An apparatus and method are provided for issuing access requests to a memory controller for a memory device whose memory structure consists of a plurality of sub-structures. The apparatus has a request interface for issuing access requests to the memory controller, each access request identifying a memory address. Within the apparatus static abstraction data is stored providing an indication of one or more of the sub-structures of the memory device, and the apparatus also stores an indication of outstanding access requests issued from the request interface. Next access request selection circuitry is then arranged to select from a plurality of candidate access requests a next access request to issue from the request interface. That selection is dependent on sub-structure indication data that is derived from application of an abstraction data function, using the static abstraction data, to the memory addresses of the candidate access requests and the outstanding access requests. Such an approach enables the apparatus to provide a series of access requests to the memory controller with the aim of enabling the memory controller to perform a more optimal access sequence with regard to the memory device.

The present technique relates to an apparatus and method for issuing access requests to a memory controller.
Many memory devices are arranged to consist of a plurality of sub-structures, and the manner in which individual accesses to the memory device are performed with respect to those sub-structures can give rise to non-uniform access timing characteristics. The memory controller associated with the memory device will decode the memory address provided by an access request in order to identify the particular sub-structures that need to be accessed in order to process the access request. Often the sub-structures are hierarchical. For example, considering a DRAM memory device, this is often organised in ranks, banks, rows and columns, and indeed at a higher hierarchical level there may be multiple channels. Whilst certain sub-structures such as ranks and banks can be accessed in parallel, there can be restrictions on how other sub-structures (for example rows) are accessed. Again considering the particular example of DRAM, within a particular bank it is the case that only a single row can be accessed at a time, and it takes time to prepare the row for access.
Accordingly, the memory controller for the memory device can seek to rearrange the order in which pending access requests are performed so as to take account of such constraints in order to improve the overall memory performance. For example, whilst a particular row within a bank has been activated for access, it is generally beneficial to perform any pending accesses to that row before performing any accesses that require a different row within the same bank to be accessed.
However, to enable such beneficial reordering to be performed, the memory controller needs to have detailed information about the structure of the memory device, and retain dynamic state information about the current state of the memory device, for example which sub-structures such as rows are currently activated. Further, it can only perform such reordering with regard to the pending access requests held in its pending access requests buffers, and by their nature such buffers will be of a finite size.
Elsewhere in the system there will be requesting agents that are responsible for issuing access requests to the memory controller for adding into the memory controller's pending access requests buffer(s). Where such a requesting agent has choice as to the order in which access requests are issued from it to the memory controller, it would be useful if those elements could make their selection of access requests in a manner that would assist the memory controller in improving the performance of the memory device, by populating the pending access requests buffer(s) of the memory controller with access requests that can be processed efficiently having regards to the non-uniform access timing characteristics of the memory device.
However, previous work in this area has involved closely coupling the requesting agent with the memory controller so that detailed information about the memory structure and the dynamic state of the memory device can be shared between the memory controller and the closely coupled requesting agent. This can be useful where the requesting agent can practically be tightly coupled with the memory controller, such as is sometimes the case with a final level, system, cache. However, such an approach is difficult and costly to implement, and is restricted to requesting agents that can be tightly with the memory controller.
It would be desirable to provide a mechanism that could be employed by a requesting agent to issue access requests in a way that may assist the memory controller's aim of improving the efficiency of performing memory accesses, but without the need for the requesting agent to be closely coupled with the memory controller.

Apparatus and method for issuing access requests to a memory controller


A sealing arrangement for a control device of an internal combustion engine includes a housing. A channel is formed in the housing. The channel has a gas flow therethrough. A control member controls a flow of the gas in the channel. The control member is arranged on a shaft. A bearing supports the shaft in a bearing bore of the housing. A vent bore extends in the housing from an inner wall of the channel on an inlet side of the control member to a rear side, facing outward from the channel, of the bearing arranged in the housing, and into the bearing bore. A first groove is formed in the shaft behind the bearing. The first groove is configured so as to be circumferential when seen from the channel. The first groove is surrounded radially by a sealing device which is configured to cooperate with the first groove.

Such sealing arrangements are used, for example, in control devices, such as exhaust gas recirculation flap valves, for controlling a recirculated exhaust gas flow in commercial vehicles, where large quantities of exhaust gas must be supplied to the engine in a precisely controlled manner. It is necessary here to prevent the intrusion of exhaust gas into the bearings and, further, to prevent the gas from flowing through the bearing bore out into the atmosphere.
DE 10 2006 054 041 B3 discloses an exhaust gas control device comprising a housing in which an exhaust gas recirculation channel is formed that is controlled by a flap. This flap is driven by an electric motor via a transmission unit and is arranged for rotation on a shaft that is supported in bearing bores formed in the housing defining the channel. In order to prevent the intrusion of exhaust gas, and thus soot, into the bearings, and to simultaneously prevent a leakage gas flow to the outside, the housing is provided with a bore leading from the front side of the flap out from the channel to the rear side of the bearing and into the bearing bore. A sealing flow thus prevails on the rear side of the bearing that leads to a pressure balance with the inside of the channel so that the exhaust gas flow is not drawn into the bearing. To the outside, sealing is provided by means of a sealing disc abutting against a step of the bearing bore. This sealing disc is pressed against the step of the bearing bore by means of a spring via a collar bush and a sliding bush arranged between the collar bush and the sealing disc. The sliding bush serves to reduce friction, whereas a radially directed escape of a leakage flow is supposed to be prevented by the sealing disc and an escape is intended to be realized in the axial direction along the shaft via the axial extension of the collar bush which therefore forms a very narrow and long gap with the shaft.
It has, however, been found that such a design is insufficient with respect to the leakage values. The necessity of precise manufacturing furthermore results in high production costs.

Sealing arrangement for a control device of an internal combustion engine


An apparatus for use in a wellbore is disclosed. The apparatus includes a string for deployment into the wellbore, the string including at least one packer and an expansion tool downhole of the packer. The expansion tool further includes: a release device and a lock device inside a movable housing; wherein the lock device prevents shifting of the release device until the lock device is moved to an unlock position by application of a first force to the lock device. The release device is movable to a release position by application of a second force after the lock device has been moved to the unlock position. The movable housing is capable of moving over the release device after the release device has been moved to the release position to absorb at least one of contraction and expansion of the expansion tool.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates generally to completion strings deployed in wellbores for the production of hydrocarbons from subsurface formations, including completion strings deployed for fracturing, sand packing and flooding, which strings include one or more expansion joints or tools to accommodate for the expansion and contraction of the strings during completion of such wellbores and during the production of hydrocarbons from such wellbores.
2. Background of the Art
Wellbores are drilled in subsurface formations for the production of hydrocarbons (oil and gas). Modern wells can extend to great well depths, often more than 15,000 ft. Hydrocarbons are trapped in various traps or zones in the subsurface formations at different depths. Such zones are referred to as reservoirs or hydrocarbon-bearing formations or production zones. Some reservoirs have high mobility, which is a measure of the ease of the hydrocarbons to flow from such reservoirs into the wells drilled through the reservoirs under natural downhole pressures. Some reservoirs have low mobility and the hydrocarbons trapped therein are unable to move with ease from such reservoirs into the wells drilled therethrough. Stimulation methods are typically employed to improve the mobility of the hydrocarbons through the low mobility reservoirs. One such method, referred to as fracturing (also referred to as "fracing" or "fracking"), is often utilized to create cracks in the reservoir rock to enable the fluid from the reservoir (formation fluid) to flow from the reservoir into the wellbore. To fracture multiple zones, an assembly containing an outer string with an inner string therein is run in or deployed in the wellbore. The outer string typically includes a series of devices corresponding to each zone conveyed by a tubing into the wellbore. The inner string includes devices attached to a tubing to operate certain devices in the outer string and facilitate fracturing and/or other well treatment operations. To fracture and sand pack a zone, a fluid containing a proppant (sand) is supplied under pressure to each zone, sequentially or to more than one zone at the same time. During fracturing operations the fluid supplied from the surface lowers the temperature of the outer string, which can cause the string to contract or shrink. One or more expansion tools or joins are provided in the outer string to accommodate changes in the length of the outer string due to the thermal fluctuations downhole without creating additional stress along the outer string geometry.
The disclosure herein provides a string for placement in a wellbore that may include one or more expansion tools or joints.

Wellbore strings containing expansion tools


A dual frequency synthesizer architecture for a wireless device operating in a time division duplex (TDD) mode is disclosed. In an exemplary design, the wireless device includes first and second frequency synthesizers. The first frequency synthesizer generates a first oscillator signal used to generate a first/receive local oscillator (LO) signal at an LO frequency for the receiver. The second frequency synthesizer generates a second oscillator signal used to generate a second/transmit LO signal at the same LO frequency for the transmitter. The two frequency synthesizers generate their oscillator signals to obtain receive and transmit LO signals at the same LO frequency when the wireless device operates in the TDD mode.

I. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to electronics, and more specifically to a frequency synthesizer architecture for a wireless device.
II. Background
A wireless device (e.g., a cellular phone or a smart phone) may transmit and receive data for two-way communication with a wireless communication system. The wireless device may include a transmitter for data transmission and a receiver for data reception. For data transmission, the transmitter may modulate a transmit local oscillator (LO) signal with data to obtain a modulated radio frequency (RF) signal, amplify the modulated RF signal to obtain an output RF signal having the proper output power level, and transmit the output RF signal via an antenna to a base station. For data reception, the receiver may obtain a received RF signal via the antenna, amplify and downconvert the received RF signal with a receive LO signal, and process the downconverted signal to recover data sent by the base station.
The wireless device may include a frequency synthesizer to generate the receive LO signal for the receiver and the transmit LO signal for the transmitter. The frequency synthesizer may have a large impact on the performance of the receiver and the transmitter.

Frequency synthesizer architecture in a time-division duplex mode for a wireless device


A method for Determining at Least One Parameter for Diagnosis or Risk Assessment of a Disease, including AMD. The distribution of the macular pigment MP of an eye and at least one area A whose bordering line corresponds to a constant optical density MPD and/or concentration MPC of MP is determined by an analysis unit. The bordering line is subjected to a quantitative shape description. At least one parameter DP, suitable for diagnosing a disease and/or the risk of a disease is derived from the quantitative shape description of the bordering line of the areas A. The method is provided for diagnosis or risk assessment but may also be used in the context of treatment of macular pigment deficiency phenomena to select the required supplements. This method, based on the determination of the fractal dimension, is also suitable for diagnosing other diseases such as edemas, actinomycoses, atrophies or lesions.

It is known in the state of the art that macular pigment in particular has a positive effect in preventing AMD because it acts as an absorber for high-energy shortwave radiation and therefore protects the area of sharpest vision from damage. At the same time, macular pigment, containing primarily the carotinoids lutein and zeaxanthin, functions as a radical scavenger. A low optical density of the macular pigment is a risk factor for the development of age-related macular degeneration. Since lutein and zeaxanthin are not formed in the human body but instead must be ingested with food, it is necessary to determine the individual optical density of the macular pigment to detect a possible risk on this basis and to ascertain whether there is a need for supplementation of lutein and zeaxanthin.
For a reliable diagnosis of the disease and/or the risk of developing AMD, it is therefore necessary to determine very accurately and without stray light the density of the macular pigment, which is formed in layers in front of the object to be examined, specifically the ocular fundus. These scattering effects caused by the lens of the eye in particular increase with age, so that the determination of the optical density of the macular pigment on the ocular fundus, which is a known method per se, is increasingly impaired due to scattering effects with the advancing age of the patient. Accurate determination of the optical density of the macular pigment is also important for the decision about the need for and detection of the success of the aforementioned supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin.
According to the state of the art, it is also known that digital photographs of the retina can be prepared using ophthalmologic instruments, e.g., fundus cameras, ophthalmoscopes or slit lamps. Photographs of the fundus make it possible to determine the optical density of the macular pigment (macular pigment optical density=MPOD or also just MPD).
DE 101 29 652 A1 thus describes one approach in which the ocular fundus is illuminated with light of a wavelength range in which macular pigment has maximum absorption. A shading function is determined from the light intensity that can be measured outside of the macular area (containing no macular pigment). To calculate the optical density of the macular pigment, the quotient of the calculated value of the shading function and the measured intensity value of the light reflected from the illuminated ocular fundus is calculated for each pixel in the area of the macula. The shading function indicates virtually the reflected light that would be reflected by the ocular fundus in the area of the macula if no macular pigment were present.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,870 B2 relates to an instrument for highly precise determination of the macular pigment in a patient's eye. The eye is therefore illuminated with a broadband light, and the light reflected by the ocular fundus is then analyzed with the help of a spectrometer. The spectral analysis makes it possible to better differentiate the macular pigment from other light-absorbing substances such as lipofuscin. Since this instrument operates without dilating the pupils, additional measures are necessary to minimize unwanted reflection. In addition to anti-reflection coatings on lenses, a strict separation of the illumination path and the scanning beam path and also an offset arrangement of the lenses are provided in this approach, so that the beam paths additionally pass through the lenses decentrally. According to the setup described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,467,879 B2, measurements are not performed with local resolution but instead are integrated over the illumination and detection area of the retina. It is proposed that the patient's eye should be refocused for peripheral measurements. This makes it possible to determine the lateral distribution of the macular pigment.
It has been found that increased scattering in the eye caused by age-related clouding of the ocular media can lead to a lower measured value for the optical density of the macular pigment. If the light scattering in the lens of the eye also exhibits a great dependence on wavelength, then the density of the macular pigment is calculated as being too high with an increase in scattering even in the two-wavelength fluorescence method ("Macular pigment density measured by autofluorescence spectrometry: comparison with reflectometry and heterochromatic flicker photometry" in Delori et al., J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, Vol. 18, No. 6, June 2001).
Several of the approaches in the state of the art, such as DE 10 2005 058 185 A1, DE 10 2007 025 425 A1 and DE 10 2004 042 198 A1, for example, have been concerned with correctly determining the measured values of the optical density of the macular pigment and/or with the corresponding compensation of the measurement errors.
DE 10 2007 047 300 A1 also describes an approach for accurate reflectometric determination of the optical density of the macular pigment on the ocular fundus without any influence due to interfering light, in particular due to individual light scattering on the anterior ocular media. In addition to measuring the reflected light from illuminated areas of the ocular fundus, the latter is instead illuminated only partially and the intensity of the interfering light from the unilluminated area is measured. This measured value is used as a correction factor in calculating the optical density of the macular pigment.
According to the state of the art, the following parameters are extracted from the measurement of the optical density of the macular pigment, for example:                mean and maximum concentrations,        the area and        the volume of the macular pigment (in the sense of the surface integral of the macular pigment density).
These parameters are used by ophthalmologists in addition to other diagnostically relevant test results to be able to assess the risks of developing a certain disease, e.g., dry AMD and/or to track and assess the course of this eye disease.

Method for determining at least one diagnosis or risk assessment parameter related to AMD


The polishing device includes an edge chamber that presses the surface to be polished against the polishing pad by pressing a back side of the surface to be polished of the wafer, a thickness measuring unit that estimates a remaining film profile of the surface to be polished of the wafer in realtime during polishing, and a closed loop control device that controls a pressing force on the back side of the surface to be polished by the edge chamber in accordance with a measurement result by the thickness measuring unit during polishing. The closed loop control device controls not only the pressing by the edge chamber during polishing, but also the pressure of a retainer ring as a periphery of the edge chamber affecting the pressing of the surface to be polished against the polishing pad.

In recent years, with increasingly higher integration and densities of semiconductor devices, wires of circuits become increasingly finer and also the number of layers of multilayer interconnection is on the rise. To realize a multilayer interconnection while attempting to make wires of circuits finer, a step becomes ever larger by following surface unevenness of a lower layer and thus, with an increasing number of layers of interconnection, step coverage in thin film formation deteriorates. Therefore, to realize a multilayer interconnection, it is necessary to improve the step coverage and to carry out planarization in a proper process. In addition, the depth of focus becomes shallower with increasing fineness of optical lithography and it is necessary to planarize the surface of semiconductor devices such that an uneven step on the surface of semiconductor devices remains within the depth of focus. With increasing fineness of circuits, requirements for precision in planarization become higher. Also, with an ever more complex structure of a transistor periphery, precision requirements of planarization become higher not only in a multilayer interconnection process, but also in FEOL (Front End Of Line).
In a semiconductor device manufacturing process, therefore, planarization technologies of the surface of a semiconductor device become increasingly important. Among the planarization technologies, the most important technology is CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing). The chemical mechanical polishing polishes a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer by using a polishing device and bringing the substrate into sliding contact with a polishing surface while supplying a polishing liquid containing abrasive grains such as silica (SiO2) onto the polishing surface such as a polishing pad.
This kind of polishing device includes a polishing table having the polishing surface made of the polishing pad and a substrate holding device called top ring, a polishing head or the like to hold a semiconductor wafer. When a semiconductor wafer is polished by using such a polishing device, the semiconductor wafer is pressed against the polishing surface with a predetermined pressure while the semiconductor wafer being held by the substrate holding device. By relatively moving the polishing table and the substrate holding device, the semiconductor wafer is brought into sliding contact with the polishing surface and the surface of the semiconductor wafer is polished flatly like a mirror finished surface.
If, in such a polishing device, a relative pressing force between the semiconductor wafer being polished and the polishing surface of the polishing pad is not uniform over the entire surface of the semiconductor wafer, insufficient polishing or excessive polishing may occur in accordance with the pressing force given to each portion of the semiconductor wafer. To make the pressing force on the semiconductor wafer uniform, a pressure chamber formed of a membrane is provided in a lower portion of the substrate holding device and a fluid such as a pressurized air is supplied into the pressure chamber so that polishing is performed while the semiconductor wafer being pressed against the polishing surface of the polishing pad by a fluid pressure via the membrane.
On the other hand, a thin film formed on the surface of a semiconductor wafer to be polished has a different thickness from position to position in the radial direction of the semiconductor wafer depending on the method of forming the thin film and device properties. That is, the surface of a semiconductor wafer has an initial thickness distribution in the radial direction. The above substrate holding device that uniformly presses and polishes the entire surface of the semiconductor wafer uniformly polishes the entire surface semiconductor wafer and thus cannot correct the initial thickness distribution of the surface of the semiconductor wafer.
Thus, a polishing device that controls the pressure of a fluid such as a pressurized air supplied to each of a plurality of pressure chambers formed from a membrane in a plane of a semiconductor wafer is proposed (for example, JP 2006-128582 A). This polishing device partially controls the pressure applied to the semiconductor wafer such that a pressing force on the polishing surface of a thick portion becomes larger than that of a thin portion to selectively increase the polishing rate of such a portion, thereby enabling flat polishing of proper thickness over the entire surface of the substrate without depending on the thickness distribution when the film is formed.
An object of the present technology is to provide a polishing device and a polishing method capable of polishing an object to be polished with precision.
According to an embodiment, provided is a polishing device that polishes a surface to be polished of an object to be polished by relatively sliding the surface to be polished and a polishing member including a pressing unit that presses the surface to be polished against the polishing member by pressing a back side of the surface to be polished of the object to be polished, a thickness measuring unit that estimates a remaining film profile of the surface to be polished of the object to be polished during polishing of the object to be polished, and a control unit that controls a pressing force on the back side of the surface to be polished by the pressing unit in accordance with a measurement result by the thickness measuring unit during the polishing of the object to be polished, wherein the control unit controls not only the pressing by the pressing unit during the polishing of the object to be polished, but also a periphery of the pressing unit affecting a pressing force of the surface to be polished on the polishing member during the polishing.
With this configuration, the pressing of the surface to be polished of a portion pressed directly by the pressing unit against the polishing member is controlled not only by the control of the pressing by the pressing unit, but also by the control of the pressing of the surface to be polished of the portion by the periphery against the polishing member and therefore, highly precise polishing can be performed. In addition, such control is exercised in accordance with polishing conditions during polishing of the object to be polished and even if a pressing force by the pressing unit is changed during the process of polishing, the periphery can be controlled accordingly.
In the polishing device, the periphery may be a retainer member that presses the polishing member near the pressing unit and the control unit may control not only the pressing force on the back side of the surface to be polished by the pressing unit, but also a pressing force on the polishing member by the retainer member.
With this configuration, by controlling the pressing of the retainer member against the polishing member, the pressing of the surface to be polished of the portion directly pressed by the pressing unit against the polishing member is controlled and therefore, highly precise polishing can be performed.
In the polishing device, the pressing unit may press an edge region on the back side of the surface to be polished of the object to be polished and the retainer member may be a member surrounding the object to be polished.
With this configuration, by controlling the pressing of the retainer member against the polishing member, the pressing of an edge region of the surface to be polished whose back side is directly pressed by the pressing unit against the polishing member is controlled and therefore, highly precise polishing can be performed in the edge region.
The polishing device may include a plurality of the pressing units that partially presses the back side of the surface to be polished of the object to be polished and the periphery may be the other neighboring pressing unit.
With this configuration, the pressing of the surface to be polished of the portion whose back side is directly pressed by some pressing unit against the polishing member is controlled by controlling the pressing of the back side of the surface to be polished by another neighboring pressing unit and therefore, highly precise polishing can be performed.
In the polishing device, the periphery may be a mechanism that controls the pressing force of the surface to be polished by deformation of an elastic body of the pressing unit.
With this configuration, the pressing force of the surface to be polished by deformation of the elastic body of the pressing unit can be controlled based on polishing conditions.
In the polishing device, the periphery may be a mechanism that controls deformation of an elastic body of the pressing unit.
With this configuration, the deformation of the elastic body of the pressing unit can be controlled based on polishing conditions.
In the polishing device, the control unit may control a pressing force of the periphery such that a thickness profile of the surface to be polished becomes uniform or a desired shape over an entire surface of the surface to be polished whose back side is directly pressed by the pressing unit.
With this configuration, even if the influence from the periphery on the pressing of the surface to be polished whose back side is directly pressed by the pressing unit against the polishing member is not uniform on the surface to be polished whose back side is directly pressed by the pressing unit, the surface to be polished whose back side is directly pressed by the pressing unit can uniformly be polished.
In the polishing device, control limiting values may be set to control of the periphery and the control unit may control the periphery within a range of the control limiting values.
With this configuration, when the control unit exercises control according to a predetermined algorithm, the periphery can be prevented from being controlled beyond control limits and therefore, accidents such as damage to the object to be polished or the polishing device can be prevented.
In the polishing device, the pressing unit may be formed from a circular pressure chamber and a plurality of annular pressure chambers therearound.
With this configuration, the thickness profile in the radial direction can be made a desired shape.
According to an embodiment, provided is a polishing method for polishing a surface to be polished of an object to be polished by relatively sliding the surface to be polished and a polishing member, including a pressing process of pressing the surface to be polished against the polishing member by pressing a back side of the surface to be polished of the object to be polished by a pressing unit, a thickness measuring process of estimating a remaining film profile of the surface to be polished of the object to be polished during polishing of the object to be polished, and a control process of controlling a pressing force on the back side of the surface to be polished by the pressing unit in accordance with a measurement result in the thickness measuring process during the polishing of the object to be polished, wherein the control process controls not only the pressing force on the back side of the surface to be polished by the pressing unit, but also a periphery of the pressing unit affecting a pressing force of the surface to be polished on the polishing member during the polishing.
Also with this configuration, the pressing of the surface to be polished of a portion pressed directly by the pressing unit against the polishing member is controlled not only by the control of the pressing by the pressing unit, but also by the control of the pressing of the surface to be polished of the portion by the periphery against the polishing member and therefore, highly precise polishing can be performed. In addition, such control is exercised in accordance with polishing conditions during polishing of the object to be polished and even if a pressing force by the pressing unit is changed during the process of polishing, the periphery can be controlled accordingly.
In the polishing method, a pressing force of the periphery maybe calculated during the polishing using a relationship of the pressing unit and the periphery with a polishing speed of the surface to be polished whose back side is directly pressed by the pressing unit.
With this configuration, the control of the pressing unit and the periphery in accordance with a measurement result in the thickness measuring process can be exercised.
In the polishing method, the pressing force on the back side of the surface to be polished and the pressing force of the periphery may be determined simultaneously by closed loop control.
With this configuration, more precise control can be realized.


A communication device (alternatively, device) includes a processor configured to support communications with other communication device(s) and to generate and process signals for such communications. In some examples, the device includes a communication interface and a processor, among other possible circuitries, components, elements, etc. to support communications with other communication device(s) and to generate and process signals for such communications. For example, the device's processor receives one or more signals from a communication channel. The processor then processes the one or more signals to generate 2D DFE soft slicer outputs and to decode the one or more signals based on the 2D DFE soft slicer outputs to generate estimates of information encoded within the one or more signals. The processor may process the 2D DFE soft slicer outputs to generate 2D DFE hard decisions and then generates other estimates of the information encoded based on the 2D DFE hard decisions.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to communication systems; and, more particularly, to signal processing within such communication systems.
Description of Related Art
Data communication systems have been under continual development for many years. The primary goal within such communication systems is to transmit information successfully between devices. Unfortunately, many things can deleteriously affect signals transmitted within such systems resulting in degradation of or even complete failure of communication. Examples of adverse effects include interference and noise that may be caused by various sources including other communications, low-quality links, degraded or corrupted interfaces and connectors, etc.
Some communication systems use forward error correction (FEC) coding and/or error checking and correction (ECC) coding to increase the reliability and the amount of information that may be transmitted between devices. When a signal incurs one or more errors during transmission, a receiver device can employ the FEC or ECC coding to try to correct those one or more errors.
A continual and primary directive in this area of development has been to try continually to lower the signal to noise ratio (SNR) required to achieve a given bit error ratio (BER) or symbol error ratio (SER) within a communication system. The Shannon limit is the theoretical bound for channel capacity for a given modulation and code rate. The ideal goal has been to try to reach Shannon's channel capacity limit in a communication channel. Shannon's limit may be viewed as being the maximum data rate per unit of bandwidth (i.e., spectral efficiency) to be used in a communication channel, having a particular SNR, where transmission through the communication channel with arbitrarily low BER or SER is achievable. Conventional and prior art technologies do not adequately provide for optimum communication system performance and leave much room for improvement.

Two-dimensional (2D) decision feedback equalizer (DFE) slicer within communication systems


A rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus having a rotating spray head, and a paint nozzle for feeding paint on the front surface of the spray head, in which the spray head is comprising a spray head main body made of an electrically insulating material, and a plurality of discharge electrodes having nearly band-form pattern extending outward approximately along the rear side shape of the spray head main body from the central side of the spray head main body with a mutual phase difference or extending symmetrically about the axis of rotation of the spray head main body. The plurality of discharge electrodes rotate together with the spray head main body, and the discharge current in the front side direction of the axis of rotation of the spray head is made uniform and increased, thereby enhancing the painting efficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus, and more particularly to a rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus having a structure capable of increasing uniformly discharge current formed in a front area portion of rotary shaft of a spray head.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An electrostatic coating method is a method of using a grounded object as anode and coating apparatus as cathode, applying a high negative voltage thereto to form an electrostatic field between the two electrodes, charging sprayed paint particles negatively, and adhering the paint efficiently on the object of the opposite polarity. Setting of the object as anode and painting apparatus as cathode is based on the practical safety precaution that spark discharge hardly occurs as compared with reverse polarity.
The electrostatic coating apparatus may be roughly classified into two types: one is a rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus for pulverizing the paint by the force of rotation and static electricity, and adhering paint particles on the object by electrostatic attraction, and other is a gun type apparatus for pulverizing the paint by the force of compressed air, or high paint pressure or mechanical force, and charging the pulverized paint electrically and adhering to the object by electrostatic attraction.
The invention relates to the former type of rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus. In the rotary atomizing electrostatic apparatus, generally, the paint is atomized by centrifugal force of spray head such as rotating metallic cup (or "bell"), disk or the like, and a high voltage is applied to such metallic spray head in order to charge the paint electrically and form an electrostatic field. Because this cup has relatively excellent characteristics satisfying functions of atomizing the paint, and maintaining an electrostatic field opposite to the object, simultaneously, the rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus is known as a coating apparatus exhibiting a high paint deposition efficiency.
More specifically, the leading end part of a conventional rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus comprises a metal cup as a spray head fixed to the leading end of a hollow shaft of a motor incorporated inside the apparatus. Inside the hollow shaft, a paint nozzle communicating with a paint pump is disposed coaxially. The top of the paint nozzle reaches up to the inside of the metal cup, and communicates with paint outlet holes formed around the central position of the front side of the cup (multiple pores are disposed annularly as the paint outlet holes). At the rear side of the cup, an air ring is provided coaxially to enclose the outer circumference of the hollow shaft at a specific spacing--inside the air ring are formed many air outlet holes opened towards the rear side of the cup. The air outlet holes communicate to an air feed pump through an air lead-in port opening located at the side face of the air ring. The hollow shaft is electrically connected to a high voltage generator through cables, and a specific voltage can be applied to the cup communicating with the hollow shaft.
In this apparatus, the paint fed through rear end of the hollow shaft is supplied into the front plane of the metal cup through the paint outlet holes. Since this metal cup as spray head is rotated at high speed by the motor, the paint supplied to the front plane of the metal cup is drawn thinly along the front plane formed on the front side of the metal cup by the centrifugal force, and comes opposite to the outer peripheral edge of the metal cup, and is released in atomized form through the outer peripheral edge of the metal cup. The released paint particles are controlled into a specific pattern by pattern adjusting air ejected from the air outlet holes of the air ring disposed at the rear side of the cup, and carried into the direction of the object. On the other hand, since a high voltage is applied to the metal cup, corona discharge is occurred from the leading end of the metal cup toward the object. The paint particles released from the metal cup are further charged by the corona discharge, aside from the electric charge obtained by contacting with the metal cup, and thus charged paint particles are adhered to the object efficiently by Coulomb's force.
In such conventional rotary atomizing electrostatic spraying apparatus, hitherto, the spray head is a metal cup made of high conductivity material such as chrome steel, stainless steel, and aluminum alloy, as mentioned above. Since the metal cup function as discharge electrode, at a glance, these metals are appeared to be a rational materials.
As a result of investigations by the present inventor, however, in the rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus having such metallic spray head, the discharge. current cannot be adjusted, and it was found difficult to enhance the paint deposition efficiency further. That is, in the conventional rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus having such metallic spray head, atomization of paint was found to cause the reduction of the corona discharge current. This is considered because the atomized paint particles have an electrostatic shielding effect.

Rotary atomizing electrostatic coating apparatus


This invention relates to a seal between two components which two components can move relative to one another. The seal can be used in particular for hydraulic, pneumatic or hydropneumatic systems, whereby at least one elastic seal element interacts with a running surface. Preferably, this seal is used between a piston-shaped part and a cylinder-shaped part. In any case, the running surface, which running surface is mobile relative to the gasket, is provided with depressions. The depressions in the running surface, which running surface interacts with the gasket, form a cross-hatched pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seal between two components, which two components can move relative to one another, in particular for hydraulic, pneumatic or hydropneumatic systems, for example in a master cylinder for a hydraulically-operated friction clutch. At least one elastic seal element interacts with a running surface and preferably forms the seal between a piston-shaped part and a cylinder-shaped part. Also, the running surface, which running surface is mobile or movable relative to the gasket or gaskets, is provided with depressions.
2. Background Information
In systems of the types described above, a relative movement between an elastic gasket and the conventional surfaces frequently generates noise on account of the stick-slip effect, for example when the seal lip of the gasket is simultaneously being subjected to stress and relaxed over the entire periphery of a surface, which surface is either smooth or can also be grooved. The high-frequency slipping noises which are generated significantly reduce comfort in automotive applications or operations, for example, and are therefore frequently the cause of warranty claims.
These slipping noises can generally be prevented by lubricating the running surface of the gasket using a special lubricant, but this lubricant becomes less effective as the number of actuations increases, which means that the generation of noise cannot be prevented permanently. Nor does an increase in the surface roughness achieve the desired objective, in particular because such an approach increases wear and reduces efficiency.

Two components of a cylinder for a hydraulically operated friction clutch assembly having scored running surface for minimizing noise


The present invention relates to a gas pendulum inertial sensor, which is used in control technology field to detect pose measurement of motional body, such as ship craft and robot, wherein the inertial sensor main includes a gas pendulum angular velocity sensing element, a gas pendulum tilt sensing element and a signal process circuit, wherein the signal process circuit mainly comprises a bridge circuit, a amplify circuit, a filter circuit, and a SCM compensation circuit with a null position and sensitivity compensation program, a linearity and output compensation program, an acceleration interference offset subprogram, and an omnibearing tilt signal compensation program, whereby the SCM compensation circuit integral into a circuit board to replace a conventional hardware signal amplify circuit, a filter circuit and a compensation circuit. The gas pendulum inertial sensor is adapted to accurately measure not only an object's indication without interference from the acceleration, but also an object's indication with interference from the acceleration. The gas pendulum inertial sensor has some significant advantages like highly attack-resist ability, intensively vibrate-resist ability, quick response time, wide ranges of working temperature, well linearity, credibility, sensitivity and precision ability, compact capacity and lower cost.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an gas pendulum inertial sensor, which is used in control technology field to measure pose measurement of motional body, such as ship craft and robot, wherein the inertial sensor main includes a sensitive element and a signal process circuit.
2. Description of Related Arts
At present, in control technology field, motional body's pose measurement, such as tilt and acceleration, is usually made by sensors. The basic work principle of these sensors is that thermal current, solid and liquid pendulum under the effect of globe gravitation.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the drawings, basic operating principle of conventional pendulum horizontal pose sensor is illustrated. This sensor is connected to an object's measuring surface. If the object's measuring surface has a "θ" angle with respect to the horizontal surface, the pendulum bob m will maintainly point to the gravity direction under the effect of globe gravitation. At the same time, the pendulum bob m will has a "θ" angle with respect to the normal direction of the object's measuring surface. Then, the angle "θ" can be detected by a sensing element. However, the conventional pendulum horizontal pose sensor usually is used in a static statement. In a dynamic statement, due to interference of the acceleration, the conventional pendulum horizontal pose sensor can not be used for measuring a motional object's inclination. In a word, the conventional pendulum horizontal pose sensor has disadvantages like: the measuring surface' inclination only can be accurately measured without interference of the acceleration. In other word, when the object's measuring surface is in a moving statement, due to interference from the acceleration, the measurement of the conventional pendulum horizontal pose sensor will cause a terribly measurement error.

Beijing Walkang Science & Technology Limited Company


A method and system for data link layer address classification. Data link layer address information is received from a device over a local area network (LAN), wherein the LAN is partitioned into a plurality of domains. The data link layer address information is classified as being associated with a domain of the plurality of domains based on a source address of the device. The data link layer address information is assigned to the domain.

Until recently, all hosts coupled to a network device over a local area network (LAN) on the same Ethernet were assigned to the same routing domain. For example, in a network device supporting Internet protocol version 4 (IPv4), the network device only had to maintain a single routing information base (RIB), also referred to as a routing table, and a single Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) lookup table.
Recent technological advances in the field of data routing has provided applications where hosts coupled to a network device over a LAN on the same Ethernet can be partitioned into different domains. In other words, the LAN can be logically partitioned into a number of domains based on the IP address. The domains may also be referred to as virtual private network (VPN) routing/forwarding (VRFs). In order to support the proper routing of packets in this configuration, the network device maintains a separate routing table for each domain.
In order for devices coupled to a LAN to communicate with the network device, a mapping between the LAN (e.g., data link layer) and the network device (e.g., the network layer) is required. An ARP lookup table provides this mapping. However, where the LAN is logically partitioned into multiple domains, ARP packets are currently assigned to a default domain of the network device. The default domain may not accurately reflect which domain the ARP information should belong to. Accordingly, a need exists for a method and/or system for assigning the ARP information to the proper domain in a LAN logically partitioned into multiple domains.

Method and system for data link layer address classification


The food pan carrier has a pan carrier body and a pan carrier door. The pan carrier door is slidable relative to the pan carrier body from an open to a closed position. When the door is in the closed position, the food pan carrier will maintain food that has been heated to at least 185° at a minimum of 141° for an extended period of time. The pan carrier body has grooves in which the food pan door is received. The food pan door preferably has rails that are slidable in the grooves. The door slides in the grooves from a second end to a first end of the grooves. As the door slides from the open to the closed position, it moves toward a sealing surface that circumscribes an opening through which food pans are inserted and removed from the pan carrier body. In the fully closed position, the door sealingly engages the sealing surface that circumscribes the opening through which food pans are inserted and removed.

This invention relates to catering and food service equipment, and more particularly to food pan carriers which comprise a pan carrier body and a door slidable relative to the body.
In the catering and food service industry, food carried in food pans is transported in a number of different types of equipment, depending on the size and shape of the pan in which the food is placed. The equipment in which the food pans are carried are typically referred to as food pan carriers. Prior art food pan carriers are shown in FIGS. 1–4. FIG. 1 shows a prior art food pan carrier which generally may be designated as a side loader. The side loader is designated as such because the equipment is hinged to allow a side to open so that food pans may be placed in the side loader and removed therefrom. Side loaders have different shapes and sizes to accommodate a variety of sizes of food pans.
Another food pan carrier, designated as an end loader is shown in FIG. 2. End loaders will typically accommodate all full-size food pans of varying depth, including but not limited to 6-inch, 4-inch and 2½-inch pans. FIGS. 3 and 4 show food pans carriers which may be designated top loaders. Top loaders are manufactured in a variety of sizes including but not limited to 4-inch single pans carriers, 6-inch single pan carriers and combination pan carriers. Food pan carriers are typically constructed of a plastic, and specifically are comprised of a plastic shell filled with an insulating material, such as an insulating foam. The doors, or lids of the food pan carriers are typically attached with separate metal or plastic hinges and utilize metal or plastic latches to close the doors so that food is maintained at the desired temperature for a desired amount of time. Generally, food must be maintained at a temperature above 141° F. Existing food pan carriers are typically designed to maintain food heated to a temperature of 185° F. at a temperature of at least 141° F. for an extended period of time, and preferably usually for a minimum of about six hours. Although such food pan carriers work adequately, they are constructed of a number of different pieces to allow the doors and/or lids for the food pan carriers to open and close adequately. A variety of metal screws and other fasteners are necessary to attach hinges and latches, which are typically metal, and metal pins are typically used as hinge pins. Thus, while the food pan carriers known in the prior art work adequately, food pan carriers of fewer parts are desirable. In addition to expense that could be saved with such a food pan carrier, many institutions, such as, for example prisons, restrict the type of materials that can be utilized within the confines of the institution.

Carlisle FoodService Products, Incorporated


An LED display device for displaying a pattern on a rotatable object is disclosed. When the rotating object rotates with a high speed, the pattern will be displayed. The device comprises a first printed circuit board on the rotatable object; at least one bank of light emitting diodes being arranged on the first printed circuit board; a second printed circuit board having a bank of elastic sheets; a third printed circuit board having a conductive pattern thereon; the third printed circuit board do not rotate with the rotatable object. The first printed circuit board and second printed circuit board will rotate with the rotatable object; and the elastic sheets are capable of being in contact with the pattern of the third printed circuit board; and each elastic sheet is connected to a corresponding LED; and the third printed circuit board is connected to all the light emitting diodes.

There are many prior arts about the display of LED which are mainly used for indications, decorations and advertisements.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,959, a LED lampshade for advertisement brand and decoration is disclosed. The device comprises an LED lampshade for advertisement brand and decoration which comprises a deformable cover having two tenons at two ends; the cover being originally a flat shape; after assembly, the cover having a U shape; and a seat having two trenches positioned corresponding to the two tenons of the cover. The seat has a groove for locating an LED lamp. Two lower ends of the seat have the tenons, respectively. An upper side of each tenon has a stopper; and a transparent portion is formed on the cover. The groove is formed between the two trenches. Each trench has a corresponding elastomer aside the trench; each elastomer has a corresponding seat notch for receiving the elastomer as the elastomer is pressed downwards. In assembly, the two tenons of the cover are inserted into the trenches of the seat so that the cover is formed on the seat.
In another prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,910,788 A wheel light device for a vehicle with an electrical battery, in that, wheels, fenders and wheel wells that shines light onto and in front of one of each of the wheels of the vehicle. The device includes LED bulbs in a casing and a reflector that attaches to the bulbs to direct light onto the wheels of a vehicle. A waterseal canal, for draining any water and condensation that may accumulate within the wheel light device, and a waterproofing gasket, for sealing the device from any water reaching its components, protect the device from water. There are several different embodiments of the invention including an outer fender flare mounted embodiment with multiple LED bulbs, an inner fender mounted embodiment with multiple LED bulbs, provisions to address arched wheel wells or horizontally straight wheel wells, various safety light provisions in addition to additional supplemental features.
However in all prior arts, maybe the LEDs can provide the function of advertisement or display, but no prior art can provide the function for displaying a pattern on a rotating wheel with clear vision so as to have the function of advertisement. This is because the wheel is a rotating unit which will cause the image to rotate therewith so that the pattern thereon will become vague. As a result the viewer can not see the advertising patter clearly even the viewer can not see what displayed on the wheel.

LED display device for displaying pattern on rotatable object


In a method and system for determination of a fill state of a transport reservoir for toner material, toner material is transported from a transport reservoir into a developer station with aid of a toner transport system of a printer or copier. At least a toner material quantity supplied to the developer station is detected. The detected toner material quantity is associated with the transport reservoir from which the toner material is extracted.

Methods for transport of toner material from a reservoir are known from German patent applications DE 102 23 231 and DE 102 23 232. Toner material is transported from a reservoir with the aid of a toner transport system of a printer or copier. A printer or copier system as well as a method in which consumable substances (in particular toner material) applied to the printer or copier with the aid of transport reservoirs (for example with the aid of toner bottles) is also known from DE 198 44 435. Such a transport reservoir contains an information medium for contact-less transfer of data and energy from a data read or write station, whereby a transponder system is proposed as an information medium.
Furthermore, a printer or copier with a plurality of modularly-arranged, exchangeable part aggregates is known from DE 197 12 798, whereby the part aggregate to be identified comprises an identification arrangement with a non-volatile memory for storage of operating data of the part aggregate associated with function-relevant operating states as well as a communication interface for detachable coupling of the identification arrangement with a process control arrangement of the printer or copier.
An image generation device with a toner refilling device is known from DE 198 00 930 C2, which toner refilling device comprises a plurality of toner reservoirs from which the toner material is extracted little by little to fill a development device of the image generation device. The toner quantity extracted from each reservoir is separately detected for each reservoir.
An image generation device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,340 A that has two toner reservoirs, of which a first toner reservoir is arranged in a housing of the image generation device and a second toner reservoir is arranged in a separate housing. The second toner reservoir is connected with the image generation device via hoses. The second toner reservoir is used for refilling of the first toner reservoir.
A device for precise determination of the quantity of particulate material extracted from a reservoir, via which device the quantity of the material remaining in the reservoir is correctly determined, is known from U.S. 6,526,236 B1. The quantity of the particle reserve present in the reservoir is continuously determined with aid of a control unit.
A printer or copier system in which the quantity of toner material extracted from reservoirs is monitored specific to the reservoir is known from WO 00/19278. Material-specific information of the toner material contained in the reservoir is also associated with each reservoir, which material-specific information is used for control of the printing process. From this document it is also known to use a transponder as an information medium.
In general, in known printers or copiers it cannot be differentiated whether the reservoir is empty or whether an error of the toner transport system of the printer or copier is present when toner material is no longer conveyed from the reservoir. If the printer or copier detects that no toner material is transported from the reservoir, it marks the reservoir as empty in since information about the fill state "empty" of the reservoir is written on an information medium that is associated with the reservoir. Such an information medium can, for example, be contained in a transponder unit. The transponder unit is thus permanently connected with the reservoir, for example with a toner bottle. After the writing of this fill state information "empty, the reservoir can no longer be used even when toner material is actually still present in the reservoir. A reservoir is thus also marked as empty when problems occur in the toner transport in the toner transport system that prevent a toner transport from the reservoir, and the reservoir is marked as empty in spite of a sufficient reserve of toner material.

Method and device for transporting toner material, preferably in an electrophotographic printer or copier


An improved VQ system for compressing a digital signal produces a compressed signal by dividing the signal to be compressed into a series of signal segments. Each signal segment comprises a plurality of signal values. The improved VQ system uses first and second tables of vector values having different degrees of signal correlation, referred to as a class-1 table and a class-2 table respectively. For a selected signal segment, the VQ system determines a vector Xbar1 representing a difference between the signal values in the selected segment and an average of a selected group of signal values in a preceding segment. For the same signal segment, the method and apparatus determines another vector Xbar2 representing a difference between the signal values in the selected signal segment and an average of a selected group of signal values in the selected signal segment. The vectors Xbar1 and Xbar2 measure different levels of correlation between the signal values of the selected signal segment. The improved VQ system finds an entry in the class-1 table that is a best match for the vector Xbar1, referred to as a class-1 best match entry. The improved VQ system also finds an entry in the class-2 table that is a best match for the vector Xbar2, referred to as a class-2 best match entry. After determining the best match entries, the improved VQ system inserts into a compressed signal stream an identifying code or compressed signal representing a selected one of the class-1 best match entry or the class-2 best match entry.

Vector quantization (VQ) has been applied to speech coding and image coding for a number of years. In its basic form, as illustrated in the block diagram of FIG. 1 for image coding, an image is divided into blocks of N.times.N picture elements or signal values (pixels). The encoder 2 and decoder 4 each have identical codebooks 6 and 8 containing various entries or vectors of signal values. The codebooks 6 and 8 are created by training them over a large set of particular test images of different A types. During the image coding process, a selected block of signal values Xi for the actual image being compressed is compared with entries 10 in the codebook 6 of the encoder 2, and the address of the entry 10 which best matches the image being compressed or encoded is transmitted to the decoder 4. The received address is used to fetch the corresponding entry 12 from the codebook 8, which is then used to reconstruct the selected block with signal values 1i for the image. For such a compression system, high quality performance is difficult to achieve, especially in the sharp transition areas of the image to be compressed.
Other vector quantization methods, such as the simplified VQ used by Comsat Labs, provide better quality but require a higher bit rate (i.e., a lower compression ratio). Moreover, these systems can exhibit a blocky-effect on the low transition areas of the image. Another compression technique uses a hierarchial codebook structure in which each level or hierarchy of codebooks corresponds to a different block size. The hierarchial approach provides good quality but also has a high bit rate due to the hierarchial codebook structure. A good review of vector quantization can be found in Gray, IEEE ASSP. Magazine, Apr. 1984, pp. 4-29.
Thus, a need exists for an improved VQ system for compressing a digital signal to produce a high quality signal from the compressed signal while maintaining a low bit rate and simple decoder design.

Method and apparatus for compressing a digital signal using vector quantization


A method for making paper labels having a protective covering where a paper sheet, adhesively supported on a first release backing sheet, is first die cut to form an array of labels. A second release backing sheet is provided having adhesively attached thereto, by an adhesive, an array of transparent cover strips. The second release backing sheet is divided into first and second portions. The second release backing sheet is then placed on the die cut paper sheet where the second release backing sheet is between the cover strips and the labels. The first portion of the second release backing sheet is then removed from the cover strips to expose a portion of the cover strips, and the exposed portion of the cover strips are then adhered to corresponding portions of the labels using the adhesive. The second portion of the second release backing sheet is then removed from the cover strips to expose a remaining portion of the cover strips, and the remaining portion of the cover strips are then adhered to corresponding portions of the labels using the adhesive. During removal of the first portion of the second release backing sheet, the second portion of the second release backing sheet is secured with the die cut paper sheet.

Presently, many businesses employ large volumes of file folders in which information regarding clients, customers, or patients is maintained. File folders are continually added to and deleted from the file system as the need arises. When the file system is first established, the preparation of labels for the files is easily achieved using automated equipment accommodating data entry, printing of the data onto a label, and the subsequent lamination of a protective cover over the labels. Automated equipment for such purpose is well known. However, when files are to be added to the system on a periodic basis, there is a need for a methodology which may be employed on site for preparation of the file labels with protective covers. Generally, the volume of new files being generated on site at various businesses does not warrant the cost of automated equipment for label preparation. Consequently, there is a need for a methodology by which pressure sensitive adhesive backed paper labels may be prepared on site, and subsequently be laminated with a protective clear cover sheet prior to application of the label to a file folder. While individual paper labels and corresponding individual vinyl strips have previously been known for such purpose, the methodology for applying the clear vinyl strips to the paper labels in the past has generally been a difficult and frustrating experience, given to failure and waste. The protective vinyl strips are generally difficult to handle and to position upon the labels.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a methodology by which pressure sensitive adhesive paper labels may be prepared and subsequently receive a clear vinyl plastic strip thereover. There is a particular need in the art for a methodology which accommodates the development of such labels in a time and cost effective manner.


One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method or determining location(s) at which at least one magnetic article is to be positioned during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure of at least one subject. A magnetic field Bo is applied to a region that includes the at least one subject and does not include the at least one magnetic article. First magnetic resonance information about the region in response to the applied magnetic field BO is received. The first magnetic resonance information relates at least in part to one or more magnetic field inhomogeneities in the region. Based at least in part on the first magnetic resonance information, at least one first location proximate the at least one subject at which at least one paramagnetic article and/or diamagnetic article is to be positioned is determined, so as to at least partially compensate for the one or more magnetic field inhomogeneities.

1. Technical Field
The concepts described herein relate generally to reducing magnetic field inhomogeneities for magnetic resonance imaging.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique used frequently in medical and research applications to produce images of the inside of subjects such as humans and animals. MRI is based on detecting nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals, which are electromagnetic waves emitted by atomic nuclei in response to excitation by an electromagnetic field. In particular, magnetic resonance (MR) techniques involve detecting NMR signals produced upon the re-alignment of the nuclear spins of atoms in the subject's tissue.
During an MRI procedure, NMR signals emitted from a volume of interest or from a slice (i.e., a relatively thin region) of the volume of interest are detected. The detected NMR signals may then be utilized to produce a two-dimensional (2D) image of the slice. A 2D image of a slice is composed of pixels, each pixel having an intensity (e.g., a magnitude or value) that is proportional to the strength of the NMR signal emitted by a corresponding location in the volume of interest. A plurality of such 2D images reconstructed from NMR signal data obtained from successive slices may be stacked together to form a three-dimensional (3D) image. A 3D image is composed of voxels,  each voxel having an intensity proportional to the strength of the NMR signal emitted from a corresponding portion of the volume of interest.
To obtain NMR signals, a static magnetic field B0 is applied to a region of interest, and nuclei within the region are excited by applying RF electromagnetic radiation at the Larmor frequency. The Larmor frequency is the frequency at which nuclear spins process about the axis of the static magnetic field B0, and is proportional to the strength of the static magnetic field B0. When applied, the RF electromagnetic radiation at the Larmor frequency causes the nuclear spins to change orientation, such that the spins are no longer aligned with the static magnetic field B0. The nuclear spins then gradually re-realign with the static magnetic field B0, releasing electromagnetic energy at the Larmor frequency that is detectable as NMR signals. Accordingly, the NMR signals contain information that is significantly dependent on the static magnetic field B0. The NMR signals may be detected using one or more RF coils sensitive to electromagnetic changes caused by the NMR signals.
Inhomogeneities in the applied magnetic field B0 may arise in various subjects, such as animals and humans, and may be caused by boundaries, such as tissue-air boundaries which cause disruptions in the magnetic field B0. Since the Larmor frequency is proportional to the magnetic field B0, inhomogeneities in the magnetic field B0 may cause the Larmor frequency to be shifted in some areas. Thus, the RF electromagnetic radiation emitted from these areas may be shifted from the expected Larmor frequency, and this electromagnetic radiation may not be detected as well as electromagnetic radiation emitted at the expected Larmor frequency. The NMR signals that are detected as a result of such field inhomogeneities may lead to undesirable artifacts in images constructed from such NMR signals.
Conventional techniques for homogenizing the magnetic field B0 include using active or passive compensation components commonly referred to in the relevant arts as "shims." One example of an active shim is an electromagnetic coil placed in the static magnetic field B0. The electromagnetic coil may have a controllable current that induces changes in the magnetic field around the coil. However, active shims may be limited to  providing relatively coarse, low-order magnetic field corrections. A passive shim is a piece of magnetic material placed in the static magnetic field B0 that alters the field around the shim. However, image artifacts may remain in spite of these conventional techniques, as they are only partially effective in reducing the magnetic field B0 inhomogeneities.

Methods and apparatus for compensating field inhomogeneities in magnetic resonance studies


An image forming unit includes a charging roller, a cleaning roller, a bush member, and a shifting mechanism. A first journal portion of the bush member allows the charging roller to shift in a direction of abutment against and separation from a photosensitive drum and journals the charging roller with play in the direction of abutment and separation when the charging roller is free from nip with the photosensitive drum. When the charging roller forms a nip with the photosensitive drum by the movement of the bush member actuated by the shifting mechanism, the first journal portion journals the charging roller so that the charging roller is pressed by the photosensitive drum to shift to a position within the first journal portion close to the cleaning roller.

The present disclosure relates to an image forming unit and an image forming apparatus with the same and particularly relates to a mechanism for pressing a process roller against an object and drawing it back from the object.
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image by electrically charging the surface of a photosensitive drum at a nip with a charging roller, subjecting the charged surface of the photosensitive drum to light exposure and development to form a toner image, transferring the toner image to a recording paper sheet, and fixing it on the recording paper sheet. Despite recent demands for longer product life, in the image forming apparatus having the above structure, deterioration of the charging roller due to contamination may cause reduced product life.
To cope with the above problem, a mechanism is proposed for preventing contamination of the charging roller by forming a nip between the charging roller and a cleaning roller formed of a foamed roller and cleaning the charging roller with the cleaning roller. However, if the cleaning roller or the charging roller is permanently deformed by pressure imposed thereon by the nip formation, abnormal charging will occur to have adverse effects on an image to be formed. Therefore, a technique is proposed in which the rollers to be placed under pressure during nip formation are moved away from each other to release them from the pressure and thus avoid their permanent deformation.

Image forming unit and image forming apparatus comprising first process roller and second process roller


A video signal recording/reproducing device has at least a frequency modulating unit which FM modulates information to be recorded on an optical disk memory, a laser driving pulse generating unit for generating a laser driving pulse derived from the frequency-modulated signal generated by the frequency modulating unit and for modifying the duty factor of the laser driving pulse in accordance with the linear velocity of the optical disk memory where recording is taking place; and a recording unit for controlling the laser power during recording to an optimum value in accordance with the linear velocity of the optical disk memory where recording is taking place. This arrangement enables reduction of the minimal length of recording bits resulting in reproduced signals of a level sufficient for obtaining reproduced images of a fine quality addition enables increase of the recording capacity of the optical disk memory.

Magnetic tape, optical disk memory and other mediums, are commonly used recording mediums for recording/reproducing video signals or other signals. Recently, optical disk memories in which handling is simple and operation is excellent, has been used for a variety of tasks.
Different types of optical disk memory are known;
the Read-Only type optical disk memory, where information is recorded during the manufacturing stage of the optical disk memory, such as for instance compact disks, laser video disks, etc.,
the Direct Read After Write type optical disk memory where information can be recorded only once, such as the perforated type memory employing Te-C or other material as a recording layer, and
the Rewritable type optical disk memory where information can be recorded and reproduced as many times as desired, such as the magneto-optical disk, and the like.
Recording on a Read-Only type optical disk memory, for example, is performed as follows. First, the original disk is cut by means of an Ar laser or other laser thereby forming a recording master. Then, recording pits are reproduced from the recording master on a plastic substrate through an injection molding method or other method. Meanwhile, recording and reproduction on DRAW type and Rewritable type optical disk memories are performed through a laser light that is emitted by a semiconductor laser or other member housed in a recording/reproducing device.
The recording area of such an optical disk memory is limited. Therefore, in order to increase the recording capacity, the recording density needs to be increased as much as possible. However, when recording/reproducing video signals, for example the level of the reproduced signals needs to be above a given value in order to ensure reproduced images of a satisfactory quality. In other words, the signal-to-noise ratio (hereinafter, referred to as S/N) of the reproduced images needs to be above a given value. The recording capacity of the optical disk memory is thus determined by the minimal length of the recording bits permitting to obtain reproduced signals of an amplitude above the given value. Here, the length of the recording bits extends along the direction of recording tracks formed on the optical disk memory. Accordingly, in order to increase the recording capacity of the optical disk memory without causing a drop in the level of the reproduced signals, the recorded density needs to be enhanced by reducing the minimal length of the recording bits.
Suppose now that video signals are recorded on the optical disk memory after having gone through an FM process. When the length of the recording bits is smaller than the radius of a light spot (that depends on the wavelength of the laser light emitted by the Ar laser, the semiconductor laser or other laser) formed as a converging beam irradiated on a recording track, the level of the reproduced signals suddenly drops thereby causing the quality of the reproduced images to lower. In conventional devices, the minimal bit length permitted for recording bits to be recorded/reproduced and to have a satisfactory reproduction performance, is approximately equal to 0.5 .mu.m for a Read-Only type optical disk memory, and approximately equal to 1 .mu.m for DRAW type and Rewritable type optical disk memories.
Reducing the pitch of the tracks formed on the optical disk memory might be considered as means for enhancing the recording density. However, if the pitch of the tracks is reduced so as to be approximately equal to the radius of the light spot, crosstalk occurs between adjacent tracks. The smallest track pitch possible is thus approximately equal to 1.6 .mu.m, i.e. the track pitch commonly adopted.
For the above reasons, in conventional devices the recording time of, for example, a 300 mm Read-Only type laser disk that rotates at Constant Angular Velocity (hereinafter referred to as CAV) at a speed of 1800 rpm, is relatively short, especially when video signals that contain a large amount of data are recorded, and is equal to about only 30 minutes. The recording time for a 200 mm laser disk is even shorter and is approximately equal to about 14 minutes with the CAV method, and about 18 minutes with the Constant Linear Velocity (hereinafter referred to as CLV) method.
As described above, with the conventional technology, the recording density cannot be satisfactorily increased by reducing the length of the recording bits or the pitch of the tracks. Conventional technology thus does not offer a long recording time, especially when video signals that contain a large amount of data are recorded.

Video signal recording/reproducing system for increasing recording density of a frequency modulated signal


The invention relates to a conveyor part, having a conveyor track, wherein the conveyor track comprises at least one rotary moulded conveyor track structure. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a conveyor part comprising the following steps, to be performed in any suitable order: providing a rotary mould having a cavity shaped as the outside of a conveyor portions, adding a thermoplastic or resinous material inside the mould, rotating the mould under gradually heating the mould, allowing the thermoplastic material to melt and to cover the inner walls of the mould or allowing the resinous material to cure on the inner walls of the mould, allowing the mould to cool, opening the mould to remove the conveyor part.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a conveyor.
More specifically, the invention relates to more flexible and less expensive conveyor systems and to a method of their manufacture.
Description of Related Art
In the art, conveyor systems are widely used. Mostly a conveyor comprises some basic components: a support frame, a chain or belt track, a belt or chain, a drive system end and a belt or chain return end.
In the art the conveyor track is manufactured of metal parts e.g. extruded aluminium elements, which are bolted or welded together. This provides a sturdy, yet rather heavy and inflexible conveyor system. For less demanding applications and higher flexibility, e.g. when product pathways are changed frequently, conveyors of the art are less suitable. Furthermore, they are more cumbersome to disassemble and reassemble. Accordingly it is an object of the invention to mitigate or solve the above described and/or other problems of belt and chain link conveyors in the art, while maintaining and/or improving the advantages thereof.
More specifically the object of the invention can be seen in improving the flexibility of belt and chain link conveyors while reducing the cost of manufacture of the same.

Conveyor and method of producing a conveyor


In this method for growing a silicon single crystal, an ambient gas where a single crystal is grown contains a gas hydrogen-containing substance, and a silicon single crystal is grown at a pull rate to form a dislocation cluster defect occurrence region at least in a portion of a radial cross section of said silicon single crystal and at a pull rate which is slower than that to form an laser scattering tomography defect occurrence region, according to the Czochralski method. This silicon wafer is sampled from a straight body of the silicon single crystal grown using said method for growing a silicon single crystal, and the LPD density of LPD of 0.09 μm or greater in the surface after 10 times of repetitions of the SC-1 cleaning is 0.1/cm2 or less.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for growing a silicon single crystal and a silicon wafer, and particularly relates to a method for growing a silicon single crystal which enables the growth of a silicon single crystal including a dislocation cluster defect occurrence region having a low density of LPD (Light Point Defect) of 0.09 μm or greater.
This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-234034 filed on Aug. 12, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Background Art
As a method for manufacturing a silicon single crystal which is a starting material of a silicon wafer, a growing method in accordance with the Czochralski method (hereafter, referred to as "CZ method") is known.
It is known that minute defects which become exposed in a device manufacturing process, i.e., a grown-in defect is generated in the silicon single crystal manufactured using the CZ method. FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view for explaining the radial defect distribution state of the silicon single crystal obtained using the CZ method. As shown in FIG. 1, the grown-in defects of the silicon single crystal obtained using the CZ method includes vacancy defects of which sizes are approximately 0.1 to 0.2 μm, such as laser scattering tomography defects or COP (Crystal Originated Particle) and minute dislocation of which sizes are approximately 10 μm such as dislocation cluster defects.
Moreover, in the silicon single crystal shown in FIG. 1, oxygen induced stacking faults (hereafter, referred to as OSF) distribute like a ring in a region of approximately ⅔ of the external diameter. There is a region (laser scattering tomography defect occurrence region) where approximately 105 to 106/cm3 of the laser scattering tomography defects are detected inside the OSF occurrence region where the OSFs are generated, and there is a region (dislocation cluster defect occurrence region) where approximately 103 to 104/cm3 of the dislocation cluster defects exist outside the OSF occurrence region.
FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining the defect distribution state on the cross section of a silicon single crystal grown by gradually decreasing the pull rate during its growth. Here, FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the silicon single crystal grown at a pull rate equivalent to the position A in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, a ring-forming OSF occurrence region appears around the periphery of the crystal in the stage at a faster pull rate, and the inside portion of the OSF occurrence region becomes an laser scattering tomography defect occurrence region where many laser scattering tomography defects are generated. Decreasing the pull rate, the diameter of the OSF occurrence region becomes smaller and a dislocation cluster defect occurrence region where dislocation cluster defects are generated appears at the outside portion of the OSF occurrence region, and then, the OSF occurrence region disappears and the dislocation cluster defect occurrence region appears on the entire surface.
Moreover, an oxygen precipitation promoted region (PV region) where oxygen precipitates (BMD: Bulk Micro Defect) may be formed exists outside the ring-forming OSF occurrence region and making contact with the ring-forming OSF occurrence region, and an oxygen precipitation inhibited region (PI region) where no oxygen precipitation is generated exists between the oxygen precipitation promoted region and the dislocation cluster defect occurrence region. The oxygen precipitation promoted region (PV region), the oxygen precipitation inhibited region (PI regoion) and the ring-forming OSF occurrence region are all defect-free regions where the grown-in defects are extremely low.
As a hot zone structure for growing a silicon single crystal using the CZ method, for example, a hot zone structure where a temperature gradient at the center of the crystal (Gc) is the same or greater than a temperature gradient at the outer circumferential portion of the crystal (Ge) (Gc≧Ge) is proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). FIG. 3 is a drawing for explaining another defect distribution state of the cross section of a silicon single crystal grown by gradually decreasing pull rate during its growth using an apparatus for growing a single crystal having the hot zone structure where the temperature gradient at the center of the crystal (Gc) is the same or greater than a temperature gradient at the outer circumferential portion of the crystal (Ge) (Gc≧Ge).
As shown in FIG. 3, when a silicon single crystal is grown at the pull rate within a range from B to C shown in FIG. 3 using an apparatus for growing a single crystal having a hot zone structure which satisfies Gc≧Ge, a temperature gradient G on the crystal side at or in the vicinity of a solid-liquid interface is controlled and a silicon single crystal of which radial cross section is uniform defect-free region throughout the entire thereof can be obtained.
In addition, in Patent Document 1, technology to increase a pull rate margin of a defect-free crystal by adding hydrogen into a growth furnace using an apparatus for growing a single crystal having the hot zone structure which satisfies Gc≧Ge is proposed. FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining another defect distribution state of the cross section of a silicon single crystal, grown by supplying an inert gas where hydrogen is added to a growth furnace and by gradually decreasing the pull rate during its growth, using an apparatus for growing a single crystal having a hot zone structure (wherein Gc≧Ge), which is the same as that in FIG. 3. In the case in which an ambient gas where a single crystal is grown is a mixed gas of an inert gas and hydrogen gas, the generation of COP and dislocation cluster defects can be inhibited. Therefore, in comparison with the example shown in FIG. 3 where no hydrogen is added to the growth furnace, as shown in FIG. 4, a critical pull rate for the pull rate range (the range from B to C in FIG. 3 and the range from D to E in FIG. 4) at which a defect-free crystal can be grown may be made faster.
In accordance with the technology described in Patent Document 1, a silcon single crystal where no COP or dislocation cluster defect exists may be grown, and a silicon wafer manufactured from this silicon single crystal may be used as a high-quality prime wafer. However, if the pull rate range is deviated even slighltly, there is the inconvenience that COP and/or dislocation cluster defects are generated. In particular, a wafer where the dislocation cluster defects have been generated deteriorates the electrical properties of a device; thereby, it cannot be used as a prime wafer. However, a silicon single crystal where the dislocation cluster defects are detected may be used, for example, as a material for a LPD monitoring wafer to monitor an LPD size of 0.11 μm or greater.
However, in accordance with the recent miniaturization of integrated circuits, the LPD size to be monitored has become smaller. Specifically, for example, the LPD size to be monitored becomes smaller, less than 0.11 μm. Consequently, miniaturization technology for the dislocation cluster defect size in a wafer is required. Moreover, since the LPD monitoring wafer is repeatedly used, a wafer where the LPD density does not increase after repetitive cleaning is in demand.
However, a conventional LPD monitoring wafer sometimes cannot accurately monitor because a density of LPD having a size of greater than that to be monitored is high on the wafer surface, or the density of LPD having a size of greater than that to be monitored is drastically increased by SC-1 of the surface.
The present invention considers the above circumstances, and has the objective of providing a method for growing a silicon single crystal where a silicon single crystal containing a dislocation cluster defect occurrence region and having a low density of LPD of 0.09 μm or greater can be grown.
Moreover, the present invention aims to provide a silicon wafer that is sampled from a straight body section of the silicon single crystal grown using the method for growing a silicon single crystal, and that can be suitably used for a high-accuracy LPD monitoring wafer.
(Patent Document 1) International Patent Publication No. WO02004/083496

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for growing silicon single crystal and silicon wafer