In a computer network of a base station and one or more remote units, data transmission from the base station to the or each remote unit is by way of a wireless (e.g. infrared) signal, and by way of a radio signal in the other direction. Infra-red receivers can be used in the remote units which are cheap and have low power consumption compared with radio receivers, and radio transmitters can be used in the remote units which have low power consumption compared with infra-red transmitters. This therefore facilitates the provision of cheap, battery-powered remote units. The wireless signal is used to send instructions to control selection by each remote unit of a transmission channel for its radio signals.

A conventional form of computer network comprises: a base computer; one or more (and often many) user computers; and a bidirectional communications link between the base computer and the user computer(s). In such a conventional network, the communications links are typically provided by wire connections, such as co-axial cable or unshielded twisted pairs.
The present invention was originally conceived in connection with the networking of computers in a classroom, although it does have many other applications. In such an application, perhaps ten, twenty or thirty students would each have a user computer connected to a base computer, for example a file server. A considerable amount of cabling would therefore be required, at significant cost. Also, in order to be rugged, a large proportion of the wiring would need to be permanently installed, for example in trunking or with cable clips, and this means that the siting of user computers in the classroom is not as flexible as would be desired. In order to deal with this problem, the present invention adopts a wireless approach to the networking of computers, but that in itself presents other problems.

Signal transmission between networked computers


A system for amplifying nucleic acids is disclosed which, in one embodiment, includes a fluidic device having a sample channel and a heat exchange channel disposed sufficiently close to the sample channel such that a heat exchange fluid in the heat exchange channel can cause a sample in the sample channel to gain or lose heat at desired levels. In one illustrative embodiment, the system further includes three reservoirs coupled to the heat exchange channel and a temperature control system configured to heat fluids stored in the respective reservoirs at different temperatures. One or more pumps and a controller are configured to cause fluid stored in the reservoirs to enter and flow through the heat exchange channel at different times.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for amplifying nucleic acids. In some embodiments, the invention relates to microfluidic PCR analysis systems using microfluidic temperature controlled channels.
Discussion of the Background
The amplification and detection of nucleic acids is central to medicine, forensic science, industrial processing, crop and animal breeding, and many other fields. The ability to detect disease conditions (e.g., cancer), infectious organisms (e.g., HIV), genetic lineage, genetic markers, and the like, is ubiquitous technology for disease diagnosis and prognosis, marker assisted selection, correct identification of crime scene features, the ability to propagate industrial organisms and many other techniques. Determination of the integrity of a nucleic acid of interest can be relevant to the pathology of an infection or cancer. One of the most powerful and basic technologies to detect small quantities of nucleic acids is to replicate some or all of a nucleic acid sequence many times, and then analyze the amplification products. PCR is perhaps the most well-known of a number of different amplification techniques.
PCR is a powerful technique for amplifying short sections of DNA. With PCR, one can quickly produce millions of copies of DNA starting from a single template DNA molecule. PCR includes a three phase temperature cycle of denaturation of DNA into single strands, annealing of primers to the denatured strands, and extension of the primers by a thermostable DNA polymerase enzyme. This cycle is repeated so that there are enough copies to be detected and analyzed. In principle, each cycle of PCR could double the number of copies. In practice, the multiplication achieved after each cycle is always less than 2. Furthermore, as PCR cycling continues, the buildup of amplified DNA products eventually ceases as the concentrations of required reactants diminish. For general details concerning PCR, see Sambrook and Russell, Molecular Cloning—A Laboratory Manual (3rd Ed.), Vols. 1-3, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (2000); Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, F. M. Ausubel et al., eds., Current Protocols, a joint venture between Greene Publishing Associates, Inc. and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., (supplemented through 2005) and PCR Protocols A Guide to Methods and Applications, M. A. Innis et al., eds., Academic Press Inc. San Diego, Calif. (1990).
Real-time PCR refers to a growing set of techniques in which one measures the buildup of amplified DNA products as the reaction progresses, typically once per PCR cycle. Monitoring the accumulation of products over time allows one to determine the efficiency of the reaction, as well as to estimate the initial concentration of DNA template molecules. For general details concerning real-time PCR see Real-Time PCR: An Essential Guide, K. Edwards et al., eds., Horizon Bioscience, Norwich, U.K. (2004).
Several different real-time detection chemistries now exist to indicate the presence of amplified DNA. Most of these depend upon fluorescence indicators that change properties as a result of the PCR process. Among these detection chemistries are DNA binding dyes (such as SYBR® Green) that increase fluorescence efficiency upon binding to double stranded DNA. Other real-time detection chemistries utilize Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET), a phenomenon by which the fluorescence efficiency of a dye is strongly dependent on its proximity to another light absorbing moiety or quencher. These dyes and quenchers are typically attached to a DNA sequence-specific probe or primer. Among the FRET-based detection chemistries are hydrolysis probes and conformation probes. Hydrolysis probes (such as the TaqMan® probe) use the polymerase enzyme to cleave a reporter dye molecule from a quencher dye molecule attached to an oligonucleotide probe. Conformation probes (such as molecular beacons) utilize a dye attached to an oligonucleotide, whose fluorescence emission changes upon the conformational change of the oligonucleotide hybridizing to the target DNA.
A number of commercial instruments exist that perform real-time PCR. Examples of available instruments include the Applied Biosystems PRISM 7500, the Bio-Rad iCylcer, and the Roche Diagnostics LightCycler 2.0. The sample containers for these instruments are closed tubes which typically require at least a 10 μl volume of sample solution.
More recently, a number of high throughput approaches to performing PCR and other amplification reactions have been developed, e.g., involving amplification reactions in microfluidic devices, as well as methods for detecting and analyzing amplified nucleic acids in or on the devices. Thermal cycling of the sample for amplification is usually accomplished in one of two methods. In the first method, the sample solution is loaded into the device and the temperature is cycled in time, much like a conventional PCR instrument. In the second method, the sample solution is pumped continuously through spatially varying temperature zones.
To have good yield of a target product, one has to control the sample temperature at different levels very accurately. And to reduce the process time, one has to heat up or cool down the sample to desired temperature very quickly.
One specific approach for regulating temperature within the devices is to employ external temperature control sources. Examples of such sources include, but are not limited to, heating blocks and water baths. Another option is to utilize a heating element such as a resistive heater that can be adjusted to a particular temperature. Another temperature controller includes Peltier controllers (e.g., INB Products thermoelectric module model INB-2-(11-4)1.5). This controller can be utilized to achieve effective thermal cycling or to maintain isothermal incubations at any particular temperature.
In some devices and applications, heat exchangers can also be utilized in conjunction with one of the temperature control sources to regulate temperature. Such heat exchangers typically are made from various thermally conductive materials (e.g., various metals and ceramic materials) and are designed to present a relatively large external surface area to the adjacent region. Often this is accomplished by incorporating fins, spines, ribs and other related structures into the heat exchanger. Other structures include coils and sintered structures. In certain devices, heat exchangers such as these are incorporated into a holding space, chamber or detection area.
Conventional heat exchangers that can be utilized in certain applications are discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,850 which discloses a reaction receptacle that includes a plurality of reservoirs disposed in the surface of a substrate. Additional methods of temperature control for microfluidic systems are known which include, for example: a thermal cycling system using the circulation of temperature controlled water to the underside of a microtiter plate (U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,197); a thermal cycling system using infrared heating and air cooling (U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,766); a microfluidic chip where flow travels through several static temperature zones (U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,437); the use of exothermic and endothermic materials to heat up and cool down the PCR samples (U.S. patent application publication US2005/012982).
In conventional systems temperature accuracy and thermal cycling speeds are issues to be resolved. For example, the accuracy of the temperature of any bath used to heat a microchannel and the bath's subsequent conduction of heat to the microchannel is important in that certain stages of PCR processing take place at well-defined temperatures. The thermal cycling speed refers to the time between stabilization from one temperature to another in a heating cycle. For example in the PCR process, the thermal cycling speed refers to the time to shift from 95° C. to 55° C. to 72° C. The faster the thermal cycling speeds and the more accurate the temperature stabilization, the more efficient PCR processes can be performed.
There is a need for improved systems and methods for amplifying nucleic acids and for systems and methods for microfluidic thermal control.

Systems and methods for the amplification of DNA


A fluid-fillable barrier includes a tubular, impermeable membrane and at least one tension member. The membrane has a first attachment area and a second attachment area. The tension member secures between, and extends from, the first attachment area to the second attachment area. When in tension, the tension member may pivot with respect to the membrane, and has a taut length which is less than one-half of the perimeter of a cross section of the membrane, the length and perimeter being measured at a common cross-section taken perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the membrane.

This invention relates to barriers for damming water in order to facilitate bioremediation, flood control, or construction in a wet work area.
In preparation for the erection of a bridge abutment or a pipeline over a stream, it is necessary to dewater, divert, or otherwise control water flow in order to create a dry area into which workers may pour concrete. A prior art method of dewatering involves the steps of (1) driving sheet pilings into the ground in order to create an enclosed area, and (2) pumping unwanted water from the enclosed area. Each piling abuts an adjacent piling, thus sealing against water leakage between the pilings. However, installing sheet pilings is both labor and capital-equipment intensive. Further, such barriers are difficult to remove once in place.
In situations in which large areas must be dewatered, such as in the bioremediation of a swamp contaminated with styrenes or petroleum, or in flood control situations, the sheet piling method is impractical. Other methods have been developed, the simplest and most efficient of which include the use of water-filled barriers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,767 (the '767 patent) to Dooleage discloses a pair of flexible, impermeable bags 11 and 12, held together in a side-by-side relationship by a surrounding cover 13, such as another bag. Col. 2, lines 33-36. Although simple in comparison to sheet piling methods, the cover 13 in the Dooleage design hides the inner bags 11 and 12. This makes it difficult to determine, prior to filling the bags, whether the bags 11 and 12 are properly aligned or whether they are tangled. In addition, utilizing three separate tubes increases the complexity and requires more material, thus increasing the weight of the design.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,065 (the '065 patent) to Dooleage discloses in FIG. 9 a water structure section 31 which connects at its end 31a, in abutting engagement, with another water structure section 30. One end of the connecting sleeve 21 receives the water structure section end 31a, with the other connecting sleeve end arranged beneath the water structure section 30. On filling of the water structures and connecting of the sleeve plugs, the connecting sleeve 21 locks in place under the water structure section 30. Col. 6, line 66 through Col. 7, line 8.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,821 to Brodersen discloses an elongated flexible tube 12, which fills with water, and "joint packing material 16" "such as dirt" (Col. 4, line 46), placed at the junction of the water-filled tube and the ground surface 18. Col. 3, lines 10-19. However, the necessity of using the dirt increases the time which erection of the dike structure requires. Further, without the dirt, the dike structure would apparently tend to roll in the direction of the applied water pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,919 to Hendrix discloses a containment device which includes an elongated, flexible tube 11 in the shape of an oblique angled triangle. Col.2, lines 60-64. The triangular shape is maintained by gussets 14 of flexible material, attached by welding or adhesion to the inside of the tube 11. Arcuate cutouts 12 are placed at regular intervals along the inner circumference of the tube 11. Col. 2, lines 65 to Col. 3, line 5. However, the gussets 14 would apparently wrinkle when subjected to a transverse load. It would appear that wrinkling is minimized only when water completely fills the tube 11. Further, it appears that the walls of the tube 11 itself are fully placed in tension only when water completely fills the tube. Therefore, apparently, water must completely fill the tube 11 in order for the containment device to be fully effective.
What is needed is a fluid-fillable barrier which is simple, efficient, easily deployable and light weight, which provides a secure barrier at any filled height, and which does not require shoring up or bracing in order to prevent movement or leakage.


A digital blocking filter and filtering method are provided for a device receiving signals from a transmission line. The transmission line, which may comprise part of a complex bus system, is incompletely terminated, thereby resulting in a reflection signal within the line with transmission of a signal. The digital blocking filter includes a pulse generator for generating a masking pulse timed and of sufficient duration to substantially block at the device the reflection signal, and logic for combining the masking pulse and a received signal from the transmission line, thereby substantially blocking the reflection signal. Circuitry for handling reflection signals of various duration, as well as for substantially blocking a reflection signal on either a falling edge or a rising edge of a state change in the received signal are provided.

In order to properly transmit data in a network, reflection signals on the transmission lines of the network need to be managed. Reflection signals are typically avoided by terminating a transmission line at both its input and output with the line's characteristic impedance. One disadvantage of using termination of both transmission line ends, however, is the amount of power that is consumed by the termination resistors.

Digital filter circuit and method for blocking a transmission line reflection signal


A dual fuel common rail system may be operated in a regular mode in which a relatively large charge of gaseous fuel is ignited by compression igniting a relatively small injection quantity of liquid diesel fuel. The dual fuel system may be operated in a single fuel limp home mode in which liquid diesel fuel is injected at higher pressures. Over pressurization of the gaseous fuel side of the fuel system due to leaked liquid fuel is avoided by regularly injecting leaked liquid fuel, but not gaseous fuel, from the gaseous nozzle outlet set during the limp home mode of operation.

One relatively new class of engines seeks to utilize two different fuels to gain the efficiencies associated with compression ignition combined with the advantages associated with burning natural gas fuel. In particular, one type of dual fuel engine utilizes a small pilot injection quantity of liquid diesel fuel that is compression ignited to in turn ignite a much larger charge of natural gas fuel in each engine cylinder. In one strategy for this type of engine, both fuels are directly injected from a single fuel injector associated with each engine cylinder. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,627,416 appears to teach a dual fuel common rail system in which liquid diesel fuel and natural gas fuel are both injected from a single fuel injector associated with each engine cylinder. This reference recognizes that there may be instances in which the engine will need to operate solely on liquid diesel fuel due to exhaustion of the natural gas fuel supply or possibly some fault in the natural gas portion of the system. However, this reference neither recognizes some of the problems, nor teaches solutions, to some of challenges associated with operating the engine in a diesel only fueling mode.
The present disclosure is directed toward one or more of the problems set forth above.

Dual fuel common rail system and diesel only method of operating same


A semiconductor memory device is provided that includes memory cells, sense amplifiers, signal lines, isolating circuits, and a precharging circuit. Each signal line is coupled to an output of at least one of the sense amplifiers and each of the isolating circuits isolates an associated signal line from the output of the corresponding sense amplifier at least during an evaluating phase of the datum stored in the memory cell. The signal lines include at least two groups of signal lines, arranged such that coupling capacitances between the lines of the first group and the lines of the second group are substantially negligible. The precharging circuit precharges the first group of signal lines to a first voltage level and the second group of signal lines to a second voltage level.

In the field of ICs, data buses are often provided for conveying data within the ICs. Particularly, data buses are commonly employed for memory device ICs, for example for non volatile memory devices. Non volatile memory devices are commonly used for storing information that has to be preserved in the absence of an electrical power source supplying the memory device. In particular, a flash memory typically includes a matrix of cells, each one consisting of a MOS transistor with a floating gate. The transistor is programmed by injecting an electrical charge onto the corresponding floating gate; on the contrary, the transistor is erased by removing the electrical charge from the corresponding floating gate. The electrical charge stored on the floating gate of a transistor modifies its threshold voltage, in such a way as to define different conductivity states and, consequently, different logic values. For example, in memory devices storing a single bit per cell, wherein each cell is capable of memorizing a single bit of information, the generic cell can assume two different threshold voltage values (associated with the two logic values "0" and "1"). In memory devices storing two bits per cell, the generic memory cell can instead assume four different threshold voltage values (associated with the four logic values "00", "01", "10", and "11").
The memory device further includes a bit line for each column of the matrix, and a word line for each row. A single cell is placed at the crossing of the bit line with the word line to which the cell belongs.
For a better selectivity in erasing, the matrix of cells can be partitioned in sectors, each one being capable of being individually erased; the various sectors can be positioned in such a way to form column of sectors.
The operation of reading the memory cells includes biasing them according to proper operating conditions, and sensing the (read) current that they drain. Particularly, the operations for sensing the read current are performed by a plurality of sense amplifiers, which are arranged in the proximity of the area in the silicon chip wherein the matrix of memory cells is integrated. Referring for example to a multilevel flash memory device having two bits per cell, the sense amplifier receives a current value corresponding to the conductivity state of the memory cell, and outputs two signals that represent, at the end of the reading operation, the two bits corresponding to the state. When the reading is finished, the two bits are stored (in a volatile way) into two bistable elements (e.g., flip-flops), and transmitted outside the area dedicated to the memory matrix toward output circuits, by two properly driven signal lines. The two signal lines coming from a sense amplifier are arranged side by side with those coming from the other sense amplifiers of the memory device, so as to form a data bus that connects the plurality of sense amplifiers with the output circuits. In the case of a memory that is capable of storing more than two bits per cell, the number of signal lines correspondingly increases.
Each signal line forming the data bus, realized with a metallic material, typically aluminum, is affected by a parasitic capacitive load toward ground and a capacitive coupling with the adjacent signal lines. The capacitive coupling dominates the parasitic capacitive load of the bus (i.e., the parasitic capacitance of the bus lines toward ground), because of the size scaling of the circuit devices due to modern technologies. In particular, the total capacitance due to the contribution of all the lines of the data bus of a memory device may reach a value on the order of hundreds of picofarads (pF).
Because of the high capacitive load of the signal lines belonging to the data bus, the switching of the signal lines involves a high electrical power dissipation, and may provoke electrical noise (for example, voltage spikes) that superimposes on the voltages supplying the circuit. The resulting electrical noise is dangerous, because it is capable of invalidating the reading operation of the cell. The flip-flops connected to the outputs of the sense amplifiers, properly clocked, have, among others, the purpose of avoiding the switching of the signal lines during the reading operations, and the purpose of allowing it only at the end of the reading operations, when the electrical noise is no longer able to interfere with the result of the reading.
The reading operation in certain memory devices is advantageously performed simultaneously on a relatively high number of cells, and a very large data word (e.g., a 128-bit data word) is stored in the flip flops. Such a data word cannot be made available at the outside of the memory all at one time, but the access (of a "synchronous" type, because it is synchronized by the clock signals of the flip-flops) to the data stored in the flip-flops can be performed in a parallel way, for example in groups of 8/16 bits at a time, depending on the parallelism of the memory. Particularly, the output circuits are sequentially connected, by the corresponding signal lines, to the output of 8/16 flip-flops at a time. The delay between the reading of each data group and the subsequent data group depends on the length of the data bus lines, because the output signals of the flip-flops necessitate a propagation time for propagating along the respective signal lines.
The ever-increasing demand for increased reading speeds has therefore lead to placing the flip-flops far from the sense amplifiers, and not near them, i.e., the flip-flops have been positioned in correspondence to the ends of the data bus lines, outside the area dedicated to the memory matrix. In this way, the data stored in the flip-flops connected to the signal lines can be made available to the output circuits more rapidly, without having to wait for the propagation of the signals along the data bus (this propagation occurs only during the first access, when the data word read from the cells has to be stored into the flip-flops).
Conversely, the demand for shorter and shorter asynchronous access times involves the use of architectures providing independent sense amplifier modules per each memory sector, or per groups thereof. Because of the increase in the number of sense amplifiers, if the flip-flops were positioned close to the outputs of the sense amplifiers, the number of necessary flip-flops would drastically increase, with a consequent excessive waste of silicon chip area. By placing the flip-flops at the end of the signal lines of the data bus (which can be common to several memory sectors, through a proper multiplexing), the number thereof can be reduced.
Unfortunately, placing the flip-flops at the end of the signal lines of the data bus makes it no longer possible to take advantage of the flip-flops presence for preventing the signal lines of the data bus from switching during the reading, and it is necessary to take care of the induced electrical noise that superimpose on the supply voltages, caused by the switching of the signal lines during the reading operations because, during the reading operation of a cell, the outputs of the corresponding sense amplifier are not stable. In fact, the outputs can switch several times, or slowly pass from one state to the other before reaching a final logic state (for example, the state "1", typically associated with a voltage value equal to the supply voltage, e.g., Vdd=3V, and the state "0", typically associated with ground). In the absence of flip-flops directly connected to the outputs of the sense amplifiers that "mask" the switching of the signal lines during the reading operation, problems of power consumption and electrical noise are faced, which can critically affect the reading operation itself. In fact, with the parasitic capacitance values, a voltage switching of a signal line of the data bus from ground to the supply voltage of 3 V is capable of producing a high current spike (even as high as 100 mA), with a consequent drop in the supply voltage value, which is capable of invalidate the reading.
Thus, a solution is necessary for the problems of electrical noise and power consumption that is compatible with the placement of the flip-flops so as to be no more directly in correspondence to the sense amplifier outputs, but outside the area dedicated to the memory matrix.
A possible solution is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,069, in which a data transmission architecture of differential type is described; in this way, the voltage excursions of the signal lines are limited, and the problems of electrical noise and power consumption are reduced.
We have observed that such a structure is however expensive in terms of silicon chip area. In fact, transmitting the data by differential signals requires adding a reference signal line for each signal line of the data bus, and a final structure for converting the differential signal into a logic signal, with reference to the ground.
A different solution is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,150, which provides for transmitting a datum on the signal line only when the datum varies between two readings, so as to reduce the switching. This solution is implemented using a "domino" logic (exploiting timing signals that establish a precharging phase and an evaluation phase of the datum).
However, we have observed that such a structure has the disadvantages of still having a flip-flop connected to the input of each signal line, necessitating a timing signal, and having floating nodes along the signal line, sensitive to possible electrical disturbances.
A further solution is proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,089, which describes a "differential-domino" logic. In this way no more flip-flops are connected to the input of the signal lines, but this solution has the drawbacks typical of differential transmission (e.g., transmission lines that are duplicated), plus the managing of a system having a timing signal.

Data bus architecture for a semiconductor memory


An apron return assembly having a pump that is adapted to convey a fluid, an apron actuator having an apron actuator cap side and an apron actuator rod side and being in fluid communication with the pump, an accumulator that is in fluid communication with the apron actuator cap side, a reservoir that is in fluid communication with the apron actuator, and a tension rod having a frame end and an apron end. In the preferred apron return assembly, the apron actuator and the tension rod are adapted to move the apron between a closed position and an open position. A method for moving the apron from the open position to the closed position.

It is known to use apparatuses and methods to remove uncrushable material or tramp iron from the crushing chamber of rock crushers. Conventional apparatuses and methods, however, suffer from one or more disadvantages. For example, conventional apparatuses and methods produce undesirably excessive forces following a tramp iron event when the apron is moved from an open position to a closed position, i.e. when the apron is returned to its original crushing position. As a result, conventional apparatuses and methods are easily damaged and have undesirably short lifespans. In addition, conventional apparatuses and methods require undesirably large and expensive components. Conventional apparatuses and methods also do not allow an operator to move the apron to an open position during crushing operations in order to clear a jammed crushing chamber and then automatically return the apron to the preset closed position at a controlled speed after the crushing chamber has been cleared.
It would be desirable, therefore, if an apparatus and method for an apron return assembly could be provided that would not produce undesirably excessive forces following a tramp iron event when the apron is moved from an open position to a closed position, i.e. when the apron is returned to its original crushing position. It would also be desirable if such an apparatus and method for an apron return assembly could be provided that would not be easily damaged and have an undesirably short lifespan. It would be further desirable if such an apparatus and method for an apron return assembly could be provided that would not require undesirably large and expensive components. It would also be desirable if such an apparatus and method for an apron return assembly could be provided that would allow an operator to move the apron to an open position in the event of a blockage in the crushing chamber during crushing operations and then automatically return the apron to a preset closed position at a controlled speed after the blockage has been cleared.

Apparatus and method for an apron return assembly


A luminance compensation method for a display panel includes: dividing the display area into at least two sub-display areas including a first sub-display area and a second sub-display area, where a density of luminance abnormal textures in the first sub-display area is smaller than that in the second sub-display area, a number of types of the luminance abnormal textures in the first sub-display area is less than that in the second sub-display area; dividing the first sub-display area into a plurality of first compensation units, dividing the second sub-display area into at least one second compensation unit, where a total number of pixel units in each first compensation unit is greater than that in each second compensation unit; obtaining a compensation coefficient of each compensation unit and forming a compensation coefficient table; performing luminance compensation for the display panel according to the compensation coefficient table.

The organic light emitting diode (OLED) has been widely used in various electronic devices due to its advantages, such as self-illumination, requiring no backlight, low power consumption and high luminance.
FIG. 1 is sectional view of an OLED pixel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the OLED pixel includes a substrate 1 and an insulating layer 2. Further, the OLED pixel further includes a drive circuit (not shown), an anode 102, an organic light-emitting function layer 103 and a cathode 104. In FIG. 1, a drive thin film transistor 101 in the drive circuit (not shown) represents the drive circuit (not shown). An input terminal of the drive circuit (not shown) and the cathode 104 are respectively connected to a positive power source signal line and a negative power source signal line. In a light-emitting process of the OLED pixel, the drive thin film transistor 101 is turned on under combined action of scanning lines and data lines of the display panel; an anode driving signal is applied to the anode 102 through the drive circuit, and a cathode driving signal is directly applied to the cathode 104. An electric field is formed between the anode 102 and the cathode 104. The organic light-emitting function layer 103 emits light under the action of the electric field. A power supply signal is provided by a driving integrated circuit (IC) located in a non-display area via a power signal line to each drive circuits (not shown) located in the display area. However, due to the impedance of the power signal line, when a current flows, the power signal generates a voltage drop on the power signal line, causing the attenuation of the power signal actually received by the drive circuit, affecting the luminance of the OLED pixel and resulting in the uneven luminance on the OLED display panel.

Luminance compensation method for a display panel

WUHAN TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.


The single-phase brushless motor according to one aspect of the present invention includes a coil array having a plurality of magnetic coils 11-14; a magnet array having a plurality of permanent magnets 31-34; a magnetic sensor 40 for detecting relative position of the magnet array and the coil array; and a drive control circuit that, utilizing the output signal SSA of the magnetic sensor, generates application voltage for driving the coil array with a single-phase drive signal. The coil array includes a magnetic member 20. This magnetic member 20 is constituted such that, with the single-phase brushless motor at a stop, the centers of the permanent magnets 31-34 come to a stop at locations offsetted from the centers of the magnetic coils 11-14, due to attraction of the magnetic member 20 by the magnet array.

In the motor industry, both 1-phase motors and 2-phase motors are referred to collectively as "single-phase motors." However, the term single-phase motor will be used herein to mean phase 1 motors only, and excludes phase 2 motors.
Brushless motors that utilize permanent magnets and magnetic coils are known from publications such as JP 2001-298982A, for example.
In this prior art electric motor, control is carried out using an on/off signal from a digital magnetic sensor. Specifically, the timing for reversing the polarity of the voltage applied to the magnetic coils is determined using an on/off signal from the digital magnetic sensor. A three-phase drive signal is often used as the drive signal.
Conventional brushless motors utilized a drive signal with two or more phases; none use a single-phase drive signal. The reason is related to the startup characteristics of a single-phase motor which will be discussed below.
A characteristic of single-phase motors is that the motor cannot be started up with the permanent magnets and coils stopped in direct opposition to one another. This position is known as the "deadlock point" or "dead point." Thus, the startup method employed for an ordinary single-phase motor involves providing a secondary winding for the purpose of reliable startup, with current flowing to the secondary winding only during startup. In a certain type of single-phase motor, a capacitor is employed to differentiate the phases of the primary winding and the secondary winding.
In ordinary brushless motors on the other hand, a so-called inverter drive is employed. However, when a single-phase employing an inverter drive is started up, there is considerable current flow to the secondary winding and the capacitor during startup, creating the problem of susceptibility to damage of the switching elements or capacitor. Accordingly, a problem encountered in the prior art is the difficulty of configuring a single-phase motor as a brushless motor.


Provided is a pattern inspection method including: irradiating a substrate with an electron beam, a pattern being formed on the substrate; acquiring an inspection image as a secondary electron image of the pattern; setting a pixel value equal to or less than a first threshold value minus a half of a predetermined detection width of the inspection image and a pixel value equal to or more than the first threshold value plus a half of the predetermined detection width of the inspection image to unprocessed; acquiring a difference image between the inspection image having the pixel value having less than the first threshold value minus the half of the predetermined detection width and the pixel value having more of the first threshold value plus the half of the predetermined detection width being set to unprocessed and a reference image of the inspection image; and performing inspection on the basis of the difference image.

In recent years, with the increase in degree of integration and the large capacity of large scale integrated circuits (LSIs), the circuit line width required for semiconductor elements has been narrower. These semiconductor elements are manufactured by using an original image pattern (also referred to as a mask or a reticle and, hereinafter, collectively referred to as a mask) on which a circuit pattern is formed and by exposing and transferring the pattern onto a wafer by a reduction projection exposure apparatus called a so-called stepper to form a circuit.
And, for manufacturing LSIs requiring a large production cost, the improvement of yields is indispensable. However, as represented by 1-gigabit class random access memory (DRAM), patterns constituting the LSIs are on the order of submicrometer to nanometer. In recent years, with the miniaturization of sizes of LSI patterns formed on a semiconductor wafer, the size to be detected as a pattern defect becomes extremely small. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the accuracy of a pattern inspection apparatus for inspecting defects of ultrafine patterns transferred onto the semiconductor wafer. Besides, as one of the major factors of decreasing the yields, there may be mentioned a pattern defect of a mask used for exposing and transferring an ultrafine pattern on a semiconductor wafer by a photolithography technique. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the accuracy of a pattern inspection apparatus for inspecting defects of a transfer mask used for manufacturing LSIs.
As an inspection method, there is known a method of performing inspection by comparing an optical image obtained by imaging a pattern formed on a sample such as a semiconductor wafer or a lithography mask with a predetermined magnification by using an enlargement optical system with an optical image obtained by imaging a design data or an identical pattern on the sample. For example, as a pattern inspection method, there are "die-to-die inspection" of comparing optical image data obtained by imaging identical patterns at different places on the same mask and "die-to-database inspection" of inputting, to an inspection apparatus, a drawing data (design pattern data) obtained by converting a CAD data in which a pattern is designed into a device input format to be input by a drawing device at the time of drawing a pattern on a mask, generating a design image data (reference image) on the basis of the drawing data, and comparing an optical image as a measurement data obtained by imaging the pattern with the design image data. In the inspection method in such an inspection apparatus, the inspection target substrate is mounted on a stage, and while light flux scans the sample by the movement of the stage, the inspection is performed. The inspection target substrate is irradiated with the light flux by a light source and an illumination optical system. Light transmitted through or reflected from the inspection target substrate is imaged on a sensor via an optical system. The image captured by the sensor is transmitted as a measurement data to a comparison circuit. In the comparison circuit, after the images are aligned with each other, the measurement data and a reference data are compared according to an appropriate algorithm, and when the measurement data and the reference data do not match, it is determined that there is a pattern defect.
In the above-described pattern inspection apparatus, an optical image is acquired by irradiating the inspection target substrate with a laser beam and capturing a transmission image or a reflection image thereof. On the other hand, there has been developed an inspection apparatus that irradiates the inspection target substrate with a multi-beam including a plurality of electron beams in an array arrangement in which a plurality of rows of beams are arrayed at an equal pitch on a straight line are aligned, detects secondary electrons corresponding to the respective beams emitted from the inspection target substrate to acquire a pattern image. In a pattern inspection apparatus using an electron beam including such multi-beams, secondary electrons are detected by scanning each small region of the inspection target substrate.

Pattern inspection method and pattern inspection apparatus


A method and an apparatus for matching corresponding frames in two multimedia streams are suggested. The first multimedia stream is an original multimedia stream for which meta-data are available. The second multimedia stream is broadcasted or multi-casted multimedia stream and has undergone processing steps such that the meta-data of the original video stream are no more available or no longer reliable. The matching of corresponding frames in the two multimedia streams is based on the comparison of audio fingerprints and the detection of shot boundaries. Matching corresponding frames with frame accuracy enables inserting targeted content like advertisements into a sequence of video frames especially in a broadcast or multicast environment where meta-data and time markers cannot be relied upon.

Broadcasting companies or broadcasters transmit news, shows, sports events and films as programs to viewers who receive the programs through terrestrial, satellite and/or cable broadcast signals.
Advertisements accompanying such programs are very important for the business model of broadcasters. It is common practice that broadcasters include advertisements in dedicated advertisement breaks during a program. With the emergence of TV receivers offering time shift recording and viewing functionality, many viewers tend to skip the advertisement breaks by jumping forward in the recorded program or by switching into the fast forward mode. The reason for doing so is that, firstly, most of the times the advertisements are not relevant for the majority of the viewers and, secondly, it is very easy to avoid the advertisement breaks utilizing the time-shift functionality. Under such circumstances the main goal of the client of the broadcaster, who is paying for the advertisement placement, is missed because the advertisement does not reach out anymore to potential customers of the company who has placed the advertisement.
The obvious weakness of placing advertisements in advertisement breaks can be alleviated by embedding the advertisement in the program itself. The simplest approach for embedding the advertisement is to create a composed image by inserting the advertisement as a text box or banner into a number of video frames of the broadcasted program. This concept is known from prior art and will be explained in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.
A more elegant approach is to insert the advertisement as an integral part of the video sequence e.g. displaying the advertisement on a billboard shown in a video sequence. However, in order to create a good impression and maintain a natural look of the composed image, the advertisement needs to be adapted to the rest of the scene in the video sequence. Typically, this approach requires human intervention to obtain results of good quality.
Embedding advertisement into a composed image makes it for the viewer practically impossible to avoid the advertisement. But embedding the advertisement alone still fails to make the advertisement more relevant for the viewer. In order to address this issue, the displayed advertisement needs to take into account individual interests of the viewer or, in other words, the advertisements need to be targeted to the viewer.
The approach of providing targeted content is known from video games for example. The selection of the advertisements is made by means of individual information stored in a game console of a videogame. WO 2007/041 371 A1 describes how user interactions in a video game are used to target advertisements. E.g. if the user selects a racing car of a specific brand, then an advertisement of the same brand is displayed in the video game.
The insertion of targeted content in video games is comparatively simple because the creator of the video game has full control of the scenery and can, therefore, provide scenes that are suitable for advertisement insertion. In addition, in a video game the video processing is completely controlled inside the video console. In a broadcast environment the insertion of targeted content is more complex.
In the co-pending European patent application EP 13 305 151.6 of the same applicant, it is suggested to identify in a video sequence a set of frames appropriate for inserting advertisements as targeted content. According to that method two sets of meta-data are created. The first set of metadata relates to the video content, e.g. frame numbers of those frames susceptible for inlaying the advertisement, coordinates where the advertisement should be placed, a geometrical shape of the advertisement, the used color map, light setting, etc. A second group of meta-data provides information that is required for selecting the appropriate content in the video sequence. The second set of meta-data comprises therefore information about the inserted content itself, the context of the scene, the distance of a virtual camera, etc. The method of inserting targeted content described in EP 13 305 151.6 works well as long as all meta-data are completely available.
However, in a video broadcast system, the video signal is transformed along its distribution chain from the broadcaster to the premises of the viewer. It may be transcoded, re-encoded, converted from digital to analog signals and vice versa, audio tracks may be edited or removed or changed. These transformations are generally not under the control of a single entity. Therefore, time markers or any other meta-data may get lost during these transformations. Potential remedies for this problem are video and/or audio watermarks. Video and audio watermarks are not susceptible to the mentioned transformations and could therefore serve as invariable markers in the video and/or audio sequence. However, content owners do not always accept to include watermarks because they are concerned by a potential negative effect on the quality perception of the viewer. Some broadcasters refuse to include watermarks because they do not want to modify the content broadcast workflow.
Also for the following reasons watermarking is not a preferred technology for the sole purpose of synchronization of two video streams or identifying matching corresponding frames in two video streams. Watermarking is based on a symmetric key for embedding and decoding the watermarks. The key and the process of watermarking must be based on secure hardware which is too costly for many consumer electronics applications. In addition to that, scaling watermarking for a large number of devices is also an issue.
For these reasons, video and/or audio watermarks are no feasible solution to compensate for the loss of time markers and meta-data.
Video fingerprinting is another technique that may provide frame accurate synchronization of a broadcasted or multi-casted video stream with the corresponding original video stream. However, matching a video fingerprint (signature) extracted by the video player against all signatures of the video provided by a server is costly and cannot be carried out in real-time by a set top box (STB).
Therefore, there remains a need for a solution to match one or several corresponding frame(s) in a broadcasted multimedia stream with the corresponding original multimedia stream with frame accuracy.

Method and apparatus for matching of corresponding frames in multimedia streams


An electrical diagnostic tool for in situ testing of a tone wheel sensor mounted in proximity of a rotatable tone wheel. The tone wheel sensor produces a periodic pulse train signal as the rotatable tone wheel is rotated. The tool has a signal conditioning block for receiving the periodic pulse train signal and generating therefrom a logic-level signal having a frequency. A digital counter has a plurality of outputs and is clocked by the logic-level signal. A plurality of LEDs controlled by the digital counter are used to determine the operational condition of the tone wheel sensor by sequentially illuminating the LEDs at the frequency and in accordance with a counting sequence of the digital counter.

Modern vehicles have a plurality of electronic sensors for providing input data to their control computers. One class of sensors provides data relating to the rotational position of a rotating component, such as a shaft or wheel. These sensors, which may be referred to generically as tone wheel sensors, are positioned in proximity to a toothed or slotted metal target wheel, which is either formed integral to the rotating component or attached to it. As the target wheel rotates with the component, the tone wheel sensor emits an electrical pulse each time a tooth or slot passes it. The time periods of the electrical pulses are used by the vehicle computer to determine the rotational speed or position of the rotating component as is known in the art. Such systems are commonly used to determine the positions of the camshaft and crankshaft in the engine, the speeds of various shafts in the transmission, and the speed of each road wheel.
From time to time, it becomes necessary to diagnose a tone wheel position sensor to determine whether it is malfunctioning. Known methods of diagnosing the tone wheel sensors include removing a suspect sensor and replacing it with one that is known to be good, measuring the sensor voltages with a voltmeter, or observing sensor signals with an oscilloscope. Each of these methods has undesirable aspects. For example, replacing the tone wheel sensor requires that a technician have a known-good sensor on hand and that he expend valuable time swapping the sensors only to determine if the old one was the cause of a problem. If the old sensor was good, then the technician wasted time in replacing it.
The method of using a voltmeter also has undesirable aspects. For example, a voltmeter display typically does not have sufficient bandwidth to track each pulse from a tone wheel sensor. Even if it did, it is unlikely that a technician could comprehend a voltmeter reading that changes so rapidly. This makes the voltmeter practically useless for determining whether a sensor is intermittently malfunctioning due to vibration, etc. In addition, a voltmeter does not provide power to the sensor, nor does it provide the proper load to the sensor signal. Therefore, many types of position sensors will have to be tested while they are connected to the vehicle wiring harness through a breakout box, which provides access to the signals.
Using an oscilloscope also presents the issue of providing power to the position sensor and using a breakout box to reach the signal. Furthermore, oscilloscopes are among the most difficult to use and expensive tools in an automotive electronics tool assortment. This means that many repair facilities may either not have an oscilloscope or not have a technician who is able to use one efficiently.


There is provided a method and apparatus for transferring digital image files to a digital video disc. The files in the digital video disc, or digital photos, are representative of a plurality of still pictures and are user controllable interactively played on either a personal computer or through a standard digital video disc playback device, such as a digital video disc player or a video compact disc player. The user has control of manipulating and sequencing the digital photos. During playback, the user has control of sequence during playback on either the personal computer or the television. A custom software package allows for the user controlled playback of the digital photos with most standard playback devices.

It is known to digitally scan still pictures into digital image files that can be stored into memory. It is also known to create digital image files using a digital camera, wherein the digital image files are stored on a memory card. Other types of storing digital image files is also known. It is also known to process these stored image files and transfer the processed files to a second storage medium. Many companies offer transfer of stored image files to a compact disc. The compact disc is later interfaced with a personal computer so that the images can be viewed, manipulated and even e-mailed.
It is also known to process these stored image files to a compact disc so that the stored image files can be interfaced with a special purpose digital video disc player for viewing with a television. However, there are many limitations to these methods and discs. First, these discs inevitably require the user to purchase a preselected digital video disc player. The discs will not operate with most standard digital video players.
Another drawback is that the user has no control over the playback of the images. The images will not stay on the television indefinitely nor is there a universal method of controlling forward and reverse when viewing a sequence of images. Generally, it is a hit and miss proposition to forward and reverse control the sequence of images.
Another problem with the present art is that the software is very restrictive and time consuming as pictures must be transposed one at a time. Further, these pictures are transferred into video and not a picture show presentation.
Yet still further, this software requires a lot of equipment and expertise as it is designed for a home user on a personal computer.
Still yet another drawback is that the images often do not use the entire picture space on the television screen. Therefore, the images are more difficult to view and enjoy.

Method and apparatus for processing digital images files to a digital video disc


A type of flexible component reinforcing mechanism, the upward extension of said flexible component forming a connector part, inside said flexible main unit is an activator body, the downward extension of the flexible component forms a base, characterized in a number of spaced reinforcing units that are located at the intersection part between the flexible main unit and the connector part; said configuration is designed to form better strength on the intersection part which is the most frequently broken or damaged part of the flexible component, to significantly reduce the occurrence of broken or damaged intersection part.

The subject invention relates to a type of flexible component reinforcing mechanism, or specifically to a type of flexible component that will form a better strength, and significantly reduce the occurrence of broken or damaged parts.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is the flexible component 10 in the push key device of a conventional computer keyboard, said flexible component 10 is made of a flexible rubber material, involving a flexible main unit 11, the upward extension of said flexible main unit 11 forms a connector part 12, in the direction away from the connector part 12 in the vertical direction inside said flexible main unit 11 is an activator body 13, the downward extension of the flexible main unit 11 forms a base 14. The flexible component 10 may be joined by the connector part 12 to the lower end of the key post 16 at the bottom of the push key 15. When the push key 15 is depressed, the key post 16 at the bottom of the push key will press down on the flexible component 10, so that the activator body 13 inside the flexible component 10 moves down to contact the film circuit (not shown in drawing) below to connect the current, when the key 15 is released, the flexibility of the flexible component 10 will reset the key 15 to its original position.
After extended use, however, said conventional flexible component 10 will no longer be used regularly because the intersection part 18 between the flexible main unit 11 and the connector part 12 would often be broken or damaged.

Flexible component reinforcing mechanism


A paper feeding apparatus includes: a frame forming one of a paper stacker and a paper feed tray on which paper is stackable; a paper feed unit disposed above the frame and including a pickup roller which picks up the paper; and an active paper separator disposed at a lower part of the frame in the paper feeding direction thereof, contacting leading ends of sheets disposed in the frame, rotatable in an anti-paper feeding direction opposite the feeding direction so as to actively rub the leading ends and thereby separate and feed the sheets one at a time when the sheets of paper are picked up by the pickup roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper feeding apparatus of an image forming apparatus, such as an office machine such as a copier, a printer and a fax, and more particularly, to a paper feeding apparatus of an image forming apparatus having an active paper separating unit, which is disposed at a lower part in the paper feeding direction of a stacker or a cassette for stacking paper to rotate in the anti-paper feeding direction and to actively rub leading ends of sheets of paper, thereby separating and feeding the sheets of paper sheet by sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus, such as an office machine, such as a printer and a fax, generally comprises a paper feeding apparatus feeding sheets of paper to an image forming unit.
As shown in FIG. 1, such paper feeding apparatus 10 comprises a frame 11 composing a stacker or a cassette for stacking paper, a pickup unit 30 disposed at the lower side in the paper feeding direction (right hand side of FIG. 1) of the frame 11 to rotate in association with a power transferring gear train (not shown) connected with a pickup roller driving motor (not shown) and to pick up sheets of paper stacked in the frame 11, and a paper separating assembly 40 comprising a plurality of paper separating plates integrally or separately disposed to the frame 11 at the lower side in the paper feeding direction of the frame 11 to separate and feed a sheet of paper at a time while supporting the sheet of paper to enter at a predetermined angle.
The pickup unit 30 comprises a pickup roller assembly 33 comprising a pickup shaft 31 connected to the power transferring gear train, a first gear (not shown) formed around the pickup shaft 31, a first and a second idle gears (not shown) pivotably disposed around a first and a second idle shafts 37, 38 to move in association with the first gear, a pickup roller gear (not shown) connected to the second idle gear, a pickup roller 34 coaxially formed with the pickup roller gear to pick up a sheet of paper, an unidirectional power transfer unit (not shown) such as a spring clutch for transferring rotary power only in the paper pickup direction to the pickup roller gear between the pickup roller gear and the second idle gear, and a link member 36 with one end connected with a pickup roller shaft 39 and the other end pivotably supported on a supporting shaft 35 to support the pickup roller 34 to be in contact with paper.
Hereinafter, the operation of a conventional paper feeding apparatus 10 having the above described structure will be described.
When a paper feed mode is selected, the pickup shaft 31 rotates in the pickup direction, for example, clockwise, by the power transferring gear train connected to the pickup roller driving motor, and accordingly the pickup roller 34 rotates counterclockwise in association with the first gear, the first and second idle gears and the pickup roller gear.
As a result, a sheet of paper in contact with the pickup roller 34 is picked up and fed as the pickup roller 34 rotates counterclockwise.
The paper picked up by the pickup roller 34 is separated sheet by sheet while being supported to be in a predetermined paper-entering angle by the paper separating plates of the paper separating assembly 40 and then conveyed to the image forming unit (not shown).
After that, when the paper activates a paper sensor (not shown), a control unit (not shown) stops the pickup roller driving motor and starts a paper feed roller driving motor (not shown), or transfers the driving force of the pickup roller driving motor to the paper feed roller driving unit (not shown) thereby driving a paper feed roller conveying paper through a power connection/blocking device such as a swing gear (not shown) in order to stop the pickup roller 34 and drive the paper feed roller (not shown).
As a result, the paper is continuously conveyed to the image forming unit by the paper feed roller. The pickup roller 34 receiving counterclockwise rotary force from the paper idle-rotates without transferring rotary force to the pickup roller gear due to the unidirectional power transfer unit of the pickup roller assembly 33.
However, in such conventional paper feeding apparatus 10, a picking up or feeding force of the pickup roller 34 is determined on the basis of a weight of the paper which is commonly used. Accordingly, when sheets of paper which are rarely used are picked up or fed, the paper feeding force is not suitable for such sheets, so that a sheet pickup problem such as a multi sheet feed or a sheet feed failure may occur during paper pickup.
More specifically, currently used papers have various weights ranging from 40 g/m2 to 200 g/m2, but a paper feeding force of the pickup roller 34 is determined on the basis of the paper having a weight ranging from 60 g/m2 to 90 g/m2 which is commonly used. Accordingly, when sheets of paper having a weight of below 60 g/m2 or above 90 g/m2 are picked up, the sheet pickup problem may occur.
To solve such a sheet pickup problem generating when various sheets of paper are fed by one paper feeding force determined as explained as above, the conventional paper feeding apparatus 10 is generally provided with paper separating plates having a paper-entering angle determined to separate and feed sheets of paper sheet by sheet without generating the sheet pickup problem to sheets of paper having a weight of below 60 g/m2 or above 90 g/m2.
However, even though the paper-entering angle of the paper separating plates is determined not to generate the sheet pickup problem to the sheets of paper which are rarely used, if a thickness of and a frictional force between sheets vary as a kind of paper, the paper-entering angle determined like that comes not to tally with that which is required of the sheets to be practically fed by the paper feeding apparatus 10.
Thus, if the paper-entering angle is not tallied (i.e., considered) with the practically required paper-entering angle, the paper feeding apparatus 10 comes to again present the sheet pickup problem such as the multi sheet feed or the sheet feed failure.
To solve this problem, a method of forming the paper separating plates from material having relatively large frictional force such as a rubber, or a method of forming projections on the paper separating plates can be considered. However, these methods have a disadvantage that since the paper separating plates is fixedly disposed, they cannot directly or actively give a frictional force on the sheets, if a paper-entering angle thereof which is required of the sheets to be practically fed does not tally with a paper-entering angle thereof, and thereby there is a limit to what ranges the sheet pickup problem is prevented from occurring.

Paper feeding apparatus having an active paper separating unit in an image forming apparatus


A new and distinct variety of a member of the plant family Solanaceae, namely, Solanum sodomeum, also known as Solanum linnaeanum, and Solanum hermanii, commonly known as Apple of Sodom, Yellow Popola, or Dead Sea Apple, named xe2x80x98G.U.Y.-D Orange Pom Pomxe2x80x99, which is characterized by dark green spiny leaves, flowers borne in clusters of three or four, the flowers having white petals and bright yellow stamens, and globose fruits that are reddish-orange.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Solanum sodomeum, an erect, diffusely branching woody perennial shrub plant, that is dark green pubescent with stellate and some simple glandular hairs, sparse on upper leaf surface, denser on lower surface. The variety grows to one meter height typically. It features prickles to 15 mm. in length, common on most parts. It spreads by seeds, having flowers, white in color and tomato-like fruits of reddish orange.
The stems, measuring approximately up to 1 meter in height, are greenish in color with curved to straight, straw-colored spines approximately 3-6 mm. long. The central stem is sturdy and erect, and heavily branched with medium foliage. The plant is a moderate to heavy bloomer that does well either outdoors in sunny locations or in green house with bright sunlight.
A young plant of approximately 40 to 86 cm. in height carries 50 to 75 blooms; a more developed plant of approximately 114 cm to 152 cm. in height carries 120 to 160 blooms lasting 5 to 7 days. New blooms appear from 21 to 35 days from transplanting from xe2x80x9cplugsxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cseedlingsxe2x80x9d or 58 to 65 days from seeding.
The leaves typically measure 8 cm.xc3x976 cm. and are dark green in color, ovate, deeply pinnately lobed, spiny, recurved, and petiolate. The leaves are composed of five to seven, rounded to obtuse lobes, the larger ones sinuate. Both stems and leaves are covered with minute star-shaped hairs.
The flowers, similar to those of the potato, have uniformly five to six petals, white in color. Seeds usually fall close to the parent plant but may be dispersed by the wind, in mud, on animals and machinery.
The variety is further characterized by a globose fruit, to 3.8 cm. wide, green marbled, becoming orange to reddish orange, finally brown to black and dry when mature. It contains numerous translucent grayish yellow seeds, round, 2-3 mm. wide.
The flowers have no discernable fragrance.
The seed parent is unknown but is most likely Solanum sodomeum. The instant plant is the product of a breeding program and is derived from unknown parents that were raised from solanum seeds found in South America and the Mediterranean. These parents were crossed and the instant plant was chosen from among the progeny because of the white flower and attractive fruit color.
The age of the described plant is 162 days.
The diameter of the central stem at 119 cm. in height is approximately 16.7 mm; the diameter of central stem at 82.6 cm. in height is approximately 8.5 mm.
The bud shape is ovate. The bud size is approximately 7.5 mm to 10 mm in lengthxc3x973 mm in width.
The petal size is approximately 10 mm to 12 mm in lengthxc3x975 mm in width.
The depth of foliage lobes is approximately 10 mm to 101 mm.
The seed size is approximately 2-3 mm in diameter.
The plant is resistant to whitefiles and spider mites; and it is resistant to mildew and fungus.
Subsequent to the origination of the variety, I have successfully reporduced it at 19 Canyon Acres, at Santa Barbara, Calif. retaining the distinguishing characteristics through succeeding propagation by cuttings.
The descriptive matter which follows pertains to plants grown and color values observed in those plants in the months of January through April. The plants were grown outdoors in Santa Barbara, Calif. and are believed to be accurate standards for this same cultivar in similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.
The observed growth rate is as follows:
From a seed to starter plant: 40 to 45 days.
From a starter plant of approximately 76 mm to 102 mm in height, to mature plant of approximately 109 cm. in height: 185 days. More particularly, the observed growth rate from a starter plant is approximately as follows:
Day 30: 15 cm. to 22.8 cm.
Day 60: 30.5 cm.
Day 90: 63.5 cm.
Day 120: 83.5 cm.
Day 150: 106.7 cm.
Day 185: 109 cm.
The instant variety grows to approximately 120 cm. to 150 cm. in height. In Australia plants of the same genus and species can be bush-like spreading to over 600 cm. in width. While the instant plant has thorns of 3-6 mm in length, others have spikes (thorns) that are longer and more woody or harder. Flower color of other species of Solanum is typically yellow or purple in color, while the instant plant features with white petals. Seeds of other Solanum are 1 mm in diameter and shiny black-brown in color with no seed coat, while the seeds of instant variety are enclosed in a seed coat of somewhat translucent grayish-yellow color measuring approximately 2-3 mm in diameter. The main stems of the instant variety are soft and green, while others are typically brown and woody. Unlike other species of Solanum, the instant plant is not noxious.

Solanum named xe2x80x98G.U.Y-D Orange Pom Pomxe2x80x99


Embodiments of a 3D web interaction system are disclosed that allow a user to select a content item from a browser, displayed in an artificial reality environment, and present a corresponding version of the content item in the artificial reality environment. The 3D web interaction system can create the version of the selected content item in different ways depending on whether the selected content item is associated with 3D content and, if so, the type of the associated 3D content. For example, the 3D web interaction system can create and present different versions of the selected content item depending on whether the selected content item is (a) not associated with 3D content, (b) associated with “environment content,” or (c) associated with one or more 3D models.

Various objects in an artificial reality environment are "virtual objects," i.e., representations of objects generated by a computing system that appear in the environment. Virtual objects in an artificial reality environment can be presented to a user by a head-mounted display, a mobile device, a projection system, or another computing system. Some artificial reality environments can present a virtual website browser (referred to herein as a "browser") that allows the user to view and interact with traditional websites while in the artificial reality environment. For example, a browser can be presented in the artificial reality environment as a tablet or 2D window with traditional web browser controls such as a URL bar, forward and back buttons, bookmarks, etc.
The techniques introduced here may be better understood by referring to the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method for placing a system on a structured application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) using an electronic design automation tool is disclosed. A subregion that includes an illegal position in a placement solution is identified. All structured ASIC cells in the subregion are removed. Positions for all the structured ASIC cells that are legal are determined.

Structured ASICs may be used to implement large systems that include millions of gates and megabits of embedded memory. Of the tasks required in managing and optimizing a design, designing components and placement of the components on the structured ASICs utilizing available resources can be the most challenging and time consuming. In order to satisfy placement and timing specifications, EDA tools are used to manage and optimize their design onto physical target devices. Automated synthesis and placement algorithms in EDA tools perform the time consuming task of designing and placement of components onto physical devices.
As the complexity of circuits increase, traditional synthesis methods often are unable to produce a timing optimal solution. Delays associated with unplaced circuits are difficult to estimate which make optimization for timing challenging for the traditional synthesis methods. One approach taken by circuit designers to improve timing is to perform physical synthesis which involves re-synthesizing the circuit incrementally after placement. Physical synthesis allows delays to be modeled more accurately after placement when cell positions have been determined.
The optimizations that are performed during physical synthesis will usually lead to a placement that is illegal. For example, one optimization technique that is commonly used is component duplication where nodes feeding a critical connection are duplicated and the duplicated node is moved to its critical fanout connection. A problem with this optimization technique is that congestion often occurs after duplication. When modifications made to a system produce a placement that is illegal, current EDA tools require a re-work of the entire placement procedure. This may require a significant amount of time which is inefficient and undesirable.
Thus, what is needed is an efficient method and apparatus for performing incremental placement on a structured ASIC.

Method and apparatus for performing incremental placement on a structured application specific integrated circuit


A combined optical diffuser and light concentrator uses a layer of optically transmissive material having a first surface to receive light at a range of angles of incidence and a second surface from which the light emerges at a range of angles of emergence, the second surface including a relief pattern featuring a multiplicity of minute projections, the shape and distribution of the projections resulting in diffused light at a range of angles of emergence narrower than the range of angles of incidence. The projections may be produced in accordance with various techniques, including the processing of a photoresist layer exposed to a random speckle pattern or microlithography, including e-beam/x-ray sources.

There exists a need for an optical material capable of both light diffusion and concentration of the diffused light to provide a brighter, though narrower field of view. Such a device would be useful, for example, in a backlighting arrangement for a flat-panel display such as a liquid-crystal (LCD) display. Light diffusers are now common in such backlighting configurations, where they convert light from lamp segments or discrete sources into a more uniform glow across the surface of the display. By their very nature, however, to obscure the light source(s) and cause their shape to be less visually apparent, such diffusers panels redirect incident radiation into multiple output rays which assist in filling the gaps otherwise visible between the discrete sources. This results in a more or less uniform illumination of the display screen, but over a relatively wide range of viewing angles.
If it is known that a narrower range of viewing angles will be used, however, it may be advantageous to concentrate the diffused light into a narrower range of output angles. Representative applications include aircraft and automotive instrumentation, wherein the relative position between the display and the viewer may be substantially fixed. Even in computer display and television viewing environments, however, it may be desirable to reduce or eliminate extremely wide viewing angles in favor of concentrating more light directly in front of the screen. Indeed, in portable computer applications, concentrating light most toward the operator provides a certain level of security by preventing others from being able to view what might be sensitive data.
Concentration of diffused light may be accomplished with several techniques, including the addition of a second, focusing element disposed between the diffuser and the back side of the display panel. Brightness enhancement film (BEF) available from 3M Optical Systems of St. Paul, Minn., for example, provides a light-exiting surface having a multiplicity of prisms, each performing a double internal reflection wherein about half of the incoming rays are reflected back and recycled unless they can be output within a narrower exit cone, thereby providing a brightening effect for a particular set of viewing angles. Such BEF film however, does not provide a diffusing function, but instead, must necessarily be used with a separate diffusing member if such an additional function is desired.
As a modern alternative, volume-phase holograms may be recorded not only to scatter incident light to provide a diffusion function, but also to scatter such light in a directional manner in accordance a preferred range of viewing angles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,418,631 teaches the use of a volume hologram for use in an edge-lit application, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,327 teaches a hologram recorded to directionally diffuse light from an array of linear lamp segments.
One problem with the use of volume-phase material is that it is relatively expensive as compared to a surface-relief hologram, and highly controlled coherent laser exposure is required during the recording process. Moreover, in light-concentrating applications holographic surface-relief structure often out-perform volume-phase counterparts. The need remains, therefore, for a surface-relief type of material which provides both a light-diffusing function and light-concentration function which is highly directional yet economical to manufacture.

Combined optical diffuser and light concentrator


A wireless device that suppresses deterioration of antenna characteristics and can be made thin is provided. The wireless device is provided with a substrate, a wireless module that is mounted on the substrate and has an antenna unit, and a casing that accommodates the substrate and the wireless module. The wireless device has a gap of a length that is an approximate multiple of a half-wavelength of a radio wave corresponding to a communication frequency of the antenna unit, from the antenna unit toward the casing.

In wireless devices in which an antenna-equipped wireless module is stored inside a casing, antenna characteristics sometimes deteriorate. In order to improve antenna characteristics, the following antennas are known. For example, a microstrip antenna that has a dielectric adhered to an antenna surface is known (for example, see PTL 1). Furthermore, an antenna device which has a radome that maintains a space in a constant manner between a radiation element and interior glass, which corresponds to a casing, is known (for example, see PTL 2).

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


A method of modifying a carbon material is disclosed. The method comprises: bonding a metal to a carbon material to form a metal-carbon complex comprising the metal and a benzene unit, wherein the carbon material comprises extended sp2-bonded carbon atoms.

Graphene is a two-dimensional lattice of carbon atoms and is the basic structural element of many carbon materials including graphite, charcoal, carbon nanotubes and fullerenes. Graphene-based electronic devices have significant potential for achieving high performance in the electronic and semiconductor industry because of their unique electronic properties, which are complemented by excellent mechanical and thermal properties.
However, in order to realize the potential of graphene as a superior electronic-material, there is a need to develop a method of chemically modifying graphene while minimizing disruption of its conjugated π-electron clouds, particularly its high π-electron cloud density and its relatively un-scattered motion, which contribute to the superior properties of graphene. One solution is to make a covalent modification, which just rearranges the π-electrons of graphene, does not create any sp3 carbon centers at the reaction site and utilizes only the π-electrons derived from the conjugated graphene structure for filling the vacant metal orbitals.
Recent attempts to covalently modify graphene, in order to introduce a bandgap in its gapless semiconducting structure, have included either decoration of its macromolecular backbone with various organic functionalities (non-stoichiometric modification), such as the grafting of aryl groups to graphene, or making stoichiometric derivatives of graphene, namely graphane or fluorographene. However, these methods have involved the conversion of sp2-hybridized carbon atoms to sp3-hybridized configuration, leading to a serious disturbance and discontinuity in the conjugation of the π-electron clouds and thereby reducing the mobility of the carriers.
Moreover, pentahapto (η5)- and hexahapto (η6)-complexation was attempted but not achievable for fullerenes. In particular, the curvature in C60 significantly inhibits the potential of the molecule to function as a ligand in pentahapto-(η5), and hexahapto-(η6) complexation reactions, because the fullerene π-orbitals are directed away from the metal as a result of the rehybridization of the ring carbon atoms. In C60 the π-orbital axis vectors are directed away from the center of the respective rings and make angles of 16.3° (POAV2) to a normal to the plane of the five-membered rings and 25.8° (POAV2) to a normal to the plane of the six-membered rings. Thus, hexahapto-(ι6) coordination is even more strongly disfavored than pentahapto-(η5) complexation. The organometallic chemistry of fullerene is dominated by dihapto (η2)-complexation reactions.
Thus, methods and systems for providing for more effective and reversible covalent electronic modification of extended periodic π-electron carbon systems such as graphene, without disturbing the structural integrity of the sp2 hybridized carbon atoms, are desirable.

Organometallic chemistry of extended periodic II-electron systems

The Regents of the University of California


A method and mapper apparatus for reallocating bandwidth used by a data tributary comprising data units, during transport of the data tributary over a communications link by a time division multiplexing (TDM) frame (e.g., a SONET frame comprising N×STS-1s) from a source device to a sink device. Each the data unit occupies one time slot of the frame and the data units are encoded to differentiate between payload data and control codes. At the source device, a designated code (IGNORE CODE) is inserted in each unallocated time slot to identify that the time slot contains no payload data (the designated code being ignored by the sink device). New set(s) of time slots to be allocated (i.e., to increase bandwidth) or de-allocated (i.e., to decrease bandwidth) to the tributary are determined. The new set(s) of time slots are communicated to the sink device. Confirmation of the communication is received from the sink device.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for allocating bandwidth in a TDM network (e.g., STS-1s in a SONET (synchronous optical network)/SDH (synchronous digital hierarchy) network), amongst clients, on an in-service (i.e., without any interruption in the transport of data) and dynamic basis.
2. The Relevant Technology
Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) protocols such as SONET/SDH are used in optical fibre networks to transport data across the network. The SONET protocol enables data to be aggregated from several tributaries in a simple manner but the allocation or re-allocation of bandwidth between the tributaries is more difficult to accomplish with this protocol.
A SONET signal (i.e., such as STS-48, meaning 48 synchronous transport streams) is typically composed of multiple STS-1's which are assigned to various resources or clients, with the greater the number of STS-1's representing increased bandwidth. Advantageously, the assignment of bandwidth to each client is flexible in that it can be assigned and changed based on any number of applied control parameters. An aggregator aggregates (i.e., combines) the client STS-1's into a composite STS payload (e.g., STS-48 or STS-192) and the aggregate data stream is fed into a SONET transmit framer to insert section/line/path overhead information (data) and create a proper SONET frame.
The tributary data for SONET networks is typically encoded (for example, using HDLC) in such a manner as to differentiate between payload data and control codes used for signaling. In addition most encoding schemes are also encapsulation schemes in that they provide control codes for delineating the start and end of frames.
Typically, reallocating the STS-1's amongst the clients is done by re-provisioning, whereby the data channel between the clients of the transmit and receive nodes must be taken out of service, resulting in an interruption of communications and service. The proposed LCAS (Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme) standard for SONET provides a method for reallocating bandwidth using virtual concatenation but this method is relatively complex. Moreover, this method may not allow for optimum recovery in the event that a protection switch occurs during a reallocation of bandwidth.
Known methods for in-service bandwidth reallocation depend on the occurrence of synchronized events at each of the transmit and receive nodes of the data transport link (the transmit node being within a source device and the receive node being within a sink device). Consequently, since one such event (e.g., a reallocation "switch trigger") might be lost or corrupted by or during a protection switch event, these methods are vulnerable to protection switching events which may produce severe data errors (resulting from an inability of the sink device to correctly extract the data) and/or interfere with successful completion of a reallocation process.
There is a need, therefore, for means to reallocate STS-1's amongst clients on an in-service and dynamic basis without interference by the occurrence of a protection switching event.

Method and apparatus for in-service dynamic allocation of bandwidth in a TDM network


A switchgear enclosure includes an exterior housing. A plurality of compartments within the exterior housing includes at least a first switching device compartment, a bus compartment, and a first cable compartment. A plurality of interior partitions arranged to subdivide the exterior housing into the plurality of compartments includes at least a first partition between the first switching device compartment and the first cable compartment, and a second partition between the bus compartment and the first cable compartment. An exhaust system includes a vent path structure arranged within the exterior housing to at least partially surround the bus compartment and the first cable compartment, a channel formed between the vent path structure and the exterior housing, and a first vent device in the first partition. The first vent device is configured to fluidically connect the first switching device compartment to the channel via the vent path structure.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to switchgear, and more particularly relates to a switchgear enclosure having an exhaust system.
Switchgear, such as medium voltage ("MV") switchgear, includes various components secured within an enclosed structure. The switchgear enclosure is divided into compartments, such as one or more circuit breaker compartments each housing a circuit breaker, a bus bar compartment housing a bus bar system, and one or more cable connection compartments. The circuit breakers in the circuit breaker compartments can be electrically connected to the bus bar system in the bus bar compartment via spouts.
If an arc occurs, such as if a voltage between the conductors within the switchgear exceeds the insulative properties of the insulation between the conductors, or if the conductors are positioned too closely together, an arc flash can release significant energy in the form of heat, intense light, pressure waves, and/or sound waves, sufficient to damage the conductors and adjacent equipment of the switchgear. Current structure for limiting the effects of an arc flash include providing thicker steel sheeting to the switchgear enclosure, and exhausting arc gases from the interior of the switchgear enclosure through an opening at the top of the switchgear enclosure.

Exhaust system for switchgear enclosure, and switchgear enclosure having the same


A clamp assembly of a vehicle leaf spring suspension is disclosed. The clamp assembly has an axle bracket secured to a vehicle axle and a top cap secured to the axle bracket by mechanical fasteners to define an axle seat. The axle bracket and top cap may include interlocking keys and keyways to cooperate with the mechanical fasteners in transmitting the load from the vehicle axle. A spring seat of the leaf spring is received within the axle seat and is tapered. The tapered spring seat, when combined with a deformable liner in the axle seat, effectively eliminates the inactive portion of the leaf spring to increase the effective length of the spring and minimize the spring rate.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present subject matter relates to vehicle suspensions and components thereof. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to leaf spring suspensions.
2. Description of Related Art
Leaf springs are commonly used as active components in vehicle suspensions. Examples of suspensions using a leaf spring are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,221, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
One of the shortcomings associated with the design of leaf spring suspensions is due to the fact that in order to lower the vertical spring rate to a desirable level, the leaf spring sometimes must be increased in length beyond the packaging constraints of the vehicle. In particular, in certain vehicles, there are limitations on the space available to accommodate the longer length spring required to achieve a lower spring rate for a given suspension.
Contributing to this shortcoming is the manner in which the leaf spring is typically secured to the vehicle axle. In particular, the leaf spring is conventionally secured to the vehicle axle in a way that produces a mechanical metal-to-metal connection between the leaf spring and the axle clamp assembly. This conventional means of connecting the leaf spring to the vehicle axle negates utilization of a section of the leaf spring, namely its spring seat, as part of the active component, giving the leaf spring a shorter effective length than its true physical length and increasing the overall spring rate of the leaf spring. In addition, this metal-to-metal connection can be a limitation of the fatigue life for the leaf spring.
Another shortcoming of known leaf spring suspensions is the manner in which a load is transmitted from an axle by the clamp group. In particular, an axle bracket is typically secured to the axle, with the leaf spring being secured to the axle bracket by an axle clamp assembly top cap and large mechanical fasteners, such as U-bolts. The load from the axle is transmitted by friction generated by the bolts, thereby requiring relatively large bolts to generate adequate clamp force. Even when such larger bolts are used, the regular application of road-generated forces through a friction clamp joint may result in bolt loosening.
Accordingly, it is desirable to overcome one or more of the foregoing shortcomings, or alternatively other shortcomings not specified herein but associated with prior leaf spring suspensions.