A signal processing apparatus includes a device for converting a data stream containing audio packs into packets each having a given area assigned to real data. The audio packs store PCM multiple-channel audio contents information. Another device operates for enabling channel information and a portion of the audio contents information to be placed in adjacent portions of the given area respectively. The channel information corresponds to the portion of the audio contents information.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a signal processing apparatus. In addition, this invention relates to a method of signal transmission. Furthermore, this invention relates to a signal transmission medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese published unexamined patent application 10-285234 discloses a signal processing circuit which discriminates a head packet and stores it into a memory in the reception of split packets via a serial interface. The signal processing circuit stores normal data into the memory even when a packet omission takes place. Split packets are transmitted via an IEEE1394 serial bus, a physical layer circuit, and a link core. Values DBC, FN, and DBS are set in a first quadlet of a CIP header of each split packet. The signal processing circuit discriminates a head packet by using values DBC, FN, and DBS therein. In addition, the signal processing circuit decides a packet omission by using values DBC, FN, and DBS. In the case where a packet omission is decided, the signal processing circuit stores only normal packets into a FIFO memory.
Japanese published unexamined patent application 11-45512 discloses that packets inputted from an IEEE1394 serial bus are combined into a transport stream, and the transport stream is converted into a program stream before being recorded on a DVD (a digital versatile disc). During the recording of the program stream on the DVD, a pack length of the program stream and a sector length of the DVD are accorded with each other. In addition, PCR information (time information of the transport stream) is converted into SCR information (time information of the program stream). PSI/SI sections are separated from the transport stream. Attribute information of video and audio data placed in the transport stream is generated from the PSI/SI sections. The attribute information is recorded on an innermost portion of the DVD.
Japanese published unexamined patent application 10-190705 discloses a signal transmission apparatus designed for communications of data of 2,048 bytes through the use of a digital interface of the IEEE1394 standards. A 4-byte time stamp and 124-byte padding data are added to a 2048-byte pack in an MPEG program stream so that the whole byte length of addition-resultant data will be equal to a multiple of 16. The addition-resultant data are divided by a divisor (for example, 32) equal to a multiple of 2, being thereby converted into data blocks each having a byte length (for example, a 68-byte length) equal to a multiple of 4. The number of the data blocks is equal to the divisor. A header such as a CIP header is added to a given number of data blocks to form a packet.
A DVD-Audio has an audio file containing A packs (audio packs), RTI packs (real time information packs), and SPCT packs (still picture packs). Some transmitted contents information has a file structure in which an audio file and a video file are multiplexed. The video file contains V packs (video packs).
In the case where an audio data stream having such a multiplexed file structure and containing multiple-channel audio information is transmitted in conformity with the IEEE1394 standards, it is important to manage audio channels for accurate reproduction of the audio information. In a prior-art digital interface, it is difficult to easily capture channel information. Specifically, in a prior-art IEC958 system, it is difficult to perform channel management related to multiple-channel audio contents.
In the case of transmission of a data stream having a multiplexed file structure, it is desirable to implement a signal formatting process to previously notify a reception side of what decoding process is necessary. Specifically, the signal formatting process is designed to enable a digital interface to identify the type of compression by which compression-resultant data stored in the data stream are generated. Also, in this case, selective reception and efficient reproduction of the information from the data stream are desired. An example of the selective reception is as follows. When received data are of an undecodable type, a reception process is suspended. An example of the efficient reproduction is as follows. A previous decision is made as to whether or not data to be received is of a compressed type, and reproduction of information from the data is implemented in response to a result of the decision.
Generally, data of a DVD-Audio format represent high-quality audio information. In the case of transmission of high-quality audio data, it is important to consider copyright management. It is sometimes desirable to permit making a copy in a manner such that high-quality audio data are converted into low-quality audio data (for example, audio data having a quality comparable to that of a CD) before the low-quality audio data are copied.

System for signal processing and signal transmission


A memory system having a plurality of memory components and a controller, operatively coupled to the plurality of memory components to: store data in the memory components; communicate with a host system via a bus; service the data to the host system via communications over the bus; communicate with a processing device that is separate from the host system using a message passing interface over the bus; and provide data access to the processing device through communications made using the message passing interface over the bus.

A memory sub-system can be a memory module, such as a dual in-line memory module (DIMM), a small outline DIMM (SO-DIMM), or a non-volatile dual in-line memory module (NVDIMM). A memory sub-system can be a storage system, such as a solid-state drive (SSD), or a hard disk drive (HDD). A memory sub-system can include one or more memory components that store data. The memory components can be, for example, non-volatile memory components and volatile memory components. Examples of memory components include memory integrated circuits. Some memory integrated circuits are volatile and require power to maintain stored data. Some memory integrated circuits are non-volatile and can retain stored data even when not powered. Examples of non-volatile memory include flash memory, Read-Only Memory (ROM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM) and Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) memory, etc. Examples of volatile memory include Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM) and Static Random-Access Memory (SRAM). In general, a host system can utilize a memory sub-system to store data at the memory components and to retrieve data from the memory components.
For example, a computer can include a host system and one or more memory sub-systems attached to the host system. The host system can have a central processing unit (CPU) in communication with the one or more memory sub-systems to store and/or retrieve data and instructions. Instructions for a computer can include operating systems, device drivers, and application programs. An operating system manages resources in the computer and provides common services for application programs, such as memory allocation and time sharing of the resources. A device driver operates or controls a particular type of devices in the computer; and the operating system uses the device driver to offer resources and/or services provided by the type of devices. A central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system can run an operating system and device drivers to provide the services and/or resources to application programs. The central processing unit (CPU) can run an application program that uses the services and/or resources. For example, an application program implementing a type of applications of computer systems can instruct the central processing unit (CPU) to store data in the memory components of a memory sub-system and retrieve data from the memory components.
An operating system of a computer system can allow an application program to use virtual addresses of memory to store data in, or retrieve data from, memory components of one or more memory sub-systems of the computer system. The operating system maps the virtual addresses to physical addresses of one or more memory sub-systems connected to the central processing unit (CPU) of the computer system. The operating system implements the memory accesses specified at virtual addresses using the physical addresses of the memory sub-systems.
A virtual address space can be divided into pages. A page of virtual memory can be mapped to a page of physical memory in the memory sub-systems. The operating system can use a paging technique to access a page of memory in a storage device via a page of memory in a memory module. At different time instances, the same page of memory in a memory module can be used as proxy to access different pages of memory in the storage device or another storage device in the computer system.
A computer system can include a hypervisor (or virtual machine monitor) to create or provision virtual machines. A virtual machine is a computing device that is virtually implemented using the resources and services available in the computer system. The hypervisor presents the virtual machine to an operating system as if the components of virtual machine were dedicated physical components. A guest operating system runs in the virtual machine to manage resources and services available in the virtual machine, in a way similar to the host operating system running in the computer system. The hypervisor allows multiple virtual machines to share the resources of the computer system and allows the virtual machines to operate on the computer substantially independently from each other.
Message Passing Interface (MPI) is a communication protocol for programming parallel computers. MPI supports both point-to-point communication and collective communication. MPI provides virtual topology, synchronization, and communication functionality between a set of processes (that have been mapped to nodes/servers/computer instances) in a language-independent way.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Memory access communications through message passing interface implemented in memory systems


A concentric radial flow hollow fiber module includes internal and external annular-shaped spaced apart bodies disposed in a concentric arrangement and hollow fibers extending across an annular interspace extending through the module between the bodies and connected with the bodies. The internal body surrounds an inner space while the external body is surrounded by an outer space. Each body includes an annular wall made of a non-permeable plastic material having adhesive properties and an elongated strengthening element contained within and extending circumferentially about the annular wall. Each hollow fiber includes an tubular wall having spaced opposite inner and outer end portions encapsulated respectively in the internal and external bodies and open respectively to at least one of the inner and outer spaces. Each hollow fiber also includes an elongated main portion interconnecting the opposite ends portions and extending across the interspace and defining an elongated internal bore providing flow communication with at least one of the inner and outer spaces of the module. A method of manufacturing the module includes laying out hollow fibers forming a pair of strips of non-permeable adhesive material on the hollow fibers in a transverse relationship thereto and in a spaced relationship from one another, and lengthening one strip relative to the other strip to thereby transform the strips into spaced inner and outer strips defined in a concentric relationship surrounding a longitudinal axis and interconnected by the hollow fibers extending across the interspace between the inner and outer strips.

There exists a considerable number of chemical, biotechnological and industrial processes whose. efficiencies are dependent upon and controlled by the rates of heat exchange between flowing streams of fluids separated by impermeable barriers capable of high heat conductivity. A significant number of these processes require heat transfer between different mediums being in the same or different phases, gas-gas gas-liquid or liquid-liquid phases.
In most conventional heat exchange devices, the basic heat transfer elements, being the impermeable barriers with high heat conductivity, are built from metals or metal alloys. Conventional heat exchange devices employ basic heat transfer elements of differing geometries and flow arrangements. A survey of heat exchange devices in compact systems is found in an article by D. A. Reay entitled "Compact Heat Exchangers: A Review of Current Equipment And R & D In The Field", appearing in Heat Recovery Systems & CHP, Vol. 14, No. 5 pp. 459-474, 1994, Elsevier Science Ltd.
The advantages of heat transfer elements constructed of metals resides in their high heat conductivities and in their capabilities of working at high temperatures. The disadvantages of heat transfer elements constructed of metals lies in their high corrosivities and, due to their considerable densities, in the substantial weight of the resulting heat exchange devices.
However, there exists a broad group of applications where heat energy transfer is carried out at relatively low temperatures, such as not higher than 100.degree. C., or where direct contact of the media exchanging the heat energy with the metallic surfaces is not acceptable. Health treatment systems, biotechnology processes and food processing are important examples. These applications remain in critical need for efficient new constructions of heat energy transfer devices capable of working under low levels of driving forces, meaning, low values of temperature differences between heated and cooled media.
Recently, new developments are in great demand in environmental protection applications as well as in sea water desalination applications to make commercially availabile heat exchange devices which exhibit improved performance, higher production, lower cost of fabrication and operation, and improved corrosion resistance. Also, new designs of heat exchange devices are becoming important as components in systems utilizing membrane separation technologies, such as air separation, pervaporation, etc.
Several recent developments demonstrate that in applications where the thermal energy must be transferred between gas and liquid phases, heat exchange devices that are built from certain plastic materials have exceeded heat transfer efficiencies of heat exchange devices manufactured from metal materials. These developments have been reviewed in a recent paper entitled "Kunstoffe im Warmeaustauscherbau" by Gros, published in Kunststoffe, 84 (1994) 6, 767-771. The results presented by Gros have relatively simple physical explanation if one takes into account the fact that the performance of heat exchange devices is the result of a chain of elementary basic heat transport mechanisms taking place in flowing fluids and in separating them by an impermeable heat conductive barrier. In this chain of elementary mechanisms, the heat conductivity of the barrier that separates the energy exchanging media is only one of several influencing the total efficiency of the overall process. In addition to the heat conductivity of the barrier, the total energy transfer depends also on the rates of energy transport inside the bulk flowing fluids as well as the rate of heat flow through the fluid-solid boundaries. These elementary mechanisms combine or add together in such way that the resistances to energy flow of each individual step are in a series arrangement. Under some conditions, the overall efficiency of energy transfer in a heat exchange device can be controlled by the performance of the step with higher resistance to the heat transfer.
There exist a number of heat exchange processes where the high heat conductivity potential of metals used as construction materials in fabricating the heat exchangers are utilized to only a minor degree. It has been shown, for example, by Gros in the paper cited above, that in some constructions of gas-liquid heat exchange devices built from plastic materials, the overall heat transfer efficiencies are comparable with those of heat exchange devices constructed from metals. Heat exchange devices built from plastic materials are especially well suited in applications at ambient temperatures. As stated by Gros, plastic heat exchange devices can be of substantial advantage when applied, for example, in temperature control of flue gases in large scale flue gas cleaning systems. Other advantages follow from the better processability of thermoplastics in manufacturing in comparison with metals. A company named Serendip B.V., located in Arnnen, The Netherlands, has recently introduced plastic heat exchangers having a bundle of small diameter thin wall tubes housed in parallel relation in an outer tube. The Serendip (trademark) plastic heat exchangers are primarily for use to cool or heat corrosive liquids and to condense corrosive vapours.
While potential benefits to be gained from the use of plastic materials in the construction of heat exchange devices have been set forth by Gros, a need still exists for innovations in the design and construction of thermoplastic heat exchange devices which will provide benefits that greatly exceed those provided by metal heat exchange devices as well as recent plastic heat exhange devices and thereby overcome the considerable conventional resistance to their adoption.

Concentric radial flow hollow fiber module and method of manufacture


A method for storing data in an array (28) of analog memory cells (32) includes defining a constellation of voltage levels (90A, 90B, 90C, 90D) to be used in storing the data. A part of the data is written to a first analog memory cell in the array by applying to the analog memory cell a first voltage level selected from the constellation. After writing the part of the data to the first analog memory cell, a second voltage level that does not belong to the constellation is read from the first analog memory cell. A modification to be made in writing to one or more of the analog memory cells in the array is determined responsively to the second voltage level, and data are written to the one or more of the analog memory cells subject to the modification.

Several types of memory devices, such as Flash memories and Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), use arrays of analog memory cells for storing data. Flash memory devices are described, for example, by Bez et al., in "Introduction to Flash Memory," Proceedings of the IEEE 91:4 (April, 2003), pages 489-502, which is incorporated herein by reference. In such memory devices, each analog memory cell typically comprises a transistor, which holds a certain amount of electric charge that represents the information stored in the cell. The electric charge written into a particular cell influences the "threshold voltage" of the cell, i.e., the voltage that needs to be applied to the cell so that the cell will conduct current.
Some memory devices, commonly referred to as Single-Level Cell (SLC) devices, store a single bit of information in each memory cell. Typically, the range of possible threshold voltages of the cell is divided into two regions. A voltage value falling in one of the regions represents a "0" bit value, and a voltage belonging to the second region represents "1". Higher-density devices, often referred to as Multi-Level Cell (MLC) devices, store more than one bit per memory cell. In multi-level cells, the range of threshold voltages is divided into more than two regions, with each region representing more than one bit.
Multi-level Flash cells and devices are described, for example, by Eitan et al., in "Multilevel Flash Cells and their Trade-Offs," Proceedings of the 1996 IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) (New York, N.Y.), pages 169-172, which is incorporated herein by reference. The paper compares several kinds of multilevel Flash cells, such as common ground, DINOR, AND, NOR and NAND cells. Other types of analog memory cells that are known in the art include Nitride Read Only Memory (NROM), Ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), Magnetic RAM (MRAM) and Phase change RAM (PRAM, also referred to as Phase Change Memory—PCM).
In some applications, the data stored in the memory device is encoded using an Error Correcting Code (ECC). For example, Rodney and Sayano describe a number of on-chip coding techniques for the protection of Random Access Memory (RAM) devices, which use multi-level storage cells, in "On-Chip ECC for Multi-Level Random Access Memories," Proceedings of the 1989 IEEE/CAM Information Theory Workshop (Jun. 25-29, 1989, Ithaca, N.Y.), which is incorporated herein by reference. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,654, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes methods for storing data in an analog memory device using coded modulation techniques. Other ECC schemes for multilevel memory devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,469,931 and 7,023,735, whose disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.
The threshold voltage values read from analog memory cells are sometimes distorted. The distortion may be due to various causes, such as electrical field coupling from neighboring memory cells, disturb noise caused by operations on other cells in the array, and threshold voltage drift caused by device aging. Some common distortion mechanisms are described in the article by Bez et al., cited above.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,429, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, describes a method for compensating for electric field coupling between floating gates of a high-density Flash Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) cell array. A reading of a cell is compensated by first reading the states of all cells that are field-coupled with the cell being read. A number related to either the floating gate voltage or the state of each coupled cell is then multiplied by the coupling ratio between the cells. The breakpoint levels between states for each of the cells are adjusted by an amount that compensates for the voltage coupled from adjacent cells.

Reducing programming error in memory devices


Provided are a graphic drawing method applied to a terminal device. The terminal device includes a canvas deployed on an upper layer of a video stream display window and structured feature data of at least one basic graphic matching the canvas. The method includes: monitoring in real time a target graphic drawing event that is performed by a paintbrush based on a selected basic graphic; upon monitoring the target graphic drawing event, acquiring, for each time point in which each frame of image in a video stream is displayed, a drawing coordinate of the paintbrush at each time point; and rendering and drawing on the canvas a target graphic corresponding to an image displayed at each time point according to structured feature data of the selected basic graphic and the drawing coordinate. Further provided are a graphic drawing apparatus, a device, and a storage medium.

A video surveillance product is usually equipped with a terminal device which is based on a browser/server (B/S) structure and can be used to watch live video and draw some graphics (including geometric and text graphics) on live video, so that the user, through such a terminal device, implements service functions such as marking and annotation by drawing graphics. However, with the continuous development of browser technology, the plug-in technology that used to be capable of being applied in the browser for implementing the graphic drawing function is no longer applicable to new versions of browsers developed based on the next generation of HyperText Markup Language 5 (HTML5). Moreover, new versions of browsers developed based on HTML5 can only implement complex graphics drawing at the image display level through the graphic drawing function implemented by means of videos and canvas tags, but cannot perform graphic drawing on the live video while playing the live video, and in addition, the amount of data processing corresponding to the graphics drawing is large, and the data processing efficiency is low. As a result, interactive processing such as selection cannot be performed for the drawn graphics.

Graphic drawing method and apparatus, device, and storage medium


A modular barrier device for partitioning a room into two separate living spaces comprising: a plurality of storage modules, said storage modules arranged in a side-by-side as a well as a back-to-back fashion, and adjacent to a door module, to create a closet module to define the two separate living spaces in the room; at least one door rail attached to the closet module; at least one barn-style door slidably attached to the at least one door rail to provide user access to at least one of the two separate living spaces; and an adjustable valence system, said adjustable valence system capable of attaching to the closet module and further capable of expanding to fill any gap between the top of the closet module and a room ceiling.

In some embodiments, a modular barrier device for a double occupancy room divider (a/k/a "D.O. system") is a modular device used for dividing a single bedroom into two separate sleeping quarters (a/k/a bedrooms), affording occupants of each sub-divided room with a comfortable and private space. The D.O. system is comprised of back-to-back millwork closet components to create a primary partition structure, two lockable barn-style doors to close off the individual bedrooms and an expandable "valence" system to fill the cavity from the top of the primary partition structure to the finished ceiling, reducing light and sound transference between the individual bedrooms and living room. The objective of the invention is to use this modular harrier to create two distinct living spaces in a wide variety of rooms (e.g., from medium to large size) that previously would only hold one occupant, or would hold two or more occupants with little or no privacy.
The millwork closet system is designed using a limited number of primary standard-sized cabinet components, allowing the entire system to fit a multitude of different rooms, layouts and applications without significant redesign of the system as a whole. The modular components can be created from metal, wood, medium-density fiberboard ("MDF") and the like. Doors for closets and storage may be sliding doors similar to the barn-style door, fabric, hinged, or bi-fold and may be composed of laminate materials, slatted, or solid materials (including metal, wood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or frosted glass) and may be unadorned or may be covered with mirrors, cork board, dry erase boards and the like. They include storage spaces for clothes (both folded and hanging), shoes, laundry, books, accessories and the like comprising shelves, cabinets, cubbies, baskets and drawers. The modules are installed side-by-side and back-to-back, creating the primary structure on which the rest of the system is attached.
The barn-style doors are mounted on rails on each closet module within the bedrooms, allowing occupants to easily slide the door open and closed for additional privacy. The barn style doors have spring loaded wheels on the bottom and/or top of the door to provide stability across uneven floors or finish materials. The ham doors are keyed and lockable using magnetic hardware specific for sliding doors which use a magnetic catch and plunger to create a positive hold within a millwork jamb installed along the drywall at the inside of the room.
The expandable valence system is comprised of three components: 1) Header Fascia 2) Drop-In Ceiling and 3) Expandable Filler. The header fascia runs the length of the system on the inside of both bedrooms and closes the gaps between the top of the millwork closet system and the finished ceiling. The drop in ceiling eliminates light and sound from entering either bedroom from the shared vestibule and common living area. The expandable filler is made of compressed foam and insulation that fills the cavity between the top of the millwork closet system and the finished ceiling once deployed.
Typical room dimensions capable of accommodating this system vary from 9′-12′ wide and 25′-30′ deep, but the entry into the room should be centrally located and coordinated around the position of the shared vestibule.
Past methods and apparatus for creating a double occupancy room divider required high levels of customization of each piece, were expensive, and provided less function.
In view of the disadvantages associated with currently available methods and devices for a double occupancy room divider, there is a need for a device and method that reduce or eliminate such issues.

Modular barrier device for a double occupancy room partition


A computer-based uniform data interface (UDI) system for accessing in a uniform manner data from a data source with an arbitrary organization. The UDI system provides a UDI application programming interface (API) with functions for creating and accessing data organized into containers that contain one or more folders. Each folder optionally contains sub-folders and scalars. The UDI system also provides a UDI registry for registering types of containers and folders supported by a data source, for enumerating the types of containers and folders supported by the data source, and for instantiating container and folder objects corresponding to the data of the data source. A UDI mapper is provided for registering with the UDI registry types of containers and folders that represents the data of the data source, for instantiating in memory container and folder objects of the registered types, and for populating an instantiated container object with folders representing the data from the data source that is within the container. An application program invokes the UDI API functions to access data of data sources with arbitrary organizations.

Computer systems organize data sources in a variety of ways. For example, data can be organized as a relational database, as a hierarchical database, as a flat file, as a spreadsheet, etc. Application programs, in general, can only access data sources with organizations and implementations that the developers of the applications program were aware of at the time of development. Thus, these applications not only cannot access other data sources, but also may not be able to access revisions to these data sources. Applications thus need to be customized to organizations and implementations of the particular data source whose data is to be used by the application.
The customization of applications can be very expensive, time-consuming, and problematic for both developers of the applications and suppliers of the data sources. A developer would need to modify, test, and redistribute the application for each new data source. However, a supplier of a data source with a new organization may find it virtually impossible to survive if no application can access the new data source. If a supplier of a data source uses a new organization, then existing applications cannot access that data source. Thus, such suppliers are at a competitive disadvantage to other suppliers who provide data sources in an organization for which the applications have been customized. Although the new organization may be superior to the existing organization, it may thus fail to gain wide acceptance.

Method and system for filtering in a uniform data interface


An interlocking retaining wall apparatus includes a collection of plural, annular structures which frictionally interlock with one another to form a wall. The structures making up the wall have a generally truncated, right conical exterior surface and a generally right, cylindrical interior surface. The structures are stacked, one atop the other, to form a wall of desired height. A variety of sizes of structures are provided to meet the needs of the individual wall which is being constructed.

The present invention relates generally to retaining walls, and specifically to an interlocking apparatus for forming a retaining wall.
Many forms of retaining walls are known. Perhaps the most common is the conventional concrete cast block which are assembled in a brick-like fashion and are filled with concrete and/or rebar, or perhaps are earth filled. Such retaining walls, while functional, are not particularly aesthetic.
Another well-known form of retaining wall is built of conventional bricks. Such a retaining wall may be desirable because of the warmth that it adds to the property on which it is located, however, the costs of such a wall is quite expensive.
Other forms of retaining walls may incorporate railroad ties or other large structural elements.
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which will allow the construction of retaining walls which are aesthetically pleasing, functional and durable.
Another object of the invention is to provide a retaining wall apparatus which will allow construction of retaining walls having geometries which are adaptable to any terrain.
A further object of the invention is to provide a retaining wall apparatus which maintains a retaining force normal to the terrain being retained.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a retaining wall apparatus which is durable, relatively inexpensive and easily installed.
The retaining wall of the instant invention utilizes a collection of plural, annular structures which frictionally interlock with one another to form a wall. The structures making up the wall have a generally truncated, right conical exterior surface and a generally right, cylindrical interior surface. The structures are stacked, one atop the other, to form a wall of desired height. A variety of sizes of structures are provided to meet the needs of the individual wall which is being constructed. Additionally, walls make be constructed with a variety of geometries using the apparatus of the invention.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood after consideration of the drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment.


The present invention provides a navigation device that improves the usability. The navigation device includes an evaluation setting unit that generates position information having first evaluation value by setting an evaluation value selected by a user so that the evaluation value corresponds to position information, a position information extraction unit that extracts, of the position information having the first evaluation value, the position information having the first evaluation value corresponding to the evaluation value desired by the user, and a display control unit that displays a position information screen having evaluation value on which the position information having the first evaluation value extracted by the position information extraction unit is reflected on a display unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a navigation device and an evaluation value setting method, which are desirably applied to a portable type navigation device referred to as, for example, Personal Navigation Device (referred to as PND, hereinafter).
2. Description of the Related Art
In the PND, for example, a Point of Interest (POI) as position information prepared by the manufacturer side previously such as a restaurant or a resort facility is made to correspond to map data, and is registered in an embedded memory.
In the PND, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, when a map screen G based on map data is displayed on a monitor, multiple landmarks R corresponding to the POIs are arranged on the map screen G (For example, refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-69438).

Navigation device and evaluation value setting method


Programs in a plurality of processors connected through a common network are started when a plurality of data necessary for starting the program are received from the network. When the processor receives data from an external equipment, it adds the event number to the data and sends it to the network, and each processor determines whether all data necessary for starting the program in itself have been received and checks the relation among the received data by comparison with the event numbers of the received data.

The present invention relates to a method of processing data by correlating input data of a multi-data input program to enhance assurance of proper operation in a distributed processing system which has a plurality of processors.
A distributed processing system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,055.
In the prior art, such as described in JP-A-57-146361, a multi-data input program is started when all data necessary for starting the program has been received but no check is made as to whether the combination of data is valid or not. Accordingly, a problem is involved in the assurance of execution of the process.

Method for processing data in a distributed processing system


An internal combustion engine having a plurality of intake and/or exhaust valves associated with each cylinder includes a valvetrain having a fulcrum with a plurality of pivot ball sockets each associated with a rocker arm and pivot ball disposed between the fulcrum and the rocker arm with the fulcrum extending through apertures of the rocker arms and having a plurality of slots, each slot having generally parallel opposing lateral surfaces for receiving and guiding both sides of an associated rocker arm so the rocker arm pivots about the pivot ball in a plane of the rocker arm. The fulcrum can accommodate at least two rocker arms that may operate in non-parallel planes relative to one another and can include bearing and locating surfaces integrally formed to finish dimensions to eliminate machining.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compact rocker arm and fulcrum assembly for internal combustion engines having intake and/or exhaust poppet valves.
2. Background Art
Conventional internal combustion engines use a cams haft-driven valvetrain to operate intake and exhaust valves that control the exchange of gases in the combustion chambers formed between the engine block and cylinder head. Engines are often categorized by the location of the cams haft relative to the valves, with overhead cam valvetrains driven by a cams haft in the cylinder head over the valves, and pushrod valvetrains or "cam-in-block" valvetrains having the cams haft located in the engine block with the valves operated using pushrods and rocker arms.
Current four-valve-per-cylinder engines include two intake valves and two exhaust valves for each cylinder. As described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/164,620 filed Nov. 30, 2005 and commonly owned by the assignee of the instant application, there are a number of advantages associated with having independent motion and lash adjustment for each valve rather than a bridged valvetrain implementation that actuates multiple valves in tandem. As such, a four-valve-per-cylinder application requires four independently pivotable rocker arms for each cylinder mounted in close proximity and properly aligned with the valve tips and pushrods (if present). Improper alignment may lead to uneven or side loading of the valves (and pushrods) with higher stresses resulting in higher rates of wear and potential noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) concerns.
Relatively thin (or flat) rocker arms that pivot about a ball supported by a pedestal or fulcrum secured to the engine block have been developed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,763,616 and 6,484,682, for example, and provide various advantages including reduced inertia relative to shaft-mounted rocker arms. Use of a ball/socket pivot arrangement requires that the rocker arm movement about two axes of rotation be limited or constrained so the rocker arm moves in a single plane about the third axis of rotation during operation. As such, these arrangements typically include one or more coplanar lateral or vertical surfaces on the pedestal or post to guide one side of each rocker arm so that it rotates or pivots in a single plane during operation to maintain desired alignment and loading. The pedestals or fulcrums also typically include one or more precision surfaces to provide for locating and aligning the rocker arms, valve tips, and pushrods relative to one another and the engine block, which increases cost and complexity of the assembly.

Engine and valvetrain with compact rocker arm and fulcrum assembly for internal combustion engines


Provided herein is a system for manufacturing a core of a vacuum insulation panel, the system comprising: a plurality of molding cast parts disposed along one direction, and providing a molding space for core material to be supplied and press-molded; a plurality of raw material suppliers distanced from one another, and supplying core material to the molding space; a press-molder disposed between the raw material suppliers, and receiving the molding cast part where the core material is supplied through the raw material supplier, and pressing the molding space; and a carrier transferring the molding cast part after the core material is supplied by the raw material supplier and the molding space is press-molded by the press-molder.

Field of the Invention
The following description relates to a system for manufacturing a core of a vacuum insulation panel, for example, to a system capable of mass-producing large size cores of vacuum insulation panels, but the system taking up minimized space.
Description of Related Art
Insulation panels are used to limit transference of heat in buildings, pipes, and ice boxes where there is temperature difference between the interior and exterior thereof. General insulation panels or vacuum insulation panels are mostly used for the above purpose.
A general insulation panel has an insulation performance of 30 mW/mK, whereas a vacuum insulation panel has a high insulation performance of 3˜10 mW/mK, that is, approximately 3 to 10 times that of a general insulation panel. Such vacuum insulation panels are not widely used due to high material costs and difficulty of manufacturing technologies despite their excellent insulation performance.
Recently, due to significant advance of manufacturing technologies, various countries such as Germany, Great Britain, Japan, USA, Canada, Korea, and China etc. are making efforts to commercialize vacuum insulation panels, but high material costs and manufacturing process costs are becoming a burden.
A vacuum insulation panel consists of a molded insulation body made of inorganic substances and a packaging material covering the molded insulation body. The biggest feature of a vacuum insulation panel is that the interior of the molded insulation body is prepared in a vacuum condition. Herein, the molded insulation body that fills the inside of the vacuum insulation panel is called a core.
One way to manufacture a core is to use a glass fiber compressed material or mixed powder including silica. A core is molded by putting powder compressed material in a molding cast, and then pressing the powder compressed material with a molding machine, forming a core having a certain density, size and thickness.
Korean patent publication no. 10-2010-00900008 discloses a continuous rotating molding apparatus that is capable of reducing loss of raw material and reducing production time per core.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for molding a vacuum insulation panel using a conventional continuous rotating molding cast.
With reference to FIG. 1, an apparatus 1 for molding a vacuum insulation panel using a conventional continuous rotating molding cast is provided with four molding casts 10 disposed by a distance of 90° from one another on a rotatably provided plate members, each molding cast 10 rotating 90° per process and provided to a raw material supplier 20, planarizer 21, press-molder 30, and discharger 40, discharging four press-molded cores per rotation of the plate member 5.
However, the apparatus 1 for molding a vacuum insulation panel using a continuous rotating molding cast is provided with four molding casts 10 on one plate member, and thus if the molding cast 10 is enlarged in order to mold an enlarged core, the rotating plate must be enlarged as well. This causes the burden of having to excessively enlarge the installation space for the apparatus.
In addition, since a series of molding process is performed in one plate member, when a failure occurs in at least one of the raw material supplier 20, planarizer 21, press-molder 30 and discharger 40, the entire molding apparatus stops its operation.

System for manufacturing core of vacuum insulation panel


A hand-over control method is disclosed to control the change of connections between a radio communication terminal and a plurality of radio communication base stations for radio communication. The received power of a signal from a radio communication base station in a cell that that is subject to the influence of fading is likely to vibrate within a predetermined strength range. Even if a cell satisfies hand-over conditions, there is a greater likelihood that the cell is still subject to the influence of fading, if the received power is not exceeding this predetermined range The current received quality of a signal from a radio communication terminal in the cell is compared with last received quality of the signal from the radio communication base station when the radio communication terminal finished radio communication with radio communication base station. If the former quality is not higher than the latter quality by a predetermined level or more, the radio communication base station is determined to still be subject to the influence of fading, and hand-over is not performed. If, on the other hand, the former quality is higher than the latter quality by the predetermined level or more, the radio communication base station is determined not to be subject to the influence of fading, and hand-over is not performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of controlling hand-over (change of radio communication base stations to be connected) performed by a radio communication terminal such as a portable telephone or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a radio communication system to explain hand-over performed by radio communication terminal. In FIG. 1, cell A indicates an area in which radio communication terminal 31 can perform a radio communication with radio communication base station 32, and cell B indicates an area in which radio communication terminal 31 can perform a radio communication with radio communication base station 33. Hand-over performed by radio communication terminal 31 refers to an operation in which radio communication terminal 31 which is communicating with radio communication base station 32 change radio communication with radio communication base station 32 to radio communication with radio communication base station 33 when radio communication terminal 31 moves from cell A to cell B, When performing hand-over from radio communication base station 32 to radio communication base station 33, radio communication terminal 31 is required to change the frequency used for radio communication from a frequency available in radio communication base station 32 to a frequency available in radio communication base station 33.
Such inconvenience can be solved by using code division multiple access (CDMA) for radio communication. In a CDMA system, radio communication terminal 31 can distinguish between a signal transmitted from radio communication base station 32 and a signal transmitted from radio communication base station 33 and can simultaneously receive both signals. Therefore, with the hand-over performed by radio communication terminal 31 using CDMA, when radio communication terminal 31 moves from cell A to cell B while communicating with radio communication base station 32, radio communication terminal 31 adds communication with radio communication base station 33 while maintaining the communication with radio communication base station 32, radio communication terminal 31 being set to have simultaneous reception from both radio communication base stations 32 and 33. Thereafter, when the received power of signals transmitted from radio communication base station 32 becomes low, radio communication terminal 31 finishes the communication with radio communication base station 32 and communicates only with radio communication base station 33.
A radio communication terminal using such CDMA includes a plurality of receivers called a finger receiver and hence has the capability to simultaneously receive signals transmitted from three radio communication base stations. This feature of simultaneous reception allows hand-over in a radio communication terminal using CDMA to be classified into three general cases: (i) When communicating with one or two radio communication base stations, the radio communication terminal adds communication with another radio communication base station; (ii) When communicating with two or three radio communication base stations, the radio communication terminal finishes the communication with these radio communication base stations; (iii) When communicating with three radio communication base stations, the radio communication terminal changes communication with one of the radio communication base stations to communication with another radio communication base station that is not currently communicating with the radio communication terminal.
The processing in case (iii), which has the most problems of the three cases, will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 shows that when radio communication terminal 41 is communicating with radio communication base stations 42, 43 and 44, radio communication base station 45 becomes a candidate for hand-over with which radio communication terminal 41 starts communication. FIG. 3 shows a change in the received power of radio communication terminal 41 over time. FIG. 4 shows a sequence of messages exchanged between radio communication terminal 41 and radio communication base stations 42 to 45.
As shown in FIG. 2, radio communication terminal 41 is communicating with radio communication base stations 42, 43 and 44. Radio communication terminal 41 measures the received power of a signal transmitted from radio communication base station 45 during communication, As shown in FIG. 3, the received power of a signal transmitted from radio communication base station 42 is lowered, whereas the received power of a signal transmitted from radio communication base station 45 is increased. As shown in FIG. 4, immediately before the received power of a signal from radio communication base station 45 exceeds the received power of a signal from radio communication base station 42, radio communication terminal 41 transmits message 61 to radio communication base stations 42, 43 and 44 to notify the stations that the result of measurement of the received power of a signal transmitted from radio communication base station 45 satisfies the conditions for hand-over.
Upon receipt of message 61, radio communication base station 42 finishes communication with radio communication terminal 41, and radio communication base station 45 starts communication with radio communication terminal 41. Each of radio communication base stations 43 and 44 transmits message 62 to radio communication terminal 41 to notify the terminal of conditions to communicate with radio communication base station 45 that is a target for hand-over, such as timing and the like.
Upon receipt of message 62, radio communication terminal 41 sets the notified timing information and the like to the finger receivers thereof, and transmits message 63 to radio communication base stations 43, 44 and 45 to notify the base stations that procedure to set the notified communication conditions has been finished.
Subsequently, in preparation for the next hand-over, each of radio communication base stations 43, 44 and 45 transmits message 64 to radio communication terminal 41 to cause terminal 41 to renew hand-over information such as information about the periphery cells of terminal 41 and the like, thereby finishing the hand-over processing. Radio communication terminal 41 then examines the qualities of signals received from radio communication base stations in the peripheral cells in accordance with received massage 64 to renew hand-over information.
In radio communications, fading may occur due to buildings and geographical features, causing fluctuation of the received power from each radio communication base station. This fading exerts a large influence on the processing for the case (iii). FIG. 5 explains the influence exerted on the processing for the case (iii).
As shown in FIG. 5, qualities of signals received from radio communication base stations may change greatly over time as in cell C or cell D. Now consider hand-over which is performed under radio signal propagation circumstances as shown in FIG. 5. Initially, radio communication terminal 41 communicates with the radio communication base stations in cells A, B and C. Each time the relationship in the qualities of received signals between cells C and D alternates, radio communication terminal 41 performs hand-over to switch between the radio communication base stations in cells C and D. Thereafter, when the qualities of received signals from the radio communication base stations in cells A and B deteriorate and the qualities of received signals from the radio communication base station in cell E is increased, the radio communication base station in cell E becomes a candidate for hand-over. However, because radio communication terminal 41 performs hand-over to switch between the radio communication base stations in cells C and D, it cannot perform hand-over to the radio communication base station in cell E. This causes a problem that a call is undesirably disconnected due to the deterioration of the qualities of received signals from the radio communication base stations in cells A and B.
The reason that hand-over to the radio communication base station in cell E can not be performed is that since the sequence of hand-over is being performed between radio communication terminal 41 and the radio communication base stations in order to perform hand-over to switch between the radio communication base stations in cells C and D, as illustrated in FIG. 5. message 61 which notifies that cell E has satisfied the hand-over conditions and which is transmitted from radio communication terminal 41 to the radio communication base stations, is disregarded by the radio communication base stations. In this way, in situations where hand-over to switch between two cells C, D is frequently performed, the hand-over that is necessary to maintain communications with radio communication terminal 41 cannot be performed due to unnecessary hand-over that has been frequently performed.
Several techniques have been proposed to solve this problem. For example, JP 2001-16932A (hereinafter referred to as Patent document 1) discloses a technique to detect such unnecessary hand-over through a learning means. JP2004-40338A (hereinafter referred to as Patent document 2) discloses a technique wherein the number of hand-over operations between two radio communication base stations is counted, and hand-over between the radio communication base stations is prohibited for a predetermined period of time when the counted value exceeds a predetermined value.
However, with the invention of Patent document 1, it is time-consuming to build the learning means, and unnecessary hand-over caused by fading cannot be prevented in a simple manner. With the invention of Patent document 2, the repetition of unnecessary hand-over a predetermined number of times cannot be avoided.

Prevention of unnecessary hand-over caused by fading


A computer-implemented method for automatically generating dynamic frame packing groups for an automation system having a plurality of field devices. The field devices are assignable to different controllers, and the automation system is provided for communication between the field devices and the controllers using dynamic frame packing, where the method comprises receiving a description of the configurations of the field devices and the controllers, automatically generating the dynamic frame packing groups by analyzing the configurations, and assigning the field devices to packing groups.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to dynamic frame processing and, more particularly, to a computer-implemented method for automatically generating dynamic frame packing groups for an automation system, a device for automatically generating dynamic frame packing groups for an automation system and a computer program product.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to increase the transmission rate of data from field devices to controllers in automation systems, the concept of dynamic frame packing (DFP) was introduced, whereby a data transmission is effected using container frames. Here, terminals that are assigned to a packing group transmit their data inside a container frame. The advantage of this is that the overhead for Ethernet frames that are used is borne only once for a given transmission, because of the container frame only a preamble, a start frame delimiter and a header are used, for example. This enables the packing density to be increased, so that within one clock cycle a data transmission by a plurality of field devices can occur, the transmission refreshment rates being significantly increased in comparison with a data transmission that does not use DFP.
FIG. 1 shows the structure of a typical realtime frame, this frame itself being encapsulated for Ethernet transmissions in accordance with Request for Comment (RFC) 894 using the elements destination address, source address, Ether type and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC). Where priority tagging is used in accordance with Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Standard 802.1Q with the Ether type set to 0x8100, followed by a priority/VLAN field, followed by a second Ether type that is set to 0x8892 and that displays a realtime frame.
The frame ID is used to identify the frame itself, where C_SDU is designated for transporting the contents of the IO data and APDU status specifies the status of the frame.
The C_SDU can be structured so that it either carries the IO data of an individual field device or else it carries the IO data of several field devices. In the latter case, a part of the C_SDU (called the "subframe") carries the IO data of a particular field device, in which case the frame is subdivided into several subframes.
The reason for that is using a subdivision into frames is to minimize the bandwidth that is required and to consistently optimize the performance. As shown in FIG. 1, the overhead of a frame, i.e., the bytes to be transported besides the C_SDU, is 28 bytes. However, since the InterframeGap is an additional 12 bytes, the preamble is 7 bytes and the start frame delimiter is 1 byte and these must additionally be taken into account, the total overhead of a frame amounts to 48 bytes (or 42 bytes if the preamble is shortened to 1 byte). If the C_SDU is additionally smaller than 40 bytes, the difference must additionally be added.
Thus, it is apparent that using subdivided frames reduces the bandwidth required by combining subframes 110 and 112 because, as shown in FIG. 2, the overhead of a subframe is only 6 bytes. By combining several subframes in a single frame, the overhead for the frame that is used is thus only incurred once.
Each of the subframes 110 and 112 is assigned a position, a control bit, a data length that describes the length of the C_SDU, a cycle counter, a data status and a CRC. Here, the position is a unique identifier for a given subframe, where the list of subframes is concluded by a special subframe with the position number 0.
The control bit is used to specify whether the CRC and cycle counter of the subframe should be ignored.
The data status of a subframe specifies the data status of the subframe. The data status within the APDU status of the frame specifies the data status of the frame. If the frame consists of subframes, the data status of the frame can be ignored. Furthermore, it is helpful to assign the data status of the frame to a static value.

Method for automatically generating dynamic frame packing groups


A device for electrically grounding an access floor panel to a floor panel support in contact with a ground including a clip fastened to the floor panel, the clip compressible against the support when the floor panel is placed against the support.

Access floor systems or elevated floor structures have gained much popularity with the introduction of computer systems. These elevated floor structures comprise of floors constructed by arranging generally rectangular floor panels in side by side relation in a rectangular array. More particularly, the floor panels generally comprise a bottom surface spaced from a top surface so as to present four sides thereof. In one arrangement the top surface extends beyond the bottom surface so as to present a lip along each of the four sides which is adapted to being supported by stringers supported at the ends thereof by a plurality of pedestals defining a grid pattern. The floor panels can be individually removed for servicing.
Generally speaking, the access floor panels are required to have a generally low resistance or in other words a high conductivity between the top of the floor panel and the bottom of a pedestal which is generally supported by a building ground. In some applications the access floor panel is required to have an electrical resistance of less than 10 ohms when measured between the top of the bare panel i.e. the metallic surface and the bottom of the pedestal where it can be connected to a building ground. In other applications, the resistance must fall within the range of one to less than 10 ohms.
In order to accomplish such high conductivity the solutions ranging to date and the prior art include having a spring clip which are mounted to the stringer to make electrical contact to the floor panel. However, the floor panel is generally painted, and the paint is a poor conductor thus increasing the resistance. In other applications, brass strips are laminated between the laminate top of the top surface of the floor panel and the bare panel. Such remedies are sometimes ineffective as the panel paint must be scratched and the brass strips must touch the stringers.
Furthermore, other arrangements are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,104 which relates to an electrical grounding connector comprising a U-bolt, a upper clamp part and a lower clamp part. The upper clamp part is connected to the U-bolt, to clamp a floor pedestal there between.
Furthermore U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,627 illustrates an electrical connector for mechanically and electrically connecting conductors.
Furthermore U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,571 relates to a combined floor pedestal and floor outlets which include a base drum and a support drum and are interconnected by an adjustment sleeve member which is sleeved around and threadedly connected to the base drum and support drum. The assembly is convenient for making height adjustments as well as electrical connection.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved device where electrically grounding an access floor panel to a floor panel support. It is the further object of this invention to provide an improved method of grounding a floor panel in a grid defined by a plurality of stringers supported by a plurality of pedestals.
It is an aspect of this invention to provide a device for electrically grounding an access floor panel to a floor panel support comprising a clip fastened to the floor panel, the clip compressible against the support when the floor panel is placed against the support.
It is another aspect of this invention to provide a floor panel for a raised access floor defined by a plurality of floor panels each supported by a grid of horizontally disposed stringers, the stringers are supported at the ends thereof by a plurality of pedestals respectively, the floor panel having a rectangular bottom surface and a rectangular top surface spaced from said bottom surface by four sides thereof, said top surface extending beyond said bottom surface to define a lip along four sides thereof, each said lip adapted to be supported by one of said stringers, where one of said sides includes a recess adapted to receive a spring clip adapted to spring against said stringer when said floor panel is supported by said stringer of said grid.
It is yet another aspect of this invention to provide a method of grounding a floor panel in a grid defined by a plurality of stringers supported by a plurality of pedestals comprising the steps of; electrically fastening a deformable metal clip to one side of said floor panel; placing said floor panel into said grid so as to support said floor panel on said stringers compressing said spring against said stringer so as to make electrical contact thereto.
These and other objects and features of the invention shall be described in relation to the following drawings.

Floor access panel with electrical grounding device


A fuse device for fitting over and around a corner of a battery housing has a top wall and two side walls extending downward from the top wall. The side walls are joined at a corner. A battery terminal for mechanical and electrical attachment to a battery post is provided in the top wall. Electrical connectors for connection to terminals on the ends of electrical cables are mounted on the side walls of the fuse device. The electrical connectors are linked through the walls to the battery terminal by fuses. Ribs extending down the side walls from the top wall pass close by each electrical connector to strengthen the structure of the fuse device and prevent rotation of the terminals on the ends of the cables as they are secured to the fuse device. Recessed strengthening ribs in the top wall extend radially outward from the battery terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to fuses for vehicle battery connections and more specifically to a fuse device that mounts over and around a corner of a battery housing so the fuse device is stable during electrical cable attachment and vehicle operation.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Various mounting structures for use in distributing electrical current from an automotive battery through integral fuses to several circuits are known in the art. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,176,780, for example, a fuse unit hangs relatively free of the battery and relies mainly if not solely on the support of the battery post to which it attaches. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,448, the main fuse is located in a module mounted on a top surface of a battery. Only the terminals on the electrical cables can contact the battery side walls when a twisting force is applied to the module.
High twisting forces caused by torque generated when terminated electrical cables are attached to the fuse units or modules can damage the connection between the battery terminal and post. The fuse or fuses within the units or modules may also be broken or the electrical connections with the fuses may become unreliable. For such types of components supported mainly by the battery post, a fuse device capable of withstanding the torque required to attach large gauge wires without damage to the fuse device or electrical connections with the fuses and battery would seem to be beneficial to the art.


Described herein are improved methods of forming polymer films, the polymer films formed thereby, and electronic devices formed form the polymer films. The methods generally include contacting a polymer with a solvent to at least partially solvate the polymer in the solvent, exposing the at least partially solvated polymer and solvent to ultrasonic energy for a duration effective to form a plurality of ordered assemblies of the polymer in the solvent, and forming a solid film of the polymer, wherein the solid film comprises the plurality of ordered assemblies of the polymer.

There are a number of advantages to replacing traditional (i.e., inorganic-based) electronic devices with those formed form organic materials (e.g., electroactive or conjugated polymers). For example, organic materials are generally lighter, more flexible, and cheaper to fabricate than inorganic materials. These materials and the devices produced therefrom, however, are not immune to the fabrication and/or integration challenges that exist for traditional electronics, especially with the ever-increasing demands of consumers for improved devices.
One such remaining challenge involves controlling the microstructure of organic materials in the solid state. Given the importance of microstructure on the intermolecular charge transport properties of films of conjugated polymers, the ability to control the microstructure of such materials should lead to improved conductivities or at least to similar conductivities with fewer charge carriers.
A common method for increasing the charge transport, or carrier mobility, in a polymer film entails thermally annealing the polymer at a high temperature, which is typically close to the glass transition temperature of the polymer, followed by a slow crystallization. This, however, requires the process to be conducted under extremely low oxygen and moisture concentrations so as to ensure that the polymer does not oxidize. Dielectric surface modifications using self-assembled monolayers provide another technique for mobility enhancement. Controlled deposition of monolayers, however, is often difficult to achieve and also requires moisture free environments. Other techniques include the use of high boiling point solvents, different deposition techniques, and the generation of ordered precursors in solution by using non-solvent aggregation. Unfortunately, the increases in mobility that are achieved by each of the above-referenced techniques are not significant. High mobility can be achieved by using high purity polymers with high regioregularity (e.g., greater than 98%), which can be process intensive to synthesize.
Thus, despite the advancements made in controlling the microstructure (and, by extension, the mobility) of organic materials in the solid state, there remains a need for improved methods for doing so. Such methods can lead to improved devices that exhibit higher mobilities and potentially higher conductivities. It is to the provision of such methods and devices that the various embodiments of the present inventions are directed.

Polymer film-producing methods and devices produced therefrom


A fixation plate includes a set of threaded peg holes adapted to individually receive fixation pegs therethrough and non-threaded alignment holes having a relatively smaller diameter than the peg holes and preferably sized to closely receive a K-wire. The alignment holes are located between the peg holes. One alignment hole is configured for aligning the plate during an osteotomy procedure, while other alignment holes are configured for use after fracture reduction and receive K-wires to temporarily stabilize the fracture and secure the plate to the bone and determine whether pegs inserted through adjacent respective peg holes will be properly located before drilling relatively larger holes for such pegs. The head of the plate has a shape and contour which provides bone support and a low profile which minimizes the potential for soft tissue irritation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to surgical implants. More particularly, this invention relates to a bone fracture fixation system for distal radius fractures.
2. State of the Art
Fracture to the metaphyseal portion of a long bone can be difficult to treat. Improper treatment can result in deformity and long-term discomfort.
By way of example, a Colles' fracture is a fracture resulting from compressive forces being placed on the distal radius, and which causes backward or dorsal displacement of the distal fragment and radial deviation of the hand at the wrist. Often, a Colles' fracture will result in multiple bone fragments which are movable and out of alignment relative to each other. If not properly treated, such fractures may result in permanent wrist deformity and limited articulation of the wrist. It is therefore important to align the fracture and fixate the bones relative to each other so that proper healing may occur.
Alignment and fixation of a metaphyseal fracture (occurring at the extremity of a shaft of a long bone) are typically performed by one of several methods: casting, external fixation, pinning, and plating. Casting is non-invasive, but may not be able to maintain alignment of the fracture where many bone fragments exist. Therefore, as an alternative, external fixators may be used. External fixators utilize a method known as ligamentotaxis, which provides distraction forces across the joint and permits the fracture to be aligned based upon the tension placed on the surrounding ligaments. However, while external fixators can maintain the position of the wrist bones, it may nevertheless be difficult in certain fractures to first provide the bones in proper alignment. In addition, external fixators are often not suitable for fractures resulting in multiple bone fragments. Pinning with K-wires (Kirschner wires) is an invasive procedure whereby pins are positioned into the various fragments. This is a difficult and time consuming procedure that provides limited fixation if the bone is comminuted or osteoporotic. Plating utilizes a stabilizing metal plate typically placed against the dorsal side of a bone, and screws extending from the plate into holes drilled in the bone fragments to provide stabilized fixation of the fragments. However, many currently available plate systems fail to provide desirable alignment and stabilization.
In particular, with a distal radius fracture the complex shape of the distal radius, including the prominent volar rim of the lunate fossa, relatively flat volar rim of the scaphoid fossa, and the sometimes prominent base of the styloid process should be accommodated. Furthermore, the ligaments extending from the volar side of the distal radius to the intercarpal bones must not be irritated or distressed. Moreover, a fixation device should provide desirable alignment and stabilization of the bone structure proximate the articular surface of the distal radius.

Low profile distal radius fracture fixation plate


An apparatus and method are disclosed for operating a narrow band short pulse duration gas discharge laser output light pulse beam producing system, producing a beam comprising laser output light pulses at a selected pulse repetition rate, which may comprise: a dispersive center wavelength selection optic selecting at least one center wavelength for each pulse determined at least in part by the angle of incidence of the laser light pulse beam containing the respective pulse on the dispersive wavelength selection optic; a tuning mechanism operative to select at least one angle of incidence of a first spatially defined portion of the laser light pulse beam containing the respective pulse upon the dispersive center wavelength selection optic; and, the tuning mechanism comprising a variably refractive optical element defining a plurality of refractive angular displacements of the first spatially defined portion of the laser light pulse beam passing through the variably refractive optical element at one of a plurality of positions of incidence of the laser light pulse beam on the variably refractive optical element. The variably refractive optical element may comprise: a first generally flat face defining a surface of incidence for the laser light pulse beam; and, a second multifaceted or curved face defining a plurality of generally flat surfaces of exit or a continuously varying surface of exit for the laser light beam. Other aspects of pulse parameter metrology and pulse modulation control, including in response to signals from the utilization tool are disclosed, e.g., relating to proper dose control with differing center wavelength spectra.

It is well known in the art of semiconductor manufacturing that depth of focus ("DOF") is an important issue. Fukuda (Hitachi Central Research Labs) proposed a method to increase DOF using FLEX (Focus Latitude Enhanced eXposure) in 1989, wherein the exposure is performed using two stage focal positions. This is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,999, entitled METHOD OF FORMING PATTERN AND PROJECTION ALIGNER FOR CARRYING OUT THE SAME, issued to Fukuda, et al on Sep. 26, 1989 ("Fukuda I"), where the specification also notes that:                It has been found by the inventors' investigation that the effective focal depth of an exposure optical system can be increased by overlapping a plurality of light beams having image points at different positions on an optical axis, and thus the image of a mask pattern can be formed accurately in a region between the top and the bottom of the topography of a substrate surface. The term "image point" indicates a point on the conjugate plane of the mask pattern with respect to the exposure optical system. Accordingly, when an exposure operation for exposing a substrate coated with a resist layer to exposure light through a mask is performed a plurality of times at different positional relations in the direction of the optical axis between the resist layer and the image plane of a mask pattern, or when exposure operations at the different positional relations are simultaneously performed, the image of the mask pattern can be accurately formed not only at the top and the bottom of the topography of a substrate surface but also at an intermediate position between the top and the bottom of the topography. Thus, a fine pattern can be formed accurately all over the topography. (Col. 3, lines 33–54, emphasis added) Fukuda I also states:        Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the image plane of a mask pattern was formed at two different positions in (or over) the substrate by displacing the substrate in the direction of an optical axis. Alternatively, the image plane of the mask pattern may be formed at different positions by moving a reticle having a mask pattern in the direction of the optical axis, by introducing a transparent material different in refractive index from air into an exposure optical system, by changing the atmospheric pressure in the whole or a portion of the exposure optical system, by using a lens having a multiple focal point, by overlapping light beams from a plurality of exposure optical systems which form the image plane of a mask pattern in different planes, or by using different wavelengths or a continuous wavelength in the same exposure optical system. (Col. 6, lines 37–53, emphasis added) It has also been proposed, e.g., in systems sold, e.g., by Nikon, that a stepper allow continuous stage motion between two focal planes.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,619, entitled PROJECTION ALIGNER AND EXPOSURE METHOD, issued to Fukuda, et al. on Jun. 26, 1990 ("Fukuda II"), there is proposed a system in which separate laser beams are generated and optically combined to produce a single beam with a plurality of different wavelengths arriving at the reticle in the lithography tool at the same time. Fukuda II also notes:                FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 comprises a reflecting mirror 31, an etalon 32, an excimer laser gas cavity 33, an output mirror 34, a mirror 35, an etalon angle control circuit 36, a laser oscillation control circuit 37, an exposure wavelength control circuit 38, an illumination optical system 14, a reticle 15, a projection lens 16, a substrate stage 17, and various elements required for the projection aligner.        The etalon 32 narrows the bandwidth of the laser beam oscillated by the excimer laser resonator composed of a reflecting mirror 31, excimer laser gas cavity 33, and an output mirror 34, and changes the central wavelength of light narrowed in bandwidth by adjusting the angle of the etalon 32 minutely. The wavelength control circuit 38 sends a command to the etalon angle control circuit 36 to set the angle of the etalon at a predetermined value, and sends a command to the laser oscillation control circuit 37 to cause laser oscillation with a predetermined number of exposure pulses for the etalon angle. The exposure wavelength control circuit 38 is capable of changing the set angle of the etalon 32 during the exposure of one exposure region located on the substrate by using the above described function and is capable of performing projection exposure by using light having a plurality of different wavelengths. Since the projection lens 16 focuses the pattern on the reticle 15 onto a different position on an identical optical axis with respect to each of the above-described plurality of wavelengths, it is possible to perform the focus latitude enhancement exposure by using the present projection aligner.        Instead of being disposed between the reflecting mirror 31 and the laser resonator 33 as shown in FIG. 5, the etalon 32 and the wavelength control means may be disposed between the output mirror 34 and the laser gas cavity 33, or between the output mirror 34 and the illumination optical system 14, for example. Further, the above described line narrowing and wavelength alteration are not restricted to the method of changing the angle of the etalon.        The present embodiment is economically advantageous because only one excimer laser is used. In addition, lowering of laser output caused by bandwidth narrowing can be limited to a small value because the bandwidth-narrowing device is disposed between the reflecting mirror and the output mirror.        By using the present projection aligner, it was confirmed that the depth of focus of fine patterns increased in the same way as the first embodiment.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,002, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING THE FOCUS LATITUDE IN LITHOGRAPHY, issued to Yan on Apr. 12, 1994, there is proposed also combining separately generated laser beams to obtain a single beam at the reticle with a plurality of wavelengths. Yan also proposes the generation of three output beams from a single laser system, but the embodiment proposed is not workable.
In the prior applications assigned to applicant's assignee referenced above "spectral engineering" has been proposed using, e.g., a wavelength and bandwidth tuning mechanism to produce an apparent spectrum over a series of pulses in a burst of pulses output by the laser system that effectively contains a plurality of discrete spectra. The '280 patent and '773 application suggest that:                A fast responding tuning mechanism is then used to adjust center wavelength of laser pulses in a burst of pulses to achieve an integrated spectrum for the burst of pulses approximating the desired laser spectrum. The laser beam bandwidth is controlled to produce an effective beam spectrum having at least two spectral peaks in order to produce improved pattern resolution in photo resist film. . . . In a preferred embodiment, a wavelength tuning mirror is dithered at dither rates of more than 500 dithers per second in phase with the repetition rate of the laser. . . . In another embodiment, the maximum displacement was matched on a one-to-one basis with the laser pulses in order to produce a desired average spectrum with two peaks for a series of laser pulses. Other preferred embodiments utilize three separate wavelengths.
The disclosures of the foregoing issued patents are hereby incorporated by reference.
RELAX, an acronym for "Resolution Enhancement by Laser-spectrum Adjusted eXposure", according to one embodiment, is based on the concept of engineering the laser spectrum to have two (or more) peaks in order to increase depth of focus (DOF). Simulations using PROLITH software have demonstrated that a dual peak spectral shape can improve DOF two- to three-fold with acceptable sacrifice to exposure latitude, e.g., for specific configurations of contact holes and line spacing patterns. The light spectrum can contain, e.g., two spectral peaks (either simultaneously or in alternating pulses) which create two different optimal focal planes in the photoresist. This puts every part of even very thick resists (400 nm and up) within acceptable depth of focus at a given reasonable (6–12%) exposure latitude. As a result of exposure with dual peaks, the resist sidewalls maintain an acceptable angle through the resist and there is good control on critical dimensions. Fewer clogged up or underexposed contact holes deliver improved yield and increased profitability for the chipmaker. According to aspects of an embodiment of the present invention applicants have provided for a solution that provides lot-to-lot control on the peak-to-peak separation. Optimal separation can be determined through simulation using CD, illumination condition, mask information and laser spectrum. Applicants proposal also provides for the sum of the integration of the energies under the split spectra will be equal to the total integration of the energy from an initial (non-split) spectrum and peaks that can be made symmetrically separated from the central wavelength.
Specific implementations of RELAX, require modifications to existing laser light source systems, e.g., gas discharge laser light source systems, e.g., in actual implementation of wavefront splitting, metrology, synchronization with the application using the light, e.g., a wafer scanner scanning window, and like issues addressed by aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

Relax gas discharge laser lithography light source


Methods for forming ultrashallow junctions in semiconductor wafers include introducing into a shallow surface layer of a semiconductor wafer a dopant material that is selected to form charge carrier complexes which produce at least two charge carriers per complex, and short-time thermal processing of the doped surface layer to form the charge carrier complexes. The short-time thermal processing step may be implemented as flash rapid thermal processing of the doped surface layer, sub-melt laser processing of the doped surface layer, or RF or microwave annealing of the doped surface layer.

A well-known trend in the semiconductor industry is toward smaller, higher speed devices. In particular, both the lateral dimensions and the depth of features in semiconductor devices are decreasing. State of the art semiconductor devices require junction depths less than 1,000 angstroms and may eventually require junction depths on the order of 200 angstroms or less.
Ion implantation is a standard technique for introducing conductivity-altering dopant materials into semiconductor wafers. In a conventional ion implantation system, known as a beamline ion implanter, a desired dopant material is ionized in an ion source, the ions are accelerated to form an ion beam of prescribed energy, and the ion beam is directed at the surface of the wafer. The energetic ions in the beam penetrate into the bulk of the semiconductor material and are imbedded into the crystalline lattice of the semiconductor material.
Plasma doping systems may be used for forming shallow junctions in semiconductor wafers. In a plasma doping system, a semiconductor wafer is placed on a conductive platen which functions as a cathode. An ionizable gas containing the desired dopant material is introduced into the chamber, and a voltage pulse is applied between the platen and an anode or the chamber walls, causing formation of a plasma having a plasma sheath at the surface of the wafer. The applied voltage causes ions in the plasma to cross the plasma sheath and to be implanted into the wafer. The depth of implantation is related to the voltage applied between the wafer and the anode.
The implanted depth of the dopant material is determined, at least in part, by the energy of the ions implanted into the semiconductor wafer. Shallow junctions are obtained with low implant energies. However, the annealing process that is used for activation of the implanted dopant material causes the dopant material to diffuse from the implanted region of the semiconductor wafer. As a result of such diffusion, junction depths are increased by annealing. To counteract the increase in junction depth produced by annealing, the implant energy may be decreased, so that a desired junction depth after annealing is obtained. This approach provides satisfactory results, except in the case of very shallow junctions. A limit is reached as to the junction depth that can be obtained by decreasing implant energy, due to the diffusion of the dopant material that occurs during annealing. In addition, conventional ion implanters typically operate inefficiently at very low implant energies.
In addition to shallow junction depths, implanted regions are required to have low sheet resistance for proper operation of the devices being fabricated on the semiconductor wafer. The sheet resistance depends in part of the effectiveness of the activation process.
Furthermore, implanted regions are required to have low damage in order to achieve low leakage current devices on the semiconductor wafers. Typically, damage has been removed during the annealing process. However, as noted above, other problems are produced by the annealing process. These factors have presented difficulties in achieving ultrashallow junctions which have low sheet resistance and low damage.
Accordingly, there is a need for methods for fabricating in semiconductor wafers ultrashallow junctions which have low sheet resistance and low damage.

Methods for forming low resistivity, ultrashallow junctions with low damage

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc


Described is a method for manufacturing a bipolar plate for, for instance, a bipolar battery. According to the present invention, a negative plate is manufactured by applying a suitable paste in a metal grid, and a positive plate is manufactured by applying a suitable paste in a metal grid. The pasted plates are formed, and arranged on opposite sides of a suitable platelike substrate. The substrate is thermally pressed, then a surface activating treatment is carried out, and thereafter the substrate is lead-plated. That surface activating treatment can be carried out with a corona or, preferably, a plasma. To ensure a good electrical contact, the substrate can be roughened, and the plates can be pressed against the substrate by utilizing a compressed glass fiber mat.

Dutch patent application 10.03340 of older date and of the same inventor as the present application describes a bipolar battery which has improved performance over existing batteries. More particularly, that earlier patent application describes a bipolar plate basically consisting of a suitable substrate provided on either side with active layers, the substrate basically consisting of a graphite felt filled with a plastic. The contents of that earlier application are considered to be incorporated herein by reference.
The earlier application describes two ways of manufacturing a bipolar plate based on the composite substrate described in that earlier application. A first procedure involves the application of a negative pole paste, known per se, to a main surface of the substrate for forming a negative pole layer, and the application of a positive pole paste, known per se, to the opposite main surface of the substrate for forming a positive pole layer. A second procedure, specifically for the purpose of a bipolar plate for use in a lead-acid battery, involves first manufacturing a lead-plated composite substrate, and subsequently activating the lead-plated composite substrate by carrying out the so-called Plante process in a special manner, whereby the substantially massive lead of one surface is converted to a porous lead grid, while the substantially massive lead of the other surface is converted to a porous grid of PbO2.
It has been experimentally established that the first-mentioned process is able to provide batteries having a good performance. It is a problem, however, to implement this process on a commercial scale, because for that purpose special machines must be developed, a practical problem being that the two opposite surfaces of the substrate must be processed in different ways. More particularly, the two pastes must be formed in different ways. Moreover, it is a drawback that in the application of paste to a flat plate, adhesion is not optimal and the capacity is not optimally utilized; to remove this drawback, the substrate would have to be provided with a grid on both sides.
The second process has, as such, good utility for manufacturing a practically applicable bipolar plate. It has been experimentally established, however, that the performance of the thus manufactured batteries, at high rates of discharge (high discharge current intensities), lags behind the performance of batteries manufactured according to the first-mentioned process. Further, it is a problem that in the Plante process described, a strong corrosion occurs of the thin lead films for forming the porous lead, which corrosion is disadvantageous to the substrate.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method for manufacturing a bipolar plate for, for instance, a bipolar battery, which method can be implemented in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner, while batteries constructed with the thus manufactured bipolar plates have a performance which, in particular at high rates of discharge, is comparable to, or even better than, the performance of known starter batteries.
In starter batteries presently known, use is made not of bipolar plates but of monopolar plates, which are formed as thin, pasted plates. In manufacturing monopolar plates, use can be made of a separate manufacturing machine for positive plates, as well as of a separate manufacturing machine for negative plates, that is, the positive plates and the negative plates are manufactured independently of each other. This provides the advantage that the manufacturing processes used for manufacturing positive plates and for manufacturing negative plates can be optimized independently of each other.
It is customary to manufacture monopolar plates in the form of a metal grid in which a paste is applied, which paste is subsequently formed. During the forming operation, the metal grid serves as a matrix to keep the paste in position. During use, the metal grid serves on the one hand to give the plate mechanical integrity and on the other for current conduction. Because in monopolar plates the current is drawn via a side edge of the plate, which means that the direction of the electric current within the plate is parallel to the plate surface, the metal grid should be of rather heavy design. In a practical example, the grid is constructed in the form of horizontal and vertical bars whose thickness is in the order of a few millimeters, which bars enclose rectangular spaces of about 5xc3x9710 mm2, in which spaces the paste is applied. The mass ratio of the paste to the grid is approximately 1:1.
More specifically, therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a bipolar plate, as well as a bipolar battery and a method for manufacturing same, in which the advantages of existing techniques are combined as much as possible, while the disadvantages of existing techniques are eliminated as much as possible.
According to an important aspect of the present invention, in a method for manufacturing a bipolar plate, use is made of separately manufactured pasted plates, which are applied to the substrate or pressed onto it. This has the advantage, in the first place, that use can be made of existing techniques for manufacturing pasted plates. However, because in a bipolar plate the current is drawn in a direction perpendicular to the surface, the current conducting properties of the grid of the pasted plates (for current conduction in a direction parallel to the surface) need to meet less stringent requirements. Moreover, the pasted plates are supported over their entire surface by the substrate, so that they do not need to be self-supporting anymore. The above-mentioned two aspects imply that the metal grid of the pasted plates can be considerably less heavy than in the case of monopolar plates, which means that a greater percentage of the weight of the pasted plates can consist of paste, so that the performance per unit of weight improves. A paste-to-grid weight ratio of 3:1 seems realizable without any problems, but even a ratio of 10:1 is envisaged.
A further aspect of the present invention is directed to the provision of a substrate, as well as to the provision of a method for manufacturing a substrate, which substrate is better suited than known substrates to be used in combination with pasted plates placed against it. According to this further aspect of the present invention, the substrate is provided with a lead film, in order to ensure the best possible contact between the substrate on the one hand and the pasted plates on the other. For a good quality of the lead films, it is preferred that the substrate is first thermally pressed, and the thermally pressed substrate is subsequently subjected to a surface activating treatment, whereafter the lead film is applied.

Method for manufacturing a bipolar plate

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