A method for controlling a rotatable-drum laundry drier to dry laundry in a drum is provided. The control method includes the steps of memorizing, in a memory device of the laundry drier, a comparison threshold variable in time according to a predetermined profile, and, at predetermined drying times in the laundry drying cycle, measuring an electric quantity indicating the moisture in the laundry at the drying time; comparing, at each drying time, the measured electric quantity with the memorized comparison threshold corresponding to the drying time; and determining the end of drying cycle time on the basis of this comparison.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a rotatable-drum laundry drier, and to a method of controlling a rotatable-drum laundry drier.
The present invention relates to a rotatable-drum laundry drier, and to a method of controlling a rotatable-drum laundry drier.
Methods of controlling rotatable-drum laundry driers are known, in which: hot air is fed into the rotating drum so as to flow over the laundry inside; the impedance of the laundry is measured by measuring electrodes positioned contacting the laundry; the moisture of the laundry is determined on the basis of the impedance measurement; and the drying cycle is stopped when the impedance measurement reaches a substantially time-constant comparison threshold associated with a predetermined final moisture.
Tests conducted by the Applicant show that the actual moisture of the laundry at the end of the drying cycle using the above methods differs from the predetermined final moisture, depending on the quantity/weight of the laundry in the drum, and the difference is particularly marked when drying certain types of laundry, such as cotton, and/or synthetic fabrics.
FIG. 1 shows an example graph of the moisture of different quantities/weights of cotton laundry, as determined by the Applicant on the basis of laboratory drying test measurement data on a prior art laundry drier. As can be seen, using the control methods described above (in which the impedance of the laundry is compared with a time-constant comparison threshold), loads ranging between roughly 1 kg and 8 kg show a laundry moisture percentage ranging between roughly 24% and 11% of the laundry weight respectively. In other words, a 7 kg difference in load produces a 13% difference in final moisture, which is obviously unacceptable.
To achieve a precise, stable final moisture, regardless of the quantity/weight of the laundry, an electronic control system has been proposed, configured to determine the quantity/weight of the laundry in the drum using weight sensors, and to adjust the comparison threshold accordingly. This solution, however, is expensive and complicated to produce.
The Applicant has therefore researched thoroughly into devising a straightforward, low-cost solution designed to achieve a precise, stable final moisture, regardless of the quantity/weight of the laundry in the drum.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a solution designed to achieve the above goals.

Rotatable-drum laundry drier and method of controlling a rotatable-drum laundry drier

Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.


A simple chart recorder is described of the type which includes a strip of pressure-markable chart paper, which includes two pressure marking styluses that create traces that can be readily distinguished from one another. Each stylus has a horizontal inner portion (80, FIG. 2 ) that extends largely parallel to chart paper movement and a vertical outer portion (88), with the first stylus having an inner portion lying above the second stylus and having an outer portion lying further downpath than the second stylus. One of the styluses includes a blue pencil lead (92) whose point creates a pressure-marked trace part (116, FIG. 3 ) as well as blue lines (120, 122) on opposite sides of the trace part. Another stylus includes a wheel (180, FIG. 6) with a plurality of points spaced about its periphery to produce a multipoint trace (172). Another stylus includes two closely-spaced tips (200, 202, FIG. 7 ) that form a doubleline trace (208). Another stylus has a tip with a large radius of curvature (R1, FIG. 9 ) to form an unusually wide pressure-marked trace (250). A jiggle device (234, FIG. 8 ) can be coupled to one of the stylus moving mechanisms to produce a trace with jiggles (221). Another stylus includes a lift mechanism (142, FIG. 4 ) which repeatedly lifts the stylus to produce a dashed trace (144).

Low cost strip chart recorders are often used to record the temperature of a cargo during transport. Such chart recorders must be constructed at very low cost, and generally use pressure-markable chart paper. A common type of pressure-markable chart paper includes a base of black color and a film of white opaque wax on the base, the wax being readily removable by the point of a stylus. Another type of pressure-markable paper includes a layer of microscopic ink-filled capsules that are broken by a stylus to record a trace.
Previously, the temperature sensor for the strip chart recorder was attached to the recorder housing to measure the temperature at the recorder. However, there are many instances where two or more different temperatures of other environmental conditions must be measured, such as the temperatures at inside walls of a truck or other large container rather than just at the chart recorder that may lie in the middle of the container or at only one wall. If a single low-cost chart recorder with a narrow strip of chart paper is to be used, then the traces representing the two measurements will both be capable of lying anywhere across substantially the entire width of the same strip of chart paper. This can cause the pressure-marked traces to sometimes cross each other, making it difficult to distinguish one trace representing the temperature at one location, from another trace representing the temperature at another location. Apparatus which enabled two or more different styluses to be moved independently across most of the width of a strip of chart paper without interference from each other, and which allowed each trace to be readily distinguished from one or more other traces, and which still enabled the chart recorder to be constructed at low cost, would be of considerable value.


A birthing drape for catching body fluids expelled during birth and for precluding the fluids from splashing onto assisting personnel has a web of plastic material having first and second spaced apart ends and a pair of laterally spaced apart edges extending between the first and second ends. A support portion upon which the buttocks of a birthing woman may be positioned is defined at one end and a catch portion extends from the support portion to the second end. A splash guard in the form of a bulbous formation is formed at the second end and an opening is formed in the catch portion between the support portion and the splash guard. The opening has a mouth for receiving and storing body fluids. Elastic strips extend within pockets along the respective lateral edge, each strip having an end secured to the support portion and to the catch portion adjacent the splash guard but being free to move within the remainder of the respective pocket. The length of each strip when expanded is approximately equal to the relaxed length of the edge between the fixed ends so that in the contracted or relaxed condition of the strips the lateral edges of the catch portion are puckered and the splash guard is drawn toward the support portion. Bands are connected to the catch portion and adapted to encircle the ankles of the woman so as to open the mouth and raise the splash guard to deflect fluids into the catch portion.

This invention relates to a birthing drape having a portion positionable under the buttocks of a birthing woman and including a pouch for catching blood and other body fluids, the drape having a splash guard for directing splashing fluid into the pouch.
During the birthing process when a baby is being delivered body fluids including blood are expelled with the baby. In the prior art the delivering woman may be positioned with her legs in stirrups and have one end of a rectangular plastic drape under her buttocks, another end of the drape being disposed downwardly in a catch basket so that the body fluids flow downwardly into the bucket. This inefficient approach to catching the body fluids results in fluids escaping onto the floor especially splashing fluids. As a result of the recent HIV and AIDS epidemic it is now known that such escaping fluids create major health risks for hospital staff members. An attempt to solve this escaping fluid problem has resulted in a birthing drape having a built-in pouch for catching the body fluids. The drape has a trapezoidal shape on which the buttocks rests and the pouch merely hangs downwardly from the central portion. One difficulty with this construction is that the pouch tends to close. Another difficulty is that splashing fluids are not contained and they readily splash on staff members.


An apparatus for storing and dispensing particulate material, such as bird seed, employs a dispensing valve having a first disk fixedly mounted in a housing and a second disk rotatably mounted in the housing. The first disk has circumferentially spaced first apertures and the second disk has circumferentially spaced second apertures. The boundaries of the first apertures intersect the periphery of the first disk, and the boundaries of the second apertures intersect the periphery of the second disk. The second disk can be rotated to select a desired position, such as a closed position in which the first and second apertures are completely unaligned, a fully open position in which the first and second apertures are completely aligned, or a partially open position in which the first and second apertures are partially aligned.

This invention relates to the storing and dispensing of particulate material, such as seed for feeding birds.
Seed is typically bought in bulk quantities and stored in a suitably large container, preferably indoors (such as a garage) to prevent attack by raccoons, squirrels, or mice. When refilling bird feeders in the yard, seed is dipped or scooped from the container and transferred to a smaller container, such as a bucket or bowl, which is then carried to the feeders.

Apparatus for storing and dispensing particulate material and valve for use therein


A toilet seat for filtering foul air includes large capacity internal ducting connected between a very large intake opening and a large exhaust for efficient, high capacity air filtration. The seat comprises an assembly including upper and lower halves joined along a horizontal seam. The seat halves pivot on an axle and are biased apart to sense use of the device to control its on/off timing. The device is activated as the user sits on the seat and is programmed by a controller to continue for a length of time after toilet use.

There have been various attempts to provide odor control systems in toilet seats to deodorize the foul air in toilets created during their use. Some of these systems have included specially designed toilet seats that include air filtration systems. It is known, for example, to provide a toilet seat with a hollow body which includes air intake, ducting and exhaust with the filtering system, such that air is drawn in from the toilet bowl into the toilet seat duct and deodorized, thereafter being exhausted through a rear portion of the seat. Such a device is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,532 issued to Anderson entitled "Malodor Control Systems for Toilets" which relies on a water spray to treat the foul air. This is a complicated device comprising a pressurized water feed line and provides only limited air handling capacity. Another system is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0163033 by Kelly entitled "Toilet Seat" This document discloses a toilet seat which is a fully self-contained air filtration system that includes batteries for powering fan units to move air through internal ducting. The toilet seat of this invention is provided with a microswitch which is switched by force applied to the seat by the weight of a person sitting down. Thus, the fan units are energized only when needed.
Despite these attempts in the art to provide an effective deodorizing self-contained battery-powered toilet seat, deficiencies still remain. Most importantly, prior art toilet seat deodorizing systems lack the sufficient volume of air flow to adequately deodorize foul toilet vapors. There is therefore still a need in the art for an effective deodorizing toilet seat.


An example programmable device includes a configuration memory configured to store configuration data; a programmable logic having a configurable functionality based on the configuration data in the configuration memory; a signal conversion circuit; a digital processing circuit; an endpoint circuit coupled to the signal conversion circuit through the digital processing circuit; wherein the digital processing circuit includes a first one or more digital processing functions implemented as hardened circuits each having a predetermined functionality, and a second one or more processing functions implemented by the configurable functionality of the programmable logic.

Integrated circuits (ICs) may be implemented to perform specified functions. One type of IC is a programmable IC, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or a system-on-chip (SoC) including an FPGA-based programmable fabric. An FPGA fabric typically includes an array of programmable tiles. These programmable tiles may include, for example, input/output blocks (IOBs), configurable logic blocks (CLBs), dedicated random access memory blocks (BRAM), multipliers, digital signal processing blocks (DSPs), processors, clock managers, delay lock loops (DLLs), and so forth.
Each programmable the typically includes both programmable interconnect circuitry and programmable logic circuitry. The programmable interconnect circuitry typically includes a large number of interconnect lines of varying lengths interconnected by programmable interconnect points (PIPs). The programmable logic circuitry implements the logic of a user design using programmable elements that may include, for example, function generators, registers, arithmetic logic, and so forth.
The programmable interconnect circuitry and programmable logic circuitry are typically programmed by loading a stream of configuration data into internal configuration memory cells that define how the programmable elements are configured. The configuration data may be read from memory (e.g., from an external PROM) or written into the FPGA by an external device. The collective states of the individual memory cells then determine the function of the FPGA.
Some applications for programmable ICs include frequently performed functions. It is desirable to provide hardened implementations of such frequently performed functions in the programmable IC in order to conserve resources in the programmable fabric and reduce power, which enables more integration than is possible otherwise due to thermal or die size limitations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Programmable device having hardened circuits for predetermined digital signal processing functionality


A semiconductor device includes a first transistor that flows a current to a load, a current generation circuit that outputs a current corresponding to a power consumption of the first transistor, a temperature sensor, a resistor-capacitor network coupled between the current generation circuit and the temperature sensor and an overheat detection circuit coupled to a connection point of the current generation circuit and the resistor-capacitor network, wherein the resistor-capacitor network comprises a resistor and a capacitor corresponding to a thermal resistance and a thermal capacitance between the first transistor and the temperature sensor.

The present invention relates to semiconductor device, particularly semiconductor device having a semiconductor element for power.
In order to drive a motor, a heater, a lamp or the like mounted on an automobile, a semiconductor element for power is used. As the semiconductor element for power, a power MOSFET or an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) is used. And, for miniaturization and cost reduction of products, a product called IPD (Intelligent Power Device) in which a power MOSFET chip and a control chip (including protective circuits) are mounted in one package is also used. In these semiconductor devices, overheat protection measures using temperature sensors such as diodes are important.
Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for reducing the thermal resistivity between the temperature sensing target element and the temperature sensing diode. Specifically, the temperature sensing diode is formed at a position surrounded by the temperature sensing target element. Further, it is disclosed that the temperature of the temperature sensing target element is determined by first-order approximate calculation or second-order approximate calculation depending on the distance from the temperature sensing diode.
Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for detecting the overtemperature of the output transistor by a diode D2 disposed in the vicinity of the output transistor and a diode D1 disposed in the peripheral circuit area away from the output transistor.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof


A method of manufacturing a magnetic field sensor having a stacked structure of:. an exchange-biasing layer (2) comprising nickel oxide on a substrate (1) and PA1 a magnetic layer (3) which is exchange-biased with the exchange-biasing layer (2),. whereby at least the exchange-biasing layer (2) is provided by sputter deposition using a sputter gas which comprises Ne and/or He. The magnetic layer (3) preferably comprises permalloy. In a particular embodiment, the magnetic layer (3) is separated from a second magnetic layer (5) by an interposed non-magnetic layer (4), so as to form a spin-valve trilayer.

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a magnetic field sensor having a stacked structure which comprises:
a substrate; PA1 an exchange-biasing layer comprising nickel oxide; PA1 a magnetic layer which is exchange-biased with the exchange-biasing layer, whereby at least the exchange-biasing layer is provided by sputter deposition. PA1 as magnetic heads, which can be used to decrypt the magnetic flux emanating from a recording medium in the form of a magnetic tape, disc or card; PA1 in compasses, for detecting the terrestrial magnetic field, e.g. in automotive, aviation, maritime or personal navigation systems; PA1 as field sensors in medical scanners, and as replacements for Hall probes in various other applications; PA1 as memory cells in Magnetic Random-Access Memories (MRAMs).
Magnetic field sensors of this type may be employed inter alia:
The term "nickel oxide" as employed throughout this text should be interpreted as referring to any stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric compound of nickel and oxygen. Although the symbol "NiO" will frequently be used in this context, this symbol should be viewed as encompassing compounds of the form NiO.sub.1.+-..delta., in which .delta. is a positive fraction. The term "substrate" should be interpreted as referring to any body of material on which the exchange-biasing layer can be provided; such a body may therefore be composite (e.g. in the case of a glass plate coated with a layer of another material). It should be explicitly noted that the magnetic layer may be located above or below the exchange-biasing layer. Furthermore, the term "exchange-biasing" should be interpreted as encompassing both horizontal exchange-biasing (also referred to as longitudinal biasing) and vertical exchange-biasing (also referred to as perpendicular or transverse biasing).
A method as specified in the opening paragraph is known from European Patent Application EP 594 243, with the exception that the exchange-biasing layer therein described is comprised of an iron-manganese alloy (FeMn) instead of nickel oxide. In the described sensor, which exploits so-called spin-valve magneto-resistance effects, a first and a second layer of permalloy are magnetically coupled across an intervening layer of Cu, and the first permalloy layer is also exchange-biased with an adjacent FeMn layer. As a result of this exchange-biasing, the magnetization of the first permalloy layer is "pinned" in position; consequently, using an external magnetic field, the (free) magnetization of the second permalloy layer can be manipulated relative to the (fixed) magnetization of the first permalloy layer. Since the sensor's electrical resistance is dependent on the relative orientation of the magnetizations in the two permalloy layers, the sensor can thus be used to transcribe a fluctuating external magnetic flux into a correspondingly fluctuating electrical current.
In such sensors as hereabove described, the use of FeMn as an exchange-biasing material has certain attendant disadvantages. In particular, FeMn is highly sensitive to oxidation and other corrosion, which can destroy its exchange-biasing properties, or at least cause them to radically deteriorate. This is particularly the case in so-called "sensor-in-gap" magnetic heads, which are used in hard disc memories. Although attempts can be made to protect the FeMn layer using oxidation barriers (e.g. Ta layers), such barriers tend to reduce the magnetic sensitivity of the sensor, and are seldom completely effective in the long term.
As an alternative to FeMn, the use of an exchange-biasing layer comprising nickel oxide is discussed in an article by M. J. Carey and A. E. Berkowitz in Appl. Phys. Lett. 60 (1992), pp 3060-3062. A great advantage of such an exchange-biasing material is that, since it is already oxidic, it is insensitive to further oxidation. However, a disadvantage of nickel oxide is that its maximum exchange-biasing field H.sub.eb is considerably smaller than that of FeMn. This is undesirable because, as continuing miniaturization trends demand ever smaller field sensors, demagnetization effects in such miniaturized sensors become increasingly significant, so that adequate compensation accordingly requires increasing exchange-biasing fields H.sub.eb. It should be noted that H.sub.eb is here defined as the field-axis displacement (from the zero-field line) of the hysteresis loop of an exchange-biased magnetic layer: see, for example, the article by R. Jungblut et al. in J. Appl. Phys. 75 (1994), pp 6659-6664.
In both the said article by Carey and Berkowitz and in EP 594 243, the exchange-biasing layer is provided using sputter deposition in an Ar-gas atmosphere. An advantage of sputter deposition is that it is highly compatible with large-scale, low-price industrial production, in contrast to techniques such as molecular beam epitaxy.

Method of manufacturing a magnetic field sensor


A battery protection device protects a battery from an abnormal state. The battery protection device includes a detector that detects an abnormality of the battery and outputs an abnormality detection signal when the abnormality is detected. A current is input to an input terminal from outside. A voltage converter converts the current input to the input terminal to voltage and outputs the voltage. A combiner combines the abnormality detection signal with the voltage and outputs a combined signal. A current converter converts the combined signal to a current. An output terminal outputs the current.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to battery protection devices, battery protection systems using the battery protection devices, and battery protection methods, and more particularly, to a battery protection device, a battery protection system, and a battery protection method that detect overcharge and over-discharge of a battery and control a switching element.
2. Description of the Related Art
In terms of its energy density and charging/discharging characteristics, lithium ion batteries have been attracting attention as secondary batteries that are repeatedly used by being charged. However, since the characteristics of lithium ion batteries are apt to be degraded due to over-discharging and overcharging, it has been necessary to protect lithium ion batteries with battery protection systems.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional battery protection system 1.
In the case where n batteries 11 are connected in series in the conventional battery protection system 1, both ends of each of the n batteries 11 are connected to corresponding terminals T11 through Tn+1, thereby monitoring the n batteries 11 with a protection IC 12. When the protection IC 12 detects an over-discharged state or overcharged state of the n batteries 11, terminals T21 and T22 supply abnormality detection signals to driver circuits 13 and 14, respectively. The driver circuits 13 and 14 control the gate voltages of MOS transistors M1 and M2 in accordance with the abnormality detection signals from the terminals T21 and T22 of the protection IC 12, thereby turning OFF the MOS transistors M1 and M2, respectively. The drains and sources of the MOS transistors M1 and M2 are connected in series between the batteries 11 and a terminal T1. When the MOS transistors M1 and M2 are turned OFF, the batteries 1 and the terminal T1 are disconnected, and discharging or charging is stopped. In the aforementioned manner, the batteries 11 are protected from discharging and overcharging.
In the battery protection system 1 as shown in FIG. 1, it is necessary for the single protection IC 12 to protect the batteries connected in series. Thus, when the number of batteries is increased, a high voltage is applied to the protection IC 12, and the protection IC 12 may not be able to withstand the high voltage. Hence, it has been possible to protect merely several batteries connected in series. Accordingly, there is a demand for a battery protection system capable of protecting a large number of batteries connected in series.
As for battery protection systems capable of protecting a large number of batteries connected in series, there has been proposed a system for protecting batteries by performing abnormality detection by: dividing portions to be detected into blocks for each battery; sequentially transmitting abnormality detection information from a high-voltage side to a low-voltage side; and turning OFF a switching element connected in series to the batteries in response to the abnormality detection information output from the last block (refer to, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-307782).
However, since conventional battery management systems perform level shifting by detecting the voltages of the adjacent protection blocks, there have been problems in that it is difficult or impossible to separately drive blocks and that wiring becomes complex.
Additionally, it has been necessary in conventional battery management systems to connect plural protection blocks in a predetermined order.

Battery protection device, battery protection system using the same, and battery protection method


A flexible tie strap includes an elongated narrow web with a fastener joined at one end. One surface of the web is equipped with a plurality of spaced apart ratchet teeth. The fastener includes an aperture to receive the free end of the web and a tongue with a pawl. The pawl is positioned to engage the web teeth to prevent withdrawal of the web through the fastener. A release tab and an anchor tab are joined to the fastener in spaced relation to each other for flexing the fastener to disengage the pawl from the teeth and release the strap from the fastener. The web of the strap may include a series of spaced apart holes to permit attachment of other devices to the strap.

The present invention is broadly concerned with a flexible tie strap used for supporting pipes, ductwork, wiring or the like. More particularly, it is concerned with a flexible tie strap having an adjustable fastener with a release mechanism for securing the tie strap to itself or to another strap.
Flexible tie straps are commonly employed to rig and support ductwork for heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. They are also used as cable ties to support electrical wiring and fiberoptic cables. Such tie strap devices are typically of ratchet and pawl construction with parallel entry of a free end of the strap through a buckle member to form a loop which is used to encircle and support a pipe, duct or cable. One side of the strap includes ratchet teeth and the buckle member is equipped with a pawl. The free end of the strap is inserted through the buckle member and the pawl rides over the teeth as the strap is pulled through the buckle. The shoulder of the ratchet tooth adjacent the pawl locks the strap against reverse movement. Flexible tie straps of this construction are extremely effective in providing adjustable support without causing damage to flexible ducts and wires which easily might be crimped, bent or otherwise damaged by other types of hanger devices.
Once installed, such tie straps can be removed easily by clipping or cutting the strap. However, for some applications it is desirable to loosen and readjust the strap or to remove it entirely for reuse at a different location. Various attempts have been made to equip tie strap fasteners with release mechanisms. Such release mechanisms are not well configured for ease of operation and require substantial finger strength. They also generally require well developed manual dexterity, since they are not easily grasped. Operation of such release mechanisms can be facilitated by using a tool. However, it is preferred that the pawl be released manually, without resorting to use of a tool. During use, a tie strap and associated buckle are typically snugged against the duct or wire to be supported. Use of a tool to pry the pawl to a release position involves a risk that the tool will slip and cause damage to the adjacent duct or wire. Moreover, because the cost of flexible tie straps is relatively low, clipping and discarding a tie is the favored procedure where the fastener cannot be released quickly and easily. Collectively, this practice represents a not insubstantial waste.
There is thus a need for a flexible tie strap with a manual release mechanism that can be easily gripped using one hand to release the strap so that it can be withdrawn from the fastener for adjustment or removal without the use of a tool.


Aspects of the disclosure provide methods, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable mediums for receiving media data of media content. One apparatus includes processing circuitry that receives a media presentation description (MPD) file and a session-based description (SBD) file. The processing circuitry determines whether the SBD file includes a starting time attribute indicating a starting time of an SBD timeline of a session. The processing circuitry determines the starting time of the SBD timeline based on the SBD file in response to the SBD file including the starting time attribute. The processing circuitry determines the starting time of the SBD timeline based on the MPD file in response to the SBD file not including the starting time attribute.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventor, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Moving picture experts group (MPEG) has started a new part in dynamic adaptive streaming over hypertext transfer protocol (DASH) standardization for session-based DASH operations. While a media presentation description (MPD) file is generic for all clients, a client may acquire a side file, such as a session-based description (SBD) file, which provides instructions for the client to make the MPD specific for the session. However, in the current design, some SBD specific information is still carried in the MPD file. In addition, the SBD is specifically designed per an application (e.g., using forensic watermarking) and may not be general enough to address other applications.

Session-based information for dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP


A character pattern data holding circuit includes a through latch. In a mode other than a character display mode, a gate of the through latch is opened according to an access command from the main system by making use of a data function of the through latch so that the main system and a second memory are directly connected to each other. In this way, display control timing restrictions are not imposed on the main system and access performance is enhanced.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a display control system, which permits access to a memory for display data generation by a main system (for instance an external CPU or a personal computer system) according to a display mode command signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a prior art display control system. Referring to the FIGURE, reference numeral 1 designates a display controller (CRTC), 2 a display data memory (VRAM) as first memory means for storing display data, 3 and 4 display data hold circuits (F/F) for temporarily holding display data read out from the VRAM 2, 5 a display data generation memory (CG) as second memory means for storing character pattern data, 6 an image data generation circuit (DGL), 7 a display unit (CRT), 8 a main system side character code hold circuit (F/F), which serves to hold character code data from the main system side and includes a counter for counting bytes of character pattern data corresponding to one character code, 9 a selector for selectively providing an output of either F/F 3 or F/F 8 to the CG 5, 10 a display data generation memory access circuit (DCNT) for permitting access of the CG 5 from the main system side and including an edge trigger flip-flop (F/F) 10a as character pattern data holding means, 11 display data memory access circuit (VRIF), 12 an access mode detection circuit, and 13 a display mode detection circuit.
FIG. 5 shows the image data generation circuit (DGL) 6 in detail. In the FIGURE, designated at 6a is a parallel-to-serial converter for graphics image, 6b an attribute data hold circuit, 6c a parallel-to-serial converter for character pattern, 6d a selector for character image, 6e a border color register, and 6f an image data selector.
FIG. 6 shows the display data generation memory access circuit (DCNT) 10 in detail. In the FIGURE, designated at 10a is the flip-flop for holding the character pattern data noted above, 10b a display data timing detection circuit, and 10c a data take-in timing signal generation circuit.
The operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 4 will now be described. The CRTC 1 provides a signal for controlling the display unit and a control signal for reading out display data of the VRAM 2 and timing signals to the DGL 6 and DCNT 10. From the main system, display data is supplied through the VRIF 11 to the VRAM 2. The CRTC 1 accesses the VRAM 2 and reads out data therefrom, the read-out data being temporarily held in the hold circuits F/F 3 and F/F 4. The subsequent operation is determined depending on display modes. As the display modes, there is a character display mode and a usual graphics display mode other than the character display mode. In the character display mode, character code data is held in the F/F 3, and attribute data in F/F 4. The selector 9 is adapted such that it usually selects an output of the F/F 3. The character code data from the F/F 3 is supplied through the selector 9 to the CG 5 which then provides corresponding character pattern data. This character pattern data and the attribute data from the F/F 4 are supplied to the DGL 6 which produces from these data image data to be provided to the CRT 7. In the case of the graphics display mode, the outputs of the F/Fs 3 and 4 are directly supplied to the DGL 6 which then produces image data supplied to the CRT 7. The DGL 6 receives a signal from the display mode detection circuit 13 to effect switching between character image data and graphics image data.
Referring to FIG. 5, in the graphics display mode the VRAM 2 contains graphic display data. This data is temporarily held in the F/Fs 3 and 4 and then supplied to the parallel-to-serial converter 6a for graphics image. As a result, graphics image data is generated and supplied to the image data selector 6f. In the character display mode, the VRAM 2 contains character display data, and,-as noted before, character code data is held in the F/F 3 and attribute data in the F/F 4. With the output of the F/F 3 the CG 5 is accessed through the selector 9, and read-out character pattern data is held in the parallel-to-serial converter 6c for character pattern. Meanwhile, the attribute data from the F/F 4 is held in the attribute data hold circuit 6b and supplied to the selector 6d for character image. In the selector 6d character color data and background color data in the attribute data are selected according to the output of the parallel-to-serial converter 6c, then the selected data is supplied to the video data selector 6f. The border color register 6e contains data for determining a display color of border area. As shown in FIG. 7, the face area 7a on the screen of the CRT 7 consists of an intrinsic display area 7b and a border area 7c surrounding the display area 7b. The CRTC 1 supplies a signal for selecting either the display area 7b or the border area 7c to switch the image data selector 6f. A signal representing a display mode is supplied from the display mode detection circuit 13, and the video data selector 6f selects either graphics image data or character image data to be provided to the display area 7b.
The operation will now be described in connection with the case when the main system accesses the CG 5. FIG. 8 shows a timing signal DE which is supplied from the CRTC 1 to the timing detection circuit 10b in the DCNT 10. There are two access modes, i.e., an access mode I, in which the main system can access to the CG 5 only during a non-display period t2, and an access mode II, in which the main system can access to the CG 5 at all time, i.e., during either a display period t1 or the non-display period t2. Either access mode is set in the access mode detection circuit 12. In either mode, when character code data is written in the F/F 8 from the main system, the F/F 8 supplies data to the CG 5, whereby corresponding character pattern data is provided. This data is taken in the DCNT 10 and transmitted to the main system under control of a timing signal form the CRTC 1. On the other hand, the main system can transmit character pattern data to the CG 5. When character code data and character pattern data are written from the main system in the F/F 8 and DCNT 10 respectively the character pattern data is transmitted to the CG 5 by a timing signal of the CRTC1. In the character display mode, during the display period the CG 5 should receive the character code data from the F/F 3 through the selector 9 for display data generation and supply corresponding character pattern data to the DGL 6. While there are two different access modes, in the access mode I access of the main system is allowed only during the non-display period t2. The non-display period t2, however, is as short as a fraction of the display period t1. Therefore, the access performance is inferior. In the other access mode II, even during the display period the selector 9 is switched to the side of the F/F 8 in response to an access from the main system, thus improving the access performance. However, in this case data of the main system is transmitted to the DGL 6 as well during the display period, thus resulting in disturbance of the display.
Further detailed description will be given with reference to FIG. 6. The access mode I is the same as the access mode II except for that access is inhibited during the display period. For this reason, the access mode II will be described in detail. FIG. 9 shows a timing signal a which is obtained by dividing a character clock from the CRTC 1 into two. This signal is generated in the data take-in timing signal generation circuit 10c. First, data representing the character display mode is set in the display mode detection circuit 13, and data representing the access mode II is set in the access mode detection circuit 12. Character code data is written from the main system into the F/F 8. When the data take-in timing generation circuit 10c detects the writing of the character code data in the F/F 8 from the rising of the timing signal .alpha.,the selector 9 provides the data from the F/F 8 to the CG 5. The CG 5 accordingly provides corresponding character pattern data to the flip-flop 10a. The character pattern data is held in the flip-flop 10a with the falling of the timing signal .alpha., the held data is then read out by the main system. Meanwhile, with the falling of the timing signal .alpha. a counter in the F/F 8 starts up-counting. Since the character pattern data consists of several bytes per character, after setting of one character code the main system should read out several bytes. These several bytes are set by the counter in the F/F 8. Unless the main system reads out data from the flip-flop 10a, new clock for holding of data in the CG 5 is not provided from the data take-in timing generation circuit 10c to the flip-flop 10a. Thus, data is preserved in the flip-flop 10a, and the data is normally transferred to the main system. When the data is read out from the flip-flop 10a, the main system provides a command (i.e., I/O read signal).
In the case of the graphics display mode, the CG 5 is accessed in the manner as described above. In the case of the graphics display mode, the CG 5 is not directly accessed by graphics image data, so that in the access mode II there is no possibility of disturbance of the display, thus improving the access performance. Again in this case, the timing signal from the CRTC 1 is used as the timing of input of data to the DCNT 10 when reading out the character pattern data after writing of data in the F/F 8 and also as timing of input of data to the CG 5 when writing data.
With the above construction of the prior art display control system, even in the case other than the character display mode, in which the CG 5 is unnecessary, the access to the CG 5 by the main system for reading and writing data is done under control of the timing signal from the CRTC 1, so that it is subject to that timing restriction, thus correspondingly limiting the access performance.

Display control system with memory access timing based on display mode


A method and system for determining the position of at least one position retroreflective element in a predetermined frame of reference using two benchmark positions of known coordinates. A light transmitting and detecting means and a reference retroreflective element are oppositely positioned at a primary benchmark position located at known first coordinates and a secondary benchmark position located at known second coordinates. The light transmitting and detecting means takes angular measurements by sensing a reflected light beam from the position and reference retroreflective elements. After taking angular measurements in the above configuration, the light transmitting and detecting means and the reference retroreflective element are transposed and additional angular measurements are taken. From the angular measurements, the position of the position retroreflective element is determined in the coordinate frame of reference. In addition, the light transmitting and detecting means may be further positioned at an intermediate benchmark position having unknown coordinates. After determining the coordinates of the intermediate benchmark position, angular measurements taken at the intermediate benchmark position are compared with the angular measurements from the primary and secondary benchmark positions and the most accurate measurements are used to determine the position of at least one position retroreflective element.

The present invention relates generally to laser-based position sensing systems useful in construction applications and, more particularly, to a method and system for determining the position of a retroreflective element in a predetermined frame of reference and for providing this position to a position sensing system for use in subsequently determining the position of any point in the predetermined frame of reference.
In the construction industry, the level of automation and robotization continues to remain very low. A significant reason for this is the difficulty of properly positioning machines and tools. In the construction of commercial buildings, for example, various points of reference have to be established, such as placement of floors, ceilings, electrical wiring, plumbing, and heating and cooling ducts. Establishing reference points is time consuming and expensive, particularly as such work is often contracted out to companies which specialize in this work.
Various laser-based position sensing systems are known which continually track the position of a reference point in a predetermined frame of reference. For example, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,690 discloses a position sensing system which calculates the X-Y coordinates of a point using triangulation and determines the direction in which the point is moving. The triangulation calculation is based on the known coordinates of at least three retroreflective elements spaced apart from each other around the periphery of a two-dimensional coordinate frame, and the measured angles between the lines projected radially outward from the point to each of the retroreflective elements. The accuracy of the measured angles is achieved by using a rotating member supported by dedicated hardware and controlled by software. The member rotates with a beam of light generated by a light transmitting and detecting device positionable at the point. The light transmitting and detecting device receives the beam of light reflected back from the retroreflective elements and generates an output signal in response thereto. A computer processes the output signals for use in calculating the X-Y position of the point and the orientation of the light transmitting and detecting device when it is positioned at the point.
The precision of a position sensing system as just described is highly dependent on the ability of the operator to measure the coordinates of the three retroreflective elements accurately . Moreover, each of the respective coordinates of the retroreflective elements must be measured and entered into the computer of the system. Miscalculation of, or errors in entering, the positions of the retroreflective elements could result in time consuming and expensive removal and repositioning of various building fixtures, such as walls, plumbing and heating and cooling ducts.
Consequently, in view of the shortcomings of the above laser-based position sensing system, there is a need for a method and system for easily and accurately determining the position coordinates of the retroreflective elements while concomitantly reducing the likelihood of operator error.

Method and apparatus for determining the position of a retroreflective element


A working oil receiving chamber 8 is provided with an expanding and contracting member 12. The expanding and contracting member 12 is comprised of an expansible and contractible bellows 2a made of metal, and a bottom portion 12b made of metal and for closing opposite open ends of the bellows portion 12a, so that the member 12 can expand as the pressure of the working oil in the working oil receiving chamber 8 is increased and can contract as the pressure is decreased. A slightly compressed gas is filled in the expanding and contracting member 12.

This invention relates to a rotational speed difference sensitive type joint assembly disposed between two members which are capable of rotation relative to each other, and for generating a resistance of the size corresponding to the difference in speed between the two members.
The conventional joints of this type include a housing and a rotor which are capable of rotation relative to each other. The rotor is provided with a plurality of cylinder bores. Each cylinder bore receives therein a plunger such that the plunger is capable of reciprocal movement within the bore. Each plunger is urged against a cam face formed on the housing by a spring. Therefore, when the housing and the rotor are rotated relative to each other, each plunger is reciprocally moved. When the plunger moves in one direction, working oil in the cylinder bores flows into a working oil receiving chamber, and when the plunger moves in the other direction, the working oil in the working oil receiving chamber flows into the cylinder bores (see Japanese Patent Unexamined (Kokai) Publication No. 159423/90, Japanese Patent Examined (Kokoku) Publication No. 103902/95, USP495473, etc.).
The working oil within the cylinder bores passes through an orifice when it flows into the working oil receiving chamber. The working oil is subjected to flowing resistance when it passes through the orifice. The working oil within the cylinder bores are pressurized by this flowing working oil within the cylinder bores are pressurized by this flowing resistance. The pressurized working oil urges each plunger against the cam face to generate frictional resistance between each plunger and the cam face. The housing and the rotor are limited in their relative rotation by the flowing resistance which occurs when the working oil passes through the orifice and by the frictional resistance which is generated between each plunger and the cam face. In other words, the torque corresponding to the flowing resistance and the frictional resistance is transmitted from the housing (or rotor) which is rotating at a high speed, to the rotor (or housing) which is rotating at a low speed.
When the housing and the rotor are rotating relative to each other, the working oil is heated by heat generated when the working oil passes through the orifice or by heat caused by the friction between the plunger and the cam face. On the other hand, when the housing and the rotor are stopped, the working oil is cooled by natural radiation. Therefore, the working oil repeats expansion and contraction. For this reason, if the volume of the working oil receiving chamber is constant, the pressure of the working oil is greatly fluctuated.
In view of the above, in a rotational speed difference sensitive type joint assembly disclosed in the Japanese Patent Unexamined (Kokai) Publication No. 159423/90, a piston biased by a spring towards an inner side of the working oil receiving chamber is slidably disposed within the working oil receiving chamber, the expansion and contraction of the working oil are absorbed by moving the piston in accordance with the expansion and the contraction of the working oil, and the pressure within the working oil receiving chamber is maintained generally constant.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional rotational speed difference sensitive type joint assembly having a piston in the working oil receiving chamber, various kinds of parts, such as a piston, a spring and a seal member for sealing a space between the piston and the cylinder bore are required. Therefore, the number of parts is increased and the manufacturing cost is increased to that extent. Further, since the piston repeats its reciprocal movement in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the working oil, the seal member is gradually worn and the working oil within the working oil receiving chamber is liable to leak outside.

Rotational speed difference sensitive type joint assembly


Described is a multiple-camera system for use in capturing images of users within a materials handling facility and processing those images to monitor the movement of users. For large materials handling facilities, a large number of cameras may be required to monitor the facility. Processing of the data generated from a large number of cameras becomes difficult. The implementations described herein include a hierarchy that allows image data from any number of cameras within a materials handling facility to be processed without substantially increasing the processing time needed or sacrificing processing capabilities.

Retailers, wholesalers, and other product distributors typically maintain an inventory of various items that may be ordered, purchased, leased, borrowed, rented, viewed, etc., by clients or customers. For example, an e-commerce website may maintain inventory in a fulfillment center. When a customer orders an item, the item is picked from inventory, routed to a packing station, packed and shipped to the customer. Likewise, physical stores maintain inventory in customer accessible areas (e.g., shopping area) and customers can locate items from within the store, pick the items from inventory and take them to a cashier for purchase, rental, etc.
While implementations are described herein by way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the implementations are not limited to the examples or drawings described. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit implementations to the particular form disclosed but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope as defined by the appended claims. The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include," "including," and "includes" mean including, but not limited to. Additionally, as used herein, the term "coupled" may refer to two or more components connected together, whether that connection is permanent (e.g., welded) or temporary (e.g., bolted), direct or indirect (i.e., through an intermediary), physical or wireless, mechanical, chemical, optical, analog, digital, or electrical.

Monitoring locations within a materials handling facility


The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a shaped sheet metal component from a billet by means of U O forming, wherein firstly a preform is created by the U-forming and then a final shaping is performed by the O forming to give a final form.

It is known from the prior art to produce sheet metal components by shaping. For this purpose, a metal billet is provided and is shaped in a shaping tool so as to form a shaped sheet metal component. This shaped sheet metal component has a three-dimensional contour. This shaping usually takes place by means of a press-shaping tool, that is to say between a top tool and a bottom tool.
Presently, U-O forming is known from the prior art if the intention is to produce a hollow profile having a closed cross section. For this purpose, firstly a planar billet is provided, said planar billet is pre-formed into a U-shape and then shaped into an O-shape, in order to exhibit a profile having a closed cross section.
For example, CA 2,962,236 A1 discloses such a production method.

U-O forming of a component curved about three spatial axes


Milkweed seed oil administered to an animal improves reduces the symptoms of headaches and improves the health of the animal. Administering an effective amount of milkweed seed oil to the area around the headache of animal results in an improvement in the symptoms of headaches as compared to the symptoms experienced by the animal both before and after the milkweed seed oil was administered.

The symptoms of headaches can be debilitating. In the United States, it is reported that over 100 million people suffer from headaches. There are over 150 different types of diagnostic headache categories. The list includes but is not limited to tension headaches, migraine headaches, mixed headaches of migraine and tension, sinus headaches, acute headaches, hormone headaches, chronic progressive headaches and many more types of headaches.
Migraine headaches are especially devastating to the person suffering the effects and pain. In the United States over 37 million people suffer from migraine headaches. Migraines usually have three stages: 1) Prodrome; 2) Attack; and 3) Postdrome. Women are about three times more likely to have migraine headaches as men. Migraine headaches are of special interest because people cannot participate in normal activities because of the pain of migraine headaches, especially during the Attack stage. Migraine headaches are a major cause of chronic disability in the country.
Proper treatment of headaches will depend on several factors including the type, severity and frequency of the headache and its cause. A high percentage of ordinary headaches do not require professional medical attention. A host of medications are on the market that will deal with these headaches. Unfortunately, many of these medications have negative side effects.
Milkweed seed oil treatments of headaches covered in this invention are effective in dealing with these headache symptoms as shown in the discussion and examples of this document. Milkweed seed oil treatments have also demonstrated positive side effects not negative side effects. The improvement in animal health can be monitored by the amount of pain experienced and the amount of mobility of which the animal is capable. Quick, effective and positive treatments of headaches without negative side effects are desired in the art.

Milkweed seed oil administered to animals


The invention provides golf balls with a core and with one or more layers, preferably cover layers, formed of a saturated rubber/ionomer block copolymer comprising one or more neutral thermoplastic polymer blocks and one or more ionomeric blocks. The saturated rubber block is preferably polyisobutylene, and the ionomer block may be a cationomer block or an anionomer block. Various block cationomers comprising polyisobutylene (PIB) and poly(2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) are preferred. The golf balls of the present invention have been found to provide improved scuff resistance while providing a greater coefficient of friction for improved spin and feel properties.

Conventional golf balls can be divided into two general classes: (a) wound-core golf balls and (b) solid golf balls. Wound-core golf balls with balata (trans-polyisoprene) covers were typically preferred by professional and low handicap amateur golfers prior to recent developments in solid core golf ball technology. Wound balls with balata covers provide a combination of distance, high spin rate, and control that formerly was not available with other types of golf balls, though this is no longer the case. Nevertheless, the soft balata cover is still preferred by many. However, balata is easily damaged in normal play and thus lacks the durability required by the average golfer.
Solid golf balls include balls with a solid core and usually one or more additional layers. One-piece balls are easy to construct and relatively inexpensive but have poor playing characteristics and are thus generally limited for use as driving range balls. Two-piece balls are constructed generally with a solid core, formed of a solid sphere which typically comprises a polybutadiene-based compound, and a cover, usually an ionomer composition. Ionomer resins are generally understood as thermoplastic polymers that are ionically crosslinked, and which may contain both hydrogen and ionic bonds. Ionomers are typically derived from copolymers of an olefin, e.g., ethylene, and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, e.g., acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or maleic acid, that are partially neutralized with metal ions such as sodium, lithium, zinc, or magnesium ions, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,264,272 and 3,404,134. Examples of commercially available ionomer resins include, but are not limited to, SURLYN® from Dupont de Nemours and Company, and ESCOR® and IOTEK® from Exxon Corporation. These ionomer resins are distinguished by the type of metal ion, the amount of acid, and the degree of neutralization. Two piece balls with ionomer covers are generally easy to manufacture, extremely durable, have good shear resistance, and are difficult to cut. However, this durability results from the hardness of the ionomer, which gives such balls a very hard "feel" when struck, which many golfers find inferior to the softer "feel" of a balata covered ball. In addition, the hardness of the ionomer gives the balls a lower spin rate, making these balls more difficult to control. Accordingly, two piece balls are regarded by expert players as having limited playing characteristics.
Multi-layer solid golf balls include a solid core, one or more intermediate layers, and/or a cover of one or more layers. These balls are regarded as having an extended range of playing characteristics. A variety of multi-layer golf balls have been designed by manufacturers to provide a wide range of characteristics, such as durability, compression, velocity, "feel," and spin. These characteristics can be optimized for various playing abilities by modifying the types and compositions of the layers in the balls. Various polymer formulations and combinations have been prepared, largely focusing on modifying the properties of ionomer compositions by forming ionomer blends.
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,884,814, 5,120,791, 5,324,783, 5,415,937 and 5,492,972 disclose ball compositions which are blends of high-hardness ionomers and low-hardness ionomers. Other patents disclose blends of ionomers and nonionic polymers, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,397,840, 5,516,847, 5,703,166. These patents attempt to overcome the inherent immiscibility of ionomers and nonionic polymers by adding polar functionalities to the nonionic polymers (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,986,545 and 5,359,000), or by adding compatibilizers to provide or enhance the compatibility of the two polymer species (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,155,157 and 5,321,089, and Japanese patent application 6,192,512 (1994)). Still other patents disclose blends of normally immiscible or poorly miscible non-ionomer polymers with compatibilizers (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,398).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,497 discloses a golf ball and material thereof formed by curing a diene polymer including polybutadiene and a metal salt of an alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated acid using at least two free radical initiators.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,375 discloses golf balls having improved low temperature impact resistance including a cover composition having an ionic polymer with at least two different metal ions in one molecule.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,974 discloses compositions using cationic polymers having positively charged quaternary ammonium groups. The cationic groups, preferably present in cationic polyurethane polymers, impart improved characteristics to golf ball covers formed therefrom.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,652 discloses a one-piece or multi-layered golf ball core with improved flying performance from a rubber composition comprising a base rubber, preferably 1,4-polybutadiene with a cis- content of at least 40 mole percent, an unsaturated carboxylic acid metal salt, an organic peroxide, and an organic sulfur compound and/or a metal salt thereof. The organic sulfur compound and/or a metal salt is typically present in an amount from about 0.05 to 2 parts per hundred by weight and the organic peroxide is typically present in an amount from about 0.5 to 3 parts per hundred by weight of the total polymer component.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,974 discloses methods of using cationic ionomers in golf ball cover compositions. Additionally, the patent relates to golf balls having covers and cores incorporating urethane ionomers. Improved resiliency and initial velocity are achieved by the addition of an alkylating agent such as t-butyl-chloride which induces ionic interactions in the polyurethane to produce cationic type ionomers.
British Patent No. 2,321,021 discloses a solid golf ball having a core and a cover formed on the core and having a two-layered cover construction having an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. The outer cover layer is comprised of a rubber composite that contains 0.05 to 5 parts by weight of an organic sulfide compound. The core rubber composition comprises a base rubber, preferably 1,4-polybutadiene having a cis- content of at least 40 percent by weight, a crosslinking agent, a co-crosslinking agent, an organic sulfide, and a filler. The crosslinking agent is typically an organic peroxide present in an amount from 0.3 to 5.0 parts by weight and the co-crosslinking agent is typically a metal salt of an unsaturated fatty acid present in an amount from 10 to 40 parts by weight. The organic sulfide compound is typically present from 0.05 to 5 parts by weight.
European Patent No. 0 577 058 discloses a golf ball containing a core and a cover that is formed as two separate layers. The inner layer of the cover is molded over the core and is formed from ionomer resin. The outer layer of the cover is molded over the inner layer and is formed from a blend of natural or synthetic balata and a crosslinkable elastomer, such as polybutadiene. In one embodiment of the outer layer of the cover, the elastomer is 1,4-polybutadiene having a cis- structure of at least 40 percent, with the remaining 60 percent being the trans-isomer. A preferred embodiment contains a cis- structure of at least 90 percent and more preferably, a cis- structure of at least 95 percent.
Notwithstanding these efforts, there is no known prior art disclosure of the use in a golf ball of a block copolymer having a saturated rubber block and an ionomer block as provided by the present invention. It has been discovered, surprisingly, that such block copolymers have desirable hydrogen bonding or dipole interactions as well as ionic interactions which can be utilized to impart improved characteristics to golf ball cores, covers, and intermediate layers, such as improved durability and scuff resistance while obtaining a high coefficient of friction and a soft feel, thus curing deficiencies found in the prior art.

Golf ball comprising saturated rubber/ionomer block copolymers


An early suppression fast response fire protection system includes a sprinkler piping system with at least one sprinkler head assembly, a water supply system, and a check valve in fluid communication with the sprinkler piping system and the water supply system. An antifreeze solution supply system is in fluid communication with the sprinkler piping system, with the check valve isolating the antifreeze solution from the water supply unless a fire condition occurs. A control is provided that is in communication with a flow detector, which detects the pressure of the antifreeze solution in the sprinkler piping system, and a pressure detector, which detects the flow of water through the check valve, and controls the flow of the antifreeze solution to the sprinkler piping system and maintains the pressure of the antifreeze solution in the sprinkler piping system unless the flow detector detects the flow of water through the check valve in which case the control stops the flow of antifreeze solution to the sprinkler piping system to limit the discharge of antifreeze solution from the fire protection system.

The present invention generally relates to fire protection systems and, more particularly, to fire protection systems that have a particularly useful application in unheated environments subject to cold or freezing temperatures, such as cold or refrigerated storage environments; though it should be understood that the concepts of this invention have much broader application and are, therefore, not limited to unheated environments.


The present invention displays text within a region by identifying text boxes within the region. To identify the text boxes, the invention uses scan lines that are spaced at intervals that are smaller than the text height of the text to be placed in the boxes. These scan lines are combined to identify the full text boxes. Additionally, under the invention, a region is transformed before text boxes are generated for the region. The transform is an inverse of a text transform that is applied to the text placed in the region. This allows rotated and skewed text to be placed in the region. The invention also facilitates displaying a single text string across several disjointed regions.

The present invention relates to displaying text on a computer screen. In particular, the present invention relates to displaying text within a region on a computer screen.
To allow different areas of a computer screen to have different appearances, the prior art has developed a coding construct known as a region, which is defined as an area located within the perimeter of a closed shape or some combination of closed shapes. Often, a region is defined as a combination of rectangles, ellipses and polygons.
To write text within a region, a series of rectangles are generated within the region. In the prior art, these rectangles are generated using a technique associated with rendering a region to a screen. Under this technique, the region is "scanned" to produce a set of vertically stacked rectangles that approximate the region. The height of each of these rectangles is fixed and determines the granularity of the approximation. In general, shorter rectangles provide a more accurate representation of the region but also require more data.
Under text layout systems of the prior art, this scanning technique is used to identify a series of rectangles in which text may be written. Since the rectangles must accommodate the text, the height of the rectangles is set equal to the height of the text that is to be written in the region.
This technique can cause problems if the region is later rendered using shorter rectangles than the rectangles used to layout the text. In particular, the higher definition rectangles can cause a perimeter of the region to intersect some of the text that is supposed to be contained within the region. To avoid this problem, the region's rendering rectangles can be made the same height as the text rectangles, but this may diminish the appearance of the region's perimeter.
In addition, since the scanning technique only builds horizontal rectangles, the prior art has been unable to achieve sophisticated text layouts. In particular, the prior art does not provide a way to skew or rotate text within a region.
Prior art text layout systems have also been limited to placing text in a single region. Under the prior art there is no means for wrapping a string of text across multiple regions with a single function call.

Method and apparatus for text layout across a region


A split-gate flash memory cell structure comprising a semiconductor substrate having a gate oxide layer already formed thereon. A first gate is then formed over the gate oxide layer, and a cross-section of the first gate contains two corners, one of which is a sharp corner. An insulating dielectric layer is then formed over the first gate. The insulating dielectric has a lens-shaped cross-section located above the sharp corner. Next, a second gate is formed over the insulating dielectric layer, and surrounded the first gate. A first doped region is formed in the substrate below the sharp corner. Then, a second doped region is formed in the substrate located on the other side of the first gate just opposite the first doped region, furthermore, the second doped region is separated from the first gate by a distance. There is a channel region between the first doped region and the second doped region, and the sharp corner of this invention is located above the semiconductor substrate outside the channel region.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a flash memory cell structure. More particularly, the present invention relates to a split-gate flash memory cell that has a sharp corner between the floating gate and the control gate, and the sharp corner is formed outside the channel region.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional flash memory is a type of electrical erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), which in turn is a type of non-volatile memory. In general, an EEPROM cell comprises two gates. One of the gates known as a floating gate is fabricated from polysilicon and is used for charge storage. The second gate known as the control gate is used for the controlling the input and output of data. The above floating gate is located beneath the control gate, and is generally in a floating state because there is no connection with external circuits. The control gate is normally wired to the word line. One of the characteristics of flash memory is its capacity for block-by-block memory erase. Furthermore, the speed of memory erase is fast, and normally takes just 1 to 2 seconds for the complete removal of a whole block of memory. For most other EEPROM, memory erase can take up to several minutes due to its bit-by-bit operation. Articles concerning flash memory are numerous, and one of them, which produces an improved flash memory structure, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,488, for example.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the flash memory cell structure similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4-S-a of U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,488. As shown in FIG. 1, a first gate 11 and a second gate 12 is formed above a semiconductor substrate 10. The first and second gates, for example, are polysilicon layers. In between the first gate 11 and the second gate 12, there is an insulating layer 13. The first gate 11, the insulating layer 13 and the second gate 12 together constitute a stacked-gate structure 14. On each sides of the stacked-gate structure 14, there is an ion-doped region in the substrate 10, namely, a source region 15 and a drain region 16. The characteristic of this type of flash memory cell structure is the split-gate design for the stacked-gate 14. In other words, the first gate 11 and the second gate 12 are distributed horizontally along the top of the substrate 10. Only a certain central portions of the first gate 11 and the second gate 12 overlaps such that one is stacked on top of the other in a vertical direction. Furthermore, the first gate 11 has sharp corners 17 for providing a high electric field, which confers a fast erase capability to the flash memory.
However, the aforementioned sharp corners 17 are located within the channel region. When the flash memory cells are repeated used, after many cycles, electrons will be trapped in the oxide dielectric layer around the corner areas. The amount of trapped electrons there will depend on the number of repeated charge/discharge cycles. Since these trapped electrons are located between the first gate and the second gate, electrical conductivity of the device will be affected. For example, one of the effects is to increase the threshold voltage of the device, leading to a lowering of the channel current. Such drift in the electrical properties is damaging to the operation of the device.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need in the art to improve the flash memory cell structure.


An apparatus which combines a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) with a demultiplexer, to provide a large bandwidth, high resolution wavelength demultiplexer. Generally, a VIPA is a device which receives an input light having a respective wavelength within a continuous range of wavelengths, and causes multiple reflection of the input light to produce self-interference and thereby form an output light. The output light is spatially distinguishable from an output light formed for an input light having any other wavelength within the continuous range of wavelengths. The apparatus combines the VIPA with a demultiplexer, such as a diffraction grating. More specifically, the VIPA receives an input light and produces a corresponding output light propagating away from the VIPA. The output light includes a plurality of different wavelength components. The demultiplexer demultiplexes the output light into a plurality of separated lights corresponding, respectively, to the plurality of different wavelength components in the output light. Preferably, the demultiplexer has a dispersion direction which is substantially perpendicular to the dispersion direction of the VIPA. In this case, the separated lights from the demultiplexer can be detected with fibers arranged in a grid pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus which includes a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) to demultiplex a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) light. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus which includes a VIPA in combination with a wavelength splitter, such as a diffraction grating, to allow a wavelength division multiplexed light having a relatively large number of closely spaced wavelength components to be accurately demultiplexed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wavelength division multiplexing is used in fiber optic communication systems to transfer a relatively large amount of data at a high speed. More specifically, a plurality of carriers, each modulated with information, is combined into a wavelength division multiplexed light. The wavelength division multiplexed light is then transmitted through a single optical fiber to a receiver. The receiver splits the wavelength division multiplexed light into the individual carriers, so that the individual carriers can be detected. In this manner, a communication system can transfer a relatively large amount of data over an optical fiber.
Therefore, the ability of the receiver to accurately split the wavelength division multiplexed light will greatly effect the performance of the communication system. For example, even if a large number of carriers can be combined into a wavelength division multiplexed light, such a wavelength division multiplexed light should not be transmitted if the receiver cannot accurately split the wavelength division multiplexed light. Accordingly, it is desirable for a receiver to include a high-precision wavelength splitter.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional filter using a multiple-layer interference film, for use as a wavelength splitter. Referring now to FIG. 1, a multiple-layer interference film 20 is formed on a transparent substrate 22. Light 24, which must be parallel light, is incident on film 20 and then repeatedly reflected in film 20. Optical conditions determined by the characteristics of film 20 allow only a light 26 having wavelength .lambda.2 to pass therethrough. A light 28, which includes all light not meeting the optical conditions, does not pass through the film 20 and is reflected. Thus, a filter as illustrated in FIG. 1 is useful for splitting a wavelength division multiplexed light which includes only two carriers at different wavelengths, .lambda.1 and .lambda.2. Unfortunately, such a filter, by itself, cannot separate a wavelength division multiplexed light having more than two carriers.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a conventional Fabry-Perot interferometer for use as a wavelength splitter. Referring now to FIG. 2, high-reflectance reflecting films and 32 are parallel to each other. Light 34, which must be parallel light, is incident on reflecting film 30 and reflected many times between reflecting films 30 and 32. Light 36 of wavelength .lambda.2 that meets passage conditions determined by the characteristics of the Fabry-Perot interferometer passes through reflecting film 32. Light 38 of wavelength .lambda.1, which does not meet the passage conditions, is reflected. In this manner, light having two different wavelengths can be split into two different lights corresponding, respectively, to the two different wavelengths. Thus, as with the filter illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional Fabry-Perot interferometer is useful for splitting a wavelength division multiplexed light which includes only two carriers at different wavelengths, .lambda.1 and .lambda.2. Unfortunately, such a Fabry-Perot interferometer cannot separate a wavelength division multiplexed light having more than two carriers.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a conventional Michelson interferometer for use as a wavelength splitter. Referring now to FIG. 3, parallel light 40 is incident on a half mirror 42 and split into a first light 44 and a second light 46 perpendicular to each other. A reflecting mirror 48 reflects first light 44 and a reflecting mirror 50 reflects second light 46. The distance between half mirror 42 and reflecting mirror 48, and the distance between half mirror 42 and reflecting mirror 50 indicate an optical path difference. Light reflected by reflecting mirror 48 is returned to half mirror 42 and interferes with light reflected by reflecting mirror 50 and returned to half mirror 42. As a result, lights 52 and 54 having wavelengths .lambda.1 and .lambda.2, respectively, are separated from each other. As with the filter illustrated in FIG. 1 and the Fabry-Perot interferometer illustrated in FIG. 2, the Michelson interferometer illustrated in FIG. 3 is useful for splitting a wavelength division multiplexed light which includes only two carriers at different wavelengths, .lambda.1 and .lambda.2. Unfortunately, such a Michelson interferometer cannot separate a wavelength division multiplexed light having more than two carriers.
It is possible to combine several filters, Fabry-Perot interferometers or Michelson interferometers into a giant array so that additional wavelength carriers can be split from a single wavelength division multiplexed light. However, such an array is expensive, inefficient and creates an undesireably large receiver.
A diffraction grating or an array waveguide grating is often used to split a wavelength division multiplexed light comprising two or more different wavelength carriers.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a conventional diffraction grating for splitting a wavelength division multiplexed light. Referring now to FIG. 4, a diffraction grating 56 has a grating surface 58. Parallel light 60 having a plurality of different wavelength carriers is incident on grating surface 58. The different wavelength carriers are reflected at each step of grating surface 58 and interfere with each other. As a result, carriers 62, 64 and 66 having different wavelengths are output from diffraction grating 56 at different angles, and are therefore separated from each.
Unfortunately, a diffraction grating outputs the different wavelength carriers at relatively small dispersion angles. As a result, it is difficult for a receiver to accurately receive the various carrier signals split by the diffraction grating. This problem is especially severe with a diffraction grating which splits a wavelength division multiplexed light having a large number of carriers with relatively close wavelengths. In this case, the angular dispersion produced by the diffraction grating will be extremely small, and typically .apprxeq.0.05 degree/nm.
In addition, a diffraction grating is influenced by the optical polarization of the incident light. Therefore, the polarization of the incident light can affect the performance of the diffraction grating. Also, the grating surface of a diffraction grating requires complex manufacturing processes to produce an accurate diffraction grating.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a conventional array waveguide grating for splitting a wavelength division multiplexed light. Referring now to FIG. 5, light comprising a plurality of different wavelength carriers is received through an entrance 68 and is divided through a number of waveguides 70. An optical exit 72 is at the end of each waveguide 70, so that an output light 74 is produced. Waveguides 70 are different in length from each other, and therefore provide optical paths of different lengths. Therefore, lights passing through waveguides 70 have different phase from each other and thereby interfere each other when they are output through exit 72. This interference causes lights having different wavelengths to be output in different directions.
In an array waveguide grating, the dispersion angle can be adjusted to some extent by properly configuring the waveguides. However, an array waveguide grating is influenced by temperature changes and other environmental factors. Therefore, temperature changes and environmental factors make it difficult to properly adjust the dispersion angle.

Apparatus which includes a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) in combination with a wavelength splitter to demultiplex wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) light


The invention relates to a device for forming any desired portions and sizes of products, comprising an aligning belt (1) that conveys the products (2) while transferring them, at a transfer edge (4), to a portioning belt (3), on which the portions (6) and/or sizes (5) are formed and with which the portions are conveyed onward in their corresponding sizes. The invention relates to a system comprised of the inventive device and of a packing machine (16), and to a method for producing any desired portions and sizes of products.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for producing any desired portions and formats of products, comprising an aligning belt which conveys the products and at a transfer edge transfers them to a portioning belt on which the portions and/or the formats are produced and with which the portions are conveyed onwards in the corresponding formats. The present invention also relates to a system comprising the device according to the invention and a packaging machine and to a method for producing any desired portions and formats of products.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
Positioning systems for positioning products, for example foodstuffs, other goods and the like, are known. Here the products are transferred by a conveyor belt, for example, to a packaging line. As these packaging systems are nowadays constructed in multiple rows, an incoming product stream has to initially be divided into the number of product streams corresponding to the number of product rows in the packaging line. Distribution of a single-row product stream among a multi-row packaging line is currently only possible when the number of conveyor belts with incoming products is arranged parallel above the respective row of the packaging line, by means of which the individual products or product stacks are then placed in the respective row of the packaging line or are ejected from the conveyor belt.
The plant engineering for this is very complex. In addition, the depositing sequence for the individual stacks cannot be varied, or can only be varied with considerable expenditure. Complex machinery is required for a change of format in the packaging machine, for example from three rows to four rows, before the products can be positioned in a packaging line.
Therefore, the object is to provide a device for producing any desired portions and formats, which does not have the drawbacks of the prior art.
The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. The sub-claims relate to preferred embodiments of the present invention.
A portion according to the invention is any arrangement in which products, in particular foodstuffs, are arranged in a specific portion pattern. The stack, the shingling in the longitudinal and transverse directions, in each case with and without overlapping, the zigzag pattern and the terrace-like row are mentioned here as non-limiting examples of possible portion patterns.
A format according to the invention is the arrangement which the individual portions assume with respect to one another. The format of the portions is generally based on the arrangement of the packaging cavities of a subsequent packaging machine in which the portions are deposited and/or the clock rate at which the packaging cavities are conveyed onwards. The products are preferably deposited in parallel product rows.


A fluorescent water treatment polymer comprises at least one water soluble carboxylic acid monomer other than maleic acid, at least one sulfonated pyrene-containing fluorescent monomer, and at least one phosphino group wherein the phosphorous atom of the phosphino group is in the polymer backbone. Additional monomers can be present, with the proviso that if maleic acid is present it comprises no greater than 75 mol % of the polymer. Surprisingly, it has been found that when the phosphino group is present the polymers exhibit an unexpectedly strong fluorescent signal strength. The signal strength of the fluorescent monomer in the polymer is further enhanced when the polymer comprises no greater than 75 mol % maleic acid.

There are many industrial water systems, including, but not limited to, cooling water systems and boiler water systems. Such industrial water systems are subject to corrosion and the formation of scale.
It is known that certain types of water soluble treatment polymers are effective for preventing formation of scale and suppressing the occurrence of corrosion in industrial water systems. These water soluble treatment polymers are known to persons of ordinary skill in the art of industrial water systems and are widely used in scale inhibition products. Such water soluble treatment polymers generally exhibit activity against scale when added to water in an amount in the range of from about 1 to about 100 ppm.
The efficacy of water soluble treatment polymers in inhibiting scale and suppressing corrosion depends in part on the concentration of the water soluble treatment polymer in the water system. Water soluble treatment polymers added to an industrial water system can be consumed by many causes, leading to changes in concentration of the water soluble treatment polymer. Therefore, it is important for the optimum operation of an industrial water system to be able to accurately determine the concentration of water soluble treatment polymers in the water.
It is known that the concentration of water soluble treatment polymers used as components of scale and corrosion inhibitors in industrial water systems can be monitored if the polymer is tagged with a fluorescent monomer. The amount of fluorescent monomer incorporated into the water soluble polymer must be enough so that the fluorescence of the water soluble polymer can be adequately measured, however, it must not be so much as to adversely impact the performance of the water soluble polymer as a treatment agent. Because the concentration of the tagged water soluble treatment polymer can be determined using a fluorimeter, it is also possible to measure consumption of the water soluble treatment polymer directly. It is important to be able to measure consumption directly because consumption of a water soluble treatment polymer usually indicates that a non-desired event, such as scaling, is occurring. Thus by being able to measure consumption of the water soluble treatment polymer, there can be achieved an in-line, real time in situ measurement of scaling activity in the industrial water system. Such in-line, real time measurement systems are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,171,450, 5,986,030, and 6,280,635, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The sulfonated pyrene compound known as pyranine is a known fluorescent compound that can be converted to a polymerizable fluorescent monomer for use in such systems. Other polymerizable fluorescent monomers are known in the art.
A wide array of water treatment formulations will also contain phosphate to minimize corrosion. Many states now have regulations limiting the amount of phosphates that can be used in water treatment systems or otherwise be potentially released to the environment. Even in states where the use of phosphate is allowed, it is considered desirable to minimize the amount of phosphate released to the environment. Therefore, the use of higher pH water systems that are lower in phosphates is becoming more common. But such higher pH water systems lead to increased carbonate scaling. Therefore, there is a need for methods of controlling carbonate scale in industrial water systems, particularly in higher pH environments.
It is further known in the art that some water soluble treatment polymers will be more effective in the treatment of phosphate scale, while other water soluble treatment polymers will be more effective in the treatment of carbonate scale. Homopolymers of maleic acid and copolymers of acrylic and maleic acids are conventionally used as carbonate scale control agents in water treatment applications. When tagged with a small amount of fluorescent sulfonated pyrene-containing monomer, such maleic homopolymers and high-maleic copolymers typically exhibit poor to very low fluorescent signal strength.
It thus would be desirable to provide compositions and methods for controlling scale in industrial water systems comprising a sulfonated pyrene-containing fluorescent water treatment polymer that provides a detectable fluorescent signal under typical industrial water treatment conditions.

Composition and method for controlling scale in industrial water systems