The present invention pertains a controlling scheme for build-up or variation rate at which brake pressure increases till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque. Stand-by brake torque control begins with recognition of emergency or occurrence of operator reaction or quick release of accelerator. During initial stage of the stand-by brake control, brake pressure increases till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque before vehicle operator depresses a brake pedal. Build-up or variation rate at which brake pressure increases till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque is determined in response to time left before the operator depresses the brake pedal. Period of time left before the operator depresses the brake pedal varies with differing events that have initiated the stand-by brake torque control.

The present invention relates to a method and a system for controlling a build-up rate at which brake pressure increases till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque applied to an automotive vehicle during stand-by brake torque control under a condition of approaching or following an obstacle preceding the vehicle. The term xe2x80x9cobstaclexe2x80x9d is used herein to mean a stationary or moving object within the path of the vehicle, for example, vehicles, pedestrians, etc. The term xe2x80x9cstand-by brake torquexe2x80x9d is used herein to mean a brake torque, i.e., a negative torque, applied to a vehicle in anticipation of operator braking action or when operator braking action is imminent under a condition of approaching or following an obstacle preceding the vehicle. The term xe2x80x9coperator braking actionxe2x80x9d is used herein to mean vehicle operator or driver action to operate a brake pedal with intention to lower traveling speed of a vehicle.
JP-A 7-144588 discloses a system whereby traveling speed and deceleration of an obstacle preceding a host vehicle are determined using a Doppler sensor and a vehicle speed sensor, which are on the vehicle, and a desired distance from the obstacle is determined. In this system, a vehicle operator is warned and an automatic braking action is initiated if the distance from the obstacle becomes less than the desired distance.
Various control schemes for braking of a vehicle are known in he art. One such example, as disclosed in JP-A 11-175898, is substituting the output of a millimeter wave radar for the output of a laser radar if the latter fails, and setting a different set of thresholds upon comparing to the output of the millimeter wave radar from an initial set of thresholds for comparison to the output of the laser radar. Another example, as disclosed in JP-A 8-80822 or JP-A 10-59150, is initiating partial activation of a vehicle braking system when the time rate of change of throttle angle upon operator releasing the accelerator pedal exceeds a predetermined level.
In the above-mentioned examples, comparing thresholds to the output of the radar or comparing the predetermined value to the time rate of change of throttle angle to initiate braking action. Various other measures to determination of the initiation of braking action are known in the art. One such example is proposed by the assignee of the present invention and described in IP-A 10-24818. According to this proposal, an axial thrust applied to a steering shaft from a steering wheel is monitored for comparison to a threshold in anticipation of axial load applied to the steering wheel by an operator during his/her leg motion to step on a brake pedal. Comparing the monitored axial thrust to the threshold is used to determine the level of emergency of braking. Another example is monitoring the strength of operator grasping a steering wheel to determine the level of emergency as disclosed in JP-A 11-286264. Still another example is proposed by the assignee of the present invention and described in JP-A 11-5528 or JP-A 11-255087. This example is monitoring the strength of operator stepping on a footrest to determine the level of emergency. Other example is proposed by the assignee of the present invention and described in JP-A 5-112158.
The conventional systems are satisfactory to some extent, but a need still remains for developing stand-by brake torque control in a direction to provide enhanced response of a brake system to operator action for braking without impairing operator ride feel.
An object of the present invention is to provide a system and a method for stand-by brake torque control, which provides enhanced response of a brake system to operator depression of a brake pedal without impairing operator ride feel.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for stand-by brake torque control wherein brake pressure increases till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque applied to an automotive vehicle under a condition of approaching or following an obstacle preceding the vehicle, the system comprising:
an obstacle recognition system detecting a distance to the obstacle preceding the vehicle;
a vehicle speed sensor detecting traveling speed of the vehicle;
an accelerator operable by an operator of the vehicle;
an accelerator sensor detecting operator demand for vehicle acceleration from motion of the accelerator;
an operator reaction responsive sensor detecting reaction by the operator; and
a controller programmed
to perform stand-by brake torque control before operator action for braking,
to select one of predetermined different emergency levels in response to at least one of the detected distance the detected traveling speed, the detected operator demand, and the detected reaction, and
to determine one of various variation rates in response to the selected one emergency level for initiating the stand-by brake torque control by increasing brake pressure at the determined one variation rate till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque applied to the vehicle.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for stand-by brake torque control wherein brake pressure increases till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque applied to an automotive vehicle under a condition of approaching or following an obstacle preceding the vehicle, the vehicle having an accelerator and a brake pedal, the method comprising:
initiating stand-by brake torque control upon determination of one of events that include recognition of emergency, operator reaction, and quick release of the accelerator;
determining a variation rate at which brake pressure increases till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque applied to the vehicle in response to time left before the vehicle operator depresses the brake pedal after determining the one event; and
increasing brake pressure at the determined variation rate till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque before the vehicle operator depresses the brake pedal.

Operator reaction dependent stand-by brake torque build-up rate controlling scheme


Methods are provided for carrying out nucleophilic addition reactions using oxo, sulfido or amido complexes of transition metals as reaction catalysts. Exemplary catalysts are oxo complexes of Group 7 transition metals, with rhenium (V) oxo complexes, including dioxo complexes, preferred. Nucleophilic addition reactions that can be catalyzed using the present methods include silylation, hydrosilylation, hydroamination, silylmetalation, carbometalation, aldol reactions, hydro- and carbometalation initiated cyclization/polymerization, and epoxide/aziridine opening. The invention also pertains to novel transition metal complexes that have utility in catalyzing such reactions.

Organosilicon compounds have utility in a wide range of commercial applications. For example, organosilanes are used as precursors to silicon-containing polymers, which, in turn, have numerous uses in the electronics, adhesives, and plastics industries. Organosilanes are also useful in a host of synthetic organic processes, typically as reducing agents and/or silylating agents. Other organosilicon compounds such as hydrolyzable silyl ethers (also termed alkoxysilanes) are used in the manufacture of coatings, glasses, and binders, while less reactive, lower molecular weight silyl ethers find utility as lubricant, heat-transfer, and dielectric fluids.
A well known and widely used reaction for synthesizing organosilicon compounds is the hydrosilylation of olefins, in which a silane reactant R3Si—H is added to an unsaturated carbon-carbon bond in the presence of a catalyst selected to activate the Si—H bond in the silane precursor. Hydrosilylation of olefins and carbonyl compounds has traditionally been achieved by employing low-valent late transition metal complexes as catalysts, e.g., palladium, platinum, rhodium, and iridium complexes. See Ojima et al., "Recent Advances in the Hydrosilations and Related Reactions," in The Chemistry of Organic Silicon Compounds, vol. 2 (New York: Wiley and Sons, 1998), at pages 1687-1792. Illustrative of such catalysts are platinum supported on carbon, chloroplatinic acid, complexes of platinic chloride and unsaturated organic compounds, and compounds and complexes of rhodium, as described, for example, in U.K. Patent Application No. 1,041,237. Also see Chalk (1971), Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 172(13):533-540, which describes hydrosilylation of olefins using iridium, platinum and rhodium complexes as hydrosilylation catalysts. Organosilicon compounds have also been synthesized by silylation of carbonyl compounds, including aldehydes and ketones, traditionally using Lewis acid metal complexes as catalysts.
Use of the platinum group metals as hydrosilylation catalysts is, however, problematic in several respects. Complexes of the platinum group metals are typically air- and moisture-sensitive, and, therefore, any reactions catalyzed with such complexes cannot be carried out without taking precautions to avoid air and/or water contamination. These catalysts are also expensive, precluding widespread utility on an industrial scale. In addition, use of highly Lewis acidic complexes as catalysts for the silylation of carbonyl-containing compounds precludes the use of reactants that contain Lewis basic functional groups. Furthermore, in many cases the Lewis acid catalysts are highly intolerant to the presence of water.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a new method of catalyzing a silylation reaction that would not be associated with the aforementioned problems. Optimally, then, the catalyst used would be air- and moisture-insensitive, significantly less expensive than the platinum-group catalysts, and tolerant of a range of functional groups. It would also be desirable if such a catalyst were useful in catalyzing stereoselective, e.g., enantioselective, silylation reactions. Furthermore, an ideal catalyst would be useful not only in silylation, but would also be useful in catalyzing other nucleophilic addition reactions wherein a nucleophilic reactant is added to an electrophilic compound containing, as an electrophilic site, an unsaturated carbon-carbon bond, a carbonyl group, a thiocarbonyl group (C═S), or an imino (C═NH) group.

Transition metal oxo, sulfido and amido complexes as catalysts of nucleophilic addition reactions


A focus yoke used for an electromagnetically focused CRT display comprises: a cylindrical permanent magnet unit which is disposed around a neck portion of a CRT and is spaced from the circumference of the neck portion; a core unit which defines a toroidal space together with the cylindrical magnet unit for substantially surrounding the neck portion, the core unit forming a magnetic path to guide magnetic lines of force generated by the cylindrical magnet unit; a dynamic focus winding unit disposed in the toroidal space; and a winding unit disposed externally of said toroidal space for eliminating an undesired magnetic field of an inverse polarity generated due to the cylindrical magnet unit.

The present invention relates to a focus yoke, an electromagnetically focused CRT display with the focus yoke, and a negative feedback circuit with stray-capacitor-cancellation means used for the CRT display or the like.
Electromagnetically focused CRTs heretofore include two types, one being solenoidal current type and the other being cylindrical permanent magnet type (hereinafter simply referred to as permanent magnet type).
A typical CRT and peripheral components thereof are shown in FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, a reference numeral 1 denotes a CRT, 2 a deflection yoke (hereinafter referred to as DY), 3 a focus yoke (hereinafter referred to as FY), 4 an electron gun, 5 a neck portion.
The focus yoke 3 functions as an electron lens for converging electron beams as represented by arrows in FIG. 12.
A sectional structure of a solenoid current type focus yoke and the distribution of the magnetic field along the axis of the neck portion 5 of this type of the CRT are shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, respectively.
A sectional structure of a permanent magnet type of focus yoke and the distribution of the magnetic field along the axis of the neck portion 5 are shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, respectively.
In FIGS. 13A and 14A, a reference numeral 6 denotes a magnet path forming magnetic core comprising a soft magnetic material, 7 a winding, 8 a permanent magnet. Marks in circles of the winding 7 denote the direction of currents. Arrows in the neck portion 5 denotes the direction of magnetic field. A curve 9 in FIG. 13B denotes the magnetic field distribution in the solenoid current type CRT and a curve (solid line) 10 and a curve (dotted line) 11 in FIG. 13B denote the magnetic field distributions in the permanent magnet type, respectively.
FIGS. 13A and 14A correspond to FIGS. 13B and 14B in positional relation in an axial direction of the CRT, respectively.
In the permanent magnet type CRT of FIG. 14A, the winding 7 is provided for so-called dynamic focussing, that is for dynamically changing a focussing force depending upon the position on a screen.
Problems of the above mentioned prior art are listed in FIG. 15. These problems will be described.
Focussing performance of each of the above mentioned focus yokes will be described. In the permanent magnet type CRT, a magnetic field of an inverse polarity (magnetic field components having a desired direction and the opposite direction) is inevitably generated as is apparent from the curve 11 in FIG. 14B. The magnetic component of the inverse polarity will cause spherical aberration in an electromagnetic lens. Accordingly, the permanent magnetic type CRT has a problem that the focussing performance on a screen deteriorates. The solenoid current type CRT has excellent focussing performance since no magnetic field of the inverse polarity is generated so that the spherical aberration is less as is apparent from the curve 9 in FIG. 13B.
The solenoid current type focus yoke shown in FIG. 13A is excessively heavy while the permanent magnet type focus yoke shown in FIG. 4A is light.
The solenoid current type focus yoke consumes very much electric power for dynamic focussing and the permanent magnet type focus yoke also consumes much electric power.
In the focus yoke shown in FIG. 13A, the winding 7 comprises two sets of windings which are independent of each other. That is, the focus yoke shown in FIG. 13A comprises a first set of windings (D.C. and low frequency windings) which are externally disposed and a second set of windings (high frequency horizontal scanning windings) which are internally disposed. The focus yoke shown in FIG. 14A also comprises two sets of windings which are independent of each. That is, the focus yoke shown in FIG. 14A comprises a first set of windings (low frequency windings) which are externally disposed and a second set of windings (high frequency windings) which are internally disposed.
The reasons why the diameter of the core 6 is so large that a useless space is formed therein in the structure shown in FIG. 14A are as follows: That is, reduction in the space in the core 6 by decreasing the diameter of the core 6 is effective to reduce the wastfull magnetic energy and the consumed electric power. On the other hand, decreasing of the diameter of the core 6 will enlarge the curve 11 in FIG. 14B in the inverse polarity direction to provide a remarkably large spherical aberration.

Focus yoke, electromagnetically focused CRT display with the focus yoke, and negative feedback circuit with stray-capacitor-cancellation means used for the CRT display or the like


An information display method including: detecting a biometric characteristic of a current user of a terminal; determining whether the biometric characteristic matches a preset biometric characteristic; and determining, based on a judgment result, whether to display first information of a designated contact in the terminal.

At present, mobile terminals are mostly equipped with a gesture/digital lock screen function. Unlocking manners generally include sliding fingerprint unlocking, entering a digital password, and so on according to a predetermined track. Such manners may well protect the privacy of users, so that information in the mobile terminals of the users is prevented from being viewed by others.
Although the gesture/digital lock may protect the privacy of the users, an unlocking interface that pops up when an unlocking function is triggered clearly informs a person who unlocks a mobile terminal that the mobile terminal stores privacy information which should be prevented from being known by others. A good protection function against snoopers is achieved. However, displaying of reminders and repeated unlocking may cause poor user experience. No effective solution has been put forward to solve the problems of inconvenience and poor privacy protection effects of an existing terminal caused by repeated unlocking.

Contact information display method and device, and information display method and device


A computing device is configured to acquire or access credit or reporting data associated with a consumer. The computing device then is configured to analyze the credit or reporting data to determine reporting cycles for accounts associated with the consumer. For example, the computing device may determine that credit information for a particular account may be updated at a regular interval (e.g., once a month on the 3rd) or some other more complex cycle. The computing device can subsequently used the determined reporting cycles to predict the next reporting dates for respective accounts and provide the information, for instance, to the consumer.

Field of the Disclosure
Among other things, this disclosure describes systems and methods for providing the next anticipated trade reporting date for relevant accounts on a particular consumer's credit report.
Description of the Related Art
Identity theft is a crime in which an imposter obtains key pieces of information, such as Social Security and driver's license numbers, and uses it for his or her improper personal gain. The imposters can obtain new credit accounts; re-direct the mail and telephone calls from existing credit accounts; sign up for unwanted and often expensive services; order subscriptions; order and take delivery of products; and otherwise "become" the individual whose identity has been stolen, minus the conscience and fiscal responsibility. Currently, people can only determine if they are (or may have been) victims of identity theft through frequent monitoring of their credit information on file with the three major credit bureaus. Unfortunately, even though most large trade reporters (companies that report data to the credit bureaus) provide updated data every day, they generally do not provide an update on every consumer. Instead, most consumers are updated only periodically based on a regular reporting cycle, such as once a month. As a result, at any point in time the account information in a consumer's credit report is outdated by up to a month or more, depending on the reporting cycle of respective reporting entities.


Devices and methods for forming semiconductor devices with FinFETs are provided. One method includes, for instance: obtaining an intermediate semiconductor device with a substrate and at least one shallow trench isolation region; depositing a hard mask layer over the intermediate semiconductor device; etching the hard mask layer to form at least one fin hard mask; and depositing at least one sacrificial gate structure over the at least one fin hard mask and at least a portion of the substrate. One intermediate semiconductor device includes, for instance: a substrate with at least one shallow trench isolation region; at least one fin hard mask over the substrate; at least one sacrificial gate structure over the at least one fin hard mask; at least one spacer disposed on the at least one sacrificial gate structure; and at least one pFET region and at least one nFET region grown into the substrate.

Conventional planar MOSFET devices have been scaling down over the last few decades to provide higher integration density, higher operation speed and lower cost. However, the scaling down of MOSFET devices is restricted by the short channel effect which causes a high leakage current. In order to counteract the short channel effect, FinFETs have started being used due to the FinFETs stronger gate electrostatic control over the channel which can mitigate the short channel effect. However, the fabrication of FinFETs is more challenging than conventional planar device fabrication because of the high topology of the fins.
During conventional FinFET fabrication, the fin is formed first. Then the gate, spacer and junction/contact may be formed. As the gate, spacer and junction are formed they must be formed over and around the high topology fins. The high topology fins may cause challenges during deposition, lithography and etching to form the gate, spacer, and junction. Further, epitaxy must be grown on the three dimensional fin rather than the previous two dimensional planar substrate, this results in less epitaxy volume on the three dimensional fin than was previously on the planar substrate thereby limiting the stress enhancement. With a limited epitaxy volume on the three dimensional fins, the silicidation cannot consume too much epitaxy material. Currently, titanium silicide is being used because it consumes less epitaxy, however titanium silicide has poor contact properties.
Thus, the fabrication of FinFET devices can be problematic with existing fabrication techniques and improved FinFET fabrication techniques are needed for forming FinFET devices to improve the performance of the resultant semiconductors.

Devices and methods of forming finFETs with self aligned fin formation


A vehicular lighting unit includes: a first light source in the form of an LED for providing illumination forward or rearward of a vehicle body, the first light source being mounted on one surface of a base plate in an orientation corresponding to the direction of the illumination; a second light source in the form of an LED for providing illumination laterally outward of the vehicle body, the second light source being mounted on another surface of the base plate; and a reflection section provided near the second light source for reflecting light emitted from the second light source laterally outward of the vehicle body.

Among the conventionally-known vehicular lighting units is one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open Publication No. SHO-63-72803. A rear lamp unit disclosed in the No. SHO-63-72803 publication includes a tail and stop lamp as a light source mounted to a lamp case. The tail and stop lamp is mounted obliquely outward with respect to a front-rear direction of the vehicle, and thus, the tail and stop lamp can provide illumination both rearward of the vehicle body and laterally outward of the vehicle body. Namely, the rear lamp unit functions also as a side marker light.
The vehicular lighting unit is designed to allow a person outside the vehicle (outside person) to visually recognize presence of the vehicle. As one approach to effectively allow an outside person to visually recognize the vehicle, it may be conceivable to increase the number of the tail and stop lamp to thereby provide more intense (lighter) illumination. However, merely increasing the number of the tail and stop lamp would undesirably result in an increase in size of the vehicular lighting unit.

Vehicular light unit with multiple light sources


A system and method for providing offline asynchronous user activity in a player versus player online game is disclosed. A client computing platform associated with a first user may maintain a connection to the game server that hosts a game space at which an online game takes place. The client computing platform may include a game state repository that stores a game space for the game state and a game logic repository that stores game logic for the online game. When the client computing platform disconnects from the game server, an expression of the game space is maintained at the client computing platform. While disconnected, the client computing platform may receive instructions for one or more actions to be taken in the game space and may execute the actions in the online game. When a connection is established with the game server, the executed actions may be verified.

The ability to facilitate offline user activity in an online game is known. Known systems implement various rudimentary features to facilitate providing asynchronous game play to a user when the user is offline. Conventional systems, however, typically only facilitate offline play in single player, discrete online games. For example, conventional systems may facilitate offline asynchronous play for a user to play a game with a definitive beginning and end. Conventional systems typically fail to provide asynchronous offline play in a player-versus-player online game in which the user engages in activity beyond the playing of a discrete game. Conventional systems generally leave users of player-versus-player online games unable to engage in user activity when the user is offline.

System and method for offline asynchronous user activity in a player versus player online game


A collapsible boat having a framework comprising forward and aft keel member portions, forward and aft port and starboard gunwale member portions, forward and aft port and starboard stringer member portions, and a plurality of cross-rib members. The keel, gunwale and stringer member portions are joined by interconnecting members into aligned longitudinal members that are also interconnected to the cross-rib members to create forward and aft hull sections. A keel locking and tensioning mechanism is used to join together the forward and aft hull sections at the keel to define a hull framework having elongate keel, gunwale and stringer members that extend longitudinally between a bow and stern and that are spaced and braced by transversely extending cross-rib members. A rocker adjustment system in the gunwale member portions joins the forward and aft gunwale members and permits variation of the elevation of the bow and stern of the framework by adjusting the overall length of the gunwale member portions. The framework is insertable into a flexible water impermeable skin to create a boat with adjustable handling characteristics suitable for use in a wide variety of sailing conditions and environments.

Collapsing or foldable boats such as kayaks or canoes are well known and have been commercially available for many years. Applicant is aware of the following patents which disclose water craft that are designed to be collapsed from a watergoing form into a relatively compact form for storage and/or transportation:
U.S. Pat. No. 389,817 to King PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 1,649,311 to Kaechele PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 2,415,495 to Humphreys PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,123,841 to Bronner PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,743 to Brown PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,307 to Hermann PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,865 to Trautwein PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,170 to Simpson PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,216 to Masters PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,579 to Masters PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,899 to Fleckles PA1 forward and aft keel member portions; PA1 forward and aft port and starboard gunwale member portions; PA1 forward and aft port and starboard stringer member portions; PA1 a plurality of transverse cross-rib members; PA1 interconnecting means for joining of the keel, gunwale and stringer member portions into aligned longitudinal members joined at adjacent ends and for joining of the longitudinal members to the cross-rib members to define forward and aft hull sections; PA1 a keel locking and tensioning mechanism to join together the forward and aft keel members and thereby the forward and aft hull sections to define a framework having elongate keel, gunwale and stringer members that extend longitudinally between a bow and stern and that are spaced and braced by the transverse cross-rib members; and PA1 a rocker adjustment system in the gunwale members to join together the forward and aft gunwale member portions and permit variation of the elevation of the bow and stern of the framework by adjusting the overall length of the gunwale members.
The foregoing patents that relate specifically to collapsible kayaks or canoes tend to rely on a series of bulky ribs or formers to space and support the longitudinal frame members and define the cross-sectional shape of the assembled hull. This arrangement divides the assembled hull into compartments defined by inwardly protruding ribs that makes loading of gear into the interior of the hull difficult if not impossible. Loading of gear into the hull is an important consideration as it is often the only way for a user to transport their gear with them.
In addition, except for the Masters' patents which rely on a relatively crude scheme for adjusting the keel curvature or rocker, the foregoing patents disclose hulls having a fixed rocker. It is advantageous and desirable to have a vessel that can be adapted to handle different water conditions by varying the rocker.


The present invention relates to an agent for distributed networking and a processor-readable software code. The agent may include, for example, a cosite analyzer, an EMI sniffer, an asset controller module, an asset discovery module, and a link negotiator. The agent may be configured to initiate and optimize network configurations for radio communications systems based on parameters. The software code may receive data associated with a network plan, may determine if any planned links are included in the network plan and may establish connectivity of a confirmed link between at least two nodes in the network. Additionally, the software code may determine if a non-planned link should be added to the network and may establish connectivity for the non-planned link based on a priority associated with the non-planned link.

Ad hoc (or "on the fly") networks are known in the art. When forming such an ad hoc network for the transmission of data between various nodes in the network numerous problems associated with the connectivity, signal quality and the allocation of bandwidth in the system may arise. These and many other issues may be magnified when various nodes enter or leave the network at various points in time. Nodes may enter or leave networks due to, for example, network reconfiguration, the failure of a node, or any of a variety of other reasons.
Today's networks are capable of handling a broader spectrum of information services that may include video, graphics data, imagery, timely situational awareness updates, etc. In the context of ad hoc networks, the need for ubiquitous, timely and robust communications is complicated by limited communication spectrum, decreased footprint requirements and the need for rapid network reconfigurations. In many applications, communication networks may need to react to the conditions of the battle in real-time.
Networked waveforms, with the capability to self-form and self-heal, may provide only a limited solution to this problem. Rich radio connectivity over wide ranges can require multiple waveforms and multiple frequency bands over terrestrial Line of Sight ("LOS"), Unmanned Aeronautical Vehicles ("UAVs") and Satellites, for example. Various markets have developed a rich set of radios for communications that are applicable in different environments. Each waveform has advantages and disadvantages. Different environments (e.g., urban, forest and desert) and varied applications (e.g., terrestrial LOS, Satellite and UAVs) may require different waveforms. The choice of which waveform and frequency band may depend, for example, upon range, terrain, bandwidth and frequency reuse requirements.
What is needed is a system and method for the implementation of self-forming and self-healing networks. Additionally, what is needed is processor-readable software cord and associated hardware for network architectures that is configured to maintain a high degree of signal quality (e.g., quality of signal or QoS) while permitting various nodes to enter and leave the network in real-time. Additionally, what is needed is a network optimization algorithm that can mimic a network planner's intuition in the form of mathematical equations. These equations may be implemented as a distributed networking agent that includes processor-readable algorithms or software code for reconfiguring the network on the fly.

Distributed networking agent and method of making and using the same


Sheet metal forming is a manufacturing process in which flat sheet metal is drawn into a die cavity to form a product shape. Draw-in amount is the single most important stamping index that controls all forming characteristics (strains and stresses), formability failures (splits, wrinkles) and surface quality (distortions) on a panel. Adaptation of a new die set for repetitively stamping sheet metal parts to a part design specification is simplified by using a math-based simulation of the stamping operation under specified engineering stamping conditions for the specified part. The stamping simulations are used to create an engineered draw-in map comparing selected locations on the peripheral edge of the stamped part with corresponding locations on the peripheral edge of its original sheet metal blank. The resulting map of sheet metal draw-in dimensions reflect suitable displacements of the metal sheet between the binder ring and binder surface of the female die member at all such locations as the punch member of the die set executes its stamping operation. The engineered draw-in dimensions for a simulated part identify specific locations for adjustment of the binder ring/binder surface system in adapting the die set for production of parts.

A conventional three-component die set for stamping sheet metal parts consists of a punch, a binder ring and a female die. Such die sets are used to make many strong and light weight articles of manufacture. These articles include, for example, automotive body panels and other structure parts; aircraft and appliance sheet components; and beverage cans. Families of formable ferrous and aluminum sheet metal alloys have been developed for these manufacturing processes.
In a typical sheet metal forming operation, a flat blank of the metal is held at its periphery over the shaped cavity surface of a female die and the sheet is pulled into the cavity and against the shaped surface using a punch with a forming surface complementary to that of the female die. The sheet is drawn and stretched between the tools and assumes a desired shape. In making stamped parts such as automotive body panels, often characterized by deep pockets and small radii bends, the panel may be formed in stages using two or more sets of stamping dies each operated in a suitable hydraulic press.
In sheet metal stamping operations the blank is clamped at its periphery against the marginal surface of the female die cavity with a blank holder called the binder ring. The interaction between the binder ring, the interposed sheet and the binder portion at the margin of the female die is critical to making a part that is formed free of wrinkles or tears. The binder ring has a bead that presses adjacent sheet metal into a complementary depression, a trough, in the binder portion of the female die to create proper restraining forces that prevent the sheet metal from being drawn to the die cavity too freely (and cause wrinkles on the sheet metal) or too restrictively (thus causing panel splits). Thus, a peripheral ring of the blank material is crimped and grasped by the binder ring system. When operation of the stamping press brings the punch into contact with the blank, the metal sheet is drawn and/or stretched into the forming cavity. The binder bead/trough interactions at each point around the entire periphery of the blank control the local amount of sheet metal drawn into the forming die. The draw-in of too little metal over the binder ring system can lead to tears or cracks in the stamped part, and too much drawn metal can lead to wrinkles and surface distortions. The draw-in amount is controlled by the die design and die construction, the forming process parameters (binder force, lubrication, die set-up), and the sheet metal properties.
In a traditional die development and making process, a die is designed based on previous experience, and the die is validated through a series of physical tryouts. These tryouts are time consuming and costly and cannot guarantee the success of the die developments. For a typical automotive body panel, say a fender, the tryout alone could last twelve months and cost more than one million U.S. dollars. Today in math-based die development practice, the design of a die can be evaluated and reshaped through electronic tryout via advanced stamping simulation technology that consists of stamping CAE (computer aided engineering) programs, sheet metal forming simulation software (e.g., Pamstamp™ and Dyna3D™) and high performance computers.
After the die sets for a vehicle body panel, for example, are designed or developed successfully in the digital world, the dies are constructed and tried out in a tooling shop. However, there are differences between the engineering of a die set and its everyday use in a manufacturing operation. And there are differences in results obtained between digital simulation of die operation and physical parts produced in a stamping plant. One aspect of the problem is that die makers are not so familiar with math-based die engineering principles that they can make good use of the math-based work in tuning actual dies for everyday stamping operations and ordinary sheet metal material. Therefore, physical tryout periods for each set of manufacturing dies can still take weeks or months because there has been no robust procedure by which manufacturing people can detect and correct differences between an actual die set and the math-based simulation from which it was built.
It is an object of this invention to provide a process for conforming actual sheet metal stamping experience using a specific die set with state-of-the-art math-based simulation of the die set and stamping operation. It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a process for using the exact amount of sheet metal drawn in over the binder ring at selected locations around the periphery of the blank as a practical and effective basis to conform the operation of the physical die set to the simulated performance of the virtual die set.


A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system 10 for a first vehicle (11) proximate a second vehicle (72). The second vehicle (72) generates a cruise control signal. The cruise control signal is detected at the first vehicle. In response to the cruise control signal a vehicle data signal from the first vehicle is generated. The first vehicle data signal may include various information from the first vehicle including sensor data, heading data, and vehicle classification data. The transponder of the first vehicle may also be activated in response to an urgent event. The data signal is formed in response to the urgent event and broadcast from the first vehicle to all nearby vehicles.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to pre-crash sensing systems for automotive vehicles, and more particularly, to pre-crash sensing systems having countermeasures operated in response to pre-crash detection.
2. Background
Auto manufacturers are investigating radar, lidar, and vision-based pre-crash sensing systems to improve occupant safety. Current vehicles typically employ accelerometers that measure forces acting on the vehicle body. In response to accelerometers, airbags or other safety devices are employed. Also, Global Position Systems (GPS) systems are used in vehicles as part of navigation systems.
In certain crash situations, it would be desirable to provide information to the vehicle operator before forces actually act upon the vehicle. As mentioned above, known systems employ combinations of radar, lidar and vision systems to detect the presence of an object in front of the vehicle a predetermined time before an actual crash occurs. Such systems have expense and false positives.
Other systems broadcast their positions to other vehicles where the positions are displayed to the vehicle operator. The drawback to this type of system is that the driver is merely warned of the presence of a nearby vehicle without intervention. In a crowded traffic situation, it may be difficult for a vehicle operator to react to a crowded display.
It would be desirable to provide a system that takes into consideration the position of other vehicles and, should the situation warrant, provide crash mitigation.
The present invention provides an improved pre-crash sensing system that deploys a counter-measure in response to the position the object detected.
In one aspect of the invention, a method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for a first vehicle proximate a second vehicle said second vehicle generating a cruise control signal comprising:
detecting the cruise control signal at the first vehicle; and
generating a vehicle data signal from the first vehicle in response to the cruise control signal.
In a further aspect of the invention, a method for communicating from a first vehicle comprising: sensing an urgent event at the first vehicle; and forming a first vehicle data signal from the first vehicle in response to the urgent event; and broadcasting the data signal from the first vehicle.
One advantage of the invention is that the cruise control signal will trigger only one of the vehiclesxe2x80x9d transponders. Thus, the orientation of the target vehicle may be easily determined.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and appended claims.

Method and apparatus for activating a crash countermeasure using a transponder and adaptive cruise control


An apparatus and method for enhancing data availability by leveraging primary/backup data storage volumes. A Remote Volume Mirroring (RVM) system may be leveraged according to the present invention to provide volume failover by enhancing the functionality of the arrays, in a manner transparent to the host operating system.

Electronic data storage is one of the most important aspects of the modem economy. Almost every aspect of modem life has some element that requires the storage and retrieval of electronic data.
A storage system is an integrated collection of one or more controllers, one or more data storage devices such as disks, CD-ROMs, tapes, media loaders, and the like, and any required control software that provides storage services to a host such as a server on a network, a Web server on the Internet, a mainframe computer, or the like.
While a storage system is an important means to store and retrieve critical data, the physical mechanisms employed in the storage and retrieval process may fail, preventing storage and retrieval of the data. Many programmatic and hardware facilities have been utilized to provide continued access to the data. For example, intra-array data mirroring and conventional RAID techniques, when properly configured, may prevent data loss due to the failure of any single component. However, there are still various failure scenarios which may result in loss of access to data. For example, the failure of multiple components may disrupt access to a given data set, often resulting in permanent data loss.
Currently, methods exist to mirror entire data sets between arrays. If access to a specific data set is disrupted, the mirrored copy may be accessed in its place. Using these methods, however, the host must be reconfigured, either manually or programmatically, to recognize the existence of the data set in a logically different location. Additionally, for various logistical reasons, the host must be prevented from accessing the mirrored data set until it is needed. The process, then, of "failing over" from a non-accessible volume in a primary array to a copy of that volume in a secondary array, generally requires human intervention and may result in temporary loss of access to data. Furthermore, any information cached in the host which has not been written to a disk may be lost, since the host may not be able to retain that cache and apply it to a new logical target. The host simply cannot recognize that the new target is a mirror of the original data set.
Thus, it would be desirable to have an apparatus and method that provide volume failover from one array to another by enhancing the functionality of the arrays, in a manner transparent to the host operating system.

Apparatus and method for enhancing data availability by leveraging primary/backup data storage volumes


An improved system and method for loading records into a partitioned database table is provided. A translation of records may be generated from a set of source partitions to a set of target partitions by generating a bipartite graph, determining a maximal matching using dynamic programming for a chain of nodes remaining in the bipartite graph after removing singleton edges, and generating a maximal matching after adding back the singleton edges for translation of records from the set of source partitions to the set of target partitions. The partition translation may be executed by traversing from top to bottom the set of source partitions and the set of target partitions in record key order to generate an optimal sequence of operations to transfer the records from the set of source partitions to the set of target partitions.

In an ordered distributed database setting, records are stored in partitions, with each partition covering a particular key range. Partitions are each stored on one of many machines. Updating records in such an ordered distributed database may involve several operations. Single record inserts are handled by looking up the partition encompassing the record's key, sending the record to that partition, and inserting it there. In the case that a record insert pushes the partition size beyond a defined limit, the partition may split into two. Global load balancing may additionally shift partitions from machines with many partitions to those with few. In the case record inserts are repeatedly concentrated on some small key range, one or a few partitions receive the inserts, and subsequently execute partitions splits and moves to other machines.
However, using one-at-a-time insertion for a large number of record insertions is a poor solution. Bulk loading of a large number of records to update a large-scale distributed database is significantly more efficient than inserting records one at a time. For instance, a planning phase may identify new partitions that need to be created by splitting partitions for bulk insertion of records, partitions may be moved for global load balancing, and then the records may be inserted into the partitions. A significant challenge for efficient bulk loading of records is to create the new set of partitions from the old while minimizing the number of records written to new disk locations.
What is needed is a way to efficiently perform bulk loading of a large number of records into partitioned data tables while maintaining a balanced load across storage units in a large-scale distributed database. Such a system and method should execute partition translation between existing and new partitions efficiently by minimizing the number of records moved between partitions of data.

System and method for loading records into a partitioned database table


A piloting system including a performance functions server which is linked to all the computers of the piloting system, which hosts all the performance functions of the piloting system and which is able to supply the results of performance functions to at least said computers of the piloting system.

The present invention relates to a system for piloting an aircraft, namely a system that makes it possible to implement various functions making it possible to help the pilot perform the piloting of the aircraft and to keep track of the flight, notably comprising means for performing computations and supervision and for transmitting alerts. This piloting system includes a plurality of computers which use pre-recorded data of aeronautical type and more particularly performance data.
Currently, computers using performance data also host various performance functions.
In the context of the present invention:                performance data is understood to mean tables of data representing parameters of the aircraft (aerodynamics, engines etc.) that are used for a computation of flight mechanics, referred to as performance computation;        performance computation is understood to mean a computation of flight mechanics illustrating the behaviour of the aircraft and using performance data; and        performance functions is understood to mean the set of performance computations and readings of performance data, the results of which directly serve the pilot and/or systems of the aircraft. The information generated by these performance functions, which may be transmitted to user means (or systems), are hereinafter called "performance function results" and represent the results of performance computations and/or the direct restoring of information read in performance data.
It is known that modern aircraft possess many on-board functions using their own performance databases and their own performance computation modules. These performance data and computations are present in various systems, such as flight preparation tools, flight control computers, and systems for example of flight management, of FMS (Flight Management System) type, or of warning, of FWS (Flight Warning System) type.
In the current architecture, each database and each performance computation tool are ideally suited to the function of the aircraft for which they have been developed (complexity, format, development quality or DAL (Design Assurance Level)) in accordance with the aeronautical standard DO-178B), precision).
Due to the way they are constructed the computers hosting these various functions are independent and can therefore be developed and validated independently from each other.
This conventional dispersed and multiple architecture leads to drawbacks where performance functions are concerned, and particularly:                redundancy of data leading to a redundancy of tasks and of tools for the development, validation and delivery of these data.
Indeed, the current architecture presents a redundancy of databases and performance algorithms leading to a large workload for developing, validating and providing these various elements in the desired formats;                redundancy of computations and data on board the aircraft, which can lead to a difference in result for one and the same parameter.
Thus, when preparing a mission, several computation systems can be called on to compute the same parameters under the authority of the crew. However, the databases and the requirements in terms of precision and computation time being different for each of these systems, the development of these parameters is therefore different. This has the consequence of supplying different results for one and the same parameter;                redundancy of performance data and computations leading to a redundancy of development and validation of computers.
Each computer has its own cycle of development and validation. This leads to a redundant phase of validation where performance functions are concerned; and                performance data and computations already existing in a computer but not usable by another, leading to a redevelopment of this same function in this other computer.
When one desires to establish a new function in a given computer (in order to use functions already present in the computer in question), it may be necessary to install it in another computer, due to a lack of remaining available resources. This limitation leads to duplicating or redeveloping a set of underlying functions, present on a saturated computer.

System for piloting an aircraft provided with a performance functions server


A surgical drill for drilling a hole in a workpiece includes a housing, a probe moveably mounted to the housing, and a transducer assembly. The transducer assembly includes a gear coupled to the probe and at least two rotational sensor devices coupled to the gear to determine an amount of movement of a probe relative to a housing to determine a bore depth of the hole. The gear has a reference point having an angular path of rotation about a gear axis subdivided into separate first and second arcuate regions. A first sensor device is configured to detect a rotational position of the reference point in the first arcuate region, and a second sensor device is configured to detect a rotational position of the reference point in at least the second arcuate region, with the first sensor device incapable of detecting the reference point in the second arcuate region.

One type of powered surgical tool, or powered surgical system, used in orthopedic surgery is the surgical drill. This type of tool includes a housing that contains a motor. A coupling assembly, also part of the drill, releasably holds a drill bit to the motor so that, upon actuation of the motor, the drill bit rotates. As implied by its name, a surgical drill drills bores in the workpiece, such as tissue, against which the drill bit is applied. One type of surgical procedure in which it is necessary to drill a bore is a trauma procedure to repair a broken bone. In this type of procedure, an elongated rod, sometimes called a nail, is used to hold the fractured sections of the bone together. To hold the nail in place, one or more bores are driven into the bone. These bores are positioned to align with complementary holes formed in the nail. A screw is inserted in each aligned bore and nail hole. The screws hold the nail in the proper position relative to the bone.
In another type of procedure, an implant, or workpiece, known as a plate is secured to the outer surfaces of the fractured sections of a bone to hold the sections together. Screws hold the plate to the separate sections of bone. To fit a screw that holds a plate to bone it is necessary to first drill a bore to receive the screw.
As part of a procedure used to drill a screw-receiving bore in a bone, it is desirable to know the end-to-end depth of the bore. This information allows the surgeon to select the size of a screw that is fitted in the bore hole. If the screw is too short, the screw may not securely hold the nail into which the screw is inserted in place. If the screw is too long, the screw can extend an excessive distance out beyond the bone. If the screw extends an excessive distance beyond the bone, the exposed end of the screw can rub against the surrounding tissue. If this event occurs, the tissue against which the screw rubs can be damaged.
Accordingly, an integral part of many bone bore-forming procedures is the measuring of the depth of the bore.
This measurement is often taken with a depth gauge separate from the drill. This requires the surgeon, after withdrawing the drill bit from the bore, to insert the depth gauge into the bore. Then, based on tactile feedback, the surgeon sets the gauge so the distal end of the gauge only extends to the far opening of the bore. Once these processes are complete, the surgeon reads the gauge to determine the depth of the bore. This measurement is disadvantageous because it is both labor and time intensive, is reliant upon human element to confirm the measured depth, and may increase the risk of infection and increase the exposure of the patient to anesthesia.
The present disclosure addresses some of these issues.

Powered surgical drill having transducer assembly including at least two rotation sensor devices for use in determining bore depth of a drilled hole


A thermal printer has a thermal head including plural heating elements. The heating elements are arranged in an array in a main scan direction, are driven according to image data, for recording an image to thermosensitive recording paper moved in a sub scan direction. The recording paper has a size smaller in the main scan direction than the thermal head. The thermal printer includes two arrays of photo receptor elements for detecting two lateral edges of the recording paper, to determine effective heating elements in contact with the recording paper among the heating elements. A data correcting unit effects a correcting process to part of the image data for heating elements of a first group included in the effective heating elements. The first group contacts each of the two lateral edges and a near portion near to the lateral edge with reference to the main scan direction in the recording paper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermal printer and thermal printing method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a thermal printer and thermal printing method in which an image can be printed with agreeable quality in a form without a margin or with a very narrow margin.
2. Description Related to the Prior Art
There is a thermal printer including a thermal head in which heating elements are arranged in an array extending in a main scan direction. Recording paper is fed in a sub scan direction perpendicular to the main scan direction, so as to drive the heating elements for thermal recording. There are plural types of the thermal printer, including a thermal transfer recording and direct thermal recording. In the thermal transfer recording, an ink sheet is squeezed between the thermal head and the recording paper and heated to transfer ink from the ink sheet to the recording paper. In the direct thermal recording, a thermosensitive type of the recording paper is used, and has thermosensitive coloring layers for developing colors in response to application of heat.
In any type of the thermal printer, it is preferable to use the full width of the recording paper for printing an image without forming margins. JP-A 9-272217 discloses the thermal printer in which the thermal head including the heating elements has a greater length than the width of the recording paper. The thermal printer is provided with an edge sensor for detecting a lateral edge of the recording paper for preventing the heating elements from overheating specifically in positions outside the lateral edge of the recording paper. Thus, heating elements included in the heating elements and disposed outside the lateral edge is forcibly kept from being driven.
However, there arises a problem in the thermal printer in that coloring density of a printed image decreases toward the lateral edge of the recording paper between portions of the recording paper. The quality of printing an image will be lower because of low fidelity in reproducing the image.
Also, the recording paper may be so disposed or so shaped that one of its lateral edge comes to intersect one of the heating elements without lying on a borderline between two heating elements. The one particular heating element causes an unwanted black streak along the lateral edge, because the coloring density rises extremely in a local manner instead of the gradual decrease in the density.
In view of the foregoing problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a thermal printer and thermal printing method in which the coloring density of a printed image is prevented from having unevenness near a lateral edge of the recording material between portions of the recording material, to raise the quality of printing an image.
In order to achieve the above and other objects and advantages of this invention, a thermal printer has a thermal head including plural heating elements, wherein the heating elements are arranged in an array in a main scan direction, are driven according to image data, for recording an image to recording material moved in a sub scan direction, the recording material having a size smaller in the main scan direction than the thermal head. The thermal printer includes a position determining unit for detecting at least one lateral edge of the recording material, to determine effective heating elements in contact with the recording material among the heating elements. A data correcting unit effects a correcting process to part of the image data for heating elements of a first group included in the effective heating elements, wherein the first group contacts the at least one lateral edge and a near portion near to the at least one lateral edge with reference to the main scan direction in the recording material.
Remaining heating elements included in the heating elements but different from the effective heating elements are supplied with non-printing data by way of the image data, and are kept from being driven.
In a preferred embodiment, the data correcting unit corrects the image data by adding predetermined additional data thereto, the additional data increasing in a heat energy level toward the lateral edge between the heating elements in the first group.
In another preferred embodiment, the first group includes P heating elements, including a first heating element in a middle of which the at least one lateral edge is positioned. Q heating elements are disposed adjacent to a train of the P heating elements. The data correcting unit substitutes non-printing data for part of the image data for the P heating elements, to keep the P heating elements from being driven. The data correcting unit further corrects part of the image data for the Q heating elements by adding predetermined additional data thereto, the additional data increasing in a heat energy level toward the lateral edge between the Q heating elements.
In a preferred embodiment, P=1.
The position determining unit has plural photo receptor elements arranged in an array in the main scan direction and at a pitch equal to or less than a pitch of the plural heating elements, for detecting at least one of first and second lateral edges of the recording material.
Furthermore, a guide member guides the first lateral edge of the recording material in the sub scan direction. A pad mechanism pushes the second lateral edge of the recording material in the main scan direction, to press the first lateral edge against the guide member. The position determining unit detects the second lateral edge.
In a further preferred embodiment, the position determining unit includes first and second arrays of photo receptor elements, disposed to extend in the main scan direction, for detecting the first and second lateral edges of the recording material.
In another preferred embodiment, the plural heating elements characteristically have small resistance according to highness of temperature, and heat is caused to dissipate from the effective heating elements more quickly than from the remaining heating elements by contact with the recording material. Furthermore, a head driver applies a predetermined voltage to the heating elements. The position determining unit further comprises a temperature measurer measures temperature of respectively the heating elements. A heating time measurer measures heating time elapsed while the temperature rises to a predetermined temperature. A determiner compares the heating time between the heating elements, and determines that heating elements of which the heating time is longer are the effective heating elements.
The temperature measurer includes a measurement resistor connected with the heating elements. A voltage detector detects a connection voltage of a connection point between the heating elements and the measurement resistor. The heating time measurer includes a comparator for comparing the connection voltage with a reference voltage. A counter is started counting in response to driving of the heating elements, and is stopped from counting in response to an output of the comparator upon coming of the connection voltage down to the reference voltage.

Thermal printer and thermal printing method


Carbon nanotube apparatus, and methods of carbon nanotube modification, include carbon nanotubes having locally modified properties with the positioning of the modifications being controlled. More specifically, the positioning of nanotubes on a substrate with a deposited substance, and partially vaporizing part of the deposited substance etches the nanotubes. The modifications of the carbon nanotubes determine the electrical properties of the apparatus and applications such as a transistor or Shockley diode. Other applications of the above mentioned apparatus include a nanolaboratory that assists in study of merged quantum states between nanosystems and a macroscopic host system.

1. Field of the Invention
The following description relates, in general, to an apparatus including a carbon nanotube, and a method of modification of a carbon nanotube and, more particularly, to a modification of carbon nanotubes to facilitate use in electrical applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
The structural arrangement of elements, such as carbon, can facilitate the use of the element in varied applications. In nature the element carbon exists in several different configurations, e.g., polycrystalline, graphite, and diamond. In the last two decades, new forms of elemental carbon have been synthesized. One example is the fullerene structure having an arrangement of carbon atoms, i.e., sixty carbon atoms in the shape of soccer balls with diameters of less than ten nanometers.
Another example of a synthesized form of carbon are carbon nanotubes. Material structures such as carbon nanotubes have attracted significant attention in the scientific community due to their unique properties and potential applications. A carbon nanotube can be visualized as a single sheet of graphite atoms that have been rolled to form a cylinder. The electrical properties of the nanotube are dependent in part on a relationship of the ends of the sheet after the rolled sheet is formed.
Chirality is a property of molecular systems in which a mirror image of a system is not symmetrical with itself, e.g., a common hardware screw. In formation of a carbon nanotube, a chiral tube can result when ends of the sheet are displaced. A chiral vector can be used to represent an amount of carbon lattice displacements during a rolling-up of the sheet. The chiral vector represents a dimensional lattice that determines some properties of the carbon nanotube.
While, carbon has been attached to a silicon substrate with gold or other metals, and ohmic contacts have been used between a carbon nanotube and a host material, however, they have not proven effective in a merging of the quantum electronic states of the carbon nanotube with the host material.
To facilitate use of carbon nanotubes, a nanolaboratory and a method to modify nanotubes is desired.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


The following description is directed to a configurable logic platform. In one example, a configurable logic platform includes host logic and a reconfigurable logic region. The reconfigurable logic region can include logic blocks that are configurable to implement application logic. The host logic can be used for encapsulating the reconfigurable logic region. The host logic can include a host interface for communicating with a processor. The host logic can include a management function accessible via the host interface. The management function can be adapted to cause the reconfigurable logic region to be configured with the application logic in response to an authorized request from the host interface. The host logic can include a data path function accessible via the host interface. The data path function can include a layer for formatting data transfers between the host interface and the application logic.

Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) which are available in a remote location and accessible over a network, such as the Internet. In some arrangements, users are able to buy these computing resources (including storage and computing power) as a utility on demand. Cloud computing entrusts remote services with a user's data, software and computation. Use of virtual computing resources can provide a number of advantages including cost advantages and/or the ability to adapt rapidly to changing computing resource needs.
The users of large computer systems may have diverse computing requirements resulting from different use cases. A compute service provider can include various different computer systems having different types of components with varying levels of performance and/or functionality. Thus, a user can select a computer system that can potentially be more efficient at executing a particular task. For example, the compute service provider can provide systems with varying combinations of processing performance, memory performance, storage capacity or performance, and networking capacity or performance. However, some users may desire to use hardware that is proprietary or highly specialized for executing their computing tasks. Thus, the compute service provider can be challenged to provide specialized computing hardware for these users while keeping a healthy mix of generalized resources so that the resources can be efficiently allocated among the different users.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Presented is a hair restraint which is placed on a user's ponytail to assist in keeping the ponytail tangle free during sleep. The device includes a drawstring, a drawstring lock, and may be utilized with a headband which gathers the hair and holds it into a ponytail while the device is attached. The ponytail can be formed in the back of the users head or more towards the top of the user's head to provide less of an obstruction while the user is sleeping.

It is common for people with long hair to spend a considerable amount of time brushing the hair in order to get the tangles out of the hair, and to make the hair attractive and tangle free. The longer a person's hair, the more time this process can take. A problem occurs when a person with long hair goes to bed for the night. The person may have spent a considerable amount of time brushing their hair and they may have put it into a ponytail to minimize the tangling, but merely putting it in a ponytail does not prevent tangling which occurs as the person tosses and turns all night.
To the persons that this may affect, they awake with a head full of tangles in their hair, and must brush their hair out in the morning in order to remove the tangles.
What is needed is a device, and a method for using the device which can be placed over a user's ponytail, and which can be slept on and prevent the hair from tangling during a night of sleep.


A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory sub-array blocks arranged in a row direction, a plurality of sub-word lines which extend in the row direction to connect with the plurality of memory cells, a plurality of sub-word-line drivers, a plurality of sub-word-line level shifters, a first pre-decoded line group which is connected with the respective sub-word-line drivers, a second pre-decoded line group which extends across the memory sub-array block in the row direction and is connected with the sub-word-line level shifters, and a pre-row-decoder which supplies information of a selected cell to the first and second pre-decoded lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and more particularly to a semiconductor memory device having a hierarchical word-line scheme comprising main word-lines and sub-word-lines.
2. Description of the Related Art
Although high integration of a semiconductor memory device, especially, a DRAM has rapidly advanced in recent years, a reduction in word-line rising speed due to an increase in load capacitance at word-line rising involved due to an increase in memory capacity and an increase in current consumption have become a problem.
In general, a word-line rising time is dependent on a wiring resistance of word-lines, a wiring resistance of a load capacitance and a word-line driving current supply circuit, and a load capacitance. For example, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 7-130168, a split decode scheme by which a word-line is divided into a plurality of lines and a current supply word-line driver is provided for each of the divided word-lines is adopted in order to increase the word-line driving speed, and a word-line driving current is supplied to word-line drivers in the same column through at least two signal lines. With such a configuration, since the number of word-line drivers per word-line driving current supply signal is reduced, i.e., since a load capacitance of the word-line driving current supply circuit is reduced, a rising speed of the word-lines is increased, thereby reducing current consumption when driving the word-lines.
Further, as means for reducing a resistance by substantially shortening a word-line length, there is known a DRAM adopting a hierarchical word-line scheme in which one main word-line is divided into a plurality of sub-word-lines and a sub-word-line driver is provided for each of the divided sub-word-lines. More specifically, this is a scheme in which a memory cell array is divided into a plurality of sub-arrays in a word-line direction, a plurality of main word-lines branch out in accordance with each sub-array, and a sub-word-line driver which receives an address signal through the main word-line which is provided for and corresponds to each sub-array selectively drives a plurality of associated sub-word-lines. A driver which drives the sub-word-lines upon receiving addresses from the main word-lines is disclosed in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,755B1, and is a driver which supplies boosted address signals to the sub-word-lines based on address signals of the main word-lines activated by a boosted potential VPP.
In the above-described hierarchical word-line scheme, since the main word-lines branch out to the plurality of sub-word-lines and a desired sub-word-line is selectively driven, the resistance of the word-lines can be reduced, and the word-line selection operation speed can be thereby increased. In such a hierarchical word-line scheme, however, a boosted potential VPP must be supplied to a related driver in order to activate an arbitrary word-line. Consequently, in the case of a semiconductor memory device comprising a boosted potential (VPP) generator or a decoupling capacitor which stabilizes a boosted potential as an internal circuit, a layout area of a charge-pump circuit or the decoupling capacitor constituting the boosted potential generator is increased, leading to an increase in a chip area.
In the semiconductor memory device adopting the hierarchical word-line scheme, therefore, there has been demanded a realization of a semiconductor memory device which can reduce power losses in main word-lines, and reduce the entire chip area by decreasing the area required for an internal boosted potential generator or decoupling capacitor.


In an embodiment, integrated access to the collections and recovery process, including, for example, real estate loan-related aspects, is provided through a single GUI (graphical user interface) on a single workstation. Data and functions from incompatible legacy systems supported by different parties are integrated, such that collections and recovery representatives can access the systems, including mortgage servicing systems, through a single browser-based GUI that may be provided on a desktop access device. Additions and deletions of prior systems and functions may be facilitated through API's, pre-processors, and other functionality. An automated decision engine also may be utilized. Disclosed embodiments may be useful for the financial industry, including banking institutions and other lenders, as well as for entities that interact with the financial industry.

The financial industry is the lifeblood of a free market economy. Financial institutions, such as corporate banks, for example, enable the purchasing power of consumers by extending and/or servicing loans and lease arrangements, for example, entered into by the consumers. In particular, such institutions provide loans to enable consumers to purchase real estate. Under certain circumstances, however, various consumers may not meet their financial obligations under such loans. When a mortgage loan account of a consumer becomes delinquent, for example, it may become necessary for the financial institution to pursue one or more collection and recovery activities.
Collection and recovery efforts may implicate a host of scenarios in addition to delinquency situations. For instance, a consumer may wish to initiate an EFT (electronic funds transfer) payment of an obligation with the financial institution as a regular payment (i.e., a payment that is not made as a past due payment) under a real estate loan arrangement. Furthermore, when a consumer dies, action may need to be taken by the financial institution to preserve the rights of the institution under, for instance, a mortgage arrangement previously executed with the decedent prior to his death.
A variety of narrowly focused computer systems have been developed in the art by different parties to store and/or manage information associated with different, limited aspects of collection and recovery efforts. However, no existing systems cover a substantial portion of the collection and recovery process. Instead, in conventional practice, a collection and recovery agent typically must deal with a multitude of incompatible legacy computer systems. Often the agent must access each of these legacy systems through a variety of different computer systems. In addition, the agent usually must perform a number of burdensome manual tasks in association with collection and recovery efforts without the convenience of computerization and/or automation. It can be seen that the operation of existing systems can increase operational costs and may adversely impact the effectiveness and efficiency of customer service efforts of the financial institution.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that existing systems for performing collections and recovery operations generally are not user-friendly; are inefficient and time-consuming; are not truly paperless or near paperless systems; require redundant data entry; are difficult to administer and modify or enhance; and often are incompatible with other computer systems. Using these existing systems, a financial institution cannot readily achieve an adequate level of customer service in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Consumer risk operations servicing system (CROSS) including real estate implementation


A method and apparatus for checking luminescent value documents, in particular bank notes, with a luminescence sensor. The value document to be checked is irradiated to excite luminescence radiation, and the luminescence radiation emanating from the value document is detected with spectral resolution. Since the value document to be checked is transported past the luminescence sensor in the transport direction and is illuminated with an illumination area which extends in the transport direction, an effective measurement is possible even of value documents that emit very little luminescence radiation.

Such luminescent value documents can be e.g. bank notes, checks, coupons or chip cards. Although not restricted thereto, the present invention deals primarily with the check of bank notes. The latter typically contain in the paper or printing ink a feature substance or a mixture of a plurality of feature substances that show luminescence behavior, e.g. that fluoresce or phosphoresce.
There are a number of known systems for checking the authenticity of such value documents. One system is known for example from DE 23 66 274 C2. In this system, to check the authenticity of a bank note, i.e. check specifically whether a fluorescent feature substance is actually present in a bank note to be checked, the latter is irradiated obliquely and the perpendicularly remitted fluorescence radiation detected with spectral resolution using an interference filter. Evaluation is done by comparing the signals from different photocells of the spectrometer.
This system works very reliably in most cases. However, there is a need for a luminescence sensor that has a more compact construction and can still check reliably enough at very low intensities of the luminescence radiation to be detected.

Device and method for verifying value documents


A family of vehicle cover sections is disclosed, including at least one first cover section comprising a flexible material at least two second cover sections comprising a flexible material. One of the at least two second cover sections is non-permanently connectable to the at least one first cover section to form therewith a first vehicle cover configured to generally fit the contour of at least an upper portion of a first vehicle having a first configuration. Another of the at least two second cover sections is non-permanently connectable to the at least one first cover section to form therewith a second vehicle cover configured to generally fit the contour of at least the upper portion of a second vehicle having a second configuration, the second vehicle cover being removably attachable to the second vehicle. A method of forming a vehicle cover and a cover formed by the method are also disclosed.

Certain vehicles, for example recreational vehicles, are normally covered with protective covers during storage or when they are being towed by a vehicle. The covers provide protection against the elements of nature, such as protecting the colors from fading in the sunlight. The protective covers also keeps snow and dirt thrown from the towing vehicle from contacting the vehicle to prevent surface damage and corrosion of the metal parts.
Accordingly, many different types of covers for recreational vehicles are known, all of which generally provide protection for the vehicle during transportation or storage thereof. Conventionally, covers are designed to snugly fit over the particular vehicle to be covered. Each cover is designed for one vehicle design and thus either does not fit, or provides less protection when placed over another vehicle of different design, even when the two vehicles have similar designs.
Soft, lightweight covers are often used as they can easily be folded up and stored away when not in use. Such conventional covers generally comprise a large upper portion made of a nylon or similarly weatherproof material which is sized and fitted to slide overtop of the entire upper body portion of the vehicle. In the example of a snowmobile, the cover generally covers the forward fairings of the external shell and the seat portion. Typically, the wheels or skis and track of the vehicle are left uncovered by this type of cover, however the cover may alternatively cover one or more of these. A system of straps or attachments were used to keep the cover from blowing off the vehicle.
In some instances, the difference between two vehicle designs is the rear portion of the seat. For example, a first snowmobile could be designed for trail riding with a short seat designed to accommodate the driver alone. A second snowmobile could also be designed for trail riding but have an extended seat with a back rest designed to accommodate a driver and one or more passengers. The front portions of the snowmobiles are substantially the same, as well as the driver's area; they differ toward the rear of the vehicle only. As a result, two separate covers had to be manufactured and stocked in order to have at least one cover for each vehicle readily available. If either the manufacturer or the retailer wishes to have each cover available in different colours, or with optional features such as a vent, the problem is further exacerbated.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/671,694, filed Feb. 6, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, discloses a family of snowmobiles having engine compartments with the same configuration but tunnels of different widths. Therefore, these two snowmobiles with different tunnel widths each require a complete cover, separately designed to fit the contour of both the engine compartment and the tunnel portion of the respective snowmobile, even though their engine compartments have the same shape.
Other recreational vehicles, including ATVs or three-wheeled motorized vehicles such as the Spyder™ three-wheeled vehicle marketed by Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., may present the same problem. For example, a particular model of ATV or three-wheeled motorized vehicle may have a modular component rearward of the driver's seat that can accommodate either a passenger seat or a cargo rack. In each of the two configurations, the vehicle will require a separate cover designed to snugly fit the particular modular rear component.
As can be seen, manufacturers have to produce multiple covers corresponding to each model of vehicle in each of its available configurations, and dealers have had to maintain an inventory of the multiple covers, in order to have an appropriate cover readily available for purchase regardless of the particular vehicle configuration owned by the consumer. A vehicle cover requires a significant amount of material and occupies a significant amount of space even when folded for storage, and an entire cover must be manufactured and stored even when its shape differs from another cover in only one small part. Thus, while these multiple vehicle covers protect the vehicles and are convenient for the vehicle owner, the multiple required designs result in an increase in manufacturing costs and storage costs.
Therefore, there is a need for a vehicle cover having reduced manufacturing cost and occupying reduced storage space.


A combination interchangeable cat house and scratch post and includes an interchangeable housing member which is preferably removably attached to a platform which is supported by a base and at least one post member. The housing member is preferably removably attached to the platform member by conventional devices such as clamps. A step member is removably attached to the post member. The step member preferably includes a sitting portion which is associated with a support portion. Preferably, carpet is provided around the post member and base member to allow such to act as a scratch post for the cat. Cat toys, such as catnip, can be hung from the platform member or housing member by conventional devices to utilize the step member as a play area for the cat. A second post member and coupling member can be provided to allow the vertical height of the interchangeable cat house to set to either one of two positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to houses or shelters for animals, and particularly to a combination interchangeable cat house and scratch post.
2. Description of the Background Art
Various devices for animals, such as cats, can currently be purchased from pet stores or other retail stores having animal sections. With respect to cats, a separate cat house, separate scratch post and separate food tray are normally purchased.
Typical cat houses currently available are flimsy and not interchangeable and often are constructed from relatively thin cardboard.
As the individual items are separate, a relatively large amount of space in the house or apartment is dedicated to cat items. Additionally, conventional cat houses, normally being free standing structures, are not interchangeable. Thus, if the cat owner changes the decor of the room in which the cat house is disposed, the design and aesthetic features of the cat house may no longer match the new decor.
Thus, what is needed in the art is a combination interchangeable cat house which also provides a scratch post and play area for a cat. Furthermore, the device can also include an area for cat food and water. It is therefore to the effective resolution of the foregoing problems in the prior art that the present invention is directed.


There is provided a technique in which such a configuration as to include storage apparatuses on a plurality of sites can reduce a burden of operation/management of backup of data stored in the storage apparatuses. The configuration includes a information processing system on each site to be a backup target, and an information processing system for executing a backup process. Through control of a management server and a process for a backup server at a backup execution point, backup data of the data stored in the storage apparatus of the information processing system is converged into the storage apparatuses of the information processing systems by a process using a remote copying function and stored in the backup device. Then, instructions are given from the management server to the respective sites with synchronized timing, and convergence and storage of said backup data are executed by obtaining a temporal synchronization.

The invention relates to a storage system (or an information processing system), which is broadly configured as so to include a storage apparatus (also referred to as "disk array subsystem") controlling memory of data with respect to a memory area in a memory unit and, more specifically, to a technique for backing up data stored in the storage apparatus.
In a conventional configuration as a storage system, an information processing system configured so as to include a storage apparatus has been provided for each of a plurality of remotely spotted sites. In the respective information processing systems, an access for an input/output of data is made to a storage apparatus from a host device such as a business server, whereby the data is stored in a storage volume in the storage apparatus. The business server performs online businesses while storing data in the storage apparatus. The data stored in the storage apparatus of each information processing system may be associated with each other in some cases. As an example, such a storage system includes a storage system which has an information processing system in a headquarters of an enterprise and information processing systems provided in respective divisions remotely located therefrom. In the above storage system, the information processing system of each site backs up data stored in the storage volume of the storage apparatus.
In this case, conventionally, a backup system is provided for each of the information processing systems on the remotely spotted sites, and the data stored in the storage apparatus is backed up by the respective backup systems. For example, in an information processing system on a site such as a computer system of an intra-enterprise LAN (Local Area Network), there are provided a backup server for backing up data stored in a recording medium, and a backup unit for storing the backed up data in a storage apparatus in accordance with the backup process. A manager responsible for backup management in the backup systems, such as a system administrator of the information processing system, sets up the backup process. The backup system executes the backup process with backup executing timing based on the above settings etc.


The invention relates to a resin black matrix for liquid crystal display device wherein the black matrix for liquid crystal display device contains dispersed light shading agents, wherein the chromaticity coordinates (x, y) in the XYZ color system of the transmitted and/or reflected light from source C or source F10 relative to the chromaticity coordinates (x.sub.o, y.sub.o) of said light source is in the relation of (x-x.sub.o).sup.2 +(y-y.sub.o).sup.2 .ltoreq.0.01, and also relates to a resin black matrix for liquid crystal display device wherein the black matrix for liquid crystal display device contains dispersed light shading agents and is provided with a backlighting source, wherein the chromaticity coordinates (x, y) in the XYZ color system of the light that is transmitted through the resin black matrix from said backlighting source relative to the chromaticity coordinates (x.sub.o, y.sub.o) of said light source is in the relation of (x-x.sub.o).sup.2 +(y-y.sub.o).sup.2 .ltoreq.0.01.. The present invention provides a method wherein the chromaticity coordinates are maintained in a specific range as described above to produce a color filter for liquid crystal display device that has good color characteristics, said color filter serving to produce display devices with high displaying quality.

Generally, a color filter for liquid crystal display consists of a large number of color triplets, each made up of three color pixels (red, green, and blue), formed on a transparent substrate. To enhance the contrast of the display, these pixels are distributed with specific intervals over a light-shielding region, which is called the black matrix because of its color on the screen.
Most of the conventional color filters use a black matrix produced by the photolithography, and comprise a thin metal film with a fine pattern. The metals used for such black matrices include Cr, Ni, and Al, and the methods used for producing them include such vacuum film forming methods as sputtering and vacuum deposition. To form a fine pattern, the photolithography is used in most cases to form a pattern on photoresist, and this photoresist pattern is then used as etching mask to etch thin metal film. The thin metal film produced by this process has the same fine pattern as that on the photoresist.
The methods for producing pixels include the dyeing of a dyeable medium formed by the photolithography, the use of a photosensitive composition consisting of dispersed pigment, the etching of non-photosensitive composition consisting of dispersed pigment, and the electrodeposition of pigment onto a patterned electrode, as well as such low-cost methods as the formation of colored portions by ink jet or other printers.

Resin black matrix for liquid crystal display device