium, for filtering the water. A pump is provided in the housing for pumping the filtered water to a suitable container or dispenser or to a reverse-osmosis filtration unit for further filtration, and a positive electrical charge may be applied to the housing in conjunction with the introduction of forced air into a raw water chamber, to neutralize negatively charged impurities in the raw incoming water flowing through the filter media and improve filtration efficiency.
Treatment processes for filtering surface water have remained virtually unchanged for over half a century. Many surface water treatment plants utilize large settling basins, known as clarifiers, to settle out heavy solids from water prior to fine-screening the water, using rapid sand filters. Some of these treatment plants use a mixing chamber clarifier to separate the heavy solids from the water. Such a mixing chamber clarifier requires the introduction of polymers, lime, alum or other types of media into the water to be treated, which media bind particulate impurities in the water and fall with the bound impurities to the bottom of the mixing chamber. The filtered water, substantially devoid of the larger impurities, is then typically processed through horizontal sand filters which remove smaller impurities from the water. The sand filters must be periodically backwashed using large quantities of clean water because they repeatedly become clogged with the smaller particles that were not removed from the water during the clarification process. The fewer the particles removed during the clarification process, the more often the backwashing procedure must be repeated.
The foregoing types of surface water treatment plants are associated with many problems due to the nature of their operation. Numerous pumps and an expensive and elaborate intake structure must be installed in the water supplies to conduct the water to the plants for treatment. Another problem involves the disposal of solids that are removed from the water. Formerly, these solids, along with the chlorine, polymers, lime or other particulate binding media, were pumped back into the pre-filtered water from which they were removed. Due to recent environmental legislation, however, it is no longer lawful to discharge the particulate binding media into the pre-filtered water supply, as these materials are not endemic to the water that is being treated. Another problem associated with these filtration systems is that the polymers or other particle binding media introduced into the filtration system are harmful to certain types of boiler water industrial filtration equipment which utilizes reverse osmosis. This increases the cost of boiler water for industrial consumers. Furthermore, disinfectant chemicals introduced into the filtered water do not always kill all parasites found in water sources. Moreover, rapid sand filters cannot remove all of these parasites, some of which remain in the water and present a potentially dangerous health risk. Another problem associated with these surface water treatment plants is the inability to remove harmful chemicals which may contaminate the water supply by agricultural run-off or accidental spills. Accordingly, surface treatment plants can be costly and time-consuming to build and maintain.
A number of different types of filters are known in the art for filtering surface water. Patents of interest in this regard include U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,819, issued Aug. 19, 1986, to Colson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,836, issued Feb. 17, 1987, to Schmid; U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,672, issued Apr. 14, 1987, to Allen; U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,393, issued Aug. 21, 1990, to Goettl; U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,039, issued Nov. 3, 1992, to Colburn; U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,828, issued Aug. 27, 1996, to Ehrlich; arid U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,639, issued Feb. 22, 2000, to J. Lenhart et al. My U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,345, issued Sep. 14, 2004, details an underwater filtration operator for floating on a water body and producing clarified water from the water body.


A glioblastoma-derived angiogenesis inhibiting factor is described. The material is induced in presence of wild type p53, but not by several mutated forms of p53. Various uses of the material are described.

Angiogenesis, the sprouting of new capillaries from small venules, occurs through local degradation of the basement membrane lining the venules followed by migration, alignment and proliferation of endothelial cells toward the angiogenic chemoattractant. Under normal conditions capillary proliferation is tightly controlled in adult tissues and occurs only during the female menstrual cycle in the follicle and corpus luteum, in the placenta during pregnancy, and as a result of bodily injury, such as during wound and fracture repair. A disruption of the balance between stimulatory and inhibitory influences on angiogenesis contributes to a variety of pathological conditions. Persistent angiogenicity occurs in diabetic retinopathy, retrolental fibroplasia, neovascular glaucoma, rheumatoid arthritis, hemangiomas, angiofibromas, psoriasis and atherosclerotic plaques, whereas insufficient capillary growth can result in delayed wound healing, nonhealing fractures, ischemia and fetal growth malformations such as hemifacial microsomia (Folkman et al., Science 235: 442-47 (1987)). Neovascularization is also one of the cardinal features that permit neoplastic progression. Tumor growth is critically dependent on new blood supply, and tumors cannot exceed a few millimeters in diameter in isolated perfused organs where capillary endothelium is degenerated (Folkman et al., Cancer 16: 453 (1963)).
Recent analysis of a variety of human cancers have shown that tumor progression occurs through the sequential deregulation and rearrangement of protooncogenes together with the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. (Fearon et al, Cell 61: 759-67 (1990)). Whether any of these genetic alterations can trigger the disruption of control of angiogenesis in humans is unclear but at least four plausible scenarios can be envisaged which could result in escape from the factors regulating microvascular quiescence. First, these angiogenic factors may cause increased production of diffusible growth factors and cytokines that may either act directly as angiogenic factors to activate endothelial cells or indirectly through the recruitment of other cells that promotes neovascularization through the secretion of molecules with angiogenic potency. Second, they may cause the synthesis of enzymes that allow angiogenic factors such as bFGF to be released from extracellular matrix storages. Third, they may cause the stimulation of adjacent stromal and capillary endothelial cells to produce enzymes such as stromelysin and collagenase which induce basement membrane and extracellular matrix degradation and therefore, promote angiogenesis by allowing endothelial cell detachment and migration from the parent venules into the perivascular stroma. Finally, they may act to disrupt the local synthesis of physiologic inhibitors of angiogenesis.
Astrocytomas are an attractive model for investigation of the relationship between genes which are mutated during tumor. progression and angiogenesis. They are among the most dramatically neovascularized neoplasms with respect to vasoproliferation, endothelial cell cytology and endothelial cell hyperplasia (Brem et al., J. Natl. Canc. Inst. 48: 347-356 (1972)). The malignant progression of astrocytoma is histopathologically and clinically well characterized (Russell et al., Pathology of Tumors of the nervous system (Edward Arnold, London, 1989)) and this progression toward malignancy is accompanied by a well-documented sequential accumulation of genetic alterations (Cavenee et al., Mutat. Res. 247: 199-202 (1991)). Among these, the earliest known event is mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene and elimination of its wild type activity (Nigro et al., Nature 342: 705-708 (1989). Sidransky et al., Nature 355: 846-7 (1992). The p53 gene is the most frequently mutated gene in a diverse range of human tumors (Nigro et al, supra; Sidransky et al., supra; Levine et al., Nature 3561: 453-6 (1991)) and intensive investigations have established its role in checkpoint maintenance during the cell cycle (Lane, Nature 358: 15-16 (1992)), in transactivation of the transcription of other genes (Kern et al., Science 252: 1708-1711 (1991); Weintraub et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 4570-71 (1991); Ginsberg et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88: 9979-9983 (1991); Farmeu et al., Nature 358: 83-6 (1992)) in cell growth control (Baker et al., Science 249: 912-915 (1990); Martinez et al., Genes Dev 5: 151-9 (1991); Diller et al., Mol. Cell Biol. 10: 5772-5781 (1990)), in the response of cells to DNA damage (Kastan et al., Canc. Res. 51: 6304-11 (1991), in control of genomic stability (Yin et al., Cell 70: 937-948 (1992)); Livingstone et al., Cell 70: 923-935 (1992)), and in predisposition to some familial human cancers (Malkin et al., Science 250: 1233-8 (1990); Srivastava et al., Nature 348: 747-749 (1990). Much less attention has been paid to its role in intercellular interactions.
An angiogenesis inhibiting factor produced by glioblastoma cells has now been identified. This factor, abbreviated as "GD-AIF" for convenience, was found following experiments where a wild type p53 coding sequence was placed under the control of a conditionally inducible, tetracycline-regulated, promoter activating system. The GD-AIF is useful in a therapeutic context. Additionally, it provides a method by which the sequence of events leading to mutation of p53 and the onset of tumorigenic transformation can be measured. Since wild type p53 induces or stimulates GD-AIF production and the tested mutated p53 does not, by assaying for GD-AIF and/or by assaying levels of the factor, one may diagnose or study the onset and progression of cancers, such as glioblastoma. Hence GD-AIF may also be considered a diagnostic and prognostic marker for patients believed to be suffering from a cancer, such as glioblastoma.
The invention is described in greater detail in the disclosure which follows.

Glioblastoma-derived angiogenesis inhibiting factor


Ternary metal nitride layers suitable for thin-film resistors are fabricated by forming constituent layers of complementary components (e.g., binary nitrides of the different metals, or a binary nitride of one metal and a metallic form of the other metal), then annealing the constituent layers to interdiffuse the materials, thus forming the ternary metal nitride. The constituent layers (e.g., 2-5 nm thick) may be sputtered from binary metal nitride targets, from metal targets in a nitrogen-containing ambient, or from metal targets in an inert ambient. Optionally, a nitrogen-containing ambient may also be used for the annealing. The annealing may be 10 seconds to 10 minutes at 500-1000° C. and may also process another component on the same substrate (e.g., activate a diode).

Related fields include thin-film devices, particularly the fabrication of resistive thin films including ternary metal nitrides.
Ternary metal nitrides are nitrides of the form (m)(m) (m′)Nx, where x>0 and (m) and (m′) are different metallic elements. Some ternary metal nitrides exhibit properties desirable in a thin-film resistor, such as the ability to maintain a constant resistance over a range of operating conditions, or the ability to tune the resistance over a range of values by manipulating the thickness or composition.
For example, a type of non-volatile memory known as "resistive-switching memory" or "ReRAM" includes a variable-resistance (VR) layer that is reversibly switchable between two or more stable values of resistance. When initially fabricated, the VR layer is dielectric, with high resistance. When the device is complete, a "forming operation" applies voltage across the VR layer until it becomes more conductive. For example, electrical defects, such as metal particles or oxygen vacancies, may be present in the bulk of the VR layer, in an adjacent "source" layer, or both. The application of the forming voltage organizes some of the defects into a conductive filament, through which electrons can tunnel across the VR layer. After that, a much lower applied voltage can break or disperse part of the filament to raise the VR layer's resistance to its high resistance state (HRS) or restore the broken filament to return the VR layer's resistance to its low resistance state (LRS). In many types of ReRAM, the breaking and restoring of the filament involves only the movement, creation, or destruction of electrical defects without requiring a phase change of the bulk material.
One mode of ReRAM failure is "over-forming," the formation of a filament that is too thick or dense to break under normal operating conditions (essentially, an irreversible breakdown of the VR layer). This may occur either during the forming operation that first creates the filament or later during a switching event to restore the filament (e.g., if the current is overly high or has a transient spike, or if an overlarge number of defects are accumulated at the switching point). Once over-formed, the VR layer cannot be returned to the LRS; i.e., the memory cell can no longer be switched and its logic state cannot be rewritten.
One approach to prevent over-forming of a ReRAM cell is to connect a non-switching resistor in series with the VR layer. When the non-switching resistor is part of the film stack that constitutes the ReRAM cell, it may be referred to as an "embedded resistor" (ER). With an ER in the cell, any voltage applied to the cell's electrodes is divided between the VR and ER layers, rather than being wholly applied to the VR layer, and the current through the VR layer is limited to a level that can break a filament, or restore a breakable filament, but not create an unbreakable filament.
An ER layer in an operating ReRAM cell may have a sheet resistivity of 10−1-103 Ω-cm. Thicknesses may range from 2-50 nm; a common range is 2-10 nm. Desirable qualities in a ReRAM ER layer include a constant resistance under all operating conditions for the life of the device. In some devices, it is preferred that the ER resistance is unchanged by the forming operation, or by heating to a temperature between 500-1000 C for a time between 10 seconds and 10 minutes to anneal other components such as diodes. Throughout fabrication and operation, the ER layer preferably does not interact with other layers in the stack in a way that compromises memory-cell performance. For example, its component materials should not diffuse into other layers, and it should not scavenge oxygen from metal-oxide VR layers.
Ternary metal nitrides with (m)=aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo), tantalum (Ta), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), or tungsten (W) and (m′)=boron (B), silicon (Si), or Al (if (m)≠Al) are promising candidate materials for ER layers. However, their use has been limited by the historical difficulty of depositing them in fully-compounded form. Some atomic layer deposition (ALD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) precursors for these materials are slow to react with nitrogen, requiring inconveniently long process times to form the nitride. As for sputtering (either from a nitride target or from a metal target in a nitrogen atmosphere), compound targets of these elements have been observed to deposit unwanted large particles, deposit a variable composition across a substrate due to sputter-angle sensitivity, or both.
Therefore, a need exists for a reliable, cost-effective way to deposit layers of ternary metal nitrides such as AlBNx, AlSiNx, MoAlNx, MoBNx, MoSiNx, TaAlNx, TaBNx, TaSiNx, TiAlNx, TiBNx, TiSiNx, VAlNx, VBNx, VSiNx, WAlNx, WBNx, and WSiNx.

Ternary metal nitride formation by annealing constituent layers


The invention relates to an optical detection system for a thermal cycling device including at least one light source, a light detection device for detecting light received from a plurality of biological samples, and a lens having a plurality of focusing lens segments greater than the plurality of biological samples to direct light into the plurality of biological samples.

Biological testing has become an important tool in detecting and monitoring diseases. In the biological testing field, thermal cycling is used to amplify nucleic acids by, for example, performing PCR and other reactions. PCR in particular has become a valuable research tool with applications such as cloning, analysis of genetic expression, DNA sequencing, and drug discovery.
Recent developments in the field have spurred growth in the number of tests that are performed. One method for increasing the throughput of such biological testing is to provide real-time detection capability during thermal cycling. Real-time detection increases the efficiency of the biological testing because the characteristics of the samples can be detected while the sample well tray remains positioned in the thermal cycling device.
In a real-time detection system testing may be performed on multiple samples during a cycle of the testing device. With this type of system, light may be emitted from a light source to be absorbed and re-emitted as fluorescence by the biological sample(s) and ultimately may be detected or collected by a light detecting device such as a camera or CCD, for example. To assist in the focusing the light into the samples and collecting the light out of the samples toward detecting device, one or more lenses may be provided.
One of the drawbacks of conventional devices utilizing lens assemblies in conjunction with multiple sample testing devices is the complexity of the lens(es). It may often be desirable to have a lens for collimating light so that it may be properly aligned with a row or column of sample wells in a sample well tray. To further enhance the testing process, an additional lens assembly may be provided for focusing light more precisely within each of the sample wells. These focusing lens assemblies often may comprise a plurality of non-integral components.


A concrete tool assembly (10) used on a concrete surface (16) includes a surfacing apparatus (12) including a frame (18) and one or more trowel assemblies (34A, 34B). Each trowel assembly (34A, 34B) includes one or more trowels (54). The concrete tool assembly (10) also includes a remote control unit (14) that controls movement of the trowel assemblies (34A, 34B) relative to the concrete surface (16). Further, the surfacing apparatus (12) can include a controller (24) that receives commands from the remote control unit (14). The controller (24) can control movement of at least one of the trowel assemblies (34A, 34B) relative to the surface (16). The surfacing apparatus (12) can also include a pitch mover (990) that simultaneously adjusts the pitch of each of the trowels (54) relative to the surface (16).

The use of concrete in residential and commercial construction is pervasive. Generally, a multiple step procedure is followed for the placement and finishing of these types of concrete structures to obtain the desired durability and the desired finish. For instance, forms are often used to define the location and boundaries of the structure to be placed. Once the concrete is placed within the forms, a screed can be utilized to flatten the surface of the concrete. Next, the concrete can be tamped in order to remove air pockets and ensure that the concrete is sufficiently compacted. Further, a screen can be used to urge the larger aggregate to move away from the surface of the concrete toward the interior of the structure. The concrete is then "finished" by repetitiously using a trowel to smooth the surface in order to obtain the desired texture.
The finishing process can be performed by hand or by a machine. Unfortunately, finishing concrete by hand can be time-consuming and can result in an inconsistent pressure being exerted on the concrete which can cause a somewhat uneven surface. Further, existing finishing machines are not entirely satisfactory.

Remotely-controlled concrete tool assembly


The invention relates to a powertrain for a motor vehicle having a permanently driven primary axle, comprising: a drive unit for the generation of a drive torque; a first clutch for the transfer of a variable portion of the drive torque to a secondary axle of the motor vehicle; a second clutch for the deactuation of a torque transfer section of the powertrain arranged between the first clutch and the second clutch when the first clutch is opened; and a control unit for the automatic control of the first clutch, with the control unit being connected to at least one sensor for the detection of a wheel slip at the primary axle; with the control unit being made, starting from a deactuated state of the torque transfer section, to close the second clutch in dependence on a detected wheel slip at the primary axle.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
A powertrain of this type is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,110. It provides the operator of the motor vehicle with the option of choosing between a permanent two-wheel drive mode in which the drive of the vehicle takes place only via the primary axle and an automatic four-wheel drive mode, a so-called "on-demand" drive mode, in which under specific driving conditions, for example when the wheels which are driven by the primary axle spin, a specific portion of the drive torque is automatically transferred to the wheels of the secondary axle to provide an intermittent four-wheel drive.
To prevent parts of the powertrain which are not required in permanent two-wheel drive, in particular unnecessary masses, from being moved, a deactuation of the torque transfer section leading to the secondary axle is provided in the powertrain of U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,110 in that the second clutch is disengaged.
As soon as the operator of the motor vehicle selects the automatic four-wheel drive mode, the second clutch is closed. The torque transfer section is now rotationally fixedly connected to the secondary axle so that, on demand, drive torque can be transferred to the secondary axle as fast as possible. In the automatic four-wheel drive mode, the torque transfer section therefore constantly turns along during the travel since it is driven by the drive unit with a closed first clutch and by the secondary axle with an opened first clutch. This is ultimately at the cost of fuel economy.


A vehicle intrusion monitoring system that eliminates unnecessary image capture and transmission by controlling the timing of image capture by a camera installed inside a vehicle. A control ECU in the vehicle intrusion monitoring system issues a first image capture command to a camera triggered by an abnormality detected by a sensor while the system is in watch state. Then, the control ECU issues a second and further image capture commands only when an intrusion detector picks up an intruder inside the vehicle to eliminate unnecessary image capture and transmission.

A conventional vehicle intrusion monitoring system (for example, JP-A-11-328545) has a camera installed on the vehicle and the like to capture an image of an intruder when the vehicle is trespassed. A user of the system puts the system turned on to be in a watch state when the user leaves the vehicle. If any of the various types of onboard sensors detects an abnormality of the vehicle (opening of a door, break-in from a window etc.), the vehicle intrusion monitoring system captures an image by using a camera based on the assumption that the vehicle is trespassed. The captured image data is then transmitted to a base station.
Further, the other type of vehicle intrusion monitoring system (for example, JP-A-2002-157655) determines a trespassing based only on that a door lock is switched off for the first time, and a room lamp is turned on within three seconds of the switch-off of the door lock, while a watch state of the vehicle intrusion monitoring system is turned on.
However, intrusion detection in the conventional art is not necessarily satisfactory. That is, the camera of the vehicle intrusion monitoring system captures and transmits the captured image data even when an intruder is not in the vehicle, or when the intruder stops robbery on noticing the camera, or when a passer-by casually breaks a window without an intention of intrusion. In those cases, the captured and transmitted image does not provide a clue to the intruder.
As a consequence, the battery of the conventional system runs down by capturing and transmitting unnecessary image data, and incurs unnecessary expenditure on the user of the system when the transmission means uses a subscription service such as a telephone line. Moreover, the unnecessary captured image data is annoying for the user.
Further, the image area captured by the camera is not necessarily limited inside the vehicle, but also includes the outside of the vehicle through side windows, rear windows and the like. Thus, capturing an image of potential intruder around the vehicle by the camera upon detection of an abnormality of the vehicle can improve the usefulness of the vehicle intrusion monitoring system.

Vehicle intrusion monitoring system and method


In one embodiment, a method can include: (i) pre-configuring a stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) association; (ii) receiving a transmission control protocol (TCP) packet in a network device, where the TCP packet is intended for a destination node; (iii) encapsulating the TCP packet into an SCTP payload; and (iv) transmitting the SCTP payload across a wide area network (WAN).

When a transmission control protocol (TCP) session is used across a latent network connection, excessive time may be consumed for TCP to reach an optimal transfer rate. This amount of time depends largely on the particular latencies and/or packet losses observed within the network.
This delay of an optimal transfer rate may be due to a slow start implementation in the TCP stack, where TCP slowly increases or scales its transfer rate based upon successful receipt of acknowledgments from a receiver. Also, conventional approaches may suffer from inefficient use of available bandwidth due to retransmission procedures when packet loss occurs.

Optimizing TCP traffic via an SCTP association


An all solid storage element laminate that has a plurality of all solid storage elements disposed in a matrix, and includes a plurality of element layers laminated in a thickness direction. The all solid storage elements of element layers adjacent to each other in a thickness direction are electrically connected to each other.

Conventionally, batteries such as secondary batteries are often used as electric storage devices. Known examples of batteries include a battery produced using an electrolytic solution such as a lithium ion secondary battery and an all solid battery produced using a solid electrolyte (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: PCT International Publication No. 2012-020699

All solid storage element laminate and battery