A modified annexin protein, preferably annexin V, is used to prevent thrombosis without increasing hemorrhage. Annexin binds to phosphatidylserine on the outer surface of cell membranes, thereby preventing binding of the prothrombinase complex necessary for thrombus formation. It does not, however, affect platelet aggregation necessary for hemostasis. The modified annexin molecule can be a homodimer of annexin, an annexin molecule coupled to one or more polyethylene glycol chains, or an annexin molecule coupled to another protein. By increasing the molecular weight of annexin, the modified annexin is made to remain in circulation for sufficient time to provide a sustained therapeutic effect.

Thrombosis—the formation, development, or presence of a blood clot (thrombus) in a blood vessel—is the most common severe medical disorder. The most frequent example of arterial thrombosis is coronary thrombosis, which leads to occlusion of the coronary arteries and often to myocardial infarction (heart attack). More than 1.3 million patients are admitted to the hospital for myocardial infarction each year in North America. The standard therapy is administration of a thrombolytic protein by infusion. Thrombolytic treatment of acute myocardial infarction is estimated to save 30 lives per 1000 patients treated; nevertheless the 30-day mortality for this disorder remains substantial (Mehta et al., Lancet 356:449-454 (2000), incorporated herein by reference). It would be convenient to administer antithrombotic and thrombolytic agents by bolus injection, since they might be used before admission to hospital with additional benefit (Rawles, J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 30:1181-1186 (1997), incorporated herein by reference). However, bolus injection (as opposed to a more gradual intravenous infusion) significantly increases the risk of cerebral hemorrhage (Mehta et al., 2000). The development of an agent able to prevent thrombosis and/or increase thrombolysis, without augmenting the risk of bleeding, would be desirable.
Unstable angina, caused by inadequate oxygen delivery to the heart due to coronary occlusion, is the most common cause of admission to hospital, with 1.5 million cases a year in the United States alone. When patients with occlusion of coronary arteries are treated with angioplasty and stenting, the use of an antibody against platelet gp IIb/IIIa decreases the likelihood of restenosis. However, the same antibody has shown no benefit in unstable angina without angioplasty, and a better method for preventing coronary occlusion in these patients is needed.
Another important example of arterial thrombosis is cerebral thrombosis. Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is the only treatment for acute ischemic stroke that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The earlier it is administered the better (Ernst et al., Stroke 31:2552-2557 (2000), incorporated herein by reference). However, intravenous rtPA administration is associated with increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Full-blown strokes are often preceded by transient ischemic attacks (TIA), and it is estimated that about 300,000 persons suffer TIA every year in the United States. It would be desirable to have a safe and effective agent that could be administered as a bolus and would for several days prevent recurrence of cerebral thrombosis without increasing the risk of cerebral hemorrhage. Thrombosis also contributes to peripheral arterial occlusion in diabetics and other patients, and an efficacious and safe antithrombotic agent for use in such patients is needed.
Venous thrombosis is a frequent complication of surgical procedures such as hip and knee arthroplasties. It would be desirable to prevent thrombosis without increasing hemorrhage into the field of operation. Similar considerations apply to venous thrombosis associated with pregnancy and parturition. Some persons are prone to repeated venous thrombotic events and are currently treated by antithrombotic agents such as coumarin-type drugs. The dose of such drugs must be titrated in each patient, and the margin between effective antithrombotic doses and those increasing hemorrhage is small. Having a treatment with better separation of antithrombotic activity from increased risk of bleeding is desirable. All of the recently introduced antithrombotic therapies, including ligands of platelet gp IIb/IIIa, low molecular weight heparins, and a pentasaccharide inhibitor of factor Xa, carry an increased risk of bleeding (Levine et al., Chest 119:108S-121S (2001), incorporated herein by reference). Hence there is a need to explore alternative strategies for preventing arterial and venous thrombosis without augmenting the risk of hemorrhage.
To inhibit the extension of arterial or venous thrombi without increasing hemorrhage, it is necessary to exploit potential differences between mechanisms involved in hemostasis and those involved in thrombosis in large blood vessels. Primary hemostatic mechanisms include the formation of platelet microaggregates, which plug capillaries and accumulate over damaged or activated endothelial cells in small blood vessels. Inhibitors of platelet aggregation, including agents suppressing the formation or action of thromboxane A2, ligands of gp IIa/IIIb, and drugs acting on ADP receptors such as clopidogrel (Hallopeter, Nature 409:202-207 (2001), incorporated herein by reference), interfere with this process and therefore increase the risk of bleeding (Levine et al., 2001). In contrast to microaggregate formation, occlusion by an arterial or venous thrombus requires the continued recruitment and incorporation of platelets into the thrombus. To overcome detachment by shear forces in large blood vessels, platelets must be bound tightly to one another and to the fibrin network deposited around them.
Evidence has accumulated that the formation of tight macroaggregates of platelets is facilitated by a cellular and a humoral amplification mechanism, which reinforce each other. In the cellular mechanism, the formation of relatively loose microaggregates of platelets, induced by moderate concentrations of agonists such as ADP, thromboxane A2, or collagen, is accompanied by the release from platelet α-granules of the 85-kD protein Gas6 (Angelillo-Scherrer et al., Nature Medicine 7:215-221 (2001), incorporated herein by reference). Binding of released Gas6 to receptor tyrosine kinases (Axl, Sky, Mer) expressed on the surface of platelets induces complete degranulation and the formation of tight macroaggregates of these cells. In the humoral amplification mechanism, a prothrombinase complex is formed on the surface of activated platelets and microvesicles. This generates thrombin and fibrin. Thrombin is itself a potent platelet activator and inducer of the release of Gas6 (Ishimoto and Nakano, FEBS Lett. 446:197-199 (2000), incorporated herein by reference). Fully activated platelets bind tightly to the fibrin network deposited around them. Histological observations show that both platelets and fibrin are necessary for the formation of a stable coronary thrombus in humans (Falk et al. Interrelationship between atherosclerosis and thrombosis. In Vanstraete et al. (editors), Cardiovascular Thrombosis: Thrombocardiology and Thromboneurology. Philadelphia: Lipincott-Raven Publishers (1998), pp. 45-58, incorporated herein by reference). Another platelet adhesion molecule, amphoterin, is translocated to the platelet surface during activation, and binds anionic phospholipid (Rouhainen et al., Thromb. Hemost. 84:1087-1094 (2000), incorporated herein by reference). Like Gas6, amphoterin could form a bridge during platelet aggregation.
The question arises whether it is possible to inhibit these amplification mechanisms but not the initial platelet aggregation step, thereby preventing thrombosis without increasing hemorrhage. The importance of cellular amplification has recently been established by studies of mice with targeted inactivation of Gas6 (Angelillo-Scherrer et al., 2001). The Gas6−/− mice were found to be protected against thrombosis and embolism induced by collagen and epinephrine. However, the Gas6−/− mice did not suffer from spontaneous hemorrhage and had normal bleeding after tail clipping. Furthermore, antibodies against Gas6 inhibited platelet aggregation in vitro as well as thrombosis induced in vivo by collagen and epinephrine. In principle, such antibodies, or ligands competing for Gas6 binding to receptor tyrosine kinases, might be used to inhibit thrombosis. However, in view of the potency of humoral amplification, it might be preferable to inhibit that step. Ideally such an inhibitor would also have additional suppressive activity on the Gas6-mediated cellular amplification mechanism.
A strategy for preventing both cellular and humoral amplification of platelet aggregation is provided by the annexins, a family of highly homologous antithrombotic proteins of which ten are expressed in several human tissues (Benz and Hofmann, Biol. Chem. 378:177-183 (1997), incorporated herein be reference). Annexins share the property of binding calcium and negatively charged phospholipids, both of which are required for blood coagulation. Under physiological conditions, negatively charged phospholipid is mainly supplied by phosphatidylserine (PS) in activated or damaged cell membranes. In intact cells, PS is confined to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane bilayer and is not accessible on the surface. When platelets are activated, the amounts of PS accessible on their surface, and therefore the extent of annexin binding, are greatly increased (Sun et al., Thrombosis Res. 69:289-296 (1993), incorporated herein by reference). During activation of platelets, microvesicles are released from their surfaces, greatly increasing the surface area expressing anionic phospholipids with procoagulant activity (Merten et al., Circulation 99:2577-2582 (1999); Chow et al., J. Lab. Clin. Med. 135:66-72 (2000), both incorporated herein by reference). These may play an important role in the propagation of platelet-mediated arterial thrombi.
Proteins involved in the blood coagulation cascade (factors X, Xa, and Va) bind to membranes bearing PS on their surfaces, and to one another, forming a stable, tightly bound prothrombinase complex. Several annexins, including II, V, and VIII, bind PS with high affinity, thereby preventing the formation of a prothrombinase complex and exerting antithrombotic activity. Annexin V binds PS with very high affinity (Kd=1.7 nmol/L), greater than the affinity of factors X, Xa, and Va for negatively charged phospholipids (Thiagarajan and Tait, J. Biol. Chem. 265:17420-17423 (1990), incorporated herein by reference). Tissue factor-dependent blood coagulation on the surface of activated or damaged endothelial cells also requires surface expression of PS, and annexin V can inhibit this process (van Heerde et al., Arterioscl. Thromb. 14:824-830 (1994), incorporated herein by reference), although annexin is less effective in this activity than in inhibition of prothrombinase generation (Rao et al., Thromb. Res. 62:517-531 (1992), incorporated herein by reference).
The binding of annexin V to activated platelets and to damaged cells probably explains the selective retention of the protein in thrombi. This has been shown in experimental animal models of venous and arterial thrombosis (Stratton et al., Circulation 92:3113-3121 (1995); Thiagarajan and Benedict, Circulation 96:2339-2347 (1997), both incorporated herein by reference), and labeled annexin has been proposed for medical imaging of vascular thrombi in humans, with reduced noise and increased safety (Reno and Kasina, International Patent Application PCT/US95/07599 (WO 95/34315) (published Dec. 21, 1995), incorporated herein by reference). The binding to thrombi of a potent antithrombotic agent such as annexin V provides a strategy for preventing the extension or recurrence of thrombosis. Transient myocardial ischemia also increases annexin V binding (Dumont et al., Circulation 102:1564-1568 (2000), incorporated herein by reference). Annexin V imaging in humans has shown increased binding of the protein in transplanted hearts when endomyocardial biopsy has demonstrated vascular rejection (Acio et al., J. Nuclear Med. 41 (5 Suppl.):127P (2000), incorporated herein by reference). This binding is presumably due to PS exteriorized on the surface of damaged endothelial cells, as well as of apoptotic myocytes in hearts that are being rejected. It follows that administration of annexin after myocardial infarction should prevent the formation of pro-thrombotic complexes on both platelets and endothelial cells, thereby preventing the extension or recurrence of thrombosis. Annexin V binding is also augmented following cerebral hypoxia in humans (D'Arceuil et al., Stroke 2000: 2692-2700 (2000), incorporated herein by reference), which supports the hypothesis that administration of annexin following TIA may decrease the likelihood of developing a full-blown stroke.
Annexins have shown anticoagulant activity in several in vitro thrombin-dependent assays, as well as in experimental animal models of venous thrombosis (Romisch et al., Thrombosis Res. 61:93-104 (1991); Van Ryn-McKenna et al., Thrombosis Hemostasis 69:227-230 (1993), both incorporated herein by reference) and arterial thrombosis (Thiagarajan and Benedict, 1997). Remarkably, annexin in antithrombotic doses had no demonstrable effect on traditional ex vivo clotting tests in treated rabbits (Thiagarajan and Benedict, 1997) and did not significantly prolong bleeding times of treated rats (Van Ryn-McKenna et al., 1993). In treated rabbits annexin did not increase bleeding into a surgical incision (Thiagarajan and Benedict, 1997). Thus, uniquely among all the agents so far investigated, annexins exert antithrombotic activity without increasing hemorrhage. Annexins do not inhibit platelet aggregation triggered by agonists other than thrombin (van Heerde et al., 1994), and platelet aggregation is the primary hemostatic mechanism. In the walls of damaged blood vessels and in extravascular tissues, the tissue factor/VIIa complex also exerts hemostatic effects, and this system is less susceptible to inhibition by annexin V than is the prothrombinase complex (Rao et al., 1992). This is one argument for confining administered annexin V to the vascular compartment as far as possible; the risk of hemorrhage is likely to be reduced.
Despite such promising results for preventing thrombosis, a major problem associated with the therapeutic use of annexins is their short half-life in the circulation, estimated in experimental animals to be 5 to 15 minutes (Römisch et al., 1991; Stratton et al., 1995; Thiagarajan and Benedict, 1997); annexin V also has a short half-life in the circulation of humans (Strauss et al., J. Nuclear Med. 41 (5 Suppl.):149P (2000), incorporated herein by reference). Most of the annexin is lost into the urine, as expected of a 36 kDa protein (Thiagarajan and Benedict, 1997). There is a need, therefore, for a method of preventing annexin loss from the vascular compartment into the extravascular compartment and urine, thereby prolonging antithrombotic activity following a single injection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Modified annexin proteins, and methods and compositions for using them


Systems, methods, and computer program products receive an image request identifying an image having a width and a height. A number of interleaved buffers is identified, each of the interleaved buffers operable to store data associated with the image. The image is split into each of the interleaved buffers on a computing device. An interleaved image is displayed corresponding to at least one of the interleaved buffers, where the interleaved image having substantially the same width and height of the image.

The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computer program products for image rendering.
In rendering images for viewing on a computer display, there has always been a trade-off between rendering quality and speed. Better quality rendering typically takes more computing power and CPU time. In order to speed up a rendering, generally there are sacrifices that must be made in the quality. An example of a high quality rendering might be a photo-realistic image, while lower quality, fast rendering might be used for interactivity with an image.
Conventional attempts to render a high quality image, such as ray tracing image, can take a substantial amount of time to fully render include splitting an image into tiles. As a result, a conventional approach to rendering such an image is by rendering only portions, such as tiles, of the image at a time. This requires a user to wait for a portion of the image to be rendered, after which the user can view only the tile or portion of the image rather than the entire image.


An instrument is disclosed for inserting a modular implant, the instrument comprising a first end and a second end, the first end having engagement means for engaging a stem component of the modular implant, the engagement means comprising separation means for separating a body component of the modular implant and the stem component from one another so as to permit rotational positioning of the body component and the stem component relative to one another.

The aim of Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) is the reduction of pain and the restoration of function to a diseased hip joint via the substitution of engineered materials for the diseased tissue. Successful outcomes depend largely on the proper sizing, placement and orientation of the implant. Incorrect biomechanics (e.g. joint reaction forces, soft tissue balancing) can slow or prevent healing, cause gait abnormalities and lead directly to early implant failure.
There are three portions to the femoral side of a total hip prosthesis: the neck, body, and stem. In a one piece hip design, all three of these portions are a part of a solid construct. As a solid construct, the orientation of each portion with respect to one another is fixed and unchangeable. A surgeon implants one of these solid construct devices by attaching a handle or holder to the prosthesis and then driving it into a prepared opening in the bone. The orientation of the neck and stem is controlled by, and limited to, the orientation of the prepared opening in the bone.
With the invention of two-piece designs, specifically U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,839, issued to Noiles, incorporated herein by reference, and subsequently marketed and sold by DePuy, A Johnson and Johnson Company, under the "S-ROM Hip System" tradename, a surgeon is given the opportunity to independently orient the position of the implant body apart from the rotation or anteversion of the neck. In these designs, the stem and neck of the implant are a one-piece component and the body of the implant is a separate component. These devices also incorporate flutes or spines on the stems of the implant so as to provide additional resistance to rotation. These spines engage the bone during the initial few inches of insertion into the femoral canal, forcing the final location of the implant neck to be totally dependent on the initial insertion orientation of the distal stem. If the stem is fully inserted and the neck is incorrectly oriented, the entire implant must be removed, indexed, and reinserted. This iterative approach to neck placement is time consuming, damages the bone/implant interface, and results in the loss of implant stability. This problem is compounded when a bowed stem is used in place of a straight stem. The bow in the stem will follow the natural bend in femoral canal, which in turn dictates the final position of the femoral neck. Using two-piece modular implants, where the first piece is a neck with curved stem component and the second piece is the body component, a surgeon is given no choice or option for the femoral neck orientation with respect to the orientation of the bowed or curved stem.
With a three-piece modular implant, there is provided a stem component, a neck component, and a body component which are independent of one another and are independently adjustable with respect to one another. With insertion, the stem component and body component each seek a best fitting position within the femoral canal. Following insertion, the neck component can be oriented by a surgeon in order to establish optimal joint and motion mechanics.
Prior to insertion of an actual implant, the use of a mock implant or "trial" is desirable as a means of evaluating correct size and positioning. A surgeon uses the measurements taken from the trial implant so as to select the final implant components. A trial stem is generally smaller than an implant stem and is configured without spines or flutes so as to aid in the insertion and removal of the trial without damaging the bone/implant interface. When inserted into the prepared cavity in the bone, the stem component will follow the path of least resistance so long as its motion is not restricted otherwise. For this reason, it is advantageous to allow the implant stem rotational freedom with respect to the body when inserting the final implant. Although it is desirable for the stem component to be rotationally free during insertion, it is important for the stem component to be properly aligned with the body and neck components so as to ensure proper final assembly. Without this alignment, the stem may be off axis, making it difficult or impossible to assemble the neck and body segments along an axis.
Other methods for implanting two-piece or three-piece modular devices where the stem component is separate from the body and/or neck component(s) include inserting the stem component until it is proud of its intended final position and then using the body component to seat the stem by impaction. For example, a two-piece system having separate stem and combination body/neck components is manufactured and sold by the Biomet Corporation, under the "Impact Hip System" tradename. For further example, a three-piece system having separate stem, body, and neck components is manufactured and sold by the Exactech Corporation, under the "Accumatch M-Series Hip System" tradename. In both examples, impaction of the body onto the stem also serves to secure the stem and body assembly. One disadvantage of this method is that stem/body orientation must be determined visually prior to full seating and may shift during implantation. Another disadvantage is that the assembly force is equivalent to the resistance of the stem sliding down the canal. If the stem moves in the canal during final assembly, the stem may be driven too deeply into the canal causing surgical delays, or the stem and body will not be tightly assembled, leading to fretting, corrosion, and early failure of the construct.

Method and instruments for inserting modular implant components


A highly suitable power conservation technique involves extending multiple word lines over a memory array row and connecting a portion of the memory cells of the memory array row to each of the word lines. Power is supplied only to the portion of the memory cells that is accessed, eliminating the static power consumption of the non-accessed memory cells. By connecting multiple word lines to select a portion of a memory row, a column address of the memory is mapped into a row decode space. Multiple metal layers in a complex integrated circuit may be exploited to form cache block select lines using multiple word lines per cell row. A storage includes a plurality of storage cells arranged in an array of rows and columns, a plurality of bit lines connecting the array of storage cells into columns, and a plurality of word lines connecting the array of storage cells into rows. The plurality of word lines include multiple word lines for a single row of the plurality of rows so that multiple portions of the storage cells in the single row are addressed by corresponding multiple word lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to memory architectures for usage in circuits including microprocessors. More specifically, the invention relates to memory addressing circuit and memory addressing technique for accessing memory cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microprocessor architectures are continually evolving to improve and extend the capabilities of personal computers. Execution speed, power consumption, and circuit size are aspects of microprocessors and microprocessor performance that are constantly addressed by processor architects and designers in the ongoing quest for an improved product. Execution speed not only depends on the clock rate of a processor, but also upon the speed of interfaces such as cache memories and buses that supply instructions and data for execution by a processor core.
The reduction or minimization of power consumption is a highly desirable design objective for the integrated circuits in a microprocessor. Microprocessors are typically designed for usage in portable applications in which power consumption is strictly limited to a selected power envelope. In such applications, nearly every circuit is scrutinized to achieve as low a power consumption as is possible. Even in nonportable applications, conservation of power is a paramount design consideration.
What is needed is a memory addressing circuit and technique for accessing memory that reduces power consumption, decreases the physical size of memory for a given memory capacity, and improves memory access time.

Memory block select using multiple word lines to address a single memory cell row


This invention is the exogenous application of serotonin, melatonin and related derivatives to regulate flowering in plants.

Field of the Invention
This invention is the exogenous application of serotonin, melatonin and related derivatives to regulate flowering in plants. Flowering involves the developmental transition of the shoot meristem from vegetative to reproductive growth. In the majority of species of flowering plants, which includes nearly all crop plants and horticultural species, the transition to flowering is regulated by daylength, and thus these species are considered to be "photoperiodic" with regard to their reproductive regulation. This limits year-round production of many crops, and breeding efforts to modify photoperiodic behavior have been critical to development of early season varieties in crops such as strawberry.
Melatonin is known to be a potent hormone associated with photoperiodic reproductive behavior in animals, lower organisms and dinoflagellates and its cell and molecular biology has been extensively investigated in animal systems. However, melatonin has not been previously reported in plants. This invention is based on the discovery that melatonin induces flowering in plants. The metabolic pathway for production of melatonin uses serotonin as a precursor (see FIG. 1). The relative amounts of serotonin to melatonin are responsible for triggering flowering. Exogonous levels of serotonin are able to inhibit flowering.
Regulation of flowering is of significant economic value. The inhibition of premature flowering and stimulation of flowering after a plant reaches maximal size can increase flower and seed yields dramatically. Alternatively, in geographical regions where the growing season is short, the stimulation of precocious flowering can increase the range of late-maturing crops, for example soybean. Finally, by stimulating flowering to be uniform among a field or stand, harvest costs can be minimized.

Methods for controlling flowering in plants

The Regents of the University of California


A photographic processing apparatus having a checking function to collating negative films and prints. The photographic processing apparatus includes a trouble detecting device 5j for detecting a trouble of collating disagreement occurring during processing of the negative films 2 and printing paper 3 to affect collation between the negative films 2 and prints 3 in one unit, and a notifying device 180 operable in response to trouble information provided by the trouble detecting device 5j for notifying that finished products transported by a collating transport device 70 have the trouble of collating disagreement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a photographic processing apparatus having an exposing section for printing images of negative films received from a negative film feeder on printing paper, a negative film outlet for discharging the negative films used in the exposing section, a developing section for developing the printing paper printed, a print outlet for cutting the printing paper developed to predetermined lengths, and discharging the cut printing paper as prints, and a collating transport mechanism for receiving the negative films discharged unit by unit from the negative film outlet and the prints discharged unit by unit from the print outlet and having the images of the negative films in corresponding units, and combining and transporting the negative films and prints as finished products.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the photographic processing apparatus noted above, a combination of negative films and prints processed as one unit usually is based on a single length of negative film or one set of piece negatives (cut negative films each having four or six frames) ordered by a customer. This one unit is called on order also. When the same customer orders printing of several negative films or several sets of piece negatives at the same time, they are processed as separate orders. A photographic processing apparatus for collating piece negatives (one long negative film ultimately being cut to piece negatives of a predetermined length) and prints in one order or unit and automatically putting the negatives and prints in a product packet is known from Japanese Patent Publication Kokai No. H6-43622, for example. This photographic processing apparatus includes a stage of collating piece negatives and prints, in which the piece negatives in one unit inserted into negative sheets after an exposing process are put into a print packet printed with an ID number of these piece negatives. The ID number on the print packet is compared with ID numbers of prints transported unit by unit by a sorter. The prints in one unit having the same ID number are put into this print packet to be combined with the piece negatives having this ID number.
With this collating system, where the piece negatives and prints transported successively have disagreeing ID numbers, it is necessary to check one ID number after another of the piece negatives and prints. Thus, a disagreement in ID number involves a troublesome recovery operation. Even where such disagreement occurs with piece negatives and prints in only one order, the other, agreeing piece negatives and prints also must be checked during the recovery operation. This results in a substantial reduction in the operating rate of the photographic processing apparatus.


An apparatus and method for controlling driving of a vehicle, and a vehicle system are provided. The apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a determination device that determines a closed state of an engine clutch, based on a state of a motor or an engine of the vehicle when a state of the engine clutch is unknown by an engine clutch controller. A state determination device receives information from the determination device to thus determine whether the engine clutch is in a closed or open state. A motor controller allows reverse rotation of the motor for reverse driving control of the vehicle in response to determining that the engine clutch is in the open state.

An engine clutch system of a hybrid vehicle is mounted between an engine and an electric motor to transfer or block the driving force of the engine based on a driver's request and the vehicle's state, thereby enabling the vehicle to drive in an electric vehicle (EV) mode and a hybrid electric vehicle (HEY) mode. When it is difficult to determine the state of an engine clutch using an engine clutch controller, the engine clutch system determines the state of the engine clutch to be "unknown". When the state of the engine clutch is determined to be "unknown" in the hybrid vehicle from which a reverse (R) gear is removed, the engine may rotate in reverse due to lockup of the engine clutch when the motor rotates in reverse for reverse driving control, and therefore reverse driving may be impossible.

Apparatus and method for controlling driving of vehicle, and vehicle system


Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a memory cell string including memory cells located in different levels of the apparatus and a data line coupled to the memory cell string. The memory cell string includes a pillar body associated with the memory cells. At least one of such apparatus can include a module configured to store information in a memory cell among memory cells and/or to determine a value of information stored in a memory cell among memory cells. The module can also be configured to apply a voltage having a positive value to the data line and/or a source to control a potential of the body. Other embodiments are described.

Memory devices, such as flash memory, are widely used in computers and many electronic items. Such memory devices have numerous memory cells. Information can be stored in the memory cells in a write operation. The stored information can be obtained in a read operation or can be cleared in an erase operation. Some conventional read, write, and erase operations may generate excess carriers (e.g., electrons or holes) in some areas of the memory device. In some situations, such excess carriers may affect the reliability of these operations.

Apparatuses and methods to control body potential in memory operations


Tin oxide films are used as spacers and hardmasks in semiconductor device manufacturing. In one method, tin oxide layer (e.g., spacer footing) needs to be selectively etched in a presence of an exposed silicon-containing layer, such as SiOC, SiON, SiONC, amorphous silicon, SiC, or SiN. In order to reduce damage to the silicon-containing layer the process involves passivating the silicon-containing layer towards a tin oxide etch chemistry, etching the tin oxide, and repeating passivation and etch in an alternating fashion. For example, passivation and etch can be each performed between 2-50 times. In one implementation, passivation is performed by treating the substrate with an oxygen-containing reactant, activated in a plasma, and the tin oxide etching is performed by a chlorine-based chemistry, such as using a mixture of Cl2 and BCl3.

In integrated circuit (IC) fabrication, deposition and etching techniques are used for forming patterns of materials, such as for forming metal lines embedded in dielectric layers. Some patterning schemes involve the use of spacers that enable precise patterning and formation of small-scale features. Spacers are formed on a substrate, such that they are separated by defined distances (typically determined by previous patterning), and are used as masks for patterning of underlying layers. The materials of spacers and of surrounding layers are selected to have appropriate etch selectivity that would enable both formation of spacers, and patterning of underlying layers. After the patterning is completed, the spacers are removed by etching, and are not part of the final fabricated semiconductor device.
Spacers are used for patterning in a variety of applications, including formation of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), patterning fins in fin field effect transistors (finFETs), and in back end of line (BEOL) processing.
The background description provided herein is for the purposes 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.

Alternating etch and passivation process


A telephone line interface section, which has a selector switch for selectively connecting two of a facsimile section, a telephone line and an information unit such as a personal computer, is provided. The telephone line interface section is provided with a telephone line monitor which detects an ON/OFF state of a start switch for directing the facsimile section to be operated and detects existence or non-existence of a DC loop current which is a connecting signal at the time when the facsimile section is connected to an external telephone switchboard via the telephone line. The selector switch connects the facsimile section to the information unit based upon the telephone line monitor when the start switch is in the ON state and the connecting signal is not detected. As a result, in the case where the facsimile section is used as a scanner and printer of the information unit, the facsimile section can be simply connected to the information unit.

Conventionally, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-187960/1988 (Tokukaisho 63-187960) discloses a communication adapter for personal computer (i.e., PC) communication in PC and facsimile (i.e., FAX) communication via a common public telephone line (i.e., telephone line).
The communication adapter has an automatic receiving device connected to the telephone line, and a first terminal which connects the PC to the automatic receiving device. The automatic receiving device automatically performs a sequential operation for receiving data via the telephone line.
The communication adapter has a second terminal connected to the FAX, and a switching device which connects the second terminal to the telephone line based upon an identifying (i.e., ID) signal representing FAX communication included in the received data.
In such a communication adapter, when the ID signal is detected by the automatic receiving device at the time of FAX communication from the telephone line, the switching device intermittently connects the FAX to the telephone line via the second terminal based upon the ID signal. As a result, data can be automatically received via the communication adapter by selectively connecting one telephone line to the PC or FAX.
However, in the above conventional arrangement, since the FAX is connected to the PC so as to be used as a scanner or a printer of the PC, not only the usual operation for FAX communication but also an operation by a user for selecting a switch are required. Therefore, there arises such a problem that the data communication is complicated.
In addition, in the above conventional arrangement, in order to use the FAX as a scanner or a printer of PC, a certain connecting function is required for connecting FAX to PC. For example, a data converting function such as RS232C is required on the FAX side for connecting the FAX to the PC. Moreover, in the case where protocol used for data communication with PC is controlled by software on the FAX side, the burden of the software is increased. As a result, there arises a problem that the cost of the FAX rises dependent on connecting functions and software.

Facsimile apparatus and communication method thereof


A portable electronic apparatus includes: a non-contact type integrated circuit module; a magnetic recording device including: a magnetic recording medium; and a magnetic head that is adapted to be moved from a predetermined retract position to the magnetic recording medium for writing or reading of information; a magnetic detection unit that detects a magnetic force; and a control device that is adapted to make the magnetic head retract from the magnetic recording medium to the retract position when the magnetic head is positioned above the magnetic recording medium in response to the magnetic detection unit detecting the magnetic force.

The present invention relates to a portable electronic apparatus that includes a magnetic recording device, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) apparatus, and a non-contact type integrated circuit (IC) module, e.g., a portable telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a music player, a digital camera, and a digital video camera.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-345930, filed Nov. 30, 2004, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.


An intrinsically safe (IS) luminaire disposed in a hazardous environment provides visible light and serves as a primary, auxiliary, back-up, and/or charging source of IS DC power for external devices disposed in the hazardous environment, such as process control devices and equipment. The luminaire includes a power converter that converts received power into DC power, an IS barrier that converts the DC power into IS DC power native to or utilized by a recipient external device, and a power distribution port via which IS DC power is delivered to the external device. In some configurations, the luminaire monitors communicates statuses, alerts, and/or other information corresponding to delivering IS DC power to one or more external devices to a host and/or portable communication device. The luminaire may include multiple IS barriers of same and/or different IS ratings, and may dynamically control activation/deactivation of the IS barriers and/or usages thereof.

The background description provided within this document is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent 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.
Intrinsically safe, explosion proof, or other hazardous rated luminaires, lighting units, and light fixtures provide general, ambient light and/or task or focused light within hazardous environments such as industrial process plants, manufacturing facilities, oil refineries, power-generating systems, mines, and the like. As such, intrinsically safe and/or explosion proof luminaires, lighting units, and light fixtures must comply with all standards and/or regulatory rules that are applicable to the particular hazardous environment in which they are disposed, e.g., to prevent ignition and/or explosion of hazardous atmospheric mixtures such as flammable gases and/or dust, to protect electronics within the luminaire from being compromised or damaged, to contain any explosion that may occur, etc. Such luminaires may be rated by Class, Division, and Group. For example, Class I Division 1, or Class I Division 2 Group D, E, and F are commonly required ratings for products that are located in hazardous environments within the petrochemical industry, in which flammable vapors may be present. Generally speaking, intrinsically safe, explosion proof, or other hazardous rated luminaires and light fixtures are designed to limit undesirable and/or dangerous effects of thermal and/or electrical energy generated during both their normal use and maintenance, as well as during fault conditions. For ease of reading, intrinsically safe, explosion proof, or other hazardous rated luminaires, lighting units, and/or light fixtures that are located in hazardous environments are generically referred to herein as "hazardous environment (HE) luminaires, lighting units, and/or light fixtures", and/or simply as "luminaires, lighting units, and/or light fixtures."
Similar to HE luminaires, other types of electronic equipment disposed in hazardous environments also utilize intrinsically safe (IS) configurations and implementations to mitigate risk (e.g., of ignition, fire, explosion, etc.), and must comply with all standards and/or regulatory rules that are applicable to the particular hazardous environment in which they are disposed. For example, within industrial power plants, process control devices such as controllers, field devices (e.g., sensors, valves, actuators, etc.), and other electronic devices are configured and installed using IS techniques and equipment. For instance, to provide power to electronic devices disposed in the hazardous environment, an AC power panel or other type of AC power source may be installed in a non-hazardous environment. The AC power generated by the AC power source is converted into DC power, which traverses through an IS barrier prior to being delivered into the hazardous environment. Alternatively, a non-IS DC power source may be installed in the non-hazardous environment, and the power generated by the non-IS DC power source may traverse through the IS barrier prior to being delivered into the hazardous environment. Within the hazardous environment, IS DC power produced via the IS barrier is delivered to various electronic devices via respective IS wiring and cabling runs, thereby providing IS DC power to electronic devices disposed in the hazardous environment.
Accordingly, to provide IS DC power to electronic devices that are disposed in hazardous environments, IS wiring and cabling must be individually run from the IS barrier to each HE electronic device. Consequently, intrinsic safety barrier implementation and power delivery is very expensive, e.g., in materials and products, time, and costs needed to install and maintain the IS cabling runs to each individual HE electronic device. Further, IS cabling runs may result in electronic devices being mounted or installed in less than ideal locations for industrial process purposes merely to accommodate the physical requirements and limitations of the IS cabling mechanisms, thus adding to the costs and complexity of installing and maintaining electronic devices within the hazardous environment.

Luminaire as an intrinsically safe power source


An automotive shift change control system and automatic transmission system is provided to give passengers a comfortable feeling of shift changing or of driving. A transmission connects a vehicle-driving engine, an electrical rotary machine, and axles via a differential gearbox, transmits the power of the engine to the axles via the electrical rotary machine during a shift change, and conducts the shift change. The automotive shift change control unit that controls the change gear ratio of the transmission includes a driving force controller to control the driving force of the electrical rotary machine, a shift-changing speed controller to send a driving force command from the electrical rotary machine to the driving force controller, and a target shift-changing speed changeover device to output the target shift-changing speed that becomes a target value of the shift-changing speed controlled by the shift-changing speed controller.

1. Field of Technology
The present invention relates generally to shift change control systems and automatic transmission systems of automobiles. More particularly, the invention relates to a shift change control system of an automobile, intended for controlling an automatic transmission system that is a combination of a shift change mechanism and a motor. In addition, the invention is concerned with an automatic transmission system of the automobile.
2. Background of Art
Conventional automatic transmission systems typically employ a planetary-gear-type or parallel-shaft-type transmission to shift gears by selectively engaging one of the independent clutches provided for each gear different in change gear ratio.
As described in, for example, Japanese Application Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-113932, a system is also proposed that implements active shift changing by combining a motor and a parallel-shaft-type transmission with two input shafts.
[Patent Reference 1] Japanese Application Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-113932

Shift change control system and automatic transmission system of automobile


A method for braking a motor vehicle in critical driving situations in which the risk exists that the transverse forces acting on the vehicle will become so great in the continued progression of its movement that it rolls over laterally. In order to reduce the risk of a lateral rollover, the vehicle operation is monitored with regard to such critical driving situations and a parking brake is activated automatically if a critical driving situation is detected.

A risk of lateral rollover exists in particular in vehicles having a high center of gravity, for example, vans or small trucks in which the transverse forces acting on the vehicle become critical even at low speeds. For that reason, the driver must decelerate the vehicle in good time in curves or steering maneuvers to limit the vehicle's transverse acceleration. The higher the vehicle's center of gravity, the sooner must the speed be reduced. If the driver brakes too late, a vehicle dynamics controller, such as ESP, usually intervenes in the vehicle operation, braking the vehicle automatically. In the case of very heavy vehicles having high-volume brake systems, however, the increase in braking force generated by the vehicle dynamics controller may be too small to decelerate the vehicle to the adequate extent. For that reason, the risk continues to exist that the vehicle will roll over.

Method for braking a motor vehicle in critical driving situations


A package for products packed in blister packs comprises a housing, a tray-shaped slide which is slidably accommodated in the housing in a sliding direction as well as a number of blister packs stacked inside the tray-shaped slide. The tray-shaped slide comprises a bottom wall and side walls connected to the bottom wall. The tray-shaped slide is provided with a pen, while each blister pack is provided with an passage, wherein the pen of the tray-shaped slide extends through the passages of all blister packs stacked inside the tray-shaped slide.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,854,325B2 discloses such kind of packages being suitable for medication blister packs. The package comprises a package housing and a drawer being slidable with respect to the package housing. The blister packs can be laid loosely in the drawer. This has the disadvantage that the blister pack can be removed from the drawer, even if the drawer is only slightly slid out of the package housing, whereby there is a risk that small children can obtain access to the blister packs and its content.
By another embodiment a folded blister pack is connected by a film hinge to the drawer. The blister pack is thus connected directly to the drawer and offers the possibility of being unfolded to allow removal of the medications. By yet another embodiment the blister pack is welded at a point to the drawer. By yet a further embodiment the blister pack has at one end an insertion tab, which can be inserted into a corresponding opening formed in an edge of the drawer. In case that the blister pack is connected directly to the drawer, a medication blister pack, for example, cannot be removed from the drawer and therefore cannot be lost.
However, a disadvantage of this known package is that the blister packs need to be connected to each other or to the tray-shaped slide, which requires additional process steps. Furthermore, connecting the blister pack to the tray-shaped slide is only possible for one single blister pack and nearly impossible for a number of blister packs.

Package for products packed in blister packs, a tray-shaped slide suitable for such a package, a blister pack suitable for such a package as well as a housing suitable for such a package


Simultaneously decoding one or more variable length code symbols including storing in a bit FIFO at least a portion of a variable length coded bit stream; storing a succession of extracted bit fields of predetermined bit length from the variable length coded bit stream in the bit FIFO; defining at least one inspection field in the extracted bit field, each inspection field identifying at least one variable length code symbol; and storing in look-up table a decode value uniquely addressable by each bit combination of the inspection field for reading out the one or more decode values corresponding to the unique address defined by the inspection field.

Compressions standards both video and audio, e.g. MPEG-4, H.263, MPEG-2, VC-1, WMV, WMA, AAC, MP3 employ with Huffman or other unambiguous code symbol schemes. For example MPEG-2 is a lossy video compression standard which enhances still-picture compression, using the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) and run length coding, with motion compensation. Motion compensation exploits temporal redundancy in the video stream and provides much higher compression ratios. Run length or Huffman coding, is a mapping process between source symbols and variable length code words. The variable length coder assigns shorter code words to frequently occurring source symbols, and longer for infrequently occurring symbols. This coding selects the number of bits based on known probabilities so that a data string is decoded as the bits arrive in the data stream. One of the important features of MPEG is that there are three types of frames, which are used for reducing the temporal redundancy. In the first frame type called intra (I), all the macroblocks in the frame are encoded without reference to other frames. In the second type, called predictive (P), in addition to intra macroblocks, some macroblock are encoded with motion compensation based on the previous I or P frames. In the third frame type, called bidirectional predictive (B), there are some macroblocks which are encoded with motion compensation based on either previous or succeeding I or P frames. Profiling the algorithm to determine the execution time of the different stages of the algorithm shows that VLD portion is roughly 30%. The Variable Length Decoding (VLD) is a sequential process that drives the throughput of the decoder processing pipe, the rest of the processing pipe can be parallelized. To be able to decode bigger images like 720 p or up to 1080 p the VLD process needs to be accelerated. Accelerating VLD is a challenging task because it requires sequential access to the bit stream.

Variable length decoder system and method


A disk-based storage system for storing a plurality of data segments responds to a direction-selection signal by autonomously providing the data segments in a selected sequence so as to be concatenated together to define a continuous data stream. The disk-based storage system comprises nonvolatile storage including rotating disk media having a plurality of addressable locations. Each of the data segments is stored in a respective one of the addressable locations. Each of the addressable locations has a leading end and a trailing end. A first one of the addressable locations has a trailing end on a first track, and a second one of the addressable locations has a leading end on a second track, the second track being spaced from the first track. The non-volatile storage provides for locally storing a doubly-linked list of pointers. The system also comprises accessing structure controllable to seek to, and access, any of the addressable locations starting at the leading end and continuing through the trailing end. The system also comprises controller structure for causing the accessing structure to read the data segments in accordance with a sequence determined by the doubly-linked list of pointers and the direction-selection signal. The controller structure includes autonomously-operating control structure responsive to the trailing end of the first one of the locations having been read for causing the accessing structure to seek to the second track.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, this invention relates to a disk-based storage system; more particularly, it relates to such a system that receives a direction-selection signal and autonomously controls seeks in a sequence determined by the direction-selection signal and a locally-stored doubly linked list.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of related markets exist for disk-based storage systems for supporting the playback of data streams such as audio/visual (xe2x80x9cA/Vxe2x80x9d) streams. Among these are markets for image repositories, video on demand, networked video, and consumer TV time shifting.
Disk-based storage systems designed for these markets are described in various patents. Among these are: U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,383, titled xe2x80x9cVIDEO TIME-SHIFTING APPARATUSxe2x80x9d; U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,435, titled xe2x80x9cMULTI-USER, ON-DEMAND VIDEO STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM INCLUDING VIDEO SIGNATURE COMPUTATION FOR PREVENTING EXCESSIVE INSTANTANEOUS SERVER DATA RATExe2x80x9d; U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,747, titled xe2x80x9cPREFETCHING TO SERVICE MULTIPLE VIDEO STREAMS FROM AN INTEGRATED CACHED DISK ARRAYxe2x80x9d; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,915, titled xe2x80x9cSYSTEM HAVING CLIENT SENDING EDIT COMMANDS TO SERVER DURING TRANSMISSION OF CONTINUOUS MEDIA FROM ONE CLIP IN PLAY LIST FOR EDITING THE PLAY LIST.xe2x80x9d
A performance requirement for substantially all such disk-based storage systems is to respond to user control. As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cuser controlxe2x80x9d refers to inputs provided by the user or operator (such as xe2x80x9cplay,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cfast forward,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cpause,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9crewind,xe2x80x9d etc.). The xe2x80x9cplayxe2x80x9d item indicates a forward direction and the xe2x80x9crewindxe2x80x9d item indicates a reverse direction. A market requirement for substantially all such disk-based storage systems is to be cost effective, whereby a mass market consumer system needs to be extremely low in cost, but even a high-performance broadcast-market system needs to be cost competitive.
A problem commonly arising in the disk-based systems designed for these markets relates to reducing command-protocol latency and doing so in a cost-effective way.
With respect to cost effectiveness, a system design benefits from incorporating component subsystems that are, or are easily-modified versions of, mass-produced products. This is the case even in high-performance broadcast-market systems, as indicated in some of the above-identified patents that emphasize the advantage of building the system with component subsystems that constitute or are derived from commodity products such as commodity personal computers and commodity disk drives.
With respect to command-protocol latency, a system design benefits from reducing such latency, thereby to provide more bandwidth for handling the core functions needed for streaming. Command-protocol latency generally includes a number of elements that can be described with reference to communication between disk-drive structure and host structure. The term host structure is used in a very broad sense and includes without limitation standalone structure such as the commodity computers described as stream servers in some of the above-identified patents, and other structure such as programmable microprocessor-based circuitry integrated into the front end of a disk-based storage system such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,069, titled xe2x80x9cIMPLEMENTING MASS STORAGE DEVICE FUNCTIONS USING HOST PROCESSOR MEMORY,xe2x80x9d or in U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,337, titled xe2x80x9cMASS STORAGE DEVICES UTILIZING HIGH SPEED SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS,xe2x80x9d or in published European Patent Application No. EP 0 757 310 A2, titled xe2x80x9cCONTROLLING DISK DRIVES,xe2x80x9d (this published application describing a disk drive in column 11, lines 22 et seq., which includes a disk scheduler as part of an integrated disk drive. For brevity hereinafter, such host structure is referred to as a xe2x80x9chost.xe2x80x9d Similarly, the term xe2x80x9cdisk-drive structurexe2x80x9d is used in a very broad sense to encompass hard disk drives having industry-standard interfaces such as IDE, SCSI, 1394, etc., and also to encompass head disk assemblies (xe2x80x9cHDA""sxe2x80x9d) and associated electronics such portions of integrated drive/host systems; such disk-drive structure is hereinafter sometimes briefly referred to as a xe2x80x9cdrive.xe2x80x9d
Command-protocol latency includes a number of elements. One of these elements is a software-associated latency relating to execution of instructions to organize and issue a host command. Two other elements are latencies that relate to the transmission and reception of the command while it propagates from the host and while it is received by the drive. An additional element relates to the latency involved in parsing of the command by the drive. For additional background regarding command-protocol latency, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,998, titled xe2x80x9cMETHOD FOR ANALYZING PERFORMANCE OF COMPUTER PERIPHERALSxe2x80x9d; note particularly FIG. 2 and column 4, lines 22-54.
As for certain high-performance broadcast-market systems, the prior art (such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,915 cited above and hereinafter referred to as the ""915 patent) teaches a hierarchical arrangement involving multiple levels of command-protocol latency. As shown in FIG. 28 of the ""915 patent, the described system includes, at a first level of the hierarchy, a controller server; at a second level of the hierarchy, a stream server; and at a third level of the hierarchy, a cached disk array. Each of the controller servers and each of the stream servers is described as being a high-end commodity computer including an Intel processor such as a Pentium and including substantial amount of random access memory (RAM) such as 64 megabytes.
The hierarchical arrangement of the ""915 patent involves a distribution among the levels of certain important control functions associated with storing control data, and involves communications between the various levels in which communications there are numerous dialogs and control-data transfers. In accord with this distribution important lists of control data are stored remotely from the drives in the cached disk array. These remotely stored lists are the subject of the following dialogs and control-data transfers between the various levels: One such dialog and transfer is the sending and delivery of a remotely-stored stripe set list from the controller server to a selected one of the steam servers. The controller server maintains a clip directory and numerous such remotely-stored stripe set lists. Each remotely-stored stripe set list is associated with a respective clip identified in the clip directory. Each remotely-stored stripe set list includes a doubly-linked list of entries, and each entry includes a starting stripe set number, an ending stripe set number, and a value indicating the number of data segments included in the terminal stripe set. Therefore, each entry in the list represents in sequence data segments beginning in the initial stripe set, continuing in any intermediate stripe set, and ending in the terminal stripe set. Multiple other such dialogs and transfers occur as the stream server controls the cached disk array. Each stream server remotely maintains a pointer to the current play position in the clip it is currently controlling for a client. The stream server repeatedly issues prefetch commands to the cached disk array so that the succession of stripe sets 325 are prefetched one by one from the drives in the cached disk array. The command-protocol latencies involved are significant factors adversely affecting the overall performance of the system.
This invention can be regarded as a disk-based storage system for storing a plurality of data segments and for responding to a direction-selection signal by autonomously providing the data segments in a selected sequence so as to be concatenated together to define a continuous data stream. The direction-selection signal is preferably defined in response to user control for selecting direction including xe2x80x9cforwardxe2x80x9d corresponding to xe2x80x9cplayxe2x80x9d for an A/V stream; the form of the direction-control signal is subject to a broad range including but not limited to multi-bit commands (whether serial or parallel), or a binary-valued logic signal, or other form of signal. The disk-based storage system comprises nonvolatile storage means including rotating disk media having a plurality of addressable locations. Each of the data segments is stored in a respective one of the addressable locations. Each of the addressable locations has a leading end and a trailing end. As used herein, the terms xe2x80x9cleadingxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9ctrailingxe2x80x9d refer to those portions of an addressable location or of a data structure or field which are first and last to encounter a given read/write head, respectively, based on a given rotation of rotating media.
A first one of the addressable locations has a trailing end on a first track, and a second one of the addressable locations has a leading end on a second track, the second track being spaced from the first track.
Significantly, the non-volatile storage means includes means locally storing a doubly-linked list of pointers. Preferably, the doubly-linked list of pointers is stored in the disk media.
The disk-based storage system also comprises accessing means controllable to seek to, and access, any of the addressable locations starting at the leading end and continuing through the trailing end.
Significantly, the disk-based storage system also comprises controller means for causing the accessing means to read the data segments in accordance with a sequence determined by the doubly-linked list of pointers and the direction-selection signal. The controller means includes autonomously-operating control means responsive to the trailing end of the first one of the locations having been read for causing the accessing means to seek to the second track.
Embodiments of the invention have significant advantages including an advantage with respect to providing enabling technology for reducing command-protocol latency and doing so in a cost-effective way.
In one embodiment, a disk-based storage system according to the invention receives an record control signal, and thereafter receives a continuous stream of digital data. The disk-based storage system autonomously divides the continuous stream into segments. Significantly, the disk-based storage system autonomously generates the doubly-linked list of pointers for subsequent use in reproducing the continuous stream.
The pointers have address fields and optionally other useful information (such as status flags) which allow the disk-based storage system to operate autonomously using locally stored information to reconstruct a desired sequence of segments without adverse overhead occasioned by command-protocol latency.
Preferably, the pointers are generated based on a deterministic algorithm which accounts for the seek, rotational, and head switching latencies associated with the disk drive, and maintains such latencies within predefined limits.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the nonvolatile storage means includes random access memory such as flash memory, and the pointers are stored within the random access memory.
Suitably, the rotating disk media comprises a plurality of magnetic hard disks included in a hard disk drive which also includes a microcontroller, a disk controller, a buffer memory, an I/O processor and an I/O interface. When receiving data via the I/O interface, the disk controller and microcontroller cooperate to dynamically generate the pointers for each incoming data segment and write them to the media with associated data segments. Address locations for the data segments in each data stream is chosen so as to maintain the latency associated with the storage and retrieval of the streaming data within predefined limits. When reading data from the disk media, the disk controller and microcontroller read the pointers associated with each data segment, and in response read the outgoing data stream in sequence.
Another preferred feature involves an improved digital data structure useful in streaming operations. In one embodiment, the data structure involves an identification (ID) field, a data segment, and one or more head-directed and/or tail-directed pointers associated or appended to the data segment. Preferably, each of the pointers has a physical address (head, sector, cylinder or logical block address (LBA) and one or more xe2x80x9ctagxe2x80x9d bits. The tag bits convey information about the associated individual data segment or digital data stream. In this manner, the data structure is self-defining. In one embodiment of the data structure, the pointers are embedded within the data segment. In another embodiment, the pointers are appended to or within the servo wedge.
Another preferred feature involves a method of storing and/or retrieving multiple digital data streams. According to this feature, the disk media are pre-formatted for a pre-selected number of different data streams, such that the latency between streams is kept below a desired value.
Another preferred feature involves an improved method of editing. According to this feature, the method comprises identifying the address of predecessor and successor blocks to the data segment being edited, and modifying the pointers associated with the predecessor and successor blocks so as to reflect the addition or deletion of the edited data segments. The method comprises identifying the predecessor and successor data segments for the first and last data segments in the data stream being edited, and modifying the pointers associated with those blocks to reflect the addresses of the first and last data segments in the data stream.
Another preferred feature involves a pointer error correction method. According to this feature, the error correction method comprises signaling the buffer manager when an uncorrectable pointer error occurs; retrying to correct the error; applying the pointer generation algorithm to generate the next logical seek address and an associated head-directed pointer for that address; and testing the head-directed pointer in the generated data segment.

DISK-BASED STORAGE SYSTEM RESPONSIVE TO A DIRECTION-SELECTION SIGNAL FOR AUTONOMOUSLY CONTROLLING SEEKS IN A SEQUENCE DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTION-SELECTION SIGNAL AND A LOCALLY-STORED DOUBLY LINKED LIST


Process and system for producing color images and/or multispectral images in which an optical arrangement (3) images a scene on a CCD image sensor (2), said sensor being covered by a mosaic filter with a periodically repeating basic pattern (GM). A following analog/digital converter (5) produces digital signals from all pixels p.sub.ij of the CCD image sensor (2). The basic pattern (GM) consists of a minimum of five different filter elements. In addition, an image memory (6) is provided which is divided into image memory levels (B.sub.0, B.sub.1, . . . , B.sub.nF). The process comprises the follow steps:. storing of values (werti!j!0!) of each individual pixel (p.sub.ij) of the CCD image sensor (2) in a dedicated level B.sub.0 of the image memory (6), said values being determined by the CCD image sensor (2) and converted by a following analog/digital converter (5) into digital values; PA1 determining an "unfocussed image" in the following way: for each color f and for each pixel p the neighboring pixels of color f are measured, their values read from B.sub.0 and combined to arrive at a weighted average value; PA1 storing of values (werti!j!f!) for all the different filter elements on the CCD image sensor in dedicated image memory levels (B.sub.1, B.sub.2, . . . B.sub.nF); PA1 calculating final color values (C.sub.1, C.sub.2, . . . ,C.sub.nF) by means of additive image sharpening; and PA1 storing the final color values (C.sub.1, C.sub.2, . . . ,C.sub.nF) in dedicated image memory levels (B.sub.1, B.sub.2, . . . B.sub.nF).

Electronic cameras, equipped with only one matrix image sensor (e.g., a CCD image sensor) for taking images and which nevertheless produce a color image with a single exposure, exist both in the form of video cameras (moving picture) and electronic digital cameras (still image). A mosaic filter (CFA=color filter array) allows such cameras to differentiate between colors. Such a filter is placed directly on the surface of the CCD image sensor while each cell (pixel) of the CCD image sensor is covered by a filter element (pixel filter) having suitably chosen spectral transparency.
The document "The Seybold Report on Publishing Systems"(12 Dec. 1994) discloses a digital camera which can take images with a single exposure of a CCD image sensor. The individual cells of the CCD image sensor are covered by four different filter elements and the filter elements are placed directly on the individual cells of the CCD image sensor. The four filter elements employed for taking an image are red, green, blue and blue-green. The filter elements are arranged on the CCD image sensor in a mathematical pattern. In order to determine the color of each individual pixel of the CCD image sensor, the color values are first determined by an algorithm over an area of 64 pixels and afterwards each pixel is compared with its nearest neighbor. If this is not sufficient to determine the color, then the comparison with the nearest neighbors is extended to a larger area. In transition regions from one color to another, up to one thousand calculations are required for one pixel. Since the data are not available in standard RGB format, a conversion has to be performed which takes a high performance computer approximately 7 minutes per image to complete.
Video camera also exist which have combinations of additive and subtractive filter sets, such as, for example, green, cyan, magenta, yellow or green, white, cyan, yellow (see EP-A-0 570 204). Such combinations are intended to better adjust the spatial scanning frequencies for luminance and chrominance signals to the bandwidths of the video system and hence, a reduction of the color Moire effects. However, such combinations do not achieve, nor are they aimed at improving color fidelity or improving the spectral selectivity of the image. In the video systems discussed in EP-A-0 570 204 the signal processing is performed in "real time" without intermediate storage of images. Thus, the technical set-up is completely different than in the case of digital still image cameras as referred to in the process according to the present invention.
Most electronic color cameras have mosaic filters with three different colors. In almost all electronic cameras these different colors are arranged in rows and columns in a periodically repeating pattern. The pattern created by repetition of a (2,2) matrix with identical diagonal elements is known as a Bayer pattern and is widely used as a mosaic color filter. Highly developed processes for color interpolation in mosaic filters with RGB filters in the Bayer pattern (U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,322 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,976) exploit the peculiarities of this pattern in a decisive way, that is, they use the dominance of green and the low incidence of fuzziness in the case of red and blue. In addition, the processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,322 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,976 have been developed in such a way that regardless of the contents of the image, the process is able to decide whether more use should be made of the row-wise or of the column-wise correlations of the image data. This produces texture-like artifacts in those image areas which have no details, but which are noisy.
An electronic camera has to be able to produce image data sets in a conventional format, i.e., TIFF or TARGA. This means that a value has to be provided for each pixel and for each color belonging to the data set. Thus, for each pixel an R-value, a G-value, and a B-value have to be available in the RGB data set. It is evident that the raw data of the camera do not satisfy this requirement: they contain only one color value for each pixel, that is for a color which changes from pixel to pixel. Hence, the camera must have a means by which it can use the raw data to calculate these missing color interpolation of mosaic filters or, in short, a process for color interpolation.
The intention is to arrive at values which would be obtained when taking images without using a mosaic filter at arbitrarily short time intervals with the different filter elements nF and using a filter wheel which contain the nF filter colors as filters covering the overall surface area.
The quality of such a process is a complicated matter. As the lack of object information is at best replaceable by plausible, but never by completely certain assumptions, it is always possible to construct instances of images whose quality would seemingly indicate that the process is a failure. For example, it is easy to see that for each set of raw data there is a distribution of white light which would generate these raw data. On the other hand, there are often plausible reasons why such phenomena need not be taken into consideration. The most noticeable artifacts ("aliasing") occur in the case of images in which the image signal differs greatly from pixel to pixel. In most electronic cameras with relatively few pixels, a "blur filter" ensures that no such finely structured light distributions can occur in the area of the sensor.
Distinctions are made between the following, partly overlapping quality complexes:
1. Faithfulness to detail: the ability to reproduce fine structures which extend only over a few pixels, the reproduction being made without greatly changing the form. When comparing two different systems, improved faithfulness to detail is evidenced by improved legibility of the text, the elements of which only cover a few pixels. PA1 2. Artifacts: these include all image structures of which, without possessing detailed knowledge of the camera, it can be said that they are very probably not the same as the original. Examples are: PA1 3. Color fidelity: considered here for monochromatic areas which extend over many pixels and in all directions. PA1 storing values of each pixel of the CCD image sensor in a dedicated level of an image memory, said values being measured by the CCD image sensor and being transformed by a following analog/digital converter into digital values; PA1 deriving an "unfocussed image" so that for each color f and for each pixel p, the neighboring pixels of color f are determined, their values read from Bo and combined to yield weighted average values; PA1 storing the values for all the different filter elements on the CCD image sensor in dedicated image memory levels; PA1 calculating the final color values by means of additive image sharpening and PA1 storing the final color values in the dedicated image memory levels.
a) color edge artifacts: strongly colored striped pattern in the transition area between evenly, but differently colored areas. PA2 b) color Moire: semi-even, usually striped color variations over periodically structured areas. PA2 c) flat-field artifacts: textures, defects and jumps in intensity along the lines of such image areas which apparently lie outside the focal area of the optical image and which, thus, do not show any sharp differences in intensity.

Process and system for generating a full color image of multispectral image from the image data of a CCD image sensor with a mosaic color filter


An oscillation sensor for a regulator that provides dynamic control of a connection/disconnection of a compensation capacitance. The compensation capacitor is disconnected under normal operation and is automatically connected if oscillation is detected in the output and regulator's error amplifier. In this way, oscillations are stopped in the regulator almost immediately after it occurs. Also, once the circuit is stable again, the compensation capacitor is quickly disconnected again. Consequently, the compensation capacitor does not adversely affect the overall performance of the regulator.

Previously, the designs of low drop out (LDO) regulators with low output load/line transients and relatively high PSRRs have had to sacrifice gain/phase margins. Also, this type of regulator design tended to oscillate when operating at or near its dropout voltage if the input/output line parasitic inductance was higher or the output capacitance was lower than some value required for some applications.
Since device modeling is typically not accurate enough to detect the causes of this type of oscillation, they have been difficult to predict with simulations at low or high temperatures even if the regulator is operating at a relatively normal input voltage. Also, under certain conditions, oscillation can be triggered by transient noise, such as a full load transient. For example, bench tests have shown this type of LDO regulator with 2.8V output voltage starts to oscillate if a wire connected to its input pin is long and a full load transient occurs near its dropout voltage (around 3.0V). Further, this type of LDO regulator has been known to start to oscillate at full load transient when the input inductance increased to 70 nH with an output capacitance of 0.7 μF. Similarly, if this output capacitance is increased to 1.0 μF, this type of LDO regulator often starts to oscillate when the input inductance is increased to 90 nH.
Furthermore, since the input/output line inductance and output capacitance are typically related to a particular application that employs an LDO regulator, which can vary significantly from application to application or even from chip package to chip package, previous LDO regulators were prone to oscillation under various conditions.

Oscillation sensor for linear regulation circuit


A one time programmable nonvolatile memory formed from metal-insulator-semiconductor cells. The cells are at the crosspoints of conductive gate lines and intersecting doped semiconductor lines formed in a semiconductor substrate.

Nonvolatile memory retains stored data when power is removed and is desirable in many different applications. As system-on-chips (SoCs) become more prevalent in consumer electronics and industrial applications, embedded nonvolatile memories have become more common. Embedded memory is incorporated onto the same underlying semiconductor die as non-memory circuitry.
The embedded memory is used for various purposes, among which are chip IDs, analog trimming, yield enhancement, and code storage. It would be advantageous if the embedded memories did not require added masks and process modifications to a standard CMOS flow. Thus, flash NAND or NOR memory that uses multiple polysilicon layers is not compatible with standard CMOS flow. However, gate dielectric based anti-fuse memory increasingly has become the choice of SoC chip designers because it is standard CMOS process based, reliable, and secure.
Gate dielectric anti-fused based memory can be broadly categorized into two groups, depending upon its operating principle. The first type is a cross-point memory consisting of a single capacitor at each gridpoint. The second type has more than two access lines for each cell in the memory array. A typical example is a storage capacitor or transistor coupled in series with a selection device such as a transistor or diode. Examples of the first type can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,898,116, 6,992,925, 7,638,855, and 7,110,278. An example of the second type is U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,902 (and the references cited therein).
Cross-point memory arrays are advantageous due to its compact layout and simple decoding. As a result, embedded OTP memories of the first type can be about eight times smaller than those of the second type. However, prior art cross-point OTP memories have drawbacks, such as significant process complexity, array leakage current, and reliability.
Furthermore, for embedded applications, it is very important to comply with logic layout design rules while introducing no extra process steps or only non-critical ones. As shown in prior art FIG. 1 (FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,638,855 to Lung), disclosed is a cross-point antifuse memory that requires significant changes in standard CMOS process flow and needs additional critical implant masks because the N+ bit lines and P− isolations are not self-aligned. In addition, the gate dielectric before programming and the P+/N+ diode formed after programming can have questionable quality.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,898,116 and 6,992,925, as illustrated in prior art FIG. 2 (FIG. 28 from the '925 patent), attempted to solve these problems using standard MOSFETs by adding buried N+ or P+ bodies. In the '925 patent, there are source and drain regions that extend under the sidewall spacers, thereby connecting to the channel region under the gates. Due to the presence of source and drain regions, however, there are two potential disadvantages with this cell. First, program disturb from inhibit voltages applied to the body can occur for un-selected cells where the gate is biased at zero voltage and body at Vpp. Due to impact ionization and other high voltage mechanisms, the floating source/drain can be charged up to a voltage well above ground. As a result, the MOSFET device can be fully inverted and a large percentage of the inhibit voltage drops across the gate dielectric. Secondly, the gate dielectric may breakdown at the overlap region between the gate and LDD. When this happens at two neighboring cells, there will be a path for leakage current during both programming and read operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,110,278 to Keshavarzi discloses a cross-point memory similar to that above except that the source and drain of each MOSFET is disconnected from its neighbors, as shown in prior art FIG. 3 (FIG. 2 of the '278 patent). The cell is bigger as a result of the non-continuous active regions. Furthermore, program disturb from the body can remain a problem because source and drain doped regions are still present for each MOSFET transistor.

One-time programmable memory and method for making the same


A method for printing a scrambled image and decoding mechanism in registration one on top of the other. The decoding mechanism is not immediately apparent upon inspection. A person decodes the scrambled image by exposing the decoding mechanism.

Various scrambling techniques have been devised to print sensitive information and images onto a medium so that they cannot be read by unauthorized individuals. A separate decoding device is provided which, when laid over the printed image, renders the scrambled information or image legible. These scrambling techniques have been proposed for use in applications where security is needed and ready access to the encoded material must be available. For example, to facilitate banking transactions it has been proposed to encode the signatures of depositors into bank passbooks. The bank, which possesses a decoder for the scrambled signature, can readily verify the authenticity of a signature when funds are withdrawn. It has similarly been proposed to encode signatures to the back of credit cards for quick and easy verification of the identity of the person using the card.
Scrambling techniques are also used for promotional purposes. Because the techniques require a participant in the promotion to decode a hidden image, such techniques often are entertaining. It also has been proposed to employ scrambling techniques in games of chance, such as lottery cards, that are sold at the retail level. The techniques are suitable for such application, because a consumer would not know whether the game piece he or she has purchased is a winner until the game piece has been decoded.
A particular technique for scrambling information or images involves suppressing from view some of the area of an image printed in a figure. The image is typically suppressed from view in an ordered manner, such as along a series of parallel stripes. For convenience, the series of parallel stripes, or other ordered manner in which the image is suppressed, will be referred to herein as a "base image." Because the image often can still be discerned even though part of it has been suppressed, extraneous and meaningless imagery is printed to the figure where the image has been suppressed, and also in the background of the image, at about the same coloration and density as the portion of the printed image that has not been suppressed. The extraneous and meaningless imagery thereby confuses and scrambles the remaining image, rendering it unintelligible.
A mask may be created from the base image. When the mask is laid over the scrambled image it obscures the extraneous imagery and leaves the unsuppressed parts of the image exposed to view, so that one is able to decode the scrambled image. This technique for encoding images can take many forms, several of which are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,952,080 to Avakian et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,621,589 to Jones et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,279,095 to Carlson, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,474 to Hoeflinger. For simplicity, the disclosure of each of the foregoing patents is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
The technique disclosed in these patents can be practiced either manually or electronically. The technique can be practiced manually, for example, by physically erasing portions of an image and physically printing the meaningless background information to the figure. The technique can also be practiced by photographic or other means whereby images are superimposed onto one another to create the scrambled image. The technique further can be practiced electronically by programmed manipulation, suppression, and superimposition of digitized images of the meaningful scrambled image and the meaningless background imagery.
Ordered base images that comprise an organized and uniform arrangement of opaque and transparent units often are employed in existing scrambling techniques. Ordered configurations typically are employed so that a person can more readily register a decoder with a scrambled image to unscramble the image. While ordered base image configurations make decoding scrambled images easier, they also render the scrambled image less secure against unauthorized decoding. As a base pattern becomes more ordered, the risk that an unauthorized person can discern a scrambled image without using the decoder increases. Security is further compromised by the fact that in many instances only one or a few base images are used to scramble a tremendous number of images, because of the difficulty of maintaining and using more than just a few decoding mechanisms. If someone were to decipher only one scrambled image without a decoder, then the person may be able to decode multiple scrambled images hidden with the same base image.

Integrated image scrambling and descrambling


A system and process are described in which moving articles that are cut during a manufacturing process have their cut length measured with the use of an electronic light emitting scanner in combination with a light receiver. Accurate cut length measurements are obtained from mathematical processing of the light receiving information electronically gathered from the apparatus of the system.

The present invention relates generally to measurement systems, and more particularly, to non-contact measuring of the cut length of moving articles through a manufacturing process. The invention includes an electromagnetic radiation emitter, an electromagnetic radiation receiver, and a measurement processing unit.
Materials undergoing industrial production processes vary widely in physical makeup, such as extruded plastics or steel billets. The speed of movement of these materials as they are being processed also varies widely. Some processes may move a work piece at a very slow rate of speed while other processes may move a work piece at speeds of upwards to 90 mph.
In many manufacturing processes there is an ongoing need to measure the cut length of articles made during a manufacturing process. A wide assortment of devices have been designed to provide precision and repeatability of high speed cut to length operations. In many of these operations, the movement of the uncut article is measured with a pulse counting encoder attached to a driven role or conveyor belt. When the required number of pulses have passed the knife or the saw device, the cutter is triggered and the product is cut to the desired length. In other systems, a through beam photo sensor is broken by the advancing product and the cutter is triggered to cut the product to the target length. Many operating variables may affect the precision of these cut to length systems. For example, the material may slip, stretch or compress on the conveyor belt or driven roller. The cutter may have delays that vary with the thickness or density of the material being cut. The actual mechanical setup may be incorrect in the case of through beam sensors. Also, the sensors may become contaminated and cause unacceptable errors in the finished cut lengths produced.
At present, the accuracy of most cut to length operations must depend on the manual measurement of the finished product by the machine operator or the quality assurance person. Errors can lead to excessive scrap, wasted machine time, or lost orders as the end product is rejected by a demanding customer. The system of the present invention may be used to make accurate, line speed independent, length measurements of moving parts. Depending upon the size of the present system chosen, a wide range of lengths may be measured without physically moving the present invention during the measurement process.
One measurement system which has found substantial acceptance in industry is marketed under the trademark "SCAN-A-LINE.RTM.". The SCAN-A-LINE.RTM. measurement system employs a linear array of electromagnetic radiation emitting diodes positioned on one side of a material, such as a web or sheet moving within a production process. The diodes of the array are illuminated in a scanning sequence having a stable time base, for example, at a 20 KHZ rate developed by a quartz crystal oscillator. Positioned above the moving material under production and opposite the associated diode array, is a tuned photoresponsive receiver which reacts to the illumination emanating from the diodes which are unblocked or partially blocked from view by the receiver by the moving material. Associated controls connected to the receiver are called upon to extrapolate the electromagnetic radiation signals to develop measurement information concerning the material. The extrapolation is based upon the observation that each LED in the emitting array produces a cone of electromagnetic radiation, and the electromagnetic radiation cones from adjacent LEDs overlap in the electromagnetic radiation path to the receiver. The SCAN-A-LINE.RTM. system is marketed by Harris Instrument Corporation of Delaware, Ohio.
The SCAN-A-LINE.RTM. system was first patented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,177, which issued on Jun. 15, 1993. The patent described a system wherein each electromagnetic radiation emitting device of the array utilized is energized by a unique drive current which is preselected to cause the emission of electromagnetic radiation exhibiting substantially uniform intensity at the receiver when there is no attenuation of the electromagnetic radiation by a material under edge evaluation.
With the apparatus of the present invention, one or more receivers may be employed with one or more emitters. In the present invention, preferably one receiver is used for each emitter.
The present invention incorporates an array of light emitting diodes to scan a moving part electronically. The light emitting diodes in the array are pulsed sequentially at a predetermined rate. By mathematically processing the time in which light receivers are blocked from receiving the light emitted by specific pulsating light emitting diodes, an accurate length measurement may be made of a moving part in a manufacturing process .

System for the measurement of the cut length of moving articles