A call box (201) provides vandal-resistant operation by using a concealed magnetic switch and magnet (179) and specially locked compartments (101 and 103) in a heavy duty structure. The concealed magnetic switch determines the position of a handset (119) within the call box (201). When the handset (119) is removed from its resting position, a radio (129) within the call box (201) responds when a pushbutton (127) within the call box (201) is pressed. When the pushbutton (127) is pressed, telephone service is provided via a radio (129) to a preprogrammed phone number, such as the highway patrol for a call box (201) located on a highway, to handle situations such as a malfunctioning vehicle.

Call boxes provide emergency service to remote locations, such as along highways, in parks, and on college campuses. Such emergency service includes telephone communications to an operator who has access to the police or the fire department. In order to alleviate the problem of wiring telephone service to the call box, many call boxes use cellular phones. When a user activates a switch in the box, the cellular phone within the call box automatically dials a programmed phone number, and the user is granted telephone access to the location with that programmed phone number, such as an operator in an emergency center. The public availability, coupled with the remote locations of call boxes, make call boxes easy targets for vandals. In many call boxes, the user simply pushes a button to obtain immediate assistance. Because the procedure is so simple, vandals may press the button or even damage the box just for the "fun" of it. Likewise, thieves may wish to steal the cellular phone for its resale value. Such tampering clearly reduces the effectiveness of a call box.
Accordingly, a call box that is simple to use yet resists vandalism and theft is required.


A FinFET device and a method of lowering a gate capacitance and extrinsic resistance in a field effect transistor, wherein the method comprises forming an isolation layer comprising a BOX layer over a substrate, configuring source/drain regions above the isolation layer, forming a fin structure over the isolation layer, configuring a first gate electrode adjacent to the fin structure, disposing a gate insulator between the first gate electrode and the fin structure, positioning a second gate electrode transverse to the first gate electrode, and depositing a third gate electrode on the fin structure, the first gate electrode, and the second gate electrode, wherein the isolation layer is formed beneath the insulator, the first gate electrode, and the fin structure. The method further comprises sandwiching the second gate electrode with a dielectric material. The fin structure is formed by depositing an oxide layer over a silicon layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to microelectronic devices, and more particularly to the design and manufacturing of FinFET devices having improved performance characteristics.
2. Description of the Related Art
Thin-silicon-body field effect transistors (FETs) present a challenge to providing a low-resistance conduction path from the contacts to the source and drain electrodes to the intrinsic channel region in between the source and drain electrodes. Typically, one must expand (flair out) the thickness of the body by some distance beyond its egress from beneath the gate to provide adequate electrical conduction. However, if this expansion (flair out) is made more than several body thicknesses away from the gate, then the added resistance from the relatively long line of thin silicon in the extrinsic region adds substantial extrinsic resistance to the device, thereby degrading device performance.
On the other hand, if the expansion (flair out) is made relatively near the gate electrode, then the capacitance between the wide extrinsic region and the gate becomes large thereby increasing gate capacitance, which then causes degradation in device performance. For example, outer-fringe gate-drain capacitance (Cof) can be high in FinFET devices, which degrades device performance. Some conventional approaches have relied on means of tapering or stepping the width of the silicon as it exits the gate. The tapered designs typically rely on damascene gates, while the stepped-width designs have typically required multiple spacers and silicon growths or depositions. While these solutions have provided a possible solution to the low gate capacitance and low extrinsic resistance trade-off, the actual design and fabrication of such structures capable of achieving this trade-off has been extremely difficult and quite expensive.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of a conventional FinFET device 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional FinFET device 1 comprises a substrate 10 with a buried oxide (BOX) layer 15 over the substrate 10. On top of the BOX layer 15 there are source/drain regions 20 with a gate 30 disposed therebetween. Furthermore, the gate 30 contacts the BOX layer 15. A plurality of fins 35 are formed within and transverse to the gate 30. Additionally, an oxide capping layer 25 is formed over the source/drain regions 20 as well as over the fins 35.
The industry has recognized that a compromise must be made between the low extrinsic resistance and the low gate capacitance in such structures (for example the FinFET device 1) to alleviate the degraded performance characteristics conventionally found in these devices. However, until now no known adequate solution has been designed and fabricated. Therefore, there remains a need for a novel method and structure, which provides superior FinFET device performance while simultaneously achieving the low extrinsic resistance and low gate capacitance trade-off.

FinFET with low gate capacitance and low extrinsic resistance

International Business Machines Corporation


A magnetometer includes a measurement value transducer that supplies a signal to a first amplifier device; a summation element that reduces an output signal range of an output signal of the first amplifier device; a second amplifier device that amplifies an output signal of the summation element; a low-pass filter filtering an output signal of the second amplifier device; an analog-digital converter converting output of the filter into digital form; and a correction element that divides the digital signal by a correction factor that corresponds to the defined gain factor of the second amplifier device and adds a digital correction signal to the quotient to form a resulting signal, where a scope of the correction signal corresponds to the defined attenuation of the output signal of the first amplifier device.

In a magnetometer in which a magnetic converter is implemented as a Wheatstone bridge, a typical readout stage includes a front end amplifier, an anti-aliasing filter, an analog-digital converter, and digital filters for the signal processing. Schreier et al., "Understanding Delta-Sigma Data Converters," Wiley Interscience, 2005, discloses basic principles of delta-sigma converters.


A cover for preventing wetness or contamination of an intravenous site is disclosed. The cover is manufactured in a variety of sizes and can fit on any extremity of the human body.

Withdrawing and re-inserting an intravenous needle is both time-consuming and expensive. However, patients must also be bathed, and/or showered, including potentially in the area of the IV site. At present, bathing a patient's wound area can necessitate withdrawing and re-inserting an intravenous needle.
Patients also frequently have intermittent infusions for IV medications and the nurse converts the IV infusion to a heparin lock or saline lock for intermittent infusion. Like the above, it is desired to avoid having to re-stick the heparin lock or saline lock. Consequently, a means for addressing these problems is desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Cover for protecting intravenous entry site


A document can be collaboratively edited by multiple editors by providing each editor with a separate copy of the document. Each editor then edits his own document copy using an editing application program, such as a word processor, to produce an edited copy. The edited copies are then retrieved and compared and a single marked-up document is created in which sections (for example, paragraphs) of the original document and corresponding sections of each of the edited documents (with changes from the original document indicated) are displayed in physically adjacent locations of the display screen. The displayed sections contain both edited and duplicated, unedited text. A set of "consolidation" tools are provided to quickly transfer edits between the physically adjacent areas of the screen and to make, or accept, edits made by any of the editors. A final document copy is made by eliminating the duplicate text in the sections. A unique, automated comparison routine may be used to compare the multiple edited document copies with the original document. The comparison routine can detect corresponding portions of the original and edited documents even if substantial edits have been made to the original document in the edited copies.

Current computing applications are largely single user systems. For example, conventional editing applications allow a single user to open a file and make modifications to the content. In most cases, a file is considered an atomic unit which is not sharable. While the file is open by a first user, a second user will be prevented from opening or modifying the file. The second user is sometimes permitted to obtain a snapshot copy of the file. The snapshot copy, however, is not updated with any of the subsequent modifications made to the original copy made by the first user. Thus, the second user is unable to share in the first user's ideas manifested as file modifications. Moreover, while the file is open, the second user is prevented from modifying the content of the original file and, thus, is prevented from sharing his or her ideas manifested as file modifications. In short, the first and second user are unable to collaborate.
For example, there are many conventional word processing programs available which allow a single author to create and edit a word processing document which may contain text and embedded graphics. However, with most of these programs, the word processing document itself is not shareable. When one user has the document open and is actively editing it, another user cannot simultaneously open the same document and edit it. Typically, the second user can only make a copy of the document for editing purposes. Consequently, it is common practice to "circulate" an electronic word processing document to several editors who then make their edits on a single copy of the document. With electronic computer networks, it is easy to circulate the document among the editors. However, the original author of the document maintains little control over the marked-up copy. Editors may delete insertions made by other editors or make other changes in an uncontrolled fashion.
Alternatively, the original author can simultaneously send separate copies of the original document to each of the editors. The editors then edit their own copy individually and return the marked up copy to the author. However, after the edits are made, the task then remains to reconcile the multiple marked-up copies. This task can often be a time consuming and manual process of comparing the documents in order to locate the changes made by each editor and compare the changes with the original.
Still other collaborative word processing systems utilize a single document or a copy of a single document and allow a number of users to simultaneously "view" and edit the document such that changes made by one editor are immediately viewed by others. Such a collaborative word processor requires that all reviewers be simultaneously present to view the document and the changes made by each editor. In addition, the document view seen by all editors is the same portion of the document and, therefore, it is not possible for one editor to work on one portion of the document while the remaining editors are working on a different portion of the document. Consequently, these systems, while truly collaborative, are not efficient in the use of editor's time.
There is a need in the art for collaborative editing software. More particularly, there is a need for document editing software which makes efficient use of editor's time, yet allows rapid consolidation of the edits into a single final document.

Method and apparatus for consolidating edits made by multiple editors working on multiple document copies

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a bag or purse for containing valuables. The bag or purse includes a rigid endoskeleton, an exterior covering disposed over the rigid endoskeleton, a lock assembly coupled to the endoskeleton, a biometric sensor and a microcontroller. The lock assembly prevents access to the interior space when the lock assembly is in a locked state. The lock assembly includes a handle and an actuator. The actuator is arranged within the lock assembly to selectively allow the lock assembly to unlock from a locked state. The microcontroller is programmed to determine whether an input provided to the biometric sensor corresponds with an authorized user and, if affirmative, activate the actuator to allow the lock assembly to achieve the unlocked state, and if negative, to not allow the lock assembly to achieve the unlocked state. A quick release cross body shoulder strap and GPS tracking feature can also be provided.

Theft of handbags and purses is a continuing problem because they are tempting targets for thieves due to the perception of valuable contents and external wearing location by the owner. In addition to the theft of the items in the stolen bag or purse, the owner can be injured during the thief's attempt to forcibly remove the bag or purse from its owner. Moreover, the stolen bag or purse cannot be easily tracked, so recovery is unlikely.
Previous solutions to some of these concerns include slash-proof fabric used for purse body and shoulder strap, standard physical key locks, locking zippers and RFID-blocking technology. However, the previous solutions do not address all drawbacks well and also present respective drawbacks. For example, most anti-theft purse designs are of limited effectiveness because the technology utilized is specific for slash-and-run theft. Additionally, fabric choices limit customizability of the appearance of the purse. Loss of a key to unlock the purse, if applicable, is also a concern. RFID-blocking technology is of limited value, since few consumers own credit cards with RFID transmitters, and this technology only protects against one method of information theft.
The inability to track a bag or purse means that theft victims must rely on security cameras, suspect identification, tracking capability of devices such as cellphones that may have been in the stolen purse, and the police for stolen item recovery. Money and other valuables are unlikely to be recovered even if the thief is eventually caught because of the time required to investigate and locate a suspect.
Thus, there is an unmet need to provide a handbag or purse with features that discourage theft, minimize potential injury of victim during theft, and in the event of theft (1) protects items in purse, and (2) aids in recovery of purse.


A clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit and method are disclosed herein. The CDR circuit includes a data analysis module, a loop filter module and a phase adjust module. The data analysis module generates an error signal according to an input data, a first clock signal, and a second clock signal. The loop filter module generates a first corrective signal according to the error signal, a frequency threshold value, and a phase threshold value. The phase adjust module generates the first clock signal and the second clock signal according to the first corrective signal. The loop filter module further accumulates the error signal to generate an accumulated value, and to compare the accumulated value with an accumulated threshold value, so as to dynamically adjust the accumulated threshold value, the frequency threshold value, and the phase threshold value.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a clock and data recovery circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
With the rapid development of manufacturing technology, the operating speed of integrated circuits has been significantly improved. In a high speed communication system, a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit is commonly utilized for assuring that input data can be correctly read after being transferred.
Typically, a CDR circuit has a fixed bandwidth. To process data at a high speed, the bandwidth of the CDR circuit must be high to reduce offset of the input data efficiently. However, if the CDR circuit keeps the same operating speed when the offset of the input data is decreased, more noise from clock jitter may be introduced during the clock and data recovery operation.
Therefore, a heretofore-unaddressed need exists to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Clock and data recovery circuit and method

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


A zirconia diaphragm structure, and a method of producing such structure in which the zirconia diaphragm structure includes a zirconia substrate having at least one window, and a zirconia diaphragm plate formed integrally with the zirconia substrate so as to close each window, the zirconia substrate comprising a zirconia material as a major component, and containing 0.1-3.0% by weight of alumina, 0.1-3.0% by weight of silica, 0.1-5.0% by weight of alumina and silica, 0.1-5.0% by weight of alumina and magnesia, or 0.1-5.0% by weight of alumina, silica and magnesia.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zirconia diaphragm structure, a method of producing the same, and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element including the zirconia diaphragm structure. In particular, the invention is concerned with such a diaphragm structure having a thin zirconia diaphragm that is free of buckling, cracks and other defects, and a method of producing the diaphragm structure, and is also concerned with a high-quality piezoelectric/electrostrictive film element including such a zirconia diaphragm structure.
2. Discussion of Related Art
A diaphragm structure having a substrate or base with at least one window or opening formed therethrough, and a thin diaphragm plate formed of a flexible material so as to close the window or windows, has been widely used for various kinds of sensors. In recent years, this diaphragm structure has been increasingly used for piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuators. When the diaphragm structure is used as a component of a sensor, the sensor has appropriate means for detecting the amount of bending or flexural displacement of a diaphragm of the diaphragm structure, which displacement is caused by an object (e.g., voltage) to be measured by the sensor. When the diaphragm structure is used as a component of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator, the diaphragm of the diaphragm structure is deformed or deflected by a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element formed on the diaphragm. For example, the actuator utilizes a change in the pressure in a pressure chamber formed within the diaphragm structure.
The diaphragm structure as described above may be produced by forming an integral body consisting of the substrate serving as a base or support, and a film member which is supported by the substrate and which provides the diaphragm. For improved operating reliability, and increased heat resistance and corrosion resistance, the diaphragm structure is desirably formed as a fired integral ceramic body, as proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,635 (corresponding to JP-A-63-292032) owned by the assignee of the present application, and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/239,856 (corresponding to JP-A-5-29675) assigned to the present assignee. These publications disclose a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film element in the form of a fired integral body of a ceramic material, which is used for a pressure sensor and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator.
The integral ceramic diaphragm structure as described above is generally formed by laminating a ceramic green substrate having a window with a thin ceramic green sheet for closing the window, to thus form an integral green laminar ceramic body having a diaphragm portion which closes the window at one of the opposite open ends of the window. The green laminar ceramic body is then fired into the integral diaphragm structure. The inventors of the present invention found that the thus prepared diaphragm structure tends to suffer from buckling or cracking at the diaphragm portion. The buckling and cracking at the diaphragm portion are detrimental to the intended function or operation of the diaphragm, resulting in reduced operating reliability.

Zirconia diaphragm structure and piezoelectric/electrostrictive film element having the zirconia diaphragm structure


The present invention relates to a waste fluorescent light end-cutting device. The waste fluorescent light end-cutting device includes a conveyor transferring a waste fluorescent light, a heating wire disposed on each of both sides of the conveyor, a cooling wire subsequently disposed on a rear side of the heating wire, and a suction duct disposed between the cooling wire and the heating wire. A base cap is separated from the waste fluorescent light by using a temperature difference between the heating wire and the cooling wire.

End-cutting technologies relevant to waste fluorescent light treatment are technologies in which a glass tube and a nonferrous metal (aluminum) are mechanically or thermally treated to separate a base cap therefrom. Although such an end-cutting technology has high cutting efficiency and resource recovery rate, when the mechanical treatment is performed, a lot of fragments of glass may be generated, and it may be difficult to control mercury. Also, when the thermal treatment is performed, a large amount of mercury gas is evaporated due to its high use temperature, and thus there is high possibility of the mercury gas emission in air.
Meanwhile, a thermal treatment method of the above-described end-cutting technologies may be classified again into a gas burner end-cutting method and an electric heater end-cutting method.
First, the gas burner end-cutting method is a method in which a glass tube and a nonferrous metal are cut from each other by using flame of a burner, which is mainly being used in Europe. In this gas burner end-cutting method, although the flame has a very high temperature of about 2,000° C., the glass tube may be accurately cut and clearly separated. Thus, a glass material is less likely to be mixed with a fluorescent material to allow the fluorescent material to be easily recovered. However, the gas burner end-cutting method is extremely changed in cutting efficiency according to conditions in use such as a pressure of the burner and a gas amount. Also, the gas burner end-cutting method may not be applied to small or complicate fluorescent lights.
Next, the electric heater end-cutting method is a cutting method using a heating wire. In more detail, the electric heater end-cutting method is a method in which heat is primarily applied between a glass tube and a nonferrous metal by using the heating wire, and shock through a cooling temperature is secondarily applied to the heated portion by using a cooling wire. In this electric heater end-cutting method, since the glass portion is clearly separated, the glass may be less likely to be mixed with the fluorescent material to allow the fluorescent material to be easily recovered. However, there is high possibility of causing heating wire damage due to a structure in which the heating wire is directly in contact with the cutoff portion. As a result, the heating wire needs to be periodically replaced, and also the cutoff surface of the fluorescent light is deteriorated in quality.
Although there are a lot of end-cutting method-related prior arts such as Patent Registration No. 10-0224384 (Oct. 15, 1999), Patent Registration No. 10-0919863 (Oct. 5, 2009), Patent Registration No. 10-0931621 (Dec. 14, 2009), and Japan Patent Publication No. 2008-229499 (Oct. 2, 2008), since expensive mechanical devices are used in most of the prior arts, relatively much manufacturing and operating costs are required. Also, the devices are complicated to frequently cause mechanical defects, and thus a skilled worker is needed.
Therefore, this inventor of the present invention was concerned about the above-described various problems according to the related art to seek solutions so as to accurately cut the base cap of the waste fluorescent light and stably separate the fluorescent material existing in the fluorescent tube, thereby inventing the present invention.

Waste fluorescent light end-cutting apparatus

KYONGGI UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY & ACADEMIA COOPERATION FOUNDATION


An electronic device can include an insulating layer and a fin-type transistor structure. The fin-type structure can have a semiconductor fin and a gate electrode spaced apart from each other. A dielectric layer and a spacer structure can lie between the semiconductor fin and the gate electrode. The semiconductor fin can include channel region including a portion associated with a relatively higher VT lying between a portion associated with a relatively lower VT and the insulating layer. In one embodiment, the supply voltage is lower than the relatively higher VT of the channel region. A process for forming the electronic device is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to electronic devices that include fin-type transistor structures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fin-type field effect transistors ("FinFET") formed on a common substrate typically have electrical channel widths that are in increments of substantially even, integer multiples of the fixed height of the semiconductor fin(s) of the FinFET. Being limited to using FinFETs having channel widths limited in this manner can be problematic when "tuning" designs to obtain operational characteristics that assure operation across a desired set of operating parameters. Therefore, it would be desirable to have FinFETs with a greater range of available channel widths.
Skilled artisans appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the invention. The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

Electronic device including a fin-type transistor structure and a process for forming the electronic device


Check valves are disclosed, including check valve included in an aspirator, that includes a housing defining an internal cavity having a first port and a second port both in fluid communication therewith, and a sealing member within the cavity. The sealing member is translatable between a closed position against a first seat within the internal cavity of the housing and an open position against a second seat within the internal cavity of the housing. The sealing member has a sealing material positioned for sealing engagement with the first seat when the sealing member is in the closed position and a reinforcing member positioned for engagement with the second seat when the sealing member is in the open position.

Engines, for example vehicle engines, have included aspirators and/or check valves for a long time. Typically, the aspirators are used to generate a vacuum that is lower than engine manifold vacuum by inducing some of the engine air to travel through a venturi. The aspirators may include check valves therein or the system may include separate check valves. When the check valves are separate, they are typically included downstream between the source of the vacuum and the device using the vacuum.
In engines that have a brake boost system, conditions exist that may make it difficult for a check valve to seal effectively. This is undesirable, and new check valves are needed to provide more efficient sealing.

Check valve with improved sealing member


A gas cabinet has a housing receiving at least one gas bottle. The housing has at least one intake opening and at least one exit opening. A conduit system is located in the housing to which the at least one gas bottle is to be connected. A scavenging air passage for a scavenging air flow entering the housing through the at least one intake opening and exiting from the housing through the at least one exit opening is provided. The gas cabinet is configured such that an open flow cross-section of the air passage for the scavenging air in the housing is limited to an amount necessary for a reliable scavenging action. At least one displacement body is arranged in the housing for limiting the flow cross-section in the housing.

The invention relates to a gas cabinet with a housing in which at least one gas bottle is arranged that is connected to a conduit system that is located in the housing and is positioned within a scavenging air flow that enters through at least one intake opening the housing and exits from the housing through at least one exit opening.
In particular in the semiconductor industry gas cabinets are used in which gas bottles containing gases are present which gases are supplied by means of a conduit system to consumers. The gases can be poisonous, corrosive or combustible. For this reason, it is necessary that scavenging air flows through the gas cabinet in order to remove gases that have leaked without the gases reaching the environment in an uncontrolled fashion. Since it is required to provide a minimum air flow rate in the open cross-section of the gas cabinet for a safe removal of gases escaping through leaks at the connectors and pipe conduits above the gas bottle, large amounts of air are required in known configurations of gas cabinets; this leads to significant operating costs.
It is an object of the invention to configure a gas cabinet of the aforementioned kind such that the installation and operating costs are reduced.


A boom for a load handling machine, the boom has a mounting by which the boom is mounted on a body of the machine, and at least first and second telescoped sections. In use, the boom carries a load handling implement at or towards its outermost end. The first boom section is telescoped within the second section and is extendible and retractable relative to the second boom section by an actuator. At least the first boom section includes walls made at least predominantly of a composite material. A bearing member is located where adjacent walls meet to extend along a substantial length of the first boom section to provide bearing surfaces during sliding of the first boom section relative to the second boom section. Bearings also may be provided on the interior of the second boom section to further protect the first boom section.

The invention relates to a boom for a load handling machine, and more particularly to a boom which includes a plurality of telescoped sections. A load handling implement such as a bucket or loading forks, for examples, is carried at an outermost end of the boom. The boom is mounted at an innermost end on a body of the machine. In one example, the boom for the load handling machine is pivotal about a mounting axis which is generally horizontal, with the boom extending alongside and forwardly of an operator's cab on the machine. The machine is movable over the ground on a ground engaging structure such as wheels carried on axles.
The boom conventionally is made of metal so as to be sufficiently strong to handle heavy loads. It will be appreciated that when the boom is fully extended, the load handled by the load handling implement exerts a substantial tipping moment about a front axle of such a machine. Regardless of the strength of the boom, there is a restriction on the load which can be handled. Moreover the weight of the conventionally metal boom is not an insignificant factor when determining a maximum safe load, as the weight of the boom will contribute to the tipping moment, particularly when extended fully.


A transmitter synthesizes a signal having a phase modulated component and an amplitude modulated component. Phase and amplitude reference signals are generated from phase and amplitude information extracted from an offset output and offset input signal. An origin-offset signal source generates a compensation signal which is combined with the input and output signals to generate the offset input and output signals.

In a communication system, before a signal is modulated onto a carrier wave having an intermediate frequency, it is referred to as a baseband signal. In a transmitter, the baseband signal may be split into I and Q components that make up a vector defining the information signal. The I and Q components are modulated onto a carrier wave using a modulator and the output is up-converted using one or more frequency mixers. The carrier wave includes the amplitude and phase components of the modulating signal. Because the modulator operates at relatively low power levels compared to the transmitted power level, amplification between the modulator and the antenna is necessary. This amplification should be linear and efficient. Non-linear amplification creates distortion that may cause, among other things, error in the information vector. In a worst case, distortion may cause broadening of the frequency spectrum of the transmitted signal. Broadening of the frequency spectrum may interfere with nearby channels and may reduce traffic capacity. It may also result in the consumption of additional power reducing the efficiency of the transmitter which is undesirable, especially for mobile communication devices.
Linear amplifiers have been used to help improve the linearity of the output signals, but their efficiency is too low to be a practical alternative to non-linear power amplifiers, especially for mobile communication devices. Pre-distortion of the I and Q components is another technique that has been used to improve linearity but it is difficult to implement and it's application is limited. Cartesian feedback is another technique used for improving linearity, however this technique requires exact phase matching at the power amplifier output.
Polar-loop transmitters have also been used to help reduce spectrum broadening and improve power amplifier linearity. In a conventional polar-loop transmitter, an information signal is split into its polar components which consist of a phase reference component and an amplitude reference component. The components are processed in separate control loops and recombined to produce an output signal. One problem with conventional polar-loop transmitters is that modem communication techniques introduce modulation schemes, including for example, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Wideband (CDMA) schemes, where the instant signal trajectory may cross the zero point on a phasor diagram. This zero-crossing trajectory creates several difficulties for conventional polar-loop transmitters. For example, a zero-crossing trajectory has a phase component discontinuity similar to a step-function that results from the instantaneous transition of the phase by 180 degrees. The amplitude component at this zero-crossing occurrence may also contain a time derivative discontinuity. Because of the zero crossing, both the amplitude and phase components become very wideband making the processing of these components sensitive to bandwidth and slew-rate limitations.
Another problem with conventional polar-loop transmitters is the processing of the phase component by a phase detector. A phase detector's transfer function typically depends on the amplitude of the incoming signal, and amplitude regulating circuitry removes the amplitude modulation component. The amplitude regulating circuitry, such as a limiter or an automatic level control (ALC) circuit, has a limited range of functionality and has difficult handling zero-crossing trajectories.
Thus there is a general need for an improved transmitter and method for transmission of signals. There is also a need for a transmitter and method for transmission of signals with improved efficiency. There is also a need for a transmitter and method for transmission of signals that helps reduce the broadening of the frequency spectrum. There is also a need for a transmitter and method for transmission of signals that helps increase the efficiency of a transmitter's non-linear amplifier. There is also a need for a transmitter and method for transmission of signals with improved linearity. There is also a need for an improved polar-loop transmitter and method that handles zero-crossing trajectories.

Method and polar-loop transmitter with origin offset for zero-crossing signals


A dispenser for dispensing a fluent material, including a structural body including a fluid circuit for the thick fluent material and a pressure circuit for propelling and dispersing the thick fluent material. Thick fluent material is stored in a hopper and fed by gravity into the fluid circuit. The pressure circuit carrying for example compressed air branches into a first subcircuit arranged to propel thick fluent material towards the discharge nozzle, and a second subcircuit arranged to disperse the thick fluent material as it exists the discharge nozzle. First and second valves respectively control flow of pressurized air in the first and second subcircuits to independently adjust the rate of discharge and dispersion of the thick fluent material.

Applying a coat of a fluent material entails several aspects. One is that the material must be susceptible to being spread over a broad area being coated. Another is that for esthetic reasons, it may be desirable to apply the coat as evenly as possible.
Fluent materials, particularly thick fluent cementitious materials such as stucco, may be dispensed by pneumatic equipment. However, achieving relatively fine control over the dispensed coat, as has been achieved with less viscous or thick materials such as paints, remains in need of apparatus which both propels the material from a dispenser, and also successfully disperses the material to achieve a thin, even coating on the surface being coated.

Dispenser for dispensing a fluent material


A label holder is hingedly connected to a clip portion grippingly engaged over a transversely extending rod at the distal end of a merchandise aid, such as a scanner hook or the like, or over a plate on the end of a scanner hook enabling the label holder to be moved forwardly to access or position product on the scanner hook, or, in some applications, rearwardly in the event of impact from a passerby. By selecting the properties of the hinge section, the label holder can be temporarily fixed in a selected angular relationship when the scanner hook extends above or below the eye of a viewer to facilitate reading information on labels carried thereby.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to merchandising aids, and relates more particularly to a unique design of a label holder or a combination label holder/sign holder that is secured to the end of a merchandise display or scanner hook in a manner that enables the label holder to tip rearwardly if accidentally engaged by a passerby or the like, be tipped forwardly to facilitate adding product to, and removing product from, the merchandise display hook without interference, and be temporarily retained at a rearwardly or forwardly extending angle to the horizontal to facilitate viewing information on the labels carried thereby when the merchandise display or scanner hook on which it is mounted is positioned above or below eye level, respectively.
The label holder portion of the merchandising aid is designed to removably receive adhesive or non-adhesive labels to display consumer information such as descriptions and prices of products, as well as inventory control information, such as barcodes and the like. The merchandising aid of this invention may also include a sign holder portion adapted to carry a "flag" or sign displaying special information to the consumer, such as identifying a "sale" item or the like. For simplicity, the term "label holder" is used herein to include label holders for adhesive or non-adhesive labels as well as label holders with or without one or more means to also carry a sign or flag.
2. Description of the Related Art
Scanner hook assemblies are commonly found in outlets such as supermarkets, pharmacies and the like, and are often carried by an apertured board or other supporting surface. Generally, scanner hook assemblies at least comprise a pair of interconnected, vertically spaced, horizontally extending, hooks or elements cantilevered forwardly from a proximal mounting portion. The distal end of the upper hook may have a T-shaped cross-bar, a right-angular or L-shaped extension, or a flat scanner plate adapted to carry a label or label holder. The lower hook may be a single, forwardly extending element, a laterally spaced pair of such elements, or a loop for slidable reception and removal of a plurality of products such as plastic encased products with an apertured or slotted cardboard backing commonly known as "blister packs".
Adhesive-backed labels can be secured directly to a flat scanner plate. Removing such adhesive-backed labels is time consuming and difficult, leaving an unsightly residue build-up which is resistant to cleaning. For that reason, non-adhesive paper or plastic labels are generally preferred since they can easily be replaced if they become damaged or the product information changes. Therefore, label holders have been provided which commonly have a back panel with a transparent cover member flexibly secured along one mating edge to the back panel to define a pocket between the front surface of the back panel and the rear surface of the cover member for removable reception of one or more information-containing paper or plastic labels.
Oftentimes, in addition to the information provided by the product labels, it is desired to highlight certain information about a particular product or group of products by displaying an enlarged "flag" or sign. U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,112 (the '112 patent), the subject matter of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, provides a combination label/sign holder wherein the signs are carried by, and move with, the cover member of the label holder and do not interfere with selectively inserting and removing labels from the label holder pocket.
Label holders for attachment to the T-shaped cross-bar, L-shaped right-angular extension or flat plate on the distal end of the upper element of a scanner hook assembly of the type described hereinabove are available. Accidental disengagement of such label holders from the scanner hook assembly is minimized if the label holder can be rotated forwardly and upwardly away from the distal end of the merchandise-receiving hook to access the hook or products carried by the hook. Another problem with attaching a label holder or the like to the distal end of a scanner hook is the possibility of injuring a passerby and/or damaging or disengaging the label holder in the event of an accidental impact from a consumer or even a shopping cart or other piece of equipment.
Thus, it is desirable that the label holder attachment be adapted for both forwardly and rearwardly pivoting movement about its attachment to the scanner hook. Moreover, the ability to temporarily position the label holder in a fixed angular relationship to the scanner hook would be useful to better present information on labels carried thereby to passersby when the scanner hooks are supported at a high or low level.
While some prior art devices have been designed to pivotally support a label holder on the type of scanner hook having a T-shaped cross-bar or an L-shaped right-angular extension on its distal end some such pivoting label holders are relatively complex and expensive to manufacture and use, and many of these designs may be readily disengaged from the scanner hook assembly upon impact.
Moreover, as noted, some scanner hook assemblies have a flat plate rigidly attached to the distal end of the upper element and prior art pivoting label holders are not effective with such constructions. Yet, the ability to tip the label holder forwardly, particularly if it depends below the flat plate portion of the scanner hook assembly, would improve access to the merchandise-receiving hook for loading or removing products therefrom.


An amplifier front-end comprises an input node for receiving a common-mode voltage Vcm, a differential transistor pair having first and second inputs and outputs, a capacitor, a reference voltage Vref, an error correction circuit, and a switching network. The switching network charges the capacitor to Vref; couples the capacitor to the differential pair's first input and couples Vref to the pair's second input such that the voltage at both inputs is ˜Vref; and couples the input node to the capacitor's other terminal such that the voltage at the first input is level-shifted to ˜(Vcm+Vref). The error correction circuit—typically an auto-zero circuit—is coupled to the differential pair's outputs and arranged to reduce charge injection error and kT/C noise components that would otherwise be present in the outputs due to the level shift.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to amplifier front-end circuits, and, more particularly, to front-end circuits which enable the amplifier to accommodate a common-mode input voltage of zero.
2. Description of the Related Art
An amplifier 'front-end' circuit operates to receive and buffer an input signal, and provide a representation of the received signal to a following 'back-end' stage. Two front-end circuits may be used to accommodate a differential input signal. The front-end and back-end circuits together provide an instrumentation amplifier.
One type of amplifier is a current-mode instrumentation amplifier. In a typical current-mode instrumentation amplifier, first and second front-end circuits provide respective output currents, and a back-end output stage provides an output which varies with the difference between the output currents. A conventional front-end for this type of amplifier is shown in FIG. 1. A common mode input voltage Vcm is applied to one input of a differential transistor pair 10 biased with a tail current source 12. The pair transistors conduct respective currents, which drive a folded cascode stage. 14 that produces a single-ended output 16. This output is coupled to a second gain stage which includes an output transistor 18 biased with a current source 20, typically a field-effect transistor (FET). Output transistor 18 provides an output signal current 22 to an output stage (not shown).
When arranged as shown in FIG. 1, the voltages at the inputs to the differential pair are forced to be equal, and the voltage at the junction 24 of output transistor 18 and current source 20 tracks that at the pair inputs. Thus, the voltage at junction 24 will be approximately equal to zero when Vcm=0. Ideally, the FET of current source 20 operates in its saturation region. However, a voltage of zero at junction 24 forces the FET to turn off, thereby eliminating the bias current provided to output transistor 18. Therefore, a front-end having a configuration of this sort cannot function accurately when Vcm=0.

Amplifier front-end with low-noise level shift


Techniques and mechanism to provide a cache of cache tags in determining an access to cached data. In an embodiment, a tag storage stores a first set including tags associated with respective data locations of a cache memory. A cache of cache tags store a subset of tags stored by the tag storage. In response to any determination that a tag of the first set is to be stored to the cache of cache tags, all tags of the first set are stored to the first portion. Any storage of tags of the first set to the cache of cache tags includes storage of the tags of the first set to only a first portion of the cache of cache tags. In another embodiment, a replacement table is maintained for use in determining, based on an indicated level of activity for a set of the cache of cache tags, whether the set is to be selected for eviction and replacement of cached tags.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to cache tag storage. More specifically, certain embodiments relates to techniques for caching sets of tags of a tag storage.
2. Background Art
Processors of all kinds have become more dependent on caches due to the relatively slow speed of memory in relation to the speed of a processor core. Numerous cache architectures have been utilized for decades. One common cache architecture is a set associative cache. Cache architectures have memory storage that stores data from system memory locations as well as a tag storage structure that stores sets of tags.
In standard cache hierarchy architecture, the closer to the processor core(s) a cache is located, generally, the smaller and faster the cache becomes. The smallest and fastest cache(s) generally reside on the processor core silicon die. On the other hand, the largest cache (LLC or last level cache) or caches sometimes reside off-die from the processor core(s). Accessing data that resides in an off-die cache as opposed to an on-die cache generally creates additional latency since it takes longer for the data to be transmitted to the processor core(s).
Each cache has a tag storage structure. If the processor needs data from a certain memory location, it can determine if the data is stored in a given cache by doing a comparison of the memory location address and the tag storage structure for the cache. If the tag storage structure is off-die, the latency to do a tag lookup will be greater than if the tag storage structure is on-die. Thus, although on-die tag storage structures increase the cost of the processor die because they take up valuable space, they help speed up execution by reducing the latencies of tag lookups versus off-die caches.

Method, apparatus and system to cache sets of tags of an off-die cache memory


A multi-layer woven papermaker's fabric having at least two sets of seam loops. Longer and a shorter seam attachment mechanisms are used to connect the bottom and top layer seam loops. The longer attachment mechanism in the top layer being over the shorter attachment mechanism in the bottom layer, and vice versa. A pintle or installation cable is positioned between each set of connectors to form a seam. The pair of connectors for each set of seam loops comprises different lengths in the MD direction such that the pintle or installation cables on adjacent layers are offset in the MD direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates primarily to the papermaking arts. Specifically, the present invention relates to seaming multi-layer integrally woven fabrics for use on papermaking machines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
During the papermaking process, a cellulosic fibrous web is formed by depositing a fibrous slurry, that is, an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fibers, onto a moving forming fabric in the forming section of a paper machine. A large amount of water is drained from the slurry through the forming fabric, leaving the cellulosic fibrous web on the surface of the forming fabric.
The newly formed cellulosic fibrous web proceeds from the forming section to a press section, which includes a series of press nips. The cellulosic fibrous web passes through the press nips supported by a press fabric, or, as is often the case, between two such press fabrics. In the press nips, the cellulosic fibrous web is subjected to compressive forces which squeeze water therefrom, and which adhere the cellulosic fibers in the web to one another to turn the cellulosic fibrous web into a paper sheet. The water is accepted by the press fabric or fabrics and, ideally, does not return to the paper sheet.
The paper sheet finally proceeds to a dryer section, which includes at least one series of rotatable dryer drums or cylinders, which are internally heated by steam. The newly formed paper sheet is directed in a serpentine path sequentially around each in the series of drums by a dryer fabric, which holds the paper sheet closely against the surfaces of the drums. The heated drums reduce the water content of the paper sheet to a desirable level through evaporation.
It should be appreciated that the forming, press and dryer fabrics all take the form of endless loops on the paper machine and function in the manner of conveyors. It should further be appreciated that paper manufacture is a continuous process which proceeds at considerable speeds. That is to say, the fibrous slurry is continuously deposited onto the forming fabric in the forming section, while a newly manufactured paper sheet is continuously wound onto rolls after it exits from the dryer section.
The present invention relates primarily to the fabrics used in the press section, generally known as press fabrics, but it may also find application in the fabrics used in the forming and dryer sections, as well as in those used as bases for polymer-coated paper industry process belts, such as, for example, long nip press belts, industrial fabrics and/or engineered fabrics such as pulp forming fabrics, sludge dewatering fabrics and Double Nip Thickener (DNT) dewatering fabrics, among others.
Press fabrics play a critical role during the paper manufacturing process. One of their functions, as implied above, is to support and to carry the paper product being manufactured through the press nip.
Press fabrics also participate in the finishing of the surface of the paper sheet. That is, press fabrics are designed to have smooth surfaces and uniformly resilient structures, so that, in the course of passing through the press nips, a smooth, mark-free surface is imparted to the paper.
Perhaps most importantly, the press fabrics accept the large quantities of water extracted from the wet paper in the press nip. In order to fulfill this function, there literally must be space, commonly referred to as void volume, within the press fabric for the water to go, and the fabric must have adequate permeability to water for its entire useful life. Finally, press fabrics must be able to prevent the water accepted from the wet paper from returning to and rewetting the paper upon exit from the press nip.
Contemporary press fabrics are used in a wide variety of styles designed to meet the requirements of the paper machines on which they are installed for the paper grades being manufactured. Generally, they comprise a woven base fabric into which has been needled a batt of fine, non-woven fibrous material. The base fabrics may be woven from monofilament, plied monofilament, multifilament or plied multifilament yarns, and may be single-layered, multi-layered or laminated. The yarns are typically extruded from any one of several synthetic polymeric resins, such as polyamide and polyester resins, used for this purpose by those of ordinary skill in the paper machine clothing arts.
The woven base fabrics themselves take many different forms. For example, they may be woven endless, or flat woven and subsequently rendered into endless form with a woven seam. Alternatively, they may be produced by a process commonly known as modified endless weaving, wherein the widthwise edges of the base fabric are provided with seaming loops using the machine-direction (MD) yarns thereof. In this process, the MD yarns weave continuously back-and-forth between the widthwise edges of the fabric, at each edge turning back and forming a seaming loop. A base fabric, produced in this fashion is placed into endless form during installation on a paper machine, and for this reason is referred to as an on-machine-seamable fabric. To place such a fabric into endless form, the two widthwise edges are brought together, the seaming loops at the two edges are interdigitated with one another, and a seaming pin or pintle is directed through the passage formed by the interdigitated seaming loops.
Further, the woven base fabrics may be laminated by placing one base fabric within the endless loop formed by another and by needling a staple fiber batt through both base fabrics to join them to one another. One or both woven base fabrics may be of the on-machine-seamable type.
In any event, the woven base fabrics are in the form of endless loops, or are seamable into such forms, having a specific length, measured longitudinally therearound, and a specific width, measured transversely thereacross. Because paper machine configurations vary widely, paper machine clothing manufacturers are required to produce fabrics, and belts, to the dimensions required to fit particular positions in the paper machines of their customers. Needless to say, this requirement makes it difficult to streamline the manufacturing process, as each fabric must typically be made to order.
In response to this need to produce fabrics in a variety of lengths and widths more quickly and efficiently, press fabrics have been produced in recent years using a spiral technique disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,656 to Rexfelt et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,656 shows a press fabric comprising a base fabric having one or more layers of staple fiber material needled thereinto. The base fabric comprises at least one layer composed of a spirally wound strip of woven fabric having a width which is smaller than the width of the base fabric. The base fabric is endless in the longitudinal, or machine, direction. Lengthwise threads of the spirally wound strip make an angle with the longitudinal direction of the press fabric. The strip of woven fabric may be flat-woven on a loom which is narrower than those typically used in the production of paper machine clothing.
The base fabric comprises a plurality of spirally wound and joined turns of the relatively narrow woven fabric strip. The fabric strip is woven from lengthwise (warp) and crosswise (filling) yarns. Adjacent turns of the spirally wound fabric strip may be abutted against one another, and the helically continuous seam so produced may be closed by sewing, stitching, melting or welding. Alternatively, adjacent longitudinal end portions of adjoining spiral turns may be arranged overlappingly, so long as the ends have a reduced thickness, so as not to give rise to an increased thickness in the area of the overlap. Further, the spacing between lengthwise yarns may be increased at the ends of the strip, so that, when adjoining spiral turns are arranged overlappingly, there may be an unchanged spacing between lengthwise threads in the area of the overlap.
In the case of dryer fabrics, in particular, such fabrics were produced by flat weaving and then joined together. Dryer fabrics that are used today are long and require a seam for installation, since dryer section frames are solid without cantilever components and thus prevent the use of endless woven fabrics. Accordingly, the fabrics must be installed with a seam, since they cannot be put on endless.
It should be noted that contemporary fabrics also include fabrics with non-woven bases. An example of a non-woven fabric is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,734, which discloses a wet press felt for use on papermaking machines. The wet press felt includes a conventional felt fabric and a multiple of non-woven layers of synthetic textile fibers needled to the felt. Interposed between the layers of synthetic textile fiber are mesh fabrics which support the individual non-woven layers and retard compaction of the overall construction. Such non-woven fabrics may be provided with seams like those of the woven fabrics in order to realize an "endless" non-woven fabric.
In addition to the aforenoted modified endless weaving which provides a seamable fabric, there exists other types of seams heretofore utilized, particularly in the case of dryer fabrics. For example, some flat woven dryer fabrics had clipper hook seams as are used in corrugator belts today. However, clipper hooks tend to corrode. More importantly, clipper hooks wear, do not flex well (they tend to bump around fabric support rolls), and the seam tends to mark the paper sheet.
Some fabrics and belts are seamed on a diagonal in a manner as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,415 which has been found satisfactory for certain applications.
Seams can also be sewn on which involves a webbing sewn onto both cross-machine direction ("CD") ends of the dryer fabric. The webbing contains loops which are meshed together to form the seam. The webbing, since it is out of plane and thicker than the fabric body, also tends to bump around fabric support rolls, marks the sheet, and has zero permeability, which further exacerbates the sheet marking problem. Since it is sewn on, the stitching is between the web and the fabric body. Once the stitching fails, the web will pull off, resulting in a "seam failure".
The market today is dominated by fabrics having pin seams, with or without a spiral insert. These seams require MD yarns to be woven back into the structure body by hand or machine assisted. CD yarns must be raveled out. Yarn materials, counts and sizes, weaves dictate the seam properties and the seam properties (uniformity, strength) dictate yarn counts within a certain weave. These seams are expensive to make, since they are labor intensive. The strength and seam durability are dictated by material properties too, especially loop strength. "Brittle" materials which have poor loop strength but may have other good properties are not dryer fabric candidates because of this. To compensate for low seam loop strength one may have to compromise on the fabric structure itself. An example of a seam having a spiral insert can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,422.
Early metal forming fabrics which were flat woven and shipped open ended, were installed on the machine with the metal wire ends joined together by brazing or fusing the yarns by heat. This "butt seam" had some slight end overlap and the seam only lasted for a short period of time. There was no sewing, stitching, or adding in a synthetic spiral.
Another example of a butt seam can be found in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,656. This seam is between adjacent strips of fabric and includes stitching. The seams, however, are not load bearing and are merely there to hold the strips together so that the "base" structures formed by these joined together strips can be handled through the manufacturing process.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,887,648 and 4,865,083 disclose various embodiments of pin seams in a four layer integrally woven fabric, both with and without spiral inserts. These patents disclose the use of loops formed from the MD yarns on each side of the dryer fabric. Thus, as noted above, the formation of these loops is a time intensive procedure. In order to avoid such a procedure, a spiral insert may be employed, such as that shown in FIG. 11 of these patents. Rather than meshing the loops from each edge together, a spiral insert meshes with the MD yarn formed loops. Thereafter, two pintles are inserted, one fixing each end of the dryer layer to the spiral insert to form the appropriate desired seam.
Obviously, there are other ways to provide seamable fabrics for use in papermaking and other industrial applications, with the foregoing being set forth merely as examples. However, as with anything, there is always a desire to improve on or provide an alternative to what has been done previously. Seamable fabrics are no exception. In this regard, heretofore providing a seam on a fabric has been relatively time consuming and labor intensive. If these are aspects that can be improved upon, this would obviously be a desirable result.
The present invention provides yet another approach toward forming the spirally continuous seam in a fabric of this type.

Multi-layer woven seam baseweave having different sized seam attachments


A method, apparatus, and system for improved approaches for allowing new links of a mesh network to be formed during an attack of the network are described. The method includes selectively initiating a plurality of communication session establishment procedures to share connection information over a plurality of respective paths with a node of a mesh network, at least one of the paths being separated from the mesh network, wherein the connection information is used to establish one link of the mesh network.

Networking technologies using mesh techniques, such as mobile ad-hoc network (MANET), offer users the promise of increased reliability, security, and resistance to attack owing to the avoidance of relying on only a small number of critical infrastructure components. Additionally, mesh networks may utilize spread spectrum technologies such as frequency hopping and Direct Sequence Code Division Multiple Access (DS-CDMA) to provide further resistance to attack (e.g., signal jamming). However, mesh networking technologies, particularly MANETs utilizing spread spectrum wireless communications, may be unable to establish new links due to attacks, such as signal jamming. For instance, jamming of communication channels during a handshake phase may prevent nodes of a mesh network from sharing connection information necessary to establish jamming resistant links between nodes. In another example, jamming may prevent nodes of a mesh network from detecting each other, thereby preventing establishment of new links within a mesh network.
Therefore, there is a need for approaches allowing new links of a mesh network to be formed during an attack of the network, particularly a signal jamming of the network.

Method and apparatus for attack resistant mesh networks


Methods and apparatus are provided for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. In some embodiments, parameters of the neural fibers, of non-target tissue, or of the thermal energy delivery element, may be monitored via one or more sensors for controlling the thermally-induced neuromodulation. In some embodiments, protective elements may be provided to reduce a degree of thermal damage induced in the non-target tissues.

Congestive Heart Failure ("CHF") is a condition that occurs when the heart becomes damaged and reduces blood flow to the organs of the body. If blood flow decreases sufficiently, kidney function becomes altered, which results in fluid retention, abnormal hormone secretions and increased constriction of blood vessels. These results increase the workload of the heart and further decrease the capacity of the heart to pump blood through the kidneys and circulatory system.
It is believed that progressively decreasing perfusion of the kidneys is a principal non-cardiac cause perpetuating the downward spiral of CHF. Moreover, the fluid overload and associated clinical symptoms resulting from these physiologic changes result in additional hospital admissions, poor quality of life and additional costs to the health care system.
In addition to their role in the progression of CHF, the kidneys play a significant role in the progression of Chronic Renal Failure ("CRF"), End-Stage Renal Disease ("ESRD"), hypertension (pathologically high blood pressure) and other cardio-renal diseases. The functions of the kidneys can be summarized under three broad categories: filtering blood and excreting waste products generated by the body's metabolism; regulating salt, water, electrolyte and acid-base balance; and secreting hormones to maintain vital organ blood flow. Without properly functioning kidneys, a patient will suffer water retention, reduced urine flow and an accumulation of waste toxins in the blood and body. These conditions result from reduced renal function or renal failure (kidney failure) and are believed to increase the workload of the heart. In a CHF patient, renal failure will cause the heart to further deteriorate as fluids are retained and blood toxins accumulate due to the poorly functioning kidneys.
It has been established in animal models that the heart failure condition results in abnormally high sympathetic activation of the kidneys. An increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity leads to decreased removal of water and sodium from the body, as well as increased renin secretion. Increased renin secretion leads to vasoconstriction of blood vessels supplying the kidneys, which causes decreased renal blood flow. Reduction of sympathetic renal nerve activity, e.g., via denervation, may reverse these processes.
Applicants have previously described methods and apparatus for treating renal disorders by applying a pulsed electric field to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. See, for example, Applicants' co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. (a) 11/129,765, filed on May 13, 2005, (b) Ser. No. 11/189,563, filed on Jul. 25, 2005, and (c) Ser. No. 11/363,867, filed Feb. 27, 2006, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. A pulsed electric field ("PEF") may initiate renal neuromodulation, e.g., denervation, for example, via irreversible electroporation or via electrofusion. The PEF may be delivered from apparatus positioned intravascularly, extravascularly, intra-to-extravascularly or a combination thereof. Additional methods and apparatus for achieving renal neuromodulation, e.g., via localized drug delivery (such as by a drug pump or infusion catheter) or via use of a stimulation electric field, etc, are described, for example, in co-owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/408,665, filed Apr. 8, 2003, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,978,174, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
A potential challenge of using PEF systems for treating renal disorders is to selectively electroporate target cells without affecting other cells. For example, it may be desirable to irreversibly electroporate renal nerve cells that travel along or in proximity to renal vasculature, but it may not be desirable to damage the smooth muscle cells of which the vasculature is composed. As a result, an overly aggressive course of PEF therapy may persistently injure the renal vasculature, but an overly conservative course of PEF therapy may not achieve the desired renal neuromodulation.
Applicants have previously described methods and apparatus for monitoring changes in tissue impedance or conductivity in order to determine the effects of pulsed electric field therapy, e.g., to determine an extent of electroporation and/or its degree of irreversibility. See, for example, Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/233,814, filed Sep. 23, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. However, in some patients it may be difficult or impractical to achieve such real-time monitoring when utilizing pulsed electric field neuromodulatory mechanisms. In some patients, this may necessitate re-intervention should it be established after the procedure that a degree of induced neuromodulation was not sufficient to achieve a desired treatment outcome. Thus, it would be desirable to achieve renal neuromodulation via more easily monitored and/or controlled neuromodulatory mechanisms.

Methods and apparatus for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation


Disclosed are an LCD capable of realizing a pre-charging method even in the random data-enable mode, and an apparatus and method for driving the same. In the LCD driving apparatus, a timing controller outputs a vertical sync start signal based on a data-enable signal having an irregular output interval to control the output of the image data. A gate driver sequentially applies both first and second gate-on voltages to a same gate line based on the vertical sync start signal. The first gate-on voltage is to drive a previous line being most adjacent to and having the same polarity as the current line, and the second gate-on voltage is to drive the current line. An LCD panel is first charged with the first gate-on voltage supplied from the gate driver, and then charged with the second gate-on voltage, so that it can display analog image data received from the data driver during the second charging.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and an apparatus and method for driving the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display capable of realizing a pre-charging method even in the random data-enable mode, and an apparatus and method for driving the same.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In general, a liquid crystal display (LCD) is a display device in which an electric field is applied to a liquid crystal layer having anisotropic dielectric constant permitivity sandwiched between two substrates, said electric field being adjusted to control the amount of light incident upon the substrates and thereby obtain a desired image. Such LCDs, including inter alia, a flat panel type display (FPD) that is very handy to carry, and a thin film transistor (TFT) LCD using a TFT as a switching element are, widely used.
Increased resolution of the LCD has lead to a rapid reduction of the pixel charging time needed. A pre-charging method as illustrated in FIG. 1 is used in order to compensate for the reduced charging time. The term "pre-charging method" as used herein refers to a method of charging a specific pixel over time that involves previously charging a corresponding pixel with data of an adjacent pixel (i.e. a pixel adjacent to the conrresponding pixel) having the same polarity as the corresponding pixel so as to invert the polarity of the pixel and thereafter charging the adjacent pixel with the data of the corresponding pixel.
A conventional gate signal usually appears every frame. However, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the typical pre-charging method compensates for the charging time in such a manner that an additional pre-charging gate pulse is used to previously charge the N-th pixel with the data of the (N−1)-th pixel having the same polarity as the N-th pixel prior to charging with the data of the N-th pixel.
More specifically, two vertical sync start signals STV have to be fed into the gate driver in order to generate a pre-charging gate pulse. For this purpose, use is made of a method of previously generating the vertical sync start signals STV at a designated position using a counter for a frame blank interval.
The data-enable (DE) mode makes the data-enable (DE) signal 'high' only during the interval having effective data. Driving the LCD without any problem, even with an irregular interval of the effective data, would be wanted. However, the conventional method using the counter is problematic in that it does not display an image when the interval of the effective data is irregular.
When the output interval of the effective data is irregular, i.e., in the random DE mode, the blank intervals of data-enable signals (for example, t1 and t2) are not conformable with each other, the consequence of which is failure to obtain a normal display of the LCD image.

LCD, and driving device and method thereof


Provided is a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device. The method includes fabricating a liquid crystal panel divided into transmission and non-transmission regions, and including an upper substrate and a lower substrate, which are spaced apart from and opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal layer filled between the substrates, wherein the lower substrate has a plurality of thin film transistors; depositing a transparent conductive layer having a certain thickness on the upper substrate exposed to the exterior of the liquid crystal panel; and performing an etching process for removing the entire transparent conductive layer and a portion of the upper substrate to form irregular prominences and depressions on a surface of the upper substrate exposed to the exterior. Therefore, it is possible to improve readability and contrast ratio by diffusely reflecting external light and scattering internal light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device (LCD), and more particularly, to a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device capable of improving readability and contrast ratio by diffusely reflecting external light and scattering internal light.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a liquid crystal display device (LCD) is a device using optical anisotropy of liquid crystal.
That is, the LCD is a device representing an image using characteristics capable of changing a molecule array of liquid crystal depending on the magnitude of an electric field upon application of a voltage and adjusting light according to the molecule array of the liquid crystal. The LCD includes upper and lower substrates, and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, an upper polarizer 40 and a lower polarizer 10, having a film shape, are formed on an upper substrate 30 and under a lower substrate 20, respectively.
When a conventional film type polarizer is used, surface treatment is performed on an outer surface of the polarizing film to fabricate a polarizer having functions such as anti-reflection, anti-glare, anti-static, and so on. The polarizers are attached to outer surfaces of the upper substrate 30 and the lower substrate 20.
However, in the conventional art, an increase in price of a functional polarizer and an increase in process time due to addition of processes may cause an increase in cost of the liquid crystal panel and an increase in thickness of the liquid crystal panel due to the thickness of a compensation film or the functional polarizer, thereby lowering product competitiveness.
Meanwhile, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device, in which polarizers are attached to inner surfaces of substrates. When in-cell polarizers 30a and 20a attached to a lower surface of the upper substrate 30 and an upper surface of the lower substrate 20 are employed, the upper substrate 30 and the lower substrate 20 are directly exposed to the exterior to cause problems such as surface reflection, glare, and static electricity, in comparison with the case in which the functional polarizer is used as shown in FIG. 1.
Reference numerals 21 and 31 designate insulating substrates, reference numeral 23 designates a pixel electrode, reference numeral 33 designates a color filter layer, reference numeral 35 designates a common electrode, and reference numeral 50 designates a liquid crystal layer.

Method of fabricating liquid crystal display device


In an example, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) lease request from a client device connected to a network is received. Based on the DHCP lease request, an Internet Protocol (IP) address is assigned to the client device for a lease time. A first lease renewal request is received. A probability of utilization for a lease time block is predicted based on a historical lease pattern, device characteristics, traffic information, and DHCP information. Based on a combination of the probability of utilization and a reward value, the lease time block is allotted for lease renewal. For each allotment, the reward value is adjusted based on deployment characteristics and traffic load in the network, and a network connection duration of the client device. A normalized reward value for the lease time block is determined based on reward values for the lease time block over multiple allotments.

A computer network may include devices that use Internet Protocol (IP) for communications. An IP address may be assigned to each of the devices in the computer network. IP addresses are assigned to a device either dynamically as they join the network or may be static based on the configuration of the hardware/software of the device. Dynamic IP addresses may be assigned to a device by a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. DHCP allows devices to share an IP address range on a network.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.

Dynamic host configuration protocol lease allotment

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A multi-valve fuel injection system comprising an electronic unit pump for outputting high pressure fuel; a low pressure fuel pipe for inputting fuel into the plunger cavity of the electronic unit pump; a fuel supply cam for propelling the movement of the plunger of the electronic unit pump to produce high pressure fuel; at least two electronically controlled fuel injectors for injecting fuel; high pressure fuel injection pipe connecting the electronic unit pump and the electronically controlled fuel injectors for transporting the high pressure fuel outputted form the electronic unit pump to the electronically controlled fuel injectors, respectively, for controlling the electronic unit pump and the opening and closing of solenoid valves in the fuel injectors. The fuel injection system can achieve large range fuel injection and high circulating response. Also disclosed is a fuel injection method for the multi-valve fuel injection system.

With the development of the liquid fuel engine technology, high power density is greatly needed. The higher efficiency of cylinder combustion process can enhance the engine power, wherein the most important factor is to optimize the fuel injection process.
Taking diesel engine as an example, with the enhancement of the power, the power scope becomes wider, which needs to enlarge the range of fuel injection quantity. Large fuel injection means to require large fuel injector nozzle area. Under the condition of small fuel injection quantity or idling, the large fuel injector nozzle can cause relatively large fuel injection error which may lead to speed fluctuation. However, if we accurately control the fuel injection quantity at the low speed, we will not get the maximum fuel injection. The highly-intensified diesel engine should embrace the real-time flexible adjustable characteristics at the process of high pressure injection so as to improve the dynamic characteristics of the engine. As for the mainstream oil supply system it is a challenge to accurately control the large scope of fuel injection quantity and improve the cycle responding characteristics of the fuel injection system.
The high pressure common rail fuel supply system can flexibly regulate the fuel injection. But the larger volume of the common rail cavity leads to slower cycle response speed that is unable to regulate injection starting pressure in cycles. The electronic unit pump adopts the mode of one cylinder to one pump which accumulates the high pressure only at the injection stage. It can obtain the high injection pressure and enjoy system reliability. But the disadvantages are also obvious: the injection pressure and fuel injection law can not be adjusted, the injection pressure relates with cam speed which cannot match the injection characteristic for high speed and low speed simultaneously. It can be concluded that neither high pressure common rail fuel supply system nor electronic unit pump can meet the large fuel injection scope of the highly-intensified diesel engine and high requirements for the cycle response characteristic.
Thus, we need a new type of fuel injection technology to optimize the fuel injection process to solve the above problems.

Multi-valve fuel injection system and injection method


A method for logging and reporting IDC interference information is provided. The method includes receiving an IDC interference measurement configuration from a network, the IDC interference measurement configuration comprising information instructing that a logging of IDC interference information be started, performing first IDC interference measurement on a first subframe, logging first IDC interference information comprising a first IDC interference measurement result, performing second IDC interference measurement on a second subframe, logging second IDC interference information comprising a second IDC interference measurement result, and reporting the first IDC interference information and the second IDC interference information to the network.

3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), that is, the improvement of an LTE Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), has been introduced as 3GPP release 8. 3GPP LTE uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) in downlink and uses Single Carrier-Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) in uplink. 3GPP LTE adopts Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) having a maximum of 4 antennas. Recently, 3GPP LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), that is, the evolution of 3GPP LTE, is being discussed.
A Minimization Drive Test (MDT) is that service providers perform a test using UE instead of a vehicle for coverage optimization. Coverage varies depending on the location of a BS, the deployment of peripheral buildings, and a user use environment. Accordingly, a service provider needs to periodically perform a driving test, and lots of costs and resources are consumed. An MDT is that a service provider measures coverage using UE.
An MDT can be divided into a logged MDT and an immediate MDT. In accordance with the logged MDT, UE performs MDT measurement and then transfers logged measurement to a network at a specific point of time. In accordance with the immediate MDT, UE performs MDT measurement and then transfers measurement to a network when a report condition is satisfied. In the logged MDT, MDT measurement is performed in an RRC idle mode, whereas in the immediate MDT, MDT measurement is performed in an RRC connected mode.
A service provider can write a coverage map, indicating whether or not service is possible over the entire area to which service is provided by a service provider and a distribution of QoS, by synthesizing pieces of MDT measurement received from several pieces of UE and use the written coverage map in network operations and optimization. For example, when a report on a coverage problem for a specific area is received from UE, a service provider can enlarge the coverage of a corresponding area cell by increasing the transmission power of a BS that provides service to the corresponding area.
Meanwhile, a recent UE device supports other wireless communication techniques, such as a WLAN (Wi-Fi), WiMAX, Zigbee, Bluetooth and/or a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) as well as a wireless communication system, such as LTE. If such UE is In-Device Coexistence (IDC) UE, the transmission and reception of radio signals by another wireless communication can generate interference with the transmission and reception of LTE radio signals and vice versa. This may result in a problem in that quality of service provided to UE is deteriorated and efficiency of radio resources is also deteriorated.
Meanwhile, a network can make IDC interference avoided by controlling the operation of UE if it can obtain information about IDC interference within the UE. Accordingly, there is a need for a method for logging IDC interference information about IDC UE and reporting the logged IDC interference information to a network.

Method for logging and reporting information on interference by IDC terminal in wireless communication system and device for supporting same


The invention is a column for separating a substance from a liquid having a plurality of separable compounds. The column has at least a first and a second bed of granular solids separated by at least one device, the device has at least a collection device which collects the substance to be separated, the collection device being in fluid connection to at least one mixing chamber, at least a first circuit for injection and/or removal of a first secondary fluid B.sub.1 and at least a second injection and/or removal circuit of a second secondary fluid B.sub.2. The injection and/or removal circuits are in communication with the mixing chamber with at least one opening allowing passage of the secondary fluids B.sub.1, B.sub.2 into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has at least one inlet orifice and at least one outlet orifice, and a device which redistributes the fluid coming from the mixing chamber, wherein the injection and/or removal circuits are separated and disposed in a vicinity of the mixing chamber along at least one wall of the chamber that has a direction substantially parallel to the device axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device, hereinafter abbreviated DME, and a process for distributing, mixing, adding, and/or removing several fluids, at least one main fluid and at least two other secondary fluids.
The invention is applied in particular in the field of chromatography for fluids in the gaseous, liquid, or supercritical state.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When separation processes by distillation are ineffective, it is possible and normal to call on simulated fluidized-bed systems to separate substances containing for example several different chemical compounds or substances containing isomers.
Chromatography processes generally use several fluids, called secondary fluids to distinguish them from the main fluid or substance to be separated, circulating in the chromatography column.
These secondary fluids can be of different kinds and can be removed from the column or injected into the column for example at the DME.
This difference in the nature of the fluids leads, for example, to risks of contamination, as one fluid may be in contact with another fluid, requiring additional flushing operations when a common injection a removal circuit is used for the various secondary fluids.
In addition, during chromatography, particularly at the end of the removal operation of a first fluid, a plug or remnant of this fluid is left behind, which needs to be eliminated before a second fluid is removed and/or injected.
For this purpose, a preliminary operation consists of pushing out or removing this plug from the column.
The flushing operations normally conducted to clean and/or drain the circuits contribute to increasing the complexity of the stages of the process used in the column as well as its cost and can decrease its efficiency.
Moreover, in certain processes, it is very important to achieve distribution or collection of the fluids circulating in the bed that is as homogeneous as possible.
In particular, in the area of simulated fluidized-bed chromatography, usually operated in a simulated countercurrent, and which in the majority of cases combines columns with large diameters or sections, and numerous separation stages, it is thus necessary to have one DME between each separation stage to ensure that the main fluid (A) is collected as uniformly as possible and that one or more secondary fluids are distributed and/or removed, and that the mixture formed inside the DME is redistributed.
Hence it is very important to render propagation of the main fluid in the column as uniform as possible by having a piston-type flow. One of the means of achieving this is to minimize the differences in travel time between the various flow lines of the flowing fluid, or between the various fluid particles, before they enter the mixing chamber. This is because these flow lines will have different path lengths and travel times depending on the position of their circulation route inside the column, this route being for example referenced with respect to the column axis (or to one of its walls), and to the position of the mixing chamber, particularly the opening of the chamber allowing fluid to pass.
For example, when the mixing chamber is disposed substantially in the center of the column and at an opening located in the vicinity of the central axis of this column, the travel time for a line of fluid circulating near the outer wall of the enclosure is greater than the travel time of a line of fluid circulating near the center of the column.
These differences in travel time bring about displacements in the arrivals of the flow lines or fluid lines in the mixing chamber which can bring about perturbations in the level of the traveling front of the main fluid. This lack of homogeneity in arrival times may affect the mixing quality in this chamber and perturb the various main fluid propagation streams advancing or propagating "piston-wise."
Among the distributor systems or DMEs described in prior publications and used industrially for specialty chemicals, laboratories, or large industries, the Amicon Company offers a DME that has a central baffle-distributor system that leads to correct distribution of the main fluid with small dead volumes. However, it does not have means of adding and/or removing a secondary fluid, nor means for optimally mixing a main fluid with a secondary fluid.
Moreover, the central baffle system brings about some perturbation in radial distribution of the main fluid, and the pressure drop is relatively great due to high flowrates at the relatively small central collecting point in the distributor.
It will be remembered that the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are relative to the circulation direction of the main fluid circulating in the beds of granular solids and passing through the DME.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,775 describes a DME used in a chromatography column with two beds in which the main fluid (A) is collected downstream from a grid located at the outlet of the first bed by a conduit and sent to a point upstream of the second bed, and from a collecting grid by a conduit, before being redistributed laterally in the second bed. The secondary fluid (B) can be introduced via an additional conduit and mixed in line with the main fluid, with the mixing taking place essentially at one point. The collecting and redistribution areas are separated by an inclined fluidtight baffle and thus allow conical collection with a small dead volume.
Nonetheless, the existence of an outside line creates an additional dead volume that can generate a back-mixing phenomenon and additional pressure drops.
Moreover, because of its lack of symmetry, the lateral distribution of the fluids can bring about imperfect homogenization for columns that have large diameters.
The teaching contained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,247 consists of collecting all the main fluid downstream of a baffle and then channeling it into a space delimited by the baffle and injection means for a secondary fluid. The main fluid channel is mixed in the space thus defined with the secondary fluid distributed in the form of transverse jets, and the resulting mixture is then redistributed in the space located below the baffle before being sent to the second bed. Because of the inclined shape of the baffle walls, this device has small dead volumes and the pressure drop created is relatively moderate because of the transverse collection.
However, the main fluid collecting space, the secondary fluid injection space, and the mixing space are not precisely delimited, which prevents the mixing function from being totally controlled. Moreover, as the mixing area is not confined to the central area, back-mixing phenomena may then occur throughout the conical collecting and/or redistribution section.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,072 describes a device for mixing two fluids inside a mixing chamber before redistributing the mixture in a secondary bed. This device provides a mixture redistribution means that does not optimize redistribution in the bed and does not avoid the perturbation induced because the differences in propagation time of the main fluid lines in the upper bed vary in their position relative to the enclosure and the entry point into the chamber.
However, none of these devices describes or suggests using several injection and/or removal circuits "dedicated" to one fluid, namely used for passage of a predetermined fluid, thus overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks.
The word "dedicated" in the context of the invention means that an injection and/or removal circuit sees only the passage of a predetermined fluid when the process is implemented.

Column with distributor for allowing independent injection and/or removal of fluids