The present invention is embodied in a system and method for predicting design errors, such as errors in integrated circuit design. The system and method of the present invention use a probabilistic model, such as a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN), to predict design errors at any point in the design process by using information about the current design in combination with historical design error data from previous designs. Prediction of design errors is based on a probabilistic comparison of conditions or error symptoms in the current design, to similar or identical conditions or error symptoms associated with design errors identified in prior designs. In addition, the system and method of the present invention is capable of rolling forward in a design from the point where conditions or error symptoms are predicted to analyze the effect such conditions or symptoms may have on the overall design functionality and performance, and whether such conditions and symptoms are actually caused by or will produce design errors. In other words, the system and method of the present invention predicts known errors that have a probabilistic chance of occurring under known conditions and during known tasks, new errors with a probabilistic chance of occurring due to new conditions during a known task, and new errors that have a probabilistic chance of occurring due to new errors that have already happened or have already been predicted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for identifying design errors in integrated circuits, and in particular to a system and method for using a trainable probabilistic model to predict, detect, and recover from design errors in an integrated circuit design and verification process. This invention relates specifically to design error prediction, while the related divisional patent applications referenced above relate to design error detection and design error recovery, respectively.
2. Related Art
Integrated circuits are becoming increasingly complex as the sizes of transistors and circuit traces continue to decrease, thereby allowing the construction of greater numbers of transistors and logic elements in smaller and smaller packages. As the complexity of integrated circuits, such as, for example, microprocessors, microcontrollers, analog-to-digital converters, and digital signal processors, has increased, the time typically allotted from initial design to final production has steadily decreased due to factors such as market demand, competition, and semiconductor manufacturing improvements.
Consequently, the design of sub-components of integrated circuits are often completed in parallel by multiple teams of designers using a variety of design tools. As a result, it is possible for design errors to be introduced into an integrated circuit that may go undetected until late in the design process, or possibly not even until after release of a production circuit. Further, the cost of corrective action in addressing design errors typically increases dramatically as circuit design nears completion, and may be most expensive following completion of design and production.
The problem of integrated circuit design error detection has been addressed in several ways. For example, one technique uses a probability network to analyze circuit performance after completion of circuit design to detect manufacturing errors in emitter and base resistors in a VLSI circuit. However, this technique does not apply to other stages or steps of the VLSI circuit design. Further, other types of logic errors are not addressed by this technique.
In another approach, a fault-simulation based technique is used to identify erroneous signals in a VLSI circuit by that can be corrected by re-synthesis of the erroneous signals. The fault-simulation of this technique generates erroneous vectors by random simulation. The erroneous vectors are binary or three valued input vectors that can be used to differentiate between a signal as implemented in a VLSI circuit, and the signal as specified in the circuit design. The correcting power of a particular signal is measured in terms of the signal s correctable set, namely, the maximum set of erroneous input vectors that can be corrected by re-synthesizing the signal. Only the signals that can correct every erroneous input vector are considered as a potential error source. This technique deals with circuit level signal errors, and not design errors, or errors introduced by design tools or methods of design.
In a similar approach, a fault-simulation based technique is used to identify erroneous signals in a sequential VLSI circuit by that can be corrected by re-synthesis of the erroneous signals. This technique locates an erroneous signal in a specific class of logic design errors, and provides a methodology to test whether an incorrect signal can be fixed by re-synthesizing the signal. In other words, this technique provides a method for correcting an erroneous output of a circuit without addressing the root cause of the error. However, re-synthesis of an erroneous signal requires the addition of additional transistors and logic elements to a particular portion of an integrated circuit that is affected by the erroneous signal. Consequently, while re-synthesis of an erroneous signal may fix a specific problem in a circuit, such a fix may introduce other design errors as well as timing and power problems elsewhere in the circuit as a result of the additional transistors and logic elements.
Another technique uses behavioral simulation models to analyze the dependability of a logic circuit early in the design of the circuit. This technique requires that a circuit design be abstracted into a number of discrete levels. The technique then uses the discrete levels to create a behavioral simulation model for performing circuit functional verification, circuit performance evaluation, and circuit dependability analysis. However, because this technique uses a single model, circuit design errors not covered by the model go undetected. Further, where error symptoms are found, there is no mechanism for backtracking to the source of the errors. Finally, this technique is applicable only at early stages of the design.
Still another technique uses a diagnostic algorithm based on backward-propagation techniques to localize design errors in combinational logic circuits. This technique addresses single logic gate replacement and insertion errors. In other words, this technique assumes the existence of a single gate error as the root cause of an error in a logic circuit.
Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for reliably detecting integrated circuit design errors as early in the design process as possible while being capable of detecting errors at any point in the design process. Further, such a system should be capable of detecting multiple types of design errors. The system should be capable of backtracking to the source of an error when error symptoms are detected. The system should also suggest corrective action to address the root cause of the problem as opposed to patching errors to correct deficient or erroneous signals. This invention relates specifically to design error prediction, while the related divisional patent applications referenced above relate to design error detection and design error recovery, respectively.
To overcome the limitations in the related art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present application, the present invention is embodied in a system and method for predicting, detecting and recovering from design errors in integrated circuits such as, for example, microprocessors, microcontrollers, analog-to-digital converters, and digital signal processors. For purposes of this description, design errors include errors, such as, for example, errors introduced by improper or incorrect use of design tools, errors introduced by data conversion problems, errors introduced by misinterpretation of design specifications, errors introduced as a result of design methodology, and errors introduced as a result of incorrect or improper logic circuit design or simulation. The system and method of the present invention uses inferential reasoning with a probabilistic model, such as a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN), to predict, detect and recover from design errors at any point in the design process by using information about the current design in combination with historical design data and design error data from previous integrated circuit designs in classes of integrated circuits that are the same or similar as the current design. BBN s are belief based probabilistic models that are typically represented as Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG) in which nodes represent variables, arcs signify the existence of direct causal influence between the linked variables, and the strengths of these influences are expressed by forward conditional probabilities.
Prediction, detection, and recovery from design errors are preferably based on a probabilistic comparison of conditions or error symptoms, predicted or detected in the current design, to similar or identical conditions or error symptoms associated with design errors identified in prior designs. In addition, the system and method of the present invention are capable of backtracking or rolling back through the design to the source of an error when conditions or error symptoms are predicted or detected, and of rolling forward in a design from the point where conditions or error symptoms are predicted or detected to analyze the effect such conditions or symptoms may have on the overall design functionality and performance, and to determine whether such conditions and symptoms are actually caused by or will produce design errors. The system and method of the present invention also preferably alerts users and suggests corrective action such as, for example, adjusting design attributes, repeating design steps, or suggesting workarounds to be applied to current or future design steps, to address the root cause of predicted and detected design errors in order to recover from those errors.
Identification of design errors as early in the design process as possible is important in order to minimize the cost of redesign. The cost of integrated circuit redesign typically increases as the design nears completion. Consequently, a dynamic probabilistic dependency model having a plurality of conditionally related variables, such as, for example a BBN, is used to predict, detect and recover from design errors. The probabilistic model is preferably displayed both textually and graphically on a computer display device, such that a user may have an immediate visual indication of the present state of the design. In addition, the present invention preferably provides the user with the capability to query the model, input new data into the model, and refine the model by editing or updating data, attributes of the design, probabilities associated with attributes, and confidence factors of the model.
Specifically, the present invention uses inferential reasoning in combination with a dynamic probabilistic model, such as a BBN, to predict, detect, and recover from design errors. The design process is preferably partitioned into a set of tasks, tools, and outputs. Tasks are defined as design efforts by one or more integrated circuit designers using one or more tools to design or develop specific functional units within an overall design. Tools are defined as computer programs or methods used to design or develop specific functional units within an overall design. Outputs at each stage of the design are the final results produced by a combination of tasks and tools at each stage. Design errors are typically introduced into a design by tasks, tools, and integrated circuit designers who utilize, initialize, adjust and interpret various software and hardware tools.
Conditions such as predicted or observed system behavior are analyzed using a probabilistic model, such as a BBN. These conditions are introduced into the design by tasks, tools and integrated circuit designers, and can appear, and be observed, measured, or controlled at any stage of the design. Conditions can create symptoms, which once identified, are preferably traced to design errors. While symptoms are directly related to at least one design error, they may or may not be directly observable or measurable. Consequently, the existence of symptoms is preferably inferred using conditional probabilities generated by the probabilistic model, then traced back to the specific design error or conditions causing the symptoms, again using inferential reasoning in combination with the conditional probabilities generated by the probabilistic model.
Prediction of design errors before observation or measurement of such errors is extremely valuable in that it allows integrated circuit designers to address design errors as early in the design process as possible. Error prediction in accordance with the present invention preferably analyzes a plurality of design environment data, such as, for example, seemingly negligible deviation and warning messages, and infers probabilistic relationships between the design environment data and design error classes, objects, and error templates. The conditions and symptoms associated with a design error in an existing design are input into the probabilistic model of the present invention to predict the probability of the same or similar design errors in a new design. In other words, a probabilistic knowledge-base of historical design errors in a given design environment is used to simulate and infer the existence or probability of occurrence of the same or similar design errors in a new design, at a specific stage or level of that design, before the design is complete. The results of the probabilistic prediction of design errors are preferably presented to the user both textually and graphically in an interactive computer program environment, having elements such as, for example, voice activated input or control, touch screen activated input or control, or input or control activated via a keyboard or pointing device.
Detection of design errors in evolving or completed designs is accomplished by the present invention by monitoring conditions, or patterns of conditions produced by design tasks that have historically been associated with symptoms related to design errors in previous designs. The probabilistic model of the present invention uses fuzzy inferencing to identify and rank condition sets of the present design against historical conditions and condition sets from prior designs. Consequently, where an exact match between present and historical conditions or condition sets is not identified, the inexact pattern matching afforded by inferential analysis of the conditional probabilities generated by the probabilistic model of the present invention is utilized to identify the probability that the same or similar design error exists in the present design as were identified in the prior design. The results of the probabilistic detection of design errors are preferably presented to the user both textually and graphically in an interactive computer program environment.
Recovery from design errors is typically a time consuming and expensive process. However, it has been observed that the same or similar classes of design errors tend to recur often, especially in families, of logic circuits, such as, for example, a microprocessor design that evolves over a period of months or years, and is typically produced and released in incrementally expanded versions. Consequently, the probabilistic model of the present invention provides guidance in addressing and resolving design errors. Specifically, once conditions leading to the symptoms associated with design errors are predicted or detected, a case is generated. An inference engine then uses the conditional probabilities produced by the probabilistic model of the present invention to compile a set of exact or similar cases from a historical knowledge base containing solutions and known fixes to previously identified design errors, based on their probability of matching the case of the current design. These probabilistic cases are then presented to the user, ranked with their likelihood or probability of match to the current predicted or detected design error. These cases are preferably presented to the user both textually and graphically in an interactive computer program environment.
The foregoing and still further features and advantages of the present invention as well as a more complete understanding thereof will be made apparent from a study of the following detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.

System and method for predicting design errors in integrated circuits

International Business Machines Corporation


A multiprocessor system of a distributed shared memory structure has a hot plug function for main memories. Each of nodes of the multiprocessor system has a processor, an IO unit, a main memory, a mover, and a routing control unit. If a memory read access request is issued from the processor, the IO unit, or the mover to the main memory of a master node, the routing control unit instructs the master node to transfer the memory read access request. If a memory write access request is issued from the processor, the IO unit, or the mover to the main memory of the master node, the routing control unit instructs both the master node and a slave node to transfer the memory write access request when in a multicasting mode, and instructs only the master node to transfer the memory write access request when not in the multicasting mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiprocessor system of a distributed shared memory structure having a plurality of nodes each comprising at least one processor and a main memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
To meet availability requirements, some information processing apparatus have a hot plug function to allow a faulty component to be replaced with a normal component without an apparatus shutdown when the information processing apparatus suffer a failure.
Some conventional devices including processors and I/O units are repairable on-line even when they are separated from the active system during system operation if the system can continuously be operated by backup devices and can relatively easily be separated or connected under the control of the operating system. Depending on the operating system, however, a fixed memory space is used in the main memory while the system is in operation, and the main memory is not connectable and disconnectable as a hot plug main memory as the fixed memory space cannot be separated.
In order to increase main memory availability, there have employed an apparatus having a duplex main memory configuration that allows a backup main memory to be used in the event of a failure of an active main memory, and an apparatus with a multiplex system structure. However, these apparatus are expensive because of the redundant function due to the duplex or multiplex scheme.
There has recently been proposed a multiprocessor system with a distributed shared memory configuration for increased performance and extendability. The multiprocessor often has a processor and a main memory that are installed on one printed-circuit board. The physical mounting structure of the multiprocessor poses a limitation on the use of a hot plug FRU (Field Replaceable Unit), and the printed-circuit board serves as one replaceable unit. Therefore, when the processor on the printed-circuit board suffers a fault and is to be replaced with a normal processor by a hot plug function, the main memory on the same printed-circuit board also needs to be replaced. Therefore, the main memory is required to have a hot plug function.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multiprocessor system of a distributed shared memory structure having a hot plug function for main memories.
For the purpose of separating a node from a multiprocessor system of a distributed shared memory structure during operation of the multiprocessor system, the memory space of a main memory managed by the node to be separated dynamically switches to the memory space of a main memory of a backup node without software recognition.
If a memory write access request is issued from a processor, an IO unit, or a mover to the main memory of a master node, then the memory write access request is transferred to the master node and a slave node when in a multicasting mode (for the transfer of the memory write access request to a plurality of nodes), and instructs only the master node to transfer a memory read access request when not in the multicasting mode. Therefore, when in the multicasting mode, a memory write process carried out on the main memory of the master node is also effected on the main memory of the slave node.
By copying data from the memory space of a node to be separated to the memory space of a backup node without a system shutdown, the node can be separated without stopping the operation of the system. Consequently, it is possible to repair a faulty area of the system without a system shutdown. As a result, the multiprocessor system can provide an information processing system of high availability.
A hardware-implemented mover function copies data from the memory space of the node to be separated to the memory space of the backup node, during which time a conflict with a memory access request issued from the processor or the IO unit is solved by hardware. When copying data from the memory space of the node to be separated to the memory space of the backup node without a system shutdown, the memory space from which data is to be copied can be accessed without the operating system recognizing the copying of the memory data. Therefore, the multiprocessor system can provide an information processing system of high availability regardless of the operating system.
Since all memory data is copied from the node to be separated to the memory space of the backup node upon separation of the node, the backup node is required only when copying the memory data, and a redundant node is not required to be available at all times. The cost of the multiprocessor system is relatively low as such a redundant node is not necessary during normal operation thereof.
Resources to be locked for use in ensuring inseparable operation of a memory read access request and a memory write access request to memories upon copying of the memory data are not all memory areas, but only memory addresses which need inseparable operation. Since memory addresses can individually be locked by a lock address buffer, the frequency of conflicts with memory access requests from processors and IO units is lowered. In this manner, the memory data can be copied without involving a reduction in the system capabilities during operation of the system.

Multiprocessor system with distributed shared memory having hot plug function for main memories


Outer distribution rings and gas distribution apparatus with outer distribution rings to deliver a gas flow to a process region of a process chamber are described. The outer distribution rings include at least one plenum in fluid communication with a plurality of openings forming a plurality of trenches to allow gas to flow from the plenum through the openings and down an inner peripheral face of the outer distribution ring.

In the field of semiconductor processing, flat-panel display processing or other electronic device processing, vapor deposition processes have played an important role in depositing materials on substrates. As the geometries of electronic devices continue to shrink and the density of devices continues to increase, the size and aspect ratio of the features are becoming more aggressive, e.g., feature sizes of 0.07 μm and aspect ratios of 10 or greater. Accordingly, conformal deposition of materials to form these devices is becoming increasingly important.
During an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, reactant gases are introduced into a process chamber containing a substrate. Generally, a region of a substrate is contacted with a first reactant which is adsorbed onto the substrate surface. The substrate is then contacted with a second reactant which reacts with the first reactant to form a deposited material. A purge gas may be introduced between the deliveries of each reactant gas to ensure that the only reactions that occur are on the substrate surface.
Some processes use multiple gases for various reasons. For example, a CVD process may mix two reactive gases in the process region of a process chamber while adding a third gas as a diluent or catalytic agent. Additionally, some processes may incorporate additional gases post-processing to treat the deposited film or clean the process chamber. Therefore, there is an ongoing need in the art for improved gas distribution apparatuses that can provide a uniform supply of separate gases to the processing chamber.

Apparatus and method for providing a uniform flow of gas


A kit for an amplified hybridization assay is described in which a family of signal-generating secondary probes bind to a primary probe that hybridizes to the target sequence of interest. Thus, an enormously amplified signal is generated by the hybridization event. The assay can be used for a variety of laboratory and clinical purposes and is automatable. A hybridization assay kit is also described. The kit is used for the detection of a target nucleotide sequence. One embodiment of the kit includes a plurality of secondary probes, each secondary probe capable of binding to a distinct binding site of the primary probe.

Nucleic acid hybridization assays have the potential to become powerful tools in the diagnosis of medical and veterinary disorders caused by pathogenic organisms, cancerous cells and genetic defects in chromosomes. However, a number of problems exist with the current technology which makes its application to diagnostics impractical. The assay must be extremely sensitive, reproducible, require few technical manipulations and thus be suitable for kits and automation.


This invention relates to a diagnostic apparatus and particularly to an apparatus for the diagnosis of malignant tumor and the method of using the apparatus for diagnosis. The apparatus employs an ultraviolet light source with an emitting waveband of 3000A-4000A. Light from the light source is transmitted through a bundle of quartz optic fibers to the surface of the tumor, whether benign or malignant, to stimulate it, which then generates a specific intrinsic fluorescence spectrum. The intrinsic fluorescence spectrum reflected from the surface of the tumor is transmitted by a second bundles of glass fibers placed near it to a color resolution means, then processed by a scanning means and a circuit means, and displayed recorded by a display recording means. The display may be a graphic presentation of the intrinsic fluorescence spectrum of the tumor that is tested. If the graphic presentation displayed includes a single peak within the range of the blue color band, it indicates that the tumor being tested is benign. If however, a second peak appears within the range of the red color band of the graphic presentation it is a characteristic peak of malignancy, indicating the existence of a malignant tumor. The presence of the red color can be established by eye rather than a complex color resolution system.

A paper entitled "The Study of the Analysis of Laser Stimulated Fluorescence Spectrum of the Digestive System and the Nature of it's Fluorescent Material," relating to the use of an argon laser having a wavelength of 5145 A as a light source has appeared in the Journal of the Japanese Association for Digestive Organ Endoscopy, Vol. 26, 8 Aug. 1984. The paper, more particularly, demonstrates the use of such an argon laser as a light source for directly illuminating an isolated specimen from the body and analyzing the intrinsic fluorescence spectrum generated by the light source to determine whether a malignant tumor exists in the isolated specimen. It has been found, however, that the method cannot be used satisfactory to diagnose gastric cancer, and its accuracy in the diagnosis of cancer of the large intestine was found to be only 30%. This is because the blue-green light of the argon-ion laser is visible light that superimpose upon the visible light waveband of the fluorescence spectrum generated by its stimulation on the isolated speciment, which is liable to lead to erroneous diagnosis. Moreover, the research studies embodied in this paper are only in the stage of experimentation, and up to this time no complete apparatus has achieved a satisfactory diagnosis of a malignant tumor.

Diagnostic apparatus for intrinsic fluorescence of malignant tumor


An intelligent emergency signal transmission system using a mobile phone and a method thereof are disclosed. According to the intelligent emergency signal transmission system using a mobile phone and the method thereof, even though the user does not separately perform a key operation, the information indicating that the user is in the emergency situation can be transmitted to the mobile phone of the third party by determining whether a pre-registered voice is input. In addition, a call connection with mobile phones to a plurality of third parties registered with the mobile phone of the user can be automatically performed to transmit the emergency signals. Therefore, the third parties can rapidly recognize the emergency situation of the user. In addition, the help request signal can be rapidly transmitted to the third party positioned near the user who is in the emergency situation so that the emergency situation can be effectively overcome.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an intelligent emergency signal transmission system using a mobile phone and a method thereof, and more particularly, to an intelligent emergency signal transmission system using a mobile phone capable of automatically transmitting emergency situation information and corresponding positional information to a specific mobile phone by allowing a user to register a specific voice with a mobile phone of the user having a voice recognition function and allowing the mobile phone to recognize the registered voice at the time of the occurrence of the emergency situation while recording the corresponding voice to perform a call connection to mobile phones in a plurality of called parties until the recorded voice is transmitted to the mobile phones in the plurality of called parties, and a method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is generally known, recently, with development of information and communication technologies, information providing technologies have been actively developed which provide, in real-time, information for various fields to a plurality of subscribers through at least one or more servers over a remote data communication network.
Based on this development, recently, a peripheral technology such as a cash memory extension technology for providing accurate information to the subscriber in a more rapid way, and information selection technology and a compression technology capable of accessing information according to a taste and preference of the subscriber in a more convenient way have been developed. In addition, the development of various contents and solutions thereof have also been conducted in accordance with above technologies.
Particularly, at the current time in which a capitalistic society has become highly developed and the accumulation of wealth for private property has become a very large personal concern, a protective service for the body of the individual and family is appropriately required.
In practice, the gap between the rich and the poor has deepened and the unemployment rate has increased, so the various violent crime rates have also increased and kidnapping, robbery and assault cases have rapidly increased.
Therefore, in the case of the occurrence of the robbery and kidnapping cases, a portable high voltage device or the like capable of suppressing the opposite party has come onto the market. However, when the user suppresses the opposite party using the portable high voltage device, significant bravery and quickness are required. Since the high voltage device is generally carried in a state in which the high voltage device is put into a handbag or the like, it is very difficult for the user to take out an article which is put into the handbag in a situation which involves a deadly weapon such as a knife.
In addition, the robbery, assault and kidnapping cases frequently happen to the elderly, babies, or women who are physically weak, and as such it is very difficult for the weak user to suppress the opposite party.
Further, in the case of failing in suppressing the opposite party in the robbery, assault and kidnapping cases, it causes the emotions of the opposite party to be stimulated, thereby having an adverse effect.
Therefore, recently, a security phone has appeared in which a GPS function is embedded and a remote server such as a server of a national police agency or a server of a security company is automatically informed of its owner's position and own emergency situation by operating a button. However, even in the case of the security phone, a mobile phone has to be directly operated. Therefore, in the situation which involves a deadly weapon such as a knife, it is difficult to operate a hot key of the mobile phone to transmit specific information.
In addition, a conventional security phone transmits the emergency situation to the server of the national police agency or the server of a security company. That is, if the emergency situation is transmitted to any one of the server of the national police agency and a server of a security company or a terminal, when communication is impossible or data transmission is impossible, for example, when a call connection is not performed, the emergency signal may not be transmitted.
In addition, in case in which there is a call connection with a telephone of the national police agency or a conventional telephone of a security company is performed by the operation of the hot key of the security phone, since the voice of a person in charge of the national police agency or a person in charge of the security company who is a called party is directly output through a speaker of the security phone, the robber or the kidnapper may also hear the corresponding voice.
Meanwhile, in a situation in which the call connection with the telephone of the national police agency or the conventional telephone of a security company is performed by the operation of the hot key of the security phone, when a volume of a microphone of the security phone has been adjusted to a lower level, the emergency voice data of a scene may not be properly transmitted to the called party.
Also, all mobile terminals including a conventional security phone may determine position data using a triangulation operation based on three base stations or determine positional information by receiving coordinate information from a GPS satellite in order to find the position where the emergency situation has occurred. An operation scheme based on the base stations may generate an error of hundreds of meters, and the method for finding the position using the GPS method may obtain a more accurate position than the position using the base stations, but in a position such as a building interior, a vehicle, or a subway, since the coordinate value may not be received from the GPS satellite, the position may not be determined.
Meanwhile, even though the emergency situation is informed to the telephone of the national police agency or a security company by the operation of the hot key of a conventional security phone, in a case in which mobilization personnel are far away from the scene, the danger in which an accident occurs is very high before the mobilization personnel arrives at the scene.

Intelligent emergency signal transmission system using mobile phone and method thereof


In an example embodiment, a motion capturing device includes a mask configured to rotate during capture of a scene by the motion capturing device and modulate the scene; and a motor coupled to the mask and configured to rotate the mask during the capturing of the scene.

Capturing a high speed video including fast motion typically requires the use of high speed motion cameras that utilize expensive charge-coupled devices (CCDs) or complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistors that are capable of capturing thousands of frames per second (fps). However, such cameras are costly and have a limited capturing time window (e.g., a few minutes or hours).
As an alternative to using high speed motion cameras, various video compressive sensing (VCS) cameras have been introduced. Such VCS cameras enable reconstruction of high speed videos (e.g., equal to or greater than 400 fps) using an actual capturing of such videos at a low frame rate (e.g., 30 fps).
The available VCS cameras capture a video at a low frame rate by modulating the actual high speed video with a fast moving mask (e.g. a mask that shifts vertically or horizontally) or a dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) arrays. Thereafter, the VCS cameras utilize known reconstruction algorithms to recover the high speed video from a single coded (modulated) capture of the video using the low frame rate.
Similar to the high speed motion cameras, the VCS cameras are also expensive due to high speed coding implemented via a precise piezo translation or DMD arrays used therein.

Systems and methods for video compressive sensing using a rotating mask


A method of improving adhesion of a nickel alloy to the surfaces of cubic boron nitride particles and articles made therefrom. Cubic boron nitride particles are electrolessly nickel plated with the nickel alloy formed with the metalloid, such as boron. Electrolessly plated particles are then gradually heated at a steady rate from room temperature to a desired heat treatment temperature in a non-oxidizing atmosphere formed by argon containing 10% hydrogen. Exemplary articles made by the aforementioned process include a grinding wheel having uniformly dispersed abrasive cubic boron nitride particles having the Ni/B alloy coat thereon.

Cubic boron nitride is extremely hard having a Vickers hardness of about 5000. Its hardness makes cubic boron nitride useful in a variety of industrial components.
Abrasive particles, such as cubic boron nitride particles, have been extensively used for cutting, grinding, lapping and polishing in metal removing industries as well as in medical fields such as dentistry and surgery. Abrasive particles are used in abrasive tools such as grinding and dressing wheels, crowns and single point tools. Considerable amount of research has gone into improving the bonding properties of cubic boron nitride to the matrices of these tools since poor bonding at the cubic boron nitride/matrix interface leads to dislodgement of the cubic boron nitride particle from the matrix during the abrading operation. As a result of this research, it is known in the art that the metal coating of abrasive particles improves the retention of such particles in the matrices of various abrasive tools, such as resin bonded wheels. In particular it is known that the retention of cubic boron nitride particles is improved with nickel coating. To improve the retention of cubic boron nitride particles, their surfaces are provided with a rough textured nickel coat having jagged edges. The jagged edges provide the metal coated particles improved mechanical interlocking means with which to retain them in the resin matrix during the abrading operation. The metal coat also provides means for evenly transfering heat generated along the surfaces of the abrasive particles during the abrading action. However metal layers have poor adhesion to cubic boron nitride.
It is also known in the art that the retention of cubic boron nitrides in the abrasive tools is further improved by providing the particles with multiple layers of metals, such as molybdenum, titanium, niobium, chromium, zirconium, copper and nickel.
The metal coating of the particles may be achieved by a variety of methods depending on the nature of the metal coating. The metal coating may be applied under high temperature, by well known processes, such as chemical vapor deposition, molten salt deposition and powder agglomeration coating. The main drawback of such techniques is that the high process temperatures can significantly degrade the abrasive particles. The aforementioned problem of degradation may be somewhat obviated by electrolytically, electrolessly or vacuum depositing the metal coating on abrasive particles, however the problem of poor adhesion to cubic boron nitride still remains.
The present invention is directed to improving adhesion of metal coats to the surfaces of cubic boron nitride particles.

Method of applying metal coatings on cubic boron nitride and articles made therefrom


A switching circuit includes first and second transistors, and a driver circuit. The first transistor has a first current electrode coupled to a first power supply voltage terminal, a second current electrode, and a control electrode. The second transistor has a first current electrode coupled to the second current electrode of the first transistor, a second current electrode coupled to a second power supply voltage terminal, and a control electrode. The driver circuit has an input for receiving an input signal, and an output coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor. The driver circuit precharges the control electrode of the first transistor to a first predetermined voltage, and in response to the input signal transitioning from a first logic state to a second logic state, the driver circuit provides a second predetermined voltage to the control electrode of the first transistor to cause the first transistor to be conductive.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to switching circuits, and more specifically, to a switching circuit with a gate driver having a precharge period and method therefor.
2. Related Art
Switching circuits, such as high-side switches and low-side switches, are used for supplying power to motors, lights, and other devices. Various transistor types may be used to implement a switching circuit. A metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor is one such transistor type.
A high side switch and a low side switch may be coupled together in a commonly known half bridge configuration. Two half bridge configurations may be coupled together to form an H bridge configuration. Typically, in the half bridge configuration the on and off states of the high side and low side switches are timed to alternately drive a load. However, if both the high side switch and low side switch are on at the same time, a current path may exist between the power supply voltage terminals that may result in excessive power consumption. Therefore, when driving the high and low side switches, care must be taken to ensure both are not conducting at the same time. On the other hand, in many applications, it is desirable for the high side switch to be switched on as soon as possible after the low side switch is switched off. The use of relatively tight timing control may result in inadvertent overlapping "on" states in some process corners.
The speed of the circuit may also be increased by maximizing the ramp up rate of the output voltage of the high side switch during the transition from off to fully on. However, this may cause excessive electromagnetic inference (EMI) that is undesirable in some applications.
Therefore, what is needed is a switching circuit that solves the above problems.

Switching circuit with gate driver having precharge period and method therefor


A vent tube has an open end adapted to communicate with an oven chamber. A catalyst is retained in the vent tube by two sets of abutments. In one embodiment, the abutments are in the form of tabs. The tabs are lanced from the wall of the vent tube and slant inwardly. The set of tabs nearer to the open end of the vent tube will flex outwardly to permit the catalyst to be inserted through the open end of the vent tube into position between the two sets of tabs. A wall of the oven chamber has an extruded hole over which the open end of the vent tube is fitted. In another embodiment, the abutments are in the form of dimples formed in the wall of the vent tube.

Currently, oven vent tube assemblies are made in two parts. A flanged tube is inserted through a hole in a wall of the oven chamber from the inside. The flange is secured to the wall with screws. The vent tube with a catalyst therein, is then placed over the flanged tube.


A damper assembly for solar heating systems and the like includes a damper blade pivotably mounted to a peripheral main frame. The damper blade is surrounded by a peripheral flexible sealing element which extends inwardly from the surrounding frame and which is inclined in a direction against the direction of closing damper blade movement. As the damper moves toward a closed position, its sides progressively engage the side portions of the sealing element, with the latter providing a seal with the peripheral face of the blade. The ends of the blade engage the sealing element prior to the blade finally reaching its ultimate closed position, with the sealing being complete at the moment of engagement and throughout the final range of blade movement. The peripheral sealing element is mounted to a subframe which is adjustable on the main frame to thereby sealingly accommodate a warped damper blade. The damper blade is mounted for axial rotation on pins in such a manner that the previous tendency of the mount to bend the blade is substantially eliminated. The blade mounting pins are journalled for rotation in bearings having square exteriors and which are disposed very closely adjacent the squared-off ends of the subframe portions to reduce the possibility of leakage in the bearing area. The damper blade-bearing assembly is spring loaded axially to reduce tolerance problems.

This invention relates to a damper for solar heating systems and the like.
In a solar heating system, a plurality of dampers are usually utilized to control the flow of heated air between a solar collector, a storage area and a utilization area such as a house. In view of present-day concern over conservation of energy, it is important that such systems are as tight and free of leakage as possible. It is especially desirable to prevent leakage back from the plenum toward the collector itself.
Prior motorized damper assemblies have usually utilized a seal member which sealed the edge of the damper to its peripheral frame. However, this has required that the motor bring the damper blade up to a fixed stop position before the seal was made. Warpage of the damper blade and improper adjustment of the motor control have caused undesirable leakage to occur at the seal area.
Warpage of the damper blade can be caused by many factors. Many damper systems utilize a single motor for operating a pair of damper blades, with a connector rod connecting the blades. This puts a strain on the blades, causing them to warp. An additional cause of warpage has been the damper blade mounting to an axial member which has been mounted to the blade in such a way that the blade tended to bend about the member. Other factors include torque forces and temperature changes.
The present invention is directed to an improved damper assembly which eliminates or reduces the effect of some of the aforementioned problems and which provides an improved sealing of the closed damper with accompanying reduced air leakage therethrough.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the damper blade is surrounded by a peripheral flexible sealing element which extends inwardly from the surrounding frame and which is inclined in a direction against the direction of closing damper blade movement. As the damper moves toward a closed position, its sides progressively engage the side portions of the sealing element, with the latter providing a seal with the peripheral face of the blade, as opposed to the edges thereof. The ends of the blade engage the sealing element prior to the blade finally reaching its ultimate closed position, with the sealing being complete at the moment of engagement and throughout the final range of blade movement. Thus, if the motor controls are improperly set or the damper blade is warped so that the blade does not reach its fully closed position, complete sealing will nevertheless take place.
In accordance with an additional aspect of the invention, the peripheral sealing element is mounted to a subframe which is adjustable on the main frame to thereby sealingly accommodate a warped damper blade.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the damper blade is mounted for axial rotation on pins in such a manner that the previous tendency of the mount to bend the blade is substantially eliminated.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the blade mounting pins are journalled for rotation in bearings having square exteriors and which are disposed very closely adjacent the squared-off ends of the subframe portions to reduce the possibility of leakage in the bearing area.
Finally, the damper blade-bearing assembly is spring loaded axially to reduce tolerance problems.

Damper for solar heating systems and the like


Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to multi-purpose an acoustic emission sensor are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a collection engine to obtain a measurement from an acoustic emissions sensor coupled to a fluid flow control assembly, and obtain a state of the fluid flow control assembly. The example apparatus further includes a selector to adjust a gain of a pre-amplifier based on the state to adjust the measurement, and a condition identifier to identify a condition of the fluid flow control assembly based on the adjusted measurement.

In recent years, process control systems, like those used in chemical, petroleum, and/or other processes, have grown progressively more complex with the proliferation of field devices that include more processing power than their predecessors. Current generation process control systems include a greater number and variety of field devices or instruments for measuring and/or controlling different aspects of a process control environment. In addition to utilizing field devices to monitor and/or control core processes, field devices have been increasingly used for peripheral tasks such as prognostic health monitoring of fluid flow control assemblies such as pumps and valves.
Fluid flow control assemblies within the process control system may be in difficult environments such as areas with extreme vibration, high pressure, and/or wide temperature ranges that may cause accelerated failure. With the implementation of increasingly powerful field devices, process control systems can monitor the prognostic health of the fluid flow control assemblies in these difficult environments using a wide array of sensing devices. Monitoring field devices using the sensing devices coupled with peripheral algorithmic routines can be used to predict potential failures. By predicting potential failures, technicians are empowered to replace potentially faulty fluid flow control assemblies during periodic maintenance as opposed to halting operation of the system to replace the potentially faulty fluid flow control assemblies.

Methods and apparatus to multi-purpose an acoustic emission sensor


A scanning radio is provided having a plurality of the following elements: 1. a circuit to develop an output representative of the noise power contained in a demodulated signal at a present time; 2. a circuit to delay the output of (1) thereby generating an output representative of the noise power contained in the demodulated signal at a past time; 3. a comparison circuit to compare the output of (2) with the output of (1) to develop an output indicating decreasing noise power and therefore improving signal quality; 4. a comparison circuit to compare the output of (2) with the output of (1) to develop an output indicating increasing noise power and therefore degrading signal quality; 5. a comparison circuit to compare the output of (1) with a reference level to develop an output indicating noise power above/below a threshold and therefore signal strength below/above a corresponding threshold; 6. control processor responsive to outputs (3), (4), and (5) to control local oscillator generator; 7. control processor responsive to outputs (3) and (4) to control local oscillator generator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to scanning radio receivers and, more particularly, to scanning radio receivers particularly useful on the frequencies assigned to the Public Safety Radio Services as well as other frequencies.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Scanning radio receivers are well known in the prior art and have found particular utility for the reception of radio signals on the frequencies assigned by the United States Federal Communications Commission to the Public Safety Radio Services. In the past, many such radio receivers used crystals as the tuning element to provide the necessary local oscillator signals and required the presence of one crystal for each frequency the receiver was capable of tuning. Examples of such receivers are those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,531,724 to G. H. Fathauer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,665318 to S. J. Hoffman, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,714,585 to R. C. Koch, U.S. Pat. No. 3,725,788 to G. H. Fathauer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,925 to K. Imazeki, U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,914 to K. Imazeki, U.S. Pat. No. 3,821,651 to G. H. Fathauer, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,924 to G. H. Fathauer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,808 to J. E. Boone, U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,475 to P. W. Pflasterer, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,987,400 to G. H. Fathauer. There has also been provided by the prior art scanning radio receivers using frequency synthesizing techniques wherein the frequency synthesizing circuitry was controlled by the operation of a processing means such as a microprocessor. Exemplary radio receivers of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,962,644 and 4,092,594, both to W. Baker.
Scanning radio receivers making use of microprocessors to control the frequency synthesizing circuitry have many advantages over the scanning radio receivers known prior thereto. One of the foremost of these advantages is the very high degree of flexibility in control which may be included in such a radio. An example is the "search" mode of operation shown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,962,644 and 4,092,594 by which the radio may be successively and automatically tuned to adjacent ones of the Public Safety Radio Service frequencies until the receiver arrives at a frequency upon which a signal is received. Such operation was impractical with scanning radio receivers known prior thereto.
The search mode of operation described above, while being a very advantageous feature, has certain disadvantages and problems which had not been recognized and attacked and, as a result, improved systems have been developed. In particular, systems which embody certain improvements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,270,217, and 4,409,688, of which the applicant is inventor and U.S. Pat. No. 4,521,915 of which the applicant is co-inventor. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,688, circuitry is provided for reducing the time required to shift from one frequency to another in a searching or scanning operation. The features to which the claims of the aforesaid application are directed are thus highly advantageous to a receiver incorporating a search mode but they did not address certain other problems associated with rapid frequency scanning.
In particular, the time to search or scan any particular frequency in a receiver using a phase-locked-loop frequency synthesizer circuit was at least as long as the sum of three time periods: the time required for the controller or microprocessor to generate the control signals necessary to tune the receiver to the new frequency, the "settling time" for the phase-locked-loop to adjust itself and bring the local oscillator signal to the desired frequency, and the time needed for the receiver circuitry to reliably detect the presence or absence of a received signal above a minimum signal level at the new frequency. Any steps taken to reduce any of these three time periods can be of importance in materially shortening the time required to search a large number of frequencies. The reduction occurs each time a new frequency is tuned so that the shortening of the time required to search a number of frequencies is equal to the reduction in the time period required for any individual frequency multiplied by the number of frequencies searched. In a receiver constructed in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,688, a reduction in the time required to scan a particular frequency is achieved by overlapping the generation of the synthesizer control signals for the next frequency to be scanned with the phase-locked-loop settling time and the time required to detect the presence or absence of a received signal. The processor outputs a frequency code from a register and simultaneously synchronizes a timer and initiates the processing of data to supply a new code to the register. At the end of the time interval established by the timer, an interrupt signal is developed and if no indication is developed on a "signal present" line of the receiver the new code is immediately output to the synthesizer.
Any such additional reduction in time can be particularly advantageous in receivers such as the aforementioned which have the capability of searching all frequencies assigned to a particular service since in some cases, the number of frequencies assigned to a single service may be large. However, in shortening the time required to tune a receiver to a new frequency during the search or scan modes, it must be recognized that in some cases the user will use the receiver in a manual mode wherein he will either cause it to become tuned to either one of a plurality of preselected frequencies or to a frequency being newly specified by the user. Increasing the search or scan speeds should not be at the expense of eliminating the capability for operation of the receiver in the manual mode. Moreover, some scanning radio receivers include a priority operation wherein one receiver channel is assigned a priority status and the receiver automatically and periodically checks the frequency of that channel for the presence of a received signal and, if found, places the receiver on that channel. Any effort to shorten the scan or search time should not adversely affect the priority operation.

Multi channel scanning receiver with improved signal strength detecting circuitry


Syntax and semantic validation of network commands use a command database that has been learned automatically for validation of the syntax and the semantics of command line interface commands by interpreting the network commands as the network commands are entered to identify syntax errors or semantic errors before applying the same commands on a device of interest.

The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Typical devices used in packet-switched networks, such as routers and switches, provide a character-based command interface that is accessible through Telnet, Secure Shell (SSH) and serial port interfaces for changing the device status or configuration. Each configuration command has an associated syntax. A Network Management Station (NMS) can use configuration commands to provide a higher level or enhanced management capability to the network operator. For example, an NMS can implement a high-level operation, receive user input requesting the operation, automatically translate the requested operation into a set of configuration commands, and deliver the commands to the device over Telnet.
To operate in this manner, the NMS requires knowledge of the device configuration commands and the syntax of the commands.
One way of performing device configuration is to issue one or more configuration commands manually. In a large network consisting various kinds of devices, issuing manual commands is cumbersome and error-prone, as it is difficult for humans to remember the syntax and semantics associated with all commands for each kind of device and for each type of configuration. Further, each device on each interface or task may require different configuration commands and the semantics for each may vary. In addition, even in similar types of devices such as routers or switches different vendors may adopt different standards making the task even more complex.
Based on the foregoing, there is a clear need for improved approaches for configuring network devices.

Method and apparatus for configuration syntax and semantic validation


A coil electrode pattern is disposed on one surface of a plate consisting of a dielectric material. The coil electrode pattern is formed in a loop shape. An input/output terminal pattern and an earth terminal pattern are drawn out from the coil electrode pattern toward an end portion of the plate. The input/output terminal pattern and the earth terminal pattern are disposed at a distance from each other so as to provide a predetermined impedance. An earth electrode pattern is formed opposite the dielectric coil electrode pattern with the plate between them. An earth terminal pattern is formed to the earth electrode pattern. The earth terminal pattern of the earth electrode pattern is connected to the earth terminal pattern of the coil electrode pattern. A trimming electrode may be formed for adjusting the resonance frequency of the resonator optionally.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resonator for operation at several hundred MHz to several GHz used in a portable radio and the like, and particularly, it relates to a dielectric-laminate type resonator.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional resonators are divided roughly into the resonator using a strip line and the resonator using a coil pattern.
As the resonator using the strip line, there is a resonator of 1/2 wavelength whose line is open at opposite ends as shown in FIG. 34 and FIG. 35, and a resonator of 1/4 wavelength whose line is open at one end and short-circuited at the other end as shown in FIG. 36.
Meanwhile, as the resonator using the coil pattern, as shown in FIG. 37, there is the resonator in which a spiral-shaped coil pattern 201 and an earth pattern 203 are formed on both sides of a dielectric layer 202 which is clamped therebetween.
In the above-mentioned conventional resonators, however, such problems as shown hereinafter were encountered respectively.
1. resonator using the strip line
(a) A resonator having the resonance frequency of 2 to 3 GHz becomes substantially large. PA1 (b) In the resonator and the like, it is desirable to adjust the impedance depending on the apparatus into which it is incorporated (to adjust the matching of impedances of the resonator and an apparatus). However, in case of the strip-line type, since the impedance has a specific value for every strip line, it is impossible to adjust the matching even when the input/output position is changed.
That is, lengths L.sub.1, L.sub.2 of the strip line are determined as shown in Equation 1 (resonator of 1/2 wavelength) and Equation 2 (resonator of 1/4 wavelength). ##EQU1## where, .lambda.: wavelength, .epsilon.: dielectric constant of dielectric laminate sheet
Hereupon, at present, a dielectric constant of a dielectric laminate sheet which is capable of being fired simultaneously with silver or copper and has a good temperature characteristic can not be made so large, resulting in about .epsilon.=10. Thus, in the above Equations 1 and 2, when .epsilon.=10, L.sub.1 =15.8 mm and L.sub.2 =7.9 mm, which are very long, thus resulting in a large resonator.
2. resonator using the coil pattern
Since the coil pattern has a spiral shape, magnetic fluxes are influenced by one another between the adjoining patterns, thus an electric current flow is difficult to obtain. Therefore, a substantial resistance increases and the Q value becomes lower.
For example, in FIG. 37, since the electric current flows in the same direction (both in a direction A) in a first pattern piece 201a and a second pattern piece 201b, magnetic fields cancel each other to cause the magnetic fluxes to become coarse, and consequently an electric current flow is disturbed and the substantial resistance is increased.
The resonance frequency of the resonator is decided by the dimension of strip line or coil-pattern, so once the pattern is formed, the resonance frequency can not be adjusted. Therefore, when the dimension of the pattern is in error, the resonance frequency of the resonator is shifted from a predetermined value, resulting in an inferior product.


A system and method for producing product gas using residual waste liquor is described with a gasifier reactor having a fluidized bed located therein. The gasifier reactor is heated to a predetermined temperature range with either an external heater or a second fluidized bed located at a position below the first fluidized bed. A heat exchanger may be positioned in the first fluidized bed and/or the second fluidized bed for indirectly heating the respective fluidized beds. Condensing heat exchanger means recovers heat from the product gas and condenses an acid gas therefrom for recycling the chemicals. A reagent is sprayed in the condensing heat exchanger means to clean the product gas. Pressurization allows the cleaned product gas to be directly fired in a turbine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to fluidized bed gasification systems and in particular, to a new and useful self-contained system for gasifying a residual waste such as black liquor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the pulp and paper production industry, recovery processes are used to generate steam and to recover certain chemicals used in the pulping process.
A common method of chemical recovery used in the Kraft Paper Pulping Process starts with the concentrating of what is known as black liquor. Black liquor is that stream which results from the washing of the pulp after the wood has been digested by the cooking liquor. This stream is rich in valuable chemicals which are recovered to produce some of the basic cooking liquor employed in the digester. This liquor also contains organic material picked up in the digestion process of the prepared woods. In a chemical recovery furnace black liquor, concentrated to approximately 60-80 percent solids by weight, is sprayed or introduced into the bottom portion of the furnace where smelt is formed. The smelt which is deposited in the bottom part of the furnace can be hazardous. If leaks develop in the water tubes, the probability of an explosion from the contact of the water and smelt is quite high. The flowing smelt is drawn off and treated so as to reconstitute the cooking liquor for the digestion process.
Other approaches to gasifying black liquor include high temperature (>Tsmelt) entrained bed gasifiers and low temperature fluidized bed gasifiers. Some gasifiers directly input heat into the bed material itself, while others provide heat indirectly. Typically low temperature gasifiers provide heat input to the fluidized bed through the use of heat transfer surfaces such as heat exchanger tubes located in the bed material.
An integral part of gasification of fuels containing sulfur, especially black liquor gasification, is heat recovery and sulfur removal from the fuel (product) gas.
Gasification of black liquor is carried out by heating the liquor solids with a sub-stoichiometric amount of oxygen. The gasification products are a product gas stream rich in hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide and a stream of sodium salts. The sodium salts consist primarily of sodium carbonate with minor amounts of sodium-sulfur and potassium compounds. Most of the sulfur in black liquor is released to the gas phase as hydrogen sulfide in a low temperature gasifier.
Gasifier product gas temperature after typical conditioning, with a waste heat boiler or other heat trap, is 300F.-400F. Typical product gas scrubbing temperatures range from 100F.-180F. Thus, considerable sensible heat still exists in the product gas. Further, the product gas stream can contain considerable amounts of water vapor. When cooling to the required scrubbing temperature, considerable amount of latent heat is released.
The hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S) in the gasifier product gas must be removed to produce a clean fuel gas that is suitable to burn in an auxiliary boiler or a gas turbine. The H.sub.2 S can be absorbed in a sodium carbonate solution formed by dissolving the solid product from the gasifier. The product solution from the scrubbing process would be a "green liquor" similar to the conventional kraft recovery process green liquor that can be re-used in the pulping process.
It is believed that existing pulp mill chemical solutions can be used as H.sub.2 S absorbing solutions. Gases containing both H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 will react with sodium salt solutions. CO.sub.2 absorption is not desirable as sodium bicarbonate is formed which will increase causticizing chemical usage and lime kiln capacity. Reaction rate data is limited on H.sub.2 S/CO.sub.2 /Sodium salt solution scrubbing systems. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,617 issued Feb. 14, 1984 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,249 issued Oct. 7, 1969, limiting CO.sub.2 absorption is discussed. Preferential absorption of H.sub.2 S over CO.sub.2 is a function of gas velocity, scrubbing temperature, mass transfer device, solution retention time, and scrubbing solution chemistry.
Presently, there is a need for a system and method for gasifying residual waste liquor which produces a product gas with low to medium heating value, and provides a high conversion of carbon and which uses low external heat input. Also, for a device and a process for removing sensible and latent heat from the product gas and controlling the absorption process for selective H.sub.2 S absorption. This apparatus and method should operate at a temperature so as not to produce smelt. Preferably, the system would be self-contained and function as a stand-alone system to process a residual waste liquor and generate a product gas for boilers, kilns, diesel generators, or gas turbine. Additionally, it should be environmentally friendly.


The disclosure relates to a multi-part mold for aluminothermic welding without preheating of metal parts, said mold having internally employed a welding cavity and two rising channels with variable cross-sections along their height, the central part of welding cavity being located below with respect to the lateral parts of welding cavity, said welding cavity having an increased moment of inertia of cross-section and an increased height from the lower side of base portion of welding cavity to the neutral axis of welding cavity, said rising channels extending from a region lower than said base portion, said welding cavity and said rising channels being connected together through two connecting ducts extending from the lower side of base portion to the head portion of welding cavity, the invention further relating to a process of reaching the metal parts by the liquid steel first underneath the lower side of base, a process of creating a liquid bath of constant height in an early stage of pouring operation and to a process of entirely eliminating of gases from said welding cavity, employing a weld with a ratio of the moment of fatigue of base by the moment of fatigue of head between 0.8 to 1.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus and process for aluminothermic welding without preheating of metal parts, with rising channels and central part of welding cavity controlling such process and with ventilating means for entirely eliminating of gases.
2. Prior Art
In aluminothermic welding without preheating of two or more identical or similar metal parts of variable cross-sections, such as rails, aligned in an end-to-end relation, several methods are known in which the amount of heat required to weld the rail ends is supplied solely by the liquid steel aluminothermically produced.
However, no method is known in which the stress applied to the weld head is decreased by increasing the moment of inertia of cross-section of weld and by increasing the height between the weld base and the neutral axis of weld while the moment of fatigue of weld base and the moment of fatigue of weld head are so balanced as to obtain an increase of the endurance of the resulted weld.
At the same time, a single method is known in which the area of the cross-section of a rising channel varies along said channel in such a manner that areas in the longitudinal section of different portions of a channel are proportional to areas of corresponding portions of rail.
In one such process and apparatus, described in Romania Pat. No. 80,214, the rail ends are positioned with a gap therebetween and enclosed in a welding mold, which contains stepped rising channels, connecting gates and ventilating ducts. After a casting crucible is manually tapped, a single liquid stream flows into the welding cavity centrally through the gap and fills the welding cavity and the rising channels. However, this method is subject to several disadvantages. Because the two cores used in employing the rising channels are in an interdependent relation, the rising channels are not sufficiently large in the region of rail head, and the rail head would not be properly melted. Also, technical difficulties are encountered when the stepped rising channels are to be employed with inter-dependent cores. This method requires large spaces around metal parts for eliminating of gases from the base portion and the web portion of welding cavity during the pouring operation, such that this method does not employ a weld without rib and further finishing in the region of weld web is required.
No such welding apparatus and method without preheating of rails is known in which the space around the metal parts in the region of web portion of the welding cavity is sufficiently narrow, such that a weld without rib on the sides of weld web is not employed without further finishing in the region of weld.

Apparatus and process for aluminothermic welding


A current conveyor for readout of a magnetic tunneling junction memory cell is coupled to a data readout line connected to at least one MTJ memory cell. The current conveyor includes a FET with a source terminal coupled to a current source and a drain terminal coupled to the data readout line. The gate terminal of the FET is connected to an output terminal of an operational amplifier connected to receive negative feedback from the data readout line and to receive a bias voltage on a second input terminal. The current conveyor has very low input impedance so that minimum data readout line swing is achieved.

Thin film Magnetic Random Access Memories (MRAMs) can be fabricated in a variety of memory cell embodiments, including a Magnetic Tunneling Junction (MTJ) cell. The MTJ cell essentially consists of a pair of magnetic layers with an insulating layer sandwiched therebetween. One of the magnetic layers has a fixed magnetic vector and the other magnetic layer has a changeable magnetic vector that is either aligned with or opposed to the fixed magnetic vector. When the magnetic vectors are aligned the resistance of the MTJ cell, i.e. the resistance to current flow between the magnetic layers, is a minimum and when the magnetic vectors are opposed or misaligned the resistance of the MTJ cell is a maximum.
Data is stored in the MTJ cell by applying a magnetic field to the MTJ cell directed so as to move the changeable magnetic vector to a selected orientation. Generally, the aligned orientation can be designated a logic 1 or 0 and the misaligned orientation is the opposite, i.e., a logic 0 or 1. Stored data is read or sensed by passing a current through the MTJ cell from one magnetic layer to the other. The amount of current passing through the MTJ cell, or the voltage drop across the MTJ cell, will vary according to the orientation of the changeable magnetic vector. Additional information as to the fabrication and operation of MTJ memory cells can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,831, entitled "Multi-Layer Magnetic Tunneling Junction Memory Cells", issued Mar. 31, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference.
In the prior art, reading data stored in MTJ cells is achieved by passing a current through a series circuit including a load resistor and the MTJ cell. The current passing through the MTJ cell is controlled by a transistor with a bias voltage on the gate, and an output voltage is obtained at a junction between the load resistor and the current controlling transistor. Also, a bitline and a data line for the MTJ cell (and other MTJ cells in the array) are clamped at a desired voltage by the transistor. There are several major problems with this type of data readout including the fact that the load resistor must be much larger than the resistance of the MTJ cell, which makes operation at low supply voltages very difficult. Also, the operation of the circuit is dependent upon the clamping voltage provided by the transistor and the bias voltage. However, the clamping voltage is a function of the resistance of the MTJ cell, the bias voltage, and the load resistance, any or all of which can vary with a specific readout process, variations in the supply voltage, changes in temperature, changes in the resistance of the MTJ cell, etc. Also, the large load resistance and the other components in this prior art circuit require large chip areas preventing the fabrication of high density memory arrays. Also, the input impedance is high due to the presence of the load resistor.
Accordingly it is highly desirable to provide apparatus and a method of reading or sensing MTJ memory cells which overcomes these problems.

Current conveyor and method for readout of MTJ memories


A server system suitable for processing transactions includes transaction processing means to process requests issued by client systems. A transaction profiler records information regarding transactions processed by the server. Profiled transactions are selected for inclusion in a cumulative database according to a selection criteria. The transaction processor may be an HTTP server, a file server, or a database server. The profiler may be enabled by the processing means just before processing a request and disabled upon completion. In one embodiment, the transaction profiler is configured to calculate a transaction response time as the difference between the time the transaction processing means enables the profiling means and the time the transaction processing means disables the profiling means. In this embodiment, the selection criteria includes a minimum transaction response time wherein only transaction profiles indicating a response time in excess of the minimum transaction time are included in the cumulative database.

1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention is in the field of data processing systems, and more particularly in data processing systems that are extensively used to process transactions.
2. History of Related Art
Many data processing applications can be characterized as transaction processing applications. A conventional web server, for example, services transactions in the form of HTTP requests. The server detects and receives requests, takes appropriate action to respond to received requests, and returns some form of response to the requestor. Other transaction processing applications include data base servers and file servers.
In the context of data processing applications, monitoring the performance or efficiency of transaction processing applications is desirable to detect problems that may prevent transactions from being processed in a timely fashion. Typically, transaction monitoring is achieved by aggregating statistics for a large number of transactions and then averaging the statistics based on the collected data to determine, for example, the response time of a typical transaction. This form of monitoring is not suitable, however, in cases where the number of transactions "of interest" from a performance perspective is relatively small. In such cases, the relatively large number of uninteresting transactions may tend to skew the data such that any meaningful information regarding interesting transactions is obscured or lost. It would be desirable to implement a system and method for monitoring the performance of a transaction processing application in a way that enabled the user to focus on transactions of most interest, such as transactions that take a very long time to complete, even if the number of such transactions is relatively small.

Selective profiler for use with transaction processing applications

International Business Machines Corporation


A process for removing ozone from an ozone-containing gas which comprises treating the gas with a molded product obtained by the following steps,. (a) wet-blending powdery or particulate activated carbon and zeolite in the presence of an organic binder and/or an inorganic binder, PA1 (b) molding the resulting blend, PA1 (c) drying the molded product, and PA1 (d) calcining the molded product at a temperature at. which the network structure of the zeolite is not broken is disclosed.

This invention relates to a process for removing ozone from an ozone-containing gas which comprises treating the gas with a calcined molding product composed of activated carbon-zeolite mixture.
Ozone is a gas which has a strong oxidative action. So, ozone is widely used in oxidizing step for removing noxious material and smell component, and in decoloring. Ozone is also used in tertiary treatment of wastes. However, since ozone is noxious to a living body, it is necessary to make ozone-containing waste gas innoxious after use of ozone. When an ozone-containing waste gas is directly discharged into the atmosphere, oxidant generated through photochemical reaction acts to cause secondary environmental pollution. So, it is necessary to remove ozone from an ozone-containing waste gas from the view point of preventation of environmental pollution, until the ozone content of the gas is below the upper limit by government regulations.
Numerous attempts have been made to decompose ozone present in an ozone-containing waste gas. The following prior art processes have been carried out:
(a) a process for decomposing the ozone through heat or light, PA1 (c) a process for decomposing the ozone using a catalyst.
(b) a process for decomposing the ozone through chemical reaction using a reductant, such as potassium iodide, and
The conventional process for decomposing ozone uses activated carbon as a catalyst. Processes for decomposing ozone using a metal compound-carrying activated carbon, and using graphite or carbon black in place of activated carbon have been attempted. Also combinations of (c) and (a), or (c) and (b) of the above processes have been attempted.
In the process for decomposing ozone using a catalyst, the following chemical reaction occur: EQU C+O.sub.3 .fwdarw.CO+O.sub.2 (i) EQU C+O.sub.3 .fwdarw.CO.sub.2 +1/2O.sub.2 (ii)
In the prior process for decomposing ozone using activated carbon, activated carbon is converted to carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. When the above reactions (i) and (ii) are carried out, the temperature of the catalyst bed is raised through heat of the reaction. This is undesirable. For example, when waste gas having a high ozone content is treated with only an activated carbon bed, the above chemical reactions proceed vigorously, whereby the temperature of the catalyst bed is rapidly raised. Therefore, the catalyst bed catches fire, and in the worst case, explosion of the bed may occur.
When activated carbon is used for decomposing ozone, the activated carbon is formed into pellet shape, tablet shape or particulate shape, and the molded activated carbon is charged into a column. However, in this case, according as the use of the molded activated carbon is continued, the activated carbon is gradually consumed whereby the mass becomes smaller one. Therefore, it is made difficult to pass an ozone-containing gas through the activated carbon bed.

Process for removing ozone from an ozone-containing gas


A backpack includes a bag having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side and at least one inner compartment defined within. At least one connector is operable to open and close an opening to the inner compartment of the bag. The backpack further includes at least one shoulder strap coupled to the bag and disposed over the back of the bag. A portable computer, including a processor, a memory, and a display screen, is attached to the front of the bag.

The present invention relates to a backpack and, more particularly, to a gaming and advertisement backpack.
There are a lot of gamers that play games on their portable computer, such as a smart phone or tablet. Sometimes it is hard to hold the for a long period of time with your hands. The user may also hurt their necks by looking down at the game for too long. The screens of smart phones are also small and some users want to play on a bigger screen, such as a tablet, but as mentioned above, tablets are large and difficult to hold for a long period of time.
Additionally, some users want to showcase there projects or business while on the go but don't have the means to do so.
As can be seen, there is a need for a gaming and advertisement backpack.


The invention is directed to compositions comprising at least one agricultural biomass, at least one nitrogen source, at least one organic acid and at least one active agent wherein the agricultural biomass is impregnated with about 5% wt to about 45% wt of the active agent. Methods of their preparation and methods of use are also described. The composition effectively reduces the leaching of, and facilitates the metering of, loaded active agents for plant protection.

The challenge in agrochemistry or other large scale field applications of chemicals or active agents such as, for example, pesticides, herbicides, bacteriocides, nematicide and fungicides is to find ways of achieving control of the target organism while limiting the amount of the xenobiotic substance that is loaded into and is free-moving in the ecosystem by leaching or by aerosol drift. The amount of such chemical that is required is a function of their potency, the ability to place the chemical selectively and their susceptibility to removal either via destruction in the environment (metabolism, photolysis, etc.) or loss (leaching, drift). Unfortunately, environmentally desirable properties such as facile biodegradation or other loss may result in a need for frequent re-application and thus an increase in the load on the environment. Although there has been dramatic progress in identifying more potent active agents for use in pest control there has been rather less success in controlling the application or placing of these chemicals in such a way as to limit losses and maximize efficacy.
When a chemical is applied to soil, it does not always stay put. Chemicals follow any number of pathways. They can enter plants, insects, and other living organisms. They can volatilize, which means they change into a gas. They can be broken down by sunlight, microorganisms, or chemical reactions with water, and they can chemically attach to soil and organic particles. They can also remain in a dissolved form, and then leach with water through the soil, sometimes winding up in groundwater. The fate of mobile chemicals, however, can be thought of as a race between the various degradation processes and leaching to groundwater. Leaching is the movement of contaminants, such as water-soluble pesticides or fertilizers, carried by water downward through permeable soils. Generally speaking, most pesticides adsorb to soil particles (especially clay), become immobile, and do not leach. The fate of mobile pesticides, however, can be thought of as a race between the various degradation processes and leaching to groundwater. In contrast to surface water, groundwater does not continually dilute the contaminants that reach it. Flushing a plume of contamination from groundwater may take many years. The cold temperatures, limited microbiological activity, lack of sunlight and low oxygen levels that are found deep beneath the soil surface, slow chemical breakdown. The result is that there is very little, if any, breakdown of chemicals once they reach an aquifer.
As mentioned above, chemicals often do not reach their intended target but are transported to groundwater and surface waters. There is a need in the art for improved retention and release (controlled application) of active agents for agriculture in a manner that reduces loss of actives to leaching. The invention is directed to these, as well as other, important ends.

Agricultural biomass as a matrix for release of plant active compounds


A finger mechanism includes a base portion and a plurality of finger portions supported by the base portion, wherein each of the finger portions includes a first bone member, a second bone member rotatably coupled to one end portion of the first bone member, and a pair of third bone members each being rotatably coupled to another end portion of the first bone member and the base portion, and forming a parallel link mechanism between the first bone member and the base portion.

In recent years, robot hands that mimic the function of human hands for grasping an object to perform some work on it and an industrial robot with robot hands have been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-32140, No. 2011-245575, No. 2015-221469, No. 2011-67936 and No. 2004-42214).
However, conventional robot hands and industrial robots with robot hands are structured so as to open the fingertip when grasping an object or when releasing the grasped object, which makes it difficult to store multiple objects in intimate contact with one another inside a packing box.

Finger mechanism, robot hand and robot hand controlling method


The present invention relates to the treatment of particular filteraids to reduce the beverage soluble iron. In the method of the invention, a particulate filteraid, such as diatomite, is contacted with an aqueous solution of particular chelating agents. The process is applicable to treatment of loose filter media and is also applicable to the treatment of filter media in filter sheets. Lowering the pH during the time that the filter media is being contacted by the chelating agent produces an optimum affect.

The processing of beverages, such as beer, ale, wine and fruit juices, require clarification steps which involve passing the beverage through filter media. Beds of loose diatomaceous earth and perlite are often used. Filter sheets incorporating diatomaceous earth or perlite with sheet-forming fibers, such as cellulose, are also commonly used. These filter media contain small amounts of various minerals and compounds, among which are iron compounds. A certain portion of the iron content of the filter media is soluble in the beverages which are treated. The portion of the iron which is soluble is referred to in the beverage industry as "beverage soluble iron" (often abbreviated "BSI"). The presence of high levels of BSI dissolved in the beverages is deleterious to the taste and long term stability of the beverages. Consequently, it is desirable to have a filter media which is low in BSI content and which retains desirable filtration and clarification properties.
There are various known processes for reducing the BSI content of filter media, particularly diatomaceous earth or diatomite. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,857 to Bradley discloses a low beverage soluble iron content filteraid, especially diatomite, which is produced by a method which comprises contacting a granular filteraid with tannic acid, gallic acid or mixtures thereof, preferably in aqueous solution. Also discussed in the Bradley patent is an attempt to use other contacting fluids to determine if there were other materials equivalent to tannic and gallic acids. In particular, water, starch, sucrose, monobasic sodium phosphate, tartaric acid, gluconic acid, salicylic acid, and the sodium salt of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid were all tried. It is indicated that the organic acids tried in this group produced only insignificant reduction in BSI. It is also indicated that the remaining materials are able to reduce the BSI by larger amounts than the organic acids, but require longer time periods (often ten days to two weeks) to reach the BSI reduction levels obtained with tannic and gallic acid in a matter of minutes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,174 to Nielsen et al. describes a method for treating diatomaceous earth filteraids having a beer soluble iron content of less than about 0.01 percent to further reduce the beer soluble iron content. In the method, the filteraids are maintained in contact with a relatively small volume of an aqueous solution of an acid. The acid solution is added to the diatomaceous earth filteraids at a level of less than about 15 percent by weight, based on the weight of the dry filteraids, which is sufficient, but not in excess to wet the filteraid uniformly. After a period of time, it is indicated that the beer-soluble iron content of the filteraid is reduced by about 30 percent.
Various other acid treatment processes for reducing the beverage soluble iron content of diatomaceous earth are known, such as are described in U.S. Pat. No. 665,652 to Enzinger, U.S. Pat. No. 2,701,240 to Bregar and U.S. Pat. No. 1,992,647 to Schuetz. The prior art methods, however, fail to reduce the beverage soluble content in filteraids to the extremely low levels particularly required in the brewing industry. Further, the known methods involve a lengthy time period for processing or require a complicated or expensive procedure.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to reduce beverage soluble iron in filteraids to an extremely low level.
It is a further object to reduce the beverage soluble iron in diatomaceous earth filteraids by a method employing particular chelating agents.

Method of reducing the iron content in beverages utilizing a particulate filteraid with a polydentate ligand


Adaptive controller apparatus of a robot may be implemented. The controller may be operated in accordance with a reinforcement learning process. A trainer may observe movements of the robot and provide reinforcement signals to the controller via a remote clicker. The reinforcement may comprise one or more degrees of positive and/or negative reinforcement. Based on the reinforcement signal, the controller may adjust instantaneous cost and to modify controller implementation accordingly. Training via reinforcement combined with particular cost evaluations may enable the robot to move more like an animal.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to robotic learning and training of robotic devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Robotic control systems exist. Typically, these systems may comprise a controller apparatus configured to control a plant. The plant may include, for example, a robotic arm. The controller may receive an input signal, and may generate a control signal. The plant may provide a feedback signal to the controller.
In some instances, the controller may receive one or more physical inputs, which may individually comprise continuous (e.g., analog) and/or discrete (e.g., digital) signals describing various variables. Examples of such various variables may include one or more of temperature, voltage, current, orientation, position, plant state, and/or other signals.
Programming the controller to enable a robot to perform complex functions (e.g., approaching objects, perform bi-pedal motions, identify and grasp objects, approach targets while avoiding obstacles, and/or other functions) may be not straightforward. For example, the programming may become a daunting task, particularly when the environment and/or characteristics of the robot (e.g., replaceable limb) may vary between the time of programming and the time of operation.