Substrate bias control circuitry 100 is provided which includes a bias sensor 101 for measuring a bias voltage of a substrate and generating a control signal and response. A master oscillator 102 is provided for generating a first driving signal, a frequency of the first driving signal adjusted by the control signal generated by the bias sensor 101. A first charge pump 103 is provided for pumping electrons into a substrate in response to the first driving signal. A slave oscillator generates a second driving signal, a frequency of the second driving signal is determined from the frequency of the first driving signal using a phase-locked loop. A second charge pump 105 is provided for pumping electrons into the substrate in response to the second driving signal.

One recurring problem which can arise during the operation of dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) is the degradation of data stored on the DRAM cell capacitors due to minority carrier injection into the substrate. This typically occurs when the address and data lines to the memory device switch low and the corresponding bond pads, which reside on the surface of the substrate, spike below zero volts. This spiking can become particularly pronounced if the inductance of the address and data lines is not well controlled.
In an n-channel memory cell storing a logic 1, a depletion area is created around the n+ doped region common to the access transistor and the storage capacitor. Minority carriers, in this case electrons, injected into the substrate from the spiking can recombine with the holes in the depletion area and cause charge to leak-off the storage capacitor. By biasing the substrate at a negative voltage, diodes formed at the bond pad structures cannot be biased by an undershoot and thus, electron injection into the substrate is prevented.
A negative substrate bias is achieved typically by pumping electrons into the substrate with a substrate pump. Generally, pumping is performed until the substrate reaches equilibrium and before any writes are made to the cells of the array (electrons from pad undershoot in contrast are appear quickly and if allowed to reach the array, cause leakage).
This technique has serious drawbacks when a large array of DRAM cells has been fabricated on a large substrate. Among other things, the substrate voltage at different locations around the substrate may differ substantially, depending on the distance from the charge pump, the distance from the bond pads, and the substrate resistance. For example, the substrate voltage in regions significantly separated from the charge pump may not be sufficiently reduced to effectively control data degradation in the cells fabricated those regions. This problem may be solved by using a charge pump with larger capacitors; however, even with larger capacitors some voltage drop off will still occur as the distance from the charge pump increases.
Thus, the need has arisen for circuits, systems and methods for controlling the voltage bias of a substrate. In particular, such circuits, systems and methods should be applicable to control the DRAM cell leakage from charge injection into large substrates and/or substrates supporting large cell arrays.

Circuits, systems and methods for controlling substrate bias in integrated circuits


Provided is an optical image measuring apparatus capable of obtaining a high-accuracy image without being influenced by a movement of an object to be measured. Flash light is emitted from a xenon lamp (2) and converted into broad band light by an optical filter (2A). A polarization characteristic of the flash light is converted into linear polarization by a polarizing plate (3). Then, the flash light is divided into signal light (S) and reference light (R) by a half mirror (6). A polarization characteristic of the reference light (R) is converted into circular polarization by a wavelength plate (7). The signal light (S) and the reference light (R) are superimposed on each other by the half mirror (6) to produce interference light (L). A CCD (23) detects interference light having the same characteristic as that of the produced interference light (L). The produced interference light (L) is divided into an S-polarized light component (L1) and a P-polarized light component (L2) by a polarization beam splitter (11). The polarized light components are detected by CCDs (21 and 22). A signal processing section (20) of a computer (30) forms an image of the object to be measured (O) based on detection signals from the CCDs (21, 22, and 23).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical image measuring apparatus configured to project light to a measurement object made of a light scattering medium in particular, measure the surface morphology or inner morphology of the measurement object by using the reflected light or transmitted light of the projected light, and form an image of the measured morphology.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, attention has been given to the optical image measuring technology of forming an image of the surface or inside of a measurement object by using a laser light source or the like. This optical image measuring technology is not hazardous to human bodies unlike a conventional X-ray CT. Therefore, development of applications of this technology in the medical field has been expected in particular.
An example of a typical method of the optical image measuring technology is the low-coherence interferometry (may also be referred to as the optical coherence tomography or the like). This method employs the low coherence of a broadband light source having a broad spectral width, such as a super luminescent diode (SLD), and enables detection of reflected light from a measurement object or transmitted light therethrough at superior distance resolution on the order of μm (refer to Naohiro Tanno, "Kogaku" (Japanese Journal of Optics), Volume 28, No. 3, 116 (1999), for example).
FIG. 9 shows a basic configuration of a conventional optical image measuring apparatus based on a Michelson interferometer, as an example of an apparatus employing the low-coherence interferometry. An optical image measuring apparatus 1000 comprises a broadband light source 1001, a mirror 1002, a beam splitter 1003, and a photodetector 1004. A measurement object 1005 is made of a scattering medium. A light beam from the broadband light source 1001 is split by the beam splitter 1003 into two, i.e., a reference light R traveling to the mirror 1002 and a signal light S traveling to the measurement object 1005. The reference light R is a light reflected by the beam splitter 1003. The signal light S is a light transmitted through the beam splitter 1003.
Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the z-axis direction is defined as a traveling direction of the signal light S, and the x-y plane is defined as a plane orthogonal to the traveling direction of the signal light S. The mirror 1002 is movable in a direction indicated by a double-headed arrow in FIG. 9 (z-scanning direction).
The reference light R is subjected to Doppler frequency shift by z-scan when reflected by the mirror 1002. On the other hand, the signal light S is reflected by the surface and inner layers of the measurement object 1005 when projected to the measurement object 1005. Because the measurement object 1005 is made of a scattering medium, the reflected light of the signal light S is thought to have a diffusing wave front having random phases including multiple scatter. The signal light reflected by the measurement object 1005 and the reference light reflected by the mirror 1002 and subjected to the frequency shift are superimposed by the beam splitter 1003, thereby generating interference light.
In image measurement using the low-coherence interferometry, only a component of the signal light S interferes with the reference light R, that a difference in optical path length between the signal light S and the reference light R is within the coherence length (coherent distance) on the order of μm of the light source, and that has a phase correlation with the reference light R. That is, only a coherent signal light component of the signal light S selectively interferes with the reference light R. Based on this principle, by moving the position of the mirror 1002 by z-scanning and changing the optical path length of the reference light R, a light reflection profile of the inner layer of the measurement object 1005 is measured. Further, scan with the signal light S projected to the measurement object 1005 is performed in the x-y plane direction. By detecting the interference light with the photodetector 1004 while performing the scan in the z direction and x-y plane direction, and analyzing an electric signal (heterodyne signal) outputted as the result of the detection, a 2-dimensional tomographic image of the measurement object 1005 is acquired (refer to Naohiro Tanno, "Kogaku" (Japanese Journal of Optics), Volume 28, No. 3, 116 (1999)).
When the intensities of the reference light R and the signal light S superimposed by the beam splitter 1003 are denoted by symbols Ir and Is, and the difference in frequency between the reference light R and the signal light S and the difference in phase therebetween are denoted by symbols fif and Δθ, a heterodyne signal as shown by the following formula is outputted from the photodetector (for example, refer to Yoshizawa and Seta "Optical Heterodyne Technology (revised edition)", New Technology Communications (2003), p. 2).
Formula (1)i(t)∝Ir+Is+2√{square root over (IrIs)}cos(2πfift+Δθ)  (1)
The third term of the right side of the formula (1) indicates an AC electric signal, and the frequency fif thereof is equal to the frequency of beat between the reference light R and the signal light S. The frequency fif of an AC component of the heterodyne signal is called a beat frequency or the like. Here, the AC component is equivalent to an interference component of the heterodyne signal whose intensity periodically changes with time. The first and second terms of the right side of the formula (1) indicate DC components of the heterodyne signal, and correspond to the signal intensity of a background light component of the interference light.
However, in order to acquire a 2-dimensional tomographic image by the conventional low-coherence interferometry, it is necessary to scan the measurement object 1005 with a light beam and thereby successively detect reflected light waves from respective sites of the measurement object 1005 in a depth direction (z direction) and a tomographic face direction (x-y plane direction). Therefore, it takes a long time to measure the measurement object 1005, and it is hard to shorten a measurement time in consideration of the measurement principle.
In view of such problems, an optical image measuring apparatus for shortening a measurement time has been proposed. FIG. 10 shows a fundamental configuration of an example of such an apparatus. An optical image measuring apparatus 2000 shown in FIG. 10 comprises a xenon lamp (a light source) 2001, a mirror 2002, a beam splitter 2003, a 2-dimensional photo-sensor array 2004 serving as a photodetector, and lenses 2006 and 2007. A light beam emitted from the light source 2001 is converted into a parallel light flux by the lenses 2006 and 2007, and a beam diameter thereof is widened. Then, the parallel light flux is split into two, i.e., the reference light R and the signal light S by the beam splitter 2003. The reference light R is subjected to Doppler frequency shift by z-scan of the mirror 2002. On the other hand, the signal light S enters the measurement object 2005 over a broad range of the x-y plane because the beam diameter has been widened. Therefore, the signal light S becomes reflected light containing information on the surface and inside of the measurement object 2005 in the incident range. The reference light R and the signal light S are superimposed by the beam splitter 2003, and detected by elements such as pixels and photo sensors arranged in parallel on the 2-dimensional photo-sensor array 2004. Thus, it becomes possible to acquire a 2-dimensional tomographic image of the measurement object 2005 in real time without scanning with a light beam.
As such a non-scanning type optical image measuring apparatus, an apparatus described in K. P. Chan, M. Yamada, and H. Inaba, "Electronics Letters", Vol. 30, 1753 (1994) has been known. The apparatus described in this document is configured to input a plurality of heterodyne signals outputted from a 2-dimensional photo-sensor array into a plurality of signal processing systems arranged in parallel and detect the amplitude and phase of each of the heterodyne signals.
However, in order to increase the spatial resolution of an image for this configuration, it is necessary to increase the number of the elements of the array, and moreover, it is necessary to prepare a signal processing system provided with the corresponding number of channels to that of the elements. Therefore, it is supposedly hard to practically use the apparatus in fields that require a high resolution image, such as a medical field and an industrial field.
Thus, the inventors have proposed a non-scanning type optical image measuring apparatus described below in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication JP-A 2001-330558 (claims, paragraphs 0068 to 0084 of specification, and FIG. 1). This optical image measuring apparatus comprises a light source, an interference optical system, and a signal processor. The light source emits a light beam. The interference optical system splits the light beam emitted from the light source into two, i.e., a signal light passing through a subject arrangement position in which a subject is arranged and a reference light propagating on an optical path different from an optical path passing through the subject arrangement position, and superimposes the signal light having passed through the subject arrangement position and the reference light having propagated on the different optical path, thereby generating interference light. The interference optical system includes: a frequency shifter that shifts the frequency of the signal light and the frequency of the reference light relatively to each other; light cutoff devices that, for reception of the interference light, split the interference light into two, and periodically cut off the interference lights split into two, thereby generating two trains of interference light pulses with a phase difference of 90 degrees therebetween; and photo sensors that separately receive the two trains of interference light pulses, each of the photo sensors having a plurality of light receiving elements spatially arranged and separately detecting light receiving signals. The signal processor combines the plurality of light receiving signals obtained by the photo sensors, and generates signals corresponding to respective points of interest on a propagating path of the signal light, of the surface or inner layer of the subject arranged in the subject arrangement position.
This optical image measuring apparatus with the configuration to split the interference light generated from the reference light and the signal light into two and receive with the two photo sensors (i.e., 2-dimensional photo-sensor arrays) is configured to have the light cutoff devices positioned before the respective photo-sensor arrays and sample the interference lights. A phase difference of π/2 is set to sampling periods of the two split interference lights, whereby the intensities of the signal light and reference light composing a background light component of the interference light and phase quadrature components (i.e., sine component and cosine component) of the interference light are detected. Moreover, the intensity of the background light component contained in outputs from the photo-sensor arrays is subtracted from the outputs from the photo-sensor arrays, whereby two phase quadrature components of the interference light are calculated, and the amplitude of the interference light is obtained using the result of the calculation.
An available image sensor such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera has been widely used as the 2-dimensional photo-sensor array. However, a problem has been recognized conventionally that a currently available CCD camera cannot follow the beat frequency of a heterodyne signal on the order of several kHz to several MHz because of the low frequency response characteristic thereof. The feature of the optical image measuring apparatus described by the inventors in JP-A 2001-330558 is measurement performed by using the low frequency response characteristic based on the sufficient recognition of the above problem.
In the conventional optical image measuring apparatus as described above, about ten interference light pulses are received by the CCD and accumulated to form a single image. Application of this apparatus to ophthalmic measurement will cause a problem that, in a case where an eye moves because of eyeball movement, heartbeat or the like during detection of the about ten interference light pulses, the interference light is subjected to Doppler shift at the time of reflection on a fundus oculi and the frequency thereof is modulated, whereby the accuracy of a formed image is lowered.
This problem will arise not only in the medical field such as the ophthalmic field but also in various kinds of fields using an object that may move during measurement as a measurement target (for example, the biological field).
Further, there is a problem that about ten interference light pulses are necessary to form a single image as described above and control of open/close timing of the light cutoff device therefor is difficult.
Furthermore, there is a problem that it is necessary to turn on/off the light source in synchronization with the beat frequency of the heterodyne signal and control of the synchronization is difficult.
Besides, the conventional configuration has a problem that about ten interference light pulses are necessary to form a single image and it takes time to measure.


A method for detecting and quantifying haloether contamination in aqueous samples. A flow state is artificially induced upon an aqueous sample and a solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber, upon which an electric potential is applied, is exposed to the flowing aqueous sample in direct immersion mode. Halide ions liberated from electrophoretically dehalogenated haloether compounds contained in the aqueous sample are absorbed upon the SPME fiber, then later desorbed at a gas chromatograph, separated into individual halide ions and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Effects of various parameters such as absorption time, sample pH, salt content, applied voltage, SPME fiber type, flow rate and background matrix are also described.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method in analytical chemistry. More specifically, the present invention relates a method for detecting and determining the concentration of one or more haloether compounds in an aqueous sample by solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques.
Description of the Related Art
The "background" description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.
Haloethers are compounds which contain an ether moiety (R—O—R) and halogen atoms attached to the aryl or alkyl groups. Haloethers are a class of disinfection by-products (DBPs) that are unintentionally produced from the reactions of disinfectants with organic matter naturally present in the water [Richardson, S. D., 2009. Water Analysis: Emerging Contaminants and Current Issues. Analytical Chemistry, 81, 4645—incorporated herein by reference in its entirety]. They are harmful to humans and have been shown to be carcinogenic even at low parts per billion (ppb) levels. In addition to that haloethers are widely used in industry as solvents for fiber processing, polymers, pesticides, medicine, and ion exchange resins and thereby enter into the aqueous environment [Chiing. C. C., Ren. J. W., Chun, Y., Chung. S. L., 2009. Bis (2-chloroethoxy) methane degradation by TiO2 photocatalysis: parameter and reaction pathway investigations. J. Hazard. Mater 172, 1021; Jing. S. C., Shang. D. H., 2007. Determination of haloethers in water with dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction using GC-FID and GC-ECD. Talanta 71, 882; Montgomery and Welkom 1990. Montgomery, J. H., Welkom, L. M., 1990. Groundwater Chemical Desk Reference, Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, Mich.; Thomas, O. V., Stork, J. R., Lammert, S. L., 1980. The chromatographic and GC/MS analysis of organic priority pollutants in water. J. Chromatogr. Sci. 18, 58—each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety]. Haloethers are persistent contaminants and are of great concern because of their carcinogenicity and toxicity [Sittig, M., 1991. Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, third ed., Noyes Public, New Jersey; Shang, D. H., Yi, T. C., Cheng. S. L., 1997. Determination of haloethers in water by solid-phase microextraction. J. Chromatogr. A 769, 239; Fawell, J. K., Hunt, S., 1988. Environmental Toxicology: Organic Pollutants, Wiley, New York, (Chapter 9); Wennrich, L., Engewald, W., Poppb, P., 1997. Determination of chloroethers in aqueous samples using solid-phase microextraction. Acta Hydrochim. Hydrobiol. 25, 329—each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety].
In 1979, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) classified five Haloethers as priority pollutants, and proposed a maximum allowed contaminant level (MCL) of 500 μg/L [USEPA 1980. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Regulations and Standards Criteria and Standards Division Washington D.C. 20460 440/5-80-050 October 1980—incorporated herein by reference in its entirety]. 4-chlorophenyl phenyl ether (CPPE) and 4-bromophenyl phenyl ether (BPPE) are among these priority haloethers, and their chemical structures are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The physical properties of CPPE and BPPE are listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1Physical properties of CPPE and BPPE.Physical propertiesCPPEBPPEMolecular weight (g mol−1)204.6249.1Solubility at 20-25° C. (mg L−1)1.430.82Boiling point (° C.)161305Vapor pressure at 20-25° C. (mmHg)0.00160.0005Henry's law constant at 20° C.0.0120.009Diffusion coefficient in air (cm2 s−1)0.0480.047Diffusion coefficient in water (cm2 s−1)6.18E−066.27E−06
USEPA methods 611 and 625 that are based on liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) were established to determine haloethers from aqueous samples [Thomas, O. V., Stork, J. R., Lammert, S. L., 1980. The chromatographic and GC/MS analysis of organic priority pollutants in water. J. Chromatogr. Sci. 18, 583; Shang, D. H., Yi, T. C., Cheng. S. L., 1997. Determination of haloethers in water by solid-phase microextraction. J. Chromatogr. A 769, 239—each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety]. However, these techniques require hazardous solvents, multi-step and time-consuming extraction procedures, and the risk of haloether loss in extraction and concentration steps [Wennrich, L., Engewald, W., Poppb, P., 1997. Determination of chloroethers in aqueous samples using solid-phase microextraction. Acta Hydrochim. Hydrobiol. 25, 329—incorporated herein by reference in its entirety]. As a result, poor precision and low recoveries were reported [USEPA 1980. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Regulations and Standards Criteria and Standards Division Washington D.C. 20460 440/5-80-050 October 1980—incorporated herein by reference in its entirety].
Over the years, different analytical methods have been developed for the determination of haloethers, such as, liquid phase microextraction (LPME), hollow fiber LPME (HF-LPME) and single drop microextraction (SDME) (Zheo et al., 2002), Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) [He, Y., Lee, H. K., 1997. Liquid-Phase Microextraction in a Single Drop of Organic Solvent by Using a Conventional Microsyringe. Anal. Chem. 69, 46; Wang, Y., Kwok, Y. C., He, Y., Lee, H. K., 1998. Application of dynamic liquid-phase microextraction to the analysis of chlorobenzenes in water by using a conventional microsyringe. Anal. Chem. 70, 461; Chiang, S., Huang, D., 2007. Determination of haloethers in water with dynamic hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction using GC-FID and GC-ECD. Talanta 71, 882-886; Shen, G., Lee, H. K., 2002. Hollow fiber-protected liquid-phase microextraction of triazine herbicides. Anal. Chem. 74, 64; —each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety]. Among these methods, SPME is a solvent-free microextraction technique which combines sampling, sample clean-up and pre-concentration into a single step [Ouyang, G., Vuckovic, D., Pawliszyn, J., 2011. Nondestructive Sampling of Living Systems Using in Vivo Solid-Phase Microextraction. Chem. Rev., 111, 2784; Zeng, J. B., Zou, J., Song, X. H., Chen, J. M., Ji, J. J., Wang, B., Wang, Y. R., Ha, J. H., Chen, X., 2011. A new strategy for basic drug extraction in aqueous medium using electrochemically enhanced solid-phase microextraction. J. Chromatogr. A 1218, 191—each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety].
Although SPME typically involves a relatively straightforward, single-step extraction procedure, SPME fiber capacity is low and not suitable for large volume samples. In light of this deficiency, as well as the shortcomings of other methods as set forth above, the present disclosure provides a simple and safe method for determining the concentration of haloether compounds in an aqueous sample that exhibits excellent analyte recovery at both low and high background matrices.

Method for detecting and quantifying haloether contamination in aqueous samples by flow assisted electro-enhanced solid-phase microextraction

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals


A storage system includes a plurality of nodes, each of the nodes including one or more node modules each of which includes a nonvolatile storage, and a connection unit directly connectable to at least one of the nodes. The connection unit is configured to transmit an access request or an inquiry directed to a target node module, determine a length of an interval before re-transmitting the access request or the inquiry, based on a response indicating an operation status of the target node module, which is returned by the target node module in response to the access request or the inquiry, and re-transmits the access request or the inquiry after the interval of the determined length has passed.

A storage system of one type includes multiple storage devices that are networked and each of which includes a nonvolatile storage such as a flash memory. Such a storage system can be connected to multiple clients, and a command from a client is transmitted to one of the storage devices.
In such a storage system, commands from a plurality of clients may be directed to a same storage device. In this case, since the plurality of commands has to be processed by the storage device, all command may not be executed in a timely manner. In such cases, the storage device replies with a busy response indicating that the commands cannot be accepted (busy state). Since the timing at which the busy state ends cannot be predicted, when the busy response is replied, non-accepted commands may be repeatedly transmitted until accepted. This repeated transmission of the non-accepted commands may congest data traffic among the multiple storage devices and increase latency of the entire storage system.

Storage system including a plurality of nodes


An alarm system for notifying personnel in an adjustably set priority sequence of an alarm condition includes one or more alarm sensors, a central alarm station, a plurality of primary remote stations, and one or more secondary remote stations. The alarm sensors are connected to the central alarm station to communicate the occurrence of alarm conditions thereto. The central alarm station includes a priority selector device, a device for establishing a primary notification signal based upon the signals received from the alarm sensors and upon the setting of the priority selector device. The central alarm station also includes a transmitter for transmitting the notification signal to the primary remote stations and a receiver for receiving an acknowledgement signal from the primary remote stations. The primary remote stations each include a receiver for receiving the notification signal, an address detector device, a display device, a response encoder device, and a transmitter for transmitting the acknowledgement signal from the response device. The primary remote stations include another transmitter for transmitting a secondary notification signal to the secondary remote stations. The secondary remote stations include a receiver for receiving this secondary notification signal and also an indicator device and reset device for indicating the reception of the signal from the primary remote station.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to apparatus for monitoring alarms and providing notification signals when an alarm condition occurs and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to apparatus for detecting when an alarm condition occurs and generating notification signals in a variable sequence of priorities.
2. Description of the Prior Art (Prior Art Statement)
U.S. Pat. No. 3,914,692 issued to Seaborn, Jr. discloses an emergency communication system which is proposed to include a portable unit communicating with a console which in turn communicates with a central station via leased telephone lines. In operation the portable unit detects emergency conditions and sends signals via the telephone lines to the central station for acknowledgement thereby. Once the central station has received an alarm signal, it is capable of generating a call for assistance and a signal to notify the portable unit that assistance is on the way.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,763 issued to Wadhwani et al. discloses a security system which includes various sensors, line converters, remote input and output devices, a master controller, and a remote central station. These elements are proposed to be combined so that they may detect alarm conditions and report the occurrence thereof to the central station.
In addition to the above two patents, Applicant knows of the following references which also deal with alarm and security systems
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Patentee ______________________________________ 4,006,460 Hewitt et al. 3,939,460 Horn et al. 3,750,110 Martin et al. 3,568,161 Knickel 3,978,479 Schmitz 3,978,478 Schmitz 3,978,477 Schmitz 3,978,475 Schmitz ______________________________________
Upon examination of these references, it will be noted that the disclosures generally propose apparatus for detecting alarm conditions and relaying such detection information to a central information gathering device. Also generally disclosed are proposals for using various types of computers and interconnecting these computers to the alarm sensors.
In light of such disclosures, Applicant believes that none of these references, either individually or collectively, discloses the invention hereinafter disclosed. In particular, these references fail to teach an apparatus which, after having received alarm condition information from the sensors, automatically establishes a notification signal having a format designed to notify one of a plurality of primary remote units in a variable sequence of priorities. The above references also fail to disclose priority notification apparatus in which the priority sequence can be modified. Still another shortcoming of these references is the lack of a disclosure of an alarm system having a plurality of secondary remote units which are activated by signals generated by the respectively associated primary remote units.


An X-ray spectrometer which is arranged inside an evacuatable housing and which comprises a wavelength dependent X-ray detection system and, for irradiating the specimen to be examined, an electron source with an electron deflection system for generating an electron beam and an X-ray source for generating an X-ray beam. The X-ray source consists of an anticathode on which the electron beam can be directed by the electron deflection system in order to generate the X-ray beam.

The invention relates to an X-ray spectrometer which is arranged in an evacuatable housing and which comprises a wavelength-dependent X-ray detection system and--for irradiating a specimen to be examined--an electron source for generating an electron beam and an X-ray source with an anticathode on which the electron beam can be directed by means of an electrostatic deflection system in order to generate an X-ray beam.
An X-ray spectrometer of this kind is particularly suitable for chemical analysis because the X-radiation generated in the specimen being examined contains characteristic X-radiation which originates from the chemical elements present in the specimen. By wavelength-dependent measurement and analysis of the X-radiation generated, elements emitting characteristic X-radiation can be indentified and quantized by measurement of the intensity of the relevant radiation. For the examination of a specimen containing light elements, such as B, C, Na, Al or Mg, an electron beam is preferably used for irradiation; and for the examination of a specimen containing heavier elements, an X-ray beam is preferably used for irradiation.
French Patent Specification No. 1,558,130 discloses an X-ray spectrometer of the described kind in which the electrostatic deflection device can be used to direct the electron beam onto either the specimen to be examined or onto the anticathode which is in this case situated opposite the specimen.
It is a drawback of the described known X-ray spectrometer that, in order to irradiate the specimen by means of X-rays, electrons supplied by the electron source must first be accelerated, after which the accelerated electrons are deflected onto the anticathode. One of the two voltage sources required for this purpose is used for the deflection of accelerated electrons, which requires comparatively large electric fields and hence comparatively high electric voltages.


A tunable pressure transducer assembly that comprises a sensing element disposed within a housing, wherein the sensing element is adapted to output a signal substantially indicative of an applied pressure, and a filter assembly also disposed within the housing. In one example embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a filter assembly having a tube, a cap and a cavity defined by a housing, a pressure, wherein the cap is positioned to set a predetermined volume of the cavity and the tube is associated with an application of the pressure to the cavity, wherein the pressure includes a static pressure component and a dynamic pressure component; filtering, by the tube and the cavity, at least a portion of the dynamic pressure component of the pressure to obtain a filtered pressure; outputting, from the filter assembly, the filtered pressure; and wherein the filtered pressure is used to determine the static pressure component of the pressure.

Pressure transducer assemblies used to measure pressure in various systems, for example, gas turbine engines, are adversely impacted by pressure ripples often caused by pumping equipment. If high frequency pressure ripples are applied near a resonance frequency of the pressure transducer, either from an internal cavity or a mechanical structure, the pressure ripples can negatively impact and shorten the life expectancy of the pressure transducer. One way to avoid this undesirable situation is to design a pressure transducer that has minimal or no resonances near the frequency of the ripple. This can, however, be costly and time consuming as pressure ripple frequencies can change from system to system. Therefore, different pressure transducers must be designed for each unique system.
In some cases, it is not desirable to measure the pressure ripple of a system. Instead, only steady state pressure level measurements are desired. In these cases, a filter assembly may be placed at the front end of the transducer to eliminate the higher frequency ripples and leave static and quasi-static pressures intact. Many embodiments of the prior art utilize a filter assembly specifically designed for each individual system to be measured, which can be very costly as the filter assemblies are not equipped to adapt to various systems.
Thus, there is a need for a pressure transducer assembly that comprises a tunable filter assembly that can adapt to multiple systems and applications, which therefore reduces costs associated with designing individual filters for individual systems and applications.


A gas flow generator for use in a position control apparatus having an oscillating motion driver, a chamber having a side wall extending outwardly from the oscillatory motion generating surface of the driver, a distal end wall spaced from the driver and joined with the side wall, and one or more gas flow orifices provided in the end wall.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a gas flow generator and an apparatus for using the same and more particularly to a gas flow generator commonly referred to as a sonic pump or sonic pump position control apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
So called sonic pumps or sonic pump position control apparatus currently exist for the purpose of levitating or controlling the position or movement of objects, particularly in a low or zero gravity condition. Such sonic pump position control apparatus generally include a means commonly in the form of a transducer device such as an audio loudspeaker which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy or other gas momentum and a means for transmitting such gas momentum to the object to be controlled. One example of a sonic pump levitation apparatus is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,447,251 issued to Dunn et al. disclosing a gas flow generator having an elongated duct and a collimated hole structure at the distal end of the duct for transmitting an oscillatory gas flow to a levitated object. Other structures such as cone shaped or ellipsoidally-shaped acoustical chambers with a single oscillatory motion transmission opening also exist. In some embodiments, the size of the single opening is variable.
A drawback of some prior art gas flow generators and sonic pump levitation or position control apparatus is that they fail to provide means for creating a flow field of desired dimension and desired flow properties. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved gas flow generator design capable of creating a flow field of desired dimensions and flow properties and an apparatus for using such generator to control the position or movement of an object.
The present invention relates to an improved gas flow generator capable of creating a flow field of desired dimension and flow properties and a position control apparatus or the like embodying such gas flow generator.
In general, the gas flow generator of the present invention includes an oscillatory motion driver such as an audio speaker and a cover defining a chamber with at least one gas flow orifice in a distal end wall of the chamber. More specifically, the cover includes a side wall which extends generally outwardly from the oscillatory motion transmitting side of the driver and a distal end wall. In a preferred embodiment, the side wall defines a generally cylindrical configuration and one or more gas flow orifices are provided in the distal end wall.
In further embodiments, the end wall can assume a variety of configurations, depending upon the flow field which is desired to be created. In one embodiment a plurality of gas flow orifices are provided in a generally planar end wall. In a most preferred embodiment, a plurality of orifices are provided in an end wall having a partial spherical configuration. The plurality of orifices enables the generator to create a flow field of relatively large dimensions.
The invention also relates to a position control apparatus embodying the above-described gas flow generator. Specifically, the position control apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment includes a position control chamber having an outer wall and one or more gas flow generators mounted adjacent to the outer wall in which each of the gas flow generators includes an oscillatory motion driver and an acoustical or air flow chamber associated therewith. Such chamber is in communication with the oscillatory motion driver and includes at least one orifice in communication with the position control chamber. In a most preferred embodiment, the position control apparatus includes a generally spherical position control chamber surrounded by a plurality, preferably six, gas flow generators. Each of these generators includes a plurality of gas flow orifices which direct gas flow inwardly toward the center of the position control chamber to control the position of an object within such chamber.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved gas flow generator.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved gas flow generator having a chamber in communication with the oscillatory motion driver with a plurality of gas flow orifices for creating a flow field.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a gas flow generator for creating a flow field with a variety of configurations and flow characteristics.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved position control apparatus.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a position control apparatus with a generally spherical position control chamber and a plurality of gas flow generators positioned on the periphery of the spherical chamber.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the drawings, the description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims.

Gas flow generator and apparatus for using the same


A thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, an insulation film disposed on the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer facing the gate electrode with the insulation film in between, and a source-drain wiring layer electrically coupled to the semiconductor layer, and including a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer. The first wiring layer is in contact with the semiconductor layer between the semiconductor layer and the insulation film, and is configured of a transparent electroconductive film. The second wiring layer is overlapped with a portion of the first wiring layer. Another semiconductor layer made of a material same as a material of the semiconductor layer is stacked on the second wiring layer.

There are a wide variety of structures of a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor, for example, a structure of a bottom-gate bottom-contact type (PTL 1) or a bottom-gate top-contact type (PTL 2). In the bottom-gate bottom-contact structure (hereinafter, simply referred to as a bottom-contact structure), a source-drain wiring line (a contact portion with a channel) may be formed through photolithography including a self-alignment process. More specifically, the source-drain wiring line may be formed through a backside exposure process using a gate electrode (a gate wiring line) as a mask. A transparent electroconductive film is used for the source-drain wiring line.
The bottom-contact structure has the following advantages, as compared with the bottom-gate top-contact structure (hereinafter, simply referred to as the top-contact structure). In other words, unlike the top-contact structure, the source-drain wiring line is formed before formation of a semiconductor layer including the channel in the bottom-contact structure. This causes less etching damages to the channel region. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in reliability and to prevent an increase in variation of the transistor characteristics.

Thin film transistor, method of manufacturing thin film transistor, and display


A multi-well plate reader including an emitter assembly having a plurality of emitters and a receptor assembly including a plurality of receptors separated by at least one spacer element such that a multi-well plate can be inserted between the emitter assembly and the receptor assembly. The emitters and receptors are paired and arranged in parallel arrays such that electromagnetic radiation can be transmitted through each well of the multi-well plate to a corresponding receptor to determine the opacity of the biological material contained within the well. Each well of the multi-well plate can be evaluated by a different emitter receptor pair allowing the entire multi-well plate to be efficiently monitored at a high throughput.

Biological research or testing, such as phenotypic screening, frequently involves growing collected or prepared biological samples in an incubator to evaluate the growth characteristics of the biological sample or create sufficient biological material for further evaluation. Multi-well or microtiter plates are a standard tool used to simultaneously handle and grow a plurality of biological samples. The simultaneous growth provided by multi-well plates is particularly advantageous as the growth time necessary for biological samples to reach the requisite size for evaluation ranges from several hours to several days. With certain biological samples, the growth of the biological sample is measured by inserting the multi-well plate into a reader. The reader includes a radiation emitter that applies visible light, infrared energy or other electromagnetic radiation to the biological sample in each well and measures the resulting optical density, absorbance, fluorescence or luminescence of the biological sample to determine the size and other features of the biological sample.
The advantages provided by multiple sample wells are offset by the challenge of simultaneously or efficiently monitoring the growth of the plurality of biological samples. As most biological samples require similar growth environments, a single incubator can often simultaneously provide the appropriate growth environment for each well in a multi-well plate or a plurality of multi-well plates. However, a reader must evaluate each well individually as the biological samples may grow at different rates. Accordingly, presently available readers have moveable radiation emitters positioned on mechanical arms or assemblies that move the emitter across the face of the multi-well plate to align the emitter with each well and apply the appropriate electromagnetic radiation to each well individually. The moving and sequentially operated emitter provides precise measurement of the biological sample, but substantially slows the evaluation process as the moving emitter must be continually repositioned. Similarly, the moving components must be precisely calibrated to align the emitter with the wells, which can have a mouth smaller than twelve millimeters in diameter. As a result, readers for monitoring growth multi-well plates are often very expensive to purchase and maintain.
A similar drawback is that presently available readers require the multi-well plate to be removed from the incubator and inserted into a special slot or tray. The slot or tray positions the multi-well plate such that the wells are aligned with positions pre-programmed into the movable emitter. As a result, if the multi-well plate is misaligned with the programmed position the measurements could be inconclusive or erroneous. As the multi-well plate must be repeatedly removed from the incubator and inserted into the reader over the course of the growth time, the risk of error is compounded. In addition, as the growth time can span hours or days, the continual monitoring of the multi-well plate can become tedious further increasing the likelihood that the multi-well plate will be improperly inserted and positioned due to operator error.

Miniaturized multiwell plate reader for phenotypic screening

University of Virginia Patent Foundation


A droplet ejecting apparatus for discharging liquid from nozzles of pressure chambers by supplying liquid from a liquid tank to said pressure chambers and then contracting said pressure chambers by means of piezoelectric elements, comprising:                pressure chamber plates forming said pressure chambers, and to which vibration plates forming walls of said pressure chambers are formed integrally; and        a common liquid chamber formed in the liquid tank and connected to respective liquid supply ports of the respective pressure chambers through respective flow passages connected to said respective liquid supply ports;        wherein the liquid tank and the pressure chamber plates are mutually superimposed in a layered structure, in positions where the flow passages coincide with the liquid supply ports of the pressure chambers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a droplet ejecting apparatus, and more particularly to a droplet ejecting apparatus used in an inkjet printer or the like, for forming images on a recording medium by ejecting ink.
2. Description of the Related Art
An inkjet printer forms an image on recording paper by driving a recording head in accordance with image forming data, and ejecting ink from nozzles of the recording head. Ink ejecting apparatuses in a recording head include apparatuses based on a piezo actuator method, for example, wherein the vibration plate of a pressure chamber is caused to deform by means of a piezoelectric element (piezo element), thereby applying pressure to the pressure chamber and hence ejecting ink from the nozzle of the pressure chamber. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-179973 discloses an example of a structure for a recording head of this kind, wherein a vibration plate is installed on the upper surface of a pressure chamber plate, an ink tank is installed above the vibration plate, and piezoelectric elements are disposed in the interval between the vibration plate and the ink tank.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A semiconductor laser device includes a semiconductor laser element for emitting laser light onto a recording medium; beam dividing element provided in an optical path between the semiconductor laser element and the recording medium; a hologram optical element including a diffraction grating formed in a light-transmitting substrate, the hologram optical element located in an optical path between the beam dividing element and the semiconductor laser element; a servo-signal light-receiving element provided in an optical path of diffracted light transmitted through the diffraction grating for receiving the diffracted light; an information-signal light-receiving element for receiving light divided by the beam-dividing element, which is different from light divided by the beam-dividing element which is received by the diffraction grating; and a polarizing element provided in an optical path between the beam dividing element and the information-signal light-receiving element, wherein the semiconductor laser element, the servo-signal light-receiving element and the information-signal light-receiving element are provided within a single package, and the information-signal light-receiving element is provided outside an optical path of every order of diffracted light transmitted through the diffraction grating.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser device which is preferably used as a light source of a magneto-optical pick-up device for recording and/or reproducing information onto or from an information recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional semiconductor laser device used for magneto-optical pick-up (Japanese Laid-open Publication No. 6-168462) will now be described with respect to its configuration and operation.
First, the configuration of the conventional semiconductor laser device will be described. FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an optical system of the conventional semiconductor laser device and an information recording medium. Referring to FIG. 30, a semiconductor laser element 101 and a servo-signal light-receiving element 102 for detecting a focus error signal and a radial error signal are provided within a semiconductor laser unit 107. A polarization beam splitter 111, a collimator lens 112 and an objective lens 113 are sequentially placed in this order in the optical path from the semiconductor laser element 101 to an information recording medium 114. The polarization beam splitter 111 is secured on the top of the semiconductor laser unit 107. A diffraction grating 109 is formed at the surface of the polarization beam splitter 111 which faces the semiconductor laser element 101. Moreover, an information-signal light-receiving element 104 is provided outside the optical path between the semiconductor laser element 101 and the information recording medium 114. The information-signal light-receiving element 104 is divided into two elements for p-polarized light components and s-polarized light components, respectively. A Wollaston prism 116 is provided at the surface of the polarization beam splitter 111 which faces the information-signal light-receiving element 104.
Next, the operation of the conventional semiconductor laser device will be described. Light is emitted from the semiconductor laser element 101 onto the information recording medium 114. The light reflected from the information recording medium 114 (hereinafter, the reflected light is referred to as return light) passes through the objective lens 113 and the collimator lens 112 into the polarization beam splitter 111. The polarization beam splitter 111 partially reflects the return light into the Wollaston prism 116, while transmitting the remaining return light therethrough. The Wollaston prism 116 has different refractive indices for p-polarized light and s-polarized light, respectively. Therefore, the return light entering the Wollaston prism 116 is divided into a p-polarized light component and an s-polarized light component in the Wollaston prism 116. The two elements of the information signal light-receiving element 104 are located at the positions on which the two divided light components for an information signal are focused, respectively. The information signal is calculated based on an output of the information-signal light-receiving element 104. The remaining return light having passed through the polarization beam splitter 111 is diffracted by the diffraction grating 109 into the servo-signal light-receiving element 102. The focus error signal and the radial error signal are detected based on an output value from the servo-signal light-receiving element 102.
According to the conventional semiconductor laser device shown in FIG. 30, the information-signal light-receiving element 104 is separately provided outside the semiconductor laser unit 107, whereby the overall size of the device is increased.
In order to provide a smaller and thinner semiconductor laser device which solves the above-mentioned problem, an information-signal light-receiving element may be placed within a semiconductor laser unit, as shown in FIG. 31. Such a semiconductor laser device will now be described with respect to its configuration and operation with reference to FIG. 31.
FIG. 31 shows another conventional semiconductor laser device and an information recording medium. First, the configuration of this conventional semiconductor laser device will be described. Referring to FIG. 31, a semiconductor laser element 201 and servo-signal light-receiving elements 202 and 203 are provided within a package 205. The package 205 is sealed by a transparent seal substrate 206. Thus, a semiconductor laser unit 207 is configured. A light-transmitting substrate 208, a collimator lens 212 and an objective lens 213 are sequentially provided in this order in the optical path from the semiconductor laser element 201 to an information recording medium 214. A hologram optical element 228 includes a diffraction grating 209 and a three-beam generating diffraction grating 210. The diffraction grating 209 is formed at the surface of the light-transmitting substrate 208 which faces the collimator lens 212, whereas the three-beam generating diffraction grating 210 is formed at the surface of the light-transmitting substrate 208 which faces the seal substrate 206.
Hereinafter, the operation of the conventional semiconductor laser device shown in FIG. 31 will be described. Light emitted from the semiconductor laser element 201 is divided into three light beams by the three-beam generating diffraction grating 210. More specifically, the three-beam generating diffraction grating 210 divides incident light into positive first-order light which is diffracted in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 31 from the rear to the front of the plane of FIG. 31, 0th-order light which is not diffracted, and negative first-order light which is diffracted in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 31 from the front to the rear of the plane of FIG. 31. The three light beams thus divided pass through the hologram optical element 228, and then, through the collimator lens 212 and the objective lens 213 so as to be focused onto the information recording medium 214. The light beam reflected from the information recording medium 214, that is return light, is directed back to the hologram optical element 228 through the same optical path. Thereafter, the return light is diffracted by the diffraction grating 209 of the hologram optical element 228 so as to be focused onto a focus-error-signal light-receiving region (not shown) and a radial-error-signal light-receiving region (not shown) of the servo-signal light-receiving elements 202 and 203. Each of the focus-error-signal light-receiving region and the radial-error-signal light-receiving region is divided into a plurality of elements. A focus error signal is detected by first converting a current output from each element of the focus-error-signal light-receiving region to a voltage, and then, performing a differential operation of the voltages thus converted. A radial error signal is similarly detected by a differential detection method using a three-beam method. An information signal is obtained by first converting a current output from each element of the focus-error-signal light-receiving region to a voltage and then calculating the sum of the voltages thus converted.
The conventional semiconductor laser device shown in FIG. 31 obtains the information signal by calculating the sum of the signals from the plurality of elements. Therefore, a noise component of the signal from each element is added. As a result, the total noise component is increased according to the number of elements, causing significant reduction in a signal/noise (S/N) ratio.


A lens type connector (13) comprising a connector body (31) having a passage (47) extending through it in an axial direction and a bushing (35) fixedly retained in the passage (47) of the connector body (31) and having a bushing passage (59) extending axially completely through the bushing. The bushing (35) has a radially inwardly projecting shoulder (61) in the bushing passage (59). A graded index rod (33) is movable axially in the passages (47, 59) so that an end face (77) of the graded index rod (33) can be urged against the shoulder (61) to at least assist in positioning and retaining the graded index rod (33) in the passages (47, 59).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a lens-type connector for fiber optic termini.
2. Description of Related Art
Lens-type fiber optic connectors interconnect two or more fiber optic termini and provides some optical function intermediate the ends of the fiber optic termini. A lens-type connector may include lenses which, for example, may expand and collimate the optical energy between the fiber optic termini. By expanding and collimating the light beams in this fashion, optical alignment of the beams is facilitated, and optical losses are minimized.
In one prior art construction, the lens-type connector includes a lens having the usual curved surfaces. This requires the use of a glass cover plate at the interface between two interconnected connectors to protect the lenses from the environment and to present a flat surface at the interface. This increases optical power loss in the lens-type connector. In addition, the optical fiber must be aligned and bonded into the system at the factory.

Multi-channel hermaphroditic lens type fiber optic connector


There is provided an apparatus for molding a glass substrate, the apparatus including a pre-heating unit, a molding unit, and a cooling unit sequentially arranged, wherein the pre-heating unit includes a pre-heating body and a glass substrate holder, wherein the molding unit includes: a molding body having a vacuum port, a molding support on the molding body, the molding support being configured to support an edge of a glass substrate, and a heating element configured to heat the molding body, and wherein the cooling unit includes a cooling body and a cooling plate.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for molding a glass substrate and a method of molding a glass substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent times, display devices for displaying images using liquid crystal display ("LCD") panels, plasma display panels ("PDP"), electroluminescent display ("ELD") panels, and organic light emitting diode ("OLED") display panels are gaining attention. Such a display device may be provided in a planar or curved shape.
To manufacture a curved display device, a curved window is required. Such a curved window may be obtained through a press molding process in which a glass substrate is press-molded using a contact mold. However, during such a contact press molding process, a surface of the glass substrate may be damaged. Accordingly, research is being conducted on various methods and apparatuses for molding a glass substrate without incurring damage to a surface of the glass substrate.
It is to be understood that this background of the technology section is intended to provide useful background for understanding the subject matter disclosed herein, the technology background section may include ideas, concepts or recognitions that were not part of what was known or appreciated by those skilled in the pertinent art prior to a corresponding effective filing date of subject matter disclosed herein.

Apparatus for molding glass substrate and method of molding glass substrate


Varying a slicing thickness for 3D modeling may include: receiving 3D modeling data from a user device; slicing the 3D modeling data, in accordance with a first thickness, into multiple cross-sections; calculating a complexity of one or more of the multiple cross-sections; and determining a slicing thickness of the 3D modeling data based on the complexity of the one or more of the multiple cross-sections.

3D printing is a technology for creating a three-dimensional objects based on three-dimensionally designed data by synthesizing various materials together. The 3D printing, called a third industrial revolution, is expected to change technological paradigms in numerous fields including manufacturing.
Methods of making three-dimensional objects are divided into an additive manufacturing method that manufactures a three-dimensional object by stacking a solid specific material, and a subtractive manufacturing method that cuts or sharpens a three-dimensional object through machine processing. The subtractive manufacturing method is performed by a 4- or 5-axis processor, and has been already commercialized and widely used in industrial fields.
Additive manufacturing methods include a fused deposition modeling (FDM) method by which a plastic material is melted and is sprayed out by a nozzle. This method is a relatively cheap 3D printing solution, and is believed to reduce consumption of materials relative to other 3D printing methods. Additive manufacturing methods also include a selective laser sintering (SLS) method by which a product is made by thinly spreading a powder material on a field and sintering only a selected part using a laser.
3-dimensional printing (3DP) includes thinly spreading a powder-like material, like the SLS method, but spraying an adhesive and allowing it to harden, instead of applying a laser.
3D printing is prefaced by processes that include: 3D modeling; standard tessellation language (STL) or additive manufacturing format (AMF) file conversion; G-code conversion; and real object printing using a host program.
3D modeling pertains to forming an object in a three-dimensional configuration using computer aided design (CAD) software, animation modeling software such as Maya and MAX, a 3D scanner, etc. The resulting 3D modeling data may be converted to an STL file that can be received and processed by a 3D printer. The conversion into the STL file is performed by common CAD software.
In this regard, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2014-0102240 relates to network-connected 3-dimensional printing and describes providing an environment where a multiple number of 3D printers, a printing server and a multiple number of client devices are connected to one another through a network.


A file management apparatus that includes a table management section, a file name display control section, a file access control section, and a mode switching section. The mode switching section switches an operating mode between an arbitrary file name mode and a standard file name mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a file management apparatus, a file management method, and a program, and more specifically relates to a file management apparatus, a file management method, and a program, compatible to both a standard file name assigned according to the existing denomination rule and an arbitrary file name having a high degree of freedom.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among file management apparatuses based on the technology in the past, there are ones which automatically assign a file name (a standard file name) such as "Cxxxx.MXF" (xxxx: 0001 to 9999), when a file of various types of data such as video data is formed, to the file as a file name for the file. For instance, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5-12341 discloses a technique for automatically assigning a file name to a file based of a date of generation of the file to prevent the same file name from being used within a file system and also to enable omission of an operator's work for inputting a file name.

File management apparatus, file management method, and program


The state of internal combustion engine inlet air dynamics is characterized in a substantially noise immune albeit rapid manner according to the degree by which a first set of criteria indicate a steady state condition in which engine inlet air rate substantially corresponds to cylinder inlet air rate or to the degree by which a second set of criteria indicate a transient condition in which engine inlet air rate does not substantially correspond to cylinder air rate. Cylinder inlet air rate may then be predicted in accord with the characterization.

Internal combustion engine air/fuel ratio control is known in which fuel command magnitude is determined in response to an estimate of the magnitude of an operator-controlled engine inlet air rate. Such control may be termed "air-lead" control. If fuel is controlled to individual cylinders, such as through conventional port fuel injection, the corresponding air rate of the cylinders must be estimated and the fuel command determined in response thereto to provide a desirable air/fuel ratio to the cylinders.
A desirable engine air/fuel ratio may be the well-known stoichiometric air/fuel ratio. Efficient reduction of undesirable engine exhaust gas constituents through conventional catalytic treatment thereof occurs when the engine air/fuel ratio is the stoichiometric ratio. Even minor deviations away from the stoichiometric ratio can degrade emissions reduction efficiency significantly. Accordingly, it is important that the engine air/fuel ratio be closely controlled to the stoichiometric ratio.
The precision of the described air-lead control is limited by the precision of the cylinder inlet air rate sensing or estimation. When engine inlet air dynamics are in steady state, such that the air pressure in the engine intake manifold is substantially constant over a predetermined time period, precise cylinder inlet air rate sensing may be provided through use of a conventional mass airflow meter in the engine inlet air path. The absence of any significant manifold filling or depletion in steady state provides for a direct correspondence between manifold inlet air rate and cylinder inlet air rate. Accordingly, the airflow meter may alone be used for accurate cylinder inlet air rate estimation in steady state.
The airflow meter may not accurately characterize cylinder inlet air rate under transient conditions, such as conditions in which there is no direct correspondence between manifold inlet air rate and cylinder inlet air rate. This is primarily due to the significant time constant associated with manifold filling or depletion, and airflow meter lag. Transient conditions can arise rapidly during engine operation, such as by any substantial change in engine inlet throttle position TPOS, or by any other condition that perturbs manifold absolute pressure MAP. Any significant perturbation in steady state operating conditions will rapidly inject substantial error in the airflow meter estimate of cylinder inlet air rate. Accordingly, if a mass airflow meter is to be used for cylinder air rate estimation under steady state operation, some variation in the estimation approach is required to retain estimation accuracy when outside steady state operation. Necessarily, there must be a reliable determination of whether the engine is operating in steady state or under transient conditions.
Engine parameters such as engine intake manifold absolute pressure MAP and air inlet valve position TPOS may be used to categorize the air dynamics as steady state or transient. The lack of manifold filling or depletion that characterizes steady state air dynamics is directly indicated by a substantially steady MAP over a predetermined number of MAP samples. Such provides sufficient information with which to diagnose an entry into steady state. It has been proposed to use one criterion, such as the described substantially steady MAP criterion to detect or diagnose both entry into and exit from steady state. Two difficulties result from the use of a single criteria with which to transition into or out of steady state air dynamics. First, signal noise may trigger unnecessary transitions. Second, detection of transitions, especially out of steady state, may be delayed while waiting for detailed analyses, such as analyses designed to reduce sensitivity to noise, to come to a conclusion.
Signal noise may come from a sensor, such as a MAP or TPOS sensor, or may result from analog to digital signal conversion quantization effects. The noise may cause misleading variations in the interpreted signal, leading to false indications of MAP or TPOS variation, and thus to an improper diagnosis that the air dynamics are no longer in steady state. Such may reduce cylinder air rate estimation accuracy.
If detection of a transition is delayed, especially a transition out of steady state, cylinder inlet air rate estimation accuracy may be degraded. For example, a significant number of MAP or TPOS samples may be required to determine if indeed the manifold is not filling or depleting--indicating steady state operation. Once in steady state, mass airflow meter information may accurately characterize cylinder inlet air rate. However, a slight change in MAP or TPOS may quickly erode the accuracy of the characterization by rapidly leading to accumulation or depletion in the manifold. A cylinder inlet air rate estimation penalty is incurred during the period of time required for accumulation and interpretation of MAP or TPOS signals so as to diagnose the exit from steady state. Accordingly, the duration of such a time period should be minimized.
It therefore would be desirable to provide a characterization of engine inlet air dynamics that is substantially insensitive to signal noise and yet rapidly detects entry into or exit out of a steady state condition, so the appropriate cylinder air rate estimation approach may be applied at all times during engine operation, for precise engine air/fuel ratio control.


A collapsible includes a seat back pivotal relative to a seat bottom. Linkages pivot the seat bottom between lowered and elevated, seating positions. Shape changing members are mounted in at least one of the seat bottom and the seat back for changing the shape and/or the overall height of the seat bottom or seat back while the seat bottom or seat back is moved to the lowered position to exhibit the minimum stack height for the collapsed seat. The seat back and linkages are also coupled to provide pivotal movement of the seat bottom concurrently with pivotal movement of the seat back. Releasible latches are provided for latching the seat back in the elevated and/or lowered position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to seats and, more particular, to vehicle seats.
2. Description of the Art
Seats found in vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks, etc., are frequently provided with a seat back which is pivotal from a raised position to a lowered position with respect to the accompanying seat bottom.
Vehicle seats, particularly those found in minivans, are frequently releasibly mountable in the vehicle so as to enable their removal when it is desired to use the floor of the vehicle as a cargo space.
It is also known to provide vehicle seats in which the seat back and/or the entire seat back and seat bottom are pivotally movable from a normal seating position in which the seat back extends angularly upward from the seat bottom to a collapsed, lowered position wherein the seat back folds over the bottom and the seat bottom itself may pivot from the seating position to a lowered position, either forward or rearward of the seating, so as to lower the overall height of the collapsed seat and to enable the back surface of the seat back to be used for supporting cargo within the vehicle.
While the removable seats operate effectively in so far as enabling the seat to be folded and removed from the vehicle, storage of the removed seat can be a problem, particularly in urban areas where a vehicle owner may not have a garage readily available for storing the removed seat. The weight of the seat, which is relatively light in terms of enabling the seat to be easily removed and reinstalled in the vehicle, nevertheless, can become problematic when it is necessary to carry the seat a considerable distance to a storage area away from the vehicle or up flights of stairs to owners apartment.
Further, the collapsible seats, while being able to be lowered to a position wherein the seat back does not extend appreciably above the underlying seat support surface or vehicle floor, do not provide for any change in the height of the seat back or seat bottom so as to reduce the overall stack height of the folded seat back and seat bottom itself.
Seats are frequently provided with adjustable bladders or other shape changing supports for varying the contour of the seat bottom and/or seat back to provide occupant comfort. However, the amount of movement provided by such shape changing devices or "lumbar supports" is minimal. Further, such shape changing devices merely change the contour of the surface of the seat and do not appreciably change the overall height of the outer surface of the seat bottom and/or seat back with respect to its opposed back surface.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a collapsible seat for particular use in vehicles which can be folded to a minimum stack height when in a collapsed or lowered position. It would also be desirable to provide a collapsible seat in which a seat back can be folded over a seat bottom with a minimum stack height and the entire seat bottom and seat back pivotally lowered to a collapsed position enabling the back surface of the seat back to act as a cargo carrying surface generally in line with the vehicle floor. It would also be desirable to provide a collapsible seat wherein the stack height of the seat back and/or seat bottom is automatically changed as the seat back is pivoted with respect to the seat bottom. It would also be desirable to provide a seat in which the seat bottom is automatically pivoted between the lowered and elevated positions concurrent with pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat bottom. It would also be desirable to provide a collapsible seat which can be collapsed to a lowered position which has a minimal stack height so as to fit within a receptacle formed in a vehicle floor.