A relay wireless device is subject to a handoff procedure based on a signal strength and other features of a plurality of neighbor access nodes that are within range of the relay wireless device, and based on their ability to provide services to end-user wireless devices via the relay wireless device. A first access node obtains a plurality of features of the neighbor access nodes to enable determination of an optimal donor access node to provide services to the end-user devices via the relay wireless device. The first access node may obtain the features directly from each neighbor access node or by communicating with an EMS server. The features of the neighbor access nodes include loading information for each node. The loading information may be matched to the requirements of the relay wireless device.

As wireless networks evolve and grow, there are ongoing challenges in providing high-quality service to increasing numbers wireless devices or user equipment (UE) in various coverage areas of a wireless network. One approach to improving service quality and coverage is to designate a wireless device as a relay node, or "relay wireless device," for relaying communication between a base station or donor access node, and an end-user wireless device. Relay wireless devices may be used at the edge of a coverage area of a donor access node to improve coverage and/or service, as well as in crowded areas having a high number of end-user wireless devices to increase the available throughput to the end-user wireless devices being relayed. However, relay wireless devices may be limited in their ability to effectively service end-user wireless devices that are attached to it, particularly if the resources are limited from the donor access node providing the service.


Two speakers are mounted on an engine air induction system to broadcast respective pressure waves into the induction system. One speaker is near the junction of a runner and a plenum. The other is near the outside air intake. Both speakers are driven by electronic circuitry. The one speaker is driven to introduce a pressure wave that reinforces the portion of a pressure wave from an engine cylinder that is reflected back toward the cylinder by the impedance change that exists at the runner/plenum junction, thereby augmenting the charge introduced into the cylinder. The other speaker is driven to cancel the combined pressure waves that travel toward the air intake and is itself sufficiently close to the air intake that the pressure wave that it emits through the air intake has substantially less energy content than would be the case if such cancellation were not conducted.

From equations that characterize the tuning of an intake manifold, a fixed length runner will provide tuning only at one engine speed. Variable length runner control will result in a limited number of different tuning peaks.
The present invention relates to a new and unique means for obtaining broadband tuning thereby improving upon engine performance curves. The invention utilizes certain known electronics technology relating to active noise control.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,470 discloses an electronically tuned intake manifold. In certain respects the present invention may by considered to be an improvement upon that patent.
Briefly, the present invention comprises the use of at least two speakers that broadcast into the air induction system at different locations. The purpose of one speaker is to introduce a pressure wave that reinforces that portion of a pressure wave emanating from an engine cylinder which is reflected back through a runner extending between the cylinder and a plenum.
Further features, advantages, and benefits of the invention will be seen in the ensuing description and claims which should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings disclose a presently preferred embodiment of the invention according to the best mode contemplated at this time for carrying out the invention.

Engine intake manifold tuning by active noise control


A video signal is supplied from an emitter coupled differential amplifier to a first grid electrode of a cathode ray tube. A blanking pulse signal is supplied to the base of a transistor, which constitutes a constant-current source for the differential amplifier, to put the transistor into an on-state to obtain a voltage of a blanking level to apply blanking. Since the transistor is controlled by a switching control to apply blanking, a transistor of a high voltage-resisting property is not required, and the power loss is reduced. The differential amplifier operates stably and does not deteriorate the frequency characteristic or the response characteristic.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a drive circuit for a cathode ray tube, and more particularly to a drive circuit for driving a cathode ray tube in response to a video signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A flat type cathode ray tube wherein the fluorescent screen is formed in an inclined relationship at a comparatively small angle with respect to the center axis of the electron gun is conventionally known. FIG. 1 shows a drive system for such flat type cathode ray tube.
Referring to FIG. 1, the flat type cathode ray tube is generally denoted at 1 and includes a cathode electrode K, a first grid electrode G1, a second grid electrode G2 serving as an acceleration electrode, a third grid electrode G3 serving as a focusing electrode, and a fluorescent screen 2. A high voltage HV, which is obtained by rectifying a pulse voltage outputted from a flyback transformer, is applied to the fluorescent screen 2.
A directly heated electrode which operates with a low power and has a short rise time is adopted for the cathode electrode K as different from an indirectly heated electrode which is adopted in popular cathode ray tubes. A pulse voltage from the flyback transformer is supplied as a heater voltage 3 to the cathode electrode K in order to effect so-called pulse ignition.
In this instance, since a winding of the flyback transformer is connected to the cathode electrode K, the floating capacitance of the cathode electrode K increases, and where a cathode driving system wherein a video signal is applied to the cathode electrode K is adopted, the power loss of a video circuit increases. In particular, in order to enhance the frequency characteristic, the impedance of the output stage of the video circuit must necessarily be reduced so that the influence of the floating capacitance can be ignored, and to this end, an emitter follower configuration or a like configuration is adopted. However, this results in increase of the power loss of the video circuit.
Therefore, a first grid electrode driving system wherein a video signal is applied to the first grid electrode G1 which has a comparatively low floating capacitance is adopted. In particular, an NPN transistor 4 constituting a video amplifier is provided in the flat type cathode ray tube 1, and a video signal SV is supplied from a terminal 5 to the base of the transistor 4. The emitter of the transistor 4 is grounded by way of a parallel circuit of a resistor 6 and a capacitor 7, and the collector of the transistor 4 is connected to a power source terminal +B (for example, 50 V) by way of another resistor 8. A video signal obtained at a junction between the collector of the transistor 4 and the resistor 8 is applied to the first grid electrode G1 of the cathode ray tube 1 by way of a capacitor 9.
Meanwhile, a voltage source +B1 (for example, 900 V) is grounded by way of a series circuit of a variable resistor 10 for focusing, another variable resistor 11 for cutoff adjustment and a resistor 12. A voltage obtained at the movable terminal of the variable resistor 10 is applied to the third grid electrode G3 of the cathode ray tube 1 by way of a resistor 13. The movable terminal of the variable resistor 11 is grounded by way of a capacitor 14, and a voltage obtained at a junction between the movable terminal and the capacitor 14 is applied to the second grid electrode G2 of the cathode ray tube 1.
On the other hand, another voltage source +B2 (for example, 140 V) is grounded by way of a semi-fixed resistor 15 for sub-brightness adjustment, a resistor 16, a variable resistor 17 for brightness adjustment and another resistor 18 which constitutes a constant-current circuit. A voltage obtained at the movable terminal of the variable resistor 17 is applied to the cathode electrode K by way of a resistor 19.
Cutoff adjustment of the cathode ray tube 1 is performed by varying the voltages to be applied to the second grid electrode G2 and the cathode electrode K. In particular, the voltage to be applied to the second grid electrode G2 is varied by means of the variable resistor 11 to determine the cutoff voltage of the cathode ray tube 1, and the voltage to be applied to the cathode electrode K is varied by means of the semi-fixed resistor 15 to determine the sub-brightness of the cathode ray tube 1.
Since the voltage to be applied to the cathode ray tube 1 is varied by the sub-brightness adjustment performed by way of the semi-fixed resistor 15 or the brightness adjustment performed by way of the variable resistor 17 in this manner, the resistance value of the resistor 19 is set to a comparatively high value such as, for example, 100 K.OMEGA.. However, since a beam current which increases in proportion to the video signal flows into the cathode electrode K as well known in the art, the circuit impedance must be low. To this end, the cathode electrode K of the cathode ray tube 1 is grounded by way of the capacitor 20 to lower the ac impedance.
The flat type cathode ray tube 1 further includes a terminal 21 to which a horizontal blanking pulse signal HBLK is supplied and another terminal 22 to which a vertical blanking pulse signal VBLK is supplied. The terminal 21 is connected to the base of the NPN transistor 28 by way of a resistor 23 and a diode 24. The terminal 22 is connected to the base of the transistor 25 by way of another resistor 26. The base of the transistor 28 is grounded by way of a further resistor 27 and the emitter of the transistor 25 is grounded while the collector of the transistor 25 is connected to a junction between the transistor 4 and the resistor 8 by way of a still further resistor 28.
Since blanking pulse (positive pulse) signals HBLK and VBLK are supplied to the terminals 21 and 22 for horizontal and vertical blanking periods. respectively, the transistor 25 is turned on. Consequently, the voltage at the junction between the transistor 4 and the resistor 8 is reduced substantially to 0 V, and consequently, a blanking operation is performed.
In the flat type cathode ray tube described above, the voltage at the power source terminal +B is high, and consequently, the transistor 25 constituting the blanking circuit must have a high voltage-resisting property. Further, since a comparatively high current flows through the transistor 25 for an on-period of the transistor 25, the power loss increases. Further, since the blanking circuit is added as a floating capacitance for a video period which is an off-period of the transistor 25, the frequency characteristic is deteriorated. Furthermore, the flat type cathode ray tube 1 has a time constant provided by the capacitor 9 and the resistor 28 for coupling to the first grid electrode G1 and operates at a very high speed when the transistor 25 is on, but when the transistor 25 is off, since charging occurs at another time constant provided by the resistor 8 and the capacitor 9, the operation is low and the response characteristic to a video signal is deteriorated.
Further, in order to effect cutoff adjustment, the voltage to be applied to the second grid electrode G2 is varied by way of the variable resistor 11 to determine the cutoff voltage of the cathode ray tube 1, and the voltage to be applied to the cathode electrode is varied by means of the semi-fixed resistor 15 to determine the sub-brightness. Consequently, there is a problem in that the number of steps for the adjustment is great.
Further, in order to effect cutoff adjustment, the voltage to be applied to the cathode electrode K is varied, and to this end, the resistance of the resistor 19 is set to a high value. Therefore, the cathode electrode K is grounded by way of the capacitor 20 to lower the ac impedance. Consequently, there is another problem in that the number of components is great and the cost is high accordingly.
Further, in order to effect cutoff adjustment, the voltage to be applied to the second grid electrode G2 is varied, and accordingly, the resolution may possibly be deteriorated by such cutoff adjustment.


A method for providing features in an etch layer is provided by forming an organic mask layer over the inorganic mask layer, forming a silicon-containing mask layer over the organic mask layer, forming a patterned mask layer over the silicon-containing mask layer, etching the silicon-containing mask layer through the patterned mask, depositing a polymer over the etched silicon-containing mask layer, depositing a silicon-containing film over the polymer, planarizing the silicon-containing film, selectively removing the polymer leaving the silicon-containing film, etching the organic layer, and etching the inorganic layer.

The present invention relates to the formation of semiconductor devices.
During semiconductor wafer processing, features of the semiconductor device are defined in the wafer using well-known patterning and etching processes. In these processes, a photoresist (PR) material is deposited on the wafer and then is exposed to light filtered by a reticle. The reticle is generally a glass plate that is patterned with exemplary feature geometries that block light from propagating through the reticle.
After passing through the reticle, the light contacts the surface of the photoresist material. The light changes the chemical composition of the photoresist material such that a developer can remove a portion of the photoresist material. In the case of positive photoresist materials, the exposed regions are removed, and in the case of negative photoresist materials, the unexposed regions are removed. Thereafter, the wafer is etched to remove the underlying material from the areas that are no longer protected by the photoresist material, and thereby define the desired features in the wafer.
Various generations of photoresist are known. The photoresist patterns have a critical dimension (CD), which may be the width of the smallest feature. The CD uniformity in ultra large scale integrated circuits (ULSI) is a crucial parameter for high performance devices. The CD uniformity in the gate electrode, for example, affects the threshold voltage distribution and the overall yield of the devices. As the design rules of ULSI reduced, the roughness of the edges of the lines (Line Width Roughness: LWR) of linear features patterned by photolithography becomes worse. The LWR is a measure of how smooth the edge of a linear feature is when viewed from the top down. The ideal feature has an edge that is "straight like a ruler". However, for various reasons the line feature may sometimes instead appear jagged. Jagged lines (i.e., with a high LWR) are generally very undesirable because the CD measured along the liner feature would vary from position to position, rendering operation of the resulting device unreliable.

Double mask self-aligned double patterning technology (SADPT) process


The invention relates to a device for measuring the length of the hair and/or the portions of the face of an individual being examined. In order to enable precise and reproducible measurement, the invention provides a support that can be placed on the head of a person and having a flexible measuring element disposed in the area of the top or crown of the head. Said support consists of two flexible support brackets (10, 12) disposed perpendicularly relative to each other, on the crossing. point (16) of which the measuring element (14) preferably in the form of a measuring tape is attached in a freely rotational manner.

Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a device for measuring the length and the hair and/or the facial proportions of a person being examined.
Research has shown that the proportions of the face and the body of a subject harmonize particularly well with certain lengths of hair, while other hair lengths achieve an unproportioned impression. A barber or stylist has had in the past to rely on his intuition when working with hair, in order to create for the respective xe2x80x9ctypexe2x80x9d of subject the appropriate hair cut.
The task of the invention is thus comprised of providing a device with which the length of the hair and the facial proportions of a subject can be determined precisely and reproducibly.
The invention is based above all on the idea, that the length of the hair and the facial proportions can be particularly precisely and reproducibly measured when the measurement begins starting from a predefined reference point. In accordance with the invention there is thus provided a support that can be placed on the top of the head of a person, the support having a flexible measuring element disposed in the area of the top or crown of the head. The support is comprised preferably of a first frame piece extending essentially in the longitudinal direction of the head, and a second frame piece oriented perpendicularly to the first frame piece and comprised of an elastic material, the frame pieces crossing each other at the height of the crown of the head. In order to make possible a comfortable seating of the support upon the head, the frame pieces should conform to the contour of the head.
The first frame piece extending in the longitudinal direction of the head preferably extends from the nape of the neck to the forehead, while the second frame piece oriented perpendicularly thereto ends on the sides of the head above the ears. The measuring element is preferably provided at the crossing points of the frame pieces.
The hair length and the facial proportions of the subject can be determined in particularly and precise manner, when the measuring device is a measuring band preferably with centimeter and/or millimeter gradations.
The support is preferably comprised of shaped plastic or metal strips, which are connected to each other via an adhesive or rivet connection. In order to make possible the measurement in any desired direction, the measuring element should be secured freely rotatable around the vertical axis o the support.


A disconnection detecting device includes a confirmation signal outputting module configured to cause a transmission sound signal to be outputted from a signal processing unit, and a detector. The transmission sound signal includes a confirmation signal having a frequency that differs from a frequency band for use in communicating information contained in the transmission sound signal that is sent from the signal processing unit to a communication unit. The detector is configured to detect whether or not a disconnection is occurring in connection wires based on the transmission sound signal including the confirmation signal that is returned from the communication unit to the signal processing unit via the connection wires.

The present invention relates to a disconnection detecting device, a signal processing unit and a disconnection detection method.
Conventionally, there are notification systems that inform of emergency. In these notification systems, for example, a communication unit and a signal processing unit are connected via connection wires. Although a transmission line from the signal processing unit to the communication unit is normal, in a case where a reception line from the communication unit to the signal processing unit is abnormal, emergency information cannot be received normally by the signal processing unit, whereby signal processing cannot be executed in the signal processing unit at a later stage.
Incidentally, for example, Patent Literature 1 describes a detection method as a method for detecting abnormality in such a notification system. In a notification system for informing of emergency described in Patent Literature 1, a predetermined sound signal in an audible frequency band is emitted from a speaker as an activation message when the system is activated to inform a user of the activation of the system, and a loop-back signal that is a signal resulting from inputting the emitted predetermined sound signal through a microphone is detected and analyzed, to thereby diagnose the abnormality of the emergency notification system.
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 3775233

Disconnection detecting device, signal processing unit and disconnection detection method


A memory arrangement and method to arrange memories are disclosed. The memory arrangement comprises at least two memory chips (M1, M2) arranged on a Printed Circuit Board, PCB. A first memory chip (M1) is arranged on a first surface of the PCB, a second memory chip (M2) is arranged on a second surface of the PCB. The second memory chip (M2) is placed back to back to the first memory chip (M1) and oriented such that respective pins having the same function on the first memory chip (M1) and the second memory chip (M2) are placed opposite to each other and connected by vias to respective signal traces arranged between the first and second surfaces of the PCB.

When designing a PCB, one problem is how to route all connecting lines, and one particular problem arises when connecting a Central Processing Unit (CPU) to a memory chip. The memory chip is generally symmetric and has a plurality of pins. Each pin of the memory chip has to be connected to the CPU. Due to timing requirements, the connecting lines group wise or pairwise have to have identical length, and this is often done by using a T-branch topology. FIG. 1 shows PCB layout examples for a symmetrical and an asymmetrical T-branch topology. One disadvantage with the T-branch topology is that additional stubs and stubs length increase command and address line run lengths as well as data and strobe bus lengths. This will inhibit the speed at which signals are effectively transferred. More specifically, as address lines and data buses lengthen, transmission line effects increase which limits effective signal speeds. Furthermore, when more and more memory chips are used, and with many pins on each memory chip, it is a challenge to fit all connecting lines in a limited area of the PCB.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,892, a method for doubling the density of Random Access Memory (RAM) chips without significantly increasing the signal trace length is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 2 of the present disclosure, a RAM chip 65 is mounted to a double sided circuit board 66 with a mirror image RAM chip 67 mounted on the other side. The RAM chip 65 is identical to the mirror image RAM chip 67 except that the leads of the RAM chip are mirror images of the leads of the mirror image RAM chip. That is to say, in this example, looking from the top of the chips, the front left pin 68 of the RAM chip 65 serves the same electrical function as the front right pin 69 of the mirror image RAM chip 67. The RAM chip 65 and its mirror image RAM chip 67 are mounted opposite each other on the circuit board 66 in such a manner that the front left pin 68 of the RAM chip 65 is connected electrically to the front right pin 69 of the mirror image RAM chip 67 through the circuit board 66 by a via 70 which is also connected electrically to a signal trace 71 which serves both pins. Similarly, the second pin from the front 72 on the left side of the RAM chip 65 corresponds to the second pin from the front 73 on the right side of the mirror image RAM chip 67, etc.
However the trace 71 is on one side of the PCB, so there will be a difference in length of the total trace for RAM chip 65 and RAM chip 67, namely the length of the via. For a PCB with thickness of, e.g., 1.6 mm, this is quite a large difference. Such a thickness may correspond to a timing difference of 8-9 picoseconds, which should be compared to an accuracy of about 3 picoseconds required in many specifications. Further, the two RAM chips are still two separate chips. Moreover, there are still no such mirrored memory chips on the current market so that they could be used directly in pairs with one memory chip on each side of the PCB.


A water heater with a leak detection system includes a leak sensor assembly that is disposed in an insulation cavity between an inner storage tank and an outer protective jacket of the water heater. The leak sensor assembly is configured to detect water that leaks from the storage tank. Further, the water heater includes a barrier that is disposed in the insulation cavity and wrapped around the inner storage tank to channel the water that leaks from the storage tank towards the leak sensor assembly, and prevent the water that leaks from the storage tank from flowing through an insulation material that is disposed in the insulation cavity.

A water heater may be subject to deterioration over the course of its life. Such deterioration may compromise the integrity of the water heater and may cause water that is stored in a storage tank of the water heater to leak. For example, the water may leak from the storage tank and eventually pool at the base of the water heater. If left undetected and unattended, such leaks may result in damage to furniture, electrical equipment, the water heater itself, and/or other property, which in turn may result in costly repairs. Further, these leaks can create a hazardous working environment for persons in the vicinity of the leak. Therefore, it is vital to detect the leak as early as possible and to determine how fast the water is leaking, i.e., the rate of the leak, to take necessary actions for preventing damages.
Conventional leak detection systems may not be configured to detect leaks early. Further, conventional leak detection systems may not be configured to distinguish between condensation that occurs during normal operation and a leak, thereby causing false positive detections and triggering false alarms. Furthermore, conventional leak detection systems may not be configured to determine a rate of the leak. In light of the above mentioned shortcomings of conventional leak detection systems of existing water heaters, the present disclosure provides improved leak detection systems for water heaters. This background information is provided to reveal information believed to be of possible relevance to the present disclosure. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present disclosure.


A combination growth promoting pharmaceutical pellet system which delivers doses of both a growth stimulating pharmaceutical agent and a supplemental agent that enhances the growth produced by the growth stimulating agent as part of a single procedure wherein the doses have a synergistic or augmentative effect on physiological growth and weight gain. The system includes an implanter apparatus for subcutaneously implanting pellets in an animal through the bore of a hypodermic needle which is operably coupled to a pellet magazine, and a plurality of pellets sized to be implanted through the needle and positioned in the magazine for selective alignment of a pellet with the needle. The pellets include at least one growth stimulating pharmaceutical agent dose pellet. The implant also includes a supplemental agent dose selected from the group of parasiticides, antibiotics, estrus suppressing compositions, somatotropins, gonadotropins and mixtures thereof. The various agents preferably include both immediate release and time delayed release components.

The present invention is broadly concerned with a pellet implant system that administers a growth stimulating pharmaceutical pellet dosage in combination with a parasiticidal, antimicrobial, estrus suppressant and/or other supplemental pellet dosage subcutaneously in a single procedure in order to promote physiological growth which is synergistically augmented and promoted by control of parasites, microbes and/or estrus and the like.
More particularly, it is concerned with an implantation device having a pellet magazine containing pellets having a growth stimulating pharmaceutical in combination with a parasiticide, an antimicrobial agent and/or an estrus suppressant or other supplemental agent in a growth promoting combination as well as an injection needle and structure permitting injection of the pellets from the magazine through the needle for implantation under the skin of an animal. The pellets are formulated to simultaneously deliver doses of the various components that are released in the body of the animal according to a predetermined schedule.
Subcutaneous implantation of pharmaceutical compositions and medical devices has been widely adopted for therapeutic, health and growth enhancement purposes for livestock and companion animals, humans and even certain wild animals, such as those maintained in parks and zoos. Various growth promotants are employed to foster improved growth and enhanced body weight in livestock animal species such as cattle, swine, sheep, poultry and the like.
Broad spectrum endectocides, that is, pharmaceutical compositions which control both internal and external parasites, are now available to control the numerous members of the Arthropoda and Nematoda phyla, such as flies, mosquitoes, midges, keds, lice, maggots, mites, ticks, and their larvae, worms, wasps, and predaceous beetles and have been applied to animals in various ways. Antimicrobials have been employed for prophylactic as well as acute treatment of respiratory and other bacterial diseases. Estrus suppressors are used to maintain appetite and enhance growth, especially in cattle.
These compounds have been employed for various purposes to effect the health of animal populations, as well as production, performance and reproductive efficiency. Some of these compounds also relieve discomfort which may accompany pest infestation and infection. Other types of biologically active compounds, including vitamins, anti-inflammatory agents, vaccines and biocides are also commonly used to improve the health status of animal populations.
Some of these compositions are implantable in animals, such implantable compositions are often administered as solid compressed pellets which are injected by an implanter equipped with a hypodermic needle. In livestock implants are normally made in the ear or in other areas of the animal that are not for consumption and are discarded. The implanter needle is used to make a small self-sealing and noncoring implant-receiving puncture beneath the skin at a suitable location on the body of the animal. Small pellets of a bioactive composition are forced through the needle and left under the skin as the needle is removed.
The pellets are normally implanted in non-poultry livestock animals while the animal is confined in a squeeze chute. Using head restraint, an ear is grasped in one hand, and an implanter device having a large hypodermic needle is used to puncture the hide and subcutaneously inject a pellet dose into an implant-receiving puncture. Implantation must be performed carefully to ensure that the pellets are placed properly and that no portion of the pellet remains extending from the puncture outside the hide. The procedure must also be performed quickly, since the animals are not entirely cooperative and may shake their heads to free the held ear.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,797 and entitled Slide Action Veterinary Implanter, is directed to an implanter of the type described above and is hereby incorporated by reference. This patent discloses an implanter which employs a slide action mechanism to retract an impeller, store an impeller driving force in a spring in cooperation with a latch mechanism, reset a trigger, and advance a pellet magazine, all by a single trigger actuated reciprocation of the slide mechanism. Operation of the trigger also forces the pellets from the magazine through the needle and under the skin of the animal.
Efficient implanters, such as that taught in the above noted patent and other patents to similar implanters, permit rapid sequential injection of many animals in a single session and make implant technology particularly well-suited for administration of bioactive compositions, while the animals are confined for ear tagging, branding, veterinary procedures or the like. Even where only a single animal is to be treated, implantation offers a particularly safe method for administering certain compositions, so as to allow a user to avoid compounds that could be toxic if ingested by the animal, for example by licking residue left on the hide or fur, or on that of another animal following treatment by dipping, spraying or dusting.
Physiological growth and weight gain in particular are of primary importance in livestock animals raised for meat. Parasite control has long been a primary goal of animal husbandry. A number of effective endectocides and insect growth regulators are available for control of arthropod and nematode parasites, including the polyketide avermectins, the milbemycins and milbemycin oximes, fenbendazole, pyriproxyfen and lufenuron, diflubenzuron, methoprene, ethyl carbamate and fenoxycarbu. The most commonly used avermectins are ivermectin, doramectin, moxidectin, eprinomectrin and abamectin. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/163,646, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,192 for Pellet Implant System for Immediate and delayed Release of Antiparasitic Drug, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a system which delivers subcutaneously pellet implants of varying controlled release parasiticidal dosages to provide immediate as well as sustained release of the parasiticide for a period of up to several months without redosing.
Respiratory disease and its consequent growth impairment is a particular problem among crowded animals, such as is found in feedlots. Suitable antimicrobial compositions include tylosin tartrate, tylosin, oxytetracycline, tilmicosin phosphate, ceftiofur hydrochloride, ceftiofur sodium, and sulfadimethoxine. Prophylactic administration of these antibiotics permits usage of lower doses than those required to treat an infected animal.
Similarly, estrus-induced appetite inhibition in food animals diminishes weight gain. Effective growth promoting pharmaceutical compositions are available, including the progestins, estradiol and its derivatives, trenbolone acetate, testosterone and zeranol. Somatotropins and gonadotropins are also used for various purposes in livestock.
It has been noted in accordance with the present invention that administration of a growth stimulating composition in association with effective control of internal and external parasites results in a highly effective growth promoting composition and an augmentation of the physiological growth of the animal. In certain circumstances, the animals may even gain significantly more weight than is predicted from summation of the predicted effects of the individual compounds, as there is a synergistic effect associated with combining the various compositions and implanting them together. Accordingly, there is a need for a system which delivers subcutaneously pellet implants of both a growth stimulating pharmaceutical dosage in combination with a parasiticidal dosage, an antimicrobial dosage, an estrus suppressant dosage and/or other supplemental agents to provide control of parasites, microbial infection, estrus and maximize promotion of growth.


An information processing apparatus controlling moving of data stored in a first storage region selected from a plurality of storage regions of a first storage device to a second storage device, the apparatus is configured to execute a collection of logs of accesses, specify the first storage region as an access concentration region based on the logs, move first data stored in the first storage region to the second storage device, specify a transition speed of the access concentration region, specify a first time period until the number of the accesses to the first storage region becomes the first number, at a first time, execute a prediction procedure predicting that the number of accesses to a second region becomes equal to or greater than the first number at a second time after the first time, based on the transition speed and the first time period.

A hierarchical storage system as a combination of a plurality of storage media (storage devices) is used as a storage system that stores data in some cases. Examples of the plurality of media include a Solid State Drive (SSD) that allows for a high-speed access but has relatively low capacity and is expensive and a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) that has high capacity and is inexpensive but operates at a relatively low speed.
In a hierarchical storage system, it is possible to enhance efficiency of use of the SSD and to enhance a performance of the entire system by arranging data in a storage region that is less frequently accessed in the HDD and arranging data in a storage region that is more frequently accessed in the SSD. Therefore, it is preferable to efficiently arrange the data in the storage region that is more frequently accessed in the SSD in order to enhance the performance of the hierarchical storage system.
As a method of arranging the data that is frequently accessed in the SSD, a method of arranging a region that is frequently accessed on a day basis in the SSD in accordance with access frequency in the previous day is known, for example.
However, there is a case in which input and output (IO) requests (hereinafter, also simply referred to as IO) concentrate on a small range in a storage region for relatively short time, such as several minutes to several tens of minutes, and the requests move to another region with time in a pattern of accesses to the storage system that is used for file sharing or the like. It is difficult for counting of access frequency for a long period of time, such as a day, to follow such a workload by in many cases. The workload is an index that indicates distribution (a use state of the storage devices) of accesses to the storage devices and varies in accordance with elapse of time and offset positions (storage regions) of the storage devices.
As a technology for handling the workload in a case where a load moves for short time, a technology of monitoring occurrence of IO concentration and moving the region where the IO concentration has occurred from the HDD to the SSD every time the IO concentration occurs is known. According to this technology, it is possible to quickly move the region where the next IO concentration has occurred to the SSD by moving the region, which has been moved to the SSD, to the HDD and clearing the SSD region once IO concentration has been settled. A technology of determining a region obtained by coupling regions in the vicinity of a high-load region as a moving target region at this time is also known.
As prior art documents, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication Nos. 2014-164510, 2014-191503, 2014-229144, 2013-171305, 9-214935, and 2003-216460 are exemplified.

Information processing apparatus and method executed by an information processing apparatus


In response to a driver's braking request operation, for example, the driver's depression of a brake pedal 85, a hybrid vehicle 20 sets a fraction of a regenerative braking torque by a motor MG2 and a fraction of a braking torque by a brake unit 90 relative to a preset braking torque demand Tr* according to the setting of a speed change ratio in a transmission 60 (steps S280, S290, S310, S320, S390, and S400). The hybrid vehicle 20 controls the motor MG2 to output the regenerative braking torque based on the preset braking torque demand Tr* and the set fraction of the regenerative braking torque, while controlling the brake unit 90 to enable the braking torque based on the preset braking force demand Tr* and the regenerative braking torque by the motor MG2 to be applied in a distributive manner at a preset front-rear braking torque distribution ratio ‘d’ to front wheels 39a and 39b and to rear wheels 39c and 39d.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle driven with powers respectively output to front wheels and to rear wheels, a power output apparatus and a driving system mounted on such a vehicle, and control methods of the vehicle, the power output apparatus, and the driving system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One known structure of a power output apparatus for a hybrid vehicle equipped with a hydraulic brake unit includes a driveshaft, an engine linked with the driveshaft via a planetary gear mechanism, a generator connected to the planetary gear mechanism, and a motor linked with the driveshaft via a transmission (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-187158). In the case of a change of a speed change state in the transmission from a Hi gear position to a Lo gear position under regenerative control of the motor for braking the vehicle, this power output apparatus sets a torque command of the motor to gradually decrease a regenerative braking force to zero and compensates for a resulting decrease in total braking force with a braking force applied by the hydraulic brake unit. This aims to prevent a torque shock (variation in total braking force) caused by a speed change in the transmission.
The power output apparatus of this known structure is not restricted to front-wheel drive vehicles or rear-wheel drive vehicles but is also applicable to four-wheel drive vehicles by distributing the power output to the driveshaft into front wheels and rear wheels. The cited reference, however, does not disclose braking control in the case of a change of the speed change state of the transmission under regenerative control of the motor in a four-wheel drive vehicle equipped with such a power output apparatus.

Vehicle and control method thereof, power output apparatus and control method thereof, and driving system and control method thereof


A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection and a light input edge. The light assembly also includes a light engine. The light engine has a heat conductive armature having a receptacle for a portion of the light guide that includes the light input edge and a light source retained by and thermally coupled to the armature. The armature functions as a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the light source. The light guide is mechanically retained in the receptacle, and the light guide and the armature cooperate to align the light input edge with the light source for inputting light from the light source into the light guide through the light input edge.

Energy efficiency has become an area of interest for energy consuming devices. One class of energy consuming devices is lighting devices. Solid-state light sources, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), show promise as energy efficient light sources for lighting devices. But there remains room for improvement in how to output light from lighting devices that employ solid-state light sources.


An improved A/D converter is disclosed which employs variable voltage sources which provide reference levels for a plurality of voltage comparators. The outputs from the comparators feed forward into a latch. The higher-order outputs from the latch feed forward to the voltage sources for lower-order comparators. The reference levels of the lower-order comparators change based on the results from the higher-order outputs thus forming a neural network for performing the conversion. The latched outputs allow selection of a desired number of conversion steps or alternatively, the converter may be capable of determining when conversion is complete.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of analog-to-digital converters and more particularly this invention relates to neural network analog-to-digital converters with latched outputs for increased conversion speeds.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A wide variety of electronic circuit designs for analog to digital converters (referred to hereinafter as A/D converters) are known in the art. One particular design employs successive approximation to accomplish conversion. In this design a binary number generator is coupled to a digital-to-analog converter (referred to hereinafter as D/A converters). The output of the D/A converter is coupled to a first input of a comparator and the input analog voltage to be converted is coupled to a second input of the comparator. The output from the binary number generator changes in value until the output of the D/A converter approximately equals the input voltage. The binary number which the number generator is producing at the time this threshold is reached is considered the digital equivalent of the analog voltage. One drawback of this design is that a series of approximations must be performed which may consume a large number of clock cycles before an accurate result is achieved(n steps are required for an n-bit converter). Accordingly, this type of A/D converter is undesirably slow.
Another design which performs A/D conversions faster than successive approximation converters is a parallel flash A/D converter. In a parallel flash A/D converter, a binary digital output representative of the analog input voltage is produced in a single clock cycle. Conventional flash A/D converters employ resistor ladder networks in which a series of resistors each having similar values are connected between a reference voltage and ground to form nodes between the resistors that provide reference voltages for a plurality of comparators. The reference voltages are applied to a first input of each comparator and the analog input voltage to be converted is connected to a second input of each comparator. The output of the comparators depend on whether or not the input voltage exceeds the corresponding reference voltage. These outputs are encoded to produce a binary number having a value corresponding to the value of the analog input voltage. Although flash A/D converters are much faster than successive approximation designs, they require complex circuitry and increased power.
It is understood that in general there is a tradeoff between circuit size and speed in A/D converters. Conventional successive approximation A/D converters are relatively small in size, however, as noted they require a relatively large number of clock cycles to provide an accurate digital representation of the input analog voltage. In contrast, the flash A/D converter produces an output in essentially a single clock cycle, however, the circuitry for this design is much more complex. This design requires a resistor ladder network having 2.sup.n +1 resistors and 2.sup.n comparators for an n-bit converter in addition to a decoding network. Thus, this design requires a relatively large array of solid state devices for implementation.
Another A/D converter design is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,417 invented by Buckland. In this design, the outputs from higher order comparators feed forward through a resistor network to the reference inputs of lower order comparators. This forms a neural network for performing the conversion wherein the comparison voltage for a given comparator depends on the results from higher order comparators. The adaptive referencing ability of the circuit allows fewer elements to be used in implementation of the converter, however, valid conversion results are not available until each comparator produces a stable output.
While the prior art designs have improved the speed of A/D converters and/or decreased the circuitry necessary for implementation, there remains a need in the field for fast A/D converters with high resolution and limited circuit complexity. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a high resolution, high speed A/D converter which employs a limited number of circuit elements.


Thin layer chromatography is used to separate various surfactants. The support medium is silica gel on a glass or acrylamide plate. The developing solvent is chloroform/methanol/water. After drying, the surfactants are detected at extremely low levels with iodine vapor, rhodamine 6G in methanol or phosphomolybdic acid in ethanol/ether, or radiolabelled surfactant. A method is given for the separation of surfactants from proteins or glycoproteins or lipoproteins or polysaccharides, or lipopolysaccharides.

It is a common expedient in membrane chemistry to extract proteins, glycoproteins, lipoproteins, polysaccharides or lipopolysaccharides from membranes or organisms by treatment with a surfactant. No satisfactory methods have been available heretofore, however, for the detection, quantitation and separation of the extracting surfactants from the proteins or polysaccharides, particularly extremely low levels of surfactants. Most of the prior art procedures are spectrophotometric. Most of them lack sensitivity below 5 .mu.g and most of them can give false results due to interference by lipids, other type surfactants and proteins. None of them is applicable to all of the surfactants commonly used in membrane chemistry, i.e., one uses a different procedure with each surfactant.


A transesophageal defibrillating system includes a large area anterior patch electrode and a large area posterior patch electrode, as in some conventional exterior defibrillating systems. An esophageal probe has a pair of ring electrodes, one of which is carried at or near its distal end. The system is operatively arranged to supply defibrillation pulses between the large anterior patch electrode and either the distal electrode (carried by the probe) or the large posterior electrode, depending on which one of the latter two electrodes is connected or coupled by the clinician or paramedic to the defibrillating pulse source. The system includes a source of pacing pulses which may be supplied to the patient via the anterior patch electrode and at least one of the electrodes carried by the esophageal probe. The distal electrode is believed to be the more effective electrode to use for this purpose. The system also preferably provides for sensing, displaying and recording ECG signals, the two electrodes carried by the probe supplying input representing electrical activity of the heart for display and/or recording.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system for defibrillating a heart. More particularly, the invention relates to a system for defibrillating a heart using a transesophageal path. The invention also concerns such a system which, in the alternative, allows use of a transthoracic path for the defibrillating energy. The invention may provide for pacing the heart and/or ECG monitoring.
2. Prior Art
Sudden cardiac death from ventricular fibrillation is a leading cause of mortality. The most important factor in determining patient survival is early defibrillation. However, a significant percentage of patients with cardiac arrest present with refractory ventricular fibrillation. These patients may not respond to standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation, transthoracic shocks, or drug therapy. The clinician, therefore, must decide whether to continue or terminate the resuscitative effort.
The most common mechanisms for high defibrillation thresholds include elevated transthoracic resistance due to obesity or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, prolonged duration of ventricular fibrillation, presence of ischemia or anaerobic metabolism, and superimposed drug therapy.
The success of a transthoracic shock is partially dependent upon the distance of the energy-applying electrodes from the heart, which is one determinate of transthoracic impedance. A more effective method of defibrillation would involve placement of defibrillator probes either into or in close proximity to the myocardium. Recently, intracardiac transcatheter defibrillation has provided a means of defibrillation for patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation induced in the electrophysiology laboratory. This technique is performed by defibrillating between a distal right ventricular pacing electrode and a posterior skin patch. The impedance between these two electrodes is less than the impedance between two electrodes located in standard positions on the thorax. This method, however, is performed most expeditiously if a temporary pacing lead is already present in the right ventricle.
In the past, transesophageal techniques have been employed primarily for atrial pacing and cardioversion of atrial arrhythmias. A braided copper esophageal electrode (15 cm in length; 9 mm in diameter) has been tested in conjunction with a maliable lead precordial electrode and was capable of terminating ventricular fibrillation in canines using high energy defibrillation, as reported in Whipple G. H. et al., "Transesophageal Ventricular Defibrillation" (abstr.), Clin Res 1956; 4:105. The effect of cardioverting using a Levine tube wound with copper wire is known and has been reported in McNally E. M. et al., "Elective Countershock In Unanesthetized Patients With Use Of An Esophageal Electrode", Circulation 1966; 33:124-127. This was accomplished by delivering direct current energy between the esophageal electrode to a precordial patch in 13 patients with atrial fibrillation. More recently, it has become known that a French hexapolar esophageal probe in canines was used to successfully terminate ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation; see Yunchang C. et al., "Transesophageal Low-Energy Cardioversion In An Animal Model of Life-Threatening Tachyarrhythmias", Circulation 1989; 80:1354-1359. These arrhythmias were terminated immediately and thus did not assess the potential for rescue defibrillation of refractory ventricular fibrillation. However it is unlikely that these prior art techniques would be effective in cardiac arrest patients in light of the small electrode surface area as well as the low energies employed.
It has been recognized that when a person's heart is beating at a slow or an irregular rate, or after defibrillation, the heart should be stabilized to beat at a particular rate. An electronic pacing method and apparatus is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,807 which can achieve such pacing without surgery using a flexible tube or rod having a series of circumferential electrically conductive rings spaced a few centimeters apart and electrically connected together which may be inserted down the esophagus so as to place the rings in the lower portion thereof. A second electrode, which may be a conventional adhesively attached ECG electrode, is attached to the sternum. An electrical pacing pulse of short duration and low power is passed between the electrodes. The pulses stimulate the heart muscles and make the heart beat at a preset rate. The tube or rod carrying the electrically-connected-together rings may be small enough to pass through an esophageal gastric tube or similar device. No provision is made for supplying defibrillating energy.
A somewhat more complex system for pacing the heart from the interior of the esophagus, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,298 which discloses a probe constructed on the basis of a finding that the distance from the transition between the stomach and the esophagus to the transition between the left atrium and the left ventricle is substantially the same in adults. The electrode probe has a maximum of two stimulation zones (one for atrium and ventricle, respectively) which, when fitted on expansible parts of the probe, allows heart pacing to be performed with simple equipment without expert assistance, when the distance between a means for fixing the axial position of the probe in the esophagus and the stimulation zones are determined in accordance with the finding. Good stimulation of the heart and reduction in the required pacing voltages are achieved. No provision is made for supplying defibrillating energy.
A non-invasive cardiac device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,688 which can be inserted through the esophagus and into the gastroesophageal junction region. Once in place, a selected portion of the device is urged adjacent the cardiac region. The device includes an elongated conduit having a series of spaced-apart ring electrodes for sensing or recording electrical signals. A first inflatable cuff is provided for positioning the device adjacent the gastroesophageal region is located adjacent a first end of the device. The device further includes a second inflatable cuff for positioning the device in the esophagus such that at least some of the ring electrodes carried by the conduit are urged adjacent the cardiac region. The spaced-apart electrodes are used in pairs to pass electrical signals to the heart for atrial/ventricular pacing and to receive electrical signals from the heart for electrogram analysis. It is proposed to supply low current defibrillating energy to the heart, apparently via a pair of the ring electrodes carried by the conduit. Neither an anterior patch nor a posterior patch is provided for any purpose.
A method and apparatus are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,206 to provide defibrillating energy to a heart using a small internal esophageal electrode and an external small chest electrode. The two small intimately located electrodes, one in the lower esophagus where it is intimate to the posterior section of the heart and the other small electrode on the chest over the sternum where it is close to the anterior portion of the heart, provide an electrical path between the two electrodes. An electrical pulse having a peak of approximately 150 volts is delivered. During this period, gentle repolarizing of the heart takes place. When the heart is repolarized, the heart cells become neutral. They are vulnerable to a stimulus. The defibrillation pulse may be immediately followed by a stimulus in the form of pacing pulses that are at the rate of approximately 70 to 100 pulses per minute and of a magnitude of approximately 75 to 150 milliamps. The switch from one mode to the other is made without changing the location of the electrodes. No provision is made for providing a plurality of electrically separated electrodes within the esophagus nor a large area patch on the chest.
A method and apparatus for achieving atrial defibrillation or ventricular defibrillation using a small single, internal esophageal electrode and a single moveable small external chest electrode is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,390. Atrial defibrillation is attempted using the internal esophageal electrode and with the small external chest electrode placed approximately on a line between the two nipples and part way between the sternum and the left nipple. This provides a good path for the defibrillating pulse so that defibrillation is said to be accomplished with very low power of 30 to 70 joules (average 50 joules) compared to what is normally used, namely, 100 to 360 joules. Ventricular defibrillation is said to be possible using the small internal esophageal electrode and an external chest electrode placed approximately over the apex of the left ventricle. This provides a good path for the defibrillating pulse so that the power needed, it is said, may be of the same magnitude as that used for atrial defibrillation for the purpose of ventricular defibrillation. No provision is made for providing a plurality of electrodes within the esophagus nor a large area patch on the chest.


An addressing device has an address generator (43), data wire (1), combined address and a supply wire (2) and ground wire (3) that form a cable (1,2,3). This cable (1,2,3) connects to multiple addressable units (14), containing switching means (13), that are connected to the data wire (1). Every addressable unit (14) comprises an address detector (12), which controls the switching means (8,13). The address generator (43) will issue a standardized signal, that will change a parameter by the influence of an impedance member (7) together with the cable length, so that after the commutation of the first switching means (8) and the information transfer via a second switching means (13), the same standardized signal can be used to select the addressable unit of the next cell.

The invention relates to an addressing device as described in the claims.
Addressing devices of the described kind are used for diverse applications. An example of such an application is found in DE-A-28 00 185, where the cable is used for leakage detection in district heating pipelines by temperature measurement by thermistors. It is evident that the present invention is not restricted to such applications, but can be used in any application where the selection of multiple addressable units is necessary.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,484 proposes to select the addressable unit by encoded addresses. Consequently, electronic circuitry to code and decode the address signal is necessary. In EP-A-0 043 431 one can find a proposition for a simplified circuitry where the address code is a predetermined number of pulses, but even here a selecting means for the received pulses and means to code and decode them are necessary.

System for addressing multiple addressable units by inactivating previous units and automatically change the impedance of the connecting cable


A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate with a substrate region and a trench extending into the surface region of the semiconductor substrate. The trench includes sidewalls, a bottom and a depth. The semiconductor structure further includes a trench liner overlying the bottom and the sidewalls of the trench. The semiconductor structure also includes a shallow trench isolation structure filling at least the depth of the trench. The shallow trench isolation structure is formed from alternating layers of silicon nitride and high-density plasma oxide.

The present invention is directed to integrated circuits and their processing for the manufacture of semiconductor devices. More particularly, the invention provides a method of semiconductor device formation with reduced void formation and a resulting structure. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to the formation of shallow trench isolation (STI) regions. But it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability.
Integrated circuits or "ICs" have evolved from a handful of interconnected devices fabricated on a single chip of silicon to millions of devices. Current ICs provide performance and complexity far beyond what was originally imagined. In order to achieve improvements in complexity and circuit density (i.e., the number of devices capable of being packed onto a given chip area), the size of the smallest device feature, also known as the device "geometry", has become smaller with each generation of ICs. Semiconductor devices are now being fabricated with features less than a quarter of a micron across.
Increasing circuit density has not only improved the complexity and performance of ICs but has also provided lower cost parts to the consumer. An IC fabrication facility can cost hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars. Each fabrication facility will have a certain throughput of wafers, and each wafer will have a certain number of ICs on it. Therefore, by making the individual devices of an IC smaller, more devices may be fabricated on each wafer, thus increasing the output of the fabrication facility. Making devices smaller is very challenging, as each process used in IC fabrication has a limit. That is to say, a given process typically only works down to a certain feature size, and then either the process or the device layout needs to be changed. Additionally, as devices require faster and faster designs, process limitations exist with conventional processes and materials.
One such example of a process limitation deals with the difficulty of controlling etch selectivity within an ONO spacer etch process. For example, micro-trenches can occur as a result of overetching of the STI region during the formation of ONO spacers. Micro-trenches can lead to voids and tunnels forming, which can cause moisture or chemicals to be trapped during subsequent processing steps. This can result in lowered electrical reliability and an increase in the amount of short circuits within the completed circuit.
From the above, it is seen that an improved technique for processing semiconductor devices is desired.

Semiconductor trench structure having a silicon nitride layer overlaying an oxide layer

Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation


What is provided is a propeller guard apparatus that may be readily configured to a variety of different boat motors. Described embodiments of the propeller guard apparatus comprise a cylindrical housing configured to circumferentially enclose a propeller from all sides in order to protect humans, pets, and aquatic wildlife from being entangled or cut by the propeller. Described embodiments of the propeller guard apparatus also comprise a protective structure, such as a skid plate comprising of at least two pieces of metal attached from the cylindrical housing to an end of the outer casing to form a folded T-shaped configuration. This type of configuration serves to protect the propeller from damage caused by submerged objects and aquatic wildlife found in shallow water. Also, the folded T-shaped configuration may push vegetation, weeds, manatees, and other aquatic wildlife away from the path of the moving boat and its propeller.

Numerous injuries and deaths occur each year when people and animals unintentionally contact an operating boat motor propeller. Due to its position on a motorized boat and the fact that a boat motor propeller spins at a very high RPM during use, it often poses a significant safety risk to any person or animal in proximity to the propeller. For example, spinning boat motor propellers have caused serious injuries to boat passengers, water skiers, swimmers, scuba divers, and aquatic wildlife, such as manatees. Manatees are particularly susceptible since they spend a large portion of the day swimming in shallow waters.
Even though there are several boat motor propeller guards, cages, and/or shields designed to reduce the number of accidents and injuries caused by rotating propellers, they often don't address other serious safety problems to people, the aquatic wildlife, and to the propellers, themselves. Some boat motor propeller guards increase the frequency of blunt force trauma to people and aquatic wildlife due to their larger size and specific shape. Despite limiting the harm caused by propeller blade lacerations, many conventional propeller guards often cause blunt force trauma to people and aquatic wildlife swimming below the guards due to the keel or skeg projecting below the propeller.
In other instances, some conventional propeller guards merely comprise ring-like structures that do not fully encapsulate the propellers from all sides. As a result, rocks, weeds, fishing lines, and other debris may become entangled within the propeller, which cause damage to the propeller and impede the function of the boat. Even if no damage is caused to the propeller, the entanglement is likely to cause drag that will slow the boat and limit its range of operation. Propeller guards that have attempted to solve this problem require the use of bulky, permanent structures and additions that may not be easily removed or modified in a boat.
Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus that protects people, animals, aquatic and plant wildlife from inadvertently contacting a moving boat propeller, while simultaneously preventing blunt force trauma related impacts caused by a moving boat. Beneficially, such an apparatus would be easily attached to and removed from conventional boat motors.


A method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium for in-display fingerprint enrollment that may include receiving an indication to begin a fingerprint enrollment process on an electronic device with an in-display fingerprint sensor; displaying a first fingerprint enrollment shape over the in-display fingerprint sensor; and receiving, in response to displaying the first fingerprint enrollment shape and via a first user interaction, a first portion of fingerprint data. Embodiments may also include generating, in part, a fingerprint coverage map corresponding to the fingerprint using the first portion of the fingerprint data; displaying a second fingerprint enrollment shape over the in-display fingerprint sensor; receiving, in response to displaying the second fingerprint enrollment shape and via a second user interaction, a second portion of fingerprint data; and updating the fingerprint coverage map corresponding to the fingerprint using the second portion of the fingerprint data.

Biometric devices are used in a variety of electronic systems. A biometric device typically includes a sensing region, often demarked by a surface, in which the biometric device captures biometric data of one or more input objects, such as fingers. Biometric devices may be used to provide interfaces for the electronic system. For example, biometric recognition (or "biometric matching") may be used to enhance security or usability by recognizing discriminatory biometric characteristics of users for purposes of authentication or identification.
Typically, biometric recognition involves comparing biometric input data to enrolled biometric data previously captured during an enrollment process. The quality of the enrollment data affects performance of the biometric recognition system. For example, low quality or incomplete enrollment data can detrimentally impact biometric matching performance by causing false matches (where the system incorrectly determines that the input biometric matches the enrolled biometric) or false non-matches (where the system fails to determine that the input biometric matches the enrolled biometric). Such false matches and/or false non-matches may, in turn, present a security risk or cause frustration to the user.


A land drainage line having a tube or the like forming a conduit through which water will be drained and a knitted pile fabric filter sleeve around the drainage line.

Land drainage has long been accomplished through underground conduits or pipes formed of tile or tubing. Particularly in recent years, land drainage has been accomplished by the installation of flexible corrugated drainage tubing. In connection with such land drainage, it has long been recognized that certain soils will quickly clog drainage lines that may be installed unless provision is made for protecting the drain tile or tubing against intrusion of soil particles. Various filter materials have been proposed and have been developed for preventing such early blockage of a drainage line, including the knit fabric protective sleeves or filters described in and protected by the patents resulting from the aforementioned related applications.
It has also been discovered that certain chemical reactions occurring in soil may contribute to blockage or filling of drain lines. In particular, difficulty has occurred with a particular iron composition known in the land drainage industry as ocher. While the filter arrangements currently in use within the land drainage industry successfully deal with intrusion by fine soil particles, difficulty has upon occasion been encountered with ocher and with other similar chemical reaction related particles which may accumulate on filter surfaces or within drainage lines.

Drain tile and pile fabric filter sleeve


The present disclosure relates to a technique of suppressing the occurrence of an impact caused by clutch engagement by differently controlling a clutch depending on whether or not a brake is in operation. Disclosed is a method of controlling a clutch for a vehicle, which effectively reduces engagement impact that occurs when the clutch is engaged by performing control such that a rising slope of clutch torque up to a touch point is gentler when the brake is not in operation than when the brake is in operation.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
A typical automatic transmission system has an advantage in terms of starting/transmission because a torque converter acts as a fluid clutch, thereby obtaining a damping effect.
On the other hand, an automated manual transmission (AMT) system and a dual clutch transmission (DCT) system have high fuel efficiency because a clutch is automatically controlled based on a manual transmission mechanism without using a torque converter.
However, the automated manual transmission system directly connects an engine and a clutch in order to thereby improve fuel efficiency and power transmission efficiency, but on the other hand, has no damping factor so that a jolt or clutch slip may occur depending on a torque change. Therefore, it requires an algorithm for predicting the transmission torque characteristics of a dry clutch in real time.
Thus, conventionally, the transmission torque characteristics of a clutch have been predicted using a torque-stroke curve (T-S curve) of a dry clutch. Here, the T-S curve is obtained by converting, into data, the transmission torque characteristics of a dry clutch depending on a stroke of a clutch actuator.
Meanwhile, when a released clutch is engaged, the time at which torque begins to be actually transmitted through the clutch is referred to as a touch point.
However, the T-S curve varies while the vehicle is moving for various reasons such as deterioration and expansion of a disk cushion, thermal deformation of a cover plate, abrasion of disk facings, and variation of the frictional coefficient, and thus, an error may occur in the learning touch point.
Therefore, if a learning value of a clutch touch point is greater than the position of an actual touch point, a clutch actuator stroke greater than the actual touch point is applied, so that an impact due to the clutch engagement may occur when clutch torque is applied.
The description of the technical background above has been made merely for the purpose of helping understanding the background of the present disclosure, and it should not be taken as an admission that the description belongs to the prior art known to those skilled in the art.

Method for preventing burst of clutch for vehicle


An projection exposure apparatus and method for illuminating a transfer pattern and forming an image upon a mask for exposure from the illumination light and transfer exposing the image of the pattern of the mask under the illumination light. Switching is performed between a normal illumination condition and a modified illumination condition based upon the numerical aperture of the illumination light; wherein the normal illumination condition occurs when the light quantity distribution at the illumination pupil plane is in a first region, including the optical-axis; and the modified illumination condition occurs when the light quantity distribution at the illumination pupil plane is in a second region, not including the optical-axis and wherein the pupil plane is an optical Fourier conversion surface of a pattern surface of the mask in an illumination system.

This Application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application Nos. HEI 08-141318 and HEI 08-141319, both filed Jun. 4, 1996, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an exposure method and an exposure device for transferring a mask pattern to a photosensitive substrate during a photolithography process for manufacturing such things as semiconductor elements, imaging elements (such as CCDs), liquid crystal display elements, or thin-film magnetic heads.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
During the manufacture of semiconductor elements an exposure device transfers an image of a pattern to a reticle. The reticle which acts as a mask, transfers the image to a wafer which is coated with photoresist, forming a photosensitive substrate by the projection exposure system. In the past, projection exposure devices of the collective exposure type, such as steppers, have been used as exposure devices. In recent years the projection exposure method of the scanning exposure type, such as the step-and-scan method where a reticle and a wafer is scanned in sync by the projection exposure system which allows the transfer of large-area patterns without overly stressing the projection exposure system has been gaining attention.
FIG. 13 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a conventional projection exposure device, where the illumination light from the illumination optical system 101 illuminates the pattern formation region of the pattern formation surface (bottom surface) of the reticle (R). Under that illumination light, the projection image, where the pattern is formed upon reticle (R) is reduced a designated magnification by the projection exposure system 102, exposes the photoresist coated on wafer (W) under the illumination light. The numerical aperture of projection exposure system 102 is defined by the aperture diaphragm 103. By developing the photoresist, the projected image appears as a raised resist pattern. However, to increase the resolution of the image, has in the past, required expensive and inconvenient light sources and exposure devices.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a projection exposure apparatus and method that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a projection exposure method includes the steps of illuminating a transfer pattern and forming an image of the transfer pattern upon a mask for exposure from an illumination light and transfer exposing the image of the pattern of the mask under the illumination light onto a photosensitive surface. Selectively switching between a normal illumination condition and a modified illumination condition based upon a numerical aperture of the illumination light wherein the normal illumination condition occurs when a light quantity distribution at an illumination pupil plane is in a first region including an optical-axis, and the modified illumination condition occurs when the light quantity distribution at the illumination pupil plane is in a second region not including the optical-axis.
A further object of the invention is to provide a projection exposure apparatus and method for illuminating a transfer pattern and forming an image of the transfer pattern upon a mask for exposure from an illumination light and transfer exposing the image of the pattern of the mask under the illumination light. Switching a projection condition for changing a numerical aperture of the illumination light and switching an illumination condition between multiple illumination conditions, wherein a normal illumination condition occurs when a light quantity distribution at an illumination pupil plane is in a first region including an optical-axis, and a modified illumination condition occurring when the light quantity distribution at the illumination pupil plane is in a second region not including the optical-axis.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a luminous flux splitting system which splits the illumination light for exposure into a first and a second luminous flux wherein the first luminous flux magnification system, for spreading a cross section of the first luminous flux in a ring shape, and a second luminous flux magnification system for spreading a cross section of the second luminous flux in a ring shape; and a luminous flux synthesis system which synthesizes the luminous flux from the first and second luminous flux systems in front of the illumination pupil plane, wherein the switching of the illumination condition guides -the luminous flux synthesized in the luminous flux synthesis system to the illumination system pupil system and carries out an annular-illumination when the modified illumination condition is set.
A still further object of the present invention provides a projection exposure apparatus and method for illuminating a transfer pattern and forming an image of the transfer pattern upon a mask for exposure from an illumination light and transfer exposing on a photosensitve circuit board, from an illumination light, detecting an image of a position matching mark on the photosensitive substrate under the illumination light, position matching and aligning the photosensitive substrate based on a detection result, transferring the image formed on the mask and exposing the photosensitive substrate under the illumination light, and switching an alignment optical system between two detection conditions based upon a numerical aperture of the illumination light, wherein the projection exposure system is equipped with two condition detectors, a normal condition detector where an imaging luminous flux is uniformly transmitted on an alignment system pupil plane and an outline emphasis detector, which carries out outline emphasis by transmitting the imaging luminous flux at a designated distribution on the alignment system pupil plane.
A still further object of the present invention provides a projection exposure apparatus and method for transferring a transfer pattern by an exposure illumination light onto a mask, transfer exposing the transfer pattern onto a circuit board coated with a photosensitive material under the exposure illumination light for exposure, controlling an integrated exposure quantity of the exposure illumination light according to the thickness of the photosensitive material coated on the circuit board.
A final object of the present invention provides a projection exposure method including the steps of transferring a transfer pattern by an exposure illumination light onto a mask, transfer exposing the transfer pattern onto a circuit board coated with a photosensitive material under the exposure illumination light for exposure, controlling a switching operation of a numerical aperture of the projection exposure system according to thickness of the photosensitive material coated on the circuit board.


The entire outer surface of a ground rod, including its pointed end portion, has a continuous and uniform electroplated coating. The rod has a blunt end portion shaped to minimize mushrooming when it is hammered for driving the rod into the ground. Jets of plating solution directed against the rod produce swirling motion of plating solution around the rod while it moves longitudinally through a plating bath. Uniformity of the plated coating may be enhanced by rotating the rod during longitudinal movement through the plating bath.

This application relates to the art of electrical ground rods, and to an apparatus and method for electroplating same. Although the invention will be described with specific reference to electrical ground rods, it will be appreciated that the apparatus and method can be used for electroplating other workpieces.
Conventional procedures for manufacturing and electroplating electrical ground rods often produce rods that are not plated with a continuous uniform coating over substantially their entire outer surface. In rack plating, the areas of the rods supported on the racks may remain unplated, or have a plating that is not of the same thickness as the remainder of the rod. The rods are also located different distances from the anodes, and the ends of the rods may receive heavier coatings so the rods take on a dog bone effect. The ends of the rods must then be cut off and one end of the rod shaped to a point. The cut and pointed ends then remain unplated.
Electrical ground rods are also manufactured by electroplating a continuous length of wire which is then cut to desired lengths, and the individual lengths are shaped to a point at one end. Again, the severed and pointed end portions remain unplated.
When a rod is plated by moving same longitudinally between sacrificial anodes, the areas of the rod facing directly toward the anodes receive a thicker plating than the rod areas facing away from the anodes. This wastes plating metal by requiring overplating of the rod areas facing the anodes in order to obtain adequate plating thickness on the rod areas facing away from the anodes.
During plating, ions are rapidly depleted from the plating solution adjacent the rod. Air bubble agitation of the plating solution has been used to alleviate this problem but cannot replace such ions adjacent the rod as fast as they are depleted.
It would be desirable to have an electrical ground rod that is provided with a substantially continuous and uniform plating over substantially its entire outer surface, including its pointed end portion. It would also be desirable to have a ground rod with a blunt end portion arranged to minimize mushrooming when hammered for driving the rod into the ground.


A rotor assembly including a rotating shaft, a rotor core, a permanent magnet, a magnetic ring support, and a magnetic ring. The permanent magnet is mounted on the outer side surface of the rotor core. The magnetic ring is nested on the magnetic ring support, and the magnetic ring support and the rotor core are made as a whole by injection molding. The rotor assembly is relatively simple to produce, low in cost, and features improved efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a rotor assembly of a brushless motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a rotor assembly of a brushless DC motor generally includes a rotating shaft, a rotor core, a permanent magnet, a magnetic ring support, and a magnetic ring. The permanent magnet is mounted on the outer side surface of the rotor core and the magnetic ring is nested on the magnetic ring support. Because conventional magnetic ring supports of rotor assemblies are made of aluminum and fixed by rivets, they are complicated in working and mounting procedures and have poor positions after assembly.

Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Motor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


Provided is a system and methods for reducing wait time in a store with a plurality of checkout queues. The system includes an item counting device coupled to a shopping cart. The item counting device includes a weigh sensor and a counter, wherein the counter increments by 1 in response to the weigh sensor detecting an increase in weight as an item is placed within the shopping cart. The system includes an efficiency analyzer that determines a historical efficiency of an employee at a checkout register. Additionally, the system includes proximity processor that receives data from a customer through an input device and outputs a proximity of the customer to a queue. The system has a wait time processor that determines the wait time of a plurality of checkout queues and outputs the same to the customer.

Checkout time is a key part of customer experience. Generally customers will rely on intuition to join the queue with the least number of people. Factors such as the amount items in a cart and the efficiency of the employee at the checkout queue factor in to the total wait time that a customer experiences in a store. Currently, there is no comprehensive tool to reduce the time taken by customers in checkout lanes. There is not a system that can accurately measure the items in cart, the number of people in a checkout queue or the efficiency of the employee operating the checkout queue. Accordingly, there is no system that can generate an accurate wait time in a checkout queue.


Workpiece clamp for use on the table of a machine tool, provided with an inverted T-shaped slot, the clamp consisting of a main body which overlies the table and is telescopingly mounted for vertical sliding motion on a base slidable in the T-shaped slot. The main body and the base are each provided with a horizontal extension. The horizontal extensions are vertically aligned for clamping a workpiece between the horizontal extension of the main body and the table. Apparatus are provided for locking the main body on the base in a plurality of relative vertical positions.

In the machining of workpieces, it is necessary to fasten the workpiece securely to the table of the machine tool. The invention is specifically directed to a clamp for a machine tool table provided with an inverted T-shaped slot opening onto the upper surface of a work table. In the past, various types of clamps have been used with this type of machine tool table. The prior art clamps have usually consisted of a bolt whose head is T-shaped and which is slidable in a T-shaped slot in the machine tool table. The bolt extends upwardly from the table, passes through a clamping element, and a large nut is threadingly mounted on its upper end. The clamping element includes an elongated portion which extends horizontally from the bolt and rests on the upper portion of the workpiece. The bottom of the workpiece rests directly on the upper surface of the work table. The workpiece is clamped tightly in place by rotating the nut at the top of the bolt. The thread provides all the vertical support for the clamp and the clamping axis is spaced from the bolt axis, thereby producing a moment arm acting to distort the bolt and creates a considerable amount of compressive force on the limited number of threads which are engaged by the nut in a particular clamping position. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art clamps have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.
It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a workpiece clamp comprising two telescoping pieces, one of which provides all of the vertical support for the clamp.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a workpiece clamp design which is strong, durable, and not affected by the various forces involved in clamping a workpiece.
A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a workpiece clamp which is adjustable for clamping a wide size range of workpieces.
It is another object of the instant invention to provide a workpiece clamp in which the main body is provided with two clamping elements which are selectively utilized to clamp workpieces within different size ranges.
A still further object of the invention is the provision of a workpiece clamp comprising two telescoping elements, including means for adjustably locking one element in a wide range of vertical positions relative to the other element and wherein the clamping element is adjustably mounted with respect to one of the portions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a workpiece clamp which is simple in construction, easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and is capable of a long life of useful service with a minimum of maintenance.
With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.


A new method of preparing granular slow release nitrogen fertilizer, exhibiting substantially complete nitrogen availability as a plant nutrient, from nitrogenous organic wastes, such as animal excretia, by coreacting particulate dry conditioned nitrogenous organic waste and reactive ureaformaldehyde oligomer; and the slow release fertilizer exhibiting improved nitrogen availability prepared by the new method. The preconditioning of the waste and the preparation of the reactive oligomer are arranged so that the method for forming the new composition is effectively carried out in a damp dry, free flowing particulate system. Parameters are provided for: dry conditioning the wastes, oligomer forming, coreacting, and granulating.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to particulate organic waste based fertilizers and methods for their preparation. More particularly, it relates to organic waste based nitrogen fertilizers, exhibiting high nitrogen availabilities, and to a new method of effectively preparing them from nitrogenous organic wastes, and urea and formaldehyde. The new method relates to the discovery of new and improved conditions for reacting organic wastes with urea and formaldehyde to produce highly available nitrogen nutrients from organic wastes which normally exhibit low nitrogen availabilities as plant foods.
2. Description of Related Art
Large amounts of organic waste materials containing nitrogen are formed in municipal, industrial, and agricultural operations. Wastes, such as poultry manures, waste water solids, sewage sludges and municipal garbage are produced as damp, composted, or dried solids. The amount of nitrogen available from these waste sources is so large and has created so much environmental and economic interest that the art contains large amounts of work carried out in attempts to use these wastes as nitrogen fertilizer sources. Some of the work has involved reaction of the waste materials with formaldehyde, urea, and ureaformaldehyde concentrates and resins, in attempts to eliminate malodors, usually present in the wastes.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,395, John Karnemaat disclosed a process for treating industrial and municipal wastes, suspended or dissolved in water, by stepwise treatment with concentrated formaldehyde, nitric acid, and urea, to form ureaformaldehyde condensation products which were then dried. He extended his technology in U.S. Pat. No. 3,939,280, which taught converting poultry manure by treatment with a catalytic amount of nontoxic acid, urea, and a formaldehyde supplying substance.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,970, James O'Donnell disclosed a system for producing granular, high nitrogen, odorless fertilizer from sewage filter sludge. O'Donnell added acid to bring pH of the sludge to 3-5 and reacted the sludge with methylolurea at pH 3-5, and a temperature of 30 to 80.degree. C., using vigorous agitation. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,366, O'Donnell dewatered the reacted ureaformaldehyde-sludge mixture by vacuum filtration, and in 4,057,392, provided an apparatus and process for treating sewage sludge filter cake to provide a slow release nitrogen. The maximum availability of his nitrogen was 55 percent.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,977,214, McLellan produced granules of nitrogenous sewage sludge by compacting between high pressure rolls, breaking the compacted pieces, and then screening to the desired particle size.
In my U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,469, a method was provided for producing high integrity, low odor, natural based granular fertilizers by mixing aqueous formaldehyde with natural nitrogenous chick waste, with or without urea, heating until some of the chick waste nitrogen was in water soluble form, forming granules, and neutralizing to pH 6.5-8.0 by adding mineral acid, and hardening the granules by heating.
The technology was further advanced in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,490, which provided a continuous process for non-destructive recovery of natural nitrogenous materials as particulate agricultural nutrients from poultry waste in a fluid bed granulator. Maximum nitrogen Availability Index provided was 45.5 in those products.
Thus, the prior art has provided several effective methods for recovering natural waste nitrogenous materials as nitrogen fertilizers having reduced odors. For a nitrogen fertilizer to be an effective plant food, the nitrogen from that fertilizer must be substantially available in the soil to the roots and foliage of growing plants, preferably within a single growing season.
Agronomists through years of field and greenhouse studies have been able to correlate the effectiveness of water insoluble nitrogen release with an Availability Index whereby complete one season release of water insoluble nitrogen is indicated by an Availability Index of 100, while no release would be indicated by 0. The Availability Index is derived by equation, as follows: ##EQU1##
CWIN is determined by method 2,057 and NPIN is determined by method 2,059 of the Tenth Edition of the A.O.A.C. Official Methods of Analysis.
Slow release fertilizers made from nitrogenous wastes have been available for a long time, but until now there have been no methods provided in the prior art for increasing the normally low nitrogen availabilities in natural nitrogenous wastes to high levels so that the nitrogen from fertilizers derived therefrom is substantially available.
It is an object of this invention to provide a new method for preparing slow release nitrogen fertilizers from nitrogenous wastes which exhibit substantially complete availability of the nitrogen.
It is a further object of this invention to provide the operating parameters whereby this new method may be effectively carried out.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved organic waste based fertilizer exhibiting substantially complete availability of its nitrogen, prepared by the new method.

Highly available waste based nitrogen fertilizer