An adjustable length bar to replace the rigid bar, the one connecting the two outboards or the two outdrives of a boat, for steering purposes, said adjustable bar being electricly operated through a switch on the boat""s dashboard, said switch having two operating positions, one to keep propellers creating two parallel thrusts (cruising mode), and a second to shift the propellers to create a vee configuration (maneuvering mode), by which the boat""s maneuverability will be enhanced.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a device for boats with twin outboard motors (O/Bs), or twin inboard outdrives(I/Os).
2. Description of Related Art
It is a well known fact that boats with twin O/Bs or twin I/Os have difficulties in maneuvering in close quarters, especially when attempting to turn the boat around before berthing, due to the fact that these O/Bs and or I/Os are, for steering purposes, connected together with a rigid bar, in a way that both propellers create the same parallel thrusts.
This is a disadvantage, when the operator, during maneuvering wants to turn his boat around, in narrow channels and other conjested places, with the usual maneuver of running one engine ahead and the other astern, the two propeller thrusts, on almost the same axis and so close together, actually counteract each other, with minimum turning effect. This is more obvious when there is some adverse wind or current.
The device that we will describe hereunder tends to eliminate this disadvantage, by shifting the direction of the propeller thrusts, during maneuvering, in a way that the propeller thrusts, instead of opposing each other""s effect, will now assist each other, in a combine effort to turn the boat around and in any other tight maneuver.
This device is an adjustable length bar, that will replace the existing rigid bar, the one connecting the two O/Bs, or two I/Os.
The desired results of this device can be accomplished by two methods
1. Install the motors on the boat as far apart as permitted by the manufacturer. Have the control switch and circuitry arranged so that when the switch is placed on the xe2x80x9cManeuvering Mode,xe2x80x9d said adjustable bar will expand, to the maximum permitted length, to turn the propeller thrust directions inward, forming an inverted v configuration, with propeller hubs angled toward each other, but with sufficient clearance to keep the two propellers safely apart. In this configuration, when the usual maneuvering For turning the boat to port (left) is executed, by placing the starboard engine ahead (forward) and the port astern (reverse), the propeller thrusts will assist each other to turn the boat in the required direction.
2. A narrow spacing method is for boats in which the engines cannot be installed further apart. This method however, requires the use of an Electric Gear Shift Control. An additional Counter Rotation Solenoid Switch is connected, to bring the required results.
The twin O/Bs and twin I/Os are presently connected together, for steering purposes, by a rigid bar. This is a disadvantage because, the two propellers are always creating two parallel thrusts, and during maneuvering, to turn the boat around, in narrow channels and other conjested places, the two propellers counteract, instead of helping each other, which we believe, our adjustable length bar will correct.

Maneuvering enhancer for twin outboard motor boats


A lens cover mechanism which drives a lens cover to cover a from surface of a lens barrel of a camera, wherein the lens cover drive mechanism has a drive source to generate a drive force. The lens cover drive mechanism also includes a transmission member to receive the drive force from the drive source, an urging member to receive the drive force from the transmission member and to urge a buffer member in the direction of the drive force. In a situation where an external force is applied to the lens cover to prevent movement, the buffer member resiliently deforms when the drive force is received from the urging member, thereby preventing the drive force from being transferred to the lens cover. As a result, the lens cover and the lens cover drive mechanism do not get damaged. The axis of rotation of the lens cover, the urging member and the buffer member are all arranged on a single shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens cover drive mechanism and, more particularly, to a lens cover drive mechanism for driving a lens cover of a camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cameras are known having a lens cover which is directly coupled to a lens cover drive mechanism, such that the lens cover drive mechanism opens and closes the lens cover. This type of conventional camera has an electric motor, a gear train, and a lens cover to cover an end of a lens barrel. The electric motor causes generation of a drive force, and the gear train transmits the drive force of the electric motor to the lens cover. The lens cover is integrally fixed to one of the gears of the gear train and integrally moves in a rotary motion accompanying the movement of the connected gear. Namely, the lens cover opens and closes at the front surface portion of the lens barrel by accompanying the rotary motion of the connected gear.
In the above-mentioned conventional camera, when an external force presses the lens cover, it is possible for breakage of a portion of the gear train or of the lens cover to occur. This is due to the fact that the lens cover and one of the gears which drive the lens cover are integrally fixed to each other. In a case that the lens cover becomes caught for some reason, the drive force to drive the lens cover places a strain on some portions of the lens cover drive mechanism and the lens cover, creating a risk of deformation or breakage of the portion on which the drive force has acted.
FIG. 7 shows another type of conventional camera having a lens cover and a lens cover drive mechanism. The shaft 1 has a protuberance 1 a which receives a drive force and rotates in the direction of arrow (a). The shaft 1 is fixed to an extension 2a of a member 2. The member 2 has a shaft portion 2b which is arranged in parallel to the shaft 1 and fits through a hole 3a of a transmission arm 3. The shaft portion 2b is slidable in the hole 3a. A coil spring 4 is fitted on the shaft 1 and urges the shaft portion 2b towards one side surface of the hole 3a. Through the coil spring 4, the contact state of the shaft portion 2b and the hole 3a is maintained. When the member 2 rotates, the shaft portion 2b does not slide in the hole 3a due to the urging force of the coil spring 4. Consequently, when the shaft portion 2b rotates, the transmission arm 3 is driven in the direction of arrow (b). The transmission arm 3 has a protuberance 3b at an opposite end from the hole 3a, and the protuberance 3b and a fulcrum 5a of a barrier (lens cover) 5 cooperate with each other. The barrier 5 is rotatable about the fulcrum 5a. When the transmission arm 3 is driven in the direction of the arrow (b), the barrier 5 rotates about the fulcrum 5a, and the barrier 5 is opened and closed.
When the barrier 5 is fixed in place by an external force, the transmission arm 3 does not move in the direction of arrow (b). In the fixed state of the barrier 5, when a drive force acts on protuberance 1 a, the coil spring 4 cannot maintain the shaft portion 2b in the same contact position in the hole 3a. The barrier 5 remains in place without the drive force being applied thereto. Thus, it becomes possible to allow the lens cover drive force to dissipate without damaging either the barrier (lens cover) or the lens cover drive mechanism.


A vending machine for vending computer software and electronic data into a user""s portable device and for providing in one embodiment, travel information, maps etc. either as data or as a printout. The machine has a display to show items available and a keyboard for entering the user""s requests. A central unit directs operation of various parts of the apparatus. Connectors for different devices, such as ebook, PDA, and smart cards are provided.

This invention relates to vending machine apparatus for software and electronic data.
Portable devices such as a portable digital assistant (PDA) have a limited memory capacity and it is difficult or even impossible to store in the PDA all the software and data that a user might need in a particular situation. It has been suggested that the data in the PDA could be updated by means of a wireless connection but such a wireless connection is sometimes unreliable particularly when large data files have to be downloaded or transferred from the server to the PDA.
According to the present invention there is provided vending machine apparatus for vending computer software and electronic data into a portable device of a user and operable by a user comprising storage means in said vending machine for storing data and a variety of software; dispensing means for dispensing said data or software to the portable device of the user; a plurality of connectors each adapted to receive a different type of portable device; display means; means for selectively promoting, by means of said display means, the sale of services to said user; means for collecting payment for said services from said user; a central control means responsive to a request from said user for directing the operation of said various means; a diagnostic interface means to diagnose said portable device by running a diagnostic program on the portable device to determine the type of device and resources available; and means to display a menu on said display means to permit said user to navigate through a list of choices available for purchase and download for the connected portable device.
It will be understood that the vending machine apparatus can vend travel related data such as electronic maps, local restaurant and attraction information, as well as schedules.


An information processing system according to the present disclosure includes: an identification data acquirer to acquire first classification information indicating a classification of equipment mounted on a train, first positional information including a formation number of the train, and an equipment identification number unique to the equipment that are transmitted to a maintenance terminal; a vehicle management data acquirer to acquire second classification information indicating a classification of the equipment, second positional information including a formation number of the train, and equipment state information indicating a state of the equipment that are held in a device mounted on the train; and a state history identifier to associate the equipment state information and the equipment identification number with each other upon determination that the first positional information and the second positional information match each other, and the first classification information and the second classification information match each other.

In the field of railroads, in order to ensure safe and reliable travel, mandatory maintenance work by inspecting and servicing equipment mounted on a vehicle is performed periodically or each time a fixed distance is traveled. Very high costs are incurred by using personnel to maintain each of the equipment units mounted on the vehicle. Thus a vehicle management device is used to perform integrated management by connecting via a network to each of the equipment units mounted on the vehicle, and collecting state information of the equipment mounted on the vehicle. Examples of the state information of the equipment include hours of operation, an operation frequency, a voltage, a current, a rotation speed, a frequency, or a temperature history of the equipment, or a notification of a result of a failure diagnosis from the equipment. The collected state information of the equipment is used, for example, to enable determination concerning a deterioration state of the equipment, or whether servicing of the equipment is required, and the collected state information can be employed in the maintenance of the equipment.
For example, Patent Literature 1 describes a management device for equipment mounted on a railway vehicle for which an operational history of mounted equipment is to be recorded for maintenance. For the management device of Patent Literature 1, an equipment identification number is assigned to the equipment that is the subject of maintenance of mounted equipment, the management device is equipped with a recording part for recording a maintenance management characteristic value, and the management device receives information from the mounted equipment, and arranges and records information on the mounted equipment under management. In addition to recording a history of the mounted equipment under management, the management device monitors the mounted equipment and generates management information in accordance with maintenance standards.

Information processing system, and maintenance terminal


A quick release latched security window guard having a framework attached to a building exterior overlying a window is held with a cam latch system including a cam rod extending through the building wall, with an end protruding into a hollow member forming a part of the framework. A sliding latching sleeve is spring urged into a slot in the cam rod end to lock the framework in place. Rotation of a handle on the rod end within the building forces the sleeve back to be cammed out of the slot to release the framework. One or more fixed slotted latching posts may also be mounted to protrude into the hollow member and to be engaged by portions of the sleeve to form additional latching points, all of which are released by the rotation of a single cam rod. The framework may take the form of one or more ladder sections deployed to hang down from the window when the framework is pushed out after being released by the operation of the cam rod.

This invention concerns window guards for preventing entry into a building through the window.
Such guards are in widespread use and typically consist of a welded frame work of steel bars securely fastened over the outside of the window opening. While effective against intruders, these structures create a potential hazard as they prevent a quick exit through the window in fire emergencies.
Latching mechanisms have been devised to allow quick release of the window guard, as for example the mechanism shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,157, where a single latch is operable by a door knob located on the inside wall next to the window to release a locking engagement to a pin fixed within a hollow member of the window guard framework.
A single latching point renders the structure vulnerable to being overcome with a pry bar. Multiple latches would be slow to release in an emergency. The cam mechanism shown would make it difficult to install the guard framework as it requires manipulation of the door knob by someone inside as another person positions the window guard framework over the window from the outside. Careful alignment of the mating parts is also necessary.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a window guard with a quick release latching system able to release latching at multiple points by operation of a single operator handle.
It is another object to provide such a window guard which allows easy installation of the window guard framework from the outside of the building without requiring help from a person on the inside.
These and other objects of the invention which will become apparent upon a reading of the follow specification and claims are achieved by a latching mechanism comprised of an elongated latching member slidable within a hollow shield member forming a portion of the window guard framework. The latching member is spring loaded to be urged towards a rotatable elongated cam rod extending through the building wall and into the hollow member. The cam rod has a slot in one end which is aligned with an edge at one end of the slidable latching member, and is engagable with the edge to thereby latch the window guard framework by engagement with the latching member.
The cam rod is restrained against axial movement by spaced collars on either end, but may be rotated with a handle on the inside of the building to cam the locking member opening edge wall out of the slot in the cam rod, releasing the framework to allow it to be pushed away from the window.
One or more fixed latching posts spaced from the cam rod each have a slot arranged to be engaged or disengaged with the locking member simultaneously with the engagement/disengagement of the latching member edge with the cam rod by sliding movement of the latching member so that the framework can be latched at multiple locations defined by the fixed pins and cam rod, all locations released by rotation of the single cam rod.

Window guard with quick release latching system


A method and apparatus for interprocessor communication using a ring of processors linked together with independent direct memory access type communication interfaces. The interfaces simultaneously input and output data in both directions around the ring. Four I/O memory buffers to support simultaneous communication in both directions. The ring of processors together pass each data packet half way around the ring in each direction. As each data packet or data subset enters the processor it is stored either in a temporary I/O buffer for later retransmission around the ring in the same direction as originally travelling or stored in the final destination data array. The output of data stored locally destined for another processor is intermingled with the data which is retransmitted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for redistributing multiple distributed data sets in a multiprocessor ring so that every processor will contain one unique, complete data set comprised from a group of data subsets where each subset is a part of the corresponding data set and is originally distributed among the processors and, more particularly, a method and apparatus which consolidates distributed data subsets into a single data set by using bidirectional communication within the ring of processors to transfer each subset of the distributed data set the minimum distance necessary and which requires a minimum of additional buffer space within each processor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Parallel computers are becoming increasingly popular as a means of achieving high-performance computing. A parallel computer is a computer which is composed of more than one independent processor unit. These computers are often divided into different classes which reflect the organization of the processors and memory in the computer. Those computers whose processors share a common memory to which every processor has direct access are called shared-memory parallel computers. Those computers whose processors each have a separate memory which cannot be accessed by any other processor are called distributed-memory parallel computers. While the processors in a distributed-memory computer cannot access each other's memory, they can communicate information with each other by sending and receiving messages over their interprocessor communication links or by a shared communication channel.
These two types of computers each have advantages and disadvantages with respect to different kinds of computing tasks. A shared-memory parallel computer is most effective on tasks which have a relatively low number of memory accesses but whose memory accesses are very unpredictable and can be to any portion of the common memory. The performance of a shared-memory machine is limited by the shared memory access bandwidth. In contrast, a distributed-memory parallel computer is most effective when the memory accesses are very heavy but relatively well-organized and segmented. Distributed-memory parallel computer performance is limited by the link communication bandwidth. The present invention relates to a communication method for distributed-memory parallel computers with at least two bidirectional communication lines per node.
Because the performance of distributed-memory parallel computers is limited by the communication bandwidth between the processors, it is important to minimize the inter-processor communication and thus maximize the computer's performance. To minimize the inter-processor communication, one must organize the distribution of data carefully so that each processor has all the data that the processor needs. Unfortunately, this cannot be done in any general sense. The access of data in an algorithm is simply dependent on the algorithm itself. Different algorithms will access data in different ways.
To minimize this problem, programmers will generally choose some compromise for their data distribution which reduces the interprocessor communication for the most common operations on their data set. However, there will always be some operations for which an alternative data distribution is superior.
The most common data distribution scheme for distributed-memory parallel processors is one in which each processor has an equal amount of data and no data is stored in more than one processor. The data are grouped within the processors in such a way as to minimize any interprocessor communication. Nevertheless, it is also fairly common for computing tasks to be more efficiently executed if a complete data set is stored in each processor.
For this kind of task there are two alternative communicating methods which are commonly used. The first is to have each processor request only the needed data from whichever processor has the data by sending messages through the communication links. The second is to simply redistribute or consolidate the distributed data subsets so that each processor has a different, complete data set. Each processor can then process one complete data set by itself. This is most efficient when there are at least as many distributed data sets as there are processors in the ring.
The first alternative will communicate only the necessary data but in a random way and with additional messaging required to support the request/reply cycle. The second alternative may move more data but does it in a very organized and optimizable way which is much more likely to saturate the available link bandwidth. The preferred alternative will again depend on the application program requirements.
If a redistribution of all the data from every processor is chosen, it is imperative that the implementation of this task be as efficient as possible.

Method and apparatus for redistributing multiple distributed data sets in a ring connected multiprocessor


An ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer of a weight-average molecular weight of not less than 40000 is produced by copolymerization of ethylene with an .alpha.-olefin having three or more carbons by use of an olefin polymerization catalyst at a polymerization temperature of not lower than 120.degree. C., the olefin polymerization catalyst comprising, as constitutional components, a) a metallocene compound, b) an ionizing ionic compound, and c) an organoaluminum compound, the ionizing ionic compound (b) being a compound which is capable of changing the metallocene compound (a) into a cationic form and does not further react the cationic form of the metallocene compound. This process produces an ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer of high molecular weight in high efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing an ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer of a high-molecular weight with an olefin polymerization catalyst constituted of a metallocene compound, an organoaluminum compound, and an ionizable ionic compound.
2. Description of the Related Art
The low-pressure Ziegler process for polymerization of ethylene or an .alpha.-olefin is well known in the related technical fields. The catalyst for the process is generally prepared by treating a mixture of an organometallic compound or hydride of a metal of Group 1A to 3A of Periodic Table with a compound of a transition metal (Group 3B to 2B of Periodic Table) in a suspension or a solution, or in the absence of a solvent or a diluent.
In recent years, other special kinds of catalysts are being developed which are active in olefin polymerization. Examples of the catalysts are combination of a cyclopentadienyl derivative of a metal such as titanium, zirconium, and hafnium (Group 4B of Periodic Table) with aluminoxane. (See, for example, J. Boor: "Ziegler-Natta Catalyst and Polymerization", Academic Press, New York (1979), and H. Sinn and W. Kaminsky: Adv. Organomet. Chem. 1899 (1980).) These catalysts have ability of forming a stereospecific olefin polymer with high catalyst activity. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-503788 describes a high-pressure high-temperature process for producing ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer by use of a transition metal compound and an aluminoxane as the catalyst.
Nevertheless, such catalysts have not been used industrially mainly because of the following reasons: the aluminoxane cannot readily be produced in a reproducible form, hindering preparation of the catalyst and the polymer with required reproducibility, and the expensive aluminoxane has to be used in a considerably high ratio to the transition metal compound to achieve sufficient activity.
To offset the above disadvantages, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-207704 discloses ionic metallocene compound prepared by reacting a metallocene with an ionizing ionic compound. PCT Application No. WO 92-1723 discloses a process of .alpha.-olefin polymerization by use of a catalyst system prepared by reacting a halogenated metallocene with an organometallic compound and then bringing the reaction product into contact with an ionizing ionic compound. This catalyst system is advantageous in olefin polymerization. However, when ethylene and .alpha.-olefin are copolymerized by use of such a catalyst system at a high temperature, the resulting copolymer has a low molecular weight disadvantageously.
The inventors of the present invention made comprehensive studies to solve the above problems, and found that an ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer having a high molecular weight is obtained with a high catalyst activity by copolymerizing ethylene with .alpha.-olefin by use of a specific ionic metallocene catalyst at a temperature of not lower than 120.degree. C. The present invention has been accomplished based on the above findings.

Process for producing ethylene/.alpha.-olefin copolymer


A rotary index table comprising a plate, which has drivers that engage with a drive groove of a cam barrel, wherein the plate can be driven by the cam barrel to carry out a rotational movement about a rotational axis which in turn can be driven by a motor to carry out a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis thereof, and wherein the motor directly drives the cam barrel.

Such rotary indexing tables are widely used, inter alia in assembly technology and automation technology. Workpieces are, for example, arranged on the plate which are set into continuous or clocked rotational movements for their machining and/or assembly. In this respect, the precision of the rotary indexing table is of special significance so that the workpiece always has well-defined positions/orientations relative to the assembly tools/machining tools. The precision of the apparatus results from the accuracy with which the plate can adopt the individual machining positions as well as from the precision of the rotational movement of the plate between the machining positions.

Rotary indexing table having a direct drive of the transport cam


Polyhydroxy fatty acid amide materials are prepared from reactants such as N-methylglucamine and fatty acid esters in the presence of hydroxy solvents. Polyhydroxy fatty acid amide detersive surfactants are secured. By-product and color formation are minimized.

A wide variety of nonionic surfactants are available to detergent formulators for use in detergent compositions of various types. Included among such materials are the ethylene oxide derivatives of fatty alcohols (nonionic surfactants), and many such materials are used in modern laundry detergent compositions. However, there is a continuing search for high performance detersive surfactants and various alternatives to the ethoxylated alcohols have been suggested. Nonetheless, a review of current commercial laundry detergent formulations would indicate that, although many nonionic surfactants have been suggested for detergency use, the ethoxylated alcohols (and in some instances, ethoxylated alkyl phenols) are the only nonionics in common usage.
One class of nonionic detersive surfactants disclosed in the literature comprises the polyhydroxy fatty acid amides. These materials are taught to be mild, high sudsing surfactants. Accordingly, one might have expected that these materials would have found wide usage in detergent formulations; however, that does not appear to be the case. It might be suggested that one reason polyhydroxy fatty acid amides have not come into widespread use is their difficulty of manufacture.
It has now been determined that polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants can be prepared by a rapid, low temperature process which exhibits high conversion rates and which yields products that are low in undesirable color bodies. Moreover, it has now bee determined that polyhydroxy fatty acid amides can be prepared with low by-product formation, with considerable flexibility of reactants and with maximum re-use of reactants with minimal waste and limited re-cycle.

Preparation of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides in the presence of solvents


The object of the present invention is provide a drive control system of an electric vehicle that can prevent overshoot of the amount of slip. The drive control system of the electric vehicle includes: a motor to drive a driving wheel; a PDU; a number-of-revolution sensor that detects the number of revolutions of the motor; a grip number of revolutions calculating device for calculating the current grip number of revolutions of the motor; a motor power limiting value calculating portion and a conversion portion that determines the limiting torque value of the motor; and a driving torque determining portion that determines the driving torque of the motor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a drive control system of an electric vehicle. More particularly, it relates to the drive control system of the electric vehicle that controls wheel slip by limiting the power to the motor.
2. Related Art
In a vehicle that runs by generating torque at the driving wheels, when a driving torque supplied to the driving wheels becomes larger than friction generated between the driving wheels and a road surface, the driving wheels start to turn without gripping, which indicates that slip has occurred, and controllability decreases considerably. Such slip of the driving wheels tends to occur especially when driving on frozen or wet road surfaces on which the friction is low, or when accelerating the vehicle by supplying excessive torque to the driving wheels.
Then, for example, in the Japanese Patent No. 2674828, an electric vehicle is disclosed in which the slip is detected electronically, and if the slip is judged to occur, the motor current is decreased to decrease the driving torque and thus the slip is prevented.
More specifically, this electric vehicle detects the number of revolutions of the motor, and calculates acceleration with this number of revolutions. On the other hand, a motor current is detected, and an expected acceleration with the number of revolutions of the motor is calculated based on this motor current that will not generate the slip between the driving wheels and the road surface. Furthermore, when acceleration with the number of revolutions of the motor exceeds the expected acceleration, it is judged that the slip is generated. When it is judged that the slip is generated, the driving torque of the motor is decreased and thus the slip is suppressed.
However, in the electric vehicle described above, when the driving torque of the motor is decreased by making the feedback of the number of revolutions of the motor or the current, by considering the delay of the motor response, it takes a certain time from the occurrence of the slip to the elimination of the slip by decreasing the torque created at the driving wheels. That is, the amount of slip at the driving wheels overshoots and hence there is a risk of decreased the controllability.

Drive control system of an electric vehicle


A self-flaring rivet and the method of making the same is disclosed. The end remote from the rivet head carries the swaging mechanism that is pulled outwardly to flare the end, inherently applying a tension force. This swaging mechanism also can be designed to remain in the rivet end or be pulled out completely. In the first instance the working stem of the swaging mechanism is broken off.

This invention relates to rivets and particularly to the type that is flared plus the construction thereof.
The problem solved by this invention is best understood by referring to FIG. 1 which shows a typical, commercially available flared tubular rivet. As noted the rivet 10 after installed in the pieces to be secured is flared at the end 12 opposite the rivet head 14. The following disadvantages are evidenced when this method of riveting is employed:
(1) The flared end must be upset by either impacting or pressing the tubular end putting the rivet shank 16 in compression during assembly. When tool pressure is released, the rivet shank 16 springs back resulting in a loose fit under the rivet head; PA1 (2) The flaring process requires special tooling and experience has shown that, even with production tooling uniform flaring is difficult to achieve; and PA1 (3) By virtue of the compression forces the shank 16 occasionally buckles.
I have found that I can obviate the above referred to disadvantages by designing the rivet to carry the swaging mechanism. A grasping handle or stem extending from the externally accessible swaging mechanism of the rivet is pulled to effectuate the flaring of the end by withdrawing of the swaging mechanism. In one embodiment, it is contemplated that the end of the piece being secured is contoured to allow the shear wedge of the rivet to be flared a sufficient distance to hold the rivet in its securing position while retaining the swaging mechanism. It is contemplated that the working stem breaks off while the swaging mechanism is pulled. It is also contemplated that the contouring is such that the swaging mechanism can be completely withdrawn. In both types, the pulling of the swaging mechanism loads the head of the rivet against the face of the member to be secured, thus assuring that the entire rivet is in tension. The purpose of designing the swaging mechanism to remain in the rivet after flaring is to enhance its tension capability. If this tension capacity is not required the rivet can be designed so that the swaging mechanism can be completely removed.
Some of the advantages that are afforded by this invention are listed hereinbelow, but are not limited thereto:
(1) Prevents looseness under manufactured head as experienced with present flared rivets. The rivet shank is put in tension when the stem is pulled to form the flare providing a tight fit under the manufactured head.
(2) Increases tension capability. With the head of the stem remaining in the flared end of the rivet, the "shear wedge" prevents the rivet from pulling out. The tension capability is now determined by shear strength of "shear wedge" and the tensile strength in the tubular portion of the rivet rather than the strength of the flare itself.
(3) Eases and enhances repeatability of the installation. Self-flaring rivet can be made to be compatible with hand upsetting guns used for blind rivets. This eliminates the need for the much more complex and expensive tooling used to upset present flared rivets. This also facilitates assembly in the field. All the features required to flare the rivet properly are built into the rivet itself. Thus, there is no dependence on the skill of the mechanic for proper installation, which should result in significant cost savings.
(4) The self-flaring rivet is not length limited since all the flaring features are contained in the flared end. Standard blind rivets require that the entire length of the shank be drilled to accommodate the stem which is impractical in long lengths.
(5) The self-flaring rivet has a wide variety of shear pin applications. The rivet shank can be a high strength heat treated material with the flared end locally annealed, or, in a two-piece design, the shank can be high strength and the flare end soft.


A simulator for simulating operations of a logical circuit has as its object the provision of a simulator capable of detailed timing error checking without impairing the simulation executing speed. A timing check primitive adding circuit, based on circuit information indicating electronic devices and loop circuits selected for timing error checking, outputs circuit information with simulation control data for controlling the simulation of only the selected devices or selected loop circuits. A timing error detection circuit and a timing error cause analyzing circuit grasp changes in test pattern input and output signals of a selected device and perform detailed timing error checking.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a simulator for checking the timing errors of the devices in a simulated circuit while simulating the devices of the simulated circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the design of logical circuits, logical simulators are frequently used as checking means of logical operations and timing of the devices therein. There are also simulators exclusively used for the checking of timing.
FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing timing check operations in a conventional simulator. The operations of the simulator will be described below with reference to the flow chart.
First, in step S1, a process of inputting an input test pattern signal to an input terminal of a simulated circuit is simulatively executed in the simulator. The simulator executes the simulation of the simulated circuit by calculating the output value corresponding to the input value of each device. Then, in step S2, the simulator checks the timing error in the input and output signals of each device of the simulated circuit on the basis of the results of the simulation obtained in the step S1.
When it is decided in step S3 that a timing error has occurred, the simulator moves to step S4. In the step S4, the simulator outputs an error message list, inclusive of the kind of the timing error, the time when the error occurred, the name of the device on which the error occurred, etc., serving as a reference for making clear the cause of the timing error. On the other hand, when it is decided in the step S3 that no timing error has occurred, the simulator advances directly to step S5.
The simulator, in the step S5, checks whether or not all the devices within the simulated circuit have gone through the simulation, and if there is any device which has not gone through the simulation, it returns to the step S1. The steps S1-S5 are repeated until all of the devices have been subjected to the simulation. Thus, the timing check is performed by the simulator.
Conventional simulators have performed the timing error check of all of the devices as objects of timing error check and output the timing error messages as described above.
Generally speaking, a high simulating speed is required of the simulator, and therefore, the period of time required for the timing check must be limited to a minimum so as not to impair the operating speed. Accordingly, there has been a problem with conventional simulators in that they are only able to check the timing error as to limited check items and unable to perform detailed timing error checking.

Simulator for simulating circuit operation


A movement system of a block-level data storage service obtains usage information for a data storage volume. The movement system processes the usage information to identify a placement strategy for the data storage volume that is associated with a second operational state for the data storage volume. Based on the placement strategy, the movement system causes a set of servers to perform an operation to implement the second operational state for the data storage volume. As a result of the operation being successfully performed, the movement system provides access to the data storage volume in accordance with the second operational state.

Many entities seeking to reduce the expense and overhead associated with maintaining their own computing resources, such as data storage and computing capacity, have turned to solutions offered by computing resource service providers. Such distributed computing systems provide customers with the ability to generate virtual devices, such as block storage devices. As the number of volumes generated in the distributed computing system grows larger, the computing resources required to service related activity may also become quite large, maintenance of these computing resources, as well as the need to maintain the availability of these volumes, becomes increasingly important. However, maintaining these computing resources without impacting volume availability can be difficult.

Performance-based volume replica migration


A fluid separation apparatus comprising a bundle or bundles of a great number of permselective hollow fibers inserted into a casing and having both the ends fixed by tube sheets is disclosed. This bundle is composed of a great number of hollow fiber elements, each of which consists of one or two hollow fibers wound around by a spacer yarn composed of a textured yarn. This fluid separation apparatus is advantageously used as an artificial kidney.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluid separation apparatus constructed by using permselective hollow fibers.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Methods for separating substances by utilizing the permselective characteristics of a semipermeable membrane, such as reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, osmosis, dialysis and pressure separation of gas mixtures, are known. A fluid separation apparatus comprising semipermeable membranes in the form of hollow fibers having an outer diameter of several hundred microns or less, is very advantageous as the fluid separation apparatus utilizing a permoselective membrane, because the weight of the semipermeable membrane or equivalent pressure externally applied is supported by hollow fibers per se having a tubular structure and owing to a very fine size of the hollow fibers, it is able to enlarge the effective surface area of the semipermeable membrane to be packed in the unit volume.
In order to prepare such a separation apparatus having a large permeation area by utilizing the abovementioned advantage, it is necessary to make a bundle of a very great number of hollow fibers and to fix each hollow fiber at the both ends, respectively, in a cylindrical casing by the tube sheets into which the every ends of the hollow fibers are potted without any opening and every bore of hollow fibers are are opened to the outsides of tube sheets of both bundle ends, so that the fluid circulating in the interior of the hollow fibers of thus assembled apparatus should never be mingled with the externally circulating fluid and every hollow fiber membrane will be effectively utilized. Processes for the preparation of such apparatus are disclosed in the specifications of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,228,876 and 3,228,877.
Furthermore, the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,341 proposes a process comprising assembling a fibrous bundle composed of a great number of hollow fibers into a centrifugal apparatus and forming tube sheets on both the ends of the hollow fiber bundle potted by a curable liquid material under application of a centrifugal force. However, it is required a very high technique to make tube sheets by potting both the ends of bundle by such material without clogging and leakage, which bundle ranges in fiber quantity from several thousand hollow fibers to scores of millions of hollow fibers and which fibers are replasticized by glycerin or the like to prevent degradation of the semipermeable characteristics. Accordingly, it is practically very difficult to attain a high manufacturing efficiency by such potting processes.
Moreover, in a separation apparatus comprising a bundle of a very great number of fine hollow fibers, distribution of the circulating fluid in the external portions of the fibers in the interior of the apparatus frequently becomes non-uniform to form stagnant zones, and the separation efficiency of the apparatus is reduced considerably, or the flashing effect is locally insufficient when the apparatus is washed. And it results in serious defects in practical operation. For example, in case of hemo-dialysis, harmful substances such as a sterilizing agents are left in the apparatus, or in case of reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration, the performances of the apparatus may reduce every time when reversely flashing to regenerate.
Many attempts have heretofore been made to prevent formation of stagnant zones causing reduction of the separation efficiency and the capacity of the apparatus. For example, there has been proposed an apparatus in which ribbon-like members are wound around bundles of hollow fibers to prevent formation of stagnant zones between the bundles. However, the separation capacity of an apparatus of this type is insufficient and the apparatus is hardly put into practical use. Furthermore, the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,553 proposes an apparatus in which thread-like elements are wound around relatively thick tubular membranes composed of a porous support so that a certain space is maintained between such tubular membranes and the adjacent portion (wall) of the apparatus. However, this proposal is very difficult to apply to fine hollow fibers, which are soft and weak such an arrangement, and the improvement of the performances are hardly expected since the thread-like elements wound around tubular membranes are ordinary straight yarns.
Under such background, we conducted research with a view to developing a fluid separation apparatus capable of performing the fluid separation at a high efficiency and of being assembled very easily at a low cost, and as a result, we have now completed the present invention.


A fireplace heating unit provided with a firebox. A vertically elongated hollow member defining in horizontal cross section a square and formed primarily of transparent material, is open at both ends and is secured at its lower end to the firebox. A hollow top section having a relatively small open upper end which defines a chimney and a lower open and conforming to and engaging the upper end of said member has a narrow horizontal peripheral border having the same shape and essentially the perimeter as said square. Shaped openings partially blocked by louvers are formed in the border of the top and bottom section and hinged flaps are mounted outside of the louvers so as to control the amount of air passing into the heating unit through the louvers.

On Mar. 10, 1970, applicant was awarded U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,432, entitled Heating Unit. This patent disclosed a wood burning fireplace employing a firebox supported on a vertical pedestal. A vertical hollow cylinder formed primarily of glass, open at upper and lower ends, and having at least one vertical air intake slot was secured at its lower end to the firebox and extended upward. A vertical hollow truncated cone open at both ends was secured at its bottom and larger end to the upper end of the cylinder and has a chimney or smokestack in its top and smaller end. When fuel is burned in the firebox, the air entering swirls upward in a generally helical pattern of ever decreasing diameter, providing an enhanced lighting effect and keeping the windows clear and free of smoke.


A measuring instrument for measuring mass of a flowing medium in which a measuring body extends across the flowing medium and has a rectangular flow channel through which the medium flows. The flow channel has a constricted inlet, a central portion with parallel sides and a widened outlet. A measuring element is supported in the measuring body such that the medium flows thereon. The measuring element carries temperature and heating sensors.

The invention relates to a measuring instrument for measuring the mass of a flowing medium, and particularly for measuring the rate of air flow to the air intake of an internal combustion engine.
A device for measuring the mass of a flowing medium of the above type is disclosed in DE 29 11 631 C2. Therein, a heating wire functioning as a temperature-dependent resistance is mounted together with another temperature-dependent resistance on a probe ring projecting in a tubular unit and over a cross-piece to an insert unit. The tubular unit forms the flow cross section, for example, of an intake pipe of a combustion engine. An electrical control unit, which is configured as a hybrid board circuit is adhered onto an assembly plate, in the insert unit. Conductive paths or tracks are formed on a carrier plate by thick-film technology. An increased current is passed to the heating wire after a specific measurement cycle, in order to remove any deposition formed on the heating wire.
DE 38 44 354 A1 disclosed another measuring instrument of the above type. Therein, a ceramic substrate with at least one temperature-dependent resistance layer is mounted on one side of a measuring unit and projects in an air flow passage. This measuring unit is introduced into a flow cross section, such that the flowing medium flows through the flow passage.
In order to avoid a disruption of the ceramic substrate, support elements and protective cross-pieces are provided in the flow passage.
DE 43 08 227 A1 discloses a measuring element for determining the mass of a flowing medium. Therein, a substrate is secured at one side, and a measuring resistance, a heating resistance, and a compensation resistance are disposed on this substrate.
An object of the invention is to provide a measuring instrument of the above type, which has a simple and robust structure, and an increased insensitivity to contamination.
In accordance with the invention, the measuring element is mounted in the flow passage of a housing such that it is fixed or clamped in the housing on all sides, whereby the flowing medium is guided to flow on one side at or above the measuring element. By embedding the measuring element in the housing, the measuring element is protected from breakage and consequent disruption of service. It also has a robust but simple structure. Because it is fixed in the housing on all sides, the measuring element is also relatively free of stress. The measuring element of this measuring instrument is also protected against the medium flow, since the measuring element is flush with the flow passage of the housing, so that the medium flow cannot attack the measuring element itself.
A cooling unit is conventionally mounted on the measuring element on which sensors are disposed and heat transfer to the ambient atmosphere can be obtained in the direct vicinity of the sensors. It is also advantageous that the measuring element and an electronic component for the necessary evaluation and control of the instrument can be introduced inside this measuring instrument. For this purpose, both the measuring element as well as the electronic component, which are both produced by hybrid board or silicon technology, are integrated adjacent to one another, i.e., in one plane, in the instrument. The sensors of the measuring element are protected from contamination, for example, by being embedded in membranes, which are mounted on a substrate of the measuring element. A measuring element with the utilization of membrane elements on a substrate is disclosed in copending application 09/258,865 filed concurrently herewith and claiming the priority of German Application No. 198 08 249.5.
Both the quantity of the flowing medium as well as its flow direction can be determined with only one measuring instrument, due to the arrangement of two heating sensors and two temperature sensors on one measuring element. The detection of small residual flows of medium is also possible. Both the heating sensors and temperature sensors are respectively accommodated in inside two separate membranes on one substrate.
By providing a frame around the sensor carrier, i.e., around the measuring element, an optimal flow channel geometry is produced, whereby a constriction is set up in the flow passage.

Measuring instrument with rectangular flow channel and sensors for measuring the mass of a flowing medium


Systems and methods for improving storage efficiency in an information handling system are provided. In some embodiments, an information handling system including an increased storage efficiency is provided. The information handling system may include a processor associated with a first storage resource and a plurality of second storage resources, where the first storage resource is more reliable than the plurality of second storage resources. The processor may be configured to determine a weight of a file portion, determine a number of copies of the file portion to be stored based at least on the determined weight, and store a copy of the file portion on the first storage resource if the determined number of copies of the file portion is greater than a predetermined storage threshold.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems may implement a data deduplication process to reduce the amount of data storage resources used to store a data set. In particular, the deduplication process identifies a common data portion or "chunk" that is substantially the same or identical for multiple data sets. The process subsequently stores the unique portions of the data sets and a copy of the common data portion between the multiple data sets. A sliding windows technique or other similar techniques may be used to define the address of the common data portion stored on the data storage resource, and pointers may be used to link the common data portion and the unique data portions. However, in the event the common data portion is corrupted or the storage device that stores the common data portion fails, all data files that link to the common data portion will also be corrupted.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Genetically elite ungulate mammals are identified on the basis of gene expression profiles from biological samples such as liver and blood. Methods and compositions are presented to select genetically elite animals with a desired phenotype such as high milk production for breeding to improve production levels. A method to select an animal with a specific phenotype, e.g. milk production and health traits, includes creating a Gene Expression Index for a specific phenotype and using the index to identify candidate animals for breeding by comparing the index to gene expression profiles of the animals.

Animal improvement has been achieved through selective breeding since the beginning of animal agriculture. In recent times, animal breeding employs a quantitative genetics approach, where improvement is based on evaluation of production records of progeny and relatives, e.g. records of milk production and carcass quality, followed by breeding pedigreed animals whose phenotypes are closest to a desired phenotype. Most improvement in dairy cattle, for example, is made through use of sire lines selected in this manner.
Marker-assisted selection using genetic markers that identify chromosomal regions containing genes (genetic loci) that affect quantitative traits (QTL) is an approach that is currently being developed by the animal breeding industry, e.g. for cattle traits. For example, a polymorphism in the somatotropin gene causing a change at amino acid position 126 provides a marker that can be correlated to the trait of superior milk production, but does not necessarily identify the polymorphism as the cause of the trait. The actual cause of the increased milk production may be due to some other closely linked (i.e. in close proximity) genetic factor or gene in the cattle genome, and not to the existence of the somatotropin polymorphism. Consequently, these statistics-based animal breeding methods are generally slow, expensive and inaccurate because the genes themselves underlying the traits of interest have not been identified, so selection does not achieve completely successful or predictable outcomes.
Further, complex gene action and interactions among genes serve to complicate objectives of traditional breeding programs. Selection based purely on phenotypic characteristics does not efficiently take into account such genetic variability, and is therefore not optimal.
For example, these traditional approaches are used for the purpose of selecting and breeding dairy cows capable of superior milk production. Although such programs have improved milk production, there are disadvantages because of the significant costs and time involved before the success of the program can be determined. For example, a traditional breeding program requires the breeding of many cows with a particular bull and subsequent analysis of the milk production of the female-progeny of these cows to determine whether the bull is of superior genetic value. A particularly successful breeding family of cattle is the Holstein line derived from the bull Carlin-M Ivanhoe Bell.
Female progeny must be raised, become pregnant, allowed to give birth and milked for a minimum length of time before milk production capabilities can be analyzed. Although this type of improvement program has improved milk production, there are disadvantages because of the significant costs and time involved before the success of the program can be determined. A breeding program relying on traditional techniques and selection criteria typically requires the investment of 4 or more years in a group of cattle before significant analysis of the program can be undertaken. It would, therefore, be advantageous if additional methods or criteria were available that were quicker and cheaper to determine whether a bull, heifer or cow should be included in a breeding program designed for superior milk production.
Boosting the level of growth hormones via introduction of additional hormones can improve cattle performance. An example is the use of bovine growth hormone or somatotropin. This has been made possible by the cloning and isolation of genes that express such proteins and then adding the resulting products of these commercially produced proteins to animals via feeds, injections, drugs, and the like. This method of boosting production of essential proteins however is inherently limited by the underlying genetics of the animal and because the effects are not heritable, does not offer anything in the way of selection of genetically superior animals for optimum genetic capabilities.
Furthermore, qualified administration of multiple injections of growth hormone keep costs high, and sick animals cannot be given growth hormone injections. There is also a concern that animals that are treated with growth hormone are more susceptible to mastitis. In addition, public acceptance of growth hormone is still uncertain. The results of bovine growth hormone injection include an increase in overall milk production, with no change in milk composition. This is a significant disadvantage because a dairy producer is paid on the basis of three milk characteristics, total volume of milk, total pounds of fat in the milk, and total pounds of protein in the milk, thus quality is as important as quantity. Producers may be paid more for protein than fat. Thus it can be seen that there is a continuing need for means of efficiently selecting and breeding cattle for improved milk production without concomitant decrease in milk composition, particularly protein content. In general, better methods of identifying animals with desirable predicted transmitting ability (PTA) for desirable phenotypes, such as high milk production and yield of protein and fat, are needed for long term benefits.
Microarrays are being developed for many research applications in animals, e.g. to study responses of genes to external stimuli. Microarray technology is revolutionizing biology by permitting the simultaneous analysis of transcript levels of thousands of genes in different physiological states of an organism, tissue or cell. Construction of microarrays is most efficient when information is utilized from annotated genome or EST sequencing projects. Evaluation of transcript levels using microarray technology has led to new insights into animal development, cancer, infectious diseases and aging. Microarrays have recently been produced for studying the functions of cattle genes and gene expression changes in different physiological states, although results to date have been quite limited.
In summary, a need exists in the art for a method of genetically evaluating animals such as ungulate (hoofed) mammals to enable breeders to more accurately select those animals which not only phenotypically express desirable traits, but those which express favorable underlying genetic criteria leading to the desired phenotypes. Therefore, it would be advantageous to find ways to more accurately predict quantitative traits from genomic information.

Gene expression profiles that identify genetically elite cattle

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois


Electrodes 16a and 16b composed of metal nitride made of either one of TiN, ZrN, HfN, VN and TaN are formed on an N-type source region 12 and drain region 13 of a P-type SiC substrate 11, respectively, Nitrogen-rich layers 12a and 13a are formed in surface layer portions of the regions 12 and 13 which the electrodes composed of metal nitride 16a and 16b contact respectively. The nitrogen-rich layer allows the contact resistivity of the electrode to be made small, A metal nitride composed of either one of TiN, ZrN, HfN, VN and TaN is interposed between a gate electrode 15 of Mo and an interconnection of Al 17c to prevent the reaction of the gate electrode and the interconnection.

The present invention relates to a silicon carbide semi-conductor device such as a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), a metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET), a bipolar transistor, and a vertical type of MOS transistor using a silicon carbide substrate and a method of producing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a silicon carbide semiconductor device using a metal nitride as a contact electrode and a method of producing the same.
A silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor has a wide forbidden band (2.2 to 3.3 eV) compared to other semiconductors such as silicon (Si) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) which are widely used in practice. Also, the silicon carbide semiconductor is stable in thermal, chemical and mechanical property and has superior resistance of a radiation ray. Therefore, a semiconductor device using silicon carbide can be used as a device having high reliability and stability under severe condition of high temperature, high power and the radiation ray under which a semiconductor device composed of other material cannot be used. Specifically, application to a light emitting device emitting blue light which is in conjunction with the wide forbidden band enters the stage of practical use.
However, application of silicon carbide to electronic devices is not sufficient compared to the application to the light emitting device. One of the reasons is that there are not yet developed an electrode material suitable for a complicated electronic device producing process and having electrically good ohmic contact and the forming method of the electrode.
In research, it is tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni) and silicide of these metals that is researched as electrode material for forming ohmic contact with the N-type silicon carbide semiconductor. The resistivities of these contacts are about 10.sup.-1 to 10.sup.-4 ohm.cm.sup.2. These values are greatly different from those practically used in the Si and GaAs (about 10.sup.-6 ohm.cm.sup.2).
W, Ti and silicide thereof are degraded in contact characteristic if heat treatment is performed at a low temperature. Therefore, heat treatment of a high temperature of 1100.degree. C. or above is required to obtain a low contact resistivity even in a case of Ni which is said to have low contact resistivity. In this manner, the above materials are not suitable for electrode material. Also, TiN is disclosed as electrode material having ohmic contact to N-type silicon carbide which does not require high temperature heat treatment (R. C. Glass et al., "Low energy ion-assisted deposition of titanium nitride ohmic contacts on alpha (6 H)--silicon carbide", (Appl. Phys,. Lett 59 (22), pp. 2868-2870 (1991)). According to this paper, the growth of TiN film is performed by a vapor deposition method of Ti in which nitrogen ions are assisted by an ion gun.
On the other hand, a MOSFET is disclosed in, for example, Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application 60-142568 as a conventional semiconductor device using silicon carbide substrate. In the semiconductor device, after source/drain regions are formed in a P-type silicon carbide single crystal substrate, a Ni layer is formed on the source/drain regions as ohmic contacts electrode and an aluminium (Al) layer is used for a gate electrode. Metal wirings are connected to these electrodes. Also, platinum (Pt), gold (Au), and aluminium (Al) are used for the gate electrode in a conventional MESFET device.
However, in a TiN electrode which is formed by nitrogen ion assisted vapor deposition of Ti, there is a problem in that a contact resistivity cannot be reduced because nitrogen is not introduced in a surface layer portion of a SiC region having a predetermined thickness, the portion contacting the TiN electrode, or nitrogen is not electrically activated even if the nitrogen is introduced. In order to solve the problem, a method is interested in which nitrogen as an N-type dopant to silicon carbide is introduced in the SiC region to electrically activate the N-type carriers. For this purpose, heat treatment is performed after the nitrogen ion implantation. In this method, however, it is difficult to introduce nitrogen ions only into the surface layer portion of SiC region with a high concentration and therefore there is a problem in that it is not easy to form a fine contact.
Otherwise, in a semiconductor device disclosed in Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application 60-142568 there are the following problems. That is, first, if Ni is used as an ohmic contact electrode material in the source/drain region, the contact resistivity is still greater than that of semiconductor device of Si and GaAs, as described above. Second, in a case that Al is used for the gate electrode material, Al is melt because of a high temperature heat treatment. Therefore, a refractory metal such as molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) needs to be used in actual. When such a refractory metal is used, the metal reacts with Al or tungsten silicide (WSi.sub.x) of the interconnection formed on the metal, which results in troubles such as generation of an irregular portion and holes, and peeling of the gate electrode due to the reaction resultant product.
The inventors found out that the contact resistivity can be reduced when a metal nitride comprising either one of titanium nitride (TiN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), hafnium nitride (HfN), Vanadium nitride (VN) and tantalum nitride (TaN) is used as the electrode material of SiC region and a nitrogen-rich layer is formed on the surface layer portion of the SiC region on which the metal nitride layer is to be formed. Also, the inventors found out that it can be prevented for the gate electrode material to react with the interconnection by interposing the metal nitride layer between the gate electrode and the interconnection composed of material such as Mo and the WSi.sub.x.

Method of producing a silicon carbide semiconductor device

Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth


A method and apparatus for providing timing information to radio heads in a wireless communications system. One or more radio heads are connected to a central unit by a respective cable. This cable includes at least two sets of conductors. The first set carries communication data between the central unit and the radio head. This communication data may be user data, such as voice, data, or fax data, and optionally control data. This communication data is transferred between the radio head and the central unit using an asynchronous transmit method. Due to its variable timing of successful receipt, it may be difficult to send highly accurate timing data via asynchronous transmit methods. Instead, a synchronous transmit method may be advantageously employed to send timing data in the present invention. The timing data is sent on the second set of conductors of the same cable using a synchronous transmit method. Thus, each cable of the present invention carries both asynchronous transmissions and synchronous transmissions. The cable may advantageously be a portion of an existing LAN cable plant, and the asynchronous transmit method may be according to an Ethernet protocol. One or more radio heads may be supplied with timing data in this fashion. The timing of radio frequency transmissions from those radio heads may then be based on the supplied timing information, for instance to coordinate the transmissions from multiple radio heads so as to be simultaneous.

The present invention relates to wireless communications systems, and more particularly to provision of timing information in a wireless communications system.
In the context of wireless communications systems, it is frequently desirable to control the timing of transmissions. For instance, it may be desirable for to control the timing of the transmissions of one or more radio heads of what is typically referred to as a pico base station. To achieve the desired level of control, it may be necessary for the radio head(s) to have access to high resolution timing signals. Just by way of example, such high resolution timing signals may include a Carrier Frequency Reference and a Air Frame Synchronization signals for cellular communications, with accuracy requirements in the general range of 0.1 ppm. Providing the radio heads with access to accurate timing signals may be difficult and/or expensive in some situations.

Cable carrying communications data and timing data to radio heads


An integrated CMOS high swing interface output stage which can transmit and receive data from other devices which may include devices operating from a different, particularly a higher, voltage power supply. The interface utilizes three P-channel devices in a common well on the substrate and three N-channel devices in another common well on the substrate. Two of the three P-channel devices are connected in series between the positive power supply terminal and the output of the interface and two of the N-channel devices are connected in series between the output of the interface and a negative power supply terminal. The third P-channel device is connected between the common connection of all three P-channel devices and the local substrate and the gate of the P-channel device which is connected to the positive power supply terminal. The third N-channel device is similarly connected between the common connection of all three N-channel devices and the respective local substrate and the gate of the N-channel device connected to the negative power supply terminal. Appropriate control of all six devices provides free swinging of the output beyond the range of the power supply when not powered and when powered but inactive, while providing drive of the output when the interface is active.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of standard interfaces, and more particularly to interfaces which can transmit and receive data from other devices which may include devices operating from a different, particularly a higher voltage, power supply.
2. Prior Art
Interface standards such as RS485 and RS232 have been used for a long time and will continue to be used despite the drop in the standard power supply voltages below 5 V. The output swing of the RS485/232 standards do not allow the traditional output stages to be used at a supply voltage of 3.3 V .+-.0.3 V. Portable computers will be using only 3.3 V power supplies very soon, and they still need these interface chips to communicate with other computers and peripherals. A new output stage disclosed herein has been generated which allows the lower power supply voltage, yet meets these interface standards.
Two different traditional techniques are shown in FIG. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 illustrates a bipolar technique and FIG. 2 illustrates a CMOS technique. The bipolar technique has an output voltage high level of Vcc-[V.sub.ce1(sat) +V.sub.be2 ]. This typically comes out to be Vcc-1.05 V. The bipolar technique has an output voltage low level of V.sub.d5 +V.sub.ce3(sat). This typically comes out to be 0.8 V. The CMOS technique has an output voltage high level of Vcc-[V.sub.ds7 +V.sub.d6 ]. This typically comes out to be Vcc-0.8 V. The CMOS technique has an output voltage low level of V.sub.d9 +V.sub.ds8. This typically comes out to be 0.8 V. If these techniques were to be used at a supply voltage of 3.0 V, the bipolar differential output swing would be 3.0-(1.05+0.8)=1.15 V and the CMOS technique would be 3.0-(0.8+0.8)=1.4 V. RS485 standards require 1.5 V differentially across a 54 ohm load. RS422 requires 2.0 V (single-ended) across a 100 ohm load. Clearly neither technique satisfies either specification at the reduced supply voltage.
Each previous technique used a Schottky diode in series with an active device (NPN, PNP, PMOS or NMOS) to isolate the output from the power supplies. This allows the output to be pulled above or below the power supply by devices on the same bus operating from a higher voltage supply without driving current into either lower voltage supply. The biggest problem with using Schottky diodes is that their forward biased voltage is around 450 mV. In the bipolar case, the largest differential voltage (while using a 3.0 V supply) is [3.0-(0.35+0.7+0.45+0.35)]=1.15 V. This will not allow either RS485 or RS422 to be driven. In the CMOS case, the largest differential voltage (again while using a 3.0 V supply) is [3.0-(0.35+0.45+0.45+0.35)]=1.40 V. This will still not allow either RS485 or RS422 to be driven. Note this is true even if the active devices were made large (V.sub.ds or V.sub.ce <0.35 V).


A vapor compression refrigeration system for cooling a cabinet having a thermostat for cycling the compressor off and on to maintain a predetermined temperature range in the cabinet includes a subcooling flow control valve at the inlet to the capillary tube restriction. The valve is operated by a sealed bellows containing a refrigerant so that the valve is responsive to the fluid entering the valve. The valve is calibrated so that only a subcooled liquid refrigerant can flow through the valve and if the entering refrigerant is above a predetermined level the valve will close to completely block all flow between the condenser and the evaporator, and the valve will stay in the closed position at all times when the compressor is not running.

This invention relates to refrigeration systems, and more particularly to refrigeration systems used in household refrigerators and freezers.
Refrigeration systems for household refrigerators and freezers have heretofore been designed for low cost and high reliability, both of which require a simplicity of design, together with a minimum number of parts. Typical refrigerators or freezers employ a vapor-compression system having a fractional horsepower, electric motor driven, hermetic compressor connected in a circuit with a condenser, an evaporator, an optional accumulator, and a refrigerant flow restriction between the condenser and the evaporator. For reasons of obtaining high energy efficiency, it is desirable to utilize a relatively high duty cycle for the compressor run time, while maintaining a sufficient reserve for high ambient temperature conditions. Thus, a thermostat responsive to the temperature in the cooled cabinet is used to cycle the compressor as necessary to maintain the preselected temperature. Based on normal room temperatures and the absorption of heat into the cooled space through the insulation, the compressor duty cycle may run fifty percent to sixty percent, leaving a reserve but requiring continuous operation under very high ambient temperatures or frequent opening of the door for access to the interior of the cooled cabinet.
The flow restriction has been almost universally a capillary tube sized for optimal efficiency at a single set of conditions of ambient and internal cabinet temperature. Capillary tubes used as the sole restriction offer the advantages of low cost, high reliability, and the added efficiency of being easily placed in heat exchange relationship with the return line from the evaporator to the compressor.
The capillary tube system, which runs constantly at a single ambient temperature and constant load condition, is very efficient when the capillary tube is sized for these conditions. When this is done and the system is operating under equilibrium conditions, the refrigerant at the condenser outlet where it enters the capillary tube is a saturated or slightly subcooled liquid. This liquefied refrigerant flows through the capillary tube and undergoes a substantial pressure reduction until it enters the evaporator, where it is vaporized to absorb heat from the interior of the refrigerator or freezer.
Because the refrigerant flows in a closed system, and the actual rate of flow through the capillary tube is dependent upon the pressure differential between the pressures in the condenser and the evaporator, any change in load conditions will affect the operation of the system. In the case of refrigerators and freezers, the changes in operating conditions can result from changes in the room ambient temperature, which affects the heat dissipation from the condenser, as well as the internal conditions, which may be determined by the opening and closing of the door and the addition of warm items to affect the load on the evaporator. Furthermore, because the system must operate on a cyclic basis to maintain reserve capacity for extreme conditions, a thermostat inside the refrigerator causes the compressor to cycle on and off, and when the compressor is off, the pressure tends to equalize throughout the system, resulting in the elimination of liquid refrigerant in the capillary tube, which then becomes entirely filled with gas. The result of these changes in operating condition is that the refrigeration system is often operating under conditions other than optimum with regard to the temperatures and pressures in the condenser and the evaporator, causing a loss of energy efficiency in the system.
Some of these effects can be minimized in various ways. For example, to minimize the formation of flash gas in the capillary tube, which would tend to reduce the capacity of the system, the tube is usually soldered or otherwise placed in heat transfer relationship with the return line from the evaporator to the compressor. Because the common optimum conditions are such where the system operates at say a fifty percent duty cycle, the capillary tube is usually sized "loose" or with a reduced restriction which allows fast flooding of the evaporator during start-up and fast equalization of suction and discharge pressure during the OFF portion of the cycle.
The fast flooding of the evaporator allows the system to quickly reach a high running efficiency, thereby reducing the total compressor run time for the ON cycle. Once the evaporator is flooded, however, this type of system tends to allow gas to enter the capillary tube and pass directly into the evaporator. When gas passes from the condenser to the evaporator, it never goes through the phase change to a liquid and back to gas that is necessary to produce effective cooling in the evaporator. Not only does this load the compressor with an increased mass flow that does not refrigerate, but it also transports heat into the evaporator, to thereby reduce the efficiency of the system. When the compressor is turned off at the end of the run cycle, the pressure equalizes between the condenser and the evaporator across the capillary tube relatively quickly, and this allows hot gas and liquid to pass into the evaporator. This adds heat to the evaporator and decreases overall system efficiency. The fast equalization, however, allows a lower cost, split phase compressor motor, with its relatively low starting torque, to restart after short OFF cycle.
On the other hand, if the system uses a "tight" or more restrictive capillary tube, the system will tend to have a slightly greater efficiency during steady state run conditions, but the evaporator floods so slowly during start-up that the advantage in efficiency may be lost over the entire run cycle. Furthermore, equalization may take so long that the compressor may have starting difficulties with a short OFF cycle because the low starting torque is unable to overcome the remaining back pressure in the condenser.
In larger refrigeration systems, these problems are overcome by using a controlled expansion valve as the restriction instead of the capillary tube. Valves of this type generally use a diaphragm or bellows operated by a refrigerant system and opens or closes the valve located at the evaporator inlet to vary the amount of restriction at this point. For example, Owens U.S. Pat. No. 3,367,130 discloses an expansion valve which opens and closes in response to the amount of subcooling of the refrigerant leaving the condenser by responding to a sensor attached to the external surface of the tube at that point, which as disclosed is remote from the valve itself. However, valves of this type are too large and much too expensive to be substituted for a capillary tube in small refrigeration systems.
In the completely different area of refrigeration for automotive air conditioning, it has been proposed to provide a subcooling flow control valve to control refrigerant flow to the evaporator in conjunction with an additional downstream flow restrictor, such as an orifice. European Patent Publication No. 255,035, published Feb. 3, 1988, shows a flow control valve with an external bulb used in an automotive air conditioner with a downstream restriction that may be a capillary or an orifice. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,788,828 and 4,840,038, both in the name of Motoharu Sato, both disclose control valves using an internal sealed bellows filled with a refrigerant for controlling flow to a downstream restriction in an automotive air conditioning system. The first of these patents shows a bleed passage bypassing the valve to allow equalization when the compressor is turned off. The second patent uses a second bellows downstream of the valve to expand and force open the valve closed by the first bellows, to allow equalization to take place across the valve. All of these arrangements are intended for automotive air conditioning where the engine provides sufficient power for the compressor under all conditions, and the purpose of the valve is to regulate flow under a wide range of flow rates resulting from widely varying engine, and hence compressor, speeds.

Refrigerator system with subcooling flow control


A smart actuator and method includes an actuating device adapted to deliver a selected driving torque to a geartrain that is coupled to an output shaft and adapted to selectively convey the driving torque from the actuating device to the output shaft to achieve a selected shaft position. At least one logic and control device operates the various aspects of the smart actuator. The geartrain includes at least one locking gear including locking features defining a plurality of gear positions. A position lock solenoid is adapted to engage the locking gear at a selected gear position once the geartrain has achieved the selected shaft position on the output shaft. The position lock solenoid then holds the gear at the selected gear position. The actuating device is shut off after the position lock solenoid has engaged the locking gear thereby achieving and holding a high torque without driving a lot of current.

It is known in a power train for a motor vehicle to have a prime mover (such as an internal combustion engine), a transmission including a gear train which transmits torque to the wheels of the vehicle, a torque transmitting system (such as a clutch) between the engine and the gear train, a means for operating the gear train such as an electronic control unit, and one or more actuators which operate the clutch and/or the gear train in response to signals from the control unit.
It is further known to operate an automated gear train by a control unit which receives signals from one or more sensors, electronic circuits and/or other monitoring means and transmits signals to one or more actuators which directly actuate or operate the gear train to select a particular gear ratio and/or to shift into a selected gear. The same actuator or additional actuators can be used as a means for automatically selecting the torque to be transmitted by an automated clutch or other automated torque transmitting system between a prime mover and the input element of the gearbox in the power train. The connection between one or more actuators and the actuated part(s) of a gear train or clutch can include one or more driving units for selecting a given gear ratio and shifting into the selected gear.
There is a need in the art for actuators for various engine mounted applications that meet high peak and hold torque requirements. It is known to achieve high peak torque by providing various motor and gear train enhancements that also meet power consumption, overall size, speed and back drive requirements. While there are various known methods for achieving high peak torque, holding the high peak torque level is much more difficult.
One known method to hold high torque is to hold the high torque with a high current level. This method assumes using an actuator that meets the peak torque, size, speed, and back-drivability requirements. However, the actuator will not survive for the duration of the hold time requirement (up to ten minutes). Further, the estimated 6 to 8 amperes of current required will overheat the motor coils or electronics.
Another known method to provide high hold torque is to increase the torque capability by increasing the motor size. This approach reduces the hold current to a manageable level, but increases the size and mass of the motor beyond overall package requirements. An additional disadvantage is that, generally, motor cost increases with motor size. As motor size increases, motor current draw also increases. Such increased current draw causes thermal problems for the actuator, for the drive electronics, and for the motor. This approach further provides the disadvantage of reduced output shaft speed.
Yet another known method to hold high torque is to increase the gear ratio. While increasing the gear ratio reduces the hold current to a manageable level, such an approach presents several disadvantages. First, this approach results in reduced output shaft speed. Second, known spur gear designs must increase in size beyond package limits and further have reduced back-drivability. Third, known worm gear designs are not back drivable.
What is needed in the art is an apparatus and method to achieve and hold a high torque level while maintaining acceptable power levels, size, speed, and back drive ability targets.

Low power, high torque actuator retention


A schottky diode may include a schottky junction including a well formed in a semiconductor substrate and a first electrode contacting the first well. The well may have a first conductivity type. A first ohmic junction may include a first junction region formed in the well and a second electrode contacting the first junction region. The first junction region may have a higher concentration of the first conductivity type than the well. A first device isolation region may be formed in the semiconductor substrate separating the schottky junction and the first ohmic junction. A well guard having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type may be formed in the well. At least a portion of the well guard may be formed under a portion of the schottky junction.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same, for example, a schottky diode and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A schottky diode is a semiconductor device including a schottky junction between a semiconductor and a metal. Because the schottky barrier may predominantly emit majority carriers and may have little or no recombination or storage of minority carriers to limit switching speed, the schottky diode may exhibit a faster switching characteristic. Because the semiconductor device is driven in a tunneling method using the schottky junction between a semiconductor and a metal, a voltage drop characteristic in an ON state may be obtained that is lower than may be obtained in a P-N diode.
Thus, schottky diodes may be widely used as a core device in the applied fields of communications and portable apparatuses, which may require a lower loss characteristic. However, Schottky diodes may be external type schottky diodes which may require additional fabrication. Thus, additional costs and time may be needed for the fabrication.

Schottky diode and method of fabricating the same


The invention relates to a method for producing injection-molded cards with at least one decorative layer (2, 6) which is already applied to a foil (1, 7) or an inlay before injection molding. To protect the inks used for the decoration from thermal action and/or excessive pressures and/or high mechanical stress during injection molding, the decorative layer (2, 6) is covered according to the invention with a protective layer (3, 5) before the foil (1, 7) provided with the decoration or an inlay provided with a decoration is inserted into the injection mold.

This invention relates to a method for producing an injection-molded card with a decorative layer, in particular a credit card, check card, bank card, ID card, telephone card and the like, according to the preamble of claim 1, and to an injection-molded card produced by said method.
A number of methods are known for providing an injection-molded card with a decorative layer. An especially simple method is to apply the decorative layer by printing technology to a card blank produced by injection molding. One disadvantage of this procedure, however, is that single cards are printed, which is relatively elaborate and expensive. Further, it is very difficult to produce a high-quality, i.e. for example high-gloss, card surface with this technique. A further disadvantage is that the decorative layer is applied as the outermost layer and can thus be damaged relatively easily. This can be prevented for example by covering the card with transparent lacquer, but this makes the method even more expensive.
The method known from EP 0 350 179 B1 largely eliminates the stated disadvantages. According to this method the decorative layer is applied to the card body in the form of printed labels. In this method the card can be provided with a decorative layer on both sides by inserting two labels into a mold in such a way that the labels lie against the inner sides of the mold, the printed sides of the labels facing inwardly. Subsequently a reaction-injection-moldable plastic material is injected between the labels. After the plastic material hardens one can remove the finished card bearing the labels on its two main faces from the mold.
However, the method described in EP 0 350 179 B1 can only be used in conjunction with reaction-injection-moldable plastic material, whereby the pressures and temperatures that occur are considerably below the values of conventional injection molding methods. This means that the spectrum of usable materials is restricted to a few reaction-injection-moldable plastics. If one used the card labels known from EP 0 350 179 B1with conventional injection molding technology, the decoration applied by printing technology would be damaged during the injection molding process as a result of the high temperatures and pressures that occur.
The invention is therefore based on the problem of stating a method for producing an injection-molded card with a high-quality decorative layer and an accordingly produced injection-molded card.
This problem is solved by the characterizing features of the present invention. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention further improve over known methods.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one carrier layer provided with a decorative layer is introduced into the injection mold. To protect the printed image from damage by the injected injection molding material, the printed image is covered with a protective layer which prevents direct contact between the printed image and the injection molding material. For this purpose the carrier layer is inserted into the injection mold in such a way that the protective layer does not lie against the wall of the injection mold, i.e. the injection molding material is injected against the printed side of the carrier layer. This makes it possible to produce high-quality labels simply, for example by sheet printing, and provide them with a protective layer and subsequently process them into high-quality cards using conventional injection molding. The inventive method thus has the advantage of using efficient and cost-effective standard techniques while nevertheless producing a very high-quality product.
The inventive method makes it possible to provide the card with a high-quality decoration on one or both sides without great additional expense and without having to accept a restricted choice of injection-moldable plastics or restricted choice of inks for the decoration. The protective layer also makes it possible to incorporate photos, holograms, etc., as a decorative layer.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the protective layer is made of a material which increases the adhesion of the label to the injection-molded body. This attains an additional improvement in the durability of the card.
Further, the protective layer can also be provided with pigments or dyes in order to provide a uniform, colored background for the printed image for example. This also makes it possible to produce inscription properties, such as laserings, or to graphically design the protective layer itself, for example by producing dulling effects, logos, writing or the like by blind embossings.
Finally, it is also possible to incorporate feature substances in the protective layer which can be used in connection with the authenticity testing of the card. Security features incorporated in the card in this way are comparatively hard to forge since they are not disposed directly on the surface.
In particular with chip cards or similar cards it is advantageous to provide the coated foil with a gap into which a dummy having the shape of a later incorporated IC module is inserted during injection molding.
A further advantageous development of the inventive method provides that the carrier layer consists of a transparent foil. This foil is placed with the uncoated main face against the wall of the injection mold. The decoration and the protective layer are thus directed inwardly within the injection mold. The protective layer prevents the decoration from being impaired by the injection molding process.
If a transparent injection molding material is used, the decoration can also be printed on one or both sides of an inside layer of the card. The printed inlay is in this case also provided with a protective layer which protects the decoration from high temperatures and pressures and high mechanical stress during injection molding.

Injection-moulded card with decorative layer