Machines and methods capable of evaluating torque-tension and prevailing torque performance of prevailing-torque threaded fasteners. Such a machine may include one or more of the following features: a coordinated drive unit for achieving relative linear and rotational movement of a nut and bolt of a nut-bolt assembly; a sensor unit with multiple reaction torque sensors in series, wherein a lower-range torque sensor is protected from being overstressed while torque is transferred therethrough to a higher-range torque sensor; an optical temperature measurement unit oriented to detect a temperature at a thread interface of a nut and bolt through an opening in a device adapted to rotate the nut; and a bolt recess measurement unit that determines a bolt-through condition of a nut-bolt assembly by detecting a bolt recess of the nut-bolt assembly that has been assembled such that a prevailing torque feature thereof has been encountered.

The present invention generally relates to machines and methods capable of evaluating threaded fasteners. The invention particularly relates to machines and methods of performing torque-tension evaluations of prevailing-torque threaded fastener assemblies that comprise a locking feature, resulting in the fastener assembly exhibiting a prevailing torque during assembly.
The fastener industry has utilized various inspection procedures for qualifying prevailing-torque threaded fasteners. These procedures typically specify certain parameters of particular interest, including but not limited to drive torque, thread torque, prevailing torque, tension, etc. As used herein: "tension" will refer to the tensile loading of a threaded bolt caused by driving a threaded nut onto the bolt such that the bearing surfaces of the nut and bolt are drawn toward each other and the nut-bolt assembly generates a clamping load therebetween; "drive torque" will refer to the torsional resistance to assembling a threaded nut onto a threaded bolt, measured as the torque required to drive the nut onto the bolt and including the torque required to develop tension in the bolt as the bearing surfaces of the nut and bolt are drawn toward each other during assembly; "thread torque" will refer to the torsional resistance to assembling a threaded nut onto a threaded bolt, measured as the torque required to prevent the bolt head from rotating and including the torque required to develop tension in the bolt as the bearing surfaces of the nut and bolt are drawn toward each other during assembly; "final assembly torque" will refer to drive and/or thread torque; "prevailing torque" will refer to the torsional resistance to assembling a threaded nut onto a threaded bolt, measured as the torque required to prevent the bolt head from rotating while there is no tension in the bolt as the bearing surfaces of the nut and bolt are drawn toward each other during assembly or away from each other during disassembly; and "bolt-through" will refer to the condition during assembly of a threaded nut onto a threaded bolt at which the end of the bolt opposite its head and bearing surface is flush with the exit end of the nut (i.e., the end opposite the bearing surface of the nut).
Standard inspection procedures for qualification of some prevailing-torque threaded fasteners often impose various requirements on the above and other parameters. Some of these requirements and problems that may be encountered are briefly summarized below.
Standard inspection procedures sometime require the measurement of prevailing torque (measured before the nut-bolt assembly develops any clamping tension) and final assembly torque (measured when the nut-bolt assembly develops the final clamping tension). These procedures generally require stringent percent-of-point accuracy for both the prevailing torque measurements and the final assembly torque measurements. The ratio of the magnitude of prevailing and final assembly torque measurements can be 1:10 for a given nut-bolt assembly. It is also usually desirable that equipment used to perform torque measurements are capable of testing a range of fastener sizes and material strength grades, which may further necessitate a 1:10 ratio of torque measurements between the torque levels required for nut-bolt assemblies of the smallest size and/or lowest strengths relative to the torque levels required for nut-bolt assemblies of the largest size and/or highest strengths. It is difficult with a single sensor to economically and accurately measure torque over a range that, based on the foregoing, may encompass a torque ratio of 1:100.
Standard inspection procedures usually require that one member of a nut-bolt assembly is constrained from rotating with a constraining tool, while the other member is rotationally driven by a socket or other suitable drive tool. Due to the helical nature and geometry of screw threads, the relative rotation between the driven and constrained members of a nut-bolt assembly will cause relative linear motion between the members of the assembly as the members axially translate relative to each other. Unless the relative linear position of the drive tool and constrained member is accurately coordinated with their relative rotational position, there will be dragging (friction) forces and/or torques introduced into the nut-bolt assembly that can introduce errors into the test measurements. These forces can occur if the driven member is able to slide within or otherwise shift relative to the drive tool, the constrained member is able to slide within or otherwise shift relative to the constraining tool, or the drive tool rubs the bearing surface of the constrained member. In addition, if the relative linear position of the drive tool and constrained member is not coordinated with their relative rotational position, it may be necessary for the constraining tool or drive tool to be deep enough to accommodate the change in the relative linear position between the members of the nut-bolt assembly.
Standard inspection procedures may also require the measurement of temperature at the thread interface of a nut-bolt assembly to ensure that the temperature remains within a prescribed allowance from room temperature. One way to monitor this temperature is to continuously observe the thread temperature where the bolt thread exits the nut with the use of an optical measurement instrument. However, because the linear distance between the bearing surfaces of the bolt and nut changes as the nut-bolt assembly is driven rotationally to assemble or disassemble, a "moving target" is presented to the optical measurement instrument unless steps are taken to continuously adjust the aim of the instrument or to fix the targeted bolt thread where it exits the nut. Another obstacle is that the nut is usually constrained or driven by a socket, which often completely envelopes the nut including the targeted bolt thread where it exits the nut, obscuring the bolt thread from optical temperature measurement.
Standard inspection procedures also sometimes require that torque measurements are summarized and recorded at defined intervals during a test. Some of those intervals are defined relative to the bolt-through position where the end of the bolt opposite its head is flush with the exit end of the nut (the surface opposite its bearing surface), often taken as when the bolt starts to protrude from the exit end the nut. Observing a bolt-through event in real-time is problematic because the tool or adapter that constrains or drives the nut often completely obscures the event if simple measurement or detection methods are used.

Machines and methods for evaluating prevailing torque threaded fasteners


A flex-rigid printed wiring board is provided which can retain flexibility of a flexible portion while increasing durability of the flexible portion against folding, and can ensure conduction in a rigid portion, and a method of manufacturing the printed wiring board. The flex-rigid printed wiring board includes a conductor layer provided on at least one face of a base film, one region of the wiring board containing the base film being a rigid region, an another region containing the base film being a flexible region. The average thickness “tf” of the conductor layer on the base film formed in the flexible region and the average thickness “tR” of the conductor layer on the base film formed in the rigid region satisfy the relationship of tf<tR.

As is widely known, flex-rigid printed wiring boards are presently being used in various electrical appliances. A flex-rigid printed wiring board generally includes a rigid portion capable of mounting a component, and a foldable flexible portion that is connected to the rigid portion.
As one example of this type of technology, Patent Literature 1 discloses a flex-rigid printed wiring board wherein copper layers having low crystal orientations are deposited beforehand over copper layers having high orientation on both sides of a base film, and a laminated body including a conductive circuit is joined thereto. This configuration can suppress disconnections caused by deformation of the flexible portion, while providing wirings that have no electrical anisotropy and increasing durability.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2005-5413

Flex-rigid printed wiring board and manufacturing method thereof


Disclosed is a polarizable electrode material for an electric double layer capacitor with a high energy density and excellent long-term reliability, as well as an electric double layer capacitor in which the polarizable electrode material is used. The polarizable electrode material includes porous carbon particles, a conductive assistant, a tungsten oxide powder and a binder, wherein the tungsten oxide is dispersed in the polarizable electrode material so that the tungsten oxide per 1 g of the polarizable electrode material has a surface area of 0.2 m2 or more and less than 6 m2.

An electric double layer capacitor is an electrical storage element in which the capacitance of electric double layers formed by adsorbing/desorbing electrolyte ions on interfaces between a pair of positive and negative polarizable electrodes and an electrolyte solution is utilized.
Small capacity type capacitors for memory backup etc., intermediate capacity type capacitors and large capacity type capacitors such as auxiliary power supplies for electric vehicles, auxiliary power supplies for solar batteries, auxiliary power supplies for wind power generation, and momentary interruption compensation devices have been widely examined for applications of electric double layer capacitors.
An electric double layer capacitor has characteristics such as a capacitance (C), a working voltage (V), an energy density (E), an internal resistance and a working life. Improvement in all the characteristics is important; however, recently, improvement in energy density which is the disadvantage of electric double layer capacitors and further prolongation of a working life (improvement in long-term reliability) which is their advantage have also been particularly demanded in the applications of the above-mentioned small to large capacity types.
Since the energy density (E) of an electric double layer capacitor is proportional to the square of a working voltage (energy density E=0.5×C×V×V (wherein C: capacitance, V: working voltage)), increase in working (withstand) voltage is effective for improvement in energy density.
Electric double layer capacitors are those in which electrolyte solutions are based on water and not based on water. When the water-based electrolyte solution is used, there is an advantage that a low-resistance-type electric double layer capacitor is obtained, but it is necessary to control a working voltage to not more than a voltage at which electrolysis of water occurs, and it is used at around 0.8 V. In contrast, the non-water-based electrolyte solution can be used at a higher voltage, and it is used usually at a working voltage of around 2.5 V, and at a higher voltage of around 2.7 V. Recently, a capacitor used at a higher working voltage and having a withstand voltage of 3.0 V or more has been demanded. This is because, when a plurality of capacitors are connected and used in the application of a high voltage, increase in the withstand voltages of the capacitors results in reduction in the total number of cells used, reduction in cost, and savings in module space. However, there has been a risk that increase in working voltage might accelerate the time degradation of an electric double layer capacitor (decrease in capacitance over time and increase in resistance over time) and a problem of deteriorating long-term reliability which is a characteristic of the electric double layer capacitor.
There are various reasons for the time degradation of an electric double layer capacitor, which are considered to be the following mechanisms. In the electric double layer capacitor, residual moisture in an electrolyte solution and moisture mixed during assembling are present. Also, physical adsorption water and chemically bonded adsorption water exist, on the surface of, and in an activated carbon, a conductive assistant, a binder, a separator and the like, which are used in an electrode layer. These kinds of moisture are desorbed as water during repeating discharge and charge and are electrolyzed by applying a voltage to generate gases, to result in decomposition of an electrolyte (solution), and to generate decomposition products. These decomposition products reduce the surface area of the activated carbon to result in reduction in capacitance by coating the surface of the activated carbon and clogging the pores of the activated carbon. Also, these decomposition products result in increase in resistance by clogging the opening of the separator.
Therefore, reduction in moisture, suppression of reduction in the surface area of an activated carbon by a decomposition product, and suppression of decomposition of an electrolyte solution have been considered to be effective for developing a high-withstand-voltage electric double layer capacitor. These development techniques are considered not to be independent of each other but to be related to each other. Further, since there are a plurality of mechanisms of time degradation of an electric double layer capacitor as mentioned above, only the reduction in moisture, the suppression of reduction in the surface area of an activated carbon by a decomposition product, and the suppression of the decomposition of an electrolyte solution are not techniques effective for developing a high-withstand-voltage electric double layer capacitor.
The avoidance of the decomposition of an electrolyte solution has been examined but has been considered to be difficult, because activated carbon used in an electric double layer capacitor has a catalytic action because of having a large surface area for increasing an adsorption capacity. It is said that the catalytic action is caused by a functional group on the surface of the activated carbon (see Non Patent Literature 1).
As a method for reducing moisture in an electric double layer capacitor, the higher withstand voltage and longer life of the electric double layer capacitor is reported to be achieved by, for example, improving the material of a separator to develop the separator that is not deteriorated even on a high temperature and long-term drying condition (for example, see Patent Literatures 1 and 2). The drying temperature condition can be enhanced by improving the separator. However, there have been problems that an organic matter component used in another configuration site in the electric double layer capacitor, such as a binder or an adhesive layer, is deteriorated to coat an activated carbon or the separator or clog pores to result in decrease in capacitance and that a resistance is increased with separation of an interface between an electrode and a collector. Further, heat treatment in a vacuum or under an inert gas air stream at several hundred degrees Celsius is necessary for completely removing moisture in the pores of the activated carbon and a functional group on the surface of the activated carbon, and this method has not been practical in light of a cost.
In addition to this, a high-withstand-voltage electric double layer capacitor excellent in long-term reliability is reported to be obtained by subjecting a carbon fiber woven fabric to activation treatment and thereafter to heat treatment at 700 to 1000° C. under inert gas atmosphere to remove moisture adsorbed in the activated carbon fiber woven fabric and a surface functional group (for example, see Patent Literature 3). The moisture adsorbed in the activated carbon fiber woven fabric and the surface functional group can be removed by subjecting the activated carbon fiber woven fabric to the heat treatment at 700 to 1000° C. under the inert gas atmosphere. However, there is a problem that the readsorption of moisture and the reintroduction of a surface functional group occur unless the activated carbon fiber woven fabric after the removal is stored under a completely dehumidified situation to assemble the electric double layer capacitor, and this method is not practical.
In addition to this, there is reported an example in which the decomposition of an electrolyte solution is considered to be caused by an acid due to moisture generated in a positive electrode and various antacids are added into an activated carbon polarizable electrode (for example, see Patent Literature 4). Further, there is reported an example in which the decomposition of an electrolyte solution is considered to occur due to hydrogen ions generated by electrolyzing generated moisture and hydrogen ions are reduced by reacting with or absorbing hydrogen ions, for example, an aluminum powder is added into an electrode (for example, see Patent Literature 5). However, there is a problem that an antacid sometimes decomposes and reacts with an electrolytic solution during the discharge and charge of an electric double layer capacitor. In the case of the addition of the aluminum powder, aluminum may react with electrolyte ions to synthesize, e.g., aluminum fluoride or the like. Aluminum fluoride, which is an insulator, may increase a resistance and is not too preferable.
The generation of a gas due to a surface functional group and reaction with an electrolyte solution are reported to be suppressed by reacting the surface functional group of a carbon material, which is a main component of a polarizable electrode, with an organosilicon compound to cap it with a chemical bond (for example, see Patent Literature 6). The method of capping the surface functional group of the activated carbon by using the organosilicon compound has had a problem that not only the surface functional group is capped but also the pores of the carbon material are clogged depending on production conditions and, as a result, a capacitance is reduced.
The present inventors have proposed that an electrode for a high-withstand-voltage-type electric double layer capacitor with a high energy density and less degradation over time in capacitance and resistance, that is, excellent long-term reliability, and the electric double layer capacitor could be provided by adding tungsten oxide to an electrode material (see Patent Literature 7).

Polarizable electrode material and electric double layer capacitor using same


In order to decrease the overall cost of storing large amounts of data, systems have been developed that use a hierarchy of storage devices from fast local disks to archival off-line storage. Such storage devices may be managed in a hierarchy where data that is accessed only infrequently can be moved to archival storage. The present invention relies on a tight integration of a hierarchical storage manager into the I/O system so that remotely stored attributes can be identified and tracked internally to the I/O system just like any other attributes. Implementations of the present invention may rely on a layered driver model where lower level drivers detect the existence of files with remotely stored attributes and then transfer control for processing I/O requests involving files with remotely stored attributes to higher level drivers. The higher level drivers then assume control to finish processing the I/O request.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing support for remote storage in a file system. More specifically, the present invention allows a file system to provide native support for remote storage so that the file system can intrinsically identify and process I/O requests involving files or other entities where a portion of the files or entities are stored remotely.
2. The Prior State of the Art
Many advances have been made in computer hardware and software, but some general principles have remained constant. Although the cost of memory and data storage has continued to decrease, and the storage capacity of devices of a given size has continued to increase, there continues to be a difference in the cost of storing data depending on several factors such as the medium used to store the data, and the accessibility of the data. For example, it is generally more expensive to store a data word in cache memory then in system RAM. System RAM, in turn, is more expensive per storage word than magnetic disk storage. Magnetic disk storage is more expensive per storage word than archival storage. Thus, there continues to be motivation to move unused or less frequently used data to less expensive storage. In addition, the desire to access an ever increasing amount of data provides motivation to store data in a cost-effective manner while, simultaneously, providing adequate access speed to the desired data.
Prior art attempts at developing and implementing remote storage of data are based on a mainframe computing model with a separate, non-integrated hierarchical storage system. The hierarchical storage system administers the placement of units of storage, called datasets, in a hierarchy of storage devices. The hierarchy of storage devices may include a wide range of devices such as high end, high throughput magnetic disks, collections of normal disks, jukeboxes of optical disks, tape silos, and collections of tapes that are stored off-line. When deciding where various datasets should be stored, hierarchical storage systems typically balance various considerations, such as the cost of storage, the time of retrieval, the frequency of access, and so forth.
Files typically have various components such as a data portion where a user or other software entity can store data, a name portion, and various flags that may be used for such things as controlling access to the file. In prior art systems, files that are removed from primary storage and migrated to remote storage are often replaced with a "stub file," which contains information that allows the hierarchical storage system to determine where the data in the file has been stored. Such an approach, however, has several problems.
A stub file stores information describing the location of the remotely stored file in the data portion of the file. Traditional file systems are not generally set up to allow the file system to determine the contents of the data portion of a file. Therefore, prior art systems relied on a non-integrated hierarchical storage manager to read the data portion of stub files and determine where a remotely stored file is located. Such a non-integrated approach requires that the hierarchical storage system intercept any I/O operations that are directed to files that have the same appearance as a stub file. In other words, it is impossible to tell from looking at a file whether it is a stub file or a non-stub file that simply happens to have the same appearance as a stub file. For example, stub files often have a fixed length. Beyond this fixed length, however, there is nothing external to distinguish a stub file from a normal file that just happens to have the identical length of a stub file. In order to identify all stub files, a hierarchical storage manager is typically set to intercept all calls directed to files that have the same length as a stub file. Once a call is intercepted, the file can then be examined to determine whether it is indeed a stub file or a normal file that just happens to be of the same length.
It is apparent from the above discussion that there is a certain probability that a non-stub file will be examined by a hierarchical storage manager. This result is undesirable since it slows access to normal files and causes additional unnecessary processing overhead. Prior art systems have attempted to eliminate this overhead by employing different methods to differentiate a stub file from a user file that has the same number of data bytes, yet is a normal data file. These various approaches can reduce the probability of error, but cannot totally eliminate it. It would, therefore, be an advancement in the art to provide a hierarchical storage manager that can positively differentiate between normal data files and data files with remotely stored data. It would also be an advancement in the art to have a hierarchical storage manager that incurred the additional overhead associated with remotely stored files only when such remotely stored files were actually involved in an I/O operation processed by an I/O system.
One advantage of prior art hierarchical storage managers, is that the non-integrated nature of the hierarchical storage manager allows hierarchical storage to be implemented in a system with little or no impact on the existing file system. Such a hierarchical storage manager can examine each call to determine if it involves a stub file. If the call involves a stub file, then the hierarchical storage manager can intercept the call and handle the call. If, however, the call does not involve a stub file, then the hierarchical storage manager can pass the call along to the regular file system. Thus, the file system does not need to know that a hierarchical storage manager exists. Unfortunately, such an approach provides additional overhead for each call that is made even if the call does not involve a stub file. This is because each call must be examined by a hierarchical storage manager. If a system employs multiple hierarchical storage managers, the overhead can rapidly compound. It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a hierarchical storage manager which maintains the benefits of causing little or no change to the existing file system while, simultaneously, minimizing or eliminating any overhead for files without remotely stored data. In other words, it would be very advantageous to have an approach to hierarchical storage that maintained existing access speeds for files without remotely stored data and only incurred additional overhead for files with remotely stored data. It would be extremely advantageous to maintain all these properties even when a plurality of hierarchical storage managers were used in a single system.
Another disadvantage of prior art methods of hierarchical storage management is that the model upon which they are based does not readily allow for incorporation and adaptation to new storage requirements. For example, prior art methods of storing data remotely involved replacement of a normal file with a stub file. Such a stub file replaces virtually all the components of a normal file with those of the stub file. Therefore, when any operation involves the normal file, it typically has to be retrieved from remote storage in order to fulfill the request. It would be very advantageous to allow a greater degree of flexibility in determining what information associated with a particular file is stored remotely so that operations that are likely to be performed with greater frequency may be handled without recalling the entirety of the file from remote storage.

File system primitive providing native file system support for remote storage


An arc quenching device, which prevents a load device from displaying an unnecessary behavior during starting of a power supply, includes: a semiconductor switch connected in parallel to a first switch which is mechanical; a power supply circuit configured to use a voltage which is generated between both contact points of the first switch to output a voltage which causes the semiconductor switch to turn on; and a second switch configured to cause its open state to prevent the semiconductor switch from turning on.

An arc quenching device configured to quench an arc which occurs in a direct current switch is conventionally known. As disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature 1, an arc quenching device is connected in parallel to a direct current switch and configured to quench an arc which occurs between contact points of the direct current switch.
The arc quenching device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 specifically includes a direct current power supply, a mechanical switch, a semiconductor switch, a power supply circuit, a control circuit, and a timing circuit. The mechanical switch is connected in series to the direct current power supply. The semiconductor switch is connected in parallel to the mechanical switch. The control circuit turns on and off the semiconductor switch. The power supply circuit drives the control circuit. The timing circuit is (i) connected between (a) one of contact points of the mechanical switch and (b) the power supply circuit and (ii) configured to set a time of operation of the power supply circuit. The arc quenching device which is thus configured uses a voltage of an arc which occurs in the mechanical switch to turn on the semiconductor switch so as to quench the arc.

Arc-quenching device for direct current switch


A system and method for indexing and searching textual archives using semantic units such as syllables and morphemes. In one aspect, a system for indexing a textual archive comprises an AHR (automatic handwriting recognition) system and/or OCR (optical character recognition) system for transcribing (decoding) textual input data (handwritten or typed text) into a string of semantic units (e.g., syllables or morphemes) using a statistical language model and vocabulary based on semantic units (such as syllables or morphemes). The string of semantic units that result from a decoding process are stored in a semantic unit database and indexed with pointers to the corresponding textual data in the textual archive. In another aspect, a system for searching a textual archive is provided, wherein a word (or words) to be searched is rendered into a string of semantic units (e.g., syllables or morphemes) depending on the application. A search engine then compares the string of semantic units (resulting from the input query) against the decoded semantic unit database, and then identifies textual data stored in the textual archive using the indexes that were generated during a semantic unit-based indexing process.

1. Technical Field
The present application relates generally to a system and method for managing textual archives and, more particularly, to a system and method for indexing and searching textual archives using semantic units of words, such as syllables and morphemes.
2. Description of Related Art
There are vast library archives that store manuscripts, manuals, written and typed texts in various languages. Moreover, there are various techniques known to those skilled in the art are employed for indexing textual data stored in such archives, as well as searching for target text. For example, techniques similar to those that are used for automatic indexing of audio data can be applied to automatic indexing of handwriting data in general, wherein a word is used as the basic unit for indexing and searching. Typically, with these conventional audio methods, audio data is transcribed (via automatic speech recognition or manually), time stamped and indexed via words. Similar indexing methods are employed for textual manuscripts, wherein the textual manuscripts are processed by AHR (automatic handwriting recognition) or OCR (optical character recognition) systems to produce electronic text in some format (e.g. ASCII). This decoding process generates an index from electronic textual files into stored textual data that can be used for a search and data retrieval in textual archives.
In general, there are various problems associated with word-based indexing and searching systems. In word-based systems, before searching can be started, a vocabulary and a language model based on known words must be generated. Typically, there are always unknown words (that are not accounted for in the language model and vocabulary), which renders the searching mechanism inefficient as it can only work with known words with a good language model score. Furthermore, a searching mechanism that is based on indexing of letters would be very inaccurate since there is a high level of confusability of what letter the individual written symbols represent in unknown words—indeed, people often write inaccurately and some written symbols resemble different characters.
The disadvantages associated with word-based systems are even more apparent with languages in which the unit "word" in a text is ambiguous (such as Chinese language) or in languages that have very large number of word forms (such as Slavic languages). Indeed, for certain languages such as Chinese and Slavic, traditional word-based methods for indexing data are not readily applicable due to certain features in these languages. For example, for most Asian languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese, the word boundaries of the character strings do not have "marks" that clearly indicate/define the ends of words such as a blank text (such as the English language and most European languages where the word boundaries are in the printed text or computer text file as "white spaces"). In addition, Slavic languages operate with vocabularies consisting of several million words, which makes it difficult to build a hash table for word-indexing purposes in connection with such enormous vocabularies.
Another disadvantage associated with word-based indexing and searching systems is that certain languages have different fonts and styles for writing characters. These fonts and styles are time dependent. For example, the Chinese characters (ideographs or pictographs, never hieroglyphs) have been developed for about 7000 years. The handwriting styles were fixed at about the 13th century. There are several versions, but for handwriting recognition, there is almost one single style, which is the standard script style (KaiShu). A similar style is the informal script (XingShu), which is more difficult to recognize. The fonts were fixed in the 10th century, after the invention of printing. Such fonts are still used today, and called "Song Style", after the dynasty of Song (900–1200 A.D.).
Similarly, the Russian spelling of words was radically changed after Russian revolution in 1917. For example, one Russian character that occurs often at the end of words was eliminated from the vocabulary.
Another difficulty of indexing Chinese textual data, for example, is due to the fact that there are several methods that are being developed for inputting Chinese characters through a keyboard. A first method uses Pinylin, a system for writing characters phonetically with the Roman alphabet. A second method recognizes Chinese characters, so long as the strokes of each character are written in certain order. Currently, the Chinese IBM WorkPad™ supports simplified Chinese, which has fewer characters than traditional Chinese—7000 versus 10,000—and fewer strokes in some characters. Finally, a hybrid method allows the first character to be entered phonetically and the following one by strokes.
For all of the reasons described above, it is difficult to apply automatic handwriting or OCR recognition of textual data for indexing purposes that use word-based recognition of handwriting (or typed) input utterance. Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a system and method for indexing and searching textual archive which is independent of fonts and styles and which is operable with unknown words. Such a system would be particularly useful with Asian and Slavic languages, wherein word-based indexing and searching techniques are inefficient for managing textual archives.

System and method for managing a textual archive using semantic units

International Business Machines Corporation


In a floating gate memory cell including a floating gate separated from an active region by a tunnel isolation region, a first one of the active region and the floating gate comprises a portion that protrudes towards a second one of the active region and the floating gate. In some embodiments, the protruding portion tapers toward the second one of the active region and the floating gate. The tunnel insulation layer may be narrowed at the protruding portion. Protruding portions may be formed on both the floating gate and the active region.

The present invention generally relates to memory devices and fabrication thereof, and more particularly, to floating gate nonvolatile memory cells and fabrication thereof.
Semiconductor memory devices may be classified into volatile memory devices and non-volatile memory devices. Generally, a volatile memory device loses data stored therein when a power supply to the cell is removed. In contrast, a non-volatile memory device typically does not lose data (or loses data at a relatively slow rate) when power is removed. DRAM and SRAM devices are generally classified as volatile memory devices and flash memory devices are classified as nonvolatile memory devices.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a unit cell of a conventional flash memory device. FIG. 2 is an energy band diagram for a program operation of the flash memory cell, taken along a line I–I′ of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a gate pattern 6 comprises a tunnel oxide layer 2, a floating gate 3, a control gate insulation layer 4, and a control gate electrode 5 that are stacked on a substrate 1. Respective impurity diffusion layers 7 are formed in active regions at respective sides of the gate pattern 6. The impurity diffusion layers 7 correspond to source/drain regions, and a portion of the substrate 1 under the gate pattern 6 corresponds to a channel region 8. The floating gate 3 (where electrons are stored) is electrically isolated from the channel region.
The control gate electrode 5 plays a role in programming or erasing. In a program operation, a program voltage is applied to the control gate electrode 5 and a reference voltage is applied to the substrate 1 to cause electrons in the substrate 1 to tunnel through the tunnel oxide layer 2 and flow into the floating gate 3. In an erase operation, an erase voltage is applied to the control gate electrode 5 and a reference voltage is applied to the substrate 1 to cause electrons stored in the floating gate 3 to be released to the substrate 1. Typically, the program and erase voltages are higher than a power supply voltage applied to the device.
In the flash memory cell described above, electrons tunnel through the tunnel oxide layer 2 according to a Fowler-Nordheim tunneling mechanism (FN tunneling). Electrons typically tunnel through the tunnel oxide layer 2 across throughout the channel region 8. The manner in which electrons (or electrons and holes) tunnel through the tunnel oxide layer 2 will now be explained with reference to the energy band diagram of FIG. 2.
When data is written in the flash memory cell (i.e., during a program operation), a program voltage is applied to the control gate electrode 5, a reference voltage is applied to the substrate 1 and the source/drain regions 7 float. The program voltage is higher than the reference voltage. Therefore, the energy band of the tunnel oxide layer 2 inclines to thin widths of the upper and lower energy band. Thus, the electrons of a conduction band Ec of the channel region 8 tunnel through the thinned upper energy band by FN tunnel to the floating gate 3 (step A). The electrons that FN tunnel may increase as the width 10 of the upper energy band becomes thinner. In this case, holes in a valance band Ev of the floating gate 3 tunnel the thinned lower energy band of the tunnel oxide layer 2 to transfer to the channel region 8 (step B). The holes that tunnel also increase as the width 11 of the lower energy band decreases. The number of holes that tunnel generally is less than the number of electrons that tunnel due to the effective mass of the individual holes, which is greater than that of the individual electrons.
As flash memory devices become more highly integrated and low power consumption becomes increasingly desirable, it may be desirable to reduce program and erase voltages. In addition, improved endurance of flash memory devices is also desirable.
Endurance of a flash memory cell is generally reduced by repetition of program and erase operations. In particular, interface traps may be formed at the interface of the tunnel oxide layer 2 by the electrons that tunnel therethrough. The electrons may be caught in the interface traps when tunneling, such that the endurance of the flash memory device may be degraded. Holes, having an effective mass larger than electrons, can seriously affect the generation of the interface trap.

Methods of forming memory cells with nonuniform floating gate structures


Proposed updates to systems are evaluated in a manner that is automated and horizontally scalable. Input to a first system is provided to a second system. The first system and second system process the input and each generates output. The output from the first system and second system is analyzed and differences in the output data between the two systems are identified. Analyzing the output may be performed by a fleet of data processing units and the work of analyzing the output may be performed such that differences in the output data are traceable to subsystems of the second system that caused the differences.

Many modern computer systems, often comprising large numbers of individual computing devices, operate in connection with large amounts of data. For example, organizations that offer goods, services, and other items over the Internet often include systems that interact with thousands or millions of computing devices when providing information about items, taking orders, advertising and performing other activities. These interactions result in data useful for various purposes, including fulfilling orders, accounting, record keeping and performing analysis for various purposes, such as for improving the way items are offered for consumption and detecting errors that need to be corrected.
In addition to operating in connection with large amounts of data, modern computer systems (referred to as production systems) are often quite complex. An organization's infrastructure may comprise multiple subsystems, each of which performs a different role in the organization's activities. For example, an organization may have one subsystem for order processing, another for payment processing, another for inventory tracking, another for information publishing (e.g., through a website or other interface), another for record keeping, another for analysis, and others. Each of these subsystems may itself be quite complex. Further, because of the way different subsystems interact, changes to one (e.g., code updates) can have adverse, even disastrous, effects if not done properly.

Testing using production data in scalable pre-production environments


In a primary paper feeding device, a document is conveyed from a document stock section to a pair of registration rollers by a first conveying device. The document conveyed to the registration rollers is further conveyed forward in a downstream direction by the registration rollers. When the lead (downstream) edge of the document arrives at a predetermined first reference position downstream of the registration rollers, document conveying by the registration rollers terminates. In this way, the document is conveyed such that the trailing edge thereof does not pass through the registration rollers. Thereafter, when a document change signal occurs, the registration rollers again are driven so that the document advances toward a position for document reading.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 8 shows the construction of a paper feeding section of an automatic document feeder used in a copying machine. The paper feeding section of the automatic document feeder comprises a paper feeding roller 100, a pair of paper separation rollers 101 and 102, and a pair of registration rollers 103 and 104. The paper feeding roller 100, the pair of paper separation rollers 101 and 102, and the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104 are driven by a paper feeding motor (not shown). The pair of paper separation rollers 101 and 102 comprises a forward roller 102 rotated in the direction in which documents are fed and a reverse roller 101 rotated in the opposite direction to the direction in which documents are fed as well known, to prevent the documents from being fed with their being overlapped with each other.
The rotating force of the paper feeding motor is transmitted to the paper feeding roller 100 and the pair of paper separation rollers 101 and 102 through a paper feeding clutch. The rotating force of the paper feeding motor is transmitted to one of the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104 through a registration clutch.
When a print key is activated so that a start signal from a main control section of the copying machine is sent to a control section of the automatic document feeder, the paper feeding motor is driven, so that the paper feeding roller 100 and the pair of paper separation rollers 101 and 102 are driven for a constant time period (primary paper feeding). A document P is usually fed toward the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104 by the primary paper feeding, and the front end of the document abuts on the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104, so that a loop is formed in the front end of the document.
Thereafter, when a document change signal from the main control section of the copying machine is sent to the control section of the automatic document feeder, the paper feeding roller 100, the pair of paper separation rollers 101 and 102, and the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104 are driven for a constant time period (secondary paper feeding). The document P is fed to a delivery belt provided ahead of the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104 in the direction in which documents are conveyed by the secondary paper feeding, to be set in the position for document reading on a transparent platen in the main body of the copying machine by the delivery belt.
When the document is set in the position for document reading, a print signal is sent to the main control section of the copying machine from the control section of the automatic document feeder, to report that a copying operation is possible.
After the primary paper feeding, the front end of the document is usually nipped between the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104. Even after the primary paper feeding, however, the front end of the document may not, in some cases, be nipped between the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104 depending on, for example, the type of print stack used. Thus, the lead edge of the document may not, in some cases, be nipped between the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104 even after the primary paper feeding. In the secondary paper feeding, therefore, not only the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104 but also the pair of paper separation rollers 101 and 102 is driven.
After the primary paper feeding, there occurs the difference in time required to move the document to the position for document reading in the secondary paper feeding depending on a case where the front end of the document is nipped between the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104 or a case where the front end of the document is not nipped between the pair of registration rollers 103 and 104. Specifically, a time period elapsed from the time when the control section of the automatic document feeder accepts the document change signal until it outputs the print signal (a time period required to change documents) varies.
In the conventional automatic document feeder, the time period required to change documents thus varies. Accordingly, an interval at which recording paper is conveyed to the position for transfer must be made relatively longer in view of the variation in the time period required to change documents. Therefore, the variation in the time period required to change documents is a factor which prevents the copy speed from being increased.
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic document feeder capable of avoiding the variation in a time period required to change documents and increasing the copy speed.


An oscillation type angular velocity sensor includes an oscillator, as exciting device for exciting the oscillator, a detecting device for detecting the direction of oscillation of the oscillator which occurs by a Coriolis force acting on the oscillator when an angular velocity is applied thereto and a correction device adhered to a portion of the oscillator for correcting the direction of the oscillation of the oscillator by varying the elasticity of the portion of the oscillator.

The present invention relates to a oscillation type angular velocity sensor and in particular to an oscillation type angular velocity sensor in which an oscillation direction of an oscillator can be adjusted.
In a conventional sensor of this type, due to errors caused by the raw material, the physical properties and/or the shape of an oscillator, an existing exciting direction of the oscillator sometimes may deviate from a designed exciting direction thereof, resulting in an erroneous signal called a null voltage being mixed in a signal indicating an angular velocity of the oscillator and such an erroneous signal becomes one of several causes making the S/N rate of the sensor worse.
In order to cope with such a phenomena, methods for correcting the deflection or deviation of the excitation direction of the oscillator have been developed. One of these methods is to cut off a portion of the oscillator as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Print No. Hei6 (1994AD)-289043. Another is to add a bit of bonding agent or solder on the oscillator as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Print No. Hei4 (1992AD)-332814. However, in the aforementioned adjustment of mass distribution in the oscillator, cutting-off and adding-on with respect to the oscillator are established such that a very small quantity is cut off and added on the oscillator, respectively in a stepwise manner. Thus it takes a long time for finishing such an adjustment which results in poor yield. In addition, the foregoing methods cannot be established while the oscillator is being oscillated and cannot be applied in the automatic production of the sensors.

Oscillation type angular velocity sensor


Generation and display of a dynamically orientable graphical user interface (GUI) is described. The GUI can include user input controls that are configured to receive user input. In one exemplary embodiment, the GUI is displayed as a band around a perimeter of a horizontally oriented interactive display surface. The user input controls can be made to reorient in response to an application that provides control, or a user can selectively cause the GUI to move relative to the interactive display surface to enable the user to gain access to a specific that was previously disposed at a different point. The user input can be received directly from the orientable GUI in the form of finger movement detected by the interactive display surface and the reorientation of the GUI can be controlled according to the laws of physics, based on the user input.

The utility of computer systems can be enhanced by providing better user interfaces. User interfaces for computers systems have evolved significantly since the personal computer (PC) first became widely available. Early PCs used rather primitive user input devices, such as the serial mouse, and only provided a monochrome display. However, the vast improvement in microprocessors, available memory, and programming functionality have all contributed to the advancement of user interface design and the development of user friendly graphic operating systems and hardware.
One particular area of advancement in user interface technology pertains to an interactive display system. Such systems usually include an enclosure, a display surface, various image projection and user input detection equipment, and a computer. An interactive display system can include or be coupled to a general purpose computing device. A significant advantage of the interactive display system is that it enables user interaction directly with a display surface. A user can provide input to this type of system by directly touching the interactive display surface with one or more fingers, or by making a gesture just above the interactive display surface. However, interactive display systems can suffer certain limitations and disadvantages if constrained to implement a graphical user interface (GUI) like that employed by applications designed to be executed on conventional personal computers (PCs). For example, a user of an interactive display system can interact with a horizontal display surface from any side. By its nature, a horizontal interactive display surface is not like a conventional vertical display that has a "top" and "bottom" and is intended to be viewed by a person sitting in front of the conventional display. In contrast to a conventional vertically oriented display, users who are disposed on opposite sides of an interactive display will clearly prefer a graphical user interface that is oriented relative to the user, in order to have a similar user experience. Thus, the graphical user interface that is oriented appropriate for the user on one side of the horizontal interactive display surface will appear inverted to the user on the other side of the interactive display surface, and vice versa. Therefore there is presently motivation for developing solutions to these and other limitations of the prior art that interfere with the user's enjoyment of a generally horizontal interactive display surface. It would be clearly be preferable to provide a dynamic orientation free user interface, for use with applications executed on interactive display systems.


Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide accurate and reliable target information when there is relative motion between a remote sensing system and the target. A remote sensing system includes a multichannel ranging sensor assembly and a controller. The ranging sensor assembly includes multiple sensor channels configured to emit modulated sensor beams towards a target and to detect corresponding reflected beams reflected from the target, where the modulated sensor beams are selected to be correlated to each other and mutually incoherent with respect to each other. The controller is configured to receive reflected beam sensor signals corresponding to the detected reflected beams, to determine Doppler components associated with the reflected beams based, at least in part, on the first and second reflected beam sensor signals, and to generate target information based, at least in part, on the determined Doppler components.

Remote sensing systems, such as LADAR, LiDAR, radar, and/or other ranging systems, are often used to detect targets (e.g., tactical objects, geographical features, weather formations, and/or other types of targets) in proximity to a particular area, such as that associated with a fixed or a mobile structure. Conventional remote sensing systems typically suffer from a variety of measurement uncertainties and errors that reduce the reliability of resulting target information (e.g., range and direction to the target). One source of such inaccuracies are Doppler shifts in the sensing signal caused by motion of the sensing system and/or the target during a measurement. Measurement inaccuracies related to such Doppler shifts can propagate throughout the associated signal processing and target analysis and produce target information that is difficult to interpret reliably and that increases the risk of a user misapprehending an actual tactical or positional situation. Thus, there is a need for improved methodologies to provide highly accurate and reliable remote sensing of targets, particularly when a remote sensing system and an observed target are in motion relative to one another.

Direction and doppler shift in ranging systems and methods


A connector comprises a pair of contacts of the same shape disposed adjacent to each other and an adjacent contact disposed adjacent to the pair of contacts. The pair of contacts and the adjacent contact have, at their one end, contact portions which are arranged parallel to each other at regular intervals and, at their other end, connecting portions which are arranged parallel to each other at regular intervals. Further, the adjacent contact has a deformed portion at an intermediate portion between the contact portion and the connecting portion so as to be partially away from the pair of contacts. Alternatively, the pair of contacts each may have a deformed portion at an intermediate portion between the contact portion and the connecting portion so as to be partially away from the adjacent contact.

There is known a differential transmission system adapted to transmit a differential signal pair, comprising signals having opposite phases, in two signal lines forming a pair. Since the differential transmission system has a feature that a high data transfer rate can be achieved, it has recently been put to practical use in various fields. One example of a connector that can be used for that purpose is disclosed in JP-A-2010-287560 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 1").
The connector of Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 showing a terminal array 1 of the connector. The illustrated terminal array 1 comprises a number of terminals of the same shape which are arranged at regular intervals in a row. These terminals are divided into a plurality of ground terminals 2 and a plurality of pairs of signal terminals 3. The signal terminals 3 of each pair are disposed between two adjacent ones of the ground terminals 2. According to this configuration, since each ground terminal 2 is disposed between the adjacent pairs of signal terminals 3, crosstalk between the pairs of signal terminals 3 can be expected to be reduced.
However, as described above, in the connector of Patent Document 1, a number of the terminals of the same shape are arranged at regular intervals in a row. Thus, there arises a problem if the array pitch of the terminals is narrowed to miniaturize the connector. That is, if the array pitch of the terminals is narrowed, the capacitance between the terminals increases so that the impedance decreases, thus leading to degradation of the transmission characteristics. Therefore, the connector of Patent Document 1 is not suitable for application as a Type C Mini HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) connector in which the pitch of a terminal array is narrowed to about 0.4 mm.

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited


An antenna device including a ground plane, a circuit board, an antenna, and a conductive wire is provided. The circuit board includes a signal feed point, and the antenna includes a radiation portion and a feed portion extending externally from the radiation portion. The feed portion is electrically connected to the signal feed point, and the conductive wire is disposed on the circuit board and electrically connected to the ground plane and the signal feed point. The conductive wire is, for example, a printed trace formed on the circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an antenna device, in particular, to a planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) device applied in a global positioning system (GPS).
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays, communities of people have growing demands for wireless communication, and various types of wireless communication devices have been developed, including smart phones, multimedia players, PDAs, and satellite navigators using the global positioning system (GPS). Electronic devices provided with the wireless transmission function are improved complying with the design notion of "thin, light, short, and small", so as to meet the requirements of daily use electronic products.
The conventional GPS antenna applied in the wireless device is usually a chip antenna, a patch antenna, or a planar inverted F antenna. Among them, the chip antenna has a higher price and cost since the manufacturing process of the chip is more complicated than other metal antennas. The patch antenna or the planar inverted F antenna requires a large area, and occupies an effective radiation area on the circuit board, thus greatly lowering the space utilization of the circuit board. In the planar inverted F antenna, the metal radiator thereof is spaced by a suitable distance from the circuit board, and the energy is resonated between the antenna and the circuit board and is radiated in the form of a linearly polarized wave. The architecture of the patch antenna mainly is the chip antenna, and includes a signal feed point, utilizes a ground plane as an energy resonance surface, and radiates in the form of a circularly polarized wave. This antenna has a higher directivity, but requires a larger antenna area and a higher price, and is not applicable to the mobile mode of mobile phones. In addition, the conventional GPS antenna usually contacts the signal feed point or short pad through a pogo-pin or a leaf spring, thus resulting in the difficulties in controlling the resistance.
FIG. 1 shows a structure of a conventional planar inverted F antenna. The planar inverted F antenna 3 includes a planar radiator 31, a feed portion 32, and a ground portion 33. The radiator 31 is disposed above the circuit board 4, and the ground portion 33 extends downwardly from the radiator 31 to electrically connect the ground plane 42 on the circuit board 4 through a ground leaf spring (not shown). And, the feed portion 32 extends downwardly from a position approximately in the middle of the radiator 31 to electrically connect the signal feed point 41. Therefore, in the conventional planar inverted F antenna 3, the signal feed point 41 and the ground plane 42 of the circuit board 4 are not connected.
In the above conventional art, an extending space for the ground portion 33 of the antenna 3 must be provided on the circuit board 4, so as to achieve a better antenna performance. However, under the requirements of improved functions and miniaturization of the hand-held electronic devices, it is difficult to provide extra room for the planar inverted F antenna to ground downwardly. And, as for the GPS antenna, when the planar inverted F antenna is not grounded, even if the size of the radiator is greatly increased, the required frequency cannot be achieved, which not only causes a higher cost, but also goes against the requirements of the miniaturization of the electronic devices.


A tape drive for use with magnetic tape includes a drive body and a cleaning member supported by the drive body. The tape drive also includes a tape guide moveably associated with the drive body, such that the tape guide is moveable between a tape-unloaded position and a tape-loaded position. When the tape guide moves between the tape-unloaded position and the tape-loaded position, the tape guide engages the cleaning member such that the cleaning member may remove debris from the tape guide.

The invention relates to a cleaning member for cleaning tape path guides of a tape drive.
Magnetic tape is frequently used to store digital data thereon. Such tape may be housed in a tape cartridge that protects the tape from damage. A leader block attached to a free end of the tape is used to withdraw the tape from the cartridge for read/write operations.
Read/write operations are performed by a tape transport or tape drive that is configured to receive the cartridge. A threading mechanism, such as a threading or loading post, grabs the leader block and pulls it free from the cartridge. The threading mechanism then pulls the leader block into a slot in a take-up reel of the tape drive. Next, a plurality of tape guides or guide bearings rotate into use positions where they engage the tape. The guide bearings function to guide the tape across a longitudinal read/write head for data transfer operations, as the tape is driven through the tape drive and onto a hub of the take-up reel.
As the tape moves over the guide bearings, tape wear may occur, thereby generating tape debris. This debris may build up on the guide bearings, which may cause track following and read/write problems. Some debris may also end up between layers of tape as the tape is wound on the take-up reel.
A prior method of cleaning tape drives includes using a cleaning cartridge having a tape with an abrasive media. The tape is fed through the tape drive so as to remove or dislodge debris. Other methods include using moveable brushes to clean read/write heads, and manually disassembling and cleaning tape drives. These methods, however, do not provide for efficient and effective cleaning of guide bearings.
The present invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a tape drive including a cleaning member that efficiently and effectively cleans debris from tape guides such as guide bearings.
Under the invention, a tape drive for use with magnetic tape includes a drive body and a cleaning member supported by the drive body. The tape drive also includes a tape guide moveably associated with the drive body, such that the tape guide is moveable between a tape-unloaded position and a tape-loaded position. When the tape guide moves between the tape-unloaded position and the tape-loaded position, the tape guide engages the cleaning member such that the cleaning member may remove debris from the tape guide.
In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning member is a brush having a plurality of bristles, and the tape guide includes a guide body on which the tape may travel, and a guide element disposed adjacent the guide body. Preferably, the guide element has an angled surface for directing bristles between the guide body and the guide element. With such a configuration, debris accumulation between the guide body and the guide element can be effectively reduced.
Furthermore, the tape guide preferably includes a guide body having a debris pocket for collecting debris. In the preferred embodiment, the guide body includes a guide surface and a top surface adjacent the guide surface, and the debris pocket is formed in the top surface. With such a configuration, debris accumulation between the guide body and the guide element can be further inhibited.
The tape drive may also include a mounting member connected to the drive body for mounting the cleaning member to the drive body. Preferably, the mounting member has a channel, and the cleaning member includes a base disposed in the channel. The tape drive may also include a retainer that is engageable with the mounting member for retaining the base in the channel.
Further under the invention, a method is provided for cleaning a tape guide of a tape drive, wherein the tape drive has a drive body and a cleaning member on the drive body. The method includes moving the tape guide across the cleaning member so as to remove debris from the tape guide.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


An invention for customizing a web site by gathering information from a web site visitor's sessions while the user is using the web site. The visitor's session information is compared with expected visitor behavior, based on the present structure of the web site. Using pre-programmed basic comparison rules and computer based mathematical models, matrices are used to represent statistical information about the visitor's sessions on the web site. The statistical information is used to extract visitor behavior which was unexpected (anomalies). Anomalies are grouped into recommendations. These recommendations are used to automatically customize the web site. In the alternative, information is provided to the web site administrator to customize the web site to be more efficient and visitor friendly, maximizing the operation of the Web site and promoting more frequent visits.

The world wide web has exploded with new web sites. Today, most businesses want their product advertisements to reach the world market rather than the limited audience available before the Internet was invented. Regardless of how many potential customers visit the web site of the business, the web site must retain the attention of those potential customers. Even more important than the initial attraction, the web site must be constructed in a way that makes the customer want to stay and access more products, images, and items the web site owner wishes the visitor to access during their visit. If the web site is not initially constructed in a manner to allow or entice the visitor to access the objects of interest, there should be a tool to evaluate the visitor's activity on the web site and implement or offer solutions to modify the web site. The modification suggestions should allow the web site to become more efficient and easier to use for visitors, which would likely entice the visitors to make their user session longer and purchase more products. Unlike a physical store that a customer may visit, which has the entrance and exit pre-designed and somewhat controlling the visit, a web site may be exited at any time, and often is, if the web site visitor is frustrated at the complexity of navigating the objects of interest.
Despite the efforts of the prior art, there is still a need for a method that implements an accurate diagnosis of the web site, delivers solutions to repair the web site in an efficient manner, presents those solutions in a manner that the web site may be accurately changed to address the problems, or alternatively repairs the problems automatically.

System and method for modifying links within a web site


To reduce the frictional resistance of a wet razor head, especially a razor blade unit thereof, as well as to provide a sharper blade without the risk of injury, there is provided a combination of a protective wire that covers a blade made of a steel strip having a width of less than 5 mm, a thickness between 0.05 and 0.25 mm, and a chromium/molybdenum steel composition having a hardness of greater than 620 HV and a retained austenite content of less than 32%, with the blade being a single piece that has no perforations or holes and that is mounted in a vibration-free manner in a plastic body. The protective wire comprises loops that are spaced greater than 2 mm but less than 5 mm apart and that have a minimum thickness of greater than 0.1 mm to form a protective guard over the razor blade with the effect of a protective foil.

The present invention relates to a razor head, especially a razor blade unit that is to be disposed at the front end of a handle of a wet razor. The razor head includes a plastic body having a front guide strip and a rear protective cover. Either a single or twin blades made of steel are fixedly disposed in the plastic body. The razor blade or blades are protected by a protective wire that extends over the cutting edges. The protective cover can be provided with a glide strip.
Various embodiments of wet or safety razors are known. In each case, disposed at the front end of a handle is a razor head that carries a single or double razor blade. The razor head can be integrally formed with the handle as a molded plastic part. If the razor head is separate from the handle and is to be secured thereto in an exchangeable manner via an appropriate mechanism, it is designated as a so-called razor blade unit, with a single or double razor blade being fixedly embedded in a plastic body or housing. The razor blade unit can be connected to the handle from a dispenser in a one-handed operation to form the complete razor. After use, the razor blade unit can again be separated from the handle and a new razor blade unit can be taken up via the coupling mechanism.
A razor head in the form of such a razor blade unit of the aforementioned general type is disclosed in applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,668, according to which twin razor blades are embedded in a basic plastic body via a positive connection. The razor blades are wrapped with a wire in such a way that windings thereof are spaced from one another and extend parallel to one another, with the windings extending over the cutting edges of the razor blades at right angles and representing a protection from injury. The protective wire furthermore provides a fixing connection between the twin blades and the plastic body. The protective wire winding significantly improves the shaving characteristics by not only reducing frictional resistance during the shaving process, but also by avoiding injury to the skin, even in non-visible areas, by preventing the skin from folding or bulging ahead of the cutting edges.
Finally, the protective wire prevents a user from accidentally cutting himself on the cutting edges during improper handling of the razor blade unit.
The known razor blade unit has razor blades that are made from standard razor blade steel having a carbon content of about 0.67% by weight, a chromium content of about 13% by weight, and a manganese content of 0.6% by weight. Unfortunately, not only the corrosion resistance of this razor blade steel but also the shaving characteristics of the blades produced therefrom leave something to be desired, so that additional coating treatments are required. Even then, neither is the corrosion problem resolved, nor is it possible by appropriately sharpening the blades to ensure a smooth and gentle shave. This also makes the basic problem acute, namely that the provision of sharper blades also involves an increase in the risk of injury.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a razor blade unit of the aforementioned general type in such a way that the frictional resistance is considerably reduced, thereby providing the possibility of making the cutting edges of the blades sharper than was previously possible, and on the whole to ensure an even smoother and gentler sliding of the blades over the skin without the risk of injury.

Razor head, especially razor blade unit of a wet razor

Wilkinson Sword Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung


Mint flavoring compositions and wax-free gum bases are provided which are stabilized using gum guaiac, a naturally-occurring resin, as an antioxidant. Chewing gums containing stabilized mint flavoring compositions and wax-free gum bases are also provided.

Consumable items, including chewing gum, generally include ingredients which are subject to deterioration through oxidation. For example, gum bases and flavorings typically contain several components which readily oxidize. Although efforts have been undertaken to improve and optimize the stability of such ingredients, reformulation of the compositions to minimize oxidation can be very costly and time consuming.
Synthetic chemical compounds have previously been utilized as antioxidants for chewing gum bases and flavorings. Such synthetic antioxidants include Butylated Hydroxyanisole ("BHA"), Butylated Hydroxytoluene ("BHT"), and Tertiary Butyl Hydroquinone ("TBHQ").
Some naturally-occurring substances have also been reported to have antioxidant properties in various consumable items. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,796 discloses the use of certain mixtures of tocopherol homologs as an antioxidant for mint oils.
U.S. Pat. Noo 1,903,126 discloses a process for stabilizing oils and fats using gum guaiac. More particularly, the reference discloses the use of gum guaiac to stabilize oils and fats during storage, distribution, and manufacture of crackers and other bakery products.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,308,912 also discloses the use of gum guaiac to stabilize fats and fatty oils. This reference teaches that the gum guaiac may be quickly and efficiently incorporated, or dispersed, in the fat by use of a volatile fatty acid.

Use of gum guaiac as an antioxidant in chewing gum


A system allocates data links between a switch and a database for data transactions in a telecommunications network. The data links between the switch and the database carry the transaction data for providing routing, card verification, address translation information, etc. by the database. The Flexible Link Selection Algorithm provides for accessing the data links using the round-robin method, wherein each data link is accessed sequentially to transport the data to and from the database. Alternatively, the Flexible Link Selection Algorithm provides for accessing the data links using dynamic allocation based on the least cost routing between the switch and the database. In the latter mode, the switch uses the least "expensive" database, i.e., database having the least cost routing between the switch and the database, until the volume of data transactions in the data links associated with that database exceeds a predetermined threshold level. If the threshold level is exceeded, the next least "expensive" database is selected, and its data links are utilized used to carry the data transactions between the database and the switch.

Originally in a telecommunications network, the switching office (hereinafter switch) made all decisions on call processing features, without any need for external information, such as a database. Data, associated with a telephone call, was common to many locations, and the storage capacity of disks or random access memory (RAM) in the switch was sufficient to handle the data. Eventually, however, technological advances, information expansion, and network complexity necessitated access to external resources for assisting the switch in the call processing decisions. Intelligent Platforms (IP), such as a remotely located database, evolved and began assisting in the decisions on call processing features on a significant amount of the network traffic.
Currently, data links connect the switch and the remote database via the well-known X.25 packet-switched communications protocol, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,095,505 and 5,335,268 which are of common assignee with the present invention. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. The data links, for example, permit data transfer in call routing, card verification, address translation information, etc. The current architectural configuration consists of a set of 19.2Kbits/sec point-to-point links between each switch and each database. Typically, several databases, holding identical information, are attached to a single switch for creating a robust network. In this multi-database configuration, failure of a database or a data link of the database will not prevent the switch from completing the calls, as the switch will request one of the remaining databases for assistance in call processing.
To balance the volume of data transactions among the databases, a round-robin link selection algorithm is currently used by the switch. This algorithm sequentially accesses each database connected to the switch, balancing traffic among them, as well as between the links to each database, to ensure that no single link is overloaded while other links are carrying little or no data traffic.
While the round-robin link selection algorithm has an advantage of distributing the data transactions among the databases equally, it fails to consider the cost of data routing to various databases. For example, if the call, requiring special processing by the database, is originating on the East Coast of the United States, it would be more cost efficient for the long distance carrier to access the database also located on the East Coast. If, however, the round-robin link selection algorithm is used by the switch, the call-related information might have to be routed to the database on the West Coast, if according to the algorithm, it is its turn to process the call. The response from the database would have to be returned to the East Coast for completing the call. This cross-country round trip results in inefficient and expensive call processing by the long distance carrier.
The benefit of balancing the traffic by the round-robin link selection algorithm might have outweighed the routing cost while the data traffic between the switch and the database was light. As the long distance carriers constantly strive to provide more enhanced intelligent networking technologies and services, projections show that the throughput requirements will grow much faster than the processing capabilities of the network. This growth is due to the increase in traffic volume, the types of calls requiring special processing, and the number of transactions per call. In view of this significant growth, the cumulative effect of cost effectively routing data transactions becomes an important factor in the business decisions of the long distance carriers.
Intensified by the increased number and volume of data transactions between the switch and the database, a need therefore exists for cost effectively allocating traffic, associated with a telephone call, among various databases that share information resources for the switch.

System for least cost routing of data transactions in a telecommunications network


The semiconductor optical device is mounted junction down on a mounting plate via the solder metal of the mounting plate. The electrode of the semiconductor optical device facing the mounting plate is partially coated with a dielectric film and the dielectric film is in contact with the solder metal on the mounting plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to structure of an optical device, such as a semiconductor laser, and structure for mounting the optical device.
2. Related Art
In an optical fiber communication system, optical modules occupy a large part of the parts cost. To lower the price of an optical module, in particular, it is very significant to simplify the mounting of the optical device in the optical module. Accordingly, there have been several simple mounting methods known widely. Their mainstream is to mount a semiconductor laser junction down on a simple mount in an optical module. For example, such simple mounting structures were reported in the 1997 General Conference of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Proceedings, Lecture Nos. C3-65, CS-68, etc.
When a semiconductor laser is mounted junction down, the semiconductor laser is bonded to a simple optical device mounting plate made of Si or the like via a solder metal. In this junction down mounting, reliability of the semiconductor laser may deteriorate if reaction advances between the solder metal and the electrode metal of the semiconductor laser. This is attributable to some factors. One is stress acting in the active layer and absorption layer of the optical device as described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 11-87849. Another is metal diffusion into the semiconductor as described in public documents such as Journal of Electron Material, vol. 27 (1998), p. 89-95. Metal may diffuse into the semiconductor and further penetrates into the active layer, causing defects there which may deteriorate the device's characteristics.
In order to secure the life of the optical device by suppressing such reaction/diffusion between the electrode metal and the solder metal, there have been several methods proposed and known. They includes (1) suppressing the diffusion of the solder metal by inserting Ti or Pt in the electrode of the optical device and (2) suppressing reaction between the electrode of the optical device and the solder metal.
Of them, in the case of approach (1) where Ti or Pt is inserted to prevent metal diffusion, its effect may be not sufficient depending on the device structure. For example, a ridge waveguide type laser may have an uneven surface. If the surface has large up and down features, it is not possible to coat the surface with a uniform Ti or Pt layer as the case may be. If the Ti or Pi layer is locally thin or absent in a certain area, it is not possible to prevent the solder metal from penetrating through this area. Although the unevenness may be compensated for by thickening the Ti or Pt layer, reliability of the semiconductor laser may deteriorate since thickening the Ti or Pt layer causes larger stress.
In the case of approach (2), several solutions could be conceivable. For example, a widely known structure proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 11-87849 has a void in the solder metal layer formed on the mounting plate. Since the void is positioned near to the optical device's active region or absorption layer, reaction between the electrode metal of the optical device and the solder metal is suppressed. Specifically, a dielectric film is formed both on the surface of the optical device to be mounted and the solder metal surface of the mounting plate so that the electrode of the optical device does not come into contact with the solder metal. As a matter of course, this structure can effectively block metal penetration into the active region. However, the void formed near the active region produces a new problem with thermal conductivity due to lack of contact with the mounting plate.
This problem is described below.
Injecting current in a semiconductor laser generates heat. For the semiconductor laser to operate steadily, it is necessary to quickly dissipate the heat from the active region. However, forming a void above the active layer stripe, like in the example mentioned above, lowers the thermal conductivity from the active region and therefore raises the temperature of the active region of the semiconductor laser. As a result, this causes such problems as the necessity of increasing the operating current of the semiconductor laser. For practical use, the structure must not only suppress the reaction between the electrode metal of the optical device and the solder metal of the mounting plate but also have good thermal conductivity.

Optoelectronic waveguiding device, structural body including the same, and optical module

Abstract: The reaction between the semiconductor optical device and the solder metal of the mounting plate can be suppressed without deteriorating the thermal conductivity between the semiconductor optical device and the mounting plate. Therefore, it is possible to improve the reliability of the semiconductor optical device mounted in the junction down form since diffusion of the solder metal into the semiconductor can be prevented.


Techniques are described herein that allow a user equipment (UE) to configure a subcarrier spacing value while monitoring synchronization signals of neighboring cells. In some wireless communication systems, synchronization signals in given radio frequency spectrum band may be transmitted using one of a plurality of different subcarrier spacings. In some cases, a network entity, such as a base station, may transmit an indication to the UE that indicates the subcarrier spacing used by a cell to transmit a specific set of synchronization signals. In some cases, the UE may select a subcarrier spacing based on a database of subcarrier spacings stored locally by the UE. In some cases, the UE may select the subcarrier spacing based on a predetermined configuration.

The following relates generally to wireless communication, and more specifically to techniques for selecting subcarrier spacing for signal detection.
Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).
Some wireless communication systems may support a plurality of possible subcarrier spacings for messages communicated using a given frequency band. For example synchronization signals in a given frequency band may be transmitted using one of a plurality of possible subcarrier spacings.

Techniques for selecting subcarrier spacing for signal detection


An array of dual-element transducers for automated, ultrasonic inspection of a weld seam in austenitic material is configured through the use of a schematic representation of the weld seam. The weld is divided into zones, and separate transducers are selected to inspect each zone. A creep-wave transducer is used to inspect the uppermost zone, and an L-wave transducer is used to inspect a lower zone. The L-wave transducer is connect to a computer processor to serve xe2x80x9cdouble-dutyxe2x80x9d : it is used with one set of gate and gain settings to process direct reflections of the emitted sound, and with another set of gate and gain settings to process indirect, mode-converted reflections of the sound. Gate settings are determined by measuring sound path distances from the schematic. Test plates are used to determine sensitivity settings, and to confirm adequate width of field for each transducer.

This invention relates to the inspection of weld seams, and more particularly to the ultrasonic inspection of weld seams in structures.
In structures, it is common for structural plates to be joined by welded seams. The welds can be made not only with ordinary ferritic steel, but also with metal that is high in nickel content. Ordinary ferritic steel weld material solidifies in a relatively uniform structure. Weld metal that is high in nickel content, however, solidifies in a face-centered cubic (austenitic) crystal structure that typically has an elongated (dendritic) grain structure.
It has been previously known that ultrasonic testing (UT) can be used to inspect ordinary ferritic steel welds for defects. Arrays of single-element transducers have been mounted on rolling carts that travel along a ferritic steel weld (commonly pipeline girth welds). The transducers are tied to computerized data collection systems that allow quick inspection of the seams.
Unfortunately, however, the dendritic structure of austenitic welds make them much more difficult to inspect by ultrasonic testing. The elongated grains of the structure tend to refract the ultrasonic signals, creating a high level of noise in the collected data. Consequently, the use of UT inspection of austenitic welds has been limited.
It has been found that dual-element, longitudinal-wave transducers can be used to provide useful inspection of austenitic welds. However, unlike single-element, shear-wave transducers, dual-element transducers focus on a particular distance, and do not provide information about as broad an area as covered by a single-element transducer. Consequently, linear scanning of austenitic welds has been limited to situations where the operator is interested in focusing on only a particular part of a weld, such as the fusion line between the weld metal and the base metal.
Where the operator is interested in inspecting the full volume of the weld, a xe2x80x9crasteringxe2x80x9d process is conventionally used. In such a process, the operator probes for defects throughout the thickness of a weld by manual sliding a transducer towards and then away from the weld. Moving the transducer laterally with respect to the weld is necessary to redirect the sound from the transducer through different sections of the weld. Rastering is a slow and awkward process. It appears that some efforts have been made to mount dual-element transducers on carriages for automated UT inspection. However, determining the transducer arrays that provide reliable results has been difficult.
Consequently, where the full volume of an austenitic weld must be inspected, those skilled in the art have generally chosen to forego the problems of ultrasonic inspection and rely instead upon radiographic inspection. Tanks for the storage of cryogenic liquids such as liquefied natural gas, for example, are field-constructed from plates joined by austenitic butt welds that require 100% inspection for weld defects. Such welds have been conventionally inspected with photographic film exposed by dangerous levels of radiation. Such radiographic inspection is a potential safety hazard and a time-consuming step that sometimes controls the erection schedule of such tanks.
A new method for easily configuring a useful array of dual-element transducers for automated ultrasonic inspection of austenitic weld seams has been developed. The new arrays facilitate ultrasonic inspection of austenitic weld seams, making it an attractive alternative to radiographic inspection.
It has been found that a useful array of transducers can be readily configured by using a schematic of a section of the weld to be screened. Transducer positions and sound paths are laid out on the schematic, and it is then divided into at least two inspection zones. Transducer housing size and sound paths are selected for each inspection zone, and the maximum and minimum sound path distances from the transducer positions to the boundaries of the heat-affected zones are measured. Focal spot distances are selected that provide adequate sensitivity at both the minimum and the maximum sound path distances. Transducer standoff distances and gate settings are established from the schematic. Test plates are then used to determine transducer gain settings and to confirm adequate width-of-field. The transducers are then mounted on a carriage and used to inspect a test weld seam. It is particularly useful to select a creep wave transducer to inspect the upper portion of the weld metal and heat-affected zones, and to select two sets of gain and gate settings for another transducer, one set of settings for obtaining and analyzing direct reflections of sound from that transducer and the other set of settings for obtaining and analyzing indirect reflections of that sound. To do this, the processor is programmed to analyze the signals from that transducer as though they were signals from two separate transducers.
Applying the standards used in the non-destructive test profession, these methods and apparatus have been found to be capable of reliably detecting both machined flaws and flaws produced by intentional welding errors in austenitic welds.

Ultrasonic austenitic weld seam inspection method and apparatus

Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, 1501 N. Division St.


The present invention provides a lenticular sheet in which cylindrical lens parts including a radiation curable resin are formed on one side of a transparent support, and at least a light-diffusing layer and light-blocking stripes are formed on the flat surface located on the opposite side of said sheet. Cylindrical lens parts with a fine pitch of 0.3 mm or less can be obtained; furthermore, finely pitched light-blocking stripes can be accurately formed in the desired positions.. A projection screen constructed by combining the aforementioned lenticular sheet with a Fresnel lens sheet is ideally suited for viewing a liquid crystal projection TV with a high image definition.

The present invention concerns a lenticular sheet which is suitable for use in the construction of a rear-projection screen (used in liquid crystal projection TV sets) in combination with a Fresnel lens sheet.
In particular, the present invention concerns a lenticular sheet a! which has a simple construction in which lens parts are formed on one side only, b! in which lens parts comprising convex cylindrical lenses formed side by side can be formed at a fine pitch, and c! in which a stripe-form light-blocking pattern (black stripe; hereafter referred to as "BS") formed in positions corresponding to the non-focusing parts of the respective cylindrical lenses can be accurately formed in the desired positions.

Lenticular sheet, rear-projection screen or TV using the same, and fabrication method for said lenticular sheet