A mobile station supporting selective transmit diversity (STD) efficiently transmits forward channel status information to a base station in a 1×EV-DV mobile communication system. The mobile station receives signals transmitted from the base station through a plurality of transmission antennas, measures signal strengths of the received signals, compares the measured signal strengths after compensating for a transmission power difference between the transmission antennas, and selects a transmission antenna having the highest signal strength. The mobile station transmits forward channel status information indicating measured signal strength for a signal transmitted from the selected transmission antenna to the base station along with antenna selection information indicating the selected transmission antenna. The forward channel status information includes absolute status information representing measured signal strength for a transmission antenna selected at a current time interval, or relative status information representing a result obtained by comparing the measured signal strength for the transmission antenna selected at the current time interval with measured signal strength for a transmission antenna selected at a previous time interval.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mobile communication system supporting voice and data services, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for efficiently transmitting and receiving status information of a forward channel in a mobile communication system supporting selective transmit diversity.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical mobile communication system, e.g., a code division multiple access (CDMA) mobile communication system, provides only a voice service. However, with the development of a communication technology and at the demand of users, research has been carried out on a mobile communication system for supporting not only the voice service but also a data service. In order to meet such a demand, a 1×EV-DV (Evolution in Data and Voice) mobile communication system has been recently proposed.
In the 1×EV-DV mobile communication system, mobile stations (MSs) measure status of a forward channel from a base station (BS) and each transmits the measurement information to the base station, and the base station determines a destination mobile station that will receive forward packet data, and transmission parameters with which the forward packet data will be transmitted, based on status measurement information of the forward channel, received from a plurality of mobile stations. A reverse channel quality indicator channel (R-CQICH) serves to transmit forward channel status information. Specifically, the forward channel status information is information indicating a carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I) obtained by measuring a pilot channel transmitted in a forward direction.
FIG. 1 illustrates information transmitted over a reverse channel quality indicator channel (R-CQICH) in a common 1×EV-DV mobile communication system. In FIG. 1, a mobile station measures a C/I value of a pilot signal transmitted over a forward pilot channel every 1.25 ms-slot period, and transmits the C/I measurement value over R-CQICH.
In the case where a base station supports selective transmit diversity (STD), a mobile station receives forward pilot signals from two or more base station antennas. In this case, the mobile station transmits a C/I value for a forward pilot channel of an antenna showing a larger C/I value and best antenna selection information indicating a corresponding antenna, to the base station over R-CQICH.
For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a method of transmitting 1-bit antenna selection information over R-CQICH in an STD system using two antennas. That is, a mobile station transmits 4-bit forward channel status information indicating a C/I measurement value and 1-bit best antenna selection information every slot.
A base station receives 4-bit C/I information and 1-bit best antenna selection information every slot, and then determines (i) whether to transmit packet data to a mobile station that has transmitted the information, (ii) data rate, code rate and modulation scheme, to be used for transmission of the packet data in case the base station transmits to the mobile station.
FIG. 2 illustrates a structure of an R-CQICH transmitter in a general 1×EV-DV mobile communication system. Referring to FIG. 2, a mobile station receives a forward pilot channel signal at a C/I measurer 210. The C/I measurer 210 measures a C/I value for the received forward pilot channel signal, and provides the C/I measurement value to a C/I information generator 220. If STD is used, the C/I measurer 210 measures C/I values for all transmission antennas of a base station.
The C/I information generator 220 generates 1-bit best antenna selection information by comparing the C/I measurement values, and generates 4-bit C/I information by quantizing a C/I measurement value selected from the C/I measurement values. The 4-bit C/I information indicates a C/I measurement value for a best antenna having the highest C/I measurement value, and the 1-bit best antenna selection information indicates the antenna having the highest C/I measurement value. If STD is not used, the best antenna selection information is fixed to 0 or 1.
A mapping relationship among the 4-bit C/I information, the 1-bit best antenna selection information, and a C/I measurement value of a forward pilot channel (F-PICH) is illustrated in Table 1.
TABLE 1C/I measurement value of F-PICHC/I information (a4, a3, a2, a1, a0)NULL (Below −14.5 dB, or MS not)x0000−14.5 to −13.1 dBx0001−13.1 to −11.6 dBx0010−11.6 to −10.2 dBx0011−10.2 to −8.8 dBx0100 −8.8 to −7.4 dBx0101 −7.4 to −5.9 dBx0110 −5.9 to −4.5 dBx0111 −4.5 to −3.1 dBx1000 −3.1 to −1.6 dBx1001 −1.6 to −0.2 dBx1010 −0.2 to 1.2 dBx1011   1.2 to 2.6 dBx1100   2.6 to 4.1 dBx1101   4.1 to 5.5 dBx1110Above 5.5 dBx1111
In Table 1, one bit in a position a4 represented by x out of the 5-bit information represents best antenna selection information and is used to indicate a transmission antenna having a highest C/I measurement value.
The 4-bit C/I information and 1-bit best antenna selection information generated by the C/I information generator 220 are channel-encoded by a block encoder 230 using a prescribed code rate based on the number of input bits, e.g., a code rate of (12,5). 12 encoded symbols output from the block encoder 230 are Walsh-covered by a Walsh coverer 240 with a prescribed Walsh cover code. The Walsh cover code has a length of 8 bits and is determined by a 3-bit best sector indicator (BSI). The BSI is to indicate a base station (or sector in the case of sector-type base stations) having best forward channel status in an active set, a list of base stations (or sectors in the case of sector-type base stations) with which the mobile station is communicating.
A 96-bit Walsh-covered sequence output from the Walsh coverer 240 is spread by a Walsh spreader 250 with a Walsh code assigned to R-CQICH, and then transmitted to a base station.
In FIG. 2, the 4-bit C/I information and 1-bit best antenna selection information are transmitted every 1.25 ms slot of a reverse channel. When the CQICH is formed in this way, a mobile station using STD must transmit a total of 5 bits in order to report forward channel status to a base station every slot. This amounts to 4,000 bps (=5 bits/1.25 ms) before encoding, cover and spreading is considered, and in a 1×EV-DV system, all mobile stations desiring to receive a packet data service must transmit the information. However, the C/I information transmission method stated above causes a large reduction in reverse transmission capacity by a base station.

Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving status information of forward channel in a mobile communication system supporting selective transmit diversity


A semiconductor substrate formed with a MOSFET is prepared, and a first interlayer insulating film is deposited on the semiconductor substrate. A ferroelectric capacitor is formed on the first interlayer insulating film. Next, a second interlayer insulating film is formed on a first structure provided with the semiconductor substrate, the first interlayer insulating film and the ferroelectric capacitor so as to embed the ferroelectric capacitor therein. Openings for electrically connecting the MOSFET and the ferroelectric capacitor and an external circuit of a ferroelectric memory are formed in the second interlayer insulating film to form a second structure. A metal wiring is formed on the second interlayer insulating film to form a third structure. Next, the third structure is heat-treated in an atmosphere from over 350° C. to under 450° C.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ferroelectric memory, and particularly to a method for manufacturing a non-volatile memory using a ferroelectric capacitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, attention has been given to a semiconductor memory (ferroelectric memory) using a ferroelectric capacitor, as a non-volatile memory. A ferroelectric has the property of holding polarization in the direction of voltage application even though the voltage is eliminated (it has spontaneous polarization). Therefore, the ferroelectric memory can be used as the non-volatile memory. Also the reverse speed of polarization of the ferroelectric is on the order of nanoseconds. Further, the voltage necessary for polarization inversion is also restricted to about 2.0V by optimization of a method for manufacturing a ferroelectric thin film. Due to these reasons, the ferroelectric memory is remarkably excellent in rewriting speed and operating voltage as compared with other non-volatile memories such as a flash memory, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), etc. Further, since the number of times that data stored in a ferroelectric memory is rewritable or reprogrammable, is greater than or equal to 1012 times, the ferroelectric memory is now placed on practical use as a RAM (Random Access Memory).
In order to ensure long-term reliability, the ferroelectric memory needs to hold degradation produced due to an imprint to the minimum. The imprint means a phenomenon in which when data is being stored or held in the ferroelectric memory over a long period after writing of the data into the ferroelectric memory, the property of holding data opposite to the held data is degraded. This imprint occurs because when given data is retained, an internal electric field in the same direction as polarization occurs due to redistribution of floating charges lying inside a capacitor.
Since the imprint is relevant to the existence of floating charges lying inside the ferroelectric thin film of the ferroelectric capacitor, it depends on the floating charges that exist in the ferroelectric thin film. In addition to it, the imprint greatly depends on degeneration (damage) of crystalline suffered due to hydrogen or the like introduced into the ferroelectric thin film in a manufacturing process subsequent to the formation of the ferroelectric capacitor. Thus, in order to form the ferroelectric memory, there is a need to provide such a process as not to damage the ferroelectric thin film in the process subsequent to the formation of the ferroelectric capacitor.
As one example therefor, for example, a method for providing a cover film such as Al2O3 immediately after the formation of a ferroelectric capacitor and preventing the occurrence of damage so as not to allow hydrogen or the like to reach a ferroelectric thin film has already been executed. However, the method using the cover film becomes complex in process even in the case where consideration is made from the viewpoint that another film called "cover film" which is not required originally, is added.
As another example, recovery anneal for improving a ferroelectric characteristic of a ferroelectric capacitor has also been carried out. After the formation of the ferroelectric capacitor, a contact hole is provided by etching to make contact with its corresponding electrode of the ferroelectric capacitor. Since the ferroelectric capacitor is damaged by hydrogen or the like produced upon execution of the etching and formation of an interlayer insulating film by an oxide film, recovery anneal for recovering the damage is carried out in an oxygen atmosphere, for example (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10(1998)-247724). In addition to anneal in the oxygen atmosphere, such recovery anneal was carried out in an ozone atmosphere (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 6(1994)-13565), in a nitrogen atmosphere (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8(1996)-8409) or in an atmosphere of air (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-324186).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10(1998)-247724 discloses that anneal at 550° C. is further done in an oxygen atmosphere to recover damage generated after the recovery anneal.
Since, however, oxidation of tungsten and aluminum occurs after the formation of a conductor plug formed of tungsten (W) or the like and a metal wring formed of aluminum (Al) or the like, for electrically connecting a MOSFET and a ferroelectric capacitor, and an external circuit, it is difficult to carry out anneal in an oxygen atmosphere at a high temperature.

Method for manufacturing ferroelectric memory


Visual and/or audible cues are used to assist users with data input on keyboards having keys associated with multiple input symbols or functions. Each input symbol or function has a correspondence to an input object, such as a finger. During key actuation, one or more input objects are detected. Candidate input symbols or functions are determined based on identification of the key being actuated. The candidate input symbols or functions are presented to the user in the form of cues having visual and/or audible features. The detected input objects may be optionally identified and presented to the user in the form of cues having visual and/or audible features as well.

The Tapping Finger Identification (TFI) technology disclosed in US patent application, US20060190836A1, by Su et al., presents alternative means to data entry on conventional keyboards. TFI-enabled keyboards determine user input not only based on which key was pressed, but also on which of the user's finger was used to press the key, as each key may be capable of selecting multiple symbols or functions.
The use of visual or audible cues to improve the accuracy and ease of use of data entry interfaces has been proposed for some systems. This is especially important for virtual keyboards, such as those keyboard systems proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,842 (Korth) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,151,530 (Rafii). These include: displaying key layout on-screen, indicating hand status on-screen, and using audible sound to indicate key press events.
However, all these solutions are designed for traditional keyboard systems in which the various tapping fingers are not considered or differentiated in such designs. In TFI, it is important to not only indicate by visual and/or audible cues what keys are pressed, but also which fingers are being (or about to be) used in actuating keys.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for efficient data input


A method and system are provided for determining a location of a predetermined N bit sequence in a data stream. The method comprises the steps of determining two N bit data words from consecutive bits of the data stream, and providing N, N bit comparators. A first N bits of the two N bit data words is compared with the predetermined N bit data sequence by a first of the N comparators, and a next N bits, starting at a second bit, of the two N bit data words are compared with the predetermined N bit sequence by a second of the N bit comparators. These comparisons are repeated, incrementing the starting bit, until N comparators have been employed and the first through N bits have been employed as the starting bit.

Searching for a particular sequence of data in a continuous serial bit stream is a process that has traditionally taken a long period of time, and has more recently been very software and computer processor intensive. FIG. 1 depicts a classical implementation of the search for a requested eight bit data pattern contained within a data stream. As is shown in FIG. 1, a data stream 100 comprises a number of data bits D−n . . . D0, D1 . . . D+n, In FIG. 1, bits D0-D7 are currently located in a shift register 120. Bits D8 and higher of data stream 100 have already been output from shift register 120. Bits D−1 and lower of bit stream 100 have not yet been entered in shift register 120. The eight bit data pattern that is to be searched for is stored into a second register 130, and includes bits C0-C7. While eight bits are shown, any number of bits could be employed.
To determine whether the desired bit pattern ins present in the data stream, the portion of the bit stream in shift register 120 is compared to the eight bit data pattern stored in register 130 on a bit by bit basis through the use of an eight bit comparator 140. If all bits are the same, the comparator determines that the data currently in the shift register is the requested data pattern. If the bits are not all the same, then at each bit rate period one new bit is shifted into the shift register pushing all the other bits to the right by one position. Thus, after a first comparison has failed, bit D7 id output from the shift register, bits D6-D0 are shifted one bit to the right, and bit D−1 is loaded into the shift register. After the shifting procedure is completed, once again the comparator compares the new data in the shift register to the requested data pattern.
An attempt to improve on this design has been set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,192 issued to Eto. et al. In this patent, a system is described that divides a 16-bit sequence into four portions, and then each comparator performs a search for a portion (1/n) bits of the overall pattern. A major drawback of this method is that even though the comparators are each running at a 1/n frequency, the outputs from the various comparators and the internal timing and clocks of the comparators must be very tightly controlled in order to recombine the low speed output data from the n comparators to generate one high speed result. Additionally, even in such a solution, it is necessary to perform four comparisons with each four bit comparator, or 16 comparisons, to determine the proper sequence. While this system does allow some parallel processing, it does not reduce the overall number of comparisons, and in fact, while reducing complexity in one respect, in creases the required complexity of the overall timing and control system.
These prior art approaches suffer at least one major problem when applied to data running at a high speed, such as a multi gigabit serial transmission. The comparator (or set of comparators) is required to operate at the bitrate frequency and may require a custom design using extremely high-speed technology.

Use of multiple data comparators in parallel to trigger an oscilloscope on a pattern found in a serial data stream


A video image viewing device includes first and second glass plates having a layer of liquid crystal therebetween. A plurality of laser diodes extending along a line near one edge of the first plate are selectively illuminated at an intensity corresponding to the amplitude of a video signal during each of a plurality of video lines. The light propagates through the first plate via total internal reflection not entering the liquid crystal layer until it reaches an area where the refractive index of the liquid crystal is selectively modified. The refractive index may be modified by selectively energizing each of a plurality of horizontal strip electrodes vertically spaced from each other. The electrodes are sequentially energized to frustrate the total internal refraction and thereby cause the light to be transmitted through the liquid crystal layer into the second plate at a location corresponding to the location of video line in a video frame of the video signal. One or more holographic optical elements diffract light passing into the second plate to a predetermined direction, thereby forming a unique virtual image point location for each combination of single electrode pair activation and laser diode activation.

Video viewing devices are in common use for a wide variety of applications. Cathode ray tube ("CRT") displays have long been used for television viewing, and more recently as computer monitors. More compact devices for viewing video images, such as liquid crystal display ("LCD") screens, have been developed as a substitute for CRT displays.
More recently compact, lightweight head mounted displays have been introduced as viewing devices for "virtual reality" systems. By providing a separate viewing device for each eye and appropriately varying the image viewable though each device, high-resolution stereographic video images may be displayed.
Another type of viewing device for video images are "heads up displays" ("HUD's") that enable jet fighter pilots to process mentally a huge amount of information pertaining to both the space surrounding the aircraft and the condition and performance of the aircraft. This has led to the development of HUD's built into the transparent canopy of aircraft, as well as "head-mounted displays" and "visor displays."
All of the above-described HUD's require light projected from a source display (such as a liquid crystal television screen) to travel some distance through air to a reflective, refractive or diffractive surface where the light is redirected to form a virtual image of the source display. A holographic optical element typically serves as a diffractive surface in such displays, and typically is highly color selective. However, it would be desirable to view a video image, particularly a three dimensional image, by directly generating a threedimensional virtual image without the need for transmitting light from a source display through the air. If a technique could be found for avoiding the need to transmit light though the air over a substantial distance, the viewing device could be extremely compact, and could even closely resemble an ordinary pair of eyeglasses. The compact, lightweight and unobtrusive nature of such a viewing device would open up a multitude of new applications, such as allowing use as a monitor for a pocket-sized computer, a superior virtual reality viewing device, or as a prosthetic for deaf people to display visual cues derived from sound.


In a mutual immittance calculation apparatus, an input section inputs data of a model of an electric circuit apparatus, being a target for analysis of the electromagnetic-field strength and being divided into a plurality of patches. A mutual immittance calculation section calculates respective mutual immittance for combinations of patches corresponding to the main portion and to the additional portion. The mutual immittance calculation section uses a stored calculation result corresponding to the main portion when the model in which only the additional portion has been changed is calculated for a second time onward, and recalculates the mutual immittance corresponding to the changed additional portion.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for calculating mutual immittance in an electric circuit apparatus and mutual immittance used to calculate an electromagnetic-field strength, based on a moment method.
2) Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a radio wave that is unnecessarily emitted from an electric circuit apparatus interferes with other radio waves such as TV and radio, and hence it is strictly restricted in each country. In order to satisfy such restriction of radio waves, it is necessary to use various technologies as solutions to this problem such as shield engineering and filter technology. Further, a technology that quantitatively simulates how much these technologies can reduce the radio wave is required.
Huge amount of processing time is necessary for a computer to simulate such an electromagnetic wave analysis, and hence an apparatus that computes the strength of an electromagnetic field emitted from the electric circuit apparatus at a high speed is required.
The strength of an electromagnetic field emitted from an arbitrarily shaped object can be easily calculated by using a known theoretical formula if the current flowing through each section of the object is known. Theoretically, if the Maxwell's electromagnetic wave equation is solved under a given boundary condition, a current value can be obtained. However, at present, solutions to the equation to be directly obtained under a complicated boundary condition targeting an arbitrarily shaped object has not been known yet.
Therefore, all the solutions for determining the current, used in the electromagnetic-field strength calculation apparatus are approximate, though the degree of difficulty is different. The moment method is currently known as a representative of the approximate solutions.
The moment method is one of the solutions to an integral equation derived from the Maxwell's electromagnetic wave equation, and this method can handle a three-dimensional arbitrarily shaped object. More specifically, the object is divided into small elements to calculate a current.
As described above, since the moment method can handle a three-dimensional arbitrarily shaped object, a configuration in which the strength of an electromagnetic field emitted from the electric circuit apparatus is calculated by using the moment method is prevailing in the electromagnetic-field strength calculation apparatus.
When the moment method is used, such a method is employed that when a metal object is handled, the metal portion is formed into a mesh, as a target for analysis, to obtain a mutual immittance Zi,j between the divided metals, and simultaneous equations [Zi,j] [I1]=[Vi] in the moment method established between the mutual immittance Zi,j, a wave source Vi and a current Ii flowing in the divided metal is solved to obtain a current Ii, and the electromagnetic-field strength to be emitted is calculated from this result. A symbol [ ] denotes a matrix.
One of references relating to the moment method is as follows.
[Reference 1] H. N. Wang, J. H. Richmond and M. C. Gilreath: "Sinusoidal reaction formulation for radiation and scattering from conducting surface", IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION, vol. AP-23, 1975.
When an electromagnetic wave is analyzed with respect to an actual machine (electric circuit apparatus), generally, an analogous model is repeatedly analyzed, while changing a part of the analysis model.
In the conventional electromagnetic-field strength calculation apparatus, as described above, even if the analysis model is slightly changed, mutual immittance is calculated for combinations of all elements, which requires huge calculation amounts. The calculation of the mutual immittance accounts for nearly half the time required for the electromagnetic analysis.
Therefore, when the electromagnetic wave analysis is performed with respect to the actual machine, the calculation amount becomes huge by the number of times of changing the part of the analysis model, causing a problem in that even several hours to tens of hours are required.

Mutual immittance calculation program, mutual immittance calculation apparatus and method, and electromagnetic-field strength calculation program


Network-connected (i.e., “smart”) containers are described herein that include an electronic display on which personalized information can be presented. For example, the electronic display (and other necessary components, such as memory, processors, and communication modules) can be integrated into the cap or the body of a container, which holds a skin care product (e.g., a medication or a personal care product, such as a cosmetic) that is applied by the user as part of a skin care regimen. More specifically, a smart container can include an electronic display that presents relevant information to a user for review. Such information can include the name of the skin care product, textual instructions for complying with a skin care regimen, animations illustrating how to apply the skin care product, user information, messages (e.g., text messages delivered via a cloud service), notifications, and device information (e.g., battery status and network connectivity status).

Skin care refers to a range of practices that improve skin health, such as nutrition, avoidance of excessive sun exposure, and appropriate use of emollients to enhance an individual's appearance (e.g., cosmetics, exfoliation, and peels). These practices support skin integrity by enhancing an individual's appearance, remediating skin break-downs, and/or relieving skin conditions. Completing a skin care regimen is a routine daily procedure for many individuals.
Oftentimes, a skin care regimen will require that specific skin care products be applied and/or that specific procedures be performed by individuals whose skin is too dry or moist, or to prevent/treat certain injuries or conditions (e.g., dermatitis). A skin care regimen could also be a component of a medical regimen. For example, skin care may be a component in improving wound healing, neonates, stomas, radiation treatment, and with some medications.
Many skin care regimens require that an individual apply a personal care product (which is intended to cleanse or beautify) and/or a medication (which is intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent a disease, or affect the structure or function of the body). Examples of personal care products include cosmetics, such as makeup, perfume, and lipstick. Examples of medications include sunscreen and acne creams. Other products, such as moisturizing sunscreens and anti-dandruff shampoos, are often considered to be examples of both categories.
The figures depict various embodiments described throughout the Detailed Description for the purposes of illustration only. While specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below, the technology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms. The intention is not to limit the technology to the particular embodiments described. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the technology as defined by the appended claims.


A method and system is disclosed for maintaining a communications protocol session between a client and server during times of inactivity at the client caused by other processing in the data path following a request by the client. For various client processes that may expire after a specified amount of inactivity during a particular session, an agent of the client in the data path can send a response containing illusory content to the client that causes the client to maintain the current session. The process at the client can ignore this illusory content response but, by processing it, the communications path session between the client and server can be maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to sustaining connections within communications networks. More specifically, the invention relates to maintaining a communications protocol session in a client/server architecture during periods of non-activity at the client.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a distributed communications network, a user of a computer desiring to use the network (the "client" computer) will ultimately be connected during a session via a communications protocol to another computer (the "server" computer) in order for the client to utilize resources that may be available at the server. In typical communications network deployments, additional computers may serve as agents of the client as part of the communications path. For example, computer network 100 shown in FIG. 1 can contain agents such as proxies 110 and 160, and firewalls 120 and 150. In network 100, data travelling between client 130 and server 140 can first travel through proxy 110 and firewall 120, before reaching data communications network 190 (such as the Internet). Prior to reaching server 140, the data travels first through firewall 150 and proxy 160.
Data communication protocols allow client 130 and server 140 to communicate with each other over communications network 190. For example, the well known Internet Protocol (IP), as described in Request for Comment (RFC) 791 (INTERNET PROTOCOL, DARPA INTERNET PROGRAM PROTOCOL SPECIFICATION, dated September 1981), and the well known Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) as described in RFC 793 (TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROTOCOL, DARPA INTERNET PROGRAM PROTOCOL, SPECIFICATION, dated September 1981) (together known as TCP/IP) can provide the necessary mechanisms that allow communications to pass between computers and other data processing devices using the Internet. Similarly, the well known Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), as described in RFC 2616 (HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL—HTTP/1.1), can provide the ability for communications to occur between clients and servers using the World Wide Web (WWW or Web).
Certain processes that may occur at an agent of an entity communicating over a communications network can take a significant amount of time to complete. For example, activities related to checking for viruses (such as scanning a file requested by a client) can take a significant amount of time while executing at a firewall. While such activity takes place, the client machine may not sense any network activity and may incorrectly determine that the communications session has been terminated. For example, a lack of activity could be incorrectly perceived as a situation where the server has crashed or is otherwise not responding.
Mechanisms have existed in the past for preserving network connections during periods of inactivity between the server and the client. For example, International Patent Application WO 99/26161 entitled "Controlled Distribution of Application Programs in a Computer Network", assigned to Trend Micro, Inc., discloses a method for establishing a bidirectional communications link between a proxy and a client. The bidirectional link can then be used to provide a status to the client during any time-consuming server operations. However, this solution utilizes a separate software module that is downloaded from the server to the client. In a non-secure environment, this type of approach could introduce viruses or other malicious processes. In addition, this type of approach would consume resources on the client machine. Furthermore, in some network configurations (for example, those involving firewalls), a separate software module might be blocked from being received by the client.
Consequently, a need exists for a data network system that overcomes the foregoing drawbacks. In particular, a method is needed for maintaining a communications protocol session between a client and a server during periods when time consuming processes are executed at agents of the client, without the dangers and disadvantages associated with downloading a separate piece of software.

Method and system for maintaining a communications protocol session


A clutch actuator for a vehicle includes a lifting member having a first end connected to a power generator, a middle portion provided with a hinge point, and a second end formed with an inclined plane, the lifting member being linearly moved by receiving a power from the power generator; a guide member provided at one side of the second end of the lifting member to rotate the second end of the lifting member around the hinge point as the lifting member is linearly moved while the inclined planes are supported; and a lever provided at one side of the lifting member and having a first end thereof supported by a clutch housing and a second end rotating around the first end by being pressed by the lifting member according to the movement/rotation of the lifting member, to engage with or release a clutch.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a clutch actuator and, more particularly, to a clutch actuator for a vehicle capable of reducing the size and the weight of the clutch actuator by employing a simple-structure mechanism for actuating a diaphragm spring applied with the principle of the inclined plane.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent times, vehicle developing companies have been meeting with cutthroat competition for developing various means for improving fuel efficiency, such as hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, manual transmission automation and the like. Particularly, there has been competitively developed an automated manual transmission which is more cost-competitive than the hybrid or electric vehicles, and whose shift feeling and price are substantially the same as those of a hydraulic automatic transmission and fuel efficiency is improved by 6 to 8 percent.
The automated manual transmission employs a manual shift mechanism of the conventional manual transmission, but is different from the manual shift mechanism of the conventional manual transmission in the actuation of a clutch and gear shift is automatically controlled by an actuator instead of being manually controlled.
FIG. 1 shows the structure of a clutch actuator for performing a shift mechanism of an automated manual transmission. A motor 1 for generating a driving power of the actuator is connected to a pushrod 3 through a reducer 2, and the seesaw movement of a release fork 4 is produced by the linear movement of the pushrod 3 to thereby actuate a release bearing 5.
However, an operating weight for actuating the release bearing quickly increases as an operating stroke becomes larger. Accordingly, the load of motor is required to increase in order to actuate the release bearing against the operating weight. Thus, when the clutch is actuated, a large current is consumed by the motor, thereby deteriorating the improving effect of vehicle fuel efficiency.
Further, since the structure and operating mechanism for actuating the release bearing are complicated, the size of the actuator increases, and thus the cost also increases. As the clutch actuator is separately installed outside the clutch housing, the clutch actuator is weak in noise and vibration when it is operated.
In the meantime, an actuator of a double clutch transmission (DCT) for a car was introduced in Korean Patent Application Publication No. KR 10-2008-0020232 A.
However, the actuator of this conventional technique also consumes a large current when the clutch is actuated. Accordingly, it is difficult to solve the problem that the improving effect of vehicle fuel efficiency is deteriorated.
Matters described as the background art are just to improve the background of the present invention, but it should not be understood that the matters correspond to the related art which has been already known to those skilled in the art.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.


A device for ascertaining a particle concentration in an exhaust gas flow of a combustion device, particularly a diesel combustion device, is provided, which device ascertains very small particle concentrations in the exhaust gas of combustion devices, accompanied by high time resolution. At least one measuring unit is provided for measuring a concentration of an oxidizing agent in the exhaust gas flow, having at least one measuring element sensitive to the oxidizing agent.

Falling regulatory limit values for emissions of combustion engines, particularly of diesel engines, necessitate active emissions-reduction methods as well as methods for measuring low particle concentrations in the exhaust gas flow.
Particles from diesel engines may include a significant portion of soot and hydrocarbons absorbed on it. By optimizing the combustion processes, it has been possible to reduce the emitted particle mass. In particular, the number of large particles having diameters of more than one micrometer, which formerly contributed to the dark coloration of diesel emissions, has been drastically reduced.
Because of the low mass concentration and the small average diameter of the particles, the demands on measuring methods for determining the particle mass limited by law is increasing. This may be true in particular for particle sensors used in motor vehicles for regulating emissions-reduction components and/or the engine. In addition to sufficient accuracy and response time, suitable sensors may also be subject to requirements with respect to mechanical and thermal stresses, and at the same time, to requirements that they be manufactured in large quantities at low cost.
Sensors are already available for stationary engine test benches which, for example, may be based on the measurement of the blackening number, the opaqueness, or the gravimetric measurement of the change in the weight of a filter. These and other measuring methods may only partially satisfy the requirements indicated above.

Device for ascertaining a particle concentration in an exhaust gas flow


Systems and methods for determining a signal coupling coefficient for a line or trace in an electrical circuit layout are disclosed. The systems and methods include, for example, reading a threshold value for a signal coupling coefficient, identifying the line in a circuit design database, establishing a window around the line in which circuit elements will be included in a calculation of the signal coupling coefficient of the line, calculating a signal coupling coefficient of the line based upon the circuit elements in the window, flagging the line if the calculated coupling coefficient differs from the threshold value, flagging the target line with a design rule check if the threshold value exceeds the calculated coefficient and storing the design rule check in the circuit design database. Systems and methods for determining signal coupling coefficients for one or more vias or paths are also disclosed.

The design of most printed circuit boards, integrated circuit packages and integrated circuits ("substrates") is accomplished today via electronic design automation ("EDA") logic or software tools, such as, e.g., Allegro or the Advanced Package Designer ("APD") by Cadence Designs Systems, Inc. Such tools facilitate the physical circuit layout of single or multi-layered substrates comprising multiple nets, paths, vias and traces. For example, using an EDA tool, a substrate designer locates and describes the lines and vias which comprise nets of the substrate, including the physical properties thereof such as width, shape, spacing, etc.
As substrates become smaller and the designs thereof become more complex (i.e., the amount of vias and traces becomes more dense), substrate designers are more mindful of the potentially negative effects (e.g., signal delay and distortion) of the electromagnetic interactions of the connective elements of the nets in the substrate. For example, capacitive signal coupling may occur between such elements of the substrate. If kept below a threshold level, such signal coupling will likely not have a significant effect on substrate performance. If allowed to exceed such a threshold level, however, such signal coupling may have a significantly deleterious effect on substrate performance.

System and method for determining signal coupling coefficients for lines

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A communication apparatus connectable to an ISDN network and having a communication function and a data communication function comprises a memory for storing a destination number in a speech mode, an instruction unit for instructing data communication in the speech mode, and call means for calling based on the destination number stored in the memory in response to an instruction from the instruction unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication apparatus to be connected to an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) network.
2. Related Background Art
In a G3 facsimile machine connected to a public network for transmitting an image signal by an analog signal, it is not permitted to simultaneously effect communication by a telephone set and facsimile communication. However, in an ISDN network, it is permitted to connect a plurality of communication terminals such as telephone sets and facsimile machines to buses, and connect a communication terminal having both telephone and facsimile functions to each terminal to permit simultaneous communication by the telephone set and the facsimile machine.
FIG. 2A shows a basic interface of a common ISDN network. Numeral 21 denotes a telephone set and numeral 22 denotes a facsimile machine. In this basic interface, up to eight communication terminals may be connected. In FIG. 2B, a telephone set 21 and facsimile machines 23 and 24 with telephone sets are connected to the basic interface of the ISDN network.
In such a configuration, in many cases, the telephone set and the facsimile machine have the same address. However, at the initial connection stage in the ISDN, there is a step to inform the type of terminal to each other to keep consistency in a communication protocol, and hence it is not permitted to switch from the telephone set to the facsimile machine, as opposed to the G3 facsimile machine. Accordingly, if it is desired to switch to the facsimile machine of the same address during the speech by the telephone set in the ISDN network, it is necessary to place the telephone set on hook and then manipulate to connect the line to the facsimile machine. When it is desired to transmit a signal to the facsimile machine during the speech by the telephone set, it is necessary to redial from a sending station and designate the address (number) even if the address of the facsimile machine is same as that of the telephone set under connection.

Apparatus for speed and data communication


A method is described for adaptive load-balancing and graceful termination of access points in a network having a plurality of access points. The method includes determining a need to reduce a load of a first access point, and increasing a beacon interval corresponding to the first access point in order to detract clients. Correspondingly, beacon intervals for other access points may be reduced in order to attract more clients.

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 (hereinafter "802.11") is a family of specifications for wireless local area networks (WLANs), and was developed to maximize interoperability between differing brands of wired local area networks (LANs) as well as to introduce a variety of performance improvements and benefits.
The 802.11 standard defines over-the-air protocols that are necessary to support networking in a local area. A primary service of the 802.11 standard is to deliver MSDUs (MAC Service Data Units) between peer LLCs (Logical Link Controls). Typically, a radio NIC (network interface card) and access point (to be discussed) provide the functions of the 802.11 standard.
The 802.11 standard provides MAC (Media Access Control) and PHY (Physical Layer) functionality for wireless connectivity of fixed, portable, and moving stations moving within a local area. A station is a wireless node that contains functionality of the 802.11 protocol (i.e., MAC layer, PHY layer, and interface to a wireless medium). In its most basic form, stations communicate directly with each other on a peer-to-peer level sharing a given cell coverage area.
The 802.11 topology comprises components that interact to provide a wireless LAN that enables station mobility that is transparent to higher protocol layers such as the LLC, and may support topologies including the IBSS (Independent Basic Service Set) network and the ESS (Extended Service Set) network.
Whereas an IBSS is commonly referred to as an ad hoc network of BSSs, and is often formed on a temporary basis, an ESS comprises a series of BSSs (typically each comprising an AP) that are connected by means of a Distribution System (hereinafter "DS"), which can be almost any type of network, such as an Ethernet LAN, or the Internet, for example. Mobile nodes can then roam between APs, and seamless campus-wide coverage is possible.
Both networks utilize a basic building block referred to as the BSS (Basic Service Set) that provides a coverage area whereby stations of the BSS remain fully connected. A station is free to move within a BSS, but it cannot communicate directly with other stations if it leaves the BSS. Typically, a BSS comprises an access point (hereinafter "AP"). The main function of an AP is to form a bridge between wireless and wired LANs. When an AP is present, stations do not communicate on a peer-to-peer basis. All communications between stations or between a station and a wired network client go through the AP.
The roaming provisions of 802.11 allow for clients to roam among multiple APs that can be operating on the same or separate channel, and provide for APs to transmit beacon signals to their clients. A beacon signal may include a number of parameters, such as a time stamp for client synchronization, a traffic indication map, and an indication of supported data rates, for example. Roaming clients can use the beacon information for a number of purposes. For example, if a client determines that an existing connection is weak, that the APs service has been downgraded, or that an AP is not available when needed, then the client can attempt to associate itself with a new AP.

Dynamically configurable beacon intervals for wireless LAN access points


Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for efficiently providing critical path analysis of a design. In an embodiment, an apparatus disclosed can assist in creating a single critical path schematic which can be used to simulate both rising and falling edge delays. This saves time as only one schematic and one simulation is required instead of the two generally required.

Critical path analysis is one of the most important stages of circuit design, in part, because it can help determine the speed at which a circuit may be run. As circuits are quickly becoming more complicated, critical path analysis, as with many other circuit analysis techniques, is becoming increasingly computerized for efficiency purposes.
Also, as circuits grow in complexity (sometimes reaching thousands and sometimes millions of gates), it is imperative to decrease the number of computer resources and hours spent on evaluating these designs. This is extremely important with respect to critical path analysis. Especially, in the current climate of competition, it is imperative that the speed of a circuit be determined before investing substantial amounts of money on making and marketing a device that may be dwarfed by solutions from competitors.
Accordingly, critical path analysis is not only a tool for engineers to determine if their circuit design works, but also a tool for a marketing and finance division of a company to determine whether a given circuit design is worthy of pursuing.
Generally, circuit designers use a software program, such as HSpice provided by Avant Corporation of Fremont, Calif., to simulate the critical path schematics for their designs. Since the logic gates have different delays through them for rising and falling output nodes, the critical path of a circuit would have to be simulated for both rising and falling edges of a final output node. This requires creating at least two different schematics and simulations to calculate these delays.
After running these simulations, the higher of the rising or falling delays represents the worst-case delay. And, the worst-case delay in turn defines the final delay of the circuit. The final delay indicates the maximum frequency at which a design may safely run. Accordingly, it is important to set up these simulations carefully and efficiently.

Methods and apparatus for improving critical path analysis using gate delay


An accumulator disposed in an actuating circuit for a fluid operated friction device provides a first time pressure relation during engagement of the device and a second time pressure relation during disengagement of the device.

This invention relates to shift timing controls in automatic shifting power transmissions, and more particularly, to shift timing controls in such transmissions wherein a fluid operated friction device is responsive to a pressure time relationship during engagement and disengagement.
In prior art transmissions, an accumulator is utilized to provide for the proper pressure time interval during a speed change to provide the least disturbance during a shift transient. The accumulators have historically been utilized only to control the on-coming friction device, which is generally a disc type fluid operated structure. The off-going friction device is generally permitted to freely exhaust, and the accumulator control is usually removed from the exhausting circuit and exhausted either separately or through a separate restricted passage, such that the accumulator has no affect on the off-going device.
These systems would let the engine accelerate freely to the new speed requirement for the on-coming gearing ratio. If the ratio interchange or transition is made onto a freewheeler rather than a friction device, the shift timing will be correct and the shift quality will be fairly smooth. However, it would be more economical if the off-going friction member could be controlled or otherwise modulated at a desired disengagement rate during the ratio interchange. This is particularly important in what is known as a clutch-to-clutch type shift where time is required and some action has to be taken to apply the on-coming clutch at synchronization while releasing the off-going clutch.
To obtain satisfactory shift quality, it has been proposed that pulse width modulated solenoid valves be utilized to control both the on-coming and off-going clutch or friction devices. This requires sufficient electronic control and ECU capabilities to permit the independent control of the pressure at each friction device. While these devices do provide for good shift quality, they also increase the cost of the transmission control. It would be advantageous if a friction device could be accompanied by an accumulator which would function in both the on-coming and off-going states during ratio interchanges.


An ink supplying container is disclosed. In the ink supplying container, when the internal pressure of an ink container is made a positive pressure which is higher than atmospheric pressure so that nozzles of a recording head are cleaned and recovered by discharging a small amount of ink, a volume control unit restrains a flexible member of the ink container from expanding. When the internal pressure of the ink container is made a negative pressure optimal for printing which is lower than the atmospheric pressure so that a letter and/or an image is printed on a recording medium by the recording head, the volume control unit does not restrain the flexible member from expanding, and the volume of the ink container is maintained at almost the same volume as that at the time when the internal pressure of the ink container is made the positive pressure.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure generally relates to an ink supplying container which stores ink by which a letter and/or an image is recorded on a recording medium by being ejected from a recording head and an image forming apparatus using the ink supplying container in which the amount of waste ink is reduced when cleaning and recovering nozzles of the recording head are executed by discharging the ink from the nozzles of the recording head by applying pressure to the ink in the ink supplying container using a pressure applying recovering method.
2. Description of the Related Art
An inkjet recording apparatus provides a recording head, a carrying belt which is rotated by a driving power transferring mechanism having a driving motor, pulleys, a driving belt, and so on, and a recording medium supplying tray. The carrying belt carries a recording medium stored in the recording medium supplying tray. A letter and/or an image is recorded on the recording medium by ejecting ink from the recording head while the recording medium is carried by the carrying belt. The inkjet recording apparatus is used in a general-use printing apparatus, a copying apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, and so on. In addition, recently, the inkjet recording system has been used to manufacture a component such as an industrial printed circuit board which needs precise processes by ejecting a solvent other than ink.
Recently, the recording speed of the inkjet recording apparatus has been high, and a large amount of recording has been executed in a short time. Therefore, the amount of ink which is consumed in the inkjet recording apparatus has been increased. In order to perform the large amount of recording, an ink tank having a large capacity is disposed at a position where a recording head is not disposed and ink stored in the ink tank is supplied to a sub tank disposed near the recording head by using an ink supplying unit such as a pump. With this, the large amount of recording can be executed.
As the recovering method of the recording head in the inkjet recording apparatus, there are a suction recovering method and pressure applying recovering method. As shown in Patent document 1, in the suction recovering method, the surface of nozzles of the recording head is covered with a cap connected to a suction pump, the pressure inside the cap is reduced by using the suction pump, and ink in the nozzles is suctioned. As shown in Patent Documents 2 and 3, in the pressure applying recovering method, pressure is applied to ink inside the recording head from an ink supplying route by using pressure pump and the ink is discharged from the nozzles.
In the suction recovering method, when the size of the recording head is large, a large cap is needed to cover the recording head; therefore, it is difficult to seal the surface of the nozzles with the cap. In addition, when the size of the recording head is large, a large reduction of the pressure is required for suctioning the ink. Therefore, it is not suitable that the suction recovering method be used in an inkjet recording apparatus which has a long-length recording head.
On the other hand, in the pressure applying recovering method, when the size of the recording head is large, a moisture retaining property is required for the cap which covers the surface of the nozzles of the recording head; however, excessive sealing performance is not required; therefore, the structure is simple. Consequently, it is preferable that the pressure applying recovering method be used in the inkjet recording apparatus using the long-length recording head.
In addition, in the inkjet recording apparatus, when printing is executed, in the recording head, the ink must not overflow from the nozzles. That is, the ink must be supplied to the recording head in a condition where the recording head is has a negative internal pressure so that a meniscus can be stably maintained. When the pressure applying recovering method is used, after discharging ink from the nozzles by changing the internal pressure in the recording head from a negative pressure to a positive pressure by using a pressure applying unit, the internal pressure in the recording head must be returned from the positive pressure to the negative pressure, which is optimal to execute printing, so as to execute again the printing every time after the recovering operations. In this, "positive pressure" signifies that the internal pressure in the ink supplying route is higher than atmospheric pressure, and "negative pressure" signifies that the internal pressure in the ink supplying route is lower than the atmospheric pressure.
As a method to give the recording head a negative internal pressure, there are a method of utilizing a water head by causing the height of the ink tank having a large capacity to be variable, and a method of utilizing the change of the volume of a sub tank. In the method of utilizing the change of the volume of the sub tank, since the height of the ink tank is not changed, the printing is stably executed and layout designing of the inkjet recording apparatus is not restrained. When the internal pressure of the recording head is made negative by utilizing the change of the volume of the sub tank, the internal pressure of the sub tank and the internal pressure of the recording head must be returned to an optimal negative pressure so that the printing can be executed again every time after recovering operations (restoring the nozzles to normal performance) of the nozzles of the recording head, that is, after changing the internal pressure of the sub tank from the negative pressure to the positive pressure.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a print head unit of an inkjet recording apparatus according to Patent Document 2. As shown in FIG. 12, in the print head unit, a sub tank 51 whose capacity is variable and a retractable stopper 52 which controls the expansion of the sub tank 51 are included in a container 53. The sub tank 51 is expanded by supplying ink to the sub tank 51 from an ink tank 50 while the pressure inside the container 53 is reduced by a pump 54, and the expanded sub tank 51 is stopped by the stopper 52. Then, the recovering operations are applied to a recording head 55. Therefore, after discharging ink in the sub tank 51 from the nozzles of the recording head 55 by making the pressure inside the sub tank 51 high, the pressure inside the sub tank 51 is made negative by moving the sub tank 51 away from the stopper 52 by causing the internal pressure of the sub tank 51 to be small.
In an inkjet recording apparatus in Patent Document 3, a sub tank whose capacity is variable is disposed. When recovering operations of nozzles of a recording head are executed, ink is supplied to the sub tank and the ink in the sub tank is discharged from nozzles of the recording head at a certain pressure. A part of the ink in the sub tank is discharged to the outside by stopping the supply of the ink to the sub tank and making the pressure inside the sub tank a negative pressure by causing the volume in the sub tank to be small.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 3581675
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2002-370374
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-162834
However, in the above pressure applying recovering method, every time at the recovering operations of the nozzles of the recording head, the change of the volume of the sub tank is utilized, that is, the internal pressure of the sub tank and the internal pressure of the recording head are changed from the negative pressure to the positive pressure and the pressure is returned to an optimal negative pressure which is suitable for printing. Consequently, the volume of ink corresponding to a difference between the volume of the sub tank when the internal pressure of the sub tank becomes maximum and that when the internal pressure of the sub tank becomes a negative pressure suitable for printing is forced to be discharged. Therefore, every time at the recovering operations, the amount of the waste ink becomes large. Especially, in an inkjet recording apparatus using a long-length recording head, the amount of the waste ink becomes remarkably large, and the ink cannot be effectively used.

Ink supplying container and image forming apparatus


A method for installing piles in offshore waters using a drill and grout technique. The method utilizes a drilling fluid for drilling the borehole for the pile that forms a cementitious filter cake on the borehole wall and a cement for grouting the pile that is compatible with both the filter cake and salt water.

The present invention relates to a method for installing piles in offshore locations. More particularly, the invention relates to installing piles using what is commonly referred to as a `drill and grout` method as contrasted to mechanically driving the pile into the ocean floor. In the drill and grout method, a borehole is drilled at the desired location and the pile is installed and cemented in place.
In the past, the reliability and load-carrying capacity of a drilled and grouted pile in an offshore location has been questioned. The concern arises from the inability to obtain reliable placement of the grouting cement around the pile and the inability to ensure that the grout obtained a good contact with both the surface of the pile and the surface of the borehole. It is obvious that if good contact is not achieved between the surface of the pile and the surface of the borehole, the load-carrying capacity of the pile is seriously reduced. The reliability of the contact of the grouting cement with the wall of the borehole is seriously affected by the mudcake that is deposited on the borehole wall from the drilling fluid used in drilling the borehole. While various methods have been proposed in the prior art for dealing with this problem, none are entirely reliable. Examples of such prior art are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,649,160, 3,499,491 and 3,557,876. All of these patents describe methods for cementing casing in oil wells and describe various means for improving the contact between the cement and the wall of the borehole. In addition, the patents describe various ways for removing or neutralizing the effect of the mudcake deposited on the borehole wall from the drilling fluid used in drilling the borehole.
In all of the above systems Portland cement was used as the grouting material. The high viscosity and weight of Portland cement creates several problems when using it to grout piles in offshore locations. One problem caused by the high viscosity of Portland cement is the difficulty involved in attempting to place the cement in the annulus between the pile and the borehole wall. Normally, the pile will not be centered in the borehole and Portland cement will tend to flow towards the side of the pile that is the greatest distance from the borehole wall and force the opposite side of the pile into contact with the wall. This reduces the grouting on this side of the pile and the load-carrying capacity of the pile is reduced.
A low viscosity cement useful as a grouting composition for well casing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,183. The cement is described as a mixture of blast furnace slag and water in which the ratio of water to blast furnace slag is between 3:1 and 12:1. The high water content is used to produce a low viscosity, flowable grouting material. In contrast, as the water content of a Portland cement slurry is increased the strength of the grout is reduced.
If the load-carrying ability of a drilled and grouted pile could accurately be predicted it would allow the use of conventional drilling rigs for installing piles in offshore locations. This would eliminate the expense of transporting special pile driving equipment to the location to install the piles. For example, if it is desired to use a conventional drilling rig to install piles using mechanical pile driving means, it is normally necessary to remove considerable equipment such as blowout preventors and drilling risers from the rig so that the pile driving equipment can be installed on the rig. As the exploration in offshore waters moves into deeper water and more exposed locations, this requires that the rig be moved to protected waters to effect the removal of the drilling equipment and the installation of the pile driving equipment. Any move may require removal of the drilling riser from the rig and this normally requires barges for storing the drilling riser. All of the above greatly increases the expense of installing piles in offshore locations whether special equipment is used or the drilling rig is used.

Method for installation of piles in offshore locations


A calibration method for calibrating a color image forming apparatus includes detecting the color of a patch formed on a recording medium by the color image forming apparatus using a color sensor, converting a detected color signal in a first color specification system into a color signal in a second color specification system, and adjusting at least one of the image forming conditions for the color image forming apparatus, based on the color signal converted in the conversion step, where the conversion conditions in the color signal conversion are different depending on the attributes of the patch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for calibrating a color image forming apparatus such as a color printer or a color copier, and more particularly to a color signal conversion method for measuring a test chart outputted to improve the color stability of a color image forming apparatus using a chromaticity detecting means, and converting a color signal in a first color specification system that is the detection result of the chromaticity detecting means into a color signal in a second color specification system.
2. Background of the Related Art
Recently, there has been increasing demand for a color image forming apparatus of the electrophotography type or the inkjet type, such as a color printer or a color copier, having high color stability of its output image.
Thus, the color image forming apparatus having a sensor for detecting the chromaticity of a patch on the recording medium after the forming and fixing of a monochromatic gradation patch of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) or black (K) or a mixed color patch in which CMY are mixed on the recording medium (hereafter referred to as a color sensor) is well known (e.g., refer to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/049040).
In this color image forming apparatus, the color stability of a final output image formed on the recording medium is controlled by feeding back the detected result to a calibration table for correcting the exposure amount, the process conditions and the color gradation characteristics of an image forming portion. Also, the output image of the color image forming apparatus may be detected by an external image reading apparatus or a chromaticity meter to make the same control.
This color sensor uses a light emitting element having three or more kinds of light sources with different emission spectra of red (R), green (G) and blue (B), respectively, and a light receiving element with sensitivity in the visible region, or a light emitting element having a light source that emits light of white color (W) and a light receiving element formed with three or more filters of different spectral transmittances. Thereby, three or more kinds of outputs such as the RGB outputs are obtained.
In the color image forming apparatus of the ink jet type, since the color balance changes depending on a change in the ink discharge amount with the lapse of time, an environmental difference from one place or time of use to another, or the individual differences among ink cartridges, the color gradation characteristics cannot be kept constant. Thus, some color image forming apparatuses effect color stabilization control by substituting a color sensor for the ink head and detecting the chromaticity of a patch on the recording medium.
In the above color stabilization control, there is a process of converting the sensor outputs, which are RGB values, into XYZ chromaticity values as defined by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE). For this conversion, the prior art has used a method employing a matrix, as well as a method using a look-up table.
However, the above prior art had the following problems.
Generally, the color matching functions for the spectral sensitivity of RGB outputs of the color sensor and the XYZ chromaticity values as defined by the International Commission on Illumination do not have completely linear relations. Therefore, there is a problem that some differences may occur between the XYZ chromaticity values obtained by converting the RGB outputs of the sensor and the XYZ chromaticity values obtained from the spectral reflectance as defined by the International Commission on Illumination.
That is, the XYZ chromaticity values calculated from the RGB output signals of the sensor for a certain patch and the XYZ chromacity values calculated from the spectral reflectance for the patch as defined by the International Commission on Illumination may be different in some cases. And this difference between the chromaticity values may vary in magnitude, depending on the color material or substratum color of the patch used in forming the patch.

Method for calibrating color image forming apparatus


A power transmission for use in a powertrain has an input shaft, an output shaft, an input planetary gearset, and an output planetary gearset. The planetary gearsets are controlled through the selective engagement of seven torque-transmitting mechanisms, three of which are rotating-type torque-transmitting mechanisms and four of which are stationary-type torque-transmitting mechanisms. By selective engagement of the torque-transmitting mechanisms in combinations of three, the input planetary gearset and the output planetary gearset are combined to establish eight forward speed ratios between the input shaft and the output shaft.

Planetary power transmissions are used in both passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle applications. The powertrain in these vehicles generally includes an engine, a multi-speed transmission, and an output mechanism or differential.
The passenger vehicle of the past generally used a countershaft or synchronous-type transmission for providing the various speeds between the input and the output. Currently, both countershaft-type transmissions and planetary-type transmissions are employed in vehicle powertrains. In planetary-type transmissions, two or more planetary gearsets are controlled by a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms, commonly termed clutches and brakes to establish a plurality of speed ratios between a transmission input and a transmission output.
The planetary transmissions began as two-speed transmissions and developed into three-speed, four-speed, and five-speed type transmissions. Currently, there are a number of five-speed transmission units which are well known to the public, and also six-speed transmission units. One particular five-speed transmission is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,352 issued to Lepelletier on Apr. 21, 1992. The Lepelletier transmission incorporates an input gear mechanism or ratio-controlled set and an output planetary gearset, which provides a plurality of speed ratios. The Lepelletier concept employs five torque-transmitting mechanisms in the form of three rotating type or clutches and two stationary type or brakes.
It has become desirable more recently to incorporate six forward speed ratios in the planetary transmission, thereby improving the overall performance and economy of the passenger vehicle.

Multi-speed planetary power transmission


The present invention relates to fluorescent, semiconductive polymers comprising electron withdrawing groups bonded to the polymer. The invention also relates to a method of detecting analytes comprising contacting the analyte with the fluorescent, semiconductive polymers of the present invention. The invention also relates to light emitting devices, photovoltaic devices, and sensors comprising the fluorescent, semiconductive polymers of the present invention.

Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and its derivatives are among the most extensively studied organic semiconductive polymers. In spite of their processablity, high luminescence, and structural diversity, several challenges remain for further applications. As in many conjugated polymers (CPs), the fluorescence quantum yields of PPVs are substantially lower in the solid state due to interchain interactions. (a) Osaheni, J. A.; Jenekhe, S. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 7389-7398. (b) Winnik, F. M. Chem. Rev. 1993, 93, 587-614. (c) An, B.-K.; Kwon, S.-K.; Jung, S.-D.; Park, S. Y. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 14410-14415. Successful approaches to enhance the solid state emission efficiency of CPs include the incorporation of bulky side chains or rigid three-dimensional moieties. (a) Jakubiak, R.; Collison, C. J.; Wan, W. C.; Rothberg, L. J.; Hsieh, B. R. J. Phys. Chem. A. 1999; 103, 2394-2398. (b) Yang, J.-S.; Swager, T. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 11864-11873. Another key issue to be addressed is the tuning of the electron affinity of CPs in order to control their work functions and charge transporting properties. Kraft, A.; Grimsdale, A. C.; Holmes, A. B. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1998, 37, 402-428. Traditionally, atoms with lone pair electrons capable of electron donating or electron withdrawing groups (EWGs) connected directly to the π-system have been utilized to modify their electron affinity. (a) Hörhold, H.-H.; Helbig, M. Makromol. Chem., Macromol. Symp. 1987, 12, 229-258. (b) Leuze, M.; Hohloch, M.; Hanack, M. Chem. Mater. 2002, 14, 3339-3342. Direct attachment of EWGs can produce large effects and such polymers are also disclosed presently. Steric repulsion of bulky substituents at the phenylene or vinylene subunits, however, often induce deviations from planarity and decrease conjugation.
The fluorescent, semiconductive polymers of the present invention can be used in such applications as light emitting devices (LEDs). Recently, there has been reported an organic electroluminescence device (organic EL device) having a double-layer structure in which an organic fluorescent dye as a light-emitting layer is laminated with an organic charge transport compound used in photosensitive layer for electrophotography and the like. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 59-194393. Because organic EL devices with colored light emissions are obtained easily and have low voltage driving and high luminance as compared to inorganic EL devices, there have been reported trials regarding device structures, organic fluorescent dyes and organic charge transport compounds of organic EL devices. Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 27, L269 (1988), J. Appl. Phys., 1989, 65, 3610.
Apart from organic EL devices using mainly organic compounds having a lower molecular weight, polymer LEDs using light-emitting materials having a higher molecular weight have been proposed. WO 9013148 published specification; JP-A No. 3-244630; Appl. Phys. Lett., 1991, 58, 1982. WO9013148 discloses in the Examples an EL device using a thin film of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) obtained by forming a film of a soluble precursor on the electrode and subjecting it to a heat treatment to convert the precursor into a conjugated polymer.
Further, JP-A 3-244630 has exemplified conjugated polymers soluble in a solvent and needing no heat treatment. Also, a polymeric light-emitting material soluble in a solvent and a polymer LED using the same has been reported. Appl. Phys. Lett., 1991, 58, 1982.
Soluble, fluorescent polymers are advantageous for forming films having large areas at reduced cost since the organic layer can easily be formed by coating methods, as compared to vapor deposition of low molecular weight materials. The mechanical strength of the resulting film is believed to be greater due to the higher molecular weight of the fluorescent polymers.
Conventionally, in addition to the above-described poly(p-phenylene vinylene), there have been reported polyfluorene, poly p-phenylene derivative and the like, as the light-emitting materials used in these polymeric LEDs. Jpn. J. Appl. Phys., 1991, 30, L1941; Adv. Mater., 1992, 4, 36.
In order to utilize the film-formable characteristics of a polymeric fluorescent substance by coating, there is needed polymeric fluorescent substances having excellent solubility in organic solvents. To realize the practical flat panel display, there is needed a polymer LED having high efficiency and long lifetime.
One object of the present invention is to provide fluorescent, semiconductive polymers having increased solubility in organic solvents, enhanced photochemical and thermal stability, and a polymer LED having high performance which can be driven at higher efficiency and longer lifetime using the fluorescent, semiconductive polymer.
Another application of the fluorescent, semiconductive polymers of the present invention is sensors, in particular, biosensors. Recent developments in the world political situation, exemplified by the disintegration of the Soviet Union, continued geopolitical pressures in the Middle East and Eastern Europe and the proliferation of terrorist activities throughout the world, have raised increased concerns about the use of chemical and biological warfare materials in local conflicts. The defense against chemical and biological warfare agents includes detection of potential threats, development and use of protective equipment, development of vaccination post-exposure prophylaxis measures and fabrication of structures providing barriers to the toxic agents which are suitable for decontamination procedures. Threat identification is imperative prior to engagement, during battle and after battle during decontamination procedures. In addition, chemical sensors for detecting chemical warfare materials are needed for treaty verification, demilitarization, environmental monitoring and characterization of materials acting as barriers to agent diffusion.
Existing methods of detection have proven inadequate. Existing methods for long-range threat identification, such as light detection and ranging (LIDAR), and for laboratory analysis of chemical warfare agents using gas chromatography to provide a chemical agent monitor (miniCAMS), light addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) or ion mobility sensor (IMS) technology, have all proven slow and cumbersome to carry out. A need exists for lightweight, high-sensitivity sensors having rapid response times.
Existing sensors have proven capable of meeting the requirements of several applications, but no sensor has provided the combined sensitivity and speed of response needed for each application. Needs exist for field-usable chemical and biological sensors for the detection of vapor and liquid dispersed chemical warfare agents, toxins of biological origin and aerosol dispersed pathogenic microorganisms. Existing instrumentation used in identifying chemical warfare agents rely on ion mobility spectroscopy or gas chromatography for detection. The Advanced Chemical Agent Detection/Alarm System (ACADA) uses ion-mobility spectroscopy to achieve sensitivities to Sarin and Soman on the order of 1 mg/m3 (170 parts per billion (ppb)) in ten seconds and 0.1 mg/m3 (17 ppb) in 30 seconds. In addition to the system's slow response and low sensitivity, the size and weight characteristics of the ACADA system (one cubic foot in volume and 25 pounds in weight) reduces the applicability of the system for distributed sensing or remote sensing applications. Sensors such as the miniCAMS system provide unparalleled sensitivity but require preconcentration times on the order of minutes. That response time is unsuitable for rapid detection of conditions that are immediately dangerous to life and health. Other existing methods use acoustic or optical/electrochemical methods of detection, such as surface acoustic wave (SAW)-based instruments and light addressable potentiometric sensors (LAPS). Neither method has proven effective in meeting the sensitivity and response times required. At best, the SAW instrument has demonstrated sensitivities to Sarin/Soman at 0.01 mg/m3 (1.7 ppb), but requires preconcentration times ranging from 2 minutes to 14 minutes. Needs exist for field-usable sensors that provide for highly-sensitive, rapid response measurements of the concentration of analytes in solution or in air.
The need still exists for stable, soluble, fluorescent, semiconductive polymers with unique electronic properties to meet the demands of the various applications described above.

Fluorescent, semi-conductive polymers, and devices comprising them


A fuel delivery system comprises a fuel conduit having a gas permeable wall. A gas conduit is in communication with the fuel conduit. Gaseous fuel and liquid fuel are communicated through fuel conduit. Gaseous fuel permeating through the gas permeable wall is captured and channeled by gas conduit. Gaseous fuel may be passed to an air intake manifold and consumed by engine combustion.

This invention relates to a method and system for fuel delivery that limits the emission of fuel fumes into the environment.
Current fuel delivery systems provide fuel to a vehicle""s combustion chambers through a fuel rail that channels fuel from the fuel tank to fuel injectors above the chambers. While many fuel rails are constructed of metal, more recently, manufacturers have commenced using plastic fuel rails to distribute fuel to the injectors. Plastic fuel rails are lighter and casier to recycle with other plastic components associated with the vehicle engine. Plastic fuel rails, however, are porous and consequently permit fumes or vapor from the liquid fuel to permeate into the environment. Higher emission standards make the emission of fumes through the rail a source of concern for manufacturers using plastic fuel rails.
Manufacturers have attempted to address this environmental concern by using various coatings to prevent fumes from entering the environment. For the most part, these coatings have been ineffective or extremely expensive to employ.
A need therefore exists for a fuel delivery system that limits the exhaust of fumes into the environment while still permitting manufacturers to employ plastic fuel distribution systems.
The invention comprises a fuel delivery system. The system has a fuel rail or conduit that has a wall formed of plastic. A gas rail or conduit surrounds this wall such that any gas vapor permeating through the fuel conduit passes into the gas conduit. Hence, while vapor may pass through the fuel conduit into the gas conduit, the remaining fuel continues to the fuel injector and ultimately the vehicle engine. In this way, the fuel conduit transports fuel to a vehicle""s combustion chamber without significant environmental emissions.
The gas conduit surrounds the fuel conduit. Essentially, some way of directing the vapor from the gas conduit to a source such as the engine may be utilized. Much work has been done in recent years in capturing and processing vapor, and any of the ways of moving the vapor may be utilized with this invention. Particular embodiments will be disclosed. However, other methods may also be utilized.
The outer wall of the gas conduit is also preferably formed of plastic. Thus, the outer wall of the gas conduit also will potentially allow permeation of fuel vapor. However, by maintaining a lower pressure compared to atmosphere in the gas conduit, the likelihood of significant vapor permeation will be reduced or eliminated.
In essence, the fuel delivery system communicates a fuel through the fuel conduit. Any vapor that passes through a wall of the fuel conduit passes into a gas conduit. Rather than permitting any vapor to enter the environment, the invention recirculates the vapor to the vehicle engine or otherwise processes the vapor.


An optical assembly for use in an interferometer is provided. The optical assembly includes first and second partially reflective surfaces positioned along an optical axis and oriented at different non-normal angles to the optical axis. The second partially reflective surface is configured to receive light transmitted through the first partially reflective surface along the optical path, transmit a portion of the received light to a test object to define measurement light for the interferometer and reflect another portion of the received light back towards the first partially reflective surface to define reference light for the interferometer. The reference light makes at least one round trip path between the second and first partially reflective surfaces.

Interferometers use interfering beams to perform measurements of objects. The interferometers may be broadly classified as equal-path, in which the interfering beams have traversed nearly equal optical distances (e.g., equal to within a few tens of microns), and unequal-path, for which the optical path difference is large compared to the coherence length of visible white light (e.g., greater than 0.05 mm and potentially up to several kilometers). Equal-path systems can be configured to operate with low-coherence (spectrally-broadband and/or spatially extended) light sources. Unequal-path interferometers include, e.g., laser Fizeau, which can be used for testing optical components.
Equal path interferometers are of interest in optical testing, e.g., for separately measuring the front- and back-surfaces of a semi-transparent object. Equal path interferometers can also be used in interference microscopy, where low-coherence halogen lamps and white-light LED's can be used as light sources. For example, interference microscopy designs can be based on path-balanced and dispersion-compensated Mirau, Michelson or Linnik interferometers.


Pump and cannula systems inserted through the right side and/or left side of the heart provide protection against collapse of the heart chambers and veins and arteries and provide supplemental blood flow through same to enable beating heart or still heart surgery, such as bypass surgery, on all vessels of the heart, including lateral and posterior vessels. Pump and cannula systems are provided for supporting pulmonary and/or circulatory blood flow external of the heart during any beating heart or still heart surgical procedure, including value repair or replacement. The invention eliminates the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) machines in all heart surgery and utilizes the patient's lung(s) for providing oxygenated blood during heart surgery. The invention further provides stents adapted for protecting from vein, artery, atrium and/or ventricle collapse during beating heart bypass surgery.

Major heart surgery has been accomplished by procedures that require full cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and complete cessation of cardiopulmonary activity. Open heart surgery typically requires significant hospitalization and recuperation time for the patient. The average mortality rate with this type of procedure is low, but is associated with a complication rate that is often much higher compared to when cessation and CPB are not required. While very effective in many cases, the use of open heart surgery to perform various surgical procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is highly traumatic to the patient. These procedures require immediate postoperative care in an intensive care unit, a period of hospitalization for at least several days, and an extended recovery period. In addition, open heart procedures require the use of CPB which continues to represent a major assault on a host of body systems. For example, there is noticeable degradation of mental faculties following such surgeries in a significant percentage of CABG patients. This degradation is commonly attributed to cerebral arterial blockage and emboli from debris in the blood generated by the use of CPB during the surgical procedure. At the same time, the dramatic increase in the life expectancy of the general population has resulted in patients that are more likely to be older and in poor health, with less cardiovascular, systemic, and neurologic reserve needed to recover from the trauma caused by the use of CPB. As a consequence, inflammatory, hemostatic, endocrinologic, and neurologic stresses are tolerated to a much lesser degree by a significant number of patients today, and play a more significant role in CPB-induced morbidity.
The CABG procedure generally involves open chest surgical techniques to treat diseased vessels. During this procedure, the sternum of the patient is cut in order to spread the chest apart and provide access to the heart. During surgery the heart is stopped, and by the use of CPB blood is diverted from the lungs to an artificial oxygenator. In general CABG procedures, a source of arterial blood is then connected to a coronary artery downstream from the occlusion. The source of blood is often an internal mamary artery, and the target coronary artery is typically among the anterior or posterior arteries which may be narrowed or occluded. The same or similar CPB procedure is used in conjunction with other cardiac surgical procedures, such as value repair or replacement and heart transplant.
The combined statistics of postoperative morbidity and mortality continue to illustrate the shortcomings of CPB. The extracorporeal shunting and artificially induced oxygenation of blood activates a system wide roster of plasma proteins and blood components in the body including those that were designed to act locally in response to infection or injury. When these potent actors are disseminated throughout the body without normal regulatory controls, the entire body becomes a virtual battleground. The adverse hemostatic consequences of CPB also include prolonged and potentially excessive bleeding. CPB-induced platelet activation, adhesion, and aggregation also contribute to a depletion in platelet number, and is further compounded by the reversibly depressed functioning of platelets remaining in circulation. The coagulation and fibrinolytic systems both contribute to hemostatic disturbances during and following CPB. However, the leading cause of morbidity and disability following cardiac surgery is cerebral complications. Gaseous and solid micro and macro emboli, and less often perioperative cerebral hypoperfusion, produce neurologic effects ranging from subtle neuropsychologic deficits to fatal stroke. Advances in computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and other imaging and diagnostic techniques have added to the understanding of these complications. But with the possible exception of perioperative electroencephalography, these technologies do not yet permit real time surgical adjustments that are capable of preventing emboli or strokes in the making. Doppler and ultrasound evaluation of the carotid artery and ascending aorta, and other diagnostic measures, can help identify surgical patients at elevated risk for stroke and are among the growing list of pharmacologic and procedural measures for reducing that risk.
CPB also affects various endocrine systems, including the thyroid gland, adrenal medulla and cortex, pituitary gland, pancreas, and parathyroid gland. These systems are markedly affected not only by inflammatory processes, but also by physical and biochemical stresses imposed by extracorporeal perfusion. Most notably, CPB is now clearly understood to induce euthyroid-sick syndrome which is marked by profoundly depressed triiodothyronine levels persisting for days following cardiothoracic surgery. The efficacy of hormone replacement regimens to counteract this effect are currently undergoing clinical investigation. By contrast, levels of the stress hormones epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol are markedly elevated during and following CPB, and hyperglycemia is also possible.
Alternatives to CPB are limited to a few commercially available devices that may further require major surgery for their placement and operation such as a sternotomy or multiple anastomoses to vessels or heart chambers. For example, some present day devices used in CPB may require a sternotomy and an anastomosis to the ascending aorta for placement. The main drawbacks of these devices include their limited circulatory capacity, which may not totally support patient requirements, and their limited application for only certain regions of the heart, such as a left ventricular assist device. Other available devices that permit percutaneous access to the heart similarly have disadvantages, such as their limited circulatory capabilities due to the strict size constraints for their positioning even within major blood vessels. Moreover, the relative miniaturization of these types of devices present a high likelihood of mechanical failure. In further attempts to reduce the physical dimensions for cardiac circulatory apparatus, the flow capacity of these devices is significantly diminished.
During cardiac surgery, the heart is either beating, in which case the heart continues to circulate the blood through the lungs to maintain the patient, or immobilized entirely in which case oxygenation and circulation of blood to maintain the patient requires use of CPB. Bypass surgery on a beating heart has been limited to only a small percentage of patients requiring the surgical bypass of an occluded anterior heart vessel. These patients typically could not be placed on CPB and were operated on while the heart was kept beating. These patients are at risk of having to be placed on CPB on an emergency basis in the event the heart stops or becomes unstable or is damaged during the surgical procedure on the beating heart. Meanwhile, patients requiring surgery on posterior or lateral heart vessels and whose hearts must be immobilized and placed on CPB often suffer major side effects as previously described.
The medical community is currently performing more beating heart bypass surgery in an effort to avoid the use of artificial heart-lung machines. The need is increasing for apparatus systems, methods and associated equipment to enhance the capability and versatility of beating heart surgery and to avoid CPB procedures in any heart surgery. The current trend toward thoracoscopic methods of performing bypass surgery, without opening the chest cavity, have resulted in limited success and applicability primarily due to the limited number of heart vessels which can be accessed through thorascopic methods. A major limitation of thorascopic bypass surgery methods is due to the fact that only the anterior heart vessels are accessible for surgery. More importantly, even open chest surgery providing full access to the heart also requires CPB when bypass surgery is performed on the lateral or posterior vessels of the heart, due to the fact that in conventional procedures the heart must be stopped when it is lifted or rotated from its normal position and manipulated for surgical access to the various heart vessels. Obviously, the heart is also stopped when valve repair or replacement is performed and when heart transplant is performed.

Pulmonary and circulatory blood flow support devices and methods for heart surgery procedures