The convertible cart comprises a first platform and a platform assembly. The platform assembly comprises a second platform and a third platform and is pivotably connected to the first platform. The platform assembly moves between a first position where the second platform is disposed above the first platform and a second position where the third platform forms a continuous platform with the first platform. In another embodiment the cart comprises a first platform and a second platform movable between a first position where said second platform is disposed above the first platform and a second position where the third platform is coplanar with the first platform. Methods of converting a cart between a utility cart and a platform truck are also provided.

Carts that are pushed or pulled for transporting a variety of materials in a wide variety of environments including, but not limited to, warehousing, maintenance, housekeeping, and the like are known. One type of cart is a utility cart. This type of cart typically comprises two or more vertically spaced shelves supported on four wheels. The utility cart typically has a handle at one or both ends for pushing or pulling the cart. In addition to transporting material, the top shelf of the cart may be used as a work surface. The typical utility cart has a relatively small footprint such that it takes up a relatively small area for storage and is easy to maneuver. The typical utility cart includes shelves that may either have a flat surface or a flat surface surrounded by a raised perimeter lip.
Another type of cart is known as a platform truck. The platform truck typically comprises a single platform for supporting the material being transported that is arranged relatively low to the ground and is supported on four wheels. A vertical handle is located at one end for pulling or pushing the cart. Platform trucks have a relatively larger footprint than a utility cart are often used to transport large loads. The platform of a platform truck typically does not include a perimeter lip.
Because these carts have different structures and are intended for different uses, it is necessary to purchase, maintain and store both types of carts in order to obtain the full benefits of each cart.


An inexpensive and rapid method for fabricating arrays of hollow microneedles uses a photoetchable glass. Furthermore, the glass hollow microneedle array can be used to form a negative mold for replicating microneedles in biocompatible polymers or metals. These microneedle arrays can be used to extract fluids from plants or animals. Glucose transport through these hollow microneedles arrays has been found to be orders of magnitude more rapid than natural diffusion.

Hollow microneedle arrays are being developed for transdermal drug delivery and the withdrawal of body fluids for biomedical and other applications. The hollow microneedle array can provide a minimally invasive means to transport relatively large molecules into and out of the skin. Microneedles are desirable because their small size and extremely sharp tip reduces insertion pain and tissue trauma to the patient. The length of the microneedles can be kept short enough to not penetrate to the pain receptors in the inner layers of the skin. Furthermore, the bore of the hollow microneedles can be large enough to provide a relatively rapid rate of drug delivery or withdrawal of bodily fluid. For drug delivery, the use of micron-size needle arrays increases skin permeability due to the needle's penetration of the outer layer of the skin, enabling the drugs to enter the body at therapeutically useful rates. Likewise, hollow microneedle arrays may replace painful hypodermic needles or syringes used for the sampling of biological fluids (e.g., blood or interstitial fluid). For example, for diabetics it is necessary to monitor and control blood sugar levels during the course of a day. The most common approach to monitor blood sugar is to stick the finger with a small needle and measure sugar level in the blood drop that forms at the site of the needle-stick. As a result, the patient may become sensitized to the frequent, painful needle-sticks, perhaps to the point of avoidance, and the sampling protocol is problematic. Microneedle arrays may enable the diabetic to routinely sample blood sugar levels in a pain-free manner.
With out-of-plane microneedles, the longitudinal axis of the microneedles is perpendicular to the wafer. These microneedles are typically short (e.g., less than a few hundred microns) and only penetrate the outer barrier layers of the skin. Out-of-plane needles can typically be made with a large density of needles per chip. Therefore, two-dimensional arrays of microneedles have been used to obtain adequate fluid flow at reasonable pumping rates. See, e.g., P. Zhang et al., "Micromachined Needles for Microbiological Sample and Drug Delivery System," Proc. Intl. Conf. MEMS, NANO, and Smart Systems (ICMENS'03), Jul. 20–23, 2003, Banff, Alberta, Canada. However, only microneedles with the correct geometry and physical properties can be inserted into the skin. In particular, the safety margin for needle breakage, or the ratio of microneedle fracture force to skin insertion force, has been found to be optimum for needles having a small tip radius and large wall thickness. See M. R. Prausnitz, "Microneedles for transdermal drug delivery," Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 56, 581 (2004).
Microneedle arrays have been fabricated by a number of micromachining processes. Out-of-plane microneedles have typically been fabricated using bulk micromachining or LIGA techniques (LIGA is the German acronym for X-ray lithography, electrodeposition, and molding). Therefore, most of these microneedles have been made of silicon or metals. Silicon bulk micromachining has used either deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) alone or in combination with KOH etching to form the hollow microneedles. See H. J. G. E. Gardeniers et al., "Silicon Micromachined Hollow Microneedles for Transdermal Liquid Transport," J. Microelectromechanical Systems 12(6), 855 (2003) and P. Griss et al., "Side-Opened Out-of-Plane Microneedles for Microfluidic Transdermal Liquid Transfer," J. Microelectromechanical Systems 12(3), 296 (2003). However, these fabrication processes are long and difficult and can result in inconsistent wall slopes both in inside diameter and outside diameter of the hollow microneedles. Furthermore, the expensive capital equipment required is slow and not well-suited to eventual mass production of microneedles. Finally, at the end of the process, the silicon microneedles require oxidation so that only a biocompatible silicon dioxide surface is in contact with biological processes.
Therefore, a simple fabrication process using inexpensive equipment, providing repeatable results, and directly producing hollow microneedles in a biocompatible substrate is needed. The present invention provides a method to fabricate hollow microneedle arrays using a photoetchable glass wafer that solves these problems.

Method to fabricate hollow microneedle arrays


A data storage method, apparatus and system that increase drive capacity, minimize latency, reduce write access time and improve drive lifetime is described in this invention. In one embodiment, the data storage device described here is a composite hard disk drive comprises a number of recording media platters labeled from 1 to n, where n is greater than or equal to 2; wherein there exist two positive integer n1 and n2, where n1 and n2 are between 1 and n; n1 is not equals to n2; wherein the data tracks for the media platters n1 and n2 are written based on one of the following: 1) different RTs; 2) different WAs; or 3) different RTs and different WAs.

The present disclosure relates to a magnetic recording method, data storage apparatus, device and system for increasing areal density capability (ADC), drive capacity (DC), write data rate (WDR) or the number of random write operations per second (Wops) for a hard disk drive device or system. Certain disclosed examples also help to manage how to write data in a hard disk drive to reduce failure rate and improve drive operation lifetime.
Magnetic data storage systems are utilized in a wide variety of devices in both stationary and mobile computing environments. Magnetic data storage systems include hard disk drives (HDD), and solid-state hybrid drives (SSHD) that combine features of a solid-state drive (SSD) and a hard disk drive (HDD). Examples of devices that incorporate magnetic storage systems include desktop computers, portable notebook computers, portable hard disk drives, servers, network attached storage, cloud storage racks, television set top boxes, digital cameras, digital video cameras, video game consoles, and portable media players, etc.
These numerous devices utilize magnetic storage systems, particularly HDD, for storing and retrieving digital information. Storage density is a measure of the quantity of digital information that can be stored on a given length of track, area of surface, or in a given volume of a magnetic storage medium. Higher density is generally more desirable since it allows greater volumes of data to be stored in the same physical space. Density generally has a direct effect on performance within a particular medium. Increasing the storage density of disks requires technological advances and changes to various components or storage subsystems of a hard disk. In some approaches, the storage density increase may incur other data storage system performance penalty, such as sequential write speed, random read/write operations measured by the number of read/write (or input/output) operations per seconds (Tops).
For a hard disk drive to have high performance or faster random read and write operations, additional media cache is utilized beyond dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and other solid-state memory such as flash memory NAND based caches, to balance cost and performance. The DRAM and NAND based cache is typically referred to as the drive buffer, it is the temporary data storage embedded in the drive, not on the recording media surface. The additional media caches are typically selected on the media platter surface in specially designated zones. For ultra-high-capacity drives, such as HDD utilize shingled magnetic recording (SMR) write architecture (WA) or heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology with interlaced magnetic recording (IMR) write architecture (WA). Different write architecture (WA) will slow down the random write operation speed or write operations per second (Wops) number as compared to conventional magnetic recording (CMR) based on random access. The use of a media cache zone is of particular importance. Since the media cache and data share the same disk surface, the drive capacity is reduced with increasing media cache size. In addition, many of the new recording technologies (RTs) are based on various energy assisted magnetic recording technology, which add stress to the write head and reduce its lifetime.
Over the past few decades, all hard disk drives (HDDs) use the same recording technology (RT), same recording media and recording heads for a given drive. As component technology progresses approaching their physical limits, the new technology that can be utilized for HDD often provide benefits for ADC, but cost other drive performance penalties. For energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR), the recording head complexity is increased with additional transducer and sensor needs to be integrated, which reduce yield and increase component cost. In addition, the recording head lifetime is reduced due to high energy density through the write pole tip region. For shingled magnetic recording (SMR), the incoming data needs to be stored or written in media cache, assembled together and rewritten into data bands, a large number of data tracks next to each other. This two-step process slows down Wops number significantly for data center applications when large number of users have write operation requests simultaneously. It will be ideal to have a hard disk drive solution to fully utilize both component and system level of technology to ensure high drive capacity (DC), while at the same time, will not pose performance or lifetime penalty.


A method for antenna subset selection by joint processing in RF and baseband in a multi-antenna systems. Lt input data streams are generated in a transmitter for either diversity transmission or multiplexing transmission. These streams are modulated to RF signals. These signals are switched to the t branches associated with the t transmit antennas, and a phase-shift transformation is applied to the RF signals by a t×t matrix multiplication operator Φ1, whose output are t≧Lt RF signals. These signals are transmitted over a channel by t antennas. The transmitted signals are received by r antennas in a receiver. A phase-shift transformation is applied to the r RF signals by a r×r matrix multiplication operator Φ2. Lr branches of these phase shifted streams are demodulated and further processed in baseband to recover the input data streams.

Multi-antenna systems are widely considered to be the most viable way for significantly increasing the bandwidth efficiency of wireless data transmission systems. In MIMO (multiple input multiple output) systems, multiple antennas are deployed both at the transmitter and the receiver. In MISO (multiple input single output) systems, the receiver has only one antenna, and the multiple transmit antennas are used for transmit diversity. In SIMO (single input multiple output) systems, the transmitter has a single antenna, and multiple antennas are used at the receiver.
Given multiple antennas, the spatial dimension of the channel can be exploited to improve the performance of the wireless link. The performance is often measured as the average bit rate (bit/s) the wireless link can provide, or as the average bit error rate (BER), depending on the application.
Given a multi-antenna channel, a duplex method, and a transmission bandwidth, the multiple-antenna system can be categorized as narrowband or wideband (i.e., the channel is flat or frequency selective fading within the system bandwidth), and possessing either full, partial or no channel state information (CSI).
Multiple antennas provide enhanced performance. Studies show that the multiple antennas can be used to provide spatial diversity, and/or can increase the information-theoretic capacity (data rate), see, e.g., Vaughn and Anderson, Channels, propagation, and antennas for mobile communications, IEE Press, 2003, Telatar et al., "Capacity of Multi-Antenna Gaussian Channels," European Trans. on Telecomm., Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 585-596, November-December 1999, Winters, "On the Capacity of Radio Communication Systems with Diversity in Rayleigh Fading Environments," IEEE J. Selected Areas Comm., 1987, and Tarokh et al., "Space-Time Codes for High Data Rate Wireless Communication: Performance Criterion and Code Construction," IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, Vol. 44, pp. 744-765, March 1999.
However, as a disadvantage, operation with multiple RF chains increases complexity and cost. An antenna selection technique can be used to determine an optimal subset of antennas. This still yields improved performance while reducing the number of required RF chains, see Molisch et al., "Capacity of MIMO Systems with Antenna Selection," Proc. IEEE Intl. Comm. Conf., pp. 570-574, 2001, and Gore et al., "MIMO Antenna Subset Selection with Space-Time Coding," IEEE Trans. Signal Processing, Vol. 50, No. 10, pp. 2580-2588, October 2002.
Most prior art antenna selection techniques have focused only on selecting a subset of antennas before down-conversion and processing in baseband. This (spatial) antenna selection techniques work reasonably well under some circumstances, namely in the case that (i) the number of selected antennas is only slightly smaller than the number of available elements, and (ii) the MIMO channel is spatially uncorrelated.
However, in reality, correlated scattering at both the transmitter and receiver antenna arrays is more usual. Due to the directional transmission in the wireless environment, the signal waveforms can be highly correlated depending on the departure and arriving angles at the antennas.
The prior art antenna selection techniques that operate only in the spatial domain can have a significant degradation in performance when dealing with this correlation. Furthermore, even for weak correlations, the prior art antennas also show a significant performance loss when the number of selected antennas is considerably smaller than the number of available antennas.
Therefore, it is desired to provide an RF signal processing technique that overcomes the problems of the prior art.

RF signal processing in multi-antenna systems

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


A “multiple shape changing roller unit” comprising a slotted patterned frame handle and one of more roller cover & rod assemblies, that an operator will use to surround and act on the entire surface area of multisided objects comprising bars, posts, poles, shafts, spindles, railings, supports, and columns, while the operator is positioned on only one side of said multisided objects for purposes comprising painting, staining, dusting, polishing, striping, sanding, cleaning, wiping off or applying liquid and powder chemicals, wherein the slotted patterned handle has a uninterrupted or interrupted pattern configuration used for retaining the rod of the roller cover & rod assemblies to prevent movement while the unit is in use.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to "roller units" that are used to paint, stain, dust, polish, strip, sand, clean, wipe off & apply chemicals (liquid and powder) to the surface area of multisided objects comprising of bars, posts, poles, shafts, spindles, railings, supports, and columns.
2. Description of Prior Art
The popular method of painting, staining, dusting, polishing, striping, cleaning, wiping off & applying chemicals to the surface area of multisided objects is to use a standard brush that has a handle at one end and brush material pointing 180 degrees straight out of the opposite end of handle or using a standard roller that has a handle located 90 degree to the roller. With this current method one is restricted to starting at zero degrees and brushing or rolling up, down, and around multisided objects until 360 degrees is reached. This method is expensive and time consuming because it demands many strokes of the brush around the surface area of a multisided object and the operator must move around the multisided object in order to act on the entire surface area of said object. The applied coating is less uniform when using brushes and also displays brush marks.
Another method is to use of rollers to apply said coatings to multisided objects. Roller coating is quick, eliminates brush marks, and provides a more uniform coating. Most single rollers are designed for flat surfaces, so they are less adequate when applying coatings to multisided objects.
Prior art multi-roller devices have attempted to provide a solution to one or more problems envisioned hereby include Iuliano et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,022) which discloses three coactive rollers mounted on two fixed and one detachable and adjustable support axle. The paint applicator is expensive, has a complex adjustment process that is time consuming and does not allow for roller contact all around multisided objects while the operator remains on one side object.
Mclendon (U.S. Pat. No. 2,813,292) discloses two side rollers and a central roller operatively interposed there between for mainly painting cylindrical pipe. This paint applicator also requires adjustment, is expensive and does not allow for roller contact all around multisided objects while the operator remains on one side of said object.
Rivadeneira (U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,470 B2) discloses four replaceable rollers pivotally attached to a handle that provides for painting of the two adjoining surfaces forming a typical 90 degree interior corner. This paint applicator is use for interior corners and thus is not suitable for coating the exterior of multisided objects. This paint applicator also requires adjustment, is expensive and does not allow for roller contact all around multisided objects while the operator remains on one side of said object
Kierce (U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,604) discloses two rollers disposed in spaced parallel relationship to each other on a flexible frame which the operator must apply compression pressure to bring the rollers in contact with opposite sides of the object being painted. This device leads to operator fatigue during extended operation, does not have the right roller angle to surround multiple railings, like on a porch and is expensive.
Parr (U.S. Pat. No. 3,358,312) discloses a four roller post painter where the rollers are mounted on a frame in a manner to completely encircle the object being painted. Parr's device must be disassembled each time the paint supply on the rollers need replenishing and is restricted to use on square and rectangular shaped post. The post must not be enclosed on both ends or Parr's paint applicator must be disassembled and reassembled around the post. This applicator is expensive and require adjustments.
Bedford (U.S. Pat. No. 2,824,328) discloses two adjustable rollers at angles with a handle. Bedford's device doesn't allow for a plurality of roller positions around the length of the handle. The rollers and handle are all connected at the same spot restricting the rollers to be attached at one and only one spot on handle. This will only allow the rollers to form a V-shape angle sharing the same vortex and not have the freedom to be attached at a plurality of positions around the handle and have the rollers form multiple shapes like my invention.
Accordingly, in spite of the various efforts of the prior art, a need still exists for an improved device that is used to paint, stain, dust, polish, strip, sand, clean, wipe off & apply chemicals (liquid and powder) to the surface area of multisided objects comprising of bars, posts, poles, shafts, spindles, railings, supports, and columns in a manner that is easy & quick to use, low cost, disposable and where the rollers can surround multisided object as the operator stands on only one side of the object eliminating the need to waste time moving around the object to fully coat or impact the surface perimeter of the object allowing for one or multiple rollers to be attached to the handle and be positioned in the same plane as the handle while having the freedom to be adjusted to many shapes and to be placed at several locations around the handle via a slotted pattern groove situated around the handle perimeter.


A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit having low sensitivity to fabrication process variation, operating temperature variation, and power supply noise. The circuit of the present invention includes a current source controller, a bias circuit, and a first and second VCO cell. The first and second VCO cells are coupled to each other and are coupled to the bias circuit. The VCO circuit of the present invention also includes a VCO output for transmitting a VCO output signal to external electronics. A bias circuit current source is coupled to the bias circuit to transmit a bias circuit current from a power supply to the bias circuit. A first current source is coupled to the first VCO cell to transmit a first current from the power supply to the first VCO cell. A second current source coupled to the second VCO cell to transmit a second current from the power supply to the second VCO cell. The bias circuit current source, the first current source, and the second current source are each coupled to the current source controller to increase the power supply rejection ratio of the VCO circuit of the present invention. The first VCO cell and the second VCO cell each have respective first and second load transistors coupled to receive a bias compensation signal from the bias circuit such that the VCO output signal is less affected by changes in temperature and by fabrication process variation.

Voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) are well known and widely used in the electronics industry Within the digital communications field, VCOs are used in a variety of applications. Such applications include, for example, frequency synthesizers, signal generation, (e.g., serial transmission clock recovery) and the like. VCOs are typically designed to perform within a given set of boundary conditions and to perform to a specified standard. Typical conditions include, for example, performance over operating temperature ranges, sensitivity to vibration, output sensitivity to interference, and the like. Typical performance standards include, for example, output signal frequency stability, output signal programmability, and the like.
A typical prior art VCO generates an oscillating output signal having a specified frequency. The signal can have several different wave forms (e.g., square, saw tooth, triangular, etc.). The frequency of the output is tunable and is a function of an input voltage, an external resistance or capacitance, or the like. The type of application in which the VCO is used dictates its operating conditions and performance requirements. However, as in most VCO applications, it is usually important that the output frequency of the VCO is stable and is a consistent function of the control inputs (e.g., voltage, capacitance, and the like). The output frequency should also be stable with respect to the different process corners of the fabrication process used to manufacture the VCO and should be constant over different operating temperatures.
For example in a case where a prior art VCO is used in an application for clock recovery in a serial transmission system, it is important that the output frequency remain stable and constant. The output frequency is used to reconstruct a serial transmission clock signal, which in turn, is used to sample data on a serial transmission line. Distortion or variation in the VCO output frequency, and hence, the reconstructed clock signal, can lead to sampling errors, lost data, decreased throughput, or other such problems. Consequently, for these applications it is important that the VCO provide a very stable, noise free output signal having a controlled frequency.
One problem prior art VCOs need to contend with is power supply noise. Noise, especially low frequency noise, in the power supply can have a detrimental effect on the VCO's output stability. As a typical VCO draws current from a power supply, the low frequency noise with this current (or voltage), or noise from other external devices (e.g., electromagnetic interference), can affect the output frequency. Such noise typically manifests itself as jitter on the rising and falling edges of the output signal, frequency skew in the output signal, or other distortions in the fidelity of the output.
Power supplies for VCOs are carefully filtered to remove this problematic noise. While higher frequencies are somewhat easier to remove, low frequency noise has proven more difficult and more expensive (e.g., with respect to silicon area or circuit board space) to remove. In addition, in most VCOs, a large portion of their circuitry is devoted to power supply noise rejection in order to enhance the stability of the output. These solutions are partially effective, however, as applications have become more complex and as noise sensitivity has increased with increasing levels of integration, power supply noise, particularly low frequency power supply noise, remains problematic.
Another problem is the effect of differing manufacturing process "corners". Each manufactured VCO is processed in fabrication facility and is subject to the particular variables of the specific manufacturing process employed. These variables are tightly controlled in an effort to make the devices which emerge from the process as uniform as possible. However, even the most closely monitored, tightly controlled, fabrication process has some variation, from lot to lot, of the process variables. This variation leads to slight performance variation within "families" of fabricated devices. The limits of this variation are referred to in the industry as process "corners". Hence, each nominal device emerging from fabrication will have some statistical performance variation within the process corners. At times, this variation is large enough to limit the applications to which a particular device is suited. In more severe cases, the variation can intermittently disrupt a system which includes the particular device.
Another problem is the temperature dependent variation in the output frequency of prior art VCOs. Typical prior art VCOs have difficulty maintaining a stable, constant output frequency as their operating temperatures change. When temperature increases or decreases, their output frequencies tend to increase or decrease correspondingly. This frequency variation can have a detrimental effect on the application in which the VCO is used.
Thus, what is required is a circuit which solves the power supply noise problems associated with the prior art. What is required is a circuit which is not adversely affected by low frequency noise in the power supply and which exhibits higher power supply noise rejection. What is required is a circuit which maintains a more constant, non-varying output frequency over differing operating temperatures, in comparison to the prior art. In addition, what is required is a circuit which maintains a constant and stable output frequency across the process corners. The present invention provides a novel solution to the above requirements.

VCO circuit having low gain variation over different processes and operating temperatures and having low power supply noise sensitivity


A fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a rotating hot roller, a rotating pressure roller, a heating belt that contacts the hot roller and conducts heat, a first support roller and a second support roller that are heated by a heat source, support the heating belt suspended therebetween, and conduct heat to the heating belt, a first temperature detection device that detects a first temperature of an area of the first support roller where it contacts the heating belt or an area of the heating belt where it contacts the first support roller, a second temperature detection device that detects a second temperature of an area of the second support roller where it contacts the heating belt or an area of the heating belt where it contacts the second support roller, and a device for detecting rotation stoppage of one of the support rollers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fixing apparatuses used in image forming apparatuses and to image forming apparatuses provided with these fixing apparatuses.
2. Description of Related Art
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses that are commonly employed in copiers, laser printers, and facsimile machines and the like, it has long been common for thermal fixing systems to be used as a fixing system used in fixing apparatuses, and hot roller fixing systems using a hot roller are ordinarily employed as the thermal fixing system. In these hot roller fixing systems, a hot roller that is internally provided with a heater of a heat source and whose outer circumference is covered with a rubber or a resin having excellent releasability and a pressure roller are caused to press against each other such that a transfer paper on which a toner image has been formed passes through a nip portion formed between these rollers, thereby thermally melting the toner, and fixing is carried out by causing the toner to fuse onto the transfer paper. These hot roller fixing systems are applied in high speed operations since the entire hot roller is maintained at a predetermined temperature.
However, in recent years, full color image forming apparatuses such laser printers and the like that support full color recording have become widely used, and toners of four colors of magenta, yellow, cyan, and black are used in these full color image forming apparatuses. Unlike a case of fixing a single color toner in which the toner is fixed by simply softening it while pressure is applied, to fix a full color toner image in a full color image forming apparatus, it is necessary to mix multiple types of color toners in a near-melted state, and therefore it is necessary for the fixing apparatus to put the toner into a completely melted state.
Thus, in the fixing apparatuses of hot roller fixing systems in full color image forming apparatuses, an elastic structure of a rubber layer formed by a silicone rubber or the like is provided on a support structure of a metal or the like having superior thermal conductivity, then a surface of the elastic structure is covered by a fluorocarbon resin having excellent releasability, thereby forming a hot roller.
However, even in fixing apparatuses of a hot roller fixing system using a hot roller such as this, when commencing operation of the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to heat the hot roller having a rubber layer of poor thermal conductivity using a heat source such as a heater provided inside the hot roller until the hot roller reaches a predetermined temperature. For this reason, time is required from powering up until operation is possible, which is a problem in that a waiting time is produced. Furthermore, there is a problem that the temperature of the hot roller drops during high speed continuous operations.
Accordingly, to address these problems in recent years, fixing apparatuses of a fixing system (belt-type external heating fixing system) have been proposed (see JP 2005-292714A and JP 2007-241180A for example) in which a heating belt of a belt-type external heating means provided with a heating belt, which rotates while being heated, is brought in contact with a surface of the hot roller, such that the hot roller is heated not only from the inside, but from the outside as well.
The invention described in JP 2005-292714A relates to a fixing apparatus of the above-mentioned belt-type external heating fixing system, in which in order to increase the amount of heat conducted to the hot roller from the belt-type external heating means, at least one heat source provided in the belt-type external heating means is arranged inside a contact region between the hot roller and the heating belt, and temperature drops of the heating belt are avoided by directly heating the heating belt using the heat source, such that the amount of heat conducted to the hot roller is increased and the temperature of the heat source is controlled using a temperature detection member.
The invention described in JP 2007-241180A relates to a fixing apparatus of the above-mentioned belt-type external heating fixing system, in which the amount of heat conducted to the hot roller is increased by causing the heating belt of a belt-type external heating means, which is provided with a heating belt, which is heated while rotating, to contact a surface of the hot roller, and the amount of conducted heat is controlled using a means capable of varying a contact surface area of the heating belt to the hot roller.
As described above, a fixing apparatus of the above-mentioned belt-type external heating fixing system is configured as shown in FIG. 7 for example. That is, the fixing apparatus of the belt-type external heating fixing system in FIG. 7 fixes unfixed images onto the recording material by causing the recording material to pass through a nip portion formed by contact between a rotating hot roller 90 and an unshown pressure roller.
In the fixing apparatus of this belt-type external heating fixing system, a heating belt 91 contacts and rotates against the hot roller 90. The heating belt 91 is suspended between and supported by support rollers 92 and 93, which are internally provided with heat sources 94 and 95. The support rollers 92 and 93 are heated by the heat sources 94 and 95, and heat is conducted from the thus-heated support rollers 92 and 93 to the heating belt 91.
The heat that is conducted to the heating belt 91 is further conducted from the heating belt 91 to the hot roller 90. Furthermore, in this fixing apparatus of the belt-type external heating fixing system, the support roller 92 and the support roller 93 contact the hot roller 90 through the heating belt 91. Furthermore, in this fixing apparatus of the belt-type external heating fixing system, in contrast to the internal heat sources provided inside the hot roller 90 for heating the hot roller 90, a portion constituted by the support rollers 92 and 93, the heat sources 94 and 95 provided inside the support rollers 92 and 93, and the heating belt 91 is referred to as an external heating member. It should be noted that the arrow shown in FIG. 7 indicates the rotation direction of the heating belt 91.
In this regard, the fixing apparatus of the belt-type external heating fixing system shown in FIG. 7 has problems such as the following. That is, due to thermal expansion of end portions of the support rollers 92 and 93, or thermal expansion or the like of shaft bearing portions, one of the support roller 92 and the support roller 93 may sometimes not rotate while the heating belt 91 is rotating. Specifically, there is a state such as the following when for example the support roller 92 is rotating and the support roller 93 is not rotating.
In FIG. 7, the support rollers 92 and 93 receive heat from the heat sources 94 and 95, and convey heat to the heating belt 91, and the continually rotating support roller 92 is capable of conveying heat from its entire surface to the heating belt 91. However, the support roller 93, which is not rotating, supplies heat only at an A region (FIG. 7) that contacts the heating belt 91, and a B region (FIG. 7) accumulates heat.
Since the support rollers 92 and 93 normally rotate together, heat that has accumulated in the heat sources 94 and 95 and heat that has accumulated in the support rollers 92 and 93 can be diffused by a post-rotation operation carried out in continuation from completion of the temperature raising operation after powering up or completion of a fixing operation. In this way, the external heating member can be prevented from rising in temperature abnormally after a rotation stoppage of the hot roller 90.
However, in a case where the support roller 93 is not rotating, since the support roller 93 is stopped in a state in which heat accumulated in the B region (FIG. 7) is not diffused, the external heating member rises in temperature abnormally. In this case, after the rotation stoppage of the support roller 93, the surface temperature of the hot roller 90 at a C portion, which is in contact with the not-rotating support roller 93, is higher compared to the surface temperatures of other portions of the hot roller 90.
The same is also conceivable in a case where the support roller 93 is rotating and the support roller 92 is not rotating, since it is merely that the conditions of the support roller 93 and the support roller 92 are opposite to the above.
Thus, in a case where a next fixing command is issued and a fixing operation is carried out in a state where temperature unevenness has been produced on the surface of the hot roller 90, a situation arises in which a problem is produced of uneven glossiness in the outputted image of the recording material that has undergone fixing. Further still, in a case where the temperature of the external heating member undesirably exceeds a heat-resistance temperature of the surface material of the hot roller 90, a situation arises in which problems are produced such as wrinkling in the surface of the hot roller 90.
Two support rollers, namely the support roller 92 and the support roller 93, are used in the above-described example, but the above-described problems still occur in a case where three or more support rollers are used.

Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with fixing apparatus


A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is disclosed for use in a hand-held detection device for detecting the presence of an odorant in hydrocarbon gaseous fuels. The odorant is a thiol-based compound, such as ethanethiol. The QCM is coated with a coating typically containing a reagent that specifically reacts with the thiol of the odorant and alters its oscillation frequency as a result of mass gained in the reaction. Signal measurement and processing circuitry is provided for monitoring the change in oscillation frequency, for nulling out the effect of interfering compounds, and for reporting out the result.

Potentially explosive hydrocarbon fuel gases such as propane have been odorized to warn of leaks. Although the use of odorants to warn of leaks of gaseous fuels was first proposed in Germany by Von Quaglios in the 1800s, and odorants were used as early as 1900 in Europe; it was not until 1937 when a school explosion in Texas provided sufficient impetus for promulgation of U.S. laws requiring the addition of an odorant to gaseous fuels. Currently, both natural gas and propane are required to be odorized such that most people can detect the odor at ⅕ the lower flammability limit. For example, 29 CFR 1910.119 (b)(1)(i) states that "liquefied petroleum gases shall be effectively odorized by an approved agent of such character as to indicate positively, by distinct odor, the presence of gas down to concentration in air of not over one-fifth the lower limit of flammability . . . the odorization requirement of paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section shall be considered to be met by the use of 1.0 pounds of ethyl mercaptan per 10,000 gallons of LP-gas." The requirements under 49 CFR 173.315 (b) (1) are the same.
Ethyl mercaptan, also known as ethanethiol, is the odorant of choice for 95 percent of the propane industry. However, it must be noted that although tests have shown about 9 out of 10 people can smell ethanethiol at a level of 20 ppb, this still leaves a significant number of people for whom smell is not a reliable indicator of odorant level.
An additional problem known as "odorant fade" was well documented by Beltis in "Characterization of LP Gas Odor and Fade," Kevin J. Beltis, Consumer Products Safety Commission report CPSC-C-86-1281, June 1986, and it may also reduce the ability to detect leaks. Odorant fade is the loss of odorant effectiveness caused by absorption, complexation and/or degradation of the odorant. For example, most odorants can be adsorbed or absorbed by materials with a high surface area, such as soil or dirt. Absorption/adsorption may also occur on the surfaces of new pipes or tanks that have not previously contained odorized propane. Moreover, odorants may be chemically oxidized to products that do not have the same degree of odor warning capability. In particular, rust in tanks is known to cause thiols (mercaptans), such as ethanethiol to oxidize to compounds of lower odor. Collectively, these absorption, adsorption, complexation and degradation phenomena are known as odor fade. Due to odor fade, there remain cases where there is doubt about the amount of odorant present in commercial propane. A recent example is the controversy about odorization levels in LP gas supplied to customers in Massachusetts and Connecticut that was reported in the March 2011 issue LP Gas Magazine.
Leakages of inadequately odorized gas present a high risk of inadvertent ignition and explosion since the ability to detect such leaks is diminished. Thus, there is a need to verify that propane fuel in fact contains the proper level of odorant. The three most common methods of testing for propane odorant are a) the "sniff" test, b) stain tubes, and c) gas chromatography. Optical methods are sometimes used in a laboratory setting. Note that odor fade can occur after delivery. Even if the propane was delivered to the supplier's tank with the proper odorant level or the propane was delivered to the customer's tank with the proper odorant level there is no certainty that the propane supplied to the customer's point of use has the proper odorant level. Testing may be needed along the entire supply chain from production to point of use.
The most basic type of test for odorant is simply a sniff test. However, it is well-known that such a test result may be subjective. There are devices that make the test semi-quantitative by diluting the sample with known quantities of air. Examples include the Heath Odorator, and the Bacharach Odorometer, developed in the 1920s. The Odorometer had drawbacks however: it required ambient air for dilution of the odor and the air had to be passed through multiple filters to remove impurities that otherwise could affect the perceived odor intensity.
Stain tubes, or length-of-stain tubes, have been used for the determination of odorant concentration. For example, Sensidyne and Draeger manufacture hermetically sealed thin glass tubes that contain a detecting reagent that produces a distinct color change when a sample of odorized propane vapor is drawn through the tube. If ethyl mercaptan is present, the detecting reagent produces a colored stain that can be measured with a calibration scale that is printed on the tube. Additionally, there is an ASTM standard for such stain tubes (Standard Test Method for Determination of Ethyl Mercaptan in Natural Gas, ASTM D5305, 2007).
Although length-of-stain tubes have a long history and enjoy ASTM Standard recognition, they have not proved fully satisfactory in the field, as the reading is somewhat subjective and the underlying accuracy is insufficient. According to ASTM Standards D1988 and D5305, the accuracy (reproducibility) of length-of-stain tubes for mercaptan measurement in gaseous fuels is plus or minus 20 to 25 percent or more. A previous Bureau of Mines study came to a similar conclusion. Moreover, visual assessment of color change is inherently subjective; some people are unable to distinguish certain colors.
At the more complex end of the analytical scale, gas chromatography can be very accurate in the laboratory, but is too expensive and awkward (bulky equipment and a compressed carrier gas supply are required) for use in the field. Similarly, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and laser-based optical absorption techniques can be sensitive, accurate, and free from interferences, but they are also complex and expensive procedures.
At least one vendor (Leister Technologies AG, Galileo-Strasse 10 CH-6056 Kaegiswil/Switzerland—See more at: http://www.leister.com/en/) offers a commercial laser diode spectrometer that could be suitable for mercaptan measurement. But this gas detector costs thousands of dollars exclusive of the power supply, sample pump, and sampling handling components.
The need for an inexpensive and portable detector that can monitor odorant concentrations along the entire supply line greatly complicates the development of an odorant meter. It means that an odorant meter cannot be a complex or expensive device that is used only at a production plant or at a supplier's headquarters. The meter must be portable and practical for field use by delivery and service personnel who are normally at the customer's premises.
These and other problems are addressed by the present invention.

Method and device for detecting odorants in hydrocarbon gases


A stable complex oil-in-water emulsion which is useful in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical or food fields. The stable complex oil-in-water emulsion is formed by the mixing of individual oil-in-water emulsions, each individual emulsion being obtained from an air/water pre-emulsion of a preferably-nonionic surfactant; a cosurfactant selected from hydrophilic compounds, preferably with at least one hydroxyl group selected from polyols; and an aqueous phase. A method of preparing a stable complex oil-in-water emulsion whereby individual oil-in-water emulsions, chosen for properties desired in the stable complex oil-in-water emulsion, are optionally diluted and mixed without exerting a shear force.

Emulsions are widely used in numerous technical fields, given that they make possible the lasting combination of at least two immiscible liquid-liquid phases.
Emulsions can be classified into two main categories, oil-in-water emulsions and-water-in-oil emulsions. In oil-in-water emulsions, the continuous phase is water; oil droplets are dispersed in this phase. Conversely, in water-in-oil emulsions, the continuous phase is the oil, in which water droplets are dispersed.
In the present application, the term "stable emulsion " is understood to mean an emulsion which does not exhibit phenomena of coalescence or phase separation after storage at ambient temperature for 6 months, preferably after storage at ambient temperature for 12 months and more preferably still at ambient temperature for 18 months.
The qualities required are different depending on the technical field in which the emulsions are employed. However, some qualities are desired for all emulsions, in particular stability over time and towards temperature variations, but also specific qualities in terms in particular of rheology, of stability with respect to pH variations or stability to electrolytes.
In the cosmetic, pharmaceutical or food fields, for example, emulsions have to exhibit numerous additional qualities, in particular in terms of appearance, of compatibility with active substances, of feeling to the touch, of feeling in the mouth, of fragrance, of acceptability with regard to dermatological or food use, and the like.
The emulsions obtained by conventional methods exhibit the disadvantage, however, of being highly sensitive, in particular to temperature and to dilution or to physicochemical parameters, such as the presence of electrolytes or variations in pH.
Any modification, however slight it may be, of the composition of an emulsion can have an influence on its stability and in a way which is difficult to predict. Thus, most of the time, a modification results in a modification in the qualities of the emulsion, indeed even a phase separation of the emulsion, and thus requires the development of a new appropriate formulation process.
Consequently, conventionally, when it is desired to introduce a new product into an emulsion in order to confer a given property or a given appearance thereon or else to increase or reduce the content of one of the constituents, it is necessary to define, by successive trial-and-error experiments, a new complete formulation protocol.
The present inventors have looked for a means for simplifying the work of formulators.

Stable, concentrated and dilute, oil-in-water emulsions, their processes of preparation, and formulation process employing these emulsions


A low pass filter for use in an image band pass filter of a photoelectron spectromicroscope incorporating a virtual potential surface for reflecting electrons below a particular energy and a special charged particle trap or super dump for unwanted electrons. The filter construction with the super dump reduces the proportion of elastically and inelastically scattered high energy electron escaping the filter.

An image band pass filter operating in a photoelectron spectromicroscope is known and comprises two stages, the first comprising a region in which a beam of imaging electrons is deflected in the crossed electrostatic and magnetic field between a succession of electron mirrors which are designed to remove electrons of a certain energy and reflect those of a particular energy which are to form the electron image.
The beam from the first stage is then transferred to the second stage through a high pass filter into a region of the second stage and then deflected in an electrostatic and magnetic cross field along a path corresponding to a restoration of the displacement of the original beam in the first stage from its original path of travel.
In the first and second stage of the analyser as above described, the electrostatic field of the cross field is designed to be non-uniform whereby to control motion of the electrons in the cross field and correct for distortion of the image in the output beam.
In such spectroscopy the signal to background ratio is of high significance particularly in the detection of weak signals. The first low pass filter encountered by the image stream in the band pass analyser as described above, plays a vital role in determining the signal/scattered electron background ratio. This arises from the unwanted higher energy electrons obtaining axial momentum in the band pass range after elastic and inelastic collision with the absorber plate of the low pass filter and hence being transported through the analyser.
Such scattered electrons may have both large energy and low axial momentum thus contributing a diffuse background within the pass band of the subsequent low pass and high pass elements of the analyser.

Electron imaging band pass analyser for a photoelectron spectromicroscope


Whether a field is an output field or input/output field is judged from an acquired field attribute. If the field attribute is an input/output field, the field character string of an output field which exists closest to the input/output field is selected as the control name candidate of the field. If the field attribute is an output field, the field character string of the field is selected as the control name candidate of the field. In this way, names related to the field can be assigned as control names on a GUI screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus generating a graphical user interface (GUI) screen based on the screen data of a character-based user interface screen, a method generating a GUI screen and a storage medium recording a GUI screen generating program.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the increasing speed and decreasing cost of personal computers and a request on a client-server type operation form, it is requested to convert an existing host-centered process user interface to a client-server type graphical user interface.
It is necessary to determine the name of a control laid out on a GUI screen in order to convert a host-centered type character-based user interface (hereinafter called "CUI") screen to a graphical user interface (hereinafter called "GUI") screen. However, since a name used to specify a field is not defined in the screen data of a CUI screen, it is necessary to specify a control name corresponding to each field of the CUI screen.

GUI screen generating apparatus, GUI screen generating method and storage medium recording GUI screen generating program


An electronic device has an electronic module having an insulating substrate 60, a conductor layer 20 provided on the insulating substrate 60, an electronic element 40 provided on the conductor layer 20 and a heat dissipation layer 10 provided on the insulating substrate in an opposite side of the electronic element 40 and a cooling body 100 which abuts on the heat dissipation layer 10. The cooling body 100 has a divided part 110 being provided at a portion which abuts on the heat dissipation layer 10 and being a plurality of divided regions.

Conventionally, in an electronic module such as a transfer power module, a heat radiation plate (heat radiation layer) made of copper or the like is provided on a back surface of the electronic module to cool embedded electronic elements or the like (for example, refer to JP 2015-211524 A). If the heat radiation layer is provided as described above, a function as a capacitor may be realized by a conductor layer, an insulating substrate, and the heat radiation layer (the capacitor function may be formed). If the capacitor function is formed as described above, noise due to the electronic elements in the electronic module may be discharged to the outside of the electronic module via the heat radiation layer.

SHINDENGEN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


A method and apparatus for depositing a multilayer barrier structure is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a thin barrier layer formed over an organic semiconductor includes a non-conformal organic layer, an inorganic layer formed over the non-conformal organic layer, a metallic layer formed over the inorganic layer and a second organic layer formed over the metallic layer. In another embodiment, a method of depositing a barrier layer includes forming an organic semiconductor device over the exposed surface of a substrate, depositing an inorganic layer using CVD, depositing a metallic layer comprising one or more metal oxide or metal nitride layers over the inorganic layer by ALD, each of the metal oxide or metal nitride layers comprising a metal, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, hafnium, titanium, zirconium, silicon or combinations thereof and depositing an organic layer over the metallic layer.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to the deposition of a multilayer ultra thin film barrier. More particularly, embodiments generally relate to methods for depositing barrier layers with low permeability onto one or more features.
2. Description of the Related Art
Organic semiconductor devices, such as organic light emitting diodes (OLED), are used in the manufacture of television screens, computer monitors, mobile phones, other hand-held devices, or other devices for displaying information. A typical OLED may include layers of organic material situated between two electrodes that are all deposited on a substrate in a manner to form a matrix display panel having individually energizable pixels. The OLED is generally placed between two glass panels, and the edges of the glass panels are sealed to encapsulate the OLED therein.
The encapsulation is achieved by sealing the active materials in inert atmosphere using a glass lid secured by a bead of UV-cured epoxy resin. The rigid encapsulation is not applicable to flexible displays, where a durable and flexible encapsulation is necessary to protect the active OLED materials from water moisture and oxygen. One approach is to use a multilayer barrier structure as a barrier to water moisture and oxygen permeation. Inorganic layers can be incorporated into the multilayer barrier structure as the main barrier layer. Organic layers can also be incorporated for the purposes of stress relaxation and as a water/oxygen diffusion channel decoupling layer.
Though various layers have been incorporated into the encapsulation structure, each of these layers have some level of permeability to the environment. Thus, there is a constant need for improved water-barrier performance in encapsulation/barrier films to protect the devices underneath.

Thin film encapsulation-thin ultra high barrier layer for OLED application


A semiconductor storage device includes a program ROM and a flash memory, and the program ROM includes a program data storing area and a dummy data storing area, and the flash memory includes a program data storing area and a dummy address storing area. An address comparison circuit compares an input address and a dummy address being stored in the dummy address storing area with each other. An output inhibiting circuit allows to read program data from the program ROM when the both addresses are not coincident with each other, and inhibits the program data from being read at a time of incoincidence. In a case of the incoincidence, an address conversion circuit produces a read address of the flash memory, whereby the program data is read from the flash memory.

The stored contents of a semiconductor storage device may include data that is undesirable to be read by a third person such as information relating to the privacy of the individual, the information to be protected by a copyright and so on. In order to inhibit the stored contents from being read from the semiconductor storage device without authorization, security circuits have been incorporated in the semiconductor storage devices or peripheral devices for controlling the storage device.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically showing one example of a conventional semiconductor storage device with security circuit. In this prior art, a security circuit SCR is inserted between an interface circuit UI and a semiconductor memory MEM. In reading the semiconductor memory MEM, when an input signal including a read command and a read address is applied to the interface circuit UI, the interface circuit UI analyzes the input signal and transmits the address to the security circuit SCR. The security circuit SCR determines whether or not the transmitted address exists within a memory space that the data is allowed to be read therefrom. If the address is not within the allowed memory space, the security circuit SCR does not apply the read address to the semiconductor memory MEM, and therefore, a normal reading operation cannot be performed. If the address is within the allowed memory space, a correct address is applied from the security circuit SCR to the semiconductor memory MEM. In response thereto, the data is read from the semiconductor memory MEM and outputted to the outside through the interface circuit UI.
The FIG. 7 prior art is a device which intends to protect the stored contents of the semiconductor memory MEM in a manner that when the input address is an address within the allowed memory space, the security circuit SCR does not apply the read address to the semiconductor memory MEM as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 59-152599. Furthermore, there is a method involving the read address being disturbed in the security circuit SCR as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 63-225839, a method involving the data read from the semiconductor memory MEM being disturbed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 6-250929, and other methods.
A method for removing the security function in the prior art in FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, a comparison circuit CMP is utilized. When a password is externally input, the password is input to the comparison circuit CMP. On the other hand, the interface circuit UI fixedly stores a password that is set in advance. The password is also applied from the interface circuit UI to the comparison circuit CMP. The comparison circuit CMP compares the two passwords with each other, and if they are coincident, inputs a security removing signal to the security circuit SCR. Therefore, in this case, the semiconductor memory MEM can be normally accessed, and the normal reading operation can be performed.
In the prior art shown in FIG. 8, in order to control whether or not the security function is to be shown, it is necessary to input the password, and therefore, a security removing method can be easily known by analyzing the input signal. Furthermore, if the semiconductor storage device with security circuit is constructed by a general-purpose ROM chip and a security chip, by removing the ROM chip from a circuit board, it is possible to easily read or copy the data.
Therefore, the illustrative implementations of the present invention are designed to provide a novel semiconductor storage device in which the stored content can be effectively protected from being copied.
The illustrative implementations also provide a semiconductor storage device in which even if the data stored in the ROM is copied, the copied data is made not to be utilized for an original purpose of use.
In accordance with an illustrative implementation, a novel external memory or memory cartridge for a game machine is shown in which an application program or game program can be effectively protected from being copied. The external memory or memory cartridge for a game machine is shown in which even if an application program or game program stored in a ROM is copied, the copied application program or game program is made not to be utilized for its original purpose.
A semiconductor storage according to an exemplary implementation of the present invention is a semiconductor storage device storing regular data and having a security function for preventing unfair use of the regular data, comprising: a first store including a first regular data storing area for fixedly storing first regular data and a dummy data storing area for fixedly storing dummy data; a second store including a second regular data storing area which has a storage capacity equal to at least a storage capacity of the dummy data storing area of the first storing means and fixedly stores second regular data to be originally stored in the dummy data storing area; and a read control mechanism which compares an input address with the dummy data of an address space of the dummy data storing area, to enable reading of the first regular data from the first store when the input address and the dummy address are not identical, and to disable the reading of the first regular data and enable the reading of the second regular data from the second store when the input address and the dummy address are identical.
According to an exemplary implementation of the present invention, even if all the data stored in the first store are read, since further regular data is stored in the second store a part from the first store and the data of the first store includes the dummy data, it is possible to prevent the regular data from being copied as a whole.
More specifically, according to an exemplary implementation of the present invention, the regular data can be normally utilized because the first regular data storing area and the dummy data storing area are formed in the first store, and when the first regular data storing area is accessed, the first regular data is read from the first regular data storing area, and when the dummy data storing area is accessed, the second regular data is read from the second store.
In contrast, even if the stored contents of the first store, i.e. the fist regular data and the dummy data are all unfairly copied without authorization, the dummy data included in the copied data, and therefore, it is impossible to utilize the copied data for the original purpose of use as it is. Therefore, the unfair use can be prevented.
In one implementation of the present invention, the first store includes a masked ROM, and the second store includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory (a flash memory, for example) which is a writable/readable memory.
The flash memory has a storage capacity larger than a storage capacity of the second regular data storing area, and further includes a dummy address storing area storing the dummy address other than the second regular data storing area, and the dummy address to be applied to the read control mechanism is read from the dummy address storing area.
The flash memory is constructed such that the data is written with a first write voltage in the second regular data storing area and the dummy address storing area, and the data is written with a second write voltage lower than the first write voltage in other areas.
In addition, the flash memory and the read control mechanism is formed within the same single flash memory chip.
In other preferred embodiments, the read control mechanism includes a comparator for comparing the input address and the dummy address with each other to output a first signal or a second signal, an enabling/disabling means for enabling the first storing means in response to the first signal and disabling the first storing means in response to the second signal, and a read address output means for outputting a read address for the second regular data being stored in the second storing means in response to the second signal.
A memory cartridge according to an exemplary implementation of the present invention is a memory cartridge storing an application program and having a security function for preventing unfair use of the application program, comprising: a first storing means including a first program storing area for fixedly storing a first application program and a dummy data storing area for fixedly storing dummy data; a second storing means including a second program storing area which has a storage capacity equal to at least a storage capacity of the dummy data storing area of the first storing means and fixedly stores a second application program to be originally stored in the dummy data storing area; and a read control means which compares an input address with the dummy data of an address space of the dummy data storing area, to enable reading of the first application program from the first storing means when the input address and the dummy address are not identical, and to disable the reading of the first application program and enable the reading of the second application program from the second storing means when the input address and the dummy address are identical.
An electronic equipment according to an exemplary implementation of the present invention is an electronic equipment storing an application program and having a security function for preventing unfair use of the application program, comprising: a first storing means including a first program storing area for fixedly storing a first application program and a dummy data storing area for fixedly storing dummy data; a second storing means including a second program storing area which has a storage capacity equal to at least a storage capacity of the dummy data storing area of the first storing means and fixedly stores a second application program to be originally stored in the dummy data storing area; and a read control means which compares an input address with the dummy data of an address space of the dummy data storing area, to enable reading of the first application program from the first storing means when the input address and the dummy address are not identical, and to disable the reading of the first application program and enable the reading of the second application program from the second storing means when the input address and the dummy address are identical.
A memory cartridge for game machine according to an exemplary implementation of the present invention is a memory cartridge for game machine storing a game program and having a security function for preventing unfair use of the game program, comprising: a first storing means including a first program storing area for fixedly storing a first game program and a dummy data storing area for fixedly storing dummy data; a second storing means including a second program storing area which has a storage capacity equal to at least a storage capacity of the dummy data storing area of the first storing means and fixedly stores a second game program to be originally stored in the dummy data storing area; and a read control means which compares an input address with the dummy data of an address space of the dummy data storing area, to enable reading of the first game program from the first storing means when the input address and the dummy address are not identical, and to disable the reading of the first game program and enable the reading of the second game program from the second storing means when the input address and the dummy address are identical.
In addition, in a case that the second storing means is constructed by an nonvolatile semiconductor memory (a flash memory, for example) and the data is written in the second program storing area with a first write voltage and the data is written with a second write voltage lower than the first write voltage into other areas, in the storing area into which the data is written with the second write voltage, backup data representing the development or progress of the game obtained by executing the first game program and/or the second game program by a processing means of a game machine is written.
In a case that the semiconductor storing device according to an exemplary implementation of the present invention is utilized for a memory cartridge for game machine, if a game main program and/or an important subroutine program is stored in the second game program storing area of the second storing means, unless the second game program is read, it is impossible to execute the game, and therefore, it is possible to implement the copy protect of the game program.
Furthermore, if the second program to be originally stored in the dummy data storing area of the first storing means is stored in the second storing means, and the storage capacity of the second storing means is set to be larger than the storage capacity of the dummy data storing area, by storing data (dummy address) specifying what memory space of the first storing means is the dummy data storing area in the second storing means, the dummy data storing area can be set in an arbitrary memory space of the first storing means. Therefore, it becomes almost impossible to analyze the game program.
Furthermore, in a case that a second storing means further includes a vacant area, if the data that is varied according to the progress or development of the game and necessary for restarting the game after the game is suspended, that is, the backup data such as score point, life, items, player name and etc. is written in the vacant area, it is possible to omit a backup memory which was provided in a conventional cartridge for game machine. That is, the second storing means serves as the second storing means and the backup memory, and therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost.
In addition, if the nonvolatile semiconductor memory is utilized, it becomes unnecessary to provide a backup battery and etc., and therefore, the number of the components can be reduced, and thus, it becomes easy to mount the components on the circuit board.
The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Security system method and apparatus for preventing application program unauthorized use


An improved dispensing apparatus for metering out feed to animals such as pets, or small livestock, such device delivering feed at pre-determined times and in a pattern which is consistent day-to-day so that the pre-selected feeding schedule is maintained. The device comprising a timer having a slowly rotating axial component, a dispenser in the form of a distribution wheel anchored to such axial component and disposed outwardly from the timer for axial rotation upon rotation of the axial component, and such distribution wheel including a series of axially spaced compartments for receiving feed from an associated hopper. The timer preferably rotates the axial component so that one standard rotation is completed in a 24-hour period. Accordingly, within such time period one complete rotation of the distribution wheel occurs. By appropriately blocking off certain of the compartments in the distribution wheel feed is delivered only to those available compartments and a pre-selected feeding schedule can be devised which is consistent day-to-day due to the 24-hour cyclical rotation of the distribution wheel.

Automatic food dispensing systems for animals are well known in the art. Most, however, are directed towards expensive and relatively complex apparatus for distributing feed to livestock, such as the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,535, wherein a large hopper distributes the feed to a rapidly rotating distribution wheel which, in turn, dispenses feed to a trough from which livestock feed.
Other systems, such as the pet food dispenser disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,364, basically utilizes similar elements as detailed in the feeding apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,535, but on a smaller scale and specifically adapted for feeding pets. Again, such systems use rapidly rotating distribution wheels for discharging feed through, for example, an elongated opening at the bottom of the housing of the dispenser.
On account of the high rotation of the distribution wheel in these prior art devices, many moving parts and gears are required, making these devices expensive to manufacture and maintain. Further, rapidly rotating distribution wheels are subject to wear as the food particles pass between the distribution wheels and the hopper delivering feed to such wheels. In the event that food particles jam between the distribution wheel and the hopper a great strain is placed on the motor used to rotate the distribution wheel causing the motor to overload and possibly burn out, requiring expensive repairs.
Moreover, it can be appreciated that rapidly rotating distribution wheels are not suitable for continuous day-to-day operation. Continuous use of such systems would strain the motors driving the distribution wheel resulting in eventual burn out. As a consequence, these prior art devices can only deliver feed through manual activation, or, if continuous day-to-day operation is required, complex switching mechanisms needed to periodically activate the motors to rapidly rotate the distribution wheel and stop same at the pre-selected times.
As a consequence, most pet owners who use feeding systems of the prior art activate these systems subject to the time available to the pet owner--this does not provide and maintain well metered and rhythmic schedule of feeding for the animal.

Food dispensing apparatus for small animals


A method comprises providing a free buffer pool in a memory including a non-negative number of free buffers that are not allocated to a queue for buffering data. A request is received to add one of the free buffers to the queue. One of the free buffers is allocated to the queue in response to the request, if the queue has fewer than a first predetermined number of buffers associated with a session type of the queue. One of the free buffers is allocated to the queue, if a number of buffers in the queue is at least as large as the first predetermined number and less than a second predetermined number associated with the session type, and the number of free buffers is greater than zero.

The queues for most media servers are based on software management. They may not handle large number of simultaneous media streams, since the management of queues are primarily based on software.
Competing solutions offer bandwidth management under software control. Some offer simple round robin schemes without considering priorities of sessions. Some offer strict priority solutions without considering bandwidth considerations. These software solutions do not scale with number of sessions, and provide unfair access to bandwidth and increased latency, resulting in poor quality of media streaming.

Buffer management method and system with two thresholds


An electrical power generating apparatus (20) may include a housing (22), an electrical generator (24) within the housing, and a step-up transformer (30) within the housing and connected to the electrical generator. A turbine (26) may be provided exterior the housing (22) to drive the electrical generator (24). A barrier wall (38) may be provided within the housing and (22) between the electrical generator (24) and the step-up transformer (30), and a fire extinguishing system (40) may be installed within the housing (22). The step-up transformer (30) may be connected to the electrical generator (24) without use of an isolated phase bus.

An electrical power generation apparatus may comprise an electrical generator that is driven by a turbine, for example. The electrical generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. A typical electrical generator includes a stator, and a rotor that rotates within the stator to generate electricity. The rotor is driven by a shaft to which it is mounted.
An isolated phase bus is commonly used to connect a step-up transformer to an electric generator. An example of such an isolated phase bus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,548,566 to Stafford, for example. The isolated phase bus comprises a plurality of bus bars in an enclosure. The isolated phase bus connects an electrical generator to a plurality of transformers and is mounted to a plurality of H-beam supports by support rings.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,944,101 to Albright discloses a metal enclosed high voltage bus structure. The bus is suitable for supporting voltages of the order of 138 KV. The bus structure comprises flexible rolled sheet metal. To provide rigidity sufficient for mounting to supports, circular reinforcing members are fastened to the outside of the housing.
A problem associated with the above referenced configurations, however, is that they may require a large footprint, which may increase design costs, as well as overall plant costs. Further, the isolated phase bus may be cumbersome. Once the isolated phase bus is installed, maneuverability about the site may be difficult.
A product distributed by ABB under the commercial name of Powerformer™ is a high voltage generator using solid dielectric high voltage cables for stator windings. The high voltage cables can be connected directly to a transmission system. More specifically, the Powerformer™ uses underground cable technology (with Class A insulation, as understood by those skilled in the art) for stator windings. Low insulation temperatures, however, generally correspond to large size and/or low efficiency operation. Further, the Powerformer™ is generally custom designed for a given transmission voltage.

Integrated generator and transformer and associated methods


A system and method for verifying the positional integrity of a robotic arm are disclosed. The robotic arm includes a servo mechanism which causes movement of the arm. The servo mechanism has a position encoder which indicates the relative position of the robotic arm with respect to a fixed reference point. A flag is attached to the robotic arm. A sensor for detecting the flag is attached to a point which is fixed with respect to the motion of the robotic arm. The sensor is located at a point such that the flag will pass by the sensor during the normal course of travel of the robotic arm. Each time the flag passes by the sensor, the sensor generates a signal. A controller which is coupled to the position encoder and to the sensor compares the position of the robotic device indicated by the position encoder at the time the sensor detects the presence of the flag with a predetermined value.

1. Field of The Invention
This invention relates in general to robotic arms, and more particularly to positional calibration of robotic arms.
2. Related Art
With the advent of robotics technology, automated processing has come into widespread use in numerous facets of today's industry. Robotic systems are employed to perform a myriad of functions from assembly line processes to materials processing to real-time operational processes. These robotic systems are often implemented using a computer-controlled robotic arm.
Applications for robotic arms in assembly line processes include welding, painting, and testing. In the materials processing environment, robotic applications can include, for example, locating materials or chemicals. In real-time operational environments, robots are used to perform operational functions such as automated order picking and for computer operations, tape selections and mounting.
To optimize performance of robotic systems in the above-mentioned and other applications, a robotic arm must be quickly and precisely positioned to perform its task. To illustrate this concept, a tape selection and mounting robotic system will be used as an example. In this example, the tape selection robotic system must locate a correct tape to be loaded, and quickly and precisely align its arm to select the proper tape. If the alignment is imprecise, a critical error may result. The robotic arm could miss the tape entirely or even retrieve the wrong tape. In addition, if the arm is extended when aligned imprecisely, damage to the tape, the robotic arm, or a tape storage bin may result.
Generally, a trade-off exists between the speed and precision with which a robotic arm may be aligned. In conventional systems, attaining a higher degree of alignment precision requires more time. Some conventional systems use a reach-out-and-touch technique whereby the arm is extended slowly to sense its position with respect to the tape and alignment is adjusted accordingly.
In addition, if alignment is imprecise, retrieval must be done more slowly to minimize the amount of damage that could be caused by "crashing" the misaligned arm into a bin or a tape cartridge.
A higher degree of precision means that the systems can be designed to tighter specifications. For the tape selection example, this means that bins which house the tape cartridges can be made smaller and positioned more closely to one another. As a result, system size is reduced and tape access time is quicker because the robotic arm has less distance to travel between tapes.
Many conventional systems employ a camera as part of the system for the "fine" positioning of the robotic arm. The camera, in effect, becomes the "eyes" of the robotic system. A controller within the robotic system uses the camera to search for a known pattern, called a target. The controller receives electronic signals from the camera indicating the location of the robotic arm with respect to the target. The controller then aligns the robotic arm using that target as a positioning guide. However, the camera must first be "coarsely" positioned with sufficient accuracy so that the camera can "see" the correct target.
Typically, the motors which drive a robotic device for coarse positioning operate under the general method of digital closed loop servo mechanism control. Under the digital closed loop servo mechanism control method, movement of the robotic arm occurs in the following manner.
Position encoders are attached to the motor (either directly or indirectly) to indicate the relative position of the motor. Different types of position encoders can be used. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electro-optical encoder is used. An electro-optical indicates relative (not absolute) movement of the motor and thereby indicates relative position of the device driven by the motor. Within the electro-optical encoder is a rotating disk that optically interrupts a light beam which is received by a photo-sensitive device that generates an equivalent electrical signal. The cycle of interrupting the light beam is monitored by a controller which receives the electrical signal and converts that signal into an encoder count. Depending on the resolution required for the particular application, the encoder count per revolution could vary from one to many thousands. The controller uses the encoder count to determine the mechanism's position.
When movement of the robotic arm is desired, the position encoder is sampled at a fixed interval. At each sample, the actual position of the mechanism is compared to the desired position at that point in time. The difference between the sampled position and the desired position is called a position error, and an appropriate amount of current is applied to the motor in attempts to reduce or minimize the position error. The step is repeated at each sample interval. When the position error is zero or acceptably close to zero, the mechanism has arrived at the desired position.
Because the position encoders indicate only relative and not absolute position, the absolute position of the motor within its range of operation must first be "learned" in order for the robotic device to correlate its relative position to its absolute or its desired position. This learning is typically done with the use of separate external sensors attached at the endpoints of the travel for the mechanism. The sensors indicate when the mechanism has reached an endpoint in a direction of travel.
Once the absolute position of a robotic mechanism has been learned, it is essential to the reliability and accuracy of the device that any failure in position be detected and be recovered from. Position encoders are typically attached directly to the motor. However, the mechanism itself is related to the motor through a belt or a coupler or some other sort of mechanical linkage. The linkage between the motor and the robotic mechanism itself can contribute to position errors. Belts can stretch and couplers can slip. Also, errors in the electronic system that monitor the motor position via the motor encoder could also arise.
Therefore, there is a need to detect when the positional integrity of a robotic device has been lost. There is a further need that the detection mechanism be external or secondary to the primary position system. There is also a need that this be done in a manner that is concurrent with normal operation of the robotic system.

On-the-fly position calibration of a robotic arm