A hand-guided apparatus may include an operating lever, a switch, and an intermediate lever. The operating lever may actuate a function of the hand-guided apparatus, be constructed in an elongated manner and be pivotably attached to a housing of the apparatus. The switch actuates the function and is arranged in the housing. The intermediate lever mechanically actuates the switch. The operating lever includes a safety element enabled to be pretensioned and shifted along a longitudinal axis of the operating lever. The operating lever and the intermediate lever are enabled to be mechanically coupled by shifting the safety element into a pretensioned state to enable actuation of the switch by pivoting of the operating lever. The operating lever and the intermediate lever are enabled to be mechanically decoupled by shifting the safety element into a relaxed state to prevent actuation of the switch by pivoting of the operating lever.

A hand-held apparatus with an operating lever customarily comprises one or more safety elements so that the operating lever can only be actuated by a previous or a simultaneous movement of the safety element. It should be prevented in this manner that the apparatus is inadvertently turned on. Such a safety element is especially required for electrical tools in order to avoid the danger of injuring a user. There are numerous different systems for safety elements in hand-guided apparatuses.
For example, two safety elements can be provided, where the first safety element actuates the second safety element in order to release the operating lever. Usually, these safety elements are actuated in the same direction. However, this constellation is increasingly prohibited for electrically operated apparatuses.
Furthermore, two safety elements can be provided that require a recess or a milled-out area in the handle or the housing of the apparatus. However, this reduces the stability of the handle or of the housing.

Hand-guided apparatus with an operating lever


Input signals are processed to generate a plurality of signals having different features according to whether the input signals are speech signals or voiceband data signals, and these plural signals are entered into a neural network to be determined whether they have features closer to those of speech signals or of voiceband data signals. The classifying function of the neural network is achieved by inputting samples of speech signals and voiceband data signals and learning how to obtain correct classification results.

The present invention relates to a speech/voiceband data discriminator for determining whether a given digital input signal is a speech signal or a voiceband data signal.
With a view to effective utilization of long-distance lines for satellite communication and submarine cable communication, high efficiency digital circuit multiplication equipment (DCME) combining high efficiency speech coding (for instance ADPCM) and digital speech insertion techniques has been developed. This equipment requires different bit rates for the encoding of speech signals and that of voiceband data signals. For example, while speech signals are encoded at 32 kbps ADPCM, encoding of voiceband data signals, especially high speed voiceband data signals, at this bit rate would invite a data error rate higher than the permissible limit. In order to keep the data error ratio within the permissible limit, voice-band data signals should be encoded at a higher rate than speech signals are, for instance at 40 kbps ADPCM.
Therefore, the aforementioned high efficiency DCME requires a speech/voiceband data discriminator in order to distinguish between speech and voiceband data signals among time division multiplexed signals and lead them to their respective encoding circuits.
Such a speech/voiceband data discriminator is disclosed, for example, by S. Casale et al. in IEEE GLOBECOM'88 (Global Telecommunications Conference & Exhibition, 1988), Conference Record Vol. III, pp. 1419-1427. As illustrated in FIG. 2 of this article, the speech/voiceband data discriminator according to the prior art computes short time energy and zero crossing count for every one of three different signals--a given signal, a high frequency component resulting from the passing of this original signal by a high pass filter and a low frequency resulting from the passing of the original signal by a low pass filter--and the zero crossing counts of differential signals, and decides whether the given signal is a speech signal or a voiceband data signal by comparing the ranges of distribution of the computed results with the corresponding thresholds. Each of the thresholds, which this decision refers to, is set on the basis of the statistical analysis of sampled data collected in advance for speech and voiceband data signals. The final discrimination is made as to whether the input signal is a voice signal or a voiceband data signal with reference to the individual results of decision.
The conventional speech/voiceband data discriminator referred to above is so composed that the computed data of short time energy and zero crossing count are entered into separate decision circuits, whose decision results are further entered into a final decision circuit. Since the decision results of each decision circuit are denominated in one or the other of two levels, i.e. either "0" or "1", much of the information indicating correlations between short time energy and zero crossing count is lost. Accordingly, there can be obtained no sufficient quantity of information required for accurate discrimination between speech and voiceband data signals on various lines differing from each other in signal-to-noise ratio, resulting in a low discrimination ratio relative to the quantity of data processed.
Moreover, a vast volume of experimental data and a vast number of analyzing manhours are required to so set the threshold of each decision circuit as to permit the final decision to be made without inconsistency from the decision results of individual decision circuits.


The present invention relates to a driver device for driving a load, in particular an LED unit having one or more LEDs, comprising input terminals for receiving an input voltage from an external power source for powering the load, and a connection unit for connecting the input terminals to each other and for providing a current path for a bleeding current, wherein the connection unit comprises a first current path for connecting the input terminals in a first current direction and a second current path for connecting the input terminals in a second current direction opposite to the first current direction, wherein the connection unit comprises a first current control unit for controlling the bleeding current in the connection unit, and wherein the first and the second current path each comprises a second current control unit for controlling the bleeding current in the respective current path.

In the field of LED drivers for offline applications such as retrofit lamps, solutions are demanded to cope with high efficiency, high power density, long lifetime, high power factor and low costs among other relevant features. While practically all existing solutions comprise one or the other requirement, it is essential that the proposed driver circuits properly condition the form of a mains energy into the form required by the LEDs while complying with present and preferably future power mains regulations. In addition, it is required that the driver circuits compatible with existing and legacy power adjustment means, e.g. dimmers or the like, so that the drivers can be used universally as a retrofit driver device including the LED units.
The driver circuits should comply with all kinds of dimmers and especially the drivers should comply with phase-cut dimmers, which are preferably used to regulate the mains powers with low power loss. Those dimmers which were initially designed to regulate the mains energy provided to a filament lamp utilized the low load impedance path of the filament for a timing circuit operation current to adjust the phase-cut timing. Alternatively to providing this path continuously, connecting and disconnecting this path for a certain part of the mains voltage cycle can also result in a stable operation of the dimmer. The provision of this low impedance path has to be adjusted with respect to the zero crossing of the mains voltage. To achieve timely provision of this low impedance path, the zero crossing is usually detected by the driver circuit of the lamps while it is in a high impedance state. Such a zero crossing detection is complicated and has a high technical effort and if a large amount of LED units is connected to one dimmer circuit, the technical effort increases due to the required increase of impedance of each individual LED unit.
WO 2009/121956 A1 discloses a lighting apparatus comprising an LED assembly and a rectifier unit to connect the LED unit to a dimmer circuit. The LED unit comprises a bleeder connected in parallel to the LED unit to provide a bleeding current. The bleeder unit is controlled by a control unit connected to the LEDs to provide a bleeding current at a certain point in time of the rectified AC voltage. This control unit is complicated and the power factor of the whole lighting apparatus is reduced due to the bleeding current.
US 2012/0056553 A1 discloses a driver device for connecting an LED unit to a dimmer device, wherein two parallel bleeding paths are provided comprising different resistance values in order to adjust the rectified input voltage in different parts of the main voltage cycle differently. Since the two bleeding paths are both adapted to be connected to the mains voltage, high voltage components are necessary and since the phase of the mains voltage has to be determined, this bleeding circuit is technically complicated and requires an increased amount of large components such that an integration of these components is not possible.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Driver device and driving method for driving a load, in particular an LED unit


A method of producing high quality optical surfaces is disclosed. The invention allows for the production of optical surfaces with complex geometry while retaining the high quality of the optical surface. A top layer is provided on a substrate. In order to adhere the top layer to the substrate, an adhesion layer is applied first. In the preferred embodiment, the substrate is an aluminum substrate, the adhesion layer includes a layer of zinc and a layer of nickel and the top layer is gold. The substrate is generally stress free in order to provide a flat surface with no undulations. This allows a relatively thin layer of gold to be applied which then can be diamond turned in order to achieve a reflective layer.

The invention relates generally to optical surfaces used in the infrared and visible wavelength regions and more particularly to high quality optical surface and a method of producing high quality optical surfaces.
High quality optical surfaces are used in a number of industries including telecommunications, in the visible and infrared wavelength regions of the optical spectrum. The quality of an optical surface is measured by the flatness, the surface scatter and the reflectivity of the surface.
The achievable flatness of a surface is limited by the Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) manufacturing process. The typical methods of manufacturing optical shapes in metals include conventional grinding, polishing and CNC manufacture using diamond tools. However, these conventional methods do not lend themselves to the manufacture of complex shapes. The surfaces are uneven and comprise a number of undulations.
The scatter of an optical surface is influenced by the diamond turning process. Conventional diamond turning methods do not produce uniform thickness along the surface. Typical materials used in standard optical shapes include aluminum, copper and nickel. Aluminum generally contains a number of impurities and these impurities are heavily concentrated at grain boundaries. Therefore, diamond turning an aluminum surface usually results in values of about 10 nanometers Root Mean Squared (RMS) for surface scatter. Copper generally yields better resultsxe2x80x94about 5 RMS, however copper has the drawback of being susceptible to corrosion.
A typical method of producing high quality surfaces with an aluminum substrate is to plate the surface with nickel and to diamond turn the nickel. Using this method, typical values achieved for surface scatter are about 5 nanometers RMS. However, a major problem for nickel plated substrates that are diamond turned exists. Since the diamond turning procedure results in a non uniform thickness of nickel and since nickel and aluminum have very different thermal expansion coefficients, the optical surface tends to deform as the temperature changes in the operating environment. This reduces the quality of the surface.
The achievable reflectivity at the operating wavelength is determined by the material properties of the optical surface. Typically gold is applied to the surface of a substrate to increase the reflectivity in the infrared. Gold is usually applied by vacuum depositing methods, which produces generally an uneven surface application. Also, vacuum deposited gold is generally soft gold. This gold layer has to be covered with a protective coating, which reduces the reflectivity of the surface.
Alternatively, it is also known to electroplate gold on to the surface. However, since the surface is generally uneven and comprises a number of undulations, the applied gold layer must be relatively thick to compensate for those undulations and provide a generally even surface. This results in high costs.
Often it is required that the optical surfaces be double sided; that is the optical surface comprise reflective surfaces on both sides of the substrate. Known methods do not lend themselves to producing good quality surfaces that are double sided because of the general unevenness of the substrate layer. When the top layers are diamond turned, they are diamond turned until each respective layer is even. However, the amount of diamond turning necessary to achieve this is generally different for each side. This is important because the differences in the final thicknesses of the layers on each side result in deformation due to temperature changes as described above. Due to the nature of the uneven substrate surface, this problem is inherent.
With the sophisticated uses of computer aided design, the optical surfaces required are becoming more and more complex. Also the tolerance for errors in these surfaces is decreasing. There exists a demand for high precision and high quality optical surfaces in a variety of geometrical shapes.
Therefore, there also exists a need for a method to produce these optical surfaces at an effective cost.
The invention is directed to a method of producing high quality optical surfaces. The invention allows for the production of optical surfaces with complex geometry while retaining the high quality.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of producing an optical surface comprising the steps of: providing a substrate, the substrate being stress free; applying an adhesion layer to the substrate, the adhesion layer including a first adhesion layer and a second adhesion layer; applying a top layer to the adhesion layer; and diamond turning the top layer to provide a reflective layer thereon.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an optical surface comprising: a substrate the substrate being stress free; an adhesion layer on the substrate, the adhesion layer including a first adhesion layer and a second adhesion layer; top layer on the substrate; the top layer being diamond turned to provide a reflective layer thereon.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an optical surface produced by a method comprising the steps of: providing a stress free substrate; applying an adhesion layer to the substrate; applying a top layer to the adhesion layer; and diamond turning the top layer to achieve a reflective layer.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a double sided optical surface comprising: a stress free substrate, the substrate comprising a first and second surface; an adhesion layer on each of the first and second surfaces of the substrate, each adhesion layer including a first adhesion layer and a second adhesion layer; and a top layer on each of the adhesion layers, the top layers being diamond turned to achieve reflective layers on each of the first and second surfaces of the substrate.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

High quality optical surface and method of producing same


A transit time differential acoustic flowmeter having acoustic transducers which are acoustically coupled to the fluid flowing in a flow tube through the wall of the flow tube itself, in which the flow tube is demountable from the flowmeter and can be disconnected from the external circuit delivering and carrying away the fluid the flow of which is to be detected.

Various types of acoustic flowmeters are known, one of the most versatile being an ultrasonic flowmeter of the transmission, or contra-propagating transit-time differential type. These may be formed in a variety of structural or mechanical arrangements, but all have the common feature that sonic energy, usually at ultrasonic frequencies, is transmitted through a fluid and received by a detector. Both direct transmission and reflective flow sensors are known. A transit-time differential flowmeter functions by determining the difference between the rate of propagation of the sound energy when flowing with and against the stream of fluid the flow rate of which is being determined. This is achieved by assessing the difference between the propagation time with and against the fluid flow, the technique has been used for some time. It has the advantage that besides being reliable and accurate, it can also be used to determine the velocity of sound in the fluid flowing in the flow tubes which, if appropriate, can be used to establish what fluid is present since the velocity of sound is different in different fluids. Industrial processes where the fluid may be changed from time to time benefit particularly from this feature. Although industrial applications are numerous, and transit time differential flowmeters have been used for a wide range of conditions from high temperatures to very low (cryogenic) temperatures and over a wide range of pressures, these usually involve a system in which the sound is transmitted at an angle across the flow tube from one side to the other.
Although it is common for the acoustic energy to be transmitted into the flow of the fluid being measured at an angle to the direction of travel of the fluid, and many flowmeters operate in this way, there are particular advantages in creating a substantially plane wavefront travelling substantially parallel to the direction of fluid flow. The most consistent and accurate results are achieved with a plane wavefront, and for this purpose one known such flowmeter has transducers at each end of a flow tube and inlet and outlet connectors for the fluid into the sides of the flow tube.
However, in order to generate a plane wavefront the wavelength must be greater than the diameter of the flow tube, which means that there is a limit to the upper frequency which can be used with any one flow tube diameter.
The use of acoustic flowmeters is becoming increasingly adopted in therapeutic and medical applications where measurement of the rate of flow of body fluids, especially blood, is of importance. The quantity of fluid flowing, and the flow rates, however, are rather small and it would be convenient to be able to use a small bore flow tube for such purposes. Typically, the smallest useful diameter for a flow tube of a conventional known flowmeter is in the region of 6 mm, whereas a flow tube having a diameter of 1 mm would be more appropriate for the conditions met in medical applications. This, however, is difficult to achieve, partly because of the difficulty in coupling the acoustic signal in to a fluid having such small transverse dimension at the frequencies of energisation of the transducer which must be used, and partly because such small tubes are difficult to clean, whereas absolute cleanliness, even sterility, is an essential requirement in medical situations.
As in known, the velocity of sound is different in different fluids, and the fact that the frequency of the sound signal is related to the velocity of sound as well as to the flow rate of fluid, means that very small transit time differentials are experienced if the flow rate is relatively low and the velocity of sound in the fluid is relatively high.


An apparatus and method for generating pseudo-random cryptographic keys in a cryptographic communications system, whereby, given a common set of initializing configuration data, the pseudo-random cryptographic keys can be duplicatively generated by various independent pseudo-random key generators of the cryptographic communications system. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, users of the communications system can each possess an independent pseudo-random key generator to securely communicate with other users also holding independent pseudo-random key generator that share the same initialization configuration data, no matter where the other users are located or whether the users are connected via wire or wireless communication network. The present invention facilitates secure communication without the need to transport decryption keys in advanced, thereby reducing the risk of the secure communication becoming compromised via interception of decryption keys.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for a pseudo-random cryptography key generator ("PKG") in a cryptographic communication system. The present invention is especially useful in applications or systems in which cryptographic algorithms are used to secure data communications and transmissions.
2. Description of the Background Art
Currently, information being transmitted through electronic media are generally not secure and are vulnerable to interception by a third party. For example, a telephone conversation between two people over public telephone wires may be "tapped" by a third party. In another instance, an e-mail transmitted over the internet can be "intercepted" by an unknown entity, who may later use the information contained in the e-mail to the detriment of the author and/or recipient of the e-mail. Accordingly, information intended to be confidential should either be transmitted through a secure communication channel, or be transmitted in a format such that, even if the information is intercepted by an unauthorized party, the information is unintelligible to the unauthorized party.
A conventional method of maintaining the confidentiality of communication involves the use of cryptographic algorithms that encrypt and decrypt the information being communicated. The encryption process, typically involving the use of a cryptographic algorithm, makes the information transmitted through a channel undecodable or undecipherable to unintended recipients. In order to decipher the encrypted information, a recipient must possess a unique piece of information (i.e., a "key") that can be used with the cryptographic algorithms to successfully decrypt the encrypted message. More specifically, an encryption key is typically a data string which, when combined with another set of data according to an algorithm, produces a data output that is unintelligible to third parties. To decipher the data output, one must use a decryption key that can be used to decrypt the encrypted data. In many instances, the encryption key is identical to the decryption key for a given algorithm.
In a conventional cryptographic communication system based on the use of keys, the appropriate keys must be distributed to the sender as well as the receiver before secure transmission can occur. Operations and services related to the use and distribution of keys within a cryptographic communication system are commonly referred to as key management. More specifically, a key management infrastructure creates, distributes, authenticates/certifies, and often changes and/or revokes the encryption/decryption keys used within a particular cryptographic communication system. Key management can be accomplished either manually or by using automated computer programs. It is intended in a conventional cryptographic communication system that only the authorized recipient, being in possession of the appropriate decryption key, will be able to decipher the encrypted data that is sent. Accordingly, to maintain the security of a cryptographic communication system, an effective key management infrastructure must prevent unintended recipients from acquiring knowledge of the encryption and/or decryption keys in order to ensure that unauthorized parties cannot decipher the information being transmitted.
As previously discussed, in a conventional cryptographic communication system, the appropriate keys must first be distributed for use by the sender and the receiver before any cryptographic communication can take place. In many instances, keys must be distributed to multiple receivers. The process of key distribution may result in either unintentional disclosure of the keys to third parties or interception of the keys by other entities. Furthermore, a conventional cryptographic system that does not change keys on a frequent basis may eventually become vulnerable to computer "hackers," who, given sufficient time, can use powerful computers to decipher the encryption algorithm and derive the encryption keys. Thus, periodic key changes are intended to enhance security, but they also burden conventional key management systems and can jeopardize security through risk of exposure during the key distribution process.
To decrease the likelihood of someone deciphering the encrypted information, designers of conventional encryption systems typically enhance security protection by using stronger encryption algorithms that are based on longer encryption codes, changing keys on a more frequent basis, and/or implementing a more sophisticated key management infrastructure. Nevertheless, even an enhanced cryptographic communication system is susceptible to a breach by a hacker, especially in today's world of powerful computers. Furthermore, changing keys on a more frequent basis creates additional opportunities for the keys to be disclosed or intercepted by unauthorized parties. Finally, complex key management infrastructures that change and distribute keys on a frequent basis increase logistics and the cost of maintaining a cryptographic communication system.

Cryptographic communications using pseudo-randomly generated cryptography keys


A water supply device for a humidifier having a water tank for retaining water and a vaporizing chamber for producing water vapor with the water supplied from the water tank, is disclosed in which the water supply device comprises a water tube for supplying the water from the water tank to the vaporizing chamber of the humidifier, the water tube formed of synthetic resin or glass material, and a heating coil disposed around the water tube connected to a electric source for heating the water to a predetermined degree. The water supply device preferably further includes an insulation material wound around the water tube and the heating coil, and a connecting elbow member for securely connecting each end of the water tube to the water chamber and the water tank, respectively.

As well-known in the art, a humidifier is typically composed of a container body having a water tank installed therein for providing water to a humidifying or vaporizing chamber which produces and emits water vapor to the surrounding air.
A water supply tube in a humidifier connects a water tank to a vaporizing chamber, and is typically made of a metal pipe such as copper. However, such a metal pipe can be corrosive in the water when it is used for an extended period of time while forming harmful corrosive materials, germs, or toxic metallic oxides in the water tube, thus, causing the humidifier to produce harmful water vapor to the air.


A buckle assembly (10) includes a frame (12) having a base (66) connected to opposed side walls (68). The frame (12) has a latch chamber (70) between the base (66) and the opposed side walls (68). The buckle assembly (10) also includes a lever (14) pivotally secured with in the latch chamber (70) between the opposed side walls (68), and a latch (16) configured to be secured in the latch chamber (70) by the lever (14). The latch (16) may include a frame-engaging member (30) having an ogived leading end (36). The ogived leading end (36) is configured to self-align the latch (16) within the latch chamber (70) when the latch (16) is mated into the latch chamber (70).

Traditionally, the military has used certain buckle assemblies that may not be ideal for particular situations. For example, the buckles may be attached to large items that are airdropped during a particular operation. Typical plastic buckles are susceptible to smashing upon impact. Moreover, other types of buckles are susceptible to premature opening.
A known buckle assembly includes a latch pivotally secured to a securing device, which may retain a web, strap, or the like. The latch is configured to be latchably engaged by a frame having a pivotal lever. In operation, the front edge of the latch is slid into the frame, and the lever is manipulated to secure the latch to the frame, which may, in turn, retain a web, strap, or the like.
Typically, the latch has straight edges that are susceptible to snagging. Moreover, the leading edge of the latch is generally straight. Therefore, unless the latch is fully-aligned with the frame prior to mating, a user may find it difficult to quickly and easily guide the latch into the frame.
Additionally, the latch includes an opening configured to retain a portion of the lever therein. However, the diameter and outer perimeter of the opening may typically be larger than the retained portion of the lever. Therefore, when connected, the connection between the lever and the latch may be loose, and produce rattling, shaking, and the like between the latch and the lever.
Further, during a disconnection procedure, an operator may inadvertently over-rotate the lever with respect to the frame. In this manner, the lever and spring member may be damaged. Moreover, even when not being manipulated by an operator, a sudden shock or impact may cause the lever to rotate out of engagement with the latch.
Also, typically, the frame, for example, includes a web or strap opening that generally includes flat edges. It has been found that web or strap material within such a web or strap opening is susceptible to slippage.
Additionally, during operation, debris, dust, or other such material may accumulate within the frame. These materials may hinder proper and secure mating between the latch and the frame. For example, debris may block the latch from securely engaging the frame.
Further, in a known buckle assembly, the lever may secure to the frame through fasteners, such as rivets, pins, or the like. However, the fasteners may include edges that extend past a surface of the frame. As such, the exposed edges of the rivets may snag fabric or potentially cut an operator.


This invention provides methods of transforming organogenic plant cells and regenerating plants from transformed cells.

It has become possible to transfer nucleic acids from a wide variety of organisms to plants utilizing recombinant DNA technology. For example, this technology has provided a mechanism to improve various agronomic properties including plant resistance to drought, temperature extremes, pests, diseases, and herbicides. However, the lack of efficient and reproducible transformation and regeneration from plant cell culture systems for many agriculturally significant crops has been a substantial barrier to the application of genetic engineering technology to plants. Moreover, there is a potential for the occurrence of somaclonal variation when plants are regenerated adventitiously in vitro. Somaclonal variation is genetic variability commonly observed in plants that originate from, e.g., a callus intermediate. This genetic variability is typically undesirable as the maintenance of the genetic integrity of transformed plants is generally an objective.

Organogenic transformation and regeneration


A carton taper machine that folds an end of the tape over on itself to produce a pull tab, cuts a length of tape, applies a first section of the length of tape to a first surface of a carton and a second section of the length of tape to a second surface of the carton which is at right angles to the first surface.

The present invention relates generally to a machine for closing a carton with a length of tape that has a pull tab at one end which facilitates removing the tape when the carton is to be opened.
Cardboard boxes or cartons are conventionally used to store and transport numerous articles of modest weight. In many industrial uses of cardboard boxes the boxes could be reused if they were not damaged in their previous use. In these industrial uses there is usually a need to secure the box closed when it is being used. A customary way of securing closed a cardboard box is called, "fan folding". Fan folding, is a system of sequentially folding down three flaps of the cardboard box and then distorting or bending the fourth flap so that its one half locks under the first flap that was closed in the sequence. The step of distorting or bending the fourth flap takes its toll on the life expectancy of the box. About five uses of a cardboard box that has been fan folded is average. A cardboard box can also be taped close with various types of tape. Cartons that have been taped closed have an even shorter life expectancy than those that have been fan folded, and opening a taped carton without destroying it is a time consuming process.
It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a method for applying a length of adhesive tape to a carton while forming a pull tab at one end of the tape.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a machine that will apply a length of tape to two surfaces of a carton that are at right angles to each other and fold one end of the tape back on itself to produce a pull tab that will facilitate removing of the tape.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a machine that will apply a length of tape to a carton and form a pull tab at one end of the length of tape, the tape being of a type that will secure the carton close but can be removed without destroying the carton.


The semiconductor package including a semiconductor element 11 having a first face 21a and a second face 21b which is opposite to the first face 21a, an electrode 22 provided on the first face 21a, and a conductive lead 23 connected to the electrode 22 comprises an insulating film member 24 provided on the second face 21b for connecting the other end of the lead, the lead 23 is bent as oppose to a side face of the semiconductor element 11, and is connected each other with an elastic force between the electrode 22 and the film member 24, a bent part of the lead between the electrode 22 and the film member 24 turns to be a terminal part 23a. The circuit board has a connection means, connecting to the terminal unit 23a, and having an adequate size for placing the semiconductor package 11. The connection means is constituted of an accommodation groove part 46 or a frame part 50, and a plurality of pattern electrodes 47a, 47b, and the terminal part 23a is connected between the pattern electrodes 47a, 47b.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package mounted on a circuit board, a mounting structure of a semiconductor package for mounting the semiconductor package on the circuit board, and a method of assembling a semiconductor package.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as a mounting system of a semiconductor element, a wire bonding system such as a tape carrier system is known. In general, as a tape carrier system, there is so called a TAB (Tape Automated Bonding). This TAB is used for a mounting to a micro-semiconductor package, and for a high density mounting with a multi-chip.
The TAB is such that a lead is formed on a film-like tape made of a polyimide film or a polyester film. A leading edge of the lead and a semiconductor element are joined by an Au-bump. The lead is formed from a Cu film plated with a Sn or an Au. An electrode of the semiconductor forms a bump on an Al pad plated with an Au and the like in a wafer stage. A semiconductor element bonding to the tape is adhered to a circuit board by a solder after having cut the lead at a predetermined location.
However, in the conventional mounting system of a semiconductor element, the KGD (Known Good Die) technology for sorting good/fault by a detection before mounting the semiconductor on the circuit board is difficult.
Further, an advanced technology is required for exchanging this semiconductor element after having mounted the semiconductor element on the circuit board.
Therefore, usually, when a fault has become clear as a result of having performed an examination after the semiconductor element has been mounted, it becomes a mounting technology which ruins an economical efficiency since the circuit board and the semiconductor element would be abandoned.
Also, in the TCP (Tape Carrier Package) technology to which the TAB is applied, it is possible to equip the circuit board with only a good article by an examination, but it is difficult to exchange the semiconductor element when it becomes necessary to update the semiconductor element later on.

Semiconductor package having semiconductor element, mounting structure of semiconductor package mounted on circuit board, and method of assembling semiconductor package


A query system (1600) is formed by a wizard (1605) operating to form a data server (1610) arranged to serve data from a data source (1615) to a client application (1630), each of the wizard, the client application, the data server and the data source being linked by a communications network (1650). The data source has native data types and data arranged in a data structure. The wizard operates to firstly identify the data source over the network. The wizard further provides an application program for traversing and examining at least one of the data structure and data of the identified data source. The application program is operable to generate a representative schema (1614) comprising mapping data for converting the native data types to predetermined data types of a common data model. The wizard further operates to create a server application (1612) adapted to use the representative schema to convert the data from the native data types to the predetermined data types and to serve the data to the client application according to the common data model over the network. The representative schema and the server application thereby form the data server generated by the wizard. Once formed, the data server may receive and respond to queries from the client application, which may have no knowledge of the native data types, but which are directed to the data source.

The problem of accessing heterogeneous data sources in an integrated manner has typically been approached by representing the data in the participating heterogeneous data sources in a common data model. This involves mapping the native schemas of each data source to schemas in the common data model. In this specification, the term "native" means a language or schema peculiar to the specific data source. The integration of the participating heterogeneous data sources is enabled by having a common method to query the data sources and by allowing a single query to retrieve an integrated result from multiple data sources.
The process of enabling a heterogeneous data source for integrated access typically involves the following two steps.                1. At setup time, the native schema of a data source is mapped to a schema in the common data model. Typically, this step is performed manually by a person with expert knowledge of the data source using a software tool.        2. At runtime the data in a data source is mapped from its native schema to the mapped schema in the common data model by a data mapper process. This process often involves translating the query in the common data model to one or more queries or application program interface (API) calls that are processed by the native data source.
A data mapper useful in such a process may take the form of:                (i) a wrapper, which is a software layer that encapsulates the data source and exposes a common API for accessing the data; or        (ii) a data server, which is a network-addressable server application that accepts requests from client applications and then retrieves and processes the data according to the requests.
Typically, data mappers are programmed by a software engineer and deployed by a system administrator. The task of constructing and deploying a data mapper requires much effort and expert knowledge and is typically far beyond the ability of the actual users of the data. The construction of data mappers can be further complicated by the following issues.
First, it is often desirable to allow multiple possible representations of the same data in the common data model. This is often required when the data models of the two schemas are different (e.g., relational and hierarchical). Second, it is often desirable to be able to specify the schema to be used for a data source in the common data model. This is sometimes necessary when the user has the requirement that the schema of a data source enabled for integrated access must have a predetermined structure (e.g., when integrating data from a legacy data source into a system that already has clients accessing other data according to an existing schema).
There are a number of existing methods of providing a common data model, which enable querying of data stored in heterogeneous data sources. U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,342 issued to Chang et al on Jul. 17, 2001, U.S. Pat. No. 6,233,586 issued to Chang et al on May 15, 2001 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,488 issued to Chang et al on Aug. 7, 2001 disclose a method where a federated virtual view of the heterogeneous data sources is provided using an object oriented model. Federated query objects are translated into appropriate queries for individual data sources using Java objects. The method of constructing the Java objects for query translation is not disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,744 issued to Dao et al on Jan. 21, 1997 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,053 issued to Noble et al on May 27, 1997 provide a similar federated architecture. In these patents, a data dictionary is used to contain information such as schemas (of native data sources), data distribution, domain knowledge and inter-site relationships. This data dictionary is used to translate queries appropriately for individual data sources. However, no method is described for the addition of information for a new data source to the data dictionary.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,537 issued to Madnick et al on Aug. 28, 2001 discloses a method of querying heterogeneous data sources containing structured and semi-structured data. An export schema is used to define the data and its format for each individual data source. However, as in the previously mentioned patents, a method of generating the export schema is not described. In each of the above cases, the objective of the disclosure has been to describe the common data model that enabled querying of the heterogeneous data sources. The method by which new data sources are integrated into the common data model is not addressed.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20020133504 by Vlahos et al published Sep. 19, 2002 discloses a method of using a data wrapper to publish data in a data source as virtual tables. An information server is then used to aggregate the virtual tables into a single universal data representation (common data model). Queries directed to the common data model can be translated appropriately and re-directed to individual data wrappers. Although, the information server performs some integration functions (e.g., accumulation, removal of duplication), the patent does not describe how the virtual tables of the data wrapper are constructed for a data source. In other words, the mapping of the data from individual data sources to the common data model is not fully described.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20010034733 by Prompt et al published Oct. 25, 2001 discloses a method which uses a common hierarchical data model and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the protocol for accessing the data. It describes the mapping of a relational schema to a hierarchical schema (in the common data model) based on a relationship-driven and an ad-hoc approach. However, the relationship-driven approach does not address the issue of multiple possible mappings which often exist when a relational schema is mapped to a hierarchical schema. Moreover, the method does not address the mapping of other non-relational data sources to the common hierarchical data model.
More recently, Extensible Markup Language (XML) is being increasingly used as a common data model (for heterogeneous data sources) with XML query languages being able to query XML data. IBM's Java-based tool "XML for Tables" enables application programmers to use a provided set of Java classes to obtain an XML view of relational tables. Specifically, XML for Tables is designed to operate with IBM's DB2 database technology. Although, XML for Tables enables user defined views (schemas) for the XML data, it remains a tool for programmers. Multiple, different views of the data must be individually programmed with a knowledge of the data source. Furthermore, the tool is designed to be used with relational databases and therefore is limited in its application to heterogeneous data sources.
The arrangements disclosed in the above noted art are non-instructive of a tool by which a user, not necessarily skilled in the art of database management, may create and deploy a data mapper for a selected data source.

Method of generating data servers for heterogeneous data sources


A tungsten carbide chisel insert for rock bits is disclosed having a cylindrical base section and a cutting tip section, the top of the tip section having an elongated crest, the remainder of the cutting tip section below the crest is a contoured surface formed having cross-sections being shaped as to provide for better overall performance.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to tungsten carbide insert rock bits and tools of the rolling cutter type and more particularly to the specially shaped and designed inserts utilized thereon.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Rock bits using sintered tungsten carbide inserts generally have a wedge or chisel-shaped configuration for soft to medium hard formations. Various embodiments of such configurations are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,442,342 and 4,108,260. Such chisel-shaped inserts conventionally have a cylindrical base for retention and a wedge-like projection cutting tip. In all forms of chisel type inserts, flanks are made into the insert by removing material from two opposing sides of a truncated cone. A curvilinear crest formed from a tip radius connects to the top of the two flanks. The remaining truncated cone, a conical surface symmetric with the insert's axis, is joined to the crest with two opposing corner radii that are revolved about the insert's axis. The intersection between the corner radii and the tip radius as well as the intersection between the conical surface and the flanks usually have a blending radius, also known as a round, to eliminate the sharp edge that would otherwise exist.
Blend radii are areas of high stress concentration due to that they are small, typically 0.005 to 0.090 of an inch. These small blend radii typically contribute to or cause the premature breakage of an insert, of which in many cases a less optimum material composition is utilized to overcome this failure mode.
The performance of an insert is primarily dictated by its cutting tip's ability to penetrate into the required formation without having a failure due to breakage or in some cases excessive wear. The tip radius size is predominantly constrained by the desired sharpness curve of an insert cutting tip. The sharpness curve is a plot of the projected cutting tip cross sectional area versus the distance from the top of the cutting tip. To enable sufficient penetration of an insert into a formation the desired sharpness curve is generally obtained by utilizing a small tip radius on the order of 0.075 to 0.125 of an inch.
The conical surface, regardless of whether the flanks are planar, convex, concave, or spherical, or whether the crest intersects the insert axis or is offset from the axis, as shown in the above mentioned patents, is a surface of revolution about the insert axis that adds non-functional material to the insert cutting tip. This additional material adds to the constraint of reducing the tip radius to obtain the desired sharpness curve, which in turn increases the stress concentration on the insert crest and reduces the durability of the insert.
The blend radius on an insert is limited in size by the tip radius, which requires it to be the same size or smaller. In many cases small tip radii will wear away quickly until the initial crest is completely gone. With the crest gone, the blend radii between the conical surface and the flanks is exposed on the cutting surface providing areas of high stress concentration. As the insert tip wears, the surface area of the cutting surface increases, thus the rate of wear decreases which exposes areas of blend radii to more cutting cycles and fatigue leading to chipping and breakage resulting in insert failure.
The sharp edge intersections requiring blending are extremely complex three-dimensional paths. Due to this complex path, the blend radius used on an insert is put into the tooling mold by hand and is typically not controlled from one set of tooling to another, thus a wide variance of blend radii can occur from one production to another of the same insert model which in turn can produce different performance results of one rock bit to another of the same rock bit model.


A method and apparatus for controlling suspension deflection in a semiactive damping system is disclosed. A semiactive control policy operates to set the damper force to a low magnitude when the relative position of the suspension members is within a "null band," and to a high magnitude when the relative position is within an "overshoot" band. The null band is a predefined range of displacement about the equilibrium position of the members and the overshoot band is a range about the end stops. When in the overshoot band, the high damper force limits the incidence of suspension end stop collisions that cause damaging shock inputs to the system. The high damper force is maintained once the overshoot band is entered until the relative position of the members again reaches the equilibrium position. One or more intermediate or "active" bands are defined to exist between the null and overshoot bands. When in the active band(s), the damper force is set to an intermediate magnitude to thus stiffen the suspension. A controller produces an output signal indicative of the instantaneous relative position of the members for use by the control policy from a relative velocity signal.

Intelligent isolation systems are used to control input disturbances or forces transmitted between relatively movable members such as a vehicle body (a sprung mass) and a support or vehicle wheel (an unsprung mass) in order to provide desired ride characteristics.
Semiactive isolation systems are a type of intelligent isolation system which require no external energy other than that needed to actuate valves, and power the sensors and controls, yet are capable of providing for rapid changes in the damping coefficient of a damper interconnecting the members so as to optimize the attenuation of forces between the members. Semiactive systems are distinguished from fully active systems which employ an external power source or force generator for supplying energy in a controlled manner to counteract vibrational forces. Fully active systems are disadvantageous in that they require a large auxiliary power source and are not fully responsive at high operating frequencies due to inadequacies of such equipment to respond rapidly to control signals. Fully active systems are also characterized by dangerous failure modes.
A limitation of semiactive systems is that they only are capable of creating a force opposing motion in a suspension system and cannot create a force in the direction of motion. Thus, the term "semiactive" refers to control systems which are only capable of removing energy from a suspension system. Semiactive systems are nonetheless capable of performance approaching that of a fully active system when operated pursuant to a suitable control policy, and in particular those control policies which emulate a hypothetical "skyhook" damper as described in Karnopp, D. C. et al., "Vibration Control Using Semiactive Force Generators," ASME Paper No. 73-DET-123 (June 1974), incorporated herein by reference. Semiactive dampers and control policies for them, are disclosed in Karnopp, U.S. Pat. No 3,807,678; Miller et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,821,849, 4,838,392 and 4,898,264; Boone, U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,425; and Ivers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,699, all owned by the assignee of the present invention. The disclosures of the foregoing patents are incorporated herein by reference.
Dampers used in a semiactive system may be either of the "off/on" type, of the "orifice-setting" type, or of the "force-controlled" type. An "off/on" semiactive damper is switched, in accordance with the dictates of a suitable control policy, between alternative "on" and "off" damping states or conditions. In the "on" state, the damping coefficient of the damper is of a preselected, relatively high magnitude. The term damping coefficient as used herein is understood to mean the relationship of the damping force generated by the damper to the relative velocity across the damper, which relationship is not necessarily linear. In its "off" state, the damping coefficient of the damper is approximately zero or of a relatively low magnitude sufficiently greater than zero so as to discourage "wheel hop". An orifice-setting semiactive damper is also switched during operation between an "off" state, where the damping coefficient is approximately zero or of some relatively low magnitude, and an "on" state. However, when a orifice-setting semiactive damper is in its "on" state the damping coefficient thereof may be and normally is changed between a large (theoretically infinite) number of different magnitudes. The magnitude of the damping coefficient is typically determined by the diameter setting of the valve orifice in the damper.
A "force-controlled" damper, in theory, is capable of creating any desired dissipative force in the "on" state independent of the relative velocity across the damper. This is in contrast to the aforementioned "off/on" and "orifice-setting" dampers in which the damping force in the "on" state depends on the relative velocity across the damper. A force-controlled damper can either be realized by use of feedback control or by use of pressure control valves. In the "off" state the force-controlled damper will command the valve to the full-open position in which the damping coefficient is approximately zero or of some relatively low value.
A characteristic of semiactive isolation systems employing an above-described "skyhook" control policy or a derivative thereof is that they tend to increase the average rang of suspension deflection from the equilibrium position in order to provide a "smoother" ride. Although these systems offer significant performance advantages over other types of isolation systems, difficulties can occur when the suspension is subjected to large, abrupt input disturbances such as those encountered on rough terrain or upon the landing of an aircraft, for example. Undesirable transient responses in the form of excessive vehicle body motions or suspension excursions result in uncomfortable or damaging force inputs to a vehicle throughout the range of motion of the suspension and also when the suspension experiences abrupt impacts upon reaching its end of travel. This tendency is discussed in Miller, "Tuning Passive, Semiactive and Fully Active Suspension Systems," Proceedings of the 27th CDC of IEEE, Vol. 3, 1988 and in Ivers et al., "Experimental Comparison of Passive, On/Off Semiactive and Continuous Semiactive Suspensions" SAE Paper No. 892484, Dec. 7, 1989.
The incidence of undesirable transient responses could be reduced or even eliminated by use of a very stiff damper with a high damping coefficient. However, this would defeat the performance advantages of semiactive control by unnecessarily limiting the available range of suspension deflection for the given range of motion of the suspension and unacceptably degrade the isolation of the vehicle.

System for controlling suspension deflection


The invention mainly intends to provide a resist material that is high in the sensitivity to light and an electron beam and enables to form a clear and fine pattern with less exposure. In order to achieve the object, the invention provides a resist material comprising a metal compound, wherein a metal element constituting the metal compound is a 14th group or 15th group metal element and the metal compound is a stoichiometrically incomplete compound.

So far, an organic resist material has been mainly used for applying micro-processing to optical devices, magnetic devices, semiconductor devices and others. The organic resist material, having the general versatility, has been widely used in a field of photolithography. However, the organic resist material, being high in molecular weight, has a problem in that a pattern at a boundary portion of an exposed portion and an unexposed portion tends to be obscure. Furthermore, since light or an electron beam is directly used for recording, it has been difficult to form a fine pattern smaller than a spot diameter of light or an electron beam.
On the other hand, an inorganic resist material, being smaller in molecular weight, has an advantage in that a pattern at a boundary portion of an exposed portion and an unexposed portion is clear. Accordingly, various researches are under way of the inorganic resist materials at present. For instance, Patent Document 1 discloses a method where a portion of a particular crystalline state of a chalcogen compound is selectively removed by making use of difference of etching rates due to difference of crystalline states of a chalcogen compound, to obtain an optical information recording medium master.
In the Patent Document 1, a method where heat generated by light exposure or the like is used to vary a crystalline state of a chalcogen compound is used, which method is called a heat mode recording. In the heat mode recording, only a portion where a temperature reaches or exceeds a certain threshold value causes a change in physical and chemical states and a portion where a temperature does not reach a threshold value, does not cause the change in physical and chemical states even when the portion is heated; accordingly, a clear pattern can be advantageously formed. Furthermore, in the heat mode recording, among a portion that is exposed to light or an electron beam, only a portion where a temperature reaches or exceeds a threshold value causes a change of state. Accordingly, a pattern finer than a spot diameter of light or an electron beam can be advantageously formed.
Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a producing method of a master of optical information recording media, which uses the heat mode recording. It is described in the document that, according to the method, disposing a recording auxiliary layer besides a resist film may result in improved recording sensitivity and an effectively controlled etching shape after recording.
On the other hand, Patent Document 3 discloses a resist material that uses an incomplete oxide of a transition metal such as W or Mo as a resist film. In the Patent Document 3, it is intended to obtain fine patterns with an existing exposing device by making use of absorption of UV-ray or visible light of the incomplete oxide.
However, there is a problem in that each of the resist materials described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 tends to be insufficient in the sensitivity to light or an electron beam since the decomposition temperature thereof is high. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 studies to provide a recording auxiliary layer from the viewpoint of improving the recording sensitivity. However, there are objections that the number of processes increases and a layer structure becomes complicated when the recording auxiliary layer is disposed.
Furthermore, when an electron beam is used for recording, other problems occurs in some cases, where an electron beam penetrates toward a substrate without reacting with a resist material, or it causes a need for disposing a material such as electroconductive metal on a substrate or a substrate top surface in order to avoid charges of electrons. However, a countermeasure for that is not disclosed.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-97738
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-11489
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-315988

Resist material and electron beam recording resist material


A system for exhausting smoke from a building. The building has a roof, exterior walls and at least one room therein where smoke has accumulated. The system comprises an actuable compressor arranged to draw smokeless air from the atmosphere outside the building and force the atmospheric air through a conduit that is in communication with the compressor. The conduit permits the passage of the forced air therethrough and has a length extending across the room adjacent the ceiling of the room. The conduit has an exit end that is open to the atmosphere. The exit end projects through and extends some distance beyond the overhanging roof of the building to prevent reentry of exhausted smoke and gases. A smoke exhaust valve is located on the length of the conduit extending across the room. The smoke exhaust valve is normally in a closed position. A smoke detection means is provided for opening the smoke exhaust valve and for actuating the actuable compressor in response to detecting an amount of smoke in the room that exceeds a predetermined level. Whenever such an amount of smoke is detected, the smoke detection means actuates the actuable compressor which forces air through the conduit means. Smoke is drawn from the room into the conduit through the open smoke exhaust valve. The system vents the smoke to the atmosphere outside.

This invention relates generally to the field of systems for protecting from fires and smoke. More specifically, this invention relates to a system for exhausting smoke and controlling fires within a static structure, e.g. a building.
There have been some suggestions in the prior art for providing systems for controlling smoke and/or fires and exhausting smoke and gases from buildings. A representative apparatus for controlling smoke and fire in buildings is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,835 (Schaus). The device disclosed in that patent makes use of a smoke detector that is arranged to open a vent located within the residence upon detection of a predetermined concentration of smoke. The smoke detector also energizes an exhaust fan which draws smoke from the living spaces through the open vent and to the outside atmosphere.
An apparatus especially useful in combatting fires such as those in basements of stores is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,874,573 (Moore). The apparatus disclosed therein comprises a suction fan unit connectable to a foldable hood. The hood is placed over an opening in the sidewalk leading to the basement and creates an enclosed air passage between the fire and the suction fan. The fan draws smoke and gases out of the basement to be replaced with fresh air from other openings in the building which will facilitate the work of firemen. Although the apparatus may provide a means for exhausting smoke from a basement, it does not appear to do so in an automated manner. U.S. Pat. No. 863,059 (Elmer) and France Patent No. 2,510,643 (Worl) each disclose a vent for the escape of smoke combustion gases in burning buildings. These devices also do not appear to operate in an automated manner.
While the aforementioned patents seem suitable for their intended purposes, the above-mentioned drawbacks still appear to exist.

System for exhausting smoke and controlling fires within a building


Blu-Ray reading and writing methods are provided. In a reading procedure, a first plurality of recording frames are sequentially read from a Blu-Ray disc and stored in a memory array along a first direction to assemble a first LDC block comprising a plurality of data lines arranged along a second direction. A second plurality of recording frames are simultaneously read and stored in the memory array along the second direction to assemble a second LDC block comprising a plurality of data lines arranged along the first direction while the data lines in the first LDC block are sequentially decoded and output.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to Blu-Ray devices, and in particular, to memory utilization methods for accessing Blu-Ray discs.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1a is a simplified diagram of a conventional Blu-Ray optical device 100. The Blu-Ray optical device 100 comprises a memory array 120. The memory array 120 serves as a data input/output buffer Blu-Ray optical device 100. A disc driver 110 may comprise PUH related control units for accessing a Blu-Ray disc (not shown). Recording frames #R read from the Blu-Ray disc are obtained by the disc driver 110 and stored in the memory array 120, whereas recording frames #W to be written to the Blu-Ray disc are sent to the disc driver 110 from the memory array 120. According to Blu-Ray standard, data stored in the Blu-Ray disc is protected by a complex and robust error correction scheme. The encoder 130 adds the error correction codes to the input data #IN to generate the recording frames #W. Conversely, recording frames #R read from the Blu-Ray disc are decoded by the decoder 140 to ensure frame data integrity. Thus memory array 120 is a critical resource as it processes the majority of the reading, writing, encoding and decoding operations.
FIG. 1b shows an LDC block conforming to the Blu-Ray standard. An LDC block 160 is a physical cluster unit constructed from original data through a complex encoding process. For example, two data frames of 2052 bytes including 2048 data bytes and 4 bytes EDC, are merged to a data sector of 4104 bytes. With RS codes added, the data sector becomes an ECC sector comprising 19 LDS sequences each having 248 bytes. Thereafter, 16 ECC sectors are merged and interleaved to generate an ECC cluster. With a BIS cluster of 3*496 bytes inserted into the ECC cluster, the LDC block 160 as shown in FIG. 1b is constructed. Conventionally, the LDC block 160 is generated line by line in the memory array 120 from the horizontal perspective (viewpoint of the memory array 120). From the vertical perspective (viewpoint of the Blu-Ray disc), the LDC block 160 is formed by 496 recording frames, each having 155 bytes, in which every 31 recording frames refer to a physical sector. When the recording frames are written to a Blu-Ray disc, the disc driver 110 sequentially reads the recording frames in vertical fashion to perform further modulation and write procedures. Generally speaking, due to the nature of Blu-Ray design, the disc driver 110 processes the LDC block 160 in a direction orthogonal to the processing directions of encoder 130 and decoder 140.
FIG. 2a is a flowchart of a conventional reading procedure. To facilitate the description, the mutually orthogonal directions are named as X and Y respectively. In step 202, the recording frames are read from the disc driver 110 line by line along the X direction. In step 204, the reading process is repeated unless a complete LDC block 160 is formed. In step 206, the decoder 140 decodes the LDC block 160 along the Y direction line by line, and the decoded lines can be immediately output to a host (not shown) such as a computer in step 208. Thus steps 206 and 208 are processed simultaneously as in a pipe line. In step 210, the decoding and outputting are recursively processed until all the lines along the Y direction are output, and the procedure returns to step 202 for the next LDC block.
FIG. 2b is a flowchart of a conventional writing procedure. In step 212, input data #IN is input externally to the memory array 120 line by line along the Y direction. In step 214, the encoder 130 recursively encodes the input data #IN in the memory array 120 line by line along the Y direction. In step 216, it is determined if the encoded input data #IN have formed the LDC block 160. If so, step 218 is processed, recursively writing the recording frames of LDC block 160 into the Blu-Ray disc along the X direction. In step 220, the writing procedure is recursively processed until the LDC block 160 is completely written, and the process returns to step 212 for input of another data #IN.
FIGS. 3a and 3b show memory utilization in reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b. FIG. 3a shows the memory array 120 being written line by line along the X direction. If the X direction represents the memory direction, the arrow 302 represents the externally received input data #IN. Conversely, if the X direction represents the disc direction, the arrow 302 represents a recording frame read from the disc. The shadowed area indicates a written part, whereas the rest indicates an empty part. FIG. 3b shows the successive processes. For example, the arrow 304 may represent a line being encoded or decoded, and the arrow 306 represents an output procedure of recording frame #W or output data #OUT. The occupied memory indicated by arrow 306 is released after output; thus, the entire memory array 120 becomes available for the next filling process, such as step 202 in FIG. 2a or step 212 in FIG. 2b, when all the lines are output by arrow 306. Conventionally, the memory array 120 in Blu-Ray optical device 100 is a critical resource comprising limited capacity. The encoding or decoding indicated by arrow 304 may consume considerable time and become a performance bottleneck. Occupied memory becomes available after the arrow 306 is released, and the empty parts remain idle until the entire memory array 120 is available for the next filling process. Since the memory array 120 is a critical resource, increasing the utilization of memory is desirable.

Reading and writing methods and apparatus for Blu-Rays discs


An image processing device performs an error diffusion on multilevel input image data to generate multilevel output image data that has fewer levels than the multilevel input image data. The image processing device includes a plurality of setting devices, each of which sets a threshold value to be used at the error diffusion, a threshold value selecting device that randomly selects one of the plurality of setting devices with respect to each pixel to be processed and allows the selected setting device to set a threshold value with respect to the pixel to be processed when the image processing device performs the error diffusion, and a converting device that converts the pixel to be processed into multilevel output image data with fewer levels than multilevel input image data by the error diffusion, in accordance with the threshold value set by the setting device selected by the threshold value selecting device. The plurality of setting devices includes at least a first setting device and a second setting device that sets a threshold value which is higher than a threshold value set by the first setting device.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an error diffusion that generates multilevel output image data having fewer levels than multilevel input image data.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, the error diffusion is known as a technique to generate multilevel output image data (e.g. bi-level output image data) from multilevel input image data, wherein the output image data has fewer levels than the input image data. The error diffusion of binarizing 256 levels input image data will be briefly described below.
First, a density I of a pixel to be processed (a subject pixel) of input image data is modified to obtain a modified density I′, with the addition of binary conversion errors e distributed to pixels located in a neighborhood of the subject pixel. More specifically, a binary conversion error e, for a pixel on which a binarization has been performed and caused at the pixel by the binarization, is stored. The binary conversion errors e are added to the subject pixel density I, according to the positions of the neighboring pixels with respect to the subject pixel. Percentages of the binary conversion errors e to be added to the subject pixel density I are determined based on an error distribution matrix as shown in FIG. 19. In the error distribution matrix of FIG. 19, each numeric value represents a weight coefficient according to a position of each neighboring pixel with respect to a subject pixel (*). In accordance with the error distribution matrix, as to each neighboring pixel of the subject pixel, its binary conversion error e is multiplied by a weight coefficient corresponding to the neighboring pixel. The obtained values are then added to the subject pixel density I to obtain a modified density I′ of the subject pixel.
Then, the obtained modified density I′ and a predetermined fixed threshold value T (e.g. T=128) are compared with each other. As a result of the comparison, when the modified density I′ is greater than or equal to the fixed threshold value T, an output density O is set to 255. When the modified density I′ is below the fixed threshold value T, the output density O is set to zero (0).
Then, the difference between the modified density I′ and the output density O is stored as a binary conversion error e of the pixel. By performing the above process on each pixel of the input image data, bi-level output image data is generated.

Image processing device, image processing method and image processing program


An apparatus for producing dentures having a synthetic resin base comprises a flask tank provided with a tank closure which is opened when a flask is brought into and out of the tank and when resin is to be injected into the flask and which is closed when wax is to be removed. The flask tank has a wax pattern heater and is formed with fluid channels adapted to communicate with a resin injecting gate of the flask for successively supplying cleaning hot water, drying air and separating agent to the interior of the flask therethrough.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for producing dentures having a synthetic resin base, and more particularly to an apparatus for producing such dentures which is adapted to execute all the steps of removing wax from a flask by heating a wax pattern therein, injecting and filling a synthetic resin into a pattern cavity formed by removing the wax and shaped in conformity with the denture, and polymerizing the filled resin, and to the process to be practiced by the apparatus.
In producing dentures having a synthetic resin base, it is common practice to use individual devices for performing the respective steps of removing wax from a flask by heating a wax pattern therein within a pot (see JP-B-4395/1995), injecting and filling a synthetic resin into the resulting pattern cavity (see Laid-Open Japanese Utility Model Application 21919/1993) and polymerizing the resin (see JP-B-4395/1995).
On the other hand, JP-B-9055/1986 discloses an apparatus for producing dentures having a synthetic resin base which comprises a set of devices for successively performing the three main steps, i.e., the steps of removing wax, injecting and filling synthetic resin, and polymerizing the resin. The production apparatus comprises in combination a portion for removing wax from a flask as placed in a flask tank using hot water, with a flask tank lid and a wax lid closed, a pressure device having a cylinder set in position with the tank lid closed and with the wax lid opened for injecting and filling a synthetic resin into the flask, and a portion for polymerizing the filled resin within the flask tank.
The flask for use in the production apparatus comprises two split segments which are prevented from separating from each other by being pressed against a side wall of the flask tank by a pressing device.
The conventional apparatus for producing dentures with a synthetic resin base has the following problems.
1. Since the flask is prevented from separating into the segments by being pressed against the flask tank wall by the pressing device, a strain is likely to occur in the resin if the flask is released from the pressing device before the resin is polymerized. Accordingly, when the flask filled with the resin is taken out from the tank and then heated for polymerization, impaired accuracy will result, so that the resin needs to be heated and polymerized within the flask tank with the flask held by the pressing device. Thus, the apparatus is not usable efficiently.
2. The apparatus requires two lids, i.e., the tank lid and the wax lid, and is therefore cumbersome and inefficient to operate.
3. If drops of cleaning water remain after cleaning the pattern cavity created by removing the wax, the presence of water impairs the quality and accuracy of resin filled in. When many flasks are used, the remaining water must be removed from all the flasks reliably during operation without forgetting or failure.
4. A separating agent needs to be applied to the pattern cavity reliably so as to render the filled resin readily removable from the flask after polymerization.
5. The production apparatus must be made compact and less susceptible to work errors to the greatest possible extent.

Apparatus and process for producing dentures having synthetic resin base


Methods and apparatus are provided for a color liquid crystal display (CLCD). The apparatus includes a processor coupled to the CLCD for receiving a character code and a color code and translating them into character and color pixel arrays that are overlaid and summed to produce a composite pixel array corresponding to the CLCD pixel array, where each entry in the composite array is used in conjunction with a color table to establish drive levels for each pixel in the CLCD. The character pixel array includes gray level color mixing and the color pixel array includes spatial shading color mixing, so that the composite array uses both techniques to determine the individual CLCD pixel drive levels to provide a wider range of color choices without significant color dependence on viewing angle.

Liquid crystal displays able to show alphanumeric and/or graphical information in various colors are well known in the art. Such liquid crystal color displays are used in avionics, computers, telephones, medical imaging, vehicles, and various other applications. In many cases the displayed colors may convey functional information. For example, and not intended to be limiting, text, numbers, and/or symbols, or a combination thereof may signify a substantially 'safe' condition when presented in green, a 'caution' condition when presented in yellow or amber, and a potential 'danger' condition when presented in red. In such instances, the color of the image is intended to convey information to the user, in addition to or as a supplement to the information provided by the content of the image. Thus, color fidelity including color fidelity as a function of viewing angle or other factors, can be important. For example, if the color perceived by the viewer changes depending upon, for example, viewing angle, or the image contrast or luminance, this can potentially lead to mistaken interpretation of the displayed information. In addition, various users desire that the colors presented conform to particular standards. Thus, having a large number of color choices may also be important.
While present day color liquid crystal displays are very useful they do suffer certain drawbacks. For example, the viewing angle over which color fidelity is reasonably preserved may be undesirably narrow, and/or the absolute color provided by the display can vary depending upon the drive intensity, and/or the number of possible colors that can be displayed may be undesirably limited, and/or the display brightness may be weak and insufficient to permit easy viewing in sunlight or other bright light conditions, and so forth. Further, color fidelity, color choice, luminance or brightness, viewing angle, and other properties often mutually interact so that prior art approaches for improving one property may cause degradation in another property.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved color generation apparatus and method for color liquid crystal displays, especially for displays suitable for use in avionics systems. In addition there is an ongoing need to provide a display and method of driving the display that maximizes the number of available color choices and useful viewing angles, without significantly detracting from the display brightness and life. 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.

Liquid crystal color display system and method


A method for providing service trigger management in a wireless network is provided. The method includes generating at an application of a mobile unit a current request for a network session. Allowability of the session is determined based on a service agreement without accessing external resources.

The communications industry is a rapidly growing industry that affects almost every other major industry. Because of the field's rapid growth, the management of communication systems has become more difficult as the systems have become increasingly larger and more complex. Modern communication systems include wireless devices that are capable of attempting to initiate network sessions through serving nodes that couple the wireless devices to a network. Because of this, the serving nodes must be capable of monitoring the wireless device's communication in order to provide the appropriate network sessions in accordance with the user's service level agreement with the network service provider.
Traditional methods for providing the appropriate network sessions require the serving node to process payload data in every packet from a wireless device that is destined for the network in order to verify proper session activity for the user. For example, if a user attempts to access a particular web-site, the serving node retrieves this information from the packet sent by the wireless device. The serving node then checks the user's agreement with the network service provider to determine whether the user is allowed access to the requested web-site. If the user is allowed access, the serving node transmits the packet to the network for further processing. If the user is not allowed access, the serving node may inform the user that access is denied or may request additional information from the user which may allow access.
Therefore, in order to accurately provide service to each user in this way, the serving node has to hold and inspect every packet from the wireless device, check the contents of the payload data against conditions for the user, and take appropriate action in response to the results. Providing service in this manner places a large burden on the resources of the serving node.

Method and system for providing service trigger management in a wireless network


Interbody spinal fusion implants being at least in part radially expandable at one of the leading or trailing ends to expand both the height and at least a portion of the width of the implant, and instruments and methods for inserting the implants into an implantation space in the spine are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to interbody spinal implants, and instruments and methods for inserting interbody spinal implants into an implantation space in the spine, and in particular to an expandable interbody (for placement at least in part between adjacent vertebral bodies in the space previously occupied by disc material) spinal fusion implants for the immobilization of adjacent vertebrae.
2. Description of the Related Art
Expandable spinal fusion implants have height raising capabilities that are utilized once the implant is initially positioned. Such height raising capability may be utilized within the spine anteriorly, posteriorly, or both and to various extents, respectively to raise the front or back of the implant. More particularly, such implants have upper and lower surfaces of upper and lower portions that in an insertion position are collapsed relative to one another and in a deployed position are spaced further away from one another than in the collapsed position.
Expandable fusion implants offer the advantage of allowing for the placement of a potentially larger implant through a smaller opening in a patient's body. The first expandable spinal fusion (allowing for the growth of bone from vertebral body to vertebral body through the implant) implant was invented by Michelson and also is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,199, filed Jun. 28, 1988, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Expandable interbody spinal fusion implants preferably may be inserted from an anterior approach to the spine, an approach posterior to the vertebral transverse processes, or to either side of the spinal midline in pairs. Such expandable implants are adapted to increase in height at their leading ends or at their trailing ends from a collapsed state to an expanded state for the purpose of increasing spinal lordosis at that interspace. During installation of expandable interbody spinal fusion implants, it is desirable that the surgeon have the ability to precisely control the implant with the appropriate instruments and methods to load the implant with appropriate bone growth promoting material, to insert the implant into the implantation space, to deploy the implant to a final expanded state, and to further load the implant with bone growth material if so desired.
Also known in the art are expandable interbody spinal fusion implants that are circumferentially expandable at one of their leading or trailing ends to expand both the height and the width of the implant. Such implants have an expansion mechanism that is moved from the trailing end through the interior of the implant to reach the leading end to expand the implant. Any bone growth material present within the interior of the implant would be forced out of the interior of the implant by the expansion mechanism passing therethrough. Accordingly, such implants cannot be effectively preloaded with bone growth promoting material prior to expansion of the implant.
There exists a need for a circumferentially expanding implant that is substantially hollow and substantially devoid of any elaborate or substantial space occupying expansion mechanism to permit preloading of the implant with bone growth promoting material prior to expansion of the implant. The expansion mechanism would not interfere with the capacity to compressively load osteogenic material such as bone or any other suitable material through the length of the implant and to have it extrude from the implant. The extrusion of the osteogenic material from the implant provides an increased volume of osteogenic material over a greater surface area of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space to be fused and beyond the surface area of contact of the implant to the vertebral bodies themselves. Surrounding the implant itself with additional fusion promoting substances in contact with the adjacent vertebral bodies may enhance the fusion process.
There also exists a need for instruments and methods for use with expandable interbody spinal fusion implants providing for all of the aforementioned needs individually or in combination.

Radially expanding interbody spinal fusion implants, instrumentation, and method of insertion


The invention provides a silicon controlled rectifier having an anode and a cathode and including an NPN transistor and a PNP transistor. The NPN transistor has an emitter coupled to the cathode, a base and a collector. The PNP transistor has a base coupled to the NPN collector, an emitter coupled to the anode, a first collector coupled to the NPN base and a second collector coupled to the NPN collector.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to semiconductor switching devices and in particular to an improved reverse blocking triode thyristor, commonly known as a silicon controlled rectifier or SCR. The invention provides a new SCR with improved operational characteristics.
2. Related Art
Thyristors are solid state switches which may be triggered from an open circuit or high impedance state to a short circuit or low impedance state. A thyristor has four electrical control terminals, including an anode gate, a cathode gate, an anode and a cathode. In practice, typically only one of the gates is used with the anode and the cathode. When a thyristor is fabricated as part of an integrated circuit, the thyristor may include a fifth electrical terminal, the substrate. Prior to triggering, a thyristor acts as an open circuit, capable of withstanding a specified, rated voltage applied across the anode and cathode. After triggering, a thyristor provides a low-impedance current path between the anode and cathode and remains in that condition until the current flow stops or is reduced below a predetermined threshold level called the holding current. The magnitude of the holding current may be adjusted using additional circuit elements external to the thyristor. Triggering occurs by supplying current to the gate. Once the thyristor is triggered, the gate current may be removed and the thyristor will remain triggered.
"Thyristor" is a generic term which includes different specific types of devices. One type of thyristor is a reverse blocking triode thyristor, commonly called a silicon controlled rectifier or SCR. An SCR is a unidirectional device, conducting load current in only one direction. Another type of thyristor is a bidirectional triode thyristor, commonly known as a triac. A triac is a bidirectional device, conducting current in either direction in response to the gating or trigger current.
Structurally, a thyristor consists of several alternating layers or regions of doped semiconductor material forming multiple p-n junctions. For example, a thyristor is commonly made of silicon which has been doped n-type or p-type. A load is coupled to the anode and cathode, across the multiple junctions. The trigger current is applied to one of the junctions. The trigger current allows the load current to flow through the device, setting up a regenerative action which keeps the current flowing, even after the trigger current is removed.
For analysis and characterization, the thyristor is modelled as two bipolar transistors. In the model, a PNP transistor has its emitter coupled to the anode and an NPN transistor has its emitter coupled to the cathode. The base of the PNP transistor is modelled as being coupled to the collector of the NPN transistor, and the collector of the PNP transistor is modelled as being coupled to the base of the NPN transistor. However, the n-type region which forms the PNP base is the same n-type region which forms the NPN collector. Similarly, the p-type region which forms the NPN collector is the same p-type region which forms the NPN base. Modelling the thyristor as two transistors allows simpler analysis of the device.
Many thyristors, including SCRs, are used as discrete devices with gate (either anode gate or cathode gate), anode and cathode terminals in electrical contact with their respective p-type or n-type regions. In theory, both gates of the SCR may be used, but in practice, usually only one gate is used for controlling the SCR operation. The terminals may be electrically wired with other system components. Such thyristors are made by forming individual layers on the surface of a semiconductor wafer and doping the respective layers accordingly. Current flow in such thyristors essentially vertical, from layer to layer between the anode and cathode.
Other thyristors are made for use in an integrated circuit in conjunction with active and passive devices formed on the surface of the same semiconductor wafer. Such integrated circuits implement digital or analog functions, or both. The manufacturing process for producing such integrated circuits is typically optimized for production of NPN transistors. NPN transistors produced according to the process have well-controlled, nearly ideal operational parameters. Other devices have parameters which vary greatly from the ideal or which display a wide tolerance.
In many integrated circuit fabrication processes, PNP transistors display less than ideal operational characteristics. For example, in a lateral PNP transistor, the width of the base region is defined by the spacing of the p-type regions which form the collector and emitter of the transistor. This spacing is set by photolithographic considerations, and is much greater than the base width of a vertically oriented NPN transistor, which is set by diffusion or implant of the n+ emitter region into the p-type base. Base width is a key characteristic for a bipolar transistor. The common emitter current gain, or .beta., of the transistor is a strong function of base width. PNP transistors, including lateral PNP transistors, suffer from other operational limitations.
One known operational limitation associated with lateral PNP transistors is injection of current into the semiconductor substrate on which the transistor is fabricated. The substrate has a relatively high resistivity and is commonly electrically tied to the most negative potential in the circuit. Typically, the PNP transistor is surrounded with an isolation region doped p-type. The isolation region is electrically coupled to the most negative potential in the circuit to reverse bias the p-n diode formed between the p-type isolation region and adjacent n-type regions. The isolation region thereby electrically isolates the PNP transistor from the surrounding circuit. However, the isolation region operates as an additional, parasitic, collector for the PNP transistor, collecting charge emitted from the emitter and injecting that charge into the substrate.
Injection of current into the substrate is problematical for several reasons. A large portion of the PNP transistor emitter current is diverted from the true collector to the parasitic collector. As much as seventy percent of emitter current is lost into the substrate. Injection of charge into the substrate, combined with the relativity high resistivity of the substrate, may cause the potential of portions of the substrate to deviate substantially from the most negative potential in the circuit. This could cause the normally reverse biased isolation junctions to become forward biased, injecting further current into the substrate, further raising the potential of the substrate. This may result in an uncontrollable condition similar to latch up and may cause permanent destruction of the device.
Another problem created by injection of current into the substrate is diversion of this current from the circuit. If the cathode current of a thyristor is only, say, thirty percent of the anode current because the other seventy percent is substrate current, operation of the circuit which includes the thyristor may be affected. The current may be used to set other voltage levels or to trigger other devices which will not operate properly at the reduced current level.
Moreover, the magnitude of the substrate current is difficult to predict, control or compensate. Substrate current is strongly dependent on operating temperature of the circuit, which may vary widely under differing conditions. Also, substrate current is strongly dependent on manufacturing process parameters, which may vary greatly from circuit to circuit.

Silicon controlled rectifier with reduced substrate current