A method and system are provided for automating validation and payment within a Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) system having a number of trading partners linked via an independent (or proprietary) communications network utilizing an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Planned orders for production items generated via a Materials Requirement Planning (MRP) system and/or orders for non-production items are utilized by a purchasing system to create a purchase order which is then transmitted to a supplier via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). A planned receipt list of items is created based upon the purchase order and utilized to validate those items listed within an advanced ship notice. In response to such validation, or after correcting any discrepancy in accordance with listed tolerances, an authorization for payment is automatically generated and payment is issued. In one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic funds transfer request is automatically sent to a financial institution authorizing a fund transfer. Preferably, the terms of payment for each purchase are listed within an associated purchase order and an authorization for payment which is automatically issued will comply with such listed terms, ensuring that available discounts are utilized.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to the field of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) systems and in particular to improvements in payment procedures within Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) systems. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to methods and systems for automating payment in a Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) system wherein a significant savings over manual payment processing systems may be obtained.
2. Description of the Related Art
Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) systems utilize computers to bridge and connect various computerized systems into a coherent, integrated whole, whereby the manufacturing process may be rendered more efficient.
The problem of production management within a Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) system has been documented within many papers and books. For example, Joseph Orlicky wrote Material Requirements Planning, published by McGraw-Hill, which has become the industry standard reference for almost all job shop planning requirements. This concept of planning and releasing is well accepted and, even today, many vendors are selling software based upon this concept. A Purchasing System coupled to a Material Requirements Planning System may be utilized to automatically generate a purchase order for required materials.
Requisition grouping and order creation within a Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) system may also be performed utilizing the Communications Oriented Production Inventory Control System (COPICS) distributed by International Business Machines Corporation. The COPICS system performs the requisition grouping process and order creation prior to transmitting an order to a supplier. The supplier then receives an order for an item via an electronic data interchange (EDI) along with a series of delivery schedules and quantities. At some date prior to the actual scheduled delivery date, the supplier sends an EDI advanced ship notice to the ordering enterprise. When the actual delivery is made, it is typically accompanied by a packing slip which contains information which is duplicated by that which was sent within the advanced ship notice. Quantities within an order are then checked for accuracy and the order delivery is considered complete.
Traditionally, the receipt of goods is thereafter manually entered into a system, based upon the packing slip information which is provided by the supplier. This information is added to the purchasing system for review by the requester, buyer, and accounts payable personnel. An invoice is then sent by the supplier to the purchasing enterprise for payment. In many cases the payment location is not the same as the ordering location, which adds to the complexity of ensuring accuracy in a delivery and payment system. Accounting must also verify the quantity and quality of goods received and make payment. When the goods received do not match, the goods which are invoiced an invoice referral is generally sent to the buyer for corrective action. This process is often performed prior to payment which can conceivably reduce the opportunity of the purchaser to obtain discounts. For example, if the commercial payment terms are 2%/10 net 30, a discount of 2% would be lost if the referral resolution takes longer than ten days. Alternatively, if payment is made upon receipt to the supplier errors in shipment must be handled after payment has been made.
It should therefore be apparent that a need exists for an automated method and system for payment within a Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) system which will reduce the chances of making an inaccurate or premature payment while allowing the aggregation of invoices to make a minimum number of financial transaction per supplier and improving the timeliness of payments to take advantage of discounts, maximizing the use of funds by an enterprise.

Method and system for automated payment within a computer integrated manufacturing system


A simulation system in a work flow control system confirms whether or not prepared business process defining information is valid. The simulation system receives as an input thereto a false case including a name of a document, an attribute name belonging to the document, and attribute values to be selected; virtually moves the false case from a node to another node according to the business process defining information, simulates a process conducted in each node, and generates a journal of these processes.

The present invention relates to a work flow control system and, in particular, to a business process simulation system for verifying correctness of information defining a business process.
To increase efficiency of business work in offices, there have been introduced work flow control systems. According to such a work flow control system, a flow of business steps to be achieved by a plurality of workers and operators is expressed as a flow of documents expressed in an electronic form for automation of the business for a higher efficiency in the performance of business.
The work flow control system is implemented by a general client-server system. The system includes, as shown in FIG. 10, a work flow (WF) definition client 1001 for defining business processes, a plurality of business clients 1002 for conducting business, and a work flow (WF) manager or WF server 1004 for managing business processes and circulating documents as objects of work. The clients and servers are connected to each other via a local area network (LAN) 1005. Moreover, depending on cases, the system includes an operation management client 1003 for controlling operation of the system.
FIG. 11 shows a software layout of the work flow control system. The system includes a business process description tools 101 for defining and describing business processes, business process defining information 104 generated by the business process description tool 101, and a business process program 1106 for executing business processes according to the business process defining information. The business process program 1106 further includes a node process program 1102 for deciding and controlling flows of documents between business clients and a document control program 1103 for requesting business to each business client and collecting documents. The business process definition tool 101 is executed in the WF definition client 1001 and the business process defining information 104 is stored in a memory of the WF manager 1004. The business process program 1106 is executed by the WF manager 1004.
As an example of the work flow control system, there exists a form control system in which orders of a plurality of items are accepted to conduct delivery, accounting, and stock control for the respective items through mutually different paths.
In this connection, for information related to the work flow control system, reference is to be made, for example, "Automation of Cooperation of Business--Realization of Saving of Time and Management" described in pages 57 to 63 of "Nikkei Computer" published on May 2, 1994.
In the work flow control system described above, there has been known as a business process simulation tool a flow rate simulation tool which simulates the quantity of documents passed to respective workers. However, the simulation tool of the prior art is a tool to evaluate performance of the business processes. Namely, the tool is not prepared to verify validity or appropriateness of the defined business processes.
As above, the conventional flow rate simulation is employed on premise that the business processes defined by the business process definition tool are valid. During operation of the work flow control system, there may possibly occur abnormal states as follows. Case 1: Control is confined in a closed path in a loop. Case 2: Control is unable to conduct transition to a subsequent node due to occurrence of an abnormal state such as a deadlock.
Cases 1 and 2 take place in most cases only when an attribute value or a combination of attribute values in a document is represented in a certain pattern. In consequence, the abnormal states can be recognized only when the document is actually passed to business processes in many cases and hence it is difficult to detect such abnormality only through a syntactic check of the business process defining information.


The invention relates to fast analogue-to-digital converters having differential inputs and a parallel structure, comprising at least one network of N series resistors with value r and one network of N comparators. The series resistor network receives a reference voltage and is traversed by a fixed current Io and the row i (i varying from 1 to N) comparator essentially comprises a dual differential amplifier with four inputs; two inputs receive a differential voltage VS−VN to be converted, a third being connected to a row i resistor of the network, and a fourth input being connected to an N-i row resistor of the network. The resistor network is supplied by a variable reference voltage originating from a servoloop circuit which locks the voltage level of the middle of the resistor network at a voltage equal to the common mode voltage (VS−VSN)/2 present at the output of the sample-and-hold module.

The general principle of such a converter is as follows: a sample-and-hold module supplies a stabilized analogue voltage for a brief period of time which is the time necessary for conversion. A set of comparators in parallel compares this voltage to reference voltages defined by a series resistor network supplied by a constant current.
Comparator structures having differential inputs are preferably used because they eliminate the errors arising from common mode voltage fluctuations. In this case, the following structure is generally used: the voltage to be converted, in the form of a differential voltage Vin−VinN is applied to the input of the sample-and-hold module S/H which has a differential structure; the complementary differential outputs VS and VSN of the sample-and-hold module, representing the voltage to be converted (VS−VSN is equal to Vi−VinN) are applied to two networks of N precision resistors in series; the current I0 in the networks is fixed by the identical current sources; the intermediate terminals between the resistors of the two networks are applied in pairs to the inputs of the N comparators in the following manner: the row i resistor of the first network (supplied by VS) and the N-i row resistor of the second network (supplied by the complementary voltage VSN) are connected to the inputs of the row i comparator COMPi. The comparators switch in one direction or another depending on the level of the differential voltage VS−VSN, and it may be stated in summary that if the voltage VS−VSN corresponds to the switching threshold of the row i comparator, all the comparators of a row less than i will switch in one direction and all the comparators of a row greater than i will switch in the other direction; the state of the comparator outputs therefore provides a digital indication of the level of the input differential analogue voltage.
This arrangement is shown in FIG. 1.
For fast comparators, intended to provide a digital signal at a high sampling frequency and capable of receiving an analogue input voltage which may vary rapidly, the problem then arises of the response time constant of the structure which has just been described: the resistor network comprises numerous resistors since a high resolution is desired for the comparator. These resistors themselves have a parasitic capacitance and they are connected to comparators which also have parasitic capacitances. The combination of these resistors and of these parasitic capacitances results in transmission time constants between the outputs of the sample-and-hold module and the inputs of the comparators.
These time constants in particular have the following detrimental effect: since the resistor networks are crossed, the row i comparator receives on one input a voltage VS-i.r.I0 after a delay which is broadly related to the time constant introduced by a set of i unit resistors with value r in series, while it receives on another input the voltage VSN−(N-i).r.I0 after a delay which is related instead to the time constant introduced by a set of N-i resistors. It will therefore be understood that this causes no particular problem when i and N-i are nearly identical, but that it does cause a problem when i is close to zero or to N and N-i is close to N or zero: in these cases the time constants are in fact very different, which means that the comparator in question will receive one voltage level more rapidly on one input than on the other. Over this time interval it may quite simply provide a false indication. There is therefore a risk that those comparators which are on the borderline between switching in one direction or in the other will provide an incorrect indication. The higher the resolution or the conversion frequency, the greater the susceptibility to this error.


A method and a system for offshore production of liquefied natural gas, wherein natural gas is supplied from an underground source (4) to a subsea production plant (1). The gas is transferred under a high pressure directly from the production plant (1) to an LNG tanker (6), the transfer taking place through a pipeline (5) surrounded by sea water and causing the temperature of the high pressure gas to be lowered to a desired low temperature. This gas is supplied to a conversion plant (12) provided on the LNG tanker (16) and arranged for converting at least a part of the gas to liquid form, and the liquefied gas is transferred to storage tanks (17) on board the vessel (6). When the storage tanks (17) on the LNG tanker (6) are filled up, the pipeline is disconnected from the LNG tanker and connected to another similar tanker, the pipeline being permanently connected to a submerged buoy (8) which is arranged for introduction and releasable securement in a submerged downwardly open receiving space (11) in the tanker (6), and which is provided with a swivel unit for transfer of gas under a high pressure.

A method and a system of the above-mentioned type are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,860. In the known system, the natural gas is purified on a platform or a ship and is thereafter transferred in compressed and cooled form via a high-pressure line to a LNG tanker where the gas is converted to liquefied form by expansion. The liquefied gas is stored on the tanker at a pressure of approximately 1 bar, whereas non-liquefied residual gases are returned to the platform or ship via a return line. The high-pressure line and the return line, which extend through the sea between the platform/ship and the LNG tanker, at both ends are taken up from the sea so that the end portions of the lines extend up from the water surface through free air and at their ends are connected to respective treatment units on the platform/ship and the LNG tanker, respectively.
With this transfer arrangement the high-pressure line and the return line will be subjected to external influences of different kinds under the different operational conditions which may occur in practice. Difficult weather conditions with storms and high waves will place clear limitations on the system operation, as both security reasons and practical reasons will then render impossible disconnection of the lines from a LNG tanker having full loading tanks, and connection of the lines to another, empty LNG tanker. Under such weather conditions it will also present problems to keep the LNG tanker in position so that it does not turn or move and interferes with the lines. In addition, in arctic waters the lines may be subjected to collision with icebergs or ice floes floating on the water.
In offshore production of hydrocarbons (oil and gas) it is known to make use of production vessels which are based on the so-called STP technique (STP=Submerged Turret Production). In this technique there is used a submerged buoy of the type comprising a central bottom-anchored member communicating with the topical underground source through at least one flexible riser, and which is provided with a swivel unit for the transfer of fluid to a production installation on the vessel. On the central buoy member there is rotatably mounted an outer buoy member which is arranged for introduction and releasable securement in a submerged downwardly open receiving space at the bottom of the vessel, so that the vessel may turn about the anchored, central buoy member under the influence of wind, waves and water currents. For a further description of this technique reference may be made to e.g. Norwegian laying-open print No. 176 129.
Further, in offshore loading and unloading of hydrocarbons it is known to use a so-called STL buoy (STL=Submerged Turret Loading) which is based on the same principle as the STP buoy, but which has a simpler swivel means than the STP swivel which normally has several through-going passages or courses. For a further description of this buoy structure reference may e.g. be made to Norwegian laying-open print No. 175 419.
By means of the STL/STP technique there is achieved that one can carry out offshore loading/unloading as well as offshore production of hydrocarbons in practically all kinds of weather, as both connection and disconnection between ship and buoy can be carried out in a simple and quick manner, also under very difficult weather conditions with high waves. Further, the buoy can remain connected to the vessel in all kinds of weather, a quick disconnection being able to be carried out if a weather limitation should be exceeded.
Because of the substantial practical advantages involved in the STL/STP technique, it would be desirable to be able to make use of this technique also in connection with offshore production of liquefied natural gas. One could then construct a field installation for the production of LNG on a production vessel or a production platform, and transfer the liquefied gas to a LNG tanker via a transfer line and a STP buoy, as the LNG tanker then would be built for connection/disconnection of such a buoy. However, this is not feasible with the technique of today, since cryogenic transfer of LNG via a swivel, or also via conventional "loading arms", in practice is attended with hitherto unsolved problems in connection with freezing, clogging of passages etc. Such transfer is also attended with danger of unintentional spill of LNG on the sea, as this would be able to result in explosion-like evaporation ("rapid phase transition"), with a substantial destructive potential.
On this background it is an object of the invention to provide a method and a system for offshore production of LNG, wherein the above-mentioned weaknesses of the known system are avoided, and wherein one also avoids the mentioned problems attended with cryogenic medium transfer.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and a system of the topical type which utilizes the STL/STP technique and the possibilities involved therein with respect to flexibility, safety and efficient utilization of the resources.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method and a system of the topical type which result in a relatively simple and cheap installation for conversion of natural gas to LNG.

Method and system for offshore production of liquefied natural gas


A method for qualifying turbocharger performance includes the step of operating a turbocharger at a single test condition (402). A set of data may be acquired from a set of operating parameters of the turbocharger (404) operating at the test condition. The set of data acquired may be compared to a set of operating ranges (406) that are deemed acceptable, and a determination may be made as to whether the set of data falls within the acceptable operating ranges (408). Performance of the turbocharger may then be qualified (412, 414) based on an outcome of the determination (410).

There are numerous instances when a performance of a turbocharger may require qualification. For example, newly manufactured turbocharger units may require a performance test at the manufacturer' facility, or another facility, for a determination of whether there are any performance defects, or whether the turbochargers conform to their functional specifications. In other instances, turbochargers that have undergone a remanufacturing or reconditioning process may also require testing to qualify their performance. In yet other instances, turbocharger performance may require qualification in a service or testing environment as part of an engine troubleshooting process. In any of these instances, various performance parameters of a sample turbocharger unit may be acquired through testing and analyzed.
Techniques previously used for turbocharger performance qualification have included acquisition of various data points within an operational range of a turbocharger for the compilation of a turbine or compressor map, i.e., two dimensional plots of curves representing turbine or compressor performance plotted against a mass flow through the turbine or compressor versus a pressure ratio across the turbine or compressor. Typically, a map is a collection of 20-70 individual running data points that are connected to form curves of constant shaft speed and surge. With interpolation, islands of efficiency are plotted over the curves. These turbine or compressor maps are typically overlaid over what is considered a typical map, to yield a determination of adequacy of a device's performance through visual observation and estimation of the overlay. Interpretation of the results is subjective and does not provide reasonable data to check individual turbo performance.
Such techniques are not practical to implement in a production environment, and even if spot checking is made on sample pieces of a production line, the performance qualification of a turbocharger or one of its components is incomplete and may also be inaccurate as it is based on a visual determination. Moreover, these known techniques are data intensive in compiling the performance maps, time intensive, and costly to implement.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method of qualifying performance for turbochargers, that is accurate, does not depend on a subjective determination, and that does not require vast amounts of data to be collected.

Turbocharger performance qualification method and apparatus

International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC


A method for measuring the concentration of isothiazolones in aqueous systems including removing sample interferences by lowering the pH of a sample collected from the aqueous system containing isothiazolones and filtering the sample, removing additional interferences by raising the pH and subsequent filtering, selectively adsorbing the isothiazolones in the sample desorbing the isothiazolones from the adsorbent, and comparing the absorbance of ultra-violet light of the desorbed sample to a standard of known concentration.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of monitoring of isothiazolones in aqueous systems, such as manufacturing process waters and cooling towers with concentrations of about 0.5 to 50 mg/l and more specifically to a method for the rapid measurement of isothiazolones.
2. Description of the Related Art
Isothiazolones, as defined herein, refer to substituted and unsubstituted 3-isothiazolones and mixtures having the structural formula:
where R is hydrogen, an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group, an unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl group, an unsubstituted or substituted aralkyl group, or an unsubstituted or substituted aryl group;
X and Y are independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a (C.sub.1-C.sub.4) alkyl group or when taken together form a substituted or unsubstituted benzene ring to give a compound of the formula:
where Z is a (C.sub.1-C.sub.4) alkyl group, a (C.sub.1-C.sub.4) alkoxyl group, a cyano group, a nitrogen group, or a halogen group; and n is a integer of from zero to two.
Some of the isothiazolones present in aqueous systems may be in the form of complexed divalent salts such as magnesium or calcium.
Isothiazolones, marketed by Rohm and Haas Company and ICI, under the trademarks Kathon®, and Proxel®, respectively, are antibacterial agents or biocides which are widely used in a variety of aqueous and non-aqueous systems. For example, isothiazolones are useful as microbicides in metal working fluids, cooling tower waters, paper making waters, and textile manufacturing process waters. In addition, isothiazolones are added to a wide variety of manufactured solutions such as latex, and cosmetics and to consumer products to control the growth of microorganisms.
Attempts have been made to develop rapid, reliable and sensitive methods for determining the concentration of isothiazolones. These methods generally used sophisticated and expensive gas chromatographic, liquid chromatographic (HPLC) techniques or were colorimetric analyses directed toward field monitoring.
The HPLC methods, although accurate, are expensive to perform because they require highly trained personnel and sophisticated equipment. In addition, the analyses can take several hours to perform, especially if a column on the HPLC unit has not been prepared.
Prior field monitoring colorimetric methods have been found to be less than satisfactory because of the susceptibility of the methods to positive and negative interferences caused by additives to the aqueous systems, ionic impurities commonly found in aqueous systems, and turbidity caused by both soluble and insoluble compounds. Various additives are typically added to recirculating cooling tower water to prevent or inhibit the precipitation of hardness ions, to disperse scale, and to combat corrosion. For example, polyacrylates, phosphates, phosphonates, iron, zinc, tin and other metals are commonly found in cooling tower water as well as suspended particulate materials such as clay and silt.
However, the use of isothiazolones in some manufacturing process waters has brought new challenges in monitoring as isothiazolone concentrations must be monitored more frequently, such as hourly, by personnel having little lab experience. Further, results of monitoring must be known quickly, sometimes within minutes. In this manner, adjustments to process systems can be made immediately to prevent adverse impact to product quality.
As such, a method is needed which eliminated the eliminates potential interferences due to impurities and turbidity, can be performed quickly, can be performed by personnel of different skill levels with minimal training, and uses equipment which is readily available, reliable, and requires a minimum of maintenance.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,975,155 and 4,110,378 are directed to prior colorimetric determinations methods of isothiazolones in aqueous and non-aqueous systems. Partial elimination of interferences was achieved by adsorption of the isothiazolones onto an adsorbent resin, desorption of the isothiazolones, and then creation of a calorimetric reaction. Pretreatment of samples by centrifuging was required if very turbid or containing many solids, and other chemicals present could react and produce a colorimetric reaction so these chemicals had to be neutralized first. Identifying all these potential reactionary compounds could prove difficult with manufacturing waters containing many compounds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,530 discloses a calorimetric determination method that also uses adsorption and desorption of the isothiazolones but onto a non-polar adsorbent. The desorbed isothiazolones are then reacted with ferric chloride and potassium ferricyanide to produce a blue color. This method also attempts to eliminate interferences through adsorption and desorption.
There were limitations with this method in that the pH of the sample for adsorption was critical. A sample pH of 10 was required as it was reported that above pH 10 the isothiazolone ring may be cleaved thereby rendering the test inaccurate and that a pH below 10 would adversely affect adsorption. In addition, this method required the use of cyanide compounds which in facilities making Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved products would be undesirable to even have on the premises.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,957 discloses another calorimetric determination method that uses aromatic thiol salts added to a sample to form a colored solution. No pretreatment of the sample is performed.
Limitations with this method were that the color formed in this reaction was unstable and degraded over time. The proposed method required waiting two hours before reading the color absorbance. A two hour wait may be unacceptable for many manufacturing water systems. The method was temperature dependent and thus there was another parameter to be controlled. The method also prevented groups of samples from being measured at the sample time unless the addition of the thiol salts to each sample was timed and tracked. In addition, as with all calorimetric tests, if the sample water was highly turbid, accurate calorimetric readings were difficult to obtain.
As discussed above, current methods for the measurement of isothiazolones use:                1) expensive laboratory equipment such as HPLC, that also require highly trained personnel to both operate and maintain the equipment, and is costly and time consuming if performed by an outside laboratory;        2) calorimetric analyses that do not work when the water is turbid and contains numerous other compounds;        3) methods that take several hours to perform;        4) calorimetric methods in which the color changes over time; and        5) chemistry methods requiring the handling of hazardous materials such as cyanides, that are undesirable at many facilities to even have on the premises.

Isothiazolone monitoring in aqueous systems


In a method and arrangement for adapting a sliding mode fuzzy controller to destabilizing changes, control characteristics of the sliding mode fuzzy controller, a closed control loop, are characterized by linguistic variables and are interpreted using linguistic rules in an adaptation block in the control loop which also employs fuzzy control. The rules are configured such that an optimally fast approach of a momentary state condition to the switching line or switching surface of the sliding controller occurs. For adaptation, supporting points are defined in the characteristic of the sliding mode fuzzy controller and these are shifted for the purpose of a desired control behavior, such as by variation of the output fuzzy sets. A separate fuzzy rule set is thus designed for each individual support point.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method and arrangement for adapting a fuzzy controller to different operating points and/or modified system parameters, and in particular to a method and arrangement for adapting a sliding mode fuzzy controller to changes of this type, which represent destabilizing or stability-affecting changes for this type of fuzzy controller.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In complex control-oriented problems, efforts are made to operate controllers in a manner which simulates control strategies of a human expert. Fuzzy controllers have proven especially suitable for such applications because they are simple to program in the form of if-then rules. Since this type of problem formulation approaches the human expert, complex control relationships can also be well-managed with fuzzy controllers. Since fuzzy controllers can also be economically produced on an industrial scale and no complicated mathematical analyses are required for their programming, they have gained entrance into many technical fields of industry. Particularly in the areas of consumer products, more efficient or energy-saving devices can often be built employing fuzzy technology.
The parameters of the system or process to be controlled, and thus of such a fuzzy control system as well, can change dependent on time due to aging or other external influences. Adaptation of the controller with the assistance of an adaptation block is available as a solution for this problem. Various adaptation versions, their advantages and disadvantages, and examples of such adaptation versions have been investigated by the Gesellschaft fur Me.beta.-und Automatisierungstechnik (GMA). They are summarized in the article, "Adaptive Regler, Erlauterungen und Beispiele", VDE/VDE Guideline 3685 dated 1992.
The sliding-mode fuzzy controller represents a special type of fuzzy controller and is distinguished by its special stability properties. The fundamentals and the structure of such a fuzzy controller are disclosed in the PCT Publication WO 93/11 473. These shall be supposed to be known to those of ordinary skill in this field. Such sliding mode fuzzy controllers in diagonal form are equivalent to sliding-mode controllers with a boundary layer. The sliding mode fuzzy controllers can be interpreted by their non-linear transfer characteristic. The balancing of the various possible parameters of such a fuzzy controller for optimum operation is complicated and time-consuming. The adaptation of such a sliding mode fuzzy controllers with a boundary layer to different operating points or modified system parameters (destabilizing stability-affecting changes or system behavior affecting) therefore represents an especially complex problem. The control parameters of sliding mode fuzzy controllers are discussed by R. Palm in the article, "Robust Control by Fuzzy Sliding Mode", in Automatica, pages 1429 through 1437, 1994.

Method and arrangement for adapting a sliding mode fuzzy controller


A lip augmentation assembly and method of selectively plumping the lips provides a housing having a first end forming a grip, and a second end. The housing encases a motor and a vibrating member. A vibrating head snugly couples to the second end of the housing. The head engages the inner surface of the lips. The head has an irregular oval shape, opposing wide sidewalls, opposing narrow sidewalls, and a concave-shaped terminus. Vibration nodules are arranged in a grid-like pattern on the wide and narrow sidewalls of the head. The vibration nodules receive vibrations from the vibrating member. An epidermal cell growth serum is topically applied to the lips before, and after, engagement with the vibration nodules. Pressing the wide sidewall of the head against the inner surface of lips, applies a deeply focused pressure on the lip. Pressing the narrow sidewall against the lips augments selected segments of lips.

Many known lip augmentation devices designed to create micro trauma in a user's lips fail to efficiently effectuate the same. Specifically, some known devices are not handheld and/or are arduous to handle or manipulate. Additionally, the application surface (or part of the augmentation device designed to contact a user's lips) does not provide adequate or sufficient coverage on a user's lips, requiring the user of the device to use it for longer than many users desire. Additionally, the application surface or configuration thereof is not conducive to receiving an adequate or sufficient portion of a user's lips. Further, many known devices do not utilize creams or other liquids to enhance the lip-augmentation process.
Other proposed solutions or devices to augment a user's lips, including those which may utilize enhancement creams, liquids, or gels, alter a limited number of segments or portions of a user's lips. Also, those known lip augmentation methods and devices do not activate cell regeneration deep within the lip. Also, they do not provide a plurality of tightly-spaced, grid-shaped vibration nodules covering a portion of the head that dig deeply approximately 1 millimeter deep into the lip mucosa to create harmless micro trauma without actually puncturing the mucosa, thereby activating cell regeneration deeply within the mucosa, as opposed to only on the surface.
Even though the above-referenced devices, creams, and methods for augmenting a user's lips meet some of the needs of the market, a lip augmentation assembly and method of selectively plumping segments of a user's lips that provides a vibrating head that engages the inner surface of the lips while vibrating, and which has an irregular oval shape defined by opposing wide sidewalls for engaging the entire inner surface of the lips, opposing narrow sidewalls for selective engagement of segments of the lips, and a plurality of vibration nodules arranged in a grid-shaped pattern; whereby the lips are coated with an epidermal cell growth serum for topical application of an epidermal cell growth serum to the lips by the vibrating vibration nodule, is still desired. Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Lip augmentation assembly and method of selectively plumping segments of the lips


An operating method for a double-sided scanner is provided. A light source of one particular color inside a first group of light sources and a light source of a different color (or the same color) inside a second group of light source are lit to scan the front and back surface of a scan document. Optical signals from the front and back surface of the scan document are received and converted into analogue electrical signals. Thereafter, the analogue electrical signals are converted into digital electrical signal. Finally, the digital electrical signals are output to a host computer. This invention utilizes two groups of light sources (for example, light-emitting diodes) to serve as light sources for the double-sided scanner. Because light-emitting diodes require no warm-up period and is quick to switch, double-sided scanning is simplified.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method of operating a scanner. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of operating a double-sided scanner.
2. Description of Related Art
A scanner is a machine that can be regarded as an intermediate between a photocopier and a camera. In the past, a scanner is an expensive piece of equipment that is deployed by a special user such as an artist. With the progress in computer technologies, there is tremendous drop in the price of the scanner so that a scanner has become an essential peripheral device in most personal computers.
According to the price or function, a scanner may be categorized into several types. In general, scanners can be divided into palm top scanners, paper feed scanners, card scanners, negative film scanners and flatbed scanners. A flatbed scanner has a glass platform for holding a document or a pattern thereon. Data is read into the scanner through the movement of a sensor over the document. Since most flatbed scanner is structurally simple, easy to handle and functionally highly expandable, this is the, type of scanner that computer users are equipped.
Most scanners use a fluorescence lamp to serve as a light source because fluorescence lamps require little warm-up time. However, the lamp has an unstable period after the scanner is activated. If the lamp is used for scanning during the unstable period, a flickering of the image may occur. One method of removing such flickering is to use a cold cathode ray tube. However, one major disadvantage of using g cold cathode ray tube is that a longer warm-up period is required. Furthermore, for a double-side scanning operation, two sets of cold cathode ray tubes must be employed. Aside from the long warming period, scanning of both sides of a document of an image simultaneously is not recommended because the light from the two sets of cold cathode ray tubes might interfere with each other. Typically, the scanning of the front and back of a document needs to be carried out with a slight shift in position. Thus, if cold cathode ray tubes are used as the light source of a double-side scanner, complicated control circuits are demanded.

Method of operating a double-sided scanner


Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device that can include a nanowire channel. The nanowire channel can include nanowires and the nanowires can be about fifteen (15) or less angstroms apart. The nanowire channel can include more than ten (10) nanowires and can be created from a MXene material.

To increase the density of dies in an integrated circuit (IC) package of a particular footprint, one approach is based on thin film designs. These designs include a thin film or layer of material ranging from fractions of a nanometer (monolayer) to several micrometers in thickness. What is needed is a thin film design that can help to increase the number of logic elements per unit area.
The FIGURES of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, as their dimensions can be varied considerably without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.


Various examples of a light emitting diode (LED) package structure and a manufacturing method thereof are described. In one aspect, a LED package structure includes a carrier, a LED chip, a first annular barricade, a second annular barricade and a fluorescent encapsulant. The LED chip is electrically connected to the carrier. The first annular barricade and the second annular barricade are disposed around the LED chip, with the second annular barricade disposed between the LED chip and the first annular barricade. The fluorescent encapsulant is disposed on the carrier and at least covers the LED chip and the second annular barricade. The fluorescent encapsulant includes at least a type of phosphor and at least a type of gel with the phosphor distributed over a surface of the LED chip.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a package structure and manufacturing method thereof and, more particularly, to a light emitting diode (LED) package structure and manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
LEDs are a type of illumination component comprised of III-V semiconductor materials. In general, LEDs have advantages such as long life, compact size, high shock resistance, low heat generation and low power consumption. Therefore, LEDs have been widely used in the home and a variety of equipment indicators and light sources. In recent years, development of LEDs is moving towards multi-color and high brightness, and thus the fields of application have been extended to large outdoor billboards, traffic lights, and related fields. In the future, LEDs may even become both power-saving and eco-friendly lighting source.
For example, most of the high-power white LED packages utilize one or more blue LEDs with yellow phosphor. The reason why a white LED emits white light is because its LED chip emits blue light. When blue light transmits through yellow phosphor it is converted into yellow light, and white light is formed when the yellow light converted by yellow phosphor is mixed with blue light that is not converted to yellow light. As the blue light emitted by blue LEDs has a certain degree of directivity, intensity of the part of the emitted blue light which has a larger angle of deviation from the optical axis of the LED tends to be weaker. This tends to result in the intensity of yellow light larger than the intensity of blue light at larger angles of deviation from the optical axis of the LED. As a result, a yellow halo is formed around the edge of the illuminated area of the luminaire. Additionally, uneven distribution of yellow phosphor on LEDs in the manufacturing process of white LEDs that utilize blue LED with yellow phosphor also results in yellow halo around the white light emitted by LEDs thus manufactured. This affects the uniformity of the color of light emitted by white LEDs.
Therefore, a conventional approach is to add brightener in the phosphor powder in order to reduce the incidence of yellow halo, where the brightener may be white particles or glass particles. This approach scatters the beam of light emitted by the LED to reduce the extent of the yellow halo. However, the effect achieved by the addition of brightener is often at the expense of the overall light extraction efficiency of the LED, and tends to produce no positive effect in terms of enhancing color rendering performance of the LED.

Light emitting diode package structure and manufacturing method thereof


A device for applying a functional formulation to a surface is disclosed. The device includes a reservoir with a valve assembly for dispensing an effective stain removal formulation directly to the stain, spot or mark. The device also includes a shell accommodating absorbent pads. In use, the functional formulation is delivered through the applicator tip to the surface. The applicator is then rotated and one of the absorbent pads is engaged with the formulation treated surface to dislodge soils and stains on the surface, distribute the functional formulation on the surface, absorb excess formulation from the surface, and/or to lessen visibility of the resulting moistened area as well as reduce the time needed for the moistened area to dry. Suitable functional formulations for use in association with the applicator are also disclosed.

1. Technical Field
A device for applying a functional formulation on a garment is disclosed which comprises a compact structure provided with an applicator tip for dispensing the functional formulation. The device includes a reservoir with the applicator tip disposed at one end of the reservoir. The reservoir is preferably connected to an absorbent pad dispenser. Suitable laundry formulations for use in association with the device are also disclosed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional laundering processes using automatic washing machines are known. When using conventional detergents, stains can be difficult to remove from laundry items. Stains such as motor oil, blood, coffee, ink, dirt, grass, etc can be difficult to remove. In order to effectively remove tough stain, it is desirable to pre-treat (or pre-spot) the stains before the laundry items are washed. Typically, a pre-spotting formulation is delivered to the stain and the formulation-treated stain is rubbed or scrubbed so that the stain is loosened, dislodged, or dissolved. Thereafter, the treated stain is effectively removed by one of the conventional laundering processes.
Devices and processes for pre-treating stains are also well known in the art. One currently marketed stain treatment device resembles a large felt tip marker in structure but which includes an applicator tip or nib that dispenses a clear stain-removing formulation from a reservoir. While this and other similar devices are suitable to treat small everyday stains on clothing, it is generally ineffective in treating large tough stains as the device does not include a scrubbing surface and is not suitable for scrubbing or rubbing the formulation-treated stains.
Another problem associated with current stain treatment devices is the lack of ability to effectively remove stains and excess formulation from the laundry item during the treatment. These devices merely function to "dilute" or "spread" the stains to make them less visible as opposed to removing the stains from the clothing. While the tough stains may be lighter than it was before treatment, it may still be difficult to completely remove the tough stains by a subsequently laundering process as the stains are not effectively loosened or dislodged.
In order to effectively remove the stains and excess formulation, efforts have been made to provide an absorbing mechanism to the current devices. The improved devices generally include an applicator disposed at one end for applying a stain removal formulation and an absorbent mechanism disposed at the other end of the device. These devices, however, fail to combine an effective stain removal formulation, an effective and efficient applicator tip and an effective absorbent pad mechanism. For example, while one such device includes discrete absorbent pads that may be used, broken off and discarded after they become discolored, the mechanism for advancing the pads out a pad holder is awkward and non-ergonomic. More importantly, the absorbent pads included in those devices does not have a stiff scrubbing surface and therefore cannot function to both distribute the formulation on the clothing and scrub the stains after the stains are saturated with the formulation.
Motorized stain removal brushes are also known in the art. These brushes, however, do not include a reservoir for containing a stain treatment formulation or an applicator for delivering the formulation to the stains. Moreover, the brushes do not include an absorbent member and therefore cannot absorb the loosened stains or excess formulation. Furthermore, as only one set of bristles is included in one brush, it cannot be quickly and conveniently replaced after the bristles are worn or damaged.
In addition to the stain removal applications discussed above, there is also a need for an applicator that delivers a functional formulation to a desired surface, distribute the formulation on the surface, and wicks off excess formulation from the surface. When the formulation is a surface cleaner, the applicator may further function to scrub or rub the formulation-treated surface to improve the cleaning performance thereof.
Hence, there is a need for a laundry pre-treating device that delivers an effective pre-spotting formulation to stains on laundry items and loosens the stains by scrubbing the formulation-treated stains before the laundry items are washed in a conventional laundering process. Further, there is a need for an applicator that conveniently applies a functional formulation to a washable article. Still further, there is a need for an applicator that includes an plurality of absorbent scrubbing pads that is conveniently dispensed and each functions to engage the formulation-treated surface thereby either cleaning the surface or wick the formulation from the surface, or both.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Liquid applicator and absorbent scrubbing means


An engine system is disclosed. The engine system may have an engine with a plurality of cylinders, and at least one injector associated with each of the plurality of cylinders and configured to inject liquid fuel and gaseous fuel. The engine system may also have a turbocharger driven by exhaust from the plurality of cylinders to pressurize a flow of air directed into the plurality of cylinders, and a valve disposed inline with the turbocharger and configured to selectively increase an exhaust backpressure. The engine system may further have a controller configured to selectively cause movement of the valve toward a flow-restricting position only when the at least one injector is injecting gaseous fuel.

An engine combusts a mixture of fuel and air to generate a mechanical power output, along with a flow of hot exhaust gases. A charged engine includes one or more compressors that are driven to compress combustion air entering the engine. By forcing compressed air into the engine, more air becomes available for combustion than could otherwise be drawn into the engine by motion of the engine's pistons. This increased supply of air allows for a corresponding increase in fueling, resulting in increased power output. A charged engine typically produces more power than the same engine without charging.
An engine can be charged in different ways. For example, the engine can be turbocharged, wherein a turbine is driven by hot exhaust gases produced by the engine and connected to mechanically drive the compressor. In another example, the compressor can be mechanically connected to a crankshaft of the engine and directly driven by the engine. When the compressor is mechanically connected to the crankshaft of an engine, the engine is said to be supercharged. In some situations, the engine can be both turbocharged and supercharged.
It may be possible for a compressor to supply too much air to an engine. For example, at low engine loads, a compressor can actually supply enough air to overly cool the engine and thereby reduce combustion efficiency and/or increase exhaust emissions. In addition, when the engine is supplied with gaseous fuel at low load settings, combustion can be quenched by the excess air.
One attempt to address these problems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,921 of McCandless et al. that issued on Jan. 14, 1992 ("the '921 patent"). Specifically, the '921 patent discloses an exhaust backpressure control system having a valve in the exhaust outlet of a turbocharger. The valve is controlled by a microcomputer to close and restrict exhaust flow during startup of an engine. By restricting the exhaust flow, backpressure and friction are increased within the engine to thereby cause the engine to work harder and warm up quicker than would otherwise be possible. The valve is moved by the microcomputer as a function of an engine coolant temperature, engine speed, engine fuel consumption, and actual backpressure.
Although the exhaust backpressure control system of the '921 patent may be adequate in some situations, it may lack applicability to dual-fuel systems and/or to systems having a hybrid charged system (i.e., a system that is both turbocharged and supercharged).
The engine system of the present disclosure solves one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art.

Dual-fuel engine system with backpressure control


A signal generator includes: a current control element for controlling a current flowing through an electric load; and signal forming means for outputting a control signal to the current control element. The signal forming means generates the control signal in such a manner that the current flowing through the electric load has a rising edge and a down edge of a substantially sine waveform. The rising edge of the current is disposed at a timing when the current control element is switched on. The down edge of the current is disposed at a timing when the current control element is switched off.

A signal generator outputs a current signal having a predetermined waveform in accordance with electric load or forms and outputs a signal for communication (i.e., a communication signal) on the basis of a direct current power supply. For example, when the electric load such as a lamp and a coil mounted in an automotive vehicle is operated or stopped operating, a noise is generated by rapid current change at the moment when electricity is turned on or off. The noise may harm a radio and a control circuit mounted on the vehicle. Specifically, the impedance of the electric load is changed by heat together with energization. The impedance is low just after the electricity starts to be supplied to the electric load. At this time, the current change is greater than that of a case when the electricity is energized constantly. To reduce the noise, a signal generator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,545,513-B2. In the signal generator, current waveform during PWM control is set to be a trapezoid form so that current change at the moment of energization or de-energization becomes moderate. Thus, the noise level is reduced by the signal generator.
To reduce the noise level, it is preferred that a slope at a rising edge and a down edge of the current waveform becomes smaller. However, when the slope becomes small, a switching device such as a FET may generate large heat because a switching loss in the device increases. Thus, it is required to select the switching device having sufficient thermal resistance for withstanding the large heat and/or to prepare a heat sink for radiating the large heat. Therefore, a manufacturing cost is increased, and design freedom of the signal generator is reduced. Further, it is required to reduce noise in the switching device not only for the electric load but also for a communication by slowing a slope at a rising edge and a down edge in a current waveform.

Signal generator including current control element and signal forming element for achieving low noise level and low switching loss


A security element, such as a thread, strip and the like, for security documents in general, which comprises a flexible backing layer that has, on at least one face, a layer of metallic material provided with regions in which the thickness of the metal is less than 70% and more than 25% of the thickness of the layer of metallic material of the nearby portions, and further comprises a layer of embossed holographic lacquer between the backing layer and the layer of metallic material.

As is known, security threads that allow correct interpretation even by visual inspection, without necessarily resorting to particular instruments or devices, have already been used in the production of security documents, such as for example bank notes, certificates, passports and the like.
Among solutions of this kind, mention should be made of a security thread, disclosed in EP 0 319 157, which is substantially constituted by a strip of plastic material on which a layer of metallic material, generally aluminum, is deposited; areas are provided thereon in which graphic markings, text or the like are written in hollow form, since they are formed by metal-free regions located so as to maintain the metallic continuity of the thread.
The most widely used solution for-producing this thread is the use of systems for demetallizing aluminum vaporized in vacuum on a polyester film.
Over time, it has been found that this type of execution, which initially had a good degree of security, can be circumvented, since counterfeiters, by virtue of the increased availability of technology, have succeeded in providing very valid simulations by virtue of punch transfer methods or even by using laser beams for marking.
Another known solution that used this type of thread entailed insertion in the paper with the so-called windowing technique, disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,943, which provided for the insertion of the strip in the paper with protrusion of the thread in a selected and controlled position so as to be able to see all the characteristics of the security thread in reflected light in the places where it lies outside the paper and the texts or graphic markings without metal in transmitted light in the places where the thread is inserted in the paper, thus achieving a further function for such thread.
In this case also, counterfeiters have been able to simulate the thread system by depositing similar materials, by using a punch and/or laser beam technique.
To increase the degree of security, solutions have already been devised in which additional security elements were applied to the thread with a holographic technique or the like, but in these solutions the text region provided in hollow form, or with partial or complete covering of the text, as disclosed for example in EP 0 330 733, produced an absence of holographic detection also on the character or graphic markings, so that the counterfeiter could still use punch or laser application.

Security element, such as a thread, strip and the like, for security documents


An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about field of view associated with a plurality of video data, and an extraction unit configured to extract, from video data with a wide field of view which includes an area indicated by information about the field of view of the video data displayed in timing at which an instruction for setting frame video data extracted from video data is input and is associated with the information about the field of view indicating an area wider than the area among the plurality of the video data, the frame image data corresponding to the timing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of extracting frame image data from video data and a method for controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Now, video data is variously used. For example, video data is displayed on a display unit by normally reproducing them, or frame image data is extracted from video data at any timing and image data to be displayed on a display unit or printed is generated from the extracted frame image data.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-333568 discusses a technique in which a low-resolution moving image is generated from a high-resolution moving image, and when clipping of a still image is instructed while the generated low-resolution moving image is viewed, the still image is clipped from the high-resolution moving image at a specified timing.
Recently, however, a plurality of video data different in field of view has been distributed. The field of view refers to the field of video data. The term field of view is also similarly used as expression corresponding to a field in computer graphics or animations, which are not image captured by a camera. For this reason, video large in field of view or video wide in field of view refer to video in which a wide area is captured or represented.
Suppose that, in a football (soccer) match, for example, there are two video images capturing the whole football stadium and only one football player in a football ground, which is a part of the whole football stadium. In this case, the video capturing the whole football stadium is the one that is wide in field of view and, on the other hand, the video capturing only one football player included in the video area wide in field of view is one that is narrow in field of view.
The video that is wide in field of view and the video that is narrow in field of view can be simultaneously distributed in parallel. Such a plurality videos can be different not only in field of view but also in the number of pixels in a frame image composing the video.
A case is assumed where frame image data is extracted from video data in situations where a plurality of videos different in field of view exists. A user displays the image data corresponding to any one field of view among a plurality of kinds of field of view, and gives an instruction about the extraction of a necessary frame image data while the video data is being displayed.
At this point, the frame image data extracted from the video data with another field of view which is not displayed by the user may be preferable for the user than the frame image data extracted from the displayed video data, which is the video data displayed by the user.
Suppose that, for example, there are two kinds of video data with a wide field of view capturing the whole football stadium and with a narrow field of view capturing one football player corresponding to a part of the field of view (area) in the video data. Furthermore, suppose that the video data with a narrow field of view is greater in the number of pixels per frame image and higher in pixel density than video data with a wide field of view.
If the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-333568 is applied for the extraction of frame image data while the user displays video data with a narrow field of view, the frame image data is extracted from the image data which is greater in the number of pixels and higher in pixel density, i.e., from high-resolution video data with a narrow field of view than video data with a wide field of view.
Though the area not captured in the displayed video data with a narrow field of view is included in the video data with a wide field of view, which is not displayed, the user cannot acquire image data of the video data with a wide field of view. This is because the technique discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-333568 does not assume that the video data different in field of view exist.
Another case is considered in which the user extracts the frame image while displaying the video data small in the number of pixels in a case where there exists the video data that is great in the number of pixels per frame image and the video data that is small in the number of pixels among the video data with the same field of view to each other.
In this case, it is more desirable for the user to extract the frame image data from the video data that is great in the number of pixels, which is not displayed, rather than from the displayed video data. This is because the frame image data extracted from the video data that is great in the number of pixels is higher in fineness and, therefore, suited for the display and print of the image data, which offers the advantage that extends options for the process and print of the image data.

Image processing apparatus capable of extracting frame image data from video data and method for controlling the same


A processing apparatus includes an openable/closable lid disposed on a process container, and an opening/closing mechanism configured to open/close the lid. The opening/closing mechanism includes a hinge structure swingably coupling the lid to one end of the process container, and a drive structure configured to swing the lid. The hinge structure includes a main shaft used as a rotation axis when the lid is swung by the drive structure, and an adjusting shaft located on a distal end side relative to the main shaft, for adjusting an angle of the lid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a processing apparatus for performing a process, such as a plasma process, on a target object, such as a semiconductor wafer, and a lid opening/closing mechanism used for the apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, for example, in the process of manufacturing semiconductor devices, various processes, such as etching, ashing, and film formation, are performed on a target object or semiconductor wafer. Processing apparatuses used for these processes include a process container that can be set to have a vacuum atmosphere, in which a predetermined process is performed on a semiconductor wafer.
Processing apparatuses of this kind include an openable/closable lid disposed on a process container for a maintenance operation to be performed on the interior of the process container. As an opening/closing mechanism for the lid, there is known a type in which a lid is swung about one shaft of a hinge mechanism (for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-101345).
Incidentally, along with an increase in the size of semiconductor wafers, processing apparatuses have become larger. Accordingly, there is a process container formed of a plurality of parts, which are separable in the vertical direction. In general, the parts are assembled by use of bolts for fixing, but the bolts may generate dust due to friction of the screw portions. The dust falls inside the process container and exerts an ill effect on semiconductor devices. In light of this, there is a structure in which the parts of a process container are not fixed by use of bolts, and only seal members, such as O-rings, are interposed between the parts. According to this structure, the interior of the process container is vacuum-exhausted after a lid is closed, whereby the interior of the process container is sealed.
In this case, the lid is arranged to be horizontal when the seal members are compressed due to vacuum exhaust. However, along with an increase in the size of the process container, this structure has come to cause the following problem when the lid is being closed before the seal members are compressed. Specifically, when the lid is closed by swinging it about a hinge, a gap is formed between the seal member and lid, and makes it difficult to perform vacuum exhaust as it is.

Processing apparatus and lid opening/closing mechanism


An adaptive equalizer is implemented using digital feedback control and using jitter as the adjustment criteria. An adjustable transfer function is implemented to equalize an input signal to enhance the frequency response of the associated system. Jitter is determined for the filtered signal, and the frequency response of the transfer function is varied accordingly by applying a digital adjustment signal to the transfer function structure (for example, a lead-lag filter). The adaptive equalizer can thereby adapt to various transmission medium lengths and signal degradation levels.

The frequency spectrum of a signal is typically degraded as it passes through a transmission medium, such as a cable. This is a concern, for example, in the implementation of local area networks (LANs), which may require signals having large bandwidths to be transmitted over various distances. This is particularly true in the 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet LAN protocol, which requires at least 70 MHZ of bandwidth for undistorted transmission through the network at the desired data rate of 100 Mb/s. This degradation usually takes the form of attenuation of the high-frequency components of the signal's frequency spectrum. As a result of this degradation, narrow signal pulses have lower peak amplitudes than wide pulses, causing difficulty in recovering the bit information encoded in each pulse.
To compensate for frequency degradation, a processing technique called cable equalization is often performed, which restores the attenuated frequency components almost completely back to their former amplitudes. FIG. 1 illustrates this concept. An ideal signal (s(t)) has its frequency spectrum degraded (i.e., its high-frequency components are attenuated) as a result of passing through a transmission medium. The degraded signal (s.sub.d (t)) is then restored through equalization to produce a restored signal (s.sub.e (t)). Once the signal has been restored, it may then be processed by other downstream components, for example, a clock and data recovery circuit, in a conventional manner.
A further result of frequency spectrum degradation is signal "jitter," i.e., signal transitions do not occur at multiples of a fixed time interval but, rather, at multiples of a varying time interval. Jitter reduces the ability to recover data from the signal. One way of observing this reduction in the ability to recover data is to observe the signal "eye pattern." A signal eye pattern is obtained by using an oscilloscope to observe the signal while triggering the oscilloscope trace with the signal itself.
FIG. 2 illustrates the eye patterns that would be obtained for the three waveforms of FIG. 1 (s(t), s.sub.d (t) and s.sub.e (t)). For the best sampling of a signal, the sampling transition should be located in the center of the eye, which provides maximum setup and hold times for signal sampling. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the eye of the signal exiting the transmission medium (s.sub.d (t)) is practically closed. Thus, recovering data from this signal would be practically impossible since little or no setup and hold times are available for reliable sampling by the sampling clock. On the other hand, the signal eye for the signal resulting from equalization (s.sub.e (t)) is practically completely open, thereby restoring the large setup and hold times needed for reliable sampling by the sampling clock.
Often the characteristics of the transmission medium are allowed to vary significantly while at the same time requiring good equalization. For example, if the transmission medium is a cable, the cable may be allowed to range in length from zero to 100 m, as is the case in 100BASE-TX Ethernet networks. Since short cable lengths tend to degrade a signal's frequency spectrum much less than long cable lengths, an equalizer designed for a short cable will generally under-compensate a long cable. Conversely, an equalizer designed for a long cable will over-compensate a short cable. In either case, the resulting signal may be unintelligible.
An "adaptive" equalizer solves this problem by automatically varying its characteristics ("adapting" its characteristics) as a function of the transmission medium characteristics. Thus, an adaptive equalizer produces an output signal that is optimized for any transmission medium that is within specified limits. FIG. 3 illustrates the block diagram of a prior art adaptive equalizer implementation. An input signal i(t) carried by a transmission medium is provided to a variable filter 302 whose characteristics are varied under feedback control. An output signal o(t) of variable filter 302 is input to a detector 304 which converts this signal into a restored waveform r(t).
The output signal o(t) of variable filter 302 is also provided to a summing element 306 in inverted form, and the restored signal r(t) is likewise provided to summing element 306. Thus, the output of variable filter 302 is subtracted from the output of detector 304 to generate an error signal e(t). This error signal e(t) represents the distortion in the restored signal r(t) caused by imperfect compensation by variable filter 302 of the input signal i(t) from the transmission medium. The error signal e(t) is provided to variable filter 302 such that the error signal e(t) modifies the characteristics of variable filter 302 in a direction that reduces the error.
This prior art implementation of an adaptive equalizer has several drawbacks. For example, the prior art adaptive equalizer requires that the amplitude and timing of the variable filter output be precisely controlled so that the error signal represents only true signal distortion. Without precise amplitude and delay control, the error signal would include false contributions from amplitude and timing differences between the variable filter output and the detector output. So this implementation requires using very precise analog techniques for operation.
Furthermore, the prior art adaptive equalizer implementation uses an amplitude criterion for adapting the filter, that is, it examines amplitude differences and generates an error signal based on these differences. However, the criterion that is of direct interest to the equalization process is not amplitude, but rather jitter, since jitter directly impacts the ability to accurately perform sampling. While, in theory, equalizing a signal's amplitude over all frequencies of interest is expected to result in minimum jitter, this might not necessarily be true for practical--and, therefore, imperfect--filter implementations.

Adaptive equalization using a minimum- jitter criterion


A multifunction exerciser includes a base, a coupler rotatably attached to the base, a lever attached to the coupler and having one or more seats for supporting users, a handle device rotatably attached to the base, and a link pivotally coupling the handle device to the coupler and thus to the lever, to allow the user to elevate himself by rotating the handle device relative to the base. A foot support is rotatably attached to the base, and includes one or more foot pedals to support the user, and a connecting rod pivotally couples the foot support to the handle device and the coupler. The handle device includes a connecting bar coupled between two hand grips, and a connector rotatably coupled to the base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multifunction exerciser, and more particularly to a multifunction exerciser for providing various kinds of operating modes and for allowing the users to conduct various kinds of exercising operations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various kinds of typical exercisers have been developed and provided for allowing the users to conduct various kinds of exercising operations, and some of the typical exercisers comprise a seat, a pair of foot pedals, and a handle device, coupled together, to allow the users to conduct pulling type or stepping type exercising operations.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,339 to Chen discloses one of the typical exercisers including a structure for simulating horse riding exercises. However, the structure of the typical exerciser is arranged to allow the users to conduct and to simulate the horse riding exercises only, and may not be used to conduct the other type of exercising operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,340 to Yu discloses another typical exerciser including a structure for conducting stepping and/or pulling exercises. However, the structure of the typical exerciser is also arranged to allow the users to conduct and to simulate the stepping and/or pulling exercises only, and may not be used to conduct the other type of exercising operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,785 to Wu discloses a further typical exerciser including a structure for simulating horse riding exercises. However, similarly, the structure of the typical exerciser may also be used to conduct and to simulate the horse riding exercises only, and may not be used to conduct the other type of exercising operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,147 to Huang discloses a still further typical exerciser including a structure for conducting horse riding exercises, arm building exercises, chest building exercises, etc. However, additional cylinders or resistive devices that are normally expensive are required to be provided and coupled to the loading frame, in order to provide the resistive force against the loading frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,930 to Kuo discloses a still further typical exerciser including a foot support, and a handle device, and a seat back coupled together, to allow the users to conduct pulling type or stepping type or backing type exercising operations. However, similarly, additional cylinders or resistive devices that are normally expensive are required to be provided and coupled to the linking member, in order to provide the resistive force against the linking member.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional exercising machines.


A substrate housing method for a substrate processing apparatus, including: a first step of transporting the substrate taken out from a housing case to the substrate processing apparatus by a transport means; a third step of processing the substrate at the substrate processing apparatus; a fourth step of returning the substrate after the third step to the housing case by the transport means; a second step of calculating a difference in amount in relation to a normal position of the substrate at the transport means from the first step and before the fourth step; and a fifth step of adjusting a returning position of the substrate in the housing case after the third step and until the fourth step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus such as a substrate inspection apparatus, a substrate production apparatus and the like and a substrate housing method.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-81607, filed Mar. 22, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, upon inspecting outside of a semiconductor wafer (substrate), after picking up the semiconductor wafer set in a cassette by a transportation robot, pre-alignment is performed before transporting to a micro inspection portion. When performing the pre-alignment the semiconductor wafer is placed at a precise position by performing an alignment adjustment with higher precision than the pre-alignment at the micro inspection portion, and after that, micro inspection is performed. After finishing this micro inspection, the semiconductor wafer is set to the cassette by the transportation robot (see, for example, PCT International Publication No. WO 02/21589).
That is, if the center of the semiconductor wafer is shifted 1-2 mm upon transporting the semiconductor wafer from the cassette to the inspection apparatus, then there may be a case where it is impossible to perform the alignment in the micro inspection portion, therefore, the pre-alignment is performed in order to make it possible to perform alignment precisely at the micro alignment portion.
This semiconductor wafer is received by a rotation stage waiting at a predetermined position in the micro inspection portion, and the alignment adjustment with higher precision and the micro inspection are performed. After finishing the micro inspection, the rotation stage returns to the waiting position and the semiconductor wafer is set to the cassette by the transmission robot.
As described above, the alignment with high precision is performed before the micro inspection, however, after the micro inspection, the rotation stage mounting the semiconductor wafer returns to the waiting position automatically, therefore, the semiconductor wafer is received by the transmission robot in a state in which the center is shifted.

Substrate processing apparatus and substrate housing method


Processes for forming a stabilized liquid biochemical agricultural product containing an organic solvent extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis comprising subjecting an organic solvent extract of dried particulate Reynoutria sachalinensis to first and second extract concentration stages, and wherein prior to said second extract concentration stage, the concentrated extract from said first extract concentration stage is mixed with a liquid stabilizer, most preferably a liquid nitrogen-containing fertilizer.

The plant Reynoutria sachalinensis (commonly known as "giant knotweed", and hereinafter more simply referred to as "Reysa") is known to possess agricultural fungicidal activity as evidenced from U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,734 to Pommer et al (the entire content of which is expressly incorporated hereinto by reference). In this regard, it is known that Reysa may be extracted with an organic solvent, such as ethanol, and then subjected to partial evaporation of the ethanol so as to obtain an ethanol extract of Reysa. However, several problems exist when extracting Reysa (or other plant materials) with an organic solvent.
In this regard, when plant materials are extracted with an organic solvent, such as ethanol, the resulting extract includes a complex mixture of materials which vary in terms of water solubilities. The extraction of plant materials can, and often does, result in extracts containing chlorophyll, waxes and oils in addition to more water soluble components. The less water soluble components separate and agglomerate (so-called "tarring out") upon removal of the organic solvent. The extracts and concentrates can also be susceptible to microbial decomposition once the ethanol is removed, thereby leading to inefficacious results.
Broadly, the present invention is embodied in processes to form stable formulations of solvent-extracted Reysa containing minimal (if any) residual organic solvent and to the stable formulations thereby obtained. In particular, the present invention involves subjecting an alcoholic Reysa extract to a primary concentration step (e.g., via distillation, evaporation or the like) to remove a major portion of the organic solvent and to concentrate the Reysa in the resulting primary concentrate solution. Thereafter, an inorganic or organic (e.g., urea) liquid stabilizer is added to the primary concentrate solution which is thereafter subjected to a secondary concentration step so as to remove substantially all (e.g., greater than 95 wt. %) of the organic solvent. In such a manner, therefore, Reysa formulations are provided which are stabilized against microbial decomposition and the resulting reduced inefficacy.

Processes for forming stabilized liquid biochemical agricultural products


The milling machine lathe attachment is attachable to an existing milling machine so as to eliminate the need for an operator owning both a milling machine and a lathe. It is designed to be mounted to the side of the milling machine and to be used without disturbing a setup in the associated vise. The attachment is also designed to be mounted to the front of a milling machine and allows the programming of the very point of single point tool contact so as to follow whatever contour or steps are desired. This type of cutting is not possible on a lathe with guaranteed accuracy, while on a milling machine it is quite feasible.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to milling machines, and in particular to an attachment for a milling machine which allows the milling machine to function as a lathe.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vertical milling machines are used extensively to perform a variety of machining operations and are well known in the prior art. These types of machining operations include drilling, reaming, lapping, etc., wherein a vertically oriented tool is removably secured in and projects downwardly from the lower end of a power driven spindle. By the same token, lathes also are used to cut metallic objects and utilize a chuck and rotatable spindle to hold a toolstock in a horizontal position. Both of these machines are separably and differently operable, and a good machine shop must purchase both machines to be able to handle all types of commercial operations. Due to the extreme expense associated with the purchase of both machines, it would appear that there exists a need for some type of machine which could perform both milling and lathe operations, thereby to substantially reduce the overall expense, and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A screening device is provided with multiple channel upper and lower panel retaining members that allow multiple panels to be laterally moved past each other. Channel end caps, a panel rolling member assembly and close spacing of the upper and lower panel retaining members prevent removal of the panels from the screening device. A support structure uses angled castings and extrusion members for rapid custom screen device assembly that avoids long welding assembly times as well as subsequent weld failure due to screen device vibration. The panel rolling member assembly uses balls, rollers or wheels to easily move the panels in their channels. A trim member with oppositely faced channels engages upper and lower projections on the panel retaining members and covers fastener heads located in a recess in the panel retaining members.

As set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,384, screening apparatus for large equipment can be difficult and time consuming to remove when it is necessary to make repairs or adjustments unless the screening apparatus is constructed and arranged so that it can be moved easily from its normal location around the equipment. In that patent, the screening apparatus was designed so that panels could be moved quickly and easily away from, and back to, their normal screening location by a single person without need for equipment to move the screening apparatus. Unfortunately, it has been found that on occasion severe weather conditions would force the panels from their securing tracks. And even more perversely, it has been found that individuals repairing the screened equipment often removed the panels and then failed to replace them after the repairs had been completed.
In addition to the problem of "lost" panels, members of the framework supporting the panels and the channels in which they were mounted were typically welded together. This of course required extensive and exact setup prior to and during the welding process. Further, due to the vibration of the underlying equipment to which the screen was mounted, welds were found to be subject to breakage with subsequent deleterious consequences to the screen panels. Further it has been observed that sliding panels, i.e., panels that slide in lower channels are often difficult to move due to dirt and other debris that may accumulate in the lower channels. Also the alignment and fastening of decorative trim panels to the panel retainers can be a time consuming and tedious process and removal can be difficult if fasteners become corroded and difficult to remove.
In order to overcome these problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a framework that is easy to assemble.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a framework that is adjustable with only a minimum of assembler effort.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a framework that avoids weld breakage.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide covering panels (sheets) that afford easy access to the underlying machinery.
It is another object of the present invention to provide covering panels that are incapable of being removed from their tracks.
It is another object of the present invention to provide covering panels capable of accepting user indicia.
It is another object of the present invention to provide covering panels that are easily moveable within their mounting channels.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a rapid and easy method of attaching trim panels to the panel retainer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of protecting fasteners from rust and corrosion.
It is therefore the main purpose of the present invention to provide quick and easy access to the screened unit while preventing loss of the screening sheets and providing an attractive appearance at all other times with an assembly that is easy to assemble and which avoids breakage due to severe machinery vibration.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following disclosure in which one or more preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is contemplated that variations in procedures, structural features and arrangement of parts may appear to a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.


A method and apparatus for color compensation in an electronic device is provided. The method includes determining, in response to a playback request for content, whether to compensate color data of the content according to color compensation information; compensating, when it is determined to compensate the color data of the content according to the color compensation information, the color data of the content according to the color compensation information; and displaying the content of which the color data is compensated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for color compensation in an electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Advances in digital technologies have enabled the popularization of various electronic devices supporting communication and personal information processing, such as mobile communication terminals, smartphones, and tablet computers. Such electronic devices may support functions of voice and video call, messaging with Short Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Message Service (MMS), image capturing, still and moving image playback, music playback, Internet browsing, instant messaging, and Social Networking Services (SNS).
The sense of a color or color vision refers to the ability to perceive and distinguish colors. A color vision deficiency may be referred to as an inability or decreased ability to see and distinguish the three primary colors (i.e. red, green and blue). A person having partial color-blindness or color weakness is less sensitive to color stimuli than a person with a normal color vision and is unable to clearly distinguish similar colors.
For a user with a color vision deficiency, an electronic device may provide a function to separately adjust red, green, and blue colors.
However, when the electronic device is shared by a user with a normal color vision and a user with a color vision deficiency, the users may feel inconvenienced because they have to repeatedly perform color adjustment. In addition, the electronic device may support overall color compensation only for the screen in standard and normal modes, but may fail to support color compensation on a content or application basis.

Method and apparatus for color compensation in electronic device


An electronic hardware cabinet includes a forced-air component positioned to force a stream of air to move through the cabinet and at least two electronic assemblies mounted within the cabinet, each of which includes a heat-generating component. The electronic assemblies are positioned so that a portion of the stream of air is heated by a first one of the heat-generating components and, thereafter, that portion of the stream of air moves toward a second one of the heat-generating components. An airflow diverter is positioned between the electronic assemblies to deflect that portion of the stream of air heated by the first heat-generating component to prevent it from reaching the second heat-generating component.

The never-ending explosion in computing processing power has led to an even greater explosion in demands on that power, forcing the designers of computer systems to package vast amounts of electronic equipment into relatively small areas. In addition to the cost of acquiring and maintaining the electronic equipment itself, large and complex computer systems, such as server farms and large data centers, carry additional infrastructure costs, including the costs of real-estate and cooling systems. Because these infrastructure costs are often very high, the owners of these large systems are moving towards ever higher packaging densities, placing as much computing power as possible in each square foot of space.
The owners of complex systems such as server farms and data centers achieve high packaging density by packing more computer equipment in both horizontal and vertical directions. By way of example, the 5380 Server system produced by NCR Corporation is delivered with up to 512 computing nodes, each with as many as four CPUs, stacked in a cabinet that is only 77 inches tall by 24.5 inches wide by 40 inches deep.
While packing computer components this densely solves many of the problems facing the owners of such systems, it also creates another set of challenges, in particular the proper cooling of heat-generating components, especially the CPUs, within such systems. In attempting to alleviate these cooling problems, designers of this type of equipment use forced-air cooling techniques that are aimed at moving cold air from a cold-air source to the hot components inside the cabinet. Forced-air cooling comes in two basic forms—front-to-back cooling and bottom-to-top cooling. The form that is most appropriate in any particular hardware environment and configuration is governed by how the pieces of equipment are physically packaged and electrically connected together.
FIG. 1 is a side view of a server rack 100 that uses bottom-to-top cooling to accommodate the particular packaging needs of the components in the rack. As shown here, the rack 100 includes four vertically mounted rows of printed circuit assemblies, or electronic assemblies 1101 . . . N, each having one or more heat-generating components, such as the central processing units (CPUs) 1151 . . . M. Thermal energy dissipated by the CPUs 1151 . . . M and other active and heat-dissipating integrated circuit devices on the electronic assemblies 1101 . . . N is removed from the electronic assemblies 1101 . . . N by a flow 160 of cooling air that moves from the bottom of the rack 100 to the top. As the air flows past these devices, the temperature of the air rises, so that the air at the top of the cabinet is considerably warmer than the air at the bottom. The cooling effect of the air is bolstered by fan trays 1401 . . . K that serve to pull greater volumes of cool air through the rack, thereby increasing air-flow velocity over the CPUs 1151 . . . M and other components on the electronic assemblies 1101 . . . N. Nevertheless, the air passing over the components at the top of the rack 100 is considerably warmer, and thus has less cooling capacity, than the air passing over components at the bottom of the rack 100. With electronic components, particularly CPUs, growing increasingly hotter with normal operation, cooling is quickly becoming the deciding factor in determining the vertical density of a server rack.

Minimization of cooling air preheat for maximum packaging density