A display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. Each pixel includes a light emitting device, a driving transistor for supplying a driving current to the light emitting device, a first switching transistor coupled with the control terminal of the driving transistor to transmit a data voltage, and a second switching transistor coupled with the control terminal of the driving transistor to transmit a reverse voltage. The first and second switching transistors are alternately coupled with scanning lines driven by one of two scanning drivers, and are alternately turned on at different times. The display apparatus periodically applies the reverse voltage to the driving transistors to turn off the diving transistors and to compensate for variation of the threshold voltage of the driving transistors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus and a driving method thereof, and more specifically, to an organic light emitting diode device and a driving method thereof
2. Discussion of the Background
Recently, research has been conducted into flat display devices that are capable of replacing cathode ray tube (CRT) display devices. One type of flat display apparatus, the organic light emitting diode (OLED) device, has a wide viewing angle and high quality brightness. Therefore the OLED device is being developed as a next generation flat display device.
In active matrix flat display devices, a plurality of pixels may be arranged along rows and columns of a matrix, and an intensity of light emitting from the pixels may be controlled according to information signals. When the information signals are transmitted to the pixels, light with a brightness corresponding to the data in the information signals is emitted from a plurality of pixels on the flat display device. From a viewer's perspective, the light coming from the flat display device forms an image. The OLED device is a display device that electrically excites phosphorous organic electroluminescent materials to emit light, thus forming an image on the display device. As a self-emitting apparatus with low power consumption, a wide viewing angle, and a high response speed, the OLED device can display a high quality moving image.
The OLED device includes organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and thin film transistors (TFTs) that control the signals driving the OLEDs. A TFT may be classified as a polysilicon TFT or an amorphous silicon TFT according to the type of active layer in the TFT. Due to several advantages, OLED devices employing the polysilicon TFTs have been generally used. However, manufacturing processes for polysilicon TFTs can be complex, and thus, production costs may increase. In addition, it may be difficult to manufacture a large display device by using the OLED devices with polysilicon TFTs.
By using the OLED devices with amorphous silicon TFTs, a large screen may be more easily obtained. In addition, the number of production processes for the manufacture of an OLED device with amorphous silicon TFTs may be fewer than the number of production processes for an OLED device with polysilicon TFTs. However, because amorphous silicon TFTs in a pixel may continuously supply a current to the pixel's OLED, the threshold voltage of an amorphous silicon TFT may deteriorate. Further, even though a single data voltage may be applied, a deteriorated threshold voltage may result in non-uniform current flowing to the OLED in the pixel, so that the image quality of the OLED device may deteriorate.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is provided for the sole purpose of enhancing the understanding of the background of the present invention. Therefore, this Background section may contain information that does not form the prior art known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Display apparatus and driving method thereof


A total pressure exhaust gas recirculation duct system includes a turbocharger having a turbine inlet scroll, an exhaust gas recirculation duct and a valve assembly disposed between a port and inlet scroll and the inlet to the exhaust gas recirculation duct. The valve is situated so that the valve blade member extends from the inlet scroll port into the exhaust gas stream to divert a portion of the exhaust gas into the EGR duct. The valve has a pivot shaft disposed within a corresponding channels of the inlet scroll housing and the EGR duct with a free end extending beyond the inlet scroll and the EGR duct for actuation of the valve. Alternatively, the valve can include a blade element attached to the distal end of an actuating rod and positioned in the port of the inlet scroll. The proximal end of the actuation rod extends through a passageway in the EGR duct or the inlet scroll for actuation of the valve. An electronic control unit actuates the valve in conjunction with pressure sensors monitoring intake gas and exhaust gas pressures and other engine condition sensors. The volume of exhaust gas diverted to the EGR duct is varied to maintain the pressure of the diverted exhaust gas at an appropriate level for mixing with the intake gas.

The present invention relates to an exhaust gas recirculation system for an engine with a turbocharger.
Recirculation of exhaust gas into the intake gas of an internal combustion engine is widely recognized as a significant method for reducing the production of nitrous oxides (NOx) during the combustion process. The recirculated exhaust gas partially quenches the combustion process and lowers the peak temperature produced during combustion. Since NOx formation is related to peak temperature, recirculation of exhaust gas reduces the amount of NOx formed.
In a normally aspirated internal combustion engine, the intake gas is usually at a lower pressure than the exhaust gas. Under this condition, the introduction of exhaust gas into the intake gas can be performed without difficulty.
However, in a turbocharged internal combustion engine, the pressure relationship between intake and exhaust gasses is often reversed. In a conventional manner, the turbocharger accepts exhaust gas from the engine and using energy from the exhaust gas stream, produces power in a turbine which is used to drive a compressor. The compressor increases the pressure of intake gas being accepted by the engine. The pressure of the intake gas at the compressor discharge, or compressor outlet, is variable, and is related to, among other things, the amount of power being provided by the turbine. The power delivered by the turbine depends upon the temperature and pressure of the exhaust gas, as well as other factors.
Under some operating conditions, such as a diesel engine producing peak torque, the pressure of the intake gas is higher than the pressure of the exhaust gas. Because of this adverse pressure gradient, exhaust gas does not recirculate into the intake unaided.
Various systems have been proposed to provide recirculated exhaust gas for an engine with a turbocharger. In one design, a butterfly-type valve is placed at the exhaust of the turbine so as to backpressure the exhaust system. However, this backpressuring of the turbine results in a thrust load on the turbocharger rotor system which increases wear of the turbocharger bearings. Furthermore, exhaust gas under pressure may leak past the seals and bearings of the turbocharger and flow with the returned lubricating oil into the crankcase of the engine, undesirably increasing engine crankcase pressure.
In yet another design, a combination backpressure/EGR valve is provided at the turbine inlet. In this valve, the actuation of the backpressure valve is mechanically locked to the actuation of the EGR valve. This valve does not include flexibility to change the backpressuring of the exhaust system independently of the recirculation of exhaust gas. This lack of flexibility means that the amount of exhaust gas recirculated may be optimized for a single or narrow range of conditions, and would be non-optimum for most conditions. Also, such a combination valve does not permit backpressuring of the exhaust system during cold start up of the engine without also permitting a high degree of recirculated exhaust gas flow. Such a combination valve would be less than optimum for reduction of white smoke from a diesel engine during cold starting and warm-up.
In another approach, U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,487 discloses an EGR system that attempts to take advantage of both static and dynamic pressure in the EGR system. However, the system relies on specially designed exhaust and inlet ductwork for effective functioning of the system which limits its applicability and flexibility.
A need remains for an exhaust gas recirculation system that provides improvements to current systems and is readily adaptable to existing engine systems.
The present invention provides a total pressure exhaust gas recirculation duct. The system includes a turbocharger for increasing the pressure of the intake gas to the engine. The turbocharger has a turbine inlet scroll that includes a port for diverting a portion of the exhaust gas to the engine intake gas. The diverted exhaust gas from the turbine inlet scroll is conducted to the engine""s intake system through an exhaust gas recirculation duct attached to the scroll. The exhaust gas recirculation duct has an inlet juxtaposed to the port in the inlet scroll. A scoop valve assembly is disposed between the inlet scroll port and the exhaust gas recirculation duct and operates to either prevent or allow exhaust gas flow from the turbine inlet scroll to the exhaust gas recirculation duct. The system may also include an exhaust gas recirculation valve to meter the flow of exhaust gas into the intake gas stream.
In a preferred embodiment, the scoop valve assembly includes an elongated pivot shaft disposed between the scroll and the inlet duct and having at least one free end extending from the scroll and exhaust gas recirculation gas duct assembly. A valve member is attached to the pivot shaft and rotates with the shaft. The valve member has a blade element that is receivable in the port in the inlet scroll. In its open position the valve blade element extends into the exhaust gas stream and diverts a portion of the exhaust gas into the exhaust gas recirculation duct. In a closed position, the valve member seals against the inlet to the exhaust gas recirculation duct thus preventing entry of any of the exhaust gas. A cap and seal can be installed on the pivot shaft""s free end. In a most preferred embodiment, the valve assembly also includes high temperature sleeves to insulate the pivot shaft.
In another version of the invention, the scoop valve assembly includes a blade element positioned in the inlet scroll port and configured to seal the inlet of the exhaust gas recirculation duct when the valve is in a closed position. A valve actuating rod has a distal end attached to the blade element and a proximal end that extends through a passage way providing in either the inlet scroll or the exhaust gas recirculation duct. The actuation rod is slidably movable in the passageway to move the blade element between the open and closed positions. In this embodiment, the passageway preferably includes a guide for the actuating rod and a seal to prevent leakage of the exhaust gas from the passageway.
In yet another version of the invention, there is provided an exhaust gas recirculation system including a turbocharger having an inlet scroll, an exhaust gas recirculation duct attached to the scroll, and a scoop valve assembly between the scroll and duct operable to allow or inhibit exhaust gas flow from the scroll. This embodiment of the invention further includes sensors for monitoring the pressure of the intake gas and the exhaust gas. A controller monitors these pressure signals and then actuates the scoop valve assembly to provide exhaust gas for mixing with the intake gas at an appropriate pressure.
In still another embodiment, the exhaust gas recirculation duct is integral with the inlet scroll.
It is an object of the invention to provide an exhaust gas recirculation duct that uses the kinetic energy of the exhaust gas flow to develop a total pressure sufficient for admission of exhaust gas into the intake system through the EGR valve.
It is another object to provide a duct that allows the EGR function and engine back pressure control to be accomplished independently of each other.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following descriptions of the preferred embodiments and drawings.

Total pressure exhaust gas recirculation duct


An assembly of semiconductor chips has the chips vertically stacked above one another. Interposers extending between adjacent chips have compliant layers to accommodate thermal expansion of the chips. Desirably, the interposers have metallic plates to conduct heat from the interior of the stack.

The present invention relates to semiconductor chip assemblies, and more particularly relates to semiconductor chip assemblies in which a plurality of chips are stacked one atop the other.
Semiconductor chips are commonly provided as individual, prepackaged units. Thus, the semiconductor chip itself typically is mounted to a substrate or chip carrier, which in turn is mounted on a circuit panel such as a printed circuit board. Considerable effort has been devoted towards development of so-called "multichip modules" in which several chips having related functions are attached to a common circuit panel and protected by a common package. This approach conserves some of the space which is ordinarily wasted by individual chip packages. However, most multichip module designs utilize a single layer of chips positioned side by side on a surface of a planar circuit panel. A typical chip is in the form of a flat, rectangular body with a large front face having contacts for connection to the internal circuitry of the chip. Each chip is mounted on the circuit panel with the front face or the rear face facing towards the panel. The so-called "flip chip" arrangement, in which the front face of the chip confronts the face of the circuit panel and the contacts on the chip are bonded to the circuit panel by solder balls or other interconnections provides a relatively compact arrangement; each chip occupies an area of the circuit panel equal to or slightly larger than the area of the chip front face. As disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,148,265 and 5,148,266, assigned to the present assignee as the present application, certain innovative mounting techniques offer compactness approaching or equaling that of conventional flip chip bonding without the reliability and testing problems commonly encountered in that approach. When other mounting arrangements, such as tape automated bonding (TAB) or wire bonding are used, the area of the circuit panel required to mount each chip is substantially larger than the area of the chip front face. However, when only a single layer of chips is mounted on a circuit panel, using any of these approaches, the circuit panel has an area at least equal to the aggregate areas of the individual chips. This implies that the leads interconnecting the various chips in the assembly have substantial length. This in turn implies appreciable delay in transmission of signals between chips and hence limits the speed of operation of the assembly.
Various proposals have been advanced for packaging chips in a "stacked" arrangement one atop the other, in front face to rear face orientation. For example, certain embodiments of the invention disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,159 allow stacking of chips one atop the other. Also, Kishida, U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,033 discloses an arrangement in which chips are stacked one atop the other and interconnected with one another by conductors on so-called "wiring films" associated with the chips. However, still further improvements in stacked chip assemblies and in components useful for making the same would be desirable. In particular, there are needs for chip assemblies which can be assembled readily using available techniques. There are further needs for such chip assemblies which can provide electrical conductive pathways connecting the chips to one another and to external circuit elements with low impedance and short circuit path lengths.
The stacked chip assemblies should deal effectively with the problems associated with heat generation in stacked chips. Chips dissipate electrical power as heat during operation. Where chips are stacked one atop the other, it is difficult to dissipate the heat generated by the chips in the middle of the stack. Consequently, the chips in such a stack may undergo substantial thermal expansion when operated and substantial contraction when operation ceases. This, in turn, imposes significant mechanical stress on the interconnecting arrangements and on the mountings which physically retain the chips. Stacked chip assemblies should be capable of withstanding thermal expansion and a contraction of the chips. Moreover, there has been a need for chip assemblies which provide enhanced heat dissipation, particularly from chips in the middle of a stack.


Rapid evacuation of individuals from any building can be problematic. A hospital even more so as patient's often have the necessary motor skills but limited mobility. However, babies within neo-natal intensive care, infants and toddlers are particularly problematic as even under imminent danger they exhibit limited or no coordinated motor skills. In such situations an embodiment provides for evacuation devices for use by a single operator to move multiple infants or toddlers simultaneously both across a floor and down one or sets of stairs. Another embodiment provides for evacuation devices for moving intensive care neo-natal babies allowing the evacuation device to be moved by a single operator but allow another to be adjacent to the evacuation device to manually assist breathing both across the floor and within a stairwell as the evacuation device is taken down one or more sets of stairs.

The rapid evacuation of individuals from any building can be problematic. Moving them out of a building with several floors compounds this as in the event of an emergency, such as fire, any elevators cannot be exploited, and individuals must use stairwells to go down one or more flights of stairs. Potentially, escalators are also disable returning them to providing a staircase.
With a hospital the issues are increased further as patient's often have the necessary motor skills but limited mobility. Further, babies within neo-natal intensive care, infants and toddlers are particularly problematic as even under imminent danger they exhibit limited or no coordinated motor skills. Accordingly, neo-natal and pediatric units within a hospital may in an emergency be faced with moving a significant number of babies, infants or toddlers within a limited number of nursing personnel, porters etc. Even with nurseries, childcare centers, etc. similar issues exist as generally the number of those being cared for is a multiple of the number of caregivers, where a limit on this ratio may be mandated by provincial, state, or federal law. Again, such enterprises may require evacuation down one or more flights of stairs.
In many instances the stairwell is a specific enclosed stairwell within the building lacking any combustible material and leading directly out of the building so as to protect those using the stairwell from fire within one or more areas adjacent to the stairwell.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide hospitals, nurseries, daycares, etc. with an evacuation device for use by a single operator to move multiple infants or toddlers simultaneously both across a floor within the building to the stairwell and then down the one or more sets of stairs within the stairwell to the ground floor.
It would also be beneficial in other instances to provide for evacuation devices for moving intensive care neo-natal babies or other babies, toddlers, and infants who require assisted breathing such that in addition to the evacuation device being able to be moved by a single operator it allows for another operator to be adjacent to the evacuation device to manually assist breathing both across the floor and within a stairwell as the evacuation device is taken down one or more sets of stairs within the stairwell.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Baby and infant emergency evacuation systems and methods


A technique for improving the performance of a system that supports simultaneous multi-threading (SMT). When a first thread encounters a halt sequence, the system starts a transactional memory operation by generating a checkpoint and entering a transactional-execution mode. Next, the system loads from a mailbox address associated with the halt sequence. The system then stalls execution of the first thread, so that the first thread does not execute instructions within the halt sequence, thereby freeing up processor resources for other threads. To terminate the halt sequence, a second thread stores to the mailbox address, which causes a transactional-memory mechanism within the processor to detect an interference with the previous load from the mailbox address by the first thread and which causes the first thread to exit from the halt sequence. The system then continues executing instructions following the halt sequence.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to techniques for improving performance in computer systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for using a transactional execution mechanism to free up processor resources used by a busy-waiting thread.
2. Related Art
Advances in semiconductor technology presently make it possible to integrate large-scale systems, including tens of millions of transistors, onto a single semiconductor chip. Integrating such large-scale systems onto a single semiconductor chip increases the speed at which such systems can operate, because signals between system components do not have to cross chip boundaries, and are not subject to lengthy chip-to-chip propagation delays. This increased speed has translated into greatly increased processor performance.
At the same time, processor designers have been developing techniques to improve processor performance even further. For example, the simultaneous multi-threading (SMT) technique is used to improve performance by dynamically sharing processor resources between multiple threads which execute simultaneously. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates two threads executing simultaneously in two different pipelines of a processor. In this example, instructions from thread 102 execute in ALU pipeline 106 while instructions from thread 104 simultaneously execute in memory pipeline 108.
Although processors that support SMT generally utilize processor resources efficiently, in some situations, they still waste processor resources. For example, suppose that thread 102 is executing a program that performs useful work. At the same time, if thread 104 is in the idle loop (waiting for an event to occur), thread 104 is continually using processor resources to check to see if the event has occurred. These resources could otherwise be used by thread 102 to perform useful work. Note that the code block that causes a thread to wait for an event is referred to as "spin-wait loop," or a "busy-wait loop."
A spin-wait loop is also useful in a high-performance computing (HPC) code, which partitions a complex problem into smaller sub-problems to be solved in parallel. As these sub-problems execute in parallel, each sub-problem periodically communicates its results to other sub-problems. Some sub-problems complete more quickly than others. Hence, the threads that execute these sub-problems often have to wait for the other threads to complete their sub-problems. As each thread completes its assigned sub-problem, it enters a spin-wait loop which continually checks to see if all other sub-problems have completed. This is a performance problem because these spin-wait loops can waste processor resources that could otherwise be used to perform useful work.
Hence, what is needed is a method and an apparatus for freeing up processor resources while executing spin-wait loops in a computer system that supports SMT.

Using a transactional execution mechanism to free up processor resources used by a busy-waiting thread


A method and system is disclosed for lapping row edges of a substrate work piece with a flat lapping element. The substrate work piece comprises a section of wafer having parallel aligned multiple row edges to be individually lapped. The wafer has different bow characteristics imparted to different substrate work piece. The bow characteristic of the substrate work piece to be lapped is determined, load points are selected on the work piece which will counteract the bow characteristic, and a pusher with push pads located at the selected load points pushes the work piece at those load points so that the pushing flexes the substrate work piece to counteract the bow characteristic to lap the row edge. Upon completion of the lapping step, the row having the lapped row edge is sliced from the work piece to form a new row edge parallel to the lapped row edge, and, repeating the lapping process, the work piece is pushed by the push pads at the same selected load points, whereby, as the substrate is shortened, making said bow characteristic more pronounced, the pushing at the selected load points provides greater flex of the work piece to counteract the more pronounced bow.

Conventional thin film read/write heads in data storage systems generally include an inductive write head in combination with either an inductive or magnetoresistive (MR) read head. Typically, an MR/inductive head includes an inductive write head formed adjacent to an MR read head.
During the manufacturing of thin film heads, rows of magnetic recording transducers are deposited simultaneously on wafer substrates using semiconductor type process methods. Thin film heads are generally multi-layer heads that require depositions and pattern construction, of alternating layers of magnetic films, insulators, and conductors on top of a substrate wafer (ceramic wafer). The substrate wafer is then cut into rows of sliders such that the pole tips of the inductive write transducers and the magnetoresistive stripes of the magnetoresistive read transducers, which are arranged in a side-by-side relationship, extend to an edge of the row. The surface of the row edge is then lapped to the optimum dimensions of throat height and stripe height. When separated from the slider rows, each slider contains a magnetic read/write head and an air-bearing surface configured to aerodynamically "fly" over the surface of a spinning magnetic disk medium.
One approach to lapping a slider row is to slice the substrate into rows of magnetic transducers, and, as described in the incorporated '877 patent, each row may be cemented to a lapping fixture for holding the slider row in position over a lapping plate. The lapping plate provides an abrasive surface for accurately lapping the row edge to a final dimension. Pressure actuators are used to push the lapping fixture into contact with the lapping plate such that the row edge of the substrate now may be lapped. The '877 patent provides electrical lapping guides at two opposite ends of the slider row. The lapping guides are monitored to provide position measurements of each end of the lapped edge. Thus, the level of the lapped edge may be determined and corrective forces applied to the slider row by the pressure actuators to maintain the lapped edge level with respect to the final throat height dimension of the transducer row.
As disk drive technology advances, the dimensions of the transducers are continually decreasing, and the tracks recorded on the disks are becoming narrower and closer together. Thus, a magnetic transducer must be manufactured with greater precision to maximize its efficiency and sensitivity to read and write data.
Typically, the combined inductive write transducer and magnetoresistive read transducer are formed from adjacent layers so as to read and write on the same track. The production of the transducers includes a sequence of deposition and etching steps with the magnetoresistive transducer formed first, and the inductive write transducer formed on top of the magnetoresistive transducer. The magnetoresistive transducer typically includes a magnetoresistive stripe, the height of which is critical, and is determined by the height defining edge, which is the bottom edge of the stripe. The inductive transducer typically includes a bottom pole and a top pole, separated by a gap. The inductive transducer poles are narrowed to a very narrow pole tip having a precisely controlled width, or throat, the width of which defines the recorded track width. The height of the throat is also an important factor in the optimization of the inductive transducer.
The throat height of the inductive transducer must be maintained within a limited tolerance for generating an optimum magnetic signal from the input electrical signal. Furthermore, the stripe height of the magnetoresistive read transducer must be maintained within a limited tolerance so that the optimum change in resistance is generated in response to the sensed magnetic signal. The magnitude of the critical dimensions of the pole tip and the stripe heights is in the order of a micron.
When placed in a lapping fixture, the accumulated stresses on the substrate row (or slider row), together with the extremely small dimensions of the transducers, may increase the chance that not all the transducers in the slider row will be precisely aligned with the lapping edge. This condition is defined in coassigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,868 as "row bow". The '868 patent addresses row bow by using the magnetoresistive transducers in the row of transducers as resistive elements and measuring the resistance of the resistive elements to determine the magnetoresistive transducer stripe height. A lapping fixture includes a holder which has a slider row temporarily cemented thereon for lapping. The fixture deflects the holder from a flat dimension to an appropriate shape to lap the row of transducers to the optimum magnetoresistive transducer stripe height for each of the transducers along the row, as measured by the magnetoresistive transducer resistances.
Another approach to lapping a slider row is to lap the row edge of a single slider row before it is sliced from the wafer or a section of the wafer. Cost savings of this approach results from the elimination of the row bond process, where the entire wafer is sliced into individual rows and each row is bonded to a single steel lapping tool beam for lapping. In contrast, each wafer in the low cost process is cut into multiple rectangular arrays of rows, each array called a "work piece". Typically, each row contains an equal number of magnetic transducers. Each wafer may be cut into six rectangular arrays of rows or work pieces, with four large primary work pieces and two small secondary work pieces.
Each work piece is bonded to an extender, and loaded into a lapping fixture. As the work piece is processed, a row is lapped to the desired stripe height, then the row is sliced off, and the next row is lapped.
The work piece and extender is a rigid body, unlike the flexible row substrate described above. Thus, if there is any residual stress from the fabrication of the wafer within the work piece, the transducers in the slider rows can be forced into a non-planar configuration, resulting in a wide distribution of stripe heights along the slider row. The rigid body typically does not undergo the row bending similar to the single slider row in the manner described in the '868 patent.
The wafer fabrication process may also create a radial stress pattern within the wafer. Radially, the stress within the wafer is tensile at the center region, converting to compressive at the perimeter region. Therefore, depending on the location of each work piece on the wafer substrate prior to being sliced into work pieces and its orientation, it may experience curvature due to tensile stress, compressive stress, or both types of stress, imparting different bow characteristics to each work piece.
Throughout the production process, the work piece shortens as slider rows are lapped and then sliced off. As a result, the residual stress within the work piece becomes more apparent with the diminishing stiffness of the work piece, thereby causing higher standard deviation of stripe heights for the lapped row. Unfortunately, the lapping system does not compensate for the increased bow of the work piece as the work piece shortens during lapping.

Lapping method and system for compensating for substrate bow

International Business Machines Corporation


A retrotransposable element based multiplexed qPCR assay to robustly quantitate and distinguish cell free DNA integrity and concentration in blood plasma and serum is described. The multiplexed system for characterizing cancer in humans includes a sample of serum, plasma, urine, or other biological fluid, the sample comprising cell free DNA, the cell free DNA comprising long and short retrotransposable element targets and an added internal positive control, the long and short targets being independent of each other, a distinctly labeled TaqMan probe corresponding to each target, a forward primer and a reverse primer corresponding to each target, a DNA standard for generating standard curves, a qPCR system for amplifying the targets and a qPCR data analysis system. The assay provides an accurate, minimally-invasive, rapid, high-throughput, and cost-effective method with the potential to complement or replace existing methods for detection, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment monitoring and/or surveillance of cancer, thereby improving patient outcomes.

1. Field of the Invention
A multiplexed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) process for determining the integrity and concentration of cell free DNA in blood plasma, blood serum, urine, or other biological fluids for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and surveillance.
2. Impetus for the Invention
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in developed, and increasingly also developing, nations. According to the World Health Organization, in 2012, over 14 million new cases were reported and over 8 million people died worldwide (Atlanta: American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures, 2014). Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. In 2014, nearly 140,000 diagnoses and 50,000 deaths are expected in the U.S. (Atlanta: American Cancer Society, Colorectal Cancer: Facts & Figures 2014-2016). CRC is often curable if detected early, and outcomes can be improved with post-treatment monitoring and surveillance for recurrence.
Effective cancer management depends on early diagnosis, accurate tumor staging, and consistent monitoring.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multiplexed assay for quantitating and assessing integrity of cell-free DNA in biological fluids for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and surveillance


The collapsible bicycle trailer comprises a chassis and wheels. The chassis includes an upper frame assembly having a front end pivotally connected to the front end of a lower frame assembly and a back frame unit including a pair of oppositely disposed back frame members- Each back frame member has an upper end pivotally connected to the rear end of the upper frame assembly and a lower end removably securable to the rear end of the lower frame assembly. The back frame unit is pivotable around the upper end of the back frame members between a folded position, where the upper frame assembly is rotated towards the lower frame assembly for folding the chassis into a compact position, and an opened position, where the lower end of each of the back frame members is secured to the lower frame assembly for opening and keeping the chassis into an extended position.

Many types of bicycle trailers are known in prior art. As can be easily understood, it may be greatly advantageous to be able to store or carry a bicycle trailer into a compact form. Already known in prior art, there are certain foldable or collapsible bicycle trailers. Examples of such bicycle trailers are given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,814 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,316. U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,814 discloses a collapsible trailer including a rigid chassis frame, and hinged side rails rotatable on corresponding hinge members between an extended vertical position and a folded position essentially parallel to the chassis frame. A side rail locking bar is provided to lock the side rail in the extended position. US patent no. 5,474,316 discloses a folding trailer comprising an upper frame member, a lower frame member and a pair of folding units. The weakness of folding locations is often a source of problems, and developments in stronger and simpler mechanisms for compacting a bicycle trailer are needed.

Collapsible trailer for a bicycle or similar vehicle


A paging receiver for automatically dialing a stored telephone number can consider an area code. A received telephone number stored into a memory corresponding to a number of depressions of a read key is displayed when the read key is depressed, and an area code stored into the memory corresponding to the number of depressions of an area key is displayed when the area key is depressed. Then, when the area code and the telephone number are displayed, an unnecessary extension number, etc., is erased by using an editing key. Thereafter, the area code and the telephone number are converted into a DTMF signal when a dial key is depressed and the DTMF signal is applied to an electronic exchange through a telephone, thereby performing automatic dialing.

The present invention relates to a paging system having an automatic dialing function, and more particularly to a paging system which can automatically dial a telephone number including an area code.
Generally, in a compact paging receiver, an alert tone is generated in response to a radio calling signal remotely received and, a telephone number of a caller is transmitted with the alert tone. Data applied to the paging receiver has a specific code form, such as a POCSAG (Post Office Code Standardization Advisory Group) code. In the POCSAG code, one data batch consists of 8 frames. Each frame consists of an address code word which indicates a specific address of the paging receiver and a message code word to which the telephone number of the caller is conveyed.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional paging system and FIG. 2 is a flow chart for showing the function of automatic dialing in the conventional paging system. A control circuit 120 drives a receiver 110 a frame period and the receiver 110 demodulates a received radio frequency signal to shape a waveform thereof and applies the shaped signal to the control circuit 120. The control circuit 120 is a one chip microprocessor unit which has a program ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Read Access Memory) 121 for storing received data and a DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) generator 122 for generating the stored data as a DTMF signal.
When the control circuit 120 is supplied with data from the receiver 110, the control circuit 120 checks whether the data is data of the paging receiver by analyzing the address code word. If the data is data of the paging receiver, the control circuit 120 stores the telephone number of the message code word into the RAM 121 by the use of a memory key 140. When a user makes a phone call under the above condition that the telephone number is stored in the RAM 121, the user depresses a read key 150. In this case, the control circuit 120 detects the depression of the read key 150 in a step 202, reads from the RAM 121 the telephone number corresponding to the number of depressing the read key 150 and displays the telephone number on a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 130, through steps 204, 206 and 208 as shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, if the user confirms the telephone number and depresses a dial key 160, the control circuit 120 detects the depression of the dial key 160 in a step 210 and converts the telephone number displayed on the LCD 130 into the DTMF signal through the DTMF generator 122. FIG. 1 shows a speaker 170 which generates the DTMF signal as a DTMF tone. The speaker 170 has to be located beside a transmitter of an electronic exchange, and the DTMF tone output from the speaker 170 is applied to the electrical exchange through a telephone transmitter. Therefore, the user dials a telephone number using the paging receiver without performing a conventional dialing operation.
The above system has shortcomings. Since the area code of a caller or the current place of a user, etc. were not considered, when using the area code, if the user performs automatic dialing with the received telephone number, the telephone call is errant. Therefore, the loss of time occurs because the user must use keys of the telephone without using an automatic dial. Also, when an extension number of the caller in the received telephone number is included, if there is no an editing function, an unnecessary DTMF signal is generated when performing automatic dialing. Further, if power to the paging receiver is turned off, the stored telephone numbers are erased, requiring manual reinput of telephone numbers.

Paging system for automatically dialing and method therefor


An apparatus for the application of adhesive material, for use in the laying of flooring and roofing surfaces, comprising a frame, to which are attached a plurality of wheels, an angularly extending handle arrangement and a trowel blade whose height above a sub-floor, on which the adhesive material is to be spread, may be adjusted by some means. The apparatus is designed to be used while in a standing position and drawn across the sub-floor.

Numerous types of flooring are laid upon underlying sub floors or concrete slabs and fixed using adhesive materials. The adhesive must be spread evenly over the underlying surface prior to the placement of the covering material. For example carpets, tiles, laminate boards and roll out flooring materials are all applied over an adhesive. It should also be noted that the present invention should not be limited to flooring but can be utilised in the laying of roofing materials as well.
Typically, the adhesives are spread by hand trowel such as the one described in EP 1,018,585A1, where the persons spreading the adhesive would carry out the work on their knees. This results in the work being physically difficult and relatively slow, especially where large areas like industrial complexes are concerned.
Attempts have been made in the past to improve on this known technique but with limited success. The improvements have typically involved the trowel being able to be used whilst the person is in an upright position. Examples of these can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,982,470, 3,803,662 and 3,611,470 where the tool can either be dragged or drawn to spread the adhesive layer.
As mentioned above, these adhesive spreaders have various limitations and are not as effective as they might be. It has been noted that there is still a need to be able to reliably spread an even layer of adhesive material using non-complex machinery, which can be easily cleaned after use. Machinery known in the field uses compressors and external electrical sources to apply the adhesive and power the machinery. This has the disadvantage of lacking versatility, due to their size and weight, and as large compressors are needed to be set up before the spreader can function and many building sites where the spreader may be used do not have guaranteed electrical sources.
It would be desirable to provide a spreader which could lay a membrane or layer of adhesive material of a predetermined thickness with tolerable accuracy and which is easy to use from a standing position. It would also be desirable if the spreader had some capability to reliably and evenly distribute the adhesive material ahead of the oncoming spatula blade. A further desirable attribute would be the ability to remove excess adhesive material when required. And to do all this with a tool which is easy to maintain and clean and which requires no external input other than the driving force given by the person operating it would also be most desirable.

Apparatus for the spreading of adhesive material


A system for determining a vehicle door axis adjustment amount may include a plurality of first setting jigs fixed to a sealing flange of a vehicle body and configured to adjust a position of a door with respect to the vehicle body in a vehicle width direction, a second setting jig configured to support the door and adjust a position of the door with respect to the vehicle body in an up and down direction, and an eccentricity measurement bolt configured to temporarily assemble a door hinge bracket of a door hinge mounted on the vehicle body with the door and measure eccentricity with respect to a hinge bracket bolt hole formed in the door using a gauge.

1. Field of the Invention
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a system and a method for calculating a vehicle door axis adjustment amount, and more particularly, to a system and a method for calculating a vehicle door axis adjustment amount, which allow an adjustment amount of a door axis to be able to be calculated in order to align an axis of a door.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, quality of mounting front and rear doors of a vehicle is a core factor that influences quality of internal and external appearances of the vehicle. In order to improve the quality of mounting the doors, quality enhancement of components and quality enhancement of a door mounting process are simultaneously required. Particularly, in a case in which a rotating axis of a swing type door is twisted, the quality of mounting of all the doors deteriorates, and the following problems may be caused.
That is, in a case in which a rotating axis of a swing type door is twisted, a defect such as gap and height differences of the door in terms of an external appearance occurs, and a portion where a sealing gap between the door and a vehicle body becomes narrow is formed causing the door opening and closing performance to deteriorate.
Further, in the aforementioned case, a portion where the sealing gap between the door and the vehicle body becomes wide is formed such that wind or water may enter therethrough, wind noise due to the gap and height differences of the external appearance occurs when a vehicle travels such that noise vibration performance deteriorates, and a defect due to a level difference between an interior door trim and a crush pad may occur.
Meanwhile, in the door mounting process of the vehicle assembling line, a door hinge is mounted on the vehicle body first using a door hinge mounting jig, and then the door is mounted on the door hinge in a state in which the door is set to the vehicle body using a door assembling jig.
When the operation of setting the door with respect to the vehicle body is completed as described above, a level difference of a skin at an outer side of the door and the sealing gap inside the door are measured, and an adjustment amount of a hinge bracket with respect to a door hinge nut is estimated based on the measured data.
Thereafter, eccentricity of the hinge bracket with respect to the door hinge nut is corrected while moving a position of the hinge bracket by applying the estimated adjustment amount of the hinge bracket to the door assembling jig.
However, as described above, the method for calculating an adjustment amount of the hinge bracket in order to align the axis of the door has a drawback in that an adjustment amount of the hinge bracket may not be directly measured.
Therefore, since the method for calculating an adjustment amount of the hinge bracket needs to estimate an adjustment amount of the hinge bracket based on the data regarding a mounting state of the door, which is obtained by measuring a level difference of a skin at an outer side of the door and the sealing gap inside the door, reliability may deteriorate.
Particularly, since the adjustment of the axis of the front door needs to be performed based on the rear door, the alignment of the axis of the front door may not be accurately confirmed until the adjustment of the axis of the rear door is completed, and as a result, in order to calculate a desired predetermined adjustment amount of the hinge bracket, a number of reconfirmation processes and the same processes need to be repeated.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

System and method for determining vehicle door axis adjustment mount


A vibrating element having a meandering shape includes a vibrating beam and a piezoelectric actuator provided on the vibrating beam. The vibrating beam has a meandering-shape substantially formed into the plurality of continuous turned-down shapes. The vibrating beam includes the plurality of turned-down units and the plurality of coupling units coupled to the turned-down units, and the coupling units and the turned-down units are alternately disposed. The piezoelectric actuator includes a lower electrode provided on the vibrating beam, a piezoelectric film provided on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode provided on the piezoelectric film. A non-existence region where the piezoelectric film does not exist is provided in at least one of a neighborhood of a midpoint of an inner circumference of each of the turned-down units and a neighborhood of a curvature changing point in which a curvature of the inner circumference of each of the turned-down shapes changes.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vibrating element having a meandering shape, which is used in various piezoelectric actuators and an optical reflection element.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, what is called a meandering-shape piezoelectric actuator in which a beam connected to and supported by a fixed unit is turned down plural times is known. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of conventional piezoelectric actuator 5. In FIG. 9, piezoelectric actuator 5 has a meandering shape, and is formed in an upper portion of the beam. The beam is configured by a plurality of turned-down units 3 and a plurality of coupling units 4 each of which is coupled to turned-down units 3. Piezoelectric actuator 5 includes an insulating film, a lower electrode, a piezoelectric film, and an upper electrode. The lower electrode is provided on the insulating film. The piezoelectric film is provided on the lower electrode. The upper electrode is provided on the piezoelectric film. A voltage is applied to the plurality of upper electrodes such that the upper electrodes become opposite phases to each other, thereby driving a plurality of piezoelectric material layers.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of conventional piezoelectric actuator 5. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the plurality of piezoelectric material layers are driven to displace the plurality of coupling units 4 in arrow directions, thereby warping coupling units 4. In piezoelectric actuator 5, the large displacement at one end of the meandering shape is obtained by adding displacement amounts of the plurality of coupling units 4. For example, an optical reflection element that scans with a laser beam uses the displacement as described above.
For example, PTL 1 discloses the conventional piezoelectric actuator.

Vibrating element having meandering shape, and optical reflection element

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for color gamut mapping. Some embodiments comprise mapping by projecting a first gamut color point to an intermediate curvilinear construct and then projecting from the curvilinear construct to a second color gamut point. In some embodiments, gamut points are separated into regions with differing projection rules and curvilinear constructs.

Digital images are typically transmitted to an output device for consumption. Output devices convert a digital image to a format that can be viewed or otherwise perceived by a user. Common output devices include, but are not limited to, printers, plotters, and displays. There are many types of printers including inkjet, bubble-jet, laser and others. Many of these printers convert colored elements in a digital image to one or more elements on output media. This can be achieved by converting image elements to ink dots or toner dots applied to a printed page. Various colors are achieved by mixing or overlaying a variety of inks or toners of different colors. Many printers use three ink or toner colors consisting or cyan, magenta and yellow as well as a black ink or toner.
Display devices may also be used as output devices for digital images and as an input device. Displays may include cathode-ray tube (CRT) devices, liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, light-emitting diode (LED) devices, gas-plasma devices and many others. Display devices usually use a three-color pixel arrangement wherein red, green and blue (RGB) sub-pixels are used to create a various color elements in an image display. The luminance or some other attribute of each colored sub-pixel may be varied to achieve a wide variety of colors.
Many other mechanisms and devices may be used to output and display digital images, however due to the nature of each type of device, each one has limitations in the range of colors that it can output or display. For example, the specific ink colors and the quantity of inks used by a device can limit its output to a specific range of colors. The media on which output is generated can also affect output color. The specific nature of each pixel in a display device, such as the diode or phosphor composition and the lighting of a display can limit the range of colors displayed on these devices.
Due to these and other output device limitations, each output device is limited to a specific color range or gamut. This output device gamut may not coincide with the range of colors recorded in a digital image.
Digital images may be recorded through the use of a variety of input devices, such as scanners or digital cameras. These devices typically use a coupled-charge device (CCD) or a similar device that records an array of data that represents color and intensity values for a matrix of image elements. The nature of the scene being photographed or original being scanned, together with that of the input device, will dictate the color range or gamut of the digital image itself.
Due to the different nature of input and output devices and the many different types of devices, the gamut of the input device rarely matches the gamut of the output device. When the output device gamut does not precisely match the image gamut, the image must be rendered in a way that maps each color in the image to a color within the gamut of the output device. This process may be referred to as gamut mapping.
A display may be considered an "input" device from the viewpoint of gamut mapping. When trying to make a printed rendering of an image that we see on a display, this is the common case. Often, there are colors that can be displayed by the monitor but can't be printed.
Gamut mapping may be achieved by a process called "clipping." Various techniques may be used for clipping, but, generally, a color that falls outside the output device gamut will be mapped to a color on the surface of the output device gamut.
Another known method of gamut mapping is referred to as "compressing" the image gamut. Again, various methods may be used, but, typically, when the gamut of an image is larger than the gamut of the output device, the entire range of a particular image color or hue is compressed into the range of values producible by the output device. This may render relative image gradations better than clipping, but may do so at a cost of decreased color saturation.

Methods and systems for color gamut adjustment


A temperature-retaining device includes an upper wall and a lower wall. The upper wall includes a conduction plate having a top surface and a bottom surface comprising a plurality of downwardly projecting fingers. A temperature-retaining body is disposed in contact with the plurality of fingers to transfer heat from the temperature-retaining body to the conduction plate. A support structure is coupled to the upper wall and has a peripheral wall surrounding the temperature-retaining body. A lower wall is coupled to the support structure to enclose the temperature-retaining body within a cavity defined by the upper wall, support structure and lower wall. The lower wall comprises a gas-permeable channel that is substantially impermeable to liquids.

One of the many challenges in food service is keeping prepared foods at a desired temperature. Hot foods often lose their texture and flavor when they are cooled and must therefore be served immediately upon preparation. This is often very difficult to do, particularly when food needs to be prepared in advance. On the other hand, it is preferred that certain other types of dishes, such as salads, be served cold. If such dishes are left outside of a refrigerator for any length of time, they will likely warm to room temperature, making them less palatable.
Various devices have been developed for keeping food at a desired temperature (hot or cold) after preparation. Heat lamps, for example, have been extensively used in fast food restaurants for keeping hamburgers and sandwiches warm before serving. Electric hot plates have also been used to keep foods warm. There are also buffet serving trays, which keep food warm by placing a heat source, such as a small flame, underneath the tray. The disadvantages of these devices, however, are that they are not easily portable and require either connection to an external power source or a potentially dangerous open flame to supply the heat. Similarly, cold packs and ice are the most common means used to keep cold dishes at a desired temperature. These methods, however, suffer the disadvantage of melting and creating a soggy mess. Moreover, separate devices or means are typically required to keep food either warm or cold.
It is therefore desirable to have a single device that is capable of keeping food either warm or cold. It is also desirable to have such a device that is easily portable and does not require connection to an external power source to supply the heat.


An inspecting device inspects an inspecting target that is a semiconductor device or a photo device. The inspecting device includes: a stage for holding an inspecting target; a femtosecond laser for emitting pulsed light; a galvano mirror for obliquely irradiating the inspecting target with the pulsed light, while changing an optical path of the pulsed light, to scan the inspecting target with the pulsed light; and a detection part for detecting an electromagnetic wave emitted non-coaxially with the pulsed light from the inspecting target in accordance with the illumination with the pulsed light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for inspecting a semiconductor device or a photo device.
2. Description of the Background Art
There is already known a semiconductor inspecting device which detects an electromagnetic wave emitted from a semiconductor device by irradiating it with pulsed laser light, thereby to inspect the semiconductor device in non-contact (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-60317). In the semiconductor inspecting device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-60317, a previously set inspection range is scanned with pulsed laser light in the semiconductor device by use of a galvanometer scanner. Then, the generated electromagnetic wave (terahertz wave) is detected, thereby to image its intensity distribution.
Further, the present applicant proposed a technique of irradiating a photo device with pulsed light and detecting an electromagnetic wave emitted from the photo device accordingly, thereby to inspect the photo device (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-19861). In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-19861. it is proposed that the photo device is moved in two-dimensional directions, thereby to scan the photo device with pulsed light.
As in the semiconductor inspecting device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-60317, scanning by means of the galvano scanner enables relatively high-speed inspection of a certain range of an inspecting target. However, the semiconductor inspecting device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-60317 is a so-called coaxial epi-illumination type inspecting device where the pulsed laser light, with which the semiconductor device is irradiated, is coaxial with the detected terahertz wave. In such a coaxial epi-illumination type inspecting device, it has been necessary to provide an optical plate with an ITO film so as to reflect the terahertz wave while transmitting the pulsed laser light. This might lead to a complicated configuration of the inspecting device, and improvement has thus been required.


An aircraft turboshaft engine intake includes an axial diffuser and a colinear plenum disposed in flow communication therewith for collecting diffuser air therefrom. A scroll is disposed radially below the plenum in flow communication therewith for accelerating the plenum air for discharge to the aircraft engine. In this arrangement, propeller air is diffused in the diffuser and collected in the plenum wherein it is turned radially inwardly and accelerated through the scroll into the, engine. Diffusion is uncoupled from air turning for improving the efficiency thereof.

The present invention relates generally to aircraft gas turbine engines, and, more specifically, to an intake therefor.
In a typical turboprop aircraft, a gas turbine engine has an output drive shaft joined to a reduction gearbox for powering propellers. The engine and gearbox are contained in a nacelle which provides an aerodynamically smooth interface for minimizing drag during flight operation of the aircraft. The gearbox is a relatively large component mounted forwardly of the engine, and therefore a suitable air intake is required for bypassing the gearbox and suitably channeling a portion of the propeller air into the engine wherein it is compressed and mixed with fuel and ignited for generating hot combustion gases which power the engine and in turn the propellers.
The aircraft inlet must be suitably designed for channeling the propeller air into the engine with minimal aerodynamic losses. Since the gearbox obstructs direct access to the engine inlet, the air intake is laterally offset from the engine and its coaxial drive shaft which complicates the aerodynamic design thereof. The resulting air intake is typically S-shaped for turning the air from an initially axial direction radially inwardly toward the engine inlet where again it is turned axially for being channeled thereto. The profile of the turning intake must be carefully selected to avoid undesirable flow separation of the channeled air which would create pressure losses. And, the intake air must also be suitably channeled to the engine inlet with a circumferentially uniform profile for ensuring effective operation of the engine.
A conventional air intake is also typically configured for diffusing the propeller air for increasing its pressure or reducing the velocity thereof, which is made more complex in view of the S-shaped intake flowpath. The resulting intake designs are typically relatively large for providing effecting diffusion without undesirable flow separation. The design is also relatively axially long which increases the wetted surface area of the nacelle, and corresponding aerodynamically drag therefrom, as well as increasing the overall weight of the aircraft. The larger intake can therefore ingest relatively large birds or other foreign objects, which requires yet further complexity in the intake and engine design for ensuring effective operation without undesirable damage in the event of bird ingestion.


A magnetic disk storage medium (10) includes a smooth non-magnetic substrate (11) having surface roughened by sputter-depositing a continuous nonmagnetic rough thin film ("texture film") (14) over the substrate. The sputter conditions and composition of the texture film (14) are chosen to give a desired roughness and areal density of asperities. A sputtered adhesion layer (12) and/or a sputtered capping layer (15) are included to control the growth of the texture film and to improve its mechanical properties, respectively. A non-magnetic underlayer, a magnetic layer and a protective layer are then sputtered sequentially over the roughened substrate.

This invention relates to a thin film magnetic disk recording medium. More particularly the invention relates to texturing a recording medium.
Generally, magnetic thin film disks comprise a substrate on which a non-magnetic underlayer, a magnetic layer and a protective overcoat are deposited by vacuum deposition, followed by application of a thin layer of lubricant. An example of such a disk is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,640, incorporated herein by reference. It is known to use, as a substrate, ceramic material, glass, or an aluminum alloy coated with electrochemically deposited nickel-phosphorus ("NiP").
During use, the disk is rotated rapidly by a motor. In order to read and write data on the disk, a recording head "flies" very close to the rotating disk. The recording head typically rests in contact with the disk when the disk is not rotating. To prevent severe adhesion (stiction) between the head and disk, the surface of the disk is intentionally roughened or "textured". (The problem of stiction is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,250, column 1.) For magnetic disks comprising metal substrates coated with NiP, texturing is usually done by abrading the electrochemically deposited NiP surface with fine particles to form circumferential ridges. Other texturing methods are also known in the art. For nonmetallic substrates, such as glass, texturing may be done by chemically etching the substrate to leave bumps, or covering the surface with fine particles. U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,001 (incorporated by reference) discloses a typical etching process.
To maximize the recording density, the recording head flies as close to the disk surface as possible. Hence the roughness of the disk surface is minimized, consistent with maintaining sufficiently low stiction.
The abrasive texturing method cannot be used for typical non-metallic disk substrates because of their hardness, so other methods such as chemical or plasma etching or coating the substrate with a fine dispersion of particles, have been adopted. However, these processes, like abrasive texturing, are expensive in production as they require a number of process steps to be applied to each substrate. Additionally, in the case of texturing NiP, any irregularities that protrude sufficiently above the normal textured surface can damage the head while the head is flying and can cause the head to crash. Also, each texturing method is specific to a particular substrate material so that changing the composition or type of the substrate material requires the development of a new texturing method.
European Patent Application No. 0 399 747 A, published Nov. 28, 1990, advocates texturing a substrate by forming a discontinuous metal layer over the substrate surface. This layer forms a discontinuous multiple island structure over the plane of the substrate surface. The '747 method depends critically on the wetting between the islands and the substrate which restricts the choice of materials and makes the substrate cleanliness and absence of surface contaminants critical. The islands are coated with an "oxygen trap" layer of Ti, and then a thick Cr underlayer/magnetic layer/overcoat stack. The Ti layer contacts the substrate and bonds the islands to the substrate since the islands themselves poorly adhere to the substrate. Of importance, the '747 patent application requires formation of an island structure rather than a continuous layer, or deterioration occurs at the interface between the metal used to form the islands and underlying substrate. See, e.g., the "comparative example" at '747 column 8.
Another island-forming layer is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,250. Drops of Ga or other transient liquid metals (e.g. In, Sn, Bi, Pb or other metals) are coated directly on and react with the magnetic film. The disk texture results from the reacted layer. Hence the Ga layer determines both the texture and magnetic characteristics, which makes it difficult to control both independently.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,709 particle-like projections are formed in circumferential bands on a smooth or initially circumferentially textured substrate, and thereafter a magnetic layer is applied to the substrate. The projections are arranged in bands to enhance magnetic anisotropy. The '709 patent states that the projections are fine particles with heights preferably of 10 to 50 nm and an areal density of 10 to 1000 .mu.m.sup.-2, and cover between 10 and 80% of the disk. According to the '709 patent, if they cover too much of the disk stiction is too high. The '709 patent mentions forming the projections by several techniques, including sputtering, ion beam deposition or by putting particles in a binder and brushing the particles and binder onto the substrate. For particles in a binder, the projections are arranged in bands by circumferential brushing. For projections formed by the other above-mentioned techniques, it is not entirely clear how the projections are formed into bands, or how coverage of 10 to 80% of the disk is obtained.

Method of fabricating a textured magnetic storage disk


A boundary tracking method applied in an OFDM receiver includes generating a plurality of demodulated signal sets corresponding to part of sub-carriers of a packet according to different boundaries with different positions located at the packet, determining the most precise one of the boundaries according to a plurality of inter-symbol interference (ISI) values according to the demodulated signal sets, and calibrating a timing of a currently utilized boundary.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a boundary tracking apparatus, and more particularly, to a boundary tracking apparatus in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system and a method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frame. According to the IEEE 802.11 a standard, the frames of the OFDM system have a short preamble in the beginning, a long preamble following afterwards, and a guard interval GI2 between the short preamble and the long preamble. There are also guard intervals GI between each data block to avoid the inter-symbol interference (ISI). The guard interval GI and GI2 can be a cyclic prefix of a data block or a cyclic prefix of the long preamble.
In conventional boundary detecting methods, a receiver detects the beginning of the long preamble and the beginning of the data blocks according to a period and the auto-correlation of the short preamble. The guard intervals GI are then removed accordingly to plan a boundary of the data blocks for fast Fourier transforming (FFT). Next, the conventional boundary detecting methods execute a fast Fourier transform on each data block according to the estimated channel responses of all the sub-carriers with different boundaries to determine a proper boundary.
However, the above-mentioned method usually mistakenly estimates the guard interval of the long preamble with a serious delay spread. Therefore, the above-mentioned methods choose a wrong timing to execute the fast Fourier transform. Furthermore, the prior boundary tracking methods are inefficient to compute for several times the FFT of numerous symbols according to every sub-carrier. That is, tracking the boundary by comparing the FFT of each symbol takes a lot of effort.

Boundary tracking apparatus and related method of OFDM system


A method of facilitating the lawful interception of an IP session between two or more terminals 12,13, wherein session uses encryption to secure traffic. The method includes storing a key allocated to at least one of terminals 12,13 or to at least one of the subscribers using one of the terminals 12,13, at the terminal 12,13 and at a node 5,8 within a network 1,6 through which session is conducted, or a node coupled to that network. Prior to the creation of session, a seed value is exchanged between the terminal 12,13 at which the key is stored and node 5,8. The key and the seed value are used at both the terminal 12,13 and the node 5,8 to generate a pre-master key. The pre-master key becomes known to each of the terminals 12,13 involved in the IP session and to the network node 5,8. The pre-master key is used, directly or indirectly, to encrypt and decrypt traffic associated with IP session.

It is now possible to establish various forms of connection over the Internet including data connections as well as voice and video telephony connections. As the speed and extent of the Internet increases, the use of voice and video telephony can be expected to grow. Whilst current technology tends to restrict IP multimedia sessions to computer terminals coupled to the Internet, tomorrow's technology will provide for IP multimedia sessions between small dedicated telephony terminals, and other mobile devices such as PDAs, palmtop computers etc.
In order to allow such devices to gain widespread acceptance, a key issue which must be addressed is that of security. The two main security concerns are the avoidance of unauthorised eavesdropping, and the need to authenticate terminals involved in a communication (i.e. to ensure that the terminal which a "subscriber" connects to is the terminal which the subscriber intends to connect to and vice versa). However, these concerns are not unique to IP multimedia, and are common to many different forms of IP communication. Several protocols exist for securing data traffic using encryption and/or authentication.
One such security protocol is known as IPsec (IETF RFC2401). In order to allow IPsec packets to be properly encapsulated and decapsulated it is necessary to associate security services and a key between the traffic being transmitted and the remote node which is the intended recipient of the traffic. The construct used for this purpose is a "Security Association" (SA). A second security protocol is known as SRTP (Secure Real-Time Protocol)—see draft-ietf-avt-srtp-02.txt. It is expected that the third generation mobile network architecture known as 3GPP will adopt SRTP as the protocol for securing IP Multimedia traffic. Of course, other protocols such as IPsec may be used in other mobile network architectures.
In the Internet draft "draft-ietf-msec-mikey-00.txt", a key management scheme known as Multimedia Internet KEYing (MIKEY) is described for use in real-time applications. The scheme provides for the creation of a Security Association (SA) and the distribution of a Pre-Master Key (PMK). (Actually, MIKEY denotes these keys "TEK Generating Keys", but PMK is a more common term and will be used throughout as the invention's use is not restricted to MIKEY.) The PMK is used to derive a Traffic-Encrypting Key (TEK) for each crypto session. More specifically, the TEK is used as the key input to the chosen security protocol, i.e. SRTP.

Lawful interception of end-to-end encrypted data traffic


A non-wearing washer for fluid valve is non-fixedly mounted between washer retainer means disposed at a bottom end of a valve stem and the valve seat. The washer is retained in its operative position by configuring its top end to non-fixedly engage the washer retainer means while a tongue portion disposed on the underside of the main washer body is sized to extend down into the valve fitting end which attaches the valve to the discharging end of the fluid pipe. As the washer in non-fixedly mounted in between the bottom end of the valve stem and the valve seat, the rotation of valve stem 20 which translates into relative longitudinal displacement of the valve stem from the valve seat is not translated to the washer, thus eliminating the rotational wear now commonly associated with such washers.

Presently, the common fluid valve for faucets uses a typical annular washer affixed to a washer retainer located at the bottom end of a valve stem. This prior art washer is typically fixedly mounted to the end of the valve stem by a screw. In operation, in a closed position, the threaded valve stem has been turned to force the washer against the valve seat, shutting off the flow of fluid through the valve. To open the fluid flow, the handle is rotated, in turn rotating the threaded valve stem to allow the washer to be displaced from the valve seat, allowing fluid to flow through the valve and out of the faucet.
In such a typical faucet, the wear on the washer which results from its rotational bearing against the valve seat when the valve is either open or shut eventually requires that the washer be replaced. While the cost of the replacement washer is modest, it is nevertheless desirable to avoid the inconvenience of the need to replace a worn washer. Moreover, the typical valve with a worn washer will be operated in that condition, with a concomitant leaking faucet and associated loss of a considerable amount of water or other fluid, for a substantial length of time before someone is finally motivated to undertake the effort of replacing the washer.
While the prior art may have attempted to address the problem of rotational wear of the washer, such attempts typically have included overly complex designs with additional parts, which may include springs, screws or additional holes. Further, it is not clear that prior art replacement washers, whether or not aimed at the problem of rotational wear, are capable of being retrofit to existing typical valve construction.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a non-wearing washer capable of use between a lower end of a faucet valve stem and the valve seat to selectively seal off the flow of fluid through the valve. It is a further object of the present invention to eliminate the rotational wear of the common washer now typically fixedly mounted at the end of the valve stem by replacing such a washer with a non-fixedly mounted washer which is thus free of rotational wear. It is another object of the present invention eliminating or reducing the need to replace a worn washer, along with eliminating the associated loss of leaking fluid and replacement efforts. It is still another object of the invention to provide a non-rotationally mounted washer of simple design which eliminates the need for additional parts. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a non-wearing washer capable of use in retrofitting existing valves, that is, capable of being used as either a replacement washer or an original washer in existing valve designs.
A further object attained in an alternative embodiment of the subject invention is to provide a non-wearing, non-fixedly mounted valve washer with means to support a fluid filter.
Finally, another object of an alternative embodiment of the present invention is to provide a washer holder adapted to receive a standard, current art washer which, in combination with the washer holder provides the advantages set forth above.


As organizations scale analytics, a challenge is the huge increase in number of analytics pipelines to be maintained by developers. In here, lies an example method and modular software architecture to assemble analytics pipeline from reusable components. (1) Reusable components can be utilities where each utility is versioned and has a collection of programming functions, also known as nodes, that follow “data-in-data-out” convention. As nodes are building blocks of a pipeline, an assembly instruction and human readable configurations can now be created to define a project pipeline from a repository of pipelines and well-versioned utilities. (2) By separating out re-usable functionalities from pipelines and data layers, this layered architecture can now support upgrades of functionalities overtime without re-writing of pipelines. (3) As reusable components become functionally exhaustive, these assembly instructions and configurations can then be decoupled from pipelines as knowledge which developers can conduct meta-analysis of configurations used across projects.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Currently, when creating a data processing and analytics pipeline, engineers and developers must code the entire pipeline from scratch even if similar projects have been completed before, i.e., at the same organization. Although it is sometimes possible to re-use sections of code from different projects, this can become difficult when the previous project is a single monolithic pipeline that cannot be abstracted or re-used, or when current project must be written in another programming language compared to previous project, or when some aspects of the project would need to be borrowed from multiple previous projects written in multiple different programming languages.

Modular software architecture for machine learning pipelines


A method for protecting and for restoring structural strength and substance to a concrete, fluid containing or conducting structure deteriorated to the condition of removal of substance of the concrete by sulfuric acids and like corrosive material in contact therewith is described by positioning a relatively thin thermoplastic layer of polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene, injecting a substratum of epoxy foam, polyurethane foam, or a combination thereof between the thermoplastic layer and the deteriorated concrete, and welding the foam to the thermoplastic layer. The product of the process is described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the art of restoring deteriorated concrete or metal structures to resist corrosion, and more particularly to the application of polymer substances to restore substratum removed by corrosive deterioration, with lining of polymer substance to resist corrosion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Waste water and sewerage are frequently conducted through fluid conduits made of concrete. In some applications, the conduits are made of metal. Sewer systems frequently have reservoirs, containers and ponds, such as settling ponds which also are made of concrete and sometimes of metal. Sewerage and waste water often contain highly corrosive material, especially with respect to concrete and metal. The closed system which constitutes most sewerage systems in use presently, creates anaerobic conditions ideal for the proliferation of anaerobic bacteria which result in hydrogen sulfide. Consequently, waste water pipes, sewage pipes, reservoirs, containers and ponds frequently are the subject of substantial corrosion and deterioration. In addition, corrosive material resulting from the digestive by-products of organisms existing within the waste water and sewer systems cause substantial deterioration of the concrete and metal conduits.
Here in this specification for simplicity of explanation, reference will often be made to xe2x80x9cconduits,xe2x80x9d by which term I intend to include not only conduits and pipes, but also reservoirs, containers and ponds as discussed above. Such a xe2x80x9cconduit,xe2x80x9d as that term is used herein, includes, for example, settling or processing xe2x80x9cpondsxe2x80x9d at sewerage processing plants, back-up reservoirs and building structures involved with such processing, unless the text specifies otherwise.
The deterioration frequently takes the form of physical decay of the walls of the conduits so that the thickness of the walls is reduced. Actual amounts of the concrete or metal are literally removed or worn away over the years. In many instances, sewer and waste water conduits and like structures have walls so thin that the conduits have collapsed under the weight of traffic 1 passing over them, and it has been reported that people have stuck their arms through them with relative ease.
Another undesirable effect of the corrosion and deterioration is that in the weakened condition that thin walls have, the walls crack more easily, resulting in leaks in the sewer system. Such leaks undermine the soil or prepared beds in which the concrete or metal pipes lay. Further, such leaks may contaminate the aquifer, may pollute the water ways and may surface to make the environment above unpleasant, as well.
Some of the more common corrosive materials within sewer conduits are sulfuric acid and hydrogen sulfide, which can turn into sulfuric acid under the conditions frequently found in sewer systems. Their corrosive effects may be readily appreciated. Sewer conduits normally have an anaerobic slime deposit along the wall of the conduit which is submerged below the liquid line or level. Various metal sulfates are among the more common ingredients of this anaerobic deposit. In the substantially liquid waste water, the sulfates reduce to sulfide ions, which combine with the hydrogen in the waste water to outgas above the liquid level as hydrogen sulfide, which can be highly corrosive to metals. Some sewer pipes are made of metal, and many more concrete pipes have metal, i.e. steel reinforcing ribs or bars and like support structure embedded within. Oxygen condenses on the upper portions of the interior surface of the conduit walls which are not in contact with the liquid being conducted, and interacts with bacteria within the conduit above the liquid level. The bacteria produces more hydrogen sulfide. Oxygen from the liquid and condensing from the water in the air reacts with the hydrogen sulfide acid to create the highly corrosive sulfuric acid. The hydrogen of the acid reacts with the calcium hydroxide in the cement of the concrete conduit, and calcium results as gypsum or calcium sulfate, which has been described as a soft corrosion product. The gypsum drops off the interior of the wall itself, making the wall more thin and substantially weakened. In this manner, whole chunks of the concrete wall are removed or vanish, reducing the thickness of the wall.
Restoring such damaged and weakened conduits and pipes in the past has been accomplished primarily through two fundamental methods. In one basic modality, the concrete conduits are entered and fresh concrete is troweled onto the walls to build the thickness back to the original dimension. This method is somewhat problematic in that troweling on the roof of the conduit requires special efforts and time. Frequently, such as in sewer conduits, for example, the repair must be performed within a specified time window. Usually, sewer conduits have a relatively lower flow rate or level during the hours between midnight and the normal waking hours of around seven in the morning. After the normal waking hours, most sewer conduits are so full that entry into the conduit and any repair are not possible.
Sometimes, plywood forms are put into place in a concrete waste water structure, and concrete is poured behind the wood forms to restore the thickness of the deteriorated concrete. This method creates problems. It takes approximately twenty-eight days for concrete to cure fully. Normally, seven days are minimally required before the plywood forms are removed. Meanwhile, the sewer necessarily goes through its daily fill and retreat cycles.
A second modality involves a process of digging from the top surface down to the weakened conduit. The earth around the weakened conduit is excavated, and a layer of concrete of suitable thickness is poured around the weakened conduit to, in effect, provide a new conduit encasing the old, crumbling sewer pipe. This method has special problems, as well. For example, most such pipes are underneath roadways and streets. Excavating down to the sewer pipe requires removing the surface road or street and diverting traffic often for weeks at a time. The amount of concrete required to encase the old pipe is substantial. The manpower required for excavating, concrete pouring and road and street restoration is substantial, as well. Both in time and material, such repair or restoration is expensive, and the disruption to street traffic is costly to the public.
Other modalities exist, such as for example a method called xe2x80x9cslip lining,xe2x80x9d in which new pipe is inserted within the old, crumbling pipe to strengthen the pipe walls. Such methods reduce the diameter of the pipe or conduit and create problems with connecting lateral pipes joined to the pipe being repaired or restored.
Many of the methods used in the past result in a restored conduit which has a surface facing the effluent made of the same material that deteriorated before. This problem has been addressed by coating or lining the interior facing surfaces after restoration of the conduit, but such liners or coatings have met with only varying levels of satisfaction. Further, many of such methods result in a concrete or metal pipe in which the restoration is rigid or brittle. The brittleness of the restoration itself may soon result in further cracking from thermal cycling and normal as well as violent ground movement.
It has been known in the past to provide lining for the interior surfaces of such conduits and pipes. See, for example, my U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,493 issued to Vernie L. Belcher and myself. Such linings greatly enhance the ability of the conduit to resist the corrosive effects of the many acids, caustics, toxins and organic material common in waste water and sewer systems. Lining, without more, however, is appropriate only where the fundamental integrity of the conduit wall is substantially unimpaired, and its thickness is sufficiently strong enough to contain the substances being conducted through the pipe or conduit, and sufficiently strong enough to support the earth and roadway systems above it. Where the integrity of the conduit wall is diminished, restoration of the concrete or metal structure of the conduit is necessary before a lining is applied.
It is desired to provide improved methods for restoring the interior integrity of concrete and metal conduits and pipes having exposure to highly corrosive substances. It is desired, further, to provide such methods which, when applied, will provide great resistance to such corrosive substances and will restore some strength to the repaired structure. It is a further desire to restore strength to a deteriorated structure being restored that results in a measure of flexibility to the structure in order to resist cracking and consequent leaks. It is greatly desired and sought to provide such a method which can be applied and cured or set within tight time windows available for such restoration. It is yet another object to provide a method or process for restoring a deteriorated concrete or metal structure that results in a corrosive resistant layer facing the fluid being contained or conducted, where the layer has its seams with adjacent layers welded to prevent very small pin holes or cracks from developing, and where the layer is welded to a structural substratum. It is yet a further object to provide a method or process for restoring a deteriorated concrete or metal structure where the positioning of a corrosive resistant layer is established prior to restoring substance to the substratum.
In brief, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for restoring concrete or metal conduits, pipes and like structures is described in which a plurality of thermoplastic liners are positioned at approximately the position of the surface of the concrete conduit which has been removed by corrosion. The liners are held in position by seating in channels which are made of thermoplastic and which can be welded to the liners to make a seam resistant to leaking or fluid penetration. The liners have their surfaces facing the corroded concrete treated to weld with an epoxy or polyurethane foam to be inserted in the void space defined by the thermoplastic liners and the corroded concrete.
An epoxy resin or a polyurethane resin is hydrogenated and inserted in the void space along with an isocyanate to create a foam. The foam welds to the thermoplastic liners to create a structural substratum that restores the thickness and strength to the corroded concrete, and which substratum presents a thermoplastic liner resistant to corrosive waste water and sewer fluids being conducted through a waste water or sewer conduit. The thermoplastic liners become part of the resulting, finished restoration, and need not be removed.
Other novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to organization and methods of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description in which preferred embodiments of the invention are described by way of example.

Deteriorated structure repair method for restoring and lining corroded structure