A wheel comprising a rim carrying a tire that co-operates with the rim to define an inside volume, the wheel comprising a pressure measurement device comprising an electronic control circuit that is connected to a pressure sensor, to an absence-of-movement sensor for sensing that the wheel is not moving and to an electronic circuit for wireless communication, the pressure measurement device being arranged to cause pressure to be measured while the wheel is detected as not moving. A pressure measurement device and an associated measurement method.

Conventionally, an aircraft wheel comprises a cylindrical rim carrying a tire co-operating with the rim to define an inside volume that is filled with a fluid under pressure, generally air. After each landing, the pressure of the air contained in the wheel is measured by using a pressure measurement device mounted on the inflation valve secured to the rim. The rim generally contains a stack of brake disks called a heat pack that gives off a significant amount of heat when braking the aircraft (temperatures higher than 500 degrees Celsius). This heat requires the use of specific materials and assembly techniques, which make the manufacture of such a pressure sensor very expensive. Furthermore, the exposure of the sensor to high temperature while taking a measurement disturbs the accuracy of the measurement.

Standalone on-board pressure measurement device, and pressure measurement method


There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a plurality of pixels that are provided on a semiconductor substrate, and that include a plurality of photoelectric-conversion units and metal oxide semiconductor transistors that selectively read signals from the plurality of photoelectric-conversion units, an organic-photoelectric-conversion film disposed on the plurality of photoelectric-conversion units, and an organic-color-filter layer disposed on the plurality of photoelectric-conversion units. Only a signal corresponding to a first color is extracted through the organic-photoelectric-conversion film. Signals corresponding to a plurality of colors not including the first color are extracted by absorption spectroscopy using the organic-color-filter layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to solid-state imaging devices and imaging apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor image sensors, which are solid-state imaging devices, include complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors and charge-coupled devices (CCDs). The CMOS sensors include a plurality of pixels, which have photoelectric-conversion units that convert incident light to electric signals, and metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors that selectively read the electric signals from each of the pixels. The CCDs include a plurality of pixels, which have photoelectric-conversion units that convert incident light to electric signals, and transfer signal charges, which are read from each of the pixels, through a silicon substrate. Both the CMOS sensors and the CCDs are semiconductor devices in which signals are read from pixels. Recently, the CMOS sensors have drawn attention as imaging devices used in cameras for mobile phones, digital still cameras, and digital video cameras because of the positive characteristics, such as low voltage, low power consumption, and multifunctionality. The range in which the CMOS sensors are used has been expanded.
More specifically, for a color image sensor, the technology has been used in which a color filter including three colors, such as red, green, blue, is formed in each pixel (red-green-blue Bayer pattern is common) and in which color separation is spatially performed. In this technology, an excellent color reproduction can be achieved by appropriately adjusting spectral characteristics of the color filter. However, the technology has a substantial problem that it is difficult to sufficiently effectively use light that enters the color image sensor because the color filter itself considerably absorbs light. Additionally, the technology has the following problems: Since the color separation is spatially performed, it is difficult to effectively use the pixels of the color image sensor; when the number of green pixels is small, the resolution of luminance signals is decreased; and when the number of red or blue pixels is small, the resolution of color signals is decreased, or false color signals occur.
Furthermore, with the increasing miniaturization of image sensors and the increasing number of pixels in the image sensors, recently, the cell size of one pixel has been reduced to 2.0 μm square or less. In accordance with this size reduction, obviously, an area per pixel and a volume per pixel are reduced. As a result, the saturation level and the sensitivity are reduced, thereby reducing the image quality. Accordingly, if red, blue, and green signals can be obtained using one pixel, or two or three pixels without reducing the cell size, the spatial luminance and the chroma resolution can be maintained while maintaining the fixed amounts of the sensitivity and the saturation level.
In order to solve the above-described problems, recently, an image sensor in which organic-photoelectric-conversion films are used has been suggested (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-234460). According to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-234460, an organic-photoelectric-conversion film having a sensitivity to blue, an organic-photoelectric-conversion film having a sensitivity to green, and an organic-photoelectric-conversion film having a sensitivity to red are stacked in an order to receive light. With the configuration, blue, green and red signals can be separately obtained from one pixel, thereby improving the sensitivity. However, because it is extremely difficult to stack multiple organic-photoelectric-conversion films in view of process, the implementation of multi-layered organic-photoelectric-conversion films has not been reported. The reason for this is that the harmonization between a process for lead electrodes, which are normally metal films, and a process for the organic-photoelectric-conversion films is a serious problem, and no technology for processing the lead electrodes without damage to the organic-photoelectric-conversion films has been established.
In contrast, there are examples of a device in which light corresponding to two colors is extracted using silicon bulk spectroscopy although the number of organic-photoelectric-conversion films is one (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-303266, and see FIG. 6 in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-332551). However, in this device, when the difference of absorption of light with different wavelengths in a bulk of silicon is utilized, the color reproducibility is poor. For this reason, it is difficult to apply the device to a general high-resolution image sensor. Additionally, because the configuration of the device in which light corresponding to two colors is extracted through the bulk of silicon is complicated in view of process, the manufacturing cost is increased.

Solid-state imaging device with an organic photoelectric conversion film and imaging apparatus


The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a security sheet comprising a security element (11), a core structure (10) for forming the security sheet, a stack (29) including such a core structure (10), a security sheet comprising the core structure (10) or stack (29) and a security document comprising the security sheet. At least one perforation (20) is formed through, from a first core surface (13) to a second core surface (14) of, at least one core layer (12) comprising plastic. A security element (11) is fed through the at least one perforation (20) such that the security element (11) extends through, from the first core surface (13) to the second core surface (14) of, the at least one core layer (12). At least one first region (17) of the security element (11) is located over part of the first core surface (13) and at least one second region (18) of the security element (11) is located over part of the second core surface (14).

Security documents and booklets, such as passports, passbooks, identification documents, certificates, licences, cheque books and the like, commonly comprise one or more security sheets for preventing successful counterfeiting. Security threads are particularly suitable security features for security sheets as they can carry yet further security features. Furthermore, security threads are securely embedded within the security sheet such that it is either difficult for a counterfeiter to remove them or any such removal is identifiable to a document inspector. If the security sheet comprises a fibrous substrate or paper, the security thread is commonly at least partially embedded in it during the paper making process, for example as disclosed in WO-00/39391, EP-A-0059056 and WO-A-2004/001130. The security thread may also be "windowed" by being covered and not visible in areas by "bridges" of fibrous substrate and exposed and visible at "windows". Windowed security threads improve resistance to counterfeiting because they are difficult to remove without tearing the fibrous substrate and are difficult for a counterfeiter to imitate.
If the security sheet comprises a plastic, such as polycarbonate, the security thread is typically introduced between two plastic layers and embedded therebetween by lamination. The security thread may, for example, be adhered to a plastic layer prior to lamination, as disclosed in EP-B-2611622, or comprise an outer plastic layer that fuses with the adjacent plastic layers during lamination, as disclosed in US-A-2013/0113201. Alternatively, the security thread may be coextruded such that it is integrally formed with one of the plastic layers, as disclosed in US-A-2014/0138444. However, the incorporation of the security threads is relatively simple in such arrangements, such that they are not particularly difficult for a counterfeiter to imitate.
In addition, the aforementioned methods do not enable the provision of a windowed security thread in a plastic security sheet as in a paper security sheet. WO-A-2017/060684 discloses a security thread located in a transparent region extending between the front surface of a plastic security sheet and an internal opaque layer with a transparent region or window. When viewing the rear surface of the security sheet, the security thread is blocked from view by the opaque layer, but visible through the window. However, again, such an arrangement is not particularly difficult to counterfeit. Furthermore, the need for an additional opaque layer on one side of the security thread to partially hide it severely restricts the design options available for aesthetic purposes and other security features.

Security sheets comprising security elements


A structure and method for high density programmable logic device (PLD) testing, programming, and verification is disclosed. The device employs non-volatile memory cells, such as electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), as its programmable elements. The structure and method allow the PLD to work in the normal operation state and also in a number of utility states. In normal operation state, the PLD performs the configured logic function as programmed by the user. In utility states, the PLD can be programmed, verified and tested. A state machine and a decoder are used to perform these procedures. They include bit program (write), verify (read), bulk program (write all), bulk erase (erase all), checker board and inverse checker board program, cell current test, address decode test, softwrite test and logical function test data preload. All the utilities are in a serial algorithm and are controlled by an internal state machine, which needs as few as four dedicated pins to interface with the PLD proper. In cell current test state, an additional dedicated external pin is used to supply a control voltage to a floating gate transistor in order to control the cell current. Serial logic circuits are designed to meet this test requirement.

This invention relates to programmable logic devices, and more particularly, this invention relates to the testing, programming and verification of programmable logic devices which employ non-volatile electrically erasable programmable transistors.
Programmable logic devices provide flexible logic function architecture, which is user-programmable through on-chip fuses or switches, to perform specific functions for a given application. PLDs can be tailored to a desired logic configuration after being purchased by the customer.
Programmable logic devices can be programmed in different ways. One way is to use a special programmer such as the PDS-3 programmer (a machine manufactured by ICT, Inc.). When this method is used, signals are sent in parallel to the memory cells. In this situation no dedicated pins are needed for program and test. Another way is `in-system` programming by which PLDs may be programmed after they have been installed as part of a larger assembly, e.g. after they have been assembled with other components on a printed circuit board. They may be reprogrammed without being removed from the board. They are programmed or erased through a small number of pins on the PLD device. An example of this method is the use of a JTAG interface. This interface is specified as the IEEE Standard Test Access Port and Boundary-Scan Architecture, in IEEE Standard 1149.1-1990. JTAG programming uses four dedicated pins on the PLD. Signals to these pins are typically TMS (test mode select), TCK (test clock), TDI (test data in), and TDO (test data out). This method avoids the alternative of having to use complex system sources for programming or erasing.
Generally, to guarantee quality and performance of a device, a number of test procedures should be performed before a programmable device is programmed for a specific application function. For memory-based programmable logic devices, tests usually include: memory cell current reading test, checker board test, address decode test, softwrite test and logic function test. In all memory-based devices, including EPROM, EEPROM and flash memory, configuration information is stored in the memory cell. This information is read out as current, which is amplified by a sense amplifier and converted to a voltage signal. If the current reading of a cell is too large, power consumption of the device will be too high. If the current is too low, the reliability of the device will be a problem and production quality control will be difficult. Because of the realities of fabrication, it is impossible that every chip of a device on a die will have the same memory cell current reading as specified by the design. The memory cell current test provides accurate data which reflect the actual status of memory cell operation.
In memory-based devices, memory cells are usually placed as an array of columns and rows, resulting in gates of adjacent cells being very close to each other. This structure makes it possible for adjacent cells to be short circuited. Checkerboard and Inverse Checkerboard tests can detect a short circuit by programming the cell array into certain check patterns and then verifying them.
A logic function test is usually done by programming a device in certain complex logic function circuits, such as an inverter or a counter, or a combination of several simple logic circuits. This facilitates functional testing of the device. The preloading of the registers allows direct loading of arbitrary states, making it unnecessary to cycle through long test vector sequences to reach a desired state. In addition, illegal states can be verified by loading illegal states and observing proper recovery.
Softwrite is a test condition in which low programming voltage and low Vcc are used. Some devices need to be tested under this condition in order to guarantee that a PLD device will work normally in a worst case scenario. This is done using complex test equipment and has disadvantages, such as increasing the complexity of the test procedure and slowing the test process. Special configuration memories and control circuits are designed to control the voltage and complement this test.
Address decoder test is important and is a regular test process for PLDs at the sorting and final testing phases. As PLD density increases, and as architecture becomes more complex, the number of address decoders increases greatly, and time for decoder test increases considerably. It is therefore expeditious to add a special Decode instruction and design a circuit to achieve on-chip decoder testing.
Different tests use different pins multiplexed between the test state and normal operation. Different tests use different internal circuit structures. Some tests require different external connections. It may be necessary to place the device in normal operation, programming and testing mode by applying several control signals separately to avoid signal contention on the device. It may also be necessary to apply a particular programming or erasing potential to the device, which potential may be different from potentials normally applied to the device. Consequently, a device with different test items requires more system resources for programming, verifying and testing. However, test could be considered as a series of combination operations of programming and erasing. It is desirable to implement the test functions in a programming structure by employing the in-system programmability through a port such as the JTAG port so that additional pins do not have to be used for applying other programming or erasing mode control signals and/or for applying special programming or erasing potentials, in order to avoid having to use more extensive system resources. With the testing and programming sharing the same programming structure, the states of the device can be switched easily. The application of the particular potential required by reading, programming and erasing can be controlled by the controller of the structure. The interface with external is very simple, which greatly reduces the external connections.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved testing compatible programming structure for the programming of programmable logic devices through a test port, such as a JTAG test access port.
It is another object of this invention to improve and simplify the testing of programmable logic devices by integrating the test function into the programming structure.

Testing structure and method for high density PLDs which have flexible logic built-in blocks


The level converting circuit has first and second transistors of a first conductivity type. The control terminals of the transistors are connected to a first supply potential via the load path of the respective other transistor. A load path of a third transistor of a second conductivity type is connected between the control terminal of the first transistor and a reference-ground potential. The control terminal of the third transistor is coupled to the input of the level converting circuit. A node between the second and third transistors forms the output of the circuit. A fourth transistor of the second conductivity type has a load path connected between the control terminal of the second transistor and the control terminal of the third transistor. A capacitance is connected between the control terminals of third and fourth transistors. A limiter circuit is connected upstream of the control terminal of the fourth transistor.

Field of the Invention
The invention lies in the field of electronic circuits. More particularly, the invention pertains to level converting circuit.
In integrated circuits, in particular, circuit sections which require or output signal levels that differ relative to one another are quite often coupled to one another. Level converting circuits are usually inserted for matching the different signal levels to one another. It is thereby important that the level converting circuit not be slower than the rest of the circuit sections.

Level converting circuit having a high switching speed


A PWM signal generation circuit in an IPM includes an amplification circuit amplifying a voltage across terminals of a temperature sensor, a comparison circuit generating a PWM signal based on a triangular wave signal and an output signal of the amplification circuit, and a correction circuit setting an amplification ratio of the amplification circuit such that a pulse width of the PWM signal is set to a reference pulse width in an adjustment mode in which a switching element is caused to have a reference temperature. Consequently, characteristic variations in the temperature sensor, the amplification circuit, and the like can be corrected, and the temperature of the switching element can be detected with high accuracy.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a temperature detection circuit, and in particular to a temperature detection circuit connected to a temperature sensor having a resistance varying in accordance with a temperature of a switching element.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, Intelligent Power Modules (hereinafter referred to as IPMs) having therein a switching element such as an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (hereinafter referred to as an IGBT) and a control circuit for the switching element have been developed.
The IPM is also provided with a temperature sensor and a temperature detection circuit for preventing thermal failure of the switching element due to heat generated when current flows therethrough. The temperature sensor is provided on a chip on which the switching element is provided, and has a resistance varying with temperature. The temperature detection circuit is connected to the temperature sensor and outputs a signal indicating a temperature of the switching element. When it is detected based on the signal output from the temperature detection circuit that the temperature of the switching element reaches a predetermined upper limit, the control circuit controls voltage to be applied to a control electrode of the switching element and limits principal current, thus preventing thermal failure of the switching element.
Further, there is also a method of detecting a current value of a switching element based on a signal output from a temperature detection circuit and controlling principal current of the switching element based on the result of the detection (see for example Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-148288).
In a conventional temperature detection circuit, however, many electronic components constituting the temperature detection circuit each have characteristic variations, and the temperature sensor also has characteristic variations. This results in poor accuracy in temperature detection, and also causes variations in the accuracy of temperature detection among a plurality of IPMs.


The present invention is directed to provide a light modulation device capable of not only restricting the faint light propagating in the adhesive layer from being re-incident on the thin substrate but also increasing an adhesive strength of the thin substrate and the supplementing plate. The invention is characterized in a light modulation device having a thin substrate 1 made of material with an electro-optical effect and with a thickness of below 20 μm; an optical waveguide 2 formed on a surface of the thin substrate or the other surface thereof; and a modulation electrode 3 formed on the surface of the thin substrate and for modulating light passing through the optical waveguide, comprising: a supplementing plate 5 adapted to be bonded to the thin substrate via an adhesive layer 4, wherein a bonding surface of the supplementing plate is formed as a rough surface 10 relative to a bonding surface of the thin substrate. A roughness of the rough surface is preferred to be over 1/10 of a wavelength of faint light propagating in the adhesive layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light modulation device, and more particularly, to a light modulation device using a thin film made of material with an electro-optical effect.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, a waveguide type light modulation device where optical waveguides or modulation electrodes are formed on a substrate having an electro-optical effect, has been much used in an optical communication field or an optical measurement field.
Specially, an information transfer amount has a tendency to be increased accompanied by progress of multimedia and thus a widening of a light modulation frequency is demanded. As means for realizing the widening, an external modulation method by an LN modulator or the like employing LiNbO3 (hereinafter, referred to as "LN") has been proposed. However, in order to realize the widening of the LN modulator, a velocity matching between a microwave which is a modulation signal and a light wave and reduction of driving voltages are required.
As means for solving such problems, it has been known conventionally that making a thickness of a substrate thin is intended to satisfy a velocity matching condition of a microwave and a light wave as well as to reduce driving voltages.
In the following Patent Document 1 or 2, an optical waveguide and modulation electrodes are formed on a substrate (hereinafter, referred to as "first substrate") with a thickness of below 30 μm and another substrate (hereinafter, referred to as "second substrate") with a lower permittivity than the first substrate is bonded thereto, to reduce an effective refractive for the microwave for intending to match a velocity between the microwave and the light wave and further to maintain strength of the substrates.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S64-18121
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-215519
In the Patent Document 1 or 2, LiNbO3 is mainly used for the first substrate, and material with a lower permittivity than LN, such as quartz, glass, alumina or the like is used for the second substrate. A temperature drift or a DC drift accompanied by a temperature variation occurs in a combination of such material by a difference of a coefficient of linear expansion therebetween. Patent Document 2 discloses that, in order to remove such inconvenience, the bonding of the first substrate and the second substrate is performed by use of an adhesive with a coefficient of linear expansion close to the first substrate.
However, comparing a modulator using the LN substrate which has been manufactured conventionally with a modulator to make the LN substrate thin, as the substrate becomes thinner, light emitted or leaked from the optical waveguide, or light and the like incident on other than the optical waveguide from an optical fiber for incidence (hereinafter, such light is referred to as "faint light.") has a strong tendency to be confined within the substrates. In the conventional LN substrate, since the substrate is thick (e.g., 500 μm to 1000 μm), there are sufficient areas which do not influence the waveguide (e.g., several μm in depth) and a spatial distribution density of light filled with the faint light (hereinafter, referred to as "faint light density") becomes lower. As a result, the faint light has little impact. However, when a thickness of the substrate is the same as a distance in a depth direction of the waveguide, since a faint light density propagating in a direction parallel to a surface of the substrate within the substrate becomes higher, the faint light propagates within the substrate to be re-incident on the optical waveguide or to be incident on an optical fiber for output connected to a light modulation device, resulting in deteriorating a S/N ratio of output light.
In addition, when a thin substrate is used for a light modulation device, since the thin substrate cannot give a sufficient strength, the thin substrate which is the first substrate and the second substrate are required to be bonded by a supplementing plate by use of an adhesive. In this case, when a refractive of the adhesive is lower than that of the thin substrate, the confinement of the faint light is more outstanding. For this reason, this applicant has proposed in Patent Document 3 that a light absorbing portion, a high refractive portion, a light guide portion or a concave portion is formed in an area excluding the optical waveguide and a periphery thereof in the thin substrate, to remove the faint light within the thin substrate.
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-96447 (Application Date: Mar. 29, 2005)
However, like Patent Document 2, there is a problem in that, when a surface, which is opposite to the thin substrate, of a adhesive layer of the supplanting plate is smoothed, the faint light emitted to other than the optical waveguide is reflected on the surface of the supplementing plate to be re-incident on the thin substrate, thereby recombining with the optical waveguide.


A support or a railroad crossing gate and warning structure (such as warning lights mounted on a cantilever) has first and second ladders. The first ladder is stationarily mounted on the support so that its bottom rung is spaced from the ground, and the second ladder is mounted adjacent its top end for movement along the stationary ladder between a position where it is above the ground, to a position in which its bottom end is on the ground. The second ladder is also pivotally mounted at its top end to slides which engage the first ladder. Retaining plates are provided for releasably retaining the bottom end of the second ladder in a position in which it is mounted on or at least horizontally adjacent the first ladder, and the plates may be effectively locked together with a padlock to prevent unauthorized use.

Railroad crossings typically have a crossing gate and various warning indicia. Desirably warning is provided by mounting warning lights, signs, and the like on a cantilever mechanism connected to the support for the crossing gate. In order to be able to effectively service these lights, a ladder is typically provided on the support structure, having the bottom rung thereof spaced a large distance from the ground so as to discouraged unauthorized users from climbing up the ladder. However that poses a safety problem for authorized people when they wish to access the cantilever structure, warning lights, and the like.
According to the present invention, a ladder assembly is provided particularly for use with a crossing gate support in which a second ladder is slidable with respect to the stationary ladder, and can be moved from a position well above the ground to a position where it is supported by the ground, at an angle, so that an authorized person may readily climb up it to repair the warning lights or other structures on the cantilever arm, or otherwise associated with the crossing gate support. Because of the particular construction of the movable ladder, it can be locked in place. The ladder assembly according to the present invention thus provides safety for authorized users, while retarding access by unauthorized users to the same extent as is provided in conventional railroad crossing supports.
According to one aspect of the present invention a ladder assembly is provided comprising the following components: A first, stationary, ladder having first and second side rails, a bottom rung, and a top rung. The first ladder mounted so that the bottom rung is spaced from a ground or floor surface. A second movable, ladder having first and second side rails and a plurality of rungs, a top end, and a bottom end. Means for movably mounting the second ladder adjacent the top end thereof for movement along the stationary ladder from a first position in which the bottom end is spaced from the ground or floor surface, and a second position in which the bottom end engages the ground or floor surface. Means for pivotally mounting the second ladder to the mounting means for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis so that the bottom end of the second ladder is movable horizontally toward and away from the first ladder. And, means for retaining the bottom end of the second ladder in a position horizontally adjacent the first ladder.
The means for movably mounting the second ladder adjacent the top end thereof may comprise first and second slides each having a first ladder side rail receiving recess therein, and the pivotally mounting means may mount the side rails of the second ladder to the first and second slides. The slides can have almost any configuration, but it is particularly desirable to have the stationary ladder side rails as I beams, each having a generally T-shaped portion which is received within a T-shaped recess in each of the slides. A pivot pin, or one of the ladder rungs, may connect each side rail of the second ladder to a slide.
The retaining means may comprise at least one plate mounted to the first ladder and having at least one projection thereon which can releasably hold a portion of the second ladder, as for example passing through a slot in a lock bracket on the second ladder. The projection on the retaining means plate may include an opening for receipt of a padlock hasp, particularly when the first ladder is mounted to a support for a railroad crossing gate and warning structure. The retaining means also may comprise means for stopping movement of the movable mounting means. For ease of construction the second ladder also preferably has side rails each having an I-shape in cross-section.
According to another aspect of the present invention a method of gaining access to a stationary ladder mounted on a stationary support extending from a ground or floor having a bottom rung spaced from the ground or floor, and using a second ladder shorter than the first ladder, is provided. The method comprises the following steps: (a) Sliding the second ladder downwardly with respect to the first ladder so that a bottom portion of the second ladder engages the ground or floor. And, (b) moving the bottom portion of the second ladder horizontally away from the first ladder, and with the bottom portion thereof in contact with the ground or floor, while a top portion of the second ladder remains in operative contact with the first ladder. There may also be the further step, prior to step (a), of (c) detaching the second ladder bottom portion from the first ladder. The first ladder is typically stationarily mounted on a railroad crossing gate and signalling assembly support, and the method comprises the further step of unlocking a padlock prior to step (c) to allow detachment of the second ladder from the first ladder.
According to still another aspect of the present invention a railroad crossing and ladder assembly is provided comprising: A support for a railroad crossing gate and warning structure. A first ladder having a first length, first and second side rails, and a plurality of rungs extending between the side rails, the first ladder mounted to the support. A second ladder having a second length, less than the first length, first and second side rails and a plurality of rungs extending between the side rails. And, the second ladder mounted for sliding movement with respect to the first ladder, and for pivotal movement with respect to the first ladder.
The assembly typically further comprises first and second retaining plates mounted to the first and second ladders, respectively, to releasably hold the second ladder to the first ladder precluding relative pivotal movement therebetween, the retaining plates including openings therein for receipt of a padlock or the like to lock them together. Typically both the first and second ladder side rails have I-shaped cross-sections.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a simple yet effective ladder assembly, particularly for a railroad crossing structure, and a method of gaining access to a stationary ladder. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims.

Progress Rail Services, Lincoln Industries Division


The present invention relates to a method for forming an isolation film in a semiconductor device. After a trench for isolation is formed, a polymer film is stripped by a post cleaning process using BFN. A pre-treatment cleaning process using only SC-1 is performed and a sidewall oxidization process is then carried out. It is therefore possible to improve fail of the roughness of the trench sidewall and to easily strip polymer. Furthermore, since a conventional PET process is omitted, an isolation film manufacturing process is simplified. It is also possible to prohibit out-diffusion of dopants injected into a semiconductor substrate through a pre-treatment cleaning process using CLN N before the sidewall oxidization process. Incidentally, by forming a slope at the top corner of the trench, it is possible to prevent a gate oxide film thinning phenomenon that the gate oxide film thinner than a desired thickness is deposited at the trench corner. It is also possible to improve electrical properties of a device since an active region as much as a target critical dimension is secured.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for forming an isolation film in a semiconductor device, and more specifically, to a method for forming a self-aligned shallow trench pattern in a NAND flash device.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Generally, in order to form a transistor on a semiconductor substrate, an active region that is electrically electrified and an isolation region for preventing electrical electrification and isolating elements are formed in the semiconductor substrate. A portion of the semiconductor substrate in the isolation region is etched and is then filled to form an isolation film.
Conventionally, after the semiconductor substrate in the isolation region is etched, a post etch treatment (PET) process for a thin etch of a trench sidewall is implemented. At this time, an abnormal layer is formed due to polymer of a carbon series generated from the PET process, thus resulting in uneven oxidization in a subsequent oxidization process.
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are TEM photographs for explaining sidewall damage by a conventional process.
Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, after a trench for isolation is formed, if a post cleaning process is performed, the semiconductor substrate exposed by the etch process is damaged. Damage of the semiconductor substrate within the trench adversely affects the properties of the isolation film.
FIG. 2 is a TEM photograph showing that the abnormal layer of the carbon series is formed after the PET process in the related art.
FIG. 3 is a TEM photograph for explaining the disparity of a sidewall oxide film in the related art.
FIG. 4 shows a TEM EDS analysis table for the sidewall oxide film in the related art.
Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, if a trench is formed through an isolation etch according to a conventional isolation process and a PET process is performed, an abnormal layer of a carbon series is formed within the trench.
If the inside of the trench wherein the abnormal layer is formed is experienced by a sidewall oxidization process, a very uneven sidewall oxide film is formed. Accordingly, there occurs a problem that a target trench shape is difficult to form. It is also impossible to reduce damage due to the etch.

Method of forming isolation film in semiconductor device


An implantable expandable medical device in which selected regions of the device are in a martensite phase and selected regions are in an austenite phase. The martensitic regions exhibit pseudoplastic behavior in vivo and may be deformed without recovery under in vivo body conditions. In contrast the austenitic regions exhibit superelastic behavior in vivo and will recover their pre-programmed configuration upon deformation or release of an applied strain.

The present invention relates generally to implantable expandable medical devices and more particularly to implantable endoluminal stents, covered-stents, stent-grafts and grafts employed to restore and maintain patency of anatomical passageways within a mammalian body. The dramatic success enjoyed by a variety of endoluminal implantable medical devices has largely been the result of their ability to be delivered utilizing minimally invasive techniques that significantly reduce the trauma to the patient. While there are many types of endoluminally-delivered implantable medical devices, the present invention relates specifically to generally tubular devices that are expandable from a first smaller diameter suitable for minimally invasive delivery to a second enlarge diameter suitable for restoring and maintaining patency of the anatomical passageway.
The most prevalent type of implantable expandable endoluminal device is the stent. Stents are typically used to treat occlusive and anuersymal disease or trauma and are, typically, generally tubular structural scaffolds typically consisting of latticed arrays of circumferential members and longitudinal members. The circumferential members typically permit the stent to radially expand from the first to the second diameter while the longitudinal members provide column strength and longitudinal flexibility. A variant of the stent, termed in the art either a stent-graft or covered stent, consists of a stent or other structural scaffold covered with a graft. Stent-grafts are devices typically employed for exclusionary purposes for purposes of creating a conduit, such as in excluding an abdominal aortic aneurysm, whereas covered stents are devices typically employed in treating occlusive conditions, such as coronary artery disease to restore patency to the coronary artery. Conventional stent-grafts and covered stents employ polymeric covers, such as polyester or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene that are either affixed to the stent by barbs or sutures or are retained on the stent by adhesion either to the stent or to an opposing graft surface.
Recently, radially expandable metallic grafts have been disclosed in co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/135,316 and Ser. No. 10/135,626, both filed Apr. 29, 2002, both of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference, disclose a nitinol thin film graft having a pattern of microperforations that permit radial enlargement of the graft by geometric deformation of the microperforations.
Cardiovascular devices, in particular, should maintain vascular patency and prevent re-occlusion of the vascular system. There are two main types of implantable cardiovascular devices that are designed to restore and maintain vascular patency. The first type is a balloon expandable device that requires application of an externally applied force in order to radially distend the device. The second type is a self-expanding device that radially distends based upon inherent mechanical or material properties of the device, requires removal of a constraining force, and does not require application of an external force for radial distension. There are two main sub-types of self-expanding devices. A first sub-type consists of devices fabricated from traditional elasto-plastic materials, such as 316L stainless steel, that elastically recover from a constraining force applied to maintain the device in a smaller delivery diameter. The normalized strains typically associated with such traditional elasto-plastic materials is typically less than 1%. The second sub-type consists of devices fabricated from shape memory or superelastic materials that recover their shape under defined thermo-mechanical conditions. The recoverable strains associated with these materials can significantly excel 1%.
It is ironic that a major problem with existing self-expanding stents and their designs lies in their inherent spring properties. Current self-expanding stents are de facto elastically deformable along their longitudinal axis. In this manner, the device is capable of longitudinal bending and traversing the tortuous endoluminal pathways required to place the device at its intended in vivo site. Yet the very elastic nature of these devices imposes an inherent spring bias to the device which favors a zero-strain state in the normal or linear axial configuration. Thus, when longitudinally flexed, conventional self-expanding stents exhibit a positive strain and seek to return to the unbent or zero-strain normal conformation. When such a device is implanted into a non-linear vessel, in order to conform to the geometry of the vessel, the implanted device is in a strained longitudinal conformation that exerts continual, unevenly distributed stress against the vascular walls. This continual stress exerted on the vascular wall may ultimately lead to vascular injury and threaten clinical outcome.
Conventional stent designs have sought to control the inherent longitudinal spring bias by altering the geometric pattern of the structural components of the stent. Heretofore, however, there has been little focus in the art on altering the mechanical properties of selected regions of the material used to fabricate the implantable device. By selectively altering the mechanical properties of the device material, the device can have regions intended for plastic or pseudoplastic deformation and regions intended for elastic or pseudoelastic deformation. Thus, in accordance with the present invention there is provided within a single self-expanding device regions that are differentiated by their mechanical properties according to their intended functionality.
The term "elastic deformation," as used herein, is defined as a deformation of a traditional metal material caused by an applied load that is completely recoverable upon removal of the applied load. The elastic limit of a traditional metal is typically less than 1% strain.
The term "plastic deformation," as used herein, is defined as deformation of a traditional metal material caused by an applied load that cannot be completely recovered upon removal of the load because bonds have been broken.
The term "elasto-plastic," as used herein, is intended to mean materials that are capable of both elastic deformation and plastic deformation.
The term "pseudoelastic deformation," as used herein, is defined as a deformation caused by an applied load that is completely recoverable upon removal of the load and the limit of which is characterized by being significantly larger than the elastic limit of a traditional metal (8% strain in the case of nitinol). This phenomenon is caused by a load or stress induced solid-state phase change that is reversible upon removal of the load.
The term "pseudoplastic deformation," as used herein, is defined as a deformation caused by an applied load that requires some other action besides load removal, such as the application of heat, for complete recovery of the deformation. In pseudoplastic deformations, bonds have not been broken but, instead, have been reoriented or detwinned in the case of martensitic nitinol.
As used herein, the term "pseudometal" and "pseudometallic material" is defined as a biocompatible material which exhibits biological response and material characteristics substantially the same as biocompatible metals. Examples of pseudometallic materials include, for example, composite materials, ceramics, quartz, and borosilicate. Composite materials are composed of a matrix material reinforced with any of a variety of fibers made from ceramics, metals, or polymers. The reinforcing fibers are the primary load carriers of the material, with the matrix component transferring the load from fiber to fiber. Reinforcement of the matrix material may be achieved in a variety of ways. Fibers may be either continuous or discontinuous. Reinforcement may also be in the form of particles. Examples of composite materials include those made of carbon fibers, boron fibers, boron carbide fibers, carbon and graphite fibers, silicon carbide fibers, steel fibers, tungsten fibers, graphite/copper fibers, titanium and silicon carbide/titanium fibers.
A stress-strain curve for austenitic nitinol in which a sample is taken all the way to failure at a temperature above AF (finish of Austenitic transformation) can be separated into the following regions: elastic deformation of austenite, pseudoelastic deformation of austenite to stress induced martensite, elastic deformation of the stress induced martensite, plastic deformation of the stress induced martensite and fracture. Removal of the load at any point before the onset of plastic deformation of the stress induced martensite will result in complete recovery of the deformation.
Nitinol is in the thermally-induced martensite state if the material is brought to a temperature below MF (finish of martensitic transformation) and subsequently kept below AS (onset of austenitic transformation). If the material is sufficient deformed (greater than 0.5% strain) while in its thermally-induced martensitic state and subsequently constrained at temperatures above AS it is still considered to be in its thermally-induced martensite state and not in a stress-induced martensite state. A stress-strain curve for martensitic nitinol in which a sample is taken all the way to failure at a temperature below As can be separated into the following regions: elastic deformation of thermally induced martensite, pseudoplastic deformation of thermally induced martensite via detwinning, elastic deformation of the detwinned thermally induced martensite, plastic deformation of the detwinned thermally induced martensite and fracture. Removal of the load at any point before the onset of plastic deformation of the detwinned thermally induced martensite will result in complete recovery of the deformation when heated above AF.
A standard procedure employed in the art to control the temperature-dependent mechanical properties of nickel-titanium alloys is to employ precipitation heat treatment. Heat treatment of a formed nickel-titanium device by subjecting the device to temperatures between 300-500° C. forces nickel-rich precipitates out of solution, i.e., out of the grains and into the intergranular boundaries. The result is a net increase in the titanium content of the grains and a concomitant increase in the transition temperature of the device. The use of precipitation heat treatment to selectively alter the mechanical properties of regions of a device based upon intended functionality has not, heretofore, been employed. Additionally, the use of vacuum deposition to control local bulk chemical content in precursor blanks and formed devices based upon intended functionality of the device has, heretofore, been unknown in the art of medical device fabrication.

Implantable expandable medical devices having regions of differential mechanical properties and methods of making same


An improved method for producing multicolor photographic images which resemble color photographs made prior to 1936. Light expressing a photographic image is passed through a transparent multicolor screen (20). Visual characteristics of the image are altered so as to produce darkened tonality, loss of acuteness, muting of hue, and a general sepia color cast.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to photomechanical processes, specifically to such processes which are used to alter the hue, tonality and definition of a photographic image.
2. Description of Prior Art
A commercial market exists for multicolor photographic images that appear antiquated in appearance. Such antiquated images exhibit characteristics such as increased or darkened tonality, loss of sharpness, loss of hue, and the presence of a general color cast (usually amber or sepia). Thus, the term "antiquated" in this patent refers to any positive color photographic image which exhibits all of the above visual characteristics, or resembles color photographic images made prior to 1936. Furthermore, the term "antiquation" may also refer to the process of achieving an antiquated image.
One of the original methods used to achieve antiquated color is the hand tinting of black and white photographs. This practice is still done today. This method's primary advantage is that it allows the colorist to enhance a given feature in an image by highlighting the desired feature with an attractive color while de-emphasizing the other areas with a more muted color. However, hand-tinting method has notable limitations. As a practical measure, it is limited to negative black-and-white film printed on fiber-based, or non-glossy, or absorbent paper, In addition, the colorist is generally limited to soft pastel hues. More importantly, hand-tinting is time consuming and thus costly. As a consequence, customers are often required to select a black and white image for colorization without knowing how the result will appear.
Sepia toning and sepia filters are sometimes used to achieve antiquated multicolor images. This practice is done either by placing a transparent, sepia-colored filter between the film and the light source or by using toning solution immediately after development. While these methods are both quick and inexpensive, they produce multicolor images that only vaguely resemble antiquated images as previously defined. At best, sepia colorization creates a vivid contemporary color picture with an amber cast.
Antiquated multicolor images may also be created by using multiple gum or other color separation processes. These methods are original but very cumbersome because they require multiple exposures of an image before it can be transformed into a multicolor picture.
Perhaps the most practical method for producing color antiquated photographs was the Autochrome method developed by the Lumiere brothers. Their method was successfully marketed from 1907 to 1936. The Autochrome method utilized the concept of the multicolor screen. In general, the color screen consists of a screen pattern that is formed by a plurality of light-filtering elements.
A conventional three-color screen has a set of primary red colored filter elements, a set of primary blue colored filter elements, and a set of primary green colored filter elements. Alternatively, the color screen may also employ yellow, cyan, magenta, or other related color elements. One preferred arrangement is of a mosaic type; that is, a less than strictly geometric arrangement with regard to element size shape, and/or color placement with each element measuring between one to three hundred microns in diameter. Thus the individual screen elements are not easily distinguished by the unaided eye.
Several methods may be used to produce the multicolor screen as described above. Basically, the methods of color screen production fall into three main categories: mechanical methods, photochemical processes, and electronic transfer methods. In the mechanical methods, screen elements are formed largely without chemical reactions. In the photochemical processes, multicolor screens are produced largely as a function of exposure and development. Finally, in the electronic transfer methods, visual characteristics are converted into digital or analog signals which are then translated into a variety of visual media.
With the Lumiere method, a dust of red, green, and blue colored starch particles was allowed to settle onto the tacky surface of a sheet of glass. Then the particles were flattened out into tiny screen elements measuring about 0.015 millimeters in diameter. The resulting screen was then covered with a panchromatically sensitized black and white positive emulsion. The exposed and developed plate would yield a reasonably faithful multicolor image upon projection. While a practical method for its time, Autochrome suffered two primary drawbacks. First, the color screen absorbed about seventy-five percent of the light, resulting in the necessity for lengthy exposures. Secondly, the multicolor screen had to remain in register with its emulsion coating, thus requiring a new screen for each image exposed.
Since Autochrome, many films have been developed to employ multicolor screens with their emulsion systems, notably: U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,423 Sharp, Jul. 7, 1970 method of making multicolor screens, U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,082 Fielding et al, Dec. 9, 1975 multicolor screen containing hydrophilic colloid . . . , U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,806 Dec. 7, 1982 Whitmore Imaging with nonplaner support elements: and U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,074 Jul. 31, 1984 Gilmour/Blazey et al, elements containing ordered wall arrays.
The latter patent of Gilmour/Blazey is an improvement of the Whitmore patent. The Gilmour/Blazey patent employs both mechanical and photomechanical methods to create microscopic cavities known as micro cells or reaction micro vessels. These cavities may then be filled with a variety of imaging and or coloring components by using doctor blade coating, solvent casting, or other conventional coating techniques.
Difficulties arise when comparing Gilmour/Blazey, with the present invention. Some of the stated objectives of Whitmore, the predecessor to Gilmour/Blazey, were the following: enhanced contrast, correct reading color, improved definition, enhanced film speed (without graininess), and the reduction of lateral image spreading or halation. Subsequent improvements by Gilmour/Blazey were in accord with these objectives. In contrast, the primary objectives of the present invention are the following: the alteration of the characteristics of an image so as to affect darkened tonality, loss of sharpness or definition, loss or muting of color, and the presence of a general color cast (usually amber or sepia). These characteristics, when taken collectively, cause an image to be perceived as antiquated in appearance as described above.
The former patent, Gilmour/Blazey, has the following limitations:
(a) The color screen produced is physically attached to a light sensitive emulsion, or the screen is otherwise integrated with the image. This attachment forms elements of a photographic emulsion, thereby causing the production of a separate color screen for each exposure formed. PA1 (b) In order to utilize the former patent, the photographer must expend a separate color screen for each image recorded. PA1 (c) Because the multicolor screen is performed in the initial unexposed film, the photographer who uses rolled film may not alternate or otherwise change imaging characteristics during recording without changing film. For example, when using a ten exposure roll, the photographer may not record the first five exposures without the multicolor screen and the last five exposures with it. PA1 (d) Production of the multicolor screens in the Gilmour/Blazey patent involves multiple steps and industrial techniques, therefore requiring substantial equipment, energy, and capital investment. PA1 (e) The size ratio of the individual colored elements to the film image is fixed in production. This ratio limits the enlargement of an image to a given size beyond which the individual areas of the multicolor screen become readily visible to the unaided eye. PA1 (a) To provide a means by which multicolor photographic images that are generally described as old fashioned or antiquated in appearance may be produced. PA1 (b) To provide a means by which antiquation may be affected quickly and inexpensively. PA1 (c) To provide a means by which the photographer may affect antiquation on selected exposures of rolled film and omit it on others without changing the film. PA1 (d) To provide a means by which an indefinite number of photographic images may be antiquated by using a single multicolor screen configuration. PA1 (e) To provide a means by which antiquation may be affected without placing the multicolor screen in register with the recording film. PA1 (f) To provide a means by which antiquation may be affected from images recorded on any color film stock, regardless of format, film speed, or negative or reversal category. PA1 (g) To provide a means by which the size relationship between the individual areas of the multicolor screen and the recorded image may be conveniently varied so that an enlargement of any size may be obtained without rendering individual areas clearly visible to the unaided eye.


A stacking clip suitable for use with a concrete forming system having one or more frame elements having one or more ribs formed on a rail. The stacking clip allows an extension component to be coupled to the stacking clip and to hence extend the height or the width of the frame element.

Conventional concrete walls may be created by pouring concrete into a suitable concrete form. As is known in the art, concrete foundation walls are generally poured between two sets of concrete forms disposed in essentially parallel relationship and defining therebetween a channel having a dimension for the desired thickness of the concrete wall. Such opposed, spaced apart walls are generally held in a fixed relationship relative to each other against the immense weight of any poured concrete by tie-wires and turnbuckle assemblies having abutment surfaces against which a locking or latching arm on adjacent form sections abut. Once assembled into the shape of the wall, wet concrete is poured into the channel formed between the concrete forms and allowed to dry. The concrete forms typically comprise multiple form panels, which may for example be formed of wood, metal or any other suitable well known material. The height of the form panel may vary by application.
Multiple form panels may be placed side-by-side in order to construct a wall of a desired length. Because the wet poured concrete takes the shape of the forms in which it is placed, the finished concrete wall corresponds in configuration to the assembled form. Therefore, it is important to align precisely the panels composing the concrete form in order to ensure that the finished wall has the desired appearance and strength.
The conventional concrete forming systems often times have difficulty handling wall shapes and configurations that are outside of or different than the standard shapes and sizes of the panels in the forming systems.

Stacking clip for concrete forming panel systems


Disclosed is a process for removing acid soluble oils, produced as an undesirable by-product of an acid catalyzed alkylation reaction, from a mixture containing a strong acid and methanesulfonic acid. The process includes the use of water to induce the formation of the two immiscible liquid phases of ASO and methanesulfonic acid with water. The two immiscible phases can subsequently be separated from each other.

It bas been discovered that a mixture, comprising a strong acid component and methanesulfonic acid, can be an effective catalyst for use in the alkylation of olefin hydrocarbons by isoparaffin hydrocarbons to produce an alkylate reaction product, or alkylate. The alkylate reaction product generally contains hydrocarbons having seven or more carbon atoms, and it is a highly desirable gasoline blending component because of its high octane value as a motor fuel.
While a process which utilizes a catalyst composition comprising a strong acid component and methanesulfonic acid produces all alkylate product of good quality, one side effect from using such a process in the production of alkylate is the formation of certain polymeric reaction by-products such as those referred to as acid-soluble oils, or ASO. These polymeric reaction by-products are referred to as acid-soluble oils because they are soluble in the catalyst utilized in the alkylation process and, thus, remain in the catalyst phase when the alkylate product resulting from the contact of a hydrocarbon mixture with an alkylation catalyst is separated from the alkylation catalyst. In an alkylation process which continuously separates the catalyst phase from the alkylation reaction product for reuse in the process reaction zone, there is a buildup of ASO in the catalyst. Over time, the ASO concentration will reach unacceptable concentration levels if not removed. A low concentration of ASO in the alkylation catalyst comprising a sulfone component and a hydrogen halide component is believed to have a beneficial effect upon the alkylation process or its product. However, higher concentrations of ASO in the alkylation catalyst have an adverse effect upon the catalyst activity and the final alkylate end-product. An ASO concentration in the alkylation catalyst that exceeds certain acceptable limits will result in lowering the octane of the alkylate end-product with incremental increases in the ASO concentration causing incremental decreases in the alkylate octane.


Systems and methods are disclosed for automatically configuring, managing, and maintaining a network device or VPN using a public network such as the Internet. Initial configuration of a network device or VPN occurs upon a user entering minimal information via a simple HTML page. After receipt of this minimal information, the present invention automatically configures the network device or VPN without user intervention. Thereafter, a user may modify the network device or VPN configuration via an easy-to-use and easy-to-understand graphical user interface. Parameters are presented such that a user simply checks and unchecks boxes, or clicks on radio buttons, to configure network device parameters. Upon completion of the selection, the user clicks on save, and the configuration is automatically modified. In addition, upon a significant change to any network device, the changed network device automatically initiates reconfiguration of the network device or VPN with zero input from a user.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of network devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods for automatically configuring and managing network devices such as broadband routers and virtual private networks.
Many systems and methods have been created to provide communication between individual computers of a centralized, single site organization through a private network. Computers may be interconnected through telephone lines, coaxial cables, optical fibers, radio or microwave communication links, earth-orbiting satellites, or other means. Such communications can include electronic mail, file sharing and transferring, and database sharing.
The most commonly used network is the local area network ("LAN"). LANs consist of interconnected computers that provide different functions such as a host or server. A host computer sends and receives information of the network in forms of packets of data. A server distributes the data to network users along with the host computer. These computers are interconnected through the use of bridges, switches, routers, and gateways. A bridge is a device that is connected to at least two LANs and transmits data between the LANs. A router provides similar services, but also determines the optimum path for the data by using network identifiers. LANs provide a high level of security when they are properly managed and configured since all information transfer occurs within a single site.
Other systems have been created to provide communication between several single site organizations. For example, this may be performed using a wide area network ("WAN"). WANs interconnect offices or various organizational sites via private communication connections such as leased lines. WANs are virtually identically to LANs with the exception of the spatially extended interconnections. Although these systems can be expensive due to the lease cost of the leased lines and the additional administrative cost of managing a network encompassing a large geographic area, they also provide an adequate amount of security when they are properly managed.
In recent years, technical advancement and declining prices have made it commonplace for workplaces to provide Internet access via a local Internet Service Provider ("ISP") to some or all of their employees. Besides providing a vast amount of informational resources, the Internet provides electronic communication to any computer also connected to the Internet. This innovation provides a relatively easy method for members of an organization to communicate with members of their organization who are traveling, working from home, or are located at other geographic locations. However, a large disadvantage of using the Internet for communications is accessibility of the Internet to the general public. Since the exact route of the data is indeterminable, an Internet user risks eavesdropping and information theft. An even greater risks is that communications can be intercepted and altered before reaching there intended recipient. Due to these risks, many organizations are unwilling to expose their associates' and employees' communications to public network space such as the Internet.
With these security issues in mind, many systems and methods have been created to provide more secure communication between private computer networks over a public network such as institutional intranets and the Internet. One of the first systems to arise was the VPN. A VPN has the characteristics of a private network but provides connectivity via a shared public network infrastructure. VPNs include intranet VPNs, remote access VPNs, and extranet VPNs. A VPN incorporates access control, encryption technologies, and tunneling to achieve the security inherent in private networks while taking advantage of the infrastructure, economies of scale, and established management resources of public networks. However, a downfall of VPNs exists in large organizations in which the size of the VPN may cause maintenance of the VPN to become an increasingly complex task often causing extended time periods to perform necessary updates.
To alleviate the expense of maintaining a VPN, many third party service providers such as ISPs offer managed VPNs to organizations desiring complex VPNs having increased levels of communication security. Typically, the service provider has a network operations center that controls and maintains the VPN remotely and locally based on the requirements provided by the organization.
Increased levels of security may be obtained using a variety of methods. For example, cryptography systems may be employed to minimize theft of data by an unauthorized third party. Such systems encrypt transmitted data such that only the intended recipient's system can interpret the encryption. With these systems, unintended parties may receive the data, however, they are unable to interpret the encrypted data with their system.
Once such commonly employed cryptography system is public key cryptography. In public key cryptography, also known as asymmetric encryption, a public and a private key exist for each user in the communication network. The encryption key is a code or number that can only be read by its respective encryption algorithm. Two users communicate data only by knowing each other's public code. One user's public key, which is known to all users of the network and is generally accessible from one location, is decoded by the other user's private key, which is only known by the owner of the key. Since only the intended recipient has the private key, only that user can decode and access the data. In addition to the relationship defined by the users' keys, the sender encodes the data with its private key to indicate to the user that the sender is authentic.
Typically, the user's keys are generated and maintained by a certification authority. The user's private key is delivered to the user via electronic mail, regular mail, or a data storage device such as a compact disc ("CD"). The user's private keys are stored only (i.e., they cannot be downloaded), while the user's public keys can be downloaded from the certification authority when needed by another sender. The certification authority generates "certificates" or signed messages that specify the name of the user as well as the user's public key to verify the user's identity.
Secure Sockets Layer ("SSL") is a commonly employed security protocol that may be implemented in conjunction with a cryptography system such as public key cryptography. This protocol is widely used for transmission of sensitive data via the Internet, such as credit card data, to a vendor's Internet web site. When an SSL session is initiated, the web site's server sends a digital certificate to the user's Internet browser (e.g., Internet Explorer®). The browser receives the digital certificate, which is used to authenticate the web site accessed by the user. The browser maintains an inventory of the certificates issued by public certificate authorities and is able to contact the respective authority to ensure that the received digital certificate has not been revoked. After verification that the digital certificate is valid, the user's browser uses the public key received from the web site to encrypt a random number, which it transmits to the Web site. This random number may be used as sent or may be modified to create a secret session key for subsequent exchange of private information between the user's system and the web site.
Another commonly used security protocol is IP Security Protocol ("IPsec"). IPsec was created by the Internet Engineering Task Force to provide authentication and encryption for data transmitted via the Internet. An advantage of IPsec in comparison to SSL is that IPsec provides services at layer three and secures all applications in the network unlike SSL, which provides services at layer four and only secures two applications. IPsec can access both Internet and non-Internet applications. Although IPsec provides a higher level of security, IPsec requires more maintenance. For example, IPsec requires an installation at the client (e.g., a user's personal computer) whereas SSL is typically a component of a standard web browser.

Systems and methods for automatically reconfiguring a network device


A technique for determining the relative relevance of electronic documents based on metadata/content associated with the document as a whole and/or metadata/content associated with one or more subdivisions of the electronic document. Metadata is associated with the document and various subdivision markers in the code of the document. A comparison of electronic documents may be made by comparing the metadata/content associated with the document and/or the subdivisions of the document to determine which documents contains subject matter that is relevant to the subject matter of another document or search criteria. The metadata/content may be weighted and these weights may be modified based on a rank profile. A relevance score may be determined based on the comparison of the metadata/content for the documents and/or subdivisions of the documents as well as the weights attributed to the various subdivisions and documents.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is generally directed to an improved computing system. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for determining the relative relevance between portions of large electronic documents.
2. Description of Related Art
With the present information age, access to literature has become increasingly easy to obtain. As literature is moved from a physical format to an electronic format, more people are being able to gain access to the information contained in this literature through the use of computers, networks, the Internet, and the like.
Being able to compare literature, e.g., books, articles, magazines, etc., and determine the relevance of one piece of literature to another, has been a valuable tool for identifying other pieces of literature that may be of interest to a reader. Traditionally, this was done in a manual manner such as through a manual cataloging scheme. Typically, these manual cataloging schemes use general topics, author names, title words, and the like, to determine which pieces of literature are most like one another and to categorize them in a similar category.
Manual comparisons are extremely time consuming when the number of documents, e.g., books, being compare are huge and usually are subject to personal biases. When a cataloging system is utilized, manual comparisons further require a detailed understanding of the cataloging system by the person performing the comparison of the documents so that the appropriate categories for the documents are selected.
In recent years, as literature has been moved from physical books, magazines and the like, to electronic documents, techniques have been devised to perform comparisons of electronic documents based on small standardized portions of the electronic document. For example, electronic documents typically will include an abstract and the comparison between documents is made based on this abstract.
Abstract-based comparisons are extremely unreliable as the entire electronic document, e.g., an electronic book, contains far more information than what is contained in the abstract. Thus, the book may have portions that are applicable to many different other types of books, yet the comparison of abstracts may not accurately reflect this fact. Furthermore, two electronic documents may have the same abstract, yet contain entirely different contents.
Thus, it would be desirable to have an automated system that performs a comprehensive comparison of an electronic document with other electronic documents to generate comparison results indicating the relative relevance of the documents to one another. Moreover, it would be beneficial to provide such a comprehensive comparison with on-line electronic documents as part of a search engine for finding additional electronic documents and provide a ranking of the relative relevance of the additional electronic documents.

Method and apparatus for determining relative relevance between portions of large electronic documents

International Business Machines Corporation


An optical resonator is configured for optimized performance as a sensor by maximizing the slope and/or sharpness of the resonance peak, instead of maximizing the Q-factor of the resonator. These characteristics of the resonance peak are controlled, in accordance with the present invention, by modifying the physical parameters of the resonator structure (e.g., dimensions, spacing between waveguides, ring diameter, materials and associated refractive indices, etc.) until the desired peak attributes are achieved, regardless of the Q-factor associated with these optimum attributes.

Electro-optic devices have shown great promise in sensor applications. Passive optical sensors offer safe and accurate operation in hostile environments of heat and temperature, while also being immune to electromagnetic interference. These advantages combine to make optically-based sensors attractive for a number of applications.
A resonant optical sensor is generally defined as a sensor based on optical resonators such as, for example, Fabry-Perot devices, spheres, rings, disks and the like, which are used as physical, chemical and/or biological sensors of the ambient medium. In most cases, the spectrum of the sensor consists of positive and/or negative resonant peaks. The sensor monitors changes in the tested "object" (e.g., ambient medium) by measuring and processing variations in the spectrum. U.S. Pat. No. 6,901,101 issued to R. L. Frick on May 31, 2005 is exemplary of this type of resonant optical sensor and includes an optical medium having a 'variable' cavity; that is, the cavity is physically altered in response to changes in a measurable parameter such as pressure, temperature, force, flow rate, etc. The cavity is disposed near or within a high Q optical resonator, where the variability of the cavity affects the resonance condition within the high Q resonator.
It is often necessary in arrangements such as disclosed by Frick to detect very small variations in the spectrum, comparable with or less than the dimensions of a resonant peak itself. Commonly, it is assumed that the higher the Q-factor of the resonator, the more sensitive the resonator is to changes in the refractive index (indeed, a very large Q-factor denotes an extremely narrow resonance in the transmission power spectrum). However, the maximum Q-factor of an individual resonance peak corresponds to a resonance peak with vanishing height, which is useless for sensing. Moreover, a resonance peak composed of several adjacent peaks may have a complex shape, for which the Q-factor cannot be easily determined.
Thus, a need remains for ascertaining a proper set of parameters that may be used to optimize the sensitivity of a resonant optical sensor.

Optimized optical resonator device for sensing applications


Technology is disclosed herein that provides for modifying a circuit design to reduce the potential occurrence of single event upset errors during operation of a device manufactured from the synthesized design. After a circuit design has been synthesized to a particular abstraction level, a static timing analysis procedure is run on the design. The slack values for paths within the design are determined based upon the static timing analysis procedure. Subsequently, delays are added to selected paths within the design based upon the slack values.

Electronic circuits, such as integrated circuits, are used in a variety of electronic systems, from automobiles to microwaves to personal computers. Designing and fabricating circuits typically involves many steps, known as a "design flow." The particular steps of a design flow often are dependent upon the type of circuit being designed, its complexity, the design team and the circuit fabricator or foundry that will manufacture the circuit. Software and hardware "tools" are typically used at various stages of the design flow to aid in developing the design and in ensuring that the design is free from errors. The process of using hardware and software tools to aid in the design flow is often referred to as electronic design automation (EDA).
Several steps are common to most design flows. Typically, the specification for a new circuit is first described at a very abstract level. More particularly, relationships between a set of inputs and a set of outputs are described using a set of computations. This is referred to as an "algorithmic level" design or "algorithmic specification" and is often described using conventional computer programming languages, such as, for example, C++. The algorithmic specification is then subsequently transformed, often referred to as "synthesized," into a design having a lower level of abstraction.
Typically, designers synthesize the algorithmic specification into a Register Transfer Level (RTL) description of the circuit. With this type of description, the circuit is defined in terms of both the exchange of signals between hardware registers and the logical operations that are performed on those signals. Subsequently, the design is further synthesized into lower and lower levels of abstraction. For example, the register transfer level design may be synthesized into a gate-level design. At each abstraction level, the design is typically described by a hardware description language (HDL), such as, for example, the Very high speed integrated circuit Hardware Design Language (VHDL).
The gate-level design, which is typically in the form of a schematic or netlist, describes the specific electronic devices (such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors) that will be used in the circuit, along with their interconnections. This gate-level design generally corresponds to the level of representation displayed in conventional circuit diagrams. The gate-level design can then be synthesized into a design for a mask, which, as those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, is used to manufacture the design.
During various stages of the design flow, the behavior of the design is checked to ensure that it corresponds with the intended or expected behavior. This is often referred to as "verification." If errors in the design are found during verification, they can be corrected at this stage of the design process. Additionally, the design may be modified to account for known effects that may cause errors during the operation of the design. One known effect is referred to as a single event upset (SEU). A SEU is an unwanted change of the data in a state element, such as, for example, a register. As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, an SEU is random in nature, and will often cause unwanted behavior in the device design when manifest.
Various techniques have been proposed to deal with the effects of an SEU. For example, triple mode redundancy (TMR) replicates a portion of the design twice, resulting in three separate identical design portions. Subsequently, these design portions can be checked against each other to ensure consistency. Although TMR is generally effective, it requires replicating the design, which adds to the size and costs associated with the design. Another technique to mitigate SEU effects is to record the same signal at three different times. More specifically, the same signal is sampled at three different times and then recorded into a state element. These state elements are later synchronized to ensure consistency between the signal samplings. Although this solution can be implemented without replicating the design portions, it still degrades the operating speed of the design.

Single event upset mitigation for electronic design synthesis


An identification assembly for protectively storing information related to an animal wearing the assembly includes a bracelet storage body having a cavity defined therein. The cavity can be configured to store and protect an information-bearing medium on which the information related to the animal can be disposed. A strap assembly can also be provided and includes a strap member and a pair of clasps. The pair of clasps can be coupled to opposite ends of the strap member and can be directly coupleable to opposite ends of the storage body. The clasps can be configured to facilitate removable coupling of the strap assembly to the storage body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a bracelet or identification assembly for storing information relating to a wearer of the assembly.
2. Related Art
It is often the case that it is desirable to include information on a person relating to that person. For instance, small children are often unable to remember information such as their address, telephone number, etc., that may be necessary for third parties to ascertain in the event of some problem. This can be problematic if a young child becomes lost and may be unable to provide accurate identification information to people such as police who are attempting to locate the parents or caretaker of the child. This problem can be further exacerbated when the child is involved in a stressful situation, such as suffering an injury or being involved in accident, in which case even children normally capable of recalling and providing such information may be unable to do so.
Similar problems are also shared by aging adults or those with medical problems. For instance, it is recommended that people of all ages with certain medical conditions include information on their person identifying the medical condition. In this manner, emergency or medical personnel can be made aware of such information and treat the individual accordingly. In addition, active adolescents and adults often participate in outdoor and recreational activities in which carriage of wallets, purses, etc., is not convenient. In the event that such individuals become injured, it can be difficult, if not impossible, for emergency personnel to identify the individual and/or ascertain who should be contacted to report the injury, i.e., the individual's parents, spouse, etc.
For these reasons, persons with medical conditions, caretakers of children or older adults, and active adolescents and adults (collectively referred to as "individuals") often wish to provide information relating to the individual in a manner that can be accessed by third parties in the event that the individual is unable to provide the information themselves. This can most effectively be done by providing and storing the information on the person of the individual.
Providing information relating to an individual on the person of the individual can be done in a number of ways. For instance, the individual can be provided with a card or other paper on which the information is written and the card or paper can be stored in the individual's pocket or purse. While this information may be useful by third parties in the event that it becomes necessary, third parties may have no knowledge of the existence of such a paper and may not think to search for something of the kind.
In addition, the individual may not know of or be able to understand the importance of such a card or paper and may discard or otherwise lose the paper. For these reasons, devices such as "medical alert" jewelry have been developed on or in which such information can be disposed. If the individual wearing such a device continues to wear the device, and in the event that such a device can store sufficient information to be of use, these conventional methods of identification provide some limited benefits.
However, conventional identification devices have proved problematic in a number of ways. For instance, many individuals who are provided and/or instructed to wear such devices resist doing so and may remove the device when unattended. This can be especially the case with young children, who may not wish to wear a device that other children are not wearing or that, in the child's opinion, is not "cool," or attractive enough to warrant continued use, or that is uncomfortable or overly heavy to wear. Also, conventional "medical alert" jewelry has proved to be limited in the amount and current status of information that can be displayed. For instance, many conventional jewelry identification devices are engraved with information, which results in a limited amount of information being recordable on the device. In addition, once engraved on the device, it is difficult, if not impossible, to update the information to maintain a current status of the information.
For at least these reasons, conventional identification devices are not particularly suited for storing complete identification information, such as addresses, telephone numbers, caretaker names and contact information, etc. Such devices are often limited to providing only a limited, basic amount of information, and not detailed information such as third party contact information, office contact information, etc. Furthermore, even if conventional identification devices can be provided with a desired amount of information, many people are reluctant to wear such devices as they may appear unattractive or out of step with current trends, or may be uncomfortable, heavy, or bulky to wear.
Many of the same problems are involved when attempting to store information relating to an animal, such as a family pet, on a body of the animal. While conventional tags, commonly known as "dog tags" have been used to record information relating to a pet, such as the pet's name, owner's address and telephone, etc., such tags are limited in that only a small amount of information can be recorded on typical dog tags. In addition, as pets are likely to chew or otherwise attempt to remove objects attached to the pet, attempts to attach larger devices containing more detailed levels of information have proved problematic.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A lift and operating angle varying mechanism is arranged to vary an intake valve operation angle and an intake valve lift of the engine continuously by rotating a control shaft with an actuator disposed at an end of the control shaft which is rotatably supported by a plurality of bearings. A lubricating oil is supplied to the bearings so as to reduce nonuniformity in temperature distribution of the control shaft in the longitudinal direction.

The present invention relates to a variable valve actuating mechanism for an internal combustion engine.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-256905 (EP 1 234 958 A2) shows an intake control apparatus for an internal combustion engine equipped with a lift and operating angle varying mechanism capable of varying an intake valve operation angle and an intake valve lift quantity simultaneously and continuously. This apparatus reduces pumping loss, and controls an intake air quantity independently of a throttle valve.
When the intake valve lift quantity varies from cylinder to cylinder of an engine because of dimensional tolerance of parts and component assemblage, the intake air quantity varies from cylinder to cylinder, and hence the output torque of the engine fluctuates. In such a state, the engine generates unpleasant vibrations and noises to a level badly affecting the quality of idling operation in which the demand for stability and silence is specifically high. As the variation in intake valve lift quantity is in the order of a few micrometers (μm)˜ a few hundreds micrometers (μm), the variation is not problematical in effect in a conventional internal combustion engine arranged to control the intake air quantity with a fixed cam and a throttle valve.
The apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document is arranged to contain the variation in the intake valve lift quantity among the cylinders within a predetermined range.

Variable valve actuating mechanism for internal combustion engine