A system, method and computer program product for testing scanner updates. Initially, a full-release scanner update is distributed from a server to a plurality of computers utilizing a network. A pre-release scanner update is also distributed from the server to the computers utilizing the network. The full-release scanner update is executed on the computers for security scanning. Further, the pre-release scanner update is executed on the computers for testing purposes. Results of the testing are transmitted from the computers to the server utilizing the network.

The generation and spread of computer viruses is a major problem in modern day computing. Generally, a computer virus is a program that is capable of attaching to other programs or sets of computer instructions, replicating itself, and performing unsolicited or malicious actions on a computer system. Generally, computer viruses are designed to spread by attaching to floppy disks or data transmissions between computer users, and are designed to do damage while remaining undetected. The damage done by computer viruses may range from mild interference with a program, such as the display of an unwanted political message in a dialog box, to the complete destruction of data on a user's hard drive. It is estimated that new viruses are created at a rate of over 100 per month.
A variety of programs have been developed to detect and destroy computer viruses. As is known in the art, a common method of detecting viruses is to use a virus scanning engine to scan for known computer viruses in executable files, application macro files, disk boot sectors, etc. Generally, computer viruses are comprised of binary sequences called "virus signatures." Upon the detection or a virus signature by the virus scanning engine, a virus disinfection program may then be used to extract the harmful information from the infected code, thereby disinfecting that code. Common virus scanning software allows for boot-sector scanning upon system bootup, on-demand scanning at the explicit request of the user, and/or on-access scanning of a file when that file is accessed by the operating system or an application.
In order to detect computer viruses, a virus scanning engine is generally provided in conjunction with one or more files called "virus signature files". The virus scanning engine scans a user's computer files via a serial comparison of each file against the virus signature files. Importantly, if the signature of a certain virus is not contained in any of the virus signature files, that virus will not be detected by the virus scanning engine.
Generally speaking, a recent trend is for manufacturers of antivirus applications to update their virus signature files as new viruses are discovered and as cures for these viruses are developed, and to make these updated signature files available to users on a periodic basis (e.g. monthly, quarterly, etc.). For example, an antivirus program manufacturer may post the update file on a bulletin board system, on an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) site, or on a World Wide Web site for downloading by users.
Updates to antivirus applications often must be developed and tested in short time cycles so that customers can be protected for new virus threats. Antivirus applications also must operate as part of an operating system, so the quality of antivirus applications must be high to prevent system failure.
As a result of the rapid nature of development of antivirus application updates, and the wide scale distribution via the Internet, current-testing procedures do not always ensure stability. Unfortunately, various problems can occur when antivirus applications or signature files are updated, i.e. system hangs, system crashes and false alarms (i.e. detecting viruses when no virus exists).

Security and software testing of pre-release anti-virus updates on client and transmitting the results to the server


The present invention provides a multi-chip package system that includes: providing a package substrate; attaching a base semiconductor die to the package substrate; connecting an interconnect between the base semiconductor die and the package substrate; and encapsulating at least portions of the package substrate, the base semiconductor die, and the interconnect with an encapsulant defining a support protrusion adjacent to the interconnect and substantially perpendicular to the package substrate, a cavity bounded by the support protrusion, and a gap linking the cavity to the edge of the encapsulant.

As new generations of electrical consumer products are developed, there is a growing need for miniaturization of components, integration of several system functions within a component, and improvement of component performance and reliability. For example, thin semiconductor packages have enabled the implementation of consumer products with lower profiles such as ultra-thin cell phones, displays, and laptop computers. Similarly, integration of electronic components within a single package has increased the performance cell phones and computers.
Advances in semiconductor package technology continue to enable miniaturization, greater system integration, and greater reliability while reducing the overall cost of consumer devices. These trends have resulted in a requirement for increased circuit density and have led to the development of multi-chip packages incorporating more than one semiconductor die.
A single-chip package provides mechanical support for an individual semiconductor die and one or more layers of interconnect lines that enable the integrated circuits to be connected electrically to surrounding circuitry within separate semiconductor dies.
Current multi-chip packages, also commonly referred to as multi-chip modules, typically consist of a PCB substrate onto which a set of separate semiconductor dies is directly attached. The reliable implementation of multi-chip packages may be impacted when several semiconductor dies are arranged vertically or horizontally in the package because one critical defect induces a complete package failure, which is costly.
Moreover, vertically stacked semiconductor dies in typical multi-chip packages can present problems beyond those of horizontally arranged integrated circuit packages, further complicating the manufacturing process. It is more difficult to test and thus determine the actual failure mode of the individual semiconductor die. Moreover individual semiconductor dies are often damaged during assembly or testing, complicating the manufacturing process and increasing costs, since a single semiconductor die or interconnect defect results in the failure of the entire multi-chip package.
Thus, a need still remains for a means for creating multi-chip package systems incorporating several semiconductor dies that can be assembled using pre-tested modules, also known as Known Good Packages (KGP). Moreover, these package modules must also have a robust design and construction to withstand stresses and temperature cycles used for the assembly of the multi-chip package.
In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations and the diminishing opportunities for meaningful product differentiation in the marketplace, it is critical that answers be found for these problems. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures, adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Multi-chip package system incorporating an internal stacking module with support protrusions


A liquid crystal display device includes a viewing side circularly polarizing member provided outside the viewing side substrate. The viewing side circularly polarizing member includes a linearly polarizing plate and a retardation plate. The absorption axis of the linearly polarizing plate is at an angle θ1 of −25° and the slow axis of the retardation plate being at an angle θ2 of +20° with respect to a 0° horizontal direction of the viewing side circularly polarizing member in plan view assuming the counterclockwise rotation in plan view is positive.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and an electronic apparatus, and more particularly, to the structure of a vertical-alignment-type liquid crystal display device.
2. Related Art
A transflective liquid crystal display device having both a reflective mode and a transmissive mode has been known as an example of a liquid crystal display device. However, such a liquid crystal display device has a problem in that the viewing angle is narrow in transmissive display. That is, if a transflective plate is provided on the inner surface of a liquid crystal cell to prevent the generation of parallax, then reflective display should be performed using only one polarizing plate provided at the observer side. However, this restricts the degree of freedom of the optical design. In order to solve this problem, liquid crystal display devices using homeotropic liquid crystal have been disclosed in the following documents: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-350853, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-40428, and "Development of transflective LCD for high contrast and wide viewing angle by using homeotropic alignment", M. Jisaki et al., Asia Display/IDW′01, pp. 133–136 (2001).
A vertical-alignment-type liquid crystal display device is a liquid crystal display device adopting a 'VA (Vertical Alignment) mode'. That is, the liquid crystal molecules have a negative dielectric anisotropy and so are vertically aligned with respect to a substrate when no voltage is applied and are inclined when a voltage is applied. In the liquid crystal display device disclosed in these documents, a transmissive display region is formed, for example, in a regular octagon shape, and a projection is provided at the center of each transmissive display region on a counter electrode to incline the liquid crystal molecules in the eight directions. This is called an 'alignment division structure' and enables the viewing angle to be widened.
Of course, in the above-mentioned documents, in order to allow circularly polarized light to be incident on a liquid crystal layer, a circular polarizing plate formed by combining a linearly polarizing plate with a quarter-wave plate (retardation plate) is provided on the outer surface of a substrate. The characteristics of the circularly polarizing plate have a great effect on the viewing angle characteristic. However, the above-mentioned documents do not describe the detailed structure of the circularly polarizing plate and have a problem in that contrast may be lowered in accordance with the viewing angle. That is, since the circularly polarizing plate allows circularly polarized light to be incident on the liquid crystal layer, it is possible to obtain normal display regardless of which direction the circularly polarizing plate faces. However, since a user views an image through the linearly polarizing plate, the contrast depends on the viewing angle. When viewing a display device, it is necessary that the contrast characteristic be particularly symmetric in the horizontal direction. Thus, it is desirable to realize a liquid crystal display device having such a viewing angle characteristic. The transflective liquid crystal display device has been given as an example in the above statement. However, the above-mentioned problems can arise in a transmissive liquid crystal display device as well as a transflective liquid crystal display device.

Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus


The invention relates to a system and a method of identifying and managing IT assets that aggregates fields and their associated values from multiple event log data sources that share one or more common IT asset identifiers and leverages a prioritization approach to determine the most appropriate values for each of the fields. The system utilizes two inputs, namely event log data source inputs and prioritization inputs. Through aggregation of data from different input data sources, the system pieces together a more comprehensive record of field values for a given IT asset, to generate in real-time the updated asset inventory output.

Knowing and understanding information technology (IT) assets, their use and ownership is critical for information security teams; such that the information that is processed by them can be protected and risk exposure reduced. However, IT assets are in a constant state of flux, making the task of keeping such information current and up-to-date extremely challenging. Even the best IT asset management solutions have a degree of inaccuracy and are often infrequently or manually updated, may have data gaps or inaccuracies, or are simply missing information about certain assets. There is therefore a need to update such information whenever practical, and in real-time, where possible. With the rise of Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT), there are an ever-increasing number of real-time, event based, log data sources generated by computer systems on our networks and many of these event log data sources contain data directly related to the IT assets on the network. This event log data can be utilized for updating such information in real-time, thus providing great insight about specific IT assets.
Event log based data sources often contain some fields and associated values specific to IT assets but they do not always have the same data. For example, an event log generated by one computer system might contain an IP address and user name field for a given asset, while another event log generated by a different computer system might contain a Media Access Control (MAC) address and a location for a given IT asset. It is therefore desirable to use a computing system to aggregate and correlate information from many different event log data sources at scale. This aggregated data then may be used to build an accurate inventory of IT assets.
However, when all this event log information is aggregated, we often end up with competing or conflicting field values pertaining to specific assets, depending on the data set. For example, we might have two different IP addresses for a particular IT asset. Additionally, some event log data sources may contain fields and values that other data sources do not. The resolution of these conflicts, and the correlation and aggregation of data from such imperfect data sources, will often need to be resolved manually, which would defeat the purpose of using a computing system to aggregate and correlate information from many different event log data sources at scale.
The forgoing creates challenges and constraints for providing a computing system and a method that can update records about an IT asset, in particular, to automate as much as possible the correlation and aggregation of data from such imperfect data sources, and in real-time, without introducing conflicts and data of less desirable quality into the system and without much manual intervention. Thus, there is a need for an improved computing system and a method as compared to the existing art. It is an object of the present invention to mitigate or obviate at least one of the above mentioned disadvantages.

System for aggregation and prioritization of IT asset field values from real-time event logs and method thereof


A hydraulic cylinder includes a piston that defines a driving pressure chamber and a cushion pressure chamber within a cylinder tube, an air chamber defined inside a hollow piston rod, an orifice that leads a working fluid in the cushion pressure chamber into the air chamber when the cushion pressure chamber contracts during an extension operation, a check valve that returns a working fluid in the air chamber to the driving pressure chamber when a differential pressure between the air chamber and the driving pressure chamber rises to or above a predetermined value, and a valve housing that houses the check valve. A throttle gap is defined between an outer peripheral surface of the valve housing and an inner peripheral surface of the piston rod, and a working fluid ejected from the orifice during the extension operation flows into the air chamber through the throttle gap.

In a typical direct acting hydraulic cylinder (lift cylinder) that is provided in a forklift in order to lift a load, a cushion pressure is generated in the vicinity of a stroke end to absorb an impact occurring when the hydraulic cylinder becomes fully extended and stops.
JP9-317717A, JP2000-2207A, and JP2003-21113A respectively disclose conventional hydraulic cylinders of this type. In these hydraulic cylinders, an air chamber is defined inside a piston rod having a hollow structure, and working oil in a cushion pressure chamber that contracts during an extension operation flows into the air chamber through an orifice.


An apparatus and methods are disclosed for enabling multiple telecommunications terminals that are associated with a common user to notify their user of the arrival of an incoming message via a ringtone, where the ringtone is: (i) coordinated across the terminals, and (ii) customized for each terminal based on one or more attributes of the terminal. In particular, in the illustrative embodiments a network infrastructure element (e.g., a switch, a wireless base station, a server, etc.) that receives a message directed to a telecommunications terminal sets the values of one or more properties of a ringtone (e.g., tempo, timbre, pitch, rhythm, etc.) based on one or more attributes of the telecommunications terminal (e.g., terminal type, etc.).

FIG. 1 depicts telecommunications system 100 that comprises telecommunications terminals 105-j (e.g., a wireless telephone, a laptop computer with softphone capability, etc.), for j=1 to 2, and network 120 (e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN], a cellular wireless network, a wireless local-area network, etc.) in the prior art. Telecommunications terminal 105-j is capable of receiving messages (e.g., incoming voice call notifications, email messages, Short Message Service [SMS] messages, Multimedia Message Service [MMS] messages, Instant Messaging [IM] messages, etc.) that originate from other telecommunications terminals via network 120.
When telecommunications terminal 105-j receives a message, it notifies its user of the message's arrival—or of the associated incoming call if one is occurring—by playing a "ringtone" (e.g., a tune, a series of beeps, etc.) via speaker 110-j; by displaying visual information (e.g., text, an image, etc.) via display 111-j (if present); or by vibrating the terminal via vibration mechanism 112-j (if present), alone or in combination. Telecommunications terminal 105-j might play a particular ringtone for all incoming messages, or a ringtone that is associated with a category of callers (e.g., a ringtone for business contacts, a ringtone for friends, a ringtone for family members, etc.), or a ringtone that is associated with an individual caller, etc. Similarly, telecommunications terminals 105-1 and 105-2 might display a text message (e.g., "Incoming Call", "Incoming Call: Mom", "Incoming Call: 212-555-1234", etc.) or an image (e.g., an animated icon of a ringing telephone, a photo of the caller, etc.), or both, to indicate that there is an incoming message.
FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative block diagram of the salient components of network 120 in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 2, network 120 comprises a plurality of network infrastructure elements 201-i for i=1 to 4, interconnected as shown. Each network infrastructure element 201-i might be a switch, a private branch exchange (PBX), a wireless base station, a wireless switching center, a server, etc., depending on the type and topology of network 120. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, although all network infrastructure elements are denoted by the same prefix 201, element 201-1 might be a switch, while element 201-2 might be a wireless base station, etc. Similarly, the fact that network 120 has four elements 201 in FIG. 2 is merely illustrative; network 120 might have fewer elements or a greater number of elements than that depicted.


A mix and match framing system comprising a frame adapted to receive artwork, such as a mirror, painting, print or the like therein. The frame includes a ledge or ridge against which the artwork abuts and swivelled closure members at spaced locations on the back of the frame for securing the artwork in place. The system also includes spacing elements that may be used to compensate for differences in thickness of the artwork.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to framing systems; and, more particularly, to framing systems adapted to accommodate differing types of artwork.
2. Related Art
Frames for framing artwork are well known. Generally, if one wanted to frame a particular work of art, one had to select a particular frame that might not be suitable for another type of artwork. There is a need for a framing system that includes closure members for holding the artwork in position within the frame, spacer means for compensating for the difference in thicknesses of particular types of artwork and closure members fixed to the frame for securing the artwork within the frame.


A balloon catheter may be provided with multiple balloons. At least one of the balloons may include at least one blade. The multiple balloons may be inflated by a common inflation lumen, or by separate inflation lumens. In some embodiments, a predilation balloon may be provided to predilate a lesion prior to placement of a bladed balloon within the lesion.

This invention relates generally to balloon catheters, which are known in the art, and more specifically to balloon catheters which may be provided with cutting blades.
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a procedure which is well established for the treatment of blockages in the coronary and peripheral arteries.
The most widely used form of percutaneous angioplasty makes use of a dilatation balloon catheter. The provision of cutting blades upon the balloon catheter facilitates cutting and dilation of stenoses. An example of a balloon catheter with a cutting edge is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,149, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The length of a balloon which includes blades may be limited because the blades are often more rigid than the balloon and/or catheter and therefore not as flexible in bending. A long balloon which has blades may be more difficult to maneuver through a tortuous anatomy than a nonbladed balloon or a shorter bladed balloon. When treating a fairly long region of stenosis using a bladed balloon, the balloon may be required to be deflated, repositioned and reinflated multiple times. It would be desirable to have a bladed balloon catheter capable of treating long areas of stenosis with minimal repositioning. Further, a catheter having a long balloon will generally straighten along its length when inflated. It would be desirable for a bladed balloon catheter to substantially follow vessel contour when inflated. It would further be desirable for a bladed balloon catheter to follow vessel contour when deflated to aid in traversing a tortuous anatomy and positioning the balloon at a lesion site.
Bladed balloons generally have a larger uninflated diameter than an equivalently sized nonbladed balloon. In some cases of stenosis, it may be more difficult to position a bladed balloon within the stenosis prior to inflation than an equivalently sized nonbladed balloon. In some cases, a bladed balloon in an uninflated state may be too large to fit into an area of stenosis, thus requiring a nonbladed balloon to be used. It would be desirable to provide a mechanism to predilate a lesion a predetermined amount immediately prior to the positioning of a bladed balloon within the lesion.
All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.
A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.


An anode active material for a lithium-ion battery with greatly reduced recharging time includes SiO particles, graphite particles, and a carbon coating layer. The graphite particles and SiO particles are processed to form spherical SiO/graphite composite particles. A layer of carbon coating is applied to the surface of the SiO/graphite composite particle and the resulting anode active material resembles a pomegranate structure.

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are widely used in portable devices and electric vehicles. Compared with lead-acid batteries and nickel-metal-hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries exhibit high energy density, no memory effect, and a slow rate of self-discharge. Thus lithium-ion batteries are widely used for energy storage.
Fast-charging technology of batteries is also desirable, which enables the batteries back for reuse in few minutes after they run out of power. The charging rate can be optimized by altering active materials, electrodes, and cells. The most usual method is to reduce the size of active materials to shorten the diffusion path of ions and electrons and to increase the surface areas for charge transfer. Current lithium-ion batteries generally use graphite as the anode active material. However, the employment of small graphite particles to improve the charging rate is often at the cost of lowering the capacity and the energy density. On the other hand, silicon (Si) is a promising candidate of anode active material due to its high theoretical capacity of 4200 mAh/g, which is more than ten times that of graphite. Even though Si and its oxide silicon monoxide (SiO) are effective to improve the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, the poor conductivity of Si and SiO limited their applications as active materials to construct faster-charging lithium-ion batteries.
Thus, there is still room for improvement within the art.

Anode active material and anode for lithium-ion battery, method for preparing the anode active material, and lithium-ion battery


Embodiments of the present invention provide a surgical cassette with compliant clamping zones to provide more uniform loading. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a surgical cassette includes a clamping portion that is configured to deform to conform to non-uniform load profile applied to the cassette. The clamping portion can include ribs that are sized and made of a suitable material such that the ribs will deflect predictably in the elastic region and flow plastically when the material yield point is exceeded. The use of ribs creates discrete small load areas that will deflect and distort predictably and non-catastrophically at high loads. This allows for the absorption of accumulated tolerances between the clamping mechanism and cassette (e.g., the non-parallelism between the clamping mechanism and cassette) while still providing a distributed load on the cassette.

The human eye can suffer a number of maladies causing mild deterioration to complete loss of vision. While contact lenses and eyeglasses can compensate for some ailments, ophthalmic surgery is required for others. Generally, ophthalmic surgery is classified into posterior segment procedures, such as vitreoretinal surgery, and anterior segment procedures, such as cataract surgery. More recently, combined anterior and posterior segment procedures have been developed.
The surgical instrumentation used for ophthalmic surgery can be specialized for anterior segment procedures or posterior segment procedures or support both. In any case, the surgical instrumentation often requires the use of associated consumables such as surgical cassettes, fluid bags, tubing, hand piece tips and other consumables.
A surgical cassette can provide a variety of functions depending on the procedure and surgical instrumentation. For example, surgical cassettes for cataract surgeries (e.g., phacoemulsification procedures) help manage irrigation and aspiration flows into and out of a surgical site. Surgical cassettes can also provide support for fluid bags, a manifold for directing vacuum/pressure to surgical instrumentation, and other functionality.
Cassettes are generally coupled to the surgical instrumentation at a cassette receiving site. When the cassette is inserted into the cassette receiver, a clamp closes on the cassette to hold the cassette in place. During operation, the surgical cassette can experience a significant amount of force in the clamping area. This force can be the result of the clamps counteracting a force applied by a peristaltic pump pushing near the center of the cassette or other forces.
Often the force in the clamping zone of a cassette is not evenly distributed. This can be the result of differences in dimensional tolerances between the clamp and the cassette or other factors that cause the clamp and cassette to be non-parallel. The uneven distribution of force can cause the clamping zone of the cassette to fail, potentially inflicting catastrophic damage on the cassette itself.
Therefore, a need exists for a surgical cassette that distributes uneven loading to prevent failure.

Surgical cassette with compliant clamping zone


Methods, systems, and devices for event management for memory devices are described. A memory system may include a frontend (FE) queue and a backend (BE). Each queue may include an interface that can be operated in an interrupt mode or a polling mode based on certain metrics. For example, the interface associated with the FE queue may be operated in a polling mode or an interrupt mode based on whether a quantity of commands being executed on one or more memory devices of the memory system satisfies a threshold value. Additionally or alternatively, the interface associated with the BE queue may be operated in a polling mode or an interrupt mode based on whether a quantity of active logical block addresses (LBAs) associated with one or more operations being executed on one or more memory devices of the memory system satisfies a threshold value.

Memory devices are widely used to store information in various electronic devices such as computers, wireless communication devices, cameras, digital displays, and the like. Information is stored by programing memory cells within a memory device to various states. For example, binary memory cells may be programmed to one of two supported states, often corresponding to a logic 1 or a logic 0. In some examples, a single memory cell may support more than two possible states, any one of which may be stored by the memory cell. To access information stored by a memory device, a component may read, or sense, the state of one or more memory cells within the memory device. To store information, a component may write, or program, one or more memory cells within the memory device to corresponding states.
Various types of memory devices exist, including magnetic hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), flash memory, phase change memory (PCM), 3-dimensional cross-point memory (3D cross point), not-or (NOR), and not-and (NAND) memory devices, and others. Memory devices may be volatile or non-volatile. Volatile memory cells (e.g., DRAM cells) may lose their programmed states over time unless they are periodically refreshed by an external power source. Non-volatile memory cells (e.g., NAND memory cells) may maintain their programmed states for extended periods of time even in the absence of an external power source.

Interrupt mode or polling mode for memory devices


A powertrain having a torque converter, friction input shifting clutches and shared driving gears has an axially compact design, packages a transmission pump between the torque converter and a clutch hub and achieves seven forward speed ratios utilizing four back-to-back synchronizers.

Dual clutch transmissions (DCTs) have been designed with friction launch clutches that connect the output of a torque converter to a lay shaft transmission. Dual clutch transmissions are known for their sporty, performance-oriented characteristics. Dual clutch transmissions typically exhibit good fuel economy due to good gear mesh efficiency and ratio selection flexibility. Synchronizers are typically used to engage gears with the countershafts to complete power flow from the engaged input clutch to an output shaft. The synchronizers have low spin losses; thus, overall operating efficiency is enhanced. However, dual clutch transmissions have some specific design considerations. For example, due to the high heat that can be generated during slip, the shifting clutches must be of a relatively large size. Shudder and oil life durability must also be addressed. Furthermore, cooling circuits for the friction shifting clutches are typically relatively complex due to the heat dissipation requirements of these large clutches. Finally, because lay shaft or countershaft transmissions typically have many sets of axially-aligned, intermeshing gears, the overall axial length of countershaft transmissions may limit there use in some vehicle designs.

Powertrain with torque converter and axially compact seven speed dual clutch transmission


A power generating and floating plant (100) over a natural river, a man-made canal or similar for the generation of electricity that comprises: a floating platform (102) of the Catamaran type with pontoons (112) that speed up the flow rate (300) entering into a turbine; a metal grill (113) between said pontoons (112) before the turbine; at least one turbine with a central shaft (103), wherein said turbine comprises a water wheel (101) with curved vanes (410) and at least two supporting disks (400), where said curved vanes (410) rest, and where said supporting disks (400) comprise a plurality of radial and concentric holes (402); and a low-engine speed, permanent magnet generator (105).

The use of potential or kinetic power from water in order to provide driving force and more specifically electric energy is widely known.
There is a number of water resources, such as irrigation canals, feeding or discharge canals to and from industrial rotary machines or hydraulic power plants, brooks, rivers, lakes or estuaries with sufficient flow rate to produce electric power.
For many years, treadmills or waterwheels have been widely used to obtain energy from the moving water and to turn stone wheels or industrial machinery and some small electric generators in a relatively simple, low-cost way.
In the previous art, different patent applications have been found that describe turbines to use the flow rate of rivers or canals, such as the publication of the international patent application N° WO 2004/020822. This document describes a hydroelectric power plant installed in the central part of a river, so that to use the higher speed and power of the rivers, as well as its depth. The flow rate is increased by flow controllers or guides, where a turbine with blades is installed in the lower end. Upstream the turbine, a three-part dam is installed, wherein especially the first part of the dam is installed in the lower part of the flow controllers, and the second and third parts of the dam are installed over the supporting bracket of the dam with the float. As long the level of water increases or decreases, the float rises or lowers down the second and third parts of the dam providing water to the blade turbine. The blade turbines, as well as dams, can be installed at the outlet of the flow controller, so that to increase the capacity of the hydroelectric power plant. The solution described in this document is oriented to solve the technical issue of loss of efficiency of a turbine when it is too deeply immersed in the river flow and undesired materials dragged into the turbine by said river flow, so that a floating, adjustable dam can be installed according to the level of the river flow.
Also the U.S. Pat. No. 7,602,076 is known that describes a hydroelectric generation system comprising an anchor adjacent to a river, a floating platform on the river and an arm assembly connecting the anchor to the platform, wherein the arm includes a plurality of arms connected together, so that the level of the platform can vary with the level of the river directly. This solution is oriented to solve the technical issue of loss of efficiency of a turbine when it is too deeply immersed in the river flow by adjusting the height of the turbine according to the river flow, so that it also deals with the issue of preventing undesired material to enter the turbine.

Power generating plant and floating plant for rivers and canals

Asociacion de Canalistas Sociedad del Canal del Maipo


An electron emission device, and an electron emission display using the electron emission device, includes a substrate, electron emission regions formed on the substrate, driving electrodes formed on the substrate to control electron emissions of the electron emission regions, and a focusing electrode disposed above the driving electrodes and insulated from the driving electrodes, the focusing electrode having openings through which electron beams pass. The focusing electrode includes at least two focusing parts electrically separated from each other and the focusing parts focus the electron beams in different directions.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to an electron emission device, and more particularly, to an electron emission device having a focusing electrode that is improved to enhance the focusing efficiency of an electron beam, and an electron emission display using the electron emission device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, electron emission elements are classified into those using a hot cathode as an electron emission source, and those using a cold cathode as the electron emission source. There are several types of cold cathode electron emission elements, including Field Emitter Array (FEA) elements, Surface Conduction Emitter (SCE) elements, Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) elements, and Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor (MIS) elements.
The FEA element includes an electron emission region and cathode and gate electrodes that are driving electrodes for controlling the electron emission from the electron emission region. The electron emission regions are formed of a material having a relatively low work function or a relatively large aspect ratio, such as a carbon-based material or a nanometer-sized material so that electrons can be effectively emitted when an electric field is applied thereto under a vacuum atmosphere.
The electron emission elements are arrayed on a first substrate to form an electron emission device. To form an electron emission display, the electron emission device is combined with a second substrate, on which a light emission unit having phosphor layers and an anode electrode is formed.
In the electron emission display, there has been an endeavor to improve the display quality by inducing an electron beam path in a target direction. For example, when the electrons emitted from the electron emission region are diffused and travel toward the second substrate, they land on a black layer adjacent to a target phosphor layer of a corresponding pixel and other phosphor layers as well as on the target phosphor layer, thereby emitting undesired color light. Therefore, a focusing electrode for controlling the electron beam has been proposed. The focusing electrode is generally disposed on an uppermost layer of the electron emission device and provided with openings through which respective electron beams pass. The electrons passing through each opening are converged toward a central axis of the electron beam.
However, since the focusing electrode is formed in a single body and the electron beams are converged by a single focusing voltage, it is difficult to precisely control a shape of an electron beam spot. That is, it is impossible to control the shape of the electron beam spot reaching each phosphor layer in horizontal and vertical directions of a screen and the electron beam convergent efficiency is low.

Electron emission device and electron emission display using the same


An optical switch having an input waveguide and two output waveguides separated by and disposed around a trench. The input waveguide and a first output waveguide have respective optical paths defined by their respective cores which are coaxial with each other. Those waveguides are also separated by a trench having a medium provided therein that has a refractive index different from that of the waveguides. The input waveguide and a second output waveguide are arranged generally on the same side of the trench such that an optical signal passing from the input waveguide to the second output waveguide does not completely traverse the trench. Each of the waveguides has a facet at least on of the facets is angled relative to the optical path of the respective waveguide

The present invention is directed to an optical switch for switching light between an input waveguide and one or more output waveguides.
Optical switches are essential components in an optical network for determining and controlling the path along which a light signal propagates. Typically, an optical signal (the terms xe2x80x9clight signalxe2x80x9d and optical signalxe2x80x9d are used interchangeably herein and are intended to be broadly construed and to refer to visible, infrared, ultraviolet light, and the like), is guided by a waveguide along an optical path, typically defined by the waveguide core. It may become necessary or desirable to redirect the optical signal so that it propagates along a different optical path, i.e., through a different waveguide core. Transmission of an optical signal from one waveguide to another may require that the optical signal propagate through a medium which may have an index of refraction different than the index of refraction of the waveguides (which typically have approximately the same refractive index). It is known that the transmission characteristics of an optical signal may be caused to change if that signal passes through materials (mediums) having different indices of refraction. For example, an unintended phase shift may be introduced into an optical signal passing from a material having a first index of refraction to a material having a second index of refraction due to the difference in velocity of the signal as it propagates through the respective materials and due, at least in part, to the materials"" respective refractive indices. Additionally, a reflected signal may be produced due to the mismatch of polarization fields at the interface between the two mediums. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cmediumxe2x80x9d is intended to be broadly construed and to include a vacuum.
This reflection of the optical signal is undesirable because it reduces the transmitted power by the amount of the reflected signal, and so causes a loss in the transmitted signal. In addition, the reflected signal may travel back in the direction of the optical source, which is also known as optical return loss. Optical return loss is highly undesirable, since it can destabilize the optical signal source.
If two materials (or mediums) have approximately the same index of refraction, there is no significant change in the transmission characteristics of an optical signal as it passes from one material to the other. One solution to the mismatch of refractive indices involves the use of an index matching fluid. A typical use in an optical switch is to fill a trench between at least two waveguides with a material having an index of refraction approximately equal to that of the waveguides. Thus, the optical signal does not experience any significant change in the index of refraction as it passes through the trench from one waveguide to another.
An example of that solution may be found in international patent application number WO 00/25160. That application describes a switch that uses a collimation matching fluid in the chamber between the light paths (i.e., between waveguides) to maintain the switch""s optical performance. The use of an index matching fluid introduces a new set of considerations, including the possibility of leakage and a possible decrease in switch response time due to the drag on movement of the switching element in a fluid.
In addition, the optical signal will experience insertion loss as it passes across a trench and between waveguides. A still further concern is optical return loss caused by the discontinuity at the waveguide input/output facets and the trench. In general, as an optical signal passes through the trench, propagating along a propagation direction, it will encounter an input facet of a waveguide which, due to physical characteristics of that facet (e.g., reflectivity, verticality, waveguide material, etc.) may cause a reflection of part (in terms of optical power) of the optical signal to be directed back across the trench (i.e., an a direction opposite of the propagation direction). This is clearly undesirable.
Size is also an ever-present concern in the design, fabrication, and construction of optical components (i.e., devices, circuits, and systems). It is clearly desirable to provide smaller optical components so that optical devices, circuits, and systems may be fabricated more densely, consume less power, and operate more efficiently.
The present invention is directed to an optical switch having an input waveguide and two output waveguides separated by and disposed around a trench. The input waveguide and the first output waveguide have respective optical paths defined by their respective cores; those optical paths (and cores) generally being aligned or coaxial with each other. The trench has a medium provided therein that has a refractive index different from that of the waveguides. Back reflection is therefore avoided, since the input waveguide, the first output waveguide, and the second output waveguide are separated by a distance insufficient to affect the transmission characteristics of an optical signal propagating from the input waveguide to either the first or second output waveguide, even though the optical signal experiences different refractive indices as it propagates from the input waveguide to the first or second output waveguides. Thus, even though an optical signal passing from the input waveguide to either output waveguide must completely traverse the trench, the distance over which the optical signal must travel between the waveguides is small enough so as to not affect the optical transmission characteristics of that signal.
The input waveguide and the second output waveguide are arranged generally on the same side of the trench such that an optical signal passing from the input waveguide to the second output waveguide does not completely traverse the trench. Once again, even though the optical signal experiences different indices of refraction, it propagates over a distance too small to adversely affect the optical transmission characteristics of that signal.
Both 1xc3x972 and 2xc3x972 optical switches can be constructed in accordance with this invention.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the disclosure herein. The scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

Optical switch having a planar waveguide and a shutter actuator


Macromolecules in the shape of three-dimensional kites, barbells, and other shapes are disclosed. The shaped macromolecules are prepared the reaction of one or more dendritic polymers and a linear polymer. The kite-shaped macromolecules are dendritic polymers attached at either their focal points or at an outer to a long carbon chain group. The barbell macromolecules have dendritic polymers at either end of the molecule, which polymers are connected together through the focal points of each by a suitable connecting substituent such as a linear polymer. The shaped macromolecules are used in specialty medical and technological applications including such as drug delivery agents, imaging materials, molecular devices, thin film devices, surface modifiers, transport agents, compatibilizers, rheology control agents, molecular ball bearings, molecular dipoles, non-linear optical materials, medical imaging agents, membrane and cell modifiers, complexing agents, adhesives, interface strengthening agents, and the like.

Work in the field of dendritic molecules dates back to the early fifties with the publication of a theoretical paper by Flory, J.Am. Chem. Soc., 74, 2719 (1952). Basically, a dendritic molecule is a highly branched polymer molecule.
The prior art reports various ways to prepare such dendritic molecules. For example, Vogtle and coworkers, Synthesis 155 (1978) described a "cascade" approach. This approach is not capable of producing a dendritic molecule having a molecular weight of greater than 790 Daltons. More recently, Newkome used a nucleophilic displacement reaction on a multi-functional core to produce, after two stages of reaction, a cascade molecule coined "arboral" with molecular weights of up to 1600 Daltons. See, for example, Aharoni et al, Macromolecules 15, 1093 (1982); J. Org. Chem. 50, 2004 (1985); Newkome et al. J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commum., 752 (1986); and Newkome et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108, 849 (1986).
The most extensive published studies of dendritic molecules are directed to "starburst" polymers. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,507,466; 4,558,120; 4,568,737; 4,587,329; 4,737,550; and 4,857,599. Such "starburst" polymers are made by a divergent approach building the molecule from the core towards its extremities.
More recently, two co-inventors of this invention obtained a patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,516, describing a novel convergent approach to produce dendritic molecules. In this approach, the molecule is built from the outside towards the core. This approach enables the accurate placement of one or more functional groups in the outer surface of the dendritic polymer.
Once formed by whatever method, the dendritic polymers have many uses such as polymer crosslinking agents, drug delivery systems, optoelectronic; carriers for synthetic enzymes and genetic materials, etc. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,516, at columns 5 and 6, lines 60-13 uses for dendritic polymers which include the formation of macromolecules having identifiable shapes such as "barbells", "knots", etc. is disclosed. The disclosure is, however, very limited as to how to make such structures. For example, with respect to barbells, the only disclosure of how to produce such a shape is limited to a "barbell" shape produced from 2 dendritic molecules having surface functional groups at which point they are joined together by a connecting linkage. This procedure is disclosed at col. 6, lines 12-13, and Example VI. The only other specific disclosure relates to a "knot" structure formed by reacting a dendritic polymer having opposed COOH groups with a simple dialcohol or a polyester or polystyrene based dialcohol. This is disclosed at col. 6, lines 1-11, and in Example IX. No other specific shapes are disclosed and no other processes are disclosed to make the specifically disclosed macromolecule shapes.
Tomalia et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,064 also discloses certain shaped macromolecules. Specifically, rod-shaped dendrimers are disclosed as useful shaped macromolecules. Tomalia et al U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,857,599 and 4,871,779 disclose chemical modification of dendritic arms onto a preformed polymer.
Shaped macromolecules may have particular uses that simple dendritic polymers do not. Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the present invention to develop novel macromolecule shapes.
Another object is to develop novel processes for preparing known macromolecule shapes.


A process for the preparation of a water-soluble polymer suspension, which dissolves rapidly in water, is provided wherein the polymer is prepared from. a) 30 to 99.99% by wt. of an alkali, ammonium, or amine salt of acrylic or methacrylic acid or a mixture thereof, PA0 b) 0.01 to 5% of a crosslinking monomer having at least two polymerizable double bonds and PA0 c) 0 to 69.99% by wt. of one or more hydrophilic comonomers different from a) and b) above, PA0 R.sub.1 =H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.3 PA0 n=2, 3 or 4,. and at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of oligoalkylene oxide compounds of formula I ##STR1## where R=H or CH.sub.3. wherein the suspension contains no more than 0.5% by weight of water, based on the total amount of solvent, to give a thickener which is stable in long term storage and which, upon addition to water, yields a highly viscous, briefly separating, microgel-like solution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a simplified process for the preparation of a water-soluble vinyl polymer suspension and its use as a thickening agent.
2. Discussion of the Background
Suspensions of water-soluble or water-absorbing vinyl polymers having a high capacity to absorb water are known. These suspensions are typically used as thickeners.
EP 0 297 184 describes ionic resin emulsions having high water absorptivity. The emulsions are prepared by reversed phase emulsion polymerization of an aqueous solution of ionic monomers--in particular (meth)acrylic compounds--with 0.01 to 0.5 mol.% of a divinyl compound, such as methylene bisacrylamide or allyl acrylamide, in the presence of a radical former such as azobisisobutyronitrile.
DE-OS 24 51 599 describes a process to prepare fluid, water-dispersible suspensions comprising dry particles of water-soluble or water-absorbing vinyl polymers in liquid polyglycol or a liquid polyglycol ether. The polymers are prepared individually by polymerization of suitable water-soluble vinyl monomers, such as sodium acrylate, in a water in oil (w/o) emulsion, from which the water is subsequently removed by azeotropic distillation with hydrocarbon oils, such as xylene or halogenated hydrocarbons, at which time the liquid polyglycols or polyglycol ethers are added. Water-absorbing polymers are obtained by polymerization in the presence of crosslinking agents such as methylene bisacrylamide and allyl acrylate.
EP 0 097 808 discloses a water soluble thickener in suspension form. The thickener is a copolymer of an alkali or ammonium salt of acrylic or methacrylic acid with a crosslinking monomer having at least two polymerizable double bonds. The polymer is prepared from an essentially anhydrous solution of monomers in a low aliphatio aloohol, such as ethanol. After the polymer precipitates the alcohol-containing suspension is prepared by mixing with water. The polymer content of these suspensions ranges from 7 to 12% by wt. In example 5 of EP 0 097 808 the polymer content of the suspension is 8% by wt. and the suspension stability achieved was only satisfactory.

Water-soluble vinyl polymer suspension for use as a thickening agent, and process for its preparation


A magnetoresistive element has a magnetoresistive film and a pair of electrodes adapted to flow a sense current in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the magnetoresistive film. The magnetoresistive film includes first and second magnetization free layers and first to fourth magnetization pinned layers with nonmagnetic intermediate layers interposed therebetween. The second magnetization pinned layer and the third magnetization pinned layer are formed between the second nonmagnetic intermediate layer and the third nonmagnetic intermediate layer. The directions of magnetization of the first and second magnetization pinned layers are substantially parallel to each other. The directions of magnetization of the third and fourth magnetization pinned layers are substantially parallel to each other. Further, the direction of magnetization of the second magnetization pinned layer is substantially antiparallel to the direction of magnetization of the third magnetization pinned layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetoresistive element, a magnetic head and a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, more particularly, a magnetoresistive element constructed such that a sense current is made to flow in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the magnetoresistive film as well as to a magnetic head and a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus using the particular magnetoresistive element.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, recording density is rapidly increased in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Accordingly, a magnetic head is also required to be adapted for the high recording density.
With increase in the recording density, the size of a recording bit recorded in a recording medium is diminished, and a signal magnetic field is lowered. In a conventional ring core type inductive magnetic head, the signal magnetic field generated from the recording medium is detected via the ring core by the electromagnetic induction effect. Since the signal magnetic field is detected indirectly via the ring core, it is difficult to ensure sufficient detection sensitivity.
On the other hand, a magnetoresistive head is proposed in recent years, in which the medium signal magnetic field is detected directly by utilizing magnetoresistance. The magnetoresistive head is advantageous in that the medium signal magnetic field can be detected directly by a field-sensing portion formed in the vicinity of the medium surface, which makes it possible to achieve high sensitivity.
The magnetic head used mainly nowadays includes a spin-valve type magnetoresistive element that generates giant magnetoresistance. The spin-valve type magnetoresistive film has a stacked structure of a magnetization pinned layer (pinned layer), an intermediate layer (spacer layer) and a magnetization free layer (free layer), and exhibits giant magnetoresistance that is at least two times as much as that produced by the conventional magnetoresistive film.
A so-called CIP (Current-In-Plane) structure for a magnetoresistive film is known, in which a sense current is made to flow in an in-plane direction of the magnetoresistive film using a pair of electrodes. In the magnetic head using the particular magnetoresistive film described above, a shield type construction is employed, in which a spin-valve type magnetoresistive film is sandwiched between a pair of magnetic shields each formed of a ferromagnetic material with insulator layers interposed between them.
On the other hand, a so-called CPP (Current-Perpendicular-to-Plane) type magnetic head is proposed in recent years, in which a sense current is made to flow using a pair of electrodes in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the spin-valve film. In general, the CPP type magnetic head permits improved magnetoresistance (MR) ratio, compared with the CIP type magnetic head and, thus, a higher head output can be expected for the CPP type magnetic head. In addition, the insulating layers between the MR film and the shields can be omitted in the CCP type magnetic head so as to make it possible to decrease a distance between the shields, i.e., a magnetic gap.
Now, in a longitudinal magnetic recording system, recording density is approaching its limit because of thermal fluctuation. Such being the situation, a perpendicular magnetic recording system that is tolerant of thermal fluctuation is expected to be a promising system. Thus, systems of various combinations of perpendicular recording media and shield type magnetic heads are proposed.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,590 discloses a system in which a shield type magnetic head is applied to a perpendicular recording medium. The magnetic head disclosed in this patent is a so-called "shield type single spin-valve magnetic head" in which a single magnetoresistive film is arranged between a pair of magnetic shields. The magnetoresistive film has a stacked structure of an antiferromagnetic layer, a magnetization pinned layer (pinned layer), a nonmagnetic intermediate layer (spacer layer), and a magnetization free layer (free layer).
When magnetization of a perpendicular recording medium is detected by using the shield type single spin-valve magnetic head referred to above, a resultant output waveform is monotonously changed with respect to signal magnetization from recording bits on the recording medium, as shown in FIG. 16. Therefore, in order to obtain an output waveform as in the ordinary longitudinal magnetic recording system in which a peak appears in accordance with passage of the magnetic head over a magnetization transition, it is necessary to add a differential circuit to a readout signal processing circuit. However, the differential circuit gives rise to a problem of increased noise. In addition, the shape of the peak after the differential treatment tends to be shifted so as to give rise to a problem of increased signal error rate and another problem of a deteriorated signal-to-noise ratio. Also, as is known to the art, in order to allow the MR head of the particular shield type to be adapted to improved recording density, it is important to diminish the gap between the paired magnetic shields. In the case of the magnetic head, however, magnetoresistive film includes a thick antiferromagnetic layer so as to make it difficult to diminish the gap between the paired magnetic shields.
Likewise, a shield type dual spin-valve magnetic head in which two magnetoresistive films are formed between a pair of magnetic shields (disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,222) has the same problems pointed out above.

Magnetoresistive element in which pinned magnetization layers have antiparallel pinned directions, magnetic head and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus


Flat plates serving as molds and enclosures for slab gels are held together by a clamping frame in which the side edges of the plates slide into facing channels and are clamped by lever-operated cams that compress the channel walls against the plate surfaces. The joined plates are held on a vertical support rack containing a finger-operated spring-loaded notched clamp that presses down on the plates to seal the opening at the bottom edges of the plates against a gasket. A well-forming comb for insertion between the plates contains flexible outwardly angled fingers to seal against the spacers between the plates.

Electrophoresis in slab gels is widely used for separating and analyzing mixtures of chemical species, and particularly mixtures of complex species such as proteins, polypeptides, nucleic acids and oligonucleotides. Slab gels permit the simultaneous analysis of multiple samples as well as the inclusion of standards to facilitate the identification of the species. Once the separation has been performed, a slab gel is easily removed from its enclosure and readily stained for detection and analysis.
Electrophoresis gels are prepared by polymerization of monomers in liquid solutions. Some of the largest sources of operator error and loss of time in the laboratory with slab gel electrophoresis are in the preparation stages of the gel and particularly in the casting procedure. With many types of apparatus, it often difficult to achieve proper alignment and assembly of the parts in a leak-proof manner without damage or breakage. The procedure requires time-consuming care, particularly when performed by those who are inexperienced. The present invention seeks to address these difficulties.

Rapid assembly casting system for slab gels


A broadcasting device includes a broadcasting unit configured to broadcast positional information indicating the position of the broadcasting device; and a receiving unit configured to receive, from a communication terminal receiving the broadcast positional information, terminal identification information for identifying the communication terminal and the positional information.

1. Field of the Invention
An aspect of this disclosure is related to a technology for delivering positional information.
2. Description of the Related Art
There exists technology for determining positions of communication terminals of users using a global positioning system (GPS). In the GPS, about 30 GPS satellites orbiting the Earth transmit radio signals indicating time. A communication terminal on the Earth including a GPS receiver receives radio signals from some of the GPS satellites and calculates the distance between the communication terminal and the GPS satellites based on differences between the time the radio signals are transmitted from the GPS satellites and the time the radio signals are received at the communication terminal. Generally, the communication terminal calculates the distances between the communication terminal and at least four GPS satellites, and determines the position of the communication terminal on the Earth based on the calculated distances.
As the size and power consumption of GPS receivers are reduced by recent technological developments, GPS receivers are installed even in small communication terminals such as cell phones that are driven by a battery.
One problem with the GPS is that GPS radio signals can hardly reach communication terminals located in an indoor space (or area). For this reason, a system different from the GPS is desired to measure positions of communication terminals located in an indoor space. As an example of such a system, an indoor messaging system (IMES) is now under the spotlight.
A broadcasting device according to the IMES can broadcast a radio signal having the same radio wave format as the radio signal transmitted by GPS satellites. Therefore, a communication terminal can receive the radio signal from the broadcasting device using the same hardware as that used to receive the radio signal from GPS satellites with only minor changes made to reception software. The radio signal broadcast by the broadcasting device includes, instead of time information indicating time, positional information indicating the position of the broadcasting device. Accordingly, a communication terminal receiving the radio signal does not need to calculate the time differences to determine its position as in the outdoors.
Also, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-145873 discloses a position management method employing the IMES. In the related-art method disclosed therein, a communication terminal receives positional information from an IMES broadcasting device installed on an indoor ceiling and transmits the positional information and a terminal ID of the communication terminal to an access point of a wireless LAN (local area network) according to a communication standard defined as IEEE802.11x; the access point transfers the positional information and the terminal ID to a management server; and the management server manages the position of the communication terminal based on the positional information and the terminal ID.
With the related-art method, however, the communication terminal needs to have a wireless LAN transmitter supporting the communication standard of the wireless LAN to transmit the positional information and the terminal ID. Also, compared with a recent GPS (or IMES) receiver with reduced power consumption, a wireless LAN transmitter consumes a large amount of power. Accordingly, with the related-art method, even if the power consumption of the receiver of a communication terminal is reduced, it is difficult to reduce the total power consumption of the communication terminal due to the large power consumption of the transmitter.

Broadcasting device, position management system, broadcasting method, and storage medium


A method and apparatus for controlling the distribution of computer software products stored at a file server provide for requesting the identity of the user and the user's secret key prior to enabling access to a requested program product. The program product, upon proper verification of the user identify, is encoded using a second key which is known to the user, and preferably an identification of the user is embedded in the encoding program. Various methods are employed for tracking user access to particular programs, including storing the identify of the user either camouflaged in a commonly found program in non-volatile memory or hidden in a typically overlooked portion of non-volatile memory. In addition, the encoded program can have embedded therein one, and preferably two identifications of the user which can be used to track the program as well as to ensure that the program, when executed has not been tampered with. Upon execution of the encoded program by the user's system, the code is executed "on the fly" and no executable copy of the code is stored in non-volatile memory at any time. In the event that decoding does not result in a properly executable program, the system may need to be rebooted and/or the program may be at least partially destroyed.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for restricting the use of computer software to a known group of users; and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for controlling the distribution of software products in Intranet or Internet environments.
As Intranet and Internet environments proliferate, a company's software becomes more subject to access by unauthorized individuals. It is therefore important to secure the software against unauthorized access, while, at the same time, enabling both the tracking of software use and the prevention of its unauthorized use.
The newspapers are replete with reports, lately, of "hackers" being able to penetrate, and acquire information and programs from, so-called secure systems. This information and program data may be the life blood of a company, and its unauthorized access by individuals, some of whom may be employees of the company itself, can cause severe damage to the reputation of the company and its financial health and viability. Companies often use, therefore, single, double, and more complex password security systems to prevent access to their systems by unauthorized users, but in addition must also be concerned about an authorized user, not having permission to use a particular software, who will still have access to the system.
Further, it is not common for the software programs themselves to be stored in an encoded manner nor is it common, once the individual has "broken in" to the system, to prevent access to much if not all of the data available to a typical user. It is therefore, important to protect to as high a degree as possible the software programs stored in systems which are accessible by more than one authorized user, and to enable tracking of the users accessing software using methodologies which are neither obvious nor easily detected.


A system and a method for location-based responses are provided. A mobile device receives location information from, for example, a global positioning system (GPS) to determine its present location. The location is checked against target range areas corresponding to target locations programmed in the mobile device. If the determined present location of the mobile device is within a particular target range area corresponding to a particular target location, the mobile device provides the particular target response that was programmed in the mobile device to correspond to the particular target range area and the particular target location.

Advances in technology have not only driven the miniaturization of devices, but have also spurred increasing mobility among users of the technology. Receiving information at the appropriate time and at the appropriate place is given a high premium in society.
Users now can receive pertinent information on demand using their cellular phones to make and to receive phone calls, to keep appointments in a calendar or even to navigate through the internet. However, such information is given to the user as a function of time, or at the request of the user. For example, the user might need to manually access a personal data assistant to retrieve such information. Thus, for example, although a user may have a notation in her calendar to pick up milk at the grocery store, this information may be forgotten when the user is actually in the vicinity of the grocery store on the drive home. The user therefore must remember to view notations when at particular locations.
In another example, if a user forgets to switch the mode of her cellular phone from a loud ringing mode to a silent vibrating mode upon entering a conference room, then an annoying disturbance may be created during a meeting if the cellular phone rings. A similar annoyance often can occur at public places such as movie theaters or restaurants. The user would find it advantageous if a system automatically turned off the cellular phone or automatically switched the ringing mode to a silent vibrating mode by sensing that the user is entering a conference room in which meetings are typically held.
Accordingly, a conventional communications device relies heavily on the memory of its user. In such a manner, there exists a need to more fully automate the response of a communications device.

System and method for providing location-based responses


Smoothing operations on a three-dimensional geometrical primitive, such as a mesh, are restricted by filtering the set of smoothing vectors to apply a user-selected restriction to the set of vectors. The user-selected restriction limits the set of smoothing vectors according to a normal of a surface corresponding to the primitive. The filtered set of vectors are applied to the primitive to smooth the primitive. Thus, smoothing may be applied proportionally to the convexity or concavity of the surface. Smoothing also may be applied to move a control point of the primitive, such as a vertex in a mesh, only in a direction parallel to the normal of the surface at that control point or perpendicular to the normal of the surface at that control point. Each control point also may be reprojected after smoothing onto the original surface along the normal of the smoothed surface, or the normal of the original surface.

Smoothing is a general operation that can be applied on a three-dimensional geometrical primitive, such as a mesh or NURBS surface, to reduce high-frequency variations of geometric properties, such as positions and colors. In the context of two-dimensional or three-dimensional geometric primitives, smoothing is usually performed by applying a local averaging filter over each vertex and their neighbors. The definition of neighbors may be based on connectivity, spatial proximity or other characteristic. Such smoothing can be applied to achieve animation effects.
For three-dimensional objects, smoothing can be applied on control vertices of a shape in order to enhance it relatively to one of the many esthetic criteria. Such criteria may include low-frequency curvature, locally equilateral segments, and locally equiangular connectivity around a vertex local grid alignment.
Without fine control, smooth operations produce an overwhelming number of mixed effects. Depending on the artistic context, some of these may cause undesirable behaviors, such as failing to preserve either the shape or other properties such as local convexities and concavities.

Restricting smoothing operations on a three-dimensional geometrical primitive according to a surface normal


The Multiple Intake Air Filtration Device of this invention is a superior, highly efficient air cleaner that utilizes an array of multiple-intake cyclonic tubes spinning air at high speed to efficiently remove the specific sizes of dirt and other particulates that can be ingested in off-road and highway vehicle operations. This Multiple Intake Air Filtration Device is well-suited for use with both normally-aspirated engines and turbocharged engines. It is superior to automotive air cleaners that filter out dirt by use of a screen or porous media because it never becomes clogged as dirt and particulates are filtered out, and it is superior to devices that utilize only a single air flow through cyclonic tubes, because the device of this invention cleans intake air more efficiently while providing a strong flow of clean air to the engine or other component.

Engine air quality is important in connection with automobiles, trucks, and other vehicles with internal combustion engines. Air filtration devices, or air filters, are used to improve the quality of engine air intake by removing particulates from the intake air. One intended goal of filtering intake air is to prevent particles such as dirt, sand, and debris from entering the engine and possibly causing wear to engine parts, or the contamination of engine oil. Often, air filters employed in these applications use materials like paper, foam, cotton, or spun fiberglass to remove particulates from intake air. One downside to such filters is that they need to be replaced frequently because the fibrous material becomes clogged with the filtered-out particulates.
Other air filters, including those in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,799,106 and 9,095,806, employ a single cyclonic air flow through the device, with the goal of removing particulates from intake air before that air reaches the engine. Those single-flow filters do not contain the fibrous material that requires frequent replacement, but they often provide less intake air flow to the engine than is desired for optimal engine efficiency. Accordingly, there remains a need for a more efficient and effective cyclonic air filtration device for vehicles.
As set forth herein, the present invention, with its array of multiple intake cyclonic tubes, offers substantial benefits not found in either of the aforedescribed filter types.


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes steps of forming an organic insulating film over a semiconductor substrate, irradiating an electron beam to a surface of the organic insulating film, forming recesses in the organic insulating film, forming a conductive material over the organic insulating film and in the recesses, and removing the conductive material on the organic insulating film by a polishing to expose the surface of the organic insulating film and to leave the conductive material buried in recesses of the organic insulating film.

In the prior art, as a multilayer wiring of LSI, aluminum (Al) or aluminum alloy is employed. As one of the forming methods, such a method is known that a wiring is formed by the dry etching method using a mask and then an insulating film is stacked on the wiring.
In recent years, with the progress of finer patterning of the multilayer wiring, a delay in operation caused by resistance of the wiring material becomes a problem. As the measure to the delay in operation, copper or copper alloy a resistance value of which is lower than aluminum is employed as the wiring material. Meanwhile, in the manufacturing method employing the dry etching method using a mask, it is difficult to pattern the wiring more finely. Thus, the fine pattern of the wiring is formed by employing the damascene method employing the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) method.
In the common wiring formation by the damascene method, at first a first insulating film acting as a stopper for the dry etching is stacked on a semiconductor substrate, and then a second insulating film is stacked on the first insulating film. Then, a resist pattern is formed on the second insulating film, and then the etching is applied by using the dry etching method while using the resist pattern as a mask. Accordingly, the second insulating film is etched, and wiring recesses are formed. A barrier metal film and a Cu seed film are stacked sequentially in the wiring recesses by the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method. Then, a Cu film is deposited in the wiring recesses by the plating method. Finally, the extra Cu film and the extra barrier metal film in areas other than the wiring recesses are removed by the CMP method.
When the barrier metal film on the surface of the second insulating film is removed by the CMP method, in some cases a polishing time is set longer than a required time. Such polishing may be called the "over polishing". At this time, when slurry for the barrier metal polishing has a high polishing rate of the insulating film and a low polishing rate of the Cu film, the polishing of the Cu film is accelerated relatively with respect to the insulating film. Thus, the Cu film in the wiring recesses is depressed from a surface height of the second insulating film. Such phenomenon may be called the "dishing". For this reason, recently the slurry for the barrier metal polishing, which may be used in polishing the insulating film simultaneously and may suppress a sinking of the Cu wiring, has been developed.
As the second insulating film, a silicon oxide (SiO2) film whose dielectric constant is 4.2 is used. However, when the insulating film whose dielectric constant is high is used, an electric leakage path is readily caused due to a parasitic capacitance of the insulating film in a situation that the wirings are formed as the fine patterns and a distance between the wirings becomes short. Thus, it is discussed nowadays that a low dielectric constant film whose dielectric constant is 3.0 or less should be used as the insulating film.
However, normally a surface of the low dielectric constant film whose dielectric constant is 3.0 or less is covered with a methyl group (CHx), and this low dielectric constant film has hydrophobicity. Thus, the polishing slurry is hardly fitted to the surface of the low dielectric constant film, and thus the polishing is hard to proceed. Also, film strength of the low dielectric constant film is weak, and also adhesion to the underlying insulating film is small. Thus, film peeling is easily caused when this film is polished by the CMP method.
Thus, in the prior art, an oxide film (SiO2) whose dielectric constant is 4.2, for example, is formed as a cap film on the low dielectric constant film, and then the wiring formation and the polishing are applied. Such cap film has a good wettability to the polishing slurry rather than the low dielectric constant film. As a result, the polishing of the insulating film may be proceeded and the dishing may be suppressed. Also, the cap film has a strong film strength and high adhesion, and thus film peeling may be prevented during the polishing. In this case, from a viewpoint of preventing the film peeling, the cap film of predetermined film thickness is left after the polishing is completed.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


The present invention provides a system and method of optical communications that utilize coherent detection technique and optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing for phase encoded data transmission. In particular the invention addresses a device and method for digital polarization compensation of optical signals with up to 100 Gb/s transmission rate received via an optical link. The polarization compensation operates in two modes: acquisition mode and tracking mode. The polarization recovery is performed at the receiver side using the received digital signal conversion into frequency domain and separate reconstruction of the polarization state in each spectral component.

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing is widely used technique of transmission in the RF domain where it allows mitigating of signal fading in multi-path propagation. The present invention discloses the use of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing in optical links and, in particular, in fiber communications using dual-polarization transmission.
In optical OFDM each channel the optical carrier is directly modulated by a complex RF signal that can be construed as a linear combination of M separate digitally modulated RF signals at frequencies fm such that fm=m/T where T is the period of modulation. Thus the total symbol rate of the transmitted information is M/T. In the text we shall refer to the frequencies fm as "sub-carriers".
In modern communication systems, a coherent detection technique is implemented, which provides improved sensitivity compared with traditional direct detection schematics. Typically coherent detection is used for phase-shift-keying (PSK) data transmission. The present invention is also focused on PSK, and in the preferred embodiment, QPSK (quadrature PSK) data transmission. However this does not limit the scope of the invention, and various types of data modulation can benefit from the disclosed invention.
In coherent receiver, the QPSK incoming optical signal is mixed with a strong local oscillator signal to produce in-phase (I) and in-quadrature (Q) outputs. I and Q components of the output optical signal are converted into electrical signals by a set of photodetectors. In the preferred configuration four balanced photodetectors are used to recover QPSK encoded data.
Data transmission using light of two orthogonal polarizations via the same optical channel allows doubling the data rate. At the receiver side, the optical signal is split by a polarization beam splitter, and the light of each orthogonal polarization is mixed with a local oscillator signal of the corresponding polarization in the coherent receiver.
However the orthogonality of the optical signal polarization is not preserved when the signals are transmitted via fiber link. The received optical signals neither orthogonal to each other, nor aligned with the polarization beam splitter at the receiver side. The present invention addresses this problem of the polarization state recovery in dual-polarization data transmission.
U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20070092259 discusses implementation of polarization compensation in the coherent optical receiver. The successful recovery of the I and Q components of the received signal is performed based on filtering using an inverse Jones matrix in combination with continuous high-speed adaptive training of the polarization compensator. In order to ease the processing, the signal is split into a number of parallel sub-streams with reduced data rate.
There is a need to develop a polarization compensation technique and method for optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexed communications.

Optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexed communications with coherent detection


A transition structure for a tower comprises a plurality of panels that each includes a panel body having opposed upper and lower ends, a lower mounting surface at the lower end, an upper mounting surface at the upper end, and a pair of lateral mounting surfaces at lateral edges. The upper mounting surfaces are generally planar, and the panel bodies taper from their upper mounting surface to their lower mounting surface. Each panel is mounted to at least another of the panels at corresponding lateral surfaces to form, with the upper ends, the shape that conforms to the lower end of the tower to be supported. The transition structure also comprises a plurality of footings, each having an upper end mated to the lower mounting surface of one of the panels, a lower end configured to mate with a post of a foundation, and a footing body between the upper and lower ends.

Wind turbines typically include a rotor having multiple blades mounted to a hub. The rotor is supported from within a nacelle of the wind turbine that also houses drivetrain components, such as a rotor shaft, gearbox, generator, and potentially a converter and a transformer. A tower provides support for and elevates the nacelle above the ground or sea. The tower is supported from below by a foundation.
The design of the foundation is highly influenced by the site of the wind turbine and its geotechnical considerations. In offshore applications, monopile foundations, gravity-based foundations, tripod foundations, and jacket-type foundations are well-known. The latter type typically includes three or four steel posts ("legs") secured to the seabed with piles. A transition structure is mounted to the posts to provide a base for supporting the tower. Examples of this type of arrangement are disclosed in EP1813808B1 and WO2008064861A2.

Transition structure for a wind turbine tower


A three-way or multi-way valve is provided, which is built up of a plurality of two-way valves, each of which has a high pressure connection and a low pressure connection which are separated from each other by means of a valve seat with which a closure element co-operates, the two-way valves being arranged to be operated in pairs or in groups by means of a control pressure fluid by way of a control pressure line opening into a pressure chamber, and one of the two-way valves of each group being arranged in a connection between a pressure source and a load, and another two-way valve of the same groups being arranged in a connection between the load and a pressure sink. With a valve of this type, it is desired to obtain improved closing behavior with simple construction. For this purpose, at least one of the connections, especially the high pressure connection, of at least one valve of each group communicates with the control pressure line by way of a throttle channel.

The invention relates to a three-way or multi-way valve, which is built up of a plurality of two-way valves, each of which has a high pressure connection and a low pressure connection which are separated from each other by means of a valve seat with which a closure element co-operates, the two-way valves being arranged to be operated in pairs or in groups by means of a control pressure fluid by way of a control pressure line opening into a pressure chamber, and one of the two-way valves (pump valve) of each group being arranged in a connection between a pressure source and a load, and another two-way valve (tank valve) of the same groups being arranged in a connection between the load and a pressure sink.
A valve of this type is known from DE 22 58 853 B2. The two-way valves are in that case built up in the manner of a bridge, in which the individual two-way valves are arranged in the arms of the bridge, the load is connected up by way of one diagonal of the bridge, and the other diagonal lies between a pump acting as pressure source and a tank acting as pressure sink. The two-way valves are actuated by means of control valves which raise or lower the pressure in the pressure chamber.
Valves of this type are used as hydraulic valves for controlling fluid flow and fluid pressures. They function without any problem, as long as oil, especially a synthetic hydraulic oil, is used as hydraulic fluid.
For some time, however, attempts have been made to replace the hydraulic oils, especially the synthetic hydraulic oils, by means of water, because of their somewhat questionable properties, from the environmental point of view, and especially of their toxicity. However, water has practically no lubricating properties, and, moreover, in many cases leads to corrosion damage, so that valves of this type wear out relatively quickly, or even seize up, so that they can no longer fulfil their function or can no longer do so to a satisfactory degree.
A two-way seat-type valve has therefore already been proposed (DE 36 37 208 C2) for fluids consisting essentially of water, in which the closure element of the two-way valve is prevented from coming into contact with the guide, that is to say, with the housing surrounding it. For this purpose, sliding rings of plastics material are provided which surround the closure element. Between two sliding rings of this type a seal is arranged. At all events, the closure element of such a valve offers a resistance to movement which is somewhat considerable, and is caused by the sliding rings and the sealing rings. A pre-requisite for a valve of this type is therefore the necessary pressure build up for both directions of movement of the closure element. This is provided, for example, in DE 22 58 853 B2 by the possibility of connecting the control pressure line to the pump by way of a control valve. This, however, entails a relatively complex construction of the valve and makes operation more difficult.
The problem underlying the invention is that of obtaining good closing behaviour with simple operation.


A molding manufacturing method includes: preparing a molding body including a molding main body made of thermoplastic material and a decorative layer higher than the molding main body in hardness and melt temperature; setting the molding body in a fixed die; heating and softening an end portion of the molding body while maintaining the decorative layer softer than the molding main body, by irradiating an infrared ray onto a back surface of the molding main body corresponding to the end portion; and press forming the end portion of the molding body by applying a movable punch onto the fixed die while the end portion of the molding body is in a softened state to bend the end portion of the molding body to obtain an end cover portion having a predetermined shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a molding manufacturing method and apparatus for manufacturing a molding having an end cover portion with a predetermined shape out of a long molding body of thermoplastic material by the extrusion molding, by press forming an end portion of the molding body.
2. Background Art
When the press working (bending) is applied to the end portion of the molding body (molding material) made of thermoplastic material in the ordinary temperature condition without heating or softening the end portion, the bending portion may be damaged or may not be formed into a predetermined bent shape due to the elastic restoring force thereof.
Conventionally, it is therefore normal that the press working (bending) is applied to the end portion of the molding body while heating and softening the end portion by the heating device, so that the molding having the end cover portion with a predetermined shape is manufactured (For example, see Japanese Patent No. 2966315 (pages 2 to 3, FIGS. 1 to 9) and JIII Journal of Technical Disclosure No. 98-6152).
Meanwhile, in the molding manufacturing method of applying the press working to the end portion of the molding body made of thermoplastic material in the condition that such end portion is heated and softened, a decorative surface of the end portion of the molding body is also heated and softened. Therefore, in the molding (molding product) formed of the molding body, there arises a problem that scratches such as unevenness may occur on the decorative surface of the end cover portion or its neighborhood and thus its outward appearance is worsened.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide molding manufacturing method and apparatus capable of satisfactorily forming an end portion of a molding body by the press working and thus preventing occurrence of the distortions such as unevenness on the decorative surface of the end cover portion and its neighborhood formed in this manner.

Molding manufacturing method and apparatus


A multiport switching device includes a configuration table that stores associations between addresses of subnets directly connected to the switching device and the port number of the multiport switching device that leads to the subnet. A host processor connected to the multiport switching device updates and maintains the configuration table. A remote processor communicates with the switching device through the host processor. To facilitate the communication of the remote processor with the multiport switch, the host processor executes a TCP/IP stack and the multiport switch is assigned a unique IP address.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to switching in a packet switched network and, more specifically, to systems and methods for configuring network switching devices.
2. Background Art
At the heart of most networks are switches interconnected via a communications medium. For example, Ethernet is a commonly used local area network scheme in which multiple stations are connected to a single shared serial data path. These stations communicate with a switch located between the shared data path and the stations connected to that path. The switch controls the communication of data packets on the network.
Networks are frequently organized into sub-networks, called subnets. Within a single subnet, packets of information may be directed to their destination devices using a layer 2 Media Access Control (MAC) address that identifies the attached Ethernet devices. When a switch receives a packet with a familiar destination MAC address, it forwards the packet to the output port on the switch that is associated with the MAC address.
Packets transmitted between layer 2 subnets do so using the destination device's IP (Internet Protocol) layer 3 address. More particularly, a transmitting device sending a packet to a destination device outside of the transmitting device's subnet first determines, using the IP layer 3 address, the layer 2 MAC address of a gateway device that bridges the subnets. The gateway device, often called a layer 3 switch, upon receiving the packet, performs address translation, which involves stripping the MAC destination address of the packet and inserting a new MAC destination address that corresponds to the MAC address of the destination device in the destination subnet. The gateway device determines the MAC address to substitute based on the IP address.
A gateway device may be directly connected to a number of subnets, such as three subnets. A table stored in the gateway device may provide a correspondence between each connected subnet and the output ports of the gateway device that connects to the subnet. In operation, when the gateway device receives a packet destined for one of the connected subnets, it looks up the appropriate output ports for the packet in the table.
Managing and updating the table in the gateway device is often done manually by a user located locally to the gateway device. This can be a time consuming and error prone process.
Thus, there is a need in the art to improve table management and updating in a gateway device.

Remote configuration of a subnet configuration table in a network device