A host device according to an embodiment of the present invention sends to a plurality of device units a specific token packet including address information of a first device unit and a general token transmission time derived from an execution time of a plurality of consecutive transactions upon execution of the plurality of consecutive transactions with a first device unit out of the plurality of device units. The first device unit receives the specific token packet to execute the plurality of transactions. The plurality of device units other than the first device unit receive the specific token packet to shift to and stay in a suspend state until the general token transmission time elapses, and then shift to a waiting state after the general token transmission time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system including a host device and plural device units, and more specifically to a communication system adopting a communication protocol such as a USB (universal serial bus), which starts data transmission/reception between a host device and a device unit using token packets from the host device. In particular, the invention relates to a technique of saving power consumption in a device unit in such a communication system.
2. Description of Related Art
The USB (universal serial bus) standard is a communication standard that allows data transmission/reception between a single host device and plural device units; a PC typifies the host device, and its peripheral devices typify the device units. This USB standard has been put in widespread use as a communication interface for connecting the PC and the peripheral devices. The USB standard adopts a star logical bus topology where a single host device is connected with the plural device units. In the following description, a system composed of a single host device and plural device units connected therewith is called a USB system.
The communication between the host device and the device units, which conforms to the USB standard is dependent on the host device. The host device sends token packets to the device units to start the communications with the device units. A series of processings from the transmission of the token packets to the completion of the data exchange are executed in three stages of token phase, data phase, and handshake phase. These series of processings are collectively called "transaction".
Referring to FIG. 13 and FIGS. 14A to 14C, a data transmission/reception processing in a conventional USB system is described. FIG. 13 is a timing chart of a data transmission/reception timing in the conventional USB system. FIGS. 14A to 14C show the configuration of a USB packet exchanged between the host device and the device units. In FIG. 13, token intervals n, n+1, . . . indicate time intervals at which the host device sends the token packets, and each of processings defined by the token intervals n, n+1, . . . , corresponds to one transaction. For example, the transaction of the token interval n is an OUT transaction for sending data from the host device to a device unit A. In the token interval n, first, the host device sends an OUT token packet 1301Tx. Here, Tx and Rx denote the packet transfer direction; Tx denotes a transmission packet, and Rx denotes a reception packet. The host device sends an OUT data packet 1302Tx following the OUT token packet 1301Tx. Finally, the device unit A receiving the OUT data packet 1302Rx sends a handshake packet 1303Tx to the host device, and the host device receives this packet to thereby complete one OUT transaction.
When the host device sends the OUT token packet 1301Tx, all the device units A to C that stand ready to receive a token packet receive the token packet 1301Rx. Among the device units having received the token packets 1301Rx, the device unit A designated as a corresponding node receives data, while the devise units B and C are kept on standby in preparation for the next transmission of a token packet, that is, kept ready for reception of the token packet (hereinafter, referred to as "waiting state").
Here, the OUT token packet 1301Tx is a token packet indicative of the start of the OUT transaction from the host device to the device units. FIG. 14A shows the configuration of the token packet. As regards the OUT token packet 1301, a PID value indicating the OUT transaction is specified in a PID1401, and the device unit A as a corresponding node is designated based on an address (ADDR) 1402 and an endpoint (ENDP) 1403. Further, as shown in FIG. 14B, the OUT data packet 1302 is composed of, a PID1404 indicating a data packet type and a data unit 1405. As shown in FIG. 14C, the handshake packet 1303 is composed of a PID1406, and a PID value representing whether the data reception is succeeded or failed is specified.
On the other hand, the transaction of the token interval n+1 shown in FIG. 13 is an IN transaction for sending the data from the device unit to the host device. In the case of IN transaction, the host device designates a device unit which is allowed the data transmission by sending the token packet 1304Tx. The device unit B designated with the token packet 1304 sends an IN data packet 1305Tx to the host device. When the host device succeeds in receiving the IN data packet 1305Rx, the handshake packet 1306Tx is sent back to complete the IN transaction.
As mentioned above, the data transmission/reception between the host device and the device unit in conformity with the USB standard starts with the transmission of the token packet inclusive of the designation of the device unit as a corresponding node with the host device.
In the USB system, the host device generally sends the token packet at a given timing, not at regular intervals. Therefore, the device unit not executing the transaction needs to be kept in a waiting state that allows the reception of the next token packet from the host device.
Thus, as shown in a timing chart of FIG. 15, especially in the case of continuously exchanging the data between the host device and a specific device unit, the other device units waste power. The host device continuously exchanges data with the device B between the token intervals n+1 and n+3 of FIG. 15; during such a period, the device units A and C not involved in data exchange with the host device also receives and interprets the token packet sent by the USB host every transaction, but the received token packet is not a token packet addressed to the device units A and C, so the device units A and C should be kept in a waiting state. As mentioned above, the other devices not involved in data exchange need to receive and interpret the token packets from the host device while being kept in the waiting state, and thus waste power.
Hitherto, the connection between the host device and the device units has been based on a cable. A new standard (hereinafter, referred to as wireless USB) adopting a wireless interface for a physical layer connecting between the host device and the device units has been under development. Upon such wireless communications, especially, power saving/long-term operation is required.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-300175 discloses a technique for reducing power consumption on a terminal station in a wireless communication system of CSMA system conforming to IEEE802.11b. To be specific, in sending data from an access point to a terminal station, a transmission time as information about the time until the next data transmission to the terminal station is added to transmission data. The terminal station receiving data including the transmission time stops the operation until the transmission time elapses, and after the elapse of the transmission time, the terminal station returns to a waiting state.
However, the host device of the USB system operates in response to a data transmission/reception instruction from a PC responsible for an upper layer of a USB communication protocol, so the host device cannot schedule the next data transmission/reception for each device unit beforehand. Accordingly, the host device cannot set the next data transmission/reception time for each device unit, and notify each device unit of the time. Hence, it is difficult to apply the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-300175 to the USB system.
During the unrelated transaction, the devices should receive the token packet and thus waste power in any other systems than the USB system, more specifically, in communication systems for exchanging data between the host device and plural device units. This problem is common to the communication systems adopting a communication protocol that starts the transaction between the host device and the device units in accordance with the token packet from the host device, as in the USB system.

Host device, device unit, communication system, and data transmission/reception method


First statistical data and at least second statistical data can be received from respective data processing systems, the statistical data received from each data processing system indicating a respective duration of time for the data processing system to perform a task. A progress profile for the task can be updated by conglomerating the first statistical data with at least the second statistical data. A request indicating the task can be received from a third data processing system. In response, the progress profile can be communicated to the third data processing system. The third data processing system can present on a display a progress bar and indicate status of completion of the task by reiteratively updating the progress bar. The status of completion can be determined based on a duration of time expected for the task indicated in the progress profile and an amount of time that has elapsed.

The present invention relates to data processing systems, and more specifically, to progress bars displayed by data processing systems.
A progress bar is a graphical control element used to visually depict a progression of a task being performed by a data processing system, such as a computer. Examples of such a task may include performing a download, performing a file transfer, performing a software installation, and the like. Sometimes, the graphical control element is accompanied by a textual representation of the progress of performance of the task, for example in a percent format. Many computer users find progress bars helpful. For example, while an extended computer operation is being performed, movement of the progress bar can indicate that the computer still is operating and has not become unresponsive due to an error.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Progress bar updated based on crowd sourced statistics

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An electronic apparatus executes a program by using a page table for managing, on a page unit basis, virtual and physical addresses of the program recorded in a first recording medium. The page table is set in such a manner that a physical address is unassigned to a designated area of the program stored in the first recording medium. When the area unassigned with the physical address is accessed during execution of the program, data of the program corresponding to the accessed physical address is copied from the first recording medium to a second recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data processing for starting up an electronic apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
In the field of digital camera and the like, large scale software including Graphical User Interface (GUI) using a Windows system is stored in a read only memory (ROM) and executed. Such a system is required to drive a 32-bit reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor and a large capacity dynamic random access memory (DRAM) by using a compact battery.
It is therefore usual to turn off completely the power source when the apparatus is not used, and to turn on immediately before the apparatus is used. In the case of a digital camera, the time taken to start to use the camera after the power is turned on is preferably as short as possible in order not to lose a photographing chance. It is therefore desired to realize a computer system having a short system start-up time. The system start-up time includes a time taken to initialize an operating system (OS) and drivers and a time taken to transfer initial values of data segments of a high-level language such as a C language. This start-up time is required before initialization during operational procedure of the digital camera, and is called overhead. Prior art of activating a high-level language from ROM is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-348677.
In order to implement a ROM program using a high-level language, typically a C language, initialization is required to allow the high-level language to operate. There is a tendency that the time taken to set initial values in variable areas becomes long as the program scale becomes large. These variables are called "static variables with initialization" in the C language. The variable area is called a data segment and assigned to a predetermined address of a RAM by a programmer.
Initial values are written in ROM at predetermined addresses, and copied from ROM to data segments of RAM by a start-up routine of the C language. In the C language specifications, static variables whose initial values are not assigned are initialized to 0. These static variables are developed into a RAM area called a BSS area. In addition to transfer of initial values from ROM to RAM, a process of changing variables developed into the BSS area to 0 s (0-clear) takes a time during the start-up.
High speed processing by CPU is required in many cases, such as GUI expression using many animations, file compression by software, and image processing for printing.
Speed Difference Between ROM and RAM
A clock of a RISC processor tends to increase year after year, and high speed operations at 100 Mhz or 200 Mhz are not rare. However, an access speed of ROM is very slow as about 120 ns, as compared to a processor speed. In order to make compact a camera, not a 32-bit bus but a 16-bit bus is used for connection so that it is not rare that about 300 ns is taken to fetch one machine instruction.
A read speed of RAM such as an SDRAM is very fast as compared to a fetch command from ROM, because burst read is possible. In such a system, a cache memory exists between CPU and a memory. Therefore, read/write between DRAM and cache is performed always in a burst mode so that a fetch can be executed in average at twice to several times (10 to several tens ns) the internal speed. Namely, when the cache mishits, data can be read at high speed from RAM at about ten times the speed of reading it from ROM.
Under these circumstances, all programs in ROM are often copied once to RAM. However, since all programs in ROM are required to be copied to RAM upon start-up, there arises a problem that the start-up time becomes very long, several hundreds ms to several tens sec. This approach is therefore not suitable for an apparatus required to shorten the start-up time, such as a digital camera.
It is difficult to shorten the time taken to copy initial values of variables from ROM to RAM, this time occupying a large part of the start-up time. This time is approximately several hundreds ms. During this time, the computer system can execute neither effective user programs nor OS initialization.
From the same reason, a basic input/output system (BIOS) of a personal computer is also copied to RAM to execute it. For example, a BIOS system has been devised such as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-51858. This system is generally called a "shadow BIOS" and realized by transferring a drawing routine and the like in BIOS to RAM. The shadow BIOS is operated by disposing RAM at an address of an original ROM by using functions of a memory management unit (MMU). However, similar to the techniques described above, the techniques of the shadow BIOS are not suitable for a digital camera, because a transfer to RAM is explicitly executed during start-up.
According to conventional techniques described above, it is difficult to properly shorten a start-up time of an electronic apparatus such as a digital camera executing large scale software implemented in ROM.

Electronic apparatus with page table management of program, data processing method and computer program


The invention relates to a prestressed concrete slab and a method for preparing the slab. The slab comprises a corner post at each of its corners. The corner post comprises a cylindrical member; means of attaching and securing reinforcing members to the corner posts; means of attaching each slab to another slab; and means of tensioning the reinforcing members. The slab further includes a center post. The center post comprises a cylindrical member and means of attaching and securing reinforcing members to the center post. Reinforcing members are attached to the corner post and the center posts to connect each to the other. Concrete is set and cured between the corner posts and around the center post and the reinforcing members to form a slab.

The most common technique for reinforcing concrete involves the inclusion of tendons of wire mesh or steel rods in a formed slab. Prestressed concrete has long been a popular construction material due to the reduced amount of concrete used in a slab, which significantly reduces the weight of the slab. Prestressing can be achieved by the use of two general techniques: post-tensioning and pretensioning. Pretensioning is achieved by using reinforcing tendons of high tensile strength in a pouring mold. The tendons are tensioned, and the liquid concrete is poured into the mold encasing the tendons. When the concrete is set and cured, the tension on the tendons is released. The tension of the prestressed tendons exerts a tensile force on the surrounding concrete, imparting to it a tensile strength vastly superior to that of ordinary, reinforced concrete.
Pretensioning requires the use of a strong mold to withstand the force of the tension on the tendons. Tensioning of the tendons is usually achieved by means of anchoring one end of the tendon to the mold and applying force to the other end of the tendon by means of a device such as a hydraulic jack. When optimum force is attained, the unanchored end is anchored to the mold. Such procedures generally require a great degree of care and skill in preparation and are generally practiced in factory casting.
Post-tensioning is performed after the concrete slab is set and cured. The cables or rods, treated to prevent the concrete from adhering to them, are tensioned and anchored to the outer surface of the concrete slab. Post-tensioning is a simple and inexpensive means of prestressing concrete, and may easily be carried out on site. However, it suffers from creep of the tendons, resulting in loss of tension in the tendons.
The scale and cost associated with most prestressing of concrete precludes its use by most homeowners or handimen on small scale projects. The strength available from prestressed concrete may be used on a small scale for various home and garden projects.
There exists a need, therefore, for a method of preparing prestressed concrete that does not result in a loss of tension in the tendons and that is easy to perform, on site, by people, such as the home handyman, who do not possess a high degree of skill or expensive equipment. It is also desirable that the means of attaching the slabs together can also be performed without a high degree of skill or the need for expensive equipment.


A V-belt continuously variable transmission includes a primary pulley and a secondary pulley. The primary pulley is connected to an input shaft and the secondary pulley is connected to an output shaft. A V-belt is wrapped around the primary and secondary pulleys. When a speed ratio is to be increased: (a) the oil pressure supplied to the primary pulley is set to an oil pressure necessary for ensuring a torque capacity of the V-belt and for maintaining the speed ratio; and (b) the oil pressure supplied to the secondary pulley is set to an oil pressure that is higher than the oil pressure necessary for ensuring the torque capacity of the V-belt and for maintaining the speed ratio, thereby attaining a target speed change speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a V-belt continuously variable transmission used in an automobile or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
JP 3-181659A, published by the Japan Patent Office in 1991, discloses a V-belt continuously variable transmission (V-belt CVT). The V-belt CVT is provided with a primary pulley into which engine rotation is input, a secondary pulley that outputs rotation to drive wheels, and a V-belt that transmits the primary pulley rotation to the secondary pulley. A ratio of an input rotation speed to an output rotation speed (speed ratio) is regulated by adjusting a ratio of a contact radius between a pulley and a V-belt in the primary pulley to that in the secondary pulley (pulley ratio).
When maintaining the pulley ratio in JP3-181659A, an oil pressure (primary pressure) supplied to the primary pulley is controlled based on an input torque and the pulley ratio so as to be an oil pressure necessary for maintaining the pulley ratio. When changing the pulley ratio, a correction amount for the primary pressure necessary for achieving a target speed change speed is computed. The primary pressure is increased or decreased based on the correction amount, thereby achieving the target speed change speed.
However, the primary pressure is reduced during a downshift in JP3-181659A, and therefore there is a possibility that a torque capacity of the primary pulley in the V-belt is excessively reduced to cause the V-belt to slip.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a V-belt continuously variable transmission in which there is no belt slippage during a downshift.


A video game application provided on storage media such as optical disks readable by computers, video game consoles, or other electronic devices to provide a ring dance game including sensing movement and position of two handheld controllers. The game method includes displaying a heads up display (HUD) on a screen that includes a dance ring defined by six or more target elements or ring segments that are positioned in different zones of the HUD ring such as on the periphery of the dance ring. Cue elements associated with a right hand controller and a left hand controller emanate in a pattern from the ring center and travel outward in the differing zones to strike the target elements. Play involves a player dancing by moving the handheld controllers in response to the cues striking the target elements, which allows a game designer to create a dance game with multi-directional, two-hand cues.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to video games run by or played on video game consoles and systems, and, more particularly, to a dance ring video game with multi-directional dance cues and enhanced player interaction for use with video game systems or consoles that utilize handheld controllers adapted for sensing controller movement and spatial positioning, such as with accelerometers and gyroscopes.
2. Relevant Background
There is extreme competition in the electronics industry to produce video game consoles that appeal to consumers or game players and that allow for market growth. For example, video game console or system designers have provided enhanced game play by significantly increasing graphics and processor capabilities to provide enhanced animation capabilities and responsiveness to user input. More recently, there has been a push to provide an improved game interface for video games to provide game players with a more realistic and interesting gaming experience.
An important part of the game interface is the controller used by the player to provide user input and interact with game elements displayed on a monitor (e.g., a TV screen, a computer monitor, and the like). With a typical game console, a single handheld controller is provided for each player to provide user input to control his or her displayed player character or other animated game elements. A typical controller is held in two hands and the player uses his or her thumbs to control the in-game action with buttons, D-pads, joysticks, and the like provided on an upper surface of the controller housing. The controller is arranged such that the index or other fingers are used to pull triggers or press buttons provided on the front side of the controller housing in order to shoot guns or perform other functions (e.g., make a player character run faster, make a car brake or accelerate, and so on). The majority of game consoles produced by differing companies are nearly identical in their look and feel and functionality.
In contrast, some game consoles or systems include a different type of user interface by providing a unique controller. In such systems, the game interface may be thought of as lying inside or being provided inside the controller itself because instead of using a joystick to control the game the primary game control is in the controller. The controller contains optical position sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and the like that sense tilting and rotation up and down and left and right, rotation along the main axis, acceleration up and down and left and right, and also acceleration toward and away from the screen or monitor. In many games, there is a need for ability to control more than one game element at a time (such as to target or aim and move a character at the same time). To handle this and other "two-hand situations," a second controller or joystick pod (e.g., an analog unit with a joystick, a controller with its own position sensing components, and so on) may be attached to the main or first controller, and a player interfaces with the game by holding one controller in each hand such that input may be provided with each hand and, in some cases, the position of each hand can be accurately sensed and monitored for use in game play. In recent releases of such games, the controller and the sensing of its position are very fast and accurate, with movements often requiring only a quick flick of the wrist to move a user controlled graphic element from one side of the game display to the other.
The development and release of these new controllers has generated a demand for new video games that utilize the position/gesture-based interface of the video game consoles. The controllers lend themselves to new game-playing paradigms such as active games, including: tennis, with the controller taking the place of a tennis racket; baseball, with the controller taking the place of a bat; and sword fighting, with the controller taking the place of a sword. Video games are now being developed that encourage a cardiovascular workout for the game player with the players actively moving their arms to interact with a game such as boxing.
To date, though, most of the games have been relatively simplistic and have not fully utilized the position sensing technologies to provide interesting and visually exciting games such as games that accurately simulate dancing or that qualitatively score a player's motions as they rhythmically respond to music in a game. Existing video games involving music have been commercially very successful but typically have been limited to a simple scrolling display such as a display that requires a player to dance by moving their feet to a location on a sensing pad or moving their fingers to simulate guitar play in time to icons or cue elements scrolled from the top to the bottom of the display. Some music games specifically designed for the new controllers have also used one-way scrolling icons to prompt the player to perform a motion on a particular beat of playing music. While allowing for some fun moves such as clapping the controllers together, the use of one-way scrolling icons does not facilitate a very wide variety of player motions or support varying skill or challenge levels. In one dancing game, iconic prompts horizontally scroll sequentially inward from the left or from the right side of the screen to prompt the player to swing their controller left or right, but again the motions are relatively limited in variety and difficulty. Other video games provide on-screen prompts but often use small portions of the screen to cue the player to take an action, such as a small on-screen prompt in the upper right corner that indicates a player should shake their controller or take other actions to interact with the game.
Hence, there remains a need for new video games for video game consoles or systems that utilize one or more handheld controllers adapted for position, gesture, and/or motion sensing of the controllers. Preferably, such video games would be designed to provide an enhanced simulation of dancing, score the player's movement as he or she rhythmically responds to music playing in the game, and allow differing skill levels to be introduced to challenge the players.


A blade for a mixing device, especially for the mixing of different particles or different liquids, where the blade is mounted on a substantially horizontal rotor and extends in a straight line perpendicular to the rotor axis. The blade has a curved cross-section with a front part or first portion facing in the direction of motion of the particles or liquids in the mixing device, a substantially smaller rear part or second portion facing opposite the direction of motion, and a part lying in between and connecting the front and rear parts and substantially parallel to the rotor, axis; such that a substantial portion of the particles or liquids are thrown forwards, and smaller portions are thrown directly outwards and backwards, the particles or liquids thereby being mixed with particles or liquids thrown forward by a following blade.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a blade for a mixing device, where the blade is arranged on a substantially horizontal rotor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mixing devices are used within a number of fields for mixing two or more different substances, such as particles or liquids or a combination of these, to a desired degree of homogeneity. The different substances are supplied in amounts which are metered to a specified degree. Such substances may be two or more liquids to be mixed, two or more particles, or particles to be added and mixed with liquids. The substances to be mixed have greater or smaller differences in nature and condition.
Such mixing devices are also used for drying or freezing particles either as separate processes or as part of a mixing process.
Mixing devices of this type normally operate with blades or shovels secured to two parallel rotors, rotating in opposite directions. The shape and arrangement of the blades causes the substances to be mixed to be thrown upwards so as to be mixed and simultaneously transported forward in the mixing device. It is important that the so-called casting curvature of the blades (that is, the upper boundary of the path followed by substances thrown upwards by the blades) is optimized to achieve the best possible mixing together with the desired forward transportation.
Flat blades arranged in different positions along the rotor axis are well known; and there have long been attempts made to change the angle of the blades in relation to the rotor axis and other parameters such as the rotation rate, the length of the blades, etc. to optimize the mixing process.


A fiber optic fluid probe is employed in determining characteristics of a fluid or solid dispersed in the fluid into which the probe is immersed. The probe transmits electromagnetic radiation from a source by way of one or more fiber optic fibers and into the fluid, and then senses how the electromagnetic radiation interacts with the fluid. The optical signal returned from the probe, by way of fiber optic cables, is interrogated by an electronic instrument, which correlates the optical response to fluid properties and/or characteristics.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a probe that is employed in determining characteristics of a fluid or objects dispersed in the fluid into which the probe is immersed. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a fiber optic probe that transmits electromagnetic radiation typically but not limited to the 200-2200 nanometer region, by way of one or more optic fibers into a fluid, and then senses how the electromagnetic radiation transmitted into the fluid is affected by the fluid or objects in the fluid. By sensing how the transmitted electromagnetic radiation is affected by the fluid, the fiber optic probe enables the determination of certain characteristics and/or properties of the fluid or objects in the fluid.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In the many different types of industrial facilities that process fluids such as chemical processing facilities or chemical laboratories, petroleum processing facilities, waste water treatment facilities, pharmaceutical processing facilities, etc., it is often desirable to monitor or test the characteristics or properties of the fluids being processed in order to regulate or control the processing of the fluids. For example, in facilities that treat waste water to purify the water, it is desirable to monitor the amounts of chemicals added to the waste water during the purification process in order to ensure that a sufficient amount of the chemicals are added to the waste water to result in its purification, and also to ensure that an excessive amount of the purification chemicals are not added to the waste water which would result in needless expense and potential contamination of the water.
In prior art fluid processing facilities, the fluids being processed were often monitored by extracting samples of the fluids or using non-optical based sensors. The samples were then tested to determine the characteristics or properties of the fluids, and thereby evaluate the processing of the fluids. The sampling would require one or more people at the processing facility to physically extract samples of the fluids for analysis. Thus, extracting the samples and then testing the samples would require significant amounts of time during which the fluid processing is continued. If the fluid testing determined that adjustments or changes to the processing were needed, a potentially critical delay would occur before the adjustments would be made. In addition, these testing procedures were at times very hazardous to the human tester, especially where the fluids being processed were potentially corrosive, toxic or explosive liquids or gases.
What is needed to overcome the disadvantages of prior art methods of monitoring industrial fluid processing facilities is an apparatus that continuously monitors the characteristics or properties of a fluid in an industrial fluid processing facility, and provides continuous data on the properties of the fluid which would enable real time adjustments in the processing of the fluid to obtain the desired results.


An apparatus and method for preparing frozen tissue specimens includes a base supporting a pair of rotary motion platforms and a center platform. The rotary motion platforms are movable from an open, side-by-side position to a closed, center platform-covering position. The rotary motion platform includes a plurality of cryogenic discs, each identified for receiving a plurality of tissue samples. The center platform includes a plurality of cryogenic discs, each having a plurality of bores for receiving object holders thereon, each object holder for receiving a frozen specimen thereon. The center platform cryogenic discs each have a channel system with intersecting peripheral, chordal and radial channels. A moistening tray includes structure having a closed, object holder wetting position and an open, object holder elevating position. Further disclosed is the use of a tissue orientation map, usable on temporary tattoos and tissue receiving sheets for specimen orientation and mapping of tumor roots. Also disclosed are labels and identification methods, fiber-reinforced embedding compounds and the use of treated polyester sheets for tissue specimen placement.

The present invention is broadly directed to an improved apparatus and method for rapidly freezing a plurality of tissue specimens at cryogenic temperatures that enhances heat transfer, quickly cools tissue holders and tissue, facilitates cutting of thin tissue sections and facilitates tracking of tissue specimens throughout a tissue preparation and examination process. More particularly, the invention is directed to a multi-specimen tissue freezing apparatus and method of mapping and labeling, the apparatus including a channel system permitting highly effective circulation of a cryogen and transfer of heat thereto so as to rapidly cool tissue specimens.
Biopsy or surgical removal of tissue specimens for histologic examination is commonly employed for diagnostic purposes. When a lesion is known or suspected to be malignant, the entire mass is generally excised, if possible. An examination technique may be employed in which the entire tumor margin surface area is reviewed under a microscope. This technique involves microscopic screening of the exterior surface area of the tumor for the presence of malignant cells in order to ensure that all such cells have been removed. If practiced effectively, tumor margin surface area examination enhances the likelihood of complete removal of all cells of a localized malignancy.
Once harvested, the tissue sample is preferably quickly frozen at a controlled rate using a cryogenic coolant in order to obtain high quality frozen sections suitable for use in diagnosis. The tissue is then cut into thin layers or sections for histological examination. It is important that the tissue be frozen and the histologic examination performed as quickly as possible, since the patient must be kept waiting pending the microscopic evaluation, in case any additional tissue must be excised. In the past each review of the tissue was comparatively lengthy, so that a patient had to be maintained in a very uncomfortable state with an open wound for a long period of time. Much of the delay was due to slow freezing of the tissue samples, so fast freezing is very desirable, especially where multiple samples must be taken.
Controlled freezing of the tissue may be accomplished using the methods and devices set forth in Applicant's previous patents, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,695,339; 4,752,347; 5,628,197; 5,829,256; 6,094,923, 6,289,682 and 6,725,673, which are incorporated herein by reference. The rate at which specimens can be frozen under such controlled conditions is determined by the rate of heat transfer from a cryogenic fluid, such as liquid nitrogen, to the platform on which the tissue is placed. Specimens must be frozen relatively quickly in order to avoid formation of large ice crystals. However, attempts to increase the rate of freezing by use of excessive amounts of cryogenic material may impair control over the freezing process. Specimens that are frozen unevenly or incorrectly may be marred by voids and artifacts that might impair histologic examination and diagnosis. It is also desirable to minimize the quantity of cryogenic fluid that is used, since such fluids are costly and may present certain environmental hazards which must be addressed. Therefore, it is important to enhance heat transfer while maintaining control over specimen freezing conditions and conserving use of cryogenic fluids.
Even a properly prepared tissue specimen that is quickly frozen under controlled conditions may not result in a high quality histologic specimen unless thin tissue sections can be taken easily from the frozen specimen. Compression of the section may occur where difficulty is encountered in cutting thin sections from a frozen specimen. Upon gross examination, compressed tissue sections may appear to be usable for mounting on slides, but will prove to be difficult to evaluate. Badly crumpled sections may be unusable.
Another problem faced in a busy laboratory is the proper identification of tissue samples as they travel from station to station, through the processes of tissue harvesting; preparations, such as relaxing and anatomic color marking before freezing; freezing which may include more than one step or transfer to and from freezing platforms; slicing; and examination. A further challenge is developing improved methods of mapping or marking both the patient and the tissue sample to ensure correct orientation of the tissue sample with respect to the patient if clinical reorientation is necessary for further tissue harvesting. Accordingly, there is a need for apparatus and methods for evenly and quickly freezing multiple tissue specimens under controlled conditions with correct labeling and mapping.

Apparatus and method for preparing frozen tissue specimens


A semiconductor memory device includes: a gate electrode formed on a semiconductor layer via a gate insulating film; a channel region disposed under the gate electrode; diffusion regions disposed on both sides of the channel region and having a conductive type opposite to that of the channel region; and memory functional units formed on both sides of the gate electrode and having the function of retaining charges, wherein each of the diffusion regions has: a high-concentration impurity region disposed so as to be offset from the gate electrode; and a low-concentration impurity region disposed in contact with the high-concentration impurity region so as to overlap with the gate electrode, and an amount of current flowing from one of the diffusion regions to the other diffusion region is changed when a voltage is applied to the gate electrode in accordance with an amount of charges retained in the memory functional units.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and a portable electronic apparatus having the semiconductor memory device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device constructed by field-effect transistors each including a memory functional unit having the function of retaining charges, and to a portable electronic apparatus having the semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a representative of conventional nonvolatile memories, a flash memory will be described below (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 5(1993)-304277). FIG. 26 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a flash memory cell. Shown in FIG. 26 are a semiconductor substrate 901, a floating gate 902, a word line (control gate) 903, a diffusion layer source line 904, a diffusion layer bit line 905, a device isolation region 906 and an insulating film 907.
A flash memory cell has a floating gate, and information is held according to an amount of charges in the floating gate. In a memory cell array constructed by arranging memory cells, an operation of rewriting/reading a desired memory cell can be performed by selecting a specific word line and a specific bit line and applying a predetermined voltage.
FIG. 27 is a graph schematically showing a drain current (Id)-gate voltage (Vg) characteristic when an amount of charges in the floating gate in the flash memory changes. When the amount of negative charges in the floating gate increases, the threshold increases and the Id-Vg curve moves almost in parallel in the Vg increasing direction.
In the conventional flash memory, where, a floating gate exists between a word line (gate electrode) and a channel region, it is difficult to reduce the thickness of an insulating film separating the floating gate and the word line and the thickness of an insulating film separating the floating gate and the channel region in order to prevent leakage of charges from the floating gate. Consequently, it is difficult to effectively reduce the thickness of the gate insulating film, and it disturbs reduction in size of the memory cell.

Semiconductor memory device and portable electronic apparatus


A sample injector (32) with an upwardly opened sample receiving hole is connected to an atomizer (36) of a flame type atomizing means and on a burner chamber (7) a flameless type atomizing means is mounted ahead of a burner head (9). For distribution of the sample by an auto-sampler (40) it is so arranged that the nozzle is movable to the sample bottle of the auto-sampler (40) and the sample injector (32) or a sample injection hole (30) of the atomizing means placed at the measuring position. This arrangement enables injection of the sample into the atomizing means of either type by means of a common auto-sampler, this facilitating switching between the flame system and the flameless system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and, more particularly, to an atomic absorption spectrophotometer with an arrangement for flame system-flameless system switching in the atomizing means.
2. Prior Art
As atomizing method in atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis there are known two alternatives of flame system in which atomizing is done by burning a sample in a burner and flameless system in which atomizing is done by flowing a high-amperage current through a graphite tube of an electric furnace. In order to enable switching of these two atomizing systems with a single atomic absorption spectro-photometer, Hidehisa Nishigaki, one of the present inventors, already proposed an atomic absorption spectro-photometer provided with switchable atomizing means of each system (See Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 61-286737.)
The flame system with its low sensitivity is suited for analysis of samples high in concentration, while the flameless system with its high sensitivity is recommended for analysis of samples low in concentration. These two systems are different in sampling method. In the flame system the sample solution is sucked via tube into an atomizer. In the atomizer the sample solution is mixed with a fuel gas and a combustion improving gas, the mixture is led from a burner chamber to a burner head and there it is atomized in a flame. Since the sample is sucked into the burner chamber continuously, the quantity of the sample is required to be quite large. Meanwhile, in the flameless system a trace amount of the sample (several tens .mu.l) is injected into a sample inlet tube made of graphite and the graphite tube is then heated to atomize the sample.
As measurement is made by the flame system, it sometimes occurs that the sensitivity attainable is insufficient depending on the sample's concentration. And, should it be the case, it is necessary to do another measurement by the flameless system. During measurement by the flameless system, it also occurs that the sample's concentration is so high that the limits represented by the analytical curve are exceeded. Should it be the case, it is necessary to do re-measurement with the sample diluted properly or do it later by the flame system.
When measurement is taken with the flame system and the flameless system being switched, immediate re-measurement with the same sample is infeasible even by switching the atomizing method in case of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer provided with atomizing means of the flame system and the flameless system for the sampling method is different for each type of atomizing means.
With the atomic absorption spectrophotometer, too, adoption of an auto-sampler for automatic injection of a sample is conceivable. It is, however, infeasible to use a common auto-sampler for both systems if a suction type of sampling method is adopted for the flame system and a sampling method in which a trace amount of sample is dripped is adopted for the flameless system.

Atomic absorption spectroscopic analytic apparatus


A cellular device 10 has a SIM 12 having a unique identifier 14, for example formatted as an IMSI. The cellular device is activated by a registration process which registers the SIM to a selected home network. In this way, the cellular device can be bundled with a SIM before it is known for which country, region or network the cellular device will be sold.

A number of different types of cellular devices exist, often referred to as mobile devices, which communicate through cellular networks such as GSM and 3G. Other countries and territories may use different systems. The commonest type of cellular device is a cellular telephone or mobile telephone, though other devices exist, which need not in fact be mobile—GSM and 3G networks can also be used in fixed installations.
Cellular telephones may be sold either with or without contracts for the supply of mobile telephony services. In either case, the supply of mobile telephony services is typically regulated with a subscriber identification module (SIM) card. If the mobile telephony services are supplied with the cellular telephone, as is common in the consumer market, the SIM card may be bundled with the cellular telephone; if not, the SIM card may be supplied separately after concluding an airtime agreement.
The SIM card is programmed with an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) which identifies the subscriber. The IMSI includes a number of digits, the first being three digits of the mobile country code, MCC, which indicates the country, followed by two or three digits indicating the individual mobile network, the mobile network code MNC. The rest of the IMSI includes the mobile subscriber identification number which identifies the individual subscriber of the mobile network. Thus, the SIM card is specific for a particular mobile network. For this reason, when a cellular telephone is manufactured for multiple countries and/or networks, the SIM card cannot be bundled with the cellular telephone until the destination country and network are known.

Lifecycle configuration of mobile subscriber


A method for routing multicast packets in a network is disclosed. A node s101 wishing to join a particular multicast group transmits a packet via a sequence of nodes (r101, r102, r104, r107) including a core node r107 on the multicast tree corresponding to the particular multicast group which the node wishes to join. The packet contains a request to join the particular multicast group and the multicast address of the core node r107 of the multicast tree corresponding to the particular multicast group. The packet is received at each node r101, r102, r104, r107 of the sequence of nodes. Each node r101, r102, r104, r107 which receives the packet writes an address of the node s101, r101, r102, r104 from which the packet was received in an entry of a multicast forwarding table maintained thereat which entry is indexed by the multicast address of the core node r107. If the node r101, r102, r 104 which received the packet is not on the multicast tree of the particular multicast group, the node r101, r102, r104 writes an address of the next node r102, r104, r107 of the sequence of nodes in the multicast forwarding table entry indexed by the multicast address of the core node r107. The packet is then retransmitted to the next node r102, r104, r107 of the sequence of nodes.

An internet communications network 80 is depicted in FIG. 1 including five transit or backbone networks A, B, C, D, and E and three stub networks R, Y, and Z. A "backbone" network is an intermediary network which conveys communicated data from one network to another network. A "stub" network is a terminal or endpoint network from which communicated data may only initially originate or ultimately be received. Each network, such as the stub network R, includes one or more interconnected subnetworks such as I, J, L and M. As used herein, the term "subnetwork" refers to a collection of one or more nodes, e.g., (d), (a) (b, x, y), (q, v) (r, z), (s, u), (e, f, g), (h, i), (j, k, 1), (m, n), and (o, p), interconnected by wires and switches for local internodal communication. Each subnetwork may be a local area network or LAN. Each subnetwork has one or more interconnected nodes which may be host computers ("hosts") u, v, w, x, y, z (shown as triangles in FIG. 1) or routers a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s (shown as squares in FIG. 1). A host is an endpoint node from which communicated data may initially originate or ultimately be received. A router is a node which serves solely as an intermediary node between two other nodes; the router receives communicated data from one node and retransmits the data to another node.
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a host or router node 10. As shown, the node may include a CPU 11, a memory 12 and one or more I/O ports 13-1, 13-2, . . . , 13-N connected to a bus 14. Illustratively, each I/O port 13-1, 13-2, . . . , 13-N is connected by wires, optical fibers, and/or switches to the I/O port of another node. The I/O ports 13-1, 13-2, . . . , 13-N are for transmitting communicated data in the form of a bitstream organized into one or more packets to another node and for receiving a packet from another node. An exemplary packet 40 is shown in FIG. 3 having a payload 41 which contains communicated data and one or more headers 42 which contain control and/or address information.
A host which initially generates a packet for transmission to another node is called the source node and a host which ultimately receives the packet is called a destination node. Communication may be achieved between a single source node and a single destination node using a process called unicast routing. In unicast routing, packets are transferred via a sequence of nodes including the source node, zero or more intermediary nodes, and the destination node, in a bucket brigade fashion. For example, a packet may be communicated from the node w to the node x by transferring the packet from the node w to the node c, to the node d, to the node b, and to the node x. The particular sequence of nodes via which a packet is transmitted is also referred to as a "path". In the above example, one path from the source node w to the destination node x includes the nodes (w,c,d,b, and x).
When a source node transmits a packet to a single destination node, the source node writes the destination address of the packet in a destination address field 43 (FIG. 3) of the header 42. Illustratively, each node of the internet 80 is assigned a unique internet address which is used for identifying the node for purposes of transmitting a packet thereto. The source node then retrieves an entry from a forwarding table, such as the entry 51 of the table 50 shown in FIG. 4, which entry is indexed by the destination address of the packet. (Illustratively, the particular forwarding table 50 shown in FIG. 4 is stored at the node a.) The forwarding table stores a number of entries which entries each contains information for routing a received packet to its ultimate destination. Each indexed entry of the forwarding table indicates the next node on the path to the destination node (where the address of the destination node is used as the index to retrieve the entry). For example, at the node a, the entry 51 indicates that the next node on the path to the node y is the node b. The source node then transmits the packet to the next node on the path indicated by the retrieved entry. This process is repeated at each intermediary node until the packet arrives at the destination node.
Sometimes a source node has a packet to transmit to more than one destination node. For example, the packet may contain an electronic mail or E-mail letter to be delivered to each user of a particular mail group which users are each located at different destination nodes. Alternatively, the packet may contain voice data of a speaking teleconference participant at a source node to be simultaneously delivered to a number of listening teleconference participants located at different destination nodes. Such packets may be transmitted from the source node to each destination node according to a routing procedure depicted in FIG. 5.
FIG. 5 depicts a portion 75 of an internet. As shown in FIG. 5, a packet to be transmitted to a particular group of destination nodes d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, and d6 is transmitted from a source s1 to a first router r1. Illustratively, the router r1 connects the stub containing the source node s1 to the internet 75. The router r1 transmits the packet to the node r2. At the node r2, the packet is transmitted to the destination node d6 via the router r3. In addition, the router r2 transmits a copy of the packet to the router r4. The router r4 receives the copy of the packet and transmits a copy of the received packet to the destination node d1 via the nodes r5 and r6. In addition, the router r4 transmits a copy of the received packet to the router r7. The router r7, transmits a copy of the received packet to the destination node d2 via the router r8. The router r7 transmits a copy of the received packet to the destination node d3 via the routers r9 and r10. In addition, the router r7 transmits a copy of the received packet to the router r11. The router r11 receives the packet and transmits a copy of the received packet to the destination node d4 via the router r12 and a copy of the received packet to the destination node d5 via the router r13.
The packet delivery process shown in FIG. 5 is referred to as multicast routing. In multicast routing, as a packet propagates from router to router, the packet is selectively replicated at certain routers so that sufficient copies of the packet are generated and transmitted to each destination node of a multicast group. Collectively, the paths shown in FIG. 5, i.e., the sequences of nodes which interconnect all of the nodes of a particular group form a tree called a multicast tree. A path of the multicast tree between any two nodes, e.g., the path from the node r2 to the node r11 including the nodes (r2, r4, r7, and r11) is referred to as a branch. There is only one branch on the multicast tree between any two nodes.
There are several conventional methods for implementing multicast routing, in particular, for constructing and maintaining multicast trees. See S. Deering, "Multicast Routing in Internetworks and Extended LANs," ACM Symposium on Communication Architectures and Protocols, ACM SIGCOMM, pp. 55-64, Aug., 1988. Conventionally, multicast tree construction is sender based. That is, for each multicast group, one multicast tree is constructed between each potential source node, i.e., each node that can potentially transmit multicast packets, and the corresponding destination nodes which receive packets from the source node. Appropriate routing information for each pair of a multicast group and a source node is stored at each router on each multicast tree.
In multicast tree construction, the Internet Group Management Protocol ("IGMP") may be utilized for purposes of determining which host nodes in each subnetwork desire to join which multicast groups. According to IGMP, a router node is designated as an interrogator for a subnetwork. The interrogator transmits a query packet over the associated subnetwork to each host. The hosts which receive this query packet respond by indicating of which multicast groups the hosts are members. The interrogator subsequently performs steps according to a multicast tree construction method for attaching itself to each appropriate multicast tree depending on which multicast groups were indicated by the responding host nodes of the subnetwork.
Most nodes are able to distinguish between unicast and multicast packets based on their addresses. In the Internet Protocol ("IP"), the address space is partitioned into unicast addresses and multicast addresses. Each multicast group is assigned one of the multicast addresses. A source node desiring to transmit a packet writes the multicast address of the multicast group and the unicast address of the source node in the packet header. When a node receives a packet with a multicast address, the receiving node utilizes the unicast source address of the source node and the multicast address of the multicast group contained in the packet header to retrieve the set of nodes to which the packet must be transmitted.
One conventional multicast tree construction method is provided in a multicast routing method called Distance-Vector Multicast Routing Protocol ("DVMRP"). This multicast tree construction method uses a modified reverse path forwarding algorithm to construct shortest path, sender-based multicast trees. A multicast tree is constructed according to DVMRP as follows. Initially, a source node transmits the first few multicast packets without using a multicast tree. Instead, the source node transmits the multicast packets in a manner such that a copy of each multicast packet is transmitted via each backbone network. For example, each router which receives one of the first few multicast packets transmits a copy of the packet to each other router attached thereto. Routers which receive these packets may indicate that they are not on a path to a destination node of the multicast group by transmitting a packet containing a special "prune" message to the router from which the multicast packet was received. A particular router may transmit a prune message if:
For each source node-multicast group pair, each router keeps track of from which routers prune messages have been received. When a router subsequently receives packets transmitted from the same source node to the same multicast group, the router retransmits copies of the packet to only those routers which did not transmit a prune message in previous multicast communications between this source node and multicast group.
Another conventional multicast tree construction method is provided in a multicast routing method called the Link-State Multicast Routing Protocol. According to this multicast tree construction method, each router maintains information regarding each link or each direct connection to another node. In addition, for each link, each router maintains a list of each multicast group having one or more member nodes on that link, i.e., having one or more member nodes connected to the router via that link. Each router disseminates these lists for each multicast group to the other routers of the internet. Furthermore, whenever a new multicast group is added to, or an old multicast group is deleted from a link, (or the nodes interconnected via particular link changes) a designated router on that link transmits a message packet to each other router in the internet indicating the change. Because each router possesses full knowledge of which members of each group are on each link, any router receiving a multicast packet can compute an optimal multicast tree to all routers possessing links with member nodes of the multicast group of the packet. For example, if a router receives a packet from a host, the router will selectively transmit copies of the packet to other routers. Each router which receives a copy of the packet performs a consistent calculation for determining to which routers copies of the packet must be retransmitted therefrom. Invariably, the copies of the packets are received at routers having links with member nodes of the multicast group of the packet. The copies of the packet are then transmitted via the appropriate links to the member nodes.
The conventional methods for constructing multicast trees are disadvantageous in that each utilizes a vast amount of storage space. This is because the conventional methods construct multicast trees which are source node based, i.e., a distinct multicast tree is constructed from each potential source node to the rest of the destination nodes of each multicast group. If there are N groups and S potential source nodes for each multicast group then the storage space requirement at each node is on the order of S.times.N. In addition, the above-mentioned conventional methods have certain specific disadvantages. In DVMRP, all routers must participate in constructing a multicast tree, even if they do not wish to be part of any multicast tree. Furthermore, the routers in DVMRP utilize a vast amount of processing resources in constructing a tree initially or modifying a tree in the event the internet is reconfigured. Likewise, in Link-State Multicast Routing, each router consumes a large amount of processing resources whenever a designated router transmits a packet to each other router of the internet which packet indicates a change in the internet or group membership. Moreover, in Link-State Multicast Routing, each router must store membership information over the entire internet.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

Multicast routing using core based trees


A method for manipulating a memory operation of a control unit program on a memory of a virtual or real electronic control unit (ECU), such as is used in vehicles, for example. The manipulation of the memory operation is accomplished by a memory manipulation program component, via which a set of manipulation functions is provided, from which at least one manipulation function is selected, so that this function, by activating the memory manipulation program component, changes a memory access initiated by the control unit program in accordance with the selected manipulation function during execution of the control unit program.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manipulating a memory operation of a control unit program on a memory of a virtual or real electronic control unit (ECU), such as is used in motor vehicles, for example.
2. Description of the Background Art
Memory errors are not uncommon in control units, and can have fatal consequences depending on the safety level. The causes of memory errors are manifold:
EEPROM and flash memory for storing nonvolatile data have a limited number of write cycles. Usually, therefore, it is necessary to manage multiple redundant memory blocks with check sums. Writing to EEPROM or flash memory blocks takes a relatively long amount of time. Additional errors can arise during processing of a memory job that extends over multiple cycles.
Address lines and data lines from external memory components can be faulty.
Interference due to electromagnetic fields (EMC) or ionizing radiation can result in sporadic errors.
Temperature problems and general aging processes.
A simple examination shows that these problems cannot be neglected in safety-critical control units: If a control unit is installed in 1 million vehicles and has approximately 5,000 operating hours, then a task with a cycle time of 1 ms is executed a total of approximately 1.8*1016 times. During this time, it is guaranteed that almost every possible hardware and software error will occur.
Thus, precautions must be taken in the hardware and software design of control units to detect and intercept such memory errors. These precautions must be tested for release of a safety-critical control unit. However, such tests have proven to be very difficult and resource-intensive, since errors can only be induced with special hardware or elaborate hardware emulators.
The use of nonvolatile memory (NVRAM), in particular, has effects on the application software of an ECU as well. In similar fashion to bus errors, error conditions during reading and writing of the nonvolatile memory must be intercepted and handled. Another reason this is difficult is that read/write operations can extend over multiple cycles.
"Fault Injection Tests" are recommended in ISO standard 26262 at all levels, and indeed are required for the higher safety level (ASIL-D).
The approaches to testing of memory errors used heretofore for these purposes are based on hardware-specific prototypes or hardware emulators, which are very resource-intensive, and oftentimes have difficulty exactly reproducing error conditions that are generated.

Method for manipulating a memory operation of a control unit program on a virtual or real memory

dSPACE digital signal processing and control engineering GmbH


A solid-state image pickup apparatus including: two-dimensionally arrayed unit pixels, each including a PD performing optical-electrical conversion of an incident light; an FD and two output terminals provided for each of pixel groups, each including one or more unit pixels, the two output terminals being capable of outputting a noise signal and a signal-noise sum signal separately; first and second transfer lines to which the output terminals are connected in common and which are capable of holding noise signal voltage and signal-noise sum signal voltage, respectively; first switches arranged between the output terminals and the first transfer lines; second switches arranged between the output terminals and the second transfer lines; third and fourth switches provided for the transfer lines, respectively; and third and fourth transfer lines to which the transfer lines are connected in parallel via third and fourth switches, respectively.

Conventionally, there has been known an amplification-type solid-state image pickup apparatus which converts signal charges accumulated by an optical-electrical conversion element to signal voltage in pixels and then outputs the signal voltage to a signal line, as represented by a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) image sensor (see, for example, PTL 1). In this solid-state image pickup apparatus, all vertical signal lines are provided with two capacitive elements which cause voltage which occurs at the time of resetting a charge-voltage conversion element in a pixel (hereinafter referred to as noise voltage) and voltage obtained by adding a signal charge generated by optical-electrical conversion to the noise voltage (hereinafter referred to as signal-noise sum voltage) to be outputted from the charge-voltage conversion element in the pixel and held separately.
This solid-state image pickup apparatus is configured so as to perform noise removal by, after holding noise voltages from all pixels of a line selected by a vertical shift register and signal-noise sum voltages into the capacitive elements, outputting the noise voltages and the signal-noise sum voltages from the two capacitive elements provided for a column selected by a horizontal shift register and calculating difference between these voltages by a CDS circuit.


Carbonyl halide is produced from carbon monoxide and halogen produced from the electrochemical conversion of anhydrous hydrogen halide. Both the oxidation of anhydrous hydrogen halide and the formation of carbonyl halide are carried out in the anode-compartment of an electrochemical cell. This reduces the equipment and thus the capital investment necessary for carrying out these reactions. Moreover, no catalyst is needed to form halogen and subsequently make carbonyl halide, as in the prior art. In addition, the health hazards associated with making a carbonyl halide, such as phosgene, at high temperatures from chlorinated hydrocarbons with atmospheric oxygen are virtually eliminated. Furthermore, the halogen produced as a result of the oxidation of anhydrous hydrogen halide are dry, thereby eliminating the need for a preheater before the halogen is reacted with carbon monoxide. Thus, with the present invention, carbonyl halide may be produced more easily, more safely and more inexpensively as compared to prior art processes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell, a system and a process for producing carbonyl halide from halogen produced by the electrochemical conversion of anhydrous hydrogen halide. In this conversion, essentially anhydrous hydrogen halide, which is molecular in form, is oxidized to produce protons and halogen. The halogen reacts with carbon monoxide to produce a carbonyl halide, such as carbonyl chloride (phosgene) or carbonyl fluoride.
2. Description of the Related Art
Phosgene is currently commercially produced by passing carbon monoxide and chlorine over activated carbon in a phosgene generator. This reaction must be carried out in the presence of a catalyst. The chlorine is usually produced from conventional chloralkali electrolysis or HCl electrolysis, which produce wet chlorine gas, or from evaporators in which liquid chlorine is evaporated. Usually, chlorine is fed through a preheater before mixing with carbon monoxide in the phosgene generator in order to avoid introducing liquid chlorine into the phosgene generator. Thus, the production of phosgene from a catalyst involves a multi-step process carried out in multiple pieces of equipment, which contributes to the capital investment and operating costs associated with producing phosgene. In addition, phosgene can be formed at high temperatures from chlorinated hydrocarbons with atmospheric oxygen. However, this reaction can lead to possible health hazards. See Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Fifth Edition, Volume A 19, pages 411-419.
Phosgene is an important starting compound in the production of intermediates and end products in many branches of large-scale industrial chemistry. For instance, it is used widely in the preparation of isocyanates, which are in turn used in the preparation of polyurethanes and in the manufacture of polycarbonates. It is also used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and pesticides.
In addition, phosgene, together with either sodium fluoride or hydrogen fluoride, can be used to make carbonyl fluoride. Carbonyl fluoride is a specialty fluorinating agent. It is used to make vinyl ethers and is an intermediate for other fluoroproducts. It is not used in large quantities because it is expensive to make.
Hydrogen chloride (HCl) or hydrochloric acid is a reaction by-product of many manufacturing processes which use chlorine. For example, chlorine is used to manufacture polyvinyl chloride, isocyanates, and chlorinated hydrocarbons/fluorinated hydrocarbons, with hydrogen chloride as a by-product of these processes. Because supply so exceeds demand, hydrogen chloride or hydrochloric acid often cannot be sold or used, even after careful purification. Shipment over long distances is not economically feasible. Discharge of the chloride ions or the acid into waste water streams is environmentally unsound. Recovery of the chlorine for use in a manufacturing process is the most desirable route for handling the HCl by-product.
Therefore, the need exists for developing a simple, inexpensive method for producing carbonyl halide, and in particular, carbonyl chloride or carbonyl fluoride, as well as for disposing hydrochloric acid. It would be desirable to develop equipment and a process which satisfy both needs at the same time.

Method for and apparatus production of carbonyl halide


An improvement on a syringe needle protection device and system for practicing the same is shown utilizing a hollow needle cover, or simply cover, which may slide over or within a syringe cylinder. The invention envisions having a needle cap which protects a needle. The hollow needle cover has a reduced end capable of receiving and holding or ejecting the needle cap. The device may also include a means for releasable locking onto the needle cap so that the needle cap locks onto the needle cover. When the cap is being replaced the needle cap can be snapped onto the needle cover until the cap is released when the cap is fixed back in place over the needle. Typically the cap will snap into place onto the needle holder. A locking mechanisms is envisioned which locks the needle cap to the needle cover. This mechanism can prevent the needle cap from being removed from the needle cover until the needle cover is fully extended over the needle. The cover allows the needle holder to be unscrewed or broken off when the user is finished with the needle.

Prior Art
The prior art shows several variations on the theme of self-shielding or automatic shielding hypodermic syringes. These patents generally can be spoken of as directed to providing a cover or shield which prevents someone from sticking themselves with the needle.
These needle covers generally describe similar elements. A syringe, a needle (with a means for attaching the needle to the syringe), and a mechanism for providing a temporary cover for the needle. In these particulars, the present invention is similar to the prior art.
The invention differs from the prior art at the point where the needle cap, that part of the needle assembly which protects the needle when it is shipped from a manufacturer, interacts with the needle cover which covers the exposed needle on the syringe.
In reviewing the what is believed to be the closest prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,693 (Paris) discloses a hypodermic syringe needle guard with a first cylindrically shaped part surrounds and is fixed to the needle base which is mounted on the forward end of the syringe body. A second cylindrical part is mounted within the first part for axial movement between a forward position where the needle is surrounded for protection of the needle prior to mounting and between injections and a position in which the needle is exposed during an injection. A spring urges the second part towards the forward position. Locking elements are provided for permanently locking the second part in a third, axially spaced position to protect the needle after it has been discarded. Prior to and between injections, the second part may be non-permanently locked in the forward position by rotating it relative to the first part.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,521 (Wilkins) discloses a safety shield slidable mounted upon a disposable hypodermic syringe and needle assembly and having an elongated guide slot which cooperates with a resilient tab cooperating therewith to maintain orientation between the syringe body and the telescoping shield. A resilient locking tab integral with the syringe body cooperates with a pair of spaced slots arranged along the telescoping shield to define the initial shielded position and the usable position respectively. The telescoping shield to define the initial shielded position ad the usable position respectively. The telescoping shield includes a shoulder which receives the bent-over flexible tab to lock the shield in the shielded position to prevent contact with the needle, facilitating safe handling of the assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,547 (Altschuler) discloses a sheathed syringe assembly including a syringe having a cylindrical body provided with a needle at one thereof and a plunger slidable disposed within said cylindrical body for aspirating or dispensing substances into or from the cylindrical body. A sheath assembly comprised of inner and outer tubular members is attached to the cylindrical body. The inner tubular member is telescopically received in the outer member for reciprocal movement therein between a retracted position exposing said needle and an extended position covering said needle to prevent accidental needle stick.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,521 (Laico, et al.) discloses a protective cover for a hypodermic needle which employs a pair of guide rods for guiding a protective cap from a retracted position to an extended protective position for shielding the hypodermic needle. A guide member projects transversely from the needle base and forms a pair of apertures which receive and interact with the guide rods. The guide rods are fixed to a protective cap portion of the cover. A guide rod mechanism is also employed in connection with a retractable, foldable sheath embodiment. The protective cover assembly may also take form of telescopic shield sections which lock in the extended protective position by means of a cooperative projection/groove locking engagement.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,945 (Basnight) discloses a safety syringe which includes a barrel having an interior chamber for containing fluid, and a needle mounted at one end of the barrel. The needle has a bore in fluid communication with the interior chamber in the barrel. A plunger is slidable mounted within the interior chamber of the barrel for displacing fluid within the barrel through the needle to administer fluid to a patient. A protective shield is slidable mounted on the barrel and is moveable between an extended position in which the needle is concealed and a retracted position in which the needle is exposed. The protective shield is moveable between first, second and third position. In the first position, the protective shield is extended over the needle and is releasibly locked to protect the needle prior to use. In the second position, the protective shield is retracted and is releasibly locked to facilitate use of the syringe. In the third position, the protective shield is again extended to cover the needle and is irreversibly locked to prevent reuse of the syringe. Reuse of the syringe is further prevented by a plunger locking mechanism which is engaged when the plunger is fully depressed.

Syringe cover cooperating with needle cover


A pallet for holding at least two different size cassettes, each cassette having a pair of side walls, a front wall and back wall. The pallet comprises a support surface for supporting a cassette, a first internal side wall for registering one of the side walls of the cassette placed on the support surface, and a second internal side wall for registering the back wall of a cassette. The first, and second internal side walls of the pallet define a first recess for holding in position a cassette of a first size. A retractable member is provided on the pallet for defining a second recess of a second size within the first recess for holding a cassette of a second smaller size.

It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,799, issued Nov. 7, 1989, to provide a machine for unloading film sheets from magazines. More specifically, the machine as disclosed in such patent has movable trays for supporting a plurality of magazines, and the trays are spaced from each other in a vertical direction. The trays are supported by an elevator for movement in a vertical direction as a unit. When a tray is in a particular vertical position, the tray and magazine are moved to an unloading position where the sheet in the magazine can be removed by suction cups. The removed sheets are then fed to a cassette or to a photographing device for exposure.
In computed radiography, a photographic element, such as a stimulable phosphorus sheet or rigid plate, is exposed to form a latent image. The exposed photographic element is taken to a reader where the photographic element is stimulated to produce a light pattern that can be read and recorded. The photographic element is erased and can be reused again. It is common to manually transport the cassette containing the photographic element from the exposure apparatus to the reader and manually insert it into the reader. The operator then waits until the image is read, a photographic element is erased and returned to the operator. While this procedure may be satisfactory, it requires much time and effort by the operator. Operator time is increased when the reader is relatively slow in reading and erasing the photographic element, and this can require more than a full minute of time. It clearly is desirable to minimize the time required by an operator, and to do so in a way which makes it feasible for the automatic feeding of cassettes to the reader.
There has also been disclosed in the prior art use of an automatic storage and feeding apparatus for delivering of cassettes to a reader. Typically, a plurality of movable positions are provided wherein the cassettes are moved through a reading position wherein a cassette is delivered to the reader for processing of the photographic element. It is important that the cassettes be precisely positioned with respect to the reader so that the photographic element can be easily and correctly removed. It is also important that the weight of the cassettes be held down to a minimum. In order to accommodate more than one size cassette in the autoloader, there has been suggested the providing of various size pallets for holding different size cassettes. However, some of these pallets have been limited to one size and have added significant weight to the pallet and cassette combination. While some have suggested use of the providing of a pallet for holding more than one size cassette, there has been difficulty providing these pallets such that they will not interfere with the autoloading process and provide the cassette/pallet in the position adequate for accurate alignment with the reader.
Thus, the present invention provides a pallet for holding cassettes of different sizes which simplifies the handling of the cassette, reduces operator time required to provide the cassette to a reader, is easy to use, is low cost, and provides the pallet in a seated position to the reader.


Methods and systems for reducing overstress of a DPF are provided herein. One example of such a method is based on radial temperature gradient near the exit face of the diesel particulate filter. In this way, it becomes possible to more closely correlate radial stresses to actual risk of DPF fracture.

Temperature non-uniformity within a diesel particulate filter (DPF) occurs during filter regeneration. This non-uniformity is a growing concern because it has become especially large with the filters used with modern diesel engines with low engine-out levels of the nitrogen oxides. In the past, those nitrogen oxide gases have served to passively oxidize carbon soot and thereby remove the accumulated soot. With the modern engines, the diesel soot accumulates in the filter until an active step is taken to initiate soot combustion, beginning an active regeneration, to burn off most of the soot within a relatively short time interval, and creating more severe temperature non-uniformity. Even with the choice of low coefficient of thermal expansion ceramics, such large temperature non-uniformity from an active regeneration can create internal stresses that are sufficiently large to fracture the filter ceramics. In DPFs of the single-brick monolithic form that is preferred for large-volume manufacturing and economy, fracture across the monolith causes a sudden, catastrophic, and irreversible loss of filtration performance. This uncertainty about maintenance of filtering function with monoliths has inhibited their wider use. Indeed this risk for monoliths has led to wide commercial use of multi-segment mortared structures, in spite of the associated high material and manufacturing costs.
Thus, to reduce the risk of sudden failure and to extend the working life of an economical monolithic DPF that is subjected to multiple regenerations, one would directionally seek to reduce the temperature non-uniformity in the DPF during regeneration. More particularly, one would reduce the non-uniformity in a way that lowers the stress in the ceramic to a level below some particular level that related to the strength of the ceramic and its coefficient of thermal expansion. In a research environment, this particular relationship can be developed by means of finite element analysis based on temperatures detected by a full field of tens of temperature sensors. To simplify the calculation, the filter ceramic body can be adequately approximated as a continuum material with a relatively simple type of non-isotropy, namely, one with physical properties generated from isotropic properties of the honeycomb wall materials in the particular geometry of the particular honeycomb. With such finite element calculations carried out at a series of time points during a regeneration, one may estimate the moment-by-moment internal stresses within the DPF and the corresponding probability of failure. This approach is suited for research.
However, the applicant herein recognizes that placing tens of sensors throughout a DPF is costly and will not be practical outside of a research and advanced development environment. Likewise, having a less appropriate estimator will either keep the in-use stresses lower than necessary or will lead to failures. If the stresses are kept too low, the operation leads to inefficiencies in the amount of fuel used to initiate more particulate filter regenerations than otherwise needed. If the less appropriate estimator errs on the other side, more failures will occur. Without having an appropriate simple estimator, the particulate filter might have to be designed for tolerance of fracture through the use of multi-segment mortared structures, but this approach increases manufacturing costs unnecessarily and serves as a concern for reduced emission reduction performance characteristics over time.
As such finite element methods are cumbersome, simplified methods and systems for preventing the stress of a DPF are provided herein. By estimating the stress from a small number of temperature sensors, one can use more generally the methods to take action to prevent the stress from rising above a critical level for unacceptably high probability of fracture. Although these methods and systems are intended to apply to the more economical monoliths, these methods and systems also apply to mortared structures, wherein the mortar (as manufactured or aged) allows a crack to pass through to the next segment without much deflection, as if it were a monolith.
One example of such a simplified method includes measuring a radial temperature gradient near the periphery near the exiting-flow face of the diesel particulate filter, and adjusting at least one engine operating parameter to control the radial temperature gradient, as indicated by the measured radial temperature gradient at one angular position near the exit face of the diesel particulate filter. An embodiment of this example of such a system includes two near-exit-face temperature sensors configured to measure a radial temperature gradient near the periphery near the exit face of the diesel particulate filter and a controller configured to adjust at least one engine operating parameter based on the measured temperature gradient to limit the stress, as calculated assuming that the same gradient extends deeply into the DPF from the exit face.
Specifically, during an actively initiated DPF regeneration at exhaust flows near idle-engine exhaust gas flow, the high temperature gradients and the high absolute temperature occur through much of the length of the filter. In calculating the stress in the ceramic, the radial thermal gradient is integrated inward toward the center along a line parallel to the flow axis, beginning a value of zero at a chosen free surface, namely, the exit face. When the radial gradient is high through much of the half-length of the filter, the integral is large.
Therefore, it is preferred to have the highest gradients occur less generally within the length of DPF, namely, and preferably, mostly near the exit face and away from the center of the DPF during filter regeneration. In this way, the integral that is calculated is not as large as before, although the local radial gradient near the end face may be the same or higher than in the former case. This localization of the highest gradients may be achieved by design by controlling various engine operating parameters, such as with increased air flow, to move the highest temperatures and gradients to the rear of the DPF. By doing so, the integrated quantity, stress, as experienced by the DPF is lowered. However, the pair of temperature sensors that are both located near the end face is not able to sense the difference that has caused the high gradients to be concentrated near the exit face, therefore leading to a calculation of stresses that are likely to be higher than actual stresses, resulting in unnecessary inefficiency in fuel usage, in the effort to keep the DPF filter from being at risk of fracturing.
The systems and methods provided herein may help to correlate these stresses experienced by the DPF to those estimated with a small number of sensors, which include the two sensors near the exit face, for the radial temperature gradient measurement, as above, near the exit face together with an additional sensor to indicate how deeply into the filter the high temperature extends. In such way, it becomes possible to more closely correlate stresses to actual risk of DPF degradation, in turn, allowing better adjustments of the various DPF regeneration parameters and/or other engine operating parameters to reduce stresses experienced by the DPF during regeneration only as much as is necessary to prevent unacceptable risk of fracture.

Diesel particulate filter overstress mitigation


A process for preparing a mixture of cetyl myristate and cetyl palmitate comprising reacting both myristic and palmitic acid with cetyl alcohol with an acid catalyst and one aromatic hydrocarbon at an elevated temperature and recovering from the aromatic hydrocarbon fraction the cetyl myristate and cetyl palmitate.

The present invention relates to synthesis of ester linked long chain alkyl moieties. More particularly the present invention comprises an improved synthesis of C12+C14 cetyl ester and to products so synthesised.
Cetyl myristate and cetyl palmitate are useful in the formulation of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. More particularly, this invention in the synthesis of said cetyl myristate with required palmitate, relates more specially to improved synthesis yields as well as more efficient removal of impurities in the process.
The esters, cetyl myristate and cetyl palmitate are each currently marketed for use in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
Cetyl myristate has been produced by an acid catalysed reaction of myristic acid with cetyl alcohol. Cetyl palmitate likewise has been produced by an acid catalysed reaction of palmitic acid with cetyl alcohol. Because of the purity requirements of the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries each product so synthesised requires extensive and intensive purification procedures.

Synthesis of ester linked long chain alkyl moieties


A stand-by mode setting/releasing device is provided for a video cassette recorder (VCR). When the attachment of the video cassette to a video cassette recorder (VCR) is terminated, a microcomputer drives a cylinder motor immediately to execute tape loading. In the stop state, with the tape loading completed, cylinder rotation is continued for 5 minutes without tensioning the tape and cylinder rotation is terminated after a lapse of the 5 minutes. In this manner, other modes in the stop mode can be set quickly, while power consumption is also avoided. When there is no necessity of maintaining channel selection at the VCR tuner, tape loading and power turn-off may be executed after a lapse of the five-minute period to further reduce the power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stand-by mode setting and releasing device for a video cassette recorder (referred to hereinafter as VCR). More particularly, it relates to a) a stand-by mode setting and releasing device whereby cylinder rotation may be continued for a predetermined time period in the stop mode after completion of a tape loading operation performed responsive to attachment of a video cassette, and b) a VCR provided with such a setting and releasing device.
2. Description of Prior Art
Conventionally, in the VHS type VCR, the tape is not extracted from the cassette in the stop mode following attachment of the video cassette to the VCR, and it is maintained in the tape unloading state. In such a stop mode, when the play mode or the record mode is set, the cylinder is first driven into rotation for tape loading. Then, a reel and capstan are driven into operation, a pinch roller is brought into pressure contact with the capstan, while tension is applied to the tape. In the conventional VCR, a time interval of about 4.5 seconds is involved since the instructions for setting the play mode until start of reproduction, for the above series of operations, so that it has been an incumbent task to reduce the time involved in the mode setting.
There is thus proposed a VCR in which tape loading is executed immediately on loading the video cassette to the VCR in operative association therewith and a stop mode is set upon termination of the tape loading. In such a VCR, the time involved since the instructions of setting of the play mode until start of reproduction is reduced to about 3.2 seconds., while it becomes possible to perform fast forward or rewind operations as well as quick location of the beginning of a program while the tape is in the loaded state. Such a VCR is disclosed for example in a periodical entitled "Television Technology", issued by Denshi Shuppan KK, pages 44 to 49, September issue, 1987.
However, in the VHS type VCR, an upper cylinder fitted with the magnetic head is driven into rotation during operation, and it takes a lot of time until the rotational speed of the head reaches a predetermined rotational speed. Consequently, in such a VCR, it takes some time until a mode specified during the stop mode is started, so that it has been difficult to set some other mode quickly at the stop mode.

Stand-by mode setting/releasing device for video cassette recorder