A cover assembly 10 having a cover support portion 30 having various members 34, 36, and 38 each having respective bodies 70 which respectively have a plurality of cells 80 which make the members 34, 36, 38 lightweight and structurally sound, and the members 34, 36, 38 cooperatively deploying a cover 32 over the bed 14 of a selectively movable assembly 12.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a cover support assembly, to a cover assembly and to a method for making a cover assembly and, more particularly, to a series of novel strategies and techniques to provide a generally lightweight, cost effective, and structurally sound cover assembly for use, by way of example and without limitation, on a personnel carrier or some other type of selectively movable assembly.
2. Background of the Invention
Some types of selectively movable assemblies include a bed or portion which is adapted to selectively carry items and personnel. One non-limiting example of such a selectively movable assembly is an armed forces personnel carrier. These types of selectively movable assemblies usually require that this bed or portion be covered, and a cover assembly or frame is usually deployed upon the selectively movable assembly and receives a canvas or other cover. The frame and cover usually and cooperatively define a cover assembly and the cover assembly is effective to protect the carried items and personnel from rain and other undesirable weather related events or elements, as well as providing some protection from other types of environmental events, such as from flying stones.
While these cover assemblies do provide needed protection, they suffer from various drawbacks. For example and without limitation, the frame assemblies are typically heavy, costly, and difficult to deploy. The weight of these frame assemblies not only reduces fuel mileage, but also represents a safety hazard to those sitting under these frame assemblies (e.g., if the relatively heavy frame assemblies were to fail, the heavy elements may strike those positioned within the bed or storage portion of the vehicle, potentially causing bodily harm).
There is therefore a need for a new and improved cover support assembly, for a new and improved cover assembly, and for a new and improved method for making a cover assembly. The present invention provides these improvements.

Cover support assembly, a cover assembly, and a method for making a cover assembly


The invention relates to a run-flat low inflation pressure all terrain vehicle (ATV) tire 10,11, wherein the tire 10,11 has at least one pair of elastomeric inserts 42,46, one insert 42,46 extending radially inward from each tread edge 14,16 toward a bead core 26. The radially inner end of the insert is radially inward of an elastomeric apex 48 located above the respective bead cores 26. The bead cores 26 have a wide substantially flat radially inner base which when the tire 10,11 is mounted on a conventional ATV design rim enable the tire 10,11 to remain seated onto the rim even when operating without any inflation. The preferred tire 10,11 has a unique tread 12. The central portion 13 of the tread 12 has circumferential rows of blocks or lugs 94. The lugs of laterally adjacent rows in a central region 13 of the tread 12 are connected by tie bars 93 which when employed on these run-flat tires keeps the tread lugs 94 in ground contact even when the tire is operated uninflated. The inventive tire 10,11 can be constructed providing limited run-flat capability or with a full run-flat capability never requiring air inflation during use.

The present invention relates to a run-flat low-pressure tire for all terrain vehicles (ATV) wherein the tire has a unique tread, sidewall structure and bead which permits the tire to be run even if the air is released by a puncture or the like. The inventive tire can be designed to provide limited run-flat capability or alternatively can be designed to operate nonpneumatically without any internal air pressure.
ATV tires are designed to work in assisting cooperation with the vehicles suspension system. Accordingly, the tires are wide and relatively tall in comparison to the nominal rim diameters which generally range from 8.0 inches to 12.00. These tires exhibit large air chambers which are held at pressures generally below 10 psi often about 2.9 psi and have relatively compliant sidewall structures which in combination with the vehicle suspension act as shock absorbing and vibration dampening components of the vehicle.
These vehicles operate in very rugged terrain and due in part to the low operating inflation pressures the ATV tires mounted on its conventional rim has been subject to becoming unseated in sharp cornering maneuvers. Even more problematic has been the tendency to have the beads unseat during an uninflated condition such as a tire puncture.
Eiji Nakaski of Sumitomo Rubber Industries recognized this concern and invented run-flat tires and rim assemblies for ATV vehicles. These tires described in U.S. Pat Nos. 4,940,069 and 5,186,772 have a protrusion radially and axially inward of the bead. The protrusion is adapted to fit over a hump in the rim and engage a depression or groove in the rim axially inward of the hump. The resultant fitment is said to enable the tire beads to stay on the special rim without the assistance of air inflation during normal operation.
Besides the obvious need to employ a special rim when using the prior art tire of Nakaski, the tire itself was prone to damage both on assembly but most particularly upon removal and repair. The protrusion could be easily torn and damaged and once damaged the tire was useless as a run-flat tire. Furthermore, the purposed range under run-flat conditions was 100 km.
The present invention discloses a novel bead design which enables run-flat functionality to be achieved with the use of the conventional 5.degree. taper ATV rim.
The use of conventional rims with run-flat automobile tires was first commercially successful in the early 1990's when it was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,082, issued on Nov. 29, 1994, in the name of Thomas Oare, et al. This automobile run-flat tire employed a unique bead configuration and a very low aspect ratio carcass to achieve the desired run-flat results. Due to the short section height and relatively high weight load requirements the deflection of the tire under load was greatly limited. The present invention has uniquely different design constraints in that the aspect ratio of the ATV tires are generally 50% to 100% yielding a very tall sidewall section height (SH) that must also be sufficiently compliant to deflect about an inch acting as a shock absorbing assist to the comparatively primitive vehicle suspension of the ATV vehicle. The maximum load per ATV wheel position is lower than an automobile, generally less than 500 lbs/tire whereas the above-referenced automobile tire had a minimum load condition of approximately greater than 1,000 lbs. To better appreciate these differences an automobile suspension spring rate is about 200 lbs/in. Its associated auto run-flat tire will have a spring rate of 1,000 lbs./in. The ATV vehicle suspension struts have a spring rate of 80-100 lbs./in. Where as its associated run-flat tire has a spring rate of 160 lbs./in. to 200 lbs./in. In the ATV tire if the run-flat tire's spring rate is too high when the tire is operated inflated or noninflated, the rider will find the ride extremely harsh and difficult to control The present invention contemplates these unique ATV design constraints and teaches a novel tire structure which has excellent run-flat characteristics while maintaining the soft compliant ATV tire features without requiring a special rim.

Run-flat low-pressure all terrain vehicle (ATV) tire


Air control apparatus for a fireplace prevents or inhibits the buildup of soot and dirt on the inside surface of the glass doors of the fireplace.. A combustion control system for a fireplace for controlling the volume and direction of air circulating through the combustion chamber of a fireplace includes an air control apparatus constructed for insertion underneath a log grate; ducts for conveying an external source of combustion air to an ash pit; an air flow valve in the conveying ducts for controlling the flow of air through the conveying ducts; a filter in the conveying ducts for preventing contaminants from entering the conveying ducts; a thermostat connected to an air flow valve which controls operation of the air flow valve; a forced air heat exchanger functionally connected to the thermostat; a temperature sensing cutoff switch near the heat exchanger; a natural gas log apparatus having a gas flow valve, a burner and ignitor, the gas flow valve and ignitor being functionally connected to said thermostat; and, a booster fan in the conveying means which is functionally connected to the thermostat.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of controlling the volume and direction of air circulating through the combustion chamber of a household fireplace having an external source of combustion air.
The present invention more particularly concerns apparatus and method for preventing or inhibiting the build up of soot and dirt on the inside surface of the glass doors of a fireplace.
2. Background of the Prior Art
In recent years, heating efficiency, rather than aesthetic beauty, has become more important to homeowners and builders. For example, many traditional wood-burning fireplaces are being retrofitted or converted to natural gas, artificial-log systems which are more efficient and are cleaner burning than wood-burning systems. However, like traditional wood-burning fireplaces, a natural gas burning system typically draws its supply of combustion air from the room in which it is located, thereby causing heat from the room to escape up the chimney. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a fireplace system which draws a supply of combustion air from an external or unheated source.
In most fireplaces, the damper is located above the combustion chamber close to the entrance to the flue. This location is undesirable since the damper is difficult to reach and is typically covered with soot. Further, it is difficult to visually detect and adjust the position of the damper. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a fireplace damper which is highly visible and easily adjustable.
Many fireplaces are now provided with glass door fronts in addition to or in substitution for screens. After prolonged use, aesthetically-undesirable products of combustion (soot) condense on the inside of the glass doors even in gas log systems. The soot build-up obstructs the view through the glass doors and creates an unpleasant appearance. Therefore, it would also be desirable to provide a fireplace system which prevents the accumulation of soot on the inside surface of glass fireplace doors and keep the doors clean.

1023 Shipp's Landing, 1100 S. Collier Blvd.


A fiber laser including doped-core fiber having inner and outer cladding is optically pumped by plurality of diode-lasers. Light emitted by the diode-lasers is coupled into a single multimode optical fiber. Light from the multimode optical fiber is directed to a wavelength selective reflecting device that is partially reflective in a narrow reflection band about a peak reflection wavelength. A portion of the light having the peak reflection wavelength is reflected from the wavelength selective reflecting device back along the multimode optical fiber and back into the plurality of diode-lasers. This locks the emitting wavelength of the light emitted from each of the diode-lasers to the peak reflection wavelength. Light at the emitting wavelength that is not reflected from the wavelength selective reflective device is coupled into the inner cladding of the doped-core fiber for optically pumping the fiber laser.

Fiber-lasers are commonly pumped by light from a diode-laser. One preferred fiber-laser type that is suitable for diode-laser pumping is referred to by practitioners of the art as a double-clad fiber-laser or a cladding pumped fiber-laser. The double clad fiber-laser has a doped core that provides optical gain when energized by the pump light from the diode-laser. Surrounding the doped core is an inner cladding and surrounding the inner cladding is an outer cladding. The diode-laser light (pump light) is directed into the inner cladding of the fiber-laser and propagates through the inner cladding while being progressively absorbed in the doped core, thereby energizing (pumping) the core.
If a fiber-laser is required to provide a high power output, for example, greater than about 3.0 Watts (W), a single diode-laser emitter may not be capable of providing sufficient pump light power. It this case, it will be necessary to provide pump-light from a plurality of emitters. It is usually found convenient to provide an integrated linear array of such emitters or diode-lasers in what is termed a "diode-laser bar" by practitioners of the art. The emitters in the bar are preferably multimode emitters.
A multimode emitter usually has a higher power output than single mode emitter of the same length and heterostructure. The output power and the number of emitted lateral (spatial) modes of such an emitter usually increases as the width of the emitter increases. By way of example, a multimode emitter having an emitter width of 100 micrometers (μm) can emit as much as twenty or more times the power of a corresponding single mode emitter having a width of between 1 μm and 5 μm. In a common pumping arrangement, multimode radiation from a laser emitter is coupled into a multimode optical fiber. Light from the multimode optical fiber is, in turn, coupled to the fiber-laser.
Optimum absorption of pump light in a doped fiber core usually occurs in a relatively narrow band of wavelengths. By way of example, in a ytterbium (Yb) doped core, there is a strong absorption peak at a wavelength of about 977 nanometers (nm). The absorption peak has a full width at 90% maximum absorption (FWNM) of only about 1.0 nm. A diode-laser having a peak gain at 977 nm has a gain bandwidth of between about 4 and 6 nm. Accordingly, it is desirable that pump light have a wavelength equal to the peak absorption wavelength and have a bandwidth about equal to the peak absorption bandwidth.
In a diode-laser bar, lasing wavelengths of individual diode-lasers or emitters may be spread over a range of a few nanometers. Further, the individual emitters in the bar will exhibit a strong, temperature-induced wavelength shift. By way of example, for emitters nominally lasing at a wavelength of 977 nm, the wavelength variation with temperature change is about 0.3 nm per degree Kelvin (0.3 nm/° K). This relatively high temperature sensitivity, combined with the range of emitting wavelengths, makes a multimode diode-laser bar unsuitable for pumping a fiber-laser lasers wherein pump light must be absorbed in a narrow band of wavelengths. To provide an efficient absorption of pump light in a doped fiber core having a narrow absorption peak, wavelength locking or wavelength stabilization of diode-laser bars and narrowing of bandwidth is required.
Wavelength stabilization and relative insensitivity of the emitting wavelength to temperature change has been achieved, in a single-mode laser diode, by locking the lasing wavelength to the reflecting wavelength of a wavelength selective reflector arranged to form an external cavity or resonator for the diode-laser. The wavelength selective reflector is provided by a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) formed on a length of a single-mode fiber. Single mode radiation from the diode-laser is launched into the core of the single mode fiber and is partially reflected and partially transmitted by the FBG. The FBG typically has a reflection coefficient between about 0.5% and 8% at a wavelength near the peak gain wavelength of the diode-laser and has a reflection bandwidth of about 1 nm or less. The reflected radiation wavelength is defined by the optical period (hereinafter simply "period") of the FBG. The emitting wavelength of the laser diode is locked to the peak reflection wavelength (resonance wavelength) of the FBG, and the emission bandwidth less than 1 nm. The resonance wavelength of an FBG is less sensitive to temperature change than the emitting wavelength of a (unstabilized) diode-laser. By way of comparison, the temperature sensitivity of the resonance wavelength for a FBG is about 0.01 nm/° K, while temperature sensitivity of lasing wavelength is about 0.3 nm/° K, as discussed above.
The FBG wavelength locking scheme is effective because the FBG is written in a single-mode fiber. In a single mode fiber, radiation is incident on the FBG at only one angle of incidence such that the wavelength of radiation reflected is determined only by the period of the FBG. Radiation from a multimode diode-laser must be coupled into a multimode fiber for efficient coupling. However, in a multimode fiber different modes propagate at different angles to the fiber axis. Were a FBG with fixed period written into such a multimode fiber, different lasing modes coupled into the fiber would be incident on the FBG at different angles, and, accordingly, would be reflected at different wavelengths. A result of this is that the output of the multimode diode-laser could not be locked to a single lasing wavelength. There is a need for a wavelength locking and stabilization scheme that is effective for a plurality of multimode diode-lasers the output of which is coupled into a plurality of multimode fibers.


A storage array includes a first controller, memory, and one or more storage devices. Each of the storage devices comprises a second controller and a nonvolatile memory. The first controller receives a command and data from a host connected to the storage array and transmits a response or data to the host. When a write command, write data, and size information of the write data are received from the host, the first controller sends the received data to the second controller. The second controller determines a write address indicating a memory region of the nonvolatile memory in which the write data are to be written, based on the write command and the size information, writes the write data in the memory region associated with the write address, and transmits the write address to the first controller. The first controller further transfers the write address to the host.

In a computing system of data storage, a host device that carries out data management may be connected one or more storage devices or one or more arrays of storage devices. The host device accesses the storage devices, i.e., writes data to and reads data from the storage devices by transmitting commands to the storage devices. In one type of a computing system, the host device is desired to have more initiative in management of data storing. As a result, the storage devices may not need to be less involved in the management of data storing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Just a bunch of flash (JBOF) appliance with physical access application program interface (API)


Electrical battery device having at least one module string, in which multiple module units each including at least one battery module are electrically interconnected one after another in a series, wherein one end of the series is electrically connected to a respective battery terminal of the battery device. A respective bridging circuit is provided in the at least one module string in each case for each of its module units, which is configured to alternately bridge the respective module unit and interrupt the bridging again in dependence on a switching signal, wherein a control unit is configured to bridge at least some of the module units in chronological succession and chronologically thereafter to interrupt the bridgings again by setting the switching signal in periodically successive switching sequences.

In conjunction with the disclosure, a battery device is an electrical accumulator, which can thus be charged and discharged. In such a battery device, it can be provided that multiple module units are interconnected one after another in a series to add up the partial voltages generated by the module units to form a total voltage in said way. One end of such a series is electrically connected to a battery terminal of the battery device. A battery terminal is in this case an externally accessible electrical contact for tapping the total voltage of the module string. Each of said module units connected in series can comprise one battery module or multiple battery modules. In the case of only one battery module, the module unit can be identical to the battery module, if all components of the module unit are integrated into the battery module. If multiple battery modules are provided in a module unit, these can thus be connected in parallel, to increase the electric current generated by a module unit in this way, or in series, to set the partial voltage of the module unit. A single battery module can comprise multiple battery cells and the galvanic cells, to generate a cell voltage electrochemically in the known manner.
A battery device of the described type can be provided in a motor vehicle, for example, as a high-voltage battery or traction battery. "High voltage" is to be understood in conjunction with the disclosure as an electric voltage greater than 60 V, in particular greater than 100 V. The electric voltage generated in known battery devices at the battery terminals is a DC voltage. To operate an electrical machine of a traction drive of a motor vehicle thereby, the electric DC voltage has to be fed into an intermediate circuit, in which an intermediate circuit capacitor buffers electrical energy and from which an electrical power converter taps the DC voltage and generates multiple AC voltages, which are each fed into one stator winding of a stator of the electrical machine, as a rotary phase AC voltage. Another designation for rotary phase AC voltage is multiphase AC voltage or polyphase AC voltage (polyphase system, multi-phase electric power).
The provision of the intermediate circuit capacitor and the power converter in a motor vehicle means a component expenditure which increases the production costs of the motor vehicle.
In conjunction with the energy conversion in the low-voltage and moderate-voltage range, the modular multilevel converter (MMC) is known from the prior art, by means of which, for example, for a high-voltage DC transmission, submodules are connected in series, wherein each submodule comprises an intermediate circuit capacitor and an IGBT half-bridge (IGBT—Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor). Capacitors and semiconductor switches are thus combined for the conversion in such a modular multilevel converter. Nonetheless, such a modular multilevel converter also has to be connected as an additional component between a high-voltage battery and an electrical machine, which means an additional component expenditure.

Battery device having at least one module string, in which module string module units are interconnected one after the other in a row, and motor vehicle and operating method for the battery device


The flexible board of the present invention is formed so that a bent portion is formed by bending the film edge side of the connection terminal of an input outer lead formed on the surface of a film that has flexibility. A connection portion constructed of a portion corresponding to the connection terminal of the film and the bent portion is inserted in a recess portion of a connector provided for a main body circuit board. A stopper inside the recess portion pressurizes the bent portion, and the connection terminal of the input outer lead is connected to an electrode terminal via the bent portion and the portion of the film. By merely forming the bent portion at the film, the connection portion of the flexible board that conforms to the connector of a prescribed standard of ZIF or the like can be formed simply and inexpensively.

The present invention relates to a flexible board that includes a film having flexibility and to a connection method and a connection structure of the board.
As a flexible board for connecting, for example, an LCD panel with a main body circuit board of a portable telephone, there has conventionally been one as shown in FIG. 6.
The flexible board is provided with an LCD driver chip 110 for driving an LCD panel 115, the chip being mounted on a surface of a film 101 by a COF (chip on film) method. A sealing resin 112 is provided so as to bury a gap between the LCD driver chip 110 and the film 101. The LCD driver chip 110 is connected to an input outer lead 106 and an output outer lead 111 via inner leads 113 formed on the film 101. The input outer lead 106 is connected to a main body circuit board 102, while the output outer lead 111 is connected to the LCD panel 115. A solder resist 109 is provided on the surface of the film 101 so as to cover the input outer lead 106 and output outer lead 111 in the peripheral portions of the LCD driver chip 110.
Electroless plating of Sn (tin) is provided on the surface of the inner leads 113, and the LCD driver chip 110 and the inner leads 113 are connected together with an Au—Sn eutectic alloy formed by thermocompression bonding of Sn to an Au protruding electrode 114 of the LCD driver chip 110.
The output outer lead 111 is connected to a terminal electrode of the LCD panel 115 with an anisotropic conductive adhesive 116 in which metal particles are diffused in the resin in a film-like form. The metal particles of the anisotropic conductive adhesive 116 have a diameter of about 5 μm. By carrying out the thermocompression bonding of the output outer lead 111 of the flexible board to the LCD panel 115 with interposition of the anisotropic conductive adhesive 116, continuity between the output outer lead 111 and the terminal electrode is obtained, and insulation between the film 101 and the LCD panel 115 is secured.
The input outer lead 106 is connected to an electrode terminal 107 inside a connector 103 provided for the main body circuit board 102. The connector 103 has a slit 104 of a roughly bracket-shaped sectional configuration, and an end portion of the film 101 is inserted in the slit 104. Then, the input outer lead 106 is pressurized against the electrode terminal 107 from the lower surface side of the film 101 by means of a stopper 105 provided in the slit 104, electrically connecting the input outer lead 106 to the electrode terminal 107 and fixing the film 101 to the connector 103. The connector 103 of the type is called the ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) connector.
The film 101 normally used for the flexible board has a thickness much thinner than the dimension of the slit 104 of the connector (the thickness is, for example, 103 μm when UPILEX produced by Ube Industries, Ltd. is used), and therefore, the stopper 105 cannot fix the single body of the film 101. Therefore, a reinforcing plate 120 of a prescribed thickness is bonded to a surface opposite from the surface on which the input outer lead 106 is provided in the portion inserted in the slit 104 of the film 101. By pressurizing the reinforcing plate 120 by means of the stopper 105, the film 101 is firmly connected to the connector 103. Moreover, the mechanical strength of the flexible board is increased by the reinforcing plate 120, making it difficult to damage the flexible board when the board is thrust into or pulled out of the connector 103. With regard to the reinforcing plate of the kind, there is one disclosed in, for example, JP 2001-119120 A.
The reinforcing plate 120 is constructed of a PI (polyimide) piece and a thermosetting adhesive for bonding the PI piece to the film 101. The process of forming the reinforcing plate 120 on the film 101 is constituted of a thermocompression bonding process for temporarily bonding the PI piece onto the film 101 and a curing process for completely hardening the thermosetting adhesive.
The thickness of the flexible board in the portion inserted in the slit 104 of the connector is about 300 μm, which includes 175 μm of the PI piece, 35 μm of the thermosetting adhesive and 103 μm of the film 101. The thickness is required to be maintained without change from when the reinforcing plate 120 is formed. However, the thermosetting adhesive is roughly completely hardened by the curing, and therefore, the thickness of the adhesive is scarcely reduced with a lapse of time. Therefore, the reduction in the thickness of the reinforcing plate 120 is effectively prevented, and the flexible board is stably fixed to the connector 103.
As described above, by connecting the input outer lead 106 to the main body circuit board 102 by the connector 103 of simple insertion and withdrawal, labor saving can be achieved further than when the connection is achieved by ACF (anisotropic conductive film) or soldering in the assembling process of the portable telephone.
The conventional flexible board normally has an elongate form of the material of the film 101 in the manufacturing processes, and the length sometimes reaches about 40 m despite that the width of the material is about 70 mm. Therefore, in the process of mounting the LCD driver chip 110 or other processes, the material of the film 101 wound around a reel is to be fed to a chip mounting apparatus in a reel-to-reel system. Moreover, the formation process of the reinforcing plate 120 also needs to be carried out on the material of the film 101 on the reel. Therefore, an apparatus for continuously carrying out the bonding of the PI piece to the material of the film 101 or the like in a reel-to-reel manner is needed. Furthermore, an apparatus of a curing furnace, an oven or the like for completely hardening the thermosetting adhesive of the reinforcing plate 120 is needed.
As described above, the conventional flexible board, which needs the comparatively expensive apparatus for the formation of the reinforcing plate 120, therefore has a problem that the manufacturing cost is comparatively high and a further increase in the cost is caused by the running cost of the apparatus and the addition of an inspection process.

Flexible board, connection method thereof, and connection structure thereof


The invention relates to a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle, and equipped with a central control unit, motors, peripheral motor control devices each associated to one motor and connected to the central control unit. To allow rapid and accurate adjustments while providing versatility, the invention provides that each motor and its associated motor control device shall constitute a closed regulation loop.

The motors used in vehicle seats conventionally are driven from the central control system by means of a connection which in general is in radial form. This configuration entails substantial lengths of cable. If the set of vehicle functions is changed, the central program system must be re-programmed or possibly it must be exchanged against a new model.
The European patent document EP 0 230 203 A2 discloses a vehicle seat of the initially cited kind wherein each motor is combined with a peripheral motor control device that in turn is connected to a central motor control system. This central motor control system issues commands to adjust all seat-adjusting motors and is also the space wherein the memory functions retrieving the final adjustment values take place. The European patent document EP 0834418A shows a vehicle seat for which adjustment commands are multiplexed to the peripheral motor control devices. Moreover said central motor control system manages control commands reversing the direction of rotation and memory functions.
However such designs incur the drawback, in particular, of being inflexible with respect to subsequent alterations. Moreover large quantities of data must be stored and transferred on account of the data detected by the sensors present in the seat and of the motor adjustments caused by the central control system, and as a result the dynamic response function may be restricted.

Vehicle seat, in particular a motor-vehicle seat


A security element and a method of printing a security element using a rotary printing process, the security element including a plurality of image elements, the method including: providing a transparent or translucent substrate having a printing side; and printing an image layer onto at least a portion of the printing side of the substrate, wherein the image layer is contiguous and includes an extended edge region and an image region, wherein at least a portion of the extended edge region is printed before the image region, and wherein the image region includes unprinted and printed areas.

It is known to provide optically variable devices in which arrays of microlenses focus on an object surface containing multiple sets of interleaved image elements. Each set of image elements belongs to a distinct image, so that, as a user viewing the device changes their relative angle of view, a different image becomes visible.
Image elements may be printed onto the object surface using a rotary printing process, for example gravure printing or offset printing. However, the initial portions of the image elements printed may suffer from a distortion known as feathering. This is particularly applicable to gravure printing processes.
It is desirable to produce image elements with reduced distortion due to feathering.
Security Document
As used herein, the term security document includes all types of documents and tokens of value and identification documents including, but not limited to, the following: items of currency such as banknotes and coins, credit cards, cheques, passports, identity cards, securities and share certificates, driver's licences, deeds of title, travel documents such as airline and train tickets, entrance cards and tickets, birth, death and marriage certificates, and academic transcripts.
Transparent Windows and Half Windows
As used herein the term window refers to a transparent or translucent area in the security document compared to the substantially opaque region to which printing is applied. The window may be fully transparent so that it allows the transmission of light substantially unaffected, or it may be partly transparent or translucent partially allowing the transmission of light but without allowing objects to be seen clearly through the window area.
A window area may be formed in a polymeric security document which has at least one layer of transparent polymeric material and one or more opacifying layers applied to at least one side of a transparent polymeric substrate, by omitting least one opacifying layer in the region forming the window area. If opacifying layers are applied to both sides of a transparent substrate a fully transparent window may be formed by omitting the opacifying layers on both sides of the transparent substrate in the window area.
A partly transparent or translucent area, hereinafter referred to as a "half-window", may be formed in a polymeric security document which has opacifying layers on both sides by omitting the opacifying layers on one side only of the security document in the window area so that the "half-window" is not fully transparent, but allows some light to pass through without allowing objects to be viewed clearly through the half-window.
Alternatively, it is possible for the substrates to be formed from an substantially opaque material, such as paper or fibrous material, with an insert of transparent plastics material inserted into a cut-out, or recess in the paper or fibrous substrate to form a transparent window or a translucent half-window area.
Opacifying Layers
One or more opacifying layers may be applied to a transparent substrate to increase the opacity of the security document. An opacifying layer is such that LT<L0, where L0 is the amount of light incident on the document, and LT is the amount of light transmitted through the document. An opacifying layer may comprise any one or more of a variety of opacifying coatings. For example, the opacifying coatings may comprise a pigment, such as titanium dioxide, dispersed within a binder or carrier of heat-activated cross-linkable polymeric material. Alternatively, a substrate of transparent plastic material could be sandwiched between opacifying layers of paper or other partially or substantially opaque material to which indicia may be subsequently printed or otherwise applied.

Security element and method of producing a security element


This invention provides a circuit and a method for generating a low-level current using semiconductor charge pumping. The invention provides a means of generating a range of current sources by varying the frequency of a repetitive voltage pulse input signal. Also, this invention utilizes one or many MOSFET devices in order to produce higher levels of current. The current source embodiments of this invention generate very stable current sources with high input impedances.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a circuit and a method for generating a low-level current using semiconductor charge pumping.
More particularly this invention relates to a means of generating a range of current sources by varying the frequency of a repetitive voltage pulse input signal.
Also, this invention relates to utilizing one or many MOSFET devices in order to produce higher levels of current.
In addition, this invention relates to the ability to generate very stable current sources with high input impedances.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art related to this invention includes various high input impedance low level current sources. Typically, these current sources are custom designed monolithic circuits. They are not modular or are they scalable from the lowest current level produced by a single device to high current levels produced by hundreds of device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,243 B1 (Mercier et al.) "High Voltage Charge Pump Circuit" describes a circuit which transfers a voltage signal in an output stage without signal level degradation. By-pass techniques are used to avoid semiconductor damage or breakdown.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,839 B2 (Proebsting) "Apparatus for Translating a Voltage" discloses a low voltage current source is used for translating voltage levels using a charge pumping mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,721 B1 (Proebsting) "Substrate Voltage Detector" discloses low voltage current source circuit, which generates low voltage signals for powering a variable frequency oscillator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,385 (Choi) "Internal Voltage Generator for Semiconductor Device" discloses an internal voltage generator for a semiconductor device, for generating an internal voltage within the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,315 (Kim) "High Voltage Generating Circuit and Method for Generating a Signal Maintaining High Voltage and Current Characteristics Therewith" discloses a high voltage generating circuit, which is used to generate a high voltage with a high current. This circuit is used for on-chip programming and erasing of electrically erasable programmable read only memory EEPROM or flash memory.

Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd.


The invention relates to a medical instrument consisting of at least two instrument parts, which is provided with a coupling for releasably connecting the two instrument parts, wherein the coupling having a locking element which may be moved between a released and a locked position, as well as at least one magnet element which produces a magnetic restoring force which retains the locking element in the locked position.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a medical instrument consisting of at least two instrument parts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such instruments for example are known in the form of endoscopes which comprise a shank into which endoscope optics are applied. For this, the endoscope optics are detachably connected to the proximal end of the shank in the region of their proximal end. Such connections are also present with other endoscopic instruments with which shank-like instrument parts which are inserted in one another may be detachably connected to one another at the proximal end of the instrument. The individual parts must be able to be easily separated from one another in order, for example, during an operation, to be able to exchange instrument parts with other instrument parts, or to be able to also easily dismantle the complete instrument for cleaning.
Such an instrument for example is known from DE 197 04 579 C2. This instrument at the proximal end comprises a coupling for connecting two shank-like medical instruments. The two instruments to be connected comprise bearing surfaces which come to bear on one another in a sealing manner at the interface. Furthermore a box-like slider is provided which engages around the coupling and may be displaced transversely to the connection direction, i.e., to the longitudinal axis of the shank, between a locked and unlocked position. The slider has a keyhole-like receiver and is firmly connected to the one instrument. The keyhole-like receiver may engage behind a bearing shoulder on the other instrument to connect the two instruments to one another. Guide rods and guide springs are arranged in the inside of the box-like slider, which press the slider automatically back into a locked position or move it back into this position.
The disadvantage of this arrangement is the complicated construction of the slider which demands a considerable amount of effort to assemble. Furthermore, the box-like structure with numerous components of the slider which lie at the inside has the disadvantage that this instrument region is very difficult to clean. Contamination in the inside of the slide is very difficult to remove with a standard cleaning of the instrument. Furthermore, the complicated construction often leads to erroneous functions.


A circuit uses a single control input to an oscillator of an electronic ballast to program the parameters of soft-start frequency, pre-heat frequency, ignition ramp time, and ballast run frequency. The output frequency of the oscillator is based on an electrical parameter at the control input node. A resistor-capacitor network may be used to program the soft-start ramp time and ignition ramp time. The resistive element of the restive-capacitance network may be used to program the pre-heat frequency. A switchable impedance may be used to program the ballast run frequency. A look-up table circuit may also be used in the alternative to implement a single control input for the oscillator of an electronic ballast.

Electronic ballasts are used in many fluorescent lighting applications. Electronic ballast circuits typically employ transistors or other semiconductor components to convert mains voltage into high-frequency AC while also regulating the current flow in the lamp. The design and operation of these circuits include programming a plurality of parameters relating to the control of the fluorescent lamp, including lamp soft-start frequency, a pre-heat frequency, ignition frequency and ramp time, and final running frequency. These various frequencies are often generated by the ballast control circuit using a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) which provides different frequencies for an output operating signal based on a voltage level or current provided at the input of the VCO. The power to the lamps is controlled by varying the output frequency of the VCO. Another timing circuit may be provided to program the time period during which the operating signal remains at each of the frequencies above, and yet another circuit is often provided to program the sweep time between each frequency.
Programming for rapid-starting often involves preheating a fluorescent lamp's electrodes using a higher pre-heat frequency before the required voltage for striking the arc is applied at the lower resonance frequency. The lamp will light after a predetermined preheat time as the frequency sweeps through the resonance frequency during the ignition ramp time. This can significantly increase the expected life of the lamp compared to instant-starting a lamp by applying the jolt of required voltage without a warm-up period, which may increase erosion of the electrode and result in fewer lamp starts before failure. Modern lamps require an accurate preheat time for a more controlled start. If the minimum frequency has been chosen below or very close to the resonant frequency, the circuit will work near resonance.
Electronic ballasts may employ two power MOSFETs driven to conduct alternately in a totem pole (half-bridge) topology in conjunction with L-C series resonant circuits, with the fluorescent lamp(s) across one of the reactances. Many electronic ballasts for fluorescent lighting applications sold on the market today also include a standard ballast control IC. There are a number of electronic ballast control ICs on the market, including the IR215X and IR2520D series which are monolithic power integrated circuits capable of driving low-side and high-side MOSFETs or IGBTs from logic level, ground referenced inputs, and which can provide self-oscillating or synchronized oscillation functions set via external resistive and/or capacitance components.
At startup, the output frequency of the VCO can be as much as about 2.5 times the minimum frequency of the circuit. This minimizes voltage spikes and lamp flash at startup. The frequency ramps down towards the resonant frequency of the high-Q ballast output stage, causing the lamp voltage and lamp current to increase. During this time, the filaments of the fluorescent lamp are pre-heated to the emission temperature to promote a long lamp life. The frequency keeps decreasing until the lamp ignites. If the lamp ignites successfully, the ballast control IC enters a run mode. If the minimum frequency has been chosen below or very close to the resonant frequency, the integrated circuit will work near resonance and will adjust the frequency to maintain zero-voltage switching at the half-bridge and to minimize the losses in the transistors. If the minimum frequency has been chosen higher than the resonant frequency the ballast control IC will work at the minimum frequency.
Control ICs can perform a variety of functions ranging from power factor correction to lamp/ballast control. The parameters of soft-start frequency, pre-heat frequency, ignition ramp time, and final run frequency may be programmed independent of each other using multi-input solutions.

Single-input control circuit for programming electronic ballast parameters


In a multiple bale opener (1) comprising a transport device leading pressed fiber bales (14,16) to a horizontal reduction area (3), the transport device having a section (20) rising towards the reduction area, and a reduction device (5) moved back and forth in the reduction area, it is provided. The transport device has a plurality of adjacent independent transport tracks (2,4,6,8), and the transport tracks (2,4,6,8) are pivotably supported at the rear end of the reduction area (3), seen in the direction of transport. The distance of each of the transport tracks (2,4, 6,8) to the plane of reduction can be adjusted separately at the front end of the reduction area (3), seen in the direction of transport, and the transport velocity of each of the transport tracks (2,4,6,8) can be adjusted separately.

The invention relates to a multipe bale opener with a transport device being inclined with respect to the plane of reduction and guiding pressed fiber bales to a horizontal plane of reduction, and with a reduction device shuttling in the plane of reduction, as well as to a method of opening and mixing different pressed fiber bales.
Such a bale opening device is known from DE-OS 20 61 044, according to which the pressed fiber bales set up in rows may be continuously fed longitudinally thereto, while the reduction is performed. In this case, the opening device may be displaced to and fro along a straight guide relative to the rows of bales, while the fiber material is fed along a rising ramp.
Such a multiple bale opener has the drawback that, substantially, it can only process batches of raw material that are uniform in height. Cotton mixtures of different origin indeed have bale dimensions varying considerably so that a manual levelling of the height has to be performed before the desired cotton mixture can be reduced by the known multiple bale opening device. In practice, the height differences are levelled by severing an upper portion from higher bales and putting these portions on the lower bales. This, however, entails a considerable variation in the mixture ratio of the batch.
It is a further drawback that mixture ratios can only be set as integral bale number ratios, namely ratios lying within the scope of the number of bales that are simutaneously reduced on the ramp.
It is an object of the invention to improve a multiple bale opener and a method for opening and mixing different pressed fiber bales such that an optional selectable and readily changeable mixture ratio can be set.
The object is soved with the features of the claims.


A method and a device for configuring a hardware component, in particular of a configurable safe input/output module, includes using a configuration program that is designed to display a graphical user interface on a display apparatus that is connected to a data processing system, which user interface provides function blocks having inputs and outputs. By way of the method and the device, two function blocks can be interconnected so as to form a combined function block having at least one input and one output, at least one of the inputs or outputs of the first function block and at least one of the inputs or outputs of the second function block forming at least two of the inputs/outputs of the combined function block.

As automated processes become more widespread and increasingly complex, the importance of avoiding and coping with errors using safety apparatuses and functions, in particular those that are certified with regard to safety standards, has also increased. Safe and likewise configurable input/output modules are used in automation engineering in particular when safety logic is intended to be provided, which can be flexibly adapted to the respective requirements of the system. In this case, it is known to configure or adapt the desired safety logic for a configurable safety module using a configuration program that is executed on a data processing system. In this way, safety controllers can be individually installed or configured in order to reliably integrate functional safety into the automation.
European patent EP 2 098 926 A1 describes a method for programming and/or configuring a safety controller that comprises a controller and at least one connection module, which comprises at least one input for a sensor and/or at least one output for an actuator, functional units, i.e. sensors and/or actuators, which are to be connected to the safety controller being selected by means of a graphical user interface, and being associated inputs and/or outputs of a connection module. In this case, functional units to be connected are automatically associated suitable inputs and/or outputs by means of an association function.
European patent EP 2 260 357 B1 relates to a device for controlling a system and to a method for setting up and handling control of a system. In particular, a control unit is provided, which is designed to process a control program of the system, the control program comprising function modules that are used to actuate actuators of the system and to evaluate sensors of the system and to exchange data with at least one additional communication peer of the system. A visualization unit is also provided, which is used to functionally display the control program to an operator, each function module of the control program being represented in the functional display of the control program by a display module. Activated display modules each form part of the functional display of the control program and can be used to display the status of and define the parameters for the respective function modules during the runtime of the control program.

Method and device for configuring a hardware component


A process for producing a rubber powder from a vulcanized rubber material by the steps of: a) feeding a grinding device with the vulcanized rubber material; b) contacting the vulcanized rubber material with at least one liquid coolant; c) introducing at least one grinding aid additive into the grinding device; d) operating the grinding device so as to grind the vulcanized rubber material to form a rubber powder, and e) discharging the rubber powder from the extruder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing a rubber powder from a vulcanized rubber material.
In particular, the present invention relates to a process for pulverizing a vulcanized rubber material by using a grinding device.
More in particular, the present invention relates to a process for pulverizing a vulcanized rubber material comprising a discarded rubber material.
Even more in particular, the present invention relates to a process for pulverizing a vulcanized rubber material comprising a discarded rubber material including discarded tyres previously torn to shreds.
2. Description of the Related Art
The increased production of industrial rubber products has resulted in the accumulation of large amounts of rubber wastes which per se do not find any practical applications and are generally disposed in dedicated landfills with the main drawbacks of environment pollution as well as of the need for large dedicated areas for storing said wastes.
Therefore, the reclaiming of vulcanized rubber material into a product, which can be advantageously reused, is a widely discussed issue and a long-felt problem to be solved.
Used vulcanized rubber material, such as waste rubber, old tyres and industrial rubber products, can be comminuted and added to rubber mixtures to be employed in a plurality of applications. This is particularly advantageous since important amounts of used vulcanized rubber material can be reused and, moreover, corresponding remarkable amounts of raw materials can be saved by replacing them with said discarded material.
The use in a rubber composition of a comminuted vulcanized rubber, whose particle size generally does not exceed 500 μm, does not remarkably impair the quality of the final product.
However, according to the known technologies available on the market, fine powders can be obtained from rubber material at the expense of large amounts of energy.
Reclaiming processes of used rubber material which are currently employed include: chemical reclaiming processes such as pyrolysis and devulcanization; thermal reclaiming processes such as extrusion, injection moulding and pressure moulding; mechanical reclaiming processes such as granulation, densification, agglomeration and pulverization.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,670 discloses the recovery of rubber from scrap vulcanized rubber tyres by devulcanization of the rubber tyres and subsequent removal of the devulcanized material, e.g. by rasping. The devulcanization is obtained by raising the surface temperature of the vulcanized rubber material.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,463 discloses the reclamation of thermoplastic material including the steps of: shredding to about one hundred millimiters, grinding to under about 40 millimeters, drying, pre-heating from 80° C. to 160° C., kneading at 120° C. to 250° C. and injection moulding or extruding.
A method of pulverizing natural or synthetic rubber materials is known, for instance, from document U.S. Pat. No. 3,190,565 which discloses the comminution thereof in mills provided with knife blades in the presence of antiagglomerating agents (in the form of polyolefin fines) that inhibit the sticking of the comminuted material to the cutting blades.
A further method of making powders from industrial rubbers consists in comminuting thereof by means of shear forces.
Document GB-1,424,768 discloses a plunger-type device provided with a rotating member so that the rubber material is crushed in the minimal gap between the rotating member and the inside wall of said device.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,790 discloses a process for the production of rubber powder having a particle size of from about 200 to 1,500 μm, said process comprising the step of providing small additions of powdering agents in order to obtain adequate fluidity of the rubber powder. A carrier gas is used during size-reduction which is carried out, for instance, by the grinding plates of a Pallmann mill. The increase in temperature which occurs in the size-reduction machine is minimized by cooling the carrier gas, e.g. at a temperature of about 5° C.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,126 discloses a process for grinding to a particle size of less than about 1 mm in diameter a soft and tacky polymeric material in the presence of a grinding aid in an attrition mill having counter-rotating grinding elements adjustably spaced apart. The mill temperature is adjusted so that nearly all of the grinding aid is retained on the softened polymer particles, thus improving polymer flow and reducing to a minimum the amount of loose grinding aid to be disposed of. Air is drawn through the mill to serve as the material carrier medium and at the same time to cool the mill, if required.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 2,412,586 relates to the fine grinding of rubber scrap with high grinding and screening efficiency. Said document discloses a cyclic process in which the rubber stock, with preliminary chopping if necessary, is continuously fed to a grinding mill together with a regulated amount of water and then subjected to the grinding operation in the presence of the added water, the resulting ground stock passed by a conveyer to a screen for screening out the fine particles, and the oversize material from the screen returned to the grinder for further grinding. According to said document the amount of water required for most efficient grinding or screening varies somewhat with the type of scrap being ground and with the fineness to which the scrap is to be ground.
A further method of producing finely dispersed powders from used rubber materials is the cryogenic destruction (e.g. Chemical Technology, Cryopulverizing, T. Nazy, R. Davis, 1976, 6, N° 3, pages 200-203). According to said method the rubber material is cooled to very low temperatures by using liquid nitrogen or solid carbon dioxide and then subjecting the cooled material to impact or cutting. This method produces finely dispersed powders having particle dimensions less than 500 μm, but it is very expensive due to the presence of a plant dedicated to liquid nitrogen production.
A further method of making powders from rubber materials consists in using an extrusion device of the single-screw or multiple-screw type.
For instance, document U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,797 discloses the pulverization of used polymers in an extrusion apparatus wherein the used material is heated to above its melting temperature in a first zone of said extrusion apparatus and cooled to below its solidification temperature with simultaneous pre-crushing and pulverizing of the solidified material in a second zone of said apparatus to form a powdered material. The action of the screw of the extruder is used to convey the material through the barrel of the extruder, while pulverizing disks mounted on the screw in the second cooling zone perform the pre-crushing and pulverizing of said material.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,471 discloses an extruder for solid state shear extrusion pulverization of polymeric materials comprising a feed zone, a heating zone adjacent to the feed zone, a powder formation zone adjacent to the heating zone and a powder discharge zone adjacent to the powder formation zone. Furthermore, the extruder is provided with temperature adjustment means for heating the polymeric material to a temperature lower than the decomposition temperature of the polymeric material in the heating zone and for maintaining the polymeric material below its melting point in the powder formation zone, but at a temperature above its glass transition temperature in the powder formation zone to inhibit the formation of agglomerates.
Documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,607,796; 5,395,055; 5,704,555 and JP 6-179215 disclose further processes according to which the extruder is provided with heating and cooling zones.

Pulverization process of a vulcanized rubber material


A vehicular display system includes an in-vehicle navigation device and a vehicular meter device. The in-vehicle navigation device includes a display device, a character string storing device, and a character string converting device. The character string storing device stores a navigation display character string that is to be displayed in the display device. The character string converting device converts the navigation display character string into a meter display character string. The vehicular meter device includes a navigation display area. The meter display character string is displayed in a navigation display area.

Recently, besides a conventional mechanical meter, an image display device using a liquid crystal panel or the like, has been employed as a display device for a vehicular meter panel. The image display device has an advantage of fully controlling a setting of a display design and a layout.
This image display device has been developed into a vehicular display device, which displays a screen such as an area map or road map of an in-vehicle navigation device. However, at times, an area for displaying the screen of the in-vehicle navigation device is smaller than that of a normal in-vehicle navigation device. As a result, characters of names of cities, towns and villages, names of roads, and the like are sometimes illegible to a user.
In an exemplary display of a conventional meter, as shown in FIG. 11, display areas of a meter unit 50 include a water temperature display area 61, a speed display area 62, a shift position etc. display area 63, an engine speed display area 64, a fuel level gauge display area 65, and a navigation display area 66. According to this conventional art, navigation map drawing data (a navigation display character string) is identical with meter map drawing data (a meter display character string). Thus, the character string, which is similar to that of a navigation device, is displayed on the navigation display area 66, which is very limited in area.
Consequently, U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,980 (JP10-091063A) proposes a map display device, which facilitates the user reading the characters.
According to the map display device in U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,980, the single in-vehicle navigation device changes a character string and the number of characters in proportion to the scale of the map, thereby obtaining a map display that is easy to read to the user. However, it does not work together with other devices.
Furthermore, even if character strings are converted, it does not facilitate adequate legibility of the characters, since, for instance, the character strings may be displayed with a part of them overlapped in a screen display of the in-vehicle navigation device of a meter.


Provided are certain quinazoline compounds, compositions thereof and methods of use thereof. These quinazoline compounds can effectively inhibit the overexpression and/or overactivity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

Binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can activate tyrosine kinase activity and thereby may trigger reactions that lead to cellular proliferation. Over-expression and/or over-activity of EGFR may result in uncontrolled cell division which may be a predisposition for cancer. Compounds that can inhibit the over-expression and/or over-activity of EGFR are therefore potential candidates for treating cancer.


According to the invention, an apparatus for robust battery discharge which provides uninterrupted power to a discharge circuit used in a discharge cycle is disclosed. The apparatus may have a discharge circuit for discharging a battery. The discharge circuit may be adapted to be coupled with a discharge load and configured to discharge the battery using the discharge load during a discharging cycle. The apparatus may have a first power input and a second power input, which may configured to receive power from a first power source and a second power source, respectively. The power inputs may be further configured to supply power to the discharge circuit. The apparatus may have a power switching circuit for switching power from the first power source to the second power source when the first power source is interrupted. The second power source may be the battery.

Discharge circuits are commonly used in battery charging, conditioning, calibration and other systems. In battery charging and conditioning systems, discharge circuits may be used to completely discharge a battery before beginning a charging cycle. For some battery types, such as nickel-cadmium batteries, they may have a "memory" of previous minimum charge levels such that shallow cycling can limit battery life. A discharge circuit is used in a battery charging system for such a battery to ensure such batteries last longer by deeply cycling the battery.
In battery calibration systems, a discharge circuit may be used to determine the characteristics of a battery. For some battery types, such as lithium-ion batteries, determining the characteristics of the battery under load conditions may assist in determining battery condition as it ages. Additionally, calibration systems produce information that allow predicting performance of the battery over its service life.
Discharge or calibration cycles may require extended periods of time without interruption to be effective. If the cycle is interrupted, the battery may have to be recharged before the cycle can begin anew, consuming even more time. Failure of the discharge circuit, power loss to the discharge circuit, or disconnecting of the battery from the circuit are all possible causes of interruption of the cycle.
In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the letter suffix.


A semiconductor component comprises a semiconductor body with at least one protective trench in the semiconductor body. An insulation layer is situated at least at the bottom of the protective trench. An electrically conductive layer having a thickness D is formed on the insulation layer in the protective trench, wherein the electrically conductive layer only partly fills the protective trench.

Progressive miniaturization in semiconductor components requires surface treatments of the semiconductor body, for example so-called CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) processes, wherein surface topologies at the semiconductor body are removed as far as possible. Thus, by way of example, new generations of transistors require ever smaller and more precise geometries for, for example, trench, recess and dopant structures. In order to realize very short transistor channel lengths in the case of trench transistors, for example, extremely high requirements are made of the recess processes. This has the consequence that CMP processes, such as gatepoly CMP, for example, become absolutely necessary before the actual recess processes for the purpose of levelling the semiconductor body surface, in order to attain the highly precise recess depths including manufacturing fluctuations. A CMP process means at the same time, however, that, for example, planar polysilicon structures on the semiconductor body surface that are used for example for chip edge constructions and other wiring or sensor structures are no longer present because they are removed by the CMP process.

Semiconductor component and method for producing a semiconductor component


A method and system using a component business model (CBM) architecture provides a staff assignment service to an enterprise. A staff assignment scenario is described in terms of business components in a CBM architecture of the enterprise, the applicable business components forming a staffing service network. For each business component in the staffing service network, functionalities supporting the scenario are identified, and collaborative links among the business components are established, sufficient to enable the service functionalities within the staffing service network to operate so as to assign staff to a project of the enterprise. The staff assignment service is adapted dynamically by repetition of this technique as new scenarios are developed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to techniques for managing the assignment of staff resources, and more particularly to the use of a component business model architecture for organizing the staff assignment function.
2. Background Description
Companies are finding it more difficult to attract, retain and develop their human capital. Ninety percent (90%) of North American business and human resource (HR) executives recently surveyed say their companies are experiencing increased competition for talent. Eighty percent (80%) of companies consider talent management as their top management problem.
There is a potential shortfall of talent from a maturing workforce population, plus many organizations have a lack of understanding of key skills and capabilities that they possess. There are several business applications on the market which have been geared towards addressing the issue of understanding and tracking staff skills with the object of assignment in mind. However, all of these are structured around processes, and therefore deteriorate over time as the supporting processes are adapted in an ad hoc fashion to changing business conditions. Furthermore, the inflexibility and monolithic character of process oriented approaches to staffing are particularly ill-suited to the support of new working practices, increasing employee mobility between companies, and contractual arrangements for working for multiple companies. What is needed is an approach which overcomes the foregoing limitations of process based staffing structures.

Method and system for assigning staff as a service in a service network within a component business model architecture

International Business Machines Corporation


A pattern image generation device which is able to generate various patterns by use of a RAM for processing ordinary image data and also is able to generate the patterns in a simple structure. The pattern image generation device includes an image conversion processor for converting an input image data signal to output a converted image data, the image conversion processor including rewritable memory and address controller for controlling a memory address of said memory, and an operation processor for controlling the operation of the image conversion processor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pattern image generation device for an image processing system which includes an image data conversion table and performs processings such as conversion processing, edit processing and the like on color separated image data input before outputting the image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional digital copying machine, an analog signal obtained by reading a document is converted into multivalued digital data, the digital data is processed in its granularity, gradation property, fineness and other image quality adjustment, and then the data is recorded and reproduced by means of dot images. In particular, due to the fact that the digitally converted multivalued data is processed, the conventional digital copying machine is able not only to process the image data used to generate a highly fine and highly reproducible image but also to easily carry out various kinds of correction and editing using memory by means of the image data.
Also, in a full color digital copying machine, a document is read optically and is thus color separated to thereby produce read signals B (Blue), G (Green) and R (Red); and, the read signals B (Blue), G (Green) and R are corrected and converted into the record signals Y (Yellow), M (Magenta) and C (Cyanogen) of color materials such as a toner, ink, an ink doner film and the like. Basically, dot images respectively obtained from the respective color materials are output in such a manner that they are superimposed on one another, thereby reproducing a full color document. In this case, images obtained from color materials equal in amount to one another provides an achromatic color and, therefore, actually, an under color removal (UCR) processing is performed to thereby remove the record signals Y, M and C corresponding to the color materials equal in amount so as to avoid the useless consumption of the color materials. However, if the UCR processing is performed, then the amounts of the color materials used are decreased to thereby reduce the depth or graveness of the color, so that mass of the whole color image becomes insufficient. Also, due to the fact that reproduction of grey or black is contrary to reproduction of a highly chromatic color, a simple UCR processing is not able to enhance the reproducibility of the color sufficiently. In order to make up for such massive shortage in the chromatic colors or in order to execute a grey output, black or India ink (K) is generated according to the amount of the color material to be UCR processed. Now, an example of conventional digital color image forming device which is disclosed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. Hei-2-70173, will be described hereinafter briefly.
In FIG. 8, there is shown a block diagram of the structure of a digital color image forming device.
In FIG. 8, IIT (image input terminal) 100 is used to read a document by use of a CCD line sensor and color separate the document into read signals B, G and R and also to convert the read signals B, G and R into digital image data. IOT (image output terminal) 115 is used to expose and develop by use of a laser beam and reproduce a color image. Parts interposed between IIT 100 and IOT 115 and including an END conversion module 101 to an IOT interface 110 cooperate in constituting an image data edit processing system (IPS: image processing system). The IPS converts the read signals B, G and R into the toner record signals Y, M, C, and K, and selects and outputs every develop cycle the record signal that corresponds to the develop color. What is important here is, in converting the read signals (B, G and R signals) into the record signals (Y, M, C and K signals), how the balance of the color is adjusted, how the color is reproduced in accordance with the reading characteristics of the IIT and the output characteristics of the IOT, how the balance of the density or contrast of the color is adjusted, how the edge is emphasized or how unsharpness or moire is adjusted, and the like.
IIT 100 takes in 1 pixel in a size of 16 dots/mm with respect to each of the read signals B, G and R by use of a CCD sensor, and outputs the data in 24 bits (3 colors .times.8 bits; 256 gradations). The CCD sensor includes B, G and R filters mounted to the upper surface thereof, has a density of 15 dots/mm and a length of 300 mm, and scans 16 line/mm at a process speed of 190.5 mm/sec. Thus, the CCD outputs the read signals at a speed of 15 M pixels per sec. substantially for the respective colors. And, IIT 100, by means of logarithmic conversion of analog signals of the pixels of B, G and R, converts the information of reflectance into the information of density and further into digital signals.
The IPS is a system which is used to input therein the read signals B, G and R from IIT 100, performs various kinds of data processings on the read signals in order to enhance the reproducibility of color, gradation, fineness and the like, selects the record signal of a develop process color from the record signals Y, M, C and K, converts the selected record signal into an on/off signal, and outputs the on/off signal to IOT 115. As shown in FIG. 8, the IPS includes an END conversion (Equivalent Neutral Density conversion) module 101 which adjusts (converts) the record signal into a grey balanced color signal; a color masking module 102 which matrix operates the read signals B, G and R to thereby convert the read signals into the record signals that correspond to the toner amounts of Y, M and C; a document size detection module 103 which detects a document size in pre-scanning and erases (erases the frame of) a platen color in document read scanning; a color conversion module 104 which converts a color specified in a given area in accordance with an area signal input from an area image control module; a UCR processing & black generation module 105 which generates K in a proper amount in order to prevent a color from being made impure and decreases Y, M and C equally in amounts according to the amount of K generated and also which performs a UCR processing on the K signals as well as the record signals Y, M and C in accordance with signals in a mono-color mode and a full color mode and gates the signals that are obtained after such UCR processing; a space filter 106 having a function to recover an unsharp color and a function to remove a moire; a TRC (Tone Reproduction Control) module 107 which performs a density adjustment, a contrast adjustment, a negative-positive reversal, color balance adjustment and other similar processings in order to improve reproducibility; a reduction and enlargement processing module 108 which performs a reduction and enlargement processing in a main scanning direction; a screen generator 109 which converts a gradation toner signal of a process color into a binary on/off toner signal and outputs the binary on/off toner signal; an IOT interface module 110, an area image control module 111 which includes an area generation circuit and a switch matrix; an edit control module which includes an area command memory 112, a color palette video switch circuit 113, a font buffer 114 and the like; and other similar modules.
As described above, in the digital color image forming device which performs various processings such as correction, conversion, editing and other processings on the image data in a multi-stage manner, there is used a pattern generator PG so as to evaluate the reproducibility, fineness and so on of color image as well as to carry out adjustments and trouble shootings. For example, by using a lattice pattern, mis-registration for each of colors can be observed longitudinally and transversely, if any. Also, the reproducibility of Japanese, especially, kanji (Chinese) character can be observed by means of oblique lines and use of longitudinal and transverse patterns permits observation of poor transfer and gradation reproducibility. The pattern generator PG which generates such constant patterns is normally included within the digital color image forming device and, for example, as a table conversion device for converting signals, there is also used an LUT using a RAM.
In the above-mentioned pattern generator, patterns vary according to the applications of the pattern generator and, therefore, there must be prepared the patterns that correspond to the applications thereof. In order words, it is difficult that a generator is specially provided for generation of pasterns and further various patterns are provided easily.

Pattern image generation device for image processing system


The invention relates to genetic manipulation and evaluation of soybean seed, particularly for the enlargement and use of endosperm tissue for galactomannan gum extraction. A method for combining several elements which have heretofore been misunderstood or were unknown, is presented. The resulting enlarged endosperm tissue has many commercial uses.

Dormant seeds of many legumes have been long known to store polysaccharide gums in the middle endosperm layer (Schleiden and Vogel. 1839. Nova Acta Acad. Caesar. Leop.-Carol. 19(1):53-96+6 ic; Nadelmann. 1890. Prings. Jarhb. Wissen. Bot.21:609-691+6 ic.;
Kopooshian and Isely, 1966. Iowa Acad. Sci. 73:59-67). These polysaccharide gums, which are primarily galactomannans, are able to produce gels or viscous solutions at low concentrations, which makes them valuable for many purposes. Also, because the gums are localized in the endosperm, extraction can be accomplished easily by several simple chemical and mechanical means. Although used since antiquity, they have become increasingly valuable for food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, paper, and a wide variety of industrial uses starting in the 1940's (Buckeridge et al. 2000. 283-316 in Gupta and Kuar, eds.
Carbohydrate Reserves in Plants—Synthesis and Regulation. Elsevier). The primary current sources of galactomannans are guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), locust (Ceratonia siliqua), and fenugreek (Trigonellafoenum-graecum), all of which are imported and subject to supply and price uncertainties (Dhugga et al. 2004. Science 303:363-366).
Scientists have for decades attempted to find a good domestic plant source of galactomannan gum. Tookey and Jones (1965. Economic Botany 19:165-174) surveyed 300 species in 139 genera in 31 plant families and concluded that: ". . . it is reasonable to expect that an annual legume will be found that can be developed into a domestic crop source of seed gum." The work resulted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,116,281 for the legume Crotalaria intermedia, but little else.
Buckeridge et al. (2000. op. cit.) also encouraged searching for a suitable legume, as well as using molecular techniques. The U.S. Patent Application 20040143871 by Dhugga (2004) describes an extensive molecular attempt to produce a variety of galactomannan gums in a variety of plants, with soybean and corn as the primary targets for a domestic source, although he does not name any specific target tissue.
Other than molecular work, no attempt has been made to produce gum in soybean, although Whistler and Saarnio (1957. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 79(22):6055-6057) suggested recovering a trivial yield of galactomannan from waste soybean hulls of unspecified cultivars available at the time, despite that they did not know the tissue containing the galactomannan, and were unaware of any genetic based variability in yield. A similar report by Aspinall and Whyte (1964. J. Chem. Soc. 232:5058-5063) also did not lead to gum production. None of these authors measured the endosperm. The reason for the lack of interest, is that soybean has been considered to have virtually no endosperm, and therefore virtually no galactomannan (Chalon. 1875. Societe Sci. Arts Lettres Hainaut. 10:3-66; Nadelmann (1890. op. cit.); Pammel 1899. Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis 9(6):91-273+xxxv ic; Kirkbride et al. 2003. Fruits and seeds of genera in the subfamily Faboideae (Fabaceae). USDA ARS Technical Bulletin 1890. v+1-1218; Buckeridge et al. (2000. op. cit.); Dhugga (2004. U.S. patent application 20040143871); Ma et al. 2004. Can. J. Bot. 82:654-662.). Even though hybridization of soybean with other species in the genus Glycine has been practiced for almost a hundred years (Hymowitz and Singh. 1987. 23-48 in Caldwell, B. E., ed. Soybeans: improvement, production, and uses. Second edition. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, Wis.), there has been no attempt to create a cultivated soybean by transferring traits for enlarged endosperm from the wild relatives or landraces, because all prior research indicates such breeding attempts would not lead to larger endosperm. As an example of the indications in the prior research in which endosperm was misidentified as non-endosperm tissue, Yaklich et al. (1989. Crop. Sci. 1304-1309) surveyed the wild species and the cultivated soybean, and inferred in a table that the size of this tissue in wild species was smaller than in the cultivated soybean. Any reader, correctly identifying this tissue as endosperm, would thus conclude that any breeding attempts for endosperm involving wild relatives would likely result in a smaller endosperm in the cultivated plant.
This unfulfilled need for a large endosperm in soybean means that such transgenic methods as Dhugga (2004. U.S. patent application 20040143871) have several disadvantages: (a) transgenic methods add complexity; (b) a non-endosperm target tissue for expression must be chosen, and therefore a suitable and likely novel processing system must be developed and implemented for extraction; and (c) for culinary uses especially, many people are opposed to materials developed by transgenic means.
As shown in the above background section, there really is no prior art for the assessment, enlargement, or subsequent use of soybean endosperm, although there may be some aspects of knowledge and previous techniques that may be adaptable in pursuit of such a goal.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are:    (a) to create an enlarged endosperm tissue in a cultivated soybean for the production of natural gums;    (b) to maintain an endosperm tissue of suitable size in a plant with other agronomically desirable traits;    (c) to create an enlarged endosperm tissue in a cultivated soybean which can be utilized for the production of modified gums and other materials;    (d) to create an enlarged endosperm tissue in a cultivated soybean from which materials can be extracted easily;    (e) to create an enlarged endosperm tissue in a cultivated soybean which can be used for chemical and physical manipulation for altered agronomic traits; and    (f) to develop a system for galactomannan and other material production and extraction that gives good yield and minimally interferes with normal soybean processing.
Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

Enlargement and new use of soybean endosperm tissue


Embodiments disclosed herein include electronic packages and methods of forming such packages. In an embodiment, the electronic package comprises a package substrate, that comprises a bumpout region on a first surface of the package substrate, and a pin region on a second surface of the package substrate. In an embodiment, a data path from the bumpout region to the pin region is included in the electronic package. In an embodiment, a ground path brackets the data path from the bumpout region to the pin region.

With more performance required per socket and as more cores are added into the CPU, memory bandwidth demand is the key enabler for scaling CPU performance. Due to the high density routing in package, crosstalk in the package is the major barrier to reach higher memory speeds for single ended interfaces.
The current approach for routing in package is to increase the input/output (I/O) bump pitch and use stripline routing. This is effective at low memory speeds, but is limited for future scaling. Particularly, as silicon processes continuing to shrink, and the number of memory channels increase with higher memory speeds, stripline routing is not effective. For example, the crosstalk in stripline routing architectures makes such routing solutions impracticable for continued scaling.

Integrated memory coplanar transmission line package having ground path that brackets data path to extend memory speeds


Disclosed are systems and methods that include a device for updating biometric data in an enrollment data set. The device includes a biometric sensor and a processor. The processor is configured to reject an authentication attempt based on a biometric input from the biometric sensor failing a first match determination, accept an additional authentication attempt based on an additional biometric input from the biometric sensor passing an auxiliary match determination, and update a biometric data repository based on the biometric input passing an auxiliary match determination.

Biometric recognition is a popular tool for a wide range of environments and is often used to enhance the security and usability of electronic systems. Biometric recognition systems can be used to automatically recognize distinctive personal characteristics (or traits) of individuals for purposes such as secure access control and personalization of device settings based on identity, among other possibilities. Typically, biometric recognition involves detection of a biometric for comparison to reference biometric data (or enrollment data). Unfortunately, biometric recognition systems can be highly sensitive to changes that cause the detected biometrics to be unrecognizable. This in turn decreases the accuracy and reliability of the biometric recognition system.

Systems and methods for biometric recognition


An embodiment of the present invention may be directed to an automated generation of software development life cycle audit documentation tool that enables development teams to move from point-in-time documentation to living documentation while still satisfying software development life cycle (SDLC) audit and risk concerns. An embodiment of the present invention is directed to generating release artifacts for application teams, to avoid costly application development time being used to fill in paperwork. An embodiment of the present invention may run as a Command Line Interface, or as a part of the build pipeline for application teams. This enables development teams to spend their time focusing on delivering high quality business solutions in a rapid fashion.

Businesses and developers often manually create documentation for each release to satisfy audit and internal risk manager requirements. Such documentation may include Business Requirement Document (BRD), Functional Specification Documents (Functional Specs), Technical Specification Documents (Tech Specs). Currently, the creation of these documents is labor intensive and time consuming. These documents are also obsolete from just about the moment the save button is pressed, as the application features and capabilities are constantly under development.

System and method for automated generation of software development life cycle audit documentation