A method for forming dislocation-free strained silicon thin film includes the step of providing two curved silicon substrates. One substrate is curved by the presence of silicon dioxide on a back surface. The other substrate is curved by the presence of a silicon nitride layer. One of the substrates is subject to hydrogen implantation and the two substrates are bonded to one another in an annealing process. The two substrates are separated, thereby leaving a layer of strained silicon on a front side of one of the substrates. A back side layer of silicon dioxide or silicon nitride is then removed to restore the substrate to a substantially planar state. The method may be employed to form dislocation-free strained silicon thin films. The films may be under tensile or compressive strain.

Strained silicon is increasingly being used to improve the performance of silicon-based CMOS transistors. For example, tensile-strained silicon is one of the most promising solutions to improve Ion/Ioff ratio and transconductance when traditional devices reach physical size limits. Strained silicon is also attractive for use in semiconductor-based devices because of strained silicon's ability to be readily integrated into CMOS processes, standard MOSFET architectures, and circuit layouts.
For example, strained silicon enables improvements in CMOS performance and functionality via replacement of the bulk, cubic-crystal silicon with a tetragonally distorted, biaxially strained silicon surface thin film. In addition, strained silicon film has electronic properties that are superior to those of bulk silicon. For instance, the strained silicon film has greater electron and hole mobilities, which translate into greater drive current capabilities for NMOS and PMOS transistors.
Strained silicon has generally been formed using a strained silicon heterostructure that involves several steps. First a SiGe relaxed graded layer is formed to engineer the lattice constant of the SiGe alloy. The relaxed SiGe graded layer is an epitaxially-grown thin film with a sequence of layers that have a gradually increasing Ge content up to a final Ge composition. Next, a constant composition Ge film is grown to spatially separate the subsequent strained silicon film from the misfit dislocations that are intentionally introduced in the SiGe relaxed graded layer. The final step is the deposition of the silicon film, which is placed in a state of biaxial tension as it conforms to the lattice of the constant-composition SiGe layer.
Strained silicon has also been used in conjunction with silicon-on-insulator (SOI) devices. For example, B. Ghyselen et al. disclose a process of engineering strained silicon on insulator wafers using SMART CUT process. See B. Ghyselen et al., Engineering Strained Silicon on Insulator Wafers with the SMART CUT Technology, Solid-State Electronics 48, pp. 1285-1296 (2004). The contents of the above-identified publication is incorporated by reference as if set forth fully herein.
According to one process, tensile-strained silicon is formed on insulator wafers by starting with an epitaxial layer stack ending with relaxed SiGe on top of an intermediate graded buffer layer. Hydrogen implantation is then performed on the relaxed SiGe layer, and the SMART CUT process is used to peel off the very top part of the epitaxial stack and is transferred to another silicon substrate. A strained silicon layer is then grown on top of the relaxed SiGe layer (SGOI).
In another method, tensile-strained silicon is grown directly on the relaxed SiGe layer of the donor wafer. A bi-layer containing the strained silicon and the relaxed SiGe layer is then transferred to another substrate using the SMART CUT process. After removal of the SiGe layer, the tensile-strained silicon layer is exposed, forming strained silicon on insulator (sSOI).
While methods are know for growing strained silicon layers, there is a need for a method or process for creating strained silicon that is substantially or completely free of dislocations. Conventional methods of forming strained silicon such as use of a compositionally graded SiGe buffer layer or oxidation of SiGe produces threading dislocations in the resulting strained silicon layer. Even in the methods disclosed in the B. Ghyselen et al., dislocations in the SiGe layer are transferred or otherwise communicated to the adjacent strained silicon layer. Dislocations that are formed in strained silicon (particularly threading dislocations), however, impair the overall performance of the device.

Method for producing dislocation-free strained crystalline films

The Regents of the University of California


Data not stored in the DRAM array of a SDRAM module is read from the SDRAM module in a synchronous data transfer. The data transfer, referred to as register read command/operation, resembles a read command/operation directed to data stored in the DRAM array in timing and operation. The register read command is distinguished by a unique encoding of the SDRAM control signals and bank address bits. In one embodiment, the register read command comprises the same control signal states as a MSR or EMSR command, with the bank address set to a unique value, such as 2'b10. The register read command may read only a single datum, or may utilize the address bus to address a plurality of data not stored in the DRAM array. The register read operation may be a burst read, and the burst length may be defined in a variety of ways.

The present invention relates generally to the field of memory and in particular to a method of reading a register from a volatile memory module.
Portable electronic devices have become ubiquitous accoutrements to modern life. Two modern trends in portable electronic devices are increased functionality and decreased size. Increased functionality demands higher computing power and more memory. The decreasing size of portable electronic devices places a premium on power consumption, as smaller batteries can store and deliver less power. Thus, advances that increase performance and decrease power consumption are advantageous for portable electronic devices.
Most portable electronic devices include Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) to store instructions and data for a processor or other controller. DRAM is the most cost-effective solid-state memory technology available. While the price per bit is lower for mass storage technologies such as disk drives, the high access latency, high power consumption, and high sensitivity to shock or vibration preclude the use of mass storage drives in many portable electronic device applications.
Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) offers both improved performance and simplified interface design over conventional DRAM by aligning all control signals and data transfer cycles to clock edges. Double data rate (DDR) SDRAM allows data transfers on both rising and falling edges of the clock, providing still higher performance.
Most SDRAM modules include a mode register to store configurable parameters such as CAS latency, burst length, and the like. As SDRAM technology increased in complexity and configurability, many SDRAM modules added an extended mode register to store additional configurable parameters such as write length, drive strength, and the like. Both the mode register and extended mode register are write-only. That is, there is no provision for a controller to read the contents of these registers. With the introduction of the mode and extended registers, a DRAM module for the first time stored information other than the data written to and read from the DRAM array. Consequently, a new data transfer operation was required.
Many SDRAM modules include Mode Register Set (MRS) and Extended Mode Register Set (EMRS) operations to load the registers with the desired parameters. These operations are commonly implemented by simultaneously driving the CS, RAS, CAS, and WE control signals low, selecting between the MRS and EMRS with bank address bits, and providing the information to be written to the selected register on address lines A0–A11. In most implementations, all DRAM banks must be inactive at the time of the MRS or EMRS command, and no further operation may be directed to the SDRAM module for a specified minimum duration, such as six clock cycles. These restrictions do not adversely impact the SDRAM performance, since due to the nature of the mode and extended mode registers, they are written once upon initialization and never changed.
The third-generation Graphics Double Data Rate industry specification (GDDR3) provides the ability to read information from an SDRAM module other than data stored in the DRAM array. As one option during an EMRS operation, the SDRAM may output a vendor code and version number on the data bus (EMRS write information is transmitted on the address bus). All of the restrictions of the EMRS operation—that all banks be idle and that the operation is followed by a minimum duration, such as six clock cycles, of inactivity—must be observed. Due to the static nature of the information (vendor ID and version number), it only needs to be read once, such as during initialization, and the limitations of the EMRS operation do not significantly affect performance.
A basic aspect of DRAM operation is that the capacitive charge storing data at each bit position must be periodically renewed to preserve the data state. The DRAM array is refreshed by row; some SDRAM modules may refresh the same row in multiple DRAM banks at the same time. Each row in the DRAM array must be refreshed within a specified refresh period. The DRAM rows may be refreshed sequentially once per refresh period, known as a burst refresh. However, this prevents access to the DRAM array for the time necessary to cycle through all of the rows, and imposes a performance degradation. Alternatively, refresh cycles directed to each row may be spread evenly throughout the refresh period, interspersed with read and write data transfers. This is known as distributed refresh. Distributed refresh is more commonly implemented, as it imposes less of a performance penalty.
The total required refresh period, and hence the spacing of refresh cycles in a distributed refresh operation, depends on the temperature of the DRAM array dye. As a general rule of thumb, the refresh rate must be doubled for every 10° C. increase in the DRAM array die temperature. The refresh period specified for a SDRAM module is typically that required by the DRAM at its highest anticipated operation temperature. Thus, whenever the DRAM array die is at a lower temperature, the refresh period is longer, and the distributed refresh cycles may be spaced further apart, thus reducing their impact on DRAM read and write accesses. This would both improve processor performance and reduce power consumption by eliminating unnecessary refresh activity.
Co-pending U.S. Pat. Appl. Ser. No. 11/165,950, filed on Jun. 23, 2005, assigned to the assigneee of the present invention and incorporation herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a SDRAM module having a temperature sensor. A controller, such as a processor, may periodically read the output of the temperature sensor and calculate the actual minimum required refresh rate. At least during initial operation—that is, before the SDRAM module stabilizes at its operating temperature—the controller may periodically read the temperature sensor, such as every four to six microseconds, to dynamically optimize the refresh rate.
The output of a temperature sensor is one form of data read from a SDRAM module that is not stored in the DRAM array. The only known means for reading such information—"piggy backing" the read of vendor ID and version number on an EMRS operation, as provided in the GDDR3 specification—imposes unacceptable performance penalties. As described, in most implementations, all banks must be idle prior to the EMRS operation, and no commands may be issued for many clock cycles after the EMRS operation. Ideally, the read of data not stored in the DRAM array should be performed in a synchronous data transfer that is substantially similar to a read operation directed to data that is within the DRAM array. This would allow the read of information not stored in the DRAM array to be seamlessly interspersed with reads and writes of data that is stored in the DRAM array (i.e., normal DRAM accesses).


The object of the present invention is to provide a garbage pail having a lid pivotly mounted on a lid mount structure, the lid mount structure having a liner space allowing a liner to be folded over the mouth of the container without obstructing the lid and vise versa,. Said garbage pail comprised of an open mouth container (1) molded substaintally of a solid substance, said garbage pail having a lid (4.5) seating on the mouth thereof, pivotly secured to a lid mount structure (3) extending outward from the rear wall of the container, the lid mount structure is formed with a liner space (6) open at the top and sides allowing a plastic liner bag to be folded over the mouth of the container, the lid mount structure is formed with a rearwardly extending wall standoff (5).

In the present industrialized world it is possible to purchase a vast array of domestic garbage pails. Most household waste pails are used in conjunction with a disposable sanitary liner inserted to line the holding cavity of the container. Though most garbage pails are used inconjunction with disposable liners few are designed and constructed to hold the same open, and prevent refuse from getting between the liner and the inner walls of the container.


An apparatus and method for connectivity in networks configured for non-disruptive disconnection of one or more peripheral devices are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first logical layer associated with a first peripheral device, the first peripheral device arranged in a network configured for non-disruptive disconnection of at least one peripheral device, at least a second logical layer associated with at least a second peripheral device, the at least a second peripheral device arranged in the network configured for non-disruptive disconnection of at least one peripheral device, at least one power source associated with the first logical layer and the at least a second logical layer, and a first electrically conductive link coupled to the first logical layer, the at least a second logical layer, and the at least one power source associated with the first logical layer and the at least a second logical layer.

Plug and play (PnP) systems are used in virtually all personal computers and numerous computer-controlled machines as well. PnP systems, which are also known as hot-swapping systems, allow connections and disconnections of peripheral devices to a host system without manual installation of device drivers or a reboot of the host system.
A principle feature of a PnP system is its ability to automatically reconfigure a communication bus after the connection or disconnection of a peripheral device ("peripheral"). When a communication bus of the PnP system observes a change in the peripheral layout, the bus initiates a reset. A connect or disconnect of a peripheral is recognized by sensing the power to the peripheral or by a special circuit on the peripheral's connector. The reconfiguration process recognizes and reacquires all of the peripherals connected to the bus to ensure that each peripheral is properly loaded in the host system and is given access to the communication bus. The reconfiguration process must reconfigure all of the peripherals connected to the bus even if only one peripheral is connected or disconnected, in order to ensure that no peripherals are in conflict. The reconfiguration process recognizes any newly connected peripheral, and automatically retrieves and loads the drivers for that peripheral. Conversely, if a peripheral is disconnected, the reconfiguration process disables the peripheral's drivers within the system, and assigns that peripheral's time slot to another device. Some examples of commonly known PnP systems include Universal Serial Bus (USB), FireWire (IEEE 1394 protocol), and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI).
Existing communication buses typically include interfaces that allow devices to interact with the communication bus by converting the devices' complex commands and data into bit level data that can be transmitted over the bus. Many such interfaces are operated in accordance with protocols that are divided into layers. The layered design divides the functions of the protocol involved into a series of logical layers. Each layer requests services from the layer below and performs services for the layer above. Layering a protocol makes it easier to design and use. For example, the IEEE 1394 protocol is divided into a physical layer, a link layer, and a transaction layer.
The highest layer of the IEEE 1394 protocol is the transaction layer, which is responsible for reading, writing, and conveying other high level commands to and from each communicating device. The middle layer is the link layer, which handles data at a packet level. The lowest layer is the physical layer, which is responsible for actually transmitting and receiving data over the bus (including arbitration with the bus). Beyond the physical layer, the data is conveyed on the bus and is handled by another device. Consequently, the physical layer may be viewed as a junction between a peripheral and the other devices. Thus, the hardware connectors of a peripheral are located at the junction of the physical layer and the communication bus.
In existing PnP systems, such as for example, the PnP systems used in spacecraft, the communication bus is often configured so that the peripherals are daisy-chained together. This technique places each peripheral one behind the other along a communication stream. Consequently, a message that is transmitted to one peripheral must be passed on by, or allowed to be passed through, that peripheral to the next peripheral in the chain. For example, in order for a message to be passed from a host to the fifth peripheral in a chain, the first four peripherals in the chain must forward the message before it can arrive at the fifth peripheral. Consequently, since any peripheral in the chain depends upon the viability of the peripherals upstream, if one peripheral is incapable of forwarding data, then all of the peripherals downstream from that peripheral will lose communication with the host. Thus, a significant problem with the existing systems is that if a peripheral is disconnected from the communication bus, the bus has to be reconfigured in order to remove the disconnected peripheral from the chain.
In the above-described, related U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/608,905 ("the '905 application"), a novel method and apparatus is disclosed that solves the above-described problem, by allowing disconnection of a peripheral from a communication bus without causing disruption to other peripherals on the bus. This non-disruptive disconnection is accomplished by physically disconnecting the peripheral from the communication bus without causing a reconfiguration of the bus. More precisely, the non-disruptive disconnection is accomplished by placing the physical connector for the peripheral between the interfaces for the physical layer and link layer of the protocol involved. Before a peripheral is disconnected, the link layer is disabled. However, the physical layer remains enabled while the peripheral is being disconnected, because the arrangement of the peripheral's connector at the interface between the physical layer and the link layer enables the peripheral to be removed without removing the physical layer. Thus, based on the novel techniques disclosed in the '905 application, the communication bus does not have to be reconfigured after a peripheral is disconnected, because the bus can still communicate with all of the same physical layers it communicated with before the peripheral was disconnected.
Notwithstanding the numerous advantages of the novel techniques disclosed in the '905 application, there is no technique that currently exists that can provide suitable connectivity for those networks that are configured to implement the techniques disclosed in the '905 application. For example, with the implementation of new high speed interfaces such as those included in the IEEE 1394 or 1394(a)(b) protocols targeted for space and military applications, such requirements as performance, power, weight and size have to justify the choice. Considering the example of the IEEE 1394 protocol, existing network configuration topologies can provide reduced power, weight and size but with continued susceptibility to broken links, or they can provide robust connectivity for broken links at the expense of reduced power, weight and size. Thus, in order to take full advantage of the novel configurations disclosed in the '905 application, suitable network connectivity (e.g., cabling, etc.) has to be provided. In other words, there are no suitable active cables or cable assemblies for networks that can be implemented using the separated physical layer and link layer interfaces disclosed in the '905 application. Consequently, the existing networks are unable to capitalize on all of the potential advantages and benefits of the novel techniques disclosed in the '905 application.
For example, FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an example IEEE 1394b network 100, which is arranged in a semi-robust configuration including separated physical layer and link layer interfaces as disclosed in the '905 application. Note that in this illustrative example, no peripheral devices are shown. As such, network 100 includes a first link layer segment 102, a first physical layer segment 104, and a standard connection between these two logical segments. Also included is a second physical layer segment 108, a second link layer segment 112, and a robust connector 110 (e.g., separated at the physical layer and link layer interfaces) between these two logical segments. Network 100 also includes a third physical layer segment 116, a third link layer segment 120, and a robust connector 118 (e.g., separated at the physical layer and link layer interfaces) between these two logical segments. However, note that in the example network configuration shown in FIG. 1, three physical interconnecting cables 106, 114 and 122 are being used. Notably, the number of different physical connections in the existing network configurations is proportional to the number of physical interconnecting cables being used. As illustrated by the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the existing networks require physical layer to physical layer cabling in addition to physical layer to link layer connectivity. Consequently, the conventional cables or cable assemblies being used in the existing robust and semi-robust applications are not designed to minimize the number of physical connections used. Therefore, a pressing need exists for new techniques that can provide suitable connectivity (e.g., active cabling and/or cabling assemblies that can minimize the number of physical connections required) in those networks capable of non-disruptively disconnecting peripheral devices, such as for example, networks capable of implementing the non-disruptive disconnection techniques disclosed in the '905 application. Also, a need exists for new techniques that can provide suitable connectivity for the physical layer in the new robust applications, because the physical layer will no longer reside in the remote devices but rather as part of the physical connectivity or cabling in the robust designs.

Apparatus and method for connectivity in networks capable of non-disruptively disconnecting peripheral devices


A sheet material is gripped at its edges and hot blow formed by a pressurized working gas against a forming tool surface. The flow characteristics of the material are determined at increasing gas pressures over a range of temperature relevant to the forming operation. A predetermined pressure/time schedule is determined at a reference temperature for rapid shape formation of good parts on a continual basis. The process is then controlled as parts are thus formed by measuring the forming temperature of the parts and correcting the pressure time schedule, using the determined flow characteristics, for the actual temperature to achieve the desired shape evolution of the parts.

In blow forming, a sheet of formable material is heated to a temperature at which it can be stretched by a pressurized working gas against a heated forming surface. The hot sheet material is gripped at its edges adjacent to the mold or die surface and pressurized air, or other suitable working gas, is applied to one side of the sheet to push and stretch the other side into conformance with the forming surface. The sheet is thus permanently deformed and the gas is vented and the formed sheet product removed from the mold or die. The sheet material may, for example, be a suitable metal alloy, a synthetic polymer or the like.
Hot blow forming processes are used to form automotive body panels using an aluminum alloy, such as fine grained AA5083, in cold rolled and recrystallized sheet form. For example, the Rashid et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,588, Quick Plastic Forming of Aluminum Alloy Sheet Metal, assigned to the assignee of this invention, describes such a process. The aluminum alloy sheet blank is heated to a suitable temperature in the range of about 400° C. to about 510° C. and stretched under the pressure of a working gas into conformance with the surface of a forming tool. The gas pressure is increased in a predetermined controlled pressure-time sequence (e.g., in stepwise increments) from ambient pressure to a final level in the range of about 250 psi to about 500 psi or higher. The strategy is to strain and shape the sheet metal as rapidly as possible without tearing or cracking it. However, the pressure application rate has necessarily been conservative because the workpiece heating mechanisms have not necessarily yielded precise temperature control from hour to hour or from workpiece to workpiece in continuous sheet metal forming operations.
Forming tools are often made of steel and are massive heat sinks. The tools may be heated by electrical resistance heating rods in a control circuit. When the tools are to be maintained at high temperatures, such as 400° C. to 500° C., effective maintenance of the target tool temperature often depends on balancing electric power input with the opening and closing of the tools to the ambient temperature on a regular time pattern. But in actual practice the temperature of the tools can vary by several degrees from a target temperature for many reasons. Restoring the actual temperature of a massive tool to a target temperature may require some time during which it is usually desired to continue efficient production of good parts on the tool.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method of coordinating working gas pressure application and sheet material flow behavior with actual forming tool temperature to improve the productivity of hot blow forming tooling while maintaining the quality of the formed sheet metal panel or other product.


In an automatic transmission having a clutch and a gear type transmission, a control unit for inputting detected signals from the operating condition detecting device, and outputting control signals to the gear changing device and the clutch drive device based on the detected signals. The control unit determines whether a stop intention condition of a driver is satisfied or not, and performs first gear change control for, if the stop intention condition is determined to be satisfied, disengaging the friction clutch and changing the gear type transmission to a neutral position, and second gear change control for, when an accelerator opening becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, after the friction clutch is disengaged and the gear type transmission is changed to the neutral position by the first gear change by the first gear change control, changing the gear type transmission to a gear according to a vehicle speed, and engaging the friction clutch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a gear type automatic transmission, and in particular, to an improvement in the speed of response of an automatic transmission provided with a clutch. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a technique for stopping a vehicle smoothly during idle-up control. Moreover, the present invention especially relates to a technique for eliminating batting states of a synchromesh mechanism in a sub transmission, in a gear change control device of a multi-stage transmission in which the sub transmission is connected to the output side of a main transmission.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, mechanical automatic transmissions have been utilized that change gears automatically according to running conditions, by electronically controlling a friction clutch and a gear type transmission. In a mechanical automatic transmission, since there is no fluid clutch (torque converter) in the driving force transfer system from the engine to the driving wheels, the driving force transfer efficiency is high, and hence it is possible to improve fuel consumption. Furthermore, since there is no slipping sensation which is unique to a fluid clutch, the drivability is also improved.
In a gear type transmission, after the gear is changed to the neutral position, the driving force is disconnected from the engine. Therefore, in a mechanical automatic transmission, when stopping a vehicle from the drive stage, control is typically performed for engaging a friction clutch after changing the gear type transmission to the neutral position. Furthermore, in gear change control of a mechanical automatic transmission, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-227630, and a prior application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-92119) by the present applicant, a technique is proposed in which when a gear type transmission is changed to the neutral position but immediately before the vehicle is stopped, an acceleration operation is performed in order to reaccelerate, the transmission is changed to an optimum gear according to the vehicle speed.
However, in a mechanical automatic transmission, the friction clutch is disengaged and engaged using an actuator. Therefore, at the time when the vehicle should be stopped, if when the gear type transmission is changed to the neutral position and the friction clutch is engaged, then even if an acceleration operation is performed in order to reaccelerate, the friction clutch needs to be disengaged again in order to change the gear. Hence the speed of response is not satisfactory.
Therefore, taking the above-described existing problems into consideration, the present invention makes it an object thereof to provide an apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission that does not require the friction clutch to be disengaged at the time of reacceleration, by maintaining a state in which the friction clutch is disengaged after a gear type transmission is changed to the neutral position when stopping a vehicle from the drive stage, so that the speed of response is improved.
On the other hand, a vehicle engine is provided with an idle-up device in order to stabilize the engine rotation during the time that the water temperature is low, and to complete warming up quickly. For the idle-up device, there is a manual idle-up device that increases the engine rotational speed at the time of idling by the driver controlling the idle volume, and an automatic idle-up device that increases the engine rotational speed at the time of idling up to a predetermined value (idle-up rotational speed) automatically depending on the temperature of the cooling water. Using these idle-up devices, the amount of fuel supplied is controlled so as to maintain the idle-up rotational speed, and hence the engine rotational speed is maintained almost constant as the workload changes.
Accordingly, in a vehicle in which an idle-up device and a mechanical automatic transmission as described above are provided, in the case where the idle-up rotational speed is set to be greater than the rotational speed at which changing to the neutral position takes place, when idle-up control is performed, even if the driver operates the brake in order to stop the vehicle from the drive stage, the engine rotational speed does not become less than or equal to the rotational speed at which changing to the neutral position takes place, and the gear type transmission does not go into the neutral position.
Accordingly, it is necessary for the driver to press the brake pedal down more strongly than necessary in order to force the engine rotational speed to drop, so that the engine rotational speed drops to become less than the rotational speed at which changing to the neutral position takes place, and the gear type transmission is set to the neutral position. By so doing, the sensation of operating the brake becomes unpleasant. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the load on the brake increases more than needed.
Therefore, taking the above-described existing problem into consideration, the present invention makes it an object thereof to provide an apparatus for controlling a mechanical automatic transmission that, in a vehicle provided with an idle-up device, determines that an engine is in an idle-up state based on the engine torque, when stopping the vehicle from the drive stage, and changes the gear to the neutral position, so that the vehicle stops smoothly.
While, in a tractor that pulls a trailer, since the weight of the vehicle is great, a multi-stage transmission is often installed in order to improve the running performance. In recent years, a type is becoming mainstream in which part of the gear train of the main transmission is shared by connecting a sub transmission to a main transmission in series, in order to achieve miniaturization. Furthermore, a technique has been also proposed that realizes an efficient automatic transmission by controlling a mechanical clutch and a multi-stage transmission electronically (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-165294).
For example, an example of a multi-stage transmission is one in which a splitter and a range are linked to a main transmission on its input side and output side respectively as sub transmissions, each gear of the main transmission is shifted by a half stage, and the gear ratio is expanded to multiple stages. In such a multi-stage transmission, in order to reduce the load on the synchromesh mechanism (inertia on the synchronizing side) in the range, gear change control is performed in which the range is changed when the main transmission is in its neutral, and after the range change is completed, the main transmission is changed to a predetermined gear.
Incidentally, in the case where the synchronizing side and the side to be synchronized are stopped completely in a typical synchromesh mechanism, there is a possibility that a "batting state" occurs, in which the chamfered ends of a synchronizer sleeve and a synchronizer ring interfere. If a batting state occurs, the synchronizer sleeve cannot slide in the direction of a gear on the side to be synchronized, so that the gear cannot be changed. Although the frequency of batting states occurring is reduced due to improvement of the chamfered end shape of the synchronizer sleeve and the synchronizer ring, it cannot be avoided reliably at present.
When the main transmission is set to the neutral position and the clutch is engaged, since relative rotation occurs between the main gear and the main shaft, the positional relationship between the chamfered ends of the synchronizer sleeve and the synchronizer ring changes, so that the batting state of the main transmission can be avoided easily.
However, in a multi-stage transmission, since the main transmission is changed after the range change is completed, if a batting state occurs in the range, changing of the main transmission cannot be started. Accordingly, since the main gear and the main shaft do not engage, even if the clutch is engaged, the main shaft does not rotate. Therefore, it is not possible to generate relative rotation between the main shaft and the range gear. Accordingly, when a batting state occurs in the range, then for example the vehicle must depart slowly while maintaining the range in a high speed gear in order to change the range.
While the vehicle is stopped, the main transmission is in the neutral position most of the time. Furthermore, when the vehicle stops from normal driving, there are many cases where the range is changed to a high speed gear. Accordingly, when the vehicle starts moving, there is a high possibility that the range must be changed from the high speed gear to the low speed gear in a state in which the main gear, the main shaft, and the range gear are not rotating, so problems as described above occur easily.
Therefore, taking the above-described existing problems into consideration, the present invention makes it an object thereof to provide a gear change control apparatus of a multi-stage transmission that, in a multi-stage transmission in which a sub transmission is connected to an output side of a main transmission, eliminates batting states of the synchromesh mechanism in the sub transmission by changing the content of the gear change control.

Apparatus for controlling automatic transmission


A new and distinct Quercus fusiformis variety named ‘Joan Lionetti’ is characterized by dark green colored leaves, dense upreaching crown structure, excellent adaptation to conditions prevailing in the southwestern United States, with relatively low mast production.

Quercus is a large genus of the plant family Fagaceae consisting of approximately 600 species of trees and shrubs native to the Northern Hemisphere. In English, these plants are ordinarily referred to as oaks. Various oaks find usage for timber in the production of hardwood lumber, construction timbers and for cooperage. Oaks constitute important wildlife trees, providing habitat for many native animals as well as producing acorns used as food by both by humans and animals. Oaks mature into attractive, long lived trees frequently utilized in landscape plantings. The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Quercus fusiformis, an evergreen oak native from southwest Oklahoma, through Texas into northeast Mexico. Quercus fusiformis is also known as Texas Live Oak, Escarpment Live Oak and Plateau Live Oak. For many years, selected open pollinated seedlings of this species have been sold under the cultivar name 'Heritage' live oak. Quercus fusiformis is the most cold hardy Live Oak, tolerating temperatures down to −10 F. Texas Live Oak possesses excellent tolerance to alkaline, somewhat saline soils and to droughty conditions, resulting in this species being widely utilized in managed landscapes throughout the southwestern United States.
In 2003 the inventor grew out a lot of 5000 seedlings in a cultivated area near Sahuarita, Ariz. From these plants, one individual possesses the unique combination of dark colored leaves, dense crown structure, upright growth form and excellent adaptation to local conditions with low mast production which is the object of this application.

Texas live oak tree named ‘Joan Lionetti’


The present development is a method for producing a high concentration free amino acid soy hydrolysate composition and a method for using the resulting hydrolysate composition. The high concentration free amino acid soy hydrolysate is used to enhance the microbe population found in soil and wastewater. The enhanced microbe population can promote plant growth, particularly for use in brownfields and similar reclamation sites or on turf grasses, and can promote the digestion of sewage solids.

Top soil contains a rich microflora of bacteria and fungi that provide and fix soil nutrients for growing plants and grasses. Because the majority of these bacteria and fungi are aerobic, they generally do not survive in lower soil depths.
It is common practice for mining and refining operations to excavate well below the top soil layer to reach the desired ore or mineral or fuel source. During this practice, the top soil is usually placed in one location in a large mound to be used later for soil remediation. When top soil is stored in a large mound for a long period of time the bacteria and fungi that are more than about two feet below the mound surface are killed due to lack of oxygen and nutrients. At the time the top soil is replaced onto the area to be remediated, there is significantly diminished microbial activity to fix the soil nutrients and get the plants or grasses to grow.
To counter this problem, soil remediation experts add a soil amendment which contains organic nitrogen and root colonizing fungi. The soil amendment is enriched with at least one fungus and specific nutrients to enhance grass and plant growth in the remediated area. Once these grasses and plants begin growing, classical fertilizer methods can be used. The nutrients in the soil amendment are usually organic material, such as composted turkey litter, that have some protein and amino acids to provide nutrients for the root fungi. However, it would be beneficial to the reclamation process if the soil amendment could be produced with a high concentration of free amino acids that could be readily bio-available to mycorrhizal fungi.
Many turf treatments comprise some amount of digested protein from feathers or other compost. Although these protein sources can supply amino acids, the normal treatment processing tends to destroy the free amino acids. Thus, it would be beneficial for turf treatment if the turf fertilizer could be produce with a high concentration of free amino acids that could be readily bio-available to the turf grasses.
An important part of the wastewater treatment process is treating raw sewage with aerobic microbes that digest the sewage solids. This allows the sewage to be further treated and released back into the water systems. However, because the microbes must digest the sewage solids before further wastewater processing may occur, the limiting step in the process is the solids digestion. The presence of bio-available free amino acids that can be used by the microbes is expected to enhance the microbe activity thereby decreasing the time required for sewage solid digestion and the overall time required for wastewater treatment. Thus, it would be beneficial for wastewater treatment if a product with a high concentration of free amino acids was available to wastewater microbes.

Method to prepare a soy hydrolysate product with a high concentration of free amino acids and method of using the same


A motor driving circuit for adjusting speed of the motor by changing output voltage is disclosed. One end of the motor is coupled to a variable voltage source. The motor driving circuit includes a motor-driving unit, a control unit and a determining unit. The motor-driving unit includes a first end coupled to another end of the motor, a second end coupled to a ground and a third end, and is utilized for driving the motor. The control unit is utilized for controlling the voltage between the first end and the third end of the motor-driving unit. The determining unit is coupled between the variable voltage source and the control unit, and is utilized for controlling the control unit to adjust the voltage between the first end and the third end of the motor-driving unit according to magnitude of the voltage of the variable voltage source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor driving circuit, and more particularly, to a motor driving circuit for driving a motor while reducing power consumption.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With the progress of computer technology, 3C products are increasingly becoming human-based and multi-functional. However, with enhanced computing ability also comes higher and higher heat generated by a computing chip. Thus, means of dissipating heat are garnering attention in the market. Present methods for dissipating heat generally use a heat-dissipating fan. However, the heat-dissipating fan generates a considerable amount of noise.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of a prior art driving circuit 10 for driving a fan motor 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the driving circuit 10 is coupled between an input voltage source VIN and the fan motor 12, and comprises a control unit 100, a resistor 102 and a power switching device 104. The resistor 102 and the power switching device 104 are coupled in parallel, and a voltage across both is VIN1. The control unit 100 is coupled to a base of the power switching device 104, and is utilized for choosing a conducting route either through the resistor 102 or through the power switching device 104, so as to adjust the voltage VIN1. When the voltage VIN1 is adjusted, a voltage VIN2 across the fan motor 12 is correspondingly adjusted, thereby adjusting the speed of the fan motor 12. In other words, when the control unit 100 conducts the power switching device 104, the voltage VIN1 is reduced, causing the voltage VIN2 across the fan motor 12 to become higher and the speed of the fan motor 12 to become faster in order to dissipate more heat. When the control unit 100 turns off the power switching device 104, the conducting route will be through the resistor 102. In such a condition, the voltage VIN1 is higher, causing the voltage VIN2 across the fan motor 12 to become lower and the speed of the fan motor 12 to become slower in order to reduce noise generated by the fan.
Though the driving circuit 10 can reduce noise generated by the fan, there are still some disadvantages. For example, the driving circuit 10 utilizes the resistor 102 to lower the voltage VIN2, but the amount by which the voltage VIN2 is lowered will vary with a load current. When the voltage VIN2 is low, the load current is smaller, and therefore the amount by which the voltage VIN2 is lowered is below an expected value. Thus, when the voltage VIN2 is low, the ability to adjust the speed of the fan motor 12 is limited by the load current. Though the load current is greater when the voltage VIN2 is high, the speed of the fan motor 12 cannot be reduced linearly. Besides, whether or not the current flows through the resistor 102 or the power switching device 104, a lot of power is consumed, which lowers power efficiency, and makes realization of the driving circuit 10 with integrated circuits become difficult.

Motor driving circuit for adjusting speed of a motor by changing an output voltage


Whenever a file is opened for writing, a snapshot of the file is created. The snapshot includes a copy of the file""s metadata. A snapshot file map is initialized, pointing nowhere. A bitmap of the blocks in the file map is initialized. As new data are written to a block in the file, the original contents of the block are copied to a duplicate block. The bitmap is updated to indicate that the contents of the block have changed. The snapshot file map is updated to point to the duplicate block, and the new data are written to the original block. To archive the file, the file system uses the bitmap to identify which blocks have changed since the file was opened. Unchanged blocks are read through the original file map, and changed blocks are read through the snapshot file map. Finally, when the file is closed and the archive operation is complete, the bitmap and the resources used by the snapshot are returned to the system.

This invention pertains to archiving computer files and more particularly to archiving computer files that are open for writing.
In modern computer operations, many actions occur simultaneously. For example, a computer can be running several programs in memory at the same time, each using different data. This is especially true in a multi-user environment, where many users can be using the computer at the same time.
In such a multi-user environment, the computer is generally available for log-in at all times. The system cannot be closed to users while activities, such as back-up operations, are performed. The computer must be able to perform its administrative tasks without impacting users.
But when files are open for writing, the back-up operation can create a problem. With most types of files, the data in the file have an internal consistency that must be maintained. For example, if a file stores a letter, the contents convey a meaning. If the file is being written to change its meaning, the back-up operation should not begin until the write operation is complete. Otherwise, the archived file may include pieces from the different contents, and would lack consistency. On the other hand, the back-up operation cannot afford to wait until the file is completely written before archiving the file, as this could cause a potentially infinite delay in the archive operation (if users continue to open the same file before all other users have closed it).
Accordingly, a need remains for a method and apparatus that allows an archive operation to back up a consistent version of files even while the files are open for writing.
Whenever a file is opened for writing, a snapshot of the file is created. The snapshot includes a copy of the file""s metadata. A bitmap and snapshot file map are initialized. When new data are to be written to blocks in the file, the original contents of the blocks are duplicated. The bitmap is updated to identify the changed blocks. The snapshot file map is updated to point to the duplicate blocks. The new data are then written to the original blocks. When the file is to be archived, the file system uses the bitmap to determine whether to access the blocks from the original or snapshot file map. Finally, when the file is closed and the archive operation is complete, the resources used by the snapshot are returned to the system.
The foregoing and other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Method for backing up consistent versions of open files


A method for texturing magnetic recording media substrates which have a thin-film metal or metal alloy coating plated onto a substrate using an abrasive composite bonded to a porous backing.

Personal computers have become commonplace and many personal computers contain a rigid memory disk or hard drive. A very popular type of hard drive contains a thin- film metal coated rigid disk as the substrate of the magnetic media. The thin film rigid disks are typically manufactured by electroless nickel plating an aluminum substrate with a metal or metal alloy coating such as nickel/phosphorus. The nickel/phosphorus coating is then polished to a very fine, mirror-like finish. After polishing, the nickel/phosphorus coating is textured, followed by the application of a magnetic coating.
The texturing portion of this process is critical to the performance of the rigid disks. The texturing process preferably results in a random pattern of scratches with sharply defined edges in a substantially circumferential direction relative to the center of the rigid disk.
Texturing accomplishes a number of purposes It improves the aerodynamics between the computer head (which reads and writes data on the disk) and the thin film rigid disk as the disk spins beneath the head. It also improves the magnetic properties of the coated disks. The scratches formed during texturing make it easier for the head to distinguish bytes of information between tracks on the disk. If the scratches are too wide or too deep, however, there may be a potential loss of data off of the rigid disk. The texturing also eases the separation between the computer head and the rigid disk when the computer is first turned on. When the computer is turned off, the rigid disk and computer head are in contact with each other. When the computer is turned on, the rigid disk will begin to spin. If the disk is smooth and not textured, this head/disk contact makes it difficult for the disk to start spinning. This is known in the computer industry as stiction/friction.
The texturing process is traditionally accomplished by using a loose abrasive slurry. The loose abrasive slurries do provide substantially circumferential scratches that have sharply defined edges and are of the required depth. Loose abrasive slurries are, however, accompanied by a number of disadvantages. First, the loose abrasive slurries create a large amount of debris and waste. As a result, the thin film rigid disks must be thoroughly cleaned to remove any residue left on their surface from the abrasive slurry The loose abrasive slurry also results in a relatively high amount of wear on the equipment used for texturing.
To overcome the disadvantages associated with loose abrasive slurries, coated abrasive lapping films have been used to texture the thin film rigid disks. An example of such a product is IMPERIAL.TM. Lapping Film (Type R3) commercially available from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. This lapping film comprises a polymeric film backing having an abrasive coating bonded thereto. The abrasive coating consists of very fine abrasive particles (average particle size is less than 10 .mu.m) dispersed through a binder on the polymeric film. During use, the lapping film abrades a portion of the metal coating, thereby texturing the coating.
This process may also include disadvantages. The portion of the metal or metal alloy coating abraded away during texturing is known in the industry as swarf. The swarf generated during the use of lapping films and other abrasive articles with sealed backings can become attached to the high spots on the textured metal or metal alloy coating. That particular phenomenon is known in the industry as reweld. Those high spots can be hit by the computer head during use, which can cause a loss of data and/or head damage.
In addition to the problems with reweld, the lapping film may not provide scratches having edges as sharp and/or clean as those produced by the loose abrasive slurries. Those lower quality scratch edges may degrade the quality of the disks manufactured using lapping film for the texturing process.
Lapping films with polymeric film backings and porous nonwoven materials have both been used to polish magnetic media after the magnetic coatings have been applied. In contrast, the texturing process described above is performed before the magnetic coatings are applied to prepare the substrates to receive the magnetic coatings. The polishing minimizes the surface roughness of the magnetic coatings on the disks to allow for closer spacing of the computer head to the magnetic media. U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,534 discloses a method of polishing magnetic media using abrasive particles dispersed on a polymeric film, with voids between the abrasive particles to allow for removal of the magnetic oxides loosened during polishing. U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,421 discloses the use of a nonwoven material to polish the surface of metal thin-film type magnetic media. The nonwoven is used to buff the thin-film magnetic coating to reduce drop-outs and other errors in the magnetic coating.
Porous abrasive articles have also been used to polish magnetic oxide coated rigid memory disks. In that process, an abrasive article with a nonwoven backing and an abrasive composite is used to polish the surface of a rigid disk that has been coated with a magnetic oxide/resin composite. This polishing has, however, been used only to remove high spots in the magnetic oxide/resin composite to prevent the computer head from striking such high points.
To date, there has not been a method to uniformly texture thin film metal or metal alloy coated rigid disks before the application of the magnetic coatings in a clean process that generates high quality scratches and avoids the problem of reweld.

Method of texturing rigid memory disks using an abrasive article

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


Embodiments are directed to a computer-implemented method of displaying a presentation. The method includes analyzing a set of media files that include the presentation. Thereafter, each media file is displayed in a predetermined order. Upon the detection of an audience viewing the media files, the displaying of the media files is adjusted based on characteristics of the audience.

The embodiments described herein relate in general to the field of computing. More specifically, the embodiments described herein relate to systems and methodologies for displaying a presentation based upon the reactions of a viewer.
Presentations and other public displays are used to communicate information to the general public or interested individuals. The information is in many different forms, such as advertisements, safety bulletins, and other information that can be useful. Often, the information being displayed is predetermined. The content is shown at a particular time in a particular order. If the content is not useful to a content consumer at the moment the consumer is in visual range of the presentation, the consumer is more likely to ignore the content.

Dynamically altering presentations to maintain or increase viewer attention

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


The present application is directed to a device on a network that is configured to add a service. The device includes a memory that is operably coupled to the processor. The processor is adapted to configure a service enablement policy. The processor is also adapted to receive a request to add the service from a service provider. The processor is adapted to check the service enablement policy for adding the service. The processor is also adapted to collaborate with another device to harmonize the service enablement policy and the host selection criteria. Further, the processor is adapted to send a reply to the service provider. The present application is also directed to a method for adding a service.

Generally, M2M gateways will reject a request from an Application Service Provider (ASP) to add a new service. This is due to M2M gateways not being able to support the specific service functionality. In turn, ASPs have two options. They can either stay with the M2M and host the existing services which the M2M has service functionality for, or register with a new M2M gateway that supports the functionality of the new service. However, the M2M server which the M2M gateway is registered with may be capable of hosting the new service. No protocols are in place to help guide the M2M gateway to forward the request to the M2M server.
Various factors must be considered to assess which service layer entity should add the new service requested by an ASP. This is more relevant when multiple new services are requested. Currently, when one or more ASPs requests adding services at one or more M2M gateways, each M2M gateway is only capable of adding the new service. However, the specific M2M gateway may not be the optimal choice based upon factors including ease of access and utilization of the new service. However, no protocols for selecting the service layer entity to add a new service considering different factors.

Device and method for adding an M2M service


A liquid crystal projector for full-color image projection has three LCD panels as light valve device, associated with respectively primary colors, for displaying an image in a color-separated manner. An ultra high pressure mercury lamp illuminates the LCD panels through three illuminating light paths associated with respectively the primary colors. A combining prism combines image light of the primary colors from the three LCD panels, to obtain full-color image light. A laser diode emanates auxiliary illuminating light of a red color among the primary colors according to laser emission, to compensate for shortage in light intensity in the red color. A ferroelectric shaking or vibrating device vibrates the laser diode, to keep visual noise inconspicuous in the auxiliary illuminating light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a projector. More particularly, the present invention relates to a projector for image projection in a full-color manner, and capable of effectively compensating for unbalancing of colors by use of auxiliary illuminating light.
2. Description Related to the Prior Art
A liquid crystal projector is known as an image display device. The liquid crystal projector of a full-color type includes plural liquid crystal display panels (LCD panels), which optically modulate light so as to project image light to a screen for displaying an image. Two types of the liquid crystal projector are known. A first of those is a front type in which an image is projected to a front side of the screen in a direction toward the rear. The second of the methods is a rear type in which an image is projected to a rear side of the screen in a direction toward the front. Also, there are plural illuminating methods different from one another according to a transmission type or reflection type of the LCD panels to be used. In any of them, the LCD panels are driven to indicate an object image, which is illuminated with illuminating light. Image light is projected by a projecting lens to a screen in a focused state.
The LCD panels in the liquid crystal projector are three panels for blue, green and red colors. For the illuminating light from a light source in the liquid crystal projector, dichroic mirrors are used for color separation. The illuminating light from the light source is separated into components of the blue, green and red colors, which are applied to corresponding ones of the LCD panels. For the respective channels of the primary colors, the light is optically modulated by the LCD panels, and is combined by a combining optical system such as a prism, to project a full-color image to a screen.
A light source for use in the liquid crystal projector should have well-balanced color components of primary colors. However, an ultra high pressure mercury lamp generally used in the liquid crystal projector does not have a good balance between color components. See FIG. 7. Although the color of daylight or solar light is sufficient white light, the color of the light of the ultra high pressure mercury lamp has higher levels in the blue and green components. A light amount of the red component of the light of the light source is smaller to an amount of a remarkable shortage. Also, a further difference occurs. The illuminating light is separated into the components of the primary colors, before the components are combined by a combining prism to obtain the image light. In this process after the light separation, there occur deficits in the light amount of the components. However, there are differences in the deficit between the primary colors.
In the travel of the illuminating light from the light source in the liquid crystal projector, a balanced state between the color components in the image light comes to have a lower quality, to lower the image quality of the projection. It is required to correct the color balance of the components.
Techniques of laser have been used widely in various fields. A laser medium is supplied with energy to emanate laser light. A wavelength or color of the laser light is peculiar to and depends upon a characteristic of the laser medium. Also, a laser diode is very useful as laser medium because of a small size of a semiconductor. It is conceived to use laser as the illuminating light.
However, there arises a problem derived from a characteristic of laser. Illumination of laser light is influence by coherency of the laser, to create noise called speckles in an illuminating region. When laser is used as light surface in the liquid crystal projector, flickering is likely to occur in a displayed image. Furthermore, black spots may occur in the displayed image, to lower the image quality.
JP-A 2001-148345 discloses an optical instrument for illumination, in which a mirror is shaken or oscillated in a light path from a laser light source to an object, for the purpose of virtually removing unwanted influence caused by coherency of laser light. U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,169 (corresponding to JP-A 2002-543455) discloses a display in which an image itself is shaken or oscillated to a small section.
However, the structures according to the prior document have a problem in an enlarged size of the shaking device because of a great size of a vibrating element. If the image to be displayed is shaken itself, the image quality will be low.


Mixer includes first and second displays each capable of displaying a pop-up screen that simultaneously displays pieces of information of eight channels. Once a display instruction for displaying a pop-up screen is received, it is ascertained whether or not the pop-up screen currently instructed to be displayed can be displayed on both of the first and second displays. If the pop-up screen can be displayed on only one of the displays, the currently instructed pop-up screen and one-screen channel selection switch are displayed on the one display together with. If, on the other hand, the pop-up screen can be displayed on both of the displays, the instructed pop-up screen are displayed on in a two-screen format on individual ones of the displays, and a two-screen channel selection switch is displayed on each one of the pop-up screens.

The present invention relates to audio mixing consoles operable by a user to perform various operation pertaining to signal processing on audio signals of a plurality, of channels, and more particularly to an audio mixing console which displays a pop-up screen in a display area provided on an operation panel.
Among the conventionally-known digital audio mixers are ones which include a display provided on a console (operation panel), and in which a base screen is opened on the display and in which, for a plurality of channels, primary ones of various setting parameters are displayed in a predetermined arrangement on the base screen. On the base screen, a user can adjust values of the displayed parameters while checking balance among the plurality of channels. Further, among the conventionally-known digital audio mixers are ones in which a pop-up screen is opened on the base screen, and in which, for a particular signal processing function, values of various setting parameters are displayed in detail. Thus, on the pop-up screen, a user can adjust in detail the values of the various setting parameters of the particular signal processing function (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2007-74623). Furthermore, an example of the pop-up screen is disclosed "DIGITAL MIXING CONSOLE M7CL Instruction Manual", pp. 105-106, in 2005, Yamaha Co., (available on the Internet at http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/pa/japan/mixers/m7cl_ja_om_e0.p df), on which can be simultaneously displayed and edited various setting parameters of a particular signal processing function pertaining to eight channels selected via a channel selection switch.
The assignee of the present invention proposed a construction where two displays are displayed adjacent to each other on an operation panel of a mixer. In the proposed construction, if a pop-up screen displaying pieces of information of eight channels is displayed on each one of the two displays, then pieces of information of a total of 16 channels can be displayed and edited using the two pop-up screens displayed on the two displays.
In the case where the pieces of information of the 16 channels are displayed using the two pop-up screens as noted above, and when a group of the channels to be displayed on the pop-up screens are to be changed, the user has to perform channel selection operation separately per pop-up screen if the mixer is constructed in such a manner that the channel selection must be made per pop-up screen (i.e., a channel selection unit is one pop-up screen) as in the traditional mixer. Thus, the channel selection operation would take a lot of time and labor, resulting in inconveniences to the user.
Further, even in the construction where the two pop-up screens are used, all of the 16 channels are not always displayed together using the two pop-up screens. In other words, the group of the 16 channels displayed on the two pop-up screens is not always changed together or collectively, and thus, it is not preferable and not sufficient to merely uniformly make the channel selection unit two screens (i.e., 16 channels).
Namely, in the construction where the plurality of pop-up screens can be displayed together by use of the plurality of displays, the optimal channel selection unit (i.e., unit number of channels) tends to vary in accordance with usage situations of a pop-up screen to be currently displayed. Thus, the conventionally-known technique was not sufficient for the user to readily, promptly and accurately select a group of channels that is to be displayed on the pop-up screens.


The present invention discloses an electrostatic discharge protection circuit. The electrostatic discharge protection circuit of the present invention includes a transfer unit that transfers electrostaticity from at least one of a plurality of input/output pads to a boost bus line, a trigger unit that responds to the electrostaticity transferred via the boost bus line to detect a trigger voltage and apply it to a trigger bus line, and a plurality of clamp units that are connected between the input/output pads and an internal circuit. The clamp units are triggered by the trigger voltage of the trigger unit to discharge electrostaticity of the input/output pads to a first or second power supply voltage line, thereby safely protecting the internal circuit from electrostatic damage and lowering the operating voltage of the clamp unit with minimum costs without increasing an area of the electrostatic discharge protective circuit within a semiconductor integrated circuit.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and more specifically to an electrostatic discharge protection circuit that protects an internal circuit from damage due to electrostatic discharge (ESD).
Electrostaticity is one of the important factors that have an effect on reliability of a semiconductor integrated circuit. Electrostaticity can be charged in a human body and/or a machine. When the human body and/or a machine charged with electrostaticity contacts a semiconductor integrated circuit, the electrostaticity is discharged to the internal circuit via an input/output pad through an external pin of the semiconductor integrated circuit to damage the internal circuit. Therefore, most semiconductor integrated circuits include an electrostatic discharge protective circuit between the input/output pad and the internal circuit in order to protect the internal circuit from damage resulting from the electrostatic discharge.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional electrostatic discharge protective circuit includes transfer units 106 and 108 for every input/output pad 100, a trigger unit 110, a discharge unit 120, and a clamp unit 130 to protect a circuit (for example, an input buffer 140) from the damage of electrostatic discharge.
When a positive potential electrostatic current is generated at an input/output pad 100 from a ground voltage terminal 104, the transfer unit 106 induces electrostatic current to a power supply voltage bus line VDD_BL through a diode D1.
When a drain voltage of an NMOS transistor N1 is raised due to the electrostatic current induced to the power supply voltage bus line VDD_BL and exceeds an electrostatic discharge triggering voltage (ESD triggering voltage), the discharge unit 120 discharges the electrostatic current induced to the power supply voltage bus line VDD_BL to the ground voltage terminal 104 through a drain-substrate-source of the NMOS transistor N1.
At this time, the electrostatic discharge triggering voltage of the NMOS transistor N1 depends on the size of the NMOS transistor N1 and the gate voltage. The higher the gate voltage and the larger the size of the NMOS transistor N1, the lower the electrostatic discharge triggering voltage becomes, making it possible to rapidly discharge the electrostaticity.
Accordingly, the trigger unit 110 induces the gate voltage of the NMOS transistor N1 so that the discharge unit 120 is turned-on at low voltage. Specifically, the trigger unit 110 responds to a rapid signaling rising time characteristic of the electrostatic current so that alternating current induced to the power supply voltage bus line VDD_BL flows to a resistor R1 through a capacitor C1 to generate a voltage drop across the resistor R1. The voltage drop allows the same voltage as the power supply voltage bus VDD_BL to be applied to a gate of the NMOS transistor N1 by an inverter IV1. As a result, the electrostatic discharge triggering voltage of the NMOS transistor N1 is lowered, making it possible to more rapidly discharge the electrostaticity.
Meanwhile, the clamp unit 130 discharges the electrostatic current applied to an input buffer 140 to the ground voltage bus line VSS_BL so that the input buffer 140 can be protected from the electrostatic current.
However, the representative conventional electrostatic discharge protective circuit shown in FIG. 1 includes the trigger unit 110 for every input/output pad 100 in addition to the discharge unit 120 that is a direct path of the electrostatic discharge, thereby increasing an area occupied by the electrostatic discharge protective circuit.
Also, as semiconductor technology develops, gate-insulating films of MOS transistors P1 and N2, constituting the input buffer 140, are becoming thinner. In this situation, when the gate insulating films′ breakdown voltage of the MOS transistors P1 and N2 constituting the input buffer 140 is lower than the electrostatic operating voltage of the clamp unit 130, there is a problem in that the gate insulating film may break down before the clamp unit 130 performs the discharge operation.
Recently, U.S. Pat. No. 6,724,603 suggested an electrostatic discharge protective circuit including one trigger unit for every plurality of input/output pads in order to reduce the area of the electrostatic discharge protective circuit as seen in FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, another conventional electrostatic discharge protective circuit includes transfer units 206, 208, 209, discharge units 220, and one trigger unit 210 for every plurality of input/output pads 200. The trigger unit sends triggering signals to the plurality of discharge units 220 through a trigger bus line TRG_BL.
When a positive potential electrostatic signal is generated at least one input/output pad 200 corresponding to a ground voltage terminal 204, the transfer unit 206 induces electrostatic current to a power supply voltage bus line VDD_BL and at the same time, the transfer unit 209 induces the electrostatic current to a boost bus line BST_BL.
The trigger unit 210 responds to the alternating current of the electrostaticity flowed into the boost bus line BST_BL, forms a current path between the boost bus line BST_BL and the ground power supply bus line VSS_BL, and applies the output trigger voltage from the current path to the plurality of discharge units 220 through the trigger bus line TRG_BL.
At least one discharge unit 220 is triggered according to a state of the trigger bus line TRG_BL, thereby discharging the electrostatic current induced to the power supply voltage bus line VDD_BL to the ground voltage terminal 204.
As such, the conventional electrostatic discharge protective circuit of FIG. 2 includes one trigger unit for every plurality of input/output pads making it possible to greatly reduce a required area for the electrostatic discharge protective circuit within the semiconductor integrated circuit as compared to the conventional electrostatic discharge protective circuit of FIG. 1 including a trigger unit for every input/output pad.
However, the conventional electrostatic discharge protective circuit of FIG. 2 still suffers from weak protection of the input buffer from the electrostaticity generated from the input/output pad like that of the conventional electrostatic discharge protective circuit of FIG. 1.

Electrostatic discharge protection circuit having a reduced size and lower operating voltage


A method, system, and software for automatically providing traffic information to a user, includes tracking and storing travel pattern data of the user, the travel pattern data including a time at which a travel occurs. The travel pattern data is analyzed to predict a particular travel path traveled by the user at a particular time when the travel occurs, and traffic information along the particular travel path is automatically determined at or before the particular time at which travel is predicted.

One of the problems facing many areas is the concentration of population around large metropolitan areas with a significant proportion of the population living in suburban areas. Therefore, a considerable amount of travel by road is required to get to work or to accomplish daily tasks. Furthermore, with the rapid growth of this population, the roads and the transportation infrastructure have invariably lagged behind the explosive growth of vehicles that travel on these roads.
With the roads being congested, a small disturbance in the traffic flow, such as that caused by an accident, can severely impact the travel time on these roads. Therefore, there is a significant need for a commuter to receive timely and pertinent traffic information about the roads on which they may be traveling.
Traffic information is often provided by radio or television broadcasts or by the internet. However, this information is generally not timely and is also generally not specific to a route that a user may want to travel on. For example, a Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) is broadcast in some European countries and provides real time traffic information via lower frequency radio signals.
However, this and other known traffic/navigation systems generally require either (1) a centralized traffic information service provider, and/or (2) upfront set up by a user to configure a route (for example, on a website) often using specific tools provided by a traffic information service provider. Therefore, such systems are complex and not user friendly since specific tools have to be learned by the users in order to use the systems. Furthermore, the traffic information received by the user may not be timely enough for the user to make use of the information to adjust his route and minimize the travel time to get to his destination.

Method and system for providing traffic information

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.


There is provided herewith a postage stamp construction of currency size in which a first array of individually removable postage stamps are separated from the second array of individually removable postage stamps by a transverse peel strip.

Various postal services have determined that it would be convenient to serve users of postage stamps with means to purchase the postage stamps through automatic teller machines.
Such automatic teller machines are designed to handle currency of a certain size and thickness. It is also desirable in postage stamp construction to provide identification codes to identify stamp by lot number or other information.
It is to the configuration of postage stamps on and as part of a laminate of currency size configuration that is the subject matter of the instant invention.

Self adhesive postage stamp construction


At least some incoming traffic is distributed into a first set of traffic groups according to a first grouping scheme. Communication activity from a potentially malicious source may be grouped in a given traffic group in which communication activity from an acceptable source is also grouped. Potentially malicious communication activity is detected in the given traffic group. Traffic in the given traffic group is processed using a first traffic processing mode associated with potentially malicious communication activity, in which at least some traffic that is distributed into the given traffic group is discarded. In response to a dynamic trigger the grouping scheme is altered to one or more further grouping schemes in order that the communication activity from the acceptable source is likely to be subsequently grouped into a traffic group which is different to a group into which the communication activity from the potentially malicious source is subsequently grouped.

The present application relates to a method of handling potentially malicious communication activity, a computer program product for enabling performance of such a method, and an apparatus for handling potentially malicious communication activity.
One of the hazards faced by servers and other communication devices that are exposed to public networks, such as the Internet, is that they may be subject to a Denial of Service (DoS) attack. During a conventional DoS attack, a number of remote hosts send a large amount of traffic to the server, in an attempt to overwhelm it.
A standard approach taken to deal with such attacks is rate-limiting. This involves categorizing incoming traffic into a set of source groups based on the source Internet protocol (IP) address, assigning a permitted maximum rate of incoming traffic per group, and rejecting any traffic from the group that would cause the rate limit to be exceeded. Unfortunately, this approach has a number of drawbacks.
One drawback is that state has to be stored in memory for each source group. Another drawback is that if the granularity of the source grouping is too small—in the extreme if there is just one IP address per group—then the grouping may take up a prohibitively large amount of memory.
However, if the traffic rate limit of a particular source group is exceeded, traffic is dropped from all traffic sources in the group. If there is one malicious traffic source in the group and several legitimate traffic sources, traffic from the legitimate sources is dropped along with the traffic from the malicious traffic source. The larger the granularity of the source group—that is the more source IP addresses there are in the source group—the larger the scope for collateral damage caused by blocking traffic from legitimate sources.
Most systems, therefore, trade off these two considerations. In general, they tend to use relatively large source groups in order to avoid running out of memory. However, this comes at the cost of potentially denying service to a substantial number of legitimate traffic sources that are in the same source group as the malicious traffic source.
It would be desirable to provide an improved method of and apparatus for handling such traffic.

Handling potentially malicious communication activity


An asphalt shingle sheet cutting device for quickly cutting an asphalt shingle sheet along a straight line at a variety of angles. The device includes a lower base platform and an upper cutting platform coupled to base platform by a plurality of downwardly depending support legs. An adjustment plate is coupled to the lower surface of the cutting platform. The adjustment plate has a pivot pin downwardly depending therefrom. A swing arm is pivotally mounted to the pivot pin of the adjustment plate. The swing arm has a mounting shaft upwardly extending from the rearwards end of the swing arm. A cutting blade is pivotally coupled to the upper end of the mounting shaft. The front edge of the adjustment plate has a plurality of spaced apart notches for contacting an abutment tab extending from the swing arm to hold the mounting shaft and the cutting blade at predetermined angles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to shingle cutting devices and more particularly pertains to a new asphalt shingle sheet cutting device for quickly cutting an asphalt shingle sheet such as a three tab shingle sheet along a straight line at a variety of angles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of shingle cutting devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, shingle cutting devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,677; U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,495; U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,256; U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,609; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 319,840; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,314.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new asphalt shingle sheet cutting device. The inventive device includes a lower base platform and an upper cutting platform coupled to base platform by a plurality of downwardly depending support legs. An adjustment plate is coupled to the lower surface of the cutting platform. The adjustment plate has a pivot pin downwardly depending therefrom. A swing arm is pivotally mounted to the pivot pin of the adjustment plate. The swing arm has a mounting shaft upwardly extending from the rearwards end of the swing arm. A cutting blade is pivotally coupled to the upper end of the mounting shaft. The front edge of the adjustment plate has a plurality of spaced apart notches for contacting an abutment tab extending from the swing arm to hold the mounting shaft and the cutting blade at predetermined angles.
In these respects, the asphalt shingle sheet cutting device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of quickly cutting an asphalt shingle sheet along a straight line at a variety of angles.


An image processing apparatus is allows to specify a marker area in a simple and accurate manner even for a full color document sheet to conduct a predetermined edit process. The image apparatus comprises a read unit (three of four-line CCD) for color-decomposing predetermined colors of a document sheet image, an infrared ray read unit (the remaining one of the four-line CCD) for reading an infrared ray in a reflected light from an area of the document sheet image having marked with an infrared ray absorbing ink, a recognition unit for recognizing an area free from the infrared ray component read by the infrared ray read unit, and an image editting unit for conducting a predetermined edit process to the area recognized by the recognition unit in the document sheet image read by the read unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for processing a document sheet image in accordance with an area specified by a marker marked on the document sheet.
2. Related Background Art
In an existing full color copying apparatus, an area specification by a colored marker has been widely used as a method for user designating an area in a document sheet which is subjected of a specific edit operation.
In this type of apparatus, three color amount signals R (red), G (green) and B (blue) which were read from the document sheet and converted to digital signals are compared with upper limits and lower limits of the R, G and B components of the respective reference markers to determine whether they are within the range of the marker colors or not, and if all of the three colors are determined to be within the range of the marker colors, it is recognized as the marker color and a mark signal is outputted. Based on the mark signal, a specific edit operation is conducted for an edit area (designated area) surrounded by the mark signal as shown in FIG. 16A, or defined by a closed area surrounding the mark signal as shown in FIG. 16B.
In the prior art, however, since the marker is discriminated from other area of the document sheet by the color, when the area is to be specified for a full color document sheet, the area may not be correctly specified if a color similar to the marker is present in the document sheet image.
Further, when the maker overlaps a color of the document sheet image, the area specification cannot be correctly conducted and the color of the document sheet image is also altered. As a result, the application of the area specification by the marker has been limited to a black and white document sheet in the prior art.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus which solves the above problems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus which allows the area specification by a marker for a color document sheet.
It is other object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus which allows the area specification by the marker without contaminating a document sheet.
Other object and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Image processing apparatus for processing a document image in accordance with an area specified by a marker marked on the document


A personal weapon system comprises a microprocessor-controlled and electronically fired "blow-forward" handgun with a firing parameter memory device, digital security lock and safety device, directional compass, electronic rounds counter, integral keyboard and liquid crystal display, laser designator capability, programmable piezo-resistive trigger, and high frequency A.C. ignitable primer. A microprocessor receives information from a real time clock, Hall-effect rounds counter, and an integral Hall-effect compass. The processor displays this information on the LCD display for the operator. When a round is fired, the microprocessor records time and date, number of rounds fired, and direction of firing for crime lab analysis. The trigger pressure required to fire the handgun is programmable by the operator, and a corresponding trigger detonation mark is displayed on the LCD display. Trigger pressure exerted by the operator is displayed on the LCD display as a bar graph which lengthens in proportion to trigger pressure applied. The weapon fires when the bar graph reaches the trigger detonation mark.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a personal weapon system, and more particularly, to a microprocessor-controlled and electronically fired "blow-forward" handgun with a firing parameter memory device, programmable piezo-resistive trigger, and high frequency A.C. ignitable primer.
2. History of the Prior Art
Guns and rifles have always been, in effect, "dumb" weapons. That is, they have traditionally been unable to provide weapon-firing information to law enforcement officers for crime lab reconstruction. Following a crime involving a conventional handgun or rifle, investigators may be able to match a gun to the crime through ballistics matching if a bullet is found at the scene, but all other information concerning a shooting is lost or must be painstakingly pieced together from extrinsic evidence, with a good deal of guesswork and uncertainty. Investigators need to be able to reconstruct crimes in terms of the number of shots fired, time and date of firing, and direction of each shot fired. It would be a distinct advantage for crime lab reconstruction to have a gun which sensed and stored such information for later retrieval and analysis.
Another limitation of conventional guns and rifles is their use of mechanical firing and safety mechanisms consisting of simple mechanical linkages Which enable or disable travel of the trigger and hammer. Such mechanical linkages may be either mechanically or electrically actuated. Typically, the safety mechanisms of conventional guns are designed to prevent only unintentional firings of the gun by knowledgeable operators. Generally, such safety mechanisms are not able to prevent unintentional firing by people who are not knowledgeable of the operation of the gun, such as children. Children may unknowingly release a safety mechanism, or may release the mechanism in play, believing that the gun is not loaded. Thus, existing safety mechanisms have led to numerous tragedies involving accidental shootings. Additionally, existing safety mechanisms have not been able to prevent unauthorized personnel from firing the gun. When a gun is stolen, for example, it becomes a deadly weapon in the hands of a criminal.
Several existing safety systems have attempted to solve this problem by providing mechanisms which block the mechanical action of the gun until a security code is entered. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,175 to Oncke et al discloses an external safety system which may be plugged into a handgun for the entry of a security code. U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,827 to Heltzel discloses an external safety system with a transmitter which sends a security code to a handgun to either mechanically arm or disarm the weapon. All of these existing systems are very complex. A simple safety system, built into the weapon itself, is needed.
It should also be noted that safety mechanisms on conventional guns have been known to fail and allow the gun to discharge when the gun is subjected to a sudden impact, such as dropping the gun to the ground. It would be a distinct advantage to have a gun which cannot be fired by anyone other than a knowledgeable, authorized operator, and which will not discharge due to sudden impacts.
Some existing handguns incorporate mechanisms to count the number of ammunition rounds remaining in the clip or magazine and display this information to the operator. The sensing mechanisms are generally mechanical mechanisms which are complex, subject to mechanical failures such as sticking, and add significant additional weight to the handgun. The displays for such mechanisms are generally strap-on displays which are attached to the side of an existing handgun. The operator, therefore, must take his/her eye off the sights and the target in order to read the display and ascertain the number of rounds remaining. This may be a grave disadvantage, for example, to a soldier in battle, a police officer in hot pursuit of armed criminals, or a competitive shooter in a rapid-fire shooting match. It would be a distinct advantage to have a gun or rifle with an electronic rounds counter which is highly reliable, adds very little or no weight to the gun, and which incorporates a display which is integrated into the structure of the gun, directly below the sight. The operator would not have to shift his/her gaze off of the sight or target in order to ascertain the number of rounds remaining in the magazine.
An additional problem with conventional guns and rifles is that they do not provide a way to program the amount of trigger pressure necessary to activate the weapon, nor do they advise the operator of the amount of pressure remaining before firing. A trigger pressure which is too heavy or too light can affect both safety and accuracy of the weapon. An extremely light setting, for example, may result in a "hair trigger" which can be dangerous if the operator is not aware of the setting. Inaccuracies occur when the trigger setting does not match the trigger setting which is preferred or anticipated by the operator because most inaccuracies are a result of the human/trigger interface. When the gun fires with a trigger pressure lighter than expected, or if the operator must squeeze harder than expected, accuracy can be adversely affected. It would be advantageous to have a gun or rifle which provides the capability for each individual operator to program the amount of trigger pressure necessary to activate the weapon, and which advises the operator of the amount of pressure remaining before firing. This capability would improve weapon safety and accuracy.
Conventional guns and rifles are also limited in their ability to program the number of rounds fired in each burst in an automatic mode, nor can they program the delay between individual rounds in a burst. For military purposes, it is sometimes desirable to fire a handgun or rifle in an automatic mode in short bursts of 2 or 3 rounds. Military automatic handguns suffer from a recoil effect in which the muzzle of the gun is deflected upward after each round is fired. In the automatic mode, this deflection grows more pronounced as the length of the burst increases and more rounds are fired. Generally, only the first 2 or 3 rounds are accurately fired, and the remaining rounds in the burst are wasted. It would be desirable to have an automatic handgun which enabled the operator to program the number of rounds to be fired in each burst, which reduced the recoil effect experienced by conventional military handguns, and which would automatically delay the firing of subsequent rounds until the handgun sensed that the operator had overcome the recoil effect and returned the handgun to its original line of fire.