A computer-implemented method for estimating track error covariance of a sensor track data in a Link 16 tactical data link network from track quality involves receiving at a computer system the sensor track data on a ballistic target including the track quality and by estimating the track maturity, the position and velocity error covariance eigenvalues (λp, λv), and the position and velocity error covariances (Cp, Cv), the track error covariance of the sensor track data is calculated. The resulting error covariance is provided to the weapons control systems for more accurate engagement of the ballistic targets.

Target tracking sensor systems, such as radar systems, generate a track data about one or more targets being tracked by the target tracking sensor system and transmit the information to one or more computer systems. Track data comprises position vector and velocity vector and a measure of the data quality. Each of the one or more computer systems utilize the track data to monitor the target, assess the threat posed by the target and take appropriate actions as necessary. Therefore, knowledge of the accuracy of the track data is important for the command and decision system's operation.
Currently, the sensor track data containing the target's state vector (position and velocity) estimates are transmitted via a data link network to the one or more computer systems. For example, the computer systems may be the command and decision systems incorporated in land-based military defense facilities or ocean-going military vessels. The present disclosure relates to Link 16 tactical data link networks, which is an encrypted, jam-resistant, nodeless tactical digital data link network based on MIL-STD-6016.
In Link 16 networks, information on the error in the target's state vector estimates is characterized and transmitted to the various command and decision systems through a track quality (TQ) data. The sensor track data in Link 16 network is referred to as J3.6 messages and includes target track data and TQ data. TQ data quantifies the position error in the track data in terms of a 4 bit value (an integer ranging from 0 to 15) where the value maps to a range of position errors. A more accurate and useful characterization of the error in the target's state vector is the track data error covariance. However, because error covariance data takes 21 real numbers, the bandwidth constraints of the data link network only allows transmission of the track data error covariance upon request. Therefore, there is a need for improving the way the command and decision systems obtain the track data error covariance.


A display and navigation system for use in guiding a medical device to a target in a patient includes a tracking sensor, a tracking device and display. The tracking sensor is associated with the medical device and is used to track the medical device. The tracking device tracks the medical device with the tracking sensor. The display includes indicia illustrating at least five degree of freedom information and indicia of the medical device in relation to the five degree of freedom information.

Image guided medical and surgical procedures utilize patient images obtained prior to or during a medical procedure to guide a physician performing the procedure. Recent advances in imaging technology, especially in imaging technologies that produce highly-detailed, computer-generated two-dimensional and three-dimensional images, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), isocentric C-arm fluoroscopic imaging or two and three-dimensional fluoroscopes or ultrasounds have increased the interest in image guided medical procedures.
During these image guided medical procedures, the area of interest of the patient that has been imaged is displayed on a two-dimensional display. Surgical instruments that are used during this medical procedure are tracked and superimposed onto this two-dimensional display to show the location of the surgical instrument relative to the area of interest in the body. However, these two-dimensional displays are not capable of providing either five or six degrees of freedom information of the instrument or other devices navigated in the body, which may be information in certain medical procedures.
Other types of navigation systems operate as an image-less system, where an image of the body is not captured by an imaging device prior to the medical procedure. With this type of procedure, the system may use a probe to contact certain landmarks in the body, such as landmarks on bone, where the system generates either a two-dimensional or three-dimensional model of the area of interest based upon these contacts. This way, when the surgical instrument or other object is tracked relative to this area, they can be superimposed on this model. Here again, however, the display that illustrates the tracked medical instrument in relation to this model is not capable of providing five or six degree of freedom information.
Moreover, in certain medical procedures providing either a five or six degree of freedom display, will greatly assist the surgeon in the medical procedure. For example, this type of information may be helpful with minimally invasive procedures where clearance and viewing of the area of interest may not be relatively available. Therefore, during these types of procedures, the surgeon may not clearly know where the tip or orientation of the instrument may be relative to the patient. With flexible instruments, such as catheters, it makes it even more difficult to estimate where the tip or orientation of the catheter may be during these types of procedures.
Still other procedures, such as orthopedic procedures, employ implants that include multiple components that articulate with one another. Placement of one component of the implant relative to another component of the implant is critical. If a display can provide both targeting and six degree of freedom information in relation to these mutually dependent components, these procedures may be improved. For example, each implant component may require a specific orientation relative to its corresponding implant component to provide for the proper placement and proper range of motion. With these types of procedures and implants, it is generally difficult to accurately locate the components in the five or six degrees of freedom position. Since the orientation and location of these individual components is dependent upon one another to be effective, these components must be properly positioned and aligned in order to improve the life of the implant, increase the range of motion and provide superior patient outcomes.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a display, which can provide five or six degrees of freedom alignment information regarding tracked surgical instruments and implants, particularly implants or devices that have several components each having a specific orientation dependent upon one another. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide such a display to assist in medical procedures.

Six degree of freedom alignment display for medical procedures


A scanning microscope probe in which a palladium covering film is formed on the surface of the protruding portion of a cantilever, and the base end portion of a nanotube is disposed in contact with the palladium covering film with the tip end portion of the nanotube protruding to the outside, thus allowing the tip end to be used as a probe needle end for detecting signals. A coating film is formed to cover all or part of the surface of this base end portion, and the nanotube is thus firmly fastened to the cantilever. Since the base end portion adheres tightly to the palladium covering film, both of them are electrically continuous. This palladium covering film allows, as an electrode film, the application of a voltage to the nanotube or the passage of an electric current through the nanotube, showing also good adhesion to the nanotube and cantilever.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a probe for a scanning microscope which uses a nanotube as a probe needle thereof and more particularly to a probe for a scanning microscope in which the nanotube and a cantilever are made electrically continuous by means of a palladium covering film so that a voltage can be applied across the nanotube and sample.
2. Description of the Related Art
So as to image the structure of a sample surface by means of an atomic force microscope (abbreviated as "AFM"), a probe needle that is caused to contact or closely approach the sample surface and extract a signal is required. Conventionally, cantilevers made of silicon or silicon nitride in which a protruding portion (called a "pyramid portion") is formed on the tip end of the cantilever have been known as such probe needles. Conventional cantilevers are manufactured using micro-fabrication techniques such as lithography, etching or the like. Such cantilevers sense the inter-atomic force of the sample surface with the tip end of the protruding portion; consequently, the imaging precision is determined by the sharpness of the tip end of the protruding portion. Accordingly, semiconductor working techniques that mainly include an oxidation process and an oxidation film etching process have been used for sharpening the tip end of the protruding portion that constitutes the probe needle. However, there are limits to the miniaturization that can be achieved even in electric current semiconductor working techniques; accordingly, there are also physical limits to the sharpness of the tip end of the above-described protruding portion. Meanwhile, carbon nanotubes have been discovered as a novel carbon structure. Such carbon nanotubes combine the most superior conditions as AFM probe needles.
In this area, H. Dai et al. have reported an AFM probe in which a carbon nanotube is bonded to the tip end of the protruding portion of a cantilever (see NATURE, Vol. 384, p. 147, 1996). The probe of these researchers was a break-through probe; however, this probe showed a tendency for the carbon nanotube to fall off of the protruding portion. In order to solve this weak point, the inventors of the present application developed fastening methods in which a carbon nanotube is firmly fastened to the protruding portion of a cantilever. The results of this development were disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Nos. 2000-227435 and 2000-249712.
In the above-described first fastening method, the base end portion of the nanotube is irradiated with an electron beam so that a coating film is formed, and the nanotube is fastened to the protruding portion of the cantilever by being coated by this coating film. The second fastening method is a method in which an electric current is passed through the base end portion of the nanotube, so that the base end portion of the nanotube is fastened to the cantilever protruding portion by fusion.
As described above, commercially marketed cantilevers are produced using semiconductor working techniques, and the material of such cantilevers is silicon or silicon nitride. While silicon is a semiconductor, silicon nitride is an insulator. Accordingly, even if a conductive carbon nanotube is fastened to the protruding portion of such a cantilever, it is difficult to apply a voltage across the nanotube probe needle and the sample, or to cause an electric current to flow through the probe needle, since the cantilever itself does not possess conductivity.
In cases where the probe does not possess conductivity, this means that the use of the probe is severely restricted. More specifically, in conventional methods, the sample surface shape is merely detected via the amount of mechanical deformation of the nanotube; information relating to physical properties such as the mechanical characteristics of the sample surface and the like cannot be obtained. In cases where the probe possesses conductivity, a voltage can be applied across the probe and the sample, and an electric current can be caused to flow, so that physical properties such as the distribution of electrical resistance and the like can be measured. However, in cases where the probe does not possess conductivity, such voltage application and electric current flow are impossible, so that the electrical operation of the nanotube is impossible, thus limiting the effectiveness of the probe. For example, in a probe in which electrical operation is impossible, limits arise in terms of the operability in depositing atoms, moving atoms and extracting atoms on the sample surface. It appears that the working of samples by such manipulation of atoms will be a basic 21st century technology comparable to bio-technology. The inability to perform electrical operations on a nanotube leads to a restriction of the future possibilities of the probe itself.
Accordingly, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2002-162336, the inventors of the present application developed a probe for use in a conductive scanning microscope. In this patent, a technique is proposed in which a conductive covering film is formed on a cantilever, and the nanotube and conductive covering film are caused to be electrically continuous. For example, the conductive covering film is formed by vacuum evaporation, ion plating or sputtering of a metal.
However, carbon nanotubes consist of a carbonaceous material, and there has been almost no research on metal materials that can be tightly bonded to carbon nanotubes. Accordingly, if the wrong metal material is selected, the carbon nanotube may insulated from the metal coating film so that the electrical continuity is interrupted, or the conductivity may be insufficient.


A projection screen has first transparent particles tinted a first color and second transparent particles tinted a second color.

Projection screens may display images projected thereon by projectors. Some types of projection screens may absorb colors of the projected light. This may result in lost light to the viewer as compared to the light from a fully diffusive surface. Additionally, these types of projection screens may act as diffuse reflectors and therefore a substantial portion of the reflected light may not be directed back toward the viewer.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


In a process for producing phenol and/or cyclohexanone, cyclohexylbenzene is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas under conditions effective to produce an oxidation effluent containing cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide. At least a portion of the oxidation effluent containing cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide is then contacted with a cleavage catalyst under conditions effective to produce a cleavage effluent containing phenol and cyclohexanone. At least one of the oxidation effluent and the cleavage effluent contains a by-product comprising a mixture of isomers of phenylcyclohexanol and/or phenylcyclohexanone, in which the 2-phenyl isomer(s) is present in an amount less than 20% of the mixture. At least a portion of the at least one effluent containing the isomer mixture is contacted with a dehydration catalyst under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the mixture to isomers of phenylcyclohexene, with very low ring rearrangement to produce 1-methylcyclopentenylbenzene and cyclopentenylmethylbenzene.

Phenol is an important product in the chemical industry and is useful in, for example, the production of phenolic resins, bisphenol A, ε-caprolactam, adipic acid, and plasticizers.
Currently, a common route for the production of phenol is the Hock process via cumene. This is a three-step process in which the first step involves alkylation of benzene with propylene in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce cumene. The second step is oxidation, preferably aerobic oxidation, of the cumene to the corresponding cumene hydroperoxide. The third step is the cleavage of the cumene hydroperoxide in the presence of heterogeneous or homogenous catalysts into substantially equimolar amounts of phenol and acetone. However, the world demand for phenol is growing more rapidly than that for the acetone co-product.
Thus, a process that avoids or reduces the use of propylene as a feed and coproduces higher ketones, rather than acetone, may be an attractive alternative route to the production of phenol. For example, there is a growing market for cyclohexanone, which is used as an industrial solvent, as an activator in oxidation reactions and in the production of adipic acid, cyclohexanone resins, cyclohexanone oxime, caprolactam, and nylon 6.
It is known that phenol and cyclohexanone can be co-produced by a variation of the Hock process in which cyclohexylbenzene is oxidized to obtain cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide and the hydroperoxide is decomposed in the presence of an acid catalyst to the desired phenol and cyclohexanone. Although various methods are available for the production of cyclohexylbenzene, a preferred route is via benzene hydroalkylation in which benzene is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst such that a portion of the benzene is converted into cyclohexene which then reacts with the remaining benzene to produce the desired cyclohexylbenzene. One such method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,513, in which the catalyst comprises a molecular sieve of the MCM-22 type and at least one hydrogenation metal selected from palladium, ruthenium, nickel, cobalt, and mixtures thereof. This reference also discloses that the resultant cyclohexylbenzene can be oxidized to the corresponding hydroperoxide, which is then decomposed to the desired phenol and cyclohexanone co-product in roughly equimolar amounts.
Several technical challenges not seen in the cumene-based Hock process exist in producing phenol via cyclohexylbenzene. One such challenge is that non-negligible amounts of by-products, including phenylcyclohexanols and phenylcyclohexanones, are generated during the oxidation step. To improve process economics, it would be desirable to develop a process for converting these phenylcyclohexanols and phenylcyclohexanones to useful products. In seeking to develop such a process, the present inventors have found that phenylcyclohexanols and phenylcyclohexanones can be converted back to cyclohexylbenzene in high yield by a combination of dehydration and hydrogenation. However, investigation of this process has also demonstrated that, particularly with the 2-phenyl isomers, such as 2-phenyl-1-cyclohexanol and 2-phenyl-1-cyclohexanone, the dehydration step is accompanied by isomerization of the 2-phenylcyclohexene intermediate to 1-methylcyclopentenylbenzene and cyclopentenylmethylbenzene. On hydrogenation, these products are converted to 1-methylcyclopentylbenzene and cyclopentylmethylbenzene, which are difficult to remove from the hydrogenation effluent by either physical or chemical techniques.


A storage unit manages a receiving order by storing a received call processing message. A retention unit retains key information, which is included in the call processing message, and element information, which is correlated to the key information and included in the call processing message, by updating the two pieces of information for every key information at every time when receiving the call processing message. A call processing execution unit carries out a call processing for each call processing message stored by the storage unit at a predetermined time interval in a lump based on the key information and element information stored by the retention unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data exchange technique and in particular to a technique for improving a processing performance of a telecommunication server that is a computer server system for providing a telecommunication exchange function.
2. Description of the Related Art
As an example technique related the present invention, a laid-open Japanese patent application publication No. 02-132575 has disclosed an operation technique for writing information on results of parallel processings in a single address of a storage apparatus of each computer in a lump for the purpose of reducing a synchronous overhead at the time of parallel computers sharing data.
In a conventional telecommunication server for providing the so called IP (Internet Protocol) telephone service, a processing has been carried out in sequence by corresponding to receiving every call processing message according to a call control protocol such as an SIP (session initiation protocol). This can cause a problem in the telecommunication if a great many number of call control messages are received from customer terminals in a short time period, thus exceeding the process capability and possibly ill-affecting calls.
In a telecommunication server, a high level processing such as a control processing for a message transmission and receiving shown as "HA" in FIG. 1 is carried out in higher priority than a call processing that is a low level processing. Therefore, a required processing time of a call processing, which has been completed in three milliseconds from a receiving of a call processing message to a response back to the aforementioned message as exemplified by FIG. 1(a) at the time of a low processing load, results in taking four milliseconds as exemplified by FIG. 1(b) at the time of a high processing load in a telecommunication server made up of a computer system with one CPU (central processing unit). While a degree of such extension of a processing time varies with a configuration of a used computer system and a processing content, extension of a processing time (i.e., saturation in the number of processible calls per unit of time) is observed remarkably when a processing load exceeding approximately 70% of CPU usage ratio is given in a measurement example shown by FIG. 2. Note that the BHCA shown by FIG. 2 is defined as the number of processible busy hour call attempts.
Here, there is a method for responding to such a high processing load by using a multi-CPU system as a computer system utilized as a telecommunication server. However, an update processing of various kinds of information which are stored by a storage apparatus such as a memory or data base as one of the call processings requires an exclusive processing, that is, an independent processing by temporarily stopping other processings being carried out in parallel on the telecommunication server as a call processing in order to prevent an inconsistency of data from occurring. This ends up limiting an effectiveness of improving a process capability as a telecommunication server even if the process capability of the computer system is improved as a multi-CPU system.
Let it describe FIG. 3 which shows a summary flow of a control processing carried out by a telecommunication server by way of a flow chart. Referring to FIG. 3, the processings of S1002, S1003 and S1007 correspond to the transmission & receiving control processing shown as "HA" by FIG. 1, and those of S1004 through S1006 correspond to call processings.
First in S1001, carried out is the processing of receiving a transmitted signal (i.e., a call processing message) and inputting it into a receiving queue by the OS (operating system) of the computer. Here, in S1002, carried out is the processing, as a transmission & receiving control process, of checking the receiving queue at a predetermined interval and taking received signals in one by one existing in the receiving queue. In the subsequent S1003, carried out is the processing of handing an applicable received signal over to a call processing if receiving of a signal is confirmed by taking in the received signal.
In the call processing, first in S1004, carried out is a signal analysis processing. That is, the processing of analyzing the content of the received signal that has been received, e.g., identifying a category of the received message such as a login request, call start request, et cetera. In the analysis processing, carried out is the processing of writing the content of the received signal, e.g., information indicating the transmitter of the received signal, information indicating a state of the transmitter, in the storage apparatus such as a memory or data base, if the currently received signal is legitimate.
In S1005, carried out is a routing processing, that is, of referring to the routing data in the storage apparatus, followed by determining a suitable transmission destination in order to deliver the content of the aforementioned received signal to the addressee indicated thereby that has been received.
In S1006, carried out is a transmission processing, that is, of making a transmission signal (i.e., a response signal corresponding to the received signal) based on the content of the received signal being written in the storage apparatus, followed by requesting the transmission & receiving control process for transmitting the made transmission signal by handing it over to the aforementioned process.
In S1007 over at the transmission & receiving control process, carried out is the processing of inputting the received transmission signal into a transmission queue.
In S1008, carried out is the processing of transmitting the transmission signal existing in the transmission queue to the addressee determined by the above described routing processing by the OS of the computer system.
A telecommunication server carries out the above described control processing.
Among the control processing, as the call processing from S1004 through to S1006 can be divided into a plurality of threads, enabling a multi-thread processing by a multi-CPU computer system. The signal analysis processing in S1004, however, requires an exclusive processing since the processing includes the processing of writing, in a storage apparatus, the content of the received signal that has been received.
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrates how processings progress when making computer systems with different numbers of CPUs carry out the above described control processing which is carried out by a telecommunication server, with FIG. 4A showing the case of one CPU, while FIG. 4B showing the case of two CPUs, respectively. As is understood by comparing between FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the process capability of the above described control processing even does not simply become twice if the number of CPUs is duplicated, resulting in extending the processing time of apart of processing of the call processing. This is caused by the reason for carrying out an exclusive control for the second CPU resulting in having it stop executing the primary processing during the period of the first CPU carrying out a write processing.
FIG. 5 shows an actual measurement example of the relationship between the number of CPUs of a computer system for use as a telecommunication server and the number of call processings. In the example shown by FIG. 5, an increase in the number of call processings is saturated in the neighborhood of 300 thousand BHCAs even by increasing the number of CPUs, with the case of four CPUs the number of processings decreasing as compared to the case of three CPUs because the influence of execution stoppage of other processings due to an exclusive processing becomes larger with four CPUs than with three CPUs.


Image subunit based guest scheduling is disclosed. For example, a memory stores an image registry, which stores a plurality of reference entries each associated with subunits hosted on each node of a plurality of nodes. A scheduler executing on a processor manages deployment of guests to the plurality of nodes including a first node and a second node, where a first guest is associated with an image file that includes a first subunit and a second subunit. The image registry is queried for at least one node of the plurality of nodes hosting the first subunit and/or the second subunit and the first node is determined to host the first subunit. The first guest is scheduled to the first node based on the first node hosting the first subunit.

The present disclosure generally relates to scheduling guests in cloud environments. In computer systems, it may be advantageous to scale application deployments by using isolated guests such as virtual machines and containers that may be used for creating hosting environments for running application programs. Typically, isolated guests such as containers and virtual machines may be launched to provide extra compute capacity of a type that the isolated guest is designed to provide. Isolated guests enable a programmer to quickly scale the deployment of applications to the volume of traffic requesting the applications. Isolated guests may be deployed in a variety of hardware environments. There may be economies of scale in deploying hardware in a large scale. To attempt to maximize the usage of computer hardware through parallel processing using virtualization, it may be advantageous to maximize the density of isolated guests in a given hardware environment, for example, in a multi-tenant cloud. In many cases, containers may be leaner than virtual machines because a container may be operable without a full copy of an independent operating system, and may thus result in higher compute density and more efficient use of physical hardware, enabling additional flexibility and scalability of deployment. Multiple containers may also be clustered together to perform a more complex function than the respective containers are capable of performing individually. In an example, a container and/or a cluster of containers may be implemented specifically to execute certain specific tasks and/or types of tasks. In a typical system, guests may be rapidly deployed through the use of image files storing ready to execute copies of the deployable guests.


Uncommanded steering detection in a machine can be performed by comparing commanded and actual steering positions of an electro-hydraulic steering cylinder along with a velocity of movement of the cylinder to understand a steering error and whether the actual steering position is moving toward the commanded steering position. A steering error, when above a predetermined threshold, may be cumulatively summed and, if the cumulative sum exceeds a predetermined limit, an alarm may be triggered and the machine may be forced to a safe state (slowed or stopped). The steering error for the actual steering position may be increased if the velocity of movement is not toward the commanded steering position so that the alarm will be triggered sooner. In either case, the response of the machine to steering uncommanded motion will be swifter when the uncommanded motion is more severe (greater error and/or steering in the wrong direction).

Electro-hydraulic steering systems are employed in work machines to provide smooth steering of the work machine under the control of an operator. In conventional work machines with electro-hydraulic steering, turning control is performed by an operator steering lever or other type of steering control mechanism. Even when under the control of the operator, however, the work machine can have instances where uncommanded steering or other motion can occur such that the wheels do not turn as commanded and the work machine does not follow the commanded path. For example, the work machine may move forward in a straight line when the operator tries to turn the machine. In other situations, the work machine may turn where no turn is commanded by the operator, or may turn in the opposite direction than that commanded by the operator. The latter turn anomalies may be particularly problematic due to the risks of hitting workers or structures near the work machine, or driving the work machine over surfaces or terrain that may cause instability of the machine, and may be symptomatic of failures in the steering control system of the work machine. Moreover, the uncommanded motion may be more problematic when the machine is operating at higher speeds where the operator has less time to react to and correct the uncommanded motion.
Control systems for hydrostatically driven and steered equipment are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,818,632, issued on Aug. 26, 2015, to Dabbs et al., entitled "Detection of Uncommanded Motion of a Steering Motor," teaches, in a machine having a differential steering control system, uncommanded motion may be determined by comparing an actual speed of a steering motor to a commanded turn direction signal from an operator. Where uncommanded motion is occurring, the steering motor speed and time-rate-of-change of the steering motor speed may be used to determine a weighted steering motor speed that is accumulated over a series of sample cycles and compared to an integration limit to determine whether the operator should be warned of the occurrence of uncommanded motion. The integration limit may be based on a factor indicative of the responsiveness of the machine, such as the oil temperature.
This system may detect uncommanded motion in a work machine having differential steering and warning the operator. However, uncommanded motion may occur in work machines having electro-hydraulic steering systems, and some types of uncommanded motion may be viewed as more problematic and may require a faster response from the work machine when the problematic situations occur.


A working recipe for NTD CZ and MCZ silicon wafer production is provided. It teaches that a neutron-enhanced S-curve can be constructed by noting that a silicon interstitial (Si.sub.I), emitted due to volume change during the traditional oxygen precipitation, can join a neutron-created vacancy in facilitating further oxygen loss via precipitation. The former relation is: 2Si+2O.sub.I .fwdarw.SiO.sub.2 +Si.sub.i the latter is: vacancy+Si .sub.I +2O.sub.I .fwdarw.SiO ..sub.2 The total loss of oxygen interstitials is: EQU O.sub.I !=Max(O .sub.I !.sub.0 O .sub.I !.sub.s +min{2(Si .sub.I !.sub.s +Si .sub.I !.sub.0). vacancy!}),. with subscripts 0 and s standing for initial state and S-curve prediction, respectively; Si.sub.I !.sub.s equal to 0.5O .sub.I !.sub.s, and vacancy! readily obtainable by computer simulation. vacancy! is a function of the cadmium ratio (CR), silicon sample thickness, and total neutron fluence. The final oxygen interstitial content is: 0.sub.I !.sub.f =max{O.sub.I !.sub.0 -O.sub.I !,0}. Evidence for the effectiveness of the recipe taught by the present invention is provided in the form of characterization results derived from MOS capacitors and PN junctions built upon wafers produced according to the recipe. These show that the nominal minority carrier lifetime, interface density, and leakage currents under reverse bias are the same as those from a blank prime wafer.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention is in the general field of semiconductor doping, more specifically neutron transmutation doping (NTD).
(2) Description of the Prior Art
The most widely used method for the production of silicon ingots for the semiconductor industry is the Czochralski (CZ) method. In the CZ method, super pure silicon is melted in a silica crucible, a single crystal silicon seed is lowered into the melt and then slowly withdrawn. Some liquid silicon is withdrawn along with the seed, because of surface tension, and then solidifies in the slightly cooler environment above the melt. Depending on rate of withdrawal and other factors, high quality silicon single crystals with diameters up to about 12 inches and lengths to about 40 inches are routinely produced in this way.
In general, the resistivity of CZ crystals is higher than desired for semiconductor manufacturing purposes and a dopant, such as phosphorus, may be added to the melt to lower the resistivity. A number of problems are associated with this method of controlling the resistivity of silicon ingots, notably those of non-uniformity. In general, it is found that the doping level can vary substantially both along the length of the ingot as well as along its cross-section. A certain amount of improvement in the latter distribution has been achieved in the Magnetic Czochralski (MCZ) method wherein crystal growth takes place in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field (typically between about 500 and 4,000 Gauss). Since molten silicon is an electrical conductor, convection currents in it will tend to follow the lines of magnetic force. However, although the MCZ method offers some improvement, the basic problems of non-uniform distribution of dopant remain.
Silicon has an atomic number of 14 and an atomic weight of 28. However, naturally occurring silicon is not entirely made up of the Si.sup.28 isotope. It turns out that Si .sup.29 is present at a concentration of about 4.7 atomic % and Si.sup.30 is present at a concentration of about 3.1 atomic %. Additionally, it turns out that Si.sup.30, when bombarded by thermal neutrons, is transmuted to phosphorus p.sup.31 (atomic number 15). Since the desired level of phosphorus doping is well below the 3.1 at. % of the already present Si.sup.30, it is apparent that a limited amount of neutron bombardment of naturally occurring silicon, will result in the introduction of phosphorus dopant into the silicon. Such phosphorus dopant will be uniformly distributed and will also be in substitutional position in the lattice where it can act as a donor.
This method of doping CZ and MCZ silicon ingots has been described in the prior art by, for example, Takasu et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,156 March 1990). The neutron sources available outside the nuclear weapons industry all provide slow (thermal) neutrons (ideally having energies around 0.025 eV). These sources include pool type reactors, producing neutrons directly, proton cyclotrons, and proton linear accelerators. The proton generators are in general more convenient to use as the proton stream can be magnetically steered. The fast protons that these generators produce are converted to fast neutrons by causing them to pass through a material such as beryllium, tungsten, or uranium. These fast neutrons are then slowed to become thermal neutrons by surrounding moderators, such as heavy water (D.sub.2 O).
While neutron transmutation doping (NTD) is an ideal way to achieve uniform phosphorus doping, CZ silicon crystals doped by the NTD method normally do not end up with the expected results. Oxygen interstitials are commonly present within CZ and MCZ silicon crystals as an unintended impurity, which actually comes from the silica crucible itself. Oxygen interstitials are desirable for the manufacture of microelectronic devices owing to several salient features, such as facilitating intrinsic gettering of VLSI process-induced impurities and hardening substrate material against thermal stresses. However, excessive oxygen precipitation (i.e. silica formation) tends to be induced by neutron bombardment of the NTD method and this causes the resulting resistivity to be quite unpredictable. In some cases, total oxygen precipitation even occurred. Excessive oxygen precipitation within the silicon substrate leads to undesirably short minority carrier lifetimes and thus unacceptably large leakage currents of microelectronic devices under reverse bias.
In order for the NTD method to be successfully applied to CZ silicon crystals, the working recipe of the present invention must be known. This covers the initial oxygen content of the CZ silicon crystal, neutron energy spectrum, and neutron fluence (total accumulated number of impinging neutrons per sq. cm.). Without such know-how, the resulting NTD CZ silicon crystals are of unpredictable quality. It is suspected that, due to such a lack of knowledge, Takasu et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,156 March 1990) proposed using several non-traditional infrared probing techniques for NTD CZ wafer quality control and assurance. NTD wafers with low infrared transparency failed to become prime wafers. However, with the working recipe of the present invention, good product NTD CZ prime wafers can be assured and the non-traditional infrared probing is unnecessary. Also, in the claims made by Takasu et al. the allowed maximum fast neutron fluence was specified based upon its relation to the leakage currents of reverse-biased circuits built on their production NTD wafers. Nonetheless, according to experiments guided by the recipe of the present invention, the fast neutron vs. leakage current (in arbitrary units) relation of Takasu et al. was simply incorrect. Additionally, the partition between fast and slow neutrons is rather vague (in Takasu et al.) but this turns out to be a very important parameter (as is taught by the present invention).
We should also note that NTD has been used to dope individual silicon wafers, as opposed to full ingots. See for example Groves et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,100 May 1993) but the same problems relative to oxygen precipitation will still apply. The present invention, which we will describe in detail below, has been able to use NTD in a manner that not only leads to uniform phosphorus doping but also successfully avoids the very serious excessive oxygen precipitation problem.

Neutron transmutation doping of silicon single crystals

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Entering an identifier to select a navigational waypoint requires “head-down” time, resulting in less time for operating a vehicle. Accordingly, a technique for selecting a navigational waypoint for use is provided. The present invention includes receiving a partially entered identifier identifying, in part, a navigational waypoint for use, searching for the navigational waypoint for use from amongst a plurality of identifiers using the partially entered identifier and a search criterion other than a criterion based on a pre-existing ordering of the plurality of identifiers, and completing the partially entered waypoint identifier based on results from the searching. The completed waypoint identifier forms a user-selectable navigational waypoint for use. The present invention uses as a search criterion a geographical relationship between a location of each identifier of the plurality and a reference location/area to reduce the number of user-entered characters needed to select a navigational waypoint, thereby reducing “head-down” time.

Navigation is the science of moving a vehicle or person from one place to another place. More specifically, the science of navigation deals with methods for determining position, course, distance traveled, and of planning steering commands that will result in motion along an intended path from one place to another place. Position is generally determined with regards to a fixed coordinate system, for example, the familiar system of latitude and longitude for terrestrial or nautical navigation. Position fixing methods often make use of navigational aids, whose positions with respect to the navigational coordinate system are known or can be calculated as the basis for determining the location of the vehicle. For example, celestial bodies, e.g., stars, sun, and moon have been used since antiquity to aid sailors in navigating the seas, while a constellation of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites serves much the same need in a modern, automated fashion. Waypoints, whose positions with respect to the navigational coordinate system are fixed and known, are used to define locations with significance to the navigational problem at hand. For ease of reference, waypoints are generally assigned a waypoint identifier.

Computer method and apparatus for filling in an entry field using geographical proximity and character criteria


A total elbow prosthesis includes a radial element having an anchoring stem provided with a neck which is inclined by an angle of between 0.degree. and 30.degree. relative to the axis of the anchoring stem. The neck is integral with a ball on which a cylindrical head articulates. The cylindrical articulating head includes an upper face of concave profile which cooperates with the epicondylar surface of the humeral element and a cylindrical circumference cooperating with an outer articular surface provided on the outer flank of a flange of the ulnar element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a total elbow prosthesis of the type comprising a first, humeral element, a second, ulnar element, and a third, radial element.
2. Description of Background Information
Prostheses of this type are known which include these three elements but in which the third, radial element is integral with its stem and fixed relative to the bone, preventing any possibility of freedom of rotation about its axes. In addition, this total elbow prosthesis is not designed to form the radio-ulnar articulation, that is to say between the radial element and the ulnar element.
Such prostheses have certain drawbacks, in particular risks of instability, pain and loosening.


A memory device that comprises a planar memory medium and a probe device mounted opposite the planar memory medium. The probe device includes a substrate having a substrate surface and probe cells arrayed on the substrate surface. Each of the probe cells comprises a probe, an auxiliary electrode and a probe driving circuit. The probe is formed in the substrate, includes part of the substrate surface, and additionally includes a conductive needle projecting towards the memory medium. The conductive needle includes a needle tip adjacent the memory medium. The auxiliary electrode is mounted on the probe, and is located between the probe and the memory medium. The auxiliary electrode is disposed substantially parallel to, and spaced from, the substrate surface. The driving circuit is formed in the substrate and projects from the substrate surface towards the memory medium. The probe driving circuit has outputs electrically connected to the auxiliary electrode and the memory medium.

Examples of conventional memory devices that read and write information using multiple probes include such devices as those disclosed in J. Sliwa, Jr., Microvibratory Memory Device, U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,631 ("Sliwa, Jr."). In such devices, techniques for controlling the spacing between needles and the surfaces of detected objects in STM (scanning tunnel microscopes), and in AFM (atomic force microscopes) operated in a non-contact mode, are used to control the spacing between the tip of a tapered needle and a memory medium in a cell of a memory device. To read and write information in such memory devices requires that the distance between the memory medium and the tip of the needle be dynamically adjusted to a precise value. This distance adjustment is accomplished by detecting the distance between the memory medium and the tip of the needle.
In the memory devices disclosed by Sliwa, Jr., the distance between the memory medium and the tip of the needle is detected by measuring a tunneling current or by measuring a force between the tip of the needle and the memory medium. Accordingly, in such memory devices, a detection circuit, and a signal processing circuit for performing distance detection and distance control must be provided for each probe, in addition to a W/R circuit. These additional circuits, i.e., the detection circuits and signal processing circuits, cause an overall increase in the surface area occupied by each probe and its associated circuits. As a result, when the probes and their associated circuits are located on the same substrate, the detection and signal processing circuits make it more difficult to achieve a high probe density.
For the above reasons, in the memory devices disclosed by Sliwa, Jr., the W/R circuits, detection circuits, and signal processing circuits are located on a different substrate from the substrate in which the probes are formed. Separate manufacturing processes are used to form the probes and their associated circuits in separate locations.
As a result of the probes and their associated circuits being located on different substrates in the memory devices disclosed by Sliwa, Jr., the probes are connected to their associated circuits by relatively long wiring. The relatively long wiring has considerable stray capacitance, and easily picks up noise. To ameliorate the effects of stray capacitance and noise pickup in the interconnections between the probes and their associated W/R circuits necessitates an increase in the bit size of the memory medium.
Moreover, the distance between the probes and their associated circuits varies from probe to probe. This creates a skew in the probe locations so that a high parallelness cannot be obtained between the probes. This leads to problems. For example, the electrical characteristics of the areas between the probes and their associated circuits may differ. As a result, performance values which are important in a memory device, e.g., data transmission rate, assurance of redundancy, and error correction functions, are impaired.
In memory devices that use multiple probes to read and write information, the amount of information that is read or written in one access operation increases with increasing probe density. In the wiring used to transmit the reading or writing signals, at least one line is required for each probe. Consequently, the large number of lines required interferes with achieving a high probe density.

Probe device for memory device having multiple cantilever probes


A work or component mounting apparatus according to the present invention comprises a rotating drum arranged above a workbench and divided into upper and lower drums, a head unit detachably mounted to the lower drum of the rotating drum, a circular work head (or, in other words, a component head) attached to the head unit, a suction nozzle protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the work head toward the workbench, and a controller housed in the upper drum of the rotating drum for controlling the turning motion of the work head and the supply of suction pressure to the suction nozzle. While the lower drum is rotating, the suction nozzle of the work head repeats cycloid motion along the workbench with its posture kept fixed with respect to the workbench. While repeating the cycloid motion, the nozzle receives a work from a work feeder of the workbench by suction, and mounts the work on a printed board on the workbench.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a work or component mounting apparatus for mounting an IC chip or some other electronic component, as a work, on a printed board.
2. Description of the Related Art
As used herein, "work" is utilized to denote a component, such as an electrical component, which is retrieved from a supply and mounted upon a mounting surface such as a printed board by a work mounting apparatus. Thus, as should be readily recognized, work is utilized interchangeably with component, with a work mounting apparatus denoting an apparatus which mounts a component upon a device or an element of a device.
A work mounting apparatus of this type is disclosed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 62-114290, for example. This conventional apparatus comprises a rotating table and a plurality of suction heads arranged at predetermined intervals on the outer peripheral edge of the table. Each suction head is capable of up-and-down motion.
A workbench is disposed under the rotating table, and a work (or component) supply section and a work (or component) mounting section are arranged on the workbench at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction of the table. A plurality of work feeders are radially arranged in the supply section, while a printed board is disposed in the mounting section.
When one of the suction heads is positioned in one of the work feeders of the supply section as the table rotates, the rotation of the table is stopped. In this state, the suction head is lowered, receives a work from the work feeder by suction, and is then raised to its original position. When the rotation of the table is restarted, thereafter, the suction head is transferred from the supply section to the mounting section. When the suction head is positioned in the mounting section, the rotation of the table is stopped again. In this state, the suction head is lowered again, whereupon the work is released from the suction, so that it is mounted on the printed board in the mounting section.
According to the work mounting apparatus described above, the rotation of the table must be stopped every time the suction head is moved up or down, that is, every time the work is received or mounted in the supply or mounting section. In other words, the rotation of the table and the operation of the suction head are performed intermittently, so that the tact time cannot be shortened, and therefore, the work mounting efficiency is low.
In these circumstances, there is a demand for continuous-type work mounting apparatuses in which works can be received and mounted without stopping the rotation of the table.
In one such continuous-type mounting apparatus, for example, a continuously rotatable drum, which is used in place of the rotating table, is surrounded by a plurality of work heads which repeat up-and-down motion as they turn. More specifically, the work heads turn around a turning axis which extends in the radial direction of the rotating drum, and their respective postures are kept fixed during the turning motion.
Thus, if a suction nozzle is provided protruding downward from each work head, it can repeat up-and-down motion while moving in the circumferential direction of the rotating drum, as the drum rotates and as the work head turns.
If the turning speed and turning direction of the work head are properly set with respect to the peripheral speed of the rotating drum, moreover, the relative speed of the suction nozzle with respect to the supply and mounting sections, that is, the ground speed, can be reduced substantially to zero when the suction nozzle lowers so that the supply and mounting sections come closest to each other. Even while the rotating drum is being continuously rotated, therefore, the suction nozzle of the work head can securely receive a work from one of the work feeders of the supply section by suction, and then mount the received work head on a printed board in the mounting section.
In the continuous-type work mounting apparatus described above, the suction nozzle is supplied with suction pressure and attracts a work at its distal end, and therefore, the distal end of the nozzle must be capable of close contact with the work. Namely, if the distal end of the suction nozzle incompletely contacts the work when the work is attracted to the nozzle, then the suction pressure acted upon the work becomes insufficient and the work cannot be reliably attracted to the nozzle.
In the course of long-term repetition of suction and mounting of works, however, the distal end of the suction nozzle is worn away, which is an unavoidable phenomenon. In other words, the suction nozzle is an expendable part that requires regular replacement. Moreover, depending upon the types of works, replacement of the suction nozzle is required regardless of whether the nozzle has been used up to its limit of durability.
When replacing the suction nozzle, first, the work head must be detached from the drum. It is, however, difficult to detach the work head. Namely, the work head and the rotating drum side are connected to each other not only by a mechanism for turning the work head but also a mechanism for keeping the work head in a fixed posture during the turn of the work head. Thus, first of all, these mechanisms must be disassembled before detachment of the work head.
To cause the suction nozzle to carry out suction and mounting of works, the supply of the suction pressure to the suction nozzle must be controlled, and such control essentially requires the use of a solenoid-operated value, a controller for controlling the shifting of the valve, and the like.
If the solenoid-operated valve, controller, and related parts are arranged in the rotating drum, the path of transfer of a shift signal from the controller to the solenoid-operated valve can be advantageously simplified. In this case, however, the rotating drum is increased in size and the internal arrangement thereof becomes complicated. Thus, difficulty arises not only in the assembling of the drum but also the maintanance of the electrical system. Further, it is difficult to arrange the parts in the drum such that the weight of the drum is well-balanced in the circumferential direction thereof, and thus, smooth rotation of the drum cannot be achieved.


A method and apparatus for simultaneously controlling multiple control systems is provided. The resulting hybrid control system provides for sharing of inputs and outputs on a control surface membrane between the multiple distinct control systems. A unified tactile/LED interface for both systems is achieved, allowing for a single hybrid control system experience for operators in industrial, manufacturing and control-room environments.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates generally to control of industrial systems and the like, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for simultaneous use of multiple control systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
In control systems for industrial processes and the like, such as, for example, oil refineries and manufacturing plants, upgrades of the control system are a frequent occurrence. Such upgrades are due in part to advancements in technology, as well as changing needs in the industry. These upgrades result in changes being made to portions of the control system, while the overall system remains in place. However, upgrades are often less efficient than wholesale replacement of the control systems because of the need to work within the existing architecture of the system.
Where major changes are desired, wholesale replacement of the control system is often done. However, replacement of the control system is a costly venture in both implementation and training of the operator.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus to implement a new or primary control system, which is cost effective. There is a further need for such a method and apparatus that allows for simultaneous use of the old or secondary system with the primary system. The method and apparatus described herein provides for simultaneous use of multiple process control systems and sharing of an operator interface between the systems. The method and apparatus described herein provides the technical effect of allowing operator control of more than one control system simultaneously, thereby more efficiently and effectively controlling a particular industrial process or facility. The technical effect includes, but is not limited to, enabling an existing large customer base to move toward utilization of next-generation control systems by providing a control-membrane solution that accommodates simultaneous interaction with two or more systems, which provides a unified hybrid-control experience. The technical effect further includes, but is not limited to, annunciation and control-membrane sharing between at least two distinct control systems thereby creating a single hybrid control system.

Method and apparatus for use of multiple control systems


Call generating apparatus includes a light reception unit and a control unit for acquiring a line and sending a dial signal onto the acquired line in accordance with an output from the light reception unit when a portable device is detected as set in the apparatus. Received or previously stored image data can be printed when an output of the light reception unit coincides with predetermined identification data. A reception error is determined when successive outputs from the light reception unit do not occur within a predetermined time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system comprising a portable device storing data such as calling data, identification data, and the like, and an apparatus for receiving data from the portable device and processing the data.
2. Related Background Art
A so-called electronic telephone directory for generating PB (push button) tones according to prestored telephone numbers is known. However, since a device of this type sends the generated PB tone from a speech transmission unit of a handset onto a line, a wrong party may often be called due to noise.
Some telephone sets can be electrically connected to an IC card storing telephone numbers through a connector. However, problems of a connection error of a connector unit, and breaking of pins of the connector unit are posed.


A modularized routing system includes a control element and forwarding elements, all of which are connected via a private network, for example, an Ethernet. The control element computes a routing table for each of the forwarding elements. Based on information in the routing table, a forwarding element decrements a time-to-live counter in the packet header only if the forwarding element is the first one in the routing system encountered by the packet. Accordingly, the forwarding elements preserve the behavior of a single router while using substantially the same routing protocols as the single router.

In recent years, network devices have begun to evolve from monolithic, highly customized, and integrated designs into modularized components. These modularized network devices, including routers and switches, allow flexible deployment of network services. For example, a single monolithic router can be replaced with a number of modularized routing elements that are fabricated on one board, or distributed across a network system. Using the modularized components, clients can determine an appropriate number of routing elements and deployment strategy for their network size requirements and cost constraints.
The modularized components can be connected together using a high-speed switching fabric. Design of the switching fabric, however, is dependent upon the number of the modularized components. Furthermore, packets transmitted on the switching fabric use proprietary protocols. Therefore, the switching fabric cannot be flexibly deployed in a network, and requires high developmental cost.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

Routing packets across multiple forwarding elements


A memory defect masking device is to be used in combination with defective memory devices. The memory masking device first stores the addresses of defective memory spaces of the defective memory devices therein and then compares the memory address present at the address lines of the defective memory devices with the addresses stored therein. The defective memory devices are disabled when the memory address present at the address lines tallies with one of the addresses stored in the memory defect masking device. The memory defect masking device is also connected to the data lines of the defective memory devices to permit the former to act as a replacement for the defective space of the defective memory devices. The defective memory devices is therefore operated as if it has no defective memory space.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a memory defect masking device, more particularly to a memory defect masking device which is to be used in combination with a plurality of memory devices and which is capable of replacing the defective memory spaces of the memory devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Good yield rate is an important consideration when manufacturing memory chips. There are two ways to improve the yield rate of memory chips. The first way is to improve the manufacturing process so as to reduce the occurrence of defective memory chips. The second way is to modify the construction of the memory chips. Such modifications have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,733,372 and 4,829,480. FIG. 1 is an illustration of a conventional 1M Bit DRAM (dynamic RAM) unit. The DRAM unit comprises a memory array (100) having 512 rows and 2048 columns. The DRAM unit is further provided with redundant memory rows (110) and/or columns (120). After the DRAM unit is manufactured, the DRAM unit undergoes a sorting stage so as to determine whether or not the DRAM unit is defective. If the DRAM unit has a defective memory space, the corresponding row or column fuses (130, 140) is cut so as to disable the defective memory space. A redundant memory row or column (110, 120) is then connected via the redundant row or column decoders (112, 122) so as to serve as a replacement for the defective memory space. This illustrates how the defective memory spaces of a DRAM unit are conventionally repaired.
The main drawback of the above disclosed repairing procedure is as follows: The entire row or column is replaced when a defective memory bit is found. In the 1M Bit DRAM example, each column has 512 bits while each row has 2048 bits. Thus, a minimum of 512 bits of redundant memory column is needed to repair a defective memory bit.
As the number of defective memory spaces increases, the required number of redundant memory rows or columns correspondingly increases, thereby increasing the size of the memory chip. This illustrates why it is impractical to provide a large number of redundant memory rows or columns. However, it is possible that the number of defective memory spaces will exceed the allocated number of redundant memory rows or columns. The memory chip is therefore beyond repair and should thus be discarded. The manufacturer should therefore choose a proper number of redundant memory rows or columns so as to minimize the number of memory chips which are beyond repair while limiting the increase in the size of the memory chip.
The DRAM units undergo a packaging process after being sorted. It is possible that some of the packaged DRAM chips will be found defective during further burn-in and testing processes. Since defect has been detected after the DRAM units have already been packaged, the above described repairing procedure cannot be employed to correct the defective memory chips. Thus, the defective DRAM units are also beyond repair and should be discarded.

No. 105-12, Shang-Keng-Tzu-Kou, Hsin-Feng Hsiang


A method of playing a blackjack game that will enable a blackjack player to make the second initial 21 wager and play the second initial hand on any deal of the cards. The layout of the table includes boxes on each player station where the wagers are placed, and card dealing areas next to each of the boxes where the hands of cards are dealt. The boxes and card dealing areas are spaced sufficiently far enough apart so that players are not deprived a place to place a "21" wager and play at the table. Furthermore, with this layout the dealer and player can clearly determine which cards belongs to the player's first wager and which cards belong to the player's second wager.

Blackjack, also called "Twenty-One", is played in most casinos throughout the world. The conventional (gaming establishment) Blackjack table is a half-circle with one curved side for the players to stand or sit and a straight side where the dealer stands or sits. The conventional Blackjack table provides one station with a single "21" wager box for each player. Blackjack tables are designed to accommodate one player at each station. Most Blackjack tables have five, six or seven stations. It is to the advantage of the gaming establishment to have Blackjack tables that will enable players to make the maximum number of initial "21" wagers possible on each deal without crowding the table.
BLACKJACK HAS ITS OWN LANGUAGE: As used by most Blackjack players and gaming establishment operators and as used in this patent application, the following words have the following meanings ascribed to them:
"Bet"--Wager made by players. PA0 "Blackjack"--the Americanized name of Vingt-et-Un (French for Twenty-one) and/also means a 10 count card plus an Ace, totaling 21 in the player's or the dealer's initial hand. PA0 "Casino"--A gaming establishment. PA0 "Deal"--the distribution of the cards to the players and dealer. PA0 "Dealer"--the person that deals the cards. PA0 "Each Deal" means performing the following things: The dealer dealing two cards to each player's "21" wager or "21" wagers and two cards to the dealer to begin the game. At least one of dealer's cards is turned face-up); each player then takes hits or stands, and/or makes additional bets such as insurance or doubling down or splitting pairs for each of his wager or wagers, as desired by the player; when all of the players have completed their play, the dealer then takes hits or stands as required by the predetermined conventional manner of play of the dealer's hand; when the dealer has completed the play of his hand, winning player's wagers are paid and losing player's wagers are collected and the dealer gathers up all cards from the players' hands and from his hand and put those cards face up under the deck or in the card rack. PA0 "Double Down"--to place a wager adjacent to the "21" wager and the dealer will deal one additional card to that hand. PA0 "Draw"--take additional cards to add to the cards in the player's hand. PA0 "Hand"--the cards dealt in one group to a player's "21" wager and played by the player, and/or dealt in one group to the dealer. PA0 "Initial" means before the start of the deal. PA0 "First Initial Hand" means the first hand dealt to a player's first initial "21" wager. PA0 "Second Initial Hand"--the second hand dealt to a players second initial "21" wager. PA0 "Hit"--to draw additional cards to be added to the cards in the hand. PA0 "Layout"--the design imprinted onto the playing surface of the Blackjack table and/or a fabric table cover that shows the "21" wager boxes, the "Insurance" wager box, and/or other information, such as "Blackjack Pays 2 to 1". PA0 "Player"--the person who makes a wager and plays the cards dealt to that wager. PA0 "Push"--means tie; stand-off; no action. PA0 "Split"--to make two hands out of the original two card pair or equal value cards. PA0 "Stand"--play the cards the player and/or dealer has and not draw any more cards. PA0 "Station"--a designated area on the layout where one player makes his initial wager or wagers and where the dealer deals cards to the player's "21" wager or "21" wagers and the area where that player's winnings are paid. PA0 "Single "21" Wager Box"--A rectangle or other identifiable designated area on the layout where one player may place one initial "21" wager, double down wagers and/or split wagers and where the cards are dealt for that wager. PA0 "Double "21" Wager Box" means two adjacent "21" wager boxes touching one vertical line that extends above the two adjacent wager boxes. PA0 "Wager"--Bet made by a player. PA0 "21" Wager" or "21" Bet"--a "21" wager made by a player in the wager box at that players station. Winning or losing that wager is determined by the conventional method of playing Blackjack. PA0 "Initial Wager"--a wager (bet) made before the start of the deal; PA0 "First Initial "21" Wager"--means the first initial "21" wager made in one of the two wager boxes of the player's double "21" wager box before the start of the deal. PA0 "Second Initial "21" Wager--means the second initial "21" wager made by the player in the other wager box of the double "21" wager box. PA0 "Up-Card"--the dealer's face up card.

Method of playing double action blackjack


An Al3Ti film having a large amount of dissolved Si is deposited on a semiconductor substrate to form a laminate with an Al wiring film, and heat treatment is performed at a temperature of at least 400° C., to thereby absorb excessive Si into the Al3Ti film and so prevent the occurrence of Si nodules. By depositing Al film at a temperature of at least 400° C. at the time of depositing the Al wiring film on the Al3Ti film, excessive Si is caused to be absorbed in the Al3Ti film. Further, at the time of depositing a Ti film on the semiconductor substrate and depositing the Al wiring film, the Al film is deposited at a temperature of a least 400° C., there is reaction between the Ti film within the laminate, causing an Al3Ti film to be produced, and excessive Si is absorbed in the Al3 Ti film produced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor element manufacturing method and to the construction of an element manufactured using the method, and particularly to a deposition method for a thin film used as wiring and a laminated construction for a thin film deposited using this method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the case of forming an element on a conventional semiconductor substrate, a wiring thin film deposition method as shown in FIGS. 1–3 is carried out. First of all, an insulating film 2 (for example, SiO2 BPSG) is deposited on a semiconductor substrate 1 typically of a material such as silicon, and a barrier layer 3 (for example, Ti, TiN or a laminate of the two) is deposited. Next, an Al film is deposited with the semiconductor substrate heated to 150–400° C., by a sputtering method using an Al—Si—Cu target having Si added to 0.05–1.0% which is at least the solution limit of Al.
Here, Si is added to improve EM (electromigration) resistance. Also, the reason for heating the semiconductor substrate at the time of Al deposition is to increase the size of the Al grains (crystal grain) to increase EM resistance, and to improve step coverage. Next, an antireflection membrane (ARM) 5 that is, for example, Ti, TiN or a laminate of the two, is deposited, preferably by performing a photolithography process. After that, wiring is patterned using a well known photolithography method or etching method.
However, with the Al thin film sputter deposited using an Al—Si—Cu target having Si added to at least the solution limit of Al as described above, there are the following problems. Specifically, at the time of depositing the Al film, deposited Si particles 6 are dissolved in the Al due to the high heating temperature of the deposition, and in a process of cooling the wafer gradually after deposition from the deposition temperature there is a nucleus of remaining Si that could not be dissolved. Recrystallization growth of the temporarily dissolved Si starts, as a result of which an enormous Si deposit 7 is formed (refer to FIG. 4(1)-(3). This Si deposit 7 deposited in the Al film is not removed by etching gas in the Cl2 family that is normally used at the time of etching the Al film in a subsequent step, and as a result remains as an Si residue. As shown in FIG. 5, this Si residue 8 unfortunately acts as a mask at the time of etching the Al underneath the residue. Because of this, pattern defects arise, and if the size of the Si residue becomes larger than an interval between wires in the wiring pattern this will cause shorting between wires.


A DNS (Domain Name Server) proxy is configured as a DNS server for clients on the enterprise network to send two or more DNS queries to collect each available IP addresses on a SDWAN member link. IP address collection can be responsive to receiving a DNS request from a client for assigning a FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name). Service quality can be evaluated for the service on each member link of the IP addresses. An IP address is assigned to the client based on the service quality evaluation. A notification is transmitted to the client in a DNS response to the IP address request, with the chosen IP address information for configuration.

As CDN (Content Delivery Network) is used widely across the Internet for fast delivery of network content, FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) and DNS (Domain Name Service) are used by ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to provide best quality service in network. The FQDN provides a location for users to reach resources available over the Internet. A numeric IP address is typically translated from text entered as a URL (Universal Resource Locator). Furthermore, the FQDN is required for SSL (Secure Socket Layer) network security features.
When a SDWAN customer is trying to access an Internet service, it must first do DNS query to get a service IP address. At this time, SDWAN device does not have any IP address information, and will send DNS request to a DNS server based on priority of DNS server list in system.
Problematically, the IP address from the first responded DNS server will be used as IP address of this service. Then SDWAN device will evaluate service quality to the first responded IP address via available uplinks. Consequently, the first qualified IP address rather than the best qualified IP address is conventionally assigned to clients, potentially affecting performance.
Therefore, what is needed is a robust technique for administering an SDWAN for an enterprise network over a data communication network by assigning resolved IP addresses based on evaluating all IP addresses that are available for services.

FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) routes optimization in SDWAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Networking)


A grating disc (4) arranged to be mounted within a food processor (1) and to be rotated in a direction of rotation (26). The grating disc (4) comprising at least one grating tooth (24) for grating food to be processed which tooth protrudes from a surface of the grating disc. The tooth (24) has an uninterrupted, continuous envelope surface (29) forming an outer contour of said tooth (24) which surface has gradient which spatial derivative does not change sign. The envelope surface comprises a front surface (30) which is, during use, the leading surface of the grating tooth (24). The front surface (30) extends from the grating said disc surface (23) to a distal end of the grating tooth, and is adapted to be brought into contact with said food during use of said food processor (1). The front surface (30) is delimited in one direction by the grating disc surface, and in at least one other direction by at least one grating edge (32). Due to this improved grating disc less food particles remaining on the grating disc—i.e. less processed food being caught by the grating tooth—implying improved cleanability of the grating disc after use.

In order to facilitate and/or refine preparation of food, one may choose the assistance of a food processor. A food processor may be utilized for a variety of processing operations, for instance to prepare food by juicing, squeezing, mixing, cutting, grinding, chopping, slicing, grating, milling or shredding. Different ranges of use and varying sizes of food articles to be processed have resulted in a variety of food processors being available on the market, in various sizes and forms. The food processor may be multifunctional or optimized for one or more special tasks so as to operate, for example, as a centrifugal juicer for extracting juice.
In most cases, the food processor is electrical, having an inlet piece to feed the food to be processed downwardly onto a rotating element such as a grating disc or the like driven by a motor accommodated in the housing of the food processor. Furthermore, in order to grate food or extract juice, the rotating disc is typically provided with grating teeth. Juice extractors using a grating disc may extract juice from for instance a fruit or a vegetable by pressing it onto the grating disc, which grates material from the surface of the fruit or vegetable while at the same time releasing the juice. The grated material and the juice are typically thrown upwardly and outwardly by centrifugal forces against the surface of a filter surrounding the grating disc. The pulp carries on over the edge of the filter and is collected in a suitable receptacle while the finely filtered juice passes through the filter into another receptacle. The juice is thereby ready to be served.
The juice yield of current food processors is however commonly not satisfying, as the grating discs utilized in these juice extractors typically are not fully elaborated to get the highest possible juice output. Furthermore, after use of the food processor, fibers of juiced fruit typically remain on the grating disc as a result of food particles adhering to the grating teeth of the grating disc. Conventional manufacturing methods typically result in a grating tooth shape with an undercut, where fruit fibers etc may be trapped. Accordingly, it may be necessary to clean the grating disc thoroughly, and typically the user utilizes a cleaning accessory like a brush or even his fingers. Cleaning of the grating disc may hence be a hassle to the user and in the latter case additionally a hazard, as the user risks cutting his fingers on the grating teeth while cleaning the disc.
In order to overcome these matters, U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,220 introduces a juice extractor appliance comprising a cutter disc including a projecting pinching surface to better assure the complete cutting up of the food article into pulp saturated with juice. This solution implies the need for extra parts—i.e. the projecting pinching surface—which may hence in turn imply additional cost and/or a more complex manufacturing procedure.
Accordingly, there is still a need for an alternative grating disc elaborated for improved yield of processed food such as juice, and/or for facilitated cleanability after use, according to which the above-related drawbacks are at least partly eliminated.

Grating disc for a food processor and a food processor comprising a grating disc


An antenna apparatus is disclosed that includes an antenna element having a teardrop shape and configured to be fed with electrical power from an external power source; and a ground element coupled to the antenna element, wherein the antenna element includes one or more nonconductive portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna apparatus used in Ultra Wide Band (UWB) communication.
2. Description of the Related Art
UWB communication enables an ultra fast communication by using a GHz frequency band. In 2002, the U.S. Federal Communication Commission (FCC) approved usage of the UWB. Since then, an application of the UWB to a portable electronic device and a high precision positioning system has been expected. An ultra wide frequency band antenna apparatus, which includes a teardrop-shaped antenna element and is suitable for a GHz frequency band, has been developed.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-129209
A conventional antenna apparatus which includes the teardrop-shaped antenna element provides uniform directivity in 360 degrees, because the antenna element has a uniform shape in planar view.
However, in a case where a communication device with which the antenna apparatus communicates is settled and the direction or the location of the communication device is known, the uniform characteristics in 360 degrees may not be required. In such a case, the conventional antenna apparatus which provides the uniform directivity in 360 degrees may be influenced by noise from a noise source located in a direction which is not necessary for a UWB communication, or may cause noise in an electronic device which does not communicate with the conventional antenna apparatus.
Although it is a technical feature of an antenna apparatus which includes an antenna element having a teardrop shape to provide uniform directivity in 360 degrees, the antenna apparatus can be used more widely if the antenna apparatus selects communication direction.


A step motor positioning structure for a belt-type continuously variable transmission having a speed-change control valve for controlling a primary pressure to be supplied to a primary pulley, a servo link, and a step motor for driving, by way of the servo link, the speed-change control valve in response to a speed-change command signal is provided. The step motor positioning structure includes a motor bracket formed integral with the step motor and having an elongated hole and a circular hole, a bracket support supporting thereon the motor bracket, a first positioning member protruding outward from the bracket support and inserted in the elongated hole, and a second positioning member protruding outward from the motor support and inserted in the circular hole.

The present invention relates to a belt-type continuously variable transmission and more specifically to a step motor positioning structure for positioning a step motor that drives a speed-change control valve for controlling an oil pressure to be supplied to a pulley of a belt-type continuously variable transmission.
It is known that a belt-type continuously variable transmission using a V-belt (hereinafter referred to simply as belt-type CVT) is suited for use in vehicles.
Referring to FIG. 8, an example of a belt-type CVT will be described.
The belt-type CVT includes a speed-change mechanism 100 whose principal portion is constituted by a pair of pulleys, i.e., a primary pulley 16 on the input shaft 15 side and a secondary pulley 26 on the output shaft 30 side. The input shaft 15 is connected to an engine by way of a forward and reverse switching mechanism 14 and a torque converter (not shown) having a lock-up clutch.
The pulleys 16, 26 of the speed-change mechanism 100 are drivingly connected to each other by a V-belt 12.
The primary pulley 16 consists of a fixed sheave 16a rotatable together with the input shaft 15 and a movable sheave 16b axially movable relative to the fixed sheave 16a so as to form therebetween a pulley groove of a variable width. The secondary pulley 26 consists of a fixed sheave 26a rotatable together with the output shaft 30 and a movable sheave 26b axially movable relative to the fixed sheave 26a so as to form therebetween a pulley groove of a variable width.
The primary pulley 16 and secondary pulley 26 are provided with a primary cylinder chamber 17 and a secondary cylinder chamber 27 and supplied with a primary pressure and secondary pressure from an oil pressure control section 105, respectively.
The oil pressure control section 105 generates a line pressure by regulating an oil pressure from an oil pump OP. Further, the oil pressure control section 105 controls the line pressure in response to a command from a CVT control unit 103 to produce a primary pressure and a secondary pressure.
During running of a vehicle, the widths of the pulley grooves of the primary pulley 16 and secondary pulley 26 are varied depending upon a variation of an oil pressure supplied to the respective cylinder chambers 17, 27, thus varying the winding diameters of the belt 12 wound around the pulleys 16, 26 thereby varying the transmission ratio between the primary pulley 16 and the secondary pulley 26 continuously.
FIG. 9 shows a primary pressure supply circuit structure in the oil pressure control section 105 for supplying a primary pressure to the primary pulley cylinder chamber 17. The oil pressure control section 105 (refer to FIG. 8) includes a speed-change control valve 35 for controlling the primary pressure through control of the line pressure. Herein, the line pressure serves as the second pressure and is supplied to the secondary cylinder chamber 27.
The speed-change control valve 35 has a valve spool 36 connected to an intermediate portion of a servo link 50 that constitutes a mechanical feedback device and is driven by a step motor 40 connected to an end of the servo link 50. The other end of the servo link 50 is connected to a pulley follower 45 that follows movement of the movable sheave 16b of the primary pulley 16. By this, the shift control valve 35 receives feedback of the width of the pulley groove of the primary pulley 16, i.e., the actual transmission ratio.
The transmission ratio between the primary pulley 16 and the secondary pulley 26 is controlled by the step motor 40 that operates in response to a speed-change command signal from the CVT control unit 103.
In the meantime, the line pressure is controlled to a predetermined value in accordance with an engine operating condition, by means of a pressure control valve (not shown) and based on a command (e.g., a duty signal) from the CVT control unit 103.
FIGS. 10 and 11 show a step motor attaching structure according to an earlier technology.
Right under the primary pulley 16 and within a transmission case 102 is disposed a guide shaft 108 that is positioned between the transmission case 102 and a pulley support block 106 and in parallel with an axis of rotation of the primary pulley 16. The pulley support block 106 is fixedly disposed within the transmission case 102. The pulley follower 45 is slidably supported on the guide shaft 108.
The pulley follower 45 has a sleeve portion 46 rotatable on the guide shaft 108 and an engagement portion 47 extending from the sleeve portion 46 toward the primary pulley 16 side.
The engagement portion 47, when viewed in the axial direction of the guide shaft 108, is in the form of a circular arc corresponding to the outer periphery of the movable sheave 16b of the primary pulley 16. The engagement portion 47 has a first surface 47A in contact with the movable sheave 16b, which first surface is located on the side opposite to the fixed sheave 16a side and a second surface 47B in contact with the outer circumferential periphery of the movable sheave 16b.
The pulley follower 45 is always urged against the movable sheave 16b (refer to FIG. 8) by means of a spring 58 disposed between the transmission case 102 and the pulley follower 45 and slidably movable on the guide shaft 108 in accordance with a variation of the axial position of the movable sheave 16b.
The sleeve portion 46 of the pulley follower 45 is provided with a pin support portion 49. Under the condition where the engagement portion 47 is in contact with the peripheral portion of the movable sheave 16b, the pin support portion 49 protrudes vertically upward from the sleeve portion 46 while allowing a connecting pin 48 to extend horizontally.
The speed-change control valve 35 includes a valve bore (refer to FIG. 9) in parallel with the guide shaft 108 and a valve spool 36 slidably disposed in the valve bore.
The step motor 40 is disposed adjacent the speed-change control valve 35 and on the side thereof opposite to the guide shaft 108. An output rod 42 of the step motor 40 extends in parallel with the guide shaft 108.
The step motor 40 is attached to a stationary support (not shown) as follows. First, a motor bracket 41B integral with the step motor 40 is placed on the stationary support. Then, two bolts 63 are screwed into corresponding threaded holes of the stationary support through respective bolt holes of the motor bracket 41B and tightened to fix the motor bracket 41B to the stationary support.
The output rod 42 of the step motor 40 has a bifurcated end portion and is provided with a pin 43 at the bifurcated end portion. The valve spool 36 of the speed-change control valve 35 has at an end thereof a block 37 which is formed with a pivot pin hole (no numeral).
The servo link 50 extends vertically and has an intermediate portion to which a pivot pin 55 is fixedly attached. The pivot pin 55 is rotatably fitted in the pivot pin hole of the block 37 of the valve spool 36.
The servo link 50 is in the form of a plate and has a straight line shape. The servo link 50 has axially opposite bifurcated end portions 52, 53, one 52 of which is engaged with the connecting pin 48 of the pulley follower 45 by holding the pin 48 between the prongs thereof and the other 53 of which is engaged with the connecting pin 43 of the output rod 42 of the step motor 40 by holding the pin 43 between the prongs thereof. Namely, the servo link 50 is swingably or pivotally connected at the opposite ends to the pulley follower 45 and the output rod of the step motor 40 and at the intermediate portion to the valve spool 36 of the speed-change control valve 35.
In accordance with movement of the servo link 50 that is responsive to an operation of the step motor 40, the valve spool 36 is axially moved to cause the speed-change control valve 35 to perform supply or discharge of oil pressure to or from the primary cylinder chamber 17 and thereby control the primary pressure so that a target transmission ratio commanded by the driving position of the step motor 40 is attained. After the movable sheave 16b is moved to complete a speed-change, the speed-change control valve 35 is closed in response to pivotal movement of the servo link 50 in the opposite direction.

Step motor positioning structure for belt-type continuously variable transmission


When a purge valve opens, a CPU calculates a purge concentration learning value based on an air-fuel ratio detected by an air-fuel ratio sensor. Additionally, under the condition that a temperature increase request of a three-way catalyst is generated, the CPU performs dither control that sets one of a plurality of cylinders as a rich combustion cylinder, which is richer than a theoretical air-fuel ratio, and the remaining cylinders as lean combustion cylinders, which are leaner than the theoretical air-fuel ratio. When the dither control is performed, the CPU forbids the update of the purge concentration learning value.

The present invention relates to a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine and a method for controlling an internal combustion engine.
An internal combustion engine may include an exhaust purifying device that purifies exhaust gases discharged from a plurality of cylinders, fuel injection valves disposed for each of the plurality of cylinders, a canister that collects fuel vapor in a fuel tank storing fuel injected by the fuel injection valves, and an adjuster that adjusts the flow rate of a fluid from the canister to an intake air passage. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2004-218541 discloses a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that performs a dither control process when a request is made to increase the temperature of a catalyst device (a catalyst). The dither control process sets the air-fuel ratio in some of a plurality of cylinders to be richer than a theoretical air-fuel ratio while setting the air-fuel ratio in the remaining cylinders to be leaner than the theoretical air-fuel ratio.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-21455 discloses learning of the concentration of fuel vapor in a fluid based on an air-fuel ratio when the fluid is allowed to flow from a canister to an intake air passage.
When dither control is performed, a detection value of an air-fuel ratio detected by an air-fuel ratio sensor may deviate from the actual air-fuel ratio. In such a case, it is difficult to distinctively determine whether the deviation of the detection value of the air-fuel ratio is caused by the concentration of the fuel vapor or by dither control. Therefore, when the concentration of the fuel vapor is learned based on the detection value of the air-fuel ratio while dither control is performed, the accuracy of learning may be lowered.

Control apparatus for internal combustion engine and method for controlling internal combustion engine


In a data-sending device, a data generation section provides input data itself or a bit-inverted version of the input data as intermediate data and generates an inversion signal that indicates whether or not the intermediate data is the bit-inverted version of the input data. An encrypting section generates scrambled data by inserting the inversion signal in the intermediate data at a bit position. A data-receiving device removes the inversion signal from the scrambled data, and restores the input data based on the inversion signal.

The present invention relates to a technique for providing enhanced security for communication data in a data transfer system.
In recent years, portable devices such as mobile phones are used with highly confidential data such as a credit card number. Since a portable device is often carried around with the user, it is quite possible that the device may be lost and come into possession of a third person. With mobile phones, users frequently buy new handsets to replace old ones, and the used handsets are either collected or disposed of If confidential data is left undeleted in a collected or disposed handset, there is a high risk that the confidential data may be obtained by a third person. Therefore, security techniques for portable devices are becoming more and more important.
On the other hand, portable devices are powered by batteries, and it is therefore important that they consume as little power as possible. Each year, the amount of power consumed by a system for use in a portable device has been reduced, and various techniques have been proposed in the art. For example, "Bus-Invert Coding for Low Power I/O" (IEEE Transaction on VLSI Systems, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1995) discloses a method for reducing the amount of power consumed in a data transfer path between semiconductor devices. According to this method, if there are more mismatched bits, than matched bits, between data transferred at time T and data transferred at time T+1, the data transferred at T+1 is bit-inverted before being transferred. In this way, the number of switching transitions occurring on an I/O pad is reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced.
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
However, the above conventional method is for reducing the power consumption, and does not deal with security problems. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration of a data transfer system employing the conventional method. Referring to FIG. 9, a signal line 51 carries the transferred data, and a signal line 52 carries a 1-bit signal that indicates whether or not the transferred data has been inverted. If the signal lines 51 and 52 can be probed from outside, the transferred data can easily be observed.
As a technique for providing enhanced security for data transfer between devices, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 08-32574 discloses a method for realizing enhanced security for data in a synchronous serial data transfer device. According to this method, the sync signal is encrypted in addition to encrypting the transferred data, thereby improving the security of the data at a relatively low cost.
However, it is assumed that the method is used with serial data transfer, and the use of the method with parallel data transfer will cause an increase in the circuit area. While there are other coding methods for parallel communications that use complicated encryption schemes, those methods require a separate encryption circuit. Moreover, since such an encryption circuit itself consumes some power, it is difficult to reduce the cost and the power consumption.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.