Connection and disconnection between an apparatus and an electric wire are made by fitting an electric wire side housing in an apparatus side housing inside a mounting hole or removing the electric wire side housing from the apparatus side housing, so that the need for time-consuming work for tightening or loosening a bolt or work for attaching a cover to a terminal block or detaching the cover from the terminal block as is conventional is eliminated and workability is good. In addition, the apparatus side housing can be fixed into the mounting hole by a stopper and a retainer, so that workability is good as compared with the case of fixing the apparatus side housing by bolt tightening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector for an apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a connector for an apparatus for connecting an electric wire to an apparatus such as a motor of an electric vehicle, there is a structure in which the distal end of an electric wire is held by a housing and the housing is fixed in a case of an apparatus and also the electric wire is made to penetrate a mounting hole of the case and an electric wire side terminal fastened in the distal end of the electric wire is connected to an apparatus side terminal inside the case.
Connection between the terminals is made by bolt tightening, but in order to enable this bolt tightening work, it is configured so that the case is provided with a terminal block for exposing the apparatus side terminal to the outside of the case and after the bolt tightening is completed, the terminal block is coated with a cover and a connection portion of the terminals is enveloped (for example, see JP-A-2002-125348).
In the conventional connector for apparatus, when the electric wire is connected to or disconnected from the apparatus, time-consuming work for tightening or loosening the bolt and work for attaching the cover to the terminal block or detaching the cover from the terminal block are required, so that workability in the case of connecting and disconnecting the electric wire for maintenance etc. is not good.


Lenticles of a lenticular array can be electronically controlled to be optically equivalent to either of two sets of virtual lenticles having two distinct physical characteristics. Each of the lenticles is in sufficiently close proximity to one or more switchable prisms to optically combine with therewith. The switchable optical elements can be switchable columnar prisms for example. In a first state, the switchable prisms optically combine with the lenticles such that the combination is optically equivalent to a first set of virtual lenticles. In a second, different state, the switchable prisms optically combine with the lenticles such that the combination is optically equivalent to a second, different set of virtual lenticles. Accordingly, the lenticular array can switch between two distinct configurations with the flip of a switch.

Conventional autostereoscopic displays use arrays of lenses or parallax barriers or other view selectors to make a number of pixels of the display visible to one eye of a viewing person and to make a number of other pixels of the display visible to the other eye of the viewing person. By isolating the pixels of the display visible to each eye, the two components of a stereoscopic image can be presented on the display.
Since an ordinary viewer's eyes are side-by-side and aligned horizontally, the array of lenses makes pixels visible according to horizontal orientation. As a result, corresponding pixels for the left and right eyes are located in the same scanline and displaced from one another horizontally.
Each eye of the viewer therefore sees an image whose horizontal resolution is halved in an autostereoscopic displays having only two views. In most autostereoscopic displays, field of view is improved by having more than just two views. In attempts to provide greater perceived depths of projection, many more views—e.g., 24 views—are required. A typical LCD display screen has a pixel density of about 200 pixels per inch, though some have densities approaching 300 pixels per inch or more. That's approximately 6 pixels per millimeter, i.e., sufficient resolution to provide 24 views in a 4 mm space.
For some stereoscopic video content, perceived pixels that are 4 mm wide might be adequate. However, not all video content is the same. For some stereoscopic video content, it may be preferred to have fewer views but to have finer horizontal display resolution. In particular, if the display is to also sometimes display video content that is not stereoscopic, it would be preferable that the lenticular array not group views in groups that are 24 pixels and 4 mm wide but instead provide full horizontal resolution or as near to full horizontal resolution as possible.
In conventional autostereoscopic displays, such reconfiguration is only achievable, if at all, by physical removal of the lenticular array and perhaps replacement with a different lenticular array.

Switchable lenticular array for autostereoscopic video display


A fuel injection valve for a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine includes a valve housing which is sealed off from an intake tube of an engine by a seal having a bead and a funnel-shaped cuff embodied on the bead, the projecting edge of which cuff is turned-under radially inward.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is based on a fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fuel injection valves for injecting fuel into an intake tube of an internal combustion engine typically have a seal in the outflow region of the valve housing, by which the valve housing is sealed off from the intake tube.
One such seal, known from German Patent Disclosure DE 26 53 674 A1, is inverted on one end over the fuel injection valve and on the other end over a connection neck of the intake tube and is embodied in accordionlike fashion.
From German Patent Disclosure DE 22 08 646 A1, a seal for sealing off a fuel injection valve from an intake tube of an internal combustion engine is also known. In it, a tip of the fuel injection valve is disposed in a cup-shaped seal which rests on a wall of the intake tube.
A disadvantage of the seals described is in particular that they can only conditionally compensate for center offsets of the fuel injection valve. If there is such a center offset, lateral forces act on the fuel injection valve and under some circumstances cause the sealing action of the seal no longer to be assured.
Particularly the seal known from DE 26 53 674 A1 is unsuitable for the supercharged mode of an internal combustion engine, since in that mode of operation the seal experiences major loads that do not occur in the intake mode.


A resources managing program is provided on a computer network for converting a resources allocation request issued from a user into a setup request adapting to the type of storage systems that are resources on the network. Computer network interface type information is added to the address of each resources unit of the storage systems and stored as a part of management object information that a resources managing program holds for management. The request received is converted into a setup request adapting to the type of the interface.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to managing storage resources on a computer network.
2. Description of the Related Art
For managing storage resources on a computer network, conventionally used addresses locating the storage resources on the network and host computers that use the storage resources have a specific format depending on the type of an interface embodying the network for connecting the host computers and the storage resources. For example, if the interface of the computer network is fiber channels, the address of a host computer is identified by a World Wide Name (WWN) that is unique to the port of the host computer. If the interface is a network running Internet Protocol (IP), the address of a host computer is identified by a Media Access Control (MAC) address that is unique to the network card of the host computer. As an example of prior art of managing such resources using the WWN and MAC addressing, operation of setting a host computer having access rights to a logical volume provided by an on-line storage system will be illustrated below. For example, when a resources manager is allocating a logical volume provided by the storage system to a host computer in connection environment using fiber channels, it sets a port of the storage system for the entry of access requests for the logical volume, gets the WWN of the port of the host computer and the WWN of the above port of the storage system, and registers the mapping between the two WWNs on a switch on the computer network, thus completing the above setting.
Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-249769 describes an on-line storage system whose logical volumes can be mapped to the address of a host computer. The technique described in this publication makes it possible to control access rights to the logical volumes as such by using the WWN of a host computer.
In the foregoing previous techniques for on-line resources management, storage systems and host computers are assigned addresses in a specific format depending on the type of a computer network interface connecting the storage systems and host computers. Therefore, it is necessary to use different address schemes for different types of interfaces. As described in the example of setting a host computer having access rights to a logical volume, some previous technique makes the control of the storage resources themselves possible, whereas some previous technique enables only the control of the entry to the storage resources for access thereto, according to the type of storage systems as the storage resources. Consequently, if different types of storage systems as on-line resources exist on a computer network, users need to take notice of different scopes of management for each type of storage systems to manage the resources of the storage systems. This may complicate the management of the resources particularly when many types of storage systems exist on the network. techniques, the challenges to overcome by the present invention are enabling users to manage on-line resources of storage systems on a computer network, independent of the type of the interface embodying the network and the type of the storage systems even when different types of storage systems exist on the network.

Method of managing a resource storage data, program for managing the resource storage data, storage media having the resource managing program, and resource manager for managing the resource storage data


Disclosed is an apparatus and method for shaping a beam of radiation from a circularly polarized beam shaping antenna to create a predetermined radiation pattern. A circularly polarized feed horn generates the beam of radiation to be shaped. Circularly polarized radiator elements attached to a ground plane are positioned to receive the beam of radiation. Each radiator element is physically rotated about an axis relative to the ground plane to alter its phase. The radiator elements are then operable to individually radiate a beam of radiation to form a combined radiation beam creating the predetermined radiation pattern.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to a circularly polarized beam shaping antenna, and more particularly, to a device for shaping a beam of radiation to create a predetermined radiation pattern by physical rotation of circularly polarized radiator elements on a ground plane of the antenna.
2. Discussion Of The Related Art
In order to avoid interference of one radio system upon another, and to control the area where electromagnetic energy from these systems are radiated, transmitting antennas are known which direct electromagnetic energy in a predetermined radiation pattern. The shape of the radiation pattern is generally dependent on the type of antenna used and the beam shaping technique employed. Currently, there are several different antennas and beam shaping techniques known to shape the radiation pattern, including: (1) aperture shaping techniques; (2) beam shaping with a shaped surface reflector antenna; (3) array fed parabolic reflector antennas; and (4) microstrip reflectarrays.
In the aperture shaping technique, the aperture shape of a feed horn or of a focused reflector surface is modified to achieve the desired radiation pattern. For example, an elongated shaped aperture will produce an elongated beam, an elliptical shaped aperture will produce an elliptical beam, etc. However, this technique is limited to simple geometric shapes, whereas many designs require various irregular and/or complex shapes.
Beam shaping with a shaped surface reflector antenna consist of a single feed horn illuminating an irregularly contoured reflector surface. Coherent circularly polarized electromagnetic energy is radiated from the feed horn to the irregularly contoured reflector surface. The path length from the feed horn to the reflector surface alters the phase of the corresponding reflected beams. The combined radiation beam from the various phase reflected beams create the desired radiation pattern. This technique is suitable for numerous desired radiation pattern shapes, but is difficult and expensive to construct, since the reflector surface must be machined to the required contour. Additionally, shaped surface reflector antennas are limited to a single radiation pattern. Moreover, the phase relationship between adjacent points on the reflector surface often creates discontinuities in the reflector surface. Therefore, the phase difference between adjacent points on the reflector surface is typically limited to less than 90.degree.. This inhibits a step type surface from being created which generate the discontinuities and poses a difficult machining process.
In an array fed parabolic reflector antenna, multiple feed horns generally illuminate a parabolic reflector. The combined radiation beam from each feed horn, adjusted with the right phase and amplitude, produces the desired radiation pattern. This technique suffers from several drawbacks including RF loss, decrease in antenna gain, control problems, cost and complexity, thereby making its use less attractive.
The microstrip reflectarray antenna consist of radiator elements arranged on a planar aperture. The radiator elements are connected to short circuit terminations and are illuminated by a feed horn. When illuminated, these radiator elements will re-radiate their illuminated electromagnetic energy back into space. To control the radiation pattern, the path lengths from the feed horn to the short circuit terminations are controlled, which in turn, control the phase of the re-radiated beams. Transmission lines of different lengths are connected between the radiator elements and the short circuit terminations to alter the path lengths and phase of the re-radiated beams. The disadvantages of this antenna are its very stringent design tolerances and a rigorous analytical technique to accurately control and model the radiation pattern.
The current antennas and techniques described, each shape a predetermined radiation pattern. However, each antenna and technique have disadvantages that affect their cost, complexity and feasibility. What is needed then, is a beam shaping antenna for radiating a predetermined radiation pattern which is cost efficient, easily manufactured, capable of radiating complex, irregularly shaped radiation patterns, not limited to a single radiation pattern or phase adjustment, maintains good antenna gain and has wider tolerance requirements. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such a device.

Antenna beam shaping by means of physical rotation of circularly polarized radiators


An agrichemical spray mask according to the present invention comprises: a main body (114) which is worn hermetically attached to the face and has an inhalation inlet port (110) and an exhalation outlet port (112); an anti-dust and anti-toxin filter tube (120) which is provided on the outside of the inhalation inlet port (110) of the main body (114) of the mask so as to link to the inhalation inlet port and is provided with an anti-dust and anti-toxin filter (113); and a spray filter tube which is separably fastened to the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter tube (120), has a spray filter (223) provided on the inside thereof, and has a respiration port (220a). In the present invention, because two-stage filtering is used to ensure that agrichemical sprays are not breathed in via the human respiratory organs and at the same time the filter is not much soaked by the agrichemicals, it follows that the time over which the mask is used can be extended and, if the filter does become soaked with agrichemicals, the filter can easily be replaced and cleaned.

An agrichemical spray mask is not used to prevent dust or a poisonous gas in a farm where agrichemicals are sprayed, but a spraying person generally uses the agrichemical spray mask to protect oneself from the noxious agrichemicals the person sprays. Generally, the agrichemicals are diluted with water to be sprayed, and the spray-shaped microscopic pesticide droplets are included in an inhaled gas or are adhered to a human body surface to cause the human body any harm.
Because of the reason, it is disclosed in the safe use standard of agricultural chemicals to certainly wear a mask, gloves and a prevention wear in spraying agrichemicals. Concerning the gloves and the prevention wear, persons mostly wear the similar gloves and a prevention wear without a big difference, but concerning the mask, persons wear various type masks from a simple cotton mask to a gas mask completely covering a head. Particularly, a certain farmer does not wear a mask depending on a proverb that if a farmer is afraid of agrichemicals, he cannot farm. A farmer, who throws off the mask and sprays the agrichemicals, does the behavior because the utility of the related art mask is very low. That is, it is not because the farmer acts with reckless bravado or is ignorant.
The agrichemicals unlike the poisonous gas are sprayed in a shape of water drops, and thus, an agrichemical mask has to be divided from a general anti-dust and anti-toxin mask used for preventing dust and a poisonous gas. However, because the agrichemical mask is manufactured in a process which is not different from a process manufacturing the general anti-dust and anti-toxin mask, the inefficiency occurs.
A cheap and convenient cotton mask is easily soaked by the agrichemical sprays, and thus, even though a short time elapses after wearing the cotton mask, the wearing of the cotton mask is not different from taking off the cotton mask. In the case of an expensive anti-dust and anti-toxin mask, a very important filter is exposed to be easily soaked by the agrichemical sprays, and thus, within several minutes, the filter is soaked. Therefore, the anti-dust and anti-toxin mask is not different from the cotton mask in quality. That is, the related art cotton mask or the related art anti-dust and anti-toxin mask is only suitable for preventing dust or a poisonous gas, and is not suitable when the agrichemicals in a shape of wet type mist is sprayed.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram for describing a related art anti-dust and anti-toxin mask, and FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram for describing an anti-dust and anti-toxin filter tube 20 shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mask main body includes an edge having a slight curve along a face such that the mask main body 14 closely contacts the face having a nose and a mouth, and is formed of a rubber or a synthetic resin with elasticity.
An inhalation inlet port 10 is formed in front surface of the mask main body 14, and an exhalation outlet port 12 is formed in a bottom surface. An anti-dust and anti-toxin filter tube 20 is coupled to an outside of the inhalation inlet port 10, and a head string connecting means 22 is disposed between the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter tube 20 and the mask main body 14. A head string 24 is disposed to be extended from the head string connecting means 22 at each of the both end portions of the head string connecting means 22.
The anti-dust and anti-toxin filter tube 20 includes a main body connecting part 11 coupled to the inhalation inlet port 10 and a cover 9 covering the main body connecting part 11, and an anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13 is disposed between the main body connecting part 11 and the cover 9. A respiration port 9a through which air is inhaled in an inhalation is formed in the cover 9, and a respiration path 11a, through which an inhaled air passing the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13 passes, is formed in the main body connecting part 11.
In the main body connecting part 11, a stop ring plate 16 is formed to be protruded from a surface facing the mask main body 14, along the outer circumference part of the respiration path 11a. Also, a respiration plate 28 is disposed inside of the main body connecting part 11. The respiration plate 28 is pushed toward the mask main body 14 to be separated from the stop ring plate 16 to open the respiration path 11a when the inhaled air is coming through the respiration path 11a, is pushed toward the respiration path 11a to closely contact the stop ring plate 16 to close the respiration path 11a in an exhalation, and is formed of a thin rubber. The stop ring plate 16 has a diameter greater than the inhalation inlet port 10, and the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter tube 20 is coupled to the mask main body 14 by opening the inhalation inlet port 10 to forcibly insert the stop ring plate 10 into the inhalation inlet port 10.
In the above-described related art anti-dust and anti-toxin mask, because the agrichemical sprays coming through the inhalation port 9a in the inhalation immediately contacts the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13, the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13 is soaked within several minutes after spraying the agrichemicals. Therefore, the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13 does not perform the original function, and is plugged, and thus, it is difficult to breathe.
Thus, it is required to instantly replace the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13. However, because the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter applied to the anti-dust and anti-toxin mask is used for filtering gas and minute dry particles, the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13 is very elaborate, and very expensive, and thus, it is onerous to prepare several numbers of the anti-dust and anti-toxin filters 13 for replacement, in a price.
Also, even though the replacement is performed, it is required to clean the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13. However, it is required to pay careful attention so as to clean the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13 without damaging the elaborate configuration of the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13, a frequent clean shortens the life of the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13, and thus, it is required to prepare several numbers of the anti-dust and anti-toxin filters 13 for the replacement.
If the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13 is seriously soaked, the agrichemical sprays are gathered together, and thus, the agrichemical sprays in a shape of water drops flows into an inside of the mask main body 14. Therefore, it is impossible to use the anti-dust and anti-toxin filter 13 without a replacement. Particularly, because the related art anti-dust and anti-toxin mask considers the dry dust or gas, it is not important to consider a position of the inhalation port 9a, and thus, as shown in FIG. 2, the inhalation port 9a is disposed in a front surface.
Therefore, when the agrichemicals are upwardly sprayed in place such as orchard where there are very tall trees, a spraying person looks up, and thus, the spraying person gets the agrichemicals falling with gravity. Therefore, it is useless to wear the related art anti-dust and anti-toxin mask. This causes the above-describe situation where some farmers feel free to spray the agrichemicals without wearing a mask.


An exercise device includes a pair of parallel tracks each having a shaft disposed in the middle portion, a pair of parallel poles slidably engaged on the shafts, springs biasing the poles away from each other, a pair of slides slidably engaged on the tracks, a number of elastic bands having one end fixed to each of the slides and the other end fixed to the tracks. The elastic bands are arranged such that the poles move toward each other against the springs when the slides are moved away from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exercise device, and more particularly to a multi-purposes exercise device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A typical exercise device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,750,549 to Thomson et al., and includes a seat slidable along a track section, the device is not suitable for practicing leg stretching.
Another typical exercise device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,620,530 to Cosby and includes a carriage slidable along a supporting frame, the device is not suitable for practicing body stretching, furthermore, an additional chair is required for practicing muscle groups of the legs.
Still another typical exercise device is disclosed in U.K. Patent Application No. 2,120,110 to Torii and includes a pair of foot boards moveable away from each other against the springs, however, the moving distance of the foot boards is limited by the springs such that the legs of the user can not be fully stretched.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional exercising mechanisms.

Stretching device with resilient resistance


A power supply line is disposed parallel to a sense amplifier train including a plurality of sense amplifiers at the side of each subarray. The power supply line is connected to the sense amplifier included in the sense amplifier train via a plurality of drive transistors and a sense amplifier drive line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor memory devices, and more particularly, to a layout of a semiconductor memory device.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 8 shows a layout of an entire chip of a conventional 4M bit dynamic random access memory (referred to as DRAM hereinafter).
Referring to FIG. 8, two 2M bit memory array blocks 2A and 2B are formed on a semiconductor substrate 1. Each of memory array blocks 2A and 2B comprises eight 256K-bit subarrays 3. A column decoder 4 is allocated between memory array blocks 2A and 2B. A row decoder 5A and a row decoder 5B are allocated at the sides of memory array blocks 2A and 2B, respectively. Power supply lines Vcc and Vss are arranged at the peripheral edge of semiconductor substrate 1.
FIG. 9 shows a detailed structure of region A of FIG. 8. Subarray 3 comprises a plurality of bit lines BL and BL, a plurality of word lines WL crossing the plurality of bit lines, and a plurality of memory cells MC provided at crossings of the plurality of bit lines BL and BL and the plurality of word lines WL. The plurality of bit lines form a plurality of bit line pairs BL and BL.
A plurality of sense amplifiers 6 are provided corresponding to the plurality of bit line pairs BL and BL. Each sense amplifier 6 is connected to a corresponding bit line pair BL and BL. The plurality of sense amplifiers 6 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to bit lines BL and BL to form a sense amplifier train (sense amplifier group).
The plurality of sense amplifiers 6 are connected to sense amplifier drive lines SP and SN. Sense amplifier drive line SP is connected to power supply line Vcc extending parallel to bit lines BL and BL via a drive transistor 7 formed of a P channel MOS transistor. Sense amplifier drive line SN is connected to power supply line Vss extending parallel to bit lines BL and BL via a drive transistor 8 formed of an N channel MOS transistor.
The gate of drive transistor 7 is connected to signal line SO for receiving a sense amplifier activation signal. The gate of drive transistor 8 is connected to signal line SO for receiving a sense amplifier activation signal.
FIG. 10 shows a detailed structure of the sense amplifier. Sense amplifier 6 comprises N channel MOS transistors 61 and 62, and P channel MOS transistors 63 and 64.
The drain of transistor 61 is connected to bit line BL and the drain of transistor 62 is connected to bit line BL. Both the sources of transistors 61 and 62 are connected to node n1. The gate of transistor 61 is connected to bit line BL, and the gate of transistor 62 is connected to bit line BL. The drain of transistor 63 is connected to bit line BL, and the drain of transistor 64 is connected to bit line BL. Both the sources of transistors 63 and 64 are connected to node n2. The gate of transistor 63 is connected to bit line BL, and the gate of transistor 64 is connected to bit line BL. Node n1 is connected to sense amplifier drive line SN, and node n2 is connected to sense amplifier drive line SP.
The fall of potential of sense amplifier drive line SN to a low level (logical low) causes the lower potential of bit lines BL and BL to attain a low level. A rise of potential of sense amplifier drive line SP to a high level (logical high) causes the higher potential of bit lines BL and BL to attain a high level. Thus, the potential difference between bit lines BL and BL is amplified.
The operation of the DRAM shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 will be explained hereinafter.
Row decoders 5A and 5B select any of the plurality of word lines WL to pull the potential of that word line WL to a high level. This turns on the transfer gates in the plurality of memory cells MC connected to the selected word line WL, whereby data is read out to the corresponding bit line BL or BL from the memory cells MC. As a result, charge flows to the bit lines BL or BL to change the potential thereof. Thus, potential difference is generated between bit lines BL and BL of each pair.
When the sense amplifier activation signal applied to signal line SO attains a high level, drive transistor 8 is turned on. This causes the power supply potential of low level on power supply line Vss to be provided to sense amplifier drive line SN. As a result, each sense amplifier 6 pulls down the lower potential of bit lines BL and BL to a low level.
When the sense amplifier activation signal applied to signal line SO attains a low level, drive transistor 7 is turned on. This causes the power supply potential of high level on power supply line Vcc to be provided to sense amplifier drive line SP. As a result, each sense amplifier 6 pulls up the higher potential of bit lines BL and BL to a high level. Thus, the sense operation of each sense amplifier 6 is carried out.
Increase in integration density and capacity of a DRAM results in the increase of sense amplifiers 6 connected to each sense amplifier drive lines SP and SN and increase in the length of each sense amplifier drive lines SP and SN.
Accordingly, the sensing time of a sense amplifier 6 located remote from drive transistors 7 and 8 becomes longer. A location remote from drive transistors 7 and 8 has a disadvantage that the pull up/down of the potential of sense amplifier drive lines SP and SN is not sufficient. This means that a sense amplifier 6 located remote from drive transistors 7 and 8 cannot sufficiently amplify the potential difference on bit lines BL and BL. 10 This may result in an erroneous operation.


An electrosurgical device having an electrode with a first portion whose exterior is electrically uninsulated, a second portion whose exterior is electrically insulated, and a third portion. An elongated hollow body has an internal cavity, a front end, a rear end, an external surface. An electrical circuit is arranged within the body. The second portion of the electrode is not surrounded by the hollow body. A first button is arranged on the external surface of the body for controlling a current flow at a first level. A vacuum tube is slidably engaged by the body. A vacuum outlet port is arranged near the rear end, and the outlet port, internal cavity, and vacuum inlet are in fluid communication with each other.

Surgical smoke and aerosol, or plume, is created in connection with surgery. For example, when laser or electrosurgical energy is delivered to a cell, heat is created. This heat vaporizes the intracellular fluid, which increases the pressure inside the cell and eventually causes the cell membrane to burst. In this example, a plume of smoke containing water vapor is released into the atmosphere of the operating room or doctor's office. At the same time, the heat created may char the protein and other organic matter within the cell, and may cause thermal necrosis in adjacent cells. The charring of cells may also release other harmful contaminants, such as carbonized cell fragments and gaseous hydrocarbons.


A flash memory device having a function of selectively changing a precharge voltage for a sensing node and a read operation method thereof. The flash memory device includes a memory cell array, a precharge voltage generator, and a plurality of page buffers. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells respectively sharing a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines. The precharge voltage generator outputs one of first and second voltage as a precharge voltage in response to a selection control signal. The plurality of page buffers are connected to every pair of the plurality of bit lines one by one and precharge sensing lines to the precharge voltage in response to a precharge control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to semiconductor memory devices, and more particularly, to flash memory devices.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In general, a flash memory device includes a page buffer for programming or reading a large capacity of data for a short period of time. The page buffer includes high-voltage elements and low voltage elements. Accordingly, in the manufacture process of the flash memory device, a part of the page buffer is formed in a high-voltage element region of a semiconductor substrate and the remaining portions are formed in a low voltage element region of the semiconductor substrate.
FIG. 1 is a schematic layout diagram of a part of a flash memory device in the related art. FIG. 1 shows a memory cell region CL, a high-voltage element region HV, and a low-voltage element region LV. The memory cell region CL is a region in which memory cells are formed. The high-voltage element region HV and the low-voltage element region LV are regions in which circuits of the flash memory device are formed. For the simplicity of the drawing, only regions corresponding to the page buffers are shown in FIG. 1.
In the high-voltage element region HV, reference numerals "HPB1" to "HPB4" denote regions in which bit line selection circuits of the page buffers are formed (hereinafter, referred to as "bit line selection circuit regions"). Furthermore, in the low-voltage element region LV, reference numerals "LPB1" to "LPB4" denote regions in which register circuits of the page buffers are formed (hereinafter, referred to as "register circuit regions"). As a result, page buffer regions PBF1 to PBF4 having the bit line selection circuit regions HPB1 to HPB4, respectively, and the register circuit regions LPB1 to LPB4, respectively, are disposed on one side of the memory cell region CL. For example, the page buffer region PBF1 may include the bit line selection circuit region HPB1 and the register circuit region LPB1.
Sensing lines SOL1 to SOL4 are further disposed in order to form electrical paths between the bit line selection circuit regions HPB1 to HPB4 and the register circuit regions LPB1 to LPB4, which are disposed in different regions. The sensing lines SOL1 to SOL4 are disposed on the bit line selection circuit regions HPB1 to HPB4 and the register circuit regions LPBL to LPB4, respectively, and also cross the bit line selection circuit regions HPB1 to HPB4 and the register circuit regions LPB1 to LPB4, respectively. Since the page buffer regions PBF1 to PBF4 are arranged adjacent to each other, the sensing lines SOL1 to SOL4 are also arranged adjacent to each other. If the sensing lines SOL1 to SOL4 are disposed adjacent to each other as described above, interference may occur between signals respectively transferred to the sensing lines SOL1 to SOL4 due to parasitic capacitance C existing between the sensing lines SOL1 to SOL4 in the read operation of the flash memory device. This will be described in more detail below.
An example in which read data of "1" (i.e., VCC) are transferred through the sensing line SOL2 and read data of "0" (i.e., VSS) are transferred through the sensing lines SOL1, SOL3 during the read operation may be considered. In this case, a page buffer connected to the sensing line SOL2 may erroneously sense that the read data of the sensing line SOL2 is "0". This is because the sensing line SOL2 must be kept to the voltage (VCC) level although the sensing lines SOL1, SOL3 become the voltage (VSS) level, but a voltage of the sensing line SOL2 is reduced as a result of the coupling capacitance of the parasitic capacitance C.
If the voltage of the sensing line SOL2 is reduced as described above, the page buffer connected to the sensing line SOL2 may erroneously sense that a logic value of read data transferred to the sensing line SOL2 is "0" not "1". As a result, the read data transferred to the sensing lines SOL1 to SOL4, respectively, may be erroneously sensed by the page buffers due to an interference phenomenon between the sensing lines SOL1 to SOL4. Such a phenomenon becomes more profound as semiconductor memory devices are further miniaturized and more highly integrated, causing the distance between the sensing lines to be gradually reduced.
Furthermore, the interference phenomenon between the sensing lines causes failure in the read operation or the normal read operation for program verification of the flash memory device.

Flash memory device and read operation method thereof


Olefins and alcohols present in Fischer-Tropsch products are converted to primary and secondary alkyl alcohols having at least four carbons through acid catalyzed etherification and hydrolysis reactions. The alcohols are added to a highly isoparaffinic distillate fuel blend, improving the lubricity of the mixture, and forming a distillate fuel with improved lubricity.

Because of the need to reduce fuel emissions, clean-burning middle distillate fuel blends such as diesel and jet fuels are required. These distillate fuel blends can come from many sources, including Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, olefin oligomerization, hydrotreating and hydrocracking processes and combinations thereof. One existing method of creating cleaner fuels involves the severe hydroisomerization of distillate streams to form highly isoparaffinic products. In severely hydroisomerized materials, the lubricity is often low due to the absence of oxygenates, aromatics and heterocyclics such as sulfur-containing compounds. However, lubricity is required for the efficient operation of fuel delivery systems, and the need exists for an environmentally benign way of increasing the lubricity of clean distillate fuel blends. Low lubricity can lead to excessive wear of metal engine parts which can result in poor engine performance, additional pollution, lower fuel mileage and early replacement of engine parts.
Fuel lubricity can be measured by one of two methods: ASTM D6078 or ASTM D6079. ASTM D6078 is a scuffing load ball-on-cylinder lubricity evaluator method (SLBOCLE) and D6079 is a high frequency reciprocating rig method (HFRR). Fuels having a D6078 lubricity of less than about 2,000 grams are not likely to prevent excessive wear in injection equipment, while fuels with values above about 3,100 grams should provide sufficient lubricity in all cases. If D6079 is used, fuels with values above about 600 microns are not likely to prevent excessive wear while fuels with values below about 450 microns should provide sufficient lubricity in all cases.
The reproducibility limit for ASTM D6078 is ±900 grams, and the reproducibility limit for ASTM D6079 is ±80 microns. Thus, an increase in the D6078 value of about 900 grams or more or a decrease in the D6079 value of about 80 microns or more demonstrates an absolute improvement in lubricity. However, D6078 increases of about 225 grams or D6079 decreases of about 20 microns or more provide an acceptable measure of a fuel with improved lubricity provided that the measurements are made on the same equipment and a sufficient number of measurements are made.
Higher alkyl alcohols, i.e., alcohols with at least four carbons, are known to improve the lubricity and stability of distillate fuel blends. These higher alcohols are also used in detergents and plasticizers, and the selling price for such alcohols is often more than one dollar per kilogram, significantly more than the price for fuels. Thus, there is a strong economic incentive to recover the alcohols present in distillate fuel blends rather than allow them to be converted into fuels.
Some primary higher alkyl alcohols are created during the normal production of distillate fuel blends. For example, in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, a synthetic gas composed mostly of CO and H2 is reacted in the presence of a catalyst to form a wide range of gaseous and liquid hydrocarbon products including a paraffinic wax. Alcohols and olefins are normally present in some Fischer-Tropsch products. However, the amount of alcohols normally produced during a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is not enough to raise the lubricity of the isoparaffinic distillate fuel blends to an acceptable level.
The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis provides a light naphtha stream containing low molecular weight linear paraffins and olefins as well as oxygenated compounds such as alcohols. These naphthas are too volatile for incorporation into distillate transportation fuels and their levels of olefins and oxygenates makes them unsuitable for use in gasoline or as a petrochemical plant feed. They are considered less valuable than distillate fuels but it is not possible to vary reaction conditions to selectively eliminate production of light naphthas and increase production of distillate transportation fuels. In conventional practice, the light naphthas must be further refined to reduce the content of olefins and oxygenates in order to provide a salable naphtha.
The use of alcohols, and specifically higher primary alkyl alcohols, to improve lubricity in highly isoparaffinic distillate fuel blends has been disclosed in a variety of patents. U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,109 describes a process for producing higher alcohol-containing additives for distillate fuel blends through a Fischer-Tropsch reaction. These additives are useful for improving the cetane number, lubricity, or both, of a mid-distillate diesel fuel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,274 describes the production of a clean jet fuel distillate by hydroisomerizing only the heavier portion of a Fischer-Tropsch wax and blending with the lighter portion which retains most of the alcohols in the Fischer-Tropsch wax product. Because most of the alcohols are retained, the blended distillate has a higher lubricity than if the entire wax were hydrotreated. U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,031 describes the production of a clean distillate, for use as a diesel fuel, by hydroisomerizing a portion of a Fischer-Tropsch wax. Again, because only a portion of the wax is hydrotreated, some of the alcohols are preserved in the untreated portion thereby increasing the lubricity of the distillate. WO 01/46347 A1 discloses significantly improved reduced particulate emission performance of exhausts of vehicles powered by fuel combustion both at high and low loads by adding oxygenates or other hydrocarbon components in a diesel fuel composition comprising a major amount of a base fuel and a relatively minor amount of at least one chemical component other than that generated in a refinery process stream. WO 01/46348 discloses a fuel composition comprising a base fuel having 50 ppm or less or sulfur, 10% or less of olefin, 10% or less of ester and at least 1 wt. % of oxygenate chosen from certain alcohols(s) and ketone(s) and having no other oxygen atom in its structure, with improved reduction of particulate emission without using further additives such as cyclohexane or peroxides or aromatic alcohol and with little to no increase in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission at high engine loads.
However, in each of these processes, olefins are retained in addition to the alcohols. Frequently, the olefins outnumber the alcohols on a molar basis. The presence of olefins is undesirable and can lead to thermal stability problems, and also to the formation of gums. A need exists for a distillate diesel or jet fuel blend with improved lubricity through the use of alcohols, but without the inclusion of olefins in the final product. A low level of olefins is defined as a molar ratio of total olefin to total alcohol below 0.5, preferably below 0.25 and most preferably below 0.1. Ideally, the olefin content should be below the limit of detection.
In addition, a need exists for methods of recovering alcohols from a distillate fuel product and methods of removing unwanted olefins without the use of hydrogen, which is expensive.
Techniques are well known in the art for converting olefins to ethers, and then to alcohols. For example, formation of di-isopropyl ether from alcohols and olefins is well known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,814 describes the conversion of light olefins, especially propylene, to a mixture of alcohols and ethers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,239 discloses the synthesis of ethers from alcohols and olefins using Zeolite MCM-22. U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,233 discloses the synthesis of ethers and/or alcohols using Zeolite MCM-36. U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,560 discloses a catalytic distillation reactor instead of a fixed bed reactor for synthesizing ethers. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. However, these processes focus on the production of lower alkyl ethers that are more volatile than their starting alcohols or olefins, so the ethers could not be easily separated from the mixture by distillation. Also, these processes do not address lubricity concerns or olefin content.
Often, the ethers and alcohols formed by known processes are of relatively low molecular weight, and sometimes environmentally harmful. For example, the dangers of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and methyl tertiary amyl ether (TAME) when used as blend components in gasoline are well known. MTBE and TAME contaminate underground aquifers when gasoline spills or leaks. MTBE and TAME have significant water solubility, and eventually hydrolyze to form tertiary butyl alcohol and tertiary amyl alcohol. Because these alcohols and their parent ethers lack protons on the carbon in the non-methyl group adjacent to the oxygen in the ether, they are not very biodegradable. Thus, they partition into the underground water phase and remain there for a long time. The lack of reactive protons in this position of MTBE and TAME is consistent with their chemical structural identity of being "tertiary" alcohols.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the lubricity of middle distillate fuels such as diesel and jet fuels by the use of higher primary and secondary alkyl alcohols while minimizing the presence of olefins, and to develop a process for making such a distillate fuel with good lubricity.
It is another object of the present invention to increase the lubricity of middle distillate fuel blends in an environmentally benign way. A further object of the invention is to produce a mixture of primary and secondary alcohols as a pure product substantially free of hydrocarbons. Yet another object of the invention is to convert the olefins in Fischer-Tropsch naphtha and distillate products without the use of hydrogen.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to the skilled artisan upon a review of the following description and the claims appended thereto.

Recovery of alcohols from Fischer-Tropsch naphtha and distillate fuels containing the same


A glass base material manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a glass base material comprising: a plurality burners, arranged in a row at a predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of a starting base material of the glass base material, for forming a deposit, which is a base material of the glass base material by depositing glass soot on the starting base material while moving reciprocatory over a section of the entire length of the starting base material along the longitudinal direction of the starting base material; a plurality of flow rate regulators, at least one of which is connected to the plurality of burners, respectively, for regulating a flow rate of raw material gas of the glass soot, which is supplied to the plurality of burners; and a control unit connected to each of the plurality of flow rate regulators for controlling individually the plurality of flow rate regulators.

1. Field of the Invention
The present embodiment relates to a glass base manufacturing apparatus and method thereof. More particularly, the present embodiment relates to a glass base manufacturing apparatus and method thereof for manufacturing a glass base material, which is a base material of an optical fiber.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a conventional glass base material manufacturing apparatus. A glass base material manufacturing apparatus has a chuck 12 and burners 22A–22D. A chuck 12 hold the both ends of the starting base material 2. Furthermore, a chuck 12 rotates the starting base material 2 around the axis of the starting base material 2. The burners 22A–22D are arranged at equal intervals in the row along the longitudinal direction of the starting base material 2. Raw material gas, fuel gas, and assist combustion gas are supplied to the burners 22A–22D. The burners 22A–22D hydrolyze the supplied raw material gas while moving reciprocatory along the longitudinal direction of the starting base material 2 and ejecting glass soot to the starting base material 2. The deposit 10 is formed by depositing glass soot around the starting base material 2 with the burners 22A–22D.
The glass base material used as base material of an optical fiber is manufactured by heat-treating and vitrifying the glass soot deposited on the circumference of the starting base material 2. An optical fiber preform is obtained by elongating and reducing the diameter of a glass base material to the form suitable for drawing, and an optical fiber is manufactured by drawing the glass base material.
FIG. 2 shows a deposit amount of the glass soot by the burners 22A–22D according to a full-range traverse method. In the case of the full-range traverse method, all the burners 22A–22D move reciprocatory from one end of a region, on which glass soot is deposited, to another end of the region while moving beyond an effective part, which can be effectively used as a glass base material product. Furthermore, each burner 22A–22D deposits glass soot for a specific deposit amount at uniform thickness within the range of the effective part. Therefore, the whole thickness of the deposited glass soot becomes substantially uniform along the moving direction of the burners 22A–22D even when the deposited amount of the glass soot of each burner 22A–22D is different, respectively.
FIG. 3 shows a deposited amount of the glass soot by the burners 22A–22F according to the partial traverse method. In the case of the partial traverse method, the burners 22A–22F deposit glass soot on the starting base material 2 while moving reciprocatory over a part of the section of the whole length of the starting base material 2. For example, the starting position of the reciprocate movement of each of the burners 22A–22F is shifted partially and sequentially, and glass soot is deposited on the starting base material 2 (as referred to in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-228845).
Since the partial traverse method can increase the number of the burners without increasing the unnecessary part, which cannot be used as a glass base material product, as compared with the full-range traverse method as shown in FIG. 2, the partial traverse method can increase the speed for depositing glass.
However, in case of the partial traverse method, each burner 22A–22F moves reciprocatory a part of sections of the whole length of the effective part. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the deposited amount of glass soot is different for each of the burners, the whole thickness of the deposited glass soot becomes uneven along the longitudinal direction of the effective part.
If the deposited amount of the glass soot along the longitudinal direction of the starting base material 2 is not uniform, the glass base material, which is generated by vitrifying the deposit 10, has a clad, which is deposited around a core, having a varied thickness.
Therefore, if a preform is manufactured by elongating and reducing the diameter of a glass base material having a clad, the thickness of which is not uniform, and an optical fiber, which is the final product, is manufactured by drawing the preform, the diameter of the core of the optical fiber will fluctuate. Since light propagates inside a core, if the core diameter is changed, a predetermined characteristic required for an optical fiber cannot be acquired. Therefore, when the deposited amount of glass soot is uneven along the longitudinal direction of the effective part, the process for grinding the part, where the thickness of the deposited amount is large, to make the thickness to be uniform becomes necessary, and the manufacturing cost thus increases.


There is an approach for generating a pattern-based database. The approach includes accessing a log specifying one or more strings representing data having a dynamic portion and a static portion. The approach also may include generating a pattern-based database, including one or more records representing compression of the data, by determining the dynamic portions and the static portions of the strings. The approach also may include assigning pattern values to the strings based on the determined dynamic portions and the static portions. The pattern values may be configured to provide compression of the strings within the records of the pattern-based database.

Proper management of data is required for organizations to perform their missions successfully. For example, modern business infrastructure, such as communication systems, create and log a vast amount of information that may be used to troubleshoot issues that may arise or perform data mining for determining answers for business questions. Additionally, business subsystems rely on storing enormous amounts of data in support of providing goods and services. One major challenge involves the storage of the ever growing volume of data produced. Traditional data compression algorithms would require significant processing power to deal with the need for real-time access of data, and thus, are not practical from a technical and cost perspective. Also, current database management systems largely utilize a relational model, which is not designed with data compression in mind.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for a database management system and approach that store data as to achieve compression gains.

Method and system for pattern-based compression


A programmable frequency receiver includes a slicer for receiving data at a first frequency, a de-multiplexer for de-multiplexing the data at a second frequency, a programmable clock generator for generating a clock at the first frequency, and first and second resonant clock amplifiers for amplifying clock signals at the first and second frequencies. The resonant clock amplifiers include an inductor having a low Q value, allowing them to amplify clock signals over the programmable frequency range of the receiver. The second resonant clock amplifier includes digitally tunable delay elements to delay and center the amplified clock signal of the second frequency in the data window at the interface between the slicer and the de-multiplexer. The delay elements can be capacitors. A calibration circuit adjusts capacitive elements within a master clock generator to generate a master clock at the first frequency.

Receivers that receive data transmitted over high-speed serial links typically latch the incoming data using a slicer circuit that is driven by a clock running at either the full rate or half the rate of the incoming data stream. The latched data is then de-multiplexed in a de-multiplexer circuit that is driven by a clock running at a sub-multiple of the latching frequency. Typically, the same clock generating circuitry is used to generate both the latching and de-multiplexing clock signals, and these signals must be amplified to drive the substantial capacitive loads within the receiver. Typically, shunt-peaked amplifiers are used for this purpose.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a conventional clock distribution scheme using shunt-peaked amplifiers to distribute the clock signals needed by a receiver using a high speed de-multiplexer. As shown in FIG. 1, a frequency programmable receiver 100 receives a data stream 101. The data stream 101 is clocked into a slicer 130, consisting of flip-flops 131 and 132, using a clock signal 102b. In the full-rate clocked slicer 130 shown in FIG. 1, the period T of clock signal 102b matches the duration of bits in data stream 101. Clock signal 102b is derived from a clock signal 102 that is generated by a phase-locked loop (PLL) 110. The clock signal 102 output from PLL 110 is amplified by a shunt-peaked amplifier 120 to produce a clock signal 102b having sufficient amplitude to drive the capacitive load 105 of slicer 130. Slicer 130 produces an output data stream 101b that is subsequently de-multiplexed by a 1-2 de-multiplexer 170 at half the rate of data stream 101. De-multiplexer 170 consists of a first pair of latches 140/142 and a second group of latches 150/152/154 that latch every other bit in data stream 101b. That is, latches 140/142 latch the even bits in data stream 101b, while latches 150/152/154 latch the odd bits in data stream 101b. The latches 140/142 and 150/152/154 are driven by a clock signal 104b having a period 2T that is twice the period of clock signal 102b. Clock signal 104b is also derived from the clock signal 102 output by PLL 110 by a pair of latches 112/114 that divide clock signal 102 into a clock signal 104 that has twice the period of clock signal 102. Clock signal 104 is then amplified by a shunt-peaked amplifier 122 to produce clock signal 104b having sufficient amplitude to drive the capacitive load 106 presented by 1:2 de-multiplexer 170.
A significant draw-back to the clock distribution scheme shown in FIG. 1 is that shunt peaked amplifiers 120 and 122 consume significant power, especially when compared to other types of amplifiers such as resonant amplifiers. Despite this draw back, frequency programmable receivers such as receiver 100 are designed with shunt peaked amplifiers 120 and 122 rather than energy efficient resonant clock amplifiers because resonant clock amplifiers introduce frequency dependent time delays. These delays result in data synchronization issues whenever the frequency of the receiver 100 is changed.
As shown in FIG. 1, the frequency of receiver 100 can be programmed via one or more digital inputs 108 that allow the clock 102 generated by PLL 110 to have one of several programmable frequencies. When a new frequency for clock 102 is selected, a calibration block 160 (which can be internal or external to PLL 110), tunes a clock generation element within PLL 110 to generate clock 102 at the new frequency. For example, PLL 110 can include a tunable voltage controlled oscillator or VCO (not shown), such as an LC-tank VCO. Calibration block 160 can include a look-up table 180, indexed by the digital inputs 108, that stores one or more control words that can be output on control lines 161 through 165 to select the frequency of clock signal 102. For example, the control words can be used to change the capacitance of the LC-tank based VCO within PLL 110, thereby changing the oscillation frequency of the VCO and the clock signal 102 that is produced by PLL 110.
Frequency programmable receiver 100 also includes a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit 190. Like the calibration block 160, CDR circuit 190 can be internal or external to PLL 110. In operation, CDR circuit 190 adjusts the phase of clock signal 102 so that amplified clock signal 102b is centered on the bit windows of data stream 101 at slicer 130. This ensures the correct latching of data bits in data stream 101 at slicer 130. By design, when receiver 100 is programmed to operate at its highest programmable frequency and CDR circuit 190 has centered amplified clock signal 102b on the bit windows of data stream 101 at slicer 130, amplified clock signal 104b is also centered on the bit windows of latched data stream 101b at de-multiplexer 170. When receiver 100 is programmed to operate at a lower frequency, CDR circuit 190 will generally re-adjust the phase of clock signal 102 to ensure that amplified clock signal 102b remains centered on the bit windows of data stream 101 at slicer 130. However, this re-adjustment can cause the misalignment of amplified clock signal 104b with respect to the bit windows of data stream 101b at de-multiplexer 170. To prevent this, the clock amplifiers 120 and 122, slicer 130, and latches 112/114 in receiver 100 are designed so that they introduce approximately equal delays into the clock signals 102b and 104b over the programmable frequency range of receiver 100. Since clock amplifier 120 amplifies a clock signal 102 that is twice the frequency of the clock signal 104 that is amplified by clock amplifier 122, this generally requires that the delays introduced by clock amplifiers 120 and 122 be essentially frequency independent over the programmable frequency range of receiver 100. While shunt-peaked amplifiers introduce such frequency independent delays, resonant clock amplifiers do not. Consequently, receiver 100 is designed to use shunt peaked amplifiers, despite the power savings that can be achieved using resonant clock amplifiers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Resonant clock amplifier with a digitally tunable delay


Systems and methods applicable, for example, in having a node inform its user of one or more events while the user interface of the node is in an idle state. The user might, for instance, be able to select one or more of the events of which she is informed for corresponding operations. The events of which the user is informed might include, for example, events corresponding to software operations and/or events corresponding to a network environment (e.g., a peer-to-peer environment).

In recent years, the amount of data produced and received by computers, such as mobile nodes, has increased greatly. For example, many individuals have come to rely upon chat and messaging services in preference to conventional mail for textually-related communications. Similarly, many individuals have come to prefer file sharing to conventional venues for receiving content such as record stores, software stores, radio, television, and movie theaters. Moreover, the computers, such as mobile nodes, offer capabilities to individuals to create and edit digital content items (e.g., images, video clips, audio recordings and the like) by themselves. In many cases, individuals would like to share these digital items with other individuals with file sharing technologies.
Accordingly, there may be interest in technologies that aid users in keeping up with the increase in data.


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for improving geographic targeting of digital content. One of the methods includes receiving a targeting request that identifies a target geographic region; identifying one or more groups of geographic regions that each include at least two geographic regions, including the target geographic region, wherein the one or more groups of geographic regions are identified based on respective combined targeting accuracies, the respective combined targeting accuracy of each of the one or more groups being higher than a targeting accuracy for the target geographic region; and providing data describing the identified one or more groups of geographic regions in response to the targeting request.

This specification relates to improving targeting of digital content to geographic regions.
Internet Protocol (IP) addresses associated with computing devices can be geolocated to identify geographic regions within which the computing devices are likely located. Digital content, e.g., advertisements, can be targeted to computing devices in particular geographic regions based on this geolocation data.
This specification describes techniques that interoperate with a communication targeting system that stores data measuring Internet traffic that originates from particular geographic regions. The system also stores data describing targeting accuracies associated with blocks of IP addresses ("IP blocks") and geographic regions. Each IP block represents a non-intersecting range of IP addresses in a subnet. The targeting accuracy is measured as a probability that IP addresses in a particular IP block are associated with computing devices that are located in a particular geographic region. For example, a particular IP block and a geographic region "Mountain View, Calif." can have a targeting accuracy of 30 percent, which indicates that there is a 30 percent chance that IP addresses in the IP block are associated with computing devices that are located in "Mountain View, Calif." Additionally, the system stores data describing estimated population counts associated with IP blocks and geographic regions. Data measuring Internet traffic and describing targeting accuracies is available for geographic regions at varying levels of granularity, e.g., by country, state, region, city, postal code, or kind of region.

Targeting of digital content to geographic regions


Methods for etching devices used for lithography. In one aspect, a method includes etching, in a single etch, a first region and a second region on a substrate. The first region is to attenuate an intensity of the zero diffraction order of a radiation for patterning of a microelectronic device to a first extent. The second region is to attenuate the intensity of the zero diffraction order of the radiation to a second extent. The second extent being sufficiently different from the first extent to improve a quality of the patterned microelectronic device.

This description relates to imaging and to devices in lithographic systems, methods, and techniques.
Lithography is a process in which features are rendered on generally flat surfaces. The features can be rendered using lithography masks (also known as "reticles") that modulate the exposure of a workpiece surface by electromagnetic radiation. The image projected on the workpiece by mask-modulated radiation is stored as a latent image in photosensitive media. After additional processing, the latent image is transformed into features on the workpiece that are used in further processing. For example, such features can be used to form integrated circuits on semiconductor wafers.
Phase shifting systems, methods, and techniques used in lithography vary the phase of electromagnetic radiation propagating through the mask to improve image quality of the features patterned on the workpiece. These improvements can include increased spatial resolution of printed features, increased contrast, and improvements resulting from an increased depth of focus during printing.
Phase shifting is commonly implemented using phase shifting masks. Phase shifting masks act to change the phase of transmitted radiation and cause the interference effects that improve feature quality at the workpiece. Phase shifting masks generally include two or more regions that a given frequency of electromagnetic radiation traverses in a differing average number of wavelengths. When the radiation traverses such regions, the differing number of optical wavelengths changes the phase relationship of the transmitted radiation. Using appropriate mask layout techniques, these changes in phase relationship can yield the improvements described above.
Two categories of phase shifting masks include alternating phase shifting masks and embedded phase shifting masks. Alternating phase shifting masks generally include two or more associated apertures with different transmissive properties. In particular, radiation from a first of the aperture(s) generally arrives at a given point at a workpiece with a phase differential relative to radiation from a second aperture. The apertures can be associated so that the phase differential results in interference effects that improve the quality of the printing.
Alternating phase shifting masks can include a phase shifter with a refractive index that is higher or lower than the bulk of the mask. The phase shifter can increase or decrease the average number of optical wavelengths along an optical path through a selected mask aperture to modulate the phase relative to other transmitted radiation. A phase shifter in a traditional alternating mask causes a minimal or no change to the intensity of such radiation relative to the intensity of radiation passing along other optical paths. Traditionally, alternating 180° phase shifting masks are produced by etching portions of the bulk of a mask substrate to a predetermined depth. Mask substrates are commonly selected to be highly transmissive to a chosen frequency of electromagnetic radiation.
FIG. 1 shows a theoretical radiation intensity distribution 100 of an image formed using an alternating phase shifting masks. Radiation intensity distribution 100 can be obtained using a phase shifting grating with equal width opaque lines and transparent spaces. Every other transparent space transmits electromagnetic radiation 180° out of phase from the light transmitted through the other transparent spaces. Radiation intensity distribution 100 includes points 105, 110 which are midway between adjacent spaces and where the radiation intensity is near zero where the electric field of the transmitted radiation changes sign.
Embedded phase shifting masks generally include regions that reduce the relative intensity of transmitted radiation while simultaneously changing the phase relationship of the reduced intensity radiation relative to other transmitted radiation. Such regions can include, e.g., thin films including chrome, CrxOy, CrxOyNz, MoxSiyOz, or MoxSiyOzNq. Embedded phase shifting masks are also known as attenuated phase shifting masks or transmission-π masks.
Other example categories of masks include alternating aperture phase shifting masks (PSM), hidden shifter PSM, exposed shifter PSM, chromeless PSM (phase-edge PSM), chromeless shifter-shutter, high transmission embedded PSM, leaky chrome PSM, and rim shifter masks.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

Methods for etching devices used in lithography


A high efficiency vertical axis wind turbine includes an optimized blade shape for increased torque output. The shape of the optimized profile includes a camber portion at a leading edge region of the blade with a maximum height to chord ratio (Y/C) at when the non-dimensional chord length (X/C) is approximately one third. An intermediate region follows the leading edge region and is characterized by a shallow convex region, followed by a flow reattachment surface at the trailing edge region characterized by a second concave region and a local maximum of the height to chord ratio at approximately four fifths of the non-dimensional chord length.

Wind turbines are well known in the art for low cost power generation in areas of relatively consistent wind. Other than moderate noise pollution, these wind turbines are pollution free and have relatively low operating costs. However, the present wind turbines can have a high initial investment cost, and their performance can vary depending on wind direction and guidance machinery to maintain the turbine in position for maximum power output.
Wind turbines comprise two general types, horizontal axis and vertical axis. The vertical axis wind turbine is the simplest design, and one predominant vertical axis wind turbine is commonly referred to as a Savonius wind turbine. Savonius-type wind turbines are well known in the art. Examples are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,568, U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,311, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,407. The rotor blades or vanes are traditionally semi-cylindrical shaped and coupled to a central shaft. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a traditional Savonius vertical axis wind turbine and FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of a vertical axis wind turbine with Benesh airfoils. The principle of operation of Savonius wind turbine machine is based on the difference in the drag forces of semi-circular vanes extending horizontally on a rotor, where one semi-circular vane is oriented so as to be concave while the counterpart vane is oriented to be convex. When placed in an air stream, the drag difference between the concave vane and the convex vane causes the rotor to rotate. Advantages of this type of machine are that it is self-starting, does not require aiming into an incident wind direction, is simple to design, and has low construction cost. However, previous extensive experimental studies have shown that it has relatively low efficiency.

Vertical axis wind turbine with optimized blade profile


A cam mounting gear having a number of teeth smaller by one than the number of teeth of a main gear which is driven to rotate is disposed in parallel to the main gear, and a cam having a tapered face formed thereon such that the thickness thereof gradually increases along an inner periphery thereof is disposed on an inner wall of the cam mounting gear. A main holder having a cutter blade and a bearing which contacts with the cam is supported for rotation on a flat face portion of the main gear. As rotation of the main gear is transmitted to the cam mounting gear via a pinion, the bearing of the main holder is driven to roll on the tapered face of the cam, and thereupon, the cutter blade is displaced in a direction toward the center of the apparatus to cut a cutting object pipe located at a central location of the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a pipe cutting apparatus, and more particularly to a pipe cutting apparatus which can automatically and efficiently cut a metal pipe, particularly a special metal pipe for gas piping for use in a clean room.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional pipe cutting apparatus of the type mentioned above, a pipe cutting apparatus having a construction shown, for example, in FIGS. 1a and 1b is known. FIG. 1a is a schematic view of a pipe cutting apparatus, and FIG. 1b is a partial sectional view taken along line A--A of FIG. 1a.
Referring to FIGS. 1a and 1b, reference numeral 31 denotes a rotary blade, and two pipe pressers 32 are disposed for rotation in an opposing relationship to rotary blade 31. Cutting object pipe 33 is inserted among rotary blade 31 and pipe pressers 32.
In a cutting operation, the components of the pipe cutting apparatus mentioned above are rotated in directions indicated by arrow marks in FIG. 1a, and cutting object pipe 33 is cut by rotary blade 31 as seen in FIG. 1b while it is rotated. Burs 33a and so forth produced upon cutting of cutting object pipe 33 are removed by a deburring apparatus provided separately.
Since the conventional pipe cutting apparatus is constructed in such a manner as described above, burs, or concaves and/or convexes are formed on an inner side wall of a cut portion or on a cut face of a pipe and make various obstacles to use of the pipe. Further, in order to remove such burs or concaves and/or convexes, a cumbersome operation is required, and much labor and consumption of time cannot be avoided for the operation.


A method of testing a programmable device begins by programming at least a portion of the programmable device in accordance with at least a portion of an application to produce a programmed circuit, wherein the programmed circuit includes an input sequential element and an output sequential element. The method continues by providing a test input to the programmed circuit. The method continues by triggering the input sequential element to temporarily store the test input based on a first edge of the test clock. The method continues by triggering the output sequential element to temporarily store a test output of the programmed circuit based on a second edge of the test clock. The method continues by capturing the test output of the programmed circuit in accordance with the second edge of the test clock.

As is known, programmable devices are a class of general-purpose integrated circuits that can be configured for a wide variety of applications. Such programmable devices have two basic versions; mask programmable devices, which are programmed only by a manufacture, and field programmable devices, which are programmable by the end user. In addition, programmable devices can be further categorized as programmable memory devices or programmable logic devices. Programmable memory devices include programmable read only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) and electronically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). Programmable logic devices include programmable logic array (PLA) devices, programmable array logic (PAL) devices, erasable programmable logic devices (EPLD) devices, and programmable gate arrays (PGA).
Field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) have become very popular for telecommunication applications, Internet applications, switching applications, routing applications, and a variety of other end user applications. In general, an FPGA includes programmable logic fabric (containing programmable logic gates and programmable interconnects) and programmable input/output blocks. The programmable input/output blocks are fabricated on a substrate supporting the FPGA and are coupled to the pins of the integrated circuit, allowing users to access the programmable logic fabric. The programmable logic fabric may be programmed to perform a wide variety of functions corresponding to particular end user applications. The programmable logic fabric may be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, the programmable logic fabric may be implemented in a symmetric array configuration, a row-based configuration, a column-based configuration, a sea-of-gates configuration, or a hierarchical programmable logic device configuration.
As is further known, field programmable gate arrays allow end users the flexibility of implementing custom integrated circuits while avoiding the initial cost, time delay and inherent risk of application specific integrated circuits (ASIC). While FPGAs have these advantages, there are some disadvantages. For instance, an FPGA programmed to perform a similar function as implemented in an ASIC can require more die area than the ASIC. Further, performing at-speed testing of an FPGA can be difficult.
In particular, as processed technology shrink to 130 and 90 nanometers, speed related defects become more and more of an issue. Resistive via or resistive bridge defects between two neighboring metal lines can cause a transition fault. A transition fault refers to a gate or a path that fails to meet timing requirements due to a manufacturing defect. Unlike a stuck-at fault, which can be detected by appropriate application of vectors and observation of outputs, transition faults have an added requirement of at-speed testing.
The transition fault model is a modified version of a stuck-at fault model in which there is an additional restriction of speed. A transition fault testing aims to catch faults related to slow-to-rise and slow-to-fall transitions. One possible cause for slow-to-rise and slow-to-fall transitions are bridging falls that slow down the transition time of a gate, but eventually produce the correct value. These types of faults are not detected with conventional low speed tests.
In addition, many such transition faults are candidates for future reliability failures. Because a part that starts out with marginal or timing-related defects may turn into hard failures in the field. Thus, testing for speed related defects becomes increasingly important.
One obvious way to catch speed related defects is to run the conventional tests at high speed. High speed tests of integrated circuits have a variety of practical problems associated with them. The test hardware has to reliably apply and sample the vectors at very high speeds. This tends to increase the cost of the tester. Also, high speed applications of vectors results in high current consumption and the device under test will heat up. It is not very practical to employ sophisticated heat syncs in the test environment.
The problems with high speed tests are well recognized by the industry. In the application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) world, there are several approaches to at-speed testing. In one approach, at-speed testing utilizes built-in circuitry that internally applies the vectors and compacts the output before presenting it to an outside tester. In this way, the tester-device interface will be a slow one, whereas the device under test is tested at high speeds. This solution is generally referred to as built-in-self-test (BIST), but tends to be difficult to implement and requires additional silicon area. Further, BIST testing is not deterministic. Since the BIST technique utilizes pseudo random test vectors which do not target specific faults.
Another approach is to use automated test pattern generation (ATPG) and the scan test infrastructure to deliver a series of closely spaced pulses to test for transition faults. The circuit under test goes through an at-speed transition by use of launch and capture cells. The closely spaced pulses create the at-speed test environment. The average power consumption is kept low because closely spaced pulses are sparse. This technique is not being employed for FPGA's.
Further, in current testing of application specific FPGA's, there are capture cells associated with every flip-flop in the FPGA that can be read back and the value read out during the test. Read back, however, is a slow process that takes an amount of time equivalent to numerous clock cycles. When read back occurs, the next tester clock occurs much later than what is required for at-speed testing. Typically, a tester imposes constraints on the speed of the clocks applied to the circuit and, within a tester, it is difficult to create a narrow width pulse clock.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and/or apparatus of at-speed testing of programmable logic devices, including FPGAs.


A wired circuit forming board that can provide improved adhesion between an insulating layer and a conductive pattern and can also prevent delamination in a thin metal layer, a wired circuit board for which the same wired circuit forming board is used, and a thin metal layer forming method for forming the thin metal layer. The thin metal layer 2 is formed on the insulating base layer 1 by sputtering the first metal 35 and the second metal 36 in such a condition that a first metal diffusing region 37 for the first metal 35 to be diffused and a second metal diffusing region 38 for the second metal 36 to be diffused are overlapped with each other. This can allow formation of (i) a first unevenly-distributed metal portion 4 in which the first metal 35 is unevenly distributed and which is adjacent to the insulating base layer 1, (ii) a second unevenly-distributed metal portion 5 in which the second metal 36 is unevenly distributed and which is adjacent to the conductive pattern 6, and (iii) a metal coexisting portion 3 which is interposed between the first unevenly-distributed metal portion 4 and the second unevenly-distributed metal portion 5 and in which the first metal 35 and the second metal 36 are coexistent with each other in such a relation as to be continuously present in the thin metal layer 2 without defining any boundaries therebetween.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wired circuit forming board, to a wired circuit board, and to a thin metal layer forming method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wired circuit forming board having a thin metal layer on an insulating layer, to a wired circuit board for which the wired circuit forming board is used, and to a thin metal layer forming method for forming the thin metal layer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, in the field of the wired circuit board, density growth of the conductive pattern is demanded increasingly. In general, a subtractive process and an additive process are known as a patterning process of the conductive pattern. From the viewpoint of advantage of the additive process over the subtractive process in density growth, the additive process is widely used.
In the additive process, a thin metal layer is formed on an insulating layer of a resin film, such as a polyimide film, by sputtering and the like and, then, a conductive pattern is formed on the thin metal layer by electrolytic copper plating.
In this additive process, it is known that for the purpose of providing improved adhesion between the insulating layer and the conductive pattern, a thin nickel layer having good adhesion with the insulating layer is formed on the insulating layer by sputtering, first, and, then, a thin copper layer having good adhesion with the thin nickel layer and the conductive pattern is formed on the thin nickel layer by sputtering.
Also, there is proposed a flexible printed wired circuit board wherein for example a metallized layer is formed on either a single side or both sides of a plastic film and a conductive metal layer laminated on the metallized layer by electroplating, the metallized layer comprising a layer consisting primarily of Ni and Cr and a layer consisting primarily of copper, and wherein composition in an area (interface area A) in the vicinity of an interface of the layer consisting primarily of Ni and Cr on the side thereof contacting with the plastic film and composition in an area (interface area B) in the vicinity of an interface of the layer consisting primarily of Ni and Cr on the side thereof contacting with the layer consisting primarily of copper are different from each other, and the Cr content in the interface area A is higher than the Cr content in the interface area B (Cf. JP Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. 2003-318533, for example).
This JP Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. 2003-318533 describes that this invention can produce a flexible printed wired board, such as an FPC board and a COF board, having good adhesion to prevent peel and delamination even after subjected to several processes of e.g. pattern forming, etching, wiring, and IC-mounting and then subjected further to severe environmental tests.
However, when the thin nickel layer and the thin copper layer are formed in sequence by sputtering, an interface is produced between the thin nickel layer and the thin copper layer. Likewise, in the invention of this publication (JP Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. 2003-318533 cited above), the interface is produced between the layer consisting primarily of Ni and Cr and the layer consisting primarily of copper.
When this interface is produced between those two layers, the adhesion between those layers is reduced in the interface area in the subsequent process of, for example, plating the conductive pattern. Thus, even when the adhesion between the insulating layer and the conductive pattern is in good condition, delamination is generated in the thin metal layer due to the presence of the interface, causing the delamination of the conductive pattern.

Wired circuit forming board, wired circuit board, and thin metal layer forming method


An encoder, including: a scale that has a pattern and is mountable to a rotary member of an object to be measured; a main body including a detector that detects the pattern, the main body being mountable to a non-rotating portion of the object to be measured; and a holding member including: an abutment portion that is removably provided to the main body from outside the main body and passes through the main body to abut the scale; and a pushing portion that is capable of pushing the abutment portion toward the scale.

An encoder is a known example of a device for detecting the number of rotations and the rotation angle of a rotary member such as a shaft member of a motor (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). For use, the encoder is mounted to a motor (object to be measured), for example. An exemplary encoder is configured such that a scale having a predetermined pattern such as a light reflection pattern or a magnetic pattern is rotated integrally with a rotary member, and a detector is used to irradiate the light reflection pattern with light and read reflected light and detect a change in the magnetic pattern, for example, thereby detecting the number of rotations and the rotation angle of a rotation shaft of a motor.
Mounting such an encoder involves fixing the detector to a non-rotating portion (such as motor main body) of the motor, thereafter fitting the scale and the rotary member (such as shaft member) together, and fixing the scale and the rotary member together by using a fixation member such as a screw.

Encoder, holding member, method of mounting an encoder, drive apparatus, and robot apparatus, and stage apparatus


The invention relates to a method and data transfer arrangement for executing consecutive instructions in a client device (21) in a mobile user application—device management server—client device environment (23, 22, 21). The invention also relates to an instruction execution module utilized in the implementation of the method. In the procedure according to the invention, the user application (23) forms the instructions to be executed in the client device (21) into an instruction sequence (200), which is transmitted to the device management server (22) controlling the client device (21). The instruction execution module in the device management server breaks up the instruction sequence into command sequences and control structures. The command sequences are executed in the client device (21). The conditional commands belonging to the instruction sequence, specified by the control structures, are executed by the instruction execution module individually, without the help of the user application. The device management server sends a message describing the success of the execution of the instruction sequence to the user application.

The management of information in decentralized information networks is important. This is especially true in the management of information and software contained by various mobile devices. Such management of information and files is generally called Device Management. Device Management has the following characteristics, for example: It enables one user application, terminal device or server to remote control at least one other device. It also enables complementing a program or a part thereof in a terminal device by new information or parts of a program, which are located in another device. The validity of licenses, or rights of use, of the software is also managed by it. Device Management may also comprise matters related to Digital Right Management.
Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) has published specifications, which concern the updating and maintenance of software in mobile devices. The specifications OMA DM (Device Management) and OMA DS (Data Synchronization) describe some possible ways of implementing data transfer and real-time maintenance of the files of mobile devices. These specifications also describe the SyncML protocol (Synchronization Markup Language) and how it is utilized.
FIG. 1 presents an exemplary signal chart of the prior art operation in a User Application/Device Management Server/Client Device environment according to the OMA standard. The transfer of instructions and data between the Client Device 11, the Device Management Server 12 and the User Application 13 requires a large amount of message exchange between them. The Device Management Server mentioned below in this description is also referred to by the general name server. The user application 13 can be located either in the server 12 or some third device, which has the right to implement changes in the client device 11. When the user application 13 is located in a third device, the data transfer connection between the user application 13 and the device management server 12 can be a wireless data transfer connection.
Performing a procedure required by a user application 13 in the client device 11 may require executing a number of separate instructions in a certain order. The responsibility for the execution of the instructions lies with the user application 13, which implements the instructions in the client device 11 through the server 12. The client device 11 implements one instruction received at a time and reports on the result to the server 12, which gave the instructions and which transmits the information to the user application 13.
The message exchange can be like the following, for example. Message exchange is started by a user application 13. In the example of FIG. 1, the user application 13 requires the performance of certain procedures in the client device 11. The procedures are implemented by sending a certain number of instructions, like m instructions in the example of FIG. 1.
The user application 13 sends the first instruction, Ref. 14a, to the server 12. The server transmits the instruction it has received to the client device 11 for execution, Ref. 14b. After the execution of the instruction, the client device 11 sends the execution information, Ref. 15a, of the result of the operation back to the server 12, which transmitted the instruction. The server 12 transmits the performance information it has received further to the user application 13, Ref. 15b. If the first instruction has been executed successfully, the user application 13 sends the next instruction to the server 12, Ref. 16a. The server 12 transmits the instruction it has received further to the client device 11 for performance, Ref. 16b. The client device 11 executes the second instruction it has received and sends execution information of the execution of the second instruction back to the server 12. The server 12 transmits the execution information it has received in the manner described above to the user application 13.
The user application 13 must always check the content of each piece of execution information it has received, in order to be able to proceed in the instruction sequence to the execution of the next instruction. The execution information received from the client device 11 may thus also result in that the user application 13 must make a decision on which instruction is transmitted to the client device next.
The user application 13 may also report to the requester of the instruction sequence, which may be a physical client, after each instruction executed.
The message exchange lasts until the user application 13 sends the last instruction belonging to the sequence of instructions through the server 12 to the client device 11, Refs. 17a and 17b. The execution information of the last instruction is returned by message 18a to the server 12, which transmits it further to the user application, Ref. 18b. If the message indicates that the execution of the last instruction was also successful, the message exchange between the user application 13, server 12 and client device 11 is stopped.
A central problem in wireless data transfer is the limited data transfer channel used. The prior art conversation between the user application, server and client device for executing the sequence of instructions consumes the limited data transfer resources of the wireless system unnecessarily.

Method and device arrangement for managing a user application/device management server/client device environment