A method of managing processing resources in a mobile radio system, in which a first entity manages radio resources and corresponding processing resources, the latter being provided in a second entity separate from the first entity, in which method:

The CDMA technique is used in third generation systems such as the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS).
As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile radio network generally includes a set of base stations and base station controllers. In the UMTS, this network is called the UMTS terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN), a base station is called a Node B. and a base station controller is called a radio network controller (RNC).
The UTRAN communicates both with mobile stations, which are called user equipments (UE), via a Uu interface, and with a core network (CN) via an Iu interface.
As shown in FIG. 1, the RNCs are connected:                to the Node B via an Iub interface,        to each other via an Iur interface, and        to the core network CN via an Iu interface.
The RNC that controls a given Node B is called the controlling radio network controller (CRNC) and the CRNC is therefore connected to the Node B via the Iub interface. The CRNC has a load control function and a radio resource allocation control function for the Node B that it controls.
The RNC for a given call relating to a given user equipment UE is called the serving radio network controller (SRNC) and is connected to the core network CN via the Iu interface. The SRNC has a control function for the call concerned, including functions of adding or removing radio links (in accordance with the macrodiversity transmission technique) and monitoring parameters that may change during a call, such as bit rate, power, spreading factor, etc.
In CDMA systems radio interface capacity limitations are fundamentally different from those of systems using other multiple access techniques, such as the time division multiple access (TDMA) technique. The TDMA technique is used in second generation systems such as the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM). In CDMA systems, all users share the same frequency resource at all times. The capacity of these systems is therefore limited by interference, and for this reason these systems are known as soft limited systems.
This is why CDMA systems use algorithms, such as load control algorithms which prevent, detect and if appropriate correct overloads, in order to prevent quality being degraded, and call admission control algorithms which decide if the capacity of a cell not being used at a given time is sufficient to accept a new call in that cell (as a function of various parameters such as the service required for that call, etc.). In the following description these algorithms are referred to generically as load control algorithms.
These algorithms usually use only radio criteria and are usually implemented in the CRNC, which has no information about the processing capacity of each Node B that it controls. This being the case, it is possible for a new call to be accepted by the CRNC but in the end to be rejected for want of Node B processing resources, for example, which leads to unnecessary additional processing in the CRNC and additional exchanges of signaling between the CRNC and the Node B.
Of course, it would be possible to avoid these problems by providing the Node B with sufficient processing resources to cover all situations, including that of maximum capacity (corresponding to the case of a very low level of interference). But this would lead to costly base stations which would have more capacity than necessary most of the time. In addition, in the case of progressive introduction of the services offered by these systems, the processing capacity of the base stations may be limited when the systems begin to be put into service, and then progressively increased afterwards.
It would therefore be desirable for load control in this kind of system to allow for the base station (Node B) processing capacity.
FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively show the main sending and receiving processing operations used in a base station, such as a Node B in the UMTS, for example.
FIG. 2 shows a sender 1 including:                channel coder means 2,        spreader means 3, and        radio frequency transmitter means 4.
The various processing operations are familiar to the person skilled in the art and do not need to be described in detail here.
Channel coding uses techniques such as error corrector coding and interleaving to protect against transmission errors. This is known in the art.
Coding (such as error corrector coding) introduces redundancy into the information sent. The coding rate is defined as the ratio of the number of information bits to be sent to the total number of bits sent or coded. Various levels of quality of service can be obtained using different types of error corrector code. For example, in the UMTS, a first type of error corrector code used for a first type of traffic (such as high bit rate data) is a turbo code and a second type of error corrector code used for a second type of traffic (such as voice or data at a lower bit rate) is a convolutional code.
Channel coding usually also includes bit rate adaptation to match the bit rate to be sent to the bit rate offered for sending it. Bit rate adaptation can include techniques such as repetition and/or puncturing, the bit rate adaptation rate being then defined as the repetition rate and/or puncturing rate.
The raw bit rate is defined as the bit rate actually passing over the radio interface. The net bit rate is the bit rate obtained after deducting from the raw bit rate everything that is not useful to the user, in particular redundant bits introduced by coding.
Spreading uses the well known principles of spectrum spreading. The length of the spreading code used is called the spreading factor.
In a system such as the UMTS in particular, the net bit rate also referred to hereinafter simply as the "bit rate") can vary during a call and the spreading factor can vary as a function of the bit rate to be sent.
FIG. 3 shows a receiver 5 including:                radio frequency receiver means 6, and        received data estimator means 7, including despreader means 8 and channel decoder means 9.
The above processing operations are also familiar to the person skilled in the art and therefore do not need to be described in detail here.
FIG. 3 shows one example of the processing that can be carried out in the despreader means 8. Here the processing corresponds to that used in a Rake receiver to improve the quality of received data estimation by exploiting multipath phenomena, i.e. propagation of the same source signal along multiple paths, due in particular to multiple reflections from objects in the environment. In CDMA systems, unlike TDMA systems in particular, the multipath phenomenon can be used to improve the quality of received data estimation.
A Rake receiver includes a set of L fingers 101 to 10L and combiner means for combining signals from the various fingers. Each finger despreads the signal received over one of the various paths determined by estimator means 12 for estimating the impulse response of the transmission channel. The combiner means 11 combine the despread signals corresponding to the respective paths using a processing operation for optimizing the quality of received data estimation.
The technique of reception using a Rake receiver is also used in conjunction with the macrodiversity transmission technique, whereby the same source signal is sent simultaneously to the same mobile station by a plurality of base stations. The macrodiversity transmission technique not only improves reception performance, through using a Rake receiver, but also minimizes the risk of call loss in the event of a handover. For this reason it is also known as soft handover, as opposed to the hard handover technique whereby a mobile station is connected to only one base station at any given time.
The received data estimator means can also use various techniques for reducing interference, for example the multi-user detection technique.
A plurality of receive antennas can also be used. The received data estimator means then further include combiner means for combining signals obtained from the receive antennas, again in such a manner as to optimize the quality of received data estimation.
Channel decoding includes functions such as de-interleaving and error corrector decoding. Error corrector decoding is generally much more complex than error corrector coding, and can use techniques such as maximum likelihood decoding. A Viterbi algorithm can be used for convolutional codes, for example.
To be able to process several users simultaneously, a Node B includes a set of senders and receivers, such as the sender and the receiver referred to above. Thus a Node B requires a high processing capacity, in particular in the receiver, for received data estimation
As previously indicated, it is therefore desirable if load control in a system such as the UMTS, for example takes account of the base station Processing capacity.
In the case of the UMTS, the document 3G -TS 25.433 published by the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) provides for the Node B to signal to the CRNC its overall processing capacity (called its capacity credit) and the amount of that capacity credit (called the cost) for each value of the spreading factor SF available in the system. The total cost for the available spreading factors is called the capacity consumption law. A rode B signals this information to the CRNC each time that the processing capacity of the Node B changes, by means of a "Resource Status Indication" message, or in response to a request from the CRNC, by means of an "Audit Response" message.
The CRNC then updates the remaining credit, on the basis of the consumption law, in particular, in the UMTS:                for the dedicated channels, during the radio link set-up radio, link addition, radio link deletion and radio link reconfiguration procedures defined in the document 3G TS 25.433 published by the 3GPP, and        for the common channels, during the common transport channel set-up, common transport channel deletion and common transport channel reconfiguration procedures defined in the document 3G TS 25.433 published by the 3GPP.
The above procedures are called Node E Application Part (NBAP) procedures and the corresponding signaling messages are called NBAP messages.
Two different consumption laws are defined in the 3G TS 25.433 standard, one for the dedicated channels and one for the common channels. A dedicated channel is a channel assigned to a given user and a common channel is a channel shared between several users. For example, the UMTS includes a dedicated channel (DCH) and common channels including a random access channel (RACH), forward access channel (FACH), common packet channel (CPCH), downlink shared channel (DSCH), etc.
The applicant has noticed that the credit mechanism described in the current version of the 3G TS 25.433 standard still causes problems.
A first problem is that no account is taken of the specific nature of the DSCH.
Although the DSCH is in fact a common channel, it is always associated with a dedicated channel DCH, and set-up, deletion and reconfiguration procedures concerning the DSCH simultaneously concern the DCH. For example, for a radio link set-up operation, either one or two operations can be effected: one operation for the DCH and, if a DSCH is associated with the DCH, one operation for the DSCH.
Accordingly, even though the DSCH is a common channel, to simplify the capacity credit updating operations, it would be more logical for this channel to be taken into account in the consumption law for the dedicated channels.
However, the allocation cost for the dedicated channels is different according to whether the radio link concerned is a first radio link or not (the latter situation applies if the UE has more than one radio link in the same Node B, i.e. if the UE is in a soft handover situation with that Node B). Accordingly the 3G TS 25.433 standard specifies two costs that are taken into account for a first radio link, namely a Radio Link cost (RL cost) and a Radio Link Set cost (RLS cost); for an additional radio link, only the RL cost is taken into account.
The soft handover or softer handover technique is generally not used for the common channels, and in particular for the DSCH. The DSCH therefore gives rise to particular problems with applying the credit mechanism, which require a solution.

Method of managing processing resources in a mobile radio system

Abstract: the second entity signals to the first entity its global processing capacity, or capacity credit, and the consumption law, or amount of said global processing capacity, or cost, for different spreading factor values,

Abstract: the first entity updates the capacity credit on the basis of the consumption law, and

Abstract: in the case of variable spreading factor and/or variable number of spreading codes, said updating is effected on the basis of a reference spreading factor and/or a reference number of spreading codes.


A resist processing system comprising a resist processing chamber 11, an air filter 14 and an air intake unit 15 for introducing air into the processing chamber 11 through the air filter 14, the air filter 14 having a housing 18 and a diffusion scrubber 19 separating a first space and a second space within the housing 18, the first space having a liquid inlet port 21A and a liquid outlet port 21B for passing a liquid therethrough, the second space having an air inlet port 20A and an air outlet port 20B for passing the air from the air intake unit therethrough.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resist processing system and, more particularly, to an air filter of a resist processing system for forming a resist film pattern for use in etching or ion implantation process.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Higher integration and operational speed of semiconductor devices are resulting from advance of higher resolution of optical lithography. Conventionally, g-line lithography in 0.436 nm wavelength is used for semiconductor devices in design rule more than 0.5 .mu.m, and i-line lithography in 0.365 .mu.m wavelength is used for semiconductor devices in design rules between 0.5.about.0.35 .mu.m. KrF excimar laser lithography in 0.248 .mu.m wavelength is used for semiconductor devices in their design rules in 0.30.about.0.20 .mu.m.
A positive type resist such as Novolak resin and Naphthoquinonediazide (NQD) compound are widely used for i-line and g-line lithography. The positive type resist is, however, not applicable for KrF excimar laser lithography because the light absorption rate of Novolak resin is too large against KrF excimar laser having 248 nm wavelength. Resist sidewall will not be formed in a vertical profile and a low illumination of KrF excimar laser requires a resist having a higher sensitivity than conventional resists.
In view of the above, chemically amplified resists are developed for KrF excimar laser lithography. The chemically amplified resist comprises a base resin, an acid generator for generating acid during exposure thereof, and a compound having a reactive radical exhibiting variable dissolution in developer solvent depending on acidity. As a base resin, a phenol-based resin is mainly used which has a high penetration rate for KrF excimar laser having 248 nm wavelength. Acid catalyzer in the chemically amplified resist accelerates chemical reactions for higher sensitivity suitable for a smaller design rule than conventional resists.
It is known that performance of the chemically amplified resists depends on resist processing environment for forming a pattern. For example, the top portion of resist is often formed in a poor sidewall profile such as T-tops when a positive type chemically amplified resist is used because function of the acid catalyzer is impaired by airborne acid contaminants to retard dissolution of the top of the resist.
In an extreme case, adjacent patterns are often bridged together resulting in difficulty in etching the underlying layer.
Patent Publication No. JP-A-06 (1994)-208947 describes that an air filter comprising acid substances reduces by filtering alkali contaminants in a resist processing environment for using chemically amplified resist. Although this method is effective for removing alkali contaminants, replacement of the air filter is required, which lowers productivity of the semiconductor fabrication and causes cost increase. In addition, timing of the air filter replacement is difficult to determine unless processing environment is monitored by an expensive monitor.
Patent Publication No. JP-A-07 (1995)-142312 describes a neutralization reaction chamber wherein airborne alkali contaminants are filtered by either acid gas or acid solution. Although this method may also be effective for neutralizing airborne alkali contaminants, it is difficult to obtain an accurate neutral condition because acidity in the processing environment fluctuates depending on airborne alkali levels.
For example, if the concentration of the acid gas is adjusted to a high level of airborne alkali, the acidity in the processing environment becomes higher when airborne alkalinity is lower. Under this condition, the resist film will be thin in the case of a positive type resist, T-tops sidewall profile will be formed in the case of a negative type resist. A similar problem will arise in a method using the acid solution.
A known air purification equipment comprises an air filter having a combination of a wet scrubber and a dry filter. The wet scrubber uses a water sprinkler for sprinkling water from the top thereof for air purification. This method is targeted at the removal of sodium (Na) and may be used for removal of alkali contaminants. The increase of humidity within the processing environment, however, causes a problem. After alkali contaminants are neutralized, a drying process is required to control the humidity of the processing environment by using a dryer, which causes to make the air filter apparatus larger and equipment cost higher.
As described above, conventional techniques do not provide a long life, simple means for removing airborne alkali contaminants.


A conveyor, which has an area in its conveyor line and for adjusting intervals between articles, includes (1) a plurality of zones constituting the area and each having at least one driving motor and an article sensor, (2) structure for measuring either an interval between adjacent articles in the conveying direction or a difference of time points when adjacent articles in the conveying direction pass the sensor, and (3) a motor controller for each of the zones and for varying a rotational speed of the driving motor. When the measuring structure measures either the interval or the difference upon reception of signals from the sensor, the motor controller either accelerates or slows down the rotational speed of the driving motor in a zone where the article is placed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a conveyor and a conveyor controller capable of conveying articles and adjusting intervals between the articles at substantially regular intervals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, conveyors for conveying articles include a roller conveyor having cylindrical rollers for conveyance arranged on a conveyor line and a belt conveyor having a looped belt for conveyance. Generally, such conveyors are often used to convey articles of a plurality of kinds of sizes and shapes.
However, the conventional conveyors have had a difficulty in efficiently sorting such articles being of a plurality of kinds of sizes and shapes. Articles being conveyed on a conveyor line in a conveyor often have irregular intervals, being largely-spaced or narrowly-spaced for example, in a conveying direction. That results in a difficulty in surely sorting a number of articles without lowering conveying efficiency on a conveyor line.
A patent document 1 specified below discloses a conveyor including a first and a second conveyors arranged on a conveyor line and using a conveyor belt for controlling substantially regular intervals between articles.    Patent Document 1: JP 10-324418 A


A symmetric dual-slot data hash method and a switching apparatus using the same having a first block and a second block of equal size for storing MAC addresses. The size of the dual-slot address table is p×2m with m is an integer, and p is 2 or a prime. The hash address comprises a higher address portion and a lower address portion. A CRC hash operation is performed to the MAC address by using the m-bit CRC function to obtain a hash value. Next, the highest bit of the hash value is removed and the remained bits are used as the lower address portion of the hash address. A dividend is set according to the m-th bit of the MAC address. After the dividend is divided by a divisor p to obtain a remainder, the remainder is set as a higher address portion of the hash address.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a data hash method and a network switching apparatus using the same. More particularly, the invention provides a symmetric dual-slot data hash method and a network switching apparatus using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
To access the internet, a hardware interface responsible for tranceiving is required. In general, except the home users usually use modems to access the internet, other network systems are connected to each other by network cards. For example, many personal computers (PC) are connected to servers through the network cards, and then connected to the network through the servers. Therefore, the network card is a media, through which the PCs can be connected to the network.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram that two PCs are connected via the network. As shown, the PC 130 and the PC 150 are connected by the network 100, i.e. the two PCs can communicate to each other to transfer data. Due to the limited bandwidth, prior to transmitting data, the data is divided into many small packets to facilitate data transmission. In each packet, a media access control (MAC) address of the PC is recorded for telling where the packet is transmitted from and where the packet is transmitted to in order to prevent the packet lost. Simply speaking, each network card in each PC records the MAC address of the PC, which is like an address number (the MAC address). When the data is transmitted through the network, the packets can be continuously transmitted to the correct destination according to the specified MAC address, such that the data can be surely transmitted.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a packet. The packet 200 stores information of MAC address 210. In general, the MAC address information 210 contains a source MAC (SMAC) address 210a and a destination MAC (DMAC) 210b address, according to which the data transmission can be executed. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, if the PC 130 is at a port 13 and intends to transmit data to the PC 150 at a port 15 through the network 100, the PC 130 divides the data into a plurality of packets 200. In each packet 200, the MAC address information 210 shows that the SMAC address 210b is 130 (the source of the packet is the PC 130) and the DMAC address 210a is 150 (the destination of the packet is the PC 150). Then, a network switching device looks up an address table (not shown) according to the DMAC address 210a to know that the PC 150 is at the port 15, thereby the packet 200 is transmitted to the PC 150. As described above, prior to the data transmission, the address information of a remote PC must be found by referring to the address table. The network switching device has a memory to store such an address table for storing a plurality of MAC addresses to facilitate data transmission.
FIG. 3A shows a structure of an address table allocated in the memory. In the memory of each switching device, a particular memory area is allocated for the address table for storing the MAC address information of computers on the network. Because the address table 310 occupies a certain region of the memory 300, the size can be varied according to different demands, for example 4K or 8K etc. Taking a 4K address table as an example, the memory 300 can allocate 4K addresses (0 to 4K−1) to the address table 310 for storing the MAC address information. Therefore, the address table 310 has 4K entries for storing 4K different MAC address information respectively. For example, address 0 corresponds to the entry 0, address 1 corresponds to the entry 1, . . . , and address 4K−1 corresponds to the entry 4K−1. Namely, in the memory 300, the 4K entries correspond to 4K addresses 0 to 4K−1, respectively.
FIG. 3B shows a method for accessing the address table in FIG. 3A. Prior to writing a SMAC address to an entry, a CRC hash operation is performed to obtain a hash value. Next, find an address in the address table 310 according to the hash value, to store the SMAC address information. In order to map that the hash values to the 4K addresses, a 12-bit CRC hash operation is performed so that the obtained hash value has also 12 bits. According to the various hash values, 4K addresses can be mapped onto correspondingly. In practice, the SMAC address with 48 bits is used for calculating the hash value, and then the SMAC address information and the source port information are written to the corresponding entry to facilitate the table look-up.
For example, assume that a PC A is at port 5 and its SMAC address is A, a PC B is at port 7 and its SMAC address is B. After the PC A and the PC B are connected through the switching device, the switching device calculates a hash value for the SMAC address (A) of the PC A according to the CRC hash operation, for example, the hash value is 20. Afterwards, the switching device writes the SMAC address information of the PC A (A) and the source port (5) to the entry 20 of the address table. When the PC A intends to transmit a packet with SMAC=A and DMAC=B to the PC B, the switching device performs the CRC hash operation to the DMAC address (B) to obtain a hash value, for example 35. Then, an entry 35 is found according to the hash value 35, in which the source port (7) of the PC B has already been recorded. Accordingly, the packet can be transmitted to the port 7 to complete the packet transmission. It should be noticed that the hash values calculated from various 48-bits SMAC addresses by the 12 bit CRC hash operation are not one-to-one correspondence for those SMAC addresses. Namely, after the CRC hash operation, a 48 bit data is reduced to an expression of 12 bit hash value, which means that some information in the 48 bits disappear. Therefore, it is highly possible that two SMAC addresses may have the same hash value after the CRC hash operation. However, because each address in the address table can only store one MAC address information, one of the MAC addresses may be abandoned if two SMAC addresses have the same hash value, thereby causing data lost. To compensate the drawback, the conventional method makes the 4K addresses in the memory correspond to 2K buckets, which will be described in the following paragraph.
FIG. 4A shows a structure of a conventional dual-slot address table. Taking a 4K address table as an example, the 4K addresses (0 to 4K−1) are assigned to an address table 410. In the design, each entry has two slots: slot 0 and slot 1. Namely, 2K buckets can store 4K address data. It should be noticed that the address table 410 is a symmetric dual-slot address table because the address table 410 is composed of two slots having equal size. FIG. 4B shows a method for writing to the address table in FIG. 4A. As shown, after a SMAC address is operated by the CRC hash operation, the obtained hash value is 1K such that the address data is written to the entry 1K of the address table. However, there are tow slots corresponding to the hash value 1K, the address data is priorly written to the slot 0, rather than the slot 1. If there is another MAC address of the network card has the same hash vale of 1K after the 11 bit CRC hash operation, the later MAC address will be written to the slot 1 also corresponding to the hash value of 1K. Accordingly, the later MAC address data will not be lost. In short, when the MAC address is written to the corresponding slot, the slot 0 is first used for writing. If the slot 0 has stored data, then the data will be written to the slot 1. The advantage of this method is that even if two different SMAC addresses have the same hash value after the CRC hash operation, the two SMAC addresses can still be written to the same entry but different slots, thereby the address data will not be lost.
On the other hand, during the packet transmission, in order to ensure that the packet can be properly transmitted to the remote computer, the port number for the remote computer can be obtained according to the records of the DMAC address in the packet while the packet is transmitting . The method has been discussed above, and their details are omitted here. A hash value corresponding to the DMAC address can be found by performing the CRC hash operation. Under the dual-slot configuration, an address information corresponding to the hash value is first found in the address table, and the SMAC address information in the slot 0 corresponding the address is read to determine whether the DMAC and the SMAC addresses are matched. If matched, it means that the recorded source port in slot 0 is the destination of the packet, by which the packet can be transmitted. If not matched, the SMAC address information in the slot 1 corresponding the address is further read to determine whether the DMAC and the SMAC addresses are matched. If matched, it means that the recorded source port in slot 1 is the destination of the packet, by which the packet can be transmitted. However, if the SMAC addresses in the slot 0 and the slot 1 corresponding to the same hash value are not consistent to the DMAC address, the packet is then sent by the broadcast. It should be noticed that the read SMAC address information is not the whole 48 bits SMAC address, but only the significant bits of the SMAC address and the source port. For example, currently, the higher 37 bits (the MAC tag) in the SMAC address are stored, and the lower 11 bits in the SMAC address are not stored. The hash operation will not create that two different MAC addresses have the same hash value and the same MAC tag (MAC[47:11]), but different MAC[10:0]. To retrieve the SMAC address, the hash value and the MAC tag in the slot are operated. However, this mathematical operation is not the points of the invention, which is omitted here.
As described above, in order to prevent from losing one of the SMAC addresses having the same hash value, the address table can be divided into two parts to form two corresponding slots for each entry, so each entry in the address table corresponds to two slots. Therefore, two different MAC addresses having the same hash value are written to the slot 0 and the slot 1 respectively to prevent the data from lost. In addition, because the addresses of the address table correspond to the hash values and the range of the hash values is determined by the bit number of the CRC function, the size of the address table has to be power of 2, such as 2K, 4K, 8K, 16K, if the size of the address table is based on the unit of 1K (210). Accordingly, the size of the address table cannot be adjusted very flexible. In other word, the foregoing method cannot support an address table having a size of an integer multiple of 2. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,900, it provides a Hash-based translation method and apparatus with multiple level collision resolution. The conversion method uses a programmable hash technology of an input value to generate a hash value. If a collision occurs in a resolution table, a new resolution table is generated. This procedure is repeatedly performed until all input values are converted. However, this method is too complicated to be implemented by hardware .
In summary, the access method for conventional address table cannot support all the address table having a size of the integer multiple of 2, such as 6K, 10K. In addition, the memory in the switching device cannot be assigned flexibly.

Symmetric dual-slot data hash method and network switching apparatus using same


A disk drive preamplifier (preamp) includes a write driver that has two pairs of programmable bypass current sources not connected to the write current source to compensate for the inherent magnetic asymmetry of the write head. One pair of the programmable bypass current sources provides a fixed bypass current in one direction. The other pair provides a fixed bypass current in the opposite direction. Prior to writing, only one of the pairs of bypass current sources is selected and programmed with the correct value of bypass current. When the write driver generates the positive and negative write current pulses during writing the selected bypass current sources provide a fixed offset to the amplitude of the write current pulses.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to magnetic recording hard disk drives (HDDs), and more particularly to an HDD read amplifier/write driver integrated circuit that compensates for write head asymmetry.
2. Description of the Related Art
HDDs typically include a main integrated circuit, which is typically a system-on-a-chip (SOC) that contains many of the electronics and firmware for the HDD. The SOC is connected by a transmission line on a flex cable to the HDD's read amplifier/write driver (preamp), which is typically implemented as an integrated circuit. The preamp is typically located on the actuator that moves the read/write heads to the selected data tracks on the disks. The data to be written by the write head is sent from the SOC to the preamp, where the write driver generates analog positive and negative write current pulses that are applied to the inductive coil in the write head to write data by selectively magnetizing the magnetic media of the recording layer on the disk. The data read back from the disk by the read head is transmitted from the preamp to the SOC.
The write head will typically have inherent magnetic asymmetry, meaning that even if the positive and negative write current pulses are perfectly symmetric the magnetic fields applied to the disk will not be properly shaped. This will cause an asymmetric waveform when the data is read back, resulting in soft errors in the readback data. The inherent magnetic asymmetry of the write head is caused by variations in the manufacturing process, which results in variations in the shape of the write head.
To compensate for the inherent magnetic asymmetry of the write head, a higher write current or a variable overshoot current and/or variable overshoot current duration are required to generate an asymmetric write current waveform. The write current waveform has several parameters that can be controlled in the HDD by settings in the preamp. These waveform parameters include write current amplitude, write current rise and fall times, write overshoot current amplitude and write overshoot current duration. The write driver circuit in the preamp has dynamic switches to turn on these parameters with precision. U.S. Pat. No. 8,687,311 B2 describes a preamp that can adjust various parameters of the write current to alter the shape of the write current waveform to compensate for write head magnetic asymmetry.
However, to create an asymmetric write current waveform, these write parameters need to have high-speed asymmetric circuit current sources for each write parameter for high-speed writing. Although implementation of high-speed asymmetric current sources in the preamp is possible, the amount of circuitry involved to dynamically switch asymmetric write parameters increases the amount of integrated circuit area and slows down the generation of the write driver waveform.
What is needed is a preamp that can compensate for inherent write head magnetic asymmetry without directly altering the write current and thus without the need for high-speed asymmetric circuit current sources for each write parameter.

Hard disk drive preamplifier with write driver having bypass current sources for compensation of write head magnetic asymmetry


The systems and methods described herein relate to providing mattresses with foam that is odor-free. Unpleasant odors can be reduced in foam members by including a source of cyclodextrin during the manufacture of foam. Instead of masking odors with fragrances, the systems and methods described herein reduce odors with the aid of, among other things, a cyclodextrin-water solution. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing an odor-free foam for use in a mattress is provided. The method includes solubilizing cyclodextrin in water to form a cyclodextrin solution, and adding the cyclodextrin solution to a reacting mixture of a polyol and a isocyanate to form an odor-free or reduced-odor foam.

Today, furniture, and particularly bedding, manufacturers have developed sophisticated and reliable techniques for manufacturing high quality and durable mattresses. The industry is capable of providing mattresses that last for over ten years providing comfortable sleeping surfaces for all that time. Many of these mattresses include foam, such as polyurethane foams, either as a component of the mattress or as the principal sleeping surface in foam mattresses.
As the industry strives to continue providing improved quality and reliability, one area that needs to be addressed are problems with odors related to foams. During the manufacture of foam, odors are sometimes produced. These odors are thought to be byproducts of the reaction used to make the foam or as a result of a partially incomplete reaction. For example, unreacted or decomposed amines generated during the manufacture of foam for mattress components (such as innercores, cushioning layers and side walls) remain in the final mattress product. These amines generate unpleasant odors that linger for extended periods of time. As a result mattress manufacturers suffer from numerous consumer returns and complaints.
Mattress manufacturers have addressed this problem by requiring the foam buns and components to cure for a certain period of time, such as 72 hours, and checking the foams for odors after this time period has passed. Then, if these foam products do not have odors, they may be used in mattresses. However, waiting a certain period of time before using foams in products results in production delays. Moreover, these manufacturers have to overcome storage issues arising out of the inexact science of determining whether there is an odor in a foam product. These issues are further amplified by the fact that environmental conditions, particularly in winter when the air is cold and dry, may cause the odors to linger for longer periods of time.
Other manufacturers address this problem by adding fragrances to mattresses to mask the unpleasant odors emanating from foam layers. This approach is disadvantageous not only because of the added cost, but also because the pleasantness or unpleasantness of a particular fragrance is highly subjective and may vary across a population, and over time, fragrances can begin to decrease in intensity and reduce the promised benefits of a fragrant mattress.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art to provide for a foam that is free from odor such that it is ready for use in a mattress soon after the foam is cured.


A novel enhanced needle splitting through-the-needle cannula placement apparatus includes a hinged housing, a scored splittable needle, a needle splitting means and sliding means for facile removal of a needle while leaving the cannula within a body vessel. A method of its use is also taught.

1. Area of the Art
The present invention relates to medical devices and to methods for the administration and withdrawal of fluids from a patient. Particularly, the present invention relates to catheter or cannula placement devices including those which are emplaced by passing the catheter through a hollowed needle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Catheters effective for use within the context of various medical procedures are known, and generally formed from flexible materials to enable their placement in desired locations within patients. Likewise, conventional systems for placing catheters in any number of desired positions generally rely upon needles for ingress into desired vessels.
It has become generally known that insertion of catheters may be accomplished either by coaxially mounting a catheter onto a needle (over-the-needle) or by locating a catheter inside of the lumen of a needle (through-the-needle). Prior art devices of both of these types are subject to numerous pitfalls and constraints which significantly complicate the setting up of an intravenous fluid delivery system.
Prominent among the drawbacks with through-the-needle devices is removal of the needle which is required to place the devices into patients. With a catheter or cannula disposed inside, a cannula having its proximate end housed within a needle is inserted through the skin with the appropriate placement of its tip inside of the desired blood vessel. Withdrawal of the needle leaves the catheter or cannula properly within the vessel.
In order to withdraw apparatus involved in through-the-needle catheter placement, it is important to immediately remove the needle from the assembly to minimize trauma caused to the involved patients. Likewise, known systems require that needles be removed by retracting the same upwardly along the catheter, often causing further injury and trauma to patients. Further, the needles themselves are responsible for numerous cut cannulae or catheters and subsequent loss of the catheter within the body, and have motivated aspects of the teachings of the present invention.
With a catheter located inside of the lumen of the needle, withdrawal of the needle is of prime importance once proper placement has been achieved. It is difficult to remove needles so situated owing to the gross geometrical constraints from the hub at the proximate end of the catheter.
Splitting of needles was first practiced in U.S. Pat. Nos.:
______________________________________ 3,569,658; 3,382,872; 4,100,893; 4,306,652; 4,401,433; 4,449,973; 4,559,04; and 4,610,691. ______________________________________
However, each of these references disclosed rendering the needle splittable by forming the needle in two longitudinal halves, or by effecting longitudinal scoring of the same, and manipulating the entire mechanism in attempts to split the needles.
Additionally, the needles have induced damages to patients and to the intravenous assembly itself have limited the efficacy of these devices. Attempts to overcome these problems have ranged from different types of detachable needle-splitters to techniques for removing the needle assembly from the catheter once situated. Unfortunately, unwanted perforation and shearing of the external portions of catheters remains a major problem.
Prior art through-the-needle catheters and mechanisms have failed to adequately address these issues. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,957,488 and 4,957,489 which both issued to Cameron and Doman on Sep. 18, 1990 and are assigned to CRITIKON, INC., tried to arrest forward motion of a needle in combination with a rapidly deformable catheter cannula. The needle, however, continues to present difficulty on the basis of the its lack of facile extradition from the prior art devices.
Likewise, the present inventor has developed Percutaneous Port Assemblies (U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,217; issued Oct. 29, 1996), Hardened Tip over-the-needle catheters, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,370; which issued Nov. 4, 1997 and Dual Lurnen catheters in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,807 and 5,554,136; the latter of which was issued Sep. 10, 1996 and U.S. Pat. Nos.:
______________________________________ 4,377,165; 4,100,393; 4,254,081; 4,401,433; 4,559,043; 4,610,671; 4,612,170; 4,874,373; 4,950,252; 4,950,256; 4,964,854; 5,098,394; ______________________________________
each of which is patentably distinguishable from the teachings of the present invention.
Accordingly, although advances have been made in catheter introduction and placement technologies, clearly there exists a longstanding desire to innovate novel enhanced ways for permitting needles to be removed without concomitant damages to catheters and tissue. Although various attempts to accomplish the same have employed elaborate and circumlocuted means, it has now been discovered that significant aspects this problem can be eliminated.

Through-the-needle cannula and split needle placement apparatus and method of use


Apparatus, methods, and systems for centrally and uniformly controlling the operation of a variety of devices, such as communication, consumer electronic, audio-video, analog, digital, 1394, and the like, over a variety of protocols within a network system and, more particularly, a control system and uniform user interface for centrally controlling these devices in a manner that appears seamless and transparent to the user. In a one embodiment, the control system will detect the change of state of an audio output sensor coupled to the audio output port.

The United States and other countries are quickly transitioning to digital television (DTV) to take advantage of high definition TV broadcasts. The US, in particular, is slowly moving away from and will ultimately abandon the analog television system. The use of an analog TV will eventually require the addition of set-top-box down-converters to change the digital broadcasts to the lower-performance analog format such TVs were designed to receive.
Digital systems and related standards, e.g., IEEE 1394, provide no way to control conventionally wired, IR signal controlled, analog audio-video (AV) devices (IRC devices), such as analog VCRs, DVD players, cable and satellite boxes, and AV receivers, and does nothing to eliminate the myriad of cables, connectors and remotes necessary to connect and control a mixed analog and digital home theater network system. The interconnection and control of such systems can be quite complex and unwieldy. For example, simply switching from a cable broadcast to playing a movie on a DVD player may involve numerous device specific remote controls and several iterations through the different layers of control on such remotes. Such a task may require the user to switch between video inputs on the TV, switch between layers on a universal TV remote control to power on and play the DVD player, and then, if the user has an AV receiver (AVR), switch between layers on the TV remote and shut down the audio output from the TV and switch to an AVR remote control to power up and output audio through the AVR or, if the AVR is the current audio output device, use the AVR remote control to switch between AVR inputs to output the DVD player's audio from the AVR. Completing such tasks is often fraught with frustration especially when the user is not immediately successful in being able to watch and listen to a movie being played on the DVD player.
The detection of an AVR coupled to the network and the initial set-up or programming of a device specific layer on a universal TV remote is also often fraught with frustration especially when the user is not immediately successful in being able to control the device.
Thus, it is desirous to be able to centrally and seamlessly control a variety of electronic devices over a variety of protocols from a single input device, provide an easy to use user interface (UI) wherein the complexities of the control of such devices is transparent to the user, and automatically detect and configure system control of an AVR coupled to the network.

Control system for network of input devices with automatic audio/video receiver detection and control configuration

Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America, Inc.


A rotor structure for an electrical generator, motor or the like is described which comprises a rotatable generally cylindrically shaped heat pipe defining an internal vapor chamber having an evaporator end and a condenser end, a plurality of radial fins regularly spaced on the periphery of the heat pipe, each fin defining an internal chamber communicating with and extending radially from the vapor chamber, a vaporizable liquid disposed within said heat pipe, and a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the condenser end of the heat pipe.

The present invention relates generally to cooling systems for electrical machinery and more particularly to a rotating heat pipe rotor structure for cooling rotors in electric generators, motors or the like.
Electrical systems in military and commercial aircraft typically include electrical power generators having permanent magnet rotors which generate heat during operation as a result of eddy current and hysteresis losses. Because the temperature difference between the core of the rotor and its peripheral surfaces may be large (about 150.degree. C.), rotor cooling may be required to attain a desirable level of operating efficiency.
Existing cooling methods include convective air or oil circulation through a passageway defined through the rotor shaft. Bleed air from the aircraft engine compressor is not effective as coolant because of poor heat transfer and low heat capacity associated with air, and use of bleed air may reduce overall engine performance. Oil circulation causes viscous frictional loss for the rotor which reduces overall efficiency. Oil jet cooling is not efficient because of poor thermal contact between the drive shaft and rotor.
The invention solves or substantially reduces in critical importance problems with prior art rotor cooling structures by providing a rotor structure comprising a rotatable heat pipe having a plurality of fins defining radially extending vapor chambers in the evaporator end of the heat pipe for absorbing waste heat from the rotor core by vaporization of the heat pipe working fluid and removing heat at a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the condenser end of the heat pipe. The finned multi-chamber evaporator structure of the invention provides substantially improved and uniform cooling of the rotor core as compared to prior art structures. Problems with high differential temperatures and thermal stress within the rotor core are substantially eliminated.
Efficient rotor cooling may prevent overheating and premature failure, and thus may improve reliability and maintainability, of the electrical generators or motors incorporating the invention. Use of the invention on an aircraft may result in overall weight reduction of aircraft systems. Utility of the invention may also be found in ground based electrical machinery such as ground carts, portable generators, environmental control equipment and lightweight motors for electrical transportation.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a structure for cooling rotors in high power electric generators, motors or the like.
It is another object of the invention to provide a structure for cooling rotors in electric generators, motors or the like utilizing a rotatable heat pipe structure.
It is another object of the invention to provide a rotatable heat pipe structure for cooling rotors in electrical equipment aboard aircraft.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a rotatable heat pipe structure for cooling rotors in electrical machinery to improve power density or power-to-weight ratio thereof.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a rotor structure for low temperature operating electrical machinery.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as a detailed description of representative embodiments proceeds.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A catheter, system, and method for selectively ablating prostatic tissue about the prostatic urethra. The catheter includes an elongated member having distal, proximal, and intermediate portions, the intermediate portion being shaped and sized for intimate contact with the prostatic urethra. The distal and proximal portions of the catheter include fixation and cooling balloons having an annular recess therein for positioning the internal and external sphincters therein and for maintaining the longitudinal position of the catheter in the prostatic urethra. A thermally conducted, heat-emitting element is positioned in the intermediate portion for producing a thermally conductive heat distribution to ablate the prostatic tissue. The catheter also includes irrigation and aspiration passageways therein for communicating with the interior of the distal and proximal cooling balloons. A circulating pump of the ablation system circulates coolant through the balloons to maintain the temperature of the sphincters below an injurious temperature. Sensors are positioned about the heat-emitting element as well as in the cooling balloons for supplying information to the controller of the system. The controller in response to the temperature information and the energy supplied to the heat-emitting element controls the supply of energy to the catheter as well as the pump circulating the coolant.

Present modalities for treatment of malignant tumors include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy which apply a physical or chemical force to alter the biological function of a tumor in order to affect its viability. Despite the medical advances that these modalities represent, most solid cancerous tumors carry with them a very poor prognosis for survival. Quality of life during and after treatment for survivors is often poor. The dismal prognosis for malignant solid tumors has led to continuing research for more effective treatment modalities with a lesser degree of disability and fewer side effects. In vitro and in vivo evidence indicates hyperthermia produces a significant anti-cancer activity through alteration of the physical environment of the tumor caused by increasing the temperature. Hyperthermia is more cytotoxic to tumor cells than normal cells because cancer cells are oxygen deprived, nutritionally deficient, and low in pH making them incapable of tolerating the stress imposed by elevated temperature. Tumor vasculature is immature, lacking the smooth muscle and vasoactivity which allows mature vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow to carry away heat, therefore intratumor temperatures exceed those in normal tissue. The mechanisms of selective cancer cell eradication by hyperthermia is not completely understood. However, four cellular effects of hyperthermia on cancerous tissue have been proposed: 1) changes in cell or nuclear membrane permeability or fluidity, 2) cytoplasmic lysomal disintegration, causing release of digestive enzymes, 3) protein thermal damage affecting cell respiration and the synthesis of DNA and RNA, and 4) potential excitation of immunologic systems.
The major forms of energy for generating hyperthermia to date include microwaves, radio frequency induction, radio frequency localized current, and ultrasound. Most of the techniques used to dispense these are non-invasive, i.e., the heat generating source is external to the body and does not invade the body. Consequently, the energy must pass through the skin surface and substantial power absorption by normal peripheral body tissue is unavoidable. Currently available external heating sources result in nonuniform temperature profiles throughout the tumor and increased temperature in normal tissue. It is desirable to selectively heat tissue deep in a patient's body, i.e., to heat the tumor mass without heating cutaneous and normal tissue.
Others have attempted the use of interstitial techniques to obtain local hyperthermia, with limited success. Interstitial heating of brain tumors through an implantable microwave antenna has been investigated. However, microwave probes are ineffective in producing precisely controlled heating of tumors. Temperatures may deviate as much as 10.degree. C from the desired target temperature. Besides, microwave activity adversely affects cellular structures and their integration, regardless of other thermal effects. The result is nonuniform temperatures throughout the tumor. Studies indicate that tumor mass reduction by hyperthermia is related to the thermal dose. Thermal dose is the minimum effective temperature applied throughout the tumor mass for a defined period of time. Hot spots and cold spots which occur with microwave hyperthermia may cause increased cell death at the hot spot, but ineffective treatment at cold spots resulting in future tumor growth. Such variations are a result of the microwave antenna's inability to evenly deposit energy throughout the tissue.
Since efferent blood flow is the major mechanism of heat loss for tumors being heated and blood flow varies throughout the tumor, more even heating of tumor issue is needed to ensure more effective treatment.
To be effective, the application and deposition of thermal energy to the tumor must be precisely controlled to compensate for the variations in blood flow. In addition, the therapy itself will perturb the tumor's vascular system during treatment causing variations in local perfusion around the probe. Thus, heat loss from a tumor will be time dependent and affected by the hyperthermia treatment. This demonstrates the need to both monitor and control the temperature of the tumor throughout treatment.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a disease that is traditionally treatable by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Patients who undergo a TURP are typically hospitalized for two to five days and convalesce afterward for another one to six weeks. Serious complications following TURP include failure to void or urinary retention in 10-15 percent of patients; bleeding that requires a transfusion in 5-10 percent of patients; urinary tract infection in 15-20 percent of patients; retrograde ejaculation in 60-75 percent of patients; and impotence in 5-10 percent of patients. As a result of the recovery time, medical costs, and likelihood of serious complications following a TURP, alternative methods for treating BPH have been attempted.
BPH has been treated by applying hyperthermia temperatures to the prostate of a patient. A hyperthermia device is inserted into the urethra so that the heat generating portion of the device is positioned in the prostatic urethra. To prevent damage to the internal and external sphincters, the heat generating portion of the device must not be in contact with or directed toward the sphincters. Damage to the internal sphincter results in retrograde ejaculation. Damage to the external sphincter results in incontinence. Damage to the nerves about the prostatic urethra results in impotence. Therefore, positively securing the proper position of the heat generating element is imperative for preserving these sphincters and their functions.
Several known catheters for use in the hyperthermia treatment of the prostate of a patient rely on microwave or radio frequency energy deposition for generating heat. One known catheter has a distally positioned bladder retention balloon, an inflatable prostate balloon, and a microwave antenna positioned in a longitudinal lumen of the catheter. The prostate balloon centers the antenna and compresses tissue while it is being irradiated for mitigating the problem of the microwave field intensity varying unevenly over the heated tissue.
Another known catheter has a distally positioned bladder retention balloon for limiting the proximal migration of the catheter. The bladder retention balloon also provides for maintaining the position of a diode centrally in the prostate for directing the peak of electromagnetic energy applied thereto by a microwave antenna toward the central area of the prostate.
Yet another known catheter has a distally positioned bladder retention balloon and a helical coil antenna for receiving electromagnetic energy from a microwave generator and heating tissue to hyperthermia temperatures in the range of 41.degree. to 47.degree. C.
One problem with each of these devices is that they use microwave or radio frequency energy deposition to effect heating. Radio frequency energy deposition resulting in heat generation is unpredictable due to the nonhomogeneous tissue between the applicator and grounding plate. Similarly, microwave energy deposition is unpredictable due to the different dielectric properties inherent in various types of tissue, such as muscle, fascia, and viscera. As a result, there can be uneven heating of anatomical regions with areas of overheated tissue and underheated tissue. The energy deposition heating technology can undesirably heat and damage the internal and external urethral sphincters. In addition, the use of energy deposition technology limits the size of the heat-emitting element. As a result, only limited modifications can be made to the catheter for tailoring the catheter to variations in individual patient anatomy.
Another problem with catheters using a distally positioned bladder retention balloon for limiting the proximal migration of the catheter is that the bladder retention balloon does not prevent a catheter from migrating distally. Since the longitudinal position of the catheter is not positively secured, the internal sphincter can be exposed to heat and damaged or destroyed.
An alternative to energy deposition technology for heating tissue is the application of thermally conducted heat. Several devices for applying heat directly to the rectum and gastrointestinal tract are known. For example, a thermoelectrical heat exchange capsule probe includes a plurality of thermocouples that get hot on one end and cold on the other when electrical current is passed therethrough. The probe can have a flexible, expandable sheath affixed to the outside thereof for containing a heat conducting fluid. The sheath is expandable for bringing a heated surface in contact with the tissue to be treated.
Another known device is a suppository appliance for the therapeutic treatment of hemorrhoids that is surrounded by a rigid, cylindrical jacket sized for intimately fitting in the anal canal of a patient. When electrical energy is applied to the appliance, a cylindrical electrical resistor generates heat inside the jacket to a predetermined maximum temperature of about 45.degree. C.
Yet another known device is a heatable dilation catheter for treating body tissue and including an elastic, expandable heat-emitting element, such as a braided stainless steel tube coated with silicone and mounted on a dilation balloon, for increasing the proximity of the heat-emitting element to tissue.
One problem with the use of any of these devices for treating BPH is that none of these devices can be affixed in a particular longitudinal position in a body passageway. As a result, anatomical structures that are preferably preserved can be exposed to high temperatures and damaged or destroyed. These devices are inappropriate for use in the urethra of a patient, wherein the internal and external urethral sphincters can be undesirably heated and damaged.


Provided is a method and an apparatus for transmitting/receiving a Broadcast Channel (BCH), by which a User Equipment (UE) can successfully receive system information of neighboring cells in a system supporting the scalability of a UE reception bandwidth and a system bandwidth. The method includes identifying a system bandwidth of a cell by comparing the system bandwidth with reception bandwidths of UEs within the cell, mapping two BCH information blocks including system information to a central band having a bandwidth equal to a transmission bandwidth of the BCH, additionally mapping at least one of the information blocks into each of one-half bands of the system bands, when the system bandwidth is two times an amount of the reception bandwidth, and transmitting a frequency domain signal, to which the information blocks are mapped, to the UEs located within the cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a cellular wireless communication system, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for transmitting/receiving system information through a Broadcast Channel (BCH).
2. Description of the Related Art
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology is widely applied in the recent development in broadcasting and mobile communication technology. OFDM technology eliminates interference between multi-path signal components existing in a wireless communication channel, guarantees the orthogonality between multiple access users, and enables efficient use of frequency resources. Therefore, OFDM technology is more useful for high speed data transmission and wideband systems than Direct Sequence Code Division Multiple Access (DS-CDMA) technology, such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) or CDMA 2000.
FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of an OFDM signal in a frequency and time domain.
Referring to FIG. 1, one OFDM symbol 100 occupies N number of sub-carriers 102 in view of the frequency domain. The sub-carriers 102 are simultaneously transmitted in parallel after being loaded on modulation symbols (or sub-carrier symbols) of transmitted information, respectively. As described above, the OFDM technology is multi-carrier transmission technology, which can transmit data and control information by multiple sub-carriers. In an OFDM-based communication system, each physical channel includes at least one sub-carrier symbol 104.
One important characteristic of an OFDM-based cellular wireless communication system for providing a high speed wireless data service is the ability to support a scalable bandwidth. A system based on the scalable bandwidth can have various system bandwidths, such as 20/15/10/5/2.5/1.25 MHz. Service providers can provide a service after selecting one of the bandwidths for each cell, and types of User Equipment (UE) may range from those capable of providing a service with a reception bandwidth of maximum 20 MHz to those capable of supporting only a reception bandwidth of at most 1.25 MHz.
In a scalable bandwidth-based system, a UE accessing the system for the first time is required to make a successful cell search even without information about the system bandwidth. Through the cell search, the UE acquires a cell ID and synchronization between a transmitter and a receiver for demodulation of data and control information. The system bandwidth can be obtained from either a Synchronization Channel (SCH) during the cell search or a Broadcasting Channel (BCH) after the cell search, which is a common control channel for transmission of system information. The BCH is a channel for transmitting system information of a cell which the UE accesses, and is demodulated after the UE finishes the cell search. The UE successfully acquires initial synchronization of a particular cell by searching the cell through the SCH and then acquires the system information for the cell by receiving the BCH. That is, by reading the BCH, the UE acquires system information necessary for receiving a data channel and other control channels for each cell, such as a cell ID, a system bandwidth and channel setup information.
FIG. 2 illustrates examples of frequency resource mapping of the SCH and the BCH according to a system bandwidth in a conventional system supporting a scalable bandwidth.
In FIG. 2, the vertical axis corresponds to a frequency domain, which illustrates frequency mapping according to system bandwidths of 1.25/2.5/5/10/15/20 MHz. As shown, the sequence of the SCH 204 and the system information of the BCH 206 are transmitted in the middle of the system band with a bandwidth of 1.25 MHz regardless of the system bandwidth. Therefore, the UE searches a Radio Frequency (RF) carrier 202, which is a central frequency of the system band, regardless of the system bandwidth, and performs cell search for the central band of 1.25 MHz centering the RF carrier 202, thereby detecting the SCH 204 and acquiring initial synchronization for the system. Further, after the cell search, the UE demodulates and decodes the BCH 206 transmitted in the same 1.25 MHz band, thereby obtaining the system information.
FIG. 3 illustrates a case in which each of the SCH and the BCH has a changing transmission bandwidth according to the system bandwidth. That is, the sequence of the SCH 304 and the system information of the BCH 306 are transmitted with a bandwidth of 1.25 MHz when the system bandwidth does not exceed 2.5 MHz, while the sequence of the SCH 304 and the system information of the BCH 306 are transmitted with a bandwidth of 5 MHz when the system bandwidth has a value of at least 5 MHz. This is in order to transmit the SCH sequence and the BCH system information by using a wider band in the case of a larger system bandwidth, thereby improving performance in cell search and system information reception.
In a system supporting the scalable bandwidth, it is necessary to design the channels such that a UE having a reception bandwidth smaller than the system bandwidth can successfully perform SCH search and BCH reception from neighboring cells even when the UE receives a service in a part of the system bandwidth.

Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving broadcast channels in cellular communication systems supporting scalable bandwidth


The GUI edition aiding apparatus is for editing a display screen that a computer application program provides. In this apparatus, predetermined data that composes display parts is input. In addition, a selecting command for selecting a first display part from the display parts displayed on the display screen is issued. Moreover, a converting command for converting the first display part is issued. Thus, the first display part is converted into a desired second display part corresponding to a display state of the GUI. With the apparatus, GUI parts can be easily selected corresponding to the display state of the GUI. Thus, a user-friendly GUI can be effectively edited.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a GUI (Graphical User Interface) edition aiding apparatus for aiding the edition of a GUI such as a computer application program.
2. Description of the Related Art
Graphical user interfaces are sometimes designed and created by GUI edition aiding apparatuses (also referred to as GUI builders).
In a conventional GUI edition aiding apparatus, buttons and lists that are referred to as GUI parts are selected from a palette and disposed in a window frame whose size can be freely changed so as to design and create a GUI. This operation is performed by a designer (user) of the GUI. With a display screen of the GUI, data that is exchanged between a computer and a user thereof is represented as a display screen of the GUI. When a GUI is designed and created with such a GUI edition aiding apparatus, the following problem takes place.
With the GUI edition aiding apparatus, screens of the GUI can be easily designed and created in such a manner that the user draws pictures. However, since the user tends to design and create a GUI without a final image thereof, the user should modify the GUI later on. That is, it often happens to add display parts and change functions in a designing process. In particular, in the case of data of which one is selected from a plurality of alternatives, other alternatives may be added later on. The GUI parts are categorized as a fixed type and a non-fixed type depending on whether alternatives will be added later on. In the case of the fixed type, if alternatives are added later on, relevant screens of the GUI should be recreated. Thus, the user should design and create a GUI considering what and how parts are used with the final image thereof.
For example, when the user creates a GUI of which one is selected from a plurality of alternative, he or she can use representing means (parts) such as pull-down menus, exclusive buttons, and list boxes. In this case, the use of these means depends on operation types and the preference of the user(designer).
In this case, the conventional GUI edition aiding apparatus cannot properly change a particular representing means to another representing means. Thus, when a particular part has been used, if it is substituted with another one, an operation equivalent to the restructure of a GUI screen thereof should be required.
In addition, before creating a real system, the user should create a mock-up thereof. However, it is very troublesome and inconvenient to create the mock-up itself.

GUI edition aiding apparatus, GUI edition aiding method, and record medium recording GUI edition aiding program


Digital content editing techniques are described that support edits to a document object model (DOM) of a digital document. In one example, a user input is received by a system to edit a first document object model (DOM) and thereby create a second DOM, e.g., to change a name of a tag, a name of an attribute, a value of an attribute, and/or digital content specified by the DOM. The system then compares tree structures of the first and second DOMs to each other in order to identify content editing operations that, when applied to the first DOM, cause the first DOM to match the second DOM, e.g., have matching tree structures and attributes. The identified content editing operations are then used to update the digital document by including these operations as stored along with the first DOM.

Dynamic digital documents are utilized by service provider systems to implement personalized experiences for a multitude of client devices, e.g., as webpages, user interfaces as part of a mobile application, and so on that may be delivered via a network to thousands and even millions of client devices. In one example, a set of business rules is specified to support dynamic personalization records to control which items of digital content are to be provided to respective users within the digital document. To do so, a document object model (DOM) is typically employed to specify configuration of digital content within portions of the digital document through DOM manipulation actions, such as to specify particular items of digital content, attributes of the digital content, styles such as height and width, and so on.
In some scenarios, service provider systems support content personalization editors that include a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) user interface, via which, a marketer or other user may specify edits to the DOM, e.g., as HTML actions. These edits may be used to specify changes to a configuration of the digital document that is delivered to respective client devices. Conventional techniques to do so, however, face a variety of challenges. In one such challenge, digital content that is changed within a container within a digital document (e.g., an image as part of a webpage) is recorded at a time of making the edit. This causes conventional service provider systems to replace a previous version of the digital content within the container with an updated version of digital content having the change. The updated version is then transmitted over a network at runtime of the digital content to replace the previous version at a client device. Therefore, even if the actual change is small, digital content delivered over the network at runtime as a result of the change may be quite large, which adds to latency and inefficient use of computational and network resources.
The specified edits, for instance, are recorded "as is" by the system. Therefore, even though the marketer may specify relatively small edits to a section of a webpage, like a change in an attribute (e.g., hyperlink of an anchor tag), the size of the digital content within the container that corresponds to this change may be quite large (e.g., 253 KB). Accordingly, replacement of digital content included in the container with another item of digital content (e.g., different ads), especially at run time, results in an inefficient use of computational and network resources. Further, in some instances of digital content replacement, functional side effects may be encountered due to unintended loss of event handlers due to replacement of the digital content. This may cause execution of the overall digital document to fail, thereby also hindering operation of the computing device.
Conventional digital content editing techniques of a document object model (DOM) may also result in a diminished user experience at the client device. With conventional techniques, because the digital content is delivered as part of the digital document (e.g., sections of a webpage), a user of the client device may notice a flicker in a user interface when rendering the digital document due to a lag in applying actions specified by the DOM. Conventional techniques to avoid this flicker involve pre-hiding default digital content within a respective container using cascading style sheet (CSS) rules. However, because the digital content may be quite large as specified above, a large subsection of the digital document that corresponds to the container may remain hidden for a noticeable period of time, and thus contribute to a diminished user experience.

Digital content editing of a document object model (DOM) based on object model comparison


A method of data transfer between a transmitter and a receiver over a communications link achieves maximum throughput by dynamically adapting a coding rate, and specifically an error correction encoder, as a function of a measured reverse channel signal parameter. The method comprises the steps of transmitting a signal from the transmitter to the receiver, the receiver receiving and measuring the signal to noise ratio of the transmitted signal. The receiver determines an appropriate code rate and encoding technique as a function of the measured signal to noise ratio and transmits an encoding identifier of the determined encoder to the transmitter. The transmitter encodes its data according to the encoding identifier and transmits the encoded message to the receiver. The receiver receives the encoded message and decodes the message according to the determined code rate and encoding technique.

In an effort to increase the utility of wireless communications, advances have been made to improve the probability of transmission and receipt of error free or error correctable information. It is known that data blocks transmitted over a communications link may be encoded with one of an available plurality of error correcting encoders. The data block is encoded by the transmitting device according to a known algorithm, for example a Reed-Solomon encoder. The encoded data block is received by a receiving device which then decodes the data according to an appropriate error correcting decoder. In this case, both the transmitting device and the receiving device have a priori knowledge of the error correction coding that is in use. Advantageously, if one or more bits in the transmitted data block is corrupt, the decoder used at the receiving device may detect and correct the corrupted bits, thereby allowing use of the transmitted data block. Error correction encoders/decoders are used to increase the throughput of the communications channel by obviating the need to discard and retransmit corrupted data blocks. Disadvantageously, in order to transmit an encoded data block, a portion of the data block is used as overhead in order to transmit the information for use in decoding the subject data block. Accordingly, the portion of the data block used to transmit error correcting encoding information cannot be used to transmit bits of information, thus reducing the throughput of the communications link. The reduction in the amount of data transmitted on a per data block basis due to the error correcting overhead is, however, worthwhile in view of the increase in average throughput over time due to the ability to use data blocks that would otherwise be discarded and retransmitted.
Wireless communication is used in many areas including mobile telephone, wireless LAN, and mobile voice and data networks. Wireless communications are also used in applications where both the transmitter and the receiver are physically stationary such as digital TV. One known type of communications protocol provides access to the transmission channel without use of a reservation protocol. An example of this type of communications protocol known in the wireless communications industry is the CDPD Communication System protocol for mobile devices communicating with a base station and is defined by the CDPD System specification Release 1.1 , January 1995, the contents of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein. As defined in Part 402 of the CDPD System Specification "Medium Access Control", Section 4.6, pages 402-21 through 402-24, reverse channel message blocks, which are defined as a series of data blocks transmitted from a mobile to a base station, are Reed-Solomon (63,47) encoded to improve the probability of successful transmission. Each forward and reverse channel message block is encoded based on a (63,47) Reed-Solomon code generated over a 64 bit Galois Field GF(64). The code word is based on 6-bit symbols. The information field consists of 47 6-bit symbols, comprising 282 bits, and the generated parity field consists of 16 6-bit symbols, comprising 96 bits, for a total encoded block comprising 378 bits. While the error correcting encoded data blocks provide for a more robust data transmission, the encoding scheme applied to all of the data blocks results in some sacrifice in channel throughput as compared to the theoretical maximum throughput value. In other cases, the (63,47) Reed-Solomon encoding is insufficient for successful transmission and results in a discarded transmission and retransmission. Retransmission of message blocks also adversely affects channel throughput.
Since maximizing channel throughput permits increased channel traffic without an increase in communication system infrastructure, it is desirable and cost effective to maximize channel throughput.
Another known communications link that provides access to the channel through a channel arbitration process uses a (63,45) Reed-Solomon error correction encoder for transmitted data blocks. Where CDPD controls access to the reverse channel using a slotted non-persistent Digital Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (DSMA/CD) method, other communications links include a direct channel arbitration method whereby the mobile requests access to the reverse channel and does not initiate a transmission of a data block on the reverse channel until the request for access to the channel is granted by the base station. Both types of communications links benefit from error correction, the optimum type and level of error correction being a function of the specific wireless network. Both types of communications links optimize average channel throughput by trading off instantaneous channel throughput in exchange for a more robust transmission by dedicating some of the data block in each datablock transmission to error correction overhead. Both types of communications links would benefit from maximizing information throughput.
There is a need, therefore, for a method to maximize the efficiency of the available bandwidth and throughput.

Adaptive error correction for a communications link


A gasket of a prefilled syringe is disclosed, which includes a gasket body and a plunger-mounting member. The gasket body has a plunger-mounting member removal prevention rib formed on an inner surface of the gasket body. The plunger-mounting member has an outer projected part, which engages the plunger-mounting member removal prevention rib of the gasket body, a plurality of elastically deformable inner projected parts which are extended obliquely from an inner portion of a proximal side of the plunger-mounting member toward a central and distal end of the plunger-mounting member, and plunger removal prevention locking parts formed at free ends of the inner projected parts. The plunger has a distal end part capable of entering the plunger-mounting member and an outer projection part which engages the plunger removal prevention locking parts of the plunger-mounting member.

Prefilled syringes are classified into a type in which a plunger is not mounted in advance on a gasket and then mounted on the gasket when the prefilled syringe is used, and a type in which the plunger is mounted on the gasket in advance.
The prefilled syringe in which the plunger is mounted on the gasket in advance can be assembled as follows: after the gasket is inserted into the outer cylinder by using a method called "vacuum capping" in which the gasket is disposed at the opening of the outer cylinder under a pressure-decreased atmosphere (under a vacuum atmosphere) in the state in which a medical agent is filled inside the outer cylinder whose opening disposed at its distal end is sealed, and the plunger is mounted on the gasket at a normal pressure. In a state in which the plunger has been mounted on the gasket, it is relatively difficult to dispose the gasket at the opening of the outer cylinder. Further, it is necessary to additionally take the space in which the pressure is decreased in correspondence to the size of the plunger. Thus, a vacuum capping of a prefilled syringe is performed without mounting the plunger on the gasket. Therefore the prefilled syringe of this type necessitates a plunger-mounting work to be performed subsequently.
In the prefilled syringe of the type in which the plunger is not mounted on the gasket, a user performs an operation of mounting the plunger on the gasket when the user uses the prefilled syringe.
When the plunger is mounted on the gasket by press fit, there is a case in which a pressure generated by the press fit causes the medicinal solution to leak from the gasket or a nozzle of the outer cylinder. Therefore a prefilled syringe in which the gasket and the plunger are coupled to each other by screwing between a female screw formed on the gasket and a male screw formed on the plunger can be used.
There are many cases in which the prefilled syringe is used by mounting it on a syringe pump. The prefilled syringe is set on the syringe pump by mounting a flange disposed at the proximal end portion of the outer cylinder on a holder of the syringe pump and mounting a disk part disposed at the proximal end of the plunger on a fixing groove of a slider of the syringe pump. Some types of syringe pumps have a longitudinal slit for engaging a longitudinal rib with the slider. In such a type of the syringe pump, to fit the rib of the plunger in the longitudinal slit of the slider, it is necessary to make a fine adjustment by rotating the plunger to fit a rib of the plunger in the longitudinal slit of the slider. In the above-disclosed type in which the plunger is mounted on the gasket by using screws, there is a case in which the engagement between the plunger and the gasket is loosened by the plunger-rotating operation.
The prefilled syringe disclosed in European Application Publication No. 1 849 490, International Application Publication WO 2006/087762, has a gasket which slidably obstructs the inside of the barrel where the lure taper part is formed and has the hollow part at the inner circumferential side thereof and the plunger rod. The plunger rod is coupled to the gasket through the anchor part. The anchor part projects from the pedestal part of the tapered surface, which is inclined at the angle of 5 to 45 degrees with respect to the surface of the plunger rod orthogonal to the axial direction thereof and has the distal end contact part, which contacts the back side of the distal end of the gasket and the contact member which is freely fitted on the outer circumferential of the gasket and contacts the inner circumferential wall thereof. The pedestal part has the concave curved surface between the distal-end contact part and the tapered surface. The contact member has the convex curved surface at the portion opposed to the concave curved surface. The barrel has the locking cylinder having the spiral line formed on the inner surface thereof.
The prefilled syringe disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-307237 is filled with a medicinal solution and the gasket is inserted into the outer cylinder by the capping work. The prefilled syringe includes the coupler which screws on the proximal end of the gasket, the bottom rod coupled to the coupler at its proximal end, the stopper formed on the coupler, and the engaging part, formed on the bottom rod, which engages the stopper owing to the rotation of the bottom rod in the screwing direction. When the stopper contacts the engaging part in the direction opposite to the screwing direction, the stopper elastically deforms and does not engage the engaging part.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-142508, the syringe has the gasket, the outer cylinder, and the plunger. The plunger has the spiral rib formed on the outer surface of the head part. The gasket has the spiral screwing part which screws on the spiral rib, the annular rib, to help prevent the separation of the plunger from the gasket, which is located at a position in the vicinity of the spiral screwing part and distal therefrom, and the accommodation part for accommodating the portion where the spiral rib of the head part of the plunger is formed. The annular rib has the rib-absent portion for guiding the spiral rib which has reached the annular rib owing to the progress of the screwing between the spiral rib of the plunger and the spiral screwing part of the gasket to the accommodation part.
In the prefilled syringes disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-307237 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-142508, it is necessary to perform a work of rotating the plunger to mount the plunger on the gasket. In the prefilled syringe disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-307237, it is not necessary to rotate the plunger to mount the plunger on the gasket, nor to mount the plunger on the gasket by pressing the distal end portion of the plunger into the gasket. But during the work of mounting the plunger on the gasket, there is a relatively high possibility that the distal end portion of the plunger deforms the gasket, thus causing a medicinal solution to leak. In addition, there is a possibility that after the plunger is mounted on the gasket, the distal end portion of the plunger deforms the gasket when the plunger is pressed, thus causing the medicinal solution to leak.


An conveyor oven enclosure system is disclosed which includes a hood means which extends over the conveyor oven and supplies make-up air and exhausts heated air. The enclosure system includes front enclosure and rear enclosure walls which are parallel to and spaced apart from the front and rear oven walls of the oven respectively. Additionally, a first enclosure end wall is also included which is parallel to and spaced apart from the first oven end wall. A second enclosure end wall which is parallel to and spaced apart from the second oven end wall is also included. In the enclosure system of the present invention there is an entry opening in at least one of the enclosure walls which is adapted to correspond to each entry opening in the oven walls. An exit opening in at least one of the enclosure walls is provided which is adapted to correspond to each exit opening in the oven walls. The hood means enclosure, front enclosure, rear enclosure, first enclosure end, and second enclosure end walls of the present invention are configured such that make-up air passes over the front oven, rear oven, first oven end, and second oven end walls before being exhausted through the hood means.

The present invention relates to the field of ventilation systems for commercial ovens. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of hoods for conveyor ovens.
Various types of hood arrangements have been developed to aid in the ventilation of particular commercial cooking appliances. These various ventilation systems generally mix make-up air with room air that is drawn in, circulated over the cooking surface, then exhausted. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical prior art ventilation hood arrangement above a conveyor oven.
Cooling and ventilation hoods such as the type shown in FIG. 1 capture a low percentage of the total amount of heat produced, often provide limited heat shielding and contain only a limited amount of the radiant heat given off by the oven over which the hood is located. Typically, hoods of this type include make-up and exhaust fans which often add to the noise of the oven itself. Additionally, these various ventilation systems often draw large quantities of room air to mix with the make-up air. This loss of room air increases the operating and overhead costs associated with use of the conveyor oven.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,657 discloses an exhaust hood for pizza ovens having a central intake plenum that directs streams of air to exhaust plenums on opposite sides.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,285 discloses a similar exhaust hood for pizza ovens except the hood includes a pair of intake plenums located on opposite sides which direct the flow of air toward one another in opposite directions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,562 discloses a heat shield and ventilation system for a pizza oven which shrouds the front and back of a conveyor oven but leaves the ends of a conveyor oven open.


Provided is a hollow-fiber membrane module comprising a submodule inside which raw water is circulated and water treatment is carried out, and a piping unit which is connected to the submodule and through which the raw water and air and treated water flow, such that flow rates can be increased and energy consumption can be minimized through the circulation of a fluid.

In general, a water treatment system using membranes is classified as an vacuum type system which soaks a membrane module in water to be treated and applies negative pressure to suction and filter the water or an external pressure type system which forcibly sends water to be treated to a casing filled with membranes.
The vacuum type system has advantages in that the system is simple, and treatment of a high-concentration, high-viscosity solution is easy, whereby pre-treatment processes, such as cohesion and precipitation, are unnecessary. Also, in a case in which the membranes are soaked so that the operation is performed as the vacuum type system, it is possible to completely remove particle materials from the finally treated water by the membranes and, in addition, to maintain the concentration of high-concentration microorganisms in a reaction vessel. Consequently, it is possible to obtain a higher contaminant decomposition effect through microorganisms than in an active sludge method.
However, the vacuum type system requires a reaction vessel to soak the membrane module. Also, the vacuum type system has a structurally limited space, and therefore, it is necessary to increase the size of the reaction vessel in increasing the size of the system due to enlargement of the system.
That is, in a real process to which the vacuum type membrane system is applied, the size of the initially designed reaction vessel is fixed. For this reason, when it is necessary to increase treatment capacity due to the increase of the amount of necessary treatment, construction of another reaction vessel is inevitable.
On the other hand, in the case of the external pressure type system, a membrane module is installed to filter water to be treated without a reaction vessel. This system has advantages in that, when a consumer needs greater treatment capacity, such a need is satisfied only by further installing a membrane module in an open space in addition to the reaction vessel. Consequently, it is possible to increase the size of the external pressure type system.
However, the external pressure type system has problems in that pre-treatment is necessary, and an amount of circulation necessary to maintain superficial flow velocity of the membranes is so large as to increase the size of a pump, whereby energy efficiency is lowered.