The present disclosure includes a generalized kinematics library which may be used to control the motion of a machine tool system and to process data for other applications, such as simulation graphics. Methods are disclosed to interpolate the movement of various axes of a machine tool system through a machine singularity point.

The invention relates to machine tool control software. More specifically, the field of the invention is that of machine tool control software for object oriented machine tool control software and the operation of machine tool control software.
An object oriented machine tool control system may provide real-time machine tool software system control that isolates system responsibilities into classes that permit a machine tool manufacturer or system integrator to manage complexity and change. One example of a machine tool control system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,933, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The system of the '933 patent allows different systems to be created from a core set of procedures without redesigning or making massive software changes
Engineers changing a control system of the '933 patent may easily make changes to the system because they do not need to be experts on the entire system to make a modification to a single component in a class. One change does not have a ripple effect of change throughout the system. Portions of the system that are most likely to change such as the user interface and device drivers are separated from the Kernel. These components are more accessible to change through PLC programs, customizations to the Machine class and addition to or modification of operator programs.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a motion control system is provided for a machine tool system. In an example of the present disclosure, the motion control system includes a generalized kinematics library which may model various machine tool systems. In a further example, multiple instances of the generalized kinematics library are generated to provide data for the machine tool system or other machine tool systems.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling the movement of a machine tool system to machine a part is provided. The method comprising the steps of contacting the part with a tool and moving the tool relative to the part from a first position to a second position while the tool remains in contact with the part. The tool interpolating through a machine singularity point of the machine tool system.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for determining position information for a plurality of moveable axes of a machine tool system to machine a part is provided. The method comprising the steps of providing a cascading method accepting a plurality of different tool position input types; receiving a first tool position, the first tool position corresponding to one of the plurality of different input types; and determining with the cascading method the positional information based on the received first tool position.
In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling the movement of a machine tool system to machine a part, the machine tool system having a plurality of rotatable axes. The method comprising the steps of contacting the part with a tool at a first position; identifying a second position to move the tool; and selecting a shortest angular traverse solution for each of the plurality of rotatable axes from a plurality of possible solutions for each of the plurality of rotatable axes.
In yet a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling the movement of a machine tool system to machine a part, the machine tool system having a plurality of rotatable axes including a tilt axis. The method comprising the steps of contacting the part with a tool at a first position; identifying a second position to move the tool; and selecting a first solution for each the plurality of rotatable axes from a plurality of possible solutions for each of the plurality of rotatable axes based on a specified tilt axis preference. The first solution having a tilt angle for the tilt axis which satisfies the tilt axis preference.
In still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling the movement of a machine tool system to machine a part, the machine tool system having a plurality of moveable axes. The method comprising the steps of contacting the part with a tool at a first position; identifying a second position to move the tool; and determining a plurality of interpolated positions from the first position to the second position with a two stage interpolation method.
In still yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus for machining a part with at least one tool. The apparatus comprising a frame; a moveable support supported by and moveable relative to the frame, the moveable support supporting the part; a machine tool spindle supported by the frame and moveable relative to the part, the machine tool spindle adapted to couple the at least one tool, the moveable support and the machine tool spindle including a plurality of moveable axes; and a motion control system operably coupled to the machine tool spindle and the moveable support. The motion control system executing the machining of the part through the controlled movement of the plurality of moveable axes of the machine tool spindle and the moveable support. The motion control system contacts the part with a first tool at a first position and moves the first tool relative to the part from the first position to a second position while the first tool remains in contact with the part. The first tool interpolating through a machine singularity point of the machine tool system.
In further still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus for machining a part with at least one tool. The apparatus comprising a frame; a moveable support supported by and moveable relative to the frame, the moveable support supporting the part; a machine tool spindle supported by the frame and moveable relative to the part, the machine tool spindle adapted to couple the at least one tool, the moveable support and the machine tool spindle including a plurality of moveable axes; and a motion control system operably coupled to the machine tool spindle and the moveable support. The motion control system executing the machining of the part through the controlled movement of the plurality of moveable axes of the machine tool spindle and the moveable support, wherein the motion control system contacts the part with a first tool at a first position and moves the first tool relative to the part from the first position to a second position by selecting a shortest angular traverse solution for each of a plurality of rotatable axes of the plurality of moveable axes from a plurality of possible solutions for each of the plurality of rotatable axes.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus for machining a part with at least one tool is provided. The apparatus comprising a frame; a moveable support supported by and moveable relative to the frame, the moveable support supporting the part; a machine tool spindle supported by the frame and moveable relative to the part, the machine tool spindle adapted to couple the at least one tool, the moveable support and the machine tool spindle including a plurality of moveable axes; and a motion control system operably coupled to the machine tool spindle and the moveable support. The motion control system executing the machining of the part through the controlled movement of the plurality of moveable axes of the machine tool spindle and the moveable support. The motion control system contacts the part with a first tool at a first position and moves the first tool relative to the part from the first position to a second position by selecting a first solution for each of a plurality of rotatable axes of the plurality of moveable axes from a plurality of possible solutions for each of the plurality of rotatable axes based on a specified tilt axis preference, the first solution having a tilt angle which satisfies the tilt axis preference for a tilt axis of the plurality of the moveable axes.
In still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus for machining a part with at least one tool is provided. The apparatus comprising a frame; a moveable support supported by and moveable relative to the frame, the moveable support supporting the part; a machine tool spindle supported by the frame and moveable relative to the part, the machine tool spindle adapted to couple the at least one tool, the moveable support and the machine tool spindle including a plurality of moveable axes; and a motion control system operably coupled to the machine tool spindle and the moveable support. The motion control system executing the machining of the part through the controlled movement of the plurality of moveable axes of the machine tool spindle and the moveable support. The motion control system contacts the part with a first tool at a first position and moves the first tool relative to the part from the first position to a second position by determining a plurality of interpolated positions from the first position to the second position with a two stage interpolation method.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling the movement of a machine tool system to machine a part is provided. The method comprising the steps of receiving a machine configuration corresponding to the machine tool system, the machine configuration identifying a plurality of moveable axes of the machine tool system and a plurality of interdependencies therebetween; generating based on the machine configuration and a generalized kinematics library a virtual kinematics machine; receiving input data corresponding to a shape of the part; and generating positions for the plurality of moveable axes of the machine tool system based on the virtual kinematics machine and the input data.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for controlling the movement of a machine tool system having a plurality of moveable axes to machine a part is provided. The method comprising the steps of receiving input data corresponding to a shape of the part; generating a first virtual kinematics machine based on a machine configuration of the machine tool system and a generalized kinematics library, the first virtual kinematics machine generating positions for the plurality of moveable axes of the machine tool system based on the input data; and generating a second virtual kinematics machine based on the machine configuration of the machine tool system and the generalized kinematics library, the second virtual kinematics machine generating position information for a moveable portion of the machine tool system.
In yet still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of programming multiple machine tool systems with a software controller is provided. The method comprising the steps of providing a generalized kinematics library accessible by the software controller; generating a first virtual kinematics machine having a first configuration corresponding to a first machine tool system, the first virtual kinematics machine based on the generalized kinematics library; and generating a second virtual kinematics machine having a second configuration corresponding to a second machine tool system, the second virtual kinematics machine based on the generalized kinematics library.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus for machining a part with at least one tool is provided. The apparatus comprising a frame; a moveable support supported by and moveable relative to the frame, the moveable support supporting the part; a machine tool spindle supported by the frame and moveable relative to the part, the machine tool spindle adapted to couple the at least one tool, the moveable support and the machine tool spindle including a plurality of moveable axes; and a motion control system operably coupled to the machine tool spindle and the moveable support, the motion control system executing the machining of the part through the controlled movement of the plurality of moveable axes of the machine tool spindle and the moveable support. The controlled movement of the plurality moveable axes is provided by an instance of a generalized kinematics library. The instance including a plurality of virtual axes which correspond to the plurality of moveable axis.
In still a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of configuring a software controller of a machine tool system is provided. The method comprising the steps of providing a generalized kinematics library accessible by the software controller; receiving information regarding a configuration of the machine tool system, the machine tool system having a plurality of orthogonal moveable axes; generating an instance of the generalized kinematics library which corresponds to the machine tool system based on the received information regarding the configuration of the machine tool system; and controlling a movement of the plurality of orthogonal moveable axes through the instance of the generalized kinematics library.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for controlling the movement of a plurality of moveable axes of a machine tool system to machine a part is provided. The computer executable instructions comprising a generalized kinematics library; instructions to generate an instance of the generalized kinematics library based on a configuration of the machine tool system; instructions to provide input data to the instance of the generalized kinematics library; and instructions to get output data from the generalized kinematics library, the output data being related to the movement of the plurality of moveable axes.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.


An intergrally wrapped sanitary protection absorbent article and method of wrapping are disclosed providing an absorbent configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman, and folded and enclosed in a liquid-impermeable baffle. In one aspect, the liquid-impermeable baffle has a first side on one side of the baffle width and a second side on the other side of the baffle width, opposite the first side, wherein the first side and the second side are sealed along their length to form side seals, such that the sides and the seals form the integrally wrapped sanitary protection absorbent article enclosure of the present invention. In one aspect, a first perforation strip on the first side seal and a second perforation strip on the second side seal make it convenient for opening the individually wrapped absorbent article package of the present invention.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an integrally wrapped sanitary protection absorbent article and method of wrapping designed to protect a user by absorbing or containing menstrual fluids and/or other body exudates. More specifically, this invention relates to an integrally wrapped sanitary protection absorbent article and method of wrapping which provide an integral pad wrapping around an individual feminine care sanitary pad.
2. Background of the Invention
Feminine sanitary protection devices designed to absorb body fluids, including menses, come in different functional designs. Sanitary napkins externally worn about the pudendal area are absorbent pads designed primarily for heavy menstrual flow. Panty liners or panty shields are thin sanitary napkin products worn about the pudendal area for light menstrual flow. Tampons are cylindrical absorbent pads positioned internally within the vagina.
Traditionally, sanitary napkins have been bundled with several napkins in each package. A single, large package is called on to keep all the napkins clean, sanitary, and undamaged. Unfortunately, however, when one napkin is removed from the package and carried individually in a pocket or purse, it becomes unprotected from dirt and deforming pressures.
In recent years, individually wrapped folded napkins have been provided with an outer wrap which can be removed by the user when the napkin is needed. Examples of individually wrapped sanitary napkins are found in Swanson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,146, and Froidh et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,735,316 and 4,765,477. The method of wrapping protects the enclosed napkin from dirt and deformation until the wrapping is removed. Because the napkin is individually folded into a compact size, it becomes more convenient to carry. But, the individual wrapping of commercially available sanitary napkins typically increases manufacturing costs associated with the requisite materials and processing of these wraps. These additional production expenses can result ultimately in an increased cost of the product to the consumer.
Mattingly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,047, discloses a packaged, folded sanitary napkin having a central absorbent element having three segments folded over one onto another. An adhesive bearing flap is folded, and another flap is folded over to adhere to the adhesive bearing flap. The resulting folded napkin presents on its external surface essentially only the garment facing side of the napkin exposed.
Taylor, U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,675, discloses a sanitary napkin having a folded release strip in an individual napkin package.

Integrally wrapped absorbent article and method of wrapping


In a method of forming a capacitor, a seed stopper and a sacrificial layer is formed on an insulating interlayer having a plug therethrough. An opening is formed through the sacrificial layer and the seed stopper to expose the plug. A seed is formed on an innerwall of the opening. A lower electrode is formed covering the seed on the innerwall of the opening. The sacrificial layer and the seed are removed. A dielectric layer and an upper electrode are sequentially formed on the lower electrode.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to a capacitor structure, a semiconductor device including the same, a method of forming a capacitor, and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
As semiconductor devices have been highly integrated, an area of a lower electrode of a capacitor may not be easily increased in order to obtain a high capacitance of the capacitor. The area may be increased using a hemi-spherical grain (HSG) as a seed for forming the lower electrode. However, a plug contacting the lower electrode may be partially removed during a process for removing the seed. Accordingly, the lower electrode may have a bad contact with the plug.

Methods of forming a capacitor structure and methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the same


A method and system for displaying advertisements. The advertisements are displayed on a television having a controlled connected thereto and configured for receiving commands from a viewer of the television. The method includes displaying a first advertisement on the television, receiving a command from the viewer of the television to display a second advertisement, the second advertisement being a variant of the first advertisement, and displaying the second advertisement on the television.

The present invention relates generally to interactive television, and more particularly, to a system and method for displaying a sequence of advertisements or other informational images to a viewer, where the viewer selects information sets of interest to the viewer or the information displayed is based on viewer preferences.
The distribution of advertisement via television is well established. Advertisers typically purchase advertisement time on a specific channel and time period with the rate being set by the popularity of programs airing within the time period. The more popular the underlying program or time slot, the more expensive the advertising rate. With the increase in the number of network stations, advertisers are confronted with the task of determining which stations are appropriate for their products or services. It is also difficult for advertisers to select a type of advertisement that will appeal to a broad cross section of the population (e.g., males, females, young and old).
Commercials are often targeted based on the type of television shows a viewer watches. For example, an advertisement for tulips is preferably displayed to a viewer who watches gardening programs. Similarly, an advertiser on the Internet may track the web sites that a user visits and use this information to determine that the user is interested in gardening. A banner ad for tulips may then be displayed to the user. Internet advertisement companies often use a targeting technology that allows advertisers to target consumers through the use of profiling criteria developed based on users activity on the Internet. The decision as to which advertisement to display is made remotely (e.g., cable headend system or server). This requires that information about a user be transferred to a remote collection area, which can create privacy problems. A user may not want personal information collected on his television viewing or "surfing" habits and provided to advertisers or other service providers.
Furthermore, from a consumer's perspective, one of the most irritating aspects relating to advertising is the inability of the consumer to provide any control over the content of the advertisement information. The viewer can only watch what is presented and cannot switch between different advertisements as he can with programs.
There is, therefore, a need for a method and system for displaying advertisement on a television that allows a viewer to interact with the advertisement by providing the viewer a controllable advertising window for display of advertising information or other selectable information, and may also allow a profile to be established on the viewer so that the advertisement presented to the user is in a form that interests the viewer. There is also a need for a system and method for displaying targeted advertisements to a user without collecting information about a user at a location remote from the user.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for displaying advertisements


An adaptive x-ray filter and an associated method for changing a local intensity of x-ray radiation are provided. The adaptive x-ray filter includes a first fluid absorbing x-ray radiation and hydraulically moveable positioning elements that change the layer thickness of the first fluid at a location of the respective positioning element by being able to at least partly displace the first fluid.

In examinations using x-ray radiation, the patient or organs of the patient in an area to be examined exhibit very different absorption behavior with respect to the applied x-ray radiation. For example, in thorax images, the attenuation in the area in front of the lungs is very large on account of the organs arranged in the area in the front of the lungs. The attenuation is very small in the area of the lungs itself. In order both to obtain a meaningful image and also, for example, to protect the patient, the applied dose may be adjusted depending on the area such that no more x-ray radiation than is required is supplied. This provides that a larger dose is to be applied in areas with a large attenuation than in areas with a lower attenuation. In addition, there are applications in which only part of the examined area is to be imaged with a good diagnostic quality (e.g., with little noise). The surrounding parts are important for the orientation but not for the actual diagnosis. These surrounding areas may therefore be imaged with a lower dose in order to reduce the overall dose applied.
Filters are used to attenuate x-ray radiation. A filter of this type is known, for example, from DE 44 22 780 A1. The filter has a housing with a controllable electrode matrix, by which an electric field that acts on the fluid connected to the electrode matrix, in which fluid ions absorbing x-ray radiation are present, is generated. These are freely moveable and move around as a function of the applied field. By virtue of the corresponding electrical field, more or fewer ions may be accumulated correspondingly in the area of one or several electrodes in order to locally change the absorption behavior of the filter.

Adaptive X-ray filter and method for adaptive attenuation of X-ray radiation


A compact and efficient compressor is provided, based on using magnetic bearing technology, which can operate at high speed and comprises a reliable control system. The compressor of the present invention makes use of two separate compressors mounted on a single common motor, thus sharing a single drive. The balancing of the thrust at high RPM is improved by using a pair of electromagnetic bearings.

Compressors are used in refrigeration systems, environment control systems, air conditioning systems and the like. For convenience, the invention will be described with particular reference to air conditioning systems. Air conditioning systems utilize compressors of varying sizes ranging from very small compressors used in motor vehicles and domestic situations to compressors of up to thousands of Tons capacity used in commercial air-conditioning equipment.
Refrigerants and air conditioning systems currently use a refrigerant R12 or a singular refrigerant that is a CFC or HCFC refrigerant, which is now known as potentially damaging to the environment, or R22, which is currently approved for use under the Montreal Protocol on the ozone layer until 2030 A.D for example. However, use of any refrigerant must be in progressively reduced volumes. A main CFC-free commercial refrigerant currently endorsed without reservation by the Montreal Protocol and by the International Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Industry (HVAC) is the refrigerant known as R134A. This refrigerant, however, is commercially unsuitable as a direct replacement for the CFC refrigerants in existing hematic or semi-hematic machines because the chemical structure of R134A results in a performance loss of up to 30%. Furthermore, the refrigerant R134A is basically unsuitable for use with existing compressors without major mechanical changes because the refrigerant is chemically incompatible with lubricants now available for mechanical bearings and other rotating or reciprocating pans of the compressors.
Another difficulty with current air conditioning systems is that, traditionally, small to medium refrigeration systems of a capacity in the range between 1 and 150 kilowatts use reciprocating, rotary or scroll compressors, which are relatively cheap to produce but are also relatively inefficient. Screw compressors become more efficient at sizes between 50 and 300 Tons although most systems over 180 Tons use centrifugal compressors, since these are more efficient than screw compressors. However, centrifugal compressors, which, basically, comprise a rotor sending air radially outwards into a stator under centrifugal action to create compression, involve high rotational speeds and are generally far more costly to produce and maintain.
In summary, the efficiency of the smaller equipment below 180 Tons is restricted by the available technology in the reciprocating, rotary, scroll and screw compressors. While centrifugal machines can offer a higher efficiency in the lower capacity range, limitations on high rotational speed drives, and the cost thereof, inhibits their use.


A head gatch alarm system reduces medical risk for aspirational pneumonia when an angle of the head gatch section is outside a predetermined range. The system includes an inclinometer and a pump. The inclinometer is attached to the head gatch section for sensing an angle of the head gatch section. The inclinometer includes an RF receiver and RF transmitter for sending and receiving signals to a pump. An alarm or other means for alerting a medical professional is in communication with the inclinometer or the pump. The pump includes an RF transmitter and RF receiver for two way RF communication between the pump and the inclinometer. In operation, the alarm is triggered and the pump is turned off when the head gatch section is positioned outside a predetermined range.

The present invention generally relates to a head gatch alarm system, more specifically, relates to a device, methods and system for a head gatch alarm system that triggers an operational response and an alert of a medical risk for aspirational pneumonia when an enteral pump is delivering liquid nutrients to a patient and an angle of the head gatch section is outside a predetermined range.
While the use of an enteral feeding pump is a common device for delivering a liquid nutrient to a patient, complications can arise during the feeding. In particular, one of these complications is aspirational pneumonia. Typically, aspirational pneumonia occurs when a patient's bed is positioned at an angle sufficient to allow the patient's gastric fluids to ascend the esophagus and be inhaled into the lungs. When the bed angle reaches this point, the stomach contents are able to percolate up through the esophagus and down into the lungs. When the enteral feeding pump continues to deliver liquid nutrients, despite the undesired low bed angle, it increases the medical risk of aspirational pneumonia.
Therefore, there remains a need in the prior art for a head gatch alarm system that reduces the risk of aspirational pneumonia with minimal false alarms or errors. More importantly, there is a need for a head gatch alarm system that alerts of a medical risk of aspirational pneumonia while allowing a medical professional to determine when to shut off a pump delivering vital liquid nutrients to a patient.

Alcor Scientific, Inc. a Rhode Island corporation


The present invention relates to methods of selectively treating a patient with skin squamous cell carcinoma are disclosed. Specifically, the methods comprise assessing whether or not the tumor will be responsive to IP6 treatment by using reduced INPP5A expression level as an indicator. The present invention further provides methods of assessing the progression of the disease, and kits that facilitate these methods as disclosed.

Over 1,000,000 non-melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed annually in the US, making these the most common type of cancer and the fifth most costly cancer type in the Medicare population. Approximately eighty percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are basal-cell carcinomas, and twenty percent are squamous-cell carcinomas (SCC). Unlike almost all basal-cell carcinomas, cutaneous squamous-cell carcinomas are associated with a substantial risk of metastasis. The principal precursor of cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma is actinic keratosis (AK). AK has been described as a type of carcinoma in situ or SCCIS, in which carcinoma involves only the epidermis. Some of AK may evolve into invasive squamous-cell carcinoma. Options for treating AK include cryosurgery, electrodesiccation and curettage, topical fluorouracil, dermabrasion, and laser resurfacing.
On histological examination actinic keratoses and invasive squamous-cell carcinomas exhibit a spectrum of neoplastic changes. From a therapeutic standpoint, it is impractical and unnecessary to treat each individual keratotic lesion. Only patients with many lesions are followed closely, and thus, many events or tumor progression are undetected until at an advanced stage. Therefore, accurate prognostic markers and targeted therapies as well as more effective early chemopreventive strategies are necessary so that evolving squamous-cell carcinomas can be detected and treated expeditiously.

Identification and treatment of cancer subsets

The Translational Genomics Research Institute

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research


According to one embodiment, computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a bus coupled to the CPU and a chipset coupled to the bus. The chipset includes compensation circuitry to compensate for process, voltage and temperature (PVT) effects attributed to a voltage change on the bus.

Throughout the history of microcomputers there has been a motivation to increase the performance of microprocessors. However, with the constant increase in microprocessor performance, there is typically an increase in the magnitude of power consumed by the microprocessor. Due to the increase in power consumption, the run time temperature of the die of a microprocessor may exceed a safe threshold value.
Currently, thermal sensors are being added to microprocessors to monitor temperature. The temperature sensor transmits a signal in response to detecting a temperature that exceeds a predetermined threshold value. In response, the voltage on a processor bus coupled to the microprocessor is changed.
A chipset coupled to the microprocessor via the processor bus typically includes an impedance compensation circuit to compensate for process/voltage/temperature effects. However, current compensation circuits are incapable of compensating for effects attributed to the voltage change on the processor bus in response to the detection of an excessive temperature at a microprocessor.

Method to detect a temperature change by a thermal monitor and compensating for process, voltage, temperature effects caused by the temperature change


An ultrasonic motor includes a vibrator configured to generate a vibration, a relatively movable member configured to be movable by the vibrator, wherein the relatively movable member is movable relatively according to the vibration of the vibrator, a holding unit configured to hold the vibrator, wherein the holding unit includes a first holding member configured to hold the vibrator and a second holding member; and a damping member provided between the vibrator and the second holding member and configured to reduce a vibration transmitted to the second holding member, a pressure unit configured to press the vibrator against the relatively movable member, wherein the second holding member is configured to press the vibrator against the relatively movable member, and wherein the first holding member is made of a material having a higher damping capability against the vibrator than a material of the second holding member.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic motor configured to cause a vibrator to generate an elliptical vibration and drive the vibrator pressed against a driven member.
Description of the Related Art
Ultrasonic motors are characterized by, for example, a noiseless operation, the capability of driving an object at various speed levels from a low speed to a high speed, and an output of a high torque. To make full use of these characteristics, conventionally, the ultrasonic motors have been employed as, for example, driving sources of cameras and lenses. Japanese Patent No. 4667839 discusses an ultrasonic motor including an annular driven member having a rotational shaft and a plurality of vibrators. The vibrators are disposed on the annular driven member so as to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals while being pressed against the driven member in frictional contact with the driven member. When an ultrasonic vibration is excited at each of the vibrators in frictional contact with the driven member, an elliptical motion is generated at a portion of the vibrator that contacts the driven member, and the driven member is rotationally driven around the rotational shaft. The pressing force of the vibrator against the driven member is acquired by biasing a portion near a neutral axis of the vibrator, which corresponds to a vibration node set near a center of the vibrator, with a plate spring via a holder member and a pressing member. Then, this pressing force is adjusted with use of a screw and an adjustment washer disposed near a fixed portion of the plate spring.
However, a holding mechanism of the vibrator in the ultrasonic motor discussed in above-described Japanese Patent No. 4667839 is constituted by many components and has a complex structure. Especially, a support shaft should be located near the neutral axis of the vibrator to hold the vibrator in a stably pressed state against the driven member. There are a large number of components and assembling the components is complicated. Further, this ultrasonic motor uses a large piezoelectric element in the structure, and, therefore, causes an increase in cost.

Ultrasonic motor and lens driving apparatus


An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body and a replacement unit that is detachable to the apparatus main body. The replacement unit includes a first sensor that detects first environmental information that is an ambient environment of the replacement unit, and a recording part that records the first environmental information as environmental history information, the apparatus main body includes a second sensor that detects second environmental information that is another ambient environment of the apparatus main body, and a control part that controls the replacement unit based on the environmental history information and the second environmental information, when the replacement unit is attached to the apparatus main body, the control part performs a return control based on the environmental history information, which is obtained before the replacement unit is attached, and the second environmental information.

Among conventional image forming apparatuses there is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image by fusing prescribed toner to a recording medium. Such an image forming apparatus performs an image formation by forming an electrostatic latent image on a charged photosensitive drum by an exposure means, supplying toner from a supply roller to a development roller, developing a toner image by having the toner on the development roller as a developer carrier adhere to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum as an electrostatic latent image carrier, primary-transferring the developed toner image to an intermediate transfer belt, secondary-transferring the toner image held on the intermediate transfer belt onto the recording medium, and fusing the toner image on the recording medium by a fuser means. In such an image forming apparatus, when printing by attaching a development device that was left alone outside the image forming apparatus, there was a problem that fogging of the printed image worsened. Therefore, in order to avoid fogging, the image formation was performed by measuring the left-alone time and idling the development device according to the left-alone time.

Image forming apparatus performing return control using environmental history information


The present invention is directed to a low cost method and apparatus for fracturing a subterranean formation. The invention involves using a centrifugal pump to combine a fracture fluid, a sand suspension and liquid additive and discharge a mixture of these components into a high pressure pump that injects the mixture into the subterranean formation. The apparatus employs a control pinch valve to precisely control the amount of sand suspension being added to the mixture. The apparatus eliminates the need for expensive blenders, other equipment and associated personnel and provides a low cost means of fracturing the subterranean formation.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for fracturing a subterranean formation, and more particularly, to a low cost method and apparatus for fracturing a subterranean formation with a sand suspension.
The ordinary flow of hydrocarbons into a well may not be rapid enough to make a drilling operation commercially viable. Therefore, stimulating a subterranean formation can be helpful and necessary to facilitate the conductivity of hydrocarbons through a subterranean formation and into a drilled wellbore or hole. One means of stimulating hydrocarbon flow is through fracturing a subterranean formation.
A number of solutions have been proposed to fracture a subterranean formation. One solution proposes using dry sand that is either dumped from a truck or transferred from a storage device via a conveyor belt into a mixing device where it is mixed with a fracture fluid and liquid additives. The mixing device then discharges the mixture of sand and fracture fluid into one or more pumps that transfer the fluid downhole. This solution, however, can be very resource intensive as the sand, fracture fluid, and liquid additives require their own storage devices and pumps. In addition, a separate blending device is required to combine the sand and fluids. In some embodiments, this solution can require up to twenty-seven large pieces of equipment. This solution is also sometimes unable to maintain consistency in the composition of the fracture fluid. The composition can therefore be highly variable and can lead to unpredictable fracturing results.
Another solution for fracturing a subterranean formation uses a mixture of sand and fluid contained in a storage device that is constantly agitated to keep the sand suspended in the fluid. The storage device discharges the agitated mixture into a blending device where it can be blended with liquid additives and other fluids, which themselves require storage devices. The blending device outputs the sand fluid into one or more pumps that transfer the fluid downhole to accomplish fracturing the subterranean formation. This solution, however, is also resource intensive and requires an extremely expensive and complex piece of equipment in the agitating storage device. This solution may also not maintain consistency in the composition of the fracture fluid and can therefore lead to unpredictable fracturing results.

Low cost method and apparatus for fracturing a subterranean formation with a sand suspension


A push button style power switch using a switching button to control movement of a curved sheet to form an electric power on or off state, the power switch is comprised of a base, a power control portion, a switching button and a cover. Wherein the power control portion is provided with a first conducting piece, a second conducting piece and a curved sheet. The conducting pieces connect respectively with two connecting ends of a wire of a power line. The curved sheet is mounted on the first conducting piece. When the switching button is pushed down, it lowers a bottom control tip beneath it to render the tailing end having a small boss of the curved sheet to move down/raise and press/leave the second conducting piece to make electric connection/circuit breaking of the power line. Therefore, this is a power switch structure capable of fast switching.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a push button style power switch structure. And especially is related to a push button style power switch structure using a switching button to control movement of a curved sheet to render a first conducting piece and a second conducting piece to form a power on or off state. In this way, the power switch achieves turning on/off of power.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional power switch as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is comprised mainly of a base 10, a electricity conducting set 11, a rotating disk 12 and an upper cover 13. Wherein, a receiving chamber 101 is formed in the base 10, both sides of the receiving chamber 101 are provided each with a dent 102. A hollow column 103 is provided centrally of the receiving chamber 101. The receiving chamber 101 is further provided on both ends thereof with an engaging block 104 and a pressing bar 105 above the engaging block 104. The electricity conducting set 11 is comprised of two fixing sheets 111 opposite longitudinally to each other and a rotation conducting-sheet 112. The fixing sheets 111 are inserted to fix respectively on the exterior sides of the engaging blocks 104 and are provided on the tops thereof each with a piercing portion (with sharpened ends) 113 for extending through and fixing the connecting ends 22 of a power line 20. On one side of each fixing sheet 111 there is an arciform swinging arm 114. The rotation conducting-sheet 112 is slipped over the hollow column 103 and is provided on the opposite ends thereof each with a guiding leaf 115.
The rotating disk 12 is also slipped over the hollow column 103 with a face plate 121 thereof protruding out of the dent 102 of the base 10. A control portion 122 is provided on the bottom of the face plate 121 and is in the form like a windmill. Two blades 123 thereon can be abutted exactly on the inner surfaces of two guiding leaves 115 of the rotation conducting-sheet 112. When the face plate 121 is rotated, the control portion 122 makes the rotation conducting-sheet 112 rotate. And when the guiding leaves 115 are rotated to contact the arciform swinging arms 114 of the fixing sheets 111, the two connecting ends 22 on the two sides of the power line 20 are electrically connected with each other. And electricity transmitting of the two connecting ends 22 can be established together with a normally electrically connected wire 21 of the power line 20 (as shown in FIG. 2).
If the rotating disk 12 keeps on rotating, the two guiding leaves 115 will be separated from the two arciform swinging arms 114 to form circuit breaking (as shown in FIG. 3). And more, the upper cover 13 is provided on the base 10, the two are secured mutually with a bolt 106 and a nut 132. The upper cover 13 is provided on both ends thereof with a notch 131 for extending therethrough the power line 20. When the upper cover 13 is fixed on the base 10, the pressing bars 105 on the base 10 press the power line 20 to enhance stability of the power switch on the power line 20. However, such a power switch structure still has the following disadvantages in practical use although it can get the function of electricity connection or circuit breaking.
1. When rotation of the rotating disk 12 can not render the guiding leaves 115 of the power switch to successfully contact the two arciform swinging arms 114 (or they are separate from each other), control of turning on/off of the circuit is not reliable. PA0 2. In controlling of turning on/off of the circuit, the rotating disk 12 always rotates in the same direction (clockwise); if it happens to rotate in the contrary direction (counterclockwise), the two arciform swinging arms 114 are subjected to deformation or breaking. PA0 3. When in inadvertent contrary direction of the rotating disk 12, the guiding leaves 115 will leave the blades 123 of the rotating disk 12 to make loosening among the members, and the effect expected will not be achieved. PA0 4. When the two connecting ends 22 of the power line 20 are pressed against the piercing portions 113 of the fixing sheets 111, they are subjected to deviation during securing. Displacement renders the piercing portions 113 neither able to successfully make piercing nor to contact with the wires at the pivot connection, thereby it is hard to make electric connection. PA0 5. The base 10 of the power switch presses and clamps the power line 20 by providing the pressing bars 105 thereon. However, the pressing bars 105 on the two ends of the base 10 can not provide the clamping function effectively during use, the power switch is not structurally provided with a device for fixing the connecting ends 22 of a power line 20. Therefore, it is structurally weak, and has the defect of high damage rate. PA0 6. When in switching of the power switch, the guiding leaves 115 and the two arciform swinging arms 114 are subjected to generating sparks, this is because contact or separation of them relies on rotation of the rotating disk 12 which, however, renders the switching of the power switch not fast enough. PA0 7. The upper cover 13 and the base 10 of the power switch are secured mutually with a bolt 106 and a nut 132. While securing not only is too loose at times to result bad conducting, but also is more easily to be overly tight, thereby stripping of threads may occur and securing may fail.


A semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention comprises a circuit as a controlled object including an MOS transistor, wherein a control potential (at least one of a substrate potential and source potential) is to be controlled, a control signal generation circuit for generating a control signal with respect to the control potential based on an internal signal of the circuit as the controlled object, and a control potential control circuit for controlling the control potential (substrate potential/source potential) of the MOS transistor based on the control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit including an MOS transistor, in particular to a technology for realizing a higher speed and reduced power consumption by controlling a control potential (substrate potential or source potential) of the MOS transistor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A large-scale semiconductor integrated circuit in recent years enjoys a higher operation speed resulting from a higher integration thereof, while consuming a larger amount of electricity. When a power-supply voltage is reduced, power consumption can be accordingly reduced. However, the reduction of the power-supply voltage leads to a reduction of a current flow required for operating an MOS transistor, which interferes with the accelerated operation. A method for avoiding the inconvenience is to reduce an absolute value of a threshold voltage of the transistor in compliance with the reduction of the power-supply voltage, however the reduction of the absolute value of the threshold voltage results in a large volume of a leakage current flow of the transistor.
A possible solution to deal with such a problem is to connect a semiconductor substrate to a gate terminal when the transistor is in active mode and connect the same to a terminal of a substrate voltage smaller than a gate voltage when the transistor is on standby to thereby control the leakage current flow.
In the foregoing method, when a voltage for turning off the transistor, which is currently in the active mode, is applied to the gate, the same voltage is also applied to the semiconductor substrate. In such a situation, it is impossible to satisfactorily control the leakage current flow.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a system (10) for confirming authorization for the allocation of an item of business property is coupled to a business database (44) containing business data for the item. A translate module (30) receives allocation data (14) for the item and generates query data that represents a first portion of the allocation data (14). A query module (32) coupled to the translate module (30) generates a query using the query data for submission to the business database (44). A transaction database (34) coupled to the translate module (30) and the query module (32) stores at least a portion of the allocation data (14) and a query response received from the business database (44). A confirm module (100) accesses the query response and the stored allocation data (14) to confirm authorization for the allocation.

Many organizations allocate selected items of business property to selected recipients according to the needs of the organization and the characteristics of the item and recipient. It is often desirable to allocate these items in response to information provided by a submitter. For example, a submitter might provide information to release products, retire assets, delete inventory, or obtain favorable tax consequences for the organization. The allocation of these items proceeds in accordance with this information.
As organizations become larger and more complex to serve a variety of customer and internal requirements, organizations may broker the allocation of selected items of business property using various techniques. A known technique for brokering the allocation of an item of business property uses manual submission, authorization, and accounting processes that are often relatively slow and labor-intensive. Information communicated by hard copy, facsimile, or telephone in connection with such techniques may be illegible, inaccurate, misdirected, or even lost. In addition, authorization for the allocation may be obtained inadequately, improperly, or not at all. As a result, brokering the allocation of an item may require several days, causing consequent backlogs and undesirable delays. Furthermore, organizations using such techniques may have little flexibility to support customer or internal time and space constraints.

System and method for brokering the allocation of an item of business property


The present invention provides a tool for use in wellbores. The tool is operated by the wellbore hydrostatic pressure. The tool includes one or more devices that operate when a mechanical force is applied to such devices. The tool includes at least one atmospheric chamber. A setting member disposed in the tool is utilized to provide the mechanical force in response to the application of the hydrostatic pressure thereto. Prior to activating the tool, the setting member is locked or restrained in an inoperative position. To operate the device, the tool is placed at a suitable location in the wellbore. The atmospheric chamber is charged with the wellbore fluid, which releases the setting member from its restrained or locked position, subjecting the setting member to the wellbore hydrostatic pressure, thereby providing the mechanical force to operate at least one of the devices. A second atmospheric chamber may be provided that remains at the atmospheric pressure, but cooperates with the first chamber as it is charged with the wellbore fluid to operate a second setting member, which operates a second device. A sensor associated with the tool detects signals transmitted to the tool from a remote location. A control circuit in the tool receives the detected signals from the sensor and in response thereto operates an electrically-operated flow control device, thereby charging the chamber with the wellbore fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to downhole tools for use in oil or gas wells and, more particularly, to wellbore annulus pressure-responsive tools which are actuated by an electrically controlled device.
2. Background of the Art
A variety of downhole devices (tools) are utilized in wellbores to facilitate production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations. For example, packers are commonly utilized to seal an annulus between the packer and a tubular member (typically a wellbore casing) placed within the wellbore. Producing wellbores usually contain formation fluids, such as hydrocarbons (oil and or gas) and/or connate water. During drilling operations, wellbores typically contain drilling fluids (commonly known as the "drilling mud" or "mud") pumped into the wellbore from a surface location. The pressure at a given depth in the wellbore depends upon the weight of the fluid column above the depth point. Such a pressure is referred to as the hydrostatic pressure or simply the hydrostatic, and it may vary between a few hundred psi to several thousand psi.
A variety of downhole tools utilize the hydrostatic pressure to perform a useful function. The majority of such tools utilize either a mechanical force or an explosive charge to actuate a device, which in turn enables the hydrostatic pressure to act upon a secondary devices to perform an operation downhole. More recently, electrically operated devices have been utilized in commercial tools to selectively allow the application of the hydrostatic pressure to perform a specific function.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,703 to Skinner discloses a system wherein a solenoid valve in a normally closed position is placed between the well annulus and a chamber. The chamber has two sections separated by a power piston. One section communicates with the wellbore via the solenoid valve and the other section is filled with a working liquid and compressed nitrogen to provide back pressure to the first section. When the solenoid valve is opened, hydrostatic pressure is applied to the first section, causing the piston to move, which operated a device coupled thereto. U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,703 to Skinner discloses three chambers and a plurality of electrically-operated valves for manipulating the application of the hydrostatic pressure to a piston in one of the chambers to cause a device to operate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,077 to Whitsitt discloses a hydraulic setting tool, which is actuated by an electric motor driving a pump. The Whitsitt device uses a closed hydraulic system to maintain a minimum head pressure of hydraulic fluid at the pump intake to reduce or eliminate cavitation, thus improving the tool viability in high temperature wells.
The present invention provides a relatively simple and reliable downhole tool wherein the hydrostatic pressure is applied to at least one atmospheric chamber in the tool by activating a remotely controlled electrically-operated device. A control circuit in the tool activates the device in response to a coded signal transmitted from a remote location, such as the surface.

Hydrostatic tool with electrically operated setting mechanism


When encoding an array of texture data elements to be used in a graphics processing system, the array of texture data elements is divided into a plurality of non-rectangular sub-sets of texture data elements, and each non-rectangular sub-set of texture data elements that the texture has been divided into is then encoded to generate an encoded texture data block representing that non-rectangular sub-set of the texture data elements, to thereby provide a set of encoded texture data blocks representing the texture.

The technology described herein relates to methods of and apparatus for encoding and decoding data, and in particular to such methods and apparatus for use when compressing and decompressing texture data for use in computer graphics systems.
It is common in computer graphics systems to generate colours for sampling positions in an image to be displayed by applying so-called textures or texture data to the surfaces to be drawn. For example, surface detail on objects may be generated by applying a predefined "texture" to a set of graphics primitives (such as polygons) representing the object, to give the rendered image of the object the appearance of the "texture". Such textures are typically applied by storing an array of texture elements or "texels", each representing given texture data (such as colour, luminance, and/or light/shadow, etc., values) at a given location (position), and then mapping the texels onto the corresponding elements, such as (and, indeed, typically) a set of sampling positions, for the image to be displayed. The stored arrays of texture elements (data) are typically referred to as "texture maps".
Such arrangements can provide relatively high image quality, but have a number of drawbacks. In particular, the storage of the texture data and accessing it in use can place, e.g., high storage and processing requirements on a graphics processing device (or conversely lead to a loss in performance where such requirements are not met). This is particularly significant for lower power, mobile, and handheld, devices that perform graphics processing, as such devices are inherently limited in their, e.g., storage, bandwidth and power resources and capabilities.
It is known therefore to try to encode such texture data in a "compressed" form so as to try to reduce, e.g., the storage and bandwidth burden that may be imposed on a graphics processing device when using textures.
Texture compression techniques typically determine a reduced set or palette of colours (or other data) to be used for, e.g., a given texture map, and then store for each texture element (texel) in the texture map an index into the set or palette of colours, indicating the colour to be used for the texture element (texel) in question. This has the advantage that only an index, rather than a full, e.g. colour, value needs to be stored for each texel.
It is also common for existing texture compression techniques to use block-based encoding, i.e. arrangements in which the overall array of texture elements (the texture map) to be encoded is divided into an array of small blocks (such as blocks of 4×4 texels), with each such block then being encoded (compressed), and decoded, separately. This can, e.g., help to make the decoding process more efficient, because the decoder, for example, may need to decode only one or a few of the encoded blocks to determine the value of a texel of interest, rather than the entire encoded texture.
One known block-based texture compression technique is so-called block truncation encoding (BTC). In this technique the overall texture array (texture map) is subdivided into smaller blocks, e.g. of 4×4 texels, and a number (typically two) of base or primary colour values are determined for each such block, with each texel in the block being set to one of the base colour values. This saves on the data that has to be stored and accessed, but at a cost of lower image quality.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,853 describes an improved block truncation coding technique. In this technique, two base colours are again stored for each texel block, but two additional colours to be used for the block are also derived from those two base colours (e.g. by linearly blending those colours). In this way, four colours are provided as a "palette" for the texel block, but only two colour values need to be stored for the block. Each texel in the block is then encoded using two bits, to indicate which of the four block "colours" should be used for the texel. This system provides improved image quality over basic block truncation coding, but requires more data per block.
Known block-based texture compression schemes all use rectangular blocks. This is because it is easy to divide a texture map into blocks this way, the blocks will tile (tessellate) straightforwardly, and it facilitates straightforward determination from a texel's coordinates of which block the texel is in and the texel it is within that block (for example, for 4×4 square blocks, dividing the texel's x and y coordinates by 4 identifies the block, and the remainder in x and y identifies the texel). Such straightforward identification of the block a texel is in, and the texel it is within the block, facilitates random access into the stored texture data (texture map). This is important in texture compression schemes, because, as is known in the art, the decoder will access the stored and compressed texture data (texture map) in a random access fashion, and so storing the compressed texture data (texture map) in a form that facilitates efficient random access into it is important and advantageous.
Although using rectangular blocks for block-based texture compression schemes has a number of benefits, it can lead to certain encoding artefacts in the decompressed (decoded) image. This is because the approximations made when encoding adjacent blocks can lead to mismatches at the block edges. Although these errors may in themselves be small, because all the block edges line up, they can result in linear features that are noticeable in the decoded image.
It is known therefore to try to reduce the effect and/or possibility of such block "edge" artefacts arising. For example, the encoding process may be tuned to reduce block edge artefacts. However, this is usually at the expense of detail in the interior of each block. Some decoding processes interpolate data from adjacent blocks to decode a given texel, thereby, in effect, "blending" adjacent blocks. This can help to reduce block edge mismatches, but is relatively expensive as it can, e.g., require reads from up to four encoded blocks to decode one texel. It is also known to apply some form of filtering to the decoded image to try to reduce the effect of block edge artefacts, but this requires post-processing of the decoded image, which is not always desirable or possible.
The Applicants believe therefore that there remains scope for improved block-based texture compression schemes that are to be used for encoding texture data for use in graphics processing.
Like numerals are used for like features in the drawings (where appropriate).

Methods of and apparatus for encoding and decoding data


Various embodiments of active headsets and/or headphones, including in-the-ear devices with boom microphones, are presented with, among other things, power-saving features, cell-phone functions, and automated activation and deactivation. Various novel methods and related circuitry are also presented.

Headsets are used in variety of applications to facilitate one- or two-way audio communications between users and/or devices. For example, many aircraft pilots wear headsets to enable them to communicate via two-way radio with other aircraft and air-traffic controllers as well as via a public-address system with passengers. Additionally, some headsets are worn to facilitate hands-free usage of mobile telephones, while others facilitate private listening to devices, such as computers, stereos, disk players, etc.
One problem that the present inventor recognized with conventional headsets, such as in-the-ear headsets and ANR headsets, particularly those that include boom microphones, is that one or more aspects of their power usage is inefficient. For examples, many of these headsets are inefficient in powering the boom microphone. As a consequence, the expected battery life of some of these headsets is reduced.
Accordingly, there is a need for headsets that are more efficient in their use of power.

In-the-ear headset and headphone enhancements


A device includes a first and a second package component. A metal trace is disposed on a surface of the first package component. The metal trace has a lengthwise direction. The metal trace includes a portion having an edge, wherein the edge is not parallel to the lengthwise direction of the metal trace. The second package component includes a metal pillar, wherein the second package component is disposed over the first package component. A solder region bonds the metal pillar to the metal trace, wherein the solder region contacts a top surface and the edge of the portion of the metal trace.

Bump-on-Trace (BOT) structures were used in flip chip packages, wherein metal bumps are bonded onto narrow metal traces in package substrates directly, rather than bonded onto metal pads that have greater widths than the respective connecting metal traces. The BOT structures require smaller chip areas, and the manufacturing cost of the BOT structures is low. The conventional BOT structures may achieve the same reliability as the conventional bond structures that are based on metal pads.
Since the existing BOT structures have very small spacings, the neighboring BOT structures may bridge to each other. Particularly, the BOT structures in the peripheral areas of the packages are more likely to bridge due to the high density of the BOT structures in the peripheral areas. In addition, in the peripheral areas, the distance of the BOT structures are farther away from the centers of the respective packages. Accordingly, during the reflow process for forming the BOT structures, the shift of the BOT structures caused by the thermal expansion of the metal traces is more significant than in the areas close to the centers of the respective packages. Accordingly, the bridging is more likely to occur.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A metallic solid comprising an metal-carbon matrix of an allotropic metal and metallofullerites of the allotropic metal is disclosed, along with an associated method of forming the solid by interrupting and temporarily holding a metal-carbon melt at the point through the cooling curve at which the solidifying metal passes through the allotropic transformation stage for the metal defined by the overall proportion of allotropic metal and carbon in the melt.

Steel is the term used to refer to alloys of iron and small percentages of carbon. In some nomenclatures, steel refers to any alloy in which carbon is present in amounts of between about 0.02 and 1.5% carbon by weight, but in other uses refers to alloys containing up to 2.25% or more carbon. Although the exact percentage borderline may differ depending upon the nomenclature, alloys with higher carbon contents are usually referred to as "cast iron" rather than as steel.
As is known to those generally familiar with steels, the iron and carbon are present in two main constituents, ferrite (iron) and cementite, an iron carbide compound having the general chemical formula Fe.sub.3 C. Most steels will also contain additional elements such as manganese, silicon, phosphorous, sulfur, oxygen, and traces of others. other steels contain considerable percentages of elements such as nickel, chromium, molybdenum, vanadium or titanium which give the resulting steel various appropriate or desired properties.
As known to those skilled in a variety of arts, steel is used in construction, ship hulls, auto bodies, machinery and machine parts, cables, abrasives, chemical equipment, and numerous other uses such as belts for tire reinforcement and the like. Within these uses, steel should desirably exhibit a number of metallic properties including compressive strength, tensile strength, ductility, hardness, and other related properties that are advantageously characteristic of useful metals.
Fullerenes is a term given to a recently postulated and discovered form of molecular carbon in which the carbon atoms are joined to form spheres, or sphere-like structures. Because of the resemblance between the structure of these molecules and the geodesic domes designed and championed by the architect Buckminster Fuller, such molecules have been designated as "fullerenes", and the basic and most stable molecule, a sphere having 60 carbon atoms, has been designated "buckminsterfullerene". For the same reasons, fullerenes have also been referred to as "buckyballs."
The best available evidence indicates that fullerene molecules were first identified and isolated in 1985, with rapid progress in their study beginning in 1990 when a relatively straightforward method of forming them was discovered by Donald Huffman and his co-workers at the university of Arizona; Huffman, "Solid C Physics Today, Nov. 1991, pp 22-29. In the last two years, fullerenes have received tremendous attention because of their apparent high chemical and physical stability, which is consistent with what would be expected and predicted based upon their molecular structure.
For a wide variety of electrochemical as well as mechanical reasons, one particularly sought-after use of fullerenes is to utilize the relatively large size of a the fullerene molecule, approximately 1 nanometer (nm, 10.sup.9 meter), to "wrap" a metal atom to produce molecules which have been speculatively referred to as metal fullerenes or, as used herein, metallofullerites with very unique characteristics. To date, however, no success has been realized in producing metallofullerites in quantities or at costs suitable for commercial utilization.

Solid metal-carbon matrix of metallofullerites and method of forming same


A method for disposing of a component located in a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor plant. The component is, in particular, a lower core structure of a pressurized water reactor plant. An upper part of a container provided for further transport is disposed above an opened and flooded reactor pressure vessel. The upper part is provided with a lower orifice. The component is raised through the orifice into the upper part of the container and is subsequently transported to an upwardly open lower part of the container. The upper part is assembled together with the lower part to form the container, so that the component is enclosed and shielded in the container.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for disposing of a component located in a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor plant.
While a nuclear reactor plant is in operation, damage to plant parts or components may occur, making it necessary to exchange those components. The old components then have to be removed and disposed of. Particularly in the case of components of the primary circuit of the nuclear reactor plant, it is necessary to accommodate the removed components in a shielded container that is suitable for further transport. Due to the radioactively contaminated surfaces, those tasks, that is to say the removal of the old component and the transfer of the latter into the shielded container, subject the operating personnel to a considerable dose of radiation. That occurs particularly in the case of large-volume components which are installed in a reactor pressure vessel in the vicinity of the fuel assemblies. Such components are, for example, a lower core structure installed in the reactor pressure vessel of a pressurized water reactor plant in order to receive the fuel assemblies.
German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 36 26 207 A1, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,786, discloses a method for exchanging internal fittings of a reactor pressure vessel. In that method, a prefabricated large-volume component made ready next to the reactor pressure vessel is inserted into the water-flooded reactor pressure vessel and fitted in. The removal of the radioactively contaminated old or spent component is not described in any more detail in those publications. They merely explain that, in order to take that component out of the reactor pressure vessel, the reactor well, in which the reactor pressure vessel is located, is previously flooded with water.

Method for disposing of a component located in a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor plant


A method for manufacturing an absorbent article including a topsheet, a backsheet, a core, a discrete barrier member, a first cuff, and a second cuff. A barrier substrate may be cut into a discrete barrier member including a leading edge portion, an opposing trailing edge portion, and a central portion therebetween. The discrete barrier substrate may be transferred onto a folding roll. A first cuff substrate and a second cuff substrate may be advanced onto the folding roll such that the discrete barrier substrate may be disposed on at least a portion of the first cuff substrate and the second cuff substrate. The discrete barrier member may include a fold between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion. A topsheet substrate may associate with at least a portion of the discrete barrier member, the first cuff substrate, and the second cuff substrate.

Along an assembly line, diapers and various types of other absorbent articles may be assembled by adding components to and otherwise modifying an advancing, continuous web of material. For example, in some processes, advancing webs of material are combined with other advancing webs of material. In other examples, individual components created from advancing webs of material are combined with advancing webs of material, which in turn, are then combined with other advancing webs of material. Webs of material and component parts used to manufacture diapers may include: backsheets, topsheets, absorbent cores, front and/or back ears, fastener components, and various types of webs and components such as leg elastics, barrier leg cuff elastics, and waist elastics. Once the desired component parts are assembled, the advancing web(s) and component parts are subjected to a final knife cut to separate the web(s) into discrete diapers or other absorbent articles. The discrete diapers or absorbent articles may also then be folded and packaged.
As mentioned above, during the assembly process, component parts such as elastics and other materials are used to manufacture diapers. Generally, a number of component parts have been added to absorbent articles to improve the fit of the absorbent article, to reduce leakage of the absorbent article, and to reduce irritation to the skin of the wearer of the absorbent article. To accomplish these objectives, absorbent articles having an opening that provides a passageway to void space for collected feces and urine have been proposed. Similarly, absorbent articles having a barrier member to create separate areas for urine and feces have also been proposed.
However, it has been found that these absorbent articles are expensive to manufacture due to the added number of component parts. For example, elastics and additional non-woven materials have been added to the absorbent article to create a barrier for feces and urine. Further, these absorbent articles are difficult to manufacture due to the complexity of adding additional component parts to partition the absorbent article while maintaining relatively high manufacturing speeds.
In addition, some absorbent articles that currently provide a means for separating feces and urine are inadequate. For example, it has been found that barrier members may fail to provide the desired tension across the absorbent article to separate bodily exudates. More specifically, once the absorbent article has been placed on the wearer, the barrier members have been found to slump or bunch such that the barrier member loses contact with the wearer and provides an opening to allow feces and urine to move uninhibited throughout the absorbent article.
Thus, a need exists for improved methods of manufacturing absorbent articles including discrete barrier members that separate feces and urine and are more easily maintained in close contact with the wearer's body.

Method for manufacturing absorbent articles including a discrete barrier member


In one embodiment, the present application discloses a process for making the compound of the formula:

PDE IV is present in all the major inflammatory cells including eosinophils, neutrophils, T-lymphocytes, macrophages and endothelial cells. Its inhibition causes down regulation of inflammatory cell activation and relaxes smooth muscle cells in the trachea and bronchus. On the other hand, inhibition of PDE III, which is present in myocardium, causes an increase in both the force and rate of cardiac contractility. Non-selective PDE inhibitors, inhibits both PDE III and PDE IV, resulting in both desirable anti-asthmatic effects and undesirable cardiovascular stimulation. With this well-known distinction between PDE isozymes, the opportunity for concomitant anti-inflammation and bronchodilation without many of the side effects associated with PDE inhibitors is apparent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,588 discloses several quinoline 5-carboxamides as PDE IV inhibitors. A compound disclosed therein has the formula I:
The N-oxide of the compound of formula I is the compound of formula II, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,410,559. The '559 patent additionally discloses a process to synthesize the compound of formula II and analogs.
Furthermore, M. Billah et al, Bioorg. & Medicinal Chem., (2002), 12, 1621–1623, disclose the compound of formula I as well as its N-oxide, the compound of formula II.
M. Billah et al, Bioorg. & Medicinal Chem., (2002), 12, 1617–1619, describe a process to synthesize the compounds of formulas I and II. The synthesis which goes through the compound of formula III:
involves several tedious steps and necessitates the use of expensive starting materials and the use of a palladium catalyst. Removal of the palladium catalyst is generally difficult as is known to those skilled in the art.
Attention is also drawn to M. Marull et al, Eur. J. Org. Chem, (2003), 1576–1588, and F. Cottet and M. Marull et al, Eur. J. Org. Chem, (2003), 1559–1568, respectively describing the synthesis of certain quinolinones and recommendable routes to trifluoromethyl-substituted quinoline carboxylic acids.
There remains a need for new, economical methods of making PDE IV inhibitors based on quinoline carboxamide structure. This invention provides a process to prepare such quinoline compounds carrying a trifluoromethyl group at the 2-position and having a substituent at the 8-position of the quinoline moiety.

Synthesis of quinoline 5-carboxamides useful for the preparation of PDE IV inhibitors


A computer system can obtain BIOS data from a network storage by a management controller of the computer system. The computer system can emulate a BIOS memory by the management controller based on the BIOS data and initialize the computer system with the BIOS memory emulated by the management controller.

Field
This application relates to computer systems, and more particularly to a method of network Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) management, storage, and boot for computer servers.
Background
In a typical computer system (e.g., a rack server in a data center), a BIOS software program is stored on a BIOS memory (e.g., flash memory) located on a motherboard of the computer system. The BIOS stores firmware executed when the computer system is first powered on, along with a set of configurations specified for the BIOS. The BIOS firmware and BIOS configurations are stored in a non-volatile memory such as a non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) or a read-only memory (ROM) such as flash memory. The BIOS typically recognizes, initializes, and tests hardware present in a given computing system based on the set of configurations. The BIOS then gives control of the computer system to an operating system. The BIOS can provide an interface that allows a variety of different parameters to be set. For example, the BIOS may be used to specify clock and bus speeds, specify what peripherals are attached to the computer system, specify monitoring of health (e.g., fan speeds and CPU temperature limits), and specify a variety of other parameters that affect overall performance and power usage of the computer system.
Traditionally, each computer server in a data center contains a separate BIOS memory. Each BIOS is configured according to a configuration for each computer server. The administrator can update the BIOS using a flash utility application in the OS.


A towing assembly is provided including a hitch ball receiver having a hitch ball mounting aperture and a recess around the aperture, a hitch ball including a base and a mounting shank where the base is sized and shaped to be received in the recess and a fastener engaging the shank and securing the hitch ball to the hitch ball receiver.

Trailer hitches including a hitch ball for connecting a towing vehicle to a trailer have long been known in the art. Examples of such are disclosed in a number of patents including, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,482,856 to Reese, U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,006 to Goode et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,837 to Reese, U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,601 to Lindahl et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,867 to Kass et al.
Most hitch balls are either directly mounted to (1) a draw bar or (2) a ball mount head carried on a hitch bar by means of a threaded mounting shank and cooperating locking-nut or nut and lock washer. More specifically, the threaded mounting shank extends through an aperture in the draw bar/ball mount head and the locking nut or nut and locking washer combination are snugly tightened against the draw bar/ball mount head to secure the trailer hitch ball in position. While this provides a very adequate connection, many individuals are frustrated when the hitch ball rotates in the hitch ball receiver when attempting to tighten the securing nut. When this occurs, it is not possible to complete the tightening operation unless tools are employed to hold the hitch ball and prevent its rotation.
A need is therefore identified for an improved structural arrangement whereby a hitch ball may be secured against rotation relative to the hitch ball receiver during installation and connection of the fastener to the stem of the hitch ball.


An electronic apparatus, comprising: data and charging port, direct current charging port, data interface, power switch, charging management module, main processor, video receiver, and video processing module. The power switch detects whether data and charging port or direct current charging port is transferring electrical energy, and enables, according to detection result, conduction between the data and charging port or the direct current charging port and the charging management module. The charging management module employs, after becoming in conduction with the data and charging port or the direct current charging port, the data and charging port or the direct current charging port to charge battery. The main processor controls the video receiver to detect whether the data and charging port or the data interface is transmitting video data, and receives, according to detection result, one video data flow and sends the same to the video processing module for processing.

Due to its high power consumption, an electronic apparatus with a built-in battery is generally equipped with a direct current (DC) charging port for charging which will not be multiplexed as a data interface of the electronic apparatus. For instance, a projector is equipped with a DC charging port and a USB Type A (USB-A) interface as a data interface. Generally, the USB-A interface has no sufficient charging capability to support the charging of the high capacity battery in the projector by heavy current.
With the popularization of the USB Type C (USB-C) interface, the charging function and the high-speed data transmission function can be concurrently achieved by a single USB-C interface, which basically meets the demand of an electronic apparatus with a built-in battery having a low power consumption and a low capacity. However, as for an electronic apparatus such as a projector which has a high-capacity built-in battery and a USB-C interface, it may still need a separate DC charging port since the long charging time may affect the use of the data transmission function of the USB-C interface by a user: moreover, because the USB-C charging port can be connected to a universal charger, the charging function of the USB-C interface is also retained simultaneously.
Meanwhile, in the event that charging with the DC charging port instead of the USB-C interface, and the USB-C interface is simply configured to transmit USB data, video data or audio data, all these data can be input only when there is an external USB-C to USB adapter connected thereto for converting the USB-C interface into a USB interface for video, audio or other data. It is inconvenient for a user to carry such an external adapter or it is likely to forget to take it along. In order that all these different data can be transmitted simultaneously, it is required that the electronic apparatus should have both the external physical interfaces and the internal data channels of its own extended: the external physical interfaces may be extended by adding a USB-C interface and a USB-A interface, and the internal data channels may be extended by extending the video, audio and USB data channels.


Managing user devices associated with a digital wallet account comprises associating, using one or more computing devices, one or more user computing devices with a digital wallet account of a user, each of the associated one or more user computing devices being activated to conduct financial transactions with a merchant utilizing the digital wallet account; presenting the associated user computing devices in a list of associated user computing devices; receiving a request to deactivate a particular user computing device from the list of associated user computing devices; deactivating the particular user computing device, the deactivation being sufficient to prevent the user computing device from conducting transactions with a merchant utilizing the digital wallet account; and presenting a deactivated status of the particular user computing device.

Digital wallet accounts can be configured by a user for transactions with merchants. The transactions can be conducted online or offline. Digital wallet accounts can be used for online purchases via the Internet with a user computing device. A digital wallet application module can be installed on a mobile computing device for use in offline purchases. For example, the user can utilize a digital wallet application module on a user computing device to make purchases at a merchant location via near field communication ("NFC"), BLUETOOTH, Wi-Fi, or other proximity communication technologies.
The digital wallet account can be associated with a proxy card account. Proxy card payment systems enable users to utilize a single card to access multiple financial accounts maintained by multiple issuers. The user receives a proxy card from the proxy card system and either creates a new proxy card system account or associates the proxy card with the user's digital wallet account already maintained by the proxy card system. The user then associates one or more financial card accounts with the proxy account. For example, the user can associate with the user's proxy card account multiple debit/credit cards maintained by multiple issuers (including the proxy card system operating as an issuer), stored value cards (for example, gift cards, prepaid cards, re-loadable transaction cards, exchange cards, and other forms of non-credit based value cards), loyalty cards or store rewards cards, value added service accounts (for example, coupons, vouchers for prepaid offers, redemption offers, and other forms of offers), peer-to-peer transaction accounts, bank accounts and/or other forms of financial card accounts.
In a conventional digital wallet application, the user is not able to disable a digital wallet application module on a different mobile user device or other user device. For example, a user might lose a mobile phone that has a digital wallet application module installed or have that cell phone stolen. The user does not have a manner of conveniently disabling or removing the user device from the list of authorized digital wallet devices.

Managing devices associated with a digital wallet account


In driving force control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, an internal combustion engine drives mainly driven wheels of the vehicle, a generator is driven by the internal combustion engine, a motor is driven by a power of the generator, the motor is capable of driving other wheels than the mainly driven wheels, a condenser electrically connected to the generator in parallel with the motor, and a condenser controlling section (8G) connects the condenser to the motor in a case where a vehicle speed (Vv) is equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed and disconnects the condenser from the motor and the generator in a case where the vehicle speed is in excess of the predetermined vehicle speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to driving force control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle which are capable of driving auxiliary driven wheels by means of powers of a generator and a condenser such as a battery or a capacitor. The generator is driven by means of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle. The internal combustion engine drives mainly driven wheels of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A Japanese Patent Application First Publication No. 2000-318473 (published on Nov. 21, 2000) exemplifies a previously proposed vehicular driving force control apparatus. In this driving force control apparatus, mainly driven wheels are driven by means of an internal combustion engine and auxiliary driven wheels are driven by means of a motor so that the vehicle is in a four-wheel drive state. At this time, a dynamic power of the internal combustion engine drives the generator and the motor is driven by means of the power of the generator.

Driving force control apparatus and method for automotive vehicle


The present invention provides, in one embodiment, an integrated circuit having a substrate and active devices formed on the surface of the substrate. Other embodiments of the integrated circuit provide for having at least either three or four metal layers. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the integrated circuit comprises a bond pad formed over a portion of the active devices. The bond pad has a footprint. As used therein the word footprint means the area covered by the device to which the word refers. The integrated circuit further incudes a patterned metal layer having a metal layer footprint that is located between the bond pad and the substrate and a built-in self-test (BIST) circuit that has a BIST footprint, which is located between the substrate and the bond pad. In this particular embodiment, the bond pad footprint overlays at least a portion of the metal layer footprint and the BIST footprint. However, in a more advantageous embodiment, the bond pad footprint overlays a substantial portion of the metal layer footprint and the BIST footprint.

The high costs associated with microcircuit manufacture are strong encouragement for determining the acceptability of microdevices at the earliest possible stage of manufacture. Therefore, functional testing at the semiconductor wafer level is preferred over testing at: (a) the microcircuit die (a bare, non-incapulated chip) level, or (b) the finished microdevice level. Conventional chip testing methods to determine the reliability of semiconductor chips have primarily relied upon one of the two industry standard procedures: (a) wafer probing, or (b) statistical sampling. Only the first method, wafer probing, applies at the wafer level; statistical sampling is done at the microcircuit die level of production.
At the wafer level, probing technology is generally accomplished at room temperature by introducing electrical signals to the necessary circuits of individual devices to check for appropriate circuit performance. A semiconductor wafer is approximately eight inches in diameter and may contain an array of from 50 to 5000 microdevices of the same type.
As wafer probing is typically done at room temperature, performance of the microdevice is not evaluated under the thermal load equivalent to full circuit operation in the microdevice=s final form. Thermal screening at the wafer level is not technically feasible since a thermal forcing technique is not yet available that can rapidly cycle the relatively large mass of a four or five inch semiconductor wafer. Therefore, chip integrity is still questionable after wafer probing.
Next, the devices are cut from the wafer along a preplanned grid, called "streets", and separated into individual microcircuit die. Damage incurred during the wafer cutting process is normally evaluated only by visual inspection. The die may be tested at this stage of production to determine the individual reliability of the microchip before incorporation into a larger assembly, sometimes known as a Hybrid Microelectronic Assembly (HMA). However, exhaustive testing of individual die is not economically practical; therefore statistical sampling of the die batch may be employed.
Statistical sampling is the other industry standard microchip testing procedure used to determine electrical function and operating reliability. Using this methodology, one to two percent of the individual die are separated from the wafer, mounted into a custom test fixture, and subjected to dynamic electrical and thermal evaluation. Based upon the compiled test results, predictions are then made concerning the other 98 to 99 percent of chips from that batch. Chips, which were used for testing, are generally not commercially useable after having been mounted in the fixture and tested.
At the next stage of production electrical wires are attached to the bond pads to provide connectivity between the integrated circuits on the die and the final electrical circuit. The attachment of wires to the bond pads traditionally introduces certain stresses into the microcircuit, primarily in the area beneath the bond pads. The die are subsequently encapsulated into their final electrical package, an HMA. At this level, the final product can again be tested for proper functionality; however, the entire cost of production has already been expended and a failure at this level may result in a total waste of the microchip.
Therefore, for the most part, chip reliability is uncertain until the chips are assembled in the final electrical package, and the completed HMA package is subjected to final testing. At this point in the manufacturing process, non-functional HMA packages must undergo labor intensive troubleshooting to determine the cause and extent of failure. In many cases the cost of repairing a faulty HMA package exceeds the cost of producing the entire package.
One method of on-wafer functional testing currently in use is that of built-in test (BIT) or built-in self test (BIST). During these tests, a portion of the semiconductor wafer is designed and manufactured to create the signals that test specific critical modules of the individual devices, when appropriately driven by external test equipment. Unfortunately, however, the BIST circuitry is conventionally placed within the principal area of the microchip. The presence of the BIST circuitry takes away valuable space that could otherwise be used for additional primary circuitry. Therefore, the capability of testing the circuit comes at the high price of sacrificing space within the microchip area, and the useable chip density of the wafer is reduced by the area dedicated to BIST.
Accordingly what is needed in the art is a device and methodology that provides a BIST circuit without reducing the area dedicated to the primary circuitry.

Device and method of manufacture for an integrated circuit having a BIST circuit and bond pads incorporated therein