A method for minimizing ECC bits in variable sized data formats is provided that comprises determining the number of ECC bits needed for each of a plurality of data formats and creating a common data representation for using a single implementation of error detection and correction logic for all of the plurality of data formats. The method then chooses an ECC matrix and default values for unused data bits in the common data representation such that any ECC bits beyond the minimum required for that sized data format will have known values thereby allowing smaller data formats to go through the error detection and correction logic using the common data representation. The method then retrieves a data entry having one of the plurality of data formats and formats the data entry into the common data representation. The method then populates unused bits in the common data representation with default values that are chosen to provide known values for any ECC bits that are only needed for larger data formats thereby minimizing the number of ECC bits stored in each of the plurality of data formats. Errors are detected and corrected in the common data representation.

This invention relates in general to the field of data error detection and correction and more particularly to an improved system and method for minimizing error correction code bits in variable sized data formats.
In digital electronic systems, information is represented in binary format (1""s and 0""s). One type of digital electronic system is a computer system. When binary information is passed from one point to another in a computer system, errors may occur. For example, a 1 bit may be interpreted as a 0 bit or a 0 bit may be interpreted as a 1 bit. These errors may be caused by media defects, electronic noise, component failures, poor connections, deterioration due to age, and other factors. When a bit is mistakenly interpreted from a bit source such as internal memory or a storage device, a bit error has occurred. Error detection and correction is the process of detecting bit errors and correcting them. Error detection and correction may be done in software or hardware. One type of error detection and correction system uses error correcting codes (ECC) stored with data to verify the integrity of that data as it is transferred within a computer system. An example of an ECC system is a standard single error correcting, double error detecting (SEC-DED) system. The number of ECC bits stored with the data depends upon the number of bits of data. For example, using SEC-DED, twenty-six bits of data requires six ECC bits and fifty-seven bits of data requires seven ECC bits.
Multiprocessor computers include several processors with each processor having an associated memory. In certain multiprocessor architectures, such as cache-coherent non-uniform memory access (ccNUMA) architectures, processors may access and use any memory within the multiprocessor computer. In directory based multiprocessor computers, a memory directory entry shows the state of every cache line in memory. Multiprocessor computers include several processors capable of operating in parallel. Scalable multiprocessor computers may be sized with a variable number of processors to meet a particular need. In order to minimize the amount of storage required to store directory entries in scalable multiprocessor computers, variable sized memory directory formats may be used where the memory directory size depends upon the number of processors in the multiprocessor computer. Since multiple memory directory formats and sizes may be used, a different number of ECC bits may be needed by each memory directory format. Since it is inefficient and wasteful to implement separate ECC logic for each memory directory format, it is desirable to implement an ECC logic scheme where each memory directory format uses the minimum number of bits for ECC error detection and correction while at the same time using the same ECC logic.
From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that a need has arisen for a system and method for minimizing error correction code bits in variable sized data formats that minimizes the number of ECC bits and uses the same ECC logic for multiple data formats. In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for minimizing error correction code bits in variable sized data formats are provided that substantially eliminate and reduce disadvantages and problems associated with providing error correction code logic for variable sized data formats.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for minimizing ECC bits in variable sized data formats is provided that comprises determining the number of ECC bits needed for each of a plurality of data formats. The method then creates a common data representation for using a single implementation of error detection and correction logic for all of the plurality of data formats. The common data representation is equal in size to the largest data format in the plurality of data formats and, thus, requires the same number of ECC bits as the largest data format. The method then chooses an ECC matrix and default values for unused data bits in the common data representation such that for smaller data formats, any ECC bits beyond the minimum required for that sized data format will have known values thereby allowing smaller data formats to go through the error detection and correction logic using the common data representation. The method then retrieves a data entry from memory where the data entry has one of the plurality of data formats. The method then formats the data entry into the common data representation. The method then populates unused bits in the common data representation with chosen default values. The chosen default values are chosen to provide known values for any ECC bits that are only needed for larger data formats thereby minimizing the number of ECC bits stored in each of the plurality of data formats. The method then generates a syndrome for the common data representation using the ECC matrix. The method then detects errors in the common data representation in response to the syndrome including any number of xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d bits. The method then corrects errors in the common data representation using the syndrome and the ECC matrix. The method then reformats the common data representation into a format of the retrieved data entry.
The present invention provides various technical advantages over conventional systems and methods for minimizing ECC bits in variable sized data formats. For example, one technical advantage is minimizing the number of ECC bits for each of multiple data formats. Another technical advantage is reusing error detection and correction logic as well as ECC bit generation logic for the multiple data formats. Other technical advantages may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, description, and claims.

System and method for minimizing error correction code bits in variable sized data formats


A sediment removal system and method provides a versatile and controllable device for removing sediment from water in a focused manner that avoids generating unwanted turbidity. A suction pump draws water and sediment through a suction conduit and the injection of air into the suction conduit by air nozzles enables sediment to be removed from greater depths. The inclusion of water nozzles on an inlet opening enables hardened sediment to be dislodged such that it may be drawn into the suction conduit. A GPS receiver mounted to the suction conduit enables the location of the removal process to be tracked and a knife valve prevents backflow out of the suction conduit. The capturing of solid sediment by retention containers and the capturing of water containing suspended sediment by a tank enables the sediment and water to be transported to an appropriate location for treatment or disposal.

The present invention relates to the removal of sediment from bodies of water, and in particular to a sediment removal method and system that removes sediment from significant depths while limiting or avoiding turbidity.
Methods of removing sediment from bodies of water exist, however, such known methods of removal often include undesirable side effects. For example the equipment and process of dredging generates significant turbidity in that the sediment is openly disturbed from its settled condition. Such disruption to the sediment bed causes portions of the sediment to become suspended in the water. This is undesirable, particularly when the sediment is contaminated, as the level of contamination in the water is increased. Furthermore, dredging processes, such as cutter head dredging, are inefficient in that a much greater percentage of water is removed as compared to sediment. Cutter head dredging is also an unfocused or less controlled process in that the equipment is not easily maneuvered and, therefore, also susceptible to damage from submerged objects.
Therefore an apparatus is needed that enables controlled removal of sediment while avoiding turbidity.

Method for removing sediment from open waterways


A method for synchronizing devices in a vehicle may make use of the Controller Area Network (CAN) communication bus. A bus interface of each of two or more devices coupled to the bus may be configured to accept a same message broadcast via the communication bus, in which the message has a specific message identification (ID) header. A message may be received from the communication bus that has the specific message ID simultaneously by each of the two or more devices. Operation of the two or more devices may be synchronized by triggering a task on each of the two or more devices in response to receiving the message having the specific message ID.

A new class of safety systems, referred to as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), has been introduced into automobiles to reduce human operation error. The proliferation of such assistance systems, which may provide functionality such as rear-view facing cameras, electronic stability control, and vision-based pedestrian detection systems, has been enabled in part by improvements in microcontroller and sensor technologies. These systems may be enabled by smart sensors based on millimeter-wave automotive radars. Enhanced embedded radar-based solutions are enabling complementary safety features for ADAS designers. See, for example, "Making Cars Safer Through Technology Innovation," October 2013.
In an automotive radar system, one or more radar sensors may be used to detect obstacles around the vehicle and the speeds of the detected objects relative to the vehicle. A processing unit in the radar system may determine the appropriate action needed, e.g., to avoid a collision or to reduce collateral damage, based on signals generated by the radar sensors. Current automotive radar systems are capable of detecting objects and obstacles around a vehicle, the position of any detected objects and obstacles relative to the vehicle, and the speed of any detected objects and obstacles relative to the vehicle. Via the processing unit, the radar system may, for example, alert the vehicle driver about potential danger, prevent a collision by controlling the vehicle in a dangerous situation, take over partial control of the vehicle, or assist the driver with parking the vehicle.
Currently, an integrated circuit (IC) containing a radar transceiver may be placed at each location in a vehicle where a radar signal is needed. For example, three ICs may be located on the front of a vehicle (middle and both corners) to provide forward looking coverage. Additional ICs may be deployed on the sides and rear of the vehicle.
The Controller Area Network (CAN) is an International Standardization Organization (ISO) defined serial communications bus originally developed for the automotive industry to replace the complex wiring harness with a two-wire bus. As an alternative to conventional multi-wire looms, CAN Bus allows various electronic components such as electronic control units, microcontrollers, devices, sensors, actuators and other electronic components throughout the vehicle to communicate on a single or dual-wire network data bus at data rates up to 1 Mb/s.
Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

Synchronizing vehicle devices over a controller area network


An overcurrent protection circuit and a server using the same are provided. The overcurrent protection circuit coupled between a power supply module and a load on a mainboard including a detecting component, a detection unit, a comparing unit, and a power switch. The detecting component is coupled between the power supply module and the detection unit. The detection unit detects a detecting voltage generated by the detecting component responsive to a supplying current. The comparing unit generates a control voltage according to the detecting voltage and a reference voltage. The power switch is coupled between the detecting component and the load and is controlled by the control voltage. When the comparing unit determines that the detecting voltage is greater than the reference voltage, the comparing unit cuts off the power switch to disconnect a power supply path between the power supply module and the load.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a protection circuit, in particular, to an overcurrent protection circuit and a server using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
As technology advances, computer systems such as servers and disk storage systems with high computational resource, relative large storage space, and ability to simultaneously communicate with multiple computer devices through the Internet, have become essential equipment in modern network communication architecture.
In order to satisfy the computer system maintenance and upgrade requirements, a computer system in general has to support hot plugging operations under normal system operation. However, frequent hot plugging operations may generate large input current cause system components to be malfunctioned or even permanently damage system components (e.g., hard disk or central processing unit) or peripheral devices of the computer system. Accordingly, the server and the disk storage system or the peripheral devices may be malfunctioned or even result in data loss due to breakdown of system components, thereby decrease the performance of the server or the disk storage system.

Overcurrent protection circuit and server using the same


A method for producing a sucrose fatty acid ester, which comprises subjecting sucrose and a lower alkyl ester of fatty acid to an ester exchange reaction in an organic solvent in the presence of an alkali catalyst to produce the corresponding sucrose fatty acid ester, wherein from 5 to 35 wt %, based on the starting material sucrose, of an alkali metal salt of a hydroxycarboxylic acid of the following formula (1) is present in the reaction system: ##STR1## wherein R is a lower alkyl group or a carboxyl group, X is a hydrogen atom or a carboxyl group, each of 1 and n is 0 or 1, and m is 1 or 2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a sucrose fatty acid ester (hereinafter referred to simply as SE).
2. Discussion of Background
SE is widely used as a highly safe nonionic surfactant having both an excellent surface activating ability and a good biodegradation property for food products as well as for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, cleaning agents and feed stuff.
As a method for producing SE, a method is known which comprises subjecting sucrose and a lower alkyl ester of fatty acid to an ester exchange reaction in an organic solvent such as N,N-dimethylformamide or dimethylsulfoxide in the presence of an alkali catalyst (JP-B-35-13102). The obtained reaction mixture contains the solvent, unreacted sucrose and the alkali catalyst, in addition to SE. To separate SE from this mixture, it is common to employ a method wherein upon deactivating the catalyst by an addition of an acid, the solvent is partially recovered, then by liquid-liquid extraction treatment with an organic solvent and water, SE is distributed to the organic solvent phase, and the unreacted sucrose and the rest of the solvent are distributed to the aqueous phase, and from the obtained organic solvent phase, the organic solvent is distilled off to separate and purify SE (for example, JP-B-48-21927, JP-B-48-35049, JP-A-50-29417, JP-A-50-130712). On the other hand, the unreacted sucrose and the reaction solvent recovered in the aqueous phase will be reused for the next reaction after removing water by distillation.
SE obtained by the above method usually contains a few % in total of a free fatty acid and an alkali metal salt of fatty acid (hereinafter referred to simply as a soap). These components have frequently given various influences over the physical properties or the function of SE, although their upper limits are stipulated in the regulations for food additives. For example, the free fatty acid remarkably lowers the water solubility of SE, and when SE has been used for oil-in-water type emulsification or dispersion solubilization, variation in the acid value has been a serious problem for the quality control.

Method for producing a sucrose fatty acid ester


A computer implemented method of controlling the decoding of codewords received by a linear block code pipelined decoder from an input buffer, the pipelined decoder comprising at least two decoding stages. The method comprises iteratively: loading the decoding stages of the pipelined decoder, executing a decoding step, determining the number of residual errors in the codewords and outputting error free codewords. The method allows the different decoding stages to be loaded with any codeword coming from the buffer or from any decoding stage of the decoder. Accordingly, the occupation rate of the pipeline is improved.

The present invention concerns a method and a device of controlling the decoding received codewords in a linear block code as LDPC (Low Density Parity Check Code) decoder. The invention concerns codes that can be defined by a parity check matrix creating a direct relationship between the payload data and the redundancy necessary to protect this payload. LDPC codes and LDGM (Low Density Generator Matrix) codes are concerned, for example. Turbo codes issued from convolutional encodes are not concerned as the relationship that governs the redundancy depends on the state of the encoder and not directly on the data payload.
The process of decoding according to LDPC codes and the like is based on the decoding of a binary word, called a codeword, which length depends on the size of the matrix corresponding to the code. This codeword is the output of the demodulator and constitutes an estimate of the emitted word of information. This codeword is processed by a decoder to get a decoded word. The decoding is an iterative process. The number of iteration to achieve the proper decoding of the codeword depends on the number of errors, meaning inaccurate bit, in the estimated codeword. In presence of a good, without noise, transmission channel, we got a codeword exhibiting few or none errors, a single iteration of decoding could be enough to get the right decoded codeword. Some codeword comprising many errors could never be decoded whatever the number of iteration applied.
When decoding a stream of data over the transmission channel, in order to achieve real time decoding, it is important to get a decoding time for a codeword faster than the receiving time of this codeword. This is why pipelined architectures have been developed to implement series of decoding stage. A codeword enters the pipeline and could do any number of decoding stage to achieve the decoding of the word. This way, several codewords could be decoded in parallel. When a codeword decoding occurs in the middle of the pipeline, the last stages of pipeline could be unused.
Another technique is also used to improve the average decoding time. Given that the decoding time for a code word could vary depending on the number of errors to be corrected, buffering is used at the input of the decoder to spread over time the decoding of codewords. Assuming that codewords with a long decoding time and codewords with a fast decoding time are spread relatively evenly the use of an input buffer allows compensating the variations. Actual decoding shows that this is not always the case. It is also needed of course that the average decoding speed be faster than the receiving speed. When the buffer comes to overflow, either the last received word or the word being decoded is discarded.

Method and apparatus for controlling the decoding of codewords received by a linear block code pipelined decoder from an input buffer


Embodiments of the invention enhance the starting performance of an engine from an automatic stoppage state, in a vehicle with an automatic engine stopping and starting system mounted thereon. In an embodiment, an engine start judging unit detects the presence or absence of a vehicle starting operation on the basis of the status of a throttle switch in an automatic stoppage state of an engine, and, when the seating of the driver is confirmed based on the status of a seat switch, the engine is started. A basic injection amount calculating unit calculates a basic fuel injection amount Ti on the basis of engine parameters such as the engine cooling water temperature TW and the engine speed Ne. An injection amount increasing unit performs a control to increase the fuel injection amount at the time of starting the engine from the automatic stoppage state of the engine, based on the throttle opening detected by a throttle sensor.

As a technology for enhancing the starting performance of an engine, a technology for reducing the fuel injection amount at an engine starting time as compared to that at the normal time is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 64-56931. This technology is in view of the fact that the engine is often in a low-temperature state at the time of starting the engine and that, if the fuel in an amount comparable to that in the normal operation is injected notwithstanding the reduction in the amount of petroleum evaporated, the petroleum in liquid state would be deposited on a spark plug, leading to misfire.
On the other hand, a vehicle with an automatic engine stopping and starting system mounted thereon for stopping the engine in response to a predetermined vehicle stopping condition and, after the automatic stoppage, restarting the engine in response to a predetermined vehicle starting operation is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2002-115578. In such a vehicle, when a throttle grip is operated to open after automatic stoppage of the engine, this operation is recognized as a vehicle starting operation and the engine is restarted.
In a system in which the engine is started in response to the operation of opening the throttle grip, if the fuel injection amount at the engine starting time is reduced as compared with that in the normal operation in the case where the throttle opening is enlarged by the driver at a vehicle starting time after automatic stoppage of the engine, the fuel amount may become comparatively insufficient and the fuel-air mixture may become lean, possibly resulting in a lowering in the starting performance of the engine.
A need exists for fuel injection control systems in which the starting performance of an engine from an automatic stoppage state of the engine is enhanced, in a vehicle with an automatic engine stopping and starting system mounted thereon.


A device for carrying fluids for a medical treatment device with two balancing chambers, each having two partial chambers. The filling times of the partial chambers are initially determined using a monitoring device, and then the filling times of the first partial chambers of the first and second balancing chambers, are compared to the filling times of the second partial chambers of the first and second balancing chambers, respectively, to detect leakage or an incomplete filling or discharging of the respective partial chambers.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for carrying fluids for a medical treatment device with two balancing chambers of equal volume which are each separated into a first and a second partial chamber by means of a flexible separating wall. Each of the first partial chambers has at least one first supply line and at least one first discharge line, and each of the second partial chambers has at least a second supply line and at least a second discharge line, as well as an analysis device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to remove substances usually eliminated with urine, and for the removal of fluids, several different processes are used with acute and chronic kidney failure for the surgical purification of blood, or treatment of blood, respectively. In hemodialysis (HD), diffuse translocation prevails, while convective translocation via a membrane is available in the case of hemofiltration (HF). A combination of both processes results in hemodiafiltration (HDF). In peritoneal dialysis (PD) peritoneum is utilized as the contact membrane.
Due to the large exchange quantities, the necessity of an exact balancing process of the fluids removed from the patient and the fluids recirculated to the patient during the entire treatment period exists with the said process.
A hemodiafiltration device with volumetric balancing is known, for instance, from DE 26 34 238 A1. The balancing device of the known hemodiafiltration device has a volume-rigid hollow body, which is separated into two chambers by means of a flexible separating wall. Each chamber has an input and outlet, on which supply and discharge lines for fresh or used dialyzing fluids are arranged, whereby a shut-off valve is switched in each line. Furthermore, pumps are provided for carrying the fresh and used dialyzing fluid, as well as a control unit, which allow the alternating filling of the two chambers. A pressure gauge device is each arranged in the input line of the first and second chambers, which monitors the pressure in the line. Once a chamber is filled, a pressure increase occurs, which switches the respective pump off.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,425 A describes a device for the detection of the position of the flexible separating wall of a balancing device with an optical detector, which is arranged on the exterior of the balancing chamber. The known device is of disadvantage insofar as the housing of the balancing chamber must consist of a transparent material.
A device for carrying fluids for a medical treatment device is known from DE 197 28 800 C1, in which pressure impulses are received per time units in a balancing chamber. In this way, the frequency of balancing chamber strokes can be determined per time unit. This represents the monitoring process of the complete filling and draining of the balancing chamber.
A balancing chamber system is also known from DE 28 38 414 C2, according to which any leak possibly occurring in the membrane-like separating wall of the respective carrying chamber, or the balancing chamber, respectively, can be detected by means of a conductivity monitoring system. Such a leak is undesired, as it leads to the mixing of fresh and used dialyzing fluids, which particularly results in a change in treatment effectiveness.
Additionally, the filling condition of the balancing chamber is difficult to detect, because the pressure increase at the end of the circulation cycle is not very distinct. The leak detection by means of a conductivity monitoring system, however, is not capable of functioning precisely, because the conductivity of the mixed fluids hardly differs from each other. Particularly small leaks can practically not be detected at all.

Device for carrying fluids for a medical treatment device


The present invention provides a display panel and driving method thereof, and display device. The display panel includes an array substrate and a color filter substrate, disposed oppositely; the array substrate comprising a plurality of scan lines, disposed at intervals; a plurality of data line, disposed at intervals, and crossing over and isolated from the scan lines; and a plurality of pixel units, arranged in a matrix form, and driven by the scan lines and data lines; each of the pixel units further divided into at least two active areas; the color filter substrate includes at least two common electrodes, disposed correspondingly to the active areas, the at least two common electrodes applying common voltages independently. The present invention can eliminate the non-uniform luminance problem in display images and improve the display quality.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of liquid crystal displaying techniques, and in particular to a display panel and driving method thereof, and display device.
2. The Related Arts
In known technologies, the thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) mainly comprises a scan driver, a data driver and a display panel. The scan driver transmits a scan driving voltage through scan lines to the pixel units of the display panel, and the data driver transmits a data driving voltage through data lines to the pixel units of the display panel. As such, the pixel units charge and generate electrical field under the control of the scan driver and the data driver so as to use the change of the electrical field imposed on the liquid crystal molecules to change the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules. The display panel can display images through the controlling of the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules.
However, in known liquid crystal display device of the current technique, because the scan driving voltage attenuates due to the impedance of the transmission path to the pixel units of the display panel, a voltage difference exists among the scan driving voltages arriving at different pixel units, which leads to the occurrence of boundary lines among each active areas of the display panel. In other words, a non-uniform luminance of the display images affects the display quality.
Thus, it is desired to have a display panel and driving method thereof, and display device that overcomes the above problems.

Display device, display panel and driving method thereof which include applying different common voltages

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transaction processing method, apparatus, device and system for a multi-chain system. The multi-chain system includes a mainchain and at least one slave-chain, a multi-chain network of the multi-chain system includes a plurality of nodes, and each node is deployed with one or more of the mainchain and the slave-chains. The method is executed by a slave-chain node deployed with the slave-chain. The method includes: generating slave-chain blocks based on a slave-chain consensus mechanism, and storing the slave-chain blocks on the slave-chain; and in response to determining that a confirmation condition of the mainchain is met, transmitting a slave-chain block to be confirmed on the slave-chain to nodes of the mainchain, to request consensus nodes of the mainchain to confirm the slave-chain block to be confirmed, and storing confirmation information of the slave-chain block to be confirmed on the mainchain.

Currently, many popular blockchain systems adopt multi-chain architecture, such as fabric and super chain. In the multi-chain architecture, which is a blockchain network consisting of multiple nodes, at least some nodes are deployed with programs and data of a plurality of blockchains, and thus operation of the plurality of blockchains is supported. The plurality of blockchains may be parallel chains, or may include one mainchain and a plurality of slave-chains.

Transaction processing method, apparatus, device and system for multi-chain system

BAIDU INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.


A method for composing and executing a plurality of hyperlink pipelines within a web browser, wherein the method comprises moving a first source hyperlink that corresponds to a first resource to a destination hyperlink that corresponds to a second resource, merging the first source hyperlink with the destination hyperlink to create a first hyperlink pipeline, moving a second source hyperlink that corresponds to a third resource to the first hyperlink pipeline, merging the second source hyperlink with the first hyperlink pipeline to create a second hyperlink pipeline, and executing the second hyperlink pipeline such that the second resource is invoked before the first resource and the third resource, and the first resource is invoked before the third resource.

Modern web browsers are a computing platform on which web applications of various kinds, such as Email, search, and WebRTC, from different web sites can be executed at the same time. However, today's web browsers limit the ability of web users, web developers, and/or web sites to customize the resources. For example, today's web browsers are generally limited to customizing resources based on user profiles and context information. Today's web browsers are unable to combine resources from different web sites for a web user. As a result, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) are in the process of standardizing relevant APIs and protocols in order to improve the WebRTC experience for web users, web developers, and web sites.
A variety of solutions exist in improving the customization options for resources. One solution involves the implementation of web mash-up tools. Web mash-up tools provide web users, web developers, and web sites an increase in the degree of customization through the use of dynamic and function compositions. Unfortunately, web mash-up tools are often very complex and difficult to implement using the current web infrastructure. In some instances, an overhaul of the existing framework of web sites and web browsers are needed to utilize the web mash-up tool. For instance, many of the web mash-up tools (e.g. YAHOO PIPES) may use dedicated composition servers for users to specify data workflows. Moreover, the web mash-up tools may use new web applications that include new function modules to implement a variety of functions that include fetching data from different sites, and transforming, filtering, and combining the data into a new web page. Therefore, web mash-up tools excessively modify the current web infrastructure in order to provide customization features for resources within a web browser.
An alternative to the web mash-up tools is the use of Web Intents currently being standardized by the W3C. Web Intents adapt the concept of intent and activity design patterns from the ANDROID operating system (OS) to web browsers. Web browsers adapted with Web Intents may be able to handle an action on the user's behalf by finding appropriate resources based on the user's preference. Although Web Intents may be relatively straight forward to implement into current web-browsers, Web Intent may not support a variety of customization options. For example, web browsers adapted with Web Intents are unable to customize the resource selections once a web page is loaded into the web browser. Additionally, users are unable to create and customize different intent compositions. Hence, to improve the WebRTC experience, a less complex but a more powerful solution is needed to customize a variety of resources within a web browser.

Mechanisms to compose, execute, save, and retrieve hyperlink pipelines in web browsers


An information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and an information medium control motion of a moving body according to position information corresponding to a predetermined array pattern. An information processing apparatus includes an information acquisition unit acquires position information from a sensor configured to read a predetermined array pattern, and a motion control unit controls motion of a first moving body including movement in a real space based on the position information.

In the past, various plays, games, and the like using objects have been proposed. For example, a toy that allows assembling a three-dimensional object by using a plurality of blocks or components has been proposed.
For example, a technique is described in PTL 1, in which an image of a real object positioned on a play field is detected or tracked based on a result of imaging the play field.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information medium


The present invention relates to an elevator door controller system for operating doors of an elevator car. The system includes a travelling cable for delivering DC power to the car. The car includes a power storage device for storing DC power from the travelling cable, a DC motor for operating the car doors, and an elevator door drive powered by the power storage device for driving the DC motor to operate the car doors.

The present invention generally relates to elevator systems, and more particularly to elevator door controller systems within elevator systems.
Typical elevator systems include an elevator car attached to a counterweight by roping. A hoist motor and a brake act together to move the elevator car and counterweight up and down an elevator shaft, transporting passengers or cargo from one floor to another. An elevator drive and controller provide power to and control operation of the elevator system.
Door controller systems of elevators are used to open and close elevator doors to allow passengers or cargo on and off the elevator car. Powering a door controller system typically includes a controller to supply the power, a travelling cable connecting the controller and the car to deliver power to the car, a car operating panel to operate car fixtures, and a door drive system to operate car doors.
The car operating panel serves to operate fixtures in the car, such as indicator lights. The panel is powered by a DC power supply from a DC power supply unit in the controller. Power is delivered to the car operating panel through DC power lines in the travelling cable.
The door drive system typically includes a transformer, a door motor drive and a DC motor. The door drive system is powered by an AC power line through the travelling cable. The AC power connects to the transformer, which converts the power to DC power to supply to the door motor drive, which powers the DC motor to operate elevator car doors.
Additionally, the controller contains a rescue supply unit to provide backup power to the system in case of a power outage. This enables elevator car doors to open and let passengers out even if the main power supply is not available.

System for providing DC power to elevator car


A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is set into an operative state in a first mode and into a non-operative state in a second mode, and the transfer characteristic thereof depends on an externally attached impedance circuit. The second circuit is set into an operative state in the second mode and into a non-operative state in the first mode. A resistor is externally connected to the second circuit. A third circuit for keeping a voltage applied across the resistor constant and deriving a current flowing in the resistor in the first mode irrespective of the presence or absence and the magnitude of a voltage applied to one end of the resistor is provided in the first circuit. The resistor is commonly used by the first circuit and the second circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and more particularly to a semiconductor integrated circuit containing a circuit having an impedance circuit externally attached thereto, for example, an amplifier circuit having a load resistor provided outside a chip or a time constant circuit having a capacitor provided outside a chip.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a block construction of an integrated circuit containing an amplifier circuit AMP having a load resistor R.sub.L externally attached thereto. A portion surrounded by broken lines is an internal portion of the integrated circuit 10, and in the integrated circuit 10, a current source circuit CS for creating an operation current of the amplifier circuit AMP and a reference resistor Rref for determining the value of the current created by the current source circuit CS are provided.
In most cases, the gain G.sub.V of the amplifier circuit AMP varies in proportion to the product of the current generated by the circuit CS and the resistance of the load resistor R.sub.L, although the variation in the gain may also depend on the circuit construction. Since the current created by the current source circuit CS varies in inverse proportion to the resistance of the reference resistor Rref, the gain G.sub.V varies in proportion to the resistance of the load resistor R.sub.L and varies in inverse proportion to the resistance of the reference resistor Rref. This relation can be expressed by the following equation: EQU G.sub.V =K.multidot.(R.sub.L .multidot.Rref) (1)
where K is a constant.
In a case where the amplifier circuit AMP is a feedback amplifier circuit, the gain G.sub.V does not vary in proportion to the resistance of the load resistor R.sub.L, but the above equation (1) can be applied by taking an open loop gain into consideration.
Based on the above fact, it can be said that the gain G.sub.V varies in proportion to the resistance of a resistor provided outside the integrated circuit (chip) 10 and varies in inverse proportion to the resistance of a resistor provided inside the integrated circuit 10.
When variations in the resistances of the respective resistors are taken into consideration, the degrees of variations in the resistances of the load resistor R.sub.L and reference resistor Rref, and particularly, the degree of variation in the resistance of the reference resistor Rref in the integrated circuit 10 is larger than that in the resistance of the externally connected load resistor R.sub.L. Typically, the degree of variation in the resistance of the load resistor R.sub.L is .+-.5% and the degree of variation in the resistance of the reference resistor Rref is .+-.20%. These values can be reduced to less than 1% by using a high-precision resistor for the load resistor R.sub.L and by using a manufacturing method such as laser trimming for forming the reference resistor Rref. However, in this case, the cost will become extremely high.
Further, when the temperature characteristics of the respective resistors are taken into consideration, the temperature coefficients of the load resistor R.sub.L and the reference resistor Rref are different from each other and therefore the gain G.sub.V will be changed with a temperature variation. The load resistors R.sub.L of various temperature coefficients are available, but when it is required to use a load resistor R.sub.L of specified temperature coefficient, it may be different from a standard resistor and the cost thereof will become high. Further, since the temperature coefficient of the reference resistor Rref is determined by the manufacturing process of the circuit, it is practically impossible to change the temperature coefficient of the reference resistor Rref.
That is, with the circuit construction shown in FIG. 1, variation in the gain G.sub.V of the amplifier circuit AMP is large and the gain G.sub.V is also influenced by temperature variation so that it cannot be used in practice.
The circuit construction for solving the above problem is shown in FIG. 2. The difference between the constructions of FIGS. 1 and 2 lies in that the reference resistor Rref is provided outside the integrated circuit (chip) 10. With this construction, the problem of the circuit construction shown in FIG. 1 can be solved, but since the reference resistor Rref is externally connected, the number of external pins of the integrated circuit 10 must be increased by 2 in comparison with the case of FIG. 1. Even if one of the external pins which are connected to the reference resistor Rref is commonly used with a ground pin or the like, one pin must be additionally provided. Further, since the reference resistor Rref is externally connected, the number of externally attached parts is increased.

Semiconductor integrated circuit containing a circuit having an impedance circuit externally attached thereto


A transistor and a capacitor is used to provide, in one form, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cell (10). The capacitor of cell (10) lies within a substrate (12). The capacitor has a first capacitor electrode (16) and a second capacitor electrode (20). A dielectric layer (18) is formed as an inter-electrode capacitor dielectric. A first transistor current electrode (36) is formed overlying and electrically connected to the first capacitor electrode (16). A channel region (38) is formed overlying the first transistor current electrode (36). A second transistor current electrode (40) is formed overlying the channel region (38). A conductive layer (30) is formed laterally adjacent the channel region (38) and isolated from the substrate (12) by dielectric layers (22 and 28). A conductive layer (30) functions as a gate electrode for the transistor and a sidewall dielectric (34) functions as a gate dielectric. The combination of a cylindrical dual-sidewall surface area capacitor for a large capacitance, along with a vertical transistor physically overlying the capacitor, forms a very dense and efficient DRAM structure.

For decades, capacitors have been an important and irreplaceable circuit element used often in semiconductor circuit designs. For example, capacitors are widely used in applications such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), active and passive filters, analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) converters, operational amplifiers, radio and tuning circuits, oscillators and multivibrator circuits, time critical and time delay circuitry, noise reduction circuitry, charge pumps, power electronics, and many other diverse applications. A capacitor is defined in the simplest terms as a device consisting of two conducting surfaces separated by an insulating material. A capacitor stores electrical energy or charge, blocks the flow of direct current (DC), and permits the flow of alternating current (AC) depending essentially upon the capacitance of the device and the frequency of the incoming current or charge.
Capacitance, measured in farads, is determined by three physical characteristics: (1) a thickness or average thickness of the insulating material separating the two conducting surfaces; (2) how much surface area is covered by the two conducting surfaces; and (3) various mechanical and electrical properties of the insulating material and the two conducting surfaces. Achieving a high capacitance value while reducing substrate surface area is necessary for future generations of integrated circuits.
In the early development and marketing of the above mentioned technologies, parallel plate or parallel electrode capacitors were used as a capacitance structure. The parallel electrode capacitor is a capacitor which has a planar top conducting surface and a planar bottom conducting surface separated by a planar dielectric or insulator. Because the parallel electrode capacitor is completely planar, large surface areas of substrate material or substrate-overlying layers of material are consumed to achieve capacitance values in a useful nanofarad or picofarad range.
DRAM memory cells are electronic circuits that are used to store a bit of binary information. DRAM memory cell substrate area reduction is very critical in order to achieve device densities that allow for a DRAM integrated circuit with a large amount of memory cells. To achieve DRAM memory circuits with a million bits of storage or more, the industry developed a trench capacitor. The trench capacitor is formed by first etching a deep well, trench, or hole in a substrate surface or a surface overlying the substrate surface. A sidewall surface of the trench or hole is used to form a first electrode. The first electrode is covered by a dielectric material, and a second electrode is formed overlying the dielectric material. The second electrode usually completely fills the trench. Due to the fact that the sidewalls of the trench or hole provide surface area to the trench capacitor without consuming additional substrate surface area, the trench capacitor reduces capacitor substrate surface area and reduces the size of standard DRAM memory cells. Although the trench capacitor resulted in reductions in surface area, other advances in the technology are required to achieve further advances in DRAM technology.
In order to achieve further reduction in DRAM cell sizes, a fin capacitor was developed. The fin capacitor is formed by creating a first electrode overlying the substrate surface which resembles a vertically oriented comb-like structure. A central vertical pillar or spine of conducting material electrically connects to several horizontally positioned fins or planes of conducting material to form the comb-like structure. A second electrode is formed overlying the substrate in a vertical comb-like structure similar to the first electrode. The one difference between the two comb-like structures is that the fins of the first structure separate the fins of the second structure, or in other words, the fins from the two structures are intertwined thereby maximizing the surface area that the fins contribute to device capacitance. The fin capacitor device tended to be very complex to manufacture and also limiting due to its geometric shape and fabrication scheme.
In order to further improve area savings and reduce overlying layer complexity, a "double box" capacitor and other vertically raised capacitors were developed. The double box capacitor is created by lithographically forming a first box of conductive material with four sides. The four sides of this first box, which rise vertically above the surface of the substrate, surround a solid vertical lithographically-defined second box of conductive material. The first and second boxes are electrically connected to form a bottom electrode. An insulator covers the first and second boxes, and an overlying conductive layer forms the second capacitor electrode. In addition, structures similar to the double box capacitor have been taught.
Although DRAM cells may be manufactured using the capacitors mentioned above, the DRAM cells are: (1) limited largely by lithography; (2) in most cases lithographically intensive; (3) not space efficient enough for future memory generations; (4) likely to have topographical problems due to large differences in height across the capacitive devices; and (5) increasingly difficult to manufacture and mechanically unstable as topography increases.
Other devices, such as transistors, are area intensive and must also be reduced in surface area in order to improve DRAM cell circuit density. A surrounding gate transistor (SGT) is used to reduce transistor substrate surface area. The SGT uses a sidewall gate electrode and trench etch technology to reduce the gate electrode surface area.

Transistor and a capacitor used for forming a vertically stacked dynamic random access memory cell


An intermediate circuit is equipped with a first terminal connection, which includes a neutral conductor connection, and with a first and a second intermediate circuit capacitor and a diode circuit. The intermediate circuit has configuration switches which in a first state connect the intermediate circuit capacitors to one another in series and in a second state connect the intermediate circuit capacitors to one another in parallel. The configuration switches are each designed as changeover switches, which bypass the diode circuit in the first state, wherein the neutral conductor connection is connected to the diode circuit. A vehicle-based charging circuit, which includes the intermediate circuit and a rectifier circuit, is also described.

It is known to drive motor vehicles by means of a battery as an energy store, wherein the electric drive comprises an electric machine. On the one hand, in order to generate a rotating field and generally to control the electric machine, semiconductors are required, in particular the semiconductor switches of a power converter, in order to be able to operate the electric machine by means of the direct voltage of the energy store.
Furthermore, it is generally known that vehicles with an electrical energy store, which is used in particular for traction, can be charged via a charging interface on the outside of the vehicle ("plug-in"). A charging station can be used as an AC source for charging, which may be three-phase or just single-phase, depending on the design. Since a higher rectified voltage occurs with three-phase charging than with single-phase charging, components such as intermediate circuit capacitances must be designed according to the higher voltage.

Intermediate circuit and vehicle-mounted charging circuit with intermediate circuit


A binder obtained by a process having the steps of mixing components (a) to (c): (a) a starting material monomer mixture of two different polymerization reactions, each of the polymerization reactions being carried out in an independent reaction path; (b) a compound which can react with both of the starting material monomers of the two different polymerization reactions; and (c) a releasing agent; and carrying out both of the two different polymerization reactions in one reaction vessel. A toner for developing an electrostatic image including the above binder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toner for developing an electrostatic image used for development of electrostatic latent images in electrophotography, electrostatic recording, electrostatic printing, and the like, and a binder usable for the above toner.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,221,776, 2,297,691 and 2,357,809 and other publications, conventional electrophotography which can be used for apparatus for forming fixed images, such as laser printers and dry-type electrostatic copy machines, comprises the steps of evenly charging a photoconductive insulating layer (a charging process); and subsequently exposing the layer to eliminate the charge on the exposed portion to thereby form an electrostatic latent image (an exposing process); visualizing the formed image by adhering colored charged fine powder known as a toner to the latent image (a developing process); transferring the obtained visible image to an image-receiving sheet such as a transfer paper (a transfer process); and permanently fixing the transferred image by heating, pressure application or other appropriate means of fixing (a fixing process).
Among such processes, the fixing processes include contact heat-fixing methods, such as heat roller fixing methods, and non-contact heat-fixing methods, such as oven fixing methods. Since the contact heat-fixing methods are featured in having good thermal efficiency, the temperature required for fixing can be notably lowered as compared to the non-contact heat-fixing methods, thereby making it effective in conserving energy and miniaturizing copy machines. However, in the contact heat-fixing method, there arises such a problem so-called "offset phenomenon," wherein the toner is adhered to the surface of the heat roller, and thus transferred to a subsequent transfer paper.
In order to inhibit this phenomenon, the surface of a heat roller have been conventionally coated with a material excellent in release properties, such as a fluororesin, or a releasing agent such as a silicone oil may be applied on the surface of a heat roller. However, the method of applying a silicone oil necessitates a fixing device which is larger-scaled and complicated, making it expensive, which in turn may undesirably bring about various problems.
Conventionally, vinyl resins as typically represented by styrene-acrylic copolymers have been used for these kinds of toners. In the cases where the vinyl resins are used, when the offset resistance is intended to be improved, the softening points and the crosslinking densities of the resins have to be inevitably made higher, thereby rather making the low-temperature fixing ability poor. On the other hand, when the low-temperature fixing ability is overly prioritized, there arise problems in the offset resistance and the blocking resistance.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 49-65232, 50-28840 and 50-81342, methods for adding paraffin waxes, low-molecular polyolefins, and the like as offset inhibitors in the process of toner making have been known. In these references, however, there arise such problems that when the amount of the offset inhibitors added is too small, sufficient effects cannot be achieved by the addition thereof, and that when the amount is too large, the resulting developer undergoes rapid deterioration. Also, when the waxy components are added during the process of toner making and blended strongly to give a uniform dispersion, since a polymer chain of the resins are liable to be broken, uniform dispersion of the waxy components while maintaining the properties inherently owned by the resins cannot be easily performed.
On the other hand, as for the binder resins for toners, polyester resins having excellent low-temperature fixing ability have been particularly used. The polyester resins have inherently good fixing ability, and as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,000, the toner using it can be sufficiently fixed even by a non-contact fixing method. However, since the offset phenomenon is likely to take place, it has been difficult to use these polyester resins in the heat roller fixing method. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 50-44836, 57-37353 and 57-109875 discloses polyester resins with improved offset resistance by using polycarboxylic acids. In these methods, the polyester resins still do not have good offset resistance for practical purposes. However, even if a good offset resistance is achieved, the low-temperature fixing ability inherently owned by the polyester resins is in turn becomes poor, and the pulverizability of the resin itself and that of the toner become extremely poor.
In order to solve the above problems, the following methods for blending polyester resins having excellent fixing ability with styrene-acrylic resins have been known. For instance, examples of such methods include:
(1) Methods for blending polyester resins with styrene-acrylic resins (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 49-6931, 54-114245, 57-70523, and 2-161464); PA0 (2) Methods for chemically binding polyester resins with styrene-acrylic resins (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-116043); PA0 (3) Methods for copolymerizing unsaturated polyesters with vinyl monomers (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 57-60339, 63-279265, 1-156759 and 2-5073); PA0 (4) Methods for copolymerizing polyester resins having an (meth)acryloyl group with vinyl monomers (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-45453); PA0 (5) Methods for copolymerizing reactive polyesters with vinyl monomers in the presence of polyester resins (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-29664); and PA0 (6) Methods for forming a block copolymer by binding polyester resins and vinyl resins with an ester bond (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-881). PA0 (1) A binder obtained by a process comprising the steps of: PA0 (2) The binder described in item (1) above, wherein the two different polymerization reactions are respectively reactions for preparing a condensation polymerization resin and an addition polymerization resin; PA0 (3) The binder described in item (1) above, wherein the component (b) is a compound having an ethylenic unsaturated bond and at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an epoxy group, a primary amino group, and a secondary amino group; PA0 (4) The binder described in item (3), wherein the component (b) is represented by the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be identical or different, each represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, an aryl group, or a vinyl group, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may together form a ring, each of the alkyl group, the alkoxyl group, the aryl group, the vinyl group, or the ring being substituted or unsubstituted; A and B, which may be identical or different, each represents a single bond, an alkylene group represented by the following general formula (II), or a phenylene group represented by the following general formula (III): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, which may be identical or different, each represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, an aryl group, or a vinyl group, wherein R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 may together form a ring, each of the alkyl group, the alkoxyl group, the aryl group, the vinyl group, or the ring being substituted or unsubstituted; R.sup.7 is a single bond or a lower alkylene group; m is an integer of 0 to 5; and n is an integer of 0 to 2, and wherein X and Y, which may be identical or different, each represents --R.sup.8, --OR.sup.9, or --COOR.sup.10, wherein R.sup.8, R.sup.9, and R.sup.10 each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl group; PA0 (5) The binder described in item (1), wherein said releasing agent is at least one member selected from polypropylene waxes, polyethylene waxes, polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer waxes, ester waxes, and amide waxes; PA0 (6) The binder described in item (1), wherein the releasing agent has a softening point of from 70.degree. to 160.degree. C.; PA0 (7) The binder described in item (1), wherein an amount of the releasing agent is used in an amount of from 0.1 to 1000 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of a total amount of the components (a) and (b); PA0 (8) The binder described in item (1), wherein the binder has an acid value of 30 KOH mg/g or less; PA0 (9) The binder described in item (1), wherein the binder has a softening point of from 70.degree. to 160.degree. C; and PA0 (10) A toner for developing an electrostatic image comprising the binder of any one of items (1) to (9).
However, since the polyester resins have inherently poor compatibility with the styrene-acrylic resins, mere mechanical blending of the components may result in poor image quality evaluation owing to such troubles as background in the formed images depending upon the blending ratios. This is because the dispersion of the resins and the internal additives such as carbon black become poor, thereby causing uneven triboelectric charges. Also, in the cases where the polyester resins and the styrene-acrylic resins have different molecular weights, the melt viscosities of the two resins are likely to differ, thereby making it difficult to have small particle sizes of the dispersed resins constituting the dispersed domains. Therefore, when such resins are used for toner making, the dispersion of the internal additives, such as carbon blacks, in the toner are extremely poor, and thereby the resulting toner drastically lacks image-forming stability. Further, in the case where the reactive polyesters are copolymerized with the vinyl monomers, it is applicable only in a restricted compositional range in order not to allow gelation.
In view of the above problems, the present inventors have developed a developer composition, which is used as a developer having both good low-temperature fixing ability and offset resistance, using a binder resin prepared by the steps of blending in advance a starting material monomer mixture of two different polymerization reaction, each of the polymerization reactions being carried out in an independent reaction path in one reaction vessel, and concurrently carrying out the two different polymerization reactions (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-142301, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,695).
Also, the present inventors have developed a method for producing a binder resin, further comprising the step of adding a compound which can react with both of the starting material monomers of the two different polymerization reactions in the above polymerization reaction, to thereby improve the dispersibility of the resins (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-98517, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,016).
However, even if resins comprising the polyester resins and the styrene resins suitably dispersed in the polyester resins were prepared by the above methods, the following limitations are posed owing to the fact that the vinyl resin constituting the dispersed domains has a narrow molecular weight distribution. In the case where the molecular weight of the vinyl resin is made low, only the fixing ability is improved but the improvement of the offset resistance is a limited. On the other hand, in the case where the molecular weight is made high, only the offset resistance is improved, but the improvement in lowering the fixing temperature is limited.
In addition, a method for producing a binder resin comprising a blend of two kinds of resins having different softening points has been developed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-362956). Even in this method, as the blending proportion of the resin having a lower softening point is increased, the fixing ability becomes good, though the blocking resistance is undesirably small. On the other hand, as the glass transition temperature of the resin having a lower softening point is made higher, the problems in the blocking resistance are eliminated, though the improvement in the fixing ability becomes undesirably small even when the proportion added is increased. Therefore, in view of the recent demands for high speed, miniaturization, and conserved energy, further improvements in the low-temperature fixing ability and the offset resistance are desired.
An object of the present invention is to provide a binder for producing a toner having particularly good low-temperature fixing ability and offset resistance.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a toner for developing an electrostatic image comprising the binder.
These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

Binder and toner for developing electrostatic image containing the same


A plug-in connector assembly for ribbon cables comprises a ribbon cable, a plug-in connector, a locking spring and a locking spring housing. The locking spring may engage the ribbon cable in a shape-mated fashion to provide lateral guidance of the ribbon cable. The ribbon cable may be configured with a recess for spring-actuated engagement to provide strain relieving locking of the ribbon cable and to provide a region of electrical contact with the locking spring to enhance shielding contact.

Ribbon cables often have a series of electrical conductors embedded next to each other in an insulation material. These conductors can be round with a circular cross section and/or flat with a rectangular cross section. Conventional plug-in connector housings have a cable plug-in opening to accept an end portion of a ribbon cable. Conductor contacts, in the form of conductor contact receptacles, electrically contact ribbon cable conductors when the cable is inserted into a plug-in connector housing. The conductor contacts are electrically connected to terminal contacts that can be electrically connected, for example, to the strip conductors of a printed circuit board.
In order to permit electrical contacting between the ribbon cable conductors and conductor contacts of the plug-in connector, the ribbon cable conductors are often exposed on one ribbon cable end, on a broad side of the ribbon cable, by stripping the insulation down to the ribbon cable conductors. However, the ribbon cable end loses its bending rigidity when the insulation on the ribbon cable end is stripped. A loss of rigidity hampers the inserting of the ribbon cable end into the cable plug-in opening of the plug-in connector and complicates problem-free electrical contacting between the exposed ribbon cable conductors and the conductor contacts.
To overcome this shortcoming, in the past a reinforcement layer, preferably in the form of a reinforcement sheet, has been applied on the broad side of the ribbon cable end on which the ribbon cable conductors are not exposed, i.e., no insulation has been removed. This has increased the bending rigidity of the ribbon cable end which was reduced by the stripping of the insulation. A material with a relatively high intrinsic bending rigidity has been used for the reinforcement sheet. Notwithstanding such an attempt to increase the rigidity of the stripped ribbon cable, this design suffers from shortcomings which detract from its usefulness.
A conventional ribbon cable has a sheet structure with a thickness of about 0.4 mm. The plug-in connectors commonly used for the connection of such a ribbon cable have a limited design height of about 10 mm. From the beginning of the cable plug-in opening, to the spring contacts of a conductor contact, a lateral guide for the thin ribbon cable exists only over a short zone of about 7 mm. Additionally, common plug-in connectors for connection of such ribbon cables have significant manufacturing tolerances. This means that the ribbon cable end must be plugged into the cable plug-in opening of the plug-in connector with only limited guide depth and unreliable lateral guiding. The ribbon cable end is likely to be plugged into the plug-in connector obliquely or with kinks. Misalignment of the ribbon cable with respect to the plug-in connector may cause the ribbon cable conductors to not properly contact corresponding conductor contacts.
In particular, such a problem arises in shielding flat conductor ribbon cables that have a shielding sheet situated above a layer of insulation material on each broad side of the cable, and in which a flat conductor situated on a longitudinal edge of the cable is in contact with both shielding sheets. The shielding sheets lie on this flat conductor without interposition of insulation material. Since insulation is lacking in this longitudinal edge region of the flat conductor ribbon cable, this longitudinal edge region is particularly labile.
The force with which the contact spring arms of the conductor contacts engage the ribbon cable conductors is limited given the very small size of the conductor contacts. Therefore, the ribbon cable conductors may loosen from the conductor contacts even if a small tensile force is exerted on the ribbon cable. However, such loosening is not acceptable in applications which demand a particularly high reliability of the plug-in connection between the ribbon cable end and the plug-in connector.
Additionally, ribbon cables often have an electrical shield in the form of a shielding sheet situated between an insulation material surrounding the ribbon cable conductors and an insulation material sheath of the ribbon cable. This shielding sheet needs to be electrically grounded. One way of providing this ground is by using an additional wire to connect the ribbon cable shield to either the plug-in connector shield or the ground conductor of a printed circuit board. Shielding quality, as is desired in high-grade applications, is not possible with this design.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present plug-in connectors for ribbon cables. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an improved plug-in connector directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.

Plug-in connector assembly for ribbon cables


A disposable protective covering, namely, a bib or napkin of generally rectangular shape is disclosed consisting of two layers, a first layer of soft absorbent paper and a second layer made of water impermeable material, embossed or bonded together, having two pressure sensitive adhesive strips with protective liners on the corners of the upper portion of the second layer, a rapture (perforated) line for a neck line cut-out in the center of the upper portion and edge portions including wires (embedded between the first & second layer) attached parallel to the length of the bib at the lower portion to retain a manipulated shape of the bib.

The present invention relates generally to barriers worn over clothing to protect same from spillage and staining, and more particularly to a dual layer disposable bib having a deformable perimeter for creating a tailored pouch or pocket to catch crumbs, food, and spilt beverages.
Protective barriers for clothing, or "bibs," are well known in the art. Such bibs can be non-disposable cloth bibs or disposable paper bibs intended for a single use. It is also known in the art to have a two ply disposable bib such as those used in dentists' offices and other oral hygienists. Most of these prior art bibs use a strap or band that encircles the neck and suspends the bib over the user's chest area. However, the prior art bibs lack the ability to customize a bib to a user's unique body characteristics and to manipulate the bib in a user's determined shape to form a pouch for capturing food and the like.

Deformable bib and method for using same


A movement prevention device for a vehicle door latch mechanism includes a body movable between blocking and non-blocking positions in response to sudden changes in inertia on the vehicle, such as during a side impact crash. The device interferes with movement of the handle to prevent unintended opening of the latch mechanism.

Exterior door handle mechanisms for automobiles are provided in a variety of designs so that the shape and operation thereof compliment and add to the overall design and appearance of the automobile. Accordingly, door handles are provided in a variety of vertical and horizontal orientations. Some are provided recessed within the door panel. In operating a variety of door handle mechanisms, the exposed handle is lifted, pulled or otherwise moved to activate the latch mechanism. When the handle is released, a spring assists in returning the door handle to the closed position in which the latch mechanism engages to hold the door closed.
In some known constructions, a latch lever is connected to a latch cable that is also connected to the latch mechanism designed to secure the door in a closed position. In one such known design, the lever pivots about a substantially horizontal axis. The latch lever has a center of gravity spaced significantly below the lever pivotal axis. The lever is rotated about the pivotal axis and biased by a spring such that, when the door handle is released, the latch lever is returned to a lowered position which places the cable in position for the latch mechanism to be secured, holding the door closed and latched.
In spite of the biasing influence of a spring or counterweight structures in the door mechanism, a side impact crash can cause movement of the latch lever from the closed position toward the opened position. A significant side impact crash can cause the latch lever to move completely to the unlatch position, even without either the exterior door handle or the interior door handle having been actuated intentionally. This condition can potentially cause the door to unlatch, possibly allowing the door to swing open. An open door condition during a crash or roll-over exposes occupants of the vehicle, thereby increasing the possibility of injury to the occupants, including possible ejection.
As a result, manufacturers are concerned with providing latch mechanisms that secure the door in closed positions even when side impact or roll-over crashes occur. However, any such securing structure must not render the door unduly difficult to open during normal use.


A method for automatically updating a central local number portability (LNP) database shared among a plurality of central office switches is instigated when a message from a provisioning system to add a directory number is received by a central office switch. In response to the message, a first central office switch accesses the central LNP database by sending a query message which contains the directory number to be added and routing data specific to the central office switch. Responsive to the query message, the LNP database searches for the directory number received from the first central office switch. If the directory number is found, the database queries a second central office switch to determine if the directory number is in use. If the number is in use, the central LNP database returns a failure message to the first central office switch. If the directory number is not found in the central LNP database or if the directory number is not being used by the second central office switch, the directory number and routing data received from the first central office switch and a transaction entry are added to a table corresponding to the first central office switch in the database.

To meet the demands of an increasingly telephone-dependent public, the telecommunications industry continually develops advanced systems to enhance the efficiency and reliability of telecommunications service. As a result, it is quite common for customers to request new service features which may require transferring the customer's telephone line from one central office switch to another. Such a line transfer ordinarily implies a change in the customer's directory number since a particular range of directory numbers traditionally correspond to a particular central office switch. Each central office switch historically serves only one or more blocks of directory numbers, wherein each block has a unique office code. In the North American Numbering Plan, the 10 digit number is the area code ("NPA") followed by an office code (generally referred to as "NXX") followed by four other digits. For example, the office code for the directory number "708-555-2345" is "555". When a customer line associated with a given directory number is transferred from a first switch to a second switch, the customer's current office code is absent from the blocks of office codes conventionally served by the second switch. Normal practice in such a case would require a directory number change.
More than ever, society relies on telephone-related services to sustain businesses, meet civic responsibilities and maintain personal relationships. A telephone number (i.e. directory number) is no longer viewed as a disposable series of ten digits which are used for quick access to a particular individual. Indeed, some businesses use the power of directory number recognition to gain a competitive advantage (e.g. an extermination service which can be reached at directory number "708-555-BUGS").
Accordingly, many customers, especially business customers who have accrued good will using a particular directory number, want to avoid the inconveniences associated with a directory number change when changing central offices. To accommodate such customers, systems exist which properly route incoming calls to customers who have "non-traditional" directory numbers. A non-traditional directory number is a telephone number which retains an office code characteristic of a first central office switch while the customer line identified by the directory number is actually served by a second central office switch. One exemplary embodiment of such a system is a database which stores routing data for non-traditional directory numbers as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,604 to Deirdre Hoesl entitled "Arrangement for Serving a Telephone Office Code from Two Switching Systems" which issued on Aug. 17, 1993 (hereinafter, the Hoesl patent). The Hoesl patent describes a central database which may be accessed by a plurality of switches for routing data pertaining to non-traditional directory numbers.
An important reason for implementing the central database disclosed in the Hoesl patent is reflected by the dynamic nature of the local telecommunications industry. As the monopoly held by local exchange carriers becomes competitive, it is anticipated that the traditional relationship between a directory number and a central office switch, in which the directory number includes an office code corresponding to an office code of the central office switch by which it is served, will become obsolete. It is now common practice to rapidly recycle directory numbers when the number of new customer lines being added to the service base of a central office switch exceeds the number of available unused directory numbers. A recycled directory number is telephone number previously used to identify a customer line which has since been disconnected. Since there is now no guarantee that the directory numbers available for recycling will contain an office code which corresponds to an office code of the central office switch for which it is needed, recycled directory numbers are often non-traditional directory numbers. Further, local service competition will induce some customers to change from one LEC to another resulting in inter-carrier customer line transfers among switches and an even greater use of non-traditional directory numbers.
Maintenance of a central database which stores all routing data associated with non-traditional directory numbers in a local telecommunications network (i.e. a local number portability (LNP) database) is currently the responsibility of a single local exchange carrier. The LNP database is manually updated in response to circumstances such as when a customer who wants to retain a current directory number requests a service feature which is not available on the customer's current central office switch. The conventional LNP database update process requires a service order technician who receives the customer request requiring a switch transfer to notify an LNP database technician of the customer's directory number, current switch identification and new switch identification; this is currently communicated via facsimile. Upon receipt of the facsimile, the LNP technician manually enters the customer's directory number and corresponding routing data (which is based on the new central office switch identification) into an appropriate table in the central LNP database. The routing data allows incoming calls to the customer's directory number to be delivered to the central office switch which actually serves the directory number, even though the office code of the directory number actually identifies another central office switch. A similar LNP database update procedure also occurs when a new customer line, identified by a recycled non-traditional directory number, is added to the service base of a switch.
As described above, the current LNP database update procedure is labor-intensive, time-consuming and prone to error because of all of the manual actions required even for an individual telephone line transfer among the switches of a single LEC. The added administrative burden of manually coordinating routing data updates for directory numbers among central office switches for multiple LECs will result in even greater inefficiencies and error rates. Further, with multiple LECs using the LNP database, new concerns relating to fraudulent or unauthorized data changes in the LNP database must be addressed. Therefore, there is a need in the art for automatically keeping records, updating data changes and maintaining the integrity of a central LNP database such that incoming calls may be properly delivered to those customer lines which are identified by non-traditional directory numbers.

Method for automatic maintenance of a local number portability database


A bag for transporting substantially rigid elongate loads including an envelope made of a deformable but non-stretchable material comprising a bottom, a peripheral wall and having an opening plane as well as a direction of insertion of the loads in the bag extending perpendicularly to the opening plate; and handles made of a deformable but non-stretchable material joined to the bag, the space delimited by the envelope being divided into at least two compartments by a partition wall made of a deformable but non-stretchable material, the function of the bag when it is in its position of use, in which it is held by the handles, being to fasten the loads positioned inside it so as to keep them in a fitted position.

The invention relates to a bag intended to receive at least two substantially rigid loads, particularly with an elongated shape, such as bottles for example.
The invention applies more particularly to the transportation of bottles. Nevertheless, it also applies to any other type of load, as long as it is rigid and has an elongated shape, such as fruit juice, milk packages or similar, especially when a user goes shopping in supermarkets or department stores, or decides to purchase this type of load in large or small quantities.
Bottle cases including a rigid envelope comprising a bottom, an opening opposite to the bottom and a peripheral wall are known of. They further include partition walls defining compartments for the reception of bottles, these partition walls also being made of a rigid material. Due to their rigidity, these cases have the disadvantage of being difficult to transport when they are filled with bottles.
Furthermore, when these cases are only partially filled, the bottles must be distributed within the case so as to obtain a stable balance during transportation.
In addition, these cases can only be carried with the opening directed upwards, as otherwise there is a risk that the bottles will fall.
Finally, it is difficult to adapt these cases to different bottle sizes. Indeed, if the bottles have a width substantially inferior to that of the compartment, they may break during transportation as they are not correctly held in position.
Bags intended to receive loads such as food products, bottles, etc. are also known of which include an envelope comprising a bottom, a peripheral wall and an opening opposite to the bottom, as well as grasping means joined to the bag.
These bags are generally made of a reinforced material making it possible to withstand a large quantity of loads without breaking.
However, if the user wishes to transport loads having an elongated shape, this type of bag is not at all convenient since the loads are not held in position, neither vertically nor horizontally, and, as a result there is a risk that they will hit and therefore break each other. Furthermore, the structure of these bags does not make it possible to obtain a proper distribution of the loads.
This load distribution is all the worse when the load volume to be transported is smaller than the volume delimited by the envelope of the bag.
Furthermore, this type of bag does not allow for fast and easy loading and unloading.

Bag for transporting substantially rigid elongate loads


This invention improves linearity of a solid-state image pickup device beyond that of the prior art source follower to improve image quality. The image pickup device has plural pixels disposed in an array. Each pixel includes: a photodiode (PD); a transfer transistor (Tr1); a floating diffusion (FD); and an amplification transistor (Tr4). A compensating circuit has an amplifier (AP) receiving the output of the amplification transistor (Tr4), and a compensating transistor (M2) matched to the pixel amplification transistor (Tr4). Compensation is provided using negative feedback in the amplifier (AP).

There is an increasing demand for improved characteristics for CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensors, CCD (Charge Coupling Device) image sensors and other image input image sensors used in digital cameras, camera-attached cell phones and other applications.
A very important factor in such CMOS image sensors or other solid-state image pickup devices is whether the signal charge obtained at the photodiode of each pixel can be transferred to the output without any loss. This character determines the image quality. The linearity between the voltage corresponding to the signal charge and the output voltage from the pixel is thus an important factor.
FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram illustrating a source follower circuit used for reading the charge accumulated in each pixel as a voltage. This source follower includes one NMOS transistor M1. The gate electrode of transistor M1 is connected to a floating diffusion region that stores the charge of each pixel. The voltage Vin corresponds to the stored charge. A predetermined voltage VR is applied via a selecting transistor not shown to one end of the source/drain path. The other end of the source/drain path connects to output line Vout. When transistor M1 is saturated, the gate-source voltage Vgs equals threshold voltage Vth{Vout}. The output voltage Vout becomes Vin−Vth{Vout}.
In such a source follower circuit, the source voltage differs from the body voltage. Consequently, Vth is influenced by the bias of the substrate as shown in equation (1).
                              V          th                =                              V            th0                    +                                    γ                                            (                                                                                                                                                    2                                                                                Φ                            F                                                                          +                                                  V                          out                                                                                                                            -                                                                                                          2                                                                                Φ                          F                                                                                                                                          )                                                                                where                                      :                                                          (        1        )                                γ        =                                            2                                                                                q                                                                                ɛ                Si                                                          N                sub                                                    C              ox                                                          (        2        )                                                      Φ            F                    =                                    kT              q                                    ln                                                                                      N                  sub                                                  n                  i                                                                                                                            (        3        )            q is the elementary charge; ∈Si is the dielectric constant of silicon; Nsub is impurity concentration in the substrate; Cox is the capacitance of the gate oxide film; ni is the true carrier density; k is the Boltzmann constant; and T represents the absolute temperature.
According to these equations Vth is a function of the output voltage and does not have a constant value. This leads to deterioration in the linearity between the voltage of the signal charge and output voltage of the pixel. As a result, the image quality of the solid-state image pickup device depends upon the performance of the source follower.
It is possible to avoid the influence of the substrate bias by setting the source and the body at the same voltage. However, this requires a large area to form a well for element separation. Consequently, it is difficult use this scheme in a CMOS image sensor where the pixel size must be small.
The problem addressed by the present invention is improving the linearity of the source follower in a CMOS image sensor or other solid-state image pickup device to improve the image quality.