A data processing apparatus reduces the number of steps performed by a processor so as to achieve a high-speed operation. A data memory, which stores data to be calculated by the processor, includes a first memory part and a second memory part each of which is connected to the same data bus and address bus. An address structure of the second memory part is identical to an address structure of the first memory part. One of first address data output from the processor and second address data provided from an external device is selectively provided to the first and the second memory parts so that the first address data is provided to the first memory part when the second address data is provided to the second memory part, and vice versa. A sort circuit rearranges the data output from the processor in a predetermined order so that the rearranged data is provided to the processor in the order of use by the processor. The data output from the processor and data from the external device is selectively provided to the first and second memory parts so that the data output from the processor is provided to the first memory part when the data from the external device is provided to the second memory parts, and vice versa.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a data processing apparatus and, more particularly, to a data processing apparatus having a data memory device which can be efficiently accessed by a processor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A data processing apparatus generally comprises a processor, a program RAM which stores programs and a data RAM which stores data to be processed. The processor reads the data in the data RAM in accordance with the programs stored in the program RAM so as to process or calculate the read data. The processed data is restored in the data RAM or stored in an external memory device.
In a geometry processing unit specific to a geometrical image processing application such as polygon processing, a digital signal processor (DSP) is used as a processor so as to perform specific calculations or operations at high speed. A description will be given below of a specific content of the process performed by such a unit.
1) Data to be supplied to a DSP is arranged in an order of use by the DSP. Thus, the DSP can perform calculations based on the data sequentially supplied thereto. That is, the DSP can perform a set of calculations by setting the address corresponding to the first data and the addresses for the rest of the data can be set by using an automatic incrementing function of the address.
2) When a different calculation is performed based on the result of a calculation, the result (resultant data) of the calculation is not arranged in the order of use by the DSP. That is, the order of addresses in which the resultant data is stored does not match the order of use by the DSP. Thus, the automatic incrementing function is not applicable to set the addresses for the resultant data. In the conventional data processing apparatus, the addresses must be reset every time the resultant data is used.
FIG. 1 is an illustration of an operation of the DSP mentioned above. For example, the data "A, B, C, D, E, F" are arranged in the order of use by the DSP. The result of calculation based on the data "A, B, C, D, E, F" is now assumed to be "a, b, c, d, e". Additionally, the order of use of the data "a, b, c, d, e" assumes that the data "a" is used fifth, the data "b" is used second, the data "c" is used first, the data "d" is used third, and the data "e" is used fourth. In such a case, the DSP sets the address of the resultant data "c" first to use the data "c", then, the DSP sets the address of the resultant data "b" to use the data "b", and so on.
A description will now be given of contents of another operation performed by the DSP.
3) The DSP performs calculations based on externally input data. The result of calculation is transferred to an external device, and simultaneously written in the internal data RAM.
4) In this case, the conventional data processing apparatus separately performs an operation for writing the resultant data in the internal data RAM and an operation for writing the resultant data in an output register to transfer the resultant data to the external device. Further calculations may be performed based on the resultant data stored in the internal data RAM, or calculations may be performed based on the data which was processed in the external device and returned to the data processing apparatus.
FIG. 2 is an illustration for explaining the operation described in the above items 3) and 4). For example, it is assumed that the result of calculation "C" is obtained by using the data "A, B". The result of calculation "C" is written in both the internal data RAM and the output register by separate operations. An additional calculation is performed by using the result of calculation "C". Additionally, the result of calculation "C" is processed by the external device, and the data processing apparatus performs a calculation using the result of the operation performed by the external device.
As mentioned above, in the conventional data processing apparatus, the address is set every time the results of a calculation is used, as appreciated from the operation described in the above-mentioned item 2). Thus, the number of steps performed by the DSP is large, and this prevents increase of the calculation speed of the DSP. Additionally, as appreciated from the operation of the above-mentioned item 4), since the results of a calculation is written in both the internal data RAM and the output register by separate operations, substantially the same writing operation is performed twice. This also increases the number of steps performed by the DSP, and there is a problem in that it is difficult to perform a high speed calculation.
The data processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 4-273366 is provided with two data RAMs which are switchable by a register. In this data processing apparatus, after data is read from one of the data RAMs and a calculation is performed on the read data and the result is stored in one of the data RAMs, the operation is switched to perform a similar operation with respect to the other one of the data RAMs. While the operation is performed with respect to the other one of the data RAMs, an external device or circuit can perform first the data stored in the first one of the data RAMS. Thus, a time spent on the input and output operation of the data stored in the data RAMs can be saved. However, this method is effective when the data in the data RAMs is sequentially read from the upper address. That is, the data stored in the data RAMs is not sequentially arranged, and the operation the above-mentioned item 2 is still required.
Additionally, if the data RAMs to be used can be switched as taught in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 4-273366, the data to be used internally and externally can be written in one of the data RAMs so that the data stored in one of the data RAMs is read alternatively by the internal processor and the external device or circuit. This eliminates the duplicate writing operation for the data to be used by the internal processor and the external device. However, if the data RAMs are alternatively used, the switching of the data RAMs cannot be performed until the set of operations of the internal processor or the external device has been completed. This causes a new problem in that the interim result of a calculation cannot be used even when it is required. Thus, in this case, the result of a calculation must be written in each of the data RAM and the output register.

Data processing apparatus having a sorting unit to provide sorted data to a processor


A lithographic apparatus includes a liquid supply system to supply an immersion liquid between a downstream lens of a projection system of the lithographic apparatus and a substrate. The lithographic apparatus further includes a closing element to close an underside of the liquid supply system thus preventing leaking of the immersion liquid from the liquid supply system when the substrate is removed from the underside of the liquid supply system. According to an aspect of the invention, an inductive sensor may be used to measure a position of the closing element. The inductive sensor may include an eddy current sensor. A metal foil or other conductive layer may be applied to the closing element. According to an aspect of the invention, a fast return of the closing disc into the holder is now made possible making use of the position of the closing disc as established with the inductive sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lithographic apparatus and a method to handle a closing element of the lithographic apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In such a case, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g. including part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Conventional lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at once, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
It has been proposed to immerse the substrate in the lithographic projection apparatus in a liquid having a relatively high refractive index, e.g. water, so as to fill a space between the final element of the projection system, i.e. the bottom of the projection system, and the substrate. This enables more accurate projections and imaging of smaller features since the exposure radiation will have a shorter wavelength in the liquid. The effect of the immersion liquid may also be regarded as increasing the effective numerical aperture number NA of the system and also increasing the depth of focus. Other immersion liquids have been proposed, including water with solid particles (e.g. quartz) suspended therein. Thus, a lithographic apparatus may be provided with a fluid provider which is arranged to provide the immersion liquid, or to keep the liquid in its place. The liquid may be flowing to avoid local heating.
The substrate, or the substrate and the substrate table, may be immersed in a bath of immersion liquid. An example of such an arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,852 which hereby is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, the immersion liquid may be provided by a liquid supply system only on a localized area of the substrate and in between the final element of the projection system and the substrate using a liquid confinement system, the substrate generally having a larger surface area than the final element of the projection system. An example of such an arrangement is disclosed in International Patent Application No. 99/49,504 which hereby is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The liquid is supplied by at least one inlet on the substrate, preferably along a direction of movement of the substrate relative to the final element of the projection system, and the liquid is discharged by at least one outlet which may be connected to a low pressure source. Various orientations and numbers of inlets and outlets positioned near the periphery of the final element are possible. Further, a liquid supply system may be provided with a seal member which extends along at least a part of a boundary of the space between the final element of the projection system and the substrate table. The seal member is substantially stationary relative to the projection system in the XY plane though there may be some relative movement in the Z direction (the direction of the optical axis of the projection system). A seal is formed between the seal member and the surface of the substrate. Preferably the seal is a contactless seal such as a gas seal, which may further function as a gas bearing. An example of such an arrangement is disclosed in European Patent Application No. 03252955.4 which hereby is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
European Patent Application No. 03257072.3, which hereby is incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a twin or dual stage immersion lithography apparatus. Such an apparatus is provided with two stages for supporting the substrate. Leveling measurements are carried out with a stage at a first position, without the presence of an immersion liquid, and exposure is carried out with a stage at a second position, where an immersion liquid is present. Alternatively, the apparatus has only one stage.
A closing disk may have been provided to close an underside of the liquid supply system when e.g. the substrate is taken away, thereby preventing the immersion liquid to flow away. In a current implementation, the closing disc is held by a holder such as a pocket which may be located in an outside area of a top surface of the wafer stage or substrate table. When illumination of a substrate has taken place, the substrate table may be moved such that the liquid supply system faces the closing disc, thus in other words is positioned over the closing disc by moving the substrate table or stage with respect to the liquid supply system. The closing disc may now be taken out of the holder by the liquid supply system, the closing disc thereby preventing a flowing away of the immersion liquid held by the liquid supply system, as an underside of the liquid supply system is closed thereby. The substrate table may now be taken away from the liquid supply system, to e.g. change the substrate, etc. The closing disc may be held by the liquid supply system by means of under pressure such as by means of vacuum suction. When a following substrate it to be illuminated by the lithographic apparatus, the closing disc may be guided back to the holder, e.g. by moving the substrate table/substrate stage and the liquid supply system with respect to each other such that the closing disc is brought back to the holder again. An issue which comes forward now is that in current implementations, a size of the holder is only marginally larger than a size of the closing disc to keep a gap between the closing disc and the surface of the substrate table/stage to a minimum. This gap is to be kept to a minimum as thereby a leakage of the immersion liquid between the surface of the substrate table/stage and the closing disc may be prevented to a large extent when the substrate table/stage is moved with respect to the liquid supply system such that the position of the liquid supply system changes from facing the substrate to facing the closing disc, whereby the gap between the substrate table and the closing disc is to be passed. Due to this small cap, an accurate positioning of the closing disc is required when the closing disc is positioned back into the holder again. According to the state of the art, this is performed by slowly bringing the closing disc (held by the liquid supply system) and the holder which forms part of the substrate table/stage together until a mechanical contact is established between the closing disc and the holder. Additionally, a position of the closing disc is according to the state of the art measured periodically, e.g. a measurement being performed after a predetermined number of substrates have been illuminated by the lithographic apparatus, an example of such number being 100 illuminations. Such a position measurement is in the state of the art performed by an optical measurement, in particular in that a marker has been located on the closing disc, an optical measurement being performed by the projection system to detect a position of the marker. In a current implementation, the marker comprises a transmission image sensor (TIS) marker, the measurement system comprising a transmission image sensor measurement system. By the measurement, a deviation of an expected position of the closing disc may be corrected. The optical measurement requires a relatively long measurement time, and therefore performing the measurement more frequently would further reduce a speed of the lithographic apparatus.
One of the requirements for future generations of lithographic apparatuses is to increase a number of substrates of wafers that the lithographic apparatus is able to process in a certain time span, in other words to increase a speed or yield of the lithographic apparatus. Efforts are spent to increase a scanning of the substrate, improve accuracy to prevent incorrect illuminations of the substrate, etc. From this view point, the current bringing back of the closing disc to the holder at a low speed may be desirable.

Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method


An image-recording apparatus 1 includes image recording assembly 60 and a control section 40 having image-processing section 44. The image-processing section divides the image data indicative of the complete image into a plurality of image data pieces indicative of divided images, detects two adjoining divided-images that individually have a joint portion and adjoin each other at the respective joint portions, in the divided images indicated by the divided image data pieces and rotates one of the adjoining divided-images so as to make a recording direction of one of the adjoining divided-images opposite to a recording direction of the other adjoining divided-image. The control section controls the image recording assembly so that a recording medium carries in one direction during recording all divided-images. The divided images are recorded on the respective recording-media one by one to form a plurality of output images. The plurality of output images configure one complete image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-recording apparatus and a method that records images on a recording-medium. The present invention also relates to a program for processing images recorded on the recording-medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image-recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer records images by sticking ink to a recording-medium such as paper. The image-recording apparatus has a recording-head for discharging ink to the recording-medium, a carriage for holding the recording-head, a recording-medium-carrying mechanism for carrying the recording-medium, and carriage-driving assembly for moving the recording-head in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to a carrying direction (subscanning direction) of the recording-medium by the recording-medium-carrying mechanism.
Such an image-recording apparatus is operated so as to form one desired image. In the specification, one desired image recorded by the image-recording apparatus is referred to as a "complete image". To record the complete image, image data of the complete image is supplied to the image-recording apparatus. In the specification, image data, which becomes a basis for the complete image is referred to as "basic image data".
Such an image-recording apparatus first obtains the basic image data in order to record the complete image. Then, the image-recording apparatus records the complete image based on the basic image data. Specifically, the image-recording apparatus drives the carriage in the main scanning direction. The image-recording apparatus applies ink drops to the recording-medium by the recording-head, which moves in conjunction with the driving. Accordingly, the image-recording apparatus is operated to land ink drops substantially at equal pitches in the main scanning direction, and to record an image equivalent to a width of the recording-head. The image-recording apparatus repeats this operation for the recording-medium sequentially carried in the subscanning direction. By this repeated operation, the image-recording apparatus records the desired entire image (complete image) on the recording-medium.
If a width of the complete image is larger than a width of the recording-medium in the main scanning direction, the image-recording apparatus divides the complete image into a plurality of images, and records them on recording-media, respectively. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 25, the image-recording apparatus first reads basic image data GD in order to record a complete image CG larger in width than the recording-medium. Then, the image-recording apparatus divides this basic image data GD into two divided-images SG substantially equal in width to the recording-medium in the main scanning direction. In other words, the basic image data GD is divided so that the two divided-images SG may be arrayed in the main scanning direction. Thus, the divided-images SG are arrayed in width directions of their own. The width array direction which is the arraying direction of each of the divided-images SG is indicated by a reference code dw in FIG. 25.
Subsequently, the image-recording apparatus records each of the divided-images SG on the respective recording-medium to form an output image OG for the each of the divided-image SG. The output image OG has one end OGa and the other end OGb in the main scanning direction. In other words, the output image OG has one end OGa and the other end OGb in the width direction of the recording-medium. One end OGa corresponds to one end of the recording-medium, and the other end OGb corresponds to the other end of the recording-medium. The output image OG is recorded by the recording-head, which is moved from one end OGa to the other end OGb. Accordingly, in the main scanning direction, one end OGa is a recording-start position sp of the recording-head, and the other end OGb is a recording-end position ep of the recording-head. In FIG. 25, a moving direction of the recording-head in the main scanning direction is indicated by an arrow md.
Each of the divided-images SG arrayed in the width array direction ds is recorded on the output image OG. Thus, the output images OG are arrayed in the width array direction dw as in the arraying case of the divided-images SG to form the complete image CG. Specifically, the complete image CG is formed by connecting the other end OGb of one output image with one end OGa of the other output image. As shown in FIG. 25, in the complete image CG, a joined portion between the two output images OG is indicated by a reference code JP.
Thus, in order to form one complete image CG, the image-recording apparatus divides the basic image data GD to record them on the plurality of recording-media.
A temperature increase of the recording-head accompanying the image recording causes a gradual reduction in viscosity of the ink in the recording-head. In the recording-head, if the viscosity of the ink is reduced, the amount of ink drops discharged at a time is increased, and a diameter of an ink dot to be recorded is enlarged. Since the recording-head carries out recording by discharging ink while moving in the main scanning direction, an optical density (OD) of the image recorded by the recording-head is gradually increased in the main scanning direction. In the output image OG, the recording-start position sp in the main scanning direction is one end OGa, and the recording-end position ep is the other end OGb. Because of a density difference in the main scanning direction, an optical density varies from one end OGa to the other end OGb. An optical density difference between one end OGa and the other end OGb of the output image OG may become about 0.02 or higher.
Generally, human vision recognizes a difference in image density between adjacent images when an optical density difference between the adjacent images is about 0.02 or higher. In the output image OG, the recorded image is continuous from one end OGa to the other end OGb, and the optical density is gradually changed from one end OGa to the other end OGb. Thus, even if the optical density difference between one end OGa and the other end OGb is about 0.02 or higher, the general human vision does not recognize the image density difference in the output image OG.
However, as described above, when the plurality of output images OG are combined to form the complete image CG, one end OGa of one output image OG is adjacent to the other end OGb of the other output image OG in the joined portion JP of the complete image CG. That is, in the joined portion JP, the image recorded in the recording-start position sp and the image recorded in the recording-end position ep are adjacent to each other. This occurs because the recording-start positions of one output image OG and the other output image OG in the main scanning direction are arranged in the same direction (left side in FIG. 25).
Thus, if each output image OG has an optical density difference of 0.02 or higher between one end OGa and the other end OGb as described above, an optical density difference between the adjacent images becomes 0.02 or higher in the joined portion JP as shown in FIG. 26. Accordingly, an observer who observes the complete image CG recognizes that the image density of the complete image is discontinuous in the joined portion JP that is a boundary between the two output images OG. As a result, the complete image CG is recognized to be bad in quality as one image.
To solve the above problem, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 5-238018 discloses an image-recording apparatus. The image-recording apparatus of Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 5-238018 is configured similarly to the aforementioned image-recording apparatus, but different in a recording method when an image larger than the width of the recording-medium in the main scanning direction. Hereinafter, description will be made of an image forming method of the image-recording apparatus of the publication.
The image-recording apparatus of the publication reads basic image data GD to be recorded. Then, the image-recording apparatus divides the basic image data GD into a plurality of divided-images SG substantially equal in width to the recording-medium in the main scanning direction. As in the case of the aforementioned image-recording apparatus, the basic image data GD is divided so that the divided-images SG may be arrayed in the main scanning direction. The basic image data GD is divided into two divided-images SG as in the case of the aforementioned conventional image-recording apparatus.
Subsequently, one image SG is recorded to form an output image OG′ as in the case of the aforementioned conventional image-recording apparatus. Thus, in the output image OG′, a recording-start position sp and a recording-end position ep are similar to those of the aforementioned conventional image-recording apparatus.
The other image SG is recorded to form an output image OG″ by moving the recording-head in a direction opposite to a direction md′ for recording the output image OG′. In FIG. 27, a moving direction of the recording-head when the output image OG″ is recorded is indicated by an arrow md″. Thus, recording of the output image OG′ is started from the left side on the recording-medium in FIG. 27. Recording of the output image OG″ is started from the right in FIG. 27. Thus, when the output image OG″ is recorded, the recording-start position sp is set on the other end 0Gb″ side, and the recording-end position ep is set on one end OGa″ side as shown in FIG. 27. That is, the output image OG′ and the output image OG″ are opposite to each other in recording-start positions sp and recording-end positions ep in the scanning direction.
The recorded output images OG′, OG″ are arrayed as in the case of the divided-images SG to form a complete image CG. Thus, as in the case of the aforementioned conventional image-recording apparatus, the complete image CG is formed by connecting the other end OGb′ of the output image OG′ with one end OGa″ of the output image OG″. However, the output image OG′ and the output image OG″ are opposite to each other in the recording-start positions sp and the recording-end positions ep in the main scanning direction. Accordingly, images recorded in the recording-end positions ep of the output image OG′ and the output image OG″ are adjacent to each other in the joined portion JP. As a result, the image-recording apparatus of the publication enables recording of each output image so as to form a complete image without any quality deterioration even if there is an optical density difference between one end OGa and the other end OGb of each of the output images OG′ and OG″ due to a temperature increase of the recording-head.
However, the cause of the optical density difference between one end OGa and the other end OGb of the output image OG is not limited to the main scanning direction movement of the recording-head which temperature is increased by driving such as ink discharging. For example, the optical density difference of the output image may occur because of ink absorption characteristics of the recording-medium. For example, coated paper as a recording-medium on which surface a coating solution is applied is manufactured as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 28, a coating solution 203 is applied on paper 201 as a recording-medium by a coating device 202. After the application of the coating solution 203, the paper 201 is dried by an oven 204. The coated paper is dried and wound in a roll to be completed.
In the above manufacturing, the applied coating solution must be uniform in thickness throughout the entire width direction of the paper. However, if there is variance in coating accuracy in the paper width direction by the coating device, the amount of coating varies in the paper width direction. Consequently, coated paper that varies in a thickness of a coated layer in the paper width direction is manufactured. Additionally, in the oven 204, heat is concentrated in the center rather than in both ends in the width direction of the recording-medium. Consequently, in the coated paper, a difference is generated in drying of the coating solution between the center and both ends. Thus, ink absorption characteristics vary from both ends to the center. Because of variance in carrying accuracy of a sheet may cause a misalignment between the coated paper and the oven. In this case, a difference may be generated in ink absorption characteristics between one end and the other end of the coated paper, which may cause a density difference or a color tones difference such as a color difference. At a place of good ink absorption characteristics, an image density becomes thick because ink is received well. At a place of bad reception characteristics, an image density becomes thin because ink is not received well.
As causes of the optical density difference between one end OGa and the other end OGb of the output image OG, there are variance in platen gap (gap between the head and a platen) due to mechanical accuracy difference, variance in ink dot alignment in multipass, etc.
The image-recording apparatus of the publication cannot solve the optical density difference or the color tones difference generated between one end OGa and the other end OGb of the output image OG by the cause other than the main scanning direction movement of the recording-head which temperature is increased by the driving such as ink discharging. Particularly, when there is variance in assembling accuracy of members the carriage-driving assembly or driving control accuracy of the carriage, an image density varies from one end to the other end in the main scanning direction, or the characteristics of the recording-medium in the width direction is not uniform, it is difficult to solve the optical density difference simply by changing the movement start position or moving direction of the recording-head in the main scanning direction.
Therefore, there is a demand for an image-recording apparatus in which a density difference in a joined portion of a recording-medium after recording is not visually conspicuous when an image output larger in width than the recording-medium in a main scanning direction is divided to be recorded on a plurality of recording-media, and which can obtain a large image output of high recording quality.

Image-Recording Apparatus and method for dividing a complete image for recording onto a plurality of recording media


A fixing device includes a fixing member, a heating device for heating the fixing member, a pressure member, and a separation unit. The pressure member is pressed against the fixing member to form a fixing nip for receiving a recording medium carrying an unfixed toner image and fixing the unfixed toner image on the recording medium. The separation unit has a surface facing the fixing member and having an opening therein. The separation unit includes a separation member and a removable rubbing member. The separation member disposed in the opening in the separation unit to be located near an exit of the fixing nip separates the recording medium from the fixing member. The rubbing member is housed in the separation unit and contactable with the fixing member through the opening in the separation unit, and rubs against a surface of the fixing member.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a fixing device and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine combining the functions of at least two of these apparatuses.
2. Related Art
A typical electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that includes a fixing member and a pressure member for forming a fixing nip, receives a recording medium (i.e., sheet) carrying an unfixed toner image and fed to the fixing nip, and fixes the unfixed toner image on the recording medium with heat and pressure. If recording media of a predetermined size in the width direction of the fixing member pass through this type of fixing device, the side edges of the recording media pass through the same positions. If most of recording media used in the image forming apparatus have the same size, therefore, the side edges of the recording media mostly pass through the same positions on the fixing member. The edges of recording media are burred in a cutting process, and the burred edges of the recording media passing through the same positions on the fixing member damage portions of a surface of the fixing member through which the burred edges pass. As a result, image defects such as streaky unevenness in density appear in the image, degrading the image quality.
To address the above-described issue, the fixing device may be configured to include a rubbing member capable of grinding and restoring the surface of the fixing member damaged by the edges of the recording media.
The rubbing member provided in the fixing device, however, increases the size of the fixing device and thus the overall size of the image forming apparatus. Further, the rubbing member has a relatively short lifespan with the restoration performance thereof degraded with time. It is therefore desirable to periodically replace the rubbing member with a new one, and therefore a fixing device allowing easy replacement of the rubbing member is desired.

Fixing device including a separation unit and image forming apparatus thereof


An approach for implementing function semantic based partition-wise SQL execution and partition pruning in a data processing system is provided. The system receives a query directed to a range-partitioned table and determines if operation key(s) of the query include function(s) over the table partitioning key(s). If so, the system obtains a set of values corresponding to each partition by evaluating the function(s) on a low bound and/or a high bound table partitioning key value corresponding to the partition. The system may then compare the sets of values corresponding to different partitions and determine whether to aggregate results obtained by executing the query over the partitions based on the comparison. The system may also determine whether to prune any partitions from processing based on a set of correlations between the set of values for each partition and predicate(s) of the query including function(s) over the table partitioning key(s).

In computer systems, a cache refers to a fast-access storage mechanism (such as memory) that holds data so that future requests for that data may be served faster from cache. The data stored in the cache may be the result of an earlier computation, or the duplicate of data stored elsewhere. A data or data item of which a copy is stored in cache is referred to as a source data item. The copy of the source item in the cache is referred to as a cache copy.
Caches are particularly helpful when the original data is expensive to fetch or expensive to compute relative to retrieval from a cache. The process of managing a cache is referred to as cache management. Cache management includes retrieving copies of source data items and storing them in a cache, providing valid cache copies to clients that request copies of a source data item, and maintaining and optimizing the use of a cache. A cache management system may include modules which may be composed of specialized software dedicated to managing one or more caches and may be executed by clients of a cache or servers of the source data, or a combination thereof.
In the context of databases, database caching can substantially improve the efficiency and throughput of database operations/applications, e.g., while processing indexes, data dictionaries and frequently used subsets of data. Database caches greatly improve the scalability and performance of applications that access databases by caching frequently used data.
A client-side query cache is a cache that is located at the database client. There are numerous advantages provided by the client-side cache. For example, if the requested data is located at the cache on the client, the requested data may be retrieved from the cache and thus eliminate the cost and expense of sending the request to the server and receiving the response from the server to retrieve query results. Client machines may also be added horizontally to provide caching capabilities in client memory and reduce the expense of setting up additional servers in supporting caching query results. Furthermore, storage on the client side offers the benefit of not only having the queries closer to the client but also ensure that the client's most relevant query results are stored at that client.
However, storage of query results in a client-side cache may introduce problems pertaining to the correctness of the query results within that cache. Database systems often need to guarantee the validity of query results with respect to transactional consistency, and therefore even if the query results data is obtained from a client-side cache instead of a server, it is expected that cached data being retrieved should not violate the expected guarantees of validity and correctness. For any caches that exist on the server-side (as opposed to the client-side), the correctness of cached data is easily managed since the server can simultaneously execute transactional operations while invalidating data that is out-of-date within its own server-side cache. However, it is a significant challenge to maintain the correctness of data within client-side caches, given the large number of clients in modern database systems with each client having its own cache, and considering the diverse sets of cached data that exists within the caches of each respective client.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved method and mechanism to efficiently and effectively manage invalidations of cached data within database client-side caches.

Consistent client-side caching for fine grained invalidations


A transmission device is connected to a layer 2 switch through a transmission path at one side, and to a relay transmission path at the other side. The transmission path includes a transmission path of a active system and a transmission path of a stand-by system. When failure occurs in the transmission path of the active system, the transmission device forcibly shuts down the transmission path of the active system upon detection of link down, to stop packet transmission, and causes the layer 2 switch to perform MAC address flush. The transmission device then switches the transmission path of the stand-by system to the active system, and transmits packets through the transmission path that has become the active system as a result of switching. The layer 2 switch performs MAC address learning to set a port, thereby maintaining communication even after occurrence of the failure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission device and a redundant configuration between the transmission device and a layer 2 switch.
2. Description of the Related Art
With recent high speed data communication in wide area networks (WAN), demand for services with layer 2, which is low cost and easy to manage, is increasing. For the layer 2 service, a layer 2 switch is used (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-18196). The layer 2 switch is constituted by an input/output port, a media access control (MAC) processing unit, a switch processing unit, and a MAC address table. The layer 2 switch has a virtual bridged local-area-network (VLAN) function and a learn function for learning information (MAC address) about layer 2 (data link layer), and makes determination on frame transfer processing.
In a switching hub, which is commonly used as a layer 2 switch, the input/output port is connected to a WAN or a host, and data is communicated there between. The MAC address processing unit extracts a destination MAC address from a packet that is received through the input/output port, and sends the destination MAC address to the MAC address table. The MAC address table specifies an input/output port through which data is output based on the destination MAC address. The MAC address processing unit sends the packet to the switch processing unit and causes the switch processing unit to output the packet from the specified input/output port.
A layer 2 switch used for wide-area layer 2 network services that are provided mainly by communication carriers is connected to a terminal device or the like of a subscriber through a transmission path at one side, and to a wide-area layer 2 network through a transmission device at the other side of an input/output port. The layer 2 switch and the transmission device are installed at one station. Other stations have the same configuration. When connection is established between distant places through a transmission device in this manner, measures against failure, such as disconnection of the transmission path, are required, to maintain stability and reliability of the services.
A technique has been proposed in which more than one operating path are provided between network devices, and a different route is used when failure occurs in one operating path (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-26956). Moreover, a technique has been proposed in which a MAC address table is managed, and when inconsistency with an actual connection state is found in the MAC address table due to failure in connection with an external device or the like, the MAC address table is appropriately updated to prevent network load increases caused by retransmission of packets and the like (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-151674).
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional redundant configuration using plural layer 2 switches. The redundant configuration shown in FIG. 12 is an original configuration by a layer 2 switch manufacturer. Layer 2 switches 53 and 54 are connected to a plurality of ports 51a and 51b of a transmission device 50, respectively. The layer 2 switch 53 is used as a master and the layer 2 switch 54 is used as a slave, and the redundant configuration with two transmission paths 55a and 55b is established. These master/slave layer 2 switches 53 and 54 are connected to a single layer 2 switch 56 to be connected to a subscriber. The layer 2 switch 56 has a hot standby function, and enables switching of transmission paths to the transmission path 55b if transmission path is disconnected due to failure occurred at a point X on the transmission path 55b.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining link aggregation by the layer 2 switch. The link aggregation is defined by IEEE 802.1ad, and is a function of obtaining a line speed faster than the physical speed of a single line by using more than one transmission path. Between two ports of the transmission device 50 and two ports of the layer 2 switch 53, two lines of the transmission paths 55 (55a, 55b) are connected. With this arrangement, a line speed twice as fast (for example, 2 GBit/sec) as the physical line speed of one transmission path (for example, 1 GBit/sec) can be obtained.
However, the layer 2 switch currently used by communication carriers for the layer 2 services is not equipped with a redundancy function of the transmission path to the transmission device. Therefore, if failure occurs in the transmission path between the transmission device and the layer 2 switch disconnecting the transmission line, service is stopped at once.
If it is configured to switch the disconnected transmission route to another route as the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-26956, more than one transmission device and more than one wide area transmission path are required, resulting in increased installation cost and complicated operation and maintenance. In addition, the network devices must communicate control packets to monitor the condition of each other using a port of the network device that is on standby, and a function for performing a control process on the communicated control packets must be prepared in both of the network devices.
Furthermore, in the configuration shown in FIG. 12, three layer 2 switches 53, 54, and 56 are required. Since the number of devices increases, the installation cost increases. Moreover, when the transmission path is disconnected due to failure on the transmission path 55a, it is necessary to send disconnection information i to a transmission device 58 installed in a receiver station through a relay transmission path 57. Therefore, route switching within a section (station) cannot be performed.
If the route switch within a section cannot be performed, cost and labor for operation management increase due to the complicated network. FIG. 14 is a schematic of route switching when failure occurs. The configuration of the transmission device is omitted therein. A center station includes the master and slave layer 2 switches 53 and 54. When a plurality of terminal stations 60 (60a, 60b, . . . , 60n) are connected to this center station, each of the terminal stations 60 is required to be connected to both of the master and slave layer 2 switches 53 and 54 through the transmission paths 57. Thus, the number of the transmission paths 57 increases, complicating the network structure. For example, the terminal station 60a must be connected to the master and slave layer 2 switches 54 and 54 using two transmission paths 57a and 57c.
In addition, when the transmission 55a of the master layer 2 switch 53 is disconnected due to failure at the point X and the like, it is necessary to switch, in the center station, from the master to the slave, and further, it is necessary to switch from the master transmission path 57a to the slave transmission path 57b. Furthermore, if such failure occurs in the center station, the entire system in the transmission path 57 must be switched from the master to the slave. The center station must inform the switching of the transmission path 57 and the switching from the master to the slave to each of the terminal stations 60, complicating operation management.
Moreover, since the link aggregation function shown in FIG. 13 uses two lines of transmission paths, if one of the transmission paths 55, for example, the transmission path 55a, is disconnected due to failure, the communication speed is reduced by half. Therefore, it becomes impossible to obtain the prescribed line speed. Furthermore, since two ports in the layer 2 switch 53 to which the transmission path 55 is connected uses a single interface card 53a, if this interface card 53a breaks, the communication service is stopped at once.
As described above, from the view points of operation management and cost, a redundant configuration between a transmission device and a layer 2 switch is demanded such that the configuration is applicable to both Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) (registered trademark) and Fast Ethernet (FE) (registered trademark), and switching of routes between the transmission device and the layer 2 switch is not affected by the switching of other transmission paths, for example, relay transmission paths.

Transmission device and redundant configuration between transmission device and layer 2 switch


A technique for mounting polishing pads to a platen in chemi-mechanical semiconductor wafer polishing apparatus is disclosed. A lower pad is mounted to the platen, and is trimmed to the size of the platen. An upper pad is mounted to the lower pad, and is sized so that an extreme outer edge portion of the upper pad extends beyond the trimmed outer edge of the lower pad. The outer edge portion of the upper pad is deformed downwardly, towards the lower pad. In this manner, polishing slurry is diverted from the pad-to-pad interface. Additionally, an integral annular lip can be formed on the front face of the upper pad, creating a reservoir for slurry to be retained on the face of the upper pad for enhancing residence time of the polishing slurry prior to the slurry washing over the face of the upper pad.

Chemi-mechanical polishing of semiconductor wafers is useful, at various stages of device fabrication, for planarizing irregular top surface topography, inter alia. For example, in the process of fabricating modern semiconductor integrated circuits, it is necessary to form conductive lines or other structures above previously formed structures. However, prior structure formation often leaves the top surface topography of the silicon wafer highly irregular, with bumps, areas of unequal elevation, troughs, trenches and/or other surface irregularities. As a result of these irregularities, deposition of subsequent layers of materials could easily result in incomplete coverage, breaks in the deposited material, voids, etc., if subsequent layers were deposited directly over the aforementioned highly irregular surfaces. If the irregularities are not alleviated at each major processing step, the top surface topography of the surface irregularities will tend to become even more irregular, causing further problems as layers stack up in further processing of the semiconductor structure.
Depending upon the type of materials used and their intended purposes, numerous undesirable characteristics are produced when these deposition irregularities occur. Incomplete coverage of an insulating oxide layer can lead to short circuits between metallization layers. Voids can trap air or processing gases, either contaminating further processing steps or simply lowering overall device reliability. Sharp points on conductors can result in unusual, undesirable field effects. In general, processing high density circuits over highly irregular structures can lead to very poor yield and/or device performance.
Consequently, it is desirable to effect some type of planarization, or flattening, of integrated circuit structures in order to facilitate the processing of multi-layer integrated circuits and to improve their yield, performance, and reliability. In fact, all of today's high-density integrated circuit fabrication techniques make use of some method of forming planarized structures at critical points in the fabrication process.
Planarization techniques generally fall into one of several categories: chemical/mechanical ("chemi-mechanical", or "chem-mech") polishing techniques; leveling with a filler material then etching back in a controlled environment; and various reflow techniques. Etching techniques can include wet etching, dry or plasma etching, electro-polishing, and ion milling, among others. A few less common planarization techniques exist, such as direct deposition of material into a trench by condensing material from a gaseous phase in the presence of laser light. Most of the differences between modern planarization techniques exist in the points in processing that the different techniques are applied, and in which methods and materials are used.
The present invention is directed to a chemi-mechanical polishing process, which generally involves rubbing a wafer with a polishing pad in a slurry containing both an abrasive and chemicals. Typical slurry chemistry is KOH (Potassium Hydroxide), having a pH of about 11. Generally, polishing slurry is expensive, and cannot be recovered or reused. Typical usage (feed) rates for slurry are on the order of 175 ml (milli-liters) per minute. A typical silica-based slurry is "SC-1" available from Cabot Industries. Another, more expensive slurry based on silica and cerium (oxide) is Rodel "WS-2000".
Chemi-mechanical polishing is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,671,851, 4,910,155, 4,944,836, all of which patents are incorporated by reference herein. When chemi-mechanical polishing is referred to hereinafter, it should be understood to be performed with a suitable slurry, such as Cabot SC-1.
The current state of the art in dielectric film polishing for silicon wafers strongly suggests (requires) the use of more than one polishing pad. For example, two pads are assembled together into a "stack", which may be termed a "composite polishing pad". The (upper) top pad, which performs the actual polishing (i.e., contacts the wafer), is typically stiffer than the more compliant bottom pad, which is mounted to a rotating platen. A pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) provided by the pad manufacturer on the back face of the pads is typically used to adhere the pads together and to the platen. The platen (and pads) rotates, and a semiconductor wafer mounted to a carrier is lightly urged against the exposed face of the upper polishing pad. The wafer may also be rotated, and may also be moved in an arcuate path across the face of the upper pad, resulting in a complex polishing motion. Generally, the wafer contacts the pad in an area away from its outer edge and away from its center or, in other words, generally in an area described by about the middle two-thirds the radius "r" of the pad (i.e., avoiding the innermost and outermost pad areas corresponding to r=0 through r/6, and 5r/6 through r, respectively).
FIG. 1 shows a typical technique for chemi-mechanical polishing. A first, lower disc-shaped pad 102 (PAD A) having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 104 on its back face is adhered (shown exploded) to the front face of a rotating platen 106 (PLATEN). A second, upper disc-shaped pad 108 (PAD B) having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 110 on its back face is adhered (shown exploded) to the front face of the lower pad 102. The pads 102 and 108 form a composite pad "stack". The platen 106 is rotated, and a metered stream of slurry 112 (shown as dots) from a slurry supply 114 is delivered via a slurry feed 116 to the front face of the upper pad 108 (PAD B).
Evidently, centrifugal forces and gravity will cause the slurry to flow (wash) over the periphery of the upper pad 108 (PAD B). This is especially evident since the front face of PAD B is specifically intended to be extremely planar for planar polishing of the wafer. This planarity, however, allows the slurry to flow easily off of the face of PAD B, thereby reducing the slurry's "residence time" on the face of the upper pad. Normally, slurry washes over the face of the upper pad before it is efficiently employed (i.e., fully depleted) for polishing, and typically cannot be recovered and recycled.
A silicon wafer 120 is mounted to a carrier 122, and is lightly pressed (flat, coplanar) against the front surface of the upper pad (PAD B) so that formations (on the pad-confronting face of the wafer) sought to be polished are acted upon by the action of the upper pad (PAD B) and the slurry. Typically, the pads 102 and 108 and the platen 106 are on the order of 20-33 inches in diameter, but can be as large as 36 inches in diameter, the wafer is on the order of 4-6 inches in diameter and, as mentioned above, polishing is performed in the center 2/3 portion of the upper pad (PAD B).
A reservoir 130 contains the platen, pads, carrier, wafer and polishing slurry.
As the slurry is used, it exits the front surface of the upper pad 108 (PAD B) and, as noted above, is not recovered. Evidently, the slurry must be fed onto PAD B at the rate that it exits PAD B, and preferably the rate would be optimized so that the slurry is entirely used, with no loss of un-depleted (un-consumed) slurry. However, this is generally not the case, and the slurry feed rate is established to be higher than would be necessary to deplete the slurry. The slurry is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a single layer of dots on the face of the upper pad, indicating that it is difficult to retain slurry on the front face of the upper pad (PAD B).
Typical pad materials are: (1) for the lower pad 102 (PAD A), foamed polyurethane; and (2) for the upper pad 108 (PAD B), polyester felt stiffened with a polyurethane resin (matrix). The adhesive backings 104 and 110 for the pads are typically polyurethane-based, pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). Generally, it is preferable that the upper pad (PAD B) is stiffer than the lower pad (PAD A). In the case that both pads are doped with polyurethane resin, this can be achieved simply by doping PAD B with more polyurethane than PAD A. Typical pad thickness is on the order of 0.050 inches.
Two failure modes are of particular interest. In one mode, the slurry is gradually "wicked" into the pads and gradually attacks the adhesive, and adhesive failure can be expected in about thirty days of usage, which is generally acceptable. This is illustrated at 124, where slurry 112 is shown permeating PAD B and attacking adhesive 110 at the pad-to-pad interface of the upper and lower pads. In another, much more catastrophic mode, the slurry attacks the adhesive bond between PAD A and PAD B directly, edgewise at the adhesive boundary (pad-to-pad interface) between the pads, and failure may occur within one half hour, which is very unacceptable. This is illustrated at 126, where slurry is shown attacking the adhesive 110 edgewise between the two pads. Eventually, and usually abruptly, the pads will delaminate (come unglued) from one another, which will require stopping the polishing process (possibly damaging an in-process wafer), and re-setting up the polishing equipment. This is not desirable.
It is known to provide a plastic or rubber ring (dam) around the periphery of the pads and platen, extending upward above the front face of the upper pad (PAD B), primarily for the purpose of creating a reservoir of slurry on the front face of PAD B, which will allow the slurry to be retained longer on the face of PAD B.
FIG. 2 illustrates a technique 200 whereby a rubber ring/dam 202 encircling an upper pad 204, a lower pad 206 and a platen 208, and extending above the front surface of the upper pad 202. In this manner, a "pool" 210 of slurry (shown as several rows of dots) is created on the face of the upper pad, which allows greater residence time in which the slurry can perform its intended function before washing over the top edge of the dam 202.
Use of the dam/ring is primarily directed to optimizing interaction of the slurry with the wafer before the slurry overflows the dam/ring, and requires additional set-up of the polishing apparatus. And, to a much lesser degree, use of the ring/dam may slightly impede slurry from directly attacking the adhesive 212 in the pad-to-pad interface.
Therefore, there remains a need for effectively addressing the problem of catastrophic delamination of the polishing pads due to slurry attacking the adhesive at the pad-to-pad interface.
As noted above, pad replacement is required at regular intervals. A manufacturer of polishing equipment is Westech (Phoenix, AZ), and of pads is Rodel (Scottsdale, AZ). Pages 13 and 14 of Westech Polisher manual describe the usual process of replacing the pads. As noted therein, "polish pads must be replaced after 15 to 20 hours of operation, or more frequently if there is excessive buildup of [slurry]." Experience shows that replacement may be required after only a few hours of use due to the delamination of the pads resulting from encroachment of the slurry solution into the pad-to-pad interface. It is suspected that the slurry solution acts as a release agent for the PSA (adhesive) film between the pads (see, e.g., FIG. 1, 110).
Understandably, the replacement pads are shipped oversize, larger than the platen to which they will be mounted, so that they may be mounted (adhered) to the platen and then trimmed to size. For purposes of this discussion, the platen has a diameter of 30 inches, and the pads are shipped with a diameter of 33 inches. If the pads were shipped the same size as the platen, a minor misalignment when adhering the pads to the platen would result in exposing the platen surface. This is undesirable for many reasons, among which is the possibility that the slurry will etch the front face of the platen. By way of analogy, those familiar with installing formica (TM) will appreciate that an oversize sheet of formica is fitted to an underlying substrate (e.g., a counter top), and is then trimmed in place to match the peripheral contour of the counter top.
Whether using one or two pads (a two pad system is shown in FIG. 1), the straightforward, recommended technique for trimming the pads is simply to trim them flush around the edge (periphery) of the platen. (See Westech manual, page 14, paragraph "7.") This trimming is suitably accomplished, by hand, with a sharp razor blade or utility knife.
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a technique 300 for assembling polishing pads to a platen for chemi-mechanical polishing. Two pads, an upper pad 302 and a lower pad 304, mounted to a platen 306 (the platen is not visible in FIG. 3A, and the adhesive is omitted for illustrative clarity). In this illustration, neither of the pads are trimmed. As is evident from the illustration, the top pad 302 is slightly mis-aligned over the bottom pad 304. This results in the bottom pad 304 protruding beyond the edge of the upper pad 302 in a region 308 extending partially about the circumference of the upper pad. Evidently, the protruding region of the bottom pad 304 forms a "shelf" 310 where slurry can readily collect and attack the adhesive film (not shown) between the two pads by migrating between the two pads. This configuration of pads is typical, albeit exaggerated for illustrative purposes. Although polishing can be performed with pads misaligned as shown, it is expected that they would need replacement on a frequent basis.
FIGS. 4A and 4B show the recommended technique 400 for assembling polishing pads to a platen for chemi-mechanical polishing. Two pads, an upper pad 402 and a lower pad 404, are mounted to a platen 406 (lower pad 404 and platen 40 not visible in FIG. 4A; adhesive omitted for clarity). In this illustration, both pads are trimmed according to standard procedure, i.e., to be coincident with the edge of the platen. In this example, as liquid (slurry) runs over the edge of the pad stack, it merely contacts the edge of the interface between the two pads (See FIG. 1). Nevertheless, the slurry can still migrate between the upper and lower pads, attacking the adhesive layer therebetween, and causing premature delamination of the pad stack. Again, although polishing can be performed with pads neatly trimmed as shown, it is expected that they would need replacement on a frequent basis, albeit less frequently than the misaligned pads of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

Techniques for assembling polishing pads for chemi-mechanical polishing of silicon wafers


A drive device for a movable furniture part, in particular a drawer, includes a housing, an ejection device which is arranged in the housing for ejecting the movable furniture part out of a closed position into an open position, and a retraction device which is arranged in the same housing for retracting the movable furniture part out of an open position into the closed position. The drive device has a first operating mode and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, only the retraction device is operative while opening and closing the movable furniture part, and in the second operating mode, both the ejection device and the retraction device are operative while opening and closing the movable furniture part.

The present invention relates to a drive device and to an item of furniture with such a drive device for a movable furniture part.
For many years there have been efforts in the industry of furniture fittings to incorporate as many movement functions of the movable furniture parts (e. g. drawers, furniture doors and furniture flaps) as possible into one drive device.
For example, EP 2 174 572 A1 shows an opening and closing device which discloses a retraction device (self-closing device) for retracting a movable furniture part into a closed position combined with an ejection device for ejecting the movable furniture part. This document, however, shows a non-generic prior art device as the retraction device and the ejection device are arranged in separate housings. As a consequence, the production effort and the mounting effort are larger. In the case of opening the movable furniture part by over-pressing from the closed position as well as in the case of opening by pulling the movable furniture part situated in the closed position, the unlocking is carried out by a switching element.
In a similar manner, in DE 10 2010 036 903 A1, the retraction device and the ejection device are also formed separately.
A further non-generic drive device is disclosed in WO 2014/165873 A1, also in which here the retraction device and the ejection device are also formed in independent housings. The ejection device can be coupled by a coupling entrainment member with the furniture carcass. The retraction device, in turn, can be coupled by a retraction entrainment member with a catch element of the ejection device. In the case of opening by over-pressing, an unlocking of the ejection device is carried out. In the case of opening by pulling, the ejection device remains locked and the coupling device is moving loosely relative to the ejection device together with the retraction device which is being tensioned.
A generic document is DE 199 35 120 A1, which discloses in a common housing a retraction device for retracting a movable furniture part into a closed position combined with an ejection device for ejecting the movable furniture part. In this document, all components are movably arranged on a common lower shell, and the cover of this lower shell is removed in the illustrations. The unlocking is carried out by over-pressing the movable furniture part in a closed position. An opening by pulling on the movable furniture part situated in the closed position is not mentioned in this document.
A further generic drive device is shown in DE 21 2012 000 231 U1. In this document, the retraction device as well as the ejection device are arranged in a common housing, and a retraction slider is displaceably supported in or on the ejection slider. In the case of opening by over-pressing, an unlocking is carried out by a locking pin moving away from a latch recess. Also, in the case of opening by pulling, the locking pin is released from the latch recess as this locking pin is moved against the force of an overload spring of an overload device. It is disadvantageous with this construction that the ejection force storage member is relaxing in the case of such an opening by pulling, which is why this ejection force storage member has to be tensioned subsequently. Of course, a locking of the locking pin also has to be carried out again.
In a very similar manner. in WO 2014/008521 A1 the ejection device and the retraction device are also arranged in a common housing. Also, here an unlocking is carried out in the case of opening by pulling, in which the latch element (corresponding to the locking pin) is unlocked. Thus, there are the same disadvantages as with the preceding document.

Drive device for a movable furniture part


Network configuration including: receiving, by a target primary eNB of user equipment, a handover request message transmitted by a source primary eNB of the user equipment, the handover request message containing identification indication information or service indication information of the user equipment in a serving eNB before handover.

In Rel. 12 of a long-term evolution advanced (LTE-A) network, inter-node resource aggregation allows an user equipment (UE, abbreviated to a user or a terminal) to be served by at least two eNBs (a primary eNB and a secondary eNB) simultaneously. The primary eNB can add a serving eNB for the UE via the secondary eNB or new cell adding procedure. When an UE is handed over from a source eNB to a target eNB, the target eNB may possibly start the secondary eNB or the new cell adding procedure to add a new serving eNB for the UE, thereby achieving one UE being served by multiple eNBs.
In an existing mechanism, after the UE is handed over from the source eNB to the target eNB, the target eNB does not add a new serving eNB for the UE; however, this is allowed in Rel. 12. In a process of adding a new serving eNB by the target eNB for the UE, the newly-added serving eNB and the source eNB may possibly serve for the UE jointly when the UE is still at the source eNB, or the newly-added serving eNB may further receive a handover request about the UE from the source eNB. Therefore, as for the same service of the same UE, the newly-added serving eNB will receive requests from different eNBs simultaneously, hence, doubled resourced will be reserved for the same service of the same UE, thereby resulting in unnecessary resource reservation, and limiting the ability of the eNBs to serve for the UE.
It should be noted that the above description of the background is merely provided for clear and complete explanation of the present disclosure and for easy understanding by those skilled in the art. And it should not be understood that the above technical solution is known to those skilled in the art as it is described in the background of the present disclosure.

Network configuration method and apparatus and system


The disclosure describes various embodiments for monitoring safety of an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV). In one embodiment, a method includes the operations of receiving, by a vehicle controller, one or more error message from a patrol module, the one or more error messages generated by an autonomous driving system of the ADV operating in an autonomous mode, the patrol module monitoring the autonomous driving system; evaluating a status of the autonomous driving system based on the one or more error messages; and keeping the ADV in the autonomous mode or switching it to a manual mode based on the status of the autonomous driving system.

Vehicles operating in an autonomous mode (e.g., driverless) can relieve occupants, especially the driver, from some driving-related responsibilities. When operating in an autonomous mode, the vehicle can navigate to various locations using onboard sensors, allowing the vehicle to travel with minimal human interaction or in some cases without any passengers. Like any other types of driving, safety is an indispensable part of autonomous driving. A vehicle operating in an autonomous mode can encounter a variety of issues that may make it unsafe to keep the vehicle in the autonomous mode.
For example, some or all light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors may malfunction. In such a situation, a vehicle operating in an autonomous mode would not be able to accurately perceive and detect obstacles in the surrounding environment, which makes it dangerous to keep driving the vehicle in the autonomous mode.

Automatic driving safety interaction system

BAIDU.COM TIMES TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO. LTD.


Reduction of data packet losses on updating of an address table, stored in a computer of a local network is provided. The address table comprises allocations of computer addresses, valid in the local network, to computer addresses valid in the Internet for transmission of data packets, whereby an address allocation stored in the address table is erased after expiry of a validity timer and the address allocation is firstly requested again and inserted in the address table when a data packet is transmitted to an address internet-valid address of a computer in the local network. During the updating of the address allocation, data packets for transmission are buffered in a buffer memory, the size of the buffer memory being configured corresponding to the expected load of the local network. The size of the buffer memory matches the expected load on the local network.

A large global but decentralized computer network consisting of many subnetworks is generally referred to as the Internet. Such subnetworks can for example be local networks which are geographically restricted. These local networks are also known as Local Area Networks or LANs and can for example be computer networks of individual companies or institutions.
The Internet Protocol, abbreviated to IP, is used for data transfer in the Internet or transfer from or to the individual subnetworks of the Internet. IP is responsible for the connectionless transport of data in packet form—so-called IP packets—from a computer in a subnetwork to a target computer in a subnetwork via a number of subnetworks. So that an IP data packet can be directed to a specific computer in a subnetwork, addressing of the computers in the subnetworks is undertaken in IP. Each computer is assigned an address which is valid in the Internet, known as its IP address, when it is set up.
The communication process will be further explained with the aid of the OSI reference model, which appears especially useful for describing this process. The OSI reference model comprises 7 layers, with                the first layer defining protocols which operate directly on the medium,        the second layer transferring data which is exchanged between two stations, with an error-detection and/or correction protocol,        the third layer handles the transmission of data packets,        the fourth layer looks after the end-to-end connection,        the main task of the fifth layer is the acceptance, the basic execution and the ending of a session from the application layer (also known as layer 7),        the sixth layer interprets the data and ensures the correct syntax and        the seventh layer makes directly distributed data transmission applications available to the user and his programs.
In accordance with the OSI reference model the addressing of a computer is now assigned by the layer 3 IP address. The IP address allows unique addressing of a computer in the Internet or in the subnetwork to which it is assigned. This means that a data packet can be transmitted on the basis of this address valid in the Internet from a sending computer to a target computer, with the two computers being in different subnetworks. The forwarding of the data packets between the subnetworks is undertaken using the IP address. In this case, in accordance with the OSI reference mode data packets received from layer 2 of the OSI reference model which is also called the link layer are transferred, in layer 3, which is also referred to as the network layer. The decision is then made in layer 3 on the basis of the IP address as to the destination of the data packets. In addition to forwarding data packets between various subnetworks, monitoring of the network utilization is also a task of layer 3 of the OSI reference model, which is why the option of buffering data packets is provided in this layer.
Within a subnetwork, especially when this is implemented as a LAN, an additional addressing of the individual computers in the local network is undertaken in layer 2 of the OSI reference model. Layer 2 of the OSI reference model provides an error-free connection between computers as a service within a network. In addition layer 2 also undertakes flow control if data packets cannot be transmitted as quickly as they are being transferred from layer 3 of the OSI reference model. For this flow control a so-called buffer for data packets is provided by layer 2, with a memory of small size for intermediate storage of data packets being referred to as a buffer.
In a LAN, In accordance with the various layers of the OSI reference model, a distinction is made between a hardware address, the so-called Media Access Control or MAC address and the IP address valid in the Internet. Each computer in a local network thus has at least one MAC address and one IP address via which it can be accessed and which are known to the computer. The MAC address, which is unique worldwide if the LAN is based on what is known as Ethernet technology, is used for the transmission of data packets within a local network from a sending computer to a target computer.
In Ethernet technology the data is transported over a shared transmission channel. Access to this transmission channel is undertaken using the collision detection method. This means that each computer which has data to send accesses the shared transmission channel when this channel has been identified by the sending computer as free. The collision-detection method detects and indicates simultaneous access by two computers to the transmission channel. The send process is repeated by the computers after a predetermined time. The data is transmitted in Ethernet technology in what are known as datagrams or frames, of which the length is flexible and into which in frame format the address of the target computer and the address of the sending computer within the local network—i.e. the MAC addresses of the computers are entered.
If a data packet in which the address of the target computer is also packed as an IP address is to be directed to the target computer in a subnetwork realized as a LAN, for the transmission of the data packet the IP address of the target computer must be assigned an address of the target computer which is valid in the local network. For an Ethernet technology-based LAN for example the data packet is packed for transmission into a frame and the MAC address of the target computer is entered into this frame. On the basis of this address valid in the local network the data packet is sent to the target computer.
The address valid in the local network belonging to the IP address of the target computer is requested by the computer which forwards the data packet using a protocol such as the Address Resolution Protocol for example. The Address Resolution Protocol, also abbreviated to ARP, has the task of establishing the formats in which computer addresses are present and of converting these if necessary from one format into the other format.
So that the associated network does not have to be determined for each data packet which is sent to a specific target computer and a local network, the assignments of the computer address valid in the Internet and the local network are stored in an address table. The address assignments in this address table are mostly provided with a timer by which their validity is limited. This means that the address assignments are deleted from the address table after a specific time which is determined by the validity timer timing out. If a further data packet is to be sent to the target computer thereafter for which the address assignment has been deleted from the address table, the assignment between the address of the target computer valid in the Internet and the address valid in the local network must be determined once again and stored once more in the address table.
During the renewed determination of the address assignment however no data packets can be sent to this target computer. A transmission of data packets can only be undertaken after the address assignment has been entered into the address table. With the method known from the prior art data packets which are to be sent during the determination and storage of the address assignment for a target computer are stored for this target computer in the buffer in layer 2 of the OSI reference model.

Method for reduction of data packet losses on updating of an address table


A rotary actuator includes: an electric motor; a case that receives the electric motor; a rotatable body that is configured to transmit an output of the electric motor to an outside of the case; a seal member that seals between the rotatable body and the case; and a labyrinth forming portion that forms a labyrinth space in a path that extends from an outside space of the case to a sealing point of the rotatable body, at which the rotatable body is sealed by the seal member.

Previously, there is known a rotary actuator that is used as a drive device of a shift-by-wire system of a vehicle. At the rotary actuator, an electric motor is received in a case, and a manual shaft of a transmission is fitted to an output shaft of the rotary actuator.


A computer-implemented method to facilitate administration of a network of members. Members of a network are provided with access to a shared message stream such that the members of the network are able to monitor messages generated by other members of the network posted to the shared message stream, wherein at least some of the messages are indicative of operational conditions of particular other members which generated the messages. Responsive to a first member of the network identifying a specific operational condition of the first member, the shared message stream is monitored for a message related to the specific operational condition. Provided the shared message stream includes a message related to the specific operational condition identified by the first member, an association of the message with an indication that the first member identifies with the specific operational condition is established, wherein the first member is configured to establish the association.

Administration of virtualization infrastructures, such as virtual datacenters, is increasingly complex. One of the biggest challenges in virtualized deployments is keeping track of the basic health of the infrastructure. Administrators would like to quickly be informed when problems occur and would also like to have guidance about how to solve issues when they arise. These problems are frequently exacerbated as the virtualized deployments increase in scale. Conventional means for monitoring these large environments typically focus on aggregating and summarizing the amount of data to manageable quantities. Reducing this data is typically challenging, in that both identifying serious issues in the virtualization and intelligent data visualization techniques are valuable.
Automated techniques for monitoring the health of virtualization infrastructure have become increasingly prevalent and helpful. Such approaches typically leverage the collection and analysis of a large number of metrics across an environment in order to provide a concise, simplified view of the status of the entire environment. However, despite the success of such tools, significant amounts of training is often still required in order to obtain to obtain proficiency at understanding and using the output of such tools.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A knitted article, having a basic knitted fabric which is knitted from at least one basic knitted fabric thread, and at least two plush threads which are plated on the basic knitted fabric thread and which configure first and second plush loops, wherein the first and the second plush loops have dissimilar heights.

The invention relates to a knitted article, having a basic knitted fabric which is knitted from at least one basic knitted fabric thread, and at least two plush threads which are plated on the basic knitted fabric thread and which configure first and second plush loops.
Such a knitted fabric is known, for example, from EP 1 997 394 A1. In the case of the knitted article in the form of a stocking disclosed therein, a pronation support and at least one damping zone which can comprise a knitted plush fabric are provided on the knitted fabric side. This knitted plush fabric can be formed from a plush thread which has a lower yarn count, that is to say is thicker, than a second plush thread from which a knitted plush fabric of a plush portion that is adjacent to the region of the pronation support or to the damping zone is formed. On account of the use of such a thicker plush thread in the region that forms the pronation support or the damping zone, respectively, the supporting effect of the pronation support, and the damping effect of the damping zone, can be set or improved respectively, in particular as compared to the plush portion that is knitted from a thinner plush thread.
The local properties of the knitted article are thus influenced here by way of the configuration of plush loops from dissimilarly thick plush threads. The different portions in which the different plush loops are present are separated from one another in the case of the known knitted article.


A disk drive system is disclosed that includes a disk device coupled to control circuitry. The disk device transfers a read signal representing data to the control circuitry, where the control circuitry is configured to receive the read signal and convert it into a data signal. To convert the read signal, the control circuitry samples the read signal to generate read samples. The control circuitry interpolates the read samples using phase error data to generate a first interpolated sample and a second interpolated sample. To generate the phase error data, the control circuitry subtracts the second interpolated sample from the first interpolated sample to generate a first result. The control circuitry subtracts the first interpolated sample from the second interpolated sample to generate a second result. The control circuitry slices the second result to generate a third result. The control circuitry then multiplies the first result and the third result to generate the phase error data. The control circuitry uses the phase error data to precisely interpolate the read samples and synchronize the read samples with a detector clock. The control circuitry then detects the data signal from the read samples.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to the field of disk drive systems, and in particular to a disk drive system with increased reliability resulting from an increased lock range in an I.T.R. circuit.
2. Statement of the Problem
FIG. 1 shows a disk drive system 100. The disk drive system 100 includes a disk device 102 connected to control circuitry 106. The disk device 102 includes storage media 104 that stores data. Some examples of the storage media 104 are magnetic and optical disks. The control circuitry 106 includes a read channel circuit 120 that processes signals from the disk device 102 to re-produce the stored data. The read channel circuit 120 includes a sampling circuit 122, an adaptive filter 124, an interpolated timing recovery (I.T.R.) circuit 126, a detector 128, and a decoder 130 all connected in series. The I.T.R. circuit 126 includes an interpolator 142 that is connected to the adaptive filter 124 and the detector 128. The I.T.R. circuit 126 also includes a phase error detector 144, a filter 146, and an accumulator 148 that are connected in series to form a phase lock loop 140 for the interpolator 142.
If the storage media 104 is a magnetic disk, then the data is exchanged with the magnetic disk as follows. A signal representing the data drives a magnetic head. The magnetic head alters a magnetic field to create magnetic transitions on the magnetic disk. These magnetic transitions represent the data. The head subsequently detects the magnetic transitions to generate a read signal 110. The read signal 110 represents the magnetic transitions. The read channel circuit 120 processes the read signal 110 to produce a data signal 131 that represents the data.
If the storage media 104 is an optical disk, then the data is exchanged with the optical disk as follows. A signal representing the data drives a device that creates pits in the surface of the optical disk. The pits create physical transitions that represent the data. An optical pick-up projects a laser onto the surface of the disk and detects the reflection to generate the read signal 110. The read signal 110 represents the physical transitions. The read channel circuit 120 processes the read signal 110 to produce a data signal 131 that represents the data.
To read the data, the magnetic head or optical pick-up must first be positioned over the transitions on the disk that correspond to the data. To facilitate this positioning, servo information that identifies various locations on the disk is stored on the disk at the corresponding locations. The read signal includes this servo information. The control circuitry 106 processes the servo information to control the positioning of the disk device 102.
The read channel circuit 120 operates as follows to convert the read signal 110 into the data signal 131. The sampling circuit 122 converts the read signal 110 from analog to digital by sampling the read signal 110 to generate read samples 123 for the adaptive filter 124. The adaptive filter 124 removes distortion by shaping the read samples 123 to generate equalized samples 125 for the I.T.R. circuit 126. The I.T.R. circuit 126 synchronizes the equalized samples 125 with the detector 128 clock by interpolating the equalized samples 125 at the detector 128 clock times to generate interpolated samples 127. The detector 128 converts the interpolated samples 127 into an encoded bit stream 129 by processing the interpolated samples 127 with a detection algorithm, such as a Viterbi state machine. The decoder 130 decodes the encoded bit stream 129 into the data signal 131 by applying a decoding technique, such as PR4 with D=1 constraints.
The I.T.R. circuit 126 operates as follows to synchronize the equalized samples 125 with the detector 128 clock. The interpolator 142 receives the equalized samples 125 from the adaptive filter 124. The interpolator 142 synchronizes the equalized samples 125 with the detector 128 clock by interpolating the equalized samples 125 at the detector 128 clock times to generate interpolated samples 127. In the phase lock loop 140, the phase error detector 144 receives the interpolated samples 127 and determines the phase error between the interpolated samples 127 and the detector 128 clock. The phase error detector 144 generates and transfers phase error data 145 to the filter 146. The filter 146 receives and filters the phase error data 145 to stabilize the phase lock loop 140. The filter 146 transfers the filtered phase error data 147 to the accumulator 148. The accumulator 148 receives and accumulates the filtered phase error data 147. The accumulator 148 transfers the accumulated phase error data 149 to the interpolator 142. The interpolator 142 uses the accumulated phase error data 149 from the phase lock loop 140 to more accurately synchronize the equalized samples 125 with the detector 128 clock. The I.T.R. circuit 126 configuration is a conventional phase lock loop 140 that is well known in the art. The interpolator 142, the filter 146, and the accumulator 148 are conventional components and for a more detailed description, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,332 entitled xe2x80x9cSampled Amplitude Read Channel Employing Interpolated Timing Recoveryxe2x80x9d, which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.
FIG. 2 depicts the phase error detector 144 within the I.T.R. circuit 126. The phase error detector 144 includes a first delay 210, a second delay 211, a slicer 220, a first multiplier 230, a second multiplier 231, and a subtractor 240. The phase error detector 144 generates phase error data 145 for the phase lock loop 140. The phase error data 145 allows the I.T.R. circuit 126 to more accurately synchronize the equalized samples 125 with the detector 128 clock.
The slicer 220 generates a binary output by comparing the input sample to a positive and,negative threshold. If the sample is above the positive threshold, then the output is a xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d. If the sample is below the negative threshold, then the output is a xe2x80x9cxe2x88x921xe2x80x9d. If the sample is between the positive and negative thresholds, then the output is a xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d.
The phase error detector 144 receives the interpolated samples 127 from the interpolator 142 including a current sample y0 and a previous sample y1. The slicer 220 slices the current sample y0 to generate a current slice value s0. The first multiplier 230 receives and multiplies the current slice value s0 and the previous sample y1 to generate a first result s0y1. The first delay 210 stores the previous sample y1 for the first multiplier 230. The first multiplier 230 transfers the first result s0y1. The second multiplier 231 receives and multiplies the current sample y0 and a previous slice value s1 to generate a second result s1y0. The previous slice value s1 is the result of the slicer 220 slicing the previous sample y1 as described above. The second delay 211 stores the previous slice value s1 for the second multiplier 231. The second multiplier 231 transfers the second result s1y0. The subtractor 240 receives the first result s0y1and the second result s1y0, and subtracts the second result s1y0 from the first result s0y1 to generate a final result s0y1xe2x88x92s1y0. The final result s0y1xe2x88x92s1y0 represents the phase error corresponding with the current sample y0. The phase error detector 144 transfers the final result s0y1xe2x88x92s1y0 as the phase error data 145.
The performance of the phase lock loop 140 is characterized by a lock range. The lock range indicates the amount of phase error that can be corrected by the phase lock loop 140. When the phase error exceeds the lock range, the phase lock loop 140 operates as if there is no phase error. This results in a false lock where the phase lock loop 140 provides no correction despite the presence of significant phase error.
FIG. 3 depicts a lock range 300 of the I.T.R. circuit 126. The problem with the current I.T.R. circuit 126 is that the lock range 300 is too narrow and is susceptible to a false lock 310. The phase error data 145 increases in a linear relationship to the phase error over a certain range, called the lock range 300. When the phase error exceeds the lock range 300, the phase error detector 144 no longer transfers the correct phase error data 145. As the phase error further increases outside of the lock range 300, the I.T.R. circuit 126 experiences the false lock 310 meaning that the phase lock loop 140 provides no correction despite the presence of significant phase error. The phase error detector 144 appears to be generating correct phase error data 145 when it is not. Without the correct phase error data 145, the I.T.R. circuit 126 cannot properly synchronize the equalized samples 125 with the detector 128 clock. The narrow lock range 300 and the false lock 310 situation introduce errors into the disk drive system 100.
The invention solves the above problem by providing an improved disk drive system with control circuitry that has an increased dynamic lock range and does not create a false lock situation. By increasing the lock range and removing the false lock, the disk drive system converts the read signal into a data signal with fewer errors.
The disk drive system is comprised of a disk device coupled to control circuitry. The disk device transfers a read signal representing data to the control circuitry, where the control circuitry is configured to receive the read signal and convert it into a data signal. To convert the read signal, the control circuitry samples the read signal to generate read samples. The control circuitry interpolates the read samples using phase error data to generate a first interpolated sample and a second interpolated sample. To generate the phase error data, the control circuitry subtracts the second interpolated sample from the first interpolated sample to generate a first result. The control circuitry subtracts the first interpolated sample from the second interpolated sample to generate a second result. The control circuitry slices the second result to generate a third result. The control circuitry then multiplies the first result and the third result to generate the phase error data. The control circuitry uses the phase error data to precisely interpolate the read samples and synchronize the read samples with a detector clock. The control circuitry then detects the data signal from the read samples.

Increased lock range PLL for constrained data