A router and routing protocol redundancy are disclosed to reduce service outage or degradation for a network device and thus to increase service availability on a network due to software and hardware failures of the network device. A network device such as router includes a redundancy platform having an active controller system and a standby controller system. A routing protocol state change is received or generated by the active controller system. The received or generated routing protocol state change is replicated to the standby controller system. By replicating the routing protocol state change, the standby controller system can maintain the routing protocol sessions for the network device if a failure occurs in the active controller system. Furthermore, the routing protocol states are maintained in realtime to handle the dynamic changes created by routing protocols.

A network is a collection of interconnected devices, which allow users to access resources and data. Common types of network devices include servers, routers, bridges, switches, gateways, and hubs. A well-known network is the Internet. The Internet is a worldwide system of interconnected networks that runs the Internet Protocol (IP) to transfer data (e.g., packets). Because a packet can reach its destination by crossing a number of network boundaries on the Internet, IP includes a layer "3" service that provides routing and forwarding functions so that the packet can reach its destination using an optimal path.
A common network device that provides IP layer 3 service is a router. A router routes packets by determining an optimal path based on its current view of the network and forwards the packet across the network boundaries to a destination using the optimal path. Based on its view of the network, a router generates and maintains a routing table of available routes known to the router. The router uses the routing table to create a forward information table (FIB). The FIB is a table of routes that the router uses to forward packets to their destination.
A router uses a routing protocol to exchange information with other routers in order to maintain a consistent view of the network (i.e., a consistent FIB). For packets to be forwarded properly, each router must have a consistent FIB with other routers on the network. That is, routers having inconsistent forwarding information tables (FIBs) will not traverse packets through the network in a predictable manner. As such, routing loops or improper routing of packets can occur.
Hence, a critical problem that can occur on the network is a router failure. A router can fail for any number of reasons such as misconfigurations, hacker attacks, hardware failures, and software failures. Such failures are unpredictable. Unfortunately, a router failure can cause the topology of the network to change. In particular, the topology can change because certain links or routes disappear. Furthermore, routing protocol information can be lost because certain nodes cannot be reached or certain information cannot be propagated throughout the network. In addition, packets may be unable to reach a destination because certain addresses are unreachable.
A router failure can thus cause a number of problems such as a service outage, service degradation (suboptimal routing), and service outage due to large routing table convergence time. A failed router can cause other routers to forward packets using non-optimal paths causing service degradation because the packets may take more time to reach their destination. A failed router will also cause its peers and other routers on the network through these peers to update their routing tables ("convergence") causing a service outage or degradation to perform such a convergence.
For example, if a router fails and routing protocols of peer nodes or neighboring routers observe the failure, the routing protocols will propagate knowledge of the failed router throughout the network so that the routing tables are updated accordingly. Consequently, before the network can resume complete services, there is a service outage or degradation to update the routing tables in the working routers so they can generate consistent FIBs with each other. This network reconfiguration can take several seconds, minutes, or hours before the entire network can recover. For mission critical services, such a behavior is unacceptable.
A method for dealing with a router failure is to have hardware redundancy in order to increase system availability. This type of redundancy is commonly referred to as layer 2 redundancy. A layer 2 redundancy system may include redundant line cards, ports, or controller cards. If a line card, port, or controller card fails, the redundant line card, port, or controller card can resume operation. However, a disadvantage of layer 2 redundancy is that it does not provide realtime routing protocol redundancy. For instance, the numerous software states that are generated by the routing protocols in realtime are not maintained in the redundant hardware causing protocol sessions to be dropped. Therefore, in a layer 2 redundancy system, protocol sessions are dropped causing a network topology change and thus a service outage or service degradation.
Another method for dealing with a router failure is having a backup router. Such a scheme is commonly referred to as a Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP). In a VRRP scheme, if a peer router recognizes that a main router has failed it will start communicating with a backup router. A disadvantage with VRRP is that it can take a long time ("glitch time") to switchover to the backup router. Another disadvantage with VRRP is that the peering sessions of the failed router are torn down or disconnected and cannot be resumed by the backup router thus causing service failure.
Another disadvantage with VRRP is that either all routing sessions are disconnected, or the backup router has separate peering sessions with the same neighbors as the main router causing significant overhead for routing processing. In any case, there is a convergence time involved when the main router fails because peering sessions for the main router will be dropped.


An annular diaphragm and filter used for the simultaneous observation of darkfield images and fluorescence. The diaphragm has a variable diameter controlled by a lever and a removable filter. The diaphragm is used to adjust the amount of unfiltered incident light which produces darkfield images when directed on a sample. The removable filter is used to filter light to a particular frequency for producing fluorescence images. An Acousto-Optical Tunable Filter, or other such tunable filter may be used with the diaphragm. A method of using the diaphragm and filter is also disclosed.

All living creatures including humans are made of cells. The majority of life forms exist as single cells that perform all functions to continue independent life. A number of cells, cell organelles, bacteria and viruses are too small to be seen with traditional optical microscopes. To view cellular life, the microscope must have high resolution.
Currently there are a few microscopes which offer very fine resolution. Examples include "High-Resolution Optical Microscope" described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,509 and the "High Resolution Optical Microscope" described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/607,269, filed on Dec. 1, 2006.
Electron microscopes are another example. However, in using electron microscopes, the specimen must be prepared by high-vacuum dehydration and is subjected to intense heat by the electron beam, making observation of living specimens impossible. The sample preparation for electron microscopy requires living cells to be killed, frozen, dehydrated and impregnated with heavy metals. The dehydration process also alters the specimen, leaving artifacts and cell damage that were not present in nature. These procedures, together with electron beam damage caused during the observation of the cells creates the possibility that some components of the cell may be lost or destroyed. Also, in order to view the steps in a biological process, dozens of specimens must be viewed at various stages in order to capture each desired step. Further, specimen preparation for electron microscopes can take up to two hours each.
The high cost of an electron microscope represents another barrier to its use in the life sciences. Electron microscopes are large and often require an entire room. The operation and adjustment of an electron microscope also requires highly skilled technicians.
The ultraviolet microscope offers finer resolution and better magnification than an ordinary light microscope, but it has serious disadvantages for the study of living specimens. Ultraviolet light damages or kills many kinds of living biological specimens, making observation impossible. In ultraviolet microscopy, specimens are often stained with a fluorescent dye. Many fluorescent dyes bind strongly to elements such as enzymes within living cells, changing their qualities and significantly altering the cellular biochemistry. Other dyes produce too much fluorescence or absorb too much of the ultraviolet light to be useful.
Like electron microscopes, the operation of an ultraviolet microscope requires a great deal of skill. Because ultraviolet light damages the human eye, the image can only be observed by ultraviolet video cameras or specially-equipped still cameras. Also, the quartz optics required for ultraviolet microscopes are much more expensive than the glass components used in visible light microscopes.
The electron and ultraviolet microscopes available today do not offer a technique for observing living, unaltered biological specimens in real time. The damage from the electronic beam, from fixing, freezing, exposure to ultraviolet light, and other procedures which occur during observation limits the processes which can be seen by such devices. For example, the phenomenon of cellular transport cannot be observed in non-living cells by these known devices. Other examples of phenomena which cannot be directly observed by electronic microscopes include: streaming, Brownian motion, diffusion, phagocytosis, pinocytosis, mitosis, immuno-fluorescence, and cell interactions.
It is important for scientists in the biomedical community to observe these living cells and their processes in order to better understand the cellular world. Currently, the behavior cells and the phenomena responsible can only be inferred. These processes can only be studied in depth while they are occurring and while the cells are alive. Observing live cellular activity is needed to more completely understand such processes as gene therapy, artificial insemination, new drug development, cell culturing and cloning, cell regeneration, implantation, bio-detection, and biotherapeutics, amongst others. Observing very small, live cells at a high resolution, with a high contrast could possibly lead to the development of treatments to diseases and other health problems.
Fluorescent microscopes can be useful to the study of bacteria, animal, and plant cells, as they show primary fluorescence (autofluorescence) when illuminated with ultraviolet light. A fluorescent microscope is a microscope for observation of small objects by a light of their fluorescence. Fluorescence is most commonly generated by excitation with light. The emitted fluorescence light normally has a longer wavelength than that of the exciting light. Three important steps can divide the process of fluorescence. First, a molecule is excited by an incoming photon during the first few femtoseconds. During the next few picoseconds, the molecule goes through a vibrational relaxation of an excited state electron to the lowest energy level of the intermediate states. Finally, emission of a longer wavelength photon and recovery of the molecule into the ground state occurs during a few nanoseconds. The whole process from excitation of the molecule by an excitation light (EL) to emission of a longer wavelength fluorescent light (FL) is used for fluorescent microscopy.
The main function of a fluorescent microscope is to illuminate a sample with light of a specific wavelength (excitation light), excite the molecules of the sample with a fluorescent light, and then separate a weak emitted fluorescence from the excitation light, so that the emitted fluorescence can be observed. A special light source and the presence of two filters typically characterize the optical pathways of the fluorescent microscope: one filter is placed before a condenser and the other filter is placed after the objective. The first filter transmits only exciting radiation, and the second filter transmits only emitted fluorescent light. Thus, the excitation light incident on a sample is removed, while fluorescent light is directed to the observer's eye, or to a recording device. The light source should provide a short-wavelength light such as UV and/or blueviolet light. Currently, there are two different optical designs of fluorescent microscopes in common usage: one uses a transmitted light illumination ("dia-fluorescence microscopy") and the other employs a reflected light ("epi-fluorescence microscopy").
The light of the wavelengths required for fluorescence excitation are selected by an excitation filter, which transmits only exciting light and suppresses light of all other wavelengths. A certain part of the exciting light is adsorbed by the sample and almost instantaneously re-emitted at longer wavelengths as fluorescence light. A barrier filter transmits the fluorescence light (emission light). The rest of the excitation light which passes through or reflects from the sample is absorbed by the barrier filter. As a result, a color image of the sample is observed (or recorded) against a dark background.
Early fluorescence microscopes were generally brightfield transmitted light microscopes equipped with excitation and barrier filters. The transmitted light fluorescence microscope was greatly improved by using a darkfield condenser. A darkfield condenser projects light onto the sample at oblique angles, which prevents excitation light from directly entering the objective. Certain difficulties of the conventional transmitted light fluorescence light microscope made the reflected light fluorescence microscope the instrument of choice by many users.
Both the brightfield and the darkfield techniques has proven valuable in various applications, but also have certain disadvantages. It would be beneficial to be able to vary the wavelength and the amount of light which is directed to a sample to be able to view both darkfield images and fluorescent images simultaneously.

Simultaneous observation of darkfield images and fluorescence using filter and diaphragm


A one-way monkey wrench includes a handle, a stationary jaw, a movable jaw, a worm and a one-way mechanism. The handle defines a groove, an opening in communication with a section of the groove and a tunnel. The stationary jaw is formed on the handle. The movable jaw is movably installed on the handle, and includes a rack movably positioned in the groove. The worm is rotationally positioned in the opening and engaged with the rack. The one-way includes a tongue movably positioned in the tunnel. The tongue includes an end, a sliding facet near the end and a pushing facet near the sliding facet. The sliding facet slides on an object when the one-way monkey wrench is rotated in a direction. The pushing facet pushes the object when the one-way monkey wrench is rotated in an opposite direction.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a monkey wrench and, more particularly, to a one-way monkey wrench that is low in cost and easy in operation.
2. Related Prior Art
Fasteners such as threaded bolts and nuts are tightened and loosened by wrenches such as open-ended wrenches, box-ended wrenches, monkey wrenches one-way wrenches and socket wrenches.
A user can use a monkey wrench to drive fasteners of various sizes. In operation, the user engages the monkey wrench with a fastener, drives the fastener for an angle, and disengages the wrench from the fastener. The user may have to repeat this process for many times before the completion of the operation.
Alternatively, a user may use a one-way wrench to drive a fastener. In operation, the user engages a one-way wrench with a fastener, pivots the wrench in a direction so as to drive the fastener, and pivots the wrench in an opposite direction so as not to drive the fastener. The user does not have to repeat engagement and disengagement. However, the user has to use one-way wrenches of different sizes to drive fasteners of different sizes.
There have been one-way monkey wrenches such as those disclosed in Taiwanese Patent nos. 395311, 453253 and 566273. Two major problems have been encountered in the manufacturing and use of these one-way monkey wrenches. Firstly, their manufacturing is difficult since many parts are made and assembled into sophisticated structures. Secondly, their operation is not precise since they often slide on fasteners.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.


A method of forming a metal trench pattern in a thin-film device includes a step of depositing an electrode film on a substrate or on a base layer, a step of forming a resist pattern layer having a trench forming portion used to make a trench pattern, on the deposited electrode film, a step of forming a metal layer for filling spaces in the trench forming portion and for covering the trench forming portion, by performing plating through the formed resist pattern layer using the deposited electrode film as an electrode, a step of planarizing at least a top surface of the formed metal layer until the trench forming portion of the resist pattern layer is at least exposed, and a step of removing the exposed trench forming portion of the resist pattern layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming a metal trench pattern in a thin-film device and to a manufacturing method of a thin-film device.
2. Description of the Related Art
When manufacturing a thin-film device with a metal trench pattern such as a trench capacitor for example, in general, recesses or trenches are first formed and then an adjacent space layer is deposited on top surfaces around the recesses in order to self-align a height of a top surface of opening edges of the recesses with a height of the top surfaces of the adjacent spaces around the recesses. U.S. Pat. No. 6,207,524 B1 discloses such method for manufacturing a semiconductor memory cell with a trench capacitor.
However, if the deposition is done to form an adjacent space layer around recesses after forming these recesses, the layer will be also deposited in the recesses and the deposited layer once formed in the recesses will be difficult to completely remove. Particularly, in case that the trench is deep, it may be impossible to remove the deposited layer in the trench. If such unnecessary deposited layer is remained in the recesses, it may be impossible to keep a precise shape of the trench as desired. In such case, it will be difficult to fabricate, by utilizing the trench pattern, a trench capacitor with high precision and high quality.
To solve such problem in the conventional art, the assignee of the present application has proposed a method of forming a recess pattern in Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-089644, filed on Mar. 29, 2007. According to the proposed method, openings of a metal trench pattern are covered by a dry resist film to prevent an adjacent space layer from being deposited in the recesses. It should be noted that this Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-089644 had not published when the present invention was invented and also when the present application was filed.
However, according to this recess pattern forming method proposed by the assignee of the present application, since the dry resist film or resist pattern is removed just after the metal trench pattern is formed, the most part in the recesses is remained hollow during the following processes. This causes convex portions or pillars that form the trench there between to easily deform or to topple over, particularly when the trench is deep.

Method of forming metal trench pattern in thin-film device


The present invention relates to the fields of molecular biology and plant biology. Specifically, the invention is directed to the methods for expressing spider silk proteins in plants and the synthesis and purification of spider silk proteins therefrom.

Several publications and patent documents are referenced in this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. The disclosure of each of these publications and documents is incorporated by reference herein.
Plants may be viewed as model systems for the large-scale production of exogenous proteins intended for therapeutic and industrial applications. Many plants are relatively easy and inexpensive to grow and are routinely produced in large quantities. Such large quantities, or crops, are harvested and processed by standard procedures utilized by the agronomic industry. The effective use of plants as bioreactors or protein factories depends on the ability to achieve high levels of expression of exogenous protein, which is stable throughout the life cycle of the transgenic plant and whose expression is maintained in subsequent generations. Silencing of an introduced transgene may occur in transformed plants and, thus, contributes to the commercial risk involved and hampers the general economic exploitation of plants as protein factories. A number of efficient strategies have been developed to avoid transgene silencing, including careful design of the transgene construct and thorough analysis of transformants at the molecular level. Recent research has focused on additional aspects related to the generation of transgenic plants intended for protein production and their influence on the stability of heterologous gene expression (De Wilde et al. 2000. Plant Mol Biol 43:347-59).
Of note, clinical trials are proceeding on the first biopharmaceuticals derived from transgenic plants. One transgenic plant-derived biopharmaceutical, hirudin, has been commercially produced in Canada. Product purification may, however, present a potential obstacle in the process because it is expensive. Various methods have been developed to overcome this problem, including oleosin-fusion technology, which allows extraction with oil bodies. In some cases, delivery of a biopharmaceutical product by direct ingestion of the modified plant may potentially remove the need for product purification. Such biopharmaceuticals may be stored and distributed as, for example, seeds, tubers, fruits, or ground plant material. The stability of exogenous proteins expressed in plants provides an additional benefit of such systems. (Giddings et al. 2000. Nat Biotechnol 18:1151-5).
The presence of silk protein producing abdominal glands is a unique feature of spiders. Spiders are also unique in the use of these silks throughout their life span and their nearly total dependence on silk for evolutionary success (14, 19). There were periods of fairly intense study of spider silk prior to World War II and in the late 1950s. Progress was relatively meager, however, particularly when compared to that related to silkworm silk. Beginning in the 1970s, interest in spider silk was revived with several papers describing physical, mechanical and chemical properties of spider silks. The composition of spider silks has been known to be predominantly protein since the 1907 studies of Fischer (5). In fact, except for the sticky spiral thread, no significant amount of any other compound but protein has been detected.
Typical spider webs are constructed from several different silks, each of which is produced in a different gland. Due to their large size and ease of study, major ampullate glands have received the most attention. Thus, most of what is known about the synthesis of silk proteins is based on studies of major ampullate glands. Morphological and histochemical studies of the other glands, however, have confirmed the conclusions drawn from research performed using major ampullate glands. Synthesis of the silk protein(s) takes place in specialized columnar epithelial cells (2). There appear to be at least two different types of cells producing protein (14), which correlates with findings that revealed the presence of two proteins in the silk from these glands. Newly synthesized protein droplets within the cell are secreted into the lumen of the gland, which serves as a reservoir of soluble silk protein.
The protein in the lumen of the gland is believed to be in a liquid crystal state (21), a structure which prevents fiber formation prior to passage through a narrow duct leading to a spinnernet. Maintenance of the liquid crystal state is likely due to physical properties related to protein structure and concentration, which serve to prevent aggregation into large protein arrays. It has been shown that silk in the lumen is not birefringent whereas silk becomes increasingly birefringent as it passes down through the duct (22). Thus, the ordered array of protein observed in the final fiber occurs during its passage through the duct. This appears to be due to the mechanical and frictional forces aligning the protein molecules and altering the secondary structure to the final fiber form. Iizuka (13) has proposed a similar mechanism for silkworm silk formation. The ability to draw silk fibers directly from the lumen of the major, minor and cylindrical glands (Hinman, M. personal comm.) implies that the physical force of drawing the solution is sufficient for fiber formation and provides experimental evidence for this mechanism. Once the fiber has reached the spinneret, a muscular valve at the exit of the spinneret is utilized to control the flow rate of the fiber and, to a small degree the fiber diameter. The silk exits the spider through the spinnerets, of which there are three pairs, anterior, median and posterior.
One of the features attracting researchers to study spider silks is their unusual mechanical properties. Orb-web weaving spiders use the minimum amount of silk in their webs to catch prey. The web has to stop a rapidly flying insect nearly instantly in a manner that allows the prey to become entangled and trapped. To achieve this end, the web must absorb the energy of momentum of the moving insect without breaking. Moreover, the web must also possess mechanical properties that serve to retain the insect. Gosline et al. (8) have reviewed several aspects of this property and concluded that spider silk and the web are nearly optimally designed for each other.
The present inventors have tested major and minor ampullate and egg case silks from both Nephila clavipes and Araneus gemmoides using standard mechanical testing methods (18). The silks were found to exceed the published data for tensile strength by a substantial margin. This was due to the use of the minimum diameter at ten points along the tested fiber for the calculation instead of the average diameter calculated from the density, length and weight. This minimum diameter is about 50% of the average diameter and since silks are likely to break at the narrowest point, these values may be more characteristic of the true properties of these silk fibers. Further examination of spider silk fibers (19) using scanning electron microscopy has confirmed the large variation in diameter of the fibers.
As with any polymer, especially those comprised of protein, there are numerous factors including temperature, hydration state, and rate of extension that can affect tensile strength and elasticity. Despite these caveats, it is clear that dragline silk is a unique biomaterial. Dragline silk can absorb more energy prior to breaking than nearly any commonly used material. It is nearly as strong as several of the current synthetic fibers but can outperform them in many applications where total energy absorption is required.
In 1990, the first spider silk protein from major ampullate silk was cloned in the form of a MaSp 1 cDNA from N. clavipes (23). The led to the appreciation that a second major ampullate silk protein existed which comprised a proline-containing peptide which was absent from the cDNA sequence coding for MaSp 1. This led to the cloning and sequencing of the cDNA for the second major ampullate silk protein, MaSp 2 (10).
The sizes of the mRNA and genes for MaSp1 and MaSp2 have been determined by analysis of Northern blots, restriction digestion patterns, and Southern blots of genomic DNA. The mRNA sizes for MaSp 1 and 2 are approximately 12.5 and 10.5 kb, respectively. The genomic DNA studies all indicate the absence of large introns in the coding regions and the lack of any detectable introns in the main portion of the gene.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Techniques for monitoring guest domains configured with alternate I/O domains are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for monitoring guest domains configured with alternate Input/Output (I/O) domains comprising, installing cluster services in a control domain, installing cluster services in one or more alternate I/O domains, configuring, using at least one computer processor, an alternate service group to monitor services from multiple I/O domains, and configuring a logical domain service group, wherein the logical domain service group manages a guest domain which receives I/O services from either the control domain or the at least one alternate I/O domain which are monitored via the alternate I/O service group.

Server virtualization and partitioning services may provide logical domains (LDoms). Each domain may be a full virtual machine with a reconfigurable set of hardware resources. Operating systems running inside of logical domains may be stopped, started, and rebooted independently. High availability clustering services may also be available for server virtualization products, which may provide failover ability for applications allowing applications to migrate systems or nodes in the event of a problem with a first system or node.
Server virtualization products may provide alternate I/O domains to provide I/O redundancy. However, high availability clustering services monitor I/O services only from a primary I/O domain and are not able to identify the state of the storage or network services provided through an alternate (secondary) I/O domain. The lack of monitoring may lead to unnecessary downtime for applications with alternate I/O domain configured. Additionally, high availability clustering may unnecessarily attempt to migrate the virtual machines from node or system due to a lack of awareness of an alternate I/O domain.
In view of the foregoing, it may be understood that there may be significant problems and shortcomings associated with current techniques for monitoring virtual machines (guest domains) configured with alternate I/O domains.


Examples are disclosed for responding to voice commands within an existing telephony call between two or more end user communication devices mediated by an IP based communications server. The server is mediating a telephony call among the two or more end user communication devices where each end user communication device has its own communication link to the server. The server may detect a trigger event from one of the end user communication devices. Upon detecting the trigger event, the server may receive voice input over the communication link from the end user communication device that generated the trigger event. The received voice input may be parsed into one or more voice commands. The server may then cause the one or more voice commands to be executed. In other embodiments, much of the intelligence and processing may be carried out on the end user communication device directly.

Mobile telephony devices (often called smartphones) utilizing wireless communication protocols are ubiquitous. Many of these devices utilize one of the competing circuit switched cellular voice protocols (e.g., Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)) for telephony voice communications with other telephony endpoint devices. More recently, many of these mobile telephony devices may also utilize an Internet Protocol (IP) communication link rather than a circuit switched communication link to exchange voice data with a communications server using a Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system. The communications server mediates telephony calls between and among various endpoints. In addition, the mobile telephony device may also wirelessly connect to an IP network over one or more wireless IP interfaces and communication links.
The IP communication link may be 802.11 based such as WiFi or may be cellular based utilizing at least one of the many cellular IP air interfaces. There are several cellular IP air interfaces already in existence that use specific frequency ranges that are suitable for use with the embodiments described herein. It should be noted that the term 802.11 encompasses all of the 802.11 versions that currently exist and may be developed. Some examples include the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), High Speed Packet Data (HSPD), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Voice-over Long-Term Evolution (VoLTE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and High Rate Packet Data (HRPD). Moreover, there are many more wireless IP air interfaces in the planning and/or experimental stages (e.g., 5G, light-wave based, etc.) that use the same and/or different frequencies that would also be suitable for use with the embodiments described herein.
Some mobile telephony devices are capable of utilizing multiple different networks depending on network access or network conditions. For instance, the mobile telephony device may be able to communicate with a communications server that manages and mediates telephony calls over either a circuit switched network or an IP based network. The communications server may be IP based but with interfaces to cellular circuit switched networks or the public switched telephone network (PSTN) as well as Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks. If the communications server is IP based, it may include additional intelligence that allows it access other IP data networks like the Internet in general to engage in IP data sessions. Moreover, the communications server may access other IP data networks while simultaneously managing a telephony call between or among a plurality of telephony endpoint devices. The mobile telephony device(s) are also able to access IP data networks such as the Internet over 802.11 WiFi and/or a cellular IP data connection. What is needed is a mechanism for accessing and leveraging the communication server's ability to utilize IP data networks during a voice communication session.

Techniques for integrating voice control into an active telephony call


A multilevel phase-change memory, manufacture method and operating method thereof are provided. The memory includes a first phase change layer, a second phase change layer, a first heating layer formed on one surface of the first phase change layer, a second heating layer formed between the first heating layer and the second phase change layer, a first top electrode formed on another surface of the first phase change layer, a second top electrode formed on the other surface of the second phase change layer, and a bottom electrode formed on the other surface of the first heating layer corresponding to the second heating layer. Further, a substrate is provided to form the aforementioned components. The substrate may also include a transistor. The disclosed device has a multi memory state, thereby increasing the memory density, reducing the memory area and lowering the power consumption.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a semi-conductor memory, and more particular, to a multilevel phase-change memory
2. Related Art
Most electronic equipment uses different types of memories, such as a DRAM, SRAM and Flash memory or the combination of these different types' memories based on the requirements of the application, the operating speed, the memory size and the cost consideration of the equipment. The current new developments in the memory field include FeRAM, MRAM and phase-change memory.
A Phase-change memory records data by changing the material of the semi-conductor circuit to different phase states due to the resistance changes inside of the circuit. Many materials, such as Ge2Sb2Te5 and others, have the characteristics of changing to different crystallization states with different temperatures and different crystallization states have different resistance. Therefore, a phase-change memory using electrical heating can change materials, such as Ge2Sb2Te5, into different crystallization states, each having different resistance, where each different state can represent a different recording state, i.e., 0 or 1. Moreover, a phase-change memory is non-volatile, it will retain data recorded even if the power is off. Therefore, during a data writing operation in a phase-change memory, the electrical current has to be supplied to the selected memory cells, which will cause phase transition after being heated up by heating electrodes. The current phase-change memory technology uses contact to make a phase area method, such as a structure combining phase-change memory and a CMOS transistor disclosed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd in IEDM 2003, which connects heating electrodes to the phase-change layer and uses the contact as a phase-change area. Also in IEDM 2003, STMicroelectronics & Ovonyx Inc. recommended another structure using the via as phase-change region, which fills the phase-change layer in the via to obtain a smaller switching current.
The above-referenced technology using the via to connect a heating electrode to a phase-change region will prevent making a high capacity memory. Therefore, the increase of a phase-change memory density is one key focus in the current memory technology development.

Multilevel phase-change memory, manufacture method and operating method thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


In a liquid crystal display device having a configuration in which one pixel is divided into a plurality of sub pixels, low power consumption is realized by reducing an amplitude of a video signal. In each pixel formation portion, an amplification circuit unit including a second-capacitor is provided between a dark display pixel electrode and a bright display pixel electrode. A selection period consists of a precharge period and an amplification period. In the precharge period, a potential of a control wiring is applied to the dark display pixel electrode, and a potential of a video signal line is applied to the bright display pixel electrode. In the amplification period, a potential of the video signal line is applied to the dark display pixel electrode in the state where the bright display pixel electrode is placed in a floating state.

Conventionally, an active matrix-type liquid crystal display device that includes a thin film transistor (TFT) as a switching element is known. The display unit of the active matrix-type liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of source bus lines (video signal lines), a plurality of gate bus lines (scanning signal lines), and a plurality of pixel formation portions that are respectively provided at intersections of the plurality of source bus lines and the plurality of gate bus lines. These pixel formation portions are arranged in a matrix form to configure a pixel array.
FIG. 41 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a pixel formation portion of a conventional general active matrix-type liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIG. 41, the pixel formation portion includes a thin film transistor T91 having a gate electrode connected to a gate bus line GL passing through a corresponding intersection and having a source electrode connected to a source bus line SL passing through the intersection, a pixel electrode 92 connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor T91, a common electrode (counter electrode) COM and an auxiliary capacitance electrode CS provided so as to be shared among the plurality of pixel formation portions, a liquid crystal capacitor Clc formed by the pixel electrode 92 and the common electrode COM, and an auxiliary capacitor Cstg formed by the pixel electrode 92 and the auxiliary capacitance electrode CS. Further, a pixel capacitance is formed by the liquid crystal capacitor Clc and the auxiliary capacitor Cstg. Then, a voltage indicating a pixel value is held in the pixel capacitance, based on a video signal that a source electrode of the thin film transistor T91 receives from the source bus line SL when a gate electrode of the thin film transistor T91 receives an active scanning signal from the gate bus line GL. Note that the auxiliary capacitor Cstg is not necessarily provided.
Further, a liquid crystal display device having a configuration in which one pixel is divided into a plurality of (typically, two) sub pixels to improve the view angle characteristic is also known (for example, refer to JP 2006-133577 A). This configuration is referred to as a "multi-pixel structure". In the liquid crystal display device having the multi-pixel structure, a liquid crystal is driven so that brightnesses of the plurality of sub pixels become mutually different brightnesses. FIG. 42 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of a pixel formation portion in the conventional liquid crystal display device having the multi-pixel structure. As shown in FIG. 42, in this liquid crystal display device, a pixel formation portion PIX9 is constituted by two sub pixel units (a first sub pixel unit PIX9a and a second sub pixel unit PIX9b). Both sub pixel units (PIX9a, PIX9b) include transistors (T92, T93), pixel electrodes (E91, E92), liquid crystal capacitors (ClcA, ClcB), and holding capacitors (CstA, CstB), as common constituent elements. The second sub pixel unit PIX9b further includes a transistor T94 having a gate electrode connected to a scanning signal line GLi+1 and having a source electrode connected to the pixel electrode E92, a capacitance electrode E93 connected to a drain electrode of the transistor T94, and a buffer capacitance Cdown formed by the capacitance electrode E93 and a common electrode (auxiliary capacitance electrode) COM 102. In such a configuration, when the scanning signal line GLi is in a selected state, the potential of the pixel electrode E91 in the first sub pixel unit PIX9a becomes equal to the potential of the pixel electrode E92 in the second sub pixel unit PIX9b. Thereafter, when the scanning signal line GLi+1 is in the selected state, the transistor T94 is placed in an on state. Accordingly, a charge moves between the pixel electrode E92 and the capacitance electrode E93, and the potential of the pixel electrode E92 varies. As a result, the pixel electrode E91 and the pixel electrode E92 have different potentials, and the first sub pixel unit PIX9a and the second sub pixel unit PIX9b have different brightnesses.
In recent years, development of high definition of a display image in the liquid crystal display device is remarkable. Examples of high definition include 4K (resolution: 3840×2048) of a television large panel. When the display image has high definition, power consumption associated with the drive of the panel increases. Regarding the power consumption of the panel, power due to charge and discharge of a source bus line is the majority. The power consumption due to the charge and discharge of the source bus line is obtained from (the number of source bus lines)×(wiring capacitance of source bus lines)×(drive frequency)×(square of amplitude of video signal). Therefore, by setting the amplitude of the video signal small, the power consumption of the panel can be effectively reduced. JP 2009-109600 A discloses the invention of a liquid crystal display device which enables reduction of the amplitude of the video signal by amplifying the pixel electrode potential. In this liquid crystal display device, the pixel formation portion is configured as shown in FIG. 43 so that the following drive is performed. In the first half of one horizontal scanning period, an on-level potential is applied to a line denoted by a reference character 9 in the state where an off-level potential is applied to the gate bus line GL. Accordingly, thin film transistors T902, T903 are placed in the on state. As a result, a video signal potential (a potential of the source bus line SL) is applied to a node 901, and a potential of the common electrode COM is applied to a node 902. Thereafter, in the latter half of the one horizontal scanning period, the on-level potential is applied to the gate bus line GL in the state where the off-level potential is applied to the line denoted by the reference character 9. Accordingly, the thin film transistor T901 is placed in the on state. As a result, a video signal potential is applied to the node 902. That is, the potential of the node 902 rises from the common electrode potential to the video signal potential. At this time, because the node 901 is in the floating state, the potential of the node 901 rises via a capacitance C91 with the rise in the potential of the node 902. As described above, a larger voltage is applied between the pixel electrode and the common electrode.

Display device having each pixel divided into sub pixels for improved view angle characteristic


A server may determine, with respect to a user who has accessed the server, a user level within a hierarchy structure and a user group to which the user belongs. The server may determine, according to an authority that is set by a manager at a level higher than that of the user within the user group with respect to the user level of the user, a service level of a service that is to be provided to the user. The server may provide the service to the user according to the service level.

Recently, with developments in electronic communications technologies and network technologies, various services utilizing these technologies have been developed and released on the market. In particular, regarding image forming apparatuses such as printers, various services related to products sold over networks may be provided beyond simple product sales. For example, services from maintenance and repair of an image forming apparatus to providing of a cloud service through cloud environment construction are available.

Providing service according to user authority

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An information processing device includes a receiving unit, a processing range determination unit, and a contour extraction unit. The receiving unit receives specified position information that indicates a position specified by a user with respect to a target image. The processing range determination unit determines, when a distance between a start point position that indicates a start point of positions indicated by the specified position information, and a position indicated by the latest specified position information is a threshold or less, a closed area obtained based on a history of the received specified position information as a processing range. The contour extraction unit extracts a contour of an object in the processing range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing device, a method of processing information, and a computer-readable recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, technologies of performing printing with a special color ink such as a clear toner have been increasing. In the printing with a special color ink, an object (hereinafter, a special color object) to be printed with the special color ink is arranged on an existing object on an original copy. This enables the printing with the special color ink.
To create a special color object, it is necessary to accurately extract a contour from an object on a target original copy. For example, JP 9-91443 A discloses a technology of drawing a polygon (extraction starting line) that roughly surrounds a target image, and executing contour extraction processing based on the drawn polygon.
However, conventionally, there is no mechanism of improving work efficiency of when a processing range of the contour extraction processing is determined. The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing, and there is a need for an information processing device, a method of processing information, and a computer-readable recording medium capable of improving the work efficiency of when the processing range of the contour extraction processing is determined.

Information processing device, method of processing information, and computer-readable recording medium for extracting a contour of an object


The invention relates to a method for ultrasound welding of a first and a second component, whereby the first component contains a recess for the reception of first and second protrusions of the second component, with the following steps: Positioning of the first and the second components so that the first and second protrusions protrude into the recess and touch a floor of the recess, Transmission of an ultrasound oscillation for the generation of a relative movement between the first and the second components, whereby the floor is pressed against the first and second protrusions, so that first protrusion is deformed in a first direction and second protrusion in a direction opposite to the first direction, and that at least a first welding connection between the first protrusion and the floor and a second welding connection between the second protrusion and the floor are formed.

The invention relates to a method for ultrasound welding as well as a structure module, which contains components welded to each other, particularly a motor vehicle door module.
Different ultrasound welding methods are known from the state of the art. Generally, electrical oscillations generated by an ultrasound generator are converted into mechanical oscillations of the same frequency and transmitted to a workpiece via a welding tool, a so-called sonotrode. Through the effect of the ultrasound, the form parts to be welded are plasticized at the joint surfaces and welded to each other by application of pressure. As an example, plastic components made of ABS, PMMA, PC, PS, and SAM can be welded to each other. It also is possible to produce welding connections by means of ultrasound welding between plastics and other materials such as metals.
Different sonotrode forms for ultrasound welding are known from the state of the art, for example, from DE 20 2005 003 067 U1, DE 299 23 223 U1, DE 298 23 967 U1, DE 298 13 964 U1, DE 203 14 781 U1, DE 200 02 555 U1, and DE 198 54 013 C2.
It is also possible to produce watertight assemblies by means of ultrasound welding. As an example, DE 199 34 596 A1 shows a connector with watertight construction produced by ultrasound welding, and DE 103 49 240 A1 shows a watertight sealing arrangement of a sheathed cable that is also ultrasound welded.
Compared with this, the task on which this invention is based is to create an improved method for ultrasound welding of components, as well as a structure module that contains components welded to each other, particularly a motor vehicle door module.

Method for ultrasound welding and construction module, particularly motor vehicle door module


The invention disclosed herein relates to an improved vacuum cleaner comprising a foot, a handle pivotally mounted to the foot, and a vacuum motor mounted to one of the handle and the foot. The foot has a suction inlet fluidly connected to the vacuum motor and an agitator brush rotatably mounted to the foot. The improvement relates to a wheel assembly comprising a housing, an axle mounted to the housing and at least one wheel rotatably mounted to the axle. The housing has an integrally-molded flange extending therefrom. The wheel assembly rollably supports the vacuum cleaner on a floor surface. A channel is formed in the foot and is adapted to pivotably mount the housing flange for movement between a first and a second position. In the first position, the wheel assembly supports the suction inlet at a first distance relative to the floor surface. In the second position, the wheel assembly supports the suction inlet at a second distance therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to upright vacuum cleaners and, more specifically, to a nozzle lift mechanism for an upright vacuum cleaner which lifts a nozzle from a ground surface when a handle is pivoted to an upright position and which can be incrementally adjusted to position the nozzle at a preselected height from the ground surface during use.
2. Description of Related Art
Vacuum cleaners come in many styles, including an upright type vacuum cleaner which comprise a foot and a pivotably-mounted elongated handle extending upwardly therefrom. The handle is generally grasped by the user to propel the foot over a surface to be cleaned. The foot is often provided with ground-engaging wheels to provide for easier movement over the surface to be cleaned. The foot typically includes an agitator brush rotatably mounted in a forward portion of the base. The agitator brush is typically mounted adjacent a suction inlet in the foot which receives any dirt and debris loosened by the action of the agitator brush. Suction is applied to the inlet and the dirt and debris are then collected in a bag for later disposal.
Vacuum cleaners are often used to clean both bare floors and carpets having varying thicknesses, pile, and shag characteristics. Thus, it is desirable to provide the vacuum cleaner with a height adjustment mechanism which positions the height of the suction inlet and agitator brush relative to the surface to be cleaned so as to dislodge the greatest amount of dirt and debris therefrom. Examples of prior art height adjustment mechanisms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,467,495 (Fish et al.), 4,437,205 (Koland), 3,683,448 (Lagerstrom et al.), and 4,171,554 (Tschudy).
Further, it is also desirable to provide a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle lift mechanism which raises the suction inlet and agitator brush from the surface to be cleaned when the handle is pivoted to a non-use position, often generally vertical, to prevent damage to the surface when the agitator brush remains rotating. Examples of prior art nozzle lift mechanisms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,579,699 (Balzer), 4,782,552 (Bartlett et al.), 5,269,042 (Stephens et al.), 5,255,411 (Da Costa), 4,446,594 (Watanabe et al.) and 5,222,276 (Glenn III).
The height adjustment mechanism and nozzle lift mechanism must typically work in conjunction to prevent either mechanism from prohibiting the other from working properly. For example, the height adjustment mechanism must not lock the suction inlet and agistator brush at a particular height because the handle may be pivoted to the non-use position and actuate the nozzle lift mechanism to raise the suction inlet and agitator brush from the surface to be cleaned. If the height adjustment-mechanism locks the suction inlet and agitator brush at a particular height, damage can occur to either or both of these mechanisms during use.
Prior art nozzle lift mechanisms and height adjustment mechanisms often require several parts and complicated assembly steps to install them in a base of a vacuum cleaner. A large number of parts and additional assembly steps can add to the manufacturing cost of a typical vacuum cleaner.

Nozzle lift and adjustment mechanism for an upright vacuum cleaner


Disclosed in a video game of enhanced realism in which actual combat is closely simulated. The game is so adapted that an enemy character on a display screen may launch an attack against a player character on the same screen, even while the player character is the process of inputting a command, at elapse of a set time period specific to the enemy character. The attack is made without an interruption in the flow of time of the game.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a video game apparatus for realizing a role-playing game (RPG) of the type in which a player character, rather than the player, repeatedly battles with an enemy character on a video screen. The invention relates also to a method and device for controlling the apparatus, and to a memory cartridge for the video game.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional role-playing games or battle games are of the type in which battle action proceeds in turns. Specifically, a player character and an enemy character are displayed on the display screen of a display unit (e.g., a television receiver). A plurality of attack types (inclusive of weaponry and magic) available to the player character are displayed on the display screen, and the player selects the desired type of attack from the displayed group. Upon making the selection, the player issues the proper instruction (command input) through an input unit referred to as a controller. The attack from the enemy character, on the other hand, is predetermined. When the input of the command is completed, the battle starts the player character and enemy character attack each other in accordance with a predetermined sequence. The incidents of damage sustained by each character owing to the attack by his adversary are counted, as by the low-point method of scoring. The game proceeds by repeating the input of commands and the combat between the player character and enemy character, and the player continues manipulating the apparatus in an effort to have the player character attain a prescribed goal (such as finding treasure or rescuing a screen).
In a video game of this type in which action proceeds in turns, the enemy character never launches an attack until the player has completed inputting the command for the player character. In addition, attacks proceed only in accordance with a predetermined sequence, and the sequence is an important factor for fighting a decisive battle. In a sense, therefore, the aforementioned game in which action takes place in turns in a static game and lacks realism.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a video-game apparatus which approximates actual combat and excels in dynamism and realism, a method and device for controlling the apparatus, and a memory cartridge (or memory cassette) for such control.
In a video game apparatus in which a player character and an enemy character are displayed on a display screen of a display unit and the player character and enemy character carry out attacks on each other in dependence upon an inputted action command or a predetermined action command, a method of controlling the video game apparatus according to the present invention comprises steps of clocking a time, which has been stipulated for each character, from start of the game or from end of action of a character, and performing control in such a manner that when the stipulated time elapses, a transition is made to processing associated with an ensuing action of the character for which the stipulated time has elapsed.
In a video game apparatus in which a game is made to proceed upon displaying, on a display screen of a display unit, a player character which carries out an attack in response to an inputted action command and an enemy character which carries out an attack in response to a predetermined action command, a method of controlling a video game apparatus according to the present invention comprises the steps of clocking time, which has been stipulated for each character, with regard to at least the enemy character from start of the game or from end of attack by a character irrespective of input of the action command for the player character, and performing control in such a manner that when the stipulated time elapses, a transition is made to processing for starting an ensuing attack by the character for which the stipulated time has elapsed.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a video game apparatus having a control unit, a display unit and an input unit for displaying a player character and an enemy character on a display screen of the display unit, and causing the player character and enemy character to carry out attacks on each other in dependence upon an action command inputted from the input unit or a predetermined action command, comprising clocking means for clocking a time, which has been stipulated for each character, from start of the game or from end of action of a character, and control means for performing control in such a manner that when the stipulated time elapses, a transition is made to processing associated with an ensuing action for the character for which the stipulated time has elapsed.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a device for program control of a video game apparatus having a CPU for executing processing in accordance with a program, a memory for being used in program execution by the CPU, a display unit for displaying a video screen, a display processing unit which executes processing, under control of the CPU, for presenting a display on the display unit, and an input unit for inputting action commands.
The device for controlling the video game apparatus comprises means for displaying a player character and an enemy character on the display screen of the display unit, means for causing the player character to execute an action commanded in response to the action command inputted from the input unit, means for causing the enemy character to execute a predetermined action, means for counting a time, which has been stipulated for each character, from end of action of each character, and means for performing control in such a manner that when the stipulated time elapses, a transition is made to processing associated with an ensuing action for the character for which the stipulated time has elapsed.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a memory cartridge (or memory cassette) for program control of a computer for a video game having a CPU for executing processing in accordance with a program, a memory for being used in program execution by the CPU, a display processing unit for displaying a game video screen on a display unit under control of the CPU, and an input unit for inputting action commands.
The memory cartridge includes a memory in which there is stored a program for realizing, in cooperation with the CPU, processing for displaying a player character and an enemy character on the display screen of the display unit, causing the player character to execute an action commanded in response to the action command inputted from the input unit, causing the enemy character to execute a predetermined action, counting a time, which has been stipulated for each character, from end of operation of each character, and performing control in such a manner that when the stipulated time elapses, a transition is made to processing associated with an ensuing action regarding the character for which the stipulated time has elapsed.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the processing associated with the ensuing action regarding the player character includes display processing for presenting a screen which requests input of an action command, processing in which time for action preparations conforming to the type of action is clocked in response to an inputted action command, and processing for executing the commanded action when the time for action preparations elapses.
The processing associated with the ensuing action regarding the enemy character includes processing in which time for action preparations conforming to the type of action is clocked in response to a predetermined action command, and processing for executing the commanded action when the time for action preparations elapses.
In accordance with the invention, the clocking of time that has been stipulated for each character starts as soon as the attack by the character ends. When this time elapses, a transition is made to processing in which the character mounts an attack again. The arrangement is such that the enemy character launches an attack irrespective of whether the player has inputted a command for the purpose of manipulating the player character. Since this form of play closely resembles the form of actual combat, the game excels in realism and thrills and the player is capable of enjoying a speedy game development.
In another embodiment of the invention, an active mode and a wait mode are provided. When the active mode has been selected, the clocking processing continues without interruption, as described above. When the wait mode has been selected, the clocking processing is halted at least in part of a time period that is for the purpose of allowing the player to input a command. Accordingly, a player who is not accustomed to playing the game may select the wait mode to play the game in a way similar to that of the conventional game in which combat action takes place in turns.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the speed of clocking in clocking processing is substantially changed in response to an input designating the speed of the passage of time. Accordingly, the player is capable of choosing the speed of the passage of time that matches his or her own ability. This makes the game even more enjoyable to play.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

Video game apparatus, method and device for controlling same, and memory cartridge for video games


A motor device may include a motor main body provided with a stator part and a rotation shaft, an output shaft provided with a lead screw part, a motor frame provided with an opposite-to-output side support part that supports the stator part and an opposite-to-output side of the output shaft, and which is provided with an output side support part which supports an output side of the output shaft, and a gear part for transmitting a driving force of the rotation shaft to the output shaft. The opposite-to-output side support part rotatably supports the rotation shaft and further rotatably supports the opposite-to-output side of the output shaft.

A motor is commonly structured such that a rotor provided with a rotation shaft is rotated by a magnetic force generated from a drive coil which is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the rotor. Normally, the rotation shaft is operated as an output shaft for transmitting a rotary power to an object to be driven. On the other hand, when inclination or rattling of the output shaft is required to restrict, for example, when an object to be driven is required to drive with a high degree of accuracy, a motor device is used which is provided with an output shaft that is provided separately from the rotation shaft. In the motor device, a rotary power of the rotation shaft is transmitted to the output shaft through a gear or the like (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-215395).
However, in the motor device described above, a frame supporting the rotation shaft and a frame supporting the output shaft are separately provided and thus cost of the motor device is not reduced. In addition, since dispersion may occur in a distance between the rotation shaft and the output shaft, a sufficient play (backlash) cannot be secured between a gear fixed to the rotation shaft and a gear fixed to the output shaft. As a result, engagement of the gears with each other becomes tight and thus smooth rotation is not attained. On the contrary, when a play between the gears becomes too large, noise and vibration may occur due to rattling of the gears or control accuracy for a rotation amount of the output shaft (control accuracy of an object to be driven) is deteriorated.


In some embodiments, the invention involves reducing platform power consumption. In an embodiment, the platform may handle a predetermined set of events by the platform firmware when the platform is in sleep, or low power, mode, thereby eliminating the need to wake the processor and utilize the operating system. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Various mechanisms exist for reducing power consumption of a platform. Standard technology for power management is specified in Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) version 2.0, which may be found on the public Internet at URL www-acpi-info (note that periods have been replaced with dashes to avoid unintentional hyperlinks in this document). ACPI is the standard most computer systems currently use for power management and is used to describe how the system looks to the operating system. Power management capabilities enable a platform, both at component and system level, to change its operating state to use less power and to resume normal operations. These modes of operation are often called sleep and wake modes. A number of events may trigger a platform to transition to low power state or to transition from a low power state to a more active state. For instance, moving a mouse, pressing a key on the keyboard or receiving a message may cause a platform to transition to an active state from a sleep, or low power, state.
The role of firmware in power management has been typically that the firmware can communicate with the hardware. The firmware may initiate stand-by or wake events. Often the policy of whether an event should wake or sleep the platform is dictated by the operating system (OS). The firmware will comply with the OS policy.
A typical scenario in existing systems is described herein. The platform is powered up. The firmware initializes the subsystem and eventually loads the OS. While the OS is running, at some point in time, a sleep event is triggered in the platform, perhaps due to time, or inactivity, or user-selection. The OS may trigger a system management interrupt (SMI) to cause a sleep event. The firmware acts upon the SMI and recognizes that the platform is to be put into sleep mode. The firmware initiates sleep mode. The chipset for the platform is programmed to recognize certain actions for triggering wake events. When an event causing a wake event is recognized, the firmware operates once again to wake the platform. The waking of a platform may be similar to boot up, but varies according to ACPI standards. Memory contents should still be intact and the operational context should be maintained. If the processor was in sleep mode, upon waking, the processor resets and re-launches the firmware. The firmware can detect that it is not in boot up mode, because in some sleep modes, memory remains intact. Thus, the firmware executes a process dedicated to waking the platform rather than rebooting it. The firmware will not reinitialize memory, for instance. Once awakened, the firmware transitions control to the operating system.


The present invention provides apparatus and methods for imbedding a durable outer layer of rubber in a second layer of rubber, polyurethane, or like material for use in various applications, including but not limited to shoe soles and tires. As depicted in FIG., the durable outer layer, which in the case of FIG. 4 is a shoe outsole, may comprise a plurality of lugs (2) connected with integral support bridges (3) imbedded in another rubber or rubber-like material (17). Alternatively, the durable outer layer may comprise a plurality of lugs anchored in the second layer of rubber, polyurethane or the like, using anchors, such as ribs or flanges, radiating from the perimeter of each lug.

Many products use durable rubber as an outer layer. For example, tires, and shoe soles.
In the case of shoe soles, many types of shoes, such as athletic and sports shoes, have, in addition to an inner sole, a middle sole (sometimes referred to herein as a "midsole") and an outer sole (sometimes referred to herein as an "outsole"). Shoe midsoles typically use a rubber or polyurethane material that has cushioning and shock-absorbing characteristics, and that is lightweight. However, rubber or polyurethane material that has cushioning and shock-absorbing characteristics, and that is lightweight is generally not durable. Therefore, an outer sole of hard durable rubber is used to give the shoe better wearability.
In order to make shoes that have both a midsole and an outsole, typically, both soles are formed separately, such as by molding; the outsole is then aligned with the midsole so that the outsole can be fastened with a fastening agent, such as glue, or by sewing, to the midsole.
The process of separate formation of the two soles and the alignment and fastening with a fastening agent process adds to the expense of manufacturing a shoe, in terms of both machinery and human resources. Further, the reliability of the bond between a midsole and an outsole depend on the materials from which the midsole and outer sole are made, and depend on the fastening agent used.
A better shoe sole and a better way of making shoe soles is needed.
Similarly, with tires, an outer layer of hard durable rubber in the form of a tire tread is fastened to an inner layer of more shock-absorbing rubber or other material. Many automobile accidents have resulted from the separation of tire tread from the rest of a tire. A better way to make tires is needed.

Apparatus and methods for imbedded rubber outer


Metal and wood composites are used to create framing members (studs and tracks, joists and bands, rafters, headers and the like.) for lightweight construction. Metal is utilized for its high strength, resistance to rot and insects, cost stability, and potentially lower cost through recycling. Metal that can be used includes roll formed steel approximately 18-22 gauge. Wood is used primarily for its lower thermal conductivity, and availability. The metal components form the primary structure while wood, either solid or other engineered wood, provides some structure and a thermal break. The invention connects J-shaped or triangular shaped metal forms to wood sections. The metal flange ends can have various J, C, L, right triangular, triangular, T and straight line cross-sectional shapes. The wood is fastened to the metal by machine pressing of the metal to wood. Alternatively the fastening includes nails, staples, screws, and the like, and also by adhesive glue. The outward faces of the metal members are pre-formed with four longitudinal ridges such that the contact surface area to applied sheathings is reduced by about 90%.

Residential and light commercial construction generally use wood as the primary building material for studs, plates, joists, headers and trusses. However, all-wood construction has problems. The rapidly rising cost of raw wood supplies has in effect substantially raised the cost of these members. Further, the quality of available framing lumber continues to decline. Finally, wood is flammable and susceptible to insects and rot.
Due to these problems, many builders have been switching to using all steel framing. The costs between using wood or steel framing is getting closer. In January 1990, the cost of framing lumber was about $225 per thousand board feet, peaking to highs of $500 in both January, 1993 and January 1994. Since June 1995, the framing lumber composite price has been rising from $300 per thousand board feet Estimates from the AISI and NAHB Research Center state at a framing lumber cost of $340 to $385, there would be no difference between the cost of framing a house in steel as compared in wood. Thus, the break-even point between wood and steel framing is at about $360 per thousand board feet of framing lumber, and the lumber price has exceeded that point several times in recent years by as much as 40%, giving steel a competitive advantage.
Recycling has additionally helped the cost of steel to remain on a stable or downward trend. Steel costs have varied little in recent years. Traditionally variations can be correlated to steel demand by the automobile industry when demand is high, steel usually increases slightly in price. Consequently, the use of metal framing in residential and light commercial construction is increasing, a trend recognized and encouraged by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
All steel studs, tracks and trusses are being manufactured by Tri-Chord, HL Stud Corporation, Truswall Systems, Techbuilt Manufacturing, Knudson Manufacturing, John McDonald, and MiTek Ultra-Span Systems.
A problem with using all steel framing is its high thermal conductivity, leading to thermal bridging, "ghosting", and greater potential for water vapor condensation on interior wall surfaces. "Ghosting" is when an unsightly streak of dust accumulates on the interior wallboard, where the steel studs lie behind, due to an acceleration of dust particles toward the colder surface. Another problem of using all steel framing is the increased energy use for space conditioning (heating and cooling). Metal used for exterior framing members allows greater conduction heat transfer between the outside and inside surfaces of a wall, roof or floor. In colder climates, this increased conduction can cause condensation in interior surfaces, contributing to material degradation and mold and mildew growth. Metal framing also decreases the effectiveness of insulation installed in the cavity between the metal framing due to increased three dimensional thermal shorting effects. Higher sound transmission is another disadvantage of metal framing since sound conductivity is greater in metal than in wood. Electricians have more difficulty working with all steel framing when running holes for wiring since metal is more difficult to drill than wood, and grommets or conduits must be used to protect the wire.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,615 to Gilmour describes a thermal metallic building stud. However, the Gilmour member is entirely formed from metal. In Gilmour, the thermal conductivity is only partially reduced by having raised dimples on the ends contacting other building materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,637 to Ostrow describes impractical wood and metal composites. Ostrow requires each end flange have tapered channels, the end flanges being formed from extruded aluminum, molded plastic and fiberglass. Ends of the vertical wood web must be fit and pressed into a tapered channel. Besides the difficulty of aligning these parts together, other inherent problems exist. Extruding the channel flanges from aluminum or using molds, cuts and rolling to create the channelled plastic and fiberglass end flanges is expensive to manufacture. To stabilize the structures, Ostrow describes additional labor and manufacturing costs of gluing members together and sandwiching mounting blocks on the outsides of each channel.
Other metal and wood framing member patents of related but less significant interest include: 5,452,556 to Taylor; 5,440,848 to Deffet; 5,072,547 to DiFazio; 4,875,316 to Johnston; 4,301,635 to Neufeld; 4,274,241 to Lindal; 4,031,686 to Sanford; and 3,531,901 to Meechan.

Metal and wood composite framing members for residential and light commercial construction


The invention pertains to a process for monitoring bar cutoff on CNC-controlled automatic bar lathes having a main spindle (3), an auxiliary spindle (6) and a pull-away carriage (WS3). In cutting-off operations it is necessary to monitor whether the cutting-off operation has cleanly severed the workpiece from the unmachined part. This control prevents machine damage that could arise as a result of imperfectly severed workpieces. The invention provides that after the cutting-off operation is completed, the pull-away carriage is started in the direction of a predetermined control path. In the time the pull-away carriage moves along the control path, the contour variation is monitored and compared with a value for contour variation that was defined in no-load operation, i.e. without a workpiece. If upon comparison the contour variation exceeds a predetermine threshold of difference, i.e. if the contour variation that was defined in no-load operation deviates by a certain value from the contour variation determined over the control path, this indicates that the workpiece was imperfectly severed from the unmachined part and an error signal is generated.

The invention concerns a method for monitoring bar cutoff in CNC-controlled automatic bar lathes having a main spindle, an auxiliary spindle, and a pull-away carriage.
JP-A 3035902 describes a method with which the cutoff tool or the spindle of the tool machine is protected against damage by removing the cutoff workpiece from the spindle along a predetermined path after completion of the cutting-off procedure.
When carrying-out bar cutoff processes it is necessary to check whether or not the workpiece has been fully severed from the unmachined part. This checking procedure prevents machine damage which could be caused by incompletely severed workpieces.
DE A 36 40 624 describes a diagnostic device with which changes in variable operation parameters at certain typical positions of the machine as well as the reaction times necessary for the changes are stored in a memory during the normal machining (error-free operation) of a workpiece. During the processing of workpieces the changes in variable operation parameters as well as the reaction times are determined in each case at these typical operating positions and compared with values which had been stored during normal processing. In the event that the values do not differ by more than a predetermined amount, the processing is continued.
A process for checking bar cutoff on automatic bar lathes is known in the art through German laid-open publication DE 36 18 349 A1 with which operating conditions are initiated at the end of a predetermined time interval allotted to the cutting-off procedure, which effect a relative rotation of the spindles with respect to each other when the material has been fully severed at the cutoff location. A deviation between the predetermined relative rotation of the main spindle with respect to the auxiliary spindle and the actual relative rotation indicates the existence of a material connection, and a corresponding error signal is issued.
This method has the disadvantage that a separate examination procedure is necessary to monitor the cutting-off procedure, which delays the work process.
It is therefore the purpose of the invention to introduce a method for monitoring bar cutoff which does not introduce a delay in the work process to thereby minimize additional controlling time resulting from monitoring of the cutoff.

Process for monitoring bar cutoff on automatic bar lathes