An arithmetic processing apparatus includes weight tables each configured to store weighting factors in one-to-one correspondence with indexes associated with instruction addresses, a first weight arithmetic unit configured to perform a first operation and a second operation based on the weighting factors retrieved from the weight tables in response to an instruction fetch address, the first operation producing a first value for branch prediction for the instruction fetch address, the second operation producing second values for future branch prediction, and a second weight arithmetic unit configured to perform, in parallel with the second operation, a third operation equivalent to the second operation based on the weighting factors retrieved from the weight tables in response to an address of a completed branch instruction, wherein the second values stored in the first weight arithmetic unit are replaced with the third values upon detection of a wrong branch prediction.

The technology for increasing the speed of processors includes a pipeline optimization technique based on branch prediction. For branch prediction, a branch prediction mechanism predicts a branch direction indicative of whether the branch is taken or not taken with respect to a branch instruction to be executed, and also predicts the target address of the branch instruction (i.e., branch destination address). With this arrangement, subsequent instructions can be speculatively executed according to a prediction outcome before whether or not the branch is taken is determined at the time of execution of the branch instruction.
When the branch prediction is wrong, all the speculatively executed subsequent instructions are discarded, and execution needs to start over with correct subsequent instructions indicated by the outcome of an actually executed branch instruction, which results in performance loss. It is thus important to improve the accuracy of branch prediction in order to improve the performance of processors.
The branch prediction technique includes a method that uses a global history indicating branch directions for N (N: positive integer) respective branch instructions executed before an instruction for which the branch is predicted. A piecewise-linear method predicts a branch direction for an instruction based on both the global history of N previous branch instructions and N weighting factors indicative of correlations between a branch direction for the instruction subject to prediction and branch directions for the N previous branch instructions. In so doing, weighting factors that reflect instruction execution paths to the instruction subject to branch prediction are used as the N weighting factors, thereby improving the accuracy of branch prediction.
The piecewise-linear method uses N weight tables. Each weight table stores weighting factors for respective indexes, each of which is constituted by a portion of an instruction address. Each time branch prediction is performed for a branch instruction, a portion of the instruction address of this branch instruction is used as an index to search in each of the N weight tables, thereby obtaining N weighting factors Wi (i=1 to N) with respect to the instruction subject to prediction. Each of the N weighting factors is multiplied by an outcome value X of branch prediction for the instruction subject to branch prediction (X is +1 when taken, and is −1 when not taken), so that these multiplication operations produce weighted outcomes Mi (=Wi·X). N flip-flops BWSUMi (i=1 to N) are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the N weight tables. The weighted outcome Mi is added to the value stored in the flip-flop BWSUMill, followed by storing the result of addition in the flip-flop BWSUMi. As an exception, MN without any change is stored in the flip-flop BWSUMN.
As a result of the above-noted computation, MN stored in the flip-flop BWSUMN at the time of predicting a branch for a given branch instruction is first obtained, and, then, MN-1 through M1, which are computed for N−1 subsequent branch instructions subject to successive branch predictions, are successively added to the MN. In the end, value SUM stored in the flip-flop BWSUMi has a value shown below.SUM=MNMN-1+ . . . +M2+M1 The stored value SUM at a given point in time is the sum of products obtained by multiplying N weighting factors Wi, corresponding to N previous branch instructions for which branch predictions were made, by the respective outcome values (i.e., +1 or −1) of branch predictions for these N branch instructions.
Further, another weight table having the same configuration as the N weight tables noted above is provided, and a portion of the instruction address of a current branch instruction subject to prediction is used to perform search in this weight table, thereby producing a weighting factor W0 for the current branch instruction. In prediction of a branch direction, a positive value of SUM+W0 corresponds to predicting "branch taken", and a negative value of SUM+W0 corresponds to predicting "branch not taken".
The weighting factors Wi (i=1 to 20) are set to values representing positive correlations between a branch direction for an instruction subject to prediction and branch directions for the N previous branch directions. Namely, the stronger the tendency that the branch direction for an instruction subject to prediction and the branch direction for a previous branch instruction are the same direction rather than the opposite directions, the larger positive value the weighting factor becomes. Conversely, the stronger the tendency that the branch direction for an instruction subject to prediction and the branch direction for a previous branch instruction are the opposite directions rather than the same direction, the larger negative value the weighting factor becomes.
When calculating Mi, each weighting factor Wi is multiplied by the branch prediction outcome value (which is +1 when the branch is taken, and −1 when the branch is not taken). Accordingly, a bias toward the positive direction is given to SUM when the branch has been taken for a previous branch instruction having a high positive correlation, while a bias toward the negative direction is given to SUM when the branch has not been taken for a previous branch instruction having a high positive correlation. In contrast, a bias toward the negative direction is given to SUM when the branch has been taken for a previous branch instruction having a high negative correlation, while a bias toward the positive direction is given to SUM when the branch has not been taken for a previous branch instruction having a high negative correlation. The weighting factor W0 for the instruction subject to prediction is set to a value representing a positive correlation with the value (+1 for branch taken and −1 for branch not taken) indicative of a previous branch direction for this instruction. Accordingly, the branch is likely to be taken for the instruction subject to prediction when SUM+W0 is positive, and the branch is likely to be not taken for the instruction subject to prediction when SUM+W0 is negative.
In the above-described computation, the processes performed for branch prediction purposes with respect to the instruction subject to prediction only involve retrieving the weighting factor W0 from the weight table, adding the weighting factor W0 to the value SUM stored in the flip-flop BWSUM1, and comparing the result of addition with "0". The addition operation performed in this computation requires only one addition of two inputs, which enables the realization of branch prediction with one-cycle latency.
When wrong prediction is made in branch prediction, all the speculatively executed subsequent instructions are discarded, and execution needs to start over with correct subsequent instructions indicated by the outcome of an actually executed branch instruction. When this happens, the values stored in the previously-noted N flip-flops for storing intermediate computation results in the branch prediction unit turn out to be wrong values as a result of wrong processes speculatively performed based on the branch instruction. Accordingly, the values stored in the N flip-flops cannot be used for branch prediction that is to be performed with respect to a correct subsequent instruction and next following instructions.
In the related-art piecewise-linear methods, a history of N previous completed branch instructions is retained, and this history is used to recalculate the values of the N flip-flops to be used for branch prediction performed with respect to a correct subsequent instruction and next following instructions. Specifically, the arithmetic operations of calculating the sum of products obtained by multiplying N completed branch outcome values by the N respective weighting factors Wi corresponding to the N previous completed branch instructions is performed the second time when wrong branch prediction is detected. With this arrangement, the addition of two inputs needs to be performed N−1 times when wrong branch prediction is detected, resulting in an increase in the branch prediction latency.

Arithmetic processing apparatus which replaces values for future branch prediction upon wrong branch prediction


An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes first and second conveying mechanisms disposed at a predetermined distance, a feeding roller for feeding an output medium for supporting a developer image to a predetermined position capable of holding the developer image, a separation roller, or a conveying roller, a cassette for housing the output medium, and a plurality of sensors capable of detecting a time for conveying the output medium between the cassette and the feeding roller and the separation roller or the conveying roller, and is capable of setting its regulating a mount of an applied pressure regulating mechanism based on the detected results of the respective sensors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine, a laser printer and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a medium conveying mechanism and a medium conveying method for conveying an output medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, a predetermined surface potential is applied to a photosensitive member for holding an electrostatic latent image. The surface potential of the photo-sensitive member corresponding to a background portion or an image portion is selectively changed. Then, a developer image (toner image) obtained by supplying a developer (toner) to its portion is transferred to a material to be transferred (output medium).
The toner image transferred to the output medium is melted by a fixing unit. The toner image is then pressurized, and fixed to the output medium.
Incidentally, as the output medium, various types of media are utilized based on diversification of user's needs. The media are represented by sheets in a wide range of thicknesses from 50 to 250 g/m2, a transparent resin sheet, sealing paper and the like coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive.
Thus, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-214964, there has been already proposed an example. In the example, an optimum value of conveying conditions or image forming conditions obtained by outputting a test pattern is stored in advance. The image forming conditions or the conveying conditions are set according to the stored optimum value when image formation based on the corresponding specific conveying conditions or image forming conditions are designated.
However, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned document, it is disclosed that the degree of gloss of the fixed image is set to a constant level. In this case, the gloss is changed according to the fixing conditions. However, the change of the output image caused by the thickness of the output medium and the number of times by which the image formation was repeated (change with time/ages and wear of the conveying mechanism) and the like is not disclosed.
The type (thickness/material) of the output medium is in a wide range as described above. Accordingly, it is difficult to obtain equivalent reliability and durability for all the output media over a long period of time.

Image forming apparatus and medium conveying method


Various methods, apparatuses and/or articles of manufacture are provided which may be implemented by one or more electronic devices to identify potential anomalies in one or more electronic files used to support mobile device positioning within a specific environment. Various methods, apparatuses and/or articles of manufacture are also provided which may be implemented by one or more electronic devices to alter one or more electronic files used to support mobile device positioning within a specific environment.

1. Field
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to electronic devices, and more particularly to methods, apparatuses and articles of manufacture for use by one or more electronic devices to identify potential anomalies in one or more electronic files used to support mobile device positioning within a specific environment.
2. Information
As its name implies, a mobile device may be moved about, e.g. typically being carried by a user and/or possibly a machine. By way of some non-limiting examples, a mobile device may take the form of a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a wearable computer, a navigation and/or a tracking device, etc.
A position and/or movements of a mobile device may be determined, at least in part, by a positioning and/or navigation capability (herein after simply referred to as a positioning capability) that may be implemented on board the mobile device, in one or more other electronic devices, and/or some combination thereof. Certain positioning capabilities may be based on one or more wireless signals transmitted by one or more transmitting devices and acquired by mobile device. By way of example, certain wireless signal-based positioning capabilities make use of wireless signals acquired from a satellite positioning system (SPS), such as, e.g., the global positioning system (GPS), etc. In another example, certain wireless signal-based positioning capabilities make use of wireless signals acquired from terrestrial-based wireless transmitting devices, such as, e.g., a dedicated positioning Beacon transmitting device, an access point (AP) which may be part of a wireless local area network, a base transceiver station which may be part of the cellular telephone system, and/or the like or some combination thereof.
In certain implementations, a positioning capability may make use of one or more electronic files, such as, e.g., an electronic map, a routability graph, a radio heatmap, and/or the like or some combination thereof, to determine a position and/or other movements of the mobile device within a particular environment.
Unfortunately, certain environments may be altered from time to time in a manner which may affect the accuracy of some of the corresponding electronic files, which may lead to a reduction in the effectiveness of a positioning capability relying on such electronic files, and/or otherwise affect a user's experience.

Method and apparatus for use in identifying potential anomalies in electronic files supportive of mobile device positioning


A system for manipulating page-breaks in an electronic document. A User Interface Process provides a graphical user interface allowing a user to select a page-break within an electronic document and then identify a new location for the page-break. A System Process performs the steps of moving the selected page-break to the new location and adjusting the scaling and the automatic page-breaks for the remainder of the document to accommodate the page-break at the new location.

The present invention is generally directed to word processing or document processing programs and, more particularly, relates to a method for manipulating the location of page-breaks within an electronic document and automatically formatting the remainder of the document in response to manipulating a page-break.
Personal computers have become a primary platform for generating documentation in a variety of settings such as business offices, homes, schools, and the like. The ability to use a personal computer for creating documents has been greatly facilitated by the development of computer applications such as xe2x80x9cMICROSOFT WORDxe2x80x9d, a word processing program, and xe2x80x9cMICROSOFT EXCELxe2x80x9d, a personal and business accounting spreadsheet program, both published by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. These programs and similar programs are generically referred to as xe2x80x9cdocument processing programsxe2x80x9d. Operating these programs on a computer, allows a user to generate documents which can then be stored on magnetic media for future use and/or printed on paper. A document stored on magnetic media is referred to as an xe2x80x9celectronic documentxe2x80x9d or a xe2x80x9csoft-copyxe2x80x9d, whereas a printout of the document is referred to as a xe2x80x9cprint-outxe2x80x9d or a xe2x80x9chard-copyxe2x80x9d.
When using a document processing program to generate or modify an electronic document, the information contained in the electronic document can be viewed on a display device such as a computer monitor. Due to the limited viewing size of the display screen for a typical computer monitor, only a portion of a large document can be viewed at any one time. Thus, most document processing programs include a display scaling feature. The display scaling feature allows users to reduce the display scale of an electronic document so that more information can be viewed on the display screen. Additionally, the user can increase the display scale of an electronic document so that less information can be viewed, but, with more clarity.
Hard-copies of an electronic document are useful when delivering final versions of a document or when proofreading draft versions of a document. Hard-copies are generated by sending a stream of information to a local printer, attached to a port of the computer, or to a remote printer, functionally connected to the computer through a network. The stream of information must conform to specific format and protocol requirements for the particular printer being used. Generally, the stream of information consists of a series of commands (i.e., line-feeds, carriage returns, form feeds, text formats, etc.) and data.
A typical printer may support a variety of paper sizes. To accommodate this, document processing programs may include a feature which allows a user to select or input information defining the dimensions and/or the margins of a page. Based on these dimensions, the document processing program determines the amount of information that can fit on a single page and divides the electronic document accordingly. In a simplistic view, the stream of information sent to a printer when printing multiple pages of an electronic document consist of printable information separated by delimiters. These delimiters, usually referred to as form-feeds, are used to identify the end of a page.
Prior to printing a multiple page electronic document, document processing programs allow the user to identify where the page-breaks of the document are located. A page-break may consist of a code which is embedded within the electronic document and is used for identifying the boundaries of a page. The page-breaks can be used by the document processing program to determine the location that form-feeds should be placed in the stream of information sent to the printer. The page-breaks can be displayed on the display screen in a variety of manners. The method used by the xe2x80x9cMICROSOFT WORDxe2x80x9d product is to place a dashed line between the last line of one page and the first line of the succeeding page. Other products use techniques such as displaying a special character, a solid line, or words such as xe2x80x9cpage-breakxe2x80x9d after the last line on a page.
Prior to printing a document, the user can examine the page-breaks to determine if they are positioned at undesirable locations (i.e., in the middle of a table or between a sub-header and the following paragraph). If a user determines that a page-break is located at an undesirable location, the user can force the page-break to move to a different location. One method to accomplish this is to enter xe2x80x9cwhite spacexe2x80x9d or blank lines above a page-break. This results in forcing the page-break to move down in the document. Another method is to delete white space above a page-break to force the page-break to move up in the document. Other methods such as modifying the spacing of the lines of text, the size of the font, the spacing between paragraphs, etc. can also be used to force the page-break to a new location. Forcing and maintaining page-breaks at specific locations using these techniques can be time consuming, especially for large documents. Therefore there is a need for an improved method for forcing page-breaks to specific locations within a document.
xe2x80x9cMICROSOFT WORDxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cMICROSOFT EXCELxe2x80x9d address this particular need by supporting two types of page-breaks. The first type consists of page-breaks that are automatically inserted, by the document processing program, at page boundaries. These are referred to as automatic page-breaks. As information is entered into or deleted from a document, the document processing program automatically identifies page boundaries and places automatic page-breaks accordingly. The second type consists of page-breaks that a user can enter at any location within the document. These are referred to as manual page-breaks. The manual page-breaks are static within an electronic document. Thus, as information is entered into a document or deleted from a document, the manual page-breaks are not adjusted. For example, consider a manual page-break that is located after the last line of page one and before the first line of page two. If all of the lines on page one are deleted without removing the manual page-break, the manual page-breaking will remain before the first line of page two and page one will be blank.
The use of automatic and manual page-breaks greatly enhances the usefulness of document processing programs; however, current techniques lack efficiency and simplicity. For instance, in order to change the position of a manual page-break, the user typically conducts the following actions:
(1) select a manual page-break by using a mouse or similar means;
(2) delete the manual page-break by entering the appropriate user commands;
(3) allow the document to repaginate automatically or force a repagination by entering the appropriate user commands;
(4) move a pointer to a location to place a new manual page-break; and then
(5) enter a manual page-break by entering the appropriate user commands.
Thus, although providing a manual page-break feature allows a user to force page-breaks to occur at specific locations, there is also a need for a simple and efficient method of manipulating the position of manual page-breaks within an electronic document.
When entering a manual page-break into an electronic document the user must perform steps (3)-(5) of the above listed steps. For large documents, this process can be burdensome. However, because typical document processing programs place automatic page-breaks within a document, it is desirable to have the capability to convert an automatic page-break into a manual page-break and then move the manual page-break to a new location. Therefore, there is a need for a simple and efficient method of converting an automatic page-break into a manual page-break and then moving the manual page-break to a new location.
When users create a hard-copy of an electronic document, they may desire a certain section of data to appear on a single page (i.e., a formatted table, a paragraph, a bulletized list, etc.). The user can force this to occur by entering a manual page-break before and after this section of data. However, if the section of data is too large to fit on one page, a document processing program will usually insert an automatic page-break between the two manual page-breaks. In order to allow more flexibility in formatting the layout of hard-copies of an electronic document, some document processing programs provide a scaling factor. The scaling factor, represents a percentage to either reduce or increase the size of the printed information. Thus, if a user desires to print two pages of information onto a single page, the user can select a reducing scaling factor of 50%. This will reduce the size of the information printed or displayed so that more information can fit on a page.
Defining a scaling factor for a document typically requires a user to select a series of pull-down menu items or enter appropriate user commands followed by a new scaling factor. A problem associated with using scaling factors is that it is not always easy to identify what scaling factor is required to obtain a desired result. The user generally must engage in a trial and error process in order to identify the proper scaling factor. Thus, when using a scaling factor, a user typically conducts the following actions:
(1) select an estimated scaling factor,
(2) perform the steps necessary to enter the scaling factor into the program,
(3) examine the repaginated document to determine if the scaling factor is too large (typically an automatic page-break will appear between the manual page-breaks) or too small (the page contains too much empty space). This process can be quite cumbersome and may require the user to change reiteratively the scaling factors of several pages.
For large documents, performing these steps may be a tedious task. Therefore, there is a need for a method to automatically scale a selected range of data to fit onto a single page.
Providing the ability to move page-breaks within a document amplifies the problems associated with identifying a scaling factor. For instance, if a page is located between two manual page-breaks, and the manual page-breaks are moved relative to each other, then a new scaling factor must be determined. Thus, there is a need for a method to automatically determine the scaling factor for a page located between two manual page-breaks when one of the page-breaks are moved to a new location.
When a scaling factor has been modified for one page of a document, the remainder of the document should also be adjusted by the same scaling factor in order to provide a uniform appearance. In providing this uniform appearance, the smallest scaling factor selected for any particular section of the document should be applied to the entire document. Therefore, there is a need to automatically scale pages of a document as page-breaks are repositioned, select the smallest scaling factor appearing in the document, and repaginate the remainder of the document in accordance with the selected scaling factor.
Thus, there are several problems associated with utilizing page-breaks within an electronic document. Current techniques for providing page-breaks within an electronic document require too much user interaction and are too complicated. Therefore, there is a need for an improved system or method to solve these problems.
The present invention satisfies the above-described needs by providing a system and a method for manipulating page-breaks in an electronic document. This is accomplished by providing two processes: (1) a User Interface Process and (2) a System Process. The User Interface Process provides a graphical user interface allowing a user to select a page-break in an electronic document and then identify a new location for the page-break. The System Process performs the steps of moving the selected page-break to the new location and adjusting the remainder of the document to accommodate the page-break at the new location.
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for manipulating the position of vertical and horizontal page-breaks within an electronic document which is being displayed on the display device of a computer system. The computer system includes an input device which is used to interact with a graphical user interface. The input device allows a user to move a display-element to various locations within the displayed electronic document or to send a signal to the computer system to invoke certain actions.
In response to actuating the input device, the display-element may be positioned over a page-break in the electronic document. While the display-element is positioned over a page-break, the input device can be used to send a first signal to select the page-break. When the page-break is selected, a phantom page-break is displayed over the selected page-break, and a drag mode is activated. In response to actuating the input device while the drag mode is active, the phantom page-break can be moved to a new location in the electronic document. At this point, using the input device to send a second signal results in deactivating the drag mode, moving the selected page-break to the new location, and removing the phantom page-break. Thus, it can be appreciated that the present invention provides a simple and efficient method of positioning a page-break within an electronic document.
Another aspect of the present invention is the ability to convert an automatic page-break into a manual page-break in conjunction with moving the page-break. This is advantageous because it simplifies the process of entering and positioning manual page-breaks by eliminating the steps required for inserting a manual page-break. Thus, it can also be appreciated that the present invention provides a simple and efficient method of converting an automatic page-break into a manual page-break in conjunction with moving the automatic page-break to a new location.
Another aspect of the present invention is to automatically maintain and update a scaling factor for each page of the electronic document. The scaling factor identifies an amount to scale the contents of the page in order for the contents to fit within a set of predefined dimensions. When a selected page-break is moved to a new location, new scaling factors for the page immediately before the page-break and the page immediately after the page-break are determined. Prior to determining the new scaling factors, two conditions are examined.
First, if the selected page-break is vertically oriented and an adjacent page-break to the immediate left of the selected page-break is an automatic type page-break, the adjacent page-break is converted into a manual type page-break. Second, if the selected page-break is horizontally oriented and an adjacent page-break immediately above the selected page-break is an automatic type page-break, the adjacent page-break is converted into a manual type page-break. Then, a new scaling factor is determined for the pages bordering the selected page-break if the bordering pages are bounded by manual type page-breaks of the same orientation as the selected page-break. Thus, it can be appreciated that the present invention provides a method to automatically scale a selected range of data (i.e., a the data between two page-breaks) to fit onto a single page. It can be further appreciated that the present invention provides a method to automatically determine the scaling factor for a page located between two manual page-breaks when one of the page-breaks are moved to a new location.
After moving a page-break to a new location, the present invention provides a method to determine a minimum scaling factor for the document and then repaginates the document in accordance with the minimum scaling factor. Thus it can be appreciated that the present invention provides a method to automatically scale pages of a document as page-breaks are repositioned, select the smallest scaling factor appearing in the document, and repaginate the remainder of the document in accordance with the selected scaling factor.
These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the present invention and possible embodiments thereof, and by reference to the appended drawings and claims.

Method and system for manipulating page-breaks in an electronic document


A convertible display system includes two displays, beam splitter, and mount, which are adjustable to convert the system for 3D image use and 2D image display use, respectively. In 3D orientation the displays are at an angle to each other and the tops (or bottoms) are proximate each other, the beam splitter is at the bisectrix of the angle for viewing of respective stereo image pairs along a substantially common light path, and the images are provided by reflection from and transmission through the beam splitter. The reflected display provides its image in mirror image orientation relative to the transmitted image. The images are discriminated by polarizers. For 2D use the beam splitter is rotated out of the viewing path and one display is repositioned on the mount generally in side by side relation with the tops of the displays at the top to allow substantially side by side viewing of images provided by the displays. Selectively operable or automatic switching circuitry changes the reflected image between mirror image and non-mirror image orientation.

The use of display systems to display images in three-dimensions or what a viewer, e.g., person, would perceive as a three-dimensional or stereoscopic image is becoming more prevalent. Exemplary uses include those in the field of medicine (e.g., to view part of a body), chemistry and other fields of science (e.g., to view a complex molecule), cartography, architecture, etc. Several approaches for displaying images for 3D viewing are disclosed in the above-mentioned patent(s) and application(s). Those approaches use two displays, sometimes referred to as monitors, televisions, liquid crystal displays, LCDs, or otherwise. Those approaches use two displays on which respective images, such as those of a stereo pair, for example, may be presented substantially simultaneously and do not have to rely on providing the respective images of a stereo pair sequentially on a single display.
It also has become more prevalent for users of computer equipment and/or other systems that require a display for displaying pictures, data, or anything else to use more than one display. For example, one display may provide a picture, drawing, etc., and an adjacent display may present might present descriptive information concerning that which is shown on the first-mentioned display. The images may be presented simultaneously so the user does not have to switch the images shown on a single display. Two displays may be used to present an image that requires a wider area or a taller area to show a given image with acceptable size and/or resolution than would be possible using only a single display; an example would be to display a relatively wide or long spreadsheet. Another use for two displays is to provide a relatively large image of a map. Still another use for multiple displays is to provide a person with the ability to view one display on which the person is displaying a work product or some other particular image, information, etc. while on the other display email messages may be shown. These are just a few examples of uses for several displays able to provide simultaneous direct viewing of them.
Some individuals, who use two displays positioned for simultaneous direct viewing may have a computer monitor positioned on a desk top and also may place a laptop or notebook computer with its display on the same desk top so that both the computer monitor and the laptop or notebook computer monitor may be viewed directly and simultaneously. Some individuals may have two conventional computer monitors positioned on the desk top. Some individuals may use more than two monitors on the desk top. Each monitor usually requires a separate monitor stand and the monitor and/or stand have a footprint such that it/they use(s) an amount of space on the desk top. The more monitors on the desk top, the more space they require and the less space that typically would be available for placing papers or other objects on a desk top and/or for conveniently working on the desk top.
It is desirable to improve the versatility of display systems, for example, conveniently to convert a 3D display system for 3D mode of operation to provide direct view of 2D images, for example, using several monitors, and vice versa.
It is desirable to minimize the desk space required by a monitor; as a corollary, it would be desirable to increase the available space on a desk top when more than one monitor is used. It also is desirable to increase the functionality of display systems.
Use of terms, such as display, monitor, LCD, etc., are intended to be equivalent. Also, use of terms, such as adjustable display system and convertible display system are intended to be generally the same, i.e. adjustable and convertible are used interchangeably. Use of terms such as 3D, stereo, three dimensional, stereoscopic, etc., is intended to mean generally the same thing (or be equivalent), e.g., a view or to provide a view that gives the sense of three dimensions, such as a view with apparent depth into or out of the plane of the image displaying or portraying device (such as the output plane or surface of a display). Examples of 3D display systems and their operation are disclosed in the above-identified patent(s) and patent application(s). Also, use of terms such as 2D, monoscopic, planar, etc. is intended to mean generally the same thing (equivalent), e.g., as would be the typical case of the displaying of an image by a conventional two dimensional display, monitor, television or the like.


This equipment comprises at least one rigid connecting bar (2), first and second bone anchoring members (3, 4) and first and second connecting parts (5, 6), capable of connecting the connecting bar (2) to said bone anchoring members (3, 4). According to the invention, each second bone anchoring member is in the form of a flexible ligament (4) capable of being engaged around the lamina (101) or an apophysis of a vertebra (100); each second connecting part (6) comprises a conduit (11) receiving said ligament (4) and means (12) for blocking said ligament (4) in the conduit, with tensing of the ligament (4), and each contact member includes at least one rotating part (16; 17) mounted in said second connecting part (6), capable of coming into contact with said connecting bar (2) by a point.

It is well known to correct the position of a portion of a vertebral column, or to immobilize such a portion, using vertebral osteosynthesis equipment comprising rigid connecting bars, capable of connecting several vertebrae, bone anchoring members, capable of being anchored in the vertebrae, and connecting parts making it possible to rigidly connect the connecting bars to said bone anchoring members so as to anchor said connecting bars to the vertebrae.
The use of such equipment is, however, problematic when the patient is a child or adolescent, the equipment not being able to adapt itself to the growth of the patient and requiring periodic repeat surgical operations to adapt the position of the connecting parts relative to the connecting bars.
To try to resolve this problem, percutaneously maneuverable systems have been designed. The systems are, however, complex and not fully satisfactory.
Furthermore, the publication of American patent application Nr. US 2011/270314 A1 describes equipment comprising:                at least one rigid connecting bar, capable of connecting several vertebrae,        first bone anchoring members and first connecting parts, capable of anchoring the connecting bar to the vertebrae with immobilization of that bar relative to the first connecting parts, and        second bone anchoring members secured to second connecting parts capable of anchoring the connecting bar to the vertebrae with sliding of the bar relative to the second connecting parts; each of these two bone anchoring members is formed by a screw body and each of these two connecting parts comprises a receiving conduit through which the bar is received slidingly and includes a contact member therein forming a contact interface between said second connecting part and said bar.
In the applicant's opinion, this equipment may be problematic in terms of the complexity of placement and rapid wear of said contact members. Furthermore, a risk of blocking the sliding of the bar relative to said second connecting parts, following the growth of bone cells around said bar and said second connecting parts, cannot be ruled out, thereby making the equipment ineffective.


A method and system for automatically translating messages in a communication system wherein, when a connection is set up between a calling terminal device and a called terminal device, a first item of selector information identifying a language that depends on a calling subscriber is compared to a second item of selector information identifying a language that depends on a called subscriber. If the items of selector information do not match, a translator is looped into the connection automatically.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and system in a communication system for translating messages in the most convenient manner possible, wherein the messages are directed to a called subscriber and are translated into a language that is dependent upon the called subscriber.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The Siemens product guide "ISDN in the Office" (special edition telecom report and Siemens Magazine COM; ISBN 3-8009-3849-9, pp 58–66) teaches a private communication system that makes additional functions available, besides switching-related functions. Such additional functions are generally referred to as performance features; A large number of different performance features are known for the communication service "voice".
With the increasing internationalization of telephone traffic, the number of connections between telephone subscribers who speak different languages is growing. In the course of this development, it is known that efforts have been made to facilitate understanding between telephone subscribers who speak different languages by inserting a translating device.
EP 0 585 480 A1 teaches a method in which translation device are respectively looped in between two subscriber terminal devices which are participating in a conference connection, To loop in a translation device, it is necessary to input additional information into one or more subscriber terminal devices participating in the conference connection.
The information that triggers the loop-in of the translation device is inputted upon request either by selecting a call number at the respective subscriber terminal device or by voice sampling in the language in which the respective conference subscriber wants to conduct the subsequent conversation in the context of the conference connection; that is, wants to speak and hear.
It is an object of the present invention to set forth a method and system which affords a higher level of convenience in a connection between subscribers of such different native languages.

Method and system for automatically translating messages in a communication system


Techniques for testing a semiconductor memory device are provided. The memory device includes a plurality of memory cells and a plurality of row lines and column lines connected to the memory cells for selectively accessing one or more of the memory cells. The method includes the steps of: applying a first voltage to at least a given one of the row lines corresponding to at least a given one of the memory cells to be tested, the first voltage being selected to stress at least one performance characteristic of the memory device, the first voltage being different than a second voltage applied to the given one of the row lines for accessing at least one of the memory cells during normal operation of the memory device; exercising the memory device in accordance with prescribed testing parameters; and identifying whether the memory device is operable within prescribed margins of the testing parameters.

Semiconductor memory devices are subject to defects that may cause some memory cells to be read with incorrect data. For example, in DRAM devices, particularly embedded DRAM (eDRAM), a common defect is a data retention defect, which affects the ability of a memory cell to hold data for a certain minimum period of time. This memory cell with poor data retention is often referred to as a "weak" bit or cell. A data retention defect typically causes the associated bit line to remain near a precharge level when it should be pulled further from precharge (e.g., either towards VDD or ground). A conventional method for testing data retention of a memory cell is to add hold time between writing and reading the cell that is equivalent to or greater than a hold-time specification of the cell during normal operation. Unfortunately, however, this method for testing data retention may add significant time to the testing process, which is undesirably reflected in increased cost of the device.
Weak cells are usually found during hold time or column disturb testing, and can be exacerbated by testing with memory voltage levels (e.g., VDD) at or exceeding logic low and/or logic high specification limits. Weak cells may fail intermittently or fail only with specific patterns in the memory array or only at specific voltages and/or temperatures.
Weak columns typically fail because of imbalances or defects in the columns, precharge devices and/or associated sense amplifiers. Weak columns are generally not attributed to atypical cell leakage characteristics. Charge levels within at least some memory cells along a weak column are typically not sufficient to overcome the imbalances or defects in the precharge devices and/or sense amplifier associated with the column.
Another common failure mechanism affecting memory cells is failure associated with increased cell pass-gate device threshold voltage caused primarily by low temperature. The threshold voltage of the cell pass-gate device increases with decreasing temperature. As is known in the art, increased pass-gate device threshold voltage causes less charge to be written into a cell in one of the two data states (e.g., logic high or logic low). To uncover this type of failure, testing is conventionally done at the lowest specified operating temperature for the device, typically −40 degrees Celsius (° C.) or 0° C. Testing at these temperatures is undesirable because relatively long times are required to reduce and stabilize the temperature of the device under test.
Defects of the type described above are generally discovered during post-manufacture testing of integrated circuit (IC) memory devices and may affect a reliability of the device. Defective memory devices may need to be discarded, thereby reducing the yield of the integrated circuit manufacturing process, and increasing the net manufacturing costs for the non-defective devices.
Accordingly, there exists a need for improved memory testing techniques which do not suffer from one or more of the above-described problems associated with conventional memory testing techniques.

Method and apparatus for testing a memory device


A method is provided for determining a road condition by using a radar system having transmitter and receiving units for transmitting and receiving radar waves having two different polarizations and providing transmit and receive signals indicating an intensity of the transmitted and received radar waves. Co-polarized backscattering coefficients and at least one cross-polarized backscattering coefficient are determined based on the transmit and receive signals. If the cross-polarized backscattering coefficient is greater than or equal to a threshold, the road condition is determined based on a ratio of the co-polarized backscattering coefficients and based on a difference of one of the co-polarized backscattering coefficients and the cross-polarized backscattering coefficient. If the cross-polarized backscattering coefficient is smaller than the threshold, the road condition is determined based on the ratio and a difference of the co-polarized backscattering coefficients.

The condition of a road is always an important safety aspect for a vehicle which is driving on the road. The reliable determination or estimation of road conditions is therefore a relevant application for radar systems installed in the vehicle. Furthermore, the reliable monitoring of the road conditions plays an important role for the safety in autonomous driving.
The condition of a road generally depends on a plurality of variables that need to be considered, e.g. if a radar system is to be configured to determine the road condition. Such variables are, for example, the material, the curvature and the roughness of the road as well as weather conditions. Moreover, roads may be random surfaces consisting of various composite materials. In addition, rain, ice or snow may be deposited on the road and can have different components, temperatures and internal properties. Therefore, it is a challenging task to provide a radar system being able to determine reliable information on the road condition.
Existing approaches for determining road conditions by using radar systems neglect some of the above-mentioned variables of the road and/or use different frequencies or polarizations of the transmitted radar waves. For example, linearly polarized waves having frequencies between 24 and 77 GHz have been used in order to determine the differential backscattering coefficient of a road surface. Although the results have been able to distinguish between different types of weather conditions for a road surface, two different frequencies have been required which increases the cost of the radar system. In addition, this procedure has been tested at different weather conditions for the same road surface only, but not for different types of road surfaces. This may lead to mixing up different surfaces such that some ambiguity may remain regarding the condition of the road.
Furthermore, low terahertz microwaves (e.g. 0.6 to 0.9 THz) have been proposed for an automotive radar which has also been able to distinguish between several road surfaces. However, such a low terahertz radar is costly and up to now unusual for automotive radar applications. In addition, the use of circularly polarized radio waves has been proposed for an application with autonomous driving features. Although such a radar system has been suitable for determining road conditions, providing circular polarization is also related to additional efforts and higher cost.
When using a typical automotive radar system at a frequency of e.g. 77 GHz for determining road conditions, the classification of these road conditions may not be able to distinguish between surfaces which are wet and rough, and surfaces which are dry and smooth, e.g. between wet asphalt and dry concrete. Most of the proposals for improvement, e.g. the approaches as described above, increase the cost of the radar system or may even require a complex system design. Moreover, some uncertainties and ambiguities may still remain regarding the classification of road conditions when applying such improved system designs.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide a method and a radar system which are able to determine a condition of a road in a reliable and unambiguous manner.

Method and radar system for determining road conditions


The analog adaptive equalizer provides convergence of an error signal by decoupling the error canceller, the automatic gain control and the filter to provide truly adaptive error minimization. The invention includes an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit for providing broadband amplification of an input signal to generate an AGC output signal, a filter for receiving the AGC output signal and providing high frequency signal conditioning to generate a filter output signal, an error detection circuit for generating an error signal representing the difference between the filter output signal and an expected output signal and a calculator for receiving the error signal and providing a gain correction signal to the automatic gain circuit to adjust the gain of the automatic gain circuit and a filter control signal to adjust the filter range of the filter, the gain correction signal and the filter control signal being used to cancel the error signal. The calculator further comprises a first in, first out buffer for providing a history of the expected output signal to the calculator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to an adaptive equalizer, and more particularly to an analog adaptive equalizer that provides convergence of an error signal by, decoupling the error canceller, the automatic gain control and the filter.
2. Description of Related Art
"Communication" is the exchange of thoughts, opinions, ideas, and information. It is the means to socialize, do business, educate, and entertain. Communication can take many forms, such as spoken words, written letters, or symbols. Although face to face communication is often desirable, it is often not possible due to geographical distance, time constraints, and an ever-increasing need for a high volume of information in today's society. It is for this reason that information, or data, is sent over communications "channels," via "signals."
A communications channel is a single path for transmitting an electrical signal, such as a twisted wire-pair cable, or a fiber optic line. A signal is a physical representation of data, such as the electrical pulses which are used to correspond to digital logic levels.
Signals are sent, or transmitted, in a tremendous variety of forms. For example, signals are used to send voice information over a telephone line; modems use signals to transmit data between computers; signals are constantly sent between the CPU and disk storage device in a personal computer; and signals representing images and sound are transmitted from a television camera on-site, to the television in a viewer's living room that could be thousands of miles away.
Signal distortion or degradation is a significant problem in the field of communications. Any real communications channel has transmission deficiencies, including various kinds of noise and interference, which distort the signal. For example, static noise (caused by natural electric disturbances in the atmosphere) and thermal noise (caused by the random motion of electrons in the channel) are present to some extent in any communications channel. Intersymbol interference (degradation caused by imperfect channels) can also be a major problem. In short, there are many reasons why a signal that is sent may be unrecognizable when it is received.
Thus, transmission deficiencies must be corrected so that the signal received is the same as the one that was sent, and valuable information is not lost. This correction can be accomplished by the signal receiver, through a process known as equalization.
Equalization is the process of correcting a channel for its transmission deficiencies, by introducing networks which compensate for attenuation and time delay problems in the signal. A properly equalized communications channel will significantly increase the likelihood of obtaining an accurate signal (i.e., the signal that was sent) at the receiving end of a communications network. An "equalizer" is a device used to accomplish equalization.
A filter can be used as an equalizer. Further, a filter may have a means of monitoring its own frequency response characteristics and a means of varying its own parameters by closed loop action, in order to attain optimal equalization. Such a self-adjusting filter is called an "adaptive filter," and it can be used in a channel receiver to attain "adaptive equalization." The parameters of an adaptive filter are typically adjusted by sampling the filter output at a predetermined rate, and sending this sampled output to some filter control means, which adjusts filter parameters accordingly via closed loop feedback.
Commonly, a feed forward equalizer having weighted summed delayed versions of an input signal are used to derive an error signal for adaptively equalizing the input signal, e.g., remedying intersymbol interference. However, whenever such a design is implemented in an analog form, the adaptive equalizer becomes large and therefore difficult to implement. Other analog equalizers have not provided the adaptive equalization needed for accurate data communication.
It can be seen then that there is a need for an analog equalizer that is easily implemented and which is truly adaptive.
It can also be seen that there is a need for an analog adaptive equalizer that provides convergence of an error signal to provide truly adaptive error correction.

Analog adaptive equalizer with gain and filter correction


A simple ammunition casing resizer helps eliminate the problem of the casing becoming frictionally stuck with the resizing die. The ammunition casing resizer is a table top secured base that has a die plate located above the base with the resizing die removably secured within the die plate. A resizing frame reciprocates in up and down fashion under the guidance of either a manually controlled handle or an electrical motor. A ram is positioned below the resizing die while a push rod is positioned above the die such that the ram and push rod, each attached to the frame, travel in up and down reciprocating lockstep. As the ram travels upwardly, the ram presses a casing into the die for resizing and as the ram travels downwardly, the push rod passes through the top of the die and into the interior of the casing, pushing the casing out of the die.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ammunition casing resizer for reloading of the casing wherein the casing is sized along its entire length from the casing's mouth to its extraction groove or rim and wherein the opportunity for the casing to become stuck or otherwise adhered to the resizing dye, is minimized.
2. Background of the Prior Art
The firing of a round of ammunition from a firearm is an extremely violent act. Primer within the round ignites causing the propellant within the round to burn. The chemical reaction created by the burning propellant causes an extremely rapid expansion of gas within the round. This rapid gas expansion, which some consider to be an explosion, although it is not, causes the bullet held by the ammunition casing to overcome the frictional resistance imposed by the casing and be discharged out of the muzzle of the firearm at high velocity. During the gas expansion created by the propellant ignition, the ammunition casing, typically, although not exclusively made of brass, expands and presses against the inside wall of the gun's chamber. After bullet discharge, the casing retracts somewhat from its expansion, but not to its original size. As many firearm owners desire to reuse the casing, as opposed to either recycling the brass or simply tossing the casing into a trash receptacle, the casing needs to be resized back its original size—or as close to its original size as acceptable tolerances allow.
Toward this end, resizing systems have been proposed. Such systems, which come in a wide variety of architectures and work with varying degrees of efficiency, use a resizing die, sized to the appropriate dimensions, and press the die into the casing in order to effect resizing.
A fundamental problem with ammunition resizing systems concerns the frictional engagement of the steel resizing die with the brass casing. Considerable force is required in order to press the steel die into the brass casing in order to resize the casing. As a result, the die and casing can become frictionally stuck to one another requiring the need to separate the two which is not only time-consuming and frustrating, but can also damage the casing. In order to address this problem, a lubricant is used, either a wet lubricant or a dry lubricant. While each type of lubricant offers benefits, each has drawbacks, either in labor intensity in the use of the lubricant or the need to allow the lubricant, as in the case of a dry lubricant, to dry thoroughly prior to casing resizing. Additionally, the use of a lubricant can be problematic in that if too much lubricant is used, the primer and/or propellant can become fouled, leading to ammunition failure, or chambering or ejection can be compromised if the lubricant builds up on the outside of the ammunition.
What is needed is a ammunition casing resizing system that helps prevent the casing becoming stuck to the resizing die without the need to use an expensive carbide resizing die and without excessive reliance on lubricants to perform the resizing task. Such a resizing system must be of relatively simple design and construction and must be easy to use in order to allow appropriate resizing throughput.


A storage apparatus has an rack of storage bins, a pick head drive unit to drive a pick head to an access location for a selected bin, and a platform drive unit to drive a platform forming part of the pick head into and out of the rack to pick or load packages at a selected bin of the rack. The platform has a cam formation which, in the course of entry of the platform into the rack acting to lift a desired package until the platform reaches a clearance position at which the cam formation clears the package. Subsequent withdrawal of the platform from the rack acts to drag the desired package from the selected bin.

Medicament packages to be dispensed at a robotically controlled dispensing kiosk may be prepackaged pill boxes, bottles or the like having a range of sizes, shapes, weight, weight distribution and surface condition, all of which may create handling problems for a robotic system. Drug companies frequently change packaging, so control algorithms may become ineffective if a control algorithm is based on the product packaging. A control algorithm that prescribes a handling method based solely on pre-recorded product package information (weight, size, etc) is prone to error. To reduce package handling problems, uniform style and shape of outer-packaging can be applied to medicament products, although this is not preferred as it adds additional handling and expense, may introduce other errors, and results in extra packaging materials. Ideally, the control algorithms and the package handling hardware utilized throughout a package picking process should be as flexible as possible commensurate with other demands of the dispensary kiosk.
In known medicament dispensary kiosks for dispensing bottles or packages of drugs or other medicament packages, the packages are typically stacked in a row column rack of bins. To pick a package from a bin, a pick head is driven in X and Y directions to a desired XY position corresponding to the selected bin. A platform forming part of the pick head is then moved in the Z direction to pick the package from the selected bin.
In a prior implementation of a pick head as described in our copending Canadian patent application serial number 2,639,239, with a pick head at a desired XY position and a platform adjacent the target bin, the platform is moved to a position underlying a slot formed in a lower wall of the target bin. In the package pick action, after the platform is driven a sufficient distance rearwardly in the Z direction, the platform is raised so that an upwardly extending hook on the platform is brought to a position immediately behind the package to be picked. The package to be picked is then hooked out of the selected bin by driving the platform forwardly out of the rack of bins.
Once the picked package is on the platform, further investigation is made to ensure the package is really the one whose selection is desired. Typically, this might include checking a bar code affixed to the package and/or examining physical characteristics of the package such as its shape or weight. The platform, with the package supported upon it, is then moved to a rest position on the pick head whereupon the pick head is driven to another part of the apparatus as part of the dispensing procedure.
Within a medicament storage kiosk of the type described in the copending Canadian patent application 2,639,239, it is desirable to have the pick head and its operation occupy a small space so that as much rack space as possible can be used for the storage of medicaments. In the pick operation described previously, the raising of the platform once it has been driven under a bin means that a layer of space under each row of bins must be reserved. In addition, the 3-part platform movement—platform moves rearwardly, platform moves upwardly, platform moves forwardly—is a relatively complex procedure.
It would be valuable if at least a part of the layers of space under each row of bins which are reserved as the platform lifting space could be used for further storage. It would be valuable also if a simpler procedure could be implemented for picking packages from the bins.


The present invention relates to compounds of the general formula

In particular schizophrenia is characterized by complex symptomatology including positive symptoms, (i.e. delusions and hallucinations), and negative symptoms, (i.e. anhedonia, restricted fluency and productivity of thought and speech). In addition it is now well recognized that cognitive impairment is the third major diagnostic category of schizophrenia, characterized by loss in working memory as well as other deficits. Other symptoms include aggressiveness, depression and anxiety (Stahl, S. M. (2000) Essential Psychopharmacology. Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications. Cambridge University Press, second edition, Cambridge, UK). The different categories and the clinical features of the disorder are defined in diagnostic schemes such as DSM-IV (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edition) or ICD-10 (International classification of diseases, 10th edition). Currently used medications to treat schizophrenia, bipolar mania and other psychoses, include antipsychotics both typical (D2/D3 preferring) or the more recent atypicals, which exhibit polypharmacology interacting at multiple receptors (e.g., D1, D2, D3, D4, 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, H1, M1, M2, M4, etc; Roth, B. L. et al. (2004) Magic shotguns versus magic bullets: selectively non-selective drugs for mood disorders and schizophrenia. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 3, 353-359). These antipsychotics, although relatively successful (some patients exhibit treatment resistance) at treating the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, are less effective at treating negative symptoms, cognitive deficits, and associated depression and anxiety, all of which lead to reduced patient quality of life and socioeconomic problems (Lieberman, J. A. et al. Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) Investigators. (2005) Effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in patients with chronic schizophrenia. N. Engl. J. Med. 353, 1209-1223). Furthermore, patient compliance is compromised by prevalent side effects such as weight gain, extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), and cardiovascular effects (Lieberman, J. A. et al. Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) Investigators. (2005) Effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in patients with chronic schizophrenia. N. Engl. J. Med. 353, 1209-1223). In the current invention, compounds with high affinity and greater selectivity for D3 and 5-HT2A receptors are described and are proposed to treat psychoses and other diseases, with fewer associated side affects.
Dopamine, a major catecholamine neurotransmitter, is involved in the regulation of a variety of functions which include emotion, cognition, motor functions, and positive reinforcement, (Purves, D. et al. (2004) Neuroscience. Sinauer, third edition, Sunderland, Mass.). The biological activities of dopamine are mediated through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and in human, five different dopamine receptors D1-D5 have been identified, where the D2-like receptors (D2, D3 and D4) couple to the G-protein Gα1 (Missale, C. et al. (1998) Dopamine receptors: from structure to function. Physiol. Rev. 78, 189-225). The D3 dopamine receptor is most highly expressed in the nucleus accumbens (Gurevich, E. V., Joyce, J. N. (1999) Distribution of dopamine D3 receptor expressing neurons in the human forebrain: comparison with D2 receptor expressing neurons. Neuropsychopharmacology 20, 60-80), and is proposed to modulate the mesolimbic pathway consisting of neuronal projections from the ventral tegmental area, hippocampus and amygdala to the nucleus accumbens, which projects to the prefrontal and cingulate cortices as well as various thalamic nuclei.
The limbic circuit is thought to be important for emotional behavior and thus D3 receptor antagonists are proposed to modulate psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and thought disorder (Joyce, J. N. and Millan, M. J., (2005) Dopamine D3 receptor antagonists as therapeutic agents. Drug Discovery Today, 1 Jul., Vol. 10, No. 13, 917-25), while these antagonists spare the D2 modulated striatal extrapyramidal system (associated with EPS induction). In addition, it has been reported that drug naive schizophrenic patients show altered levels of D3 receptor expression (Gurevich, E. V. et al. (1997) Mesolimbic dopamine D3 receptors and use of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia. A postmortem study. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 54, 225-232) and dopamine release (Laruelle, M. (2000) Imaging dopamine dysregulation in schizophrenia: implication for treatment. Presented at Workshop Schizophr.: Pathol. Bases and Mech. Antipsychotic Action, Chicago), indicating that a disturbed homeostasis of dopamine plays an important role in the etiology of schizophrenic symptoms.
The neurotransmitter serotonin is implicated in several psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia (Kandel, E. R. et al. (eds.; 2000) Principles of Neural Science, 3rd edition Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, Conn.). The involvement of serotonin in psychotic disorders is suggested by multiple studies which include treatment in humans with the psychotropic drug Lysergic acid (LSD; a serotonin agonist) which can induce schizophrenia-like symptoms such as hallucinations (Leikin, J. B. et al. (1989) Clinical features and management of intoxication due to hallucinogenic drugs. Med. Toxicol. Adverse Drug Exp. 4, 324-350).
Furthermore, altered brain distribution of serotonin receptors as well as an altered serotonergic tone, have been detected in schizophrenic patients (Harrison, P. J. (1999) Neurochemical alterations in schizophrenia affecting the putative receptor targets of atypical antipsychotics. Focus on dopamine (D1, D3, D4) and 5-HT2A receptors. Br. J. Psychiatry Suppl. 38, 12-22).
In mammals serotonin exerts its biological activities through a family of 14 5-HT GPCRs (Barnes, N. M., Sharp, T. (1999) A review of central 5-HT receptors and their function. Neuropharmacology 38, 1083-1152). The 5-HT2A receptor is most prominently expressed in the prefrontal cortex and at lower levels in the basal ganglia and the hippocampus in human brain (Pompeiano, M. et al. (1994) Distribution of the serotonin 5-HT2 receptor family mRNAs: comparison between 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors. Brain Res. Mol. Brain. Res. 23, 163-178; Pazos, A., Probst, A., Palacios, J. M. (1987) Serotonin receptors in the human brain—IV. Autoradiographic mapping of serotonin-2 receptors. Neuroscience 21, 123-139), and is coupled predominantly to the G-protein Gαq (Roth, B. L. et al. (1998) 5-Hydroxytryptamine2-family receptors (5-hydroxytryptamine2A, 5-hydroxytryptamine2B, 5-hydroxytryptamine2C): where structure meets function. Pharmacol. Ther. 79, 231-257).
Genetic linkage studies of a 5-HT2A polymorphism to schizophrenia (Spurlock, G. et al. (1998) A family based association study of T102C polymorphism in 5HT2A and schizophrenia plus identification of new polymorphisms in the promoter. Mol. Psychiatry. 3, 42-49), as well as responsiveness to antipsychotic drugs (Arranz, M. J. et al. (2000) Pharmacogenetic prediction of clozapine response. Lancet 355, 1615-1616), further suggests a role for the 5-HT2A receptor both in the treatment and pathology of psychosis. In addition, dopaminergic neurotransmission appears to be under the afferent regulation of the 5-HT2A receptor (Porras, G. et al. 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C/2B receptor subtypes modulate dopamine release induced in vivo by amphetamine and morphine in both the rat nucleus accumbens and striatum. Neuropsychopharmacology 26, 311-324-2002). Overall 5-HT2A receptor antagonists are proposed to be suitable for the treatment of disorders associated with dysfunctional dopaminergic systems. Moreover, 5-HT2A receptor antagonism has been recognized as beneficial for the treatment of psychosis (reviewed in de Angelis, L. (2002) 5-HT2A antagonists in psychiatric disorders. Curr. Opin. Investig. Drugs 3, 106-112) and indeed is one of the defining features of so-called atypical antipsychotic drugs which are characterized by a relatively high affinity for the 5-HT2A—relative to the D2 receptor (Meltzer, H. Y. et al. (1989) Classification of typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs on the basis of dopamine D-1, D-2 and serotonin2 pKi values. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 251, 238-246).

Benzoyl-piperidine derivatives as dual modulators of the 5-HT2A and D3 receptors

Abstract: as dual modulators of the 5-HT2a and D3 receptors useful against CNS disorders, wherein A, R1, R2, n, p, q and r are as defined in the specification.


An image reading apparatus for reading images on original documents, including: a first reading section to read the images on the original documents; a second reading section to read the images on the original documents at a position downstream of a reading position of the first reading section, in a transporting direction of the original documents; and a controller; wherein, the controller controls in such a way that: the first reading section and the second reading section alternately read images on multiple original documents sequentially from document to document; and when an original document is transported to the reading position of the second reading section without an image on the original document being read by the first reading section, a transporting speed of the original document is higher than a transporting speed while the image on the original document being read.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and a copying apparatus having the image reading apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Image reading apparatuses have been widely used for copying apparatuses and facsimile machines, etc. in which one reading section faces a transport path of original document, and conducts sequential reading of multiple original documents by sequentially passing multiple original documents through a reading position.
When reading each single face of the original documents, the sequential reading is conducted by simply transporting each of the multiple original documents sequentially. And when reading double faces of the original documents, a front face and a rear face of the original document are read by passing one original document twice through the reading position with using a switchback section. Further, in the case of double face reading, in order to realign the page order of the original documents after reading, each of the original documents is passed through the switchback section two times. In this way, the image reading apparatus, employing the double face reading function, conducts original documents transportation by twice employing the front/rear reversal operation for double face reading and page order realignment of the original documents.
As a the result, in an image reading apparatus having a double face reading function, the original documents transportation becomes somewhat complicated, the transport path becomes longer and the time required for image reading becomes also longer. Whereby, improving the reading speed becomes difficult.
In order to improve the speed in double face reading, Patent Document 1 and 2 propose image reading apparatuses which provide a reading section for each side of the original document transport path and conduct double face reading by simply transporting the multiple original documents sequentially.
Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose, in the image reading apparatus having two reading sections, to realize additional functions with the two reading sections. Patent Document 1 proposes a recovery function in case of failure in one of the reading sections, wile Patent Document 2 proposes a variety of reading functions.
Patent Document 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-354192
Patent Document 2: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-125168
According with improving performance in image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, demands for high-speed reading are increasing. Namely, not only improving the double face reading speed, as proposed in the Patent Documents 1 and 2, but also improving the single face reading speed is demanded.
It has been assumed that for improving the speed of the single face reading, very little room remains for modification of the original document transport path, contrary to the case of double face reading.
For example, improvement of the reading speed by way of increasing the transportation speed of the original document has limitation due to an inherent decrease of resolving power of the read image.
In apparatuses proposed by Patent Documents 1 and 2, the speed of double face reading is raised, however the speed of single face reading remains unchanged in generally used original reading apparatus described above.

Image reading apparatus and copying apparatus

Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.


Provided are a transmission device and an air-cooling island. The transmission device includes: a motor comprising a motor output shaft; and a speed reducer including a speed reducer input shaft. The motor output shaft is directly connected with the speed reducer input shaft.

In power plant air-cooling island applications, it is necessary to use an electric machine to drive a speed reducer, and in turn drive fan blades via the speed reducer to achieve steam cooling. An electric machine output shaft and a speed reducer input shaft are generally linked via a shaft coupling, hence a large additional electric machine mounting flange is needed to support the electric machine. Such a manner of mounting places high requirements on space, and costs are also relatively high.

Transmission device and air-cooling island


A method for depositing a planar dielectric layer between metal traces of a metallization layer of a semiconductor wafer is disclosed. A thin layer of light absorbing material is deposited on the surface of a wafer prior to the formation of metal lines on an overlying patterned metallization layer. A source of directed radiation preferentially heats the light absorbing material while the metal lines reflect the directed radiation and remain largely unheated, thereby allowing dielectric material to be evenly deposited between the metal traces. An isolation layer which insulates the metal traces from the layer of light absorbing material may be required. In some applications, the source of directed radiation is a laser source with a wavelength in the infrared range, and the light absorbing material is a material which absorbs light in this range.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an integrated circuit. More particularly the invention relates to the use of directed radiation to selectively heat the surface of a semiconductor substrate between metal traces and thereby selectively deposit a dielectric layer between the metal traces during fabrication, forming a flat surface for further processing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Maintaining the planarity of a semiconductor wafer surface during the process of multilevel metallization is crucial to insure that there is no accidental coupling of metal traces between different metallization layers of integrated circuits housed on the wafer, and further to provide a surface with a sufficient planarity for any subsequent optical lithography processes. There are many processes which are intended to improve the planarity of a wafer surface during fabrication.
Spin-on glass (SOG) etchback is one process commonly used to improve the planarity of a semiconductor wafer surface during the process of multilevel metallization. In the SOG etchback process, a layer of SOG is deposited over a dielectric layer on the surface of a semiconductor wafer in order to fill in any gaps between metal lines on a trace layer of the wafer. Typically, filling in the gaps between metal traces with SOG results in a planar surface on the wafer. The SOG layer is then etched back to remove all of the SOG over underlying metal traces where vias are to be placed.
The effectiveness of SOG etchback is dependent upon the underlying pattern of metal traces and gaps on a trace layer of a semiconductor wafer. For example, it has been observed that if the gaps between the metal traces are too small, voids form in the dielectric material. Once the SOG layer is etched back, the voids in the dielectric layer may be exposed, thereby compromising the global planarity of the surface of the semiconductor wafer.
A Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) process is another process which is commonly used to improve planarity on the surface of a semiconductor wafer. The CMP process is implemented after a dielectric material has been deposited over a metallization layer of a semiconductor wafer. A typical CMP process involves the use of a polishing pad, made from a synthetic material, and a polishing slurry. Semiconductor wafers are mounted on a polishing fixture such that the wafers are pressed against the polishing pad under high pressure. The fixture then rotates and translates the wafers relative to the polishing pad. Wafer polishing is accomplished when the heat generated by friction between the wafer and the polishing pad causes the oxidization of some of the chemicals which comprise a dielectric layer of the wafer. Particles in the polishing slurry then abrade the oxidized chemicals away, thereby polishing the wafer.
Although the CMP process has been observed to be effective in planarizing the surfaces of semiconductor wafers, variations in planarity may still occur on wafer surfaces if the topographies of the underlying surfaces are very uneven. Further, if the gaps between adjacent metal traces are not sufficiently filled, the CMP process will not be able to planarize the surface of the wafer.
The SOG etchback and CMP procedures may add considerable cost to an integrated circuit. Both procedures require that a wafer be transferred to specialized apparatus that performs only planarization steps. The SOG etchback process requires one piece of apparatus for "spinning on" the glass and another piece of apparatus for plasma etching the glass on the wafer. The CMP process requires a special wafer platen, a polishing pad, and a chemical dispensing system. If the excess costs associated with these procedures could be reduced or eliminated, the cost of producing integrated circuits could be reduced.
FIGS. 1a and 1b are diagrammatic side views of semiconductor wafer substrates on which metal traces are situated. In FIG. 1a, the metal traces 110 are situated on a semiconductor wafer substrate 100. A coating of a dielectric material 120 is deposited over the traces 110. The metal traces 110 are spaced such that it is possible for an even coating of a dielectric material 120 to be deposited. In FIG. 1b, the metal traces 180 situated on a semiconductor substrate 160 are spaced such that there is a relatively small gap between metal traces 180b and 180c. This relatively small gap between metal traces 180b and 180c causes a void 185 to be created in the dielectric material 190 when it is deposited over the traces 180a-180f. This void 185 compromises the integrity of the layer of dielectric material 190 in that it creates a vacuum in the layer of dielectric material 190.
Although both a SOG etchback process and a CMP process have been shown to improve the planarity of semiconductor wafers, the effectiveness of both processes is largely affected by the gap-fill capabilities of dielectric materials deposited over metal traces on a trace layer of a wafer. As described above, common methods for depositing dielectric materials over a trace layer of a wafer do not serve to sufficiently fill small gaps with dielectric material. The development of a method for depositing dielectric material which can evenly fill gaps of any size between metal traces on a trace layer would greatly improve the effectiveness of processes, as for example the SOG etchback process and the CMP process previously described, intended to achieve planarity on the surface of a wafer during fabrication. Such a method may even make it possible to achieve a planar surface on a wafer without the need for costly and time-consuming processes like SOG etchback and CMP.

Method of forming a planar surface during multi-layer interconnect formation by a laser-assisted dielectric deposition


A storage device includes NVM package and a controller connected to the NVM package through a channel and controlling operation of the NVM package. The NVM package includes an interface chip, first NVM devices connected to the interface chip through a first internal channel and second NVM devices connected to the interface chip through a second internal channel. The interface chip selects the first internal channel in response to an operation request received from the controller and connects the first internal channel to the channel. The interface chip also determines whether retraining is necessary in relation to the second internal channel and transmits a retraining request to the controller when retraining is necessary.

Embodiments of the inventive concept relate generally to storage devices and methods of retraining the constituent non-volatile memory devices (hereafter, singularly or collectively, "NVM) in same.
The use of various error detection and/or correction techniques is known to be particularly useful in relation to volatile and non-volatile memories. Many storage devices including NVM are equipped with controller(s) that are capable of training (or calibrating) the NVM in storage devices to detect and/or minimize data errors.
In general, the operating frequency of a storage device may vary with power and/or temperature conditions, thereby causing signal propagation delays, noise and/or signal timing skews—all of which degrade data integrity. Accordingly, it is necessary for storage devices to better align data signals through retraining operations between a controller and NVM in order to compensate for data degradation.

Storage device and retraining method thereof


A connector system (10) for producing a sterile connection includes a fluid conduit (32), an engagement device (14, 22) designed to engage with a complementary engagement device (16, 24) of a complementary connector (12), a displacement device (26) with a substantially plane displacement surface (30) and a fluid conduit aperture (60) which extends through the displacement surface (30) and is connected to the fluid conduit (32), with the displacement device (26) being designed to displace the connector (12) and the complementary connector (12) relative to one another in a displacement direction (40) after the engagement device (14, 22) has engaged with the complementary engagement device (16, 24), and with the displacement direction (40) being substantially parallel to the displacement surface (30), and a sterile cover device (20, 74) designed to cover at least the fluid conduit aperture (60) in a sterile manner. The invention also relates to a method of use of the connector system (10) and of the complementary connector (12) for sterile connection of a fluid inlet of the connector (10) to a fluid outlet of the complementary connector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector system for leaktight connection of a fluid inlet of a connector to a fluid outlet of a complementary connector, and to the method of use of the connector and of the complementary connector for sterile connection of a fluid inlet of the connector to a fluid outlet of the complementary connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
A great many connectors have been developed, for example for handling biological fluids or liquids, such as blood plasma. It is important that the properties of the fluid remain unchanged as the fluid passes through the connectors. In particular, it is often necessary to protect the fluids from environmental effects, for example when the connectors are used in a nonsterile environment. After the connectors have been connected to one another, it is in most cases necessary to ensure that the fluid guided through the connectors is not exposed to any environmental effects and, in particular, is not contaminated. In other words, even though the connectors are being handled in a nonsterile environment, it is often necessary to ensure that a sterile connection is permitted between two connectors.
It is an object of the invention to permit a sterile connection in a simple manner. This object is achieved by the connector system of the subject invention and the method of use of the connector and of the complementary connector of the subject invention.

Connector system and method of using same


Embodiments of the present invention include methods for retrieving information from an information base. In one embodiment, the present invention includes specifying a first query including one or more specified attribute values corresponding to one or more attributes, performing a count-only query on a structured information base for information elements having one or more attribute values within a first range, the first range including the specified attribute values, and performing a retrieval query for information elements having one or more attribute values within a second range, wherein the second range includes the first range.

The present invention relates to information retrieval, and in particular, to a method of retrieving information with similarity search capability.
The explosive growth and prevalence of computer technologies, data storage capacities and the Internet have led to an ever-increasing amount of information being stored in electronic form. As the amount of available electronic information grows, individuals and organizations have sought to put this information to a productive use. For example, many companies with large information bases may seek to use electronic information to improve the way the business is managed. The information stored in a companies data storage facilities may represent years of the companies experiences in a business environment, and such information may be useful in helping to solve new problems that the business faces as such problems arise. Furthermore, a company's information base may include historical or real-time data about the company's financial performance, research and development activities, or manufacturing activities to name just a few. A variety of systems exist for managing such information, but such systems must first be able to access useful information in a way that is meaningful.
While the availability of large volumes of information creates the potential for improved problem solving and decision-making, it is difficult to find and retrieve specific information for a particular use from the large volumes of information available. Thus, the ever-increasing volumes of information, together with the desire to make use of the information, have created a need for methods of retrieving specific pieces of information from a large information base. Information retrieval methods also act as the inputs to information management systems. Without an effective and efficient method of retrieving useful information, such systems cannot be used to their full potential.
Information retrieval methods for structured information typically require a user to specify what information is desired. This is usually done by allowing a user to specify a search request (i.e., a query). Traditional information retrieval methods have focused on finding and retrieving data that is an exact match of a query (e.g., retrieve the account information for a person with the name "John"). However, many useful pieces of information may not be recovered if an exact match is required. Thus, the notion of "similarity" searching has been attracting more attention as a method of retrieving information.
In a similarity search, information may be retrieved even though it does not exactly match the information specified in the search request (i.e., the retrieved data is either the same as or "similar" to a search criterion). Similarity searches typically perform a search across a broader range of information than traditional searches, and return information that differs from the search request in a variety of different ways. For example, similarity searching typically includes numerous processing steps for determining whether or not data that is not an exact match is nevertheless "similar" enough to the search criteria to warrant retrieval. However, because similarity searching typically requires processing steps other than a direct comparison of the search criteria to the data, such searches can be extremely inefficient, computationally intensive and slow. Moreover, the accuracy of the results of a similarity search may depend heavily on the methods employed to determine whether or not data is "similar." If the processing steps used in the similarity determination are not accurate, the search results will be meaningless, and the search may return information that is essentially useless. Examples may include scenarios where the information returned is completely unrelated to the problem at hand, or where the search returns too few or far too many results.
Thus, there is a need for a method of retrieving data in a way that will improve the efficiency, speed and accuracy of information retrieval over existing techniques. The present invention solves these and other problems by providing an information retrieval method with efficient similarity search capability.

Information retrieval method with efficient similarity search capability


A spring clip having opposed teeth is attached to a lanyard. The lanyard may be worn around a user's neck. The spring clip with opposing teeth fits around and securely grasps the seal ring at the top of a conventional pressurized spray bottle. Alternatively, a spring band fits around the seal ring of a conventional pressurized spray bottle. A lanyard attached to the spring band allows the bottle to be hung from a user's neck or other part of the body for ease of access and use. In a third aspect, a band having a high friction or adhesive inner surface is applied to the main body of a conventional cylindrical pressurized spray bottle. A lanyard attached to the band allows the bottle to be hung from a part of the user's body as before.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pressurized spray bottles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for attaching a lanyard to a spray bottle so that the spray bottle may be attached to the lanyard, the lanyard worn around the neck, and the spray bottle made readily available to a user.
2. The Prior Art
Pressurized spray bottles are well known in most fields of endeavor. A typical pressurized spray bottle 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Pressurized spray bottle 10 includes a sealing ring 12 disposed about a cap 13 which is generally crimped over a lower portion or container portion 14 which contains the contents of spray bottle 10. At the center of sealing ring 12 is a discharge tube 16. In normal use, pressing on discharge tube 16 causes a valve disposed at the center of cap 13 and communicating with the inside of spray bottle 10 to open, allowing pressurized contents of spray bottle 10 to escape through discharge tube 16. A knob 18 is generally provided which fits over discharge tube 16 and facilitates the application of downward pressure to discharge tube 16. When knob 18 is attached to discharge tube 16, a diversion channel 20 within knob 18 redirects the flow of material discharged from discharge tube 16 approximately 90.degree. toward a nozzle 22 out of which material stored in bottle 10 is emitted.
FIG. 2 shows a top view of the pressurized bottle of FIG. 1 taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of bottle 10, sealing ring 12 and discharge tube 16 mounted on valve 24 which is integral with cap 13.
Many applications for pressurized spray bottles require frequent manipulation of the spray bottle by a user. For example, in the hair care industry, hair stylists may use such a bottle to contain and spray hairspray. A typical use of bottles of pressurized hairspray requires one hand to manipulate the hair, another hand to manipulate a comb or brush, and no hands left to manipulate the hairspray bottle. Thus, the hairspray bottle is continuously being picked up and placed down throughout the process. A more efficient approach would be desirable.

Spray bottle lanyard and method of attachment