A bituminous composition comprising a bituminous component, a polymer which comprises at least one block of a conjugated diolefin and at least one block of an acrylic monomer such as an alkyl methacrylate and from 0.001 parts to 1 part by weight of a polyfunctional amine having at least two amino groups. An acid or anhydride functionalized conjugated diene block copolymer may be used in place of the acrylic monomer polymer.

Asphalt is a common material utilized for the preparation paving and roofing materials and also for coatings such as pipe coatings and tank liners. While the material is suitable in many respects, it inherently is deficient in some physical properties which it would be highly desirable to improve. Efforts have been made in this direction by addition of certain conjugated diene rubbers, ethylene containing plastics like EVA and polyethylene, neoprene, resins, fillers and other materials for the modification of one or more of the physical properties of the asphalt. Each of these added materials modifies the asphalt in one respect or another but certain deficiencies can be noted in all modifiers proposed. For example, some of them have excellent weather resistance, sealing and bonding properties but are often deficient with respect to warm tack, modulus, hardness and other physical properties; and some of them improve only the high temperature performance of asphalt, some only improve the low temperature performance of asphalt, while some lack thermal stability or mixing stability with asphalt.
Since the late 1960s, diene polymer rubbers such as styrene-butadiene rubber and styrene-rubber block copolymers such as styrene-butadiene-styrene and styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers have been used to dramatically improve the thermal and mechanical properties of asphalts. Practical application of the rubber addition approach requires that the blended product retain improved properties and homogeneity during transportation, storage and processing. Long term performance of elastomer-modified asphalts also depends on the ability of the blend to maintain thermal and chemical stability.
To be suitable for paving materials, the asphalt polymer mixtures should meet the following requirements:
(a) The polymer must be mixable in asphalt and stay mixed during subsequent processing--compatibility. In a modified asphalt composition, compatibility is important. The polar asphaltene fraction of the asphalt is generally incompatible with the polymer and phase separates over time. This phase separation leads to a serious deterioration in physical properties.
(b) The mixture must have the right theological (flow) properties to prevent rutting which is the permanent deformation of a road caused by repetitive traffic loads. Viscosity is important but elasticity is the most important aspect since the material must be able to recover rather than just resist deformation. This characteristic is most important in warm climates.
(c) The mixture must have good low temperature properties, i.e. resistance to cracking. As a road cools, stresses develop because it cannot shrink uniformly and eventually this will cause cracking. Traffic-caused stresses also contribute. The polymer will lower the temperature at which cracking will occur. This characteristic is more important in cold climates.
(d) Temperature susceptibility of a polymer modified asphalt is a major consideration. Ideally, one would want a binder (asphalt and polymer) which would be "hard" and elastic at elevated temperatures to resist permanent deformation.
To be suitable for synthetic roofing materials, the asphalt polymer mixtures should meet the following requirements:
(a) sufficient resistance to flow at high temperatures, PA1 (b) sufficient flexibility at low temperatures, PA1 (c) workability according to the conventional methods used in the roofing technique, PA1 (d) adequate hot storage stability, PA1 (e) adequate hardness to prevent deformation during walking on the roof, and PA1 (f) if it is to be used as an adhesive, sufficient adhesion.
British Patent 1,584,504 made bituminous emulsions which were made with an aqueous solution of a polyamine. The emulsion optionally contained a functionalized polymer but the bitumen was modified by functionalizing it with carboxylic acid anhydride groups. The functionalization of asphalt is a difficult and impractical step and is not used commercially.
At the present time, unfunctionalized polymers are being used in paving and roofing applications. Unfunctionalized polymers have certain disadvantages which can cause problems when used in applications such these. Such disadvantages include undesirably low adhesion to polar materials such as some asphalts, fillers, aggregates, substrates, reinforcing mats, and the like.

Asphalt amine functionalized polymer composition


A write-once recording medium is provided, which comprises a management information area for recording management information for managing a recorded state, and a user data area for recording user data. The user data area is configured to contain at least one recording area. At least one session is configured to contain at least one of the at least one recording area. The management information contains range information indicating a recording range of the at least one recording area and identification information for identifying the recording area located at a boundary of the session.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a write-once recording medium comprising a management information area for recording management information for managing a recorded state and a user data area for recording user data, and a method and apparatus for recording data onto the write-once recording medium, and a method and apparatus for reproducing data from the write-once recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical discs are information recording media that are compatible between a plurality of apparatuses. Examples of optical discs include, for example, the CD which was originally developed for recording music and recently are widely used for recording data, DVD which was developed for recording digital video and are rapidly becoming widespread, and next-generation optical discs which are currently being developed for recording high-quality video, such as for high-definition television or the like.
These optical discs are roughly categorized into three groups in terms of the recording/reproduction method: a read-only type; a write-once type; and a rewritable type. Write-once optical discs are made of a recording material, from which recorded data cannot be erased. Data can be recorded once in the same place on the medium. For example, CD-R and DVD-R are write-once optical discs. Write-once optical discs are also referred to as write-once-many-read optical discs. For rewritable optical discs, data can be recorded many times in the same place on the medium. For example, CD-RW and DVD-RAM are rewritable optical discs.
Write-once optical discs are not rewritable due to the characteristics of the recording material. Therefore, it is necessary to manage recorded areas and unrecorded areas. In a CD-R, the recording start position and the last recorded position of each music composition are managed so as to incrementally record in units of a music composition. The unit of a music composition is called a track (hereinafter also referred to as a "TRACK" so as to distinguish it from a track indicating a groove). In a CD-R, data is recorded sequentially in units of a track from its inner periphery to its outer periphery. A plurality of recorded TRACKs are managed as a session including a plurality of recorded TRACKs (hereinafter referred to as a "SESSION"). An area for storing management information for managing a recorded state is called a program management area (hereinafter also referred to as a "PMA").
For DVD-R, an RZone (corresponding to a TRACK of CD), a Border (corresponding to a SESSION of CD), and a recording management area (hereinafter also referred to as an "RMA"; corresponding to a PMA of CD) are defined (for example, SFF 8090i standard, "Mt. Fuji Command for Multimedia Devices", Section 4.16 entitled "Recording for DVD-R media").
There is a technique for applying a method for managing areas allocated on DVD-R compatibly to read-only DVD-ROM (for example, Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-148166).
In a data structure recorded in an RMA of DVD-R, a recording management data (hereinafter also referred to as an "RMD") is defined.
FIG. 23 shows a field 3 of an RMD. The field 3 of an RMD stores information indicating the positions of a maximum of 512 Borders (corresponding to a SESSION of CD).
FIG. 24 shows a field 4 of an RMD. FIG. 25 shows fields 5 to 12 of an RMD. The field 4, and the fields 5 to 12 of an RMD store information indicating the positions of a maximum of 2302 RZone's (corresponding to a TRACK of CD).
However, in conventional techniques for managing recording areas, the number of recording areas to be managed is currently already large. If the conventional techniques are applied without modification to a larger capacity of future media, management information is adversely enlarged.

Write-once recording medium, recording method, recording apparatus, reproduction method, and reproduction apparatus


A game board is made of a fabric sheet, printed with the game board design, and hemmed at two opposing edges. Two dowels are inserted through the hems. A pair of frame rails include pivotably mounted legs. Holes are provided in the frame rails for insertion of the dowels and for spreading the dowels approximately the length of the fabric sheet. The legs are pivotally mounted to frame rails by pins for storing the legs in a linear relationship with the frame rails, and for deploying the legs in a support attitude against the dowels.

Various approaches to outdoor and to portable games have been utilized throughout the years, including pocket sized magnetic game boards, peg boards, and large permanent installations such as tiled or painted checker boards on outdoor tables, etc. Permanent installations may be unavailable in a given user's preference. Pocket sized boards are small. Conventional boards are poorly adapted to uneven beach sand surfaces, and sand gets on the playing surface.


A swiveling handle is attached to a square, rectangular, or oval curved base plate, with curvature selected to match the curvature of a vehicle tire sidewall. A pad containing the liquid or gel to be applied to a tire is attached to the underside of the curved base plate in order to contact the tire sidewall, so that one quick circular motion of the operator""s hand applies the liquid or gel uniformly to the entire sidewall of the tire. A matching holder with a curved sponge or pad for resaturating the pad on the curved base plate may be included.

The invention is a device for applying liquid such as a cleaning or conditioning liquid to a vehicle tire, to improve its appearance or to condition or protect its surface against weather, or road dirt.
In the car wash and car detailing industry, and in home use by consumers, it is important to clean the vehicle""s tires to improve their appearance by adding shine, or to coat the tires with a liquid which conditions the tire rubber or protects it from road dirt by repelling dirt or water, or from light, air pollution, or petroleum products on the road. This art includes various liquids which may be applied to the tires for this purpose, and various applicators have been tried for applying the liquid. Applicator devices in the art have numerous drawbacks and limited flexibility, and some take an unreasonable amount of time, in many cases 500% longer, to use. Fast liquid application is needed by car washes in order to increase the number of cars that can be processed per hour. Being not ergonomically friendly for human hands and arms, existing applicators tire the arm and shoulders of the operator, and require more effort to cover all tire sidewall surfaces. Existing applicators result in the liquid or gel getting on the operator""s hands, and waste the liquid or gel for that reason and because the liquid or gel leaks off the applicator. Existing applicators do not easily provide even coating of the liquid or gel on the tire, and they do not have a removable pad for replacement or cleaning. With most existing applicators, the liquid must be sprayed on the tire before using the applicator, thus contaminating the clean car in a windy environment. Most existing applicators are small and must be moved around the tire several times to cover all the tire surface, and some require several minutes for the liquid to soak into the applicator before use. Existing sponge-based applicators wear out with only 12-16 uses and must be discarded
U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,616 to C. F. Large, Apr. 27, 1999, discloses an applicator for spreading a liquid onto the sidewall of a tire. It is constructed of a curved porous material with a gripping handle. The drawback of this device is that it requires some time to move the applicator over the curved tire, and the operator using the device must change his or her grip as the applicator moves around the tire. The porous material easily wears away or becomes dirty and is not replaceable. When dry, the applicator has to be dipped in the liquid again. U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,583 to R. L. Waddell, Apr. 12, 2000, discloses a tire brush fitted with a hose and pressurized container of liquid. This device is complicated, expensive to make, and requires time to reload liquid in the liquid container and reconnect the hose.
The present invention is a simple and innovative device for very rapidly applying liquids or gels to tires. The curved surface of the device conforms to the tire""s shape. It also includes a handle for easily and securely gripping the device without having to change grips as the device moves around the entire circumference of the tire. The inside curved surface of the device has an absorbent pad of sufficient porosity for holding enough liquid or gel to treat the tire, while not holding excess liquid which would be squeezed out and lost when the device is applied to the tire. The liquid holding absorbent pad may be made removable for cleaning and replacement when worn. The invention may also include a holder for the curved plate, where the holder is a rectangular or oval shaped box with a curved sponge or pad saturated with the liquid to be applied.
The objects and advantages of the present invention are:
1. The device is easy and cheap to manufacture.
2. The device provides secure gripping for the operator using it, without contact between the liquid or gel and the hands of the operator, thus preventing contamination of car cleaning towels and the car itself
3. The device can be very rapidly applied to the whole tire by means of one quick rotational motion of the operator""s hand around the circumference of the tire without changing grip.
4. The device fits the contour of the tire, and the curve of the device is such that good contact with the tire by the liquid containing pad is assured; the flexible and compressible thickness of the pad also contributes to the uniform contact with the tire.
5. The pad can be easily replaced when worn or dirty, and is cheap to replace. The pad can be an existing paint pad or bristle pad, known to those skilled in the art,
6. The pad, unlike a sponge, will hold an appropriate amount of liquid without wasting liquid, as is the case when too much pressure is applied to a tire by a device containing a sponge. There is no waste of liquid as with other devices which may sling liquid onto the clean surface of the washed car.
7. The curve of the device insures contact by the pad with the entire sidewall surface of the tire, from the tire rim to the portion of the tire in contact with the pavement.
8. The handle is attached to the curved plate so that it can swivel as the operator""s hand rotates around the tire, so that it is less tiring to the arms and hands of the operator.
9. The swiveling handle can contain a reservoir for the liquid being applied, thus saving time in reloading the device with more liquid or gel. Use of clear plastic for the handle will enable the operator to see the level of remaining liquid in the reservoir.
10. Because the device swivels and is curved to contact the entire tire surface, the liquid can be applied very quickly and uniformly with one quick rotation of the operator""s hand around the circumference of the tire.
11. The handle shape is adapted for use by operators of varying hand size.
12. The pad can be switched to a coarser pad for use in cleaning the tire or whitewalls of the tire.
13. The holder for the device prevents the pad on the curved base plate and the pad in the holder from drying out when the curved base plate is kept in the holder.
14. The pad, not being a sponge as in other applicators, will not absorb water from a wet tire and thus dilute the liquid or gel, thus resulting in an inferior looking tire.
Still further objects and advantages will become evident from the detailed description of the invention, and the drawings.

Device for applying liquid to vehicle tires


The present invention provides a readily disposable hazardous chemical and medical waste protection wear suitable for human use through utilization of a breathable, stand alone or combination laminant utilizing polyvinyl alcohol sheet material which is water soluble at various temperatures providing disposal of the stand alone or outer coating of a laminate material if utilized with reusable protection wear. The polyvinyl alcohol stand alone provides the wearer with comfort through having a MVTR rate of at least 450 grams/meter squared per 24 hours. In addition, a combination of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylidene chloride provides a readily disposable splash suit which is most suitable for a variety of chemicals while yet being readily disposable ie. the PVA being readily soluble in warm water and the PVDC being dispensable in water and being biodegradable.

It is well known to utilize various composite fabrics which are in part or totally disposable after use. Garments, linens, drapes, towels and other useful articles provided as a composite for medical use and chemical use are available. Regarding hospital and medical use, disposables and reusable fabrics and composites are used to face the considerable quantities of infectious material medical waste in primary and acute care facilities. One of the principle reasons why medical and other facilities have turned to disposables is that reusables suffer from one physical property or another, specifically reusables cannot readily provide liquid barrier properties especially after the initial two or three laundry cycles.
Although there is clearly a benefit in the use of disposables in the medical arts by avoiding the necessity of human contact with medical waste in cleaning reusables, nonbiodegradable disposals are posing a problem which is only now being recognized. Landfill sites are becoming increasingly burdened with disposables which do not biodegrade for decades. As landfill sites become fully exploited, new sites must be found which are rightfully opposed by residents located proximate to the proposed site locations. In addition, incineration fails to be a viable alternative. Waste disposal incinerators are wholly inadequate. In addition these same disposable problems exist and possibly even more serious regarding hazardous chemical suits and wear.
One of the requirements for obtaining safe working conditions for employees in various industries other than medical or emergency service organizations is the provision of protective garments that prevent toxic chemicals or other contaminants from coming into contact with the worker's body. The need for such protection has been emphasized in recent years by enactment of local, state and federal laws and/or regulations requiring the use of protective garments under many circumstances.
Various types of materials have been used for chemical barrier applications including polymeric films, rubber-based sheet material and multilayered composites made by bonding of film layers to one another or to fabric. While the available materials may provide an effective barrier to some types of chemicals, none are known to prevent permeation of all hazardous chemicals. One polymeric film material, for example, is effective for primary alcohols and inorganics mineral acids, but not for saturated hydrocarbons and chlorinated olefins. Another material is effective for many types of chemicals, but not for organic solvent compounds or heterocyclic ethers. Such gaps in coverage require careful selection of the protective material for its end use environment. In many instances, the specific chemical components in a contaminating mixture, as may be present in waste cites and hazardous response situations, may be unknown so that selection of particular contaminants is not feasible. A need thus exists for a barrier material effective for a wide range of chemicals even beyond those currently being utilized.
The migration of chemicals through a complex laminated material involves a sequence of process steps including adsorption, diffusion and desorption, the combination of which is defined as permeation. There are a number of factors which influence the rates that each of these process steps will occur, or whether each step will occur at all. The various factors which govern the permeation rates include degradation of the laminate by the chemical, temperature, pressure, thickness, solubility, stereo chemistry, concentration, state, vapor pressure, viscosity and the like. If the chemical from which protection is sought is a liquid the rate limiting step becomes diffusion in the adsorption and desorption effects can be neglected. Diffusion under ideal circumstances is governed by the solubility of the chemical and the protective material relative to each other.
A continuing need for protective garments with low permeability, i.e. long break through time and a low permeation rate, for various chemical compounds or mixtures of compounds. The polymer membranes and laminates used in protective wear such as gloves, coverall suits, hoods, boots and the like, for use in a work environment or in a home or in an emergency spill environment must protect against chemical compounds or mixtures thereof which are hazardous to health. Such compounds can include organic solvents, paints, varnishes, glues, cleaning agents, degreasing agents, drilling fluids, epoxy materials, and the like. Permeation studies have surprisingly shown that the break through time is often less than half an hour, sometimes only a few minutes or less. The studies have also shown the break through time and a permeation rate is to a great extent depended upon the combination of the hazardous substance and the material for protective clothing. In view of the foregoing, it is quite obvious that a great need exists for protective garments featuring polymer membranes without the aforementioned disadvantages. Unfortunately, no method of selecting suitable combinations other than the method of trial and error has been proposed; however, certain stand alone film membranes or sheet materials have chemically been diagnosed as having resistance to specific chemicals. One of these membranes or sheet materials can be constructed of polyvinyl alcohols and various copolymers of polyvinyl alcohols. In addition, polyvinyl alcohol polymer sheet materials can be readily soluble in water. This solubility in water can be adjusted by additives to the polyvinyl alcohol and various other treatments which can elevate the water temperature of solubility of the polyvinyl alcohol to temperatures higher than normal use, i.e. 130.degree.-150.degree. F. and above. A totally water soluble polymer sheet material could be most useful in meeting disposable requirements of state, federal and local governments and such materials can be readily applied to an existing chemical protection suit and desorbed from the surface of the suit in the field after use by hot water washing.

Breathable polyvinyl alcohol protection wear


A portable musical teaching interface system for purposes of providing the user with the skills necessary to play the piano. The interface system comprising a pair of gloves each having a plurality of finger sleeves adapted to receive the fingers of a user's hands, a display means for providing a virtual representation of the user's hands in relation to said virtual keyboard and a control means in communication with the finger sleeves to provide control signals that cause the finger sleeves to strike the proper keys on the virtual piano to a programmed sequence of movements which corresponds to a selected piece of music.

Historians recognize Bartolommeo Cristofori as having invented the piano during the early 1700's. However, use of a finger keyboard which functions to create sounds, dates back to approximately the year 1350 when such a keyboard was added to an instrument called the psaltery. The instrument resulting from the addition of the keyboard to the psaltery became known as the harpsichord. The keyboard used throughout history has remained virtually unchanged to modern times. Today, modern pianos, harpsichords, and even technology's most cutting edge electronic instruments employ virtually the same keyboard that was developed in the 1300's.
The playing of music on a keyboard instrument by a subject human being requires the subject to perform numerous simultaneous motor-skills and thought processes, not the least of which is the proper striking of the various keys at the proper time(s), in the proper sequence and rhythms. Additionally, the timing, speed, pressure and velocity by which certain keys are struck are also an integral component in the process. The process of playing a keyboard instrument also requires the ability to read the printed musical 'grand-staff,' recognizing which notes on the staffs correspond with the proper keys on the keyboard and the order by which each key is struck, and which fingers should be used to strike each key. All of these components are a learned skill which, historically, has required that the subject learn each facet separately, until eventually, the subject is able to put each skill together in concert, through repetitive practicing, hopefully resulting in the subject playing the keyboard and creating music.
The learning process could be greatly abbreviated if the subject had use of an apparatus by which the motor-skill component of the learning process could be assisted by means of the apparatus mechanically 'teaching' each of the subject's individual fingers which keys to strike, in the proper sequence and timing by the apparatus manipulating the subject's fingers directly on the keyboard. Furthermore, the ability to automatically associate the notes on the printed staff with the corresponding keys on the keyboard in concert with the mechanical manipulating of the subject's fingers would also abbreviate the learning time of that component of the learning process.
The term "virtual reality" (VR) was coined by Jaron Lanier in 1989 to describe the artificial environment created by a computer. Most virtual reality environments are primarily visual experiences, but some simulations include additional sensory information, such as, sound through a sound circuit. Virtual reality is considered an immersive system when cybergoggles (also called headgear) are used to create the virtual ambient. Non-immersive virtual reality uses a computer monitor to display 3-dimensional, high-resolution images.
What the prior art has thus far failed to provide is a portable, yet realistic, man-machine interface that will visually show a virtual keyboard and a virtual depiction of the proper position of the user's hands as it relates to printed music on the grand staff, and which will electrically stimulate the user's hands and fingers to indicate and aid the proper finger movement necessary to strike the proper keys, at the exact proper times, in the proper sequence and rhythm, and using the proper velocity, speed and timing to produce music denoted by printed music or other music source.

Musical teaching device and method using gloves and a virtual keyboard


A stabilization system for implantation in a patient includes: at least first and second bone anchors, each bone anchor including a shaft extending in a respective bone insertion direction for connection to a respective bone of a patient, and a fastening member; and an elongate member comprising a first end portion, a first transverse portion extending transversely from the first end portion, a second end portion, a second transverse portion extending transversely from the second end portion, and a connecting portion extending in a longitudinal direction between the first and second transverse portions.

The present invention is directed to vertebral stabilization of a spine using one or more rods anchored into the vertebrae.
Back pain is one of the most common and often debilitating conditions affecting millions of people in all walks of life. Today, it is estimated that over ten million people in the United States alone suffer from persistent back pain. Approximately half of those suffering from persistent back pain are afflicted with chronic disabling pain, which seriously compromises a person's quality of life and is the second most common cause of worker absenteeism. Further, the cost of treating chronic back pain is very high, even though the majority of sufferers do not receive treatment due to health risks, limited treatment options and inadequate therapeutic results. Thus, chronic back pain has a significantly adverse effect on a person's quality of life, on industrial productivity, and on heath care expenditures.
Degenerative spinal column diseases, such as disc degenerative diseases (DDD), spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and so on, need surgical operation if they do not respond to conservative treatment.
Various methods of spinal immobilization have been known and used during this century in the treatment of spinal instability and displacement. One treatment for spinal stabilization is immobilization of the joint by surgical fusion, or arthrodesis. This method has been known since its development in 1911 by Hibbs and Albee. However, in many cases, and in particular, in cases involving fusion across the lumbosacral articulation and when there are many levels involved, pseudoarthrosis is a problem. It was discovered that immediate immobilization was necessary in order to allow a bony union to form.
Typically, spinal decompression is the first surgical procedure that is performed. The primary purpose of decompression is to reduce pressure in the spinal canal and on nerve roots located therein by removing a certain tissue of the spinal column to reduce or eliminate the pressure and pain caused by the pressure. If the tissue of the spinal column is removed the pain is reduced but the spinal column is weakened. Therefore, fusion surgery (e.g., ALIF, PLIF or posterolateral fusion) is often necessary for spinal stability following the decompression procedure. However, following the surgical procedure, fusion takes additional time to achieve maximum stability and a spinal fixation device is typically used to support the spinal column until a desired level of fusion is achieved. Depending on a patient's particular circumstances and condition, a spinal fixation surgery can sometimes be performed immediately following decompression, without performing the fusion procedure. The fixation surgery is performed in most cases because it provides immediate postoperative stability and, if fusion surgery has also been performed, it provides support of the spine until sufficient fusion and stability has been achieved.
Internal fixation refers to therapeutic methods of stabilization which are wholly internal to the patient. External fixation in contrast involves at least some portion of the stabilization device which is external to the patient's body. Internal fixation is advantageous since the patient is allowed greater freedom with the elimination of the external portion of the device and the possibility of infections, such as pin tract infection, is reduced.
Conventional methods and apparatus for vertebral stabilization and/or fusion involve fixing a rod between adjacent vertebrae to prevent motion therebetween. Usually, more than one rod is utilized in a posterior, bilateral configuration with respect to the spinous process. Respective pedicle screws are inserted into the pedicles of the vertebrae through the facets thereof such that the tulips of the screws may fuse to the vertebrae. A rod is fixed to a pair of tulips in order to fix the relative motion between the adjacent vertebrae. Multi-level fusion may be achieved by utilizing more than two pedicle screws on each side of the spinous process and fixing a rod to all of the respective screws. The surgery may require an incision of approximately 60-80 mm longitudinally along the posterior of the spine and peeling back the muscle on each side of the spinous process to expose the facets and pedicles of the adjacent vertebrae.
This surgery is significantly invasive because it involves trauma to the skin, fat, and particularly the muscle. As it requires a significant period of time to heal the muscle and achieve at least partial elasticity thereof, in at least some patients it is not desirable to traumatize muscle.
Other techniques have been developed to reduce the trauma to the muscle during surgery as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,929 and U.S. patent application No. 2002/0161368, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. These publications disclose making three "stub incisions" on each side of the spinous process to accommodate insertion of a rod/pedicle screw assembly. The first and second stub incisions are made adjacent to the respective vertebrae and the third incision is made longitudinally offset from the other two incisions. Each incision is dilated and respective tubes are inserted into the incisions such that they extend from the skin through the muscle to the respective pedicles of the adjacent vertebrae. Screws are then passed through the tubes and inserted into the respective pedicles. A special instrument is then utilized to shape the rod. The instrument is also utilized to insert the rod through the third incision and navigate the rod longitudinally through the muscle from the third incision to the second and first incisions such that the rod passes through respective tulips of each screw. The rod may then be fixed to the respective screws.
While this technique reduces the trauma to the skin and muscle as compared with the aforementioned surgical technique, it still results in a significant amount of trauma to the muscle as the rod is forced through and along the muscle when traveling from the third incision to each of the second and first incisions.
Therefore, conventional spinal fixation devices and surgical techniques have not provided a satisfactory solution to the problems associated with spinal fixation surgery, particularly with respect to minimizing muscle trauma and the size, length and number of surgical incisions required.

Method and apparatus for bone stabilization


A method in a radio network node for communicating with a user equipment (UE) during communication between the radio network node and a radio base station in a radio communications network. The radio network node serves the UE within a cell and communicates with the radio base station and the UE over a frequency spectrum in a time division duplexing configuration. The radio network node sets up a first connection over a first part of the frequency spectrum to the radio base station, and a second connection to the UE over the first or a second part of the frequency spectrum. The second part of the frequency spectrum is solely used for communication with UEs within the cell. The radio network node then communicates simultaneously with the UE and the radio base station over respective connections in a time slot of a reference time configured by the radio communications network.

In today's radio communications networks a number of different technologies are used, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system, Global System for Mobile communications/Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (GSM/EDGE), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), or Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), just to mention a few.
3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a project within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to evolve the WCDMA standard towards the fourth generation of mobile telecommunication networks. In comparisons with WCDMA, LTE provides increased capacity, much higher data peak rates and significantly improved latency numbers. For example, the LTE specifications support downlink data peak rates up to 300 Mbps, uplink data peak rates of up to 75 Mbps and radio access network round-trip times of less than 10 ms. In addition, LTE supports scalable carrier bandwidths from 20 MHz down to 1.4 MHz and supports both Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD).
Furthermore, the latest release, also referred to as release 10, of LTE is 3GPP's candidate for International Mobile Telecommunications—Advanced (IMT-A) technology which is expected to provide among other things, peak rates as high as 1 Gbps in downlink (DL), and several hundreds of Mbps in uplink (UL). One of the major additions to LTE Release 10 from the initial LTE release, i.e. release 8, is the concept of relaying.
In all simplicity, the concept of relaying consists of deploying a radio network node, also referred to as a Relay Node (RN), in a cell of the radio communications network in order to provide radio coverage in black spots in the cell or beyond the cell and also possibly increase the capacity in already radio covered spots. The relaying concept may comprise only one relay node in the cell but is more likely to comprise multiple relay nodes per cell. Thus, the relay node forwards data in the uplink to a radio base station or to a different relay node, or forwards data to a user equipment or to a different relay node in the downlink.
The connection between the radio base station and the relay node is referred to as the backhaul link over an air interface denoted as Un. It is on the backhaul link that communication between radio base station and relay node takes place. The connection with the user equipment within the cell, whether from the radio base station or the relay node, is known as the access link over an air interface denoted as Uu.
In order to coordinate transmissions, Un and Uu share the frequency bandwidth, whether in uplink or in downlink by strict time division multiplexing (TDM). Strict TDM means that in case a Un link is configured, the relay node cannot have any Uu links configured. Based on a configuration of a certain slot, i.e. whether backhaul link or access link, and based whether it is an UL or DL phase, some nodes will transmit whereas others will listen.
Using multiple relay nodes in a cell enhances the performance of the user equipments traditionally having low Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratios (SINR) in the radio communications network. However, such gains of performance have been curbed by some major limitations in the achievable high rates in LTE release 10. It has been detected that mainly cell edge users and user equipments having bad radio conditions gain from the concept of relaying. Although relaying is able to enhance the performance of user equipments in bad radio conditions, it creates a problem for user equipments with already high SINR, leading to limiting the peak rates by e.g. 50% when the resource allocation is divided equal between the access link and the backhaul link.


A cooling device includes a heat-radiating device and a centrifugal pump provided in a closed circulation passage for circulating refrigerant. The centrifugal pump contacts and absorbs heat from heat-generating electronic parts by heat exchange of the refrigerant therein to radiate the heat via the heat-radiating device. The centrifugal pump includes a lower casing that comes into contact with the heatgenerating electronic parts, an upper casing disposed to face the lower casing to form a pump chamber, and an impeller sandwiched between the upper casing and the lower casing. The lower casing includes a recessed conical surface facing the impeller, at least one protrusion provided in a center portion of the recessed conical surface and a contact face with which the heat-generating electronic parts come into contact formed directly below the protrusion on an opposite side of the recessed conical surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling device for electronic parts, which cools heat-generating electronic parts such as a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) installed in a housing by the circulation of refrigerant.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, computer speed increases rapidly, and thus the clock frequency of the CPU becomes extremely large as compared to that of the old days. As a result, the amount of heat generated by the CPU increases considerably, and thus the computer cannot be cooled sufficiently only by the air cooling of a heat sink, and it is indispensable to install a high-efficiency and high-output cooling device. As a result, a cooling device that circulates refrigerant to cool a board on which heat-generating electronic parts are mounted is proposed as the cooling device (see JP-A-7-142886).
Hereinafter, a related cooling device for electronic parts, which circulates refrigerant to cool the electronic parts, will be described. The cooling device shown in FIG. 8 is a related cooling device for electronic parts in the related art (see JP-A-7-142886). The cooling device transfers the heat generated by the heat-generating parts to a metallic housing that is a heat-radiating portion, efficiently so as to cool the heat-generating members. FIG. 8 illustrates the structure of the related cooling device for an electronic apparatus.
In FIG. 8, a reference numeral 108 is a circuit board of an electronic apparatus, a reference numeral 109 is a keyboard, a reference numeral 110 is a semiconductor heating element, a reference numeral 111 is a disc device, a reference numeral 112 is a display device, a reference numeral 113 is a heat-receiving header that exchanges heat with the semiconductor heating element 110, a reference numeral 114 is a heat-radiating header for radiating heat, a reference numeral 115 is a flexible tube, and a reference numeral 116 is the metallic housing of the electronic apparatus.
The cooling device thermally connects the semiconductor heating element 110, which is a heat-generating member, with the metallic housing 116 via a heat transfer device having a flexible structure. The heat transfer device is constituted with the flat heat-receiving header 113 having a liquid passage attached to the semiconductor heating elements 110, the heat-radiating header 114 that is in contact with a wall of the metallic housing 116 having a liquid passage, and the flexible tube 115 that connects the heat-receiving header 113 with the heat-radiating header 114. Also, the heat transfer device drives or circulates liquid that is enclosed in the heat transfer device between the heat-receiving header 113 and the heat-radiating header 114 by using a liquid driving mechanism built in the heat-radiating header 114. As a result, the semiconductor heating elements 110 and the heat-radiating header 114 can be easily connected with each other regardless of the arrangement of the parts, and heat is efficiently transferred by the driving of the liquid. Since the heat-radiating header 114 is thermally connected with the metallic housing 116, and the metallic housing 116 has high thermal conductivity, heat is dissipated widely throughout the metallic housing 116.
In addition, the present applicant proposed a turbo-type pump, as a heat-receiving pump, which can circulate a large amount of refrigerant and comes into contact with the heat-generating members to exchange heat. Also, the applicant proposed a technique in which a pump casing comes into close contact with heat-generating electronic parts to exchange heat (Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-374136).
Further, a design to form a recessed conical surface by a casing of a water pump is registered. However, since the registered design evidently has no relation to a pump for a cooling device, the above registered design cannot be applied to a pump for a cooling device (see Japanese Registered Design Publication No. 775382).
In the cooling device according to JP-A-7-142886, when the thermal conductivity of the heat-receiving header 113 is low, refrigerant cannot exchange heat with the heat-generating members. Also, since the heat exchange basically depends on the material of the refrigerant, heat can be exchanged within a certain extent, and thus the cooling efficiency cannot be further improved. In addition, since the structure of the liquid driving mechanism becomes complex, and the flow rate of the refrigerant becomes small in a reciprocating pump and the like, there is a limitation in making the cooling device smaller and in making the cooling device slimmer.
In addition, in the cooling device proposed by the applicant, it is possible to make the cooling device smaller, and to make the cooling device slimmer, and to cool the heat-generating members at a high-efficiency. However, it is necessary to increase the thermal conduction in the pump casing structurally, and to increase the heat transfer from the pump casing to the refrigerant in order to further improve the cooling efficiency. Particularly, since it is necessary to support an impeller of the pump in the vicinity of the suction port of the turbo-type pump, it is structurally impossible to transfer heat in the vicinity of the suction port, and thus to transfer heat. Also, the shape of the related pump casing has too large thermal resistance for dissipating heat throughout the casing, and also the shape of the pump casing has too large thermal resistance for transferring heat to the flow of the refrigerant.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method for analyzing system-problems, comprising the steps of: accepting from a user an input describing a system having a problem; parsing the user input to create a boolean representation of the system, the boolean representation comprising a series of equations; determining that the boolean representation comprises an unsatisfiable series of equations; for each equation in the series of equations, performing the steps of: creating a modified series of equations by removing the equation from the series of equations; and determining if the modified series of equations is satisfiable, and, if the modified series of equations is satisfiable, deriving a solution wording from the removed equation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a system and method for systems-related problem formulation, analysis and solution. More specifically, the instant invention is directed to a system and method for formulating, analyzing and solving system-related problems based on functional descriptions of such systems.
2. Background of the Related Art
Methods for solving systems-related problems are well known in the art. These include methods based on Genrich Altschuller's "Theory of Inventive Problem Solving", known generally by its Russian acronym, "TRIZ".
Methodologies based on classical TRIZ are difficult to apply because they do not readily identify the problems to be solved for complex systems. Certain patents attempt to solve such shortcomings. U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,663, for example, provides a graph based implementation which provides some problem identification functionality for complex systems.
Prior art systems such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,663 read system description and/or problem situation description in the form shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1(Statement1) is required for (Statement2).(Statement1) causes (Statement3).This text may be understood as comprising nodes and node-links forming a graph. As the result, these systems build graphs whose nodes are the arbitrary user statements, called "functions," with arcs directed between such nodes.
Originally, graphs included only three types of links, namely, "is required for", "causes", and "eliminates" links. Subsequently, other solutions introduced other link types while generally remaining within the graph model.
After building graphs from user input (i.e., user text), prior art systems apply certain structural checks to the graphs such as incoming links compatibility, loop identification, "unconnected islands" identification, and the like, as will be readily understood by those of skill in the art. Upon concluding such structural checks, these systems formulate verbose renderings for each node of the graph; that is, they constructed word-based formulations for each graph node. This formulation takes into account the types of links of each node as well as the nodes in the immediate vicinity. For example, for the description of Table 1 above, the wordings would be:
TABLE 2Find a way to eliminate (Statement3) under the condition of(Statement1).Find an alternative way of (Statement1) that provides (Statement2)and does not cause (Statement3).Find a way to provide (Statement2) that does not require(Statement1).This graph based implementation, however, is static in nature, having no provision for hypothetical conditions, or "would-be" values at the nodes of the graph.
In addition to the undesirable static nature of the prior art graph based implementation, this approach does not differentiate between relevant and irrelevant conditions, as illustrated by the following example. One first considers the problem description of Table 3, below.
TABLE 3(A) is required for (B).(B) is required for (C).(C) is required for (D).(D) is required for (E).(D) causes (F).The "real" problem inherent in the instant example is located somewhere between the nodes (D), (E), and (F). However, the generated wordings would include all the "functions" in the chain, as depicted in Table 4, below.
TABLE 4Find a way to eliminate (F) under the condition of (D).Find alternative way of (D) that provides (E) and does not cause (F).Find a way to provide (E) that does not require (D).Find a way to provide (D) that does not require (C).Find a way to provide (C) that does not require (B).Find a way to provide (B) that does not require (A).Thus, the verbose description of the graph inefficiently includes all "functions" and does not provide any focusing of an analyst's attention to the "functions" deserving of heightened scrutiny or additional analysis.
Another problem which the prior art does not address is the problem of "multi-path" cause-effect chains, such as the one illustrated in Table 5, below.
TABLE 5Chain 1:(A) is required for (X).(A) causes (A1).(A1) causes (A2).(A2) causes (Y).Chain 2:(A) causes (B1).(B1) causes (B2).(B2) causes (Y).In this graph, to eliminate (Y), one must eliminate both chains at the same time, i.e., chain (A)-(A1)-(A2)-(Y) and chain (A)-(B1)-(B2)-(Y). The prior art graph-based formulator would not recognize this multi-path issue, however, because the nature of its formulation is "local" to one node. Thus, the prior art graph-based formulator would produce the verbose wordings for each node independently.
A final problem left unaddressed by the prior art is that of analysis of alternative chains, as illustrated in Tables 6 and 7.
TABLE 6(Flammable gas) causes (Explosion) [(A) causes (X)].(Electrical spark) causes (Explosion) [(B) causes (X)].
TABLE 7(Bacteria in the air) causes (Damage of medication) [(A) causes (X)](Overheat of medication) causes (Damage of medication) [(B) causes(X)].In the graph of Table 6, one might state the problem as "Find a way to eliminate (Explosion) under the condition of (Flammable gas) and (Electrical spark)." Importantly, the two functions (i.e., "A" and "B") must both be present to cause the outcome (i.e., "X"). By contrast, one readily sees that the graph illustrated in Table 7 models a system in which the presence of either function causes the outcome (i.e., either "A" or "B" causes "X"). The prior art cannot express such alternatives.
It is therefore desirable to have a system for formulating, analyzing and solving system-related problems that allows for "would-be," non-static values at its nodes. It is further desirable to have a system for analyzing and solving system-related problems capable of identifying "functions" deserving of heightened scrutiny or additional analysis. It is also desirable to have a system for analyzing and solving system-related problems having multi-path cause-effects. Finally, it is desirable to have a system capable of analyzing alternative function chains.

Apparatus and process for conjunctive normal form processing


At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a method of suppressing cable acoustic noise or reducing microphone squeal.

Earphones, earbuds, hearing aids all have been around for many years and each has particular components related to it's particular function, for example microphones for vocal and environmental pickup and speakers (audio playback devices) for music playback and communication. Several hardware configurations enable the environment for hardware unique software. Wired headphones/earphones have a common noise source due to cable noise. When the cable is touched, tapped, and rubbed noise travels up the cable from the source to the earphone and can be heard in the ear. Additionally, if an ambient microphone has a port facing the ambient environment and is tapped or covered a squeal can result if the ambient microphone pickup is played by a speaker into an ear canal.

Method and device for suppression of microphone squeal and cable noise


Various approaches for generating an implementation of an electronic circuit design are disclosed. In one approach, a software portion of the design is compiled into software that is executable by a hard processor disposed on a single semiconductor chip with resources of an programmable logic device (PLD). A first synthesized version of a hardware portion of the design is generated for the PLD. A synthesized memory scrubber having an empty block for an address counter is generated, as well as a triple modular redundant (TMR) address counter. The memory in the first synthesized version of the hardware portion of the design is replaced with the memory scrubber, and a complete set of netlists is generated, including a TMR hardware portion of the design and a single instance of the synthesized memory scrubber. A configuration bitstream is generated from the complete set of netlists and stored for later use.

Programmable logic devices (PLDs) are a well-known type of integrated circuit that can be programmed to perform specified logic functions. One type of PLD, the field programmable gate array (FPGA), typically includes an array of programmable tiles. These programmable tiles can include, for example, input/output blocks (IOBs), configurable logic blocks (CLBs), dedicated random access memory blocks (BRAM), multipliers, digital signal processing blocks (DSPs), processors, clock managers, delay lock loops (DLLs), and so forth.
Each programmable tile typically includes both programmable interconnect and programmable logic. The programmable interconnect typically includes a large number of interconnect lines of varying lengths interconnected by programmable interconnect points (PIPs). The programmable logic implements the logic of a user design using programmable primitives that can include, for example, function generators, registers, arithmetic logic, and so forth.
The programmable interconnect and programmable logic are typically programmed by loading a stream of configuration data into internal configuration memory cells that define how the programmable resources are configured. The configuration data can be read from memory (e.g., from an external PROM) or written into the FPGA by an external device. The collective states of the individual memory cells then determine the function of the FPGA.
The function of the FPGA may be altered when the state of certain memory cells is affected by cosmic radiation and the byproducts of radioactive decay. Because the effects of cosmic radiation may increase with increasing altitude, applications for FPGAs at high altitudes and in outer space may be especially vulnerable.
Triple modular redundancy (TMR) may be employed to protect against the unexpected alteration of data stored in FPGA memory cells. With TMR, the design implemented in the programmable logic and interconnect is triplicated and voting circuits are added to compare and determine a correct output from the three outputs of the triplicated logic. The TMRTool from Xilinx, for example, provides the capability to automatically generate TMR for an input design that is targeted to an FPGA.
Programmable logic and interconnect have been configured to implement a processor in combination with BRAM resources implementing the addressable memory for the processor. Program instructions may be stored in the BRAM and fetched and executed by the processor. The MicroBlaze processor implementation from Xilinx, Inc. is an example of such an arrangement. The implementation of a processor on programmable logic and interconnect resources of an FPGA is sometimes referred to as a "soft processor."
TMR may also be applied to systems having one or more soft processors in combination with other application-specific logic implemented on the programmable logic and interconnect resource of an FPGA. For such a system, the TMRTool may be used to triplicate each processor and BRAM instance and instantiate the appropriate voting circuitry. This implementation may consume a very large portion of FPGA resources, however.
FPGA architectures have evolved to include one or more hard-wired processors on the same chip as the programmable logic and interconnect resources. For example, FPGAs from Xilinx may include one or more PowerPC® processors that are hardwired into the chip (a "hard processor"). That is, the functions of the hard processor are not implemented using the programmable logic and interconnect resources of the FPGA.
Use of TMR with a system that is implemented using both the hard processor and programmable logic and interconnect resources of an FPGA may be problematic. Since there are only a finite number of hard processors available on an FPGA, triplicating the hard processors may not be possible. Also, tools such as the TMRTool may not recognize how to deal with hard processors in a TMR context.
The present invention may address one or more of the above issues.

Implementing a user design in a programmable logic device with single event upset mitigation


A control circuit for a switching DC/DC Converter comprising: an input for an indicator signal indicative of an output current level from said converter; a peak detector for detecting and storing a maximum value of said indicator signal; a comparator element for comparing an instantaneous value of said indicator signal with said stored maximum value, and for generating a switching signal when said instantaneous value becomes less than a predetermined fraction of said stored value; reinitializer means for reinitializing said peak detector in response to said switching signal; and means for generating a control signal that switches between a state in which it increases over time and a state in which it decreases over time in response to said switching signal. A control module for photovoltaic generator, the module including such a control circuit, and a photovoltaic generator system comprising a plurality of such modules, each controlling a respective photovoltaic generator.

Satellites and space probes generally include photovoltaic generators for powering on-board equipment and for charging batteries that deliver power during periods of eclipse. The photovoltaic generators, the batteries, and the various items of equipment that need to be powered are connected to one another by a power supply bus bar that presents a potential that needs to be kept within a predetermined range. Regulators are provided for controlling the magnitude of the currents delivered by said photovoltaic generators, in particular as a function of the potential of said power supply bus bar.
The regulator in the most widespread use is the sequential switching shunt regulator (S3R or S3R) as developed by the European Space Agency and as described in the article "The sequential switching shunt regular S3R" by D. O'Sullivan and A. Weinberg, Proceedings of the Third ESTEC Spacecraft Power Conditioning Seminar, Noordwijk, the Netherlands, Sep. 21-23, 1977. That regulator comprises a plurality of individual photovoltaic generators connected in parallel to feed a power supply bus bar. Each individual generator can be selectively short-circuited by a controlled switch, and under such circumstances the current it generates is no longer supplied to the bus bar, but is dissipated; the various short-circuit switches are switched ON or OFF as a function of the potential of the power supply bus bar, and with the help of hysteresis comparators having thresholds that are offset from one another. Thus, the lower the potential of the bus bar, indicative of high consumption by the equipment being powered and/or of a low level of charge in the batteries, the greater the number of individual generators that are connected to said bus bar. Conversely, when the potential of the bus bar is high, generators are short-circuited, which means that there is excess power available.
The S3R regulator constitutes an excellent compromise between the requirements for effectiveness and for simplicity, however it does not make it possible to optimize the use of the power available from the photovoltaic generators. Such generators present a V-I characteristic curve that presents an optimum operating point at which the power extracted is maximized; in order to operate at this optimum operating point, each generator must be connected to a load that presents a determined input impedance. However the problem is made much more complex by the fact that the characteristic curves vary very greatly with aging of the generators, and also depend strongly on temperature. That is why, if it is desired to make optimum use of the available power, which is very important in particular for interplanetary missions directed to the outer regions of the solar systems, it is necessary to provide a control system that makes it possible to "track" the maximum power operating point, with this being known as maximum power point tracking (MPPT).
In conventional manner, MPPT systems use microprocessor-based controllers, but that is generally not desirable in space applications, in particular for reasons of reliability. That is why analog MPPT controllers have been developed in the past, but until now none of them has given complete satisfaction.
The articles "Electrical power subsystem of Globastar" by W. Denzinger, Fourth European Space Power Conference 1995, and "Power conditioning unit for Rosetta/Mars Express" by H. Jensen and J. Laursen, Proceedings of the Sixth European Space Power Conference 2002, describe systems based on the principle that at the maximum power point, the absolute value of the dynamic impedance dV/dI of a generator is equal to its static impedance V/I. This makes it possible to avoid multiplying voltage and current values, and consequently to limit the complexity of the circuit. Nevertheless, circuit complexity remains excessive for providing independent control of a large number of individual generators. Thus, a plurality of solar arrays need to be connected in parallel and controlled together; this limits the effectiveness of the system and makes it necessary to use protection and isolation systems in order to avoid faults propagating.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,272 discloses an MPPT system that makes use of a different concept, namely maximizing the output current from a DC/DC switching converter (an array power regulator (APR)) connected between the photovoltaic generators and the power supply bus bar. This simplification is possible because the output voltage from the APR converter is equal to the potential of the power supply bus bar, which can be considered as being approximately constant. Nevertheless, such a system requires means for modifying the operating points in order to cause it to oscillate about its maximum value, thereby preventing the complexity of the electronic circuit from being reduced significantly.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,316,925 discloses another MPPT system that controls a voltage converter in order to maximize the output voltage by using operations of sampling and comparing output current values. Such a system presents the drawback of being synchronous (the sample-and-hold circuit is driven by a clock), thereby limiting its performance. Good tracking of the optimum operating point can be obtained only by using slow oscillations around said optimum point, but that implies a long acquisition time in order to come close thereto.
Furthermore, the above two documents disclose in conventional manner, the use of a buck converter (a voltage-reducing switching converter) as the APR converter. That presents three major drawbacks:                firstly, it is necessary to use high voltage solar generators (operating at several tens of volts (V) and up to more than 100 V), thus running a major risk of failure due to electric arcs forming in operation:        secondly, a buck switching converter includes a controlled switch (typically a metal oxide on silicon field effect transistor (MOSFET)) connected in series with each generator; as a result, in the event of the switch failing, the generator is permanently isolated from the power supply bus bar;        and thirdly, when the switch of a buck switching converter is constituted by a MOSFET, the MOSFET must be controlled by a floating driver circuit, thereby increasing the number of electronic components that are needed.
The article by A. Boehringer and J. Haussmann entitled "Dynamic behavior of power conditioning systems for satellites with a maximum power point tracking system", published in the Proceedings of the Spacecraft Power Conditioning Electronic Seminar, ESTEC Noordwijk, the Netherlands, July 1972, describes an MPPT system based on the above-mentioned "dV/dI=V/I" concept and using a step-up switching converter operating at the limit between discontinuous and continuous conditions.

Control circuit for a DC-to-DC switching converter, and the use thereof for maximizing the power delivered by a photovoltaic generator


Applying shotblast or sandblast to a substance contaminated with radioactivity, cleaning the substance with a liquid, washing the grit of shotblast or sandblast with an organic solvent, filtering the resulting organic solvent, decontaminating the organic solvent itself by distilling the organic solvent filtered, and using this decontaminated solvent for washing said grit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the decontamination of a substance contaminated with radioactivity produced in a nuclear power station or the like, and to a method and an apparatus for the decontamination of a material used for said decontamination.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, in a nuclear power station, with the passage of time substances contaminated with radioactivity are produced due to contact of apparatus and the parts thereof with radioactivity.
Such contaminated apparatus or parts are generated as replaced or disposed forms at the time when the apparatus are subjected to routine inspection or overhaul.
Otherwise, there occurs no replacement of the part, however, some apparatus contaminated are generated to be necessarily coated.
The degree of contamination of these contaminated substances can be out of the specified range according to safety standards. To dispose of these substances large size substances are cut into small size substances, contained in metal drums, and then they are usually confined in abandoned mines or the like, or kept or dumped in storage places which are constructed in regions with few inhabitants located apart from urban areas.
In the present invention, said terms "keeping and dumping" are unified as one word "dumping" for convenience.
The amount of substances contaminated with radioactivity stated above increases every year by the operation of nuclear power stations, resulting in lack of places to dump these substances. New waste-dumping places, therefore, become necessary. Then when a new waste-dumping place is selected, however, the inhabitants near the place tend to make an opposition movement leading to social problems. The present invention is intended to solve such troubles. The object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for the decontamination of substances contaminated with radioactivity which comprises decontaminating substances contaminated with radioactivity as mentioned above, enabling the decontaminated substances to have less radioactivity than that required by safety standard, therefore, allowing the substances to be dealt with as general industrial wastes, and enabling the use of a greatly reduced area of waste-dumping place. Another object of the invention is to to provide a method and an apparatus for the decontamination of materials used for the decontamination of the substance mentioned above which comprise decontaminating fully said materials, regenerating the materials, and permitting the re-use thereof.

Method for decontaminating substances contaminated with radioactivity, and method for decontaminating the materials used for said decontamination


A method of forming double gate dielectric layers composed of an underlying oxide layer and an overlying oxy-nitride layer is provided to prevent degradation of gate dielectric properties due to plasma-induced charges. In the method, the oxide layer is thermally grown on a silicon substrate under oxygen gas atmosphere to have a first thickness, and then the oxy-nitride layer is thermally grown on the oxide layer under nitrogen monoxide gas atmosphere to have a second thickness smaller than the first thickness. The substrate may have a high voltage area and a low voltage area, and the oxide layer may be partially etched in the low voltage area so as to have a reduced thickness. The oxy-nitride layer behaves like a barrier, blocking the inflow of the plasma-induced charges.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor technology and, more particularly, to a method of forming double gate dielectric layers composed of an underlying oxide layer and an overlying oxy-nitride layer, and a semiconductor device having double gate dielectric layers.
2. Description of the Related Art
A dramatic trend toward scaling down of a transistor in integrated circuit chips continuously requires a much thinner gate dielectric layer. The ultrathin gate dielectric layer may, however, confront many problems to be solved. A decrease in gate oxide integrity (GOI) property is one of such problems. This problem related to GOI property may be caused by plasma-induced damage that may often occur during several processes such as gate etch, metal etch, via etch, and gap fill CVD that follow a gate oxidation process.
In order to improve GOI property, an oxy-nitride layer has been used for the gate dielectric layer. FIG. 1 shows, in a cross-sectional view, a conventional semiconductor device having the oxy-nitride gate dielectric layer.
Referring to FIG. 1, a field region 11 having STI (shallow trench isolation) structure is formed in a silicon substrate 10 to define an active region. A well region 12 is formed in the substrate 10, and source/drain regions 15 having LDD (lightly doped drain) structure are formed in the active region of the substrate 10. The oxy-nitride gate dielectric layer 13 is formed between the source/drain regions 15 on the substrate 10, and further, a gate electrode 14 is formed thereon.
Normally the oxy-nitride gate dielectric layer 13 is formed using nitrogen monoxide (NO) gas during a typical gate oxidation process. Such conventional method produces an oxy-nitride layer within an oxide layer. However, this oxy-nitride layer may be distributed with very poor uniformity, and further, nitrogen atoms in the oxy-nitride layer may act as impurities that cause degradation in GOI property. For example, with enough voltage applied, plasma-induced charges trapped in the gate dielectric layer 13 eventually succumb to the electrical pressure and thereby electrons flow toward the p-type well region 12. Such a breakdown voltage may be much lowered when there is a poorly uniform layer or undesirable impurity in the gate dielectric layer.
FIG. 2 illustrates a breakdown phenomenon in the non-uniform oxy-nitride gate dielectric layer. Referring to FIG. 2, electrons 20 induced by plasma are trapped in the gate dielectric layer 13 underneath the gate electrode 14 and then flow into the p-type well 12 at the breakdown voltage. Unfortunately, this phenomenon due to plasma-induced charge may deteriorate characteristics of the semiconductor device and also drop yield and reliability of the device.

Method of forming double gate dielectric layers and semiconductor device having the same


An inverter system includes a converter, an inverter, a first switch SW1 that connects between the converter and an AC power source, a capacitor that smooths a DC power in a DC bus, a resistor Rr connected from a positive voltage side of the DC bus to ground, a second switch SW2 that connects between the resistor Rr and ground, and a controller that controls drive of the inverter system. The controller is configured to: after charging the capacitor, while the first switch SW1 is in an OFF state, turn on the second switch SW2 and obtain a first across voltage ER1 of the resistor Rx; turn on an element, among semiconductor elements of the inverter, that is connected to the negative voltage side of the DC bus, and then obtain a second across voltage ER2 of the resistor Rx; and inspect insulation resistance of a motor based on the across voltages ER1, ER2.

In a manufacturing facility, since a sudden failure impairs productivity, it is desirable to detect any failure in advance and carry out preventive maintenance. Specifically in a machine tool for performing metal processing, there frequently occurs a failure in which an aqueous cutting fluid used for the processing forms a mist, adheres to and penetrates into the motor, and causes insulation degradation. Accordingly, it is desirable to check and diagnose motor insulation resistance.
In earlier times, for diagnosing the motor insulation resistance, the motor was disconnected from the inverter during a non-operating period of the machine so as to measure the motor insulation resistance using an insulation resistance tester, and this process was performed periodically. However, in complex machine structures of recent years, performing inspection by disconnecting the motor requires much workload and time, which problematically reduces productivity due to inspection work.
In order to reduce the workload of motor insulation inspection, techniques for measuring the insulation resistance using a function of the inverter have been devised. For example, in Patent Document 1, a voltage divider circuit as shown in FIG. 4, which is configured with resistors R1 and R2 and connected from the negative voltage side of an inverter DC bus, is coupled to ground via switch a SW2, and at that time, by simultaneously turning on the semiconductor elements constituting the inverter, a closed circuit including motor insulation resistance Rx is formed, and a voltage that occurs in the voltage divider circuit is detected. At this point, the inverter circuit is cut off from the AC power source by turning off switch SW1.
In FIG. 4, when the switch SW2 and any one of the semiconductor elements located on the upper side of the inverter are turned on, a current flows through the resistor R1 via the following path: positive voltage side of DC bus→inverter element→motor line→motor insulation resistance Rx→ground→resistor R2→switch SW2→resistor R1→negative voltage side of DC bus. By detecting the voltage that occurs in the resistor R1, it is possible to derive the motor insulation resistance Rx value, which is the target of measurement.
However, in an actual inverter system, because of the presence of leak current from the semiconductor elements constituting the inverter and the converter as well as leak current caused by other constituent components in the inverter system, the motor insulation resistance Rx value cannot be accurately calculated. In particular, measurement accuracy tends to be degraded in a system in which a plurality of inverters are connected to a single DC bus so as to control a plurality of motors. This problem is explained by reference to FIG. 5. Motor A is the measurement target motor, and one of the upper-side semiconductor elements of inverter A is turned on to apply to the motor A the voltage of the positive side of the DC bus. Regarding motor B, although all of the semiconductor elements of inverter B are turned off, leak currents IL1, IL2, IL3 flow through the semiconductor elements, and these currents flow via insulation resistance Rx2 of the motor B to the resistor R1. As a result, the voltage that occurs in the resistor R1 includes an error component due to the insulation resistance Rx2 of the motor B, in addition to reflecting insulation resistance Rx1 of the motor A.
To deal with this problem, for example, in Patent Document 2, by turning on all of the lower-side semiconductor elements of the inverter B and thereby applying the voltage of the negative side of the DC bus to the motor B, the voltage applied to the motor when the switch SW2 is turned on is set to a potential close to ground, so that flow of leak current is prevented.

Inverter system with motor insulaton inspection function


A boat fender having a fender body of first and second concentric tubes, telescopically joined, for strength and extra length for large tidal variations. The fender body is supported on a ballast of sufficient buoyancy to keep the fender body above the water line to reduce or prevent marine growth, such as barnacles, during operation. The boat fender body is vertically supported by a bracket with a lateral spacer that is attached to a mooring facility, minimizing the fender body from contacting the mooring facility from wave action.

1. Field of the Invention
A floating boat fender and mooring bracket to protect a floating vessel from contacting a dock, seawall, anchor post or other boat securing barrier that allows the vertical, tubular, telescopically extendable, fender to move vertically above the surface of the water, at high and low tides, to reduce marine growth on the fender body, and for use in areas with large tidal high-low variations.
2. Related Art
The use of vertically-movable boat fenders, secured to a dock or mooring post, is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,844,943 granted Jul. 29, 1958 shows a Pier Bumper that has guide wheels to intersect the hull of a boat and a pair of floats that keep the guide wheels moving with tide. U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,363 granted Apr. 16, 1991 shows a Gunnel Saver Dock and Mooring Fender that is buoyant and controlled by top and bottom caps which have stops on the buoyancy of the fender. U.S. Pat. No. 7,322,307 issue Jan. 29, 2008 shows a Buoyant Bumper System that attaches to a dock facility that can rise and fall with the tides.
None of the references describe a boat fender that has a tubular, telescopically-extendable, strengthened fender body, for use in large high, low tidal differential areas, attached to a suitable bottom ballast to keep the vertical boat fender structure out of the water, regardless of the tide, to eliminate marine growth, such as barnacles, on the boat fender exterior body.

Floating boat telescopically extendable fender reducing marine growth


A storage framework for nuclear reactor fuel elements includes a baseplate on which a plurality of structural wells of essentially rectangular cross section are fastened. The structural wells stand upright on the baseplate and in each case are disposed approximately diagonally opposite one another in a checkered manner. Structural wells located diagonally opposite one another in each case span an interspace. A neutron-absorbing structure with boron-treated steel is disposed in the interspace and/or in the structural wells, is displaceable relative to the structural wells and has plates made from boron-treated steel. The plates form an essentially rectangular absorber well which does not take on any load-bearing functions of the storage framework. The absorber well is fixed in its position by spacers, in particular edge beads, on the plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a storage framework for nuclear reactor fuel elements, having a plurality of structural wells of essentially rectangular cross section fastened on a baseplate.
In order to provide for the intermediate storage of spent fuel elements from a nuclear power plant, in particular a pressurized water or boiling water reactor, the fuel elements are stored within the nuclear power plant, in particular within fuel element storage basins. It is desirable for technical and economic reasons to utilize the available storage space as efficiently as possible. In order to increase the storage capacity, storage frameworks with incorporated nuclear poison, for example with boron-containing material, are employed. The storage framework, while having sufficient mechanical stability and neutron-absorbing properties, should require as little space as possible for itself, in order to allow a high loading density for spent fuel elements.
Published European Patent Application 0 537 615 A1, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,563, specifies a storage framework for nuclear reactor fuel elements, in which a plurality of wells of essentially rectangular cross section are fastened on a baseplate, the wells standing vertically on the baseplate and in each case being disposed diagonally opposite one another in a checkered manner. Some of the wells located diagonally opposite one another are in each case connected to one another, along their mutually adjoining longitudinal edges with an offset, through the use of at least two connecting elements that bridge a gap formed by the offset. The pair of longitudinal edges is assigned at least one first connecting element of high rigidity, in each case in a first direction parallel to the baseplate, and at least one second connecting element of high rigidity, in each case in a second direction parallel to the baseplate. Due to the high rigidity of the connecting elements, internal transverse forces acting on the storage framework can be absorbed, without the need for an additional supporting grid in the upper region of the storage framework. It is thus also possible to load the interspaces of the storage framework which are not provided with wells, so that intermediate positions or intermediate locations for fuel elements are formed. In order to provide neutron absorption, the walls of the wells of the storage framework are composed of austenitic boron steel with a boron content of up to 2%, and the connecting elements are composed of a soft austenitic steel, the carbon content of which is lower than 0.1%. As a result, when extreme external forces act on the storage framework, the boron steel wells experience virtually no deformation, since the external forces are absorbed, where appropriate, by virtue of plastic deformations of the connecting elements. The use of an austenitic boron steel as a load-bearing structure for the wells makes those wells particularly complicated to manufacture, in order to ensure the required mechanical stability of the boron-treated steel.
Further embodiments of a storage framework for spent fuel elements, in which the respective storage framework has a neutron-absorbing material, are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,897, U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,738, U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,424 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,859. A fact common to the storage frameworks known from those publications is that the neutron-absorbing material is integrated firmly into the load-bearing structure of the storage framework. In the storage framework disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,897, boron-containing material is disposed between an inner and an outer wall of a well for receiving a spent fuel element. In the storage framework known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,738, a plurality of square neutron-absorbing wells parallel to one another on a baseplate are connected firmly to the baseplate, with the neutron-absorbing material, in the form of plates made from sintered boron-treated aluminum, being fastened firmly to the respective sides of the rectangular well. The boron-treated plates are disposed between an inner and an outer well. U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,424 discloses a storage framework, in which the neutron-absorbing material, for example a boron carbide, in the form of plates is non-displaceably fastened, particularly welded, to the outside of a well for receiving spent fuel elements. U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,859 describes a storage framework for fuel elements of a nuclear power plant, with wells for receiving a fuel element in each case. There, the wells have a sandwich structure with an inner wall and an outer wall, between which a neutron-absorbing material, for example boron carbide, is intercalated.
The known measures for introducing neutron-absorbing material into a fuel element storage framework involve integrating the neutron-absorbing material firmly into the load-bearing structure of the fuel element storage basin, thus necessitating a considerable construction outlay in production terms and, where appropriate, requiring a monitoring of the neutron-absorbing material.

Storage framework for nuclear reactor fuel elements


Disclosed herein is an electrode assembly configured to have a structure in which two or more unit cells are sequentially stacked or a structure in which two or more unit cells are folded using a long sheet type separation film, wherein the unit cells include bi-cells, each of which includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, at least one of the bi-cells includes a safety electrode configured such that an electrode active material is applied only to one major surface of an electrode current collector, the safety electrode includes a first surface, to which no electrode active material is applied, and a second surface, to which the electrode active material is applied, and the at least one of the bi-cells including the safety electrode is configured such that a safety separator, having a thickness equivalent to 110% to 220% of a thickness of a separator disposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode or between a negative electrode and a positive electrode excluding the safety electrode, is added to the first surface and/or the second surface of the safety electrode.

As mobile devices have been increasingly developed, and the demand for such mobile devices has increased, the demand for secondary batteries has also sharply increased as an energy source for the mobile devices. Accordingly, much research into batteries satisfying various needs has been carried out.
Secondary batteries may be classified based on the shape of a battery case of each of the secondary batteries into a cylindrical battery configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly is mounted in a cylindrical metal container, a prismatic battery configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly is mounted in a prismatic metal container, and a pouch-shaped battery configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly is mounted in a pouch-shaped case made of a laminated aluminum sheet.
In addition, secondary batteries may be classified based on the structure of an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. For example, the electrode assembly may be configured to have a jelly-roll (wound) type structure in which long-sheet type positive electrodes and negative electrodes are wound while separators are disposed respectively between the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes, a stacked type structure in which pluralities of positive electrodes and negative electrodes, each having a predetermined size, are sequentially stacked while separators are disposed respectively between the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes, a stacked/folded type structure in which pluralities of positive electrodes and negative electrodes, each having a predetermined size, are sequentially stacked while separators are disposed respectively between the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes to constitute a unit cell, such as a bi-cell or a full cell, and then unit cells are wound in a state in which the unit cells are disposed on a separation film, or another stacked type electrode assembly in which bi-cells or full cells are stacked in a state in which separators are disposed respectively between the bi-cells or the full cells.
In recent years, a lot of interest has been directed to a secondary battery including an electrode assembly that includes bi-cells or full cells, which are easy to manufacture, manufacturing cost of which is low, and which have high structural applicability in response to various shapes of a device, in which the secondary battery is mounted.
Meanwhile, in a case in which a sharp needle-shaped conductor, such as a nail, having high electrical conductivity penetrates into the electrode assembly, the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode assembly are electrically connected to each other by the needle-shaped conductor, with the result that current flows to the needle-shaped conductor, the resistance of which is low. At this time, the electrodes through which the needle-shaped conductor has penetrated are deformed, and high resistance heat is generated due to conducting current in a contact resistance portion between a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material. In a case in which the temperature in the electrode assembly exceeds a critical temperature level due to the resistance heat, the oxide structure of the positive electrode active material collapses, and therefore a thermal runaway phenomenon occurs. As a result, the electrode assembly and the secondary battery may catch fire or explode.
In addition, in a case in which the electrode active material or a current collector bent by the needle-shaped conductor contacts the opposite electrode that the electrode active material or the current collector faces, the thermal runaway phenomenon may be further accelerated. These problems may be more serious in a bi-cell including a plurality of electrodes and an electrode assembly including the same.

Electrode assembly having safety separator and secondary battery including the same


A new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant named ‘Bkpcmpjy’ characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; campanulate-shaped flowers with bright purple violet-colored petals; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Campanula plant, botanically known as Campanula portenschlagiana, commonly known as Dalmatian Bellflower and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Bkpcmpjy'.
The new Campanula is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely flowering Campanula plants with attractive flowers and good interior and garden performance.
The new Campanula plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in June, 2008 of a proprietary selection of Campanula portenschlagiana identified as code number 4400102, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Campanula portenschlagiana identified as code number 4400293, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Campanula plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled outdoor nursery in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in June, 2009.
Asexual reproduction of the new Campanula plant by cuttings in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, since February, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Campanula plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A carry-on baggage container is provided on one surface with a folding chair, which includes a base portion fixedly attached to the baggage container surface, a seat portion pivotally connected at a rear end to a top of the base portion, and a leg portion pivotally connected at an upper end to a front crossbar of the seat portion. The leg portion includes two slant stays pivotally connected at outer ends to two lateral sides of the leg portion and at flat and bent inner ends to a flat section at a first end of a central bar, of which a second end is pivotally connected to a rear crossbar of the seat portion. The folding chair is normally in a folded position flatly attached to the baggage container and can be readily turned to an extended position for use.

A traveler, either a tourist or a businessman, would usually have one or more containers, such as trunks, knapsacks or bags, for carry-on baggage. These carry-on baggage containers are normally very heavy with various kinds of articles loaded therein. Many currently available carry-on baggage containers are equipped with wheels to allow easy movement of them effortlessly.
Even if the currently available carry-on baggage containers are equipped with wheels and can be effortlessly moved around, they are still a burden to the traveler, particular a traveler on a long-distant trip or a transit passenger, who is very tired at the end of the travel, and hardly has strength to handle the carry-on baggage.
Frequently, a traveler also has to wait for boarding in the waiting room for a considerably long time, particularly at an airport that executes strict passenger inspection and requires passengers to check in as early as possible. And, it is apparent an unpleasant experience to wait in a crowded waiting room and can hardly find a seat to take a rest.

Carry-on baggage container with a folding chair


A packaging film comprising a core layer of polypropylene and a surface layer comprising a propylene ethylene random copolymer wherein at least one of said core or said surface layers contains a minor amount of a high melt index butylene homopolymer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a multi-layer, thermoplastic heat-sealable film suitable for conventional heat sealable packaging applications.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Polypropylene film has become a useful and widely accepted packaging film because of its good moisture barrier, stiffness, high strength, and good optical properties. However, the optical properties of polypropylene films in certain applications are sometimes critical and improvement has long been needed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,767 discloses a laminated packaging material with heat seal packaging properties composed of a polypropylene base layer and a surface layer of a two component blend of a propylene/ethylene copolymer with a variety of other olefins and copolymers including polybutylene copolymers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,767 does not disclose the use of a high melt index polybutylene in a laminated film with a polypropylene core.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,681,804; 4,677,025; 4,769,421; 4,343,852; and 4,766,178 disclose laminated films containing polypropylene and polybutylene, however none disclose the use of high melt index polybutylene as presently claimed.
U.S. Ser. No. 531,206, filed May 31, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,458 discloses a laminated film having a polypropylene core which is coated with layers of a blend of polypropylene random copolymer and a high melt index poly-1-butene. Applicant has found that a laminate having a polypropylene core and polypropylene random copolymer outer layers gives films having surprisingly better optical properties when a minor amount of a high melt index poly-1-butene is added either to the core or to the outer layers.

Polypropylene-polybutylene heat sealable laminated packaging film with improved optics


A method and system for installing and removing a row of cables from a cable array is provided. The method includes providing an installation tool having a first body with a plurality of arms extending from one side. The plurality of arms being configured to receive a cable connector body, the plurality of arms including at least one first projection extending from one of the plurality of arms. The installation tool is moved onto a row of cables held coupled together by a bracket, each of the cables in the row of cables having a cable connector body. The connector bodies are engaged into receptacles and the bracket is moved with the at least one first projection.

The present application relates to a system for inserting and removing cables from computer receptacles and in particular to a system for inserting and removing entire rows of cables.
One issue in the design of high-performance computing or networking equipment is the issue of interconnection between printed circuit boards (PCBs), i.e., from one PCB to another PCB. Within a PCB, electronic processing circuitry can be interconnected using wiring layers within the printed circuit board. This type of interconnect can provide high performance and density—supporting up to thousands of interconnection wires, operating at rates potentially greater than 1-10 Gbps. However, interconnections between PCBs are more difficult, requiring either backplane-style boards that the interconnecting circuit boards plug into using backplane connectors, or cables. This results in the use of cable connectors (or backplane-style connectors) and bulk cable with wires or flex circuitry. As processing circuitry has steadily improved in performance and density, these board-to-board interconnection methods have become an increasingly-large bottleneck in design, since the density and bandwidth performance of cable connectors and electrical backplane connectors has not increased at the same rate as the processing circuitry.

System for inserting and removing cables

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION