A RAID data storage system includes a heterogenous disk array coupled to a controller. The disk array provides a storage space that includes a first set of stipes each having at least xe2x80x9cNxe2x80x9d blocks and a second set of stripes each having less than xe2x80x9cNxe2x80x9d blocks. The controller can operate to map the storage space into redundant units by creating at least one redundant unit for storing data according to a mirror redundancy scheme. The redundant unit includes a block from the first set of stripes and a block from the second set of stripes.

Computer systems are constantly improving in terms of processing speed and reliability. As these systems improve, demands for improvements in mass storage systems in terms of I/O performance, availability and storage capacity also increase. In order to address these demands, RAID storage systems have been developed. RAID is an acronym that originally stood for xe2x80x9cRedundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disksxe2x80x9d. Today, the xe2x80x9cIxe2x80x9d in RAID commonly stands for xe2x80x9cindependentxe2x80x9d.
Standard RAID systems improve I/O performance by a technique known as xe2x80x9cdisk stripingxe2x80x9d. In order to enable disk striping (on a block level), the storage capacity of the array is grouped into a set of stripes. Each stripe consists of a set of single addressable units, known as blocks, which have the same physical row address. Disk striping allows the disk array to be treated as single logical disk and improves I/O performance as it permits parallel access of disks in the array. For purposes of this document, a block used to store user data may be referred to herein as a xe2x80x9cuser blockxe2x80x9d. A block used to store parity data may be referred to herein as a xe2x80x9cparity blockxe2x80x9d.
RAID systems improve availability by using one or more data redundancy schemes wherein user data, or relationships among user data, are stored on multiple disks. This is done so that in the event of certain failures, user data is not lost. The data redundancy schemes may be categorized into two groups. The first group may be referred to herein as xe2x80x9cmirror redundancy schemesxe2x80x9d. For purposes of this document, a xe2x80x9cmirror redundancy schemexe2x80x9d is any redundancy scheme wherein user blocks are duplicated (at least once) and stored in multiple locations of the storage system. This group, therefore, includes RAID level 1 and triple mirror redundancy (triple mirror). According to RAID level 1, each user block is duplicated once. If one user block is lost, the duplicate block can be used to recover it. According to triple mirror redundancy each user block is duplicated twice.
The second group may be referred to as xe2x80x9cparity redundancy schemesxe2x80x9d. For purposes of this document, a parity redundancy scheme is any redundancy scheme wherein one or more parity blocks are generated from a given set of user blocks. This is done so that if one of the user blocks from the set becomes lost, the other user blocks and the one or more parity blocks can be used to recover it. This group, therefore, includes RAID level 5 and RAID level 6. For example, in a conventional RAID 5 system, each stripe includes multiple blocks of user data and one parity block. In the event one block in the stripe is lost (e.g., due to a disk failure), the rest of the blocks in the stripe can be used to recover it.
There is a continuing need for improvements in RAID systems in terms of I/O performance, reliability and storage costs in order to keep pace with evolving computer systems.
Briefly, and in general terms, a method according to one embodiment of the invention is provided for mapping a data storage space provided by a disk array into redundant units. The data storage space being comprised of a first and a second set of stripes, the first set of stripes each having at least xe2x80x9cNxe2x80x9d blocks and the second set of stripes each having less than xe2x80x9cNxe2x80x9d blocks. The method includes creating at least a first redundant unit for storing data according to a mirror redundancy scheme, such as RAID level 1 or triple mirror. The first redundant unit includes a block from the first set of stripes and a block from the second set of stripes. The method may also include creating a second redundant unit for storing data according to a parity redundancy scheme, such as RAID level 5 or RAID level 6. The second redundant unit includes all the blocks from a first stripe from the first set of stripes. Preferably, N is equal to three if the mirror redundancy scheme is RAID level 1 and the parity redundancy scheme is RAID level 5.
The present invention may also be implemented as a data storage system. The data storage system includes a disk array providing a storage space. The storage space including a first set of stripes each having at least xe2x80x9cNxe2x80x9d blocks and a second set of stripes each having less than xe2x80x9cNxe2x80x9d blocks. In addition, the data storage system further includes a controller which is connected to the disk array. The controller is operable to map the storage space into redundant units by creating at least a first redundant unit. The first redundant unit includes a block from the first set of stripes and a block from the second set of stripes. The controller further operates to designate the first redundant unit to store data according to a mirror redundancy scheme, such as RAID level 1 or triple mirror.
In the addition, the controller may further operate to map the storage space by creating at least a second redundant unit for storing data according to a parity redundancy scheme. The second redundant unit including all the blocks from a first stripe. The first stripe being from the first set of stripes. The controller mal also operate to receive I/O requests from an external host computer and to perform read and write operations upon the disk array in response to the I/O requests.
In one specific implementation of the data storage system, the mirror redundancy scheme is RAID level 1, the parity redundancy scheme is RAID level 5 and N is equal to 3. In another specific implementation, the mirror redundancy scheme is RAID level 1, the parity redundancy scheme is RAID level 6 and N is equal to 5. In yet another specific implementation, the mirror redundancy scheme is triple mirror, the parity redundancy scheme is RAID level 6 and N is equal to 4.
The present invention may also be implemented as a program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform steps for mapping a data storage space provided by a disk array into redundant units. The data storage space includes a first and a second set of stripes, the first set of stripes each having at least a pre-determined number of blocks and the second set of stripes each having less than the pre-determined number of blocks include mapping a first block form a first stripe and a second block from a second stripe so as to create a single redundant unit for storing data according to a mirror redundancy scheme. The first stripe being from the first set of stripes and the second stripe being from the second set of stripes. Preferably, the mirror redundancy scheme is selected from a list including RAID level 1 and triple mirror. In one specific implementation, the mirror redundancy scheme is RAID level 1 and the predetermined number is equal to three.
The method steps may also include mapping each block from a second stripe so as to create a second redundant unit for storing data according to a parity redundancy scheme, the second stripe being from the first set of stripes. The parity redundancy scheme may be selected from a list including RAID level 5 and RAID level 6. In one specific implementation, the mirror redundancy scheme is RAID level 1, the parity redundancy scheme is RAID level 5 and the predetermined number is equal to three.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for mapping data in a heterogeneous disk array storage system


A system for rate control and buffer management during coding of multiple variable bit rate digital video programs over a constant bit rate channel. The system is suitable for use in a hierarchical bit allocation scheme that includes a super group of pictures (GOP) level, a super frame level, and a frame level. For each super GOP with a length N frames, for each video program, the transmission rate for the current frame is set according to an average number of compressed bits for at least N previous frames, including a frame starting at Nxe2x80x2+Nxe2x88x921 frames before the current frame, a frame ending at Nxe2x80x2 frames before the current frame, and intermediate frames therebetween. Nxe2x80x2 is a decoding delay of a modeled decoder that receives a respective video program. Moreover, the transmission rates of future frames are pre-set so that the average input rate of each individual video stream to the respective decoder buffer is equal to the average output rate, and the total transmission rate of programs is equal to the channel rate.

The present invention relates to rate control and buffer management during coding of digital video programs. In particular, the invention discusses rate control and buffer protection issues for transmitting multiple VBR (variable bit rate) video programs over a constant-rate channel.
In a multi-program transmission environment, several programs (e.g., channels) are coded, multiplexed and transmitted over a single communication channel. Since these programs share a limited channel capacity, the aggregate bit rate of the programs must be no greater than the communication channel rate. This can be achieved by controlling either each individual program bit rate using independent coding, or the aggregate bit rate using statistical multiplexing, also known as joint coding.
Moreover, video materials such as films and the like may be pre-compressed and stored for subsequent transmission. This presents difficulties when the stat mux attempts to integrate the pre-compressed program bit streams with the raw, uncompressed digital video sequences.
Additionally, it is necessary to ensure that the encoder and decoder buffers do not overflow or underflow.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a rate control and buffer protection system that addresses the above and other concerns. The system should be compatible with dynamic bit allocation strategies for joint coding of multiple video programs which assign a target bit rate for each program on a frame-by-frame basis according to the program""s relative complexity. The system should pre-determine the transmission rates of future frames so that the average input rate of each individual video stream to the respective decoder buffer is equal to the average output rate, and the total transmission rate of all programs is equal to the channel rate. The system should enable the upper and lower bonds of the encoder and decoder buffers to be measurable at the encoding end at the current frame instant.
The present invention provides a rate control and buffer protection system that provides the above and other advantages.
The present invention relates to rate control and buffer management during coding of digital video programs.
A system is presented for rate control and buffer management during coding of multiple variable bit rate digital video programs over a constant bit rate channel. Buffer fullness is modeled on a frame-by-frame basis. Buffer protection is achieved by applying additional constraints on the target rates. For encoder buffer protection, we set the upper and lower bounds for the aggregate rate of programs. For decoder buffer protection, we limit the dynamic range of each individual program rate. Both the upper and lower bounds are time-varying functions (i.e., on a frame-by-frame basis). We also pre-set the future transmission rates so that the average input rate of each individual video stream to the respective decoder buffer is equal to the average output rate, and the total transmission rate of programs is equal to the channel rate. With the pre-settings of future transmission rates for the above two conditions, the upper and lower bounds for decoder buffer protection become measurable at the current frame instant, which allows decoder buffer protection to be managed at the encoding end. The system is suitable for use in a hierarchical bit allocation scheme that includes a super group of pictures (GOP) level, a super frame level, and a frame level.
A particular method for coding a plurality L of variable bit rate video programs includes the step of allocating bits for coding the video programs according to a hierarchical scheme that includes at least: (a) a super group of pictures (GOP) level, wherein a super GOP comprises at least one GOP from each of the video programs, and has a length of N frames, and (b) a frame level. For each lth program, a transmission rate is set for the respective current nth frame according to an average number of compressed bits for at least N previous frames, including a frame starting at Nxe2x80x2+Nxe2x88x921 frames before the current frame, a frame ending at Nxe2x80x2 frames before the current frame, and intermediate frames therebetween. Nxe2x80x2 is a decoding delay of a modeled decoder that receives a respective video program.
As an example, with a super GOP length of N=45 frames, and a decoding delay of Nxe2x80x2=15 frames, the transmission rate may be set based on an average number of compressed bits for 45 previous frames, including a frame starting at 59 frames before the current frame, and a frame ending at 15 frames before the current frame.
A corresponding apparatus is also presented.

Rate control and buffer protection for variable bit rate video programs over a constant rate channel


Solid state CMOS active pixel sensor devices having unit pixels that are structured to provide improved uniformity of pixel-to-pixel sensitivity across a pixel array without the need for an additional light shielding layer. For example, unit pixels with symmetrical layout patterns are formed whereby one or more lower-level BEOL metallization layers are designed operate as light shielding layers which are symmetrically patterned and arranged to balance the amount of incident light reaching the photosensitive regions.

Various types of solid state imaging devices/have been developed, which primarily include charge-coupled devices (CCDs) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor devices, as well as hybrid image sensors that are based on a combination of CCD and CMOS image sensor designs. In general, CCD and CMOS solid state imaging sensors CCD image sensors operate based on the "photoelectric effect", which occurs when silicon is exposed to light. In particular, CCD and CMOS image sensors include pixel arrays where each unit pixel includes a light receiving region including one or more photo detector elements (such as photodiodes) formed in an active silicon region of the pixel. When the light receiving region is exposed to light, photons in the visible and near-IR (infra red) light spectrums have sufficient energy to break covalent bonds in the silicon, thereby releasing electrons from the valence band into the conduction band. The amount of electrons generated is proportional to the light intensity. The photon-generated charges are accumulated by the photo detector elements in the pixel array, and then detected and processed to generate a digital image.
FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a unit pixel of a conventional CMOS image sensor device having a 4-transistor (4-T) active pixel sensor framework. In general, the exemplary unit pixel (10) comprises a PD (photo detector) element (or light receiving element), a transfer transistor TX, an FD (floating diffusion) region (or sense node), a reset transistor RX, an amplifier DX (or source follower amplifier), and a select transistor SX. The PD element may be a photodiode or a pinned photodiode, for example, which is formed in a light receiving region (or photosensitive region) of the pixel (10). The PD element is coupled/decoupled to/from the FD region by operation of the transfer transistor TX. The reset transistor RX has a gate electrode connected to an RS control signal line. The transfer transistor TX has a gate electrode connected to a TG control signal line. The select transistor SX has a gate electrode connected to an SEL control signal line and a source electrode connected to an output (column) line OUT. The transistors RX, TX, DX and SX are operated to perform functions such as resetting the pixel, transferring accumulated charges from the PD element to the FD region, and converting the accumulated charges in the FD region to a measurable voltage that is amplified and transferred to the output line OUT.
More specifically, the exemplary unit pixel (10) operates as follows. Initially, during an integration period (or charge collection period), the pixel (10) is illuminated with incident light and photo-generated charges are accumulated in a potential well (or charge accumulation region) of the PD element. After the integration period is complete, the reset transistor RX is activated by a reset control signal applied to the RS control signal line, to drain charge from the FD region and set the FD region to a reference potential (e.g., the FD region is charged to approximately the source voltage VDD less the threshold voltage of the reset transistor RX). After the reset operation, the transfer transistor TX is activated by a control signal applied to the TG control signal line to transfer the accumulated photo-generated charges from the PD element to the FD region. The amplifier transistor DX amplifies the voltage of the FD region and the amplified voltage is buffered/coupled to the column output line (26) via the select transistor SX, which is activated by a row select signal applied to the SEL control signal line.
Historically, analog CCD image sensors have dominated the market for solid-state imaging applications due to various advantages afforded by CCD image sensors, including superior dynamic range, low FPN (fixed pattern noise) and high sensitivity to light. Advances in CMOS technologies, however, have led to the development of improved CMOS image sensor designs, thereby allowing CMOS solid state image sensors to displace CCDs in various solid state imaging applications. Solid state CMOS image sensors afford various advantages including, for example, low cost fabrication, low power consumption with a single voltage power supply, system-on-chip integration, high-speed operation (e.g., capturing sequential images at high frame rates), highly-integrated pixel arrays, on-chip image processing systems, random access to unit pixels, etc. In contrast, CCD image sensor devices are expensive to fabricate, typically require 2, 3 or more supply voltages at different clock speeds with significantly higher power consumption, and do not allow random access to unit pixels.
Compared to solid state CCDs, however, conventional CMOS active pixel sensors have lower "fill factors", which results in degraded performance (e.g., low sensitivity to incident light, low quantum efficiency, poor signal-to-noise ratio and limited dynamic range.). In general, the pixel "fill factor" (or aperture efficiency) refers to the ratio of the area of the light receiving region (or photosensitive region) of the pixel to the total area of the pixel. CMOS active pixel sensors have low "fill factors" due to the incorporation of the active circuits and associated interconnects in the unit pixels surrounding the designed photosensitive regions. The "fill factor" of a CMOS active pixel sensor is further explained with reference to FIG. 2, which schematically illustrates an exemplary layout pattern of a unit pixel (20).
As depicted in FIG. 2, the total surface area of the unit pixel (20) includes a defined photosensitive region (21) and a transistor region (22) that surrounds the photosensitive region (21). The photosensitive region (21) is the area of the pixel that is designed to capture incident light striking the pixel (20). A light receiving element (e.g., photodiode PD) is formed in the active silicon of the photosensitive region (21). The transistor region (22) is the pixel area in which the active components (e.g., amplifier, reset, and row select transistors) and BEOL (Back-End-Of-Line) interconnect structures are formed. For the most part, the transistor region (22) is essentially an "optically dead" region because most of the incident light on the transistor region (22) is absorbed or reflected by the active circuit components and interconnects within the region (22). Consequently, the photosensitive region (21) of the pixel (20), which is capable of absorbing photons to generate charge, is limited by the pixel area needed for the transistor region (22), resulting in a low fill factor. Various pixel designs include L-shaped photodiodes, rectangular shaped photodiodes and square-shaped photodiodes, which provide different "fill factors".
Although the transistor region (22) is, for the most part, an "optically dead" region of the pixel (20), some light incident can be absorbed by the underlying substrate of the transistor region (22) resulting in generation of photo-generated charges. These photo-generated charges can be collected in the potential well of the PD element. In this regard, the "designed" fill factor of the active pixel (which is based on the actual exposed area (aperture) of the photosensitive region (21)) differs from an "effective" fill factor because the transistor region (22) of the pixel can also contribute to charges collected in by the PD element. Moreover, some of the photo-generated charges in the transistor region (22) can be captured by the junctions (e.g., FD region) or potential wells of active components in the transistor region (22), or can diffuse to, and be collected in, PD elements of neighboring pixels. Consequently, the generation of photo charges in the transistor region (22) can result in noise and cause non-uniform pixel response across the pixel array.
In some conventional active pixel designs, pixel response non-uniformity is mitigated by use of a separate metal light shield layer formed over the pixel array, wherein the light shield layer operates to shield incident light from pixel transistor regions, but comprises apertures aligned to the photosensitive regions to allow incident light to reach the photosensitive regions of the pixel. Essentially, the light shield layer operates to separate the pixel response of the defined photosensitive region from that of the transistor regions and, thus, achieve a more uniform pixel response across the pixel array. The use of additional light shields, however, result in reduced pixel fill factor and lower Quantum Efficiency (QE) performance (and thus, degraded performance), and place design constraints for constructing active pixels sensors, as will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a unit pixel of a conventional CMOS active pixel sensor having a separate light shield layer. In particular, FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a unit pixel formed in an active region of a semiconductor substrate (30) defined by an isolation layer (31). A photodiode element PD and diffusion regions (32) and (33) are formed in the active silicon region of the pixel. A stacked structure (34) is formed over the substrate (30). The stacked layers (34) include a plurality of gate electrodes (e.g., transfer and reset transistors Tx and Rx) and alternating layers of transparent dielectric layers and opaque metal layers that form the BEOL metallization interconnects. A upper metal layer is formed to operate as a light shield (34a) having a defined opening (aperture) (34b) of width, w, which is aligned to the PD element in the substrate (30). Some incident light on the pixel surface is reflected/blocked by the metal shield (34a) and some incident light enters through the aperture (34b) and passes through a tunnel region (34c) of the stacked layers (34) (which is devoid of metal lines of the BOEL structure) and is absorbed by the PD element.
Although the light shield (34a) can increase uniformity of pixel-to-pixel response, the use of the separate light shield layer (34a) lowers the pixel sensitivity. Indeed, the use of the additional light shield layer (34a) results in an increase in the height h of the stacked layers (34), and thus increases the aspect ratio of the tunnel height to the aperture width (i.e., the ratio of h/w). As the aspect ratio increases, the amount of incident light that can pass through the aperture (34b) to the PD element decreases as a result in the limited angle of incidence, which results in lower pixel sensitivity and lower QE. As CMOS technology scales to smaller feature sizes, smaller size pixels and light shield apertures can be formed to increase integration density. On a practical level, however, the size of active pixels sensors will be limited despite smaller available design rules due to a required level of pixel sensitivity needed for effective operation. Indeed, as the pixels with separate light shields are constructed with smaller design rules, the aspect ratio of the tunnel height h to the aperture width w increases, which results in decreased pixel sensitivity. Thus, to enable smaller design rules, it is desirable to limit the height h of the stacked layers (34) above the substrate (30), while using effective light shielding to minimize variation of pixel-to-pixel sensitivity across a pixel array.

CMOS image sensors having pixel arrays with uniform light sensitivity


Technologies are generally described herein for adapting an error correction coding scheme. Some example technologies may receive a message. The technologies may generate a portion of a codeword by encoding the message based on the error correction coding scheme. The technologies may transmit a copy of the portion of the codeword from a transmitter to a receiver via a feedforward communications channel. The technologies may generate feedback based on the copy of the portion of the codeword. The technologies may transmit a copy of the feedback from the receiver to the transmitter via a feedback communications channel. The technologies may generate an adapted error correction coding scheme by adjusting the error correction coding scheme based on the copy of the feedback.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Communications systems may be designed to operate at error probabilities below a threshold level in order to provide a certain quality of service. In one example, such systems may provide certain quality of service for voice communications when bit error probabilities are below 10−3. In another example, such systems may provide certain quality of service for video communications when block error probabilities are below 10−5.
During the early years of the telecommunications industry, communications providers would typically decrease error probabilities by increasing transmission power. In 1948, Claude Shannon published his work on channel coding theorems and theorized that better error probability to power tradeoffs (i.e., lower error probability using less transmission power) are achievable by implementing error correction codes. Since that time, various error correction coding schemes have been developed that achieve increasingly better error probability to power tradeoffs. However, existing error correction coding schemes may be not be suitable for some modern applications, such as ubiquitous computing systems, satellite communications, and mobile communications.

Low complexity and power efficient error correction coding schemes


In a shift lock mechanism of a column AT shift lever device, a select plate movable by operation of a select cable is pivotally connected to an end portion of a shaft that is turnable by a shift lever. A distal end of the select plate is engageable with a detent plate. A shift lock plate is provided on an outer surface of a retainer holding the shaft, in such a manner that the shift lock plate is slidable relative to the retainer. The shift lock plate cooperates with braking operation and key operation to restrict movement of the select plate, thereby performing a predetermined shift lock function.

The present invention relates to a shift lock mechanism of an automotive column automatic transmission (AT) shift lever device.
A column AT shift lever device is a device wherein a shift lever is mounted near a column shaft. In a widely employed construction, at the time of a shift operation, for example, from the parking position to a drive position, a select button provided in a shift knob is pressed so that the engagement between a detent plate and a detent member is released by operation of a select rod or a select cable, thereby permitting shift operations to proceed.
Column AT shift levers of this type incorporate a shift lock mechanism. The shift lock mechanism is a multi-purpose safety device which prevents a car from jolting into motion by requiring the driver to step on the brake pedal before engaging the car into gear, other than the park position, and also prevents removal of the key unless the column shift is returned to the park position to prevent the car from rolling. The lock cylinder has a LOCK position when inserting/removing a key, and an ACC position to start and drive the car.
As a shift lock mechanism described above, a solenoid type mechanism has been conventionally employed, wherein movement of the brake pedal is detected by a switch, and when the brake pedal is depressed, a solenoid is operated to release the shift lock. However, such solenoid type shift lock mechanisms have drawbacks in that a solenoid adds to the total weight, and there is a need to provide a mechanical emergency override in case of a problem in the electrical system. Thus, the entire construction becomes complicated and costly.

Shift lock mechanism of column automatic transmission shift lever device


A switching type hook is provided whose hook base can be made small-sized without degrading strength and durability. A stopper portion formed at an inner side of a lower end of a hook member is caused to contact directly with a side surface of a head of a bolt for fixing of the hook base so that a load applied to the hook member is born.

The invention relates to an improvement in a switching type hook, which is mounted on a wall surface in an automobile room or the like and ox which a jacket, a shopping bag or the like is hung.
Conventional switching (opening and closing) type hooks are constructed such that a hook member 3 made of a resin is pivotally mounted to a lower end of a hook base 1 made of a resin by a pin 2. With such switching type hooks, when in non-use, the hook member 3 is turned to be received in the hook base 1 such that their facing side surfaces come close to each other, and when in use, the hook member 3 is turned to a horizontal position to be drawn out (see FIG. 5).
Such conventional switching type hooks are constructed such that when the hook member 3 is drawn out to a horizontal position, a stopper portion 4 formed at a lower end of the hook member 3 is caused to abut against an underside of the hook base 1 so that a load applied to the hook member 3 is born.
In this manner, conventional switching type hooks involve a problem that since resin materials themselves are caused to contact with each other to thereby bear a load applied to the hook member 3, there is a need of ensuring a considerably large contact space (contact between the hook base 1 and the stopper portion 4 of the hook member 3) on the hook base 1 whereby the hook base 1 is made large in external size.
The present invention has been contemplated to solve the above-mentioned problem of the prior art and provide a switching type hook capable of making a hook base small-sized while meeting the requirements of a predetermined strength and durability.
The invention provides a switching type hook, in which a lower end of a hook member made of a resin is pivotally mounted to a lower end of a hook base made of a resin by a horizontal pin so that the hook member is made turnable, characterized in that a bolt for fixing of the hook base has its head projecting above and near the horizontal pin so that when the hook member is drawn out to a horizontal position, a stopper portion formed on an inner side of a lower end of the hook member is caused to contact with a side surface of the head of the bolt.
In addition, the head of the bolt can be tapered.
With the switching type hook according to the present invention, when the hook member is drawn out to a horizontal position, the stopper portion formed at the inner side of the lower end of the hook member is caused to contact directly with the side surface of the head of the bolt for fixing of the hook base to bear a load, so that there is no need of providing a large contact space on the hook base. Accordingly, the hook base can be made small-sized without degrading strength and durability.


An approach is provided to cause an operation comprising one or more of a substrate tamping process, a substrate offset process, and a mechanism actuation process. The approach involves determining an instruction to cause the operation. The approach also involves causing a movement of one or more of a slide element and a shaft based on the instruction. The slide element and the shaft are configured to move in a first direction and a second direction along a length of the shaft. The movement in the first direction and the second direction of one or more of the slide element and the shaft corresponds to the operation.

Printing systems in modern image forming devices often provide multiple separate mechanisms that are configured to individually perform tasks associated with, for example, alignment of single and multiple substrates in the image forming devices. These individually-implemented tasks include separate mechanisms for tamping a stack of substrates, for laterally offsetting one or more substrates, and for actuating other mechanisms that are otherwise useful in control of substrate movement through the image forming device. The other mechanisms may include actuating certain latching mechanisms for locking and unlocking components associated with the movement of substrates out of the image forming devices. Image forming device manufacturers are continually challenged to reduce the overall space occupied by various multi-component or multi-function printing systems, without increasing complexity or cost.

Method and apparatus for combining one or more of tamping a stack of substrates, laterally offsetting a substrate, and actuating other mechanisms useful in printing in an image forming device


An ion implanter has a source arc chamber including a conductive end wall at a repeller end of the arc chamber, the end wall having a central portion surrounding an opening. A ceramic insulator is secured to an outer surface of the end wall, such as by peripheral screw threads engaging mating threads at the periphery of a recessed area of the end wall. A conductive repeller has a narrow shaft secured to the insulator and extending through the end wall opening, and a body disposed within the source arc chamber adjacent to the end wall. The end wall, insulator and repeller are configured to form a continuous vacuum gap between the central portion of the end wall and (i) the repeller body, (ii) the repeller shaft, and (iii) the insulator. The insulator interior surface can have a ridged cross section.

The present invention is related to the field of ion implanters for use in semiconductor manufacturing.
Ion implanters used in semiconductor manufacturing include a source arc chamber in which an electrical discharge interacts with a gas to create a plasma containing a variety of ion species, including a desired species to be implanted in the surface of a semiconductor wafer. The positive ions are extracted from the source arc chamber in a known manner, and apparatus within the implanter separates the desired species from the undesired species and directs the desired species to the surface of the wafer at a desired energy level.
In one common configuration, the source arc chamber includes an emitter electrode at one end and a repeller electrode at the other end. The emitter electrode may be a cathode heated by a filament, or simply a bare filament, and its purpose is to emit electrons by thermionic emission during operation. The electrons are accelerated into the arc chamber by a relatively positive arc voltage on the arc chamber walls, and an externally generated magnetic field causes the electrons to travel a spiral path into the arc chamber. The emitter and repeller electrodes are typically biased negatively with respect to the walls of the arc chamber. The combined effect of the emitter and repeller electrodes is to concentrate electrons toward the center of the arc chamber to maximize interaction with the gas and thereby attain a desired operational efficiency.
In one known configuration, the repeller has a broad portion that faces the center of the arc chamber, and a narrower shaft that extends outside the arc chamber through an opening in the arc chamber end wall. A ceramic insulator is disposed in the arc chamber between the end wall and the repeller to maintain the required electrical isolation.
During operation, the source arc chamber contains a host of molecular species at very high temperatures. Components in this harsh environment are subjected to conditions that may unduly limit their lifetime or their effectiveness, thus limiting the effectiveness and/or increasing the operating costs of the implanter. For example, there is a tendency for films of conductive material to be deposited on the interior arc chamber surfaces, including for example the surface of the ceramic insulator on which the repeller is mounted. This coating leads to electrical breakdown, which in turn leads to burn marks referred to as "track marks" or "tracking" on the ceramic and coating. Excessive electrical breakdown can interfere with normal operation of the implanter. There are other failure modes involving deposited material and the repeller insulator as well.
It is known to remove the repeller insulator outside of the arc chamber so as to reduce the formation of a conductive film and increase the lifetime of the source. In one such configuration, the outer end of the repeller is held in place by a cantilevered arm that is secured to other structure of the implanter by an insulator component. The repeller is held in a position in which its shaft passes through the end wall opening without touching it. In this configuration, the insulator is essentially shielded from any buildup of a conductive film by the arc chamber walls themselves. An ion implanter employing such a configuration is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,077 of Bright et al.

Source arc chamber for ion implanter having repeller electrode mounted to external insulator

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.


A plug-in module providing the functionality of a covert alarm and locator apparatus allows the module to be moved between various articles of footwear or other apparel, as desired, and it allows the module to be used for additional purposes, such as pet monitoring, or the inclusion within a golfer's glove having a display which shows the distance to the pin on a particular course. By modularizing the circuitry, it is fast, easy, and inexpensive for a parent to replace a child's footwear when the child needs a larger size. Further, there is no need to have numerous cellular phone or monitoring subscriptions, as they are all tied to a single, moveable module. In addition, traditional competitive apparel manufacturers can each supply units capable of receiving the module on a competitive basis, thereby extending the user's purchase and style options while still providing the benefits of having a covert alarm and locator apparatus, as described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an article of apparel, such as footwear, or the like, and to items which are of a nature to be commonly worn or carried by a person or pet. More specifically, the present invention relates to such an article which has an alarm circuit that can be covertly, selectively engaged by the wearer (or carrier thereof), or by one who has the legal right to act on behalf of the wearer (or carrier) of the item or article. In particular, the present invention relates to a modular circuit specifically adapted for use in combination with an article of attire, such as footwear, or other items which is worn or carried, and which is adapted to receive and retain the modular circuitry whereby the combination can be used to in selectively send a covert alarm signal to a remote monitoring location, with the covert alarm signal being encoded with the position of the wearer (or carrier) of the article.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, there have been other alarm devices designed for use with articles and apparel. Typically, though, such devices provided a "local" alarm, i.e., an alarm which employs an audio and/or visible signal to alert nearby persons of the wearer's need for assistance. One such device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,658,848 issued to Kalikow on Feb. 14, 1928 in which an electrical circuit connected to an audio alarm is activated upon the wearer stepping on a mat whereby conductive spikes in the wearer's shoe complete an alarm circuit. A similar device is described by Kalikow, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 1,771,258 which issued on Jul. 22, 1930.
Covert operation of alarm circuit is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,086 which issued to Riedo on Dec. 4, 1973 which describes an alarm apparatus in which a toe operated switch in an article of footwear is used to covertly activate a transmitter whereby an alarm circuit in a nearby receiver (i.e., a receiver within the range of transmission) is activated. Another toe switch is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,853 which issued to Ganyard, et al. on Sep. 21, 1982.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,272 which issued to Randall P. Cox on Jul. 1, 1986 describes a different type of alarm device suitable for use by a parent (or pet owner) for locating a child (or pet) in which the child or pet is equipped with a remotely operated audio alarm signaling device, while the parent or pet owned holds a transmitter which can remotely activate that audio alarm, so that it gives off a "raucous" signal, thereby enabling the parent or pet owner to locate the child or pet, so long as they are within range of the audible signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,259 issued to Musa on Sep. 17, 1996 describes a child-worn transmitter which is used in conjunction with a nearby parent-worn receiver to locate a child who is more than some preset distance from the parent. The parent-worn receiver includes a direction finder to assist in locating the nearby child.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,432 which issued to McCarthy on Nov. 12, 1996 describes an ankle and shoe covering device, which is quite apparent to anyone close by which issues an audible signal upon activation of alarm buttons by the wearer. While the patent also discusses transmitting a radio alarm signal, it describes no circuitry capable of so doing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,087 issued on May 5, 1998 to Ingargiola, et al. describes a system for keeping track of a nearby child or Alzheimer's patient. The system includes a pair of units, each having a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter of the child's (or patient's) unit transmits continuously. The observer's unit monitors that signal, and sends out a signal to the child's (or patient's) unit to cause that unit to provide audio and visual alarms should the child (or patient) wander too far away (e.g., when the signal strength of the child's, or patient's, transmitter decreases below a preset threshold). Alternatively, the observer can remotely initiate an alarm from the child's (or patient's) unit by transmitting a signal to that unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,461 which issued to Neher on May 18, 1999 describes a tracking system in which the tracked person wears a wristband device which includes a Global Positioning System ("GPS") receiver. The device is mounted in a wristband which locks on the wearer's wrist, and which continuously transmits a location signal to a nearby relay station, which has the capability of further transmitting the wearer's location to a tracking satellite, for further relay to a monitoring station. Shortcomings of this system include both the "always on" feature, and the need for a very expensive, dedicated infrastructure (e.g., the relay stations and tracking satellites). The shortcomings of an "always on" system are that they have very limited battery life, and that they deprive the wearer of privacy. Further, anyone with an RF monitor can triangulate on the transmitter of an "always on" system, even if they cannot decode the signal being transmitted to get the GPS location information. Similar systems are also described b Neher in U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,778 which issued on Mar. 26, 2002 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,388,612 which issued on May 14, 2002.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,370s issued to Underwood on Aug. 21, 2001 addresses the need for a system which can be activated on demand, so as to conserve battery life, and it also addresses the need to use the existing infrastructure to locate someone who is in distress. Thus, Underwood describes the use of either an existing cellular phone system, or an existing low earth orbit satellite monitoring system to receive, and relay (to a monitoring location) a distress signal. However, Underwood fails to address a reliable means for locating the party transmitting the distress signal. Consequently, only a relative area (e.g., based on the location of the cell phone towers or the reception area of low earth orbit satellite) can be identified as the location of the party in distress. Obviously, if danger is imminent, or if the party is being abducted (and is in a moving vehicle), such generalized location data is not terribly helpful to those seeking to aid the party in distress, as Underwood does not teach anything about transmitting specific location data of the party in distress.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,788,200 issued to Jamel, et al. describes a GPS based system in which an "always on" module contained in an article of footwear continuously transmits the location of the wearer. As set forth above, the "always on" feature deprives the unit of extended battery life, and it deprives the wearer of privacy, as the wearer is unable to control who is monitoring his precise (e.g., GPS encoded) location, or his relative location (based on triangulation of the transmitted RF signal). Further, the apparatus described by Jamel, et al. lacks the ability to be worn in a covert manner in that it employs external clips to retain the electronics module and it also employs an antenna which is visibly mounted on the tongue of the footwear.
In that none of the foregoing art describes an article of footwear or other worn or carried item containing a GPS unit, together with a cellular phone module which can be selectively activated by the wearer (or carrier of the article) in a covert manner, the present inventor has heretofore filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/979,894, entitled FOOTWEAR COVERT ALARM AND LOCATOR APPARATUS on Nov. 1, 2004 to overcome those shortcomings of the prior art. As described therein, an electronics module could be covertly mounted in the sole of an article of footwear, such as an athletic shoe. The shoe described therein includes a covert activation switch, which the wearer can selectively press, to cause the module to encode its present location based on receiving a GPS signal which is then transmitted by included cellular phone circuitry to a remote monitoring location from which assistance can be dispatched. Unlike the other prior devices, the system described by the present inventor assures both extended battery life and user privacy by causing transmission of the user's location only upon selective activation of the alarm circuitry. Notwithstanding the benefits provided by the foregoing system, a major portion of the expense of the system is in the electronics module containing the GPS receiver, logic circuitry, and the cellular phone electronics.

Modular plug and wear covert alarm locator apparatus


A portable radio transceiver wherein an isolator which impedance varies usually with the frequency of a communication signal is connected to a power amplifier for power amplification of the communication signal as its load so that, when the frequency of the communication signal is changed through selection of the communication channel, the load impedance of the power amplifier is also changed and correspondingly the consumption current of the power amplifier is changed. In the portable radio transceiver, in order to suppress the change of the consumption current of the power amplifier, an impedance compensation circuit which impedance varies in its direction opposed to the isolator depending on the frequency of the communication signal is separately connected to the power amplifier, whereby changes in the impedance of the load side when viewed from the power amplifier can be substantially cancelled each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to portable transceivers such as cellular type mobile radio telephones which are driven by a battery power source to transmit and receive data on a plurality of channels (a plurality of frequencies) in a radio broadcasting manner and which have a function of stabilizing a consumption current and more particularly, to a portable transceiver which can average the quantities of currents different with respect to used channels and thus can maintain substantially the same power consumption in the battery power source with respect to the different channels even when any of the channels is used.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6 schematically shows a block diagram of an arrangement of the final stage of a prior art portable radio transceiver. The radio transceiver of FIG. 6 includes a power amplifier 1, an isolator 2, and an antenna 3. In operation, a signal 100 generated as a transmission signal at the previous stage of the transceiver is amplified with respect to power at the power amplifier 1, sent via the isolator 2 to the transmitting antenna 3, and then radiated from the antenna 3 in the form of transmission waves (electromagnetic waves).
Meanwhile it is known that the impedance of the above isolator 2 varies depending on the frequency of its input signal. More specifically, the isolator 2 has such a characteristic that the higher the frequency of the input signal is the larger the capacity is, and conversely the lower the frequency of the input signal is the larger the inductance is. The consumption current of the power amplifier 1 varies with the impedance of a load connected thereto and when the load has a large capacitive impedance, the power amplifier 1 has a small output current and thus requires a small consumption current. Conversely, when the load has a small capacitive impedance or a large inductive impedance, the power amplifier 1 requires its relatively large output current and thus a large consumption current.
Accordingly, in the case where such a portable radio transceiver transmits signals having a plurality of frequencies through channel switching operation:
(a) when the transceiver transmits a signal having a relatively high frequency through corresponding selected one (frequency) of the channels, the isolator 2 connected to the power amplifier 1 as its load has a large capacitive impedance, whereby the consumption current of the power amplifier 1 is suppressed to a low level and therefore the power consumption of the battery power source in the portable radio transceiver can be reduced.
(b) When the radio transceiver transmits a signal having a relatively low frequency, the isolator 2 connected to the power amplifier 1 as its load has a small capacitive impedance or has a large inductive impedance, which results in that the consumption current of the power amplifier 1 becomes large and therefore the battery power source of the portable radio transceiver is quickly and much consumed.
In this way, the consumption current of the power amplifier 1 and thus the power consumption of the battery power source (e.g., Ni-Cd battery) varies depending on the selected channel.
For this reason, in such a portable radio transceiver, generally speaking, it is difficult in actual circumstances to prescribe a standard battery device in its specification. In addition, with respect to differences in the power consumption of the battery power source between the use channels, the power consumption of the battery power source when one of the channels having a higher frequency is selected can be maintained or sustained for a relatively long; whereas, when one of the channels having a lower frequency is frequently selected, the power of the battery power source can be consumed unexpectedly quickly, thus causing an undesirable communication failure and a user to be confused.

Portable transceiver having consumption-current stabilizing function


Primary objective of the present invention is to effect a seal against assembly clearances formed between components which admit flows of high temperature fluids or are subjected to vibrations. The seal device is comprised of a supporting member which has a first seal protrusion and a second seal protrusion wherein the seal protrusion is brought into sealing contact with a second slot surface of the one component, wherein the second seal protrusion is brought into sealing contact with a second symmetric slot surface of the other component, a retaining member which protrudes from the supporting member, a first seal member which includes a second side portion, a bight-shaped first elastic portion and a first side portion wherein the second side portion is fixed to the side wall of the retaining member, wherein the first side portion is at an angle, wherein the first seal member has a sheet form, a second seal member which includes a second side portion, a bight-shaped first elastic portion and a first side portion wherein the second side portion is fixed to the side wall of the retaining member, wherein the first side portion is at an angle, wherein the first seal member has a sheet form, wherein the second seal member is arranged symmetrically to the first seal member, a first seal surface which is defined at a distal end portion of the outer side surface of the first side portion wherein the first seal surface is brought into sealing contact with a first slot surface of the one component, and a second seal surface which is defined at a distal end portion of the outer side surface of the first side portion wherein the first seal surface is brought into sealing contact with a first symmetric slot surface of the other component, wherein the end sections of the both second side portions are fixed to the retaining member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a seal device. More particularly, this invention relates to a seal device effecting a seal against gaps at the surfaces of assembly components when a distance between the surfaces varies under the influence of external forces, thermal deformation or the like. This invention, for example, relates to a seal device effecting a seal against the surfaces of assembly components subjected to thermal stress in a turbine assembly or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Turbine assemblies include turbine sections of steam turbines and assembly unit of compressor and turbine sections of gas turbines or the like. Turbine section 100 of a gas turbine includes moving blade assembly 110 which rotates with a rotor and stationary blade assembly which is fixed in a compartment (not shown). The moving blade assembly 110 consists of a platform 110A which is connected to the rotor and moving blades 110B. The stationary blade assembly, on the other hand, consists of stationary blades, an inner shroud and an outer shroud wherein the inner shroud and the outer shroud are fixed at the both ends of the stationary blades.
A blade surface of the stationary blade and the inner and the outer shrouds form a passage wall for high temperature gas flowing through the turbine part, and also a blade surface of the moving blade 110B and the platform 110A form a passage wall for high temperature gas. Furthermore, in the compartment, a division ring forming a passage wall for high temperature gas together with the blade surface of the certain space between a tip end of the moving blade 110B. The provision ring is formed of a plurality of division ring sections that are connected in the direction of arrangement of moving blade 110B, and forms a wall surface of a circular ring cross section as a whole.
The moving blade assembly 110 as well as the stationary blade assembly have to be arranged to tolerate thermal deformation caused by heat passing through between the blades. Also mounting of a plurality of blades on the shroud section requires the fabrication process to be straightforward. In addition, division of the parts involved is necessary in order to simplify the assembly process and to decrease the associated assembly cost. For these reasons, the moving blade assembly 110 and the stationary blade assembly are divided into a plurality of subassemblies along the circumferential direction of the rotor. That is, the platform sections 110A as well as the shroud sections, like the division ring, are arranged to include a plurality of divided pieces which are adjoined in the direction of arrangement of blade.
When the shroud sections, platform sections 110A and division ring sections are, respectively, connected in the peripheral direction of the rotor, it is necessary to previously keep a gap between the connected shroud sections, between the connected platform sections 110A, between the connected division ring sections. This is because the shroud sections, platform sections and division ring sections will expand by heat in also the peripheral direction due to exposure to high temperature gas, and it is desired to design so that these gaps will completely disappear in the state that these sections expand by heat. In other words, in the condition that high temperature gas flows through the passage formed by the blade surface, shroud, platform or division ring, the high temperature gas will leak outside from the gap formed between the connected platform sections and the like, which may cause decrease in turbine efficiency, or occurrence of unexpected failure at other portions outside the fluid passage by the high temperature gas which is burned gas.
As related art 1 of the present invention, U.S. patent No. 2002/0090296 discloses seal member, spline seal and seal assembly which are used in turbine sections of gas turbines or steam turbines. The seal member, spline seal and seal assembly are mounted at such locations of turbine sections where the assembly gaps of the shrouds or platform are forced to change by hot combustion gases, compression gases or vibratory force.
In U.S. patent No. 2002/0090296, as shown in FIG. 12, a "T"-sectioned seal member 102 is disposed in a gap 112 which is formed between side end surfaces 113, 113 of respective platform sections 110A, 110A. This seal member 102 prevents hot gases V from leaking outside through the gap 112. The seal members 102 are similarly utilized in the gap of segmented rings as well as in the gaps of shrouds. With such a simple "T"-sectioned seal member 102, however, a clearance still remains in the gap unless thermal expansion of the platform sections 110A, 110A causes the respective side end surfaces 113, 113 to be brought into close contact with the seal member 102, and so does leaking outside of the hot gases V. Further, the hot gases V induced into the gasp 112 may damage the side end surfaces 113, 113.
Relative art 2 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,014 (not shown) in which opposing grooves are defined between the side end surfaces of the platform sections and a spline seal is disposed between the opposing grooves. This spline seal consists of a shim-layer assemblage made of metal surrounded by a cloth-layer assemblage. This spline seal, however, provides a seal against the platform gap in a similar manner to the relative art 1 that the spline seal is laid flat on the bottom surface of the opposing grooves therebetween. That is, the spline seal is configured in such a manner that the opposing groove and the spline seal are arranged in a non-contact state by taking thermal expansion of the platform sections into consideration. For this reason, a fluid-leak problem from the assembled components still arises as it does with U.S. patent No. 2002/0090296 as the relative art 1.
Further according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,240, another type of seal assembly is disclosed therein in place of the spline seal of the relative art 2 wherein the seal assembly includes a couple of bight-sectioned large spring leaves and the convex-shaped center sections of the spring leaves abut against each other in a symmetric manner in order to define contact surfaces at both distal sides thereof which come into close contact with the side surfaces of the mounting slot.
This seal assembly, like the relative art 2, is installed in a mounting slot which is defined by two opposing members. For this reason, the contact surfaces of the seal assembly and the abutting surfaces of the mounting slot are arranged to be in resiliently urged, sealing contact wherein the seal assembly includes two adjoined leaves and the respective contact surfaces at longitudinal ends of the leaves are formed by bending toward mutually opposite directions. Longitudinally located both end portions of the leaves in the seal assembly are arranged to stay in a non-contact state against the both bottom surfaces of the opposing slot in consideration of thermal expansion of the platform. For this reason, when a sealed fluid acts on the seal assembly, contact surfaces thereof are forced to lift away from the abutting surfaces to a non-contact state, which leads to a reduced protection against leaking of the sealed fluid and to a reduction of sealing ability. Therefore, even with the above described relative art 3, the seal assembly still is not free from the fluid leakage problem.
The present invention is introduced to resolve the above mentioned problems.
Technical problems which the present invention tries to resolve include improving seal ability of a seal device by maintaining sealing contact of seal surfaces thereof over a wide range of displacement under such circumstances that forces induced by thermal stresses, fluid pressures, vibratory forces or the like cause displacement to a distance between both contact surfaces which mount the seal device therein. Another goal is to assure sealing contact of the seal surfaces after merely mounting the seal device onto between the contact surfaces. Yet another goal is to make an installation of the seal device straightforward and to reduce assembly cost of the components.


Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide for a method for preserving and maintaining document integrity. In some methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity, the contents of a document, or contents of a document layer may be encoded into a machine-readable form. In some embodiments, the encoded information may be represented using a 2-dimensional bar code. In some methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity, the machine-readable code is printed along with contents of the document based on space available in the document. In some embodiments, a printed document containing the machine-readable code may be scanned and digitized, and content extracted from the scanned data. In some embodiments, the machine-readable code printed on the document is used to recreate layer data from the printed document.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of physical document management and, in particular, to systems and methods for preserving and maintaining the integrity of printed documents.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic documents, such as those created using many document and/or word processing applications, generally have several layers of data. Each layer in the document, termed a "document layer," contains some information related to the document or its contents. For example, the text seen by an end user creating, editing, or viewing a document may be represented in one layer of a document. Another layer may contain some of the drawings and/or figures that are part of the document. Finally, a third layer may contain the background over which the text and drawings are displayed. One of the advantages of organizing documents in layers is that each layer may be edited and/or created separately from other layers in the document. Thus, a layer may be changed without requiring any change in other layers associated with the document.
In addition to the layers described in the example above, a document may also contain "invisible layers." These invisible layers may contain data pertaining to the document or its contents rather than actual document content that is seen by users. Such data is also often called meta-data. An invisible layer may include, for example, information about people who have edited or viewed any part of the document. Another invisible layer may contain indexing information such as terms that occur frequently in the document. Users editing or viewing the document do not normally see invisible layers. Menus provided by the document processing software may allow a user to explicitly request the information contained in an invisible layer in order to view the contents of that layer.
Invisible document layers may also be used by other applications or the operating system to enforce policies concerning the document. These policies may restrict the people who have access to the document or may prevent applications or users from making changes to portions of the document. Document layers may also be used to authenticate and ensure the integrity of a document. For example, an invisible document layer may contain a digital signature that can be used to establish that an electronic version of a document originated with the entity associated with the digital signature and that no changes were made to the document after it was digitally signed.
Although invisible layer data can be used electronically, for example, to authenticate the content of a document and protect against alteration while it is in electronic form, such protection ceases when the document is printed. Printed documents contain only the actual content of a document, and data stored in document layers is lost. Thus, once a document has been printed, a recipient has no way of determining where the document originated, or where it is stored, or whether the document was altered, even though such information may have been available in document layers.
Preservation of layer data in printed documents would allow recipients of a printed document to automatically recreate preserved layer data, associate the preserved layer data with a document's contents, and facilitate the enforcement and maintenance of policies associated with the printed document.

Systems and methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity


With a security device according to the present invention, contact positions of a printed board and those of a casing are electrically connected, and a state in which the contact positions are separated is electrically detected, so that the moment at which the electronic equipment is disassembled can be detected, and with this feature, security for electronic equipment can be insured with simple configuration.

The present invention relates to a security device and particularly, to a security device that prevents the information from inside of the device being stolen by disassembling a case of the device.
In recent years, there have been strong needs for a security function for information in electronic equipment such as a personal computer. Especially, there are many cases where a storage device such as a hard disk with information stored therein is stolen, and countermeasures against the information theft will be required in the future. Sometimes illegal adaptations are made by disassembling the electronic equipment, therefore, there is a need of a means for determining adaptation""s history or the like in order to provide security against the illegal adaptations.
At present, in order to provide a security, the information is stored in a coded form, while, as a countermeasure against disassembly of a device, special screws are provided so that the construction becomes difficult to be disassembled by an ordinary users. However, even when data is stored in a coded form, or even when special screws are provided, these measures do not protect the information medium itself. Furthermore, after a theft, there is ample of time for decoding of the data, hence there still uneasiness in the security of information.
Under those circumstances, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 6-12589, there has been proposed a technique for detecting not only disassembly of a case but also a hole made thereon or destruction by installing signal lines on an inner surface of a housing and detecting disconnection of any of the lines. In addition to it, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO 63-76347, there has been proposed a technique for deleting internal data with a switching mechanism provided in the casing which is actuated when the casing is disassembled.
In the technique in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 6-12589, detection of destruction of a casing is possible, however, because signal line are placed throughout the internal surface of the casing, an increase in the detection points makes the construction for realizing the security function more complicated. Especially, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO 64-76347, as a special switching construction is provided inside the casing, the switching function works in response to disassembly of the casing, which also makes construction of the casing complicated. As described above, the constructions disclosed in the two Publications above are electrically and mechanically complicated only for the purpose of performing the security function.
It is an object of the present invention to provide, for solving the problems described above, a security device which can ensure security against leakage of information with simple configuration.
With the present invention, contact positions of a printed board and those of a casing are electrically connected, and a state in which the contact positions are separated is electrically detected, so that the moment at which the electronic equipment is disassembled can be detected, and with this feature, security for electronic equipment can be insured with simple configuration.
With the present invention, at least a portion of a casing comprises a frame ground with its contact position as a terminal, and a contact position on at least a portion of a printed board comprises a terminal, so that the electrically connected state between the positions can be maintained with simple configuration.
With the present invention, the contact positions are connected with a pull-up resistor, so that an act of disassembling a case can easily be detected with electric changes between HIGH and LOW.
With the present invention, when separation between contact positions is detected, an alarm is generated, so that illegal acts such as theft can be alerted to the surrounding people with simple configuration, and with this feature, security against theft of information can be insured.
With the present invention, when separation between contact positions is detected, data is rewritten, so that, even if data is illegally acquired, the contents of the data would have been broken out, which can prevent the data itself from theft, and with this feature, security against theft of information can be insured with simple configuration.
With the present invention, a state in which separation between contact positions has been detected is maintained, and power supply to electronic equipment is shut down while the state is maintained, so that, when it is found that the equipment has been disassembled once for the purpose of illegal adaptations on the equipment or its unauthorized use, the use of the equipment is forcefully inhibited thereafter, and with this feature, unauthorized use of the equipment due to reassembly after its being shipped can be prevented before its use, and for this reason, security against theft of information can be insured with simple configuration.
With the present invention, a state in which separation between contact positions has been detected is maintained, and an operation of the electronic equipment is reset while the state is maintained, so that, when it is found that the equipment has been disassembled once for the purpose of illegal adaptations on the equipment or its unauthorized use, the use of the equipment is forcefully inhibited thereafter regardless of power supply being effected or not, and with this feature, unauthorized use of the equipment due to reassembly after its being shipped can be prevented before its use, and for this reason, security against theft of information can be insured with simple configuration.
With the present invention, counting is executed each time a separation between contact positions is detected, and the count is read out under the authorization, so that, when it is found that the equipment has been disassembled once for the purpose of illegal adaptations on the equipment or its unauthorized use, the history thereof is maintained, and with this feature, determination can be made as to whether there has been any change in the equipment for an illegal purpose or the like or not, and for this reason, security against theft of information can be insured with simple configuration.
Other objects and features of this invention will become understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.


This invention relates generally to a computer-implemented method and system for having anonymous profiling of, and marketing to, anonymous users in a data network, particularly in the Internet. It enables an individual to surf the Internet anonymously as well as enabling third parties to use profiling information to target such anonymous users. The real identity of the individual is never known within the anonymous trust system.

Employers and advertisers have used profiling for decades to target specific individuals for specific job functions, products, or services. Recently, there has been an increasing unease regarding the use of such psychological tools, especially with respect to liability exposure and invasion of privacy considerations. In a Harris telephone survey conducted in March 2000, a majority of the 1,014 adult respondents felt uncomfortable having information tracked in a Web site or their user profile linked to their real identity or to other third party databases. This is because user profiles are typically bought by marketing companies to enable such companies to target (targeted marketing) these users (potential customers), such as by sending them emails or brochures about their products and/or services, with or without the users' consent. (Users and individuals herein are used interchangeably).
Targeted marketing employs information about the user. Internet service providers (ISPs), for example, monitor users (who are logged into their proprietary system or Web site) and their real identity, enabling them to create a user profile for each user based on the actions of the user within the system, as well as the characteristics of the users (e.g., based on the type of advertisements clicked, type of articles read, the hyperlinks selected, the gender of the user, resident zip code of the user, responses to surveys, and the like). The user profile is then used to enable the ISP, advertiser, and/or other third parties to display advertisements, articles, and other information that would likely interest that particular user. The underlying problem is that matching is done to induce the user into participating in a transaction, at which point the user's name, address, credit card or other personally identifiable information is solicited in order to complete the transaction and have the product or service delivered to the individual. Thus, a profile can be linked to the user's real identity post facto, since the entire sequence of events (profiling, selective presentation, transaction) occurs within a single open network. An ISP, moreover, can determine a user's real identity by looking into its database. This is particularly true since ISPs do not have a separate system (e.g., different databases) to handle transactions that could protect the user's real identity (e.g., subscription sign-up or purchase transactions). Hence, the problem with such systems is that the user's identity is linked to the user's profile, and ISPs or other parties collecting, creating, or maintaining user profiles may sell such information with or without the user's consent. Thus, there is a need for a system where an individual's real identity is uncoupled or separated from the individual's user profile at all times, thereby protecting the user's privacy.
Targeted marketing, however, is beneficial both to users and to third parties (e.g., vendors) to enable more efficient matching of products and/or services. Thus, a way to reconcile the need for efficient matching with an individual's desire not to have personal sensitive information be collected and, potentially, misused is desired. A system where the real identity of an individual is never known would alleviate such privacy concerns.
Several patents address anonymous transactions, i.e., transactions protecting individual's privacy, such that the individual's personal information is protected from disclosure to unauthorized parties. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,663, issued Oct. 3, 2000, titled "Method and Apparatus for Customization of Information Content Provided to a Requestor Over a Network Using Demographic Information Yet the User Remains Anonymous to the Server," teaches a system which obtains demographic information about a computer user, transmits the demographic information to other content servers on the network, whereby the various content servers can supply customized banner ads or customized web page content to a user based upon the demographic profile of the user. The demographic profile includes demographic information such as sex, marital status, age, salary, children, job type, city & state of residence, political affiliation, etc., as well as other user preference information. However, the patent teaches that this demographic profile would provide privacy to the user because these various web servers visited by the user would not be provided with personal information about the user such as name, address and phone number. However, the use of this system is explicitly intended to result in a sale or other transaction during which the user's real identity must be disclosed (for shipping the product, or charging a credit card) such that the profile can be linked to the identity post facto. This is an explicit possibility whenever the profiling and the ensuing transaction occur within the same open network, such as the world wide web.
No presently known patents or other documents, however, addresses the profiling of anonymous individuals, i.e., individuals whose real identity is unknown, creating and maintaining user profiles for anonymous individuals for privacy concerns and targeted marketing, or having a system unaware of the user's real identity at any time, even after a transaction is consummated.
Any conventional online transaction requires disclosure of user identity at the time that money changes hands. It is relatively simple for a vendor to take credit card information, for example, and match it to an individual's data (such as financial data, social security number, and so on) stored in third party databases. Marketing of products has traditionally involved a seamless combination of marketing activity (such as displaying an advertisement) and the purchasing transaction.
With the advent of online profiling methodologies, targeted marketing of products online has reached new proportions. Vendors will typically generate and store profiles of customers, with full knowledge of their real-world identities. Even in cases where the user's identity is not initially known, the general purpose is to make a sale—at which juncture, the user's real identity becomes known to the system.
Prior to this invention, no barrier has ever been erected between private or anonymous profiling followed by presentation of selected information (on the one hand) and the identity-disclosing purchasing transaction (on the other hand).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,200, for example, issued to Boles et al., teaches a method of protecting a user's address and, optionally, the user's name when ordering products. The user's address and name are stored by a trusted provider, typically a shipper, which has an agreement with the user to not sell its database to outside marketing organizations. The shipper assigns a unique identifier to each user. Every time a user wants to purchase a product from a vendor, the user merely indicates the user's unique identifier as the shipping address. The vendor then sends the product to the shipper with the user's unique identifier. The user's shipping address and name are then retrieved from the trusted provider's database and the product is shipped accordingly without the vendor ever knowing the user's real address and/or name. This system requires at least one party in the marketing transaction to know the user's real identity. More importantly, this system does not provide for the cash transaction, which typically precedes shipping, and during which the user is generally required to disclose identity. The party making the sale will likely gain access to the user's identity (for example, through their credit card number). Thus, protecting identity during shipping offers limited protection of a user's privacy.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,510, issued to Henrick et al., teaches a method for enabling targeted marketing of users while maintaining the user's privacy. The patent takes advantage of the knowledge, for example, of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), by having such ISP create lists of users with common interest. The system sends to such users emails containing advertisement information and a hyperlink to the advertiser's Web site. Only when a user selects the hyperlink is the user's real identity disclosed to the advertiser. In this method, the user's identity and profile are known to the ISP, thus offering no protection of a user's privacy (from the ISP).
The patents discussed above, moreover, disclose a method where both the user's real identity and profile are, or become known by at least one system or party in the invention.
From the discussion above, it should be apparent that there is a need for a system that creates and maintains a user profile of an individual without associating that profile to the individual's real identity at any time. Furthermore, such a profile should be useful in marketing products and services to the individual, without the system ever knowing the individual's real identity.

System and method for anonymous transaction in a data network and classification of individuals without knowing their real identity


Semiconductor devices having copper interconnects and methods for their fabrication are provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device is fabricated with a copper interconnect on substrate such as an FEOL processed substrate. The method includes forming a copper layer on a substrate. The copper layer is formed from grains. The copper layer is modified such that the modified copper layer has an average grain size of larger than about 0.05 microns. In the method, the modified copper layer is etched to form a line along the substrate and a via extending upwards from the line.

Generally, integrated circuits comprise electronic components, such as transistors, capacitors, and the like, formed on and within a wafer. One or more metal layers are formed over the electronic components to provide connections between the electronic components and to provide connections to external devices. Typically, an interlayer dielectric material is deposited, and interconnect structures, such as vias and lines, are formed in the dielectric material, usually through a single- or dual-damascene process.
The trend in the semiconductor industry is towards the miniaturization or scaling of integrated circuits, in order to provide smaller integrated circuits and improved performance, such as increased speed and decreased power consumption. While aluminum and aluminum alloys were most frequently used in the past for the material of conductive lines in integrated circuits, the current trend is to use copper for a conductive material because copper has better electrical characteristics than aluminum, such as higher conductivity, and a higher melting point.
One issue with copper interconnects is that the copper exhibits increased electrical resistivity as the feature sizes of the copper lines or copper vias are decreased below 75 nm. A large fraction of the increased resistivity is believed to be due to the small grain or crystallite size (typically less than about 0.02 microns). Scattering at grain boundaries increases resistance in metals. In order to grow grains within copper lines and copper vias, methods have been implemented to deposit grain growth promotion layers and/or plating seed layers before depositing copper. However, the processes associated with these methods can degrade the functionality of the dielectric material, resulting in leakage and/or an increase in k value. Also, voids in the lines and vias may be created during these processes. Further, these processes may leave small grains in the deeper portions, increasing electromigration.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide copper interconnects for semiconductor devices with reduced resistivity and increased resistance to electromigration, and methods for fabricating such copper interconnects. In addition, it is desirable to provide interconnects and methods for fabricating interconnects with copper lines having increased grain size and a bamboo microstructure. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Semiconductor devices with copper interconnects and methods for fabricating same


An image filing apparatus comprises a drive device which is loaded with an optical disk capable of storing a plurality of signals, and with which image signals representing images and subsidiary information belonging to each of the images are stored on the optical disk and read therefrom. When the image signals and the subsidiary information corresponding to each of the image signals are stored on the optical disk loaded into the drive device, a data base constructing device constructs an image signal retrieving data base from the subsidiary information such that an image signal corresponding to the subsidiary information may be retrieved. A storage device stores the data base such that it can be rewritten. A data base construction preventing device inspects the subsidiary information when an image signal and the subsidiary information corresponding to the image signal are stored on the optical disk loaded into the drive device. In cases where the subsidiary information has been found to be abnormal, a data base is prevented from being constructed from the subsidiary information.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image filing apparatus wherein image signals, which represent images, and subsidiary information belonging to each of the images are stored on an optical disk, an image signal retrieving data base is constructed from the subsidiary information such that an image signal corresponding to the subsidiary information may be retrieved, and the image signal retrieving data base is used during the retrieval of the image signals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Image filing apparatuses for filing image signals, which represent images, have heretofore been used in various fields. For example, at medical facilities, such as hospitals, many kinds of medical images are utilized for medical treatment or research. Most of the medical images are radiation images. In recent years, many computed tomography (CT) images, magnetic resonance (MR) images, and the like, are also utilized.
The medical images should be stored to permit investigation of changes in diseases or injuries of patients, and it is legally stipulated that the medical images must be stored for a predetermined period. Therefore, in hospitals, or the like, the number of stored medical images increases daily. The medical images have heretofore been stored in the form of hard copies. However, storage as hard copies requires a large storage space and burdensome operations for control and retrieval of the medical images in hospitals, or the like.
Accordingly, in recent years, an image filing apparatus has been proposed in which images, such as medical images, are retrievably stored (i.e. filed) as image signals on a storage medium. In cases where the medical images are filed in this manner on the storage medium, the space requirement and the burden of image storage can be reduced, and the images can be retrieved easily and quickly.
In the image filing apparatus for filing the image signals in the manner described above, a data base is constructed from subsidiary information corresponding to each of the image signals and is used during the retrieval of the image signals.
In general, image signals are detected automatically when images are read out with an image read-out apparatus, or the like. On the other hand, subsidiary information is ordinarily entered from, for example, a keyboard each time the corresponding image is recorded on a recording medium. In cases where the image is a medical radiation image of a patient, the subsidiary information includes, for example, the name of the patient recorded, the date on which the image was recorded, the name of the image recording apparatus which was used to record the image, the portion of a patient the image of which was recorded (e.g., the head, the chest, or the abdomen), and the mode which was used when the image was recorded (e.g., an ordinary image recording mode, an enlarged image recording mode, or a tomography mode). When the subsidiary information is entered from a keyboard, or the like, it often occurs that incorrect subsidiary information is entered by mistake. In such cases, the incorrect subsidiary information is stored on an optical disk together with the corresponding image signal. Also, a data base is constructed from the incorrect subsidiary information.
Even if incorrect subsidiary information is entered, no serious problem will occur when it is stored on an optical disk. However, a serious problem will often occur when a data base is constructed. For example, if an unexpected value (e.g. 1800) is entered as the date on which the image was recorded, normal regions of the data base will be destroyed, and it will become impossible for image signals corresponding to normal subsidiary information to be retrieved.
In order for the aforesaid problems to be eliminated, it will be considered to provide a means for preventing a data base corresponding to normal subsidiary information from being destroyed. However, in such cases, problems occur in that an incorrect data base is constructed from incorrect subsidiary information, and in that an image signal corresponding to the incorrect subsidiary information cannot be retrieved.

Image filing apparatus preventing the storage of incorrect information


Liquid compositions containing one or more anionic surfactants in combination with one or more polydiallyl dialkyl ammonium compounds or derivatives or copolymers thereof, these compositions being suitable for the production of liquid laundry detergents, preferably for dye-transfer-inhibiting liquid color-protecting detergents.

Liquid color detergents are an independent product category in the detergent market. They are distinguished from conventional laundry detergents by special color protection of the laundry. So-called dye transfer inhibitors are intended to reduce any transfer of dye from one article of clothing to another. Known and standard transfer inhibitors are polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and derivatives thereof such as, for example, PVP N oxide or PVP betaines. In addition, a large number of cationic polymers have been described as dye transfer inhibitors and as dye fixing agents in laundry detergents and fabric care preparations. Such cationic polymers also include polydiallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride. Thus, EP 0 462 806-A2 describes a laundry detergent containing 0.01 to 50% by weight of a cationic dye-fixing agent and 1 to 50% by weight of a nonionic surfactant. The polydiallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride is disclosed as a suitable dye-fixing agent. WO 03/057815 A1 describes solid granules containing 1 to 90% by weight of a water-soluble dye-fixing agent. Polydiallyl dimethyl ammonium compounds, more particularly salts and copolymers, are also disclosed as suitable dye-fixing agents. However, only solid compositions containing polydiallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride in combination with anionic surfactants have been known hitherto. Liquid laundry detergent formulations containing polydiallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride have so far been free from anionic surfactants.

Liquid detergent comprising anionic and nonionic surfactant mixtures


A reproduction apparatus includes: a reproduction unit which reproduces sound data; and a volume correction unit which correct a volume of the sound data reproduced by the reproduction unit on the basis of a relationship between a volume characteristic value of each of a plurality of pieces of sound data and a volume characteristic value of the sound data.

The present disclosure relates to a reproduction apparatus, a reproduction method, a provision apparatus, and a reproduction system.
In recent years, with an increase in the capacity of storage devices such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), even in an ordinary environment or the like in which a user listens to music tracks using a portable device or the like, an environment in which a large number of music tracks are easily stored in the portable device or the like is provided. However, in a case where the large number of music tracks are sequentially reproduced, because the recording states of the music tracks are different or the like, a situation in which the volumes of the music tracks do not fit into a desired range, but the volumes of some music tracks are too high and the volumes of other music tracks are too low, or the like, may occur.
Moreover, recently, with the popularization of high-speed networks such as ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) or optical fiber, an environment in which even a PC (Personal Computer) or the like that is present in a normal house is connected to a music server on a network to stream and reproduce music tracks continuously has been provided. Similarly, in this environment, a situation in which the volumes of some music tracks are too high and the volumes of other music tracks are too small, or the like, may occur.
In the situation, it is difficult for a user to listen to the music tracks in comfort, and an operation of adjusting the volume of the music track is cumbersome for the user. In order to improve such a situation, an automatic volume correction apparatus called a normalizer has been proposed. The automatic volume correction apparatus automatically corrects the volume during reproduction of each music track (For example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-320793).

Reproduction apparatus, reproduction method, provision apparatus, and reproduction system


Systems and methods for the formation of nanostructures, including carbon-based nanostructures, are generally described. In certain embodiments, substrate configurations and associated methods are described.

The production of nanostructures (including carbon-based nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and the like) may potentially serve as an important tool in the production of emerging electronics and structural materials. Recent research has focused on the production of, for example, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and other techniques. The selection of an appropriate substrate on which to form the nanostructures is important when designing processes for the production of carbon nanostructures. Many commonly used substrate materials have one or more disadvantages associated with them. For example, some substrate materials may react during growth of the nanostructures, which can weaken the substrate and impede nanostructure growth. Substrates configured to avoid reaction or other degradation pathways would be desirable.

Systems and methods for growth of nanostructures on substrates, including substrates comprising fibers