Devices, systems, and methods are described for authoring, producing, securing, and/or distributing multiple variations of an instance of a media presentation. For example, one device embodiment includes a processor and memory having instructions executable on the processor. The instructions can allow a producer of media content to define a number of variating dimensions for a media presentation, maintain subscriber variation database tables having records that define subscriber variations in terms of a set of variating dimensions from the number of variating dimensions, maintain media element database tables having records that define media elements in terms of a set of variating dimensions from the number of variating dimensions, and determine which elements and in what order the elements are to be included a variation of an instance of a media presentation.

In the media production world of audio (e.g., radio, audio CD, streaming IP audio, and podcasts) and video (cable, television, DVD, streaming video, and podcasts), content developers presently need to write a script, record audio and/or video content based on that script, and then manually edit the content into some form of output (e.g., a movie, a radio program or a multimedia presentation.) This creative process is inherently a one-to-many approach in that there is a single output for an entire audience. That is, the television program that you see is the same one your neighbors see.
Attempts have been made to customize the media experience by allowing the preferences of individual users to drive the presentation of repurposed media segments. The term "repurposing" is used in the media industry to refer to when media originally produced for one purpose (e.g., television broadcasting) is re-used in a mostly unmodified form for a different purpose (e.g., web streaming). The term "segment" is generally used in the media industry to refer to a standalone unit of audio or video, such as a news story, a sports highlight segment, or a commercial. In many instances, content is made up entirely of linear segments assembled by the program's producers prior to, or concurrent with, transmission to the end-user. Approaches that rely on repurposed content create experiences that lack integral continuity and, therefore, provide no mechanism for media producers to control, predict, or manage the variations of content that the audience experiences.
One approach of this type has been to collect repurposable segments, for example, from a wide variety of unrelated production sources and categorize the segments. Then, when an end user contacts a cataloging service, the system can prepare a list of segments that would likely be of interest to that end user. The end user could then review the segment list, make changes or decisions about what segments in the list were of interest and then watch those repurposed segments. In such systems, the end user ultimately has control over which individual segments are consumed and in what order they are consumed in.
One challenge to this approach is that the repurposed segments lack end-to-end continuity. In other words, these sequential segments do not make up a coherent media program that was professionally produced. The included segments may come from many different media programs and the producers of those programs did not intend for the segments to be viewed out of context. If one watches the evening news or any professionally produced media program, the order of the segments is carefully chosen by the program's producers. As such, systems for customized media that categorize repurposed content violate this important aspect of media production. Such systems are similar to surfing the Internet in that a user goes from interest to interest, from content provider to content provider, consuming various snippets of information along the way and stopping whenever the user so chooses. Thus, in effect, these approaches are analogous to a list of web sites being created for each end user based on their interests.
Another challenge is that such systems do not account for telecommunication network costs or capacity, which may be especially important as personal media become wireless. Telecommunications networks (e.g., cellular data networks) are typically much more expensive to operate during peak times. As such, a system whereby people review a personal media list and then download the content on-demand would likely lead to many people using the network during a prime time period. This is impractical for wireless communications and many forms of wired communications. For these reasons, approaches that allow end users to interact with a customized media list may be less practical from a commercial perspective.
In addition, such systems typically do not support the advertising model of most media, where the commercial insertions are forced upon an audience at a very specific (usually the most dramatic) point during a program. Furthermore, trends indicate a shifting away from 30-second commercials toward more product placements within the media program itself and such systems cannot practically support this trend. If a user is allowed to choose what component segments are ultimately consumed, then the user likely will choose to bypass the commercial announcements.
Another approach streams segments of content to an end user, whereby a decision about what segment to send next is only determined by the system while the previous segment is streaming. In these approaches, the system is using feedback from the end user terminal to determine what comes next. If a viewer watched an entire segment about boating, maybe the next segment will also be about boating; whereas if the boating segment was skipped, maybe the next segment will be skiing. Such systems require significant amounts of processing power and communications bandwidth at both the broadcaster's end and the end user's terminal. This approach too does not give media producers the control to create a commercially viable product.
Yet another approach sends multiple audio/video streams to a user's terminal and then includes in-band text, tags or placeholders to switch the stream presented to the end user based on either user demographics or other user input or preferences. This approach again suffers from the "bandwidth cost" issue. In such systems, multiple full streams are sent simultaneously to the subscriber terminal, meaning that prime-time bandwidth can be even more strained than in the systems discussed above.
In addition, because of the bandwidth issue, it becomes impractical to present more than a few possible variations of experience to the viewing audience because each possible segment of content has to be streamed to the user terminal so that discrimination can take place by the end user or the end user's terminal. This approach would allow broadcasters to send two or three commercials concurrently during a 30-second commercial break, and would allow different terminals to display different commercials, but this approach can be impractical for other types of non-commercial segments because typically only commercials are produced in a fixed length (i.e., one can stream multiple commercials concurrently because they are all 30-seconds.) Few other types of media segments share this characteristic.
In all of the above approaches, the component segments are not customized to the end user. For example, if two different users are both interested in NFL highlights, both users will receive the identical football highlights, or at a minimum, highlights from only those teams that interest them. That is because the above approaches take traditional media segments and discriminate which segments will be received by which end users. They do this based on a database of end user preferences. That is, if a user likes Green Bay Packer highlights, then the user gets Green Bay Packer highlights, if the user wants a specific area's weather forecast, then they will get a specific area's weather forecast. However, these approaches do not take advantage of the way that media is typically produced.
Because all of these existing methods for customized media rely on user preferences as the key input to the process, the users drive the reception process and the choice of segments as opposed to the producers driving the production process in their production of segments. One reason user preference driven media customization may be inappropriate is that mass media is based on the foresight of media producers to give audiences content that they do not know they want. It is the ability of a producer to take an audience involuntarily down a path that allows suspense, drama or comedy structures to work.

Devices, systems, and methods for producing and distributing multiple variations of an instance of a media presentation


Various tester configurations are provided that injects test signals into nets (e.g. 24). Non-linear characteristics of the response are detected (e.g. harmonics, do offset) and used to assess the adequacy or otherwise of device connections in the net.

The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for determining the integrity of a contact between an integrated circuit and a circuit board on which it is mounted. The method can be applied to complex circuit boards where many devices are in parallel.
The automatic testing of such board assemblies is common practice. CMOS and bipolar integrated circuits typically have parasitic or protection diodes between input and output pins and the device ground and power rails. This fact has been recognised and used in prior art testers to verify the integrity of component pin connections.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,237 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,235 take advantage of parasitic transistors formed in an integrated circuit by the parasitic diodes between the substrate and ground. Transistor tests are carried out in a 'grounded-emitter' configuration, and necessitate connection of device ground (GND) pins to a bias voltage, rather than to ground. Such tests are not possible to perform in situations where device ground pins are indeed connected to ground, as for example, may be the case with many commercial in-circuit testers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,041 attempts to verify the presence of an internal common mode resistance connecting the diodes of each of two device pins and ground. A large current pulse applied to a second terminal causes a voltage drop across the inherent internal resistance, which then appears as a corresponding change in voltage at a first terminal subjected to a constant bias current The technique suffers from several disadvantages, including false readings due to multiple connected components sharing either or both of the pulse or bias currents, parallel current paths between the two pins under test due to other components, and external common mode resistance due to circuit board traces and connection to the tester. In addition, expected responses may vary considerably between devices of different batch or manufacturer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,513 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,928 address some of the drawbacks of U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,041 by employing an alternative method of measuring the internal common mode resistance. A voltage source is connected simultaneously to two leads of a component, and the resultant current measured. The same voltage source then is connected to each of same two leads individually, and the resultant currents measured. The common resistance between the leads (and ground) may then be calculated from the resultant currents. Unfortunately, the use of a voltage stimulus presents a considerable problem in determining a suitable voltage level. The current resulting from applying a given voltage to a device pin may vary by orders of magnitude with that resulting from the exact same voltage applied to a different device pin, introducing uncertainties into operating conditions and expected responses.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,862 makes use of internal AC paths between pairs of integrated circuit pins. An AC signal applied to one pin will result in an output signal of the same frequency on a second pin when both pins are correctly connected. Another similar approach applies two AC signals having different frequencies to two device pins respectively, then utilizes the non-linear characteristic of forward-biased diodes to generate sum and difference frequencies, which may then be detected at a third device pin to deduce correct connection. The first method is susceptible to error signals due to parallel paths and external common mode resistance. The latter method is complicated through the necessary choice, biasing, and connection of, three individual device pins per test.
A related method "Analog AC Harmonic Analysis Method for Detecting Solder Opens" in the IEEE Proceedings of the International Test Conference 1997 (http://www.computer.org/proceedings/itc/4210/4210toc.htm) applies an AC signal to the first pin and measures the harmonic content of the output signal on a second pin of the same device, which reduces the number of undetected faults due to parallel paths.
EP 0,571,963 identifies multi-terminal structures formed by internal diodes between pins of similar functionality, being a general case of the parasitic transistors employed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,237. These structures are then biased so as to produce a set of terminal currents, which are then measured and subsequently compared, with marked variations being indicative of faulty connections. The demonstrated embodiment suffers from a problem associated with CMOS devices, being that of a large background current due to the additional parasitic diodes present between signal pins and the supply voltage pin (and addressed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,188,235). Once again, use of voltage biasing presents the problem of determining a suitable voltage for devices and pins having varying characteristics.
Each of the above techniques minimally requires two device pin connections, where the two chosen pins do not form part of the same bus, and may not both connect to pins of any other individual device. This requirement stems from the fact that, for these techniques, such parallel device connections tend to mask out the effects of any single device pin connect fault The resultant choice of two diversely functional pins may complicate selection of test stimuli, and make prediction of test response difficult or impossible.
Some methods advantageously compare results for pins within groups. The fact that these measurements have by necessity been made individually, and at separate times, introduces a measurement uncertainty, which may have considerable bearing on the integrity of test.
None of the above techniques explicitly address the problems associated with series resistance inherently present in the test path Any practical tester must electrically connect to the circuit board under test, usually using test wiring and probes, often in the form of a 'bed-of-nails'. Such connections will have an associated series resistance, which can be both large and variable in magnitude, commonly due to probe pin or connector contact resistance. An undesired effect of such resistance is to introduce errors into both applied stimuli and measured responses, thereby significantly reducing the fidelity and consistency of test.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,180 presents a method for measuring the contact resistance between a probe card and the wafers onto which integrated circuits are fabricated, during wafer testing. A first and second test current are forced between two pins of the device under test through an isolating diode, and first and second resultant voltage drops measured respectively. A dynamic resistance is calculated by dividing the difference in measured voltages by the difference in test currents. The contact resistance may then be determined, for example, by subtracting a predetermined internal resistance value from the calculated dynamic resistance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,700 similarly determines the linear interconnection resistance between two external access points of an electronic device. Various currents or voltages are injected between the two access points, so as to forward bias an internal ESD diode, and resultant voltages or currents measured. The resultant current-voltage relationships are applied to an interconnection model algorithm to yield an interconnection resistance.
Whilst the above two methods may be useful in determining values for dynamic and static series resistance, neither of these two quantities has any intrinsic importance in the detection of unconnected device pins, especially in cases having more than one device connection on a net.
Rather, it is desirable to detect pin connection failures reliably, in the presence of unknown series resistance in the test path.

Method of and apparatus for testing for integrated circuit contact defects

Aeroflex International Limited, of Longacres House


A low-noise amplifier accepts a single-ended input signal at an input port and provides a differential output signal at an output port. Each of a pair of transistors in the amplifier has a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals that share a common terminal. A feedback circuit is electrically connected between the non-common output terminal and the non-common input terminal of a closed-loop one of the transistors and is electrically disconnected from any two terminals of an open-loop one of the transistors. The input port has a signal-carrying input terminal electrically connected to the non-common input terminal of both of the transistors and a ground terminal. The output port has a positive terminal electrically connected to the common terminal of the open-loop transistor and a negative terminal electrically connected to non-common output terminal of the closed-loop transistor.

Low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) are among the first signal processing components in a radio-frequency (RF) receiver chain. Typically, the target information-bearing signals arriving at the input of an LNA are weak and corrupted by noise. A well-designed LNA boosts the signal power of the incoming signal while minimizing the production of amplifier-induced artifacts, e.g., amplifier-generated noise and distortion, in the amplified signal. Thus, in addition to characteristics of any good signal amplifier, e.g., linear gain, stability and impedance-matched over the operating bandwidth, a good LNA must also have a low noise figure (NF) and high intermodulation and compression points.
The front-end of the receiver chain is often connected to an unbalanced transmission line on which a ground-referenced signal is delivered, which presents an interface problem in those modern RF receivers that implement differential signaling. Differential signaling, where the target signal's amplitude is the potential difference between two time-varying signal components, offers several advantages, not the least of which is cancellation of common mode noise. A common solution to adapting a single-ended signaling system, such as an unbalanced transmission line, to a receiver employing differential signaling is to install a balanced-unbalanced transformer, commonly referred to as a "balun" at or near the interface. However, this solution not only increases the receiver's size, complexity and cost, but conventional baluns are band-limited. Consequently, when the receiver is expected to accept signals that span a wide spectral region, conventional implementations incorporate multiple baluns, each to accommodate a sub-band of the target spectrum. Traditional television tuners, for example, operate in the very-high frequency (VHF) television broadcast band, which, in the US, spans the RF frequencies between 54 and 216 MHz and the ultra-high frequency (UHF) television broadcast band, which spans 470 MHz-806 MHz. The input circuitry in such television tuners is often composed of separate circuits for VHF and UHF bands, each with its own balun, LNA and, often downconverter.
Ongoing development efforts in radio front-end technology seek robust designs for broadband LNA circuits that can be situated at the single-ended to differential signaling interface with minimal size and cost.

Broadband single-ended input to differential output low-noise amplifier


A method for electrically testing a semiconductor wafer during integrated-circuit fabrication process, the method including: (i) providing a scanning charged-particle microscope (SCPM), having a defined scanning plane and operative, while in any one mechanical state, to scan a surface in the scanning plane within a two-dimensional scanning window, which has a given maximum size; (ii) providing in association with any layer of the wafer, it being a test layer, one or more test structures, each test structure including normally conductive areas within a normally non-conductive background in one or more layers, which include said test layer, the conductive areas formed as one or more patterns; the patterns in said test layer include one or more clusters of mutually isolated pads; each pad is conductively connected with a corresponding distinct point on the patterns and all the pads in any one cluster are sized and arranged so that at least a significant portion of each pad falls within a common window whose size does not exceed said maximum size of said scanning window; (iii) with said test layer forming the top surface of the wafer, placing the wafer on the SCPM and adjusting the mechanical state of the SCPM so that at least a significant portion of each pad in any one of said clusters is within said scanning window; (iv) causing the SCPM, while in said mechanical state, to scan all of the pads of said one cluster and thereby to provide information about the electrical state of the respective test structure.

Routine inspection of the surface of semiconductor wafers during the fabrication of integrated circuits thereon is commonly carried out by a combination of optical inspection of the entire surface and high-resolution electron beam inspection of suspected spots. Characterization of apparent defects detected during such inspection operation must be correlated with actual faults in the fabricated circuits. Such a correlation is obtained, with respect to any particular fabrication process, by the inclusion of suitable electrical test structures in one or more layers of the wafer. The test structures undergo the same processing as the other circuits and are inspected by the aforementioned means. In addition, however, they are also tested electrically, so as to detect any electrical faults, namely "opens" and "shorts". The results of the electrical tests are compared with the observations from the inspection operations—to establish correlation. This procedure must be performed at least once whenever a new fabrication process is introduced or even when a process is modified; to this end, an array of test patterns that fills the entire area of a special wafer may be used. Additionally, however, the procedure must be repeated periodically, preferably even for every wafer being fabricated, in order to continuously follow, and possibly monitor, any changes that occur in the fabrication process. To this end, test structures are interspersed between the regular chip patterns—preferably within the scribe-lines.
According to prior art, the electrical testing is done by means of probes that are made to contact suitable conductive pads in the test structures. This method has two major drawbacks: (a) To assure mechanical alignment between the probes and the pads, the latter must be made relatively large, thus taking valuable "real estate" from the wafer. (b) The wafer must be placed in the contact-testing device, which is separate from the inspection device, thus incurring extra time and labor. These drawbacks are particularly significant for routine monitoring operation.
More recently, electrical testing by means of an electron beam has come into practice, as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,459 and European Patent WO 01/80304. In this method, an electron-beam device, such as a scanning electron microscope (SEM) used for high-resolution wafer inspection, is made to first deposit electrical charges at certain points of a test pattern (usually provided with suitable pads), which charges either remain in the respective circuit elements or are dissipated to ground. The electron-beam device is then made to scan the pattern in a so-called voltage contrast mode, whereby electrons are variously emitted from the surface according to the voltages thereon and collected, to form a sensing current. The latter is then processed to form a so-called voltage-contrast image, which is subsequently interpreted to indicate shorts and opens in the corresponding circuit elements. This method largely overcomes the drawbacks of the contact testing method, enumerated above, in that the pads may be made appreciably smaller and in that the same electron-beam device (namely a SEM) may be used for both electrical testing and inspection for defects.
In prior-art systems that utilize electron beam devices for electrical testing of test structures, scanning of a particular pattern, during both the charging phase and the sensing phase, extends essentially over the entire width of the pattern along one of the two coordinate axes; scanning along the other axis, which necessarily involves mechanical motion, is inherently slow. Moreover, in order to make it reasonably fast, the scanning path is usually linear; this constrains the design of the test structure, and in particular impedes compactness.
Thus there is a clear need for a compact class of test structures and for a method for fast electrical testing of such structures on wafers, utilizing scanning charged-particle beam devices, such as a scanning electron-beam microscope.


A method that in one embodiment is useful in bonding a first substrate to a second substrate includes forming a layer including metal over the first substrate. The layer including metal in one embodiment surrounds a semiconductor device, which can be a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) device. On the second substrate is formed a first layer comprising silicon. A second layer comprising germanium and silicon is formed on the first layer. A third layer comprising germanium is formed on the second layer. The third layer is brought into contact with the layer including metal. Heat (and pressure in some embodiments) is applied to the third layer and the layer including metal to form a mechanical bond material between the first substrate and the second substrate in which the mechanical bond material is electrically conductive. In the case of the mechanical bond surrounding a semiconductor device such as a MEMS, the mechanical bond can be particularly advantageous as a hermetic seal for protecting the MEMS.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to semiconductor devices and more specifically for techniques for bonding enclosures of a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
With some types of semiconductor devices such as micro electrical mechanical system (MEMS) devices, it is desirable to seal the device (e.g. hermetically) for the device to perform properly over time. For example, with some types of MEMS accelerometers, it is desirable to seal the MEMS accelerometer in a chamber to prevent contamination of the moving parts of a MEMS accelerometer during subsequent processes.
One method for sealing a MEMS device is to bond a cap wafer to a second wafer that includes the MEMS device. The cap wafer and the second wafer form a cavity for the MEMS device. The cap wafer may include a lead glass frit located around the cavity that bonds to the second wafer under pressure and temperature.
What is needed is an improved technique for bonding two wafers together to seal a semiconductor device such as a MEMS device.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates identical items unless otherwise noted. The Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Substrate bonding with metal germanium silicon material


An Integrated Circuit Design tool incorporating a Stochastic Analysis Process (“SAP”) is described. The SAP can be applied on many levels of circuit components including transistor devices, logic gate devices, and System-on-Chip or chip designs. The SAP replaces a large number of traditional Monte Carlo simulations with operations using a small number of sampling points or corners. The SAP is a hierarchical approach using a model fitting process to generate a model that can be used with any number of performance memos to generate performance variation predictions along with corresponding statistical information (e.g., mean, three-sigma probability, etc.). The SAP provides an efficient way of modeling the circuit or system variation due to global parameters such as device dimensions, interconnect wiring variations, economic variations, and manufacturing variations.

The continual advancement in manufacturing technologies and the resultant process variations have caused performance variability (delay/timing, power) to become increasingly significant. Statistical models have become mandatory to model the performance variability. Due to the high complexity of the current VLSI and ULSI designs, existing models, algorithm or tools are not able to guarantee the accuracy and efficiency of the performance prediction at the same time.
The design and production of current generation integrated circuits that can include up to several million transistors is a very complex operation. Many sources of variation, such as device dimensions and environmental factors (power, temperature), can significantly impact the yield during the manufacturing stage. Accurately predicting what change may occur during the manufacture of a device due to one or more possible variations is of great value in optimizing a design to account for such variations. Current methods of predicting changes that may occur due to variations of design and/or manufacture typically involve the use of statistical distribution of design uncertainty and sampling models, such as Monte Carlo analysis, Latin Hypercube, and similar techniques. These methods, however, are generally disadvantageous in that they require significant processing overhead, time, and are not scalable.

Stochastic analysis process optimization for integrated circuit design and manufacture


Washers partially coated with a thermochromic material are incorporated into bolted electrical connections to monitor or record temperature changes undergone by the electrical connections as indications of the performance or integrity of the electrical connections. For monitoring ongoing performance, the color changes undergone by the thermochromic coated washers can be compared to each other within a common field of view or to a common datum, such as a nearby thermochromic coated washer mounted in a bolted non-electrical connection. Irreversible thermochromic materials can be used to record elevated temperature events such as approaching or reaching a design temperature limit or a fault condition. Different thermochromic materials can be combined within the same washers to monitor different ranges of temperature or to record multiple threshold events.

The invention relates to electrical connections, to the monitoring of electrical connections using the presence of heat as an indication of the performance or integrity of the connections, and to the use of thermochromic materials to visually monitor local changes in temperature, particularly within the electrical connections.
Thermochromic materials, including liquid crystals and leuco dyes in the form of paints or inks, respond to temperature changes by changing color. The materials change color as a function of temperature, typically by reflecting different portions of the white light spectrum. The color changes of some such materials are reversible and others permanent. Some such materials vary through a range of colors and others toggle between just two colors. The color changes can occur throughout the visible spectrum and can alter between opaque or clear. The activation temperatures at which the color changes occur also vary among the thermochromic materials.
These thermochromic materials have been used in a variety of thermochromic applications for monitoring temperature or temperature related events. Liquid crystal thermometers have been used for measuring body temperature and room temperature, as well as the temperatures of refrigerators, aquariums, and propane tanks. Leuco dyes, which usually vary between opaque and clear, are more often used as more general indications of temperature change. For example, leuco dyes have been used for such purposes as mood rings, battery testers, and temperature threshold indicators on microwavable foods or coffee cups.
Liquid crystal materials have also been used in more advanced thermochromic systems involving image acquisition and calibrated analysis of thermochromic color changes. For example, thermochromic liquid crystal based thermography systems have been used for monitoring local temperatures and temperature gradients of electronic devices. Thermochromic temperature maps can be used to identify the hottest areas or parts of electronic devices, referred to as "junction temperature", for evaluating such issues as reliability, operational integrity, and thermal resistance.

Thermochromic washer for monitoring performance or integrity of electrical connections


A heat dissipation device includes a base, a heat-dissipation portion attached to the base, at least one heat pipe connecting the base and the heat-dissipation portion and a fan directly secured to the heat-dissipation portion. The heat-dissipation portion comprises a square, tubular housing having opposite front and rear end portions opening to surroundings and a plurality of fins extending inclinedly and inwardly from an inner circumferential periphery of the housing. The housing of the heat-dissipation portion is employed as a fan duct to guide an airflow generated by the fan through the fins; the inclined orientation of the fins facilitates the airflow to flow toward the inner circumferential periphery of the housing and lower parts of the fins adjacent the inner circumferential periphery, whereby the airflow can effectively take heat away from the heat-dissipation portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat dissipation device for removing heat from an electronic device, and more particularly to a heat dissipation device which can more effectively use an airflow generated by a fan to improve heat dissipation capacity thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
As computer technology continues to advance, electronic components such as central processing units (CPUs) of computers are being made to provide faster operational speeds and greater functional capabilities. When a CPU operates at a high speed in a computer enclosure, its temperature is greatly increased. It is desired to dissipate the heat quickly, by using, for example, a heat dissipation device attached to the CPU in the enclosure. This allows the CPU and other electronic components in the enclosure to function within their normal operating temperature ranges, thereby assuring the quality of data management, storage and transfer.
Conventionally, a related heat dissipation device includes a heat sink and a fan. The heat sink can be mounted in contact with a CPU inside a computer. The fan is usually positioned on the heat sink and generates a high-pressured airflow blowing downwards into the heat sink, causing the heat to be dissipated into the surroundings. The heat sink comprises a cylinder-shaped central core and a plurality of fins radially extending outwardly from the central core. The fan is mounted above the heat sink via a fan bracket buckled to a top portion of the heat sink. The fan draws outside cooling air downwardly into the heat sink. Due to the fins being configured extending radially, airflow generated by the fan is dispersed out of the fins along various directions of the fins before reaching a bottom portion of the heat sink where large amounts of heat accumulate. Thus, the related heat dissipation device has a low heat-dissipating efficiency. In other situations, a fan duct can be mounted to the heat sink; thus, more airflow from the fan can be guided to the bottom portion of the heat sink. However, it is expensive to manufacture and mount the fan duct to the heat sink.

Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd.


A urine collecting apparatus includes a condom for receiving the penis of a user. A container receives urine from the condom. A conduit extends from the condom to the container. There is a first one-way valve along the conduit which permits a flow of urine from the condom towards the container and prevents a reverse flow of urine towards the condom. There is a resilient squeeze bulb along the conduit between the first one-way valve and the container for pumping urine towards the container when the bulb is squeezed and for providing a suction in the condom when released after squeezing.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to urine collecting apparatuses typically used by disabled persons who do not have adequate bladder control.
2. Description Related Art
Disabled persons who lack adequate bladder control conventionally use a container for receiving urine discharged from the body. For males this apparatus includes a condom for fitting the penis and usually includes a flexible bag which is strapped to the leg. A flexible hose connects the condom to the bag. Such an apparatus is often inconvenient and depends upon gravity to carry the urine from the condom to the container. While it is known to provide a one-way valve on the container to prevent a reverse flow of urine from the container, proper drainage still depends upon gravity and therefore upon the orientation of the person.
Furthermore, persons using such an apparatus having encountered frequent urinary infections. One cause of this is the fact that the penis is continuously in contact with liquid in the condom.
As a consequence, there is a demand for an improved apparatus of the type which reduces the risk of urinary infection and provides a more positive control over flow of urine into the container.


A portable light source has a base, an attachment mechanism adapted for removably attaching the base to a surface, and a substantially tubular arm pivotally connected to the base such that it can pivot between a horizontal position and a vertical position. A white light source and an ultraviolet light source are positioned within the arm and operably connected to a rechargeable battery to emit white light and ultraviolet light in outward directions from the arm.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to portable light sources, and more particularly to a portable light source that includes a white light and a vertical black light, and is particularly suited for night fishing.
2. Description of Related Art
In locations where the sun shines brightly for several hours during the day and water temperatures rise to levels game fish find uncomfortable, the game fish are typically most active during low light periods and retreat to deeper water during the heat of the day. At the same time, fishing in bright sunlight on a hot day quickly becomes uncomfortable for fishermen, and also requires that all exposed skin be carefully and adequately protected from prolonged exposure to the sun.
For this and other reasons, many fishermen in such locations prefer to fish at night. At the same time, fishing is a very visual activity. Sources of light capable of illuminating large areas are prohibitively heavy and bulky, and bright visible light tends to attract bothersome insects. On the other hand, viewing a large area illuminated by a relatively weak source of normal or "white" light (e.g., a flashlight) is often frustratingly difficult and quickly leads to eye strain and fatigue.
Fisherman have discovered that most monofilament fishing line is fluorescent, and glows brightly in the dark even under relatively low energy sources of "black" (ultraviolet or UV) light. In addition, high visibility monofilament fishing lines with additional levels of phosphors that fluoresce in strong sunlight and/or UV light have been developed to meet the demands of fishing conditions when highly visible line is needed. (As the sources of UV light are relatively weak and water absorbs UV light, portions of monofilament line under water are typically invisible.)
Fisherman often rely on visual detection of line movement, rather than physical tugs on the line, to detect fish running with baits. Monofilament fishing line glowing brightly in the dark under UV light is easy to see. In addition, tying or otherwise connecting lures to the brightly glowing monofilament line is made easier. Further, many fishermen report that when fishing at night with a black light depth perception is improved and eye strain and fatigue are reduced.
While UV light advantageously makes monofilament fishing line glow brightly in the dark, it is often easier to perform some activities, such as selecting tackle from a tackle box, using white light illumination (e.g., from a flashlight).
It would thus be advantageous to have a portable light source capable of producing both white light and UV light. In addition, as many fishermen fish from boats, it would be advantageous for such a portable light source to be adapted for removable attachment to a surface of a boat.

Portable light source including white and ultraviolet light sources


A method and apparatus for clipping a objects against a non-rectangular polygon. The present invention first defines a rectangular buffer with a height and width equal to the maximum height and width of the non-rectangular polygon. Next, each object is clipped against the rectangular buffer using a fast rectangular clipping method. After all the objects have been clipped, the rectangular buffer is converted to a pattern buffer. Finally, the pattern buffer is clipped against the non-rectangular polygon using an arbitrary clipping method.

Computer graphic systems, including graphic printers, define pictures in a world coordinate system. This can be any Cartesian coordinates system that a user finds convenient. Pictures defined in world coordinates are then mapped by the graphic system into device coordinates, where the device may be for example, a computer screen or a printed page. Typically, a graphic system allows a user to specify which area of the picture definition is to be displayed and where it is to be placed on the display device. A single area can be chosen for display, or several areas can be selected. These areas can be placed in separate display locations, or one area can serve as a small insert into a larger area. This transformation process involves operations for transformation and scaling selected areas and for deleting picture parts outside the areas. These operations are referred to as windowing and clipping.
A rectangle area specified in world coordinates is called a window. The rectangular area on the display device to which a window is mapped is called a viewport. By changing the position of the viewport, objects can be displayed at different positions on an output device. Also, by varying the size of the viewport, the size and proportions of an object can be changed. When different sized windows are successively mapped onto a viewport, zooming effects can be achieved. As the windows are made smaller, a user can zoom in on some part of a scene to view details that are not shown with the larger windows. Similarly, more overview is obtained by zooming out from a section of a scene with successively larger windows. Panning effects are produced by moving a fixed-sized window across a larger picture.
Mapping a window onto a viewport results in the display of only the picture parts within the window. Everything outside the windowing is discarded. Procedures for eliminating all parts of a defined picture outside of specified boundaries are referred to as clipping.
Clipping procedures are generally classified as either a line clipper or a polygon clipper. A line clipper determines which lines are wholly within the window boundaries and which lines are to be totally or partially clipped. For lines that are to be partially clipped, the intersection points with the window boundaries must be calculated. Because a picture may contain thousands of line segments, the clipping process should be performed as efficiently as possible. One such line clipper was developed by Cohen and Sutherland. Another line clipper was developed by Liang and Barsky. Both these line clippers are known in the art of computer graphics.
Another technique for clipping developed by Liang and Barsky, performs clipping by expressing each edge as a parametric equation. Using this notation, the possible contributions that can be provided to the output polygon by a particular edge of the input polygon are enumerated. See, You-Dong Liang and Brian A. Barsky "An Analysis and Algorithm for Polygon Clipping," Communication of the ACM, 26, 11, 868-877 (November 1983) herein incorporated by reference. One advantage to the Liang and Barsky process is that arbitrarily shaped windows could be processed by using parametric line equations to describe both the window boundaries and the boundaries of the areas to be clipped.

Efficient method for clipping numerous objects against an arbitrary clipping path


This invention describes novel tricyclic-bis-enone derivatives (TBEs), such as TBE-31, TBE-34, TBE-45 and water-soluble TBEs. The methods of preparing these compounds are also disclosed. The inventors demonstrate the ability of these new TBEs to inhibit proliferation of human myeloma cells, inhibit the induction of iNOS in cells stimulated with interferon-γ, induce heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), induce CD11b expression—a leukemia differentiation marker, inhibit proliferation of leukemia cells, induce apoptosis in human lung cancer, and induce apoptosis in other cancerous cells. The TBEs of this invention are expected to be useful agents for the treatment and prevention of many diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, inflammation, and pathologies involving oxidative stress.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention provides novel tricyclic-bis-enone derivatives (TBEs), as well as the process for the preparation of such TBEs, for prevention and/or treatment of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophiclateral sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other diseases whose pathogenesis is believed to involve excessive production of either nitric oxide (NO) or prostaglandins.
II. Description of Related Art
One of the major needs in clinical oncology is the development of effective and safe new agents for chemoprevention. In particular, there is a need for chemopreventative agents targeted at mechanisms known to be involved in the process of carcinogenesis. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the study of mechanisms of inflammation that relate to carcinogenesis and in the use of such mechanisms as the basis for development of new chemopreventative agents.
The concept that inflammation and carcinogenesis are related phenomena has been the patient of many studies that have attempted to link these two processes in a mechanistic fashion (Sporn and Roberts, 1986; Ohshima and Bartsch, 1994). The enzymes that mediate the constitutive synthesis of NO and prostaglandins from arginine and arachidonate, respectively, have relatively little significance for either inflammation or carcinogenesis. In contrast, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and inducible cycloxygenase (COX-2) both have critical roles in the response of tissues to injury or infectious agents (Moncada et al., 1991; Nathan and Xie, 1994; Siebert and Masferrer, 1994; Tamir and Tannebaum, 1996). These inducible enzymes are essential components of the inflammatory process, the ultimate repair of injury, and carcinogenesis. While physiological activity of iNOS and COX-2 may provide a definite benefit to the organism, aberrant or excessive expression of either iNOS or COX-2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many disease processes, particularly in chronic degeneration of the central nervous system, carcinogenesis, septic shock, cardiomyopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases. Unresolved, smoldering inflammation is now understood to play an important role in the pathology of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease (e.g., atherosclerosis and heart failure), diabetes, renal failure, and respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The need for new agents to prevent cancer is readily evident from the continuing high mortality rates for the common forms of epithelial cancer, such as carcinoma of the lung, colon, breast, and prostate. As genetic testing now can identify increasing numbers of people who are at high risk for the development of these cancers, it becomes increasingly important to discover new pharmacologic agents that can be used interventionally to prevent this outcome, well before the occurrence of malignant invasive disease. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide compounds for use in the chemoprevention of cancer that are low in cost for large scale synthesis, and that are water soluble compounds, thus providing use of administration.
Ongoing efforts for the improvement of anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activity of oleanolic acid analogues led to the discovery of 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO) and related compounds (Honda et al., 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000a, 2000b, 2002; Suh et al., 1998; 1999; Place et al., 2003).
It has been shown that TP-190 and 222 are potent inhibitors of NO production in mouse macrophages and RAW cells (Honda et al., 2000, 2002). TP-222 is orally potent against inflammatory bowel disease in SvEv129 Rag2−/− mice caused by oral infection with Helicobacter hepaticus. CDDO and several close analogues have also been shown to be potent inducers of apoptosis in cancer cells, with relatively low toxicity in normal tissue. Thus, in addition to their uses in preventing cancer and treating inflammatory diseases, these agents are useful for treating established cancer.

In connection with these investigations, it was found that tricyclic-bis-enone compounds (TBEs) with similar enone functionalities in rings A and C are also a novel class of inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse macrophages (Favaloro et al., 2002) and RAW cells. In particular, bis-cyano enone (±)-TBE-9 (see Table 1, below) is orally active in a preliminary in vivo inflammation model (Favaloro et al., 2002). In addition, (+)-TBE-9, having the opposite configuration to that of CDDO, shows 10 times higher inhibitory activity than (−)-TBE-9 on NO production in mouse macrophages. To the contrary, (−)-TBE-9 is active against MCF-7 mouse breast cancer cell lines, whilst (+)-TBE-9 is inactive (Honda et al., 2003). Therefore, the syntheses of optically active versions of new TBE for a comparison of the biological potency of both enantiomers is very important.
TABLE 1Inhibitory activity of TBE compounds on NO production in primary mousemacrophages stimulated with interferon-γCompound(racemic)IC50 (nM)TBE-1310TBE-2480TBE-353TBE-475TBE-561CDDO0.5hydrocortisone10TBE-691TBE-71600TBE-861TBE-92.1TBE-1019Oleanolic acid>40,000
Given the promising properties shown by the TBE compounds studied so far, it would be advantageous to provide additional TBE compounds, especially those with improved potency, pharmacokinetics, and water solubility.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Synthesis and biological activities of new tricyclic-


In a device link system for connecting a first device and a second device through a communication interface, the first device comprises a network connection unit that connects the first device to a network; a web server that delivers a web page describing first device information relating to the first device via the network connection unit; an acquisition unit that acquires second device information relating to the second device from the second device via the communication interface; and a web page processor that generates a page describing the second device information acquired by the acquisition unit and adds the generated page to the web page, and the second device comprises a provision unit that provides the second device information to the first device via the communication interface upon receiving a request for the second device information from the first device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device, a device link system, and a device link method, and more particularly to a device, a device link system, and a device link method utilizing an EWS (Embedded Web Server) function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there have been known information processing systems and methods which are able to realize a network copying function to read an image by means of a scanner connected to the network and to cause an arbitrarily desired printer to print out the image, with simple operations similar to operations for an all-in-one type copying machine (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-47771, for example).
Recent developments in technology have incorporated an EWS function into network devices such as scanners and printers. As a result, a user can access the EWS of such device by entering an IP address of the device as a URL into a web browser on a PC (Personal Computer) or the like. The user is thus allowed to check the state, setting information, job history and so on of the device, through the web browser. In addition, since the user can access EWSs of other devices through the EWS of his/her operating device as well as through the PC's web browser, it is possible to check the state, setting information, and job history of other devices through the EWS of his/her operating device.
However, in order to access the EWS of a device, the user is required to enter the IP address of the device. This means that the user is obliged to do a troublesome work to find out the IP address of the device to be accessed.

Network device, device link system, and device link method


A fuel pump mounting structure has an opening in a side surface or a bottom surface of a fuel tank. A fuel pump assembly including a cylindrical pump body and a filter connected to a suction side of the pump body is accommodated in a space located inside of the opening. A flange section of a housing that encloses the pump body engages an outside surrounding area of the opening. A mounting plate covers the outside of the flange section. The fuel pump assembly is fixed to the opening through the flange section and the mounting plate. The axis of the pump body extends generally parallel to a mounting surface of the mounting plate, and the pump body and the filter overlap each other relative to a position in a direction of the axis. The mounting structure reduces the moment against the mounting plate, reliably supports the fuel pump under a stable condition without requiring a large and rigid construction, and improves the seal with the fuel tank.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a fuel pump accommodated in a fuel tank of a vehicle engine, and a vehicle including the fuel pump mounting structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A fuel supply device disposed within a saddle type fuel tank that straddles a body frame is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-106440. A fuel pump mounting structure described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-106440 has an opening in a surface located inside of the saddle type fuel tank. A base plate closes the opening. The fuel pump is disposed in an inner space of the tank and mounted such that an axis of the fuel pump extends generally parallel to the base plate. That is, the fuel pump extends along the side surface where the base plate is attached. A filter is coupled with a suction side located at an end portion of the fuel pump, wherein the end portion extends along the axis of the fuel pump.
However, in the fuel pump mounting structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-106440, the fuel pump is cantilevered against the base plate. That is, the fuel pump is mounted such that an end of the fuel pump is affixed to the base plate, while the other end is not affixed to anything so as to be a free end. Further, the other end extends along the longitudinal axis and the filter is coupled with the other end. Because of this construction, a moment of the cantilever structure (external force pressing the fuel pump and the filter) against the base plate, which is a mounting plate for the fuel pump, can be large. Thus, a rigid mounting plate is necessary to support the fuel pump under a stable condition against the moment. Therefore, the mounting plate can be large, and the fixing structure, such as bolts, for fixing the mounting plate to a tank wall needs to be strengthened. The fixing structure causes an increase in the number of such bolts and increases the fixing time. In addition, the mounting plate needs to be tightly sealed to prevent fuel from leaking.
On the other hand, another fuel supply device for an internal combustion engine is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-74436. A fuel pump mounting structure described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-74436 has an opening provided at a top surface of a fuel tank. A fuel pump extends from a bottom surface of a lid that closes the opening and extends vertically therefrom. A suction side located at a distal end of the fuel pump has a filter.
However, the fuel pump mounting structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-74436 has a construction to support the fuel pump that projects a substantial distance downward from the lid, which is a mounting plate placed on an upper section of the fuel tank for the fuel pump, so as to suck the fuel in from a bottom of the fuel tank. Such a structure, in which the fuel pump extends substantially downward (i.e., in a vertical direction relative to a mounting surface) from the mounting plate of the fuel pump, creates a large moment against the mounting plate, if the mounting plate extends vertically from a side surface of the tank. This structure can cause problems regarding the strength and sealing functions of the mounting plate, similarly to the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-106440. Also, the structure of the fuel pump that extends substantially in the vertical direction is not suitable for a bottom surface of the fuel tank.

Mounting structure for fuel pump of vehicle engine and vehicle installing the same


Applicant's invention provides a bag holder which enables a ZIPLOC.RTM. type of bag to be held in open position while filling and is adaptable to various sizes of these bags and which invention can be readily used by a single individual.

So-called ZIPLOC.RTM. type of plastic bags are used for a variety of household food storage purposes. Such bags are characterized in that they are thicker in cross section where the closing locking portion is present at the mouth of the bag and that these bags come in a variety of widths and lengths. In filling such bags with materials, such as food, hardware, etc., many times a second person is required to be present to hold the bag in an open position so that the material may be inserted therein. This, of course, results in a waste of time and manpower in performing what should be a single individual's task.


A serving GPRS node (SGSN) is made content aware by passing content based rate information in the GPRS tunnel protocol (GTP) header. The SGSN uses the PDP context request to inform a GPRS support node (GGSN) that it is content aware and can process the content based rate information. In one embodiment, the rate information is passed in a GTP extension header. A new GTP header type tells the SGSN that rate information is present in the GTP header content field. In an alternate embodiment, the rate information is passed in a fourth octet of a four octet tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to mobile communication systems and, more particularly, to general packet radio services for delivering data over a circuit switched telephone network.
2. Description of Related Art
A General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a non-voice value added service that allows information to be sent and received across a mobile telephone network. It supplements, or rides on top, of today's circuit switched data and short message service networks. The theoretical maximum speed of GPRS includes speeds of up to approximately 171.2 kilobits per second (kbps). This maximum speed is achievable in GPRS systems using all eight timeslots at the same time in a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) context.
This speed is about three times as fast as data transmission speeds possible over today's fixed telecommunication networks and ten times as fast as current circuit switched data services on Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard TDMA networks. Thus, GPRS systems are advantageous in that they require less system resources to transmit a fixed amount of data in comparison to using a traditional circuit switched approach. By allowing information to be transmitted more quickly, immediately, and efficiently, across the mobile network, GPRS may well be a relatively less costly mobile data service compared to Short Message Service (SMS) and circuit switched data services.
GPRS also facilitates instant connections in which information can be sent or received immediately as the need arises, subject to radio coverage. No dial up modem connection is necessary. GPRS, similar to some broadband connections for personal computers, often is referred to as being "always connected". Thus, another one of the advantages of GPRS is that data may be transmitted immediately, whenever the need arises. In contrast to circuit switched data networks in which a connection must be established to transmit a data packet or data file, GPRS operation is extremely efficient in those situations in which a small amount of data is to be sent. As the emphasis of many designs today are to create wireless computer networks, and to connect data devices including personal computers to wireless transceivers and mobile terminals, a system that provides instantaneous response such as GPRS is very important for time critical applications, and, more generally, for the implementation of wireless computer networks. For example, a remote credit card authorization system implemented in a wireless network can be greatly improved if it is unnecessary for the customer to wait the amount of time that is required to establish a connection.
As suggested before, GPRS involves overlaying a packet based air interface on an existing circuit switched wireless network. For example, the circuit switched wireless network may comprise a GSM network. Accordingly, the user is given an option to utilize a packet based data service. In order to overlay a packet based air interface over a circuit switched network, the GPRS standard defines new infrastructure nodes to minimize the impact to existing networks in terms of hardware and software. For example, a gateway GPRS service node (GGSN) and a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) are two such infrastructure nodes.
Another advantage of GPRS is that the packet switching that results from the infrastructure nodes allows the use of GPRS radio resources only when users actually are sending or receiving data. Unlike traditional circuit switched voice networks, a connection is not continuously reserved for a user for the intermittent transmission of data. This efficient use of scarce radio resources means that larger numbers of GPRS users can share the same bandwidth and be served from a single base station or cell. The actual number of users that may use the system at one time depends, of course, on the amount of data being transferred.
GPRS and a similar and newer technology known as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) use a packet-mode technique to transfer high speed and low speed data and signaling in an efficient manner to optimize network and radio resources. Strict separation between the radio subsystems and network subsystems is maintained thereby allowing a network subsystem to be reused with other radio technologies. A common packet domain core network is used for both GSM and UMTS. The common core network provides packet switch services and supports differing quality of service (QoS) levels to allow efficient transfer of non-continuous bit rate traffic (for example, bursty data transfers).
The UMTS network, also provides connectionless services. Moreover, GPRS and UMTS support push services. A push service is the delivery of data or multimedia information from a network node to user equipment for the purpose of providing subscriber based information from the network. A push service also can include activating a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context, if necessary. Examples of delivery networks that offer push services include, as stated, the GPRS network, but can also include other equipment, such as a session initiation protocol (SIP) proxy, a push proxy or an SMS service center. Push services are becoming popular because of their ability to deliver advertisements, as well as subscriber ordered content services such as streaming media, web pages, traffic conditions, sports scores, stock quotes, etc. New services and features being offered require that push capabilities be implemented to enable external Internet protocol networks to deliver data to third generation (3G) wireless terminals in the paging system (PS) domain.
Some of these new services and features are provided by content service providers that charge for the content accessed and applications used. Traditionally, Internet usage has been base on time on-line due to the reliance on the original public switched telephone network (PSTN) that maintained a connected switched circuit regardless of the amount of data transiting the switched circuit. Providing content based billing motivates IP network service providers to charge for content delivered to the mobile subscriber and to adjust the charge for data packets that are not delivered. IP network providers, therefore, need a method for content aware accounting for use in subscriber charging.
Another aspect of 3G evolution is the concept of pre-paid service. In some countries it is estimated that 80% of new mobile subscribers are using the pre-paid service option. It is especially important, therefore, that pre-paid subscribers are charged only for content actually delivered. A need exists, therefore, for a method of creating content aware accounting when delivering content based packets to mobile users. Moreover, many IP network operators are entering into partnership agreements with the content service providers in order to access the revenue stream generated by content based services. Accordingly, accurate content aware accounting is needed to divide the revenue stream. There is a need, therefore, for a system and method that supports content delivery while also providing accurate charging records based on the actual content delivered.

Method for extending content aware accounting to a serving GPRS node


The polygon engine of this invention is a technique for rendering a computer graphic display using a compressed data format. A display list of objects for the next frame is converted into a list of spans for each horizontal line of the display. The polygon engine converts the list of spans for all objects into a set of run-length-encoded bit map lines for the next frame. Conflicts between overlapping objects are resolved based upon a depth value of the corresponding objects. Any remaining unspecified pixels are filled with a predetermined background color. Lastly, the polygon engine updates the frame buffer to correspond to this set of run-length-encoded bit map lines, preferably by comparing run-length-encoded bit map lines for the next frame with those for the current frame and writing only changed pixels into the frame buffer. An alternative embodiment of this invention uses compressed data in the form of trapezoids whose parallel sides are horizontal. A hardware extension of the polygon engine uses a run-length-encoded bit map frame buffer to specify the display.

This invention is in the field of computer graphic displays. It is typical in computer graphic displays to employ a bit map to designate the display generated. A bit map is a portion of computer memory having one or more bits of storage allocated to each pixel or picture element of the display. The number of bits allocated to each pixel depends upon the number of allowable colors. A monochrome display, which permits only black and white images, needs only one bit per pixel. A display permitting 256 different colors needs eight bits per pixel. Because typical computer graphic displays employ a rectangular grid of pixels, bit maps are often similarly organized. A single horizontal line of the display or of the bit map is called a scan line. This refers to the conventional manner of rendering computer graphic displays via scanning horizontal lines in a cathode ray tube.
Many computer graphic displays such as are used in desk top computers, home and arcade video games and engineering workstations render the display via a frame buffer. A frame buffer is a bit map which is accessible by both the central processor and by the display hardware. The central processor accesses the bit map to specify the display rendered and possibly to determine the current value of one or more pixels. Special purpose display hardware reads the bit map, converts the data for each pixel into an indication of the color to be displayed, and controls the color rendered by the display. This rendering process often uses a mapping table to translate the bits for each pixel into a color or shade. This mapping table may be fixed, or it may be under the control of the central processor. Often the number of memory bits used for each pixel is under the control of the central processor. This process operates in synchronism with the scan of the color cathode ray tube. Thus the special purpose display hardware creates an image corresponding to the data stored in the frame buffer. It is conventional to grant the special purpose display hardware priority in accessing the bit map. This prevents visual anomalies in the display caused by changing the bits corresponding to a particular pixel while that pixel is being displayed.
To display an image using this technique, the corresponding pattern of data bits must be placed into the frame buffer. Generally, the process starts from a high-level description of the image. This high-level description is then rendered into the frame buffer by software or specialized hardware that places the corresponding pattern of data in the frame buffer. The special purpose display hardware reads the frame buffer and controls the display accordingly. Display of an animated image starts from a new high-level description or updated high-level description for each frame of the animation. Each high-level description is rendered into the frame buffer in turn.
This process can be very slow. The rendering process is time-consuming. First, the display has priority. This reduces the time available to the central processor for writing into the frame buffer. Second, the frame buffer is often connected to the central processor via a relatively slow system bus rather than the direct access accorded the main memory. Third, there is simply a lot of data required to specify an entire frame of the computer display, particularly if color is involved. In the case of animation, generally either the moving objects are small, movements are slow or some jerkiness is involved.
There is a need in the art to provide a manner of specifying and updating computer displays, particularly color displays. A major field of work in this area is the development of efficient rendering techniques in either software or hardware. It would be very useful to provide a manner of improved rendering of computer graphic displays.

Polygon engine for updating computer graphic display employing compressed bit map data


A driving operation device includes an input portion, an output portion and a form modifying portion that transmits an amount of operation of the input portion to the output portion. The form modifying portion can modify an orientation of the input portion depending on a position of the output portion. This can maintain the input portion vertical or horizontal, for example. The form modifying portion also can modify a ratio of an amount of operation of the input portion to an amount of change in the output result based upon the position of the output portion.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a driving operation device which includes an operation member operated by a driver, and operates driving of a vehicle in accordance with the driver's operation of the operation member.
2. Description of Related Art
As a related art of the invention, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-192960, a driving operation device including an operation member with enhanced operation stability, has been developed. In the driving operation device, a joystick is used as the operation member. When the driver operates the joystick in a direction moving it away from the driver's body, an amount of movement or an operating force on the joystick by the driver's hand is smaller than when the driver operates the joystick toward the driver's body. Therefore, the operation of the joystick conforms with a structural feature of an upper limb of a human body, which results in enhancement of operability.
However, in the driving operation device, although an amount of movement or the like of the joystick by the hand at the time of operating the joystick toward the driver's body is different from that at the time of operating the joystick in the direction of moving it away from the driver's body, a relation between an amount of operation (input) of the joystick and an output to the vehicle (such as acceleration or deceleration or the like) is fixed. Therefore, there exists a problem that a vehicle operation in various input forms cannot be executed.


The invention relates to a reverse rotation preventing structure of a centrifugal compressor. The reverse rotation preventing structure of the centrifugal compressor comprises: a discharge pipeline of the centrifugal compressor; a suction pipeline of the centrifugal compressor; a bypass pipeline for connecting the discharge pipeline and the suction pipeline, wherein a predetermined valve is formed thereon; a control means for controlling an operation of the centrifugal compressor; and a detecting means for generating a predetermined signal to the control means if the operation of the centrifugal compressor is suddenly stopped, thereby opening the bypass pipeline.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a centrifugal compressor, and more particularly, to a reverse rotation preventing structure of a centrifugal compressor, which is capable of preventing a reverse rotation in the compressor caused by a backward flow of a fluid due to a pressure difference between a suction side and a discharge side, when an operation of the compressor is suddenly stopped due to a power failure or a power shutdown caused by an abnormal operation of the compressor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a compressor is a machine that converts the mechanical energy into the compression energy of a compressive fluid, and is classified into a reciprocating type, a scroll type, a centrifugal (turbo) type and a vane (rotary) type.
Among them, the centrifugal compressor (so-called turbo compressor) sucks a fluid in an axial direction using a rotation force of an impeller and then discharges the fluid in a centrifugal direction, to thereby perform a compression operation. The centrifugal compressor is classified into two types, i.e., one-stage centrifugal compressor and two-stage centrifugal compressor, according to the number of the impellers and the compression chambers. Also, the centrifugal compressor is classified into two types, i.e., a back-to-back type and a face-to-face type, according to the type of the arrangement of the impellers.
Hereinafter, two-stage centrifugal compressor of the face-to-face type will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, the centrifugal compressor of the face-to-face type includes a motor housing 1, a first bearing plate 2A and a second bearing plate 2B disposed at both ends of the motor housing 1, a shroud plate 3 mounted on an external face of the first bearing plate 2A, a first compression casing 4A mounted on an external face of the shroud plate 3, a bearing cover 5 mounted on an external face of the second bearing plate 2B, a volute casing 6 covering the bearing cover 5, a second compression casing 4B mounted on an external face of the volute casing 6, and a motor M mounted on the interior of the motor housing 1.
Here, a suction port SP is formed on one side of the motor housing 1 and a discharging port DP is formed on one side of the volute casing 6.
A first compression chamber SC1 is constituted with the shroud plate 3 and the first compression casing 4A, and a second compression chamber SC2 is constituted with the volute casing 6 and the second compression casing 4B.
The motor M providing the rotation force includes a stator MS, a rotor MR mounted on the interior of the stator MS, and a rotating shaft 7 rigidly fixed into the rotor MR. Also, both ends of the rotating shaft 7 of the motor M are passed through the first bearing plate 2A and the second bearing plate 2B, respectively. In particular, the rotating shaft 7 is supported in a radial direction by radial bearings 9A and 9B disposed inside the plates 2A and 2B and is supported in an axial direction by a thrust bearing 10.
A first impeller 8A and a second impeller 8B respectively disposed at the first compression chamber SC1 and the second compression chamber SC2 are attached to both ends of the rotating shaft 7 of the motor M. Further, the impellers 8A and 8B are arranged in the face-to-face type. In other words, the impellers 8A and 8B are arranged to face to each other in a direction of sucking the fluid. A reference number 13 that is not described represents a power supplying line.
According to the conventional two-stage centrifugal, or turbo, compressor of the face-to-face type, a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant is sucked into the suction port SP by the rotation of the rotating shaft 7 and the two impellers 8A and 8B. Here, the rotating shaft 7 is rotated by the driving of the motor M, and the two impellers 8A and 8B are connected to both ends of the rotary shaft 7. The sucked refrigerant flows into the first compression chamber SC1 through the first gas passage 11 and is primarily compressed by the first impeller 8A. The primarily compressed refrigerant, so-called provisionally compressed refrigerant, is sucked into the second compression chamber SC2 through the second gas passage 12 and is secondarily compressed by the second impeller 8B, thereby achieving an effective compression operation. The secondarily compressed refrigerant is gathered in the volute casing 6 and is discharged through the discharge port DP.
Therefore, in case where the centrifugal compressor is normally operated, the pressure difference between the suction port SP and the discharge port DP becomes high.
However, there is an occasion that an operation of the compressor is suddenly stopped due to a power failure during the normal compression operation or a power shutdown caused by an abnormal operation of the centrifugal compressor. At this time, to achieve the pressure equilibrium between the high-pressure discharge port DP and the low-pressure suction port SP, the refrigerant abruptly flows backward from the discharge port DP to the suction port SP through the refrigerant passage 12.
By the way, due to the abruptly backward flow of the refrigerant from the discharge port DP to the suction port SP, a reverse torque is instantaneously applied to the impellers 8A and 8B fixed on both ends of the rotating shaft 7. Further, the rotating shaft 7 is also rotated in a reverse direction.
At this time, in case where the impellers 8A and 8B and the rotating shaft 7 are rotated in the reverse direction, there is a problem that a performance of two dynamic-pressure air radial bearings 9A and 9B for supporting a radial load of the rotating shaft is degraded. Also, there is a problem that parts constituting the bearings 9A and 9B may be damaged.
Further, there is a disadvantage that a severe noise occurs due to the abruptly backward flow of the refrigerant from the high-pressure discharge port DP to the low-pressure suction port SP when the operation of the centrifugal compressor is suddenly stopped.
Furthermore, an impulse occurring during the backward flow of the refrigerant as well as the damages to the parts result in a shortening of a durability of the centrifugal compressor.

Reverse rotation preventing structure of centrifugal compressor


An OFF-state voltage generating circuit regulates an OFF-state voltage level, for thin film transistors (TFT) in a liquid crystal display (LCD). A voltage generator receives a common voltage signal and an inverted common voltage signal and generates an OFF-state voltage to turn off the TFT of an LCD. A voltage regulator adjusts the level of the voltage from the voltage generator by varying the resistance of a variable resistor. A timing circuit keeps the voltage regulator from operating for a time during the initial ON-state of the power supply.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit for generating an OFF-state voltage. More particularly, the present invention relates to an OFF-state voltage generating circuit of a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as a TFT LCD), capable of regulating the magnitude of the OFF-state voltage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A TFT LCD utilizes TFTs as an element for switching individual pixels on and off. The switching element has ON-state and OFF-state characteristics. The ON-state characteristic of the TFT is determined by the voltage transmission rate from a data line to a pixel when the TFT is turned on. The OFF-state characteristic is determined by the voltage storing rate in the pixel during an OFF-state. In order to obtain a good ON-state characteristic, the ON current should be large. In order to obtain a good OFF-state characteristic, the OFF current should be small.
FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating the voltage versus current characteristic of a TFT. The ON current is defined as the current when the magnitude of the applied voltage is larger than a critical voltage V.sub.ON. The OFF current is defined as the current when the magnitude of the applied voltage is smaller than the voltage V.sub.ON. As shown in FIG. 1, the magnitude of the ON current increases from I.sub.ON as the voltage increases. The curve for the OFF current has a minimum value I.sub.OFF. The magnitude of the OFF current increases from I.sub.OFF as the OFF voltage increases from the value V.sub.OFF. When the magnitude of the OFF voltage is in the range between V.sub.OFF and V.sub.ON, the TFT has a non-optional shut-OFF characteristic.
FIG. 2 shows a conventional OFF-state voltage generating circuit. Diodes D3, D4, D5 and D6 are serially connected in a reverse biased direction to ground. One terminal of a capacitor C4 is connected to a node N1 between the diodes D4 and D5, and the other terminal receives an inverted common voltage V.sub.COMB. One terminal of a capacitor C5 is connected to an anode of the diode D6 and the other terminal receives a common voltage V.sub.COM.
If a power supply voltage is 5V and a threshold voltage of a diode is 0.75V, the common voltage V.sub.COM and the inverted common voltage V.sub.COMB alternate between 0V and 5V. An electrical potential at the second node N2, at which the diode D6 and the capacitor C5 are connected, alternates between -2V and -7V. As a result, the magnitude of the OFF-state voltage is fixed to two values.
The TFT characteristics are different from panel to panel. Thus, the magnitude of the OFF-state voltage requires adjustment to the TFT characteristics in order to obtain a good image quality. However, as described above, the conventional OFF-state voltage generating circuits cannot adjust the magnitude of the OFF state voltage.

Off-state voltage generating circuit capable of regulating the magnitude of the off-state voltage


Embodiments of the invention provides myoelectric prosthesis control system that include a gel liner that has a plurality of layers and a plurality of leads at least partially positioned between the plurality of layers. In addition, a plurality of electrodes can be coupled to the leads and portions of the electrodes can also be positioned between the plurality of layers. At least some of the electrodes can include an electrode pole that is configured to contract the residual limb to detect electromyographic signals.

Limb amputation can result in profound disability, for which the most effective treatment is replacement of the missing limb with a prosthetic device. Effective options for treatment include body-powered prostheses, which rely on Bowden cables to translate gross body movements into control signals; and myoelectric prostheses, which are controlled by myoelectric signals (also called electromyographic or EMG signals) received from residual muscles of the individual with an amputation. Myoelectric signals are small electrical signals that propagate through a muscle as a result of nerve impulses, which causes contraction of the muscle fibers. Control of myoelectric prostheses relies on the detection of these signals through electrodes on the skin surface such that the voluntary contraction of a muscle can be used to actuate a specific intended movement in a prosthetic device attached to the individual with an amputation. The small voltage detected (typically 10 μV-1 mV) is conditioned electronically to render it suitable for actuation and control of the required motors in the prosthetic device. Typically, signal conditioning may be provided at the electrode contact site or within a separate electronic processing system. In either case, signals must be transmitted from the electrode to the control system of the prosthesis via wires or leads.
Prosthetic devices controlled by myoelectric signals have been under development since the late 1950s and have found a prominent place in the commercial market. Myoelectric control eliminates much of the prominent and uncomfortable harnessing necessary for body-powered control and reduces the effort required by the wearer to actuate the limb; however, use of a myoelectric device requires physical contact between the electrode and the skin surface.
Individuals with amputations may be fitted with a conventional gel liner, which is a soft insert placed between the residual limb and prosthetic socket that provides cushion to the limb and helps suspend the prosthesis. Some conventional gel liners may be constructed from a variety of materials such as urethane, silicone, or thermoplastic elastomers and are configured to provide a tight-fitting, compliant interface between the residual limb and the hard outer socket. Gel liners can be easy to roll onto the residual limb and provide increased comfort. In addition, some or all relative movement—and resulting friction—between the limb and gel liner may be prevented, thereby protecting the skin on the residual limb from possible abrasion or breakdown.

Systems and methods of myoelectric prosthesis control


A memory system including an array of memory cells connected along wordlines and bitlines, wordline driver circuitry for driving at least two selected wordlines simultaneously in response to multirow selection bits, and selection bit circuitry for asserting multirow selection bits to the wordline driver circuitry in response to address bits (or address bits and control bits) to cause simultaneous selection of a target wordline and at least one other wordline shorted with the target wordline, and wordline selection methods performed by such a system. Preferably, the selection bit circuitry includes a predecoder implemented as a logic circuit, and the wordline driver circuitry includes a row decoder, a set of wordline drivers for driving even-numbered wordlines, and another set of wordline drivers for driving odd-numbered wordlines. The predecoder preferably includes an odd wordline predecoder for asserting selection bits for selecting at least one odd wordline of an erase block, and an even wordline predecoder for asserting selection bits for selecting at least one even wordline of the erase block. The system preferably includes a controller which generates a set of address bits for selecting a target wordline, and registers which store control bits which can be accessed by the predecoder to determine the predecoder's mode of operation. The invention allows shorted wordlines to be selected simultaneously during a programming operation (preliminary to an erase operation), to prevent the wordline supply from shorting to ground during the programming operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a memory system having an array of memory cells connected along wordlines and bitlines, and two separate sets of wordline drivers for driving the wordlines (for example, a flash memory system of this type which includes an array of flash memory cells and emulates a magnetic disk drive). More specifically, the invention pertains to such a system (and a method for operating such a system) capable of simultaneously selecting two or more rows of cells of a memory cell array (each row connected along a different wordline), so that programming operations can be performed on, data can be written to, or data can be read from the selected rows simultaneously.
2. Description of Related Art
It is conventional to implement a memory system as an integrated circuit including an array of flash memory cells (or other non-volatile memory cells) and circuitry for independently erasing selected blocks of the cells, programming selected ones of the cells (i.e., writing data to selected ones of the cells), and reading data from selected ones of the cells.
Typically, a flash memory cell array comprises flash memory cells arranged in rows and columns, with each row connected along a different wordline and each column connected along a different bitline. A flash memory cell is typically implemented by a floating-gate N-channel transistor (such as transistor 14A shown schematically in FIG. 2, to be discussed below). All the cells in a column have their drain regions connected to a common bitline, and all the cells in a row have their control gates connected to a common wordline. All the cells have their sources connected to a source line (typically a common source line that is shared by all cells).
A wordline driver applies a selected voltage to each wordline. In a typical architecture, the wordlines are driven by two physically separated sets of wordline drivers (e.g., one set of address decoding and wordline driving circuitry on the left side of the array which drives the even numbered wordlines, and a second set of address decoding and wordline driving circuitry on the right side of the array which drives the odd numbered wordlines).
It is also conventional to design a flash memory system to emulate a magnetic disk drive system, so that an external device (e.g., host processor) can address the cells of the array in a manner emulating that in which conventional magnetic disk storage locations are addressed.
The dominant computer operating system known as "DOS" (Disk Operating System) is essentially a software package used to manage a disk system. DOS has been developed by IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, and Novell as the heart of widely used computer software. The first generation of Microsoft Corporation's "Windows" operating system software was essentially a continuation of the original DOS software with a user friendly shell added for ease of use.
The DOS software was developed to support the physical characteristics of magnetic hard disk drive structures, and thus supports file structures based on heads, cylinders and sectors. The DOS software stores and retrieves data based on these physical attributes. Magnetic hard disk drives operate by storing polarities on magnetic material. This material is able to be rewritten quickly and as often as desired. These characteristics have allowed DOS to develop a file structure that stores files at a given location which is updated by a rewrite of that location as information is changed. Essentially all locations in DOS are viewed as fixed and do not change over the life of the disk drive being used therewith, and are easily updated by rewrites of the smallest supported block of this structure. A sector (of a magnetic disk drive) is the smallest unit of storage that the DOS operating system will support. In particular, a sector has come to mean 512 bytes of information for DOS and most other operating systems in existence. DOS also uses clusters as a storage unit. Clusters, however, are nothing more than the logical grouping of sectors to form a more efficient way of storing files and tracking them with less overhead.
The development of flash memory integrated circuits has enabled a new technology to offer competition to magnetic hard drives and offer advantages and capabilities that are hard to support by disk drive characteristics and features. The low power, high ruggedness, and small sizes offered by a solid state flash memory system make such a flash memory system attractive and able to compete with a magnetic hard disk drive system. Although a memory implemented with flash memory technology may be more costly than a hard disk drive system, computers and other processing systems are being developed that require (or benefit greatly from) use of flash memory features.
Thus, flash memory systems have been developed that emulate the storage characteristics of hard disk drives. Such a flash memory system is preferably structured to support storage in 512 byte blocks along with additional storage for overhead bits associated with mass storage, such as ECC (error correction code) bits. A key to this development is to make the flash memory array respond to a host processor in a manner that looks like a disk so the operating system can store and retrieve data in a known manner and be easily integrated into a computer system including the host processor.
In some flash memory systems that emulate the storage characteristics of hard disk drives, the interface to the flash memory is identical to a conventional interface to a conventional magnetic hard disk drive. This approach has been adopted by the PCMCIA standardization committee, which has promulgated a standard for supporting flash memory systems with a hard disk drive protocol. A flash memory card (including one or more flash memory array chips) whose interface meets this standard can be plugged into a host system having a standard DOS operating system with a PCMCIA-ATA (or standard ATA) interface. Such a flash memory card is designed to match the latter standard interface, but must include an onboard controller which manages each flash memory array independent of the host system.
Memory systems having arrays of cells connected along bitlines and wordlines (e.g., flash memory system of any of the types described above) are often manufactured with defects of the following type: there is at least one short circuit between at least one pair of the wordlines. Each such short circuit can allow undesirable current flow from one to another of the shorted wordlines in certain circumstances, which can cause read failures when attempting to read cells connected along any of the shorted wordlines, and which can cause failure of a programming operation performed (on cells connected along any of the shorted wordlines) preliminary to an erase operation.
Thus, when such a wordline-to-wordline short circuit has been identified (e.g., as a result of any suitable conventional test procedure), one of the following measures must be taken:
all the shorted wordlines are selected simultaneously prior to (and during) each programming operation, to prevent the wordline supply (the source of voltage applied to the relevant wordlines) from shorting to ground during the programming operation; or PA1 the system avoids programming one or more blocks of cells including all cells connected along the shorted wordlines (e.g., it avoids programming an erase block which includes all cells connected along the shorted wordlines), the system avoids subsequent programming or reading of each such block, and the system replaces any data previously stored in each such block (by programming the same data to one or more substitute blocks).
Until the present invention it had not been known how efficiently to perform such simultaneous selection of shorted wordlines, particularly in cases in which the shorted wordlines are driven by different wordline driver circuits (e.g., in cases in which one wordline is driven by a first wordline driver circuit on one side of the array and another wordline is driven by a second wordline driver circuit on the other side of the array.

System and method for selecting shorted wordlines of an array having dual wordline drivers