A commerce control network is provided for obtaining product information and for purchasing products through a two-way interactive broadcast distribution system, such as a cable or satellite television system. The network includes advanced television set top boxes that provide users with the ability to access product information through the system. A unique identifier is received with the program being viewed and included in the user's request for product information to assure that the information retrieved from the network is timely and related to that program.

The Internet is growing rapidly and has emerged as a significant interactive medium for entertainment, communications, research, education and e-commerce. However, Internet access generally requires a personal computer, and some consumers may have little need or desire for a personal computer, either because it can be costly, or because it can be difficult or complicated to use. For such consumers, it may be preferable to receive electronic information and entertainment services through their television sets. A television-based approach to e-commerce would appear to be an attractive alternative for many of these consumers.
Interactive television is developing rapidly and permits the viewer to participate in a wide range of activities, such as information retrieval, video games, and purchasing of goods and services. In a traditional cable or satellite television system, a set top box receives multiple channels of programming content from a cable or satellite television operator, and transmits to the television receiver the specific programming content on a channel selected by the viewer. The transmission of information occurs in one direction only, from the cable operator, via the set top box, to the television receiver for viewing by the viewer. In an interactive television system, by contrast, the set top box also functions as an intelligent communications terminal, and is able to store and run application programs that permit two-way communications between the viewer and the cable operator to support a wide variety of interactive functions.
Cable television system operators, referred to here as multiple system operators (MSO), are currently deploying digital broadband delivery systems (DBDS's) capable of supporting interactive television commerce. The terminology used here is essentially that of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., but the components described could be used in other systems. DBDS allows the MSOs to offer their subscribers digital content that looks better than cable transmitted analog programs, and allows more digital channels to run on the same cable wire (at least 8 times as many). DBDS also offers two-way messaging between the cable network and set top boxes, allowing MSOs to offer customers interactive applications such as near video on demand and email. DBDS is designed as a client server network with client applications running on set top boxes that communicate with an application server that provides the content for the client applications.
DBDS has several components that work together to deliver these broadband digital services to consumers. Analog set top boxes are replaced by digital set top boxes, referred to as digital home communications terminals (DHCTs). A DHCT is essentially a small network computer that provides a subscriber with the ability to run multiple applications. It also provides Internet protocol (IP) connectivity back to a server via a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) line wired to the subscriber's home to allow an application running on the DHCT to interact with the DBDS.
A digital network control system (DNCS) is a server, typically UNIX based, that controls the configuration of the entire DBDS, routine DBDS maintenance, SNMP monitoring, the broadcasting of data to the set tops, and the registering of additional applications that run on the DBDS. One DNCS can currently handle up to two hundred thousand subscribers.
A broadcast file system (BFS) is a component of the DNCS and is essentially a file system containing system data (such as DHCT configurations) and application data. This file system is continuously broadcast in a carousel fashion over the DBDS via an in-band data path (IDP) and an out-of-band data path (ODP). DHCTs can then access the BFS in much the same way that a PC accesses a hard drive.
The IDP is a 27 Mbps data channel that the DHCTs tune to, much like any other programming channel. The path is physically provided by a broadband integrated gateway (BIG) and an in-band quadrature amplitude modulator (QAM). In essence, these pieces of hardware are employed to create a 27 Mbps path over which the BFS is continuously broadcast to the DHCTs. Once the DHCT is tuned to the data channel, it can read the BFS data carousel at this high speed. This is useful for loading a new application on the DHCT as well as in any situation where fast access to the BFS is required. The IDP is one-way; no programming content can be received while the IDP data is being read.
The ODP is a data channel that can be accessed while programming content is being sent to the DHCT. The two components that make up the ODP are a forward data channel (FDC) that broadcasts out to the DHCTs and a reverse data channel (RDC) that receives data from the DHCTs, both at T1 speed. The FDC interface to the HFC is provided by a quaternary phase shift key (QPSK) modulator. The RDC interface to the HFC is provided by a QPSK demodulator. In essence, this equipment functions as a modem to bridge the HEC to an Ethernet component of the DBDS. The FDC and RDC are used by server applications to communicate with the DHCTs.
Cable head end application servers reside on the same IP network as the DNCS, and provide a hardware platform for running server based software applications that will be provisioned to the DHCTs, such as near video on demand and email. Services that run in the DBDS have a component running on the application server and are registered with the DNCS.
While it is common on television to provide informational messages to viewers independently of any programming content, such as in the case of severe whether warnings, it is more useful and beneficial, particularly where the informational message is intended to elicit a response, to be able to have such message displayed in conjunction with the particular program to which the message relates. For example, a viewer may be given the opportunity to register his or her assessment of the television program being viewed, to indicate his her desire to receive marketing or promotional materials or samples of a particular product or service being advertised on that program, or even to purchase such products and services. Viewing the information message in conjunction with a related program creates a sense of immediacy or urgency that increases the likelihood of the viewer responding to the message.
In such a system, it is critical that the informational messages be available for display to the viewer at the appropriate point within the associated program. If, for example, the intention is to solicit the viewer's interest in receiving a glossy brochure on a particular automobile during a commercial for that same automobile, then it is important that this message be available only during the typical 30-second duration of such a commercial. Receiving the message before the commercial might confuse or even irritate the viewer, since it would not be clear why the apparently unrelated message is being displayed. Conversely, if the message appears after the commercial has ended and the sleek, gleaming vehicle is no longer visible on the screen, the viewer's excitement and interest in the vehicle might have already faded.
Although it is possible to use pre-existing program schedule information, including time and channel, to establish a relationship between a viewer's request for information and the programming being viewed at the time of the request, such an approach is subject to schedule errors and unforeseen schedule changes. Often, precise schedules of commercial messages are simply not available to third-party television commerce service providers.
What is needed is a system for providing interactive e-commerce on a television distribution network, that can reliably synchronize the delivery of product related information to the programming to which the information is related. The system should provide notification to the viewer in a timely manner of the availability of such information, respond promptly to user requests for the information, and avoid reliance on program schedule information, such as time or channel, in order to correctly retrieve the desired product information for the user.

Television commerce system with program identifiers


Apparatus for manufacturing a press jacket from pourable elastomeric material with reinforcement threads. A cylindrical pouring body. A longitudinal thread tensioning device at the pouring body. A feed device for feeding circumferential threads to the pouring body. A pouring nozzle for pouring the elastomeric material to the pouring body. A spacing device maintains a constant distance between the longitudinal threads and the jacket surface of the pouring body as well as a constant circumferential distance between adjacent longitudinal threads. The spacing device includes a plurality of segments. Each segment has an L-shaped cross section. The radial arm has slots for the passage of longitudinal threads and furthermore teeth present between the slots. A slide is rigidly fastened to the support and includes rollers which engage the segments and move the spacing device along the pouring body.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a press jacket for use in the paper making industry. Apparatus and jackets of this type are known from Federal Republic of Germany 37 15 153 A1 , which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,010, issuing Jul. 28, 1992.
The preferred field of use of such press jackets is in the press section of a paper manufacturing machine. In such a machine, the press having the press jacket may be a so called long nip press or extended nip press, such as ones known from
U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,287 (FIG. 1) PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,620 (FIG. 5) PA1 Federal Republic of Germany OS 32 35 468 (FIG. 1), and PA1 Voith publication "Multi-layer band" (publication reference P 4022 K/0197H/Sh/Sro in the Library of the German Patent Office received on Jul. 26, 1984). Any of these long nip presses may be used in combination with any suitable paper manufacturing machines. PA1 pouring of elastomeric material onto one side of the fabric jacket which had been made endless; PA1 smoothing the resultant surface; PA1 turning the fabric jacket inside out; PA1 pouring the elastomeric material onto the second now outward side of the fabric jacket; PA1 smoothing the second surface and possibly introducing grooves and/or holes in the jacket.
However, in accordance with Federal Republic of Germany OS 35 01 635 (FIG. 6), which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. Re. 33,034 this press apparatus can also be a press roll having a loosely arranged press jacket in a so-called mat calender. Furthermore, a pressing device can be developed in combination with a press jacket shrunk onto a roll.
Known press jackets are based on flat fabric like pre-products, which are made endless by connecting together the ends of the flat product. They then go through the following successive production steps:
An apparatus for performing the production steps includes a number of features. A pouring body has a series of circumferentially spaced apart, longitudinally extending threads supported above its surface. The pouring body is placed in slow rotation. At the same time, a support bearing for a pouring nozzle for elastomeric material is moved along the longitudinal axis of the pouring body and that bearing also moves the pouring nozzle in this direction along with a feed device for feeding circumferential reinforcing threads to the pouring body. As the pouring nozzle discharges elastomeric material in the direction toward the jacket surface of the pouring body and as the circumferential threads are also delivered by the feed device, the circumferential threads and the elastomeric material are applied along a helical path onto the jacket of the casting body. During this process, the circumferential threads are placed over the longitudinal threads which have already been tensioned. Together these two direction threads form a thread grid. The poured on elastomeric material penetrates through this thread grid and embeds it, and/or the circumferential threads penetrate into the still flowable elastomeric material until they contact the longitudinal threads, depending upon whether the circumferential threads are applied shortly before or after the elastomeric material.
A thread spacing device performs an important function. On the one hand, it maintains a constant distance between the longitudinal threads and the jacket surface of the pouring body. On the other hand, it maintains the distance apart of two adjacent longitudinal threads. This spacing device is developed as a ring which surrounds the pouring body and is displaceable in the axial direction along that body. The ring comprises a distance maintaining ring which rests on the surface of the pouring body and holds the longitudinal threads spaced from the jacket surface of the pouring body. Behind the thread spacing maintaining ring, as seen in the direction of displacement of the support, another ring is arranged. It is developed like a comb with teeth engaging through the space between two adjacent longitudinal threads. The teeth are of a width equal to the desired distance between two longitudinal threads.
The known spacing device has one serious problem. The circumferences of the press jackets have recently become larger. Therefore, the pouring body must be made correspondingly larger in diameter as must the ring shaped spacing devices. Such rings are more difficult to manufacture, are of greater weight, and are heavy and more difficult to handle. There is the danger that upon their displacement along the pouring body, the rings will cant during the manufacture of the press jacket.

Apparatus for the manufacture of a press jacket


A source line floating circuit includes a plurality of floating units. The floating units directly receive decoded row address signals or voltages of word lines as floating control signals, respectively. The decoded row address signals are activated selectively in response to a row address signal. The floating units control electrical connections between source lines and a source voltage in response to the floating control signals in a read operation. Related devices and methods are also described.

Example embodiments relate generally to semiconductor integrated circuits, and more particularly to memory devices and circuits, and methods of reading data in memory devices.
Semiconductor memory devices include a plurality of memory cells that are arranged in a matrix form of a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. In a non-volatile memory device, the memory cells are coupled between a plurality of source lines and a plurality of bit lines. Each bit line is coupled to the memory cells that are selected by the respective word lines. In a read operation, one memory cell is selected among the memory cells commonly coupled to the same bit line, and a sensing current flows from the bit line to the source line via the selected memory cell where the sensing current depends on the state, that is, the stored data of the selected memory cell. The stored data may be read out based on the sensing current or a voltage change due to the sensing current. In such read operation, the bit line voltage may be affected by leakage currents by the unselected memory cells coupled to the same bit line, and thus reliability of the read operation or the read data may be degraded.

Source line floating circuits, memory devices including the same and methods of reading data in a memory device


A MEMs (microelectromechanical systems) structure is provided. In one implementation, the MEMs structure includes a substrate wafer including a MEMs device formed on a surface of the substrate wafer, and a MEMs cover structure to cover the MEMs device formed on the surface of the substrate wafer. The MEMs cover structure comprises a first wafer bonded to a second wafer, in which only the first wafer of the MEMs cover structure is sawed through and not the second wafer of the MEMs cover structure during dicing of the MEMs structure.

MEMS technology has been under steady development for some time, and as a result various MEMS devices have been considered and demonstrated for several applications. MEMS technology is an attractive approach for providing many products, such as inertial sensors, accelerometers for measuring linear acceleration, gyroscopes for measuring angular velocity, optical devices, pressure sensors, etc. A MEMS inertial sensor typically includes a proof mass which is flexibly attached to the rest of the device. Relative motion between the proof mass and the rest of the device is driven by actuators and/or sensed by sensors in various ways, depending on the detailed device design. Other MEMS applications include optical applications such as movable mirrors, and RF applications such as RF switches and resonators.
MEMS devices typically have mechanical features that photo lithographically are defined on the surface or within the silicon substrates. There are two classes of MEMS technology, bulk silicon and surface-micromachining. In case of bulk silicon, features are created by selectively removing silicon to form the desired structures. In case of surface-micromachining, it is an additive process using polysilicon layers on top of sacrificial oxides and then by removing the sacrificial layers MEMS structures are created.
Both MEMS technologies require post MEMS processing and packaging. Most MEMS sensors and/or actuators require electrical inputs and output to perform their design functions. Traditionally MEMS devices required custom cavity based packages to provide for such input and output access. MEMS features are generally very fragile and sensitive to dusts and particles. Most MEMS features are measured in microns and require special assembly and packaging care. Such non-standard packaging has been primary contributor to the inherent high cost of many MEMS devices.
There has been a constant and growing trend in the MEMS industry for doing what is known as die-level-packaging (DLP). DLP is generally provides for a protective cover over the sensitive MEMS feature that will allow the part to be handled by standard assembly and packaging means. One common method has been to have pre-fabricated silicon covers to be picked and placed on top of the MEMS structure by automated means prior to dicing the MEMS wafers.
Yet another preferred method is to provide for protective covers by etching cavities in a silicon wafer and placing it on top of the MEMS wafer by various means, solder, glass frits, adhesives, to name just a few. This is preferred over the pick and place capping technique since it is performed at wafer level and not at device level.
However, one of the key challenges in performing any of the protective capping techniques has been to allow for easy access to the input/output pads. In the field of MEMS, it is often required that a release step is performed that exposes critical features. This release step is typically a type of etch that removes material, often silicon, in the region of interest.
One common method for making such access is to provide for some access openings in the cover wafer such that the features of interest are accessible after the cover attach. However, this requires added processing and the etching through the wafers. There are several limitations to this method. First, the number of openings per device are fairly limited due to mechanical limitations and wafer fragility in case of many openings. Secondly, the openings can not be continuous on any one side. Etching a hole through a wafer has its challenges and requires careful design and process development.
Wet etching is often performed with alkali hydroxide or similar chemistries that are known to etch silicon. The disadvantage of this method is that all materials present on the wafer must either be compatible (i.e., not etch) or they must be protected. The number of compatible materials is limited, particularly if the release takes a significant amount of time. Protecting incompatible materials requires an additional process step, and often creates process compatibility issues of its own.
Finally, another disadvantage of this method is the difficulty in masking this etch. For long, through-wafer etching, the number of materials that can be effectively patterned as a mask are quite limited.
Another potential option for such openings is by means of dry etching after cover attachment, know as DRIE. The DRIE process is relatively slow and it is performed one wafer at a time. Etching through 400 to 500 microns of silicon cover can take a significant amount of time and is also a fairly costly process. Dry etching has also successfully been used, particularly deep reactive ion etching, as it can achieve high aspect ratio etching, can be masked easily, and has been demonstrated to have high selectivity. However, a DRIE system is costly, requiring significant capital expenditure. Furthermore, a DRIE process is time consuming when removing significant (>200 μm) amount of silicon. Accordingly, the throughput of the machine utilized for etching is significantly limited.
Dry etching requires patterning a masking material to define the feature(s) to be released, similar to wet etching, and has the same problems associated therewith.
Yet another method of releasing a feature is by sawing of the portion of cover wafers that are not protecting the MEMS features and obscuring the access to the input/output features. The problem with this approach is that it is difficult to control the depth of the saw into the cover wafer accurately. In addition, removal of the unwanted silicon tabs after sawing is often destructive and potentially damaging. Alternatively, a clearing channel can be etched into the cover wafer to allow for sawing operation, but this is also problematic. Since the saw slurry will get under the silicon and over the contact pads which results in poor contact and wire bond assembly. Also, having large pieces of silicon tabs flying off the wafers during the saw operation is not considered standard and often results in damage to the saw blades.
Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for releasing a MEMS cover-structure which should be cost-effective, and easily implemented and adaptable to existing assembly and packaging tools. The present invention addresses such a need.

Method and system of releasing a MEMS structure


The present invention relates generally to catalysts and methods for use in olefin production. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel amorphously supported single-center, Lewis acid metal ions and use of the same as catalysts.

As global demand on hydrocarbon reserves has continued to increase, more efficient utilization of petroleum and gas reserves has become an important complementary strategy to the development and deployment of sustainable energy generation. Olefin production is critical for the polymer and chemical industries and is widely utilized as intermediates in the production of transportation fuels. Historically, olefin production has generally been accomplished by one of three processes: thermal cracking of alkanes at high temperatures and catalytic dehydrogenation with Pt nano-particle or Cr oxide catalyst technologies at temperatures above about 600° C. where equilibrium favors high olefin yields; or fluid catalytic cracking. For ethylene thermal cracking of ethane, LPG and heavier feedstocks continue to be the primary route. Thermal cracking of LPG or heavier feedstocks also provide significant quantities of prophylene byproduct. Fluid catalytic cracking in refineries also produce significant quantities of propylene byproduct. However, over the past two decades, propylene growth rate has outpaced these conventional supply routes leading to construction of a number of commercial units for selective catalytic dehydrogenation of propane to propylene.
For alkanes with three or more carbons, thermal cracking results in mixtures of C—C and C—H cracked products. Propane, for example, produces propylene, ethylene, hydrogen, and methane. Because of the low olefin yields by thermal cracking, however, catalytic conversion processes are often favored. While propylene selectivity is higher for catalytic dehydrogenation of propane than thermal cracking, increasing the propylene selectivity, i.e., reducing the C—C cleavage reaction in favor of the dehydrogenation, remains an important catalytic goal. With catalytic dehydrogenation, there is also deposition of carbon on the catalyst surface leading to rapid loss of activity, often in a few hours, thus requiring frequent regeneration, by combustion of the carbon, or coke, and expensive process designs.
Therefore, there remains a need for catalysts with high selectivity in the conversion of alkanes to alkenes, and that are additionally long-lived with minimal decrease in activity over time.

Selective alkane activation with single-site atoms on amorphous support


A system (100) for communicating multimedia messages includes a multimedia message server (102) that is operable to transmit (1404, 1406, 1408) visual media, a vibration melody (1200), and an audio segment (1300) that is preferably filtered (1402) to exclude frequencies of the vibration melody (1200) through a network (104) to a client device (106), and is operable to, preferably at a later time, to transmit instructions (1410) to the client device (106) to output the vibration melody (1200), audio segment (1300) and visual media. At the client device, (106) the audio segment (1300) and the vibration melody (1200) and visual media are preferably stored (1504, 1508, 1512) in a memory (608) and in response to the instruction signal are read (1616, 1518, 1520) from the memory (608), decoded (1522, 1524, 1526) and output (1528, 1530, 1532) to a user. The vibration melody (1200) and the audio segment (1300) are preferably applied at least partially concurrently applied to an electromechanical transducer (212).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to electronic communication and particularly to electronic communication for multimedia applications.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently there has been a proliferation of a variety of wirelessly connected portable devices. As the computing power, and bandwidth provided to portable devices increases, it is expected that they will handle an increasing proportion of the computing and communication tasks that are at present handled by personal computers.
The quality and volume of audio produced by portable devices is limited due to space constraints on their audio components. The display size of portable devices is also limited compared to personal computer displays.
The limitations of the audio and displays of portable devices, tends to limit the impact of multimedia messages received through portable devices.
One area in which it is important to achieve high levels of audio and visual impact is in advertising. Advertisements transmitted through the World Wide Web (WWW) and viewed on personal computers can include audio, dynamic images, and video.


A self check out/check in terminal is disclosed for facilitating independent withdrawal or return of articles having article identifying indicia on opposing surfaces thereof, and alterable security indicia for indicating the circulation status of the article. The terminal comprises first and second readers disposed at space opposed locations and operative to read the plurality of article identifying indicia and generate first and second article identifying signals in response thereto. Processing circuitry is provided in electrical communication with the readers and includes comparator circuitry for receiving the first and second article identifying signals and for generating a third signal when said first and second article identifying signals are substantially identical. Security indicia control circuitry is provided for altering the security indicia upon the article in response to the generation of the third signal.

This invention relates principally to a self operated check-in check-out terminal for books or other articles to be removed from or returned to a library or other facility. Such a terminal may be the principal component of a computerized library circulation system, performing operations that are conventionally performed by a librarian. The system speeds the performance of check in/check out operations and relieves the librarian to perform other tasks.
A conventional library check-out procedure is as follows. The patron supplies his library card to the librarian. The card usually has a bar code, either printed or recorded on magnetic tape to identify the patron to the librarian. The librarian scans the card in a reader. The reader sends the patron's coded identity to a computer data base maintained by the library to determine the status of the patron's account. After it is determined that the account is in proper order by a signal to the librarian, the librarian scans a bar code printed on a surface of the article with a reader, which then compares the bar code with a data base to determine the circulation status of the article. Where the data base indicates that the article may be checked out, the system operates to modify the circulation status to indicate that the book is being checked out. Many libraries are also equipped with security surveillance devices responsive to the magnetic state of material applied to the article. Once the librarian has determined that the patron status and article circulation status are acceptable, the article may be handed to the patron on the far side of a surveillance gate, or passed over a magnetic desensitizer which permits the patron to pass the article through the security gate without triggering an alarm condition.
Some libraries have patron self check-in check-out systems that are generally operated as follows. To check out a book the patron places his library card in a reader that scans his identification code. As described previously, a computer data base is activated and provides a display screen the status of the patron's account. If the patron's account is in order, the patron proceeds to pass the coded label on the book by a scanner in the terminal. If the circulation status of the book allows it to be checked out/checked in, the system then records the transaction then enables the adjacent security surveillance device to sensitize/desensitize the magnetic material, thereby allowing the patron to carry the book through the security gate.
Such a computerized library circulation control system are described in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,449 (Elder et al.), describes the use of magnetic materials on the article to be sensed later at a security gate for electronic article surveillance. The Elder patent further discloses the integration of a security magnetic security system with a book circulation control system. The magnetic security system operates to change the state of the magnetic security marker upon verification of the book circulation status and the patron account status. U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,078 (Bridges, Jr. et al.) provides more detail of a system integrating the book circulation control system and a security system. The Bridges patent is more particularly directed to the construction of such a system including a particular means for deterring patron abuse through efforts demagnetize additional books that have not cleared the circulation control system. Specifically, the Bridges patent proposes the construction of a chute having an inclined surface surrounded by optical sensors, wherein only a single book is disposed within the view of the scanner and additional books are urged downwardly away from the scanner. Consequently, the demagnetizer disposed adjacent the scanner will only demagnetize a single book. Efforts to hold two books in the region of the scanner will trigger the optical sensors, precluding any demagnetization.
Though systems such as that disclosed in the Bridges patent are useful to permit a patron to check in and check out books, they suffer from significant practical shortcomings related to the efficiency and reliability of the system.
The present invention significantly improves upon contemporary systems in that it avoids the need for chutes or other types of inclined surfaces that hinder practical efficiency, particularly where the system thruput is high. The present invention further avoids the need for a ring of optical scanners that may inadvertently triggered in the course of checking in or checking out a large number of books. Additionally, the present invention provides significant additional security as a consequence of the use of dual scanners, rather than a single scanner. Accordingly, as described below, the present invention allows for significant improvements in the practical implementation of library circulation control systems suitable for independent patron usage.


Identification elements may be added to a vehicle and the identification elements may be required before a transaction through the vehicle may be approved. The identification elements may be a second layer of security to ensure that a payment request is valid and not fraudulent.

As computing devices have become more mobile, so have mobile payments. User can use a payment device such as a credit card or a payment while in a vehicle such as a car. However, trying to verify that a payment device is not being used fraudulently in a moving vehicle may be a challenge as the user may be obscured or the transaction may be undertaken in high speed.

System and method for additional security in a vehicle based transaction


A network router maintains a list of devices that are connected to a network established by the network router, where the list includes a first device and at least one other device and where the at least one other device includes a wired or a wireless device. The network router receives, from the first device, a search request that includes search terms for performing a file search, and broadcasts, to the at least one other device, the search request that includes the search terms. The network router receives search responses from the at least one other device, where each of the search responses comprises a device identifier associated with a responding one of the at least one other device and a file name and file location information of at least one file that matches the search terms. The network device forwards the search responses to the first device.

Various different devices may be used by a network customer (i.e., a user) to connect to a network operated by a service provider. In some circumstances, a user may use multiple devices to connect to the network via a network access device, such as a modem or a router, which may be owned by the network service provider. For example, a wireless network router may be installed at a user's premises, and the user may access the service provider's network via the wireless network router using multiple wireless devices (e.g., laptop, phone, gaming console, tablet, smart speaker, etc.). When the wireless router establishes a local wireless network, different wireless devices can connect to the established local wireless network and access the service provider's network. The wireless network router routes traffic between the service provider's network and the different wireless devices via the local wireless network.

Systems and methods for searching files across distributed WLAN-connected devices


It has been identified that a known loss mechanism in the access path to a mesa type device is more significant than previously believed. The source of the loss is due to the electromagnetic interaction of the wire bond and the device side wall which induces an image current at the side wall along the path of the wire bond. According to the teachings of the present invention, a process for forming a conductive coating on a semiconductor device is disclosed. The coating reduces high frequency losses associated with the device. The processes disclosed are compatible with existing semiconductor fabrication devices and advantageously provide improved uniformity and repeatability.

Monolithic and discrete microwave semiconductor devices are used for example to manufacture switches for microwave and millimeter wave applications. These switches may include PIN diodes as the active element. A PIN diode may be manufactured using the process taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,310 owned by the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which is hereby specifically incorporated by reference. Electrical connection from a transmission line to the diode may be made through a wire bond that spans the mesa side wall of the PIN diode and electrically contacts the diode terminal. It is known that a diode connected in this way exhibits a resistive loss in the area of the access to the diode. It is also known that the loss at the bond is frequency related. Prior solutions to the lossy bond problem have been to increase the doping in the PIN mesa side wall. The increased doping reduces parasitic resistance and confines the carriers away from the side wall surface. Devices having the increased doping on the side walls, however, still exhibit significant loss. The exhibited loss also varies for devices in a single wafer, causing nonuniformity, as well as for devices on one wafer to the next, causing nonrepeatability. Variations in the operating parameters of semiconductor devices are detrimental to the effective use and application of these devices. Variations in predicted performance of the devices limit the design parameters for their application in that a circuit design must account for the expected variations in the performance parameters. It may or may not be possible to design the necessary tolerances into a circuit. If it is not possible for a product design to tolerate the expected variations in device or circuit performance, the product may not work that use those devices or circuits at the outer ends of the performance range.
There is a need, therefore, to reduce the loss associated with a discrete or monolithic semiconductor device in the area of the access to the device. There is a further need to improve the uniformity and repeatability of discrete and monolithic devices.
There is a further need, therefore, to have a process for fabricating a device or circuit having reduced loss that is compatible with existing fabrication processes. The process also preferably improves uniformity and repeatability of the fabricated devices or circuits.

Process for reducing bond resistance in semiconductor devices and circuits


A field-assembled satellite communications terminal has a plurality of discrete, modular aperture blocks. Each aperture block contains an electrically steered antenna aperture, and a plurality of interconnection ports for power and data communications between the plurality of aperture blocks. The plurality of interconnection ports are removably connectable by the end user in the field. The terminal further has a signal processing system for receiving, processing, and generating signals to and from the apertures. The aperture blocks are connected to each other in the field and self-configure to form an electrically-steered antenna.

Communications satellites provide connectivity around the globe across a number of frequency bands and services to fixed, mobile, permanent, and temporary sites. The VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) class of service that is provided in the X, Ku, and Ka frequency bands is used in civil, commercial, and defense applications that require global connectivity and high bandwidths from moderate aperture sizes. Alternate, lower frequency bands (UHF, L-, S-, C-) services apply to uses requiring much lower bandwidth, unless extremely large antennas can be used.
Communicating with a satellite requires a terminal, which includes an antenna, modem, and associated amplifiers, mixers, and other RF or microwave components. Terminals are differentiated primarily by the antenna, and whether the antenna is fixed or steerable, mechanical or electronic.
For defense and civil applications where intermittent and on-the-fly communications are required in remote locations, a particular class of terminals known as "manpack" are designed to be easily transported, assembled, operated, and disassembled by a very small group of individuals. Manpack terminals can be regarded as a subset of the class of Comms-on-the-Halt antennas, but specifically those that can be transported by one or two individuals on foot. Weight, power consumption, volume, and ease of use are key differentiators for this market segment. In particular, the ability to travel with an antenna on an aircraft in hand or checked luggage is highly regarded.
For VSAT frequencies, parabolic reflector antennas are almost universal among manpack solutions. The most common approach is a parabolic dish that is broken down into pieces that dip together to form the right shape, with a central collapsible frame holding the feed antenna, subreflector, amplifiers, modem, batteries, and other equipment. See e.g., Hawkeye III Lite, 1.2M Tri-band VSAT, www.L3Harris.com. The size and the weight determine whether the terminal is regarded as a manpack or a larger flyaway terminal that is intended for truck or plane transport rather than for individuals. There are varieties that are an inflatable sphere that contains the reflector and the feed. See e.g., Expeditionary SATCOM, Cubic, www.cubic.com. Some models have automatic motor-driven pointing, others require a skilled or semi-skilled user to align the reflector with the desired satellite. Fully integrated pre-staged and pre-configured modems are very common, since the end-users are interested in rapid setup and breakdown of communications without the need for configuration and complex wiring or setup.
Flat panel antennas (see e.g., Paradigm Communications Swarm 45 (45 cm) Flat Panel Ka-Band Satellite Terminal, Digisat International, Inc.) are an alternative to parabolic reflectors as a fundamental antenna for SATCOM terminals. These terminals can be smaller and, in some cases, lighter than parabolic antennas, but typically are not used for very large aperture sizes and performance applications.
Typical phased array or electronically-steered antennas are rarely used in manpack configurations primarily due to the high power consumption relative to the performance, as well as the limitation on aperture size imposed on a single-piece antenna designed to be man-portable. In other applications, phased arrays have many benefits, including the capability of near-instant steering and tracking with higher reliability, due to a lack of moving parts. Getting high performance requires large aperture sizes, which also scales the power requirements.

Field-assembled modular phased array SATCOM terminal


A copper oxide thin film mainly containing CuO is formed by a plasma film-forming process on a substrate for film formation. The friction coefficient of the copper oxide thin film can be controlled remarkably low.

Mechanical parts for the turbines revolving at a high speed under a high-temperature, high-humidity condition and the apparatuses and devices driven in an extreme environment such as the driving devices in space station should be made of a material lower in friction, and such environments cause problems of oxidation of the parts due to exposure to the high-temperature high-humidity condition and increase of the friction coefficient of the parts due to collision of atomic oxygen to the parts (oxidative degradation).
Use of an oxide-based low-friction material may be a possible way to overcome the problems above, but there is actually, almost no such oxide material available.
For example, copper oxide, which is prepared from a cheap raw material and easier in handling, has a high friction coefficient of approximately 0.2 or more in the atmosphere and in vacuum even if it is formed by surface oxidation, and thus, it is considered to be difficult to use it as a low-friction material. Actually, the friction coefficients thereof so far reported are larger at 1.6 in the atmosphere and 0.4 in vacuum (J. R. Whitehead, Proc. Roy. Soc A210 (1850) 109).
However, a low-friction oxide thin film material, if made available, can be prepared from an extremely cheap raw material and is free from the concern about the increase in friction coefficient due to oxidation because it is already oxidized, and thus would be used favorably in various fields including the power generation and aerospace fields.
An object of the invention of the present application, which was made under the circumstances above, is to provide a new technical means of facilitating formation of a thin film having a low friction coefficient.

Copper oxide thin film low-friction material and film-forming method therefor

National Institute for Materials Science


The present invention provides a TFT array panel having a transmissive region and a reflective region. A transmissive electrode is disposed in the transmissive region. The first reflective electrode connected to the transmissive electrode is disposed on the reflective region. The second reflective electrode separated from the transmissive electrode and the first reflective region is formed in the reflective region. A first conductor is connected to at least one of the transmissive electrode and the first reflective electrode. A second conductor is connected to the second reflective electrode. At least one of the transmissive electrode, the first reflective electrode and the first conductor overlaps at least one of the second reflective electrode and the second conductor.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor (TFT) array panel and a liquid crystal display (LCD) having the TFT array panel, particularly to a transmissive-reflective LCD and a TFT array panel thereof.
(b) Description of the Related Art
LCDs are one of the most widely used flat panel displays. An LCD includes a liquid crystal (LC) layer interposed between two panels provided with field-generating electrodes. The LCD displays images by applying voltages to the field-generating electrodes to generate an electric field in the LC layer that determines orientations of LC molecules in the LC layer to adjust polarization of incident light. The light having adjusted polarization is either intercepted or allowed to pass by a polarizing film, thereby displaying images.
Depending on their light sources, LCDs are classified into a transmissive LCD and a reflective LCD. The light source of the transmissive LCD is a backlight. The light source of the reflective LCD is an external light. The reflective type LCD is usually applied to a small or middle size display device.
A transmissive-reflective LCD has been under development. The transmissive-reflective LCD uses both a backlight and an external light as the light sources depending on circumstances, and usually applied to small or middle size display devices. The trans-reflective LCD includes a transmissive region and a reflective region in a pixel. While light passes through an LC layer only once in the transmissive region, light passes through the LC layer twice in the reflective region. Accordingly, gamma curves of the transmissive region and the reflective region are not coincident, and images are displayed in different ways between the transmissive region and the reflective region.
To solve the problem, the LC layer may be formed to have different thicknesses (cell gaps) between the transmissive region and the reflective region. Alternatively, the trans-reflective LCD may be driven by two different driving voltages depending on whether the LCD is in a transmissive mode or a reflective mode.
However, when the two cell gap structure is applied, a thicker layer is required to be formed on the reflective region, thereby complicating the manufacturing process. Furthermore, since a high step is formed between the transmissive region and the reflective region, the LC molecules are aligned in a disorderly manner around the high step, thereby causing disclination in an image. Also, brightness reversion may occur in a high voltage range. On the other hand, when the two different driving voltages method is applied, gamma curves can not be coincident due to the inconsistency between critical voltages for transmissive brightness and reflective brightness.

Thin film transistor array panel and liquid crystal display including the panel


A first terahertz storage device and a second terahertz storage device may be placed within an effective distance to each other, and, by connection and pairing between the first terahertz storage device and the second terahertz storage device, data in the first terahertz storage device may be transmitted to the second terahertz storage device via a terahertz wireless signal. Accordingly, rapid and secure transmission of data is facilitated between two storage devices. Transmission and exchange of data is, thereby, facilitated in a scenario in which a transmission medium cannot be released.

Traditional data types are often represented by structured data which can be realized through logical expression of a two-dimensional table structure. A traditional data transmission mode, based on wired transmission relational database, may be capable to adapt to this type of data. However, with the advent of the mobile Internet era, data on microblogs, online communities, emails and PPTs presents an outburst growth. Data on mobile Internet devices often includes "unstructured" and "bulky" characteristics. Traditional data transmission modes, based on wired transmission relational databases, require wired transmission, which has limited data handling capacity, slow data transmission rate, and cannot adapt to the demands of new data characteristics.

Terahertz wireless communications-based method and system for data transmission

HUIZHOU TCL MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.


An injection molding machine includes a machine base supporting a first platen and at least a second platen for supporting respective mold sections, and a part handling apparatus for manipulating parts associated with molded part production. The part handling apparatus includes an upright supporting an end-of-arm tooling and an adjustable mount adjustably coupling the upright to the machine base. The adjustable mount includes at least a first linear rail extending parallel to the machine axis and structurally integrated with, and fixed relative to, the machine base at an elevation below an uppermost extent of the platens. The adjustable mount further includes a carriage fixed to the upright, the carriage adjustably coupled to the first rail.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,571 (Heindl et al.) purports to disclose an injection molding machine (1) that is equipped with an apparatus (7) for removing injection molded articles. The apparatus makes possible the removal of the articles (6) from the opened injection mold (3). A two-way support (10, 11, 12, 13) is moveably mounted on a guide bed (8) aligned parallel relative to the direction of actuation of the closing unit (2) for the injection mold (3). The two-way support has a vertically moveable carriage (13) with a support member (14) which at its lower end is provided with a gripping member (15) which is adjustable relative to the support member (14) about two longitudinal axes extending at a right angle relative to each other. The articles (6) can be removed from the opened injection mold (3) by means of the gripping member (15) and can be deposited as desired onto a device (16) either in front of the front end face or behind the rear face of the injection molding machine (1).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,554 (Hellman) purports to disclose an apparatus for removing injection molded articles from an opened injection mold of an injection molding machine. The apparatus has a low structural weight and provides exact control of the movements of a grasping member for grasping the injection molded articles. The apparatus has a guide bed and a carriage movably mounted on the guide bed. The guide bed is aligned parallel to the direction of operation of the closing unit of the injection mold. The carriage includes a cantilever which extends transversely of the guide bed. The cantilever carries a slide member longitudinally movable on the cantilever. An adjustable support member is mounted on the slide member. The grasping member is mounted at the lower end of the support member. The grasping member is adjustable relative to the support member about at least two joints extending perpendicularly to each other. In addition to the drive for the carriage and the drive for the support member, the drive for the support member is also mounted on the carriage above the guide bed. Accordingly, the weight of the drive for the support member does not rest on the cantilever, the slide member and the support member.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,841 (Simon) purports to disclose an apparatus for removing the sprue from an injection mold, having a cylinder and an associated piston rod, in which the piston rod extends between the two halves of the mold into the runner when the injection mold is closed. Molding material is molded around the forward end of the piston rod during the injection. Upon opening of the mold the sprue fixedly carried by the forward end is removed by movement of the piston rod into the cylinder.

Injection molding machine with integrated part handling apparatus


A MIB viewer for displaying objects defined in a MIB listing. The MIB viewer extracts object information from a MIB listing and reorganizes the object information for display to a user in an ordered and easily understandable manner. The MIB viewer separates object names from other object attributes to enable a user to quickly interpret the relationship among the objects in the MIB listing. Upon request, the attributes associated with any particular object can be displayed in a separate window. Another embodiment of the MIB viewer organizes the object names into a hierarchical structure and displays a graphical hierarchical structure showing the parent/child relationship between the objects in the MIB listing. Upon selection of an object name, the attributes associated with the object will be displayed in a separate window.

As networks have proliferated, so too have the number of network-attached devices, such as servers, printers, bridges, routers and the like. Frequently these devices are geographically far removed from one another, even when attached to the same LAN, and managing such devices has become a major burden on network administrators. The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) was designed to facilitate management of such devices from a central location.
SNMP allows a management software application running from a central location, such as a workstation, to query and or modify various objects associated with an SNMP-enabled device. Each SNMP-enabled device implements an SNMP agent, and the objects supported by any particular agent are defined in a source code listing referred to as a Management Information Base (MIB) listing. The MIB listing defines each object in terms of its attributes, such as its name, syntax, object identifier, access, status, and description. The management application reads the MIB listing to determine what objects a particular agent supports, whether the object can be read and/or written, the type of object (e.g., numeric, or string), and its object identifier. The object identifier is made up of a series of digits and periods, and is used to uniquely identify a particular object in an SNMP request from the management application.
The objects in a MIB are organized in a hierarchy which is established by the object identifier. The hierarchy is in the form of a tree, with each object being either a parent object, a child object, or a parent and child object. Parent objects are used to organize related child objects. For example, a group object is a parent object to certain child objects which somehow relate to the group object. Similarly, a table object is composed of rows, or sequences, of child objects. The hierarchy of such parent and child objects, however, is not easily determined from looking at the MIB listing, as the objects in a MIB listing merely follow one another sequentially.
To implement a MIB in an SNMP agent, or to determine what objects are implemented in a MIB, the MIB listing must be analyzed. Unfortunately, MIB listings can be very difficult to interpret because the definition of each object appears to be independent of every other object, and the parent/child relationship between the objects can be difficult to determine. MIB listings are created using a syntax referred to as Abstract Syntax Notation one (ASN.1), which requires that objects be defined in terms of its attributes, such as a name, an object identifier, a syntax, an access, a status, and optionally a description. Although optional, descriptions are widely used in practice to describe the purpose and use of the object and can be quite lengthy. The effect of this is that a single page of a MIB listing may contain the definition of only two or three objects. MIB listings frequently define hundreds of objects, resulting in MIB listings over 100 pages in length. Not only does such length make it difficult to locate a particular object, but can also make determining the hierarchy of the objects in the MIB very difficult. Although a text editor can be used to electronically search for the name of an object, it is presented without a context--that is without indicating where the object exists with respect to other objects.
For example, when examining a particular object in a MIB listing, either from a hard copy printout or from a computer screen, one cannot easily determine what objects are child objects of a particular object, or what attributes a parent object has. In fact, the parent object could be listed on a page 25 pages previous to the object of interest. Nor can one easily obtain an overall view of the hierarchy of the MIB. This is especially important when designing the layout of the MIB to ensure that the objects are implemented in a logical manner.

Management information base listing viewer


The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having beta-glucosidase activity, beta-xylosidase activity, or beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to polypeptides having beta-glucosidase activity, beta-xylosidase activity, or beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
Description of the Related Art
Cellulose is a polymer of the simple sugar glucose covalently linked by beta-1,4-bonds. Many microorganisms produce enzymes that hydrolyze beta-linked glucans. These enzymes include endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases, and beta-glucosidases. Endoglucanases digest the cellulose polymer at random locations, opening it to attack by cellobiohydrolases. Cellobiohydrolases sequentially release molecules of cellobiose from the ends of the cellulose polymer. Cellobiose is a water-soluble beta-1,4-linked dimer of glucose. Beta-glucosidases hydrolyze cellobiose to glucose.
The conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks into ethanol has the advantages of the ready availability of large amounts of feedstock, the desirability of avoiding burning or land filling the materials, and the cleanliness of the ethanol fuel. Wood, agricultural residues, herbaceous crops, and municipal solid wastes have been considered as feedstocks for ethanol production. These materials primarily consist of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Once the lignocellulose is converted to fermentable sugars, e.g., glucose, the fermentable sugars are easily fermented by yeast into ethanol.
There is a need in the art for polypeptides having beta-glucosidase activity, beta-xylosidase activity, or beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase activity with improved properties for use in the degradation of cellulosic and xylan-containing materials.
The present invention provides new polypeptides having beta-glucosidase activity, beta-xylosidase activity, or beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides.
The polypeptides according to the present invention share 59.16% identity (excluding gaps) to the deduced maturated amino acid sequence of a GH3 family protein from Talaromyces stipitatus (SwissProt accession number B8MNC6), 82.58% identity (excluding gaps) to the deduced maturated amino acid sequence of a GH3 family protein from Thermoascus aurantiacus (SwissProt accession number Q4U4W7), 78.55% identity (excluding gaps) to the deduced maturated amino acid sequence of a GH3 family protein from Thermoascus aurantiacus var. levisporus (SwissProt accession number A9UFC6), and 82.87% identity (excluding gaps) to the maturated deduced amino acid sequence of a GH3 family protein from Neosartorya fischeri (SwissProt accession number A1DCV5) respectively.

Polypeptides having beta-glucosidase activity, beta-xylosidase activity, or beta-glucosidase and beta-xylosidase activity and polynucleotides encoding same


A method for maximizing effectiveness of parallel processing, using multiple processors, to achieve an optimal cell placement layout of a core area of an integrated chip is disclosed. The method requires the core area to be divided into preferably a grid of rectangular regions. Then, the rectangular region is sequenced such that each region of the sequence is not adjacent to the previous or the next region of the sequence, and is sufficiently far from the previous and from the next region of the sequence such that when multiple processors are assigned to consecutive regions of the sequence to perform cell placement algorithms, area-conflicts are minimized eliminating the need to limit the distances the cells may be moved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the art of microelectronic integrated circuit layout, and more specifically to the art of placement of cells on integrated circuit chips.
2. Description of Related Art
Microelectronic integrated circuits (ICs) consist of a large number of electronic components which are fabricated by layering several different materials on a silicon base or wafer. The design of an integrated circuit (IC) transforms a circuit description into a geometric description which is known as a layout. A layout consists of a set of planar geometric shapes in the various layers of the silicon chip.
The process of converting the specifications of an electrical circuit into a layout is called physical design. Physical design requires arranging elements, wires, and predefined cells on a fixed area, and the process can be tedious, time consuming, and prone to many errors due to tight tolerance requirements and the minuteness of the individual components, or cells.
Currently, the minimum geometric feature size of a component is on the order of 0.5 microns. Feature size may be reduced to 0.1 micron within the next several years. The current small feature size allows fabrication of as many as 10 million transistors or approximately 1 million gates of logic on a 25 millimeter by 25 millimeter chip. This feature-size-decrease/transistor-increase trend is expected to continue, with even smaller feature geometries and more circuit elements on an integrated circuit. Larger chip sizes will allow far greater numbers of circuit elements.
Due to the large number of components and the exacting details required by the fabrication process, physical design is not practical without the aid of computers. As a result, most phases of physical design use extensively Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools. Automation of the physical design process has increased the level of integration, reduced turn around time and enhanced chip performance.
The object of physical chip design is to determine an optimal arrangement of devices in a plane and to find an efficient interconnection or routing scheme between the devices that results in the desired functionality. Since space on the chip surface is at a premium, algorithms must use the space very efficiently to lower costs and improve yield. The arrangement of individual cells in an integrated circuit chip is known as a cell placement.
Each microelectronic circuit device or cell includes a plurality of pins or terminals, each of which is connected to pins of other cells by a respective electrical interconnection wire network, or net. A purpose of the optimization process used in the physical design stage is to determine a cell placement such that all of the required interconnections can be made, but total wirelength and interconnection congestion are minimized.
Typical methods for achieving this goal include generating one or more initial placements and modifying the placement or placements using optimization methodologies such as simulated annealing, genetic algorithms (i.e. simulated evolution), and force directed placement. Each of these techniques involve iterative applications of the respective algorithms to arrive at an estimate of the optimal arrangement of the cells.
Depending on the input, placement algorithms are classified into two major groups, constructive placement algorithms and iterative improvement algorithms. The input to the constructive placement algorithms consists of a set of blocks along with the netlist. The algorithm provides locations for the blocks. Iterative improvement algorithms start with an initial placement. These algorithms modify the initial placement in search of a better placement. The algorithms are applied in a recursive or an iterative manner until no further improvement is possible, or the solution is considered to be satisfactory based on certain predetermined criteria.
Iterative algorithms function by generating large numbers of possible placements and comparing them in accordance with some criteria which is generally referred to as fitness. The fitness of a placement can be measured in a number of different ways, for example, overall chip size. A small size is associated with a high fitness and a large size is associated with a low fitness. Another measure of fitness is the total wire length of the integrated circuit. A high total wire length indicates low fitness and a low total wire length, on the other hand, indicates high fitness. One cell placement optimization system is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/672,725. Applicants hereby incorporate the specification, including the drawings, of said application herein as though set forth in full.
The relative desirability of various placement configurations can alternatively be expressed in terms of cost, which can be considered as the inverse of fitness, with high cost corresponding to low fitness and, similarly, low cost corresponding to high fitness.
Iterative algorithms can generally be divided into three classifications: simulated annealing, simulated evolution and force directed placement. The simulated annealing algorithm simulates the annealing process that is used to temper metals. Simulated evolution simulates the biological process of evolution, while the force directed placement simulates a system of bodies attached by springs.
Assuming that a number N of cells are to be optimally arranged and routed on an integrated circuit chip, the number of different ways that the cells can be arranged on the chip, or the number of permutations, is equal to N| (N factorial). In the following description, each arrangement of cells will be referred to as a placement. In a practical integrated circuit chip, the number of cells can be hundreds of thousands or millions. Thus, the number of possible placements is extremely large.
Because of the large number of possible placements, computerized implementation of the placement algorithms discussed above can take many days. In addition, the placement algorithm may need to be repeated with different parameters or different initial arrangements to improve the results.
To reduce the time required to place optimally the cells, multiple processors have been used to speed up the process. In such implementations, multiple processors operate simultaneously to place optimally the cells on the integrated chip. However, such prior efforts to reduce the placement time by parallel processing of the placement methods have been impeded by three obstacles.
First, multiple processors may conflict with each other. This occurs where an area on the chip, which is being processed by one processor, is affected by movements of one or more cells into the area by another processor. When this occurs, one of the two conflicting processors must wait for the other to finish or postpone its own move for later. The area-conflict problem not only lessens the advantage of multiprocessing, but also increases the processing overhead encountered. This is because, before moving a cell, each of the processors must check for area-conflicts with all other processors. As the number of processors increases, the area-conflicts increase rapidly to negate the advantage of multiprocessing, such that the time required to place the cells is increased.
Second, the optimization process can become trapped in a local optimum. To eliminate the area-conflict problem, some systems have assigned particular core areas to each of the processors with the restriction that each of the processors only operate within its assigned area. After processing cells of the assigned areas, the processors are then assigned to different areas, and so on. Although this method eliminates area-conflicts, it limits the movements of the cells to the area assigned to the processor. The limitation on the movement of the cells increases the likelihood of the placement becoming stuck at a local optimum. In the case of a pairwise interchange algorithm, it is possible that a configuration achieved is at a local optimum such that any further exchange within the limited area will not result in a further reduction in cost. In such a situation, the algorithm is trapped at the local optimum and does not proceed further. This happens frequently when the algorithm is used in practical applications, and the extent of the local optimum problem increases as additional processors are added because the increase in the number of processors operating simultaneously reduces the area assigned to each of the processors. Decreases in the area assigned to each of the processors lead to corresponding decreases of the distances the cells of the areas may be moved to improve the optimization.
Third, if multiple processors are used simultaneously to place the cells of an integrated chip, it is possible for the processors to deadlock. This occurs where each of the processors has halted its operation while waiting for another processor to complete its operations. In this situation, all processing is stopped and the system halts. An example of deadlock is where processor P.sub.1 is waiting for processor P.sub.2 to complete its operation, P.sub.2 is waiting for processor P.sub.3 to complete its operation, and P.sub.3 is waiting for P.sub.1 to complete its operation. In that case, neither P.sub.1, P.sub.2, nor P.sub.3 will proceed.
In summary, because of the ever-increasing number of cells on an integrated chips (currently at millions of cells on a chip), and the resulting increase in the number of possible placements of the cells on the chip, a computer is used to find an optimal layout of the cells on the chip. Even with the aid of computers, existing methods can take several days to place a large number of cells, and these methods may need to be repeated with different parameters or different initial arrangements. To decrease the time required to place the chip, multiple processors have been used to perform the placement of the cells. However, the use of multiple processors has led to area-conflicts, local optimum problems, and potential deadlock situations, negating the advantages of using the multiple processors.

Efficient multiprocessing for cell placement of integrated circuits


A microphone output connector is of a three-pin type. A cylindrical connector housing and a first pin are installed at an end of a conductive microphone case of a microphone to be electrically connected to the microphone case. The microphone output connector includes a shield cover penetrated by three pins and covering a surface of the connector base. The shield cover partly extends to cover a portion of the connector base at which a thread is screwed in so that the shield cover is pressed against an inner surface of the cylindrical connector housing by the thread. The shield cover is pressed against the inner surface of the cylindrical connector housing by the connector base at a side of the connector base opposite to the position at which the thread is screwed in.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microphone output connector, and more specifically, to a technique for protecting a microphone case against invasion by a high-frequency electromagnetic wave generated by a cellular phone or the like, through the output connector. The present invention is advantageously used for, for example, a capacitor microphone output connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Capacitor microphones incorporate an impedance converter such as a field effect transistor (FET) for very high impedance of a microphone unit. The capacitor microphones generally use a phantom power source. Microphone sound signals are output via a balanced shielded cable for the phantom power source.
A microphone case (a microphone grip in a case of a handled microphone) is installed with a three-pin type output connector for a connection with the balanced shielded cable (see, for example Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-311752). FIG. 5 is a front view of an output connecter according to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-311752 extracted from a microphone case. FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the output connector installed in the microphone case.
According to the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-311752, this output connector 10 includes a disk-shaped connector base 11 made of an electric insulator such as a polybutadiene terephthalate (PBT) resin. The connector base 11 has three pins, namely a first pin E of earthing, a second pin SH on a hot signal side, and a third pin SC on a cold signal side and the three pins are penetratingly installed by press fitting to the connector base 11.
In the case of the handheld microphone, the microphone connector 10 is installed in a cylindrical connector housing 20 screwed on an end of a microphone grip as shown in FIG. 6. The microphone grip and the cylindrical connector housing 20 are made of metal such as brass and also function as a shield case for electric parts incorporated therein.
When an intense electromagnetic wave is applied to a microphone or a microphone cable while the microphone cable (balanced shielded cable) connected out of a phantom power source (not shown) is connected to the output connector 10, the electromagnetic wave may enter the microphone through the output connector 10. In this case, the electromagnetic wave is demodulated by an impedance converter and output by the microphone as noise of an audible frequency.
A conventional technique known before the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-311752, can effectively inhibit invasion by normal broadcasting waves, for example, electromagnetic waves of HF, VHF, UHF, or the like. However, the recent prevalence of cellular phones or the like has increased opportunities to use electromagnetic waves of higher frequencies near the microphone.
In the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-311752, a male thread 12 is installed in the connector base 11 to electrically connect the first pin E for earthing to the cylindrical connector housing 20. The male thread 12 is housed in a thread housing hole 13 drilled in the connector base 11 in a radial direction. As shown in FIG. 6, a screwdriver (not shown) is inserted through a round hole 21 drilled in the cylindrical connector housing 20. The male thread 12 is rotated and pulled out using the screwdriver from the connector base 11. Thus, the male thread 12 is touched against the periphery of the round hole 21. A print circuit board 100 and a shield cover 200 are installed on an inner surface (which faces the interior of the microphone) side of the connector base 11 in order to protect the interior of the microphone (the interior of the microphone case) against the invasion by electromagnetic waves.
A shield layer of the print circuit board 100 electromagnetically shields the areas between three pins penetratingly installed in the connector base 11. On a top surface (part mounted surface) of the print circuit board 100: a capacitor element that prevents invasion by high-frequency wave; and a Zener diode element that protects the circuit from being electrostatically destroyed (both of which are not shown in the figure) are mounted in parallel. The surface on which these parts are mounted is covered with the shield cover 200, therefore, the microphone is protected against radiation by high frequency waves.
In the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-311752, the shield cover 200 is in contact with the microphone case to protect the connector base 11 against invasion by electromagnetic waves. However, at only one point of a side opposite to the position of the connector base 11 at which the male thread 12 is screwed in, an outer periphery of the connector base 11 and an inner periphery of the cylindrical connector housing 20 are in line contact via the shield cover 200. Thus, the shield cover 200 and the cylindrical connector housing 20 are not in stable contact. On the side at which the male thread 12 is screwed in the connector base 11, a part of the shield cover 200 may be pressed against the inner surface of the cylindrical connector housing 20 with a flange (a shoulder) of the male thread 12. The part of the shield cover 200 may be pressed against the inner surface of the cylindrical connector housing 20 with the flange (the shoulder) of the male thread 12. Unfortunately, in this case, the shield cover 200 may be partly turned up to make the contact between the shield cover 200 and the cylindrical connector housing 20 less stable. Therefore, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-311752, which can provide the shielding effect, requires improvement. Moreover, a slight movement of the connector portion as a result of repeated putting on and pulling out of the microphone cord makes the contact less stable. With the less stable contact therebetween, a high frequency wave may not be blocked.


A passenger air bag system for vehicles includes an air bag housing directly mounted to a cowl cross member, an inflator mounted in the cowl cross member for discharging gas to the air bag housing through diffuser holes formed at the outer circumference of the cowl cross member when a collision of the vehicle occurs, a connector fixed to the inflator at one end thereof for connecting the inflator and an external device, and a cushion accommodated in the air bag housing such that the cushion is expanded to the front of a passenger seated in a passenger seat by means of the gas discharged from the inflator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air bag system for vehicles, and more particularly to an improved passenger air bag system for vehicles wherein the structure of the passenger air bag system is simple, the size of the passenger air bag system is reduced, and the assembly operation of the passenger air bag system is easy and convenient.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an air bag system for vehicles is mounted in front of a driver seat or a passenger seat in such a manner that a cushion of the air bag system is instantly expanded when a collision of the vehicle occurs for protecting a driver or a passenger from injury.
The air bag systems may be classified into a driver air bag system and a passenger air bag system. The driver air bag system is mounted to the steering wheel of the vehicle for protecting the driver from injury. The passenger air bag system is mounted to an instrument panel of the vehicle disposed in front of the passenger seat for protecting the passenger from injury. Basically, the driver air bag system is requisite, and the passenger air bag system is optional; however, vehicles with passenger air bag systems basically mounted therein for protecting passengers from injury are on the increase in recent years.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional passenger air bag system, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the conventional passenger air bag system.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional passenger air bag system for vehicles comprises: an air bag housing 6 mounted to an instrument panel 2 and to a cowl cross member 4; an inflator 8 attached to the air bag housing 6 for discharging gas when a collision of the vehicle occurs; a connector 10 having one end connected to the inflator 8 for transmitting electric current and an operation signal from an external device to the inflator 8; a cushion 12 accommodated in the air bag housing 4 such that the cushion 8 is expanded to the front of a passenger seat by means of the gas discharged from the inflator 8; and a retainer 14 attached to the air bag housing 6 for supporting the cushion 12.
The air bag housing 6 comprises: a cushion housing 16 formed in the shape of a box with the front part opened so that the cushion 12 is accommodated in the cushion housing 16 while being folded; and a can housing 18 connected to the rear part of the cushion housing 16, in which the inflator 8 is disposed.
The cushion housing 16 is provided along both longitudinal sides at the front part thereof with flanges 16a, respectively, which are fixed to the rear part of the instrument panel 2 by means of bolts. At the instrument panel 2, to which the cushion housing 16 is attached, is formed a crush pad 2a having a cut line, by which the crush pad 2a is easily broken when the cushion 12 is expanded.
The crush pad 2a of the instrument panel 2 constructed as described above is smoothly broken by means of the cushion 12 expanded by the gas discharged from the inflator 8 when a collision of the vehicle occurs, whereby the cushion 12 is rapidly expanded toward a passenger seated in the passenger seat.
The can housing 18 is connected to the rear part of the cushion housing 16 in such a manner that the can housing 18 communicates with the cushion housing 16. The can housing 18 is attached to the cowl cross member 4 in the instrument panel 2 by means of a mounting bracket 20.
One end of the mounting bracket 20 is fixed to the side part of the can housing 18 by means of a bolt, and the other end of the mounting bracket 20 is fixed to a prescribed area of the outer circumference of the cowl cross member 4 by means of a bolt.
Consequently, the air bag housing 6 is disposed between the instrument panel 2 and the cowl cross member 4 in such a manner that the front part of the air bag housing 6 is fixed to the instrument panel 2, and the rear part of the air bag housing 6 is fixed to the cowl cross member 4.
The inflator 8 is formed in the shape of a cylinder. The inflator 8 is longitudinally disposed in the can housing 18, and both ends of the inflator 8 are fixed to the can housing 18. The inflator 8 is connected to an external device, such as an electronic control unit (not shown) and a power supply terminal (not shown) via the connector 10.
When a collision of the vehicle occurs, an operation signal is transmitted from the electronic control unit to the inflator 8. The inflator 8 is exploded by means of electric current supplied from the power supply terminal for generating gas having more than a prescribed pressure.
The cushion 12 is mounted in the can housing 18 together with the retainer 14 in such a manner that the inlet part of the cushion 12 communicates with a gas-guiding hole 14a formed at the center of the retainer 14.
In the conventional passenger air bag system for vehicles with the above-stated construction, the operation signal is transmitted from the electronic control unit to the inflator 8 via the connector 10 when a collision of the vehicle occurs, and then the inflator 8, to which electric current is supplied from the power supply terminal, is exploded to generate gas.
The gas generated by means of inflator 8 flows along the can housing 18 so that the gas is guided through the gas-guiding hole 14a of the retainer 14. The gas flowing through the gas-guiding hole 14a of the retainer 14 is introduced into the cushion 12 through the inlet part of the cushion 12.
The cushion 12 is expanded at prescribed pressure and speed by means of the gas introduced into the cushion 12. The crush pad 2a of the instrument panel 2 is broken by means of the cushion 12 expanded as described above. Subsequently, the cushion 12 is further expanded toward the passenger seated in the passenger seat.
Consequently, shock transmitted to the passenger when a collision of the vehicle occurs is effectively absorbed by means of the cushion 12 expanded as described above, and thus injury to the passenger is minimized.
In the conventional passenger air bag system for vehicles, however, the can housing 18 having the inflator 8 disposed therein is fixedly attached to the cowl cross member 4 by means of the mounting bracket 20. That is to say, the mounting bracket 20 is unavoidably used in the conventional passenger air bag system for vehicles. Consequently, the number of components of the passenger air bag system is increased, and the assembly operation of the passenger air bag system is very complicated.
Especially, the space between the instrument panel 2 and the cowl cross member 4 is very small and narrow. As a result, the size and the shape of the air bag housing 6 are excessively restricted. Furthermore, the conventional air bag system may interfere with other components of the vehicle when the air bag system is assembled or operated.


Semiconductor test devices and methods for fabricating the same may be provided. The semiconductor test device may include a first thermal test flip chip cell including a first heater and a first sensor, and a test substrate formed under the first thermal test flip chip cell. The first thermal test flip chip cell may include a plurality of first bumps arranged on a bottom surface of the first thermal test flip chip cell and be configured to be electrically connected to the first heater and the first sensor. The test substrate may include a first ball array arranged on a bottom surface of the test substrate in a first direction and be configured to be electrically connected to the plurality of first bumps, which are electrically connected to the first heater and the first sensor.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to semiconductor test devices and/or methods for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a semiconductor device becomes compact and highly integrated, improving the accuracy and reliability of the semiconductor device becomes an important research issue. Thus, various tests are being conducted on the semiconductor device. In particular, because the semiconductor device is sensitive to a temperature, research to figure out where and how heat is generated in the semiconductor device is being underway.
In order to measure temperature characteristics of a material used in a semiconductor chip, a thermal test die may be used. Temperatures of the semiconductor chip and resistances depending on the temperatures of the semiconductor chip may be measured using the thermal test die.

Semiconductor test device and method for fabricating the same


A mode coupler structure includes a discriminating structure that discriminates between various incoming modes from an input optical fiber structure. A waveguide structure is coupled to the discriminating structure that couples light not discriminated by the discriminating structure to an output optical fiber structure.

The invention relates to the field of mode couplers used in receivers, and in particular to mode discriminating for an optical receiver connected to dual mode/multimode fibers.
Most fiber links greater than 200–300 m use lasers with the wavelengths greater than 1200 nm and specifically at the wavelengths around 1310 nm, 1490 nm, 1510–1570 nm, and 1620 nm. On the other hand, fiber links less than 200 m are dominated by a wavelength around 850 nm. The standard fiber for use in the 1200–1600 nm range have core diameter of approximately 8 μm and many of these fibers become dual mode for 850 nm transmission.
Use of standard fibers (i.e., those that are designed to be single mode in the 1200–1600 nm window) with 850 nm wavelength would result in excitation of both the modes (with variable amplitudes depending on the launch conditions as well as factors such as the imperfections and bends in the fiber). These modes travel at different speeds and thus high speed transmission becomes difficult due to overlap of data pulses after traveling some distance in the fiber.
At the other extreme, multimode fibers are used with a typical core diameter of 50/62.5 micron that support 100's of modes. Each of these modes travel at different speeds and the resulting modal dispersion limits the bandwidth-distance product. Recently, many have used restricted mode launch, e.g., launch laser beam in the center of the fiber that significantly underfills the multimode fiber core to increase the effective bandwidth-distance product due to excitation of fewer modes.

Mode discriminating on-chip optical coupler for an optical receiver connected to dual mode/multimode fiber


A jack structure includes a cylinder, an air chamber piston rod disposed therein, an ejection piston rod disposed around the air chamber piston rod, a position-limiting component on top of the external cylinder, and a fastening component on top of the cylinder. The air chamber piston rod has a top with an air chamber piston, an internal portion with a first air chamber, and a sidewall with a gas passage in communication with the first air chamber. The ejection piston rod has an air chamber sealing cover, position-limiting portion, and ejection hydraulic piston. The air chamber sealing cover, ejection piston rod, air chamber piston rod, and air chamber piston together define a second air chamber communicating with the first air chamber. The ejection hydraulic piston, ejection piston rod, air chamber sealing cover, air chamber piston rod, and cylinder together define a hydraulic chamber communicating with the liquid passage.

After a user has lifted a heavy load with the ejection spindle of a conventional hydraulic jack, the ejection spindle takes much time descending to its initial position.
Furthermore, an oily liquid for use in the hydraulic pipeline inside the jack is susceptible to contamination, and thus the hydraulic pipeline inside the jack is prone to congestion which blocks the passage of the oily liquid, thereby rendering the jack inoperable.
Furthermore, if the hydraulic pipeline is clogged and the user keeps feeding the oily liquid into the jack, not only will the jack become inoperable, but the jack will also get damaged because of the difference in the cross-sectional area between a slave cylinder and a master cylinder of the jack.
Referring to FIG. 1, unlike the aforesaid conventional hydraulic jack, a conventional double-acting jack is characterized by an oil feeding hole 1 through which oil is fed to a primary oil chamber 2 in order to elevate an ejection spindle 3 of the double-acting jack. Referring to FIG. 2, oil is fed via a descent oil route 4 to a secondary oil chamber 5 disposed in the ejection spindle 3, so as to lower the ejection spindle 3. The conventional double-acting jack is advantageously characterized in that the ejection spindle 3 of the double-acting jack is capable of quick restoration to its initial position. However, the conventional double-acting jack has the following drawbacks: the primary oil chamber 2 has a much larger cross-sectional area than the secondary oil chamber 5 such that, due to the large difference in the resultant pressure between the primary and secondary oil chambers 2, 5, over-compression is likely to occur to thereby damage the double-acting jack whenever the hydraulic pipeline in the double-acting jack is clogged and the user keeps feeding oil to the primary oil chamber 2 or the secondary oil chamber 5.
Accordingly, it is imperative to provide a jack conducive to reduction in the likelihood of pipeline congestion and over-compression and conducive to quick restoration to its initial condition.


The present invention provides a prism-integrated light-diffusing plate, characterized in that a prismatic portion formed of a plurality of prism-shaped protrusions is provided on at least one surface of a light-diffusing sheet which is formed of a transparent resin material containing a light-diffusing agent and which has a thickness of 0.5 to 3 mm and a total light transmittance of 60 to 95%. The prism-integrated light-diffusing plate serves as both a prism sheet and a light-diffusing plate, diffuses light uniformly, and increases the brightness of an illumination cover or a liquid crystal display backlight for a large screen.

In a conventional large-screen liquid crystal display, a light-diffusing plate is provided so as to eliminate the lamp image of a light source (e.g., a fluorescent tube) of a backlight unit.
The light-diffusing plate is required to have such properties as to diffuse light transmitted therethrough over a wide angular range with respect to a direction perpendicular to the plate.
In order to illuminate the entire surface of a liquid crystal unit with the thus-transmitted light at high brightness, generally, at least one prism sheet is provided between the liquid crystal unit and the light-diffusing plate, which serves as a support of the prism sheet.
The prism sheet is provided for convergence or diffusion of light within an angular range effective for increasing brightness.
However, in some cases, during the course of assembly of the backlight unit of the liquid crystal display, two prism sheets must be provided in combination with an additional functional film (e.g., light-diffusing film or retardation film), thereby requiring a prolonged and intricate process and resulting in an increase in production cost attributed to the prism sheets.
In view of the foregoing, for the purpose of elimination of such a prism sheet, demand has arisen for a prism-integrated light-diffusing plate which serves as both a functional film and a light-diffusing plate (thick plate having a thickness of 0.5 to 3 mmt).
There has been proposed a light-diffusing prism sheet produced by forming microprotrusions having a serrate cross section on at least one surface of a light-diffusing sheet containing a transparent resin (100 parts by mass) and cross-linked acrylic resin beads having a mean particle size of 1 to 20 μm (0.5 to 10 parts by mass) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Although this technique is proposed for the purpose of provision of a light-diffusing prism sheet serving as both a light-diffusing film and a prism sheet, the technique is not applied to a thick light-diffusing plate which is employed particularly in a large-screen liquid crystal TV (17 inches or more) and which serves as both a light-diffusing layer and a supporting layer.
As has been known, even when a prism pattern is transferred onto a conventional light-diffusing plate which is employed in a direct-type backlight, the thus-formed prismatic portion fails to exhibit light converging effect, due to high light diffusivity of the plate.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 9-304606

Prism-integrated light-diffusing plate and method of manufacture