A machine tool installation for laser cutting of sheet workpieces has a workpiece support, an elongated machine frame of generally C-shaped configuration providing an arm extending over the workpiece support, a pair of tracks on the arm and extending longitudinally of the frame. A motion unit is suspended from the tracks and mounted for movement therealong with one end located adjacent the outer side of the workpiece support. The motion unit is movable bidirectionally along the track, and a laser cutting unit is mounted on the motion unit and includes a laser cutting head movable thereon in an axis perpendicular to the arm. The laser cutting unit is moved along the motion unit and is movable to the one end of the motion unit on the outer side of the workpiece support for facile servicing thereof by an operator.

The present invention relates to laser cutting installations in which the sheet metal is disposed on a workpiece support below a movable cutting head.
Laser cutting machines are now widely employed for processing of sheet metal workpieces since the laser will cut the sheet metal rapidly and the laser beam and/or the workpiece can be moved by a guidance system to enable precise cutting of parts. One type of common laser cutting machine for processing large sheet metal workpieces has a work support over which there is a movable bridge, and the laser cutting head is supported on the bridge. The bridge can be moved along the workpiece support to effect cutting of the workpiece in the longitudinal direction, and the laser cutting head can be moved along the bridge to effect cutting in the transverse direction. Illustrative of such machines is Erlenmaier U.S. Pat. No. 6,586,706 and Kilian U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,773.
Loading units for the sheet metal workpieces have been widely employed for punch presses and laser cutting machines and generally involve suction devices which are arranged in a grid that can be adapted to the size of the sheet metal workpiece to be picked up and carried by the loading unit. Generally, such loading units will pick up the sheet metal and then rotate or otherwise move to deposit the sheet on the workpiece support in the desired position. Exemplary of such loading units is that illustrated and described in Leibinger et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,531.
The cutting operation will frequently produce numerous small parts and a skeleton which must be removed from the workpiece support. Although the operator may remove and sort them manually, this extends the processing time and reduces the productivity of the laser cutting machine. Accordingly, various types of units have also been provided for removing from the workpiece support the cut parts and skeleton. It has also been proposed to leave small webs of material retaining the cut parts in the skeleton so that the cut workpiece can be lifted as a unit by a suction arrangement; the remaining webs are then broken to release the parts from the skeleton after it has been transported to a separation station.
As is well known, the cutting heads require servicing and replacement of optics. Unfortunately, the prevalent bridge mounted laser cutting units enclosing the laser cutting head are difficult to access and frequently require the operator to climb onto the workpiece support to be able to service the unit.
It will be appreciated that these types of installations involve separate units with their own drive mechanisms. A numeric control system must not only control the cutting motion but also the motion of the loading unit and the unloading unit as the case may be. At times this presents problems from the standpoint of effecting the desired alignment of the workpiece in the workstation or rapid changes between different cutting programs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel laser cutting installation in which the cutting head is readily accessible to the operator for servicing and change of optics.
It is also an object to provide such a laser cutting installation which can be fabricated relatively readily and which is simple to operate and maintain.

Laser processing installation with readily accessible cutting unit


A data storage and retrieval system for a computer memory configured according to a document store adapted to contain documents. The document store includes a document data structure containing a header and a document having one or more members. The document store further includes a chain of one or more differential data structures, each having a header and at least one updated member. The updated member has a value which is updated relative to a value in a corresponding member having a same identifier in the document data structure or in a preceding differential data structure in the chain. A header of each of the differential data structures includes a pointer to the document data structure or the preceding differential data structure in the chain, and a flag indicating that each of the differential data structures contains less than all of the members of the document data structure.

A document database, also referred to as a document store, differs significantly from a traditional relational database. Relational databases generally store data in separate tables with a strict layout that is pre-determined by application developers. Often a piece of data, i.e. a "data object", may be spread across several tables (i.e., "normalization"). Meanwhile, document databases can store all information for a given object in a single unit, in just one database artifact, and each stored object can differ from other stored objects. In other words, there may be no internal structure that maps directly onto the concept of a table, and the fields and relationships generally don't exist as predefined concepts. Instead, all of the data for an object is placed in a single document, and stored in the document database as a single entry. The structure or layout of the document is part of the stored data itself. This is being referred to as semi-structured. With a document store, there is no need to transform objects into a relational model ("object-relational mapping"). Accordingly, a document store is attractive in applications that are handling semi-structured data. A typical use case is storing JSON documents (JavaScript Object Notation) which is often used in web applications or in application that are subject to continual change in place, and where speed of deployment is an important issue. If only one field of a document is updated, the entire document may be duplicated into a new version, which is updated and stored in memory. Copying this amount of data, allocating sufficient memory, and storing the updated version may result in a relatively long time being required to perform the update operation.

System and methods for providing a data store having linked differential data structures


A method is disclosed for repairing an opaque defect on a mask substrate. After examining one or more opaque patterns in a predetermined area of the mask substrate, at least one opaque defect in the opaque patterns is identified based on a difference between its light reflection rate and a reference reflection rate. A residue height of the opaque defect is further determined based on its light transmission rate, and a repair formula such as an etching dosage is devised based on the determined residue height.

The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor device manufacturing, and more particularly to a method and system for repairing photolithography mask reticles used in the component and circuit patterning processes of a semiconductor device substrate.
The manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) and devices require the use of many photolithography process steps to define and create specific circuit components and circuit layouts onto an underlying substrate. Conventional photolithography systems project specific circuit and/or component images, defined by a mask pattern reticle, onto a flat substrate coated with a light sensitive film (photoresist) coating. After image exposure, the film is then developed leaving the printed image of the circuit and/or component on the substrate. The imaged substrate is subsequently processed with techniques such as etching and doping to alter the substrate with the transferred pattern.
It is critical to the yields of the photolithography operations and to the product yields that the mask reticles are free of defects and damage that may be transferred as undesired patterns and images upon the product substrate.
Advanced semiconductor manufacturing operations utilize mask reticle defect inspection systems to help identify and measure the mask reticle defects and damage. In addition, mask reticle repair systems incorporating focused ion beams (FIBs), are usually used to repair the mask reticles such that the reticles can again, become usable for production operations. The use of these mask reticle inspection and repair systems upon new and in-production mask reticles save the manufacturing operations significant costs related to poor process and device yields, as well as costs related to having new mask reticles fabricated and qualified for production usage.
Mask reticle defects manifest largely by two major forms. Transparent defects are light-passing defects that are located upon regions of the mask reticles where opaque material should be located. The conventional repair method for transparent defects is via the use of a programmed FIB, usually a carbon-rich or metallic ion beam of low keV energy, to deposit an adherent opaque film onto the identified repair regions of the mask reticle. Opaque defects are light-blocking defects that are located upon regions of the mask reticles where such material should be absent. The conventional repair method for opaque defects is via the use of a programmed FIB, usually a Gallium ion beam of between 30 to 75 kilo-electron volts (keV) energy, to etch or sputter the identified defect off of the mask reticle.
Ideally, opaque defect removal must be performed with some precision as to not over-etch and induce new damage to the mask substrate material (typically quartz) located under the removed defect. Such mask substrate damage may itself, be manifested as a new mask reticle defects and damage that may be transferred as undesired patterns and images upon the product substrate. The FIB etching dosage (or etch quantity) must be sufficient enough to clear and remove the entire height and volume of the opaque defect region without inducing significant damage to the underlying mask substrate. Many semiconductor manufacturing operations may choose to maintain a relatively high, fixed FIB etching dosage to ensure complete removal of the opaque defects. The conventional method counts upon a net benefit gain from the removal of the opaque defect versus the possible creation of new mask defects.
Other semiconductor manufacturing operations choose to implement extra procedures to more precisely remove the opaque defects without inducing additional mask reticle defects. Additional procedures are implemented to measure the height of the opaque mask reticle defects in order for a precise FIB etch dose to be determined to remove the defect without damage to the mask substrate. Typical techniques used to measure height of the opaque defects include atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Such analytical techniques are capable of obtaining defect height measurements with the required nano-meter scale precision and accuracy.
However, such analytical procedures are not well-suited for an efficient manufacturing operation. These analytical tools and procedures require highly-trained operational expertise, typically an engineer or specialized technician instead of the standard manufacturing operator level expertise. These analytical tools themselves are expensive and slow to operate, requiring much dedicated capital expense as well as much focus and time to perform the required procedures. These translate to high costs associated for the measurement operations and for the time-related costs due to loss of production usage of the measured mask reticle.
What is desirable is an improved opaque defect removal method that can precisely remove the undesired defect without inducing any additional damage upon the mask reticle. The improved method is also desired to be easily incorporated into the manufacturing operations with minimal requirements for engineer and special expertise. Such method would also be of low operational costs as well as incurring minimal impact to the non-production service period of the mask reticles in the repair cycle.

Method for repairing opaque defects on semiconductor mask reticles

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company


A dual pontoon float having a pair of inflatable pontoons joined together by a rigid floatation seat which secures the pontoons in parallel and symmetrical alignment; an upper inflatable horseshoe body having arms is releasably secured to the pontoons by its arms in one of a more aft or more fore position relative to amidships for distributing the load; the arms are secured to the pontoons with loop and pile fasteners and belts and buckles; a backrest is attached to the center of the horseshoe body; the open end of the body includes a spacer or stabilizer bar, whereby the spacer bar and rigid floatation seat resist inward collapse and rotation of the pontoons; thus when inflated and assembled, provides a rigid, stable dual pontoon float with the pontoons parallel and symmetrical; storage compartments are attached to the arms and backrest; and an apron is releasably connected between the spacer bar and arms to provide a working surface.

1. Field
This invention relates to a float tube and more particularly a float tube with pontoons, which combines features of pontoon boats and float tubes. The float tubes and pontoons, being of material adapted to receiving inflatable bladders, which provide floatation thereto, upon inflation.
2. State of the Art
More recent float tubes come in various shapes, round, U-shaped, V-shaped or H-shaped. All but the round float tube have support bars to hold them open and keep them from spreading out and generally have a fabric seat sewn across the central opening. These various styles of float tubes sit low to the water and the user""s body is mostly in the water. Several problems occur in these types of float tubes. In most, the bottom half of the body is in the water and hangs down through the tube. There is a tendency for the feet and legs to get tangled in the weeds, to drag on the bottom. They are not particularly comfortable and even with waders, the body get cold because the individual is submerged from the waist down.
Another major problem with the float tube and their designs is that they tend to compress or collapse when a person sits in them. These float tubes all have the same type of seat attachment, a xe2x80x9csling stylexe2x80x9d seat stitched across the bottom to the sides of the inflated tubes. The weight of the body on this seat tends to pull the sides inward causing discomfort. The bigger the person, the more the sides are pulled inward.
To prevent the sides from coming inward when weight is put on the seat, a stabilizer bar is sometimes used. This stabilizer bar is usually put in front of the tube to keep the sides from collapsing inward. The stabilizer bar helps prevent this but not entirely because the sides are inflated chambers and are not rigid, so they collapse inward around the stabilizer bar.
The single most detrimental or negative feature in float tubes on the market is that they tend to collapse inward on the person when sitting in them. The heavier the person, the more the sides are pulled inward. This effect causes discomfort and is very annoying. Again, the bigger the person, the more dramatic the effect and the more discomfort.
Other major problems with float tubes relate to safety because the body protrudes down through the tube and the seat is often attached to the stabilizer bar with a strap that goes between the user""s legs. You are trapped in the tube should the tube lose air or should you tip over in the tube. Drownings have occurred because of this. Furthermore, other float tubes consist of one main chamber and one or two smaller chambers. Should you puncture the main chamber or get an air leak, you will more than likely go under and waders if used would quickly fill with water endangering the user.
Because of the shape of many float tubes, there is an adverse effect produced by wind and/or current. While fishing in a float tube or boat, it is important to remain facing in one direction. This allows individuals to effectively work their line. Most float tubes are difficult to keep facing one direction, as they tend to turn with the wind or current at will, causing difficulty for fishing, which is the intend use.
Various modifications to float tubes have been suggested, such as attaching them to pontoons, but problems have occurred. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,489 B, issued to Hutson, discloses a float tube with a pair of inflatable pontoons, with a general U-shaped support affixed to the pontoons with arms overlaying the pontoons, which joins a back support member. The back support member maintains proper spacing of the pontoons and the float tube is provided with a flexible seat between the two pontoons in front of the back support. Also a rigid separator is positioned between the two pontoons in from of the flexible seat. The float tube provides pouches secured to the arms and also may include a head rest on the back support.
Even with the separator and back support an individual seated on the flexible seat will have tendency to pull the pontoons inward and downward, especially with a relatively heavy individual.
Applicant has taken desirable features from a pontoon boat and a float tube and added certain features, which provide a unique watercraft or pontoon float.
The present invention provides a pair pontoons with a fabric seat secured between the inboard sides at the horizontal midline through the pontoons. The fabric being in the form of a pocket to house a rigid foam cushion having its sides shaped or cut at an acute angle, so that it is wider at the bottom than the top. The pocket holds the cushion partly below and partly above the midline through the pontoons.
The present invention includes a U-shaped inflatable upper unit positioned on top of a pair of inflatable pontoons, held spaced apart by a seat member and releasably attached to the pontoons with Velcro fasteners and belts with attached buckles. The Velcro fasteners have their loop members sewn to the underside of the U-shaped upper unit to mate with the pile section sewn to the upper portion of the pontoons. The Velcro fasteners are sufficiently wide to permit the upper unit to be positioned fore and aft to accommodate the user""s posture. The open area of the upper unit accommodates a spacer or stabilizer bar to maintain the open area of the upper unit properly oriented, which in turn maintains the pontoons in the proper parallel orientation.
It is an object of the invention to provide a pontoon float having a pair of pontoons spaced apart by a rigid floatation seat wider a the bottom than at the top, which tends to push the pontoons outward at the bottom with a load on the seat. Each of the pontoons have sufficient Velcro fastener pile members sewn along the longitudinal axis of the pontoon, for mating with the loop members of the Velcro fasteners sewn to the bottom of the U-shaped upper unit, for securing the upper unit to the pontoon unit and further secured with straps and buckles, thus the upper unit maintains the pontoons in parallel alignment and firmly secured to the upper unit. A spacer bar is detachably secured to the arms of the U-shaped member to maintain the proper orientation of the upper unit arms.
It is another object of the inventions to provide a pontoon float having a lower unit composed a pair of pontoons spaced apart by a rigid seat member interposed between the pontoons and an upper U-shaped unit, which are inflatable and when inflated are attached to each other such that the pontoons of the lower unit are maintained parallel and the arms of the upper unit are maintained parallel by a spacer bar releasably secured there between. The rigid seat member is also a floatation device, which maintains the pontoons parallel with each other and resists inward collapse thereof. Each arm of the upper member includes a storage compartment secured to the upper unit. The rear of the upper unit has an inflatable back rest with a storage compartment affixed to the back rest. The spacer bar secures one end of a netting that fits over the lap of a user and is attached to the arms of the upper unit by a Velcro fastener at the rear of the net.
It is another object of the invention to provide a pontoon float, which may be carried in a back pack in a deflated and disassembled configuration that consists of a lower or pontoon section and an upper or U-shaped section having a backrest in which the lower pontoon section and the upper U-shaped section can be readily inflated, with the pontoons maintained separated by a rigid seat member with a wider bottom than top. The upper unit, when inflated, is secured to the lower float unit with Velcro fasteners and belts to maintain the lower section and the upper section rigid, stable and secured to each other. The upper unit has a complimentary spacer bar, which cooperates with the seat member to resist the pontoon float from closing inward on a user with the spacer bar and seat resisting rotation of the pontoons or arms.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a pontoon float having a pontoon section and upper horseshoe-shaped comfort section. The pontoon hull comprises a pair of inflatable pontoons spaced apart by a rigid seat member, and maintained parallel to each other by a horseshoe-shaped inflatable deck, designed to be connected to the inflatable hull to form a float tube. The deck can be positioned for comfort and load distribution, fore and aft form the center of the hull. The open end of the deck has a spacer bar, which compliments the seat member in maintaining the pontoons parallel and preventing inward collapse of the pontoons in conjunction with the beveled rigid seat member. The pontoons, as well as the deck, retain independent bladders for inflation.
It is an object of the inventions to provide a pontoon float having a pair of pontoons containing inflatable bladders spaced apart and maintained parallel by a rigid floatation member having a wider bottom than top, secured at the midline through the pontoons, with the member extending above and below the midline. A horseshoe-shaped body having a central backrest joining the arms of the body together removably mounted fore or aft from amidships for appropriately distributing the load. The rigid seat member together with a space bar, positioned between the arms, compliment each other in maintaining the pontoon float with its pontoons parallel and resists inward collapse of the pontoons, as well as, rotation of the pontoons. The upper body is secured to the pontoons by Velcro fasteners, belts and buckles. The body further includes a backrest containing an inflatable bladder, also flexible storage compartments.
If is a further object of the invention to provide a pontoon float consisting of a raft formed by port and starboard inflatable pontoons secured to each side of a beveled floatation member and an inflatable body releasably mountable in various fore or aft positions upon the raft having a central back spanning the pontoons and a pair of arms for retention to the port and starboard pontoons, respectively, with a spacer bar releasably extending between the pair of arms, whereby the port and starboard pontoons are maintained parallel and restrained from inward collapse by complimentary action of the spacer bar and beveled floatation member.


A connecting device for transmitting pressurized fluids including a pipe having an inner flow channel, a body including an inner cavity isolated from the inner flow channel, and a displacement member for moving the pipe in the body between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration and wherein the displacement member includes a pusher member movable within the body, an off-centered member connected to the slide member, a connecting rod ring and a rear housing formed in the body, defining a first articulation diameter (φ1) between the pusher member and the off-centered member around a first axis (A1), a second articulation diameter (φ2) between the off-centered member and the connecting rod member around a second axis (A2), and a third articulation diameter (φ3) between the connecting rod ring and the rear housing around a third axis (A3) and wherein the three axes are separate and parallel to a transverse direction transverse of the device.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connecting device. The invention also relates to a connector comprising such a device.
The field of the invention is that of connectors adapted for the passage of fluids under high pressures and high or very low temperatures, which require maximum safety and demand sealing using metal parts. Advantageously, such sealing is achieved by metal-on-metal contact without using a seal made from a polymer material. The invention is well suited to specific applications in the field of cryogenics.
Brief Description of the Related Art
GB-A-163,053 describes a connecting device between two tubes. A first tube is screwed into a main coupling element provided with a first frustoconical surface. The second tube is screwed into a coupling ring provided with a second frustoconical surface and mounted sliding in the main element. The device also comprises a cam lever, mounted on the coupling element the second tube is inserted into the ring. Actuating the cam lever causes the two frustoconical surfaces to come closer together, then applying contact pressure, thereby producing cone trunk-on-cone trunk sealing within the device. In practice, this sealing requires exerting high forces on the cam lever on the contact surfaces. The contacts between the cam supported by the lever and the ring to be moved are linear contacts, which poses a problem of compactness and/or strength when the materials, in particular for reasons of compatibility with certain fluids, do not have a sufficient hardness to withstand caulking.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,200 describes another connecting device between two tubes, provided with complementary frustoconical surfaces. The connecting device comprises two annular sleeves, each including a cavity for receiving one of the tubes. The annular sleeves also comprise complementary internal and external threads. Screwing the annular sleeves causes the two frustoconical surfaces to come closer together, then applying contact pressure, thereby producing cone trunk-on-cone trunk sealing within the device.
As a non-limiting example, very low temperature applications may use austenitic stainless steels, for example of type 316L, with high stiffness under cryogenic temperatures, but a low hardness.

Connecting device, and connector comprising such a device


A method or system capable of managing automobile parking space (“APS”) using containerized sensors, machine learning center, and cloud based network is disclosed. A process, in one aspect, monitors the surrounding information observed by a set of onboard sensors of a vehicle as the vehicle is in motion. After selectively recording the surrounding information in accordance with instructions from a containerized APS model which is received from a machine learning center, an APS and APS surrounding information are detected when the vehicle is in a parked condition. Upon rewinding recorded surrounding information leading up to the detection of APS, labeled data associated with APS is generated based on APS and the recorded surrounding information. The process subsequently uploads the labeled data to the cloud based network for facilitating APS model training at the machine learning center via a virtuous cycle.

With increasing popularity of automation and intelligent electronic devices, such as computerized machines, IoT (the Internet of Things), smart vehicles, smart phones, drones, mobile devices, airplanes, artificial intelligence ("AI"), the demand of intelligent machine and faster real-time response are increasing. For machine learning to become mainstream, a significant number of pieces, such as data management, model training, and data collection need to be improved.
Conventional machine learning is, in itself, an exploratory process which may involve trying different kinds of models, such as convolutional, RNN (recurrent neural network), attentional machine learning, et cetera. Machine learning or training typically concerns a wide variety of hyper-parameters that change the shape of model and modeling characteristics. As a result, model training generally requires intensive computation. As such, real-time response via machine learning model can be challenging.

Method and system for providing auto space management using virtuous cycle


Each musical performance data of a source file includes time data, note data indicative of music sound start or music sound stop at a moment indicated by the time data, and accent data indicative of sound velocity. The time data, the note, and either the music sound start or the music sound stop are recorded in a first recording area in accordance with the time data. The accent data is recorded in a second recording area. The second recording area is separated from the first recording area. The recorded data in the first and second areas are combined to obtain a target file. And, the another file is recorded in a recording medium. A reproducing apparatus reproduces the recorded musical performance data. The musical performance data are decoded and temporarily stored into a storage medium. The decoded and temporarily stored data are controlled such that the note and accent data are reproduced before the control data. A sound source reproduces the controlled musical performance data and generates music sounds in accordance with the reproduced data.

The present invention relates to a musical data recording method and reproducing apparatus, which can reduce the transmission rate and the storage capacity of digitalized musical performance data when the same data are transmitted and further when the transmitted data are stored in a storage medium.
In general, MIDIs (musical instrument digital interfaces) are widely used as transmitting means of musical performance data for playing music. Here, the MIDI is an industrial standard prescribed for hardware and software connected to a sound source apparatus (e.g., synthesizer, electronic piano, etc.) in order to use various musical performance data interchangeably. In more detail, when the MIDI is used, the musical data inputted by a player through a keyboard are converted into MIDI data, and then outputted through a transmission path. On the other hand, a sound source apparatus is provided with such functions as to receive the MIDI data and to generate musical sound actually. Therefore, when the sound source apparatus is connected to the transmission path, the received MIDI data can be interpreted to generate musical sound.
The above-mentioned MIDI data are roughly composed of the following data:
(1) Musical note data (referred to as note data, hereinafter) indicative of sound starts by key touch (a key is depressed) or sound stops by key release (a key is not depressed). Further, the note data include data indicative of sound pitches (note numbers) designated by key numbers.
(2) Accent data indicative of sound velocity, which are transmitted or received in accompany with note data in the case of the MIDI.
(3) Control data for transmitting intonation representations (i.e., crescendo, musical fluctuations of the note number) to the sound source apparatus. In practice, when a player uses a pedal or a lever, since the change of the lever position is detected by a MIDI converter disposed on the player side, the lever position data are transmitted.
Further, since these musical performance data are transmitted instantaneously in progress of musical performance, the musical performance data stream includes the above-mentioned data under mixed condition.
Here, since all the MIDI data are digitalized, the data can be recorded, edited, and reproduced by use of a computer apparatus (e.g., synthesizer) and a storage medium. In other words, the MIDI data can be stored in a storage medium as a data file. Here, SMF (standard MIDI file) is widely used as a format of the data file. However, since the MIDI data are actual time data, when the respective data elements (referred to as MIDI events, hereinafter) such as the sound starts or sound stops are recorded in the SMF, the MIDI data are recorded under such conditions that time data are attached to the MIDI data, respectively. Further, since recorded in the order of the generation of the MIDI events, the note data and the control data are both recorded in a mixed form.
By the way, without being limited only to the SMF, when the data file is stored, since there exists a limit of the capacity of the storage medium, it is preferable that data are compressed. Therefore, in the case when the MIDI data are compressed, in general, there has been so far used a compression technique based upon the pattern matching referred to as LZ (Lempel-zif) method adopted under a program such as LHA or ZIP. The principle of this data compression will be simply explained hereinbelow.
When a compressed file is formed on the basis of an original file, the processed position in the original file is shifted beginning from a file head, and data read from the processing position are copied on the compressed file. Here, when there exist two same data areas in the original file, at a time point when the processing position reaches the head of the second data area of the two same data areas, the data are not simply copied. Instead, a distance from a head position of the first data area to the processing position and a length of the matched data area are both recorded in the compression file. Further, the processing position in the original file is shifted to an end of the second data area, thus continuing the processing. By doing this, data in the second data area are not copied. Instead, only the data length and data distance are added to compress the data.
As understood by the above-mentioned description, in this compression method, the compression ratio increases with increasing data area in which the two same data exist. Further, when a data pattern existing after a processing position is searched on the basis of the data area existing before the processing position, the compression ratio can be increased when the two same data areas exist adjacent to each other. This is due to a limit of the size of the area to be searched.
As an example of the apparatus which uses the musical performance data file such as the SMF, there exists a communication accompanying apparatus (KARAOKE in Japanese, which implies non-orchestra). In the case of the communication accompanying apparatus of non-storage type, a MIDI musical performance data file transmitted from a distributing center through a public line is received by a terminal device, and the received data file is reproduced by the terminal device as the accompaniment to a music or a song. Therefore, whenever a user select a song, the musical data related to a selected music is transmitted from the center side. In this case, when the musical performance data file are compressed on the distributing center and then transmitted, since the transmission time can be shortened and therefore economized, it is possible to reduce the rental fee of the transmission line.
Further, in the case of the terminal device of the communication accompanying apparatus of storage type, a storage medium of large capacity (e.g., hard disc) is incorporated therein, and the musical performance data files transmitted in the past are stored so as to be updated. In this case, when the musical performance data files are stored under compressed conditions, there exists an advantage such that it is possible to store a great number of various songs on the storage medium.
On the other hand, in the above-mentioned music accompanying apparatus of storage type, in order to satisfy various music requests of the users, it is necessary to store as many songs as possible in the limited storage medium. Therefore, it is preferable that the music data file data are compressed. In the case of the music data file such as the SMF, a relatively high compression ratio can be obtained, as compared with the ordinary text file. This is because in the case of the musical performance data, the same data are often recorded repeatedly from the nature thereof.
Recently, however, since the user's requests are diversified more and more, there exists a need of storing still large number of songs. Here, when the capacity of the storage medium is simply increased, the cost of the storage medium not only increases, but also the rental fee of the transmission line increases due to an increase of the number of songs to be distributed from the center.
To overcome this problem, it may be possible to reduce the data quantity and the distribution cost by simply reducing the music performance data so that musical data file of less data capacity can be transmitted. In this case, however, since the quality of the musical performance deteriorates markedly, this method is not a practical method. As a result, there exists a need of reducing the data quantity and the transmission cost of the musical performance data file, without deteriorating the quality of musical performance data.

Musical data processing with low transmission rate and storage capacity


This invention provides a method and apparatus for selling a gift item, particularly at the point of sale. The method allows the purchaser to generate a custom designed label and optional gift card for a selected gift item. The method is described with particular reference to the packaging and sale of beverages such as wine.

It is well known in the industry to custom label gift and promotional items with user selected messages and designs. In this regard, custom labels are designed and generated through the use of commercial printing presses and other graphic arts equipment. The prior art processes are not readily adaptable for generating relatively small runs of labels, and are impractical for preparing individual labels. In addition, the use of such prior art equipment generally requires specialized training. All of these factors preclude the use of prior art printing equipment for the point-of-purchase generation of customized labels, cards and packaging materials by consumers.

Method for labeling, packaging and selling gift item


Provided is a control device including a control unit that calculates a first positional relationship between an eye of an observer observing an object displayed on a display unit and a first point in a master-side three-dimensional coordinate system, and controls an imaging unit that images the object so that a second positional relationship between the imaging unit and a second point corresponding to the first point in a slave-side three-dimensional coordinate system corresponds to the first positional relationship.

In recent years, as a surgical system used for performing endoscopic surgery or the like, a master slave system (hereinafter, also referred to as a master slave system) that enables approach to an affected part without making a large incision in a patient's body has been known. In such a master slave system, an operator (user) such as a doctor operates a master unit including the input interface, and a slave unit including a medical instrument such as forceps, tweezers, or an endoscope is remotely operated in accordance with the operation of the master unit by the operator. The slave unit is configured as, for example, an arm device in which a surgical tool is held at the distal end, and can change the position or posture of the surgical tool in the abdominal cavity.
Regarding a master slave system, a method of presenting an image to a user (observer) for enabling an intuitive operation of a slave unit has been studied. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for controlling the position and posture of a slave-side camera on the basis of the position and posture of a head mounted display worn by a user.


A system for scanning shipping containers, comprising an unmanned vehicle, the unmanned vehicle includes a sensor, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes instructions for execution. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the unmanned vehicle to move along faces of a shipping container, and record container data collected from the sensor while scanning the shipping container.

In United States ports alone, nearly 12 million cargo containers are unloaded without any physical scanning before they arrive. Once they arrive, containers may be passed through static radiation detectors. Any containers designated as high risk may be passed through further x-ray or gamma ray machines which image the containers' contents. Such static radiation detectors may detect gamma rays or neutrons emitted by sources of, for example, uranium and plutonium.
Gamma rays may be detected by observing the effects they have on matter. A gamma ray can interact with matter through several physical processes, each of which results in a transfer of energy from the gamma ray to the matter and depends on both the energy of the gamma ray and the properties of the matter with which it interacts. In Compton scattering, a gamma ray will collide with an electron and bounce off it. In photoelectric ionization, a gamma ray can push an electron to a higher energy level. As gamma-rays have so much energy, part of this energy can be transformed into matter directly by creating an electron and an anti-electron (or positron), a process known as pair production. All of these interactions cause energy to be transferred to the material, and in some types of materials this produces a signal (such as light or an electric current) that can be measured using electronic detectors. The signal can then be amplified and measured to estimate the energy and direction of the original gamma ray.

Unmanned autonomous container inspection

LANTERN UNMANNED AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS, LLC


A circuit for generating clock signals enabling the latching of data is described. The circuit comprises a pulse generator coupled to receive an input clock signal at an input and to generate an output clock signal at an output; a latch circuit coupled to receive the output clock signal; and a pulse shaping circuit coupled to receive a feedback signal; wherein a pulse width of the output clock signal is determined by the feedback signal and the input signal coupled to the pulse generator. A method of generating clock signals enabling the latching of data is also described.

A clock generator is an important part of any integrated circuit, where a clock signal generated by the clock generator is used to enable various functions of the integrated circuit. One function that relies upon one or more clocks signals is data transmission. That is, data may be stored by a latch circuit in response to a clock signal.
Typical pulse generators used in pulsed latch systems do not closely match the data path associated with the pulsed latches that the pulse generators drive. A minimum pulse width for correct operation of the circuit changes over process, voltage, and temperature variations. Unless the pulse generator is closely matched to the pulsed latch data path, it will not necessarily track the latch, and will thus provide a wider pulse than necessary in some corners or narrower pulse widths in others. Providing a wider pulse width reduces the hold margins of the latch, while providing a narrower pulse width increases the odds of a functional failure.
According, an improved circuit for generating clock signals enabling the latching of data in an integrated circuit is beneficial.

Circuits for and methods of generating clock signals enabling the latching of data in an integrated circuit


In a semiconductor integrated circuit, a CMOS logic circuit receives a voltage from a power-source line, while releasing a current through a ground line. A constant-voltage auxiliary circuit is disposed in parallel with the CMOS logic circuit. The constant-voltage auxiliary circuit receives an output signal from the CMOS logic circuit. The constant-voltage auxiliary circuit consumes power when the output signal from the CMOS logic circuit is stable to maintain a potential difference between the power-source line and the ground line at a specified voltage and halts power consumption when the output signal from the CMOS logic circuit is inverted, i.e., when the potential difference is decreasing, thereby suppressing the decrease of the potential difference. Accordingly, voltage fluctuations on the power-source line are suppressed.

The present invention relates to improved semiconductor integrated circuits, particularly ones containing CMOS logic circuits. More particularly, it relates to technology for effectively suppressing fluctuations and a drop in power-source voltage to achieve a constant power-source voltage and stable high-speed operation over an extended time period.
FIG. 46 schematically illustrates the structure of a conventional semiconductor integrated circuit, in which are shown a plurality of (three in the drawing) semiconductor integrated circuits 1 based on CMOS logic. Each of the semiconductor integrated circuits is composed of a logic input circuit 11, an internal logic circuit 12, and a logic output circuit 13, which are integrally formed on a single semiconductor substrate. External terminals 14 are for achieving external connection. The three semiconductor integrated circuits 1 are mounted on the same printed circuit board 2 and operated with a power-source voltage Vc21, which is from an external power source 3 and distributed to each of the semiconductor integrated circuits 1 through a common constant-voltage circuit 4 and a power-source line 21.
The constant-voltage circuit 4 is composed of a constant-voltage circuit T41 using a row of diodes and an output MOS transistor T42.
The conventional semiconductor integrated circuit has the following problem.
As shown in FIG. 46, a considerable amount of parasitic resistance Rs and inductance Ls is produced on the power-source line 21 between the constant-voltage circuit 4 and each of the semiconductor integrated circuits 1. Consequently, even though the output voltage Vc21 from the constant-voltage circuit 4 is held constant as shown in FIG. 47, a power-source voltage Vc22 actually supplied to each of the semiconductor integrated circuits 1 may fluctuate due to a voltage drop on the power-source line 21, the superimposition of external noise N, or the like and is not necessarily constant.
As a result, each of the semiconductor integrated circuits 1 becomes susceptible to a misoperation resulting from the fluctuations of the operating power-source voltage Vc22. In particular, a semiconductor integrated circuit using a voltage (e.g., 3 V) lower than a normal voltage value (5 V) has been employed in a contemporary electronic circuit device and associated equipment having a battery as a power source. Since the semiconductor integrated circuit operating at such a low power-source voltage is highly sensitive to fluctuations in power-source voltage, a misoperation is caused by only slight voltage fluctuations resulting from the parasitic resistance Rs or inductance Ls on the power-source line 21.
The power-source voltage may also fluctuate depending on the operation of the internal circuit of the semiconductor integrated circuit 1. Voltage fluctuations may cause RF noise and exert a greater influence on the internal circuit thereof than exerted by a voltage drop, resulting in a misoperation.
Thus, the conventional semiconductor integrated circuit has the problem of high susceptibility to a misoperation resulting from voltage fluctuations on the power-source line, from the superimposed noise, or from the operation of the internal circuit thereof.
To solve the problem, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication HEI 6-104720 has proposed a structure having an internal constant-voltage circuit provided therein. However, the structure with the internal constant-voltage circuit increases an area occupied by an LSI and has not given sufficient consideration to the influence of a voltage drop accompanying the provision of the additional constant-voltage circuit.
In general, the semiconductor integrated circuit as shown in FIG. 46 is designed to be operable even when the power-source voltage Vc20 from the external power source 3 fluctuates to some extent. Because allowance has thus been made for the fluctuation of the power-source voltage Vc20, the performance of the semiconductor integrated circuit should be underestimated accordingly. Hence, the semiconductor integrated circuit cannot be designed to deliver performance only under optimum conditions, which presents another problem.

Semiconductor integrated circuit capable of compensating for flucuations in power supply voltage level and method of manufacturing the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A temperature prediction device includes an application voltage specifying unit which specifics a voltage value applied to an electromagnetic coil based on a distance from a distance detection unit provided in the electromagnetic coil to an output shaft, a coil current detection unit which detects a current value flowing when a voltage is applied to the electromagnetic coil on the basis of the voltage value specified by the application voltage specifying unit, and a coil temperature estimation unit which estimates a temperature of the electromagnetic coil on the basis of the voltage value specified by the application voltage specifying unit, the current value detected by the coil current detection unit, and a relational expression between the voltage value applied to the electromagnetic coil, the current value flowing when a voltage is applied to the electromagnet coil on the basis of the voltage value applied to the electromagnetic coil, and the temperature of the electromagnetic coil.

Compressors with a magnetic bearing mounted thereon may be used in turbo refrigerators and the like. In a compressor with a magnetic bearing mounted thereon, a rotary shaft is controlled such that it does not come into contact with a bearing by using a suction force due to the magnetism generated by applying a current to an electromagnetic coil.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for adjusting an excitation current applied to an electromagnet on the basis of the temperature of a surface of a rotary shaft by using a temperature sensor, as the related art.

Temperature prediction device, compressor with magnetic bearing mounted thereon, temperature prediction method and program

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.


With a client connected to a server, an agent tool simulates user interaction and traversal of dynamic web pages, causing the server-side processes to serve HTML pages to the client. As these pages are served, they are collected by the agent, modified to include static hyperlinks to replace the server side directed navigation logic, and then persistently stored in local files where they are available for off-line navigation by a browser without the need for accessing the server(s). In effect, the HTML pages are published.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to Web technology. More particularly, it pertains to resolving and storing dynamic links as static links for publishing web content.
2. Background Art
Off-line Web browsers download web pages, and all associated graphics or the like, and save them on local media, such as a client hard drive, for viewing off-line. Many of these browsers provide the capability to the a user to specify a "depth" (maximum number of recursive links that are to be followed) and will follow links from the pages the user specifies. This is useful for users with limited time on-line, or who want to save a particularly good web page, graphics and all.
Available in the art are many such client web caching programs. These include, for example, GetBot, Robo Surfer, Web Buddy, WebCopy99, WebZip, and Surf Express. In addition, many web servers have a server side cache function that operates in much the same manner as these client-side web caching programs.
However, none of these caching programs provide the ability to follow data driven dynamic links, those links that are derived by executing some logic on the server, possibly in conjunction with parameters passed from user interaction with a web page, and to modify the original page to contain all of the necessary information, including static links or Javascript, to access the pages that have been followed.
It is an object of the invention to provide a system and method for publishing dynamically linked, interactive content as a statically linked web hierarchy at a client side process.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method for discovering the structure of a web site and convert any and all dynamically generated content into static pages.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method for modifying function components in dynamically linked, interactive web page content to provide equivalent behaviors at a client without server side transaction processing.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method for publishing highly interactive web content to a distributable media, thereby eliminating the need for a server or network connection.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method for interacting with highly interactive web content when in a disconnected mode or in an area of the world where network infrastructure requires distribution on local media.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method for publishing the content of HTML pages dynamically generated by a web server based on user interaction as if it was retrieved interactively and making the resulting content available via local media.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method for accessing the content of HTML pages dynamically generated by a web server based on user interaction, without being connected to the server.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method for publishing web content to a CDROM or other client based storage medium and for accessing that content through any non-connected computer browser.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method for following dynamic links, those that rely on server side Java or Common Gateway Architecture (CGA) program logic.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method with the ability to follow data driven dynamic links and modify the original page to contain all of the necessary information to access the followed pages.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method which enables a client web caching program to follow data driven dynamic links, those links that are derived by executing some logic on the server in conjunction with some parameters passed from user interaction with a web page, and modify the original page to contain all of the necessary information, including static links, Javascript and the like, to access the followed pages.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and method for transforming a set of Hyper-text Markup Language (HTML) that requires server interaction to a set of HTML that does not require server interaction.

System, method and computer program product for publishing interactive web content as a statically linked web hierarchy

International Business Machines Corporation


Embodiments of the present invention may provide a circuit. The circuit may include a primary side, a secondary side, and an isolated energy transfer device electrically isolating the primary side and the secondary side. The primary side may include a first energy storage device coupled to a power source, a control system coupled to the first energy storage device for power, a second energy storage device, and a coupling system, coupled to the control system, to selectively couple the second energy storage device to the power source in a first phase and to selectively couple the second energy storage device to the primary side of the isolated energy transfer device during a second phase.

The present invention relates to energy or data transmission system with improved electromagnetic interference (EMI) immunity.
In a variety of environments, signals must be transmitted between diverse sources and circuitry that uses those signals while maintaining electrical (i.e., galvanic) isolation between the sources and the using circuitry. Electrical isolation can prevent extraneous transient signals, including common-mode transients, from inadvertently being processed as status or control information. Also, among other known objectives and uses, electrical isolation is used to protect the equipment from shock hazards, or to permit the equipment on each side of an isolation barrier to be operated at a different supply voltage. For example, isolation is typically needed between microcontrollers and devices or transducers that use microcontroller output signals.
Coil (or transformer) based isolators are widely used signal transformers in which a primary winding and a secondary winding are inductively coupled. Conventional transformers, however, transmit pulses by switching one terminal of the inductor on and off to a power supply voltage. Thus, in the conventional transformers, the signaling current is an integral part of the supply current and any electromagnetic interference on the power supply voltage severely affects the signal transmission. Therefore, the inventors perceive a need in the art for an isolated digital signal transmission mechanism with improved EMI immunity.

Isolated digital transmission with improved EMI immunity


A system for purifying rainfall runoff including a bar screen; a collection and diversion device; a filter channel; a grass ditch; and a water storage tank. The bar screen is disposed around the collection and diversion device for preliminarily filtering the road rainfall runoff. The collection and diversion device collects the road rainfall runoff and diverts early rainfall runoff to the filter channel, after the filter channel is full, later rainfall runoff is directly diverted to the grass ditch through open channels. The grass ditch includes a percolation bed capable of filtering the early and later rainfall runoff. The water storage tank is connected to the grass ditch via a guiding pipe, to receive the rainfall runoff effusing out of the grass ditch. Part of the rainfall runoff received by the water storage is transported to the percolation bed by a return conduit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a system and method for purifying road rainfall runoff.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical system for purifying road runoff water is mainly focused on early rainstorm runoff that is heavily polluted. The early rainstorm runoff is separated from the later rainstorm runoff by diversion. Basic characteristics of urban runoff pollution include that a concentration of pollutant in the early runoff is higher than that in the later runoff, so that it is one of the main strategies for controlling the pollution in the urban rainfall runoff to intercept the early runoff. Concentrations of COD and suspended substances (SS) in the early rainstorm runoff of the urban road are higher than that in other underlying surfaces, so that urban roads are the main origin of suspended solids and organic pollutants compared to building roofs. This presents much opportunity for improvement in this technological area.

System and method for purifying rainfall runoff

Promotion Centre of Science and Technology Development, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People's Republic of China


The present invention includes conformable retroreflective structures. In some embodiments, the conformable retroreflective structures are also shrink resistant. The conformable retroreflective structures include a transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride film having a first side and a second side; a first transparent polymer layer overlying the first side of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride film; a second transparent polymer layer overlying the second side of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride film; an array of retroreflective cube-corner elements underlying the second transparent polymer layer; and a plasticizer resistant adhesive underlying the array of retroreflective cube-corner elements. In some embodiments, the first and second transparent polymer layers are transparent, radiation-cured polymer layers.

Retroreflective materials are employed for various safety and decorative purposes. Particularly, these materials are useful at nighttime when visibility is important under low light conditions. With perfect retroreflective materials, light rays are reflected essentially towards a light source in a substantially parallel path along an axis of retroreflectivity. Retroreflective materials can be used as reflective tapes and patches for clothing such as vests and belts. Also, retroreflective materials can be used on posts, barrels, traffic cone collars, highway signs, vehicles, warning reflectors, etc. Retroreflective material can include arrays of randomly oriented micron diameter spheres or close packed cube-corner (prismatic) arrays.
Cube-corner or prismatic retroreflectors are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,706, issued to Stamm on Jan. 23, 1973, the teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein. Generally, the prisms can be made by forming a master negative die on a flat surface of a metal plate or other suitable material. To form the cube-corner elements, three series of parallel equidistance intersecting V-shaped grooves 60 degrees apart are inscribed in the flat plate. The die is then used to process the desired cube-corner array into a rigid flat plastic surface.
Further details concerning the structures and operation of cube-corner microprisms can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,348, issued to Rowland on Aug. 15, 1972, the teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein. A method for making retroreflective sheeting is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,346 issued to Rowland on Sep. 5, 1972, the teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein. For example, cube-corner microprisms can be formed in a cooperatively configured mold. The prisms can be bonded to sheeting, which is applied thereover to provide a composite structure in which the cube-corner elements project from one surface of the sheeting.
Adhesively mounted retroreflective materials are prone to wrinkling when applied to contoured surfaces. In some instances, it has been necessary to cut a retroreflective structure to a specific geometry to prevent wrinkles when the retroreflective structure was applied to a contoured surface. In addition, many adhesively mounted retroreflective materials have been susceptible to shrinkage. The problems of wrinkling and shrinkage have heretofore hindered the application of retroreflective materials to contoured surfaces.

Conformable retroreflective film structure


Techniques for efficiently performing system search to obtain service from a wireless system as quickly as possible are described. A terminal initially looks for service from a first (e.g., W-CDMA) system. The terminal identifies network(s) in the first system from which service was received in the past and performs acquisition on each network to look for service. If service is not found for the first system, then the terminal performs a search for a second (e.g., GSM) system. If service is found on the second system, then the terminal obtains service from the second system and avoids a frequency scan for the first system. Otherwise, the terminal performs a frequency scan for the first system using the search results for the second system. The terminal may obtain a list of RF channels detected for the second system and may omit these RF channels and possibly some other RF channels around these RF channels from the frequency scan.

I. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to communication, and more specifically to techniques for performing system search to detect for a wireless communication network.
II. Background
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as voice, packet data, broadcast, messaging, and so on. These wireless networks may be capable of supporting communication for multiple users by sharing the available network resources. Examples of such wireless networks include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) networks, and Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) networks. These wireless networks may utilize various radio access technologies (RATs) such as Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA), cdma2000, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and so on, which are known in the art.
A terminal may be capable of communicating with different wireless networks such as W-CDMA and GSM networks. The terminal typically performs system search upon being powered on in order to detect for a wireless network from which the terminal can obtain service. System search entails performing search and acquisition, as necessary, to obtain service from a wireless network. For the system search, the terminal may first attempt to acquire one of the wireless networks from which the terminal has obtained service in the past. If the acquisition is unsuccessful, then the terminal may perform a frequency scan across a frequency band in order to find a wireless network from which the terminal can obtain service. Frequency scan may entail attempting acquisition on each frequency in which a wireless network may operate. Since there may be many frequencies in a given frequency band, the frequency scan may be very time consuming, e.g., on the order of minutes for a crowded frequency band on which many wireless networks may be operating. The long frequency scan causes long delay in obtaining service, which is highly undesirable.
There is therefore a need in the art for techniques to efficiently perform system search in order to obtain service faster.

System search to detect for a wireless communication network in a crowded frequency band


Systems and methods for a video scan are provided. The scan may be dynamically interactive and a function of characteristics of the programs in the scan (e.g., commercial breaks or the end of a program approaching) The scan may simultaneously display multiple scan windows for a plurality of programs, for example in a scan wizard. The scan wizard allows the user to simultaneously view a scan window and an information panel, select criteria for the scan from a criteria panel, and control the scan using a scan control panel. The scan may allow the user to record a program displayed in the scan without interrupting the scan (e.g., by using an additional tuner). The scan may display, within the scan interface, trick-play functions for appropriate scanned programs (e.g., recorded, cached and on-demand programs). The user may select and perform trick-play functions for a scanned program without exiting the scan mode.

Interactive media guidance applications, such as interactive television program guides, are well known in the art. One known guidance feature is a channel scan. Channel scan features generally allow users to initiate a tuning sequence that proceeds from channel to channel without requiring the user to repetitively issue channel change commands. During a channel scan, a guidance application pauses on each channel for a period of time to allow the user to see what is on. Some scans do not tune sequentially, and instead allow users to scan programs that are, for example, only of a certain category.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for providing a scan


Eyewear, e.g., an apparatus to be worn on or adjacent to a person's eyes, which includes a heating element that is configured to provide heat. The heat provided may be sufficient to provide warmth to a wearer of the eyewear or to prevent accumulation of, e.g., snow, ice, fog or any other type of matter, whether environmental or otherwise. The eyewear may include an actuation element for actuating the heating element, the actuation element being configured to cause the heating element to generate heat either automatically or manually. Power for the heating element to generate heat may be provided by a power source, such as a battery.

There are many activities in which a person requires the provision of additional heat. While the heat for most of these activities is supplied by heat sources that introduce heat into the atmosphere in the vicinity of the person, e.g., a building heating system that employs a boiler, radiators, etc., there are some activities for which such a heating source is not available or is insufficient to provide heat in a specific desired location, such as near or adjacent to a person's face or eyes.
Thus, there is a need for an apparatus for directing heat to a specific desired location, such as near or adjacent to a person's face or eyes.


A method of securing a tendon graft in a ligament tunnel is described. The tendon graft is used to replace a ligament and has a length of tendon section with bone grafts attached to the tendon at each end. The method includes the step of providing an interference fixation screws made of material that is soft compared to bone. The fixation screws are cooled to a temperature to make them sufficiently rigid to track in a straight line when they are tightened in the ligament tunnel. Each bone graft is then secured in place in the ligament tunnel by inserting a fixation screw between each bone graft and the bone surrounding the ligament tunnel and tightening it therebetween. After each fixation screw is tightened, it has a portion extending beyond a respective entrance to the ligament tunnel which is then trimmed.

This invention relates to ligament replacement, and more particularly to a method of securing tendon grafts used to replace ligaments in boney tunnels in the body with interference fixation screws.
Ligaments are connective tissue which join surfaces of bones together in a joint. They act to limit the motion of the bones of the joint relative to each other. Injuries to ligaments are not uncommon, particularly in patients who are active in sports. The anterior cruciate ligament of the human knee is especially susceptible to damage. Unfortunately, when an anterior cruciate ligament is damaged, it must often be replaced because it frequently never heals.
One method of replacing damaged ligaments is to use a section of tendon grafted from the knee cap or patella. A portion of tendon is excised from the patella. A portion of the bone (bone graft) to which each end of the tendon section is attached is excised with the tendon section. A hole or boney tunnel (ligament tunnel) is drilled through the femur and tibia. The tendon graft is inserted into the ligament tunnel in the femur and the ligament tunnel in the tibia and positioned so that it is centered in the two ligament tunnels. That is, an equal length of tendon graft is disposed in both the femur and in the tibia. A fixation screw is then tightened in the ligament tunnel between the bone graft and the side of the ligament tunnel in the bone to affix the bone graft in place. The tendon section is now appropriately tensioned and the bone graft attached to the other end of the tendon section is secured with a screw.
Heretofore, metal fixation screws have been used to affix the bone grafts in place. Such screws may be designed to be interference screws or may be standard bone screws with blunt threads. The interference screw is designed so that the screw will not cut into the bone graft or the side of the boney tunnel. Rather, when the screw is tightened in place, it forces the bone graft tightly against the side of the boney tunnel so that the bone graft is held in place by friction.
Metals screws do not always act as interference screws, even if designed as such. The threads of the metal screws can cut into the bone grafts and damage or even destroy the bone grafts. Further, if either the screw or the bone graft is slightly oversize, or the boney tunnel in which the bone graft is to be secured is slightly undersized, the lack of resiliency on the part of the threads of the metal screw can cause too much force to be exerted on the bone graft as the metal screw is tightened. This too can damage or destroy the bone graft. If this happens, the surgeon may be left without a bone graft to use to secure an end of the tendon graft in place. The tendon graft may then be useless. If this happens, either a new tendon graft must be taken from the patella or, if there is not sufficient tendon left in the patella to take a new graft, a different technique for replacing the damaged ligaments must be used such as an artificial ligament prosthesis. In most cases, however, using a natural part of the patient's body to replace the damaged ligament is preferable. Artificial ligaments have biocompatability and biodegradation problems which a tendon section from the patient's own patella does not have.
Another problem with the metal screws is that the length of tendon which can be grafted varies between individual patients. So too do the lengths of the ligament tunnels drilled in the tibia and femur. Consequently, when the tendon grafts are properly positioned in the ligament tunnels drilled in the femurs and tibias of patients, the distances the bone grafts are recessed in the ligament tunnels in the femurs and tibias vary from patient to patient. The screw which is used to affix the bone graft in place must be long enough to have adequate purchase against the bone graft but short enough so that any portion extending beyond the surface of the tibia or femur when the screw is tightened is minimized and preferably eliminated. Therefore, the surgeon must have available screws in several different lengths to be able to select ones having the proper length.
Finally, metal screws require separate instrumentation. In this context, "instrumentation" means a device which is used to facilitate the installation of the screw. Here, such instrumentation is some type of fastening device, such as a hex driver, which is used to tighten the screws. This requires that sterile instrumentation (fastening device) be available to the surgeon. This increases the number of sterile items that must be maintained in the operating room. It is an object of this invention to provide a fixation screw for securing in place in a ligament tunnel bone grafts of a tendon graft used to replace ligaments. The fixation screw is formed as an interference screw from a relatively soft material to prevent the threads of the screw from cutting into and damaging the bone grafts.
It is another object of this invention to provide a fixation screw where any excess projecting beyond the surface of the bone at which the ligament tunnel opens can be trimmed off after the fixation screw has been tightened.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a fixation screw which has integral instrumentation used to tighten the screw in place and which is cut off when the excess screw material is trimmed after the screw has been tightened.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of implanting a fixation screw made from material that is soft compared to bone which maintains the positioning of the screw when it is being inserted.
An interference fixation screw in accordance with this invention is made of material that is soft compared to bone and is sufficiently long so that after it has been tightened in place in a ligament tunnel, it has a portion extending from the opening of the ligament tunnel. After insertion, the portion extending from the opening of the ligament tunnel is trimmed off. Preferably, the fixation screw is cooled, before it is inserted into the ligament tunnel. By cooling the fixation screw, it becomes more rigid so that the surgeon is better able to keep it properly positioned as it is tightened in the ligament tunnel between a bone graft of a tendon graft and the bone surrounding the ligament tunnel.

Method of securing a tendon graft with an interference fixation screw


Conventional power MOSFETs enables prevention of an inversion in a surrounding region surrounding the outer periphery of an element region by a wide annular layer and a wide sealed metal. Since, resultantly, the area of the surrounding region is large, increase in the element region has been restrained. A semiconductor device is hereby provided which has an inversion prevention region containing an MIS (MOS) structure. The width of polysilicon for the inversion prevention region is large enough to prevent an inversion since the area of an oxide film can be increased by the depth of the trench. By this, leakage current can be reduced even though the area of the region surrounding the outer periphery of the element region is not enlarged. In addition, since the element region is enlarged, on-state resistance of the MOSFET can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, specifically to the semiconductor device and the method thereof intended to improve breakdown voltage and inhibit leakage current by blocking the spread of a depletion layer in a peripheral area.
2. Description of the Related Art
A discrete device includes an element region where impurities are diffused on a semiconductor substrate and where a predetermined element is provided. While the discrete device is operating, a depletion layer expands from the element region (diffusion region) into the semiconductor substrate depending on applied voltage, and hereby secures breakdown voltage. However, an area is needed which prevents a surface of the substrate from inverting in a region surrounding the outer periphery of the element region.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a surrounding region of the conventional semiconductor devices. Here, the element region 51 is defined as a region which includes, for example, a region in which a power MOSFET 52 of a trench type is provided and a region in which a channel layer 34 and a guard ring 33 are provided in the vicinity of the region where the MOSFET 52 is provided. The guard ring 33 is a region which extends downwards deeper than the channel layer 34 and has the same conduction type with the channel layer 34. The guard ring 33 relaxes concentration of electric field which is to occur in an end of the element region 51. In addition, polysilicon 43c is connected to a gate connection electrode 48 in order to apply gate voltage to a gate electrode 43.
Furthermore, in a surrounding region 55 surrounding the outer periphery of the element region, a sealed metal 49 is provided outside the gate connection electrode 48, and an annular layer 50 in which high concentration impurities are diffused on the surface of the substrate underneath the sealed metal 49 is provided in order to prevent inversion of the substrate surface.
A description will be provided for a conventional method of manufacturing semiconductor devices with reference to FIG. 9. With regard to MOSFETs, a drain region 32 formed of an n− type epitaxial layer is formed on an n+ type silicon semiconductor substrate 31, and an n+ type annular layer 50, a p type channel layer 34 and a guard ring 33 are formed on the surface of the drain region 32. Hereafter, a trench 37 is formed which penetrates through the channel layer 34 and reaches the drain region 32 (FIG. 9A). Furthermore, an inner wall of the trench 37 is covered with a gate oxide film 41, and a gate electrode 43 is provided which is made up of polysilicon filled into the trench 37. An n+ type source region 45 is formed on the surface of the channel layer 34 adjacent to the trench 37. A p+ type body region 44 is formed on the surface of the channel layer 34 between the two source regions 45 of two MOSFET cells which are next to each other and in the outer periphery of the element region (FIG. 9B). The top of the gate electrode 43 is covered with an interlayer insulating film 46, and a source electrode 47 is provided which is in contact with the source region 45 and the body region 44. In this way, the element region 51 is formed where a plurality of MOSFETs (cells) 52 are arrayed. In addition, while the source electrode 47 is formed, the gate connection electrode 48 and the sealed metal 49 are formed (FIG. 9C).
The annular layer 50 in the surrounding region 55 is a wide diffusion region, and is formed by diffusing the high concentration impurities in a phosphorous glass diffusion process while masking in a way that only the a part of the annular layer 50 is exposed before forming the guard ring 33 and the channel region 34 (Refer to FIG. 9). A typical example of such a semiconductor device can be found in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Hei 9-331071.

Semiconductor device with peripheral trench


Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, an electronic device, and a computer program product for storage management. The method for storage management includes determining the data volume of corresponding failed data in a plurality of candidate sub-storage spaces of a disk, the plurality of candidate sub-storage spaces being formed by dividing the original storage space of the disk and having consecutive physical addresses, and the size of one candidate sub-storage space being associated with the size of the storage space of at least one block that constitutes the disk; and selecting a target sub-storage space to be released from the plurality of candidate sub-storage spaces based at least on the data volume of the corresponding failed data. As such, since the operation of moving valid data in an SSD block to a new SSD block is reduced, the WAF of a storage system, especially an SSD, can be effectively reduced, and the service life of the SSD can be prolonged.

A crucial aspect in an all-flash system is to reduce the write amplification factor (WAF) of the solid state drive (SSD). A greater WAF will slow down the input and output (I/O) of the SSD and affect the service life of the SSD.
Especially in a deduplication system, it is more important to reduce the WAF of the entire all-flash deduplication system due to complicated chunk data reference relationships. The reason is that when an expired backup is to be deleted, the complicated reference relationships make it possible to delete only part of the chunk data in one SSD block, and those chunk data still referenced by other valid backups will be retained.
Therefore, in an all-flash deduplication system, invalid bug pages are more likely to be caused in an SSD block, and these invalid bugs will increase the WAF of the SSD.

Method, electronic device, and computer program product for storage management


A door phone controller has a door ajar feature for alerting a user that a door was left open. The door phone controller accommodates the door ajar feature in several different ways depending upon how it is configured to interface with the central office line. If the door phone controller is configured to interface with the central office line as an individual station, then when a door is left open, the controller alerts the user via auxiliary alert contacts specifically provided for activating a customer chime. When the door phone controller is configured as a ring-down station, the door phone controller alerts the user that the door was left ajar by dialing a pre-programmed telephone number and sending a door ajar tone. If the door phone controller is configured as an interface with a trunk port, then when the door is left open, the controller alerts the user by ringing the trunk line and also energizing the auxiliary alert contacts. The user can both enable and disable the door ajar features via the telephone interface.

Door phone controllers have been used to allow host telephone equipment to function as both an ordinary telephone for placing outside or central of f ice line telephone calls and to operate a security door, such as an apartment building entrance door, by providing a paging/intercom system with a speaker located by the security door. The door phone controller allows the person inside the building to open the door via a door-unlock push-button or through dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signalling via the host telephone's keypad. Either of these actions, i.e. pressing the door-unlock push-button or dialing the DTMF code, closes metallic contacts which then activate the customer-provided electric door release or latch.
Known systems provide a latch driving device, the primary purpose of which is to activate an electric door strike plate when the proper DTMF code is detected. The electric door strike plate remains active for an adjustable period of time, for example 1-15 seconds, thus allowing the door to be opened. A reset switch, e.g. a "Reed" relay, is provided to de-activate the latch after the door is opened, regardless of the adjustable activation setting. However, this latch driving device does not provide the user with any indication as to whether the door has been left ajar.
Another known system which is computer based provides a door ajar signal to the user by either displaying which door is ajar on a cathode ray tube (CRT) or by activating metallic contacts which in turn activate a customer-provided alerting device. However, this door ajar system provides no variability with respect to its operation and thus is not adaptable to the individual user's needs.
There is therefore needed a system and method for alerting a user through the host telephone system when an entrance door has been left ajar or, has ever been opened. Such a system should be adaptable to the individual needs of the user and be simple to operate.


A heterogeneous device including multiple types of resources is provided to implement multiple logic functions. Logic functions are provided with multiple configuration options. In one example, an optimal set of configuration options along with a target device are selected using cost and resource availability information associated with multiple heterogeneous programmable chips and the configuration options provided with the logic blocks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to implementing logic blocks on a heterogeneous programmable device. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for enabling the efficient implementation of multiple logic functions on a heterogeneous programmable chip.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A number of benefits have spurred efforts towards heterogeneous devices. In one example, integrating multiple types of resources on a single programmable chip allows efficient and effective processing using a variety of different logic mechanisms and functions. The integration efforts have been focused in several areas. In one example, programmable chips are provided with not only logic elements and memory, but specialized digital signal processing (DSP) blocks as well. Integrating DSP blocks onto a programmable chip allow programmable devices to more effectively compete in performance terms with custom designed ASICs.
However, mechanisms for efficiently implementing multiple logic functions on a heterogeneous programmable device are limited. It is therefore desirable to provide improved methods and apparatus for implementing multiple logic functions on heterogeneous devices.

Methods and apparatus for implementing logic functions on a heterogeneous programmable device


Highly active hydrogen evolving cathode using a platinum group metal catalyst in an amount smaller than that used in the conventional hydrogen evolving cathode. The hydrogen evolving cathode includes a conductive substrate, and a catalyst layer comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of silver and a silver oxide compound, and at least one selected from the group consisting of a platinum group metal, a platinum group metal oxide and a platinum group metal hydroxide, formed on a surface of the conductive substrate.

Sodium hydroxide and chlorine that are important as industrial starting materials are mainly produced by an electrolytic soda process. This electrolysis process shifted to an ion-exchange membrane process using an activated cathode involving small overvoltage through a mercury method using a mercury cathode and a diaphragm process using an asbestos diaphragm and a soft iron cathode. This shift decreased power unit for production of 1 ton of sodium hydroxide to 2,000 kWh. The activated cathode includes a cathode obtained by dispersing ruthenium oxide powder in a nickel plating bath and undergoing composite plating, and cathodes obtained by using nickel plating containing a second component such as S or Sn, NiO plasma spray coating, Raney nickel, Ni—Mo alloy, Pt—Ru substituted plating, or a hydrogen storage alloy for imparting durability to reverse current (Electrochemical Hydrogen Technologies, p. 15–62, 1990, H. Wendt; U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,368; J. Electrochem. Soc., 137, 1419 (1993); and Modern Chlor-Alkali Technology, Vol. 3, 1986). JP-B-6-33481 and JP-B-6-33492 teach that a mixed catalyst of cerium and a noble metal is durable to contamination with iron. Recently, an electrolytic cell that can increase current density for the purpose of increasing production ability and decreasing an investment cost is now under development in an ion-exchange membrane process. Development of a low resistance membrane enables large current to apply.
DSA which is an anode has operating results in a current density up to 200–300 A/dm2 in a mercury method. However, there are no actual results in such DSA regarding life and performance when used as a cathode in an ion-exchange membrane process, and further improvement is demanded. It is important for use as a cathode to be low overvoltage, to be a membrane not impaired by contacting with a cathode, and to be low contamination with, for example, metal ions from a cathode. Thus, this makes it difficult to use the conventional electrodes (having large surface unevenness and low mechanical strength of a catalyst layer). To realize a new process, it is indispensable to develop an activated cathode having high performance and also sufficient safety even under the above electrolysis conditions.
In the recent electrolytic soda process using an activated cathode most generally conducted, a cathode is arranged so as to contact with a cathode side of a cation-exchange membrane, or to have a gap of 3 mm or lower from an ion-exchange membrane. Water reacts in a catalyst layer of the cathode to form sodium hydroxide. Anodic reaction and cathodic reaction are as follows, respectively.2Cl−=Cl2+2e (1.36V)2H2O=2OH−+H2 (−0.83V)
Theoretical decomposition voltage is 2.19V
However, where the conventional cathode is operated at a large current density, there are some large problems, for example, as follows.
(1) Part of a substrate (nickel, iron or carbon component) dissolves and peels due to deterioration of an electrode, and such a component migrates into a catholyte, a membrane or an anode chamber, resulting in deterioration of product quality and deterioration of electrolysis performance.
(2) Overvoltage increases with increasing a current density, resulting in decreasing energy efficiency.
(3) Distribution of gas bubbles in a cell increases with increasing a current density, resulting in causing distribution in concentration of sodium hydroxide formed. As a result, solution resistance loss of a catholyte increases.
(4) Where operating conditions are severe, an amount of impurities (sulfur, iron or the like) effused from a cell constituting material increases, resulting in contamination of an electrode.
It is expected that a constitution that a cathode is arranged so as to closely contact with an ion-exchange membrane (zero gap) can decrease voltage, and such a constitution is desirable. However, this constitution has the possibility that a membrane is mechanically broken by a cathode having a rough surface. Thus, there has been the problem to use the conventional cathode at high current density and under zero gap condition. A cathode using a noble metal as a catalyst has conventionally been proposed. Such a cathode may be satisfactory in performance. However, there is the problem in cost, and it is essential to decrease the amount of the catalyst used. In this case, thickness of the catalyst layer is small, so that a substrate is liable to peel by dissolution. Thus, further improvement is still required.