In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, systems and methods are provided for production scheduling management by scheduling production events for each of a plurality of production resources used to manufacture one or more products relative to one or more time intervals while considering constraints related to product dependency trees for each of the one or more products. The systems and methods may include determining the constraints related to the product dependency trees for each of the one or more products, generating one or more potential production scheduling schemes for use of each production resource within the one or more time intervals while considering the constraints related to the product dependency trees for each of the one or more products, and generating a production schedule for the production events within the one or more time intervals based on the one or more potential production scheduling schemes.

Generally, manufacturing involves the making of products for sale, e.g., by constructing products from component parts. Once manufactured, the products are often stored as inventory, e.g., in warehouse facilities, and ultimately shipped to retail stores or directly to consumers.
In typical manufactory environments, every product may require multiple resources to be used to generate profits. As many products may use different but possibly shared resources and generate different profits as well as being demanded at different levels, production scheduling is a complex process. Further, production scheduling may be considered an important issue when trying to meet future demand and to analyze profitability. Since many parameters and variables may be introduced in a production scheduling process, decision-making and calculations to develop an efficient solution may be considered difficult. As such, there currently exists a need to optimize processes by which production scheduling is determined.


Disclosed is an integrated circuit device. According to the present invention, an integrated circuit device comprises: a high frequency electronic circuit having a first enhancement transistor, to the gate of which, at least, a bias voltage is applied; and a bias circuit, including a second enhancement transistor formed on a substrate on which the first enhancement transistor is formed, and first, second and third resistors connected in series between a positive power source and a power source ground, in which a connection point of the first and the second resistors is connected to a drain of the second enhancement transistor, a connection point of the second and the third resistors is connected to a gate of the second enhancement transistor, and voltages at the connection point of the second resistor and the third resistor or at a terminal which is closer to the power source ground is applied as a bias voltage to the high frequency electronic circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bias circuit of a high frequency electronic circuit having enhancement FET formed on a semiconductor substrate, such as GaAs, and in particular to a bias circuit for supplying a bias voltage associated with a transistor characteristic, even though the transistor characteristic varies due to differences during the manufacturing process.
2. Related Arts
An MMIC (Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuit) wherefor a plurality of metal gate FET devices are integrated on a semiconductor substrate, such as GaAs or Si, is commonly utilized to provide a compact hardware for processing a high frequency signal in, for example, a portable telephone. A MMIC circuit is employed, for example, as an amplifier to amplify power relative to high frequency input and generate a high powered high frequency output, or as a mixer circuit that converts a high frequency signal it received to a low frequency signal.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a common high frequency amplifier and its bias circuit. An electronic circuit 10 includes a high frequency amplifier, and a bias circuit 20 generates bias voltages V1 and V2 having a constant potential that are supplied to the electronic circuit 10. In the electronic circuit 10 in this example, a load R1 and an amplification transistor X1 are connected between a positive power source V.sub.DD and the ground. A high frequency input RFin is supplied to the gate of the transistor X1 and a high frequency output RFout is generated at its drain. In addition, bias voltage V1 is applied to the gate. With this arrangement, a signal which the high frequency input RFin is superimposed on the bias voltage V1 is applied between the gate and the source, and the high frequency output RFout, obtained by amplification, is generated at the drain terminal.
In the bias circuit in this example, resistors R41, R42, R43 and R44 are connected in series between the positive voltage source V.sub.DD and the ground, and in this example, a constant voltage divided by the resistances is generated at nodes N41 and N42. The voltages at nodes N41 and N42 are supplied via the respective resistors R45 and R46 to the electronic circuit 10.
In the bias circuit 20 of a resistance division type shown in FIG. 10, the bias voltages V1 and V2 are almost constant. However, the MMIC generates, for example, a metal gate electrode relative to an active layer having a predetermined thickness on the surface of the substrate, and applies a voltage between the gate and the source, so that an depletion extending from the gate electrode to the active layer is expanded or narrowed to control a drain current value. Since during the manufacturing process the thicknesses of the active layer and the metal gate electrode vary in manufacture, the characteristic of the bias circuit 20 tends to fluctuate.
For the high frequency amplification transistor X1 in FIG. 10, therefore, the static characteristics, such as pinch-off voltage Vp and drain saturated current I.sub.DSS, are greatly changed due to the manufacturing differences. And thus, when the bias voltage V1 to be applied to the gate is constant, as is described above, an appropriate bias voltage can not be applied relative to the varying static characteristic of the FET.times.1, an amplification rate and a dynamic range are changed, a drain current of a design value can not be obtained, and a desired characteristic for the operation of a high frequency amplifier can not be provided.

Integrated circuit device having a bias circuit for an enhancement transistor circuit


There is provided a white light emitting device comprising: first and second LEDs operable to generate excitation light having a dominant wavelength in a range from 440 nm to 480 nm and mounted on a substrate; a first photoluminescence material which generates light having a peak emission wavelength in a range from 500 nm to 590 nm; and a second photoluminescence material which generates light having a peak emission wavelength in a range from 600 nm to 650 nm, wherein the first LED is covered by the first photoluminescence material, and the second LED is covered by the first and second photoluminescence materials.

White light emitting LEDs ("white LEDs") include one or more photoluminescence materials (typically inorganic phosphor materials), which absorb a portion of the excitation light (typically blue or red) emitted by the LED and re-emit light of a different color (wavelength). The portion of the excitation light generated by the LED that is not absorbed by the photoluminescence material combined with the light emitted by the photoluminescence material provides light which appears to the eye as being white in color. Due to their long operating life expectancy (>50,000 hours) and high luminous efficacy (100 lumens per watt and higher), white LEDs are rapidly replacing conventional fluorescent, compact fluorescent and incandescent lamps.
One form of white light emitting devices is Chip on Board (COB) in which multiple LED Chips (Dies) are located on a substrate before one or more photoluminescence materials is disposed thereon. Typically, a COB white LED comprises blue LED Chips which are covered by a mixture of red and green/yellow photoluminescence materials. However, COB white LEDs can suffer from low luminous efficacy.
Some white light emitting LEDs comprise red LED Chips that do not include phosphor/photoluminescence materials. More particularly, the red LED Chips do not involve wavelength conversion to generate red light. While white light emitting LEDs comprising red LED Chips are considered to be relatively efficient compared with other forms, they can suffer from poor thermal stability; that is, they can exhibit poor color stability with changes in temperature; due to blue and red LED chips having different thermal characteristics.
The present invention intends to address and/or overcome the limitations discussed above by presenting new designs and methods not hitherto contemplated nor possible by known constructions. More particularly, there is a need for a white light emitting device that exhibits improved luminous efficacy and thermal stability.

White light emitting device comprising multiple photoluminescence materials


The invention pertains to a reusable disposable (1) for usage within a medical treatment process by a corresponding medical apparatus (A) and a corresponding medical apparatus. The reusable disposable (1) for usage within a medical process by a medical apparatus (A), the reusable disposable (1) comprises first memory means (MEM1) for storing predetermined data, whereby the first memory means are programmed during production of the reusable disposable (1), whereby the first memory means (MEM1) are secured against any or any unauthorized alteration after production, second memory means (MEM2) for storing patient identity data, whereby the second memory means is a write-once memory, whereby re-usage of the reusable disposable is only allowed with respect to same patient identity data.

In recent years the Numbers of patients requiring external processing of blood is sharply increasing. Processing of blood may be due because of e.g. failure or insufficient performance of kidney(s) and/or liver or for other reasons.
Due to this increasing number of patients as well as due to a need for less expensive care, specialized centers performing renal dialysis and/or liver dialysis as well as home care equipment were developed in the past.
Many of the resources employed during treatment may be reused. Some of those devices may need to be sterilized at one or more occasions. Other parts may be used only once.
Nevertheless there exist parts which could be reused in principle but which could not sterilized easily. In addition, while sterilization would be available for some of those parts in principle, the costs associated therewith might exceed the cost for a replacement part.
WO 02/28531 A1 shows a fluid separation conduit cartridge with encryption capabilities which is enabled to decrypt encrypted information received from an analytical system or an operating facility in communication with the conduit cartridge. The system nor its parts are patient related but relate to the interaction of the system and the cartridge.
Due to patient safety requirements reuse of parts which could not be sterilized is not recommended leading to a situation where valuable parts are disposed while they could have been reused.
Therefore, there is a need for a solution providing patient security while allowing reuse of those parts which would otherwise be disposed after single usage.

Reusable disposable and dialysis apparatus therefor


A new top-loading transverse connector of the present invention for bridging between longitudinal members of a spinal fixation system implant. The transverse connector is loaded and clamped to the longitudinal member from the top permitting easy access and adjustment and may clamp at the same location along the rod as a vertebral fixation element. The transverse connector comprises an elongate body and an engagement portion on each opposing end of the elongate body. The engagement portion includes downward legs each with a surface to engage the longitudinal member. The downward legs are displaced from each other to define a space therebetween. The engagement portion includes an upper surface defining an opening therethrough. The opening intersects the space defined between the downward legs. Together, the space and opening are configured to receive the clamp assembly carried on the longitudinal member. Another object of the invention, is to provide an improved system including the transverse connector. Another object of the invention is to provide a transverse connector that clamps to the longitudinal member at a variable angle. Another object of the invention is to provide a separate engagement portion which can be used with existing transverse connectors to permit clamping at the same site as vertebral fixation elements. Another object of the invention is to provide a way to adjust the length of the elongate body of the transverse connector.

The present invention concerns spinal fixation systems, and particularly systems utilizing elongated rods adjacent to the spinal column. More specifically, the invention concerns improvements to a device which connects two approximately parallel elongate members, such as spinal rods, to enhance rigidity of the system.
Spinal fixation systems are implanted during a surgical procedure to treat a variety of problems. These treatments include correction of congenital spinal deformities, repair of spinal injuries and fusion of vertebra to stabilize degenerative conditions and alleviate chronic lower back pain. Several techniques and systems have been developed for correcting and stabilizing the spine and facilitating spinal fusion. In one common system, a longitudinal member, such as a bendable rod, is disposed along the vertebral column and is fixed to various vertebrae along the length of the column by way of a number of fixation elements. A variety of these vertebral fixation elements can be provided, such as hooks or bone screws, which are configured to engage specific portions of the vertebra. Usually, the surgeon first attaches the vertebral fixation elements to the spine in appropriate anatomic positions, and then attaches each vertebral fixation element to the spinal rod.
Commonly, two or more rods each with a number of vertebral fixation elements are used. Typically, two nearly parallel rods are employed, one on each side of the spinous processes of the vertebral column. The TSRH.RTM. Spinal System sold by Danek Medical, Inc. is often configured in this manner. Details of the TSRH.RTM. Spinal Implant System are disclosed in the "TSRH.RTM. Surgical Technique Manual" provided by Danek Medical, Inc., published in 1990, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
Existing vertebral fixation element attachment means include attachment to a clamp body which clamps on a longitudinal member with the attachment means operating independently of clamping the clamp body to the longitudinal member. Examples of such a system are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,024,213 and 4,987,892. Similarly, a clamp body for clamping to a longitudinal member may be integrally formed as part of the vertebral fixation element as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,147,360, 5,005,562 and 4,950,269. Numerous other methods of attaching a vertebral fixation element to a clamp body which, in turn, is clamped to a longitudinal member are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
One improvement known in the art is to attach the vertebral fixation element by way of clamping to the longitudinal member. For example, the TSRH.RTM. Spinal System clamps the vertebral fixation elements to the rod by way of eyebolts. The eyebolts are positioned on the spinal rod and captured within yolks of the vertebral fixation elements. Specifically, FIG. 1 depicts an existing system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,442 to Ashman et al. for clamping a spinal hook 100 to rod R. Eyebolt 102 is threaded on to rod R by inserting rod R through passage 103. Spinal hook 100 has a vertebra engaging portion 101 and a connection portion 104 extending from the vertebra engaging portion 101. The connection portion 104 is formed by a pair of posts 105 which define a slot 106 therebetween. Also, the posts 105 have opposing lateral surfaces 108 in the form of grooves for engaging rod R. Slot 106 is configured to receive threaded stem 109 formed on eyebolt 102. Nut 110 is configured to engage the threaded stem 109. The hook 100 is clamped to rod R by threading the nut 110 on threaded stem 109 received in slot 106 so that the nut 110 presses against the hook 100 disposed between the threaded nut 110 and the rod R. This assembly offers a 3-point shear clamp of high structural integrity.
A system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,909 to Sutterlin et al., includes a variable angle bone screw clamped to rod R using an eyebolt, as depicted in FIG. 2. In particular, variable angle bone screw 200 has a vertebral engaging portion 201 and a connection portion 204 extending from the vertebral engaging portion 201. The connection portion 204 is formed by a pair of posts 205 which define a slot 206 therebetween for receiving a clamping means such as an eyebolt stem. Also, the posts 205 have opposing lateral surfaces, with the preferred configuration of these surfaces including at least one opposing lateral surface 207 having a plurality of radial splines 209.
Referring to FIG. 3, a clamp assembly washer 220 is shown for use in engaging the variable angle screw 200. The Clamp assembly washer 220 has an opening 222 for passing over bar 34 with projection 33 extending therethrough. The mating surface 227 of the clamp assembly washer 220 includes a plurality of radial splines 229 for interdigitating engagement with the radial splines 209 of the splined surface 207 of the variable angle bone screw 200 shown in FIG. 2. The interdigitation of the washer splines 229 and the bone screw splines 209 facilitate rigid fixation of the variable angle bone screw 200 at non-vertical angles in relation to an attached clamp assembly when the splined surface 207 and the mating surface 227 are clamped together. Further details of this assembly are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,801.
Notably, some clamping assemblies require extensive access to the side of the assembly. Because surgical access is ordinarily from the posterior of the patient, this "side tightening" presents some difficulties. Specifically, the threaded stem of the eyebolt and the nut engaging the stem both project laterally away from the rod. It has been found in practice that it is often cumbersome to engage the nut with a wrench to tighten the nut onto the eyebolt assembly. Moreover, simple mechanics dictates that the wrench can only be moved through a partial turn before the handle of the wrench contacts the surrounding tissue. This necessitates taking the wrench off of the nut and re-engaging it for an additional partial rotation. Ratchet-type wrench systems are typically not acceptable in procedures of this sort because the lateral space required for the ratchet mechanism unnecessarily impinges on the surrounding tissue and requires greater space at the surgical site. Consequently, a subsequent improvement is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,801 to Sherman. This improvement clamps a vertebral fixation element and rod together by way of a 3-point shear clamp assembly. Notably, this assembly is "top-tightening" because a set screw, completely accessible from the top, is used to initiate and adjust the clamping of the components.
It is a primary goal of the surgeon using a spinal implant system to obtain maximum construct rigidity. Thus, once two rods are fixed to various vertebral fixation elements along the spine, each on opposing sides of the spinous processes, a rigid transverse connection which bridges the rods is often desired. This transverse connection improves overall spinal fixation system integrity. One method used is an adjustable transverse rod to connect the two main rods as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,562 to Cotrel. One problem with this approach is that the transverse connector clamp is separate from the vertebral fixation element clamps. As a result, the transverse connector requires additional space along the length of the rod limiting the configurations possible with respect to the vertebral fixation element clamps. Also, the relative size and bulkiness of this transverse connection method complicates implantation and limits the connection options available to the surgeon. The size and bulkiness of the system is especially important because a significant portion of the patient population for spinal implant fixation systems is made up of pediatric patients. Bulky implants are not easily implanted into small, thin people because the space around the vertebra is limited. Also, in patients with severe deformities of the spinal column, the vertebral fixation sites are often severely limited, so connection flexibility is paramount. Finally, the transverse rod does not provide exclusive top-tightening ability complimentary to recent vertebral fixation element clamping improvements.
Similarly, the "TSRH.RTM. Surgical Manual", illustrates a rigid transverse bar or CROSSLINK.RTM. connecting the rods by way of eyebolt clamps. Similar to the vertebral fixation element attachment, an eyebolt is strung on each rod prior to clamping. The transverse connector receives the threaded stem of the eyebolt through an opening on opposing ends of the connector. A nut is then threaded on each stem to clamp the transverse connector between the nut and the rod at each opposing end. Although this assembly permits top-tightening at the associated clamp, it requires anticipating the placement of additional dedicated eyebolts prior to clamping the vertebral fixation elements to the rod. Also, it still suffers from the size, bulkiness and "rod crowding" constraints of other systems because it does not facilitate clamping at the same site as a vertebral fixation element.
Spinal procedures are rapidly becoming prevalent surgeries, largely because of the high incidence of low back pain. In the past, surgical techniques for alleviating low back pain or for addressing deformities or injuries has required fairly complicated and massive surgical procedures. The focus in recent times has been to greatly reduce the degree of invasion into the patient required for stabilizing a spine with instrumentation, as well as to reduce the amount of trauma to tissue surrounding the instrumentation, both during the procedure and after the spinal instrumentation has been implemented. Moreover, an implant which is easy to assemble, simple to adjust and high in rigidity substantially reduces the risk of complications adversely affecting a patient.
Consequently, there is a need for a new transverse connector which can connect at the same clamp location along the rod as any vertebral fixation element and still provide the rigidity of existing connectors, preferably offering the integrity of a 3-point shear clamp configuration. Furthermore, this new connector needs to clamp directly to the rod and be removable without disassembly of vertebral fixation elements clamped to the rod. A top-loaded device harmonizes these goals. Also, this new connector would ideally offer a clamping mechanism which is installed and adjusted independent of the vertebral fixation element clamping. Finally, the ease of adjustment inherent in a top-tightened system should be available for the transverse connector clamp, while preserving top-tightening clamp adjustment for the vertebral fixation elements.

Top-tightening transverse connector for a spinal fixation system


The present invention comprises a wood bit for use in wood working applications. The blade of the bit is generally spade shaped having cutting spurs on each corner of the blade, a central point projecting from the leading end of the blade, and hooked cutting edges.. A progressive transfer die is used to bend the leading end of the blade and forge a continuous hook angle extending along the side cutting spur, the lateral shoulder, and the central point of the blade. The forging of a hook extending from each side of the blade converging at a central point provides a hook along the leading end of the blade projecting outwardly (in the direction of rotation) pass the plane of the blade face. The leading end of the hook is beveled forming a continuous cutting edge extending along the hook from the outer side wall of the blade through the outside cutting spurs, along the lateral shoulders, and along each side of the central point.

The present invention relates to a wood bit for boring holes in wood or similar materials. Wood bits generally have a central point and a spade shaped blade or cutting section attached to a shaft, wherein the bit is usually driven by some type of power tool.
Wood bits known in the art utilize blades of various shapes and sizes, some incorporating spurs on the outside edges of the shoulders to provide better penetration of the blade into the wood substrate. Often the blades of wood bits include flutes ground into the surface of the cutting blade face along the shoulder or tip to enhance the cutting effect and provide better deflection of the wood chips from the bore. Conventional methods of forming flutes or grooves into the blade face utilize grinding processes which cut into the blade surface, thereby decreasing the thickness of the blade in the area of the groove, and forming a deflection surface within the blade face so that chips must be deflected at a sharp, acute angle formed by the outer surface of the flute joining the inner surface of the flute. Usually the cutting edges are formed on the leading end of the blade separated from the flutes. These conventional wood bits are usually flat, having cutting edges which do not project outward pass the plane of the blade face.
For example, the Williams III, U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,917 describes a wood bit designed having a flute ground into the blade face extending from the tip and along the lateral shoulder portion of the blade, stopping where the rake of the shoulder spur intersects the shoulder flute. The leading cutting edges of the blade remain level with, or recessed within the face of the blade.
The chip deflection means of the present invention is designed to be manufactured in a one step bending process simplifying and reducing the expense of a milling and/or grinding step to cut the desired flute pattern into the blade surface. The chip removal means of the present invention does not utilize a flute formed at an acute angle such as used in the Williams III bit, but rather utilizes a forging process to bend a continuous hook into the leading end of the blade extending along the lateral shoulders and converging in a central point. Wood shavings are directed upwardly onto the blade surface at an obtuse angle rather than an acute angle as taught in the William's reference in order to provide more efficient removal of the chip debris from the cutting surface. The leading end of the blade, including the hook is of generally uniform thickness. The design of the hook projecting beyond or outwardly (in the direction of rotation) pass the plane of the blade surface and along the lateral shoulder and central point maximizes the strength and long life of the cutting edges of the blade while the forging process minimizes waste material formed during the manufacture of the wood bit.
Although several different types of wood bits are commercially available, there exists a need to provide a wood bit which is characterized by having good penetrability, durability, and is inexpensive to manufacture.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved wood bit having good penetrability and durability.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a wood bit with a spade shaped blade having an improved cutting edge utilizing cutting spurs on the corners of the blade.
Furthermore, it is another object of the present invention to provide the advantages of better chip flow through the use of an obtuse hook angle formed by a forging process to bend the leading end of the blade in opposite directions (in the direction of rotation) on each side of the blade axis, and to extend the leading end of the blade beyond the plane of the blade surface, forming a hook extending continuously from the side of the blade along the lateral shoulder to the central point, whereby the leading end of the hook projects beyond or outwardly of (in the direction of rotation) the plane of the blade surface.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a wood bit having beveled cutting edges extending continuously along the leading edge of the hook of the blade from the side edge of the blade through the cutting spur, along the lateral shoulder, and terminating at a central point to provide high performance at a low cost.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to manufacture a wood bit by a method requiring fewer process steps so that the wood bit can be manufactured and sold at a lower price to a wide range of commercial and home markets users.


A cell switch module having a unit cell switching function and placeable in either an active state or a standby state. The module comprises a plurality of input ports for inputting cells thereto, a plurality of output ports for outputting cells therefrom, and a cell switching controller to execute such control that, in response to an active/standby switching instruction, a decision is made as to whether the input cell is a specific first cell or not, and if the input cell is detected to be the first cell in the active state, any subsequent cell inputted thereafter is not switched, but if the input cell is detected to be the first cell in the standby state, any subsequent cell inputted thereafter is switched.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cell switch module, a transmitter and an active/standby switching method in such a transmitter, and more particularly to switching executed at the time of up-grading a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the known public transmission network, audio signals and data information are transmitted to be processed via an infrastructure of SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) in a format of STM (Synchronous Transfer Mode). Such service signals according to the STM format are accessed, in each transmitter, at an STS-1 (Synchronous Transport Signal: 51.84 MHz) level conforming with the SONET frame format or a VT (Virtual Tributary: 1.726 MHz) level. External interfaces employed therefor conform with OC-48 (optical signal: 2.4 GHz), OC-12 (optical signal: 600 MHz), OC-3 (optical signal: 150 MHz), DS3 (electric signal: 44.736 MHz), DS1 (electric signal: 1.544 MHz) and so forth. Further, recently, there is practically used of a data information service which is based on the ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) signal format to realize effective utilization of transmission lines and the band of transmission equipment.
In laying an optical fiber network for use in SONET or the like, the construction thereof by the network service contractor concerned is carried out on the basis of a long-term plan since the construction costs much and the required term for construction of such fiber network is long. On the other hand, it is expected that demands for digital data services using optical fiber networks as transmission lines will increase rapidly after initial diffusion, as represented currently by the Internet. In order to comply with the circumstances thus changing so fast, it is considered necessary to develop an improved transmitter which has a high-speed optical line terminator with a great transmission capacity per optical fiber and a fast digital line terminator adapted for transmitting, via the same transmission channel, both the conventional telephone service where the demand of transmission information is predictable with relative facility and the aforementioned digital data service, and is capable of freely changing, in accordance with needs of such services, the ratio of using such services (e.g., by increaseing the band of ATM cells while correspondingly decreasing the band of data signals other than ATM cells, such as DS1 TDM or DS3 TDM).
Since some modification or extension of such service structure is carried out after practical running, it is necessary to up-grade the same in a manner to render the harmful influence least on the service network being currently used. For example, loss of ATM cells needs to be minimized at the time of any modification or extension. However, none of the known transmitters adapted for handling both STM and ATM signals is equipped with an ATM cell switching function and another function of freely changing the band of ATM cells and that of other signal, although both STM and ATM signals can be transferred via the same optical fiber.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cell switch module which is capable of switching ATM cells with any other data signal and still is capable of freely changing the band of ATM cells.
Another object of the present invention resides in providing a cell switch module capable of minimizing loss of cells in a cross-connected state of ATM lines to be updated or extended, or in up-grading control software employed therein.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a transmitter wherein none of ATM cells is sent in duplication when active/standby switching is executed for up-grading.
And a still further object of the present invention is to provide a network adapted to perform, through manipulation under remote control, active/standby switching for up-grading.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cell switch module equipped with a unit cell switching function. The module comprises a plurality of input ports for inputting cells thereto respectively; a plurality of output ports for outputting cells therefrom respectively; and cell switching control means placeable in either an active state or a standby state, wherein a decision is made as to whether each cell inputted to the relevant input port is a specific first cell or not, and a control action is so executed that, if the result of the decision signifies that the cell is said first one in the active state, any subsequent cell inputted thereafter to the input port is not switched, and if the above result signifies that the cell is said first one in the standby state, any subsequent cell inputted thereafter is switched. Preferably, the cell switch module further comprises a queue empty detection means for detecting whether the all cells switched by the active cell switch module in response to an active/standby switching instruction have been completely outputted from the output ports.
In the structure mentioned, the cell switching operation is brought to a stop in the active cell switch module in response to a detection of the first cell as a trigger by the cell input control means, and the cell switching operation is performed in the standby cell switch module. Any subsequent cell inputted after the first cell to the relevant same line is switched in the standby module but not in the active module. Thus, due to such a double structure where both active and standby cell switch modules are prepared, the cell switching operation is not performed in duplication with regard to any of subsequent cells inputted after the first cell to the relevant same line.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transmitter which comprises a first cell switch module as the above active one and a second cell switch module as the above standby one; a plurality of selectors for selecting, in response to a select signal, signals obtained from two output ports corresponding respectively to the first and second cell switch modules; and a switching control means for generating the select signal to instruct switching from the acting module to the standby one on the basis of the result of the detection obtained from the queue empty detection means. When the active queue empty detection means has detected that the all cells are outputted from the all output ports of the active cell switch module, the switching control means generates a select signal to instruct switching from the active module to the standby one, whereby the active cell switch module is switched to the standby cell switch module after none of the switched cells is left in the active module, hence minimizing the loss of the switched cells stored in the active cell switch module.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network comprising a plurality of the aforementioned transmitters connected mutually via a synchronous network; and a file server connected to at least one transmitter via a communication line. In the network of the present invention, routing information required with up-grading is sent from the file server to the transmitter via a communication line. The transmitter receives the routing information and then stores the same in a data base file or the like. Meanwhile, the routing information once transferred to the transmitter connected to the file server is sent to the overhead of a synchronous frame prescribed in the synchronous network from the transmitter, and then is further sent to any transmitter which is not connected to the file server. Consequently, the routing information can be down-loaded to each transmitter from the file server in a remote site far from any transmitter, and there exists no necessity of connecting the all file servers to the transmitters, hence curtailing the communication cost. Preferably, switching time information is transferred from the file server to each transmitter, so that each transmitter can perform an active/standby switching operation in accordance with the switching time information, whereby every active/standby switching operation can be performed synchronously in the entire network.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention and the manner of realizing them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood from a study of the following description and appended claims with reference to the attached drawings showing some preferred embodiments of the invention.

Cell switch module with unit cell switching function


An outlet adaptor with EL elements has at least one set of prongs to connect with an existing outlet device and at least one set of receptacle members connected to the prongs by a metal structure(s) that enables other electric devices to get electric signals from the outlet adaptor. EL elements are arranged on the outlet adaptor body at any location and connected with the outlet adaptor's metal structure(s) to provide the EL elements with power for any of a variety of illumination effects.

The inventor's prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,440, U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,868, U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,958, U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,117, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,053 disclose arrangements of conductive means for a night light and multiple function night light incorporated with a time piece. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,947,291, 5,495,402, 5,662,408, 5,713,655, 5,803,579, 5,816,682, 5,833,350, 5,893,626, 5,998,928, 6,000,807, 6,010,228, 6,031,958, 6,033,087, 6,056,420, 6,132,072, 6,160,948, 6,161,910, 6,183,101, 6,190,017, 6,290,368, 6,337,946, 6,386,730, 6,390,647, 6,00,104, 6,411,524, 6,431,719, 6,509,832, 6,523,975, 6,550,949, 6,609,812, 6,623,416, 6,641,289, 6,648,496, 6,709,126 all show different light sources and applications, although none teaches Electro-Luminescent (hereinafter EL) elements incorporated with an outlet adaptor means. The prior outlet adaptor means includes prong means having a desired configuration to insert into the outlet's receptacle(s) to get electric delivery from the outlet to the another device. The outlet adaptor means have at least one set of the prong means including polarized wide and narrow prongs to permit insertion into an outlet's receptacle. The adapter means can also have a ground prong to meet market requirements. The outlet adaptor means at least have one set of receptacle means to allow the other device's prong means to be connected to the receptacle means. The number of the receptacle means may be from 1 to N (any number) and the receptacle means may have any desired orientation or location on surface of the outlet adaptor's body. The receptacle means may be side by side, on opposite sides, on adjacent sides, on an end side, or on other surface(s). The outlet adaptor means has at least one function that may be selected from the group consisting of:    (F1) increasing a number of outlet receptacle(s) to allow connection with as many other electric devices as possible.    (F2) changing the orientation, position, angle, or location of the receptacles relative to the original outlet receptacles so that one can connect the other electric devices at a desired location, orientation, position, clearance, or space arrangement.    (F3) accommodating the different specification of other electric devices' prong means in the existing available outlet receptacle, for example by changing from the two receptacles of the existing outlet (which do not have a ground) to the three receptacles (including ground receptacle) of the outlet adaptor means.    (F4) providing improved space utilization, for example by enabling utilization of the limited space available in an extension cord with very close receptacles to connect a relatively large transformer, by changing the angle, dimension, location, height, position etc. at which the transformer may be connected.    (F5) providing features including surge protection, switch protection, power failure protection, constant power supply protection, high voltage protection, and/or overload protection.    (F6) providing functions of a sensor device, motion sensor, light sensor, remote controller, PIR device, transmit and receiving device, infrared device, blue tooth device, remote charging device, remote current delivery device, lighting device, voltage detector device, current detector device, or other conventional other device to enable supply of electricity from the outlet to other electric devices.
The electro-luminescent means may include an (EL1) EL panel, (EL2) EL wires, (EL3) EL twisted tube, and (EL4) organic EL (hereinafter OEL) or (EL5) organic LED (hereinafter OLED) on a desired (S1) configuration, (S2) size, (S3) dimension, (S4) specification, (S5) shape, (S6) curvature, or (S7) diameter that may be arranged on the outlet adaptor's body on a (L1) surface, (L2) layers, (L3) underneath, (L4) within the layers, (L5) injected inside, (L6) opening, (L7) cutouts, or (L8) windows to allow people to see the light beams, as is known from several of the inventor's issued patents or pending applications. The invention may utilize any suitable skills and procedures set forth in the other issued patents or pending applications without departing from the scope of the invention.
The outlet adaptor means with EL element(s) of the invention provides an outlet adaptor with proper illumination that can be seen by viewers to offer a safe lighting device with low cost for all existing outlet adaptor means.

Outlet adapter with EL elements, receptacles for other electric devices, and prongs for supplying power from a power source to the receptacles and EL elements


A system, apparatus, and method using multiple complementary sensors for the monitoring and wireless communication of several respiration characteristics—that is badge-size, wearable on the outside of clothing, and non-invasive.

Apparatus to monitor the breathing of subjects has existed for many years. "Breathing is one of the most obvious signs of human vitality and activity; however, it can also reflect the status of a patient and the progression of an illness. The entire process, from inhalation to the exhalation, is referred to as the breathing or respiration cycle (RC). Respiratory rate indicates the frequency of breathing or the time between two consecutive RCs. Any alterations in the respiratory rate can help predict potentially serious clinical events, such as a cardiac arrest, or it may suggest that a patient be admitted to an intensive-care unit." (Cretikos, M.A.; Bellomo, R.; Hillman, K.; Chen, J.; Finfer, S.; Flabouris, A. Respiratory rate: The neglected vital sign. Med. J. Aust. 2008, 188, 657-659)
It is considered important to monitor the time pattern, volume, and depth of respiration of a variety of subjects, such as infants, athletes, truck drivers, soldiers in the field, as well as those already known to suffer from dangerous medical conditions. It has also been demonstrated that detailed knowledge of breathing characteristics supports the ability to diagnose disease conditions. Such knowledge can be used to recommend therapeutic procedures to prevent or forestall further permanent medical damage and/or death. Moreover, as respiration monitoring products become more convenient and economical, it will be used routinely, including by those who are ill but are unaware of it.
Historically, respiratory measurements have not only lacked the cost requirements and convenience to encourage every-day and every-night out-of-clinic use, but they have been unavailable to infants and children, who do not tolerate invasive or intrusive equipment. People in general do not choose intrusive and/or inconvenient monitoring systems for themselves or loved ones, unless there is already a strong indication of adverse medical conditions.
Examples of intrusive and/or invasive respiration measurement systems include belts with strain sensors, nasal air flow rate and/or temperature sensing during the breathing cycle, and processed electrocardiogram data. Examples of non-intrusive respiration measurement systems include photographic methods and ultra-wideband pulse radar. These latter systems are neither portable nor wearable. Clearly there is a need for a respiration measurement instrument system that is wearable, non-invasive, non-intrusive, and portable.

Multiple sensor wearable and portable non-invasive respiration monitoring instrumentation


A system, and related method and computer program product are disclosed. The system may comprise a lighting system including a plurality of light groups disposed on a Machine, each light group including one or more lights, a graphical user interface, and a controller. The controller may be configured to cause the graphical user interface to display a machine icon and a plurality of light icons. Each light icon may be in the shape of a light and corresponding to one of the light groups. Each light icon may be displayed proximal to the machine icon in a position generally indicative of a location on the Machine of the light group that corresponds to the light icon. In an embodiment, a light beam may be displayed generally adjacent to the first light icon to show a direction of light when the corresponding light group on the Machine is illuminated.

Machines and vehicles (collectively, "Machines") in industrial applications may have many different features and feature systems that operators control. For example, the work lighting system is one example of a feature system that the operator may control. Work lighting may be those lights used to illuminate the Machine work area outside of the Machine.
Operator of such Machines and feature systems want clear indication of whether the features are activated and where on the Machine such features are activated. In addition care must be taken to ensure that Machine features are not accidentally activated because a gloved hand slipped on the console, touch-screen operator interface, or the like.
European Patent Application No. 2172366 published Apr. 7, 2010 (the '366 Publication) discloses a touch-screen display for programming the remote activation of work spot lights when an agricultural vehicle is not operational. The '366 Publication discloses in FIG. 4 a pictogram with illumination regions that may be selected using a key at the side of the pictogram. This type of arrangement has drawbacks because activation of the lights occurs after the vehicle is non-operational, there is no disclosed visual confirmation on the display of which spotlight has been activated, and there is no provision for determining whether the lighting request is intentional or accidental due to slippage of a finger on the input device. A better system is needed.

System and method for controlling features


The disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method for producing a three-dimensional image representation of a body. The body can be animate or inanimate; i.e. the invention can be used to obtain 3D image representations of for example, parts of the human body or any object that one wishes to view or measure. The 3D image representations can be used to produce 2D displays of sections, contours, etc., or displays having 3D perspective, such as wire-frame type illustrations. This facilitates automatic computation of areas or volumes. In a disclosed embodiment, an ultrasonic imaging subsystem is provided for producing signals representative of two-dimensional images of sections of the body, the subsystem including a scanning transducer that is moveable to determine the section of the body to be imaged. The image representative signals are stored as arrays of digital pixel values. A three-dimensional acoustic digitizer subsystem is provided for deriving and storing information representative of the position and orientation of the transducer during the scanning of an associated section of the body. A voxel space storage is provided for storing a three-dimensional array of voxel values. The arrays of digital pixel values are projected into the voxel space storage, the voxel locations which correspond to projected pixel locations of a given pixel array being determined as a function of the stored position and orientation information associated with the section of the body from which the given pixel array was obtained.

This invention relates to imaging of bodies and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for generating image representations of a body. The invention has application to both animate and inanimate bodies.
There are many applications where it is useful to obtain an accurate three-dimensional image representation of a body. For example, in manufacturing or testing of objects having irregular shapes, it may be necessary or desirable to have information concerning one or more properties of the object: its surface shape, coordinates and area; the nature and shape of any of its cross-sections; and the volume it contains. Equipment for obtaining these properties tends to be complex and expensive, and often provides information that is incomplete and/or requires operator approximations and calculations.
In clinical applications, the task is further complicated by the inaccessibility, mechanical instability, and fragility of the organs to be imaged or measured. The human heart provides a difficult challenge in this regard.
Understanding the complex time-varying three-dimensional geometry and function of the heart has been the fundamental goal of cardiac imaging. Desirable techniques should be simple to use, safe, and inexpensive to meet the potentially vast clinical demand. Although magnetic resonance imaging and ultra-fast X-Ray computed tomography have the potential to provide precise 3D cardiac imaging, both are expensive and have limited availability. By contrast, monographic techniques including 2D real-time echocardiography are readily available, inexpensive, and pose no known risk to the patient. Despite these potential advantages, practical 3D echocardiography has been an elusive goal. This has been a consequence of both the rigorous demands of cardiac imaging and the difficulty of automating the image generation process, an essential requirement in a clinical setting. Prior investigators have reported techniques which permit a hand-held 2D sector transducer to be tracked in three dimensions. By recording these spatial data along with the 2D images and electrocardiogram, it has been possible to extract selected 2D planes, delineate their endocardial or epicardial contours, and derive an interpolated wire-frame surface in three-dimensions. However, because of the present inability to reliably perform endocardial edge detection by automated techniques, the requirement for antecedent edge detection of multiple selected 2D sections requires that an operator select a small subset of sectors in which hand-guided edge detection is carried out. The resultant 3D reconstruction reflects only the selected contours and is devoid of the rich anatomic detail intrinsic to the primary ultrasound backscatter data.
It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for obtaining three dimensional image representations that overcome the difficulties and limitations of prior art techniques.

Apparatus and method for generating image representations of a body utilizing an ultrasonic imaging subsystem and a three-dimensional digitizer subsystem


An actuator system for making a nanoscale movement of an object is provided. In the actuator system, a platform supports the object. A Z-axis actuator connects the platform to the object in a Z-axis direction, and moves the object in the Z-axis direction by Z-axis direction transformation. A frame supports the platform around the platform. An X-axis actuator connects the frame to the platform in an X-axis or Y-axis direction perpendicular to the Z-axis, and moves the object in the X-axis direction by transformation in the direction perpendicular to the Z-axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to nanoscale applications, and in particular, to an actuator system for making a precise three-dimensional nanoscale movement of an object.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many nanoscale applications including a nanoscale data storage device need to move one plane near another plane three-dimensionally. This movement requires a nanoscale precision and those planes must be parallel to each other. In general, a parallel displacement relative to a plane takes a larger movement space than a perpendicular displacement. The primary consideration for the nanoscale movement is that displacement must not involve friction, that is, only the elastic transformation of a solid material (i.e. bending, or expansion and contraction) is allowed. A current known method of making a movement with a nanoscale precision relies on the use of an electromagnetic actuator.
A distinctive drawback to the conventional electromagnetic actuator is that it leads to a narrow bandwidth due to magnetic field, heat, and slow speed.


A device for dispensing scent onto the ground from behind the ankle of a user during walking to attract animals. The device is comprised of a flat, rectangular body having first and second opposed sidewalls; a flexible cord; and a scent source. The body contains an aperture at a first end and a slit at a second opposed end. The slit provides access to a pocket enclosed by the sidewalls of the body. During use, the cord is inserted through the aperture of the body and detachably secured around the ankle area of a user. The scent source is located in the slit and pocket of the body. As the user walks, the body makes contact with the ground and the scent source, maintained in close proximity to the ground surface, dispenses animal scent attractant to the ground from behind the ankle area of the user.

This version of the invention is concerned with the field of devices to attract game animals during hunting. More specifically, this version of the invention is concerned with a device releasably attached to the ankle of a user, such as a hunter while said hunter is hunting, said device containing a quantity of liquid scent for attracting game animals and dispensing smell of said scent to attract game animals to the proximity of the hunter.
Prior Art
During the hunting of game animals, such as deer, various methods and devices are employed to find and attract said animals and to prevent the hunter from being detected by said animals during the hunting of said animal. Attraction devices include whistles, horns, and other apparatuses, which, for example, mimic the calls and bellows of a game animal during mating season. Other devices consist of life-like decoys ranging from a goose to a doe, which are strategically located to attract another similar type of animal. In some cases, scent attractants are spread upon a ground surface or other natural features so that pheromones or other sexually-attracting odors and smells will drift and spread over an area in which game animals are thought to frequent so as to draw said game animals to the area over which the scent attractants are dispensed. Various devices and methods have been used to dispense such scent attractants, including, but not limited to absorbent pads that are located upon a ground surface or attached to a natural feature, such as a tree branch, or an article of clothing, such as beneath the shoe of a hunter. Other devices, such as mechanical systems, are more elaborate in design and construction, generally consisting of a reservoir for storage of a quantity of liquid scent attractant, delivery means for transferring liquid scent attractant from the reservoir to the immediate atmosphere, and actuating means for determining the time to dispense liquid scent attractant, comprising either a timer, motion sensor, or the like.
The aforementioned devices and methods of attracting game animals perform their desired function with varying degrees of success. Absorbent pads attached to a natural feature, such as a tree branch, generally have a limited range over which the scent attractant is dispensed as such pads are stationary. The absorbent pads and other devices that are attached to a hunter are more effective in dispensing scent attractant over a wider geographical area as the scent attractant is dispensed to the area in which the hunter is stalking the game animal. However, many of these devices suffer from particular disadvantages and shortcomings. For example, devices attached to the bottom of a hunter's shoe or boot may become clogged or covered with dirt and debris, which obstruct or otherwise interfere with the ability of said devices to dispense scent attractant stored therein. Other devices are elaborate and cumbersome to use, generally interfering with the ability of the hunter to engage in the sort of physical activity necessary to stalk and hide from game animals. The mechanical devices that dispense scent attractant suffer from several disadvantages. They are generally the most expensive to purchase and maintain, and they are subject to mechanical failure in the field, thus jeopardizing their ability to attract game animals. What is needed then to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of existing devices and methods for attracting game animals is the provision of a device that is relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain, simple to use, and able to hold a quantity of liquid scent attractant sufficient to dispense scent attractant over a geographical area and for a duration needed to attract game animals for a successful hunting outing.
Discussion of the Prior Art
Numerous designs for devices and methods for attracting game animals through dispensation of animal scent attractant have been provided in the prior art. Even though these designs may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present version of the invention as such designs are limited by the disadvantages and drawbacks recited earlier in this disclosure. These designs are exemplified by the following patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,899, Hunters And Trappers Scent Pad, issued to DeHart on 1 Dec. 1981;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,715, Detachable Shoe-Lure Dispenser, issued to Reeves on 28 Jul. 1987;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,010, Scent Dispenser For Attachment Under A Shoe, issued to Grinarmi on 5 Apr. 1988;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,563, Environment Enhancement Device For Animal Scent Used By Hunter, issued to Easley on 20 Sep. 1988;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,940, Buck Lure, issued to Christenson, II on 31 Jul. 1990;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,763, Animal Scent Dispensing Apparatus, issued to Kierum et al. on 4 Sep. 1990;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,905, Arrow Delivered Scent Dispersion Apparatus, issued to Edlund on 17 Sep. 2002; and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,676,033, System For Dispensing Animal Scent Attractant, issued to Campesi, Sr. on 13 Jan. 2004;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,044, Animal Scent Lure And Delivery System, issued to Arienzo on 27 Jan. 2004; and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,286, System, Apparatus, And Methods For Dispensing Scent Blocker And Animal Lure And Marking Trail During Hunting And Other Outdoor Excursions, issued to Baxter et al. on 30 Mar. 2004.
As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing need for a new and improved device that dispenses animal scent attractant in order to attract game animals to the vicinity of a hunter. The device for dispensing animal scent attractant that is the subject of the instant invention employs a rectangular, woven or textile body that is releasably attached to the ankle area of a hunter. When said hunter walks along the ground surface to stalk a game animal said body is dragged along said ground surface behind the hunter, dispensing scent attractant from a wick or absorbent pad releasably secured to or within said body. The device is relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain. Furthermore, the device does not interfere with the physical motion of the hunter while said hunter is stalking or hiding from a game animal, said device delivering scent attractant in quantities sufficient to attract a game animal. In these respects, the present version of the invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus that substantially fulfills this need. Additionally, the prior patents and commercial techniques do not suggest the present inventive combination of component elements arranged and configured as disclosed herein.
The present invention achieves its intended purposes, objects, and advantages through a new, useful and unobvious combination of method steps and component elements, with the use of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, and by employing only readily available materials.

Device for dispensing animal scent attractant for behind ankle of user


Disclosed is an automatic printed circuit board two-bevel forming machine which includes a conveyer, a first cutter assembly which is disposed above the conveyer, and a second cutter assembly which is disposed below the conveyer. The first cutter assembly includes a first rough and a first fine bevel cutter. The second cutter assembly includes a second rough and second fine bevel cutter. The rough and fine bevel cutters of the first and second cutter assemblies incline at a suitable angle toward the upper and lower edges of the PCBs being conveyed. The rough and fine cutters stretch or shrink to a suitable position controlled by a pneumatic driving device. When the PCBs pass through the first and second cutter assemblies sequentially by means of the conveyer, the rough and fine bevel cutters of the first cutter assembly cut and grind the upper edge to form an upper fine bevel, and the rough and fine bevel cutters of the second cutter assembly cut and grind the lower edge to form a lower fine bevel. A very fine two-bevel edge is obtained without any manual operations, and the manufacture cost is thus reduced.

Conventionally, when the printed circuit board (PCB) to be manufactured into an interface card is produced, a plurality of golden fingers are formed at the edges of the printed circuit board as shown in FIG. 8. When the printed circuit board is inserted into a connector of the mother board, the golden fingers contact the conductive pad of the connector in order to connect the printed circuit board to the mother board. For facilitating the insertion of the printed circuit board into the connector and in order to remove burrs at the edges of the printed circuit board, the edges having golden fingers on the printed circuit board should be shaped to form a two-bevel edge.
It is the last step of the PCB manufacture process to form the two-bevel edge on the PCB. After the copper circuitry and golden fingers are formed and laid out on the PCB, one edge of the PCB is placed in the bevel forming channel. A cutter similar to the planing cutter is disposed in the bevel forming channel. Then, the operator uses his hands to move the PCB ahead along the channel swiftly so that a bevel is formed and shaped at one edge of the PCB by the cutter. The PCB is turned up-side-down and moved along the channel again to form the two-bevel edge on the PCB. The above two-bevel edge forming process for PCB have the following disadvantages:
(A) When the bevel plane is formed at the edges of the PCB, the copper golden finger is lifted up by the planing cutter and burrs is formed to injure the PCB. The yield is very low and the manufacture cost is very high. PA0 (B) The efficiency of the conventional process for forming the two-bevel edge manually on the PCB is very low. The manual process prohibits the PCB having the two-bevel edge from mass-production and cannot reduce the manufacture cost. The operator must have a skillful technique. PA0 (C) After the plane cutter is operated for a while, its length is reduced because of abrasion. Conventionally, it is quiet inconvenient and takes a lot of time to adjust the length of the plane cutter. The working efficiency cannot be increased.

Automatic printed circuit board two-bevel forming machine


A solid particle counting system for measuring solid particle number concentrations from engine or vehicle exhausts in real-time includes a diluter arrangement, a particle counter, and a flow splitter. The diluter arrangement mixes the dilution gas with flowing sample gases. The flow splitter receives the output flow from the diluter arrangement, provides a portion of this flow to the particle counter, and provides a by-pass flow that is received by a vacuum pump. A second flow route to the particle counter includes a valve arranged such that opening the valve during the starting of the vacuum pump reduces a pressure pulse at the particle counter caused by the starting of the vacuum pump, thereby avoiding work fluid backflow from the particle counter prior to the vacuum pump stabilizing.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to measuring solid particle number concentrations from engine or vehicle exhausts in real-time.
2. Background Art
Engine exhaust particles mainly consist of solid and volatile particles. Many studies show particles from diesel engine exhausts cause many health problems. To understand how particles impact human health, characteristics of particles from engines and vehicles should be investigated. Thus, the accurate measurement of particles emitted by modern diesel and gasoline vehicles is needed.
European PMP (Particle measurement programme) has recommended an approach to measure solid particle number emission from light-duty diesel vehicles. The system is shown in FIG. 1, and consists of a pre-classifier 10, a hot diluter (PND1) 12, an evaporation tube 14, a cold diluter (PND2) 16, and a condensation particle counter (CPC) 18. The pre-classifier 10 is used to keep the cutoff size of particles in 2.5 to 10 μm. By running the hot diluter 12 at a high dilution air temperature, and the evaporation tube 14 heating the sample in the range of 300 to 400° C., particles formed by volatile material and sulfate are vaporized to gas phase. By following with cold dilution with the cold diluter 16, all particles formed by volatile material and sulfate are removed. As a result, solid particles only move into the CPC 18 with the flow. The concentration of the solid particles is measured in the CPC 18.
Many factors, such as dilution ratios on the hot diluter (PND1) 12 and cold diluter (PND2) 16, solid particle penetration over the instrument, removal efficiency for volatile particles, etc., strongly influence the accuracy of the instrument. To have good accuracy on the measurement, accurate dilution ratios on the hot diluter (PND1) 12 and the cold diluter (PND2) 16, high penetration for solid particles, and high removal efficiency for volatile particles, should be achieved on the measuring system.
The condensation particle counter (CPC) has been widely used to measure particle number concentration. It has fast response time and is a real-time sensor. However, the experimental setup and operation procedure and calibration to use the CPC for measuring combustion engine or vehicle exhaust aerosols are pretty complicated. The accuracy of the measured results is strongly influenced by human factors, such as, the knowledge of the operator of combustion engines and aerosol science, etc. To make the CPC more reliable for engine or vehicle exhaust aerosol measurement, it is very important to simplify the experimental setup and operation procedure.
Background information may be found in U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0179960. This publication describes the concept of a wide range continuous diluter. Further background information may be found in "Real-time measuring system for engine exhaust solid particle number emission—Performance and Vehicle tests," SAE Technical Paper No. 2006-01-0865, and in "Real-time measuring system for engine exhaust solid particle number emission—Design and Performance," SAE Technical Paper No. 2006-01-0864.

Solid particle counting system with valve to allow reduction of pressure pulse at particle counter when vacuum pump is started


A joystick controller is disclosed for controlling speed of a boom lift platform, the controller having motors or the like that provide tactile feedback that is intuitively interpreted and adjusted by the user of the joystick speed control, the joystick being neutrally-biased to effect a null velocity when the joystick is positioned in a neutral position, but the tactile feedback forcing the joystick away from neutral to a degree that represents the platform's actual speed.

1. Technical Field
Many aspects of this invention relate in general to proportional joystick speed controls for powered implements and, more particularly, to comprehensive systems and methods for providing an operator with feedback related to the actual speed of the object(s) being moved or the platform, bucket or the like that supports it. Some aspects of the invention also relate to the machines, systems, applications, components, and methods associated with such proportional speed controls.
2. Background Art
Powered implements can be found in a huge variety of applications, from forklifts, backhoes, excavators and off-highway construction equipment and the like to cherry-pickers and other boom lift movers, carriers or platforms. Many powered implements use proportional speed controls in the form of a joystick or an equivalent type of lever or knob that controls the actuators to do the powered moving. Actuators are often hydraulic but may also come in other forms such as electric, pneumatic, electro-magnetic, or some combination thereof. Even though the present invention is beneficial for many lever-based or knob-based variable speed controllers for virtually any powered lifters, boom lift platforms provide a representative context that will be referenced for the bulk of the descriptions in this application. Those of skill in the art will understand how the advantages and features in the boom lift platform context can be translated to other contexts within the scope of the inventions.
It takes an incredibly experienced boom lift operator to quickly yet precisely control the movement of an elevated platform to within an inch or so of the desired position without overshooting and correcting. Overshooting the intended position can be hazardous, particularly when that position is close to a structure that can be damaged if impacted by the boom-lift platform. Due in part to the nature of hydraulic actuators that are typically used for boom-lift platforms, there is a constant tension between responsive controls and smooth operation. Without sophisticated controls that are common today, platform movements can be very jerky.
On the other hand, because of the great effort to smooth out the movements of aerial platforms, it is very difficult to predict how much further a platform will travel before stopping once the joystick controller is released to the neutral position. The slow, gradual approach with fine movement control can be extremely time-consuming. In the interest of time, skilled operators therefore try to speed the platform toward the desired position and let go of the joystick a foot or two before the platform reaches the desired location, hoping they have predicted well enough to avoid a collision.
Joystick speed controls have long been one of the most popular types of manual devices for controlling speed. Numerous techniques are known for enhancing the basic joystick controller, as are evidenced by the following patents within the background art: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,019,761; 5,513,100; 5,721,566; 5,727,387; 5,899,008; 6,859,198; and 7,019,238. Boom lift platforms and comparable position and/or speed controls are commercialized by JLG, Genie, Caterpillar, Case Corporation, John Deere, Bobcat, and Hitachi.
A sizable, unmet need has been revealed in relation to optimizing such movements, particularly in the interest of getting a boom lift platform to a desired position quickly yet safely. Related needs include the goal to minimize unnecessary cost and complexity, to enhance ease of use, and to shorten the training curve for safe boom lift operators. It is an object of the present invention to address these and other needs presented by the prior art. Other objects include enabling such primary objects while also allowing a highly skilled operator to override selectable features of preferred embodiments.
Known feedback technology helps, but more has long been needed. Overriding objects of the present inventions also include providing speed control systems, components and methods that facilitate and adjust, based on an accurate yet responsive position control system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Tactile feedback for joystick position/speed controls


An integrated circuit device wafer includes a silicon wafer substrate and a back side metallization structure. The back side metallization structure includes a first adhesion layer on the back side of the substrate, a first metal later over the first adhesion layer, a second metal layer over the first metal layer, and a second adhesion layer over the second metal layer. The first includes at least one of: silicon nitride and silicon dioxide. The first metal layer includes titanium. The second metal layer includes nickel. The second adhesion layer includes at least one of: silver, gold, and tin. An indium preform is placed between the second adhesion layer and the lid and the indium preform is reflowed.

The disclosure relates to semiconductor devices and the manufacturing of semiconductor devices. More specifically, the disclosure relates to improved back side metallization for integrated circuit device wafers and die.
Integrated circuits are used in computing devices such as, but not limited to, smart phones, tablets, wearables, laptops, desktops, internet servers, printers, and other devices. Integrated circuits can have very dense circuitry and can operate at very high frequencies to provide ever-improving levels of performance. Some devices may have multiple processor cores and/or very large memory arrays on relatively small die. In operation, such devices can produce heat in excess of 100 watts. If the heat is allowed to build up on the die, the performance of the integrated circuit may be degraded and/or the life of the integrated circuit may be significantly shortened.
In some integrated circuits, a thermally conductive layer is applied to the back side of the die and bonded to a heat sink, such a package lid. The package lid can have larger area than the back side of the die and may be exposed to a convective flow of air to remove heat from the package lid. The thermally conductive layer can provide a thermal path through which the heat may flow from the die to the package lid to dissipate from the package lid.
The flow of heat through the heat path can be significantly reduced if the bond between the thermally conductive layer and the back side of the die fails. Thus, good adhesion between the back side of the die and the thermally conductive layer is an important factor in removing the heat build-up and consequently, in the reliability of the integrated circuit device.


A semiconductor apparatus is provided in which input/output of an electric signal having a particularly high frequency is less disturbed by parasitic capacitance generated in a wiring in the semiconductor apparatus. A first through-hole wiring penetrating a first dielectric board, a second through-hole wiring penetrating a second dielectric board, and an internal wiring inserted between the first dielectric board and the second dielectric board are provided. The first through-hole wiring and the second through-hole wiring are arranged on the internal wiring while being away from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor apparatus including a semiconductor device, used for ultra-high frequency signal processing of several GHz or more, or high-speed optical communication of several Gbps or more.
2. Description of the Related Art
Structure of a conventional semiconductor apparatus will now be briefly described.
The conventional semiconductor apparatus has a structure in which a semiconductor device is mounted on a dielectric board and is surrounded by a dielectric ring, with a metal cover mounted on the dielectric ring so as to cover the semiconductor device. Plural external electrodes for connecting with other external devices are arranged on the dielectric board. A thin metal wire is connected to the semiconductor device, and the thin metal wire is electrically connected with the external electrodes via wiring arranged on the dielectric board.
On a back side of the dielectric board having the semiconductor device mounted thereon, a metal plate for radiation is bonded, and plural through holes are formed in the dielectric board so as to connect this metal plate with the semiconductor device.
Literature 1: JP-A-5-129462
Literature 2: JP-A-7-50362
However, in the conventional semiconductor apparatus, the wiring connecting the semiconductor device with the external electrodes is formed by a conductive layer formed on the dielectric board and a single through hole, as disclosed in JP-A-7-50362. In this structure, since the conductive layer and the through hole are at right angles to each other, large parasitic capacitance is generated in the wiring. Therefore, there is a problem in that input/output of a particularly high-frequency signal between the semiconductor apparatus and an external device is difficult.


An article including a key comprising a key head that slides along a key shaft, said key head being affixable to said key shaft with a fastener.

As is well known in the prior art, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, many cylinder locks include a plug 1 (also called a tumbler) arranged for rotation in a body 2 wherein the plug 1 and the body 2 are provided with a number of bores 3 and 4, respectively, in which plug pins and driver pins are disposed. The plug 1 is formed with a keyway for inserting therein a key 5. The driver pins are aligned with the plug pins, and the plug and driver pins have varying lengths that define a key cut combination. Upon insertion of a key with the correct key cut combination, the faces of the plug pins and driver pins that touch each other are aligned flush with the circumferential surface of the plug 1, referred to as the shear line, and the plug 1 may be rotated to actuate the lock. If the key cut combination is not correct, at least one of the driver and plug pins will cross over the shear line and prevent rotation of the plug 1, and thus prevent actuation of the lock.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a European profile double cylinder lock. The cylinder lock actuates a common cam 6, which fits in a recess 7 formed in the body. The plug 1 may be formed with a longitudinal groove 8 for the key. Different holes 9 may be formed in the plug 1 and the body 2 for placing therein hardened, anti-drilling pins (not shown).
It is common to construct the plug 1 and body 2 from relatively soft metals, such as brass, although other metals are also used, such as different steel alloys. The plug and body are generally made by various machining manufacturing steps. It would be desirable to reduce manufacturing costs for making the cylinder lock.
The key is commonly made from metal, such as nickel silver or brass, but other metals are also used. The key is generally made in a coining or stamping process, whereas keyway profiles, key cuts and other features on the key are generally made by machining. Some cylinder locks come in different lengths, and the cylinder locksmith or installer has to select the proper cylinder length to match the dimensions of the door thickness. In addition, the inner side of the door often has a turning knob, that is, it is not operated by a key. These considerations increase inventory costs for different lengths of cylinder locks, and increase the difficulty of installation for the cylinder locksmith; sometimes the cylinder locksmith has to come twice to the customer—once to get the proper dimensions for installation and another time to actually install the cylinder lock.

Key blank, key and cylinder lock with reduced costs


A system and method for localization and resolvability of an integrated circuit includes selecting one or more electrical stimuli to be applied to a device under test such that the electrical stimuli are chosen to provide a baseline image and a distinguishing image effect as a result of the chosen stimuli when applied to the device under test. The one or more electrical stimuli are applied to the device under test. Emissions from the device under test are measured to provide a measurement data set from the one or more electrical stimuli using one or more measurement tools for collecting the baseline image and the distinguishing image effect. The measurement data set is analyzed to localize and evaluate circuit structures by comparing the baseline image and the distinguishing image effect.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to integrated circuit analysis and more particularly to a system and method for localization and resolvability of an integrated circuit using a set of stimuli to provide varying images for analyzing of the circuit.
Description of the Related Art
Analytical tools are commonly used for characterizing, testing, and debugging VLSI circuits. Some tools and techniques, such as emission tools based on off-state leakage currents and laser based stimulation tools, focus mostly on improving manufacturing process steps such as reducing leakage and variability, or improving performance and yield. Other tools and techniques, such as Time-Resolved Emission (TRE), focus mostly on probing time dependent signals from specific nodes and transistors of very large scale integration (VLSI) circuits to understand behavior and performance. In another type of application, some faulty behavior of the chip may be investigated to understand the cause and possibly guide process engineers or circuit designers to fix a problem in new releases of hardware.
The continuous trend of modern complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) VLSI circuits towards miniaturization makes the precise localization and interpretation of the measured results more and more challenging. In particular, some features of interest have become smaller than the theoretical diffraction limit of the optics available to the modern microscope and analytical tools. These needs have sparked many developments in many areas such as optics, image processing, detector technology, etc. In particular, Solid Immersion Lens (SIL) has replaced the conventional air gap microscopy lens permitting a significant increase in the numerical aperture of collection optics, thus increasing both the lateral spatial resolution and the collection efficiency. Developments continue since such techniques are commonly used by most analytical methods in this area.
Additionally, image post-processing techniques have been proposed and are under evaluation to improve signal separation for tools that provide 2D images of samples such as static emission tools, laser stimulation tools, and 2D TRE tools. Detector improvements are also under way to increase the sensitivity to small signals as well as increase the number of pixels and reduce their size. For certain techniques, such as 2D TRE, the availability of three dimensions (x,y,t) permits additional room for separating signals since events taking place in close spatial position but at different instants in time may still be separated.
Many types of methodology improvements are also being proposed, mostly specific to particular analytical techniques. For example, two photon absorption may improve lateral spatial resolution of laser stimulation techniques. Additionally, near field microscopy, with all the complications and limitations associated to it, may lead to increased spatial resolution in static emission measurements for certain localized areas of interest.

Method and system for quickly identifying circuit components in an emission image

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


In accordance with some implementations, a method for evaluating large scale computer systems based on performance is disclosed. A large scale, distributed memory computer system receives topology data, wherein the topology data describes the connections between the plurality of switches and lists the nodes associated with each switch. Based on the received topology data, the system performs a data transfer test for each of the pair of switches. The test includes transferring data between a plurality of nodes and determining a respective overall test result value reflecting overall performance of a respective pair of switches for a plurality of component tests. The system determines that the pair of switches meets minimum performance standards by comparing the overall test result value against an acceptable test value. If the overall test result value does not meet the minimum performance standards, the system reports the respective pair of switches as underperforming.

Computer systems have consistently grown in scale and performance capability. However, as the problems to be solved by computer systems have grown more complex and the amount of data that needs to be processed grows, traditional, single CPU computer systems ceased to be sufficient. To solve the more complex problems and deal with large amounts of data, computer systems with large number of processors working in parallel were developed.
Massively parallel computer systems can be built with a variety of topologies. Some large computing networks are organized in broadcast networks topologies, with a hierarchical switch network topology. Other large computer networks employ a switched fabric topology where network nodes connect with each other through one or more network switches. Switched fabric technologies can offer better throughput because communication traffic is spread across a larger number of physical links. However, failure of components within the switched fabric technology can substantially degrade performance of the entire large computer network.
Because a small number of failures can significantly degrade the performance of an entire switched fabric network, detecting and locating failures within the switched fabric network is increasingly important for manufacturers of large, parallel processing computer systems. Traditionally, failures were detected by running diagnostic tools on each individual switch or node to detect port errors.

Scalable infiniband interconnect performance and diagnostic tool


A control console includes a body supporting a plurality of controls, a base, and first and second legs each having a first end pivotably connected to the body and a second end pivotably connected to the base. The legs are shiftable between a first position projecting over a first end of the base, a second position projecting over a second end of the base and a third position between the first and second positions. At least one spring is provided to bias the legs toward the third position, and a motor may included for shifting the legs.

Truck-mounted lifting devices, such as cranes, may be controlled from outside a vehicle cab using a control console mounted on the truck body. Such cranes often have a rotatable base and may be used to lift objects in front of, behind, or on either side of the truck. However, an operator standing at a control console mounted on one side of the truck, for example, may have difficulty observing the operation of the crane when it is used to lift an object on the opposite side of the truck. Multiple control consoles can be provided, but this increases the cost and complexity of the truck-mounted lifting device. It would therefore be desirable to provide a control console for a lifting device such as a truck-mounted crane, that can be moved as needed based on operator preference and on the job being performed by the crane.

Control console having multiple use positions


In some embodiments, a video doorbell system includes a video doorbell device on an exterior surface of a structure and a chime kit within an interior of the structure. A transformer can be coupled in-series via electrical conductors with the video doorbell device and the chime kit. The chime kit can include an energy storage device that is charged via the electrical conductors. When a user activates a button on the video doorbell device power control circuitry within the video doorbell device can transmit a signal on the electrical conductors. Button detection circuitry within the chime kit can detect the signal and respond by transferring power from the energy storage device to a chime. While the chime is activated the transformer can continuously supply the video doorbell device with power.

A doorbell is typically configured as a signaling device placed near a door to a building's entrance that, when activated, alerts an occupant to the presence of a visitor. Doorbells have existed for over 200 years with early versions using mechanical actuators (e.g., pull cords) to strike a bell plate, and later commercially available models (circa 1900) using electrical systems with chimes, bells, or buzzers. Conventional electrically controlled doorbell systems with mechanical chimes have changed little over the years and still exist in many households today.
There have been many technological advances in doorbell systems since their inception. For instance, some doorbell systems may incorporate wireless technology; or the doorbell button may contain a battery-powered radio transmitter that sends button state data (e.g., on or off) to a receiver that triggers a chime. Some chimes may be digitally implemented using a sound chip that plays the sound of a bell through a speaker. Some contemporary systems may incorporate a video camera to provide the user with a visual confirmation of the visitor.
Despite the many advances, many contemporary systems that enhance existing doorbell implementations (e.g., adding video capability) need cumbersome add-on supplementary circuitry that is often subject to significant power constraints and limited functionality, require trained technicians to test existing systems and properly install the add-on circuitry, and often require significant doorbell system overhauls that can be costly. Improved doorbell systems and configurations are needed.

Doorbell system with energy storage device