A Multi-Media Card/Secure Digital (MMC/SD) single-chip flash device contains a MMC/SD flash microcontroller and flash mass storage blocks containing flash memory arrays that are block-addressable rather than randomly-addressable. MMC/SD transactions from a host MMC/SD bus are read by a bus transceiver on the MMC/SD flash microcontroller. Various routines that execute on a CPU in the MMC/SD flash microcontroller are activated in response to commands in the MMC/SD transactions. A flash-memory controller in the MMC/SD flash microcontroller transfers data from the bus transceiver to the flash mass storage blocks for storage. Rather than boot from an internal ROM coupled to the CPU, a boot loader is transferred by DMA from the first page of the flash mass storage block to an internal RAM. The flash memory is automatically read from the first page at power-on. The CPU then executes the boot loader from the internal RAM to load the control program.

Flash memory has gained wide acceptance for its non-volatile storage, which is ideal for portable devices that may lose power, since the data is not lost when stored in the flash memory. Flash memories are constructed from electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) cells.
Rather than use a randomly-addressable scheme such as is common with dynamic-random-access memory (DRAM), many flash memories use a block-based addressing where a command and an address are sent over the data bus and then a block of data is read or written. Since the data bus is also used to send commands and addresses, fewer pins are needed on the flash-memory chip, reducing cost. Thus flash memory is often used as a mass-storage device rather than a randomly-addressable device.
Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) has become a popular standard interface for connecting peripherals to a host such as a personal computer (PC). USB-based flash-memory storage devices or "drives" have been developed to transport data from one host to another, replacing floppy disks. While large external flash drives may be used, smaller USB flash drives known as key-chain or key drives have been a rapidly growing market.
A USB flash-memory device can be constructed from a microcontroller, a flash-memory controller or interface, and one or more flash-memory chips. A serial interface on the microcontroller connects to the USB bus to the host, and data from the serial interface is transferred through the microcontroller to the flash controller and then written to the flash-memory chips.
The microcontroller usually contains an internal ROM with a control program that is read by the internal central processing unit (CPU) of the microcontroller when the microcontroller is booted or powered up. Once initialized with the control program, the CPU can control data transfers between the serial interface and the flash controller.
Sometimes the user may desire to connect to more than one USB flash-memory device. The user can install a USB hub, and then plug the USB flash-memory devices into the USB hub's downstream ports. USB hubs allow one USB port on a host to fan out to multiple end USB devices or endpoints. A basic USB hub has a repeater that repeats data from the host to all down-stream devices, while more intelligent hubs based on the USB 2.0 standard can buffer data to different down-stream ports.
The parent application, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,103,684, disclosed a USB flash drive that did not need a read-only memory (ROM) for booting. The microcontroller in the USB flash drive was able to read boot code from the block-addressable flash memory and transfer the boot code to the microcontroller's RAM for execution.
Another popular bus standard is Multi-Media Card (MMC). An extension of MMC is known as Secure Digital (SD). MMC and SD flash devices are common today. It is desired to extend the ROM-less flash-memory-drive microcontroller of the parent application to MMC, SD, Memory Stick (MS) and other similar portable buses.
FIG. 1 shows a prior-art MMC flash controller that connects to multiple flash-memory devices. Host 10 includes MMC host controller 12 that generates transactions to MMC devices over MMC bus 18 using the MMC protocol. MMC controller 20 is connected to a cable containing MMC bus 18. MMC controller 20 fans out commands on MMC bus 18 to several downstream flash-memories that connect over additional bus segments.
Three flash-memory systems 14, 15, 16 are connected to MMC controller 20 by bus segments. Flash-memory system 14 can be accessed by MMC host controller 12 through MMC controller 20. Since MMC controller 20 passes all host transfers through to downstream devices, flash-memory system 15 is readable to host 10 as a second flash drive, while flash-memory system 16 is readable to the host as a third flash drive. Alternately, all three flash-memory systems 14, 15, 16 may appear to host 10 as a single memory.
Some board or device manufacturers may integrate MMC controller 20 together with flash-memory systems 14, 15, 16 on a single MMC flash card or box. However, this can be expensive when MMC flash-memory systems 14, 15, 16 are flash-memory chips, since each chip may have many pins. For example, a flash-memory chip with an 8-bit or 16-bit data bus may have 48 total pins. This can increase the size of the MMC flash device. Power consumption is higher due to the large number of data lines in the parallel buses to each flash-memory chip.
What is desired is to integrate a microcontroller with a flash-memory array. It is desired to have a wide internal bus from the microcontroller to the flash-memory array to improve the data bandwidth while having few external pins to reduce cost and required board space.
It is further desired to eliminate the internal ROM on the microcontroller. Instead of booting from the internal ROM, it is desired to use a control program stored in the flash-memory array. However, it is also desired to use a block-addressed rather than a randomly-addressable array for the flash storage.

Single-chip multi-media card/secure digital (MMC/SD) controller reading power-on boot code from integrated flash memory for user storage


A gesture recognition module for recognizing a gesture of a user, includes a detecting unit, including at least one image capture device, for capturing at least one image of a hand of the user, to obtain a first position and a second position of the hand sequentially; a computing unit, electrically coupled to the detecting unit, for determining a first angle between a first virtual straight line connected between a fixed reference point and the first position and a reference plane passing through the fixed reference point, and determining a second angle between a second virtual straight line connected between the fixed reference point and the second position and the reference plane; and a determining unit, electrically coupled to the computing unit, for determining a relation between the first angle and the second angle, to decide whether a gesture of the hand is a back-and-forth gesture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gesture recognition module and a gesture recognition method, and more particularly, to a gesture recognition module and a gesture recognition method capable of recognizing a back-and-forth gesture of a hand accurately.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the progress and spread of a high-speed network, a user can watch digital contents and multimedia information via a computer or a set-top box. In general, the user needs to input a command to the computer or the set-top box via an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, etc., to control the computer or the set-top box, e.g., select or display the digital contents and the multimedia information. That is, it is difficult to control the computer or the set-top box, if the user does not (or is not inconvenient to) use the abovementioned input devices. Thus, convenience of the computer or the set-top box is limited.
On the other hand, as technology of image recognition becomes more and more mature, gaming devices with the image recognition are provided by video game manufacturers, peripheral devices with the image recognition are provided by computer manufacturers and liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions (TVs) with the image recognition are provided by appliance manufacturers. Thus, the user can control a gaming device, a peripheral device or a LCD TV via the image recognition. Among various types of the image recognition, one of widely used image recognition is gesture recognition. When controlling an abovementioned device via the gesture recognition, the user needs to make a predetermined gesture in front of a detector (e.g., camera) coupled to the device. Then, the device can determine (i.e., recognize) a command inputted by the user, and execute an operation corresponding to the command.
However, accuracy of the gesture recognition is easily affected by the position of the user. For example, when the user wants to control a LCD TV via the image recognition, a detector of the LCD TV detects gestures of the user for determining commands that the user wants to perform, so as to make the LCD TV to execute corresponding operations. When the user stands directly in front of the detector and faces the LCD TV, the LCD TV can accurately determines the gestures of the user, especially three-dimensional (3D) gestures (e.g. pushing forward gesture or pulling back gesture), through detecting the positions of the hand before and after the hand moves (e.g. the variations of the positions of the hand in top-and-bottom direction (Y-axis), left-and-right direction (X-axis) or back-and-forth direction (Z-axis)). When the user stands obliquely in front of the detector or obliquely faces the LCD TV, the detector detects variation of the positions of the hand in the back-and-forth direction (Z-axis) even the gesture of the user is a lateral gesture (i.e. the hand moves in X-axis and/or Y-axis) instead of the back-and-forth gesture. In such a condition, the detector would erroneously decide the gesture is the back-and-forth gesture and executes inappropriate operations or does not execute any operation. Although an image recognition algorithm with a higher complexity or the detector with a higher cost can be used to improve the accuracy of the gesture recognition, manufacturing cost increases accordingly and sales of the products may be degraded. Thus, improving the accuracy of the gesture recognition with a lower cost is a topic to be discussed and addressed.

Gesture recognition module and gesture recognition method


An electric-resistance-welded pipe welding apparatus includes: an impeder that is disposed in the inner portion of a metal strip which is bent into the cylindrical shape, and is disposed spanning over from the upstream to the downstream of a position in which the induction coil is present when viewed along a traveling direction of the metal strip; and a metallic shield plate that is disposed further upstream than an upstream end of the impeder and is disposed in a position which is further downstream than the rolls when viewed along the traveling direction, the metallic shield plate including a hole portion through which the metal strip bent into the cylindrical shape passes, and the metallic shield plate shielding a magnetic flux generated in the induction coil.

As methods for manufacturing a metal pipe, there is a method of manufacturing a seamless pipe by directly making hole into a metal billet, or a method of manufacturing a pipe by extruding a metal, in addition to a method of manufacturing an electric-resistance-welded pipe, a spiral pipe, or the like, in which a metal strip is bent and welded into a pipe shape.
Because of the particularly high productivity and the low cost, electric-resistance-welded pipes have been produced in large quantities. Such electric-resistance-welded pipes are molded into a cylindrical shape while the metal strip is travelling, and finally, high frequency current flow is applied to both ends of the metal plate to be joined, so that the temperature of both ends are increased to the melting temperature, and the both end surfaces are press-welded by rolls, resulting in a pipe shape. At this time, as methods for supplying current to both ends of the metal strip, there is a method in which an induction coil is wound so as to surround the outside of the metal strip and the induction current is directly generated in the metal strip by making a primary current flow through the induction coil. As another method, there is a method in which metallic electrodes referred to as a "contact tip" are pushed against the ends of the metal strip and the current flows directly from a power source to the metal strip. At this time, in many cases, as the current which flows through the induction coil or the electrodes, high frequency current having a frequency of about 100 to 400 kHz is generally used and a ferromagnetic body referred to as an "impeder" is disposed on or above the inner surface of the pipe.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electric-resistance-welded pipe welding apparatus

NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION


If a user operates a DIP switch on an operator panel of a library apparatus, and sets a mass loading mode, a carrying unit repeats operations for loading a storage medium from a loading/unloading aperture to a slot. In a mass unloading mode, the carrying unit repeats operations for carrying the storage medium from the slot to the loading/unloading aperture. Consequently, even if a door for loading/unloading a mass of storage media is not arranged, the equivalent capability is implemented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a library device for automatically keeping, recording data in, reproducing data from, etc. storage media, and relates to a controlling device for controlling loading/unloading operations of a large number of storage media and method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A library device today is used as, for example, a jukebox, and automatically performs loading/unloading, keeping a storage medium, recording data to, reproducing data from, etc. An optical disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), MT (Magnetic Tape), etc., is used as the storage medium.
A library device normally comprises a cartridge access station (CAS) for loading/unloading a storage medium cartridge, a plurality of slots for keeping storage media, drive unit for recording/reproducing data for a storage medium, and an accessor for carrying a storage medium between the above described components. A cartridge loaded into the CAS from a loading/unloading aperture is carried to a slot or the drive unit by the accessor.
FIG. 1 exemplifies a conventional optical disk library device. Once a user purchases an optical disk library device, he or she will usually desire to load a number of optical disk cartridges 1 as an initial operation. The library device shown in FIG. 1 mechanically comprises a door 3 for loading/unloading a number of optical disk cartridges 1, separately from a loading/unloading aperture 2.
To load a large number of optical disk cartridges 1, a user opens the door 3 and manually inserts optical disk cartridges one by one into empty slots 4 for holding cartridges. To unload the optical disk cartridges 1, the user opens the door 3 and takes out the optical disk cartridges 1 one by one from the slots 4.
Such a mass loading mechanism is suitable for the need of loading a large number of cartridges. Since optical disk cartridges 1 can be sequentially loaded by opening the door 3, operations at an initial use stage can be performed with ease. Because the conventional mass loading mechanism must provide for the operation of the door 3, the structure of a device tends to be complicated. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce its cost.
Additionally, with an optical disk library device which does not comprise such a mass loading mechanism, a user is required to load an optical disk cartridge 1 from the loading/unloading aperture 2. The loaded optical disk cartridge 1 is put into the slot 4 via the CAS and accessor.
At this time, the user must operate a control panel of the library device, or input a command from a host computer connected to the library device each time the user loads an optical disk cartridge 1. Accordingly, if dozens of optical disk cartridges 1 are to be loaded together, the load on the user becomes heavier. This problem also arises in the case in which a large number of optical disk cartridges 1 are unloaded together.

Storage media loading and unloading controlling system


A folding knife is disclosed. The knife includes a handle; a blade having a tang pivotably connected to the handle allowing pivoting of the blade between a closed position in which the blade extends along the handle, and an open position in which the blade extends away from the handle; a locking element pivotably connected to the handle, wherein the locking element is configured to be pivotable between a first position in which the locking element engages at least part of the tang in a manner preventing pivoting of the blade from the open position to the closed position, and a second position in which the blade is free to pivot from the open position to the closed position; a bias element configured to urge the locking element towards the first position; and a safety assembly mounted for sliding movement along the handle, wherein the safety assembly is movable between a safety position in which the safety assembly engages part of the locking element in a manner preventing pivoting of the locking element relative to the handle, and a release position in which the locking element is free to pivot relative to the handle.

Folding knives enjoy wide popularity, particularly among sportsmen, campers, hikers, and many others engaged in outdoor activities. Common elements to folding knives include a handle and a blade pivotally connected to an end of the handle so that the blade pivots with respect to the handle between an open position in which the blade is extended away from the handle and a closed position in which the blade is at least partially received within the handle. Many folding knives also include a locking mechanism to maintain the blade in an open and/or closed position.
Examples of folding knives, including folding knives with locking mechanisms, may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,454,665; 1,743,022; 4,040,081; 4,173,068; 4,404,748; 4,451,982; 4,502,221; 4,719,700; 4,805,303; 4,811,486; 4,837,932; 4,893,409; 4,974,323; 4,979,301; 5,044,079; 5,060,379; 5,095,624; 5,111,581; 5,293,690; 5,325,588; 5,331,741; 5,425,175; 5,502,895; 5,515,610; 5,537,750; 5,546,662; 5,596,808; 5,615,484; 5,685,079; 5,689,885; 5,692,304; 5,737,841; 5,755,035; 5,802,722; 5,822,866; 5,826,340; 5,887,347; 5,964,036; 6,079,106; 6,154,965; 6,338,431; 6,378,214; 6,427,335; 6,438,848; 6,490,797; D348,599, and D373,296; and U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2002/0157260 and 2003/0070299, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
Simple locking mechanisms for locking and/or unlocking the blade of a folding knife may enhance the utility of the knife.

Folding knife having a locking mechanism


A variable resistance memory device includes a plurality of cell gate electrodes extending in a first direction, wherein the plurality of cell gate electrodes are stacked in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A gate insulating layer surrounds each cell gate electrode of the plurality of cell gate electrodes and a cell drain region is formed on two sides of the each cell gate electrode of the plurality of cell gate electrodes. A channel layer extends in the second direction along the stack of the plurality of cell gate electrodes, and a variable resistance layer contacting the channel layer.

Currently, resistive memory devices using a resistance material has been suggested, and the resistive memory devices may include phase-change random access memories (PCRAMs), resistance RAMs (ReRAMs), or magentoresistive RAMs (MRAMs) has been suggested.
The resistive memory devices may include a switching device and a resistance device, and may store data "0" or "1" according to a state of the resistance device.
Even in the resistive memory devices the first priority is to improve integration density and to integrate memory cells in a narrow area as many as possible.
Currently, the variable resistance memory device is also configured in a 3D structure, but there is a high need for a method of stably stacking a plurality of memory cells with smaller critical dimension (CD).

3D variable resistance memory device and method of manufacturing the same


A wire electric discharge machining method capable of performing a first machining and also a second cut-off machining based on a single machining program. A program for defining machining paths for cutting off individual male forms A1-A3 is inputted and a reserve amount .alpha. and a backward amount .beta. are set. In the first machining, the electric discharge machining is stopped with the reserve amount .alpha. left, and this stop position is stored. In the second cutting machining, an automatic wire connection is performed at a wire connecting position turned back by the backward amount .beta. from the stop position along the machined groove which is formed in the first machining, and then the male forms A are successively cut off by performing the discharge machining from the wire connecting position. A wire discharge machine has an annealing/fusing device for annealing and fusing the wire with heat generated by an electric current flow in the wire. Since the wire is made straight by the annealing and a cut end thereof is made hemispheric, the wire can be easily inserted into the machined groove.

In a wire electric discharge machining, if the machining is completed on all the commanded machining path, a male form drops to possibly collide with a lower wire guide and damage it. Especially in machining a plurality of forms from a single workpiece, when the machining of one form is completed, it is necessary to cut a wire electrode and move the workpiece to be positioned at a machining start hole for the next machining form, and to automatically connect the wire electrode through the next machining start hole. The dropped male form might slide on the lower wire guide in moving the workpiece to cause damage to the lower wire guide. Therefore, a first machining is performed on a great part of the machining form and is stopped immediately before the male form drops, to proceed to the next machining form with the male form remaining on it. Then, the electric discharge machining is performed on the next machining path to a position immediately before the male from drops. In a second machining, each male form is cut off the workpiece in the presence of an operator.
The following two methods are known for performing the second machining.
(1) The wire electrode is inserted through the machining start hole and is moved along the already machined groove with the electric discharge off (or with the electric discharge on), thereby cutting off the reserved section by the electric discharge machining. This method is adopted for a male form of relatively light weight. (2) After clamping the male and female forms so as to be bridged therebetween on the first machining path to hold the male form, the wire electrode is inserted through the machining start hole and then the workpiece is moved reversely in the second machining path to perform the electric discharge machining, thereby cutting off the reserved section.
In the method (1) of the above two methods, when the wire electrode is moved along the machined groove with the electric discharge off, the wire electrode might be stuck as it is caught by the workpiece. When the wire electrode is moved along the machined groove with the electric discharge on, the male form might be deformed as the electric discharge machining is performed twice. In the method (2), it is necessary to create a machining program to move the workpiece reversely. In either of the two methods (1) and (2), it is required to prepare two machining programs for the first machining and the second cutting-off machining.
Thus, in the foregoing conventional wire electric discharge machining methods, two programs are necessary for the first machining to leave a reserve section and the second machining to cut off a male form by machining the reserve section.

Wire electric discharge machining method


A battery management system comprises a first battery cell controller; a second battery cell controller, the first battery cell controller and the second battery cell controller each monitoring a plurality of battery cells; and a galvanically isolated transmission line providing a point-to-point signal transmission path between the first battery cell controller and the second battery cell controller. At least one of the first battery cell controller or the second battery cell controller includes at least one encoding/decoding circuit for encoding data for transmission as a serial data stream along the signal transmission path in compliance with a multi-level encoding technique, including modulating the serial data stream over at least three discrete signal levels at a predetermined and fixed data pulse frequency, encoding a plurality of data nibbles of the serial data stream into a data packet, the data packet including a plurality of symbols constructed and arranged with at least four consecutive chips per symbol, wherein the at least four consecutive chips per symbol of the data packet includes a DC balanced line code in each of the symbols.

In battery management system applications, electronic systems are developed to monitor an arrangement of lithium battery cells or the like, which store and output the energy required by various electronic devices of the vehicle, also referred to as automotive electronic control units, to operate an electric vehicle, for example, by controlling the charging and discharging functions of the battery cells. A battery management system typically includes one or more battery cell controllers mounted in series, each constructed and arranged for controlling several battery cells. The battery cell controllers communicate with a micro controller unit (MCU) that provides the intelligence of the system to control and monitors a state of the battery cells, for example, a battery health status, and can prevent the attempted operation of defective battery cells.
The growing volume of data required to be transferred between the different automotive electronic control units of a vehicle requires reliable and high speed data transmissions between the battery cell controllers managing the battery cells.

Multi-level encoding for battery management system field


An electric double-blade slot cutting machine include a first cutting unit having a first cutting part and provided along a cutting route and presents a reciprocating movement; a second cutting unit having a second cutting part provided along the cutting route and presents the reciprocating movement, wherein moving directions of the first cutting unit and the second cutting unit is opposite while cutting; a restriction holder for restricting the first cutting unit and the second cutting unit to moving along the cutting route; a transmission unit; and a motor. With the foregoing structure, the electric double-blade slot cutting machine can work with small vibration and stable performances; a speed of the motor is increased for improving work efficiency; and with an extension rod, the electric double-blade slot cutting machine is adaptable for standing utilization.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an electric double-blade slot cutting machine, and more particularly to a reciprocating electric double-blade slot cutting machine.
2. Description of Related Arts
A conventional slot cutting machine utilizes a one-blade design. When the blade moves up and down, great vibration will occur. Therefore, an user can not use the machine stably, and it won't be long before hands get numb. At the mean time, a speed of a motor is limited to 800˜2800 rpm because of the great vibration, and work efficiency is badly affected. Further more, because of the great vibration, an extension rod can not adapt to the conventional slot cutting machine. If ground should be cut, the user must bend or squat, and that's very tiring. In addition, the conventional slot cutting machine can adapt to only one kind of material. And for cutting a variety of materials, different conventional slot cutting machines should be purchased.

Electric double-blade slot cutting machine


A cooling device for cooling a heat-generating component in a computer consists of a heat sink and a heat pipe having a portion fitted into a hole of the heat sink to be totally enclosed thereby. The heat sink consists of a number of mounting plates and heat dissipating fins alternately stacked together. Each mounting plate has two pegs on a top face thereof and two depressions in a bottom face thereof, wherein the pegs extend through a neighboring heat dissipating fin to fit into the depressions in a neighboring mounting plate, whereby the length of the heat sink can be easily adjusted by adding or reducing the number of the mounting plates and the heat dissipating fins. Thermally conductive adhesive is used between the heat sink and the heat pipe to fixedly connect them together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling device for a computer component, and particularly to a heat pipe/heat sink assembly suitably used in a computer for cooling a CPU or other heat generating component thereof.
2. The Prior Art
Conventionally, to cool a CPU in a computer, a heat sink is used to directly contact with the CPU thereby absorbing the heat generated therefrom and dissipating it to the air. Following the development of computer technology, the computer is getting smaller and smaller, causing the conventional manner to cool the CPU to be no longer workable since there is no space above the CPU large enough to receive the heat sink.
To solve this problem, a heat pipe is developed which has one end in contact with the CPU and the other end in contact with a heat sink in a suitable location in the computer large enough to receive the heat sink. The heat sink is formed by aluminum extrusion as an integral cuboidal block having a number of fins thereon. The heat pipe is so constructed that heat transmitting medium (for example, pure water) therein is heated by the CPU to evaporate. Then, the evaporated steam runs along the heat pipe to reach the heat sink in which the heat carried by the steam is dissipated through the heat sink so that the steam is condensed to water. The condensed water then runs alone the heat pipe back to the CPU end to absorb the heat therefrom. By such a process, heat generated by the CPU can be effectively dissipated.
Although such a conventional technology is proven to be able to work well, a further improvement is still needed since the heat sink does not entirely enclose the heat pipe so that the heat transmitted by the heat pipe cannot be effectively absorbed and dissipated by the heat sink, and the size of the heat sink cannot be arbitrarily adjusted to meet different requirements of different components needing to be cooled. To produce heat sinks with different sizes (and thus different heat dissipating capability) will increase the cost of inventory and mold.


An apparatus and method for using network address information to improve the performance and increase the functionality of network transactions. is disclosed. In a client network interface device having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of: 1) accessing a first server over a secure data communication line to obtain a client encryption key, 2) accessing a second server over an unsecure data communication line to establish a connection with the second server, 3) encrypting information sent to the second server over the connection using the client encryption key obtained from the first server, and 4) decrypting information received from the second server over the connection using the client encryption key obtained from the first server. The present invention further includes sequences of instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of, 1) connecting to an unsecure server over an unsecure data communication line to perform unsecure portions of a data transaction, 2) disconnecting from the unsecure server; and 3) connecting to a secure server over a secure data communication line to perform secure portions of the data transaction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of telecommunications, as it relates to the use of network address information for network transactions.
2. Cross-References to Related Applications
The present application is related to the following co-pending U.S. patent applications:
U.S. patent application entitled, "Web Browser Allowing Navigation Between Hypertext Objects Using Remote Control," having application Ser. No. 08/660,088, and filed on Jun. 3, 1996, now pending; and
U.S. patent application entitled, "Method and Apparatus for Providing Proxying and Transcoding of Documents in a Network," having application Ser. No. 08/656,924, and filed on Jun. 3, 1996, now pending;
U.S. patent application entitled, "Method and Apparatus For Managing Communications Between a Client and a Server in a Network," having application Ser. No. 08/660,087, and filed on Jun. 3, 1996, now pending; which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
3. Description of Related Art
Conventional computer network protocols are designed to operate within a given network topology. These protocols are flexible enough to handle many different arrangements of nodes and robust enough to handle changes in the topology as computers are added or removed from the network. Because of the need to maintain flexibility and mobility, conventional networks do not rely on information that is specific to a particular geographic location. These network protocols usually consider geographic independence to be an advantage.
In many areas of the United States, it is possible to determine a calling telephone number from the telephone network. Telephone network services such as Caller ID and Automatic Number Identification (ANI) can provide a caller's telephone number to a suitably equipped telephone answering device, and then the telephone number can be transferred to a server coupled to the answering device.
In many calling areas, however, Caller ID and Automatic Number Identification are not available either for technical or legislative reasons. In such areas it may be possible to verify a user's area code, and possibly the calling area (e.g. city), but in some cases no identification at all is possible. Without a direct method to identify or verify a user's telephone number, indirect methods can be used.
In various ways, therefore, conventional means are available for obtaining information pertaining to a particular network node or network user. Although this information is available, conventional network protocols do not provide the functionality to obtain this information or to use the information to optimize the operation of the network.
Thus, a better means and method is needed for optimizing network transactions.

Method and apparatus for using network address information to improve the performance of network transactions


A medium, typically a fluid, is supplied at a level of a rotatable body and is dispensed by a dispenser, such as a spray dispenser. The spray dispenser includes at least one spraying nozzle which applies a dampening agent to the roller. A spraying frequency of the spraying nozzle is adjusted with respect to a rotation frequency of the roller that is receiving the dampening agent. This makes it possible to avoid superposition of the dampening agent, at least for a defined number of rotations of the roller receiving the dampening agent.

A dampening unit for use with an offset printing press is known from German Published, Examined Patent application DE 1 611 313. A dampening agent is atomized in a pulse-like manner, and at a selectable pulse length as a function of the number of revolutions of a forme cylinder. This atomized dampening agent is intermittently applied to the surface of a roller of the dampening unit by the use of nozzles. German Published, Examined Patent Application DE 1 761 313 complements DE 1 611 313 to the extent that a pulse length and a pulse sequence frequency can be adjusted. The pulse length is greater at a low printing speed and is shorter at a high printing speed. Alternatively, the number of spray pulses emitted per revolution of the forme cylinder is higher at a low printing speed and is lower at a higher printing speed.
A spray dampening unit of a printing press is known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,231,694. The nozzles eject a dampening agent in an adjustable amount at predetermined chronological intervals onto a dampening roller.
A spray dampening unit of a printing press is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,681. A dampening agent can be applied, by the use of nozzles, to the surface of a roller of the spray dampening unit at a fixed pulse length, but with a variable pulse sequence spacing, which spacing is selected as a function of the number of revolutions of a forme cylinder.
A spray dampening unit of a printing press is known from DE 100 05 908 A1. A surface, preferably of a rotating roller, is sprayed with a dampening agent by a plurality of spray nozzles. The spray nozzles are each activated with a predetermined frequency and phase shift. Thus, the spray nozzles spray sequentially and cyclically in a fixed order, wherein the length of time between the activation of the same spray nozzle is always the same. The pulse length, i.e. the time during which the spray nozzle is open, is also preferably the same for all of the spray nozzles. The circumferential length of the area sprayed on the surface of the roller, and a circumferential spacing between sequential sprayed areas are a function of the work cycle of the spray nozzles and of a surface speed of the roller. However, no discussion is found in DE 100 05 908 A1 as to what conditions must be maintained between the work cycle of the spray nozzles, or the surface speed of the roller, and a duration of the revolution of a forme cylinder in order to achieve as uniform as possible an application of the spray agent to the forme cylinder at a contact point between the roller and the forme cylinder.
A spray dampening unit of a printing press is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,818. An electronic control circuit controls spray nozzles as a function of a detected press speed of the printing press. A frequency of the spraying pulses emitted by the spray nozzles preferably has a non-linear connection with the speed of the press. It is provided, particularly in case of a fault in the electronic control circuit, to set the spraying frequency manually, such as, for example, with the use of graphic aids representing a connection between the speed of the press and a spraying frequency to be set. There is also no suggestion in U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,818 whether, and if so, which condition between the work cycle of the spray nozzles, or the surface speed of a dampening unit roller, must be maintained to achieve as uniform as possible an application of the spray agent to the forme cylinder at a contact point between the dampening unit roller and the forme cylinder.
Spray dampening units, which intermittently release a dampening agent, such as, for example, a water aerosol, through spray nozzles, and which dampening agent wets a rotating roller with moisture, have been employed for years in offset printing presses. This thin water film is transferred, via a further roller or rollers of the spray dampening unit to a printing forme on the forme cylinder. The sprayed roller and subsequent transfer rollers rotate synchronously with the speed of the press as determined by the number of revolutions of the forme cylinder.
A printing process typically requires different amounts of moisture, depending on the speed of the press and the print pattern. The relationship between the speed of the press and the required amount of moisture can be taken from a so-called dampening curve, which dampening curve is a graphic representation of a dampening degree D as a function of the number of revolutions of the forme cylinder. Thus, the dampening curve indicates what dampening degree D is to be set in a dampening agent dispenser, such as, for example, a nozzle in a spray crosspiece. The dampening degree D marks a ratio between a dampening agent throughput to be set at a dampening agent dispenser and a maximum dampening agent throughput.Dampening degree D=tON/tON+tOFF wherein tON=the length of time of the dampening agent throughput and tOFF=the length of time of the dampening agent blockage of stoppage.
In addition to the dampening fluid requirement set by the dampening curve, the amount of moisture can be varied by an operator of the printing press and can be set to any arbitrary value within a value ranging between a total blockage or stoppage of the spray nozzles up to their maximum amount of flow-through. In this case, a change in the amount of moisture emitted by the spray nozzle is achieved by the use of the ratio between their spray time Ton and off-time Toff. Actual operations are preferably performed with as constant as possible an "on" time, so that only the "off" time is varied. Thus, the scanning time ratio, or on-time to off-time changes, together with the requirement for an amount of moisture, as well as the spraying frequency f=1/(Ton+Toff). When selecting the spraying on time Ton, it should be noted that a spray nozzle requires a definite minimum amount of time for forming its spray cone, as well as for the emergence of a defined amount of moisture, so that the spray time Ton can therefore not be set arbitrarily low.
Because of the intermittent manner of the spraying of a dampening agent on a surface area of a rotating roller, a serious disadvantage arises. An uneven, and therefore an undesirable overlapping of the sprayed-on dampening agent can arise as a function of the rotating frequency of the sprayed roller and as a function of the spraying frequency of the nozzle onto the sprayed roller. As a result, such an undesirable overlapping of the dampening agent also occurs on the surface area of the forme cylinder if, in case of an unfavorable correlation between the rotating frequency of the roller and the spraying frequency of the nozzle, the same, or at least a part of the same area on the circumference of the roller is sprayed again and again during each revolution of the roller. In the end, too much dampening agent is applied to some areas on the surface of the cylinder, and too little dampening agent is applied to other areas. The rotating frequency of the roller, and the spraying frequency of the nozzle then reach a state which is called beating interference in oscillation technology. An uneven distribution of the dampening agent has extremely negative effects when imprinting a material, because it leads to considerable ink variations on the material to be imprinted. The danger of the occurrence of such a beating interference is considerable, if no appropriate countermeasures are taken, since the number of revolutions of the printing press, as well as the amount of moisture, can be freely selected by the operator. Thus, this undesirable beating interference effect can occur at any arbitrary operational state.
This beating interference effect arises analogously if more than one nozzle is arranged over the length of the roller. In accordance with the above description, the individual nozzles are separately controlled, and exactly the same effect can occur between two adjoining nozzles. Adjoining nozzles may spray at different frequencies because of a different requirement of the amount of moisture existing over the length of the roller, so that a beating interference between the nozzles occurs, and therefore a very uneven application of dampening agent to the roller is the result.


An exhaust fan draws air and entrained tobacco through delivery pipes from a tobacco feeder to the respective dischargers of a group of cigarette making machines, where the tobacco is screened out and the air passes on through exhaust pipes. When a discharger is to release tobacco to its making machine the feeder stops delivery of tobacco to that discharger and, after a delay to clear the delivery pipe, a valve bypasses the air around the discharger so that a constant air flow is maintained. The feeder supplies tobacco in a separate and independently controlled stream to each discharger, and has oscillating vanes to separate and keep the tobacco moving.

Tobacco filler is conventionally supplied to a group of cigarette making machines from a single feeder unit. The feeder separates the tobacco for the respective machines and a centrifugal exhaust fan draws the separated tobacco in separate air streams from the feeder to the machines. A tobacco discharger on each machine receives the incoming air stream and entrained tobacco for the machine, screens out and retains the tobacco, and permits the screened air to continue on to the exhaust fan. The discharger cannot release the retained tobacco for use by its machine, as required at fairly frequent intervals, without stopping the flow of air through the discharger while each release is completed. This is done by closing a valve on the air outlet from the discharger, thus isolating the discharger from the fan suction which would otherwise close an outlet door from the discharger to its machine. The result is to stop all air flow from the feeder to that discharger. If that happens in the case of more than one discharger at the same time, as occasionally occurs, the velocity and quantity of air drawn through the other dischargers increases, which tends to break the tobacco being drawn to the other dischargers. If all of the air outlet valves in the group happen to be closed simultaneously, for a prolonged period, such as lunchtime, the resultant loss in air flow may cause the fan to overheat.
When air to a discharger stops flowing the tobacco in that air comes to rest where it is along the line. This results in segregation by particle size and concentration of small pieces at one end or side of the discharger when air flow to the discharger resumes and carries the tobacco which had been at rest in the line into the discharger. Another problem is that the tobacco in conventional feeders may bridge and clump in the feeder if it continues to supply tobacco to less than all the outlets it is designed to feed. Segregation of the various sized particles may also occur.


A backlight device (a lighting device) 12 includes LEDs (a light source) 17, a light guide plate 16, a chassis 14, LED boards 18, and heat dissipation members 19. The light guide plate 16 includes an end surface that is opposite the LEDs 17 and configured as a light entrance surface 16b through which light from the LEDs 17 enters. One of the plate surfaces of the light guide plate 16 is configured as a light exit surface 16a through which the light exits. The chassis 14 supports another plate surface 16c of the light guide plate 16 opposite from the light exit surface 16a. Each LED board 18 includes a bottom plate 18b that extends parallel to at least the other plate surface 16c of the light guide plate 16. Each heat dissipation member 19 extends parallel to a plate surface 18b1 of the bottom plate 18b and is in surface contact with the plate surface 18b1 of the bottom plate 18b.

Displays in image display devices, such as television devices, are now being shifted from conventional cathode-ray tube displays to thin display panels, such as liquid crystal panels and plasma display panels. With the thin display panels, the thicknesses of the image display devices can be reduced. Liquid crystal panels included in liquid crystal display devices do not emit light, and thus backlight devices are required as separate lighting devices. The backlight devices are classified broadly into an edge-light type and a backlight type according to mechanisms. Edge-light type backlight devices are preferable for further reducing the thickness of liquid crystal display devices. An example of edge-light type backlight devices is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
In Patent Document 1, an LED board on which LEDs are mounted are arranged opposite an end surface of a light guide plate and the LED board is attached to a heat dissipation member. The LEDs are light sources. Heat from the LEDs is transmitted to the heat dissipation member via the LED board. This configuration is for promoting heat dissipation.

Lighting device, display device and television device


A procedure for the operation of a lighting system (10) in order to produce a first and a second light function with a separate light module (20, 30) respectively, wherein at least the second light function features an adjustable illumination range (120), with the following steps:                Detection of an error in the adjustable illumination range (120) of the second light function,        Deactivation of the second light module (30) of the second light function,        Continued operation of the light module (20) of the first light function.

Procedures for the operation of lighting systems and corresponding lighting systems for producing a first and a second light function are well-known. They are used e.g. in motor vehicles in order to provide a low-beam light as a first light function and a high-beam light as second light function by means of head lights. In these well-known procedures and lighting systems, there is a provision for switching between low-beam and high-beam light. It is also well-known, that the high-beam light presents a selective high-beam light, in particular a regulated high-beam light. This refers to a use of the high-beam light, even if approaching traffic is appearing in front of the motor vehicle. With a selective or regulated high-beam light, a selective and thus a particular prevention of the glare of the approaching traffic can be accomplished. In the well-known lighting systems it is thus possible, that the illumination is performed around the approaching traffic in the manner of a high-beam light, but without producing a glare to the approaching traffic. This leads to an improved illumination in front of the motor vehicle.
Yet, the disadvantage of such known procedures for lighting systems and of such-like lighting systems is, that there is a danger of producing a glare to the approaching traffic when the control of the high-beam light fails, in particular when the selective high-beam light fails. If e.g. a mechanically operated aperture is used to avoid producing a glace to the approaching traffic, it can happen, that this mechanism is stuck or that a precise positioning of the aperture is not possible. This results in the danger of producing a glare to the approaching traffic. This is to be avoided in order to reduce the risk of producing a glare to the approaching traffic on the roads. Thus, it is necessary to deactivate the entire light module when such an error occurs in a common lighting system and in a well-known procedure for controlling such lighting systems, wherein both light functions, which includes the high-beam light as well as the low-beam light are turned off. The corresponding headlight is thus turned off, so that the low-beam light, which actually would not add to the glare to the approaching traffic, is weakened as well when one of the two headlights and the corresponding light module is deactivated. So, in the case of an error of a selective high-beam light, the illumination is reduced more than what would actually be necessary,

Procedure for the operation of a lighting system


In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor component and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor component are provided. A first dielectric material is formed over a body of semiconductor material of the first conductivity type and a plurality of semiconductor fingers are formed over the first of dielectric material. Semiconductor fingers of the plurality of semiconductor fingers spaced apart from each other and at least one of the semiconductor fingers has a first end spaced apart from a second end by a central region. A second dielectric material is formed over central region of the at least one semiconductor finger of the plurality of semiconductor fingers. An electrically conductive material is formed over the second dielectric material that is over the central region of the at least one semiconductor finger. The electrically conductive material serves as a shielding structure and the semiconductor material may be coupled to a fixed potential.

The present invention relates, in general, to electronics and, more particularly, to methods of forming semiconductor devices and structure.
In the past, semiconductor manufacturers have manufactured active components such as, for example, analog circuits, digital circuits and passive components such as, for example, resistors, capacitors, and inductors, from or in semiconductor materials. Typically, semiconductor component manufacturers use monolithic integration processes to manufacture, from a single semiconductor substrate, active circuits such as analog circuits or digital circuits with passive components. For example, resistors can be manufactured with active circuits to provide biasing for the active circuit or to develop voltages used by the active circuits. Analog active circuits such as, for example, an operational amplifier may include polysilicon resistors as feedback elements for gain control. A drawback with using polysilicon resistors is that their resistance values change, which degrades the performance of the analog active circuit.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a polysilicon resistor and a method to manufacture the polysilicon resistor that does not degrade the performance of the active devices or the passive devices. It is desirable for the circuit and method to be cost and time efficient to implement.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily to scale, and the same reference characters in different figures denote the same elements. Additionally, descriptions and details of well-known steps and elements are omitted for simplicity of the description. As used herein current carrying electrode means an element of a device that carries current through the device such as a source or a drain of an MOS transistor or an emitter or a collector of a bipolar transistor or a cathode or an anode of a diode, and a control electrode means an element of the device that controls current flow through the device such as a gate of an MOS transistor or a base of a bipolar transistor. Although the devices are explained herein as certain n-channel or p-channel devices, or certain n-type or p-type doped regions, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that complementary devices are also possible in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the words during, while, and when as used herein are not exact terms that mean an action takes place instantly upon an initiating action but that there may be some small but reasonable delay, such as a propagation delay, between the reaction that is initiated by the initial action and the initial action. The use of the words approximately, about, or substantially means that a value of an element has a parameter that is expected to be very close to a stated value or position. However, as is well known in the art there are always minor variances that prevent the values or positions from being exactly as stated. It is well established in the art that variances of up to about ten percent (10%) (and up to twenty percent (20%) for semiconductor doping concentrations) are regarded as reasonable variances from the ideal goal of exactly as described.
It should be noted that a logic zero voltage level (VL) is also referred to as a logic low voltage or logic low voltage level and that the voltage level of a logic zero voltage is a function of the power supply voltage and the type of logic family. For example, in a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) logic family a logic zero voltage may be thirty percent of the power supply voltage level. In a five volt Transistor-Transistor Logic (TTL) system a logic zero voltage level may be about 0.8 volts, whereas for a five volt CMOS system, the logic zero voltage level may be about 1.5 volts. A logic one voltage level (VH) is also referred to as a logic high voltage level, a logic high voltage, or a logic one voltage and, like the logic zero voltage level, the logic high voltage level also may be a function of the power supply and the type of logic family. For example, in a CMOS system a logic one voltage may be about seventy percent of the power supply voltage level. In a five volt TTL system a logic one voltage may be about 2.4 volts, whereas for a five volt CMOS system, the logic one voltage may be about 3.5 volts.

Semiconductor component and method of manufacture

SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC


A countermeasure system is provided including a frame and two or more rows of countermeasures disposed on the frame. Each row of the countermeasures may be configured to be initiated substantially simultaneously along the length of the row. Additional countermeasure systems may include elongated explosive charges and or masses disposed along the length of the rows. The frame may include two or more ridges on a side opposite to the two or more rows of countermeasures, the ridges being configured to engage with corresponding ridges on a vehicle when the countermeasure panel is mounted to the vehicle.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for actively countering forces or threats experienced by an object or person and more particularly, although not exclusively, to systems and methods for actively countering forces or threats experienced by a manned (or unmanned) vehicle upon encountering blast waves of a mine or other explosive device and/or other undesired forces and/or projectiles. The technology may find applicability, for example, in TenCate's ABDS™ active blast countermeasure system, and similar products.
Counteracting the impulse imparted to a vehicle cab by an IED requires transfer of large vertical forces from the countermeasure to the vehicle. Peak forces can be, for example, from 250,000 to over 1,000,000 lbf per location.
Some publications, such as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/909,295 by Dobriski et al., entitled "ACTIVE COUNTERMEASURES SYSTEMS AND METHODS," provide descriptions of systems and techniques for creating active countermeasures that are deployable on vehicles. However, there is a limited amount of information available on methods for ensuring that the forces created when using such countermeasures can be adequately managed.


Queues which correspond to each of the LANs in multiplexed virtual LANs are created. Received packets are distributed to the queues in accordance with a VLAN-ID and a destination address included in each of the received packets. The packets are output from the respective queues in a predetermined order, thereby ensuring fairness among the virtual LANs. As a result, even if a user of a virtual LAN transmits data with traffic having a wide transmission band, the virtual LAN does not occupy the band of the physical port and does not hamper transmission of other users.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network system which constitutes a virtual local area network (LAN), a transmission method and a computer program.
2) Description of the Related Art
As network systems, there is known a virtual LAN (VLAN) technique which virtually constitutes a LAN as if a plurality of different LANs exist at the same physical port. This technique is specified by IEEE802.1Q or the like and applied. According to this VLAN, tag identifiers (TPID) are provided in packets to be transmitted, respectively, thereby grouping terminal equipment or the like which are connected to LANs. For example, if a VLAN is constituted among a plurality of routers to each of which a plurality of terminals are connected, the terminals are grouped by identifying TPIDs in the packets which pass through the routers. Needless to say, if a VLAN is constituted among a plurality of switching hubs to each of which the terminals are connected, the terminals are grouped by identifying TPIDs, as well. Each router or switching hub exercises control so that data can be transmitted among the terminals which belong to the same group and that data cannot be transmitted on a data link layer among different groups. Therefore, from the terminal side, it appears that a plurality of different LANs exist. From the router or switching hub side, different VLANs can be multiplexed at the same physical port. It is, therefore, possible in the VLANs to decrease labor required to lay a network cable, labor required to switch over connection during regrouping or the like. Moreover, since data cannot be transmitted on the data link layer among different groups, it becomes advantageously easy to ensure security, manage terminal addresses by grouping LANs and the like.
However, bands which the users of VLAN thus multiplexed can utilize are preferentially allocated to a user who accesses the network precedently (precedence priority system). Therefore, if the user transfers data which has a wide transmission band, the data occupies all the bands of a physical link which constitutes the VLAN and the other users cannot hold communication.

Network system, transmission method, and computer program


A method of making a solid filter material which filters a predetermined wavelength band from a broader spectrum of radiation is provided. The method includes creating a colloidal structure composed of particles dispersed within a medium, and introducing a solvent thereto. Thereafter, the solvent is evaporated and the remaining structure solidifies into a solid crystalline array. The particles can also be fused together by polymerization using one of several methods which are provided. In another embodiment, methods of filtering submicron particles have been developed which consists of establishing a gel membrane from a crystalline colloidal array with an interstice size less than or equal to the particles to be filtered are disclosed. The gel membrane may employ anisotropic interstices of submicron size and is stretchable or compressible mechanically. The method also includes stacking a plurality of gel membrane filters so that the material to be filtered sequentially flows through the interstices of the filters leaving different size submicron particles on different levels of said filters. Another embodiment of the invention has a plurality of particles having a positive or negative charge in a lattice and has oppositely charged mobile particles movable into and out of the interstices of the gel membrane. An electric field is employed to move the mobile particles to close or open the interstices of the lattice. The mobile particles can also pump material through the interstices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method of creating filters which may be used to select and/or reject predetermined frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. The invention relates more particularly to a method of making solid crystalline materials in which colloidal electrically charged particles form an ordered dispersion and are solidified into a hardened material which has certain predetermined filtering characteristics.
In another embodiment of this present invention, submicron periodic materials are employed for size selective particle and molecular filtration based in part on the self-assembly properties of crystalline colloidal arrays. In this embodiment, the material may be passive or active and have switchable filtration properties.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has been recognized that colloidal dispersions of polymer particles in various solvents can form crystalline structures having lattice spacings comparable to the wavelength of ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation. Bragg diffraction techniques have been used to examine these polymer colloidal crystals with a view towards identifying their interparticle spacing, lattice parameters and phase transitions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,689 discloses a crystalline narrow band radiation filter which is made by forming a highly ordered crystalline colloidal structure within a cell. The crystalline colloidal structure is formed by dispersing electrically charged particles, for example, polystyrene particles within an appropriate solvent. U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,517 also discloses a narrow wavelength band filtering device created by forming a highly ordered crystalline colloidal structure within a cell.
More recently, it has been known that these crystalline structures can be very useful and that such structures have many practical applications for filter devices. In many instances it is necessary or desirable to filter out narrow bands of selected wavelengths from a broader spectrum of incident radiation while permitting the transmission of adjacent wavelengths. High spectral-purity commercial monochromators which are available for this purpose generally use a plurality of gratings and prisms. However, such devices are extremely complex, bulky and expensive. U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,517 discloses another crystalline colloidal narrow band radiation filter which may involve polystyrene particles. The device of this patent forms the basis for a mechanically simple and highly efficient monochromator. It has application in improved systems for investigating Raman or emission spectra of selected sample materials. U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,517 disclosed a type of solid structure in that with a lattice spacing gradient being formed and as part of this process a "freezing" of certain conditions is achieved using polymerization techniques. However, this suggestion did not disclose the unique aspects of the method and product of the present invention for forming filtering devices which are entirely solid and self-supporting.
The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,627,689 and 4,632,517, are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Other filtering devices have also been known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,688 which discloses ordered colloidal suspension optical devices. This patent relates to the addition of a water based polymer to a colloidal structure.
A nonlinear optical device which has a high speed switching capability at high radiation intensities and which can be used for rejecting certain undesired wavelength bands from such high intensity radiation is disclosed in Asher U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/999,487 filed Dec. 30, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,123, entitled "A Method of Making An Optically Nonlinear Switched Optical Device and Related Devices." This application is owned by the assignee of the present application. This application discloses a method for making a nonlinear optical device and a related optical device. The filter effectively resists transmission of about 99.9% of radiation from a wavelength band. The material may operate as a high speed optical switch in that it becomes opaque to radiation within several nanoseconds.
Although an allusion was made to solid devices in some of the above-mentioned prior art, these patents involve crystalline colloidal structures which are not solids and are not self-supporting. Because of their high peak absorbance value, state-of-the-art colloidal crystalline array filters may be widely used for eye protection and sensor protection. However, a more rugged filter would obviously have wider application. As a result, there has been a need for a solid filter. Solids provide better mechanical stability and machinability. Non-solids, on the other hand, are subject to becoming disordered upon vibration and shock. In addition, liquid media can undergo phase transitions quite easily by freezing or boiling and this may often be undesirable.
For these reasons a solid structure is more desirable in many applications. For example, solid filtering devices are often necessary for filtering out certain bands of radiation in aviation and space travel, as they provide mechanical rigidity and this allows for a greater range of design features. It has heretofore been an extremely difficult polymer chemistry problem to create such a solid filter. See generally U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,736.
Despite all of these optical radiation filtering devices, there still remains a need for a porous polymerized film adapted to be employed for the filtration of solid or liquid materials of relatively small size. Such a filter can be of fixed or adjustable porosity. There also remains a need for the development of filters from submicron periodic materials that are polymerized into porous gel membrane filters and can be used for size selective submicron particle and molecular filtration. There also remains a need to provide a simple method of creating a gel membrane filter whose interstices allow separation of predetermined size submicron material which may be a solid, solids in a liquid, liquid out of liquids or a virus in a liquid.

Material for separating submicron particles


An adapter for converting a conventional ladder to a tree stand ladder which comprises a substantially flat horizontal platform having a pair of vertical connecting members extending downwardly and from one end of the platform, each connecting member has a port for receiving a top portion of the lateral members of a ladder with a ladder locking device forming a connection between the connecting members and the top portion of the lateral support members of the ladder. The other end of the horizontal platform is provided with a curved portion for mating with a tree or pole while a ratchet type locking strap is used to secure the tree stand ladder adapter along with a ladder to a tree or pole while a second securing strap is provided near a lower or middle part of the ladder securing a middle or lower portion of the ladder to the tree if desired.

There are numerous ladders in the prior art which have members designed to strap to a tree. These prior art devices are extremely useful for there stated purposes, however prior to the present invention there has never been an adapter which converts a conventional ladder to a tree stand ladder. Accordingly, the present invention can be utilized with a user's existing ladder which saves money and time for the user.
The prior art patents which describe tree stand ladders are as follows:
Bambrough, U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,780 describes a ladder-based cart apparatus with a ladder assembly supported by a pair of wheels and a platform assembly for strapping the ladder-based cart assembly to a tree.
Thaggard, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,524 which discloses a folding ladder tree stand comprising a ladder with a runged upper section for coupling and aligning a ladder to a tree.
Phillips, U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,127 discloses a compact portable tree stand with an elevated platform and a means for connecting the stand to a tree.
Amacker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,063 discloses a ladder stand with a platform and a pair of jaws positioned so that the platform can be safely secured to a tree before the ladder is climbed.
Walker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,520 discloses a portable hunting stand with a game carrier which includes a ladder element with a seat platform located on the upper ladder element including a tree attaching element.
As can be seen from the prior art there are numerous useful tree stand ladders which have various attachments and orientations for specific uses. These prior art devices do not provide a adapter which converts a conventional ladder to a tree stand as the present invention and which can be easily and quickly attached or detached from the ladder if desired.


A method and system is provided for automatically trading of items such as stocks with improved security. After receiving an initial identifying contact from a contractor, a trader will contact the contractor with a different communication device from the initial contact with confirmation information that was stored in association with a contractor first identifying code. The contractor must then reconfirm the fairness of the trading data using at least a portion of the confirmation information.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electronic trading systems and more particularly to an automatic trading method and apparatus wherein a confirmation procedure is provided to verify that a subject trade is properly authorized. After a request for automatic trading of stock and the like, the confirmation occurs by way of a pocket bell device, a handheld telephone or a family computer via a public communication circuit network.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The trading of items such as stocks, medium term national bond funds and the like has been practiced by a variety of different means with terminals such as a telephone, a family computer or a personal computer via a public communication circuit network. For example, a home trading system has been practiced for recording the trading data into the file for registering the trade without the need or aid of special security measures from a security company. More particularly, at the time of making a contract with a contractor to accept automatic trading from him, a specified code to clearly identify the contractor and a password is set in order to assure that the automatic trading is true and proper, i.e., that it is a "fair" trade. The specified code and password are communicated prior to the processing of the automatic trading, and they are checked to determine if they are correct and in proper agreement. If so, the contractor is recognized to be the contractor who has the specified code, and then his order for automatic trading is accepted.
In accordance with another prior known method, a terminal device for each contractor is specifically identified and authorized to communicate the request for the automatic trading. In response to a connection for automatic trading, the confirmation of the request from the previously identified terminal device is obtained by transferring back again to the terminal device the content of the automatic trading from the signal receiving side.


The present invention provides an antifreeze/coolant additive comprising polymeric polycarboxylates which prevents hard water precipitants and scale formation, is soluble in alcohol and alcohol/water mixtures, is compatible with other commonly used antifreeze/coolant components, does not corrode or damage automotive cooling systems and is effective at relatively low concentrations.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to antifreeze/coolant additives useful in hard water, and more specifically to antifreeze/coolant additives comprising polycarboxylates.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Antifreeze/coolant technology in North America uses silicate as a corrosion inhibitor. Silicates are particularly useful in protecting aluminum automotive cooling system components. The silicate corrosion inhibitors generally also use a phosphate, usually in the form of an alkali metal salt, to help protect metal cooling system parts and also as a buffer to control the pH of the coolant.
Often phosphate salts are used to help maintain a stable alkaline environment from which multiple corrosion inhibitors can most effectively function. Thus, the degradation of silicate and phosphate in an antifreeze/coolant can negatively impact the overall performance of the antifreeze/coolant.
Traditionally antifreeze/coolant is sold at nearly one-hundred percent glycol content. This concentrated packaging allows for flexibility so that the user can dilute the antifreeze/coolant, as needed, with available water to obtain the required freeze/boil protection. However, corrosion protection is needed over the entire dilution range.
Recently, there has been an increase in concern over the quality of water used to dilute the antifreeze/coolant. Water quality varies greatly with geographic location, population and degree of industrialization.
One of the major problems is hard water control. The U.S. Geological Survey defines hard water in parts per million of ionic calcium. Magnesium is also commonly considered to be a hardness ion. Moderately hard water is from 25 to 50 ppm and hard water is defined as 50 to 75 ppm. Very hard water is considered to be above 75 ppm. At below 25 ppm, the soft water designation is used.
When a typical North American antifreeze/coolant containing silicate and phosphate is mixed with very hard water, copious precipitates develop in a short period of time. Hard water salts can cause maintenance and operations difficulties at automotive manufacturing facilities. These precipitates may clog an automotive cooling system, resulting in reduced coolant flow, increased engine operating temperatures and shorter service life. These precipitates may circulate through the entire cooling system promoting erosion and wear, e.g. water pump damage through increased cavitation and seal abrasion.
The presence of hard water and antifreeze/coolant in an automotive cooling system may also lead to scale formation. The scales can be formed from alkaline earth metal carbonate and phosphate deposition. These inorganic films tend to inhibit thermal transfer and thus reduce the efficiency of the cooling system. Inhibiting scale formation has long been a concern in aqueous cooling systems. For, example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,663,448 discloses scale inhibition for industrial cooling waters using amino phosphonate and polyacrylic acid compounds. U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,792 discloses an aqueous additive mixture to reduce and modify the amount of silicate scale formed in automotive cooling systems.
In addition to the thermal, abrasive and physical problems presented by hard water precipitates, their chemical formation depletes the initial antifreeze/coolant. The hard water precipitates comprise silicate and phosphate salts. By reducing the available quantity of these corrosion inhibitors, the ability of the resultant liquid antifreeze/coolant to provide adequate corrosion protection, particularly for aluminum, is uncertain. The result is dependent upon the hardness of the water used and the initial silicate concentration of the antifreeze/coolant.
In Europe, hard water is more prevalent than in North America. European antifreeze/coolant technology, while commonly using silicate corrosion inhibitors, differs from that of North America in that the technology concentrates on reduction of silicate precipitation. European patent 245557 discloses the use of a variety of compounds including sodium polyacrylate to prevent alkaline earth metal silicate precipitation. However, in this patent phosphate is not used as a buffer in the coolant, thus simplifying the precipitation issue.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,712 discloses the use of polyacrylic acid as a silicate stabilizer to inhibit gelation. Gelation is a silicate depletion mechanism which occurs separately from hard water precipitation.
In spite of these disclosures, there remains a need for an antifreeze/coolant additve which prevents hard water precipitates and deposits upon dilution with hard water.

Polycarboxylate-containing antifreeze/coolant additive for use in hard water applications


A system, method and apparatus for clock and power fault detection for a memory module is provided. In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a voltage detection circuit and a clock detection circuit. The system further includes a controller coupled to the voltage detection circuit and the clock detection circuit. The system also includes a memory control state machine coupled to the controller. The system includes volatile memory coupled to the memory control state machine. The system further includes a battery and battery regulation circuitry coupled to the controller and the memory control state machine. The battery, battery regulation circuitry, volatile memory, memory control state machine, controller, clock detection circuit and voltage detection circuit are all collectively included in a unitary memory module.

Computer systems operate in part using volatile memory. Memory modules with Random Access Memory typically will not retain any data when power is not supplied. Such memory modules require power to maintain values which are stored in memory cells, and may also require periodic refresh of contents of memory cells. This differs from non-volatile memory such as various forms of Read Only Memory or other memory such as magnetic or optical memory. However, whereas non-volatile memory tends to have long-term storage capacity, it also tends to be slower, with read-only memory of various types often copied into volatile random access memory during operation of computers and similar machines.
As systems become more mission critical, the possibility of irreplaceable data being stored in volatile memory increases. Similarly, failure analysis can be much simpler if information about the state of a system is available after a failure occurs. Moreover, some data may be useful for restarting a system after a failure, even though that information is not otherwise vital for external purposes. Also, some data may simply be desirable for retention purposes, but may also be most useful in volatile memory.
Thus, it may be useful to provide an option for keeping data in volatile memory even when a surrounding system loses power. Moreover, it may also be useful to keep data in volatile memory when a surrounding system suffers some form of an error which causes a clock to malfunction even though power is still supplied. Likewise, it may be useful to provide volatile memory which has non-volatile characteristics in short- or medium-term time periods.

Clock and power fault detection for memory modules


A method for managing multiple processors in the execution of one or more processes in a task-based library platform. The one or more processes are partitioned into highly granulized sub-tasks from a library calling process, whereby each sub-task has a protection attribute associated with it. The protection attribute designates processing resources that a processor may use in the execution of the sub-task. The sub-tasks are placed in a central task queue, whereby idling processors in the multiple processor system obtain consecutive sub-tasks in the queue until all the processes have been executed. Each processor executes a sub-task using only those processing resources that have been designated as being available by the protection attribute of the sub-task. The atomic execution results of the one more sub-tasks may then be combined into an execution result for the process. Also provided is a task-based library for processor management.

In the field of computer resource management, the allocation of processor resources is performed in several ways. In single processor environments, the execution of a plurality of tasks may include the designation of each of the plurality of tasks as being of a certain priority level. The tasks are arranged in a queue and are subsequently provided to a processor that executes the tasks serially, giving each task a pre-emptive time-share of processing resources. During the execution of a task, a test may be performed in order to determine whether there are any tasks in the queue that are of a higher priority than the current task being executed. If the management system determines that there are tasks of higher priority than the current task being executed, then the current task may be desirably terminated and placed back into the queue in order to provide the higher priority task to the processor for execution. In this manner, the management system can provide desirably prompt execution of the highest priority tasks. This type of system is known as an interrupt system, and the switching of a task being executed from a lower priority task to a higher priority task is known as context-switching.
Within a single processor computer system, this type of operation is referred to as multitasking, and generally enables the virtual parallel execution of tasks on a single processor. In such a system, the multitasking operation is controlled by the kernel of an operating system ("OS"), where the kernel acts as an interface between the central processing unit ("CPU") and the tasks to be executed. The kernel schedules the execution of the tasks such that the processor is shared between all of the tasks in the system. Accordingly, the kernel controls queue scheduling and priority handling, as described above.
The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,571 issued to Bunnell is an operating system architecture using multiple priority kernel task based interrupt handling. The kernel includes a scheduler which selects tasks for execution based on relative priority levels. The disclosure applies to the single processor environment.
Despite the desirably prompt performance of high priority tasks, the interrupt-based resource management systems described above present many drawbacks. Such drawbacks may include, for example, the loss of processing power and overhead incurred in the partial execution of a lower priority task that is terminated in order to process a higher priority task. Generally, this problem may be overcome by saving the progress of the lower priority task to, for example, a system memory and later restoring the progress when the task is ready to be finished. This saving step presents an undesirable need for large amounts of memory space, however, to store the progress of the lower priority task. Furthermore, the decision to terminate a lower priority process for a higher priority process may be performed several times, resulting in a plurality of partially processed tasks, each of which is undesirably using space in the memory. Another method of avoiding the problem identified above is in executing tasks in the processing queue in a run-to-completion fashion, whereby each task, once provided to the processor, cannot be recalled until it has been completely executed. This method may provide a further disadvantage in that higher priority tasks are no longer given precedence in execution and, therefore, are delayed by the execution of lower priority tasks.
A more desirable system for managing computing resources in execution of a plurality of tasks may organize the processing queue in such a fashion that the highest priority tasks are always ahead of the lower priority tasks, thereby reducing the need for interrupt systems and context switching. Such a system encounters a problem, however, when tasks, task priorities, or both are being added or changed in real time. This problem may undercut the expected efficiency of the originally organized queue and presents the need for continuous, real-time reorganization of the processing queue. Such a real-time reorganizing effort may be undesirably inefficient due to a relatively large size of the processing queue, as well as the low latency associated with sending and receiving tasks to and from the queue. Thus, it may be difficult to coordinate a full reorganization of the processing queue according to changes in the tasks and task priority before an occurrence of a further change in one or more tasks or task priorities, because such changes may be rapidly occurring.
The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,335 issued to Anderson relates to a multitasking data processing system that is provided with an operating system kernel. An event queue in the kernel stores task names awaiting placement in the processor queue. When an associated processor signals the occurrence of an event, matching logic searches all stores in the event queue, in parallel, to find a task associated with the signaled event and then transfers the task to the processor queue.
A further method that has been developed to overcome the undesirable aspects of single processor multitasking is a method known as multithreading. Multithreading is the sharing of a single processor between multiple tasks (i.e., threads) in a way designed to minimize the time required for context switching. This advantage is accomplished by sharing as much of the program execution environment as possible among different tasks in order to reduce the amount of task execution data that needs to be saved and restored when changing threads. Although multitasking attempts to hide thread resources corresponding to different threads, multithreading attempts to share as much of their environment as possible. Extensive multithreading may share, for example, a single address space and global variables set for separate threads distinguished only by the value of their program counts or stack pointers. Generally, multithreading may be used for very fine-grain tasks incorporating only a few basic instructions, so that resource management is desirably uncomplicated and less susceptible to errors. The extensive sharing of resources among the different threads being executed may render inadequate, however, the protection of resources dedicated to one thread from the execution of a different thread.
In order to overcome the inefficiencies of single-processor execution of a plurality of tasks, several systems utilizing multi-processor environments have been introduced and are now prevalent in the art. Such systems may utilize one or more processing queues in order to desirably provide a plurality of tasks to a plurality of processors available for computing, where the plurality of processors may have one or more dedicated processing resources and shared processing resources. The use of multi-processing also requires, however, an efficient and effective organization of the processing queue.
This requirement may be achieved through the use of multiple queues. The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,612 issued to Brady et al., for example, organizes tasks into multiple queues. Each queue represents a priority level and all tasks assigned to that queue are of that queue's designated priority level. The tasks are then sent to one or more processors for run-to-completion execution. Those tasks within the highest priority level queue are executed first. This system inherently provides real-time scheduling of tasks, whereby the organization of tasks into priority queues allows sequential execution of those tasks that have the highest priority down to those that have the lowest priority. When the highest priority queue is empty, the process will attempt to execute a task from the next highest priority queue, and so on. Therefore, in a situation where a higher priority queue is empty, a task from a lower priority queue may be executed. If one or more higher priority tasks are then added during the execution of the lower priority task, those higher priority tasks will be the next to be executed.
The method does not require an explicit reorganization and scheduling of an entire single queue in order to obtain an efficient execution of high priority tasks over lower priority tasks. The scheduling is automatically provided through the use of multiple priority queues which are drained sequentially. Such an implementation may provide several disadvantages such as, for example, an undesirable amount of time taken to evaluate the readiness of tasks within the multiple processing queues.
The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,708 issued to Wallace et al. relates to a multitasking operating system for a plurality of event queues under control of an event dispatcher, where the kernel dispatches events corresponding to processes. The invention is disclosed as including a single processor to execute a state-driven process that has control over the processor, or to execute a process not included in any state, such as a process of detecting vehicular collision. The invention also provides for assigning priority levels to the various processes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,080 issued to Dworzecki is directed to a method of scheduling tasks to be executed in a serial processing system. The invention manages the sequence of tasks that must be executed serially by organizing them into execution queues representing processing time slots that correspond to desired run times for the tasks, respectively. Furthermore, the tasks may be formed into priority layers within an execution queue according to the order in which they must be performed.
A further problem that may arise in multi-processor environments is that of processor resource allocation and protection. In a multi-processor system, one or more processing queues may provide one or more tasks to the processors; the one or more tasks may be required to use the same processing resources. Although each processor in a multi-processor system has its own set of private processing resources, it also has access to a set of shared resources that are shared among the plurality of processors. Therefore, when multiple processors attempt to use the same resources in execution of a task, the entire multi-processing system may crash. In order to prevent such undesirable system crashes, a multi-processor system requires many levels of data communication among processors to avoid resource use conflicts, processor overloading, and processor idleness. Such a complicated system may be undesirably prone to errors. Furthermore, the data communication among processors may undesirably increase data latency and execution time, and decrease available bandwidth.
It may be recognized by those skilled in the art that the aforementioned task scheduling techniques and corresponding undesirability may generally relate to physical multi-processor and single-processor architectures, as well as virtual multi-processor architectures, such as those introduced by Intel Corporation's Hyper-Threading Technology. There remains a need, therefore, to overcome the shortcomings of existing systems for managing multiple processors in the execution of one or more processes in a task-based library platform.

Operating system kernel-assisted, self-balanced, access-protected library framework in a run-to-completion multi-processor environment

International Business Machines Corporation


A virtual network system for a computer network is provided. The system includes a first host executing a virtual network function manager. The system also includes a second host executing a management virtual machine. The management virtual machine is in communication with the virtual network function manager and with one or more virtual network function component instantiations. The management virtual machine is programmed to route messages between the one or more virtual network function component instantiations and the virtual network function manager.

The field of the disclosure relates generally to management of computer networks, and more particularly, to secure management of virtual network functions.
The European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) has generated the Management and Operations (MANO) architecture for Network Function Virtualization (NFV). This architecture is designed as a blueprint for developing products and further standards. However, the architecture as presented requires further architectural development to ensure implemental development.
One of the issues is the communication between the virtual network function manager (VNFM) and each virtual machine that implements virtualized network function component instantiation (VNFCI) as the original architecture. As presented, the architecture requires developing communication channels between the VNFM and the VNFCI. There are potential issues with this approach, including, but not limited to, scalability problems and loss of efficiency as the number of virtual machines grows. The presented architecture requires connectivity between the control plane of the NFV operator and the service plan of the tenants. This would increase the attack surface and enable denial-of-service attacks against the infrastructure. Accordingly, improvements to the architecture could provide improvements to the security and efficiency of these systems.

Systems and methods for secure network management of virtual network function


A new and distinct cultivar of winter hardy Hibiscus plant named ‘Moulin Rouge’ is the result of a unique hybridization. This new and distinct cultivar is characterized primarily as to its novelty by its extreme cold hardiness to Zone 4, its large thick-textured, ruffled dark red flowers and its ovate to “Maple-shaped” foliage with its deep bronze coloration, compactness of approximately 2½ feet, its vigorous and uniform breaking habit and its floriferous nature from Summer until Frost.

1. The new plant of this invention is the result of a unique hybridization, with the breeding achievement being evidenced in the outstanding combination of characteristics exhibited by this new and distinct Hibiscus plant, which include:        (a) Refined, 3-5 lobed ovate to "maple-shaped " leaves of a bronze-purple color and relatively smooth margins which combined compliments the landscape;        (b) Medium to large-sized flowers that are outstanding for their dark red slightly ruffled petals;        (c) The plant being very floriferous with flowers that stay open for at least one to two days;        (d) The plant being small to medium-sized but vigorous with compact and uniform breaking action which gives it unique landscape utility; and        (e) The plant being so hardy that it can consistently withstand winter temperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit .