An axial linkage acting between the main body and the gripping assembly of a tool for gripping tubular workpieces includes a drive cam body that coaxially engages an intermediate cam body via a drive thread, with the intermediate cam body coaxially engaging a driven cam body via a driven thread, and with the drive thread and the driven thread having opposite orientations. The linkage includes a latch mechanism for preventing relative axial displacement of the drive cam body and the driven cam body. In operation while unlatched, the linkage converts bi-directional relative rotation into relative axial movement of the drive cam body and the driven cam body, thus increasing or decreasing the overall length of the linkage according to the rotational direction. The linkage can be re-latched using any of multiple operational sequences.

The traditional method for running casing or other tubing strings into or out of petroleum wells has been to use power tongs in coordination with the drilling rig's hoisting system. This power tong method allows tubular strings, made up of multiple segments (or "joints") of pipe with mating threaded ends, to be assembled by screwing together the threaded ends to form threaded connections between sequential joints as they are added to the string being installed in the wellbore (i.e., connection "make-up"); or, conversely, removed and disassembled (i.e., connection "break-out").
However, the power tong method does not simultaneously enable other beneficial functions such as rotating, pushing, or fluid filling after a joint is added to or removed from the string, and while the string is being lowered or raised in the wellbore. Running tubulars with power tongs also typically requires the presence of personnel in hazardous locations such as on the rig floor or more significantly, above the rig floor, on what is commonly called the "stabbing board".
The advent of drilling rigs equipped with top drives has enabled a new method of running tubulars, and casing in particular, where the top drive is equipped with a casing running tool (CRT) to grip the upper joint of the casing string and, in some cases, to seal between the casing and the top drive quill. (It should be understood here that the term top drive quill is generally meant to include tubular string components as may be attached thereto, with the lower end thereof effectively acting as an extension of the quill.) Various CRT devices have been developed which, when used with a top drive, enable hoisting, rotating, pushing, and filling of the casing string with drilling fluid while running, thus removing the limitations associated with power tongs. Simultaneously, automation of the gripping mechanism, combined with the inherent advantages of the top drive, reduces the level of human involvement required compared with conventional power tong running processes, and thus improves safety.
When running casing with either power tongs or CRTs, the full weight of the casing string extending below the drill floor of the drilling rig is typically supported by slips provided in the drill floor while a casing joint (the "active joint") is being added to or removed from the string. As well, make-up torque and break-out torque applied to the active joint must also be reacted out of the assembled string; this function is typically provided either by the slips or by backup tongs, as the case may be.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,909,120 (Slack) discloses a gripping tool that has been used as a CRT, and which may be summarized in general terms as a gripping tool comprising:                a main body assembly (or, more briefly, the main body) having a load adaptor adapted for connection to a drive head such as a top drive quill;        a gripping assembly carried by the main body, having at least one grip surface adapted to move from a radially-retracted position to a radially-extended position in which the grip surface engages either an interior surface or an exterior surface of a tubular workpiece upon axial displacement of the main body relative to the grip surface in at least one axial direction; and        a linkage acting between the main body and the gripping assembly which translates at least one range of rotational movement in at least one rotational direction into axial movement that tends to urge the grip surface into the engaged position (i.e., gripping a tubular workpiece), and which upon activation exerts an axial force that increases with increased torque, and correspondingly activates radially compressive tractional engagement of the grip surface with the workpiece, with the rotational movement to activate the linkage being bi-diretional—i.e., either clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the load adaptor relative to the grip surface.
This gripping tool thus utilizes a mechanically-activated grip mechanism that generates its gripping force in response to axial-stroke activation of the gripping assembly. Axial-stroke activation results from one or more of:                the action of an internal spring, which may be an air spring;        gravity;        externally-applied axial load; and        externally-applied torsional load, in the form of right-hand or left-hand torque.
The externally-applied axial or torsional loads are carried through the tool from the load adaptor of the main body to the grip surface of the gripping assembly, in tractional engagement with the workpiece. As will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art, the utility of this or other similar gripping tools is a function of the range of workpiece sizes (typically expressed in terms of minimum and maximum diameters for tubular workpieces) that can be accommodated between the fully-retracted and fully-extended grip surface positions of a given gripping tool (i.e., the radial size and radial stroke of the grip surface). The utility of a given gripping tool can be improved if it can accommodate a greater range of workpiece sizes.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,939 (Slack) discloses a gripping tool incorporating a tri-cam linkage with two cam pairs to translate bi-directional rotation into axial movement that has the effect of extending the length of the linkage and thus drives axial-stroke activation of the tool's gripping assembly. The axial operating range of this prior art axial extension linkage is limited by the helical ramp surfaces acting between an intermediate cam body and a driven cam body. This prior art linkage also comprises mating latch hooks (or a "J-latch" mechanism) that, when engaged, prevent relative axial separation of the drive cam and the driven cam, thus preventing extension of the linkage.

Variable-length axial linkage for tubular running tools


A system for maintaining and upgrading hardware device functioning provides processes to select and install updates for software (e.g., applications or apps) on the hardware device. A notification system provides information for discretion and control over the selection of software updates to be applied to consumer mobile devices according to the particular characteristics of the device, e.g., the model of device, the specific operating system of the device, and software applications installed on the device. The notification system may be integral with app stores on mobile devices and tablets, and may also be applicable to the Internet of Things. A notification may take the form, for example, of a warning or recommendation associated with an update for an app on the user device and may enable the user to make an informed decision beforehand about whether or not to install a particular update on the user device.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to technology for maintaining and improving hardware device functioning that is driven by software (e.g., applications or apps) and, more particularly, to providing discretion and control over which software updates are selected to be applied to any particular device.
Related Art
A wide variety of application programs, known as apps or mobile apps, are available for installation on consumer mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. Some apps are available for free while others may be purchased through a digital distribution system generally referred to as an app store. App store may also refer to an app, installed on a consumer mobile device, that provides a consumer user with access and interface to an app store system so that, using an app store app, a user can purchase apps using the mobile device and download apps directly to the user's mobile device. Different versions of an app store may be available, for example, depending on the specific operating system (OS) that runs the particular mobile device.
Occasionally—and for some types of apps, routinely—an app will be updated as improvements are made to the app or changes are made to the app to correct malfunctions or other undesired effects, commonly referred to as "bugs". Such mobile app updates may be available, or even disseminated to the user, from the app store via the app store app. Mobile app updates can, however, introduce bugs that can render an application unusable despite being carefully vetted through the app store.
Moreover, mobile app updates that may be developed for the latest operating systems and devices—yet are capable of being installed and running on an older version of the same operating system—may cause various issues for an older operating system or device, such as slowing the system down or "breaking" it (e.g., causing the OS to "lock up" requiring a reboot). Without any kind of automated system that can alert a user before the user has actually updated the app and is encountering the problem, an unsuspecting user may accept or install such an update, having no better option than to go about reading reviews manually, looking at ratings, or just installing the update in the device to try it out, risking changes (that can be, for all practical purposes, irreversible) to the device that can cause serious issues for the operation of the mobile device or otherwise can be, at best, annoying for the user.
In addition to mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets, a wide variety of devices such as smart thermostat systems, washer-dryers that utilize Wi-Fi for remote monitoring, heart monitoring implants, biochip transponders on farm animals, automobiles with built-in sensors, or field operation devices that assist fire-fighters in search and rescue are coming to include uniquely identifiable embedded computing devices that can be interconnected within the existing Internet infrastructure, referred to as the Internet of Things, or the Internet of Everything. Such devices and their software applications will need updating and will be subject to similar problems as described above for user mobile devices.
Thus, there is a need for an improvement to the technology of updating software in the field of maintaining and improving hardware device functioning.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages may be best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, in which the showings therein are for purposes of illustrating the embodiments and not for purposes of limiting them.

App store update notification and warning system


A polymer building product for securement to the exterior of a building, the building product comprising a base portion securable to a substrate; a top portion slidingly telescopingly receivable over the base portion; and engaging elements, such as teeth, interengaging projections, etc. disposed on one or both of the base and top portions for securing the base and top portions together. The building product is characterized by a first, unsecured condition in which the top portion is slidingly received over the base portion in a first rotational orientation relative to the base portion and the top and base portions are freely slidingly separable, and a second, secured condition in which the top portion is slidingly received over the base portion in a second rotational orientation relative to the base portion and the top and base portions are secured together.

Polymer building products have long been known and are often utilized in residential and commercial construction. In addition to polymeric roofing and siding, such building products include wall and roof mounted, multi-part assemblies like mounting blocks, vents, etc. Mounting blocks, a generic descriptor, encompass exteriorly-mounted assemblies used to trim exterior fixtures such as electrical outlets, switches, light fixtures, exterior faucets, utilities' meters, etc. Exemplary mounting blocks are shown and described in, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,920,708 and 6,429,371. Vents include exterior exhaust and intake assemblies, such as, for example, dryer vents, gable vents, roof vents, vents for kitchen and/or bathroom ventilation systems. Exemplary vents are shown and described in, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,386,972, 5,729,935, and 4,875,318.
Conventionally, mounting block and vent assemblies alike are essentially characterized by a base portion which is affixed to the exterior surface—usually the substrate—of a residential or commercial building, and a decorative top or trim portion which is securely mated to the base portion following installation of roofing or siding about the base portion. The top portion, which in the case of vents may include the louvers or other ventilating openings therein (although these may also be provided in the base portion), serves in part to obscure any untidy appearance presented by the ends of the roofing or siding proximate the base portion. More particularly, and as exemplified in the U.S. Patents mentioned heretofore, the base portion of these multi-piece building products generally includes a peripheral flange adapted to abut and be fastened to (such as by nails or the like) the substrate of a structure, and an axial wall extending approximately perpendicularly from the flange so as to project outwardly away from the structure when the base portion is affixed to the substrate. As also exemplified in these patents, the top portion likewise includes an axial wall projecting approximately perpendicularly from a peripheral flange. The axial wall of the top portion is dimensioned so as to be telescopingly received over (either inside or outside of) the wall of the base portion in lapped relation thereto to define a mated condition of the base and top portions.
In order to secure the base and top portions together, there are conventionally provided complementary engaging means, such as the interlocking projections and recesses taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,708. Alternatively, one or even both of the wall of the base portion and the wall of the top portion may be provided with projections adapted to bite into the wall of the other of the base or top portion in order to prevent separation of the base and top portions. According to one embodiment of these prior art means, exemplified in FIG. 1, metal clips 10 are attached to one or both walls of the base and/or top portions, each such clip including one or more "teeth" 11 projecting therefrom so as to engage the adjacent wall of the other of the base or top portions when the base and top portions are in the mated condition. These teeth 11 are angled so as to project upwardly toward the flange of the top portion when disposed on the top portion or, when disposed on the base portion, so as to project downwardly toward a flange of the base portion. The teeth 11 are, moreover, somewhat flexible so that they may be urged inwardly toward the associated base or top portion when the walls of the two portions are lapped. By virtue of the foregoing configuration, the teeth 11 do not interfere with the mating engagement of the top portion with the base portion, but do resist disengagement thereof by "biting" into the adjacent wall in response to any movement of the two portions away from each other.
While it is preferable for manufacturers to package the separate portions of mounting blocks, vents and like multi-piece building products in an assembled condition so to prevent loss of one portion or the other (i.e., top or base), the ability to do so is frustrated by the fact that the engaging means prevent ready disassembly of the products, including, as in the case of the clips heretofore described, without causing damage thereto. With respect particularly to the metallic dip interlocking-means described above in relation to FIG. 1, it has heretofore been the case that the clips were not secured to the building products by the manufacturer. Rather, the base and top portions of these products are packaged in an assembled condition with the clips simply being loosely disposed in the package to be secured to the wall of one or both of the base and top portions by a user at the time of product installation on a structure. Unfortunately, this solution often results in the loss of some or all of the "loose" clips before they can be attached to the base or top portions.


A polishing pad has a polishing layer and a backing layer secured to the polishing layer. The polishing layer has a polishing surface, a first thickness, a first compressibility, and a hardness between about 40 to 80 Shore D. The backing layer has a second thickness and has a second compressibility greater than the first compressibility. The first thickness, first compressibility, second thickness and second compressibility are such that the polishing surface deflects more than the thickness non-uniformity of the polishing layer under an applied pressure of 1.5 psi or less.

This present invention relates to polishing pads used in during chemical mechanical polishing.
An integrated circuit is typically formed on a substrate by the sequential deposition of conductive, semiconductive or insulative layers on a silicon wafer. One fabrication step involves depositing a filler layer over a non-planar surface, and planarizing the filler layer until the non-planar surface is exposed. For example, a conductive filler layer can be deposited on a patterned insulative layer to fill the trenches or holes in the insulative layer. The filler layer is then polished until the raised pattern of the insulative layer is exposed. After planarization, the portions of the conductive layer remaining between the raised pattern of the insulative layer form vias, plugs and lines that provide conductive paths between thin film circuits on the substrate. In addition, planarization is needed to planarize the substrate surface for photolithography.
Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is one accepted method of planarization. This planarization method typically requires that the substrate be mounted on a carrier or polishing head. The exposed surface of the substrate is placed against the polishing surface of a polishing pad, such as a rotating polishing disk or linearly advancing belt. The carrier head provides a controllable load on the substrate to push it against the polishing pad. A polishing liquid, which can include abrasive particles, is supplied to the surface of the polishing pad, and the relative motion between the substrate and polishing pad results in planarization and polishing.
Conventional polishing pads include "standard" pads and fixed-abrasive pads. A typical standard pad has a polyurethane polishing layer with a durable roughened surface, and can also include a compressible backing layer. In contrast, a fixed-abrasive pad has abrasive particles held in a containment media, and can be supported on a generally incompressible backing layer.
One objective of a chemical mechanical polishing process is to achieve topology uniformity across the substrate. Another object is to achieve polishing uniformity. If different areas on the substrate are polished at different rates, then it is possible for some areas of the substrate to have too much material removed ("overpolishing") or too little material removed ("underpolishing"), which can result in non-uniform topography across the substrate.

Multi-layer polishing pad for low-pressure polishing


A memory may include a plurality of word lines, one or more redundancy word lines for replacing one or more word lines among the plurality of word lines, a target address generation unit suitable for generating one or more target addresses using a stored address, and a control unit suitable for sequentially refreshing the plurality of word lines in response to a refresh command which is periodically inputted, refreshing a word line selected based on the target address when the refresh command is inputted M times, and refreshing the one or more redundancy word lines whenever the refresh command is inputted N times, wherein the M and N are natural numbers.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a memory and a memory system including the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A memory cell of a memory includes a transistor serving as a switch and a capacitor serving to store a charge (data). Depending on whether a charge is stored in the capacitor of the memory cell, that is, whether a terminal voltage of the capacitor is high or low, the data may be divided into logic high (logic 1) and logic low (logic 0) data.
Data is stored in such a manner that charge is accumulated in a capacitor. Thus, no power is consumed in maintaining stored data in theory. However, since current leakage occurs at the PN junction of MOS transistors, the initial charge stored in the capacitor may be lost, resulting in the corresponding data being lost. To prevent data loss, data of the memory cell is read and the charge is stored again based on the read information, before the data is lost. This process, called a refresh operation, is periodically performed to maintain the data.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating part of a cell array included in a memory that will be used to explain word line disturbance. In FIG. 1, 'BL' represents a bit line.
In FIG. 1, 'WLK−1', 'WLK', and 'WLK+1' in the cell array represent three word lines arranged in parallel. Furthermore, word line WLK with 'HIGH_ACT' represents a word line with high activity, and word lines WLK−1 and WLK+1 represent word lines arranged adjacent to the word line WLK. Furthermore, 'CELL_K−1', 'CELL_K', and 'CELL_K+1' represent memory cells coupled to the word lines WLK−1, WLK, and WLK+1, respectively. The memory cells CELL_K−1, CELL_K and CELL_K+1 include cell transistors TR_K−1, TR_R, and TR_K+1 and cell capacitors CAP_K−1, CAP_K, and CAP_K+1, respectively.
In FIG. 1, when the word line WLK is activated and precharged (deactivated), the voltages of the word lines WLK−1 and WLK+1 are increased and decreased by a coupling effect between the word line WLK and the word lines WLK−1 and WLK+1, thereby influencing charges stored in the cell capacitors CAP_K−1 and CAP_K+1. Thus, when the word line WLK is frequently activated-precharged to toggle between the active state and the precharge state, the data stored in the memory cells CELL_K−1 and CELL_K+1 may be lost by the change in charge stored in the capacitors CAP_K−1 and CAP_K+1.
Furthermore, electronic waves, generated while a word line toggles between the active state and the precharge state, may introduce/discharge electrons into/from a cell capacitor included in a memory cell coupled to an adjacent word line, potentially losing the data of the memory cell.

Memory and memory system including the same


Fluid temperature regulator includes a unitarily-formed housing having an inlet, outlet, bypass outlet, and plurality of valve chamber openings, in line with respective valve chambers. Valve holders are removably disposed within valve chamber openings to position thermostatic valves within the valve chambers. Each valve holder includes at least one wall having at least one holder outlet opening and holder bypass outlet opening. First and second regulator flowpaths through the regulator are defined through the regulator inlet to either the regulator bypass outlet or regulator outlet depending upon whether the thermostatic valves are disposed in a first or second configuration, respectively.

Fluid temperature regulators that use wax element thermostatic valves generally consist of two housings with the thermostatic valves positioned within the housings within large machinery. This requires the separation of the two housings to access the thermostatic valves for service or replacement. Accessing the thermostatic valves typically requires the temperature regulator to be removed from the piping circuit so that the housings can be separated, increasing the difficulty of servicing the thermostatic valves, particularly in the field, as well as the associated costs and potential for damage to the thermostatic valves, housings, and fluid connections to the piping circuit. Further, inasmuch as the two main housings are typically either cast iron or bronze, fabrication of the housings can greatly increase the cost of the housings, and, accordingly, the temperature regulator.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,133 B1 discloses a combination radiator and thermostat assembly. The arrangement includes a thermostat cartridge assembly within a housing adjacent the radiator of a cooling system in an automotive vehicle.

Temperature regulator with a unitary housing, thermostatic valves and valve holders


An elongated molding for a vehicle, including, a body portion including a head portion and a leg portion protruding from a back surface of the head portion, wherein the molding has a lower terminal section, which is a portion of the molding located lower than a boundary between a side panel and a fender panel constituting a body panel and configured to face the fender panel, wherein a receiving portion, which is configured to receive a tip portion of an edge portion of the fender panel that faces the molding, is formed on an outer surface of the leg portion of the lower terminal section, and wherein the receiving portion includes a bottom wall portion projecting toward an outer side from the leg portion and a side wall portion projecting from an upper surface of the bottom wall portion.

There are window moldings made of resin, which are molded by injection molding or the like. Among these window moldings, a window molding is known in which a seal body made of a soft resin material that is elastically deformable is integrated with a body portion made of a hard resin material that has relative rigidity. Such a molding may be referred to as a mold, a garnish, a decorative member, or the like. For example, JP-A-2003-165137 discloses a molding as an elongated composite resin molded product. The molding of JP-A-2003-165137 ("window edge molding 20" in the embodiment) is fixed along a side panel ("front pillar panel 2" in JP-A-2003-165137) of a passenger car via a mounting member (a "first fixture 50" and a "second fixture 60" in JP-A-2003-165137) made of resin or metal.

Molding for vehicle and attachment structure of molding in vehicle


A brake system (10) having a proportioning device (18) through which a first fluid pressure is communicated to a first brake circuit and a second fluid pressure is communicated to a second brake circuit. The proportioning device (18) has a housing (90) with a first bore (204) connected with a first passage (98) for receiving the first fluid pressure and with a second passage (100) for receiving the second fluid pressure. A first piston (210) located in the first bore (204) of the housing (90) separates the first passage (98) from the second passage (100). The first piston (210) responds to a higher fluid pressure of the first and second fluid pressures by moving in the first bore (204) to providing additional fluid pressure to a lower fluid pressure of the first and second fluid pressures to substantially equalize the first and second fluid pressures supplied to the first and second brakes circuits for effecting said brake application. A second piston (110) located in a second bore (104) of the housing (90) separates the first passage (98) from the second passage (100). The second piston (110) responds to a pressure differential between the first and second fluid pressures to interrupt communication to the first or second brake circuit correspondingly connected to the lower fluid pressure while opening communication (124,126) with a reservoir (96) for the lower fluid pressure to prevent loss of fluid from the brake system.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,911 discloses a typical tandem brake booster through which a force is developed to effect a brake application. In such a brake booster, the interior is divided into first and second front chambers and first and second rear chambers by corresponding first and second walls. The first front chamber is externally connected to a first source of fluid pressure by a conduit and internally directly connected to the second front chamber and to the first and second rear chambers by various passages in a hub associated with the first and second walls. A control valve located in the hub is positioned such that the first fluid pressure is communicated in the first and second rear chambers to define a rest or ready position. In responsive to an input force, the control valve is positioned such that a second fluid pressure is presented to the first and second rear chambers to create a pressure differential across the first and second walls. This pressure differential acts on the first and second walls to develop an output force which is provided to a master cylinder to assist in effecting a brake application. On termination of the input force, a spring returns the control valve to a rest or ready position of the first mode of operation as the second fluid is evacuated from the first and second rear chambers to allow the first fluid pressure to again be present in the first and second rear chambers. This type vacuum brake booster functions in an adequate manner to provide an assist in effecting a brake application.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,409,885, 4,942,738 and 5,329,769 disclose brake boosters and master cylinder arrangements wherein at least a portion of the master cylinder housing is positioned within the interior of the booster housing to define an integrated brake assembly. Such brake boosters operate in a satisfactory manner but because of their overall size they still occupy considerable under the hood space when installation in a vehicle.
In a typical brake system, fluid pressure is supplied to separate brake circuits after passing through a proportioning valve to assure that the fluid pressure supplied to corresponding brakes i.e. right and left front brakes and right and left rear brakes, is identical such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,753,487 and 4,908,522. In such brake systems if a brake circuit should become inoperative or develop a leak, it is possible that different fluid pressures will actually be presented to the individual brakes during a brake application. This situation is undesirable since it is possible to create a skid condition under certain conditions.


A semiconductor device comprising electric field relieving regions 8a and 8b for alleviating the electric fields between a source layer 6a and body-source connection layers 7a and 7b formed along borders between the source layer 6a and the body-source connection layers 7a and 7b, and source contacts C1 and C2 for making contact between the source layer 6a and the body-source connection layers 7a and 7b are formed to extend across the electric field relieving regions 8a and 8b, respectively.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing semiconductor devices, in particular, which are preferably applied to a body-source connection type (source-tied type) transistor formed on a SOI (Silicon on Insulator) wafer.
2. Related Art
MOS transistors formed on a SOI wafer have characteristics such as easiness in element isolation, latch-up-free property, and small source/drain junction capacitance, and thus their utility is attracting attention.
In particular, because fully-depleted SOI transistors can achieve low power consumption and high-speed operations, and they can be easily operated at low voltages, research into operation of SOI transistors in a fully-depleted mode is actively conducted.
However, in order to operate a SOI transistor in a fully-depleted mode, the thickness of the SOI film needs to be thinned down. For this reason, a punch-through phenomenon would likely occur due to the drain induced potential barrier lowering (DIBL: Drain Induced Barrier Lowering), and the drain breakdown voltage of the SOI transistor decreases.
On the other hand, if the SOI film is thickened to prevent the drain breakdown voltage from decreasing, the SOI transistor shifts from a fully-depleted mode to a partially depleted mode, and the low voltage operation of the SOI transistor becomes difficult.
Moreover, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application HEI 5-67785 describes a method for improving the drain breakdown voltage of a SOI transistor and achieving higher operation speeds, in which a concave section is formed in a semiconductor layer of a SOIwafer, and a gate electrode is formed over the concave channel region interposed between source/drain regions.
In addition, in the SOI transistor, when the SOI film thickness is thinned, and the bottoms of the source/drain regions come in contact with the dielectric layer, the body region under the gate electrode is isolated, and the drain breakdown voltage deteriorates by accumulation of impact ionized carriers. Accordingly, there are methods of releasing the impact ionized carriers accumulated in the body region, for example, by connecting the body region under the gate electrode with the source region (body-source connection type), or connecting the body region with the gate electrode (dynamic threshold type).
FIG. 5(a) is a plan view schematically showing a structure of a conventional semiconductor device, FIG. 5(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A2-A2 of FIG. 5(a), and FIG. 5(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along lines B2-B2 of FIG. 5(a).
In FIGS. 5(a)-5(c), a single-crystalline silicon layer 23 is formed on a dielectric layer 21, and the single-crystalline silicon layer 23 is isolated by an element isolation dielectric layer 22. Further, a gate electrode 25 is formed on the single-crystalline silicon layer 23 through a gate dielectric layer 24. Also, a source layer 26a and a drain layer 26b are formed in the single-crystalline silicon layer 23 disposed on both sides of the gate electrode 25. As shown in FIG. 5(b), bottom surfaces of the source layer 26a and the drain layer 26b contact the dielectric layer 21, and a body region below the gate electrode 25 is isolated between the source layer 26a and the drain layer 26b.
Also, body-source connection layers 27a and 27b that contact the body region below the gate electrode 25 and disposed in a manner to interpose the source layer 26a are formed in the single-crystalline silicon layer 23 on the side of the source layer 26a. Also, an interlayer dielectric film 29 is formed on the single-crystalline silicon layer 23 where the gate electrode 25 is formed, and source contacts C11 and C12 for making contact with the source layer 26a and the body-source connection layers 27a and 27b are formed on the side of the source layer 26a.
In other words, contact holes K11 and K12 are formed in a manner to cross the borders between the source layer 26a and the body-source connection layers 27a and 27b in the interlayer dielectric film 29, as shown in FIG. 5(c). Further, the source layer 26a and the body-source connection layers 27a and 27b are connected to source wirings 30a and 30b through the contact holes K11 and D12, respectively.
Also, a gate contact C15 for making contact with the gate electrode 25 is formed on the gate electrode 25, and drain contacts C13 and C14 for making contact with the drain layer 26b are formed on the drain layer 26b.
Here, if an n-channel transistor is assumed to be formed in the single-crystalline silicon layer 23, the single-crystalline silicon layer 23 and the body-source connection layers 27a and 27b are set to be p-type, and the source layer 26a and the drain layer 26b are set to be n+ type.
For this reason, even when holes generated at an edge of the drain flow in the body region, they can be discharged to the source wirings 30a and 30b through the body-source connection layers 27a and 27b, and impact ionized carriers are controlled so as not to accumulate in the body region.
However, the body-source connection type shown in FIGS. 5(a)-5(c) has a problem in that, because the body-source connection layers 27a and 27b are disposed in a manner to contact the source layer 26a, holes, when flowing from the body region to the source layer 26a, cause an impact ionization at a pn junction formed between the body-source connection layers 27a and 27b, and this lowers the drain breakdown voltage.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing semiconductor devices, which are capable of suppressing an impact ionization at a border of a body-source connection layer.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device


A new Geranium plant, particularly distinguished by the salmon flower color, strong zoning on green foliage, strong vigor, good branching and round plant habit.

The present invention comprises a new Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hérit. ex Ait, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'Zosa.'
'Zosa' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar 'Zosa' has large, semi-double flowers, is relatively vigorous, but with a well-branched growth habit, and has good heat resistance.
'Zosa' originates from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as 'J2218-2' with salmon color, nice round plant shape, and big flowers. The male parent of 'Zosa' was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as 'H2167-2' with salmon color, very well branching habit, long flower stem, and large umbel.
'Zosa' was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in 2000 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'Zosa' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the Fall of 2000 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.
Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in April of 2001 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for 'Zosa' are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.
'Zosa' has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.


An assembly for collection and disposal of feline waste, the assembly including a first, a second, and at least a third upwardly opening vessel, each vessel among the first, second, and at least third vessels being substantially identical to each other vessel among the first, second, and at least third vessels, and each vessel among the first, second, and at least third vessels having a peripheral wall having an upper edge, each peripheral wall having an upwardly opening door notch; and including releasably attaching tab and slot combinations connected operatively to the first, second, and at least third upwardly opening vessels, the releasably attaching tab and slot combinations being adapted for, upon mirroring positioning of any two vessels among the first, second, and at least third upwardly opening vessels with respect to each other, holding those two vessels in a pet house configuration.

Enclosed cat litter boxes are known. However, such boxes typically comprise a lower plastic and non-disposable bottom half in combination with an upper plastic and non-disposable top half. While such boxes beneficially provide an enclosed environment favored by cats, such boxes disadvantageously require periodic internal cleaning, and they disadvantageously fail to facilitate any convenient means for disposal of soiled cat litter.
Disposable cat litter boxes are also known, such boxes typically comprising a cardboard or thin plastic upwardly opening tray. While such boxes help with handling and disposal of cat waste, such disposable cat litter boxes disadvantageously offer no structure forming a desirable pet house type enclosure.
The instant inventive assembly for collection and disposal of feline waste solves or ameliorates the problems of enclosed cat litter boxes and disposable cat litter boxes, as discussed above, while preserving the benefits and advantages of both, by providing pluralities of specially configured disposable vessels, each being capable of alternatively serving both as a feline waste container and as a mirroringly positionable overlying and underlying pet house forming structures.

Assembly for collection and disposal of feline waste


A method and apparatus automatically triggers position location fixes for external devices. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mobile station generates position location data for a position location function in an external device in response to determining that the mobile station is electrically coupled to the external device, and in response to determining that the position location function in the external device is active. The mobile station does not generate position location data for the position location function in the external device in response to determining that the mobile station is electrically decoupled from the external device, or in response to determining that the position location function in the external device is not active.

A stand alone, independent, and portable global positioning satellite (GPS) receiving device generates position location data when it is turned on and operational.
Mobile stations, such as cellular telephones, may generate position location data, either alone, via an integrated GPS receiver, and/or in combination with a communication system (e.g., a cellular telephone system) when the mobile station is turned on and operational.
Some external devices have position location functions that use or require position location data, but do not have an integral position location device, such as a GPS receiver. Such external devices may be connected to a stand alone, independent, portable GPS receiving device to receive the position location data when the GPS receiving device is turned on and operational. Since the primary function of the GPS receiving device primarily is to determine and generate position location data, the GPS receiving device is turned on when the external device needs or requires the position location data, and the GPS receiving device is turned off when the external device does not need or require the position location data. Turning on and off (e.g., manually) the GPS receiving device conserves resources, such as the portable power supply, processing, memory, network usage, etc.
Some position location devices or functions, which are internal to, integrated with, and embedded in a mobile station, receive position location data from the mobile station in response to an internally generated trigger or request, such as via an application program interface (API). Such a trigger conserves resources, such as the portable power supply, processing, memory, network usage, etc. with the mobile station. Such a trigger is practical and reasonable to implement in the mobile station, since the internal position location device and the mobile station are designed to work together and are designed at the same time.
Connecting external devices, having position location devices or functions, to a mobile station, having the ability to generate position location data, presents an undesirable engineering tradeoff. When an external device is connected to a mobile station, the mobile station does not know when to start and/or stop generating the position location data. For example, when the mobile station is turned on and operational to generate the position location data for the position location devices or functions in the external device, valuable resources may be unnecessarily consumed, if such position location devices or functions do not immediately or regularly need or require the position location data. Further, unnecessarily consuming the mobile station's resources has a detrimental effect on other functions in the mobile station that rely on the same resources. For example, unnecessarily generating position location data that are not used by the external device drains the mobile station's battery, which in turn reduces the mobile station's talk time or standby time.
Alternatively, if the mobile station is turned on and off, like the stand alone, independent, portable GPS receiving device described above, to conserve the mobile stations resources, then other desirable functions of the mobile station are not available to be used when the mobile station is turned off. For example, the mobile station cannot remain in standby mode, waiting for an incoming call, when the mobile station is turned off.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and an apparatus to automatically start and/or stop the generation of position location data for position location functions in external devices, which are adapted to be electrically coupled to and electrically decoupled from a mobile station.

Method and apparatus to automatically trigger position location fixes for external devices


A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry plant (Fragaria×ananassa), was developed from seed produced by a hand pollinated cross between ‘NJ01-73-3’ and ‘NJ03-232-2’. The new strawberry plant named ‘NJ08-08-6’ is distinguished by its highly vigorous, upright growth habit, high productivity, uniform fruit color and shape, and excellent fruit quality and flavor.

A new and distinct cultivar of strawberry named 'NJ08-08-6' is a short day cultivar similar to 'Chandler' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262). The new cultivar is distinguished by its upright petioles and large, shiny fruit with a uniform red color, uniform conical shape and excellent flavor. The cultivar is well adapted to high density plasticulture growing systems and has been shown to perform well in the eastern United States. This new variety should be of commercial value, particularly for farmers that sell fruit for fresh consumption directly to consumers in pick-your- own operations and at farmers markets.


A compound having the structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, or wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 together and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 together are joined as a cycloalkyl group; wherein R.sup.6 is a hydroxyl group, an alkoxyl group, an aralkyloxy group, or --OSi (R.sup.8 R.sup.9 R.sup.10) in which R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are each independently an alkyl group or a phosphate salt group and R.sup.7 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, or an alkoxyl group.

Japanese Patent Application No. 7-337717, filed Dec. 4, 1995, is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to 1,2-dioxetane derivatives which can be used, for instance, as chemiluminescent reagents for immunoassays.
2. Discussion of Background
Conventionally, varieties of 1,2-dioxetane compounds have been synthesized, in particular, 1,2-dioxetane compounds substituted with a spiroadamantyl group at the 3 position thereof are known to be useful as chemiluminescent substrates, for instance, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publications 5-21918 and 5-45590.
However, such conventional 1,2-dioxetane compounds cannot be said to be sufficiently thermally stable for use in practice, so that there has been a demand for an improved chemiluminescent compound.


An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes an input extraction unit, and a parameter estimation unit. The input extraction unit configured to extract, from time sequence images of medical images obtained by performing a blood perfusion imaging scan on a tissue, a region where a main vessel supplying blood input to the tissue is located as an input part and obtain, based on the input part, a time-density sequence of the blood input as an input time sequence. The parameter estimation unit configured to estimate parameters in a model representing the change of the blood flow at each point in the tissue with the input time sequence, based on the input time sequence, the model and the time sequence images, wherein the parameters include a delay undergone by the blood when flowing from the input part to each point in the tissue.

In the field of image processing, processing a directly obtained image to obtain parameters related to an examined object is an important application, which generally involves an accurate modeling of the examined object. Specifically, an input region and an object region may be included in the obtained image, wherein the input region acts on the object region through a certain mechanism to obtain a corresponding output and/or an observable change in a certain state of the object region. This is equivalent to a response of the object region to the input, the response reflecting features of the object region. In the case where the input and the state change are known, a specific model can be constructed to obtain parameters reflecting the features of the object region.
For instance, in the processing of a medical image, it is usually required to process a series of images obtained by scanning to obtain physiological parameters of a related tissue or organ. Taking the blood perfusion imaging of the liver as an example, a selected slice is dynamically scanned after the intravenous bolus injection of contrast medium to obtain the time-density curve (TDC) of each pixel in this slice. Various perfusion parameters such as a hepatic artery perfusion (HAP), a hepatic portal perfusion (HPP) and a hepatic perfusion index (HPI), are calculated using different mathematical models according to the curve, and a perfusion image is formed through color level assignment to study the blood perfusion feature and the vascular characteristics of an organ and a lesion.

Image processing apparatus, method and medical image device


A recording device capable of accurately detecting the presence and absence of ink particles ejected from plural ejecting outlets aligned in a lateral direction of a head thereof. In the recording device, the sensing field of an infrared sensor is directed toward flying ink particles but directed toward landed particles. Whereby the thermal energy from the landing ink particles remarkably increases a thermal energy applied to infrared sensor.

The present invention relates to a recording device for ejecting an ink particle from an ejecting outlet of a head.
A conventional recording device includes a head having an array of ejecting outlets aligned laterally and an ejecting sensor for detecting that an ink particle is ejected downwardly from the outlets of the head. The ejecting sensor detects a thermal energy radiated from the flying ink particles.
The conventional recording device hardly detects accurately the presence and absence of the ink particles with an infrared sensor. Since flying very fast, the ink particles ejected from the ejecting outlets passes across a sensing field of the infrared sensor for a short time, thus providing the sensor with a small thermal energy. Continuously ejecting the ink particles increases a consumption of ink.
A recording device capable of detecting accurately the presence and absence of an ink particle is provided, in which an infrared sensor receives a much thermal energy from the ink particle.
The recording device has a sensing field of the infrared sensor not directed toward a flying ink particle but directed toward a landing ink particle. The steady ink particle enables the infrared sensor to receive an increasing thermal energy, so that the sensor may detects accurately the presence and absence of the particle.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A network unit for use in a switching fabric stores for each network unit in the switching fabric a respective change identification number. In each unit this number is incremented on each change of state. The unit broadcasts protocol packets which indicates incremented change identification numbers; receives corresponding packets from the other units; and determines when the last change identification numbers in the table are the same for all the units. This allows a control based on whether all the units know that all the other units have been updated in response to all the changes of state in the fabric. The network unit can also participate in a routing algorithm, and particularly a shortest path algorithm, within a fabric that constitutes a single network entity.

In a packet-based switching system an essential building block for the system is a switch, a term used herein for a multiple-port network device having ports capable of transmitting and/or receiving addressed packets to and from an external network and at least one 'fabric' port by means of which it is connected to at least one other device in a switching fabric.
The term 'switching fabric' is a compendious term which is intended to cover such earlier terms as 'stack' and 'cascade'. In stacked or cascaded systems, a plurality of switching devices have a mutual connection, originally in the form of a ring but more recently in the form of a mesh, which serves to convey packets between the devices or 'units' in the mesh and also, either by means of the same data path or by a separate control path, allows the passage of control or management signals between the units so that they constitute, for example, a single large switch which has available to it substantially all the aggregate of ports possessed by the individual units making up the switching fabric.
The term 'stack' originally arose because units connected together in this general way were designed to be physically stacked one upon the other. The term 'cascade' arose because in communication terms the units had a cascade connection whereby packets received at one unit and intended for transmission from another unit in the stack followed a path that visited the units in turn until the relevant unit having the desired egress port was reached, the connection of the units for this purpose resembling a cascade. Both terms are still appropriate in a figurative sense though it needs to be emphasized that an important aspect of the present invention is the connection of the units in a mesh fabric, so that the units will neither be physically stacked nor be connected, strictly speaking, in 'cascade'.
Although the term 'switch' is used herein for convenience, it needs to be emphasized that the term is used generally in relation to a device which can receive packets, examine address data therein, and, optionally subject to various forwarding or processing rules, direct them out of a port on the same unit or direct them out of a 'fabric' port to another unit in the switching fabric. In some systems of this nature, the unit that receives the packet will perform 'source routing', that is to say it will determine the final destination port before it transmits the packet out of a fabric port. However, this facility is not possessed by all units that can be accommodated into a switching fabric and one of the objects of the present invention is to accommodate units which both have and do not have a source routing facility.
Versatility of switching fabrics requires that the units may be located considerable distances apart and that they are interconnected by a mesh. As for general communication networks, the creation of loops is inherent in meshes and accordingly when configuring or providing resilience in a switching fabric, measures need to be taken to avoid, physically or dynamically, loops in the mesh.
The present invention provides a point-to-point protocol for the configuration and control of a distributed 'stack' or switching fabric.
One aspect of the invention concerns a protocol which can be employed by the units of a switching fabric to facilitate their control in several ways. The preferred protocol facilitates the computation of an optimum path for traffic from each unit to any other unit. The preferred protocol also facilitates the monitoring of and corrective action if required by, changes in the state of the fabric. In particular it facilitates a progressive disabling of links in the fabric in the event of for example a link's failure or the removal of a unit from the fabric and a progressive enabling of the links in the fabric thereafter. An important feature is the maintenance of a common system of numbering of changes in the fabric and the communication by means of the packets of information that indicates which numbered change has been communicated to each of the units. This system allows a control based on whether all the units know that all the other units have been updated in response to all the changes of state in the fabric.
Another aspect of the invention is the use of a routing algorithm, and particularly a shortest path algorithm, within a fabric that constitutes a single network entity. By 'single network entity' is meant that the fabric constitutes a single network node. If the units constitute a router, then there will be only one routing hop presented by the fabric even though a packet may visit more than one unit in the fabric. The units in the fabric may share a common network address, as described for example in co-pending applications for Weyman et al., Ser. No. 10/093,506 (2003-0147412-A1), or O'Neill et al., Ser. No. 10/337,299 filed 7 Jan. 2003, both commonly assigned herewith.
Other aspects of the invention relate to the format of packets which put the protocol into effect and state machines which act in conformity with the protocol and the information conveyed by the packets.
Reference will be made hereinafter to the accompanying drawings.

Switching fabrics and control protocols for them


An engagement time computer system for serving online content based on user engagement duration includes an output device, at least one memory, and one or more processors. The processors are configured to determine a historical engagement time of an online user and to identify a plurality of online content items. Each online content item of the plurality of online content items has a target engagement time. The processors are further configured to receive a request for a content item. The request is associated with the online user. The processors are also configured to select a first online content item from the plurality of online content items based at least in part on the historical engagement time of the online user and the target engagement time of the first online content item and to transmit the first online content item for display to the online user.

This specification relates to presenting online content to a user and, more particularly, to a system and method for serving online content to the user based on a historical duration of engagement by the user with other online content.
Internet users and other consumers of online content are presented with publications such as a news article on a publisher's a web page. This primary content may also be presented alongside one or more online content items such as online advertisements. In some known systems, users may engage with the online content items for different durations of time before, for example, navigating away from the online content items.

Systems and methods for serving online content based on user engagement duration


A control system is provided for selectively actuating a dual area apply piston having first and second piston areas each selectively biased by hydraulic pressure within a respective first and second fill cavities. The control system includes a pressure regulator valve, a dual area activation valve, and a solenoid valve operable to selectively and variable operate the pressure regulator valve to effect biasing of the first and second piston areas by communicating hydraulic pressure to the first fill cavity and/or the second fill cavity.

Dual area apply pistons have two piston areas to which hydraulic pressure may be individually fed in order to engage a torque-transmitting mechanism. During operating conditions in which a high torque capacity is required, such as in a low range or a starting gear to handle stall torque, both piston areas are fed hydraulic pressure. Because hydraulic pressure is thus applied over a greater area, a larger force is applied to engage the torque-transmitting mechanism, resulting in a larger torque capacity (also referred to as clutch capacity). During operating conditions in which less torque capacity is required, such as when operating in higher speed ratios, only one of the piston areas is fed hydraulic pressure, thus engaging the torque-transmitting mechanism, but at a lesser torque capacity and with a faster fill time of the clutch cavity. Typically, a dual area apply piston requires the use of two separate trim systems to direct hydraulic pressure to each separate piston area fill cavity (i.e., each fill cavity typically requires a separate, dedicated solenoid valve and trim valve that direct hydraulic pressure to the fill cavity when the solenoid valve is energized).

Control system for a transmission with a dual area apply piston for a torque-transmitting mechanism engagement


Methods and systems are provided that facilitate sidelink (SL) retransmission scheduled by the network if a SL transmission of a transport block (TB) is unsuccessful. Signalling is used by the network to send a configured grant of transmission resources available for SL transmissions by the UE that repeat on a periodic basis within each of period. The UE makes SL transmissions during one of the periods by transmitting one or more SL transmissions of at least one transport block using the configured resources. The network can schedule a retransmission by transmitting a downlink control information (DCI) to schedule a SL retransmission of one of the transmitted TB. The UE transmits a SL transmission containing a retransmission of the transport block using resources specified in the DCI. The UE transmits a sidelink control information associated with each SL transmission, containing a HARQ process ID for the SL transmission.

Vehicle to everything (V2X) refers to a category of communications scenarios (along with their corresponding technical challenges), including communication between a vehicle and another vehicle (V2V), vehicle to infrastructure (V2I), vehicle to pedestrian (V2P), and many other scenarios. In V2X, the transmission can be done through a link between the network and user equipment (UE), such as uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) or a sidelink (SL) between a UE and another UE.
In Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, a V2X transmission scheme relies on the concept of a transmit resource pool (RP). The LTE V2X transmission scheme includes two transmission modes: mode 3 and mode 4. In mode 3, a base station (BS) schedules time-frequency resources (from the UE's RP) for SL transmission using downlink control information (DCI), either dynamically or semi-persistently. In mode 4, a UE selects resources within its transmit RP. The UE may also select resources based on previous measurement and sensing results.
In New Radio (NR), two resource allocation modes for SL V2X transmission are supported. In NR Mode 1, a BS schedules a UE to perform a SL transmission. NR SL Mode 1 includes dynamic scheduling and SL configured grant (CG) transmission. SL Configured grant transmission includes a Type 1 SL configured grant transmission where the configured grant is signaled in radio resource control (RRC) signaling and a Type 2 SL configured grant transmission where the resource for configured grant transmission is signaled in a combination of RRC and DCI signaling.
In NR Mode 2, a UE performs sensing and autonomously selects resources among a (pre)configured resource pool.

System and method for reservation and resource selection for sidelink communication


Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating an executable program, including receiving serial compile commands in a pseudo-compiler to compile source code modules, scheduling the serial compiler commands in parallel compilers to compile the source code modules, compiling the source code modules in the parallel compliers to generate object code modules, sending compiler completion acknowledgements to a synchronizer and linking the object code modules in linkers in response to linker initiation commands from the synchronizer.

The present invention relates to data processing by digital computer, and more particularly to parallel compiling with a serial schedule.
Software source code can be written in programming languages such as C, C++, Pascal, or Java®. In one common deployment scenario, a compiler converts software source code into object code, and a linker converts the object code into executable code. At run-time, a processor executes the executable code.
Modular techniques are common in software development, and software building is a process of compiling source code modules to object code modules and linking the object code modules to the target program. This modular process automatically follows a predefined schedule. However, for business application software, the total processing time is measured in hours.
There is an ongoing need to improve software development techniques with reduced processing times.

Parallel compiling with a serial scheduler


The invention relates to a pile guide comprising a base frame and a guide member for guiding a pile as it is driven into a substrate, the guide member comprising a plurality of guide parts that are movable between an operative position for supporting the pile and an inoperative position. The pile guide comprises a mechanism that couples the guide parts such that movement of a guide part towards the operative position results in movement of at least one other guide part towards the operative position.

The invention relates to a pile guide comprising a base frame and a guide member for guiding a pile as it is driven into a substrate when the base frame rests thereon, the guide member comprising a plurality of guide parts that are movable, e.g. pivotally mounted on the base frame, between an operative position for supporting the pile and an inoperative position.
Pile guides are known and used to support, level and orientate free-standing impact-driven piles on a ground formation, e.g. on a seabed for a variety of offshore projects, including FPSO and FSO moorings, single point moorings, riserbase piles and pipeline initiation piles, offshore loading systems, and conductors.
As explained in WO 99/11872, it is known to provide a pile guide for aligning a pile with the surface of a substrate into which the pile is to be driven and to provide stability for a piling hammer. Particularly when piling underwater, there is the problem that after the pile has been introduced into the seabed or the like, the guide must be removed to allow the pile to be driven into its final position, which removal is time consuming and thus expensive.
The pile guide in WO 99/11872 comprises a base frame and a pile guide member in turn comprising two parts, each of which is pivotally mounted on the base frame. In this way, each of the two parts is moveable relative to the base frame between an operative position and an inoperative position by rotation about a respective pivot axis. The two parts are held in the operative positions by a latch mechanism, and counterweights are provided to urge the parts into their inoperative positions when the latch mechanism is released. With such a pile guide, it is possible to drive piles fully into a substrate without having to interrupt piling to move the pile guide away from the pile once it has been introduced into the substrate, simply by releasing the latch mechanism and allowing the parts of the pile guide to rotate in their inoperative positions and thus provide sufficient clearance for the hammer.
Pile guides are closed again by pulling the guide parts, e.g. sleeve halves, up by means of rigging connected to an offshore crane. It is important that the sleeves reach the operative position at substantially the same time, as the latches and associated mechanisms must align properly to be able to lock. However, long crane wires, strong currents and/or low visibility, frequently complicate sufficiently accurate timing.

Pile guide comprising a base frame and a guide member


The present invention relates to novel modified oligomeric compounds and to methods of making and using such compounds. The invention further relates to methods of enhancing the cellular uptake of oligomeric compounds comprising conjugating a metal chelator to those.

A general object of some current therapeutic approaches is to interfere with, or otherwise modulate, gene expression.
One method for inhibiting the expression of specific genes involves the use of oligonucleotides, particularly oligonucleotides that are complementary to a specific target messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence, known as antisense oligonucleotides. Several oligonucleotides are currently undergoing clinical trials for such use.
Oligonucleotides and their analogs can be designed to have particular properties. A number of chemical modifications have been introduced into oligomeric compounds to increase their usefulness as therapeutic agents. Such modifications include those designed to increase binding affinity to a target strand, to increase cell penetration, to stabilize against nucleases and other enzymes that degrade or interfere with the structure or activity of the oligonucleotide, to provide a mode of disruption (terminating event) once the oligonucleotide is bound to a target, and to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of the oligonucleotide. Despite such modifications, the cellular uptake of oligomeric compounds remains poor.
Oligonucleotides have been formulated with various with transfection agents, including anionic and cationic lipids and polyamines, in an attempt to improve their ability to permeate biological membranes. Of the transfection agents used, polyethylenimines (PEI) are generally the most efficient and least expensive delivery vehicles. Kren, B. T.; Parashar, B.; Bandyopadhyay, P.; Chowdhury, N. R.; Chowdhury, J. R.; Steer, C. J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1999, 96, 10349-10354. It was observed, however, that, although complexes of excess PEI and oligonucleotide phosphorothioates were efficiently taken up by cells, the oligonucleotides failed to dissociate in the cytoplasm, resulting in no appreciable enhancement in the antisense activity of the oligonucleotides. Dheur, S.; Dias, N.; Van Aerschot, A.; Herdewijn, P.; Bettinger, T.; Remy, J.-S.; Helene, C.; Saison-Behmoaras, E. T. Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev. 1999, 9, 515-525.
Another approach has been attempts to enhance the cellular uptake of oligomeric compounds comprising conjugating the compounds to amphipathic moieties such as amphipathic peptides. (PCT Publication WO 2004/016274).
Conjugation of terpyridine to PNA nucleotides have previously been shown to mediate cellular uptake of a PNA oligonucleotide as monitored by fluorescence. This process was suggested to be dependent on Zn2+ chelating. These experiments were carried out in HeLa cells using elevated concentrations (1-2.5 μM) of fluorophor labeled oligonucleotides added directly to the cell culture media. Addition of high concentrations of oligonucleotides usually leads to some uptake, probably through so called phase fluid endocytosis, as can be observed as a punctuated intracellular distribution, mostly located to endosomes. Interestingly conjugation of terpyridine to PNA led to increased nuclear localization of the oligo, indicating that oligonucleotide may be free to base pair with a potential target sequence, however, no such data was presented (Andreas Fuss, Andreas Schleifenbaum, Mareike Göritz, Andrew Riddel, Carsten Schultz, Roland Krämer, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128(8), 5986-5987.)
A need therefore exists in the art for the development of means to improve the cellular uptake and cellular distribution of oligomeric compounds.
RNA-mediated gene regulation is widespread in higher eukaryotes and complex genetic phenomena like RNA interference, co-suppression, transgene silencing, imprinting, methylation, and possibly position-effect variegation and transvection, all involve intersecting pathways based on or connected to RNA signalling (Mattick 2001; EMBO reports 2, 11: 986-991). Recent studies indicate that antisense transcription is a very common phenomenon in the mouse and human genomes (Okazaki et al. 2002; Nature 420: 563-573; Yelin et al. 2003, Nature Biotechnol.). Thus, antisense modulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells, e.g. human cells appear to be a common regulatory mechanism. In light of this, the present invention provides a method for detection and functional analysis of non-coding antisense RNAs, as well as a method for detecting the overlapping regions between sense-antisense transcriptional units.

Mediated cellular delivery of LNA oligonucleotides


Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may use a measurement procedure for beam detection within an existing cell. The UE perform a search procedure for a first synchronization signal block (SSB) to detect a first beam of a base station. The UE may determine a first timing offset for the first SSB based on the search procedure. The UE may estimate a second timing offset for a second SSB from the base station based on the first timing offset. The UE may perform a measurement procedure for the second SSB to detect a second beam of the base station based on the second timing offset. The UE may prune fake beams based on synchronization signals used for the measurement procedure.

The following relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to synchronization signal measurement for beam detection.
Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).
A UE may perform a search procedure to connect to a base station. The UE may monitor for and measure synchronization signals from a base station. Once connected, the UE may also search for new beams of the base station. Conventional techniques, however, for finding new beams of a connected cell can be improved.

Synchronization signal measurement for beam detection


According to an embodiment of a method, a semiconductor device is operated in a reverse biased unipolar mode before operating the semiconductor device in an off-state in a forward biased mode. The semiconductor device includes at least one floating parasitic region disposed outside a cell region of the device.

An RC-IGBT includes a gate terminal, a collector terminal (drain terminal), and an emitter terminal (source terminal). An RC-IGBT can be operated in a forward biased mode, which is when an internal pn-junction between a body region and a drift region of the RC-IGBT is reverse biased, and in a reverse biased mode, which is when the pn-junction is forward biased. In the forward biased mode, the RC-IGBT only conducts a current when a suitable drive potential is applied to the gate terminal, while in the reverse biased mode, the RC-IGBT conducts a current independent of the control of the gate terminal. In the reverse biased mode, the RC-IGBT operates like a diode that may cause reverse-recovery losses when the RC-IGBT switches from the reverse biased mode, which is when the body diode is conducting, to the forward-biased mode, which is when the body diode is reverse biased. It is basically desirable to reduce those reverse recovery losses.

Method of operating a reverse conducting IGBT


The invention relates to method for deriving a sub-right from a right, the right comprising a plurality of components, each of which specifies an aspect of the right. A component may be, for example, a principal, an action, a resource, and a condition. The invention also relates to a method for integrating a first right with a second right. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of sharing rights by deriving a sub-right from a right, allowing use of the sub-right, and integrating the sub-right with the right. In addition, the invention relates to a system to support rights sharing by enabling the derivation of a sub-right from a right, the right comprising plural components each of which specifies an aspect of the right, the system comprising a receiving module for receiving a sub-right, the sub-right comprising plural components each of which specifies an aspect of the sub-right, and a confirmation module for confirming that the values of the components of the sub-right can be derived from the values of the corresponding components of the right. The invention further relates to a method for deriving a sub-right from a pool of rights granted by a grantor to a grantee for controlling use of resources within a computing environment, the computing environment having a mechanism for enforcing rights within the environment to control use of resources in accordance with the rights.

In current state-of-the-art DRM systems, the functionality of rights sharing among a set of potential users—which may be human beings or non-human entities, such as devices or services—is available in commercial products. A set of granted rights and how these rights may be shared are typically specified in the form of a license.
One form of license that is dedicated for rights sharing is called the concurrent user license (also known as site license or network license). A concurrent user license represents a pool of licenses that is tied to a network server; only users on this network can access the license and only a maximum number of users can access it concurrently.
In the conventional implementations of a concurrent user license, each user who is able to access the license is granted all the rights specified in the license—that is, all users have the same rights. A more advanced implementation of this type of license, by Macrovision FLEXnet, allows users of a concurrent user license to dynamically share a set of rights. Instead of specifying a set of rights that each user can have, the license specifies the maximum set of rights that all users can share. How these rights are shared is up to the purchaser of the license and can be configured using a custom access control mechanism consisting of an option file and software plug-in modules. The option file can be used to control among other things, the reservation of a number of licenses available in the license pool for a specific user or group of users, the reservation of some specific features that a user or group of users can access, and a stipulation of who can borrow a license from the pool for off-line usage. To illustrate some of the features supported by the option file, "RESERVE 1 install USER robert" reserves one license for the feature "install" for the user "robert"; "RESERVE 4 play GROUP accounting" reserves 4 licenses to play content for the accounting group; "INCLUDE_BORROW play USER tom" includes user "tom" in the list of users able to borrow feature "play". In addition to sharing, the option file includes an option to report usage. This is, in effect, a way for the license to impose the condition to track usage upon the user. During the authorization process to determine whether a user can access content, the license is processed by a generic license manager while the option file is processed by the plug-in to produce a combined response.
Even though Macrovision FLEXnet's approach gives the user the extra mechanism to control rights sharing according to their needs, it certainly has its limitations. For example, the license is tied to a network server, and only users on this network can access or borrow the license. Also, the option file is configured by a human being and is error-prone. For instance, while reserving licenses for the different groups within a department, the administrator can make a mistake so that the number of reserved licenses exceeds the pool capacity. This mistake can go unnoticed, and some group can end up sharing fewer licenses than expected. The option file, and therefore the sharing distribution, is a clear text file. It is protected only by the administrator password. The license server cannot perform the same rights management tasks it does with licenses, which are to verify the authenticity and integrity of the options. In addition, access control based on the option file on top of the license limits the portability of content, since content can only be accessed where the access control mechanism exists. When the content leaves the perimeter (the domain of the network server), the intended access control no longer applies.
The hard-coded option to report usage is only one of the possible conditions the license purchaser may want to impose upon the users of the license. The purchaser of the license should be able to add their own conditions to the distributed rights. The custom access control mechanism only supports one level of delegation. Only the administrator can distribute rights to the network users who cannot further distribute their rights. This delegation is not suitable in a hierarchical structure, which requires multi-level delegation. The sharing is focused on the access aspect or the control of certain actions. It is not a general-purpose resource sharing mechanism managed by rules or policies. The design is centered on controlling the actions of software programs. It is not intended to control other types of digital resources such as documents, audio and video files.
Another form of licenses that typically allows sharing within a personal domain is called an end-user license. This type of license requires that the license itself be bound to a specific environment, such as a device or user ID. Sharing is confined within a specific set of device types and/or a maximum number of devices, depending on the business models supported by the rights owner. Either all sharing devices have the same rights or each device has its own, separate set of rights.
In one example of the end-user license, Microsoft Windows Media Rights Management System may grant a content purchaser a set of rights comprising the rights to play content on his PC and to transfer content to other devices. The transfer right specifies the types of device eligible to receive the content and a few pre-determined rights for these devices. As the result of a transfer and according to the license on the PC, each target device has its own, separate set of rights.
In another example, Real Networks Helix DRM offers all network-connected devices (called Native Devices), such as a PC, set top box, home media server, or mobile phone, the ability to acquire their own contents and licenses. The Helix Device DRM supports transfer from a Native Device to a Secure Receiver Device, which is a device that requires a connection to a Native Device for the transfer of data and enforcement of business rules for that data. Examples of Secure Receiver Devices include personal music players, PDAs, and personal video players. Only the playback right is available on Secure Receiver Devices.
In still another example, the FLEXnet node-lock license can be bound to the specific device, requiring the license be consumed on that device only; or it can be bound to a specific user name, requiring devices have the same user name to consume the license. Of the two requirements, the former does not allow sharing, and the latter allows sharing among devices with the same user name, which is not very practical since devices preferably are distinguished by name.
In still another example, the FLEXnet mobile license is bound to a FLEXnet ID. The hardware (dongle) that contains the FLEXnet ID must be moved to the new device if the authorized user decides to consume the license on the new device.
Thus, the sharing schemes allowed by an end-user license do not permit the user to use the acquired rights as the maximum rights that he can use in any way he sees fit.

Method and system to support dynamic rights and resources sharing


The present invention relates to the cleaning of recyclable plastic. More particularly the recyclable plastic is treated at a frequency from 20 to 60 KHz, optionally in the presence of an antiseptic agent and in the absence of a surfactant. This treatment cleans waste, and particularly waste containing protein, such as medical or food waste so it is suitable for recycling.

There is an increasing concern over the disposition of plastic waste. Many jurisdictions are seriously considering recycle content regulations requiring a specified percentage of plastic to be recycled. While this is seen as a politically and socially acceptable goal there are some concerns with some recycled plastics.
More particularly there is a concern with plastics which have been used in the food or medical fields. In the area of rigid plastic used in the packaging, display, and consumption of raw and cooked foods there is a concern with protein containing contaminants such as meat, blood and often the condiments used in association with cooked foods. Meat and blood residues are of particular concern as such contaminants tend to be difficult to remove. Of course this causes difficulties with sorting and preparation for recycling rigid plastic waste. The above concerns are even further heightened when medical wastes are considered.
In conventional cleaning methods the plastic recycle is cleaned either prior to or after shredding. The conventional methods require the use of hot water and cleaning agents such as detergents, surfactants, soaps and the like. Additionally, even if the washing medium, typically water is recycled, it must then be reheated. This is energy consuming.
WPI Accession no. 91-264337/36 of Japanese Patent 3175008 discloses a process in which agricultural film is pretreated to remove most of the dirt (e.g. the big lumps), ultrasonically washed, dewatered, crushed (fluffed) sorted and collected. The patent does not disclose the treatment of rigid polymers from the food or medical industries. Additionally, the reference requires a pre-washing step which has been eliminated from the process in accordance with the present invention.
WPI Accession no. 84-304130/49 of Japanese patent 59189946 discloses a process for treating waste plastic films. In the process the film is rough washed, dewatered, subjected to a water cutter (i.e. lance or knife or the like) which cuts and rewashes the film pieces, dewatered and finally washed with warm water in an ultrasonic wash tank. The reference deals with film and contains a number of pretreatment steps which are avoided in a process in accordance with the present invention. Additionally, the present invention contemplates the use of a washing medium at substantially ambient temperatures and in a preferred embodiment the multiple use or recycling of the washing medium.
Accordingly, there is a need for a simple economic process to clean waste rigid plastic used in the food or medical industries.

Recycling post consumer plastic products


To obtain an original reading imaging optical system, with which a carriage integral type scanning system can be readily realized in an original reading system such as a digital copier for which high-speed performance and high resolution are required, and an image reading apparatus using the same. According to the present invention, by crossing optical paths in a reflection optical system, the more compact imaging optical system capable of coping with decentering error can be attained. Further, by crossing the optical paths on an object side from a diaphragm, the still more compact imaging optical system can be attained. As a result, the original reading imaging optical system of the carriage integral type scanning system and the image reading apparatus using the same can be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging optical system and an image reading apparatus using the same. The present invention is particularly preferable in reading information on an image such as a monochrome image or a color image by using a line sensor of an image scanner, a digital copier, a facsimile, or the like, which uses a compact imaging optical element having various aberrations corrected in a well-balanced manner with high resolution.
2. Related Background Art
Up to now, a flat-bed type image scanner has been known as an image reading apparatus (image scanner) for reading image information on an original surface.
The conventional flat-bed type image scanner has read the image information in such a way that an imaging lens and a line sensor are fixed therein to move only a reflection mirror, thereby subjecting the original surface to slit exposure scanning.
On the contrary, in recent years, a carriage integral type scanning system has often been employed, which integrates a mirror, an imaging lens, a line sensor, and the like in order to simplify an apparatus structure, and scans an original surface.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of a conventional image reading apparatus of a carriage integral type scanning system. In the figure, light flux irradiated from an illumination light source L directly illuminates an original O placed onto an original table glass CG, an optical path of the reflected light flux from the original O is bent inside a carriage C via a first reflection mirror M1, a second reflection mirror M2, and a third reflection mirror M3 in order, and the light flux is imaged on a surface of a line sensor LS by an imaging lens (imaging optical system) 4. Then, the carriage C is moved in a direction of an arrow A (sub-scanning direction) shown in FIG. 15 by a sub-scanning motor B, so that the image information of the original O is read. The line sensor LS of FIG. 15 is constituted by arranging plural light receiving elements in a one-dimensional direction (main scanning direction).
FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing a basic structure of the image reading optical system of FIG. 15.
In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes an imaging optical system; IR, IG, and IB, line sensors for reading image information of colors R (red), G (green), and B (blue), respectively; and OR, OG, and OB, reading ranges on an original surface corresponding to the line sensors IR, IG, and IB, respectively. The carriage C scans the stationary original surface in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 15. Here, the scanning of the carriage C is equivalent to movement of the original surface O with respect to the stationary line sensor LS and the imaging lens 4 as shown in FIG. 16. By scanning the original surface O, an identical part can be read by the line sensors of different colors at a certain time interval. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15, in the case where the imaging lens 4 is composed of an ordinary refraction system, an axial chromatic aberration and a chromatic aberration of magnification occur. Thus, defocus or positional deviation take place in line images to be formed on the line sensors IB and IR as compared with the reference line sensor IG. Therefore, when the respective color images are superimposed to reproduce an object to be scanned, color bleeding or deviation is conspicuous in a resulting image. That is, there arises a problem in that requirements cannot be met regarding performances of a high aperture ratio and a high resolution.
On the other hand, recently, it has been clarified that, even in a decentered optical system, it is possible to establish an optical system in which aberrations are corrected sufficiently by introducing the concept of a reference axis to make constituent surfaces thereof asymmetry and aspherical. For example, a designing method for such an optical system is disclosed in JP 09-5650 A and design examples thereof are disclosed in JP 08-292371 A and JP 08-292372 A. Further, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,475 B, U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,311 B, U.S. Pat. No. 6,313,942 B, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,530 B are magnification optical systems using the above optical system.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view partially showing a main part of a reflection optical system as disclosed in JP 08-292371 A. In FIG. 14, the reflected light flux from the object passes through the diaphragm and enters a reflection optical element B1. In the reflection optical element B1, the light flux is refracted at a surface R1, reflected by surfaces R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6, and then refracted at a surface R7 and emitted from the reflection optical element B1. In the optical path, the light flux is primarily imaged on an intermediate image plane around the second surface, thereby forming a pupil around the fifth surface. Then, the light flux emitted from the reflection optical element B1 is finally imaged on an image pickup surface (image pickup surface of an image pickup medium such as CCD).
In the structure of FIG. 14, the optical element having the plural curved reflection surfaces and flat reflection surfaces integrated therein is used, thereby downsizing the entire mirror optical system. At the same time, the reflection mirrors are arranged with high precision irrespective of the mirror optical system.
Also, the diaphragm is arranged closest to the object side in the optical system and an object image is formed at least once in the optical system. Therefore, regardless of the reflection type optical element with a wide field angle, an effective diameter of the optical element can be reduced. The plural reflection surfaces constituting the optical element are applied with an appropriate refractive power and arranged in a decentering manner. As a result, the optical path in the optical system is bent into a desired shape and the whole length of the optical system in a predetermined direction can be shortened.
Such a decentered optical system is called an off-axial optical system. The off-axial optical system includes an off-axial curved surface as a curved surface, in which when the axis extending along reference light beam passing through an image center and a center of the pupil is assumed as a reference axis, a surface normal line of an optical surface constituting the optical path at a crossing point with the reference axis is not on the reference axis. In the off-axial optical system, the reference axis has a folded configuration at each off-axial curved surface. With the off-axial optical system, since constituent surfaces thereof are generally decentered and eclipse never occurs even on the reflection surface, it is easy to establish an optical system using the reflection surface.
On the other hand, when the reflection surfaces constitute the optical system, the decentering error is generally easy to occur. Thus, if the reflection surfaces are used to constitute the optical system, each reflection surface should be maintained with precision. Further, as another conceivable problem, in the case where the curvature radius of the reflection surface is small and the curvature is large, the decentering error is likely to occur. Also, the larger the distance between the surfaces after the reflection, the larger the positional deviation of the light beam due to the error of the surface inclination.
An original reading system such as a digital copier is difficult to constitute by the integral type optical system because a high resolution and high-speed performance are required therefor. Since an imaging lens required in the reading system needs to be bright and have a high resolution, it is difficult to increase a field angle in order to assure an optical performance. If the field angle is small, such a problem that the resultant optical path length increases is caused.
Further, in the case where a color image is read, as the resolution of the imaging lens becomes higher, the optical performance is more affected by a difference of imaging positions for the respective colors due to the chromatic aberration or by a chromatic aberration such as color drift in a screen. Therefore, the optical system is required, which can reduce the occurrences of the chromatic aberration.

Imaging optical system and image reading apparatus using the same