A compensation of cyclical interferences occurring during operation of motor controlled by an electrical motor drive comprising the controllable motor and a speed governor, wherein a position determiner is provided for continuously determining a position of said motor, responsive to a position signal indicative of said position of said motor and wherein a load observer responsive to a first output signal received from said position determiner and to a second output signal received from the speed governor is provided for generating a load signal indicative of an estimated load and continuously applying said load signal to an output of the speed governor.

Electrical motor drives are known per se. A quality of workpieces, which are by way of example machined by production machinery employing such motor drives, is clearly dependent on a circularity (radial runout) of the rotational motion of a shaft driven by the motor and/or a workpiece attached thereto. A corrugation or undulation of the rotational speed or angular speed, and depending thereon an accuracy of a desired rotational position or angular position, are determined by the quality of the control circuit, more particularly by the quality of the closed loop comprised in the control circuit, the driven load, and interferences. The latter can be distinguished in static interferences and methodic interferences. Static interferences occur as a matter of principle. Furthermore, the occurrence of static interferences is periodical or cyclical, when the underlying motion is either a uniform motion or a repetitive motion. Static or cyclic interferences thus can be perceived as a speed-dependent disturbance, where specifically a frequency of such cyclic interferences is dependent of the speed of the rotational motion.

Electrical motor drive and method for operating such electrical motor drive


An optical waveguide is formed by depositing multiple layers of thin films using the process of ion beam sputter deposition. The waveguide is made up of alternating layers of a first material and a second material wherein the two materials have differing indices of refraction and low optical loss. These materials are deposited upon a thermally stable substrate creating a multilayer stack which functions as a waveguide. The multilayer waveguide has ultra low propagation losses and good mode discrimination, thus being very efficient for use in single mode applications. The waveguide is easily adaptable to batch processing which reduces costs and increases the performance of the waveguide.

The present invention relates to solid state optical waveguides which can be used for a number of applications requiring the transmission of optical signals. Furthermore, the invention may be used to form closed loop optical resonators.
Optical waveguides have become increasingly popular for a number of purposes including optical communications, optical signal processing, optical interconnects, optical sensing and many other applications where optical signals need to be transmitted from one point to another. Furthermore, optical waveguides are being investigated for use as resonant sensing elements in rotation measuring instruments.
In the field of optical waveguides propagation loss within the waveguide is a primary concern. The amount of propagation loss will effect the operability and efficiency of the waveguide. Generally, optical waveguides are designed to be low loss devices. However it is advantageous to further minimize all propagation losses within the waveguide. Any propagation loss within the waveguide degrades light wave transmission because the signals being transmitted will attenuate over distances. This creates the need for ultra low loss waveguides which are capable of transmitting signals over relatively large distances. Furthermore, ultra low loss waveguides will be beneficial to many other waveguide applications.
Optical waveguides can be fabricated using a wide variety of techniques, including deposition, diffusion, ion-exchange, and the use of nonlinear optical effects. One approach uses thin film deposition in which the optical waveguides are fabricated by depositing material upon a substrate and then etching or carving away unwanted portions to create a channel waveguide. Many methods of depositing material for waveguide fabrication have been attempted. Some attempts have met with success while others have continually encountered the problems of propagation loss. Examples of the deposition techniques used to fabricate waveguides include magnetron sputtering and chemical vapor deposition.
The methods by which a waveguide is fabricated can greatly effect its characteristics. A number of factors can contribute to the efficiency and performance of the deposited waveguide. First, the material making up the waveguide should be homogeneous and free of impurities. Any impurities within the material will cause an increase in propagation loss through scattering and absorption, while inhomogeneities will cause scattering loss. Additionally, it is essential that the dimensions of the waveguide be controlled with high uniformity over large areas. Any variations in the waveguide dimensions will cause additional propagation loss due to changes in the optical mode structure along the waveguide.
During fabrication excess handling can cause impurities and irregularities in the waveguides. It is desirable to fabricate the waveguides using a process which requires little, if any, physical handling of the waveguides, thus reducing the possibility of creating impurities and irregularities.

Ion-beam deposited multilayer waveguides and resonators


A method of storing log entries of events from a plurality of network elements in a communication network, comprising the steps of: a) receiving log entries at a control processor of events from a plurality of different elements positioned, the log entries grouped into threads based on a common purpose; b) converting each log entry into a compact log record in a logging module, and c) storing the compact log records in a first memory buffer in random access memory (RAM) forming a first log file.

Conventional standalone network probes perform monitoring functions on Internet traffic, and tap into the communication line via a splitter or as an in-line device. The functions typically involve performing some operation on data, inside packets or frames, which is passing through a particular point in the network. Typical functions are, for example, filtering of data, capturing data, forwarding captured data, and summarizing data. Unfortunately, existing probes working as standalone devices configurable to gather data of different types in different arrangements are expensive and require a footprint usually the size of a laptop. Probes that are part of an interface converter or part of a switch or router line card have small footprints, but they have limitations because they are very specific in nature. Thus, when trying to use a probe in a confined space it is necessary to limit the functions that the probe provides in order to use a small footprint probe.
With reference to FIG. 1, PacketPortal™ is a software platform that uses passive, inline intelligent packet director (IPD) transceivers or SFProbes 2, to selectively copy and forward packets from an Ethernet network to a target application. Due to the IPD's form factor, e.g. SFP, they can be affordably distributed where traditional probes are not practical, which enables network operators and managers to access packets and data at any point in the network where optical SFPs are used.
The SFProbe 2 is an inline device, which does not require a separate network connection to deliver captured packets. Instead, the SFProbes take advantage of inter-packet gaps and unused bandwidth in a network when messages or test results have to be sent, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,948,974 issued May 24, 2011 to Ilnicki et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,009,557 issued Aug. 30, 2011 to Curran-Gray et al., which are incorporated herein by reference. When an idle period is detected, a results packet is inserted into the network for routing back to the system and subsequently the destination application or tools. Accordingly, no network packets are dropped while passing through the SFProbes 2.
The PacketPortal solution examines packets at full-duplex line-rate speeds, empowering the IPD to identify packets of interest that are then copied from the network, accurately time-stamped, encapsulated into a results packet, and inserted back into the network for routing to the targeted application—all without causing loss or disruption to the original flows, as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,894,356, issued Feb. 22, 2011 to Mottishaw et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.
A System Manager 4 provides user management and system access through an easy-to-use, web-based graphical user interface (GUI) 5 that users can access through any compliant browser. The intuitive user interface of the System Manager 4 enables quick easy access to the features, functionality, and management of the entire system.
A Packet Routing Engine (PRE) 6 provides scalable management and control of the SFProbes 2 across the network. Currently each PRE 6 can manage and control up to 500 SFProbes 2; however, future PRE 6 will be able to support thousands of SFProbes 2. Each PRE 6 maintains network connections, state, time synchronization, encryption, and discovery, and they route captured result packets for the SFProbes 2 in their domain. Decoupling the functions of the PRE 6 from those of the central System Manager 4 lets a PacketPortal system scale to sizes never before conceived of for packet-access solutions. PRE's 6 may be synchronized with a global time source, such as a global positioning system (GPS), network time protocol (NTP), IEEE 1588 master clock, as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,573,914 issued Aug. 11, 2009, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,689,854 issued Mar. 30, 2010 both in the name of Ilnicki et al., which are incorporated herein by reference.
To simplify data and packet acquisition, every SFProbe 2 incorporates a protocol header parser (PHP) that automatically identifies most major protocols over virtually any network encapsulation. The PHP works in conjunction with four programmable filter banks, which may be activated in every SFProbe 2. Each filter bank may hold up to eight bidirectional independent filter patterns that define the network traffic to be captured and forwarded. Users can set up simple or complex filters using the GUI 5 from the System Manager 4, as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,760,663 issued Jul. 20, 2010 to Ilnicki et al, which is incorporated herein by reference.
A Packet Delivery Gateway (PDG) 8 enables one or more applications, e.g. analysis application 9a or analysis probe 9b, to connect to the PacketPortal system and receive time-aligned packets, as if they were locally connected to a monitor port or tap at the remote location. The PDG uses captured timestamps and sequence numbers from the SFProbes 2 to play aggregated streams out a monitor port. The streams maintain proper sequencing and inter-packet timing that represents what the packets experienced while passing through the remote network port. PDG's 8 can feed packets to any device or application that would normally connect to a tap, SPAN port, aggregator, mirror port or equivalent technology. The PDG 8 enables applications to reside in central locations instead of remote locations, where it may not be economically practical to deploy. Accordingly, the PDG 8 provides the ability to utilize legacy and even future probes and test systems with the PacketPortal system.
A virtual network interface card 10 (VNIC) is a software component that emulates a physical network interface card (NIC) driver and enables any Ethernet-based software application to receive feeds from a PacketPortal system via a NIC interface. The VNIC receives Packet Portal feeds, removes the transport headers and metadata to reveal the network traffic, and retransmits the original packets to the PC's network stack. The traffic is replayed using the original capture timestamps and sequence numbers to accurately represent the traffic as it was captured at the remote element. The replay may be configured to output on a specific transmission control protocol (TCP) or user datagram protocol (UDP) port from the PRE 6 to the VNIC 10. The VNIC 10 can also read captured network data files in the packet capture (PCAP) format and replay them similarly to how live traffic is processed through the PacketPortal system.
The SFProbes 2 can be located in various locations connected to a core IP network 11, such as nodes 12, switches 13, routers 14, data receivers and transmitters 15, and any other access equipment 16, e.g. DSLAM, CMTS, OLT etc.
High complexity software applications utilizing many threads of execution are difficult to analyze and debug. As the application is scaled to process more and more work, this analysis and debugging becomes much more difficult. Logging that contains information that can provide a picture of the complex interactions of all execution threads over time is needed. Application performance tuning requires that the logging is also fast enough to have very little impact on overall execution performance to allow analysis of the application running at speed. Logging may also contain information that the customer or someone trying to reverse-engineer the application should not see. The present invention logs a rich set of information in a binary record format that is obfuscated and so compact that it is very fast to write.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a high speed logging system that stores compacted log records in a first memory buffer in random access memory (RAM).


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer having first and second surfaces, a first electrode and a first gate electrode along the first surface, and a second electrode and a second gate electrode along the second surface. The layer includes a first type first region, a second type second region between the first region and the first surface and facing the first gate electrode, a first type third region between the second region and the first surface and contacting the first electrode, a second type fourth region between the first region and the second surface, facing the second gate electrode, and contacting the second electrode, and a first type fifth region between the fourth region and the second surface and contacting the second electrode. Transistors including the first and second gate electrodes have different threshold voltages that are both positive or negative.

As an example of a power semiconductor device, there is an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). In an IGBT, a p-type collector area, an n-type drift area, and a p-type base area are provided on a collector electrode. Then, a gate electrode is provided on the p-type base area with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween. Furthermore, an n-type emitter area that is connected to an emitter electrode is provided on a surface of the p-type base area.
In the IGBT described above, a channel is formed in the p-type base area when a positive voltage higher than a threshold voltage is applied to the gate electrode. Then, electrons are injected from the n-type emitter area into the n-type drift area, and holes are injected from the p-type collector area into the n-type drift area. With this configuration, a current with electrons and holes as carriers flows between the collector electrode and the emitter electrode.
In order to improve the characteristics of the IGBT, various attempts at reducing the on-state resistance ("on resistance"), reducing turn-off loss, and preventing generation of a surge voltage have been made. For example, in order to reduce the turn-off loss of an IGBT, the gate electrode can also be provided on the collector electrode side. At the time of turning off the IGBT, a voltage higher than the threshold voltage is applied to the gate electrode to prevent injection of holes from the collector electrode, and the turn-off time is shortened to reduce the turn-off loss.

Semiconductor device and integrated circuit

TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION


The invention provides a liquid crystal display device which makes it possible to increase functionality by mounting a function element without having to externally mount the function element onto an area near and outside of a liquid crystal display panel. A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix form and a drive element to drive the pixels. A function element, having a function that is different from the function of the drive element, is disposed in an area including the plurality of pixels and used to display. By this, it is possible to increase functionality because function elements having various functions can be incorporated inside a panel.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, an electro-optical device and a method of producing the same, and an electronic apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
A related art liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel (display section) including an element substrate having pixel electrodes and switching elements, such as TFTs (thin-film transistors), to control the pixel electrodes disposed in a matrix form between a plurality of data lines and scanning lines that cross each other, an opposing substrate having an electrode opposing the pixel electrodes, and liquid crystals disposed between both of these substrates. The switching elements are electrically connected to the data lines to supply image signals and the scanning lines to successively apply scanning signals. A data line drive circuit and a scanning line drive circuit to open and close the switching elements and to control the liquid crystal display are provided at areas situated outside of and near the liquid crystal display panel.
In the related liquid crystal display device, in addition to the scanning line drive circuit and the data line drive circuit, various function elements, such as various sensors and various circuits (IC), are exclusively externally mounted on areas situated outside of and near the liquid crystal display panel.
This related art device is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-80314 (page 6, FIG. 1).

Liquid crystal display and electro-optical devices with a function element


This invention relates to an image forming apparatus constructed such that an upper frame is openably mounted on a main base frame and a pivotal movement transmitter (gear) is rotatably mounted on the upper frame about an axis of a rotation of the upper frame, i.e., in association with the rotation of the upper frame. The gear has a cam portion. One end of a lever comes into contact with part of the cam portion of the gear, while the opposite end of the lever comes into contact with a coil spring. Further, a distance from the pivotal axis of the gear to the contact position of the lever with the cam portion decreases in accordance with a proceeding of the closing operation. Accordingly, as the lever (cam follower) follows the cam portion in accordance with the closing operation of the upper frame, a compression force to compress the coil spring increases. Thereby, a brake force applied to the upper frame on the way of closing also increases.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an open/close mechanism of an upper frame for use in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, and a compound machine having combined functions of these machines. The image forming apparatus comprises a main base frame, the upper frame rotatably linked to an upper end of the main base frame to open and close relative to the main base frame by a rotation of the upper frame about a pivotal axis of the upper end, and a brake force apply mechanism for applying a brake force to the upper frame.
2. Description of the Background Art
There has been known an image forming apparatus of a so-called shell type in which an upper frame is openably connected to a main base frame. In such shell type image forming apparatus, an operating unit provided with ten key switches and a start button, and an upper cover are arranged on the upper frame to constitute an upper unit, while the main base frame is internally provided with various elements such as an imaging unit and a recording paper transport unit.
An operator can easily access the inside of the image forming apparatus (i.e., inside of the main base frame) by opening the upper unit (upper frame) relative to the main base frame to remove recording paper jammed inside the apparatus or to replenish toner. Upon completion of the certain operation such as removal of jammed paper and toner replenishment, the operator closes the upper unit to restore the image forming apparatus in an initial state ready for image recording/reading operations.
Since the above image forming apparatus is constructed such that the upper unit closes the main base frame by its own weight, a well-known brake force supplier such as a gear damper and a torque limiter is provided in the apparatus to give a certain brake force to the upper unit that is being closed. The brake force supplier is adapted to reduce the closing speed of the upper unit.
The image forming apparatus provided with the above brake force supplier has suffered from the following problem. Since the brake force given to the upper unit (upper frame) is set to a constant value, it was difficult to control the closing speed of the upper unit stage by stage during a whole period from start of the closing operation to completion of the closing operation.
Observing the closing speed of the upper unit, the closing speed is relatively slow immediately after start of the closing operation. However, as the closing operation proceeds, the closing speed is accelerated. That is, the closing speed is not constant throughout the closing process.
If the brake force to be applied to the upper frame is set at a relatively low level, it is impossible to suppress the closing speed at a sufficiently low level immediately before the upper unit completely closes the main base frame (i.e., at the final stage of the closing operation) to avoid an impact force exerted on the main base frame.
On the contrary, if the brake force is set at a relatively high level, the closing operation of the upper unit at the initial stage becomes rather difficult unless an operator exerts a moderately large force at the start of closing operation.

Open/close mechanism of upper frame for use in image forming apparatus


Methods combine speech recognition with telephonic sales order processing, in order to automate and improve the efficiency of telephone sales orders, by responding appropriately to vocalizations, pausing for interruption, repeating responses when appropriate, automatically transferring calls to human agents or different automated systems at appropriate points in a transaction, and collecting information. A method accepts incoming sales order calls and appropriately handles order processing. A method connects outgoing calls to customers who have disconnected before completing sales order calls, and appropriately handles sales and order processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automated voice recognition and in particular, the use of automated voice recognition in order taking in the sales arena.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of human agents to make sales calls and process customer orders been prevalent for years. Incoming calls (calls from customers to merchants and service providers) have long been efficiently routed through virtual agents receiving keypad routing from inbound callers. In diverse business areas incoming calls often can be completed without the caller ever interacting with a live agent. Automated systems are often used exclusively for certain tasks, by responding to commands provided by callers through keypad entry or vocally. In fact, many automated telephone systems require an incoming caller to request an agent specifically if they have a need that is not fulfilled by the automated portion of the system, otherwise callers are never transferred to a live agent.
However, there has been some difficulty in automating sales calls, that is, calls made between customers and merchants. The emotional needs of customers calling to place orders for commercial products have typically not been met by automated systems. Merchants who accept telephone orders often wish to translate incoming calls into opportunities to sell more of their product, and the subtlety required to accomplish this goal without alienating customers has not, up to this point, been available from automated systems. Customers who are contacted by automated systems often hang up in frustration before an offer is even made.
Speech recognition systems have developed a great deal in recent years, but practical use for these systems has been limited. Innovation in this area has concentrated on the technical improvement of speech recognition capability (especially pauses, emotional state, word alternatives and accent parsing) rather than in the practical application of speech recognition technology for business uses. Although the technical capacity expanded, the speech-processing industry failed to match the technology to the needs of telemarketers.
Speech recognition systems were inadequate for automating sales-related customer calls either because the speech recognition technology was not capable of parsing complex vocal interactions, or because the underlying decision algorithms were not easily configurable and so did not adequately anticipate the needs of callers with respect to their situational, transactional and emotional needs. For example, in previously developed applications, when customers interrupted lengthy recordings, the message either continued, causing the customer to miss important information, or played again from the beginning, forcing customers to listen to lengthy messages repeatedly. Customers expect either in-person service, or automated service that approximates human behavior.
Because it was necessary for human agents to process sales orders, the cost of processing each order was fixed and could not be reduced by increasing the number of orders. Due to this high cost barrier to entry, many products with low profits in absolute dollar terms could not be processed in small quantities via telephone, because the cost of processing each order consumed or exceeded the profit from the sale.
Once a human agent has engaged in conversation a customer who is placing an order, commonly the customer expects the agent to complete the transaction by collecting payment, shipping and other information "in person" and is not satisfied if the agent transfers the call to an automated system, despite the fact automated systems are more efficient and less error-prone in processing order information. Because human agents must participate in a complete transaction once it has been initiated by a customer, the technology-driven efficiencies common to other telephone-based applications has been limited in the phone sales industry. Human sales agents can only process one order at a time, which severely limits the number of sales that can be made overall. Additionally, human agents must spend time waiting for customers to complete tasks such as making decisions and retrieving their payment information, further limiting the efficiency of the order processing system. Because automation capability has been limited in the area of order processing up to this point, the telephone sales order processing industry has been constrained both in terms of volume and efficiency.
Historically, human agents have been used to process sales calls because they could manage interactions too complex for previously developed automated systems. These interactions include tasks such as altering a sale offer, offering alternative products in response to a customer's situational needs, answering questions asked by a customer, pausing for interruption, and repeating themselves as appropriate.

Method for order taking using interactive virtual human agents


A plurality of read-only, persistent point-in-time images (RPPIs) of a file system are maintained on a storage server. Each of these RPPIs is created to capture an update of the file system. The file system has at least one subset. If, for each subset of the file system, the file system has an RPPI, other than a first RPPI, having a corresponding subset identical to the first RPPI's corresponding subset, the first RPPI may be deleted, yet all updates captured by the first RPPI are still maintained by other RPPI or RPPIs.

Various forms of network-based storage systems are known today. These forms include network attached storage (NAS), storage area networks (SANs), and others. Network storage systems are commonly used for a variety of purposes, such as providing multiple users with access to shared data, backing up critical data (e.g., by data mirroring), etc.
A network-based storage system typically includes at least one storage server, which is a processing system configured to store and retrieve data on behalf of one or more client processing systems ("clients"). In the context of NAS, a storage server may be a file server, which is sometimes called a "filer". A filer operates on behalf of one or more clients to store and manage shared files. The files may be stored in a storage subsystem that includes one or more arrays of mass storage devices, such as magnetic or optical disks or tapes, by using RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks). Hence, the mass storage devices in each array may be organized into one or more separate RAID groups.
In a SAN context, a storage server provides clients with block-level access to stored data, rather than file-level access. Some storage servers are capable of providing clients with both file-level access and block-level access, such as certain Filers made by Network Appliance, Inc. (NetApp®) of Sunnyvale, Calif.
In file servers, data is stored in logical containers called volumes, which may be identical with, or proper subsets of, aggregates. An "aggregate" is a logical container for a pool of storage, combining one or more physical mass storage devices (e.g., disks) or parts thereof into a single logical storage object, which contains or provides storage for one or more other logical data sets at a higher level of abstraction (e.g., volumes). A "volume" is a set of stored data associated with a collection of mass storage devices, such as disks, which obtains its storage from (i.e., is contained within, and may be coextensive with) an aggregate, and which is managed as an independent administrative unit, such as a complete file system. A "file system" is an independently managed, self-contained, hierarchal set of data units (e.g., files, blocks or LUNs). Although a volume or file system (as those terms are used herein) may store data in the form of files, that is not necessarily the case. That is, a volume or file system may store data in the form of other units, such as blocks or LUNs.
A storage server may maintain one or more write-out-of-place file systems. In a write-out-of-place file system, whenever a data block is modified, it is written to a new physical location on disk. This is in contrast with a write-in-place approach, where a data block, when modified, is written in its modified form back to the same physical location on disk. An example of file system software that implements write-out-of-place is the WAFL® file system software included in the Data ONTAP® storage operating system of NetApp.
One feature which is useful to have in a storage server is the ability to create a read-only, persistent, point-in-time image (RPPI) of a data set, such as a volume or a LUN, including its metadata. This capability allows the exact state of the data set to be restored from the RPPI in the event of, for example, data corruption or accidental data deletion. The ability to restore data from an RPPI provides administrators with a simple mechanism to revert the state of their data to a known previous point in time as captured by the RPPI. Typically, creation of an RPPI or restoration from an RPPI can be controlled from a client-side software tool. An example of an implementation of an RPPI is a Snapshot™ generated by SnapDrive™ or SnapManager® for Microsoft® Exchange software, both made by NetApp. Unlike other RPPI implementations, NetApp Snapshots do not require duplication of data blocks in the active file system, because a Snapshot can include pointers to data blocks in the active file system.
An example of an RPPI technique which does not require duplication of data blocks to create an RPPI is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,292, which is incorporated herein by reference, and which is assigned to NetApp. The described technique of creating an RPPI (e.g., a Snapshot) does not require duplication of data blocks in the active file system, because the active file system can include pointers to data blocks in an RPPI, for any blocks that have not been modified since the RPPI was created. (The term "Snapshot" is used in this document without derogation of Network Appliance, Inc.'s trademark rights.) Among other advantages, this technique allows an RPPI to be created quickly, helps to reduce consumption of storage space due to RPPIs, and reduces the need to repeatedly update data block pointers as required in some prior art RPPI techniques.
Write out-of-place technology allows for efficient operation of a backup process through use of the RPPI technique discussed above. As shown in FIG. 1, a storage server 2 implemented with write out-of-place file systems may serve as a backup server. Backing up of a file system (i.e., a volume, LUN, etc.) or a subset thereof on a primary storage system 1 (hereinafter "primary server") starts with the step of completely copying the data of the file system or subset on the primary server 1 to the backup server 2. This initial, or baseline, transfer may take some time to complete, as it is duplicating the entire source data set on the backup server 2 much like a full backup to tape. When the initial full backup is performed, the backup server 2 creates an RPPI of the volume just copied over. Each subsequent backup transfers only the data blocks which have changed since the previous backup. The backup server 2 receives these data blocks, updates its volume, and creates a new RPPI. This backup mechanism is called a block-level incremental backup process. An example of such a backup system is the SnapVault® system of NetApp.
A shortcoming with the above backup mechanism is that there can be too many RPPIs created on the backup server, because each time an update occurs on the backup server, the backup server needs to create an RPPI. However, the number of RPPIs a backup server can maintain is limited by design or physical considerations (e.g., available storage space). This shortcoming can be overcome by coordinating backups from all primary servers such that they occur at the same frequency on similar schedules. Then, a single RPPI can be taken to capture the changed data in all backups. This is the approach taken by NetApp's SnapVault system. This approach, however, requires the coordination and loses the flexibility of a backup system. Thus, another way is needed to reduce the number of RPPIs created on the backup server, yet still ensure that each and every update of a backup server is captured.

Method and system for reducing the number of read-only, persistent point-in-time images on a storage server


Various techniques are provided to implement user specified test registers locally on a PLD for use while the PLD is configured with a user design and tested. In one example, a machine-implemented method includes receiving, from an external test application, a data value at a programmable logic device (PLD) running configured user logic. The method also includes writing the data value into a test register of the PLD. The method also includes providing a control signal from the test register to the configured user logic in response to the data value. The method also includes switching operation of the configured user logic from a first test implementation to a second test implementation in response to the control signal.

Programmable logic devices (PLDs) (e.g., field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), field programmable system on a chips (FPSCs), or other types of programmable devices) may be configured with various user designs to implement desired functionality. Typically, the user designs are synthesized and mapped into configurable resources (e.g., programmable logic gates, look-up tables (LUTs), embedded hardware, or other resources) and interconnections available in particular PLDs. Physical placement and routing for the synthesized and mapped user designs are then determined to generate configuration data for the particular PLDs.
After being programmed with the configuration data, the PLD may be tested. In some cases, a user design may include several alternative implementations of particular functionality, and a user may wish to switch between the different implementations during testing without having to completely reconfigure the PLD.
Conventionally, such switching is performed using hardware DIP switches on a test board. While the PLD is connected to the test board, the DIP switches are connected to corresponding physical pins of the PLD. To switch between different implementations, a user physically adjusts one or more DIP switches to provide corresponding switched signals to the PLD through the physical pins.
Also during testing, a user may wish to monitor various signals of the PLD. Conventional approaches rely on lights (e.g., light emitting diodes) also provided on the test board. Particular lights are connected to additional corresponding physical pins of the PLD to receive monitored PLD signals routed to the physical pins. For example, a logic high or logic low signal value may be indicated by illuminating or dimming the corresponding light.
Unfortunately, such conventional testing and monitoring procedures rely on limited physical resources of the PLD and test board (e.g., limited numbers of pins, DIP switches, and/or lights). As a result, only a small number of alternative implementations may be tested (e.g., using 8 or fewer DIP switches) and only a small number of signals may be monitored (e.g., using 12 or fewer LEDs). Moreover, such arrangements require physical interaction by the user to adjust the DIP switches and view the lights. As a result, it can be difficult to properly test and monitor complex user designs employing large numbers of alternative implementations and/or monitored signals.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.

Registers for post configuration testing of programmable logic devices


Δ9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) esters comprising the reaction product of THC with at least one aryl sulfonyl chloride in the presence of at least one tertiary amine. The resulting aryl sulfonic THC esters are highly crystalline and stable at room temperature in air, allowing for indefinite storage. The aryl sulfonic THC esters can be recrystallized for purification, and then hydrolyzed to recover the purified THC.

Naturally occurring cannabinoids are the biologically active components of cannabis. Pharmaceutical interest in cannabinoids has increased due to FDA approval of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for several therapeutic applications. This interest has lead to the development of synthetic cannabinoid compounds.
In general, both natural and synthetic cannabinoids are very difficult molecules to work with, as they tend to be hard glasses that are prone to oxidation at room temperature. THC is a non-crystalline glass at room temperature, and is susceptible to rearrangement and air oxidation. Although THC is typically stored in a dark freezer under an inert gas, maintaining purity during storage is very difficult. These characteristics also complicate the use of cannabinoids as reactants in other synthesis methods or uses.
Purification of cannabinoids is also complicated by the characteristics listed above. Furthermore, many of the impurities commonly found in cannabinoid mixtures are also problematic. Conventional methods of purification typically involve the use of HPLC. These methods are inconvenient and expensive, and make scaling up of the purification process impractical.
It is therefore desirable to provide a method for producing a cannabinoid derivative that allows for ease in handling, stable storage, an improved method of purification, and that are easily converted back to a cannabinoid.

Cannabinoid crystalline derivatives and process of cannabinoid purification


A method for transmitting message of a document in a multiport facsimile, in which the messages to be transmitted are registered in a memory unit in file unit together with a specific message-registration table; and all the registered messages having the same destination are re-registered in a specific transmission-result table for subsequent transmission to the destination in one dial-up.

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting a message of a document in a multiport facsimile having more than one communication channel as well as memory unit transmitting features, and more particularly to a method for collecting and storing input messages in their registration order and transmitting messages having a same destination on a single call.
In a multiport facsimile, to be sent are generally stored in a memory unit after they are placed and scanned by the scanner. The messages are dispatched on one-to-one basis to a destination that has been registered whenever possible. However, a drawback in such multiport facsimile is that, when there are a plurality of messages to be dispatched, messages have to be dispatched on a one-to-one basis to the same destination and not simultaneously in one call.

Method for increasing communication efficiency in a multiport facsimile


A digital tandem channel unit installable in an intermediate central office of a digital carrier telephone network maintains the digital format of the T1 traffic in the course of a DS0 tandem cross-connect, so as to eliminates the possibility of corruption of voice/data traffic, as may occur in a conventional `analog` office cross-connect tandem pair due to quantization errors introduced into the data stream in the course of the digital to analog conversion of the data. Also, the invention incorporates control software in each tandem channel unit's micro-controller that allows it to respond to analog tone signalling test procedures initiated from either two or four-wire channel ports of network access equipment.

Although the proliferation of digital signal processing equipment has met with widespread acceptance in a variety of industries, telephone companies have been slow to convert to or integrate digital signalling subsystems and communication schemes into their well established copper wire networks. One of the principal reasons for such reticence is the fact that a significant part, if not all, of an established telephone network employs analog signalling equipment. Consequently, to be accepted by the telephone company, any digital product must not only be a cost effective replacement for existing circuitry, but it must be signal-compatible with any remaining analog units of the network to which it may be interfaced.
Most telephone networks currently utilize digital signalling highways to carry voice and data traffic between offices, via a pulse code modulated (PCM) carrier (such as a T1 carrier having a data rate of 1.544 Mb/s), onto which a plurality of (e.g. 24) data channels are multiplexed into serially transmitted frames of digital data. Since the successful completion of a telephone call requires the operation of telephone equipment of the calling and called parties, it is also necessary to include, as part of the communication traffic between offices, additional signals through which such equipment is controlled.
In a conventional . analog environment, such control signalling is realized by the application of prescribed voltages to respective (e.g. tip and ring) leads of a (two or four-wire) analog channel. Because such analog signalling is not possible over a digital link, T1 protocol customarily incorporates the necessary signalling information in the form of control bits, termed A and B bits, into the frames of voice/data traffic carried by the digital communications channel. One accepted industry practice of inserting such control bits into the digitized voice traffic without noticeable corruption of the voice signals is to `rob` the least significant bit of one or more bytes of a data frame and replace the `robbed` data bit with a control bit.
In the course of interfacing these frames of digital data at an inter-station location within the T1 link, such as at an intermediate central office, it has been conventional practice to port respective ends of the digital (T1) link to dedicated tandem digital/analog and analog/digital interface pairs, which are interconnected by way of an analog, cross-connect link, thereby permitting both access to and testing of the central office's equipment by a standard switched maintenance access system (SMAS) or a switched access remote test system (SARTS). Unfortunately, because the digital communication equipments at the respective ports of the intra-office, cross-connect link are mutually asynchronous, it has been necessary to provide an intermediate analog highway in the central office for effecting the transmission of the control information carried by the A and B bits onto the next T1 link.
More particularly, in a leased line application, which conveys only voice or data traffic, a frame of digital data contains no signalling or control, information (A and B bits) that must be extracted from the data stream, so that it is possible to successfully cross-connect the respective T1 ports of the intermediate central office by a digital-only link. However, since a typical T1 channel also can be expected to carry signalling traffic in addition to purely voice/data bytes, some means must be provided to ensure successful transmission and synchronization of the information contained in the signalling bits over the intra-office cross-connect link. As noted above, one conventional technique to handle this problem is to use a separate, dedicated analog pair which carry battery or ground potentials for auxiliary signalling in addition to four-wire link for voice/signalling traffic.
A shortcoming of a conventional `analog` cross-connect (a traditional motive for which is its ability to accommodate access from analog test equipment, as noted previously) is the fact that all of the voice traffic is subject to potential data corruption by quantization errors that may be introduced in the course of the analog-to-digital conversion of the out going T1 data.

Digital tandem channel unit interface for telecommunications network


High precision capacitors and methods for forming the same utilizing a precise and highly conformal deposition process for depositing an insulating layer on substrates of various roughness and composition. The method generally comprises the steps of depositing a first insulating layer on a metal substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD); (b) forming a first capacitor electrode on the first insulating layer; and (c) forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer and on or adjacent to the first capacitor electrode. Embodiments provide an improved deposition process that produces a highly conformal insulating layer on a wide range of substrates, and thereby, an improved capacitor.

Previously, there have been challenges in precisely depositing an insulating layer on substrates of various surface roughnesses. Conventional deposition processes have resulted in poor levels of conformality (uniform thickness or surface coverage uniformity of the insulating layer over the substrate) and thickness control, resulting in thin spots or undeposited areas. Generally, the resulting thin spots or undeposited areas lead to premature breakdown and/or a high defect density in the production of an electronic device. Thus, an ideal deposition process for depositing insulating layers on substrates having various surface roughnesses has been difficult to achieve.
Typically, insulating layers in high performance electronic devices are deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). However, CVD methods may not achieve a desired level of conformality, resulting in the production of substandard capacitors having thin spots or undeposited areas. It would be advantageous to replace such processing steps with more effective processing techniques.

Methods for forming electrically precise capacitors on insulative substrates, and structures formed therefrom


The invention relates to an improved process for the production of alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides corresponding to formula (I): EQU R.sup.1 O-G!.sub.p (I). in which R.sup.1 is an alkyl and/or alkenyl radical containing 4 to 22 carbon atoms, G is a sugar unit containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms and p is a number of 1 to 10, by acid-catalyzed acetalization of primary alcohols with monomeric carbohydrates, in which the reaction is carried out in a stirred tank reactor surmounted by a vacuum falling-film evaporator through which the mixture is pumped under reaction conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for the production of alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides in which a combination of a stirred tank reactor and a falling-film evaporator is used.
2. State of Related Art
Alkyl oligoglycosides, more particularly alkyl oligoglucosides, are nonionic surfactants which are acquiring increasing significance by virtue of their excellent detergent properties and their high ecotoxicological compatibility. The production and use of these compounds have been described just recently in a number of synoptic articles, of which the articles by H. Hensen in Skin Care Forum, 1, (October 1992), D. Balzer and N. Ripke in Seifen-ole-Fette-Wachse 118, 894 (1992) and B. Brancq in Seifen-ole-Fette-Wachse 118, 905 (1992) are cited as representative.
They are normally produced by acetalization of glucose with fatty alcohols in the presence of acidic catalysts. The catalyst is then neutralized, excess fatty alcohol is removed and, if desired, the product is bleached.
There are numerous known processes for their production which are characterized by the use of certain units. For example, DE-A1 4 231 833 (Huls) describes an acetalization reaction which is carried out as a liquid/liquid reaction in a thin-layer evaporator. Another process for the production of alkyl glucosides, in which the acetalization reaction is carried out in an evaporator at an acid value of 1 to 10, is known from EP-A1 0 501 032 (Huls). Finally, a process in which aqueous starch sirup is introduced into the reaction solution through an in-line mixer is known from WO 93/11143 (Henkel).
The discontinuous acetalization reaction is normally carried out in stirred reactors which are equipped with a distillation head for removing the water of condensation. Under laboratory conditions, substantially complete conversions can be obtained in short times, in addition to which the reaction products are distinguished by a low polysugar content. However, scaling-up for industrial application involves difficulties. More particularly, it has been found that much longer reaction times are required for complete reaction of the glucose, resulting in an unwanted increase in secondary products, more particularly the polysugar content, quite apart from longer reactor possession times.
Accordingly, the problem addressed by the present invention was to provide an improved process for the production of alkyl glucosides which would be free from the disadvantages mentioned above.

Process for the production of alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides


The lamellar or strip-shaped floor marking, in particular for means of transportation, in particular airplanes, having a photoluminescent layer on which covering elements which appear dark in comparison with the luminous layer and which serve as a directional indication are arranged in such a way that acute-angled markings pointing in a direction are formed. The covering elements extend over the entire width of the floor marking and taper on both sides at one of their ends so that a recess bounded by an acute-angled isosceles triangle is formed there. The covering elements are substantially adjacent to one another, at least in groups, in such a way that the distance between them is smaller than approximately three times their longitudinal extent.

The invention relates to a lamellar or strip-shaped floor marking, in particular for means of transportation, very particularly for airplanes, having a photoluminescent layer on which covering elements which appear dark in comparison with the luminous layer and which serve as a directional indication are arranged in such a way that acute-angled markings pointing in a direction are formed.
It is known to affix lamellar or strip-shaped floor markings having a photoluminescent layer in airplanes. By means of daylight or the illumination in the airplane cabin, the photoluminescent layer is made to glow. This glow continues for a long period of time when the floor marking is no longer being illuminated. In the case of an accident, airplane passengers can orient themselves even in darkness by means of these glowing floor markings. An external illumination, which is complex and fault-prone, is not required.
These floor markings indicate escape routes. In this case there are also no particular problems if the airplane, as is conventional, is provided with emergency exits at the front and rear end of the airplane cabin (and usually also over the wings). In that case, it is not necessarily a matter of finding the nearest emergency exit in the case of an accident but rather, led by the glowing floor markings, of following the other passengers to the nearest exit. However, it is a different proposition if the airplane has a so-called "dead end", that is to say if, for example, no emergency exit is provided at the rear end. There is then the danger that in the case of an accident passengers follow the floor markings in the wrong direction, namely to the end of a cabin not provided with an emergency exit. In order to avoid this, it is known to affix opaque markings in triangular form on the floor markings, the tip of the triangle pointing in the direction of the escape route. Such dark markings can be created by applying a coating, for example. The applied coating on the one hand prevents the photoluminescent layer underneath from being "charged" by incident light. On the other hand, light that is nevertheless emitted therefrom is absorbed by the markings. These markings usually have a distance between them of approximately 50 cm. A closer distance is clearly considered not to be expedient, because in this case there is no longer enough glowing surface of the floor marking available.
A problem now occurs if a passenger wishes to observe the marking in order to see in which direction the tip of the triangle is pointing. Due to the darkness, the cone cells of the retina of the eye, which impart color vision and only have a low light sensitivity, do not impart a sense of sight. This is only the case for the rod cells, which are active in the process of seeing light and dark and have a high light sensitivity. However, in the middle of the retina, the fovea, there are no or only very few rod cells which react to low brightness. Thus, if an attempt is made to look at the marking, so that the marking is imaged on the fovea, it is difficult to recognize the marking or it is not seen at all, since the brightness is not sufficient to excite the cone cells arranged in the fovea. This is particularly the case if the fluorescent layer is additionally covered by a film of paint, so that the floor marking no longer glows as brightly. Furthermore, problems occur particularly if the floor markings have been in the dark for an extended period of time, that is to say in the case of night flights or after the first time operation is commenced in the morning. The problems are further exacerbated if the floor markings only have a small width. In this case, the triangles would have to take up the entire width of the floor marking, so that likewise the recognition of them is worse.
However, the abovementioned problems do not only occur in the airplanes mentioned for the explanation, although this case is particularly important. Similar problems can also occur in different means of transportation or dark rooms, for example cinemas.


A chemical adsorption film possessing a fluorocarbon group through siloxane coupling is applied on the surface of a photoimaging component such as a photoconductor, the surface of a cleaning blade, the surface of a fixing roller, the surface of a separation pawl used in offset of paper, the surface of a corona wire, or the surface of a corona grid. Further according to the invention, the chemical adsorption film is laminated via a siloxanebased inner layer, the inner layer being bonded by covalent bonds to the surface of the device, the inner layer and the chemical adsorption film being bonded together by covalent bonds. Furthermore according to the invention, since the chemical adsorption film of the invention is an ultrathin film, on the order of nanometers or Angstroms, it does not spoil the properties of the separation pawl such as mechanical strength.

In an electrophotographic apparatus, the photoreceptor is used in a series of electrophotographic processes; that is, in repetitive processes of primary charging, forming of an electrostatic latent image by image exposure, development of toner charged in reverse polarity of the electrostatic image, transfer of the toner image on plain paper, removal of residual toner on the drum by a cleaning device, and removal of electric charge on the drum by intense exposure.
In these processes, the talc and residual toner of the paper on the photoconductor drum are usually removed by using a cleaning roller or cleaning blade.
The required characteristics of the blade are to remove the toner efficiently from the photoconductor drum and to prevent the removed toner from depositing on the blade.
As the blade material, polyurethane rubber is generally used because it is excellent in wear resistance.
In the fixing process, the toner is permanently adhered to the paper by heat or pressure. The fixing process is the step for determining the final image. When the adhesion of the toner and the roller surface becomes stronger than the aggregation of toner particles, the toner deposits on the roller, which causes background noise on the copy. That is, the toner is stuck on the white background. To prevent this, the roller surface is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene to weaken toner adhesion.
In the fixing process, in order to improve the paper offset property, the separation pawl is used. To prevent the toner from sticking to the separation pawl, the surface of the separation pawl made of polyamide is coated with a resin containing fluorine, and is baked (Japanese Patent Publication Sho. 61-23554).
In the corona charging process, the photoconductor surface is uniformly charged by corona discharge by means of a corona wire. The corona wire is usually made of gold-coated tungsten wire.
Also in the fixing process, the photoconductor surface is uniformly charged by corona discharge by means of a charger. The corona grid is generally made of stainless steel.
If an attempt is made to remove the toner in this method, however, a slight amount of paper talc and toner is not removed but is left on the photoconductor drum. When the image is repeatedly formed, white blanks or black spots may appear on the image and lower the image quality. Or if the cleaning roller or cleaning blade is applied by force in order to remove toner, the electric charge of the surface layer of the photoconductor is charged which lowers the durability.
Moreover, if fixed repeatedly by using a fixing roller, the toner is deposited on the roller surface, and black spots appear on the image if the images are formed repeatedly, and the image quality drops. This is because, due to repeated fixings, the Teflon ("Teflon" is the trademark for polytetrafluoroethylene) coated surface is injured or is partly torn, and the toner parting property is lowered.
In the conventional separation pawl, if used repeatedly at 200.degree. C. or more, the fluorine-containing resin film may be injured or partly torn, and the toner parting property is lowered which impairs the image quality.
By repeating the charging process in the electrophotographic apparatus using a charger, the toner deposits on the corona wire, and when the images are formed repeatedly, image disturbance or black spots may appear on the image which lowers the image quality. This is because the corona wire is not provided with the toner parting property.
Also by repeating the charging process in the electrophotographic apparatus using such charger, the toner deposits on the corona grid, and when images are formed repeatedly, image disturbances or black spots may appear on the image which lowers the image quality. This is because the corona grid is not provided with the toner parting property.

Electrophotographic apparatus containing a chemical adsorption film coating

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and solvates thereof for use in the treatment of cancer:

PPM1D (also known as PP2Cδ, Wip1) is a member of the PP2C class of protein phosphates and is known to have a role in regulating cell growth and cellular stress response.
The expression of PPM1D was initially identified as induced in a p53-dependent manner in response to gamma or UV radiation (1), and PPM1D has been implicated in the negative regulation of tumor suppressor pathways (2).
PPM1D mediates feedback regulation of p38-p53 signaling by inactivation of p38 MAP kinase, MAPK/p38 (1, 3-4) via dephosphorylation, which in turn reduces the phosphorylation and activation of p53.
In addition, PPM1D has been shown to dephosphorylate p53 directly (5). Additional functions for PPM1D include the regulation of the base excision pathway of DNA repair (6), progesterone receptor function (7), the homoeostatic regulation of the checkpoint kinases CHK1 and CHK2 (5, 8-11) and the activation of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (12).
The PPM1D gene maps to 17q23.2, a genomic region recurrently amplified in several types of tumours including medulloblastomas, neuroblastomas, pancreatic adenocarcinomas, ovarian clear cell carcinomas and breast cancer (4, 13-20).
Studies in the Institute of Cancer Research have demonstrated that PPM1D expression and phosphatase activity are required for the survival of cancer cells derived from breast and ovarian clear cell carcinomas harbouring amplification of 17q23.2 (13, 15). All cases harbouring PPM amplification displayed PPM overexpression. PPM amplification was significantly associated with HER2 overexpression, and HER2, TOP2A and CCND1 amplification (16).
These results provide evidence that PPM1D is one of the drivers of this amplicon and that PPM may constitute a therapeutic target for a subgroup of breast and ovarian cancers harbouring PPM1D gene amplification.
The PPM1D gene has been found to be overexpressed and amplified in many types of cancers, including but not limited to breast cancer, gastric carcinomas, ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, neuroblastomas, and medulloblastomas. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is thought that PPM1D amplification or overexpression may also be associated with a particularly poor prognosis in these cancers.
PPM has also been identified as a potential therapeutic target in ovarian clear cell carcinomas (15) and breast cancer (23). In addition, it was recently shown that PPM1D confers CDDP (cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum) resistance in OVCA cells, through attenuating CDDP-induced, Chk1-mediated, p53-dependent apoptosis (21).
Tumours with PPM amplification rarely contain p53 mutations and exhibit poorer prognosis than their counterparts with normal PPM1D.
Diagnostic Markers for PPM Amplification
The availability of molecular diagnostics to identify the group of patients that may benefit from PPM1D inhibitors facilitates the development of biology-driven clinical trials to test PPM as a therapeutic target.
The Institute of Cancer Research has developed reagents that can be used for the identification of PPM1D amplification and overexpression in breast cancer archival samples, including a CISH probe for PPM1D (22).
Given the lack of validated anti-PPM1D antibodies that can be applied for immunohistochemistry, a TaqMan based qRT-PCR which has been validated at ICR may constitute an alternative to assess PPM1D expression levels in routinely processed pathological samples, provided that the samples have an excess of 50% of tumour cells.

Fused heterocyclic compounds and their use

The Institute of Cancer Research: Royal Cancer Hospital


The inside of a case of a rotary table device is divided into a first space and a second space. The pressure of the first space is regulated to a pressure higher than the pressure of the second space during a steady state. The relationship between the pressures is reversed at a certain timing, to make the pressure of the second space higher than the pressure of the first space. Such operation can forcibly close a check valve disposed between the first space and the second space on regular basis, thereby preventing a malfunction of the check valve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary table device capable of preventing a malfunction of a check valve used therein and preventing penetration of cutting fluid and the like from the outside to the inside of a case.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been conventionally used a rotary table device shown in FIG. 8, which executes NC control to rotate or divide a workpiece installed on a machining table 3 of a machine tool 1 performing cutting, grinding, electrical discharge machining and the like. This type of device has a rotary table 2 provided with a case equipped with a servomotor, an operation validation switch, an electromagnetic valve, and other electric components, wherein cutting work, grinding work, electric discharge machining and the like are executed on a workpiece attached to the rotary table 2 while spraying/dipping the workpiece with/in cutting fluid, grinding fluid, dielectric working fluid and the like.
Cutting fluid, grinding fluid, and dielectric working fluid may be oil-based or water-soluble. Especially water-soluble fluid is usually sprayed in large amount when cutting a workpiece, in order to remove chips of the workpiece. Moreover, water-soluble cutting fluid, grinding fluid, and dielectric machining fluid are not only higher in permeability than the oil-based ones, but also likely to cause swelling and hardening of the synthetic resin materials used for covering seal packing and cables, deteriorating the resin materials.
Therefore, in the case where a synthetic resin material is used as a sealing member in the rotary table 2 of the machine tool 1, the synthetic resin could deteriorate as time passes, and causes the cutting fluid and the like to penetrate into the case in spite of the airtightness of the case in the beginning. Consequently, the moisture stick to and causes rust on the electric components such as the servomotor, the operation validation switch, and the electromagnetic valve equipped in the case, impairing the insulation properties of the electric components and eventually causing electrical hazards.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-267939 discloses a rotary table device as the means to solve these problems, in which is provided a check valve that is configured to discharge air only in one direction from the inside of a case of a rotary table to the atmosphere by supplying air into the case and discharging air to the outside of the case when the pressure within the case becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure which is higher than an atmospheric pressure, in order to keep the pressure within the case higher than the atmospheric pressure so that cutting fluid and the like does not penetrate into the case. FIGS. 9 and 10 are each a general view of this rotary table device. Air is supplied from an air supply source 61 connected to an air supply port 51 into a case 55 through an air supply path 57, and the air within the case 55 is discharged to the atmosphere through an air discharge path 59 and a check valve 53.
The technology disclosed in this Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-267939 constantly keeps the pressure of the case 55 at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure. Such a configuration allows the air to constantly flow in one direction from the inside of the case 55 to the outside through the check valve 53. As a result of this air flow in one direction, the check valve 53 assumes a state in which the valve thereof is opened for the long time, whereby the O-ring and the like on the check valve 53 becomes fixedly attached to a sliding portion, making it difficult for the check valve 53 to return even when the pressure inside the case 55 drops.
When the air inside the case 55 is leaked to the outside or when the air is no longer supplied to the case 55 due to deterioration of a sealing member of the case on account of the cutting fluid and the like, the pressure inside the case 55 cannot be kept at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure, causing penetration of the cutting fluid and the like from the check valve 53 into the case.


A memory cell which is formed on a fully depleted SOI or other semiconductor thin film and which operates at low voltage without needing a conventional large capacitor is provided as well as a memory cell array. The semiconductor thin film is sandwiched between first and second semiconductor regions which face each other across the semiconductor thin film and which have a first conductivity type. A third semiconductor region having the opposite conductivity type is provided in an extended portion of the semiconductor thin film. From the third semiconductor region, carriers of the opposite conductivity type are supplied to and accumulated in the semiconductor thin film portion to change the gate threshold voltage of a first conductivity type channel that is induced by a first conductive gate voltage in the semiconductor thin film between the first and second semiconductor regions through an insulating film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory and an integrated circuit built therefrom, and more specifically, to a technique which uses for a channel formation region a semiconductor thin film such as SOI (Semiconductor On Insulator) or SON (Semiconductor On Nothing). The semiconductor thin film is formed on an insulating substrate (SOI) in some cases, is suspended and held at both ends by substrates in a hollow state (SON) in some other cases, and has a projecting portion which is connected at one end to a substrate in still other cases.
2. Description of the Related Art
H. J. Wann et al. have proposed in 1993 to obtain a dynamic memory that does not use a capacitor by incorporating two complementary transistors in a partially depleted SOIMOS transistor structure (See Non-patent Document 1, for example).
Recently, a memory has been proposed in which carriers are generated utilizing a carrier multiplication phenomenon such as avalanche breakdown in a drain high electric field region of a partially depleted SOIMOS transistor and the obtained carriers are used to charge a neutral body, resulting in a change in current flowing between the drain and the source of the transistor (See Non-patent Document 2, for example).
The term partially depleted SOI, abbreviated as PD SOI, refers to SOI in which a depletion layer spreads only partially in the depth direction of its semiconductor thin film to give it a neutral region. 'Body' is a simplified term for the above semiconductor thin film in which a channel is formed.
[Non-Patent Document 1]
H. J. Wann, C. Hu, "A capacitor-less DRAM cell on SOI substrate", 1993, IEDM (International Electron Device Meeting) Technical Digest, pp. 635–638
[Non-Patent Document 2]
S. Okhonin et al., "A Capacitor-less 1T-DRAM Cell", IEEE Electron Device letters, Volume 23, Number 2, pp. 85–87, February 2002
On the other hand, fully depleted (FD) SOI is used for low power consumption uses or for advanced miniaturization of SOIMOS transistor, thereby creating the need for SOI memory cells that can be applied to FDSOI. The term FD (fully depleted) SOI refers to SOI having such thickness and impurity concentration that makes the depletion layer cover the entire depth of the semiconductor thin film under some gate bias of a transistor fabricated there.
The method of utilizing carrier multiplication in a drain high electric field portion also causes carrier multiplication of a small degree in a not-selected cell which is connected to a bit line for driving at high voltage a drain of a cell to which a signal is to be written. This leads to erroneous, albeit mild, writing called 'write disturb' and therefore makes it difficult to assemble a large array in which a large number of cells are connected to each bit line. Furthermore, the method also needs a relatively large current, which prevents parallel programming of a large number of the cells.

Thin film memory, array, and operation method and manufacture method therefor


A yawing system (2) for a wind turbine and a method of operating the yawing system (2) are disclosed. The yawing system (2) comprises at least one yaw drive arranged to cause the yawing system (2) to perform yawing movements, a yaw bearing allowing mutual movement between two parts of the yawing system (2) during yawing movements, and a hydraulically driven preload mechanism (1) being adapted to provide an adjustable pre-load force to the yaw bearing. The preload mechanism (1) is automatically operated as a consequence of operating the yawing system (2). Thereby it can be ensured that the preload force is adjusted in accordance with whether yawing movements are being performed, or the position of the nacelle should be maintained. The preload mechanism (1) may be modular, in the sense that two or more preload mechanisms (1) operate independently of each other, thereby providing redundancy.

Modern horizontal axis wind turbines comprise a tower construction mounted on a ground foundation or on an offshore foundation structure. The tower construction carries a nacelle carrying a hub with a number of wind turbine blades, often three wind turbine blades. The hub is mounted rotatably on the nacelle about a substantially horizontal axis in such a manner that the hub rotates as a consequence of the wind turbine blades catching the wind. The nacelle houses various components used for converting this rotational movement into electrical energy, such as a generator and possibly a gear arrangement.
The nacelle is mounted on the tower construction in a rotatable manner, via a yawing system, in order to allow the wind turbine blades to be directed in accordance with the wind direction. The yawing system typically comprises a large toothed ring and one or more yaw drives, each yaw drive comprising an output gear wheel arranged in engagement with the large toothed ring. The large toothed ring may be arranged on the tower construction, while the yaw drive(s) is/are mounted on the nacelle. As an alternative, the large toothed ring may be arranged on the nacelle, while the yaw drive(s) is/are mounted on the tower construction. In any event, when the output gear wheel of the yaw drive(s) is/are rotated, the nacelle is rotated due to the engagement between the large toothed ring and the output gear wheel(s) of the yaw drive(s), i.e. yawing movements are performed.
When yawing movements are not performed by the yawing system, it is desirable to maintain the yawing system in the selected position. This may, e.g., be obtained by applying a preload to the yawing system, where the preload force must be overcome in order to move the nacelle relative to the tower construction. As an alternative it may, e.g., be obtained by means of a separate yaw braking system. In the case that a preload is applied, the size of the preload force must be selected and balanced in such a manner that, on the one hand, the preload force is sufficiently high to maintain the nacelle in position when it is not desired to perform yawing movements, and, on the other hand, the preload force is sufficiently low to allow yawing movements without having to transfer excessive torque between the output gear wheel(s) of the yaw drive(s) and the large toothed ring.
EP 1 571 334 A1 discloses a wind turbine yawing system and yawing process. The yawing system comprises a gear ring fixed to the tower, at least one geared motor meshed with the gear ring through a gear wheel, at least one active braking module, and at least one passive braking module. Each active braking module comprises at least one braking element shiftable between a first position and a second position, according to braking instructions, such that the active braking module exerts a first braking force when the braking element is in the first position, and a second braking force when the braking element is in the second position, the second braking force being greater than the first braking force. Each passive braking module exerts a constant braking force. Thus, the active braking module(s) allow(s) the total braking force to be adjusted. However, in the case that it is desired to perform yawing movements, it is still necessary to overcome the braking force provided by the passive braking module(s).
EP 1 662 138 A1 discloses a speed reducer for use in a yaw drive apparatus for a wind power generation apparatus. According to one embodiment, the speed reducer comprises a plurality of brake mechanisms attached to a nacelle housing. Each brake mechanism is constituted by a fluid cylinder connected to a switching valve through a supply/discharge passage.

Yawing system comprising a preload mechanism


A method of forming a conductive network, having relatively flexible electrical conductor areas integral with relatively rigid electrically conductor areas including (a) providing a relatively rigid laminate having a dielectric lamina supporting, at least in part, a first electrically conductive lamina which is in electrically conductive intimate contact with a second electrically conductive lamina by way of an electrically conductive barrier layer, the first and second conductive laminae being of a material etchable by an etchant which is not an etchant for the barrier layer; (b) selectively etching desired portions of the aid second electrically conductive lamina to the barrier layer in at least the relatively flexible areas using the etchant; and (c) selectively etching desired exposed metallic portions of the laminate down to the dielectric lamina to form the conductive network using an etchant, the etchant chosen to etch both the conductive lamina and the barrier layer.

It is sometimes necessary to fabricate multiple conductor interconnect cables that have requirements to minimize voltage drops along the length of the conductors, yet have specific regions of the cable where flexibility is paramount. These two requirements can cause conflicts in the design of the cable.
Minimizing the voltage drop along the length of a specific conductor means fabricating the conductor with a greater cross-sectional area to reduce electrical resistance. This can be accomplished by increasing either the conductor width, thickness or both. Increasing the flexibility of a specific conductor means fabricating the conductor with a smaller cross-sectional area. This can be accomplished by decreasing either the conductor width, thickness or both.
If the conductor widths of a multiple conductor interconnect cable have already been reduced to the minimum practical value for manufacturing so as to maximize the number of conductors in the cable, then the only variable left to the designer in the trade off of electrical resistance and flexibility is to vary the conductor thicknesses along their length.
The method of producing electrical cable proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,195 (assigned to the assignee of the present application) discloses a chemical milling process for selectively reducing portions of electrically conductive outer laminae on both sides of a barrier layer which is resistant to the chemical milling process of the laminae prior to introduction of a supportive dielectric film. The manufacturing process which accomplishes this task involves the several steps of having to separately etch first one outer conductive lamina to produce a desired conductor thickness and define a desired conductor pattern, then etch the opposing outer conductive lamina to form the appropriate conductor pattern of multiple thicknesses and lastly to remove the barrier layer by a third etching process. The method of this prior art requires the support of the conductive pattern during the etching process by means other than the dielectric layer subsequently to be attached to the conductive pattern.
This method therefor requires the chemical milling process of the lamina to be undertaken individually and from both sides of the laminate thereby restricting the application of further lamina such as dielectric layers until the etching process on at least one side of the laminate is complete.

Method of forming printed circuits having multiple conductor thicknesses


A method and apparatus for separating two laminae of a laminate. The apparatus has a separator extending into the path of the laminate as it travels through the apparatus. The separator may be shaped similar to a knife blade and be interposed between the two laminae of the laminate as the laminae pass by the separator. At least a portion of the laminae of the laminate are separated from one another by the separator during dispensing.

Dispensers for sheet materials are well known in the art. Exemplary dispensers are disclosed in U.S. Publication No. 2004/0040670 A1, pub. Mar. 4, 2004 in the name of Chandaria, U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,184, iss. Feb. 21, 1989 to Shannon and U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,086, iss. Jul. 3, 1973 to Aldrich.
Sheets and laminates may be tabbed to provide easy manipulation by the user, as illustrated by U.S. Publication No. 2003/0154569 A1, pub. Aug. 21, 2003 in the name of McKay and U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,466, iss. Oct. 4, 1994 to Delonis.
Yet other attempts in the art teach delamination of plural laminae of a laminate. Exemplary art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,584, iss. Aug. 25, 1992 to Schuh et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,305, iss. Mar. 12, 1996 to Mailloux; U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,379 B1, iss. May 25, 2004 to Congard et al.; and U.S. Publication No. 2004/0126529 A1, pub. Jul. 1, 2004 in the name of Squier et al.
However, the art fails to teach a convenient dispensing apparatus which also provides for separation of laminae of a laminate. Such laminates include materials used for application of functional or aesthetic benefits to walls and other surfaces such as dry paint, architectural surfaces, wallpaper, decals, stickers, labels, faux covers usable for windows, floors, countertops, furniture and other uses, etc., where such separation may be desirable.

Laminae separating dispenser and method of use


This document provides a hearing assistance device for playing processed sound inside a wearer's ear canal, the hearing assistance device comprising a first housing, signal processing electronics disposed at least partially within the first housing, a first microphone connected to the first housing, the first microphone adapted for reception of sound, a second microphone configured to receive sound from inside the wearer's ear canal when the hearing assistance device is worn and in use and microphone mixing electronics in communication with the signal processing electronics and in communication with the first microphone and the second microphone, the microphone mixing electronics adapted to combine low frequency information from the first microphone and high frequency information from the second microphone to produce a composite audio signal.

Behind-the-ear (BTE) designs are a popular form factor for hearing assistance devices, including hearing aids. BTE's allow placement of multiple microphones within the relatively large housing when compared to in-the-ear (ITE) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) form factor housings. One drawback to BTE hearing assistance devices is that the microphone or microphones are positioned above the pinna of the user's ear. The pinna of the user's ear, as well as other portions of the user's body, including the head and torso, provide filtering of sound received by the user. Sound arriving at the user from one direction is filtered differently than sound arriving from another direction. BTE microphones lack the directional filtering effect of the user's pinna, especially with respect to high frequency sounds. Custom hearing aids, such as CIC devices, have microphones placed at or inside the entrance to the ear canal and therefore do capture the directional filtering effects of the pinna, but many people prefer to wear BTE's rather than these custom hearing aids because of comfort and other issues. CICs typically only have omni-directional microphones because the port spacing necessary to accommodate directional microphones is too small. Also, were a CIC to have a directional microphone, the reflections of sound from the pinna could interfere with the relationship of sound arriving at the two ports of the directional microphone. There is a need to be able to provide the directional benefit obtained from a BTE while also providing the natural pinna cues that affect sound quality and spatialization of sound.

Mixing of in-the-ear microphone and outside-the-ear microphone signals to enhance spatial perception


An implantable medical device such as an implantable pacemaker or implantable cardioverter/defibrillator includes a programmable sensing circuit providing for sensing of a signal approximating a surface electrocardiogram (ECG) through implanted electrodes. With various electrode configurations, signals approximating various standard surface ECG signals are acquired without the need for attaching electrodes with cables onto the skin. The various electrode configurations include, but are not limited to, various combinations of intracardiac pacing electrodes, portions of the implantable medical device contacting tissue, and electrodes incorporated onto the surface of the implantable medical device.

The heart is the center of a person's circulatory system. It includes a complex electro-mechanical system that draws oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the organs of the body to provide the organs with their metabolic needs for oxygen, and draws deoxygenated blood from the organs and pumps it into the lungs where the blood gets oxygenated. In a heart having a normal electrical system, the sinoatrial node, the heart's natural pacemaker, generates electrical signals, called action potentials, that propagate through an electrical conduction system to various regions of the heart to excite myocardial tissues in these regions. Coordinated delays in the propagations of the action potentials in a normal electrical conduction system cause the various regions of the heart to contract in synchrony such that the pumping functions are performed efficiently. The function of the electrical system is indicated by a biopotential signal sensed with at least two electrodes attached on the skin or implanted in the body. When the electrical system functions abnormally, the biopotential signal shows that contractions at one or more cardiac regions are chaotic and asynchronized. Such conditions are known as cardiac arrhythmias. Timing and morphological information contained in the biopotential signal is used to diagnose the type of arrhythmia and/or determine an appropriate therapy.
When the biopotential signal is sensed with electrodes attached onto the skin, the sensed signal is commonly referred to as surface electrocardiogram (ECG), or simply ECG. Various standard ECG signals (vectors) are recorded for diagnostic purposes with different combinations of electrode locations. When the electrodes are implanted underneath the skin, the sensed signal is referred to as subcutaneous ECG or far-field electrogram. When at least one electrode is placed in or on the heart, the sensed signal is referred to as electrogram or intracardiac electrogram. Surface ECG is widely used for diagnostic purposes and provides for information on the global electrical performance of the heart. Subcutaneous ECG is known to closely approximate the surface ECG. In contrast, intracardiac electrogram indicates localized electrical performance and may not contain sufficient information for general diagnostic purposes. Implantable medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers and cardioverter/defibrillators sense intracardiac electrograms for timing the delivery of therapeutic electrical energy. Though such an implantable medical device is capable of acquiring intracardiac electrograms and transmitting the electrograms for display in an external device, physicians may still need the surface ECG for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The skin contact electrodes and the cables connecting the electrodes to an ECG recorder, as required for recording the surface ECG, may become cumbersome, for example, during an operation such as the implantation of the implantable medical device or during a patient examination where ECG is recorded during exercise. Regular in-home ECG monitoring may be impractical in the absence of a physician or other trained caregiver.
While studies have shown that signals acquired with implanted electrodes of certain configurations approximate surface ECG signals, there is a need to implement a system to acquire a signal substituting for various standard surface ECG signals using an implantable medical device.


A multiple-axis imaging system having optical elements whose optimal image positions can be individually adjusted, comprising a plurality of optical array elements having respective optical axes and being individually disposed with respect to one another to image respective sections of an object; and a plurality of image position shifting devices corresponding to respective optical elements for separately establishing the image positions for a plurality of the optical array elements. The multi-axis imaging system preferably comprises a miniaturized microscope array. The shifting devices may comprise wavelength filters or optical-path-length-altering elements, such as a plane parallel plates. The devices may also comprise a pair of wedges that adjustably overlap one another, the wedges having apexes that point in opposite directions and respective corresponding planar surfaces that are parallel to one another. A method for separately adjusting the image positions of a plurality of optical elements in a multi-axis imaging system is also provided, particularly in an array microscope.

This invention relates to independent focus compensation for multi-axis imaging systems, and particularly to independent focus compensation for microscope arrays.
In a multi-axis imaging system, as that term is used herein, a plurality of optical elements are arranged in an array so as to have a fixed relationship to one another. One advantage of such a system is that all of the elements of the array may be moved in unison to scan an object so as to bring respective images of the object into focus at a desired image plane. In particular, in a miniature microscope array a plurality of miniature microscope objectives arranged in an array is employed instead of a single objective to scan a large field of the object more rapidly at high resolution than can be achieved with a single objective. Such a miniature microscope array is disclosed in PCT Patent Publication No. WO 02/075370, published Sep. 26, 2002. Where used to image a common specimen, a miniature microscope array is also referred to as an array microscope.
In a microscope array, the image sensors for each element of the array are preferably disposed on a single, substantially flat substrate so as to facilitate fabrication, assembly, and electrical connection. In that case, the axial positions of the sensors corresponding to each microscope element cannot be adjusted independently. However, fabrication and assembly errors in the optics will cause the positions of respective image planes of individual microscope elements of a microscope array to vary so as not to be substantially coplanar. In that case, where the respective object planes of the microscope elements are substantially coplanar, some of the images will not be co-planar with their respective image sensors, so the respective image sensors will detect a sub-optimally focused image. In principle, this problem may arise in any multi-axis imaging system having an array of sensors and corresponding optical elements. To avoid this problem, the lens surface shapes, lens thickness and lens separations of each element require extremely tight tolerances. However, such tolerances are difficult and expensive to achieve.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have some means to compensate for differences in image plane position among the individual elements of a multi-axis imaging system, particularly an array microscope, so as to facilitate fabrication of such systems and ensure optimal focus of the images of all of the individual array elements.

Independent focus compensation for a multi-axis imaging system