A cutter disk is removably mounted in equipment that cuts potatoes into helical strips. A knife blade extends radially outwardly from the axis of rotation of the disk and is axially displaced from the front surface of the disk. A plurality of slitter blades is integral and one piece with a slitter plate. The slitter blades extend from and are perpendicular to the front surface of the plate. The slitter blades respectively extend through spaced slots in the disk located at different distances from the axis of rotation. A backing plate removably secures the slitter plate to the disk so that the slitter plate can be readily removed for maintenance without removing the disk from the equipment. Two spaced-apart projections on the backing plate constrain the slitter plate therebetween to minimize lateral movement.

This patent application relates generally to an apparatus for mass producing helical vegetable strips, and specifically to a rotating cutter used on such an apparatus. French fried potatoes and other vegetables of generally spiral or helical shape have become increasingly popular. Consumers like them because of their interesting appearance, and they are appealing to institutional food providers and restauranteurs because a given volume of french fries has more plate coverage when they are of helical shape.
Systems for cutting helical french fries are currently available in the marketplace. The cutters in many of the systems are disk-like in nature; that is, the cutter which slices the potatoes or other vegetables into helical strips is generally a substantially flat or helical circular plate having a knife blade or "slabber blade" extending from the axis of rotation to the periphery of the disk. Mounted directly on the front face of the disk is a plurality of slitter blades. The slitter blades are located at different radii from the axis of rotation and sometimes are spaced with a radial pitch to one another.
The previously described rotating cutters are used in conjunction with various feed systems to feed whole potatoes into the rotating cutter. One such feeding means is a hydraulic feed system. In such a system, potatoes are placed in a hydraulic medium which is pumped through a conduit. The outlet of the conduit is positioned to be in alignment with the rotating cutter. The potatoes are transported to the rotating cutter by the hydraulic medium.
The slitter blades extending from the surface of the cutter first contact the potato and score it. The locations of the slitter blades and their spacing from each other determine the width of each helical potato strip to be cut. The slabber blade then cuts each helical strip into a desired thickness. The length of the resulting helical strip is controlled by the length of the whole potato. Preferably, the slabber blade cuts a continuous helical strip the entire length of the potato.
A problem encountered with this type of cutting system involves the repair, maintenance or replacement of the slitter blades themselves. The slitter blades are relatively thin compared to the disk and have a tendency to dull, bend or break and must be sharpened, repaired or replaced frequently, often more than once a day. The slabber blade, on the other hand, is much thicker than the slitter blades and does not dull, bend or break as easily as the slitter blades. As a result, the disk which incorporates the slabber blade has to be replaced much less frequently than the slitter blades. Since the slitter blades are mounted or affixed directly to the surface of the cutter disk in the prior art, the entire cutter disk must ordinarily be removed from the feed system in order to resharpen, repair, clean or replace one or more of the slitter blades, thus making the system completely inoperable until maintenance has been completed and the cutter disk replaced in the system. This results in an increase in down-time and a decrease in productivity.
Applicant is aware of one 2-piece rotating cutter system in the marketplace. The system, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,409, includes a disk, comprised of two separate halves which are affixed together in operation. One half of the disk contains both the slabber and slitter blades. The slabber and slitter blades are included in one set of blades with both vertical and horizontal sharpened edges. The vertical sharpened edges are the slitter blades, and the horizontal sharpened edges are the slabber blades. This system encounters the same problems noted above regarding increased downtime and decreased productivity with respect to maintenance, repair and replacement of the blades. Moreover, when only the slitter blades need to be replaced, the slabber blades must be replaced as well, and vice-versa. Furthermore, when replacing the blades, the half disk upon which the blades are mounted must also be replaced. Most of this surface material is not used to cut the potato and, thus, it does not wear out during the life of the cutter.

2-piece cutter blade for producing helical vegetable strips


A flip chip mounting process or a bump-forming process according to the present invention is characterized in that electrically-conductive particles are fixed on electrodes formed on an electronic component. A composition comprising solder powder, a convection additive and a resin component is supplied onto a surface of the electronic component, the surface is provided with the electrodes. The supplied composition is heated up to a temperature enabling the solder powder to melt. As a result, the convection additive boils or is decomposed so as to generate a gas. The generated gas produces a convection phenomenon within the supplied composition. Since the convection phenomenon promotes the movement of the solder powder, the solder powder can move freely within the composition. The electrically-conductive particles serve as nuclei for the solder powder to self-assemble and grow. As a result, the molten solder powder is allowed to self-assemble and grow in the vicinity of the electrically-conductive particles, which leads to a formation of connections or bumps.

In recent years, electronic devices such as a cellar phone, a notebook-size personal computer, PDA and a digital video camera have been increasingly used, and they are becoming smaller, thinner and lighter. There has been also increasing a demand for a high performance and a multifunction of the electronic devices. As a result, electronic components such as a semiconductor device and a circuit component are becoming ultrasmall, and thereby a mounting process or a packaging process of the electronic components has been improved. Also, a high-density process of an electronic circuit has been rapidly improved.
The technology needed for the high-density process of the electronic circuit is a high-density mounting technology or a high-density packaging technology for a semiconductor integrated circuit (LSI). With a rapid development of a high pin-number and a fine pitch for connecting electrodes (which are hereinafter referred to also as "electrode(s)") of a LSI chip, semiconductor packaging technologies such as CSP (chip size package) by performance of the flip chip mounting of a bare chip as well as PPGA and BGA mounting processes for external terminals have been commonly used. Therefore, there is a demand for a new mounting technology or a new packing technology that can accommodate a high-speed processing and a miniaturization of a mounted IC as well as a high number of input/output terminals of the mounted IC.
In a flip chip mounting process, firstly, a plurality of electrode pads are formed on a semiconductor chip. Then, bumps are formed on the electrode pads by using a material such as a solder, Au or the like. Subsequently the semiconductor chip is mounted over a circuit substrate such that the bumps of the semiconductor chip are opposed to a plurality of electrodes formed on the circuit substrate. This results in a formation of an electrical conduction between the bumps and the electrodes. After that, a resin material (underfill agent) is poured into a clearance gap between the semiconductor chip and the circuit substrate so as to form a mechanical connection between the semiconductor chip and the circuit substrate.
For mounting a next-generation LSI having 5000 or more electrodes over a circuit substrate, it is required to form fine-pitch bumps with their pitch of 100 μm or less. It is, however, difficult for a conventional solder bump-forming process to form such fine-pitch bumps.
Moreover, from a viewpoint that a large number of bumps must be formed according to the number of the electrodes, a high productivity is required for reducing a manufacturing cost by reducing mounting tact time per chip.
There has been developed a plating process and a screen printing process as a conventional bump-forming process. The plating process is suitable for achieving a fine pitch, but it is complicated and has to compromise the productivity. The screen printing process, on the other hand, has a high productivity, but is not suitable for achieving the fine pitch since a mask is used.
Recently, there has been proposed several processes for selectively forming solder bumps on electrodes of a LSI chip or a circuit substrate. These processes are not only suitable for a fine chip of the bumps, but also suitable for achieving a high productivity since a plurality of the fine bumps can be formed in a batch process. Accordingly they are expected as promising processes that can be applicable to a mounting or packaging for the next-generation LSI.
According to one of these promising processes, a solder paste comprising a mixture of solder powder and a flux is applied directly onto a whole surface of a circuit substrate having electrodes (surfaces of the electrodes have been oxidized). Subsequently the circuit substrate is heated so as to melt the solder powder. As a result, solder bumps (solder layers) are selectively formed on the electrodes without causing an electrical short circuit between the adjacent electrodes. See Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 2000-94179 (which is referred to also as "Patent literature 1"), for example.
According to another one of the promising processes, a paste composition (so-called "deposition type solder using chemical reaction") mainly comprising organic acid lead salt and tin metal is applied onto a whole surface of a circuit substrate, the surface being provided with electrodes. Subsequently the circuit substrate is heated so as to induce a displacement reaction for Pb and Sn, and thereby Pb/Sn alloy is selectively deposited on the electrodes of the circuit substrate. See Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. H01-157796 (which is referred to also as "Patent literature 2") and "Electronics Packaging Technology", issued on September, 2000, pp. 38-45 (which is referred to also as "Non-patent literature 1"), for example.
There is also another process wherein bumps are selectively formed on electrodes of a circuit substrate. In this process, the circuit substrate is immersed in a chemical solution so as to form an adhesive film only on surfaces of the electrodes of the circuit substrate. Then, solder powder is put into contact with the adhesive film so as to attach the solder powder to the electrodes. See Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. H07-74459 (which is referred to also as "Patent literature 3"), for example.
However, when the above-mentioned processes are employed, the flip chip mounting process requires the following steps (1) and (2) due to the fact that the bumps are formed on the electrode pads of the semiconductor chip or on the electrodes of the circuit substrate:
(1) The step for forming an electrical connection between the opposed electrodes by performance of a reflow process after the formation of the bumps and the mounting of the semiconductor chip over the circuit substrate; and
(2) The step for pouring an underfill resin into a clearance gap formed between the semiconductor chip and the circuit substrate so as to secure the semiconductor chip to the circuit substrate.
The steps (1) and (2) will cause an increase of the manufacturing cost.
Therefore, there is recently proposed another process. According to such process, an electrical connection is formed at desired position by disposing a film consisting of an anisotropic conductive material (which contains electrically-conductive particles) between a projected electrode of a semiconductor chip and an electrode of a circuit substrate, followed by heating and pressurizing the film. See Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 2000-332055 (which is referred to also as "Patent literature 4"), for example.
There is also proposed another process wherein an electrically-conductive adhesive consisting of a thermosetting resin and electrically-conductive particles is supplied between a semiconductor chip and a circuit substrate, and thereafter the semiconductor chip is pressurized and the electrically-conductive adhesive is heated. According to this process, the molten electrically-conductive particles are allowed to gather between electrodes of the semiconductor chip and electrodes of the circuit substrate. As a result, an electrical conduction between each electrode of the semiconductor chip and each electrode of the circuit substrate is formed, and also a bonding between the semiconductor chip and the circuit substrate is formed. See Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. 2004-260131 (which is hereinafter referred to also as "Patent literature 5"), for example.

Flip chip mounting process and bump-forming process using electrically-conductive particles as nuclei


A given data unit of a first protocol layer for transmission in a data unit based communication system is passed to a second protocol layer. A numeric value of a numerically quantifiable parameter associated with said given data unit of said first protocol layer is determined and the given data unit is embedded into one or more data units of the second protocol layer and transmission control for the one or more data units of the second protocol layer is performed in accordance with said numeric value of said numerically quantifiable parameter.

The present invention relates to a method of processing a data unit in a data unit based communication system, and to a corresponding data unit based communication system.
A well known principle for data exchange in networks is that of data unit exchange. This means that data to be sent is broken down into individual units. Rules for sending and receiving such units, as well as rules for the structure of the units themselves, are determined by so-called protocols. Protocols are sets of rules that allow the communication between a sending end and a receiving end, as the rules specify how and in what form data to be sent has to be prepared such that the receiving end may interpret the data and react in accordance to protocol defined rules to which both partners in the communication adhere. The two ends of a communication adhering to a specific protocol are also referred to as peers.
Such data units are sometimes referred to by different names, depending on the type of protocol involved, such as packets, frames, segments, datagrams, etc. For the purpose of clarity the present description uses the term "data unit" generically for any type of data unit associated with any type of protocol.
An important concept in communications using data unit exchange is that of protocol layering. This means that a number of protocols (sometimes also referred to as a suite) is organised in a hierarchy of layers, where each layer has specific functions and responsibilities. The concept of layering is well known in the art and described in many textbooks, for example "TCP-IP illustrated volume 1, The Protocols" by W. Richard Stevens, Addison Wesley, 1994, such that a detailed description is not necessary here.
The TCP/IP protocol suite is an example of a layered protocol hierarchy. A basic structure of a protocol hierarchy is defined by the OSI (Open System Interconnection) layer model. At a lowest layer, which is also referred to as the physical layer or L1, the functions of directly transporting data over a physical connection are handled. Above the physical layer, a second layer L2, which is also referred as to the link layer is provided. The link layer L2 fulfils the function of handling the transport of data units over links between communication nodes. Above the link layer L2 a third layer L3 is provided, which is also referred to as the network layer. The network layer handles the routing of data units in a given network. An example of a network layer protocol is the internet protocol (IP). Above the network layer, a fourth layer L4 is provided, which is also referred to as the transport layer. Examples of a transport layer protocol are the transmission control protocol (TCP) or the user datagram protocol (UDP).
In a data unit based communication system using a hierarchy of protocol layers, a communication comprises passing a given data unit downwards through the protocol hierarchy on the sending side, and passing a data unit upwards through the protocol hierarchy on the receiving side. When a data unit is passed downwards, each protocol will typically perform a certain function with respect thereto, e.g. add further information and change or adapt the structure to specific rules of that protocol layer. Typically each protocol layer will add its own header to a data unit received from a higher protocol layer and may also add delimiters. When a specific protocol layer receives a data unit from a higher protocol layer, it will embed the higher layer data unit into a data unit adhering to the rules of the given protocol layer. The term "embedding" shall refer to both encapsulation in which one data unit of a higher layer is placed into one data unit of a given layer, and to segmentation, where one data unit of a higher layer is segmented into a plurality of data units of the given protocol layer.
An important aspect of the layering scheme is that the different layers are "transparent". This means that the peers in a layer are oblivious to what happens in another layer.
Typically, each protocol layer will perform some type of transmission control for its data units. Such transmission control can e.g. comprise the performing of a certain type of forward error correction, the setting of parameters associated with an automatic repeat request (ARQ) function, the scheduling of data units, or the performing of comparable operations.
It is known to implement protocol layers in such a way that they can be operated in a specific mode with respect to the transmission control. As an example, a so-called numbered mode (or I-mode) and a so-called unnumbered mode (UI-mode) are known. In the numbered mode, if it is determined that a sent data unit was not correctly received by the receiving peer, then the sending peer performs retransmission of said data unit. In this way it can be assured that all packets are correctly transmitted, although this may increase the delay, depending on how many packets have to be transmitted. On the other hand, in the unnumbered mode, no retransmissions are provided. This has the advantage of less delay, but the transmission reliability depends on the quality of the physical connection.
The possibility of setting a given protocol layer implementation into a specific transmission control mode has the advantage that the selection of the mode can e.g. be performed by a control procedure from a higher protocol layer, in order to optimise the sending of data units from said higher protocol layer. However, it does not provide very much flexibility, as a given protocol layer will typically handle a variety of different types of data units, that require different control settings with respect to the optimisation of the sending of the given type of data unit. As an example, if an application layer is sending a computer file, it desires to ensure a reliable transmission, and may therefore want to set a lower layer protocol implementation into the numbered mode, or the application layer may want to send data that requires real-time transmission, such as a video stream belonging to a video telephone, in which case transmission speed is more important than reliability, such that the application layer may want to set a lower layer protocol implementation into the unnumbered mode. However, if both computer file data and video data are being sent, then the setting of the lower layer protocol implementation into a given transmission control mode will not provide an optimum solution.
EP-0 973 302 A1 addresses this problem and proposes a system, in which a given protocol layer that receives higher data unit layers and embeds these higher data layers into data units of said given layer, is arranged to discriminate the higher layer data unit layers by reading the header information and determining the type of the higher layer data unit. Then, a classification is performed in accordance with the identified type. In this way, the given protocol layer can flexibly set the transmission reliability of its data units depending on the type of the higher layer data unit that is embedded in its own data units. As an example, if the system of EP-0 973 02 A1 is applied to a link layer in the TCP/IP suite, then the link layer can identify if the network layer IP data unit that it receives carries a TCP data unit, in which case the link layer data units are sent in the numbered mode, or if the network layer IP data unit carries UDP data unit, in which case the link layer data units are sent in the unnumbered mode.
However, the system of EP-0 973 302 A1 is not always practical, as it requires the parsing of higher layer data units in order to identify type information, which e.g. does not work when the higher layer data unit has an encrypted header and/or payload.
It is desirable to provide an improved method and system of processing data units of a higher protocol layer at a given protocol layer, which is simple to implement, but flexibly provides improved transmission properties.

Method and system for processing a data unit


A display method includes: based on at least one of first information obtained by a control device including a display and second information obtained by a device other than the control device, changing an image used as a basic screen that is displayed on the display and is for controlling a control target device other than the control device by a user (S12).

Conventionally, the technology of improving the operability of a mobile terminal such as a smart phone is known. PTL 1 discloses a cellular phone that displays, on a display, an operation panel and operation buttons corresponding to an application program predicted to be used according to the time and place.

Display method, recording medium, and display system

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A non-linear transformation including a plurality of non-linear logical operations is masked to a second or higher order. The masking includes receiving a set of random bits, and machine-masking two or more of the plurality of non-linear logical operations with a same random bit from the set of random bits.

Hardware implementations of cryptosystems are susceptible to side channel attacks. A side channel attack does not use brute force or a theoretical weakness in a cryptographic algorithm to defeat a cryptosystem, but instead relies on information gained from the physical implementation of the cryptosystem. For example, electromagnetic leaks can be analyzed and exploited to defeat a cryptosystem. To counteract side channel attacks, internal operations of the cryptosystem may be masked with random bits. With first order masking, an internal operation is masked with one random bit. Such first order masking offers some protection, but generally is not considered strong enough for very sensitive information. With second order masking, an internal operation is masked with two or more random bits. Second order masking provides security deemed sufficient for most information. Third and higher order masking provides even stronger security, but can be computationally expensive.


The embodiments described herein include an object detection system and method for identifying objects within an area. In one embodiment, the objection detection system may formulate an outline of a detected object and generate a three-dimensional shape or image of the object. Object information may be used to determine and communicate the position, range, and bearing of the object.

Traffic congestion is identified as a major global problem for motor vehicle transportation. In some cases, congestion costs billions of dollars annually in lost productivity, environmental losses due to urban sprawl, pollution, and infrastructure costs. In response, a number of congestion mitigation systems have been developed to reduce the impact of traffic congestion. Conventional congestion mitigation systems require sensors that are capable of accurate detection and tracking of objects including other vehicles. However, the detection of objects by conventional congestion mitigation systems require relatively expensive processors for computationally intensive data processing. Additionally, traffic congestion detectors are also costly and typically provide insufficient information for adequate congestion mitigation methods.
The embodiments described herein were conceived in view of these and other disadvantages of conventional object detection systems.


An improved outrigger is disclosed for a building structure having a longitudinally extending I-beam. The outrigger comprises an inner member having an upper end and a lower end and an outer member having an upper end and a lower end. A brace coacts between the lower end of the inner member and the upper end of the outer member and coacts between the upper end of the inner member and the lower end of the outer member. The inner member is connected to the I-beam.

1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to building structures and more particularly to an improved outrigger for a frame of a building structure such as a manufactured home or the like.
2. Background Of The Invention
Various systems have been devised in the prior art for use in providing a floor to a building structure such as a manufactured home of the like. Many building structures incorporate a first and a second longitudinally extending I-beam for supporting a plurality of transverse beams. The transverse beams provide a support for the floor system of the building structure. In many cases, it is desirable to extend the transverse beams outwardly of the first and second longitudinally extending I-beams. In such cases, it is sometimes desirable to provide additional support to these transverse beams extending outwardly of the first and second I-beams.
Some in the prior art have proposed the use of outriggers fastened to the first and second I-beams to extend substantially perpendicularly to the I-beams. The outriggers receive an outer beam for supporting the terminal ends of the transverse beams. Some in the prior art have made these outriggers of wood that incorporate various bracing devices. Others in the prior art have attempted to use steel Z shape portions in an effort to provide outriggers for manufactured homes.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved outrigger for a building structure which is capable of being secured to an I-beam of a building structure home for supporting the terminal ends of the transverse beams.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved outrigger for a building structure which is fashioned from light-weight steel angle iron material to provide a light-weight outrigger for the building structure industry.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved outrigger for a building structure which is designed to be structurally strong and efficient for being supported either from the underside of the l-beams or for being supported from the underside of the terminal ends of the outriggers.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed as being merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention with in the scope of the invention. Accordingly other objects in a full understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description describing the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Outrigger support for building structure


A method of removing cuttings includes the steps of disposing a pipe string in a high-angle wellbore, circulating mud through the wellbore and creating a viscous coupling layer of mud spiraling about a section of the pipe string. Wherein the wellbore may be deviated from vertical thirty degrees or greater. The viscous coupling layer desirably extends outwardly beyond the outside diameter of the tooljoint upsets in the section of the pipe string. A pipe joint for creating a viscous coupling layer of drilling fluid spiraling about the pipe to remove cuttings from high angle wells includes an elongated tubular having an outer surface extending between opposing tooljoints, tooljoint upsets and projections provided on substantially the entire outer surface.

During drilling operations and the like, drilling fluid or mud is circulated down through the drill string, out the bottom of the pipe string and back to the surface through the wellbore. Among its other purposes, the drilling mud removes cuttings and debris from the wellbore. In high-angle wellbores, the gravity vector is substantially vertical and the velocity vector of the mud deviates from vertical and may be horizontal or substantially horizontal in sections of the wellbore. Thus, the cuttings tend to settle to the low side of the wellbore and form cutting beds. Attempts to improve cutting removal have included increasing rotational speed of the pipe, increasing the flowrate of the mud and altering mud rheology with little effect. Additionally, wellbore conditions and/or rig limitations limit these options.
Therefore, it is a desire to provide a system and method for improving cutting removal in high-angle wellbores.

Method and apparatus for removing cuttings in high-angle wells


A circuit configuration is provided for monitoring an electromagnetically actuated device, such as an electromagnetic clutch. The circuit comprises a switchable power source connected to the winding of the electromagnet; the power source supplies a composite voltage formed of a direct voltage part and a periodic alternating voltage part superimposed on one another. Engage and disengage signals are issued for the clutch and the direct voltage part assumes distinctly different levels in dependence on the engage and disengage signals. A precision resistor is connected in series with the winding of the electromagnet and a voltage sensor is connected at a node between the winding and the precision resistor. An evaluation circuit is connected to the voltage sensor for evaluating the alternating voltage part acting on the precision resistor and receiving therefrom information regarding the functionality of the electromagnetic device.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates primarily to a monitoring circuit for an electromagnetic clutch with regard to engaged and disengaged states thereof. The invention may furthermore be utilized in related electromagnetically actuated devices, such as control elements, servo-actuators, brakes, valves, and the like.
With machines, particularly with printing presses having complex, electrical and electronic controls, respectively, it may be necessary to obtain switching signals which provide information regarding the engaged and disengaged states of an electromagnetically operated clutch. Various possible solutions have become known heretofore for this purpose. One heretofore proposed solution calls for monitoring the position of that part of the clutch which is moved as a result of the respective engagement and disengagement. In the disengaged state, that part assumes a first position and, after a voltage has been injected in the electromagnet provided for the operation of the clutch, that part assumes a second position. The distance covered by that part from the disengaged to the engaged state is of the order of magnitude of some tenths of a millimeter to a few millimeters and can be measured with conventional position sensors, preferably of electromechanical, opto-electronic, inductive or capacitive types. In the simplest case, a microswitch may be installed permanently on the frame, and may be actuated when the clutch is in the properly and precisely engaged state.
German Published Document 31 30 259 A1 discloses a circuit configuration for a power-shift transmission wherein hydraulically operated disconnect-type clutches are provided, a displacement- or pressure-measuring system being installed in order to determine the position of the clutch. Furthermore, this circuit configuration is provided with tachometers on the input and output sides, the tachometers being connected to a control unit including a rotational-speed control loop.
A further heretofore proposed solution calls for installing a device for displacement or angle measurement as an indicator of the engaged state of a clutch, this measurement device being associated with the machine part driven by the clutch. A transmission of signals from the displacement- and angle-measuring devices, respectively, can be taken as an indication that the clutch is engage.
A disadvantage of these heretofore proposed solutions is that they each require additional, costly devices for measuring displacement, angle and rotational speed, respectively, which require additional installation space, are complicated to install and, because of their manner of construction and their complexity, adversely affect reliability with regard to the monitoring of an electromagnetic clutch. Moreover, with such proposed solutions, which are partly realized or implemented with mechanical means, one must expect that, during rough machine operation, the accuracy with which the position of the moved clutch and machine parts is determined will be lost due to mechanical and other ambient influences.
With some machines, particularly with printing presses, it may be necessary, in addition to monitoring the engaged and disengaged states, also to monitor the precise angular position of the connecting or coupling parts of a rotating clutch. In the case of toothed clutches, for example, it is possible that, during engagement and as a result of operational disturbances, respectively, the teeth may not be seated in the mating numbers provided therefor, or that the teeth do not lock in position precisely and sit in an undefined position on the side of a tooth.
Monitoring devices required for this purpose are likewise disposed as additional components on the clutch and on the driving and/or driven machine elements, respectively, and have the same disadvantages as described heretofore.
In the case of simple monitoring arrangements for an electromagnetically operated clutch, it is possible, by measuring the DC-current consumption of the electromagnet, to obtain a signal for the "clutch engaged" state. Thus, it is possible, for example, in the connection or terminal line to the electromagnet, to connect an ohmic resistance in series with the electromagnet, the voltage drop across the resistance being evaluated. If the voltage drop exceeds a given threshold value, it is possible then, at the output of a comparator connected to the resistance, to provide a signal pulse edge or slope which can be taken as an indication that the clutch is in the engaged state.
With this heretofore proposed solution, it is assumed that, when in electromagnetic clutch is supplied with voltage and current, respectively, it assumes its intended position, i.e. a toothed clutch, for example, locks precisely in place with respect to the axial position and angular position of the machine elements which are to be coupled. A disadvantage thereof is that, due to the measurement of the DC-current susceptibility or consumption of the electromagnet, it is not possible to detect minor deviations from the precisely engaged state, because there is only an insignificant change in the DC current due to the saturation of the electromagnet in these ranges.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a circuit configuration for monitoring an electromagnetically actuated clutch which permits at low cost and with relatively little outlay of materials, a reliable monitoring of the engaged and disengaged states of the clutch and of the angular position of the connecting or coupling machine elements.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a circuit configuration for monitoring an electromagnetically actuated device, such as an electromagnetic clutch, having an electromagnet with a winding, comprising a switchable power source connected to the winding of the electromagnet, the power source being means for supplying a voltage formed of a direct voltage part and a periodic alternating voltage part superimposed on the direct voltage part, means for issuing engage and disengage signals for the device and for providing the direct voltage part at two defined levels in dependence on the engage and disengage signals, a precision resistor connected in series with the winding of the electromagnet, a voltage sensor connected at a node between the winding and the precision resistor, and an evaluation circuit connected to the voltage sensor for evaluating the alternating voltage part acting on the precision resistor.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, circuit configuration includes an alternating voltage source supplying the alternating voltage part with a given period of oscillation to the power source, the voltage sensor being an alternating voltage amplifier, and the evaluation circuit including a comparator having first and second inputs and an output, the first input being connected to an output of the alternating voltage amplifier, a reference voltage source connected to the second input, the reference voltage source providing two defined reference voltage levels in dependence on the engage and disengage signals, a flip flop having a set input connected to the output of the comparator and a reset input connected to the alternating voltage source, a one-shot connected with an output of the flip flop and having an ON-time greater than the given period of oscillation, and an exclusive-NOR member connected with an output of the one-shot, the exclusive-NOR member having an input connected to the issuing means for receiving the engage and disengage signals.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the means for issuing the engage and disengage signals are a switch by which the device is turned on or off.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the voltage sensor is a direct voltage amplifier, and the evaluation circuit includes an alternating voltage amplifier connected downstream of the direct voltage amplifier, a rectifier circuit connected downstream of the alternating voltage amplifier, two sample-and-hold circuits connected downstream of the rectifier circuit, the sample-and-hold circuits having pulse inputs, first and second pulse forming circuit means respectively connected between the alternating voltage source and the respective pulse inputs of the sample-and-hold circuits, an adder connected downstream of the sample-and-hold circuits, and a voltage measurement circuit connected to an output of the adder.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the first pulse forming circuit includes a high-pass and a non-inverting Schmitt-trigger, and the second pulse forming circuit includes a high-pass and an inverting Schmitt-trigger.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the voltage measurement circuit includes a comparator having a first input connected with an output of the adder, and a voltage divider connecting a second input of the comparator to the direct voltage source.
In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the circuit configuration includes an AND-member having a first input connected to an output of the comparator and a second input, and a window comparator having an output connected to the second input of the comparator.
With the objects of the invention in view there is also provided, in accordance with added features of the invention, a circuit configuration for monitoring an electromagnetic device, such as a clutch, having an electromagnet with a winding, comprising:
direct voltage means for supplying a direct voltage at two distinctly different voltage levels;
alternating voltage means for supplying a periodically alternating voltage with a given period of oscillation;
power source means for superimposing the direct and alternating voltages on one another for forming a composite voltage having a direct voltage part and an alternating voltage part, and for switching the direct voltage part to a relatively low level upon issuance of a disengage signal for the device, and for switching the direct voltage part to a relatively higher level upon issuance of an engage signal for the device;
the power source means injecting a voltage in the winding of the electromagnet independently of the engage or disengage signals;
voltage evaluation circuit means connected to the winding of the electromagnet for evaluating a voltage at the winding and determining a state of the electromagnetically actuated device.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the voltage evaluation circuit means include voltage sensor means in the form of an alternating voltage amplifier, a comparator having a first input connected to an output of the alternating voltage amplifier, a reference voltage source connected to a second input of the comparator, the reference voltage source providing two defined reference voltage levels in dependence o the engage and disengage signals, a flip flop having a set input connected to an output of the comparator and a reset input connected to the alternating voltage means, a one-shot connected with an output of the flip flop and having an ON-time greater than the given period of oscillation, and an exclusive-NOR gate connected with an output of the one-shot and with the means for issuing the engage and disengage signals.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
According to the invention a periodic alternating current is superimposed on the trigger current of the electromagnetic device, for example of the magnetic clutch. The voltage drop of the alternating voltage across a resistance which is connected in series with the winding is evaluated in a circuit configuration for a signal for monitoring the engaged and disengaged states of the electromagnetic device.
It is advantageous in the signal evaluation, if a periodic rectangular pulse train signal with a duty cycle ratio of greater or equal 50% is used in the superposition.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a circuit configuration for monitoring an electromagnetically actuated device, in particular an electromagnetic clutch, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Circuit configuration for monitoring an electromagnetically actuated device, in particular an electromagnetic clutch


A method for increasing channel utilization in a video broadcast system includes receiving, at a head-end, a request for a video program from one of a plurality of subscriber stations. Determining whether the requested video program is associated with a first subset of channels representing broadcasted channels having a first subscriber viewership level greater than a threshold level, a second subset of channels representing broadcasted channels having a second subscriber viewership level less than the threshold level, and a third subset of channels representing on-demand channels having a third subscriber viewership. The first subset of broadcast channels is substantially continuously transmitted. The second subset of broadcast channels is transmitted based upon channel availability and programming assignments. The third subset of on-demand channels are transmitted from the head-end to at least one of the plurality of subscriber stations upon assigning video programming corresponding to the requesting subscriber station.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of network bandwidth utilization and more particularly to optimization of network bandwidth utilization in a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) network system capable of uni-cast, multi-cast and/or broadcast of information.
2. Description of the Background Art
Traditional broadcast systems, such as cable systems, require increasingly greater bandwidth to support the increased availability of programming, such as new cable channels, to subscribers. Other factors contributing to the need for increased bandwidth are the advent of high definition television (HDTV) and the enactment of digital must-carry rules. Traditionally, cable systems allocate fixed bandwidth to linear program material independently of whether customers are viewing the material at any time. In modem cable systems that may provide several hundred program choices at any given time, the chances that transmitted programming is not being viewed rises dramatically.
A number of techniques are available to increase available channel bandwidth. For example, digital transmission technology allows a number of channels, such as 6 to 8 digital channels, to be transmitted in the space of one analog channel. Statistical multiplexing can also be used to effect further bandwidth increases. While such techniques are useful in increasing the available channel bandwidth of traditional cable systems, further improvements in channel bandwidth are required to support increasing numbers of channels, high definition broadcast, and to comply with various regulations, such as digital must-carry rules that require cable systems to transmit certain programming regardless of their popularity or usage by the community.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Network bandwidth optimization by dynamic channel allocation


A method and apparatus for the reversible contacting of a semiconductor circuit level to assist in performing a function test. The apparatus includes a testing head having test points arranged at a test side lying opposite the contact surfaces of a semiconductor circuit level. The test points are formed of liquid contacts in recesses in the test side of the testing head wherein the liquid contacts form menisci that project beyond the surface of the testing head. The recesses, in turn, are provided for metallizations which are connected to electrically-conductive leads. In addition, the surface may be provided with a roughening or with etched trenches.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed both to an apparatus for the reversible contacting of a semiconductor circuit level to assist in performing a function test and to a method for testing semiconductor circuit levels upon employment of such an apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Semiconductor circuits are currently manufactured using planar circuit technology. The complexity that can be achieved on a single chip is limited by the chip's size and structural fineness. Given conventional technology, the performance capability of a system composed of a plurality of semiconductor chips connected to one another is essentially limited by: the number of possible connections between individual chip's terminal contacts (pads); the low speed of the signal transmission via such connections between various chips; the limited speed through highly-branched interconnects on complex chips; and the high power consumption of interface circuits.
These limitations which are associated with planar technology can be overcome with three-dimensional interconnection techniques. The arrangement of function levels, one above another, allow a parallel communication between components with little outlay of electrically-conductive connections in a single level (also referred to as "cubically-integrated") Further, speed-limiting interchip connections may be avoided. Such a cubically-integrated semiconductor chip may still be accommodated in a single housing despite its enhanced functionality.
To avoid unnecessary losses in the yield of functional chips, only those circuit levels which have been tested and found to be fully functional are placed above one another and contacted. Such arrangement is unproblematic as long as the circuit levels are "self-sufficient," i.e., independently-functioning circuits. With self-sufficient circuits, it is possible to test them after they are connected to a wafer, yet before they are passivated, separated and mounted in housings. When, however, a circuit level only functions when interacting with its vertically-neighboring circuit levels, the testing of such circuit level is only possible after the irreversible assembly of the various other circuit levels. This process should be avoided, however, because it drastically reduces the obtainable yield.
For testing purposes, the circuits are usually contacted by placing fine test probes onto the bond pads. However, the pads have significantly larger dimensions than the connection contacts of the circuit levels that are provided for the cubic integration. In addition, the number of contacts is significantly great (about 10,000 through 100,000). As a result of both the fine dimensions and the great number of contact locations, the use of standard test probes is precluded.
Another testing method employs electron-optical methods. This method, however, requires self-sufficient circuit levels, a prerequisite that, as already mentioned, is not met with cubic integration. Further, the voltage supply may not be assured, particularly given insulated circuit levels. In sum, these testing methods cannot be employed for testing individual semiconductor circuit levels that are provided for cubic integration.
An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide semiconductor circuit levels, especially those having non-self-sufficient circuits, which can be subjected to a function test before their cubic integration.


A motor drive device having a motor drive unit, a controller, and a rotational detector. The motor drive unit drives a brushless DC motor, the brushless DC motor has a rotor. The controller produces a motor driving signal to drive the brushless DC motor. The a rotational detector detects a rotational state of the brushless DC motor to produce a rotational state signal. The controller receives the rotational state signal from the rotational detector, determines a phase-switching timing to switch a phase of the brushless DC motor based on the rotational state signal, and transmits the phase-switching timing as the motor driving signal to the motor driver.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a motor drive device and an image-forming device including the same.
2. Related Art
A conventional motor drive device for controlling a brushless DC motor is provided with a control circuit that performs digital control and a motor drive circuit that drives the motor in response to instructions from the control circuit. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-61297 discloses an image-forming device having a speed determination circuit and a motor lock circuit provided within an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip. The ASIC produces a signal for a motor driver IC having a Hall-effect amplifier and a phase-switching circuit, thereby driving the brushless DC motor.
However, in the conventional motor drive device, a phase-switching circuit is provided within the motor drive circuit, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-61297. Therefore, the circuit configuration tends to be complicated, which may lead to an increase in size and cost of the device. When the motor drive circuit is mounted on a circuit board with other analog servo circuitry, the analog servo circuitry may be affected by heat generated by the motor drive circuit, leading to unstable control.

Motor drive device and image-forming device including the same


A system distributes digital media content to a plurality of user devices, where a given user is associated with multiple user devices. First content is provided by a controller to a first user device and, in response, the controller determines interaction by the user with the first content. Thereafter, the controller provides second content to a second user device based on the prior provision of the first user content to the first user device and the first interaction information. More extensive user interaction history as well as device types may also be employed by the controller when determining the second content.

Web-to-television systems allow content from the Internet to be accessed interactively by a user via a television display. In particular, while television displays are adapted to receive and display a television broadcast, for example received via a satellite signal, ADSL (Advanced Digital Subscriber Line) connection, cable connection or the like, all or the majority of the information transmission is one-way to the television, meaning that there are limited possibilities for user interaction, such as surfing the web. However, web-to-TV systems generally comprise a hardware platform supporting far greater connectivity. In particular, while a television broadcast is still received via a mostly one-way broadcast, an Internet connection is provided in parallel, for example via an ADSL or cable connection. Internet content may then be displayed alongside the television broadcast on the television display.
The possibilities for product or brand marketing campaigns in a one-way television transmission system are limited, and generally comprise only 30-second video advertisements inserted in "commercial breaks" in-between television programs. On the other hand, with a web-to-TV system, the possibilities for new forms of marketing are greatly improved, including the use of advertising banners, web pages, Interactive advertisements, etc.
However, there are technical difficulties in implementing a system for distributing digital content in a web-to-TV system.

Media distribution architecture for television viewing


The present invention discloses an interface circuit suitable for a high-speed semiconductor device. The interface circuit includes an input driver producing a first and second output signal having opposite phases to each other by receiving an external power supply voltage as an operation voltage and buffering an input signal to the level of the external power supply voltage; a cross-coupled sense amplifier for receiving an internal power supply voltage as an operation voltage when a control signal is in the first transition state, and performing a differential amplification by receiving the first output signal at a first input end and receiving the second output signal at a second input end; an output potential fixation element for keeping a potential of an output end of the cross-coupled sense amplifier at a uniform potential corresponding to a level of the internal power supply voltage only when the control signal is in the second transition state; and an output driver for receiving the internal power supply voltage as an operation voltage and buffering the output signal at the output end into the level of the internal power supply voltage to be applied into a circuit in the chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an interface for a semiconductor device, and more particularly to an interface circuit and an interfacing method suitable for a high-speed semiconductor device.
2. Discussion of Related Art
As the operational speed of semiconductor chips increase, the need for a low power supply voltage and high-speed interface-circuits also increase. A lower supply voltage decreases power dissipation and reduces transmission line effects in high-speed operations. There has been a trend towards decreasing the power supply voltage applied to high speed semiconductor chips, for example, from 5 volts (V) to 3.3V, 2.5V, or less than 2.5V. For example, for a highly integrated semiconductor device having a gate poly size of less than 0.18 xcexcm, and employing a dual oxide manufacture process to form a thin tunnel oxide, the internal power supply voltage is about 1.8V. Integrated circuit chips typically include an internal voltage controller for dropping the external power supply voltage applied from an exterior to the internal voltage needed for internal circuits. For example, a random access memory (RAM) is described with a voltage reduction circuit mounted as an internal voltage controller for reducing the voltage applied to an internal circuit in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-270191.
An input receiver can be used as an interface circuit for buffering an external signal to a level appropriate for the internal circuits of a semiconductor chip. As its name implies, an interface circuit operates between the internals of an integrated circuit and any external components. The voltage levels output, and setup and hold times are important parameters of an input receiver.
Typically, the input receiver is designed to have a signal interface such as a LVTTL, HSTL, or GTL, according to the needs of the particular semiconductor device. The LVTTL interface is commonly used in current designs.
For example, an LVTTL interface wherein the external power supply voltage (hereinafter, EXTVDD) is 3.3V (or 2.5V), while the internal power supply voltage is 1.8V or some voltage less than EXTVDD. The reduced internal voltage provides a decrease in transition time with increased speed and a decreased operation current.
However, in the case of an internal power supply voltage less than EXTVDD-1Vt (Vt is a threshold voltage), the rising/falling time of an input signal is about 1v/1n, and a high level of the input signal is higher than the internal power supply voltage+1Vt, there is a problem in that the setup and hold time cannot be satisfied with accuracy. That is, when the level of the internal power supply voltage is about 1.8V, with a swing between Vil=0V and Vih=3V, and the rising/falling time of the input signal is about 1v/1n, the input receiver operates only when the level of the input signal is less than the internal power supply voltage-1vt at a transition from the high level to the low level. Accordingly, the rising/falling time of 1v/1n and the voltage swing at the LVTTL interface makes satisfaction of the setup/hold time tSU/tHD and optimization of a current consumption difficult.
Conventional input receivers are explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 shows an input receiver which includes p type and n type channel metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors PM1, PM2, NM1, NM2, a p-type channel MOS transistor PM3 and an inverter chain 20. The inverter type input receiver receives an input signal XAi through gates of the p type and n type channel MOS transistors PM2, NM1. A control signal ZZB applied to the gate of NM2 puts the receiver in a waiting current mode. When the control signal ZZB is applied at a level turning on the MOS transistor NM2 and the input signal XAi is applied at a low level. Node NO1 is pulled up to EXTVDD at a logic xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d, which is applied to inverter I1 of the inverter chain 20. An internal power supply voltage IVC is applied to the inverter chain 20. Although the inverse output signal is buffered to the level of the internal power supply voltage by the inverter chain 20 and a delay of the output signal OUT is adjusted to suit a phase of a clock signal, the delay is difficult to adjust accurately for each transition. For example, when a rising/falling time of the input signal (hereinafter RFF) is 1v/1n and the input signal swings between OV and 3V (here, the external power supply voltage is 3.3V and the internal power supply voltage is 1.8V), H-L time (or L-H time) becomes xe2x80x9c1.5ns(EXTVDD-IVC)+PMOS Vt/RFTxe2x80x9d in order to turn on PMOS at the first stage of the inverter (or the second stage), and therefore application of this receiver in a high-speed semiconductor device is not suitable. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, when the input signal XAi is changed from low level to high level (or vise versa), it is difficult to adjust each delay. In addition, when the internal power supply voltage is less than EXTVDDxe2x80x941Vt and a rising/falling time of an input signal is large and a high level of the input signal is more than the internal power supply voltage+1Vt, the above described input receiver cannot meet the setup/hold time tSU/tHD requirements.
With respect to FIG. 2, an amplifier type input receiver is shown for sensing voltage, including an inverter chain 20 and a current mirror type differential amplifier including P type and N type channel MOS transistors PM10, PM11, NM10, NM11, NM12, and NM13. In the input receiver shown in FIG. 2, an input signal XAi is input to a gate of n type channel MOS transistor NM10 as the first input signal, and a reference signal REFi is input to a gate of n type channel MOS transistor NM11 as the second input signal. The reference signal REFi and a control signal ZZB are applied to the gates of the n type channel MOS transistors NM12, NMI3, respectively. The current mirror type differential amplifier CDA functions as a voltage sense amplifier for sensing voltage. Here, the reference signal REFi is a reference voltage signal formed in a semiconductor device. As in FIG. 1, the input receiver structure of FIG. 2 also has a problem when the internal power supply voltage is less than EXTVDDxe2x80x941Vt, a rising/falling time of an input signal is large, and a high level of the input signal is more than the internal power supply voltage+1Vt. That is, where an output signal at an output node NO11 of the sense amplifier is applied to the delay chain 20 to be changed to a level of the internal power supply voltage. A driving capability of a driver transistor constituting the delay chain can be variable when the output signal of the sense amplifier CDA is changed from the high level to the low level.
With respect to FIG. 3, similarly to FIG. 2, an input receiver is shown which includes an inverter chain 20 and a current mirror type differential amplifier CDA including an inverter 110 and p type and n type channel MOS transistors PM10, PM11, NM10, NM11, NM13. The input receiver shown in FIG. 3 receives an input signal XAi through a gate of the n type channel MOS transistor NM10 as the first input signal, and receives an inverted signal of the input signal XAi through a gate of the n type channel MOS transistor NM11 as the second input signal. To a gate of the n type channel MOS transistor NM13 acting as a current source is applied a control signal ZZB. This current mirror type differential amplifier CDA functions as a voltage sense amplifier for sensing voltage. The input receiver of FIG. 3 has a driving power supply for the differential amplifier CDA and an inverter inverting the first input signal Xai. The input receiver is powered by the external power supply voltage EXTVDD, and a driving power supply of the delay chain 20 receiving an output signal at the output node NO11 of the sense amplifier is powered by the internal power supply voltage, whereby this also has the same problem as mentioned with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2.
Accordingly, a need exists for an input receiver which is capable of meeting setup/hold time requirements, having a low consumption of DC current even when the internal power supply voltage is less than EXTVDD minus a threshold voltage, a rising/falling time of an input signal is large, and a high level of the input signal is more than the internal power supply voltage plus a threshold voltage.
An object of the present invention is to provide a high-speed interface circuit suitable for a high-speed semiconductor device.
Another object of the invention is to provide an input receiver which keeps a tight setup/hold time with a low consumption of DC current even when the internal power supply voltage is less than the external power supply voltage minus a threshold voltage, a rising/falling time of an input signal is large, and a high level of the input signal is more than the internal power supply voltage plus a threshold voltage.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an input circuit having a good interface capability and low leakage of current while increasing (or maximizing) a transition speed and a method thereof.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an interface circuit is provided for a semiconductor device, wherein the interface circuit includes an input driver producing a first and second output signal having opposite phases to each other by receiving an external power supply voltage as an operation voltage and buffering an input signal to the level of the external power supply voltage. The interface circuit also includes a cross-coupled sense amplifier for receiving an internal power supply voltage as an operation voltage when a control signal is in the first transition state, and performing a differential amplification by receiving the first output signal at a first input end and receiving the second output signal at a second input end. An output potential fixation element is also provided as part of the interface circuit for keeping a potential of an output end of the cross-coupled sense amplifier at a uniform potential corresponding to a level of the internal power supply voltage only when the control signal is in the second transition state. The interface circuit also includes an output driver for receiving the internal power supply voltage as an operation voltage and buffering the output signal at the output end into the level of the internal power supply voltage to be applied into a circuit in the chip.
In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor device uses a first power supply voltage and a second power supply voltage less than the first power supply voltage minus a threshold voltage, a method for interfacing an input signal to swing to a level of the first power supply voltage includes; a step of producing the first, the second output signal having opposite phases to each other by buffering the input signal with a use of the first power supply voltage as a driving power supply; a step of performing a level shifting through an cross-coupled type differential amplifier by using the second power supply voltage as a driving power supply and receiving the first output signal at a first input end and receiving the second output signal at a second input end; a step for finally outputting an output signal by buffering the level-shifted output signal to the level of the second power supply voltage with a use of the second power supply voltage as a driving power supply.
According to the invention explained above, advantages of the present invention include a high-speed response feature, the satisfaction of a setup/hold time requirement, and reduced DC current consumption when the internal power supply voltage is less than the external power supple voltage minus a threshold voltage and a rising/falling time of an input signal is large and a high level of the input signal is more than the internal power supply voltage plus a threshold voltage.
Above mentioned objects and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more clear in a detail description for preferable embodiments of the invention which is explained hereinafter in regard to appended drawings. It should be noted that the same or similar parts in figures are represented with the same or similar reference marks for the convenience""s sake for an explanation and understanding.

Interface circuit for using in high-speed semiconductor device and interfacing method


A multi-coplanar, multi-layer capacitor array for use as an RFI filter associated with an electrical connector module having a pattern of pin and socket connections includes a multi-layer board structure of super imposed layers including ground plane layers and capacitor layers interleaved with one another. An array of apertures extend vertically through each of the layers forming a grid having a center-to-center spacing and pattern congruent with the apertures in the desired connector module and are configured to receive the conductor pins. The ground plane layers include a continuous conductive layer on top of a dielectric layer with clearance holes surrounding the apertures so as to be electrically insulated from the connector pins and the capacitors. The capacitor plane layers further include a plurality of defined coplanar individual separate capacitor areas encompassing a plurality of terminal pins but connected to one, the rest being provided with clearance holes, thereby associating each pin with an unique capacitive plane. The separate capacitors provide RFI filtering for the signals on each pin.

1. Cross-Reference to Related Applications
Cross reference is made to related U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 08/001995 of Mario DiMarco entitled "ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR INCORPORATING GROUND SHIELD SPACER", now U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,964, and 08/002297 of Mario DiMarco and the inventor in the present application entitled "ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR INCORPORATING EMI FILTER", now U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,810, both filed of even date and assigned to the same assignee as the present application. It will be recognized that the two cross-referenced applications represent the types of EMI suppression devices which are unique but which can be incorporated alone or with each other and possibly with the device of the present invention in association with an electrical connector to provide needed degrees of or more comprehensive isolation.
II. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to electrical connectors for connecting electrical devices or parts to a cable harness, and more particularly to a multi-coplanar capacitor system for use with connector assemblies incorporating elements with particular reference to effectively isolating input/output signal receiving or control devices with respect to the electrical assembly with which the connector is used from electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio frequency interference (RFI), and particularly frequencies into the microwave frequency range.
III. Discussion of the Prior Art
Present-day commercial and military aircraft incorporate highly complex electronic control systems incorporating numerous sensors, force transducers and servo systems as well as the electronics necessary for processing the sensor signals and developing the requisite control signals for the transducers and the like so that the aircraft can be flown in a controlled manner. Typically, the electronic assemblies involved will be housed in metallic shielding enclosures or boxes which are adapted to slide into equipment racks on the aircraft. Each of the electronic modules will typically incorporate a receptacle having a relatively large number of terminal pins arranged in a grid pattern and which are appropriately wired to the electronic componentry within the shielded enclosure. A plug member which is adapted to mate with the receptacle on the box housing the electronics module is incorporated into the rack assembly. The pins of the plug are typically connected to conductors in a wiring harness leading off to other electronic equipment which may be spread throughout the aircraft.
One standard plug used throughout the aircraft industry is referred to as the ARINC 600 plug, which meets the ARINC specifications for air transport avionics equipment interfaces. That specification, among other things, defines the number of pins, their location, the pin spacing and the shell dimensions for the plug. Those desiring more specific information relative to the plug are referred to the ARINC 600 specification itself.
The ARINC 600 plug is an example of a plug designed to mate with a receptacle attached to or formed into a wall of the shielding enclosure in which the electronics are contained. The ARINC 600 plug includes three sections with sections A and B incorporating 150 male pins, each disposed in a grid array of rows and columns. Section C includes a smaller number of pins which, generally speaking, provide the power connections to the electronics module. The existing receptacle, designed to accept the plug, includes a plurality of terminal pins having female sockets on one end and male wire wrap terminals or solder points on the other end. The pins are arranged in the same grid array, such that when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the male pins of the plug engage the female sockets of the receptacle's terminal pins. The male portion of the receptacle's terminal pins then connect to the wiring for the electronics within the shielded enclosure.
One drawback of the prior art connectors generally and including the ARINC 600 connector design is that it does not provide the necessary immunity of the electronic circuitry from the effects of EMI and RFI and more particularly radiation in the microwave range. EMI/RFI radiation in proximity to the module may find its way into the interior of the shielded enclosure via the connector assembly. These RFI/EMI sources may result in the electronic controls issuing erroneous data to the other electronic equipment with which it is associated, resulting in loss of control over the aircraft.
While filtering and transient suppression circuits have been devised for dealing with RFI/EMI radiation, physical space constraints may preclude inclusion of such circuitry within the electronics module. A need, therefore, exists for a connector assembly which has an efficient high energy ground associated with a shield or filtering device which combines an efficient shield for the EMI/RFI frequencies of interest including those in the microwave range with an excellent chassis ground.

Multi-coplanar capacitor for electrical connector


A method for integrating information technology (IT) data with non-IT data, comprising: first identifying a non-IT network for accessing non-IT data, second identifying an IT network from which to access the non-IT data from the non-IT network, first determining that the non-IT network is accessible via at least one interface based on Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control (OPC) for accessing at least one device in the non-IT network, second determining that the IT network includes an architecture for Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) or Web Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) for managing at least one device in the IT network, and providing the IT network with access to data of the at least one device in the non-IT network by accessing the at least one OPC-based interface via either the SNMP-capable architecture or the WBEM architecture of the IT network.

The advent of Internet-based applications and their resulting multi-tier distributed architecture has changed the focus of design for large-scale Internet computing. For example, internet server applications typically execute in a horizontally scalable topology across hundreds or thousands of commodity servers in an Internet data center. Consequently, increasing scale and power density have a significant impact on the thermal properties of a data center and its physical environment. As referred herein, a data center is a location or facility that houses mainly electronic equipment, such as computers and communications equipment, for handling the data necessary for desired operations, such as information technology (IT) operations.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A cam (1) for a press die comprises: a movable cam slide (3) having a cam slide (3) which has a cam surface (2) and is movable in an X-direction; a cam driver (4) for moving the cam slide (3) in the X-direction by abutting against the cam surface (2) of the cam slide (3); and a returning spring (5) for returning the cam slide (3) to its original position. The returning spring (5) is disposed in a bottomed hole (11) formed in the cam slide (3) and whose one end (41) abuts against a main body (12) of the cam slide (3) in the bottomed hole (11), a holder (43) holds the coil spring (42). The holder (43) is provided with a rod (45) which is slidably passed through a through hole (44) and extends through the bottomed hole (11) in such a manner as to be surrounded by the coil spring (42); and a spring seat (48) which is provided in threaded engagement with one end portion (47) of the rod (45) at a bottomed-hole (11) side so as to receive another end (46) of the coil spring (42).

A cam for a press die is generally comprised of a movable cam slide having a cam surface, a cam driver for moving the cam slide by abutting against the cam surface of the cam slide, and a returning means for returning the cam slide to its original position. As the returning means, there is one in which a hole is formed in a base member of a lower die or an upper die, a guide pin of a coil spring is embedded in the cam slide, and the coil spring is inserted and fixed in the hole formed in the base in such a manner as to surround the guide pin. Additionally, there is a returning means which uses a spring unit.
According to the former returning means, to withdraw the cam slide from the cam, it is necessary to remove an end plate from the base member of the upper die or the lower die, and then to move the cam slide in such a way that the coil spring and the guide pin are located outside the hole in the base member. In a case where this movement of the cam slide cannot be effected due to an interfering object or the like, the withdrawal of the cam slide alone from the cam becomes impossible, so that, under the situation, the overall cam must be removed from the die.
On the other hand, according to the latter returning means, since this returning means is arranged such that a coil spring and the like are provided outside and below the cam slide, a large installation space is required, and it is difficult to provide a sliding guide surface below the cam slide to slidingly guide the movement of the cam slide. Since these members are provided in such a manner as to avoid the spring unit, the transverse width of the cam slide becomes large, which also requires a large installation space. Hence, this type of returning means is not very satisfactory.
The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described aspects, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a cam for a press die which makes it possible to easily withdraw the cam slide alone in the fabrication of the die, maintenance, inspection, and the like, and which makes it possible to reduce its occupying space.


A dedicated information display in a vehicle is provided, the display having a rearview mirror with a reflective surface. The display also includes a label having an adhesive side and a display side, and a size and a shape that covers a portion of the reflective surface of the rearview mirror. The adhesive side of the label is affixed to the rearview mirror such that the rearview mirror is converted into an effectively dedicated information display. The information display may also be constructed using an electronic display.

In the moving equipment rental business, vehicles such as trucks or large vans are often rented to customers who do not have familiarity with the characteristics of these types of vehicles. For example, trucks typically have a height that is much higher than regular passenger vehicles. Thus, trucks have a higher clearance requirement for overpasses, bridges and entrances to enclosed structures. In addition, as trucks are inherently heavier and are mostly driven under load, they respond differently to various maneuvers such as lane changes and turns. Also, due to the unique design of the vehicles, certain features such as rearview mirrors need to be replaced by such items as additional or larger side-view mirrors.
Not only are the physical characteristics of the trucks or vans different, their maintenance and operational requirements are also different. For example, many trucks require a different type of fuel for proper operation—e.g., diesel versus unleaded gasoline. In addition, many trucks have manual transmissions and require the operator to understand the shifting patterns for the vehicle.
The consequences for the renter or operator of the vehicle who is not made aware of the above-mentioned requirements are potentially disastrous. The vehicle may be damaged from the operator trying to pass under a structure that is not high enough for the vehicle, the engine could be damaged or be subject to undue wear and tear due the use of the wrong type of fuel, or the operator or other persons could suffer serious injury where the operator is unaware of the maneuvering characteristics of the vehicle.
In an attempt to provide the renter or operator of the vehicle some warnings or other information important to the operation and maintenance of the vehicle, a brochure or other loose leaf paper is typically handed to the customer or placed in the vehicle at the time of rental. However, due to the amount of paperwork that is handed to the operator at the time of rental—including invoices, receipts, maps and other miscellaneous paperwork, the operator sometimes may not review the provided instructions. In other cases, the operator does not review important information because either the operator misplaces the information; or, where the operator is not the renter, the operator is not provided the information by the renter.
In the alternative, if the information is not given to the renter or operator but, instead, is placed in the vehicle at the time of rental, an additional challenge would be to place the information in a location that is optimal for the operator to notice while preventing clutter in the interior of the vehicle. Space is not usually available on the dashboard as instrumentation and controls are optimally located in front of the driver. But if the information is placed somewhere else, such as on the door, the operator might miss it. Accordingly, there is a need for providing a dedicated information display that will supply important information to the operator. And further, place the information such that notice is more fully assured.

Method and apparatus for converting a rearview mirror into a dedicated information display


A snivel suction device includes a base plate, two pump cylinders, two pistons, two connection rods, a pedal and two casings. Each pump cylinder is provided with a manifold containing a suction check valve and a release check valve. Two suction pipes are connected between a suction tee and the suction check valves of the manifolds. Two release pipes are connected between a release tee and the release check valves of the manifolds. A relief valve is installed at one of the casings. The relief valve has a knob, an adjustment member, a bolt, a valve body, a spring, a plug and a sound member. By operating the two ends of the pedal alternately, the two pistons are operated to suck and release air. Particularly, the relief valve can be actuated when a higher vacuum pressure has occurred in the suction pipes so as to protect the user's nasal mucosa.

The conventional snivel suction device for sucking snivel or sputum is disclosed in Taiwan Publish No. M425181 and the suction device is also used as a pump to inflate objects. The conventional snivel suction device generally comprises a body with a support frame at a central top thereof. The support frame has a pivotal portion. A pedal is pivotably connected to the pivotal portion of the support frame at a middle portion thereof by a pivot. Two pumps are located in the body and each pump has a piston which is pivotably connected to two opposite ends of the pedal by two push members. Two check valves are connected to the underside of each pump. A suction pipe and a release pipe are respectively connected to the two check valves of each pump. A suction tee is connected between the two suction pipes, and a release tee is connected between the two release pipes. A suction outer tube is connected to the suction tee. A release outer pipe is connected to the release tee. The user may operate the two opposite ends of the pedal which is pivoted about the pivotal portion of the support frame, and the two pistons are alternately operated and cooperated with the check valves so as to suck and release air.
However, when the suction device is used to suck snivel, the suction outer tube that is connected to the suction tee may be attached to the nasal mucosa because of unintentional operation; if the user does not notice this situation, the suction action will cause a higher vacuum pressure in the suction pipe. The higher vacuum pressure can easily damage the nasal mucosa.
The present invention intends to provide a snivel suction device that can solve the shortcomings mentioned above.


An example pivot nut assembly includes a pivot body and a nut. The nut is pivotably engaged in the pivot body.

In recent years, fasteners have been developed to secure components to one another. For example, automobiles include multiple interconnected components to form body parts, e.g., doors, hoods, trunk lids, etc.
Certain known fasteners include a threaded stud and a separate nut. The threaded stud may be secured to a first component and inserted through a second component. The nut may then be subsequently threaded onto the threaded stud and tightened against the second component to secure the first component to the second component.
However, because these known fasteners include separate threaded studs and nuts, multiple process steps are needed to secure the components. For example, to connect a first component to a second component, an operator must approach the components to one another, retrieve the stud, insert the stud, retrieve the nut, thread the nut, tighten the nut, etc. In some applications, the operator may also need to reorient the components, e.g., for when mounting a spoiler to a closed trunk lid.
Therefore, a need exists for a fastener system that is more efficient for operators to mount, assemble, and tighten.


A system for establishing a remote desktop connection between a client projector and a host computer, the client projector and the host computer being connected by a network. A private remote desktop service virtual channel is established between the host computer and the client projector. In the client projector, a processor initiates a remote desktop connection process, and completes a remote desktop connection to the host computer. The client projector receives keyboard and mouse events from the host computer across the private remote desktop service virtual channel. The keyboard or mouse events received by the client projector are injected into an operating system of the client projector. They are interpreted by a client application remote desktop connection as a valid input device event, and forwarded to the host computer to actuate a graphical user interface of a remote desktop session.

Video projectors are a widely used display device in conference rooms, classrooms, home theaters, commercial signage, and many other locations. They can provide a large screen display solution where the costs of similar sized conventional monitor devices are prohibitive. Projection based technologies vary, but the core function is the same among all display devices: to output a view of some input video signal. Generally this involves a physical coupling of an output of a source device to an appropriate input on the display device.
Projector placement relative to the display surface can vary the output image size and appearance. Short-throw projector technologies allow the projector to be placed near the display surface while conventional solutions might require a much further distance between the projector and the screen. In either case, devices providing video signals to the projector must be connected to the projector inputs. These video interconnections can be problematic when a projector is difficult to reach, such as mounted high in a ceiling to provide an unobstructed light path to the screen, or when cable lengths between inputs and outputs are inadequate. Requiring the source device to be located near the projector often leads to compromises in device placement and presenter location which can affect display output and presentation quality.
Network projectors are quickly becoming popular display devices. In additional to providing any conventional signal inputs, they can receive their display content over the LAN. This allows source devices to be connected anywhere the network is available instead of directly wired to the physical projector. Network projector status and functional management can be operated remotely over the network by authorized devices. This effectively removes the requirement for line of sight remote control mechanisms to change configurations, display options, or power settings. Networking options thus allow far greater freedom for projector and source device placement within the conference room.
Network projectors are challenged in their ability to handle smooth playback of high definition video by increasing source content and output resolutions. Larger content data sizes and real-time video display requirements place high demands on the network throughput, projector processing power, and internal operating system support. In addition, source devices must also be configured for transmission of their content across a network. While it would be uncommon today for a laptop or PC to not be equipped with networking capabilities, operating system support of network display technologies has been slow to mature. This is in sharp contrast to the tight integration that generally exists between operating system graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and powerful graphics processing units on today's video cards which offer video signal outputs.
One technology that allows access to dynamic source content on a remote device over a network is called Virtual Network Computing (VNC) and provides a remote desktop sharing solution. With this approach, a client application on one PC connects to a host application on another PC. The host application is configured to iteratively provide the changing views of the entire operating system desktop and views of applications running on the host PC to the client application across the network for display on the client PC. Keyboard and mouse inputs on the client PC are redirected by the client application across the network to the host PC and function as inputs to the sharing session. A user on the client PC can thus view the remote host PC desktop and interact with it by operating his local keyboard and mouse devices.
Microsoft has designed several similar technologies that facilitate desktop sharing within their operating systems. Microsoft's Remote Desktop Services, for example, is optimized for the Windows® OS and provides thin-client terminal server computing, Remote Desktop, and more. This technology is evolving into new enterprise solutions replacing conventional PCs with thin-clients that can access virtually hosted user desktops on remote servers. Microsoft's rich Remote Desktop Protocol with new and upcoming RemoteFX features provides efficient and secure transmission of screen content across the network. Additional related solutions include Microsoft's Windows Desktop Sharing APIs (application programming interfaces) that can transmit desktop images to authenticated devices across the network. Some of these approaches follow a "push" model and are used by Microsoft Pictor, Remote Assistance, and Windows Meeting Space applications.
One primary use of a projector is to display a connected user's laptop screen. In an example business conference room environment, PCs/laptops are often physically brought and connected to a projector with a video cable to display source content. In a networked conference room environment, the PCs and projector are connected to a local area network and content is sent through the network to the projector for presentation. The user interacts with the laptop during his presentation while his desktop contents are continually forwarded to the projector and shown on the display surface. Compared with conventional video signal solutions, desktop content distribution across the network to a network projector is not a trivial task.
Though many application solutions have been developed to aid the data exchange process, each operates differently. EPSON's EasyMP® Network Projection technologies, for example, allows for the transfer of computer screen contents across the network for display output by the projector. However, this solution requires installation of many specialized drivers and application software on the host PC along with user setup and configuration of display and connection operations. The EasyMP software's internal techniques used to collect a computer's desktop data, which composes the screen contents, vary and have limited performance on different systems. This is in part due to restrictions within the computer operating system regarding access to screen contents by third-party applications and ever tightened coupling with graphics sub-systems. For example, the increased use of offloading operating system rendering to advanced graphic hardware modules results in high-performance graphics operations but limits application exposure to native screen buffers which are stored on the graphics hardware and optimized for video signal output by the graphics card.
It can be argued that the operating system is best suited to collect and distribute native desktop GUI data since system services are integral to the window rendering processes. Microsoft does, for example, offer some native features in their current operating systems that allow a user to connect with a network projector to output desktop contents to a projected display. Once enabled, the operating system on the host PC transmits desktop contents to an authorized network projector. Unfortunately, the performance of Microsoft's solution is not as acceptable as a direct video connection to the graphics card. Microsoft's Remote Desktop technologies are another more suitable option since they offer better performance between networked devices. However, remote desktop solutions are all based on the use of a client PC or thin-client device to make the connection to the host. This usually requires a client-side keyboard and mouse for entering access credentials for authentication and user control of the session.
Conveniently, the internal design for a network projector can be, and often is, constructed around well-known embedded systems platforms which offer core hardware and operating system elements to a device vendor. Many of these platforms expose PC-like functionally and provide applications and common interface elements to aid the vendor in designing device specific features or interconnectivity. This frees the vendor from designing low-level elements, such as network stacks, IO and storage, or GUI components. Vendors can spend their time on device specific elements such as UI, configuration options, core display functionality, etc.
Some device system platforms, including Linux varieties or Microsoft Windows Embedded solutions, can natively support input peripherals including keyboards and mouse device connections. Projectors, however, typically do not expose such connections as they are not common for display hardware and generally unnecessary for typical control and interface operations. A few buttons on the projector (as with conventional monitors), a remote control provided with the projector, or network management solutions are typically used for device management. The nature of a projector's location within a room would make additional attached keyboard and mouse devices awkward or introduce yet another cabling concern. While wireless keyboard and mice could offer a solution, wireless range may be limiting, and the increased hardware costs to projector vendors and users are undesirable.
If a keyboard and mouse were present, the more advanced remote desktop solutions could be employed and make the network projector function more like a thin-client device. This would require the laptop user to change keyboard and mouse devices while operating with the projector device.
It would therefore be desirable to have the following features in a system that uses a projector: (a) users can utilize their own familiar keyboard and mouse/track-pad input devices; (b) network projector desktop retrieval and display performance as good as that offered by remote desktop solutions; and (c) automatic and limited software installation to achieve network projector operation. The present invention is directed to achieving these and other objectives.

Method for remote desktop control by remote host input devices