A composite case for an electronic device is provided. The composite case includes: a resilient portion dimensioned to cover two end portions of the electronic device and less than half of a back portion of the electronic device; and a rigid portion dimensioned to fit with the resilient portion, the rigid portion dimensioned to provide a cover for at least part of the back portion of the electronic device. A method of protecting an electronic device is provided. The method includes: attaching a rigid material to a resilient material; dimensioning both the rigid material and the resilient material to contain an electronic device; configuring the rigid material, but not the resilient material, to cover most or all of a back portion of the electronic device; and providing an opening to allow a screen portion of the electronic device to be accessed through the opening in the rigid and resilient material.

There are a number of protective cases available for a variety of cellular phones, tablet computers, PDAs and other portable consumer electronic devices. The design and construction of these cases varies widely and they offer varying degrees of protection for the device based on their design. Some cases are constructed from a simple silicon or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) rubber molding that provides some basic protection against drops and scratches. Others are constructed from hard injected plastic such as polycarbonate (PC) and provide similar protection. Cases are typically attached to the device through some mechanical means that seeks to impose a semi-permanent marriage of the case and the device.
The design and construction of the existing cases provide various levels of protection while also exhibiting various consumer features and benefits, as well as tradeoffs in use as viewed by the typical consumer. For example, rubber cases are economical and they provide basic protection against light drops and scratches. However, the rubber can often provide excessive unwanted grip, which makes insertion and removal of the device into a pants pocket or small purse difficult. Furthermore, when used for cellular phone cases, the rubber can become entangled in long hair when the device is being utilized to make a phone call. Rubber cases also tend to be bulky in design and do not lend themselves well to storage in tight spaces such as a pocket or small purse. Finally, some rubber materials tend to degrade over time, resulting in the case becoming loose or exhibiting an unpleasant appearance.
Conversely, depending on the design, hard plastic injection molded cases can often provide superior protection while facilitating easy insertion and retrieval from a pocket. Furthermore, these cases tend to impose a lower profile upon the device resulting in an overall smaller form factor which is desirable if the device is to be carried in a pocket or small purse. However, the hard cases can often impose significant stresses on the device if the device is dropped since the hard plastics provide little cushioning. This can be concerning in some cases as many state of the art devices employ sensitive touch screens and delicate buttons and switches. Many manufacturers of cases have sought to overcome the limitations of a single component design by coupling injection molded rubber and hard plastic components in a hybrid fashion in an attempt to achieve the protective benefits of each material while concurrently maintaining the unique positive consumer usability attributes of each.
In some cases, the rubber component is attached to the device and an injection molded hard plastic cover is mechanically attached to the anterior surface of the rubber to provide further protection while providing ease of entry and egress into a pocket or purse. In other cases, an injection molded hard case is attached to the device while a supplementary rubber component is applied to the anterior of the hard case. In the designs employing two components, typically the inner component mechanically connects to the device, while the second outer component is mechanically attached to said first component.
In other embodiments of the two piece design approach, the rubber and hard plastic components are mechanically bonded. This is most often accomplished through a manufacturing process called over-molding in which one of the components is molded first, then the second component is molded over the first component resulting in a permanent mechanical bond between the two components.
In general, protective cases that employ two component designs provide superior protection, however are not without vulnerabilities and complications. For example, a violent drop can still result in the device separating from one or both of the protective elements described above, resulting in damage to the device. Also, a drop can result in the case components becoming separated from each other again resulting in damage to the device or a nuisance to the consumer. Furthermore, many cases employ elaborate mechanical means to attach all the components together resulting in frustration for the user when installing their device in the case or in the event the device needs to be intentionally removed from the protective case.
Another challenge of current case designs is that a current trend of ever increasing screen sizes and touch screen interfaces leaves little room for mechanical elements to retain the device within the case without compromising the accessibility to the touch screen itself.
It would be desirous to have a case that was capable of exhibiting the shock resistant benefits of a rubber inner case coupled with the consumer usability benefits of a hard plastic outer case as described above.
It would also be desirous to have a composite case that combined a rubber inner case and a hard plastic outer case in a way that formed a permanent bond between the two materials resulting in a protective system that provided the protective features described above.
It would also be desirous to have a composite case in which the geometric shape of the constituent components was such as to maximize overall structural strength and impact resistance of the composite case while minimizing material weight and size.
It would also be desirous to have a case that provided a simple means to install and remove the device from the case yet exhibited a substantial mechanical means to retain the device in the case during use or the event of a drop.
It would also be desirous to have a case that provided ample protection of the device yet does not interfere with access to buttons, ports, or the device's touchscreen.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a cover that provides protective cushioning for an electronic device yet does not snag on clothing or hair.

Composite protective case for phones, other portable electronic devices and other apparatus


Search query expansion tool is provided. A processor generates a collection of events for a search result, wherein events included in the collection of events are within a temporal proximity to the search result. A processor determines a content of the collection of events. A processor determines a search suggestion based, at least in part, on the content of the collection of events.

The present invention relates generally to the field of search engines, and more particularly to search query expansion.
Search engines provide users with the ability to search through large databases for particular information stored in documents. Users submit search queries to the search engine, typically expressed as a group of words. The search engine generates results, or hits, based on the received search query matching information stored in a database. Search engines typically present the results to users as a list with links to the documents matched to the list of results. Search engines will sometimes provide suggestions to expand a search to include more results, a technique referred to as query expansion.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for testing control software of a controlled system is disclosed. The method may involve providing control software code data for each of the one or more electronic control units. The method may further involve providing simulation code data for the controlled system. The method may further involve providing verification requirement information data that indicates one or more verification requirement conditions corresponding to a respective control error situation. The method may further involve creating a system model based on the provided simulation code data and the provided control software code data provided for each of the one or more electronic control units. The method may further involve creating an executable program based on the created system model and performing a software verification process on the basis of the executable program.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method and a system for testing control software of a controlled system, the control led system comprising one or more electronic control units, one or more actuators, and one or more sensors, each sensor being adapted to input a respective sensor signal to at least one of the one or more electronic control units and each actuator being adapted to act responsive to respective control signals input from at least one of the electronic control units, and each electronic control unit being configured to execute a respective executable control program based on control software code data to output one or more control signals to the one or more actuators on the basis of input sensor signals.
Background Art
In controlled systems/plants, such as e.g. automotive control systems or embedded systems, there are provided one or more electronic control units for controlling actuators of the controlled, system/plant in accordance with out putting control commands that are calculated by the respective electronic control unit (ECU) based on control logic given by control software code data and current sensor values which, in automotive systems may indicate behavior of the automobile and/or the driver's actions. For example, some actuators may be controlled by electronic signals or by hydraulic pressure based on the ECU software controls. However, due to the increasing responsibilities of the electronic control units and increasing complexity of the controlled systems including multiple electronic control units and even multiple electronic control units sharing control over shared actuators, the demands on functionality are continuously increasing.
For verification and testing of control software, it is important to efficiently and reliably test control software of electronic control units of the controlled system/plant during development that are free of system bugs, especially in view of safety requirements. For example, JP 2009-014406 A describes a software testing process based on a so-called Hardware-In-The-Loop (HIL) approach in which a plant simulator is attached to an electronic control unit for testing the software of the electronic control unit. However, such approach focuses only on the control software behavior of the electronic control until but does not focus on testing the plant behavior so that some system bugs may be missed in the testing process. Also, in HIL approaches, it is difficult to test systems having more than one electronic control unit and system bugs occurring due to collaboration of multiple electronic control units may be missed.
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for testing control software of a controlled system that reliably and efficiently allows to find the system bugs in the controlled system, including system hugs that occur only in specific situations due to collaboration of multiple electronic control units and plant behavior.

Method and system for testing control software of a controlled system


Each mobile router in a mobile ad hoc network is configured for measuring a minimum interval of stable relative proximity (SProxMIN) between at least one neighbor before initiating convergence of a routing protocol. The minimum interval of stable relative proximity requires any variation in relative proximity between at least one neighbor to be stabilized below a prescribed stability threshold (S) for the prescribed minimum interval (SProxMIN) before initiating convergence of a routing protocol. Hence, mobile routers in a mobile ad hoc network can be configured to avoid prematurely initiating reconvergence according to a routing protocol due to an instability introduced into the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to deployment of interior gateway routing protocols in networks having movable network nodes, for example a mobile ad hoc network (MANET) routing protocol.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wide area packet switched networks such as the Internet have become an integral part of worldwide commerce in part due to the ability of different networks to interoperate without central control. In particular, the decentralization of control is possible due to routing protocols which enable routers to communicate amongst each other and share routing information: routing protocols include operations such as router advertisement, router discovery or neighbor discovery, link state advertisement, and the sharing of all or at least a portion of respective routing tables:
Numerous interior gateway routing protocols (IGPs) have been developed to satisfy various design requirements, including optimality (selecting the optimal route), simplicity and low overhead to minimize burden on system resources, robustness (i.e., maintaining operability despite failures within the network), rapid convergence, stability, and flexibility in adapting to network changes. Such routing protocols can be either proactive or reactive: proactive routing protocols determine a path to a destination before the path is needed to forward a packet, whereas reactive routing protocols determine the path to a destination in response to a need to forward a packet to the destination.
The overall sequence of operations of interior gateway routing protocols (e.g., distance vector, link state) in building a loop-free path can be summarized with respect to FIG. 1. Such routing protocols in general begin with neighbor discovery in step 10 during initialization of the network, where a router discovers other routers that are within a prescribed interior of an administrative domain: the administrative domain determines the boundary of the network as an Autonomous System. The example of FIG. 1 assumes a fixed network, where network nodes (e.g., routers, hosts, etc.) are "fixed" at respective locations relative to each other, unlike mobile nodes which inherently move relative to each other (described in further detail below).
The fixed router in the fixed network then stores a candidate set of neighboring routers ("neighbors") within the administrative domain (i.e., "interior neighbors"), and performs in step 12 some form of a database exchange with the candidate set of neighbors, enabling the router and neighboring routers each to calculate in step 14 an acyclic graph for each identifiable destination in the administrative domain. The acyclic graph is calculated in step 14 according to a loop-free network topology, and according to prescribed optimization parameters and metrics for the corresponding routing protocol, for example lowest latency, least cost, shortest hops, etc. The acyclic graphs calculated in step 14 are used to build a forwarding table for each destination in step 16, enabling the router to begin forwarding packets in step 18.
Once the fixed router has established the forwarding table in step 16 in order to forward packets in step 18, the router performs neighbor management in steps 20 and 22. In particular, the router starts a timer (a "stale timer") (T) in step 20 to monitor the state of the neighbors in the candidate set of neighbors: the routing protocol is configured to wait in step 22 for a prescribed time interval (T=T1) to determine if a given neighbor is detected within the prescribed time interval (T1).
If in step 22 the neighbor is not detected within the prescribed time interval (T=T1), the router declares the neighbor as stale for purposes of its internal forwarding table; if in step 22 the neighbor is not detected within a further prescribed time interval (T=T2, where T2>T1), the router removes the stale neighbor from the candidate set of neighbors in step 22, and performs a new database exchange according to the routing protocol to inform the neighbors in step 12 that the stale neighbor is no longer reachable. The process repeats in recalculating acyclic graphs in step 14, and building the forwarding tables in step 16.
A fundamental aspect of the timer (T) in step 20 is that the network is assumed to be stable (i.e., the network has converged and routes have been optimized) for a prescribed time interval (T=T0, where T0<T1) after having started the timer (T). Convergence is the process of agreement, by all routers, on optimal routes; in other words, convergence refers to the initial calculation or recalculation of routes by a router and the distribution of routing information to the other routers, as illustrated in steps 12 and 14, in order to maintain consistency between the routers in view of the recalculation of routes. The assumed stability in the network during the prescribed time interval (T=T0), also referred to as the "stability interval", provides a minimum time interval during which acyclic graphs and forwarding tables do not need to be recalculated. The prescribed stability interval (T=T0) is manually configured by a traffic engineer to balance between the amount of network traffic that is consumed by the database exchange process and the amount of processor time consumed by the router in recalculation of acyclic graphs and forwarding tables (i.e., minimizing network and router resources for neighbor maintenance and route maintenance), versus the accuracy of the router in identifying the topology of the network (i.e., minimizing the staleness of the network information).
In addition, the prescribed stability interval (T=T0) is manually configured by the traffic engineer based on the assumption that the loss of a neighbor in the fixed network is due to physical interruptions in the network, for example a hardware or software failure in a neighboring node, a link failure, scheduled maintenance of a node or link, etc; as such the traffic engineer assumes a relatively low probability of failure. Hence, the routing protocol executed by the routers in the network is configured by a traffic engineer for operating in a fixed network having a low probability of failures; in the event of a failure that result in the loss of an existing path, however, an interior gateway routing protocol as described above enables an alternate path to a destination to be determined due to the loss of the existing path.
Optimized selection of the stability interval (T=T0) can be important in minimizing "route flapping", where paths to a given destination are changed repeatedly due to intermittent errors. Hence, traffic engineering requires consideration of parameters and attributes such as topology, bandwidth, traffic, throughput requirements, etc.
The foregoing considerations by traffic engineers in determining an appropriate stability interval are further complicated in a mobile network, where nodes are no longer fixed but are mobile as described in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments (RFC) 3775 and RFC 3963. In the case of a mobile network, all of the previously static network attributes can now change over time, including the identity of neighboring nodes, the availability of links, the shape of the network topology, etc.
Hence, the traffic engineering described above with respect to fixed networks is less relevant in mobile networks, because the underlying assumptions of a fixed network no longer apply; consequently, the prescribed stability interval (T=T0) is substantially less relevant in a mobile network because the continual variations in neighbor identity, link availability, network topology, etc., prevent the mobile network from ever being "stable" as defined in fixed networks.
In other words, the issue confronting traffic engineers has been addressed from the perspective of how to determine the minimum length of time (Tm) to wait before assuming that a neighboring node has disappeared (i.e., is no longer available) in order to trigger reconvergence of the routing protocol. As described above, this issue historically has been addressed in fixed networks by setting a prescribed stability interval (Tm=T0) for fixed nodes assumed to have a relatively high degree of reliability (i.e., a relatively low probability of unavailability).
Attempts to apply existing routing protocols to a mobile ad hoc network do not adequately address the fundamental issue of mobility of network nodes. For example, the Fisheye routing protocol, as described in the publication by Pei et al, "Fisheye State Routing: A Routing Scheme for Ad Hoc Wireless Networks", suggests reducing the frequency of link state update messages as the number of hops to an affected router increases. Hence, Pei et al. suggests that link state updates related to closer nodes are distributed to next hop nodes more frequently than link state updates related to further nodes; in other words, the quality of the topological information of an identified node in a topology table of a given node is inversely proportional to the hop count distance between the given node and the identified node.
Although the above-described Fisheye routing protocol may reduce route recalculation and flooding of link state advertisement messages due to changes in distant network nodes, it does not address the fundamental issue of mobility of network nodes, as illustrated with respect to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a mobile ad hoc network 30 formed initially between mobile routers 32a and 32b via a wireless link 34 before a time reference "t0−2" (i.e., before detecting the presence of the mobile router 32c located at its position "Ct0−2"). The mobile routers 32a, 32b and 32c may be deployed, for example, on respective jet fighter planes. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile routers 32a and 32b are moving at respective velocity vectors VA and VB that are substantially equal to each other (VA=VB); hence, the relative velocity (VR) between the mobile routers 32a and 32b is negligible (VRAB=VRBA=0), enabling the mobile routers 32a and 32b to establish a reliable wireless communication link between each other, and establish forwarding tables as described above with respect to FIG. 1. The mobile router 32c, however, is not detected by the mobile routers 32a or 32b while the mobile router 32c is at its position "Ct0−2" at time "t0−2", as illustrated by the absence of any wireless links 34 and the dashed lines at the position "Ct0−2".
The jet fighter plane carrying the mobile router 32c is moving at the corresponding velocity vector VC, where the velocity vector VC is the same magnitude but opposite direction of the velocity vectors VA and VB (VC=−VA). Hence, if the magnitude (i.e., speed) of each velocity vector VA, VB, and VC is mach 1 (approximately 1,225 km/h or 761 miles/hr), the relative speed velocity between the mobile router 32c and the mobile routers 32a and 32b would be mach 2 (VRAC=VRBC=2VA=mach 2).
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile routers 32a and 32b detect the mobile router 32c (and mobile router 32c detects mobile routers 32a and 32b) as the mobile router 32c moves to its corresponding position "Ct0−1" at time reference "t0−1", as illustrated by the establishment of the wireless links 34a and 34b. Each of the mobile routers 32a, 32b, and 32c respond to the detection of the mobile router 32c and establishment of the links 34a, 34b by performing database exchange, recalculating acyclic graphs and building forwarding tables as described above with respect to FIG. 1, during which time the mobile router 32c has moved to the position "Ct0" at time reference "t0". By the time the mobile routers 32a, 32b and 32c can begin to forward packets to each other as described with respect to step 18 of FIG. 1, the mobile router 32c will have moved to the position "Ct0+1" at time reference "t0+1". Consequently, the continued movement of the mobile router 32c to the position "Ct0+2" at time reference "t0+2" will cause the mobile routers 32a and 32b to lose connectivity with the mobile router 32c, requiring the mobile routers 32a and 32b to perform route recalculation in view of the loss of the mobile router 32c.
Hence, the mobile router 32c belongs to the mobile ad hoc network of FIG. 2 only for the time interval (TC) between "t0−1" and "t0+1", referred to herein as the "connected time interval" (TC=(t0+1)−(t0−1)=2 time units). This connected time interval is inversely proportional to the relative velocity between the mobile routers (VR=2VA=2VB); therefore, while at slower speeds (e.g., VR<200 mph) the connected time interval may be adequate for the mobile ad hoc routers 32a, 32b, and 32c to recalculate the network and perform network convergence and meaningful data exchange (e.g., data synchronization by application layer processes), at higher speeds (e.g., VR>1500 mph) the connected time interval (TC) may be so brief (e.g., TC=2 microseconds) that no meaningful data exchange can take place, such that the route recalculation and database exchange by mobile routers 32a and 32b to add mobile router 32c provides no beneficial effect.
Further, failure to complete network convergence within the connected time interval may result in network disruption while the mobile routers 32a and 32b need to recalculate the original routes upon the loss of the mobile router 32c at time "t0+2". Hence, the route recalculation by the mobile routers 32a and 32b in response to detecting the mobile router 32c may result in a disruption of the optimized MANET having initially been established between the mobile routers 32a and 32b.
As apparent from the foregoing description of FIG. 2, the proximity of a node as relied on in the Fisheye routing protocol has no relevance to the stability of a dynamic network with respect to determining whether to distribute routing information: even though the mobile router 32c is one hop away from the mobile routers 32a and 32b, the addition of the mobile router 32c does not necessarily benefit the routers 32a and 32b, and may in fact disrupt the existing MANET network 30.
Other proposals in the art, such as Carofiglio et al., "Analysis of Route Stability in MANETs", suggest estimating a path duration based on probability characteristics, but does not address the effect of path duration in determining whether to perform route recalculation.
Another proposal described in Bush et al., "The Limits of Motion Prediction Support for Ad hoc Wireless Network Performance", suggests exchanging "models of motion" and using these models to determine "the frequency at which routing updates are required." In particular, Bush et al. assumes that a node will know the relative motion of other nodes, and that a node will be able to determine how often to exchange routing information with other nodes. However, Bush et al. does not describe how a node learns of the relative motion of another node. In other words, node A only knows about the actual motion of A, but does not know about the actual motion of node B; consequently, each node independently determines the frequency of outputting its own routing updates based on its own corresponding motion (i.e., relative motion of nodes). Hence, Bush et al. does not address the problem of how to determine the relative motion of other nodes without exchanging information between the nodes.
A solution to these and other problems is described in the accompanying brief description of the attached drawings and the accompanying description of embodiment(s) of the invention as specified in the appended claims, the description of the embodiment(s) including at least one best mode for carrying out the invention.

Initiation of routing convergence by a mobile router in a mobile ad hoc network in response to reaching a minimum interval of stable relative proximity between at least one neighbor


Resources to a device are granted access to an application based on privileges associated with the application. A permission list may be created by a server. The permission list may be created using information from authorities, entities, or parties and information about the device resources. The permission list indicates what device resources the application may access. During application execution when the application requests a resource, a control program executing on the device may be used to check the permission list associated with the application to determine if the application may access the resource. The control program can then grant or deny access based on the privileges defined in the permission list. Digital signatures may be used to detect modifications to the application and/or permission list. In addition, multiple permission lists may be associated with the same application.

Wireless communication has experienced explosive growth in recent years. As consumers and businesses rely more on their wireless devices, such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), wireless service providers, i.e., carriers, strive to provide additional functionality on these wireless devices. This additional functionality will not only increase the demand for wireless devices but also increase the usage among current users.
The environment of a wireless device creates unique challenges when one considers the execution of application on a wireless device. Methods of downloading the applications and removing the applications need to be developed. In addition, there is a need for security on the wireless device. Security concerns on the wireless device include controlling the environment the best way possible so that an application cannot, intentionally or unintentionally, degrade or corrupt other files on the wireless device or the network on which the wireless device communicates.
Applications, during execution, require various resources on the device they are executing. These resources include memory (including primary and secondary storage), CPU time and/or access, I/O ports and particularly, the display, speakers, keyboard or keypad and a microphone. If the device is connected to a network, the application may also want to access a device resource to use the network, e.g., a dialer on the device.
It is desirable control the application's access to the device resources as a security measure to limit any damage an application may have on the device, or other devices connected to the device. This damage may be intended via a virus on the application or may be unintended where the application executes with poorly written code that unintentionally dominates a resource and makes it unavailable or damaged to other applications.
Currently, the method of controlling the resources of a device was based on a user privilege level. If the user was a typical user on the system, he or she was provided a level of access to the resources that was anticipated they would need. No matter what applications the user put on or executed on the device, as long as the applications were executing under those user privileges, those applications were all given the same access rights to the device.
If, for example, the user was a systems administrator or systems engineer on the network the device was connected, that user may be given a higher privilege level, e.g., a "super user," and given more access to the device and network resources. Similarly as with the typical user though, this super user's privileges remained the same across all the applications the super user executed. In this scenario, the same application executed by the typical user may be granted additional resources if executed by the super user.
However, this practice does not allow for the device to limit a device's resources per application. While the user itself may attempt to limit the application's access to resources, this provided no security to those maintaining the device and the network the device was located. The user could avoid limiting the resources and, therefore, damage the device resources or network resources based on the privilege levels defined to the user.
Consequently, what is needed in the art is a system and method for protecting the resources of a device and the connected network and also increasing the flexibility of managing the device's resources by allowing the granting rights to the resources per application.

Using permissions to allocate device resources to an application


A photonic proximity sensor and photonic sensor system are provided. The photonic proximity sensor includes a first light source, a second light source, and a magneto-optic device. The magneto-optic device receives light emitted from the first and second light sources, and is responsive to variations of a magnetic field to rotate the light from one of the sources significantly more than the light from the other light source.

Proximity sensors are used in myriad devices, systems, and environments to sense the position or relative proximity of one or more objects. For example, proximity sensors may be used in manufacturing, security, robotic, and vehicular environments to determine the position of various objects and, in some instances, control one or more components. Proximity sensors are typically configured as binary-type switches that open or close an electrical circuit when an object contacts, or comes within a predetermined distance of, the sensor.
Proximity sensors are also variously configured and sense object position or relative proximity using various physical phenomena. For example, proximity sensors have been configured to sense object position or relative proximity based on capacitance, inductance, acoustics, electromagnetism, and infrared and optical light. Although each of these types of proximity sensors are generally accurate, safe, and reliable, each suffers certain drawbacks. For example, these sensor types can be susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and/or sensitive to temperature variations.
In addition to the above-noted drawbacks associated with proximity sensors, when these sensors, and other sensors that use the same or different type of physical phenomena, are implemented as part of a sensing suite, many times different phenomena are used to provide feedback on the various properties being sensed (e.g., speed, pressure, position, etc.). This can increase the complexity in the interface electronics and hinder economies of scale in sensing element and system production.
Hence, there is a need for a proximity sensor that is accurate, safe, and reliable, and that is less susceptible to EMI and/or less sensitive to temperature variations, at least as compared to current devices. There is also a need for a sensing system with interface electronics that are relatively less complex and/or do not hinder production economies of scale. The present invention addresses one or more of these needs.

Photonic proximity sensor and scalable photonic sensing system


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a power supply, a wireless controller coupled to the power supply, the wireless controller being configured to wirelessly receive a command from a wireless thermostat of a ventilation system, the ventilation system having a vent through which a fluid passes, and a flow controller to automatically control an amount of flow of the fluid through the vent of the ventilation system based at least in part on the command received wirelessly from the wireless thermostat. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Ventilation systems—e.g., central heating and/or cooling systems—typically deliver heated or cooled fluid, such as air, through vents to various rooms or other localities of a building. Conventional central heating and/or cooling systems generally include adjustable vents that can be manually opened or closed to adjust an amount of airflow into a given room. Additionally, conventional central heating and/or cooling systems also typically include a temperature set point that can be manually adjusted to maintain a constant temperature in a particular room. However, such solutions usually require manual intervention.

Apparatus, method, and system for controlling flow of a fluid


In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor device has a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. Also, the substrate has a first hole. A plurality of leads is disposed over the first surface of the substrate and a die paddle is disposed in the first hole. Additionally, an encapsulant is disposed on the die paddle and the plurality of leads.

Electronic component packaging is generally the final stage of semiconductor device fabrication. The package may enable electrical interconnection between the semiconductor chip and another electrical component, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) or a motherboard. Also, the package may physically protect the chip from breakage or contamination. Additionally, the package may protect the chip from chemicals, moisture and/or gases that may interfere with the chip. Further, the package may dissipate heat from the chip when the chip is under operation.
Surface mounted technology is a technology for mounting electronic devices directly onto the surface of a PCB. Surface mounted devices may have short pins or leads of various styles, flat contacts, matrixes of solder balls such as a Ball Grid Array (BGA), or terminations on the body.
One type of surface mounted device involves a semiconductor device which is mounted on a metallic support or lead frame. The semiconductor device contacts are electrically connected to the lead frame using bond wires. The backside of the semiconductor device may also be connected to the lead frame. After connecting the semiconductor device to the lead frame, the system is encapsulated with a molding compound. Lead frame packages are used in packaging semiconductor chips because of their low manufacturing cost and high reliability.

Packages for multiple semiconductor chips


A method of maintaining a large set of taint labels for tracking a flow of data through a program is provided, including identifying at least a first data and a second data, associated with a first taint storage element and a second taint storage element, respectively; joining the first taint storage element and the second taint storage element to generate at least one joined taint storage element commonly associated with the first data and the second data; processing the first data and the second data associated with the at least one joined taint storage element through the program from the entry point to an egress point; and defining a condition based on the joined taint storage element at the egress point.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of the example implementations relate to a method of maintaining a large set of taint labels for dynamically tracking a flow of data through a program or system.
2. Related Art
In the related art, data flows may be traced through a program or a system. For example, when data is input into a program or a system, operations may be performed on that data. The data may then be output, either in its initial form or subject to operations of the program. The output data may be used to assess risk of unauthorized exposure.
Related art tools developed to track the flow of data through a program or a system associate a label or a value with a data point, such that the flow of data from one or more input points (also referred to as "sources") through the one or more egress points (also referred to as "sinks") can be traced. As a result, the flow of data through a program can be traced during design, testing phases, or in-production phases.
For example, a related art dynamic data flow instrumentation pass is provided that associates a shadow value/memory address with each value or memory address used by the program. The associated shadow value or memory address is referred to as a taint label. This technique has been implemented as a compile-time instrumentation pass.
Related art taint label sets are thus represented as bit sets with O(N) storage requirements, where N represents the number of labels. For example, 32-bit taint markings may require 32 separate tags, e.g., for each piece of data that needs to be tracked, one data bit is generated. In the related art, for the data flow tracking tool, shadow memory is allocated in memory. For example, each byte of application memory may correspond to two bytes of shadow memory, which are used to store its taint label. The related art has a minimum space requirement on the order of O(N).
Programs or systems may involve a large number (e.g., hundreds or thousands) of data items which need to be tracked separately. In such programs or systems, the related art O(N) representation quickly dominates the program's memory usage and/or execution time. Accordingly, it becomes impractical to apply the related art dataflow tracking scheme to the programs or systems having a large number of data items, to perform accurate data tracking.

Method of maintaining a large set of taint labels


Nuclear medicine (NM) multi-head imaging system includes a plurality of detector units coupled to a gantry. The detector units configured to face toward a center of the bore and including a series of first detector units and a second detector unit. The system also includes at least one processor that, when executing programmed instructions, performs the following operations. The at least one processor rotates the first detector units such that the first detector units face in a common first direction that is generally toward the bore. A working gap exists between the detector FOVs of the respective first detector units. The at least one processor rotates the second detector unit such that the second detector unit faces in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The detector FOV of the second detector unit covers the working gap.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to imaging systems, and more particularly to nuclear medical imaging systems having multi-head detectors.
In nuclear medicine (NM) imaging, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, radiopharmaceuticals are administered internally to a patient. The radiopharmaceuticals emit radiation that may be captured by an NM imaging system to generate images for diagnostic review. The NM imaging system may be configured as a multi-head system having a number of individual detectors (or gamma cameras) that are distributed about a bore of the gantry. The detectors are spaced apart from each other such that gaps exist between adjacent detectors. Each detector may be configured to move to provide a range over which the detector may acquire image data.
Prior to the imaging session in which the diagnostic images are obtained, the patient is positioned relative to the detectors so that a collective field-of-view of the NM imaging system includes the anatomical region of interest (e.g., heart, brain, etc.). At this time, one or more persistence images are obtained and reviewed to position the patient. The persistence images are typically only used to position the patient and, as such, have a lower quality than the images used for diagnosis. Persistence images may be acquired at a frequency of, for example, one image per second or less. As the images are acquired, the technician reviews the images and incrementally moves the patient within the bore of the gantry so that the anatomical region-of-interest is within the collective field-of-view. It is generally desirable to quickly position the patient, because the emissions from the radioisotopes reduce over time. During the time in which persistence images are acquired, a technician may also assess the activity of the radioisotopes for determining the scan duration
It can be challenging, however, to use persistence images from multi-head imaging systems. For example, gaps may exist between adjacent detectors thereby rendering it more difficult to identify the anatomical region of interest in the persistence images. This process is made even more difficult for field-of-views that are only slightly larger than the anatomical region of interest.

Systems and methods for imaging with multi-head camera


The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate in which a semiconductor wafer, formed of a material less likely to increase the hole diameter, is processed to a semiconductor substrate actually applicable to an existing manufacture line. An SiC wafer 12 is temporarily fixed to a Si wafer 18 through a wax 20. The SiC wafer 12 temporarily fixed to the Si wafer 18 is overlapped with a Si wafer 14 having the same hole diameter as the Si wafer 18 through an SOG film 16P. Orientation flats 14A and 18A are aligned, and while the Si wafers 14 and 18 are overlapped with each other, heating is performed under pressure to solidify the SOG film 16P, whereby an SOG solidified film 16S is formed. With the aid of the SOG solidified film 16S, the SiC wafer 12 is adhered to the Si wafer 14. The SiC wafer 12 is adhered at a predetermined position of the Si wafer 14 facing the SiC wafer 12 so as to be transferred from the Si wafer 18 to the Si wafer 14. The unneeded Si wafer 18 is detached, and the wax 20 is then removed.

A semiconductor device (SiC device) using a silicon carbide crystal has such characteristics as high withstanding pressure and high temperature operation, in comparison with the conventional semiconductor device (Si device) using a silicon crystal. The SiC device shows such an excellent performance based on basic characteristics of an SiC crystal. Carbon atoms are contained in the SiC crystal, whereby the distance between the atoms is reduced to realize the stronger coupling, thereby increasing the size of a band gap of a semiconductor twice or more. As a result, the withstanding pressure is increased to not less than twice electric field, and the semiconductor characteristics are maintained until reaching a high temperature.
Although the SiC crystal has an extremely excellent basic characteristics, the crystal growth is very difficult, and crystal defect is easily caused. Therefore, there is a problem that the hole diameter of the substrate (wafer) is hard to be increased. At present, an Si substrate (Si wafer) with a hole diameter of 5 to 8 inches is mostly used, while a very expensive 4H—SiC substrate (SiC wafer) with a hole diameter of 2 to 3 inches is mostly used. For this reason, in carrying out development of the semiconductor device, in many cases, the 4H—SiC substrate is cut into small chips to carry out trial manufacture, and thus, it is very difficult to obtain basic data for mass production.
When the development of the mass production techniques in the SiC device is carried out, it is very effective to use a device group used in the manufacturing of the Si device. In addition, know-how in mass production techniques used for the manufacturing of the Si device can be effectively utilized. Currently, the SiC device can be miniaturized to about 0.5 μm in the latest technology, and therefore, the microfabriaction can be applied to the SiC device using an existing Si device manufacturing device.
However, as above mentioned, in the SiC crystal, only a substrate with a hole diameter of up to about 3 inches can be produced. Therefore, it is difficult to use an existing Si device manufacturing device. In order to use the Si device manufacturing device, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 11-87200 proposes that, in an existing manufacture line for the Si device, a semiconductor substrate with an SiC substrate with a small hole diameter laminated to an Si substrate is processed in a similar manner to the Si substrate with a larger hole diameter.
However, the method described in JP-A-11-87200 has a problem that, since the SiC substrate and the Si substrate are directly applied with each other by an SDB (silicon direct bonding) method, the alignment between the SiC substrate and the Si substrate, or the alignment among plural SiC substrates is difficult.
The SiC substrate and the Si substrate have a cutout called an orientation flat in accordance with the in-plane crystal orientation. The substrates having the same size can be processed while the position and the crystal orientation are aligned using the orientation flat. However, in the SiC substrate and the Si substrate having different sizes from each other, it is difficult to align the position and the crystal orientation. If the position and the crystal orientation of the SiC substrate are not fixed, it is difficult to process in an existing device manufacturing device.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor substrate


An acoustic transmission device for transmission of acoustical energy to the cochlea includes a liquid conducting assembly, an acoustic input unit, and a vibration transducer abutting a transmission area on an outer surface of the skin over a transition area of the acoustic input unit. The assembly includes a tube with a liquid or semi-liquid medium filling the bore of the tube, and is adapted to be terminated in direct operative association with the cochlea. The acoustic input unit is adapted to be disposed subcutaneously between a skull bone surface and an external skin surface. The vibration transducer is adapted to be magnetically attachable at a fastening area adjacent to the transmission area by a magnetic assembly configured to be provided under the skin in the fastening area around the transition area.

It is known to provide vibrations to the skull bone directly or indirectly in order to excite the cochlea whereby this excitation may be perceived as sound. This is done to provide some kind of hearing to people who has a functioning cochlea, but have damaged or deformed ear structures.
It is known to mechanically press a vibrating transducer towards the skin in order to transmit the vibration signal through the skin and into the bone, in order that the signals may reach the cochlea and be perceived as sound. In these instruments the transducer is pressed towards the skin using a spring or headband.
It is known to provide hearing to these patients by attaching a magnetic means to the skull bone surface under the skin, and then excite the magnetic means with a magnetic field corresponding to a sound signal. Also a magnet provided subcutaneous may serve as an attachment point for a conventional vibrator which will be sitting exteriorly on the skin, attached thereto by the subcutaneous magnet. In both these instances, the skin between magnet and the exterior part may be subject to compression forces, and this may hamper blood circulation in this skin layer and serious negative effects such as irritation and necrosis may result from this.
Yet a further prior art example is to attach a vibrational transducer subcutaneously to the skull bone or cochlea and to energize the transducer by means of an electromagnetic signal provided by an externally mounted apparatus. In this kind of apparatus, a transcutaneous transmission of both energy and signal is necessary from the device on the outside to the transducer placed at the cochlea or under the skin, and a coil or similar device is needed to receive powering energy as well as an information signal.
In a prior art device the transducer is provided under the skin behind the ear, and an acoustic wave guide is provided between the transducer and the cochlea. In this way, the skull bone is not used as transmission path, and the transducer may be made smaller and may consume less energy in order to vibrationally excite the cochlea. However, in this prior art device the power signal is still to be transmitted through the skin as an electromagnetic signal, with associated losses, and a complicated transducer with a multitude of electronic components must be provided in or at the skull bone.

Acoustical transmission means and method for transmitting sound


A lithium secondary battery comprising a positive electrode composed of a positive electrode active material comprising an oxide compound comprising at least Li and Ni, and a negative electrode comprising an Li--Ag--Te alloy, a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, which is composed of an oxide compound represented by the formula: EQU LiNi.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y O.sub.z. wherein 0.80<w<1.10, 0<x<0.015, 0<y<0.03 and 1.8.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.2.2, and a lithium secondary battery comprising said positive electrode active material. The lithium secondary battery of the present invention shows large charge-discharge capacity, high energy density, less degradation by the repetitive charge-discharge and is superior in cycle property. The positive electrode active material of the present invention, which is composed of an oxide compound represented by the formula LiNi.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y O.sub.z is economical and superior in the supply of starting materials, and the lithium secondary battery comprising said positive electrode active material is advantageous in that it has high capacity, is superior in cycle property and can be prepared stably at low costs.

In general, a lithium secondary battery is required to have (1) high energy density (2) high output density (3) small self discharge ratio (4) economical aspect (5) high energy efficiency and (6) long cycle life.
As a secondary battery having such properties, a nonaqueous electrolyte battery utilizing an electric energy produced by the migration of lithium ions, i.e., so-called lithium secondary battery, is known to have high voltage and high energy density.
A lithium secondary battery comprising pure lithium as a negative electrode material can achieve high energy density of the negative electrode, whereas it suffers from a tendency to grow dendrite. An electrodeposition of metals generally proceeds in two steps of migration of metallic ions to the electrode surface (i.e. diffusion) and receipt and release of electrons at the electrode (i.e. electrode reaction). In the electrodeposition of pure lithium, the electrode reaction proceeds quickly and the speed of lithium diffusing toward the electrode surface determines the rate of electrodeposition. An electrodeposition wherein the rate is determined by such mass migration often suffers from the growth of dendrite. The dendrite is a branch-like crystal which grows quickly once formed, and penetrates a separator, as a result of which it causes short-circuit between the negative electrode and the positive electrode. Consequently, problems are caused which are undesirable in terms of safety, such as combustion, markedly short cycle life of the battery and poor cycle property.
On the other hand, a negative electrode composed of a lithium alloy comprising an intermetallic compound of Li and Al, Bi, Pb, Sn, In or the like is known to suppress deposition of lithium in a dendrite state, since the speed of absorption of lithium in the negative electrode becomes higher. However, this also poses problems in that the negative electrode becomes weak, so that it develops cracks through swelling and contraction in volume which occur along with the absorption and release of lithium, to ultimately result in pulverulent negative electrode, and that the electromotive force of the battery decreases due to a higher potential of the electrode than that possessed by the negative electrode composed of pure lithium.
In an attempt to provide a lithium secondary battery free from such problems of dendrite and the like, a lithium ion battery using a negative electrode prepared from a carbon material has been produced. However, the lithium ion battery of this construction is associated with a defect that the discharge capacity becomes small.
A variety of materials have been conventionally considered to be potential positive electrode active materials for lithium secondary batteries, and typically included therein are inorganic compounds capable of reversely inserting and eliminating lithium ions. As such inorganic compounds, chalcogen compounds such as oxides and sulfides have been mostly studied, and oxides having high potential, which are capable of achieving a high energy density of batteries, have been found to be particularly promising.
An example of the positive electrode active material comprising the above-mentioned oxide is LiCoO.sub.2. LiCoO.sub.2 is a 4 V class positive electrode active material reported by Mizushima et al. in 1980 (Mat. Res. Bull., Vol. 15, pp 783-789) and mainly used as a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary batteries which are being used as a main power source of portable equipments currently put to use. Again, a positive electrode active material using such LiCoO.sub.2 is inferior in the supply of materials since Co is expensive.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a lithium secondary battery having great charge-discharge capacity and superior cycle property. Another object of the present invention is to provide a positive electrode active material for lithium secondary battery and a positive electrode material compound, which are free of the above-mentioned problems and which are economical, superior in suppliability, have great charge-discharge capacity and superior in cycle property.


An object of the present invention is to provide a scanning electron microscope including decelerating-electric-field forming means for decreasing the energy of a beam of electrons reaching a sample, and being capable of selectively detecting BSEs with high efficiency. To this end, the scanning electron microscope including the decelerating-electric-field forming means has a detector for detecting electrons. The detector includes a part for receiving the electrons at a position which is positioned outside trajectories of SEs accelerated by the decelerating-electric-field forming means, and which is further away from the optical axis of the beam of electrons than the trajectories of the SEs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning electron microscope which scans a beam of electrons on a sample, and detects electrons emitted from the scanning spot. Particularly, the present invention relates to a scanning electron microscope which includes decelerating-electric-field forming means for reducing the energy reaching the sample, and which is suitable for detecting backscattered electrons or secondary electrons emitted from the scanning spot.
2. Description of Related Art
A scanning electron microscope forms an image of a sample in accordance with the following scheme. The scanning electron microscope accelerates electrons emitted from a source of electrons, and thereafter focuses electrons by use of an electrostatic lens or an electromagnetic lens, thus turning the focused electrons into a narrowly-focused beam of electrons (a primary beam of electrons). Hence, the scanning electron microscope scans the beam of electron on a sample, and thereby detects electrons emitted from the sample, hence displaying the strength of the signal thus detected On a displaying apparatus in synchronism with the scanning of the beam of electrons.
The electrons emitted from the sample by irradiating the beam of electrons on the sample have a wide energy distribution. Parts of the primary beam of electrons irradiated on the sample are elastically scattered by atoms positioned in the surface of the sample. These are termed as backscattered electrons (hereinafter shortened to "BSEs", and also hereinafter referred to as "reflected electrons" in some cases). It is known that most of the BSEs has the same level of energy as the beam of electrons.
In addition, other parts of the beam of electrons interact with atoms positioned inside the sample. As a result, electrons positioned inside the sample receive kinetic energy, and thus are emitted from the sample. These are termed as secondary electrons (hereinafter shortened to "SEs"). It is known that most of the SEs has an energy of less or equal to 50 eV, or of approximately 10 eV on the average.
Out of the electrons emitted from the sample, the BSEs carry information on the composition of the sample. While, the scanning electron microscope is required to meet needs for doing such as analyzing the composition by selectively detecting the BSEs. Scanning electron microscopes which selectively detect BSEs or distinguish BSEs from SEs are described respectively in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2004-221089 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 1)," Japanese Paten Application Laid-open Publication No. 2002-324510 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 2)," International Publication No. WO00/19482 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 3)," Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. Hei 8-273569 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 4)".
Patent Document 1 describes a configuration of the scanning electron microscope which has a aperture arranged in a vicinity of the crossover of BSEs and has a detector arranged between the aperture and the source of electrons, as well as which thus detects a signal in the center of the BSE.
Patent Document 2 describes a configuration of the scanning electron microscope which has a detector arranged off the optical axis of the beam of electrons, and which thus applies a positive voltage of approximately 10 kV to a vicinity of the detector in order to guide secondary electrons.
This configuration guides the SEs to the detector due to the strong electric field. However, the trajectories of BSEs are not bent so much because of their high energy. As a result, the BSEs travel straight toward the source of electrons.
Patent Document 3 describes a configuration of the scanning electron microscope which has a secondary electron conversion electrode in the trajectories of BSEs, and which switches between the detection of SEs and the detection of BSEs by doing such as changing voltages applied to the secondary electron conversion electrode. Here, the trajectories of BSEs are changed by an electromagnetic objective lens.
Patent Document 4 describes a technology which causes the scanning electron microscope to separate the trajectories of SEs from the trajectories of the BSEs by use of the focusing effect of each corresponding lens, as well as which detects the BSEs by use of a BSE detector arranged inside the optical axis of the beam of electrons, and detects the SEs by use of a SE detector arranged outside the optical axis of the beam of electrons.
Japanese Patent Translation Publication No. Hei 9-507331 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 5) describes a technology which decelerates the landing energy of a beam of electrons (or an energy which the beam of electrons has when reaching a sample) by applying a negative voltage to the sample. In addition, this patent document describes a technology to selectively detect BSEs by use of a detector which is arranged above the objective lens (closer to the source of electrons). Because a negative voltage is applied to the detector for detecting BSEs, SEs are repulsed back to the sample due to their lower energy than that of the BSEs. As a result, the BSEs are selectively detected.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. Hei 9-171791. (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 6) also describes a technology which decelerates the landing energy of a beam of electrons by applying a negative voltage to the sample (this technology is sometimes termed as a retarding technology). This technology makes it possible to decrease the energy of the beam of electrons which reaches the sample, with the energy of the beam of electrons kept at a high level while the beam of electrons passing the object lens. This enables the scanning electron microscope to have a higher resolution, and to cause less damage on the sample, at the same time.


Methods and systems for reducing the volume of test data associated with built in self testing (BIST) test methodologies (e.g., logical BIST, array BIST, etc.) and pattern structures are provided. Embodiments of the present invention store a limited number of “dynamic” test parameters for each test sequence that have changed relative to a previous test sequence.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to integrated circuit devices and, more particularly to testing such devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Advances in integrated circuit (IC) technology have given rise to IC devices with complex circuitry with hundreds of thousands of logic gates and operating frequencies in excess of 1 GHz. As the circuit complexity of a device increases, so does the need to thoroughly test the circuits. A general solution to the problem of testing integrated circuits is to embed test circuitry, commonly referred to as "Logic Built in self test" (LBIST) circuitry, on the chip itself.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional test system 100 including a tester 110 and a device under test (DUT) 120, such as an IC fabricated on a wafer 111, containing LBIST circuitry 130, shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. The tester 110 generally includes any suitable combination of software and hardware configured to initiate LBIST test sequences on the device 120, via an interface 113 (e.g., pins/pads of the device 120). As illustrated, the tester 110 may include test execution software 112 and a set of test data 114 defining a set of test sequences 115. For example, each test sequence 115 may be defined by a set of operations 116 and corresponding data 118 to configure the LBIST circuitry 130 to test the device 120 for a particular type of fault.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the LBIST circuitry 130 typically includes a pseudo random pattern generator (PRPG) 132 designed to generate test patterns to be applied to inputs of scan chains 134 formed in the circuitry under test 136 and a multiple-input signal register (MISR) 138 to receive signals output from the scan chains 134. An LBIST controller (not shown) generates all necessary waveforms for repeatedly loading pseudorandom patterns from the PRPG into the scan chains 134, initiating a functional cycle (capture cycle), and logging output responses into the MISR 138. The MISR 138 compresses accumulated responses (from multiple cycles) into a code referred to as a signature. Any corruption in the final signature at the end of the test sequence indicates a defect in the device 120. The illustrated LBIST architecture is known as a STUMPS architecture ("Self-test using MISR and Parallel Shift register sequence generator). Such an architecture is described in detail in the commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,537, entitled "Parallel Path Self-testing System."
The scan chains 134 are formed of shift register latches (SRLs) that allow data to be loaded and unloaded in parallel (during a scan mode) to initialize and examine internal circuits that are not externally accessible. During initialization of a test sequence 115 or a portion of a test sequence 115, the tester may load data 118 into one or more of the scan chains 134 via shift register inputs (SRIs) 135, for example, to initialize internal circuitry of the device 120 and/or initialize the PRPG 132 with an initial or "seed" value. At the end of a test sequence 115, the tester may unload data, such as the state of the internal circuitry from the scan chains 134 or a signature from the MISR 138, via one or more shift register outputs (SROs) 137. Signatures unloaded from the MISR 138 at the end of a test sequence 115 may be compared against known good signatures 117 corresponding to that test sequence 115 to detect a fault in the device 120.
While such LBIST circuitry continues to serve the IC industry well, as the number of circuit components increase, designing a set of test sequences 115 that provides adequate assurance that a large percentage of all possible faults are being tested for (commonly referred to as test coverage) becomes increasingly difficult. To ensure adequate test coverage, the number of test sequences 115 is typically increased. For example, there are typically several types or modes of tests (static tests to detect stuck-on/off components, dynamic tests to detect timing related faults, etc.), with several test sequences 115 performed for each type of test resulting in hundreds of test sequences 115. For example, the number of clock cycles may be varied (e.g., from 1 to 8) and/or the number of iterations or "loop count" may be varied (e.g., from 32 to 1 M) each test sequence.
As illustrated, each test sequence 115 may include several full length shift register latch loads. As complex ICs, such as modern micro-processors, may include several hundred-thousand latches, the volume of the test data 114 may quickly grow unwieldy (e.g., several GB). The large volume of the test data 114 may increase test time due to large test data volume transfer and execution, as well as the need for buffer reloading due to buffer size limitations at the tester, which may degrade test throughput and increase test and overall device cost.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved method and system for performing LBIST testing, preferably that reduces the volume of test data while maintaining adequate test coverage.

Automated BIST test pattern sequence generator software system and method


A reverse pull, extraoral dental assembly having at least one head support, at least one body support (e.g., disposed outside of the head region of the dental patient) and at least one chin stop is provided. The head support, body support, and chin stop are interconnected by a brace assembly which is displaced outwardly from the frontal region of the dental patient. One and typically two elastics or other appropriate treatment force generating/transfer members extend from the brace assembly to engage one or more of the dental patient's teeth in the upper and/or lower arch to apply a generally mesially directed treatment force thereto, and/or to engage a device which is directly associated with dental patient bone (e.g., an implant or onplant). The chin support provides a counterforce to any upward force exerted by the assembly thus preventing an upward movement of the assembly.

One type of malocclusion is a Class III which often times involves a maxillary deficiency. A Class III malocclusion is a condition in which the chin of an individual appears to protrude forwardly a disproportionate amount. Class III malocclusions may be due to excessive mandibular growth and/or maxillary deficiency. One method for treating a Class III malocclusion involving a retracted maxilla is to exert a generally mesially directed force on the bony structures of the lower face by engaging the upper arch of the orthodontic patient. These types of force stimulate bone growth to advance the maxilla mesially and/or orthodontically advance the patient's dentition.
Another type of malocclusion is a Class II malocclusion. A Class II malocclusion exhibits a rearward displaced chin or generally underdeveloped jaw. Particularly in younger patients, this type of malocclusion responds well to generally mesially-directed treatment forces.
The above-noted types of mesially-directed forces are typically applied using what may be characterized as a reverse pull assembly. Known reverse pull assemblies allow for the exertion of the generally mesially-directed force on the patient's upper arch or lower arch by providing a plurality of supports on the patient's facial or head region and by including structure which is outwardly displaced from the patient's face to provide a mounting for elastics or other treatment force generating members. These elastics extend from their mounting on the reverse pull assembly under tension and engage the patient's upper or lower arch. In the case where a rigid arch wire or the like is interconnected with the patient's upper or lower teeth, a pair of elastics are typically used to engage opposite sides of the arch undergoing treatment (e.g,. by engaging hooked appliances indirectly attached to bands on the patient's teeth). The tensioned elastics thereby apply a symmetrical, generally mesially-directed force on the patient's arch undergoing treatment to attempt to achieve the noted objectives, while the corresponding generally distally directed forces are exerted on the patient at the various facial or head supports.

Reverse pull, extraoral dental assembly with head and body supports and chin stop


An automatic control for an air conditioner having a compressor motor and a fan motor and a method for its operation are provided. While the control operates both motors to cool an enclosed space, a temperature indicative of the air temperature in the space is sensed and compared with a first preselected temperature value. When the sensed temperature is no longer greater than the preselected temperature, operation of the compressor motor is terminated. Thereafter the fan motor is operated for a first preselected time period. During the first time period, a currently sensed temperature indicative of the air temperature in the space is compared with a second preselected temperature value. When the sensed temperature is no longer less than the second preselected temperature during the first time period, operation of the compressor motor is resumed and the process described above with respect to cooling the space is repeated. Upon an expiration of the first time period without exceeding the second preselected temperature, operation of the fan motor is terminated. Thereafter a second preselected time period is initiated. After expiration of the second time period, a currently sensed temperature indicative of the air temperature in the space is compared with a third predetermined temperature value during a third predetermined time period. When the sensed temperature is no longer less than the third preselected temperature during the third time period, operation of the fan motor is resumed, the first time period is restarted and the operation described above with respect to the first time period is repeated. Upon an expiration of the third time period without exceeding the third preselected temperature, the second time period is restarted and the operation described above with respect to the second time period is repeated.

The present invention relates to an automatic control for an air conditioner and more particularly to a control for reducing the energy consumption of an air conditioner and improving the comfort level within the space being cooled.
In the operation of an air conditioner a compressor is used to compress a refrigerant which then flows through an evaporator whereby heat energy is absorbed from air flowing in close proximity to the evaporator. A fan, driven by an electric motor, is used to provide an air flow over the coils of the evaporator to enhance the transfer of heat energy from the air to the refrigerant in the evaporator. The compressor is also driven by an electric motor and these two motors comprise the bulk of the energy consuming components of the air conditioner, with the compressor motor generally consuming more energy than the fan motor.
In some air conditioner circuits the fan motor is permitted to run continuously while the compressor motor cycles on and off in response to a temperature sensor which provides an indication of room temperature. Control circuits have been provided which permit the fan motor to continue running after the compressor motor has been turned off in order to provide additional air cooling without the expenditure of energy to run the compressor. Such circuits are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,075,864 and 4,094,166.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,044 discloses a control circuit which utilizes an automatic timer for periodically energizing the fan of the air conditioner to provide an air flow over the thermostat to detect and sense room air temperature in order to determine whether the compressor needs to be re-energized.

Automatic control for an air conditioner


A filter assembly is disclosed including a cartridge member having a body portion and a cylindrical neck portion depending from the body portion, the neck portion having at least one lug depending radially outwardly therefrom having a keyed surface formation thereon, and a reception member defining an axial bore for receiving the neck portion of the cartridge member, the bore having at least one reception area provided therein for receiving the at least one lug, the reception area having a compatible mating surface formation defined therein for engaging the keyed surface formation on the lug so as to prevent engagement with an incompatible cartridge member.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to fluid filtration devices, and more particularly, to a filter assembly having a keyed lockout system to ensure replacement cartridge compatibility.
2. Background of the Related Art
Commercial vending machines for dispensing liquids such as coffee or soft drinks are wide spread in our society. It is common to filter liquids such as water in these vending machines before they are dispensed by circulating the water through an appropriate filter. It is also commonplace to find filtering devices in consumer appliances such as refrigerators for filtering drinking water and for ice production. Commercial and domestic filtering devices of this type have a limited useful life and require frequent replacement. Examples of prior art replaceable filtering devices of this type are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,716 to Petrucci et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,240 to Giordano et al.
In most instances, the replaceable filters employed in commercial and consumer appliances are manufactured in accordance with particular design specifications and performance parameters provided by the appliance manufacturer. In many cases, the filter media used in such filters consists of a proprietary material or is manufactured using a proprietary process. Thus, appliance manufactures often recommend that replacement cartridges be purchased from the original equipment provider so as to ensure the integrity and proper operation of the filtering system.
Oftentimes, the owner of a household appliance or the maintenance personnel servicing a commercial vending machine is not aware of the replacement filter specifications and operating parameters of the filtering system. Consequently, they unknowingly jeopardize the integrity of the filtration system by replacing a used filter with an inferior or incompatible replacement filter supplied by an after-market manufacturer. This problem has also been encountered by automotive filter manufacturers, as inferior replacement fuel filters are frequently installed in a vehicle without the knowledge of the vehicle owner or operator.
One solution to this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,797 to Janik, wherein a key system is provided to ensure replacement cartridge compatibility for axially mounted fuel filters with threaded retaining collars. The key system employs a unique matrix of axially projecting keys formed in a base for axially receiving a filter cartridge, and a corresponding matrix of slots formed in a compatible cartridge, so that for a given compatible cartridge and base, the keys are interlockable in the slots to securely lock the cartridge in the base. For each non-compatible cartridge and base, the base keys are not-mateable with the cartridge slots and interfere with the mounting of the cartridge to the base. A similar key system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,829 to Janik which includes a set of angularly spaced arcuate projections that protrude radially from the cylindrical side wall of the fuel filter cartridge to mate with corresponding spaced apart recesses in the base when the cartridge is axially pushed into the base. U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,137 to Janik discloses yet another key system for an axially mounted fuel filter with a threaded retaining collar.
While such prior art key systems are suitable for use in conjunction with axially mountable automotive fuel filters having threaded retaining collars, they are not easily adapted for use in conjunction with consumer and industrial water filtration systems wherein the filter cartridge is provided with a set of cam lugs configured to facilitate rotatable mounting of the cartridge to a base or supporting structure. Examples of prior art filter cartridges having lugged engagement portions are disclosed in the Petrucci et al. and Giordano et al. patents discussed hereinabove, and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,857,189 and 4,956,086 to Thomsen et al. It would beneficial to provide a key system for replaceable filter cartridges having lugged mounting systems.


Disclosed is a small-sized gas exchange apparatus of high performance having an increased gas exchange rate and a reduced priming volume, comprising a hollow fiber module M.sub.1 formed by bundling a plurality of silicone membrane hollow fibers 1 wound in the form of a twilled pattern, a housing H.sub.1 for enclosing the hollow fiber module, an internal perfusion passage and an external perfusion passage formed within the housing H.sub.1, a first inlet A and a first outlet B formed on the housing for gas or liquid for communication with the internal perfusion passage, and a second inlet C and a second outlet D formed on the housing for gas or liquid for communication with the external perfusion passage.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a gas exchange apparatus employing the silicone membrane hollow fiber for use as an artificial lung itself by being connected to the external blood circulation circuit, an artificial "ERA" as a liquid-to-gas phase gas exchanger, and further an oxygenator and disoxidizer for liquid and gas.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
As a conventional gas exchanger, there has been known a membrane-type artificial lung disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-60508 (1991), in which gas exchange operation is performed through a porous gas exchange membrane having a plurality of minute or fine openings formed therethrough and serving as gas flow passages, wherein a kind of fine particles are maintained in the fine openings to reduce the sectional area, and, in addition, an anti-coagulant for blood is retained in the fine particles themselves or between these particles. Such a retention function of the agent contributes to prevent leakage of components of blood, such as water during a long term circulation. Such a retention function also prevents production of thrombus on the surface of gas exchange membrane, thereby the out-body circulation being enabled with a small amount of heparin supplement.
Another gas exchanger is disclosed using a "silicone membrane hollow fiber having a wall thickness of 50 to 150 micron", such as an anti-thrombus fiber type artificial lung disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 63-97172, in which a hydrophilic monomer is graft-polymerized on the surface of a hollow fiber membrane, which is received in a housing, wherein blood is allowed to flow outside the hollow fiber membrane, and an oxygen-containing gas is allowed to flow inside the membrane. Using this artificial lung, since blood is allowed to come in contact with the outer surface of the membrane, the surface of which being anti-thrombus treated, the production of thrombus is advantageously hardly caused.
However, the gas exchange rate was not satisfactory in either of the conventional gas exchanger, since fine particles are confined in fine openings using "porous hollow fiber" for preventing sealum leakage in the first example, and "silicone membrane hollow fiber" having an increased wall thickness is used in the second embodiment. Therefore, there have been problems, when the exchange rate is increased, the dimension of the apparatus, that is, of the artificial lung increases, resulting in an increased quantity of blood, namely the priming volume, which is filled in the apparatus. In contrast, the reduced priming volume, although providing a small size, the quantity of gas exchange is accordingly decreased, and, therefore, the gas exchange rate is lowered.


A link module suitable for use in a conveyor chain intended for travel along an intended direction on a given path. The module includes a first eye and a second eye adjacent the first eye. The eyes define a space therebetween. A roller assembly extends into the space and is detachably mounted between the first and second eyes.

The invention relates generally to modular conveyor chains and belts and, more particularly, to such conveyor chains, and belts which include side-flexing capability.
Side-flexing conveyor chains comprising a plurality of modules are capable of traveling along a given path having a non-linear center line. As the conveyor chain follows the non-linear center line of the path, lateral forces force the modules against guide surfaces defining the conveyor path. The sliding engagement of the module with the guide surface generates additional frictional force which produces heat and increases tension in the chain, thus requiring increased drive energy and lowering efficiency.
Rollers having a horizontal or vertical axis of rotation and permanently mounted on one or more modules can be provided for engagement with the guide surfaces. The rollers reduce friction to lessen heat generation and power requirements. Due to the forces acting on the conveyor chain, the rollers are subject to damage which requires replacing the module having and labor intensive. A need exists for quickly replacing rollers to minimize costs.

Side-flexing conveyor module with detachable roller assembly


A monolithic ceramic capacitor composed of laminated plural dielectric ceramic layers, internal electrodes disposed between the dielectric ceramic layers and external electrodes formed at both the edge surfaces of the dielectric ceramic layers such that they are alternately connected to the internal electrodes, wherein the dielectric ceramic layers are composed of a material comprising principal components shown by the formula: (1-.alpha.-.beta.){BaO}.sub.m .cndot.TiO.sub.2 +.alpha.{(1-x)M.sub.2 O.sub.3 +xRe.sub.2 O.sub.3 }+.beta.(Mn.sub.1-y-z Ni.sub.y Co.sub.z)O (wherein M.sub.2 O.sub.3 is at least one of Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; Re.sub.2 O.sub.3 is at least one of Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, Tb.sub.2 O.sub.3 and DY.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; 0.0025.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.0.025, 0.0025.ltoreq..beta..ltoreq.0.05, .beta./.alpha..ltoreq.4, 0<x.ltoreq.0.50, 0.ltoreq.y<1.0, 0.ltoreq.z<1.0, 0.ltoreq.y+z.ltoreq.1.0, and 1.000<m.ltoreq.1,035), and containing definite amounts of MgO and SiO.sub.2 as side components.

A process of producing a monolithic ceramic capacitor is generally as follows. First, a dielectric ceramic sheet is prepared. Then, an electrode material for an internal electrode is disposed on the sheet. The dielectric ceramic material, for example, includes BaTiO.sub.3 as the main component. Next, a plurality of the dielectric ceramic sheets are laminated. The laminated sheets are pressed with heating to form a laminated body and the laminated body are fired in air at 1250 to 1350.degree. C. Finally, external electrodes applied on the edge surface of the laminated body to connect to the internal electrodes.
Accordingly, the material of the internal electrode is required to meet to following conditions.
(a) Because the dielectric ceramic and the internal electrodes are simultaneously fired, the internal electrode preferably has a melting point same as or higher than firing temperature of the dielectric ceramic. PA1 (b) The material is not oxidized even in an oxidative high-temperature atmosphere and does not react with the dielectric ceramic.
As the electrodes meeting such conditions, a noble metal or the alloy thereof, such as platinum, gold, palladium, a silver-palladium alloy and the like has been used. Although these electrode materials have excellent characteristics, they are expensive. Thus, the amount of the electrode material cost of the monolithic ceramic capacitor becomes from 30 to 70% and becomes the largest factor increasing the production cost of monolithic ceramic capacitors.
Other materials having high melting points than the noble metals include such base metals as Ni, Fe, Co, W, Mo and the like but these base metals are easily oxidized in a high-temperate oxidative atmosphere, whereby they become unusable as electrodes. Accordingly, to use these base metals as the internal electrodes of a monolithic ceramic capacitor, it is necessary to fire the base metal together with a dielectric ceramic in a neutral or reductive atmosphere. However, when conventional dielectric ceramic materials are fired in such a neutral or reducing atmosphere, they are greatly reduced and become semi-conductive.
To overcome this problem, there are proposed, for example, a dielectric ceramic material wherein the barium site/titanium site ratio is in excess of the stoichiometric ratio in a barium titanate solid solution as shown in JP-B-57-42588 and a dielectric ceramic material made up of a barium titanate solid solution combined with an oxide of a rare earth element such as La, Nd, Sm, Dy, Y, etc., as shown in JP-A-61-101459.
Also, as a dielectric ceramic material having a small temperature dependence of the dielectric constant, there are proposed, for example, a dielectric ceramic material of a BaTiO.sub.3 --CaZro.sub.3 --MnO--MgO system composition as shown in JP-A-62-256422 and a dielectric ceramic material of a BaTiO.sub.3 --(Mg, Zn, Sr, Ca)O--B.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 system composition as shown in JP-B-61-14611.
By using such a dielectric ceramic material as described above, a dielectric ceramic which does not become a semi-conductive material even when the material is fired in a reducing atmosphere and the production of a monolithic ceramic capacitor using a base metal such as nickel and the like as the internal electrodes becomes possible.
With the recent developments in electronics, miniatualizing of electronic parts has quickly proceeded and the tendency to small-sizing and increasing the capacity of monolithic ceramic capacitors also is remarkable. Thus, the increase of the dielectric constant of a dielectric ceramic material and thinning of a dielectric ceramic layer have proceeded very quickly. Accordingly, the demand for a dielectric ceramic material having a high dielectric constant, showing a small temperature change of the dielectric constant, and being excellent in reliability has become large.
However, the dielectric ceramic materials shown in JP-B-57-42588 and JP-A-61-101459 give a large dielectric constant but have the faults that the crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic obtained become large, so that when the thickness of the dielectric ceramic layer in the monolithic ceramic capacitor becomes as thin as 10 .mu.m or thinner, the number of the crystal grains existing in one layer is reduced, and the reliability is lowered. Furthermore, there is also a problem in the dielectric ceramic materials, in that the temperature change of the dielectric constant is large. Thus, the above-described dielectric ceramic materials cannot meet the requirements of the market.
Also, in the dielectric ceramic material shown in JP-A-62-256422, the dielectric constant is relatively high, the crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic obtained are small, and the temperature change of the dielectric constant is small but because CaZrO.sub.3 and also CaTiO.sub.3 formed in the firing process are liable to form a secondary phase with MnO, etc., there is a problem in reliability at a high temperature.
Furthermore, in the dielectric ceramic material shown in JP-B-61-14611, there are faults that the dielectric constant of the dielectric ceramic obtained is from 2,000 to 2,800 and that the material is disadvantageous from the view point of small-sizing and increasing the capacity of the monolithic ceramic capacitor. Also, there is a problem in that the dielectric ceramic material cannot satisfy the X7R characteristics prescribed by the EIA standard, that is, the characteristics that the changing ratio of the electrostatic capacity is within .+-.15% in the temperature range of from -55.degree. C. to +125.degree. C.
Also, various improvements in the anti-reducing dielectric ceramics proposed heretofore have been made on preventing deterioration of the insulating resistance in a high-temperature loading life test but the deterioration of the insulating resistance in a moisture loading test has not been so improved.
Thus, to solve the above-described problems, various components are proposed in JP-A-5-9066, JP-A-5-9067, and JP-A-5-9068. However, because of the requirement for further small-sizing and further increasing the capacity, the requirements of market for thinning the thickness of a dielectric ceramic layer and reliability have become more severe and the requirement for a dielectric ceramic material having better reliability and coping with thinning the layer thickness has increased. Accordingly, the necessary for providing a small-sized and large capacity monolithic ceramic capacitor excellent in the reliability characteristics under high temperature and high humidity has occurred.


A tandem axle trailer pin extracter apparatus is provided. The extracter apparatus is adapted and configured for extracting or pulling the tandem lock pin release handle when it is desired to adjust the position of a tractor trailer body relative to the tandem axles. The extracter apparatus allows for one-person application.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tools and equipment used in the trucking industry and, more particularly, to a tandem axle trailer pin extracter apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Truck semi-trailers are equipped with longitudinally-adjustable, tandem axle frame assemblies which slide in order to better distribute a load over the wheels or to support the rear of the trailer during loading. Generally, the tandem axle frame assemblies are secured to the subframe of the trailer by a series of heavy spring-loaded pins. The pins are spring-urged in such a manner whereby pins attempt to seat themselves within holes in a locking position in the subframe and tandem axle frame. A tandem lock pin release handle which extends outward of the frame is provided in order to facilitate extraction or withdrawal of the pins from the holes for tandem axle frame adjustment. When the release handle is pulled, a pulling force is exerted, thereby facilitating extraction of the pins so as to allow the tandem axle subframe to be repositioned and the pins allowed to seek appropriate holes to establish a new location of the trailer relative to the tandem axles. However, often times the immensity of the masses involved with the trailer and the tandem axles and the forces therebetween causes the pins to be lodged in the locking position. Thus, because the operator is incapable of applying sufficient force to extract the jammed pins, he is required to return to his cab and slightly rock the semi-truck trailer back and forth in an attempt to dislodge the pins. Operator then re-attempts to pull the release handle in order to facilitate pin withdrawal. Alternatively, operator is required to seek the help of an assistant who pulls the release handle while operator slightly rocks semi-truck trailer back and forth.
Accordingly, a need has arisen for a portable apparatus adapted for one-person application, and which is further adapted for being removably securable to a tractor trailer in order to extract or pull the tandem lock pin release handle in a manner which is quick, easy, and efficient. The development of the tandem axle trailer pin extracter apparatus fulfills this need.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related.
The following patents disclose various tandem axle pin puller devices:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,834, issued in the name of Wise;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,190, issued in the name of Ford;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,488, issued in the name of Chapman et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,642 B1, issued in the name of Haggerty;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,144, issued in the name of Forcier, and
U.S. Patent no. Des. 289,360, issued in the name of Westcott.
The following patents disclose various pneumatically powered pin retractors for semi-trailer tandems:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,522, issued in the name of Hart;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,732, issued in the name of Lands et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,725, issued in the name of Brazeal; and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,253, issued in the name of Hess.
Internet publication advertisement featuring a tandem pin puller device provided at www.ecpulltool.com.
Consequently, a need has been felt for a portable apparatus adapted for one-person application, and which is further adapted for being removably securable to a tractor trailer in order to extract or pull the tandem lock pin release handle H in a manner which is quick, easy, and efficient.

Tandem axle trailer pin extracter apparatus