Defect detection in a software system made of multiple computer program programs is facilitated by using information about cross-program interactions and dependency relationships between programs to analyze the individual programs in such a way that the behavior of the system as a whole is accurately represented. A list of dependency relationships is read in; these dependency relationships are used to determine an order in which the programs should be analyzed. The programs are then analyzed in that order. Information from the analysis of the programs is used to inform the analysis of subsequently-analyzed programs.

A large amount of effort in the development of computer programs is spent ensuring the correctness of the completed program. The correctness of a computer program is the degree to which it is free from errors in its specification, design, and implementation. Three common methods for detecting errors in a computer program are compile-time checking, runtime checking, and simulated path execution.
Compile-time checking is the process of evaluating a computer program based on its form, structure, or content. Compile-time checking tests properties that can be established before the execution of a program. One form of compile-time checking, known as syntax checking, verifies compliance with structural or grammatical rules defined for a language. For example, in the context of a computer program written in the well-known C++ programming language, using the statement B+C=A would produce an error because the correct format is A=B+C. Syntax checking is discussed, for example, in Richard Conway and David Gries, An Introduction to Programming (Winthrop Publishers, Inc., 1979). Another form of compile-time checking, known as data flow analysis, analyzes the sequence in which data transfer, use, and transformation are performed in a computer program to detect programming errors. Data flow analysis includes the use of control information, which relates to the sequence in which statements are performed in the execution of a computer program. A control flow is also referred to as a control flow path or, more simply, a code path. Data flow analysis can detect such errors as the use of a variable before assignment, two consecutive assignments to a variable, or assigning a value to a variable that is never used.
Compile-time checking techniques are inherently limited in that they do not consider the consequences of actual execution of the computer program in question. Compile-time checking is thus limited to what can be determined without considering the dynamic effects of program execution. For example, the lint compile-time checker available in the SPARCworks™ 3.0.1 programming environment from Sun Microsystems of Mountain View, Calif., analyzes computer code without regard to the dynamic flow of control through the code. This shortcoming causes lint to falsely report values being used before they are initialized, when such is not the case.
Another type of false error reported by compile-time analysis methods is an "apparent" error in instructions through which control flow cannot go. The sequence in which statements are performed often depends on particular values associated with particular variables. Compile-time checking methods generally assume statements are always executed because they cannot determine whether a particular code path is executed or under what specific circumstances program control flows through the code path.
Runtime checking, the other primary type of programming error detection method, involves evaluating a computer program based on its behavior during execution. Runtime checking involves executing the computer program with a known set of inputs and verifying the program results against the expected outcome. The set of test inputs, execution conditions, and expected results is called a "test case." Often, in order to help locate errors, a printout or trace showing the value of selected variables at different points in the program's execution is produced.
Although simple in principle, the usefulness of runtime checking is limited by the complexity of the computer program. A tremendous amount of effort is involved in designing, making, and running test cases. Even after such extensive effort, the error detection capability of runtime checking is limited to the code paths executed by the specific set of inputs chosen. In all but the most simple computer programs, it is generally impractical to execute all possible control flow paths. Furthermore, runtime checking requires that a computer program be complete and ready for execution. Since a function must be executed to be analyzed, testing a function apart from incorporating it into a complete program requires the additional effort of building a program shell that provides the function with the necessary environment for execution.
One method to overcome the deficiencies of typical programming error detection methods is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,539 (issued Dec. 2, 1997); U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,071 (issued Jan. 5, 1999); U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,113 (issued Oct. 19, 1999); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,031 (issued Jun. 20, 2000), all entitled "Computer Process Resource Modeling Method and Apparatus," issued on, respectively, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,778, entitled "Simulated Program Execution Error Detection Method and Apparatus," issued on Aug. 4, 1998, and assigned to Intrinsa Corp. of Mountain View, Calif. The disclosures of the above-identified issued U.S. patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference. This programming error detection method analyzes components of computer programs by tracking the effect of program instructions on the state of program resources. Each resource has a prescribed behavior represented by a number of states and transitions between states.
The difficulties in detecting errors in computer programs is compounded in the case of systems that consist of several individual programs that interact with each other. In such systems, the operation of each individual program is potentially affected by events occurring in the other programs that interact with it. Existing program analysis techniques operate either on the entire code of a single program or a subset thereof; such techniques are known respectively as whole-program analysis and partial-program analysis techniques. Both types of techniques can automatically identify defects in some number of source files. Whole-program analysis techniques are more effective, but partial-program analysis techniques can give useful results on subsets of code.
However, most modern software is written as a collection of interacting programs. Since the programs interact, they cannot be analyzed independently—the behavior of one program influences the behavior of other programs in the system. Further, the order in which programs must be analyzed to give useful results is informed by the dependency relationships between the programs, i.e., the calling relationships between them. The results of the analysis of one program must be used as inputs for the analysis of other programs that interact with it.
Program analysis tools typically allow the developer to describe "external behavior" that can in practice be used to specify the behavior of another component. Certain program analysis tools allow the description of a specific component's external behavior to be generated automatically by analyzing the component in question. For example, the PREfix analysis tool uses models and provides a complex mechanism to allow users to specify which models are used and produced in an analysis. The PC-Lint analysis tool uses libraries known as "lint libraries" and provides a comparably complex mechanism. By invoking the tool on different parts of the code in a specific order and furnishing the appropriate specification of which external behavior to generate and use for the analysis of individual components, it is possible to use a whole-program analysis tool to perform cross-program analysis, i.e., analysis of multiple programs that interact with each other.
However, this approach is not practical on a large system that has a large number of components. For example, the WINDOWS 2000 operating system build process generates over 3000 different programs, in addition to other programs provided in binary form. There are myriad dependency relationships between these programs. It is not practical to specify these dependencies to a program analysis tool manually, nor to manually determine the correct order in which the program analysis tool should be invoked on the individual programs.
A variety of techniques can be used to determine cross-program dependencies. For example, these relationships may be known a priori based on the design of the system. As an alternative, they can be determined manually by inspecting the code. They may also be determined automatically by analyzing how the system is built. In some cases, they may also be determined by analyzing the executable programs comprising the system.
What is needed is a method of using the information about cross-program dependencies to automatically invoke the program analysis tool appropriately on the individual programs. "Appropriately" includes providing the correct external behavior specifications, and determining the correct order in which programs should be analyzed.
A number of approaches have been proposed for solving the cross-program analysis problem. These approaches typically attempt to approximate the correct solution, but introduce potentially serious errors into the analysis.
One approach is to ignore the fact that there are multiple programs and instead treat the entire system as a single "program." This approach introduces some potentially serious inaccuracies into simulation. Certain assumptions that are safe to make in whole-program and partial-program analysis cannot be safely made in cross-program analysis. For example, in whole- and partial-program analysis in the C programming language, a safe to assume that there is only one function with a given name because if that were not the case, the program would not be executable. This restriction is enforced by the linker. However, there is no such restriction when dealing with multiple programs. Since all known whole- and partial-program analysis tools build this assumption in, treating the multiple programs as a single program results both in large numbers of inaccurate assumptions about the structure of the program, and in the incorrect appearance that a substantial portion of the code can be safely excluded from analysis.
Another approach is to treat the programs as independent. This approach, however, fails to consider any issues related to the interaction between components. Still another approach involves attempting to manually specify the interactions between components. This approach does not scale well beyond a handful of components. It is difficult both to manually determine the dependencies between components, and to manually specify these dependencies for the tool.
Due to the inadequacy of existing program analysis techniques to analyze highly complex systems of individual programs, a need continues to exist for a programming error detection method that considers the behavior of executed program instructions and that can perform cross-program analysis on such complex systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for whole-system program analysis


A power module with leads extending upwardly. The circuit components and connections of the power module are arranged upon a substrate having interface leads attached thereto extending away from the undersurface of the substrate. The interface leads extend through openings in a form fitting molded case. The case has an open center region to facilitate performance of final assembly steps upon the module and is subsequently covered with a rugged lid and is encapsulated with a suitable potting material. The interior of the module is filled with a gel to provide moisture-proof protection.

Electronic circuits are normally provided with electrical leads extending outwardly from one or more edges of the perimeter thereof. Integrated circuits have been provided with leads extending outwardly therefrom and which are then bent downwardly, typically providing a dual, in-line configuration for the electrical leads.
Modular power units for driving motors and the like are employed in a variety of applications such as industrial and military applications and commercial and military aviation. For example, modular power circuits are utilized to drive motors and other devices employed in robotic devices and systems, and aircraft applications, both military and commercial, military weapons and the like, as well as a variety of other industrial applications. Power driver circuits are typically required to provide outputs of significant voltage and current ratings requiring output energy levels which generates a significant amount of heat.
Such power circuits require provision of an adequate heat sink, which is capable of conducting heat away from the power circuit to prevent overheating and assure proper operation.
An adequate heat sink typically requires that a large, intimate contact surface area be provided between the power circuit and the heat sink. As a result, it is important to provide a power circuit design which, in addition to providing adequate heat transfer away from the power circuit, provides conductive interface leads which are suitably removed from and do not interfere with the heat transfer surface to facilitate and simplify interconnection with the devices and or circuits driven by the power circuit.
It is therefore desirable to have a module in which the leads extending outwardly from the substrate are directed away from the heat sink and to provide a module which is easy to assemble and is adequately protected from the severe ambient conditions encountered in use.

Mini-module with upwardly directed leads


Improved beamforming techniques are provided for use in MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) communication systems, including MIMO-OFDM systems. The techniques include: (1) determining beamforming (BF) weights using a smoothed singular value decomposition (SVD) of the channel matrix; (2) determining BF weights using a power-optimized minimum mean-square error (MMSE) technique when the number of available transmit antennas exceeds the number of signal streams; and (3) determining BF weights using a hybrid SVD-MMSE technique. Additional techniques for reducing the impulse response length of the BF weights and/or normalizing the power per transmit antenna or per data stream may be used in conjunction with these or other beamforming techniques.

The present invention relates in general to wireless communication systems, and in particular to beamforming techniques usable in multiple-input, multiple output (MIMO) 10 wireless communication systems.
As used herein, the term "beamforming" refers to a variety of techniques for exploiting interference effects to improve reception of a signal. Traditionally, beamforming entails sending the same signal from multiple antennas with appropriate phase and/or amplitude adjustments such that a strong signal is detected at a receiver.
In MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) communication systems, a single data stream is divided into multiple spatial streams that are transmitted over multiple antennas in parallel. The receiver receives a linear combination of the spatial streams, which it decodes to reconstruct the original data stream. Parallel transmission of multiple spatial streams generally improves the data rate of the communication system as compared to more 20 traditional SISO (single-input, single-output) systems. Further increases in the data rate can be attained by using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or similar techniques within each spatial stream.
Beamforming may be employed in a MIMO system. With beamforming, instead of using each transmit antenna to transmit a spatial stream, the transmit antennas each transmit a 25 linear combination of the spatial streams, with the combination being chosen so as to optimize the response at the receiver. More specifically, consider a MIMO system with a number (Nt) of transmit antennas and a number (Nr) of receive antennas that transmits a number (Nss) of spatial streams in parallel using a number Nc of OFDM subcarriers n. In the absence of beamforming, the Nr-component vector y(n) of signals received for subcarrier n may be expressed as:y(n)=H(n)x(n)+n(n),  (Eq. 1)where x(n) is an Nt-component vector of signals transmitted for subcarrier n, H(n) is an Nr×Nt matrix representing the effect of the communication channel for subcarrier n, and n(n) is an Nr-component vector representing the noise seen per receive antenna for subcarrier n.
A beamforming transmitter applies weights to signals x(n) prior to transmission, where each weight is a complex scalar. In general, assuming now that x(n) is an Nss-component vector, the beamforming weights for subcarrier n are represented as an Nt×Nss matrix W(n), and Eq. 1 becomes:y(n)=H(n)W(n)x(n)+n(n)  (Eq. 2)
Various beamforming techniques for MIMO communication systems are known in the art. In general, such techniques can be classified in two categories. Techniques in one category attempt to equalize the channel at the transmitter, e.g., by selecting W(n) such that the product H(n)W(n) approximates an identity matrix, so that an AWGN-like performance is seen at the receiver. Minimum mean-square error (MMSE) techniques, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,144,711, are of this kind.
MIMO beamforming techniques in another category attempt to orthogonalize the channel at the transmitter side, e.g., by selecting W(n) such that the product H(n)W(n) is approximately a diagonal matrix, in order to improve receiver performance. Singular value decomposition (SVD) techniques are of this kind.
The extent to which beamforming improves receiver performance depends on how the weights W are selected. Improvements in beamforming techniques will result in improved performance and are therefore desirable.

Beamforming techniques for MIMO communication systems


In some examples, a convective gas bar can include a gas inlet to receive supply gas to a first portion of the convective gas bar, feed holes located in the first portion, a nozzle plate located in a second portion of the convective gas bar, where the nozzle plate includes nozzles, and the nozzles are adapted to receive and direct the supply gas from the feed holes through the nozzles.

Imaging systems, such as printers, may be used to form markings on a physical print medium, such as text, images, etc. In some examples, imaging systems may form markings on the print medium by performing a print job. A print job can include forming markings such as text and/or images by transferring print material to the print medium.

HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.


A method and apparatus for imprinting a sublimation transfer onto a generally cup-shaped or tubular structure. The apparatus includes a support structure for holding of the structure. A blower is provided for providing a flow of heating air to the interior surface of the structure. A control device is provided for directing the flow of heating air in a uniform manner about the interior surface of the structure.

The printing of sublimation transfers onto a mug by heating is well known. The printing process involves the transferring of an image on the sublimation transfer by heat and contact pressure. There are many types of sublimation transfers that can be imprinted by various printing devices, for example, copy machines, laser printers, printing presses, etc. The key to all these image transfers is that they all use a form of "sublimation" ink. The sublimation transfer is made up of two basic parts: the transfer release paper, and sublimation dyes. The sublimation dyes are printed onto the transfer release paper. The heat transfer process heats the transfer paper and sublimation dye to a predetermined temperature. As the temperature of the mug rises during the heating cycle time, the sublimation dyes start to transfer from transfer paper to the mug. The transmissiveness of sublimation dyes from the transfer paper to the mug is the key to any heat transfer process. Different types of sublimation transfers transfer at different operating temperatures. However, the primary requirement for obtaining a good image transfer is the uniform heating of the mug. If there are "cold spots" around the mug due to non-uniform heating, undesirable non-uniform transfer of the dye onto the mug will occur, resulting in a low quality product.
There are various known techniques for heating a mug and image transfer for transferring the image to the mug. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,193 describes a mug press with a heated blanket. U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,508 describes a method for clamping a transfer onto a mug which is heated by hot air conduction. U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,454 describes a flexible transfer head with a flexible heating element. U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,529 describes a clamp and mug transfer system where heat is applied to the mug by an electric heating blanket. A problem associated with heating blankets are that they are expensive and have a short life. In addition, it is difficult to construct a reliable blanket that provides uniform pressure and heat. Other prior art types heating systems tend to provide non-uniform heating.
The present invention provides a unique method and apparatus that provides uniform heating of the mug, which results in excellent transfer of images, while maintaining high reliability and long life.

Method and apparatus for transferring images onto a tubular structure


An antenna configuration system for determining the bearing angle of a radio frequency signal includes a plurality of loop antennas and at least one sense antenna. Through the utilization of combining networks with the loop antennas, in-phase and out-of-phase output signals are summed with the signal from the one sense antenna. The summed signal is sent to an adaptive processing system to allow for the determination the bearing angle of the radio frequency signal.

The direction finding systems of today owe much to concepts related to radio direction finding learned over the first half of this century. However, over the past two decades, relatively inexpensively analog and digital processing tools have lead to the development of high performance, easy to use, direction finding devices that are viable for many applications.
While these new tools are derived from advances in commercial digital signal processing (DSP), there are technologies unique to direction finding (DF) systems that are of significant importance to such systems. The design of a complete DF system requires careful consideration of many factors ranging from frequency, propagation, and modulation to application and deployment. However, the most important direction finding fundamental is the method used to intercept and locate signals of interest (SOI).
As with any radio frequency signal intercepting system, the receivers and detectors are optimized for the particular signals of interest. In such systems certain design performance requirements such as size, weight and power are balanced against the key systems specifications: selectivity and sensitivity. One of the most critical parameters to be influenced by DSP functions are the computation of the bearing angle of the signal. The present patent application is directed towards influencing the computation of bearing angles. DSP plays a major role in improvement of the signal to noise ratio and computation of the quality factors, an indication of the effectiveness of the bearing measurement. Processing also considers calibration issues. Specifically, various antenna and equipment calibration methods use DSP to achieve and maintain the desired measurement accuracies on the order of a few degrees of true compass headings.
Finally, the DF system processor provides the man-machine interface. With new digital display technology, many additional capabilities have been added to the design of today's direction finding systems.
The functional features of the system include intercept search speed and operational performance as well as adaptability of the equipment to multiple applications. There are many types of advanced processing procedures and functions associated with DSP systems. In addition, these performance characteristics improve the direction finding systems.
However, the performance of even the latest direction finding systems is ultimately affected by the law of physics. The chance location of the direction finding (DF) equipment at a field site or on a platform may result in significant measurement errors. In some cases the deleterious effects of the site or platform can be mitigated either by moving the location or calibrating the error into the calculation.
In antenna array sampling techniques, various methods are used to achieve affordable multi-application system designs. These sampling methods determine the bearing angle of the radio signal so that the proper signal can be found.
Antenna array sampling methods, like those used in current pseudo-Doppler DF, are an attractive way of achieving affordable multi-application system designs. When combined with the latest signal processing methods and low-cost processors, array sampling techniques offer benefits that are comparable to earlier, very expensive system approaches.
DF antennas have aperture dimensions that are typically small, most less than half a wavelength. Today's electromagnetic modeling and computer-aided design tools allow engineers to design antennas that are relatively small and efficient over wide spectral bands. But the small aperture size of the antennas would make turning or steering techniques an ineffective means to locate the arriving signal bearing. Instead, three fundamental measurement parameters are used; amplitude, phase and Doppler frequency.
In the amplitude measurements, two sets of antennas with dipole-type patterns are arranged orthogonally. Signals arriving at the two antennas induce a voltage relative to the polarization and radiation pattern for each antenna. The bearing angle is derived from the ratio of the two signal amplitudes. Because simple amplitude measurements are made, a sense antenna (with an omni-directional pattern) is used to resolve the "180 degree" ambiguity in the bearing calculation.
Direct phase measurement methods for example, use a set of four antennas. Two antennas form one baseline. The relative phase differences of the induced voltages between the antennas define the bearing angles. Ambiguity in the bearing measurements, therefore, is not an issue.
Conceptually, at least, the Doppler measurement methods are straightforward. A antenna is rotated about a point at a given angular rate. As the antenna moves, it imposes a Doppler shift on the arriving signal. The magnitude of the Doppler shift is at a maximum as the antenna moves directly toward and away from the direction of the incoming wavefront. There is no apparent frequency shift when the antenna moves orthogonally to the wavefront. The bearing angle is therefore proportional to the relative position of the zero crossings of the Doppler-shifted signal. For many applications Doppler methods are not practical, since the system uses motors and moving components.
Although the amplitude and phase measurement methods are viable DF approaches, they too have some significant constraints. First, they must maintain amplitude and phase balance to minimize measurement errors. Maintaining amplitude and phase balance is especially challenging when the antennas are connected to the processor through the multiple amplitude-phase matched receivers and cable assemblies still used in older system architectures. The antennas and receivers are significantly more expensive as well. Add these factors to the complexity of the overall DF system design and the antenna array continues to be the major focus for new design challenges.
Computer and RF technology advances over the past 20 years have resulted in new tools and devices to create systems with a single receiver. Using one receiver in a system reduces the balancing errors, overcomes the Complexities of amplitude-phase matched receivers and substantially reduces system cost. Hence, the system becomes more affordable.
There are various ways of designing a DF system with a single receiver, such as the RF combining subsystem approach. In this design, RF processing elements combine the outputs of the antenna elements and feed the combined RF output signal to a single receiver and DF processor.
An alternative approach uses RF sampling methods from an array of antennas. Here, an RF sampling (or commutating) switch samples each antenna and sends the combined samples to the receiver and DF processor. This sampling method simplifies the design of the antenna electronics and further reduces design complexity.
Different types of antenna arrangements can be utilized for finding the direction of an RF signal. Simple whips and/or dipole antennas are used to determine direction however, they have several disadvantages. For example, at lower frequencies the wavelengths are very long. Correspondingly, the longer the wavelength the longer the antenna. In some low frequency applications utilizing whip antennas they can be as long as eight (8) feet. This makes for a unwieldy df system in many instances.
In addition, in most applications a plurality of the whip antennas are arranged in a circular pattern. At low frequencies, the antennas must be positioned over a large diameter to be effectively utilized for direction finding.
Cross looped antennas have been utilized extensively for direction finding to improve the accuracy. It is known that at lower frequencies these types of antennas are much smaller than whip or dipole antennas. These antennas in the prior art typically require fairly complicated circuitry to accurately provide a sampled RF signal. These alternate approaches oftentimes required separate receivers for each of the antennas. Thereafter, the outputs of these separate signals were combined at a combining network. Typically, these types of arrangements were very complex and extremely costly.
The present invention is directed to a direction finding apparatus which is simpler and less expensive, than previously known systems that utilized cross looped and/or orthogonal antenna arrangements.

Antenna configuration and system for determining the direction of a radio frequency signal


A composition comprising at least one graphene-supported metal oxide monolith, said monolith comprising a three-dimensional structure of graphene sheets crosslinked by covalent carbon bonds, wherein the graphene sheets are coated by at least one metal oxide such as iron oxide or titanium oxide. Also provided is an electrode comprising the aforementioned graphene-supported metal oxide monolith, wherein the electrode can be substantially free of any carbon-black and substantially free of any binder.

Iron is the fourth most abundant element (˜5%) in the Earth's crust and the least expensive among all transition metals (which is ˜100 times cheaper than minor metals such as cobalt). In its oxide form, iron oxides (e.g., FeO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4) are green materials with little environmental impact and have been investigated as potential anode materials for high-performance lithium-ion batteries, due largely to their attractive specific capacity. Fe2O3 (alpha-Hematite or gamma-Maghemite), for example, carries a theoretical capacity of 1005 mAh/g that is about ˜3 times higher than commercial anode graphite (˜372 mAh/g), and is among the highest in various transition metal oxides (e.g., TiO2, V2O5, Cr2O3, Mn3O4, MoO2, CO3O4, NiO, CuO) (see, for example, FIG. 7). The combined traits of low-cost, nontoxic, corrosion-resistant, and facile synthesis have evidently made Fe2O3 one of the top candidates as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Other metal oxides also are of interest.
Unfortunately, some known hurdles need to be overcome before metal oxides can become the components in lithium-ion batteries, including (1) low electrical conductivity of metal oxides (FIG. 7), which curbs the rate performance; (2) defoliation and pulverization of active materials due to the large volume expansion, leading to capacity fading and low cycle life; and (3) scalability, which is desirable for any synthetic approach in order to have practical applications, as the thickness of commercial battery electrodes is typically ˜100-200 μm. Various scientific strategies have hitherto been actively pursued and become a voluminous subject of lithium-ion batteries.
Among various approaches, graphene/metal oxides as anode materials have been under intensive investigations, spurred not only by the high specific capacities of metal oxides (see FIG. 7A), but also by the high electrical conductivity, chemical stability, and mechanical robustness of graphene sheets. To date, a number of composite approaches have been developed, including graphene-anchored, -wrapped, -encapsulated, -layered/sandwiched, or -mixed with metal oxide nanoparticles. Sometimes reduced graphene oxides are used.
Despite high gravimetric energy density and discharge/charge rates often witnessed in some of these composites, most approaches adopt simple dispersion or mixture of graphene with metal oxides, leading to certain shortcomings. First, many strategies only work well when the electrode is very thin. The short diffusion pathway of nanoparticles cannot be taken advantage of when the anode becomes thicker (>100-200 μm for commercial applications), as Li+ has to diffuse through the thickness of the electrode during charge-discharge. This disadvantage inevitably limits commercialization potential. Second, the majority of electrodes are not carbon-black-free or binder-free. Despite the high electrical conductivity of single sheet graphene, carbonaceous species and/or polymeric binders are required in most of these approaches. These extra fillers increase electrode weight but contribute little to the lithium storage, reducing the overall energy density. In addition, carbon additives could cause pseudocapacitive behavior in the low-voltage cycle range that could undermine the role of graphene. Third, the lack of control in microstructure homogeneity and interface structures, which prevents in-depth understanding of graphene/nanoparticle interaction mechanisms. The addition of conductive carbons or polymer binders further clouds such studies.
Because of above reasons, the performance characteristics of many existing graphene/metal oxides cannot easily scale up with the thickness of the electrode. Novel architecture designs are needed in order to solve these and other challenging issues.

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC


A method and apparatus is described for modifying a smart antenna processing strategy determined from a set of signals received at an array of antenna elements of a wireless station, such as a set of weights for processing received antenna signals or forming a set of antenna signals for transmission. The method and apparatus uses the signatures of one or more interferers to produce a modified processing strategy that improves the nulling to the one or more interferers in that, when the modified strategy is applied on the downlink, the transmit signal strength in the direction of the one or more interferers is decreased, and, when the modified strategy is applied on the uplink, the sensitivity to signals from the direction of the one or more interferers is decreased.

Adaptive smart antenna processing may be used in a communication station (e.g., a base station) equipped with multiple antennas to either reject interference when communicating from a subscriber unit to the communication station (i.e., on the uplink) or to deliver power in a spatially or spatio-temporally selective manner when communicating from the communication station to a subscriber unit (i.e., on the downlink). With smart antenna communication systems that use linear spatial processing for the adaptive smart antenna processing, during uplink communications, one applies amplitude and phase adjustments, typically but not necessarily in baseband to each of the signals received at the antenna array elements to select (i.e., preferentially receive) the signals of interest while minimizing any signals or noise not of interest—that is, the interference. Such baseband amplitude and phase adjustment can be described by a complex valued weight, the receive weight, and the receive weights for all elements of the array can be described by a complex valued vector, the receive weight vector. Similarly, the downlink signal is processed by adjusting the amplitude and phase of the baseband signals that are transmitted by each of the antennas of the antenna array. Such amplitude and phase control can be described by a complex valued weight, the transmit weight, and the weights for all elements of the array by a complex valued vector, the transmit weight vector. In some systems, the receive (and/or transmit) weights include temporal processing, and in such cases, the receive (and/or transmit) weights may be functions of frequency and applied in the frequency domain or, equivalently, functions of time applied as convolution kernels. Alternatively, each convolution kernel, if for sampled signals, may itself be described by a set of complex numbers, so that the vector of convolution kernels may be re-written as a complex values weight vector, which, for the case of there being M antennas and each kernel having K entries, would be a vector of KM entries.
Many methods are known for performing interference rejection or selective power delivery. Examples include least-squares beamforming and zero-forcing beamforming. Selective power delivery must balance competing goals. In general, the power delivered to one remote user cannot be simultaneously maximized while the power delivered to another remote user is minimized. More generally, if several remote users require power minimization (i.e., nulling), the relative power delivered to each must be traded off. This tradeoff can be based on a number of factors. For example, for a given interferer (which might be a co-channel user), a deeper null (i.e., decreased transmitted power aimed at an interferer during transmission or decreased sensitivity to signals transmitted from the interferer during reception) may be required for a remote user co-participating in the spatial channel established at the base station than for a remote user communicating with a different base station.
A disadvantage of known methods, such as least-squares and zero-forcing, is their inability to flexibly perform this tradeoff. Zero-forcing methods attempt to direct perfect nulls towards all interferers, regardless of the power delivered to the desired remote user. Least-squares methods minimize a cost function which, when the uplink strategies are used to determine downlink strategies, on the downlink directs strongest nulls to remote users who were received most strongly on the uplink. Neither zero-forcing nor least-squares behavior may be appropriate for some systems.
A particular case where least-squares nulling behavior is undesirable occurs when subscriber units are subject to the "near/far problem." In the near/far problem, one subscriber unit, say one denoted SU1, is far from the base station while a second subscriber unit, say one denoted SU2, is close. When the downlink weight vector, denoted w1, is computed for SU1, signals from SU2 are seen as interference and a null is formed towards SU2. The depth of the null in the direction of SU2 is limited by noise and other factors, including the possibility that the transmitted powers of subscriber units are adjusted such that equal power levels are received by the base station. If high power is used to reach SU1 during base station transmit, then excessive signal levels leaking "through" in the imperfect null can disturb SU2. A deeper null towards SU2 is therefore desirable.
A disadvantage of zero-forcing methods is the need for the base station to have complete knowledge of all remote user and interferer spatial signatures (or spatio-temporal signatures). The receive spatial signature and the receive spatio-temporal signature characterizes how the base station array receives signals from a particular subscriber unit in the absence of any interference or other subscriber units. The transmit spatial signature and the transmit spatio-temporal signature of a particular remote user characterizes how the remote user receives signals from the base station in the absence of any interference. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,490 entitled SPECTRALLY EFFICIENT HIGH CAPACITY WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, to Barratt et al., assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,828,658 entitled SPECTRALLY EFFICIENT HIGH CAPACITY WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS WITH SPATIO-TEMPORAL PROCESSING, to Ottersten et al., also assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference, for spatial processing and spatio-temporal processing methods that use spatial and spatio-temporal signatures. Note that because a signature may be a spatial signature or a spatio-temporal signature, depending on whether the smart antenna processing is spatial or spatio-temporal, the term signature will be used herein, and whether the signature is spatial or spatio-temporal will depend on whether the processing is spatial or spatio-temporal, and whether the signature is a transmit or a receive signature will depend on the context, and which signature will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art from the context.
Determining all spatial signatures of all remote users and all interferers may often be impossible to carry out accurately if any of the interferers are weak or have a signal structure that is a priori unknown, or because of computational power limitations.
In the uplink direction, increasing the depth of a null (i.e, decreasing sensitivity to signals received from a particular interferer) is desirable when the uplink strategy, for example the uplink weight vector, computed from a previous burst is used in predictive mode, e.g., for new data. When uplink remote users are executing power control, for example to control received power at the base station or to reduce transmit power during periods of voice or data inactivity, their uplink power may vary widely from burst to burst. Similar effects occur in fading environments. Thus, if a least-squares approach is used, the null depth obtained from a strategy computed for the previous burst may be inappropriate for the current burst.
Thus there is a need in the art for a flexible method for directing precise and deep nulls on the uplink or downlink direction. There also is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for estimating one or more signatures in the direction of one or more interferers to use, for example, for such null deepening. There also is a need for a method for using a signature estimate of an interferer for directing precise and deep nulls in the direction of the interferer. There also is a need in the art for a method for directing precise and deep nulls in the direction of one or more interferers while substantially maintaining the other nulling and gain patterns of a provided adaptive smart antenna processing strategy.

Null deepening for an adaptive antenna based communication station


A turnbuckle with a central link having internal right and left hand threads receives the ends of longitudinally split sections of a pair of shaft members which are threaded with complimentary right and left hand threads. The sections of the shafts are slidably engaged within the central link and a band of low friction material is placed between the opposing flat surfaces of the engaged shaft sections. The shafts can be sectioned into half sections, however, a preferred embodiment provides each of the shafts with a pair of quarter sections at 180-degree spacing.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a turnbuckle and, in particular to a turnbuckle which has an unlimited degree of expansion and contraction, and which eliminates cable twisting.
2. Brief Statement of the Prior Art
Turnbuckles are commonly used to secure the ends of cables, rods or other members, with a variable tensioning capability. A turnbuckle has a central link having opposite ends which are internally threaded with opposite oriented threads which receive compatibly threaded shafts bearing distal clasps such as hooks or loops. Rotation of the link member thereby extends or contracts the threaded shafts in the assembly, thus providing for variable tensioning of cables, etc., which are secured by the distal clasps of the shaft members.
There are a number of shortcomings in the conventional turnbuckle. The turnbuckle is awkward and difficult to use since the distal ends of the shafts are commonly attached to cables and the like which do not rotationally restrain the shafts. Consequently, adjustment of the tension on the cables by advancing or retracting the shafts in the link member usually requires one to grasp the shaft members, immobilizing these members while rotating the link member. Alternatively, one rotates the link member and entire assembly until sufficient torsion is developed in the cables to restrain the shafts, permitting their rotational movement in their threaded engagement with the link member. Another disadvantage of the conventional turnbuckle is that it has only a limited degree of expansion and contraction. Commonly the shafts are coaxial and their maximum travel in the assembly is no greater than one half the length of the link member and, commonly less as the link member often has a center rib which obstructs the inward movement of the shafts. The conventional turnbuckle is also bulky with a heavy, cast link member.
It is an objective of this invention to provide a turnbuckle which can be readily expanded or contracted simply by rotation of the link;
It is also an objective of this invention to provide a turnbuckle with unlimited degree of extension and contraction;
It is likewise an objective of this invention to provide a turnbuckle mechanism which can be readily incorporated in linear motion mechanisms; and
It is an additional objective of this invention to provide a turnbuckle mechanism for synchronous reciprocal movement of two members.
It is a further objective of this invention to provide a turnbuckle which avoids twisting of cables.
This invention comprises a turnbuckle mechanism in which a central link is provided with internal right and left hand compatible threads and which receives, at its opposite ends, one of a pair of longitudinally split externally threaded shafts which are threaded in opposite directions. The shafts are coaxially received in the internally threaded bore of the link and have distal clasps such as hooks or loops for attachment of cables, or other members such as rods or chains.


A modem architecture and applicable method use microlet transforms to encode and exchange data or information. An encoder determines the probability states of a quantum representation, and uses the states to represent data in lossless manner. A block of data is reduced to a smaller size of data by the encoding, in some instances, to single bit. The encoder can be used in conjunction with existing networks and infrastructure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to encoding and transmitting information over a network, and, more particularly, systems and methods for transmitting blocks of data with lossless encoding over a network using a modem architecture and having increased representation of the original data with improved transmissability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Communication systems and networks are undergoing a trend towards flexible receivers and more robust, dependable and scalable communication solutions. Users on a network require increasing amounts of information and data to be delivered in a timely and real-time manner. Many solutions, such as broadband or digital subscriber lines, improve information delivery over conventional telephone networks. Cable systems also are able to deliver high speed information exchange. Generally, a modem is used to transmit the information as an analog signal from one location to another. Dial-up services are limited by various constraints, such as the modem architecture or network infrastructure. Broadband solutions seek to improve over these systems by using new modems and/or different architectures. These solutions, however, may be costly or have other obstacles such as additional equipment, new accounts, and a loss of service in certain areas.
Another solution to increase data delivery is compressing data according to known compression algorithms. Data compression is well known and many standards exist that define processes for compressing data to be more suitable for transmitting as an analog signal over existing networks. One potential drawback of compression is the possibility of losing data, first when compressing the data from a certain size to a smaller size of data, and second, when decompressing the data back to its original size. The compression algorithm "loses" that data which it determines is not essential or needed in effectively displaying or transmitting the information. In certain instances, this loss of data may be critical or over-reaching.
As additional demands are placed on the transmission and the storage of information and data, compression algorithms are becoming increasingly less efficient or practical in representing large data files, such as movies, as it is being transmitted over the network. Too much data is being lost or misrepresented to a user or other entity on the delivery side of a network. Further, as businesses become more reliant and familiar with electronic documents and other aspects of electronic storage, resources are being used to store data, documents, files and the like at additional cost and without any practical solution for storing additional files or data in the future. For example, the business may generate e-reports or newsletters to send to potential clients and customers. As the weeks, months and years go by, the storage of these newsletters may become a critical factor of the size of the newsletters and how long the newsletters are retained. As the newsletters attempt to keep up with competitors, the company may add digital photos, video files, charts, data and the like to the newsletters to provide more information to readers. These features require larger files for each newsletter and additional storage space to retain newsletter records. Presently, the only solution in transmitting and storing data is to buy increasing amounts of memory or buffer space, and to improve transmission network infrastructure to handle the larger files. These solutions mean additional costs to the company and additional equipment needs.

System and method for using a microlet-based modem


In frame switched communication networks, information is forwarded from a source to a destination based on a destination address. In IEEE 802 networks these addresses are called Media Access Control (MAC) addresses. MAC addresses identify the source and destination station of each frame, however typically don't contain any subfields which identify the physical or logical location (or subnetwork) of the station. Such an address can be called a flat address. The entities of networks using IEEE 802 MAC addresses don't have methods for aggregating MAC addresses or for forwarding frames based on aggregates rather than station MAC addresses. The use of station MAC addresses for frame forwarding limits the scaling, lowers the efficiency, reduces the security and raises the cost of these networks. The method described here solves the MAC address aggregation problem by using a summary MAC address to represent an aggregate of summarized MAC addresses.

In frame switched communication networks, information is forwarded from a source to a destination based in whole or part on a destination address. In Bridged Ethernet communication networks these addresses are called Media Access Control (MAC) addresses. MAC addresses identify the source and destination station (end or intermediate, individual or group) of each frame, however typically don't contain any subfields which identify the physical or logical location (or subnetworks) of the station. Such an address can be called a flat address.
Recent advances in Bridged Ethernet frame switched communication networks have eliminated the limitations of both geographic size and number of supported nodes. Specifically, Provider Backbone Bridging (IEEE 802.1ah) along with the supporting control plane (IEEE draft 802.1aq) allows a single Bridged Ethernet to span any distance and to support as many nodes as can be addressed by MAC addresses.
Within a very large Bridged Ethernet each Bridge must hold a table of most of the MAC addresses forwarded by that Bridge. Since the size of these MAC address tables grows in proportion to the number of Ethernet MAC addresses passing through each Bridge these tables constrain the practical network size.
Further, Ethernet Bridges don't have methods for aggregating MAC addresses or for forwarding frames based on aggregates rather than the individual or group station MAC addresses. The use of non-aggregated flat individual or group station MAC addresses for frame forwarding limits the scaling, lowers the efficiency, reduces the security and raises the cost of these networks.

Method for aggregating media access control addresses using a summary media access control address(es)


A thermoplastic resin (A) including, in its main chain structure, a unit (i) having a biphenyl group, a unit (ii) having a substituent biphenyl group, a unit (iii) having a specific number of atoms in its main chain, and a unit (iv) having a specific number of atoms in its main chain provides a thermoplastic resin which has a low liquid crystal phase transition temperature and a low isotropic phase transition temperature, is highly thermally conductive, and can be processed by molding at a low melting temperature.

As an electronic device material for use in a mobile phone, a personal computer, or a hybrid car generates heat in a larger amount, it is immediately necessary to cool the electronic device material by achieving more efficient thermal conduction between members.
As a material for transferring heat between members, plastic is used which is so moldable as to flexibly follow thermal deformation in a member. Note, however, that plastic, which is less thermally conductive than an inorganic matter such as a metallic material, may have a problem of difficulty in releasing generated heat. In order to solve such a problem, an attempt has been widely made to (i) obtain a highly thermally conductive resin composition by mixing a large amount of highly thermally conductive inorganic matter into a thermoplastic resin and (ii) use the highly thermally conductive resin composition thus obtained.
Examples of a highly thermally conductive inorganic matter include graphite, carbon fiber, alumina, and boron nitride. The highly thermally conductive inorganic matter needs to be mixed into a thermoplastic resin in an amount of normally not less than 30% by volume, and further, in an amount as large as not less than 50% by volume.
However, in a case where a large amount of highly thermally conductive inorganic matter, which is graphite or carbon fiber, is mixed into a thermoplastic resin, a highly thermally conductive resin composition deteriorates in electrical insulation and then is made electrically conductive. This causes a problem such that the highly thermally conductive resin composition which is used for an electronic device can only be used in a limited part of the electronic device. Furthermore, mixing of a large amount of ceramic filler such as alumina into a thermoplastic resin causes the following problems: (i) a problem such that the highly thermally conductive resin composition which is used as, for example, a molding material wears a mold because the filler has a high hardness; and (ii) a problem such that a filler contained in a resultant highly thermally conductive resin composition has a high density, so that the resultant highly thermally conductive resin composition deteriorates in processability, and it is difficult to make lighter an electronic device, for example. Moreover, since a thermoplastic resin is less thermally conductive, an improvement in thermal conductivity of a resin composition is limited even in a case where a large amount of inorganic matter is mixed into the thermoplastic resin.
The circumstances require a method for allowing a thermoplastic resin to be more thermally conductive. Concerning a thermoplastic resin, Patent Literature 1 discloses that a resin molded article which is highly thermally conductive in a direction in which liquid crystal polyester is oriented is obtained by orienting the liquid crystal polyester by at least one external field selected from a flow field, a shear field, a magnetic field, and an electric field. Note, however, that the resin molded article is highly thermally conductive in a uniaxial direction but less thermally conductive in other biaxial directions. Note also that a magnetic flux density of at least 3 tesla is necessary for orientation of liquid crystal polyester by, for example, a magnetic field for achievement of a desired thermal conductivity. Thus, it is difficult to produce the resin molded article.
Concerning a thermoplastic resin which is excellent in thermal conductivity of a resin, Patent Literature 2 discloses liquid crystalline polyester, which is an alternating polycondensation product whose main chain structure contains a mesogenic group and a flexible chain. Such liquid crystalline polyester, which has a high order structure having high orderliness, has been known to have a high thermal conductivity. Note, however, that such liquid crystalline polyester, which is highly crystalline, has a high melting point, and is low in flowability of a liquid crystal phase, shows a tendency to have a high processing temperature. This causes a problem such that processing of such liquid crystalline polyester is restricted in the presence of an electronic component which is restricted in exposure to a high temperature.

Thermoplastic resin, thermoplastic resin composition, and heat conductive sheet


An image forming system includes an image information processing apparatus that outputs image data, at least one format converting apparatus that converts the image data into ready-to-print data, and an image forming apparatus that prints out the ready-to-print image data. These apparatuses are connected to a network such that they communicate with one another. The image information processing apparatus transmits image data to image forming apparatus. If the image forming apparatus supports the data format of the image data, the image data is printed in the image forming apparatus. If the image forming apparatus does not support the data format of the image data, the image data is transferred to the format converting apparatus. The format converting apparatus converts the image data into the ready-to-print data and then transmits the ready-to-print data back to the image forming apparatus, which in turn prints the ready-to-print data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming system in which an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine is coupled to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer (PC) that sends image data to the image forming apparatus over a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known conventional image forming system includes an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus connected to each other via a communication line such as a local network (LAN) or the Internet. The information processing apparatus generates image data or receives image data from an external device, and then outputs the image data. The image forming apparatus receives the image data from the information processing apparatus, and prints out the image data.
The image information processing apparatus incorporates a printer driver installed therein, so that the image forming apparatus prints out the image data received from the information processing apparatus. The printer driver converts the original image data (source image data) into a format supported by the image forming apparatus. Then, the image information processing apparatus transmits the converted image data to the image forming apparatus.
It is common that a plurality of image information processing apparatuses is connected to the communication line. If a plurality of image processing apparatuses is designed to access a single image forming apparatus, each of the image information processing apparatuses is required to have a printer installed therein.
However, installing a print driver into individual image information processing apparatuses is an intricate procedure. A number of image forming apparatuses are usually connected to the communication line. For example, it may be necessary to select an image forming apparatus from among a plurality of image forming apparatuses having different functions. Some of the image forming apparatuses may be replaced by new models of the same manufacturer or models available from different manufacturer.
Therefore, every time an image forming apparatus of the same model is added or an existing image forming apparatus is replaced by that of a new model or a different make, an appropriate printer driver has to be installed in the individual image information processing apparatuses. If a printer driver of a new model or a new version is to be installed in a large number of image information processing apparatuses, the man-hours for completing the installment is significant.
Furthermore, a long time is required for installing all the printer drivers for all types of image forming apparatuses, and a large memory capacity is required for storing the printer driver.
In order to solve this problem, if the data generated by an image information processing apparatus is in a file format that is not supported by an existing image forming apparatus, the data may be transmitted to another image information processing apparatus via the communication line for converting the data file format such that may be printed by one of the existing image forming apparatuses. However, if the data is converted into another data file format, the printing conditions may change accordingly. Therefore, mere conversion of the data file format can cause trouble in printing.


A coolant reclamation device for use in conjunction with a conveyor of a first width wherein the conveyor receives solid contaminants and coolant from a machine tool operation. The conveyor transports the solid contaminants and coolant to the coolant reclamation device. The coolant reclamation device includes an elongate body which defines a chamber and contains an elongate opening which provides direct access to the chamber. The device also includes an elongate screen located over the opening. The coolant reclamation device is positioned relative to the conveyor so that the solid contaminants and coolant discharged from the conveyor impinge the screen whereby the solid contaminants remain on the surface of the screen and the coolant passes through the screen into the chamber. The elongate body contains a return port through which the chamber is in fluid communication with the coolant reservoir via a conduit.

In a material (e.g., metal) removal operation (e.g., machining, milling, turning, drilling), a machine tool typically removes material from a workpiece in rather small pieces such as chips. As would be expected, the nature of material removal from a workpiece by a machine tool creates heat. As a consequence, a machine tool typically incorporates a cooling system in which a liquid coolant is directed at the workpiece and appropriate parts of the machine tool. It is also typical that the coolant along with the chips (i.e., solid contaminants)are removed from the vicinity of the machine tool.
Because of the cost of the coolant, there are arrangements to filter the chips from used coolant and then recycle the coolant back for reuse with the machine tool. In one such arrangement a conveyor, which receives the used coolant and chips from the machine tool, travels through a coolant reservoir. Although the intention is for the chips to remain on the conveyor and the coolant to drain away from the conveyor and into the reservoir, the fact of the matter is that not all of the coolant drains into the reservoir. The result is that the conveyor transports the chips, along with some of the coolant, and deposits the chips and the coolant into a chip hopper or the like. Thus, for example, the chip hopper may contain two to three pounds of chips along with ten to twenty gallons of coolant. For some machine tool operations, the conveyor remains in operation during times that the machine tool is not in operation. For this type of situation, the chip hopper may essentially contain only coolant.
It is typical that when the chip hopper is emptied the chips are separated from the coolant. The chips are stored in a central location until they are picked up for removal from the site. The coolant is also stored in a holding tank at a separate location until it is picked up for removal.
It thus becomes apparent that while this earlier arrangement removes chips from the coolant, it also removes a significant volume of coolant along with the chips. There are several drawbacks associated with this earlier arrangement due to the removal of a significant volume of coolant.
Because the coolant is expensive, the permanent loss of a significant volume of coolant results in a meaningful out-of-pocket expense. It would be desirable to provide an arrangement that does not result in the loss of a significant volume of coolant, and hence, leads to a decrease in the out-of-pocket expense due to the cost of the coolant.
The loss of a significant volume of coolant also results in an increased cost of labor associated with the requirement to fill the coolant reservoir more often. It also results in an increase in labor costs due to the need to empty the chip hopper more often because of the volume of coolant therein. There is an additional increase in labor expense because of the need to transport, and eventually remove from the site, the additional volume of coolant. In other words, the loss of a significant volume of coolant makes the machine tool operation much more labor-intensive, and as a result, increases the labor expense.
Hence, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved coolant reclamation arrangement wherein all (or substantially all) of the coolant carried from the coolant reservoir along with the chips by the conveyor is recovered for recycling back to the coolant reservoir. By providing such an arrangement, there would be a decrease in the out-of-pocket expense associated with the cost of the coolant. Such an arrangement would also result in a decrease in the cost of labor associated with filling the coolant reservoir, as well as the handling and transport of the coolant removed from the coolant reservoir.

Machine tool coolant reclamation system employing a conveyor discharging separated solids onto an impingement screen


An air halo assembly for a spray gun assembly is provided. The spray gun assembly includes a fluid supply assembly, an air supply assembly, and an air halo nozzle assembly. The air halo nozzle assembly includes a liquid nozzle assembly and an air halo assembly. The fluid supply assembly is coupled to, and is in fluid communication with, the liquid nozzle assembly. The air halo nozzle assembly is structured to produce a liquid flow stream having a longitudinal axis. The air halo assembly includes a body. The air halo assembly body defines a passage. The air halo assembly body passage includes an inlet and an air halo outlet. The air halo assembly body passage inlet is structured to be in fluid communication with the air supply assembly.

Field of the Invention
The disclosed and claimed concept relates to a spray gun system utilizing a nozzle structured to dispense liquids, i.e. spray a liquid, and, more specifically, to a spray gun system including an air halo nozzle assembly for providing a gaseous barrier extending about a liquid flow stream.
Background Information
Certain fluid dispensing systems are structured to dispense a liquid such as, but not limited to, a sealant or an adhesive onto a substrate. The remainder of this description shall use an adhesive as an example, but it is understood that the liquid is not limited to an adhesive. Such liquid dispensing systems may utilize nozzle assemblies, or "spray guns" that are closed by an internal needle. Generally, an adhesive is either a solvent-based adhesive or a water-based adhesive. In some aspects, the spray gun is adapted to a specific type of adhesive. For example, a solvent-based system will include a temperature control to maintain the temperature of the liquid.
The spray gun includes a housing that defines a chamber with an exhaust passage, that is, a nozzle. The chamber includes a liquid inlet and may contain a liquid outlet. The liquid flows into the chamber via the liquid inlet. The liquid may be stored, briefly, in the chamber before application. For a water-based adhesive, the liquid is, typically, expelled exclusively via the nozzle. For a solvent based adhesive, a portion of the liquid may be dispensed via the nozzle and any excess liquid that may be recycled exits the chamber via the outlet. The liquid may then be drained from the system, or, reheated and re-circulated.
The nozzle defines an internal, elongated passage having a generally frusto-conical shape, i.e. a frustum. The nozzle further includes an internal seat; the seat may be part of the internal surface of the nozzle. A needle having its longitudinal axis aligned with the axis of the nozzle passage is used to seal the passage; that is, the needle coupled to an actuator structured to move the needle in an axial direction; i.e. longitudinally. The needle proximal end is coupled to the actuator and the opposite end of the needle distal tip is shaped generally, or substantially, to correspond to the shape of the nozzle seat. When the needle is in a forward, first position, the needle distal tip sealingly engages the nozzle seat. In this configuration, the spray gun is closed. When the needle is in a retracted, second position, the needle distal tip is fully spaced from the nozzle seat. In this configuration, the spray gun is open. Further, and as described below, the needle may also be placed anywhere between the first and second position, thereby causing the nozzle to be partially open. That is, when the needle is in the second position, i.e. fully spaced from the nozzle internal passage, the nozzle is, essentially, unblocked and allows for the nozzle's maximum flow rate. It is noted that, while in the second position, the needle may be disposed within the nozzle internal passage, so long as the nozzle achieves its maximum intended flow rate. If the needle is somewhere between the first and second positions, the nozzle is partially open and the liquid flows at a rate less than the maximum flow rate. Any time the nozzle is open, or partially open, the liquid forms a stream, or spray, between the nozzle and substrate. As used herein, the emerging liquid product is identified as a "flow stream."
Typically, such spray guns must be opened and closed both rapidly and intermittently. That is, the nozzle is cyclically opened a brief period of time, then closed for a brief period of time. This would allow, for example, a quantity of sealant to be applied to an object while the spray gun is open, then for the object to be moved and replaced while the spray gun is closed. This is useful for an automated process or assembly line wherein objects such as, but not limited to, cans or shells are moved through the fluid dispensing system.
A disadvantage of such a system is that, when the flow stream of the compound is interrupted by the needle, the compound stretches then breaks. When it breaks, small pieces of compound are flung around the needle and nozzle. These particles eventually settle on the nozzle or other parts of the spray gun. That is, during application of the liquid, the air flowing about the shells and the machine carrying the shells, as well as the flow stream itself, creates a fluid flow pattern in the air disposed about the flow stream. The flow pattern of the air typically includes a vortex, i.e. air flow that rotates back toward the nozzle, and/or may be turbulent. The final portion of the stream of liquid, i.e. the last liquid out of the spray gun when the spray gun closes, breaks into particles and some of those particles are carried by the vortex or turbulent airflow back to the nozzle or onto other parts of the spray gun or nearby machine components. Hereinafter, and as used herein, the final portion of the stream of liquid that breaks into particles is identified as "snapback particles." Over time, the snapback particles build up on the nozzle and other machine components and requires removal. Removal of the snapback particles requires the operation of the spray gun to be halted resulting in down time for the spray gun and machines.
There is, therefore, a need for a system to direct the snapback particles to the desired substrate. There is a further need for such a system to be compatible with existing fluid dispensing systems.


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor wafer having one or more suspended nanosheet extending between first and second source/drain regions. A gate structure wraps around the nanosheet stack to define a channel region located between the source/drain regions. The semiconductor device further includes a first all-around source/drain contact formed in the first source/drain region and a second all-around source/drain contact formed in the second source/drain region. The first and second all-around source/drain contacts each include a source/drain epitaxy structure and an electrically conductive external portion that encapsulates the source/drain epitaxy structure.

The present invention generally relates to fabrication methods and resulting structures for semiconductor devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to nanosheet field effect transistors (FETs).
As semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) or chips become smaller, the implementation of stacked nanosheets in semiconductor devices has increased. Nanosheets are referred to as two-dimensional nanostructures with a thickness range on the order of about 1 nanometer (nm) to about 100 nm, and can facilitate the fabrication of non-planar semiconductor devices having a reduced footprint compared to conventional planar-type semiconductor devices. Accordingly, nanosheets and nanowires are seen as a feasible device options for reducing the footprints of semiconductor devices to 7 nanometers and beyond.

Nanosheet FET including encapsulated all-around source/drain contact

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An embodiment may include a first replica driver group configured for replicating an output driver of a physical area. A second replica driver group configured for replicating an output driver of a test electrode area for direct access of a memory, and an impedance calibration unit configured to independently perform an impedance matching operation of the first replica driver group and the second replica driver group.

1. Technical Field
Various embodiments generally relate to a semiconductor circuit, and more particularly, to an impedance calibration circuit, and a semiconductor memory and a memory system using the same.
2. Related Art
As an operation speed of a semiconductor memory (hereinafter, referred to as a memory) increases, developments have been made for a SIP (System In Package) having a memory controller, such as a CPU or a GPU, and a memory integrated together into a single package.
An increase in an I/O (an input/output circuit) speed of a memory is limited.

Impedance calibration circuit, and semiconductor memory and memory system using the same


An intravenous catheter anchoring assembly is disclosed and includes a patient-contacting membrane, a platform, and a retaining strap for securing a catheter or tubing of an administration set to a patient. The strap is attached to the platform with adjustable pull-tabs that permit a variety of catheter shapes and sizes to be secured. The strap is also elastomeric so that the strap is stretchable and thereby grabs the secured catheter. The strap and platform further define a plurality of passageways that permit the catheter to be secured in a plurality of non-aligned directions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of intravenous infusion site devices. More specifically, the present invention concerns an intravenous catheter anchoring device for the securement of catheters on various patient sites.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Catheters for intravenous infusion into a patient are well known in the art. Such catheters are generally used in a variety of infusion applications and on a variety of sites. For example, catheters are commonly used as central venous catheters (CVC), midline catheters, or peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC). These catheters normally are used with some sort of a catheter anchoring device for attaching the catheter to the patient.
One such anchoring device is an intravenous site securement device for preventing catheter movement. The securement device is important because catheter location within the venous system is usually critical. For example, a catheter that dispenses medicine to an internal organ often must have its tip positioned in a particular location or the medicine will not have its intended effect. Moreover, patients with these catheters often want or need to have a normal range of body motion while the catheter is inserted. Patient movement as well as external objects can apply external forces to the catheter and thereby shift the catheter's location within the venous system. These forces can cause, in particular, back-and-forth dynamic movement of the tip, sometimes referred to as pistoning. These forces can also cause a static shift in the catheter tip from its original location.
Another type of catheter anchoring device is a tubing collector. The tubing collector generally serves to secure an excess length of tubing from a catheter, intravenous extension set, or intravenous administration set. Also, some tubing collectors tend to permit axial movement of the secured tubing. Therefore, people have a need for catheter anchoring devices that provide reliable catheter securement during patient movement or while an external force is applied.
Again, anchoring devices are often used with catheters to prevent or restrict catheter movement. However, these anchoring devices are problematic and suffer from various undesirable limitations. One limitation for site securement devices with tape or sutures holding the catheter in place is that they tend to start or promote infections at that location. Furthermore, these securement devices often are able to receive only one size and shape of catheter hub (e.g., a suture hub, Y-site hub, or luer fitting). One limitation for anchoring devices in general is that catheter attachment is difficult, requiring precise, two-handed manipulation. Anchoring devices are also problematic because they can be inadvertently pulled from the skin's surface. Another limitation is that anchoring devices are not adapted for use with a variety of catheter sizes and shapes. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved intravenous catheter anchoring device that does not suffer from these problems and limitations.


A solution or dispersion of polystyrene is used to treat the submergible surfaces of fiberglass boat hulls to prevent or alleviate blistering. With newly constructed fiberglass hulls polystyrene paint is applied either directly to the fiberglass surfaces or to a gelcoat protective surface applied over fiberglass. In the case of existing fiberglass hulls on which blisters have formed, the blisters are excised, filled with an epoxy resin or other fairing compound and ground smooth. Polystyrene paint is applied either to the blistered areas or larger areas after sanding.

This invention relates, generally, to a method of treating at least the submergible surfaces of a fiberglass boat hull so as to repair, prevent or retard the formation of blisters thereon. For a number of years fiberglass has been extensively used for constructing boat hulls. Initially, fiberglass gained rapid acceptance as a preferred material for the construction of boat hulls because it was economical to use, was highly durable and resistant to damage, required only low maintenance, was attractive in appearance and was readily treated with anti-fouling materials. However, after boats with fiberglass hulls had been in use for several years, particularly those left in the water over long periods, it became evident that the fiberglass hulls were subject to the formation of blisters which, in addition to being unsightly, could, if left untreated, ultimately jeopardize the integrity of the fiberglass boat hulls.
It was soon determined that the blisters resulted from water penetrating the gelcoat on the exposed submergible surfaces of the fiberglass boat hulls on through to the underlying laminate. Thereafter, the water migrates into the fiberglass and pressure pockets form which result in the formation of the blisters between the gelcoat and the matte of the fiberglass. In some cases the blisters form in isolated or scattered areas and are relatively few in number with respect to the overall submergible surface. In other cases the blisters form throughout the entire submergible surfaces. In either case, if the blisters are left unattended water will continue to permeate and seep through the matte and, in some instances, into the woven roving, which is the structural portion of the fiberglass layup. Thus, while the blisters are initially objectionable for cosmetic reasons, they are the symptom of more serious problems to come, since, if the water permeation problem is not corrected, delamination of the fiberglass layers will occur.
Currently, there are essentially two methods used to repair fiberglass boat hulls on which blisters have formed. If the blisters are not extensive and if the water has not permeated the matte portion of the fiberglass, the blisters are usually ground off, the resulting "pot holes" or excised areas are filled with epoxy resin, and then faired to a smooth surface. Thereafter, an epoxy bottom coating that contains platelets as moisture barriers is applied over the repaired areas. A primer is then applied to the boat bottom which is then painted with anti-fouling paint. Rarely does this type of repair last very long. In most cases, if the repaired boat is used under the same conditions as before, the bottom will re-blister within a period of about two years and generally the re-blistering will then involve a larger area, or perhaps the entire bottom.
In the case of fiberglass boat hulls on which blisters have formed in large areas or perhaps over the entire bottom, the gelcoat protective barrier is taken off with a planer, or otherwise removed, down to the bare fiberglass matte. The bottom is then allowed to dry for a period ranging from several weeks to several months as may be required. When the fiberglass matte is dry, the entire bottom receives the following treatment:
a. Spots that have been ground out to get rid of moisture are filled with epoxy fairing compound and smoothed out to the bottom contour. PA1 b. After proper preparation, a clear epoxy coating is applied to serve as a sealant. PA1 c. After the sealant cures, several coats of epoxy base moisture barrier are applied to the bottom. Such epoxy moisture barrier generally consists of an epoxy resin with platelets suspended in it. By applying several coats, the platelets overlap one another and provide a moisture barrier.
The latter type of repair of the entire bottom of a boat is very costly, takes the boat out of use for an extended period and will impede the permeation of water for a period of only two to three years. Almost always, if the boat is used under the same conditions as before, the bottom re-blisters and the overall treatment of the bottom must be repeated.
The object of the invention, generally stated, is the provision of economical and practical methods of treating newly constructed fiberglass boat hulls and repairing fiberglass boat hulls on the bottoms or submergible surfaces on which blisters have formed, so as to prevent, retard and/or repair the formation of blisters.

Method of treating fiberglass boat hulls to repair, prevent and retard blisters


A magnetic memory device for selectively writing one or more memory cells in the memory device includes a plurality of global write lines for selectively conveying a destabilizing current, the global write lines being disposed from the memory cells such that the destabilizing current passing through the global write lines does not destabilize unselected memory cells in the memory device, each global write line including a plurality of segmented write lines operatively connected thereto. The memory device further includes a plurality of segmented groups, each segmented group including a plurality of memory cells operatively coupled to a corresponding segmented write line, each segmented write line being disposed in relation to the plurality of corresponding memory cells such that the destabilizing current passing through the segmented write line destabilizes the corresponding memory cells for writing.

The present invention relates generally to random access memory systems, and more particularly relates to an architecture for improving a write margin within a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device.
Thin film magnetic random access memory (MRAM) has been investigated since the early 1950s. However, as described in the text xe2x80x9cComputer Storage Systems and Technology,xe2x80x9d by Richard E. Matick, John Wiley and Sons (1977), which is incorporated herein by reference, these memories were deemed to be impractical due to narrow write and read margins which eroded as device dimensions were scaled. By the early 1970s, semiconductor-based memories, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), promised a simpler more compact memory solution than magnetic core memories, the most prevalent random access memory (RAM) available at the time. By the late 1970s, almost all development and production activity related to MRAM had been abandoned.
Recently, a renewed interest in MRAM has been sparked by its application to the nonvolatile memory market. New memory devices, such as a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device, which exhibits magneto resistance, overcame an earlier obstacle of inductive sensing. As summarized in Scheuerlein et al., xe2x80x9cA 10ns Read and Write Non-Volatile Memory Array Using a Magnetic Tunnel Junction and FET Switch in Each Cell,xe2x80x9d ISSCC 2000, pp. 128-129, desirable characteristics of MTJ-based memories include high integration density, high speed, low read power, and soft error rate (SER) immunity.
FIG. 1 depicts a conventional MTJ-based MRAM architecture, as described in the aforementioned Scheuerlein et al. paper. Like conventional thin film RAM, MTJ-based MRAM uses an architecture in which memory cells 100 are placed at the cross-points of intersecting write word lines 104 and bit lines 106. Reading of the memory cell 100 is simplified by the inclusion of a field effect transistor (FET) 102 connected to each memory cell for improved isolation. More particularly, a drain terminal of a given FET 102 is coupled to a cell 100, a gate terminal of the given FET 102 is coupled to a corresponding read word line 108, and a source terminal is coupled to ground. In conventional magnetic memory architectures, however, writing individual memory cells without also writing adjacent or other non-intended cells remains a problem.
Typically, writing a memory cell involves passing electrical currents simultaneously through a bit line and word line at the intersection of which an intended MTJ cell resides. The selected MTJ cell will experience a magnetic field which is the vector sum of the magnetic fields created by the word and bit line currents. All other MTJ cell that share the same bit line or word line as the selected MTJ cell will be half-selected and will thus be subjected to either bit line or word line magnetic fields, respectively. Since the magnitude of the vector sum of the word line and bit line fields is about forty-one percent (41%) larger than the individual word line or bit line fields, the selectivity of a selected MTJ cell over half-selected MTJ cells is poor, especially when the non-uniform switching characteristics of the MTJ cells are considered.
Variations in the shape or size of an MTJ cell can give rise to variations in magnetic thresholds of the MTJ cells which are so large that it is virtually impossible to write a selected cell without also arbitrarily switching some of the half-selected cells, thus placing the reliability and validity of the stored data in question. There may also be environmental or other factors, such as temperature and processing variations, that adversely impact the write select margin. Additionally, the spontaneous switching of an MTJ cell when it is subjected to repeated magnetic field excursions much smaller than its nominal switching field, an effect known as xe2x80x9ccreep,xe2x80x9d narrows the acceptable write select margin even further thereby making the need for greater selectivity of individual MTJ cells even more imperative.
FIG. 2A graphically depicts the magnetic selectivity of an ideal thin film magnetic memory cell along a hard magnetic axis (e.g., representing the word line field) and an easy magnetic axis (e.g., representing the bit line field), as described, for example, by E. C. Stoner and E. P. Wohlfarth in a paper entitled xe2x80x9cA Mechanism of Magnetic Hysteresis in Heterogeneous Alloys,xe2x80x9d Royal Society of London Philosophical Transactions, Ser. A240 (1948), which is incorporated herein by reference. Assuming that the word line and bit line currents generate fields along the hard magnetic axis at point 210 and the easy magnetic axis at point 230, respectively, of the magnetic memory cell, the field (Hx, Hy) required to switch the magnetic state of the cell must equal or exceed the solid curve or boundary 200. This curve 200, known by those skilled in the art as a switching asteroid, satisfies the relation Hx2/3+Hy2/3=Hk2/3, where Hx is the hard axis field, Hy is the easy axis field and Hk is an anisotropy field. A selected cell experiences magnetic fields outside the boundary of the switching asteroid 200 (e.g., corresponding to point 220) which are large enough to write the magnetic cell to a state that aligns with the easy axis field direction. The state of a half-selected cell doesn""t change since the magnetic fields acting on it (e.g., corresponding to points 210 and 230) remain within the boundary of the switching asteroid 200.
It is important to consider that, although depicted as a thin fixed boundary line, the switching asteroid 200, in reality, may significantly change shape due to environmental conditions (e.g., temperature) or other factors (e.g., device processing variations). Variations between individual MTJ cells can substantially reduce the write select margin within the overall memory structure. Non-ideal physical characteristics often blur the distinction between half-selected and selected memory cells, wherein the half-selected cells could be written in a write operation intended only for the selected cells.
Hence a major hurdle to the realization of practical sub-micron MRAM architectures has been the problem of write selectivity. There is a need, therefore, in the field of magnetic memory devices and systems for improved write selection techniques which can be readily adapted to the conventional MRAM architecture described above as well as other alternative memory architectures.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a write architecture for use in a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device that allows selection of individual memory cells in an array without adversely disturbing neighboring cells in the array and thus increasing the integrity of the data stored therein.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved write selection architecture and methodology for MRAM that is compatible with conventional MRAM devices.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a write selection architecture for MRAM that utilizes a substantially reduced bit line current, resulting in lower overall system power consumption.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a write selection architecture for MRAM that has a substantially increased acceptable write disturb margin and is thus less sensitive to magnetic cell mismatches, process variations and other environmental factors within an MRAM array.
Advantageously, the present invention provides an improved write selection architecture and methodology for use with a magnetic memory device that not only allows selection of individual memory cells in an array without adversely disturbing neighboring cells in the array, but also reduces the power consumed in the write operation and the overall sensitivity of the circuit to device mismatches, process variations and other environmental factors.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an improved architecture for selectively writing one or more magnetic memory cells in a magnetic memory device comprises a plurality of global write lines, each global write line including a plurality of segmented write lines connected thereto. The segmented write lines are disposed from the memory cells such that current passing through the global write lines does not substantially disturb unintended or unselected memory cells. The memory device further includes a plurality of segmented groups of memory cells, each segmented group including a plurality of memory cells operatively coupled to a corresponding segmented write line. Each segmented write line is disposed in relation to the memory cells such that a current passing through the segmented write line operatively destabilizes the corresponding memory cells for writing.
The memory device of the present invention further includes at least one segmented group select switch connected between the segmented write line corresponding to the segmented group and a global write line, the group select switch including a group select input for receiving a group select signal. The group select switch completes an electrical circuit between the segmented write line and the global write line in response to the group select signal. Bit lines operatively coupled to the magnetic memory cells are used to selectively write the state of the memory cells.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views.

Select line architecture for magnetic random access memories

International Business Machines Corporation


Ultra-low frequency (ULF) tactile stimuli, generated by an electro-mechanical actuator, have a spectrum of biological effects. These frequencies are herewith defined as 2 Hz or lower and may comprise stimulus frequencies as low as 0.1 Hz, or one cycle per ten seconds. The ULF generator can be paired with at least one sensor that is configured to monitor a physiological property of the user. A controller is in communication with the at least one electro-mechanical actuator and the at least one sensor and is configured to control operation of the at least one electro-mechanical actuator, in at least a first operating mode, based on measurements of the at least one sensor.

Physiological processes are commonly defined as being the functions and activities of living organisms that support life in single- or multi-cellular organisms from their origin through the progression of life. As one would appreciate there are a number of different physiological processes and there is a desire in a number of different settings to control the regulation of such physiological processes. Such physiological processes can include but are not limited to:    1. The slowing of brain waves    2. The induction of relaxation and sleep    3. The lowering of blood pressure    4. The slowing of heart rate    5. The normalizing of gastro-intestinal peristalsis    6. The pacing and slowing of respiratory rate    7. The modulation of urinary bladder over-activity    8. The alleviation of muscular system over-activity
While there have been attempts to control and regulate such physiological processes, there remains a need to provide alternative devices and methods for regulating such physiological processes.

System for delivering ultra-low frequency (ULF), variable-intensity, non-vibratory tactile stimuli for regulating physiological processes, and modulating mental states